Stephen Kozeniewski's Blog, page 12
January 19, 2022
Publish Like a Motherfucker Course 9: The Life Audio-quatic With Steve (Matt, Too!)
Hey, everybody!
It has been almost (but not quite) a year, and the time is ripe for another installment of "Publish Like a Motherfucker (With Stephen Kozeniewski)."
This time around I am delighted to welcome podcaster, audio engineer, cover designer, and author of such books as the HORRORS UNTOLD series, EDGE OF TWILIGHT, and MELANCHOLIA, the one, the only, Mr. Matt Wildasin!
Stop by my business page Wednesday, February 2, at 8:00 pm EST. I will, of course, be recording for posterity, but if you have questions, you'll want to be there live to participate. And, as always, if you're interested in future PLAM courses, let me know in the comments below, on social media, or during the course.
Course 9: The Life Audio-quatic With Steve (Matt, Too!)Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022Time: 8:00 pm ESTSyllabus: The paperbacks and ebooks were no issue to write, format, and publish. But now your insatiable fans have demanded yet another format: audio! With special guest author and sound engineer Matt Wildasin we'll discuss:
- should you read your own work or hire a professional? pay up front or do royalty share? and where does all this shit happen, anyway?
- say, I've got a built-in microphone and a free Saturday. what's to stop me from just recording my book tomorrow?
- how are audiobook different from podcasts, radio shows, and other aural media? what should you look for in a narrator and/or sound engineer?
It has been almost (but not quite) a year, and the time is ripe for another installment of "Publish Like a Motherfucker (With Stephen Kozeniewski)."
This time around I am delighted to welcome podcaster, audio engineer, cover designer, and author of such books as the HORRORS UNTOLD series, EDGE OF TWILIGHT, and MELANCHOLIA, the one, the only, Mr. Matt Wildasin!
Stop by my business page Wednesday, February 2, at 8:00 pm EST. I will, of course, be recording for posterity, but if you have questions, you'll want to be there live to participate. And, as always, if you're interested in future PLAM courses, let me know in the comments below, on social media, or during the course.
Course 9: The Life Audio-quatic With Steve (Matt, Too!)Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022Time: 8:00 pm ESTSyllabus: The paperbacks and ebooks were no issue to write, format, and publish. But now your insatiable fans have demanded yet another format: audio! With special guest author and sound engineer Matt Wildasin we'll discuss:
- should you read your own work or hire a professional? pay up front or do royalty share? and where does all this shit happen, anyway?
- say, I've got a built-in microphone and a free Saturday. what's to stop me from just recording my book tomorrow?
- how are audiobook different from podcasts, radio shows, and other aural media? what should you look for in a narrator and/or sound engineer?
January 5, 2022
2021 Splatterpunk Award Nominations
Hey, everybody! It's nomination time for the 5th Annual Splatterpunk Awards. If you think anything I wrote last year is worthy, please email splatterpunkawards@gmail.com and include the category, title of the work, and author or editor. Here are my eligible works:
BEST SHORT STORY (for works from 500 to 14,000 words)
- "Tool Story" by Stephen Kozeniewski
- "Terrible Two" by Stephen Kozeniewski
- "Sun Poison" by Stephen Kozeniewski
BEST ANTHOLOGY (for multiple-author collections over 50,000 words)
- BLUDGEON TOOLS edited by K. Trap Jones
- GOREFEST edited by K. Trap Jones
- BATTERED, BROKEN BODIES edited by Matt Shaw
The deadline for nominations is January 17th. Thanks, everybody!
January 3, 2022
The Quintessential BATTERED, BROKEN BODIES Post
Hey, everybody! BATTERED, BROKEN BODIES, featuring my short "Sun Poison" is now available.
You can read about BBB on Goodreads or purchase it via:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Here are some other places around the web to learn more about this latest compilation from the demented mind of Matt Shaw:
The original IndieGoGo CampaignA highlight on Fantastic FictionAn interview with Rowland Bercy on Uncomfortably Dark
December 22, 2021
BILLY is Number One Worldwide! (Redirect)
Hey, everybody!
In case you missed it, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS has seen a meteoric rise to #1 on several international bestselling lists. Read more here!
November 24, 2021
In Defense of NaNoWriMo (Redirect)
Hey, all!
As November draws to a close, a lot of you will be thinking about whether NaNo was worth it. Here are some of my thoughts, over on the old group blog.
November 8, 2021
My Final Appearance of 2021
Hey everybody!
I am delighted to announce a previously unscheduled local engagement. I'll be appearing in the balloon shop I co-own (I know, fucking favoritism, right?) on December 2, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm EST. The address is:
Air Studio (located in the West Shore Farmers Market)900 Market St, Ste 29Lemoyne, PA 17043I'll have copies of all my books, including the brand new release BROKEN-DOWN HEROES OF THE WESTERN NIGHT. Knock out all of your holiday shopping in one shot!
You can find out more information on my engagement here or on Holiday Magic in the Market in general here.
October 27, 2021
Some Treats for Horror Christmas (Redirect)
Hey, everybody!
ICYMI, I've got some treats for Halloween. What would Halloween be without giveaways? For more info, check out ye olde grouppe blogge here.
Plenty of "What the Hell?" Moments: Interview with A.I. Winters, Author of SUMMONER OF SLEEP
Ho ho ho, everybody! Merry Horror Christmas. I'm very pleased to welcome a perfect guest for the tail end of Spooky Season. Let's meet her briefly and then jump right in!
About A.I. Winters:
A.I. Winters is an award-winning horror and fantasy author. Her titles include SUMMONER OF SLEEP, STRANGE LUCK, THE NIGHTMARE BIRDS, and A DARLING SECRET.
Born in Northern California, Winters has since lived in every region of the country, but now resides in Los Angeles. She has published many articles on writing and publishing, and has worked as a grant writer and copy editor for non-profits, municipalities, and major corporations.
When not writing books, she enjoys breaking a sweat in Jiu-Jitsu class, baking desserts, and traveling.
You can connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Newsletter, or YouTube.
Interview:
SK: "Evil Dead" or "Evil Dead 2?"
AIW: "Evil Dead 2!" It’s so over-the-top silly and slapstick. My favorite scene is when Linda comes back from the dead and dances in the woods. A few years ago I visited the Bearded Lady’s Mystic Museum in Burbank where they had an "Evil Dead" exhibit. Got to check out the iconic basement set, shotguns, and even the talking deer head. You’ve never seen me happier!
SK: So in your day job you write grants and copy for a variety of entities. How does this dovetail with your career in fiction?
AIW: Being a technical writer by day has really helped me in the organizational aspect of writing fiction in terms of keeping track of small details, organization, condensing content, and editing. From the other perspective, writing fiction has strengthened my technical writing game in the sense of learning how to write hooks and eye-catching content. I’m very fortunate that both types of writing jobs really allow me to constantly learn and finetune my writing and editing skills.
SK: How are you gearing up for Halloween this year?
AIW: Absolutely fantastic! I’m a total Halloween enthusiast, which is why I’m pleased to announce that I’m actually getting married this Halloween. Black dress. Black and orange nails. Pumpkins. Cobwebs. Spooky music. The whole shebang!
SK: Tell us a little bit about your tattoos.
AIW: My back is covered in a Viking goddess (Hel). This is meaningful to me for so many reasons. I have Nordic blood and have always been drawn to the Vikings. They are a symbol of power and determination for me. I visited Iceland a few years back and it was magical to learn more about the Vikings and see actual archaeological remnants of their culture. On my leg I have a luck “ghost” dragon. I like to keep it spooky, so I decided never to fill in his eyes. The tattoo artist didn’t understand and said, “so you want it to be a ghost dragon?” I always liked that analogy. To me it’s a symbol of vitality and good luck.
SK: What did we not talk about today that you'd like to put out there into the world?
AIW: I just released a new psychological horror/thriller novel in the vein of H.P. Lovecraft meets Clive Barker. It’s called SUMMONER OF SLEEP and I’m so happy that it’s live in time for Halloween. Expect dark magic, occult themes, monsters, and plenty of “what the hell?” moments. Happy reading.
About SUMMONER OF SLEEP:
A dark family secret. A town that doesn't exist on any map. An elixir that will unleash an apocalyptic, transformational horror on the world.
In the isolated mountain town of Marble Woods, the townspeople harbor a dangerous secret. It's here, away from the civilized world, that they can experiment with human genetics that have the power to alter your mind and body. When Ryder Ashling, a down-on-his-luck longtime sufferer of nightmares, discovers the town, he thinks he's found a cure, but bears witness to their research and its terrifying, inevitable unraveling.
In exploring the disturbing crossroads of genetic manipulation and lust for youth and control of the physical, Winters' cautionary tale of the perversion of natural order and desire will entice and rattle readers in this thought-provoking tale of terror.
About A.I. Winters:
A.I. Winters is an award-winning horror and fantasy author. Her titles include SUMMONER OF SLEEP, STRANGE LUCK, THE NIGHTMARE BIRDS, and A DARLING SECRET.
Born in Northern California, Winters has since lived in every region of the country, but now resides in Los Angeles. She has published many articles on writing and publishing, and has worked as a grant writer and copy editor for non-profits, municipalities, and major corporations.
When not writing books, she enjoys breaking a sweat in Jiu-Jitsu class, baking desserts, and traveling.
You can connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Newsletter, or YouTube.
Interview:
SK: "Evil Dead" or "Evil Dead 2?"
AIW: "Evil Dead 2!" It’s so over-the-top silly and slapstick. My favorite scene is when Linda comes back from the dead and dances in the woods. A few years ago I visited the Bearded Lady’s Mystic Museum in Burbank where they had an "Evil Dead" exhibit. Got to check out the iconic basement set, shotguns, and even the talking deer head. You’ve never seen me happier!
SK: So in your day job you write grants and copy for a variety of entities. How does this dovetail with your career in fiction?
AIW: Being a technical writer by day has really helped me in the organizational aspect of writing fiction in terms of keeping track of small details, organization, condensing content, and editing. From the other perspective, writing fiction has strengthened my technical writing game in the sense of learning how to write hooks and eye-catching content. I’m very fortunate that both types of writing jobs really allow me to constantly learn and finetune my writing and editing skills.
SK: How are you gearing up for Halloween this year?
AIW: Absolutely fantastic! I’m a total Halloween enthusiast, which is why I’m pleased to announce that I’m actually getting married this Halloween. Black dress. Black and orange nails. Pumpkins. Cobwebs. Spooky music. The whole shebang!
SK: Tell us a little bit about your tattoos.
AIW: My back is covered in a Viking goddess (Hel). This is meaningful to me for so many reasons. I have Nordic blood and have always been drawn to the Vikings. They are a symbol of power and determination for me. I visited Iceland a few years back and it was magical to learn more about the Vikings and see actual archaeological remnants of their culture. On my leg I have a luck “ghost” dragon. I like to keep it spooky, so I decided never to fill in his eyes. The tattoo artist didn’t understand and said, “so you want it to be a ghost dragon?” I always liked that analogy. To me it’s a symbol of vitality and good luck.
SK: What did we not talk about today that you'd like to put out there into the world?
AIW: I just released a new psychological horror/thriller novel in the vein of H.P. Lovecraft meets Clive Barker. It’s called SUMMONER OF SLEEP and I’m so happy that it’s live in time for Halloween. Expect dark magic, occult themes, monsters, and plenty of “what the hell?” moments. Happy reading.
About SUMMONER OF SLEEP:
A dark family secret. A town that doesn't exist on any map. An elixir that will unleash an apocalyptic, transformational horror on the world.
In the isolated mountain town of Marble Woods, the townspeople harbor a dangerous secret. It's here, away from the civilized world, that they can experiment with human genetics that have the power to alter your mind and body. When Ryder Ashling, a down-on-his-luck longtime sufferer of nightmares, discovers the town, he thinks he's found a cure, but bears witness to their research and its terrifying, inevitable unraveling.
In exploring the disturbing crossroads of genetic manipulation and lust for youth and control of the physical, Winters' cautionary tale of the perversion of natural order and desire will entice and rattle readers in this thought-provoking tale of terror.
Plenty of "What the Hell?" Moments, Interview with A.I. Winters, Author of SUMMONER OF SLEEP
Ho ho ho, everybody! Merry Horror Christmas. I'm very pleased to welcome a perfect guest for the tail end of Spooky Season. Let's meet her briefly and then jump right in!
About A.I. Winters:
A.I. Winters is an award-winning horror and fantasy author. Her titles include SUMMONER OF SLEEP, STRANGE LUCK, THE NIGHTMARE BIRDS, and A DARLING SECRET.
Born in Northern California, Winters has since lived in every region of the country, but now resides in Los Angeles. She has published many articles on writing and publishing, and has worked as a grant writer and copy editor for non-profits, municipalities, and major corporations.
When not writing books, she enjoys breaking a sweat in Jiu-Jitsu class, baking desserts, and traveling.
You can connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Newsletter, or YouTube.
Interview:
SK: "Evil Dead" or "Evil Dead 2?"
AIW: "Evil Dead 2!" It’s so over-the-top silly and slapstick. My favorite scene is when Linda comes back from the dead and dances in the woods. A few years ago I visited the Bearded Lady’s Mystic Museum in Burbank where they had an "Evil Dead" exhibit. Got to check out the iconic basement set, shotguns, and even the talking deer head. You’ve never seen me happier!
SK: So in your day job you write grants and copy for a variety of entities. How does this dovetail with your career in fiction?
AIW: Being a technical writer by day has really helped me in the organizational aspect of writing fiction in terms of keeping track of small details, organization, condensing content, and editing. From the other perspective, writing fiction has strengthened my technical writing game in the sense of learning how to write hooks and eye-catching content. I’m very fortunate that both types of writing jobs really allow me to constantly learn and finetune my writing and editing skills.
SK: How are you gearing up for Halloween this year?
AIW: Absolutely fantastic! I’m a total Halloween enthusiast, which is why I’m pleased to announce that I’m actually getting married this Halloween. Black dress. Black and orange nails. Pumpkins. Cobwebs. Spooky music. The whole shebang!
SK: Tell us a little bit about your tattoos.
AIW: My back is covered in a Viking goddess (Hel). This is meaningful to me for so many reasons. I have Nordic blood and have always been drawn to the Vikings. They are a symbol of power and determination for me. I visited Iceland a few years back and it was magical to learn more about the Vikings and see actual archaeological remnants of their culture. On my leg I have a luck “ghost” dragon. I like to keep it spooky, so I decided never to fill in his eyes. The tattoo artist didn’t understand and said, “so you want it to be a ghost dragon?” I always liked that analogy. To me it’s a symbol of vitality and good luck.
SK: What did we not talk about today that you'd like to put out there into the world?
AIW: I just released a new psychological horror/thriller novel in the vein of H.P. Lovecraft meets Clive Barker. It’s called SUMMONER OF SLEEP and I’m so happy that it’s live in time for Halloween. Expect dark magic, occult themes, monsters, and plenty of “what the hell?” moments. Happy reading.
About SUMMONER OF SLEEP:
A dark family secret. A town that doesn't exist on any map. An elixir that will unleash an apocalyptic, transformational horror on the world.
In the isolated mountain town of Marble Woods, the townspeople harbor a dangerous secret. It's here, away from the civilized world, that they can experiment with human genetics that have the power to alter your mind and body. When Ryder Ashling, a down-on-his-luck longtime sufferer of nightmares, discovers the town, he thinks he's found a cure, but bears witness to their research and its terrifying, inevitable unraveling.
In exploring the disturbing crossroads of genetic manipulation and lust for youth and control of the physical, Winters' cautionary tale of the perversion of natural order and desire will entice and rattle readers in this thought-provoking tale of terror.
About A.I. Winters:
A.I. Winters is an award-winning horror and fantasy author. Her titles include SUMMONER OF SLEEP, STRANGE LUCK, THE NIGHTMARE BIRDS, and A DARLING SECRET.
Born in Northern California, Winters has since lived in every region of the country, but now resides in Los Angeles. She has published many articles on writing and publishing, and has worked as a grant writer and copy editor for non-profits, municipalities, and major corporations.
When not writing books, she enjoys breaking a sweat in Jiu-Jitsu class, baking desserts, and traveling.
You can connect with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, Newsletter, or YouTube.
Interview:
SK: "Evil Dead" or "Evil Dead 2?"
AIW: "Evil Dead 2!" It’s so over-the-top silly and slapstick. My favorite scene is when Linda comes back from the dead and dances in the woods. A few years ago I visited the Bearded Lady’s Mystic Museum in Burbank where they had an "Evil Dead" exhibit. Got to check out the iconic basement set, shotguns, and even the talking deer head. You’ve never seen me happier!
SK: So in your day job you write grants and copy for a variety of entities. How does this dovetail with your career in fiction?
AIW: Being a technical writer by day has really helped me in the organizational aspect of writing fiction in terms of keeping track of small details, organization, condensing content, and editing. From the other perspective, writing fiction has strengthened my technical writing game in the sense of learning how to write hooks and eye-catching content. I’m very fortunate that both types of writing jobs really allow me to constantly learn and finetune my writing and editing skills.
SK: How are you gearing up for Halloween this year?
AIW: Absolutely fantastic! I’m a total Halloween enthusiast, which is why I’m pleased to announce that I’m actually getting married this Halloween. Black dress. Black and orange nails. Pumpkins. Cobwebs. Spooky music. The whole shebang!
SK: Tell us a little bit about your tattoos.
AIW: My back is covered in a Viking goddess (Hel). This is meaningful to me for so many reasons. I have Nordic blood and have always been drawn to the Vikings. They are a symbol of power and determination for me. I visited Iceland a few years back and it was magical to learn more about the Vikings and see actual archaeological remnants of their culture. On my leg I have a luck “ghost” dragon. I like to keep it spooky, so I decided never to fill in his eyes. The tattoo artist didn’t understand and said, “so you want it to be a ghost dragon?” I always liked that analogy. To me it’s a symbol of vitality and good luck.
SK: What did we not talk about today that you'd like to put out there into the world?
AIW: I just released a new psychological horror/thriller novel in the vein of H.P. Lovecraft meets Clive Barker. It’s called SUMMONER OF SLEEP and I’m so happy that it’s live in time for Halloween. Expect dark magic, occult themes, monsters, and plenty of “what the hell?” moments. Happy reading.
About SUMMONER OF SLEEP:
A dark family secret. A town that doesn't exist on any map. An elixir that will unleash an apocalyptic, transformational horror on the world.
In the isolated mountain town of Marble Woods, the townspeople harbor a dangerous secret. It's here, away from the civilized world, that they can experiment with human genetics that have the power to alter your mind and body. When Ryder Ashling, a down-on-his-luck longtime sufferer of nightmares, discovers the town, he thinks he's found a cure, but bears witness to their research and its terrifying, inevitable unraveling.
In exploring the disturbing crossroads of genetic manipulation and lust for youth and control of the physical, Winters' cautionary tale of the perversion of natural order and desire will entice and rattle readers in this thought-provoking tale of terror.
September 20, 2021
CLICKERS NEVER DIE Available For Pre-Order!
Hey, everybody! Head on over to Thunderstorm Books to reserve your copy of CLICKERS NEVER DIE today. Only ten days remain, so don't miss out!
(Oh, and it comes with two free miniatures, courtesy of my co-author!)
The seminal horror series created by J.F. Gonzalez, Mark Williams, and Brian Keene reemerges from the depths with the weirdest, most brutal installment yet!
Washed-up oceanographer Cameron Custer is hoping a mysterious living fossil discovered in the South Pacific could breathe new life into his career. Instead, Custer’s new specimen points him toward a heavily guarded secret — the truth behind the Guadalcanal Campaign. During World War II the U.S. Marine Corps had more than just the Imperial Japanese Army to contend with. They also had to wage a vicious battle against the amphibious Dark Ones and an onslaught of their deadliest servants.
Now, an ocean heaving with blood and guts, a battlefield teeming with rage and terror, a man’s demented love affair with a fish monster, and a boy’s heartwarming friendship with a prehistoric crab monster will all combine to prove that… CLICKERS NEVER DIE!
Splatterpunk Award nominated author Stephen Kozeniewski (THE HEMATOPHAGES, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS) and Splatterpunk Award winning author Wile E. Young (THE MAGPIE COFFIN, CATFISH IN THE CRADLE) join forces for one of modern horror’s most anticipated reboots!
(Oh, and it comes with two free miniatures, courtesy of my co-author!)
The seminal horror series created by J.F. Gonzalez, Mark Williams, and Brian Keene reemerges from the depths with the weirdest, most brutal installment yet!
Washed-up oceanographer Cameron Custer is hoping a mysterious living fossil discovered in the South Pacific could breathe new life into his career. Instead, Custer’s new specimen points him toward a heavily guarded secret — the truth behind the Guadalcanal Campaign. During World War II the U.S. Marine Corps had more than just the Imperial Japanese Army to contend with. They also had to wage a vicious battle against the amphibious Dark Ones and an onslaught of their deadliest servants.
Now, an ocean heaving with blood and guts, a battlefield teeming with rage and terror, a man’s demented love affair with a fish monster, and a boy’s heartwarming friendship with a prehistoric crab monster will all combine to prove that… CLICKERS NEVER DIE!
Splatterpunk Award nominated author Stephen Kozeniewski (THE HEMATOPHAGES, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS) and Splatterpunk Award winning author Wile E. Young (THE MAGPIE COFFIN, CATFISH IN THE CRADLE) join forces for one of modern horror’s most anticipated reboots!
