Steven Mix's Blog, page 5
July 1, 2014
Mystery House - Part 3: Ashley's Story
Here is the third part for the Mystery House Story. Enjoy the custom Ashley art!
These custom pieces we are featuring were designed by Trueson and Zia Daughtery. (I'm a huge fan of this one in particular.)
The final part, Part 4: Donathan's story will be featured here next week. Stay tuned... or... you know... just bookmark my site.
Reminders: I'm doing a book reading and signing at Gardner's Books inside of their Roserock cafe on July 11th at 6pm.
I am also appearing at Tokyo in Tulsa July 11th through the 13th! Come out and get some freebies!
Mystery House - Part 1 (in case you missed it)
Mystery House - Part 2: Mason's Story
Tonight's release: Mystery House - Part 3: Ashley's Story
June 27, 2014
Mystery House - Part 2: Mason's Story
In case you missed it,
I'm giving away free stuff. We are releasing a short story in a four-part series. Tonight is part two, Mason's story along with some lovely artwork designed by Trueson and Zia Daughtery.
Also, I will appear in less than two weeks at Tokyo in Tulsa.
If you can find me at the convention, you will get a collectible postcard featuring more of this art and part of this story. You might even receive three different collectible postcards... Who knows? So find me at TnT! :)
Mason is such a fun character to write because his flaws are so comical. I really love tonight's release and I hope you enjoy it too!
Mystery House - Part 1 (in case you missed it)
Tonight's release: Mystery House - Part 2: Mason's Story
Mystery House - Part 2: Mason's Story
In case you missed it,
I'm giving away free stuff. We are releasing a short story in a four part series. Tonight is part two, Mason's story along with some lovely artwork designed by Trueson and Zia Daughtery.
Also I will be appearing in less than two weeks at Tokyo in Tulsa.
If you can find me at the convention you will get a collectible postcard featuring more of this art and part of this story. You might even receive three different collectible postcards... Who knows? So find me at TnT! :)
Mason is such a fun character to write because his flaws are so comical. I really love tonight's release and I hope you enjoy it too!
Mystery House - Part 1 (in case you missed it)
Tonight's release: Mystery House - Part 2: Mason's Story
June 24, 2014
Mother and child with autism bullied in disgusting ways
I have known my friend Jenna from internet games for several years now. She has neighbors who harass her family on a regular basis.
Now, neighbors don't always get along. That's a fact of life. My parents even dislike one of their neighbors. They refer to them as, "The Friendlies" (because they aren't friendly!)
Jenna's problems with her neighbors are a nightmare!
The last couple of years she and her son have been harassed by her neighbors for random reasons. Often silly things like disliking the flowers that Jenna's mom planted.
Recently though they've been harassing her because her son is autistic!
Her neighbors hate the fact that her child is autistic. They've informed Jenna and her mother that they are going to run them out of the neighborhood.
According to Jenna, here is the list of some of their antics:
Shouting who let the hogs out and retard every time Jenna leaves the house with her autistic son.
Doing imitation of the 8 year old child's stimming sounds followed by barking noises. The video I linked below the woman chants, "I don't have a normal child," over and over towards Jenna. Can you imagine hearing this sort of thing from one of your neighbors?
Walking up and down the street slowly while brandishing shotguns. All the while, eyeballing and motioning towards Jenna's house and family.
Installing disco strobe lights in their front yard because they found out Jenna's child could have seizures!
Jenna has spoken to the police who have given her advice on the subject and they've been out to the neighbor's house. Unfortunately, the police don't seem to want to take action. They suggested she start a civil suit.
I suggested involving the ADA and she's looking into it. She was thinking about getting a lawyer but she does not have a lot of money. She doesn't want to have to pay for a lawyer over things that adults just shouldn't be doing to an 8 year old child! It just might have to happen though.
I don't understand why the police in her town have refused to take action, but she's seeking any advice anyone has on the subject.
Some of their antics happen even AFTER the cops had left from giving the neighbors a warning.
(Jenna had to record the Closed Circuit video with her cellphone so excuse the quality. She's figuring out how to upload better quality recordings from the CCTV.)
Jenna's comment on the youtube explains:
Our neighbors stand outside and say " im so retarded i cant even have a child that talks" referring to my 8 year old non verbal child with autism.
If you want to see more of this family's ordeal, you can view Jenna's videos here at her youtube page. https://www.youtube.com/user/SurlyMiss/videos
She will be updating them with higher quality videos of everything in the next few days.
Jenna has also started a Facebook group asking for help and advice with bullies.
Your home should be your safe haven and not a place of harassment. You shouldn't have to worry about the psychological damage your neighbors are doing to your child.
Please if you have any suggestions forward them to Jenna's anti-bullying facebook page.
June 23, 2014
Fun stuff for the fans
Does it suck being in limbo as you wait for the next book in a series?
I think so. My publisher thinks so too.
So we are here to help you.
We are releasing a four part story that takes place just after the events of Goodbye from the Edge of Never.
Tonight the first part is available at Falkor Publishing's website.
This short story will not be in the books. We've decided it is a bonus to those who hunger for a little more of our characters.
We will also be displaying custom artwork of Mason, Ashley and Donathan alongside the next three parts of the story. The art is designed by Trueson and Zia Daughtery and it looks amazing.
I know, free story and art, right? That might lead you to say,
"But hey... I like stuff I can hold and collect!"
Okay! We can do that.
I will be handing out collectible postcards displaying the new art at my convention appearances.
Check my upcoming appearances page for details.
The postcards are the first collectibles we are giving out. They are only available at my appearances. In order to get one (or three) you need to show up at an event. I'll even sign it for you. :)
Enjoy the story, come collect a postcard and if you are a new reader that hasn't read the book yet it is available for order at Amazon
and Barnes and Noble.
June 21, 2014
Book signing: Gardner's Used Books
July 11th at 6 p.m.
I will be doing a book signing and reading at the Roserock Cafe located inside of Gardner's Used Books.
Oklahoma's largest used book store! Don't believe me?
Look at THIS:
So... many... books... I've heard rumors that this store could help you become a wizard.
That's just what I've heard though.
June 13, 2014
Spooky Friday the 13th = Free E-book for you
It's just after midnight.
It's Friday the 13th.
It's a full moon.
It's the PERFECT time to give away e-book copies of Goodbye from the Edge of Never.
We're only doing this today. Get yours now. Tell your friends.
Whether your hockey masks are covered with splattered blood or paint, Happy Friday the 13th!
May 29, 2014
Today was a good day
It finally happened.
I've had great days.
The day I was married. The day my son was born. The day my stepdaughter "sort of" treated me with respect.
Days that were great with one or two momentous events... but there's always problems and things to fret over on these days.
So what about a good day?
Ice Cube sang about his in his 1993 hit song "It was a good day." In the song, Ice Cube sings about YO MTV Raps, smogless L.A. and the Lakers beating the Supersonics... you know. A good day.
So how did mine happen?
I can never seem to get my sleep meds on time from the V.A. My meds this month were about a week late. Last night they showed up just before 6:30pm and I finally caught some sleep.
Woke up to the wife with chocolate donuts and coffee. 
A good day.
I checked twitter and Lauren Sappala tweeted:
Horror and Fantasy fans should definitely check out one of my new favorite writers. He is FANTASTIC! http://t.co/ov6NLX5xLe @WriterStevenMix
So I check and my blog readership had jumped 100+.
I just found out about the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter. I'm not rich, but I loved RR when I was a kid, so I had to throw in 10 bucks. It's good karma, right? LeVar Burton rules! 
I checked my email to find a message from Susie Rodriguez of Convolution 2014. She invites me to speak on some panels and informs me that the Con is doing a military theme.
Today was a good day.
I was pretty excited when I thanked her. She takes it a step further and posts to the Convolution facebook page: 
A good day.
I'm so happy I could explode.
My brother messages me on FaceBook saying he's going to be in Milpitas next month and he wants to get together.
I have eight siblings. I am number eight (the youngest). I have been separated from my brothers and sisters for three decades. I haven't seen my brother since I was five. So this is mindblowing for me.
Today was a good day.
At this point, I go for a walk to calm down. When I come back, I check the score on the SF Giants game. They are losing 3 to 4. Its the 6th inning and Saint Louis is up. The wife and I proceed to take a tent down in the backyard that the stepdaughter used for a campout sleepover last weekend. We realize the tent is now home to a bunch of yellowjackets.
This tent belongs to my mother-in-law. I actually love my mother in law. She's a good person.
But today is a good day.
I propose we take the tent down, fold it up and let nature take its course... because this won't end well otherwise.
Before we begin BeeMAGEDDON, I check on the baby. While I'm in the house, the Giants tie the game up on an overthrow.
Today was a good day.
I head back outside and attempt to fold up the tent. The wife tries to tell me that her mom would want the tent folded nicely.
Then it happens...
I get to say a line I will never get to say again:
There is no point in folding this up nicely, it is filled with bees.
Today was a good day.
The bottom of the ninth and Romo is on the mound. I'm posting things to Twitter about my #icecube #goodday and how it is going down. If the Giants win it, this is it... my own version of Ice Cube's "Today was a Good Day!"
The Cardinals get a run in and my day is in jeopardy. The inning is a nail biter, and it is frustrating. Then popped up caught out, end of the game.
Today I didn't even have to use my A.K. 
I got to say it was a good day.
May 26, 2014
BayCon 2014
I must admit
I haven't been to a lot of conventions, so my view is skewed. To date I have been to 3 Cons. BayCon is a sci-fi/fantasy convention that I decided to go to at the last minute. What a great decision!
The convention itself was honoring veterans in pretty fun ways.
David Weber was their guest of honor so he had his mountain of books and even people cosplaying officers from his stories. There were various panels on science fiction topics that are becoming military realities. Like Drone use for example. Many of the panelists would give respect to veterans and memorial day.
This is a sci-fi/fantasy convention!
They didn't have to go to these lengths for veterans! They could have just used the long weekend for an extra day at the convention. Instead, they went to great lengths to show respect to Memorial Day in fun and grand ways.
So let's discuss the fun I had.
The BayCon writers panels were great! At one point, I encountered the writer Setsu Uzume. She's hysterical! I think she changed outfits like 20 times during the Con!
I ran into a few writers I already knew A.E. Marling, M. Todd Gallowglas, S.L. Gray, Valerie Frankel to name a few.
Gallowglas panels always turn into comedy forums. I won't be able to do him justice by explaining this but if you get a chance to go to one of his panels, GO!
Chris Garcia was hosting a variety show.
I wound up on stage with four contestants. One of them was Ric Bretschneider of http://FanboyPlanet.com. I was doing a podcast with him the next day and didn't realize it.
Never be afraid if you have to share the stage with Chris Garcia. He won't let you die on stage. His game show consisted of asking trivia, and if we didn't know the answer we could throw a book at him, then pass the mic to someone else. Ric wound up being my lifeline for most of the event.
The next day I did the podcast with FanboyPlanet.
Derek McCaw, the other member of FP, is an old mentor of mine who taught Chris Garcia and I improv comedy. I haven't seen the guy in two decades and I gave him the biggest hug because... he was a good influence on my life.
Derek and Ric and the other guest on their show, Charles McKeithan, let me plug my book, we talked comics and movies, and they even paid tribute to my time in the army.
I was still a bit out of my element. I'm not in front of audiences enough these days (trying to rectify that.) Not only did the Fanboy Planet guys make me feel comfortable but, we were able to bitch about the current state of DC Comics! Even touching on how the Lantern Corps stuff is being run into the ground!
Thank you for that...
That was so... I feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders.
One of the most touching moments of the conference
was in the end when I was going to leave. The Chair of the Con, Tom Saidak, strolls up from outside of the hotel. I had never met Tom before but at BayCon he had this happy gait everywhere he went... and he should. BayCon 2014 was amazing. He helped pull this off.
He should be proud of such an event!
I told him this of course! I also explained I was "a veteran and I tend to have difficulty with crowds. But, BayCon was so friendly and inviting that, I'm sure I'll be back for the next twenty years." In a perfect moment, Tom smiles at me, thanks me for my service and then pulls a ribbon out of his pocket that reads,
"To Absent Friends."
Well, I guess I need more conventions in my life.
May 17, 2014
The Mars One Mission is captivating
http://www.whas11.com/news/Mars-hopefuls-ponder-life-without-families-favorite-foods-259585441.html
I've had dreams where I walked across phantom planets, danced through other parts of the cosmos and cultivated alien landscapes trying to survive.
I've held these dreams close to my heart, most of my life.
Imagine it. This is the greatest adventure any man or woman has ever embarked upon, in our entire existence as a species.
There is no greater adventure. You can say you went to war, you can say you toiled to make billions, you can say you were a rockstar... But no one can say they left earth to live on another planet, or that they were the first to do so.
Yea, it might be suicide, but there's a chance it isn't... And there is a chance it will be the most beautiful sight, human eyes have seen.... Ever.
The people who are doing this now are either the biggest fools mankind has ever seen, or the greatest adventurers we will ever know...
And maybe there isn't much of a difference.
