Kneel Downe's Blog: For Who Howls the Wolf?, page 8

VIRULENTBLURB:FRACTURES is FREE on Kindle

...but only for a short while.

From now until Monday 24th March, you can download the debut book, VIRULENTBLURB:FRACTURES from Amazon Kindle

In the UK - Amazon.co.uk

And in the US - Amazon.com

In other countries - go on to your Amazon account and search for Kneel Downe FRACTURES, you will find it.

The other books will be appearing as free Kindles for a short while in coming months..

Immerse yourself in the VirulentBlurb... it's infectious reading.

Are you one of THE INFECTED?

If you are a dedicated Blurbian, you have read everything you can and still want more, you may be INFECTED by the VirulentBlurb.

Do not panic.

If you are INFECTED, you may experience the following symptoms while reading:-

Adrenaline rush

Shortness of breath

Dizziness

Racing Pulse

Vivid Mind Shattering Dreams

Most of all you will get an overwhelming sense of being elsewhere, wandering in a city not of this world, seeking wolf splice detectives and red-haired girls.... and you will want more.

This is perfectly normal.

Register as one of THE INFECTED and receive a fully immersive experience as you get even more VirulentBlurb via your email inbox and, if you give your address, via your letterbox.

Visit the JOIN THE INFECTED page for more information and to sign up.

Meet Kneel Downe - a guest post by Susan Omand

Meet Kneel Downe

Creator of words and worlds. Of the VirulentBlurb universe... even though the real life universe has not been kind to him recently.

Firstly I need to explain... I am Susan. Omand Original. I am the Artistic partner in the VirulentBlurb, which makes me the other part of the universe. I am BlurbInfo and I am truly infected by the VirulentBlurb.

But back to Kneel for now... Kneel was born in 1967 and raised in the middle of countryside and silence where he immersed himself in books and fantasy.

After trying several writing styles and having a successful journalistic career, followed by an enforced hiatus from writing altogether, he began tweeting short fragments of fiction. A meeting with his idol, Jeff Noon, made Kneel realise that these short bursts could make up a whole universe of fiction, and so the VirulentBlurb projects began.

First there was the fiction feed on Twitter. VirulentBlurb. Then came a website VirulentBlurb.com, introducing the world to the characters and technology of the VirulentBlurb, the Spillane-esque wolf-splice police detective, Kurt Lobo and his PI brother Lyca, the enigmatic Amelia and the superhero inmates of the Copper Cascades asylum. From Gene Splicing to Living Ink, from DeadBoxes to DreamCages, strange new technologies abound. Cyberpunk brilliance as image filled staccato blasts of stripped back prose build a world so visceral you can feel as well as see it - you experience it fully as the words flow into your mind....

Then came VIRULENTBLURB FRACTURES, the debut book of those first imagery filled tweets, links of poetry, case files from Kurt Lobo and Psychiatric transcripts from the Copper Cascades institution.

Then, in a complete shift of style away from sharp cyberpunk to lyrical imagery, and with black and white illustrations by me, we produced the mythical, beautiful Amelia's Song - a fully illustrated, beautiful, brutal grown up fairy tale featuring Amelia - the most enigmatic character, flame haired and violet eyed, she appears as a strand, an echo in every story of the VirulentBlurb Universe. In this, her own book, she crosses the Everlands of Chaos Lords and Chrome Dragons to beat the Knights of Hell.

Many, many more books and other media projects are planned as the strands of the universe overlap and come together in new and unexpected ways. The most recent book VIRULENTBLURB REFLECTIONS documents the time before the sun went out,the rise and fall of the father of Blurb Technology, Joshua Knight, and the explosion that broke the sky and plunged the world into the eternal night and the dust.... always the dust.

VirulentBlurb is an ongoing project with new strands of fiction evolving all the time on various Twitter fiction feeds....

...with the addition of artwork, prints, posters and merchandise created by me, two websites - the revamped virulentblurb.com and the side-project fansite, phazelords.com, the Blurbinfo information feed on Twitter, a Facebook page (yes, that's me too - it's more of a fan site as Kneel isn't loking over my shoulder the whole time). There's author pages on Lulu, Amazon and Goodreads, YouTube channel and more, it seems like the VirulentBlurb is growing and mutating unabated to great success

BUT (and it's a big BUT)

This year, things have happened that we could not plan for. There has been serious family illness since New Year and lots of unnecessary stress for Kneel, as he tries to cope with looking after seriously ill parents and a disabled niece at home on his own while coping with his own MS. On top of all of this, on 29th January this year, he lost his only source of income other than his writing, when the UK Government deemed him no longer eligible to receive a carers allowance for looking after his niece. So he is left, unfit because of his MS to take on paid employment, looking after three very ill people with no financial help, and all he wants to do is write for his Universe.

The financial situation is getting very serious now. I need Kneel to be happy and I am doing what I can to help and support them financially and practically as well as emotionally - Kneel is closer than family to me, he is my world. I am giving as much as I can, more than I probably should but I don't care - he needs it. Any money I get from sales of my artwork and merchandise - either Omand Original work or VirulentBlurb work - goes to Kneel. I have now placed a donation button on the VirulentBlurb website too for anyone that wants to give money to help - again all money from this goes to Kneel. Any money from book sales, whether from Lulu or Amazon, of course all goes to Kneel.... but there have been very few sales this year so far - why, I do not know.

So what can you do to help? Obviously, buy the books - paperbacks or Kindles - for yourself or for friends and read everything you can. Buy the merchandise for gifts, for friends. Let me know if there is something not available in merchandising that you would like. I will make it happen. Donate money on the website if you have bought everything that you want so far.

But it would also help, if you've read the books, to review them anywhere you can - Lulu, Amazon, Goodreads, your own blog or magazine, to encourage others to buy the books. I know a lot of you cannot afford to spend money on books and I'm working on getting free download days for the Kindles in the next few months. You can ask for the books in your library - all you need are the ISBN numbers, listed on Amazon and Lulu. There is a lot of free fiction on the VirulentBlurb website, on the fiction feeds on Twitter. Read these and share it with your friends... word of mouth is the best advertising.

Here are the links for buying the books

Find them on Lulu - http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/KneelDowne

On Amazon in the UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kneel-Downe/e/B00GR9LH00/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&linkCode=ur2&tag=the0e4-21

On Amazon in the US - http://www.amazon.com/Kneel-Downe/e/B00GR9LH00/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1392500430&sr=8-1

(the books are also available in other countries on Amazon, just search for Kneel Downe)

You can find all these links, and the links for the merchandise and Goodreads, on the main website here at www.virulentblurb.com.

Please read the website, read the books, read the Twitter feeds. Talk about them, write about them, live them, breathe them. Become infected by the VirulentBlurb....

"Clean your jackports and do not adjust your feeds....phzzzt."

Get Your PDF's Now!

At the end of this month, the VirulentBlurb is going to stop offering the PDF e-books for sale on Lulu.  This is so that we can offer you better deals on our Kindle range, such as discounted prices or free download days on Amazon.

Don't worry though, we'll still have all the paperbacks available on Lulu and the paperbacks and Kindles are also all on  Amazon, so why not treat the one you love to the VirulentBlurb for Valentine's Day?

If you buy through Lulu and use the check out code of AMOR14, you'll also get 14% off until 14th!

Find all the books on LULU at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/KneelDowne and on AMAZON in the UK HERE

You can find the VirulentBlurb on Amazon in the US too (HERE) and read all the reviews and download extracts of the books to try before you buy at GoodReads.  Remember to enter our Amelia's Song giveaway while you're there!

With new reviews being added everywhere regularly, it seems The VirulentBlurb really is infectious!  If you are a reviewer for a website and would like an electronic review copy of any of the books, please contact us.

HAPPY BLURBDAY (and a competition)

HAPPY BLURBDAY!

Two years ago today, the first tweet appeared on the VirulentBlurb Twitter feed and the universe was born.  That tweet is on the front page of the website.

"Lunar splashed. Fragile liquid wings. Spine cracking mornings. Keyboard played and fingers flitting...the upload begins..icon initialization "

Today the VirulentBlurb universe has grown and evolved so much - there are two websites, three books so far and multiple Twitter fiction feeds as well as a dedicated information feed. It has infected Facebook, YouTube, Goodreads, Lulu and Amazon.  It has our own range of merchandise based on designs inspired by the Blurb universe.  And the VirulentBlurb is not finished yet.  Never finished. It keeps growing and evolving, changing in ways never even considered two years ago.

COMPETITION

To celebrate the VirulentBlurb's second birthday we are giving away ALL THREE BOOKS in one prize.  ALL AUTOGRAPHED.  These will be collectors items very very soon as the Universe grows ever stronger.

To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, telling us the name of your favourite VirulentBlurb character and leaving us a method of contacting you - email address, Twitter handle etc.  That's it. Simple.

The winner will be picked at random from all entries after the competition closes at 8:23pm UK on Friday 7th February.  The winner will be announced on the Blurbinfo Twitter and Facebook pages on Sunday 9th.

GOOD LUCK!

STUFF! - The Flatteries Not Included article.

It's cold... It's dark and It's too damn early...

Don't worry though, I'm shielded from the cold by my Darth Vader dressing gown. My feet are toasty warm in my Family Guy slippers and my secret areas are snug in Batman boxers.

Coffee! I need coffee... hmm, what mug today? My usual Dalek one or the Tardis one? I grab the Dalek one and then try to choose one for my niece...Hello Kitty or Buffy...choices...

Blearily I check the date on my Doctor Who calendar...double check on my Green Day one (secure in the knowledge that, if I forget, I can always check my Amelia's Song one upstairs.)

As I settle down to write I cast a glance behind me at my 34 Kitchen Daleks...What do you mean you don't have Kitchen Daleks? Are you guys barbarians?

So...I need to write something but my mind's a blank...I spend a while mentally planning today’s attire...what T-shirt? Comic book? Dalek? Phazelords? Punk? and socks...which damn socks should I wear? Seems like a Simpsons socks kinda day if you ask me...

Now...to write...I'm sure there's something I could be talking about...

Ah...yes...MERCHANDISE....

It's everywhere...STUFF...loads and loads of STUFF... Pretty STUFF...expensive STUFF...throwaway pointless STUFF...

Books and clothes and posters and TOYS...Loverly Loverly TOYS..

(That noise? Don't worry...Just a hungry child...Don't dwell on it...She's probably a benefit scrounger...or foreign...)

We loves our STUFF...I loves my STUFF...can't get enough of it...It's like some crazy second childhood....But...

(That? That was the disabled man next door being evicted, too many damn bedrooms...We can't afford luxuries these days you know)

But... but we can afford stuff... hell, you don't got the stuff then we question your very love of your favourite show/film/band/comic...delete as applicable....

It's all about BRANDS....(Not you Russell...no, I'm talking about something else...Yes, yes I know...I saw that...you're the voice of the disaffected now...well done you little tyke, now go sleep with a lady or whatever it is you do that we all just love you for.)

Now...don't get me wrong...Merchandise is a valuable tool for your favoured brand...it can generate sales, revenue, interest and it can point out to the faceless ones that 'Yes! People want more of this crazy stuff....'

BUT...

But...far too often in these calculated times, it can bleed into the very creation of your precious cult. Am I the only one out here who, when watching Victory of The Daleks, hears a silky voice... whispering... "Hey Stevie boy, you know what would be cool? New Daleks...big, colourful zany things...like toys, you dig? Kids love colour...think Teletubbies..."

Same for the countless new TARDIS interiors? The Screwdrivers? Even the damn outside? Every season...a change...a cow of cash...

Calm down now...Think Films...Films are cool yeah? Indeed...and nothing sells a film brand like a sequel...or a prequel...or maybe a Reboot? Big glorious REBOOT...The same Toys, tweaked and stretched and morphed into the great big bank of oblivion...

Remember Unique ideas?

I do...

(That noise? That's another writer, shredding his untested pitch....weeping softly)

SO...It's ALL about BRAND...(No Russell...what did I say?....Oh you have? THREE? Well my goodness, you are a handful aren't you? Here...take this crayon and go sketch out a revolutionary Manifesto for us all....What? Yes...Yes I suppose you can call it your Festy Westy....run along now)

But you're all clever people...you know this already. Ignore me. Go check Facebook. Go Twitterfy a Tweet...

Except...every Tweet you create is just an advertisement. Every Blog/Status update is a press release...The thing Jeff Noon predicted long ago with his 'Blurbfly' concept has come to pass...

We, ourselves, have become BRANDS....

We have become BRANDED.

They do that to cattle, dontcha know?

No way out now... Too late... It's the way of the Future...

So, what can we do?

Well, there is one thing....take a deep breath, fire up your MirrorCam...gaze deep into your own trusted eyes...and ask yourself just one thing...

"What exactly is it I'm selling?"

*This article will be available in extended Directors cut, with bonus extras and free T-shirt in 23 minutes time.


Originally published on TheCultDen website.

VIRULENTBLURB BOOKS SALE

VIRULENTBLURB:REFLECTIONS AND VIRULENTBLURB:FRACTURES are now 20% off on LULU until the end of January!

Find extracts of the books on Goodreads to try before you buy, then...

BUY THE BOOKS ON LULU!

Amelia's Song Calendar now 10% off

The 2014 Standard Calendar for Amelia's Song - containing 12 illustrations from the book as well as the iconic purple cover , all in a size that are frameable after use, is now 10% off on Lulu.  If you'd prefer a bigger calendar the deluxe version (with the same illustrations in) is 5% off just now too. Have a look at the pictures in the previewer below then click the Buy Now button to get one.
Remember you can also buy the book itself from Lulu as well as from Amazon, where you'll also find the Kindle version.

The flame haired girl has something to say...

VIRULENTBLURB:REFLECTIONS review in Starburst Magazine!

HUGE news today as the new issue of Starburst Magazine hits the UK shops.  There... in issue 396... on page 82.... is a PRINT review of the latest book VirulentBlurb Reflections....

Yes!  the VirulentBlurb has hit the High Street, as Starburst Magazine is available in many UK newsagents such as W H Smith.

A HUGE thank you to them for supporting an independent author in a mainstream magazine.

Their review appeared on their website not long after the book came out (only 6 weeks ago, can you believe it?) and you can find it here.
Buy the book on Lulu and Amazon

ON KINDLE and IN PAPERBACK