Andrew Cormier's Blog, page 3
July 27, 2014
Author Interview – Andrew Cormier’s Interview with Scriveners River
Tell us about your latest book. How did it come about, change as you wrote and researched, etc.
It is a work of speculative fiction or dark fantasy. It is kind of a cross-genre blend. It started in 2002 as a short story. People liked it so much I decided to expand. The idea was very original and I planned to do a few things I have never seen in literature or movies before, so I knew I had to write it. I originally had a totally different ending, which wouldn’t have worked, and I added an alternate as an afterthought. It turns out many people prefer the alternate.
Do you have a favorite character? Why?
The main character: he’s the focus of the entire book, it is kind of his memoir. I love how dynamic he is as the book moves on.
Who/what influences or inspires your writing?
I don’t know anymore. I think I inspire myself, I am driven to succeed and I enjoy doing it.
What authors do you return to again and again, if any? Where do you find new authors to read?
I haven’t been reading as much lately, but in the past I found myself grabbing as many of R.A. Salvatore’s books as I could. I usually find new authors by word of mouth or on the writing groups I belong to.
Do you have a writing routine/ritual? What distracts you when you’re writing?
Yes: I wake up, write as much as I can, and break once my head starts to hurt. I then repeat. Lately the HBO series Boardwalk Empire has been distracting me. I started it a few weeks ago and am compelled to see what happens next.
What do you like best/least about writing?
The best is when you finish putting an awesome quote in a book, or write a scene that is just mind-blowing. The least favorite part is the editing.
Favorite non-writing activities?
Watching football (go Pats!). I also like movies and TV, camping, and grilling.
Advice for newbies?
Keep writing. Your first few stories are going to probably be really bad. Or at least need a lot of editing. Even with natural talent you will grow a ton the more you write.
What else are you working on?
I’m currently writing a zombie apocalypse book. I plan to call it Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse.
Where has writing taken you that you never expected to go? Funniest/most exciting/most memorable?
I found out I am a “real sick person” according to friends and family. I guess I have a macabre sense of humor, and some of the women in my stories get a bit mistreated. The funniest thing I did was a scene near the end of “The Great Deceiver” …I won’t ruin it, but I laughed for two days when I put it in.
Pantser/plotter?
Plotter, definitely: though I believe characters ultimately drive a plot. Memorable characters are more important than the plot. I wrote a fantasy series from the POV of 13 characters as it shifted, and 3 interweaving plots. The outline alone was 19 pages.
How do you deal with dry spells?
I find other things to do.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers? How do they help?
Yes, I have a few people whose opinions I rely upon and trust. They tell me where the dog died, so to speak. I learn more about my books from them than I do myself, and their input is critical.
Do you remember the first book you ever read or had read to you? First story you wrote?
It was so long ago I can’t. I was probably in the 2nd or 3rd grade. I remember a book about a teacher who was replaced by an alien/monster. I also remember a book about a magic ring that turned a kid into a dragon or something. I wish I could recall the titles, they’d be interesting to revisit. The first story I wrote was about a serial killer, though I spelled it “cereal” because I didn’t know any better. Lol. It also was more a guy running around committing random violence, so made no sense at allI think I was in the 4th grade.
The post Author Interview – Andrew Cormier’s Interview with Scriveners River appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 26, 2014
FREE Ebook download PDF – sample chapters from Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse
I just finished my new, zombie apocalypse horror novel. I have decided to offer sample chapters too. You can now preview the first two chapters for free. This is a great ebook deal! I am so confident that zombie lovers will love this book that I know you’ll be hooked right from the start. I hope you all enjoy this free preview.
Customer Praise for Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse
“I read it in one sitting.” – Customer Review, Amazon
“A really great story. Read it without stopping. Hope there are more to come by this author. Looking forward to reading more of his books.” – Customer Review, Amazon
Use this link to purchase Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse on Kindle as an an ebook.
If you want to purchase Shamblers as a paperback, use this link to order it from Createspace.
DOWNLOAD a FREE SAMPLE of Shamblers HERE – this FREE Ebook download PDF
includes the first two chapters.
FROM THE AUTHOR:
I am truly excited for this zombie apocalypse novel. There are a number of reasons I love this story. I’ll start with some of the cool highlights that you can expect:
Shamblers has 14+ characters who get to die in awesome, creative ways (usually from zombies). It has a showdown with enemy survivors, a stunning betrayal, an intensely cruel and devious villain, a hero who has to save his woman and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, plus a great s** scene. Shamblers mixes horror with fast-paced action and the character relationships make it much more than just a zombie-survival story.
One theme that I tried hard to imprint within Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse is a sense of hyper-realism: I don’t believe in stupid characters who look behind a door knowing that their death is imminent behind it. My characters here feel believable, they are unique, and they each have their own quirks. In that sense, the characters behave in realistic ways. Often, they have to make very difficult choices that aren’t necessarily black and white.
Shamblers feels like a mix of the TV series The Walking Dead (of which I am a huge fan) and the Western, Unforgiven. It isn’t just a horror story: it’s a mix of horror and fast-paced action. T The setting is Northern California, in a fictionalized version of the town of Payne’s Creek and the surrounding area. It takes place after the initial zombie outbreak.
SYNOPSIS TO Shamblers (from the rear cover):
Betrayed by his best friend and left to die at the hands of zombies, Nick Steiner has a vendetta to settle: if he can stay alive.
Being shot by Marcus Gray has given Nick sufficient reason to want revenge; for that alone Marcus deserves to die. Yet Marcus didn’t just shoot Nick: he stole Nick’s woman as well.
Nick has vowed to kill everyone and everything in his way until he gets his girl back and makes Marcus pay.
NOTE: This novel contains depictions of extreme violence, adult language, sexual references and situations, and other miscellaneous terms that may be racial and ethnically derogatory. If you are easily offended it is advise you think twice before purchasing it. The author wants to make it known that any offensive language and situations that are contained within have been put there solely in the interest of story-telling.
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July 25, 2014
Reminder to post book reviews – free book reviews wanted
Hi to all my fans and people subscribed to my blog. I hope you are all having a fun summer. I just wanted to state that my newest novel: Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse is doing very well. It is getting some good early feedback and I am very happy with this. Sales have also been trending upward, which helps me pay my bills (which I can’t do now but I hope to be there someday).
I wanted to ask all my fans and anyone who has purchased a copy of my books or read them to please do me the really great service of posting a review on Amazon, or whatever site you may have purchased/downloaded it from. Also, please remember that you can also sign up for and post reviews on other sites, such as Goodreads. These also get a lot of notice.
In case you missed the point of this newest post: I can really use book reviews. I get about 1 review per 100 downloads/sales. That is a pretty shoddy number, frankly. I even ask at the end of my novels if people could please post a review.
The reason I am emphasizing this so much is that they are really one of the best ways for me to get the recognition that I know I deserve and have worked very hard for.
Writing isn’t just a hobby for me: it is a career. It is my only passion. I cannot do it for a living unless I have fan support. I hope to continue to provide quality books in the future, and to do so, it must start with reviews. I have SLAVED at my computer for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of hours, writing and editing, revising, and marketing. It is a lot of work. That is why most people never write a book, and why 80% of the CRAP that is out there now is CRAP. It is hard work and requires a lot of natural skill and some training.
Thank you all!
The post Reminder to post book reviews – free book reviews wanted appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 23, 2014
free today on kindle – Shamblers: the Zombie Apocalypse – free ebook
Shamblers: The Zombie Apocalypse is now 100% free for Thursday, July 24th. I am doing this promo to get some reviews on this brand new book. The ending came together as well as I had hoped, and in some ways better. I am sure you will love it.
I am truly excited for this zombie apocalypse novel and here’s a few cool reasons why: 14+ characters who get to die in awesome ways (usually from zombies), 3 major fights against zombies, a showdown with enemy survivors, a stunning betrayal, an intensely cruel and devious villain, a hero who has to save his woman, a great *** scene.
One thing I really enjoy about this novel is the hyper-realism that you would expect from people in an apocalypse – I don’t believe in stupid characters who look behind a door knowing that their death is imminent behind it -the characters behave and act in realistic ways. They often have to make very difficult choices.
Shamblers feels like a mix of the TV series The Walking Dead (of which I am a huge fan) and the Western, Unforgiven. It isn’t just a horror story: it’s a mix of horror and fast-paced action. T The setting is Northern California, in a fictionalized version of the town of Payne’s Creek and the surrounding area. It takes place after the initial zombie outbreak.
Here is the link to download this free thursday kindle deal: http://www.amazon.com/Shamblers-zombi...
Betrayed by his best friend and left to die at the hands of zombies, Nick Steiner has a vendetta to settle: if he can stay alive.
Being shot by Marcus Gray has given Nick sufficient reason to want revenge; for that alone Marcus deserves to die. Yet Marcus didn’t just shoot Nick: he stole Nick’s woman as well.
Nick has vowed to kill everyone and everything in his way until he gets his girl back and makes Marcus pay.
Make sure you act now to get this free download, of the free ebook, free for kindle, free book deal, free novel, free horror novel, and all the other good keywords I can put in here to make it trigger on search engines. The key point is it is a free zombie novel
The post free today on kindle – Shamblers: the Zombie Apocalypse – free ebook appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 15, 2014
free today on kindle – Shamblers: the Zombie Apocalypse – free
Shamblers: The Zombie Apocalypse is now 100% free for today only. I am doing this promo to get some reviews on this brand new book. The ending came together as well as I had hoped, and in some ways. I am sure you will love it.
I am truly excited for this zombie apocalypse novel and here’s a few cool reasons why: 14+ characters who get to die in awesome ways (usually from zombies), 3 major fights against zombies, a showdown with enemy survivors, a stunning betrayal, an intensely cruel and devious villain, a hero who has to save his woman, a great *** scene.
One thing I really enjoy about this novel is the hyper-realism that you would expect from people in an apocalypse – I don’t believe in stupid characters who look behind a door knowing that their death is imminent behind it -the characters behave and act in realistic ways. They often have to make very difficult choices.
Shamblers feels like a mix of the TV series The Walking Dead (of which I am a huge fan) and the Western, Unforgiven. It isn’t just a horror story: it’s a mix of horror and fast-paced action. T The setting is Northern California, in a fictionalized version of the town of Payne’s Creek and the surrounding area. It takes place after the initial zombie outbreak.
Betrayed by his best friend and left to die at the hands of zombies, Nick Steiner has a vendetta to settle: if he can stay alive.
Being shot by Marcus Gray has given Nick sufficient reason to want revenge; for that alone Marcus deserves to die. Yet Marcus didn’t just shoot Nick: he stole Nick’s woman as well.
Nick has vowed to kill everyone and everything in his way until he gets his girl back and makes Marcus pay.
The post free today on kindle – Shamblers: the Zombie Apocalypse – free appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 14, 2014
Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse: now available as an ebook
I am pleased to announce that cover design is complete. I uploaded my newest novel to Kindle today and also to Smashwords.
You can purchase it on Amazon
Or Smashwords
Betrayed by his best friend and left to die at the hands of zombies, Nick Steiner has a vendetta to settle: if he can stay alive.
Being shot by Marcus Gray has given Nick sufficient reason to want revenge; for that alone Marcus deserves to die. Yet Marcus didn’t just shoot Nick: he stole Nick’s woman as well.
Nick has vowed to kill everyone and everything in his way until he gets his girl back and makes Marcus pay.
-This novel will be available in paperback by the end of the week.
The post Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse: now available as an ebook appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 13, 2014
Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse – ebook update
I spent the entire day today designing the cover to my upcoming zombie apocalypse novel. The book will be a mix of horror and action. In anticipation of a release for as early as next week (if all goes well), I wanted to share the possible cover. Here it is:
This novel is 100% written now and has been edited. I am WAY ahead of schedule. That’s what happens when I get too motivated and don’t sleep enough. I am very excited for the apocalyptic book. I will have more updates about it soon.
The post Shamblers: the zombie apocalypse – ebook update appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
Free today on Kindle – free ebook
Free today on Kindle – free ebook
-my short suspense / mystery story is now free all day. Please download a copy of it and post a review. Thanks
http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Mind-Andr...
Synopsis for Piece of Mind:
Seeking professional help, Roland Fitzgerald goes to a well-known and repudiated psychiatrist. Roland claims that what he dreams becomes reality, or is he creating reality out of his dreams? Doctor Thurgood has treated a lot of patients over two decades, but has never met anyone quite like Roland Fitzgerald. His case is unique. Is he really crazy? Or is he actually telling the truth? Does Doctor Thurgood really have his patient’s best interests in mind, or does the doctor have more sinister intentions?
The post Free today on Kindle – free ebook appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 6, 2014
upcoming novel – Shamblers: the Zombie Apocalypse – author news
Shamblers: The Zombie Apocalypse is now 100% written. The ending came together as well as I had hoped, and in some ways, better. I am moving onto the editing phase. I am hoping this novel will be ready for release by the start of August, both as a paperback online and as an ebook.
I am truly excited for this zombie apocalypse novel and here’s a few cool reasons why: 14+ characters who get to die in awesome ways (usually from zombies), 3 major fights against zombies, a showdown with enemy survivors, a stunning betrayal, an intensely cruel and devious villain, a hero who has to save his woman, a great romantic moment, and hyper-realism that you would expect from people in an apocalypse – I don’t believe in stupid characters who look behind a door knowing that their death is imminent behind it -
Shamblers feels like a mix of the TV series The Walking Dead (of which I am a huge fan) and the Western, Unforgiven. It isn’t just a horror story: it’s a mix of horror and fast-paced action. The characters behave and act in realistic ways. I have included some very emotional “human elements” within the plot. The setting is Northern California, in a fictionalized version of the town of Payne’s Creek and the surrounding area. It takes place after the initial zombie outbreak.
I hope to provide more updates soon, including a free download of the first chapter or two and a front cover image. For now, here is the synopsis for the rear cover (I welcome feedback too):
Betrayed by his best friend and left to die at the hands of zombies, Nick Steiner has a vendetta to settle: if he can stay alive.
Being shot by Marcus Gray has given Nick sufficient reason to want revenge; for that alone Marcus deserves to die. Yet Marcus didn’t just shoot Nick: he stole Nick’s woman as well.
Nick has vowed to kill everyone and everything in his way until he gets his girl back and makes Marcus pay.
The post upcoming novel – Shamblers: the Zombie Apocalypse – author news appeared first on Andrew Cormier - Author - Official Website.
July 3, 2014
FREE BOOK PROMOTION 4th of July Free Ebook
Hi guys! To celebrate my favorite holiday, the 4th of July, I am offering a truly patriotic deal – all day today, our Independence Day, my new supernatural fantasy / speculative fiction novel, The Great Deceiver, will be free on Kindle. You’re going to want to read this book.
If you already have a paperback copy, please pick it up anyway! It really helps with visibility and will allow you to post a review on Amazon in the future. Please share this post with friends and tell everyone you know who wants a free download, free ebook, free book deal, and whatever else they want to call it.
Follow the link below to capitalize on your FREE BOOK PROMOTION 4th of July Free Ebook -
Front cover to The Great Deceiver – Free 4th of July Offer
Here is what people are saying about this supernatural fantasy novel:
“There’s enough wild imagination here to hold the attention of any reader, and the world(s) created by Cormier are hugely fun to explore.” – Customer Review, Amazon
“A fascinating, rollercoaster thrill read that I could hardly put down to eat or sleep.” – Customer Review, Amazon
“This was a real page turner” – Customer Review, Barnes & Noble
5 Stars – “Definitely gripping” – Reader’s Favorite
Rear Cover Synopsis:
As surely as men wage war against each other, supernatural deities also fight for human souls in the afterlife. What are the deciding factors that determine where a soul goes upon one’s death: is it the measure of a person’s character on Earth, and the deeds they have done, or something different? What if one soul has the potential to sway the supernatural battle between God and Satan?
A wealthy, successful lawyer, who seeks justice for those who have none, may be this exact soul. He is still unclaimed, and has a nearly-unlimited capacity for good or evil. When this lawyer’s family is killed, he is forced to make a difficult, moral decision. The consequences of it could forever change humanity. With Heaven and Hell at war, will he bring about the biblical apocalypse and world war three? Or will he prevent disaster and defeat the devil? The fate of mankind rests upon his shoulders.
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