I wrote about some of my experiences on September 11, 2001, and the lessons it taught us as a nation in the latest blog on Breakthrough Writing Services‘ blog. You can read it here.
After you read it, please be sure to check out what services Breakthrough has to offer. “Don’t worry, we’ve got the words you’re looking for.”
As I mentioned a few months ago, I wrote a short story for a collection I was working on with several friends. Now that collection is finished and is about to be self-published!
Obviously, I’m one of four authors who contributed to this collection. The others are my friends Natasha Hayden, Nick Hayden, and Keith Osmun. We decided a few months ago to pick a theme and each write a short story in a different genre pertaining to that theme. Our theme was simply “the day after,” which is pretty open-ended. I chose science fiction, obviously. My story, “Suicide Soldier,” that takes place in the world of Pandora’s Box and explains a few details of that book’s events that weren’t explored in its narrative.
Here’s the back cover copy:
Natalya is an American mom and wife with a Russian name working as a spy for the Brazilian government in a Midwest American town. Balancing dual identities is dangerous–and sometimes comical–especially when her husband hasn’t a clue.
Morana is on a suicide mission to transmit a bestial virus to her enemies when she encounters a smalltown family with the potential to break through her boundaries of hatred. But in the end, will it make a difference, or is it too late for redemption?
Peter, a photojournalist, returns home late to meet his newborn son…but just in time to rescue his family from a national zombie infestation. As they travel toward safer ground, trying to maintain a modicum of normalcy, Peter has the urge to document the disaster, but at what price?
Jacob is trapped in an endless maze of a house that appears to have no exits to the outside world except for a noose in his bedroom. He meets a mysterious stranger in the darkness and discovers pieces of letters he doesn’t remember writing. Who knows how long he’s been there? The noose is tightening.
Four stories, four writers, four genres…one connecting thread. What happens when the main focus of your life is stripped away and all that’s left is the day after?
So, as you can see, we have quite a variety of stories in this collection. Besides my science fiction tragedy, there’s a spy comedy, a zombie horror story, and a gothic horror story. All of which, if I may say so, are great reads.
UPDATE: The Day After, the latest release from Novel Concept, is now available in paperback (and PDF) from www.Lulu.com and as an e-book from www.Smashwords.com.
After graciously hosting my first ever book signing for Pandora’s Box last year, I’ll be returning to Summer’s Stories in Kendallville, Indiana, with Natasha Hayden and Timothy Deal to sign and sell copies of Destroyer. The signing will be September 17 from 1PM-3PM. It will be primarily for Destroyer, but I will also bring a few copies of my other book(s) (see my next announcement).
So don’t miss this rare opportunity to get a copy of this new novella from Novel Concept signed by all three authors!
I just updated my “Appearances” page with two new book signings.
On Saturday, September 24, 2011, I will return to the former campus of my alma mater, Taylor University Fort Wayne, for the Fort Wayne Celebrates event. This (hopefully) annual event is the replacement for my campus’ homecoming. My friends/fellow authors Nick Hayden, Natasha Hayden, Timothy Deal, and perhaps a few more will be present, signing and selling books at a booth in the event’s marketplace from 12PM-5PM. We’ll be there off and on while enjoying the many events going on that day, but please come see us. I will be selling and signing copies of Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and the forthcoming The Day After.
Then Saturday, October 15, 2011, I will be signing copies of Destroyer at the North Webster Community Public Library from 10AM-12PM. I may also bring a few copies of the other aforementioned books.
Stay tuned for other news about book signings!
My friends Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal featured me on their amazing podcast, “Derailed Trains of Thought,” again. Last November they interviewed me when Pandora’s Box was published. In their latest episode, I read chapter six of Destroyer in a segment called “A Bit of Story.” If you want to get a taste of the story before purchasing it on www.Lulu.com or www.Smashwords.com, check this out. You can also download the podcast from iTunes onto your iPod, iPhone, or iPad.
While you’re there, please listen to previous episodes of the podcast. It’s quite good. Both Tim (one of the novella’s co-authors) and Nick have great insights into storytelling, and, I might add, awesome senses of humor. If you’re a creative person looking for a place to discuss ideas about the art and craft storytelling, go no further.
And when you comment, tell ’em Nate sent you.
It was a little more difficult to do than I expected, but Destroyer, my recently self-published novella co-written with Natasha Hayden and Timothy Deal, is now available as an ebook on www.Smashwords.com! Now you can download it and read it on your Kindle, iPhone, and other mobile devices. Just go here. You can also check out my Smashwords profile page (although it’s not much different from my profile here).
Be warned: I am still working out some bugs with the book’s formatting. So, if it looks a little odd in places, let me know, and I’ll try to iron it out. Thank, faithful readers!
I have made a few changes in order to streamline the website. The “Novellas” and “Novels” sections of the “Nathan’s Works” page have been combined into a single one labeled “Books.” I did this because I realized I’ll be published/self-publishing a variety of books of different kinds, including a short story collection with several friends, so this label made more sense.
After fighting a long battle with Lulu.com‘s cover wizard program, I am ecstatic to announce that Destroyer has been self-published in print! This is a novella I co-wrote with Natasha Hayden and Timothy Deal from 2008-2009 as part of a year-long “Pulp Fiction Project” we and our writer friends did. I chose to write a “monster story” (which, as one guy pointed out, meant I could write “everything from Frankenstein to Godzilla”) and spent three months writing part one (about 10,000 words). The goal was to have a 30,000 word book by the end of the project. Then at our follow-up meetings throughout the year, we drew names from a hat, and that person wrote the next section of the story. Those fell to Natasha for part two and Timothy for part three.
I decided several months ago it was time for this to get published.
Destroyer tells the tale of a group of scientists and soldiers who create a giant cybernetic dragon to end a war, but the creature goes berserk and strands them in Moscow, one of the enemy capitals, and goes on a rampage.
I know that sounds like a B-movie plot, but I promise you it is closer to the movie Cloverfield, and it even has some shades of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It was, I will admit, inspired by a few Godzilla movies.
Regardless, it is available here on Lulu.com as a paperback and as a downloadable PDF. It will soon be available as an eBook on www.SmashWords.com, so you can take it anywhere on your mobile device.
Prepare yourself for some thrills and chills, readers!
I have been hard at work customizing Tyler Sowles’ cover painting for Destroyer. Lulu.com‘s cover maker has proven a little more finicky than I originally expected, but I expect to have the kinks ironed out within a day or two. Stay tuned.
My primary reason for posting today is to announce that my brother Jarod has created yet another illustration for one of my short stories. This time it is for “The Delivery.” Here it is:
It depicts the story’s hero, Mack, desperately trying to repair his steam tram so he can make his delivery on time. Jarod took the creative license of having it snow, but it does make sense. I’d tell you why, but that would spoil the story–so go read it, goshdarnit!
After a month of work (and a few short delays), the cover art for Destroyer, a pulpy science fiction novella I co-wrote with my writer friends Natasha Hayden and Timothy Deal, has been finished!
Take a gander:
This cover painting was created by Tyler Sowles, who I found by placing an ad in the Godzilla fanzine, G-Fan. I highly recommend checking out Tyler’s website: www.thekillustrator.com. If you’re into monsters and/or superheroes, he has a lot of artwork related to those sorts of characters.
Destroyer tells the tale of a group of scientists and soldiers who create a giant cybernetic dragon to end a war, but the creature goes berserk and strands them in Moscow, one of the enemy capitals, and goes on a rampage.
The book will soon be available in print from www.Lulu.com and as an eBook from www.SmashWords.com. It will also be the latest “publication” from Novel Concept (more on that later).
Stay tuned for more updates.