All posts by Nathan Marchand

News, Announcements

New stories and poems this week!

Hello, “True Believers”! (Stan Lee could sue me for how many times I steal that term). It’s been a while since I’ve posted any new stories or poems, so I decided I would post three new ones this week, starting today. The others will be posted Wednesday and Friday.

Today, I posted a poem entitled “Pearl of Great Price.” It’s a love poem, of sorts, written in a style akin to Biblical wisdom literature, such as the the book of Proverbs. However, the poem was inspired by Jesus Christ’s parable of the pearl (Matthew 13:44-46). You may notice several allusions to these works in the poem. Did I have someone in mind when I wrote it? That’s for me to know and you to find out later. Maybe.

Click here to read it.

Poetry

Pearl of Great Price

Pearl of Great Price
By Nathan Marchand

Long have you searched the world
Seeking her—the rarest treasure.
She is worth far more than rubies,
But who can find her?

She is a precious stone, a pearl of great price,
Often thrown before swine
And trampled in mud,
But never losing her luster.

Find her while she may be found.
But if you do, you must sacrifice.
Sell all you have, lay your pride aside.
Only then, by suffering, can you pay her great price.

But it will seem like a pittance,
For her beauty is matchless,
And like a snowflake, there is none like her,
And never will be again.

Will you fight to earn her?
Will you prize her, cherish her?
Will you polish her so she may shine?
Do so, and she will be your crown forevermore.

Appearances, Announcements, News

I’m going to Gen-Con 2012

I just finished my registration for the Authors’ Avenue at Gen-Con 2012. I’ll be selling copies of my books there, including Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and The Day After. The convention will be held August 16-19 at the Indianapolis Convention Center (ICC) in Indianapolis.

Gen-Con is one of the oldest and largest gaming conventions in the world for over 44 years. It showcases the latest movers and shakers in the gaming world and many related products. You can learn more about the convention and register to attend here.

Books, News, Announcements

‘Ninjas and Talking Trees’ submitted to Hades Publications

Long time, no update. My apologies, readers.

I have great news. As of last night, I completed the second draft of my fantasy/comedy novel, Ninjas and Talking Trees, and submitted it to Hades Publications, who published my first novel, Pandora’s Box, under their Absolute XPress imprint in 2010. Now I must wait and see if they are interested in publishing it.

This book tells the tale of a young accountant who is transported to an eccentric fantasy world ruled by an equally eccentric tyrant. In order to get home, he must learn “the Ways of Hero-dom” and overthrow the villain. While it isn’t a parody, per se, it does poke fun at some fantasy story stereotypes (and a few from anime/manga), and  it uses many of the genre’s archetypes for comedic effect.

You can read more about the humorous history of the story here. I also have a short story entitled “Bow to Your Sensei” that I wrote as a warm-up to the book several years ago for a blog contest. It’s posted here.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Guest Author

The kid I tutor made a ‘Modern Warfare’ video

I haven’t been talking about it much here, but about a year ago, some fellow TUFW writers/graduates decided to start our own writing business called Breakthrough Writing Services. One of the things we do is English/writing tutoring. I’ve been working with a homeschooled high sophomore named Alec for several months. Recently, he sent me a paper about what he did for Christmas break. He and his friends decided to make a video inspired by the new video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It was posted on YouTube. I thought it was so good, I decided to share it with all of you. You can watch it below. Enjoy!

Nice work, Alec!

 

News, Announcements

New short story artwork for ‘The Hammer’

My brother Jarod has contributed yet another piece of excellent artwork for one of my short stories. This time it was for “The Hammer,” a science fiction story you can read here. The artwork portrays the hero, Matthias Maccabeus, punching out a disguised robot assassin. Check it out:

'The Finishing Blow' by Jarod Marchand

So, if you haven’t read the story yet, I hope you will now. Why would you pass up on excitement like this?

Appearances, Announcements, News

Book signing at Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, so please forgive me for my delay.

I’m having a book signing this Saturday from 10AM-noon at Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty, a small used bookstore in Mentone, Indiana. I’ll be signing all of my books, including Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and The Day After. I was referred to this place by a co-worker at my part-time job, who told me his daughter runs the place.

Be there, or be square!

News, Appearances, Announcements

Book signing at NWCPL this Saturday

Hello, readers! I wanted to remind you to come out to the North Webster Community Public Library this Saturday from 10AM-noon because I;ll be having a book signing! The signing is advertised as being for Destroyer, but I will also be signing and selling copies of The Day After and a few leftover copies of Pandora’s Box (since my story in The Day After is a companion piece to my novel, it is only fitting).

Cover art by Tyler Sowles
The Day After
Cover Art by Zach Hayden
Cover art by Tomislav Tikulin

Be there, or be square!