Category Archives: Announcements

Books, News, Announcements

‘The Day After’ now available as a Kindle download!

I’ve been neglecting to announce this for months. Forgive me, readers, especially if you own a Kindle.

Cover Art by Zach Hayden

The Day After, a short story collection that includes my story “Suicide Soldier” (a companion piece to Pandora’s Box), is now available on Amazon.com as a Kindle download for $1.99. This is thanks to my friend, fellow writer, and fellow contributor Nick Hayden.

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 and all that’s left is the day after?

You can buy it for your Kindle here.

News, Announcements

My brother creates artwork for ‘Wrestling’

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I’m proud to announce that once again my brother Jarod Marchand has created an illustration for one of my stories. This time it was for “Wrestling,” which is about a down-on-his-luck small-time pro wrestler is assailed by a mysterious opponent after a match. Here’s Jarod’s artwork:

Artwork by Jarod Marchand

He takes some creative license, I admit. The wrestler’s opponent wears a hoodie in the story, while Jarod makes it look like a cloak. Other than that, it’s more or less what happens in the story. I don’t mind Jarod’s changes. It showcases his unique style and flair for drama.

You can read the story here.

News, Announcements

The Best of NaPoWriMo 2012

I’ve gone through the poems I wrote for NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) last month, editing them and selecting the ones I consider the best of the lot. These will be added to the poetry section of the “Nathan’s Works” section of this website. So, without further adieu, here are the best of NaPoWriMo:

Fall
Funeral
So Far Away
Lamentations of a Robot Overlord
My Love, Our Crucible
Surgery
Farewell
Haiku 1 & Haiku 2
Writer’s Block
Waiting For Winter’s End
Slander
Haiku 3 & Haiku 4
Run
Warzone
Nonsense
Broken Wings
Avengers Assemble
Fortress of Solitude
Finding the Right Dance Partner

Which one(s) was (were) your favorite(s)? Were there any I left out that you think I should include? Why?

News, Announcements

NaPoWriMo (just try to pronounce it)

I learned on my friend Karen’s blog that April is National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo). The challenge is to write one poem a day, thereby having 30 completed poems by the end of the month. I’m going to participate even though I’m five days behind. So, for the next five days, I will write two poems a day so I can catch up. I’ll be posting each poem as the month progresses. I can’t promise that all the poems will be good. First, because I’m still refining my skill as a poet. Second, the tight deadline (and my schedule) leaves little time for editing. So please bear with me, readers. The poems I do like from this month will be added to the main list of poems in the “Nathan’s Works” tab.

Here goes nothin’!

News, Announcements

New short story posted–‘Wrestling’

I’m sorry, readers. I meant to post this story Friday, but life happened, and I was so busy all weekend. But better late than never.

The new story is entitled “Wrestling.” It’s a 1,000-word “magical realism” story about a small-time professional wrestler who is assailed by a mysterious opponent on the eve of going to court for a lawsuit. It was inspired by the movie, The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke, and by the story of Jacob wrestling with God in the Biblical book of Genesis. It came about because of a writer’s group challenge. I hope you enjoy it. Click here to read it.

I may post a few more poems this week. Stay tuned.

News, Announcements

Website working again; new poem posted

Yesterday, the server that hosts this website inexplicably shut down. It was down for over  a day. My apologies to you, my readers. Thankfully, it seems the problem(s) have been corrected.

Anyway, I wanted to announce I’ve posted another poem, as promised. This one is entitled “A Psalm,” and that’s exactly what it is. If you’re familiar with the Book of Psalms in the Bible, you’ll know what to expect. I wrote it in the style of a psalm translated into English, however it’s certainly not divinely-inspired Scripture. But then again, I’m sure there were many psalms that were written but not included in the Bible. Regardless, like many of the Biblical psalms, mine is a prayer for deliverance.

You can read more about psalms here.

You can read the poem here.

A new short story will be posted Friday!

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.

News, Appearances, Announcements

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!