Category Archives: Announcements

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!

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?

News, Appearances, Announcements

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!

News, Novels, Books, Announcements

Big ‘Pandora’s Box’ announcement on Derailed Trains of Thought!

In celebration of their podcast’s first anniversary, my friends and co-authors Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal invited me to return to “Derailed Trains of Thought.” They review each of the previous 19 episodes in reverse order, having each of their previous guests–including myself, Natasha Hayden, Laura Fischer, and Brian Scherschel–pipe in to give updates on the topics they talked about when they were previously on the show. In my segment, I told everyone about my short story “Suicide Soldier,” a companion piece to my novel, Pandora’s Box, which is included in Novel Concept’s latest publication, The Day After. But the biggest announcement comes during the second half of my segment–I officially announce that I will write a sequel to Pandora’s Box!

Listen to the podcast here for the details, or you can download it on iTunes.

News, Appearances, Announcements

Summer’s Stories signing successful

Signing copies of 'Destroyer' and 'The Day After'
The authors of 'Destroyer' and 'The Day After' sign copies of their books. L to R: Timothy Deal, myself, Natasha Hayden. (Not pictured: Nick Hayden).

If you came to the book signing my partners in crime Tim and Nick and Natasha and I held at Summer’s Stories this past Saturday, thank you for making it a rousing success. If you didn’t come…why?

While the signing was originally just for Destroyer, we received copies of The Day After right before it, so it was included. I sold nearly twice as many books there as I did the first time I had a signing at the store (of course, it helped that I was selling two titles).

Don’t forget that this Saturday I will be at Fort Wayne Celebrates on the former Taylor University Fort Wayne campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 12pm-5pm!

Be there, or be square!

News, Appearances, Announcements

I’m returning to Summer’s Stories!

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!