Wondering why I haven’t posted a new video lately? I explain why here. I also make an important announcement.
Featuring the song “The Touch” by Stan Bush.
‘House of the Living’ by Nick Hayden
You may recall a few may recall a few months ago when I did a “writer-ly exchange” with my friend Nick Hayden. We each wrote a story that took place in a world the other created. This resulted in my Christmas story, “The Discarded Gift,” a love story set in Nick’s fictional small town, Vienna. Nick took a little longer to finish his story, which he posted on his own website a few months ago. Now after letting it be exclusive to his site for a while, I am reposting it here.
It is called “House of the Living.” It was inspired by my novella Destroyer (which I co-wrote with his wife, Natasha). Here’s a synopsis:
When scientists stumble across the perfectly preserved body of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, the first question is: How? But as one scientist spends his life studying the extraterrestrial crystals that caused its preservation, his questions become deeper, touching his deepest fears of life and death.
It’s a haunting story, and a great expansion on the world of my novella.
You can read a PDF of it here: House of the Living by Nick Hayden
You can also download it as an eBook from Smashwords.
I like it so much, I may make a special edition of Destroyer that includes it as a bonus.
Meet me and the Indiana governor at a future signing!
I’ve been meaning to announce this for some time, but I’ve been ironing out a few details first.
I will have a book signing at the new Roanoke Public Library in Roanoke, Indiana. It will be at the library’s new location. Moving to this new place has been a big community undertaking, so much so that Indiana’s newly-elected governor is scheduled to appear! Yes, True Believers, Mike Pence will be at this signing! You what’s even better? I actually like him as governor!
The signing will be May 4 from 10am-3pm. Come buy copies of my books or bring your own so I can sign them–for free! (My signatures are always free).
‘Children of the Wells’ – COMING APRIL 1!
Remember that web serial project I broke news about on my vlog back in December?
It starts April 1 (no joke)!
Children of the Wells (CotW) is a bit of a first for me. I’ve been involved in serial fiction and group projects before, but nothing like this. The previous serials I worked on were never published; they were read and enjoyed only by the writers’ club I joined in college. The previous group project I participated in with those same writers produced Destroyer (which I may make a special edition of to include Nick’s new story, “House of the Living“). CotW, however, will be an ongoing web serial for everybody to enjoy! It has been over a year in planning, and I can’t wait to see it luanch.
What is CotW about? Read this:
The Cataclysm destroyed our magic wells and, along with them, our technology, our scientific advancements, and our aristocracy. We thought the world was dying. Forced to rely on our former enemies, we evolved, but in those first days, we had no inkling of the true extent of that change.
It takes place in a semi-modern fantasy world where technology developed around magic. If you’ve seen and/or read Full Metal Alchemist, you’ll have a good understanding of this concept.
The saga will begin with the serialization of the first novella, The Select’s Bodyguard by Nick Hayden (a writer friend whose name I can’t stop dropping). This story takes place in the scientific capital of Jalseion just after the disaster and introduces the characters of Bron and Calea. Calea is a nihilistic but brilliant young scientist making breakthroughs in magic technology and Bron is her singleminded bodyguard.
The story will continue in July with the publication of my novella, The Fall of the House of Kyzer. This will introduce readers to the imperial city of Thyrion, which rules much of the world with an iron fist, and to the heroic prince Jaysynn Kyzer. He is the youngest son of the city’s Emperor and Empress, but unlike them and his six siblings, he has no magic abilities, making him an outcast in his own family. However, Jaysynn is trained by Gen. Xander Dracon, himself a non-magic user, to become a warrior in his own right. There’s more to it than that, but I won’t give you any spoilers. Sorry, True Believers!
The adventure begins April 1!
Click here to see the website. Sign up for the newsletter and spread the word!
But I Digress…, Episode 10: Top 5 Movies You’re Not Watching
“But I Digress…”
Hosted by Nathan Marchand
This video is a week late (I’ll be posting about this issue soon), but now it’s done.
There are lots of good out there, but many of them go unnoticed by audiences. This is my short list of flicks that are underrated or under-watched. Do you agree? What movies are on your list? Let me me know in the comments!
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The Countdown Begins…
The adventure begins April 1 (no joke).
Nominate me for the Eugene and Maralyn Glick Indiana Author Award
Unbeknownst to me until I wandered into my local library and found bookmarks for such, there is an award given to Indiana authors every year. It’s the Eugene and Maralyn Glick Indiana Author Award.
According to the award’s website:
The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award was established when The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation received a generous grant from The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation. This program seeks to recognize the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation.
The Award categories are:
- National Author – $10,000 prize: A writer with Indiana ties, but whose work is known and read throughout the country. The national author will be evaluated on their entire body of work.
- Regional Author – $7,500 prize: A writer who is well-known and respected throughout the state of Indiana. The regional author will be evaluated on their entire body of work.
- Emerging Author – $5,000 prize: A writer who has published no more than two books during his or her lifetime. The title(s) must have been published within the last 10 years. Emerging authors will be evaluated on these specific works.
In addition to a cash prize, each author’s Indiana hometown public library will receive a grant of $2,500 from the Library Foundation.
This means you can nominate me for the “emerging author” award.
Well, what are you waiting for, True Believers? Click here to nominate me!
Book signing postponed (again!)
Due to yet more scheduling issues, I must unfortunately postpone my book signing at The next Chapter Bookseller in Warsaw, Indiana, once again. I haven’t determined a new date, but it’ll most likely be the first Friday of April. My apologies for the inconvenience. I will keep you updated on new developments.
UPDATE: The book signing has been tentatively rescheduled for April 5, 2013. Stay tuned for more updates.
But I Digress…, Episode 9: The Nine Basic Plots (Part2)
“But I Digress…”
Hosted by Nathan Marchand
After a humorous recap of the first four plots I talked about two episodes ago, I discuss the last five of the nine basic plots. What are they? Watch and find out!
Sorry for the brief hiatus. I was having technology problems.
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A Conspiracy of Technology
Wondering where episode 9 of “But I Digress…” is? It is finished. It was supposed to be posted yesterday. Truth be told, I did post it on YouTube, but only for five minutes. Why? There was no sound! So, I took it down.
I haven’t had the time to see if the video file was corrupted when it was encoded or if it’s YouTube’s fault (and by extension Paramount Studios since I used some Star Trek music in it. Some music producers are stringent with YouTube about people posting their music in videos).
That coupled with the horrid luck I’ve been having with getting a working laptop (long story), and I’m starting to wonder if technology is conspiring against me. Maybe Skynet (or whoever the future robot overlords are) knows I’m onto them! (Haha)
Regardless, I’ll do what I can to remedy these situations, God willing.
UPDATE (2-18-13): The video file still has sound. It was YouTube’s fault. I’ll upload it this weekend. Sorry I’ll be skipping a posting date. Think of it as a one-time hiatus. TV shows do it all the time.
Also, my new laptop seems to be behaving now (“seems” being the key word).