My next episode isn’t quite finished, but I did have an idea for a spur-of-the-moment “Digression” video, so I hope this tides you over for now. However, it’s on a very serious topical issue: gun control. I don’t usually get political, but this was a point where my politics and creativity combined. I read an excerpt from my novel, “Pandora’s Box,” that illustrates my opinion on the matter.
My next vlog should be posted in a day or two.
(Sorry about the voices in the background. They’re people in the next room. I hope it’s not distracting).
A few weeks ago, I discovered a little used bookstore in Warsaw, Indiana, called the Next Chapter. I learned they host signings for authors, so I immediately scheduled a signing. But not only will I be there, my Destroyer and The Day After co-authors and friends Nick and Natasha Hayden will be there, too! (I’m going to try to get another one of my co-authors to come, but I haven’t talked to him yet). We’ll be selling and signing copies of those books as well as my novel, Pandora’s Box.
The signing will be part of the bookstore’s First Fridays event on February 1, 2013, from 5:30pm-7:30pm (or so). We’ll be selling our books at discounted prices. Don’t miss this opportunity to have Destroyer and The Day After signed by multiple authors!
I’ll be at Table Z in Author’s Avenue at Gen-Con Aug. 16-19 in Indianapolis.
I’ve received my table assignment for Gen-Con’s Authors’ Avenue. As you can see above, I’ll be at Table Z. I’ll be selling and signing copies of Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, andThe Day After. Gen-Con is August 16-19 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Author’s Avenue is open each day of the convention from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
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.
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.
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 Afterand 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 SowlesCover Art by Zach HaydenCover art by Tomislav Tikulin
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.
This past Saturday, I and my co-authors Timothy Deal and Nick and Natasha Hayden returned to the former campus of our alma mater, Taylor University Fort Wayne. We sold and signed copies of our books in the marketplace during the Fort Wayne Celebrates event, which serves as a replacement for the school’s homecoming.
The Eicher Student Commons, where most of Fort Wayne Celebrates took place. (Photo by Nathan Marchand)
I arrived at 11:30 AM or so, thinking it started at noon. I quickly learned it didn’t start until 1:00 PM. Timothy arrived around noon, and the Haydens arrived with their toddler son, Fyodor, at 12:30, so all of us were gathered and ready in time. Within minutes, dozens of alumni swarmed the marketplace area and perused our books, which included Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and The Day After.
We sell and sign books at Fort Wayne Celebrates for our fellow alumni. (Top to bottom: Natasha, Timothy, myself). (Photo by Michael Mortensen)Timothy, Natasha, and I at Fort Wayne Celebrates. (L to R: Myself, Timothy, Natasha).A group shot of myself and the Haydens. (L to R: Natasha, myself, Nick, Fyodor).
The Haydens sold copies of Destroyer and The Day After like hotcakes, probably because we offered to sell them together for $12 when they sell for $7 each. I, on the other hand, practiced well the art of hawking and sold all but two of the seven or eight copies of Pandora’s Box I brought. My favorite customer was Parker, a 14-year-old boy whose mother from the class of 1989 bought him a copy of the novel. He read it intently for the rest of the night, as you see here:
This will be the first of many such pictures in the future. Writers do love seeing photos of their fans. (Photo by Nathan Marchand)
So, overall, it was one of the most fun signings I’ve had so far. I’ll try to post a full gallery of pictures later. (I know, I know. I’m way behind on my photo galleries here).
Next up: The North Webster Community Public Library, October 15.
A Man from Another Time Exploring Another Universe
