News
November 26, 2006
Pre order information is now available for "Raw Meat", an anthology produced by the Carnival of Wicked Writers. The first 100 copies sold will be signed originals by all 38 contributing authors. You can find ordering information by clicking the image below.
February 15, 2006
The only news I have today is bad news. I hate reporting bad news, but sometimes thats all there is. The first bit is a problem of my own, which doesn't seem like such a big deal compared to what I have to tell further down. The hard drive in my laptop died over the weekend, and I lost everything I had typed up in Voices in the Storm. I still have most of it written out, so all is not a total lost, except for the time it will take me to re-type it. I also lost the segment of book that I was working on with Stephen Gregar, but he told me today that he lost his agent, so there's no big rush to get that one finished. Other than a few pictures that I had saved on the HD, that's about all that was of any importance.
The worst news I've learned today, is that Pamela Allen passed away this week. I'm not sure if it was Sunday or Monday because I haven't gotten all the details as of yet. I just know that she became very ill, and succumbed to her illness. This was totally unexpected, as Pamela had no known major medical problems. Pam is the wife of fellow author John Paul Allen. I man that I consider to be a very good friend. John and I had first novels released the same year, and we traded autograph copies, and have kept in touch on a regular basis throughout the years. John and I have helped each other out in one way or another during our struggles to climb the literary ladder. I'm still on the bottom rung it seems, while he has made it up a step or two above me. Pam will be missed, and my thoughts and prayers will be with John throughout these saddened times. God bless you and your family John, and know that we're with you in thought, if not in presence, and that your family of fellow writers will be there for you when, and if you need us.
January 12, 2006
All is quiet on the homefront. I survived the holidays, and picked up a new hobby along the way. Just what I needed huh? Something else to take me away form writing. I've always expressed an interest in the heavens, not always spiritually, but physically. As in, gazing at them for long periods of time. Maybe that's why my wife was prompted to buy me a telescope for Christmas. Which reminds me... Happy Holidays! A little late I know, but that seems to be normal for me lately. Anyway, the scope is a DS2114 from Walmart. Not a bad starter scope I guess, but I already have my eye on something bigger. Now if I can just raise the $700 it will take to get it. The 2114 is fine for now though. At least it will help me learn more about the locations of stars, planets, and constellations in the night sky. When the skies are clear enough to view them that is. So far, I have viewed a few of the constellations, and the moon. The moon really blew me away. It's actually more mountainous than I would have thought. My main objective now is to see Saturn. I have always had an attraction to that planet for some reason. Maybe it's beacause its such a beautiful planet. And those outer rings just amaze me. Soon, I will track it, and spend some time in awe taking in it's beauty. Astronomy is an expensive hobby, if you let it be that is. But then, any hobby is expensive anymore. Getting a decent scope isn't so bad. You can spend anywhere from $300 to $1000. Of course they do have some in the 10, 15, and $20,000 range if you really want to get serious about it. But I think I'll be satisfied to keep a scope below the $1000 mark. Accessories are what really get you. Eyepieces run from $50 to several hundred dollars, depending on what you want. And then there's the case for protecting your scope, if you plan on taking it anywhere. I think mine will stay around the house more often than not. The case can be had for about $50. Of course there are filters (multi-colored, solar, and lunar) if you desire to have those. Different finder scopes (which help you align your main scope), and a ton of other stuff like books, maps, and charts that would be very helpful to any amatuer astronomer. I think I'll keep it simple for a while though, to make sure the passion lasts, and to learn more about the things I need to know to be able to enjoy it.
I ordered a few books last night. Trying to get caught up on some buying. A few were some I would have gotten sooner or later anyway, but there was a couple that I thought I would try, just because they looked good. Some of the main selections were Stephen Kings, CELL. Dean Koontz's, FOREVER ODD, and VELOCITY. And MARY,MARY by James PAtterson. A few of the tryout books were - GONE, by Lisa Gardner. PERFECT NIGHTMARE by John Saul, and THE UNWELCOME CHILD by Terese Pampellonne.
As for my writing. Still working on Voices In The Storm, and still co-writing a novel with Steve Gregar. We had hoped to have that one finished by the first of the year, but time constraints have slowed us a bit. We'll get there however.
That's all for now. Hopefully, it won't be two months before I update again.
November 14, 2005
I got a message from Nocturne Press yesterday in reference to the chapbook they were going to publish for me. It seems that the artist that was suppose to do the cover has backed out. His reason was that he couldn't come up with an idea for an illustration to fit the story. I don't know if that's the real reason, but it's the one he gave anyway. Seems like an excuse to me. Artists are in a creative business, and it's their business to CREATE with what they have to work with. I have to wonder if maybe he didn't like the story, or if maybe it was because he's too busy to mess with the smaller fish, when there's bigger fish on his plate to fry. As far as Nocturne, I'm not sure if they're still going to persue this adventure or not. I've left it open for their decision. If they back out, then maybe the project isn't worth persuing. I'll let them make that decision.
In other happenings, I'm still trying to work on novel 3 when I get the chance. I'm also reading and reviewing the latest work of Mari Adkins, so that's keeping me busy, and I'm co-writing a novel with Steve Gregar. We're a little over 26,000 words in that one, so it's coming right along. I think this will be one that everyone can relate to, but I can't say more than that for now. Don't want to give anything away just yet. I think we're shooting for having it done by the end of the year, but I'll keep you posted on how its going. The collaboration is flowing smoothly for now, I just hope it continues to do so. That's about it for this round of news. Hopefully there will be more for next time.
September 28, 2005
Feeling a little unnecessary today, but thought I needed to post something anyway. I've gotten calls from members of The Gopher Hill Committee and the Celebrate Hardeeville Committee, inviting me to do their annual events. I've already declined the Gopher Hill invitation, and will probably decline the Hardeeville invitation. I'm not doing this because I dislike either place. In fact, I support both festivals as much as I can, I just can't do it this year.
Being a writer, and selling my novels at the outdoor events is fun, and I love doing it. Even though I say I'm not doing it for the money, it does help to at least break even on a days work. The past two years, I went in the hole at both events, and that's no fun when your signings start costing you more money than you're making. There's very little profit in bookselling.
In other news. Nocturne Press contacted me about the story I wrote for the chapbook they will be publishing. The manuscript is in route to the artist that will be doing the cover, and I look forward to seeing his finished work. Publishing processes are time consuming, with any publisher. But the finished product should be well worth the wait.
September 15, 2005
Just a few things to mention today, but nothing to cause anyone so much excitement that they would need to adjust their pacemakers.
Life has thrown me a huge curve, and has had me tied up like a Salem witch. Only, the heat isn't from being burned at the stake. I've had little time to read, and even less time to write. I'm still trying to get through Midnight by Mari Adkins, and Brett McBean's The Last Motel. Both are great books, and I'd recommend them anyone that loves a good tale.
My buddy Steve Gregar signed a contract for his childrens books with Running Water Literary Agency, and is now waiting through the process of their offering to publishers. I wish him much luck, and even greater success with his work, and hope that the slow boat doesn't sink before it reaches its destination. The writing business is a slow process all the way around. From getting the manuscript written, dredging through multiple drafts to clean and polish your story, and then trying to get an agent interested enough to give it representation and try to get it sold to a publisher. New writers like myself are trying to break into the business everyday, and that really makes it tough trying to find a good, honest, reliable agent that has time to even consider taking a look at your work. Patience is the name of the game, and sometimes that seems like all you have, if you have that. The only thing a writer can do is to keep writing, keep making offers, and hoping that someday he or she will write the next Harry Potter, or the next Carrie, depending on which genre you write in.
Much can be said about Hurricane Katrina, the devastation to the Gulf States, and the fumbled response of the Federal Government, but I won't debate that here. We see and hear enough about that on the news each day.
Have I mentioned that my parents have moved back from North Carolina? That happened back in May, but I can't remember if I've mentioned it here. I know Mom wanted to stay in the mountains, but Dad wanted to get back to the flatlands. The good thing is, it's only a 4 hour drive, so they can visit the hills anytime they want. And speaking of hills and mountains. Appalachian horror writer Scott Nicholson has his new book, The Home in stores everywhere. But if your local book dealer doesn't have it, make sure you request that they get it and pick yourself up a copy! I have a copy that I picked up at Walmart, but I've recently ordered an autographed copy from Scott. My Nicholson collection wouldn't be complete without having that one signed as well.
This leads me to Brian Keene. The man from PA that's making alot of noise in the horror scene with The Rising, and City of the Dead. Both books are optioned for movies and video games. As you may remember, I met brian in Asheboro, North Carolina; where he and Scott Nicholson, and Dale Bailey shared a signing session at Books A Million. Brian is one of those authors that is rising to the top fast, but hasn't forgotten what it took to get there. Even though I'm a self published author, and still struggling to break into the realms of mass marketing, Brian treated me with a kindness that you'd expect, but don't always get from authors that have made it as far as he has. I have a great respect for people like Brian, and look forward to reading anything he writes, to seeing his movies, and to buying and playing the video games as soon as they're available. Brian is reading my first self published book, Terror in the South, and from what he tells me, he's about half way through it, and is enjoying the read. Hopefully, he'll offer some tips and words of wisdom, about my work.
I should have mentioned this earlier, before boring anyone who may be actually reading this into clicking that little x and closing their browser, or simply surfing off to another page. But I won't be doing the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland this year. Their rental spots for the festival are too high for someone like me, who makes little profit on his wares. I get charged the same price for a spot as any other vendor, but they can sell two or three items and pay for their spot, where I'd have to sell 30 or 40 books to pay for mine. That wasn't hard to do the first year, but now that the excitement over the books has dwindled, I don't see it happening this year. Steve Gregar and I shared a spot last year, and we both went in the hole in the end. I may do the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival, but it will depend on their prices this year too. I heard that they've gone up since last year, and if that's true, then I'll resign myself to staying at home and working on my next book. I'll have to post more about that later when I find out what I'm going to do. If you've read this far, then thank you for sitting through my ramblings, and I do hope you come back again. I don't update this page often, as you can tell from the posted dates, but keep checking in. You never know what you may find.
August 24, 2005
The Carnival of Wicked Writers will be releasing an anthology in the Summer of 2006 which will showcase some of the authors that are members of the online community. I'm a member, and will have a story included in the anthology. There should be alot of good tales in this book, because there are some awesome writers that are listed there. The forward is being written by author Micheal Liamo, and the book will also include stories from such notable authors as Deborah LeBlanc, James Newman, and Darren Franz.
Other note worthy news? Well, James Caskey from Savannah Georgia has just released his first book through Bonaventure Press, HAUNTED SAVANNAH is available through the Cobblestone Tours website, check it out!
Mari Adkins has a great story called MIDNIGHT that is available through 3Sides publishing in e-book format, but I hope she's able to wrangle it away from them and get it into print. Midnight is too good a story to be tied up as an e-book.
Scott Nicholson's new book, THE HOME is available in book stores, and promises to be another great read from him.
If you haven't read Brett McBean's THE LAST MOTEL, then you need to grab yourself a copy. This is one of the better horror offereings I've read in a while. You'll want to replace all the 60 watt bulbs in your home to something brighter after reading this one.
That's about it for now, unless you want to drop by my Horror World message board and interact with me and the other unfortunate souls that dare to enter The Darkside.
July 28, 2005
You'd think I waited twenty days to update this page just so I could put a two before the eight in the date, but I didn't plan it that way. Shit happens.
Keith Minnion has agreed to do the cover for my chapbook that Nocturne Press is publishing, but I still don't know when it will be available. I have a short story or two submitted for different anthologies, but haven't heard from those either. The writing biz is a hurry up and wait process, alot like the military. You rush to get something written and submitted, and then you wait for the editors to pour through the thousands of submissions they get to decide who gets in and who doesn't. Time will tell.
Still working on Voices in the Storm, this story is comlicated, and there will be a lot of revisions in this one.
What I'm Reading:
The Last Motel by Brett McBean
Midnight by Mari Adkins
and coming up... Terminal and City of the Dead by Brian Keene
July 8, 2005
I had a great time at the booksigning in Asheboro, North Carolina. It was great to get to meet Brian Keene, and Dale Bailey, and Scott Nicholson was as pleasant as ever to talk to. It only took me 4 1/2 hours to get there, not 5 1/2 like yahoo maps said it would, so I stayed for the duration of the signing, which lasted 2 hours. After driving that far, I wasn't going to get my books signed and then take off. The four of us got to spend a little time together after the signing, but we could linger for long. Scott had to get home, Dale had other things to tend to, Brian had to drive to Georgia for a signing there the next day, and I had to get back to South Carolina. Even though time was short, I think we all had a good time.
The highlight for me during the whole thing was that Brian Keene got me a chair from the in house coffee shop, so that I could join them behind the table. Brian carried a chair for me across the bookstore! And some people say that successful authors have no time for the little man. HA!
The chapbook has been proofed for Nocturne Press, but I'm not sure when it will be published. Eric is trying to get Keith Minion to do the cover, and Keith does awesome covers! Of course, I'll let you all know when it's available. That's it for now, I've got to get back to work. Have a great weekend, and keep your eyes on hurricane Dennis!
June 20, 2005
I didn't realize it had been so long since I've updated this page. Time flies when you're having so much fun. The news hasn't changed much since the last post, so I won't bore you with the same details again. I will be visiting Asheboro, North Carolina Thursday the 23rd, to meet Brian Keene, and Dale Bailey. They're having a booksigning with Scott Nicholson on that date at Books-A-Million. Should be a fun adventure, and maybe I'll learn something while I'm there.
Well, that's about it. Like I said, the news is the same for now, so check out the previous post to see what's going on, if you haven't read it already.
May 26, 2005
It's time for an update of what I've been doing and what I have going on. Last week, we took our summer vacation. A seven day cruise to the eastern carribean. Leaving Port Canaveral, Florida our first port was Nassau Bahamas, and it was typical Bahamian aggrivation. Especially for my wife and daughter. Braid you hair lady? Dollar a braid, come on let me braid your hair." I noticed the comb she used for assisting her in her craft, and it looked like it had been dragged through a hogs ass while in the processing plant. There was more grease embedded in that comb than Mr. Goodwrench could pump into the rearend of a 69' Chevrolet.
Our second port of call was at St. Thomas, and this stop was more of what I expected out of a tourist attraction. Plenty of shops, and places to spend your hard earned money. But then, that's why you'd visit there anyway. For souvenirs and tax and duty free items that are much cheaper than in the states. Not for hair braids, or cuban cigars, or tote bags that turn into beach towels.
The third and final port was in St. Maarten, and the only thing I can say about that is Get your cold beer for only $1.00 a bottle! Which was a heck of a good price after paying $3.45 a bottle on the ship. It's a good thing I'm just an occasional drinker.
There was a rumor going around the ship that Stephen King was aboard, and I searched as hard as I could to find him. But had no luck with that. It was only after we returned home did I find out that he was not on the ship, and that a rumor was all that it was. That was about all the excitement we had onboard, unless you count the small stateroom fire they had in a cabin on the same deck that we were on.
Now that vacation is over, it's back to work with plenty to do. Waiting for me was a chapbook I'd written for Nocturnal Press, which needed to be proofed. A story I need to finish that will be making the trip to New York for consideration by an agent there. And my third novel which I haven't touched in a couple of months. The chapbook is done, and should be available sometime in the near future. I'll let you know when NP get's that one finished. Their chapbooks stay atop the Shocklines bestseller list quite often, and I hope my book continues to add to their success.
That's about it for now. Tune in later for more news on the homefront, and hopefully I'll have more to share with you. :)
May 8, 2005
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOMS!
May 6, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely wife Jackie. I don't know what I would do without her at times. She's been good enough to let me pursue my love for writing, even though I haven't made her rich yet. Hopefully someday honey, just hang in there!
April 30, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROXY!! You've finally hit the big 4-0!
Oh, and don't worry, no one that reads this page knows you except for Mom & Dad, but they already know how old you are. :)
April 25, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO! For those of you that don't know, "Bro" is my brother Ricky. The Southeasts local racing legend, and he's back in the drivers seat after a brief retirement from the track in 1998. His love for the sport of stock car racing is stronger than his will for retirement. Ricky has captured some impressive titles in his 25 years of racing, including: the 1989 Enduro series Championship winner at Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah, Georgia, and three-time Street Stock series Champion at Oglethorpe, he was also voted one of the top 10 all-time favorite drivers by fans for Oglethorpe's 50th anniversary in 2001. In 1998, he was ranked sixth nationally in the NASCAR Short Track Series. Coming out of retirement, Ricky wasted no time returning to victory lane at both local tracks; Oglethorpe Speedway Park, and Hardeeville Motor Speedway in Hardeeville, South Carolina.
Have a Happy Birthday Ricky! We hope you have continued success with your racing career.
April 11, 2005
We did the "America By Foot" ghost tour in Savannah Georgia Saturday night, and sadly I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the tour. Our guide promised to tell us things that would make us leave the light on when we went to sleep that night. Obviously, he wasn't aware of whom he had in the ranks of his followers. I've written scarier stories than the ones he told.
The tour guide works as a real estate accountant in the real world, and gives ghost tours (most of which he's written the layouts) in the evenings. He was a great speaker, I'll give him that much, but did little to extract any scares out of the group. Most of what we learned was about the architecture of each 'supposedly haunted' home on the route, rather than the strange happenings that supposedly had taken place within their walls. There was one story however, that peaked my interest, even though I've now heard two versions of it, there was a fact present to calloborate the story.
The story was of Rene Ash Randolier, and this is what some say about him.
Born in 1777, his family migrated to Savannah, where he took up residence in a part of town which was the haunt of prostitutes, sailors, and the poverty-stricken. He was generally avoided or even shunned, for his appearance was not exactly human—he was of a height far above the norm, and his head, face, and body were covered in an animal-like coat of hair. Black slaves in particular held him in great awe or apprehension.
He was at times observed capturing and torturing pet cats and dogs, and was also seen in the act of dismembering chickens and goats, as many a 'hairy humanoid' and other unknown creature like El Chupacabras has been said to do. These weird, almost sacrificial activities were tolerated by the neighborhood at large, until he was implicated in the murders of a woman and two little girls, sometime after 1796. As he had done previously, Rene fled into the extensive system of tunnels and catacombs which lay beneath Colonial Park Cemetery, by some accounts dragging the bodies of the little girls with him. He had previously lurked in this huge, walled graveyard, allegedly digging up graves in ghoulish fashion, hiding out in the catacombs beneath, and generally having such a run of the place that people had avoided it for fear of him.
He was finally hunted down by a mob, and hung by the neck for his various crimes. Local legend maintains that his restless spirit haunts the area of his old stomping-grounds, and particularly the cemetery and the tunnels under it, to this day. According to some, these tunnels contain evidence of graves being dug into from underneath, and the bones of the occupants having been split and gnawed upon.
Little to no information exists on the true origin and lineage of Rene. Did he represent some sort of atavistic form of man, a 'throw-back' to an earlier hominid type? Or was he, at least in part, something else, something other than human? The ghouls of Arabian folklore are hairy, cannibalistic eaters of human carrion, and mostly subterranean in terms of their housing preferences. Exactly what was Rene Randolier?
The story we heard on the tour was simpler version. There was no mention of Rena' having a body covered with hair, or that he was in any way out of the ordinary, other than his gigantic size. It was said that he stood somewhere between 7 foot 4, and 7 foot five inches, and that an egg could be passed through the center of the ring he wore on one of his fingers. Now I'm not sure what kind of jewelry was being fashioned in the late 1700's or early 1800's, but I doubt a ring that size was part of the normal stock for local jewelers. At any rate, it was said that Rena' was feared mostly because of his size, and because of reports that he tortured small animals. The people of Savannah feared him so much, that his parents were ordered to do something with him. What they did, was imprison their only son, to the confines of their property. A 7 to 8 foot brick fence was built to keep Rena' within the boundaries of the property, and the city folk even went as far as to mortar in inverted broken bottles along the top, to make sure that Rena couldn't scale the walls. , and get out. The city leaders even went as far as posting guards at the property to be certain that Rena' didn't get out.
Something big happened in the city that attracted everyone, including the guards that kept a vigil on Rena' Ash. By the time city leaders realized that Rena' wasn't being guarded, it was too late. A girls mutilated body was found, not far from the borders of the fence that was suppose to keep the beast at bay, and leading away from the body, were giant footprints.
A mob was assembled, and Rena' was taken from his home, taken to the nearest square, and hanged. His parents buried the body on their property. Some 100 years later, a builder found the grave of Rena' Ash, and opened it. The grave was empty. No remains of the gigantic boy could be found. It was believed that the body must have been moved to an unmarked grave somewhere on Hutchinson Island, just across the Savannah River. During construction of the Westin Resort on Hutchinson Island, skeletal remains were found in an unmarked grave where the foundation of the hotel was to be. The skeleton was over 7 feet tall. The remains were undisturbed, and the hotels foundation was built over the gravesite. In case you're wondering, there are 16 floors in the hotel, and yes, they do have a 13th floor.
April 5, 2005
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD!
And now, your local news...
Remember me talking about doing a Ghost Tour in Savannah GA? Well that will be happening this weekend. My wife has decided that for my Birthday present, she'll be taking me on at least two of the tours this weekend, now I just have to decide which two, out of the five that are offered that I want to take. One tour is done on a trolley, which I think would be neat. One is done from a hearse, and the others are walking tours. I know I want to take at least one of the walking tours. As for the riding, I just need to decide between the trolley, or the hearse. I'm thinking maybe the hearse. I don't really expect to experience anything on any of these tours, as they do them all the time. And I don't recall hearing anything about past guest being frightened out of their wits on any of them.
What I would really like to do, is an investigation, now that would be an experience. I've searched the internet for a group in the south that does this, but haven't had much luck. It seems the only group in South Carolina is in the upper part of the state, and they don't seem to be very active. Savannah is the closest thing I've found for ghost hunting, but there doesn't seem to be a group there either.
If anyone knows of a group that does investigations in South Carolina or Georgia, please drop me a line. I may be interested in tagging along on one of their excursions.
The weekend should be fun, and that's what its all about. I think. :)
March 10, 2005
I'm having a contest with myself to see how long I can go without posting any news. Okay, actually I'm kidding. I've been busy writing stories, working on a shortie for a possible chapbook, and working on novel three. This place has been dead for a while anyway, so anyone that may have dropped by probably figures I've given up and disappeared into the dusty realms of the netherworld. Nope, hasn't happened yet. I'm just refining my work, and making an honest effort at actually getting somewhere in this business.
My message board has also gone dormant, but I guess that's to be expected since I don't have anything new out at the moment. Hopefully, that will change soon. I'm proofing the story for the chapbook now, and if the publisher likes it, then I should have something out before pigs fly, or the cows come home.
Currently, I'm still reading Thunder Road by Tamara Thorne, when I can find time to open the book. Between my full time job, and my writing, both are keeping me extra busy. Other than that, I hang out at other authors message boards, like John Paul Allen's, and Scott Nicholson's. Drop in some time if the mood hits you. It's always fun having readers stop in for a chat.
January 31, 2005
Nocturne Press has accepted another one of my short stories for publication in issue #3 of Post Mortem Magazine. This issue will also host an interview with author Brian Keene, as well as short stories from Gifted Trust author John Paul Allen. That should be a major drawing card, and give us fictional writers even more exposure than normal.
My story, The Depths Of Silence will be the second story I've had published in Post Mortem. These guys really know how to put together a great magazine, and the authors, interviews, and stories are all usually top notch. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of Post Mortem, or even subscribing to the magazine, can visit Nocturnes website here ----> Post Mortem
January 26, 2005
There's only a few things to report today, but most of them are good. Scott Nicholson has a new book coming out probably in July. The Home will be hitting the bookshelves before we know it. You can check out all the hype on Scott's latest at his website. Brett McBean alsoo has a book coming out in the next month or two, The Last Motel. I suspect it will be another good read. I've seen alot of good feedback on my new Austrailian friend. Check out Brett's website here<---.
Stephen Gregar informs me that he a publisher looking at his manuscripts. Lonestar publications in Texas, is taking a look at Steve's childrens books. I wish him the best, and hope he enjoys much success with his work.
I've put Tamara Thorne's Thunder Road on hold for now, I'll begin reading it when I get some other things out of the way. Like a journal I'm reading for a friend. He writes a daily journal of his experiences in life, and has sent me a few pages to read. Most of what he's sent is about his mission trip to Honduras, and the things he saw while there. It makes for some interesting reading, and he wants me to tell him what I think about his writing, and to give him a few tips on editing the pages. I'm not sure what qualifies me as an editor, but I told him I would read what he had, and make some suggestions based on what others have told me about my own writing.
So, have you finished your next book? That's a question I keep hearing from those that have read my other books, and the answer is... Not even close! I have alot of work to do with Voices In The Storm, it's coming around, but at a much slower pace than I'd like.
My daughter has decided she wants to get into journalism, which I think is a good move for her, because she loves to write. And at times, she's better than I am at it. She's received responses from her queries to Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, whom are both interested in her work. Geez, she may be a traditionally published writer before her dad is!
I do have a couple of things going at the moment. I have a short story submitted to a horror magazine, that I'll leave nameless for now, or at least until I hear something from them. I also have a query in to an editor that I'd so much like to work with, but I need to wait until I hear form them too before I talk too much about it. I'll keep you informed on what happens with those. Other than that, there's not much else to report. Oh, I almost forgot. That was the good stuff I talked about, now I'll let you in on theo ne bad thing I had in mind. We have a serial rapist on the loose in Jasper and Beaufort Counties. I think law enforcement know who the guy is, thay've just been unable to track him down as of yet. Hopefully, they'll get to him before he strikes again. Or before someone else gets to him. We don't take to kindly to these types of predators, here in the south.
January 05, 2005
Not a lot of news to report these days. I do have a request for a signing in at All Books & Company in Summerville, SC. But I've yet to hear anything from the owner. She's a nice enough lady, so I'm sure I'll hear something eventually, as time permits.
I finally broke down and watched Dawn Of The Dead last week. My daughter was in the mood for a good horror flick, so we broke out the remote and hit the pay per view channels. Not a bad movie when all was said and done.
Currently, I'm trying to finish Alice Blanchard's book The Breathtaker. It's a little off the path of what I would normally read, but overall it's a good story. Next on the list will be Thunder Road by Tamara Thorne. That's one I'm sure to enjoy.
Still working on Voices In The Storm, but it will be a while before I know anything on it. I have to get the book written first, and then edited. Then I'll shop it around to a few agents to see if anyone thinks it's worth representing. As far as a book coming out this year, I'm not sure if there will be one. I may finish one of the shorter stories I'm working on, and publish it as a novella, or a chapbook. I'll have to see how things go. But the way this business goes, Voices In The Storm won't be out for a while I'm sure.
That's it for now, Happy New Year to all that I've neglected to tell, and happy reading!
December 30, 2004
I was watching a program on the SciFi channel last night, and was mildly disturbed at what I saw. If you've never seen the show Proof Positive: Evidence Of The Paranormal, then let me tell you that it explores the blurry line between science fiction and science fact. This weekly, one-hour series uses cutting-edge forensics to test evidence of human encounters with the paranormal. Each episode looks at three stories (including encounters with ghosts and aliens as well as reincarnation, demonic possession, unexplained lights, etc.), all of which contain convincing evidence that the story is true.
After the stories are recounted with interviews and documentary footage, the evidence is subjected to rigorous forensic testing by scientists and field-specific experts. Throughout the program, the viewing audience will be challenged to figure out which one of the three stories will be revealed to be "proof positive."
Last nights episode included the story of Danny's Bed. A ghost story presented by Al Cobb of Savannah, Georgia. Al is an antiques dealer that gave accounts of being haunted by the spirit of a 7-year-old boy they believed inhabited an antique bed he'd purchased. The Proof Positive episode (number 102) was called Danny Phenomenon, if you care to look it up. Al had even written a book, that included ghost stories from Savannah Georgia, and included his story about Danny's Bed. I bought this book almost a year ago from a Savannah Hospital gift shop, because I had heard of the story, and was interested in the accounts that took place. The opinion I formed from reading the book was, that I had believed that the Cobb family had experienced something in their home, and even though some of the accounts were far fetched, I believed something had happened.
Proof Positive took the story, and walked viewers through the accounts that the Cobb's had experienced, and then they went to work to prove, or disprove the story. First, they brought in a professional handwriting analyst, whom had 15 years experience (I think that figure is right), in analyzing. It was reported that Danny (the ghost) had communicated with the Cobbs by leaving notes, scratched out on paper that was left out for him to use. The handwriting expert had the Cobb family give a writing sample, using their normal writing, and then by writing as if they were trying to write like someone else. Everyone passed the test, except for the youngest son, who's handwriting too closely matched the sample supposedly left by the boy spirit. Next, Proof Positive brought in a professional polygraph examiner, with 25 years experience in reading polygraphs. There were a couple of indications revealed by the polygraph. First, that the youngest son wasn't telling the truth about not writing the ghost notes. Secondly, that Al Cobb wasn't telling the truth when asked if he had conjured up the story for personal gain, and he answered "No".
The finding from Proof Positive was not what the Cobbs wanted to hear. Their story was considered as being "proof negative", which meant, the whole thing was a lie. There was no evidence to show that anything the Cobb's reported was true.
So what disturbed me about the findings? Not that the whole story was fabricated, or that maybe the story had helped to propel sales of his book. But the fact that he would put his writing career in jeopardy, and bring disgrace to his entire family, for a few glorius moments in the spotlight. You can't really feel sorry for anyone in the family, because they were all in on it. I wonder, and I'm sure I'll never know, just how much that one broadcast affeted Mr. Cobbs book sales. I'm sure he felt a sharp decline, after the program aired.
In my opinion, even though I have the book, and it is autographed by the author, and I paid $15 of my hard earned money for it. After watching last nights episode of Proof Positive, the content of that one story, Danny's Bed... is worthless.
On a lighter note. I've been doing some research on the story that inspired my third novel, and I've come up with enough information that has made me consider doing a major rewrite. Since getting bogged down in the story, and being unsure of where I wanted to go with it, I decided to dig up a few facts about the real story, to see if it would help me get back on track. Well, not only did the research get me back on track, it put me on a new road all together. I had approached the story in the wrong way, and should have stuck more to the original in the first place. Now I'm rewriting what I've done, and taking my characters and events through a more detailed plot than I had first intended. Voices In The Storm will still be based on a true story, and will follow the events that took place as closely as it can, without getting me into hot water with any high powered attorneys. This will be an intense thriller that I'm hoping even the toughest literary agent won't be able to pass up.
December 9, 2004
Do you ever have those days when you know you should be doing something you need to do, but you just can't make yourself do it?
Well, it's one of those days for me. I know I should be working on my novel, but I just can't seem to make myself sit down to write. It's pretty sad actually, because I can take the time to update this news page, when I really should be spending this quality time with my novel. But I hate to make myself write, when I don't feel like writing. My best work never seems to come out if I have to force feed the page. A writer has to have self discipline to stay at it all the time, even when he or she isn't quite feeling up to par. And I had no problem with that with my first two books. But with this third effort, it seems harder for me to keep myself in it. And it's not the story by gosh, I think the story is some of my best work yet, it's just that I can't seem to keep myself at it. So what I need to do, is to stop beating up on myself, stop wasting this valuable time updating this page (although I do need to do this once in a while to keep you up to date with what's going on), and start writing!
Okay, I'm putting the soapbox away now that I've got my fingers stimulated, and going to work. I'll give you another update later!
December 1, 2004
The cobwebs are beginning to collect on this news page, so I thought it was time to do a little cleaning. There hasn't been a lot going on to talk about, other than what I'm working on, or what I've been reading. So I've held off at posting anything the past month or so. My message board has also been slow, with posters nearly non-existant. I'm not even sure that anyones checking the news page these days. For those of you that may be stopping in, let me assure you that I'm hard at work on my third novel. It seems it's taking forever to get this one done, and it may be even longer before it gets to print. As most of you know, I'm backing away from the self published arena, and pushing my work towards more traditional publishers. Of course, I'll still have to find an agent before that will ever happen. Hopefully I'll be able to land an agent, that will seriously try to sell Voices In The Storm for me. The story is coming along, slowly but surely, and I'm spending a lot of time getting the words transferred from my notebook, to my computer. I write everything on paper, and then drop back and type it up into my laptop. That's where all of my stories are stored now. Of course, I do have backups just in case. VITS will be pretty close to print grade when I finish it, so hopefully there won't be too much editing to be done. I'm sure there will be some, but not near as much as there was with Terror In The South. I also have ideas for new stories running around in my head, so when it comes time to unleash those, I should have some sense about where to goo with them.
I finally got my hands on Scott Nicholson's latest, The Manor, and it is his best work yet. An awesome story, with great characters, and an awesome plot to boot. Make sure you put that one on your Christmas want list. Currently I'm reading The Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard. It's a tale about a killer who conspires with the awesome power of nature to commit and conceal unspeakable crimes. An unusual and far-fetched plot, but it seems to be working so far.
I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, and will have even a merrier Christmas. We've already started putting up some of the Christmas decor around our house. I've spent almost an entire week setting up my wifes miniature village collection, and she's steady buying more pieces. Approximately $400 later, we almost have it done. Complete with train, a mountainous tunnel, a flying Santa with sleigh, and a working grist mill. Now that the village is done, maybe we can get the tree up. And then, I can get caught up with my writing. Hopefully.
No one ever said an authors life was easy, and that's evident with every passing day. Lifes a bitch... and then you write.
October 25, 2004
I had a decent day at the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival Saturday, with sales tripling that of what I did at the Gopher Hill Festival. Hardeeville did a great job at organizing the event, and with their new location and having everyone grouped together, it seemed to make for a good day for all the vendors. I was pleased with the outcome, and look forward to joining them again next year.
The travel channel did a show on haunted places last night, and the entire thirty minutes was on the hauntings of several establishments in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is only 30 miles south of Ridgeland, so I'm making plans to visit a few of the places that they showcased on the program. The reason, if you're wondering, is because I had a good idea for a story, and I want to do some research on the background of the ghost before I began the task of trying to capture it in words. How will I research this you ask? First, I'm going to take one of the ghost tours that they offer, and of course, I'll let the guide know that I'm an author interested in doing a story on one of the spectors. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the name of the proprietor of the business that I'm interested in doing the story on, and will be able to talk to him/her about going in one night for some investigative research. With their approval, it should make for some interesting research. And who knows? Maybe I'll even have a paranormal experience of my own to recount.
I plan on taking the tour pretty soon, so I'll keep you posted on what I can find out, and if I'm able to make a return trip for the research. Let's keep our fingers crossed, and I'll keep my camera on ready, just in case we get spooked by a spook.
October 20, 2004
It's been a busy week! I did get to watch the movie The Day After Tomorrow, which was pretty good, I thought. So good in fact that I watched it twice in two days. I haven't even started John Paul Allen's Weeping Mary, but I'll get to it as time allows. I also picked up Scott Nicholson's latest, The Manor, which I hope to start soon. It's been a crazy week!
My signing in Hardeeville is scheduled for this weekend, October 23rd. Man, has this month really flown by! Hopefully I'll have a good outing there. With four books to offer, I should sell at least one. It's true that I'm not gaining much ground on the bestsellers list, but hey... I'm having fun.
I'm still working on Voices In The Storm, it's just not at a pace that I'm pleased with at the moment, but I'll get there. I've also had an idea for another book that I think would do well, but more on that later. I'm working on a rough draft for that one, just to see where it takes me, and how it's going to look on paper. I won't spend alot of time on this one right now however, as I need to finish Voices In The Storm first, and get that one in to a publisher for consideration.
Which brings me to this point. The publishing process takes so long, I'm not sure what I'll come up with to keep my readers going until something happens with VITS, but I promise you, it will be something. I won't leave you hanging for too long without something to curl up with on those dark stormy nights. Even if I have to start raising cats, and giving away the kittens, to appease your appetite for companionship. :)
October 13, 2004
With one signing left on the books, I'm full swing into promoting my books again. For anyone who would like to order their very own personalized copy of Terror In The South, A New Breed Of Terror, 13 Tales Of Terror,orTwisted Tales. Just visit the following link to download theOrder Form, and send it in. You copy will be rushed out to you without hesitation.
I'll be watching the new movie The Day After Tomorrow tonight, and will be starting John Paul Allen's new chapbook, Weeping Mary. I'll let you know what I think about both, the day after tomorrow. :)
October 4, 2004
Gopher Hill Festival 2004 is little more than a memory now, with the festival winding down late Saturday night. Painfully, for Vendors, it's a memory that most of us will soon like to forget. Sales for the event were terrible, the worst I've seen in years. But it wasn't bad just for me, but other vendors as well. I sold a whopping total of 5 books at this years event (which yielded sales of 25 to 30 copies in previous years). And it wasn't from a lack of patrons. People just weren't spending any money this year. I talked to a host of other vendors throughout the day, whom all related the same news. Very little, if any sales. All of my sales were to repeat buyers, which I'm thankful for having. Most of my readers have been very loyal throughout the years, and the five that visited the booth on Saturday were ones that I know I can always count on. Hopefully, this was just a fluke year, and following events will ripen the harvest. Now I just have to work hard at pedaling the remaining books that I have. I'm sure I'll sell them, it just may take a while longer than I expected.
I do still have the Hardeeville festival on the 23rd, so hopefully I can whittle down the stack a little more. One good thing is, it's fall. And there are quite a few Fall Festivals that I can look into.
September 29, 2004
In the September 14th post, I told you about Steve Gregar joining me in the booth for the Gopher Hill Festival this Saturday, and also in Hardeeville on the 23rd for the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival.
What I'm Reading... I haven't started reading anything new yet, I'm still waiting to get my hands on a copy of The Manor by Scott Nicholson. Hopefully I'll have it before the weekend's over.
What I'm Writing...Slowly but surely, Voices In The Storm is coming together, and when I'm done with it, I hope to get a couple of the mystery's finished. So much to do, so little time!
Oh, almost forgot. If you want to read the article on Gopher Hill, that January Holmes did in the Jasper Edition today. You can find it here. Yes, she did mention Steve and I in the article. We're near the end, just keep reading, you'll find it. :)
The Jasper Edition
September 27, 2004
The Gopher Hill Festival is coming up Saturday, and I had hoped to have copies of Terror In The South, and A New Breed of Terror, for those who hadn't had the opportunity to pick up a copy. But I don't think my publisher is going to have them to me in time to make the signing on Saturday. I will take orders for anyone that wants a copy, or copies. And I will have them on hand for the signing in Hardeeville on the 23rd. So all is not lost.
September 14, 2004
Okay, we didn't get much from Frances, or from Charley for that matter. The folks up north of us in North Carolina got more out of those two systems than we did. So I'm not even going to talk about Ivan.
I've got my two books of short stories ready, and will be signing them in October at two local festivals. First will be the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland on October 2nd, and then it's off to Hardeeville, for the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival on October 23rd. This year I won't be alone in the booth however. Steven Gregar, an author of childrens short stories, will be joining me. He has four different books that he will be signing for the kiddies, as I peddle my work at the other end of the table. A thrill'em and chill'em kind of deal.
September 1, 2004
Getting ready for Frances?
It seems that most people along the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina coasts are preparing for possible impact from Hurricane Frances. The storm promises to make landfall somewhere along the southeastern coast of the United States, but forecasters are unsure at this point, exactly where this may occur.
Am I preparing? You bet I am. I already have my unfinished manuscripts packed in a carry bag, and ready to flee the fierce winds of the hurricane. Wind and water are a manuscripts worst enemy, and I have to protect my investment from its fury. Oh, and I'll be taking my family along too. :)
Friday August 13, 2004
Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th, and is related to triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13.
Superstition about Friday the 13th may well be the number one superstition in America today. The number 13 is considered especially unfavorable though it was considered a lucky number in ancient Egypt and China. There were 13 people at the Last Supper. And several mass murderers have 13 letters in their names: Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy. Of course, millions of people who haven't committed any murders, such as Richard Cheney and Robert Redford, have 13 letters in their names, too. As far as it is known, nobody has studied how many dinner parties with 13 present went off uneventfully. Witches, perhaps to clearly oppose themselves to a Christian superstition, sometimes have groups of 13 known as covens.
Some think 13 owes its bad reputation to Loki, the Norse god of evil, who started a riot when he crashed a banquet at Valhalla attended by 12 gods.
The ancient Egyptians considered the 13th stage of life to be death, i.e., the afterlife, which they thought was a good thing. The Death card in a tarot deck is numbered 13 and represents transformation. Those cultures with lunar calendars and 13 months don't associate 13 with anything sinister.
Friday may be considered unlucky because Christ, is thought to have been, crucified on a Friday, which was execution day among the Romans. Yet, Christians don't call it Bad Friday. Friday was also Hangman's Day in Britain. Some even think that Friday was the day God threw Adam and Eve out of Eden.
Friday is Frigga's Day. Frigga (Frigg) was an ancient Scandinavian fertility and love goddess, equivalent to the Roman Venus who had been worshipped on the sixth day of the week. Christians called Frigga a witch and Friday the witches' Sabbath; modern Wiccans are happy to oblige. Some call fear of Friday the 13th "friggatriskaidekaphobia."
Is Friday the 13th a particularly unlucky day? It could be...if you believe it is. Some prophecies are self-fulfilling.
August 11, 2004
It's been way too long since I've updated this page, but I've been spending alot of time on my books of short stories. Too much time really. I'm also working on a revision for Terror In The South, which should be available soon at a new low price of $11.95 That's about four dollars cheaper than the normal price of $15.95. I plan on having the short story books at The Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland the first Saturday in October, and also in Hardeeville at their Celebrate Hardeeville Festival on October 23rd.
I spoke to a lady yesterday that's involved with the Lunch With The Authors program on Hilton Head Island. One of the stipulations of participating, is that you have to be published by a traditional publisher, so I guess that cuts me out of the tentative lineup. Oh well, maybe someday.
That's the tough thing about being self published, alot of organizations don't recognize self published authors, as being published. That's one of the drawbacks we have to contend with. I guess I'll just have to work harder to find a traditional publisher, and then maybe my work will get noticed more widely. I'm still pushing books, and writing others, so someday, maybe I'll get there.
June 28, 2004
I got the proof copy for 13 Tales Of Terror, and I think the book turned out great. I've let several people see the cover and have gotten nothing but good comments, so far. Okay, so tell me what you think. Below is the cover for this collection of short stories. Drop by my message board and tell me what you think. Thanks!
Click the cover to access my message board.
June 21, 2004
The proof copy for the first book in my short story collection was shipped out from the publisher on Friday of last week, so hopefully, I'll have it in my hands by the end of this week. If the book meets my approval, I will be submitting my second group of short stories for book two. 13 Tales Of Terror, and 13 Tales Of Terror 2 will host a collection of some of my best short stories that I've written over the past few years. All of the stories have been tediously edited, and most re-written where necessary, breathing new life into each horrific tale. If the books turn out as good as I hope, I'll be signing them at the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland this year, and at Celebrate Hardeeville, in Hardeeville, South Carolina. I'll probably have some for sale online as well, so that my readers from out of state will be able to grab a copy (or copies!) That's it for now, as I'm beginning to almost duplicate my last post. I'll let you know what I think of 13 Tales Of Terror when I receive it, until then...
keep reading!
June 02, 2004
I'm long overdue for an update, so I figured today was as good as any to clue you in on what's been going on. NOTHING! Well almost nothing, but then again, that isn't true either. There's been tons of stuff happening, just nothing happening in the writing world, or my part of it anyway. Still receiving rejection slips, but then that's all a part of the game. Still waiting on Post Mortem magazine to start shipping too, I need something to fill the gap between books being read. What little gap there is. I do have something I'm working on, besides my third novel. Since I'm between novels, I thought I would publish my collection of short stories and have them printed up for sale in paperback. There's 26 of them so I'll divide them into two books of 13 stories each. The first book will be Thirteen Tales Of Terror, and appropriately, the second will be Thirteen Tales Of Terror 2. These will be for sale locally mostly, at The Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland, and the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival in Hardeeville, South Carolina. Of course, I'll probably have some available for order online for my readers from other states to order, if they want. I'm trying to work a deal with the publisher so that I'll be able to sell them as cheap as possible, I'll post the prices at a later date once I get the books submitted.
What I'm Reading... Currently listening to the audio version of Dreamcatcher by Stephen King, and reading Gifted Trust by John Paul Allen. Re-reading all of my short stories too, and doing a little editing and rewriting to spice them up a little. You've got to remember, most of these were written several years ago when I was breaking into the writing biz... I've learned quite a bit since then, so the stories will be receiving a refreshening touch up.
May 10, 2004
The wheels are churning slowly in the writing biz, as they usually do in between books. But I do have some bait in the water for an agent. Just waiting to hear back from the one I've queried. Hopefully, they'll bite, and I can reel them in for a great catch. I'll keep you posted as to whether they're interested in representation, or whether I'll be adding their rejection to the continually growing stack of slips in my desk drawer.
On a brighter note, vacation is just around the corner for me. I leave for Miami Florida on Sunday May 16th, where I'll be catching one of those fun ships from Miami, to Key West Florida, and then on to Cozumel, Mexico. I've never been to Miami, or to The Keys, so that will be the highlight of the trip. I've been to cozumel however, so that's not a big issue for me. With any luck, I'll be able to use that portion of the trip to get some writing done. I'm still very excited about how well the story is coming along, if I can just keep it up for another 300 pages or so, then I should be in good shape to start wrapping it up. And maybe by then, I'll have signed with an agent, and will have something more to offer them. :)
Post Mortem magazine should be rolling off the presses with the first issue shipping real soon. I'm looking forward to my copies, as not only a subscriber, but also a contributor (issue two). Not much else going on right now. No signings or appearances are on the venue, A New Breed Of Terror hasn't begun to demand alot of attention from me right now. In fact, in receiving my last royalty statement, Terror In The South was outselling A New Breed Of Terror 10 to 1. Well, maybe sales of the sequel will pick up once Terror In The South has run it's course. In the meantime, I'll keep working on my third effort, which I've still yet to name. The title will come in time. Maybe by the time I finish the book, I will have come up with one! :)
April 27, 2004
Someone created a slideshow with pics taken around my hometown, and even included the infamous town clock that appears in the pages of Terror In The South. Click the "My Hometown" link below, if you'd like to see some great pics of where I live. Thanks Mom and Aunt Bink for sending the link!
"My Hometown"
April 25, 2004
Happy Birthday Ricky! 44 years young and still winning stock car races. You go boy!
April 21, 2004
I'm back to my old tricks again, like disappearing for a week at a time. That's what happens when you're up to your elbows in a good story. The new book I'm working on is the best yet, so far. Or at least I think so. But then they say the more you write, the better you get. I hope that holds true in the minds of my readers. I had to do some research on the subject of the book I'm writing now, which is something different for me. My first two books really didn't require a lot of research because they weren't that technical. This one really isn't too technical either, but it does get a little more involved in the subject than either of my first books did.
Nocturnal Press says that the first issue of Post Mortem should be ready to ship in about two weeks, so that's something to look forward to. If you haven't ordered your subscription as of yet, then what are you waiting for? This magazine is going to be a great filler for horror fans to devour while they're in between novels. And don't forget, my story, "The Dead Wait" will be in issue two! If you're not interested in subscribing, no problem. You can still buy issues of the mag individually, so you can just order issue two, if you're interested in reading my story.
I have to get off my butt now and do a little PR. I was suppose to let January know what I thought of the article she did on me in the Jasper Edition of The Island Packet. I thought it was great! And from the feedback I've gotten from others thats read it, they felt the same way. So I just need to pick up the phone and give her a call, because it's been two weeks, and I haven't called her yet! It would be smart to stay on the good side of the press, don't you think?
April 14, 2004
I just heard from Nocturne Press that my story they are publishing in Post Mortem magazine will appear in issue two, rather than in issue three. So now I won't have to wait as long to see it in print! This second issue will include artwork from Liquid-Hrom, as well as a novella from Damien Ashton. Short fiction from Matt Jorgenson, Akela Cooper, Susan Zoon, Steven Lloyd, and myself. It will also include an interview with Bill Moseley. Bill has played in numerous horror films like: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and House of A Thousand Corpses. Now that interview alone would make this an issue you surely wouldn't want to miss.
One of the features I like about Post Mortem Magazine, is that you don't have to buy a subscription. You can order the magazine by individual issues if you so desire. That way, if there's an issue that you don't care to have, then you don't have to buy it. As for me? Yeah, I've already bought a subscription, because I don't want to miss not even one blood chilling tale.
Visit Nocturne's website, and give the mag a look. It's a true treat for any horror fan!
Visit Post Mortem Here
April 07, 2004
Wow it's April already, and I let another event slip by without posting something about it. But at least I called, to wish my parents a Happy Anniversary (April 5th). I think it's 46 years they've enjoyed each other (if that's not right, I know Mom will let me know!) I can't say that they've always enjoyed the three kids they had (which includes me), because I know at times, we were more than a handful. Or at least for Mom anyway, Dad never had any real trouble out of us. His philosophy was - "I brought you into this world, I can take you out." And that's what I've always loved about my Dad, you never had to guess what he was thinking, because he'd tell you like it is, how it was, and how it would be. Thanks for the tough upbringing Dad, there should be more Dad's like you. Then we wouldn't have so many disrespectful kids running around like there is today. Oh, but don't think that we disrespected Mom either, because she could dish out a good walloping too! And we deserved every one that we got.
I do have a couple of items of interest to tell you about. First, January Holmles of the Island Packet did an article on me for todays paper. If you'd like to read it, it can be found here ---> The Island Packet - Jasper Edition.
Also, I just received word that Post Mortem Magazine will be including my short story "The Dead Wait" in issue three of their publication. Post Mortem is a magazine dedicated to dark fiction, and it's imagery. And will include dark horror fiction, and dark art. Also included in issue three, will be a story from my friend, and fellow writer, John Paul Allen of Texas. John is the author of Gifted Trust, and it's an honor to be included in the same magazine with him. I'll let you know what other great authors will be appearing in this issue, as soon as I find out myself. I hope everyone has a good week, Spring has started with a positive jolt, and I hope the shock and horror continues to grow for readers of this exciting genre.
March 30, 2004
For this update, I want to recognize my all time favorite stock car driver. My brother, Ricky Bozard. Ricky started racing in 1978 in the Street Stock Class at Oglethorpe Speedway in Pooler, GA because our Dad raced, and we grew up at the tracks in Georgia and South Carolina.... so you might say, it's in his blood. His first win was in 1981 in the Go-Karts Class at Pineora Kartway in Rincon, GA. His career highlights include a 1989 Enduro Championship at Oglethorpe Speedway, 1996-97 & 98 Track Champion in Street Division at Oglethorpe Speedway, 1998 NASCAR Short Track Series Sunbelt Region Champion, 1998 6th National Points Short Track Series Champion. He then took a break from racing, driving only occasionally for different car owners. Now Ricky has gotten back into a car full time at Hardeeville Motor Speedway in Hardeeville, SC. Their first race was this past saturday, where Ricky started eighth in the field and was leading by the second lap. He led for 23 of the 25 lap race, capturing his first win in the first race of the 2004 season. Congratulations Bro! Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down, and one of these days... I'll see you at the track!
March 26, 2004
You may have noticed the major facelift my main page has received. This was all due to a "Stack Overload on Line 0" error, whatever the hell that is. It kept popping up everytime anyone visited my site, and I couldn't figure out how to get rid of it. Anyways, it's gone now.
I received a memo on my desk yesterday to return a phone call. The note simply said to call January, and then listed a number. At first I wasn't sure what to do, since this was March, and January was long gone. And next January may be too late!
I picked up the phone receiver and waited until the battery on the line kicked dial tone into my ear, and then punched in the phone number to tones that were unfamiliar to me. I listened as the stutter of a simulated ring echoed through my cobweb filled brain until the connection was opened on the other end.
"Thank you for calling The Island Packet, this is January" a petite feminine voice said. I knew the Island Packet as Southern Beaufort County's News and Information source, their weekly paper. I told her who I was, and that I was returning her call. January explained that she wanted to do a profile on me for their paper, because she had learned that I was a writer, and that she was interested in doing a piece on a local author. I was a bit overwhelmed that she would want to profile a virtually unknown, self published writer that was struggling to find an agent, and still striving to get published by a traditional publishing house. I could think of a dozen better-known authors in the area she could talk to. So I agreed to meet her for an interview on Monday, and then we'll see where it goes from there. Opportunity could be knocking, and even though it may be a small rap at the door, I'm damn sure going to answer it. Who knows what eyes may be scanning that edition of the paper that my profile falls into, that may like to read a good hometown thriller, or that may be, or may know a good literary agent.
March 24, 2004
I thought I'd better update this page before anyone who visits regularly got the notion that I'd died or something. No, that hasn't happened yet, but I have been killing some time lately. I spent a couple of weeks cleaning up Terror In The South for an agent I thought was going to represent the book, but the no fee promise was disguised as an administrative fee that they didn't spring on me until they sent the contract for me to sign. Of course, they also wanted me to pay for the printing, binding, and shipping of copies of the manuscript to any publisher they submitted my work to. After a little research into the practices of the company, I found that what they promise is not always what they deliver. I could wind up spending hundreds, and possibly a thousand dollars and not get one damn deal for my hard earned money and effort.
Yes, I cut them loose like a briny old toadfish, and set my lines in more familiar waters. I'm only submitting to agents that I know are reputable, now. That's the good thing about this business, it moves slowly enough that you have time to catch your mistakes before the rope gets too tight around your neck. So the submissions are in, and I'll wait for the rejections to follow, and hopefully one of the many will see my story for it's worth, and will take the chance on it. In the meantime, I'll keep writing, and turning out pages. Someday, I'll get there.
What I'm reading... At the moment, it's Bentley Little's The Policy that awaits on my bedside table. In the truck, the audio production of Iris Johansen's, No One To Trust is in the tape player, and I have one tape left to listen to before that one is finished.
I don't suppose I'll have a book coming out in 2004, unless someone picks up one of my completed manuscripts and goes into a frenzy to get it published before the end of the year. But I really don't see that happening. The publishing industry just doesn't move that quickly. Hopefully by 2005, my name will began to reappear in bookstores, with follow up novels chasing them along the shelves of your favorite bookseller.
March 3, 2004
Sometimes; things get lost between the dark and the daylight. William Shakespeare said; " It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." How true this is for struggling writers. It would be easy to get lost between waiting for word on a manuscript, and everyday life that seems to consume any available time usually set aside for writing. I can't even imagine how many aspiring writers may have fallen through the hell cracks of society while waiting for something to happen with their manuscripts. It a long, tough, drawn out affair between a writer and his/her agent; in decisions of representation; and the trials of life are always nipping away at keeping one from returning from the pits of the fallen. Only a strong will to succeed, and amlot of self discipline can keep one partially sane enough to continue this task of putting words on paper, and telling the best story that he/she can tell. It's true that life is what you make of it, and the same goes for writing. You either have to tighten up the harness, or let the horse throw you from the cart; to find out just how hard you can land on your ass.
As for me? I'm still hanging on tight. Making the best out of what I can; while I can. Adding more slips to the rejection pile, and hammering out stories as fast as life will let me; without falling into that dark bottomless pit of no return.
February 18, 2004
It's been too long since I've done an update here. But that's pretty much how things are going in the writing business these days. Everyone I know is in-between books. Scott has The Manor coming in September, and I think Tamara has a new one she's working on. I have several things happening all at once that are keeping me busy, and I don't know which one may come to a head first. I'm still working on Voices In The Storm, but at a speed that the slime from a snails ass dries in the baking sun before I even get one page done. It will all come together soon enough though.
There's something going on with Terror In The South, and hopefully it will turn into something good. I should know something in a week or so.
I'm still listening to From The Corner Of His Eye, by Koontz. Not a bad story, though he has almost put me to sleep in a couple of places. But that's typical Koontz. I'm also still reading Samantha by Tamara Thorne and should be finished with it by the weekend; maybe.
Nascar Racing is back in season and I'm ecstatic about that. Racing is my second love, now that I've discovered writing. So why do I watch more racing and get less writing done? I need to think about that one. GO DALE JUNIOR!
February 02, 2004
Happy Anniversary honey! *heh*heh
okay, so it's a day late (in posting anyway). I wasn't late for the greeting on the 1st, which is the official anniversary date. 18 years of marriage to me and she has still managed to hold on to her sanity; somehow. We went out to a swanky little restaurant Saturday night, but I don't remember what the name was. Hell I couldn't pronounce it if I wanted to anyway. But it was on Hilton Head Island, and the food was great! And then I was out Sunday night too... so I didn't get to watch a lot of the Super Bowl, which wasn't really that big a deal... since I'm not a big football fan anyway. Give me baseball and Nascar any day over football. And yes, I did miss the halftime hoopla. But with media cameras broadcasting at every angle, you never really miss anything do you? Just turn on any news channel and you'll see anything you thought you missed from a sporting event. Especially something as controversial as a boob on the tube. I think Mr Timberlake just wanted to prove that it was indeed Janet, and not Michael that he was dancing with!
I'm on the third tape to From The Corner Of His Eye by Dean Koontz. So far, I'm liking it. I'm also reading Tamara Thorne's last book in her Sorority Triligoy; Samantha. I'd forgotten that I hadn't read that one until I saw it sitting on the top shelf in my bookcase. I'm also working on Voices In The Storm, but at a slower pace now. I have something bigger brewing at the moment that's keeping me busy, but I'll let you in on that a little later; once I've confirmed a few things. Good or bad; I'll eventually tell everyone what it is, when I can. Stay tuned!
January 27, 2004
I just finished reading "The Rising" by Brian Keene, and it was one great book! It's been a while since I've read a book that kept me cativated from page one, all the way to the last page. This is one book you will want to pick up if you're a horror fan.
Okay, okay. I'll tell a little, but that's all you're getting...for now. I have two short stories out that I'm waiting to hear a reply on. One is for an anthology (that I'll leave nameless for now) and the other is to Cemetery Dance magazine. Although both stories are my best yet (in my opinion) I'll just have to wait and see what the editors of the two publications think. CD is a hard magazine to get in to, unless you're an established writer, or unless you've submitted a damn good story. The one I sent to them has potential, I just hope it has enough to make it into the pages. It will probably be a couple of months before I hear from either of them, but rest assured; I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything. Good or bad.
Don't forget... Tamara Thorne has a reprint of Thunder Road set to be released in the Summer, and Scott Nicholson has his new book, The Manor, coming in the Fall. I'm not sure what I'll be reading next. When I return The Rising to it's spot on my bookshelf tonight I suppose I'll pick out the next one then. On audio, I'll be starting From The Corner Of His Eye, by Dean Koontz. I sure hope this one is better than the last one I read by him. But then, I wish my books sold even a 1/4 of what his sells. So what do I know about being good?
January 23, 2004
The struggle I'm facing now is not the problem of what to write....but when? It's getting harder and harder to find time to devote to working on my third novel. Stealing time for this or that has gotten tougher lately for some reason. Or is that just an excuse? As I think about it, instead of writing this I could be taking this time to pound out another page or two for the book. But then, if I did that.... how could I keep you updated on whats going on? I don't want to be one of those authors that keeps his readers hanging, wondering whats coming next and when it's coming. I like to keep everyone informed on what's going on...or at least try to.
Another thing that's bothering me a little is the fact that I can't seem to get any reviews (other than verbal ones) on either of the first two books. There are a couple on the Amazon site for Terror In The South, but they are brief. I was hoping that someone would write a full blown review for one of the webzines I visit, but no one has stepped up to tackle that task as of yet. I know that reviews are really that important to a certain extent, but I have to believe that somewhere along the line, they do help sell books.
I'm still planning on adding a few signings for A New Breed Of Terror (at least locally) if I can get confirmations from the booksellers. The last time I checked, Central Avenue in Summerville is still a mess, so I don't know when they plan on having that cleaned up. It would be useless to try and hold a signing at the bookstore there when its so hard for potential customers to get to the store. I would still love to do something north of the South Carolina borders into North Carolina. But nothing has panned out there yet either. Maybe one day!
I still have a few things working that I'm waiting on answers for, but nothing I can comment on yet. And there's still that agent in New York that's patiently waiting for me to finish "Voices In The Storm". 'God.... please give her the equanimity to wait me out'. I think she will, she seems to be a nice, sweet, compassionate and understanding lady.
Yeah, I'm looking for brownie points...so what? :)
I'm still reading "The Rising" by Brian Keene, and the story still hasn't slowed down a bit. I haven't found one dull spot in the book yet! This has got to be one of the most exciting stories I've read in a long time. I'll be looking forward to picking up more of Brian Keene's work soon. :)
January 15, 2004
Finally, I'm writing again! I hadn't penned more than a few pages in the past couple of months, but last night I got back into the mood and whipped out a couple of pages in less than an hour. The good thing is, I already have a head full of ideas about where I want the story to go next so when I sit down to write tonight I should be able to add another six or eight pages easily. My last signing you ask? Oh it went well, for a slow Saturday. All events can't be high sellers, so we have to cherish the ones that are. The others, I use as opportunities to spread my name around by passing out business cards and bookmarks. You'd be suprised at how many people are thrilled at getting an autographed bookmark, even if they don't know you from Adam's housecat. Whomever Adam is. I have a couple of other irons in the fire other than writing Voices In The Storm. The mystery series had bogged down too, but hopefully with this new spark, a flame will began to burn beneath it too. I also have a short story that I'll be submitting to a horror anthology (if I can get it in before it fills up), and I'm also working on another little project with my older short stories but I'm waiting to see how they do before I mention too much about that.
I'm reading a new author this time around (well, new to me anyway). The Rising, Brian Keene's latest book is really taking me for a ride. From the very first sentence, to wherever I am now in Chapter 4 has been a dash for the carrot. Brian starts out running... and has yet to slow down. This is one awesome book!
January 9, 2004
Tomorrow is the last scheduled event, for now, for A New Breed Of Terror. I will be at Barnes and Noble in Savannah Georgia, signing A New Breed Of Terror, and Terror In The South. For those of you locally, I hope you can drop by for a visit. The event is scheduled from 1 pm until. If the books are selling I'll stay until we sell out, but if they're taking up table space, then I'll probably leave around 3 pm. 
January 9, 2004
There are alot of things I could comment on today, most of them being very newsworthy items. Like the Jones guy that killed three of his inlaws and strangled his own 10 month old child to death. But if I get started on that soapbox, I may never get down. At least they got the guy, even if he did try to take the cowards way out and shoot himself in the face. Hopefully he'll see his day in court, and we'll see his ass in the hot seat. The electrical hot seat that is.
Okay, back to a merrier subject.
Here it is January 9th and I'm already planning out one of my vacations for 2004. In May, my daughter will be taking her senior cruise... and guess who'll be tagging along? Yes I know, the senior cruise is a special time for the kids, a time for them to relax, to unwind after completeing 12 years of schooling. But never fear; I won't be a spoiler of good times. I'll actually be on a different floor than the kids. They will be on the very bottom, of course. That's where they put the school kids on these ships, because they know what kind of hell they can raise. My wife and I aren't going just to keep an eye on our daughter (maybe a well trained sight through the scope of my rifle), but we're going along just for the pleasure of the cruise itself. Of course, we will be close enough just in case something happens that she may need us. Overprotective? Not in this day and time I wouldn't think. You never know when some towel head may slip onto the boat and want to do harm to it's many passengers. No I'm no Superhero, but if given the chance, and it came down to me or him... his ass would be bait for the scavengers of the ocean. Hopefully all will go well, and everyone will have a great time. The only drawback to me is, we'll be visiting Cozumel as our main port of call. I've been there, seen the place, and don't care much for it. Other than the naked french girls we saw on the beach, the place didn't show me anything too exciting. The girls did however!
I think I'll skip the land tour when we get to Cozumel, and just stay on the boat, relaxing with a cool drink on the upper deck (the very upper deck), with a set of Bushnell binoculars trained on the clear waters and sandy beaches. 
January 5, 2004
I finished up The Harvest by Scott Nicholson Saturday night, and although he doesn't think this book was as good as The Red Church, I have to disagree with him. I think The Harvest was just as good, if not better. No, it wasn't as graphic as The Red Church, but well written, and the story well told anyway. Scott's realistic characters and beautiful mountainous settings really captured the essence of the plot. As Scott's writings only get better, I look forward to his next novel, The Manor which will be out sometime this year. I'll have to check the date and let you know.
With The Harvest back on the book shelf, I'm dabbling into something a little different this time; well actually, its alot different! Santa Steps Out: A Fairytale for Grownups by Robert Devereaux is the next book out of the case, and if I still have my sanity after this one, then maybe I can keep my third novel going. It's been two solid months since I've penned a word in Voices In The Storm so it's time to get back to work. The ideas are fighting to get out, I just need to release them.
January 1, 2004
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
December 24, 2003 UPDATE
Christmas Eve 2003 is bearing down on us, and it's time to hang up the old mouse and shut the computers down for at least one whole day. Christmas Day looms just past the dark edge of midnight, and boys and girls all over the world will be waking at wee hours of the morning in search of their gifts that were left by a fat bearded man sometime during the night. If most kids are like mine, they will be up hours before the time they would normally arise, yawning and stretching with eyes as bright as Christmas morning itself. As for me, I'll take this day to relax and spend time with the family, eating and opening gifts, and eating, and sneaking in a little writing, and then eating and gaining some weight, and then eating some more. And wouldn't you know it, just as Christmas begins to wind down, then there's New Years, and it will be time to stuff ourselves again. If I could write as much as I eat over the holidays, I could have two complete novels ready to go at the first of the year. Christmas and the New Year comes but once a year, but writing carries on all the year long. So I'll indulge myself in the Holiday festivities, and hope that when I reach the other side, I won't be too fat to sit behind this keyboard. And maybe; just maybe. I won't be buying myself a big red suit for celebrating the season next Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, and I hope you have a joyous, safe and healthy holiday.
December 23, 2003 UPDATE
I found out today that Charleston County South Carolina Libraries are carrying Terror In The South in some of their local branches. If you live in Charleston County, you will be able to find my first novel at the following locations:
Main Library
68 Calhoun Street Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 805-6801
Dorchester Road Regional
6325 Dorchester Road
Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 552-6466
Mt. Pleasant Regional
1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 849-6161
Otranto Road Regional
2261 Otranto Road
Charleston, SC 29418
(843) 572-4094
St. Andrews Parish Regional
1735 N. Woodmere Dr.
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 766-2546
West Ashley
45 Windermere Blvd
Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 766-6635
James Island
1248 Camp Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 795-6679
So if you're a Charlestonian, get on up to your local library and check out a copy! And if your local library doesn't have either book, politely suggest that they order them!
Happy Holidays!
December 23, 2003
"I'm dreaming of an 'orange' Christmas, with every Christmas card I write"
That seems to be the line everyone will be singing this year since the federal government has raised the national terror-attack warning to "Code Orange", following warnings that al-Qaida may be plotting attacks against the US during the holidays. Tom Ridge says that indicators are "perhaps greater now than at any point" since September 11th. A major factor in elevating the threat level is that more people are distacted with the holiday season, and traveling in large numbers. They also suggest that people "go about their lives" even though the decision to go from yellow to orange was based specific, corroborated intelligence that al-Qaida may soon attempt to pull off a coordinated attack in multiple places to cause mass casualties - an attack that authorities say might eclipse that of Sept. 11, 2001. And although they have no specifics about a potential method, location, or time of any attack, they continue to point toward aviation as a prime possibility; the government wants to make everyone aware so if something happens, they can say, "see, we told you."
So have yourself a very Merry Christmas, and keep looking up! (Not for God, but for possible low flying commercial aircraft!)
December 19, 2003
I took a night off from writing last night (which I've done too many times already with this book, but having some family time was worth it)and took my wife and daughter to the historic Savannah Theatre to see the nostalgic, high energy show - Lost In The 50's. The show is a celebration, not a parody; of the 1950's. It's about the optimism of the time. I'd won two tickets from one of the local radio stations here, so I only needed to buy 1 ticket for my daughter. All in all, it was a less expensive night than it could have been. The show was excellent, and the atmosphere of the old theatre made it just that much more enjoyable. Would I see the show again? You're damned right I would! Of course, I'll have to buy my ticket next time. But even at $30 each, it's well worth the admission price.
December 15th (later in the day), 2003
I could have added to the other one, but didn't want anyone to fall asleep trying to read so much at one time. :)
Barnes & Noble in Savannah Georgia has everything ready to go for my signing there on January 10th. That is such a relief, because I'm all out of books right now. The B&N didn't have my books when I did the signing there in October, because their shipment had been delayed for some reason. I was able to supply the books for that signing, but wouldn't have had them for this one. Thank you, thank you, thank you Melanie!
The streets are still torn up in Summerville, so it doesn't look like I'll be going there until after the 1st of the year. And I still need to touch base with Jessica in North Carolina to confirm something for the Sylva signing. That too will be a 2004 project.
I'm looking into a different way of marketing my work that I think will boost sales of both books for at least one more run, before finally letting them rest while I finish Voices In The Storm. I've about played out the "Terror" duo, now its on to what I hope will be bigger and better things.... we'll just have to see. :)
December 15, 2003
With the capture of Saddam Hussein, newspapers are being plastered with stories relating the facts as we know them, or the ones they want us to know anyway. But the reports that really get under my skin are the ones that they contribute to the capture, as if that really had anything to do with it. Like the 3% boost in the Tokyo markets. Does Saddam really have that much influence on the stocks to boost the markets in Tokyo? And another thing... the National Retail Federation has stated that with the Capture of the middle east tyrant, that they hope that the good mood this has put the American people in will cause them to go out and spend more money in the retail markets. Now I'm not a big stock market player, the only market I invest in with any regularity is the supermarket! So why would Saddam's capture make me want to run out and buy something? The Christmas season is the only reason I'll buy anything in the coming week, I damn sure won't be running out to load up on groceries, gifts, or even a new truck just because some bearded bastard in Iraq has been captured. :)
December 9, 2003
Christmas is fast approaching and I haven't even begun my shopping yet. Like most men; I usually wait until the last minute. You see, the thing about us men is that we know what we're going after so we don't have to spend hours wandering through the mall looking for something to buy. Usually, we can go right to the item we seek, and be back to the car in short order. Considering that the lines aren't too long.
Okay; Yes I did get glasses, but my eyes aren't as bad as I first thought. The new eyes are only readers so at least I don't have to wear them all the time. I asked the Doc if my increased reading and writing over the past few years may have accelerated the deterioration of my vision. He agreed that while that may have helped, I was due for a tune up anyway. It's a funny thing about passing age 40, things don't seem to work as well as they use to. Well... most things anyway! :D
So if you happen to visit me at my next signing, which will be in Savannah Georgia at Barnes and Noble on January 10th; don't think you've stopped by the wrong table just because some geeky looking guy is sitting back there signing books. Or, don't tip me when I open the door for you as you enter the store. That's the fun part of book signings, I get to greet everyone that comes into the store while I'm there.... and it makes me feel just like a Walmart greeter!
December 2, 2003
It's always nice to get the mail and find a royalty check stuffed in the box from my publisher, the only down side is; there's usually someone else with his hand out that's ready to take it. It's no different for the one I received yesterday. I had just decided to get some new eyes for myself, after a year or so of putting off the inevitable. I've never had problems with vision before, but then again, I ain't no spring chicken anymore. At 42, I guess it's not bad that I'm just needing glasses now. My daughter is only 17 and she's had them for several years. My wife wonders if the onset of deterioration is because of all the reading and writing I've done for the past couple of years. I guess that's possible, but for whatever reason; Lenscrafters will be getting a big chunk of the royalty check. I'm taking my daughter with me to help pick out the frames, I have a complex about that part of the process and don't want to buy any that make me look like I should be in a Revenge Of The Nerds movie. She has good taste, and if she picks a set that she thinks is cool, then I won't be so afraid of looking like a dork! Let's just hope she doesn't decide to use her sense of humor to play a bad joke on ol' dad. Even I wouldn't buy the coke bottom lensed, thick black framed version. Afterall, I'm not Stephen King! :)
November 26, 2003
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 24, 2003
A weeks worth of vacation has come and gone, and I'm no closer to finishing Voices In The Storm than I was a week ago. No writing was done the entire time I was off because of the workload that I was under. "Vacation" to me, is taking time off from my full time job to work around the house getting things done that I can't get done any other time. Replacing the floors in my home was last weeks project. Ripping out the carpet and installing hard wood flooring in two bedrooms, the living room, dining room, and my office, and laying ceramic tile in the kitchen and utility room is not my idea of fun. The good thing is, I'm almost done. Everything is done except for the office, and the fireplace. (Oh I forgot to mention, the fireplace is being stoned from floor to ceiling). When all is said and done; I may be stoned and on the floor! Hopefully when the dust clears; I'll be able to get back to writing. There's so much to do, and time is flying by. I do plan to have a book out next year however, I just don't know which one will be ready, or when it will be out. Of course, I'll keep you posted. :)
November 20, 2003
Everytime I update this page, my trusty readers write to tell me what typing mistakes I've made. I usually make at least one (and sometimes two!) I hate editing myself, and one of the things I don't do is read what I've typed here, maybe I need to start though; just to keep my readers from having to do it for me. :)
November 18, 2003
I've taken some time off from work to do some remodeling around the house (oh joy!) New floors are going in throughout the home, and guess who gets to install them! Installation is a job in itself, but I think the worst part is the moving of the furniture. Every room of furniture has to be moved twice!
So how much writing am I doing? Very little up to now. I've been so busy, writing has been put on the back burner. The weather today is nasty, severe thunderstorms and tornado watches and such. No work is being done today, so break out the manuscript! If I can get 8 or 10 pages done today, then I will be right on schedule. My next book may take a little longer to get out than the first two, but once I clear the hurdle of finding a publisher, they should start coming on a regular basis. I hope. :)
November 13, 2003
Sometimes you just hate to check the mail. But then, you never really know what you may have in there. Yesterday, I got my first "official" rejection notice from an agent in New York (which I'll leave nameless) I really don't feel bad about receiving the notice, because it was pretty generic. Leading me to believe that the agent I queried never saw the information I sent at all. The notice was probably sent out by a secretary. At least, that's what I'm going to make myself believe. All hope is not lost however, as there are more agents than there are publishers out there these days. Eventually, someone will say yes. I do have the agent up there that's still interested in seeing Voices In The Storm, if I can ever get the darned thing completed! I have to pay my dues I know, I can't expect to be an overnight success. This is a tough business, so I just have to get tougher at working it.
My writing is beginning to pick back up now, with time being stolen from anywhere I can get it. I'm trudging along in VITS, writing a page or so now and then in the mystery series, and coming up with ideas galore for new books. I just wish I could write them as fast as I can think them up!
November 4, 2003
Halloween is almost... hey wait, it's gone already! How did I miss All Hallows Eve? Man, I have been too busy lately! Not getting any writing done, but have been busy nonetheless. Okay, I'm really going to get back to my writing now. I've slacked off for too long as it is. Some of the local papers have run small articles regarding my books, and book sales have sparked up once again, with new readers included! Those are the ones I really like to get. Of course, I'll never forget my old readers, that's for sure. They play a big part in keeping me going. Hopefully the new readers will be just as loyal as the old and make me plenty rich!
I have really got to get back in to reading too, reading and writing go hand in hand and makes for better writing. Does that make sense?
I'm still working on lining up a few signings, one in Summerville SC, and still working on something in Sylva, NC. I just have to get Jessica the info she needs so that we can get a date confirmed. The city's still working on the road in front of the bookstore in Summerville, so we'll just have to wait them out. Maybe they will have it completed soon. I've also got to get by the Beaufort Bookstore and drop a copy of my books off to the proprietor there, and work out something with her.
I just got the replacement power pack in for my laptop, and I think thats what has kept me from doing much writing, the laptop being down. But it's back in order now, so hopefully I can get back to work. I've got a few lines out, fishing for a prospective agent for Voices In The Storm, as well as The Mystery Series I'm working on. I'll be sure to let you know if anything comes of that. I'll be the one dancing on the roof and signing at the top of my lungs. Of course, I can't be responsible for any wildlife mutilations that may occur because of the high pitched squealing!
October 27, 2003
The signings at the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival and at Barnes and Noble this past Saturday went pretty well for such a slow business day. The festival goers had just started getting out and mingling among the vendors when I had to pack up and head to Hilton Head for the signing at Barnes and Noble. The B&N signing actually faired better than I thought it would, as the store was almost desolate of customers when I arrived. An hour later, they began to trickle in, and what I thought was going to be a wasted day, actually may have turned out to be more fruitful than not.
A lady approached my table with the new Peter Straub release, Lost Boy Lost Girl tucked under her arm. She asked me about my books, and I ran through a brief synopsis, telling her as much as I could about the two book series in as short a time as I could. When I finished, she put Peter Straub back on the shelf, and bought Shivers! I was flattered. I would have never dumped a sure fire good read for one I knew little about. But she took the chance, and I hope she enjoys the book even more than she would have enjoyed Straub. I can dream can't I? :)
I also met a lady that has ten published titles to her credit, and she passed an agents name to me to pitch my mystery series to. Who knows, maybe something will come out of that. The dreams get bigger as the goals get bigger, what's next? A Spielberg contract? LOL
October 23, 2003
Well the month of October has flown right by hasn't it? Another book signing is near, and Halloween is just around the corner!
This Saturday, I will be busy with my first double event signing. The first to be held in Hardeeville, SC at the Celebrate Hardeeville Festival from 10am until 12 noon. Then I'm off to Barnes & Noble on Hilton Head Island for a 1 til 3pm event there. I'll have copies of both books at both events, so hopefully all will go well. After this weekend, my card is clear until January; unless something comes up in Summerville before then. Michelle List of All Books & Company in Summerville will host another signing for me, but the city has the street in front of her store dug up at the moment. As soon as repairs are made and the street is once again passable, we'll confirm a date for the signing there. I hope we're able to get it in; in late November or early December. I'd love to have at least one more on the card before the new year.
October 17, 2003
Hi everyone!
Now that I have the attention of both of you, I really don't have anything to say. Yes, I'm still writing. It seems the creative juices are beginning to flow again, or at least; faster than they have been lately. Todays news isn't actually news. I'm not going to bore you by talking about what's going on in the writing world, I'll save that for a day when there really isn't anything else to say. What I'm going to leave you with today; are questions. I've been pondering some of life's many mysteries, and have questions that I'd really like the answers to. See if these are some of things you've wondered about too. If so, then you're as demented as I am.
Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there...I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes out of it's bum."
Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the car pool lane?
If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?
Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their bum when they ask where the bathroom is?
Why does your Obstetrician/Gynaecologist leave the room when you get undressed if he is going to look up there anyway?
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!
What do you call male ballerinas?
If Wile E. Coyote from the Road Runner show had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?
If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables,then what is baby oil made from?
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
Is Disney World the only people trap operated by a mouse?
Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Stop singing and read on . . . . . .. . . . .
Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's on the outside of your ass?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
Just wondering... how about you?
October 13, 2003
Just an update to keep you informed on what's going on. This is the time in the writing process when I'm not as accessible as I probably should be. I'm spending a lot of time writing, working on Voices In The Storm, and toying with the mystery series. I'm still working on lining up a few signings too, which I hope to get confirmations on in the next day or two. Some of the CRM's are hard to catch, and playing phone tag seems to be a normal activity these days. I'm also doing a little rewrite of Terror In The South, and shopping it to a New York agent that I shall leave nameless for now. If anything comes out of it I'll be the first to find a tree stump and crow about the representation for all to hear. Voices In The Storm will also be making the trip to New York, if I can ever get the darned thing finished! Luckily, the agent that's already expressed interest in looking at that one is a very patient lady. I have a few ideas running around in my head that I think would make awesome stories too, but I dare not start anything new just yet. My current workload is enough for my small brain to handle as it is, so they will just have to wait. At least, when I get to the point of starting something new; I won't have to struggle for material.
What I'm reading? I'm still paging through The Harvest by Scott Nicholson, I haven't had a lot of time for reading lately, so the going has been slow. But that does give me the time to enjoy the book more, instead of flying through it devouring every page. There's not a shortage of reading material either, as my "to read" pile continues to grow, and grow, and grow. There's a lot of great new material out there, and it's hard to let them slip by without at least sampling some of it.
October 5, 2003
The 2003 Gopher Hill Festival has come to a close, and my first signing for A New Breed Of Terror is now behind me. 25 copies of the newly released book found new homes, and I would be suprised if some of the pages weren't already dog-earred by readers in anticipation of finding out what happens to the loving cast of characters in the two book series. Now I'm back to work on future books in hopes that I can have another one ready soon. I expect the next title you see from me will be something in the mystery series I'm writing, as Voices In The Storm will be going to New York in search of a mass market deal. Stay tuned, better things are yet to come!
September 26, 2003
Gopher Hill is just around the corner, and my first signing should be a good one, as far as sales go anyway. Unlike last year, I haven't pre-sold any copies of A New Breed Of Terror. Everyone that's waiting for the sequel of Terror In The South will be able to get it at the festival. I will also have copies of Terror In The South available, for those that want the first book but haven't gotten it yet. I'll also have a copy of A New Breed Of Terror in hardback for display, that festival goers can look at, and order forms available in the event they want to order one. Some authors decorate their tables with little what-nots and the likes, with things that coincide with something in their books. I've never done this, but will do it this year. I picked up a Halloween snow globe yesterday that has a base that looks like it's made of stone. Inside, is a skull, with a few smaller skulls around it. The "snow" is actually black, instead of white. My daughter said it looks like little bats flying around when you shake it. Don't you just love it? A true horror fan, she's always thinking on the dark side like her dad. :D
There's something glowing in them there hills! I'm reading The Harvest by Scott Nicholson and in my opinion, it's his best book yet. The Red Church was no slouch, but The Harvest is even better! I'm also reading (or listening to on audio) Dean Koont's - By The Light Of The Moon. It too is a fantastic read... strange. Do yourself a favor, pick up a copy of either book (Scott's or Dean's) they're both great. Oh... and while you're at it, if you have some spare change; maybe you can get mine too. ;)
I'll see you local fans at the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland October 4th, for you out of staters that can't make the trip, maybe I'll be there soon at a bookstore near you! I'm trying to confirm dates in Savannah GA, Hilton Head Island S.C., Beaufort, S.C. and Summerville, S.C. right now. Once I have those lined up, then I'll be taking a look into North Carolina. Keep checking the Events page, It should begin to fill soon.
September 19, 2003
Wow, I didn't realize it had been over two weeks since my last post to this page! I guess that shows how busy it's been around here lately. There's not a lot going on right at the moment, I'm still working on setting up a few signings for A New Breed Of Terror. So far, I've only confirmed the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland, but I've mailed out packets to Barnes and Noble stores in three different states, and to Books A Million and a few independent stores. Book sales have regenerated for Terror In The South, which I had hoped would happen since the release of the sequel. A few are from first time readers of my work, while others are repeat buyers. One lady told me she needed another copy because her dog ate hers. And I thought only that happened in schools with homework. Another said that she loaned her copy to her daughter, but now that she has it back; the copy feels used. So she wants a fresh signed copy to replace it. Man, some of the stories you hear are unbelievable; but true. I got an order for three copies the other day from one household, and three more orders today from people that work for the same company that I do. It seems one of the operators here at the phone company has been talking it up for me. Way to go Josie!
So how's the writing coming? - Slowly. I've written three pages in the past month, so I've really got to get my butt in gear and get some words down. Voices In The Storm needs to be mailed to New York, and then the waiting begins. Of course; I'll have the mystery series to work on in the meantime, and I have a fresh new story running around in my mind that I may try to do something with. I've got to get the ol' wheels a turnin' again and knock the cobwebs free. Halloween is just around the corner and there's bones to break and eyes to gouge!
Oh I almost forgot! I'm currently reading The Harvest by Scott Nicholson, and I'm reaching the end of chapter five. So far, this is Nicholson at his best. Highly entertaining! Don't wait for me to give you a review, get out there and get a copy. You won't be disappointed!
September 3, 2003
Finally! I've gotten the paperback version of a New Breed Of Terror and I'm holding it in my grubby little hands. Well, my hands aren't really that little, but they do get grubby at times. The cover looks as good as I expected it too, but I didn't expect it to be as heavy as it is. I guess I expected it to be more like Terror In The South, but then, there are 100 pages more in this one than the first. UPS didn't deliver the hardcover version yesterday, they said the street where I live doesn't exist. Well the County never seems to have trouble finding it when they come by to appraise the land for taxes. I called UPS and had the delivery address changed to my office, so I should recieve that one tomorrow.
Thursday will start the next venture into writing, as I haven't worked on Voices In The Storm for more than two weeks now, so it's time to get back to work on that one. I'll also work on the Mystery Series too as time permits. During all of this, I'll be setting up signings for A New Breed Of Terror, with the first one being October 5th at the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland. Soon after that, I should be a Barnes & Noble in Hilton Head, Savannah and Charleston, and All Books & Company in Summerville. With a little luck, maybe I'll get into Beaufort, SC and a few locations in North Carolina after the first of the year. Of course, all of this will be listed on the Events page once the signings are confirmed.
What am I reading? ... I haven't been reading squat, lately! After finishing Wormwood by Poppy Z Brite (which I highly recommend), I was going to finish reading Dark Wonders by Mark Allen Reynolds, but I just haven't found the time to do so.... yet. I should be getting back in to that one soon.
Got to run for now, so get to that order page and grab yourself a copy of A New Breed Of Terror, I hope they'll be going fast!
September 2, 2003
A New Breed Of Terror is being featured in the September Issue of Sam's Dot Publishing's Expressions Online Newsletter! Just visit Expressions and click on SEPTEMBER to view the newsletter. Included is a cover photo, a brief synopsis and also ordering information. There's also information on how to participate in the Expressions Newsletter along with the New Publications listings, Illustrated Poetry, and Newsflashes. There's also an interview with Fantasy/Horror writer Janet Fox, and a list of paying markets that writers and artists can submit work to, which is updated monthly. Visit Sam's Dot Publishing and check out the newsletter, it's full of useful information that any fan will enjoy!
August 27, 2003
Sams Dot Publishing has informed me that they will be listing A New Breed Of Terror in their Expressions Online Newsletter, in the New Release section of the September 2003 Issue. The listing will include a cover photo, and a brief synopsis of the book. I will post the info here when the September issue is posted.
August 22, 2003
I've learned a few things about myself lately that are mildly bothersome, but it has nothing at all to do with writing or the publishing business. It seems that a certain period in my life is beginning to catch up to me, and at 42, I guess it's about time. My doctor summed it all up with 4 words. "Welcome to old age!" In January, I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, which actually sounds worse than it really is. Part of the confusion probably comes from the term "degenerative", which implies that it will get worse with age. While the disc degeneration is likely to progress over time, the associated pain usually does not get worse and in fact usually gets better over time. So I'm not worried too much about that. The second thing I realized, which was last night, was that I'm farsighted. I found this out when my wife handed me a medicine bottle to read. The light was rather dim in the room so I held the bottle close enough to read in the fading light, but I quickly realized that it didn't matter how much light I had, I couldn't focus in on the type on the lable no matter how hard I tried. Holding the bottle further away, I found that I could read everything perfectly. At first I denied that there was anything wrong, "maybe it's the glare of the white lable," I said. I grabbed a Poppy Z Brite novel from the dresser that I'm currently reading and opened it to a random page. At arms length, the text was perfectly clear, but as I moved the book closer... the words began to blur, and then they just all ran together like a heap of maggots thriving on a decaying carcass.
Okay, so I can't see anything that's close. I'll just have to read things before I get to them! ;)
August 20, 2003
It's been two strong weeks since I've done an update here, but what's funny is... with everything that seems to be going on, there's really nothing happening.
iUniverse has A New Breed Of Terror ready for order, and most of the online booksellers have the title listed. But I've yet to receive my advanced copies, I know they're coming, they just haven't arrived yet. As far as appearances are concerned, I know I will be doing The Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland the first week in October, but I haven't set anything up yet at any brick and mortar stores. I have packets all fixed up and ready for delivery to them, but I am trying to wait on my advance copies before sending any of that stuff out.
Remember the New York agent I've spoken about that wants to take a look at my third novel? I made contact with her about Voices In The Storm yesterday, she's still interested in looking at that one when it's finished, so I'm hard at work at getting it completed. I'm also still working on the Mystery Series that I've started writing, and book one of that series is coming together nicely. The trials of everyday life are making it harder to set aside time for writing, but I'm still sneaking in a few pages here and there, trying to stay on schedule.
Hopefully, I'll be signing in three states with ANBOT. I'll be hitting the usual places in South Carolina of course, but I'll also be dipping down into Georgia, and making a trip or two to North Carolina. Now if I can just align multiple signings for a two day trip to the mountains, it will make the trip more worthwhile. My parents are living Maggie Valley now, so if the signings don't do as well as they should, I'll still get to visit with Mom and Dad... so the trip won't be a total waste. :)
Keep checking this page for updates as they come, and keep an eye on my Events page for my appearance schedule. I may be coming to a town near you!
Now how scary is that?
August 04, 2003
Some of the online bookstores are beginning to list A New Breed Of Terror on their websites now. Barnes & Noble.com has the book listed, but hasn't listed the order information as of yet. Amazon has also listed it, but they only have the hardcover listed. Don't worry Amazonians, the paperback copy will be available through Amazon too, I guess they just don't have it listed yet. Books-A-Million has yet to add the listing to their site, but I look for it to be added sometime this week.
The pocket-sized perfect-bound trade paperback magazine Thirteen Stories, is now available through Shocklines!
Be sure to check out issue #1 which includes my short story, Deadlines. And issue #4 which includes Fade To Black!
July 29, 2003
Okay, so this is long overdue. To be truthful, there's not much to tell but there's a lot going on. Now that I have you totally confused, let me explain.
A New Breed Of Terror is in the print process, so I'm waiting on them now. The pre-order page is available for those that want to pre-order ANBOT. Don't you just love the one word abbreviations we authors use for our books? Harry Shannon uses NOTB for Night Of The Beast, and NOTW for Night Of The Werewolf. But I think ANBOT is a lot easier to say. Let's see Scott Nicholson try that with The Harvest. :)
As far as what's keeping me busy, well that would be Voices In The Storm. Which isn't progressing as fast as I would like it to, but that's because of the mystery series that I'm writing. I've been spending a lot of time in the first book of the Black Water Mysteries and it's taken probably too much time away from VITS. See, there's another easy one.
WIAR - currently, I'm trying to finish up Wormwood, by Poppy Z. Brite (don't you just love that name?) Poppy's writings have held me spellbound throughout this one, she's really a great writer. Once that one's finished, then it's off to the strange world of Robert Devereaux's, Santa Steps Out. I'm almost afraid to read this one, as I know it's going to shatter any loving childhood memories I've had of Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny.
As soon as ANBOT hits the online stores, then it's off to thry and work it in to the brick and mortars. I don't think I'll have a problem with Barnes and Noble on Hilton Head, as my first book did very well there. But this time, I want to expand into Beaufort, and dwon in to Savannah Georgia. Of course Summerville will be on my list again for this one, and hopefully I'll do well enough to take the jog over into North carolina. Wow, three states and only two books under my belt. That would be nothing less than a miracle, I think. Especially since they're POD. Not that I dislike POD mind you, they're just a little tougher in the marketing aspect.
Well since I don't have a lot to say this time, then I will close for now... ummm, you can wake up now. Click the mouse and it will take you to another page. :)
BYE!
July 21, 2003
My new book is currently available through the publisher, and I'm taking pre-orders for A New Breed Of Terror through my website. Most people I've spoken to want to wait for Barnes & Noble to list it on their site, which should be in the next week or so, so that they can get the discounted price. That's fine by me, the pre-order is just for those that just can't wait!
Wish me luck if you will. Hopefully, this book will do at least as well as the first one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
July 09, 2003
I've finished proofing A New Breed Of Terror and it's back in the publishers hands. The only thing to do now is sit back and wait. Well, actually I have a little more to do than just sit back. Media packs will be stuffed and mailed, and pre-order forms printed in preparation for the big promotional push. I won't have to worry about event posters and that sort of thing as the publisher will be supplying those, this time around.
If you haven't read Tamara Thorne's Sorority series... then shame on you! That's some of the most entertaining stuff I've read in a while. Get out there and pick up your copies of Eve, and Merilynn as soon as you can! Samantha will be out in a few weeks, so that will give you time to get caught up before she storms the bookstores. I promise you, you will not be disappointed with this trio of books.
July 02, 2003
As you've probably noticed by now, my publisher has offered up a new cover design for A New Breed Of Terror. I'm in the process of proofing the manuscript and should have it back to them in a few days. The pre-order forms will be up soon too, for those of you that just can't wait. Oh, and don't worry about your order getting lost, as it will be coming straight to me. I will then get the book shipped to me from the publisher, personalize it for you, and ship it right to you from here. :)
June 26, 2003
Okay, I've slipped a little on the updates, but I had good reason... I hope.
A New Breed Of Terror had already been sent to the publisher but I pulled it back after the passing of Connie Lloyd. A tribute to the Horror World icon was added to the pages of the book which includes five pages of dedications from various authors and friends. I've dedicated the book to Connie, and will send her husband Ed an autographed copy of the hardcover edition. ANBOT has been resubmitted, and I got word yesterday that the printing process will not be held up because of the additions. The book will still be available in August.
For now, I'm working on the Black Water Mystery Series, and Voices In The Storm. I'm also putting together media packages for the press, a pre-order form for the webpage, and promotional packages for the bookstores. The marketing campaign for A New Breed Of Terror will be somewhat larger than the one for Terror In The South was, mainly because I know a little more about what I'm doing this time around. By the time the third book is out I should really be a pro at this, huh?
That's all for now. I'll keep you posted as to what's going on as the book goes through the publishing process. Later! ;)
June 17, 2003
I've been promoting A New Breed of Terror throughout some of the horror forums that I frequent almost daily, and have had some good questions arise in some of the feedback. I'll try to answer some of them here, maybe this will clear up alot of what you'll need to know.
When will your new book be available?
A New Breed Of Terror will be available sometime in August. The publisher isn't far enough into the process to give me an exact date yet. The book will actually be available from the publisher, and from me, before it hits the online booksellers. Barnes and Noble is usually pretty quick about getting the books listed, but some of the others usually take a little longer.
Will autographed copies be available without me sending a book to you for autographing?
Yes, instead of ordering your book from one of the online booksellers, you will be able to order it directly from me. This way, I can personalize your copy and ship it right out to you.
Will your books be available in hard cover?
A New Breed of terror will be available in hardcover when it's released, Terror In The South isn't available in hard cover right now, but it may be later. It depends on how well it continues to do in sales.
Can I still buy Terror In The South?
Yes you can. Terror In The South is still available through all the online booksellers, but I don't know how long they will carry it. I guess it depends on how well it continues to sell.
Will there be another book in this series?
No. I do not have any plans for continuing the Shivers series, the two books will be it. I've entertained the idea of bringing back the Shivers name in a kids series, but haven't etched anything in stone about that either. If a better name pops into my head other than "Shivers", then I may use it for the kids series. It's hard to think of a good series name for kids books, all of the good ones are taken it seems. Of course, I'm open to any ideas any of you may have, if you'd like to suggest a name.
Are you going to do the Mystery Series I've read about on your website?
Yes, I'm working on a few stories for the mystery series, but none of them are even close to being finished yet. They should start appearing sometime next year, unless I have a brain storm and finish a couple of them before the end of this year. The mystery series will also proceed the kids series, you may not see any of the kids books for a couple of years yet. Again, that depends on my brainstorming, and writing time.
Will pre-ordering be available?
Yes, you will be able to pre-order A New Breed Of Terror in soft copy, or hard back directly from my website. I'm already putting things in place that will allow you to do that, but it won't be available of course, until the publisher confirms a solid release date.
What forms of payment will be available for pre-orders?
You will be able to pay for your order with credit card, through Paypal, or by the old fashioned way of snail mail. If you send your payment via the postal service, you can pay by personal check, or by US Money Order. I would recommend paying with a money order if you want your book sooner, than later. Payments with personal check will delay your order until the check clears your bank, which could take up to 10 days. Unless of course I know you, and you're in driving distance of South Carolina.
I see on your website that you list your books as Horror and Thriller, and theres also a Mystery series and Childrens Horror/Thriller series that you're working on. Why so many genres?
My first novel is considered Horror, because of the gore that's contained within the pages, the Sequel, that will be released in August I consider to be more of a thriller. It has little, or no gore at all, but the fast paced action is still there. It's a "keep you on the edge of your seat" kind of book (or is that just movies that do that?). Voices In The Storm is also a thriller, I wouldn't consider it full blown horror either. The Mystery series and the Shivers: For Kids series, I'm dabbling into just to see how well they go over. If one of those start outselling the novels, then who knows, I may start writing Mysteries or the Kids series for a living. I like reading different genres, so I guess it's only appropriate for me to write in multiple genres. Remember horror master Clive Barker? He writes a Children's series called Abarat, which has been purchased by Disney, who plans to market the World of Abarat with a video game, TV show, and as a location in their theme park. So genre crossing can't be all that bad. :)
Hopefully, this will clear up most of the questions you've had about Shivers the old or the new. I will continue to update this Q & A segment as the questions come in, so check back regularly. I may even set up a Q & A page, if the questions began to pile up enough to warrant an FAQ Page.
Happy reading! And thanks for your continued support.
June 15, 2003
Happy Fathers Day, DAD!
June 13, 2003
It's done!
A New Breed Of Terror is finally complete, and has been submitted to iUniverse for publication. I'll keep you posted on the process as it goes through editing, final submission, and printing, and will keep you up to date on when it will be released. I'm guessing mid to late August. Now, I'll take a couple of days of much needed rest, and then I'll begin the promotional process of hyping the book to everyone, everywhere! Watch those inboxes!
June 11, 2003
Coming down to the wire!
A New Breed of Terror is just about done. I'm working on the last chapter now, and should have it completed by the end of the week. I have confirmed that the book will be available as a hardback, as well as in soft cover. I'm still working on a pre-order page too, for those of you who'd like to reserve your copy. But that won't be set up until the book is ready for print. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one will outsell the other by a long shot, and hope it will generate new sells for Terror In The South.
WIAR... (what I am reading). I just dove into the first book of Tamara Thorne's Sorority Trilogy, Eve. This has been a fantastic read thus far. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, get out there and get it! You won't be disappointed. I'm also listening to Patricia Cornwell's Portrait of A Killer: Jack The Ripper - Case Closed. I'm still in the first CD, and it was slow going at first, but it's beginning to pick up some now. I'd just finished @nd Chance by James Patterson, and that one was well worth the listen. A typical "great story" from Patterson as usual. (even though I didn't make the top 5 in his TV Guide contest, I still like his work.)
;)
June 4, 2003
On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again...
Okay, so I'm no Wille Nelson, but I am planning a big road trip for a New Breed of Terror. Coupled with the fact that I'll also drag along a few copies of my first novel, for those that want to buy both books at once. I'll be sure to give them a two for two deal. Buy two, and you only get two. :)
I also found out monday that I will be getting a hard cover edition of A New Breed of Terror, right along with my proof copy, (now when my wife throws the book at me it may actually hurt!) I believe that A New Breed will also be available in hard cover from the publisher, or at least that's what they're telling me now.
So far, my appearance plans are to include the states of Georgia, South Carolina (of course), and North Carolina. Most will probably be on the east coast in Georgia and South Carolina, and I'm unsure of how far west I'll get in these states. North Carolina will be just the opposite. Most of the signings there will be in the western side of the state, with maybe an appearance or two on the east coast. We'll just have to see how things pan out.
WIAR... in the What I Am Reading department, I'm still picking at the pages of the John Saul novel, but it's slow going there. I'm also listening to 2nd Chance by James Patterson, and so far, he hasn't let me down with this sequel of 1st To Die. I also picked up a few other audio books that I'm dying to get into, such as Dean Koontz's By The Light Of The Moon, Beach House another Patterson book, andIsle of Dogs and Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwell. Those should keep me busy for a while.
I missed my first Island Writers Network meeting due to the fact that I'm cramming at the keyboard trying to get A New Breed of Terror finished so that I can get it submitted. Only 4 chapters to go! And then it's off to the publisher. Maybe I can make the next meeting in July.
That's it for now... oh and Tamara, I still haven't picked up Eve as of yet... but just as soon as I can get to the bookstore, Ker-ching!
May 29, 2003
It's been 10 days since my last post, where has the time gone?
I've run into a minor snag with getting my writing tanscribed from scribble pad to electronic copy. After finishing the last four chapters, and typing eight chapters. I turned to my assistant for the work that he had done on the 12 chapters he was typing. To my astonishment, he had only done 2 chapters! So what am I doing now? Typing the last 10 chapters myself. My personal deadline was June 1, 2003 for submission to my publisher. (notice the emphasis on was!) Now it will be at least a week later, which should give me time to get the last 5 or 6 chapters typed.
In other news... Tamara Thorne has released her first novel of the Sorority Trilogy. Eve is now in bookstores and just waiting for you to snatch her up!
Scott Nicholson is promoting his new release, The Harvest which is due out in September 2003.
What I'm reading.... the final 90 or so pages of A New Breed of Terror, which I'm working feverishly too complete!
That's it for now! Keep turning the pages, and we'll keep writing the words!
May 19, 2003
Friday evening I attended my very first writer's workshop. Vicky Hunnings and Kathryn Wall spoke on "How to Punch Up Your Fiction: Five Top Mistakes and How to Avoid Them", they did an excellent job and I found the workshop both entertaining, and informative. Vicky and Kathy (for those of you unfamiliar with them) are two Beaufort County novelists that base their mysteries in Beaufort County, South Carolina. You can visit their websites by clicking their names below.
Vicky Hunnings
Kathryn Wall
May 14, 2003
The type on the pages are long and deep, and I've miles to go before I sleep.
Or so it seems.
I'm in the process of getting A New Breed Of Terror typed up, thats the bad part about writing this stuff out in longhand first. But it does give me the opportunity to make changes before it's transformed into a working manuscript. Once It's in black ink, then I can review it again and make any final adjustments before submitting it to the publisher.
So, what am I reading now? NOTHING! With the trials of typing up New Breed, I've had to put the John Saul book on hold for now. I'll get back into it once I have the sequel submitted. There are a ton of books that are on my reading list, and it grows longer everyday.
I think what I need is a vacation, maybe a week to lose myself in the North Carolina mountains should be added to my agenda.
May 11, 2003
Happy Mothers Day, MOM!
May 6, 2003
A New Breed of Terror is finally finished! All thats left to do now is the hard work of proofing and marketing. Writing sure is alot easier than the work of promoting these things, but I guess thats all part of the game. I'm working on a pre-order page for the website for those of you that would like to order the book before it's release. Autographed copies can be mailed right to your door! I will advise you of when that form is available so you can get your orders in.
Currently I'm reading a John Saul novel, the first I've read by him. Right Hand of Evil seems to be more of your traditional haunted house story, but so far, it's rather interesting. I've made it through chapter 5 so if it's held me this long then it can't be too bad.
What is today? ..... hmmm, let's see. May the 6th. Oh wait, I know .... I know!
Happy Birthday Jackie!
May 2, 2003
Oh boy, I'm in trouble now...
It seems that I forgot to wish my little sister Happy Birthday on April 30th. Hopefully she'll forgive me, since I've been extra busy trying to complete the Shivers sequel. I just hope now that I don't forget my wife's on the 6th!
Happy Birthday Roxy!
April 25, 2003
And then there were two
Okay, actually there are 2 1/2 chapters left before A New Breed of Terror is complete. By mid May, I should have the writing done. Once everything is put together and ready for submission it should be the end of May. I'm still pushing for a July release, even though it may be late July or possibly the early days of August. I'll have to see how much pressure I can put on the publisher, of course I wouldn't want it rushed. I'd rather have it done right.
Now the fun begins, as marketing plans go into action. I will be taking pre-orders for this one, and will have a form posted on the website soon for anyone who would like to place their order early. There may be one in the local papers too, I'll have to see about that. I can't wait to get back into the stores meeting and greeting, dusting a few shelves, or whatever other small chores the store may need done. Hey... maybe thats why they like to host authors like me, it's free labor!
Oh I almost forgot, my brother's birthday is today...
Happy Birthday Ricky!
April 18, 2003
It's been more than a day or two, and I hope I'm not announcing this prematurely. I am currently working on a new Mystery series titled Black Water Mysteries. The title of the first book in this series is Missing. I also have something else in the works that I will announce later. Black Water is still in the early stages and I haven't even shopped it around to a publisher as of yet. I'll let you know who may be picking it up as the progression continues.
What I'm reading... I finished Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon, and it was by far one of the best books I've read in a while. I just started The Waiting Room by T.M. Wright and will let you know what I think about that one when I'm done.
April 13, 2003
Prom night is over, and I didn't have to kill anyone! Now I can put the chainsaw back in the shed...
Hey... I've got big news coming forth in a day or two, so check back when you can for the announcement. I've got to finalize a few things before I tell what I'm doing, so bare with me.
April 11, 2003
April 11th, a big day for my daughter. She'll be 17 in July, but tonight is the night of her Junior Prom! The boy thats taking her is her new boyfriend. They've been dating for a month or so now I guess, but they've been friends for three or four years. I wonder, as I sit in the darkness contemplating tonights events... should I take out the chain saw, oil up the chain, and check it's teeth for sharpness? Should I shrug into my dirtiest overalls and sit by the door with the chainsaw in my lap waiting, patiently for the young man to come up the walk? Should I wait until he rings the doorbell and takes the extra moment for someone to answer the door, to slick back his hair and use his breath spray? Should I then fling the door open and invite him in with a smile, a smile thats dripping with evil?
I'll leave the chainsaw beside my chair, on the side opposite the living room entrance, where he can't see it when he walks. As I take him into the living room to wait, I'll have that little man to man talk with all him, that all fathers seem to think they need to have with the boy thats about to take their daughters out for a ... night to remember. I'll speak to him gently at first, ask him where they'll be going before and after the prom. I'll ask him where they will eat,, and what time he thinks they'll be home. Just when he begins to stutter and stumble over his words, I'll reach beside the chair and snatch up the chainsaw. I'll pull the cord on it to fire it up and race the motor violently as he sits there with his eyes like saucers. Then I'll let the engine idle down as I place the whirring blade close to his neck. He'll shudder in fear as I get right in his face with my onion breath and lay out the law for the evening. "How would like this blade jammed in your neck boy?" I'll ask him. He'll shudder again, and a dark spot will form on the front of his slacks. "No sir Mr Kevin, I wouldn't like that at all" he'll whimper. I'll rev the engine again then pull the blade back, "then listen to me good son, you wouldn't want to misunderstand anything I say."
He'll cower on the couch as I stand before him, one foot on the floor, the other leg kneeled on the couch beside him. "You'll take my daughter to this prom, take her out to eat, then have her home before 11:30. Is that understood?" I'll rev the engine just to remind him of what he'll face should he faulter any of my instructions. "Yes sir" he would say, "I understand completely sir". "You better I tell, because if you don't..." I race the engine to it's limit as I scream at him like a maniac. "It'll be curtains for you boy, curtains I tell ya'!"
I'll shut the saw off and place it back behind the chair as my wife and daughter come in from the back room. She'll look so beautiful, so peaceful, so innocent. I wish them well, and we wave at them from the front door as they leave.
As they pull from the driveway, he'll turn and look over his shoulder. I'll be there in the window, peering between the blinds with eyes blazing like a raging fire.
They will be in the restaurant later, eating and having general conversation. He won't say anything about our little talk, because he'll know what awaits him if he does. The Maitre d' will approach their table and inform my daughter that she has a phone call, he'll hand her a portable phone.
"Hi honey it's dad. Everything going well? Good. What's that dear? Yes, okay let me speak to him a moment...have fun honey, okay see you later." She'll put him on the phone, but the only thing he'll hear is the chainsaw blazing in the background while I shout into the phone.
"11:30 boy, 11:30!"
April 10, 2003
The author of Gifted Trust, John Paul Allen left Houston Texas around 8 this morning to begin his road trip for his debut novel. Over the last few months John has been working with Biting Dog Publications
on the release of Gifted Trust. Nancy Collins (Sunglasses
After Dark) did the editing for John and the cover artwork was done by Alan Clark.
John also has several contests going on that may bring you a free signed copy of his book. In The first, all you have to do is read a copy of Gifted Trust. Then tell all your friends about it, Then when they order their copy you send him an email at johnpaulallen@giftedtrust.com
with something about Contest in the subject line. Tell John who
the person is ordering the book and when He gets their order you
get a point. It's that simple. On the 15th of July John will announce
the winner!
The prizes for that contest are as follows:
1st Place: A signed manuscript copy of Gifted
Trust
2nd Place: A signed copy Gifted Trust personalized
3rd Place: A signed manuscript of a not yet released short story.
The second contest involves his road trip. All you have to do is be the closest to guess how far John is from Atlanta when he decides to stop for the night after driving all day from Texas. An autographed copy of Gifted Trust is the prize for this one. In the event of a tie, he will choose the winner by the earliest time stamp on the email.
John's first stop will be in Atlanta, GA. at Atlanta Comicon.
April 11th thru the 13th.
His second stop will be at Kansas City, MO. for the World Horror Convention
April 17-20th.
Since most of this insert has been dedicated to John, I won't go into anything I have going on at the moment. I'm just working on the completion of "A New Breed Of Terror", and I don't want this segment to be too long. I'd really hate to bore anyone to sleep with all this reading.
Hey.... wake up!!
I'll now return you to your previous surfing, reading, or writing. Whatever it is that you would normally do.
See ya!
April 08, 2003
Okay, just to give you fair warning. The news page this month will be filled with personal greetings of sorts with the Birthdays and such of my family. My birthday happens to be today... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!! (now thats out of the way). My Brother's birthday comes around on the 25th, and my Sister's is on the 30th. So if I can remember on those days, I'll be wishing them well on their special days.
How's the book coming??
That seems to be the question of the month that keeps popping up in emails and general conversations. Shivers: A New Breed Of Terror is about 6 1/2 chapters away from being completed. So thats about 6 weeks away unless I really get motivated and get into one of those marathon writing nights.
So what do I think about the past 42 years? Much of it I couldn't have changed anyway. But my years as a teenager and as an adult would have some reconsiderations. I would change alot of the stupid things I did as a kid, and some of the more stupid ones I've done as an adult. Remember when we use to say Mom and Dad always think they're right about everything? Now we know for sure...that they were! One thing I would definitely change, If I could do it all over... I'd start writing alot sooner than I did. Of course back then, I don't know how much substance my writing would have had compared to now. Otherwise, I wouldn't change much else. Life has been good to me so far, I just hope it continues to be as good in the future. :)
April 05, 2003
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Mom & Dad !
Remember my parents? They're the ones that created this demented mind. Without them, there would have never been a Shivers, a Billy Lampford, or a string of murders to befall the tiny community of Ridgeland, SC. Now if they can just endure my writings as they have the past 45 years of their marriage, then that will be a major accomplishment.
Congrats Mom & Dad on 45 years!
How they managed to raise three kids and still do as well as they did is beyond me, I only have one child to raise and thats hard enough.
Okay, I've rambled enough. Nothing more to report right now. I'm entertaining a few new ideas, but haven't decided as of yet if I'm going to persue them. If I do, I'll let you all know in due time.
Later!
April 02, 2003
What's up for today?
Shivers: A New Breed Of Terror is near completion. Now, will I make it in time for a June or July release? That remains to be seen. The files are being transferred to submission documents by my ever loyal Czechoslovakian cousin while I'm working feverishly to finish up the last few chapters. Then it's off to the publisher! Yaaaayyyyyy.
And to think I want to do this for a living!
After that, the fun of promoting and selling goes into high gear while I pick at my third effort "Voices In The Storm".
Here's a little trivia for you, just in case you hear the question on national radio someday... Who is the most published author from Jasper County South Carolina?
Answer: Me!
Actually, we have a few published authors that live in the County, but they all have only one published work under their belts. "A New Breed of Terror" will be my second.
I take the lead!
When "Voices" gets published... there will be no looking back. I'll hold the record for most published works in the county for a while I'm sure. At least for a few years anyway. heh*heh
April 01, 2003
Since my day job is with the local telephone company here, I found the following story amusing, and felt it was worth sharing. And no, I don't work for Sprint! :)
Associated Press
Auburn,Mass.
A local cemetary received a phone bill last week for David Towles at his correct address - Hillside Cemetary, Evergreen Section Auburn, Mass. 01501
Towles was buried there in December of 1997. He died at the age of 60.
Cemetary superintendent Wayne Bloomquist says he was surprised to see the Sprint bill for 12 cents, which included a 10 cent call placed on February 16th, five years after Towle died.
"Our clients don't usually get mail here," Bloomquist said.
A call to Sprint's automated service showed that the charges on the unpaid account had inflated Towles' bill to $3.95.
The bill was turned over to interim Town Clerk Ellen Gaboury, who said she would hold on to it for a while.
"Ill have to," She said. "Mr. Towles' credit could be affected if it remains unpaid."
March 26, 2003
Too many authors these days aren't connecting with their fans as they should. Why is this obvious to me? Well... let me tell you.
Yesterday I posted a brief teaser on a certain message forum about my book, then followed the teaser with my website address. I was suprised at the response I got from members of that community in regards to my honesty and lack of cross posting (or trying to relate to them as being someone I wasn't). Thats one thing I do best, as most authors do, and thats promote themselves honestly. Another thing I've encountered is that some authors - especially those that are established - seem to forget how they got to where they are. Maybe a reality check would open their eyes and make them remember that if not for our readers, we wouldn't have a need for writing the books that we write. Whats wrong with dedicating some time to the people that put you where you are? I understand that time restraints or deadlines keep some of the big names from respoding personally to their fans, but if thats what is expected of you when you reach that status then I hope I never get there. Surely theres enough time in one day to answer a letter or two. Sooner or later you're bound to get caught up, and if not then that's good. Business is great!
What I'm reading... If I can put my hands on Tamara Thornes Candle Bay (I know I have it here somewhere) I'll be starting it soon. I'll also be diving into Richard Laymon's - Darkness, Tell Us.
I had gotten a little behind on A New Breed Of Terror, but picked up the pace some last night so I should be back on track by tomorrow. June is lurking just around the corner and I've got some key pounding to do.
Best wishes to all, and for the writers - keep writing! For all you readers... keep buying and reading, and we'll keep producing the stuff that makes you shiver.
March 20, 2003
I'm not too keen on talking about myself, unless I've got a new book to build some hype around. But when it comes to my daughter, I can brag and talk all day. I was so proud of the way she handled herself with her scoliosis surgery, and selfishly thought what more could she do to make me any prouder? She answered that question for me yesterday.
Kayce heard a commercial on a Savannah Ga. radio station about a model search at one of the big motels there near River Street. She begged her Mom and I to take her. Of course, being Mr Skeptical, I told her the whole program was probably a rip off and all that they wanted was your money. Since I always have the last word at my house, we loaded up the truck and we drove to Savannah G.
Kayce signed up and interviewed with the modeling agents Wednesday night. We returned home with me thinking that was the end of it, we would never hear another word from them. Thursday morning, we got the call that Kayce had been chosen as one of the top six models from her age group. Not too shabby for someone whom has never modeled before. And I have checked the company out through the Better Business Bureau in the citys where they have their offices and found that they are legit.
Now she will have the chance to not only do some promotional modeling, but she'll also be doing print (in magazine) modeling as well. Also, her birthday in July will open up more avenues for her to explore such as commercial, and maybe some fashion modeling. Of course, she'll have to wait until she's eighteen before she can do swimsuit and lingerie. Look out Britney spears, theres a new kid on the block, and your Pepsi days may soon be numbered.
As Kayce said in her interview... you can be that kid in the magazine, if thats what you really want.
So it's off to a workshop next month, a photo shoot the month after that, and who knows.... from there, maybe THE WORLD!
So, are we proud of her? - You're damn tootin' we are!
March 17, 2003
Happy Saint Paddy's Day!
Now, with that out of the way I can concentrate on the news at hand. Which is... NONE!
Unless you want to count the days upon days of rain we've had here in South Carolina, but of course I'm sure most of you have had your share of rain, ice or snow too. So I can't complain too much, at least we haven't had all that frozen precipitation. Most everyones interest seems to be directed towards St. Patricks Day celebrations. I'll pass on that thank you. Not that I'm a party pooper or anything, I'm just not much of a drinker, those next day hangovers broke me out of that tradition long ago. Don't get me wrong, I know a good time can be had while not partaking in the consumption of the frosty green ale. I just prefer relaxing at home away from the revelers and partygoers. Sitting quietly in my recliner while listening to the rain fall upon the roof as I pound away madly at the keyboard in hopes of capturing something frightening in my words.
What?
In the writing biz... everyone seems to be in the in-between stage of promoting the last book and finishing the next. Thats when the lull sets in and it seems you're drifting away from all the hype of the book biz, and then before you know it the next book is out and you go at it all over again! Thats the time of year I yearn for.
What I'm reading... NOTHING! at the moment. I've got a few Tamara Thorne novels I've yet to get to, but I'm channeling all of my energy into finishing the sequel to Shivers first. Then I'll relax with a novel or two before the promoting rush begins.
I guess that's about it for now.... until next time!
Erin Go Bragh!
March 05, 2003
An update just to let you know that I'm still alive and still writing. I've been so busy working on the sequel to Shivers, I've neglected the news page. Not alot has happened since my last entry, not with me anyway. I've got a few short stories out that I'm waiting for replies on, and have a few more rejection slips on other stories to add to the ever growing pile. Other than that, all has been quiet.
What am I reading? ... nothing at the moment. I do have a few I want to dive into, but haven't really had the time lately. I've been keeping an eye on Tom Giglio and Mark Allen Reynolds to see what big announcements they may have forthcoming, but I think they're at the stage that I'm at for now...too soon to talk much about it.
Tamara is still working on the Sorority Trilogy, and Scott's proofing copy edits for The Harvest.
Thats all for now. I'll keep you posted on any new issues that may arise in the future. Until then...
...beam me up Scotty. Kevin out.
February 17, 2003
In the February 22nd issue of TV Guide, there is an uncompleted James Patterson short story. To enter the contest you're asked to write the ending to the story. Prizes include having a character named after you in Patterson's next book. The link for the contest is HERE!
Good luck to everyone that enters!
Yes...I entered the Patterson contest by submitting my own twisted version of a great ending. I'll keep you posted as to how I do (or don't do).
Tamara Thorne had exciting news in her last "Drawn Quartely" newsletter. Here's the breaking news alert! EVE,the first novel in THE SORORITY TRILOGY has been picked up by Doubleday Book Club, The Literary Guild, The Mystery Guild, The Science Fiction Book Club, and The Venus Book Club for publication in hardcover this July. Congrats to Tamara!
Scott Nicholson seems to be hiding under a rock these days, but I know it's just that he's busy working on future projects. I look for another big announcement out of him soon.
UPDATE!! Shivers: A New Breed Of Terror is right on schedule and should see print by June 2003. I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyway.
Currently I'm trying to finish Blood Mist, which is getting harder to do now with everything I have going on. I have a stack of books that I've promised I'd read as soon as I got the opportunity... the opportunity just hasn't presented itself. My main goal is to finish the Shivers sequel, take a short breather, then jump right back in to Voices In The Storm. So if I seem a little crazy at times, then don't worry.... that's normal!
February 14, 2003
Happy Valentines Day!
Wow, 2 days in a row. This has to be some sort of record for me!
Okay, I've finally figured out what the villian is in Blood Mist (now that I'm half way through the book!). I have to hand it to Robert James, he kept me wondering for this long so either I'm slipping (and not paying enough attention to the story) or he has masterfully deceived me for this long. Usually I can figure this things out right away, but not with this one. Maybe someone who's use to reading about this type of monster would have figured it out a little quicker, by use some of the key words in the descriptions of "the elder". But anyone that knows me would know that this is not usually my forte'. This book in no way would lead you to believe that it was about this kind of tale, if I had know at first I probably wouldn't have read it. But now, I'm glad I did. It truly is a great story! (so far)
Whats up with Shivers? - Now theres a question I'm hearing alot lately. I'm still getting orders for the book, although the B&N Sales Ranking doesn't look to promising. Whats in a number anyway...unless it has a dollar sign in front of it. I am getting alot of requests locally for it. My wife is going by Barnes and Noble to pick up a few copies for resale, I think she's in it for the profit! Even my family doctor has asked for a copy, and he's originally from Thailand! I didn't know they were horror fans. Do they fear Godzilla too?
What's going on with the rest of the world? Beats the hell outta me! I've been so disconnected from the other writers for so long I don't know what they have going on. (other than general chit chat). As soon as I hear something exciting from Nicholson, Thorne or Allen...I'll clue you in. I know they're all busy with future projects, and deadlines, and life in general...but that's about all I have for now. As for bestsellers all I can say is... Stephen who??
February 13, 2003
Updates aren't coming as often now as they had before as I am elbow deep in my second book. But if you promise to keep checking in now and then, then I promise to leave you a word or two here and there to let you know how things are going. I'll also keep you up to date on other things that are developing in the world of writing.
What I'm Reading - (This will be a short one)
Currently I'm still reading Blood Mist by Robert James, and while it's not exactly the type of horror I thought it would be, it's still not a bad story. It just seems to drift back into more of a Gothic period at times than I really like, but I can overlook that to keep up with the main plot, which is extremely exciting for the most part.
February 4, 2003
I've given my start page a major facelift, of course I'm sure you've seen that already. I may do something with the other pages later, as soon as I can figure out what to do with them.
Scott Nicholson has a few things going on, The Rhine Research Center's benefit anthology "Mystery In Mind" is available with one of Scott's stories entitled "Haunted". You can visit Scott's website for more info on that.
Tamara Thornes hard at work on her trilogy THE SORORITY, which will be appearing in June, July, and August 2003.
Mark Allen Reynolds has another collection of short stories slated to be released through iUniverse in the Fall of this year. Check out his site here!
January 23, 2003
There's not alot to report today. The most exciting thing going on now is the SNOW! Yes that's right, it's snowing in Ridgeland! You'll have to excuse the excitement, as we're not use to getting alot of snow around here. Expected accumulation I think is a 1/2 inch, I may need to go to Ace Hardware and pick up a snow shovel!
The queen of horror, Tamara Thorne, seems to have a few things going on with new book covers and stuff coming for some of her novels, no more inverted crosses on Moonfall?
Scott Nicholson has posted the cover art for The Harvest and he will be posting an excerpt from his new novel soon. The cover is awesome! Now we just have to wait until September before we can... reap The Harvest!
Mark Allen Reynolds has just had his collection of short stories - Dark Wonders - published through iUniverse, I wish him lots of luck there. I can't wait to get into those pages, he's a strange dude.
As for me? I'm still hacking away at the ol' keyboard trying to get the sequel to Shivers finished and ready for it's June release, and I'm working intermittently on Voices In The Storm, trying to keep that one going so that it can be submitted hopefully a few months after the Shivers release. The Ghostly Tales ebook? It's on hold for now as I have to keep from falling behind on Shivers: A New Breed Of Terror. Why are all of my titles so long?
The next two books I have planned have shorter titles. One of them has only two words in it's title, while the other just has one! Imagine that. Of course, I can't say right now what the titles are, as they are still in the planning stages. Once I get them started I'll let you know then. I know you're biting your nails off, feverishly anticipating that announcement. Well I had more to say than I first expected, thats what happens when I get to ramblin'.
What I'm reading... the last time I reported this I was half way through Tamara Thorne's Eternity. Now I'm 3/4 of the way through it. The readings going slow right now as I've spent more time writing, I think Dark Wonders will be next, as soon as it comes in then I'll wander around in Candle Bay and check on the vamps. There's alot of good reading material out right now, and if you can't find yourself a good thriller to read...then you're just not looking!
That's all for now...more to come later.
January 20, 2003
While browsing through the February 2003 edition of Popular Mechanics (only in America can you get magazines before their published date) I ran across an article in the back, labled Worst Case Scenarios. The subtitle was "How To Escape From A Car Hanging Over The Edge Of A Cliff." ...okay, being a flatlander, I just don't see this happening often enough for someone to need tips on how to get out of this situation. How about it mountain people, is this like a daily occurence up in the hills?
It's these types of articles that make you wonder sometimes...are columnists running out of things to write about?
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January 15, 2003
During my signing at B&N, while sitting just inside the Main Entrance. I not only got to act as doorman and official greeter for the store, but I was also able to see, from this vantagepoint, the types of books that people bought. I was suprised at some of the selections that people made from the many choices that were available. People were actually buying books that I thought no one would ever read, you know the kind. The ones that line the shelves that you would think were put there just as a filler between the good novels. Well, people actually buy those fillers. I even questioned myself at one point as to whether I should be writing in another genre, maybe something in non-fiction that touches on world peace, or stories of war, or cookbooks even. Those seemed to be the titles that went out more often. Then I thought, maybe I need to write a novel about a chef thats fighting in a world war because he supports world peace... then I decided I should stay right where I am, because thats what I know best. And besides, when the table began to cloud over from shadows of people standing around it waiting for their signed copy of my book, the other selections that were going out the door just didn't matter much anymore. Horror is making a comeback, or at least it is...in the south. ;)
January 11, 2003
The B&N signing on Hilton Head Island went very well today. I was astonished at the turn out of customers that came into the store on such a nice day. When you couple a nice sunny day with miles of white sandy beaches, the beach will usually win out over a bookstore everytime. Well if the beach was busier than the bookstore today, then it was overcrowded!
Barnes & Noble went all out on the signing, advertisement and signage, they even announced my presence several times of the p a system, making me feel like I was the hot item under the blue light special.
I also met some interesting people today. One lady claimed to know Patricia Cornwell and John Jakes. She said that Mr. Jakes lives on Hilton Head, ...MAYBE HE'LL INVITE ME TO LUNCH sometime!
back to the books: I signed a total of 31 books today, which makes this signing the second largest event to date.
January 6, 2003
Happy New Year! Okay, so it's a little late...
The New Year begins much like the old one ended. Thirteen Stories has published "Fade To Black" in their December 2002 edition, Savage Night has The Bar posted at their website, and I'm still pushing Shivers right to the very end. Two more appearances to make then it's back into the pages to complete the sequel "A New Breed of Terror" and the third effort in the works, Voices In The Storm.
There was some question as to whether "Terror In The South" would be available in hard cover. As of right now, it won't be. The reason? The publisher wants a $200 setup fee to bind the book in hardcover, and I don't see enough sales interest for the hardcovers to warrant paying the setup fee. The sequel "A New Breed of Terror", will be available as a hardcover upon it's release, and I may go back then and have Terror In The South setup so that those interested can buy the two book set in hardcover. Besides, I'd like to have them that way too.
What I'm reading... I'm half way through Tamara Thorne's book, Eternity. Another book I can't wait to get in to is Blood Mist by Robert James. It's a novel that was published in 1987 about a deadly mist that covers the County of Beaufort, SC. Since Beaufort is practically in my back yard, I thought that would be an interesting read. Thanks Cherryl, for suggesting that one.
December 24, 2002
Another Christmas Eve, and the fat man is about ready to sing. The closing of another year is upon us and a new one is just around the corner. For our household, it's like spring cleaning all over again...out with the old, in with the new. New gifts to clutter the closets after Christmas, new decorations to pack into old worn out boxes that are already too overstuffed to close when it comes time for putting them away. And putting them away will be the first order of business on the 26th for this year. No waiting until after New Years for me! With a week spent in Augusta Georgia from the 30th until January 5th for my daughters scheduled surgery, there won't be time for taking down the decorations when we return. Or maybe there will be time, I just won't have the energy. And in less than a week after our return, Book signings we be pounding at the door like the return of ghosts from Christmas past, except these will be of the future....since I've had no signings in past Christmas's. But now thats in the past and its become my future.
Now that you're as confused as I am, let's all have a glass of eggnog, sit around the fire and look out at the rain thats falling from the skies.
Ahhh, another Wet Christmas...life in the South is grand.
Happy Horror Days to all...and to all a good fright!
December 23, 2002
It's beginning to look alot like Christmas! ...or so the song goes. You have to wonder sometimes (or at least I do), where are all the good bookstores? It seems you use to be able to go into a bookstore and pick up whatever book it was that you were in search of at the time. Not anymore. Now you have to search high and low just to find what you're after. The best places I've found are the Exchange stores, especially if it's an older title. If what you're looking for is not there, then you just as well log on and order it from somewhere because the B&N's and BAMM,s won't have it in stock. Most of the larger stores in this area are only keeping 3 copies shelved of the newer titles now, unless of course the author is a multiple bestseller such as Stephen King or James Patterson or Grisham, and the likes. The rest of us have to struggle for any nook in the store we can persuade them to stick us. In brief, if you're looking for a particular title and it's not a new release, order it in time to get it before Christmas!
I guess thats what all this rambling is about.....Happy Holidays, and the best to you in 2003!
December 16, 2002
It's official this time. Thirteen Stories has confirmed that "Fade To Black" has been accepted for publication in their December issue of original spine-tingling collection of short stories. . Visit their website for information on ordering your copy.
Barnes and Noble on Hilton Head Island has finally kicked the promotion of Shivers into full swing. Right now, I share an end cap with local favorites Vicky Hunnings and Steve Brown who'll also be appearing at B&N in Charleston with me on January 25th. Of course... all time local favorite Pat Conroy adorns the shelves with us, but he better be prepared to give up a little room as the Shivers collection begins to grow. Shivers: A New Breed Of Terror is scheduled for release in mid 2003, and Mr. Conroy will lose a little more shelf space as Voices In The Storm may not be too far behind.
Scott Nicholson's new book The Harvest is scheduled for release in September 2003, please visit Scott's website for more information.
December 13, 2002
Okay, so I've been a little slow with the updates. Sorry for that, but I've been a little busy too. Busy writing, working and generally goofing off. I have spent alot of time running back and forth to Augusta GA, so that has taken some time away as well. My daughter will be having corrective surgery for Scoliosis there, so we have been meeting doctor appointments doing bloodwork and pre-op, the whole nine yards. She'll be just fine though, she's as tough as her Mom. There's two good things that will come out of this surgery she's having, first is...she'll have a new back (or actually, a straight one) and second - I'll have a week to catch up on my writing while we sit with her in the hospital. I just may meet my deadlines afterall, Wooohooo! Now...if I can just get Scott Nicholson and Tamara Thorne to blurb my books for me, then I can sit back and let the money roll in. :)
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December 05, 2002
Savage Night has posted my short story The Bar in their online magazine. Click their name to visit their website, and read the story.
December 02, 2002
As you may be able to tell, things are beginning to slow down for Shivers...it was bound to happen someday I guess, and after a wild ride through the last six months I can't be disappointed with the numbers it has put up. Being a self published work that pretty much paid for itself the first month after it's release, Shivers turned out to be a great lesson for me with my future work. I'm still working hard on the sequel (Shivers: A New Breed Of Terror) and on the new novel "Voices In The Storm" which I hope will be my first mass market release. I'll still be holding signings for Shivers in the coming months and promoting it throughout the Southeast. A strong campaign will resume when the sequel is released where both books will be offered for those that haven't read the first one yet.
I still haven't gotten the scoop on the hardcover editions from Writers Club Press. They now tell me it will be sometime in January (just in time for Christmas?) HA!
I'm keeping myself busy with the two novels while waiting on some of the short stories I've submitted to other magazines to receive some ink, Thirteen Stories has a couple of the 'shorts' as well as The Indian Creek series they are considering. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
Other than that, I'm just turning pages and reading as much as possible. I just finished The Forgotten by Tamara Thorne and just started Gifted Trust by John Paul Allen.
Two of the authors that are slated to appear with me at Barnes & Noble in Charleston on January 25th are mystery writers Vicky Hunnings and Steve Brown. Vicky - a resident of Hilton Head Island, SC - will be signing the first book in her new series The Bride Wore Blood , an Avalon Mystery, released August 24th. Steve lives in South Carolina and is the author of the Myrtle Beach mysteries featuring lifeguard and runaway-finder Susan Chase. We look forward to seeing you there!
Happy Holidays!
November 20, 2002
One of the Barnes & Noble stores in Charleston has confirmed the date for my book signing there. There will actually be a panel of six authors on this date but I'm not sure how many of us will be Horror Writers, If I'm the only one...I hope the customers will be in a thriller frame of mind! Check the events page for more info.
November 17, 2002
The Synopsis for Voices In The Storm has been posted on my "Works In Progress" page. Go there and click on the Voices In The Storm cover to read it.
November 13, 2002
A new e-book has been added to my Free E-books page. Download the Indian Creek series today!
October 29, 2002
The confirming date for the Barnes & Noble signing in Charleston has been decided. I will be part of a group of four or five authors that will be signing on January 25, 2003 at 1812 Rittenberg Blvd in Charleston, SC .
October 25, 2002
In local news... The Jasper County Sun will be doing a feature on Shivers in this weeks paper that hits the stands on Tuesday October 29th. Just in time for Halloween!
October 22, 2002
Ooops, My mistake! Thirteen Stories will not be running "Fade To Black" in their October issue as previously reported. I misread the email they sent me. What they actually said was, they were reviewing stories for their October / Halloween issue and would include this among them. Instantly I took that to mean they were including it in this issue. WRONG! they were only including it in their reviews. "Fade To Black" didn't make the Halloween Issue, but is being held for release in a later issue. Of course, I'll let you know when....as soon as I get the word.
October 15, 2002
Shivers is now on the shelves at Barnes & Noble in Hilton Head, SC. The B&N bookstore on Hilton Head has confirmed a signing date for me on January 11, 2003 and has ordered advance copies to be featured on an end cap in their store. For those of you without the means of ordering online, you can pick up your copy at the location above.
October 11, 2002
The biggest article of news to report today centers around my message board. It has climbed into the Top 10 at Horror World, thanks to all of you who have shown interest in "Shivers." Now if the book could only make a showing on the Bestsellers list! Maybe next time. ;)
Also, check out a great Hallowe'en site by visiting Tayro.com, sign the guestbook and tell them...Kevin sent ya'.
October 06, 2002
Just a note to let everyone know that the Gopher Hill Signing went real well. 28 copies of "Shivers" found new homes, making this the single biggest signing I've done to date. In other news... Thirteen Stories has accepted another of my short stories for publication. "Fade To Black" will be featured in their October/Halloween issue. The cover for this issue is shown below.
October 03, 2002
Thirteen Stories (the magazine that published my short story) is now available at the following locations:
White Dwarf Books 4374 W. 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6R 2H7 Tel (604) 228-8223 website: www.deadwrite.com
Magpie Magazine Gallery Inc. 1319 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5L 3X5 Tel./Fax (604) 253-6666 email: magpie@lynx.bc.ca
PULPFICTION 2422 Main Street @ Broadway Vancouver, BC V5T 3E2 Tel (604) 876-4311 Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday 10am - 8pm Sunday 12pm - 7pm
Steveston Book Store 3760 Moncton Street Richmond, BC V7E 3A6 Tel (604) 274-3604 Hours of Operation: 7 days a Week 10:30am - 4pm
Tanglewood Books 2932 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6K 2G8 Tel./Fax (604) 274-3604 Hours of Operation: Monday - Wednesday 11am - 8pm Thursday - Friday 11am - 9pm Saturday 11am - 6pm Sunday 12pm - 6pm
September 30, 2002
Savage Night has accepted my short story, a supernatural thriller entitled The Bar for publication in their online magazine in the December/January issue. Stay tuned for further information on when this issue will be posted.
September 29, 2002
(the morning after)
My first signing is now behind me. Summerville is a great little town, but just like anywhere else, it's buyers are very unpredictable. It was a nice day Saturday on the nostalgic strip where shops dot the main shopping area like venus flytraps. Their exteriors beautiful and luring, drawing you into their show areas until you are within their reach, within the doors of retail hell!
Even I was pulled into one such door before I could escape with my wallet intact. Thats what happens when you have a wife, and sixteen year old daughter that attends an out of town signing with you. The signing went rather well, even with the lack of patronage in the store. A few customers drifted in and out of the quaint little store late in the signing, and we did manage to sell a few books, salvaging an otherwise uneventful event. Would I do Summerville again? You bet I would! I love that place.
On a more humorous note. After getting back to Ridgeland Saturday night, back into the real world where I'm just a husband, and dad. Jackie and I made a run into town to pick up a few things a Food Lion. In the parking lot before we even got in to the store, we ran into a good friend who owns a business here in Ridgeland. She called me over to where she was putting groceries into her car and related what she called a "very strange occurence". It seems that She and a couple of lady friends that we had both gone to school with, were visiting and had gone to Summerville to "hit the shops". She said a strange thing happened as they walked down Central Avenue in Summerville, talking about old times and window shopping as they went. She said they came across a local bookstore and noticed a sign in the window that read "Signing Today! Kevin Bozard signs his new novel, Shivers: Terror In The South". The girls paused a moment as they read the sign, "Look, Kevin has written a book since we've gotten out of school!" this one lady laughed. They continued down the sidewalk thinking nothing more of what they had read. They had addressed the sign jokingly, not knowing that I was the Kevin the sign referred to. Come on girls, how many Kevin Bozards are there in this State?? We got a good laugh out of it after I told her that the Kevin in the bookstore WAS me, and she got over her initial reaction of shock and disbelief. Well, Gopher Hill is this Saturday coming, I'm sure the trio will be together again for the festival. Maybe they'll come by my booth...with their pocketbooks!
September 20, 2002
Writers Club Press has informed me that hardcover copies of Shivers will be available sometime before Christmas, just in time for the holidays! I will keep you posted on this page with future updates regarding that news. Also, I will be doing the signing at All Books & Company in Summerville, SC on September 28th. Michelle List (the owner) also has a coffee shop in the same building, so I'm sure to get my fill of java! I will also be selling and signing at the Gopher Hill Festival in Ridgeland, SC on October 5th. There will be thousands of people here for this one, it's a shame I won't sell that many books! A good time will be had by all I am sure, they seem to every year anyway. I need to say Thank You to the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce for getting behind Shivers with the support and kindness they have shown. (Thanks Mona!) Thanks to Bill, with the Jasper County Sun for his diligence in tracking me down for the newspaper article. I think the article will run before Gopher Hill, which will be a big help too. Come join us for Gopher Hill if you can, if you've never been...I promise you'll have a blast!
September 05, 2002
"Deadlines" one of my first original short stories, has been accepted for publication in the premiere issue of Thirteen Stories... a Vancouver Canada Publication of horror and science-fiction. A picture of the magazine cover is shown below.
© 2002 Kevin Bozard
All Rights Reserved
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