Friday, May 31, 2013

Why Zombies? My Answer, and The Next Big Thing!


The moment I signed with Cedar Fort to publish my YA fantasy, I felt it was time to step out of the box and try my hand at something a bit different before starting the sequel to Woven. Shaking things up makes writing interesting to me, either that or I'm in ADDenial Land, whichever one comes ... hey look, a dollar!

So I thought up an idea that's been on my mind for some time. I never thought anything would come of it. Then, I did a short piece for the Platform-Building Campaign last year, and it garnered a surprising reaction - over 100 comments! "Whoa," I said. "I wasn't even trying with that one." Watching The Walking Dead added fuel to the fire, and so I went into serious mode in December. Since then, now that I have another story coming out, I've been asked this question from friends and fans: "So what are you writing next?" My answer: "I'm writing a novel about zombies!"

What's the most common response I receive?


How do I respond to this response?

 
With age, and a beard, I could totally pull this off!

Joking aside, I do received a fairly surprised reaction. I've never done zombies before, never written horror or overtly gross things. Can I really pull off spaceships, fairy tales, AND zombies? So then they ask, "Why zombies, Dave? What's the appeal?" I'm prepared to answer that question today, and it has nothing to do with bananas ...

There's no science behind this post (well, maybe a little ...), so this is a brief history of zombies and my opinion on why zombies are more popular today than ever. Hold on to your brains!

Where did the idea of "Zombies" comes from?

The idea of the dead rising from the grave has been around for a long time, including Norse creatures known as Draugrs, but the word Zombie gets its roots from the late 19th century in Africa and Haiti through a practice in the Vodou arts that's suppose to raise the dead and make them slaves. Studies show that this practice is more a matter of hypnosis and the subjects aren't dead ... just mostly.

Then, in 1929, William Seabrook introduced the name to the USA through his novel, The Magic Island, and later, a 1932 Victor Halperin film, White Zombie, but not in the "I'm going to eat you" catagory.

This trend started with Richard Matheson's I Am Legend in 1954, which inspired George Romero's 1968 classic, Night of the Living Dead. These are the roots of the flesh-eating ghoul that we all know and run from today, and multiple variations have come since.

There are two basic categories of the modern zombie today: The Romero Zombie (flesh-eating ghouls that can turn you into one if they bite or scratch you) and The "Puppetmaster" Zombie (getting possessed, put under a spell, or sent into a hypnotic state). Both have the same idea behind it - spread it through an epidemic.

What about the "braaains?" How did that start?

Dan O'Bannon gets credit for that one, with his release of The Return of the Living Dead in 1985. These zombies went after brains for a different reason than you'd think - being undead is painful and brains are like pain-killers. Unorthodox, but original, so we'll take it!

Is the sub-genre shifting from Horror to Science Fiction?

Stephen King once wrote, "nightmares exist outside of logic, and there’s little fun to be had in explanations; they’re antithetical to the poetry of fear." What's that mean? Horror ceases to be horror if you try to explain it. How is it possible for people to rise from the dead? The more successful stories didn't even try to answer this question. Others have some interesting, and laughable, explanations: radiation from a passing comet, the dead will walk the earth when "there's no room left in Hell," chemical/toxic waste spills ... the list goes on.

None of these really planted the idea that zombies could happen in real life, so we left it at horror and called it good ... until 1996 ...

This game was a game changer.

The first Resident Evil launched the idea of an outbreak in a biological weapons laboratory, with the virus causing "zombie" side effects. This successful idea has spawned many profitable novels and movies since, such as 28 Days Later and World War Z. This game also put players into the heart of a zombie outbreak situation, calling for their survival instincts to jump in - hence, the Survival Horror sub-genre was born. This game went beyond its bounds with ever-evolving viruses that turn people into unstoppable monsters. Game on, my friends.

The moment you provide an explanation (and a viable one at that), zombies cease to be horror figures. They become something else, something that is being explored in ways never before conceived. Now, satire, and even romance, is creeping its way into the land of zombiedom success, thanks to Zombieland and Warm Bodies.



And we you have The Walking Dead, one of the most acclaimed and viewed television shows in cable history. It's headed into its 4th Season without any signs of slowing down. What sets this concept apart from the other is (SPOILER!) everyone is already infected. It doesn't matter if the zombies bit or scratch you. When you die, you come back as one of them. This sets the tone for great drama within the small group of survivors - especially if they are old or wounded.

Also, this sub-genre is becoming more about the characters and less about the zombies, which means gore isn't as important. This allows the market to broaden with PG-13 and TV-14 ratings. Finally! I don't have to sneak onto the Sci Fi channel late at night anymore! Wait ...

What zombies have in store for the future is up to the imagination.

Okay, so you got the history down, but why Zombies?

I'll sum it up with three points:

1) Emotional Breadth - no matter what, every zombie story has the potential to open the doors to every emotion there is on every level, and because of the situation, it's easy to empathize and care about the characters from the get go. In fact, when new characters arrive, who aren't zombies, we get excited, and immediately want to know who they are and if their intentions are good or ... not so good.

2) Justifiable Violence - I'm not a big fan of gore, but there is an audience for it, and while no sane person would think about running out into the street and bashing someone in the head with a crowbar, we wouldn't think twice about doing this to a rotting person who will stop at nothing to eat you. Once infected, they cease to be human, and if you encounter them, it's fight or flight. This ties into point 3:

3) Endless Possibilities - take any location, any point in history, any character, age, gender, whatever, and you have a story. The concept is the same: survival. Fans of the genre expect this, but they come back for more. Why? The limit hasn't been reached, and it likely never will. It also plays with hypotheticals like no other. What if you run out of food? Weapons? What about kids? Pregnancies? Disabilities? All it takes is one small variation to take this overused concept and make it fresh - as fresh as zombies can get. The possibilities are endless!

PictureAnd I might just have a winner ... 

The Next Big Thing was passed on to me by Tara Tyler, which means I get to answer questions about my current work in progress, and I couldn't be more excited to tell you more. It's nearing the last third and I'm surprised my critic partners, who hate zombies, can't wait for the next chapter. This is mighty cool, and it's certainly a great motivator to finish this book, too.

Anyway, here's a few questions I've been asked to answer:

What is the working title? - The Undead Road

Where did the idea come from? - the culmination of everything "zombie" I've ever seen as a kid and, as a kid, asking during a road trip, "what would happen if zombies existed?" This book is semi- autobiographical since the main character is a caricature of me at 14 in a zombie-infested world ... with a little sister that I never had.

What genre is it? - Science Fiction / Survival Horror

What actors would you pick for a movie rendition? - haven't thought that far ahead yet, but I have described one character as looking like a teenaged Zooey Deschanel.

What's a one sentence synopsis? - When their parents fail to return from finding a cure to the zombie outbreak, Jeremy and Jewel must rely on an infected girl who may turn on them at any moment.

How long did it take to write the first draft? - still writing it, but I'm into the 3rd act now. I officially started this thing in December.

Will it be self-published or represented? - I have a referral. No promises, but we'll see what happens there.

What other books would you compare it to in your genre? - I try not to write like other books, and there aren't many zombie books with characters this young, so that's a tough one to answer. Think Warm Bodies and Zombieland for a slightly younger audience.

Now I get to tag this meme on to a few others. Sweetness just courted with Awesomeness, yo! Lets run with the following:

and

Now the big question: why am I writing a zombie novel?

Here's the thing: I'm a BIG fan of zombies. Always have been. If you knew my background, you'd know I'd be in trouble if my parents found out, but the thing is, I didn't like most of them. Many of them follow the horror ending - vague and unsatisfying to me. So then I thought, what if I write a zombie novel that I would be okay letting my teenage son read it ... when he becomes a teen. Essentially, I'm writing the zombie novel that I never got to read, but wanted to.  

*     *     *

This post is epic beyond proportions, so I'll leave it at that. Oh yeah! If you're reading this, right now, on Friday the 30th, I'm somewhere in the middle of Wyoming. I'll tell you why later, and it has nothing to do with zombies - no really, I mean it - severed pinkie promise!

Have a great, infection-free weekend, everyone! See you Monday.

I'm David, and did you notice my site URL changed? Cool, huh?

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Shallee McArthur: Knight of the Cosmic Table!

Got your cameras ready? Good. You'll want them to snap a picture as we dare to reach for the stars and find an amazing author. After some careful consideration, we are honored to introduce to you a new knight. This one has been around the Blogosphere for as long as I have (maybe longer), and she sure knows her science fiction. More than that, her health-conscious efforts has led to the awareness of increased health and productivity for writers everywhere, and her natural ability to keep cool behind the wheel is also worthy of letting her take control of the Cosmic Laire's helm for a while. Therefore, it does give me great pleasure to hereby dub thee, Shallee McArthur, Knight of the Cosmic Table!

(Photo by Erin Summerill)

SM: *kneels before the honorable Sir DPK*

I am honored to accept the knighthood. I always wanted to be "dubbed." Especially if I can con you into saying, "We are not amused." (Doctor Who reference-- Anyone? Anyone?)


DPK: Huzzah for the good Doctor! And I am VERY amused. :)

Now, the first time I made your acquaintance, we were in line for a Brandon Sanderson signing. What were you having signed that day, and what's it like to meet someone in person for the first time instead of over a blog or other social media?

SM: If I remember right, I was getting The Way of Kings signed, which is one of my favorite books EVER. I was really excited to meet another sci fi/fantasy writer in person! I loved having the chance to actually chat with you, and I was glad to know I wasn't the only writer nerd in the vicinity. That's one thing I love about conferences - meeting face-to-face all the people you've met online, and connecting with a real, live person!

DPK: More than just the vicinity ... I live just down the street from you! Well, I did, until I moved to the north side of town, but I still know where you live! *cue creepy music* That means I get an ARC of your book when it comes out, right?

Speaking of which, you have an agent now, but you will have to remind me if your book has found a publisher or not, and tell us what your book is and what it's about?

SM: I do have an agent - the brilliant and insightful Hannah Bowman - and hopefully a publisher will soon follow! My book is called The Unhappening of Genesis Lee, and it's about a girl who stores her memories in external objects. When memories begin to be stolen, Gena has to hunt down a memory thief before her life and the lives of everyone in town are snatched away. 

DPK: I don't know where to begin - the awesome-meter just flew off the handle! I'd better get a new one ...

You're super lucky to have Hannah as your agent! I think I won a query critique from her a while back and her feedback was very helpful. What's it like to work with her? 

SM: Working with Hannah is amazing. You know how people say the first time they talked to their agent on the phone, the agent just GOT their book? Yup. That was me. Her insights and suggestions for revision are always so spot on - she seems to know exactly what I'm trying to get across, and why it ISN'T coming across. And then she leaves it up to me to find the best fix. :) She's also so quick to respond to emails that I'm fairly certain she's downloaded the internet into her brain.

I even had the chance to meet her at LDStorymakers conference a few weeks ago, and confirmed she's basically my agent-y match made in heaven.

DPK: And since after what happened to you guys that weekend, she's STILL your agent. Amazing! You're going to have to tell us about the accidental highway action scene that you put your agent through, cause it's seriously one of the best agent/author stories I've ever heard. Tell us what happened?

SM: Uhhhhhhh, yeah!

So Hannah wanted to see the beautiful mountains in Utah. We took a drive, and at one point I had to turn around to get us back to the hotel. Any smart, normal person would just go to the next street and turn the direction one wanted to go. Notmoi. I saw an empty street ahead of me - and I SWEAR an empty street behind me - and decided to pull a u-turn. Cue brakes screeching as a car swerved out in front of me.

Then, cue scary driver man jumping out of his car, yelling and swearing at me. Upon which I committed stupid action #2 by rolling down my window. Except it didn't end up being too stupid, because scary driver actually got all repentant and apologized for swearing before driving away. Hannah was incredulous about this display of Utah road rage - "you just APOLOGIZED to each other!"- and luckily we were able to laugh about it instead of having to call the cops.

DPK: I'll say it again - that was awesome! I didn't mean to put you in the hot seat, Shallee, but I think everyone reading this will agree that this is an EPIC story - truly a tale that will go down as legend with this table of knights!

Now for the heart of the matter: what sparked your desire to become a writer? Was this before or after you started your blog? 

SM: That's DEFINITELY a before. According to my mom, I've always wanted to be a writer, "writing" pages and pages of scribbles before I could form letters. But what I remember is reading Anne of Green Gables, where they form the Story Club. And I was like, "Hey, that means I can write stories too, even though I'm a kid!" I wrote stories constantly from then on, greatly inspired by some of my favorite books like The Giver by Lois Lowry, and majored in English and creative writing in college. As for the drive to get published, that started after having my first baby when I took Brandon Sanderson's amazing writing class at BYU. That was in January 2010, and I've been working hard toward that goal ever since.

DPK: Man! I wish I could've taken Brandon's class, and The Giver is one of my all-time favorites! I also wrote stories LONG before starting a blog, so how about that? We have a lot in common.

Now that you're a knight, a writing knight, what does that mean for you?

SM: I will defend the weak and helpless! I will stand against tyranny and oppression! I will wield my sword to fight the dragons that threaten the world!

Oh, wait. A writing knight. Does this mean I don't get a sword?

Well, they say the pen is mightier than the sword, anyway. Or in my case, the keyboard. To me, being a writing knight means applying dedication, perseverance, and a desire to do good in the world through my writing.

DPK: Pens are indeed mightier than the sword. That's precisely why I keep a sword and a cup full of pens handy above my computer, you know, in case the dragon I'm writing decides to pop out of the computer. Chances of that happening are 367,493 to 1, but that's still a chance - some droid told me so.

Congratulations, Shallee! You've passed the test! Over here on the side is your badge of proof that you are a Knight of the Cosmic Table from this day forward. Copy and paste it however you see fit, and welcome to the table! We've pulled up a permanent chair for you. Have a drumstick and some grog (or mead, whichever) - cause you've earned it!

SM: It's a privilege to sit at the table with the hardworking, inspired knights already here. Thanks so much for having me!

I bow to you all in honor.


*     *     *

And she's an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan - pardon my swoon!

I believe we have five knights now, and next month, we'll have six! Be sure to check out Shallee's blog and give her a follow if you like what you see. I always feel at home there, cause it's all spacy-like.And I kid you not, Shallee is one of the nicest and most thoughtful peoples in the cosmos. Just try not to bump heads, okay?

Until next time, keep your pencils sharpened, your pens full, and your keyboards tuned. I'm looking for the next Knight of the Cosmic Table, and it could very well be you! Let's see what the fates decide.

I'm David, and if you believe in telekinesis, raise my hand!

Monday, May 27, 2013

CONduit 23, First Reading, and A Walk in the Abyss


If you missed CONduit 23: The Dark Guilds of CONduit, you've come to the right place, my friends! Here's what went down there:

Here's the thing about CONduit - it's different than most other conferences. It's more like a convention, really, and it caters to fandom more than writers, but this is an important thing for a writer of science fiction and fantasy to go to. It's an opportunity to mingle with the fans of the genre, folks who get the genre and live it. I spent the weekend enjoying the moment, so I took few pictures. If you want to see more, check this link for the CONduit Facebook page.

This year, the theme was Dark Guilds of CONduit, so they focused more on horror and the supernatural, which means they had lots of ghost panels with members of the Wasatch Paranormal Investigators group there, to explain the ins and out of ghost hunting. You can listen to some of their EVPs on their website, if you'd like.

Larry Correia was the guest of honor this year. His name is no stranger to this blog (big fan), but he told his publishing story and I had no idea Monster Hunter was originally self published. It just ballooned like crazy thanks to his pre-established fan base through gun forums. His stance on being a successful writer falls into two steps: "1) Practice writing until you're good enough that people will buy your stuff, and 2), sell to those people who will buy your stuff. How you do this is irrelevent because there is no set way to do it."

After the first day, I went to hang out in my first RPG session with Paul Genesse, Larry Correia, Patrick Tracy, Bob Defendi, and others. I got to be a Greyshalk (something like Bigfoot), and hilarity ensued - skunk tossing, eating whelps, and acting all primitive. Good times!

 
There's lots to see at conferences like this, more so in the art gallery and merchant areas (tried to get a shot of the art gallery, but I am forbidden to post pictures of it - my bad). But here's some goods!


Oh yeah! I also did a reading, my first reading ever! How did it go? Thankfully I had three people there, including my co-author Michael Jensen, his cousin Shelley Bingham Husk, and Amber Argyle (big fan!). We even went to lunch afterwards and talked writing and shared our ideas, and talked our way out of trouble spots in our plots. Amazing how talking about stories can unplug the block!

I'm also the 3rd official buyer of her new Winter Queen book.

Be jealous.

That night was the release party for A Walk in the Abyss - a collection of novellas from the world created by Shane Moore. Available now!

ORCS! GREYSHALKS! AND GIANTS!

Prepare yourselves, intrepid reader, for three complete novelettes set in the Abyss Walker world of author Shane Moore. In this anthology you shall read “No Tusks” by Paul Genesse, the disgustingly graphic orc story—not for children—(You have been warned!); then a tale about a young Bigfoot, or more accurately, a greyshalk trying to find his place in the world in: “A Kudekah to Remember” by Paul Genesse and Shane Moore; and finally, a truly hilarious story about a bumbling giant in: “Mungo the Undying” by Patrick M. Tracy. You’ll also be treated to a short story from a very unique point of view—an arrow in flight: “Unerring” by Patrick S. Tomlinson; and as a bonus, an excerpt from the novella, “The Wererat’s Tale III: The Collar of Perdition” by Patrick S. Tomlinson, written from an outline penned by the creator of the Abyss Walker World, Shane Moore himself!
(From Goodreads)

I'll be honest - I did a lot of socializing this time around, as well as meeting Steve Diamond for the first time, so I didn't absorb much in the realm of classes, but it was still a good time nonetheless.

And this is what happens when you let Amber dress you up ...

Can you feel it?

Oh, yeah. I can feel it!

CONduit won't be happening next year, from what I heard, but it will instead merge with WesterCon 67. I may have to check it out, and maybe find a way to be involved. The important thing is to have fun, go with the punches, and roll with the flow ... not exactly in that order. You'll learn new things and meet new friends around every corner. Thanks for stopping by so I could share this little adventure with you. Hope you had a great weekend and that you will have an amazing week ahead of you. Until the next conference!

Stay tuned this week, for I have a new knight for you and other surprises on Friday. Also, we're inching towards 900 members and I have a few ARCs to give away. Help me reach that milestone and I'll get this contest started! Also, there's a kickstarter program for Mini Miniatures underway, and what makes them different from others is they have the means to scan your face onto a figure. I'm not big on these, but that's downright cool! You can check the video here

If you've heard about the incident that happened to Ben Wolverton, author Dave Wolverton's son, you can help him walk again by buying books or sending a donation here. Anything would be appreciated.

Today, I'm off to take care of a few things and visit a memorial in honor of those who have fought for the freedoms of my country, including my grandfather who fought in the Pacific Theater of WWII.

Here's to you, Grandpa Powers! 

I'm David, and I'm in the Greyshalk tribe - ROARRR!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Stressing the De-stressing of the Damsel in Distress


I dare you to say that five times fast!

There's an aspect of storytelling that often receives the eye of scrutiny - the Damsel in Distress (also known as the Persecuted Maiden). The name pretty much speaks for itself. Call it a trope or a device, but essentially it's when a young, beautiful woman is taken or captured by a villain or monsters that requires a hero to save her.

Now, I know I've seen this device used repeatedly in my watching of childhood cartoons enough that it pretty much lost its impact, but more importantly, what does this scenario teach? Women in danger can't help themselves? Only men can save them? No wonder this device has been under attack, with fervor, in the last couple of decades.

But here's the thing: I like the Damsel in Distress device, just not in the way that you would first imagine the use of it. It's not like the Dudley Do-Right example above, and it's a far cry from the premise of the famous Super Mario Brothers video games. I'm not the only one who's fed up with Princess Peach's repeated kidnappings either.


In an effort to shift this device, some stories have generated female characters who make males look like puny man-children (think Zena or Wonder Woman). This can work sometimes, but it raises other issues, like removing the character's femininity or further sexualizing them through scantily-clad armor. We now know that female-shaped body armor is more likely to kill its wearer than protect her, too.

This isn't to say that this other-end-of-the-spectrum doesn't have its place in the storytelling realm, but for me, the problem lies more in the character itself, or rather, the way the character is developed. Let me explain this with two different and popular games (games tend to be the most common place where you'll find this device in use).

Meet Ashley Graham from Resident Evil 4. She's 17, the US president's daughter, and you, playing as Leon, find her during your mission. This means you have to help Ashley out of a zombie / virus infected situation while accomplishing your mission. Not an easy task, made harder that Ashley gets into trouble, a lot, and makes things worse for no reason.

I still don't understand why she ran away from Leon ...

In contrast, we have Elizabeth from Bio Shock Infinite, a refreshing example to the Damsel in Distress device. She is quickly making a mark in the gaming community as one of the best non-playable characters for a reason. Sure, you rescue her, but no coddling necessary. She can hold her own, and even help in a fight.


Isn't Princess Leia also a Damsel in Distress? She certainly fits the criteria, and that's how Han feels about it, but the moment she's rescued from her cell, she arms up and shoots at the storm troopers more effectively than Han. I mean, someone has to save their skins. Of course, Luke turns into a Dude in Distress in the garbage ...

What's my favorite scenario, then? Well, I'll tell you that Tangled nailed it for me, a character who doesn't know that she is in distress, or, doesn't know that she has a reason to be. Rapunzel has been incarcerated in a tower her whole life, but she believes it is for her protection, not so she can be exploited. The guy comes along and saves her without knowing it, actually, so he can run off with stolen goods - initially. 

In the end, these characters end up helping each other. That's the trend that's starting to stick lately, one that may last for some time. Why? There's no definitive answer, but I'll take a shot - because it's equal opportunity distress. Regardless of a character's gender, everyone has a problem that causes them distress, and by helping each other out, they eventually overcome their adversaries. This can widen the appeal/market for any story.

My novel that's coming out has such a scenario, but I'll let you discover how this device plays out in October. It won't disappoint.

This isn't the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. The best thing about stories is they can be taken in any direction. Whoever you decide to be in distress, be they a damsel or a dude, it's about what works for you and your audience. I could go on with many more examples, but I need to get ready for CONduit 23. See you there!

I'll be sure to recap the convention on Monday. Promise!

What are your thoughts on the Damsel in Distress device? What's your favorite example? What's your least favorite example?

I'm David, and I sure love the smell of new carpet ...

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I Read This: Beholders: Insight by Terron James


Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium.

Seventeen-year-old Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day. He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen.

Although this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and wrong.

(From Goodreads)

*     *     *

Beholders, Book One: Insight - YA high fantasy.

Before I get into the meat of this, look at that cover. Seriously, look at that gorgeous cover! I could stare at that thing for hours. Thanks to the fine folks at Jolly Fish Press who offered me an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), I got to do just that. Then, I cracked the book open to check out the goodies waiting for me inside. Books that don't rely on grab-me-fast gimmicks are hard to come by these days, but in Terron James's debut novel, you get to relax and enjoy the scenery and savor the dialogue. This is an excellent YA high fantasy novel!

A few of the aspects I liked best: unexpected turns as the story progresses, the relationship of the main character (Lon) and his twin sister, and the cultural elements and holiday building shown by village customs and the fact that not everyone enjoys themselves during a party. It's the little details that grab my attention, such as when a boy becomes of age, tradition is he is to dance with every eligible girl, be they 15 or if they "have one foot in the grave." Not only that, but a unique magic (or curse, if you will) that, while other stories seek to harness or control this power (which Lon wants to do, ultimately), he is unable, and the slightest shift of emotion can bring great harm or death to himself or others. When Lon knows this power is capable of harming his betrothed, it leads to some very difficult choices.

This book has all the elements that fantasy readers will love!

Do I have any complaints? Minimal ones, at best. The beginning was a bit foggy, and it took a few pages to know which key characters I needed to pay attention to, but that soon resolved itself, and from what I understand some changes have occurred since the printing of this ARC, so an official copy may very well solve this and other little issues. At other times (not often), the dialogue didn't seem to match the characters, as in, young characters sound more mature than their age, but then, some kids are rather mature, so it didn't distract me.

Now, without spoiling anything, this book has a cliffhanger, and boy, does it have a cliffhanger! A very well executed one, I might add. Terron knows how to end a book, because I want the next one!

If you are looking for a fresh voice in the arena of the classic Heroes Journey, Beholders: Insight is the read you've been waiting for!

   Cosmic Cruller Rating:   

This book officially releases June 1st, 2013

What do you guys think? Anyone in search of a YA high fantasy? Which ones are your favorite? You think this market on the rise?

I'm David, and if you find a Jaed, be sure to let Lon know!

Monday, May 20, 2013

"Official," CONduit, Wednesdays and The 5th Wave!


I love movies. This pretty much happens when you grow up next to Hollywood. For years I have looked for a place to call home to gush about my love of movies - and write reviews as a hobby. Well, after years of application, the folks at Movieweb decided my reviews are good enough to be official. Meaning, I'm now an Official Reviewer!

Huzzah! Thing is my profile is outdated and the last review I posted was in August of last year, so it will be a while before it looks up to speed. I'm also hard to find because I use an alias. I'll tell you what - whoever finds me there first gets to pick a movie (nothing naughty) and I'll review it for you! How's that for an Internet treasure hunt?

Make your guesses in the comments, and if right, I'll confirm.

In other news, CONduit 23 is happening this weekend in Salt Lake City. Not only am I going, but I've been invited to do a reading. If plans go as they should, I'll have an exclusive reading of the first chapter of Woven and give a glimpse at our most-excellent map!

*air guitar* Hope to see you there, and worry not. We plan on having a map and cover reveal in the coming months. I'll keep you posted.

Got a couple of releases for you this week, both of which I will be sure to check out. The first is the next installment of Jessica Day George's Tuesdays at the Castle series, Wednesdays in the Tower!

A castle that is constantly rearranging itself, and a young royal family sworn to protect it ... Celie, Rolf, and their beloved Castle Glower are back in this exciting sequel. Strange things are afoot in Castle Glower: new rooms, corridors, and even stables keep arriving, even when they aren't needed. Celie's brother Bran, the new Royal Wizard, has his hands full cataloguing an entire storeroom full of exotic and highly dangerous weapons, while Celie has her hands full ... raising the creature that hatches from a giant egg she finds!

Will they be able to find out what's making the Castle behave this way in time?
 (From Goodreads

*     *     *

Need some sci-fi, alien invasion, post-apocalyptic action? Look no further than Rick Yancey's start to his new series, The 5th Wave!

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors.


To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

(From Goodreads

 *     *     *

Update: besides getting ready for the interstellarness of CONduit, I'm writing zombies like a maniac, and reading ARCs like it's nobody's business. Except it will be, and I plan on reviewing one of them this week. Be sure to click back Wednesday for that, and Friday for a for-real opinion piece that may or may not leave you in "distress."

You've been warned, friends. You've been warned!

How was your weekend? I totally missed out on Star Trek: Into Darkness. Had to finish the new bedroom. How did it go?

I'm David, and I want a muffin - where do I go for muffins?

Friday, May 17, 2013

Epic Recap of Storymakers 2013 - Agent Secrets, MG Characters, Show vs. Tell, & Spooning With Authors!


Hope you've got a snack and a favorite beverage. This will be epic!

For those who missed Storymakers 2013, welcome to the recap! The schedule was jam-packed with awesomeness this year, so I picked the classes and workshops that would help me where I am in my writing journey - and there's plenty to go over. On with the show! 

May 9th - 12:30 to 6:00 PM - Boot Camp / Primer / Dinner!

"Boot Camp" is an popular feature of the Storymaker's conference where unpublished authors gather at a table with a mentor (usually an editor or published author), where everyone takes a turn to read their work and provide instant feedback. It's a great introduction to the critique group setting, and getting your feet wet to criticism.

"Publication Primer" is fairly new with the same deal: gather at a table with a mentor and provide feedback on your work. What sets Primer apart is the work is read ahead of time, giving each author a deeper ... depth to their work, and lots and lots of notes! It's geared toward more seasoned writers who have manuscripts ready for submission.

I did Primer this year, with Platte F. Clark as our mentor. Everyone's work was impressive, I must say. My fearless critique group was there as well, each at different tables (we set it up that way on purpose). To my surprise, my submission was a success! It's pretty cool when your mentor goes (essentially), "I don't have a critique for you - I honestly couldn't find anything for improvement." *Fist Pump!*

Thankfully, our group ended early. Good thing, too. I was hungry, and J. A. Bennett was in need of a hand to get the food for ...

May 9th - 6:30 PM - "Write or Dine" Storymakers Dinner. 

Oh, they're quite a merry gathering, eh?

Last year, I had this idea: organize a writerly get together, to eat and socialize, after a long afternoon of Boot Camp and Primer. Well, we overflowed the restaurant. This year, life happened, and I wasn't able to set up another, or find a place that could accommodate so many. That's when Lady Bennett stepped in. Before I asked for help, she volunteered, and had a great idea: combine the goodness of Costco with the wholesome literariness of the local library. Pure brilliance!

We had 60+ show. They ate all our food. Some took a box of pizza for the hot tub later, too. It was here that the amazing Ilima Todd announced her two book deal with Shadow Mountain. Whaaat!

A successful second round, I say, and the name 'Write or Dine' is going to stick. Since Storymakers 2014 will be in Layton Utah next year (oops, spoiler alert), we may have to appoint another host.

So until next time, come hungry!

May 10th - 9:00 AM -11:30 PM - Let The Conference Begin!

Now, if only I can find a seat ...

This was, by far, the most packed Storymakers I've been to yet, with 400+ peeps. Tristy Pickston, the MC, started us off with a hilarious Men of Storymakers calender. Ooo-la-laa! Then, off to the first break, to which I checked out From Concept to Plot - Turning Your Idea into a Full Story, with Jeff Savage and Tyler Whitesides. What I liked about their approach was they did mock pitch sessions with well- known books, and pitched with no plot, just ideas. Stark difference.

 These guys know their plot-points!

Then, I checked out John Brown's class, Clear and Vivid, which had one of the boldest comments about writing that I'm going to have to agree with - "In writing, there is no such thing as 'showing.'"

 
(You can check out his slideshow here).

What?! No such thing as showing? Where's my torch and pitchfork!? Nah. His presentation made sense. In truth, I can't show anything to a reader. I'm telling them information. It's a matter of effective telling or not. Description and detail is telling, but because the words plant an image in our head, we interpret that as being shown something.

I love thinking outside the box! Not a fan of hard-fast rules ...

Next, we had Lunch. I met up and caught up with a lot of excellent people, coached a couple pitches (to which one of them got a full request - score!), and then had a chicken dinner. Hmm. Chicken!

Even before that happened, I had to get a few books signed ...

This massive book signing was ... massive!

After all that jazz, I had the honor of being a guest on Author's Think Tank, a podcast for writers, which should go live in a few weeks (you can catch an early preview of what we talked about here.) By this time on the second day, I was beat, so I carried myself to the hotel lobby and found a whole host of awesome, including the amazing Jessie Humphries, who, as some of you know, continually asks, "when are we going to spoon, DPK?" Still not sure how to answer that one ...

... but it's good to know I still have that charm, right? ... right ...


Note: No actual spooning took place - even though Katie tried to sneak a potentially incriminating picture with her smartphone ...

May 11th - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM - The Final Day *Sniff*

I came a bit late to the last day. Don't ask why. Because I'll tell you. I forgot to bring Chad Morris's book and ARC to sign! Got it, he signed it. Good times! So, what did I first do? I checked out a class taught by a former critique partner, Peggy Eddleman (who gave me an ARC of Sky Jumpers to read - it's okay, you can be jealous). Her theme?

Getting Inside the Head of a Middle Grade Character!

Loved her thoughts on the subject, stuff like giving a character strengths and weakness, success and failures, fears and passions, and smarts and mistakes. It explains why her book is so good!

I have no pictures for these next ones (low battery - had to charge), but one of them was Making the Jump from Small Publishers to the Big Six (Five) with Jeff Savage and James Dashner, a pair of my fav authors. I enjoyed their personal story. My book will be out from a small publisher too, so their insight was ... insightful, and may very well help me with my own writing journey, when I get there.

During lunch, there was the first chapter contest, to which I have to give a Shout-Out to Kate Coursey and Anthony Dutson for their wins! It's a tough contest - for realz - so congratulations!

After lunch, I heard from James's agent, Michael Bourret, who shared his top secrets about agents, editors, and publishing, which are:

Agents are people, too.
Publishing is smaller than you think.
Agents and editors don't like to say "no."
There is not one measure of success in publishing.
There is never a "there" in your career - always another goal.
Revising is more important than writing.
You are your own advocate.
There are no secrets. Be proactive and you'll find them.

Good stuff.

Then, sad as it was, we had to end the conference and make our goodbyes. Of course, I couldn't go without freaking Shallee McArthur out with my "famous" zombie strut, or freaking everyone else ...

Yes - that is a "power" shirt, and I need a shave ...

It's not that bad! The guys approve the zombie strut, right guys?

 Rock on, guys ... now, where's the brains at?

This year, I had a big reason to celebrate this year: this was the first conference, ever, when everyone in my critique group came!

Lindzee Armstrong, "Power Shirt" Guy, LaChelle Hansen and Darren Hansen (yes, they are a couple). Am I really that tall?

A few other awesome things happened. Alas, I am sworn to secrecy, but your mind is going to be blown when you find out what's about to happen. I know, I tease, but trust me. It will be worth it!

So long Storymakers 2013, the 10th anniversary of the conference, I might add. This is without a doubt my favorite writing conference in Utah. Watch out. With a book coming out soon, I plan to branch out and see the conference scene in Nevada and Colorado, or wherever the winds take me. Keep writing. Do your best. Don't sweat the small stuff. We are writers because we love it first. Write on, partner!

What did you think? Epic enough? False advertising? Take away anything that I covered? Anyone seeing Star Trek today?

I'm David, and if you happen to spot Jessie, tell me to hide ...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I Played This: Tomb Raider (The Newer One ...)


I'm a sucker for adventure games. From the very first Prince of Persia on PC, I was hooked, and they only get better and better. Of course the trend lately is, when a popular franchise wanes, then you give it another go over - start from scratch, find the roots, go deeper than the title has ever gone before. When I heard Tomb Raider was going to have the reboot treatment, I welcomed it. Lara Croft is a real cool character, but on an emotional level, I could never connect with her.

Skimpy outfits aren't enough to win me over. Sorry, Lara ...

Then the art came out, and I was all ... that looks like a real person! For the first time, it almost felt like the developers wanted me to focus on her eyes more than anything else - you know, contrary to old traditions.


Then the game released. If the mission was to completely redesign a character, visually and emotionally - well then, mission accomplished! Everything about this game looks great, and rather than care about the next artifact, I cared about the character and what was going to happen to her next (excluding the deaths that I, the player, seldomly caused ... ahem). You know the adage, be mean to your characters? By the time the game is over, everything that could possibly happen to a person, minus broken bones, and death, pretty much happens to her, including mental scarring - so long as you let her survive.

The story promises the origin of Lara Croft. In other words, her first expedition, and the events that led her to be a hardened survivor. She starts off like a rich college girl, with earphones and laptops, until a shipwreck lands her on an island in the Dragon's Triangle (not far from Japan) where ships and planes and whathaveyous are sucked in and left stranded. Having a violent group occupying the island doesn't help. From the first moments of the game, I knew this was going to be a different experience. Lara's focus isn't treasure. She has to eat. Really? She has to hunt deer with a bow from a dried up corpse?

Yes, please! And the raw-factor doesn't come close to ending there.



"I hate tombs ..." Ha! That's lamp shading at its best, folks!

I had only two gripes with this game, which seem like major things, but because it looks so good and they did such a great job with Lara (even though she went a little Katniss Everdeen on us), I'm willing to forgive a smidge. Firstly, Lara was such a big focus that the rest of the game seemed to suffer for it. Except for Roth, I had a hard time rooting for anyone else. Having the main baddie be a religious nut is nothing new, there's plenty of disconnect, and the bosses take away from the realism that the first part of the game established.

In fact, midway in the game, it went from survivor-mode to shoot'em-up. The game play is a lot like the recent Resident Evil games, where I can believe it takes a few rounds to put down a baddie, but here, against humans, I still had to unload five shotgun shells - at close range - to stop a guy. I got shot in the arm? Oh, let me brush this off and come after you again like nothing happened!

Right ...

No wonder this Tomb Raider reboot has an M rating, a change in tone that I don't think helps to set it apart from any other game.

Then there's the element of suspended disbelief. I really hoped this game would shy away from things that made the originals a little silly. Namely, having ancient monsters come after you without any reason as to why they exist. Throw in some random undead samurai? Why not? Never mind that no one even questions how this is possible.

Other than that, this was a highly enjoyable game, and a quick one if you focus on the storyline and not go into all the tomb side-quests. You're going to want to leave your stomach behind if you're going to survive this harrowing adventure. Be strong, and good luck!

Anyone else play this game? What were your favorite parts? What did you dislike, if anything? Are you ready for the next one?

I'm David, and if you look for adventure, adventure will find you.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Pop Travel Cover Reveal / The Caged Graves Release!


So, about that Storymakers recap ... it's literally going to take me a week to write up this post (I took notes), so I'll have the action up this Friday. Until then, I have a new release, a cover reveal, and new members that are screaming to be shouted across the Blogosphere!

I should also mention, this is my 500th post! Celebration time!

Now, without further voodoo, I present to you the following two:
 
First up is the cover reveal of Tara Tyler's sci-fi novel, Pop Travel!

Private Investigator J. L. Cooper always knew pop travel laser teleportation was too good to be true. Finding video proof of a disintegrating traveler is the stomach turning “I told you so.”

Cooper can’t broadcast the video on the nosy, government monitored Qnet, so he digs around, revealing more suspicious traveler disappearances, the death of his client, and threats to his political little brother, who is in jeopardy of turning to dust anyway for disregarding Cooper’s warnings not to pop. Cooper has to do everything himself.

To stop the disappearances and save his brother he must shut down the ruthless mega corp Pop Travel International (PTI). And that means convincing Hasan Rakhi, the celebrity Creator of pop travel, to publicly admit the deadly flaw. No problem. Under constant surveillance, Cooper will have to be unpredictable, facing his fear of popping to crash a party at Hasan’s well-fortified plantation compound. Yes, the laser fences are real. As long as he survives his next pop, Cooper won’t let anything distract him from getting the job done. Not the android security guards, who aren’t as bright as they look, or even Southern Comfort in a purple dress, Geri Harper (an undercover Agent). Nothing Coop can’t handle.

Save the date - Pop Travel is coming your way, July 7th, 2013!
 
*     *     *
Up for creepiness? Dianne K. Salerni's The Caged Graves is here!

17-year-old Verity Boone expects a warm homecoming when she returns to Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in 1867, pledged to marry a man she has never met. Instead, she finds a father she barely knows and a future husband with whom she apparently has nothing in common. One truly horrifying surprise awaits her: the graves of her mother and aunt are enclosed in iron cages outside the local cemetery. Nobody in town will explain why, but Verity hears rumors of buried treasure and witchcraft. Perhaps the cages were built to keep grave robbers out . . . or to keep the women in. Determined to understand, Verity finds herself in a life-and-death struggle with people she trusted.

Inspired by a pair of real caged graves in present-day Catawissa, this historical YA novel weaves mystery, romance, and action into a suspenseful drama with human greed and passion at its core.


Let's have a hearty, starship-trooper welcome to our latest three newcomers! Go say "hello" while I collect their matched luggage.

and

*     *     *

Update: If you're fuming mad for being lead on about a Storymaker post, you gotta believe me ... it's really THAT epic - but I will share a couple tidbits. Because of the demand, Storymakers will be in Layton, Utah next year, April 24-26. I had the chance to share some work with an author, and he gave me an invitation that I would be stupid to not follow through on. For that reason, I'm book'n it for the rest of the month to get The Undead Road finished! I'll keep you posted.

Storymaker post Friday (promise) and a game review Wednesday. Until then, keep the axels greased and the swords sharpened.

I'm David, and THIS is your Unexpected Briefing ...


Friday, May 10, 2013

A Bad Unicorn Just Impaled (and Ate) This Post!


The tenth year of Storymakers is underway, and I have to say, this has the making of being the best one yet. Seeing so many faces from the Blogosphere, in person, sure warms a writer's heart. Now, I had every intention of writing up an overview of yesterday, with pictures and all that good stuff, but ... I can't. A Bad Unicorn ate my post!

It wasn't Max Spencer's idea to fight robots, lead an army, or save the world—it just so happens that he's the only living person who can read the most fantastical book ever written: The Codex of Infinite Knowability. The Codex is no ordinary book, and among other things, it describes a unicorn named Princess the Destroyer.

Princess the Destroyer is no ordinary unicorn. She loves nothing more than hunting down, killing, and eating other creatures. After all, what's the point of having a sharp horn on your forehead if you don't use it for destructive purposes? And right now Princess has a very definite purpose: Find Max and retrieve the lost Codex for an evil sorcerer and his mysterious master. If she can do that, she's been promised an all-the-humans-you-can-eat buffet in Texas.

Stuck in another world and with a carnivorous unicorn on his trail, Max must find the courage to save himself, his friends, and, oh yeah...the entire human race.
 
(From Goodreads)

*     *     *

I'm just mess'n with ya. I'm beat after hosting a dinner gathering, that and I forgot to put a new battery in my camera. Epic failure!

But what isn't epic failure is Mr. Platte F. Clark, the fearless team leader for my Publication Primer group. Far from it. I just had to give a Shout-Out to him and his hilarious MG book that some call the fantasy equivalent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

And here I thought I was done buying books this year ...

No worries, space cadets! I'll be back Monday with a full recap of awesome. That is, if the leftover pizza doesn't kill me first ...

I'm David, and FYI ... Codex just means "very old book."


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

I Read This: Witch Born by Amber Argyle


Brusenna thought it was finished.

She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.

She was wrong.

Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Some things can't be saved.

A new threat merges with the old as the Witches' dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything. Including her life.

Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

(From Goodreads

*     *     *
  
When I finished Witch Song, the first book in this series, I knew I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the next one. The final verdict? Witch Born is as enjoyable as the first, and more! From the cover to the words within, everything about this book is a work of art. The stakes are higher, and the challenges are more intense, forcing a practiced and matured character to take her magic, and will, to the next level.

And Joshen ... well ... need I say more?

There are three elements to Amber's writing that I find easy to fall in love with, and puts a stamp on making her stories memorable. First, having me care for the characters, and not in a forced way. Next, the details, never skipping a beat and securely planting an image in my mind, like drawing back the curtain and the set unfolds onstage, to which I can focus on the characters without being confused about where they are. Lastly, the pacing and emotional focus. This book read quickly, always with something new coming at me, but not a page goes by without knowing what Senna is thinking or feeling.

I know if I go into details I'll spoil too much, but if you enjoy stories about olden-time witches, their powers manifested through song, with unexpected twists and turns throughout, I highly recommend this book and its series. I found myself smiling at the close, which sadly doesn't happen all too often, but that's how I react after a satisfying end. My only wish is to return to this land again. Soon.

Want to find yourself a copy? Look no further.

I'm David, and in case you missed the first book ...