Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Amber Argyle: "Evil Queen" Of The Cosmic Table!


A few years ago, I met a fellow author at a writer's conference who shared the same dream I had. We even wrote the same genre and we were lucky enough to sit at the same critique table. Based on our first chapters, we caught each other's skills and learned a lot about writing together. Now she's the proud author of three novels and a 4th coming your way! I'm a big fan so she's no stranger to The Laire, but for the first time ever, she's come in invade our space! In honor of her awesomeness and helpfulness to fellow writers, I hereby dub thee, Amber Argyle: Knight of the Cosmic Table!

AA: Wow! Thanks. I'm honored!

BTW, do I have to slay a dragon? Cause I totally can. Just let me know so I can get my sword out of the trunk.

DPK: We're actually working very hard on a knight/dragon relations treaty, this being the 21st century, but there's been an explosion of trolls since this "Internet" thing started, so you're free to slay as many of those as you like. They're worth 5+ XP each, I think.

AA: Great. So I can officially come out as a dragon. But don't worry. I won't burn anyone to a crisp unless you try to save the princess.

Once again, in case you missed it - all princesses must now and forever save themselves.

DPK: All princesses? Even the really young ones?

AA: I don't rescue princesses. I'm a firm believer that all princesses should rescue themselves. Unless they're babies, then I'm totally in.

DPK: Whew! I was beginning to worry for a second.

AA: Oh, one more thing, can I be the Queen AND a knight? I have a hard time taking orders.

DPK: A queen for a knight and a knight for a queen?

Hmm. You might be onto something there, but you'll likely have to go through a screening process since we try to keep our table evil-queen free - not that you're completely evil, it's just protocol.

AA: What's your problem with evil queens? Without us - I mean - them, there's no one to push the hero onto greatness!

DPK: You got a point, there. Well, if you're willing to push my table of Cosmic Knights onto greatness, consider it done! You are now our first Evil-Queen Knight of the Cosmic Table!

Now to business - It's been years since we first met, but I don't know how long you've been writing before then. Tell us about your writing journey up to your first publication. 

AA: It's a long (five years) and a dangerous journey (involving a rattlesnake-really). I'll try to keep it short. I always wanted to be a writer, but it never seemed like the write time! Bahaha!

So sorry. *clears throat*

Then I had my second son, who screamed for 16 hours a day. The fear of failing and finding time didn't matter anymore. The only thing that mattered was gathering what little shreds of sanity I had left (never did find them all). Writing became my one solace. The one place where my exhausted mind could go to escape the never ending demands and dark pit of emptiness that I had tumbled into.

Fast forward through the next five years. I found an agent. After a year we broke up. I found a publisher, but I refused to sign their predatory contract. I finally found my way to a small press, who published Witch Song. After that, I moved onto indie and haven't looked back. I love it!

DPK: That's a fairly common thing I hear, writing as a means of solace. I've been there, and in a lot of ways, writing helped me learn who I am and what I want to be. I'm glad that writing has brought out the best in you because, seriously, you're the life of any party!

AA: I know. I can't help myself. ;)

DPK: I'm glad you brought up predatory contracts. When an author gets their first contract, usually they're so excited they sign right away. I know I turned down some, too. What are the most important things to watch out for in a publishing contract?

AA: You can learn just as much by how they treat you when you try to discuss the contract as you can from the contract itself. I teach an entire class on the subject, but here's a few tips:

- Check for a reasonable date for publishing the work (otherwise they can just cuddle with your MS forever).

- Make sure THEY pay to publish it.

- See if you can get approval for the format and style, graphic material, and style of the dust jacket.

- How many books is the publisher giving you (usually negotiable, try to bump it up).

- What’s your discount for buying books (~40%).

- Out of print clause: Make sure it’s SPECIFIC.

- Bad ex: The said Work shall be considered to be “in print” if it is offered for sale by the Publisher in any edition.

- Good: When 50 (the higher the better) or less print copies have sold in a consecutive 12 month period.

- Don’t assume it’s gone out of print. You have to have it in writing from your publisher.

Royalties:

- Do they pay an advance? Most small presses do not.

- Is the royalty based on gross or retail? BIG difference.

- Average royalty for print in large presses is 10-15%. Small presses start at 6% for soft cover/8% for hard (you probably won’t get hard). If yours doesn’t pay a great royalty, ask to be paid on a escalating scale.

- 15% on ebooks. I’d fight for this one (the big presses give 25%).

- Editorial—make sure you get final approval on any changes to content.

- Copyright—publisher should take care of this (in your name).

- Accounting—make sure they allow you to do an audit. How often are they paying you?

- Author Warranties: You wrote the book and have the right to sell it (nothing libelous).

- Termination by author: you can terminate the contract if they fail to publish the book in the specified time. I know an author who was screwed on this one.

- No advertisements shall be included in the work.

- In case of bankruptcy: Agreement is terminated and rights revert to author.

- Get rid of any late penalty/deep discount clauses.

DPK: This is fantastic advice! You guys taking notes? No seriously. Take my pen. Take ALL of my pens. This is great information!

As an indie author, the covers for your books are among the most stunning I've seen. I end up asking myself, "who did that for you!?" Where does an indie author find an awesome artist for their cover?

AA: Writer's need to study the covers of the novels in their genres. Your cover is the single most important marketing tool at your disposal, so make it FANTASTIC. I have fantasy boards on my Pinterest page where I pin cover images and art I feel works well for my stories (you can check it out here: http://pinterest.com/amberargyle/boards. I take pieces of the images I like and use them in my covers.

I found the cover artist for my last two books on Pinterest. I found a piece of art Laura Sava had done, found her and asked for a bid.

deviantart.com is another good site, but I like Pinterest better because pinners have already waded through the crap and picked out the best images.

DPK: After scrolling around for a bit, I can see where you got your inspiration for Witch Fall. I just might start a Pinterest page now!

Speaking of Witch Fall, let's check out that cover, shall we?

Seriously, that's a nice cover, if not my favorite of all your covers! Now, this is the conclusion to your Witch Song Trilogy, correct? Tell us a little about it?

AA: It's the final novel - a prequel that tells Lilette's story.

Here's the back cover:

All things fall.

Even Witches.


Supreme in their dominion over seasons, storms, and sea, the Witches have forgotten the unmatched destructiveness of mankind. And among the weapons men seek are the magical songs of the Witches.

Lilette is one of the few who see the decadence and decay weakening the Witches. As an outsider amid her own kind, can she help them survive the coming war?

I'm hoping to have it done by October, but my life isn't cooperating. At all. I have a short story that will come out at around the same time--Witch Something-or-other. Ideas anyone?

DPK: Witch Rise? Witch Dawn? Witch Way is North?

AA: *note to self, don't ask David for title ideas* ;)

DPK: *laugh out loud* That sounds great, and I can't wait to add Witch Fall to my "reserved for Amber Argyle" shelf (don't freak out - I have several reserved author shelves).

Congratulations on publishing your first trilogy! Do you prefer the vessel with the pestle or the chalice from the palace?

AA: The chalice - they usually come with a servant and I desperately need one of those.

DPK: Oh, I know, right? *ahem* One last question and I'll let you get back to your busy schedule: what does it mean to be a knight in the writing community? Or, your case, an evil queen knight?

AA: It's fabulous! I have little minions to do all my dirty work. Servants to cook and clean for me. There's always a disposable minor lord if I need to take my frustrations out, and I'm super powerful and feared by all.

DPK: Sounds like wicked awesomeness to me! There's just one catch. Since my Cosmic Knights have been trained to vanquish evil, we might have to tone down the "evil queen" bit - at least until they become more accepting of the idea. Now, how do we hook-wink everyone?

Hmm. I know! You can have this badge (to use however you like) and NO one will suspect a thing. Just be sure not to cast any spells, cause that's a dead giveaway. Sound good to you?

AA: So much prejudice against evil. You and your books would be nothing without our influence. Remember that!

*dramatic exit*

*     *     *

Amber does make a great point. While we don't encourage real evil, our characters would be nothing without evil to face. So the next time you write a dark lord or an evil queen, make them awesome, so that your hero will want to curl up and die. What doesn't kill them only makes them stronger, right?

Did you guys know that Amber defeated me in a growling contest? She's just THAT awesome!

Her latest novel, Winter Queen, is the first book of her new series, and I encourage fantasy readers everywhere to check it out!

I'm David, and the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Moonpennies, Exclusive Cover Reveal, Woven Is Now On Goodreads, and Author's Think Tank Interview!


I'm going to hold up the flow of sci-fi and fantasy awesomeness to share the news that a good friend of mine, clear back from middle school, Alanna Rosette, has entered the indie scene with her first contemporary romance book, Moonpennies. How cool is that?

Lina Daniels was eleven years old when her mother divulged that true love doesn't exist and heartbreak is inevitable. Now a late-twenties struggling writer, Lina is terrified of opening her heart to anyone. She fumbles through life, battling bouts of depression and avoiding real relationships at all costs...until one too many glasses of wine at a New Year's Eve party undermines her resolve.

She ends up in the arms of an irresistible prospect and decides to give love a chance.

The better judgment of her best friends tells her he's not the right guy. But finding the courage to fall in love is only the beginning of Lina's journey. Uncharted risks and bold mistakes open her eyes to a life-changing realization. She may learn her mother was right about the certainty of heartbreak. Yet she may also find that true love does exist, and it makes the heartbreak worthwhile.

 (From Amazon

I'm super proud of you, Alanna! Keep rockin' the awesome!

*     *     *

There's a special cover reveal happening today, exclusively over at Michael Di Gesu's blog - partially because Michael did the art for it! Man of many talents, he is! Head on over to his blog and check out the reveal for Siv Ottem's new book! You won't be disappointed.

Since the release date for Woven continues to creep along, the book will pop up here and there across the Internet - like Goodreads. In fact, you can see it there now! If you've been looking forward to adding Woven to your TBR list, now's your chance. See it here!

*     *     *

I had the chance a few months ago to be part of a series of interviews at the Author's Think Tank, conducted by the most amazing James Duckett, Jennifer J. Bennett, Chas Hathaway, and Charlie Pulsipher. If you'd like to pop on over, you can listen to our interview where I talk about blogging and how to gain a following. It's an awesome site with lots of great guests. Click and browse around!


*     *     *

Update: writing, writing, and more writing - that's the life for me!

It's pretty much my endgame this week: finish a novelette and get crackin' on the final lap of The Undead Road. If the Universe is willing, I'll have it all done in time to watch more Merlin. I'm so hooked and way behind on that show - so don't spoil it for me!

I have a very special guest ready for you this week, so be sure a report back soon - a full plate of cosmic crullers await you!

I'm David, and THIS is every astronaut's worst nightmare ...

Friday, July 26, 2013

Turbo: A Snail Races Cars In The Most Polar-Extreme Version Of The Tortoise and the Hare I've Ever Seen!


"No dream is too big, and no dreamer is too small" - Guy Gagné

The story of the underdog isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Having a film with the premise of a super-sonic snail that can match the speed of an Indy 500 racecar is proof of that. As ridiculous as that may sound, it’s a workable idea—although it may fall back on traditional storylines to drive the tale across the finish line. That’s essentially what we’re given with this high-octane adventure of a snail that looked to the sky, dreamed of speed, and granted its wish. It may not be the freshest entry for the DreamWorks canon, but Turbo succeeds in delivering family-friendly entertainment with the most polar-extreme retelling of The Tortoise and the Hare yet.

Theo is a garden snail. A simple life, really—tending tomatoes and keeping out of the sights of circling crows—but at night, all Theo can think about is being fast. Having access to a TV tuned to the Indy 500 doesn’t help, or Guy Gagné, the racer that Theo looks up to the most. Then it happened, a freak accident that grants Theo a speed unparalleled to snail-kind. When fate sends him into the hands of a humble taco merchant, Theo has the opportunity to turn a rundown mini-mall around by entering the Indy 500 himself. That’s when Turbo enters the scene, but does he have the guts and the stamina to win a championship meant for cars, or will he get run over?

Ryan Reynolds voices the titular character and does a fantastic job of giving Theo many flawed qualities that he has to overcome. The rest of the star-studded cast adds the right amount of flavor and support to carry the story along until the big race that will have viewers on the edge of their seat (care to see a race from a snail’s perspective?—kinda terrifying if you think about it). Smooth and stylish animation, with plenty of vibrant colors, gives the eyes something to look forward to with each scene, and there’s enough humor to maintain smiles on the most skeptical.

A few drawbacks took away from what could’ve been a wildly original film, borrowing heavily from fairly recent animated films. Many drew the conclusion that Turbo was merely Cars with snails—and I didn’t think much of that until Theo met the rundown mini-mall and its struggling-for-business owners. Sound familiar? Theo also looks up to a mentor on TV, a Frenchman, who tells him “no dream is too big, and no dreamer is too small”—similar to a certain rat-chief movie we know and love—to which this mentor ends up being the antagonist, like a certain rogue explorer who owned way too many dogs and HAD to capture an exotic bird. A little borrowing never hurt anyone—borrow too much and folks start to notice. All these elements bring Theo to the racetrack where the story really kicks in, accounting for only 20 minutes of a 96 minute film.

There’s also a fairly good soundtrack that frequently detours into melodramatic areas, as if to prompt a “you should be emotional for the character right now” reaction from the audience, rather than trusting the audience to feel however they’d think they should at any given moment. 

There’s much to like about Turbo, and fans of racing and quirky storylines will find their home in this journey of nitro-injected es-car-GO, but too many borrowed ideas do take away from the suspense of disbelief as it reminds viewers all too much of previously enjoyed animated fair. Even so, it’s a sure-fire family film that has enough to keep both parents and kids entertained. Turbo may lag around the track, but in the end, it manages to cross the finish line.

Cosmic Cruller Rating:

What do you think about this movie? Too far-fetched? Have you seen it? Plan to? What's your favorite racing movie?

I'm David, and he's got the skillz to pay the billz!

 

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Villain Service Announcement: Come Get Your Sharks With Frickin' Lasers, Right Now, While Supplies Last!


As a courtesy to all villains out there, who are struggling their best to take over the world with whatever resources they have, I have some very special news - get ready to crack open your overseas accounts!

Time and time again, when the hero shows up and you have them in your clutches, something always goes awry: incompetent minions or a premature self-destruct system to name a few. In some cases, it's a failure to acquire sharks with frickin' lasers attached to their heads.

Below is a dramatization of one such untimely predicament:



Now, I've never tried to take over the world, but I know sea bass won't cut it - and the folks at ThinkGeek, the universal supplier of stuff for smart masses, understand your plight and have committed themselves to provide you the perfect solution to your needs!

No more red tape. No more worrying about endangered species lists. For a one time only low rate of One Billion Dollars, you can finally own your very own Sharks with Frickin' Lasers on their Frickin' Heads!


Order now and we'll reduce your first order to One Million dollars! You would have to be a good guy to miss out on this exclusive deal!

Not convinced? Just have a look at our already satisfied customer!

Dr. Evil Approved!

"Make like a tree and get out of here" to the one and only supplier of Stuff for Smart Masses! Hurry now, because these are going fast! 

Warning:noactualsharksareforsalejustgenericplasticlaserpointersintheshapeofasharkNosharkswereharmedinthemakingofthisproductbutitwasconsideredHavingasharkwithfrinckin'lasersdoesnotguaranteeworlddominationforallpurchusersSeewebsitefordetailsVoidwhereprohibitedNotlegalinmoststatesanddon'tshinelaserpointersatairplanesEverThat'sjustareallyreallybadidea.

I'm David, and 'Danger" is my "Other" middle name ... ;)

Monday, July 22, 2013

The Teaser For The Most Anticipated Animated Film Of 2014 Is So Amazing, It Doesn't Even Need A Title!



I think I just swooned ...

Welcome back! I had a pretty intense weekend finalizing format edits for Woven, so I don't have much of a post today, but I'd appreciate it if you would check out our recent recruits to The Cosmic Crew:

and

There will be more involved posts coming your way this week. Until then, I better get back to work. We're trying to wrap up this ghost story and make it as cool as what you just saw - in book form.

I'm David, and if you ever find a toothless dragon, let me know ...

Friday, July 19, 2013

Pacific Rim: A Blockbuster Knockout With The Power To Keep All Previous Giant Robot Movies At 'Bay!'


"We're no longer an army - we're the resistance." - Stacker

Guillermo del Toro sure loves his trans-dimensional beings. That's the idea behind the conflict of this latest big-budget blockbuster - assembling the classic giant monsters of Japanese creation (the Kaiju) and breathing new life into them. That leaves us, puny humans left to figure out what to do about these creatures. When faced with extinction, we're given tough choices to make. Do we fly or fight? Lie down, surrender, or pick up the hammer as we stand back up? It's an ageless tale that we've already heard, but we've certainly never seen it portrayed like this. The film may take its punches from the classic summer movie playbook, but Pacific Rim is a solid blockbuster knockout with the story and power to keep all previous giant robot movies at 'Bay.'

 Mankind was winning the war against the giant sea monsters, known as Kaiju, until the new arrivals started to become stronger, starting to adapt to our Jaegers, giant mechas that require the neurological link (or handshake) of two human pilots. Raleigh Becket was one such pilot, linked to his brother, making an unstoppable team until a new breed of Kaiju entered the rift and yanked his brother away. Years later, the Jaeger project is being shut down as they are being destroyed faster than they can be built. Without the government's support, a new plan is devised - take out the rift at its source, meaning the director of the Jaeger program must rely on any remaining (or surviving) resources. Raleigh will need a new partner first - and Mako is not what he expected.

I'll admit, the idea of giant robots has always fascinated me as a kid, growing up with the likes of Robotech, Voltron, and Gundam (if you're asking about Power Rangers, please don't). Having an idea of what I was getting myself into, I was confident that I would enjoy this movie while expecting nothing new from its storyline. And that's fine. You go to a movie about giant robots fighting giant monsters and you get a movie about giant robots fighting giant monsters. It's not rocket science. This expectation meant everything would end well, even if all the cool characters are killed off or they sacrifice themselves for the cause or the greater good - nothing new here.

The execution, however, is able to override the predictability factor with waves of awe when these massive, majestic mechs take to the screen, filling our eyeballs with "two thousand and five hundred tons of awesome!" The symbiotic match up against these giant monsters is a feast of wanton destruction. Iron fists, handfuls of freighters, and cargo ships used as baseball bats is only a lonely corner in this outrageously entertaining boxing ring, and the concept of two pilots sharing each other's brain takes trust and reliably issues to a whole other level. Throw a wink and a nod by Ron Perlman, music from Iron Man's Ramin Djawadi, and the emotional dilemma portrayed by the lovely Rinko Kikuchi and you have a classic mech story on your hands.

And if I may be so bold, one of the best - or the best mech story ever made. Try watching other live-action mech movies from the past and try not to laugh - that is, if you can find them ...

Pacific Rim isn't the kind of film that requires a brain to see, but it has enough heart and decent enough performances to drop our suspension of disbelief. Action reigns supreme in this picture, in what may undoubtedly be the sleeper summer hit we've been waiting for. With several mech movies planned in the not too distant future, it's easy to see why del Toro jumped in first.

Cosmic Cruller Rating:
What's your take on giant mechs? Are they awesome or overblown? What's the best way to deal with giant monsters?

I'm David, and today ... we're cancelling the apocalypse! 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The Last Of Us: Why This May Be The Most Important Video Game (with zombies) That You Will Ever Play


When a story comes along and raises the bar of a genre with a new concept that no one had yet to introduce, that genre tends to be popular again. And with the advent of The Walking Dead, the industry jumped at the chance to contribute something new in the wake of an ever-growing audience, such as adapting books into movies (Warm Bodies, World War Z), or the creation of new books (my WiP is called The Undead Road, so I'm clearly a part of this guilty-pleasure party).

And the gaming world is no exception, and Naughty Dog, who gave us classics like Jak and Daxter and Uncharted dared to take The Walking Dead head on with their own spin on the zombie. They did just that in a manner that I never would have guessed. I've never played a more perfectly constructed, beautifully-paced game that has as deep a storyline or is as powerful as this one. I shed man tears.

Some are going so far as to call The Last of Us "A Masterpiece."

If you haven't played this game but intend to, SPOILERS AHEAD. If you hate zombies and would never play this, I'll give you the rundown on why this may be such a game-changer to story-based gaming.

In the not too distant future, Joel comes home from work and puts his daughter to bed, not knowing that an outbreak of unspeakable horror is about to consume mankind. The military are called in to contain the outbreak, including the killing of the innocent uninfected, which eventually claims Joel's daughter. 20 years later, the world is in ruins and overrun with infected, and those who managed to survive face a harsh reality in police-state quarantine zones in the cities and cannibalistic bandits in the country. No place is safe. Killing another in order to survive is commonplace, a way of life, and those unfortunate to be born have no idea what a normal society is. Then Ellie enters the picture, an infected girl who is immune. Any chance of making a vaccine lies in her - unless her strong personality gets her killed.

Joel reluctantly takes Ellie across the united states in hopes of finding a rebel group who can use her to find a cure for mankind. Journeys have a way of changing people, as they are both about to discover.

The central character here is Joel, a man who has had rotten luck his whole life. When this daughter, the one thing in his life that was right was taken from him, he struggled for 20 years with this lose and never found a reason to care about anyone except himself. But then, when Ellie enters the picture, she reminds him so much of his daughter that he can hardly stand it, but if man is to survive, it's up to him to keep her safe. They don't get along at first - not by a long shot. With a hot temper and a foul mouth equal to Joel's, it's a miracle she's alive.

More so since she's infected. There is a fungal spore that travels in the air. When breathed, the fungus grows into the brain and destroys what makes us human. They aren't interested in eating you - more like rabid animals wanting to destroy anything that moves. The longer they are infected, they become sub-human, called Clickers, using sound to see, as bats do - and they are harder to take down.

Then, as they struggle to survive and learn to work together, these two create an unspoken bond, the likes of which I haven't seen since Léon: The Professional. Every place they go has a morbid beauty to it, from rundown buildings to tall trees growing in football fields. You also have to salvage supplies wherever you go. You don't just pick up health kits - you MAKE them. You even have to pause and hunt for food and water sometimes. This game is like a survival simulator!

Developers accurately depicted real locations, including Boston, Eastern Colorado University, and Salt Lake City, something I have always wanted to hypothetically see. What would it look like in the event of a zombie apocalypse, as it is the biggest city near me? My draw dropped, it was beautiful, and I was shocked that no off-handed comment or slur was said about the religious demographic - like toast without butter, it seemed odd since every other story that involves Utah HAS to do this. Gets old fast.

Thanks for keeping it classy, Naughty Dog.

Another thing that sets this game apart from other zombie stories is that there's no Rambo shoot'em-up. You're stealthy most of the time, and you actually end up taking on more normal people than infected. The level of desperation humanity has sunk to seems unbelievable, but who can predict what this envirnoment will do to people after 20 years?

It's downright scary, more than any infected you'll come across. At least they are predictable. And seriously, one false move and you're dead. The enemy is smart and can track you down and outflank you if you're not careful. One split second really makes a difference in whether you survive this game or not, but thankfully, not everyone is an enemy. There are pockets of good people who believe a second chance is coming.

What makes this an "important" game, you ask? Never has a story with deep psychology for EVERY character been achieved in this way. Who hasn't played the "what if" game. What if zombies happened?

Some might say they are prepared. We've seen enough movies to know what weapons to use and how much to ration - and it's going to be gross - but no, it runs deeper than that. BIG SPOILER. When Joel gets Ellie to SLC, the rebel group tells him, in order to extract the fungus, they have to do surgery that would kill Ellie. This must be for Mankind to survive.

Mankind caused this outbreak. Mankind caused the death of Joel's daughter. Mankind took this friends and ruined the world. Now that he's found something to live for again, to believe in, he cannot stand the thought of "Mankind" taking anything else away that is dear to him. Why should "Mankind" have a second chance when it is not fit enough to live? Joel could care less about "Mankind's" survival. It's HIS survival that's at stake. So what does he do? Joel enters the operating room and saves Ellie - killing all who stand in his way.

As the player, this wasn't easy for me. Would I really do the same thing in his shoes? Is there such a thing as murder in a world without law, or is survival the new law, physically, mentally, spiritually? While saving Ellie, you find notes and recordings that they extracted other immune people, killed them, and were unsuccessful at a vaccine.

Would Ellie be any different? Why kill her and fail when she could live her life and see what nature has in store for her? This is what Joel rationalizes, and it poses a question to you, the player. Survival can bring out the worst in people, so where would you stand if you had to survive? Could you live with your choices? Would you be ready?

I can't answer these questions, but they're worth asking, and this is a game that allows you to explore these questions to better find out who you would be in the event of a survival situation and give you the means to alter that course and do what is right, if need be.

This, The Last of Us, is the most human zombie game I've seen.

Cosmic Cruller Rating:

What are your thoughts? Is this a game you would be interested in playing? What would you do in the event of an zombie outbreak? 

I'm David, and bakers share recipes on a "knead" to know basis ...


Note: as much as I enjoyed this story, the content is pretty tough to handle if you have a weak stomach, and it has language that was difficult to tolerate. I would not recommend this game for kids.

Monday, July 15, 2013

"Pop Travel" Release, "Kinetic" Cover Reveal, and HD 189733b Rains Glass with 4,350 Mile Per Hour Winds


Welcome back! Hard to believe it's the middle of July already, isn't it? Well, it's here, and there's nothing we can do about it, so let's go!

I am honored to announce the release of a hot new Sci-Fi title, Pop Travel, by Tara Tyler. Congratulations! I look forward to reading it.

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

Knowing it would be pointless to upload the video on the nosy, government-monitored Qnet, Cooper digs around, bringing 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.

If he survives his first pop, Cooper won’t let anything distract him from putting an end to Pop Travel's fatal glitch. Not the android security guards, the constant surveillance, or even Southern Comfort in a purple dress, Geri Harper. Nothing Coop can’t handle.

(From Goodreads)

You can find a copy of Pop Travel here!

*     *     *

Now for the additional honor of showing you the cover for S.K. Anthony's upcoming September release, Kinetic! Isn't it lovely?

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.

A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…

(From Goodreads) 
 *     *     *

Have you heard the news about HD 189733b? What is HD 189733b, you ask? It's a exoplanet some 63 light years away that's been studied for a while, but now there is enough information for interesting theories about what this planet is like.

According to space.com, HD 189733b is a "hot Jupiter" that takes 2.2 earth days to go around its sun. It has temperatures as high as
1,832 degrees Fahrenheit, has winds of up to 4,350 miles per hour, and it rains glass. Not water. GLASS! I never would have thought of that. Whoever came to this conclusion must be pretty sharp! If you have to sandblast your starship, now you know where to go!

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Update: for those of you who volunteered to participate in the Cover Reveal and Blog Tour for Woven, I can't thank you enough for being so quick to respond! I've organize your information and you will receive an email when the full tour schedule is finished and, while some of you have already volunteered for certain topics, I will assign others topics for what the tour calls for. I hope this schedule will work out for you, and no worries, I'll have it for you well in advance.

As for the Cover Reveal, the plan is to have it finished no later than mid August, so I will be sure to send that information along with enough advance so you won't be rushed at the last minute. For those of you expecting ARCs, I should have an electronic version sooner than a printed one. If you'd rather read it ebook style, let me know.

As for writing, I aim to wrap up a Christmas Novelette that I'm writing for charity - calling it Brother Christmas for now. After that, I aim to wrap up The Undead Road and see where that goes. Woven 2 (not actual title) will then commence. You tired yet? I'm already feeling it!

I'll have a review up later this week and an overview of what may possibly be the best game you will play this year. Thanks for stopping by the Laire, and before you head out, check out our latest member to the Cosmic Crew! I'm sure she'd appreciate a stellar welcome.


I'm David, and I'd seen about everything when I see a shark fly ...

Friday, July 12, 2013

Falling 4 Fiction Interview with Leigh Covington and Just How Many Personalities Does Sméagol Have?


Hey guys! This has been a wild week and a lot busier than I expected, so I'm sorry to say there's not much of a post today, that and I'm checking out the first showing of Pacific Rim today (review to follow).

However, the amazing Leigh Covington interviewed me yesterday at Falling 4 Fiction. Go check it out, and don't be too concerned when you see the answers I used for the word association test she gave me. No monkeys were harmed in the conducting of this interview.

Until next time, what would happen if Sméagol had more than two personalities? I don't really think Gollum would take kindly to that.



Have a terrific, bashing-giant-monster's-brains-in weekend!

I'm David, and Dad is great! ... Give us the chocolate cake!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The LEGO Movie: A Dream Come True and the Satire of The NeverEnding Story We Have Always Wanted!


I opened my first LEGO set when I was seven - a small tower on an even smaller island with a couple of British soldiers and a couple pirates in a rowboat. And a little gray shark. Don't forget the awesome shark.

From then on, I was a LEGO-Maniac - buying into their 1990s marketing scheme like a kid in a candy factory. 300 pounds of bricks sitting in storage later, The Boy has taken an interest in the tiny building toys to the point that he has more at his age than I ever did. The cool sets they have now doesn't help. I also built Star Wars ships well before LEGO started making them. I confess - I'm a blockhead.

But things have gotten weird for them lately. Franchises rights, from everything to Marvel, Disney, and now Ninja Turtles! Tons of themed games and hard-to-watch CGI movies have cheesed-up my favorite childhood pastime. Then, WB announced a movie. I admit having mixed feelings about it, even with the comedic genius of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs's Phil Lord and Christopher Miller set to direct.

Then the trailer came out. It's Stop-Motion animation! WOW!!!!!

As you can already guess, I'm totally for this (for The Boy, right?).

Needless to say, the anticipation for this movie is "building!" :D

Doing this in Stop-Motion (actually, it's a computer program to make it look like Stop-Motion) is actually a pretty smart move. It gives the environment texture and a greater sense of tangibility, not to mention that Stop-Motion LEGO movies are a big deal on Youtube.

Like this famous classic!



Now you might be asking, why is this a satire of The NeverEnding Story, Dave? It's more or less these little nuances I picked up. After all, Neverending Story was an 80's film. LEGO's popularity spiked in the 80's. The remix in the trailer is from a popular 80's song.

Both films were even produced by the same studio!

Clearly, WB knows its audience.

Some of these similarities include, but are not limited to:

A conference with peeps about the end of the world ...

 

And flying on the back of something totally awesome!

I'm Batman ...

I even drew this subtle, yet blatant conclusion:

The antagonist of The LEGO Movie is "Lord Business."

The antagonist of The NeverEnding Story is "The Nothing." 

So if a guy does "nothing" and someone asks, "Whatcha do'n?" and they answer, "none of your business," that guy's "business" is "nothing." In other words: Lord Business = The Nothing!

I am so smart.

One thing that also dropped my jaw when I saw the trailer was the custom LEGO girl they made for this movie. You know about this zombie book I'm writing, right? If you want a LEGO minifig of what the main girl looks like, THAT'S her! Right down to her highlights!

Oh, and did I mention the cast?

Will Ferrall, Liam Neeson, Elizabeth Banks. Chris Pratt!

And Morgan Freeman gets to play God. Again!

In short, this looks to be an interesting piece of cinema, blending every brick and every fluid ounce of nostalgic juice into a random adventure that lifelong diehards like me are going to be rolling on the floor laughing (ROTFL) at all the subtle references. Bring on 2014!

(but watch your step ... those little bricks can murder your feet!)

What do you think about this LEGO movie? Is it something you'd see, kids or not? Will this do well or "fall apart" at the box office?

I'm David, and I only work in black ... and very very dark gray ...


Monday, July 8, 2013

"900" Members ARC Giveaway Winners, 3 Months to WOVEN Release, Pre Orders, and Shine On Award!


First things first, thank you everyone for the warm welcome that literally increased the temperature of my house by ten degrees. I hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th of July weekend. We took it easy this year, ate more burgers than is healthy, and took a four mile hike in flip flops - maybe not the smartest thing to do in the history of ever, but my legs were screaming for adventure.

You guys are awesome beyond what meager word I can come up with the describe it. Seriously - within twelve hours of inviting the Sphere to help reveal my cover and participate in a blog tour, I have more than enough volunteers to run a month-long tour! This is amazing and truly humbling. No one gets turned away in this next of the cosmic forest, so some days my be double booked. Thank you all!

I'll be in contact with the details as they come in.

Oh yeah, there's giveaway winners to announce! Let's get to it!

"900" Members ARC Giveaway Winners!

Chosen completely at random using the Random Number Generator, I hereby present the honored winners of these three fine ARCs!

      Suzanne Furness       Krista McLaughlin        James Duckett

The winner of a hot-off-the-press ARC of Woven is Crystal Collier!

However, there was a bit of oversight on my part. The number of ARCs are limited and most of them are going out to reviewers and those who requested them months ago, so I'll try my best to secure one. If not, I hope you can wait a little longer for a for-real copy?

Awesome! I'll let you know what I find out when I find out.

To claim your prize, please send your mailing address here.

Congratulations, everyone - thanks for making this possible!

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Today is July 8th, which means in exactly 3 months, Woven will be available! We're working hard on the cover this week and the trailer is almost done, so we hope to have a reveal next month. Until then, if you absolutely can't wait to secure a copy, the hardback is now available for pre-order - at a reasonable price, I might add.

Pick your poison - err - favorite online bookseller for more details! 


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If things weren't already awesome enough, has honored me with The Shine On Award (which has an anime character - I approve!)

Rules for accepting The Shine On Award are as follows:

Display the Award on your Blog.

Link back to the person who nominated you.

Disclose seven random facts about yourself.

Nominate 15 other bloggers to receive the Award (except I’m going to have to run with 5 ... got to get some things done on this end).

Ready for some random facts? How about some Studio exploits from when I used to live in Burbank California?

1) I watched the filming of a Drew Carry show dance number.

2) Cartoon Network was down the street from my dad's office.

3) I was born across the street from Walt Disney Studios.

4) I sneaked into the WB garage and checked out all their cool cars, including the Bat Mobile and many more (and when I say sneak, I mean my sister showed me while she was working their).

5) This same sister took me to many movies on the WB lot a month before they released (including such titles as Contact, Sphere, The Perfect Storm, and Batman and Robin (at least that was free ...).

6) A Dreamworks directer lived across the street and donated his old drawing table to me (back in my aspiring animation days).

7) My other sister was a big Lois & Clark fan and would often stalk the cast. I happened to be with her when we ran into Dean Cain.

I'd like to pass this award on to these five most-excellent peeps!

and

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That's all I got for now. Check back this week for random post and maybe a few laughs and unexpected news that may hit you like a ton of "Bricks" or put you in the mood for Pulled-"Orc"-sandwiches.

I'm David, and bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapenos are da bomb!

Friday, July 5, 2013

World War Z: A Zombie Film With Less Guts and More Scale That Everyone Is "Climbing Over Walls" To See!


"Mother Nature is a serial killer ..." - Andrew Fassbach

The modern zombie story has a basic formula: outbreak, fight or flight, and you either find a cure or do your best to outlive the ghouls. There's no going around this. Not even Max Brooks, best selling writer and current authority on all things undead (to which this film is based on his work), cannot stray from this established algorithm of unspeakable horrors. What the characters do from point A to Z, how the world building of the zombie is set up, and the execution is what makes all the difference. If you want the same emotional experience expected with the latest episode of The Walking Dead, this isn't your movie. However, there's so much right in all this wrong that disaster and zombie aficionados are ill advised to turn their nose up at it. With hard-to-like side characters and breakneck / worst case scenarios from the notes of an average Roland Emmerich film, World War Z is a mostly disjointed disaster flick that strays heavily from its great source material, but like its source, it's a useful instruction guide for surviving a zombified world.

Gerry Lane was on his way out of Philadelphia with his family when people started to run. From out of nowhere and without warning, people are tearing each other apart. An ex-UN operative, Gerry's survivor mode kicks in, and he'll do anything to save his family-even if it means going on a global hunt for a cure to ensure his family's spot on an armed aircraft carrier. Cold leads turn hot at every turn, as do the infected, in this bio-hazard race to prevent humanity's extinction. To survive and return to his family, Gerry must rely on his improvisational skills or die trying.

What slowed this film for me, surprisingly enough, was the family element. I've been on the lookout for zombie mediums that have an enjoyable, functional, family dynamic. World War Z tried and died in this attempt. I didn't mind that Gerry was given a family, but how the film portrayed them - whiny and needy - made me wonder how on earth any of them managed to survive two cities, especially when the infected move three times faster than average humans. Once Gerry got off the boat, the film really picked up. Note to the wise: when your spouse is in the field with zombies everywhere, don't call them. Let them call you.

You'll thank me later.

Another factor that should be pointed out, for as gruesome a topic as zombies are, it felt as if the filmmakers went out of their way to lessen the violence to secure a PG-13 rating. Not that I'm complaining. I'm actually a big fan of implied violence, and a non-R rating can supply the means to reach out to a broader audience who may not have access to it, but the constant panning away from gore shots grew monotonous after a while. That, and the zombies themselves; they can't be any more different than from the novel, going against the very rules that Max Brooks invented.

While the story is a coin flip, the application is what redeemed this film. If you've read The Zombie Survival Guide (which I did in one sitting), subtle nuances of Max Brooks's survival techniques are scattered throughout: effective improvised weapons, amputee treatment, and most importantly: location, location, and location. Brad Pitt executed his role with a cool, level-headed approach, easily making his character one worth caring about, by far the most solid performance. Including recent phenomena, such as news clips of beached dolphins, the "Florida Zombie," and random news personalities presented a fitting touch that tied real events to the fictional buildup.

World War Z may not rise to the challenge of taking zombies to the next level, but it does offer a rather unique alternative to the "cure" element of the modern zombie formula, with some fairly believable science behind it. Having said that, this film serves to solidify the shift that zombies are taking from the realm of unexplainable horror to the acolytes of plausible science fiction, and if you recall the famous saying, "science fiction is a precursor to science fact," the implications are both fascinating and terrifying. Not to imply that "real zombies" would act as they do here.

If you can fight, fight. Help each other. Be prepared for anything.

Cosmic Cruller Rating:
 
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Have you been itching for a good zombie flick lately? What's your favorite telling of the undead? You've heard The Zombie Song?

I'm David, and don't forget to fill your bathtub with water!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

IWSG: Debut Novels - The First and Last Impression?


Need A Little Support?Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer's Support Group provides a monthly moment where writers are free to express concerns and insecurities on their blogs without fear of reprisal. It's a seriously big group with much support and advice to be had among its almost 300 participants.

It's time to pull up a couch and shrink into the fetal position - here's what's been on my mind lately ...

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Recently I handed in my first round of edits to my publisher. To be honest, this is the first time I've done such a thing. The experience was pleasant, the editor working with us has an excellent eye, and the process was quicker than anticipated. Then, I was about to turn our edits in when we received responses from close author friends who jumped at the chance to read the uncorrected proof.

They thoroughly enjoyed it - a huge relief - and offered suggestions for areas that could do with a little improvement. Some of these our editor caught. One of them called for a rewrite of the last chapter and some tightening with the first, which has happened and the book is stronger for it, but it was this reason that caused me to wonder ...

Note: this is a paraphrase - If you don't capture the reader in the first page or let the reader down in the last chapter, whenever they see your name on another book, they won't bother to pick it up.

Yikes!

Woven is my first plunge into the publishing world, so this advice had me thinking, even second-guessing, if the story is really ready for the public scene. One side tells me, of course it is! You haven't had one critique partner or beta reader who didn't like it, and the other side tells me, maybe they're just being nice and complete strangers will be more critical - or downright mean. It's a no-win hypothetical.

Finally, reality set in. Not everyone is going to like it. The reason why doesn't matter. I wrote the best story I could how for its market and audience. I can't live in fear that one person - or hundreds - will give me a pat on the back and say "nice try, buddy." Instead, I have to take the feedback as it comes and build upon the one person - or hundreds - who pick up the book and enjoy the story more than I ever did. Besides, I have other stories that can appeal to different audiences. If this run isn't for them, maybe the next one will be.

I am grateful for the feedback and endorsements we've collected so far, and I look forward to sharing this ghost story with the world.

The final test begins in three months. Pass or fail, it won't change who I am, but it will certainly make a better writer out of me.

Have you heard this advice before? Are readers really this critical to first time authors? How would you overcome this insecurity?

I'm David, and buttermilk pancakes are deliciously fluffy.


Monday, July 1, 2013

Back To Blogging, Updates, WOVEN Blog Tour Sign Up, and "900" Members ARC Giveaway Extravaganza!


Guess who's back? And I'll tell you what - it's good to be back!

For the foreseeable future, there will be new posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Sound good? I'm still touching up a bit, so don't mind the cleanup crew. I'm really to set this ship into hyper-drive, so let me fill you in on what's happened since my leave of absence. You may want to grab a snack and-grape seed juice:

Besides visiting my family in Illinois and much needed repairs to my home, I meditated over my online presence and how to go about being consistent with it, as well as pushing the envelope to finish The Undead Road and working on first round edits for Woven from my publisher. The best thing about going over edits is that you fall in love with your story again. A few adjustments later - it reads soooo much better! We've also been very fortunate to have some BIG endorsers! You'll get to see who they are when the time is right.

Still waiting on the cover, but we expect to have one before this month is out. We're also cutting a trailer that - seriously, this is awesome! - will literally transport you to our land of Avërand.

Speaking of covers and trailers, NOW is the time to sign up for the Woven Cover Reveal and/or Book Blog Tour! If you're interested, send me a quick email here and I will send you all the information you will need when it becomes available. Unfortunately, we're already full on ARC requests for review, but Michael and I are open to interviews and guest posts. Or, if you just want information about the book and use it to do your thing, that's fine too! Extra points for creativity.

I'd like to thank you all in advance for your enthusiasm and believing in our story. It would be an honor to share this journey with you all.

Sign ups are now open! We look forward to hearing from you.

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"900" Members ARC Giveaway Extravaganza! 

Watch out, Cosmic Crew ... I'm going totally tribbles! We've breached the 900 Member mark, which means we're long overdue for a hull upgrade. We may have to move into a cruiser. Celebration time!

Below are the goods I'm giving away, including a signed ARC of Chad Morris's The Inventor's Secret. Click on the covers to read more about these teenage witches, time travelers, and True Sight-ers!


Bonus Prize: an ARC of the next big ghost story, Woven!

Here's how to play: in the comments, tell me what book you'd like to win - you can pick one, or two, or all of them. I'll enter you in a raffle all this week and announce the winners next Monday, the 8th.

You don't have to be a member of this site to participate, and I DO ship wherever mail is delivered. This giveaway is open to everyone!

But first, a Shout-Out needs to be given to those who have joined us and made this giveaway possible. Do me a favor - check them out!



I'm David, and garage door openers use logic boards - who knew?