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Changes are Afoot

4/21/2015

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Bloggers write blogs--pages of informative or entertaining factoids, lists, or life perspectives.  I want to be a storyteller.  I want to make stuff up and build a readership using my imagination. 

That being said, I'm dropping my self-inflicted obligation of writing an entry here once or twice a week.  I'll be throwing around words on these walls at least two to three times per month.  And I'll still post drivel from time to time, and of course I will always post updates, exciting news, announce giveaways, etc.  So you haven't read the last entry here by any means.  The walls may be painted differently and the incense burned may give a new scent, but things are getting busy in my world of writing. 

I took down the attention-grabbing neon beast that read "Witty Blog Inside" and put up a new sign out front.  It reads "Author Website."

News Update: 
*I've been given permission to announce that I am working on a collaboration with author Terry M. West.  We've tossed something around, and I think people are going to love it.  Terry is an exceptional writer, and I'm really excited to work with him.  I've reviewed a handful of his work for Horror Novel Reviews.  You can head over there and check it out

*Night as a Catalyst is getting closer to the release date (May 01, 2015), but there's still a lot to do.  I will be making quite a few announcements soon concerning interviews, articles, and guest blog stuff I'll be doing for promotional purposes.  For now, you can check out the book promo trailer.
For 11 months and 1 day, I have recorded my adventure as a writer here on my little Weebly page.  What started as a curious interest in writing as a hobby has turned into ultimately pursuing writing as a career goal--where one day I can leave the medical jargon behind.  Within this 11 months, I have met a ridiculous amount of people (many of whom I now consider friends), learned much more than anticipated, and have gotten a great response from those who have read my work.  

My blog entries over the year have changed a bit.  From all out reports on what I'm doing, to flash fiction and exciting updates on stories being published or the announcement of four different websites that I now regularly contribute to.  It's been a busy year.  Within this past 11 months, I've come to learn and realize that I don't want to be a "blogger."  I'm proud of every entry I've written, but a lot of time has been spent here where it could be spent on stories...and even that first novel that keeps glaring at me with its intimidating, blank eyes. 
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7 Popular Songs that Secretly Hint at a Zombie Apocalypse

4/11/2015

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3. “We are the Champions” – Queen
What list of misunderstood songs would be complete without the fire starter itself, Queen.  With lyrics like “I consider it a challenge before the whole human race and I ain't gonna lose” followed by the chanting of “we are the champions of the world,”  no prepper in their right mind would ignore this warning sign of a world soon to be overthrown by the undead.

4. “Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
“And this bird you cannot change” sounds more like a challenge to the infected than anything—that no matter what, this red-blooded American will never succumb to the virus.

5. “Take Me” – KISS
“Put your hand in my pocket and grab onto my rocket.”  An obvious representation of…oh, who am I kidding.  This means sex.  Like all KISS songs, this one is about sex.  Next.
Like the hyper-fundamentalists in the 80s who spent their free time spinning records backward in a desperate attempt to prove that rock vinyl contained the devil, now modern day preppers and conspiracy theorists bring their own brand of paranoia as they sit in waiting, bracing themselves for the apocalypse; more specifically, the one triggered by zombies.  Here are 7 seemingly prophetic songs that, if taken out of context, will surely cause those reading between the lines to clean out the bread and milk aisle:

1. “Eat You Alive” – Limp Bizkit
While the lyrics may reflect that of a man obsessed with the scent of a woman, if the PMRC can hear “it’s fun to smoke marijuana” by playing Another One Bites the Dust backward, then by golly we can feel unsafe around the freshly deceased after hearing this song.

2. “Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles
Clearly a cleverly disguised warning to the undead, perhaps more for the vampires than zombies, but the end is not yet nigh, so we’ll just have to see what the end does bring. 
6. “The Boys Are Back In Town” – Thin Lizzy
“Guess who just got back today?  Them wild-eyed boys…man, I still think them cats are crazy.”  If this doesn’t scream “They’re coming to get you, Barbara” then I don’t know what does.  Perhaps even the band name is a euphemism for a living dead girl.  Note to self:  This band may be worth looking into further.

7. “Alive” – Pearl Jam
“Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's room.  She said I'm ready for you.  I can't remember anything to this very day, except the look, the look...Oh, you know where.  Now I can't see, I just stare...I.  I'm still alive.  Hey I, but, I'm still alive.”  I shouldn’t even have to explain this one to you, but allow me to paraphrase:  “The female zombie shambles across the kid’s room.  She says “Brains!”  He can’t remember anything about what happened except her freaky face.  Now he’s a zombie too and just stares all day, yet he’s still alive”…i.e. the walking dead.  Enough said.
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News Update:  Night as a Catalyst coming soon!
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Book Review:  I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

4/9/2015

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Though this review is specifically for Crystal Lake Publishing’s International Review Your Favorite Book Day, this isn’t my favorite book.  But it is one of them.  Like music, I don’t have just one favorite.  I have a hard enough time dwindling things down to a top ten, let alone one.   However, Richard Matheson's I Am Legend is not just one of my favorites.  I’d say by being deemed Vampire Novel of the Century by the Horror Writer’s Association, it’s a favorite of a few others as well.  

Matheson’s 1954 masterpiece tells the story of Robert Neville, the lone survivor in a world succumbed to a disease that has turned mankind into vampires.  Neville spends his nights spinning vinyl, drinking hard liquor, reminiscing, and struggling to maintain self control under the weight of a rollercoaster of emotions, while outside the vampires throw stones, bricks, and themselves at the house with the hopes of one night turning Neville into one of their own.  Neville’s days are spent repairing his home caused by damage from the night before, running errands for essential supplies, and making pit stops to hunt and kill a few of the pale infected while they sleep in sunless areas like abandoned buildings.  As far as a synopsis goes, let me stop there.  I don’t want to ruin anything for you. You’ll thank me.


The idea of vampires was nothing new in 1954; however, a post-apocalyptic world with one man against a mob of them was certainly no bandwagon jumping idea at the time.  Matheson's tale was original and foreboding—a clever "what if."

Much of what keeps I Am Legend so fresh to this day is Matheson’s portrayal of Robert Neville, the story’s protagonist.  The character is realistic, familiar, and relatable.  Throughout the book Neville goes back and forth with hope and helplessness—something any of us would do in his situation.  There was a real human vulnerability with him.  He wasn’t beyond being tempted by women—even if they were undead—or drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

Day after lonesome day, Neville deeply reflected on his existence, the loss of his family, mankind, a possible cure, the will to live, and society's own denial toward vampirism until it was too late:  "...before science had caught up with the legend, the legend had swallowed science and everything."
While I Am Legend is a sad and lonely book, there is an excitement involved with watching a man struggle to survive at all costs.  Not to go on because he was afraid of death but in hopes of finding answers and saving the world's future—holding onto the notion that there may be more survivors out there or perhaps he alone could find a cure.  Excitement aside, the book has a certain desperation about it, full of horrifying imagery.  Neville’s declaration of what he sees while looking out at night through a peephole in his front door sounds much like a precursor for Night of the Living Dead:  "They walked and walked about on restless feet, circling each other like wolves, never looking at each other once, having hungry eyes only for the house and their prey inside the house."  

As simple of an idea that I Am Legend is, Hollywood has produced three inadequate attempts at telling the story their way (The Last Man on Earth, The Omega Man, and the most recent Will Smith CGI fest, I Am Legend); so far nothing worthy of our time.  As stand alones, I will admit they’re not complete turkeys.  But considering their genesis, they’ve presented nothing but an insult to this wonderful book.  Therefore, I implore you to stay clear of the films and pick up the book.  Matheson's rich prose offers more than any movie will ever be able to provide.

Stop by and say hi.  Your comments make me smile.  Then you'll probably smile.  It's a contagious win/win!
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Day-Off Drivel VIV:  Luke...I Am Your Father!

4/5/2015

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News first.  Drivel second. 

I did a cover reveal this weekend on my Facebook author page for Night as a Catalyst.  If you haven't liked my page yet, stretch your mouse arm way over here and give it a like.  Things are getting exclusive there and I'm announcing less on my regular FB page, so if you miss a giveaway, cover reveal, or announcement now you know why. 

Night as a Catalyst will be out in May.  I'm shooting for May 1st, but I'm thinking that may be unrealistic.  There's still quite a bit to be done.  Perhaps mid May is a more realistic expectation.  I started doing music reviews for Heavy Planet.  That'll be a good time.  I'm forever on the journey to discover new music and I enjoy writing reviews.  It's a win/win.  You can read my first contribution for them here.


Very cool stuff is happening in another area that I'm not ready to completely reveal yet, but let's just say it involves some very famous monsters.

Crystal Lake Publishing is having an International Review Your Favorite Book Day.  You can join the fun and contribute here.  This is the first year.  It should be a good time seeing reviews from so many people's favorite books.  You just might get turned on to something new! 

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Luke, I Am Your Father!
The young boy had no idea the impact Star Wars would have on American culture in years to come.  But as he sat next to his father in the theater he was unable to soak the movie in.  His father intimidated him.  He didn’t even know him.  He’d only heard things.  And even then the man was a mystery.  The boy could count on two hands the number of hours he’d spent with him until now.

Darth Vadar storms the halls of the Deathstar.

The boy contemplated the worry.  Had his fear been exaggerated by his own young mind or was there real reason to be scared of his hippy father?  

Darth Vadar chokes his underling. 

The boy sat quiet as the movie played.  Kids, rows behind them, giggled and spoke during the film.  The boy’s father turned and spit a venomous confrontation at the kids.  “Will you kids shut the hell up?!”

Darth Vadar kills Obi-Wan.

The boy sat startled.  Perhaps his fear was warranted. 

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