Friday the 13th Bruised Souls Blog Hop: Urban Legends and Old Wives Tales

Hello, my spooky friends. It's officially Friday, the 13th! Aside from being a horror movie extravaganza holiday for some of us, it's also the day my new collection, Bruised Souls & Other Torments, is available for sale!

As of the time of this posting, the e-book is live on Amazon, but the paperback isn't yet. It should pop on there any time. I'll have it available on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, etc. in the coming week.

You can buy it on Amazon by clicking this link.

Updating with the paperback link. It's now live on Amazon! 

Fear resides in the soul.

A welcoming widow with a twisted appetite; a war-time evil lurking behind the face of a child; a father’s love gone horribly wrong; a deadly government solution; a new job with a demonic pay scale; a woman trapped in a mysterious house with no memory of who she is or how she got there. These are a mere glimpse of the terrors that lie in wait in this collection of horror short stories, sure to grip the psyche and torment the soul.

To celebrate Friday, the 13th and Bruised Souls, the following people are participating in the blog hop. Stop by and visit them for a little creepy fun. They'll be posting either an urban legend, an old wives tale, or something scary that happened to them in real life.

Yolanda Renee - Basement Creepies
Juneta Key - Big Foot
Patricia Lynne - Vanishing Hitchhiker
Jemi Fraser - Walter's Ghost/Creepy Culvert
Tonja Drecker - Dvigrad
Kalpana - Delhi Djinns
Donna Hole - Sasquatch

Since I'm heading out to Oregon soon, here's an urban legend you may not have heard of before. In Portland, Oregon, a game called Polybius was in arcades. It was claimed that it caused psychoactive issues and was part of a secret government psychological experiment. The men in black even came into play, with people saying they saw men in black visiting the games to grab the data gathered there. It's said that it disappeared without a trace.

For a little more fun, here's a video about urban legends that are actually true.


What's your favorite urban legend or old wives tale? What's something scary that has happened to you? Do you believe any of the urban legends in the video? Have you nabbed your copy of Bruised Souls & Other Torments?

May you find your Muse.

Jeremy Hawkins Book Tour - It's Time!

The creative and talented Jeremy Hawkins is stopping by on his book tour today. This isn't your typical book, you know, with words. Instead, he is displaying his pop-culture artwork from over the years in a series of four books. If you've participated in the A-to-Z Challenge, you know Jeremy as our badge and graphics guru. He's our go-to guy for anything visually artsy, with his unique and compelling vision.

Now, here's Jeremy to speak for himself:

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Did you know that Spaceballs was made into a cartoon? Okay let me back up for the moment. I want to share a short story and then share another one with you. Shannon asked a few of us to see if we wanted to donate anything for a good cause for a Pike’s Peak Silent auction. I had a piece of art I designed that was created from a old slide of Pike’s Peak from the 1960’s and gladly thought sure, she could use this. Off the wall it came and then it was shipped for the event, not sure how it did… I do know someone got it and for me that was cool.

Brings this big hole to my wall and I replaced this with my original framed poster of what else? Spaceballs! And I got to thinking share something about this film. Now we are back to the question of did you know it was made into a cartoon for television, yeah me either. It lasted only a season; here is part from the press release about it:

May the farce be with you! Modern filmdom and popular culture get lampooned at ludicrous speed as “Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures!” comes to DVD from MGM Home Ent. Re-introducing the art of ridiculous satire to the small screen, the animated half-hour episodes pick up where the cult-classic feature film left off, showcasing rollicking parody of pop culture for a new generation of fans.  Executive produced and Co-Created by Mel Brooks reprises the roles of the original Spaceballs cast, including Joan Rivers as the droid Dot Matrix, Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa and Brooks as the comic sage Yogurt. Joining the fight against the evil Dark Helmet are unforgettable characters Captain Lone Starr and his half-human-half-canine sidekick, Barf.

• The Moron’s Guide

• Episode I – “Outbreak”

• Intermission – “Satisfied Customers”

• Episode II – “Skroobinator”

• Intermission – “Thanks For Your Order”

• Episode III – “The Deep Ship”

• Intermission – “Sing Along With Skyroob”

• Episode IV – “Grand Theft Starship”

• And That’s Not All

• One More Goodie

It is available for DVD purchase at AMAZON, so if you are checking it out… feel free to look up my books to… see the cool tie into my stuff.

Are you looking for the ADAM WEST [TV’S BATMAN] story I promised to share? Well, on the next tour date… it will be there, promise.

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It's a four book series 40 pages each and it is the art/design from things I had designed over the years. It's a mish-mash of things that I had seen in my head... and some are future designs that will become shirts. Places I wanted to go artistically as you travel from where I was to where I am now. Is it great journey!  Titles came from the idea of time "12:34, 35, 36 and 37” seems that is when my best ideas came to me... day or night. It's funny I never considered myself a "writer" just a man who likes to paint a canvas if it be words or my art/design.

Giveaways: Some great prizes being given away please stop over at my main page “BEING RETRO” and look just below the header for the “It’s Time” Tour Giveaway link and enter today.

Thank You, for letting me play host and to all who took the “time” to read this… you are all the best.

Jeremy Hawkins

Being Retro

beingretro.com

Available on Amazon

THE COVERS:

So, what do you think? Dig his artwork?

May you find your Muse.

13th Floor Blog Tour - Wicked Neighbors

I'd like to welcome Christine Rains for the final day of her 13th Floor Blog Tour! Today, she's going to discuss 13 neighbors worse than those on the 13th floor. After you read her post and check out The Marquis, be sure to enter the big Final Day Giveaway at the end of this post!  The giveaway is open internationally, and you can win some great prizes.  It closes on the 27th.

Christine is a fellow mom and blogger, and someone I find to be inspiring to those of us in the writing world.  The fantasies she creates suck you in, seamlessly blending with the "real world" you and I know.  I can't wait to meet the characters of the 13th floor!

And now, without further ado, Christine Rains:

13 NEIGHBORS WORSE THAN THOSE ON THE 13th FLOOR

In my world, the neighbors are a little unusual. A retired demon will come fix your toilet if it breaks. A werewolf paces her apartment, howling with want to run free. A vampire stalks the halls waiting to find the young woman who haunts his every waking thought. And a banshee screams with the visions of death that plague her.

A little noisy. A bit frightening. But all in all, nowhere near as bad as some neighbors. Here are 13 neighbors worse than those on the 13th floor.

10    The nosy neighbor. She's always peering out the window and knows everything that's happening on the block. You open your mailbox and she's suddenly there, peering over your shoulder to see what's in your hand. You've caught her going through someone else's garbage and catch the glint of binoculars from her bedroom. This is a neighbor that takes away your privacy and you never know exactly how many of your secrets she knows.

20    The lazy slobs. These neighbors never clean their yard. It's overgrown and there's an old tire left baking in the sun. Maybe even a dented car with one wheel becomes a lawn ornament. Then there's the smell. Garbage? Dog droppings? More than that. You're never sure exactly what that stench is.

30    The zookeeper. A dozen dogs barking at all hours of the night and getting loose in the neighborhood. A houseful of cats and a chicken coop with a rooster that crows at dawn for every single time zone.

40    The negligent parents. Their children run wild and undisciplined. The brats are outside at all hours, stealing stuff from your yard, and tormenting the neighborhood pets.

50    The partying frat boys. Arrogant jerks playing loud music all night and pulling pranks. Call the cops on them once and they'll toilet paper your house.

60    The creepy quiet guy. Seemingly the perfect neighbor. He's clean, quiet, and polite, but there's just something about him that isn't right. No friends, but too much garbage for one man.

70    The nudists. Again, quiet and clean, but they walk around in broad daylight without a stitch of clothing. You want to look away, but it's like a train wreck. You can't help but stare.

80    The gaudy over-decorators. At Christmas, their house and yard looks like a reindeer threw up every Christmas past. Every holiday, they have inflatable giants and more lights than the Eiffel Tower.

90    The neighborhood association self-appointed representative. The one out there measuring the length of your grass to make sure it's regulation or following you around as you walk your dog to make sure you pick up any leavings.

100 The mad scientist. Strange explosions in the middle of the night and a rabid robot dog. It might seem like he'd be a cool neighbor, but unless you're Marty McFly, you're not getting a time machine.

110 The old lady the kids in the neighborhood call a witch that turns out to really be a witch. Not all witches are good. She isn't going to take kindly to all those brats tormenting her.

120 The hillbilly feuders. Somehow you're always caught in the middle as they take each other on, spray painting property, video taping each other, stealing each other's goats, screaming, fighting, and putting up nasty signs.  And those dueling banjos!  

130 The Homer Simpson. We'd all be Ned Flanderses in that situation.

Title: 1301 – The Marquis

Author: Christine Rains

Genre: paranormal romance

Release Date: December 13th, 2012

Blurb:

Life after Hell isn't more exciting than watching football and fixing a busted pipe. Once a powerful demon, Marc enjoys his quiet existence and a good cup of coffee. With big ambitions to gain his master's favor, a trickster demon named Vetis shatters Marc's peace and vows to deliver Marc's head to the fires of Hell. Not before he destroys everything Marc cares about, of course.

Marc's power has diminished over the years. Heaven will never grant him absolution, and he refuses to return to Hell. Running isn't an option. The city of Carmine is his territory. It's also home to his favorite cafe owner, Mae Hopkins. The dame has a lovely smile, but it's her heart and soul that shine bright.

While his city burns and his love is captured, Marc must decide to surrender or let hate and anger fuel him to become the fearsome beast he so loathes: The Marquis. If the Marquis rises, Vetis can be defeated and Mae saved, but Marc would be lost to his demon forever.

1301 – The Marquis on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16148143-1301---the-marquis

You can get your copies of The Marquis at the following places (click on the store names and the link will open in a new window):

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords

Author Bio:

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she's having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She also has two novellas and sixteen short stories published.

Website: http://christinerains.net/

Blog: http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristinerains

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@CRainsWriter

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4017568.Christine_Rains

Thank you for stopping by on your tour, Christine!  Sorry about all the giant candy canes and lights.  I should have warned you that we're the over-decorators.  Whoops!

Giveaway Prizes:
1st Prize - Digital copy of The Marquis, ARC of The Alpha, signed copy of Fearless
2nd Prize - Digital copy of The Marquis, ARC of The Alpha
3rd Prize - Digital copy of The Marquis

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday-Zzzzebra & Helpful Links

So many people posted about zebras as their "Z" post that I felt compelled to share Zeke here. This photo was taken at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:

And now for some helpful links:

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers is having their annual Colorado Gold Writing Contest, which is for unpublished novel-length works. Deadline is June 1. I entered this last year and got some fantastic feedback, so I recommend it.

Windmill Networking is offering a free e-book about using LinkedIn in networking, entitled 30 Minutes to Maximizing LinkedIn. I have not gotten a copy, so can't tell you if it's any good.

Screenwriters, Amazon is having a screenwriting contest.

This sounds like fun: Wordle.net creates a word cloud from your text. Use it for fun or as a tool to see what words you may be overusing.

The Writing Network supports and encourages self-published authors.

Fiction 500 is running a short fiction contest with cash prizes.

Anyone else having trouble getting back into the swing of things? Any links to share?
 
May you find your Muse.

The Best of Both Worlds: A Guest Post by Author Ian T. Healy

I met Ian at last year's Pikes Peak Writer's Conference. He was friendly, calm and seemed confident in a setting that I found mildly overwhelming. That was the first thing I noticed, other than his hair (obviously). Most people I saw at the conference looked about as frazzled as I felt, but he seemed to be having a great time.

Since then, he has become the word-wielding slave master that makes me feel bad if I'm screwing around on Facebook without having written or edited anything that day. Not because he is actually telling me I should be writing, or in any way trying to make me feel ashamed, but because he is always working on something, despite being a dad and having a full-time job. He cheerfully posts snippets of his current works in progress and updates what he's working on. If you want real, positive encouragement, I recommend you add him on Facebook. Everyone needs someone to kick them into gear in some way or another, right?

Since that meeting, Ian has self-published several novels and short stories in e-book format, which you can find on Amazon and Smashwords. He has also traditionally published a book through New Babel Books, entitled Just Cause:

Some superheroes can fly, or lift great weights, or shoot lightning bolts. Mustang Sally runs. A third-generation superhero, Sally's life changes forever when she fights and loses to the notorious villain Destroyer, who killed her father just before she was born. She dedicates herself to tracking him down so she can even the score. When all you can do is run, you'd better be fast, but can even the fastest girl in the world run quick enough to save her teammates' lives from Destroyer and his growing parahuman army?

Ian is one of the few authors who has experience in both self-publishing and traditional publishing, and one who hasn't chosen sides in the war that rages on the battlefield of publication preference. He agreed to write about the best of both worlds on his Just Cause Live Blog Tour (for other stops, including interviews and guest posts, go to his blog and look in the top left corner).

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The Best of Both Worlds:
Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Dual Publication


I've been rejected more than anybody I know.

That's not to say I'm any kind of record-holder. I'm sure there are writers out there whose Rejection Collection is more than a thousand strong, but let's face it—if you've earned that many rejections, maybe writing just isn't your strong suit.

That being said, the story of how Just Cause found its way to publication involves well over 140 rejections (that was the number where I stopped counting). I've recounted how the initial story came about in other posts of this tour, but to recap, I wrote it as a way to get my foot in the door with Del Rey so I would be asked to write Star Wars novels. I realize that's an odd reason to write a novel, but like so many other great discoveries throughout history, it seemed like a good idea at the time. This was 2004, when I was barely scratching the surface of what it meant to be a modern writer, and the truth is that I knew next to nothing about revising, editing, querying, etc.

Is it any wonder I earned all those rejections?

Unlike many other writers, I didn't keep trying to massage Just Cause. I kept writing other books, like sequels (which I know you're Not Supposed To Do if the first book hasn't been published). I discovered NaNoWriMo and over the years have added eight more novels to my catalog than I might have otherwise. I experimented with "self-publishing" in 2005 with my NaNo book The Milkman. iUniverse took money from me and that was the first time I really learned the lesson that money should flow to the author, not the other way around.

I finally landed an agent, who couldn't sell any of my work, and eventually her failing health drove her to retirement. Her replacement likewise couldn't sell any of my work, and eventually her health issues drove her to retirement as well (Note: along with my next agency contract, I'll require a note from the agent's doctor). At the beginning of 2011, I found myself without an agent and something like two dozen completed works gathering dust on my hard drive.

I decided to publish them as ebooks. Just Cause, renamed Mustang Sally by then, was one of the first ebooks I released. It, along with a few superhero short stories, formed the backbone of my early library. And by then, those works had been revised and edited, because I learned a lot in eight years of beta reading, conferences, and paying attention to the Right Sort of People (those who have been published).

What I did worked, because I attracted the attention of a small publisher specializing in superhero fiction, named New Babel Books. The Editor in Chief wanted to acquire the entire Just Cause universe. I was pleased to accept the offer. Right now I have three more books under contract with them and one more under consideration. I have plans to write at least fifteen more novels set in the JCU, and as long as New Babel is happy with them and I'm happy with New Babel, we'll keep working together.

At the beginning of 2011, I was hiding my ebook library from potential agents. Now I'm flaunting it. I know what I'm doing now, and it's important that they see that if they can't (or won't) sell my work, I am perfectly capable of doing it myself. Publishing doesn't have to be an either-or proposition. You can be successful working both sides of the fence.

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Ian Thomas Healy is a prolific writer who dabbles in many different speculative genres. His superhero novel Deep Six: A Just Cause Novel was a Top 100 Semi-finalist in the 2008 Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award. He’s an eight-time participant and winner of National Novel Writing Month where he’s tackled such diverse subjects as sentient alien farts, competitive forklift racing, a religion-powered rabbit-themed superhero, cyberpunk mercenaries, cowboy elves, and an unlikely combination of vampires with minor league hockey. He is also the creator of the Writing Better Action Through Cinematic Techniques workshop, which helps writers to improve their action scenes.

His goal is to become as integral to the genre of superhero fiction as William Gibson was to cyberpunk and Anne Rice was to urban fantasy. The first book in his Just Cause Universe series, JUST CAUSE, is available now from New Babel Books.

When not writing, which is rare, he enjoys watching hockey, reading comic books (and serious books, too), and living in the great state of Colorado, which he shares with his wife, children, house-pets, and approximately five million other people. His ebooks can be found on Smashwords, Kindle, Nook, iBook Store, and other online retailers.,

www.ianthealy.com
www.facebook.com/authorianthomashealy
www.twitter.com/ianthealy

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Thank you for coming by, Ian, and for your informative guest post! Good luck on the rest of your tour.

Any questions for Ian?

Helpful Link: Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest Worth It?

I had planned to take today off, but since I passed along the link to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest last Thursday, I felt I should also pass along this additional information posted by The Passive Voice. (Thanks out to Ian Healy for passing this along).

It seems there is some fine print for this contest that you might want to review before deciding whether or not to enter (entries begin January 23). There are some restrictions that may be of concern, including giving Penguin first and last option to publish, whether you're a winner or not; not being allowed to have an agent shop your manuscript until the contest is finished, whether you're a finalist or not; and, the big one, any contract for the winner is non-negotiable, and you will not get to know the terms until you've won. There are other concerns, as well. Check them out on The Passive Voice.

This is a great reminder that one should always read the fine print before entering anything. This includes any time you hand over your manuscript to someone, which is also why you should research agents and publishers. A highly recommended place to do this is Preditors and Editors. For those who aren't writers, this site is also for artists and composers, and is a truly fabulous resource to have.

Those are your helpful links for Thursday! Anything to share or other recommendations on researching agents, editors, publishing houses, etc.?

May you find your Muse.

Helpful Links: Big Contests (Amazon & Writer's Digest) & More!

I don't typically blog on Thursdays, but I figured I could pass along a few interesting/helpful links from now on (when I have them).

Did you know Amazon has a Breakthrough Novel Award? I didn't until this week, so I definitely wanted to spread the word for those interested. You can enter if you are an author with an unpublished OR previously self-published novel. They start accepting entries on January 23, 2012. Will you be entering? Has anyone entered this contest before?

Before we get to the next contest, which Indie writers may be particularly interested in, did you know the Blogging From A To Z April Challenge Blog was the Blog of Note this past week on the 12th? If you hop by the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge Blog, you can catch a series of reflections posts about the 2011 A-to-Z, as well as some new posts about it. Mine's coming at the end of the month, so stay tuned! Are you getting geared up for the A-To-Z? Participating this year?

Okay, for the second contest, Writer's Digest has an annual Self-Published Book Awards Competition. I was shocked to see this is their 20th year of honoring self-published authors. It's a great reminder that self-publishing is by no means a new thing. Deadline is April 20, 2012, to submit your self-published work. I'd love to see one of our Indie bloggers win this thing! Anyone considering entering this? Entered it before?

Those are the links for today! Come back tomorrow for an interview with James Hutchings.

Any interesting links you'd like to share?

May you find your Muse.

Do Writers a Favor--Review!

I don't do reviews on the blog, but I've repeatedly seen pleas by authors to review their books. Though I still have no intention to do reviews on here (the closest I'll get is Teaser Tuesdays), I did break out of my comfort zone to do a couple reviews on Amazon the other day. I have yet to do them on Goodreads, as I don't really go on there ever, but I will try to do so in the near future.

Indie and new authors need these reviews the most, in my opinion. Go to the page of an established author's book and you will find many reviews. Go to a new author's page and you may find zero reviews. Which one are you more likely to purchase?

In an age where more purchases are being made online, hearing what other people thought about the book is getting more important. If I can't skim through the book, having an array of reviews is incredibly helpful. Yes, Amazon offers the ability to look at random pages, and that's great, but it's not the same as being able to flip wherever you please (and I understand why they can't offer that ability, of course).

Blurbs on the back of a book can only give you so much of an idea about its contents. Reviews can offer a little more insight. Even before the digital age, word of mouth was an important selling point. Help a writer out and review their book, whether on your blog, Goodreads, Amazon or some other forum. They'll appreciate it!

Now for a quick Project 52 update!

My internet was down for hours the other day. Hours! Gasp! Had I not been in the midst of dying from some virus, I could have gotten far more done. However, I did take advantage of my social black hole to finally, FINALLY, transfer some short stories onto the computer. I learned that I need to take care to write legibly, as there were some parts it was a struggle to read. Whoops! That's alright, my handwriting is why everyone thought I'd be a doctor when I grew up. Showed them!

I've also done a considerable amount of research for the flash fiction contest I'm chairing, so I'm crossing that out to keep myself moving forward. I just need to compile some of the information to present to my Pen Women group in October and hash out the final rules. Then I can get it out there, and I really hope to see a bunch of entries from my fellow bloggers!

Lastly, I got a bunch of old photos scanned to disk. Now that I've started, it should be easier to continue. Crossing that one off my list, too! Woo-hoo!

What do you think about book reviews? If you're a published author, how do you find them helpful? If you do reviews, where do you do them?

May you find your Muse.