If you couldn’t tell from the title, this is an update. A bunch of cool writing stuff happened in the past few days.
My short story “Skully” is now in the anthology Twisted Tales: 15 Literary Lies and Epic Yarns, published by Readers Circle of Avenue Park I’m in very talented and established company here, and I’m tickled magenta…which is even more tickled than pink.
You can buy it on Amazon for $2.99, or you can get it for FREE by joining their mailing list here
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Hey everyone. I decided to have a sale on The Watchmage of Old New York for this week only. Why? Because I CAN!!!! Also because sales and reviews are falling off.
Sooo, the sale is on Amazon only, and only for the ebook. If you like my blog, you’ll probably like Watchmage. It’s the same writer, you know 😉 You’ll also be helping a neat-o dude like me. I consider every purchase a hug (and each review is a belly rub…I love belly rubs)
Yes, I know it’s shameless pandering…But I gotta eat.
In case you haven’t heard of The Watchmage of Old New York yet, let me hit you with the book blurb:
It’s the holidays and I’m a giving kinda guy, so I put The Watchmage of Old New York up for only 99 cents on Amazon (on other sites it’s still $2.99). This’ll only be until New Years, so pick your copy up today.
Obviously this is only for the e-book. Amazon won’t let you sell the paper version for that cheap. If you want a signed paperback, with your own special dedication, contact me and I’ll make it happen.
Seriously, buy my book…do I have to bust out Jon Lovitz again?
Ok, so you don’t ACTUALLY have to buy my book. Honestly, I hate shilling like this. But if you like this blog, you’ll probably like my novels too.
The Watchmage of Old New York is now live!!! It will remain 99 cents until tomorrow morning, so now’s the perfect time to buy it.
I’m super excited
Below are the buy links. Make it happen, people.
Click the link above for The Watchmage of Old New York. Just 99 cents until October 27th, and then rising to $2.99.
My brilliant friend Michael wrote something on Facebook this morning. It was so insightful that I asked if I could share it here. This is not mine, but I wish that I said it. Here you go:
I will never understand how bigots of… well, any kind really, can be sci-fi-/fantasy fans.
Of course, we’ve got out Orson Scott Cards and Ayn Rands and all that, and of course their messages and styles will appeal to certain people, but I’m talking about people who glut on multiple major entries in the sci-fi/fantasy canon.
I mean, seriously. Practically every genre work of note is about liberating the oppressed. Lord of the Rings (for all its unfortunate Eurocentric implications) actually pushes for intercultural tolerance and cooperation, and the right of peoples to live freely as they will. Star Wars is all about taking down a greedy, oppressive regime that exploits its people. Harry Potter is all about respecting the dignity and sovereignty of all walks of life, regardless of how your values may clash or how weird they may seem to you. Star Trek has always (and, at points, problematically) prioritized humanity’s evolution beyond bigotry and warmongering over dramatic necessity. X-Men, even when everything else about it is stripped away, is about Civil Rights and the evils of bigotry.
And all of these stories are chock full of women who are strong either in body, mind, heart, or any combination thereof. Well, Lord of the Rings is pretty much a sausage fest, but the appendices help with that. A little.
So, how we manage get fanboys who are sexist, racist, homophobic, or whatever is just frankly COMPLETELY BEYOND ME. How does this happen? How can someone be drawn to works that are all about freedom, tolerance, and respect, and then turn around and be bigots? Like, what do they even get out of these stories then? Honestly?
Is it just that light sabers are cool? Is that really all?
He makes such a great point. Sci fi and Fantasy stories are usually progressive in theme. Unity, Peace, The power of the common person. These are not the thoughts of the bigot. Of course there are exceptions, but you are what you read. Even Orson Scott Card wrote Ender’s Game, and if that’s not a powerful progressive statement, I don’t know what is.
Click the meme above to join my mailing list. The current FREE gift is a PDF of short stories. I also share book deals and contests from other writers. It’s a great way to snag free stuff, and everyone loves FREE.
Author: Jason Greensides
Book Title: The Distant Sound of Violence
Genre and Sub-Genre: Literary/Contemporary/Coming-of-age/Mystery
Book Content Rating: Adult (18+) Based on language, violence, sexual content.
Special Book Promotion:
Author Bio
Jason Greensides has a degree in Video Production and Film Studies and has made several short films, two of which have been broadcast on television – but writing fiction is his real passion.
He’s interested in ‘outsider’ types, people operating on the edge of society. This inspired him to write his first novel, The Distant Sound of Violence. It’s about a group of kids, one in particular, Nathan Dawes, whose philosophical obsessions and criminal connections have made him an outcast at school.
Jason is now working on his second novel, another coming-of-age mystery, but on coffee breaks he blogs and tweets about writing, and throws in the occasional book review.
Book Blurb:
Do we ever escape the decisions we make when we’re fifteen?
Nathan Dawes, the loser from school, an outsider, street philosopher and member of The Grove Runners gang, needs Ryan’s help to get Stephanie to fall for him. When Ryan’s lawnmower is stolen, Nathan sees this as his chance to enlist Ryan in his plan.
Although Ryan knows becoming friends with Nathan could lead to trouble, he reluctantly agrees to help. Stephanie wants nothing to do with either of them. Besides, she’s more interested in the one guy in the world she really shouldn’t be.
As Nathan continues his pursuit of Stephanie, and Ryan gets mixed up with The Grove Runners, soon events overtake them all, haunting their lives for years to come.
This intelligent and compelling debut is a heart-breaking tale of bad decisions and love gone wrong. It’s about choices that lead to violence, loss and tragedy.
Reviews:
“This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It is smart, gripping and even weaves an intriguing mystery into the mix. I cannot praise it highly enough. A masterpiece.” – D.M. Cain, author of The Phoenix Project and A Chronicle of Chaos
“This reviewer seems to recall something that was said of Dostoevsky and how, to be successful, a novel requires an overarching philosophy. It is especially in this respect that Greensides’s work merits ultimate recognition.” – The Literary Reader
“Every once in a while, I finish a book, don’t do anything for a while except sit and think about it. This is one of those… It’s rough and violent, but compassionate towards every character. This is one I’m definitely going to thrust upon my friends and family.” – Sunshine Somerville, author of The Kota series
“A powerful sense of place and a sharp, nostalgic feel pervade the novel, and the supporting characters are richly drawn…an engaging, exciting and thought-provoking read that I’d strongly recommend.” – Nathan Jones
“There are twists and turns, light and shade in every page and in summation the book was a joy to read… It is without doubt a skilled debut from Jason Greensides.” – Boopy
Amazon: The Distant Sound of Violence http://mybook.to/TDSOV
On sale $0.99 Amazon Kindle Countdown Deal, Tuesday 29th September – Sunday 4th October
Author Links
Author Website http://jasongreensides.com/
Facebook http://facebook.com/jasongreensidesauthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/jasongreensides
Google Plus https://plus.google.com/+JasonGreensides/posts
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/jasongreensides
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10222503.Jason_Greensides
Author Name: Suzi Albracht
Book Title: Death Most Wicked
Genre and Sub-Genre: Horror, Thriller
Book Content Rating: Adult (18+) Language and Violence
Author Bio: I love to write horror thrillers with intense personal relationships between characters. I started reading earlier in life than most of my friends and spent many hours hidden in closets and under beds, sneaking in just another ten minutes of whatever book I was reading. As soon as I was old enough, my mother would send me to the library to pick up books for her. This delighted me because it opened up a whole new world of books not available in school. I read everything I could get my hands on but was drawn to sci-fi, horror and thrillers. As I matured, I would say my main influences became Stephen King, Dean Koontz and William Faulkner. My writing definitely reflects those influences. I can honestly say my twitter bio describes me to a T – Write, scare myself, turn all the lights on, write some more. Take a break, play pool, kick butt/get butt kicked, go write more horror, double lock door. To reach me regarding my book (s) or to just say hello (please, no spam), email me at SuziAlbracht@aol.com or tweet me on Twitter: @SuziAlbracht. Send me an email if you want to be alerted of new book releases.
Book Blurb: The thing Evil craves most is innocence. When small children disappear, you can be assured that Evil has crawled out of its dirty corner. And when those children turn up dead, Evil has clawed its mark on humanity.
What if you were a homicide detective and little girls were suddenly being kidnapped and murdered by a devious pedophile? And what if that pedophile left no evidence behind except for the broken bodies? What would you sacrifice to save just one innocent child? Would any sacrifice be too great? What if it cost you someone you loved? What if, by saving that child, you unleash a horrific monster into your own life?
Mikael Ruskoff was living his dream. He was a highly successful, homicide detective working a career he loved. He had a mother who adored him, a son he took skateboarding, and a wife he loved more than words could express. He played a mean drum set every Thursday night with his best friend on guitar. His life was comfortable and pleasurable. Then he caught a case that would change his life forever.
Review(s):
Death Most Wicked
By B. Martin on September 7, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This is one creepy novel. First you have a man who wants a little sister so desperately he’s willing to kidnap children, only to kill them when they refuse to live inside his shed. Then you have this hellish substance that turns victims into puddles of bloody liquid. And in the middle of all this is Mikael Ruskoff, a homicide detective who’s charged with solving a seemingly never ending string of murders. Suzi Albracht has a fantastic imagination, and she does a wonderful job bringing this disturbing tale to life. Twists abound. Characters are connected in ways you least expect. And it’s all presented in a way that will leave you on the edge of your seat. (or in my case, my bed) Definitely a novel horror fans will want to check out.
The Devil’s Lieutenant
By Glen Barrera on March 18, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
After reading and enjoying Albracht’s Scorn Kills, I knew what was in store when I began reading this novel. I wasn’t let down. In fact, after the first few pages I was convinced the author had taken this tale of horror to an even greater level. Like any good novel, horror or not, it’s the well written characters that drive the story. In this department, Albracht didn’t skimp: Jake Holyfield and his pregnant wife, Caroline; his brother Bobby and friend Max – the good guys – pitted against evil in the form of Carl and Dimitry Ivanovich. Quite simply, the bad guys want the good guys on their team, by whatever means. And they do have interesting means. But this story is also about the frailty of the human condition. What moral price would someone pay for unlimited money, youth, or the woman of their dreams? This is a fast paced read, with unexpected twists and turns, leading to a well-done ending. I definitely want to read Albracht’s next book.
Scorn Kills
By Teresa Cikovic on July 1, 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Someone certainly learned the hard way what happens when he scorns the woman he married! I couldn’t put this down and look forward to reading other books by Ms. Albracht.
Book Trailers: The Devil’s Lieutenant – https://youtu.be/IPGepsZrm70
Scorn Kills, Death Most Wicked, and The Devil’s Lieutenant: are all part of The Devil’s Due Collection
Book Links: myBook.to/DeathMostWicked getBook.at/SCORN_KILLS myBook.to/The_Devils_Lieutenant
Author Links: Author.to/SuziAlbracht
With The Watchmage of Old New York (the novel, not the serial) coming out soon, it looks like I have to do another revamp of my webpage. I would like to add additional source material for my novels. The hard part is motivating myself to do it.
Because both novels are fantasy, there’s so much to add. So far I’ve been doing it obliquely with my articles on Music History and NYC History. That’s great, but it’s not enough.
So what would you like to see as far as source history goes? For Watchmage, I can do stuff about the Dweller races and magic in general, but a lot of it also crosses into my NYC History articles. Do I get more specific about some things? I know that my piece on mid-century slang is a must.
For Song of Simon, I should probably do a character appendix. It’s an expansive book, and sometimes it’s hard for the reader to remember all the characters. I can also do stuff about specific regions, the gods, and the elemental races (Grugach, Ghillie Dhu, etc).
But for today, I’ll blog and rearrange some stuff. Maybe I’ll put up a new Music History article…maybe.
Like my posts? Follow my website or “Like” my facebook fan page and/or follow me on Twitter. You can also purchase my debut novel, Song of Simon, at any online bookstore or a real one (they both exist). Song of Simon currently has a 4.7/5.0 rating on Amazon, so it’s pretty damn good. If you’re looking for something FREE, you can read my serial (soon to be an expanded series of novels) The Watchmage of Old New York. Though it ended in February, 2014, it remains one of the most popular serials on JukePop OF ALL TIME!
Watchmage is almost ready. I just sent the final copy off to the proofreader and layout artist. Now the question is: What comes next?
I could do the following:
1) go over the first draft for Watchmage #2: Cold Iron. I think it needs a lot of work (as all first drafts do)
2) Write more short stories. I’d like to do some shorts in the Watchmage world, but not using the main characters, per se. In that case, I should probably do the same for Song of Simon.
3) Start adding more content to this website. I haven’t done much on nyc history yet. I’d also like to add additional content related to Watchmage, like definitions of each Dweller type and how magic works. My editor thinks I should have an appendix for 1855 slang as well.
4) Dick around. No. If i’m not productive, I go a little nuts.
I’m leaning toward 2 or 3, maybe both.
On Saturday I got my edits back for The Watchmage of Old New York. There are cross-outs, critiques, and suggestions all over the place, and I couldn’t be happier.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been sensitive when critiqued. That was knocked out of me by my first writing professor 20 years ago. Since then, I’ve learned to find the most ruthless, nitpicking, evil people to edit my work. I want someone with enough heat in them to burn out all of the impurities. If your editor isn’t ruthless, the product won’t be pure.
So far, Watchmage has been edited as a short story, a serial, and now a novel (each serial story arc gets its own novel. this is the first one). I think these are the last edits…maybe.
I love editing. I love revising. I love looking back at old work and thinking “man, I can do so much better now.” It means that I’ve leveled up, and I have a new xp total to reach.
Never fear your editor. Never get upset or discouraged by the red pen. It doesn’t mean that you’re not good, it means that you have room to get better, and this is how.
Enough with the rah rah philosophy. The update is that Watchmage is coming also smoothly, and I plan to release the first novel, The Watchmage of Old New York, this fall. Oh frabjous day, callooh callay!
Like my posts? Follow my website or “Like” my facebook fan page and/or follow me on Twitter. You can also purchase my debut novel, Song of Simon, at any online bookstore or a real one (they both exist). Song of Simon currently has a 4.7/5.0 rating on Amazon, so it’s pretty damn good. If you’re looking for something FREE, you can read my serial (soon to be an expanded series of novels) The Watchmage of Old New York. Though it ended in February, 2014, it remains one of the most popular serials on JukePop OF ALL TIME!
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