Coffin Hop 2012

This year there are over 100 authors of the horror genre come together to celebrate our favorite time of the year. Stop in to check out these amazing authors blog's and take a peek at mine too if you fancy. 

Tired Tentacles

I've spent the day working on the business end of writing and creating. Looking through distributors and finishing up some more promotional swag for Cutter. Tentacled T shirts will be available SOON.

My artist partner Christopher Gibbs is at the Fan Boy Convention in Tennessee this weekend. This will be the first introduction of our Cutter marketing swag to the public and I can't wait to get feedback. The Cutter Fan Page is up and running strong. Please visit us at www.facebook.com/Cutter2013. You could win free stuff! Please leave your contact information as a message and we will be glad to place you on the list to receive Cutter #0 - FREE! Upon publication the end of November.

My next book, Gods & Monsters, is coming together nicely. We are still in the editing stage AND developing a cover. I've backed myself in a corner.....I started another piece  and I REALLY want this story included.....may be a slight delay but if I believe IT CAN BE DONE!!!

Soon Christopher and I will put our heads together and set up a list of upcoming conventions.

Eyes Wide Open...

Tasting Green and Feeling Orange

The impact of mentors on baby creators.

 Over the past several days I had the extraordinary opportunity to get advice, information and suggestions from someone I’ve admired (as a writer and artist) for years.

Just a few words and a little time have re fueled my creative fire.  I don’t think enough emphasis is put on the importance of mentors.

I know that those who’ve achieved success and have spent some of their time gifting ME with that hard earned knowledge have helped me avoid the pitfalls and failures that are almost required.  

Another kind writer has offered extensive advice and encouragement.  I credit him for teaching me the importance of making things happen on the merits of your own power.

Instead of being selfish and attempting to keep others from creating great things, a few have stepped up and quietly extended their hands.

They may even face the ridicule of their peers.  I watched an acutely cute version of this. The comments were meant in jest BUT it showed a clear divide between the person that respected me as a growing fellow creator and an individual smug and comfortable in their success.

If YOU are a mentor, THANK YOU….. If YOU have a mentor - you are a lucky bastard and must treat them kindly and realize how important they will be to your future.

Monsters Marching Forward...

The promo poster and stickers for Cutter are in the HOUSE! Outstanding art from Christopher Gibbs and Dennis Willman......The Legion moves forward. We have also launched our fan page an invite you to take a look and  sign up for art and promo giveaways. Get on the list for Cutter # 0. We have a shite ton of surprises in store!!! www.facebook.com/Cutter1013

Illusion and Reality

 I explained in earlier posts some of my time this week, time I most often set aside for writing, has been given to study of the craft. As a neurotic spider monkey with an OCD problem I believe I can always improve.

Write better, create better characters…improve in all aspects of the craft and just BE better. On this note I was reading some excellent material on inspiration and themes. That age old question “Where do you get those ideas?”

Although I write about monsters and terror my inspiration comes from “THINGS” that happen around me, from the smallest detail of life to the most significant worldwide incident. I pull snippets and bits from everything, Overheard conversations, interactions between strangers, trash, stray animals, frozen squid…everything.

One theme I return to again and again is the aspect of illusion and reality. What is real and what is not. What appears to be REAL but may not be.

It is my firm belief that each person’s reality is as different and individual as they are. How you view the world is as unique as your fingerprint. Outside influences may bend and shape your perception BUT the view from your castle is your very own.

My own perception of how human’s view reality shapes my outlook and worms its way into a vast amount of my fiction, to lose your grasp on reality and not be able to verify what is there and what isn’t ….that’s a terrifying thought.

To realize your grasp is slipping, to know that what you are seeing and hearing may not be there….BUT HOW CAN YOU NOT TRUST YOU OWN EYES AND EARS? To fully understand that your grasp on sanity is slipping and not have a way to tighten your grip….well that’s where horror comes from.

I enjoy slipping back and forth during my writing, keeping the reader from fully understanding if what is happening to the characters is really happening or is this just the final break down.

I believe this creeps into my writing due to the fact I’ve had numerous experiences in my life with mental illness and it’s after effects. This influence is drawn from my job in law enforcement or through members of my own family. Perhaps this is my way of dancing around my own darkest fear. The fear that I may lose my grasp on what is real and what isn’t.  hmmmmm …. I believe this tuning up thing is working.

Christopher Gibbs and I have gotten started on some promotional gear for the launch of our horror comic series Cutter.

First off we will be publishing a teaser issue (Cutter # 0) during November.

Posters, T shirts and stickers will start finding there was around your local Cons AND we hope these wonderful goodies will prime you for the debut of Cutter #1. (Early 2013)

 Promotional stickers….Come see us at our next Con and pick one up.

Passion, October and a Comic Convention

October for me is filled with all things good. This is the time of year when horror steps to the front of the line and strangles all aspects of normal.

For a monster lover like myself there is really nothing so wonderful.

I’ve been brushing up on the craft. Giving myself a tune up and learning a few new skills. In the world of comics & graphic novels writing and creating has its own language. My background is based firmly in short stories and novels.  Learning how to say the equivalent of three pages of dialogue and description in little under ten words has been a bit like learning to speak Mandarin.

Ideas have been coming fast and hard these last few weeks. I have filled notebooks with outlines and snippets for use in the future.  All my focus for the duration needs to be on Cutter #0 and my upcoming anthology Gods & Monsters. Once these are finished it’s straight to work on Cutter #1 and putting the finishing touches on the novel Keepers. Those lovely beauties are going to have to sit for a while before I can do them any justice.

I’ve also learned recently the extreme importance of having your creative team mesh well. Just one person that doesn’t have the same passion and love for project you’re working on can send out little ripples of negativity and frustration. I’m lucky in the fact that my creative partner and I both have the same amount of intensity and love for our joint work. Perhaps it’s our own fault for expecting others to fit well and be comfortable in this environment. More often than not Christopher Gibbs and I can finish each others thoughts when it comes to Cutter and our vision for the work.

If you’re down in Tampa this weekend come say hello at the Tampa Bay Comic Convention. Drop in and support some wonderfully talented folks!