Posts tagged On Fiction
Variations on a theme: Steampunk
May 8th
As everyone in the Jackverse knows, I am about to complete the first book in my Klockwerk Kabaret steampunk series. During the process of penning this tale, I fell in love with the genre. Not only does it offer the joy of creating something wholly unique, it allows the writer to dive into worlds unseen; with a fabric so flexible, the dirigible-filled sky is the limit.
Before this book is released, I wanted to touch on the variations on the steampunk theme — so you can have a full understanding of just what steampunk is before you lay down your iron coins to purchase my book.
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Steampunk: What it is and why you should care
Apr 24th
If you’re not in the loop, the next book to come out of the mind of Jack Wallen (after T-Minus Zero) will be Klockwerk Kabaret. This story is a dark steampunk tale about Nathan Gage and Olivia Nightingale, the proprietors of the Klockwerk Kabaret. As the name implies, the establishment (resting in the heart of Mainspring) is a cabaret that features the song stylings of Olivia as well as the mechanical, sensual wonders — the Klockwerk Dolls. But there’s so much more to the story than that!
Don’t dream it…
Mar 22nd
Last week, a co-worker and I had a conversation that was very disturbing to me. The thread of the conversation went something like this:
- You go to high school understanding you must go to college
- You go to college understanding you must study hard so you can get a good job
- You get a good job so you can have a family and buy a house
- You spend about two to four waking hours in that home you bought a day
- You spend the majority of your adult life hating your job and wishing you would have followed your dream
- You die
Sigh. It’s an ugly reality, but that’s our society.
The television show called “life”
Nov 7th
When I was in high school I had this little “thing” that got me through troubling times. I would imagine that everything around me was nothing more than a television show and all I had to do to rid myself of whatever was going on was flip a switch. It’s no secret that we artistic types are an odd bunch; so it should be no surprise that that strange delusion followed me into adulthood — only it evolved… and became snarky.
Nina D’Arcangelia Gets Jack’d
Oct 15th
Known in some circles as the Dark Chipmunk, Nina has her evil paws in a lot of wicked pies. She’s the administrative and social coordinator of Sirens Call Publications and loves her some deep, dark, chunky fear. So let’s all break out the whips, chain saws, and gas masks for Nina!
Make the most out of your convention
Oct 3rd
During the last week of Septemter 2012, I had the pleasure of attending Scarefest as a dealer. My booth was proudly displayed on Celebrity Row and I got to spend the entire weekend staring and chatting with the likes of Nicholas Vince, Doug Bradly, Tony Todd, Denise Crosby, and much more. It was a fanboy’s dream come true — with benefits! The benefits being that I was there to sell my books.
Out of this experience I learned a great deal, and I have decided to share what I have drawn from Scarefest, so you too can make the most out your convention. So, if you think you might be attending some sort of convention to ply and plug your wares — read on. I believe what I have to say will help you out a great deal.
The Next Big Thing
Sep 21st
I have been tagged in The Next Big Thing by Red Tash. Who WOULDN’T want to be tagged by Red? So in this game of “Tag, You’re it” my current Work in Progress gets to be tagged and then I have to tag 5 other writers’ WIPs. Look for the five writers I have tagged at the bottom of this post – their “Next Big Thing” posts will be posted between the 18th and the 24th of September.
Work In Progress: Hell’s Muse
Sep 21st
Well hello beautiful cats and kittens of the Jackverse! How have you been? It’s been a while since I’ve posted information on a work in progress, so I thought it time I shake the lazy out of my be-boned fingers and give you some tasty bits about the up comping release… Hell’s Muse.
Scarefest is drawing near
Sep 12th
Can you believe it’s almost the middle of September? And can you believe I am less than two weeks from participating in my first-ever Scarefest! I’ll be right alongside the likes of Malcolm McDowell, Doug Bradly, and (shudder) Clive Barker! My participation in Scarefest will be as a vendor to sell my wares.
Won’t you come buy?
From The Zombie King you have the opportunity to purchase paperback copies of the I Zombie series as well as my new book Screampark. Also present will be my very own booth babe pinup zombie! How could you resist? I mean seriously? AND you can meet some of the cast and company behind Screampark — the haunted attraction that inspired the novel.
The homogenization correlation
Sep 5th
I was riding my bike the other day (as I am wont to do) and noticed a number of new eateries popping up around my stomping grounds. Now, I should mention that Louisville, Kentucky has a LOT of really cool, unique places to break bread that are menu, style, and user-base specific. It’s actually suprising how many great places to eat we have.
I have a point that is universally awesome — stick with me.
Talkin’ ’bout Meme Generation
Aug 15th
I’ll confess, I’m not a Who fan, but the title was a perfect fit to something I want to address. What’s that, the Jackverse cries out?
MEMES.
Say what? You mean those guys in the black and white that clowns hate? No my dears, not MIMES…MEMES. And why are MEMES something to be addressed? Because we’re facing what I’m calling The MEME Generation.
Claudia Lefeve gets Jack’d
Jul 16th
Ladies and gentlechums, the getting of jack’d has been on one Hell of a serious ride lately. Continuing on with the trend, I have another major player in the game of awesome. This time around it’s Claudia Lefeve. A lover of skulls, pugs, and one of my favorite television shows. Are you ready for this? Let’s Get Jack’d!
The lemming effect
May 22nd
Another working day has ended
Only the rush hour hell to face
Packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes
Contestants in a suicidal race
Lyrics from Synchronicity, by the Police. We all know exactly what they are referring to. Lemmings have been been ill-perceived as a rodent that does little more than follow its fellow rodentia — even to their death. There is no truth to that myth, but the image holds strong. When you see one person doing nothing more than what the person in front them is doing, you think Lemming.
Writely Advice: The Writer Brand
Jan 23rd
When you think of brand, what comes to mind? Any number of images, sound bites, catch phrases, etc pop up to smack you upside the mind’s eye. Why does that happen? Because marketing execs are paid large sums of money to ensure that those brand names are burned into your psyche. And it pays off. Had it not been for brand, Apple wouldn’t be where it is today. Brand has brought Volkswagon back into relevancy.
There are plenty of books, sites, lectures, and articles centered around you getting your brand out there as soon as possible — in some cases, even before you have that first book published. And they’re all true. It’s hard work that will seem like a constant flow of pimping. In the end, it pays off. But what exactly is it you need to do? Let’s take a look.
Misfit Monday: Heidi Ruby Miller (gets Jack’d)
Dec 26th
Heidi Ruby Miller is a seriously mad woman. Not mad as in, you better watch it or she WILL pee in your Cheerios, but mad as in, There be whales aboard! Kinda mad. Voices in the head kinda mad. Oh, wait… I just described the whole of the writer clan. Actually, Heidi is quite an intriguing woman, with one hell of a resume to back up some seriously mad skills. So, I thought it time the woman got Jack’d.
Speculative Fiction Playdates
Dec 10th
I want to first of all thank Jack for inviting us onto his blog, this week. It’s easy as authors to get comfortable in our own playgrounds, er, blogs. Writing a guest post is like visiting your cousins – in this case, the ones dressed all in black and living in a house that looks like something from a real estate listing geared toward the Addams Family. You know. The kind of house that eats good little boys and girls like you. Those were my favorite cousins. I was always begging Mom and Dad to let me visit them.
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Creating Killers
Oct 6th
It wasn’t until I was doing a touring a show along the east coast and Canada that I had that magical moment of falling under the spell of a villain. That villain was Shakespeare’s Richard III as portrayed by the brilliant Colm Feore. When Mr. Feore limped onto the stage and recited “Now is the winter of our discontent…” he had the audience eating out of the palm of his twisted hand. We laughed, we ooh’d, and we ahh’d at his incredible acrobatic use of the language and his voice. But more importantly, we fell in love with a character so utterly evil that when he walked on stage carrying a severed head we thought it just…for a moment.
Melissa Smith Gets Jack’d
Sep 12th
This time around, Get Jack’d features paranormal romance writer Melissa Smith! Let’s all give a ghostly, angelic welcome!
Sexy sells
Aug 15th
Sex sells. Let’s face it … it’s a universal truth (on some levels) that even writers must indulge now and then. Sex and sexy will sell books. Why do you think book covers are so filled with sexy, beautiful, glittery cover models? How else would the Twilight Saga ever have made any popularity with middle-aged women? Do you think True Blood would be the phenomenon it is had Sookie been a dumpy little thing and Erik Northman not have a case full of abs on his torso?
Heather Marie Adkins Gets Jack’d
Aug 6th
This week I have the honor and privilege of having fellow Louisvillian, Heather Marie Adkins primed and ready to Get Jack’d. Let’s see what this fantastic writer has to say.
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