New Years update

I really need to start kicking my own ass and sit down to write a proper blog. Sorry folks!

Ok, updates. Well I am currently waiting to hear back from Damnation books on possibly taking on Mythic Blood. I have been looking over other publishers however they seem to be few and far between. More and more am I getting tempted to turn to the dark side once more…. Aka self-publishing.

I had considered this path before, in fact I had saved up money for it, and yet decided to try and go traditional. But there have been so many problems I had encountered, some I didn’t really expect, and yet it has become my main obstacle. Believe it or not, one of the main factors happens to be Twilight.

I had mentioned this before that I am not a fan of the series and since the book gained in popularity, everyone and the kitchen sink has been cranking out vampire novels like crazy. It has shut out people like me who have been writing them long before they were cool and sparkly.

I had taken the time to go over my novel time and time again. I know it needs one final polish before I could even attempt to publish it myself, which was another reason why I wanted to go traditional. I could have a professional look over my work and point out what may been to be fixed or small flaws that I may have over looked and yet they could correct.

You can tell by my blog alone that I need help with various areas like spelling and grammar, it’s no secret, it’s one of my greatest weaknesses. Sometimes not even spell check can help me!

Anywho moving on.

A new year is about to begin, come hell or high water, I will make it my resolution to publish Mythic Blood. Either I get chosen or asked by a publisher or I do this myself. Either way, I want Mythic Blood in the hands of readers in 2011. I will do this, this is my goal, my dream. As well, my dear friend Alexandre Tuis has stated he would like to do a graphic novel.

I would find some way to pay him, but I would want Mythic Blood be his first graphic novel!

Imagine, the lone image of Dante that has been posted for all to see, imagine a whole graphic novel in that artwork? How beautiful would it be? How awesome the story could unfold before the reader as they see the faces of the immortal that I envision in my mind?

How cool does that sound?

Well I shall leave you with this, a hint to a novel down the line. I feel this could very well be one of the most intense novels I make, so here it is.

How do you ask the severed hand of an immortal a question?

Short and sweet

Wow, sometimes you need to step away from something to see the errors of your ways, the recently posted sampled… for example.

I realized some of the grammar seemed a bit off, so rewriting ensued!

Anywho, how is everyone? For the moment, I haven’t really written anything. Why? Partly lack of inspiration, another fact is that I am waiting to hear from yet another publisher, when? Who knows, but patience is the key. I’ve also been Christmas shopping as well as working quite a bit. I am not complaining since I need to start saving up for Texas. The World Horror Convention is quickly approaching, and I need to be certain I have all the funds I need to go…. Damn, why did I come to this realization BEFORE Christmas?

-.-

it’s going to be a long month.

another sample

I have finally figured out what sample to share with you next of Mythic Blood. It is but a taste, but first to catch you up slightly.

You can tell my the synopsis alone and the prolog the brothers were destined to meet up again. How they do so, I cannot tell until the book is published and you read for yourself. But know this, you follow the brothers as they go from the black death to our present time. But this sample takes place in the 1940's during World War 2

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May 1940

It had become a strange new world to us, where the vampires were not the enemy. Mortals had become the creatures of the night, as they partake in senseless slaughter of their fellow man. Dante grew furious with each passing night, the victims would mound up, all baring a yellow star on their clothing. Perhaps they are marked for death? There had been more questions than answers as I tried to figure out what the world was coming to. Our journey brought us inland, towards the cities and out of the quaint towns that bared tainted innocence.

Yet what worried me the most, was our actions haven’t gone unnoticed by any means, the death of the soldiers made the headline of the paper, and yet the paper claimed to have taken those responsible into custody. It made no sense to me when I read that a rouge group of Jews were responsible, it went into details as to how the soldiers were killed, far beyond the truth of the incident. But in the end, the men who died at their hands were hailed as heroes. Those ‘responsible’ were quickly put to death. Senseless acts had begun to take the better of me. I found myself full of rage much like my brother. Those soldiers died at our hands, no one else! I would lash out in public, unable to find a way of expressing my displeasure or holding myself back. It frightened me. Such anger wasn’t like me, not with my faith in God. But, I found myself anger, all the time. I had nearly exposed myself to the mortals one afternoon, to prove that it was Dante and I behind the deaths of the soldiers. Only then, did I realize I was becoming my brother. It was the last thing I wanted to do.

The nights would pass, as Dante would continue his vigilante work. He grew bolder each night, he slayed soldiers he stalked during the day, ensuring those who witnessed the crime would spread the word that it’s the work of something greater than a single group of mortal men.

Sadly, no matter how many who would see Dante slay, no one announced that it was a ‘demon man’. It was the Jews fault.

But there were those who knew better.

It occurred on an oddly cool night. We were trying to process the day, Dante wanted to do something drastic. I wanted to leave and be away from the slaying of the mortals. My anger issues were not resolved through my prayer to God. I had been conflicted more than anything. I knew it was illogical to fight. But my heart of all things, wanted to spill blood. We couldn’t decide if what was done, was the correct path, maybe Dante and I had made things worst. As we sat in silence, Dante could sense someone approach. He rose from the ground as an elder appeared before us. I was quick to join Dante’s side. Worried a fight would occur.

The strangest thing happened. The elder pulled a blade from his side; he cut his hand and let his blood fall to the ground. “I swear on my blood, no harm is intended for you. We wish to speak a truce”

It was quick to realize that Dante went from attack mode to a more settled state. He approached the elder and gave a sincere nod to him. “Who wishes to speak with us?”

The elder first introduced himself as Angus, and the one who wished to speak to us was one older than even himself. He invoked the blood vow, and stood by it, meaning they are not going to harm us. As Angus turned to leave, I took hold of Dante’s arm. I didn’t trust this immortal the least bit; as well, I wasn’t sure what a blood vow had to do with our safety. He spilt his own blood, how was that to make him trustworthy?

Dante however knew the laws of a blood vow. It was invoked many times when he was under the imprisonment of Caine. He could see through the bars, as the vampires would spill their own blood when it came to a task that could spell death for those who failed. Anyone who goes back on such a promise of blood is considered unworthy of it. Not only is it shameful, it insults the immortal that sired them, and the bloodline they come from. Many have died under Caine’s command after spilling their promise in blood.

I still didn’t believe Angus, but Dante assured me no harm would befall us. We followed Angus off the rooftop and down to the alleyway. He stood at the end of the pathway and removed a sewer drain. Angus went in first. Neither of us understood why we were taking to the underground, but followed either way. Dante went first as he nearly landed in the muck below, he called up to warn me of such a surprise should I leap in without thought. Angus waited as I slowly eased myself into the underground, still uncertain to the elder and his intentions. Angus backtracked as he quickly covered the sewer and moved us along. “We have heard of your kills from the papers, isn’t it shameful that you’re not getting the credit?” Angus asked, nearly joking with the idea at hand.

Neither of us shared the joke and continued to move along the sewer’s ways. He hovered inches above the muck as Dante noticed odd things that lingered in the sewer. Clothing, shoes, as if people had traveled down the underground before. Angus came to a sudden stop. We stood before a wall where the brick was discolored from all the others. “You must turn around” he insisted.

I did as requested, Dante as well. The damned don’t trust us with such a secret. We turned back around the moment the sound of bricks parting. The brothers were surprised to see the wall was the door. Angus welcomed them in. Dante went first as he climbed over the threshold, I went second. The brick door came to a close the moment Angus walked past the threshold, as if on instinct. The smell from the sewer vanished as we found ourselves at the center of attention. The insides appeared like a mortal pub, yet the decoration disturbed me.

The hung on the walls like butchered meat, were the corpses of mortal men. All were dead, yet all suffered in their demise, they shared the same uniform, the same boots and the same wounds. None had a torn neck, but all had a single large hole in their chest. Dante took a closer look, shattered ribs, torn tissue and organs had oozed out. “Don’t mind the décor, it’s all we could do in the mean time. You saw what happens when a soldier is killed.” Angus announced.

I was certain there were other reasons for keeping the corpses. After all, their tablecloths were made from their uniforms, the vampires had used their red bands as napkins and dish cloths. As the belt buckles were hung like ordainments among the candle chandeliers. When my eyes stopped wondering, I noticed the room had divided itself. A clear path was given to us that led to a single table in the middle of the pub. My hearts began to race within my chest as I looked to the patriots. Every creature was an elder, older than Dante and I put together. If it came down to a fight just to escape the elders, I doubt we would make it out alive.

Dante however, didn’t share my fear. Instead, he walked with proud, confident strides. I saw into the eyes of a few elders, I realized then that they were more frightened of him! We sat at the table as two mugs were placed before is. Another was arranged across from them. I saw that the far end of the room contained another entrances into the establishment. Perhaps our guest was to come through the far doors.

We hard them open, at the back of the bar. The vampires once more parted as many began to lower their heads in respect and submission. A young woman walked through the sea of elders until she stood a chair before us. Her long hair came partly over her face, raven black it be precise. I instantly thought of Lylith, yet she proved to be nothing like her.

The elder’s slender hand reached across the table and extended to Dante and I. “My name is Janet” she announced.

I shook her hand respectfully as Dante went as far as offering a tender kiss to the top of her elegant hand. She dressed head to toe in black, like all the other immortals in this country. She rose from her chair suddenly. Her quickness startled myself as she called aloud. “Our guests need drinks!”

I heard yet another hidden door open from the left of me, behind the corpses on the wall. My skin crawled as I heard the scream of mortal men. I could peer from the corner of my eye as Dante gave the situation his full attention. Two immortals dragged a young man out from the walls. The mortal kicked and screamed all the way as those who stood about took hold and stripped any shred of garment they could get their hands on. It was more than that. They stripped him of his pride and dignity.

Sadly, his face was not a stranger to our eyes. Dante had seen him on the streets just a few nights ago. He killed a young girl who walked the gutters. She tried to pass him by as he made sexual advances on her. The girl was only thirteen years of age when she hit him across the face. Dante was about to descend from the sky to kill the mortal. But the man pulled a gun and killed her. Ever since, my brother had hunted for this mortal. He wanted his throat, yet the vampires beat him to it. The mortal realized where he was as he saw the bodies of those before him skewed across the wall and the uniforms of his fallen comrades were the tablecloths. He began to plea for his life. I tried to distract myself as his tears began to flow and what remained of his uniform had been stripped from his body.

Janet rose from the table as she held the mortal in place by a fist full of hair. His last words were. “You wouldn’t kill a family man, would you?”

She forced the mortal’s head back as stared him in the eyes. “It didn’t stop you.” She reached under the table and brought out a rusted pipe. The movement was so fast, Janet plunged the pipe into the man’s chest. She shattered ribs and tore through his lung. His scream was worthy of a demon. Never had I heard such a pitch escape the lips of a mortal man. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to turn away. I wanted to watch him suffer. Janet withdrew the pipe and blew through the clean end of it, forcing out the organ and tissue that was lodged in. She was quick to place it back into the mortal’s chest. The blood began to flow out as Janet led the mortal to her end of the table. Anchored into it’s sides was a hallowed out meat grinder, a forceful shove brought the metal pipe into the grinder’s entrance. I was ill to see blood and chunks of flesh ooze out, until an even flow of blood began. Mugs were placed, under the grinder to catch the drippings. I found my eyes were locked onto the man who struggled under Janet’s grasp.

His hands were the first to lose strength, as they turned pale, his face slowly drained of color as his pleading eyes begged me to help him. I nearly did, until he stopped breathing. His corpse remained on the table as two mugs of blood were placed before us. Janet took hold of hers and drank. “Sorry about the pulp” she announced, Dante took a sip from his glass. I couldn’t bring myself to look at it.

I wanted to be ill from what I witnessed. Janet however finished her drink until she stared into her empty cup. She sat before Dante and I with her feet on the table, without care she nudged the corpse off the table. The body landed with a thud onto the table, before it slowly slipped down onto the oak floor. I wanted to leave, desperately.

Janet turned her attention to the corpse as she savored the last drop. She took her right foot off the table and gave the body a stern kick. “Supreme race my foot!” she announced. She scolded the man as if he were still alive. “If you were superior, you would taste better. You taste like everyone else!” she said as a sneer came over her.

******

Well that is all for now, I hope you enjoy!

Yes, I write again!

Things have started to fall back into place for me. For a while now and I am quite serious about this, I couldn’t make myself sit and write anything for the second vampire novel of Mythic Blood. The second book was living up to it’s name in my eyes. Forever night…. Aka this is taking forever to write!

As of late, I have found some inspiration in writing out what could occur in the series, the ending is done, it was one of the first chapters I finished without hesitations, but starting it and the filler in between is a whole different can of worms. Believe it or not, I have written nearly three other complete books before the second one. Weird huh?

This is what happens when I get a day off for work and there are flash drives on sale at Walmart! (By the way, at mine they had Kingston flash drives 4MB for 8.88! Wicked deal since everywhere else its 20 dollars a pop for the same kind of drive)

Cheep plug over and done with.

To be fair, I haven’t really written anything new, for the most part, I had gone back to a story I just can’t seem to pull myself away from and reworking nearly the same four chapters over and over again. Why? I don’t know, I think I like tormenting this one character I have and making her suffer a little with those she is forced to be around. Let’s just say Karma is a bitch… and you will need to wait at least six novels into the Mythic Blood series to know who I am talking about. But I can just about assure you, when you get to know her, you’ll love what I do to her!

I have promised those who are kind enough to take the time and read my blog another novel sample. I really do need to post something since you have all been kind enough to give me the time of day. I will get something up soon, I just need to pick my parts carefully to be sure I don’t give everything away up at once. (Or else it will seem like a movie trailer where it’s better than the actual movie itself)

Did you know I have a twitter?

Then again, I am on that as often as I blog… well… I try to tweet once a day, and no it’s not about going to the bathroom, where I shop or anything like that. But updates nonetheless on the series.

You are more than welcome to follow me @MythicBlood.

You don’t have to though, but if you want to, feel free.

I need to start doing some research for publishers, just so I know who is accepting right now. There aren’t many out there and I want to avoid self-publishing if possible. I had been tempted in the past, but vanity publishing can’t compare with an actual publisher. It’s an uphill battle for me though, due to Twilight and Tru Blood, vampires are harder to sell.

I already explained this didn’t I?

See, this is why I don’t blog that often, I end up like a broke record!

Until next time everyone. Keep well, stay safe and hopefully I will have some better news and more significant things to write about!

Take care.

Here we go again

As I write this, I am half awake along with my best friend in the world right now… a box of Puffs tissues. Yes, I got the cold that has been spreading around town as of late. Yet for some reason, I got sick right after my younger brother came home from University feeling a under the weather.

The circle of life of a cold germ, it is always started by the youngest in the family who touches everything! So, in order to not get blamed for anyone else getting sick, I’ve made frequent trips to the bathroom… not for the reason you may think. After watching Myth Busters, I learned how much a cold germ could spread when someone doesn’t wash their hands after each time it comes in contact with their face. So lesson of the day everyone, wash your hands after you blow your nose, no matter how annoying it maybe. Just do it!

Alright, now on to the more important stuff.

I have sent Mythic Blood off once more to a different publisher in hopes of getting my novel off the ground, that right I took the plunge again! I have made alteration to the novel and condensed the first chapter and merged it into one with the second chapter. You get to the vampires quicker to put it mildly. As well I got some wonderful advice from the woman who really got me into writing about my immortals.

Anne Rice.

What a wonderful person she has been to me. I have written her about three times now, and she has responded to me three times. Recently, I was feeling rather down due to the rejection letter I got from the last publisher, one of the errors they pointed out with my manuscript was the historical inaccuracies. I asked Mrs. Rice for any suggestions and she came through for me greatly, and allow me to pass that on to anyone else who has encountered the same problems as I have been.

When I asked her how she got information for the time frame she was writing in for her vampires, this is what she suggested.

“Go to Amazon.com and put in suggested titles like "Every Day Life in Medieval Rome." or Every day life in Renaissance Rome." See what turns us.

Keep trying. "Daily Life in Medieval Rome." Medieval Rome.

Rome in the late middle ages

(The 1300's is not ancient times at all, but the late Middle Ages.) Google aspects of life. "Economics in Medieval Rome."

"Working conditions in Medieval Rome."

Amazon will keep searching and dredging up titles for you, throwing up suggested titles. Order the books that look good or to the point. There are many specialized books on Italy and many general books for a popular historian. Keep using combinations of words to snare different titles. note that you can order used books on Amazon for low prices. Keep searching.

That's the easiest way to do research. "Art in Medieval Rome." "Architecture in Medieval Rome." "The Medieval City." "Italy in the late Middle Ages." "Italian architecture in the 1300's." Go on and on like that.

When you get your first batch of books, study the footnotes for other sources. Buy the books cited in the bibliography if they are more focused on what you need to know.

"Economics in Medieval Rome." "Trade in Medieval Rome."

"The Rise of bankers in Medieval Rome." Just keep hitting it.

Amazon is fast, flexible and huge.”

This was fantastic advice, I mean books do have to name their sources for historical facts right?

By the way, I did some research, one of the inaccuracies for my novel was that they didn’t have two level houses in the 1300s in Rome…

UNTRUE!

I got my history books and one especially on Rome, two level houses existed since 300 A.D, it was the Romans who were pioneers in architecture, were they not? If I am still wrong on this topic, please someone point me in the right direction! But so far, I think I got this right.

Anything else to update?

Not at this time, but I will once again, keep you posted on what I have learned, what there is to know and if Mythic Blood will have a home. From there, the world is limitless! The possibilities are going to come.

Come to think of it, this is really starting to sound like J.K Rowlings when she first started writing Harry Potter. Granted, I have been very blessed with the fact that I still live at home, I have a job and no real responsibilities besides pitching in wherever I can in the house and paying part of a bill each month. But only time will tell.

Until next time…

Finally! I have word on my novel!

Well it nearly took a year, and waiting, waiting with more waiting. And finally an answer!

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It just wasn’t the answer I had been hoping for.

Sadly, Mythic Blood has been rejected once again. But this time, I got good feedback on it and will take the suggestions given to me into account and to heart. They were very truthful and made me see I do have some work ahead of me to do. But the main issue was spelling and grammar, I knew the grammar was the biggest of the two since I have always struggled with it.

As much as I wished and hoped for it to be, it wasn’t time for Mythic Blood. Not yet at least.

But I know it will be soon.

A change of seasons

Ah the fall has finally come!

Not the book that Mr. Guillermo Del Toro has written along with Chuck Hogan, but the season of Fall. Autumn! My favorite season, for you see, I LOVE the cold.

Now for some updates.

There is no word on the publishing front, so let’s leave it at that, no need to make an echo blog right?

I have gotten back to writing. I’ve been doing a mix of my own novel and fan fiction for WWE. Two new fan fictions have been created, as for the vampires. I’ve gone back and been rewriting one of my novels for later on in the series. I keep adding details and pushing the word count to well over 100,000. But I need to make sure it’s necessary. Does anyone mind quite a bit of dialogue in a novel? It is relevant to the story to set the character’s mindsets and emotional state. But that’s the purpose to editing too right? Not to mention the rough drafts help iron out details as well as situations.

But mainly, I’ve been working on a rather dastardly immortal. I cannot say too much about them, but the fact that it’s part of the most grotesque coven I have created. In a pervious blog I explained a group of vampires who call themselves Gluttons. Like a walking blob but their goal was to get at large and corpulent as possible. There are a few things I still need to work out with them, but they give me chill just writing about them and their abilities. Let’s say this, an elder could make a modern city disappear in one sitting! Creepy, right? Disgusting, oh yeah. The devoured everyone, cell phones and all. That would be quite uncomfortable and awkward.

I have been trying to broaden one of my other immortals, a main one later on in the series, but there doesn’t seem to be much for him to do. Not to mention I am going to make some new characters, but there is also another difficult task to contend with.

When do I kill off some of the characters?

It’s hard to decide if there are vampires that have warn out their welcome in the series. Yet I have grown attached to many of them. (Sigh) I guess this is one of the many difficulties of being a writer besides trying to get published.

In other news, I have just about finished Christmas shopping for my good friend Alexandre. We have a Christmas tradition of sending each other gifts, for me, I send him the greatest bounty in Canada…. Maple Syrup!

Did you know they have made a whole bunch of stuff out of it? Maple Candies, syrup (duh), fudge, tea, coffee, caramels the works! I just hope they don’t get tired of this stuff. But I ask them every year as to what they would like. Anything Maple wins hands down!

Well, that’s all I have for now. If anyone is interested I do have my WWE fan fiction posted on fanfiction.net, look for Scorpina, and I will admit some of the stories are out there! You have been warned.

For now, I am going to prepare another sample to share with you the reader of Mythic Blood! But let’s wait and see what happens in the next few weeks shall we? I am getting a good feeling about this!

Until next time…

sorry for lack of updates

You know the song ‘it’s been a while’ has started to play a lot in my eyes. But then again, I keep looking back at my blog and realize how silent I have been. That’s for many reasons.

One- Work- insane hours and sometimes even stranger people.

Second- Pet sitting, my second job… kind of. I look after my neighbor’s pets when they go to work or on vacation. Nonetheless, money is money right now.

Third- preparing.

I am getting myself ready for the World Horror Convention in Austin Texas this year. I am determined to go as a published author, even if it’s for a short story. I will go with work behind me. That way I will have something interesting to talk about to say the least. But for the moment, my vampires have been rather silent. I’ve focused on WWE fan fiction and a short story I am tinkering with involving a man who owned a dog fighting ring… yet doesn’t get caught by the police. Something more… supernatural to say the least.

I’ve also been trying to keep up with some other people’s blog. Scott Nicholas who I have had the pleasure of working with as well as a sensei to help me with my vampires, is doing a contest for a Kindle reader! I would really like one of these right now, and if there is anyone else out there interested in his contest, here is his site.

http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/

Best of luck to everyone who enters.

Now, what else to talk about?

Hmmm….

Well, I did do something rather risky recently. And for anyone who is like me, an author waiting to be discovered and published. I wrote the publisher that I had sent Mythic Blood off to. I have read many times over and have been told by professionals this is a big NO NO. Yet an author by the name of Nancy Kilpatrick informed me that if they had given me an date they would contact me, it was ok to ask and inquire. So, I did!

From what is to be known at this time, my story is in limbo. And it sounds like it could be up against stiff competition from others who are just as hungry as I am for a chance to get their work out there. But I am not losing hope! Never lose hope in anything no matter how impossible.

Speaking of Hope, I suppose everyone has seen what has happened in Pakistan right? Well I read up on various websites, what these people need desperately is water purification tablets. Simple little drop to purify the water so it is safe to drink, I don’t know about you, but I would like to do what I can to help them out. World Vision is explaining that they are already over there and know what is needed, perhaps if anyone else is reading this, we can open our hearts and wallets to these people who are left with nothing. Seriously though, Pakistan has water everywhere, but none of it is safe to drink.

Well, this is all I have for today. If any of you are interested in reading my WWE fan fiction, feel free.

www.fanfiction.net/~scorpina

that’s my pen name, and please read the ratings posted, as well, forget spelling and grammar areas. I know some are obvious, please don’t remind me. But there is just about something for everyone, from cross overs to some over the top funny stories about the biggest men in the WWE, and the crazy stories I put them in. (for fans out there, ever wonder what would happen if the Undertaker had a cold and slept walked?) chaos ensues!

I thank you, everyone who has taken the time to read my blog, I am going to post a bit more of my novel up, just to see if it peeks anyone’s interest.

Until next time.

History is history.

I don’t know if there are many others who feel the same way as I do. But I am now kicking myself over and over again that I never took the ancient civilization classes offered to me in high school. But then again, I doubt I knew my life was heading into the direction of writing. That was before I realized I was capable of writing something original!

Anyway, that’s my grip for the moment.

I’ve been trying my hardest to gather accurate information. On a recent twitter I posted that I had been inspired to write. The son of King Leonidas (yes, the one that screamed THIS IS SPARTA! King Leonidas) the history books do not have any information as to what became of his son Pleistarchus. The name is a mouthful that I know. But after looking and researching I have gathered mixed results. There are two explanations at to what became of him. One, he died in a battle in Athens at the age of 22. Or, he was told that he had angered the gods, the elders told him to flee in order to prevent all of Sparta from sharing his faith. But nothing explained how he died, no accurate details or what be did when he did become King of Sparta.

Interesting no? We all know what happened to his father, 300 Spartan men and 7,000 Athenians, but nothing on what became of his son.

I try to be as accurate a possible when I take a historical figure and use them in my series. It’s never easy, which brings be me back to my grip from earlier.

Damn!

I hoped those who read my last blog liked my sample of my novel. It is a little deceiving. I have had people from authonomy post how good the beginning was and how they love Lucas and where he would go in the story.

Confession and Spoiler alert.

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Lucas isn’t the main character.

Deceiving isn’t it?

Well this is all I have to say for now, I hope to have more interesting things to write about later on. August is going to be a very busy month for me. Rock Concert, birthday, comic con (yes, I am a nerd!) But we will have to wait and see what happens.

Until next time…

Well… you know! ;)

update... sort of... kind of

A new day and yet a while since I have written anything useful on this blog. So, what’s new with me?

Nothing much.

Yeah, that would be the shortest blog ever huh?

Ok, well I have been getting back into the writing, as well as set myself up for 2011. I had recently purchased World Horror Convention tickets for my brother and I. We’re going to Texas! The hotel is booked, so all we need to do now is start saving for our plane tickets and get some extra scratch for spending money. But the money will come to us easily and effortless. That I know! (sorry once more I am explaining part of the secret, but every time I say that line, I find money!)

I have also developed a new character for my vampire series. An immortal by the name of Chimera, her name means precisely what it entails to. But details of that will come a little later, all I can say is that she is African, and the Savanna is her domain. But she isn’t alone….

I am still waiting very patiently to hear from the publishers. I have said that in all my other blogs. It was one month and two days ago when they wrote me to explain they were catching up on some reading and I should have a reply in two weeks at the latest.

I have been tempted to write them, trust me I have fought myself constantly wondering if I should send them a friendly reminder. Yet there is a part of me saying wait. Just wait and see what happens. I know from what I have learned on author’s panels and not to mention from my experience at the World Horror Convention in 2007, that it is considerably rude to write the publishers and press them for an answer. It hurts your chances of getting published, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to be a pushy writer. I have to remember they get hundreds, thousands of manuscripts. And I am a novice writer. No work of mine has ever been published yet. So I am not going to blow my opportunity here by writing and asking if they want the rest of the book.

I have a goal though. By the World Horror Convention in Austin Texas, 2011. I will be a published author! Be it short story or my novel series, my work will be in a book.

In the mean time, I have been on my twitter account if anyone is interested. Nothing earth shattering I have to report, but it will be the first place I announce any big news.

I find it strange that the summer has just blown right by. Believe it or not, I am going to be 26 in the next few weeks. But the bright side is that I am going to spend my birthday at a concert with a fellow music fanatic. I have always wanted to see Disturbed live… and for some reason, I can see David Draiman as one of my immortals. I just love the way he looks and the piercings he has makes him bring out the best of my creativity… then again, I got half of the cast picked out for book when it’s made into a movie.

Well, that’s all for now from me, more updates soon, I promise!

Until then…

Stay thirsty.

Wouldn't it be awesome to have your own theme music?

I never really thought about it recently, yet I do believe I have to thank wrestling in general for the idea.

My characters have their own theme music.

That’s right I said it! But hear me out.

I find when I listen to a piece of music, it matches the persona I am trying to configure to a character. It also depends on the song too. I have a very… wide taste in music. One day I could listen to the Toronto cast of Phantom of the Opera, next thing I know I am listening to Disturbed and Silversun Pickups. I just find that music helps me find out whom I am writing about, it establishes personality and sometimes their emotional state. Recently, I found three songs that describe one character. Due to different aura of events that occur in the character’s life three songs could summarize everything they have gone through and what they become out of the situation.

But I am also thinking, if you were to introduce a character…

Enter the WWE inspiration here.

When I watch the superstars come and go, all of them have music, at first it’s just a little something to get them started and for the fans to know who they are. But as they go along, develop and become living personas, their themes also change with them. One that comes to mind happens to be a personal favorite. Kane. Big red guy that use to come out to haunting organ music, and then BOOM pyros.

It got your attention really fast.

But then he evolved. The first bit of his music was dropped, and his introduction became the booming pyro and then his music. Start off with a bang, and they will all jump at the sight of you. Trust me, I learned that the hard way and I am a person who doesn’t like loud noises. The music changed a few years later to something more rocking, yet was changed back five years later to similar organ music he had before.

It was what got the ball rolling on the idea of a character matching to music.

Most of them have been figured out and have their tune. But also music can help write a story. A song recently inspired me from Nightwish called the Poet and the Pendulum. I have written the bones of the story, but I am letting it rest until I can figure out a proper way of writing out the concept.

Music can have the most interesting effect on people, can’t it?

Well, that’s all I have for now. I will write again soon

Until then, stay thirsty.

surviving the weekend

Ok, it’s about time I start talking about my vampires again.

First off. Happy Birthday to my Big bro Ryan! He turned 28, see Ryan, you are more than half way to 50 now! HAHAHA!

Ok vampires.

Some of you may not know, but I work at a movie theatre for the time being. I survived the rush of the Twihard fanatics. Eclipse came out this past weekend! I am not a Stephanie Mayor fan by any means, in fact in a last blog I freely confessed how I would mock her writing. But I am not going to do that here, it’s not fair and I would be no better than the people who made fun of my writing in high school (deep breath)

Ok, the real reason why I am writing this blog is recently, I found myself just about finishing the bones of two books. Problem is these books are not to be released until later down the line. My series goes in a certain order, yet I found two of my characters have been more than verbal. Not to mention the ideas seem to just flow out of me for them. One is on trial, the other is writing about his life.

Isn’t it strange though? I have all these ides for books later on in the series, and yet, I haven’t even started on the second novel! Hmm, perhaps I need to rework the order or have something go in place of the original idea I had in mind for it. After all, sometimes the ideas don’t come because they aren’t ready. Or I am holding myself back, waiting for the right reason to writing.

(A publishing contract could get the creative juices flowing, don’t you think?)

I am rather excited and looking forward to hearing from the publisher I submitted to. I feel really good about this, and cannot wait to see what comes of it. My friend Alexandre Tuis is also excited. The artist who created Dante for me, we got to talking and I told him that when I am published, I would be delighted if he would create my book into a graphic novel! His talents and my story it would made for a fantastic series I believe. Time will tell, and I have a great feeling that wonderful things are going to happen very soon.

In the mean time, I am going to see what I can bring myself to create, what characters will come to life and tell me their story. What fights there are to win, and enemies to make in the vampire world.

(Not real ones of course!)

Until next time my friends, stay thirsty.

Where have I been?

Ah it’s been a while since I have written anything for this blog, so it’s about time I update.

One, I am not a millionaire… not yet.

Two, I have gotten word from the publisher that they will be responding to my story soon. They have just been back logged which is very understandable, good things come to those who wait, right?

Third, I have been feeling much better about my self and more confident in my writing. Granted, I haven’t written anything new for nearly two weeks. However, I find when inspiration does come, it will be well worth writing!

I had decided to clear out some of my various possessions. Why? Well I came to realize that if I am not going to use it or haven’t played with it for over three years (and yes, I am referring to toys, mainly WWE action figures I use to hoard away) I figured the toys could go to someone who wanted them, someone who would play with the toys. So it was decided. I packed up just about all of my WWE action figures, yet kept the ones I still liked and gave them away! Yep, the child getting them is going to be one happy kid!

I’ve been setting things in motion for myself. I got my passport recently so I could travel. I have booked my hotel reservation for the World Horror Convention in Austin Texas. I believe that I will go to the convention as a published author! I am determined to! Wouldn’t you want to go and speak to fellow writers about the market? Ideas as to how to promote you book? Not to mention cheep ways of advertising? I do have some ideas of my own, but I always enjoy hearing from of the experienced.

So… that’s about it for me. I know I have been preachy in my other blogs, I thought I would change it up.

I will write another the moment I have word from the publisher and the possible home for Mythic Blood.

Until then, stay thirsty.

Not losing faith

I am not a millionaire… yet

As I explained in my last blog, I’ve been reading the secret. And I have had my doubts about it, until I began putting the pieces together.

I had taken all the events from the past few years of things I had always wanted, and not to mention events that occurred, there is little doubt the secret is real, and I will explain why I have truly taken it to heart.

I had searched about my room for things that I had, I enjoyed them, yet felt strange when I stared at certain objects. And here’s what I found. On a far wall of mine was a poster, one of a dragon taking off into the night. I love dragons, but the poster brought back a disappointing memory. I got it as a Christmas gift from my co-workers who were doing secret Santa. It was the only thing the girl gave me since she said “Well I knew you liked dragons” I looked about and saw everyone else who got a poster was given a gift card or something else to go with it. I was bitter, I won’t lie, but I found it had to go recently. Who do I want to keep something that made me so unhappy? It was in the past, and I didn’t want the bitterness to stay with me any longer. I took it off the wall yesterday and replaced it.

Second poster to come down was one of my favorite wrestler Kane. I got it and a sweater from a manager. Roughly three to four years ago, I worked with a man who made a joke at me. The person he served thought it was so funny, that he tipped him seven dollars. Since that occurred, he went around the bar telling people if they want to get tipped, make a joke at me.

He was fired for that, but he told a manager who did nothing about it. In return, he gave me one of the prize packs of the night, which was a poster and t-shirt as an apology.

I am going to find the sweater and give it to a fan that would appreciate it more than me.

I also took down my first rejection letter for my vampire novel. Why would I keep something that told me my story wasn’t want they wanted?

And for the first time in a while, I went to sleep that night. I had a good sleep and didn’t feel strange walking into my room.

Now for the next few examples, these items came to me just a few years ago. I walked into a store where an old co-worker named Amy was now employed. I saw all these amazing dragon items and thought they were great to have in my room. But I didn’t have the money or the room. So I would walk in and look about until Amy mentioned of a dragon she had. It was two feet long and nearly a foot high. It sat on a pile of gold and looked amazing. She offered to sell it to me for twenty-five dollars. I had the money, but my sister didn’t want it in our room.

A few months would pass until I notice the store was going out, I was heartbroken to see it go, but when I walked in for one final tour. Amy called to me just as I was walking out the door. She pulled out a box and had placed the dragons I was looking at into it! Even the big one she tried to sale me. I asked her how much she wanted for it all. “Don’t bother, it’s taking up room, the boss doesn’t want it and we can’t sell it. So it’s yours”

I got three dragons that day for free, the three I was looking at and wanted!

This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea that I know and I do mean to put this down anyone’s throats, but just from what I have watched, listened and learned from. It’s all true? Have you ever had a day where it went from bad to worst? When you dwell on the negative thought, everything bad that could happen happens! Since then, I know now to never tempt faith and ask. “Can this possibly get any worst!?” I don’t want to the Universe to tell me “Yes, yes it can”

Trust me on this. Never ask if things could get worst!

Just step back for a moment and ask yourself about the times you had a great day. It went from good to wonderful just by the little things?

And then briefly ponder the not so glorious day, thing of what started it all and how it went from bad to worst. But don’t think about it for too long, negative energy and all.

Well, I do believe this is all I have to say for now. I asked aloud last night as to where do I go to get my winning lottery ticket for the 50 million dollar jackpot.

Believe it or not, I got an answer! And it happened to be where I am meeting an old friend for lunch…

Stay Thirsty

The Universe is awesome!

This is it….

No I don’t mean I won’t be blogging anymore, but as of late I cannot help but feel great! Wonderful, like all is right with the world. And just recently, I bought a lottery ticket… well… a few days ago I bought a lottery ticket.

Ever since that day, I have felt wonderful and realized things are starting to fall into place. One, my younger brother has his real estate license, two, I have gotten one shift at work this week, three, I dream about a wonderful house with an indoor pool and large back yard.

Last but not least, I have a lottery ticket, where the jackpot is 50 million dollars. I keep saying to myself, it’s mine, that jackpot. The whole thing is mine. I have things I want to do and places to travel. One of my dreams recently was a trip to Africa. I was on a large cargo plane full of animals, and supplies. We landed by some villages in need of help, and I just start passing things out. Everyone took what they needed and they got what they desired, with a promise to me that the act of kindness would be paid forward.

I saw families starting their own farms, fresh water being drunk and women starting their own businesses.

Then I went to France to see a dear friend of mine.

Another night, I was in the states, buying up houses that were foreclosed on their owners, only in the dark of night I approach the door with the deed in hand, slide it into the mailbox, ring the bell and run. Yes, I would do the ding, dong ditch! But for a good reason, I don’t want the praise or admiration of people, I just want people to be happy and share the joy that I feel! I want them to have their home, and I want people to be happy and know there are great things still to come for them.

I believe in the secret, and I know that the lottery numbers will come to me tonight, all on one line.

I nearly didn’t sleep last night since I was so excited for the next day to come, in fact. I woke up twice. Once to tell my brother to work on his resignation letter, the other time was out of excitement. After the second wake up call, I found myself tired and was quickly whisked away into a sleep. Where my dream was my older sister getting married to the man she loves and a young boy approached me and called me aunt Shannon. (my sister has been trying for a baby it was a sign of things to come)

I cannot wait to see what the world has in store for me, I will make every day awesome, and will spread the joy.

Now… where do I put that dream house?

Stay Thirsty

just blogging for the sake of blogging

A blog about nothing special

I know it has been a few days since I posted anything, but I find sometimes I don’t really have anything worthy to post about! I am still waiting to hear from the publisher (no surprise really) but that hasn’t been the only thing on my mind.

As of late, despite the ideas I have brewing in my head, I can’t seem to put them to paper. In fact, I had created a whole different story series just recently, yet I am trying to find the right voices and proper historical content to use. But I am still passionately working on my original vampire series that has at least twelve book ideas.

I find they aren’t too bloody later on down the line. It gets rather tame. However, one shouldn’t keep bombarding their reader with the same gore right? There are new characters, new histories to learn and perspectives to see. Sometimes the scariest element of the story is not the immortals, but the people they come across and what they see in their time. That has been my muse as of late, history. And I have an utter fascination with World War 2.

I explained in a pervious blog that people have stated no one really cares about the war nor are the students these days really let the concept sink in. This isn’t targeted at all students, for some it may strike a cord, others, it rolls off their backs as they wait to see how much longer they have to be in school until they go off to University.

But I believed that Quentin Tarantino had the right idea when he made Inglorious Bastards. It was something new and different for people to view what happened during the war. Although the storyline wasn’t true, it perhaps peeked people’s curiosity as to what really happened in Europe.

It’s what I have been doing when I write. Despite the perspective and the alteration of the history, most of it is true. Yet I always seem to make my vampires say the same line over and over to one another, and especially the new characters that come into view.

“Mortals made this war, they are the ones to end it, not us”

I try to alter a few situations to make it easier for the reader to take in, but at the same time I need to make it raw and have them know what happened to those people back in the 1930s and 1940s was very real. But the part of me prefers my world of fiction, my vampire’s interpretation since they saved lives, as many as they could. But in truth, what I have learned from books and war documentaries is anything but the truth. You didn’t have vampires who would fight against the Nazis with as many numbers as they could gather, you had brave men and women who died fighting, and those who watched their friends and even their own brothers and sister parish at their side is all the more heart wrenching.

Difficult to write, impossible to put into words.

I will never do that time frame justice, no matter how many books I read or war specials I watch. It can never be done, it will only be written with great justice by those who were there and witnessed it first hand. Those who fought for survival no only on the battle fields, but also the horrible concentration camps. The free thinkers who lived in Germany and knew what happened in the world around them was wrong, and fought with everything they had to help those in need.

A picture can be worth a thousand words, but finding those words to use… well… I don’t know if it could be possible.

I do apologize for going back to this theme for a blog, I have been absorbed in the time frame for a while. In fact, one of my vampires gains his name… after he runs into my Grandfather stationed in Europe….

Stay thirsty.

Damn vampires!

Damn vampires.

Oh sorry, I should be more specific. Damn Sparkling vampires.

I would be the first one to tell you that I had been against the Twilight series, I never heard over three years ago, and yet I saw all these books linked to one another. I was told by other vampire readers to give it a chance and have a look over at least one story.

I gave in and bought Twilight.

It took me months to read, and I have a hard time getting into the story. It was slow, very slow. Like someone held my hand to walk me through the aspect of the plot line. But what bothered me was how everyone couldn’t get enough of the series. (I had enough after the first book) not to mention I work at a movie theatre part time. I’ve seen the fandom up close and personal. It ain’t pretty.

Yet, for the whole reason I despise the series I believe comes down to a few things; jealously, and resentment that’s just to name only a select few.

Why have I come to this conclusion you ask? Let me explain.

Throughout all of high school, I wrote, I did fan fiction as explained in my last blog. I wrote about WWE superstars, and I had my fair share of people who enjoyed to mock me, and announced how awful my writing was. Many had found the sites I posted on and would make fun of me the next day with the story they glanced over. I even had the courage to read aloud in my tenth grade English class one of my stories as part of an assignment. Ridicule followed, yet praise from my English teacher was enough to get me through. (I even had some people accuse me that I didn’t even write it! Backhanded compliments huh?)

So let me get to the point. I know what it’s like to have people mock your work, crush your creativity and make you feel like you can’t write anything worthwhile. This is where my jealousy comes in.

She gets her work published, just as I had been working on my vampire series for well over six years. I started just before graduating high school, and had been hard at work for many years. Recently I have tried to submit my novel to various publishers, only to learn at a Horror Convention that the publishers have been overwhelmed with vampire novels, since many began to write their own after reading Twilight.

Bitter? You bet I am!

I feel like my chances of getting my book out there have been cut drastically. Everyone who is anyone has decided to come up with their own “Twilight” book, some do it out of passion for what they read, other, resentment. For they believed they could write a better book.

I just can’t help but feel jaded towards the series, I don’t like them, but I respect the fact that Stephenie Meyer got her work out there, she got it published and I have no doubt she is living quite comfortably right now.

But, I am still angry over the fact that since Twilight, vampires have lost their bite, their fangs and apparently weakness to sunlight.

I would be lying if I didn’t say I mocked her work, yet I find myself becoming one of those boys back in high school who did the same thing to me. I am mocking a person’s creativity. I am insulting their ideas…

I became a complete and utter jerk!

Is it truly wrong for me to be angry? Is it not human to be jealous?

There’s a feeling I have been enduring for a while, as well as what I learned from the secret. The more you harbor ill will and feelings, the more those feeling will attract others like it to you. I cannot have that. I cannot keep those inside of me.

If I do, how else will I get published?

(Deep cleansing breath)

I don’t know about you, but I seriously need to rethink my priorities. If not… how will anything get done?

Stay Thirsty

Inspiration where you lease expect it

Ok, I am hot, sticky and cannot stand the heat… I know I already blogged about this. I just wanted to be clear on the fact that I DON’T LIKE HEAT! -.-

Moving on.

Inspiration has me rather puzzled, just for the pure heck of it, I went back to what started my writing craze. Believe it or not, my writing started with fan fiction of WWE wrestlers… yes, you read right. Men in tight spandex, oiled bodies and bruised from random chair shots inspired me to write!

It started in high school when I found myself drawn to a particular character, Kane. A tall man, who wore a strange red and black outfit and a mask to match, he was my first muse. I began to create stories about him, and wrote myself into them. I was a teenager looking for some sort of meaning, and found myself oddly relating to Kane since he was a misunderstood person. (When really, he just liked to hurt people. I try to look at the other side of things)

It was him and then more of the WWE’s odd characters that began to spring forth my imagination. My stories grew stranger and more bizarre. I still write them to this day. I took the entire concept of Harry Potter and turned it in a Wrestler’s version of the infamous tale of the boy wizard. You just add a lot more swearing, fighting and a game they invented called Nargal (aka a bra and panties are raid after they learn to teleport)

It was the start of an interesting creative process, and it certainly wasn’t the last. I tested some of my vampire concept in fan fiction and found them well received. In fact, I took a few of my vampires and had them in Hunter Potter after once more, I wrote myself in and was given the power to bring whoever I wrote to life until the book closed. Believe it or not, I got a little ballsy.

I would attend autograph sessions and see what would happen if I were to give the wrestler a story. Would it make it back stage? Would they even bother to read it? I didn’t hold out much hope on the idea, and my first guine pig was none other than a young wrestler by the name of Randy Orton. I had ‘heard’ things about him and that he was rude to fans. Just make note people, don’t ever judge someone by what another person says. Sometimes that person is just bitter, or upset with how their encounter went.

Ok? Ok.

Back to the story.

I gave him my first Hunter Potter story, completed with a photo shopped picture of the ‘star’ Hunter Potter (who was Triple H, bing or goggle him if you want to see what he looks like) Orton looked to the picture and laughed and announced “Oh man, I’ll be sure Hunter reads this!”

I took that comment with a grain of salt, then again. There was a chance. I didn’t put my name on it. Well a few days later, I was chatting with a friend of mine from Winnipeg, she told me about some friends of hers who made it back stage at the WWE. One of her friends was asked to join the WWE, but he refused (partly because he was seven feet, six inches tall)

Anyway, the story goes that Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, Kane and the Undertaker were trying to convince him to sign on, yet when he polity refused, they understood.

Triple H then walked in.

According to my friend’s friend, he was confused as Shane asked him what was wrong, the first sentence out of his mouth was “What the hell is everyone calling me Hunter Potter?”

At first, I didn’t believe it. But then again, I was so excited to hear that be told to me! I did have my doubts, but it certainly gave my writing ego a boost.

So a few months later, I decided to see for myself.

I went to Toronto for the Blade Trinity premire. Triple H had a part in it so he was going to be there in person. I was at the front of the crowd, clear as day. When Vince McMahon, his wife Linda McMahon, Stephanie and Triple H began to pose for media shots. They went to each side, first the right and worked their way to the left. When it came to me (I was on the left) I opened to the cover of the next Hunter Potter tale. Hunter Potter and the Elimination chamber of secrets.

I could see Triple H squit his eyes to see, next thing I know. He was laughing and rolling his eyes at me. Stephanie McMahon went over laughing aloud as Vince and Linda chuckled. Stephanie came running in her high heels, she was signing random autographs, when she slowly made her way over to me. I opened to the cover once again as she looked to me with a smile and back at the cover. I said “It’s yours” she smiled, thanked me and walked off with it!

I must admit, I am even shocked they liked the story! I could tell you every wrestler who has taken a Hunter Potter story.

Hunter Potter and the Prisoner of Madison Square- John Cena.

Half of the Gauntlet of fire went to Shane McMahon (who was rather pleased to be getting a story)

The full version went o John Cena at a personal meet and greet.

The Order of the ministry went to John Morrison and Melina. (Morrison was cute he looked at the picture and smiled until he flipped through the pages and realized aloud ‘Oh! It’s a story!’ when my back turned he leaned into Melina and announced ‘I have to read this now’)

The second last one The half bloodied Prince went to Chris Jericho just as he was about to return to the WWE. He was sweet to say “Since you read my story, I’ll be sure to read yours” he was signing his autobiography A Lion’s Tale at Chapters. I remember telling him “I hope so, some of the best lines come from you!” He was Ron Wesley in the story.

And last but not least, the final story went to Jeff Hardy. I felt bad since he was a last minute replacement for Batista. His plane came through a snowstorm and he was dead tired. All the women were claiming that Jeff wasn’t smiling to the kids or anything. It made them rather upset since we were waiting over six hours for autographs.

So when it came to my turn, I went up and gave him the final story. Suddenly a glimmer came over Jeff. A half smile and then a full smile, then he burst into fits of chuckles! Yes, I made him laugh just by the image alone I put on the cover of the story!

Since then, I grew rather perplexed as to what to give the superstars next. I met Ted DiBiase Jr. Recently; he got a small anthology of stories to make him laugh. I am certain there are some in there that would give him a chuckle (imagine of Kane and Rey Mysterio switched bodies. Kane’s in a little man’s body while Rey is a giant. Chaos ensues!)

Well, I have gone back to my roots recently in fan fiction. Just to take a break from my vampires. Who knows, what else will come out of me!

Until next time.

Stay thirsty.