Council of Peacocks

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Perfect Fix for Vampire Junkies: The Nightlife Moscow #asmsg #vampires

The Nightlife: Moscow has everything vampire-junkies need: sex, blood and violence. Say goodbye to your family and friends. When you start reading The Nightlife: Moscow the rest of your world will seem like a petty distraction. Luedke's whirlwind pacing makes this book impossible to put down.

The novel starts with Aaron and his crew infiltrating the military compound of an ancient vampire with ties to the Russian mafia. Layered through the intense action in modern-day Moscow is a finely woven alternative magical history giving added richness to the already-intriguing world.

Just when you think everything is going well for our vampires, Luedke throws in an twist that takes the series in a completely unexpected and glorious direction. The world they live in has never been more interesting.

I enjoyed Luedke’s first few books. However, everything he’s written from Nightlife: Paris on has been one masterpiece after another.If you haven't read his work yet, do yourself a favor and pick up The Nightlife: Moscow today.

THE GOOD

Every time I think Luedke has written the best scene ever he ups the ante. Each book in the Nightlife Series is better than the last. The first half of this book is on par with early Jim Butcher.

What Luedke has that Butcher doesn’t is sex. Lots and lots of sex. One of the benefits of ebooks is no one can has to know what your reading. However, you may want to read this in private to avoid any embarrassing blushing and hot flashes. There tintilating erotic dances with horrific and fantastical elements creating a breath-taking story. The whirlwind pacing of this book makes this book impossible to put down.

If you took the sex out you would have a book that falls easily in the top 10% of urban fantasy works. Adding the sex brings the Nightlife: Moscow to a completely different level. There is no voice quite like Luedke on the market today.

Link: Exclusive Spotlight on The Nightlife Moscow by Smutsonian.com

THE BAD

The book ends with our characters in a very interesting space. Now I have to wait god knows how long to see what happens next. So the bad news is I don't have a time machine and I have to wait for the next book.

SYNOPSIS

Vampires Aaron and Michelle have landed in Moscow, on the prowl. In the company of a misfit pack of mercenary werewolves and Urvashi, a fallen angel, the vampires are forced into the violent, decadent underworld of Russian mafia, drugs and blood slaves.

This time the hunters have become the hunted.

Dmitri, a Russian vampire billionaire, sends his mafia goons to the streets, gunning for the wolf pack. Now they must bring the fight to Dmitri and face the ultimate battle for survival.

Experience the violent, sensual underbelly of Nightlife Moscow, as Aaron and Michelle mix up a wicked blend of sex, chaos, mayhem, and vengeance.

Get your copy of the latest urban fantasy – paranormal suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Travis Luedke.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Travis Luedke is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy, scifi, and paranormal romance, best known for his violently sexy NIGHTLIFE SERIES. Travis can be found catching a third degree sunburn in San Antonio, Texas, while plotting world domination through erotic paranormal badassary.

As the author of the Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives very vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently


THE NIGHTLIFE MOSCOW 
(Book 5 in The Nightlife Series)
$.99 on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/NightlifeMoscow

Add to Goodreads: http://ow.ly/Govgq

Add to Booklikes: http://ow.ly/GoxDW

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

5 Things I Learned From a Traditional Publisher

People self-publish for a variety of reasons. For some it’s repeated rejection from the big publishing houses; for others it’s a desire for complete control over the process. Honestly, neither was an influence for me. I've only submitted once and never heard back from them. It was my one and only rejection.

For me, all I've ever wanted was to attract the attention of a big publisher. i learned they closely watch the self-publishing world. Like talent scouts, they seek out for highly-developed talent and help them reach a larger market.

Two years and four published novels later, I have a small but loyal fan base. I had completely given up on traditional publishing because it didn’t seem necessary. People around the world were buying and enjoying my books. Still, a tiny part of me still wondered if I would be better off working with a traditional publisher.

Then the universe gifted me with a very fortunate “coincidence” (note: I don’t believe in coincidences). On a trip to China I met Jim, a author from Canada, He was published through a small Canadian press and had even hit the best sellers list in Canada. He raved about his relationship with his editor and suddenly I was interested. I firmly believe a novel is only as good as its editor. People often rant about the low writing quality on books such as Twilight or Fifty Shades of Grey. However, I don’t blame that on the writers. Where were the bloody editors? It’s their freakin’ job to ensure quality. Okay, rant over.

Jim was one of the most fascinating and genuinely interesting person I’ve ever met. So when he told me he would speak to his publisher about me I told him to go ahead. I had zero expectation he would.

But he did.

And it turns out the company that published him was also incredibly interesting. When I saw the calibre of books they put out and the authors they had worked with I’ll admit to being more than a little star struck. We corresponded for several months through email. Last week we spoke for the first time on the phone. It was a life changing conversation.

So here’s what I learned talking to a traditional publisher.

1. Everyone takes you more seriously.

When I told people I was talking with a traditional publisher about getting my books into brick and mortar stores I was blown away by their response. People I hadn’t spoken to in years were suddenly congratulating me. Forget that I’d already published four books, now that a publisher was talking to me suddenly I was a real writer. Admitted I was wrapped up in the glamor too. This company had worked with some of the biggest names in Canadian literature. And now they were talking to me? I started to imagine myself at fancy writing events sitting next to Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman drinking champagne and talking about zombies. Hey, a guy can dream.

2. Most authors’ sales suck.

I’d always heard that publisher will only approach self-published authors if their sales numbers are really high. Although sales are higher on release day, I average 2 book sales per day. Additionally I was recently part of an ebook box set called The Shadow Box which sold around 2000 copies in the first few weeks. I was disappointed by these numbers because they were way below my expectations.

When I told the publisher my sales numbers, he exhaled slowly and made the big reveal. I was currently selling about twice what he would expect to sell if my paperbacks were in brick and mortar stores. He also told me the average sale number for a book is around 300. Not 300 copies a year. Three hundred copies ever.

Sure I’d read the articles about how much money the average writer makes per year. I just didn’t believe it. After my experience with this publisher I believe those numbers are pretty accurate.

Just so you know, to be considered a best seller in Canada you have to sell about 4000 copies. Best sellers in the U.S. are around 50,000 copies because they have 10x our population.
Source: Reality Check: Canadian Writer's Average Income

So how does that translate to income? The industry average for royalties through traditional publishers is 7% of cover price. That's all that goes to the author. So if you sell 50,000 copies at $30 a pop, that's $1,500,000 in revenue but only $105,000 goes the writer. That's a decent wage but remember that's at the upper end of the range. That's our rock star writers.

3. Publishers aren’t millionaires either.

One of my friends, Maer Wilson, has her own publishing house. And unless she’s been holding out on me she doesn’t have a summer homes in the Hamptons. Book sales in general have been sliding since 2007 as less and less people read. Both independent book stores and giants like Barnes and Nobles are closing. They finding it increasingly difficult to compete with online retailers who have low overhead and access to an immense back catalog.

Hatchet group only publishers around 1800 books a year and yet they employ about 914 people. Penguin Random House has over 12,000 employees and publishes around 15,000 books a year (Source: Global Publishing Leaders 2014). Although income in publishing is typically low, (Source: Working at a Big Six Publishing House) both offer benefits because they want to attract the best employees.

Normally self-published authors have very little overhead and no extra employees. They only have to pay for editing, marketing, and cover art of their book. All this means they're able to sell their book cheaper than a traditional publisher ever could. It also explains why they some price ebooks are so high. If Hatchett was forced to sell their books for $2.99, they would have to significantly decrease the staff and operational costs. It would also likely mean they’d have to leave their New York offices.

4. Publishers need writers more than writers need publishers.

After the phone conversation I spent several days doing some serious thinking. I realize the relationship wouldn’t be a win-win for me. Why would I give up copyright to someone who cannot guarantee me an increase in sales? So I sent a breakup letter to the publisher. Don’t worry. I was gentle. And then the weirdest thing happen.

He kept writing.

No, he wasn’t offering me ridiculously large advances or begging me to sign. But he still wanted me to consider traditional publishing after I said “no thanks.” My how the times have changed. It used to be writers clamoring for the attention of publishers. Now it seems that publishers are trying to convince writers that they are still relevant.

5. Publishers are still relevant

If you think the self-publishing is the end of traditional publishers you’re dead wrong. There have been indie musicians for decades and that hasn’t hurt the traditional music industry. Even though ebook sales have risen (source: Rising Ebook Sales and Declining Publishing Market), nearly 70% of all book sales are still done in book stores.

Sure there are the rare cases of authors like Amanda Hocking who made 2.5 million off Amazon and yet she’s not really a household name. Be honest. Have you heard of her before? Most successful writers aren’t household names. However, they are well-known within their genre. This publisher published urban fantasy. Yet when I mentioned Jim Butcher he’d never heard of him. That was a big time alarm bell. This was obviously not the right publisher for my material.

So how did Amanda to it? She wrote a crap load of books: 17 in one year.
(Source: Amanda Hocking, the writer who made millions by self-publishing online).

Find Amanda Hocking Here: http://www.worldofamandahocking.com/

Publishers still play a very important role. I just wish they would do more. Currently they offer limited promotional assistance, requiring the writer to build and market their own platform. In an email from the publisher, he told me here are 3 things a publisher can do for you that self-publishing can't:

Help author submit for government grants to subsidize their writing
Submit books to awards (since many awards still do not accept self-published work)
Assist with foreign distribution and translation

All are valid points. But here's the rub. Do those points merit the 93% cut that publishers take off the cover price? Sure, not all of the money goes into publishers pockets. Some goes to the book store. Some goes into production costs. But I'm not buying it. That's a very significant cut for what I see as a very limited reward.

Conclusion

After my recent experience with a traditional publisher, I feel a little like Cinderella in Into the Woods. All her life she dreams of meeting Prince Charming. But when she does, she soon realizes reality is nowhere near as glamorous as the dream. Everyone else thinks she’s crazy for walking away from the Prince. How could you not want the dream?

But for now, I'm walking away from traditional publishing. Future success for writers, it seems, is firmly in the self-publishing corner.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Dream Cast for Council of Peacocks

Casting actors in the role of book characters is tricky. Part of the description is on the page but a large part of it is left to the mind of the reader. I did not write the story with any actors in mind. Having said that, if I knew a movie was being made of Council of Peacocks and I could pick and choose the actors, here are my choices:

LUCAS TILL as JOSH WILKINSON

Source: www.teen.com

Josh is young, thing and wiry. He's the pretty boy no one suspects is dangerous. What they don't know is his father works for the Canadian Secret Service and has spent the last several years training Josh in martial arts, fire arms, and survival skills. He's also part-demon with telekinetic powers. In the first book, his powers are limited. However, by the second book, Beyond the Black Sea, he can create impenetrable telekinetic armor and all sorts of fun stuff.

Lucas Till is known for playing Alex Summers (a.k.a Havok) in the X-men movies. He has the nice balance of danger hidden beneath a thin veneer of vulnerability. He's not just a pretty face. Lucas can act and would do justice to the role.

Link: Lucas Till on IMDB

PETER MENSAH as WISDOM

Source: Beyond Black and White

Wisdom is an immortal with mysterious powers. As a child, he was kidnapped by a djinn and transported to a fire elemental plane. He spent millenia as slave surrounded by magic. Over the last two thousand years on Earth, he has used his powers to gain riches. But it's not enough. When you are as old as Wisdom, you need a cause. He's made the training of the half-demon children (called Anomalies) and the destruction of the Council of Peacocks his cause.

Peter Mensah is perfect. Whenever he walks on screen I get nervous. He's big, with a scary amount of intensity. He looks like the sort of man demons would fear.

EMILIA CLARK as ECHO

Echo is the strongest person Wisdom has ever known. She was born before the Roman empire. For centuries Wisdom tried to break her; he was never successful. In the end, she broke him. Wisdom does not realize how much she means to him until he loses her.

Emilia Clarke is perfect. I mean not just for the role. Just perfect. I'm completely gay but come on! She's jaw-dropping, heart-breakingly beautiful. As we've seen on Game of Thrones and will soon see in the new Terminator, she also has the soul of a warrior.

LYNDSY FORNESECA as GARNET

Lyndsy Fornseca as Garnet

Garnet is, like Josh, half-demon. However, she's had years to perfect her abilities. She's a powerful pyrokinetic with some degree of telepathy. Working with Wisdom has made her hard but she is not as strong as she'd like you to believe.

LAUREN HOLDEN AS ELAINE

Lauren Holden

Elaine is 100% human but that doesn't make her less dangerous. She's head of Wisdom's security. I like to think of her as Sarah Connor from Terminator 2 (minus the tinge of madness).

While I wasn't always a big fan of Andrea's decisions of the Walking Dead, there's no question that Lauren Holden is amazing. She's tough as nails but still completely feminine. She will shoot you dead without blinking but it doesn't take much to see her humanity.

DOMINIC COOPER as PROPATES

Propates is the Big Bad in this novel. He's the head of the Council of Peacocks and has a very volatile relationship with the others. Wisdom rescued Propates from a life of poverty during the height of the Roman empire. Well, he kidnapped him, slaughtered his family and saved him from poverty if we're being technical. Over the years Wisdom became less ruthless; Propates became more.

Dominic Cooper works because he has a smarmy charm. Propates truly believes he's acting in the best interest of the planet. I want him to be likeable even as he plots the mass murder of millions.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

4 Tips on How to Actually Achieve Your New Year's Resolution.

The sad truth is most resolutions fail because you expect them to fail (source: Forbes: Why Your New Year's Resolutions Fail).

According to one survey, around 45% set resolutions each year yet only 8% actually follow through (source: Stephen Shapiro Interesting New Year's Statistics). I see this at the gym. The first few weeks of January are crazy as throngs of people decide to get into shape. By February, most have given up.

Success and self-esteem are not improved by setting goals. They are improved by achieving your goals. For many, creating a New Year's Resolution is a form of procrastination (source: Why New Year's Resolutions Fail). They create the illusion of doing something. Real change occurs when we alter our habits. And that takes work.

1. Set realistic goals

Step one in achieving your goals is to create S.M.A.R.T. goals. This is something they teach in business and management courses but doesn't reach through to the Arts.
S - Specific: The most details the better (e.g. "Write 5 pages a day" is better than "Write more."
M - Measurable: Put a number to it. Quantify
A - Achievable: Make it realistic
R - Relevant: Why are you doing this? How does it further your long-term goals
T - Time Bound: Give each task a firm deadline.
Link: Application and History of SMART goals

2. One Goal is Better than Several

A quick Google search will reveal hundreds of sites offering suggested resolutions. However, if you actually want to make a change in your life, pick one - two at most. The rest can wait until next year.

LINKS:
30 New Year's Resolutions for Writers
13 New Year's Resolutions for Writers by Jeff Goins

3. Set (and follow) a schedule

I teach college-level management and professionalism courses. One of the foundations of goal setting is to start with a long-term goal and break it down into short-term goals. If you're serious about following through on your resolution, break your end goal into smaller goals. And give deadlines for each one.

For example, a resolution to get in shape is vague and likely to fail. However, a resolution to loose 30 pounds within the next year is more likely to succeed. I'd suggest breaking it down even further. Resolve to loose 3 lbs per month. That's much more achievable. As a writer, instead of focusing on writing a book, focus on how many pages you will write each day. The most common goal is four pages per day. Depending on your typing speed and experience, you can get this done in under 2 hours. So build 2 hours of writing time into your schedule every day.

4. Celebrate Your Success

Named for the Roman god Janus, January is the time of open doors and new beginnings. Janus is recognizable because he has two faces: one looking forward, one looking behind. Before you look ahead, take some time to look back and see what you've already accomplished.

Stephen Shapiro, author of the survey quoted above, suggests there is no real link between achieving goals and general happiness. It is far to easy to get caught up in the drive to do more that we forget why are doing more. Instead of striving to achieve new goals, take some time to appreciate the goals you have already accomplished. See how far you have come and give yourself a pat on the back. Stop waiting for someone else to congratulate you.

LINK: Happiness By Wanting What You have (mp3)

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Urban Fantasy Box Set Featuring NY Times Best Sellers - PREORDER NOW! #asmsg

Explore The Dark Side of Urban Fantasy – Paranormal Suspense with THE SHADOW BOX from NY Times & USA Today bestselling authors.

***A limited offer at a steeply discounted price – only available until Feb. 2015

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Amazon smarturl.it/ShadowBox

Nook http://ow.ly/FDzrv

Itunes http://ow.ly/FDzDR

Kobo: The Shadow Box on Kobo

Add it on Goodreads! http://ow.ly/FDAEC

Ride the cutting edge of dark fantasy in this unique collection of fast-paced, gritty, suspenseful thrillers. Filled with black magic, vampire trailer trash, werewolves, sorcerers, assassins, clairvoyants, zombie draggers, and old-school gothic horror, a sure bet for fans of paranormal suspense.

DARKER THINGS by Rob Cornell

Fifteen years have passed since Craig Lockman worked for a shadowy agency fighting monsters most think exist only in nightmares. A mysterious teen girl arrives at his door with his fiercest enemy on her tail. Now he must protect the daughter he never knew from the dark world he thought he left behind.

MOTH by Sean Poindexter

Social worker Max Hollingsworth is no stranger to monsters. Supernatural or human, he's faced all kinds. But when he's called upon to investigate a missing child, he may have met his match.

THE SHEPHERD by Travis Luedke

After saving a mysterious girl from a hit and run, 16 yr. old Mike Evans soon finds his life spiraling out of control. Facing clairvoyant visions of grisly death, Mike struggles to avert disaster and make his way through the chaos.

COUNCIL OF PEACOCKS by M. Joseph Murphy

A band of misfit, half-demon teenagers join the ruthless, immortal Wisdom, to stop The Council of Peacocks. The Council, a secret society of sorcerers, has plotted for centuries, and now the time has come for Activation – a hostile takeover of Earth.

A DEATH DISPLACED by Andrew Butcher

When Nicolas Crystan unexpectedly sees the future, he acts fast to save Juliet Maystone from a fatal accident, unintentionally "displacing" her–giving her the power to see ghosts. Together, they must use their newfound abilities to unravel a mystery more connected to Nicolas than he ever imagined ...

BOUND BY BLOOD by Shane KP O’Neill

Vlad Dracula: ruler, tyrant, warlord, and champion of the Catholic faith, is seized by Lucifer in his moment of death and becomes a monster, born of Darkness. Vlad is charged with destroying the institution of the Catholic Church, to help turn man against God so that Lucifer may finally return to Heaven and end all of mankind.

LUNA SANGUIS by Simon Okill

A mysterious woman awakes in an asylum in France, 1925, with amnesia. As her memory is restored she reveals her true vampiric nature and unleashes a bloody nightmare that might destroy all humanity.

TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD by Steven Ramirez

When a contagion decimates the town of Tres Marias, recovering alcoholic Dave Pulaski, his wife, Holly, and a group of armed soldiers and civilians must find a way to survive.

THE LONG WAY DOWN by Craig Schaefer

The death of a porn star leads sorcerer Daniel Faust down a rabbit hole of conspiracy and madness. For the first time, black magic and bullets might not be enough to save him from the brink of damnation.

BLACKJACK by Kristopher Norris

When Vincent Black, a gun for hire, is told vampires are all too real, he thinks it’s a joke. But soon he learns that he is not the most dangerous brand of hunter out there...

Buy now before this deal is gone in 2015! smarturl.it/ShadowBox

PREORDER NOW!

Amazon smarturl.it/ShadowBox

Nook http://ow.ly/FDzrv

Itunes http://ow.ly/FDzDR

Kobo: The Shadow Box on Kobo

Add it on Goodreads! http://ow.ly/FDAEC

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

What I Learned By NOT Finishing NaNoWriMo

Link: Should You Feel Bad About Not Finishing NaNoWriMo?

Although I've published four books, this was my first year attempting NaNoWriMo, Honestly, it was the first time there was a break in my writing schedule. I decided to do something completely different. Normally I write paranormal thrillers and epic fantasy. My NaNoWriMo book was pure thriller, a story about a sex addict who becomes the target for a serial killer after posting an exhibitionist video online. I even threw together a quick cover. The NaNoWriMo site suggests there is a link between adding a cover to your work in progress and actually finishing it.

Mock Cover for My NaNoWriMo

If you're not familiar with NaNoWriMo, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. The challenge? Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. To non-writers this sounds impossible. But all it amounts to is writing around 4 pages a day (around 1600 words). I normally write 5-6 pages a day and quickly found myself outpacing the deadline even though I was in China for the first few days of the month.

That's when I made my first mistake: I got cocky. I was so far ahead of schedule I decided to take a break. I started writing every other day instead of every day. Fortunately for me, this book quickly took on a life of its own. The words flowed out of me like a man possessed. In 10 days I reached the half-way point.

Then life happened. On Saturday the 15th, my husband complained of abdominal pain. I assumed it was just hold over from our trip to China. He'd experienced a bit of intestinal unpleasantness halfway through the trip. Hours later he was moaning in pain with near constant stabbing pains. He told me he thought it was his appendix. I thought he was being overly dramatic.

Not so much.

We went to the hospital at 9:00 in the morning. By 10 at night, he was in surgery to have his appendix removed. I suppose I could have brought my laptop to the hospital and wrote while in the waiting room. Or I could have left him there and gone home to write.

But I realized something. Some things are more important than finishing a novel.

Maybe that's not the message we're supposed to send. Like you, I've heard the stupid slogans: You're not a writer unless you write every day. I call bullshit on that. Whoever said that should do some research on famous writers, many of whom did not write daily. I write most days and, like I said, I already have 4 books published. So, yeah, I am a writer. But you know what's more important?

I'm a human being. What kind of jerk would I look like to abandon my husband at the hospital on our anniversary just to get my daily word count in? The next few days were spent keeping him company and trying to distract him from the pain and annoyance of recovering from surgery.

Again, I'm sure I could have found some time in the following days to write. But each time I stood to leave, one thought formed in my mind. On my death bed, what would I be more upset about: not writing that day or not spending time with Rob?

It was never a question about finishing the novel, it was a question of finishing it within the artificial deadline of November 30. It only took 4 days before my husband could function on his own. By then I was far behind in my word count and made the only decision I regret: I stopped writing.

Like a 5 year old, as soon as I realized I couldn't win I decided not to play. I couldn't write 25,000 words in 10 days...only I know I can do that because I already HAD done it in the first part of the month.

So here are the three things I learned from NaNoWriMo:

Some things are more important than writing. If you don't get that, I feel sorry for your family.
Don't get lazy. When you're ahead of schedule, keep plowing. You never know when life is going to throw you a curve ball. You can use the breathing room.
Don't stop. Missing a deadline is not an excuse to stop completely. Keep working even if you don't "win" NaNoWriMo. The important part is the novel, not the award.

Link: List of Traditional and Self-Published Books That Began as NaNoWriMo Novels.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Friday, November 14, 2014

WHY EVERYONE IS OBSESSED WITH ZOMBIES

ZOMBIES - THE POLITICALLY CORRECT MONSTER

I grew up in a period called The Cold War. Historians will likely call these years The Age or Terror. We live in a constant state of fear because we don't know who are enemies are. The nice family next door - no matter what their country of origin or religion - could be plotting to blow up the government building. The paperboy could grab a dozen assault rifles on the way to first period. This amorphous, ever present dread means we have no target for our fear, nothing to point at and say "evil".

Zombies are simple, the perfect monster for a politically correct world. We feel no remorse them because they are already dead. Zombies are raceless, country-less enemies that allow us to feel zero-guilt when we kill them in video games. Zombies have no children. Their only motivation is to kill us, to destroy our world.

When I was a kid, we played cowboys and indians. Then, as a society, we realized celebrating the mass slaughter of innocents makes us the monsters.

"The terror that is engendered by zombies is not the fear that they can be evil, but the fear that one might become one of them." (Source: Zombies - The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying.

ZOMBIES - WE ARE ALL ZOMBIES

Any horror buff knows our current pop culture image of zombies evolved from Haiti.

In traditional Haitian beliefs, people have two souls: the gro bonanj (the eternal self-less spirit) and the ti bonanj (our consciousness and individual will). For those that die naturally, the gro bonanj goes to the afterlife, what westerners would consider heaven. For victims of murder, their souls are vulnerable (Source: Haiti and the Truth About Zombies)

A bokor is able to capture one portion of the soul, trapping it in jar for use in magical ceremonies. One such use is the reanimation of the corpse to create an eternal slave, a laborer to work the fields who will never question his owner.

Now take a loot around you. Have you ever felt like you're surrounded by zombies? Like 99% of everyone you meet is under the mental control of the 1%? No matter what the government does, the people silently accept it. Very few rebel. Those that do are silenced. Assimilated. It wasn't a bokor that took away our will. We actively, consistently give away our individuality every day.

In Haiti, a country that has known a long period of slavery with the Spanish and French colonizations until their independence in 1804, the fear of becoming enslaved has remained a part of their collective consciousness. The fear of being changed into a slave for the rest of one's life is a fear of being constrained to live without individuality, will, and conscience.

Source: Zombies - Encyclopedia of Death and Dying

ZOMBIES - SCIENCE OUT OF CONTROL

The first movie I remember that tried to rationalize the Haitian magic into something believable was The Serpent and the Rainbow (link: Serpent and the Rainbow IMDB) in which ethnobotanist Wade Davis exploded the science behind zombies. The most terrifying aspect of this movie (aside from being based on a real story) is how completely plausible it is. A mixture of chemicals could easily convince others that a body is dead. Another mixture of chemicals makes the victim extremely susceptible to suggestions.

The majority of zombie stories today, whether its a rampaging bio-engineered weapon like Return of the Living Dead or World War Z or t-virus in Resident Evil, are based on science creating something it cannot control. Something science creates to make our lives better instead destroys all of civilization. Most people have heard of the fungus that can turn ants into zombie-like creatures. You have to know some crazy idiot out there is trying to find a way to use this on humans. Our species doesn't know when to leave good enough alone.

Link:

Deadly Fungus Turns Ants Into Zombies

Wade Davis on Haitian Zombies

So where is this fear coming from?

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN

Maybe it's the ever-present threat of global warming. Maybe it's the increased presence of GMO foods and pharmaceuticals. I've even heard several people are concerned that the rise of ebola is what will cause the zombie apocalypse.Whatever the cause, the abundance of zombie fiction today points to one root cause: something in our gut tells us the world is about to blow up. We're afraid that the comfortable lives we've build for ourselves are on the brink of being destroyed. But that's not a safe fear. Thinking about that too much could drive you insane.

So instead we focus on simple fears.

Zombies.

Links:

A History of "Real" Zombies

Why Zombies are Cool

Zombies: The Message Beneath the Horror (CBS News)

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

BLOG TOUR - Interview with Genre-Bending Writer Maer Wilson

ABOUT THE BOOK

Most of Thulu and La Fi's clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. But a simple job finding a lost locket leads to a big case tracking relics for an ancient daemon.

The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground – Earth.

Caught on live TV, other portals begin to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth. The people of Earth are not alone, but will soon wish they were.

When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi's search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful help in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that's what ghostly friends, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.

When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they're nothing like your mother's fairy tales.

You can buy RELICS at these retailers:

Amazon - Kindle - Relics: Modern Magics Book 1 for Kindle

Amazon - Paperback - Relics: Modern Magics Book 1 (Paperback)

Barnes & Noble - Nook - Relics: Modern Magics Book 1 for Nook

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Let’s start with an easy question: Sith or Jedi?

LOL…Best question, ever. Thanks for having me on your blog, Joseph. To answer your question - Sith! I actually play the MMO, Star Wars (Star Wars: the Old Republic), and my main characters are Empire - Sith.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

To switch universes, which of the Star Trek races most closely matches your own personality?

Hmmm….Probably have to go TNG and Betazoid.

I can totally see that. In previous interviews (see here) you’ve stated that JK Rowling and George R.R. Martin are authors you can always count on to deliver a good story. What elements have to be in place for you to consider a piece of work a good story?
Character comes first for me. I need to be invested in the characters to love a story. Next, the story itself has to be solid and intriguing. What I love about Martin is that he keeps me guessing. He surprises me…a lot. With Rowling and Harry Potter, it was just the sheer pleasure of that world of magic, on top of the great characters.

I’ve read that you believe finding good beta readers is one of the most important parts of the writing process. How did you find your beta readers?
My beta readers came to me from all over. A few are folks I know personally. One is a fellow author I met through an online group, several are friends from my guild in the online Star Wars game. They each bring a different perspective to their comments and notes. Some catch typos, some address voice or story, but all are important to the process.

Many of my readers are authors looking for new and effective ways to promote their work. What have you found is the most effective way to reach new audiences? Also, what’s the best way you’ve found to keep in touch with your loyal fan base?
I’m not sure I’ve discovered the best way to reach audiences yet. I’m always trying new things, but Facebook and Twitter seem to be my go-to place to connect. My favorite way to stay in touch with my fans is through my street team. It’s not very big yet, but they get to see things before anyone else a lot of times. Such as the cover art for Magics: Modern Magics, Book 3 by M Joseph Murphy. (Thanks again for my gorgeous covers, Joseph!) Team Thulukan got a sneak peek at that last cover, even though the official cover reveal hasn’t happened yet.

Jen Ryan - Editor

In preparing for the re-release of your series, you’ve re-edited Relics. What elements do you think makes the new edition stronger than the previous edition?
My editor, Jen Ryan, and I cut some things in Part One that were bogging down the story. It’s been tweaked and tightened throughout. It’s also undergone a vigorous housecleaning for typos, punctuation and such.

Link: Imagine That Editing by Jen Ryan

I know your upcoming book, Magics, has some big changes in store. What comes next? Do you plan on continuing to work with the same characters? If not, what other types of books do you plan on writing next?
For now I think I’ll be done with the Modern Magics universe. I’m working on a Biography/Memoir that I may or may not finish any time soon. It’s based on the ten years I knew author Philip K. Dick.

However, I also have a Historical Fantasy that I began a couple years ago. It’s called The Journal and is about a witch killed back in the late 1400s, who returns every other generation to live one day. The story spans 550 years, so entails a lot of research. There’s also a SciFi series I’m ready to begin writing. So, most likely, one of those two will be the next project. Whichever one of the characters yells at me the loudest to tell their story.

Last question, most of your fans are probably aware you’re an avid gamer. What is your favorite game and why?
Ah, definitely Star Wars: The Old Republic. I moved to this game 3 years ago after 7 years in World of Warcraft. It’s taken the game a while to find its identity, but it’s a fabulous game to play. I love gaming for the social aspect of playing with other people. We communicate via voice programs, so it’s in real time. Gaming is a great way to stay young and in touch, too. This game has a lot to offer: space ships and cool planets. And who can resist shooting purple lightning out of your fingertips?

There’s always something to do and not enough time to do it all. I particularly enjoy raiding…think dungeons and dragons online in real time…only in the Star Wars universe. I’m a healer there, which means I keep the other players alive. Even though I play a Dark Side Darth, I find the juxtaposition of healing and being evil at the same time to be fun.

Anything you'd like to end with?
Joseph, thanks so very much for having me on your blog. What a fun interview! I greatly appreciate the opportunity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she's a writer. She's always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she's not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. Maer is a partner in Ellysian Press, a small publishing house. She also co-hosts the literary podcast MythBehaving. Maer lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her three dogs, a chihuahua and two poodles.

Her books include Relics and Portals, Books 1 and 2 in the Modern Magics series. The upcoming third book in the series is Magics. There are also three novelettes in the series - “Ghost Memory,” “Unwanted Ghost” and “Ghost Dancer.” A fourth story, “Wedding Ghost” is also planned. You can find all books and novelettes in the Modern Magics series at Amazon.

For more info, you can visit Maer’s website at http://maerwilson.com/.

You can find Maer Wilson at these links:

Maer’s Website: http://maerwilson.com/

Maer on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Maer-Wilson/e/B00CDX29YW/

Maer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maer-Wilson-Author/149085628472833

Maer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaerWilson

Maer at Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7040319.Maer_Wilson

Maer at Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/maerw/boards/

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