Musings

 Ben Wolverton, age 16, was in a tragic long-boarding accident on Wednesday the 4th, 2013. He suffers from severe brain trauma, a cracked skull, broken pelvis and tail bone, burnt knees, bruised lungs, broken ear drums, road rash, pneumonia, and is currently in a coma. His family has no insurance.

Ben is the son of author David Farland, whose books have won multiple awards, and who is widely known as a mentor to many prominent authors, such as Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, and Brandon Mull. Costs for Ben’s treatment are expected to rise above $1,000,0000. To help raise money for Ben, we are having a book bomb (focused on Nightingale and Million Dollar Outlines) on behalf of Ben.

You can learn more about Ben’s condition, or simply donate to the Wolverton family here: http://www.gofundme.com/BensRecovery

What is a Book Bomb?

For those that don’t know, a Book Bomb is an event where participants purchase a book on a specific day to support the author, or, in this case, a young person in serious need: Ben Wolverton.

David Farland’s young adult fantasy thriller Nightingale has won seven awards, including the Grand Prize at the Hollywood Book Festival—beating out ALL books in ALL categories. It has been praised by authors such as James Dashner (The Maze Runner), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn), and Paul Genesse (Iron Dragon series), and has received four and a half starts on Amazon. You can read reviews here: http://www.amazon.com/Nightingale-ebook/dp/B006P7SEBY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365432857&sr=8-2

Book Synopsis

Some people sing at night to drive back the darkness. Others sing to summon it. . . .

Bron Jones was abandoned at birth. Thrown into foster care, he was rejected by one family after another, until he met Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school teacher who recognized him for what he really was—what her people call a “nightingale.”

But Bron isn’t ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know. Bron’s secret may be the most dangerous of all.

Nightingale is available as a hardcover, ebook, audio book, and enhanced novel for the iPad.

You can purchase it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nightingale-ebook/dp/B006P7SEBY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365432857&sr=8-2

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nightingale-david-farland/1107084747?ean=2940016100463

on the Nightingale website: http://www.nightingalenovel.com/

or, you can get the enhanced version, complete with illustrations, interviews, animations, and its own soundtrack through iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nightingale/id560309064?mt=11

If you are a writer, you may want to consider purchasing David Farland’s Million Dollar Outlines instead. Both books are part of the book bomb. Million Dollar Outlines has been a bestseller on Amazon for over a month and is only $6.99.

As a bestselling author David Farland has taught dozens of writers who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), James Dashner (The Maze Runner) and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight).

In Million Dollar Outlines, Dave teaches how to analyze an audience and outline a novel so that it can appeal to a wide readership, giving it the potential to become a bestseller. The secrets found in his unconventional approach will help you understand why so many of his authors go on to prominence.

Get it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Outlines-ebook/dp/B00B9JYJ6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365434120&sr=8-1&keywords=Million+Dollar+Outlines

Or on Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/million-dollar-outlines-david-farland/1114285069?ean=2940015965148
Read one of the 26 reviews here: http://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-Outlines-ebook/dp/B00B9JYJ6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365434120&sr=8-1&keywords=Million+Dollar+Outlines

Would you like to just donate money? You can do that here: http://www.gofundme.com/BensRecovery

If you can’t spare any money, but would still like to help, you can do so by telling others about Ben’s donation page, and/or this Book Bomb. Share it on facebook, twitter, pinterest, your blog—anywhere you can. We have an event page set up on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/453677124707603/

Thank you!
Ben and his family greatly appreciate your support, and so do all who love and care about them.

 

 

 

 

Braaaaiinnnnsss!! Grab the machete, board up the doors and windows because it’s time to prepare for the brain eating and bloodthirsty zombies that will scuffle into our communities at any time completely unannounced. The undead will rise again, so it’s essential to pack your first aid kit now! Keep them handy at all times because no one knows when those nasty zombies will come a knockin’! Don’t pack your basic first aid kit either with just gauze, bandages, and creams. No Red Cross first aid kit or military first aid kit will cut it when the dead walk the earth!

To prepare for the zombie apocalypse the right way, pack the best first aid kit possible with only the finest first aid kit supplies. Don’t forget to pack a baby first aid kit that is small enough to fit in your back pocket, because you never know where you’ll be when the apocalypse strikes and the walking dead are among us. Without this you’ll be a goner for sure! Check out the zombie apocalypse first aid kit checklist infographic below if you want to live! Be sure that the first aid kit contents you have are exactly what you need to survive the zombie apocalypse and, good luck.

Creating a zombie apocolypse first aid kit

I am VERY pleased to be able to announce – now that the official TOC, and wonderful cover art by Enggar Adirasa, has been revealed – that my short story, ‘System Error’, was sold early this year for inclusion in Seventh Star Press’ dystopian-themed anthology, ‘Perfect Flaw, from editor Robin Blankenship.

Perfect Flaw features a variety of speculative fiction stories, spanning many genres, that involve the exploration of society gone wrong. From “utopian” societies masking an underlying controlled state, to stories of people fighting back against repression in hopes of a better world, the flaws that create a dystopian atmosphere are identified and challenged.

The authors and stories featured in Perfect Flaw include:

Leslie J Anderson – “Michael’s Gate”
Jason Campagna – “Hope Unknown”
Frank Roger – “Cracks in the Concrete”
Mandi M. Lynch “Under a Pomegranate Sky”
Shaun Avery – “The Job Hunter”
Cathy Bryant – “Cost Benefit Analysis”
Carolyn M. Chang – “Smilers”
SC Langgle – “The Bird Below Ground”
Delphine Boswell – “Tomorrow’s Children”
Tanith Korravai – “Your Comfort is Important to Us”
DeeDee Davies – “The Ultimate Sale”
Ellen Brock – “Useless”
Herika R. Raymer – “Seventh Degree”
H David Blalock – “Guardian”
Steve Donnelly – “First Head”
Jay Faulkner – “System Error”
Michael O’Conner – “The Choosing”

Perfect Flaw will be released towards the end of March in Trade Paperback and eBook formats. For further information and updates on Perfect Flaw, please visit the Seventh Star Press site at www.seventhstarpress.com

Contact: C.C. James Public Relations, Seventh Star Press ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky.

The very first WiFile of 2013 is now available for your reading pleasure and it is a doozy. Crimes Against Humanity By Rhonda Parrish is a zombie tale puts that humanity is at the forefront of the tale. To whet your appetite, here is an excerpt:

I don’t need your pity. There are the whiners who will go on and on about how we’re the unfortunate ones, like somehow surviving is worse than being turned into one of them. Bullshit, man, that’s just utter crap. Sure it’s tough, surviving, but it beats the crap out of the alternative. Dead is, well, dead and undead is worse. Fucking whiners. I mean, I know where they’re coming from, there’s a reason the pharmaceutical companies were among the first things to be re-organized and given resources and trust me, I pop a rainbow of meds everyday just like the next guy, but still…

To read the rest, please click here.

Peter David, writer extraordinaire (and all round nice guy), best known for his work at Marvel Comics, recently had a stroke. If you like reading excellent stories here’s how you can help: http://www.peterdavid.net/2013/01/04/here-is-how-you-can-help-peter/

So it looks like the Mayans were wrong – though, in actuality, I never thought they were ‘right’ – as we are going to continue on our merry way into 2013 so I thought that this was a great time to have a look back.

It has been another great year.

I am with my wonderful wife, best friend, and soul mate: Carole.

Our two boys – Mackenzie and Nathaniel – continue to be wonderful and while I can no longer call them babies, as they are five and three, they are – and always will be – my babies.

I started working with the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership this year, and had a verbal sparring match with my Minister for Health on my birthday.  I became a Governor at my kids’ school and a Director for the Arts and Disability Forum for Ireland.  This is part of how I feel I can give back.

I saw another of my two students become black sashes in Kung Fu and realise that no matter how long I stay active in the school I have shaped a legacy that will go on as long as the school exists (and beyond).

I became a co-host on the Following The Nerd radio show, and contributing writer on the website, with the bonus of meeting the owner, Marc Savage who has become a really good friend.  Through that I have spoken to people like Chris Ryall, Declan Shalvey, Will Sliney and Todd McFarlane – yes, this nerd is living the dream.

If I get through the next twenty four hours I will have gone a full year without being in hospital or A&E (yes, I am counting down the minutes!).  I have had many a treatment and drug trialled and, disappointingly, still no mutant powers.

I attended a two day writing work shop with Colin Bateman and, from that, I have solidified not only my desire to write but also my intent to write better and professionally.

I have had a further seven stories published this year, sharing cover space with two people whose writing I adore: Wayne Simmons and David Moody.

I have plotted my first novel, the research stage is mostly finished, and the outlining complete; actual fingers to the keyboard recommences early in the New Year (the 2^nd of January, to be exact).

I have published over 100 stories for With Painted Words and The WiFiles, and have read in excess of 1000 stories along the way to that.

…and now 2013 is about to commence, with 2012 coming to an end, I wonder just what the chapter of the story will bring?  Whatever it is I bet it will be interesting!

TALLYHO!!!

Announcing the release of Trip of a Lifetime: An Anthology from Sleeping Cat Books, featuring me.

What is your idea of the trip of a lifetime? Is it relaxing on a sandy Caribbean beach? Traveling through parts of Europe? Or do you prefer to stay closer to home and travel through your imagination? Sometimes the trip of a lifetime can be the one you never expected to take. And sometimes a trip becomes quite memorable for the wrong reasons.

In this collection of short stories, poetry, and non-fiction, you will find our contributors’ ideas of the “trip of a lifetime.” Perhaps you’ll find your own ideas in these pages, or perhaps we’ll spark the desire for you to go out and make your own memories!

Trip of a Lifetime: An Anthology is now available in the following formats:

Paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon UK

Kindle: US | UK

Nook: Click here

Kobo: Click here

My hint fiction story’s in with a chance of winning a competition to win a Kindle. If you’d like to help me (which would be lovely) you need to click the link and vote for Sacred by Jay Faulkner … you’ll have my undying gratitude and I promise never to haunt you, or eat your brains – http://matrix-hole.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/my-50000-hit-giveaway.html?m=1

A unique genre-bending fantasy–sci-fi epic, Ecko Rising is the astonishing debut from Danie Ware.

September 2012 • £7.99 • Paperback / 9780857687623 • E-book / 9781781162835

Ecko: Rising follows a savage, gleefully cynical anti-hero immersed in his own fantasy world. Ecko joins a misfit cast of characters and strives to conquer his deepest fears and save the world. Danie Ware says, “Ecko: Rising is sardonic fantasy, a sharp new slant on the genre, scattered with a healthy dusting of sex, violence and sarcasm. I’ve read fantasy, on and off, since I was a teen – and you can’t put a new twist on something unless you fell in love with it to start with! I wanted to push back its boundaries, make it do something different, something smarter and darker – but also something that we’d understand and recognise.”

Ecko: Rising, and its sequel scheduled for publication next year, will appeal to those who love fantasy, classic or modern, those intrigued by new concepts, and those with a liking for twisted anti-heroes.

Danie Ware is the publicist and event organiser for cult entertainment retailer Forbidden Planet. She has been immersed in the science-fiction and fantasy community for the past decade. An early adopter of blogging, social media and a familiar face at conventions, she appears on panels as an expert on genre marketing and retailing. Ecko Rising is her first novel. You’ll find Danie on twitter @danacea and at www.danieware.com.

Danie Ware says, “Working at FP has allowed me to work with some of best-known and most-respected SF/F authors working today – and that’s a heck of a thing to try and live up to. This world, and some of its central concepts and characters, began in my fiancé’s from room, in Ashford in Kent, in 1989 – and it’s grown and evolved over years of games, stories, and world-sharing. I haven’t consciously built it – it’s almost built itself.”

For further information to request an interview please contact: Sophie Calder – sophie.calder@titanemail.com / 020 7803 1906 / @titanpublicist

Ecko Rising, Titan Books, September 2012, original paperback, £7.99

TITAN PUBLISHING GROUP is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. Titan’s growing list of fiction includes the hugely popular horror series Anno Dracula by Kim Newman, The Lost Fleet military science fiction books by Jack Campbell, the Southern Gothic Eden Moore series by Cherie Priest and the exceptional pulp crime list, Hard Case Crime. New titles for 2012 include David J. Kowalski’s alternate history The Company of the Dead, Dana Fredsti’s urban fantasy Plague Town, Samit Basu’s Turbulence and Lo’Life: Romeo Spikes by Joanne Reay. In addition, Titan Books will be publishing backlist reissues from Philip Jose Farmer, Michael Moorcock and Kevin J. Anderson, new works from James P. Blaylock and George Mann, and Lovecraftian anthologies edited by S.T. Joshi and Stephen Jones. Titan Books also publish an extensive line of media- and pop culture-related non-fiction, graphic novels, fantasy and computer gaming art, and music books.

I feel a rant coming on; you have been warned.

Northern Ireland today sees the opening of a Marie Stopes clinic. To give you a brief idea of what Marie Stopes offer they do contraception guidance and supplies, health screening for men and women, STI testing, vasectomy counseling and procedures, female sterilization counseling and procedures, the morning after pill, and yes they give advice on abortions and carry them out too … ONLY if the fetus is under 9 weeks and there is a medical cause for the mother herself. That is the same as any NHS hospital in NI.

However the press, the politicians and the rabid public are only seeing one thing, which is evident in what they are calling the place: ‘ABORTION CLINIC’!!!

Now the Northern Ireland Attorney General has called for a Stormont investigation into the opening of the first private clinic in Belfast ‘to offer abortions.’ The thing is that Stormont has been very aware of this place opening for a loooooong time, in fact it is even being run by a former Stormon MLA, Dawn Purvis.

Yes, abortions are a very emotive topic but I wish that people would actually do two things: 1/ do the research and find out the factual information before they get all irate about something and 2/ leave the sensationalism out of things and report – or comment – on it openly and fairly.

The fact of the matter is that the Marie Stopes clinic has said it will carry out medical, not surgical, procedures only up to nine weeks gestation and only within the existing legal framework.

It said that the health professionals in the clinic will be from Northern Ireland and that they will make the assessments, although the views of the woman’s own GP will be taken into consideration.

They are doing the same thing that is ALREADY available, via the NHS, anywhere in Northern Ireland; all they are doing is giving a rounded service to do with sexual health, under one roof.

They are NOT offering a private abortion service, on demand, for any reason, up to 24 weeks … which is what the press and public seem to be implying.

So pro-choice or pro-life, it doesn’t actually make a difference at the moment – just get the facts right and stop making a sensitive issue into a hysterical witch-hunt that is only hurting and demonising the people that the clinic is trying to help.

Feel free to comment – however if it gets personal or stupidly over the top be aware that I will delete the comment.