Written by Susanne L Lambdin, “Vengeful Hearts” is a gripping thriller that has action from start to finish. The characters are set in Colorado after a virus has turned much of the population in zombies. This group of misfits must fight to conquer a vampire lord set on world domination. Throughout the book, you come across all forms of creatures of darkness that are working for the evil Kaiser. The few humans that remain must fight to survive with the aid of some of the fiercest vampires and werewolves still fighting for good. Leading the charge is a superhuman who’s infected with a mutation that only a handful of others share. The story will sink its teeth into your heart and brain as you go on a journey to overtake an ancient demon through time and ancient lands. This book stands amazingly well on its own. The characters may be a bit overwhelming at first as much of their development is presumably in the first two books. One of my favorite characters, Smack, only makes a brief appearance and adds a bit of comedy to the dire situation. Be sure to check out the other Dead Hearts novels by Susanne L Lambdin. Find it here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PB3A52E/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_351_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CSWKJ5G5YV70JGD80MJV I had the privilege of meeting Quincy J Allen at a convention in 2014. He is one of the two authors who inspired me to pursue my writing career with a serious passion. I hope to repay his inspiration in my review of his book Out Through the Attic: “This buffet of brilliant short stories is perfect for a good read before bed. Each story had its own unique twists and turns to it. Quincy does a wonderful job weaving the Steampunk goodness in his mind to the stories. It is hard to pick a favorite story out of all of them. I would have to say that the best surprise happened in “17” (I will not spoil it for you! Enjoy his imagination yourself). Each story worked its way around the words at a quick pace. I enjoyed picking up the morsels he shared with us and hope to feast on more of his work in the future.” I hope you get the opportunity to read it as well and vote up my review here:
http://www.amazon.com/review/RNID2KNX7408Y/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00KVR06XS&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text You can read more about it by clicking this link.
This story could be classified as a thriller mixed with dark comedy. As a flash fiction story, the entirety of the story is less than 1,000 words. It is a great read during a lunch break or something to make you smile throughout your day.
This story is the start of many short stories that will be happening in the same universe. Please let me know what you think about it on Amazon or in the comments below. I hope you enjoy the future stories and the search for XR-404. Food eaten, Facebook notifications cleared, messages from mom read, and nearby Pokemon caught... Only 15 minutes left on my lunch break! What to do? What to do? Why not grab a nice flash fiction story to pass the time? I know you may have a few questions about this style of writing so I’ve decided to answer some common questions to help you enjoy my own "Sci-Fla-Fi" story, XR-404. A man must choose to save his pregnant wife or his entire civilization in ten minutes. What is Flash Fiction? Flash fiction is a form of writing that many have compared to poetry. The wording and action must be very concise and necessary for a complete story in under 1,000 words. Although flash fictions have a well-defined plot, there is much happening off of the page or layers in between that get sorted out the more you read through it. Example: this article is just over 600 words. However, there is no plot so it differs from a flash fiction. Why Flash Fiction? I decided to have my first published work in this style as it is an easy way to test the market of self-publishing and become an established author. This story is also a quick glimpse into my writing style and voice. Although the majority of my novels will be told through a third-person limited view, this story has been a good exercise of a first-person present tense story (which I hope to reserve for future flash fiction stories centered in the same universe as XR-404). Is this story safe for kids? I do not use any profanity in any of my stories. However, some of the action may be too intense for younger ones. It is not necessarily a YA story, as the description talks about a husband and wife, but may appeal to those dark humor/sci-fi types. What happens when I purchase the story from Amazon? You are able to send the download to any of your Kindle devices and read at your leisure I don’t have a Kindle!? Don’t Panic. You can download the Kindle app for free on any smartphone and use it to read the story. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can also download an app to your desktop from the Amazon site. But I don’t have my own computer; I’m at work/library/etc; apps are evil! What do I do?!?!? Not to worry. You can even read the story from your web browser. Just sign up from your Amazon account (which you used to purchase the book) and go to: https://read.amazon.com/ How can I help? Write a review about the book, please! No seriously, most of the algorithms on Amazon use books with 20+ ratings/reviews. If you have time to write a paragraph of your thoughts, great! If you only want to leave a sentence or a few words, great! If you just feel like putting a *thumbs up* emoji… you may have to experiment on the Amazon review page… I’m not sure on that… if so, great! Is there anything else I can do? If you enjoyed the book, share it with your friends. I have no major publishing company doing any advertising for me so it is dependent on you and me. Tell others about this site, our Facebook page, or Twitter account. I am also available to speak at different conventions or events in the area (IA, NE, KS, MO, WI, MN, etc). I would love to answer any questions you may have about this sci-fla-fi story in the comments below (Can I say that? Is it okay to acronize science flash fiction in such a way? Did you just learn what acronize means too?).
In an effort to shrink our possessions to fit our tiny adventure, we have decided to start... Day 1 - August 8, 2016 - "5 items" The easiest and hardest of days... day 1. We decided to get rid of 5 "sets" of items. Our sleeping bags (that were over 10 years old and thinning to the point of a translucent lingerie of its former comfort), an outside table (that served its purpose on our screened in porch and will be replaced by the Wheel O' Improv modification), VHS tapes (now obsolete and to be converted to digital), some excess books (things started to sting a little at this point), and the record collection (that had become part of my soul; now a gaping void of a memory). Such items we deemed unnecessary or unfit for our new lifestyle. Records get heavy to maintain and it has dwindled to the best of the best. Here rests the final ones that survived the many purges of my over 300 collection (I hope they are adopted to a new loving family). Day 2 - August 9, 2016 - "Countertops" The challenge today seemed odd as we try to keep our counters tidy. However, with the recent guests (love you mom and dad!) it had a stockpile of dishes and remnants of leftovers. We polished those off and fried the fish (caught from the purified waters of Minnetonka) from our upstairs neighbors/homeowners. Cleaning together is one of the most blissful things a couple can do together... trust me on this. We managed to slim down our stirring spoon and spatula collection. Tomorrow we meditate... or take a nap... which usually happens while trying to meditate. Day 3 - August 10, 2016 - "Meditating" We skipped over this one as we both believe in the power of prayer over meditation. We had Bible study last night as well so lots of praying! Day 4 - August 11, 2016 - "Junk Drawer" I must confess, we have junk in a trunk... not a drawer. Actually, it was spread out in a couple different boxes we had yet to unpack from our previous move. We used this time to sort through our tool box and emergency kit. After checking the batteries on a bad flashlight that leaked acid on me, we decided to upgrade our survival box a bit (don't worry, I used lots of water). We fit all of our tools and "junk" items into a heavy duty container that has easy access if we need it. Our survival kit is still in its own box so not to worry mom :) Day 5 - August 12, 2016 - "Clothes" This challenge came to us earlier as we began our downsizing. As it is, my wife and I share 1 dresser (I have 2 drawers, she has 3) and 1 small closet. I found a few stained shirts and extra white undershirts to cycle out. Our mantra has become "one in, one out." Day 6 - August 13, 2016 - "Digital Cleanse" I had to look this one up. Apparently you are supposed to abstain from any digital devices... which makes blogging about it awkward. We're going to say this means going through files and folders on our pc. Maybe organize my externals as well. Day 7 - August 14, 2016 - "Accessories" The accessories in my life have become minimal in my life previous to this challenge. However, I have noticed my writing accessories may have taken over more than one bag. Time to slim it into one! Day 8 - August 15, 2016 - "Shoes" We have already shrunk our shoe collection to the necessities. Lisa was able to get rid of one pair... I'm glad I married someone who wasn't a shoe hoarder ;) Day 9 - August 16, 2016 - "Pamper Yourself" Olympics, cheese, chocolate mile... podcast: www.twitch.tv/shad0fx Day 10 - August 17, 2016 - "10 Items" The 10 items we have away were hard for me but easier on my wife... It was our camping gear. I quickly learned that she is not a happy camper and my back/insomnia for not agree with sleeping in a tent. They did find a good home. We spent some time reorganizing and sorting items in boxes (we'll pamper more later). Those items we counted in the 10 as well which put us over. So far, so good. Day 11 - August 18, 2016 - "Social Media" We talked about getting rid of some of the sites we no longer use but have minimized as much as possible... Took a break from posting here. Does that count? Day 12 - August 19, 2016 - "Use Up A Product" "I ate the last of the salsa... And you drank the last of the spiced rum..." my wife commented while reading our challenge tonight. I have also used the last of the beard butter (found a better/natural one from Ren folk) and am hoping to use up the rest of the body wash stuff I don't use often. Day 13 - August 20, 2016 - "Pantry" Our "pantry" consists of a small bookshelf. We did manage to clear/condense most of it into the upper shelves. Lisa used some baskets to keep things organized. It was also Ren Fest day! Day 14 - August 21, 2016 - "Pots & Pans" Do we even have those things anymore? Our life is started to get stored away into boxes. We spent most of today packing for the move. Day 15 - August 22, 2016 - "Wake Up 3o Minutes Early" Failed. It's Monday. Day 16 - August 23, 2016 - "Linens" The first thing that came to mind was my renaissance shirts. I do have some left over material I should go through. Maybe that's what they mean. It's a good day to repair and reorganize my garb ;) Day 17 - August 24, 2016 - "Cleaning Products" A.k.a. dishes again and more packing... Day 18 - August 25, 2016 - "Journal 15 min" I try to journal/edit for more than 15 minutes a day but I suppose this counts. I should rephrase the title to say "updated sometimes" as we have started moving things. Since those who read this are probably already aware, we are moving to Iowa next month. Which means (on top of moving) we are job hunting. I have had a few nibbled but no good bites as of yet for a full time job. Hence why I am also strapping myself the the writing chair. Poetry book by winter or bust! So this is where we are again, jumping the fence between settled and moving. If you did not know we are moving yet... Tada! Day 19 - August 26, 2016 - "Skin Care" We had to rush home after work to get to the wedding rehearsal! No time to worry about minimizing this weekend... all about the happy couple. I did get rid of some facial wash and get better beard stuff. Day 20 - August 27, 2016 - "Make Up" Wedding day for friends in Rochester. We had too much fun to do this! Day 21 - August 28, 2016 - "Go For A Walk" We enjoyed wandering around Rochester and spent a lot of time getting things packed for the move Day 22 - August 29, 2016 - "Medicine" Still packing... (and Monday... bleh) Day 23 - August 30, 2016 - "Mail/Paperwork" It's in a box somewhere... Just kidding. Packing/moving brain is real now. I do have a few things to sort through and we worked on getting some bills/financial paperwork organized for the move! Day 24-30 - Moving Days - "Things are in a box" We managed to get everything down in 3 van loads. Still hoping to reorganize and minimize our lives. It's not about what you get rid of so much as what you do not horde. I guess that means we are for the Alliance now? For Azeroth! Sorry, sidetracked... I hope this venture we embarked on helps you in your search for living a more simple life. What are some of the things you could not get rid of? So you’ve signed up for NaNoWriMo and want to breach the 50k mark? Do you have what it takes? I did not my first year. I figured 50k words would be so easy that I could do it by writing an epic poem in 50k words during the month of November; when Thanksgiving and family/friends want your time. The weather became too cold for me to go outside and write as I had been accustomed to with poetry and frankly, I had no outline or plan. Last year, I took advice of those who regularly write 50k in a month and manage to have a full-time job (they even spend time with their family). I want you to be one of “winners” of NaNoWriMo with me this year. I. BEFORE YOU GET STARTED 01. Take A Movie/TV Break November is always an epic month for movies. I’m sure you have a backlog of shows in your Netflix queue as well. They can wait. Determine ahead of time that you are going to focus on writing. You can rent the movies you missed and your queue will hopefully be there when November ends. 02. Character Sheets Being a character actor, I find going into details of your character before you start writing gives you a springboard. Even if you prefer to let the story develop your characters, having a good “first impressions” for each character gives them depth. I created a character sheet that I takes me close to an hour to complete (click here). 03. 3/15 Outline If you are not a “pantser” (writing a rough draft at the seat of your pants) and like to have structure in your life, this is one of the best models to use. I have gone into further details about this outline and how it improved my current WIP (hint: click this sentence). Some pantsers have switched to an outline and have found it brings in a higher word count. If you know where you want to go, you have less roadblocks and are able to write through the slumps. Please be advised: detours can and will happen, follow them. 04. Let Social Media Know This is often a task you cannot do alone and will need support from others to accomplish. By telling your followed friends and networked neighbors you are undergoing this feat, you will also have an excuse as to why you are avoiding them most of the month. Or the, “hey, let’s hang out at a coffee shop; I’ll be writing so bring something to do,” speech works too. This will also cause them to worry less about you as status updates start to wane or turn into frantic cries from the insanity of keeping up your word count. II. STAYING MOTIVATED 05. Community Of Writers (Social Media Support) The NaNoWriMo.com site offers a fantastic community of others who have signed up for the challenge. If you have not joined and stalked your local region forum for meet-ups, do so now. If you cannot make it to any or prefer the solitude approach, social media can provide needed support as well. The hashtag #NaNoProblems works if you don’t know what to post. We’ll understand and commiserate with you; we’ve all been there (why they decided to have it during the month of THANKSGIVING!!@?, I’ll never know). 06. Reward The Little Things 1,667 words a day is not something to toss around lightly; especially if you are working a full-time job, going to school, or have little ones running around and jumping into your lap (or laptop). You’re doing great! Keep it up! 07. 25 On / 5 Off (Writing Zen) Some have said that it is healthy for you to limit your writing to 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. Although this may seem a waste of time for many of us, we should probably do this… probably. I also want to talk for a moment about the writing “zen” mode. If you are in the groove with the right music/atmosphere, don’t stop. 08. Never Give Up, Never Surrender We have heard this countless times: Writing is 90% not being distracted by the internet. This is a word war and we will not back down with all of the attention the worldwide web wants from us. “I can’t, I’m writing,” is an excuse everyone will be expecting to hear this month if you’ve informed them ahead of time (see #4). 09. Write Through The Slumps One of the best ways to get through a writing block is to simply flood it with words until you get one that fits. This is an improv exercise we use to warm up before our comedy shows, but it works in writing too. ROLODEX: Come up with five or more possible lines that you could use in the given scene. If you don’t like the sentence, keep writing and rewriting it until you find one that fits. It adds to the word count and you can cut the others out later. III. GETTING THE NUMBERS UP 10. Write Rough Draft Roughly This is the only time in your story-writing process where you have permission to suck. It's your rough draft, not your magnum opus. Make it rough, raw, and downright disgusting. As you edit it, you will find more satisfaction in the, “wow, this edit is exponentially better than my rough draft,” moment. If you have that inner editor that abhors the massacre of words happening on the screen, shut the screen off to write. I find closing the laptop low enough works best for me. THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS IF YOU HIT CAPS INSTEAD OF SPACE, BUT DON’T EDIT IT YET. 11. 10k Day (Tosca Lee Inspired) Are you up for the challenge? Plan yourself a day (weekend if you are like me and work the 9-5) to write. Going into this without a plan can cause serious damage to any of your relationships… sorry honey. Let your friends and loved ones know you are going to be spending the day with your imaginary friends, but in a good way. Use the 25/5 rule and take longer breaks when needed. I suggest doing something else creative or exercising related. Remember to stay away from those YouTube holes. This is also one of those “Reward The Little Things” moments where you can even get a shirt! (shirt link here) 12. Change Scenery Inspiration may be lacking because you need to get out and change your writing location. This is why finding a local NaNo meet-up is important. They often happen in different venues. Although it’s cold (another reason… why November!?), find a new place to let the muse run free. 13. The Numbers In The Details If you have an important point in your story that you aren't ready to write, go into character and scene detail (aka info dump time). Describe, using all five senses, the area where the scene is taking place and the characteristics of each person present. This may have been started on your character sheets, but now is the time to go into depth. You could also write the protag or antag’s backstory. Every word counts. 14. Talk To Yourself… I Mean Your Characters… In Your Head Any NaNo coach will tell you that dialogue is a great way to add the needed word count to your work. You are probably talking to yourself anyway if you are at that “crazy” time, so why not have a conversation with your characters? Tell them what you really think of them and let them tell you what they think of you. It’s okay if they hate you, you can get them back later… (I may or may not be permanently stuck in the “crazy” time). 15. Aim Past Your Goals I hoped to pass the 50k mark last year and get around 75k words. So I planned to get 100k words during the month of THANKSGIVING! (seriously, do they think we have no families?) I tried for 3,334 words a day, gave myself time to do a few 10k days, and went for the insanity mark. My wife knew that I would be writing and I had a great community to encourage me. Although I did not reach the 100k I had boasted of reaching, I made it to the 75k mark I hoped for! I'd love to join you in you NaNoWriMo adventure. You can add me as a buddy (matthewenordin) or just let me know in the comments below. Distractions bugging you? Get your organic spray here*Strange noises erupt from the black device convulsing on my desk. I try to ignore my inner voice, but it nags at me. What if it is someone important? I grasp the sleek technology and press a button. In an instant, I am whisked away to a world of knowledge, entertainment, and social media. I feel its warmth radiating in my palm from this computer that I could only dream of while growing up, with internet speeds over 56k! (Plus I can browse while using it as a phone without the “Dial-Up” noise.) The world of smartphones is a wondrous world indeed. It is good to know what is happening in the world of social media so we can join the conversation. But, the distractions can become worse than a swarm of Minnesotan mosquitoes. So apart from locking myself in a closet with nothing but pen and paper, how does one write that blog due in a few hours? I discovered an organic mix of ingredients to spray away those bugs for this summer. These 6 steps can be used to keep away the annoyances. Okay, *I lied on the organic part,* but the odds are in your favor if you have a smartphone. Just be sure to turn it to silent while you write. 1. Before You Spray (plan ahead) Make sure you set a specific time of your day for writing purposes and let people know about it. Your friends will be coming out of the walls if you do not let them know you are busy. Even then, there are those wrecking balls who like to swing in unannounced… hopefully clothed. 2. Apply As Needed (set an alarm) If you must stay connected all the time, use a timer to write in short bursts. Most smartphones have these already installed. You can take a few minutes to update your statuses and catch up on anything you missed when it goes off. This will give you a sense of urgency to stay on task as well. 25 minutes writing, 5 minutes break is a recommended dose. 3. For Best Results (keeping the flow) When your alarm goes off or you are needing to break, stop in an area where the scene is not resolved. If you end at a natural break, you will struggle with getting started again. This is a huge step in eliminating writer’s block. You may also think of a better twist or ending to the scene while you step away for a moment. 4. Active Ingredient (chewing gum) This may seem crazy, but it really works. The phrase, “he can’t even walk and chew gum at the same time,” is partially true. You can write and chew gum, but your mind will not wander off as easy. You may have some other routine that helps you stay focused while writing. Let me know in the comments. 5. Subconscious Ingredient (inner sanctuary) I had to start by locking myself in a closet. I would mute my smartphone and listen to the music on my computer while writing. Once I became comfortable in that place, I could bring it with me. You only have to imagine the atmosphere of the area. Remember that place and the peace it brought. Robert Christensen blogged about this at The Octopus Garden: Your Creative Zone 6. Side Effects (reward your time) You did it! You managed to ignore the culture and refuse to listen to all the attention it is trying to take from you. Now do something fun. It could be an easy writing prompt, playing a game on your smartphone, or jumping in to a live video event on YouTube (Click here for mine). I hope these directions keep the distraction blight away. I try to apply these ointments as often as possible. What are some of your ways to avoid distractions?
Project Title
Enter your story title here. (I'm just making this up as we go for this blog) Multipurpose Fairy Log Line Synopsis or Short Description “A fairy discovers she could join a local performing troupe and with the help of a little pixie dust, the act takes off.” (*disclaimer: bad puns may be littered through the cat sheet*) Word Count Enter your desired count 7,500
(and I just searched for "periwinkle the fairy" and discovered that it is already in the Disney universe... no similarities are intended or even remotely assumed.) “The bad news is, time flies. The good new is, you're the pilot.” ~Michael Althsuler While attending a writing convention to improve my craft, another author gave some amazing advice. They said we each have the same 24 hours in a day. There is no magical spell that allows writers to have extra time to write their novel (As much as I wish… I could get more sleep). I have the same amount of time as Stephen King, J K Rowling, and all the others before and since. The difference is simple: they planned ahead and finished their work. Some may have the ability to dream and create a fantastic book from their subconsciousness. I have read fantastic stories from such authors (Maria Watson); but, that is not how every story is made. For the rest of us, we have to plant the seed and tend to it as it blooms into the magnificent collection of words and phrases arranged in the perfect bouquet. How do we do that? I offer you five pieces of advice I learned. 1. Set goals for yourself Even if it is something as simple as 30 minutes a day writing or editing, take time to do it. I set soft deadlines for each draft of my story. This helped me practice for the real deadline for a short story I submitted in April. The people who are great writers spend most of their time writing. It’s not always fun, but it’s worth it in the end. 2. Avoid distractions It sounds simple enough, but ask any author about the number of distractions they have to wall out and they will tell you otherwise. The world screams for your attention. I had to use the small space of our coat closet when I started. Once I learned how to ignore those pesky things, I was able to move to other locations. Find your writing “closet” to work your magic. I wrote an article to help you with distraction pests. 3. Research Wondering how to make your story better? Ask others. There are countless articles, blogs, tweets, and pictures giving you an arsenal to devastate that deadline. It helps to step away and dig a bit online, yet be wary of those internet holes. YouTube can suck you away for hours (Seriously, 2 or 3 videos of what you are learning about are enough… and watch out for kittens). 4. Plan ahead This is where you have to experiment a bit. Maybe you enjoy creating characters and throwing them into a wild situation, letting their adventures write the tale. It could be you start typing with a writing prompt and let the words guide you. However, you could also be like me and spend hours creating an outline, character sheet, and thesis before you even start your rough draft. Research some different ways and find what works. I’ve enjoyed using the “Save the Cat” outline for my novels. 5. Panic! Freak out! or Reward yourself for making it! Hopefully, you reached your goals and met the deadline. You somehow managed to avoid the “soldiers returning from war” videos and the endless updates on Facebook. There are always sacrifices made to be a writer, but that’s what it takes. If you have extra time left, take some time to reward yourself for a job well done. It may be breaking out that victory wine, watching those kitten videos, or spending time with your wife whom you haven’t seen outside of your writing closet for a month or so (NaNoWriMo was crazy last year). And if you are feeling ambitious, start researching your next story. I hope these tips help you on your journey as a writer. Let me know how it's going. As Red Green would say, “Remember, I'm pulling for ya. We're all in this together!”
Hours consumed in writing, rewriting, editing, re-editing, highlighting, tearing pages out, pulling hair, and enough coffee beans to grow your own field. The manuscript has reached the point where no errors or words alterations can be made. That inevitable question rises to the front of your mind: What do I do next? How should I get a “Beta” reader? 1. Contact potential Beta Readers My readers are a mix of other writers, readers, and movie watchers. But they are all people I trust to give me honest feedback. If you give your work to someone who loves all you do, you will end up with more ego than workable content. Also, please be sure to ask before you hand someone your story to read. 2. Help the Beta Readers There is a chance your Beta Readers are also first timers. The whole concept of it is new to them. If you simply say: “Tell me what you think of this,” or “write a review about this story thing;” they will often give you a blank stare and a stammering of words that show their confusion. Give them a tool to help them respond. This could be a series of questions, fill in the blanks, or a rating scale. I found a great resource from Jami Gold: http://jamigold.com/2014/08/introducing-the-beta-reading-worksheet/ 3. Set a Deadline One of my Beta Readers told me that he needed a deadline to have the worksheet completed. Since it is for a short story, I figured a two week limit would suffice (allowing more if needed). If you are having them review a novel, I would suggest a month or more. Perhaps even shortening it to a chapter review each week. 4. Reward the Beta Readers Most authors will provide their Beta Readers with a free copy of the manuscript once it is published. Monetary gifts can also be given or other items you may have with your book. I believe one of the best is discussing their review over lunch; the author paying, of course. After all is said and the worksheets done, get back to work! The manuscript is on the brink of being published. Go find that publisher or agent who sees the potential in you and become the famous author you dreamed of… or get a bunch of rejection letters until you grind your way to being a published author. Who knows what may happen? If you are looking for a beta reader, I would be happy to help. Send me an email or post in the comments if you'd like my services and I will follow-up with you (depending on the season of course). |
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