Hey everyone. One of my great pleasures is to help my fellow authors with their promotions. Harmony Kent is an old friend and she’s touring her newest book around right now. Please make her feel welcome, and consider using those sharing buttons. I know Harmony would do it for you.
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Hi, everyone. Harmony here. Many thanks toCraigfor hosting me today. I have a new book on pre-order called FALLOUT, which is a post-apocalyptic dystopia. This novel started out life by playing a little game. I sat and closed my eyes and imagined an empty room … in that room, a vial appeared. A dull orange plastic thing covered in scratches. It sloshed when I shook it. From that tiny beginning, the world of Exxon 1 and its deadly virus was born.
Working in an arcade room with an old NES and Super NES has done one odd thing. I’ve found some classic games and remember the songs. There have been a few times that I’ve put a game on just to hear the music while I clean things up. This might be odd, but I can’t put Pandora on my phone. Data drain and I’d get fired because the songs I listen to can have curse words. Anyway, here are a few:
I skipped the usual Mario Theme, Legend of Zelda, and a few others. Then there’s the one that I always enjoyed, which I saved for last (Song starts at 40 seconds):
After relaunching A Heaven for Toasters, complete with new cover, I promised to publish it here in installments. If you’d rather not wait, this is your last chance to get it at $0.99 before the price goes back to $2.99.
Note: You can find a link to all published chapters at the end of this post or read more parts on Wattpad.
A Heaven for Toasters
What if your perfect man was a robot?
Detective Mika Pensive has a new partner. He’s hot. Smart. Funny. And an android.
Set in the near future, A Heaven for Toasters is more than a sci-fi crime adventure with plenty of romance and wit. It’s the book that will make you look at your toaster in a whole new way.
CHAPTER 4: Guide
1:13 p.m.
“Which way, again?” I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation.
So, we have an Excessive Heat Warning here. It’s been something we’ve been bracing for since Thursday. Currently, it’s in 83 degrees, but feels like 91 and it isn’t even 8 AM. I have a friend’s daughter’s birthday to go to this afternoon, so I’m staying inside since it’s a pool party. Might not be outside that much. The ex-wife is supposed to swing by the party with our son since he hasn’t seen my high school friends in a while. We’re going to see how this all goes. Seems she wasn’t sure if I told my friends about the divorce too, which had me scratching my head. I’ve known these guys for decades, so I’d tell them pretty quickly.
I will say that it’s still awkward being around couples, especially those with kids. I feel like an extra wheel and can’t always join in parts of conversations. Hard to share family plans when you only see your kid every other weekend and briefly throughout the week. It isn’t the custody plan that does this as much as the summer job. Yeah, we’re going to do a segue here.
The summer job is not calming down at all. I get home late and exhausted, so I stare at my 100+ emails and 50+ tweet notifications like they’re an army of invaders. There’s a break room that I recently found out about, so I step into there when my game rooms are running smoothly. This is mostly for quiet because the arcade is insanely loud and my ears are left ringing. You realize how tense you are when you walk into utter quiet and feel your entire body sag a bit. This break has allowed me to answer texts from friends and family as well as handling blog comments. The pocket notebook I’m carrying around isn’t getting any use since they changed the schedule and now there isn’t a single quiet period in the arcade. I take my official break to eat, but there isn’t a solitary place during this time for me to do anything. Not that my brain is operating in author mode. Hate to say it, but I haven’t thought about my stories in weeks. Only that I really wish I could get back to looking at them.
I want to talk about kids and video games here. Now, I grew up with video games starting with Pong then the Atari 2600 and I played NES at friends’ houses. Got a Super NES at 13 and there were friends with various Sega systems. My point is that I was really active with games up until the PS3/Wii era when I couldn’t afford it. While parents complained about them, we still went outside. These were also where we gathered and talked. Sure, we played, but we joked around and interacted with each other. The players were all in the same room and those not playing would be doing something else. I know it’s hard for people older than me to understand at times, but home gaming systems and arcades were our skating rinks and whatever else were hangouts. I still remember getting together with my best friend and playing ‘Rampage’ all day because we were determined to see how it ended. This is a memory that included a lot of goofing off. So, why am I talking about this like an old man?
Because I’m seeing how modern kids act with games. There are meltdowns, bullying, lack of sharing, and chaos here. To be fair, it’s only over Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The NES, Super NES, and PS4 don’t get the problematic reactions. This is a fighting game, but the sports ones are competitive too. It wouldn’t even be so bad if some of the kids who play at home didn’t dominate and get upset if they have to surrender the controller. I really don’t want the game to be removed because it can keep 6 kids occupied, but they might push me to this point. Still, this isn’t even the strangest part because even my generation got heated with the fighting games. The difference to me comes from when I have to do something with the system. Here’s the tale:
I bought a new controller for the Nintendo Switch to allow for 6 players, but I needed to get it set up. I showed up right when the camp opened and thought I’d have time to figure it out. Genius that I am, I forgot the instructions. By the time I had set up the other rooms and settled in, kids began showing up. 3 of them came charging in (another issue) to pounce on the Switch where I was working. I asked them (sternly) to give me some space while I got the controller set up. All 3 stand about 2 feet behind me and stared with unblinking eyes at me while I tried to do this. I couldn’t because it wasn’t working and I was unnerved. So, I left and researched the controller. Came back later and asked if they could stop after the match and let me try something. They verbally agreed, which was a good sign. The INSTANT I switched the game to the system menu, the entire group (at least 7 kids) turn their heads to me and stare at the same time. They did not look away and there was no more talking. I swear, their eyes were glazed over and it was like they went into ‘Children of the Corn’ mode. Now, my son gets obsessed and will become angry if I take the games away. I’ve found that I prefer that reaction to what drove me out of the room. I left again and walked through the lobby telling the other counselors that I’m not going back in there until the room is clear.
So, that’s my story of the week. I’m sorry I’m not that active, but I get home from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM with very little energy. All I do are puzzles, which I’ll get into tomorrow if I can’t think of any other posts. I’ve got 1 that I’m working on, 14 in a pile next to my bed, and 3 coming in the mail. Might have a problem while I attempt to fill the creative void in my life. They’re pretty cool though. The list includes:
Boba Fett art photo.
Star Wars Panorama
8 Underwater ones of various sizes and shapes.
Thomas Kinkade Batman Street Battle
Thomas Kinkade Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman photo
Marvel Funko Pop Collage
DC Funko Pop Collage
Justice League art shot
(Coming) Labyrinth Poster
(Coming) Dark Crystal Poster
(Coming) Adam West Batman
I really wish I could find some anime puzzles and more variety in video game ones because I’m not interested in Mario. Wish I could find an Ocarina of Time puzzle, but most Zelda ones are Breath of the Wild. Not sure why I have the puzzle obsession really. Guess we’ll find out one day. It might die off since I can’t find them easily. Not the types that I like anyway. Stores primarily have artsy, nature, Star Wars, and Disney ones. Figures that I get into a hobby and suddenly it’s hard to find the things.
You have set out
On a path of scars and tears
To bring a subject
That delves in shadows
Into the light
Whether people wish to speak
Or ignore the social plight
*
Using fiction as your soapbox
Weaving the taboo
Into the grand adventure
Either as the core
Or an issue from the side
You are determined
To get the conversation started
*
The risk is high
Silence is utter failure
Mindless shrieking is a dud
You seek speech
On a topic we shun and hide
Out of fear of ugliness
That thrives in humanity
*
Some will turn away
Looking for other pastures
Where the taboo remains sealed
Their departures crudely declared
Others will send thanks
As they see a hero
Survive a plight they know too well
Hello and happy Friday to all the Story Empire readers. We’ve been deviating from our regular Friday schedule for some time and today, I do so again with a Book Share post.
Anne Frasier’s the author and the book is The Body Keeper, the third novel from the Jude Fontaine Detective Mysteries. Jude is a troubled and intriguing character who survived three years being held captive in cruelty. As a result, her senses are attuned to the odd details around her as she closely identifies with the victims whose deaths she investigates.
The Body Keeper continues Jude’s path in recovery as she works more cases while being challenged with more personal choices and twists. I have enjoyed this recent release immensely and find the character compelling. In the end, her own background and her need to help others might just destroy her as she investigates the case that build tension…
As usual, here is your warning that this story has cursing, sex (not graphic), innuendo, and violence. It’s my Rated-R action adventure called Derailing Bedlam. This is the fourth outing (third official) for Cassidy and Lloyd, so feel free to click on one of the two covers to see how it started. Each one is 99 cents!
On the blog today is the second of my awesome Secret Gardener classmates, the marvelous Miriam McNamara. No stranger to the blog is Miriam. (Click here for her last visit.) She’s here to talk about her young adult historical novel, An Impossible Distance to Fall, published by Sky Pony Press on July 2. (Click here for a synopsis.)
Miriam is represented by Linda Epstein. After our conversation, stay tuned to hear about a giveaway of An Impossible Distance to Fall.
El Space: Four quick facts about yourself? Miriam: 1. I’ve never flown a biplane or wing walked, but like Birdie, I’ve always loved to dance! The dance scenes were some of the most fun for me to write as I played with how movement and emotion interact in the body creatively. Yum!
2. I went to college pretty young—when I was sixteen—around the time a lot of…
Don’t touch that dial! You’ve landed on Lisa Burton Radio. The only show that brings you interviews with the characters from the books you love.
I’m your host Lisa the robot girl, and my special guest today is a cat. A very special cat named Marmaduke. “What brings you to the show today, Marmaduke?”
“Diana, my human, has been acting strangely. We’ve rubbed along fine for years, just the two of us, she does her thing, I do mine. Different hours, different lifestyles, but checking in over a saucer of milk or coffee a couple of times a day. A pair of bachelorettes …”
“Oh! So you’re a girl cat.”
“I certainly was last time I looked. Is that relevant, do you suppose?”
“I just thought. You know, Marmaduke is typ—. Why would you be concerned about Diana?”
“I knew something was up when she went on a cleaning blitz…
Many stories have a ‘faction’ part of their world. It can be obvious with feuding guilds or opposing armies. Other times, you can miss it because you’re only introduced to one of the groups and merely hear about the others. You can even have factions turn up in a more modern setting in the form of cliques and other 21st century lingo. So, what are some things to consider when creating factions?
They don’t always have to be political or religious. I know it’s tempting to go for that aspect of humanity, but it isn’t necessary. In fact, one might say that avoiding such a touchy subject would get you more attention. Other options are family, friends, school clubs, competing for jobs, or resource seeking. You would be surprised how much more you can get out of avoiding the two most overused subjects.
There has to be some kind of leadership for it to be a faction. This can be a single leader or a council system, but we’re talking about an organization. You don’t have to introduce these leaders if they aren’t going to be major factors of the story. There simply has to be a sense that the group is structured.
Your protagonist doesn’t have to be a member for them to be in the story. Of course, this is needed if the plot revolves around joining the faction or rising up the ranks. If they are only being used as a part of the world to give it more depth then that’s fine. It can even be that your hero does jobs for them or that the villain gets his minions from their ranks.
Try to be unique or fun with the faction name. For that matter, they need a name because you can’t have people shouting ‘Those Guys!’ all the time. It can be anything that fits the world. You might need some explanation though. For example, they can be called the ‘Ivory Panthers’ because they are a band of evil poachers that go specifically for ivory. They’re opposed by the ‘Earth Hearts’ who are out to protect all of nature.
While uniforms aren’t necessary, you do need a symbol or gesture that faction members use to identify each other. The flash and obviousness of this requires a little thought. You don’t want an Assassin Guild wearing large hats that are decorated with the skulls of their victims while in public. Many factions may operate in secret, so kind that in mind.
With warring factions, you need to give them a reason. It can be as minor as competing for limit jobs or as major as revenge. This is probably only really important if the hero’s story factors into them. Factions that are background are able to survive without a lot of details.
Never forget a base of operations. I’ve read a few stories where the groups seem to be everywhere. They have a clear leadership, but no central location for them to operate out of. You can make it a yearly gathering too. Just have something that locks in the idea that they are large organization. Heck, you could probably get away with a newsletter that goes out every month and has the printer’s address on it. As long as it helps build stability.
Legends of Windemere 