Support of the Arts

by Mj Preston

One of the toughest things about breaking out as a new author is getting people to notice you; especially if you're an independent. Since getting into this gig I have learned a thing or two about human nature. We as humans love to take, but we have a harder time giving.
     I am speaking of course of the importance of giving reviews. I'm not getting up on a soapbox to lecture people about how I'm a starving artist and I have it so bad and if it wasn't for you people holding back on your wonderful reviews of my book I'd be living on the same street as James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola.
     Although, let's face it, that would be kind of cool.

     Recently, in the spirit of thanks, I offered up three of my books exclusively to Dark Discussions members as a way of saying “thanks” to the group for all the support I've received on my debut novel: THE EQUINOX. I'm not like Stephen King or Tom Clancy

or even JK Rowling. I didn't get the break that allowed me to hand back the keys to my big rig and walk away. I'm a pretty realistic guy, I'm 48 years old, I have one book in publication and working overtime to get second book out that has a working title of Acadia Event. While doing this I have to balance a life just like you, I pull long hours, sometimes as long as 16 per day, I work away from home, and I make sacrifices to take care of my family. I'm not bitching, don't get me wrong, I'm relatively content. Of course I'd like to be home, maybe spend more time with my lady, work in my study to write, instead of over the steering wheel of a truck.

      But all in all, I'm not walking around tripping over my lip crying out, “I could have been a contender.”

      Not everyone can be Stephen King. And heck, who wants to be Stephen King anyway, he's one gangly looking bugger aint he? I kid of course, I would have loved to have the ability to get up in the morning and go to work in my office banging away on my keyboard for four or five hours. Because it really is a high when you get to do this. And from a personal standpoint, when someone reads your work and is happily able to escape for a few hours that is better than any paycheck.

     Something that was mentioned on the Dark Discussions Podcast really hit home with me. I think it was host Eric Webster, who gave a bit of insight on the directors of a film called Resolution: He stated, and this is not verbatim, that if you want to see these guys make more films you got to get out and watch their movies. Not download them in torrents or bootleg copies, but spend a few bucks to support an up-and-coming artist. The other thing you have to do is spread the word. This is where reviews come in and this is what helps an artist get to that next level so they're not sacrificing their art in order to eat..

     I will probably work outside the writing trade for the rest of my life, I don't see any movie deals on the horizon and I don't know how many books I have left my system. Two more for sure, but maybe more. I do know that I love this art and it brings me great pleasure. I also know that until I can't see a monitor I will write for
the rest of my life. The most precious commodity I have at my fingertips is time. For me, time yields the greatest value, beyond fame or fortune. Now while it may be too late for me to hand in the keys to my big rig and say to my boss, “Catch you later alligator.” There are many up-and-coming young artists out there who need your support, so that they can do what it is that they were intended to do. Be it music, painting, photography, film direction, acting and on and on it goes...

     Talented people bring us day-to-day pleasure and help us escape our own worlds if not for a few pages or notes as we join them in their world. So I'm going to ask you please, support the arts. If you read a book by somebody that you like, scribble out a few words about that book and post it where that book is being sold. Better yet, go to your public library and request that book be ordered in. The same goes for music, movies, photographers and painters. It really is a waste for somebody to set aside their gift because they can't support themselves. Not only for them, but for all of us.

     With that said, I'll take a second to tell you little bit about what's going on with me. Right now I am working on my new novel, astime allows I'm trying to get the first draft down on paper before summers end. If the Gods shine on me it should be in print by Christmas. 

     After Acadia Event I have a third novel to follow simply called: 4 – and yes,  I am not lost on the fact that my third novel is called 4. My photo book is two thirds done. But I really want to finish the Acadia Event, so it has priority over everything. 

     In addition to that I was sanctioned by Great Old Ones Publishing to contribute a story to an upcoming anthology and I have also had the pleasure of doing the cover art. Those two bits are done, I'm looking forward to the final cut.

     That's it for me but I'm not done yet, I want to bring two short tales to your attention. They're both by an author that I met through Dark Discussions.  That author's name is Gord Rollo. The two stories in question are Crowley's Window and Peeler.

     Rollo has a very distinctive style and weaves a tale masterfully. I enjoyed both of these stories; my only bitch about them is that they were a little too short and I was forced to leave Rollo's macabre world before I was ready. But we don't pick where the story ends and in the case of these two shorts they ended exactly where they were supposed to. 

     Gord Rollo has a number of books in publication that can be purchased on Amazon.com. His e-books are fairly inexpensive so be sure to check him out and once your finished, do him a solid and leave a review.

     Okay, time to set this aside and head North.

     Mj Preston

Visit: MJ Preston's Official Webpage

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                      

THE DEAD DON'T SPEAK

by MJ Preston

I have been reading since I was kid. I started out with comic books, moved up to novels written by the likes of Stephen King, Frank Herbert, Robert R McCammon and then there were scores of other writers, outside the realm of horror. To name a few, Frederick Forsyth and Tom Clancy who took me for a ride withThe Dogs of War or into the trenches of World War 3 with Red Storm Rising. My appetite for reading was not limited to fiction either, I grew very interested in true crime, historical events and I am an incurable news junkie. What am saying here? Well, I like reading, I don't get to do it nearly enough, but I try to do it as often as possible and if I can't settle back with a book, I'll plug in an audio book.

So, as hard as this might be to believe, I have a confession to make. Up until last year I had never read a single book by Dean Koontz. It wasn't because I had heard anything negative about Koontz, I just hadn't discovered him. Last year, I purchased an old book by him called: Lightening, which was a cool time travel bit in which Nazi's were trying to change the future. I followed this up with a book called: The Voice of the Night which he penned under the name Brian Coffey. The second book wasn't quite as good as the first, but Koontz has an interesting approach to story telling. I might not have picked up another book by Koontz, there are so many out there by so many capable authors and time seems to be the only thing holding me back from indulging in my favorite indulgence.

Six months ago, in a second hand store with my wife, who was clearly looking for something she could afford on my starving artists wages, I picked up a book another Koontz book for a quarter. I figured I'd grab the dog eared paperback and sit in the car while she toiled over the treasure trove of shit other people didn't want in their home. If the book was a dud I'd be out a quarter, if it wasn't I drag it along with me to any place I'd be happy to wait. 

Sitting down in the driver seat, setting it to recline, I thumbed open the paperback and was introduced to the main character who, in the first person, said, “My name is Odd Thomas.”

By the second paragraph, I was hooked and knew that when my wife came out I would have to grudgingly put the book down. 

As I quickly found out, Odd Thomas was a 20-Something Fry Cook slinging hash browns and pancakes in the Peco Mundo Grill, which was set somewhere on the California Coast. As Odd revealed himself, he made mention of his dysfunctional parents, with whom he is estranged – his adopted family, comprised of father figure, Chief Wyatt Porter, and his mentor, Little Ozzie, a morbidly obese and successful mystery writer who tells Odd to keep the tone of the story is telling you light. Most notably, Odd speaks of his love, Stormy Llewellyn with whom he is destined to spend the rest of his life. Once settling into the world of Odd Thomas, his family and friends I also discovered one other thing. Odd sees the dead,e and he attempts to help them to pass from this world to the next. Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention that many of those who come to Odd Thomas for help are often the victims of violent circumstances. In the opening of the first book, he is visited by the ghost of a brutally murdered girl and sets out to catch her killer. That is where the story opens, but doesn't end when he is successful in catching her killer.

In fact, it is only an introduction to the world of Odd Thomas who in the first book of the same name. Along with the victims of violent crimes, Odd often finds himself in the company of Elvis Presley's ghost, who has not moved on to the next world for reasons Odd has yet to understand. Oh yeah, one other thing. Odd also sees apparitions known as: Bodachs which he speculates are either demons or time travelers that feed off massive loss of life with horrific drama.

Anton Yelchin cast as Odd Thomas

I'm not going to spoil the books for you. I will tell you that I have read five of the Odd Thomas Books: Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, Brother Odd, Odd Hours, and Odd Apocalypse. And I'm not finished, there are more books to read and now a motion picture adaption of the first book. I can also confess that the humor and light tone of these books are a pleasant escape told completely in the first person. Odd Thomas, is a selfless individual who manages to stay upbeat and positive in the face of an adverse and cynical world. His only conceit is his greatest talent and I am paraphrasing here as he declares, “No one makes fluffier pancakes than me. So light and fluffy. they almost float of the plate.” Koontz delivers this likeable young man who has faces murder, mayhem, torture, heart wrenching loss, but still he carries on. 

Unlike you or I, Odd does not fear death, because he knows what waits for him, Odd continues his quest to give justice those who cannot demand it because as he puts it.

The dead don't speak.

M

Building the Perfect Beast

by MJ Preston

This brings me to the 3rd installment of the MAY MONSTER blog hop and to the end of my blog regarding digital art. My present writing project is a horror novel which is under the working title: ACADIA EVENT. I say working title, because I haven't pledged myself fully to this title. It may not change between now and publication, but I can't guarantee it won't. I am taking a "wait and see" approach because given the opportunity to go back and rename my debut novel I think I would have definitely gone with another title. That aside, I think I should warn you up front that I'm not going to tell you what the new novel is about. Instead I am going to post some artwork here and allow you to draw your own conclusions.  
     And with that said here you go. I present to you a monolithic piece awash in emerald green and super nova blue detonating from my minds eye and tunneling straight into your cerebral cortex.

Artwork for ACADIA EVENT is an ongoing process that happens chapter by chapter.

     When I started Acadia I decided to use the same approach I did with 'The Equinox'.  which is to create virtual storyboards and use them to mold the things I see in my minds eye as I approach writing each new chapter.

     In writing the new book I was left to consider what the new monster(s) would look like and I began churning out ideas. An early picture had the creature looking somewhat like a conehead and though I liked it and it remains in an early promotional piece, it would not stay the same as it evolved.

    In the first drafts it stood upright, with an exoskeleton and primitive claws that could pluck out an eye or better yet an internal organ to feast upon. But the more I learned about this creature and how it would eventually operate I thought it best to both change how it walked and give it the ability of something that had higher intelligence. 

As you can see in the following pictures the creature carries itself in a dog-like stance, but it also has a human characteristic in that it has opposing thumbs. In the following three picks you can actually see a minor evolution taking place.

The end result of this exercise is not only to solidify how this monster, but how it will act as it bounds across the pages of my new novel taking victims as it does.
      I came up with a name for the creature as well. I call it a Skentophyte as to what that actually means; you'll have to read the book when it comes in the latter part of 2013. In addition to the wiley fellow you see on the left there is another creature that is involved with the Skentophytes, but I'll hold onto that tidbit until the book is ready. With that said, I aam going to stop rampling before I give something else away and just post a bunch of artwork and let it do my talking.
     Just a quick note to let those know who frequent this page I will be doing a bit of traveling over the next day or so. Given that, I may miss a blog or two and I ask your forgiveness in advance.  

     Thanks for the feedback and kind words. Be sure to check out all the other cool blogs during this weeks MAY MONSTER MADNESS and kudos to the founders. Okay, enough of my yammering. 

 

  

  

Visit: MJ Preston's Official Webpage

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                      

MAY MONSTER MADNESS:Blog Hop

1.	Annie Walls	18.	GingerRead Review	35.	Tasha's Thinkings
2.	Magaly Guerrero	19.	Carmen Jenner Author	36.	Stuff! Also, Things.
3.	Stephen Tremp	20.	Book Me!	37.	Lexa Cain
4.	Toni @ My Book Addiction	21.	Design du Jour	38.	Roland Yeomans
5.	QueenCicada	22.	Not This Time, Nayland Smith	39.	Real Queen of Horror
6.	Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh	23.	FIRE IT UP! Beer-fueled Horror Musings	40.	Procrastonaut
7.	Something WicKED this way comes...	24.	Shah Wharton	41.	Ms Misantropia
8.	Little Gothic Horrors	25.	Tim Brannan, The Other Side	42.	Zombie Author Rose Wynters
9.	Maynard Morrissey's HORROR MOVIE DIARY	26.	Holly's Horrorland	43.	Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
10.	Kweeny Todd	27.	Professor Z	44.	My Haunted Attic
11.	This and that...	28.	Dark Rosaleen	45.	Dr. Theda
12.	L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge	29.	The Beveled Edge	46.	Jenny's House of Horrors
13.	The Dark World of MJ Preston	30.	Candilynn Fite	47.	TF Walsh
14.	Entertaining Interests	31.	Jason Lloyd	48.	Fallen
15.	Emily Unraveled	32.	Diane Riggins	49.	It Came From The Man Cave!
16.	Cinematic Catharsis	33.	Lori Parker
17.	Unnatural Selections	34.	Coffintree Hill

(Submissions close in 7d 2h 30m)

Welcome to the City of the Dead

The Stranger known as: the 4th Horseman carries with him a darkness.

by MJ Preston

Along with generating a pile of Equinox art I also start creating work for a pictorial I was going to call: The 4th Horseman. The concept was simple enough. A stranger carrying a bag walks into a city and unleashes something that changes city into a hell on earth. Not a new concept by any means. Author Richard Matheson gave us 'I am Legend' which spawned three films adaptions: The Last Man on Earth (1964), The Omega Man (1971) and I am Legend (2007). Along with Matheson's influential novel, the film Resident Evil (2002) used biological disaster caused by an evil corporation to turn people in Racoon City into cannibalistic zombies. It also went on to become a major franchise and set into motion an epidemic of zombie movies. Including the critically acclaimed HBO series 'The Walking Dead' based on the Graphic Novel originally penned by Robert Kirkman and illustrated by Tony Moore in 2003.

After the 4th Horseman arrives things change drastically.

     Over saturation and the fact that I don't think my Artistic ability is anywhere near the caliber of illustrators like Tony Moore forced me to face reality. So after a flurry of creativity I got back to writing and abandon the idea of doing a graphic novel. At least in this particular genre. But that is not  to say that I am completely out. I have looked at a few other concepts, including adding illustrations to books. And that is because I truly love this medium of work. It is a lot of fun.

In the City of the Dead law enforcement is a must.

      The one thing I did get from this exercise was the inspiration for a couple of new books. No, not books about the City of the Dead, but characters were spawned  from these ideas.  

     Even though 'The 4th Horseman' concept has been shelved my third novel, still in its infancy, was inspired by some of what came from this exercise. My latest project, Acadia Event also has a character who would have been originally cast in 'The 4th Horseman Graphic Novel'. So all is not lost in the fall of an idea. And I still hold onto some of these pictures with an almost freakish sentiment.

After the event that uleashed change the switchman still works the railroad. 

     Although not all writers use art to spur on their creative side I believe that what you see here on this page is the inner working of my minds eye. How that comes to be is really not all that complicated. I get a visual inside my head, pictures begin to form, and from that I begin to build the characters, places and the events that connect them. I can't speak for other writers, but assume that they have a similar experience when they go down that rabbit hole.

What waits down darkened corridors is anyone's guess.

 
     After a computer crash last year, I lost the bulk of the pictures I'd generated in my week long frenzy, but I did manage to salvage a few. I still look back on this fondly and think to myself. Maybe there is still something there. 

    Who knows. I hang onto everything, even pieces that have been excised from my writing because they didn't work. In my den, office, workspace, I have the original draft manuscript for The Equinox which telephone book sized hulk of paper riddled with post-it notes and red ink. Sometimes I'll pick it up and leaf through it and look at what was taken out. Taken out for good reason by the way. Even that which was tried and did not make the cut is still part of me and the process. 
 
    Well, that about sums it up for this blog entry. Next I'll show of some of my artwork in regard to my latest project with the working title: 'ACADIA EVENT'

     I must say that I have really had fun with this Blog Hop thing that a co-host Mike from The Dark Discussions Podcast passed along. His blog is: Unnatural Selections. I suggest you check him out along with all the other folks participating in this May Monster Madness Blog Hop [See details below]

***

  

Visit: MJ Preston's Official Webpage

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!

'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 

Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                     

 CHECK OUT THESE OTHER GREAT BLOGS:

MAY MONSTER MADNESS BLOG HOP!

1.	Annie Walls	18.	GingerRead Review	35.	Tasha's Thinkings
2.	Magaly Guerrero	19.	Carmen Jenner Author	36.	Stuff! Also, Things.
3.	Stephen Tremp	20.	Book Me!	37.	Lexa Cain
4.	Toni @ My Book Addiction	21.	Design du Jour	38.	Roland Yeomans
5.	QueenCicada	22.	Not This Time, Nayland Smith	39.	Real Queen of Horror
6.	Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh	23.	FIRE IT UP! Beer-fueled Horror Musings	40.	Procrastonaut
7.	Something WicKED this way comes...	24.	Shah Wharton	41.	Ms Misantropia
8.	Little Gothic Horrors	25.	Tim Brannan, The Other Side	42.	Zombie Author Rose Wynters
9.	Maynard Morrissey's HORROR MOVIE DIARY	26.	Holly's Horrorland	43.	Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
10.	Kweeny Todd	27.	Professor Z	44.	My Haunted Attic
11.	This and that...	28.	Dark Rosaleen	45.	Dr. Theda
12.	L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge	29.	The Beveled Edge	46.	Jenny's House of Horrors
13.	The Dark World of MJ Preston	30.	Candilynn Fite	47.	TF Walsh
14.	Entertaining Interests	31.	Jason Lloyd	48.	Fallen
15.	Emily Unraveled	32.	Diane Riggins	49.	It Came From The Man Cave!
16.	Cinematic Catharsis	33.	Lori Parker
17.	Unnatural Selections	34.	Coffintree Hill

 

Rituals and Intersections - Equinox Artwork

by MJ Preston

Daniel Blackbird was one of my first virtual drawings.

From May 11th -17th is the May Monster Madness Blog Hop so I decided dig up some of my artwork and present it in a couple of blogs. Often when I write I use this medium to inspire myself in the storytelling process. When writing my first novel: THE EQUINOX I began a virtual drawing of protagonist 'Daniel Blackbird'. I say virtual, because a pencil never touched paper through the process, everything was generated on computer using an early version of Jasc Paint Shop Pro. This was something I used to do as a kid when writing stories. Back then I carried a sketch pad, binder of loose leaf or whatever I could to scratch out my rudimentary creations.
     As I continued to work on Equinox the art seemed to accompany the creation process and I ended up generating a lot of images. What I didn't realize was that most of the artwork was too low in DPI to be published anywhere, so other putting it up here on a blog or on my website, the early Equinox Art had no marketable value. Live and learn I guess. I wasn't really looking at publishing it anyway, but I have since changed my approach to artwork and go big with the originals now.  I don't think this approach to writing is anything new. I believe Clive Barker took a similar approach in his writing, but unlike Barker I do not market my artwork.
     As I wrote each chapter I also continued producing new images

EQUINOX ART -The Black Orb concealing the creature within.

and as with most things my skill improved. As a result, I began inundating friends and family with whatever popped into my head that week. This usually resulted in the odd comment that insinuated that I suffered from sort of mental problems. I tried not to take these attacks on my mental stability to personally. As a result of this born again process I decided that I would take complete creative control of my book and design my own cover for The Equinox once it was ready for publication. I went through a number of drafts and finally settled on two different covers. One for the paperback and the hardcover. Left you'll see one of the early original concepts. I eventually settled on two different covers, but the process was great fun.

Creative Sculpts: The Skin-walker of Chocktee

Early on the task of creating the skin-walkers was a slow process

I have not limited my creativity to just pictures and writing, but did a bit of sculpting as well, bringing to life the nefarious skin-walker of Chocktee. 

Neighbors must have thought I was crazy putting this guy out.

    It took me about three months and a gallon of silicone to put the seven foot monster together. After completing the project I took a couple shots of the big lug and it caught the attention of local media. It also made for an awesome centerpiece on my front lawn which is usually covered in grave stones and zombies on Halloween. He was a big hit with most of the kids, not all of them would come up my driveway to get a treat. I had to meet some of the more timid kids at the road. [insert devilish grin here].
      After Halloween I had to chop the big guy in half because there really was no where to store him. He's under my patio in a crawl space now, no doubt being crawled upon by spiders and bugs as he waits for my wife to open the door.

Using Internet Media

     Following the publication of Equinox I went on to author a couple of videos which outlined my artwork and introducing the public to some of the characters from the book.  Using music from artist Kevin MacLeod and mixing it with art and animation I produced this video called Faces of Equinox. Have a look.

     Well that's it for this MAY MONSTER MADNESS segment. In my next blog I will take you to the City of the Dead and show you a bit more of my work.

Thanks for stopping in and enjoy your hop across the blogosphere.

M

  

Visit: MJ Preston's Official Webpage

MJ Preston is the Author of the Horror Novel: THE EQUINOX

His new novel ACADIA EVENT is forecasted for release in late 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 RATED AS ONE OF THE 
BEST HORROR NOVELS TO HIT BOOKSHELVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!
'The Equinox' is a tour de force of brilliant writing, fast-paced action, and gritty characterisation. 
Get your copy of The Equinox  
Sold in Hardcover and Trade Paperback
Click on the books below for more details

                      

Blog Hop

1.	Annie Walls	18.	GingerRead Review	35.	Tasha's Thinkings
2.	Magaly Guerrero	19.	Carmen Jenner Author	36.	Stuff! Also, Things.
3.	Stephen Tremp	20.	Book Me!	37.	Lexa Cain
4.	Toni @ My Book Addiction	21.	Design du Jour	38.	Roland Yeomans
5.	QueenCicada	22.	Not This Time, Nayland Smith	39.	Real Queen of Horror
6.	Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh	23.	FIRE IT UP! Beer-fueled Horror Musings	40.	Procrastonaut
7.	Something WicKED this way comes...	24.	Shah Wharton	41.	Ms Misantropia
8.	Little Gothic Horrors	25.	Tim Brannan, The Other Side	42.	Zombie Author Rose Wynters
9.	Maynard Morrissey's HORROR MOVIE DIARY	26.	Holly's Horrorland	43.	Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
10.	Kweeny Todd	27.	Professor Z	44.	My Haunted Attic
11.	This and that...	28.	Dark Rosaleen	45.	Dr. Theda
12.	L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge	29.	The Beveled Edge	46.	Jenny's House of Horrors
13.	The Dark World of MJ Preston	30.	Candilynn Fite	47.	TF Walsh
14.	Entertaining Interests	31.	Jason Lloyd	48.	Fallen
15.	Emily Unraveled	32.	Diane Riggins	49.	It Came From The Man Cave!
16.	Cinematic Catharsis	33.	Lori Parker
17.	Unnatural Selections	34.	Coffintree Hill

(Submissions close in 7d 2h 30m)