All the World's a Game...

All the World's a Game - The Beginnings of Dime Store Novel

Sometimes a story starts with an image. Sometimes with an overheard conversation. Dime Store Novel started with a game.

We owned a game shop at the time -- a little place frequented mostly by teenage boys. Some nights we held a role-playing game in the basement. That night John was running a game we'd never played before -- Call of Cthulhu, a game based on the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft. John was the storyteller. I played a young herbalist named Toledo Cats who had a mangy cat named Voodoo. Tony, a friend of ours, played Hanover Fist, a young detective who had a thing for Toledo.

The time - the 1920s. The place - a haunted house in New Orleans. We were ready to rock. Officer O'Malley made his first appearance as a ghost who calls Hanover and tells him he needs to investigate this house. O'Malley didn't have a first name yet or a wife and daughter -- those details of his life would emerge much later. Hanover's parents owned a restaurant and a friend named Doug played a priest who sat in the restaurant slurping soup. If you've read From the Gator's Mouth, you know that  Doug's slurping priest gets a cameo. The story was suspenseful -- what story about a house haunted by zombies isn't? But it was also humorous.

John went on to run several other Call of Cthulhu campaigns. Tony always played Hanover Fist. I rotated between Toledo Cats and Regan Worth, the flapper daughter of a bootlegger who loved to flirt with Hanover.

The characters stuck. John got the idea to write a series called Dime Store Novel. He took a stab at one using the Lovecraft mythos. It was close, but not quite right. One night before dinner, we were talking about the world. I said, "Why not create our own mythos?"

The light went on. Soon after, Agatha, the earthbound swamp goddess was born, followed shortly thereafter by Caprice, the goddess of chaos. As the stories evolved, the gods proliferated. Khrou-ach, the storm god, and Acongojar, the pain god, became antagonists inRips in the Weave and The Desert Rose. Chiindii, the god of the desert, and Ravir, the goddess of pleasure, are key to the plot in bothThe Desert Rose and The Reunion. We also gave fairies and goblins a different twist. I don't want to spoil the fun, so you'll need to read the books to figure that out. The good news is, you can get The Reunion kindle edition FREE during our Lucky Friday the 13th special (Friday 7/13 through Monday 7/16). We'd like to invite you to escape the humdrum world of day to day and experience the world we created at a gaming table in a cool, dimly lit basement.

The Dime Store Novel characters blog at http://dimestorenovel.blogspot.com.

A huge Thank you to the great writers of Dime Store Novels! Go, get and Read!

Censorship and Banning Art

This is the twenty-first century and its time we all respect each other. So you may not always agree with someones opinion. So do we ban all books we find disagreeable with our thoughts or morals? What about a piece of art you may not like? How about the facts in history we find uncomfortable? So do censor them all? After all you may be offend by something. I don't always agree with everyone but they have a right to an opinion, I mine and you yours. We should support each others right to write, paint, lifestyles and photographs. 
Let us all accept each other as we are. No, you don't have to read or look at things that you don't agree with. But defend the rights of others to. I write about ghosts and things that go bump in the night and things that may not be. Many don't believe in these things thats Ok. 
Please do not censor my books or anyones book of fiction. I am a lucky person and know many wonderful writers and I would never want any of their books banned because someone finds it offensive. So ask your self do you want someone to tell you what to read, look at or how you should live? If it's no then don't let them censor the internet. A friend said to me "Draconian measures are not the answers." Nicely said.
I am resting and recovering from emergency surgery last week on my neck. So when you don't see me please know I am trying to get better quick. To all who knew and have been sending me love and games thank you, love you all. I will tweet more tomorrow.
So what books have you loaded up on your e-readers? Do tell me.
Cheers.

Black Friday Shopping.

How about we fill all the Kindles, Nooks and e-readers with books from Indie writers. Everyone has shopped till they drop. Lets make it easy for you. There are so many wonderful writers with every kind of book your friends and family would love. Here is a start then wander of to the Coffin Hop list so many wonderful writers.


http://amzn.to/ujOWFO  This Brilliant Darkness


http://amzn.to/rQhkv1  Damian's Oracle


http://bit.ly/tB47tM  The Reunion


http://bit.ly/ike8KG Unsceptred Isle 


http://amzn.to/tNMjbX  Haunted Bedtime Stories


http://bit.ly/nqxPGq    Haunted Bedtime Stories for Nook, Ipad and other e-readers.

So why not add these books to all the e-readers you buy. Give the ones you love a great gift of books. Thank you all so much for your support. Lets support all the great writers in Coffin Hop.
Black Friday, I am sleeping in and relaxing doing a bit of writing. What did you do on Black Friday?

Lets Walk around, London is Epic and Haunted.

Welcome back. I do hope you have your walking shoes on. Well, we are standing on the middle Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament. No thats not Big Ben that is the clock tower Big Ben is the bell. Oh, that man walking under the bridge ignore him and don't go running across the bridge to see him. He is a ghost and never goes out the other side. If you get hit by traffic it will upset your family. Please stay on the walk, this bridge is very busy. Now across the river from the houses of Parliament that is Lambert Palace, whats left of it. You have seen the view from there many times on telly when they do stories about London or Great Britain.

Now the Houses of Parliament it is a must do tour. When I was here with my son last fall we sat in on the House of Commons. You sit in an upper gallery and watch from above. You can feel the centuries of history and law making. Walking through the building you can see the history of the UK unfold. Now is it haunted? Well, depends on who you ask. I say yes you can feel the ghosts watching you. Maybe even Mr. Guy Fawkes, remember the 5th of Nov., just saying. So when you have time take a tour online.....
                                                     http://bit.ly/rNaMlV
So lets head back over the bridge to Queens Walk. No, we wont walk all the way to Tower Bridge today lets just hang out here in Westminster or as some say Central London. The Thames River is lovely to walk along and spend time on people watching, eating, and so close to fun things. The London Eye is here and the view is Fab! It's a huge Ferris wheel I love riding it. I took these pictures of my ride.

So lets go sit on the benches and have a cuppa and watch the people. You know many say they feel the ghosts walk by. Behind us is the London Aquarium. I have yet to see inside it. I couldn't tell you why I just never have.  http://bit.ly/u96isV It looks interesting from the online information, here it is next to the London Eye. On the list to see next visit.

So next time I will meet you at Tower Bridge. Wear walking shoes we will walk and have a peek at the Tower of London too. So time to hop I am sure others have a lot to tell you. I suggest Dime Store Novels, Creepy Walker, K. Koning and Jason Darrick/Fear in Words.

Book signing, HalloWeiner, Halloween Village & Coffin Blog hop.

The book signing was great. I was lucky enough to meet not one but two twitter friends. The book signing is way out of my comfort zone, I am a shy person. I have no problem chatting people up online, in person its another thing.

I had two posters one will be in Las Vegas to be sold for the charity HalloWiener. Let's be honest short legs rule! Princess wanted to go but it's a bit of a trip from here.

http://www.lvhddcr.com/Hallowiener.php

It is the Halloween season, so I have my village up and running. Halloween Village is my hobby I have been collection   it for just about 15 years. It now takes three days to put up. I see no reason to take it down, family has issues with that.

Now coming very soon you can join Coffin Blog Hop many give aways. As they say on telly stay tuned.
I have also started a new project with a friend. We are co-writing a short story. Please wish us luck with it.
Haunted Bedtime Stories would be perfect now with your busy life. It is a collection of short stories. Go check it out. What are you reading?

9-11 Ten years ago.

Its hard to believe ten years ago I was teaching Photography. I remember that day so well. As I was getting ready for school I was told the World Trade Center had been hit. I just couldn't believe it. I had to be at school at 6.30 am. When I got to school it was so quiet. We were told let the kids see TV and keep them as calm as you can. My classes were Seniors and Juniors. Most of the kids came to school. I told each of my classes how proud I was of them. They were never to let someone or some group keep them from their goals and dreams.
I miss the classroom and going to school each day. Due to a condition I can't work full time, sadly can't teach anymore. That was my final year teaching. I am glad all my students came to school and have lived each day as hard working people. I am sorry that a few of my students died in the wars that followed. These kids had so much to give.
Well, I hope we can learn from the past to never repeat it but sadly I fear that wont happen.
May you have a peaceful day and remember your loved ones and friends. Princess and I wish well and thank you.

Haunted Bedtime Stories out to buy!

Here you go buy your copy of Haunted Bedtime Stories. In a few days paperback copies will be out. So far 3 stars so sweet. Thanks you all so much for your support. I will do a longer post soon I have so many to thank.

 http://bit.ly/nqxPGq  http://amzn.to/qywASu 


The Vampire Corgi request you buy she wants a T-Bone. LOL
Thank you ever so much!

Haunted Bedtime Stories coming soon. Stay tuned!

Summer is almost over what a summer for me. Haunted Bedtime Stories is out in about a week and a half. I am looking forward too it. I have also been writing on my next book out next year. So as I slowly heal I have been busy writing. I wish I could have read more. Never enough time and too many books.

So until my book is out check out these very good books.

amazon.com/Unsceptred-Isl

http://www.dimestorenovel.net/FromtheGatorsMouth.aspx

Also if you are in the LA area please pass on and be on the look out for Luci she is lost corgi pup.

http://tumblr.com/x2449gqz68


Say hi to me if you follow me on twitter or here. I love hearing from you. What are you reading now?

I will keep her busy writing. Barooo!

Slow road to recovery.

It is a long road to recovery. The pins are but poor foot is swollen and sore to walk on I sadly can't run. OK I can barely walk. At least the pain medicine is cut way back which is good. Thank you so much for all you support and love on this. It has helped really.
Editing is half done on Haunted Bedtime Stories. Those who have read it, are saying it is crazy, scary, fun and touching. Lots of ghosts don't worry.
I need to get back to work. Then a short nap and dinner/Tea. No fighting over if it's dinner or tea. It's tea for me.
Oh before I forget I did an interview with Morgen in the UK have a read. I suggest you read this blog as well. 


http://t.co/N8p0SZe


Please say hello and lets chat. So what are you reading this summer?

Vampire Corgi's work is never done.

How long do you push your book?

Another week and yet so little feels done. Never enough time to do all one wants. I need 36 hour days, who do I talk to about that?
 I was asked how long I was going to talk about my book. I said about another month. No I didn't go on about it for three months before it came out just two weeks. I also didn't give it away to anyone who asked. Nope no contest to win it before its out. I also am not selling a years work for .99¢. I can't put out four books a year of quality. If you want quantity fine but how is it as a book. How is the research? I feel you get what you pay for. I read many reviews before pricing my book. The things that kept coming up was if its cheap its because it is crap. I saw many say it was a waste of money, worst book I ever read and one said I want my money and time back. All I could say was Yikes! I don't keep tweeting my book, if your getting 100 new followers a day cool do so but other wise your beating a dead book. If you do read a great book, tell the world about it.
So why am I putting another book out four months after the first? Well its a book of short stories I have written over the last two years. Most are ghost related. My novel was written three years ago. My next novel will not be ready for at least a year. I do write everyday.
Now I am almost done reading "A Proper Charlie" by Louise Wise. Its very British and I love it! Its for adults not a kids book so refreshing. Here are a few more writers you might need to check out: Elizabeth Parker, Tom Wagner, Adriana Kraft, Lesley Galsten, Andrew Mocete, J.B. Thomas, Rich Evans, Derek Haines and my friend Draven Ames. If I forgot anyone tell me.
Thank you for your support have a great week. Please tell what are you reading?

Book reviews, how to deal. Glamor of a writer's life.

What a long week. I read a few blogs, most are about books and eBooks and what the writers are doing. I was sent a blog to read "Big Al's Books and Pals". He did a review of a book. He said it was interesting, but need some work on spelling and grammar. Its not a bad review, but the writer hated it. She went into a public melt down that was embarrassing for herself. Many asked her to stop but sadly she didn't in fact she resorted to profanity. I don't know the lady, no idea whats going on in her life. It was so sad to see someone ruin a chance of a book deal. Many agents read blogs and blogs that review books. We have all had one time or another been on the end of someones meltdown. We have also all had meltdowns but most of don't go public. I feel bad for this lady up to a point, but be real not everyone is going to love your work. I had a bad review but sadly the reviewer couldn't be nice enough to say why he disliked my book. I wish this lady well and hope she gets her act together.
I read another blog saying as a writer we should teach others to write. I was a High School teacher. I taught art for a long time. The people who read my blog are adults and have read books on how to write and some have taken classes in college. Some read my blog because they want to know what is up with me and when my next book is out. I will not insult them by saying you need to read this book on how to or do what ever. If asked I can honestly say everyone write in his or her own way. Books on how to are a tool. You can read every book ever written on how to but you still need an imagination.
Many people think a writers life is all glamor. Not so, most are hard working people who hold down a full time job, family life and then write their books, blogs and do publicity work for them selves. Having four full time jobs is not easy. Its stressful and very hard work. Please be kind to them and support them and if you read a book that's good to you pass it on to others. Today I am  passing on a book that is very good to read.  "A Proper Charlie" by Louise Wise. You can get her book on Amazon.com.
As for me I have been working the on five shorts stories for my book. I wrote most of these stories over the last year. I write in a notebook I call my sloppy copy book. I then put on the computer for spelling and grammar then off to editor and then re-done, repeat. It is a slow process and I do have to do things like clean house, cook and walk Princess. Oh the glamor of it all.
So here are a few writers I would recommend to anyone. Stephen King is a great story teller, Jack Ketchum will scare you to bits, Dan Simmons can tell you a tale you wont put down and if you like historical fiction kind of girly go for Philippa Gregory. Here are few other cool writers you many not know.....Debbie Mack, Louise Wise, Greg Messel, Belinda Frisch, Debra Purdy Kong check them out on Twitter.
So what book would you recommend me to read?