Kaimerus Deception – Novel 75k -The son of a general shipwrecks a rogue mission on a planet housing a telepathic family, berserker soldiers, and his only way home places him in the middle of the ensuing chaos. I’m on chapter 8 of draft 4, and preparing for a full edit scheduled in July. You can track my progress on the homepage WIP bar.
Concept Cover
Back Cover Blurb – Stranded on a planet with telepaths and a large colony of future slaves, Yuman Re is offered the role of General over the colony or wallow in prison. Choosing the role of General reveals dark secrets and sets the rebels hunting for his head. Stopping the man in power could cost Yuman his freedom, sanity, or even his life. But if he doesn’t, the whole colony might be swept away at the hands of an evil tyrant.
Current Writing Project:
Fraternal Scourge – (Currently 27k and 8k into Part II) – Six months ago, Steve cheated on his girlfriend. Mary didn’t break up with him, but never really let it go. A zombie outbreak in their college campus separates them, leaving him with an attractive female, and a relic related to the outbreak. Mary is the key to stopping him from making things worse, but will he still be interested when they meet again? If Part I ended at 19k, this could either become my next novel, or be serialized like Hugh Howey did with Wool. Right now I’m switching over to Mary’s POV for Part II and just seeing where she takes me. (For an interesting discussion on my internal debate of what type of POV to use for this story, check out my NAF post “Questioning Use of Multiple Person POV.”)
Flash Fiction Contest for Shock Totem due May 7. In order to keep it secret for the contest, I won’t divulge the premise of my story.
Short Fiction WIP
Working Title – Drowning Laughter – Short Story 6k – Sebastian woke up in the woods three days ago with no memories. In a nearby motel, memories start occurring of a familiar woman. One motel occupant takes him out into the middle of a storm to meet the Litterbug. Sebastian’s arrival cost him a dear friend, now Sebastian must face his past, or be stuck in the Kingdom of Nothing, forever. This is a submission for The Lost: A Kingdom of Nothing Anthology First draft complete, 4/7/12, at 6,100 words
Small Town Scourge – Novelette 9k – Joe Olive, a former youth pastor mired in a 3rd shift security job at a ProsperSeed factory, finds himself alone in the heart of a zombie outbreak in rural Iowa. His wife doesn’t believe him, and the cops say the blood on his car is from a deer, but the zombie who attacked him had a watch that is the key to unlocking the conspiracy and resealing the dead. Joe must figure out the heart of his own problems before his whole town is consumed by a deal with the dead that has gone very, very bad. A publisher asked for a polish and that has been sent in.
Scouting for More – Flash Fiction 1k – Two cub scouts went into the woods on a dare. Sometimes survival is not the right option. This is the beginning of one thread in my Deals with the Dead series, of which, Small Town Scourge is also a part. Submitted early January, 2012, rejected, resubmitted late February.
To Drug a Princess – Flash Fiction 1k – A stable boy laces apples from his father’s orchard with an addictive party drug. When the Prince brings the Princess to join the party, courage in the face of defeat will be needed. Submitted to 6-8 month response market on 1/2/12.
In A Gadda Da Revolucion! – Short Story 2k for Mad Scientist Anthology – Mike Plested and J.A. Hite are putting together this anthology and this story will be submitted to that. In a world dependent on cell phones and online networks, what would happen if hypnosis could be spread through subliminal messages on your phone or internet? What if the person behind it just wanted people to be happy doing what they want to do? What about those who would wish harm upon others–like mad scientists? He has something special for them…. Resubmitted per request by publisher after guidelines changed to a pure essay format.
The Other Side of Innocence (formerly The Mess I’ve Made) – Short Story 3.5k- It’s a Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic story about a hitman lured out of retirement, into an abandoned New York subway station, and discovers “the other side” is his worst nightmare come to life. – Turned in to Writers of the Future
Crystal Vendetta – Short story 7.5k- A young man exiled from a secluded paradise tries to get back only to realize going back may bring about its destruction. The company he keeps to return home feeds his lust for revenge, even offering to share their life-sucking powers if he will help them slaughter the people who exiled him. This young man must decide what path to take before it’s too late and they are on the other side. – This story was rejected and I need to polish it before sending it back out. This was written prior to my Team PYP mentorship program and I’ve learned a ton since.
