Dark Chapter Press presents an anthology by the diabolical master minds of women with murderous intent. Eight stories to give you a little deadly taste of what women horror writers enjoy doing best. Making you uneasy and scaring the hell out of you. Pull up a seat and give in as the lovely ladies weave you stories by the firelight to fan the flames intended for your delight.
A perfect way to spend a Valentine’s Day night – after your date has been tucked in for bed and you’re all alone with nothing to do…
ICYMI – Mike and I had a little bit of a long break around the holidays due to many different things happening but one thing that we don’t intend to do is lose the urge to want to sit down and talk about the books we’ve read. If you haven’t yet subscribed to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast catcher – and didn’t see our two new January episodes, here are links to stream them from our Shelf Life website. We are looking to do a classic novel for our next episode – something that harkens back to our old High School years and have more lined up in the following months. It’s our intention to get back to releasing a new one at least once per month going forward but if you subscribe to our podcast you’ll be sure not to miss it.
We are not experts — we just discuss books that we like, love, or didn’t. We hope that you’ll find value in that and hang out with us as we discuss them.
If you like movies, I was also a guest on SlasherCast – SideEffect in January. Dave and I sat down and discussed The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:
A Kaiju. Like ‘Godzilla’. Like the villains in Pacific Rim (which I LOVE).
So I wanted to post up and say that I’m totally banana-bonkers excited that Jeremy Robinson has published a new book in his “Project” series that blends his heroes from ‘Project Nemesis’, ‘Island 731’, and ‘Project Maigo’ (you need to read them in THAT order so that they all fall into place, if you’re new to the series and want to catch up on them). From Jeremy’s blog it looks like he has plans to do a major book cross-over in 2016 that will further this “Project” series, so it’s not over with this book either. Look at that amazing cover art! That’s not even the end of it. There are actual fan drawings INSIDE too!
I was never an original ‘Godzilla’ fan way back in the day. The Matthew Broderick one didn’t strike me as a great addition to the genre either, though I don’t rank on it as much as some others might. I don’t think it was trying to be serious. I loved ‘Jurassic Park‘ and Peter Jackson’s ‘King Kong‘- which may have sparked my love for giant monsters – but when ‘Pacific Rim‘ came out- I lost my mind with how much I loved it. It was just…so. Much. Fun. I saw it in theaters 3 times easily in the first 3 weeks.
We know that some of the sequels to these movies will be coming to theaters in the next year or two but until then, where can we get the fresh experience of those giant monsters again?
I think you know what I’ll say to that.
You need to check these books out. Give the first one a try and see if it grabs your attention. If it doesn’t, maybe film is your Huckleberry and not text versions. No worries in that case. But if you’re looking for that thrill of an action adventure story with 300ft Kaiju, you’ve gotta read the guy that has basically started his own sub-genre category title with this series. If you’re on the move and can’t read them – the audiobooks are awesome (if you’ve been listening to The Shelf Life, then you know I love audiobooks). I’ve been a fan of R.C Bray (who narrates ‘Island 731’) for many books (check him out!) and he’s an excellent ‘Hawkins’ and Jeffrey Kafer (narrates the ‘Project’ series) is an awesome voice for the hero, Hudson.
If you’re reading this and feel excited to try the book/s out – I recommend reading them in chronological/publication order starting with (there is a specific reason that I recommend them this way, but you can read them in almost any order you want to, as long as ‘Project Nemesis’ comes first and ‘Project 731‘ comes last):
And I’d like to add a further recommendation. When you’re done with those ones – give Jeremy’s other series (under his other name) a try. Jane Harper is a first class horror heroine and I’m waiting for book 3. Maybe I’ll get lucky and some day there will be a huge cross over with Jane involved. Oh, I hope so! She may be tough, rough, and brash, but she has my attention and I want to see what she’ll do next. See what you think and pass it on if you like these books 🙂
I know there are some people who follow me who may not share in the same delights that I do, so I’ll keep this post short for the sake of you all, but I hope those of you who don’t share my interests in novel writing and the NaNoWriMo event this year, will allow me to CHEER !
I set out to do NaNoWriMo (National November/Novel Writing Month) this year as a jump start to finishing more of my projects in progress. I managed to complete the first draft of something new that I’ve been interested in compiling for a bigger purpose for while and while it’s “completed” in the sense that I wrote 50,000 words on it – it’s only a first draft. Most of you know that the first draft of anything needs revision until it’s the way it’s best presentable, so it needs a lot of work before it even sees the light of day. But. It’s done! I’m pleased to feel the rush of satisfaction in knowing that it’s 2 out of the 3 things that I wanted to achieve for 2014. (I managed to write a short story based on some characters from my novella Cryptic back in January this year, but the publication I’d intended it for fell through.) The third thing was one that I’m sure plagues many of us – the diet and exercise “thing” that never quite managed to stick. I yo-yo’d quite a bit this year and with classes…I pretty much said TTFN to it with my work load. I’ll refocus on that for next year <again>.
So what now? Well, next year I’ll work on revisions for what I’ve done in November, but this month I will return my focus on a sequel plan that I have for Cryptic and hope that I’ll have success in finishing the first draft of it also. Maybe some time next year will be when I dust myself off and become published again. One can hope. Or…I can. 🙂 I don’t stop the desire to write more, but as we all know, life gets in the way and if you’re not writing as a full time job and able to support yourself from it (contrary to how everyone views being a writer, not every author can earn a living wage writing), one must find other means to make ends meet.
So. On to the *Snoopy happy dance* 🙂
There. Post complete. Happiness attained. DAC Approved. 😉
*note: NaNoWriMo is a month where writers get together to collectively write generally a new manuscript of their choosing – as a solo endeavor in the novel itself, but with participants collaboratively focused and encouraging daily word counts of each other in social media, forums, or local group write-in sessions. The goal is to reach 50k of new content in 30 days. The idea is to engage each other in creative and shared love of writing novels. Some participate to jump start their passion for writing again, some like the local participation, and some do it because they’ve been doing it a long time and have proven results (published works). 50k in itself is a pretty short book to read and often an author will add much more to that in later revisions of the draft, but it takes some effort to write 1667 words every day for 30 straight days (unless you’re a full time or prolific author, in which case, that’s just a drop in the bucket). As with anything it depends on your vantage point.
Notice all the coffee, soda pop, and candy (aptly provided through the means of discounted Halloween candy sales and Trick r Treaters who didn’t nab it all) on the table between my Nano-mates. Yesterday was just the beginning. 1-6-6-7 words or more everyday this month. The energy is high right now…but the snacks and goodies will be especially required about mid-way through the month.
GO Nano!
*I came across a really neat TIP today that I think will help me out quite a bit this month. Remember, I’ve never participated before so all of this is new to me. 🙂 I’m going to really adhere to this idea! What a great tip. Lani and Alastair from StoryWonk are going to be a great help to me this month, no doubt. http://storywonk.com/
Lani Diane Rich from the “Storywonk” website and podcast Tweeted this message:
(Writing) Sprints are a fantastic way of grinding out words. You can do anything for 20 minutes! And they add up! #SWNano #NaNoWriMo.
So if you’ve ever considered writing a novel – this is the month to give it a try. There is a lot of help, participation, and cheerleading to help you get started and keep you going.
I’ve known about NanoWriMo for a number of years but this is the first time I’ve personally signed up to try to get some word count in. Usually when November would hit, I was already knee deep in some existing work so I never wanted to leave that and start something anew for Nano (if I wanted to “win” for writing a complete book in a month).
A lot of you may already know that I have written in the past and have been published on the small publisher market (a great community of people) but I took a break after my published novella, “Cryptic” and then shortly after- I moved to another state. Then my grandmother passed away. I know. It sounds all like cliche, but as the saying goes “life happens/life gets in the way.”
I’m hoping that I can jump start my writing again – as I have several “in progress” books that I want to see eventually finished. I just have to “begin again” and get back on the horse. I’m hoping this is the month that revives my ambition and if you’re reading this- I hope that if you’re interested in NanoWriMo, that you’re taking advantage of the community there as well.
I was a guest on SlasherCast Side Effect again 🙂 , check it out and let us all know what you’ve played, are playing, and are looking forward to in 2013!
Here’s the link to check out the ‘cast.
You can also download it from iTunes to listen on your compatible mobile device.
Hobbies. Everyone has them. Sometimes they are just meant to keep a person busy and in good spirits, but in some cases- hobbies make others happy too.
Meet Jim Rock. He’s in Lanesboro, MA and he restores bicycles as his hobby. He collects them all year ’round, restores them in the cold months of winter, and then sells at a good, low price as used bikes to anyone who wants one. He sets them up on the side of the road. The sight of all those gleaming bicycles in the hot sun grabs your attention immediately and you can’t help but wonder, “what’s happening here?”
I stopped and found a bike to my liking and bought one. I also dug up 4 old bikes in desperate need of the TLC that Jim is going to give them, so that some other person out there can find enjoyment in my family’s old bikes.
If you are local and want a used bike- call Jim. If you have old bikes and you don’t know what to do with them, call Jim. He’s a good guy with a hobby that can bring back the joy of being on two wheels again. 🙂
Rebecca Snow asked me a bunch of questions about writing and posted them up on her blog…oh ok, I was interviewed for the first time. 🙂 Check it out. I love how it’s snowwwwing on her page. Pretty clever, Rebecca, pretty clever.
1 ^ Press Poster for BAMCON
2 ^ 2nd Press poster for BAMCON
3 ^ The Berkshire Eagle BAMCON newspaper article
4 ^ It’s Link! from Legend of Zelda
5 ^ Lulu from Final Fantasy X, X-2
6 ^ Princess Aurora / Disney character depicted
^Photo: DA Chaney with a blue wig and Chi ears
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^ Photo: DA Chaney with a blue wig, holding the prize bag for the BAMCon Zombie Action Committee loot swag
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^ Photo: S.T.A.R.S member (Resident Evil)
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10 ^ It’s my favorite costume that I saw. NO FACE from Sprited Away. Absolutely loved this. Wish I’d taken more pictures!
11 ^ Car window with the flyer for BAMCON
12 ^ A place-card for attendee’s of BAMCON. I was a guest member on the Zombie Action Committee panel and my digital book was free to guests that day.
^ and below – The swag bag for the Zombie Action Committee panel. Considered the first zombie movie ever made in 1932, “White Zombie” will be a free ticket movie (considered public domain in 2012) that will play in October during the 2012 Zombie Walk. This bag and image is a tie-in for the event and the movie. I bought a craft bag, printed images on transfer paper, and ironed them to the bag. Neat, right?
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15 ^ Cute cat costume – unsure of its Anime/Manga origin but I liked the costume!
16 ^ A Draenei from World of Warcraft and her helmeted friend
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18 ^ Kick-Ass and Hit Girl – don’t they look amazing?
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20 ^ He may not be Anime, but no Con is as much fun without Darth Vader making an appearance.
21 ^ A captive audience. The costume judging is about to begin on stage…
22 – ^ A Jedi, too?? Since I didn’t see Darth and the Jedi together, me thinks maybe they were the same person who switched costumes…but this is unfounded guess work.
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26 ^ Chi ears! Chobit robits had these kinds of ears. These were made of a hard foam. I bought 2 pair. White/Black and Green/Black
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^ Photo: DA Chaney with friends in the Zombie Action Committee at BAMCON opening night. No idea what I was pointing at when the picture was snapped, but clearly I was the only one not prepared for the picture to be taken.
DA Chaney 
