Chloe Kicking Ass on Kindle: Summer of Terror Begins...

Have you ever been naked on a street full of plague-infested rats? Been chased by demons? Woken in the dead of night in Black & White? Chloe has--and she's not going to take it anymore...

The long holiday Weekend began the Summer of Terror with a scream as GRIMM and THE CHLOE FILES #1: ASHES TO ASHES performed above expectations on Kindle. My children's horror series THE NIGHTMARE CLUB #1: THE HEADLESS PAPERBOY also achieved good sales. Apparently adults and kids loved to be scared during the warmer months and love to do it electronically.

I have to admit, I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to books. I like the smell and feel of paperbacks, something, at this point, Kindle and Nook have not duplicated. But there's an entire generation growing up with electronic books and the advantages in price and easy of carrying a number of novels to the beach or school are obvious. As proven by Kindle unit sales, and product sales. So look for more of my books in e-form soon, with the upcoming release of Chloe Files #2 and Night Demons...

In the meantime:

Chloe kicking ass on Kindle...Put Some Demon in Your Day with The Chloe Files #1 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WLCRYK

Grimm--Get Your Zombie on! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051BUXFU

The Nightmare CLub--Where Everyday is Halloween... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052O5AIQ

Of Pigs and Ghosts: The Nightmare Club Comes to Kindle and Nook

What do you do if you are a bunch of kids who don't quite fit in and have a potbellied pig for a pet? Hunt ghosts and investigate things that go bump in the night, of course. That's the Nightmare Club--Orie, October, Nerd, Moose, Ernie and AlIiecat. And now they are chasing down the Headless Paperboy on Kindle and Nook.

The Nightmare Club gears towards ages eight and up, and is fun for adults as well. Their adventures harken back to Scooby Doo, Alvin Fernald and Goosebumps, with a modern twist, and help children, in an age appropriate manner, deal with difficult subjects all too often encountered at their age level in today's society--prejudice, abuse and grief. All wrapped up in an action-packed, fun, spooky mystery for the price of a comic book, $3.99.

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052O5AIQ

Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Nightmare-Club/Howard-Hopkins/e/2940012574978

Chloe and Grimm Kindle Sales...

I have to admit, after some ebook experiences in the past that left me less than enthusiastic about electronic product, I didn't expect much from the new Kindle and Nook versions of my horror/paranormal mystery series GRIMM and THE CHLOE FILES (plus one nonfiction book based on The Avenger pulp character, THE GRAY NEMESIS) but I have been pleasantly surprised by immediate strong sales.

I guess I shouldn't be since Amazon has issued a number of statements focusing on their Kindle ebook sales surpassing those of hardcover print books (online sales, not when combined with all brick and mortar sales). There is something about having instant access to your book online, and Chloe is now immediately downloadable to your device. The ability to offer the novels at a lower price than their print versions (something the large publishers don't seem to be doing) makes it a win-win experience for both reader, author and publisher.

You can start reading about Chloe's supernatural adventures and Grimm's fight against Evil for only the price of a comic book these days $3.99. The Chloe Files #1: Ashes to Ashes, is available now with #2 soon to follow, in both Kindle and Nook.

Kindle version of The Chloe Files #--Put Some Demon in Your Day! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WLCRYK

Kindle version of Grimm--Get Your Zombie On! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051BUXFU

Ass-kicking demon hunter and exotic dancer Chloe Everson is finding the streets of New Salem, Maine, a little crowded with the supernatural--the ghost of her lost sister, a plague-spreading demon and a six-hundred-year-old-monkey with an attitude, all making her search for her vanished fiance a literal nightmare. But it's all in a day's work for Chloe as she draws ever-closer to her eventual destiny--one that will reveal startling secrets about herself and her dark legacy...

I Say Thee Yay

Superhero Summer has started with a bang, or perhaps I should say a clash of thunder. I finally got out to see Thor this weekend and it did not disappoint. As a long time fan of the God of Thunder in the Marvel Comics version, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and though there were a few differences from the comic overall it was a pretty faithful adaptation and a great start to the superhero movie season. In fact, it was one of my favorites so far in the genre and I preferred it to Iron Man, another favorite hero of mine.

I won't go into plot details, but the actors were pretty much prefect and despite a personal cringe factor for CGI generated effects, especially with monsters, they were generally unobtrusive. The only thing I missed was Thor uttering his "I say thee nay!" line, but I can highly recommend this movie for Thor and superhero fans. And if you see it, stay until after all credits have run for an extra scene.

Trailers before the movie for Green Lantern and Captain America looked promising as well, and since Pirates of the Caribbean was being shown in the same theater there was the added benefit of a young woman running around in full pirate wench costume. Arrgggh!

A Day at MeCAF

Today was the MeCAF (Maine Comics Arts Festival) convention here in Southern Maine. Held in Portland at the Ocean Gateway Center (most of which sits on a pier over the bay), the convention primarily focuses on the creators of comic books and books, the artists, cartoonists and writers. Unlike most comic book conventions, comic book dealers are not included so that the creators can sell and in many cases even create something for the attendees. There are numerous panels on comic book creation as well.

Though I have attended every year since its inception, this was the first year I decided to participate, being the antisocial dork that I am. Plus being a natural night person, hauling my butt out early morning isn't one of my favorite activities. Set up began at 7am, though I was, er, somewhat later and had to break a few speed laws. Fortunately the car is equipped with warp drive. Doors opened at 10am and closed at 5pm, and the day was pretty much a geek dream. I sold some books, including The Chloe Files and a number of Nightmare Clubs (the event is child friendly and for a writer it is quite a thrill signing a book for kids, though I've yet to figure out why anyone would want my scrawl on their new book!) Gave away a number of postcards, talked to a lot of people, and met a lot of nice folks, both those attending and those creating.

There were a couple highlights of the day for me, the main one being reconnecting with perhaps my best friend from grade school who had moved away when we were freshmen. Tim and his son (who is a super-talented horror make-up artist himself) drove 70 miles from New Hampshire and it was like not a year had gone by between. Reminiscing about the dungeoned halls of high school, talking Dark Shadows and Chloe, the time went by in a snap. Tim, if you are reading this, thanks so much again for coming and making the day special. And thanks so much for the support!

The second highlight was the young lady dressed in a shiny, red, white and blue, miniskirted American Dream costume, complete with homemade Captain America shield. Her costume as awesome...and before I get in trouble that's all I am going to say about it...

All in all, a fun day for this introverted keyboard monkey. Thanks to everybody who stopped by and said hi. Looking forward to next year's event!

Kindle and Nook Look Grimm...

I'm pleased to announce my horror novel GRIMM, an EPPIE Award finalist, has just been released in Kindle and Nook ebook editions. Priced affordably at $3.99, the novel tells the tale of former police Detective Sergeant Arlo Grimm and his crusade against the forces of the supernaturally evil in the seaside town of New Salem, Maine. Witches, zombies and things that go bump in the night converge in a miasma of terror after Arlo's rookie son is murdered in what looks to be a botched drug bust. Earlier on, Arlo learns the conspiracy goes all the way to the top of New Salem's governing body and all the way down to Hell itself.

Aided by a spunky exotic dancer named Chloe--the star of the spin off series, THE CHLOE FILES, also in Kindle, Nook and paperback--a museum curator with mysterious abilities and a legacy of latent powers within himself, Arlo faces the demons of the present and his past.

From the blurb:

For retired Detective Sergeant Arlo Grimm the world has turned into a nightmare haunted by the ghosts of his past and the demons of his future. His youngest son murdered, he suddenly finds himself plunged into a frightening web of conspiracy and the supernatural.

In the small seaside town of New Salem, Maine, a horrifying menace has risen from the blackest depths of history. Renegade sorceresses from the Salem witch trials have claimed the town as their breeding ground for the hideous demon, Czcarabus. Calling themselves the Sisters of the Snake, they embark on a spree of grisly killings and terror that will bring the Dark One back into this world-unless Arlo Grimm can stop them in time.

Together with a beautiful exotic dancer named Chloe, Arlo finds himself locked in a desperate struggle of danger and dark lust. Can he resist the spell of an evil temptress and stop the Sisters from opening the doorway to Hell? Or will he become the final sacrifice to the darkness bent on devouring his very soul?

Western Wednesday: The Western Ebook Trail

Saddle up for another Western Wednesday, it's time for a passel of Yee Haw (okay, where are the Black Horse Honeys who pop out of the cornfields when you need them?)

So, it appears that my clues to the secret Western novel I have coming up are still too vague, since no one has guessed who the licensed characters are. I am holding off posting the final picture clue that will give it all way until the publisher makes their official line announcement, but maybe a couple more hints. The characters are more than one, fewer than five and come from the golden age of westerns, though they have appeared in modern times in movies, television and print. Or maybe I should say silver age with the price of gold these days. Would it help if I said they had horses? Nah, what's a Western without horses? My novel will lead off the line and be followed by a couple high-profile anthologies. I have been lucky enough with writing the novel, while the series direction was still undefined, to contribute a number of ideas and such to the series' Bible. More clues to come...

It's no secret with the advent of Nook and Kindle ebooks have really come into their own over the past couple years. Amazon reports selling more ebooks than hardcovers. While I personally prefer hardcopy books, I can see the advantages ebooks have, especially for authors who don't want to be ground up under the slow moving wheels of traditional publishing.

Ebooks, of course, carry an extra advantage to genres such as the Western, which has over the years become a harder sell to big publishing houses. Ebooks open a new trail and allow much quicker access to material to the Western fan and profit and satisfaction to the writer. That can only be a good thing. The playing field is being leveled.

Robert Hale's Black Horse Western line has led the Western revolution, or maintained it, for better than 20 years, so it's only appropriate they should lead the digitalization of the horse opera as well. Their January release of their Black Horse Western ebook collection, offering four top notch titles in one package, gigged the horse into a gallop, and has constantly occupied the top spot in AmazonUk's western ebook chart since its release. The company promises more Westerns to come. (I'm just touching the surface here; for much more info and updates on western ebooks please mosey on over to Ian Parnham's Black Horse Express blog, Gary Dobbs' The Tainted Archive blog, as well as the Black Horse Extra, whose present issue goes into much more depth on the subject).

But while you are waiting for Hale's next collection, a number of present and former Black Horse Western authors and Western authors for other companies have made the jump to Kindle and there's plenty to choose from for the Yee Haw fan. (while I'm feeling a bit hammish, a number of my own books, including The Chloe Files and Grimm are available in Nook and Kindle editions. I am hoping to add some Westerns soon). I invite Western authors to leave a plug for their Kindle or Nook ebook Western in the comments section and let us know what's out there.

Threesome Sneak Peak

Last year writer Nancy Holder (Wicked) and I got a chance to collaborate on a special 30 page comic book called Threesome. The story teams up her charge, The Domino Lady, and mine, The Golden Amazon, plus introduces my new character, The Veil, and concerns mysterious goings-on at a burlesque theater, where two women have disappeared and other dancers are catching glimpses of a transparent figure, seeing objects move about on their own and hearing voices come out of midair.

The theater was built over the ruins of a previous theater destroyed by fire in the late 1800s and the girls have come to the conclusion it is haunted. Out three heroines go undercover (though at a take-it-off joint, undercover may be the wrong word!) to investigate, but don't necessary play well together. The story takes place in the late 1930s and promises to be a pretty sexy romp, if the early pencils coming in are any indication--and they are.

This is a sneak peak of the one of the rough pencil pages by artist Silvestre, a brilliant Argentinean illustrator, whom, I have no doubt, will one day be a household name. This is one of the less steamy pages, as Ellen Patrick, the Domino Lady arrives at the Burlesque theater in New York, ready to tackle the case. I'll post more as inked pages and covers come in, but I am thrilled with the first nine pages penciled so far. This book is going to rock!

Goodbye Smallville

It's been a ten-year journey but last's night Smallville finale made it well worth the trip.

Smallville was never supposed to be about Superman. It was about Clark Kent and his trials, his road to becoming the world's greatest superhero. Throughout its ten-year run, we met the expected: the Kents, Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Perry White, Lex Luthor, Jor-El; and a few other heroes: Green Arrow, Aquaman, Cyborg, Kid Flash, the JSA, Martian Manhunter, Supergirl. And we met a few we didn't expect: Chloe Sullivan, Lionel Luthor, Tess Mercer Luther. But most of all we met Clark Kent. We watched him grow into a Superman, saw him come into his various powers and moral anchors.

Unlike many series that run for such a long time, Smallville never got stale. Oh, there were episodes and storylines that ran a bit flat, but overall the writers kept the creative juices flowing and the trials and tribulations fresh. And they promised us a payoff--a big one.

With last night's finale they gave it to us. Fans were rewarded for their loyalty and patience. The finale was simply the best episode of Smallville in the series, and in my opinion, one of the best finales of any series ever. As a fan of Lost, I felt a bit letdown and confused when that show didn't quite pay off the way it promised. Not so last night. Last night brought chills, choked up moments and cheers. The writers and produces gave us even more than we hoped. They gave us Superman, graciously fulfilling fans' pleas to see the supersuit. If there is a Superman fan who didn't get chills when the show ended with the John William's Superman theme and Tom Welling pulling his shirt apart to reveal the Superman shield, I would be surprised. They tied up virtually everything, and tied it in with the comic books and movie version. Filled with touching and tense moments alike, I cannot think of a better ending, even though it is one that is bitter sweet, because while it was near perfect for this fan, it also signals the end of long and comforting journey.

In my superbook, Michael Rosenbaum IS the best Lex Luthor, bar none. He played the villain perfectly, made him far more real than the movie versions. Erica Durance also is my favorite Lois Lane, far superior to the movie versions. And Tom Welling simply is Superman. He brought the sensitivity and heroic innocence to the Man of Steel--despite the fact I am a big fan of George Reeves and Christopher Reeve in the role. I wish these three would continue their roles in the upcoming Superman revamp, but alas...

So thank you to all who were involved in this fine show, the writers, producers, directors, actors and everyone else. You cared about the material, did not back away from the hero concept and ideals that are Superman. You also cared enough about the fans to give them that last five minutes of the show, the supersuit and flying, the nods to movies and comics. In an industry where too often the source material and fans are dismissed, you all went above and beyond.

I'll miss you Smallville. It was a hell of a flight...

How I Met Thor

I met The Mighty Thor the same year, same summer, same month I met my two other favorite Marvel heroes, Captain America and Iron Man. It was June of 1972 (shudder, where did the time go?) and since Marvel dated books two months ahead, it was the August issue, number 202.

I have a clear memory of being in a market here in town, who had a turnstile with the newest comics, all for the heady price of 15 and 20 cents each (comics now being $3.99 each at Marvel, which is ridiculous). Thor was in the first batch I picked up with my meager allowance, along with Cap and Iron Man. A few days later, hooked now on comics, would follow Daredevil, Spider-Man, Batman, Sub-Mariner, Fantastic Four and a slew of others.

But that first issue introduced me to the Asgardian God of Thunder and created a lifelong friendship. I recall the story line: Thor vs Ego Prime, at the time a giant of snakelike hair who later became a living planet. At the cliff hanger ending our hero wound up buried beneath a ton of rumble, parted from Majolnir, his mystic hammer, without which he would revert to a mere mortal, Dr. Donald Blake, and be crushed. Unfortunately I missed the next issue somehow, so I wasn't to find out for 30 years how he escaped that death trap.

I gave up the issue in my high school years along with the rest of my comics, deciding I was too old for such things at the time. Of course, nostalgia and my second and now permanent childhood setting in, I reacquired it a few years back for a much higher price than 20 cents off eBay, along with the following issue that finally told me how he escaped the rock pile.

As a kid Thor was one of the big three for me. I looked forward to his adventures each month. I have not seen the new movie yet, though I hear great things about it. I have high hopes they have done him justice and will feel like that kid in summer again when I see it on the screen or get the DVD. But I should probably stop running around the neighborhood with a hammer yelling...some things you probably should grow out of...

Western Wednesday

It's another Western Wednesday, so put on your chaps--and for gawdsakes wear some pants beneath!--and get your Yee Haw on.

Well, since no one has figured out the first two clues in the secret western mystery, I have to assume I am being a bit too obscure. I am debating whether to post what was s'posed to be the third and final clue, but that one is fairly easy and will likely give the gig up immediately. So should I post a couple more that are a bit more specific to the characters involved? Or maybe explain the first two a bit more instead of leaving them to riddle? Hmm, what to do, what to do? Perhaps I can narrow it down a bit by saying there are two characters in this team, both of whom have appeared in books, movies, TV and comic books. But that probably still leaves a lot of prospects, right, Cisco? Hmm, did I just give it away or eliminate one prospect? I guess we'll have to wait and see...

Well, my 34th Black Horse Western, Twilight Trail, has been accepted. Managing Editor Gill Jackson called it "...an excellent western..." Kind words, indeed, on a novel I struggled with a bit, and sweat over its contents and direction. The novel explores grief and alcoholism, a problem I have seen in my own family, unfortunately, and the lead character's struggle to deal with both. There's a woman riddled with ulterior motives, and a vicious outlaw stalking her and the hero. From the blurb:

Manhunter Teel Barsom made a fateful mistake the day he brought in outlaw Slade Heath—one with tragic consequences that would destroy the new life he’d built with his young bride, and riddle his nightmares with guilt and loss.

Trapped in the a world of whiskey and shame, he wants nothing more than to sink deeper into despair—until a mysterious young woman abducts him from the saloon and offers him redemption—redemption he wants no part of.

But with that salvation comes a price, one that may cost him and the woman their very lives by invoking the wrath of a notorious outlaw hell-bent on revenge.

I reckon this means I should be getting started on the next...