Sunday, May 20, 2012
Winner of the Facebook Pissed Me Off Lakewood Memorial Contest!
Friday, May 18, 2012
The Facebook Pissed Me Off Lakewood Memorial Contest!
Twice in a row now, I've gotten dinged by Facebook for daring to send friend requests to people it suggests. Because I don't know them in person. Now I'm blocked from sending friend requests for a week. It's like they want me to abandon them and focus on Google Plus. Which I really like and wish I used more.
So here's the deal. Circle me on Google Plus and be entered to win a free Kindle (MOBI) version of my 2009 DLA-nominated zombie novel Lakewood Memorial. Good through 11:59 PM Central Time Sunday 05/20/12! Do it!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Lakewood Memorial Now Serialized FOR FREE
Hey guys! I've got a surprise for you. Starting this coming Monday, May 7, Lakewood Memorial will be available for free at http://lakewoodmemorial.blogspot.com. A chapter will be posted every Monday until the novel is completely up sometime in December. After that, it will stay up for a while but I can't say how long. So read it while you can!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Ice Picks Anthology Available In Paperback
Hey guys! Quick update to let you know the Ice Picks anthology is now available in paperback. My new story "Tinderbox (Of A Heart)" is included. You can order the paperback directly from Rainstorm Press here. Check it out!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Ice Picks Anthology Live On Kindle
The cool thing about Ice Picks is that all of the stories are set in ice hotels. If you don't know what ice hotels are, Wikipedia has a great overview here. I had a lot of fun writing "Tinderbox" in this setting. This is a great anthology that I'm thrilled to be a part of.
And to make it even cooler, my little story is featured with other awesome stories by a bevy of cool writers. (Is "bevy" the right word? Do writers travel in bevies?)
As I mentioned above, the anthology is currently only available on Kindle. When the hard copy edition is out, I will let you know.
Click here to order!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
First Draft of World Memorial Complete
I'm thrilled to announce that the first draft of World Memorial is complete! And what I call a "first draft" is very close to the final book. Think of it more as a rough cut of a movie. Edits are underway now and moving faster than I anticipated. My top-secret cadre of beta readers will be getting copies soon. I'll update you all as soon as there's more!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Grief And The Ends Of Things
So, I'm nearly done with the Memorial Trilogy. The next few months will see editing and polishing, but for the most part book three - World Memorial - is nearly done. And I noticed something odd.
I'm sort of upset. You'd think I'd be happy. Or at least relieved that a long-running project is nearly over. But I'm not. I'm actually kind of sad.
I first noticed it when working out a scene between the central characters. They had a little dialogue exchange that worked really well. It came quickly and easily. And after writing it I realized, for the first time, that I was going to miss these characters.
I guess it's only natural. I've spent the better part of the past five years thinking about this world and these characters. It was just an accepted, on-going mental activity. I lived with these pretend people for years. And now, they're almost ready to leave. The other day I was writing what I realized was the final scene from a certain characters point of view. Which meant the last time I'd be writing in that character's voice. And I was sad. Honestly sad.
Perhaps some of this is compounded by the death of my grandfather late last year. The death of a real and very dear person has left me susceptible to anything else that even faintly smells of loss. Maybe. Who knows.
But, we are nearly at the end. And yes, I'm grieving the Memorial Trilogy a little. But I'm also excited. There's some risky, weird, exciting stuff in this book and I can't wait for you guys to read it. And I will move on to other projects. But I'll always be a little sad that my first major long-term writing project is done.
The end of things is coming.
World Memorial. 2012.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Random Bloviating - Why I Wish Google Plus Was Better
Google and I have a strange relationship. Years ago, when I was first buckling down and getting serious about my writing, the first thing I did was set up an official "writer" email account. And since Gmail was the new hot thing in web-based email, I went with them.
Ever since then, I've used or at least tried every Google product as part of my professional online presence. I back up documents to Google Docs, I use Google Calendar and Contacts, and I use the aforementioned Gmail constantly. I would use Google Bookmarks if it was better integrated with well, anything.
Then came social networking. I set up a Myspace account (which I think still exists) but did very little with it. The first social network I used seriously was Twitter, and I met a lot of other writers, as well as horror blogger and podcasters, through it. Then came Facebook, which I found to be a great way of connecting to readers. (As a side note - I'm not sure why it is, but I find that I make more professional connections on Twitter and more reader connections on Facebook.) Social media became a major source of both fun and networking for me as I developed my writerly "presence," whatever that means.
So I was very excited when Google announced Google Plus. As I mentioned above, I've used Google products since early on in my online shenanigans. I oddly associate Google and their products with my writing, and so a social network that integrated seamlessly with my Google account was very appealing. I sought an invite desperately, got on (thanks to @LordPalpatine on Twitter), and quickly established my account. I love the interface and many aspects of Google Plus. I've even met lots of cool new people over there.
And yet, and yet, Google seems intent on keeping G+ some sort of walled-in area that only interacts with their products. You can't check into Foursquare or Miso and have G+ update. You can't easily and natively make G+ updates post to other services. It's entirely Google's ecosystem or nothing. Which is odd considering Google's desire to be the anti-Apple with Android and such.
And, worse still, very few of my Twitter or Facebook friends have migrated over to G+. The contacts I've made on G+ are entirely new. Which is great in a way, but hard in another. I feel like I have to decide where to spend more time and resources. Do I stay on Twitter and Facebook, where I already have established connections and are making more all the time? Or, do I focus more on this social network I really like and want to thrive because I feel this weird connection to Google products?
People say G+ is a ghost town. People say no one uses it. This is not true. It's just a different set of people. Photographers are using the shit out of Google Plus, with stunning results. Google Plus handles pictures really well. Writers are also all over Google Plus, and I frequently have great writer conversations over there. And, some who've paid close attention to my activity on Facebook or Twitter may have noticed I'm an occasional part of the online stuttering community. They are all over Google Plus, especially the Hangout feature. There's a website devoted to it.
So this isn't so much a blog post as a rant of frustration. I like you Google, I really do. I feel this weird connection to you in my writer life. I like your social network. I just wish you handled it better.
Love, Robb
Ever since then, I've used or at least tried every Google product as part of my professional online presence. I back up documents to Google Docs, I use Google Calendar and Contacts, and I use the aforementioned Gmail constantly. I would use Google Bookmarks if it was better integrated with well, anything.
Then came social networking. I set up a Myspace account (which I think still exists) but did very little with it. The first social network I used seriously was Twitter, and I met a lot of other writers, as well as horror blogger and podcasters, through it. Then came Facebook, which I found to be a great way of connecting to readers. (As a side note - I'm not sure why it is, but I find that I make more professional connections on Twitter and more reader connections on Facebook.) Social media became a major source of both fun and networking for me as I developed my writerly "presence," whatever that means.
So I was very excited when Google announced Google Plus. As I mentioned above, I've used Google products since early on in my online shenanigans. I oddly associate Google and their products with my writing, and so a social network that integrated seamlessly with my Google account was very appealing. I sought an invite desperately, got on (thanks to @LordPalpatine on Twitter), and quickly established my account. I love the interface and many aspects of Google Plus. I've even met lots of cool new people over there.
And yet, and yet, Google seems intent on keeping G+ some sort of walled-in area that only interacts with their products. You can't check into Foursquare or Miso and have G+ update. You can't easily and natively make G+ updates post to other services. It's entirely Google's ecosystem or nothing. Which is odd considering Google's desire to be the anti-Apple with Android and such.
And, worse still, very few of my Twitter or Facebook friends have migrated over to G+. The contacts I've made on G+ are entirely new. Which is great in a way, but hard in another. I feel like I have to decide where to spend more time and resources. Do I stay on Twitter and Facebook, where I already have established connections and are making more all the time? Or, do I focus more on this social network I really like and want to thrive because I feel this weird connection to Google products?
People say G+ is a ghost town. People say no one uses it. This is not true. It's just a different set of people. Photographers are using the shit out of Google Plus, with stunning results. Google Plus handles pictures really well. Writers are also all over Google Plus, and I frequently have great writer conversations over there. And, some who've paid close attention to my activity on Facebook or Twitter may have noticed I'm an occasional part of the online stuttering community. They are all over Google Plus, especially the Hangout feature. There's a website devoted to it.
So this isn't so much a blog post as a rant of frustration. I like you Google, I really do. I feel this weird connection to you in my writer life. I like your social network. I just wish you handled it better.
Love, Robb
Friday, March 2, 2012
Short story "See Ellie Learn" FREE this weekend on Kindle
That's right, the new short story "See Ellie Learn" will be FREE on Kindle 03/03/12 and 03/04/12! Snag your copy while you can!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
New short story: See Ellie Learn
"See Ellie Learn" was written for an anthology that was sadly cancelled. But, now you can get the story for only 99 cents on Kindle!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Facebook Contest Via NOTLP
The good folks over at Night Of The Living Podcast are running a contest over at their Facebook page! You could win signed copies of Lakewood and Ashton Memorial, just for liking their page! Click for more info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Night-of-the-Living-Podcast/162434578873
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Artwork for Ice Picks anthology
Here's a preview of the artwork for the upcoming "Ice Picks" anthology, edited by the ever-awesome S.S. Michaels. My story "Tinderbox (Of A Heart)" will be included. Check our her website for more info!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
World Memorial teaser page
The RRB website now features a teaser page for World Memorial, the upcoming conclusion to the Memorial Trilogy. Keep checking it to see new teaser info!
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