Tuesday 11 November 2014

An Ode to Socks

Just sitting here, with my feet up, looking at my mismatched socks...
 
I'm not really gonna talk, or sing, about socks...
Not a whole lot, anyway. That was just a clever title to draw you in. Yes... I tricked you. And what for, you may ask? If not to talk of socks and their wonders, then what?

Well, in a way socks have a lot to do with it, and in a way, they don't. Actually, they have nothing to do with it. I just wanted to update you peeps... i.e. marshmallow treats, about what things are gonna look like, moving forward.
 
I am excited about the prospect of bringing you more stories. Not just Jack Lantern, and not just Shadow Mountain, but a host of others, too! The rest of my year is looking more and more hectic, but with quite a bit of hard work, comes really awesome prizes for all of us! Jack Lantern will continue next year, with short stories, and a sequel. While edits and rewrites are still required, I can't wait for you people to read the second adventure. There are so many cool things, and ... oh, man. I can't actually tell you that much, because I don't want to give anything away. But there's some flipping cool stuff in that book! More and more ideas keep coming to me, and by the beginning of next year, I will be starting to write another Jack Lantern novel. That is if all goes as planned. Which I hope it does!
 
More work, more writing, more pressure. More excitement!
 
So, Jack Lantern has quite a ways to go, yet. If you like him, his world, and his crazy cool adventures, congratulations! Jack will be a series of stories. How many? I don't want to say, just yet. But it will be a few. More than five. Less than fifteen. Those are arbitrary numbers, by the way...
If you like Jack, don't worry. He has a good tale to be told. If you don't like him... sorry.
 
Shadow Mountain lives as well! This will be at least six books, but no more than nine. While it is pretty different from Jack Lantern, there are really cool things coming in that series, too! Book two and book three have really awesome action pieces, while the characters begin to grow and understand their place in the world a little more. Heartache, betrayal, failure and explosions! All of these are in store, if you dive in!
 
So, two book series ongoing. It's quite a challenge to write them, but I hope I'm up to it. I just love telling stories. Since I was a tiny kid, I have always wanted to tell stories in one form or another. Now that I am, it just excites me. I have been having so much fun, living in these worlds, and watching their stories come together. It's a riot, honestly!
 
So, here's to you! The reader. I hope you enjoy these tales as much as I have enjoyed writing them! These things are far from over, though. Oh. Boy... you have no idea what's coming!
 

Thursday 30 October 2014

Cheap as Free!

I am supposed to write something today. The problem is, I don't feel inspired. No witty comments have jumped to the front of my mind, demanding to be placed in the open. Nope. Honestly, I got nothing.
 
On a lighter note, Jack Lantern is making a free-type appearance right now. Yeah! No kidding here, at all. In two ways, you will be able to experience the excitement of Jack Lantern and the gang for cheap as free. That is to say, free. Which is pretty cheap, to be honest.
 
First up, is a short story starring Jack as he goes to investigate a haunted house in the country. This story takes place right before the first book, and is a fun little romp. Still, there is a lot of excitement to be had, and don't think this is the last short story you will see, either. Yeah, actually I am in the very early stages of plotting out another little Jack adventure. This will come out in future. Don't tell anyone, but in the new year, if I can swing it, there will probably be a little collection of short stories released. I have seen the adventures of this collection, and trust me... it will be well worth the wait.
 
Of course, first, you will have to read this inaugural story. When, you may ask, will you be able to get your paws on such a tale, and for cheap and free prices?
 
Right now! Check out Ravaniaentertainment.com, for that little gem. You can also peruse a creepy little tale about a forest and mysterious disappearance. It is crafted by that chap called Arlin. It is a very good story, and suits this macabre time of year. I felt both intrigued and unsettled by the end of the tale, and I hope you do, too.  This story, also... free. Yeah. We are pretty nice.
 
And of course, it started on Tuesday, and ends on All Saints Day, you can pick up the kindle version of Jack Lantern ...Brains... on amazon for flipping free! You don't know what Jack Lantern is about? Well... freak.... I guess I should have explained that it is the story about a dude with a pumpkin for a head, and his harrowing battle with zombies, disembodied talking heads and his desperate attempt to save a young girl from a gory fate. If you haven't guessed, there is a good chunk of magic in there, too.
 
You should check it out.
 
Really...
 
Beyond all of this fun stuff, I am working on a few other projects that should eventually see the light of day. One is a serial fantasy. One is a new book series... and one is a return. A return to magic, mountains, shadows... and Gatekeepers.
 
Those who know, be aware... though it may take time, these stories are alive and well... and are coming...
 
Peace out!
Ba-bam!

Monday 25 August 2014

A Wicked Plot

Flipping raccoons, friends!
Sure, you may be hearing about them in the news a lot, but that isn't what I'm here to talk about!

No, I am talking about plotting right now. It is a venomous beast, with long legs and a deep freeze full of moose hamburger! Now, I will preface this by saying that I used to be of the mind that you didn't have to do a whole lot of plotting, you just needed to know your characters, and they would live in your mind world and sort of live out the adventure, and dictate to you exactly what to write. I still believe this is doable for some people in some situations, but for me, I have discovered the magic power of plotting out my books.

Sure... it sorta seems like a no brainer. Duh! Of course you should plot your flipping book! It isn't a funhouse mirror show, after all! Not that I know what that means...
Anyway... I can't remember what we are talking about now. The mirror thing got me off track. Let me read back...
...
Right! Plotting!
I wont make some weird statement about how you need to plot to write a good book, or to write fast or what have you. I wont, because for everyone who is gonna write at some point in their lives, it might not be true. I mean, I am sure there are hosts of writers who have written brilliant books with no idea what they were doing. I like to think that Gone with the Wind is such a book. Well... that's not true. Or maybe it is.

The point is, lost on me, so let me start again...

I think everyone should consider plotting their book to some depth. It has had a great effect on my story telling. I thought, at the outset, that such a thing would be limiting to me. I thought it would take away the magic of seeing my characters come to life in a way only writers understand. Where they surprise you, by doing things that you had not anticipated. I think that is one of the reasons that many great writers want to fly by the seat of their pants, as it were. It is exciting, and you get to see your characters living...

But does plotting really take this magic away from you? In my experience, I have to say it doesn't. In fact, as I am finishing up a project, now... I tend to think it helps me experience these events more frequently. Again, this may be just me. But that is how it worked out. I know it has made me a better writer, and I don't intend to go back to the seat of my pants for ideas. Honestly, he stank... Get it?
Okay, that was immature, I will give you that. I am also pretty sure I am rambling at this point. But then again, isn't that what we writers do? I like to think so. Or is that statement a lie?
 
Honestly, I am way more lost than you right now. If you could point me in the direction of my purpose for writing this, I would be grateful...
 
You don't wanna? That's cool, too.
 
But I suppose that's all I have to say.
 
Or is it?
 
Yeah... probably.

Tuesday 5 August 2014

A New Era is Coming...

Things are starting to get crazy over at Ravania Entertainment. I mean, I knew we were going to be expanding, and offering some new content, but wow! I have been writing right now more than ever before, and there are some good ideas in the oven.
So, what am I here to say today? Well, if you haven't heard, we are going to be releasing a digital magazine of sorts. You can read about it a bit more here. Arlin does a better job at explaining it than I do.
 
With all this extra writing, I'm as busy as I've ever been, but it feels very good. Things are still in the early stages, but I'll give a little bit of information on what's to come. I just finished writing a short story starring Jack Lantern. He's a well known figure to me. His first adventure is available now. Have you bought it? No? Well, here is a link... You should check it out. Sources within my own brain say it's a pretty beastly read.
Anyway... where was I? Oh, right! Short story!
It takes place before the first book in the series which holds claim on the eponymous character. There are ghosts, and goblins and maybe even a talking cat! Yeah... It's cool.
 
Over, and well above my humble little offering, there will be three other stories. These are all a very big treat. All of them showcase the talent of their authors so well, I am almost scared to be placed alongside them. Every single one of them promises to grab you by the eyeballs, reach into your brain and hold onto your attention like some kind of lemur. Well... as long as lemur's are well known for holding onto things... like, really tightly.
 
Umm... yeah. Maybe that was a little odd to say, looking back at it, now.
 
Anyway... As we move forward with this, there will be serialized stories appearing, as well as somewhat standalone pieces.
Right now, I am plotting out a new series that will début in this magazine in future. It's a real challenge, and a different way of approaching a story and the process of writing, but like anything I decide to write, it's gnarly and has me pretty stoked.
 
So, what I am saying is... Keep your eyes open. There is a lot more to come.
 
We are a new era in entertainment.
 
The New Era is Now.

Friday 25 July 2014

A Moment of Silence...

I try not to talk about celebrities a whole bunch. Okay, so I talked about meeting Derek Landy! That was one flipping time, people! Can you just give me a break already? What I'm saying is, I try not to talk about them all the time because it just feels weird, ya know?
They live in their own little world and we observe them from the outside, but sometimes, I feel the need to mention a select few. There are some actors and writers that awaken in me massive amounts of adventure, and inspire me beyond my ability to keep up. These people are usually ones I've grown up observing and learning from. You'll see very obvious references to them in my books, trust me.
 
There is one person I would like to mention now, because I've always enjoyed his work, and always been inspired by his ability to make you believe in the character he was. Immediately, you simply accepted him for who he said he was. Let me tell you, he's been on a heck of a lot of adventures in his time, too. I've always wanted to write a story that spoke to his characters, and captured the same adventure and wonder that he excited in me.
 
I always thought I'd get around to doing it sooner or later, and that was just that. He'd keep making film and I'd keep watching, soaking up the inspiration that he'd send me and then, one day... Id finally have a story cool enough to write...
 
Well, I'm getting closer to that story, and I think it's starting to solidify in my mind. But the hero of my T.V. screen is gone now. It makes me sad, but I know he'll be alright. Somebody's gotta have car chases up there... Somebody's gotta charge five hundred dollars a day... Plus expenses. Somebody's gotta ride into town with a thousand dollar bill pinned to the inside of his jacket.
 
James Garner may be gone, but his stories live on. His characters endure.
 
I know it's sappy, and I just sound like a fan lamenting the passing of an actor, an old timer from a different age. Maybe that's all this is, but I just feel he deserves a mention. There countless people who will remember Mister Garner. There are so many that were inspired by his characters, too. I'm proudly one of them, and I'll continue to be.
 
Jack Lantern thanks you, Mister Garner. Along with a host of other characters I know, and have yet to dream up.
 
Rest in Peace, Mister Rockford... Your job is done.

Monday 21 July 2014

Mandatory Post

Well, I am at a loss for words. See, I promised a few people I would write one of these doodads, and I assured said parties that said doodads would be done by morning.
...The thing is... I don't know what to write about!
Sure, it's late here, and I am very tired... but by golly, I need to do this! So, without any further warning.... Here is me... writing.
I'm making a lot of progress on a few really cool projects. Honestly, I can't wait to tell you more about them... If I spill the beans now, however, I'm afraid a large group of mountain gnomes will kidnap my best friends first born child... When he has child. No, I suppose, for now... it's best to play this secret information close to the chest.
 
A few weeks ago, I lost a chunk of my files, due to a computer crash. It was unfortunate, and most likely linked to gang violence. My laptop was just on its way to work for the day when it was jumped, and its hard drive mercilessly attacked with a massive sack of broken.
Thank heavens for backups and such, right? All in all, I think I lost a few pages and had a big black eye to my pride. It was cool, though...
I guess the moral of the story is... backup your work often!
There you go, kids.
 
Okay. Enough babbling. I can't tell you much, but I will say this, before I go...
I'm half done writing the first draft to a sequel, which will remain nameless. On top of that, I am happy to say that a series of stories I feared dead, is now back on track! That is really cool news, because I have been hoping to tell this tale for a long time. I wont promise any date for a release, but know it is in the works. I finally figured out the heart of the series The soul of the books. It's very exciting and I flipping cant wait to show you. Shadow Mountain is coming, and I promise you it's going to be better than ever!for now, I am just gonna go pass out.
Okay with you? It's okay with me.
More news soon, people.
Oh, and I apologise for the nonsensical post. I have a mighty sleep upon me. And now, I go to conquer said beast... with shield of blanket, helm of pillow and sword of... another blanket!
TO BATTLE!
 
 
 


Friday 27 June 2014

Hello, my name is...

 
So today is a pretty big day for me. It is the cusp of the weekend, Dominion Day right around the corner... and a friend of mine gets to see the light of day after a long while in the making.
There is a lot of work that goes into one of my books. Sure, some people, even myself, would say that maybe there's not enough... But still, you get the picture.
I started down this road... well, a long time ago, now. This character spoke to me immediately, wanting to be brought to life, to see the world, and show me his own. I got excited, and tried to bring him out, but apparently I rushed.
Jack doesn't like to be rushed.
I can't remember exactly how many times I started this story. I think it was around four, but I could be wrong. Might have been eight. The point is, Jack's worlds was one that required a little more finesse than I was used to. I learned a lot writing this book, and I'm still learning.
Jack taught me that some things are worth fighting for. He taught me that no matter how hard it seems, and how hard you get hit, you need to get back up.
This was one of the hardest stories to write, because it taught me, and fought me every step of the way. I think, in the end, it was worth the trouble.
I hope you agree.
So, it is with great trepidation and a smattering of pride, that I introduce everyone out there to my latest story. One that I think you will grow to love as much as I have.
 
Meet Jack Lantern;
Private Eye.
Personal Protection.
Pumpkin-for-a-Head.
The road ahead is totally awesome... and filled with Pumpkins or something...
 

 
 
Available to read now, at
 
 
There is a poo load of cool things coming that will hopefully get you all excited for Jack's first adventure. Read about them here, and keep checking back.
 

Thursday 26 June 2014

Two Years Later...

Okay, so it's been a while.
Let's just get that out of the way.
 
Now that that's out of the way... Welcome, to my world my friends.
I have been hard at work, writing, and sleeping... maybe eating a few too many doughnuts.
 
Today marks the beginning of a journey. There is a buttload of stuff I wanna share with everyone that likes totally awesome stuff, and that is all coming down the track very soon. In the next day or so, I will post the cover for my new book, and thus, show you the gateway to this new journey. This road we shall all travel down together.
It promises to be quite exciting.
Very quite!