What I Have Completed in the Past Few Weeks

So, what have I completed in the silent period of the past few weeks? Well, absolutely nothing. I say this with no defiant nod of my head or indifferent shrug of my shoulders. Rather, I merely state the fact with a debonair complacency and say “I have NOT COMPLETED SHIT LATELY!!!” Okay, so I edited a few pages of “Mommy’s Gone Crazy.” Big freakin’ deal. It is a rather rough adventure, the editing, and it is driving me crazy. Every damned line has more edits than words! How the hell does that work?

            I don’t know how the book covers are coming along. It’s been a while since I heard from anyone, and the last of the correspondence foretold of slow moving. It’s that lull period now, where everything begins to slowly move backward. No editing; no cover design; no photo shoots. Everyone is busy right now, me especially. I would love to finish “Mommy’s Gone Crazy” and put it up for sale, but it will take some time, time I seem not to have. Oh well.

            I’m making it a point not to start any new projects until I tie up all the loose ends I have hanging around me. Any more, and they will become a noose. I have to say, I am so tired of having multiple projects to write, edit and oversee. It’s nothing for me to be drafting one, writing another, editing a third and choosing a photo and cover design for the work. I really want to simplify things and have just one work before me at a time. Here’s hoping for that! Don’t see it coming anytime soon, though.

            Alright, it’s Friday night and I have a movie to watch.

            Bye!

The Photo Shoot Chronicles

We had our first photo shoot last night and it went really well. Amber was a thrilling "Mommy," knives and all! Joe exhibited his skill with ease, and with the asssistance of Aaron, they brought pieces of the story to life. All of this took place under the ever-watchful eye of Lady Perry. And me? Well, I live in the shadows, and from there I watched it all unfold before me.

What you will see in a few days will be the finished photos of the shoot, and the selection will begin as to which photo will be the cover. What I want to share with you all now is the "behind-the-scenes" look at the shoot. So, without further adieu, ramblers, let's get rambling.

We are in the living room of Julie and Georges' house. Joe is working on some of his famous mirrored shots. And I think that's George in the mirror.

Amber made a convincing "Mommy," or rather, Alexandretta. We spent a good deal of time before that mirror. I think I also drove Amber crazy...

Behind every good photographper...is a really large umbrella thingy that lights up. (this joke isn't really funny at all...don't feel compelled to laugh). And yes, Aaron is drinking diluted apple juice. I don't know why...

Lady Perry examining a front door shot. We took several shots of the front door.

Amber chillin by the door with a knife...that's just how we roll around here. The knife was Julie's. Oh, and Amber had a horrible sunburn while doing this shoot.

It was Julie's idea to switch Amber into a white blouse for some of the door shots. I think the change was good.

While trying to capture the natural light and create the image of headlamps, we actually moved George's truck up to the site and turned on his highbeams. It was a great try, but it didn't go so well. It was too light outside.

Julie doing a little "doctoring"  work on the blouse. George and Julie were both great to us. We are indebted to them.

Lady Perry and Amber have a chat while the latter takes a break. Note George's truck in the background.

Well, that is the photo slideshow, for now. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I'll post Joe's shots when I receive them. Overall, it was a great time, and I have to say, a lot of fun. Our next shoot will be Gothic Angel.

As always, thanks for reading!

Thursday Update

            Busy, busy, busy. That seems to be my life right now. We have finally finished “Gothic Angel,” and I managed to sneak it in under the wire for the competition. A recent Writer’s Digest article said submitting at the last minute was a major “no no.” Shit! Oh well, at least it’s in. [That’s what she…never mind]. It’s been a crazy time here. The story came out really well, but the ending still troubles me, to an extent. I rewrote it, still keeping the idea but re-working the structure and emotions. I have been told it is powerful, and I know it has brought some to tears. It will be up for sale soon. First, however, is “Mommy’s Gone Crazy.”

            We are planning the photo shoot for “Mommy’s Gone Crazy” this coming Monday, at the house we selected. I am looking forward to it, and am rather anxious to see what comes out of it. I know everyone has been putting a lot of thought into the shots, so I believe we will get some awesome pictures. I’ll try to post some pics either on fb or the blog as the shoot is happening, so watch for them Monday evening.

            I have not had a chance to edit Mommy’s Gone Crazy yet, but hope to very soon. Gothic came first because of the proximity of the competition closing date. Now that the story has been submitted, it is time to begin working on the lengthier Mommy’s Gone Crazy. More editing. Joy.

            I have been reading the Style Guide for Smashwords, an online site that will distribute your book to various electronic retailers. You need to format you work yourself, so they give you a free 72 page ms to read before doing so. I am actually enjoying it, so far, and admit that I am looking forward to formatting my own text. The Guide is very detailed, but offers many photos for those of us who are seemingly Word illiterate. Expect a cursing blog when I begin…..

            Aside from that, everything is going along pretty well. I have some new ideas that I will eventually do something with (hopefully sooner than later). Bleodsian is also in the works, so look for that to make an appearance in the early summer.

            Alright, enough for now. I’m headed off to work. Thanks for following along!

An Evening in the Cemetery

            Have you ever spent an afternoon walking through the park, only to realize hundreds of slabs of stone rose from the ground, and startling little angels glared back at you, as if in defiance of your presence? That park, you realized, was actually a cemetery, and you were on a photo shoot scouting mission. Ok, maybe your life is not as cool as mine (actually, that dead thing I found by the lake the other day has a cooler life than mine). I’ve said all that to say this: I am that guy strolling through the cemetery looking for the  right location for the “Gothic Angel” shoot. I’m that strange. Yes, I am.

            We all got together (Lady Perry, Joe and Aaron) and headed out to explore some cemeteries in the area. The first was nice and secluded, and had a very lovely section beneath a spruce (I think it was spruce). The area was good, but not quite what we were looking for.

            The second location was a very exquisite, and might I add, very creepy cemetery much closer to town. Several stones rose from the ground, their carvings and etchings harkening back to a time when death was a prominent guest in every household. Antiquity rested on the property, and it presented itself to us in its full evening grandeur. As you can see, it impacted me greatly.

We will shoot in a few days, maybe a week or so. Right now, we are getting everything together and making preparations. It is such an awesome location. The story, naturally, takes place in a cemetery, hence our location choice. I actually think I used cemeteries a lot in my writings….now I’m going to have to check on that!

Aside from that, I’m still editing “Gothic Angel.” The first read-through went well, and the worst is out of the way. The first edit is always the roughest; it’s where you get all the grammatical errors out of the way. Now, I can focus on continuity and internal issues. It is a short work, so it is not exactly a complicated matter. I’m going to try and read through it once more tonight, then allow it to make its rounds.

Well, all for now. Thanks for reading.

The Witch House is Released

It’s been a while since I posted on here, and let me say, a lot has happened! I apologize for the silence, but if you remember, we were gearing up for the release of “The Witch House.” Alright, without further ado, here we go!

            First, we uploaded my latest short work of fiction, “The Witch House,” and it has been doing very well. The reviews I have received have been positive. No “your story was shit!” comments, thankfully. Yes, it is a sad story. Mary’s story is not a happy one; but what can be said? Read it and find out why. Here is the link:

           

“The Witch House”

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-witch-house-robert-perry/1109480576?ean=2940014334426

            I am delighted to see the story doing nicely. We have prepared for this moment, and now it has come into reality. It’s very exciting. If you have not checked it out yet, click on the link. The story is only $2.99 on bn.com!

            Second, we had a meeting on Monday night, a very impromptu meeting, but a very good one. I gave out the future assignments for the next few projects, and we discussed doors for the upcoming photo shoot. We were joined by Amber Houston (pronounced How-ston), as she will be the face of “mommy” in the upcoming cover for “Mommy’s Gone Crazy.” She has a lot of talent, and I think she will do nicely. After dinner, we drove through DeLand looking for doors for the shoot. Yes, we did. I really don’t have time to make this crap up. And now, I am quite the expert on doorknobs and panes. Not a lie.

            Today, I met with Amber on campus, and we proceeded to search out the vintage buildings for a suitable location. I am thinking a friend’s house near the campus will do nicely. Now, to make the necessary arrangements.

            It is an exciting time here. Things have exploded on both facebook, and especially Twitter. My friends list has more than doubled. I am slowly building a fan base. I know it will take time, so we are all preparing for a long haul. Hope you will hang in there as well.

            Aside from all this, I now have the edited copy of “Gothic Angel” on my desk. I guess it’s time to start that activity now. Sigh…There’s also an issue of Food and Wine on my desk; maybe I’ll read that first.

            Alright, back at it. Remember to check out “The Witch House.” If you need to download the free Nook app, it’s located to the side of this blog.

The Witch House to be Released March 12th!

            Well, it’s official: “The Witch House” is up for sale on March 12^th! I spent all day yesterday putting the finishing touches on the document, uploading the cover art and tying down all the loose ends. March 12^th it will be up for sale on bn.com. Just look under the e-books (or Nook books) tab and search my name, Robert Perry. Oh, and feel free to purchase it. ;)

            I am really excited to have reached this moment. The first experiment has come to fruition. We all worked so hard on this: Lady Perry and myself editing (and me writing); Joseph working on the photo selections; and Aaron putting all the artwork together. Several months of labor will be completed on the morning of the 12^th! Will it sell? Will it be successful? I can’t say right now. All I know, however, is that this team pulled it off. We all did amazingly, and now it is time to sit back and see what our Lady Witch will do.

            Such exciting times right now! Aaron is working on reading Bleodsian; Joe is putting together some works for “Gothic Angel”; and we are editing both “Gothic Angel” and “Mommy’s Gone Crazy.” I’m putting out a call for female models for these works. If you are interested, let me know via my facebook page or my email address (accantoallatomba@yahoo.com)

            I have read through both the above mentioned documents, and they are good! Two more edits and they, too, will be ready for bn.com. It will take some time, however, as there is still much work to do. We have no cover art for either, as of yet. I am working on lining up two models so far, and am considering “roping in” a few more.

            I have not had a chance to read any of the magazines or do any research for agents. Time is escaping me at the moment (well, it’s not like I’m not busy!). Hopefully I’ll get to that later today.

            Well, that is all for now. Remember to look for “The Witch House” on March 12^th. Tell your friends also!

Monday Update

            I set out to begin my latest work, “Gothic Angel,” today. And I finished it today. That’s freakin’ amazing! No, really, that is amazing. I don’t usually finish a story in a week, let alone one day. Granted, it’s only a few pages; but still, it’s done and now I have only to revise it.  The story came off really well. It needs some work, but the foundation is good. Sometimes it’s easier to simply write while in the mood, and correct later. Just get the foundation down, then revise it later.

            Here’s a sneak peak to the story: it deals with a youth who goes to visit his girlfriend at a secluded spot, at a select time. He is apprehensive she won’t appear, and brings along his bottle of Jack just in case. He is delighted when his “angel” arrives, and she gives him her greatest gift.  It’s a beautiful gothic love tale about love lost and regained. As is customary for my works, wait for a punch in the ending! Sorry, that’s all you’re getting.

            I’m glad it’s out of the way. It was fun to write, but I need to have it ready by the 31st for the Tom Howard/John Reid Short Story contest. If I can get if finished quickly enough, I will hopefully get it to the March 15^th Writer’s/Editors network 29^th annual contest. That is my goal, anyways.

            I have a lot on my plate, that is for sure. I’m also looking for an agent. A recent article in Writer’s Digest has prompted me to search out an agent for my writings. How it works is that you find an agent, and they search out a publishing house on your behalf. Yes, there is money involved; but what doesn’t cost money today? I will let you know how I progress. I would like to have one secured by the fall, if such is possible and everything works out to my advantage. Let’s hope!

            Finally, I’m editing ”Mommy’s Gone Crazy” now. I have covered about fourteen of the 32 pages. I have to say I am pleased with it so far, though I can see it will need some attention. When you are writing, you lose yourself in the work. It is very easy to make contextual mistakes and allow for errors in continuity. I do not have many of these, but at times the word choice is a little weak. Since I left grad school I feel my vocabulary has plummeted. Where’s that Thesaurus?

            Well, that about sums it up for now. Things have been busy for me, but pretty boring on here. I’ll get a comical blog up in a day or so. Hang tight, and thanks for reading!

           

Wednesday Update

            I have a few items to talk over tonight. It’s been a busy few days and a lot has come about. Well, not really “a lot,” but a good deal. I try to expand things, at least in my mind, to make it seem like I am progressing further than I really am! Ok, so I only received a few pics and one cover. But they are great pictures and the e-cover is amazing. I shared it before, but officially I am releasing it here. Check out the new cover for The Witch House!

I am so excited to see the finished product! Aaron did an amazing job with the work, and for that I am happy. It looks professional and attractive. Each of the artists, Aaron and Joe, read the work, and this cover is what we all agreed upon. Doesn’t it look great? Leave a comment and let me know! I am simply elated to have it. Soon, once a few particulars are taken care of, I will announce the release date. Look for it soon.

On another front, Holly has submitted two awesome works for Bleodsian. You may not have heard me mention this story much. It is my first novella, and deals with a man’s very unusual method of securing eternal life and health. The two shots deal with different aspects of the whole story. The “second pic,” the one with the girl (who just happens to be Holly) will be used for the sequel novella. The first shot is awesome, but I have asked for a few options, not out of a dislike for the image, but simply because I like options. Here are the shots!

As you can see, both are amazing shots, and I am very happy to have her artwork displayed on my book. Holly has an unearthly talent for photography, and is quite brilliant in her field. She has sold to numerous publications, including most recently (as in two days ago) Reader’s Digest, and has her works on the music covers of some European labels and a few coffee shop signs in Italy, just to name a few. Works of Holly’s are even on two books. She is magnificent. Oh, and she’s only 17!

  Well, the cover is finished. It is mind-boggling to think this process has come to an end. Next, we will begin working on Mommy’s Gone Crazy, after a few days rest! The projects are lining up like little planes on the runway. Here is my schedule for the next few weeks: First, complete Mommy’s Gone Crazy. Next, begin a short work called Gothic Angel for a March 15^th deadline. I am not certain if I am going to make it. If I don’t, then I will have to skip that contest and push on for the next deadline at the end of March. After that, the Succubus project will begin, and I will try to squeeze out Bleodsian. I have not worked much with any of the Succubus material lately, but I think it will be a major writing endeavor. Once that is complete, and provided no short stories pop up, I will take on Alexandretta. By now, it is somewhere in July. So, you see, my months are filling up quickly.

I have a new blog on Wordpress.com. I hope you will like it, as in that location I will digest my own stories! I plan to critique my works and show you a “behind the scenes” look at the story. You will learn how I came up with the idea; what my thoughts are on certain subjects; the influence of diverse religious beliefs and philosophical systems on my writing style; and hear me discuss a range of topics, ranging from the sacred feminine to the use of gothic symbolism in my works. It will be a fun place for me to babble about all those little, dark secrets floating around in my head. So, if you want to know what’s hiding in the cavernous chambers of my mind, check out the Wordpress.com blog site. Just search robertperry2012 in wordpress!

Well, got to run now. Thanks for reading. Look for The Witch House to arrive soon!

Musings on Alexandretta

             I’m still plowing through the short work, Mommy’s Gone Crazy. I cannot tell you how well it has come along in the past few days. The story is very nearly writing itself. I am so pleased and very excited about its progression and the final outcome (once I get there). I certainly think this is going to be one of my best. I won’t go into much detail now, as I want to write another blog about the story once I finish it. The character, Alexandretta, however, deserves some mention now.

            I originally wrote the story as a simple ‘rough draft,’ where I could work with the character Alexandretta outside of a novel or novella format. This project was liken to an artist’s quick sketch before the final painting. The story was meant to open my mind to the idea and essence of Alexandretta, and nothing more. This story, however, has taken on a will of its own, and typical to Alexandretta’s style, has turned everything on its head. She does a few things in the story which are simply amazing. It’s unreal, to say the least. I love the character and think Alexandretta will be awesome when it comes time to reveal her story.

            For those of you who don’t remember the storyline, the narrator of Mommy’s Gone Crazy gets a frantic call from his daughter that her mother (his ex-wife) has gone crazy and is trying to kill her. Alexandretta has a history of mental illness, so it is no wonder. When the narrator arrives, he finds the house without power and proverbially torn from top to bottom. His daughter is nowhere to be seen. He then begins his search for her in the tomb-like house, hoping he finds her before the crazed woman finds him. All the time he is wondering, ‘is it a trap?’ Will Alexandretta be around the next corner? And just what happened to create the torn appearance of the house, a disastrous mess spanning several rooms?

            I seemingly change weapons in this story as well. For many of my short works, the shovel was always the device of “inner liberation,” i.e.: death. Not a few of my characters relied on its flat face and long shaft to do business. In this story, however, things change. Alexandretta prefers an ax; I admit I am as surprised as the next person to find so bloody a weapon in the story. Once I saw her use it, though, I admit, she knows what she is doing. Alexandretta is no one to play with. And I think I like that.

            On another note, I have a lot of reading to do, both in my magazine and in the Writer’s Market. I feel like I am back in school! Hopefully I can get some of it finished this weekend; then, I can share it with you all. Some of it should be good for a laugh. Let’s hope, at least.

            I’m leaving for now. Check out my facebook page for regular updates. Bye.

The New Cover

            The cover is selected! We met with Aaron and Joseph at Bambino’s Pizza, and Aaron had the pictures on his phone. There were no changes to the first cover (the one I showed you all), but the two new ones were amazing. The first new one had the same house in the background, with the inclusion of a beautiful girl in the left side. She was dressed in white and looked to the right of the frame. It was a wonderful cover and had an “earthy” feel to it.

            The second new cover had the same house in the background, but with a close-up of a girls’ veiled face. The color red was predominant in the picture, as there was a red vagueness behind the title and the woman’s veil was red. This second pic is the one we are choosing.

            It was difficult to choose between them, but we all agreed that the original cover, as amazing as it was, did not portray the essence of the story. The work deals more with the witch herself than with the house, so the inclusion of a girl was very appropriate and smartly done on Aaron’s part. I suggested some “touch ups” for the picture, and then it will be complete.

            Aaron is brilliant! I thought the first cover was magnificent, but when I beheld these latter two, I was stunned. There is such a level of professionalism in them. The colors and the design all flow amazingly. Each of the new e-covers really speaks to the story. This is one case when I will certainly suggest that you judge a book by its cover. I can’t wait to show the work to you.

            In other news, I have Joe working on a new photo for “Mommy’s Gone Crazy.” I originally liked the first photo, but now that the story has come along as it has, I want something darker and closer to the idea of the story. I will keep you updated.

            I have two competitions to enter now before the end of March. I need to get busy on them, as time is ticking away. I think I may submit “Mommy’s Gone Crazy” for one of them, but need to quickly decide what I will do for the other.

            Well, I’m off for now. Thanks for reading.

The Little Story that Could

            I don’t really feel like writing right now, but, if I ever want to do anything with my writing career, I need to get another blog posted. Maybe someday this will pay off….

            I’ve been thinking about Mommy’s Gone Crazy the past few days, and have actually come to like the story very much. You may remember me saying the story was a bit of a “sketch” for me. I wanted to introduce the character Alexandretta slowly to the world, but not in a novel or novella form. I chose the short work of fiction as my medium, and have crafted what I believe is a very good work.

            I wanted to get to know the character, to “work with her” a little and get to understand her methods and ways of thinking in a sphere free of major plots and storylines. I considered the work a rough piece of art at first, but have since come to regard it as an amazing little story. Alexandretta has certainly made herself known, and in very powerful ways. It is impressive to watch as a story grows and expands in ways you never imagined or intended. I came into the project expecting only a nice introduction, and found a good story on its own. I must say, it’s impressive. The little story that started as a rough sketch has become a solid and readable story, and now one of my favorites.

            Now the question remains: what to do for the cover? I originally chose a picture of Joseph’s for the e-cover. I thought it was good, and still do, but given the darker nature of the work, and the expression of Alexandretta, I am not certain the photo will work. We have started a discussion about the matter. I am swaying towards a new photo, while using the other photo for another project.

            On the subject of e-covers, Aaron is excited about the two remaining covers and hopes to have them to me by Sunday. I am curious about his ‘ideas’ and the changes he will make to the photo. Once I have them, I’ll share them with you.

            If you know of any friends who have e-readers, please tell them to check out my works; actually, tell anyone! Tell them to search Robert Perry under the ebooks label on bn.com. Anything horror related is mine. Also, pass my blog along. Pretend it’s like the flu; we love to pass that along!

            Thanks for reading……

The First Meeting

            I have something to report now. You may think, you’re a writer, why not just chronicle all the exciting adventures you have while trying to get published? Ok, here’s adventure number 1: I’m at my desk, typing. Wow! Be-still my heart! Such adventure! Calm down, folks; it gets better. Adventure number two: I do my laundry. Holy Shit! Someone bring me a Tylenol this is so exciting! I can’t take it. Hang on, we’re not finished. Adventure number three: I watch Youtube. I’m breathless with anticipation! What thrills, chills and all that! How does one have such exploits? I’m a writer, not Dr. Jones. Yes, I could simply have made stuff up for your amusement: I was kidnapped by Afghan extremists, and the only ransom I had were the royalties from my unpublished novel. How’s that? Writing is not that thrilling, I’m sorry. I only write when I have something to say. Let’s hope things pick up soon, so I will have more to share with you, other than what I have now.

            Alright, I had the meeting with Aaron and Joe. Joseph Sheehan you have met already. Aaron Voebel is an old friend, and a brilliant webpage designer. He has taken on the task of cover designer. We had our pizza and discussed the designs and photos for upcoming projects. You may have heard me mention the story The Witch House; it will be the first to appear with the new cover designed by Aaron. Joe selected a perfect shot of a house, then photoshoped it a little to make it “just right.” We all agreed that both Joe and Aaron need to read the stories first in order to get a feel for what the picture and cover should look like. What they create will not only be a cover, but a piece of art. That is the goal.

On the side, the restaurant was very nice, and the waitress probably thought I was crazy. Every time she came over, I was either talking about beheadings or deaths or any number of maddening things (we were discussing my stories). She never stayed at out table for long. It was a very good and very fruitful discussion, and now I am expecting to receive proofs by Sunday! That is very exciting. Once I have one image set, I will share it with you first.

I hold both Aaron and Joe in high esteem. They seem to be masters at their work, and know how to wield their artistic powers mightily. I know the work will take some time to confirm and solidify, but I am certain the finished product will be both eye-catching and amazing.

I am hoping this endeavor of mine will allow both of these men to exhibit their skills and gain recognition for their respective businesses. As I stated last night, I do not hope to be the only one making money off this effort; my hope is that we all will share in the financial abundance that could follow such an endeavor.

Alright, I’m leaving for now. Being a writer is just too exciting for me right now. Check out my works at bn.com. Thanks for reading.