H. David Blalock's Blog, page 5

[image error] Title: Yesteryear
Author: Tommy Hancock
Publisher: Pro Se Press [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2011)]
Paperback: 190 pages
ISBN-10: 1461061598
ISBN-13: 978-1461061595

One of the brightest of the rising stars in the New Pulp movement is a jovial, fedora-bedecked fellow by the name of Tommy Hancock. I had the pleasure of meeting Tommy some time ago and was taken by his friendly personality and deep knowledge of fiction that disappeared years before he was born. That someone of his youth should be taken with the writings that formed my own interests when I was a boy (so very, very long ago) seemed odd at first, but Tommy's enthusiasm wasn't just that of a fan. It was that of an individual dedicated to the resurrection of a genre I thought would languish in obscurity forever.
In Yesteryear, Tommy Hancock has created the beginnings of a new series of novels whose heritage reaches back into the first part of the 20th century. In Yesteryear we are once more caught up in the intrigue and fascination of costumed heroes and villains, set in their native era. We get to find out where these characters come from, what they fear, and what they're capable of doing. When the particulars of their lives are threatened with public exposure, we find that even the best can sometimes be untrustworthy. The tell-all book central to the story, written by a legendary figure Ramsey Long, appears on the doorstep of a journalist and sets off a firestorm that echoes throughout the pages.
The book itself has been reviewed extensively, so if you want to know what the consensus is reference its publication, check Amazon. I found the novel interesting mainly because it is the herald of a movement that is quickly gaining momentum, outstripping steampunk and dieselpunk in its reach. Oh, and by the way, if you want to annoy Hancock, ask him what he thinks of dieselpunk.
Overall, this is a two-thumbs up book for anyone interested in pulp fiction, or just like adventure stories.

February has not been kind to yours truly. However, every writer has at least one month each year (s)he'd like to forget, so I guess it's good I got mine out of the way early.

I got a polite rejection slip from Shimmer for my short story No More Running, but as consolation I can look forward to the appearance soon of the short stories Grudge Match from Pro Se Press, Eclipse over Elmwood from Dark Oak Media, The Last Frontier in Dreams of Steam III, and (maybe) Identity Crisis in the Big Bad Anthology. I continue to finalize Doom Angel for Seventh Star Press and work on other stories for open anthologies. Currently under consideration for publication is On The Edge, The Price of Immortality (reprint), and Hero. I'm writing stories for submission to Robert Krog's Pirate anthology and Pro Se's Sixguns and Spaceships, and rewriting a couple of others for resurrection.

Due to personal reasons, I was unable to attend Mysticon this year. I hope to be able to make the con next year, however. I do fully intend to make it to Midsouthcon in Memphis next month. I have only missed one or two of them since the middle 1990s, and those because of illness.

Not much in the way of writing news otherwise. Life has a way of pushing to the front of the line at times. More later as it appears. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.

Well, 2013 is well underway. My writing projects have stalled at various points of development and I have become involved in other projects as well.

As of the first of January, I retired as editor at parABnormal Digest. In the two years since its inception, PD has become one of the best paranormal magazines in the market, providing quality fiction and non-fiction for the entertainment and education of the community. I am proud to have been part of its birth and nuturing and honored to have been able to work with Terrie Leigh Relf and Tyree Campbell to bring PD to the public. I didn't simply walk away from the magazine, however. I helped sign on talent for the next year. Congratulations to all the writers and artists, past and present, who have been and will be part of parABnormal Digest.

I am slowly insinuating myself into the New Pulp community. One of the fascinations I have always entertained is pulp fiction. Until I met Tommy Hancock of Pro Se Press, I never realized that the majority of my fiction was in actuality "pulp". I was delighted to have my short story "Kelly's Beast" featured in PSP's Pro Se Presents #13 and hope to have more appear in the pages of their publications in the near future.

I was overjoyed to hear of the reemergence of Amazing Stories magazine. After its demise in the 1990s, there were a couple of abortive attempts to resurrect it as a print magazine. This time Steve Davidson is going the digital route, making it principally an online effort. I think that probably has a better chance at success. I wish him the best of luck.

I have also signed on with NovoPulp, a small group of ambitious writers and editors who are attempting to form a community to produce an anthology online. As the digital sphere is quickly overtaking the printed, it seems only reasonable to at least explore this possibility. Although in many ways I am still a literary dinosaur, I am willing to at least try to learn. However, I still feel that older heads such as myself are needed to hold the leash on the animal that could outrun our ability to be successful in the market.

People may be fascinated by the new, but they still find the familiar more comfortable. New things are tolerated in small amounts. The familiar can be consumed in mass quantity.
I will be headed to Mysticon in Roanoke, VA, the end of February, so the next post may be a little delayed. I hope to get it done before Midsouthcon. Meanwhile, enjoy this book trailer for my latest release from Seventh Star Press.
Off to the notebooks and, now, also to the workboards. Til the next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.

We made it, Mayans notwithstanding. Not that anybody really believed it, but the "end of the world" wasn't. 
Anyway, I wasn't able to reach my story goal of one a month this year. Again. I will continue to shoot for that, but we'll see if it ever happens. I did manage to convince the editors of Rogues in Hell, Call of Lovecraft, Dreams of Steam III, Big Bad Anthology, The Martian Wave, The New Adventures of Foster Fade, Midnight Screaming, Southern Haunts, and Blink! to go along for the ride, but not all appeared in 2012. Traitor Angel did appear, fulfilling half of my quota for novels for the year.
I still have much work to do.
So I will make this a short post to fulfill the obligatory monthly blurb. Happy New Year to those who celebrate such. May 2013 be the year you finally complete those pesky New Year's resolutions.
Roll credits.
Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!

As I write this, the Mayan calendar is only 23 days from coming to a close. Guess I need to hurry and get those submissions in.
Me with Maria and the grands. Dylan, Daisy, Christal, Joseph, and CandyNovember has been a month for family. We've had visits from parents, children, nephews, nieces, grandkids, grandnieces... and lots and lots of friends. It has been a great month, one I'll not soon forget. I learned a lot about how precious our time is with each other.
I have been struggling with a nasty session of gout for the last several days. As I get older, healing takes longer. In the past the gout only had me down for a couple of days. This one is coming up on a week without a sign of slowing. I've heard cherries help. Lord knows aspirin doesn't. They call it the rich man's curse. Wonder which rich man cursed me with it?
The blog tour for Traitor Angel came to a close after a very successful run. I am quite pleased with the response the book got from the reviewers. Many thanks to Seventh Star Press and everyone who participated in the tour. I am very lucky to have connected with a publisher that spends so much energy promoting their authors.
Looking forward to the December release of Dreams of Steam III from Kerlak Publishing which contains my short story The Last Frontier.  No word yet on the release date for the Big Bad Anthology edited by John Hartness. I received a couple of rejection slips, one from Seventh Star Press for their apocalyptic anthology and one from Prime Books for the Aliens: Recent Encounters anthology. I want to thank the editors for their comments in the notes. I will keep their advice in mind in future. Still working on stories for five other anthologies and just sent in a flash fiction piece to Quantum Muse for their consideration.
I won't be posting again until the end of December, so by then we'll know whether this blog will continue. At risk of offending everyone: Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah! Remember the reason for the season has nothing to do with Walmart or Zales.
Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry!

The second book in the Angelkiller Triad is now available from Seventh Star Press, and a blog tour has been launched to promote it. This is the first time I have participated in such a project, and it looks as though it should be fun and nerve-wracking at the same time. 
I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Here's a little about the book:
Jonah Mason, called Angelkiller, faces more than one decision. His Army resistance cell is wounded physically and emotionally, on the brink of falling apart. The mysterious allies calling themselves Knights are pressuring him to abandon his people. 
Meanwhile, the world outside draws closer to Armageddon.
As Mason and his friends pursue their campaign against Dorian Azrael’s global megacorporation, Andlat Enterprises, the stakes get higher with each desperate foray into the enemy’s computers. They are fated to lose one of their number and gain an unlikely ally, but any advantage they gain could be fleeting at best.
If they fail, it could mean the end of The Army and all resistance to the forces of Darkness.
I'm looking forward to seeing the reviews on this latest novel. Typically, my work has received feedback that ran the gamut from rave to pan. Obviously, I'm doing something right because my target has always been to get a reaction from the readers. Good or bad. And it certainly has done that.
I have decided to abandon the convention circuit for the remainder of the year in order to catch up with my writing projects. I don't travel as well as I used to (getting old sucks) and where I go doesn't seem to help promote the work as well as putting out new work as often as possible. 
I am also considering what to do about my position as editor of parABnormal Digest. With Sam's Dot Publishing being acquired by White Cat, it seems there may be some changes in the offing. I have been told that there will be a new managing editor as well, which makes me think the changes are going to be larger than I had earlier anticipated. Thank goodness I don't depend on that editor gig to put food on the table.
In other news, I am making plans to attend several conventions in 2013. These include Mysticon in Roanoke, Virginia and MidSouthCon in Memphis. Still looking forward to the release of Dreams of Steam 3 from Kerlak Publishing which will contain my story The Last Frontier. That story's main character James Mayberry is fast becoming my favorite steampunk hero. I think I may start using him more often. Upcoming also is the story Grudge Match in Pro Se Press' anthology The New Adventures of Foster Fade and Identity Crisis in the Big Bad anthology edited by John Hartness.
I continue to work on stories for several anthologies, including calls from Seventh Star Press and Pro Se Press. I was sorry to hear that Midnight Screaming Magazine is folding. Kara Ferguson, the managing editor, is a wonderful writer and I'm sure she is sorry to have to let the magazine die. Hopefully the writers whose work appeared there will find new venues quickly.
For my friends on the East Coast, please be safe. As I write this Hurricane Sandy is approaching. Having sat through several hurricanes myself, I know how dangerous they can be. Keep your heads down if you stay. Better yet, take this last chance to get inland as quickly as possible. 
Well, that's about it. Until next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.

For those of you keeping track, we are just a little over 80 days away from the end of the world, so if you're planning that around the world trip, better get started. If you start now, you might make it half-way before the four horseman start their ride. By the way, this is the culprit responsible, not the gaily colored Aztec calendar you see so often accused.
I won't go into why this has caused such a dust-up. I refer to the Y2K debacle, the Big One (earthquake) scare on the New Madrid fault, and the upcoming elections as examples of how people can get stirred up about the improbable.
It does make for entertaining television and movies, though. Some real stinkers, too. E.g. 2012 and 2012 Doomsday. If it's really going to happen, then making movies about it seems kind of in poor taste, one would think. But hey, that's just my opinion.
Anyway, time enough to worry about that. [image error] L to R - Bill Eakin, myself, Hilaire Smith, Aaron Drown

I was in Hot Springs earlier this month and gave the initial workshop on writing short stories to a full house at the Hot Springs Fine Arts Center. I greatly appreciated the attendants' interest and interface. It was a room full of dedicated writers and writers-to-be very interested in the craft and ready to learn. My thanks to the HSFAC and everyone who participated in the workshops given by myself, Aaron Drown, Bill Eakin, Dan and Jackie Gamber, LR Barrett-Durham, EG Glover and Herika Raymer.
On the publishing front, I got the acceptance for my short story Identity Crisis to be included in The Big Bad anthology edited by John G. Hartness and Emily Leverett. I am particularly pleased about that, as Hart is a writer whose work I admire. My micro-story Ninjabot will be appearing in the Blink! anthology from Ink-Monkey Press (Mandi Lynch, editor). Pro Se Presents #13 , which contains my short story Kelly's Beast is out as well. Some time ago I set the goal of trying to get 12 stories per year published. I continue to set that goal each year and it looks like I might actually get close to it this year.
The blog tour for Traitor Angel begins in October, courtesy of its publisher Seventh Star Press. This is the first time I will have participated in something like this. I do hope the cover artwork is done soon. I'm very interested in seeing what Matt Perry has come up with this time. 
With any luck, this blog tour method will take the place of having to travel all over the country promoting my work, saving me a boatload of money and allowing me to spend more time writing. The wonders of technology! Could I finally have found a way for this mechanical monstrosity known as the web to be useful to me besides as a gaming platform?
Only time will tell. Hopefully before the end of the world.

Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.

The month of August is almost over, and it seems like I can't keep up.
The Imagicopter Anniversary Event at The Booksellers at Laurelwood in Memphis was a great success. Attending were Windsong Levitch, Gerald Trimmer, Dan and Jackie Gamber, Robert Krog and Bill Eakin. We were glad that Allyson Adams could join us. She is the daughter of the actor Nick Adams. Her new book The Rebel and The King is now available, telling the story of Nick Adams and Elvis Presley's friendship. Each person got a chance to spotlight their work and the Gambers entertained us with a video from Allotrope Media and Jackie's "Dragon Spotting Workshop". Many thanks to all the attendees and especially to the Booksellers for their help in making the event such a success.
L-R: Allyson Adams, Windsong Levitch, Gerald Trimmer, Dan Gamber, Jackie Gamber, Robert Krog, Bill Eakin

ParABnormal Digest issue #4 is finalized and in process of print and distribution. I am very privileged to co-edit this magazine with Terrie Leigh Relf, a great editor and writer in her own right. I was confused about the release date of PD because of a possible scheduling change that didn't pan out. The magazine will still be issued in March and September of each year. I have a significant backlog of submitted stories I have to work through for the coming March issue.
On a personal front, I want to thank Allan Gilbreath and Kimberly Richardson for their help with the radio and TV spots promoting the Imagicopter Anniversary Event. Allan and Kimberly have been of immeasurable value to Imagicopter's growth and continued ability to help writers and artists get their work in front of larger audiences. 
I have had no notice one way or the other from the stories I have submitted (see my last blog entry). I am finishing a story for the Perfect Flaw: Dystopian Stories (editor Robin Blankenship) and working ideas for the Thunder on the Battlefield (editor James R. Tuck) anthologies, both from Seventh Star Press as well as doing my best to finish the last Thran novel (Deity) for Sam's Dot Publishing.
My thoughts and hopes for health and safety go to those who have been hit by Hurricane Isaac. Til next time, the rest of you remember to stay low and keep your powder dry!

Now, I know it's August. I should have done this last week. But then, there was a lot going on.

Fandom Fest in Louisville, KY went well in spite of the fact that the literary events and track continue to be snubbed by the con committee. Once again Stephen Zimmer and his troops made a silk purse from a sow's ear, taking the substandard organization they were allowed and making it into something really good. My hope is that the thing will be separated into two events in future, with the Film Festival and its megabudget in one venue and the neglected step-child, the more modest literary event can stand on its own. It might not have the traffic, it might not have the exposure, it might not even have the participation, but it would at least have the respect of those who attended. It would receive the attention it deserved from the press, not a miserable mention as afterthought.

It is better to stand on your own in humility than cooperate in humiliation.

This is not a condemnation of Zimmer and his people. Last year they magically transformed a failed event into something to be proud of. This year they did even more, and there are no words to express how grateful all the literary guests were to them. There are also no words to express how badly they were treated by the Fandom Fest PTB. There were reports of volunteers for the literary track being abused verbally by high-ranking members of the committee. Literary guests were not even afforded water until Zimmer's people begged. Although the venue was thousands of times better than last year, nothing had really improved between the two conventions. I doubt they ever will.

Enough of ranting. Actually, more of a sadness expressed.

On the writing front, I have sent the manuscript for Traitor Angel to Seventh Star Press for final editing, illustration, and publication. My short story Grudge Match was sent to Pro Se Press for consideration for their The New Adventures of Foster Fade (Tommy Hancock editor), a resurrection of the Lester Dent character from the 1930s. I sent The Nomad's Testimony in to SSP for consideration for The End is Not the End anthology (Joshua Leet editor) and finalized the August 2012 issue of parABnormal Digest. Identity Crisis was sent to John Hartness for consideration for his Big Bad Anthology. I continue to work on the last Thran book for Sam's Dot Publishing as well as on short stories for three more anthologies.

On the publication front, The Shed ( Call of Lovecraft , Greg Norris editor) and Chasing the Key ( Rogues in Hell , Janet and Chris Morris editors) are out and available. I received word that The Last Frontier was accepted for Dreams of Steam III (Kimberly Richardson editor, Kerlak Publishing) and it should be out before Christmas.

Upcoming I have a radio interview (thanks to Robert Krog) with WKNO on August 8th at 9:00 AM, concerning the upcoming Imagicopter event at the Booksellers at Laurelwood in Memphis. I will soon be participating in writers' workshops in Hot Springs, Arkansas and a few other events before the end of the year, but the majority of my time will be spent catching up with my writing.

There are a lot of personal events taking place this month. Birthdays mostly but a significant anniversary (beside the Imagicopter one on 8/11). I'll get back to you on the monthly announcements around the 31st. Till then, stay low and keep your powder dry!

Okay, here it comes. The summer I find out what it's like to be too busy to breathe.

Coming this weekend I have several panels at Fandom Fest in Louisville, KY. Here's my schedule in case you're interested and haven't anything better to do (and who does?)
Friday, June 29, 2012

4:00 pm - Making the Most out of a Convention or Book Fair (Beckham Room)

Panel Features: Kirk Stevens(M), D.A. Adams, H. David Blalock, Ren Garcia, Kathryn Sullivan

Saturday, June 30, 2012

10:00 am - How to Assemble a Winning Anthology (Jones Room)

Panel Features: Jason Sizemore, Eric Beebe, Kimberly Richardson, Lee Martindale (M), H. David Blalock

11:30 am - Exploring Genres: Epic Fantasy (Beckham Room)

Panel Features: Carol Malcolm (M) H. David Blalock, Terry W. Ervin, Gail Z Martin, Laura Resnick, Robin Hobb

2:30 pm - Lovecraft’s Influence on Today’s Speculative Fiction (Morrow Room)

Panel Features: Michael West, Joe Dickerson, Eric Beebe, H. David Blalock, Tally Johnson

7:00 pm - Creating Heroes to Believe In (Beckham Room)

Featured Panelists: A. Christopher Drown, Gail Z Martin, Timothy Zahn, H. David Blalock, Lee Martindale (M)

Sunday July 1, 2012

2:30pm - Take a Flight on the Imagicopter: (Jones Room)

Panel Features: H. David Blalock, J.L. Mulvihill, Herika Raymer

The best thing about the panels I am on is that most of them don't require me to say anything at all. I.e., the panels on Epic Fantasy and Creating Heroes have really large names who will probably know more about the subjects than I could hope to relate. I may pipe up once in a while, but I plan to do a lot of listening. A man has to know his limitations.
I am pleased that two of the moderators, Kirk Stevens and Lee Martindale, are very good at their jobs. I really look forward to those panels in particular. I want to thank Stephen Zimmer and the whole Fandom Fest organization for including me in the event.
On to the writing part of the blog.
Traitor Angel will be done within the next few days. I must say this book has taken me places I never expected and that really annoys me no end. I hate it when characters don't behave. A few of them will not survive the last book because of that. Yes, I said it.
I have placed Deity back one in the queue. The main reason for that is because I have been recruited to write a story for the upcoming New Adventures of Foster Fade. Pro Se Press is resurrecting several characters created by the immortal Lester Dent and I have the honor of participating in their being reintroduced. 
I have always enjoyed pulp fiction. The Doc Savage books were companions in my youth and Pulp Obscura is dedicated to bringing them back. I hope to be a part of this effort for years to come.
The next issue of parABnormal Digest is finalizing. Hope to have all the coordination with my co-editor Terrie Lee Relf done and the magazine ready for SDP very soon. I recently signed the publishing contracts from Evil Jester Press for The Shed (Call of Lovecraft anthology, Gregory Norris editor) and Perseid Press for Chasing the Key (Rogues in Hell anthology, Janet and Chris Morris editors). Looking forward to them coming out soon. Have begun work on a story for the next in the Morris' HIH series, but haven't developed it enough to submit the idea for approval yet. No word from Kerlak Publishing about my submission for Dreams of Steam III. I won't talk about the rejections I have received. Just let it be said they still outnumber the acceptances.

Back to the notebooks. Til next time, stay low and keep your powder dry.