tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82713682024-03-13T16:00:07.453-04:00Bloodstream CityCompanion to bloodstreamcity.comBrian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-53054370434114612752018-10-13T06:48:00.000-04:002018-10-13T06:48:26.241-04:00New HomeThis blog has run its course, but much bigger things will be happening over on the new one. Previews, articles, reviews, interviews, pretty much everything I should have done here.<br />
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I'm a slow learner. Walk with me. <a href="http://bloodstreamcity.com/blog">http://bloodstreamcity.com/blog</a>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-54114835753320062582017-06-24T07:44:00.000-04:002017-06-24T07:44:12.616-04:00The Vessel has launched.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOu02IF1c2c/WU5QIvlotHI/AAAAAAAAKgk/FXXPS2dCGD01GpLR9BuqOnN0E8uEI9p7wCLcBGAs/s1600/icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOu02IF1c2c/WU5QIvlotHI/AAAAAAAAKgk/FXXPS2dCGD01GpLR9BuqOnN0E8uEI9p7wCLcBGAs/s200/icon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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My new project is an ongoing Space Horror web serial, updated every Thursday morning at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthevesselishere.com%2F&h=ATMjDd-VQ-8ujt5wwKburxMz8Rq_5LV5OmjLenx9dyF80OXHF9rGNl6pA7D1nuxnae9wduJNMdmoO5tNr_U6eMVHPf8RP7buCv7r-5w55GN0bXMlG39kE2AS15QVeFAL16RMc_wElsJ-MtXmolkv&enc=AZMB-Mg6WvFbdOcFDvPFD_pdYuVYaxvd684H2gY3Tn15Ft_2weyMOd659FSAKdGE6qdD6ORLWIdzDrI90wmjZFMDcKD6LGj1KRIjcKMA0mDDD12fC9p48eCFZcWht-BQ3ULgJ8otSLp3F8-DamIe-YYrrlAxiQlKXa48TZCWBx1QbmRUZcdKg9OFMOI0xPfpGpONoPgiwy4Wbc58Q4aMGYab&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://thevesselishere.com</a>. </div>
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This is a work in progress, so I'm expecting a lot of feedback and back-and-forth with readers. If people like it enough, I might even increase the output. The story is equal parts Science Fiction and Horror, and I'm excited to see where the trip takes me.</div>
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Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-38755718404482996062017-02-01T06:20:00.004-05:002017-02-01T06:20:54.902-05:00A Confession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JdJD15msi8/WJHD2A8ctNI/AAAAAAAAJ8U/RJ_wLcEpB0wPTMWK0PYRG9oHWhB-oSTYgCLcB/s1600/isolationcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JdJD15msi8/WJHD2A8ctNI/AAAAAAAAJ8U/RJ_wLcEpB0wPTMWK0PYRG9oHWhB-oSTYgCLcB/s320/isolationcover.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
Well, here it is- a confession of sorts.<br />
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I've been writing a book in secret.<br />
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No, it's not Book Four of The Obscured, though that will be next on my list of things to work on. In fact it's not set in one of my worlds at all, but one created by <a href="http://nicholassansbury.com/" target="_blank">Nicholas Sansbury Smith</a>. If you read Post-Apocalyptic books, you probably already know Nick's name. He's the USA best-selling author of multiple series, including Orbs, Hell Divers, Trackers, and the tremendously popular Extinction Cycle. Well Nick very graciously asked me to be a part of the Extinction Cycle series by way of Kindle Worlds, and I very wisely accepted. Kindle Worlds, if you didn't know, is a platform Amazon started a few years ago where authors can write in each properties.<br />
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My book is called Extinction: Isolation, and it takes place during the events of Extinction Horizon, the first book in Nick's series. It follows the story of Will and Stanley Sharpe, two brothers on opposite sides of the law, and their struggle to stay alive in the Pennsylvania wilderness as they make their back to Will's family in Washington D.C. I had a great time taking on this challenge, and as far as the release date, the book drops...oh, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N28DNUO" target="_blank">about five hours ago</a>.<br />
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That's right- it's already out. I just Beyonce'd your ass. <br />
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This is a Kindle exclusive, ebook only, which is just the deal with Kindle Worlds. As you might know, you don't need a Kindle to read a Kindle book, just an Amazon account. You can read it on your phone, your computer, and pretty much anywhere else. I tried my best to create a book that wouldn't require having read the Extinction Cycle first in order to enjoy it, but if you have- and I recommend you do if you like good Science Fiction and Horror- you'll enjoy it that much more. This is easily the biggest thing I've been a part of, and I'm so grateful to Nick that he let me be a part of it.<br />
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So that's my confession. I am Beyonce. Enjoy.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-20927232813220375022016-05-30T21:51:00.002-04:002016-05-31T06:07:06.957-04:00Hot Dirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7q7s5pJxOwc/V0yrL4Mta1I/AAAAAAAAIpw/_AGLpBJq_dkh6VJiIYr6bjM_U_E6yY15ACLcB/s1600/Hot%2BDirt%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7q7s5pJxOwc/V0yrL4Mta1I/AAAAAAAAIpw/_AGLpBJq_dkh6VJiIYr6bjM_U_E6yY15ACLcB/s400/Hot%2BDirt%2BCover.jpg" width="245" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The third book in The Obscured series is out! It's called Hot Dirt, as the last update said it would be, and it's available on Kindle as of this moment and paperback very soon. I won't bother you with an update when that happens, but if you check that Amazon link again in a week or so it should pop up. Here's the description:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><b><i>No one goes to the desert to be found.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><i>Liam Cain is the biggest, meanest guy you'd ever want to run into in a dark alley. He's also good at one thing, and that thing happens to be killing people. And like they say, if you're good at something, never do it for free.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>When a job for the German mafia goes south, Cain has no choice but to skip town and find a new place to call home. But in a tiny, unknown town in the middle of the desert, he finds more than he bargained for when a woman's body turns up in his trailer. Cain finds himself in the middle of a fight between two, ancient enemies, and a search for a secret long buried in the sand.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i>It's a good thing Cain has a few secrets of his own.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Some other news. First, I was interviewed by the editor of </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.horrormetalsounds.com/gore-spotlight-brian-martinez-interview.html" href="http://www.horrormetalsounds.com/gore-spotlight-brian-martinez-interview.html" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Horror Metal Sounds</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, a site which you've probably already guessed what they're all about. It was a great experience, and we talked about a few of my books as well as all things horror. It's a good read, so go check it out.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Also exciting, I've started a partnership with </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://tapas.io/" href="https://tapas.io/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tapas</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, the leading Indie comic app which serves up bite-sized content. They recently branched into books, so I've teamed up with the people behind it to offer most of my books through their format. A Chemical Fire is already available, and very soon The Obscured series will be added along with a few others. I'm a big fan of their app, so my stuff aside I totally recommend downloading it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">That's all. Here's to a great summer.</span>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-235014761568515732016-02-20T21:08:00.001-05:002016-02-20T21:08:43.596-05:00The Obscured, Book Three<br />
It's already been five short months since Book Two of The Obscured came out, which means at least some of you have had the chance to read City of Demons by now. So, any thoughts? Good? Bad? I'm always open to criticism, believe me. Over on Amazon the book has <a href="http://www.amazon.com/City-Demons-Obscured-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0150SJRIC/">exactly one review right now</a>, so, please, click over and take a minute to tell me what you thought, and the same goes for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shallow-Veins-The-Obscured-Book-ebook/dp/B00MQD2Y3K/">Book One</a>. You're only helping me and the future of the series by telling me (and the world) what works for you and what doesn't.<br /><br />Speaking of the future, I'm also announcing the first details on Book Three, including the reveal of the title, which you can see in the first, official teaser image below. The name of The Obscured, Book Three will be...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJCr_K5J3B8/VskbTFai_UI/AAAAAAAAIPo/VU-XMxYi98A/s1600/hotdirtannounce3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJCr_K5J3B8/VskbTFai_UI/AAAAAAAAIPo/VU-XMxYi98A/s320/hotdirtannounce3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<i>HOT DIRT.</i><br />
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Hot Dirt follows Liam Cain, semi-reformed killer looking for a place to hide in the desert, who instead finds himself in the middle of a fight between two ancient enemies. The release date is TBA, all I can say is it's coming sometime in Spring of 2016 and I'll leave it at that.<br /><br />That's it for now. Hopefully soon I'll be sharing some news on an interesting new way to read books, including my own. It's a format I'm excited to be a part of that I think has a lot of potential if it gets off the ground. I'm always up for an experiment, so we'll wait and see what tomorrow brings.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-32965973626508052512015-09-09T06:49:00.002-04:002015-09-09T06:49:26.940-04:00It's Alive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m0PhdutCI1s/VfAOoaLfqMI/AAAAAAAAG6c/KWDQuwcfi3k/s1600/City%2Bof%2BDemonsCoverWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m0PhdutCI1s/VfAOoaLfqMI/AAAAAAAAG6c/KWDQuwcfi3k/s320/City%2Bof%2BDemonsCoverWeb.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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The second book in The Obscured series, <strong>City of Demons</strong>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0150SJRIC">is out on Kindle</a>. For you tree-haters in the group, I expect the paperback to be out by the end of the week, so keep an eye out for that, you two. It also means Shallow Veins, the first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shallow-Veins-Obscured-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00MQD2Y3K">is free until the 13th</a>. Not like free to date or pursue a career, free to read. It's just a sale. This is for four days only, so download now and read at your leisure. As always, you <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page?ie=UTF8&ref_=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd">don't need a Kindle</a> to read a Kindle book.<br /><br />City of Demons took a while to come together, but I think the longer development has been kind to it. Where the first book was Butcher kind of stumbling across this widening mystery, this time around the universe of The Obscured has really begun to expand. Events are set in motion that will have repercussions in future books, and new characters- the ones that make it out alive- will return to cause problems for our heroes.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-47122724925433736812015-02-13T08:02:00.002-05:002015-02-13T08:02:52.620-05:00Salt in the Dark River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a new short story up on Inkitt for their 'Darkest Place" horror contest. The first part is here, the rest of it past the <a href="http://www.inkitt.com/stories/7444" target="_blank">link</a>. Make sure to vote for it if you enjoy it.<br />
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The house sat empty at the top of the hill. Its security lights were
a beacon in the night, like a lighthouse alone in the mist, warning
ships away from the kiss of sharp shores. The closest neighbor was
further away than a man could throw a rock, a fact that didn't appear
to be a coincidence.</div>
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Inside its smooth walls, gray hardwood spread out across an
expansive, single floor. The leather furniture decorating the space
looked like someone’s idea of a futuristic catcher’s mitt and
felt half as cozy, chosen, as was the case for much of the house, for
color more than comfort. Doubly so for the tank of tropical fish that
shimmered against the far accent wall. Its forty-odd gallons of water
sparkled in the dark, cared for by a professional who came out to the
house on alternating Tuesdays.</div>
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Overhead spotlights clicked to life. They were triggered by the
abrupt opening of the heavy front door. A burst of cool air was
followed into the house by Douglas, the owner. He shut the door just
as quickly as it had swung open, his gray, unblinking eyes flecked
with bits of blue.</div>
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Three hard clacks and the door was locked. Four beeps and the alarm
system was activated.</div>
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In the kitchen, Douglas stood at the refrigerator and poured himself
a glass of water, drinking it down in one gulp, then did the same
with a scotch. He was thirsty and had been for some time. His nerves
were on fire and needed extinguishing. After another scotch, this one
over ice, he drew the blinds and ran the shower until the mirror
couldn't be seen. Then he undressed and stepped in.</div>
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Under the hot water, Douglas kneaded his sore neck like a baker
working a tough batch of dough. Three days now it had been stiff,
three days of limited movement, of waking in the mornings with a cry.
The rub helped, but he knew within twenty minutes of getting out of
the shower his neck would be back to the way it had been before. A
masseuse was in order, he thought to himself, one of those cute girls
he always passed by at the gym. The thought alone was enough to relax
him.</div>
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The little hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up. He felt
the unmistakable presence of a man standing just behind him. He
rubbed the water from his eyes to catch the intruder in the act,
ready to pounce on him in a commotion of fists. But he was alone in
the steamy shower, and though the feeling faded the longer he kept
his eyes open, Douglas swore he could feel subtle changes in the
direction of the air- shifts so slight they didn't move the shower
curtain.</div>
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Almost like breathing, yet soundless, and cold.</div>
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Ready for bed, Douglas turned off all the lights in the house. As he
went from room to room he checked the windows to make sure they were
locked properly, noting with some comfort the wires of the house's
alarm system. He had settled into a decent state after two large
scotches and a hot shower, and he looked forward to a good night's
sleep for a change. He crept into the bedroom, slipped between the
cool covers and let his eyes close of their own accord.</div>
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The house was quiet. Secure. A few odd moments in the shower
notwithstanding, Douglas felt the closest to content he could expect.
Already the silken kiss of sleep was swallowing him down, like
sinking into the warm sap of a thousand, billowing trees.</div>
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“Tastes like salt.”</div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.42in; text-indent: 0.3in;">
A whisper in his ear. He jolted awake at the man's voice, with it the
sensation of breath on his face. A moment later came the loud bang of
something hitting his bedroom window from the outside, first the
impact, then the shimmy of glass dancing in its frame. It sounded
like a fist had pounded at the window. He threw the covers off and
jumped out of bed, looked around the room for whoever had whispered
to him. Once he was sure he was alone, he yanked the curtains open.</div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.42in; text-indent: 0.3in;">
No one. Just his front yard, a hill which sloped down to the empty
street, all of it blanketed in yellow-white moonlight. Douglas leaned
in close to look under the window. Possibly the trespasser had ducked
down and was hiding against the house, tucked in behind the azaleas.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.42in; text-indent: 0.3in;">
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</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.42in; text-indent: 0.3in;">
A black bird twitched in the grass. Its wings flapped in erratic
rhythms and its legs were two, hardened sticks. Douglas looked for
and found a sign that the bird had hit his window- an impression of
the animal's shape had been left behind, a fine silhouette rendered
in dust, the body at the center and the two feathery wings spread
outward. The bird continued to twitch in the grass until the
movements slowed, its solid, black eyes finally drained of sight,
left to stare unfocused into the sky.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.42in; text-indent: 0.3in;">
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</div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.42in; text-indent: 0.3in;">
Douglas watched the bird die. Then he returned to bed.</div>
<br />
The rest: <a href="http://www.inkitt.com/stories/7444">http://www.inkitt.com/stories/7444</a>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-53506811182035537822014-08-28T07:09:00.002-04:002014-08-28T07:10:58.254-04:00Shallow Veins is here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oOw8lQiVUas/U_8JoVL2C5I/AAAAAAAAB4I/mdOi4ncwBmE/s1600/Shallow%2BVeins%2BCover%2BWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oOw8lQiVUas/U_8JoVL2C5I/AAAAAAAAB4I/mdOi4ncwBmE/s1600/Shallow%2BVeins%2BCover%2BWeb.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The day has come: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22822874-shallow-veins" target="_blank">Shallow Veins</a>, my fourth book, and the first in a series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shallow-Veins-Obscured-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00MQD2Y3K/" target="_blank">is alive</a>. Since announcing it four months ago it's seen a successful Kickstarter campaign, the hiring of an excellent artist by the name of <a href="http://themichaelmacrae.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Michael Macrae</a>, and as per normal, multiple edits. The end result is in my opinion the strongest work I've put out to date.<br />
<br />
Obviously there's an issue with distance here- not only did I write the thing, I JUST wrote the thing- but as my second harshest critic (top spot went to <a href="http://audiobookreviewer.com/reviews/the-mountain-and-the-city/" target="_blank">this guy</a>), I think the book came out really well. It definitely has me excited to continue the series, which is a good thing considering I'm planning to put out two entries per year. This is by far the biggest challenge I've set for myself, but I know that without pushing past our comfort zones we never really grow. A bit like Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, except when I push out of my coffee can, I'm not planning to eat anyone.<br />
<br />
Not planning to.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-82385914135403562342014-04-16T07:27:00.000-04:002014-04-21T20:45:06.071-04:00Shallow Veins I've announced my next book or four. Or more.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMqfbeq_2NQ/U05o-OX4-0I/AAAAAAAAAKk/T1ukFJeh-Kw/s1600/shallowveinsbanner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMqfbeq_2NQ/U05o-OX4-0I/AAAAAAAAAKk/T1ukFJeh-Kw/s1600/shallowveinsbanner2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Details: <a href="http://tinyletter.com/bloodstreamcity/letters/kickstart-my-heart">http://tinyletter.com/bloodstreamcity/letters/kickstart-my-heart</a><br />
<br />
Update: The project is <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/803135611/shallow-veins-the-oscured-book-one" target="_blank">live on Kickstarter.</a>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-62140509908526505482014-04-08T07:22:00.003-04:002014-04-08T07:22:58.229-04:004.16.14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzuEk57ZTrQ/U0Pb_HhsIfI/AAAAAAAAAKU/pSHiKo3eQ_g/s1600/tease.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzuEk57ZTrQ/U0Pb_HhsIfI/AAAAAAAAAKU/pSHiKo3eQ_g/s1600/tease.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-71878919056111500242013-10-19T07:47:00.000-04:002013-10-19T07:47:23.628-04:00The Mountain and The City Coming to AudiobookThanks to <a href="http://www.acx.com/" target="_blank">ACX</a>, I can officially say that my first audiobook goes into production starting Monday. Sometime by Christmas you'll be able to listen to The Mountain and The City: The Complete Saga in its entirety.<br />
<br />
The book will be voiced by the talented Victoria Smart, <a href="https://twitter.com/smartvic" target="_blank">@smartvic</a> on Twitter, and if what I've heard so far is any indication, it promises to be a unique and emotional ride, a real performance rather than a simple reading. I'm probably anticipating this project more than anyone else, because I'm looking forward to being able to experience one of my novels without having to look at the actual text, which more than anything becomes a regret-fest: "Why did I put that comma there?" "Did that dialogue really need a character tag?" These are the things that clench my stomach and ruin my afternoon, and if it sounds a little excessive, all I can say is, A) it probably is and B) that's fine, and I hear you, I do, but I can't do anything about it. Audio has a great way of wiping all that aside by making it real. Hearing an actor perform your work is usually equal parts terrifying and exciting, but in the rights hands it can lean joyfully toward the exciting. Thankfully, I found the right hands.<br />
<br />
I'll update when there's an update. Until then.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-16829871035042844202013-04-02T22:43:00.000-04:002013-04-02T22:43:13.949-04:00The Word Tank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4T-X0opEFU/UVQtAxNFdTI/AAAAAAAAAIg/a83zpuJIvLM/s1600/WTFBPIC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4T-X0opEFU/UVQtAxNFdTI/AAAAAAAAAIg/a83zpuJIvLM/s200/WTFBPIC2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the months since the saga of The Mountain and The City came to a close by becoming a </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-City-Brian-Martinez/dp/1481031732/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">real, live book</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, I've been working on some things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started off by returning to my film roots with "The Scapegoatist", an unpublished novel I decided would make a better screenplay. A little digging through this blog would turn up some mentions of that story, along with an <a href="http://bloodstreamcity.blogspot.com/2009/07/scapegoatist-untitled-sample-chapter.html">excerpt </a>of that previously doomed book. Before the paint had dried on that one I jumped into a second screenplay, this one no less dark, yet a change of pace in that it's a period piece. More on that in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The other major project I've been involved with is launching <a href="http://www.thewordtank.com/">www.thewordtank.com</a>. I'll let the press release speak for itself:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i>New York author Brian Martinez has teamed up with Naples film and literary manager Bruce Barone, Jr. to form a start-up aimed at aspiring writers. Dubbed The Word Tank, they offer a full-service gateway for editing, polishing and selling spec scripts as well as other forms of writing.</i></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Combining the artistic with the commercial, the pair believe they offer what their website refers to as a “unique industry perspective” to the screenwriter who wants to enjoy success yet maintain their artistic edge. In some cases they may even help the project find a home. As a writer himself, Martinez has some insight into the ups and downs of the creative process. “I know what it’s like to have a manuscript locked away in a drawer because it’s not right. I honestly believe everyone has a story in them, but the process of getting it out isn’t always an easy one.”</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Barone, CEO of Barone Media Group, a public relations, media and design company, says the project came from both a love of scripts and a hard look at the marketplace. “We realized there were all these script services promising fame and fortune instead of focusing on the writer’s work. We wanted to focus directly on their needs and find a way to take their work to the next step.” Their site even offers editing and formatting services to ensure the end product is as professional looking as possible. Barone adds, “If the work is excellent, the doors will open.”</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Much has been said of the difficulties in being picked out of the slush pile, from tired interns to over-saturation of the market. Martinez, no stranger to the perils of authorship, explains. “If someone picks up your story, you have five minutes to impress them, tops. So the question is, what will you do with that five minutes?”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The duo invites writers of all kinds to visit their website, <a href="http://www.thewordtank.com/">www.thewordtank.com</a>, where their blog offers weekly tips and thoughts on all aspects of writing and selling stories.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Word Tank was formed in 2013 by Bruce Barone, Jr. of Naples, Florida and Brian Martinez of Long Island, New York. It offers services for beginner and intermediate writers to sharpen their scripts as well as market themselves to potential buyers.</i></span></div>
Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-31294914814367217392012-11-20T06:39:00.002-05:002012-11-20T06:39:56.097-05:00Zero Hour.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdnPbHeGifM/UKtqpsUA6DI/AAAAAAAAAIA/qk4ZuzfWsUc/s1600/Mountain6Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdnPbHeGifM/UKtqpsUA6DI/AAAAAAAAAIA/qk4ZuzfWsUc/s200/Mountain6Z.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
The Mountain and The City, Part Zero has arrived.<br />
<br />
The final chapter of my serial is out on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-City-Part-Zero-ebook/dp/B00AA5K0TQ" target="_blank">Kindle</a> and <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/256241" target="_blank">all other formats</a>. It's been a long and varied road, with one more stop next month when it's released as a collected ebook and, for the first time, in paperback. The digital serial has been the perfect home for this story, but I've had a good number of people ask for it on paper as well.<br />
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Happy reading.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-68499862401680088462012-11-15T07:03:00.000-05:002012-11-15T07:03:28.426-05:00An Excerpt from TMATC: Zero<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.54in; text-indent: 0.29in;">
The blue light-bulbs barely light up the garage. All I can see is the car in front of us and then after that it's all black, except way off at the other end a little bit of outside light comes in. Really quiet, dad tells mom that's where the booth with the keys is. It's hard to tell with so much dark, but it feels like forever away.</div>
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Mom hits into a car's bumper with her leg. She curses at it in whispers.</div>
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“Your phone has a light,” dad tells her.</div>
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“I don't want to attract attention. We don't know who else is in here.”</div>
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Her saying that makes it so much worse. Staring into the black, just tires and mirrors looking back, pieces of metal and rubber and shiny glass, right now they all feel like they want to wake up and come after me, which is crazy and not possible, but sometimes things that are crazy and not possible happen anyway.</div>
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Without any words we tip-toe through the dark garage toward the little bit of moonlight at the other end. It's so quiet, I can hear dad's breath in his nose-hairs.</div>
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All of a sudden, a little too loud, mom says, “Elliot?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.54in; text-indent: 0.29in;">
The white shirt looks like it's floating in the dark toward us. When it gets closer the big man's face is above it, sweaty and with big, wide eyes. I don't know what he's going to do, if he's our friend or not, but then he brings his shaky hand up to his mouth, and in barely a whisper, barely something we can hear, he says three words.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.54in; text-indent: 0.29in;">
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<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.54in; text-indent: 0.29in;">
“Under...the...car.”</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.54in; text-indent: 0.29in;">
<br /></div>
Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-67117320978270633252012-11-14T06:22:00.001-05:002012-11-14T06:22:41.305-05:00The Mountain and The City, Part ZeroJust announced. See the cover and release date over on my Facebook page:<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrianMartinez">http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrianMartinez</a><br />
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<br />Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-28074814632263340752012-10-14T13:52:00.002-04:002012-10-14T13:52:53.537-04:00To The Gates of HellYesterday, October 13th, I attended New York Comic Con for the second year in a row. Last year was a last minute surprise, offered a ticket by a friend who couldn't make it to Sunday. I went with a long, long-time friend of mine, Dave, and we enjoyed it so much that this year we pre-ordered tickets. Once again I enjoyed the costume-watching and the booth-browsing, buying some Doctor Who merch for the wife and a graphic novel bio of Hunter S. Thompson, which as a huge fan of that other Doctor, I'm really excited to read.<br />
<br />
As it turned out we only had time and patience to wait for one panel, the first ever Comic Con appearance of author Chuck Palahniuk. He has a new book out by the name of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Damned-Chuck-Palahniuk/dp/0307476537">Damned</a>, which I was lucky enough to get a free copy of. I earned it, you could say, by sitting on the dirty, nerd-trampled floor just left of stage through the entire appearance. Palahniuk and his helpers also threw several bags of arms, legs and hands into the screaming crowd; all fake, all autographed.<br />
<br />
In the past few years I've been fairly vocal about my disappointment with Palahniuk's output. Not that he's put out too little material, but in fact just the opposite. He's managed to publish a book a year, which, while I absolutely commend his work ethic, I felt it led to a mediocre bunch of books. Keep in mind, this criticism only stems from a single place, and it isn't hate. It's absolute awe and jealousy and devotion. You see, this is the man who wrote three books, back-to-back, that turned my world on its head. Those books: Fight Club. Invisible Monsters. Survivor. Three books I repeatedly had to slow myself down reading so I could taste every word, admire every sentence, enjoy every page, because I knew that when it was over, the only thing I would be reading anytime soon that could touch it would be the same book read all over. What followed those three books was what I would best describe as diminishing returns: still really good, but with progressively less kick.<br />
<br />
Seeing Palahniuk at Comic Con this past Saturday, other than realizing he's beginning to resemble Jack Kerouac as he ages, I learned a few things about the man. To say he knows and enjoys his crowd is putting it lightly, and I was struck at how generous he was toward them, to the point where he actually began apologizing when his bags and bags of freebies ran out. There was also one thing he did during the Q & A portion which I can't get out of my head. That was, whenever a fan asked him a question, no matter how predictable, or bizarre, or entirely off-topic, he would stop. He would remain quiet for several seconds, and you could watch as he went over the question in his head and really, truly gave it thought. This would be suicide for a politician, who is trained to fill every moment of air-time with inane filler. "That's a good question," they'll say, "and my staff and I have been pondering that same dilemma, and what I would like to say about that, to you good people, is..." and all the while what they're actually doing is listening to the feed in their ear. Some man in a booth close by, getting paid a lot of money to tell him how he feels. I was deeply, thoroughly impressed to see Palahniuk answer a question this way. And it showed: his answers were intelligent, spot-on, and above all, honest. It impressed me, and it made me want to treat people the same way.<br />
<br />
The major meat of the appearance was a reading of a new story, one he said was titled "Boogeyman", one that made heavy use of shock and horror to get its point across. While it's a tactic you could say Palahniuk over-uses, there's no arguing how effectively he uses it. His command of language is so strong that, even straining to hear its details echoed in the cavernous room, I felt nauseous at times, and had to remind myself they were only words, they weren't real, they didn't have to take form as images in my head. I came out the other side of it reminded why I fell in love with his work in the first place: because it's brave, and because it makes me laugh, and because it leaves scars. At least for now, I'm a follower again.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-86325246121883034442012-06-27T06:59:00.003-04:002012-06-27T06:59:43.987-04:00Expand and Contract<br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />An announcement to share with my friends and fans- I was recently given an opportunity to sign with Bruce Barone of <a href="http://www.worldmediapartners.net/?page_id=205">World Media Partners</a>, and I'm happy to say I took it. Bruce is an excellent manager/publicist/sounding board/guy poking me with a stick, and we already set to our first project together- developing a feature-length screenplay. I can't tell you much about it yet except that it's based on an unpublished work of mine. I can also tell you we're committed to not only getting the sucker made, but making it damn good. It's an exciting time right now.</div>
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The second part of this announcement is I'm looking to make a few waves on Amazon to coincide with this new chapter, and I want you guys to not only help me do it, but get something out of it in the process. That's why I'm having a one-day blitz tomorrow, where if you download my novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Chemical-Fire-ebook/dp/B004G093Q2/">A Chemical Fire</a> for 99 cents you can pick any other book I've published and get it absolutely free, in all e-book formats. All you have to do is buy it between noon and midnight on Thursday, 6/28, forward the receipt (or a screenshot, etc.) to the email address brian at bloodstreamcity dot com and tell me which book you want. That's it. If you've already read A Chemical Fire you just need to write a review on Amazon during that same time slot and email me the link. Technically that means you could get a free book without ever actually buying one, but I don't mind. The reviews are just as important as the sales if not more so. So really whether you participate in this event or not, feel free to slam Amazon with all your ACF reviews. It can be ten words long or a full dissertation, either one would be appreciated, and I love to hear what you guys have to say.</div>
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<u>Here's the list of books you can choose from:</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kissing You is Like Trying to Punch a Ghost (novel)</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Mountain and The City Part II (serial)</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Mountain and The City Part III (serial)</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Mountain and The City Part IV (serial)</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Mountain and The City Part V (serial)</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-51510453686303072992012-04-28T19:00:00.002-04:002012-04-28T19:00:56.022-04:0023,337More than twenty-thousand. That's how many times a story of mine has been downloaded or otherwise bought between May 2010 when I began this self-publishing experiment, and today, the end of April 2012. I'm not sharing that number to brag, but rather to convey my total shock at how many people have potentially read my work. The better share of those have been free downloads, so it's not like I've gotten rich off this thing, and in fact I can safely say that any money I've made has been invested right back into marketing myself, with a giveaway here and an order of bookmarks there. On the other hand doing all the formatting and design-work myself has kept my costs low, and that means that while my writing hasn't made me much money, it hasn't lost me any, either. That's been an important factor in keeping this whole experiment away from the territory of "it's a shame what happened to that guy" and safely in the realm of "as long as it makes him happy".<br />
<br />
So all I've really put into this has been my time, two years of it, which of course is valuable in its own right. Time is money, etcetera, and that's not even talking about all the hours I've spent of my life writing, all that putting words down and deleting them, all that editing and thinking and focusing on things that aren't real. Good practice, all of it, and all of it taking up time. I could have had a complete second job in that time and been making real money, but how much of our time do we really spend doing things of actual value, versus time wasted watching television and sitting on the internet, playing games or screwing around in the yard? I would argue that I didn't waste any of the time I spent writing. I would argue that I did have a second job.<br />
<br />
The reason I'm thinking about all of this is the same reason I came up with that big number I mentioned. You see I had to crunch some numbers because there's someone who has expressed strong interest in being my manager, someone who can help me develop my work and put it in front of the right people. Back before May of 2010 I was doing my best to get someone's attention, anyone who might be willing to represent me and get my name out there, but when that proved to be difficult I changed directions and dove into the new arena of self-publishing that was happening around me. Now two years later one of those people has contacted me, and he did it because he read a few of those things I'd self-published and saw some something in them. And he's even a nice guy.<br />
<br />
Nothing is official yet, and I may be talking about this too early if the whole deal ends up falling apart in my hands (though so far I don't see it happening), but even then I would treat this experience as a success, because I did what I set out to do- I got someone's attention, not by way of gimmicks or shouting at them, but by the merit of my work, or at least the potential in it. It's either ironic or very fitting that this comes so soon after someone tried to use my writing against me, to defraud a bit of cash out of me, because even when that setback happened I didn't let it frustrate me, and instead made a conscious effort to take it in stride and laugh it off (<a href="http://bloodstreamcity.blogspot.com/2012/04/lemonade.html">see my last post</a>). For now at least good things are happening, and its given the last two years a sweet validation, to know that even if it may take a while to go from the place I am now to a place where I don't need a day job anymore, but can rather support my wife and myself with my work, the waiting will be easier, and angled increasingly upward. If nothing else I've earned myself more than twenty-thousand pairs of eyes to watch me stumble there.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-53814824353398712062012-04-01T17:03:00.000-04:002012-04-01T17:03:15.620-04:00Lemonade.<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was recently contacted by someone named Terry James who inquired about having me edit an article of his for pay. I don't normally do this kind of thing, but I have considered it in the past as a source of side-money, and as luck would have it I'm in a brief lull between projects at the moment. So I figured, what the hell. The hell was, Terry turned out to be a check scam artist. Luckily I figured this out before I got burned and, deciding to have fun with the situation, I sent Terry what I thought was an appropriate response. What follows is our entire exchange.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Him: </span></i>Hello,<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> How are you doing today and am Terry James.I want to know if you will be available for rewriting and editing job,the document is attach to the mail and I will wait for your quote.Hope to read from you soonest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kind regards,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">TJ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><i>Attached was a file labeled "English.doc" which contained seven pages of broken English. Here's a sample sentence: "Addiction is a chronic brain disease often recurs, despite harmful consequences for the</i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>people around himself and has fallen into the addiction, the drug asked for it is they can</i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>not become."</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi Terry, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not sure what kind of budget you were looking at, but this does require some pretty extensive editing work. If you tell me your price range I can tell you if I would be right for you or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Take care,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Brian M.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Him: </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Thanks for your swift response and am very happy to read from you,i want it rewrite and edited also I will pay $250.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The document is base on drug so we want to use to it to create more awareness on drug for those who abuse it and the article will be read by teenagers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want it back in 20 days however the payment will be through Check so send me your name and address with phone number where the payment will be mail to and i got your detail at a writer website,hope to hear read from you soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish you a pleasant day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Terry,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That sounds reasonable to me, and I can have it in the time you're asking. I have a fairly good understanding of what you need but if it's alright with you I might ask you a question or two during the process in case I need some clarification as to what you're going for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As far as payment I would prefer to use PayPal. I can supply you with my account if you're able to pay that way, but if you need to pay by check I would respectfully ask for a money order/bank check/etc. I certainly don't want to cause any problems with this, I've just found it to be better for everyone involved and so it makes everyone happier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me know if you want me to go ahead. I look forward to hearing back from you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Brian M.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Him: </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for your mail and i can work with money order so send me your name and address with phone number,awaits your mail soonest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Me: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sounds good to me, here's my info: (REMOVED)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Him: </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Morning,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Thanks for your mail and how is your day going? Some people request for Editing to be done and run away with your money,i do have a personal editor but right now she is sick that is why am looking for a competent and trustworthy editor.I have gave a job to a editor and paid him advance and he did run away with my money and i don't want to be a victim anymore but am ready to give you a chance which i will pay you upfront because there are many jobs we are going to do together.This is a charity which help less privilege kid around there world also the money is needed for Republic of Vanuatu relief,I hope you understand me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(Note: Here's where the bomb drops.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However,my sponsor notify me that the check has mail out and there was a mistake with the amount on the check which is $2000 so what i want you to do know is get it cashed and you will send the difference back to us after you have deduct your money so you will send it to us through western union,you are saving a million lives and may God almighty bless you as you do so.Awaits your mail soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish you a pleasant weekend</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Regards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A classic check scam. Spoiler alert: the money order is a counterfeit, which I wouldn't learn until after cashing the check and wiring him the cash. The bank would come calling for their money back, and I would be forced to pay them out of pocket, unable to retrieve what I'd already wired.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>And so, brushing the dust off my shoulders, I wrote Terry the following reply.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Terry,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's something fishy going on here, and I think I've figured it out. All this time I've been trying to figure out what you are based on the style of speech in both your emails as well as the file you sent me for editing. Your address says you reside in Anchorage, Alaska, however your English says otherwise. Your last email, though, gave me the final clues I needed to figure it out, and I can finally say with confidence what you really are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A real-life Nigerian prince! Terry, why didn't you just say so? All this time I've been speaking with a member of royalty and never knew it. I know you mentioned the Republic of Vanuatu, but I recognize a prince when I see one. You don't have to be modest with me. I hear about you folks all the time at my day job but I never thought I would have the wonderful privilege of directly speaking with one. Well, regardless of the outcome of the job you've offered me, thank you so much for the honor of communicating with someone of your stature, even if<span style="line-height: 19px;"> being a prince in the extant </span>kingdoms<span style="line-height: 19px;"> of Africa is mostly nothing more than a genealogical assertion of a legal claim to a </span>throne<span style="line-height: 19px;"> regardless of how remote the possibility of ascending to it is.</span> (Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_fraud#Nigerian_prince" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://en.<wbr></wbr>wikipedia.org/</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our previous emails you were eager to learn my address, and I take that, as I believe I should, as a genuine interest in my personal life. There's not much to say, really, except that I'm happily married, have a deep love for animals, especially dogs, and am admittedly a bit of a film buff. Well I suppose I could tell you what the day job is that I previously mentioned. I work at a bank, one of the larger ones. While it isn't my dream job (writing is, as your research turned up), it does offer some other advantages. For instance one would be education on all things financial, including some of the more unsavory aspects such as identity theft and e-mail scams. These are a part of life, sadly, but then again scum has been walking the Earth since long before you or I had our turn on it, and these things are only modern variations on old tricks. Instead of being pessimistic about the whole thing I prefer to keep a positive attitude, knowing that people are genuinely good and it's a small percentage of the population that gives the rest a bad name. It's easy to think that all people are bad when you hear so much of this sort of thing, but in reality it's only because crimes are what get the news coverage, never the acts of kindness both small and large that decent people show each other every, single day. Obviously I don't need to tell you that, being someone involved with a charity that benefits children.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well I'm going off on a rant here. I have to apologize for that, Terry. I suppose it's just I feel we already have a strong connection. I trust you, as I hope you trust me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brian</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">P.S., Sorry for the small delay in responding to your email, there was a small matter to attend to first with the FTC. Take care, and I look forward to receiving your totally real check</span>.<br />
<br />
<i>(FTC is the Federal Trade Commission, who I reported him to before sending the email) </i>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-35223030637470749812012-03-24T23:33:00.000-04:002012-03-24T23:45:42.961-04:00Report of Incident on Eleventh Floor<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There's the story of a man by the name
of Jeremy Silk. Aged forty-one, no wife, no children, Jeremy lived on
the eleventh floor of an apartment building which had recently been
renovated due to a particularly flammable insulation material
discovered in its walls.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One summer, just as the nights became
too humid to to sleep through without the help of an air-conditioning
unit, neighbors began complaining of music which had started coming
from Jeremy's apartment every night at roughly twelve-thirty. When
first asked about the music, Jeremy was witnessed as behaving
erratic, explaining that lately he needed the distraction in order to
help him fall sleep. His neighbors were gracious in their
understanding, and kindly requested that he turn the volume down or
use headphones, as the quality of their own sleep shouldn't have to
suffer. He generally agreed with this, though was evasive when asked
what steps he would take.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
That night, at roughly twelve
forty-five, neighbors were disappointed to hear the same, loud music
coming through their walls and ceilings. Four of said neighbors
convened at Jeremy's door, knocked, and asked him to turn the
music off, as most of them had work in the morning. Jeremy, who
according to reports looked “excessively disheveled”, nodded once
and shut the door. The music was heard to shut off soon thereafter,
and the neighbors, satisfied, dispersed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The next morning, Jeremy failed to show
up at his job as warehouse manager for a local food distributor.
Management placed several calls to the two phone numbers they had on
file for Jeremy, but received no call back. On the second day when
once again he failed to appear, they placed a call to Jeremy's
emergency contact, his estranged father currently living on Lake
Michigan. They found the man to be distant and uninterested but
managed to ascertain that he hadn't spoken to Jeremy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the third day, being concerned for
Jeremy's well-being, management sent an employee to the apartment
building to speak with his landlord. Several neighbors heard their
conversation and joined in, agreeing that none of them had seen
Jeremy since the night they'd gone to see him.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When Jeremy failed to answer either his
phone or his door, one of the neighbors placed a call to the police
in order to report possible foul-play. Before the authorities could
arrive several of them noticed a faint odor which seemed to be coming
from Jeremy's apartment, prompting the landlord to use his keys to
open the locked door.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reports of what they discovered inside
varies from witness to witness, though all include the deceased body
of one Jeremy Silk, aged forty-one, still lying in his bed since
three nights prior. Wads of paper were noticed as being stuffed
inside his ear canals. The official coroner's report states that the
paper was inserted with such force that it it damaged Jeremy's
tympanic membranes, forcing them into the adjoining cavities.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Police entered into evidence several
personal effects of Jeremy Silk, including the small stereo he kept by
his bedside responsible for the music which had bothered his
neighbors, as well as his private journal which he had written in
more or less daily. In the journal, detectives discovered several
entries in which Jeremy complains of a noise coming from the walls in
his bedroom, particularly the west wall, opposite the window. In
initial entries Jeremy describes the noise as low and indiscernible,
only slightly bothersome to his sleep, but in subsequent mentions the
noise is described as increasing in volume and attaining the tone and
timbre of a human voice. Then, in the last week, as growing in
clarity and level of agitation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
When comparing the date of the entries
to transcripts from witness interviews, as well as invoices and
receipts submitted by the apartment building's landlord, a
correlation has been noted between the onset of the noise heard by
Jeremy in the wall of his bedroom and the renovations which had been
performed in the building. In fact, when compared in greater detail,
the first entry comes just one day
after work had been completed on the eleventh floor, the same as
Jeremy's apartment.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
All files have since been sealed.</div>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-80693668900874159142012-03-14T21:13:00.000-04:002012-03-14T21:14:57.472-04:00In the RecessesWhen I was maybe eight years old- that would be what, third grade? that sounds right- some kids were playing with a kickball out on the grass when it got away from them and landed at my feet. I wanted to impress them with how far I could kick it back at them, so I picked that fucker up, dropped it on my foot and kicked it as hard as I could.<br />
<br />
The problem was I kicked it at a terrible angle, so instead of soaring forward in a beautiful arch indicative of your typical alpha male's kick, it hooked up over my head and landed on the roof of the school behind me. To anyone but me it looked like I'd done it intentionally. I was so embarrassed by how bad a kick it was that when they asked me why I'd done it, I just froze up and smiled strangely at them. It was almost better for my ego for them to think I was an asshole with amazing skills rather than a nice kid with the best intentions who can't kick a god-damned red ball properly. I was in elementary school, for christ's sake. I had a reputation to maintain.<br />
<br />
I wonder sometimes if any of those kids, now adults, still remember that incident the way I do, or if it was only seared into my memory by the pure heat of my embarrassment. Maybe there's a guy my age somewhere right now, and he's typing, "When I was eight years old- that's what, third grade?- I was with my friends playing kickball on the grass, just totally minding our business, when the ball got away from us and landed at this kid's feet. So what does he do? He picks it up, making like he's about to kick it back to us, but then this little shit curves his foot and kicks it up over his head and onto the school's roof. To be honest I'm not sure how he even did it. It was one of the most impressive kicks I'd ever seen, or have since then, but fuck that kid. He was a heartless bully picking on us like that. We didn't do anything to deserve it. If I ever run into that prick on the street I'll kick HIS balls and throw HIM on the roof. I bet you he doesn't even remember doing it."<br />
<br />
<br />Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-88534488484207575822012-02-08T07:27:00.000-05:002012-02-08T07:27:12.077-05:00A Chemical Fire: Free for 5 Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apOFg7nFKmg/TzJm3HSBEBI/AAAAAAAAAGs/FrtJa0Q0Dac/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apOFg7nFKmg/TzJm3HSBEBI/AAAAAAAAAGs/FrtJa0Q0Dac/s200/cover.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
I had a good time sharing my other book last month, so I figured what the shit. I'm giving away A Chemical Fire for five days, February 8th through the 12th. This is a one-shot deal, so download it now before it's gone. Tell your friends, your enemies, your frenemies, even your enefriends, though they stopped listening to you years ago.<br />
<br />
A Chemical Fire was the first novel I ever completed, and in some ways the most clear of vision. It was one of those big ideas that only come along so often, that demand to be written down and sent out. It taught me a lot about story-writing, and as far as I think I've come since then, I'm still very proud of it.<br />
<br />
Read it: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G093Q2">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004G093Q2</a>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-32050819203721702572012-01-29T17:38:00.004-05:002012-01-29T17:38:57.507-05:00Weak EndWhen I make a plan and stick to it I feel like an unstoppable force. I'm moving faster than ever before and picking up speed. I'm eager to see out this year because I know what it entails- improving what I do and reaching out further into the world. People will hear what I say and know who I am, and that part of me that wants it will feed and grow and grow. That part of me that doesn't will be rejected like a transplant that didn't take.<br />
<br />
Nicholas Cage had a cameo as himself in my dream last night. It wasn't a stretch for him, but it's good to see him taking on some smaller roles.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-75574620958110683492012-01-21T08:09:00.000-05:002012-01-21T08:09:47.216-05:00My Dead NightHad nothing but zombie dreams last night. Debriefing follows.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Someone in the street has the flu and is stumbling around. They
try to get into the house. More people in the street, sick, getting
worse, traffic accidents, try to get something from my car but a
runaway truck takes off the door. Realization of zombie apocalypse.
Mild excitement but also panic, sense of real danger. Yelling at
family to grab any bag they can find and fill it with food and
medicine. Filling my bag with apples and water bottles. Outside,
crowds of dead.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
About to leave, government responds.
Dropping concrete dividers from helicopters in the street to slow
them down. It's working. Some of them are crushed under the dividers.
Then a rumbling in the ground. House is suddenly raised. All houses
on street coming up on metal platforms like giant car garage lifts.
Feels like house will fall apart but holds together. Sense of
sunlight coming through the windows, making the room bright.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some time later. Rickety structures
fifty feet above flood water. Zombies in the dirty water below. When
anyone falls in they're bitten or dragged down. Have to jump
from one structure to the other or use ladders and ropes. The
structure I'm on begins to topple and I have to lean it toward the
next to reach it, but the impact causes that to topple and I have to
lean it toward the next. Fall into the water. Claw my way out and
onto a rock with the feeling of hands on my ankles.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some time later. Living with other
people on a resort or hotel property of some kind. Structures are
built all over to climb up and use for escape in case of attacks.
Inside the main building is a spinning vault preserving artifacts of
humanity.</div>
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Some time later. Towns are abandoned,
not even zombies for some years. On a garbage detail with a group of
men trying to clean it out. Out of the corner of my vision I spot
slow movement. A single zombie. Need to deal with the situation, but
then there's another coming out the window of an old building. Then a
group from around a corner ahead. We start to run. Another group from
behind. We try to snake through the buildings to duck away but more
and more zombies surge from every corner and every building until
we're trapped in an alley. One of the men starts to sing a song as
the zombies close in, but I can't remember the song.</div>Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271368.post-29287522996453945952012-01-15T06:29:00.000-05:002012-01-15T06:29:04.041-05:00Read my 2nd Book Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jNZCBZMsFNE/TVxayGPpnCI/AAAAAAAAADM/QYfNUipudI0/s1600/kissing+you+is+like+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jNZCBZMsFNE/TVxayGPpnCI/AAAAAAAAADM/QYfNUipudI0/s320/kissing+you+is+like+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Today marks one year since I published my second book, a book I never planned to write until about two weeks prior, when I learned of National Novel Writing Month. The idea was simple: write a complete novel from start to finish in November. It came at just the right moment for me since I was at somewhat of a crossroads in my writing. I had just seen my first attempt at a new project fizzle, a science-fiction story not quite ready to exist, yet the other project I had in mind was too lengthy and involving to jump into just yet. With that in mind, pushing myself to write faster than ever before seemed like a good exercise. So I signed on. I went in with a skeleton of an outline, half a page at most, and even that was partly scrapped. What came of it was as unexpected to me as it is to anyone reading it, a surreal, twisting story involving experimental drugs, robots and sword swallowing. It was never intended to be read by the public, only passed among my inner circle, but these things have a tendency to find their way out. And once they do, they're out for good.<br />
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A year later, Kissing You is like Trying to Punch a Ghost is my least read book by such a large margin it essentially doesn't exist, yet the reaction I get from the title alone makes the whole thing worth it. You can almost think of it as my Snakes on a Plane; everyone talked about it, no one saw it. But I still like the book. Occasionally I open it to a random page, read a line and struggle to remember writing it, similar to thinking back to a dream from last night, or even last week. The details are there, but the frame has all but collapsed.<br />
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This book is my freak in the basement, the one everyone hears but no one acknowledges, and I want to celebrate it. So today until the 19th, you can read it totally free. If you have a Kindle you'll find it that way, if you don't just find it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Trying-Punch-Ghost-ebook/dp/B004O6MR70/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and make sure to download one of the free reading apps covering everything from PC to iPhone to Android. If you do read it, take a minute to write a few words about it on Amazon, seeing as it's my only book with zero reviews.<br />
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You hear the chains rattling down there. It's time to make eye contact.Brian Martinezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16976458863171329605noreply@blogger.com2