See: http://booksofthedead.blogspot.com/

So, I was asked for some writing advice and––being a nice guy––I’ll tell you what I can in this little corner of the web. This won’t be in any real order. This is just shit off the top of my head that may or may not help. If you have any questions, feel free to fire away.

1) Read everything you can. If you don’t have time to read you don’t have the necessary skills to write.

2) Edit everything 10 times.

3) Omit needless words. This means that a sentence such as: ‘The man that was holding the gun in his hand was getting ready to fire off a shot.’ Becomes something like: ‘The man with the gun was ready to fire.’

4) Read Stephen King’s book On Writing, whether you like his work or not.

5) Don’t trust the editor to edit your work properly. Assume they’ll fuck it up, meaning: try to find your own editor.

6) Ten-time all-star goalie, Martin Brodeur, says (and I quote): “Any time I see something that will be good for my game I steal it. Hey, fair game.” I have this quote beside my writing station and I figure it applies to literature as well.

7) 80,000 words sitting pointlessly together is not a novel. It’s shit.

8) It’s not about getting noticed. It’s about writing something worth noticing.

9) Writing is like painting a picture. Make sure you put in enough details to do it right. So, in your story, if you have a man walking across the street, make sure the reader knows what the man is like AND what the street is like.

10) Write what you know; fill in the blanks.

Permuted Press & Pocket Books My publisher, Permuted Press has just inked a deal with Pocket Books. Check it out!


New York, New York (July 1, 2009) - Anthony Ziccardi, Vice President and Deputy Publisher of Pocket Books, has announced a new co-publishing venture with Permuted Press, best known for horror, dark fantasy and science fiction novels .

The seven book deal was brokered by Marc Gerald at the Agency Group. The books will be Zombie focused, with the first release DAY BY DAY ARMAGEDDON by J.L. Bourne, slated for October 2009.

"I am excited to be the pioneer author for the Pocket Books and Permuted Press joint publishing venture. Horror fans are in for an absolute thrill and can expect to enjoy bold, fresh and riveting fiction as a result of this project. The journey with Permuted Press has been a great success and I know that success will be further enhanced as we shift gears into a new and exciting relationship with Pocket Books. Keep your doors locked!"

--J.L. Bourne Jacob Kier, Publisher, Permuted Press, said "I couldn't be more excited about teaming up with Pocket Books to bring some of Permuted's most exciting and thought-provoking tales of the end of the world to a larger audience."

Permuted Press began its publishing program in 2004 and quickly became noted in the horror fiction genre. Bourne's DAY BY DAY ARMAGEDDON is Permuted's biggest seller, with sales of approximately 25,000 copies. Other titles entering the co-publishing venture have sold between 10-20,000 copies.

Permuted has achieved unprecedented success for a small company operating from a remote corner of Missouri and, until now, has utilized only a print on demand (POD) centered publishing model.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Permuted Press and expand their very successful brand." said Anthony Ziccardi. "We feel the horror genre and zombies in particular, will be a growing category at retail. Even Hollywood seems to be focused on zombie tales and we feel that we are well positioned to capitalize on this trend."

Titles to be included in the joint venture are:
* Day by Day Armageddon and sequel by J.L. Bourne
* Plague of the Dead by Z.A. Recht
* Dying to Live by Kim Paffenroth
* Down the Road by Bowie Ibarra
* Empire by David Dunwoody
* The Zombie Chronicles: Escape by James Melzer

NANOCHRIST

So, I'm working with/playing drums for a new band. The band is called NANOCHRIST. The music is very heavy. You can check them out on MySpace, here:

http://www.myspace.com/nanochrist

Nanochrist has four albums under their belt. Our first is this Friday in Toronto Canada. Here's a flier. Hope to see you there!

I snagged this from somewhere. Didn't write it, but I like it.




1. The Control Freak

The Control Freak assumes the band is "their" band and behaves accordingly. They assume the role of the Leader, but without the positive leadership traits. A typical Control Freak insists that things must be done their way, as their way is the right way. They usually don't welcome artistic input from the other band members, unless it directly benefits them in some way, because they are of the opinion they can do everything themselves, and only they can do it right. They don't tolerate differing opinions very well, and compromising is something they have difficulty with. The Control Freak sets up an atmosphere of restricted artistic freedom, which is a recipe for disaster. Most musicians become musicians because they want to express themselves artistically. If they aren't allowed that freedom, they don't tend to stick around for very long. So the Control Freak finds themselves in a revolving door of ever-changing band members. Each time this happens the band goes nowhere. So unless they want to stay stuck in one place like a broken record, musicians need to stay clear of the Control Freak's domineering ways. The Control Freak's keyword is EGOTISM.


2. The Dictator

Kissing cousin to the Control Freak, the Dictator tells the other band members what to do, what they should or shouldn't say on stage, how they should look, et cetera. Usually the lead singer takes on this role. They dictate all actions that the band should follow and don't typically consult the other members on band decisions. Like the Control Freak, their way is the only way. They have no problem dishing out negative criticism, but have trouble taking it. Underneath their domineering personality is a small, insecure person desperately wanting to feel powerful and in control. If you don't mind being belittled or undermined, you'll have no problem working with the Dictator. However, musicians with self-respect will heed this warning and stay far away. The keyword of the Dictator is INSECURITY.


3. The Pessimist

The Pessimist has every reason in the world why the band won't succeed. They'll say they're too old, don't have the right look, don't have the right sound, don't know the right people. Some of that could very well be true in any band, but the Pessimist refuses to change what they perceive to be wrong. No band is perfect, but the Pessimist can't understand that and refuses to believe in themselves or the band. They can't accept and appreciate what they have. Their negative attitude, dreary outlook and resistance to growth devalues the other member's efforts and will drag any band down in the dumps. The keyword of the Pessimist is DOUBT.


4. The Hanger-On

Without dreams and goals of their own, the Hanger-On hopes to achieve success through the efforts of others. They may be supportive and enthusiastic, but only because they know that if they want a piece of the pie they have to play the game right. Selfish and somewhat egotistical, the Hanger-On just wants fame, fortune, money and girls. They aren't really in it for the love of music, but for the perks, which they hope to get through no effort of their own. They may be songwriters but rarely contribute material to the band, preferring to save it for themselves or their own projects. Beware the Hanger-On, because when the band starts making money, they'll be the first in line to collect, palm out. But you won't want to pay someone who only contributed a fraction of what the other members contributed. If they are paid the same amount as everyone else, for doing less work, watch out for the exploding fireworks. Besides this obvious dilemma, the Hanger-On can be emotionally draining too, as most self-centred people are. The keyword for the Hanger-On is SELFISHNESS.


5. The Slacker

The Slacker is your typical unreliable musician-showing up late for gigs and rehearsals, cancelling practices for dumb reasons, not putting in a solid effort in anything they do. They'll show up for a gig wearing clothes that scream "laundry day". They are typically quite slothful, don't keep their chops up and won't work very hard for the band. Another soul-sucking personality, the Slacker will drain the band's energies and resources. Kick this lazy bum to the curb before their ineptitude rubs off and drags the rest of the band down with them. The Slacker's keyword is APATHY.

-----

Though no band or band member is perfect, it is always beneficial to be able to spot a positive or negative personality type as early in the game as possible. Writing songs, getting tight and putting together a killer show takes a lot of time and hard work, and you don't want someone in the band who isn't going to give as much as everyone else, delay the process longer than necessary or hold you back from achieving your dreams. It is always a team effort. You may find that most people have a combination of any of the above-listed positive and negative traits, but you should always consider what personality trait is dominant, and how the band member manages their faults. That often speaks louder than the positive face they put forward.


Written by Emma-O, Feb 19, 2008 at http://www.musicouch.com

I snagged this from somewhere. Didn't write it, but I like it.




1. The Leader

Every band needs a leader, someone to take the reins and steer the band in a positive direction. A true leader takes the initiative and makes things happen without stepping on the toes of the other band members, or anyone else for that matter. They respect their band mates, view them as equals, and include them on all decisions to be made concerning the band. They welcome input, criticism and suggestions openly, but also know how to agree to disagree. They are always willing to compromise. A true leader is someone the rest of the band can look up to. They represent the band and therefore always put their best foot forward. They don't try to stifle or undermine the talents of the other band members, because they understand that each member is an essential part of the whole unit. The keyword of the Leader is INSPIRATION.


2. The Team Player

The Team Player wants to see the group succeed. They aren't just out for themselves, to stroke their own ego or feed off the band's successes. They stick with their band mates through thick and thin. They see the band members as their best friends and family. Steadfast, loyal and dedicated, they are willing to work hard, contribute what they can, and always give 110 per cent. They never take the group for granted, and are always willing to step up to the plate and do whatever they can to ensure the band's success. The keyword of the Team Player is DEDICATION.


3. The Social Butterfly

Face it, the music industry is a people-oriented business. If everyone in the band is a wallflower who stays home every Friday night, chances are the band won't get anywhere. Fans, promoters and label reps aren't going to come looking for you, you have to go to them. The Social Butterfly gets out there and mingles. Give them a stack of business cards or flyers and send them to a function and chances are they'll hand them all out by the end of the night. The Social Butterfly is a valuable member of the team. They will get the fans, gigs, and contacts every band needs. Super-friendly and outgoing, they rarely forget a name or face, and others won't likely forget theirs either. They tell anyone and everyone about their band, including strangers on the street. The Social Butterfly is a wonderful asset to any band. The keyword of the Social Butterfly is NETWORKING.


4. The Cheerleader

The Cheerleader may not contribute to the band's songwriting, but what they do contribute is enthusiasm, support, friendship, motivation and ambition. They have a hopeful attitude about the band's future and believe that they will succeed. Always the eternal optimist, the Cheerleader refuses to let the band doubt themselves. Not only do they have a positive outlook on the band's future, but they are realistic as well. They understand that not everything works out all the time, but refuse to let disappointment cloud their optimism. Usually the Cheerleader is the most energetic member on stage, bouncing around and revving up the crowd. The keyword of the Cheerleader is MOTIVATION.


5. The Professional

The Professional takes band business very seriously. They treat it like a job, which may translate into them being a bit too serious or stiff. But you never have to worry about them being late or skipping rehearsal, or going on stage drunk or stoned. They are usually seasoned players with many years of experience under their belt. The Professional has a mature attitude and treats all contacts with respect. They know when to act like a wild rocker and when to act like a businessman or businesswoman. They are an asset because you never have to baby-sit them, hold their hand or be their teacher. The keyword of the Professional is RELIABILITY.


Written by Emma-O, Feb 19, 2008 at http://www.musicouch.com

I snagged this from 'The Webspace of W. D. Prescott.'

Hope you don't mind...


I was in one of my local Borders earlier tonight and I saw something amazing -

That’s right! A side display of horror novels.

Now some of you will think, “Why is that so special? There are always side
displays of horror. I see Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Laurel K.
Hamilton, etc. on there all the time.”

But look at those books in the picture. Those are all small press horror
books. Those are not the big names everyone reads, but the books of
everyone who will keep the genre going after King, Koontz, Hamilton,
and others are done. Most of those books are from Permuted Press except
for The Dead Parade by James Roy Daley (bottom left) which is from a
Permuted Press imprint, Swarm Press.

More of this has to happen! Horror readers, tell the books stores you want
your books. I know that at least where i am in New Jersey, they really
treat Horror like the bastard child in the basement no one talks about
out side of the family, and even then, only in whispers. We have to get
people to realize there is more to the genre than big names, cause
there are many more little names with books just as good out there that
are always pushing the boundaries.

Horror Ho!

This isn't the most exciting news of the year, but I signed a new deal
with Permuted Press. They'll be releasing The Dead Parade again, this
time on Kindle. Should be out any day now.

So if you have a Kindle - keep those eyes open.

Upon finishing my second novel -- MONSTERS, ZOMBIES, VAMPIRES & GHOULS -- I’ve decided to run a little contest to help promote both THE DEAD PARADE and MZV&G.




HOW TO ENTER:

Simply post a review (preferably positive, although I suppose you can rip the book a new ass if you feel you must ) of James Roy Daley’s THE DEAD PARADE on Amazon (USA, Canada or UK), and you are automatically entered to win. All reviews prior to this contest also qualify.


HOW TO WIN:

The top 5 reviews will be chosen by the author, and from the top 5, the winner will be picked at random.


PRIZES:

* One autographed copy of MONSTERS, ZOMBIES, VAMPIRES & GHOULS.
* A one-of-a-kind, uncorrected proof of MONSTERS, ZOMBIES, VAMPIRES & GHOULS – also signed by the author.
* Two Permuted Press buttons.
* One MONSTERS, ZOMBIES, VAMPIRES & GHOULS t-shirt.

***** And as a bonus, each participant will be thanked (by name) in the ‘thank you’ section of the book. The winner will be thanked separately and given the opportunity to promote his/her website, book, blog, band or whatever - as long as it’s not deemed inappropriate by the author. (Example: pornographic, hateful, etc…)       

The contest is NOW open.
A closing date has not yet been set.

Prizes will be awarded within three months of the release of MZV&G.
The winner will be announced at the end of the contest.