Things to Do in Denver When You're Un-Dead by Mark Everett Stone

I love creepy creatures. Name one. There's a 97.3% chance that I'm interested and ready to geek out over it. I have a crazy imagination and still haven't grown up. Reading allows me to be dropped in that wicked fairy tale and soak it all up. Which leads me now to type to you about Mark Everett Stone. No, that's not some new slang for a gargoyle, but a friend of mine on Twitter and fiction author.

Mark Stone has wrote this pretty awesome book called, "Things to Do in Denver When You're Un-Dead." The book has been well-received by readers, other authors, newspapers, and reviewers. I'll leave it up to Mark to describe the story to you, below:

 "For ten years Kal Hakala has been the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation’s top man, the longest surviving agent in its blood-soaked history. The World At Large has no idea that The World Under exists. And its vampires, demons, zombies, and mythic monsters are growing increasingly restless. In all Kal’s time with the Bureau, there has been no case he couldn’t crack, no monster he couldn’t kill. Then a plague of zombies comes to Denver, along with a vicious serial killer dubbed The Organ Donor. A childhood encounter with a legendary monster has left Kal with an endless supply of rage and hatred for all things Supernatural. But now the target is on his forehead, and the Un-Dead don’t die easy. The Bureau has some aces of its own—a few magicians and a cyber-ghost. Unfortunately Kal is a perennial loner ... And the World Under is wise to His tricks."

Now, come on... doesn't this sound like a fun read?

So... Where to Buy "Things to Do in Denver When You're Un-Dead":

Ebook Format:

Amazon.com 

Smashwords
Trade Paperback and Ebook: 

Barnes & Noble
Trade Paperback: 

Amazon
Also available on iTunes as an iBook

You can follow Mark Stone on Twitter: @MEverettStone
Or visit his personal site: http://markeverettstone.com/

Disclosure: I did this promotional blog entry without any compensation.
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Guest Spot Blogger: Ian Fydell, author of "Breathing Space: Book One Of The Exodus Trilogy"

I've made a lot of friends of Twitter.  Meet Ian Fydell, a science fiction author that wrote up a guest blog post for yall to read...
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How many of you have ever looked up at the stars and wondered what's out there? I bet many of you have. When I was seven years old my parents took me to see a movie some of you may know. It was a "little" film called Star Wars. I can remember pulling up to my house and when I got out of the car, I lagged behind and stared up at the stars wondering...was there a Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker out there battling for control of the universe? Or were there other forms of life somewhere in space...and that's where it all started for me. Later on in Junior High School, my English teacher would encourage me to continue writing as I did well in creative writing assignments. This was before we had computers at home and I remember handwriting many short stories and sharing them with my teacher and family members. Before I knew it, along came my teen years. Friends, cars and girls took up most of my free time. In my junior year of High School, I had met the girl I'd eventually marry. Flash forward a few years and I was working a full-time job, then came children, a house with a mortgage and big responsibilities. Writing was always in the back of my mind, but I never could find the time to write. Unfortunately, one day at my job I was severely injured by a piece of machinery. This injury forced me into a new role...Mr. Mom. It was a tough adjustment going from bread winner to bread baker. It was a stressful time in my life and I was told I should look into a hobby. Playing sports and working out weren't an option because of my injury. One day it hit me! I thought, why not go back to that time when I was a seven year old kid who loved to look up at the stars and dream.
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Breathing Space: Book One Of The Exodus Trilogy takes place in the year 2095, and the Earth is in severe ecological decline. Pollutants, wars, deep mantle mining, and everyday disregard for our planet have finally taken their toll, and now earthquakes, droughts, volcanic eruptions, and plagues are regular occurrences. Within a few decades, a century at most, Earth will no longer be habitable. Terra-forming and conservation efforts have been ineffective; it's just too late to stop the decline.

The novel's action focuses on veteran Air Force Captain John Lewis, commander of Triton Station, an American space habitat dedicated to sending out probes to nearby stars in an attempt to find habitable new worlds. John is a troubled man faced with a daunting task, plagued by memories of his life back on Earth. Especially haunting are the recollections of his participation in the Third World War, and of those he lost during those dark days.

It takes 17 years, but the quest to find a new Earth pays off: a probe locates a habitable planet eight light years away. The Exodus-class probe transmits a video-feed back to Triton, allowing them to see what it discovers. The new world is teeming with life, including (to their wonder and dismay) a primitive species of aliens who appear to be the builders of a series of amazing pyramidal structures. The U.S. government immediately clamps a tight security lid on the discovery. After weeks of debate, the President and his advisors decide to put together a small advance team to explore the new world and to forge an alliance with its natives. 

Given his decades of leadership experience and previous knowledge of the Exodus situation, Captain Lewis is tapped as the team leader. After a brief but intense period of training, the team heads for the new planet, Exodus, in a cutting-edge faster-than-light vessel that appears to have been reverse-engineered from alien technology.  After a six-month flight, they arrive to find much more than they'd bargained for. 

             

A malfunction strands them in a sea of tall grass hundreds of miles away from their intended landing site. As they make their way across the plains, they encounter a variety of animals, including intelligent felinoid predators. Eventually the team makes contact with the primitive Toborg, furry hunter-gatherers who appear to have constructed the great pyramids observed by the Exodus probe.

Soon after, they find that they are privileged to make first contact with not just one alien species, but two. The protectors and mentors of the Toborg, the highly advanced Zeta Reticulans, arrive several weeks into their stay. The Zetans are spindly humanoids with large heads, gray skin, and huge almond-shaped eyes who closely resemble the gray aliens of UFO lore. The Zetan spokesman reveals details of humanity's origin and history that were previously unknown to the humans, including the fact that Earth is one of only a number of planets with human populations. Seventy thousand years before, the Zetans saved humanity from a fate similar to the Toborg's. They remain in danger, however: two malevolent alien species, the Skreeeyep and the c'Cassra-fik-pta, plan to invade Earth and enslave Terran humanity. The Zetans are aware of the U.S. government's plan to start colonizing Exodus, and approve of the plan if for no other reason than to save some of the human population from the invaders. 

As a parting gift, the alien gives Captain Lewis a pyramidal ark containing various blueprints for more advanced faster-than-light drives and other tools they can use against the invaders. It is during the six-month ride back home that John Lewis discovers that the Zetans themselves aren't all that they pretend to be...
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I spent almost a year writing Breathing Space and about three more months of working with my publisher on editing and cover design. After it was all said and done, I was nominated as a finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category. The Long Island Authors Group recently accepted my application after reviewing my book. I also signed over 200 copies of my book at Book Expo America NYC and made several guest appearances on Sci-fi talk shows such as, The Kevin Smith Show, Cover to Cover and That Sci-fi Show. I will also be a guest on the VRO show on 8/24 @ 9pm and from 10/13/11 - 10/16/11. I will sign copies of my book at Comic Con NYC. My dream is to see the pages of my trilogy leap onto the silver screen and entertain moviegoers just as I was entertained when I was a seven year old boy. 

I am not a fan of "predictable endings." Why should the guy ALWAYS get the girl...why does the good guy ALWAYS have to win? When reading my trilogy, I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. If you'd like to order a signed copy of my novel, you can go to my website, IanFydellExodusTrilogy.com or you can purchase a copy from Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. Feel free to check out the website for news, interviews and more about me. I am also on Twitter: @IanFydell and Facebook: Fans of Breathing Space: Book One Of TheExodus Trilogy. Feel free to contact me, I'd love to chat with you.

{24 Days of Christmas}

My friend, Katie, is doing an awesome series of blog posts for the month of December called {24 Days of Christmas} on her Scrap Log Blog. I invite you all to go peek and join in! It will be featuring Christmas crafts and really yummy recipes. A new post each day, it'll be like an advent calendar online!

She's very talented. You can view her etsy shop, Smart Lil Cookie, to get a feel for things to come. Her first tutorial includes a step-by-step on how to make these gorgeous glittered Christmas tree tags.

{source: K. Thornton}

I've ate Katie's baking, you're gonna love her food. Sooo good in fact, she uses her goodies to bargain favors {I would have done them anyway, but whatever, just saying....} with me.

Looking for someone to hold a giveaway for your website/etsy shop? Katie would happily love to! Follow/DM her on Twitter- @kmthornton or leave a comment here and I'll pass it along it to her.

Honest Scrap Blog Award

Sweetie Pie Ann picked me to receive this little blog award and to share a bit more about myself. Thanks Ann!

Here's the info on the blog award:

• Say thank you and give a link to the presenter of the award
• Share “10 Honest Things” about myself
• Present the award to 9 other bloggers whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design or to those who have encouraged me
• Be sure to tell the 9 bloggers chosen that you are giving them the Honest Scrap award and provide the guidelines for them

10 Honest things about me:

1. I drink waaaaay too much coffee per day.
2. I think I look forward to checking the mail more so than the average adult.
3. I only blurt out about 10% of the actual craziness random thoughts/connections that's going on in my mind. That should scare you if ever spoken to me!
4. I have taught 3 or 4 people how to parallel park.
5. I grind my teeth and suck the insides of my cheeks, awake and asleep.
   
6. I am a compulsive buyer when it comes to online shopping on Etsy.
7. I need to print out about 2 years worth of photos!
8. I say seriously, literally, actually, and probably other similar adverbs A LOT.
9. It's rare to see me without a ponytail or a headband.
10. I remember complete story lines/theme songs/characters from episodes of shows and cartoons from childhood. It's kinda weird. I'm not talking one or two favorite shows. I'm talking hundreds.

9 bloggers who I love:

1. Angi
2. Cat
3. Brooke
4. Nadia
5. Heather
6. Denise
7. Heather Dawn
8. Amy
9. Katie
   

Secret Spy Shopping

I don't even know what to call what I did, but it's just funny. Okay? Sooo... on a whim, I decided I was going to secretly send people gifts that would make them laugh. I wouldn't tell them it was from me or that they were gonna be getting a package. Just total random surprise!

Number 1
Recipient: My Mother!
Gift: Celebrate San Antonio: A Cookbook

My momma is originally from San Antonio, Texas. She also loves to cook. She has a thing for older cookbooks as well. She called me when she got it squealing. She's already made a list of things to buy to try out new recipes. Inside the book are pictures of San Antonio landmarks that made her tear up a bit.

Number 2
Recipient: My Brother!
Gift: Alf Comic Book, 1st Issue

This one is super hilarious to anyone that knows my brother. As a small child, whenever Alf came on t.v., he would hide behind the couch and cry. He was terrified of Alf for some reason. He is an avid comic book collector, so this was right up his alley and keeping with my theme, pretty frickin' random, right? When he got it, he probably said, "WTF" (I'll just abbreviate that for you readers...) with his mouth hung open for 10 minutes. He had no idea there was an Alf comic book either. Just to make it even better, his girlfriend was there when he opened the package and didn't know about the whole Alf-thing. I love embarrassing my little brother. :) He told me that he hates it, but loves it at the same time. He has plans on getting it framed.

Number 3
Recipient: Miss Cat
Gift: Vintage Ceramic Avon Perfume Decanter Owl

Cat has a love for all kitschy things and collects owls. She always sees things on Etsy/Ebay she loves, but seems to talk herself out of ordering it. After searching for the perfect little owl doodad, I found this little guy. She called me when she got it. She was completely confused. Her husband was like, "Did you order something? You have a package." She saw my first name in the invoice order form and figured it out after a little bit. So cute! I hope it brightened her day.

Number 4
Recipient: Katie Kate
Gift: 1920 Ice Coupon BookSo Katie knew I was doing this, but didn't know she was going to be one of the recipients. In fact, we were chatting about it online when I ordered hers. Now the story behind this one is that Katie is THE coupon queen. Like she can get $200 worth of groceries for about $30. She does have about 20 cans of oatmeal in her kitchen at the moment and at one time 120 glade plug-in refills, but hey, it works--she got 'em free, so I won't pick on the girl. Another thing, whenever I go to her house, she never has ice. Well, here's a coupon book for 500 lbs. of ice that will be delivered to her front door. Um, if maybe she lived in South Dakota about 90 years ago. She messaged me online saying she had a suspicious package. :) Love it!

Number 5
Recipient: My Step Dad
Gift: 45th anniversary Miracle Whip commemorative pocket knife

Now he hasn't got his yet. I'm even betting he's thinking he's not in on this whole thing I'm doing since my mom and brother got theirs 2 weeks ago. The man has an infatuation with Miracle Whip. It cannot be mayonnaise. In fact, his mom once put store brand mayo in a Miracle Whip jar to save a few cents, didn't think he would notice. Danny definitely did! We've caught him making fried Miracle Whip sandwiches once. The whole Miracle Whip/mayo thing is an on-going joke we all in the family have with him. My brother wrapped up and gave him a super size jug of it for Christmas one year. Daddy was genuinely happy about it. The whole jug only lasted 2 months tops. True love, got it? I promise to you update you with his reaction.

SmartLilCookie Etsy Shop!

Katie is my extremely talented girlfriend here in town. She is great at combining the new with the old and that special, unique, quirky touch in her paper crafts artistry she sells in her etsy shop, SmartLilCookie.

Home is where the Heart is altered canvas

This is 5x5 inches in size. Can't you envision this right above your lightswitch that you turn on when you walk in the front door? Above the place you keep your keys at? Mixed in with family photos on the wall? I can :)

Vintage French Text Butterfly Punchies

Gah! Aren't these just so flippin' cool? Perfect for those scrapbook layouts or even done in rows and framed.

Basic Grey Urban Prarie Butterfly Punchies

Katie is probably the most eco-friendly person I know. She can always find a way to REinvent things. Her upcycled scraps can become your new creation! And if you really think about it, to do this yourself and buy all of this Basic Grey paper would cost you a ton.

Yup, Katie definitely is a SmartLilCookie. Okay, I'll quit with the cheese LOL. But seriously, great ideas here. She's fixin' to be in over her head in buttons, so I imagine a lot of new creations updated soon. And ending this post, I should be an Etsy shop reviewer or something, huh? :)

Just a little plug...

Visit my friend, Katie's, etsy shop called Smart Lil Cookie. Cute stuff for real.