Why All the Facelifting?

Some people out in the world wide web may have noticed some new clothes on old books, including a name change for my novel, Loathsome, Dark, and Deep. Yes, I took it to the courthouse, filled out the appropriate paperwork, and now it has a new name: The Forest of Ruined Men. Why? It's a bit more marketable. I think.

Okay. I'm not a marketing genius. I'm not even a writing genius, but I write. And revise. And write some more. And re--well, you gather the general idea. What I know is this: since coming back to writing, all my earnings are going to charity. I used to drop a fair bit in the community pot before, but now all of it--all my sales, Smashwords earnings, KDP sales, etc., goes to help the uninsured of Douglas County receive health care.

This reluctant salesman finds it a whole helluva lot easier to ask folks to spend money if I know that money is going to do something positive. The nickels and dimes for which I begged before mean little to me, but my chosen beneficiary, Health Care Access, can do so much good with my money. Why Health Care Access? Why health care for the uninsured? I thought everyone had insurance now?

No.

Health Care Access does good work here at home. It's a cause in which I believe--and it makes it so much easier to spend time and energy selling books. My nickels and dimes can become diabetes treatment for someone without insurance or the resources to purchase it. My nickels and dimes mean early cancer detection so someone can qualify for state aid and treatment. I believe we have a duty to help everyone access quality health care, and I'm starting in my hometown.

So yes. This is what I'm doing.

And here's more of what I've done to help what I'm doing:

It's like they're a happy family now... a series even... and guess what? I'm laying groundwork for a third "Sons of Chaos" novella. It's going to be a cold one.

And you know what? I'd love it if you bought an ebook or read anything I've written--but sending some love to Health Care Access is beautiful, too, and you don't even need an e-reader.

Now How Creepy is Free?

Free can be pretty creepy, I suppose, depending on what is being given away. This Friday, it's written words from yours truly and several other authors,  Bob Eccles,  James Garcia Jr.,  and Michelle Ann King thanks to the wonderful  Milo James Fowler.

Here's what I can give you today: a free digital copy of Loathsome, Dark and Deep. Go to Smashwords and use code SW24Q to grab a copy for zero money.

You also have a chance to win a paperback (yes, actual dead trees!) copy of The Bottom Feeders and Other Stories signed by yours truly. I hear it makes great kindling or a shim to hold wobbly table legs steady. You might even want to read a few stories. For your chance, simply toss your name in the virtual hat. 

So what, exactly, are you waiting for? Free is free... and I won't even make you read a word.

I'm Cheap

Part of resurrecting my writing "career" involves resurrecting my writing to be read. Now that we live in a world of digital words, I've never understood why anyone would take good stories away from potential readers.

These Darkened Streets back in digital "print"

Note I said good stories. I've trunked plenty of my tales, including some which have seen print. Even though they were published once, I might not want to claim them as one of my current stable of quality tales.

Way back on March 26, 2012, I wrote this post which explains how many of my collections and stories were wrested away from readers. I'm working to make them available again. And here's the thing--as I republish, I republish at the lowest price point I can. I don't mind 99 cents if it means a reader will take a chance and pick up my stories. This writing thing isn't solely about making money (although compensation is nice); it is about telling stories.

When I started focusing on the money, I started to lose my love for the process. The universe set me right.

I've recently returned Darker Matter: Stories of Strange Futures, These Darkened Streets, The Undead: 13 Stories, and Loathsome, Dark and Deep to the digital world.

Darker Matter back in digital "print"

You can find them at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and elsewhere electronic words are exchanged.

So yes, I'm cheap. I'm cheap and ready to tell you a story.

Old Bones and New Polish

I'm bringing back some old books as part of the resurrection of my writing career. To be a little more accurate, my "career" slept, fairy tale-like for the last year and and some change.

I've recently published some mothballed "collections" on Smashwords, including Darker Matter: Stories of Strange Futures, and These Darkened Streets (horror and weird fiction). I've also brought back my horror/adventure/grim-as-hell novel Loathsome, Dark and Deep (originally from Belfire Press, and until now out of "print").

I write to be read. I'll never understand the purpose of sitting on good stories when readers are hungry. No storyteller should hide in the dark.

When I set to republish Loathsome, I took a good look at the original dedication:

For Aimee, even through the darkest part of the woods.

Do I remove the dedication? No. Not exactly. But my life isn't what it was then. There's more to my story than the dark woods I traveled with Aimee. The dedication grew as I have. So now we read the original, along with:

...and Kim for helping me see the light. 

Kim wasn't a part of my life when I wrote Loathsome, Dark and Deep, but she's helped me find my way home. She's helped me find my voice again. And that, dear readers, is the only place I want to be: home, telling my stories.

Read an Ebook Week (With Discount Codes)

So it's read an ebook week over at Smashwords, and Belfire Press has offered some nice discounts to celebrate. My novel of ruined men and spooky forests, Loathsome, Dark and Deep is available (along with several other titles) for 50% with the following code: REW50

Check out Belfire's list of other discounted titles, or head over to Smashwords for your own very Loathsome copy.  

Happy reading.

I Do Not Write "Beach Reads"

I don't think I do, at least. Maybe "campfire reads" at times, but not "beach reads".

Anyway, the family went to the swimming pool last night. As will happen when I guy has been teaching for twelve years, I heard the tell-tale "Mr. Polson" from a former student (now a lifeguard at the pool).

"I'm reading your book," he said.

"Really? Which one?"

"Loathsome something. It's really good. Really good."

"Thanks," I said.

My former student moved on to his next station, and we proceed to do the "pool" thing--which means Max runs around in the shallow pool, Owen ditched us for some soccer camp friends, and I just let the cool water soothe my aching muscles. When my former student went on break (the lifeguards rotate every 10-15 minutes), I saw him walking to the break table with Loathsome, Dark and Deep under his arm.

Talk about a somewhat surreal moment. I think it was my first spotting of a book in the wild--at least outside of a bookstore. And at the swimming pool no less...

Awesome. Bizarre. A little bit of both.

In the Wall

Our home remodeling project has required a new wall.

While this sounds daunting, building a wall has been one of the easier tasks in which I've engaged. Nail a few studs (2" x 4" wood boards) together and you have a wall. Make sure they're level and square, of course. Hang the Sheetrock (or other wall covering) and no one can tell the difference between your wall and the pro's.

I hope.

Before I hung Sheetrock (gypsum board panels--it's what most interior walls are covered with rather than wood paneling anymore), I wrapped a signed copy of Loathsome, Dark and Deep in a plastic bag and stuffed it between two studs. Maybe in another fifty years someone will tear down my wall and wonder at the little book. Maybe they'll read it. Maybe they'll simply dynamite the place and never find it. My wife thought I was crazy.

I thought the idea was kind of fun. Besides... I've been a little disappointed at not finding any treasure as I've demolished our house. I wouldn't want to rob a future home re-modeler of the joy.

Cheers.

A Delicous Loathsome, Dark and Deep Review

Sometimes, writers need a little boost. This has been "one of those weeks" for me.

I love all of my books, I really do--even those collections I've self-published in e-format. But of them all, Loathsome, Dark and Deep has a special place in my heart. It was my first published novel (thanks to Jodi Lee and Belfire Press). It was so much fun (can something so bleak be fun?) to write.

I love how it reads, even now.

Sylvia Cochran at The Deepening World of Fiction has some lovely things to say about Loathsome in her recent review:

"What deepens the enjoyment of this book is the fact that there is no predictability but that the reader — for better or worse — has to hang on and follow in lock step with the protagonist.

When was the last time you didn’t know the ending by the middle of the book?"

Now that last bit filled me with joy.

"Even if horror is not your genre of choice, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy; the excellent writing — with very well done editing — is a joy to read even if only for its own sake."

Aw, shucks. Thanks for reading, Sylvia.

You can read the rest of the review at The Deepening or pick up a copy of Loathsome, Dark and Deep.

Have a wonderful day/night/morning/whatever.

Monday Meanderings & Ebook Week

So, it's Read an E-book Week? Who knew? I suppose I should mention I've uploaded my serialized novella, Black Medicine Thunder and the Sons of Chaos, to Kindle. The e-book version is available with two bonus stories and a sample chapter from Loathsome, Dark & Deep for 99 cents. How much did you pay for your last cup of coffee?


Plenty of other delicious e-bookage out there, too, including The Bottom Feeders, The House Eaters, the aforementioned Loathsome, Dark & Deep, and Rock Gods and Scary Monsters.

Because it is really about tearing down boundaries between writer/reader, each one of my indie published books (that would be self-published, wink-wink) is priced at 99 cents.

Speaking of indie-publishment, Strange Publications is taking pre-orders for Anthony J. Rapino's Uprooted chapbook through next weekend. Grab it and all the goodness for only $6. Real paper! Real art! Really good (and spooky) writing! Price includes world-wide shipping. You should stop by Anthony's new website and kick the tires, too. I hear there are contests.

Formatting is coming along for Cate Gardner's collection, Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits, and I hope to have that available for the Kindle (are you ready for this) for 99 cents by week's end.

Whew. So much to read. So affordable. So why not?

(I think I just channeled Monty Hall.)

The Thing About Books

An old high school buddy sent an email the other day. He'd just read Loathsome, Dark and Deep and told me "[I'm] Still reading two to three books a week and just wanted to tell you how impressed I was by yours."

This guy used to read about a book a day. No shit. He'd read all day at school, and then, in the evening, tell me everything he read. A true speed-reader. We haven't seen each other in years, part of the tragedy of adulthood, but used to hang every day. A note like that means more than a professional review.

Speaking of Loathsome, I went to the Lawrence Public Library last night to pick up a copy of Roald Dahl's Dirty Beasts for a forensics kid, and found Loathsome, Dark and Deep on the "new fiction" shelf. Pretty cool. Now someone please check it out so it doesn't have to sit there and let all the bigger books bully it.

Speaking of books, I'm running a Goodreads giveaway for The House Eaters. I've noticed The House Eaters has landed on a number of "to be read" shelves, more than my other books, so there must be something to this giveaway thing. Will all of those translate into sales or even reads? I don't know...but it is worth noting. If you're interested, you can sign up below:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The House Eaters

by Aaron Polson

Giveaway ends February 28, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Speaking of books (man, I need a new transition), I've arranged my first book signing. More soon.

Enjoy Tuesday.

Snowpocalypse Now

Seriously, I should be teaching, but mother nature has dumped a massive (like from New Mexico to Michigan) sized storm of the U.S.

Speaking of teaching, one of the skills I've learned as a teacher is how to transition between topics. Try this:

Snowpocalypse Now is a cheeky reference to the movie Apocalypse Now which is based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness which is the template for my book, Loathsome, Dark, and Deep.

Whew.

Well check out this nice review of Loathsome, Dark, and Deep at Hellnotes:

It’s a cleverly thought out survival novel that turns into a “search for a man who can answer our questions” novel, with Henry taken prisoner by a fellow named Curt who can explain the presence of the zombie-like “Ruined Men.”

Now that's nice. Click above to read the rest (should you want to, of course). Daniel Powell, author of An Autumn Harvest, had some nice things to say, too. Thanks for reading.

This transition isn't as smooth.

I've come to the end of my first "month of experimentation" with Kindle publishing, and, well, have (drum roll please) seven sales! Yes, seven copies of The Bottom Feeders sold in January, and, I'm surprisingly excited about it. Why? Because everybody I know already bought copies before January (I think)--that means seven "strangers" gave it a go. So my "profit" total for 2011...

7 books x $.35 a book = $2.45!

Now, I know I said I was going to donate 10% to a charity each month...I am. At least. 25 cents doesn't seem like much of a donation, does it? So each month I make less than $10 (could be the whole year, folks), I'm going to donate at least $5.

So who should the $5 go to this month? I'm taking suggestions and then will hold a poll.

I'll announce the winner of the review contest tomorrow...stay tuned. We're likely snowed in for a few days...

Adventures in Book Promotion

My writing life is one grand experiment, and like an good science project, complete and utter failure is always an option. You all know Belfire Press recently released my first novel: Loathsome, Dark and Deep.

I have to tell the truth: it's pretty exciting to receive a box of books with my name on them. Exciting and frightening. I've come to realize with any creative endeavor there comes a time to promote (unless said endeavor is strictly for personal enjoyment). Promotion doesn't come naturally to many writers, especially those of us who hide in dark places and punch out stories about even darker places. But if I don't talk about my book and do my damnedest to promote it, it might as well stay in the box and go under the bed in the Man Cave.

Well shit. I guess I have to come out of the dark then. Again, I see writing as an experiment. Some of the things I do, whether in a story or in "promotion," will fail. Hopefully, I can learn from failure, just as I can learn when a story "fails" (and doesn't sell).

So along with the grand experiment of writing a book and seeing it published, I'm stuffing envelopes with letters and bookmarks bound for independent bookstores which specialize in dark fiction and libraries. I'm gearing up to shake some hands with area booksellers. In addition, I'm running a second contest to promote Loathsome. Will the cash I've sunk into these endeavors pay off? I don't know, but not doing anything is the quickest path to failure.

So enough about failure. What would success look like, realistically? I'm not sure I have a clear picture, but I want people to read my book (and maybe even enjoy it). I want as many people to read and enjoy it as possible.

Some of you know I've taken a leap into another experiment. I'm offering Rock Gods and Scary Monsters on Kindle. (I have been for over a month, but you know how things are if you don't promote them at all.) It's a YA book (some of you "veterans" might remember my rambles about it a few years ago). It's not perfect. It's an experiment. But I'll tell you something--if I don't talk about it no one else will. Self-promotion is a necessary evil. Hell, I don't even know that I'd call it evil. It just is. Jeremy D. Brooks (author of Amity--read it) calls this thing we do "literary buskering". Yeah. That feels about right.


Writing a good story is important. It's the most important thing. But promotion--buskering--needs to happen, too. My comfort and skill telling stories has outpaced my comfort and skill in promotion. I feel it's such a fine line to walk between hubris/self-aggrandizing and genuine love for storytelling.

It's an experiment.

I'll fail. I'll learn from my failures (I hope).

And I'll tell you all about it when it happens. There are no secrets among inmates.

Loathsome Reviews Contest & Holiday Book Giveaway

I'm feeling like I need to give away some more money and a couple of books. Here's the details (scroll to the bottom for the holiday book giveaway):

Loathsome Reviews Contest (12/9/10 - 1/31/11)

Like to win a $25 gift certificate to an online bookseller of your choice?

1. Write a review of Loathsome, Dark and Deep and/or The Bottom Feeders and post to a blog, Goodreads, or Amazon.com. Better yet, post to all three for triple entries. Each post earns one point (or your name in the "hat" one time).

2. Email me: aaron.polson(at)gmail.com (replacing the (at) with @ of course), letting me know where you posted a review.You can use the subject line "contest" if you wish.

3. Additional points can be earned for buying either book (just email a copy of the receipt), tweeting about the contest (make sure to reference my twitter handle @aaronpolson), or tagging the book on Amazon (just email me at the above addy and let me know).

All entries must be in by January 31st, 2010. Plenty of time to enter this one, folks. I'll send out periodic reminders. If I have enough entries, I just might give away two gift certificates.
Hey...and you're entered even if you give Loathsome a loathsome one star. Be honest!


...and the Holiday Book Giveaway:

I'm shamelessly "borrowing" the idea from the legendary Kim Paffenroth. Check out the Zombie Christmas Contest at his blog.

In the spirit of giving, you enter this giveaway for someone else. Email me (aaron.polson(at)gmail.com) with the name of someone you'd like to give a copy of Loathsome, Dark and Deep along with a sentence (or two) explaining why. Entries for this one are due Sunday, December 12th by midnight (CST). I'll choose two winners at random to receive a free, signed copy of Loathsome.

Fun? Spread the horror joy!

WIP Wednesday is Late for the Dance

My second official Loathsome, Dark and Deep contest starts tomorrow (at least I'll post the "rules"). I'm also going to give away a book, or better, having you help me give away a book. Make sense? Er...okay.

I'll explain...promise.

Today, I want to introduce you to Ron's Bait and Tackle:

Ron’s Bait and Tackle was a bent-backed grey mule of a shack at the corner of State Highway 15 and Old Miller’s Road, the later of which ran over a few hills and swooped around a curve until it ran into Lake Lotawana. It was the special hub of fishing action for Boone County, far enough outside of Boone’s Hollow to be free of the town’s more stringent laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol. The poor taste of the citizens of Boone County insured all the beer sold at Ron’s was domestic, in a can, and sold from an iced-down stock tank in Ron’s back room.

WIP Wednesday: Winning and Winners

First things first...

Thanks to our good friends at Random.org, Alan W. Davidson has won the grand prize in the Very Loathsome Contest ($25 bucks to spend at an online bookstore of his choice, Heart of Darkness, and Robert Frost's poems) and Gef Fox has landed second prize (Heart of Darkness and a copy of 52 Stitches 2010). I'll be in touch soon, gentlemen. And as a big thank your to anyone who played along, I'll send those singed bookmarks soon (I just placed the order yesterday). If you entered the contest and I don't have your mailing address, please drop me a line at aaron.polson(at)gmail.com.

Wait...did the Canadians just sweep the prizes? I think they did. I'll post rules for another opportunity to line your pockets with cash next week. Until then, thanks for playing along and getting the word out about Loathsome, Dark and Deep.

Speaking of winners, Erin Cole is a big winner with her Holiday Book Blog Catalog. Check it out and support some small press folks. I'm thinking about putting one together...suggestions from the cryptkeeper and all that. Extra signal boost never hurts a small press author (or any author). The time frame is short as I'll post my holiday buying suggestions on Monday, December 6th. (I don't have a snappy name yet) Interested? Drop an email to aaron.polson(at)gmail.com with a cover art jpg, blurb, and buying info. Deadline is Friday, December 3rd.

Yes, and I have a real WIP, too. I hope to wrap up How We Die in a Hungry Town by the end of December. Astute visitors will note the title is a wee bit longer now.


Just a little way to the river. A short drop.

[Mike] climbed on the edge of the railing. His sister smiled in the darkness and held out her hand.

“It’s easy,” she said. “Just a little jump and we’re both free.”

“Free?”

“Out of here at least.” She smiled.

Did I mention Mike's sister is dead?

A Loathsome Cyber Monday (Wink, Wink)

I don't know who invented the term Cyber Monday, but I'm happy to say Loathsome, Dark, & Deep made it to Amazon just in time. Even though pre-orders are finished, you can still enter the "Very Loathsome Contest" until midnight (CST) tomorrow.

(or you could just buy five or six copies...that'd be a good idea, right?)

If you do shop online this Cyber Monday, make sure to grab wonderful books published by your favorite small presses, many of which almost exclusively sell online via Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. Keep supporting the small press to make this a better world.

A Very Loathsome Contest

Loathsome, Dark and Deep is almost upon us...

Help me give away some prizes...

1st Prize: $25 gift certificate to an online bookstore of your choice (Amazon, Barnes & Noble...), a copy of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (inspiration for Loathsome, Dark & Deep), and a copy of Robert Frost's Poems (the source of the title of my novel).

2nd Prize: a copy of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and a copy of this year's print edition of 52 Stitches.

All entrants with at least five "points" will receive a Loathsome, Dark and Deep bookmark signed by the author...er, me.

Here's how you rack up the points (and the rest of the rules):

1. Post a link to the trailer or embed the trailer online (here's the YouTube link). You get a new entry (point) in the contest every time you post at a different place. Some spots you can post: your blog, Twitter, Facebook, LJ, Myspace... wherever you like! If you tweet about it, please use the hashtag #loathsomenovel.
   and/or post a link to the contest page (here)
   and/or post a link to the pre-order page at Belfire Press
   and/or post a link to the Loathsome, Dark and Deep official site.
   
2. Comment below telling me where you linked. Please include a link to each post.
   
3. Pre-orders receive a five point bonus (for each copy purchased...wink, wink), just forward the pre-order confirmation to aaron.polson(at)gmail.com with the subject line "pre-order".
   
4. Your name gets put in a virtual "hat" for each point. On the book's release date (11/30/10), I'll use a random number generator to pick two winners.

Any questions? Drop me a line: aaron.polson(at)gmail.com.

These Woods...

The first contest is coming on Monday...

WIP Wednesday: The Inferential Power of Hint Fiction

Yes, I was one of those who received my pre-order of this:

...before the official release date. I shared a story, Joe R. Lansdale's "The Return" with students and had them riff on it during a quick, three-minute writing session. My favorite (I haven't edited a word, but I want to):

They buried him deep again. The morning before we buried that old man six feet deep and covered him good. But last night, we found his open coffin with no one in it. The town was quiet. No one told their children. Our arrogant sheriff said it was rain that washed him up, but it was hardly a storm.

I love the last line, especially the well placed use of the word arrogant. Sometimes, I feel like the students are "getting it". (I reprinted that little snippet with permission, of course.)

The other magic I've found in the pages of Hint Fiction is how each tiny story encourages inference.

From the Kansas State Reading Standards:

1.4.5 - uses information from the text to make inferences and draw conclusions.

This is hint fiction--it's all inferences and unsaid conclusions. Many of the stories, even in the life & death section, are quite funny.

Nice work, authors. Nice work, Mr. Robert Swartwood. Thank you for helping me reach my students.

In WIP news, I'm looking over edits for Loathsome, Dark and Deep. If you haven't checked out the novel's web site, here it is. I smell a contest coming...

Oh, and buy a copy of Hint Fiction, okay?

All of My Fingers...All of My Toes

No major injuries this year during our Fourth of July festivities. (Long time readers will remember several burns sustained last year.) So whew. I'm thankful for that.

After a slew of rejections this weekend (and a few from short-listed stories), I've put the old editing nose to the grindstone, hoping to find my stride in this "summer of slack". Unfortunately, I sort of feel like this guy......when I'm trying to write. There are some ideas in my head, I'm sure. Now to tease them out.

Speaking of the cuter-than-a-puppy Lego zombie, I'll have one to give away with other magnificent prizes when Loathsome, Dark, and Deep is released later this year (or early next). Good times, folks. Good times.