King of the Dragons

Book Soundtrack for The Shadow of Tiamat

2012-01-20T09:52:00.000-06:00

The publicist at my publisher suggested this as a promotional tool. She wanted us to make a playlist of songs that we feel in some way relate to the book. Either these were songs we listened to while writing it, or songs that make us think of the book or it's characters. I think this is a great idea! I always listen to music when I write. So I made the playlist for the book. This playlist has already been posted on the book profile page at my publisher's website.

And here it is now, for this blog.

You'll likely notice that some of these songs are by people I know. Ross Gipson is my best friend of over a decade, and his song Wounded Town is about the tornado that destroyed a 4th of Joplin...which is also where the first book is set. Ross was living with us at the time, and we spent the tornado huddled in the bathroom with our cats and a radio. You should also pick up a copy of Salmon Dave

while you're at it. Me Like Bees is a band mentioned in the first book, on a t-shirt worn by one of Meg's brothers. Their track Devil's Song is on this list from their Me Like Bees EP is available from Amazon. You'll also notice that one of the tracks is by a band called Tiamat. They are in no way related to my book, nor is the book related to them. They are both derived from the ancient deity of the same name.

While some of these songs weren't around when I wrote The Shadow of Tiamat, they are indicative of the kind of music I usually listened to while writing it. So, that will give you some idea of how the book "sounds" to me. In particular, the very first track was a song I heard not all that long ago and thought it fit Meg perfectly. Hopefully you'll think so too, once you've read the book.

Which, if you haven't yet....

Paperback from Amazon: http://amzn.to/tiamat-ppb

Paperback from B&N: http://bit.ly/voMy5Z

Kindle from Amazon: http://amzn.to/tiamat-kindle
Nook from B&N: http://bit.ly/tiamat-nook

Other ebook formats: http://bit.ly/utxfuB

Paperback from Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/rMQ7fi

Paperback from Powell's Books : http://bit.ly/uRJbpK

Paperback/ebook from Indiebound: http://bit.ly/vwKpcP

FIGHT STUPID WITH STUPIDEDER!

2012-01-18T07:26:00.003-06:00

In protest of SOPA rather than going dark, I'm just going to flood my blog with a 10-hour NYAN CAT video. This is happening.

HELP ME WIN A SHORTY AWARD!!!

2012-01-06T19:21:00.000-06:00

Nominate Sean T Poindexter for a social media award in the Shorty Awards

Some of my friends and fans nominated me for this, and I couldn't be more flattered! Thanks, guys! I really appreciate it! There is also an interview with me you can read to find out more about my philosophy towards Twitter and tweeting.

This is a pretty big deal for me! I've been a Twitter user for years, and I've helped introduce other writers and creative people to it. If I win this, it will be great publicity for my book! This is a real award, with a live award ceremony and everything! It only takes a second to vote, and you do it by filling out a simple tweet window and explaining briefly why you think I should win. As of this posting, the lead in the author category only has a couple hundred votes! If all my Twitter friends voted for me, and got at least one of their friends to vote for it,, too, then I'd win hands down!

So let's do this! Thank you all for your help and support I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! But if I win this award, I promise I'll do everything I can to make your kindness worth the effort.

Dragons. That is all.

2011-12-29T08:25:00.001-06:00

Dear friends,

Do you enjoy urban fantasy and paranormal thrillers, but are you tired of sparkling vampires and brainless, co-dependent heroines? Do you love dragons? I mean, really love dragons? Possibly in a borderline dangerous way that you aren't really comfortable discussing with strangers? Please allow me to introduce you to Garrett Terago and Megan Crunk: your new favorite hero and heroine.

The Shadow of Tiamat

"The author not only gave us strong and resourceful characters that were both smart and funny, but the storyline as well ebbed and flowed to keep the reader involved and entangled throughout...and its twist ending left me wanting the next installment right away!" "4 1/2 Tombstones out of 5!" -- Bitten By Books Reviews

From the book: On a dark Ozark highway, two souls meet in tragedy and find their lives are connected to things bigger than them both.... Megan Crunk, a social worker from Joplin, uncovers vampires preying on a small community. That same day, she meets Garrett, a fascinating stranger who is clearly more than he seems.But, as Meg slowly learns, so is she.

Garrett Terago is an ancient dragon, until now, content with the secluded Ozark mountains, disguised as a human, but rarely paying them any heed... until he meets Megan. He offers her love and protection from the vampires. But can he keep her safe from his own kind? War looms between the dragons. Some long for a time lost to prehistory, when they were worshiped as gods, masters of the world. Somehow, Garrett is instrumental to their plans, and Megan is their way.

Paperback from Amazon: http://amzn.to/tiamat-ppb
Paperback from B&N: http://bit.ly/voMy5Z
Kindle from Amazon: http://amzn.to/tiamat-kindle
Nook from B&N: http://bit.ly/tiamat-nook
Other ebook formats: http://bit.ly/utxfuB
Paperback from Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/rMQ7fi
Paperback from Powell's Books : http://bit.ly/uRJbpK
Paperback/ebook from Indiebound: http://bit.ly/vwKpcP

What readers are saying:

"I am so excited to have finally found what I crave. Dragons, vampires, and more... without sparkling skin or a character list filled with teeny-boppers. I love that I was able to finally indulge in something a little (OK a lot) more adult without sacrificing content." 5 stars -- Amazon Reviewer Sagebrush Dragon

"Fantastic!!! I was completly blown away.Intense imagery and a compelling plot has put this high on my must read list. I can't wait to see what Sean Poindexter comes up with next. Do yourself a favor and buy this book today!!!" 5 stars -- Goodreads Author and Reviewer Brian D Anderson, author of The Godling Chronicles: The Sword of Truth.

"The Shadow of Tiamat is one of the most original pieces of work I have read in awhile.With the way most books are now, I expected a generic, already been done, revamped story of dragons. Nope, this book provides a truly one of a kind take on these beings. The only thing better than the characters in this story is the action that takes place. I found it very difficult to pick a favorite part in this story. I'm waiting in anticipation for the next one. Come on Book 2!!!! I'm so excited!!!" 5 stars -- Amazon Reviewer stardustgalaxy

"The Shadow of Tiamat is the book of the year. Once I started reading it I could not put it down!" 5 stars -- Barnes and Noble reviewer Jacihalloween

Who is Tiamat?

2011-12-23T12:04:00.000-06:00

Tiamat - image source stenudd.com

The title of the first book in the Dragon's Blood Chronicles refers to a being by the name of Tiamat. If that name sounds familiar, it's because I didn't make it up. Tiamat is an ancient name, older than any god or deity worshiped on Earth by humans today. The name has a very specific and significant meaning in my books.

If you've read the book you'll notice that the dragons use the term "To the Shadow of Tiamat," as a benediction. Several dragons also use the term "Praise Tiamat!" or reference her in some reverent manner. This would usually lead people to conclude that the dragons worship Tiamat as a god.

In fact, they do not.

In ancient Babylon, Tiamat was an important part of their creation myths and the mother of all monsters. Ancient Babylonians did not specify that she was a dragon, but they believed in dragons and that she was their mother:

When the skies above were not yet named
Nor earth below pronounced by name,
Apsu, the first one, their begetter,
And maker Tiamat, who bore them all,
Had mixed their waters together,
But had not formed pastures, nor discovered reed-beds;
When yet no gods were manifest,
Nor names pronounced, nor destinies decreed,
Then gods were born within them. (Dalley 233)

In my books, Tiamat was a dragon...though a different kind of one. Her children were the dragons of Earth. They revere her as the mother of their race, and believe she will be waiting for them in the afterlife (the aforementioned "Shadow" is a reference to this) but do not worship her as a god.

Tiamat, band. Image source:

Tiamat has been used in other forms of media as well. One of my favorite bands is called Tiamat: I've been listening to them since I was very young, and that is part of what sparked my interest in the name. Tiamat is also an important part of the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game, and even made an appearance on the old Dungeons and Dragons cartoon show. In this incarnation, she is depicted as a multi-headed dragon. She is also evil. My Tiamat is not evil, nor does she have more than one head. She is also depicted as being able to turn into a beautiful woman, particularly in the Forgotten Realms DnD setting (in Dragonlance, she is referred to as Takhesis). Since dragons in my world can assume human form, presumably so can Tiamat.

Apsu is not mentioned in the first book, but he was a dragon as well. He and Tiamat spawned the race. Where they came from is something you'll just have to wait to find out. The mystery of how dragons (and, for that matter, all otherworldly beings) came to be is answered over the course of several books. I can't just give everything away at the beginning.

If you looked closely at the names of some of the dragons in my books, you'll see some other familiar names as well. Many of the older dragons were worshiped as Gods or other great powers by primitive beings. Whether the humans based their gods on dragons with those names, or the dragons took their names from the mythology of humans they lived near, is up for the reader to learn...

...got Dragon?

THE HOBBIT!!!

2011-12-21T11:12:00.000-06:00

I grew up on these books. You better believe I'm excited about this!

Now that you're all excited...here is something to whet your whistle and keep you occupied until next December:

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring / The Two Towers / The Return of the King Extended Editions + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]

Also, if you're in a reading kind of mood -

Meet Writer – Sean T. Poindexter | Hildie McQueen's Author Site!

2011-12-20T19:14:00.000-06:00

Read Hildie' McQueen's interview with me!

Meet Writer – Sean T. Poindexter | Hildie McQueen's Author Site!:

'via Blog this'

Shadow of Tiamat "Gripping" and "Immensely entertaining!"

2011-12-15T10:36:00.000-06:00

The Shadow of Tiamat is featured on the front page of the Bitten by Books review site! They gave it a 4 1/2 out of 5. Among other things, the reviewer called it a "sizzling paranormal-fantasy," with "strong and resourceful characters that were both smart and funny," and that the story "...ebbed and flowed to keep the reader involved and entangled throughout," and "its twist of an ending left me wanting the next installment right away!"

Oh, hell I could go on like this all day...just read the review yourself!

I'm quite proud of this. This was my first professional level book review and I was a bit nervous about it. But it came back shining so I'm confident more will follow. I've already gotten several 5 star reviews on both Amazon
and Barnes and Noble. And NONE of them were by people related to me, nor were they cats...in case you're wondering. Thor won't be reviewing this book...he's too young for such material.

Happy day!

Things You Can Do to Help The Shadow of Tiamat

2011-12-14T02:32:00.002-06:00

Well, besides buying the book...

Go to the Amazon page for either the Kindle or paperback version of my book. Scroll down past the reviews and past my bio information until you see a screen that looks like this:

Please click on the link that says Agree with these tags? and vote yes on each of the tags that is there. These are what drive searches for books on Amazon to my book. So, if someone is looking for a dark fantasy about dragons, a high tag rating in both of these will mean they are more likely to find (and buy) my book. PLEASE DON'T TROLL THIS, guys...you know who you are. You can troll it later if you want, but wait until I'm a bestseller or something.

Also, it would be great if, after reading the book, you wrote a review. Amazon requires that you have bought something before, and if you make a first purchase you will need to wait 48 hours before you can post. This is done so that people don't SPAM reviews for their own products, products they like, or products they don't like. Barns and Noble doesn't have this same restriction, and neither does Goodreads...and Goodreads gives you the option of giving it a star rating without writing a review. My book is listed on both. So if you want to write a couple of lines (or more) about my book, those are good places to do it.

Several of you have already done this, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! Your help and support will never be forgotten. I love you all.

Garrett Terago vs. Edward Cullen

2011-12-12T00:14:00.001-06:00

Some have mused what would happen in a battle between the hero of The Shadow of Tiamat dragon Garrett Terago, and vampire (sorta) Edward Cullen from...well, you all know who he is.

Based on careful calculation of the respective abilities of the two - Edward's super speed, great strength and ability to sparkle, verses Garrett being a DRAGON, the predicted outcome is...

image source: http://viktornight.com

...it wouldn't end well for Edward.

Dragon vs. Vampire

DRAGON WINS

...got Dragon?

The Shadow of Tiamat is ALIVE!!!

2011-12-07T07:11:00.001-06:00

The Kindle edition of The Shadow of Tiamat is available for sale. You don't have to own a Kindle to read it this way, you can download it and read it on your computer or iPhone or any other number of devices with this free app from Amazon. You can also pre-order The Shadow of Tiamat - Print Edition.

The BAD news--well, it's not really bad per se, just kind of funny--is that Amazon has garbled the title of the book so that, as of this morning, it appears on their website as DARGON'S BLOOD CHRONICLES. Don't anyone blow a gasket, this was an honest mistake. PLEASE STOP SENDING ANGRY EMAILS TO MY PUBLISHER. I appreciate your passion for my work, but you aren't helping. This will get fixed. This was apparently a mix up between the distributor and Amazon. These things happen. (update: as of noon Dec 07, the typo has been fixed.)

Some more good news, I now have an Amazon Author Page. And my book is on Goodreads -- albeit, with the wrong title but what can you do?

So, you can start ordering, adding stars and reviews, whatever you want now. The book is for sale! Hooray! We're finally there, guys! Don't let one minor hitch derail this. When you recommend the book to your friends, just let them know that there is a misprint on the title on Amazon but that the title is correct on the book.

Book Review: Chuggie and the Desecration of Stagwater - by Brent Michael Kelley

2011-12-03T16:06:00.001-06:00

Quick review - Highly original, well written, intriguing, and above all, fun to read!

Summary from Amazon: In the first installment of Mischief Mayhem Want and Woe, Brent Michael Kelley unleashes the horrors of Desecration on Stagwater.
Norchug Mot Losiat, Chuggie to his friends, is Brother Drought. When, in his rambling, he stumbles upon the remote city of Stagwater, he finds love, temptation, and treachery. He fights against men, demons, and his own nature to battle the sinister forces threatening the city.

But Chuggie? All he wants is a boat.

Paperback: 338 pages

Publisher: Omnium Gatherum Media (November 29, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0615571042
ISBN-13: 978-0615571041

I'm going to admit that, based on the cover alone, I probably wouldn't have bought this book. Not that the cover is bad, it's actually quite charming. But looking at it gives me the impression of a YA novel, with the crayon-like colors and the pumpkin-headed things approaching the horn-headed protagonist who appears to be chained to a tree. But the book was recommended so I gave it a go...and I am very glad that I did.

I don't know if Kelley does this, but when I write a book sometimes I imagine a particular actor, celebrity or even a friend as a character when I'm writing them. It just makes it play out in my head better. I also do this when I'm reading a book. So, I can't say for sure who Kelly had in mind when he was writing Norchug (Chuggie) but I can tell you who I imagined: Tom Waits. Except with horns. And it worked perfectly for me.

Despite being as old as the world itself, Chuggie is a pretty simple fellow. Unfortunately, he lives in a world full of ulterior motives. Chuggie's motivation is simple: he just wants to live a simple life...whatever that means for a living embodiment of a force of destruction. Stuff keeps getting in the way, like a town run by three evil bastards: Stagwater. Though Chuggie's plans there are rather simple (he wants a boat...he's already got the anchor) all the power players there have other plans for him. Some want him dead, some want to recruit him, a couple want to marry him. Chuggie doesn't want any part in this, but he gets pulled in against his better judgement.

Chuggie is an entertaining character, kind of an O, Malandro rogue. He's as old as the world itself, but still seems to fit into it somehow. As the avatar of drought, Chuggie is always thirsty and, if he wishes, can drain the liquid out of everything. He's not particularly comfortable with this ability, so he doesn't enjoy using it. Still, it's always there in the background, haunting him. He learned a while back that being drunk quiets the voice, so he made that permanent--which apparently he also has the power to do. Chuggie is therefore drunk at almost all points in the book. As such, people tend to assume he's just a common drifter, and he likes it that way. Unfortunately, those in the know see him for what he really is, or at least can tell he's more than that.

The story is compelling: Chuggie tries to enter Stagwater to buy a boat for a trip to a warmer place. All he has is a bag of junk, the clothes on his back, and an anchor (in the shape of a lady) at the end of a chain he wraps around his body. Chuggie uses the anchor as a flailing weapon at several points in the book, which is hilarious because getting hit with an anchor WOULD HURT SO MUCH! If you're like me, you'll laugh out loud the first time he tosses the anchor into someone. Anyway, Stagwater lets him know he isn't welcome and tries to send him north, even using magic to try and compel him to go there. They definitely don't want him going south, or entering the town. So, Chuggie goes south just to piss them off. That's where he meets a woman living in the forest, a witch seemingly imprisoned by a magical spell, but attended by an army of animated scarecrows (no, they don't sing). Chuggie, who has been alone most of his life, falls in love with the witch and is motivated to free her. She sends him back to Stagwater to look for an item that can save her. And that's where things start to get complicated.

The most entertaining part of the book are Chuggie's dialog, both internal and external. Chuggie is creative with his profanity, using terms like "slime tits!" and "goat rammin frog dicks!" Chuggie's biggest flaw is that, despite his age, he's relatively naive and trusting. Despite living in a world full of people who don't care about anything but their own agenda, Chuggie takes people at their word a lot and that's what leads him to almost getting killed a lot. But it's understandable that he'd be that way. Chuggie is a simple creature: a force of nature, more or less. The world is far more complicated, and Chuggie's outsiderness makes him ill equipped to operate in it with the same level of guile as those around him. He gets along best with other characters with similar, simple motivations; two city guards who only care about their families, a child who just wants a home, and a conjurer who just wants to practice her art. I enjoyed watching Chuggie maneuver through whatever they threw at him, always on the very edge of losing everything. It was very endearing.

Despite it's kind of playfulness, the book has an undercurrent of darkness and horror. There are evil, unspeakable, disgusting things lurking in the woods north of the city. Terrible things happen in the city, too. Evil and destruction is present in all forms, from undead abominations, greed, lust, envy and revenge. Ironically, Chuggie is the only power player in the field who doesn't want to destroy anything.

I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy or horror. The world is compellingly built, giving just enough details about thing and place outside the immediate sphere of the narrative to make you want to hear more. The characters are attractive and deep. The writing is good. On the downside, there were a couple of parts where POV was murky, but it doesn't throw you out of the story. Chuggie, in particular, is one of the most endearing characters I've met since Tyrion Lannister from the A Song of Ice and Fire series. I couldn't get enough of him. And I think you'll enjoy him too.

Cover Art for The Shadow of Tiamat

2011-11-22T08:27:00.000-06:00

The cover art for The Shadow of Tiamat is completed! It's a fine piece of work by Jeannie Ruesch, who has done several covers for the 'Moon. I had asked for her to do my cover after being impressed with her work on Ciara Knight's The Curse of Gremdon and Agnes Jaynes's The Problem with Power. The choice was ultimately up to the folks at the 'Moon, but I knew even if I didn't get Jeannie I'd get a great cover because they have a lot of really great cover artists. Many of you have already seen this, but for those of you who haven't--or just like looking at it over and over like I do--here it is in all it's glory:

As you can see, Jeannie has incorporated the symbol of Tiamat that I created, though she's made it much nicer and smoother than my earlier, ham-fisted fumblings.

I am VERY excited about this. I think it's a beautiful cover, and it captures the mixture of ancient world mysticism and deep, Ozark forests that are so prominent in my book. I'm happy with my cover, and am looking forward to seeing it on the book. I hope you all are, too!

Note: cover art is the property of Crescent Moon Press Inc. and may not be used without their permission. The "symbol of Tiamat" is property of Sean T. Poindexter and cannot be used without permission of the owner.

formspring.me

2011-11-10T06:36:00.001-06:00

Ask me questions about movies, music, and books http://www.formspring.me/SeanPoindexter

Why I Don't Do #NaNoWriMo

2011-11-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

A lot of writers do this. Or try to. And good for them. But it's not my thing. I've never actually tried it. It isn't that I can't write a book in a month...I can. It usually takes a little longer than that, but it's been done. My first book took about two and a half months to write...and I started it right around the middle of November, 2008. I had no intention of having it done by the end of the month, though. Since then, I've been constantly working on one project or another, and whenever November rolls around, I'm usually in the middle of one thing or another. But there are a few reasons why I can't do NaNoWriMo. I'm not putting down anyone who does, I think it's a neat idea. But here are some reasons why I can't/don't/won't.

1. My birthday is in November. So, there is that. One of my best friend's also has a birthday in November, and it's been kind of a tradition of ours that we have a joint birthday party for both of us at the same time. So that takes some planning. And we usually have it at my house, and my friends are almost all insane.

2. Seasonal Affective Disorder, I has it. And I live in Joplin, Missouri. You know what the weather is like here in November? Last Tuesday it was 71 degrees. Yesterday it was like 45. Today it's supposed to snow or rain or some shit. Next Wednesday it's going to rain but also be in the mid-80s. The following Monday we're getting an F2 tornado. By Thanksgiving the city will either be covered in ice or sweltering under a heat advisory. And that's assuming we don't get locust. Which we will. You know what this does to people whose mood and general health is tied to fluctuating weather? You will. You. Will.

3. I'm too scatterbrained to work on one project at a time. I have to have at least two things going at once, maybe more. Generally, I'm writing one book while editing another, reading a third and playing my way through something on my Xbox...usually another run through Fallout: New Vegas. How many times can I beat this game, you ask? I don't know, how many times can I swear I'm going to side with the Legion this time and use exclusively melee weapons and dynamite for the whole game but then get attacked by pangs of conscience when Ceasar or Mr. House ask me to blow up the Brotherhood of Steel bunker and succumb to the temptation of the 25mm grenade machinegun? A lot, that's how many. But I'm confident that this November, with the rapidly fluctuating weather and my yearly bodily tolerance to the prozac increase will lead to a dark enough mood that I'll side with the evil bastards and hand the entire Mojave over to the gorram slavers in football pads. If you have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, you should be very proud of yourself.

C'mon! He's begging me to kill him!
image source

4. Dexter. Homeland. The Walking Dead. And right now I'm reading City of Ruin by Mark Charon Newton. And I've been asked to read a book to do a blurb. So, that's all going to happen.

5. Thanksgiving. Holy shit, people...Thanksgiving is in November. This is why I know for sure that NaNoWriMo was invented by single guys. I could believe a married guy, even a few oblivious dads, would think November, the month in which Thanksgiving, the most clusterfuckish Holiday until Christmas (which is a month later) would be a perfect time to crank out a fracking novel. Or maybe it was designed by people in countries other than the United States, where we routinely subject our moms, wives, daughter and sisters to the puritanical death-gauntlet that is Thanksgiving dinner. The planning, the baking, the cooking, the shouting, the dropping stuff, the making me run to the store for marshmellow cream or ice, the shouting, the burning your hand on the crock pot and having to look for the aloe vera you put away in August because you figured you weren't going to get burned again anytime soon, the shouting, the hunting stories, the shouting...All this takes a couple of days to organize and several more to recover from, during which I doubt much writing gets done. If you're a mom and you manage to write during and after Thanksgiving, I am in AWE of you. Seriously, I'm not kidding. You're the most amazing people in the world. I'm not being sarcastic about that at all. Nonetheless, I doubt it's something many ladies would voluntarily subject themselves to. Likewise, I need to be available during this time, to lift stuff that needs lifting, peel things that need peeling, open things that need opening, kill spiders that need killing, hold who needs holding, pick up bags of ice that need picking up...when such requests are made, I don't think my marriage could survive me hollaring back, "Can't, I'm writing a fight between an M1036 TOW and a minotaur!"

You know when would have been a better month to have NaNoWriMo? March. Because nothing happens in March...except my wedding anniversary. Which, if you're me, is extremely important. In fact, we actually planned out wedding in March specifically because there was rarely anything else going on during that time. So, if you're not me it's a great time to write a book. Unless you live in Joplin...where we're due for a plague of fire toads and some minor flooding. OF BLOOD!

Anyway, now you know what's up with that and why I'm not doing it. Good luck to those of you who do! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go ice my driveway. Better to have it and not need it....

"Angus, what do your cow-eyes see?"
image source

"Come at me, bro!"
image source

^^ 'MERICA! ^^

formspring.me

2011-11-01T03:58:00.001-05:00

Ask me questions about anything http://www.formspring.me/SeanPoindexter

Every Day is Halloween

2011-10-29T06:11:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't blogged much lately. I've been busy HAVING A BOOK PUBLISHED. Yeah, it's like that. Actually, I've been writing pretty furiously. And now I've got the first e-galleys of the book to look over for misprints or any last second corrections I need to make. I should be done with that within the week (because I don't really do anything else except play Xbox and pass out from migraines) and then after that we'll be sitting pretty for a Holiday Season release! YAAAAAY!!!!

Anyway, when I'm not writing or forgetting where I put stuff, I occasionally go to do things with friends. Last night I went to a Halloween party at Val's place. I've got another party to go to tonight but I may have to cancel because I'm already feeling a migraine coming on--Sorry, Dave and Nina! I will most definitely try to make it though, if only for a little while.

Anyhoo, here are some pictures of the party, starting with my Halloween costume.

Awesome, eh? Okay, no...that isn't me. That's my character from Fallout: New Vegas. Still, he looks pretty bad ass there. I'm actually disappointed because I didn't get to do the costume I wanted because I'm lazy and annoying. I'll do it next year, though.

Here is what I actually wore:

Yeah, that's Green Man from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Well, not the Green Man, my friend Jake as Green Man. My costume was a rather slapdash affair. I spent 10 bucks on that skull mask. The rest of it is just stuff I actually wear. Because I'm that cool.

So here is me, dressed as what I was, and Val, dressed as an existentialist French girl named Fifi. We titled this one, Fifi Flirts with Death. I know they say a pictures says a thousand words, but if that's true then it must take well over a thousand to convey just how emotionally disturbing Val's costume was...not just on us, but on him. You can't really tell from this photo but those are purple leopard-print tights that his sister is never going to be able to wear again.

Speaking of Val's sister, here is the lovely miss Jacquelyn dressed as a bee! And me, dressed as a creepy old guy standing next to a teenager in a skull mask. Shut up.

This is Jason as...um...you know what? I actually think it's better if I don't try to explain this one.

And then here are some other party goers in their lovely costumes.

There were more pictures taken later, by other people. But I didn't get that many. Amanda didn't show up to the party until late, and by then I was too drunk to hold a camera but I know some other people took pictures and they'll post them and I'll share. Amanda's costume was adorable, though. So, as soon as someone gets me a picture of it I'll post it on here.

Hope everyone has a great Halloween!

Dubious Wit of Questionable Value

2011-10-14T13:27:00.000-05:00

This is stuff I've made or done, just to be annoying. Enjoy.

Say Something Mean Really Loudly: The Agenda of "The Write Agenda"

2011-10-04T14:09:00.000-05:00

Any of my writer friends and followers, if you haven't had a chance, check out Writer Beware™ Blogs!: The Agenda of "The Write Agenda"

There are a lot of decisions writers have to make. At the end of it, we're basically on our own. Sure, we have writers groups, beta readers, fans and editors...but what we do, our actual work, writing, we do it alone. And so we develop a sense of self-sufficiency and, dare I say it, stubbornness. I know this is true for me. But it's important to remember that just because we're capable of writing a book, story or poem doesn't mean we're smart enough to notice when we're being taken advantage of. Please trust me when I tell you that this is something I know a LOT about.

Just be careful. Do your homework.

Writer Beware is a blog by publishing professionals dedicated to protecting writers from unscrupulous people who would take advantage of your dreams for a buck. And believe me, there are a LOT of them out there. Note that this is just a resource. They don't expect you to take their word as gospel, Writer Beware is just providing you with information so you can make a decision.

The Write Agenda purports to be the same thing, but actually has one goal and one goal only: attacking Writer Beware and the people who support it. They claim they are supported largely by writers who have paid to have their books published--which I am NOT putting down: if you decide, as an author, that you wish to pay to have your book published that's your choice and I wish you luck. But, I wonder how many of these self-published authors realize that they are on a list claiming to support this group.

The Write Agenda savagely attacks anyone who criticizes them--I expect to land on their boycott list, maybe even get a page of my own on theirs like P.N. Elrod. Outrageously, they brag about hosting book burnings for targeted critic authors. BOOK BURNINGS?!? Are you guys for fucking real? Do you have any idea how that makes you look?

Hmm...I guess not...incidentally, those pictures are shopped--poorly. I doubt the guys holding those signs have any idea they've been used this way and, judging by the looks of them, wouldn't be too happy about it if they did. The Write Agenda's Facebook Page has fewer LIKES on Facebook than a Wikipedia page about White Power hate group Stormfront. Get a new publicist, guys. Aside from shopped death wishes, book burnings and boycotts and harassments, they post one-star reviews on critics books, while seemingly admitting that they haven't read them, only that they've been told by someone else that these writers must be punished. They do this anonymously, or in at least one case that I personally observed, by using the name of another author:

Write Agenda toadie posing as author Karen Blocker (sic) on WB blog

The REAL (and correctly spelled) Karen Blocher responds.

This is cult-like, almost criminal behavior.

In contrast, Writer Beware is open about the published authors who run the site. A couple of years ago on the Writer Beware message boards, I had a disagreement with several members there. I was wrong, and a little less than cordial about it. It isn't something I'd like to go into any deeper, but suffice to say that I admitted my error and apologized to the people involved. My reprisal for this transgression against them? Nothing. I wasn't added to any boycott lists, I didn't get any hate mail, no anonymous threats on my wall or anything. I will be sure to let everyone know if The Write Agenda handles things differently after posting this blog.

So yeah, I may be making some enemies with this. But as the man (Desmond Tutu) says, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." A little dramatic for this, I think...but still, the point is there: sometimes you have to pick a side. And I'm picking one. For the other side, if you think I can be intimidated or coerced into shutting up, I've just got one thing to say: come at me, bro!

For no reason, here is Teddy Roosevelt fighting a Sasquatch

Crescent Moon Press Online

2011-09-27T14:48:00.000-05:00

Visit the homepage of my publisher and sign up for the newsletter for updates on latest releases, awards, and convention visits! Also, check out my profile page and share it!

And spread the word: three Crescent Moon Press authors are finalists for Eppie Awards:

Piper's Fury--Paranormal---by Rachel Firasek
Knightfall--Fantasy Romance---by Berinn Rae
Thief of Hope--Fantasy---by Cindy Young-Turner

Angelspit in Tulsa this November, Anyone?

2011-09-20T10:41:00.000-05:00

Who wants to split the trip from Joplin to Tulsa on November 17th?

From a Dark, Quiet Place...

2011-09-15T08:25:00.001-05:00

Migraine is back. I'm wearing dark glasses in a pitch black room as I type this to cut down on the auras that came with today's migraine. I've also got the earplugs in...the same ones I use when I go target shooting to protect my ears. I'll be blunt: my migraines are getting out of hand. I know there are people in the world in worse pain than me. And I'd rather I have to bear this than see someone I love deal with it. But it doesn't make it much easier.

Many of you have expressed concern and well wishes, and I appreciate this. I'm a stubborn man, and one who doesn't like to admit weakness. But my wife and friends have been urging me to see a doctor about them for a while, and to actually tell her how bad they've been getting. And I'm taking their advice...finally. In fact, I had a doctor's appointment today about this very thing...which I unfortunately had to cancel because of a migraine. This was poor planning on my part: I should have made arrangements for someone to give me a ride in this apparently likely contingency. I will not make that mistake again. If anyone wants to volunteer, I will probably have my new appointment next week. Let me know if you want to be on the list and I'll try to coordinate a time with you.

Here is a nice, beautiful song by my friend Thomas Gabriel Fischer of Triptykon (formerly Celtic Frost) off the album Eparistera Daimones. It kind of captures what it feels like to go to sleep with one of these things. I know it isn't what Tom actually meant the song to be about, but I think he would appreciate my interpretation. The video is fan made, featuring some really beautiful forest scenes.

Stuff You Should Read: Blog Posts by Lynn Rush, Andrew Wood, Fred Doss and Randy Turner.

2011-09-13T13:54:00.000-05:00

Tiamat wills you to read these blogs. You know how she gets...

This first one is my friend and fellow Crescent Moon Press author Lynn Rush. She's guest blogging at Writer's Digest about cross-gender POV. And be sure to check out her awesome new book Wasteland!

This next one is by a new friend, British writer Andrew Wood. He's been super supportive since meeting just days ago on a Mark Charan Newton fan page. This particular post is about one of my favorite subjects...ME!

Next up is my actor friend Fred Doss. Fred and I go waaaaay back--we went to college together, longer ago than either of us would care to admit. Anyway, he's been doing this blog run where he watches a new movie every day for a year and posts about it. Check it out.

And finally: Randy Turner is a fellow Joplin author and educator. He co-authored 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado, which is on my to-read list and, if you're interested in the devastation many of us lived through, should be on yours as well.

Okay, I guess I should also blow my own horn a little. Here is a guest post by yours truly on the Crescent Moon Press blog.

I'll do another one of these in a week or so, showcasing blogs by friends and people I follow.

Election 2012: Not Doing This

2011-09-08T10:09:00.000-05:00

With the impending election and all the issues it's likely to bring, some of you might be excited or interested to hear how I'm planning to get involved this time. Well, here is how: I'm sitting this one out, haas.

You all know me pretty well. You know where I stand on things like the death penalty (for), gun control (against), gay marriage (for), Glenn Beck breathing (against) so there really isn't much point in me getting involved with politics this time around. Maybe if the political issues has a direct connection to my book (like, for instance, they raise taxes on royalties or change copyright laws) I'm might weigh in. But otherwise, if you want to know what I think you'll just have to ask me privately or through my personal Facebook page.

Also, my first book will be out by then, and I'll be really busy promoting it. And I don't want to alienate potential readers. Yes, I guess I'm chickening out. Whatever. This is my first book and I'm not going to screw it up. Maybe when I'm famous and comfortable, I'll make my craven return to politics. Maybe not. Until then, I'll save my political and social commentary for close friends. Also, my publisher is doing a lot of really hard work to get my book out there, and they are taking a HUGE chance on me. I'm not going to risk the time, effort and money they've sunk into me tanking sales of my book (which, by the way, is completely apolitical) for dubious political gain. For the record: NO, Crescent Moon Press has not asked me to refrain from political commentary. This is my decision.

POV photo of me, sitting this one out, haas.

Also, I am SO SICK OF POLITICS. It's really just gotten stupid out there. I mean, seriously...we have one party that has no idea how to accomplish anything and another that is firmly committed to opposing anything the other party incompetently attempts to accomplish. Which one is which? You figure that out. Because I'm not getting involved. I might make a little jibe or jest here and there, or point and laugh at something particularly absurd (the bar has been raised, trust me) but as far as impelling everyone to vote of this guy or that lady, for this or against that...nope. Not doing it. Because really, is anything I say going to change your mind? If you agree with me, then I'm wasting my time and yours explaining why we're right. If we disagree, then you can (and probably will) brush me off as biased, naive, bitter, cynical, lazy...whatever, take your pick--on any given day I'm one or more of the above so you're probably right.

And, really, the bottom line is this: I don't want to change your mind. I want you to figure things out for yourselves. And if that takes you to a different place than me, that's okay. I don't mind. I'll still like you, either way. Unless you're a Nazi, then you can fuck off. But short of that...I'm okay with you. And yes, I AM going to vote. I always vote.

--StP

P.S. And don't forget to sign up for FREE STUFF just for visiting my blog and leaving comments!

@SeanPMusic on Twitter

2011-09-04T12:14:00.000-05:00

For those of you obsessive enough to care, I have a Twitter account set up to display what I'm listening to while I'm writing or editing. It should give an idea of the kind of music I enjoy and that inspired what I write. Note, this is NOT my regular Twitter account, it only tweets about what I'm listening to and occasionally other things I've done, like blogs and whatnot.