We’ve offered to foster this mother and her puppy that were possibly abandoned. No microchip, no tags, nothing. Thousands of people in town have seen the posts and have shared them far and wide, and every shelter in town has been contacted; however, as of this writing, no one has come forward. Sadly, we were one of only a few people who offered to take them both in, since most people wanted the puppy but not the mother.
Per California law, according to several experts we’ve contacted, after 30 days it’s up to us to decide if we want to keep them or not. So far, they are getting along famously with our other dogs, so if they truly were abandoned, we’re planning to take them in. But if the owner comes along (with proof, of course), we’ll sleep easy knowing they’ve returned home. In the meantime, we’re calling the mom Bara (バラ), and the puppy Shiroi (白い ), the Japanese words for “Rose” and “White”, respectively.
I know it’s a long shot, but if anyone subscribed to my list happens to be located in the 29 Palms area, please share these pictures online in hopes of finding their owners. I’d like to think that there’s a kid out there missing his puppies, and we’re trying to make every effort before the 30 days is up to reunite them. But if that’s not the case, they will be loved here.
For those who would like to lend a helping hand, the couple who first found these dogs set up a GoFundMe in their name. Please check it out at the link below if you can spare a few bucks to help these babies.
Just a note, however: I am not directly related to the campaign, as it was set up by the original finders before we offered to watch these dogs. My understanding of GoFundMe is limited at best, as I have never used the platform. Right now, we are looking to raise money for additional supplies and to get the mom spayed after the 30-day window closes. If the owners are found before the window is up and there have already been donations, the plan is to donate the proceeds to the Morongo Basin Humane Society.
And now, onto the big news!
NEW BOOK DEAL WITH PRIMAL PUBLISHING
On New Year’s Day, I got word that my latest novel, tentatively titled Island of Legends, had been accepted for publication by Primal Publishing, the lovely folks behind Prehistoric Magazine! Earlier this year, before their new press launched, they asked me among other authors if we wanted to submit some novels. After the move, I had the time and decided to write a novel I’d been wanting to for a long time.
So, what’s Island of Legends about?
Since we haven’t narrowed down a blurb yet, all I can tell you is I wanted to write a fun creature feature novel in the spirit of Jurassic Park, but I didn’t want to stop at just dinosaurs. Cryptids, fantasy creatures, and ice-age era mammals are just a few of what will be offered in this novel. It’s a nonstop romp through the jungle in the vein of authors I know and love such as Jeremy Robinson, David Wood, and Matthew Reilly, just to name a few.
We’re planning on a summer release at this time, which means I should have another book coming out before that! What that book might be is up for debate, since there are a few possibilities. If I had to guess, though, it’s going to be a prehistoric western novella. But there is also another co-authored novel up in the air right now, so who knows? Just so long as I make one release a quarter happen this year, I’m happy.
And if you think that sounds cool, then keep reading to see something really cool…
AWESOME BOOK ALERT!
Remnant by L.D. Whitney is Primal Publishing’s first novel! I’m in the middle of it right now and loving every page! Though I don’t read as fast as I used to, this one keeps me turning the pages! I’ve included the synopsis below:
For centuries, Brazilian folklore has spoken of a monstrous creature said to live in the Amazon rainforest. An expedition is mounted to the deepest parts of the Amazon in search of the unknown. A team of researchers travels down remote tributaries and treks through dense jungle terrain in search of creatures long thought to be extinct. It isn’t long before they realize that certain remnants of the primeval past have managed to survive into current times.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your copy by clicking the cover above! It supports a great author and a great publisher!
ANYTHING ELSE?
I think that’s about all I have. Thank you for reading this far down, and I hope 2021 is going well for you!
(or “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Quarantine!”)
Hello again,
I’ve been trying to write this email on and off in my head for about a week, but it feels like every ten minutes, the situation changes. Today, I’ve decided to sit down and just cover what’s happening behind the scenes at this exact moment, even if it’s outdated by the end of the day.
As you probably guessed, it’s mostly bad news.
In accordance with Governor DeWine’s new rules regarding events and gathering places in Ohio, every event on my calendar has been canceled or postponed until Pulp Fiction Con in Westlake/Cleveland on June 14th. That means Massillon Library, Green Library, Cleveland Concoction, Oddmall: Emporium of the Weird, and perhaps one or two events I’m forgetting about have been canceled. I don’t know how every state (or country, for that matter) is responding to the health crisis, but as of last night, non-essential gatherings of more than 50 people are banned, which was originally set at 100 only a few days ago. This now means that many shops, gyms, movie theaters, and restaurants in the area are closing for the next eight weeks, or so I’m told.
So how am I dealing with all this?
I want to say that I’ve been writing, but that isn’t the case.
Early last week, I had an appointment with my doctor regarding a sleep study. I thought it was going to be straightforward, but it was anything but. I mentioned that I had a slight cough, and that was enough. I was placed in unspoken isolation for an hour before the doctor came in to see me. She came in covered in a plastic dress (probably not the right word) and a face mask. She ran a few tests and determined that I “probably” didn’t have the virus, but due to the manifestation of several more flu-like symptoms over the following days, I was told that I needed to quarantine myself. As of today, I feel fine; however, I will still observe the quarantine as long as it’s recommended that I do so.
I’ve made the decision not to write during this time. Again, I feel fine now, but I’ve been feeling very distant from most of my projects. I blame most of this on the fact that I didn’t have a “next project” set in stone once Siron was finished. Since that book came out, most of my writing work has been outlining new books and debating if it’s time to resume projects I’d put on hold during the Hail to the King edits. I nearly always know what book I want to work on after finishing and publishing my latest, but right now my brain just feels like it’s slowed to a crawl. Honestly, from a creative standpoint, I feel drained.
That said, I’ve decided to take some time during this outbreak and give my brain a break while also opening up to new creative ideas. If any of you are familiar with J.F. Penn, she talks about the process of “refilling the creative well”, which in short means taking time away from your art to partake in the work of others. I plan to watch/read/listen to a lot of new stuff and hopefully find some new favorites along the way. So far, I’ve fallen in love with The Evil Dead films and the original Wicker Man, while also spending some time tracking down several animated masterpieces by Fantastic Planet director Rene Laloux that I hadn’t seen. Before the library shut down, I grabbed about twenty more movies I’ve never seen, about half of which are films that my friends are “shocked” that I haven’t watched. On the musical side of things, I’ve been listening to more metal and punk lately while also experimenting with creating my own music. I’m also pecking away at Dune, which so far I’m thoroughly enjoying. Worst case scenario, this will all make for some good conversation once life returns to normal.
For now, my tentative plan is to stay on this break until either the quarantine is no longer necessary, or until I get back from a late May/early June trip to California (should it be safe/legal to travel, of course.)
While the loss of these events has been a heavy blow, both personally and financially, if I let myself grow bitter, I’ll get nothing done. There’s nothing I can do about this, so I might as well enjoy these next few weeks. And luckily, my wife works primarily from home as well for the power company, so in the end, our day-to-day lives haven’t been turned too far upside down.
I do have a bit of good news, though: I don’t know how much I can and should say, but the good people behind Cleveland ConCoction, among others, have reached out to the authors and vendors affected by the closures and want us to produce some online content in the form of videos or possibly podcast interviews. It’s not much, but I’m going to do all I can to be a part of it! Once I know what we’re all doing, I’ll send a newsletter out with the links!
That’s about it for now, but I do have one or two questions for you guys!
First off, whether the online readings and interviews happen or not, I have been planning to produce some more content on a consistent basis. One avenue is my blog, which I’ve posted regularly on in the past but have since taken a break from. I’m interested in getting back into that, or maybe moving into podcasting or videos. What do you guys think? What would you want to see?
Secondly, do any of you have any movie or music recommendations for me? Preferably, I’d like the films to be available via streaming services, but worst case I’ll look for them once the world settles down a bit. As far as music goes, I should be able to at least sample anything from Youtube, so basically anything works! I love most music nowadays, so don’t be afraid to throw me what you might consider a curveball. The only things I’m not really looking for are TV show and book recommendations since I’ve got a pretty big stack of both I need to get through. That doesn’t mean you can’t throw them my way, but just know they probably will just end up on the TBR/TBW pile for a while.
With that, I’ll take my leave. Stay safe out there!
*Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
4
“What
I’m about to say is ludicrously stupid,” Benedict began, “but I
ask that you keep an open mind. If you have any
questions, I can answer them after.”
Michael
nodded for Benedict to continue.
The
flood of information the man let loose was overwhelming, but Michael
kept quiet until the end.
“About
a year ago, I came into possession of an extensive communications and
networking corporation. Known as DenCom to most of the public, its
advanced technologies division currently supplies the United States
with the majority of its newest tech. Flight systems, satellites,
even a few aircraft are in the works.
“I
got to know the old CEO about a year before taking over the company.
He’d heard about me through… okay, I know how stupid this is
gonna sound, but he heard about me through my… ‘exploits’ in
cryptozoology. I was job-hunting in Florida when he asked me to visit
Denver, my old hometown. I accepted his offer, and he paid for a
first-class ticket.
“I
was taken straight from the airport to a house close by the Rockies.
There, I was led to the bed of an old man who told me his name was
Herbert Morecraft. He’d heard about the hobbies I had in my
youth—ghost-hunting, UFOs, all that kind of stuff. Nothing ever
came of it, though, until I was out of high school and I camped out
in the
Sierra Nevadas to look for Sasquatch. As I’m sure you’ve already
assumed, I was young and stupid, so I got lost pretty quickly.
“As
far as I was concerned, the trip was a complete failure. I was lost
out there for three months with nothing but my coat and survival
guide. I panicked, went feral, turned into a mountain man eating
berries and catching trout out of streams to survive. Eventually,
some hikers found me and took me back to town.
“After
I got out of the hospital, I decided I’d had enough excitement for
one lifetime. I spent four years in Seattle getting a useless degree
in business management, then spent another year looking for work,
living out of my car and cheap hotels so I could stay mobile. Near
the end of that year was when Morecraft interviewed me.
“He
told me two things. One, his doctors told him he was dying and he had
less than a year to live, and two, that he’d researched me and was
hoping I could take over as the new CEO once he passed away. I was
floored.
He laughed, then offered me a deal.
“He
offered to fund a full expedition for the Sasquatch with me as the
team leader. We could spend the next six months going wherever we
wanted and doing whatever we wanted, but if we could prove the
creature’s existence, then I would have fulfilled my end of the
bargain, and he would sign over DenCom to me. He also said that if I
did become CEO, he wanted me to pick up where he left off on his own
investigations after he was gone. What could I say to that? He was
offering me a chance to pursue my—albeit strange—passion.
Plus, he offered me a hefty paycheck whether I came back with proof
or not, just for my time. So, I accepted his offer, and here I am.”
Michael
took the story in. It was obviously rehearsed, but much of it sounded
sincere. But
what was the point?
He’d
never been a believer in the paranormal, apart from the existence of
ghosts. In his youth he saw things, most of them probably figments of
his imagination. Nonetheless, the experiences had opened the door to
research in the phenomena, and he came out a believer. But everything
else that fell under the catch-all term of “paranormal” didn’t
particularly interest him. Still, his curiosity was piqued.
“So
you found one?” Michael asked cautiously.
“Well,
I’m CEO, so I must have found something,” Benedict answered with a
hint of sarcasm.
“All
right, then what did you find? A live one? Footprints? Hair?”
“If
I could tell you, I would, but one of the things Morecraft and I
agreed on was that none of the discoveries I made using his resources
could become public. I mean, couldn’t you just see hillbilly gangs
heading up into the woods and killing every last one if they knew
where to look?”
Michael
opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, Benedict continued.
“Before
he died, Morecraft said he wanted me to bring in more people to help
me in my work. He didn’t name anyone in particular, but in my…”
Benedict trailed off,
gathering his thoughts. Several tense moments passed before he
continued, “In my research, you and your friend Aron both showed up
as potential candidates. Don’t ask why because honestly, I don’t
quite know myself. I’m simply trusting the judgment of those who
advise me.”
Michael
raised an eyebrow.
“I
want to offer you a deal, Michael. If you agree to help me with my
research and expeditions, I will see to it that your store stays
open. Not only that, but you will be paid generously to investigate
and research a variety of subjects, from paranormal to political to
religious. It’s all totally legal and sanctioned by the US
government, as long as we do the occasional side work for them, in
addition to giving them any valuable finds from our own
investigations. I’m not allowed to answer the ‘why’ questions
about your projects—or even say if your work is a success in some
cases—but I can say you will make a good living and find
fulfillment with the work you do. If at any time, that isn’t true,
just let me know, and we will
fix that. The arrangement would benefit everyone. I really, really
think we can make this work.”
As
Benedict caught his breath, Michael let the first of several
questions out of his head. “You want me to take a second job
working for you, and in exchange, you’ll pay me and support my
shop?”
“Yep.”
Benedict looked relieved, as if an enormous weight had been lifted
from his shoulders.
“And
I’ll have no idea what I’m working on until you tell me?”
“In
some cases, yes. Think of it like you’re working alone on one
corner of a puzzle. You may not know what it is—and I may not
either—but when everyone puts their corners together, we get a
picture. If you don’t feel like it’s a good fit…” he trailed off,
his breathing still heavy. “If it’s not a good fit, then we can
work something out. Plus, like I said, if your own interests are
desirable and could provide useful results, I would be more than
happy to let you pursue them with our help.”
Michael
thought he would have more to ask, but as Benedict caught his breath,
only one more question escaped his lips: “How do I know this isn’t
a scam?”
Benedict
reached into his coat pocket and produced a large packet that Michael
was surprised could have been concealed without being noticed. He
placed it on the table, taking one long look at it before sliding it
across to Michael.
“Everything
you’ll need to convince yourself is in there. I think it would be
best if you took a day or two to look it over before making your
choice. There’s a card with my personal phone number on it, so when
the time comes to say yes or no, call me. Everything else should be
self-explanatory.” Benedict got up and pushed his chair in. “I
may not be reachable for the next twelve hours or so. Where I’m
heading, I don’t get great reception. By tomorrow morning, though, I
should be able to take calls.”
Benedict
extended a hand to Michael, who hesitated for a moment before
shaking. Part of him hoped that whatever was inside the packet was
bogus and that the whole
thing turned out to be a scam. He knew there could be dark things
down that path, things he didn’t want to get involved in. And as he
looked into Benedict’s eyes for the last time that day, he thought he
could see what that kind of research could do to someone.
They
ended the handshake, and Benedict headed for the door. “Think it
over and give me a call. And for the moment, don’t tell anyone, not
even Aron until I can talk to him personally.” He gave a small
wave. “I’ll see you in time.”
Benedict
left the break room, and shortly after, Michael heard the front door
chime, signaling his departure.
Benedict
had put on a good show, but he still could have been a brilliant con
artist. It could all be a game, an elaborate plot meant to take
everything Michael had left, which was already dwindling dangerously
close to nothing by the day.
Money
was so tight, he was considering talking to his parents again and
seeing if he could move back home to Sacramento for a while. It was a
prospect he loathed, mostly since it had been over a year since he
had spoken with them. They hadn’t approved of his choice to leave
Dallas, and the few times they had talked since the move had been
tense, to say the least. When it came to his father, who never failed
to bring it up, “hostile” would have been a better word. He knew
he was a disappointment to them, forgoing relationships and stability
in favor of his own desires.
Now,
he might have an opportunity to do things right in their eyes, but he
couldn’t say he wanted to.
He
left the packet on the table and headed for the computer. First, he
looked up DenCom and found it was an actual corporation. Not only
that, but it was indeed the leader in non-commercial tech for
businesses and the US government. He also found out that since the
company’s founding in the sixties, no one had ever gotten an
interview with either CEO, but he found purported pictures of them on
conspiracy sites. Apparently, Morecraft and Benedict’s work had not
gone unnoticed by those in tinfoil hats.
He
found an article on one site detailing Morecraft’s disappearance
and Benedict’s arrival onto the scene. The article included pictures
of who they thought were the two CEOs. The older man in the first
picture wore thick glasses and a slightly disheveled tan tweed sports
jacket. Michael could tell the picture was likely taken without
Morecraft’s knowledge, since he wasn’t looking at the camera and a
blurry cityscape could be seen behind him. The other picture was
obviously of Benedict, who also seemed oblivious to the photographer.
His coat was blowing in the wind, and he looked to be on an airport
tarmac with two other, much taller men: One was bald, the other
sported a short Mohawk.
The
article itself was essentially useless. It was a lot of “We know
something is going on. We don’t know what, but something!”
He
closed the computer, only slightly less cautious about
the situation. Benedict was the subject of some crackpot’s mystery
article. So what? Couldn’t that crackpot be Benedict himself, just
another layer of the man’s scheme? He obviously knew Michael was
going to look him up, so could he have written the article?
At
least DenCom existed. That was verifiable. In fact, as he thought
back to his last trip to Denver for a trade show, he had seen DenCom
Tower in person. It was the largest building in the city, standing
easily a third taller than the rest.
On
top of that, it seemed well-established that the CEO had never been a
public figure, and that he was only known by his first name, even
within the company. Still, the article implied that the name might
have been taken from the recently renamed street that led to DenCom
Tower: Benedict Street.
He’d
seen enough. He had to open the packet.
Michael
headed back to the break room, the packet still lying on the table.
He opened it, flipped it over, and let three items fall out. The
first was a plain white business card with Benedict’s number written
on it. The second was an employee manual that was easily an inch
thick, labeled Practice
and Procedure for DenCom Private Agents.
Michael flipped through it, paying little attention to the text.
The
third item was a small envelope labeled “Advance” in rushed
handwriting. He gently opened it and nearly fell out of his chair.
Inside
was a check made out to him for a million dollars.
Want to read Chapter 5 but can’t wait? Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller is already out on Kindle! Get it at the link below!
Buy Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller on Kindle here!
Buy it on Audible using the link below!
Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
INSIGHTS!
Benedict’s backstory went through quite a few changes, but I never messed with the meat of the story. At one time, I drafted this as a narrative from Benedict’s point of view when he first took over DenCom. This was cut because I do plan to go back and tell this story in a future novel and also because a flashback on top of a flashback is not an ideal way to start a book (*cough*).
So we just had Benedict tell the story, and I think it works a little better and doesn’t raise the kind of questions the narrative likely would have.
That’s it for now. See you next week with another blog post!
-S.T. Hoover
What am I reading?
One Hundred Lyrics and a Poem by Neil Tennant
This is the first time in years that I think I’ve bought two copies of the same book. I actually bought one of the limited edition hardbacks that was signed, numbered, and in its own special case (this also marks the only time I can recall paying over $100 for a book for pleasure–it was a wedding present to myself).
I eventually got the standard edition as well because I’m so worried something will happen to the expensive one if I read it or carry it around with me.
In short, Neil takes 100 of his favorite lyrics from The Pet Shop Boys (he and Chris Lowe are the sole members of the band) and gives insight on each of the songs and their meaning or what inspired them. It’s been a fun read so far, and I hope to see more of Neil’s writing in the future.
It’s been nearly two years since the publication of my first novel. And since then, one thing I’ve often been asked pertains to one or two pages in Chapter 4.
DenCom’s CEO, Benedict, brings up his past expeditions in search of Sasquatch, and often, reader response is similar to this:
“Bigfoot? Why the hell are we talking about Bigfoot? This is a thriller novel, right? I want something believable! Give me shoe phones and exploding pens!”
…Ok, maybe it’s put a little nicer than that.
Usually, it’s a casual enough question. I’m talking to people about the novel or I’ve just read at an event, and I get asked if I believe in cryptids, namely Bigfoot.
Now, let me preface the rest of this essay by saying I’ve never gone out in the woods and looked for Bigfoot, nor do I recall meeting anyone who has. I will admit, my beliefs on the subject of cryptids and most “paranormal” or “supernatural” things typically align with the works of John Keel, but for the sake of time, I’ll try and make things a little simpler in this post.
For those who don’t know, the word “cryptid” is used to describe an animal that has not been proven to exist by science. Several cryptids have been found, but not anything of note in recent years. Looking back into the last century or two, we may find such “cryptids” as the giant squid or several species of gorilla, the latter of which was often described as a wild man by natives to less-than-open-minded explorers.
Sound familiar?
Join the club, bro.
In the last few years, I’ve stopped trying to make a case for Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the Yeti, Yowe or any humanoid ape roaming around undiscovered, the lone exception being Orang Pendeck. I won’t go into too much detail here, but the evidence in favor of Sumatra’s little hairy man is stacking up. The cryptid may be an undiscovered relative, if not an undiscovered species, of orangutans. The last distinct species of orangutan described, P. tapanuliensis, was documented as recently as 2017, and while I wouldn’t call it a found “cryptid”, it’s evidence enough that there are plenty of animals left out there to be discovered, even among the great apes.
So that being said, what are my thoughts on cryptid hominids, particularly Bigfoot?
Well, if it’s still out there after nearly fifty years of “modern” searching and centuries of reports, then we’re obviously doing something wrong.
Alternatively, if someone’s been running around in an ape suit looking for attention since 986 AD*, then why aren’t they selling the secret of eternal life instead? I’m sure that would get them plenty of attention!
But if there is an undiscovered species of great ape roaming around North America, the Himalayas, inland Australia, and Sumatra, then why haven’t we found any hard evidence, like a body?
Well, let’s assume we have looked everywhere–which we haven’t–and there are still pieces of scientific evidence that say “yep, something’s out there”. What does that mean? Why do we have this proof after every stone’s been turned? Are they all elaborate fakes? Can these scientists not tell the difference between a plaster impression and a real, honest to God footprint?
But if we’ve looked everywhere and are still left with evidence that says “yes, the creature exists”, then what does that mean?
Probably nothing.
Let’s be honest, I could tell you what it means, but who gives a damn?
Really, what would the difference be? To most people, it’d be like smelling a fart in an empty elevator. It takes more than one person to play the “whodunit” game, so what if it’s just you in there? And you know for a fact that you didn’t slice that particular wheel of Limburger. What does it mean?
It means you’re worried about a fart.
…That’s a bit harsh.
So you all must think I don’t believe in any of this crap, right?
Wrong!
I believe something is out there, but I’m going in knowing there is a legitimate chance I’m wrong. Does that mean I’m willing to go out in the woods and look for Bigfoot? Well, no one’s asked me yet, but if someone did and I could make the trip, I would be happy to tag along, if for no other reason than to say I did it.
Something is out there. A legend–that much is certain. A creature, perhaps. It’s happened before: Legends and rumors prove all too factual, often revealed with a bang… or a whimper.
Or nothing.
That’s all for now. See you next week with another chapter of Michael Ridding!
-S.T. Hoover
What am I watching?:
I’ve decided to link to a video on John A. Keel’s uniting theory of the paranormal. It’s no substitute for his work, but for those who want to dig a little deeper, it’s a good starting point.
*986 AD is supposedly the year Leif Erickson saw a Sasquatch, but this is up for debate. According to historians, Leif Erickson wasn’t even born yet! Only mentioned because it’s referenced to death in Bigfoot lore.
*Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
3
Michael gazed down at his screen. The smaller man steadied himself on the aquarium shelves with his right hand. As he watched, the man’s face slowly returned to its normal color. It had been five minutes since the man had spoken out loud, and Michael was certain he was about to make his move. Whatever that was.
Michael had no weapon. Not because he had anything against them, but because he simply didn’t think he needed one. However, he suddenly wished he had a gun within reach as he saw the man approach the counter.
As he rounded the corner, Michael saw that he wore that same forced smile.
“Mr. Ridding,” the man began as he came up to the desk and extended a hand. “My name is Benedict, and if you don’t mind, I would like to take a moment of your time to talk about a business proposal.”
How did this strange man know his name? Was he some old contact, maybe a sales representative from one of the various companies he stocked? Maybe they had met at a trade show? It was possible, but then again, this was someone Michael knew he would have remembered.
Even so, he sounded as awkward as a young kid reading in front of a class. The presentation was obviously rehearsed, but there was genuine passion in the forced words. Whatever this guy wanted to talk over, he was serious, but also unsure of how to handle the situation. Michael considered the request. If it was a legitimate proposal, he was willing to hear it, but why present him with this now when the store was about to close?
Finally given a better chance to look the man over, Michael reconsidered his earlier assessment. It was obvious that Benedict wasn’t a drug addict or some other undesirable.
To start with, he smelled good. He wore a copious amount of Oxford Bleu cologne, the distinct scent crossing the distance between them with ease. His well-tailored coat was nicely set and freshly cleaned—not a hair clung to it.
It was like Michael was talking to a completely different man than the one who had walked in.
Michael grasped the outstretched hand while glancing at his wristwatch. It was just after twelve-thirty. “Well, I was about to close for lunch, so I guess we can talk in the break room, if you like.”
Benedict made little attempt to contain his joy.
Michael flipped the “Closed” sign, not bothering to lock the door, and showed Benedict to the small employee lunch area. The room consisted of a microwave atop a mini-fridge and a round folding table with two matching chairs. Michael let Benedict have a seat first, then walked to the refrigerator.
“You want anything? We have burritos, soup?”
“No thanks, I ate on the plane,” Benedict said, then quickly grew quiet, as if he’d been silently reprimanded.
“Well, I hope you don’t mind if I have something. It’ll be my first meal all day.” Or perhaps his only meal, but he didn’t tell Benedict that. If this man was here to discuss business, it wasn’t in his best interest to imply that he barely had enough money for one microwaved meal a day. “So, you just flew in?”
“Yeah, my plane came in just a couple hours ago. I had a layover and thought I would stop in town,” Benedict said as Michael put his food in the microwave.
“Well, feel free to let me know if I’m keeping you,” Michael said.
“Oh, they won’t leave without me,” Benedict said uncomfortably, as if he wasn’t sure if he should be saying anything at all.
“Wish airlines would do that for me,” Michael remarked. He hadn’t flown in a long time. Even then, it had been for business, and he found none of the sparse trips to trade shows enjoyable.
“Well, they have to, since it’s my plane,” Benedict said with a hint of resistance.
Michael looked back, his eyes bulging. “You have your own plane?”
“Well, I wouldn’t call it mine. It’s the company’s private jet, but I have priority,” Benedict replied.
Michael fought to keep his jaw from dropping. Benedict’s claim of having a private jet left him surprised, yet troubled. It seemed impossible that any company with the resources to maintain such an asset would be interested in his small shop.
The microwave went off and Michael retrieved his meal.
“All right,” he said, cautiously walking to the table and sitting across from Benedict. “You have my attention.”
Want to read Chapter 4 but can’t wait? Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller is already out on Kindle! Get it at the link below!
Buy Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller on Kindle here!
Buy it on Audible using the link below!
Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
INSIGHTS!
Chapters 3 and 4 were originally combined, but during the early stages of the editing process, I ended up breaking them apart like I did many chapters of the novel. At one point, Michael Ridding only consisted of 20 or 25 chapters that were broken up for the sake of keeping a fast pace, which I still think works and made the initial writing process of DenCom 2 more enjoyable.
At one point, if I recall correctly, there was a scene where we see the killers (referenced in the first chapter) interact and adjust their plan, as well as hint at how it will eventually go wrong (I swear that’s not a spoiler. If their plan succeeded, we wouldn’t have nearly 57 more chapters of fun!). This was cut because the editor and I thought it would be a better idea to keep what was happening purely in Michael’s head for the duration of the flashback so it doesn’t confuse readers.
Anyway, that’s what I’ve got for now! See you next week with another blog post!
-S.T. Hoover
What am I listening to?
i by The Magnetic Fields
At the time of this writing, I’m listening to this album several times a week as I write my first Kaiju novel. Odds are, I’ll probably have moved on to DenCom 2 edits by the time this gets posted, so I can’t promise that I’m listening to it right now at this very moment. But I have a feeling it will filter into my DenCom 2 playlist, especially for the… well, let’s just say confusing moments that may or may not be written out.
Yeah… just… take anything I say about DenCom 2 right now with a grain of salt, K?
Anyway, I wanted to give them a shot but wasn’t ready to dive into 69 Love Songs or 50-Song Memoir, and this was the only other CD they had at the local record store at the time. I don’t know if this is regarded as one of their better albums or not, but I have to say I’m impressed. Stephin Merritt has a rather distinct voice that carries the often emotional lyrics with absolute precision. It’s well worth the listen if you have the chance.
*Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
2
Wednesday, June 17th Seven Years Ago Modern Aquaria Palm Springs, California 12:16 PM
Life after college had been difficult for Michael.
Shortly after graduation, he moved to Dallas and worked for a tropical fish distribution center. After spending two years making a good living off of something he loved, things took a turn. He suffered something his parents had feared and predicted: A quarter-life crisis.
Desperate to make something more of his life, he saved enough to lease a condo in Palm Springs and started his own aquarium shop, Modern Aquaria. Initially, the shop did well, winning over most of the local aquarium enthusiasts and drawing new people into the hobby. Years later, though, hard times hit nationwide, and aquariums became a luxury few could afford. The shop did worse and worse over time, much to his disappointment. After months of struggling to keep the shop going, Michael was forced to announce that the store was closing.
That was when Benedict found him.
If Michael had a list of the oddest people he had ever met in his life, Benedict would have soared to the top on psychotic wings.
It was the final week of business and Michael was working alone, catering to no one when an unfamiliar face walked into the shop. He was a younger, slightly heavy man who was just shorter than Michael. He wore a long, black wool coat in the hundred-and-six-degree heat. Black denim pants and black dress shoes peeked out from underneath the coat, and Michael could make out a white T-shirt and a black, rectangular pendant around the man’s neck.
“Hey there,” Michael said, welcoming the man as he did all customers.
But the smaller man appeared intimidated, initially drawing back before returning the welcome with a nod and forced smile. He started browsing and was soon lost among the rows of aquariums and supplies.
Looking back, Michael could never place why, but he had felt that now more than ever would be a good time to check the security cameras. Using a system of his own design, he turned on the monitors, knowing that any obvious robbery would be caught on the DVR back in his office. The monitor, hidden under the cashier’s desk, took a moment to warm up before the multi-image screen displayed the four security camera feeds.
He saw the man in aisle four among the tanks of saltwater livestock, hunched over and…
Is he crying?
Michael saw the slow heaving of the man’s chest and the constant wiping of his eyes. He was obviously upset, and he was trying to hide it.
In the otherwise empty store, Michael could hear the man talking to himself, his voice barely audible over the buzzing and bubbling aquarium filters.
“You have to. You need to,” he was saying. “You came all this way, came this far. You can’t throw it away now that you know what he means.”
The man’s head shot up, searching to see if he had been heard, oblivious to the hidden security camera among the décor across from him.
Now, Michael could clearly make out the man’s face. His eyes were red and his cheeks were pink from wiping away tears. He looked down, making more of an effort to compose himself.
Michael tensed. The man could be some kind of nut-bag or drug addict—or worse. He had come across some before; Palm Springs was known for its diversity and acceptance of alternative lifestyles—most of which were accepted and even encouraged—but it was no longer the most “family-friendly” place, once one searched behind the blacked-out windows of supposedly abandoned buildings. Every once in a while, some “undesirables” would creep out from those dark buildings and into the light when least expected. They were far from welcome, even in the famously tolerant city.
Was this man one of them?
Want to read Chapter 3 but can’t wait? Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller is already out on Kindle! Get it at the link below!
Buy Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller on Kindle here!
Buy it on Audible using the link below!
Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
INSIGHTS!
I still find Benedict to be an odd character. He’s more or less the culmination of several scrapped characters filling this role in early iterations of DenCom and unrelated works. Looking back on the earliest iteration of what I would call the “modern” DenCom crew, the first distinct version of Benedict was a side character who didn’t actually run the company but managed to take over by the end of that scrapped project.
Going back even further, I can find similar characters from what was meant to be the final Michael Ridding story. In this novelette, Michael took on many of Benedict’s personality traits; in many ways, this version of Michael was the perfect combination of Michael and Benedict. I do have plans to recycle this concept into current DenCom canon, but not anytime soon.
Many facets of the series predate Benedict’s arrival, including Modern Aquaria, Palm Springs, Michael, Aron, Andrea, and Granger. That doesn’t make Benedict any less of a character, but he’s led the series in a new and hopefully original direction.
Then again, nothing is original. Look out for that blog post. 😉
Anyway, we’ll go a little more into Benedict in the next chapter!
That’s all I’ve got for now. See you next week for another blog post!
-S.T. Hoover
What am I listening to?
Super by Pet Shop Boys
This is by no means a new album, but I recently happened upon the vinyl at a book store, much to my surprise. I first fell in love with their album Electric, and suddenly, I had to have everything they put out, one of the first albums I spontaneously found being Super. Now that I have the vinyl edition, I’ll probably play it to death while I edit DenCom 2.
If I had to name my number one favorite thing about the album, it would be the variety of songs. Yes, it’s all pop, but how the album manages to pull off songs like “The Pop Kids” in the same vein as “The Dictator Decides” and “Sad Robot World” is something I’ve done my best to study every time I put on the record.
*Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
“Humanity
has risen beyond the confines of perceptible reality through the art
of conspiracy and mystery. Properly executed,
the search for something greater has always led to advancement, be
the initial hypothesis proven true or false. If the urge to know
more, to find something greater than ourselves, was not present,
mankind would still be swimming around the ocean, accepting of the
deep, endless blue as the only reality.
“But
we didn’t. We went to the surface and found a new level of existence,
as humanity always tries to do. It is a trait that has led to what
should have been a simple, ignorant species, unaware of its own
creation and creator, gaining collective will beyond basic instinct.
“If
the search for more were to end, humanity would be stunted in its
continuing growth, left to only ponder the greater meaning, to grow
cold inside as belief in something greater than itself fades away,
taking free will and consciousness with it.
“This,
my friend, would mark the end of the world.”
-M.P.
Just
Beyond the Surface, Waiting on the Beach.
1
Tuesday, July 23rd Irvine Spectrum Shopping Mall Irvine, California 3:47 PM
He sat alone in the waiting area of the open-air mall in one of the many wooden chairs. The blue fabric awning of Dave and Buster’s made the bright midday sun and hundred-degree temperatures tolerable.
In front of him was a small, simple black table. His untouched lemonade sat in the center, a growing pool of condensation ringed around the bottom. He held a large smartphone in a leather flip case, responding to messages from his store manager.
He was wearing a pair of Robert Wayne loafers, an older pair from a long dead line that he prided himself in having acquired. They were adorned with an abstract seal, the design reminiscent of an ancient islander’s artistic take on a crocodile. His button-up dress shirt slowly faded from red to black, finally matching his black dress pants.
Michael Ridding didn’t look like he wanted to be bothered.
At thirty-six, he stood six-foot-three with an intimidating face to most. However, those who knew him well only saw it as inviting. His thick brown hair was combed and slicked to his right side, several bleached patches barely visible as his natural color consumed them.
A ringing suddenly filled his left ear, and he reached up to correct the issue. He’d worn a hearing aid the majority of his life and always hated the things. In his youth, they were large, indiscreet units plagued by constant malfunctions. Nowadays, they were barely visible and only squealed on occasion, so he tolerated the minor annoyances.
Michael looked down at the clock on his phone. He’d been sitting for just over fifteen minutes, much longer than he had planned. Usually, he would have gone off shopping to his heart’s content, but it would have been rude to leave his friend and roommate at the restaurant without letting him know.
Aron Sanderson, who was still enjoying his time in the game room, was Michael’s lifelong friend and now roommate. They had been inseparable since they met in elementary school, back when their families lived in Sacramento. They had gone through school together, drudged their way through college in Ohio, then found themselves living not far apart when Michael moved to Palm Springs after managing an aquarium import facility in Dallas.
After Aron lost his home to a wildfire back in May, Michael had let him move in. How long their arrangement would last, Michael didn’t know, but they were content for the short term. Having someone to talk over the work day with was something neither of them knew they missed. In truth, Michael hoped Aron would live with him for as long as possible. Otherwise, it would just be him and the cat again, and however much comfort Granger was, she wasn’t exactly the best listener.
He set the phone down. Sipping his lemonade, he watched the shoppers come and go, most of themgroups of young people migrating from one fashion store to another like schools of fish on a reef.
The minutes continued to tick by with no sign of Aron. Michael didn’t worry; odds were, Aron had gotten carried away.
Again.
Normally reserved, when given the chance he would branch out and have some fun. Michael had left him at the skee ball lanes, where he was challenging some kid to see who could get the highest score. It was good-natured fun, but Michael was looking forward to the day when Aron realized how immature he looked. Compared to his best friend, Aron had always been a little less uptight, but the last few years had seen Aron break out of his shell more often. Michael supposed it had something to do with the job.
Michael couldn’t help but reflect on his work. The excursion to the Spectrum was meant to be a cool-down after a long, tedious meeting with their boss while he had been in town. Instead, Michael could feel the sun creeping over the protection of the awning as it lowered, threatening to take his remaining patience with it across the hazy blue sky.
He drew his thoughts inward, letting go of his concerns about Aron. He found himself looking back to the time when his life had taken a dramatic turn. A turn that led him to this moment.
He let the memory consume him, oblivious to the three men getting ready to kill him just out of sight.
Want to read Chapter 2 but can’t wait? Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller is already out on Kindle! Get it at the link below!
Buy Michael Ridding: A DenCom Thriller on Kindle here!
Buy it on Audible using the link below!
Audible edition, read by Chris Abell, can be found here
INSIGHTS!
This chapter probably went through the most changes of any first chapter I’ve written. I wanted to make sure I opened with a clear picture of Michael, but I ended up cutting a lot of backstory before beta readers and the editor got a hold of it. Among the discarded tidbits were Michael’s rings, which ended up being cut from the book entirely. In earlier drafts, he wore a ring on each finger that signified something only he knew, and we would have found out in later books what they meant to him–perhaps one per book. This is still an idea I love that will probably be recycled into another story or novel someday.
Next was his interest in shoes, which is still hinted at throughout the book, but not to the extent of the first few drafts. If I remember right, we decided to cut this in the line edit phase. Michael originally made a hobby out of collecting expensive shoes, but I decided to cut this since he already had a hobby–aquariums–and because it was a little to close to several of the people who inspired Michael. A recurring theme I discovered in these people was a love of fashion, particularly shoes, but I cut this from the final draft since the aquariums were interesting enough. His love of fashion and such is still implied and expanded on throughout the series moving forward, but I don’t intend to bring it too close to the surface unless the need arises.
Quite a bit was cut out involving Aron, as well. What made it into the final book is about half of what was there to begin with. I originally went into Aron’s backstory in greater detail, the most notable change being a rough date for when he would move out. This was recycled into Book 2, where it’s one of the many issues leading to a rift between Michael and Aron. (NOTE: This could still be cut… again.)
That’s all the insight I have for this chapter. I’m sure I’ll think of more later and may update the post accordingly.
But, for now, thanks for reading!
-S.T. Hoover
What am I listening to?
“The Viles”by Blaqk Audio.
I know, Davey and Jade two weeks in a row. What can I say? Their side project, Blaqk Audio’s new single just came out (at the time of this writing), and they also have a new album, Only Things We Love, coming out in April. Plus, I listened to their albums Cexcells and Bright Black Heaven nearly the whole time I was writing Michael Ridding, not to mention AFI’s Crash Love and Pet Shop Boys’ Electric.
I’m rambling…
Anyway, “The Viles” is great, and I’ve linked to it above because it’s worth a listen, and because I can’t help but give them exposure they probably don’t need.
Anyway, have a listen, and I’ll see you guys next week!
What’s it been? Like, 18 months since my last blog post? Well, I guess no one can say I don’t put work first!
Anyway, I felt like it would be a good idea to recap how things have gone and where they’re going. How did 2018 go, and what’s in store for 2019?
I wanted to start by going over how this last year went. A lot happened, both on the surface and behind the scenes. But for now, we’ll start with what you guys got to see.
Speaking chronologically, the first thing that came along was Hi-Host’s amazing DenCom art in February! We worked for months together on the group shot of everyone, and I have to say I’m still thrilled with the finished product!
Next up, of course, is the audiobook of Michael Ridding that came out in April. Chris Abell did an amazing job capturing the spirit of the novel and giving each character their own highly distinct voice that many narrators don’t have the passion to give. This past summer, I relistened to the audiobook over the course of several flights and bus rides, and I have to say I still love it. I haven’t met many authors who can come back to their work, let alone their first book, and still love it. But so far, that’s been the case for me, and the audiobook is a prime example of why.
If you haven’t listened to it already, click on the picture to head to the Audible page and download it for FREE with a 30-day trial.
After the audiobook hit shelves, I took time to vend at several events, including the Massillon Library Spring Local Author Fair in April, Charity’s Market at Springhill Historic Home in June, and a book sale at Dorrie’s Booktique in September organized by The Write Stuff, an authors’ group I joined earlier in the year (more on them in a bit).
Then, in late October, the new Michael Ridding cover was unveiled! Admittedly, this is more of a proof of concept we’re testing out to see if this look works, so before DenCom 2 hits digital and physical shelves, it may go through one more iteration. But so far, it’s had a positive response. I’ve already seen higher sales and reads thanks to the rebranding. What do you guys think of it?
Last but not least, the Massillon Library Fall Local Author Fair in November, where I read an excerpt from Michael Ridding! The video is now up on Facebook, but here’s a link for those who haven’t seen it.
Ok, now let’s go behind the scenes, shall we?
Well, for those who don’t know, 2017 was a rough year for me. I ended up taking an ill-fated job right around the time professional edits of a novel meant for 2018 crashed and burned. Admittedly, this was all my fault. That project, which I’ve referred to as “The Pink Bow Book” (not the real title) was an experiment I wasn’t ready for, and my work on Michael blinded me to several major issues that meant the draft at the time was beyond saving. This was a devastating blow, one that led me not to pursue a rewrite until I had a better grasp of the craft. I’ve taken roughly a year and a half off from that book to weigh the pros and cons of a heavy rewrite, and I definitely think the book will be getting one. I’ve got some ideas burning a hole in my pocket, so to speak, but I want to finish some other projects first, namely DenCom 2 and a stand-alone novel.
So, all that to say after Michael Ridding came out, 2017 was pretty unproductive. In truth, I spent the second half of the year doing less than a month’s worth of work, and when that job finally ended last December, I hit the ground running.
Within the first 5 months of 2018, I’d finished 5 drafts: I wrapped up DenCom 2, finished and re-wrote the stand-alone novel, re-drafted the collab with Faryl, and finished an original novella. That was honestly the most productive I’ve ever been. I took every day far more seriously than ever. I treated writing like any other job. I kept deadlines, met and exceeded word count goals, and most importantly, I respected the opportunity I had to do this. Not everyone is allowed to write full time, and while I hesitate to call myself a “full-time writer”, I take my work seriously, and in those first five months, it really showed.
Another change I made in my writing life was joining the Write Stuff Authors’ Group, a club of local authors who invited me to join in late 2017, but I didn’t have the time until early this year. I now look forward to our monthly get-togethers and round-table dinners more than almost anything else I scribble on my calendar. It’s been a great year for the group as a whole, and it’s been amazing to see the improvement in my own work and everyone else’s. It was a boost I didn’t know I needed and one I would encourage any writer at any stage to pursue.
Then, this summer, I took a month off to vacation in Hawaii, Palm Springs, and Denver. It was a rest I definitely needed, and it was one that prepared me for the second half of the year. Not to mention getting married to the woman of my dreams on Maui left me in a good mood.
But anyway, I got back knowing I was not going to have another 5-draft half of the year. DenCom 2 needed my attention, and there was no way that the 500+ page manuscript would leave me with much creative time for anything else. 2 drafts later, I was able to sign off on it just before Thanksgiving, and after a proofread, it’s now off with the editor who plans to begin working on it in January.
So, in short, 2018 has been a busy year, and there are still a few things in there I can’t talk about yet. So with all that said, what are we looking at in 2019?
Well, I’m hoping we’ll be looking at at least 1 new book, that being DenCom 2. If the editor and I can get it worked out before summer, there is a good chance we can have it out before the end of the year. But that being said, there is still the matter of proofreading, copyedits, and more that could take us into the next year. So best case scenario, DenCom 2 will be out Fall 2019. But that’s not a promise, just a proposal.
I’m also hoping that my stand-alone novel will see an editorial review early in summer, so we can look at a 2020 release for that book. Again, that’s just the plan; there’s nothing set in stone that says it’ll happen.
Also, on a personal note, I plan to go back to school in fall if all works out. This will likely take priority over the writing career for some time, but I don’t know to what degree. So just keep that in mind if this time next year, DenCom 2 is still MIA.
Lastly, I will be forward and say that there are several projects I can’t talk about yet. Nothing earth-shattering, but a few cool things that should finally manifest next year.
I think that’s all I’ve got for now. 2018 was a fantastic year, and 2019 is shaping up to be even better. Thanks again to everyone who’s supported Michael Ridding so far. I can’t wait to bring you more DenCom very soon!
-S.T. Hoover
P.S. If you read down this far, then you’re one of the first to know that the Kindle edition of Michael Ridding will be FREE on Christmas Day! Check in the morning, or wait for my posts on Facebook and Twitter!
