Thursday, December 28, 2017

THREE NOMINATIONS FOR - OWL'S EYE VIEW MAGAZINE - BY TERRI DELCAMPO - AT PREDITORS & EDITORS READERS' POLL



Terri DelCampo is thrilled to have been nominated for three awards at the Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll for her Owl's Eye View Magazine. Her nominations are for the following categories:

1. Fiction e-zine

2. Magazine/e-zine Cover Artwork

3. Magazine/e-zine Editors

Terri has been working very hard on her magazine for eight years now and these nominations are well overdue, in my opinion. If you would like to vote for her in any or all of these categories, it is quite simple. Merely check the circle next to her name in each category, fill in your name and email address, type in the name of the author for the book that they show - to show you're human - and submit your vote. When you receive a notification from Preditors & Editors, merely hit the validating link they sent you. Bear in mind there is nothing you have to purchase, and your votes are kept secret.

Thank you very much for considering Terri for any, or all, of these awards.

Blaze McRob 

Monday, July 31, 2017

USING TWITTER INCREASES YOUR VISIBILITY AND BOOK SALES


https://twitter.com/ I suppose saying that Twitter increases visibility and book sales is a bold statement. Could be. But it's true. I keep records of all my interactions online and check the stats regularly. Since I have gotten more involved with Twitter, the more I see it as a great tool for authors.

Now, I am also a firm believer in not taking a hard sell approach. I never hammer anything into peoples' heads. I get online, talk about other people for the most part, and things come back to me. Twitter, when used in that manner, gets your name out there to many people. You retweet another author's tweet and people are appreciative. I try to personalize everything with a thank you when someone tweets about me or my books. I tell my followers about them and I try to keep in touch with them.

I am making new friends all the time on Twitter. Spreading the word about others, spreads your good name. Do it in the spirit it is intended. Social interaction is just that: social. Get involved. Tweet. Retweet. Copy your links to your tweets and spread them around with other posts. Put a tweet button on your website so people can see what you have tweeted. It's easy to do. Think of Twitter as being mini-information-bites. Seek out other people who like what you like. Common interests generate a lot of attention. I am a horror author, but that's not my entire life. I have other interests. So do other folks.

So, my friends, get involved, have some fun, and meet some great new people. You'll be glad you did.

Blaze McRob

Thursday, July 20, 2017

SCARES THAT CARE CHARITY WEEKEND - JULY 21ST - JULY 23RD 2017




The SCARES THAT CARE CHARITY WEEKEND is a fantastic way that the horror community helps those in need. The people behind the event, and everyone participating, help fight the REAL MONSTERS of childhood illness, burns, and breast cancer by helping families that are experiencing these extraordinary hardships cope with their financial burdens. This is a grand event consisting of authors, movie folks, and more. Hit the link above and find out more. You could very well find some of your favorite people in the genre will be there, and you will be doing some good, as well.

Go to http://scaresthatcareweekend.com/ and find out the latest. You'll be glad you did. Many of my friends will be there. Join them if you can!


Blaze McRob

Friday, April 28, 2017

SCARES THAT CARE CHARITY WEEKEND



The SCARES THAT CARE CHARITY WEEKEND is a fantastic way that the horror community helps those in need. The people behind the event, and everyone participating, help fight the REAL MONSTERS of childhood illness, burns, and breast cancer by helping families that are experiencing these extraordinary hardships cope with their financial burdens. This is a grand event consisting of authors, movie folks, and more. Hit the link above and find out more. You could very well find some of your favorite people in the genre will be there, and you will be doing some good, as well.

Keep checking back to find out more!

Blaze McRob



Wednesday, March 1, 2017

"ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK: DARK MUSES, SPOKEN SILENCES" - A GREAT GOTHIC ANTHOLOGY!


http://www.amazon.com/Enter-At-Your-Own-Risk-ebook/dp/B00FJF3WVK/ref=sr_1_41_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451704130&sr=1-41&keywords=blaze+mcrob

Enter At Your Own Risk: Dark Muses, Spoken Silences, from Firbolg Publishing, is an amazing anthology I am proud to have a story in. I wrote Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat from the perspective of the wife. This was quite a challenge for me as I do not usually write Gothic horror, and the telling of a tale from the . . . well, from the point of view of a woman was interesting to say the least. Bear in mind, also, the times, such as they were, when women were treated as chattel at best.

I believe you are in for quite a treat when you read the great stories contained within this tome.

Blaze McRob

                                                           *    *    *    *

Book description:


 Some of the most enduring masterpieces of Gothic fiction are as intriguing for the stories they don’t tell as for those they do. The voices hidden in the wall of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat;” the secrets buried beneath the earth of Sleepy Hollow in Washington Irving’s legendary Headless Horseman tale; the dreams of a monster and an ancient book with a life of its own in H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu;” and stories that reveal Polidori’s hypnotic, archetypal Vampyre as far more than what he first appears to be. In Firbolg Publishing’s third volume in the Enter at Your Own Risk series, ten modern storytellers reimagine the mysterious characters lurking within four classics of Gothic literature. As you read the original stories, a sinister whisper drifts in on a cold chill. But there are other voices beneath the whisper. You can hear them crawling out of the growing darkness. Then the whispers become a scream...

With an introduction from acclaimed author Gary Braunbeck, Dark Muses, Spoken Silences invites you into the hidden shadows of four of the most famous dark fiction tales ever told.

Are you brave enough to enter?


"Highly recommended"
Gene O’Neill
Author of Taste of Tenderloin and The Confessions of St. Zach

“Audacious, innovative, shocking – a kaleidoscope (where all the colors are dark).”
Robert Dunbar
Author of The Pines and Willy

"I am blown away by the beauty, terror and imagination of this brilliant book."
Sandy DeLuca
Author of Manhattan Grimoire and Hell’s Door

on January 10, 2014
Given the nature of its theme, this collection was clearly a challenge. The fact that the editor included the original tales which were reimagined by their modern counterparts shows a kind of bravery and confidence in the contributors that is matched only by their ability to rise to the occasion. In a reverent intro from the brilliant Gary A. Braunbeck, he lauds both the extent to which Dr. Alex Scully is versed in academia and the impressive task each writer took in the modern retellings of classic tales. Editor’s notes from Dr. Scully reveal the conception of the theme and prepares us for a collection which answers questions these classics left in their wake...they are “stories within stories; spoken silences in the dark muses of yesteryear.”

Blaze McRob’s “The Wife and the Witch” is a clever reimagining of “The Black Cat”, told with a steady voice which is reminiscent of Poe without parroting it. His apparent ease with which he takes on the form of a female narrator lends itself to the emotional pull of this tale; he is successful in making us empathize fully with the protagonist’s loss of a loving companion: “He was my bastion of strength.”

Then Timothy Hurley’s brave, unexpected, and deft tribute in “Poe’s Black Cats” seems to steal the show with both language and content, with an eerie sense that he may well be channeling Poe with lines like “At my master’s side for seven years, I learned the practice of execution by hanging, and Mr. Malachi commended the alacrity of my acquisition of necessary skills.”

“Satisfaction Brought Her Back” is yet another brilliant take on the classic, though I wish I knew who to thank for such a clever and well-crafted tale.

T. Fox Dunham leads off the re-imaginings of Irving’s “Sleepy Hollow” and reveals an undeniable grasp on the art of prose: “He practiced a barren visage; showing no emotion would serve him best when he soon shared countenance with a demon wind.”...“As the evening fell upon the world and a gray mist flowed off the river, the water decorated with early Autumn decay--of leaves brown orange, and crimson, castoff from ungrateful trees to soak and sink...”

Carole Gill’s “Katrina’s Confession” follows, a thoroughly enjoyable and inventive postscript to the legend, with a darkly humorous ending that affirms the respective perks and price of beauty, youth, and being enchanted by a dark lord.

To choose favorite lines from the haunting “Horseman’s Tale” by Marcus Kohler would be like choosing a favorite child.

What can one say about Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu” that hasn’t already been said? Nothing, other than writing fine tributes like Mike Chin and Gregory L. Norris do. These were impressive, like the others--but Lovecraft shines as the most difficult master to tackle, and the re-imaginings are perhaps the most valiant of all. Norris is one of the most prolific writers I have ever encountered, and somehow his unwavering balance of humility and infinite literary genius gives a unique flair to his writing which never fails to leave a deep chill in the bones.

The final challenge: Polidori’s “The Vampyre; A Tale”. The other glaring theme here--besides the obvious one of contemporary explorations of gothic classics--is the particular choices such as this one; the most ancient and pivotal ancestor of the genre. Once again, the modern counterparts meet, and likely exceed, the editor’s lofty expectations.

B.E. Scully doesn’t mess around, and sinks her teeth into the reader with her very first line: “The fangs of ice violating the defenseless windowpanes were a welcome intrusion into the otherwise slow suffocation of another winter season.” Talent obviously runs in the family.

After having Jon Michael Kelley on my “to read” list for some time, I was blown away by his talent--it is no surprise his work appears in other prestigious collections, all of which I intend to read and seek out his contributions. He writes with confidence and grace--“I had not intended to drain her to the extent that I did, and in doing so made an even bigger mess of the floor with my regurgitations. I was voracious, and justified that enthusiasm with the recollections of mornings spent watching her, craving her, coveting her and the elations she aroused in both real and subconscious states.”--and ends this fine anthology on a sublimely intelligent note with both historical and literary relevance.

The concern for repetition among the pieces is outweighed by the broad range of talent and seemingly endless abilities in re-examining these gothic classics. This collection is stellar...both in concept, creation, and delivery.

Monday, February 27, 2017

GREAT REVIEW FOR JAMES REBORN


https://www.amazon.com/James-Reborn-Terri-DelCampo-ebook/dp/B01IW69888/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1471803516&sr=1-1&keywords=james+reborn#nav-subnav

James Reborn, Terri DelCampo's latest horror novel , received a 5 Star Review on Amazon! All authors love reviews, especially when they're as great as this one. Thank you, Amazon Customer, for taking the time to tell readers how much you loved this novel. You certainly put a smile on Terri's face. Mine too.

Blaze McRob


Book description:


Writer travels to mountain cabin,
Looking for a peaceful retreat.
On a quiet hike for thinking
A frightening sight her eyes did meet.

Young man imprisoned in a dog pen
Helpless to Pa's sadistic whim.
Writer can't believe the horror
And the injustice done to him.

She becomes involved in drama
More frightening than she's ever known.
For James and Pa bring out her instincts
And sides of herself she'd never known.


Format: Kindle Edition
I liked all the twists and turns. Especially after she came back. What she chose to do to survive was astonishing.
Thanks Miss Terri!

Thursday, February 9, 2017

COVER REVEAL FOR - BLAZIN' HEARTS






Terri DelCampo has the cover art ready for my short story collection Blazin' Hearts, which is coming out on Valentine's Day, February 14th. This is not a tender romance collection. It's brutal, intense, and rather nasty. Hey, have you ever heard of tough love? Plenty of that in this collection.

Burning love all around.

Thank you for the great cover art, Terri!

Blaze McRob

Sunday, February 5, 2017

WRITE HER STORY


https://ninadarc.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/wihm2017-write-her-story-horror-author-emerian-rich-emzbox-sotet_angyal-wihm8-wihmonth/

From Nina D'Arcangela:

"Hi Facebook world! For Women in Horror Month, I'm featuring 28 different female authors (one per day) who wrote for a picture prompt on my blog 'Spreading the Writer's Word' (https://ninadarc.wordpress.com). Each was given one of four pictures and asked to write a piece of flash fiction - up to 300 words - that was inspired by the image. Emerian Rich is the first of the authors to be featured with her piece, 'Replaced'. Head over and give it a read! This was the image she was given..."

                                                          *    *    *    *

Don't miss any of the great Women In Horror Nina has waiting for you this month! They are all great!

Blaze McRob

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

28 DAYS OF BLACK WOMEN IN HORROR HISTORY


https://darkgeisha.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/day-1-helen-oyeyemi/

The above link will take you to Eden Royce - The Dark Geisha, who is telling the world about some fantastic Black Women Authors for  Women In Horror Month. She starts off the month with the great Helen Oyeyemi! Don't miss her posts this month!

Blaze McRob

Saturday, January 28, 2017

BOOK REVIEW - BENT METAL - BY NINA D'ARCANGELA


https://www.amazon.com/Bent-Metal-Nina-DArcangela-ebook/dp/B00NN5ZQ6C/ref=cm_rdp_product_img#nav-subnav

This is my book review for Bent Metal, by Nina D'Arcangela, that I did a couple years ago. Nina writes a short story with punch. I know you'll enjoy it.

Blaze McRob


Book description:


Where does reality end and dreamscape begin?

Woken each night by the sounds of screams and twisting metal, Lauren must relive the panic and fear of discovering her brother’s broken body on the asphalt. But each morning, she finds it’s only a dream… One she doesn’t want to keep having.

At what point does a dream become a nightmare, and what if the nightmare was more than a figment of her subconscious?

5.0 out of 5 stars Bent Metal Will Bend Your Mind!, September 19, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Bent Metal (Kindle Edition)
Bent Metal, by Nina D'Arcangela, is one of those mind-blowing tales that takes twists and turns from start to finish. You know the ending, but you really don't. You are pulled into alternate realities that pull at you from all directions, whispering into your ears that what you are reading only hints at the truth, and no matter how it plays out, there will be deep sadness.

Many people say never to write about dreams. No one cares to hear about them. I beg to differ. Dreams are on a plane of existence unlike our waking psyches. Nina's dream world is interlaced with realities, and bonds itself to the physical reality we try to ground ourselves in.

I have had the same dream every night for 47 years. I keep hoping for a different ending so that happiness will finally wash over me. This gives me more insight into the tale Nina shares with us. I understand. I believe. And I can still hope.

Read Bent Metal. Nina D'Arcangela is a master of psychological horror.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

CHANGE




I've touched on this before, but I've decided to take a few things a step farther. For a number of years, I have been posting many of my short stories on various websites for free. I have many hundreds of them scattered about. Except for one website, that will stop shortly. I am in the process of putting them on hard drives and saving them. They have been up for people to read for a long time. I help many other authors with their marketing efforts and more. Now is the time for me to do something with a lot of my work.

I have millions of hits on the search engines, much of that for my Women In Horror posts. I will, of course, continue with that, however, I can no longer just hand my stories out for free. There are plenty of them in circulation for people to see if they like my writing or not. Nothing will be removed until I am ready to make collections of my short stories.

My new stories will go directly to ebook and paperback later. You don't see Stephen King putting his stuff up for free, do you? I have many novels coming up as well, so there will be a lot of tales from Blaze McRob. I am getting on in years and health issues take a toll on my time. If anything happens where I am unable to dig up my stories, they could be lost forever. I don't want that.

In the meanwhile, continue to read away. I hope folks enjoy my stories enough to read them now and buy my new ones as they come along. Artists should be paid for their work.

Blaze McRob

Monday, January 16, 2017

TOP TEN FINISHER IN PREDITORS & EDITORS READERS POLL 2016


Blazing Owl Press is a little over a year old, so Terri DelCampo and I are over the top happy to have cracked the Top 10 Finisher rankings in the Best All other Short Story category. The story, Alien Pizza Tales, by Blaze McRob, is one of 37 stories in Planet Pizza, which is a sci-fi/horror/fantasy mix. Alien Pizza Tales adds a lot of humor to the mix as well.

 6. Alien Pizza Tales, Blaze McRob, Blazing Owl Press

Terri DelCampo is the editor of this story and did the cover art and formatting as well. Great job, Terri! Here is the cover art and link for the collection.


https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Pizza-Blaze-McRob-ebook/dp/B01M8L44VJ/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484619741&sr=1-2&keywords=planet+pizza

Terri also came in 12th in the short story horror category.

12. The Skelly Effect, Terri DelCampo, Lycan Valley Press

And, Terri placed 13th in the Book Cover Art category.

13. Destiny Changed, Terri DelCampo

Here is Terri's cover.



Terri DelCampo and I want to thank everyone who voted for us. It is very much appreciated.

Blaze McRob

Sunday, January 15, 2017

HOW INDIES UNLIMITED WORKS







From Indies Unlimited:


Over the short time since its inception, Indies Unlimited has become one of the most heavily trafficked websites for people interested in indie writing, publishing, marketing, and reading. We’re honored that so many people are saying...

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/ 


                                                          *    *    *    *

I haven't said enough about Indies Unlimited. This great website is a mother lode of information about anything concerning authors. I co-own a small Press, but I still consider almost every Press other than Big Five to be Indie. Some of my Publisher friends probably disagree, but that's their prerogative. We're all in this together and we need to keep high-nose attitudes away from what we all want to do: write and be published.

Kathy Rowe pointed out Indies Unlimited to me a while back, and I cannot thank her enough. She writes regular posts for the website and is certainly your go to person when it comes to Military information. Amongst other things.

Go to this great website and discover how much information is there. You will be totally shocked. I was.


Blaze McRob

Sunday, January 8, 2017

What's been going on -




Good Afternoon, Ooky Readers! 

I know you're used to Blaze McRob publishing on Blazing Owl Press, but we've had some annoying problems with the site and domain.  Apparently our domain was bought out from under us. 

So I decided to build a Blazing Owl Press blog rather than site, and this is the first post.  I have been working all day on transferring previous posts from the old site to this blog, so that Blaze can pick up where he left off when our domain failed in October.  I hope he has fun catching you up on all the exciting Blazing Owl Press news! 

I'm sure Blaze will post this evening. 

In the meantime, allow me to wish all of you a very Happy 2017! 

And thank you for reading our books.  We appreciate each and every one of our readers more than you'll ever know. 

Chills! 
Terri DelCampo

GREY MATTER MONSTERS - TAKERS OF SOULS - LYCAN VALLEY PRESS ANTHOLOGY


https://www.amazon.com/Grey-Matter-Monsters-Takers-Souls-ebook/dp/B01MG2N7D4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1477175456&sr=8-1-spell

Terri DelCampo has a fantastic story, Chilopodophobia, in the newly released anthology Grey Matter Monsters: Takers Of Souls, published by Lycan Valley Press. This is the second top 100 ranked anthology in a row on Amazon for Lycan Valley. see what the buzz is about. Get your copy now!

Blaze McRob


Book description:


 Grey Matter Monsters is an anthology of horror with proceeds to benefit Kids Help Phone. This anthology shows you the real monsters of mental illness, and hopes to erase some of the stigma that plagues those whom suffer from it.


HAUNTED HALLOWEEN PARTY


https://www.facebook.com/events/626702470840662/

Blazing Owl Press will be hosting Haunted Halloween Party on Friday, October 21. Woo, hoo! Terri DelCampo and I will have free goodies for you lovers of Halloween. Do you love poems, short stories, and youtubes? We'll have those and more. This week I'll have a brand new collection of short stories to talk about. Do you love sci-fi, fantasty, horror, and other goodies? You're in luck. Planet Pizza is chock full of these tales. There are 37 stories in all. Yes, this is no sissy collection. And, this novel length collection will be won by a lucky person in addition to everything else we have in store for you. Mosey over for some great Halloween fun!

Blaze McRob
  

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN PARTY - 2016

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/626702470840662/

Blazing Owl Press will be hosting Haunted Halloween Party on Friday, October 14. Woo, hoo! Terri DelCampo and I will have free goodies for you lovers of Halloween. Do you love poems, short stories, and youtubes? We'll have those and more. Bring your plastic pumpkins to carry your stash back home. Our porch light will be on for you.

Blaze McRob  

RIP VEGA - C.L. HERNANDEZ'S AUTHOR OF THE WEEK


https://clhernandezblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/author-of-the-week-9/

“Debut author Rip Vega is a business owner who turns to pen and paper in the dim hours of the night. Having grown up in a neighborhood riddled with real life horror, he is known for fusing candid realism with devilish creativity in creepy horror stories that thrill readers long after the last page."

Thus begins C. L. Hernandez's post for Rip Vega, her Author Of The Week. Time for me to check out a new author!

Blaze McRob

TRICKS FOR TWITTER

 


http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2016/09/11/the-secret-key-to-using-twitter-that-most-authors-overlook/

Indies Unlimited has some great advice for those folks using Twitter. This post, written by Lauren Sapala, takes a common sense look at what a lot of authors are doing wrong. Twitter is quick and easy to use, and Lauren shows you how to get much more productivity from this great internet social media tool. Take a peek into what she says. I use Twitter a lot and found some valuable information here. I'll bet you will too.

Blaze McRob

SELF-EDITING









http://www.publetariat.com/2015/12/16/self-editing-4-fiction-1-intro/

http://www.writeintoprint.com/2012/09/self-editing-4-fiction-1-intro.html

I found this on the front page of Publetariat  http://www.publetariat.com/ . I am there often to get timely advice about what is happening in the publishing industry, in particular, the self-publishing industry. This is a nine part series with great self-editing information. I have included the links above so you can read the series in its entirety.

                                                               *    *    *    * 

Today’s post by Stef Mcdaid, off of her blog WriteIntoPrint . It is the first part of a nine part series on content editing, but the whole series is available now and well worth reading.  I have bookmarked it myself to go back and reread. ~ * ~ A lot has happened in the publishing […]

                                                              *    *    *    *

Peruse the other great posts at Publetariat and find a wealth of information to assist you in becoming a better author as well as to keep you current with all the changes in publishing. Knowledge is power.

Blaze McRob                                                        



MARKETING 101 - TWITTER TIPS


http://www.indieauthornews.com/2012/07/twitter-tips-for-authors.html

Rather than have me drone on and on about what I think about Twitter, click the link above and get some great advice. Twitter is a super place to go for many reasons. Marketing is only one of them, and as with any other form of marketing, spamming is frowned upon. Find timely tips galore from Alan Kealey!

Also, make certain to read the other great posts at The Indie Authors Daily. I subscribe to http://paper.li/OrnaRoss/1326922517?edition_id=5dccd460-a118-11e5-9544-0cc47a0d1605&utm_campaign=paper_sub&utm_medium=email&utm_source=subscription  Orna Ross does a great job!

Blaze McRob

                                                 *    *    *    *



Twitter Tips for Authors


Twitter-Logo
Twitter is an amazing tool to brand yourself as author and connect with your readers and fellow authors. Twitter can play a big role in your Author-Marketing Strategy if used correctly.
It is not an exclusive "free advertising tool" for self-promoters as some people are using it and driving their followers 'nuts.'

We collected some great Tips for Twitter Starters and Twitter Veterans as well.

GREAT REVIEW FOR "SILVER HELLS"


http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Hells-Terri-DelCampo-ebook/dp/B0195H8QPY/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450026270&sr=1-1&keywords=silver+hells

Silver Hells, by Terri DelCampo and Blaze McRob, a collection of Twelve Twisted Holiday Tales from around the world, has gotten a great review! All authors love receiving great reviews. Terri and I are no exception.

Thank you to a kind reviewer!

Blaze McRob

                                                                 *    *    *    *

Book description:

Children in huts put a gift in his sack; Chuckie brings gifts that his family lacks;
Coins carry wishes to Santa so real; A Christmas fate for a giver is sealed;
All through the land silver bells serenade; A gift from Santa one cannot evade;
Souls fade out as snow globes shimmer; Frau Perchta has nothing but evil within her;
Santa's sack holds ornaments for his tree; At midnight mists carry a mystery;
Santa gives Amy a breakfast surprise; Who might bring about Thorolf's demise?
All these sweet stories you'll find in our book! Open it up! Have no fear! Take a look!


Format: Kindle Edition
If you're looking for a fast, fun, frightening Christmas read, then be sure to pick up Silver Hells! The second story in this book is absolutely wrenching! Won't give any spoilers, but this is a great read! Will be sure to read more of this author's work!


DOGS, SKUNKS, AND OTHER RUNNERS







Coming sometime this next year: Dogs, Skunks, And Other Runners, by Blaze McRob. Before I started writing my tales of horror, and during the times of my pounding away on the keyboards or putting pen to paper, I had quite a career in ultra-running. What is ultra-running, you ask? Simply put, it is running more than the standard 26.2 mile marathon distance. The picture above shows me lurking behind Brent Weigner in a 50 mile race. Brent is wearing the #1. Do I look young there or what? I went on to win the race and Brent came in second. The race was held on June, 17, 1978.

I ran many races after that, running with some of the best runners in the world. I was humbled on many occasions, but I did well in many others. On any given day, any runner can become the winner.

I enjoyed my running days; I only wish I could still participate, but health issues are eating away at my once animalistic approach to the sport. Those of you who run and push your limits know what I'm talking about. Maybe one day I will be able to return to the sport.

My hope is that the collection of short stories within this tome will give hope to those who need a little inspiration, not only in running, but in other facets of life. With limited genetics, I still succeeded because of my work ethic. As with anything else in life, if you want something bad enough, you will achieve.

Happy running. Happy writing.

Blaze McRob  

MARKETING 101 - EDITING YOUR BOOKS BEFORE THEY ARE EDITED


Many of you wonder why I would suggest self-editing your stories to your utmost ability before they go to a paid editor. Pretty simple. If your stories are in need of major editing, many editors won't go anywhere near them. Also, most small Presses as well as the bigger boys won't touch them if they need a major overhaul.

I know one editing service that provides you with a free sample of his work. Then, he bases his rates upon your sample. He charges three times as much for an MS needing more work than for one requiring minor work. So, you could save yourself a lot of bucks if you hustle your butt into the self-editing chair and get better acquainted with the craft.

I'm not talking beta readers either. I've mentioned before that I don't care for them. Read your stuff out loud and catch where punctuation might be needed. Purchase an online editing system such as AutoCrit https://www.autocrit.com/ or ProWritingAid https://prowritingaid.com. These systems will find many errors. such as:
  • Check for hidden and passive verbs
  • Identify overuse of adverbs and glue words
  • Locate repetitive sentence structure
  • Replace commonly overused words
  • Reveal repeated words and phrases
  • Eliminate vague, abstract and complex words
  • Remove cliches and redundancies

Get books and learn some things about the craft. There are a ton of them available. Don't rush to get your book out if it's not ready.

Then, and only then, should you submit your book to a professional editor. Online systems and books can teach you a lot, but you need a skilled human to go over your last draft. Anything less is not acceptable.

Blaze McRob

STATE OF HORROR - NEW JERSEY


http://www.amazon.com/State-Horror-New-Jersey-ebook/dp/B00N15TPEI/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

I thought I would start mentioning some of the anthologies I'm in over here. Many authors start out with getting their stories into anthologies and jump off from there. This is sort of the case with me. I was a ghostwriter for many years with 75 novels under my belt. However, none of them are in my new name of Blaze McRob. Thus: no one knew me from Adam when I popped back up on the radar. Back in 2011 I started getting my name out.

Now, I didn't submit my short stories to every Press on the planet. I submitted to Presses I liked and trusted. Money was secondary. Good thing: It's tough to become wealthy from writing stories for anthologies. However, I have some thirty that I am in now. I am happy to say that I have met some great authors along the way, so every story was a joy.

In State Of Horror: New Jersey, I have a short story titled Rudetown Road. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. And, the other stories by my fellow authors are all great. There is a lot of history in New Jersey, and a lot of that includes tales of dark entities. Plenty of dark in this tome.

Also, all my royalties from my story go to St. Jude. And, Jerry E. Benns, the owner/publisher of Charon Coin Press, matches it. What a guy! Thank you, Jerry. 

Blaze McRob

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Book description:


 WHAT IS YOUR STATE OF HORROR?

The birth of a devil in the 18th century resonates in today’s world. A storm hits a small mountain town and the resident must evacuate, where will they go? Visit a zoo unlike any you have experienced. The sins of the past haunt the present in a once thriving industrial town. Discover what lies beneath the boardwalk. Take a walk down memory lane as a woman is haunted by that thing she most loved. Escaping from a zombie hoard may not be the worst danger you face. What does it really mean to “Keep it Jersey”?

Join us as we explore the modern interpretation of folklore, culture, and the uniqueness that is New Jersey through 13 tales of horror.

Stories by:
Scott M. Goriscak, Frank J. Edler, Armand Rosamilia, Julianne Snow, C.I. Kemp, T. Fox Dunham, Christian Jensen, Eli Constant, Blaze McRob, Diane Arrelle, Margaret Colton, Nathanael Gass, and Tim Baker


By S.H. Roddey on January 5, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
I bought this book directly from the publisher at a convention in September 2014. It took me a bit to get to it (my TBR pile is more of a bookcase), but I'm glad I did. I read the entire collection in about two days. In the interest of full disclosure, no, it isn't perfect. But then again, no book is.

As a reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The stories are interesting and unique, and for someone who has never spent any discernible amount of time in New Jersey, it gave me an interesting glimpse into the popular folklore and urban legends. The stories are a great mix of creepy and gory, and one or two even frighteningly poignant. My favorite story by far is the last in the book, "Memories of Her Are Dead" by Eli Constant. It's placement at the end is a perfect way to end the set.

As an author, I saw issues. My biggest complaint is not in the formatting or grammar, but in content itself. There were one or two points where my eye twitched a bit due to a typo or glaring grammatical error, but in the end any errors were minimal and didn't take away from the story. Several of the stories disappointed me for the simple fact that they were too short. For example, Julianne Snow's "Under the Boardwalk" is brilliant and one of my favorites in the collection, but I wish it was longer. It could have easily been its own stand-alone novel. The first story in the book is a great, creepy idea, but it's probably my least favorite in the collection (for technical reasons, not story-based) and as a matter of preference I wouldn't have placed it first on the list.

Ultimately I can't say there's a bad story in the bunch, and there wasn't a single one I can say I didn't enjoy. Overall this is a great collection to begin what promises to be a long-standing series, and definitely worth the price of admission.



ANNOUNCING BLAZING OWL PRESS - 2015

Horror authors Blaze McRob and Terri DelCampo have joined evil forces to bring you tales of the macabre so chilling they had to create their own press to contain them.

Thus, Blazing Owl Press is thrust into the literary world with shrieks and moans!






And our very first offering, appropriately for the Halloween season, to be released by mid-October is our twisted little collection of horror tales, Blood Spatter.






Look for future books if you dare!!  Visit our site often for updates on Blaze McRob's and Terri DelCampo's latest mischief!  Muahaha!

TERRI DELCAMPO IS INTERVIEWED ON WOLFPAW RADIO








https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPv5dw_QRqY&feature=share

Terri DelCampo has an amazing interview on Wolf Paw Radio with Tony Wolf Paw. The link to the youtube podcast is above. This is a great job by Terri and Tony both. They share a lot of common beliefs. Tony is quite an interesting guy and puts his guests at ease, becoming instant friends with them. I love his folksy stories of his own upbringing and experiences.

I want to thank LR Shaw for introducing Terri and me to Tony. 

Enough from me. Hit the link above and get transported to a great podcast!

Blaze McRob

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Some links for Tony Wolf Paw and an intro into the podcast with Terri:


Published on Oct 4, 2015
Terri DelCampo writer and Editor for Blazing Owl Press
Specializes in Horror you can find her books in Amazon.com
Together with Husband who also is an Editor and Writer of Horror Books are the founders of their own publishing company.
In this interview we met the most dedicated workaholic author in the U.S






iAUTHOR


http://www.iauthor.uk.com/

http://www.iauthor.uk.com/horror

https://www.facebook.com/iauthor?fref=ts

Have you heard of iAuthor? This is a really cool interactive book discovery platform. It is multi genre and allows readers to discover great new books and authors. When you scroll down to discover books to look at, you are in for a very pleasant surprise. All the covers are set up for you: eye-candy. It's a gorgeous effect. When you click on the cover, it takes you to the book itself where there are links to purchase. Also, folks can like the covers, blurbs, and recommend the book to others. Terri DelCampo and I both have a number of books listed there and have plans to add more. Why not? It's free.

Of course, besides being a great way of showing our books around without shoving them down peoples' throats, we have discovered other fantastic authors and their books there. Lest anyone think that this website is for newby authors only, I noticed quite a few of my favorite authors, a number of them in the Top 100 Horror Authors on Amazon.

I really get excited when I see great book cover art, and there is plenty of it there. Do yourself a favor: reader, author, or both, check this great website out. You'll be glad you did.

We'll be happy to have you join us there!

Blaze McRob



AMERICAN INDIAN POET JOHN TRUDELL - WALKS ON


http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/12/08/american-indian-poet-john-trudell-walks-162695

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/12/08/remembering-life-and-legacy-john-trudell-162697


The great American Indian Poet John Trudell passed away December 8, 2015. This is a sad time for those who remember him and for those believing in the American Indian movement. He lived a life filled with pain and angst, but he always held onto his beliefs. Click on the links above and read the great posts from  Indian Country Today Media Network.  http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com For those of you not blessed with having known him, this will be a great chance for you to do so.

May he be truly blessed in his next dimensional reality.

Blaze McRob

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American Indian Poet John Trudell Walks On

12/8/15
John Trudell, an American Indian poet, actor, spoken word artist and political activist passed away today, December 8, 2015, at his home, surrounded by his family and friends. He entered this dimensional reality on February 15, 1946 and now he has left this dimensional reality.

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/12/08/american-indian-poet-john-trudell-walks-162695

NANOWRIMO UPDATES (2015)



 Ahoy, me lads and lassies! Terri DelCampo and I are both totally enmeshed in NaNoWriMo. Terri is writing a non-horror children's book. Go to http://rojoadventureblog.blogspot.com/ and see examples of her tales for the younger set. You will enjoy them for sure.

Me? I'm writing a very dark novel. This is dark even for me. Horror, horror, and more horror. Hmm. Gotta love that. Somehow, in-between all the other novels and short-story collections I have coming out next year, I would like to publish this in 2016. We'll see what happens.

For those of you who are reluctant to take the plunge with NaNo, there really is no reason to at least try. Terri wasn't sure if she wanted to or not, but I put the bug in her ear and she's doing great. Day two and she has almost 8,000 words written. She's ahead of my sorry butt. I only have around 5,000 words.

We still hope to hear from all of you who are tackling this super challenge. Happy writing.

Blaze McRob




MARKETING 101 - BY BLAZE MCROB

  
                                         


I'm not going to pretend that I'm a marketing genius. However, now that Terri DelCampo and I have Blazing Owl Press going, I'm going to start doing things I haven't been able to do before because of time constraints. I will be relaxing certain prior duties that I was involved in elsewhere. Less work there. More time here.

I have tried a few of them already and they appear to be working. I'm not ready to exactly hire a bodyguard to keep people away from my wealth yet, but it's nice to see some results. When I have enough results, I will write about them. Good or bad. When I have enough articles, I will package them up and make a book out of them. Easy peasy. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

So, stay tuned. stuff is on the way.

Blaze McRob  

VIEW SOME GREAT BOOK TRAILERS TODAY AND INDIES UNLIMITED - MARKETING 101 FOR SURE!


http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2015/11/04/november-video-trailer-view-fest/

It's interesting that as soon as I say I'm about to get into writing articles about marketing, my friends at Indies Unlimited post November Video Trailer View-fest on their website. I believe that book trailers are a great marketing aid for your books. Beverly Cialone does all of mine, and she does a great job.

The key to using book trailers, I believe, is to use cool music, crisp pictures that  fit your book, and to tease and not explain everything about your book. Trailers can be used as enticements when promoting your books in groups and on your own website pages. They can also be added to an Amazon link which gives a book description for added potential reader appeal. I like to switch around between all the above options as well as not saturating any one place with your trailers. There can be too much of a good thing. Also remember that spamming is bad. Be low key. Promote the trailers of other authors. Give them their due.

Another tip today is to use great websites such as Indies Unlimited. They run the gamut about everything an Indie author should know. I have spread around many of their posts and plan on doing many more. They are great people and enjoy helping the Indie community.

So, if you're thinking about doing book trailers for your books, I believe you are making the right decision. Check out the link above and see what other authors are doing.

By the way: I practice what I preach. My book trailer for Mists Of Papoose Pond is among the other great trailers on Indies Unlimited.

Blaze McRob      




MARKETING 101 - PRICING MATTERS


I posted  this a while back under Minimum Wage For Authors. It's still true today, for the most part. I will add a few things in to update it, however. Pricing and Marketing go hand in hand. How you publish also makes a difference with your marketing plans.

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I hear from people who ask me why they should pay .99 for a short story because that's highway robbery. Well, besides the fact that a short story can tell you if you would like to buy more of this author's work in longer form or even more short stories, let's go to Math 101. First we'll take the case of a self-published author.

You walk into a fast food place and think about the employees who would like to enjoy a livable wage. Some say $15 an hour is fair. Okay, let's take the case of an author who sells a short story of 3,000 words for .99. Whoah, you say. That is really short. Yes, it is. But is it worth at least what a small order of French fries would cost you?

I say without a doubt.

3,000 words equates to around twelve pages. The author has to pay for cover art for the ebook. Let's say $50 for that, if you're lucky. Formatting is $1 a page. Editing at least that. Maybe double. So without the author's time, we're at $80 already. If the author is a super whizz-bang and can write the tale in three hours, should she/he not be paid at least as much as the burger employee? Of course. Add another $45. We're up to $125 now. And this does not include marketing so someone knows the author's book is out there to buy. Add another $50 at least between the author's time and a paid professional's time.$175 now.

These are rock-bottom prices that you'll be lucky to get.

So how many books on Amazon does the author need to sell? You will get around .35 royalty per book. Thus, the author needs to sell roughly 500 books to cover the $175. How many authors do this with the typical ebook? Not many. 12 hours at $15/hour comes to $180, so we're close here.

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Now lets take the case of an author going with a small Press. There will be only two expense factors here: the author's time, which will be the same $45, and doing their share of the marketing. Add in $25. Total time at $15/hour comes to $70.

At 4.7 hours, the author needs to sell 400 books to reach minimum wage if the Press and the author each share the royalties evenly. Not every Press is as generous as this. The Press needs to sell roughly 600 books to cover expenses, while the author has to sell 100 less books to stay at minimum wage. The Press needs to sell 200 more because of the added expense. Of course, once the 600 books are sold, the Press is making money because it is now in the black for this book. Again, the chance is this might not occur. So in this model, the author comes out ahead going with a Press, at least until the book sells a lot of copies. Even disregarding the minimum wage factor for a second, we see that at 400 books sold, the author has $70 and the Press has $70, but the Press is in the red by $29.

At any rate, no matter how you look at it, the author deserves minimum wage. A lot of books need to be sold to make the author some money.
                                               
So, the next time someone asks you why they should pay .99 for a great story, spout the facts.

It is about time authors started getting fair compensation for their work.

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A few things I want to add to this post. These are my own personal feelings. You are free to agree or disagree.

In the cases above, the author makes more money going with a small Press because of the lack of outside expenses. All well and good. However, how many Presses continually hang around? The list is short. Many Presses lose money. Part of it due to an author not pulling their weight with marketing. Some of these authors complain the Press is not doing enough for them when in reality it is the author who is the weak link. It's getting increasingly more difficult finding a Press willing to take on an author who does not have a viable marketing plan in order. One case in point: you better have a website and you better use it. In the right manner of course. I'll be bringing in more examples of this as we go along.

There is also another way to attack this. Let's say two people, as in the case of Blazing Owl Press, do all the work. They do the writing, editing, formatting, and cover art. Terri and I edit each others work. We're both editors as well as authors. We do our own art. Terri does the formatting. I handle marketing. So, even though we still spend the time that other professionals would take to do these things, each project is entirely ours and we don't need to pay anyone else for any part of it.

Projected costs:

Writing - $45

Editing - $15

Formatting - $15

Cover - $50

Marketing - $50

Total - $175

So, the total remains the same as for any self-published book. However, there is no immediate outlay needed, and the ebooks are available to be sold forever, so there is plenty of time to get your money back. Bear in mind that the more books you have for sale, the greater the chance that someone will purchase one of your older books as well as a newer one.

Of course, not everyone can take advantage of this method. And never forget that no author should edit their own books.

Another add on is the pricing of books for free on Amazon. This helped some authors in the past, but in my opinion, it screwed the rest of us. People loaded up their Kindle books with freebies. The authors wanting to gain a following by going this route hoping it would garner more excitement for more of their offerings. I don't believe it did. Instead, it made readers expect free books from new authors. None of my books will be free. I don't believe this is a good marketing.

This series will be continued. Some of my thinking might not agree with yours. That's up to you to decide. I'm not perfect. None of us are in this business. It changes every day.

Hope to see you again.

Blaze McRob