tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23356757785634269532024-03-28T19:47:55.020-05:00Angry Penguins and Drunken MonkeysErik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-37658177068814167912024-01-21T16:01:00.005-06:002024-01-21T16:01:55.419-06:00I am Vision, I am Death Now Available as an E-book<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaVfgLRG4yLRF2zKAqTioQpxjRnupN4Qy32J46BocvpoDABYMoJ-1sp1K7zcqlTu5vF17fpIRur0slpr_1eWeNNw0mXrI8dTEkGf-eM84SSxCzz9yy_8QsoA2IZF6yWvkDpVA99rQ3uZSw74ezodQvfjfgfrU8d1eI56va2xgtvgp7JdkLe_SYMgg2xs/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaVfgLRG4yLRF2zKAqTioQpxjRnupN4Qy32J46BocvpoDABYMoJ-1sp1K7zcqlTu5vF17fpIRur0slpr_1eWeNNw0mXrI8dTEkGf-eM84SSxCzz9yy_8QsoA2IZF6yWvkDpVA99rQ3uZSw74ezodQvfjfgfrU8d1eI56va2xgtvgp7JdkLe_SYMgg2xs/w251-h400/Revised%20Covers%20(11).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">My story <i>I am Vision, I am Deat</i>h is now available as an e-book for Kindle, Nook, and Kobo. Just $0.99!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">Elijah has a lot of problems.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">-One, his mother is about to die and he's trying to get to her one last time before she kicks the bucket.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">-Two, he's a bit of a loner.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">-Three, he has visions of future murders. Murders he can prevent. Which leads to-</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">-Four, he's a stone-cold killer of those willing to kill the innocent.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">As he races to get to his mother's side, he collides head-on with the brutal truth of his ability. A truth that forces him to stand at the crossroads of reality and choose between the hard narrow road of life or the wide open road of death.</span></span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Death-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B0737FGJVT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3S5WBKS6OQAXE&keywords=erik+williams+i+am+vision&qid=1705873878&sprefix=erik+williams+i+am+vision%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Kindle</a></p><p><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-am-vision-i-am-death" target="_blank">Kobo</a></p><p><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-vision-i-am-death-erik-williams/1144617310?ean=2940186061700" target="_blank">Nook</a></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-47391332126490284362023-12-31T10:26:00.002-06:002023-12-31T10:26:07.942-06:00The Muerte Sequence Now Available!<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGMDyPCzTPgArETkoeRg1dXcDNd4Ac6aNTov9HJbeIyMBxvJtQfvjeckh_bM9LRTXYy7wVxovu4C1Nrzwb1oQvdIONTV61MzQg1jXbl6ycAFeU1-0j_2-4_EK0q-Bf2NYCCGYIkX44gYVe86KIiWEc_n8fO5sODtapMZ0fKhROwuH3idv7w2Z9xzV8pg/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #8c0b0b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGMDyPCzTPgArETkoeRg1dXcDNd4Ac6aNTov9HJbeIyMBxvJtQfvjeckh_bM9LRTXYy7wVxovu4C1Nrzwb1oQvdIONTV61MzQg1jXbl6ycAFeU1-0j_2-4_EK0q-Bf2NYCCGYIkX44gYVe86KIiWEc_n8fO5sODtapMZ0fKhROwuH3idv7w2Z9xzV8pg/w402-h640/Revised%20Covers%20(13).jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(232, 232, 232); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="402" /></a></p><h1 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">THE MUERTE SEQUENCE</span></span></h1><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">A mosaic novel chronicling one man's lifelong dance with Death—both as her prey and her partner. Haunted by loss from a young age, he finds himself both victim and agent of Santa Muerte. As he navigates a shadowy world of vengeance and justified evil, he grasps for those rare moments of light—fleeting connections with lovers, friends, and family. For in the presence of Death, every human bond carries the bittersweet knowledge that it all ends.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">THE MUERTE SEQUENCE spans a lifetime to explore the many guises of that most intimate and coldest stranger: Death herself.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">Featuring the novelettes THE REVEREND’S POWDER, CONSECRATED HIGHWAYS, and THIS WAY TO THE GLADIATOR SHOW collected all in one place.</span></span><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Paperback</h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Muerte-Sequence-Erik-Williams/dp/B0CQXKHHQB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3S44HN4W7ZKBM&keywords=erik+williams+the+muerte+sequence&qid=1704039025&sprefix=erik+williams+the+muerte+sequence%2Caps%2C529&sr=8-1" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">E-book</h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Muerte-Sequence-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B00AG15GC0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1704039025&sr=8-1" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144533728?ean=2940185917411" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nook</a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-muerte-sequence" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kobo</a></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-70978835294772905892023-12-25T14:31:00.002-06:002023-12-25T14:32:34.285-06:00This Way to the Gladiator Show Now Available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNq2vkLNWh9pbp3DtSVEAVMxU9kOQPx9HyUAxSvmbe-40aaQLreBa3KB96DZX-_irTCGSI5Foc7bl2EmuTOB8gDfkDBDL6WK4hjmb3a-ci9-HNkpoY7gBQlgEt8dw5xox4eHaLHLd7YGK9slAweIwDHZRqHlUawTY6mxuM052k7qoFlQ6bqGS2oMf2Ko/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #8c0b0b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNq2vkLNWh9pbp3DtSVEAVMxU9kOQPx9HyUAxSvmbe-40aaQLreBa3KB96DZX-_irTCGSI5Foc7bl2EmuTOB8gDfkDBDL6WK4hjmb3a-ci9-HNkpoY7gBQlgEt8dw5xox4eHaLHLd7YGK9slAweIwDHZRqHlUawTY6mxuM052k7qoFlQ6bqGS2oMf2Ko/w402-h640/Revised%20Covers%20(11).jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(232, 232, 232); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="402" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;" /><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">This Way to the Gladiator Show</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">, the third installment in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">The Muerte Sequence</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">, is now available for the first time in both electronic and print editions. I say first time as it's the first time it's appeared in either format solo. It originally appeared in the electronic version of The Muerte Sequence collection in 2012, which didn't stay available very long. It also had a different title then: </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">Gladius or, Marty Robbins Doesn't Play Here Anymore</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">.</span><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">So, why change the title and do a solo version? Well, to complete the trilogy of standalones that includes <i>The Reverend's Powder</i> and <i>Consecrated Highways</i>. In addition, I wanted to change the title so, this gave me a chance to do both.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">Like its predecessors, the print version is a short chapbook so be aware you're getting a small paperback if you pick it up.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">Included in this version is the story <i>Door to Ever</i>, which tells the story of that guy on the cover up there.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;">Anyway, the summary:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Twenty years since the events of CONSECRATED HIGHWAYS. Thirty since those that transpired in THE REVEREND'S POWDER. Seems like a long time.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">But time means nothing to the Great Mother of Death. Once she chooses you, she'll have you, regardless of the passage of time.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">In Baja Mexico, a bus of Christian volunteers travel toward a home for poor and disadvantaged people to perform works of mercy. On the way, the bus is stopped by a group of local bandits and militiamen. Bandits in the employ of the local drug cartel.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">Soon, the volunteers find themselves pitted in gladiatorial combat for the entertainment of the cartel. Entertainment that demands blood is spilled as an offering to the Mother of Death. Among them, is seventeen-year-old Scott, who has more of his dad, former hitman turned holy man Matthew, in him than he knows.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">Killing runs in the family. And the Mother of Death may have found her best recruit.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Paperback</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CQTJW5QG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">E-book</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Gladiator-Show-Muerte-Sequence-ebook/dp/B0CQRVLCQG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #d21e00;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144521757?ean=2940186206064" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nook</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/this-way-to-the-gladiator-show" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-85120606636443901642023-12-13T14:28:00.001-06:002023-12-13T14:28:12.706-06:00Consecrated Highways Now Available<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OppMrJWqGt5jsvtpX3Tem9BqbyMLpdmIf1NZ2t1tid2TzeU_VCdBtGsGzk1JYsD8IVqVl1QzZy4Z8ExoRaQA8lEdmYsVk0cvw8SH8jt5UuhiIxfY3kdmMw9KnjB7S6Jm1BlFlZQw7ErZ-uYwM9EedfKJX_KD5dKkclrq5Sc3we6kXP0tXa1Xhreo5B0/s2250/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OppMrJWqGt5jsvtpX3Tem9BqbyMLpdmIf1NZ2t1tid2TzeU_VCdBtGsGzk1JYsD8IVqVl1QzZy4Z8ExoRaQA8lEdmYsVk0cvw8SH8jt5UuhiIxfY3kdmMw9KnjB7S6Jm1BlFlZQw7ErZ-uYwM9EedfKJX_KD5dKkclrq5Sc3we6kXP0tXa1Xhreo5B0/w251-h400/31.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>That's right, the sequel to The Reverend's Powder is available once again in e-book after about a decade of being out of print. In addition, it's also available for the first time in paperback as a chapbook! How about that?!?!</p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Available in Paperback</h2><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPB1SGX8/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Available as an E-book</h2><div><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP8YHG1L" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kindle</a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/consecrated-highways-erik-williams/1144437265?ean=2940185618660" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nook</a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/consecrated-highways" style="color: #8c0b0b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Kobo</a></div>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-16534380489855028102023-10-26T18:40:00.003-05:002023-10-26T18:40:36.599-05:00The Reverend's Powder Now Available in Paperback<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLR9N2KS?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMrnYBajnSkg3bZsMeacAKTJGqN2SC7OX6KPzVQKjbQ121yWYt9qqbRtPvtV1MBpv9v36v5ef8eSwGW9f5HikHCl09cu7d2A5Alq_P3f9HS7jtyDcAmx8fG_WKyOZ4wv0XVG0jiwSB29L-rYofxmQqdXaD3VSiiyBn6ms890j5aehSod0ebHID6OJtnA/w251-h400/34.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Yes, that's right, <i>The Reverend's Powder</i> is once again available in paperback. As noted before, it originally came out in limited edition paperback and hardcover formats way back in 2010 from Sideshow Press. Since then, it's pretty much only been available in e-book unless you went hunting on the secondary market for a print edition, or picked one up from me at a convention in the past.</p><p>Anyway, why release it again in paperback? Well, I like the idea of releasing my longer pieces as small chapbooks, if only for vanity reasons. In addition, it gives me a chance to work on my layout skills. I'd never used InDesign before so I got to teach myself that! Yay, me!</p><p>Plus, it keeps my stuff in print and under my control, which is nice.</p><p>Anyway, if you're interested, it's available <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLR9N2KS?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860" target="_blank">right now on Amazon</a> with more online retailers to follow soon.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-72206862904317802722023-10-24T08:50:00.001-05:002023-10-24T08:50:18.921-05:00The Reverend's Powder Now Available on Nook<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-reverends-powder-erik-williams/1112033801?ean=2940186081371" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLjL9K2IOEj7omhvoxXo-4t_40jpNST_Q_hWQdlXgsB5NIpnv-SuHJI47FAqACaiQui-3Rt-eQm0xum7u2U6GhWn_QPJiNKi2EAg8MnIUq9Cs_NZE3Qn9rV0y2evy9Qnhf9a0Rlfe43gAQCKzUfsyz7CWRzhdZg8ITuLZUEzGW5loh9Hz6zK3W-uzQUQ/w251-h400/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>The Reverend's Powder is <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-reverends-powder-erik-williams/1112033801?ean=2940186081371" target="_blank">now available</a> as an e-book for Nook for you Barnes & Noble types. FYI.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-43885059276249728432023-10-23T19:09:00.003-05:002023-10-23T19:09:34.200-05:00The Reverend's Powder Now Available on Kobo<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-reverend-s-powder" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMnfZ9UOpBAaitO8MzbvbL8TtxCGBEHwxZZlIKUPh7rVdfiX5Ut0HILMOAYLwCTGSO_ipQDiDJCdSwI19TdlErDz5IHK5UYgigvE_dDpM3JeKk8eREcVXslmB02m8Ty7yZn7hiQ4h3IgUO58xGkyCWwffSDZK-2tU6LKjjgUzlqI6u1I_ErR2i0807t4/w251-h400/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In addition to being available on Kindle, the e-book version of <i>The Reverend's Powder</i> is now <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-reverend-s-powder" target="_blank">available on Kobo</a>. </p><p>For more on The Reverend's Powder, check out the <a href="https://erikwilliams.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-reverends-powder-available-again-on.html">original Kindle post</a>!</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-11259367074111983112023-10-23T09:18:00.001-05:002023-10-23T09:18:11.023-05:00The Reverend's Powder Available Again on Kindle<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLKDRJBJ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRSH3n0RLbL8TS8VFmQWcby2RyaLV1AN5nCESdKR6MC77iNzC-uu2nh0tB259neVzoNy2PBTfgx1UrGkB7RFv8teYY4evh5iOTy-8oaGR3MBxtr9eK1ukAnMfYtWsRQZpiZNWUXeknK1nY6jXvSdyZZZxfHdAUVQhQ-1e3bUsE4QvJbADXttyiPrrHeo/w251-h400/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My novelette, <i>The Reverend's Powder</i>, has made its triumphant return to Kindle! It'll also be making its return as an e-book on other platforms in the near future! As well as in a slim paperback format for those interested. The above cover is for the e-book only. The paperback will have different artwork.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those of you that don't know, or don't remember, <i>The Reverend's Powder</i> was one of the first long-form stories of mine that was published in the small press. Tom Moran and Sideshow Press scooped it up and published it as a chapbook way back in 2010. There were two limited editions. One was a limited edition trade paperback and one was a limited edition hardcover.</div><p></p><p>Here's what some people said about it oh those many years ago:</p><p> “<i>The Reverend's Powder</i> explodes out of the gate from the very first sentence and is a one-sitting thrill ride through love, life, faith, and the bittersweet taste of revenge.” -Gord Rollo, author of THE JIGSAW MAN </p><p>"With the white-hot intensity of a holy-rolling blowtorch, Williams delivers a blistering gutter-Gospel on the deception that preys on blind faith, and the long, bloody road to truth and forgiveness. When there's no more room in Hell, let the worst sinners burn in the mind of Erik Williams." -Cody Goodfellow, author of RADIANT DAWN and PERFECT UNION </p><p>"<i>The Reverend's Powder</i> is a gripping little tale. I’d say 'It grabs you from the first sentence and never lets you go!' but that’s kind of trite, so instead I’ll point out that...it comes highly recommended." -Jeff Strand, author of DEMONIC</p><p>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If less is more, then Erik Williams's <i>The Reverend's Powder</i> is definitely more. With stripped-down prose that foregoes flowery wordplay in favor of in-your-face brutality that cuts to the heart of the protagonist's plight, Williams has created the perfect horror tale for a quick read in bed, lights off, blankets up, sleeping partner oblivious to the violence your ingesting." -Kevin Wallis, author of BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THINGS</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, if you're interested in the Kindle version, you can <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLKDRJBJ" target="_blank">get it here</a>.</span></span></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-69512510951820007352023-08-30T11:09:00.000-05:002023-08-30T11:09:08.793-05:00Qualia Nous Volume 2 and Me<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt9Xlkw4h5NkxeKlNFAHhnm7_7_rVDHoSyxAbm3U5hMlZugbieivIkA9RkKYT7j47Izee-eTj3m0-6hMKDR1HW0C89dm6LOOUFN9nIBym7bSGty7vZ7gBQRZSuCuf72amviJ7Y5uByelDVVAziEzC6sG-VUsPEa-CY_EtJIVKR9tNHSPQfRq1nekUN3U/s720/369948988_10224230797579580_2267559663515310905_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="720" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt9Xlkw4h5NkxeKlNFAHhnm7_7_rVDHoSyxAbm3U5hMlZugbieivIkA9RkKYT7j47Izee-eTj3m0-6hMKDR1HW0C89dm6LOOUFN9nIBym7bSGty7vZ7gBQRZSuCuf72amviJ7Y5uByelDVVAziEzC6sG-VUsPEa-CY_EtJIVKR9tNHSPQfRq1nekUN3U/w640-h450/369948988_10224230797579580_2267559663515310905_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It's with pure delight that I can now tell you my short story "Bilocation in Liminal Space" has been accepted by Michael Bailey for inclusion in Qualia Nous Volume 2. Publication will probably be in 2024 but nothing is firm yet.<p></p><p>There are still a couple of more writers to be added to the ToC but the majority of them are listed right there in the image. Check it out. You may recognize a few (other than me).</p><p>More to follow.</p><p>If you're wondering what to expect from Volume 2, and if you haven't checked out Volume 1, here's the write up:</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Qualia-Nous-Michael-Bailey/dp/0578146460/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1575937023&sr=8-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; outline: none;" target="_blank">QUALIA NOUS</a><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2;">, winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award and nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in an Anthology, is a literary blend of science fiction and horror. Contains short stories, novelettes, and poetry from established authors and newcomers from around the world. Features Bram Stoker Award winning stories by Usman T. Malik and Rena Mason (both tied for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction), as well as stories by Stephen King, Emily B. Cataneo, Erinn L. Kemper, Patrick Freivald, William F. Nolan, Elizabeth Massie, John R. Little, Gary A. Braunbeck, and many others. </span></span></p><p>And to learn more about the antho and the other splendid works published by Written Backwards, check out their <a href="https://nettirw.com/" target="_blank">site</a>.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-26191204079508424772023-06-01T18:42:00.001-05:002023-06-11T13:43:12.719-05:00No Context Post #4<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/l1711jiiRtM" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l1711jiiRtM/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-39381835389569891932023-03-12T20:40:00.003-05:002023-03-12T20:40:46.579-05:00No Context Post #3<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Elyfo1DIlzs" width="480"></iframe></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-52854069263695567222023-03-10T22:00:00.014-06:002023-03-10T22:04:07.868-06:00No Context Post #2<p>Because I like<i> Tombstone</i>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Z_J2JNdC9Vg" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z_J2JNdC9Vg/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-63030757128373688672023-03-09T23:20:00.001-06:002023-03-09T23:21:36.542-06:00No Context Post #1<p>I'm a firm believer in sucking people into movies and shows with clips or scenes where they have no idea what it's related to or have no idea what happens after said scene. I've often gotten people hooked on<i> The Wire </i>with simple quotes from the show. So, if I can provide a random scene that entices someone to follow up on said show or movie, I've done my part.</p><p>I used to do a weekly bit called <i>Fight Scene Friday </i>that tried to do the same thing but it was way too demanding on my time and I ran out of fight scenes available on YouTube I could actually talk to. Mainly, I just ran out of time.</p><p>However, below, you'll find two installments in what I hope is the first of many <b><u>No Context Posts</u></b> where you'll find a scene or two from a movie or show, want to learn what the fuck happened after, and go watch it. Also, if you think you can do better, go write it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Scene 1. <i>Apocalypse Now!</i> Of course.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LztWlsHcivk" width="320" youtube-src-id="LztWlsHcivk"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>Scene 2. <i>The Hunted. </i> Fuck me if you can't find a better WTF scene and mind scramble yourself into a better potential where is this coming from/where is this going roads.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mjmBGgEkFpg" width="320" youtube-src-id="mjmBGgEkFpg"></iframe></div><p></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-12913491689765309792023-03-06T21:54:00.006-06:002023-06-11T13:43:51.144-05:00Cocaine Bear is Cool and All. But Bigfoot Crank Stomp Take Batshit Crazy to Another Level!!!<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bigfoot-Crank-Stomp-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B00D5Z4RKG/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=dW5xD&content-id=amzn1.sym.08900ed4-dd64-49b1-bce7-2e717defb1aa&pf_rd_p=08900ed4-dd64-49b1-bce7-2e717defb1aa&pf_rd_r=34TA5KJNQR27EV07DZ4G&pd_rd_wg=SNuQY&pd_rd_r=414881aa-960b-4b2e-be67-370e14bec318&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHcuy-tCeEE/US-14jDeEhI/AAAAAAAABJY/mPmvCEH1vuw/w414-h640/crankstomp.jpg" width="414" /></a></p><br /><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"This book gives new meaning to the word OUTRAGEOUS! It's so totally off-the-wall while at the same time so unputdownable that it blew my creative doors off. The whole time I was reading it I was PISSED that I hadn't thought of it."</i><br />--EDWARD LEE, author of HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD and HEADER</span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Bigfoot is real and he's addicted to meth!</span></b></h1><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">It should have been so easy. Get in, kill everyone, and take all the money and drugs. That was Russell and Mickey's plan. But the drug den they were raiding in the middle of the woods holds a dark secret chained up in the basement. A beast filled with rage and methamphetamine and tonight it will break loose.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nothing can stop a sasquatch on a drug-fueled rampage. And before the sun rises, there is going to be a lot of dead cops and junkies.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">"</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;">[E</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;">rik Williams] has an almost Hitchcockian way of knowing when enough is enough, cutting from shameless wallows in gore to neat moments of suggestion, where you get it without having to watch it." <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">-John Skipp, Fangoria</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"This book is everything you could possibly want in a book about a rampaging mythical creature looking for his next hit, delivered in compulsively readable style with a real cinematic eye for pacing and exciting scenes. If B movie levels of gore, black humor and action are your thing, this is the book for you." -</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Blu Gilland, FEARnet</i></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 20, 25); color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">For the B&N crowd:
</span><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/FRM0uWN5tk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" role="link" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d9bf0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-hiw28u r-qvk6io r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit; word-wrap: break-word;">https://</span>bit.ly/3ye5JJ4</a><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 20, 25); color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
Amazon:
</span><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/pXLBiiriUz" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" role="link" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d9bf0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-hiw28u r-qvk6io r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit; word-wrap: break-word;">https://</span>amzn.to/3ZHq1q7</a><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 20, 25); color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">
Bookshop:
</span><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/O2i6YH4SOz" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" role="link" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d9bf0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-hiw28u r-qvk6io r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit; word-wrap: break-word;">https://</span>bit.ly/3IWOcKf</a></i></i></span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><i>Cocaine Bear</i> is Good but BFCS is the OG</h1><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.390625px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Also, death metal band Troglodyte's most recent album <b><a href="https://troglodyte.bandcamp.com/album/the-hierarchical-ecological-succession-welcome-to-the-food-chain" target="_blank">The Hierarchical Ecological Succession: Welcome to the Food Chain</a> </b>has a track titled "Sasquashed (Bigfoot Crank Stomp)" on it. Yes, that's right, my <i>Bigfoot Crank Stomp</i> inspired a death metal song. Has <i>Cocaine Bear </i>done that yet? Didn't think so.</span></div><h2 class="trackTitle" style="caret-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); color: #f1f1f1; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin: -4px 0px 8px 30px; max-width: 726px; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></h2>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-57365967786068615792023-02-15T16:46:00.002-06:002023-02-15T16:46:25.314-06:00Drive-By Review - Small Town Crime<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ3H83G21jG5foRJN9A8Vc3sp2OgjmdIDsMPWBPBFsMuKwzPeUN_Ant9zaCb04yoFdHBEAhObWPEE6pRGGXPPDSHJyzQYutNLtMKGxKYh31eqNZdhFMU5ukLXELvYkglpYET_Be000f1qYH5GcSYJG9wM8L_i1MHqKCPrfrxmPkzYDYQIkKQQnO7U/s1440/p14609199_p_v8_ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ3H83G21jG5foRJN9A8Vc3sp2OgjmdIDsMPWBPBFsMuKwzPeUN_Ant9zaCb04yoFdHBEAhObWPEE6pRGGXPPDSHJyzQYutNLtMKGxKYh31eqNZdhFMU5ukLXELvYkglpYET_Be000f1qYH5GcSYJG9wM8L_i1MHqKCPrfrxmPkzYDYQIkKQQnO7U/w266-h400/p14609199_p_v8_ab.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Another movie that slipped under my radar that has everything I like in a movie.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Crime</li><li>Very flawed protagonist trying to reassemble his life</li><li>Great cast</li><li>Okay writing</li></ul><p></p><p>I say <i>okay</i> writing because it's just that. There's nothing memorable about the dialogue or the plot. Which is good. Sometimes simple plots and dialogue that can be easily spat out by a good cast are enough. In this case, both are.</p><p>If the plot had been complicated, the movie would've been unwatchable outside of the cast. They keep it grounded and the simplicity of the plot keeps it moving. It's an above-average movie to discover on cable or, in my case, streaming.</p><p>The biggest weakness of the flick is the two hitmen. They're not interesting and, for professional killers, they're dumb. But they're not bumbling dumb. They're just stupid. Yet they're not supposed to be, at least the way the film tries to sell them. </p><p>In my opinion, they shouldn't have spoken at all. It would have stuck to the overall point of the movie; small simple crimes that fall quickly into extreme outcomes. It would have made them a helluva lot more interesting, too. All they had to be were mysterious vessels of murder. </p><p>This is my long way of saying they were overwritten.</p><p>Also, the parents of the first murder victim had about as much charm as empty chairs. </p><p>Anyway, at about 90 minutes, it's a good watch.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-82428841912617388562023-02-14T18:46:00.000-06:002023-02-14T18:46:32.259-06:00Demon and Guardian Updates<p>If you're wondering where links and images to my books <i>Demon</i> and <i>Guardian</i> have gone, well, they've been removed for now.</p><p>Why?</p><p>Because they are no longer for sale. You see, the rights to both have reverted back to me. So, the e-books and paperbacks by the original publisher are no longer available.</p><p>That doesn't mean new versions won't be available in the future. It just means they're not available right now.</p><p>If you're a publisher and are interested, you can always drop me a line.</p><p>More to follow...</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-75975572966459018162023-02-03T21:10:00.002-06:002023-02-03T21:11:07.755-06:00Drive-By Review: Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF9FKTcvV2e26pn6ZcXUo-7v_d_xHeppwEPZKvS4h-op1Y3yugVSlvWDkYXC6DdaTKnmulYHKAktqjbAQfq87OCfqSQqFJ1SsqV9n4e50YSvuM75wSG-HkyrjPgMxwd-ZviZ40hRiXn8kFVlCyTq3PdNTo7KZMsUp9Ryh2NdlMLHnJrlkzSYWICkH/s1280/tileburnedin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF9FKTcvV2e26pn6ZcXUo-7v_d_xHeppwEPZKvS4h-op1Y3yugVSlvWDkYXC6DdaTKnmulYHKAktqjbAQfq87OCfqSQqFJ1SsqV9n4e50YSvuM75wSG-HkyrjPgMxwd-ZviZ40hRiXn8kFVlCyTq3PdNTo7KZMsUp9Ryh2NdlMLHnJrlkzSYWICkH/w400-h225/tileburnedin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>If you're following the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh in South Carolina, you've already got a hint of what this docuseries is about. I wasn't following the trial and had no idea what to expect since I was completely in the dark on this one.</p><p>What I came away with is:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fraud and Corruption</li><li>Dark family history of fraud and corruption</li><li>Fraud and Corruption</li><li>Dark family history of potential murder to fully exploit perpetuated fraud</li><li>Murder, Murder, Murder</li><li>And a bunch of other stuff hinted at but not really explored</li></ul><p></p><p>In short, it's a fucked up family that's been allowed to wield way too much power and influence. This pretty much happens everywhere where families have been entrenched for a long time. I'm not saying murder and fraud to this level are always involved. But if you've lived somewhere long enough, you start to get the feel of the families that have the most influence and, somehow, someone in their family always seems to get away with murder.</p><p>What's different about this one is the spoiled kid who was going to get away with murder might have been murdered by his own dad.</p><p>Yeah, fucked up.</p><p>What I didn't get and what isn't really explored is why the dad may be going out of his way to protect an older brother who also may have been involved in a different murder but was so willing to kill the youngest son and his wife. The motive doesn't add up, at least how it's presented in this series.</p><p>The younger son may have committed drunken boating manslaughter and may have helped cover up the "accident" of another person for insurance money. The older son was being pointed at for potential involvement in beating a gay schoolmate to death. The latter seems way worse, all things considered. Why protect him but murder the other? Not defending murder. But we're supposed to believe the dad decided in an opioid haze that the younger son and wife had to die to protect himself?</p><p>In short, the series doesn't do a very good job connecting things. It does do a good job presenting all the misdeeds this family may be tied to.</p><p>That being said, it's interesting. If there were some occult aspects introduced, it'd be like a non-fiction <i>True Detective</i> season.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-64318767392964348162023-01-30T22:29:00.000-06:002023-01-30T22:29:23.094-06:00Drive-By Review - The Last Narc<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRi0QekeZ95UOg5PvZKE36JOzJG2wMfyE8DXeh1bph_cLHXxTWUOfJKxc92GEbV8M52YTtjFG1MNeEXGB8lLStvBt04l1mqM4eSwEVs0NvnOlT8fP9Cv373T87oEHaczJtVlULuCj5DpvleGPy3sUF-RszcLNXUWBYtgoDzFOvn0UyCnn0TDyHp_I/s2048/e65be70558cb4f3bde6bf79a3f3eb341dd013830a1d1265c6fb46cab9d2173ef._RI_V_TTW_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRi0QekeZ95UOg5PvZKE36JOzJG2wMfyE8DXeh1bph_cLHXxTWUOfJKxc92GEbV8M52YTtjFG1MNeEXGB8lLStvBt04l1mqM4eSwEVs0NvnOlT8fP9Cv373T87oEHaczJtVlULuCj5DpvleGPy3sUF-RszcLNXUWBYtgoDzFOvn0UyCnn0TDyHp_I/w400-h300/e65be70558cb4f3bde6bf79a3f3eb341dd013830a1d1265c6fb46cab9d2173ef._RI_V_TTW_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Somehow, I missed this docuseries on Amazon Prime. Being a fan of true crime, history, untold history, and the <i>Narcos</i> series on Netflix, I have no idea how this one flew under my radar.</p><p>Maybe because it's on Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime isn't the best at promoting stuff on Amazon Prime for some reason.</p><p>Anyway, I have since watched it and come away with two feelings:</p><p>1. Why does anyone believe anything at first glance? If the government is involved and multiple agencies are involved, you will not get the whole truth up front. Nor will you get it in any kind of linear narrative. </p><p>If you get the whole story, ever, lucky you. And yes, I speak from a position of experience with the government so I have some experience in this field.</p><p>2. I don't know why I'm constantly surprised at the level of ties that continue to come up related to Iran-Contra but I shouldn't be anymore. That is a dark pit that has tragedy written all over it and still, not too many people talk about it like they should.</p><p>Anyway, I'm not in the mood to get flagged so I'll just say this is a well done, although overly dramatic in parts when it comes to the slow motion footage of people walking. It kept me hooked and provided yet another rabbit hole to go down.</p><p>Now if someone would only do a good docuseries on Mena, Arkansas.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-10006570180174212692023-01-04T18:57:00.004-06:002023-01-04T18:57:40.788-06:00Drive-By Review - Severance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4Xz6rOGMrMkNDutNMtJD6d313F-eWe8ACH0buWWVxgyXnKcpGIay6vxruBPdvCfk79POnZ4f-MBiVRjgTkWX8s_FRF2OYLzAepud3Z-Xo6ePWGD1zYhP2Mzg217alPg0mXW5zywXk0LcXFPcmj1aTewjkeCxGd1ma9oepNK0_7B-4AomaUFszaw3/s3000/MV5BMjkwZjcwMGQtNDAzOC00YjJiLThiYTgtNWU3ZjRiZmY2YzEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMzNDExODE5._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4Xz6rOGMrMkNDutNMtJD6d313F-eWe8ACH0buWWVxgyXnKcpGIay6vxruBPdvCfk79POnZ4f-MBiVRjgTkWX8s_FRF2OYLzAepud3Z-Xo6ePWGD1zYhP2Mzg217alPg0mXW5zywXk0LcXFPcmj1aTewjkeCxGd1ma9oepNK0_7B-4AomaUFszaw3/w266-h400/MV5BMjkwZjcwMGQtNDAzOC00YjJiLThiYTgtNWU3ZjRiZmY2YzEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMzNDExODE5._V1_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p>Hey, it's a New Year! Might as well bring back an old thing I used to do around here called Drive-By Reviews. Nothing deep but something worth mentioning.</p><p>This week, I finished the first season of <i>Severance </i>on Apple TV+ (and why can't it be simply Apple+? It's not like everyone watches shit on a TV only anymore).</p><p>Anyhoo, I watched <i>Severance</i>. And dug the hell out of it.</p><p>I'm probably late to the party on this one. But that will be a continuing thing in 2023 for me. Getting caught up.</p><p>Well, I watched Severance because I heard good things and I wanted something cerebral, funny, and not overly depressing. I didn't expect a mystery series wrapped up in the the trappings of odd spiritualism and cults. The work place stuff and identity stuff was expected. But the waffle party with the crazy half-naked people dancing in giant cult masks? Not so much.</p><p>And thank you!</p><p>Love it when a show can surprise you.</p><p>Anyway, <i>Severance </i>was very enjoyable, well acted, well written, and, although maybe an episode too long, perfectly paced.</p><p>That is all. </p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-73526219230008741802022-12-19T14:17:00.002-06:002022-12-19T14:17:38.990-06:00Drive-By Update - TREATMENT Now Available on Nook<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/treatment-erik-williams/1142856915?ean=2940186585824" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLDUDh7zsypUKxWi8fOaEGIQSuUTWBA902tYAfV0P7JhWFhbSrqWqGcYYT3hjbJSICW1dGlJ7ni1nWfP3i_GJSbwVADTXgoJifmFFyUFN7Pl8cwWdtmOzT6-Gkpm8slKbM_H4e4pvC17XOTudoPUbb5RjuRAZ3LU7n5-lwrLDnjHtvI0mDYIJVkiA/w251-h400/Treatment%20Nook%20Cover%202022.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Whoa, two Drive-By updates in almost as many days. However, same e-book. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/treatment-erik-williams/1142856915?ean=2940186585824" target="_blank">TREATMENT</a> is now available in another location.</p><p>This time it's for Nook.</p><p>And check it out: the Nook version has a different cover. How's that for salesmanship?</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-31887010102799488022022-12-18T10:26:00.003-06:002022-12-18T10:26:44.739-06:00Drive-by Update: TREATMENT Now Available as an E-Book on Amazon Kindle<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQG2P9BD/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=erik+williams+treatment&qid=1671380270&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZV8ajFTjtPoDXw18JBfnb4UFE2yltP8hgIyeuVdJmYGKKB8WjB13flrlOgQqZPOSC--zENkF1g2rLiNXU5gi2EWhtANg29gyGmH59AZbfG3WMCW6dlYCWygJA3RND1Wlm3VswfhTcbdQZDDWdyzoXDgOlGkrHsFU2MhptYZ_yQrUhOq_hkmhFNfI/w251-h400/For%20man-for-hire,%20Frank%20Baldwin,%20it%20seems%20like%20the%20perfect%20job.%20Enter%20Mexico,%20locate%20missing%20pop%20princess,%20Melony%20Van%20Kyle,%20and%20return%20her%20to%20her%20father%20to%20collect%20$100,000.%20easy.%20With%20his%20intricate%20knowledge%20of.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I used to do these things called drive-by updates. Maybe this will be the first of many. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">TREATMENT</h2><p>Anyway, my short story <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQG2P9BD/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=erik+williams+treatment&qid=1671380270&sr=8-1" target="_blank">TREATMENT</a> is now available as an e-book on Kindle. It's kind of a zombie story. More of a love story. It's also depressing and sad but also has a bit of hope in it. Maybe?</p><p>Merry Christmas!</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-10141910171524905542022-12-07T17:21:00.003-06:002023-06-04T12:58:06.962-05:00The Evolution of Erik Williams's PIGS<p></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATED AGAIN!!! - Another New Cover!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTLzRPGDBx0_2obgjJoHeuHwNlQY3fSpPqKCIv-FY48cdZSqSu6Z1HFbp5MgmcTxB7vUg4efHcMOmegHi04olwj0Zhpjr0rCbBoV0_QEOK2DmSMxLtLpD8t8rDHk8pjGsQZ5hTMfFSFg5x3kWO41wc6NYM-STHfjEMwURBWkssH2axC3bMbV6Sqi7/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTLzRPGDBx0_2obgjJoHeuHwNlQY3fSpPqKCIv-FY48cdZSqSu6Z1HFbp5MgmcTxB7vUg4efHcMOmegHi04olwj0Zhpjr0rCbBoV0_QEOK2DmSMxLtLpD8t8rDHk8pjGsQZ5hTMfFSFg5x3kWO41wc6NYM-STHfjEMwURBWkssH2axC3bMbV6Sqi7/w402-h640/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, another new cover. This one embraces the larger "crime" element of the story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XQr87O4Cw-u1RpOLtUz9fRLv0S1pmnzlGTRIH4xmz9FHpmglQmoefcbDKaX3jA6Q2ET1kq4Z_lwmskfQPbuHbs4MkUZuP3rARsaBBrqzC2e62cJTm4JAK_2nM-C6FPyMRCGfx3vK2YI-XNalujjH8gLKrTt15RhNrOHquIB9w7eU32EABtavN0gJ/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(10).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XQr87O4Cw-u1RpOLtUz9fRLv0S1pmnzlGTRIH4xmz9FHpmglQmoefcbDKaX3jA6Q2ET1kq4Z_lwmskfQPbuHbs4MkUZuP3rARsaBBrqzC2e62cJTm4JAK_2nM-C6FPyMRCGfx3vK2YI-XNalujjH8gLKrTt15RhNrOHquIB9w7eU32EABtavN0gJ/w251-h400/Revised%20Covers%20(10).png" width="251" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATED!!! - New Cover!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, the old cover, although I liked it, wasn't doing anything for anyone. So, I tried something new. Above is the latest cover. Evolution, indeed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/PIGS-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B0737DSPFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KGC5OH5B9CBF&keywords=erik+williams+pigs&qid=1670454844&s=digital-text&sprefix=erik+williams+pigs%2Cdigital-text%2C96&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUslGgnUTXmQED_NZQyOb7T_FMryEGdemWmECCARW3cq9PF15TJaNg9rlZBIQar8PtQoWUrB8jTvSDb2P98cTM4okZ-FrBogdEb5PrJbRP5WEHX-f_twPgfiaxVofbobTz-0J9wQsq53D38An1aUBuSGZ-eoLTyRr0VDeBq4tjixIesUCAYy7WMSW/w251-h400/Pigs%202022%20Cover%20Final.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Yes, here we are again, talking about one of my previously published works that's now a stand alone e-book. What can I say other than:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It's my blog to pimp as a I please</li><li>I need to give myself some love cuz who else is gonna?</li><li>Publishing another story gives me another excuse to play with covers and Midjourney</li></ul><p></p><p>So, here we are. This time around, we're talking about <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/PIGS-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B0737DSPFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KGC5OH5B9CBF&keywords=erik+williams+pigs&qid=1670454844&s=digital-text&sprefix=erik+williams+pigs%2Cdigital-text%2C96&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Pigs</a></i>.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">So You Wrote a Story about Pigs? Sounds Delightful</h2><p>Nah, it isn't exactly about pigs. Nor is it any homage to <i>Animal Farm</i>.</p><p>No, this fair story was written back around 2012. I had recently fallen into a rabbit hole of true crime research. A hole I haven't found a way out of. At the time, I was diving deep, deep into Son of Sam and Manson. I was part of a Facebook group that was doing further research on SOS, working with the late Maury Terry. I was also reading a lot about Santa Muerte cults and drug trafficking.</p><p>The results of those obsessions include my novel <i>Progeny</i>, my story <i>Dying of the Light </i>(part of the <i>Tales from the Yellow Rose Diner and Fill Station </i>antho), and my story <i>Pigs</i>.</p><p>Where <i>Progeny</i> and <i>DotL</i> focused on Santa Muerte stuff, <i>Pigs</i> really delves into the idea of being obsessed with true crime itself. So much so that it may unlock a door into a world you weren't sure you wanted to know about.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">The First Go-Round</h2><p>When I finished <i>Pigs</i>, I sent it to a handful of places for consideration. At the same time, Tom Moran, the publisher of Sideshow Press (who did a lovely limited edition of my novelette The Reverend's Powder) was putting together a new imprint called Gallows Press. Instead of limited editions, the goal was to fill the void that a lot of shuttered mass market horror paperbacks had left.</p><p>There were a couple of successful ones already doing the same thing. Places like Deadite Press. And I believe Tom wanted to do the same thing.</p><p>To launch the imprint, he put together an antho aptly named<i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gallows-Anthology-Dark-Fiction/dp/0615621619" target="_blank">The Gallows</a></i> and asked a bunch of previous writers he'd worked with if they'd be willing to contribute. I had <i>Pigs </i>already done and said, "But of course."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gallows-Anthology-Dark-Fiction/dp/0615621619" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOs193-lHz8Fz8HWHw5DX7ab_wDPI-sURQ-r89Cw501VAy1JSOMKUFzhXm8Ladhj0kPMPg-xAKkqHiMsvG6iYfBgM--QDtWxUk6ZMXypBrzZ6yyVF-IR9uWBzKWD6UskKqpZ5yxps-RAGoWLPxuzfQsdmo5JwCfrldvBRvHMM2Zg51UHfoMRg16ll/w266-h400/0615621619.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p>Side Note: <i>The Gallows</i> is a cool little antho with work by a bunch of well-known horror writers like Gene O'Neill, Shane McKenzie, and some asshole named Sam W. Anderson.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Erik Does An E-Book...Briefly</h2><p>Fast forward to 2015. It's October and I just got downsized from my job. I'm getting five weeks of severance and looking for a new gig. Meanwhile, I figure I need to get my hustle on and start reprinting stuff.</p><p>So, having had experience self-publishing through Kindle and always looking to monetize my stuff that I have the rights to, I made an e-book version of <i>Pigs</i>. Even got a cover made by a pro and everything. Here it is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VOVJEP4WB5jXGQuEeB8pXj2WAvSECL6mG9zBiWgwPOObUVunaa1ctB4Pr_ITGs-eigvsw-ikBBJwyke-jU7hbJcFmrnxc2Wf7fxwcz19S0VKZBqxjgGeXY81zKqLkUuVSBzd2ZfrxbzrzhiSm7LDuEGZ7RPqTuyj-WYi_TQO6eRM9ksHJHQc0aPu/s2500/Pigs%20-%20Resolution.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1563" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VOVJEP4WB5jXGQuEeB8pXj2WAvSECL6mG9zBiWgwPOObUVunaa1ctB4Pr_ITGs-eigvsw-ikBBJwyke-jU7hbJcFmrnxc2Wf7fxwcz19S0VKZBqxjgGeXY81zKqLkUuVSBzd2ZfrxbzrzhiSm7LDuEGZ7RPqTuyj-WYi_TQO6eRM9ksHJHQc0aPu/w250-h400/Pigs%20-%20Resolution.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p>Now I know, it's not the best cover. Nor does it remotely fit the story. However, it was a premade cover, only cost $35, and I was trying to get my hustle on.</p><p>Not surprisingly, I never made the $35 back. Let that be a lesson to you writers.</p><p>I think I kept it on sale for a while, forgot about it, pulled it down, put it back up again in 2017 for a small amount of time and then took it down. I took it down to re-evaluate not only the cover but also if it was worth keeping it as a standalone e-book.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Welcome to the Present</h2><p>I've decided it is worth doing as a standalone e-book because it sure as hell isn't hurting anything.</p><p>Unlike my experiments with<i> <a href="https://erikwilliams.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-evolution-of-yellow-bug-or-why-i.html" target="_blank">The Yellow Bug</a></i> and <i><a href="https://erikwilliams.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-evolution-of-erik-williamss-long.html" target="_blank">The Long Bright Descent</a></i>, I didn't play with the cover for this endlessly. Nor did I post a new cover with the e-book only to redo the cover again and again.</p><p>Why?</p><p>This is not an easy story to capture a cover for. Yes, it deals with true crime but it also tackles a freaky cult whose members like to wear skinned pig's faces as masks. The cover couldn't look like a true crime cover, IMO, but it couldn't look as goofy as the one above.</p><p>I wanted something pulpy, with a Hard Case Crime feel but also let you know it was a horror story while capturing a bit of that L.A. feel.</p><p>Once I had this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/PIGS-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B0737DSPFG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KGC5OH5B9CBF&keywords=erik+williams+pigs&qid=1670454844&s=digital-text&sprefix=erik+williams+pigs%2Cdigital-text%2C96&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr923p1pW9MVHQm1sIlA_ZF2h62T0C9NEDc7jwkquDFSSuC3TxccdUcQ5kDpXVtTDXtFrhnjZNCKSRmuqFT-t7mqNBDqlyufrgLYreBglAqlP4QoHTponna5dGm8aRaohq_bK6pPULhqO8O-_XPKB3_vZW6HBbvO1rAmYQiU6_IDfC_1l24IP9wXA/w251-h400/Pigs%202022%20Cover%20Final.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p>I felt that was it and could move on without tinkering with it anymore. I also know I'm not likely to do much better on my own using Midjourney and Canva.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-15402015365166751732022-12-04T19:18:00.002-06:002023-06-03T20:43:45.213-05:00The Evolution of Erik Williams's THE LONG BRIGHT DESCENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu-HQSeSEMbcHNVx0KrrNZHW2wv9Te8DYVQmBNTdrASRav3F3kIfhUyWNw6YEh6KW4IbapBolsXx4JVa0X8TH8-A4_9McUlHaTRDEBoQedGn3-cLnWeuEna7WoV1GU54Lkd9jwrIi9XasZbW7jtik81MM8do9q7i0whOucKGCjq8J3xt15ekDdABh/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu-HQSeSEMbcHNVx0KrrNZHW2wv9Te8DYVQmBNTdrASRav3F3kIfhUyWNw6YEh6KW4IbapBolsXx4JVa0X8TH8-A4_9McUlHaTRDEBoQedGn3-cLnWeuEna7WoV1GU54Lkd9jwrIi9XasZbW7jtik81MM8do9q7i0whOucKGCjq8J3xt15ekDdABh/w402-h640/Revised%20Covers%20(4).jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">!!!UPDATED!!! - New Cover! Again.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I did another cover. That is all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7f8N8cM-DfvT2mbuGhPg9cZoBkwYfZWwSiKGFut5r8kv0t0ebYreQQoa3v_qoD21mNDyVRvcYslZw2Mxa5vawzKLwmeser8rowOu2KvoJQJWwIsSfGHLzoj_oL0bFeuDxZDRCxdNKbUwKmwe_vhHih-CCKbLd3dredH5-bzTUI0Ou2U8Vqt8jzOp/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7f8N8cM-DfvT2mbuGhPg9cZoBkwYfZWwSiKGFut5r8kv0t0ebYreQQoa3v_qoD21mNDyVRvcYslZw2Mxa5vawzKLwmeser8rowOu2KvoJQJWwIsSfGHLzoj_oL0bFeuDxZDRCxdNKbUwKmwe_vhHih-CCKbLd3dredH5-bzTUI0Ou2U8Vqt8jzOp/w251-h400/Revised%20Covers%20(3).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">UPDATED!!! - Or, I've Messed with this Cover So Much I Can't Keep Track But Here's the Latest!</h2><div>Yeah, the heading pretty much is the update. Anyway, the above is the latest. </div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;">Or: Erik Makes Another New Book Cover</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Bright-Descent-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B09P7QNZDT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=15PLWZQXE9Y8E&keywords=erik+williams+the+long+bright&qid=1670202224&sprefix=erik+williams+the+long+bright%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkGxY8u9V2mh-BWRj_oM34Y_CcSoWbd7TKwjJtO5T0Cmz4kuuiF9PwWGGHffM9GED34S4DL8KwPUrhtTng_u91zm9N0Qytu6Eut30UqAFJxdpp541Qkc_7qtwUIjowsN5t4dPphV-kr74pqezdXXk7Gd8cfp5OsdrCP-MAT0PIpeflnfkXjtwdOlh/w402-h640/For%20man-for-hire,%20Frank%20Baldwin,%20it%20seems%20like%20the%20perfect%20job.%20Enter%20Mexico,%20locate%20missing%20pop%20princess,%20Melony%20Van%20Kyle,%20and%20return%20her%20to%20her%20father%20to%20collect%20$100,000.%20easy.%20With%20his%20intricate%20knowledg%20(1).jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, you've heard this story before. Erik has another work of fiction of his that's been previously published and now he's releasing it (again) as an e-book with another new cover because he hasn't quite found one he likes until now...or something like that.</p><p>This time, it's for his tale <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Bright-Descent-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B09P7QNZDT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=15PLWZQXE9Y8E&keywords=erik+williams+the+long+bright&qid=1670202224&sprefix=erik+williams+the+long+bright%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3" target="_blank">The Long Bright Descent</a>.</i></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What was Wrong with the Other Covers?</h2><p>First of all, nothing was really wrong with the other covers. They just didn't capture what I was going for or I couldn't get Midjourney to interpret my artistic directions well enough to make me happy.</p><p>Put it another way, I was okay with the other versions but I kept tinkering, hoping I'd find something better. I think I have this time.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Where Did it First Appear?</h2><p>You mean where did it originally get published for money? Well, that would be in the fantastic <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peel-Back-Skin-Anthology-Stories/dp/1940658667/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=peel+back+the+skin+horror+anthology&qid=1670202703&sprefix=peel+back+the+skin%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1" target="_blank">PEEL BACK THE SKIN</a> anthology from Grey Matter Press back in 2016.</p><p>It's also the story Shane Douglas Keene, in his review of the antho for <a href="https://www.thisishorror.co.uk/book-review-peel-back-skin-edited-anthony-rivera-sharon-lawson/" target="_blank">This Is Horror</a>, said, </p><p><span face="Lora, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4a474b; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i>"It’s an expertly written, fast paced and entertaining tale of two ancient beings that clash in an eternal struggle for the survival of humanity."</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Oh, and it also was an Honorable Mention for Ellen Datlow's YEAR'S BEST HORROR, 2016.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyhoo...</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What's it About?</h2><p><i>The Long Bright Descent</i>? You read the above quote, right?</p><p>Well, it's a modern tale about two people that must engage in some form of challenge each and every night. The challenge is a choice between a chase or a battle of wits. If the result is a victory for our good guy, the world continues and the challenge is engaged again the following evening. If our good guy loses, the world ends.</p><p>If it sounds familiar to you, something out of Egyptian mythology set in our modern time, you'd be correct.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What about the Cover?</h2><p>The cover was tough. I kept going with this theme of driving into the sunset since both sunsets and cars play significant roles in the story. Below are my attempts in order:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSr21K37YeK8_9lKvPh3KeLpIvvFjeUvTXR85KQDW-tacgmPo68A95ouoVHeDPDWGGiFHs3yw9pRDqReYwEenOQc5jh5mtKzkfhVU6sZE2M7cRlcdYjz2OohuUUH8qbu01SXSHAGnrfOESiScs3mt6x8U02mpozT6XnM3zkXKUCWjTJTRJhinAKCW/s800/18.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSr21K37YeK8_9lKvPh3KeLpIvvFjeUvTXR85KQDW-tacgmPo68A95ouoVHeDPDWGGiFHs3yw9pRDqReYwEenOQc5jh5mtKzkfhVU6sZE2M7cRlcdYjz2OohuUUH8qbu01SXSHAGnrfOESiScs3mt6x8U02mpozT6XnM3zkXKUCWjTJTRJhinAKCW/w256-h400/18.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvANwcyHx8QhtnO8eUeAaxB39-X8VsMHTACgPswMUZgKwzrpI_dvYA3nuBmiM5pJbvHuXdr2tOuyyfgDuZ_EF9jnX79rpmgjEZhdv8oK4kAQMvFj2-2Ij7AQPIsMCv2EdmRAzW7jnelR2_LzQ6yX5xYsjC0URYCrLp4q482rEyKY6yet3Yp2rhm1xw/s800/19.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvANwcyHx8QhtnO8eUeAaxB39-X8VsMHTACgPswMUZgKwzrpI_dvYA3nuBmiM5pJbvHuXdr2tOuyyfgDuZ_EF9jnX79rpmgjEZhdv8oK4kAQMvFj2-2Ij7AQPIsMCv2EdmRAzW7jnelR2_LzQ6yX5xYsjC0URYCrLp4q482rEyKY6yet3Yp2rhm1xw/w256-h400/19.png" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdWAUVrVrRlxE-CYZbisi9nqLrv3XeBltWegzedBG-FUx-EQv9v3RGOmBGpgbV7oscaterLJw_Znljo7gkXDNugun1h3mgYsG8cav7TsInjwRjaF_DCbih0ad4tRQiUFvi6sOajFSjf-lyYJ7eMYv3Zcl2CZ9D23HP59Q47pO2k9_11MIrkK9sAa3/s1050/The%20Long%20Bright%20Descent%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdWAUVrVrRlxE-CYZbisi9nqLrv3XeBltWegzedBG-FUx-EQv9v3RGOmBGpgbV7oscaterLJw_Znljo7gkXDNugun1h3mgYsG8cav7TsInjwRjaF_DCbih0ad4tRQiUFvi6sOajFSjf-lyYJ7eMYv3Zcl2CZ9D23HP59Q47pO2k9_11MIrkK9sAa3/w256-h400/The%20Long%20Bright%20Descent%20Cover.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf82IrD1oWDDPN97mD0Iv0iH-KeMh5CnpIDjVriOLNzJ18I-illfDuaH0cWptTK88e2ymGd-6Z_5-IqIO1tTlhxiFwHOu8xWuYqtyfx0HwdBaHPlVJOrYnZaMmCwFp3M2xnc9LMFHzLmTQYdv7YW8lrhBJ1fOzEpJbnbNn1lh7UZvOMRMtnBR5GLP/s1300/TLBD%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="832" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf82IrD1oWDDPN97mD0Iv0iH-KeMh5CnpIDjVriOLNzJ18I-illfDuaH0cWptTK88e2ymGd-6Z_5-IqIO1tTlhxiFwHOu8xWuYqtyfx0HwdBaHPlVJOrYnZaMmCwFp3M2xnc9LMFHzLmTQYdv7YW8lrhBJ1fOzEpJbnbNn1lh7UZvOMRMtnBR5GLP/w256-h400/TLBD%20Cover.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of them felt abstract enough but not mythical enough to get the core heart of the story across, IMO. Sure, the last one also has the apocalyptic feel of the story, but lacks the character scope I think it needed.</div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The New Cover</h2><p>Notice I call it the new cover, not the final cover. As <a href="https://erikwilliams.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-evolution-of-yellow-bug-or-why-i.html" target="_blank">my experiment</a> with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Bug-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B099CMJZHL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WR5WMQP80QZS&keywords=the+yellow+bug+erik+williams&qid=1670202382&sprefix=erik+williams+the+ye%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Yellow Bug</a> has taught me about myself: I will continue to noodle these. </p><p>At least this one has the characters better represented, crossing a modern feel wit an ancient supernatural one.</p><p>Or it could suck. But I like it.</p><p>For now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Bright-Descent-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B09P7QNZDT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=15PLWZQXE9Y8E&keywords=erik+williams+the+long+bright&qid=1670202224&sprefix=erik+williams+the+long+bright%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcysKmV3w6NvyyKFpBcyoKWlMoBGmVnK5K4UDKWK5Ha8SJ8lSf9zF2Y6VEbqwG2glghtmLzT3pRjg-MOqiJrGxFdN_WUgQzcpWIFuFIelln1rpdqwBGDiQiNPQHCxPAfQKKpXaJ2wY6hmJGqMneN0oMU8dze5pBFwhTEvEbKMLt4hpUKSjBH_20ck/w251-h400/For%20man-for-hire,%20Frank%20Baldwin,%20it%20seems%20like%20the%20perfect%20job.%20Enter%20Mexico,%20locate%20missing%20pop%20princess,%20Melony%20Van%20Kyle,%20and%20return%20her%20to%20her%20father%20to%20collect%20$100,000.%20easy.%20With%20his%20intricate%20knowledg%20(1).jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-17722252978407311582022-11-20T13:18:00.011-06:002023-06-01T18:18:42.517-05:00The Evolution of Erik Williams's THE YELLOW BUG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa1fm_v2CuKYqXKulE3otbp8M1xxF4MYfDs2_fMjmaUrnLZITkJOASIO91nNc46ku52rUIjFWYEIw4qVzMTNzUZuPD5iUwSpdjB3OB7GRXPbj42U1ExwneVc9j9VyvFNvLt156Tp700-DXvIzJ2soCJn_lf8BhEt4J2MMUDQ_OBa0mMM5VKDFhs9E/s2250/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa1fm_v2CuKYqXKulE3otbp8M1xxF4MYfDs2_fMjmaUrnLZITkJOASIO91nNc46ku52rUIjFWYEIw4qVzMTNzUZuPD5iUwSpdjB3OB7GRXPbj42U1ExwneVc9j9VyvFNvLt156Tp700-DXvIzJ2soCJn_lf8BhEt4J2MMUDQ_OBa0mMM5VKDFhs9E/w402-h640/Revised%20Covers%20(6).jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATE RODEO!!!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I messed with the cover. Again. Sorry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But again, I limit these to the short stories no one is buying. It's more of a way for me to improve my skill while also trying to do a better job matching cover art with the work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, new cover above. Both are now available on Kindle and Nook.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04jjBiy4bTRR6EicSKZtxrsel8iisfz8ZQZT_OkXIDwy3j7xJrehIYUhtp1YMjqyb0uM_yTpVubpbcg7c51CPgY7Vm65ocxsCRczFq5A4g5jKrPVKFO6fJzHMMA8ldMEBf_81FkrWk58mMWTYzes2iS5H6ZNmEWCmFLEStTGnxqxyoQgRyA85oTwC/s2250/TYB%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04jjBiy4bTRR6EicSKZtxrsel8iisfz8ZQZT_OkXIDwy3j7xJrehIYUhtp1YMjqyb0uM_yTpVubpbcg7c51CPgY7Vm65ocxsCRczFq5A4g5jKrPVKFO6fJzHMMA8ldMEBf_81FkrWk58mMWTYzes2iS5H6ZNmEWCmFLEStTGnxqxyoQgRyA85oTwC/w251-h400/TYB%202023.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATED!!! - AGAIN!</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, this means, yet again, I've changed the cover for <i>The Yellow Bug</i>. This time, I decided to go with a Giallo-type thriller look. Anyway, that's all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Bug-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B099CMJZHL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N4GUG65X11D0&keywords=erik+williams+the+yellow+bug&qid=1670090395&sprefix=erik+williams+the+yellow+bug%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_A4wA-q-c_IAdz7dQn1sHxLWiIX_4-7l8X8ylcy50pIMk0p5MoE02op8oWC3C3rfgvEgzeJRhSOoI4-5aip_tD3jC_YlV_MdpMwTHzBIwg28QHshkbIs795zJ0GaNobt-T6Egpj05lQx_UReGB_iBS78OnvI86Caz7e2Gu8TWTW4JoWWEHnwf_g7/w251-h400/For%20man-for-hire,%20Frank%20Baldwin,%20it%20seems%20like%20the%20perfect%20job.%20Enter%20Mexico,%20locate%20missing%20pop%20princess,%20Melony%20Van%20Kyle,%20and%20return%20her%20to%20her%20father%20to%20collect%20$100,000.%20easy.%20With%20his%20intricate%20knowledge%20of.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both;">UPDATED!!! - Or: Why Erik Keeps Fucking Around with his Short Horror Story THE YELLOW BUG</h2><p>I lied. I thought I was done but then Midjourney did some updates and I figured I'd play a little more and this was the result. I think it's the best yet.</p><p>And since the story is about transformation, also fits the story the most.</p><p>Anyway, that's the latest, and hopefully last, cover.</p><p>END UPDATE</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLp2hGL7xhMLMmIv3hBWadM8Na4B2RMYoOuHGo8EsrDPCpAiBzz0miA13wRuk2LHnRofclg633Pfw2lu4Ai7HycU4rVMMFl61GzB7vMsHhNstfvCH5OxMxKXfDMLlKlKQBXNdO53Pdjb4aTXuzJs1oCtuHgUeY6OOUYxFc-QuDgi8q6CuDlHRivPq/s1200/The%20Yellow%20Bug%202022%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLp2hGL7xhMLMmIv3hBWadM8Na4B2RMYoOuHGo8EsrDPCpAiBzz0miA13wRuk2LHnRofclg633Pfw2lu4Ai7HycU4rVMMFl61GzB7vMsHhNstfvCH5OxMxKXfDMLlKlKQBXNdO53Pdjb4aTXuzJs1oCtuHgUeY6OOUYxFc-QuDgi8q6CuDlHRivPq/w256-h400/The%20Yellow%20Bug%202022%20Cover.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, I'm not really fucking around with the story of <i>The Yellow Bug</i> itself. The story remains the weird, creepy, horrific little tale it's been since first being published in the wonderful MADHOUS anthology. </p><p>No, I've mainly been fucking with the cover art and the e-book layout.</p><p>That's a nice way of saying I've been experimenting with <i>The Yellow Bug</i> in an attempt to:</p><p>1. Teach myself more stuff when it comes to being self-sufficient publishing my back catalogue of short stories</p><p>2. Realize when something isn't working or sucks and correct it (in this case, a history of bad covers by yours truly)</p><p>3. Learn what's working and isn't working out there in e-book sales land (which seems to be wholly the domain of Kindle more and more every day)</p><p>So far, I've learned it's nice to be able to do this stuff on your own, especially with a previously published short story you've already been paid for. It's also nice to be able to do it on your own and not throw money down the toilet on cover design, etc.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Erik Reflects on His Lack of Sales and Blames Others</h2><p>Now you might says, "Hey, it's not throwing money down the toilet."</p><p>Well, that would be true if sales were awesome but one thing I've learned in over a decade of playing with e-book publishing: those awesome days of badass sales are long gone. It's an oversaturated market. And unless you've got a name, a following, or great word-of-mouth, good luck standing out in that pile of shit known as self-publishing (which used to be called the pile of shit known as the slushpile).</p><p>And I'm not just knocking self-publishing. E-book sales from big publishers aren't great either. Haven't been for a while. Unless you've got a name, following, or great word-of-mouth.</p><p>This isn't me being negative. It's just reality. And I'm okay with it. I was there at the beginning and had my awesome sales years. Now, Kindle and whatever competitors there are out there aren't shiny and new anymore. Hell, I'm willing to bet audiobooks are doing far better than e-books based solely on how popular podcasts are and the amount of money Amazon has sunk into promoting Audible.</p><p>Then again, a shitty cover or cover art for a previously published short horror story isn't going to help sales either. Besides, experimenting with covers is fun (for me at least).</p><p>But what the hell does this have to do with <i>The Yellow Bug</i>? It's a short horror story that's already been professionally published in a well regarded anthology. And I got paid for it! Why blather about it here? What gives?</p><p>Eh, not much. Other than to point out it's not a new short story nor a new e-book. Just a short story of mine I'm fond of with a new cover and I think it deserves more attention so I keep playing with the cover and such to see if it'll get any traction on its own one day.</p><p>But if it doesn't, like I said, I've already been paid for it so it's not like I've lost money on it.</p><p>When and where did I get paid?</p><p>Good question. Have I already mentioned MADHOUSE?</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">MADHOUSE: An Illustrated Shared World Psychological Horror Anthology</h2><p><i>The Yellow Bug </i>first appeared in the professional horror anthology MADHOUSE, edited by Benjamin Kane Ethridge and Brad C. Hodson and published by Dark Regions Press way back in 2016. It's a great book with a cool concept with a bunch of crazy stories by some badass writers.</p><p>I like to believe I'm one of them. The name's Erik Williams for you search engines out there.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Madhouse-Illustrated-Shared-Psychological-Anthology/dp/1626411166/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3Q9LI9SED9EEA&keywords=madhouse+anthology&qid=1668904920&sprefix=madhouse+anthology%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXXQPjBk82Z0sjyqHK5v8Omg_QNcCv3KgMqReDmzRuonD58LjHYNEUPfkbCAFF2giXYyMMHO98FIxfh0kZ7AosHDG4R2qwLvuJ7je1R5Biu2XdTeVJ5gPvkUmpsNhiHJZ8uuBiCFO4xkV9eOvU7csdJYWb_AVl5rr0Cfq4k1MiEiCMuxIxqQwCJb8/s320/51LGVB36sZL._SX348_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Anyway, since then it's only appeared as a stand alone e-book and only since mid-2021. I considered trying to get it reprinted but said, "What the hell?" and went the e-book route.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Erik Decides to be Self-Sufficient (Or Cheap and Lazy, Both Work)</h2><p>This was about the same time I discovered Canva and decided to learn the ropes of cover design and such.</p><p>Of course, I didn't want to pay for the PRO subscription so got good at using all the free stuff, which resulted in a shitty lame first cover attempt by your truly. Again, the name is Erik Williams, Google.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1fovX4Ovin0uYJx-mxpCh3VzSOa2ooQLXoI7-xBOk17L8KaJArij13YFHp_c3FhRjBNjK6p288f_v3G7wOuCHtrtxa4xbYkscWOJqWvFVo2ZAHXC4LOo5egfegh-PwiWcoL4N2deeWaYaLtodyRAquG-eUJ-JGe1HJYx5LC6vTSKsfnwt3I-1IcJ/s800/The%20Yellow%20Bug.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1fovX4Ovin0uYJx-mxpCh3VzSOa2ooQLXoI7-xBOk17L8KaJArij13YFHp_c3FhRjBNjK6p288f_v3G7wOuCHtrtxa4xbYkscWOJqWvFVo2ZAHXC4LOo5egfegh-PwiWcoL4N2deeWaYaLtodyRAquG-eUJ-JGe1HJYx5LC6vTSKsfnwt3I-1IcJ/w256-h400/The%20Yellow%20Bug.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Yeah, that's a lot of "yellow". So much so you can barely read anything. Based on the font, and shade, I think I was going for a sepia/Western look.</p><p>Well, that had to be fixed, of course, which lead to this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IQTpEwX1A2BrspnwMJQVkYfL4ZteMKaemTrsx6Ycs-_jxUZY1gAbbcD9O2zvUw8PszULs22hnxOUjnnlnRI3shcm3rwrtFy2lSVj_5jPp8hVRfQg7g8C3bXHTRRtwoW4N3XfPuutjdZFH8IBZ-Vin84ZO262TSdqJwrigA6DDA2mgfl_jFC7U40B/s800/Add%20a%20heading%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IQTpEwX1A2BrspnwMJQVkYfL4ZteMKaemTrsx6Ycs-_jxUZY1gAbbcD9O2zvUw8PszULs22hnxOUjnnlnRI3shcm3rwrtFy2lSVj_5jPp8hVRfQg7g8C3bXHTRRtwoW4N3XfPuutjdZFH8IBZ-Vin84ZO262TSdqJwrigA6DDA2mgfl_jFC7U40B/w256-h400/Add%20a%20heading%20(1).png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Hey, you can read the title and my name now! Of course, the background looks like sand soaked in oil or fresh asphalt. But who cares? You can read them words now!</p><p>But it still sucked. At the same time, I completely lost track of <i>The Yellow Bug a</i>nd it's woeful cover because LIFE!</p><p>I started freelance writing fulltime. Which meant there was no room for fiction adventures whatsoever.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Erik Remembers the Terrible Cover and Makes More Terrible Covers</h2><p>So, the cover remained. And so did my non-existent sales.</p><p>Then a few months ago, I discovered Midjourney and started playing with AI art and figured, "Hey, let's see if the AI thingy can put together a trippy cover with surreal shit and stuff in it.</p><p>Well, here's what the AI threw at me for some ideas:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0icBXjr-2bbM1L8Nnx16NTz1Jzdzw3v_BhaOXd2OMOq7Jz7g9KWuB7JfJwBY1i05SuvRHnFLQAoIyYshZszz29Psw48NjxTLVePZFWSpS427TWTrhsnH9EX6mU9c6wO4Zbcmkzqz_oUHYh_j94Q-5L7ke9_C3NBhwdrf6EnqIOz-zV2yBLvsG3ym0/s512/grid_0%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0icBXjr-2bbM1L8Nnx16NTz1Jzdzw3v_BhaOXd2OMOq7Jz7g9KWuB7JfJwBY1i05SuvRHnFLQAoIyYshZszz29Psw48NjxTLVePZFWSpS427TWTrhsnH9EX6mU9c6wO4Zbcmkzqz_oUHYh_j94Q-5L7ke9_C3NBhwdrf6EnqIOz-zV2yBLvsG3ym0/s320/grid_0%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Now personally, I kinda like them all. But I'm also fucking weird and have always liked weird cover art. I almost went with the top left but asked the AI for more ideas.</p><p>It came back with the below and I dug it. So much so I made it the cover. But after a couple months, it's okay to wonder who the fuck wants to buy a book with this cover? The answer is no one and I can't fault them for it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgygE_-rVO-WD0eKk-p48hWlXC0Ed5RYXsT693VGpBDJlqysPw-zfYKEkV6f5tsIxLTRR_u0Q7eDMtk0V95r08130obIgxTVwnmxGSUH4f3kZ_yK2pvcNyeCJQawWA-XFqA4zG-zOEAdCQOeCvAUe4jy8KSXywQSOPMMd-bElzOJNmynLIfKsPkOt/s1000/The%20Yellow%20Bug%20Cover%20V2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgygE_-rVO-WD0eKk-p48hWlXC0Ed5RYXsT693VGpBDJlqysPw-zfYKEkV6f5tsIxLTRR_u0Q7eDMtk0V95r08130obIgxTVwnmxGSUH4f3kZ_yK2pvcNyeCJQawWA-XFqA4zG-zOEAdCQOeCvAUe4jy8KSXywQSOPMMd-bElzOJNmynLIfKsPkOt/w256-h400/The%20Yellow%20Bug%20Cover%20V2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Yes, I dig it, but, again, I'm a weird mofo. Also, I have to admit, the bug looks like some surreal hay-demon coming out of a freshly mowed field. Not exactly the desert bug demon of my short horror story.</p><p>Although it may work in an ad for allergy medicine.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Erik Realizes the Cover Should Reflect the Work</h2><p>Anyway, no one wanted to buy it. Which led me back to Midjourney's AI to do some more playing. I figured this time I'd better, you know, add some more realism to the cover other than a freaky yellow hay-demon. So, at the top of this post, and right below, is the latest attempt. I think it's more grounded but also has that bizarre, creepy feel with that big bug eye staring at our poor veteran lost in the desert (a central plot point, of course).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Bug-Story-Erik-Williams-ebook/dp/B099CMJZHL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SRNFL4UI967V&keywords=the+yellow+bug+erik+williams&qid=1668971569&sprefix=%2Caps%2C302&sr=8-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGHhdj_-a3UDDJus9SaoT1kC722pvVANqLbQxD6FTvpRraviZt9Yepg7-iRt05PZV7ctcFqyEz_QymAODwmSHTMm0YW7wAzlGvTNKhK2dyQsA0tgRlwkrQvoeQqGN5P0E0PRNpPCndX7dAbPAjQLyNJWcZpUmiUIJ-5P1wL8ANd-ww7wl07X2Ta4h/w256-h400/The%20Yellow%20Bug%202022%20Cover.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Maybe this cover will be the last, maybe not. The AI technology keeps improving and it's fun to play with so I can't guarantee this is it. However, I can say this one "fits" the story more than any others. So there's that.</p><p>Anyway, that's the story behind the evolution of the cover art for my short story <i>The Yellow Bug</i>. Available now. When the cover change again? TBD.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335675778563426953.post-71882290643251186822022-01-25T14:59:00.019-06:002022-09-20T21:13:44.335-05:00GENERAL GORDO'S STRANGE REQUEST Now Available on Kindle with New Cover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/General-Gordos-Strange-Request-Short-ebook/dp/B09Q2F4HDQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=erik+williams+general+gordo&qid=1663726200&sprefix=%2Caps%2C402&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12Qotb8AtsoJ2hQk7gaw7Juf1od0LsiI-eObvx5VrBbEYG4aHa1t2nzW4_SeEa2zAiDOFfDoEPcu4XSbkmhwRPy0uPHD_0Z5GH-SQBbAws4oBGayqZ5cs8u5v2jGqX3C_q7hbnm4XGgxBbzZqOojvi15HNmIWoT329VF1yRlys9OgGe8hC3ESFNGX/w256-h400/General%20Gordo's%20Strange%20Request%20Cover%202022.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Art generated using Midjourney.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>***UPDATED with new cover***</p><p>Yes, another short story where I had fun updating the cover art. That is all.</p><p><br /></p><p>My short story<a href="https://www.amazon.com/General-Gordos-Strange-Request-Short-ebook/dp/B09Q2F4HDQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=erik+williams+general+gordo&qid=1663726200&sprefix=%2Caps%2C402&sr=8-1" target="_blank"> GENERAL GORDO'S STRANGE REQUEST</a> is now available on Amazon for Kindle. Yes, that's another short story that is it's own e-book. And yes, it is also only $0.99.</p><p>Unlike my other stories, this one is funny. Yes, there may be severed head talk, but still funny.</p>Erik Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935010248893979074noreply@blogger.com0