Retrospective: Four Novels Later

Hello everyone.  I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my "writing career" as it is since I've just put out my fourth book, "Zombies and Power Tools."  Most people would ask me how are the books selling?  And I'd say a few here and there, but I haven't caught on.  And that's to be expected, considering there's so many authors out there.  Anybody can publish themselves, even without money or talent.  You, the reader, could go to amazon digital services and create yourself a nifty e-book in no time.  I've considered self-publishing myself, but I stop myself and say it's nice to have friends at your back, even on the small press level, so I'm not quite ready to go independent.  So sure, I haven't received tons of money and attention over adoring fans over my books, but this is what I have earned...

Fall of 2009, I put out my first novel "The Body Cartel" (Damnation Books). From my dealings with DB, I had great writing direction from a fellow author named Tim Marquitz.  I learned so much from this man with his pointers, and since then,  things seemed to have picked up after that.  I have appreciations for Damnation Books simply because they were taking the time and effort to put out my first novel, and they didn't restrain the graphic or sexual content of my book.  It's easily NC-17 content.  They gave me my start.  Enough said.

In Spring of 2010 I put out "Inside the Perimeter: Scavengers of the Dead" through Living Dead Press, which is to this day my best-seller, so to speak.  I've been fortune to have dealings with LDP because I've had short fiction in fifteen of their horror anthologies, and the people running the show have told me stories of their experiences in writing, and I've also gained knowledge of what I was still doing wrong in my writing and making adjustments from there.  I also have constant contact with LDP, and it's what keeps me going in my term of being an obscure writer.  Having a friend in the business, allies who are in the same boat as you, is VITAL.  We're not all Stephen King, but to hell with it, we're writers and we're going to write. 

In late/early 2011, a new publisher called "Panic Press" came onto the scene.  I got hooked up with "Panic Press" through their e-zine "House of Horror."  I'd have a few stories published through them and they reviewed two of my novels.  Being associated with them, I was able to pitch "Ashes in Her Eyes," my third book, and get it accepted.  I'm very proud of this one because I've shopped this around for many years.  I had a few publishers interested, but because of its seedy nature and graphic content, it got shoved aside.  It's not "Twilight," sorry.  "Ashes" is a mix of thriller/horror/intensity, and it's got a pulpy flavor to it.  I hope the novel finds its audience.  I also enjoyed my experience at "Panic Press" because it's a true labor of love.  They're writers publishing writers.  It's a good place for a writer to be.  Again, if I did it independently, I would've missed out on a lot of good experiences. 

And recently, I put out "Zombies and Power Tools" from Living Dead Press.  I think if anybody wanted to read something by me to see if they'd enjoy my flavor of writing, it'd be this book.  This is MORE than a zombie novel.  It's got blackmail, secrets hidden between friends, zombies who are proactive during the whole book, and the zombies are mysterious.  They're not dumb vessels.  They have motives, ideas, and ambitions.  And they use power tools to kill people--and the use of power tools has a reason that's intricate to the plot; I'm being serious.  Check it out if you don't believe me.  And once again with LDP, the publishing process is straight forward and streamlined.  It's also one of the few places I've actually talked over the phone with the people working there.  I like LDP too because they put ads in Fangoria, which costs a lot of money, but it shows how serious they are about marketing and getting the word out. 

So there it is, folks.  My "writing career" so far.  Sure, I'm not rich.  I'm obscure, but compared to before Fall of 2009, I'm in a better place.  If it takes twenty novels to finally be noticed, then so be it.  But my real movitation day-to-day is the interactions I've had with Damnation Books, Living Dead Press, and Panic Press.  Actually working on a project and seeing it to the end.  Getting experience.  I think that's payment as well, because no college could give that to me.  I think all new writers should be focused on getting experience more than the money payout, because more than likely, it won't be there. 

Thank you to everyone who'd read my books, thrown kinds words my way, reviewed me on amazon, and thanks especially to my wife, who's had to read my early drafts of stories and has stepped up to the plate with encouragement when things work out and dusts me off when things go to shit. 

Four novels!  Here's to four more!

New Novel: ZOMBIES AND POWER TOOLS

Here it is, "Zombies and Power Tools" in all its glory.  But what is that you're thinking, dear readers?  'Ugh, another zombie novel. Why?'  Well wait, here's why you should give this one a shot over the slew of others that are coming out every other day.

1.  Zombies use power tools on people to kill them.

2.  This is not a post-apocalypse novel.  This is set in present day. 

3.  These zombies have motives.  They don't talk, though they write messages in blood.

4.  What allows the dead to come back to life in this book hasn't been done before.  It's not a virus or a plague or voodoo.  The reason the dead are alive is gruesome, shocking, and above all else, integral to the plot.

5.  This book has a conclusion.  No open-ended last chapters.  The conflict is resolved, wrapped up in a bloody package.

6.  And did I mention zombies use power tools to kill their victims?

You can buy this novel on amazon.com, or check it out at livingdeadpress.com

AND END PLUG

Special Message from your favorite cannibal, Hayden Grubaugh!

Happy New Year everyone!  I'm Hayden Grubaugh, your favorite cannibal villain from "Inside the Perimeter: Scavengers of the Dead."  2010 was a wild year, but 2011 appears to have even more surprises in store for us.  First, I wanted to tell everyone I've recovered from my gastric bypass surgery.  Thanks for the cards and words of concern.  I'm back to carving it up!

I also wanted to say I've been reading my buddy Alan Spencer's newest novel, "Ashes in Her Eyes," and I have to say, I'm scared shitless.  It's hard to read a book with your eyes closed, it's that creeptastic.  I give my bloody stamp of approval on this piece of bloody fiction. 

Speaking of bloody approval, I'm happy to tease you with another surprise in 2011.  Keep checking this blog.  Alan Spencer has another announcement very soon.  Get ready to line your carpet with plastic, it's going to get nasty!

Yours truly,

Hayden

"The Incredible Melting Man"

Lets talk horror movies.  If you can see the small pictures on the back of the VHS tape, the idea's really simple.  A guy that's melting and has to eat human flesh not to die.  That simple.  If horror movies could provide a "simple" concept and go overboard with the execution of the movie, you'd have some kick ass flicks.  And movies covers aren't what they used to be.  If I saw this thing at a Best Buy or whatever, I'd be all over it.  But what I really want to see, is a spin-off of this called "The Incredible Melting Woman."  Hello Hollywood, you want to remake/re-imagine a movie, here it is.  Dripping female flesh in 3-D!  How awesome, right?

"Ashes in Her Eyes" is ALIVE!!!

"Ashes in Her Eyes" is officially available from "Panic Press" (http://panicpress.org/)!  And check out the Xmas specials.  You can buy my book and get a t-shirt with the cover on it for FREE.  How badass is that?  My book on a t-shirt!  You don't see anybody wearing a shirt with the cover of "Moby Dick" on it, now do ya?

And don't forget, kiddies, "Ashes in Her Eyes" will be available at smashwords.com very soon and will be available on Barnes & Noble kindle as well as on the sony reader and amazon.com in about eight weeks.

It appears Santa has brought us a very bloody Christmas! 

"Ashes in Her Eyes" Pre-Order Drive

Herman won't unbury himself until 100 copies of "Ashes in Her Eyes" are sold!

I told Herman it gets to below freezing during the night in my backyard, and he won't get any bathroom breaks.  But this monster won't listen to me, so I implore everyone to purchase a copy before Herman perishes.  He's got thick monster skin, but that will only allow him to survive in the winter elements for so long.  You know monsters, they're so stubborn.  What's an author to do?

So please, pre-order your copy of "Ashes in Her Eyes" here: http://panicpress.org/2010/ and please end Herman's suffering. 

Editing down the next novel...

My untitled novel about zombies and power tools is about ready for my wife to read, and when it's ready for my wife, it's serious business.  This book's a mystery/suspense/gorefest all in one.  If Mary Higgins Clarke and Edward Lee had a lovechild, this would be it. 

In the meantime, the anthology "Monster Party" has been releaesd with my short story "Skyscraper."  Check it out.  Happy Thursday!