Thursday, January 30, 2014

SNOW FALLS IN FEBRUARY!

Cover Art: Dennis Calero

With all of the snow, ice, and other inclement weather we’ve been having, especially all the chaos we have seen here in the Atlanta area where I live, the last thing you probably want to think about is more snow coming your way.

This snow, however, is one I hope you’ll like.

In recent months I’ve mentioned the Snow Falls ebook novella I’ve been working on. This afternoon, I talked with Jeffrey Weber at The Stark Raving Group, the publisher behind this new publishing imprint that will be premiere titles at Bookxy and then move out to additional markets, and he shared the completed cover to my first book for them called SNOW FALLS. The cover is illustrated by Dennis Calero with the title and author treatment handled by Bob Wynne. Great job on the cover, gents. I love it.

Snow Falls is the story of Abraham Snow, a former deep cover operative. After a sniper’s bullet leaves him half an inch from death, Snow retires from the dangerous life he has led for over a decade only to find that the danger and the action were not finished with him.

Get ready for Snow Falls.

Bobby


About Snow Falls:
Half an inch is all that stands between life and death.

Abraham Snow’s career ended with a bullet. Left for dead, the undercover operative barely survived an assassin’s bullet. After a long and painful recovery, Snow retires and returns home to Atlanta, Georgia to reconnect with his former life and the people he has not seen in over a decade.

The quiet life is not in the cards for Snow, however.

After thwarting an assassination attempt on a diplomat that endangers his sister, Snow leaps into action to keep his family out of a killer’s crosshairs. Teamed with his grandfather, himself a former government operative, and an old friend turned FBI Agent, Snow is determined to stop the assassin before he or she can take another shot at the target.

Snow Falls is an adrenaline-filled adventure thriller from award-winning author Bobby Nash and the first in a series of action-packed adventures featuring Abraham Snow and friends.

Bookxy is a great portal to download my (as well as other) new novels. Check out the books, authors, and illustrators already on board at www.bookxy.com. You might recognize a few of them. Here’s my page.

About Bookxy:
Bookxy was borne out of Stark Raving Group, Inc., a unique e-book, and more, publishing company focusing on mysteries, crime fiction, action-adventure and thrillers. As you will see, the Stark Raving Group and Bookxy are truly the next generation publishing company. Follow Bookxy on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Keep watching this space for more news on Snow Falls.


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

WELCOME TO NO MAN'S LAND...


Zombies Vs. Robots creator, Chris Ryall shows off an advance copy of the Zombies vs Robots: No Man's Land prose anthology above. This new book features my story, "The Wall" and illustrations by the great Fabio Listrani. Look for it in bookstores, comic shops, Wal-Mart, Amazon [UK, CA], Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, and possibly supermarkets on February 26th from IDW Publishing.

The fifth book in IDW's shambling series of original Zombies vs Robots prose collections. Fully illustrated by the fantabulous Fabio Listrani, this new anthology features fresh tales of rotting flesh and rusting metal. IDW further expands the apocalyptic hellscape of its unique signature franchise. A world where brain-eaters roam and warbots rule is truly a NO MAN'S LAND. Introduction by Jonathan Maberry.

264 pages, black and white, $19.99.
Find it wherever your favorite books are sold February 26th.

Stay tuned for more news when I have it.

Bobby

EARTH STATION ONE EPISODE 199 – THE FILMS OF RON HOWARD


The ESO crew finds their thrills when looking at the career of Ron Howard. Mike Faber, Mike Gordon, the award-winning author Bobby Nash, Bernadette Johnson, and Alex Autrey look at his career coast-to-coast from his humble beginnings in Mayberry, NC to his happy high school days in Milwaukee, WI to his huge success as a director in Hollywood, CA. Also, Paul Bishop returns to the station to talk about the latest Fight Card project and we find listener Lucas Garrett still stowed away from last week’s episode, so we strap him in The Geek Seat. Plus the usual Rants, Raves, Khan Report, and Shout Outs!

Join us for yet another episode of The Earth Station One Podcast we like to call: The Films of Ron Howard at www.esopodcast.com
Direct link: http://esopodcast.com/earth-station-one-episode-199/


Table of Contents
0:00:00 Intro / Welcome
0:07:53 Rants & Raves
0:26:02 Paul Bishop
0:37:12 Geek Seat w/ Lucas Garrett
0:54:34 The Films of Ron Howard
1:42:48 2 Minutes w/ Dr Geek

1:44:32 ESO Khan Report
1:50:39 ESO Shout Outs & Show Close

Next on Earth Station One...

ESO CELEBRATES #200!

200!
Join the crew and friends of the station as we gather together LIVE at Odin’s Comics in Lilburn, GA to celebrate Earth Station One’s 200th episode! What better way to celebrate this milestone that by asking, “What Inspires Your Geek?” We’re going to dive into this topic with some special guests. You won’t want to miss it. There will be cake.

ESO wants to know What Inspires Your Geek? Share your story at esopodcast@gmail.com, www.esonetwork.com, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. Who knows, we might just share yours on the show.

Download ESO Episode 199 mp3 here.
You can also find Earth Station One on iTunes, Stitcher, and YouTube.

Check out The New ESO Amazon.com E-Store here.

Get your new ESO Window Sticker here.

A GHOST GAL SNEAK PEEK...

Over on Facebook, my pal, Van Allen Plexico tagged me as part of this so I thought I would share it here. Writer-types: go to page 7 of your current WIP (work in progress) and post a section, and invite others to play. Also tell us what it's from and when it will be available.

Here's mine, from the still in progress Ghost Gal novel I'm writing for Raven's Head Press.

Maxamillian Bartlett looked out over the memorial to his father.

Young Max had been born just after the destruction of his father’s castle keep so Max had never seen it as it had been intended. Instead, he only knew the piecemeal section that remained as a memorial that his father’s legacy. The tattered remains overlooked the concrete courtyard where a sculpture made by a mysterious artisan who was never credited sat. Benches had been placed along the perimeter of the courtyard for visitors to enjoy the park. Three flagpoles flew the colors of the United States of America while the flag of the great state of New Hampshire and the Bartlett family crest flew just a bit lower on either side.

Beyond the courtyard were a well-manicured lawn and beyond that several tended gardens where flowers of many different colors added to the areas natural beauty. It was here that Max had played as a child, his family living on a neighboring plot of land, the park was essentially his front yard. It was where he had played ran, learned to ride a bicycle, kissed a girl for the first time, and smoked his first cigarette. Perhaps, he wondered, it was a monument to his life as much as his father’s legacy.

Just weeks shy of his twenty first birthday and Max Bartlett had only recently buried his father, the last of his living relatives in a private plot in the Bartlett family cemetery located in an off limits section of the park. His father had cared greatly for the park and Max believed that he would find comfort in knowing that it served as his final resting place.


###

Look for Ghost Gal later in 2014.

Bobby

EARTH STATION ONE VISITS CHIMICHANGA TALK FOR A 200 EPISODE CELEBRATION


Earth Station One host Mike Faber and Bobby Nash joined the Chimichanga Talk! podcast to talk about ESO’s upcoming 200th episode. Give it a listen here.

Chimichanga Talk! helps the Earth Station One podcast Crew members Mike Faber and Bobby Nash celebrate 200 episodes with a behinds the scene look at podcasting! Also Pensacon panel update, Hollywood flops, A review of HER, and True Detective.

You can listen to the full episode now. Just click here.

Like Chimichanga Talk on FB here


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Visit the ESO website here.

Monday, January 27, 2014

THERE’S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS, SHERLOCK!

I was informed recently that I haven’t been talking about the TV, movies, books, etc. that I’ve been enjoying of late so I thought I would toss out a few short reviews of some TV I’ve been enjoying lately. In typing these up I noticed that characters play a big part in the shows I like. Great characters can support the occasional weak story and plot. These are in no particular order and are not all the shows I like or watch, just the first ones that popped into my head.

Klondike
I watched the last episode of the Klondike mini series on Discovery Channel earlier tonight. That was pretty good. I enjoyed it. I love stories with an outdoor setting and the locations shots were gorgeous. Story was a bit disjointed in places, but I liked it.

Sherlock
I enjoyed tonight's episode of Sherlock. I wasn't really digging it at first, but once things started coming together I was hooked. This series has a great cast. Sadly, we only get 3 episodes a season.

Sleepy Hollow
What a difference 11 episodes makes. To say I was less than impressed with this show when it premiered would be an understatement, but Sleepy Hollow managed to surprise me. Episodes 1 and 2 were enough to make me want to delete it from my DVR schedule, but I try to give shows at least 4 episodes and boy am I glad I did. This has turned into a really fun show. The plots are often thin, but the likeability and charm of the two leads have won me over. I really enjoyed the season ending cliffhanger and twist, even though I saw part of it coming (I mentioned thin plots, right?). I’m ready for season 2 in the fall.

The Black List
I love this show. As with Sleepy Hollow, sometimes the plots are a bit thin, but James Spader’s charisma and charm more than carries the show. Adding the fantastic Alan Alda to the cast as a recurring character is just icing on the cake.

Castle
Like The Black List, Castle is another Monday night powerhouse. I’ve been a fan since the show started and I still love watching. The characters are engaging and the stories are fun. Sometimes I enjoy the camaraderie and interaction between the characters more than the mystery, but they’re entertaining enough to keep my attention.

Intelligence
Talk about a show in the WRONG timeslot. Going up against Castle and The Black List has really hurt this one in the ratings. The plots have been really thin and there are some pretty major plot holes for certain. Josh Holloway is likeable in the role, but it won’t survive on Monday. We’re only 3 episodes in and I catch this one onDemand when I can, usually a week late.

Person of Interest
If you aren’t watching this show, why the hell not? Person of Interest is one of my top 5 shows on TV at the moment. It’s in its third season and shows no signs of slowing down. This one is highly recommended.

We dedicated an entire ESO podcast episode to Person of Interest. Give ESO episode 182 a listen here.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Yes, I watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Yes, I like it. Yes, I know it could be better. I hate to start off a review that way, but it seems like those are the questions I get most often. I like the show. I understand that there are a lot of folks who don’t. I’m not one of them. I was excited to hear the announcement of upcoming characters Sif (from the Thor movies), Lorelei (from Thor comics), and Deathlok. Exciting times ahead, I think.

Justified
If you aren’t watching this show, why the hell not? Like Person of Interest, Justified is one of my top 5 shows on TV at the moment. Based on characters created by Elmore Leonard, Justified is a nice mix of modern day western and crime drama. This one is highly recommended.

We dedicated an entire ESO podcast episode to Justified. Give ESO episode 198 a listen here.

Arrow
If you aren’t watching this show, why the hell not? Like Person of Interest and Justified, Arrow is one of my top 5 shows on TV at the moment. Based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Arrow is part Jason Bourne, part Batman Begins as we follow Oliver Queen and his team as they go after the bad guys in Starling City. We also get flashbacks to Oliver’s time on an island after a shipwreck five years earlier, which is just as riveting a storyline as the modern day stories. This one is highly recommended.

We dedicated an entire ESO podcast episode to Arrow. Give ESO episode 195 a listen here.

NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles
Technically, these are two separate shows. Both have been on for some time now and both continue to be high on my to watch list. Both are highly recommended although I give NCIS: LA a slight nod because it is a bit more actio-oriented whereas NCIS is a bit more procedural, but both are great fun to watch.

Major Crimes
The Closer spin-off just concluded its second season (9 seasons for most of the characters who were on The Closer). This is a good cast and the stories are entertaining. Season 3 kicks off in the summer.

Helix
We’re four episodes in and I have no idea what’s going on. I’m giving it one more before I cut this one loose.

Grimm
Another great show that is a lot of fun to watch. It’s a nice mix of sci fi, fantasy, and super hero, with some horror tossed in for good measure. There is definitely a Buffy/Angel vibe to the series, which is not a bad thing at all.

White Collar
White Collar is a fun heist/con show on USA. The chemistry between the two leads really propels this one as FBI Agent Peter Burke and con man Neil Caffrey work together to catch bad guys while Caffrey tries to pull side deals and swindles. This one is fun.

Nashville
I am not a country music listener, but for some reason this show grabbed me. I can’t explain why I like it, but I do. My guess it’s those characters. I like seeing what they get into next. Plus, I love stories about creative people trying to make their mark in their field of interest.

Elementary
Yes, I like Elementary. Yes, I also like Sherlock. Like Star Trek and Star Wars or Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 before it, there are so many that seem to think you can only like one or the other. I disagree. Each show is uniquely its own and I am thankful for that. Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Lui as Holmes and Watson are great together. Adding the New York setting and a clever twist on Moriarty that I didn’t see coming has made this one a must watch.

Doctor Who
The Doctor just wrapped up the 50th anniversary with departing Doctor, Matt Smith. I love this show. The 50th anniversary special and subsequent celebrations was one of the highlights of 2013 for me. I’m excited to see what peter Capaldi does with the role when it returns later this year.

That’s probably a good place to stop. WOW. I watch a lot of TV.

I’ll try to do more posts to keep you updated on the cool shows I’m enjoying. I’ll also talk about these things on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, The ESO Network Facebook Group, and the ESO podcast. Please, connect with me on social media as well.

Bobby


Sunday, January 26, 2014

FAT CHANCE GETS ITS FIRST REVIEW


Bobby as Clark on a
Fat Chance location.
There is a nice review of Fat Chance, the comedy/horror movie I am in (I play the character of Clark Wagner), over at www.nerdremix.com. Be warned, there are some plot spoilers given away in the review so click and read at your own risk.

You can find the full review here.

Visit the official Fat Chance Facebook page here.

Bobby

BOBBY JOINS REVNEWS FOR A LOOK AT DOCTOR WHO’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY!


The RevNews podcast crew looks back at 2013 with a discussion of the anniversary year of Doctor Who! In this first part, I joined Tegan Hendrickson, Michael Gordon, and Gary Mitchel to talk all about the second half of Season Seven and the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Bobby


RevNews: 2013 Year in Review - The Year in Who, Part One!

It's not every show that makes it five years, much less 50! So this was a very big year for our favorite mad man with a box! In 2013 Doctor Who had a new (half) season, audio adventures, retrospectives, and a world-wide simulcast of the 50th Anniversary Special!

With so much to examine, Gary Mitchel has called in Whovian experts Tegan Hendrickson, Mike Gordon and Bobby Nash to look at all the highs (Strax!) and lows (not enough Strax!) for our favorite Time Lord's banner year.

And, as always, beware of SPOILERS!

Our theme music this episode is "20 Minutes of Oxygen" by Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, courtesy of Divine Industries.Inc.

A reminder about our feedback address: revcast@revolutionsf.com. Who is your Doctor?

You can listen to the full episode here.

SOMETIMES I GET ASKED STUFF… PART 15

One of the perks of being a writer is getting to meet some of the most interesting people. Whether it is at conventions, store signings, through the Earth Station One podcast, writer’s groups, on social media, and sometimes just from people I run into on when I venture out of the cave I call my office, and they have questions. Sometimes they are about writing or what I’m working on. Other times they’re out of left field. I thought it would be interesting to share some of them along with a few answers. Regardless of where they come from, here’s a few of the latest.

Check out past installments of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff... Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here, Part 5 here, Part 6 here, Part 7 here, Part 8 here, Part 9 here, Part 10 here, Part 11 here, Part 12 here, Part 13 here, and Part 14 here.

There's a lot of questions this time around so let's dive right in, shall we?

Q: Via Facebook: I'd like to summon all of my comic-creator pals to this thread. Post the cover of your very first published comic work, along with the release date. Let's be old and decrepit together.

Here's the first professional comic I wrote:
Demonslayer: Vengeance #1
Published by Avatar Press
Released 2001

Q: Are you currently working on a writing project?

Oh, I'm always working on something. I'm in the middle of the first (of a series if all goes as planned) Ghost Gal novel for Raven's Head Press. I'm also doing edits on a screenplay (due next week), preparing a graphic novel for press, and doing prep work on the Honey West/Domino Lady novel for Moonstone Books. Plus, there are always assorted odds and ends to which I need to attend. Whew. It’s busy, but I like it. Busy is good, right?

Q: In what time period is your story set, and why did you choose it?

I’m all over the map with time periods. I write for a few publishers who handle pulp fiction and media tie-ins. In those instances, the time period is set by the publishers so I write 1920’s - 1960’s on a fairly regular basis. For my novels, Evil Ways, Deadly Games!, and their upcoming sequels, I set things in the present, which is a nice change of pace from the period pieces I write.

Q: What takes you out of the writing mood? What sound drags you away from a blooming manuscript? What situation call pull you right out of your writing fantasy world?

Interruptions and distractions. When someone walks in and starts talking to me, it pulls me right out of things. I can listen to music while writing, but not the TV. The TV will draw my attention and no writing will be accomplished. The internet is another distraction that can suck up a lot of time, especially Facebook and Twitter. I love them both, but they can be a big time suck.

Q: Been to the movies this past year? What is your favorite book to film of 2013?

I didn’t get out to the movies as often as I would have liked in 2013. Of the handful of movies I saw in the theater, Thor: The Dark World was probably my favorite. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire would most likely be my second favorite of the year.

Q: What’s your favorite George Clooney movie?

O' Brother Where Art Thou followed by The Peacemaker. The Ocean's 11 movies are also great fun and I enjoy From Dusk Till Dawn. I especially love the ZZ Top theme song for the movie. The video features George Clooney and Salma Hayek too. Watch it here.

Q: What one thing will you do differently this year that will most improve your author success?

Better marketing. Getting my books in front of readers is very important. Also, I need to have better time management so I can get everything done on deadline.

Q: Have you ever changed the end of a book? Did you do it because of a publisher or critique partner's suggestion? Did you do it because your own instinct told you to it should be different?

A little of both. Changes have been made because of editor and/or publisher suggestions. I also have changed the endings because the ending I had originally planned wither didn’t work or the characters took things in a slightly different direction. In my story for Nightbeat: Night Stories, the ending changed because of some dialogue a character said. I realized that I had the villain all wrong in my head. This revelation made the story so much better so I went back through the story to plant the seeds of the reveal only to discover, to my great joy, that they were already there. I love it when the story comes alive that way.

You can learn more about Radio Archives’ Nightbeat: Night Stories here.

Q: What new resources will you add to your author arsenal this year?

I’m excited to work with some editors and publishers for the first time this year. On the tool side of things, I am in dire need of a new computer and hope to make that happen in 2014.

Q: What’s your Favorite Stevie Nicks Song?

Stop Dragging My Heart Around (with Tom Petty). Listen to it here.

Q: There are so many looooong songs in Classic Rock - What's your favorite? 

I love a good long song. I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Credence Clearwater Revival is definitely one of my favorites. 10 minutes and 55 seconds of pure bliss. Give it a listen here.

Q: Does your antagonist own any pets?

Met this guy back in 2010
Not really. I haven’t written any pets recently, especially for the villains. I should probably rectify that soon.

Q: What’s your Favorite Stevie Wonder Song?

Oh, so many so I'll go with the first one that popped into my head-- Superstition. Listen to it here.

Q: Who is your favorite Doctor Who Villain?

Look! Up in the sky!
Doctor Who has some great looking villains. I really like the clockwork men from "The Girl In The Fireplace." Freaky looking villains. Other favorites are Daleks, Sontarans, and the Weeping Angels.

Q: Who's Your Favorite Superman?

Ooh. That’s a tough one. There have been some really good portrayals of te Man of Steel over the years. For the look: Christopher Reeve. For Clark Kent: George Reeves. For the voice: Tim Daly. How's that for cheating an answer?  :)

Oh, and then I visited Metropolis and met the guy in the picture on the left.

Q: How many of my writer peeps out there have ever read the book "On Writing" by Stephen King?

I've read some of it. What I read was pretty good. I am not a big fan of “how to write” books as a general rule. So much of writing is learning as you go, but some can be helpful.

Q: What’s your Favorite Sylvester Stallone Movie?

Another tough one. Rocky is my go to answer here because it's such a powerful movie. Other favorites for me are First Blood, Demolition Man, and Tango and Cash. Yes. I like Tango and Cash.

Q: Do you write the same kind of work that you love to read? If not, what do you write instead?

Sure. I don’t stick to writing or reading just one genre. Variety being the spice of life and all, I write stories that I will enjoy and hope that there is an audience that will enjoy them as well. If I’m not having fun writing it, they probably won’t have fun reading it.

Q: How does your antagonist act when he's angry?

In Evil Ways, people die when my antagonist gets angry.
In Deadly Games!, people die when my antagonist gets angry.
In Earthstrike Agenda, people die when my antagonist gets angry.
In the upcoming Domino Lady: Money Shot, people die when my antagonist gets angry.
In the upcoming Evil Intent, things explode and people die when my antagonist gets angry.

I’m sensing a theme here.

Q: Which Cardassian would you enjoy having a dinner conversation with?

I love the Cardassians. They are one of my favorite Star Trek baddies. Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat is cool, but I’m not sure I would like dining with the character. Dinner with Andrew Robinson’s Garak would be awesome. I met him at a convention once. Nice guy.

Q: Any one character or story which your jazzed about going into final draft? I know sometimes writing nobs along.

Right not my focus is on Ghost Gal and Operation: Silver Moon with Honey West/Domino Lady and a couple of screenplay gig in the wings that I can’t quite talk about yet.

Q: What was the first/earliest book you remember loving?

I loved reading Encyclopedia Brown mysteries when I was a kid.

Q: What is your favorite Harrison Ford movie?

WOW. This is a tough one. Harrison Ford is probably my favorite actor. I probably own more movies starring Harrison Ford than anyone else.

I'd have to go with Raiders of the Lost Ark on this one.
Other favorites include the Star Wars movies, the Indiana Jones movies, The Fugitive, Witness, Presumed Innocent, and Clear and Present Danger.

Q: When you have pain in the butt obligations, do your experiences of those somehow show up in your writing? Does your character get frustrated? The sky grow stormy? The story get angsty when you have to do things you don't want to do? Things that change your comfortable routine?

Oh, yes. Personal issues are perfect fodder for stories. I’ve used my own experiences before and will no doubt do so again. In Evil Ways, for example, it rains almost throughout the entire novel. At the time I was working on the first draft it was raining a lot and that mood infected my writing and added an extra layer to the story.

letter in novel sample
Q: How does your antagonist act when he's sad?

When the antagonist in Evil Ways gets sad, people die.

Q: What are some options for displaying a long letter in a novel? (5 paragraphs)  Do I use another font, indent or what? Do I use quotation marks?

Whenever I display a letter in a prose story, I add an extra indention to it on both sides, making it skinnier so it stands apart from the rest of the text. Here’s a sample of how I used this format in my Earthstrike Agenda novel.

Q: Who is your favorite Tarzan?

My Tarzan is Ron Ely. He was the first Tarzan I was aware of. That Tarzan yell was pretty amazing. In comics form, it’s hard to argue with Joe Kubert’s version.

Q: What’s your favorite Antoine Fuqua movie?

Training Day. Amazing film.

Q: What’s your favorite movie version of a Batman super-villain?

Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, Mark Hamill as The Joker in Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker, Liam Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul in Batman Begins, Michelle Pfeifer's Catwoman in Batman Returns are favorites. Really, all of the Catwomen have been great. Well, I haven't seen the Halle Berry Catwoman so I can't speak to that one, but I hear things. :)

There’s also something special about all of the villains working together in the Batman ’66 movie. They are all so good together.

Q: Favorite TV theme song?

I had a similar question last time. Theme songs are becoming a lost art as so many shows no longer do them. Here are some of my favorites over the years: Magnum p.i., Airwolf, Matt Houston, MacGyver, Highlander, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Battlestar Galactica (2nd series), Buffy, Babylon 5, Six Million Dollar Man, Hawaii Five-0, and Married... With Children. There’s probably more I’ve forgotten to mention.

Jeez. I think I watch too much TV.  :)

Q: What's your dream project?

I would love to write The Fantastic Four one of these days.

Q: How do you stand on the use of 'Suddenly'? I read somewhere recently that it shouldn't be used. Any thoughts to this?

I use the words I need to use when I need to use them to fit the story… unless the editor tells me otherwise.

Q: Do you track your daily word count? If so, what is your daily word count goal?

I shoot for 1,500 - 2,000 words a day. This is just fiction. I don’t count the words typed for this Q&A session, for example. I only count the number of words I write of a story. If I counted everything I typed all day my number would be significantly higher, but it’s only the words typed for the story that goes to print.

Q: Which actor would play the lead character in your current work in progress?

I don’t usually cast my characters for their film roles, mainly because I don’t want to get stuck thinking that Evil Ways’ Harold Palmer has to look like Brad Pitt, for example. I’d be over the moon if a studio optioned one of my books for film though. That would be interesting.

Q: If your current work in progress book was made into a movie ... who would you want to direct it?

Good question. Much like the “what actor?” question above, I’ve never actually thought about this before. I really don’t know. Evil Ways or Deadly Games! would need a director who understands suspense. Lance Star: Sky Ranger would need a director who gets the big action pieces. Earthstrike Agenda would need someone with an eye for suspense and action. I'll have to give this one some thought.

Q: What is the worst thing your antagonist has ever done to someone - and why?

That one is tough to answer without giving away spoilers. Let’s just say that the antagonists in Evil Ways and Deadly Games! are pretty brutal when they need to be. Both of them have killed before and probably will again. It’s the how that is unique to each of them.

Q: I was wondering if you would be willing to share some advice concerning an unpublished author looking to get started. Submit short stories? Or is it too ambitious to submit a novel right out of the gate? 

There really is no right or wrong answer here. Short stories are a good way to get your work out because you can do them faster than a novel and hopefully find a home for them and start building a fan base. However, if you don't want to write short stories then it's best to do the novel you want to write and see what happens. My best advice is to decide what the best career path is for you and plan accordingly. Tailor your work goals to take you in the direction you want to go.

Good luck.

Q: I was interested in purchasing some of your work--do I do so through your website?

I do indeed. There are links at www.bobbynash.com and http://BEN-Books.blogspot.com to my work. I've written novels, short stories, audio adventures, and comic books. Most are still available for purchase. I have a small selection of books here that I can sell direct at cover price plus shipping, autographed for free, of course. If you see a book you'd like that doesn't have the "Buy Now" button, let me know. If I have it on hand, I can ship it.

Q: I heard 1,000 words a day is minimum to complete a novel within a decent timeframe--do you agree?

1,000 words a day is good, but if you can only squeeze in 500 a day, that's fine too. 500 single spaced words is approximately 1 page on 8 1/2 x 11 size manuscript. How many words you can do a day all depends on you. Even if you only write 100 words a day, you are still making progress. I wouldn't stress over the daily word count while you're writing because some days you will soar past it and other days you will fall short. It happens.

When you're done for the day, then check your word count and see how you did if you want to keep track. All your publisher and readers care about is the finish product so whatever method works best for you to tell that story is the best way to go. Every writer is different. Set goals that work best for your schedule. If you only have an hour a day to write, then whatever you can do in that hour is what you can do.


Q: I find I write totally different in the early morning than in the afternoon, and then even different in the evening and late at night (different meaning context, emotional levels, basic dynamics of the experience differing throughout the day). Is this the same for you, or are you able to carry the same mood or setting across the day into night? Sometimes I work on three different stories/books in the space of a day because of my changing experience-just wondering about your dynamics.

It varies for me, but I can usually stay in the same story no matter the time of the day I work on it. Of course, like you, I'm always juggling more than one thing at a time so if I need to, I can switch over to something else.

Q: Have you ever used a pen name? If so, why?

I've contemplated using a pen name before, but have not done so. Maybe one day. Who knows? Pen names are often used when a writer is known for writing one type of story and wants to move into another genre. Publishers more so than readers (I think) feel that readers who like Stephen King’s horror novels won’t like a non-horror novel by him. So he chooses a pen name. I’ve not had cause to write under a pen name, although as I type this I wonder if those who know my pulp work won’t read my thrillers because they think I can only do pulp stories.

Hmmm… Something to think on.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on pen names. Do you follow authors into different genres or do you think a writer should stick to only one type of story? Post your thoughts below in the comments section.

Q: Why do all of our favorite sci fi characters have to die?

That's writing 101. As a writer, you want to create compelling characters that the reader will connect with… and then you put those characters through hell for the enjoyment of the reader. As a writer, I want to make my audience feel for the characters and then, once they do, I twist the knife.

Q: Do you ever work on more than one project at a time?  Or do you find it slows down completion time for both?

I'm always juggling multiple projects. Plus, you never know when edits, galleys, or artwork is going to come in on other projects in production already so there are always a few irons in the fire. Plus, while writing one story, I might already be researching and plotting the next. Sometimes it slows down things, but other times it helps me do more per day.

Q: Some writers are purists and stick with poetry, or fiction prose, or experimental ... but have any of you ever attempted to write a screen play? 100 double-spaced pages of simple, clean dialogue taken from your full manuscript and meant to convey the power of your story? Have you ever taken that challenge?

I have. I wrote a screenplay for a fan film series called Starship Farragut. I met them at a convention where we sat across the aisle from one another. After a weekend of hearing their episodes playing, I felt I knew the characters and talked to them about trying my hand at a screenplay for them. It will be released in a few short months. I’ve seen the rough cut of the film and it’s pretty cool.

I also wrote a screenplay for a short film that was recently picked up for production. I met with the producer and director last week. That one will happen later this year.

I plan to do more as well.

Q: Does Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) really bring new readers out, or does it make existing readers scramble for comics and cheap people just drop by and grab a book, never to be seen again. Opinions?

I see a lot of people come in for the freebies who won't step foot back in a comic shop until the next FCBD. That said, however, I'm sure there are some new readers picked up. At least I hope so. I've been fortunate to be part of FCBD celebrations that make it an event where not only can potential new fans meet creators and cosplayers, but it becomes a meet-n-greet for existing fans and readers. Cultivating a community of locals with similar interests is also a good thing, I'd say.

You can find my books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, Smashwords, and more.

Bobby and friends
at FCBD 2013
And I think that is a good place to finish this round of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff… Do you have any questions you’d like me to answer? Post them here as a comment or send them along to bobby@bobbynash.com and I’ll answer them in a future installment of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff...

Also, please sign up for my mailing list. Drop me an email at bobby@bobbynash.com and I'll happily add you to the list.

Thanks.

Bobby