Canister X – A.P. Fuchs: Zombie, Paranormal Romance and Superhero Novelist, Blogger, Artist, Publisher

One week to go.

Leading independent horror, zombie mash up and superhero fiction publisher, Coscom Entertainment (www.coscomentertainment.com) has signed a Management and Production Deal with Hughes Capital Entertainment and newly formed, Management Period. The focus of the relationship is to integrate the Canadian-based Publishing company into mainstream entertainment via motion picture, interactive/videogame, and television mediums. Some of Coscom’s flagship titles such as The War of the Worlds Plus Blood, Guts and Zombies by H.G Wells and Eric S. Brown and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim by Mark Twain and W. Bill Czolgosz are coming out under Simon and Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint later this fall. Standout titles like Alice in Zombieland and World War of the Dead will be the immediate focus of the HCE development team.

Hughes Capital Entertainment is currently negotiating a DVD deal for some of the titles, developing some as larger features, and focusing on top seller Zombie Fight Night as the break out video game title. “What’s better than playing a first person fighter where zombies, werewolves, vampires, samurai, kick boxers, robots, and superheroes like Axiom-man all battle it out to the death?” says HCE President/Producer Patrick Hughes.

Coscom joins HCE and Management Period’s already impressive talent and corporate list of clients which includes best-selling authors, top screenwriters, show creators, top musicians, and directors.

To be clear, I’m not trying to be a jerk. Just telling it like it is.

The eBook market has been around for years and year and years. I’ve been publishing eBooks since 2004. They’ve always been a viable market and I’ve always made money at it. Unfortunately, up until recently–thanks to no other place for writers to turn–they weren’t viewed as “real” books and being e-published didn’t make you “really” published. Sheesh.

It’s only the explosion of eReaders that have changed the game. I daresay it’s not even that. It’s just the eReading technology has improved, making eBooks easier on the eyes. Handhelds have been around for a long while, just not marketed as aggressively as the Kindle or Nook. Like the recent mashups: they’ve been around for ages, but only have recently hit the mainstream.

Regarding my forever stance on eBooks and what I explained to my authors when negotiating contracts and some would say they weren’t sure about the eMarket, I told them, a reader is a reader, a sale a sale. The goal is to reach the readers in the way they want. If they like eBooks, awesome. They’re still getting the same book, just a slightly different format. Why would I deny the reader–and the author–that?

Can’t wait, as I love docu-style creator and/or empire-building stories:

R. Thomas Riley–who’s a friend and fellow writer–does a regular column for Apex Book Company.

On the 27th, he posted an article called “Evolve or Die,” the focusing being horror writers–especially in light of Dorchester/Leisure’s recent financial woes–self-publishing. I read it and wrote something in the comments. After some reflection, I believe what I wrote is worth re-posting here.

It’s a hard truth, one that might bring me a lot of criticism, but the truth does that from time to time. Just think it needs to be posted.

I wrote:

“Of course I’m simplifying, but you know what I’m seeing, to be honest? I’m seeing the same people who used to laugh at self-publishing doing it because they don’t–except for rare persons–have another option. In other words, the shoe’s on the other foot and they are now the desparate author. Sure, you can call it “evolving” or “changing with the times,” but, really, markets are drying up and there’re not many publishers out there doing horror. So, change the label, sugarcoat it and suddenly self-publishing is okay.

And, on a side note, I want an iPad.”

I love the book production process, everything from conception straight through to the final product. Sure, some stages are more fun than others, but it was the book production process that got me into self-publishing to begin with and, a bit later, becoming a full-fledged traditional publisher.

I don’t think many people realize how much work goes into making a book. There’s more to it than writing and packaging it. So much more. Did you know that for each book Coscom Entertainment puts out, I go through a bunch of possibilities for fonts just for the chapter titles alone? Did you know that it takes me over a day and a half to format the book for print and the various eBook editions? Did you know that making a cover is more than just having a picture and putting text over it?

Never mind the editing phase, the rewrites, the research, etc.

The above is why is bothers me so much when a book receives a non-constructive bad review. Sure, if you don’t like something, by all means, you can express that. But it’s the “how” you express it that’s important. Don’t rail on a book and say you hated it without giving reasons as to why (preferrably politely). A lot of work goes into these things and I think so many people out there simply don’t understand that. Even when you review a movie, don’t just say it sucked and move on. I mean, really, as if you could do better.

It’s an important point to make because the Internet has given everyone a voice, which is fine, but–despite popular belief–it hasn’t made everyone an expert.

Anyway, below are a few shots of the first-draft manuscript for my just-written and soon-to-be-released zombie novel, Possession of the Dead, the sequel to my shoot ‘em up undead novel, Blood of the Dead.

I’ve kept the pics small so as to ensure the text is hard to read. Don’t want to give anything away too soon.

Just moments ago I finished writing the first draft of Possession of the Dead, book two in my Undead World Trilogy.

It came in at 69,832 words. (5,644 of which was written today.)

Finishing a book is such an amazing feeling, yet it’s also a weird one. For the last few weeks it’s been go-go-go, type-type-type, think-think-think–then suddenly, BANG, you’re done.

There’s such a strong sense of accomplishment, yet also that strange question of: Gee, I hope my subconscious kept track of everything as I wrote this and it all makes sense.

I’ll soon find out when I start revisions later this coming week.

I honestly didn’t expect to finish today, but the way the story went and despite this first draft being shorter than I thought it would be, I believe I finished the second installment in the trilogy at the right point in the storyline, in turn creating fantastic opening scenes for book three. (And also creating another cliffhanger ending, like the first.)

I’m pleased to say Possession of the Dead is on track for a mid October release and for official launch at Central Canada Comic Con.

Thank you to those who have been so patient in waiting for the sequel which, frankly, is long overdue. I hope you enjoy this book as much as the first as I did my best to make the sequel even better than its predecessor (Blood of the Dead).

Due to my pressing deadline of needing to finish Possession of the Dead by the end of this weekend, all my writing energies are focused in that direction.

Zomtropolis, though a regular thing, is a kind of side project so has the flexibility to be put on hold temporarily if the need arises.

Sincerest apologies, but it needs to be done.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Thanks for your understanding.

Normally, my monthly comic reading diet consists of Batman, Superman, Batman and Robin, Red Robin and Batgirl. I might buy another comic or two, but those are my regulars.

Well, I went to the shop (Galaxy Comics) yesterday and walked out with a pretty big stack of books.

- Batman/Superman #75
- Wolverine Saga (Marvel freebie)
- Batman Beyond #2 (for my kind)
- Toy Story #-something (for my other kid)

From the dollar bin, all these #1 reprints:

The Talisman #0
Captain America #1 (for my wife)
Action Comics #858
Marvel Zombies #1
The Walking Dead #1
The Flash: Rebirth #1
Detective Comics #854
Spawn #1
Savage Dragon #1
Proof #1

I came home yesterday, went through my pile, read Spawn and Savage Dragon and noticed the Wolverine and Batman/Superman. I thought, Wait, this isn’t my stuff. You see, I have a mailbox there and they just put the stuff I collect in there for me to pick up at my convenience. When I got to the counter with my stack of dollar books, the other comics were already in a bag. I just assumed what was in there was my usual books.

Anyway, I went back to today. The Wolverine was a freebie (so I kept it, of course) and the Batman/Superman #75 was an error because I originally asked for the regular Batman and Superman series to be added to my monthly books over the phone. I guess the guy took it as the team up book instead of the two separate books like I meant. Completely understandable mistake because the Batman/Superman book is usually refered to as Superman and Batman or vice versa. But I kept the Batman/Superman because a) I like the owner and b) it’s the 75th issue and has some bonus stuff in it. No worries. It’s all good.

So I left there today with Batman #702 and Superman #702, Hellboy #1 from the dollar bin plus a pack of bags and boards.

Good haul. Really happy.

12:51AM and my good buddy Tom tells me on Facebook he’s seen the Thor movie trailer.

So he sends me two links.

The first, which is not bad, then the second, which is plain awesome.

Now I share them with you.

If the above doesn’t work, go here.

Thanks.