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

This weekend I created the Blood of my World Boxed Set for Amazon Kindle, a collection of my paranormal romance series containing Discovery of Death, Memories of Death and Life of Death. It is Volume Two of the A.P. Fuchs Library, with Volume One being books from The Axiom-man Saga (coming this week). These boxed sets are a great way to grab a bunch of my titles and/or complete your collection for a great price. It is also on Smashwords, Drivethru Fiction, and should start showing up on the Nook and iPad shortly.

I wrote an introduction to the Blood of my World Boxed Set and want to share it here.

Hope you check the collected book sets out.

The intro:

Blood of my World Boxed Set Introduction
by
A.P. Fuchs

It seems to me that there is a direct correlation between love and horror, the both of which are two sides of the proverbial coin. They are extremes, where one is light and bliss, filled with goodness, hope, stability–physical, emotional, mental. The other is darkness, danger, pain and untold suffering. They also have a tendency to gel, namely in the arena of romantic relationships.
One can’t help but wonder how much different our world would be if these two elements–arguably one element–were not present. I suspect life would look more like a simulation than an actual experience, with folks walking around conducting business mechanically, without nuance–robotic.
Is it not true that human life as you and I know it are birthed and lived from either horror or love or a mix of both? Is not every other human emotion rooted in one of these?
Love is an especially dangerous thing. Beautiful, yes, but dangerous. While ascending to new heights with your lover, when during those early stages all is well in the world and inner peace is achieved–the fear of it all slipping away always lingers a little or a lot until, perhaps, that fateful day comes and your fear becomes reality. The darkness descends, hope is abandoned, and searing pain rips through your chest until you can barely stand. Once you collapse, you think it’s won and the hot coils of loss’s embrace will finally leave you, but instead, it continues to ravage you in waves, bringing you to the brink of apathy and beyond, into self-destruction and mental chaos. Life is looked at through fogged glass. All other emotions are felt through the jagged pieces of a broken heart. Cynicism sets in, walls go up and survival kicks in full gear and you do all you can to fill the void and repair the damage your loved one has done.
Love and horror. Life and death. It’s what defines us. It’s what’s defined my fiction since I wrote my first book twelve years ago. In fact, my entire career was born out of this bizarre relationship between love and horror, and if you’re a reader of my work, you would have noticed that everything I’ve written touches on this in some way, whether a little or a lot.
There’s my novel April, written under the pen name Peter Fox, which is a firm statement about how people get to you and you fall in love because they touch that secret part of you no one else has.
There’s A Red Dark Night, a tribute to B-horror summer camp movies in which the main villain is a creature comprised of blood and evil–the blood you shed when your heart is broken and knife is brought to skin. For some this is metaphorical, for others, it is not.
The Axiom-man Saga, my superhero opus about a man without self-esteem who, as one of the motives for donning a pair of tights, is simply to prove to himself and others that he is indeed something of value after a lifetime of always feeling rejected and second best.
My zombie fiction–books like Blood of the Dead and Zombie Fight Night–utter indulgences into the world of the walking dead. Is this not what we become after love has crushed us? Is not survival our primary concern? Do we not find folks who are fighting just like us, whether in our relationships or even through the music we listen to so we can feel better?
These are more, but let’s move on to what you hold in your hands.
This boxed set, Blood of my World. Three novellas. Three aspects of love and horror–Discovery, memory, life.
Vampires are the horror world’s romantic hero. They are the regular world’s romantic villain. They embody life and death, love and horror unlike any other creature in fiction.
I set out to tell a story about two romantics whose love for each other was thicker than blood and just as red with passion and devotion. The reader must know, I decided, that there are others out there who live in love’s stream, who have gotten burned yet who also have lived and are living because of it.
Who have grown.
The vampires in the novellas you’re about to read are ruthless. There is blood and pain and indifference to human life. They are monsters.
The people in these novellas are you and me, folks living in two worlds: the past and present; light and darkness; love and horror.
I want to thank you for reading these as you join Zach and Rose on their journey of love’s joy, love’s pain–
–love’s horror.

- A.P. Fuchs
Winnipeg, MB
February 25, 2012

On the 5th of January, I put my book, Zombie Fight Night: Battles of the Dead, up for free at Amazon after joining their Amazon Exclusive program. Right now, the book is still free even though it was meant to be a five-day promotion, which should have ended yesterday. Perhaps they’re keeping it free and will eat the cost of paying me from today onward? Or maybe it’s just free and I won’t make anything. Regardless, I don’t mind it being free right now as, to me, it’s one of the geekiest and coolest books I’ve ever written and I simply want to share it with people. If you as a reader want to support my work–I do feed my family off my publishing–then by all means please check out the Kindle books on the left of this page, or the paperback versions on the right. Thanks, if you do.

Since the 5th, and as of 1:07CST today, Zombie Fight Night has been downloaded 1377 times across all Amazon platforms. Not bad at all. I’ll have to see how the free thing goes behind-the-scenes and if Amazon’ll start charging for it or if I’ll have to manually do something. Regardless, now’s a great time to get a couple free books from me, no strings attached.

What’s the other free book? It’s book one of my Paranormal Romance series, Blood of my World, called Discovery of Death. Memories of Death and Life of Death are the sequels. Discovery of Death became a freebie in September of 2011 and has been downloaded 15,976 times, and that’s on Kindle only never mind Nook, iPad, etc. I plan on keeping it free for now as it’s helped move copies of its sequels.

Here’s the point: I’m fortunate to have been writing long enough to have enough of a backlist that I can put books up for free while still earning a living off the other ones. Ever since I started writing, money has never been a motivator. The only “motivation” dollar-wise was to be able to make enough to live on so I can write and publish fulltime. Also, by having a large backlist, this enables me to conduct these experiments without taking too much of a hit or any at all. Like I posted last time, I try these things out on myself first before considering adopting it as part of my business model for those I publish so as to ensure it’s worth doing so on the money front. To short change an author with their own work . . . yeesh. No, thanks.

Will the risk of offering Zombie Fight Night for free pay off, or will it be a loss monetarily but a gain readership-wise? Time will tell. Watch this space.

All righty, so we have about four months left in the year. Back at the beginning, I made you a list of all the personal projects I wanted to accomplish before year’s end. What I’ve learned is that even while you work like a dog to get things done, the way they get done isn’t always what you envisioned. However, I’m pleased to say I’ve delivered on almost all of what I mentioned back at the beginning of 2011.

This is where we’re at on my checklist.

Zomtropolis: Temp. hiatus. Paying projects first, like I’ve always said. There are some things (see below) that take priority and need completing before I can get back to the weekly schedule with this. Apologies to those who’ve been waiting. This book will be done.

Axiom-man Comic Book: In the coloring phase. Low priority because . . .

Axiom-man: City of Ruin: This needs to be done and published by Halloween weekend. Plan to go hardcore on it first two weeks of September and finish this badboy. For those following the saga, this will be a full-length adventure ala Axiom-man and Doorway of Darkness.

Redemption of the Dead (Undead World Trilogy, Book 3): Like last update, currently in idea phase. Just needs to be written. Book 2 was released 2 years after book one, so I figure I have a bit of leeway with this installment considering Book 2 was released October, 2010.

A Red Dark Night: Reissue The revised edition with a new cover was published this month.

Discovery of Death (Blood of my World Vampire Trilogy, Book 1): Published in April.

Romance of Death (Blood of my World Vampire Trilogy, Book 2): Published in April.

Life of Death (Blood of my World Vampire Trilogy, Book 3): Published in April.

Canister X Comics No. 1: 13 pages roughed and written. 7 more to go. Will be published by October 1. Wait ’til you see the cover.

Canister X Comics No. 2: Complete except for scanning. Canister X Comics will be published quarterly, this one due Jan. 1, 2012. However, I might just date the comic that and have it out for comic con anyway.

Canister X Comics No. 3: Done. Needs scanning. Same deal. Thinking of having the first three comics available for comic con, but not technically releasing them until their quarterly due date.

All in all, I’ve had a very productive year publishing-wise. And these are just my personal projects. For everything else I’ve had a hand in, take a look at the new releases at the Coscom Entertainment website.

Taliesin Meets the Vampires has posted three new reviews for the three books in my Blood of my World Series: Discovery of Death, Memories of Death and Life of Death.

The reviews are available to be read right here.

The books are available for purchase on Kindle via the lower bookshelf on your left, or in paperback via the “Books in Print” carousel on your lower right.

Hope you pick up a copy or two. Reviews have been positive for this series.

Jessica Stewart over at the book blog A GREAT Read has just posted her interview with me, in which I talk about the Blood of my World vampire series, writing a novella versus writing a novel, and what I do in my spare time.

Please hop on over to the blog and see what we talked about, and at the bottom read her reviews of Discovery of Death, Memories of Death, and Life of Death.

Hope everyone’s having a good Thursday.

A.P. Fuchs is proud to launch not one, not two–but THREE novellas to kick off his ongoing Blood of my World vampire series. The first three to be released–in reading order–are Discovery of Death, Memories of Death, and Life of Death.

All three books are available in both paperback and eBook editions on your favorite platforms. Complete listings below along with an abridged synopsis for each book. For a complete synopsis of each title, just click on the cover image to be taken to that book’s page at Coscom Entertainment.

An early review: “A refreshing teen fantasy full of bite, blood and romance.” — K. H. Koehler, author of Raiju

When Zach goes missing for three months, Rose is heartbroken. Zach awakens in the dark of a coffin, his memory erased. A strange group of people who identify themselves as his family reveal he has become a vampire. Rose has also learned of her secret heritage: she comes from a long line of vampire slayers. It is only when her path accidentally crosses with Zach’s does love surface again.

Paperback:

Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnesandnoble.com
Other On-line Retailers

eBook:

Amazon Kindle
Fictionwise.com
Smashwords
Mobipocket

Now submerged in the world of vampire slaying, Rose must come to terms with what that means for her relationship with Zach and if it’s even possible for the two of them to be together. Meanwhile, every moment spent with Rose helps bridge the gaps in Zach’s memory. The countdown begins and Zach and Rose must come to a decision as to where their loyalties lie.

Paperback:

Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnesandnoble.com
Other On-line Retailers

eBook:

Amazon Kindle
Smashwords
Mobipocket

Now disconnected from their families, Zach and Rose try and make it on their own away from the war between vampire and slayer. Is love enough? Before the two can find out, the vampire’s family comes for Zach and Rose, and the two are swept into a nightmare where there will be only one survivor.

Paperback:

Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnesandnoble.com
Other On-line Retailers

eBook:

Amazon Kindle
Smashwords
Mobipocket

The last Coscom Entertainment release: Born to Bleed by Ryan C. Thomas

For our full list of books, please see: www.coscomentertainment.com

With the first three books of the Blood of my World vampire novella series going to press today, I thought it a good idea to tell you what each one is about.

Below is the plot synopsis for each book. The wording might be tweaked a touch before press later today, but regardless, here is the breakdown for each book. Hope I piqued your interest.

Discovery of Death:

Zach and Rose had fallen in love during their sophomore year, their worlds completely changed and utterly belonging to each other’s. It was the first time either had fallen in love, deeply, purely. Aiming for a future together, plans were interrupted when Zach went missing for three long months, leaving Rose distraught, heartbroken and depressed.

Zach awakens in the dark of a coffin, his memory erased, his life and feelings for Rose forgotten. A strange group of people who identify themselves as his family reveal he has become a vampire, one of the undead, and is now a being with incredible power and a thirst for blood.

However, during Zach’s absence, Rose learns of her own secret heritage: she comes from a long line of vampire slayers, hellbent on eradicating the unholy threat of the undead from the face of the Earth. Now, not only does she need to try and get over the young man she loves, she must also come to terms with her new life and what that means for her future.

It is only when her path accidentally crosses with Zach’s does lost love begin to surface again.

Memories of Death:

Now submerged in the world of vampire slaying, Rose must come to terms with what that means for her relationship with Zach and if it’s even possible for the two of them to be together.

Meanwhile, every moment spent with Rose helps bridge the gaps in Zach’s memory, reminding him how much they meant to each other in their former life.

Rose’s father, Marcus, is now even more dedicated to purging the Earth of the undead, so much so he’s willing to kill the only boy Rose had ever loved to help make the world a safer place for her.

Likewise, a plot is in play to infiltrate the Slayer Order, even at the expense of a loved one.

The countdown begins and Zach and Rose must come to a decision as to where their loyalties lie, or if they’re going to put each other above all else and face the consequences together.

Life of Death:

Now disconnected from their families, Zach and Rose try and make it on their own away from the war between vampire and slayer. But word has been spread to the undead that Zach needs to return to his family otherwise his mother will only make matters worse for him.

Trying to survive together isn’t all it is hoped to be and Zach and Rose must decide if a vampire and human truly can remain together, or if it’s a lost cause and they should accept their fate.

Is love enough?

Before the two can find out, the vampire’s family comes for Zach and Rose, and the two are swept into a nightmare where there will be only one survivor.

Spent the day mostly offline working, as I should be.

Really busy week this week with five titles going to press and finishing business numbers for the accountant by Friday.

That said, today’s post is kind of slim, but I hope you can see why. However, here is what is going to press this week:

Born to Bleed by Ryan C. Thomas (the sequel to the ultra intense The Summer I Died, which if you haven’t read, you need to)
Discovery of Death, Blood of my World Novella Series One by A.P. Fuchs
Memories of Death, Blood of my World Novella Series Two by A.P. Fuchs
Life of Death, Blood of my World Novella Series Three by A.P. Fuchs
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (as part of Coscom Entertainment’s side project: Coscom Blue Banner Classics)

Please support these books when they come out. They’ll be available via paperback, Kindle, Nook, Smashwords, etc. We make these for readers like you.

Today I printed out the final galleys for the Blood of my World vampire love-story novella trilogy. Well, okay, not a trilogy in the traditional sense that the series stops here, but trilogy in the sense this is the first story arc with a beginning, middle and end.

Next step is to go through them one more time, make any last-minute changes, then give them to my wife as a first reader. Once she’s done, they go to press.

Here’s a pic of the three books, laid beside each other in order: Discovery of Death, Memories of Death, Life of Death.

Hope you pick up a copy of each when they come out.

Please click to go to the pic’s page then click again to zoom in. Depending on your eyes, you might be able to read the first page of each.