Thought for the Day

Weekend at the Asylum - Pax Britannia: Tempus Fugit

Today (Sunday 30th August) at 12:00pm, I will also be giving a reading from my first brand-new Pax Britannia short story in three years!

An opportunity not to be missed I am sure you'll agree.

Be there (at the Westgate Academy) or remain clueless as to the relevance of the story's title. ;-)

Weekend at the Asylum - Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland

Today (Saturday 29th) at 3:00pm, I will be giving a talk (at the Westgate Academy) about my latest Steampunk-related project, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland.

So if you want to find out more about what I have in store for our heroine, and maybe have a play through of part of the book, then why not pop along?

Gamebook Friday: Alice's Nightmare in Lincoln

Just a quick reminder that I am at Weekend at the Asylum VII this weekend.

I will be based at the Westgate Academy, home to the literature and gaming zones, along with the other authors, publishers, games companies and gamers who are also attending this year.

On Saturday 29th at 3:00pm, I will be giving a talk about my latest Steampunk-related project, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland. So if you want to find out more about what I have in store for our heroine (150 years old this year!) and maybe have a play through of part of the book, then why not pop along?

On Sunday 30th at 12:00pm, I will also be giving a reading from my first brand-new Pax Britannia short story in three years! An opportunity not to be missed I am sure you'll agree.

Hopefully I'll see you there!

Steampunk Thursday: Unnatural History still feelin' the love!

The very first Pax Britannia novel Unnatural History may have been published over 8 years ago(!) but some people are still discovering it - and loving it - for the first time.

The following quotes are from just some of the people who've enjoyed Ulysses Quicksilver's opening adventure in the last year.

"A real Boy's Own type adventure story from a bygone era. Loved the characters."

"A real rip-roaring adventure full of spills, thrills and quite little digs at modem society... an excellent read."

"The characters are well rounded and interesting, the hero's are both square jawed and stiff upper lipped."

"Very much enjoyed this adventure, well worth it. The characters are fun and the story moves at a fast pace that keeps the eager hooked."

"A rip-roaring read of a Steampunk alternate modern day universe."

"The pace is quick, and the action exciting."

"This is an effortlessly entertaining pulpy read."

And do you know what else? Unnatural History is currently ranked
#14 in Kindle Store > Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Steampunk.

You can download your copy here, for free!

Warhammer Wednesday: Return to the Herald of Oblivion!

I am delighted to be able to report today that my Warhammer 40K Path to Victory adventure gamebook Herald of Oblivion is set to return, this time as a downloadable app.

But that's not all... Herald of Oblivion is the first title in the newly conceived Legacy of Dorn Trilogy, which places the player within a vast choice-based adventure novel, written by Yours Truly.

Tin Man Games are using their critically acclaimed Gamebook Adventures Engine to bring the 41st millennium to life, replacing the paper book with an interactive computer terminal where players choose their path through the adventure. The original dice combat (which was always the book's weak point) has also been replaced with an exciting first-person turn-based combat system.

When you play the app, your phone, tablet or computer, turns into an Imperial Cogitator. Not only will you be manipulating the archive of Brother Nabor’s mission, but when you encounter the myriad of life-forms aboard the eponymous space hulk, the cogitator turns into a holographic combat simulator which brings the player face-to-face with the xenos horrors!

Legacy of Dorn : Herald of Oblivion will be available to download from the iOS App Store, Google Play and Amazon Appstore for Android at the end of September 2015. It will also be available on Steam and the Humble Store later in the year. Two sequels, Pits of Commorragh and Forge of War, are planned for release in 2016.

Tie-in Tuesday: PIXELS vs GAME OVER

Well I've finally been to see PIXELS, the Adam Sandler movie inspired by this awesome short film...



PIXELS works on a basic level - there are some great set pieces, particularly the Pac-Man chase - but it demonstrates the kind of sexism that gives gamers a bad name, there are some really crude, misjudged jokes - Serena Williams, you're better than this! Martha Stewart might not be, but you are, Serena - and Josh Gad's sole purpose in the movie appears to be to scream in the most irritating manner for most of the time he's on screen. In a nutshell, somebody really should have hired a writer to work on the script.

Right at the end of the movie, the words 'GAME OVER' flash up on the screen, at which point my son turned to me and said, "Great product placement!"

The good news is that GAME OVER, the horror anthology inspired by classic arcade games - the launch date of which was brought forward to coincide with the release of PIXELS - is still available for your Kindle for a Hall of Fame High-Score Table-busting £1.19. And, as is so often the case, the book is considerably better than the movie.

Tie-in Tuesday: Doctor Who

Thought for the Day

“Every time you write, ask yourself: Could this scene take place in a hot-air balloon? If the answer is yes, then it probably should.”

~ Haruki Murakami, Author

Short Story Saturday: SHARKPUNK and GAME OVER

This time last year I had never had anything published that I had edited and compiled before: now there are two books out that I have nurtured and helped bring into being along with a host of very talented writers.

SHARKPUNK may have come out in May, but it received another glowing review this week, over on ZeroSignalMagazine.com. As the reviewer says, "Once you bite, you’ll be hooked."

GAME OVER is also starting to make an impact and I'm hoping to receive some official reviews soon. But what's so impressive about GAME OVER, I think, is that we put the book together, from scratch, in less than 5 months!

You can buy both books direct from the publisher Snowbooks.

Gamebook Friday: Alice at the Asylum

Calling all Pax Britannia fans! I will be attending Weekend at the Asylum VII on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August this year.

This will be my fourth stay at the asylum and this year I will be based at the Westgate Academy, home to the literature and gaming zones, along with the other authors, publishers, games companies and gamers who are also attending this year.

Admission is by wristband only, and there is going to be a mini street food festival in the grounds of the Academy.

On Saturday 29th at 3:00pm, I will be giving a talk about my latest Steampunk-related project, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland. So if you want to find out more about what I have in store for our heroine (150 years old this year!) and maybe have a play through of part of the book, then why not pop along?

On Sunday 30th at lunchtime, I will also be giving a reading from my first brand-new Pax Britannia short story in three years! An opportunity not to be missed I am sure you'll agree.

So, be splendid, and maybe I'll see you there.

Thought for the Day

"Whenever you introduce a character, you don’t have to specify that they are wearing pants. Most readers will just assume that they are wearing pants unless you say otherwise."

~ Zadie Smith, Author

GAME OVER - Table of Contents

Anybody still wondering whether they should pick up a copy of GAME OVER, here's the full table of contents.

Introduction

Jonathan Green

The Russian Effect

James Wallis 

Personal Growth

Sarah Peploe

Control

Jonathan Oliver

The Face Of The Deep

Simon Bestwick

It Was Beauty...

Gav Thorpe

Screen Burn

James Swallow

The Animals Inside

Laurel Sills

Welcome To The Pleasuredome

Alexandra Peel

Lines Of Fire

Tim Major

To Those Left Behind

A D Chillman

The Lords Of Unswept Places

George Pickett

Last Life

Michael Carroll

The ebook edition of GAME OVER is still available on Amazon UK for only £1.19, so grab it now before the price goes up!

GAME OVER - Publication Day!

In the cavern-like darkness of the arcade, the neon phosphor-glow of the screen beckons you close. Drawn to the dancing pixels like a moth to a flame, digging deep in your pocket you pull out a shiny coin and thumb it into the slot as the electronic siren sings the fanfare that marks your arrival. One hand on the joystick, the other splayed across the control buttons, your pulse begins to quicken. 

Ready Player One

Press Start

You’ve barely begun but suddenly the discordant bleeps are trumpeting your failure as your 8-bit adventure comes to an abrupt end. At least in the world of the video arcade you get a second chance. But what is the true price you pay when you make a pact with the digital demon? There’s always another coin, an extra life to be earned, a second chance… Isn’t there?

GAME OVER

A dozen stories of creeping dread and savage horror inspired by the humble amusement arcade and the classic coin-ops of yesteryear. Twelve tales to chill your blood by twelve masters of the malevolent and the macabre.

Just keep reminding yourself, it’s only a game… Isn’t it?

GAME OVER is available now from Snowbooks, and features stories by James Wallis, Sarah Peploe, Jonathan Oliver, Simon Bestwick, Gav Thorpe, James Swallow, Laurel Sills, Alexandra Peel, Tim Major, Adam Chillman, George Pickett, and Michael Carroll.

Buy GAME OVER direct from Snowbooks and get 50% quoting the discount code 'GO' for the ebook edition, and 'GO-PRINT' for the paperback. Valid until 13th August 2015.

Tie-in Tuesday: Coming this autumn...

3rd September 2015

1st October 2015

29th October 2015

Thought for the Day

Short Story Saturday: GAME OVER - Table of Contents

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed this clock counting down since the end of March, hidden some way down on the right-hand sidebar...

 

I had mentioned the idea of an anthology of horror stories inspired by classic arcade games to Emma Barnes, publisher at Snowbooks, before. But when I heard about the Adam Sandler vehicle PIXELS (released this coming Wednesday, here in the UK) we hatched a plan to publish our book the same time the movie came out, which meant putting together a brand new book, from scratch, in less than 145 days*.

And I am delighted to say that in four days' time GAME OVER will be ready to ship from the distributors and will be available via Amazon as well as in traditional high street bookshops.

Just to get you even more excited by this prospect, here is the table of contents...

* SHARKPUNK took almost two years!

Gamebook Friday: JG at Nine Worlds Geekfest 2015

I shall be at Nine Worlds Geekfest this weekend (7-9 August 2015), at the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Heathrow.

The reason for posting this news under the 'Gamebook Friday' banner is because I am there in my capacity as an author of gamebooks and games designer.

On Friday night I shall be taking part in Knightmare Live,at 8.00pm in Commonwealth...



Following which I shall be attending the Rebellion Publishing Party (Books, Booze & Kazoos) in Royal B from 10.15pm (should I survive the dungeon, that is).

On Sunday, after a signing session in Commonwealth East (11.00-11.30am), I shall be moving next door to Commonwealth West to take part in the debate TV vs Books vs Comics vs Games: FIGHT! (11.45am-1.00pm) during which I shall be championing the cause of Games (unless things change again before the weekend is over).

On top of all that, a number of GAME OVER contributors are appearing at Nine Worlds this weekend and are planning a meet-up on Saturday evening. So do come and find us (in a bar probably) and chat to us about what's going to be in the book.

Gamebook Friday: Bloodbones' Sale - 66% off!

The app version of my Fighting Fantasy gamebook Bloodbones is currently 66% off on both Google Play and at the App Store. If you've not tried it yourself yet, now would seem like a good time.

Gamebook Friday: Is it time to trade-in your copy of Howl of the Werewolf?

If you search for Howl of the Werewolf on Amazon, you will find this...

Maybe it's time to trade-in your copy. ;-)

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland has funded, thanks to YOU!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - 1 hour to go! It's the final countdown

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland has just 1 hour left to run on Kickstarter!

Don't yet your favourite rewards slip away - pledge today!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - 2 hours to go!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland has just 2 hours left to run on Kickstarter!

Pledge your support now!

Thought for the Day

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - 4 hours to go!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland Kickstarter has just 4 hours left to run on!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland finishes on Kickstarter today!

If you've not been checking my blog for the last month or so, you may have missed the fact that my latest Kickstarter gamebook project, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, finishes today at 1.00pm BST here in the UK, which is 8.00am New York time and 10.00pm in Melbourne, Australia.

So pick your pledge, and add your add-ons, and remember - the more money raised the more awesome artwork by Kev Crossley the gamebook will include!

And tell all your friends!

The Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland

finishes at 1.00pm BST today, Monday 3rd August 2015

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - 12 hours to go!

Take to social media, phone your friends, shout it from the rooftops! Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland Kickstarter has just 12 hours left to run on!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - It's the Final Countdown!

There may be only 15 hours to go on the Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland Kickstarter but it's never too late to introduce a new add-on!

If you would like an Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland necklace, made especially for this Kickstarter by Broken Geek Designs, simply add £15 to your current pledge for every necklace you would like to purchase - necklaces rather like these...

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - 24 hours to go!

Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland is down to its final 24 hours on Kickstarter. At 1.00pm BST tomorrow it will all be over! You don't want to miss out on your chance to be part of something special - securing a signed, collector's hardback of the gamebook, or a set of dice and Alice's Nightmare playing cards - so pledge today!

Gamebook Friday: Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland - 48 hours to go!

The Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland Kickstarter is now down to its final 48 hours. Don't forget to pick your pledge and then add on any add-ons you would like to receive. 

You can also buy additional copies of the gamebook - just follow the instructions here.