Michael Abayomi

The Final Stretch

2012-03-07T04:44:00.000-08:00

Okay. I have a little confession to make. I haven't been very productive these last few days. I've spent most of my time lurking in the awesome Kindleboards Writer's Cafe. Last month, I managed to write 10,000 words in the first 5 days alone. This month, my present word count is a measly 220 words. And they weren't even my best 220 words either.

This downtime could easily be blamed on burnout from last month's writing challenge. But I know it's really laziness at work here. Me and laziness are well acquainted you see, so I know whenever he comes around and tries to put the muse to sleep. Do I have a remedy for any of this? No. Not really. But I also know that if I just keep at it, at whatever pace, I am bound to reach the finish line sooner or later.

The good news is I've been doing a bit of brainstorming during this downtime. With the way things are shaping up in my head, there might not be a book 7 after all. In other words, I might be closer to the end than I originally thought. The reason for this is that I believe a narrative should be as straight-to-the-point as possible. I am not a huge fan of stories padded out with extensive descriptions, flowery imagery or gratuitous dialog. My stories are usually limited to the bare necessities, hence why I feel that merging books 6 & 7 would help foster that approach whilst also making for a much tighter narrative.

So? What do you think? Should I stick to the original plan and draft 7 books? Or would merging books 6 & 7 into a single volume be just as swell? None of this is set in stone of course, so I'll keep you posted either way.

50,000 Words!

2012-02-29T10:00:00.001-08:00

Today marks the end of the ongoing Kindleboards February Writing Challenge. In case you're just getting wind of this and wondering what it is, it's something a bunch of the writer's in the Kindleboards Writer's Cafe have been participating in. The goal of the challenge was to write 60,000 words in the month of February (that's 29 days). It's sorta like NaNoWriMo, only more words and less days.

Well, it's been a long and hard 29 days, rife with everything from illness to self doubt. But what kept most of us going, amongst other factors, was the public-shaming nature of the challenge. We were required to log our daily numbers in the official challenge thread, where we could also discuss our individual progress and encountered hardships. It was quite a refreshing experience to see and hear from so many writers around the world.

We all got into the challenge for various reasons. For example, I was hoping to draft books 4 & 5 of my WIP, Guardians and the Lost Paradise. But basically, it was a need to write that drew us to the challenge. I had already said in an earlier post that this was to be the year that I made the transition from aspiring writer to actual writer. But I found myself spending the most of January trying to generate some much-needed buzz for my books recently released through Amazon.

Looking back, I remember the amount of pressure I felt on Day 1. Up until then, I had always written at my leisure, sometimes taking years to finish what I started. So it's understandable why I felt some mild trepidation at the start of that session. But at the end of it, I was 2,400 words closer to the goal. The two other milestones I most remember were crossing 10,000 words on Day 5, and finishing my draft of book 4 on Day 10 at 21,000 words.

Now, I have drafted both books 4 & 5, with 6 already under way. My final total word count for the challenge is 50,000 words. I know, it's 10,000 words short of the goal, but this is the most I have written in... forever! I still have at least 40,000 words worth of story left to tell. So I plan on taking the momentum already built and rolling the ball through to the end of March. Who knows, I just might have the entire series drafted by then.

I have learnt quite a few lessons during the challenge, the most important of which is the value of perseverance. There were days where the words came naturally, and others where I hit quite a few walls. I have also discovered what seems to be my comfort zone in terms of daily word counts (1,500 words or thereabouts). What remains is to transcend these lessons into actual practices.

Happy Writing everyone.

The Academy Awards & 45,000 words

2012-02-27T08:14:00.001-08:00

I can almost taste it. The sweet taste of victory. Sadly, I'm 15,000 words behind the 60,000 words goal in the Kindleboards February Writing Challenge. And with just 3 days remaining!

But on the bright side, I have now officially drafted books 4 & 5 of my series, Guardians and the Lost Paradise. I am currently using today to plot book 6, with the hope of getting back to writing tomorrow, and rounding out the month with 50,000 words. That's 10,000 words behind the goal, but I'll take it.

In other news, it was the Oscars yesterday, and the (supposed) best films of the past year were honored. The big winner was The Artist, which took home 5 awards, including 3 of the big ones, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture. Another big winner was Hugo, which garnered 5 awards out of its 11 nominations.

Other notable wins were Octavia Spencer for Best Supporting Actress (for her portrayal of Minny from The Help), and Woody Allen for Best Original Screenplay for Midnight in Paris. Rango won Best Animated, and Meryl Streep won Best Actress (at the expense of Viola Davis).

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 didn't win any of its 3 (technical) nominations. Not that it matters, since it wasn't even considered for the important one. But I won't get into that again. I've always made a point of trying to see the Best Picture winners from years past. So I guess now I'll have to go and see The Artist too, whether I like it or not.

February Writing Challenge: 30,000 words

2012-02-20T02:43:00.001-08:00

It's Day 20 today, which means there are only 10 days left in the ongoing Kindleboards February Writing Challenge. The goal is to write 60,000 words in the month of February, averaging around 2,000+ words per day.

So far, I have managed to reach the halfway point. I have written 30,000 words in 19 days. I did take three of those 19 days off (a decision I am now starting to question), so it's more like 30,000 words in 16 days.

But like I said, there are only 10 days remaining before the end of the challenge. This means I would have to write at least 3,000 words each day till the end of the month. I've only written that many words once during the challenge, and that was because I was writing the climax for book 4 of my WIP, Guardians and the Lost Paradise. I am not giving up hope yet though. Not when I still have at least 70,000 words worth of story to tell.

Okay. I better get back into it. Happy Writing everyone.

My Thoughts on the 54th Grammy Awards

2012-02-14T07:21:00.001-08:00

I am putting in this post a day late mainly because I was out cold for the better part of yesterday. I ended up watching the Grammy Awards live (a tradition I've upheld for the past twelve years or so), which meant I had to stay up through the night. The bane of living in another time zone.

To clear the way for today's post, I need to get something off of my chest first. Lady Gaga did not only fail to win Album of the Year, she went home empty handed too.

Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

Alright. I feel better already. On with the post.

It was a fairly predictable night at the Grammys, with Adele claiming all six awards she'd been nominated for, including the big ones: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Given her dominance over the music charts and year-end lists this past year, this was no shocker I must say. But did she deserve it?

Well, like I've said before, I really wanted Gaga to score her first Album of the Year win, after three back to back nominations. But these things hardly ever turn out the way you want them to. I mean, one of the best albums to come out during the eligibility period, Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, wasn't even given a nomination. So I wasn't really surprised when Gaga and others fell victim to Adele's 21.

Another disappointment for me was Foster the People failing to win Best Alternative for Torches. They lost to Bon Iver's eponymous second album, who also won Best New Artist by the way, so there is at least some justification there. But it's the Grammys were talking about here. Just being nominated is an honor in its own right.

What did please me though was Skrillex gaining some well-deserved recognition in the electronic categories, whilst Kanye West and the Foo Fighters swept the Rap and Rock categories respectively. But what crowned my joy for the night was watching Paul Epworth win Producer of the Year. He had cemented his position as my favorite producer with his work on Florence + The Machine's Ceremonials, a (possible) forerunner for next year's awards.

As far as performances go, all the performers did well. I especially loved seeing the Foo Fighters perform with Deadmau5. But the performance that still has everyone talking was Nicki Minaj doing a new song titled Roman Holiday. The Catholic-themed performance featured everything from mock confessions, to demon possession and exorcism. It was one of those things you just had to see for yourself. No doubt the Catholic community and Christians at large are still enraged by the travesty.

All in all, it was a good show, considering the death of Whitney Houston mere hours before. How they managed to work in tributes in such short notice is anybody's guess. Props to the organizers for giving us yet another night where the best in music got honored.

Day 10: February Writing Challenge.

2012-02-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

I just completed my writing session. I can't believe it's been 10 days already. Wow. I guess time flies when you are slaying dragons and rescuing damsels.

Okay. The numbers. In the past week and some days, I've managed to write... wait for it... wait for it... 21,000 words! Yep. That's right. 21,000 sweet words. I know for most writers out there, this is nothing. But for me, it's the fastest I've written since.... forever.

All those words mean that I am officially done with Book 4 of my work-in-progress, Guardians and the Lost Paradise. Might be taking the weekend off, to celebrate, get some rest, catch up on other stuff and even work on my outline for Book 5.

Things are really looking up. I never would have thought Book 4 would be in the bag 10 days ago. This just proves that it can be done once you set your mind to it.

Happy Writing everyone.

February Writing Challenge: Day 1

2012-02-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

Today, I officially wrote as many words as I managed to get down the whole of last month: 2,400. It's 30 minutes before midnight over here right now, and I'm feeling a bit worn out to say the least. Need to rest up for Day 2 of the challenge. Hopefully, I'll get to write as many, if not more, words as I did today. I'll continue posting my progress both here and on the official kindleboards thread. Peace.

60,000 words in 28 days

2012-01-30T04:03:00.001-08:00

It's the end of the month, which means it's time to look back and take account of the progress made towards completing my WIP. Sadly, I only managed to add some 2,500 words this month. So far, I have 80,000 words total, but I plan on writing an additional 120,000 before the 21st of December (You know, before the world ends and everything). So needless to say, I have some major catching up to do.

I was idling away on Twitter yesterday when David Gaughran tweeted something about a writing challenge on Kindleboards. The goal is to write 60,000 words in the month of February. That's about 28 days at 2,000+ words a day. Here's a link to the thread if, like me, you're interested in stepping up to the challenge:

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,98992.msg1552826.html#msg1552826

So what do you think? Can it be done, or are we all way over our heads? Personally, I think it may be just what I need to get me back on track.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Divergent (Book Review)

2012-01-27T04:30:00.000-08:00

Last year, two important things happened that currently dictate my reading habits. Firstly, I discovered that there was this apparently-popular social network centered around reading and discovering good books; needless to say, I joined Goodreads in a heartbeat. Secondly, I got my hands on a Kindle 3. Since then, the number of books I have read have increased exponentially.

I discovered Divergent when it was voted the Best Book for 2011 by readers on Goodreads. In retrospect, this is why my expectations for it had been raised considerably. The end result is a book that falls just shy of living up to that expectation.

Divergent is a coming-of-age story about a 16-year-old girl called Beatrice Prior. It is set in a dystopian Chicago, though the city itself is never referenced by name within the context of the book. In that city, following an unspecified historical conflict, its inhabitants are divided into various ideology-based factions. The main character is from a faction called Abnegation, where selflessness is promoted beyond anything else, which is why they have been designated as ideal for leadership positions. Another faction, Dauntless, promotes bravery, and they comprise the main law enforcement body amongst other things. The Erudite faction are known for their pursuit of knowledge, and are at the forefront of research and scientific development. The final two factions are Amity and Candor, known for their peaceful nature and openness respectively. Then there are those who failed to get into, or were rejected by, the other factions. They are known as the factionless and are comprised of the homeless, who are treated like the dregs of society.

As part of a coming-of-age ritual, eligible youths are asked to publicly declare their allegiance to one of the 5 factions. This is the only time they would be allowed to switch factions, after which they must spend the rest of their lives upholding their chosen faction's ideals, or risk being declared factionless. Beatrice plans on switching from Abnegation to Dauntless at this ceremony, and who can blame her, when her current faction insists on wearing their selflessness on their sleeves, with their drab, gray outfits and monotonous lifestyle; the Dauntless on the other hand are known for their excessive body piercing, tattoos, black leather jackets and train-hopping. That's a no-brainer, right? Well, following a test that was designed to make the selection process easier, she discovers she is something called Divergent. This not only means that she is not suited for any one faction, but that she is considered dangerous by authorities as well.

She goes ahead to choose Dauntless, and the better part of the book is spent following her rigorous training underneath the Dauntless headquarters. Friendships are forged and rivals/enemies made, and a love interest is even thrown into the mix. And towards the end, a vast government conspiracy is uncovered and successfully foiled, all standard fare for this type of book. But don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed reading this one all the same, even though I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of a stronger resolution.

All that aside, I know this is just the beginning of something potentially monumental. What does it truly mean to be Divergent? Why is it considered so dangerous by the authorities? Where do the factionless live and what role would they play in the future uprising? What lies beyond the perimeter fences guarded by the Dauntless soldiers? These are just some of the questions I hope would get answered in Insurgent, the next book in the planned trilogy.

2012 Academy Awards Nominations

2012-01-25T01:17:00.000-08:00

Okay. I'm still a bit pissed so I'll just come out and say it: why, oh why, was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 not given a Best Picture nomination? I mean, there was an unused slot out of a possible 10, and that film was clearly a big hit among fans, critics and moviegoers in general. Over $1.3 billion in international box office receipts. A 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What more must a movie do to get some due acknowledgement?

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me confess that I am yet to see any of the 9 Best Picture nominees. So as it stands, I am presently rooting for no one. That should change within the month though. This is the one thing I love about award season: seeing the difference between what you've been watching and what you should have been watching. Still doubt if any of these movies would justify Harry Potter's exclusion, but let's wait and see.

P.S: In totally unrelated news, I scored another interview yesterday. Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2012/01/get-to-know-author-michael-abayomi.html

Reviews for The Mediator

2012-01-23T04:38:00.001-08:00

After mailing out a gazillion submissions/review requests last month, the first wave of reviews for my book, The Mediator, have started coming in. Last week, I scored my first two reviews:

Literary R&R
http://literaryrr.blogspot.com/2012/01/kathys-review-mediator-by-michael.html

Read it. Blog it.
http://readit-blogit.blogspot.com/2012/01/mediator-by-michael-abayomi-review.html

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

11/22/63 (Book Review)

2012-01-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

The King of Horror is back. His latest book tells the story of Jake Epping, an English schoolteacher charged with a mission that could very well alter the course of history. Underneath a diner in Lisbon Falls, Maine, exists a portal that links to a specific date in 1958. Using that portal, Jake must attempt to stop Lee Harvey Oswald, the man responsible for killing President John F. Kennedy.

Right off the bat, the narrative opens with a glimpse into Jake Epping's mind (I've never been keen on first-person narratives, though I'll admit that this is one of those rare occasions where it works for me). But as you plod through the 800 or so pages, you begin to have a sense of just how long-winded that narrative tends to get. This is one rather long novel, and the problem with long novels is they scarcely successfully keep the ball rolling from start to finish. Needless to say, this one has its fair share of highs and lows.

The thing I love most about this novel is the way Mr. King was able to depict quite accurately American life in the late 50s/early 60s. You really get a sense of the amount of research that must have gone into painting that portrait. The fact that the action takes place within a historical context does nothing but further heighten the level of credibility. I've always held the belief that the decade I'd most love to experience was the 70s, what, with the disco music, afro hairdos and bell-bottoms. But after reading this book, I am not quite as sure.

I feel my sole criticism has to do with the length of this book. I said it before, but I'll say it again: this book is overly long. This was why reading it sometimes felt like a chore. The bulk of the novel follows Jake's day-to-day activities, which include buying classic automobiles, getting haircuts, gambling, running surveillance, directing high school plays, falling in love and of course stopping violent murders. But as the novel nears its climax, the suspense really racks up and you find that you can't turn the pages fast enough. All these things add up to a great overall experience.

Prior to this novel, the only other book I'd read by Stephen King was On Writing, a must read for aspiring writers. I guess it's high time I go back and read his extensive backlist. Long live the King.

# e n d

Blackberry Blues

2012-01-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

I've been off the internet for a few days now, and have been relegated to using my Blackberry to emulate the tasks I typically perform on the PC. Tried accessing blogger with the inbuilt browser, which turned out to be a dead end. Had to download Opera Mini, and even then, could only access it through the old interface.

I heard WordPress works like magic on mobile devices, and this is the first instance where I found myself questioning my decision to blog with Google's Blogger. Is it too much to ask for a dedicated Blogger app for Blackberry? Or at least a website optimized for mobile devices?

The closest the guys at Google have come to a solution is something called Mail-to-Blogger, using which you could make a post by sending it as an email to a specified @blogger.com address. Don't know how well this works, but if you're reading this post, then I guess it gets the job done. Now, time to rest my fingers; this keypad is killing me.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

A Short Rant about Walls and Sh#t!

2012-01-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

I don't know whether it has something to do with growing up listening to all those Eminem records, but I've never really had a problem with profanity. Don't get me wrong, I rarely use colorful language myself. Well, at least not in public, and never in front of kids. But I've always wondered about people who claim to be overly sensitive to its usage.

The reason why I'm bringing this up is I've spent the better part of the past month going through the review policy of various book bloggers. A real time guzzler if you ask me. But if you truly want something (in this case some much-needed reviews), then you must be prepared to have that time guzzled. In all that guzzled up time though, I've learnt a few important facts.

Fact number one, old-school science-fiction thrillers aren't particularly popular in this day and age of all things paranormal romance. Fact number two, book bloggers are one of the nicest people in the blogosphere and the internet at large. And fact number three, a lot of these book bloggers still have a preference for paper-bound books, though that number is constantly dwindling (I hope).

Another important fact I've discovered, and this one is about people in general, is that we tend to build all sorts of walls around ourselves with our standards and expectations. I know we are all entitled to our various opinions, and I admit that I am as guilty as the next man. For example, I find it next to impossible to sit through a Nigerian home video. This is not to say that all Nigerian home videos are poorly made. Well, actually they are. But that's another story entirely.

I can understand someone showing a preference for paranormal romance, YA dystopian fantasies, or dare I say old-school science-fiction thrillers. What I don't get is someone rejecting to read anything that contains profanity, violence or Christian/religious themes. Are you seriously telling me that you're willing to forgo whatever satisfaction you might derive from a book due to the presence of such elements? Or that the presence of said elements far outweighs all other incentives to read such a book? If so, then there is something I am clearly failing to see here.

Free Promotion Results for The Mediator

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

This past week, I ran a free promotion on Amazon (using KDP Select) for my book, The Mediator. This promotion ran between Wednesday and Friday. To maximize the potential of this three-day run, I contacted three (free) ebook listing blogs/websites, two of which responded and listed my book during the promo. Aside from that, I didn't do much else to promote the promotion, other than blogging and tweeting about it, which I don't feel had much impact on the final outcome, having less than 20 followers, half of which I know for certain weren't active on twitter during the period in question.

To begin with, my expectations had been set very low: I was looking to move around 100 units. And if the stars happened to align, I considered adding an additional zero to that figure. Well, I was surprised by the amount of units moved on the first day alone. By midnight Wednesday, the reports told me over 300 units had been downloaded. This caused my rankings to rise to the 1000s, eventually peaking at around #850. The following screenshot was taken just before I hit the sack for the day.

The remaining two days were nowhere near as remarkable. There was a steady decline in units moved on the second day, and a sharp decline by the third, and it became apparent that the ebook listings had been responsible for the initial surge in units moved. By the end of the three-day promotion, about 800 units had been moved, which isn't bad (I guess) considering the 3 units sold in the past three-weeks since publication.

Overall, I consider the promotion a success, if only because I have gained some much-needed exposure. Whether or not the 800 people who downloaded the book for free would go on to read it (and perhaps buy the subsequent two books in the series) remains to be seen. But at least I have succeeded in putting my name in the minds of these 800 people, which is the primary reason I'd put these books up on Amazon, to build some name-recognition by the time my current W.I.P. (and future releases) gets published.

Guardians Playlist

2012-01-06T00:00:00.001-08:00

I don't consider myself that huge a fan of the Twilight Saga. But I am indeed a fan of Stephenie Meyer. Not her writing, no, but rather her taste in music. It is this musical connection that has allowed my unusual enjoyment of the Twilight movies, a fact I revealed in my recent rundown of favorite albums for 2011. A few of my favorite songs and bands have also been featured on the playlists she put together when writing her Twilight books, whose messages transcend pretty well into her books.

And so, in like manner, I have decided to put together a playlist of my own. It is for my work-in-progress, Guardians and the Lost Paradise. If you need some background on the W.I.P. itself, then I suggest you check out this post. These are the songs that I feel capture the kind of emotions I am hoping to evoke through these books. I have just 10 tracks so far, and I am open to suggestions and further recommendations.

1. Spice Girls - Viva Forever
2. Taylor Swift - Enchanted
3. The Fray - Never Say Never
4. Coldplay - Violet Hill
5. Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day
6. Muse - Starlight
7. Hoobastank - More Than a Memory
8. Poets of the Fall - Late Goodbye
9. HIM - The Sacrament
10. Evanescence - Bring Me to Life

P.S: Today is the last day of my ongoing Free promo for The Mediator. So if you still haven't snagged a free copy, get one now while you still can.

The Mediator
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006K0G2WY

Special Offer: The Mediator

2012-01-04T00:30:00.000-08:00

Today, it is my pleasure to announce that you can now get the first book in the Neuro series, The Mediator, completely free of charge. It's only for a limited time though. Offer ends on Friday (11:59 PM PST). So get your free copy while you can.

The Mediator is a story about a young lawyer who unearths a government conspiracy. It's a science-fiction thriller. Just think John Grisham with an Isaac Asimov/Philip K. Dick spin to it and you'll have an idea of what to expect. So. What are you waiting for?

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mediator-Neuro-ebook/dp/B006K0G2WY

P.S: Don't forget to tell a friend. And tell that friend to tell a friend.

Goals and Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Looks like we made it to the other side. Feels good, doesn't it? Well, many lives were lost in 2011. But yet we are still here. We must never forget to thank God for that.

Right. Now that we've put things in proper perspective, let's get on with it.

My sole resolution last year was to find time for reading books. This was due to the fact that I found myself reading 2 to 3 books a year, when I knew I should be reading 2 to 3 books a week. The thing is I've always been highly selective about what I read, only reading books by authors that I absolutely adore, or those highly recommended by friends and family. But even then, I always found it difficult to create time in my erratic schedule (schedule? what schedule?) for reading them. I got a John Grisham book for my birthday once that took me well over a year to get around to reading. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. This past year, I read just shy of 30 books, which is a nice jump from the 2 I read the year before. So I guess that resolution was well met.

This year's resolution is along similar lines. This year I plan on setting aside time each day for writing. I feel this is important because up until now, I'd only written when I could no longer bear not to, and this was typically at the expense of prior commitments. But ever since reading On Writing by Stephen King this past year, I can clearly see the folly in such an approach. Besides, its about time I make the transition from aspiring writer to actual writer. After all, three of my books are currently on Amazon. And what better way to meet this year's resolution than to align it with some very interesting goals.

Goal #1: Finish WIP
It's a series called Guardians and the Lost Paradise, and I have been working on it (on and off) since December 2006. It is a YA fantasy about a boy named Daniel, who dies in a car accident, but awakens in a mystical land called Eden, where the forces of good and evil are engaged in ceaseless battle. The story was originally conceived following some introspection: we had just experienced a death in the family and I found myself thinking about the afterlife. I started writing without really knowing where I was going, but quickly found that a tale of epic proportions was gradually being birthed.

I finished the first part of that epic tale around July 2007, making sure it ended with a solid cliffhanger. Over time, I saw the need for at least six subsequent parts, the third of which I completed early last year. Had to take a rather disruptive time-off to put that part down, but I'm glad that I did. My original plan was to query agents with these three parts (pitching it as a first volume to a possible trilogy), and I was only going to go back and write the remaining four if the story sold. But following a series of revelations, I decided I wanted to have the entire story done and published sometime before the 21st of December, 2012, you know, before the Mayan calendar runs out of days.

Goal #2: Self-publish it!
Obviously this goal is very much dependent on the previous one. But since I've at least written three of the proposed seven parts, I'm fairly optimistic about getting it done. And the only way to ensure that the books are out there within the twelve-month time frame is via self-publishing. With traditional publishing, the earliest I can hope to see it in print would be 2014 (and that's assuming I'd snagged an agent on my very first query, and he/she had sold the manuscript almost immediately). But by then we'd all be too busy swimming in a black hole somewhere.

I did pretty much all the work for my current titles. This time around, I plan on enlisting some professional help: editing, cover design, the works. Formatting I can still handle on my own, since I do have a deep understanding of HTML, being a web developer and all. But the editing I know I won't be able to bear: it sometimes felt like I was close to the point of insanity whilst self-editing my current titles. As for cover design, I know I'll definitely be hiring a professional. Worst case scenario, I'll shop around for some premade covers.

Goal #3: Be Happy (No matter what)
My final goal is in no way dependent on either of the previous two. In other words, whether I get to complete the stories or not, or the books go viral (and I end up selling truckloads) or I fail to sell a single copy, I'll still be content with the knowledge that I gave it my best shot. So long as I had some fun along the way. Because that's why we're doing it, right? That's why we write. Because we love what we do.

So what do you think? Is it a bit too ambitious, or perhaps not much of a challenge? I'll be chronicling my progress towards these goals over the next few months. So be sure to check back every now and then.

To The Moon (Game Review)

2011-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

For those of us old enough to remember the original lineup of Power Rangers (Jason, Kimberly, Billy, Zack and Trini), it is a well-known fact that the golden age of action-adventure RPGs was during the 16-bit era. This is why (till date) I consider the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) to be my favorite game console. Some of the best games in the genre came out on SNES; classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Chrono Trigger and Secrets of Mana. But until recently, the only game that has managed to recreate the look and feel of these classics was Eternal Eden by Blossomsoft (an indie game developer). Now, another indie developer has crafted quite possibly the finest throwback to the classics yet.

That developer is Freebird Games, and their game is called To The Moon. But before you hop over to their download page, eager to start customizing characters and leveling up, please be warned that this game contains very little (actual) gameplay. Apart from a slightly-out-of-place shoot-em-up sequence towards the end, the bulk of your time would be spent exploring the beautiful 16-bit world, looking for mementos. Each memento contains a picture puzzle which must be completed before you can progress. This simplified mechanic allows you to fully enjoy the games true calling card: the story.

To The Moon tells the story of an old man's desire to visit the moon. His name is Johnny, and he lives in a mansion close to a lighthouse by the edge of a cliff (real eccentric fella you see). The problem is Johnny is presently in a coma, dying on his deathbed. But before getting to this state, he had contracted an agency known as the Sigmund Corp. This agency, through the manipulation of a client's memories, is able to create an alternate reality in which the client achieves their ultimate goal in life (in John's case, to travel to the moon), thereby allowing them to experience one last moment of true happiness, before, well, kicking the bucket. It's a unique (though somewhat absurd) premise that sets the stage for one of the most emotional adventures in years.

You assume the roles of Dr. Eva Rosalene and Dr. Neil Watts, two agents from the Sigmund Corp, and together you must move through John's memories, in reverse order, in search of the catalyst to John's present obsession with the moon. Each memory is linked to an earlier memory through the previously-mentioned mementos, everyday objects that hold some kind of sentimental value to John. The adventure begins with John as a senior citizen, and climaxes with memories from his early childhood, by which time the player is guaranteed to be in or close to tears. Not to risk exposing too much of the plot, but know that "coming to terms with a loved ones medical condition" and "dealing with death in the family" are just two of the powerful themes explored in this game. The mood is further set by a piano score, and a ballad composed and sung by Laura Shigihara (Plants vs. Zombies).

To The Moon is one game that begs to be experienced. So whether you grew up in the 16-bit era or not (or you enjoy playing video games or not), you owe it to yourself to experience this game, if only for the unforgettable storyline.

2011 in Review: Looking Back

2011-12-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today marks the end of my week-long "2011 in Review" series of posts. If you're just joining in, then I suggest you go back and read my earlier posts. On Monday, I set the stage for what was to come. I also gave a nice list of my favorite songs over the last eleven years; so that post is worth going back to see for that reason alone. On Tuesday, I gave a rundown of my favorite songs for 2011. On Wednesday, I did favorite albums. And yesterday, I did movies. Right now, I am going to give a rundown of the year as a whole.

A lot of things happened this past year. There was the much-talked-about "fairytale wedding" between Prince William and Kate Middleton. I still don't know why that wedding generated the level of buzz that it did. I mean, people get married all the time, right? The only thing that wedding did was to make sorry bachelors the world over feel even more sorry for themselves. Not me though. I'm still good for another 5 years at least. Oops. Make that 4.

Then there was the unexpected death of Apple founder and CEO, Steve Jobs. I have never been a Mac user, but iTunes has for years been a staple of the list of running programs on my Windows computer. Just think iPod, iPhone and iPad, and you'll get a sense of what I am trying to say. I can't even imagine where we'd be today without any of these gadgets. Probably dusting off our Sony Walkmans (remember those?) or trying to steal (I mean, share) music through Napster. Mr. Jobs has influenced an entire generation, and one can only hope to get to impact as many lives as he has, before the curtain closes.

But of all the stories that made waves this past year, I think the most significant (at least as far as the writing community is concerned) was that of Miss Amanda Hocking. In January alone, she sold 450,000 copies of her ebooks, all self-published through Amazon. She would later go on to sign a $2 million book deal with St. Martin's Press. Her success has inspired many writers to buck the traditional publishing route in favor of self-publishing. I am one of that many. My books (The Mediator, The Host and The Second Rebellion) were uploaded to Amazon on the 9th of December. Since then, I have sold a whopping... wait for it... wait for it... two copies! Not one. Not one and a half. But two whole copies!!! Woo hoo. Someone pour me a drink.

It's been a wonderful year. I have fulfilled my dream of having my work put out there. 2012 looks even brighter. At least until the Tsunamis come crashing down. See you on the other side.

P.S: I couldn't end my 2011 review without leaving you with something special. Something that has set the internet on fire this past year. Do you know what that is?

2011 in Review: Favorite Movies

2011-12-29T01:43:00.000-08:00

Let me start by conceding to the fact that I didn't watch nearly as much movies this year as I would have loved to. This is why I am limiting my choice of finalists to just 5 movies. It's not that they weren't that many good movies to choose from. It's just that most of the truly great ones (the Oscar-worthy ones) typically come out at the end of the year. And to include them in this list would be a disservice to the movies that had held us captivated over the months. That said, I'm sure you'll agree with at least some of my choices. So sit back, relax and let the rundown begin.

The Finalists

Sucker Punch

From the very moment I saw the trailer for Sucker Punch in August 2010, I could instantly tell this film could only go either of two ways. It could be utterly brilliant or piss poor. Well, majority seem to believe it falls in the latter category. But I feel they are simply missing the point here. This is a film that cannot be assessed on surface value alone. It is a work of art, something that could only be crafted by a skilled director like Zack Snyder. It tells a multilayered story where things are not as they appear. It also boasts some of the most spectacular action sequences seen all year. And while I would have preferred a less anticlimactic conclusion, I still feel the story in its present form more than achieved what it set out to do: to leave the audience dumbfounded, wondering what just happened. Hence the title.

The Adjustment Bureau

This is one of those rare movies that turn out way better than you anticipated. I went into The Adjustment Bureau expecting to be mildly entertained at best, but came out just shy of blown away. This movie manages to tell a decent love story, without sacrificing any of its source material's otherworldliness. It is partially responsible for my current obsession with all-things Philip K. Dick, and I feel it is one of the better adaptations out there. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt also put forth decent performances as the star-crossed lovers.

Source Code

I remember having an overwhelming desire to see this movie earlier this year. Looking back, I can't seem to remember where that desire came from. But I'm sure glad I listened to that desire. Otherwise, I might have missed one of the year's finer science fiction offerings. Reminiscent of the 1993 movie Groundhogs Day, Source Code tells the story of a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) who must relieve the same eight minutes of another man's memory, over and over again, until he finds a terrorist planning to detonate a dirty bomb, mere hours away. He is backed by the beautiful Vera Farmiga, and together they must try and foil the act of terrorism. Come to think about it, I think I now remember why I really wanted to see this movie. Two words: Vera Farmiga.

Super 8

I still feel all warm inside just thinking about this movie. Quite simply one of the film-making triumphs of the year. With Super 8, J. J. Abrams proved that you could make a suspense-filled action roller-coaster of a movie centered around a bunch of kids. What really surprised me though was the level of emotional development between the characters. This should be attributed not only to the wonderful script, but to the superb job done by the actors themselves. There isn't a single weak character in this movie. The special effects were also top-notch, especially the spectacular train wreck sequence. The fact that the audience was kept guessing until the final minutes is also worth noting.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

Coming straight off the path paved by the incredible Deathly Hallows Part I, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II brings the franchise to a satisfying close. Even as a Potter fan who has never been satisfied by the movie adaptations, I could tell from the way Deathly Hallows Part I was handled that Part II was going to be hands down the best movie of the lot. After all, it was still just one single movie split in two. Well, not only was it the best of the lot, it was also one of the best movies of the year. Period. This movie reminded us of everything we loved about Harry Potter, whilst securing its place as the highest grossing movie franchise (well, at least until Avatar 2 and 3 get made and released).

And the winner is...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

I admit that I was a wee bit skeptical when I'd found out the final book's adaptation was to be split into two separate movies. It sounded like a money making ploy to me; like Warner Bros. was trying to milk their Harry Potter license dry before moving on. Now I see how silly I was being. If only other movies in the franchise had gotten a similar treatment (With the exception of Order of the Phoenix. That book was just plain bloated to begin with).

I think the most remarkable achievement the Harry Potter movies have made is allowing us witness the cast members grow, not just as actors, but as individuals as well. I remember going "Holy Sh*t" when I saw young Daniel Radcliffe in the flashback sequence. And then in the final epilogue sequence, where they were made to look 17 years older (or closer to their actual ages, depending on how you look at it). Those were the moments that made us aware of the 10 years it took to make these movies.

This final movie is a well-realized adaptation that remains faithful to the book while taking some liberties. I like the fact that the spectacular duels weren't dampened by the good guys muttering disarming spells, when the bad guys were obviously using unforgivable curses, one of my little nitpicks with the final book.

All in all, the filmmakers and cast members gave the final effort their all, and the result is a movie as Oscar-worthy as anything else out now. This movie deserves a Best Picture nomination at the very least. And in this day and age of 10 available slots, there simply is no excuse.

2011 in Review: Favorite Albums

2011-12-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Finalists

My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

I'll admit, this album shouldn't (technically) be on this list, since it came out all the way back in November last year. But in a month filled with big name releases from the likes of Rihanna and Kanye West, this release was all but eclipsed. So it wasn't until early this year, after all the dust had settled, did I finally discover this record. And I've been smiling ever since. If you're a fan of the band, or a headbanger looking to add new music to your collection, then look no further. Highlights include Sing, Bulletproof Heart and Party Poison.

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

Easily one of the most anticipated albums of the year. And boy did it deliver. The fact that the first single, H.A.M., was relegated to a bonus track on the Deluxe Edition should tell you something about the caliber of sounds on this album. Put simply: there isn't a single track here that you wouldn't immediately love. Feeling more like an extension of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy than anything else, this album is my favorite collaborative album since Jay-Z & Linkin Park's Collision Course. Highlights include No Church in the Wild, That's My Bitch and Made in America.

Various Artists - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

The one thing I've always loved about the Twilight movies is the associated music. Some of my favorite songs in the past three years have been spawned by these movies. Songs like Decode by Paramore, I Belong to You by Muse, and Ours by The Bravery. This most recent addition to the franchise is no different. And while I am still yet to see the movie (been avoiding it like the plague you see), I can honestly say that the soundtrack is every bit as solid as anything else out there. Highlights include Turning Page by Sleeping At Last, It Will Rain by Bruno Mars, and A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Ever since the song The Pretender became one of my all-time favorites, I'd been sold on getting the next Foo Fighters record, even if they had recorded it inside a well, in the middle of a snowstorm. Thankfully they hadn't. Still had to wait four years though. But it was well worth the wait (no pun intended). And from the very first listen, I could already tell this was a major contender at next year's Grammy Awards. Highlights include Rope, White Limo and Walk.

LMFAO - Sorry for Party Rocking

While it can be argued that this album was nowhere near as praise-worthy as their Grammy-nominated debut, I still feel it was a step in the right direction. If you can look beyond the borderline ridiculous lyrics and subject matter, what you'll find here is an overall well-made collection of club bangers. And I think the success of Party Rock Anthem more than proves my point. Highlights include Sexy and I know It, Champagne Showers and With You.

Foster the People - Torches

This is one album I can never get tired of listening to. After the breakaway success of Pumped Up Kicks and their self-titled EP, many wondered if this band could deliver the goods when it came to a full-length album. Quite possibly the most impressive debut I've heard in years, Torches is an album that begs to be kept on constant repeat. What first struck me was the fact that every single song was instantly catchy, a slight departure from the norm when compared to offerings from other indie rock bands. In retrospect, it is clear that this is due to lead singer Mark Foster's songwriting (he used to write jingles) and an impressive lineup of big name producers (Paul Epworth anyone?). Highlights include Helena Beat, Pumped Up Kicks, Call It What You Want, Waste and Miss You.

Adele - 21

Relationships gone bad: that's one of the most heartfelt subject matters in popular music. Because let's face it, we've all had our hearts broken by a special someone at some point in time. And I believe that no other album this year captured that sense of heartbreak as sincerely as Adele's 21. It immediately became apparent that every single song on this record is a retelling of her experiences with love, heartbreak and everything in between. I mean, why else would it resonant with so many people, translating into one of the most successful albums in recent history. Highlights include Set Fire to the Rain, Someone Like You and I'll Be Waiting.

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

If ever considered overrated or under-talented, then I think this was the record where Lady Gaga proved to the world her success was no fluke. After all, three consecutive Album of the Year Grammy nominations have to count for something, right? And by the way, Grammy board members, if she fails to take home the big one this time around, then you'd be directly held responsible for starting World War III. I am not a Little Monster myself, but I've been a fan from the moment I watched her ascend from the swimming pool at the beginning of the Poker Face video. This album is filled with such epic moments, so much so that I can't even list any in particular without risking leaving out another.

Example - Playing in the Shadows

Every once in a while, a record drops and you find yourself up at two in the morning, singing along at the top of your lungs. And then you wake up in the afternoon, only to resume where you left off (subjecting your next door neighbors to more torment). For me, Example's Playing in the Shadows was that record. The British rapper's third album is much darker than the light-hearted Won't Go Quietly, but still manages to be every bit as infectious, perhaps more so. Highlights include Stay Awake, Changed The Way You Kiss Me, Natural Disaster and Midnight Run.

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

This was the record that cemented Paul Epworth's position as one of my favorite producers. He produced every single track, resulting in an album that sounds miles ahead of its peers. Add to this Florence Welsh's pitch-perfect, arena-filling vocals and you get something close to sonic perfection. This is how you make a follow up record; bigger, bolder and every bit as ground-breaking as the critically-acclaimed Lungs. Highlights include Breaking Down, Heartlines and Spectrum.

And the winner is...

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

What? Don't tell me you didn't see this coming? Well, what can I say? No other album delivered on all fronts like this one. First off, there's Miss Germinata's songwriting, which has never been as strong and as heartfelt. Then there's the production, spearheaded by none other than Gaga herself, with the likes of Red One and Fernando Garibay helping define the 80s-themed instrumentals. And finally, her vocal prowess, which is on full display and always on point. All these things come together beautifully to create the definitive Gaga record. Don't believe me? Then I suggest you give a listen to the opening instrumentals on Black Jesus † Amen Fashion, then tell me if you still feel otherwise.

2011 in Review: Favorite Songs

2011-12-27T02:00:00.000-08:00

The Finalists

Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger

Ah. Maroon 5. Beautiful Maroon 5. You guys left us with yet another winner this year. My only question is why wasn't this song on the Hands All Over album. Although, I admit it would have been a bit out of place, since this is quite a departure for the band. In fact, that is the only nitpick I have about this song: it didn't sound like Maroon 5 at all. It could as well had been touted as an Adam Levine side project for all I could tell. That said, this has arguably the best instrumentals of the year, powered by the production work of two current generation geniuses: Shellback and Benny Blanco .

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

I confess that the very first time I heard this song, I didn't even know what to make of it. The first thing that struck me was the contrast between the spaced out instrumentals and the disturbing subject matter (a kid about to go on a shooting spree). But upon subsequent listens, the song grew on me like vines on a post. Now, I can't imagine what my 2011 playlist would have been like if this gem from 2010 hadn't found it's way to mainstream success.

Jessie J - Domino

While I really loved her breakthrough single Price Tag, I feel this was the song that did it for me. This was the song that made me a fan. Sure, there are those who would say she's stepping into Katy Perry territory with this, but I think that has more to do with the writing/production work of the exceptionally-talented Dr. Luke than anything else. I'm really hoping she can keep the ball rolling like this in the years to come.

Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight

In a year, like recent years, teeming with songs with the word "tonight" in their titles (Enrique Iglesias - Tonight (I'm Loving You), Michael Jackson - Hollywood Tonight, Pitbull - Gimme Everything (Tonight), Outasight - Tonight is the Night, just to name a few), it is rather inevitable that one of them make it onto this list. Hot Chelle Rae's Tonight Tonight is by far the catchiest song I've heard all year, one that sounds just as wonderful on your gazillionth listen as it did on your very first listen.

Benny Benassi - Beautiful People (feat. Chris Brown)

Yes. This was the first song to really blow my mind this year. All the way back in January. Seems like ages ago now. It was the only reason I bothered to grab a copy of Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. I couldn't wait until Benny Benassi's Electroman dropped. It baffles me greatly why this didn't get a Best Dance/Electronic Recording nomination for next year's Grammy Awards. Really baffled, I am. I can't say enough wonderful things about this song, so just give it a listen and let the song speak for itself.

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

I can't really imagine having this list of finalists without including Party Rock Anthem. It's that simple. There. I said it. So deal with it. "Everyday I'm Shuffling."

And the winner is...

Foster the People - Pumped up Kicks

I am picking this song as the winner for the mere reason that it sounds like nothing else on the list of finalists. I'm sure that 10 years from now, when I think back to 2011, this is the song that would perfectly capture the year in music. It was quite sad that it wasn't nominated for Record of the Year for next year's Grammy Awards. But at least the album as a whole was nominated for Best Alternative Album, after all, it was hands down one of the most enjoyable albums of the year. More on that tomorrow.

2011 in Review

2011-12-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

Ah. Boxing Day. The day set aside for opening all those wonderful presents. I know a lot of you are probably still hungover from Christmas, so I'll keep today's post as brief as can be.

I'll start with a minor aside. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of granting my very first interview (hosted by yours truly). To check this out, head over to: http://nigelpbird.blogspot.com/2011/12/dancing-with-myself-michael-abayomi.html

Okay. Back to business.

One thing in particular that I love about this time of the year is year-end lists. This is where various publications, websites and bloggers list their picks of the very best of the year. So in keeping with this trend, I am going to spend the rest of the week blogging about the things I loved about 2011. Tomorrow, I reveal my favorite song from a list of 5 finalists. On Wednesday, I talk about favorite albums. On Thursday, favorite movies. And on Friday, I'll talk about my personal achievements for the year; resolutions that were met... that sort of thing.

And so, in preparation for tomorrow's post, here is a rundown of my favorite songs since the year 2000. Enjoy.

2000
Eminem - Stan

2001
Daft Punk - One More Time

2002
Avril Lavigne - Complicated

2003
Linkin Park - Somewhere I Belong

2004
Muse - Time is Running Out

2005
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

2006
Panic! at the Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies

2007
Gym Class Heroes - Cupid's Chokehold

2008
Sara Bareilles - Love Song

2009
Owl City - Fireflies

2010
Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

Disclaimer: By listing these songs as my favorites over the years, I am in no way suggesting that they were the best songs released in their respective years. It's just that when I think back to the years in question, these are the songs that immediately come to mind. In other words, I find them most memorable.

The Spirit of Christmas

2011-12-24T06:52:00.000-08:00

Would you believe it? It's that time of the year already. I clearly remember reading the Mark Zuckerburg Person of the Year article in Time Magazine, this time last year. Where in God's name did the intervening one year go? Oh. Right. Reading, writing, chasing women. Note to self, stop chasing women.

Like everyone else, my fondest memories of Christmas time are from my childhood. The fondest one for me by far was the Christmas of 93. Don't know why I'd choose that particular Christmas, but between getting a new puppy, a few teddy bears (even way back then I had such high tastes) and watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on the awesome Cartoon Network, I can't see why not.

In recent years though, Christmas has grown increasingly uneventful. Christmas 2008 was spent watching horror movies (The Ring, Final Destination, Sleepy Hollow etc). 2009 was spent listening (and singing along to) La Roux. And 2010 was spent, well, reading Time Magazine. This year's already looks prime to follow this trend, with the exception of having some family members over and listening to the Rick Dees Christmas Special.

The thing is over here in Nigeria, where the temperature is well above freezing point all year round, we don't get the benefit of snowfall. So no snowmen, snowball fights or carolers wrapped in scarves and sweaters. The closet parallel we have to winter is something called harmattan, which is, according to my Encarta Dictionary, "an extremely dry dusty wind that blows from the Sahara toward the western coast of Africa, especially between November and March."

So to get into the Christmas spirit, we are relegated to slotting in a nice VHS copy (don't ask) of one of the classic Christmas movies, like Home Alone for example.

Another surefire way of conjuring up some of the good ol' Christmas spirit is listening to Christmas albums, the most popular over here (by no small margin) being Boney M's Christmas Album. If you've never heard this, or you're wondering who the hell is Boney M, then I suggest you head over to an online music store of your choice, and put on your dancing shoes.

Ah. Yes. I think I feel it already. Merry Christmas and God bless everyone.

The Lost Children (Music Review)

2011-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

I was never really a fan of Disturbed, until I listened to the phenomenal Asylum. I don't think I'd played any band's record as incessantly since Linkin Park's Meteora. Don't know what did it for me exactly, but from the moment Remnants started playing, I just knew it was going to be an awesome record. If you haven't already listened to that album, then I suggest you drop everything you're doing and head over to the iTunes store. But only if you like loud music with sweet, sweet melodies. Otherwise you might wonder what the hell I'm going on about.

Strange enough, The Lost Children slipped by me unnoticed. It was only through my customary glances at the Billboard 200 charts did I notice this gem just outside the Top 10. And the first thing that drew my attention was the awesome album cover. Todd McFarlane has clearly outdone himself with this one. A quick trip to wikipedia told me the new record was actually a compilation of B-sides, meaning it wasn't a new record per say, but a collection of songs spanning their whole career. For this reason, it lacks the coherence found on Asylum, where songs like Remnants bled into Asylum (the title track) seamlessly. But it is also a testament to the fact that they sound just as awesome now as they did in 1999.

The record obviously has its highs and lows, with some of the tracks sounding like filler material. But it never truly loses momentum, from the amazing opening track (Hell) to the decent Judas Priest cover (Living After Midnight) that brings the record to a close. Worth mentioning are the tracks Run, Leave It Alone and Sickened, where frontman David Draiman shines with those sweet melodies and sing-along lyrics of his. If like me you thought Crucified was the best song on the previous record, then you'll certainly love Sickened on this one.

Overall, The Lost Children is an awesome compilation album that is sure to please fans and hold them over until the next studio album drops.

Hollowland (Book Review)

2011-12-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Let me just start by clarifying one fact: I absolutely love zombies. I love the telltale moans they make when there's one lurking just around the corner. I love the way they shamble along in search of their next meal/victim. I love the sound it makes when their heads explode in Resident Evil (the original Playstation game), and the way the Michael Jackson/Thriller zombie moonwalks onto the screen (before summoning some backup dancers) in Popcap's Plant vs. Zombies. In fact, if I had my way, I'd swap my dog for a zombie, and together we'd go around terrorizing drug dealers and prostitutes.

This love for all things zombie comes from a childhood spent in fear of all things undead. Now though, I realize that these zombies were actually nice chaps, and were just trying to survive like all other species on the planet. Like Darwin said. But there's still this level of satisfaction you derive from seeing one run over by a truck. Zack Synder's 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead immediately comes to mind.

I confess that prior to reading Hollowland, I never knew books were written about zombies. The closest parellel I could remember, about a dystopian future with man-eating cannibals, was Cormac McCarthy's The Road. And so it was with equal parts anticipation and dread that I approached Hollowland, the first book in Amanda Hocking's The Hollows series. In her blog, Miss Hocking states that she wrote Hollowland in a mere 21 days. And I must say that it shows. The writing/editing is inconsistent, and there are some recurring mistakes that seem like simple Find and Replace problems.

In all fairness, Hollowland started off okay, with zombies breaking into a government-run quarantine, and the main character, Remy, barely escaping with her life. Apparently, there's been this huge viral outbreak and now Remy is on a quest to reach her little brother, who is being held in another government-run quarantine, many miles away. But things get really weird when she discovers a lion chained to a tipped-over caravan. She decides to set the beast free, and from this moment onward, the reader is forced to suspend all disbelief.

For reasons that seem to defy all logic, this lion, quite adept at hunting, seems to prefer rotten zombie flesh to that of its uninfected counterpart. I mean, if you must have a zombie-killing lion in your story, then at least come up with a decent backstory that explains the unusual bond between the beast and the main character. In its present form, the story lacks credibility because of this. A lion doesn't just hop into a car and take a ride with a bunch of complete strangers, no matter how domesticated, not without ripping their throats out. Also, there were several moments in the book when the lion seemed forgotten all together, only to reappear just in time to kill some zombies.

As the character's journey across country, the reader gets a glimpse of the world Miss Hocking was trying to building. I've always been a fan of dystopian settings, but I was left wanting more by way of description, even though I've never been a fan of page-long descriptions. If only she'd spent less words describing frivolous items like clothing, and more depicting the extent of desolation, the reader would have been better immersed.

The book is rife with other such missed opportunities, like letting the reader know about the possibility of immunity to the virus a little too early, making the story a lot less suspenseful as a result. I also felt zero emotional attachment to the side characters, so that when they start falling victim to the ever-present zombies, I failed to shed a tear or even bat an eyelash. And to cap things off, the book has the most disappointing ending since Breaking Dawn. I know its just the first book in the series, but at least she could have given readers a nice, little cliffhanger. As it is, there's nothing compelling me to read Hollowmen, the next book in the series.

Wow. This review has sure turned out a lot more negative than I intended. I guess that is what it means to be a writer: the ability to question the choices of your fellow writers. But that said, I feel that her storytelling abilities still shine through, and I wish her more success with future books in the series. Which is why I gave this book a 3-star rating on Amazon. That, and the fact that it was a free download. :)

Let's Get Digital (Book Review)

2011-12-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading this book by David Gaughran, and felt I had to say something about it. This is my first ever book review, so I'll try my best not to make a mess out of it.

When I first saw this book, I was like, "Great. Just what we need. Another book about how you can make loads of money selling your books on Amazon." But having taken the time to read through the thing, I have to say I'm very glad that I did. The first thing that struck me was how well written and professional the book is. I had to keep reminding myself that this was written by an indie writer, just like myself.

Admittedly, most of what's in here is what any serious aspiring indie publisher should know, or what is readily available elsewhere on the internet. But I love the fact that it is all neatly collected here, making for a nice addition to an indie publisher's reference library.

I also love the fact that he included all these great testimonials by other up and coming indie writers. There's nothing like listening to how these writers struggled to get to where they are today. Very inspiring.

And the best thing is you can download the pdf version for free on his blog.

Revised Book Covers & Synopses

2011-12-09T04:37:00.001-08:00

I am finally done with another round of editing. This one seems to be my most thorough yet. Just glad that I'm finally done. Also, I have been working on improving my book covers with some free stock photographs I found online. Everything looks good to go. But let me know what you think...

THE MEDIATOR
A lawyer’s search for truth and justice makes him a victimof the very same criminal prosecution system he has sworn to serve.

It started with a simple phone call. Next thing John knew,he was meeting with a reporter who claimed to have the information he needed toprove his client’s innocence. But John could not foresee that its pursuit wouldlead him to the body of the informant, placing him at the scene of the crimeand also making him the sole suspect. Now, with a presiding judge who seems dead-seton making an example out of him, John must first prove his own innocence,before he is sentenced to erasure, aform of capital punishment wherein the convict’s memories are completelyerased.

THE HOST
A wealthy businessman is brought back from the grave withdire consequences.

Itwas supposed to be a straight-forward operation. Ed’s memories had beenextracted without any complications. A perfect stranger had been found to playhost to those memories. All they had to do was implant Ed’s memories into thebrain of the host. But with most novel experiments, things never go accordingto plan. Not when the perfect stranger turns out to be a homicidal psychopath.Now, Ed is a fugitive, running away from a murder he cannot even remembercommitting.

THE SECOND REBELLION
When faced with the dominion of a totalitarian government,an entire generation of youths put their faith in a movement known as TheSecond Rebellion.

Growingup in the Lowlands is tough enough. But when you’re a 16-year-old orphan livingwith a sister who is perpetually stoned, things can get pretty messed up. Thisis why Jason had jumped at the opportunity to leave it all behind. He had beenchosen, along with three others, to step beyond the confines of reality, andexperience Gomorrah, a fully-realized virtual reality world. Little did he knowthough, that he was about to get caught in the crossfire, in a war fought notwith guns and on battlefields, but through computers and over computer networks.

The Origin of a Storyteller

2011-12-05T05:31:00.001-08:00

It all began in the summer of 1998. Well, actually, we don’t havesummers over here in Nigeria. All we get is a dry and rainy season. But that’sbeside the point. It was in 1998 that I made an all-important decision. I wasgoing to write a book.

Now, the funniest thing wasn’t the fact that I was merely 11 at thetime, but the fact that I didn’t even like reading books. I mean, books werefor sissy girls, right? Or guys who were routinely bullied out of their lunchmoney. And just for the record, I did get bullied out of my lunch money, but itwas far from routine. But this too is beside the point.

The point is I was going to write a book, which was going to be titledNowhere Near Home, and it was about this teenage girl named Jessica, who getsstranded in a top-secret research facility, in the middle of the jungle,somewhere in Africa, many miles from home as the title suggests. And the bestpart was they (she and a few others just as unfortunate) were to be hunted downby a group of biologically-engineered super mutants. Talk about a mess ofideas.

What possessed me to come up with any of this? Don’t know. But betweenplaying games like Resident Evil, and watching movies like Starship Troopers,Mimic and Island of Dr. Monroe, I’d say the seed had been sown. Oh, yeah, Iforgot to say that it was going to be excessively violent and bloody too.

Obviously, this little book of mine wasn’t meant to set the world onfire or anything. I wasn’t aspiring to be the next Michael Crichton or StephenKing. Heck, I didn’t even know who these people were at the time. Neither did Iknow it was possible to make a living telling such tales. Like I said, I hadn’tread any novels, plus I was just this kid with a rather convoluted idea for abook. What did I know?

So there I sat in front of my computer that summer (and here I gosaying summer again. Michael, what is wrong with you?). It was a 486 runningWindows 3.1, and I had to make do with Word 2.0. But it was more than enough toget the job done, and so I had invested many hours on it, writing my story. Ieven went into the trouble of doing some full-color illustrations too, withnone other than Microsoft Paint.

Hey, what can I say? I was living a dream and having fun at the sametime.

But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. During a much-needed upgrade toWindows 98, our system engineer, who wasn’t aware I had been busy writing thenext Jurassic Park, had opted to format our meager 300MB of hard disk space.And so I had lost all my files, including my precious masterpiece. There’s alesson to be learnt here, ladies and gentlemen. Can you tell what it is?

An event as monumental as losing your work-in-progress should had beenenough to crush most aspiring writers. But not me. Like most kids my age though,I had initially gone back to doing what I do best: playing Tomb Raider,watching Cow and Chicken, and listening to Britney Spears. But the thing aboutdreams is that they never really go away. Still, it wasn’t until the summ – Imean, dry season of 2000 did I attempt rewriting my book, albeit without theillustrations.

I never got beyond the first 2-3 pages of this iteration though, andthe one thing I remember from reading it several years later was how utterlycringe-worthy my writing was at the time. Thankfully, this too was lostfollowing a hard disk failure, and a virus infestation amongst other things.There goes that lesson again. Spotted it yet?

Now, a lot of significant things happened over the course of the nextfew years. I had the hots for about a dozen different girls. I became a fan ofLinkin Park. But most importantly, I started reading novels. Not just so Icould manage a C for my literature class, but for the mere exhilaration ofgetting lost in a writer’s tale. And the book that opened my eyes was HarryPotter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

It is almost impossible to resist the urge to say at this juncture allthe things I loved about that book and others in the series. But I believe thatwould be better served in a future blog post. For now, all I would say is thatno other book had sparked my imagination, with a believable world and aninteresting cast of characters, like J.K. Rowling’s seminal title.

Since then, I have read several novels by authors like Isaac Asimov,Dan Brown and Michael Crichton. I’ve also discovered that a lot of the movies Ienjoyed growing up had been adapted from novels. And 9 times out of 10, thoseadaptations were nowhere as brilliant as the books they’d been based upon. Soit was all these things that made me realize that books were indeed theultimate medium for storytelling.

I still love movies though, of which my favorite was 2003s The Lord ofthe Rings: The Return of the King, yet another adaption. Another movie Iabsolutely loved that year was Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. I. In fact,it was during the mandatory wait for Vol. II that I finally decided to onceagain rewrite my book (after seeing how cringe-worthy the previous draft was).

It was only during this third draft did I see any potential in my storytellingabilities, having learnt a thing or two about composition and building conflict.So I had written for the better part of a year, until my progression was haltedwhen we moved to a new home (we’d been renting a duplex apartment for the pasteight years).

At our new place, conditions weren’t exactly conducive to writing, especiallyduring the first few months. First off, our electricity/power supply was verymuch epileptic, as is sadly the case in most of Nigeria. Secondly, the littlepower we did get was not strong enough to power my aging computer. This was whyI started writing my stories down with good, old-fashioned pen and paper,before later typing it out on my computer, a habit I still adopt till this veryday. So by the end of 2004, I had managed to write some 25,000 words. But thestory itself was only 33% complete.

I was overwhelmed with schoolwork for the better part of 2005, havingdecided I wanted to learn how to program computers. It was also a year I spentwriting music, composing more than 20 songs, all of which were inspired byeither of two girlfriends I’d had at the time. I’d managed to find some timefor books too of course, though most of this was spent reading. I’d alsostarted keeping a journal where I recorded ideas for prospective books.

2006 wasn’t much different, except I’d started keeping another journal.Here, I wrote about my day-to-day experiences at my new school. This I did infulfillment of a fundamental principle I’d learnt about writing. To become abetter writer, you need to keep writing. Constantly. No matter how trivial yoursubject matter might seem. And so I did just that. I kept writing.

It was while watching TV though that I saw an ad for an upcomingepisode of The Practice. It was about some old, rich dude who wanted to becryogenically frozen, until a day when science had overcome death. I never didsee that episode, but that ad, and an article I’d read two years prior in aNigerian magazine, had ignited an idea that would eventually result in thesci-fi novella, The Host.

I started writing The Host on the 21st of July, 2006 (my birthday bythe way, hence why I remember the exact date), and was through before the endof the year. And whilst writing that, I saw the potential for both a prequeland correlations with another story I had written an outline for the yearbefore. And thus The Mediator and The Second Rebellion were also born, thelatter of which I wouldn’t complete until September 2008.

Flash forward to December 2011. I am now on the verge of e-publishingon Amazon. I am not pursing this route solely to make a quick buck or two. Tothe contrary. My expectations have been set reasonably low. I am merely hopingto get some feedback, and to see if there’s any possibility of a future there.I’ve always been an advocate of technological advancements, and ereaders (andthe ebook revolution) aren’t any different.

These are exciting times we’re living in. We have our iPads, 4Gconnections, social networks and whatnot, none of which was there 13 years ago,when I started writing. I still listen to Britney Spears though, so I guesssome things never change.

Rewrites & Book Covers

2011-11-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Been busy this past week. Mostly with rewrites for my sci-fi novellas. These stories were written between 2006 - 2008, and were left to cool off for almost two more years. Since then, I have been editing like crazy. But no matter how many passes I've made through my words, with my keen vulture eyes, I still keep seeing room for improvement. Things are looking good though. So, who knows, might just be hitting that Upload button on Amazon pretty soon.

As for book covers, still haven't found a decent artist within budget (sub $50). This is why I've been forced to don my Graphic Designer cape from back in the day. This is what I have so far. It's pretty basic, I know, but at least it's a start:

My Very First Blog Post

2011-11-17T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hello World,

Well, after many years of flirting with the idea of starting a blog, I finally got around to doing so. Truly monumental stuff.

I am an artist of many forms: I compose music, develop websites, and of recent I have been planning to e-publish a few of my science fiction novellas on Amazon (that's right, I write books too. :D).

What to expect in the next couple of days? Well, like I said, I would really love to put my books up on Amazon, and have been working hard on multiple rewrites. But alas, I have been unable to find a good (and also affordable) cover artist, and I kinda suck when it comes to editing pictures and manipulating graphics, or at least I think that I do. It's all good though, for I'm already committed to e-publishing, and I would be putting my books up in the not-too-distant future, come what may.

Wow. So there goes my very first post. That wasn't so hard after all. Can't wait to do this again. :D