It’s hard finding something to blog about when you’re pretty much in head down, ass in seat, work mode. You don’t want to do nothing but complain. Can’t prattle on about the project you’re working on (ahem, you can see my progress on the sidebar. Tomorrow I hope to break 10K.) because it’s not sold, or polished yet. I don’t want to bring a lot of the negativity I’m feeling lately to others, but it seems dishonest pretend all is well.

Truth is while I do get work done, and am enjoying a bigger word count, lots of cuddle time with my family and a cleaner house, there are moments of sheer desperation and frustration. It used to be that to get a job you put in applications, talked to the hiring manager and had an interview. Now it seems that the hiring world at large has taken a cue from the publishing world in that you send your work (in the form of a resume, which is nothing more than a query letter where you’re pitching yourself instead of an individual project) and then sit around and wait for a response that probably never comes, seeing as everyone these days only dignifies you with a response when interested. I always hated that about publishing, because how hard is to email a “no thanks”?

But then that’s just my opinion on the silent end of this relationship. It used to be that you could find someone to see you face to face, you could make an impression on them. On the writing end of things you could make yourself feel better by reminding yourself that it was a project being rejected or ignored, not you personally.

There is no such solace in job hunting.

So yeah, it’s overwhelming that McDonald’s is hiring college grads these days, not just the people at entry level position and who can’t or don’t want to do better. And it’s overwhelming that even though I know I’m a good worker (and a good writer) it’s next to impossible to even get someone to consider you these days.

So usually I try to break up submitting, stories and applications with other things, like reading (which doesn’t always help when you end up wondering how the hell that got published), organizing more stuff, or napping.

Then , if you’re like me, you realize you’ve slept most of a week away, or can’t even talk about your frustrations with your partner anymore because they snap in frustration at your frustration. Or once again you’ve tried to keep a blog positive and the messy stuff has slipped through.

This is not the blog I intended it to be, but my career isn’t where I intended it to be either right now. Not either side of it.

When you know you’re doing everything right you expect a pay off. I mean, if you eat right you expect to feel better and see your pants size go down, at least a little. But if you know me you know that’s not how my body works, so why would my life function logically either?

But hey, I’m about to break 10k on a project I’ve been writing on about a week. I’ve got Mo*Con to look forward to in a few weeks (and having already been paid for I pretty much have to go and not feel bad for spending that money because I spent it before this all started.) My garden looks good, and it’s supposed to be rain free for a bit, so maybe I can get the second plot done.

Also, I have to say, there’s been a rather large number of you excited about this WIP, which, if you haven’t seen is a book-length sequel to Rot. That really really makes a gal feel fantastic.

So like I said, good and bad. Moments of enthusiasm and inspiration, moments of despair and depression, but most of the time I’m trying pretty hard to not feel much of anything and just keep plodding forward.

Hope the rest of you are holding steady too.

Viz Media, 2007
ISBN: 978-1421511221
Available: New & Used

The final volume in the Zombie Powder series continues the engaging story of Gamma, a chainsaw sword wielding master criminal, Smith, a light-hearted super criminal himself, Elwood, on the cusp not just between boy and man, but criminal and hero, and Wolfina, who is trying to save her brother from both a circus of crazies and a Ring of the Dead. This volume continues to establish our leads as heroes of the Punisher type, who don’t hesitate to break laws and even kill people if it keeps innocents safe. Kubo also drops more tantalizing hints about Gamma and Smith’s histories. Then comes the blow that this is the last book in the series and therefore will remain unfinished.

Zombie Powder is a fun series, even if the action scenes are confusing and space consuming. The characters make the story, as great characters should, and it’s hard not to see them translating well to other mediums. I truly hope Kubo revisits these characters again, but as far as getting to see the creative mind playing with convention, this is a rewarding series and should be a part of manga collections. Grades 9-12.

Contains: cartoon violence, implied criminal activity including sexual crimes and murder

How can you resist a magazine with a cephalopod on the cover? I know I can’t.

Murky Depths is a hybrid graphic novel/short story speculative magazine out of the UK that’s been doing great things for years now. Issue #15 kicks off with a simplistic graphic strip, Boxed In by Al Ewing and Neil Roberts. One can’t help but sympathize with the lead, and feel the emotion through this series of punchy cut shots. This story definitely wouldn’t be the same told any other way.

Unforeseen Legacy by Juliet McKenna plays with several classic “monsters”, throwing Myrtle, a housemaid into a supernatural mystery over the the recent death of a local man, Tom Marvel. Marvel, of course, is not what he seems and neither is anyone in this throwback tale.

Deep Trouble by Anthony Malone is the inspiration for the giant octopus on the cover. This one’s an environmental tale of the deep seas and that which lurks beneath, told by an off-kilter, more modern lead than Ahab.

Robin Bell and Thomas Tuke’s Susie Pepper’s Teeth is a taunting tale of a little girl with teeth growing where they’re not supposed to be, and creepy monster that we don’t see enough of. While the art is good, and the pacing great as well, this is one that might have been better in a longer form.

The Fence Sitters by John Hilario is one of those unavoidable political-fueled tales, but without a lot of preachiness or a crystal clear twist. Disturbing and effective, the biggest flaw is the text is difficult to see printed on the gray scale background.

Spare Change by Jon T. Cook is a short study on how short the memory is, and how that which is imagined previously quickly becomes outdated. Frozen by Gareth D. Jones and Mick Trimble is also very short, with a clear, horrific story.

Juggling Glass Globes at the Hemophiliac’s Zoo by Robert Davies is a tantalizing piece with more meat to it that the previous tales. My favorite of the issue, it centers on an ape working in a bizarre religious exhibition/zoo/theme park where sinners are infused with diseases to suffer for the learning of the non-sinners. It has a lot of classic science fiction themes and avoids becoming lurid or overdone.

The Face by Rory McConville and George Gousis is an interesting piece as well, potentially more interesting for not explaining its world setting. Here people can switch faces and become new people which leads to all kind of interesting issues with identity.

Fishers of Men by Jasper Bark and Paul Rafferty is sick, funny and well drawn. Offensive too in a deep-southern-fried way. Victimized by Rhichard Thomas is also very interesting, telling of a future world where victims of crimes can take their assailants into the ring for a possibly-to-the-death fight. The effects of this on all involved, and those on the sidelines placing bets, makes for a rich, engaging story.

Lavie Tidhar and Neil Struthers’ Episode #1: I Dream of Ants, is also a great addition to the Murky Depths pages. It translates well to the more visual medium of a graphic strip, is complete in pen and ink form and like many of Lavie’s tales is very strange, mashing up two very real things that you’re not likely to see together anywhere else.

Last up is Kaolin Imago Fire’s second half to Murky Depth’s “Finish this story” challenge. Time travel stories are hard to pull off. This one about a pharmaceutical company manufacturing a drink that can induce time travel (Then!) is done well while remaining clear. My only complain is not knowing more about the drink itself (but I suppose I missed that in the previous issue).

Murky Depths ( this one, and all the awesome past issues) is available here.

ISBN: 9780982676103

I bought this book.

An off-beat book, Raiju is part teen urban fantasy, part classic monster movie. Kevin is a teen reeling from the utter destruction of San Francisco by a mutated shark. His best friend and mother both died in the attack and he and his father both emerged different people.

Now Kevin is trying to start over at a new school in New York, but being half Japanese and a hothead makes fitting in hard. And of course there’s a girl, Aimi, a gothic lolita singer with a temperamental sidekick and a dark secret. Beneath the city another monster grows, and it seems to be coming after Kevin. Kevin has his own secret. He’s a Keeper, the guardian of an ancient kami-god, one that could help him defeat the mutated monster lurking in New York’s sewers, or tear the city apart in its rage.

While much of this book appears to be straight out of a Godzilla flick, Koehler puts a wonderful new spin to it, infusing the mutants and science-gone-wrong explanations with an enticing Japanese mythos. An exciting book, it’s a shame it’s not longer (or that there’s no sequel out yet.) Definitely a book for people looking for more flavor to their paranormal fiction.

I was given this book for review.

From the first sentence this novella, a love song to revenge and the ultimate body modification, drew me in and made me wholly its. Poetically written full of rich description, without flabbiness,bb and pitch perfect emotional threads it’s the kind of story I wish I’d written first.

The Dreadful Doctor Faust focuses on Louise, a woman raped, shattered and left for dead outside an abandoned church, who is rescued by a mysterious stranger who lives below the city. While The Doctor is a genius, and amazingly compassionate, he’s also more than a mad scientist, he’s a twisted, sadistic creature with more heart than some super heroes.

This is a twisted love story, among other things. A stunning read, Koehler’s language makes it impossible to look away, impossible to not bring this wicked, sinister world to life inside the reader’s mind. Highly recommended for horror fans, a do not miss of 2011 for sure.