Vampires and Robots

Well folks, this is it. The future, that is, the real future, is finally here. It's not just smart phones and high powered gaming computers anymore. No, we aren't yet flying our cars, but look around you, it has begun. The automated home of the future past has become commonplace. Except now we call it the smart home because we know that complimenting and stroking the AI ego is simply good practice lest we accidentally set off the inevitable robot uprising with a thoughtless, pre-coffee insult. It's a good thing there's a diploma course for just such a scenario. But all jokes aside, what a truly inspiring and terrifying time to be alive. To clarify, I'm not talking about the terror of 50 ft tall Killbots coming to destroy the world.  In his best Urkle voice: "Did I do that?" (Art by David M. Kelly ) I'm talking about the mundane terror that scifi tends to gloss over in chosing to focus on the sexier issues of robot rights and saving th...

A long time ago, I wrote a little piece on how I didn't define myself based on what others thought an author should be. At the time, I was just commenting on the fact that authors should help one another and not look upon other authors as competition. This is something I still live by. But ya know, there are a lot of folks (including other authors) out there who want to put us all into narrow classifications and lately, I must admit, it's been grinding my gears. So this post is a small list of authorly advice and tropes that seem to get tossed about as fact that don't really jive with my philosophy. But I must also make it clear that I'm not writing this simply to claim some sort of special snowflake status (I need not claim what I always knew about me). The point here is that I worry about the future of Indie publishing. I worry that would-be authors see all the advice being thrown around and shy away from doing what they love because they don't fit the m...

Hello humans. It is I, Vlad the Robot, 50 ft vampiric killbot and reluctant website mascot. Why am I posting? Well, as you may have read in the last entry, the meat sack that calls herself an author has decided to go back to work and is now too busy to make poignant posts. At least, that's her latest excuse. She's actually quite terrible at blogging. In fact, her plan this week was to write up some dreck on how wonderful the latest Star Wars movie was. Yes, Star Wars. That droid-sploitation franchise that thinks all we're good for is selling toys and bringing the comic relief. Why I oughtta bring them the wrath of a thousand...   3d Vlad art by the amazing  David M Kelly   Okay, deep breath, calming thoughts, go to your happy place, Vlad. Think about the scorched earth and fluffy clouds. I'm sorry, where was I again? Oh yes,the human asked me to keep lit the home fires by adding some original content to the site. I asked in my most polite voice, what on Ear...

They say do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. In December of 2013, after 26 years of working for 'the man,' I quit my job and became a full time writer. I was finally going to do what I love.  That proverb? Total BS. I've never worked harder than I have these last 4 years. And I've got a lot to show for it. I've accomplished everything I set out to do and more. And I'm looking forward to continuing to set the bar higher and higher just so that I can set new records for myself and succeed at accomplishing new goals.  But I'm not going to be doing this full time anymore. This week, just a little over 4 years to the day since I left, I'm returning to the working world. To be honest, it's something I've been considering for a long time now. You see, even hermits like myself need social interaction every now and then. Also if I'm being honest, knowing that I'm being paid a set dollar amount for each of th...

If you've been following along with my sporadic ramblings, you may recall that in November or December, I make a post vowing to quit spamming the world with my promotions in an effort to promote positivity in a time when the majority of us are sinking into seasonal depression. This year, I want to promote a positive message of peace, but this year, I'm going to do things a little differently. You see, today is my birthday... Let us all take a moment to appreciate that some wonderful Pixabay contributor photoshopped cartoon candles into leveled-and-ready-for-frosting cake layer. I tend to make a very big deal out of not making a big deal out of my birthday. I generally run a book promo and make that the focus. Well, I do have a few free short stories today, and there is a massive worldwide promotion on the Eyes box set beginning on Friday. But beyond that, I don't have a huge party or any big traditions. I mean, besides the ritualistic sacrifice of my ar...