New Release: Dracula vs Great White Shark!

Out now, just in time for Halloween, is my new novel--my first aimed at young readers--Dracula vs Great White Shark!

The cover, with art by Neil Vokes and Thomas Mason

For the last few years I've been writing movies for the Syfy Channel, with an emphasis on sharksploitation movies. Not that I just love sharks, mind you, but with the success of Sharknado, that's what the network wants. So, every year, I try and come up with some permutation on this strange subgenre of creature features to pitch to Syfy--among them was Dracula vs Great White Shark. Envisioned as an old-fashioned monster rally, where the icon of cinema's classic era of monster movies (Dracula) tangles with a modern day popular monster icon (the shark), I was immediately taken with the sheer ridiculousness of the concept, but also wanted to treat it as a straight-up story. This isn't a parody, but an ode to these two creature feature genres.

Syfy passed on the title (a number of times), but the more I thought about it, the more excited I became. My Dracula is in the tradition of Christopher Lee and Tomb of Dracula, and this story is designed as a sort of alternate take of the Demeter chapter of the original Bram Stoker novel. This is a fun "What-if" story, written for kids of all ages and, as such, is the first release under my new MonsterKid Press imprint.

Since I first began my writing career, I've tried so hard to be a "serious" author, writing "serious" fiction. Frankly, I just needed a break. I've always been inspired by the monster movies of my youth, but have always tried to "grow them up". This time around, I've put that aside. I wanted to write a fun monster book that was just that--fun. And what better time to release it than my favorite time of the year? Many of you have mentioned Infernal City, my next "adult" novel. Fear not, it's still on the way, but Dracula vs Great White Shark was a rabbit I had to chase. Expect Infernal City early 2017. For now, in celebration of Halloween, order a copy of Dracula vs Great White Shark, sit back, and have some good old-fashioned monster entertainment.

The book is currently available in print, with no immediate plans for a Kindle release. The cover art, done by veteran comic book artist Neil Vokes (Fright Night, Flesh and Blood), and colorist supreme Thomas Mason (who did both my Rift Jump covers) is simply too beautiful to be relegated to a screen.

And now, ABOUT THE BOOK, from the back copy:

The year is 1897.

Young thief Kamen is on the run, but he believes his luck has changed for the better when he stows away on board the Russian ship Demeter, on course for England. He befriends a mysterious black dog, as well as the captain’s daughter, Yana. But an ominous storm bears down upon the Demeter, and suddenly crewmen begin to disappear. What’s more, a Great White shark is stalking the boat, keeping an unnaturally steady watch. Kamen and Yana soon discover that not everything is as it seems on board the Demeter, and the young friends find themselves facing not only the notorious Count Dracula, but also a relentless shark. What will it take to stop the foes challenging the Demeter’s crew, and will the ship make it to England at all?

Summer Update: Ozark Sharks! Infernal City!

It's that time again. Summer is upon us and, with summer, comes a bevy of new sharksploitation movies for Syfy's annual Sharknado Week. Last year I was fortunate enough to contribute Zombie Shark, writing its screenplay. But this year, there's a new finned menace in the waters. I present to you...

OZARK SHARKS!

This was a fun one that I had the opportunity be involved with in the early stages of pre-production. I helped develop the project, writing its first draft and later serving as Associate Producer. Marcy Holland came in and did a super job making the script her own, but still very much honoring what I originally put in there, and I am forever grateful to her for that. She rocks. As with Zombie Shark, this one is directed by Misty Talley--the first woman director of one of these Syfy Channel Original Movies we're told! Pretty awesome. She does a killer job (no pun intended) and the cast is great, bringing together some of my favorites from my previous two scripted Syfy outings (Snakehead Swamp and Zombie Shark), as well as some talented fresh blood.

I hope you check it out when Ozark Sharks hits on the Syfy Channel, Thursday, July 28 at 8PM Central.

What else is going on? So glad you asked. I'm doing my final edits on my next novel, and hope to release it very, very soon. It's coming along and I'm anxious to see what you guys think of it. In the meantime, behold the cover!

Artwork Not Final

Expect a full reveal/synopsis in the weeks ahead, but Infernal City tells the story of a City that, quite literally, eats souls! This one has been in the works for awhile now and it's very much a return to the themes and "flavor" of my The Coming Evil Trilogy, that no fan will want to be without. I liken the new book as a first cousin to The Coming Evil, so keep checking back here as we get closer to its anticipated (at least by me) release.

In the meantime, Ozark Sharks!

A Look Ahead

Happy (belated) New Year!

It's been forever since I've posted on here, mostly because I've been hard at work on a number of upcoming projects. Not only that, but I've been, frankly, trying to live my life a little. It's possible to have too much going on, and I was knee deep in that territory for the latter half of last year. So this year, I'm taking a bit of break. Still working, but these days I'm working more on my personal projects rather than "for hire" work--though there's some of that thrown in there, too.

So what's coming up?

First off, I'm pleased to announce that I have finished the manuscript to my seventh novel. Still have edits to do and then there's the question of what to do with it after. I've published my last three books on my own, without much success, to be honest. But I love the creative control and the freedom. Plus, with publishers becoming even more exclusive because of the increasing financial risk of publishing anyone who is not Stephen King or George RR Martin, I'm not sure where to turn. But that's all upsetting business stuff to worry about later. Right now, I'm focusing on just the simple joy of telling (and completing) a story. I don't want to say too much about it just yet, but what can I tell you about the next book? No title yet, as it keeps changing, but this is a story that I've been trying to tell--in one form or another--since 1998. In many ways, it's a return to my Coming Evil roots--simple people fighting off incomprehensible evil. It involves a City that devours souls, and centers on Quinn, a thuggish "Retriever" who makes sure that, well, let's just say he makes sure that the dinner doesn't scramble off the plate. It's a noir-type story, rife with monsters and a very faith-driven fight of good versus evil. Also, it fits squarely into my larger mythology. In fact, this book is the concluding chapter of my current "concept trilogy" that consists of HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder, and the Rift Jump duology. Together, they pull back the veil on the world introduced in The Coming Evil Trilogy, showing that the threat presented by the Strange Man has its roots in something much more cosmic. And that tasty morsel leads into my next announcement...

I've officially broken ground on the next Coming Evil novel. Still waaaay too early to say anything about that yet, but I've had this story in mind for many, many years. There are seeds of it sprinkled throughout The Coming Evil, and even more of its foundation is laid in the aforementioned "concept trilogy". I'm super excited about it, but nervous, as well. The Coming Evil has always been very special to me and I want to be extra careful to handle its continuation properly.

In other news, I've also had the opportunity to help develop another Syfy Channel Original. I'm buried way back behind the scenes on this one, but it's always fun to be involved in these creature features. Definitely can't talk about that one yet, but I'll be sure to keep you posted as the premier draws nigh.

Finally, my fellow Star Wars contributor Edward M. Erdelac and I have co-written an essay on that beloved saga to be included in Sequart's upcoming book A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Exploring Star Wars Comics. Very thankful to be included in this alongside other reputable Star Wars fans and authors. I think it's going to be pretty neat. Look for that later this year.

That's what I've been up to. I know I started this blog with saying that I wanted to be less busy, but, believe me--this is less busy for me :)

And, no, this won't be the last you hear from me for another six months. Coming up in the days ahead, I've got an interview with my buddy, paranormal investigator and author Bob Freeman. He's got a new book out!

Zombie Shark--July 20th!

It's official! My second SyFy Original Movie, "ZOMBIE SHARK", is bloodying up the waters this coming Monday, July 20th at 8 PM Central Time! Don't miss it!

Don't Go in the Water! Zombie Shark is coming!

At last the veil of secrecy is lifted.

As a follow-up to last summer's Snakehead Swamp (now available to own and rent on Redbox, I thank you :p), I'm thrilled to announce that my second Syfy Original Movie is headed your way this summer:

ZOMBIE SHARK!

Still not sure how much I can say at this point, except that among its stars are Cassie Steele, Jason London, and Ross Britz (who you'll remember as the mega-jerk Ian in Snakehead Swamp). This is another fine film from the folks at Active Entertainment and is directed by the super-cool Misty Talley.

Zombie Shark comes as part of Syfy's summer lineup to celebrate the release of the latest installment in the blockbuster Sharknado franchise. Not sure yet on the exact date and time that Zombie Shark will be on the prowl, but here's the official press release in regards to Sharknado Week:


SHARKNADO WEEK (PROGRAMMING EVENT)
 
Premieres Saturday, July 18 to Saturday, July 25

The second annual SHARKNADO WEEK will feature seven original movies, including:
 
· Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
 
· Sharktopus Vs. Whale Wolf (Roger Corman’s third installment of the ‘Sharktopus’ franchise, starring Casper Van Dien)
 
· 3-Headed Shark Attack (starring Danny Trejo)
 
· Roboshark
 
· Mega Shark Vs. Kolossus (starring Illeana Douglas)
 
· Zombie Shark (starring Jason London)
 
· The world premiere of Lavalantula, starring Steve Guttenberg and fellow Police Academy alums Leslie Easterbrook and Michael Winslow, as they battle lava-breathing tarantulas threatening to destroy Los Angeles.

Be sure to set your DVRs! As always, stay tuned here for updates and the eventual trailer!

Major Announcement: "Rift Jump"--Revised and Expanded Edition!

2015 is shaping up to be a big year for me. In case you haven't heard the news, I've got my second Syfy Original Movie set to premiere this summer (more on that as we get closer to the debut). Not only that, this will be the year that I wrap up my sci-fi/action adventure Rift Jump series.

As you may or may not know, Rift Jump began as a series of stories I wrote in high school. Over the years, I added to the mythology, never intending to publish; it was simply something that amused me. But, back in 2012, I began collecting those old stories and giving them a fresh polish and the first volume of Rift Jump was published by Splashdown Darkwater.

Once I made the decision to publish Rift Jump, I knew it was going to be a two-parter. I had a very definite story that I wanted to tell, featuring my star-crossed inter-dimensional lovers, Michael and Sara. Later this year, I'll be releasing Rift Jump, Volume 2: Sara's Song (check out the sweet cover art by Thomas Mason here).

Leading up to that release will be a few surprises: the first being today's big announcement--In a few weeks, I will be re-releasing the first Rift Jump novel under my own banner, Genre Experience, and it will be a Revised and Expanded Edition! Here's your first look at the (slightly altered) cover:

"So why a new edition?" you may ask. I'm generally hesitant to re-visit my work, but in the writing of Sara's Song, I found myself taking some twists and turns I had not anticipated when writing the first book three years ago. Looking back, there were some things I wished I'd built up a little bit more in that original tale in view of what was to come in the concluding installment of Michael and Sara's journey across the multiverse. Grace (at Splashdown Darkwater) and I had been talking about moving Rift Jump over to my own line (that began with last year's release of HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder) and I decided that, if I were going to be making the move and creating a new edition anyway, now would be the perfect time to go in and make those subtle--but important--changes to the original book.

So what's in the new edition?  A few brand-new scenes, some expanded scenes, some expanded characters, and a richer mythology that should excite fans of The Coming Evil Trilogy... Also, the new edition will include a new introduction written by me, and conclude with an excerpt from the upcoming Sara's Song. I'm confident that, together, these two books will make a very complimentary coupling--much like the heroes whose story they tell.

What's NOT in the new edition? Sadly, to make room for the new material--and to streamline the overall product--I'm losing the appendices found in the original edition: namely the completely unmodified original "Rift Jump" short story I wrote way back in high school (it's hysterically awful :)), and bittersweetly, the humorous send-up "Rift Jump: Ninjas" written by my superbly talented wife Meghan. Cutting these was a hard decision and not made lightly, but ultimately, I feel, the right one.

All is not lost: that first edition of Rift Jump, complete with those rare short stories, will be available for just a little while longer. At least a week or so--but likely longer, until the release of the new edition. So consider this your final chance to pick up the soon-to-be-out-of-print first edition of Rift Jump from Splashdown Darkwater. You can get it in paperback or Kindle while the gettin's good.

As for the Revised and Expanded Edition, stay tuned here for the big release as well as a couple of surprises--all leading up to the end of an era (at least for me), Rift Jump, Volume 2: Sara's Song!

Coming in 2015!

Season's Greetings, yo! Where has the year gone?

Lookin' around the blog these days and things are lookin' pretty sparse, but fret not. Things are hopping over here. I've got a handful of short stories due out any minute now in some fantastic trades, and I've written (and, this month, gone to the set of) my second Syfy Original Movie, slated to air next summer. It has been a crazy time with deadlines, notes, and rewrites, but in the midst of it, I'm still plugging away on next year's big novel release: Rift Jump Volume 2: Sara's Song! Not ready to say too much about it yet, but, seeing as how it's Christmas and all, I'm putting on my Santa hat and bringing you this exclusive cover art for the new book, as done by comic book artist Thomas Mason! Behold!



Cover Art for "Rift Jump Volume 2: Sara's Song"--art by Thomas Mason

I've been working on this bad boy for a couple years now and it's shaping up to be an insane ride through the multiverse. More monsters, heroes, aliens, and worlds-shattering events than you can shake a stick at! I'm nearing the finish line and even though I've had the major outline of this story in my head for fifteen years, it continues to surprise me. Lots of twists and turns. A lot of fun.

"But what's Rift Jump?" you might ask.

Rift Jump is my 2012 sci-fi/action novel, released by Splashdown Darkwater. It tells the story of lone inter-dimensional traveler Michael Morrison as he seeks to eradicate the servants of the enigmatic "Rage" that exists in the void In-Between the worlds of the multiverse. Michael's battle is two-fold as he's also been called by the Rage to lead Its army of monsters. Burdened by his dark destiny and his own sinister impulses, Michael eventually shares the weight of his quest with Sara Theresea, a fearful girl who reminds Michael of his long lost innocence--but is also a painful reminder of Michael's darkest secret. The two fall recklessly in love and set off across the multiverse, battling monsters and aliens, while also trying to overcome their own insecurities and personal demons.

Really, you should just go buy and read it, right? After all, it's available in print and Kindle!

Rift Jump Volume 2: Sara's Song is the direct follow-up, and will also conclude the series, but I'm making sure we go out with a bang. Volume 1 was, in many respects, a prologue to the Rift Jump story that I've always wanted to tell, and Volume 2 hits the ground running.

Not only does Sara's Song serve as a time-bending finale to the Rift Jump sequence, longtime readers will also start to see threads from my other stories--including The Coming Evil Trilogy and this year's big release HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder--coming together. In case you haven't noticed, I've got a mega-myth developing across all of my  novels (so far) and most of my shorter tales and, yes, we're all building towards something. Sara's Song is the key to unlocking a lot of those larger story elements and will lay the groundwork for the next original novel that I'm already knee-deep in as we speak.

Now that you're all excited, it's the perfect opportunity to get caught up! Books make great Christmas presents! :p

Sales pitch, aside, Merry Christmas, ever'body and, in case I don't see you before then, Happy New Year! 2015 is already shaping up to be a big year.


"Snakehead Swamp" DVD Available Now--And An Announcement!

Happy October, ever'body! No secret that this is my favorite time of year. The air turns crisp, the leaves change beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow--and Halloween is finally upon us: The one night a year where everyone sees the world the way I see it all year long :p

Already this is shaping up to be an eventful October for me. The wife and kids and I made our yearly sojourn to nearby Pumpkin Hollow where we perused the pumpkin patch (no Great Pumpkin sighting as of yet, but I remain hopeful), went on a hay ride, charted the corn maze, and sampled the fine pumpkin pie cuisine with an apple cider smoothie chaser. I've got a stack of monster movies to work my way through this season, watching in a darkened living room by light of an electric jack-o'lantern. And, of course, we're all preparing for The Big Night around the Mitchell home, stocking up on candy treats to hand out to our neighbors.

On top of such seasonal goodness, today marks the street release for my first Syfy Channel Original movie--Snakehead Swamp! The killer fish flick is now for sale at Amazon (and stores, you know) and also available to rent through Redbox. You've gotta see it to believe it! To read up on the movie, read my earlier blog post.

In related news--I'm writing my second Syfy feature as we speak! It's still too early in the process to go into specifics, but I've just turned in my first draft and I'm having great fun working on it so far. The road to making a movie is a long and winding one, though, and everything is subject to change, so I can't say much with confidence right now except to say that, no, it's not a sequel to Snakehead Swamp, but a whole new concoction of B-movie terror. I hope you'll all check it out once it finally airs (sometime next year, is the current plan). More on that as soon as the red tape is lifted. But for now--top secret!


In the meantime, go and check out Snakehead Swamp, or pick up a copy of my latest monster novel release HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder! Both are fun treats, especially for this time of year.

But, most importantly, enjoy the Halloween season. As the wind blows cold and the days grow short, this is a perfect time to hold your loved ones close by a warm fire, share fanciful stories of mystery and suspense, and drink a nice mug of warm cider together.

Don't waste it :)

"Snakehead Swamp"--Coming to DVD!

Get ready for some killer fish action!

My first Syfy creature feature Snakehead Swamp is swimming your way to DVD and Digital HD (and probably Redbox, etc) on October 7th!

From the press release here:

Killer Fish Return to Terrorize The Big Easy

 

SNAKEHEAD SWAMP

Starring Ayla Kell and Dave Davis 

with Terri Garber and Antonio Fargas

 

Terror Comes Up for Air Again on DVD & Digital HD Oct. 7

 

CULVER CITY, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2014) – They’re back! Terror returns when genetically modified snakehead fish ferociously wreak havoc after being unleashed in the desolate swamps of Louisiana in the action-packed suspense thriller SNAKEHEAD SWAMP. The film will be available on DVD and Digital HD Oct. 7 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The follow-up to Syfy’s camp classic Snakehead Terror stars Ayla Kell (TV’s “Make It or Break It”) and Dave Davis (TV’s “True Detective”), with Terri Garber (TV’s “As the World Turns,” “Dynasty”) and Antonio Fargas (TV’s “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Starsky & Hutch”).
 
Synopsis:
A horrifying hybrid of genetic science and nature has taken over the Louisiana bayou, leaving terror in its wake! In the heat of the summer, what began as a day of boating and bikinis changes drastically when a school of genetically enhanced snakehead fish finds its way into Black Briar Swamp. As their thirst for blood grows, the creatures evolve by the minute, even learning to walk on land! No one is safe in this hair-raising thriller.

SNAKEHEAD SWAMP is directed by Don E. Fauntleroy from a screenplay by Greg Mitchell. Ken Badish and Daniel Lewis served as both producers and executive producers with Eric M. Davies as line producer. SNAKEHEAD SWAMP originally aired June 28, 2014 on SyFy Network. The film has a run time of approximately 86 minutes and is not rated.

Trailer Debut for "Snakehead Swamp"!

Look what just popped up over at Dread Central? It's the trailer debut for my Syfy Original Movie, Snakehead Swamp, directed by Don FauntLeRoy, produced by the fine folks at Active Entertainment, and starring Ayla Kell, Antonio Fargas, and Terri Garber!

Dig on the trailer and be sure to watch the flick on Saturday, June 28 at 9/8c!

Major Announcement: "Snakehead Swamp" Headed To Your TV!

Hey, folks. Been quiet on the blogging front, but don't think that means I've been relaxing. I've got some major projects on the horizon, including that "mystery novel" that I hope to be telling you all about very soon.

In the meantime, super huge news: I wrote a creature feature for the Syfy Channel!! Finally!

To be more accurate, I wrote it over a year ago, but am just now able to finally talk about it :) It is called Snakehead Swamp and, according to Syfy's schedule, it will premiere Saturday June 28th at 9 PM Eastern, following a day-long marathon of Syfy Original movies such as Chupacabra vs. The Alamo and Flying Monkeys (which is a super-fun flick, I'll say). 

So what's Snakehead Swamp about? Well, I'm hesitant to say too much, but I will say that it takes place deep in the Louisiana bayou and concerns ancient curses--and man-eating fish, yo!

The movie is produced by Active Entertainment (the company that brought you Swamp Shark) and is directed by none other than Don FauntLeRoy, which was a real thrill for me. Don is the cinematographer on both Jeepers Creepers films, which are among my favorites of the new generation of monster movies. Not only that, but Antonio Fargas--who played Huggy Bear in the original Starsky and Hutch--came on board to play my Cajun hoodoo man! Of course, Mr. Fargas is only one of our players and rounds out a cast of great new talent and some seasoned veterans. I got to see a cut of this movie and was really proud of the performances coming from our fresh-faced cast of “fish fighters”. As with anything I write, I put a lot of heart into these characters and it was a thrill for me to watch an advance copy of the movie and see these actors really capture my characters so perfectly.

It’s no secret that I love B-movie creature features, as even my first novel The Strange Man was very much a homage to monster movies, in the vein of the ‘80s movies of my youth. For years I’ve longed to add my own entry into the canon of that particular genre of cinema, and I am so grateful to the guys at Active and Syfy for giving me a shot. They’ve been nothing but nice and supportive of me and I’m proud of the product we made, though we were faced with the usual budgetary and time constraints. I think the movie is a lot of fun, meant to be watched with a group of friends around a steaming pizza pie and the drink of your choice (a root brewsky for me :p).

I’m well aware that Syfy’s Original Movie fare, such as Sharknado, gets a bad rap from more serious-minded fans, and I’m sure they might feel that my excitement and pride in our little killer fish movie is misplaced. Look, we’re not trying to make The English Patient, here. Obviously there is a need for serious films that explore—maybe even improve—the human condition, but I believe that there has always been a place for B-movies as well. I think back to classics such as The Monolith Monsters or The Deadly Mantis, and I can’t help but smile. When I’ve had a hard day at work and the bills are piling up and the air conditioner in my car is broken, there’s nothing more refreshing to me than sitting down with a good old-fashioned monster movie. Are they cliché? Sure. Are they low budget with laughable effects? Sometimes. But can they be entertaining? Can they improve my “human condition” when I’m having a craptacular day?

Absolutely.

With all the pain and suffering in the world, sometimes you just need a movie about killer fish to offer a harmless escape and give you a good chuckle :p

I hope you all will check out Snakehead Swamp when it debuts on the Syfy Channel June 28th, and remember: “This summer, the fish are biting…YOU!” While you wait for the premiere, you can head on over to the IMDB page and check out the rest of the cast and crew. And, as always, stay tuned to this blog for an announcement concerning my upcoming monster novel! [UPDATE: The book is here! Check out HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder]

Update #2--Snakehead Swamp is coming to DVD Oct. 7! See the press release here!