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That gum you like is coming back in style.
I’ve uploaded the next piece of flash fiction. It’s titled “Joyride” and you can read it here.
Channel Zero was featured on deviantART on Thursday, which led the way to more exposure and feedback, and that’s never a bad thing. It’s had over 2500 hits since I uploaded it five days ago. I think that’s a new personal record. One of most consistent questions asked was, “Is this part of something bigger.” The answer to that question is “yes and no.” Yes, as in, there are three other flash fiction pieces that tie into the same futuristic world; No, as in, I hadn’t planned for anything else.
Of course these questions got the gears turning in my own head about the possibility of expanding upon the story. As I told my friend Phill the other night, I think I may be able to squeeze a novel out of it. The story would focus on multiple characters in almost a pulp-like manner; individual lives all living underneath this futuristic system, and the multiple ways it affects them while, at the same time, a killer is running around, trying to disrupt that very system. Or something like that. It’s still up in the air, and it’s not my top priority.
Salli and Charles, the folks behind Soundzine asked me quite a while ago about doing an audio recording of A Life Transparent. Way back in January, this was one of the things I wanted to accomplish, but time issues and the necessity of a simultaneous launch with the printed version made this nearly impossible. Now, almost a full year later, the prospect of doing it one part at a time with Soundzine doing only one release every few months makes it a serial production, and in doing so has the potential to hook new readers well before the story is told, prompting them to go buy the book to find out how it ends.
Unfortunately I was sick all week, so I couldn’t begin the recording process as planned. I now have until the end of the month to at least record something that doesn’t suck. Let’s hope for the best.
Aside from that, my main priority is editing my novel, imagiNATION. It’s been over a year since I completed the first draft, and over the course of this year every time I would go back to begin the second draft, I found that I was not ready to do so. I’ve got a few pages of preliminary notes, covering topics and themes that are already featured and should have been featured, but were not. I estimate I’ll have to rewrite about 45% of the novel. That’s quite a task, considering the novel is approximately 108,000 words. Yeah, I’ve got my work cut out for me.
Tomorrow’s going to be spent doing a lot of housecleaning with Erica. We’ve both been sick and haven’t felt like doing much of anything so our apartment is a disaster area. I’m hoping to settle down sometime tomorrow evening and begin recording; once the first part is done, it’s on to the wonderful land of editing.
Oh joy.
TK
The Sick Blog
I had this beautiful blog entry all set to go last night. In fact, I was in the process of applying the blog to test it when I got a dreaded time-out message. When I logged in again, the blog–all 45 minutes of my snappy, witty introspection–was gone forever. Cue about 10 minutes of expletives, followed by me simply giving up and taking my sick ass to bed.
So now, after having a full 24 hours to cool off and reflect on last night’s mishap, I’ve decided to type this blog into a separate program. I suppose I should’ve done this in the first place, but oh well. Live and learn.
Now let’s see if I can recall what I wrote last night. Having a severe head cold isn’t helping matters.
Stephen Smith, of 365tomorrows, asked me about being the site’s featured author for the month of September. He figured it would be a good way to raise awareness of my novel, A Life Transparent, and all I’d have to do is write four to eight pieces of sci-fi themed flash fiction. I spent most of July and August doing just that and, on Monday, the first of those eight pieces was featured. One of those stories will be featured every Monday and Thursday this month. The first, Channel Zero, can be read here. I’ve also made it available for download here as well. I’ll be uploading each of these stories a day or so after their feature on 365.
Oh, and for all of you VAST fans, yes, the name of the first story was inspired by the song of the same name.
In other news, I’m still waiting on the latest proof copy of ALT to arrive. This week’s national holiday will probably slow down the process a bit, but I expect to have it by Monday at the latest. The first proof came back with a funky cover, thanks in part to Lulu’s poor wraparound-cover support, and so it was back tot he drawing board. Now, provided nothing goes wrong with the new proof, everything should be well in order for an early December availability on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any other bookseller that orders from an Ingram’s catalogue. Of course, the book is currently available from Lulu right now, if you absolutely cannot wait.
I’ve uploaded a promotional pack as well, in case you feel like promoting A Life Transparent in your town, library, coffee shop, church, etc. It’s a 9mb download with .pdf files to make your own posters, postcards and press sheets.
In the meantime Erica and I are still working on the site, tweaking things here and there, so if you happen to visit and see something that seems a little odd, that’s probably why. We’ve added a form so you can sign up for major updates. You’ll find it on the home page. We’re also working on adding a photo gallery for inclusion of pictures of satisfied customers, so if you’ve got a copy of the book, take a picture of yourself holding it up in some funny pose, email it to me and we’ll include it.
Tomorrow’s Thursday, so look for another story to pop up on 365.
For now, I think that’s all you’ll get from me. I’m off to take some medicine and chill out for the evening.
Until next time, folks,
TK
A Life Transparent
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ISBN: 978-0-6151-5810-5
Trade Paperback - $14.95
E-Book - Free for download
Available soon on Amazon and all other major booksellers
Read an excerpt
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Fan Art
Donovan Candle is an average guy living a painfully normal life with his wife Donna and their housecat Mr. Precious Paws. By day he toils away as a telemarketer while desperately clinging to a fading hope of one day becoming a successful author.
But that all changes one morning when Donovan awakens to find he is afflicted with a bizarre transparency and visions of a monochromatic world. No one seems to notice his fading self—not even his wife—and by the end of the week, Donovan is at his wits’ end. During a random telemarketing call, he confesses to a complete stranger, “If something doesn’t happen to me soon, I’m just going to disappear for good.”
That evening he arrives home to discover his house vandalized and his wife missing. The phone rings, and on the line is a man who refers to himself as Aleister Dullington—the same man to whom Donovan made his confession. “Is this interesting enough for you, Mr. Candle?” he asks, and it is with those words that Donovan begins an endeavor to save not just his wife but his own existence, and in doing so he will learn the meaning—and danger—of a life transparent.
Praise
A Life Transparent is one part horror, one part speculation, and all compelling. It attaches a mythology of consequence to spontaneity and boredom, and throws the reader in with Mr. Candle’s struggle to become interesting without allowing all he loves to be destroyed [. . .] It lacks the polish associated with a career in full swing, but gives us a glimpse into what will soon be just that. Keisling is a dedicated, insatiable writer: A Life Transparent is the preface to a formidable body of work.
- Jon August McRae, author of Io: The First Book of Lost and Found Souls
Fast moving, well written - an excellent read. Independently published via Lulu - do yourself a favor and order a copy. You’ll be glad you did, and you’ll be supporting a solid up and coming author in the process.
- Stephen R. Smith, 365tomorrows.com