Author Updates!

Posted on 2012/02/24 by ecgarrison

Here’s what I’m working on these days:

IHW Retreat – This was my second year hanging out with the Indiana Horror Writers for a weekend of socializing, industry gossip, and fantastic out loud readings of fiction of lush and wild variety.  And beer.  And lasagna.  Mmmm…  Last year was my first invitation, and I mark it as a turning point in how I viewed my writing.  It was at that event last year that I decided my next goal was to become published, and not just self-published.  Since then, I’ve had two stories published and have signed a contract for the third to be published in an upcoming issue of a prestigious magazine.  I’m dying to tell you about that one, but until it’s in print, I’m leery of giving out details!  So, this year, I’m taking stock of my writing and my ambitions once more… my goal is to publish a novel this year.  Which leads me to…

Reality Check – I have completed a draft of my dimension-hopping science fiction adventure novel, and have begun fine-tuning plot and character issues, and when those are done, I’ll start working on language and polishing.  My other four novels are self-published, but I’ve held Reality Check back to work on it, intending to pitch it to various publishers.  Wish me luck!

Nindy Short Story Writing Week – Since National Novel Writing Month is over, the local Indianapolis region (nicknamed Nindy) has decided to keep meeting throughout the year to encourage each other to keep writing.  An idea of mine has caught on, and at the moment, we are in the middle of an experiment… 20+ people in the group (maybe more than showed up to the meeting, too?) are writing short stories of 3,000 – 5,000 words in length.  I’ve got mine written… it’s a psychological fantasy story called “Personal Space”.  I’m working on editing that as well, and plan to read it out loud at the wrap up party on Sunday.  The Nindy group really likes parties!

I hope to have more good news to post here soon!

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Strange, Weird, and Wonderful!

Posted on 2011/10/06 by ecgarrison

Check out my story, “Drag Show” in the October ’11 issue of Strange, Weird, and Wonderful Magazine at http://www.strangeweirdandwonderful.com/ … A feature of this great publication is that each story gets some artwork done for it, and I LOVE what the artist did for my story.

Oh, and the feature story is by my good friend RJ Sullivan.  He and I both recorded audio versions of our stories for this issue as well, so if you don’t care to read, you may LISTEN to what we’ve come up with, audiobook style!

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ConText 24!

Posted on 2011/08/29 by ecgarrison

On the road to ConText!

I had a wonderful time at ConText 24, the 2011 edition of Columbus, Ohio’s premiere science fiction and fantasy convention for readers and writers.  This is a convention all about books, not film or television or media other than the printed word.

I was proud to be among the Indiana Horror Writers at their table in the dealer room, with my books on display with such names as Michael West, R.J. Sullivan, Sara Larson, Nicole Cushing and Kathy Watness.  Our combined prose was a serious force to be reckoned with.

At the convention, I attended panels (I should ask to be ON them next year) and did booth duty and wandered around talking to people.  After hours, I helped set up the IHW/Apex party where an indecent amount of fun was had.  Lucien Soulban had brought some maple whiskey (yum!) and Jeni’s Ice Cream packed with dry ice.  We of course, HAD to have fun with the dry ice.  The result was a roiling, fog-overflowing cauldron of rum punch that amused everyone.  Until it stopped, and the rum punch had frozen into a sort of sorbet.  It was delicious and intoxicating.

A lot more hi-jinx and fun happened at Context, but most of them are things you would have had to be there for.  Don’t ask about “The Shagin’ Wagon”.  No, it’s not what you think (and aren’t you ashamed you thought of it?).  But I do mean it, you had to be there, or at least you should have been.  See you there next year, right?

Indiana Horror Writers' Rum Punch Cauldron

Some pictures can be found in my album here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/echrisindy/sets/72157627548042826/

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Free Indianapolis Paranormal Meetup at Hannah House!

Posted on 2011/08/09 by ecgarrison

My wife and I have been members of the Indiana Ghost Trackers since late 2003.  In that time, I’ve met a lot of amazingly bright, funny, inquisitive people with one thing in common: they’re all fascinated with the paranormal.  These folks go looking in dark corners where others shy away.  Some are thrill seekers, some have a fascination with death and dying, some love cemeteries, others ache for lost loved ones, and others still love looking for evidence.

It is this experience, these folks, that I drew on when writing my novels, especially the Road Ghosts trilogy.  So, when I was invited to attend the Indianapolis Paranormal Meetup at Hannah House this coming Saturday the 13th as an author, I jumped at the chance.  I’ll have my books with me to sell, and I’ll be socializing with all the other ghost geeks.

So if this is something you’re into, please come on out and have fun!  It’s free and it’s at a wonderful location.  The Hannah House is one of the most haunted and most beloved historic houses in Indianapolis.  The meetup runs from noon to 4pm and should be a blast.

Some of my other writer friends in attendance:

R.J. Sullivan
Michael West
Sara Larson
Bill Larson
Kathy Watness
Kat Klockow
Bob Freeman

I hope to see you there too!

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InConJunction XXXI Highlights

Posted on 2011/07/06 by ecgarrison

My Books at InConJunction

Whew, InConJunction was an exhausting lot of fun this year! My wife and I stayed in the hotel so we could more easily enjoy the nightlife and choose to do our own thing here and there.

The con suffered a bit this year from the unfortunate scheduling of a horror convention across town (did they know InCon has been on the July 4th weekend for over 30 years?), but it was still a good time.

Highlights for me included:

  • Five Year Mission! OMG what an amazing band this is!  I thought they’d just be a nerdy novelty act, but they have high energy, they have depth, and they have Star Trek!  I beg you to check out their website http://fiveyearmission.net/ and watch the videos to go with their music.  I’m going to see them again this Saturday! By far, this was the best thing I attended at InCon this year.
  • Room parties!  I made sure to make it to one of my friend’s sprawling room parties this year.  Friday night’s was relaxed and I had many good conversations and many adult beverages and somehow managed not to make an ass of myself.  Saturday night was their Cannibal Luau party (they had many jello shots molded into brain or body part shapes, leis and other tropical trappings).  This was also a good time.  I attempted to explore the strange new world of Barfleet, but despite taking up three rooms, it was still far too crowded for my comfort, so I didn’t stick around.
  • Pub Trivia!  Lou Harry put on another excellent hour (and a bit) of fun puzzlers.  My team, Spontaneous Combustion, came out ahead in the end (okay, we were second to last, but that’s ahead of someone, right?) and we took home random prizes that the better teams didn’t want.
  • Masquerade!  The costume contest had a range of costumes, from lame but spirited to brilliant and original.  The judges and host kept things moving along quickly and made it entertaining for everyone.
  • Creators’ Alley!  Despite being tucked away and hard to find, this suite of authors and artists was a nice quiet place to chit chat and check out what’s new out there.  I also got Five Year Mission merch there.  (did I mention I like them?)

I also made some sales and did some promotion of my books in the Dealer Room at my sis-in-law’s booth.  It was fun getting to chat with shoppers who wandered by, and to browse the other dealers’ wares as well.

The best part of InCon though, is getting to spend time with old friends and make new ones, and I’m happy to say I got to do both.

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InConJunction update!

Posted on 2011/07/01 by ecgarrison

If you’re going to InConJunction this weekend (as I am in a few minutes), stop by the Dealer Room, my books will be on sale at my sis-in-law’s booth, “Creative Eclectic”.  She will also be selling her fabulous chain mail bracelets and chain mail dice bags.

My plan is to be at the booth from 3-4 today (if not sooner), Saturday from 1-2 and 3-4, and Sunday from 1-2.  If you buy one of my books while I am not there, bring it back to the booth during those times or hunt me down at the convention. 🙂

I’m really looking forward to InCon, it’s always a lot of fun! Let me know if you’ll be there and would like to meet up.

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InConJunction is this weekend!

Posted on 2011/06/27 by ecgarrison

InConJunction XXXISo, for those of you who are unfamiliar with InConJunction, it’s a smallish science fiction and fantasy fan convention here in Indianapolis.  There are usually a few hundred attendees.  This year is the 31st year of the convention.   It’ll be my 4th time attending, and the second where my wife and I have done the whole deal, getting a hotel room so we can just crash when we’re tired.  Last year, I met people there in their 20s who’ve been going with their parents their whole lives.

To say the least, InCon is a tradition.

There will be panels, pub trivia, science fiction food, special guests, a dealer room, con suite, major room parties open to all, karaoke and of course the wonderful 24 hour Doctor Who room.

But among the fans will be writers, and there are many panels and presentations for and by local authors.  Many of my Indiana Horror Writer friends, like RJ Sullivan, Michael West, Maurice Broaddus, and Nicole Cushing, will be there on the panels and hawking their books.

I’ll be there too, mostly as a fan, but I’ll be selling my books on my sis-in-law‘s table in the dealer room.  I’ll be there to do signings at some point TBA (depending on my schedule with my wife).

I hope to see you there!

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Dead Speak Radio interview is posted!

Posted on 2011/06/22 by ecgarrison

I’m very pleased to tell you that the audio file for my interview with Renee Graham has been posted on the Dead Speak Paranormal Radio website!

http://deadspeakradio.podomatic.com/entry/2011-06-22T08_05_21-07_00

If you wanted to listen to our conversation on Sunday night but didn’t manage to tune in, now’s your chance to listen at your leisure. It’s always fun chatting with Renee, and she got me to talk about my ideas on writing, friendship, beer, and even a bit about my next novel!

If you enjoy it, please let me know, leave a comment here on my Facebook page.

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Blue and Skye—a cross-character discussion, Part 2

Posted on 2011/06/20 by ecgarrison

2015 Update: Haunting Blue and Blue Spirit are both now much improved, with shiny new covers, and republished by Seventh Star Press.

By E. Chris Garrison and R.J. Sullivan. CGI art by Nell Williams

Two fictional characters discuss their various trials and tribulations as portrayed in the novels Blue Spirit by Eric Garrison (©2010) and Haunting Blue by R.J. Sullivan (©2010).

Click here to read Part 1

Skye: So, I want to tell you, it’s a real relief to know another girl who’s experienced the paranormal directly. Most people either think I’m crazy or drunk if I confide my visions. How do you handle it if people ask questions?

Blue: I don’t talk about it! It was the worst day of my life. My shrink told me to start a journal and that’s how it ended up getting written down, but I didn’t even show her the real thing. Therapy took long enough as it was. Just imagine if I told her we were really fighting a ghost. To this day, Dr. Churchill thinks Chip and I just fought some lame burglar. I wish that’s all it was. Until I saw your book, I hadn’t told anyone this was based on reality. But…then I read yours and I just thought I should reach out, you know? I mean, we’ve both lost a lot this year.

Skye: Oh, crap, I’m sorry, Blue! I don’t even know how you survived! Uh, I mean Fiona? Crap again! What do you prefer being called? Is ‘Blue’ for anyone now, or is that special between you and Chip?

Blue: Well, if it’s Blue or Kiddo, I’ll take Blue. [laughs] And definitely better than Fi-Fi. I’m officially retiring that nickname for the rest of my life. My old waist-oid boyfriend here in Broad Ripple started that, and I was like, ‘Sure Joey, sounds great.’ I don’t know what I was thinking.

Skye: I’m sorry… but you’re just not a Fi-Fi. Blue it is then! Believe me, I understand. I’ve another stupid question, if you don’t mind? Most of your book is from your personal point of view. How did you write the parts that happened before you or I were born? You know, Gunther and the Perionne Bank robbery?

Blue: Actually, Chip was pretty obsessed about the whole story. He already knew most of it. Most of the people there did. The incident was so infamous I had to write a paper on it based on the handouts one of my teachers handed out. Mister Haplin at the beginning of the book. And of course, Chip helped, and we had a few other local sources. But when I dropped the research paper into the novel draft if was as exciting as watching snow melt. So I decided instead tt was a chance to be creative and dramatic about something else other than myself, but it’s all based on facts we’d already researched.

Okay, my turn! So seriously. About this Queenie bitch chasing you around. What the hell. I mean, there you are, trying to save your job, and this crazy woman you barely know, except from in the game, walks out with your boyfriend in tow.

Skye: Yeah, I was such an idiot… Me, of all people, taking someone like her at face value! I was totally blindsided. My whole life unraveled after that.

Blue: I’ll say. She sends werewolf minions to try to kill you. She burns down your apartment and makes it look like you did it. And she kidnapped Minnie. And she has an evil lair in Holliday Park? Who does that? Was she just a major exception or do spellcasters tend to be psycho-bitches? I mean, is there any form of law in the magical realm?

Skye: [snorts] Oh Queenie made herself an exception, that’s for sure! There aren’t laws as such in the magical realm… more like protocols and etiquette. It’s okay to go on a killing spree as long as you don’t use the wrong fork or something. But I haven’t met anyone from the other world with her level of crazy ambition. I sure didn’t know what I did to deserve all that, it took until the Danse Macabre before I got what was going on. Ugh! Let’s talk about someone else!

Blue: I agree. So…uh….that Heather Ale your friend at the brewpub made for you. Did he know he was making something magical or was that just dumb luck or incredible talent? (And…uh…does he have any extra?)

Skye: Oh, the gruit? Greg’s got a magic touch at brewing, though he doesn’t realize the half of it. I think it was a weird combination of my gift and his that enhanced my powers. And believe me… I asked to see if he had more, but he said it was a small batch. Damn.

Blue: Well, it was a long, strange road to get this far, but in a weird way, we’re both in a better place. What’s next for you?

Skye: Well… I’m trying to be good. I let things get away from me for awhile, but I had to, to protect my friends, since no one else could see what was going on. Now? I’m not sure. I’m looking for work, I’m trying to live in just one world, and I’m trying to dry out. I’ll admit, the pull of the other world is strong. I see things, even sober, out of the corners of my eyes… And I’ve had offers, you know, to use my second sight… but I’m trying to be good.

So, kid… I mean, Blue… what are your plans? Are you settling down in Perionne? Moving back to Broad Ripple?

Blue: {releases deep sigh] I’m leaving later this summer. My Dad wants me to spend some time with him in New York and I’m already enrolled at NYU there. They say the writing program is incredible, so it’s a good fit. But that means Chip and I will be doing the long distance thing. But that might not be so bad. I was right about one thing. I needed to get away from Perionne as soon as I could. I just couldn’t imagine the reasons why.

Skye: Well, I’m glad you’re here today.

Blue: Me, too. [looks at cell phone] But I gotta go.

Skye: Aww, that’s too bad. Seems like you just got here.

Blue: I know, but…my buddy Zadora gathered up few of my old Broad Ripple friends together at Bazbeaux Pizza to throw a little goodbye party for me.

Skye: Oh. Sounds like fun. Well… it was great seeing you again.

Blue: Same here, but… Hey, it’s my goodbye party, how about coming with me? You could call Annabelle and have her meet us, too.

Skye: Cool, I’d like that. Let’s go!

____

Haunting Blue by R.J. Sullivan is available through Seventh Star Press. Learn all about R.J. at his website www.rjsullivanfiction.com

Blue Spirit and other works by Eric Garrison can be found at sillyhatbooks.com/fiction.

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Hear me tonight on Dead Speak Radio!

Posted on 2011/06/18 by ecgarrison

My friend Renee Graham has invited me to be a guest on her show, Dead Speak Paranormal Radio tonight at 7pm Eastern time!  I think this will be the third time I have been a guest on Renee’s show.   We plan to talk about my novel Blue Spirit, but you never know what else will happen on Dead Speak.

It’s always a lot of fun talking with Renee.  She and I met through the Indiana Ghost Trackers, and have been on several adventures together.

Please tune in on the website Sunday night for our live broadcast!  If you miss it, I’ll post a link to the recorded show, but it’s more fun to listen knowing it’s going on right now.

I hope you’ll join us!

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