Tag Archives: absolute xpress

Announcements, Books, News

‘Ninjas and Talking Trees’ submitted to Hades Publications

Long time, no update. My apologies, readers.

I have great news. As of last night, I completed the second draft of my fantasy/comedy novel, Ninjas and Talking Trees, and submitted it to Hades Publications, who published my first novel, Pandora’s Box, under their Absolute XPress imprint in 2010. Now I must wait and see if they are interested in publishing it.

This book tells the tale of a young accountant who is transported to an eccentric fantasy world ruled by an equally eccentric tyrant. In order to get home, he must learn “the Ways of Hero-dom” and overthrow the villain. While it isn’t a parody, per se, it does poke fun at some fantasy story stereotypes (and a few from anime/manga), and  it uses many of the genre’s archetypes for comedic effect.

You can read more about the humorous history of the story here. I also have a short story entitled “Bow to Your Sensei” that I wrote as a warm-up to the book several years ago for a blog contest. It’s posted here.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Announcements, News, Appearances

Book signing at Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, so please forgive me for my delay.

I’m having a book signing this Saturday from 10AM-noon at Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty, a small used bookstore in Mentone, Indiana. I’ll be signing all of my books, including Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and The Day After. I was referred to this place by a co-worker at my part-time job, who told me his daughter runs the place.

Be there, or be square!

News, Appearances, Announcements

Book signing at NWCPL this Saturday

Hello, readers! I wanted to remind you to come out to the North Webster Community Public Library this Saturday from 10AM-noon because I;ll be having a book signing! The signing is advertised as being for Destroyer, but I will also be signing and selling copies of The Day After and a few leftover copies of Pandora’s Box (since my story in The Day After is a companion piece to my novel, it is only fitting).

Cover art by Tyler Sowles
The Day After
Cover Art by Zach Hayden
Cover art by Tomislav Tikulin

Be there, or be square!

News, Novels, Books, Announcements

Big ‘Pandora’s Box’ announcement on Derailed Trains of Thought!

In celebration of their podcast’s first anniversary, my friends and co-authors Nick Hayden and Timothy Deal invited me to return to “Derailed Trains of Thought.” They review each of the previous 19 episodes in reverse order, having each of their previous guests–including myself, Natasha Hayden, Laura Fischer, and Brian Scherschel–pipe in to give updates on the topics they talked about when they were previously on the show. In my segment, I told everyone about my short story “Suicide Soldier,” a companion piece to my novel, Pandora’s Box, which is included in Novel Concept’s latest publication, The Day After. But the biggest announcement comes during the second half of my segment–I officially announce that I will write a sequel to Pandora’s Box!

Listen to the podcast here for the details, or you can download it on iTunes.

News, Appearances

Fort Wayne Celebrates signing a rousing success

This past Saturday, I and my co-authors Timothy Deal and Nick and Natasha Hayden returned to the former campus of our alma mater, Taylor University Fort Wayne. We sold and signed copies of our books in the marketplace during the Fort Wayne Celebrates event, which serves as a replacement for the school’s homecoming.

The Eicher Student Commons, where most of Fort Wayne Celebrates took place. (Photo by Nathan Marchand)

I arrived at 11:30 AM or so, thinking it started at noon. I quickly learned it didn’t start until 1:00 PM. Timothy arrived around noon, and the Haydens arrived with their toddler son, Fyodor, at 12:30, so all of us were gathered and ready in time. Within minutes, dozens of alumni swarmed the marketplace area and perused our books, which included Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and The Day After.

We sell and sign books at Fort Wayne Celebrates for our fellow alumni. (Top to bottom: Natasha, Timothy, myself). (Photo by Michael Mortensen)
Timothy, Natasha, and I at Fort Wayne Celebrates. (L to R: Myself, Timothy, Natasha).
A group shot of myself and the Haydens. (L to R: Natasha, myself, Nick, Fyodor).

The Haydens sold copies of Destroyer and The Day After like hotcakes, probably because we offered to sell them together for $12 when they sell for $7 each. I, on the other hand, practiced well the art of hawking and sold all but two of the seven or eight copies of Pandora’s Box I brought. My favorite customer was Parker, a 14-year-old boy whose mother from the class of 1989 bought him a copy of the novel. He read it intently for the rest of the night, as you see here:

This will be the first of many such pictures in the future. Writers do love seeing photos of their fans. (Photo by Nathan Marchand)

So, overall, it was one of the most fun signings I’ve had so far. I’ll try to post a full gallery of pictures later. (I know, I know. I’m way behind on my photo galleries here).

Next up: The North Webster Community Public Library, October 15.

News, Appearances, Announcements

New book signings posted

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I just updated my “Appearances” page with two new book signings.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, I will return to the former campus of my alma mater, Taylor University Fort Wayne, for the Fort Wayne Celebrates event. This (hopefully) annual event is the replacement for my campus’ homecoming. My friends/fellow authors Nick Hayden, Natasha Hayden, Timothy Deal, and perhaps a few more will be present, signing and selling books at a booth in the event’s marketplace from 12PM-5PM. We’ll be there off and on while enjoying the many events going on that day, but please come see us. I will be selling and signing copies of Pandora’s Box, Destroyer, and the forthcoming The Day After.

Then Saturday, October 15, 2011, I will be signing copies of Destroyer at the North Webster Community Public Library from 10AM-12PM. I may also bring a few copies of the other aforementioned books.

Stay tuned for other news about book signings!

News, Appearances, Announcements

I am attending a poetry reading (and possibly reading)

I should have mentioned this sooner, but I will be attending the Poetry Slam tonight from 7pm-9pm at Courthouse Coffee (East) in Warsaw, Indiana. It is a fundraiser for a food bank, I think, since “admission” is a food item donation. If they will let me, I plan to read a poem or two. I may also take a few copies of Pandora’s Box with me. The coffee house is located at 2858 Frontage Road in the shopping center near Elder-Beerman. I hope to see you there.

News, Announcements

A new poem and ‘The Day After’ project

I just posted a new poem that is hot off the presses. It’s entitled “Unwanted.” Admittedly, it is a sad one, but I like it anyway.

In other news, I recently finished a short story for a project I’m doing with my writer friends. It takes place within the universe of my novel, Pandora’s Box. It will be part of a short story compilation called The Day After, which we hope to self-publish soon. I’ll write more updates as the project progresses.

News, Announcements

New novella coming soon! (most likely)

Some of you may have noticed I’ve had a “Novellas” page within the “Nathan’s Works” tab since I started this website nearly a year ago, and that there was a title listed there. It said, “Destroyer – Coming Soon!” That was in reference to a novella I co-wrote with two writer friends over the course of a year from 2008-2009 as part of a writers’ project. It is a pulp science fiction tale. I was very happy with how it turned out and even looked for a place to publish it for a short while, but to no avail. So it’s been left on the drawing board ever since.

Until now.

Having tasted some success with Pandora’s Box, I’m thinking about venturing into the world of self-publishing with this story. The length and genre make it difficult to market to prospective publishers, so I believe this is the best route to take. Not only will I get a byline, but so will two of my friends. I’m even toying with the idea of recording an audio version and posting it on iTunes.

But this is all down the road a bit. Currently, I am considering artists to create the cover. Then I will talk with Nick Hayden, who has some self-publishing experience, about how we might go about it. I still have no idea when or if this book will be published.

Stay tuned.