TO YOU, THE GENTLE READER:
The setting of "HELL KNIGHT" is in the heart of a nation known by its citizens as God's Country. The United States of America. It is in the heart of this nation a secret war is about to explode between the mortal and the immortal...
At the core of the conflict is a warrior who will come from the shadows...from a realm of indescribable, unspeakable nightmares. A realm where only evil reigns. And she can make many things possible.
Her mission will be unknowable to the mortal world, but she will have mortals serve her. They will be her army...they will kill and die for her. Her enemies are equally mysterious in their purpose, but they are monstrous. Vile beyond belief.
And they are legion.
This much the world will know...
By the sharp blades of her swords, she will make blood flow like a river.
But a detective in the heart of God's Country, haunted by her past, will become obsessed to understand the truth...understand why the bloody chaos is happening.
The truth will be beyond anything she can imagine.
It is a truth that threatens to change everything.
The truth will force a mortal detective to follow a relentless, ruthless warrior from another realm into the darkest of shadows.
Both will find an unexpected, shared destiny.
But in the end, only this warrior from another realm can do everything in her unworldly power to deny the change her enemies threaten to bring.
She will become the only hope for the mortal world...in spite of one extraordinary fact.
She came from Hell.
She is the Hell Knight.
GENTLE READER, TAKE WARNING:"HELL KNIGHT" is for MATURE READERS ONLY.This novel depicts extraordinary violence, mature languageand situations, and sexual content.
Want to know more?
In fact, would you like to know where you can read the first three chapters of this novel free online? You don't have to sign or log in to squat. All you have to do is go here at Yahoo! GeoCities...
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paperback: http://www.lulu.com/content/1044061
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
One of the biggest pains in the butt...
For me, that is, is that a writer must write about what he knows...and when he doesn't know, he learns one way or the other. That means losing time I could use to do other things. Things like writing in this blog sometimes, dammit. :(
I did a lot of research and fact-finding for "Hell Knight", my first book, and for all of the stories I'll ever write. If I hadn't accepted that long ago, I'd be an idiot. But it's different now...my next planned "Hell Knight" book has been diverted to a side track because I've found myself jazzed up with the idea of a very different story. Except this time I have to dig for historical dirt, and a lot of it.
Why?
I can't say much at the moment, except it will involve Steampunk...and a very different history from the one we know and have to live with, whether we like it or not.
There will be more to come as the weeks and months pass, though! ;)
I did a lot of research and fact-finding for "Hell Knight", my first book, and for all of the stories I'll ever write. If I hadn't accepted that long ago, I'd be an idiot. But it's different now...my next planned "Hell Knight" book has been diverted to a side track because I've found myself jazzed up with the idea of a very different story. Except this time I have to dig for historical dirt, and a lot of it.
Why?
I can't say much at the moment, except it will involve Steampunk...and a very different history from the one we know and have to live with, whether we like it or not.
There will be more to come as the weeks and months pass, though! ;)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
There is only ONE way to respond!
This being an increasingly politically correct world, we've had some strange back and forth online between people about Somali pirates. Many of us, for example, want to be correct as all blazes and say the pirates are 'just trying to survive because they're suffering from poverty' or something oh so cute and compassionate. We're talking about pirates, all right? Johnny Depp with mascara is one thing...this is reality, where hijacking ships and taking prisoners isn't romantic OR entertaining.
And people have been responding appropriately, with deadly seriousness. Our forces of law and order aren't looking at pirates any differently than they do terrorists when hostages are taken. To hell with negotiation. If the good guys get the chance and have a clear shot with a sniper rifle, the bad guy will go down before an innocent hostage does.
And this just in, something new has entered the mix. The Italian cruise ship Melody was about to get boarded by attacking pirates today, but an Israeli private security force posted on the ship to protect it fired back and drove the attackers away. And there's a controversy about it. Some are saying it's a good thing for ships to fight back and defend their passengers. Duh! But some say that the fact that the crews of law-abiding ships are arming to defend themselves will make things worse and make the pirates more violent.
Here's my message to all of you who think that...you've got a yellow stripe going up your back.
The situation is simple. Pirates are hijacking ships. Pirating is criminal. The pirates like to take hostages for ransom. Whether things get more violent or not isn't exactly something in our control. It was in the pirates' control to be law-abiding or criminals in the first place, and they made the wrong choice.
We need to make the right choices and not worry about what MIGHT happen or any damned MOTIVATION on the part of the pirates. The forces of law and order aren't supposed to be kind and gentle with pirates. The forces of law and order have only one response to hostage-taking criminals, and that's to respond appropriately and decisively, and when necessary with deadly force. In other words, FIGHT BACK! And when a ship is attacked by pirates, again, fighting back and not letting the pirates get what they want is the best thing and the smart thing!
Savvy?
And people have been responding appropriately, with deadly seriousness. Our forces of law and order aren't looking at pirates any differently than they do terrorists when hostages are taken. To hell with negotiation. If the good guys get the chance and have a clear shot with a sniper rifle, the bad guy will go down before an innocent hostage does.
And this just in, something new has entered the mix. The Italian cruise ship Melody was about to get boarded by attacking pirates today, but an Israeli private security force posted on the ship to protect it fired back and drove the attackers away. And there's a controversy about it. Some are saying it's a good thing for ships to fight back and defend their passengers. Duh! But some say that the fact that the crews of law-abiding ships are arming to defend themselves will make things worse and make the pirates more violent.
Here's my message to all of you who think that...you've got a yellow stripe going up your back.
The situation is simple. Pirates are hijacking ships. Pirating is criminal. The pirates like to take hostages for ransom. Whether things get more violent or not isn't exactly something in our control. It was in the pirates' control to be law-abiding or criminals in the first place, and they made the wrong choice.
We need to make the right choices and not worry about what MIGHT happen or any damned MOTIVATION on the part of the pirates. The forces of law and order aren't supposed to be kind and gentle with pirates. The forces of law and order have only one response to hostage-taking criminals, and that's to respond appropriately and decisively, and when necessary with deadly force. In other words, FIGHT BACK! And when a ship is attacked by pirates, again, fighting back and not letting the pirates get what they want is the best thing and the smart thing!
Savvy?
Friday, April 24, 2009
Favorites of a Video Game Geek #1: WOLFENSTEIN
I'm a gamer. I'm not shy of admitting it. Here is the start of another semi-regular series of blogs, like the Women Warriors installments!
Some of you might not have even been born before the early 1990's...the World Wide Web was launching, the U.S. played bodyguard for Kuwait by kicking Saddam Hussein's ass for the first time, and mobile phones were so big if you tried to hit a person in the head with one you'd be charged with attempted murder. A computer game came along in 1992 for MS-DOS that, while not exactly groundbreaking, became insanely popular as well as highly offensive to a very vocal few. The game was "Wolfenstein 3D", the game that put first person shooters on the video game map forever.Broken down into shareware 'episodes', "Wolfenstein 3D" was as straightforward a game as you can imagine. The gamer is put in the combat boots of an American soldier killing Nazis in WWII and must navigate through a maze of castle halls to make a great escape. However. People were already getting correct even in the early 90's, and a big huff was raised. Wait, you must be asking, what's to object about? The object of the game is to kill Nazis! Well, even in "Wolfenstein 3D's" highly pixellated day, the results of shooting Nazis and their guard dogs and uber-nasty bosses was always gory. Protests and negative reaction came in because of Nazi imagery and...because digital dogs were being shot.
Once again. The bad guys are Nazis...what's wrong with killing 'em and the dogs they send to fetch your entrails?! Good grief!
Thankfully, in spite of the oh-so-correct nonsense, "Wolfenstein 3D" became a best seller and set the standard for FPS games in the future. The company that made it, id Software, became successful and soon made another game that put correct noses out of joint called "Doom". I have both "Wolfenstein 3D" and its 2003 sequel, "Return to Castle Wolfenstein" for the PS2 and the Xbox. A new installment is supposed to be released this year, and I'd love to get it...if I can afford a current-gen system when the time comes, dammit!I still don't get why some would freak out over shooting a virtual Nazi...I might as well be stepping on a cockroach -- !
Uh-oh, speaking of 'incorrect'...if an animal lover is reading this, I'm in trouble! ;D
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Oh HELL, no!
My inner Cartman is screaming right now:
The only thing keeping ME from screaming the same thing, literally, is the simple fact I long ago figured out how damned STUPID people can be.
But people still find a way to surprise me. The newest piece of evidence for the prosecution:
"Baby Shaker". It's a mobile phone game, and right now Alexander Graham Bell and others who brought the telephone into existence must be spinning in their graves. The game (can it honestly be called that?) starts with a picture of a baby crying loud. The object of the game, thanks to whatever tech someone else came up with, is to shake the phone until the baby stops crying.
I'm serious.
The object of the damn game is to shake the phone -- the BABY -- until the baby stops crying.
I don't have to go into how stupid this entire thing is, considering many babies have died in real life from being shaken so hard by abusive parents and/or guardians. And it doesn't amaze me that the fool who created this game thought it was a good idea. What amazes me is that the game had to go through process of approval by however many before it would even be made available for sale. And it got approved, the implication clear that others thought it was a good idea, too.
Again, I'm being serious, but I wish I wasn't.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?"
The only thing keeping ME from screaming the same thing, literally, is the simple fact I long ago figured out how damned STUPID people can be.
But people still find a way to surprise me. The newest piece of evidence for the prosecution:
"Baby Shaker". It's a mobile phone game, and right now Alexander Graham Bell and others who brought the telephone into existence must be spinning in their graves. The game (can it honestly be called that?) starts with a picture of a baby crying loud. The object of the game, thanks to whatever tech someone else came up with, is to shake the phone until the baby stops crying.
I'm serious.
The object of the damn game is to shake the phone -- the BABY -- until the baby stops crying.
I don't have to go into how stupid this entire thing is, considering many babies have died in real life from being shaken so hard by abusive parents and/or guardians. And it doesn't amaze me that the fool who created this game thought it was a good idea. What amazes me is that the game had to go through process of approval by however many before it would even be made available for sale. And it got approved, the implication clear that others thought it was a good idea, too.
Again, I'm being serious, but I wish I wasn't.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Today was Earth Day. Big deal!
I know, I just committed the ultimate crime in our politically correct day and age. (I hate politics, give me a few allowances.) To not put any importance to a day when we're supposed to be so conscious about Humanity's role in this world and how we impact the Earth? Some of you would probably want to draw and quarter me for that!
Well, too damn bad, I'm still doing it and I'll keep doing it even after I'm done with this day's blog. I couldn't give a damn less if it's Earth Day. Here's why...I'm not supposed to care. There's no law that says I have to do anything different from what I normally do. (Yet...give the politically correct of our world time to maybe change that.)
Some of you would harumph and yell, "You don't care about your planet?!" Of course I care! I LIVE HERE, TOO! If this world is going to Hell environmentally speaking, then that naturally would be counter-productive to my life in general, same as for all of us living here. Allow me to explain myself and my lack of care for Earth Day, and maybe you'll understand.
First off, again, we're supposed to put aside a day to be conscious of the Earth. Think about that. A day. ONE DAY, or twenty-four hours! I could (and usually do) perform a few deeds that won't harm or pollute the environment in a given day. The idea that one day can be set aside for us to do something positive for Momma Earth, and yet the rest of the year we don't have to give a hoot and not pollute is just plain stupid.
And since being so kind and noble for ONE DAY is politically motivated, I again take a pass on Earth Day. Those more correct than the rest of us go out of their way to remind us in one way or the other to be good to our planet, and don't you know that makes them look as good and decent as a missionary telling those in the Third World the 'true faith'. (Think about that parallel, seriously.) And these correct-minded souls who supposedly care so much must love the sound of their own voices when they tell us this 'better thing' or that for the sake of our big blue and green ball of dirt and water. They must love being on a higher moral level, and many who honestly don't think about those who preach the Earth Momma gospel (including, worse, those who do think about it and are as self-serving) march in lockstep and pass on this message or that to help everybody else 'act more responsibly'.
Again, I hate politics, and I tune out pretense like I do bullshit.
By the way, fun fact. We hear this 'save the Earth' crap from the same folks who hammered us time and again that bottled water is healthy for us...and yet THE PLASTIC BOTTLES MANY THROW AWAY AND DON'T RECYCLE TAKE ABOUT 700 YEARS TO BIODEGRADE.
Want to know how much bottled water I drink? None, except for a free sample I was given once. So congratulate me, that's a service to our planet!
Well, too damn bad, I'm still doing it and I'll keep doing it even after I'm done with this day's blog. I couldn't give a damn less if it's Earth Day. Here's why...I'm not supposed to care. There's no law that says I have to do anything different from what I normally do. (Yet...give the politically correct of our world time to maybe change that.)
Some of you would harumph and yell, "You don't care about your planet?!" Of course I care! I LIVE HERE, TOO! If this world is going to Hell environmentally speaking, then that naturally would be counter-productive to my life in general, same as for all of us living here. Allow me to explain myself and my lack of care for Earth Day, and maybe you'll understand.
First off, again, we're supposed to put aside a day to be conscious of the Earth. Think about that. A day. ONE DAY, or twenty-four hours! I could (and usually do) perform a few deeds that won't harm or pollute the environment in a given day. The idea that one day can be set aside for us to do something positive for Momma Earth, and yet the rest of the year we don't have to give a hoot and not pollute is just plain stupid.
And since being so kind and noble for ONE DAY is politically motivated, I again take a pass on Earth Day. Those more correct than the rest of us go out of their way to remind us in one way or the other to be good to our planet, and don't you know that makes them look as good and decent as a missionary telling those in the Third World the 'true faith'. (Think about that parallel, seriously.) And these correct-minded souls who supposedly care so much must love the sound of their own voices when they tell us this 'better thing' or that for the sake of our big blue and green ball of dirt and water. They must love being on a higher moral level, and many who honestly don't think about those who preach the Earth Momma gospel (including, worse, those who do think about it and are as self-serving) march in lockstep and pass on this message or that to help everybody else 'act more responsibly'.
Again, I hate politics, and I tune out pretense like I do bullshit.
By the way, fun fact. We hear this 'save the Earth' crap from the same folks who hammered us time and again that bottled water is healthy for us...and yet THE PLASTIC BOTTLES MANY THROW AWAY AND DON'T RECYCLE TAKE ABOUT 700 YEARS TO BIODEGRADE.
Want to know how much bottled water I drink? None, except for a free sample I was given once. So congratulate me, that's a service to our planet!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A rant on something I dislike...
I'm hesitant to call it 'hate'. Let me get that out of the way. If someone decides to do something with themselves in a free society, hey. I'm not one to say that thing is wrong.
Or maybe I am. It isn't just dislike, it's disdain. Disgust. Sometimes I'm unable to understand what motivates it. Sometimes I feel anger, especially when it goes terribly wrong, and it often does. What am I talking about?
Cosmetic or plastic surgery.
This does NOT in any way include reconstructive surgery, to help someone heal after a disfigurement they shouldn't have had to endure in the first place. I'm talking about the elective, ego-motivated bullshit too many women (and men) have had, and too many more will have in our future. The changing of one's looks with both slices and foreign substances to achieve their personal ideal -- or society's ideal -- of beauty.
Yes, I called it bullshit. And it is. And I blame society in general, and women (and men) in particular who let themselves get duped into doing it. Unlike most people, I don't forget the stuff I'm taught when I was a kid. Some of that stuff involved 'true beauty comes from the inside' or 'never judge a book by its cover'.
But according to our "Nip/Tuck" world, we're supposed to judge ourselves by our covers...beauty IS skin-deep, and it can be improved as long as you have the cash to pay.
I say to Hell with that. I say to Hell with the doctors who tell women (and men) with a vulnerable self-image they can be 'improved', because those doctors only really give a shit about how much money they make from their patients. And keep in mind there are those who will never feel beautiful enough, those who will visit their plastic surgeon again and again because something was missed, something that needs to be FIXED.
I may go back to this subject again sometime, but I'm already tired of ranting about it...because I seriously doubt a lot of people will read this, take it to heart and try something that won't involve strategic mutilation of one's face and body if they want to feel better about themselves. Something that's been around for centuries I won't even bother to count. Something called makeup.
But if you'll read anything in this blog and let it sink in, let it be this:
There's good reason why its called plastic surgery...and please remember what you were taught as a kid before you go to make such a dramatic yet cosmetic change. You're beautiful as the person you were born to be. Not the person someone else says you can be remade to be. And most importantly, if you're going to spend a shitload of money on your face, try to think of a better use for that hard-earned cash. Like your kids. (If you have any.)
Or maybe I am. It isn't just dislike, it's disdain. Disgust. Sometimes I'm unable to understand what motivates it. Sometimes I feel anger, especially when it goes terribly wrong, and it often does. What am I talking about?
Cosmetic or plastic surgery.
This does NOT in any way include reconstructive surgery, to help someone heal after a disfigurement they shouldn't have had to endure in the first place. I'm talking about the elective, ego-motivated bullshit too many women (and men) have had, and too many more will have in our future. The changing of one's looks with both slices and foreign substances to achieve their personal ideal -- or society's ideal -- of beauty.
Yes, I called it bullshit. And it is. And I blame society in general, and women (and men) in particular who let themselves get duped into doing it. Unlike most people, I don't forget the stuff I'm taught when I was a kid. Some of that stuff involved 'true beauty comes from the inside' or 'never judge a book by its cover'.
But according to our "Nip/Tuck" world, we're supposed to judge ourselves by our covers...beauty IS skin-deep, and it can be improved as long as you have the cash to pay.
I say to Hell with that. I say to Hell with the doctors who tell women (and men) with a vulnerable self-image they can be 'improved', because those doctors only really give a shit about how much money they make from their patients. And keep in mind there are those who will never feel beautiful enough, those who will visit their plastic surgeon again and again because something was missed, something that needs to be FIXED.
I may go back to this subject again sometime, but I'm already tired of ranting about it...because I seriously doubt a lot of people will read this, take it to heart and try something that won't involve strategic mutilation of one's face and body if they want to feel better about themselves. Something that's been around for centuries I won't even bother to count. Something called makeup.
But if you'll read anything in this blog and let it sink in, let it be this:
There's good reason why its called plastic surgery...and please remember what you were taught as a kid before you go to make such a dramatic yet cosmetic change. You're beautiful as the person you were born to be. Not the person someone else says you can be remade to be. And most importantly, if you're going to spend a shitload of money on your face, try to think of a better use for that hard-earned cash. Like your kids. (If you have any.)
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