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Author Topic: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?  (Read 9462 times)

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Rayo Azul

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Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« on: March 15, 2011, 07:24:00 AM »

Apart from being a fan myself, as you would have seen from my late night choice after the ManU/Arsenal match, and an interest in seeing if I've missed something cool to watch, I am in the final throes of polishing my horror novel 26-S for publication.

I could do with some honest feedback from some "aficinados".

Here's the blurb and let me know if anyone wants a preview via exclusives. The only caveat is that I have to get some feedback.

Antonio, Toni, Esposito thought he'd been given his once in a lifetime opportunity. He was a junior reporter on a hit Spanish televison show and was unexpectedly handed a plum assignment. Toni would head up an investigative team in the small Cantabrian village of Pueblecito. It was famous for the once a year mass migration of its inhabitants who left their village cold and deserted.

An anonymous video hinted at a terrible secret. A family heirloom would reveal a sordid and harrowing past. One man's need for recognition and power would put many at risk.

Join Toni in Pueblecito of ill-met fame, whose people pay for another's shame. Where day is long and life is short
and death, is a singular and awful thought.

« Last Edit: April 05, 2011, 11:40:48 AM by Rayo Azul »
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Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2011, 07:25:27 AM »

I have been asked a number of times, where the idea of 26-S came from. It has been suggested that a warped mind had a lot to do with it, but the truth (apart from that fact) is that it sprang into being because of real life experience. Not that of an all-powerful and vengeful ghost, but rather the cultural environment here in Spain.

There exists a television show dedicated to the paranormal, strange events and potential alien visitations which is aired on a major channel every Sunday, very early in the morning. Panels of invitees are famous for their debates on numerous shows, paid to be conflictive, and full of shouting and accusations.

Villages like Pueblecito do exist, each with their own hidden and terrible story of the Spanish Civil War, which although politicised, had much more to do with personal grudges than political ideology. Many bodies remain buried by the roadside or in unmarked graves, and although public opinion is changing, very few of them have been uncovered. Many would like to forget, although others use the process as a highly dangerous and charged political weapon.

From all of this, and my specific research into the era, 26-S was born. Neither the people nor the village, per se, exist,yet parallels there are.

Knightmare

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2011, 09:03:23 AM »

I'm not a huge fan of horror stories, but I really like the historical bent - using the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop is a nice touch.
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Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2011, 10:02:52 AM »

I'm not a huge fan of horror stories, but I really like the historical bent - using the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop is a nice touch.

Okay. I'll post the scene-setting prologue and you can tell me what you think ;)

Takiro

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2011, 11:38:47 AM »

Got to agree with KM here. Never was big into the genre.
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Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2011, 01:26:48 PM »

Got to agree with KM here. Never was big into the genre.

Read 26-s and tell me what you think anyway ;)

You never know, you might like it ;D

MechRat

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2011, 08:08:22 AM »

Horror is definitely not my genre of choice. However, after reading what Rayo had shared with me, I was hooked very quickly. I liked it because it's more about the suspense of the unknown rather than the blood and gore I usually associate with horror.
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Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes horror stories?
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2011, 09:32:01 AM »

Horror is definitely not my genre of choice. However, after reading what Rayo had shared with me, I was hooked very quickly. I liked it because it's more about the suspense of the unknown rather than the blood and gore I usually associate with horror.

Hey Rat

Good to see you back. You'll like that this is now coming close to being ready for publication. At around 30,000 words and 23 Chapters. It's one I've never been happy with in terms of the ending, but I think I've cracked it now ;)

Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes FREE stories?
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2011, 11:40:18 AM »

For those of you interested in reading any of my short stories, you will find them FREE on Smashwords for the rest of this month. You can find the page by clicking on the links below or in my signature.

None of the completed SD books are now free as the promotional period is over, as I get close to finishing Book IV.:D

Here's a summary of the shorts you can read over on Smashwords:

The Wildwose


Childhood nightmares, myths and tales abound throughout the Urionverse. No-one believes them, but there is one place where fable and reality walk hand-in-hand. The Church Guard have come to Wose IV with all their arrogance, ego and bigotry. They have been warned...

A Knight's Charge


When your family has a history which you’d rather forget, there’s an invading force of Taurans trying to remodel your planet and some evil monster just won’t leave you alone; you know it’s not your day. Vincent Kombel knew that he had a lot to pay for; being of Old Blood meant much on New Sevilla, just for Vincent it meant a little bit more...

The Gift


All, Human and Tauran alike, look forward to the generosity of their Masters. In the Urionverse, you need to be careful what you wish for... This Anthology brings together four separate short stories. Each is set within the confines of The Urionverse, and tells a cautionary tale for the unwary.


Enjoy ;)

MechRat

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Re: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2011, 12:16:13 PM »

Finally able to make my way back here after a long, unwanted hiatus.

As usual Rayo, more fine work. Great reading and I can't wait to see what's next. Oh, I will be getting a copy of 26-S/Pueblecito soon.
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Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2011, 01:13:55 PM »

Finally able to make my way back here after a long, unwanted hiatus.

As usual Rayo, more fine work. Great reading and I can't wait to see what's next. Oh, I will be getting a copy of 26-S/Pueblecito soon.

Good to see you back and posting. This time you can't be the first to purchase a copy of 26-s as it's already selling on the Kindle (both in the US and UK) ;D

Never mind, you did read it first though ;)

MechRat

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Re: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2011, 09:30:00 AM »

Good to see you back and posting. This time you can't be the first to purchase a copy of 26-s as it's already selling on the Kindle (both in the US and UK) ;D

Never mind, you did read it first though ;)

Thanks, it's good to be back!

Yes, it's always good to know the author and get a first look at the story. ;D

I'm thrilled that you've made it to the "big time" and are selling your work on Amazon! You've worked hard enough for it. Now I just have to go back and get all your other stories that I don't have.
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Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2011, 03:08:59 PM »

Good to see you back and posting. This time you can't be the first to purchase a copy of 26-s as it's already selling on the Kindle (both in the US and UK) ;D

Never mind, you did read it first though ;)

Thanks, it's good to be back!

Yes, it's always good to know the author and get a first look at the story. ;D

I'm thrilled that you've made it to the "big time" and are selling your work on Amazon! You've worked hard enough for it. Now I just have to go back and get all your other stories that I don't have.

"Big Time?" :o

It's a start, although the FREE short stories are going well. I have "sold" over 1000 copies and now am working on how to translate that into Amazon sales.

I am in the middle of two stories - finishing at last A Cold Dish and writing a new horror story. The horror story is grabbing my imagination at the minute - it's amazing the number of unexplained phenomena which exist in press archives. Such a fertile ground for my imagination ;)

Rayo Azul

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Re: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2011, 09:39:19 AM »

A Guiding Light (Sudden Dearth Book II) is free on Kindle, they're finally catching up ...

Gah! Kindle is definitely the medium. Since going FREE this morning, AGL is being downloaded like mad.  :o

Will check again later but on Amazon.co.uk it was No. 10 in FREE SF & No. 6 in FREE Horror (I took a screenshot ) ;D

On Amazon.com it was No. 26 in Horror and No.36 in SF.

Famous for a day at least!!!!!  8)

Takiro

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Re: Who likes FREE SF/Horror stories?
« Reply #14 on: May 11, 2011, 10:14:17 PM »

Congrats!
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