Day 9 – Devil’s Dessert
Day 9 of #scrypthalloween is about my novel DEVIL’S DESSERT. The cover by @dpipito depicts an engraved look for three artifacts central to the plot: The Spear of Destiny, The Crown Of Thorns, and The Sword Of Eden. The research I put into writing this included All major religions and some mythology. It was my goal to show that despite our different views, the human race can be united with what we have in common. The similarities through the major texts are astonishing…..
official description: Pandora’s Box has been opened. Now humanity must face its darkest battle yet. The archangels of virtue and the demons of sin have come choose earthly hosts. It is a race against time for the legions of Heaven as they try to find the Sword of Eden. At the same time, the denizens of Hell attempt to locate the Spear of Destiny. These two artifacts could decide the war’s true victor. While these gods fight for their own agendas, Gordon Lightcap must send his team of elite specialists to find what he believes will be the only thing that can save the human race.
Day 13 – Devil’s Dessert
What can be more frightening than demons? For this installment in #scrypthalloween I decided to focus on my novel DEVIL’S DESSERT.
The cover done by Dan Pipito depicts three artifacts crucial to the novel’s plot. The Crown of Thorns, The Sword of Eden, and the Spear of Destiny. When the ancient battle between Heaven and Hell comes to Earth, humanity is disposable at best. The forces of Light and Darkness prepare for their final battle here, but for humanity to survive they must open their eyes to the truth.
Individual religions must sift through the teachings that are wrong, and find a common ground in all faiths. Only then will the people of Earth know what it will take to survive this godly war, and drive the demons back to their own realms.
While all of this is happening one lost soul will journey into the depths of the afterlife to exact his own revenge.
This was one of my favorite novels to write, and took countless hours of research to do so. If you like Dan Brown’s novels, then I highly recommend this one. It’s got the mystery and history with lots of action and a frightening look at reality.
What are some of your favorite demon or angel stories? Make sure to #scrypthalloween if you post on it, and you may win a free copy of the book!
Interview: PANDORA’S CHAOS TRILOGY
The following is a compilation of some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received from people in reference to my PANDORA’S CHAOS TRILOGY. I figured it was time to post them up as the next book will be ready soon. Enjoy and feel free to ask any additional questions in the comments below. 🙂
Q: How does this trilogy stand out from the last?
Rick: Like the Star Wars saga, I tend to think of this as a starting point for newcomers to my work. Books 4-6 are really well written in comparison to the original three because of what there was to work with. It is a lot easier to be more creative with ghosts, demons and technology (the focuses of the novels in Pandora’s Chaos), than it is with zombies, vampires and werewolves (books 1-3 in the Eden’s order trilogy). I wrote it in a way that anyone can jump in from this as a starting point and when it grabs their attention there would be two reactions. If the reader enjoys what they see here, then it will not only compel them to want to see what happens in the next trilogy, but also what happened before book 4 that established this world.
Q: Are you always writing in trilogies?
Rick: I think that is the most logical approach, yes. I’ve always loved a good series. The problem is finding a part for people to start. Someone might get turned off if they find out there are multiple books and they’re already 6 novels behind. The purpose of trilogy writing is multiple… I can focus on a new antagonist throughout, and have separate threats that are secondary antagonists in each novel. Sure you can read just any individual novel of it, but it really feels fuller with all three. I won’t always write in trilogies, but for this it seems fair.
Q: Where will the next trilogy take us then?
Rick: Into the future. There is a twenty five year gap between books 6 and 7 in order to introduce a mostly new cast. The past novels have happened and there will be references, but only when necessary. GENETIC MORSELS is going to enable me to do more creatively while building on an already existing world, and yet keeping it fresh and new.
Q: What is your take on Pandora’s Box and the whole Atlantis angle you’ve included?
Rick: Without giving too much away Atlantis has always been fascinating to me. There is so much that we don’t know about the history of mankind and I wanted to touch on that. I believe that every legend begins with a certain truth. My own ideas for stories are based on realistic things that have occurred in my own lifetimes, so incorporating that with the past really gives me a lot of working room. There had to be something opposite to the order established with the Garden of Eden in the first three novels, so when I wanted a source for chaos I immediately knew Pandora’s Box would be the thing to do just that. My take on it is completely unique to those prior, but still keeping true to what the original idea was.
Q: With your next trilogy taking place in the near future, what will you call it? What will it focus upon?
Rick: I have a few ideas about what to call the trilogy as a whole, but nothing definitive at the moment. I currently have the rights to my ideas in book 7 and book 8 which will focus on the next step in human evolution and aliens respectively.
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Q: Is it impossible to tie up every loose end? There are a few characters who I wonder about their fates.
Rick: Nothing is impossible, but in order to keep new novels fresh I don’t like to include every little thing that may have gone untouched. Take the fate of Cain. I like to leave that open to the reader to have their own thoughts. It isn’t necessary for me to go back to a place I’ve already been without having really good reason. I try to eliminate the reader question of “what if?” as often as I can. Mostly there are no loose ends. Each trilogy ties it up fairly well. For those things I left open, well I reserve them for the comic book spinoffs.
Q: In the Eden’s Order Trilogy there was a timeline and the graphic novel spinoff stories as bonus content. What are the extras included in this trilogy?
Rick: As I did in EDEN, I included the novelized stories that are and will be in the comic book spinoffs, plus three new additional stories. They are all short and are just meant to be supplemental material. Instead of a timeline with this one, I included a “document” that drops a hint as to what the main antagonist (I won’t say who here) is trying to do in book 7.
Q: I understand that you won some awards for this trilogy. What was that like?
Rick: I was blown away. I received extremely positive reviews on SOULS 4 SUPPER and it took the trilogy to new heights. It moved me from non placement on the independent author chart into the top 100… then two weeks later I had been moved into the top 25 of authors. I’m still on an adrenaline rush and am so thankful for all of the feedback and people who made this possible through support and word of mouth.
Q: What is the symbolism behind the cover art?
Rick: When I approached my brother (Dan Pipito) to do the cover art, we discussed how we could represent all three book themes as well as the underlying plot of it all. The look of an ancient sculpture came to mind, with modifications. In its chest you can see what is my version of Pandora’s Box. Emanating from that is a greenish mist that represents the souls within it. If you look at the wings behind the statue one is feathered and one more like a dragonfly. This is to represent the angels and demons. Finally, the sculpture itself is very mechanical looking with seams and rivets in places, which is where the technology is represented. It is a simple piece with many complexities hidden within (much like the mysteries revealed within the books).
Q: Where can we get PANDORA’S CHAOS TRILOGY?
Rick: The trilogy as a whole can be found in print at www.lulu.com, as well as the three novels that are included in the trilogy as separate entities. You can download SOULS 4 SUPPER, DEVIL’S DESSERT, and TECHNO FEAST for the Kindle on www.amazon.com
Halloween Spotlight: Demons
By Rick Pipito
After battling zombies, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts, my next venture for Gordon Lightcap and his allies became Demons. Now, when I say demons, I am referring to fallen angels. Therefore, I classify demons and angels into the same category. “Devil’s Dessert” is my fifth novel in the series, and its soon to be graphic spinoff “Demonic Entities”, bring a fresh take on religion and demons.
Here are the types of “demon” related things in my stories…
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1) Religion and Faith: While most stories about demons and gods focus on a particular religion, my interpretation incorporates them all. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and even Atheism are all parts of what make us human beings. Teachings from all of these exist side by side in my novels to some extent, and while Christianity is the main driving force, it does not negate or look down upon any of the others, and is only part of the puzzle.
2) God and The Devil: These supreme beings are represented as being the Yin and Yang. Lux Lucis is the name that describes the One Light. He is the beginning of all. Tehum, is the name he gave to his opposite. He created Tehum, which by name means “Darkness without Form”. They are not shown just as good and evil, but more Light and Dark.
3) Demons Generals: Tehum created seven generals, each with a vice as their strength. Each of them appears demonic in their own way. Satan is the demon of wrath. Mammon is represented by Greed. Belphagor’s power is sloth. The ever prideful Lucifer is only seconded by the lustful Asmodeus. The envious one is Leviathan, and Beezelbub is empowered by gluttony.
4) Archangels: Lux Lucis designed seven angelic generals to balance out the darkness with his light. Michael is patient, Raphael is charitable, and Metatron is diligent. Humility is represented by Azrael. Gabriel is chaste. Uriel is kind. Finally, Zadkiel, is powered by temperance. These flawless looking beings protect the Light with their gifts.
5) Nephilim: A Nephilim is a half breed. It is an androgynous (not female or male) being designed by the angels of light and the demons of darkness to scout on Earth. While the single forces of light and dark were once not permitted to interfere with humanity, the Nephilim, who goes by the name Daeva, has walked among the human race for eons.
6) Heaven: The domain of Lux Lucis and the Light’s forces. Whomever is admitted to this realm will experience paradise specific to them. The souls admitted to this realm become angels over time, and though they are not as powerful as the Archangels, they protect their paradise with every bit of their will power.
7) Hell: Tehum’s realm of darkness is a place souls do not want to be. After surviving the multiple levels of pain, anguish, and torment, all humanity becomes a void of darkness in one’s soul. They then become part of the demon army, and while not as powerful as the generals of Tehum’s army, they strive to give others the same experience as heir own… Living Hell.
8) Purgatory and Limbo: Purgatory is the bridge between Heaven and Hell, while Limbo is the space surrounding them both, which bridges the gap to the physical world.
9) Secrecy: The Knights Templar, Illuminati, and Free Masons are only some of the secretive organizations meant to protect or expose the truth behind the origins of man and more. Throughout the millennia, they have fought to do so, and yet all originate from one organization that remains a mystery even to this day.
10) Ancient Artifacts: Certain things left behind by Light or Dark influence still exist today, and they are humanity’s only hope of restoring order and maintaining balance. The Crown of Thorns, Sword of Eden, and Spear of Destiny are a few of these things that may just hold the key to our survival or doom.
11) Events and Places: The Vatican archives in Porta Di S Anna Italy, Notre Dame in Paris, and the biblical war between heaven and Hell are represented well, and there is much more than common man knows to they mysteries behind them.
12) Appearances and Manifestations: Lesser demons and angels alike have various looks about them. If they are able to initiate symbiosis with a human, that human will over time, tend to pick up some of these traits. Horns, wings, tails, shadowy presence, and halo like ambience are only some of these characteristics.
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The research involved in the writing of this entry in the saga required two bottles of wine for brainstorming. Dan and I again sought out bottles that remain true to the current theme. These are pictured above with the novel, and soon the graphic novel cover will be presented as well.
Categorizing our favorites in this one was a little tricky, so we narrowed it down to anything doing with demons, angels or heaven and hell. Here are some of our fave picks.
Rick’s choice for best movie related to heaven and hell, is “This Is The End.” His favorite demon character is Ghost Rider. Although not entirely angel and demon in presence, Dan Brown’s book series featuring Robert Langdon is his favorite. For Video Games, Rick enjoys the “Doom” series.
Dan’s choice for best movie related to heaven and hell is “What Dreams may Come.” His favorite demon character is Spawn. “The Divine Comedy” (with Dante’s Inferno) is Dan’s favorite depiction of Heaven and Hell in a book. And his favorite demon related video game is the Devil May Cry series.
What are your favorites? Are you an angel or demon fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Devil’s Dessert” the novel. It is available at www.lulu.com in softback book and on www.amazon.com for the Kindle. Also, the spinoff comic book “Devil’s Dessert: Demonic Entities” will soon be available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our Demon devouring.
“Devil’s Dessert” and its spinoff are (C) 2012 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our technological spotlight…
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