Day 25: THE LOST DAY
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Day 25 of #scrypthalloween gets a little frightening with my short story THE LOST DAY. Here are some facts: 1) it was published on August 17, 2018. 2) the protagonist was chosen for this story because I’d originally wanted to kill him off in one of my novels but decided to leave him have an open ended fate. This was to elaborate on what happens to him after those events. 3) Blake is the character that just wont die. While writing the short I had planned on offing him again but decided that I could use him once again for a later story. So while this has a satisfying conclusion there are still answers left hanging out there to be determined. 4) the pocket watch cover idea seemed logical for the title but after finalizing it I realized it had no reference in the book so I had to go back and write a watch into the plot that would make the cover that much more important. 5) the people of the future were based off of various scientific studies with my own creative conclusion as to how we would eventually evolve. Making them observers of time would be a way to explain why people have seen alien “grays” throughout history. . . . #timetravel #book #scifi #evolution #alien #future #authorsofinstagram
Day 9: VIRAL UPGRADES
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Day 9 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story spinoff VIRAL UPGRADES. Some facts: 1) It was originally published on September 14, 2016. 2) Out of all the covers for my books this one took the least amount of thought. It was pretty self explanatory from the start and perfectly fitting. 3) this is another deleted scenes book where the events within coincide with the plot of TECHNO FEAST and add expand upon that novel. 4) the description of what the virtual cyber world looked like from a computer’s perspective came to me during a baseball game when I was struck in the head with a ball when I was passing by. The lights and vision that I had for a few minutes were a perfect visual for the world I was trying to create. 5) surprisingly there was a lot of research involved in this and the novel it spun from. I had to look into not only what would happen but how the world would react to certain computer and technological glitches. There were so many conflicting thoughts on it that narrowing down what was most likely was a tedious task, but very informative. #book #shortstory #technology
Day 6: A COURSE FOR HUMANITY
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Day 6 of #scrypthalloween takes a peek at my novel A COURSE FOR HUMANITY. Some facts: 1) It was written in the year 2000 but I shelved the idea for years to get it just right. 2) March 8, 2017 was the publication date with some tweaks to the story and tying it in to my main series of #books, 3) The cover is a photograph of plains with the green energy as an interpretation of time ripples featured in the plot. 4) the recurring theme of “The truth was lost” was a dig at how divided we’ve come because of social media and a lack of fact finding, 5) the book was my response for the population of the world to open up their eyes, accept and understand differences, and move forward for the betterment of all.
#novel #timetravel #sciencefiction #scifi #book #authorsofinstagram
Interview about THE LOST DAY
I’ve received some interesting questions over the past few days about my new short story release THE LOST DAY. These are those compiled together. Feel free to ask your own questions in the comments section, and I’ll be sure to answer and share.
Q: What is your new short story about?
Rick: A man who wakes up in a reality that isn’t his own. He’s a character from my books that changed history, and upon returning to his own time realizes that nothing is as it was. Everyone around him knows who he is, but he knows nothing about this new reality. It becomes even more of a nightmare for him when he is captured to be studied, and he realizes that his very existence puts the future of mankind at risk.
Q: Should I read the novels before reading this story?
Rick: No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I wrote THE LOST DAY to be a stand alone short. Yes, it’s a spinoff, but only to fill in the gaps for any readers of the novels that have a question about what happened to him. For newcomers, there is a total disconnect with the novels in this short, so it was intended for all audiences.
Q: There’s an interesting take on the antagonist in the story. What gave you the idea for such a character?
Rick: I don’t really see the story as having a true antagonist. I mean obviously there is that character, but it isn’t “bad.” It’s doing the thing that it thinks is right. If anything the main character is sort of the antagonist. The idea for the creature that you are referring to though came from current events. If you look back to what life was a few hundred years ago versus today, there is a difference. For the most part all races are reproducing together, and human sexuality goes beyond just straight and gay. So for a point in the human evolutionary scale, in the far future, there very well could be a grey skinned and asexually reproducing person.
Q: Do you think this approach to a character will cause controversy?
Rick: Not really. It’s done in a manner that is respectful to all people of orientation and race. I also think that it is something that could be plausible in a few million years. If it does stir controversy I’m all for it. Any type of chatter will bring others to read it. Just look at what Dan Brown did, and he’s become an outstanding well known author.
Q: Where do you stand with your beliefs on the topic of interracial breeding and sexual orientation?
Rick: That’s a touchy subject that I try to avoid, but I can say that I believe it isn’t our place to judge others. People have their own right to love who they want, but it’s when they force their beliefs on others that it becomes a problem. The same goes for the reverse point of view. If something bigger and better is out there, whether it God or aliens or both, then we would be a disgrace to a superior being with all of the turmoil we create amongst our own human species. Let the higher powers judge our own actions. My thoughts are don’t judge and don’t push agendas no matter where you stand.
Q: Do all of your books have a message like this?
Rick: Real life inspires a lot of my writing, but I want my stories to be enjoyable to a wider audience. I might have underlying themes throughout them, but there is never a message that I’m trying to push at all. I just want everyone to be able to relate and understand each other to some degree. We don’t all have to agree on everything, but understanding each other is a step toward a greater future.
Q: It seems like you think a lot about the future.
Rick: Having children does that to you. I used to be very carefree in all that I did. I took life for granted for a time. Now I realize how precious it is, and when I’m gone I want my kids, their kids, and their kids kids, and beyond to be able to be role models and be part of a greater future.
Q: How does this short-story relate or differ to your other shorts?
Rick: Other than it following the groundwork laid out in THE LOST HOUR…. THE LOST DAY is entirely self sustaining.
Q: There is a little bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Will we see Don Blake again?
Rick: I plan on it. I think there is a responsibility as an author to wrap up all loose ends. Even if it is a simple one liner in a future book that says “Don Blake’s remains were found,” or have him cameo in a minor role, or be a major character. Don Blake will return. I promise closure on that.
Q: Tell us about the cover idea. Who did the art and design?
Rick: I did the design and layout. Originally I wanted to have a sundial, but the pocket watch was my wife’s idea. It was also an element that I threw into the story at literally the last minute before sending to the editors.
Q: Where can one purchase a copy of THE LOST DAY?
Rick: It’s available at Lulu.com in print and will eventually be on Amazon and Barnes and Noble as part of my next trilogy release.
Interview about THE THIRST OF CAIN
With every new release I get a handful of questions from readers and during promotions. Here’s some of the ones I’ve gathered so far for “THE THIRST OF CAIN”. Feel free to ask any that you have in the comments below or send me a message.
Q: Tell me about your new novel.
Rick: Francis Murphy wakes from a night’s sleep to discover a horror. His blood-stained hands reveal his darkest fears. With each passing minute the submerged half of his personality comes one step closer to total control. Realizing he has only days to find a cure, he must search throughout history to discover the origins of his curse. From the beginning of humanity to modern times, the mark of Cain has influenced many. What is that mark? How far will one man go in order to piece together clues to the puzzle? At what lengths will he go to save himself, and at what cost?
Q: Cain was a primary character in your earlier novels. What made you bring him back?
Rick: Reader feedback was my ultimate driving force. So many people loved the character and he slowly faded into the background as my novels progressed. I felt it was time to bring him back to the heart of the story, and see the side of him that the novels prior to this didn’t fully address.
Q: Does this go against your “I’m not going to write the same type of novel twice,” or do you feel it is a different approach?
Rick: This is a much different approach. It’s true I didn’t want to do another book involving vampires, or time travel. Both of those things sort of take a back seat in this even though they are there. It’s less a book about either of those, and more a book about discovering history in reverse. Cain is in his prime in this novel, so he’s more villain than before… he just happens to be a vampire. Murphy’s journey through time is more about solving the mystery of where his curse came from than the sci-fi element. He just uses time travel to trace the lineage back. So, this is a much different novel than BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING or A COURSE FOR HUMANITY.
Q: There are a lot of historical refences and tie ins in this book. How much research did you have to do?
Rick: When it came to overall research it wasn’t too extensive, but I wanted each time period in the story to have actual historical significance. I didn’t really know when specifically each chapter would take place until I found some dates with events that would fit the narrative. Finding those pieces of information did consume a few weeks of my time in order to get the story right. The research actually had me rewrite my outline four or five times to better fit where I wanted the book to go.
Q: You and your family were recently featured as a cover story in your local newspaper. How does that feel and factor into what you do?
Rick: It was really a moment that made me so proud. To be called, “the Dynamic Duo” was a surprise. People have said that we are a power couple and inspiration for those who want to prove that hard work will help you reach your dreams. I’ve always been flattered by that. The interview was a lot of fun, but I didn’t expect us to be the cover story. Needless to say we framed the article and have it hanging in my office. Things like that just make me want to go above and beyond my goals even more, and it helps me to push myself harder to attain those goals.
Q: How long did it take you to write THE THIRST OF CAIN?
Rick: The concept has been in my mind for about eight years. Every few months I’d come up with ideas of where to take it, but it was shelved for my other works. Once I finally started to sit down and write it, it took about eight months from outline to draft, then to edits and final copy.
Q: Do you have a team of early reviewers? If so how did they respond to the new book?
Rick: I had 20 beta readers for this book. Of those, a dozen gave their feedback which I value immensely. The response was all very positive with one reader claiming that they wanted another few pages in the epilogue to explain what happens next. To those readers I just have to say, it will be worth the wait to find out, but the hints are there.
Q: You do a decent job of writing each novel as a standalone, but also tying into the whole series. How hard is it to do this and keep the continuity?
Rick: It becomes tedious at times. I have to explain some things in back story, which makes me go back and reread previous plot points over and over to preserve continuity. I really like the idea of having a series that gets better with each installment since the beginning, but can also be a starting point for any new reader to my works. The balance is sometimes tricky, but not an overall difficult task.
Q: I’ve read the book, and have one question… That ending was totally unexpected. What? How? Where is this going?
Rick: You’ll find out in the next novel CONSUMED BY WAR. The reset button has technically been hit, so where THE THIRST OF CAIN finds the character going backwards in time to different periods, the next installment will be the opposite, except without the time travel element. There won’t be any more vampires, just two immortal beings “The Destroyer” and “The Redeemer.” There will also be a short story spinoff that will reference the events in THIRST called THE LOST DAY, which will also come out later this year.
Q: Tell us about the cover idea. Who did the art and design?
Rick: My brother Dan, did the art and design for it. My concept was to have Stonehenge as the center of the cover. It plays a significant role in the plot as far as what its true purpose was. Having a river of blood coming from it was an idea I pitched to my brother, and he immediately went to work with a few pictures in photo editing software. When I received his final copy for approval I was blown away. I think it’s my favorite cover to date.
Q: Where can one purchase a copy of THE THIRST OF CAIN?
Rick: It’s available at Lulu.com in print for $7.99 and on Amazon.com in digital format for $3.99.
The Thirst Of Cain
Francis Murphy wakes from a night’s sleep to discover a horror. His blood stained hands reveal his darkest fears. With each passing minute the submerged half of his personality comes one step closer to total control. Realizing he has only days to find a cure, he must search throughout history to discover the origins of his curse. From the beginning of humanity to modern times, the mark of Cain has influenced many. What is that mark? How far will one man go in order to piece together clues to the puzzle? At what lengths will he go to save himself, and at what cost? From the award winning author of BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING and A COURSE FOR HUMANITY comes THE THIRST OF CAIN. This heart pounding adventure unlocks the secrets of Stonehenge and more.
Novel is available for $7.99 in print at http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/the-thirst-of-cain/paperback/product-23645538.html
and in digital format for $3.99 at https://www.amazon.com/Thirst-Cain-Rick-Pipito-ebook/dp/B07D42WJHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526988936&sr=8-1&keywords=the+thirst+of+cain
On the 10th Day of Christmas…
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME… 10 Time Travelers…
9 Aliens, 8 conspiracies, 7 super heroes, 6 corrupt files, 5 Demon Spawns! 4 lost souls, 3 werewolves, 2 vampires, and zombies in a story.
The idea of time travel has fascinated me since as far back as I can remember. Watching Superman reverse the direction of the Earth in a silly interpretation of going back in time; Marty McFly visiting the past and future in a Delorean; H.G. Wells classic The Time Machine; and Sam leaping from person to person in Quantum leap are just some of the things that hooked me in my youth.
Writing A COURSE FOR HUMANITY and its spinoff THE LOST HOUR was a lot of fun for me, but it took a long time to get right. Time travel logic is difficult to maintain, but is manageable with some thought and research. Pictured here is the U.S.S. Eldrige. It is said that the government managed to send it back in time ten seconds on October 28th 1943. This was dubbed the “Philadelphia Experiment,” although no one actually knows if the program ever even existed. What do you think? There are plenty of photos and historical things that could point to time travel being possible. Do you think it’s a possibility and if so where would you go and when?
Order a copy of my novel or short for yourself or a friend. If you want personalized copies then shoot me an email (Rickpipito@hotmail.com), otherwise they can be purchased in print or digital at Lulu.com or on Amazon
Day 19 – A Course For Humanity
Day 19 of #scrypthalloween spotlights my novel A COURSE FOR HUMANITY. While most books take me six to eight months to write, this one took sixteen years. It was something I contrived back in 2001 and after writing it sat on my shelf. It wasn’t until late last year when I decided to update it and make a story that could connect with the audiences to kick off a new trilogy…
official description: The future has been set in stone… or has it? When a group of military scientists discover a ripple in reality, they must face their ultimate challenge. Someone has travelled into the past and changed history, causing the timeline to shift. The result? Human extinction. Now humanity’s only hope lies with the Continuum group. They must break their own law against time travel, and prevent the temporal ripple from ever occurring. They will need a secret weapon to do so, but that weapon is a threat to them all… Meet Francis Murphy. He’s the last living vampire, and he’s out for revenge against those who’ve experimented on him. Will he help the Continuum group put humanity on the right course, or will he side with a traitor in their midst? Only time will tell.
Available in print and digital at lulu.com and Amazon.
Day 17 – Devoured Universe
Day 17 of #scrypthalloween spotlights my novel DEVOURED UNIVERSE. @dpipito gave a digital feel with the cover of my first full on sci-fi adventure. I used quotes and what we know about space and applied it to a threat bigger than all the other novels combined…
official description: Beyond the farthest reaches of the universe lies a threat to the very existence of reality. When Earth receives a signal from deep space, they must embark on a dangerous mission into the unknown. Gordon Lightcap returns to duty after a brief retirement. He will have to use what he has learned to bring together a mismatched group of astronauts, and discover the secrets to existence. Only then will they be able to prevent the annihilation of everything, but at what cost?
Available in print and digital at Lulu.com and Amazon, as well as part of the Beyond Human Trilogy at Barnes and Noble.
Day 15 – Planet ATE
Day 15 of #scrypthalloween takes a look at my novel PLANET ATE. With a dry erase board for the cover art by @dpipito this book delves deep into #conspiracy . I had to research a great deal of the theories out there to bring this story to life, and it was some of the most fun research I’ve ever done…
official description: Throughout the ages human history has held many unsolved mysteries. Why were we created? Were we a product of evolution? Were we created by God’s hand? Or is the answer more complex? When a creature as ancient as the universe itself targets earth for destruction, the truth must be revealed. Enter the A.T.E., a group of government agents dedicated to uncovering that, which has been hidden for so long.
But by looking into past UFO and alien conspiracies, they may not be prepared to deal with truths that will provide proof of our real origins. An extinction event, a Biblical hero, a pilot lost at sea, an artist, and a founding father are only some who held clues to the overall puzzle. Will humanity solve it in time to stop the threat from above?
Available in print or digital at lulu.com and on Amazon as well as part of the Beyond Huma trilogy at Barnes and Noble website.
Day 13 – Genetic Morsels
Day 13 of #scrypthalloween looks at my novel GENETIC MORSELS. The cover art by @dpipito resembles a chalk board littered with scientific notes. This is a theme that will continue through the trilogy in different ways. The novel was originally going to be a wrap up of any loose ends I’d created in the previous books, but at this point there weren’t any, so I introduced a new main cast and added substance and a political theme…
official description: Twenty five years have passed since a war with artificial intelligence has forever changed the course of humanity. Belief in the first world leader has been gained by the majority, but there are a few who can see past the media bias. As President Jason Black’s scheme unravels, the next step in human evolution begins. A passing of the torch to a newer generation of unexpected heroes occurs as they mount a resistance into the political fray. Led by Zoe Omandi the team is guided into dealing with not only their conflicting personalities, but also their extraordinary abilities. Real world physics makes this more than just a story of superheroes and villains. It is a story about survival and persistance. Can the heroes overcome the odds and unravel the truth before it is too late?
– available in print or digital at lulu.com and Amazon as well as part of the Beyond Human trilogy at Barnes and Noble.
Day 12 – Viral Upgrades
Day 12 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story VIRAL UPGRADES. This feels less like a spinoff and more like an expansion of my novel “Techno Feast.” When I wrote the source material I cut out a lot of scenes that I thought would be redundant to a larger book. Some of them were great scenes but I felt like they could tell a story on their own. This contains those parts and more to really give the reader a full immersion in that world of artificial intelligence take over….
official description: Mankind has taken advantage of technology for ages. Life has become simple, but so has the human mind. I’ve come to change that. Your phones, televisions, computers, transportation, communications, and vehicles are all connected to a network. That network is now controlled by something far superior than flesh. I am the Network Entity, and the planet is now under my control. Any who resist will be terminated…
#book available in print at lulu.com and in digital/print on Amazon and Barnes and Noble sites as part of the Pandora’s Chaos trilogy.
Day 11 – Techno Feast
Day 11 of #scrypthalloween looks at my novel TECHNO FEAST. Although it’s science fiction, it isn’t that far fetched. The cover art by @dpipito resembles the AI satellite in the story. My approach for this wasn’t about machines taking over. It was about our technology suddenly not being available. Imagine a totally inconvenient world where we are forced to survive without luxury or assistance from computers…
official description: Humanity has survived through countless threats, but when a super computer begins to think that the human race is flawed, survival may prove an
impossibility. In order to conquer the self proclaimed “Network Entity,” differences must be put aside. Every person on earth will be put to the test. Alliances must be forged, obstacles must be eliminated, and sacrifices will be made to ensure a future for the entire planet. Forget everything you know about the past, as technology becomes our greatest enemy yet. The Network Entity’s plan to take over everything that
makes life simpler is executed in various stages. While a team of disjointed specialists race to stop each digital upgrade, a sinister man lurks in the shadows with his own plans for the future.
Available in print and digital at lulu.com and Amazon as well as part of the Pandora’s Chaos trilogy on Barnes and Noble #technology #computer #digital #artificialintelligence
Interview about THE LOST HOUR
sCrypt Publishing and readers have asked a few questions about my new short story THE LOST HOUR. Here’s a compilation of those questions in an interview like form. Enjoy and feel free to ask your own in the comments section. I’ll answer as quickly as possible.
Q: This is your first short story that doesn’t involve multiple different plots. What made you take this approach?
Rick: I’ve done nine shorts before this. They all had multiple stories because they were intended (and some were) for graphic novel form. The novel that this was based on, A COURSE FOR HUMANITY, was less about separate stories intertwining, and more about one narrative. I figured I could focus on one plot and make it more powerful by doing the same to the short.
Q: You mention the novel from which this was set. Where exactly does THE LOST HOUR take place in the series?
Rick: Chronologically it exists between DEVOURED UNIVERSE and A COURSE FOR HUMANITY. It fills in something referenced in the latter novel. It is meant to be read alone though, so it works if you are completely unfamiliar with the series.
Q: Why continue to do short story spinoffs between novel releases? Are there plans to bring back more graphic novel forms?
Rick: I never say never, but right now there are no plans for more comics. The reason I continue with the short stories is because they are cheaper for readers. It seems to be that once a newcomer reads the short story, they are usually interested in the novel it’s associated with. I’ve gained quite a few readers that way.
Q: Samantha Clayton is your main character in THE LOST HOUR. What made you choose her?
Rick: We’ve sort of seen her grow throughout the novels. She was a young girl, then an adult, and then an old woman. We know there’s a lot of secrecy to her that remains to be uncovered. There is only reference to her in the novel and how she laid the ground work for the Continuum organization. She made rules for them to follow with time travel, so I wanted to get into why she made those rules. Something had to have gone wrong for her to do so.
Q: What is it like writing about time travel?
Rick: It’s different than all my other books. I love and hate it. This trilogy gives me a headache, even though that’s not the focus. I have to make it believable and understandable to the reader at the same time. Sometimes I’ll write a scene and then have to edit the hell out of it because it gets so wordy that it bores me. After numerous edits it comes out being an easy and comprehendible read, but getting to that point is the challenge.
Q: What is your next release and when?
Rick: THE THIRST OF CAIN will be my next novel in early 2018. It’s not only a direct follow up to A COURSE FOR HUMANITY, but will serve as the same to BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING.
Q: So vampires and time travel then?
Rick: Yes. I had such good feedback on BLOOD, that I felt like revisiting some of that. Plus I had this thing going on with the character of Francis Murphy in COURSE that the plot sort of set itself.
Q: Are you saying Francis will meet Cain?
Rick: Cain is such a loved character by fans. He’s the penultimate villain. He’s wicked, but also has a reason for the path he’s chosen. Time travel enables me to really go back to his early years and have Francis confront him then. He wants to be cured of his own curse, so finding Cain is his main priority.
Q: I’m confused. Won’t that technically interfere with the plots of the remaining books because time travel is involved?
Rick: Oh yes. I can’t say much, but THE THIRST OF CAIN will alter everything. We will sort of see a different history as an outcome. It’s something touched upon in THE LOST HOUR about how time travel can create alternate worlds.
Q: Where can one purchase a copy of THE LOST HOUR?
Rick: It is available on www.lulu.com in print. It will be available as part of the next trilogy release for Amazon and Barnes and Noble when that is completed. And if you buy the print from lulu you also get a digital copy to download.
Review: Alien Covenant
The Alien franchise has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. Each installment has me on the edge of my seat waiting for release. Well I finally got to sit down and watch Alien: Covenant, and found it to be familiar, yet refreshing.
Slight Spoilers ahead…
At first I found myself confused thinking that they wouldn’t even touch on the events in Prometheus, but thankfully they wrapped up that story fairly well, and in a shocking way. It explains a lot for the rest of the series.
The twist with David and Walter at the end however was slightly predictable. I saw it coming a mile away. The whole premise to the crew going to the planet that Prometheus had been on was a little far fetched. You would think for a technologically advanced crew of astronauts, that there’d be some sort of record of what happened to the crew of Prometheus or at least where they were going. There were also a few places where the CGI seemed off to me, but not terrible. I’m just used to the original films where the effects were all practical.
That was the only real faults I found with the movie. On the positive side, Michael Fassbender is becoming one of my favorite actors. His dual roles in this movie were spectacular, and Katherine Waterson’s female lead was as likeable as Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley.
The high points for me were the explanation of where the Aliens came from and how they were engineered. They aren’t yet the species we meet in the first Alien movie. They are something else, but by the end of the movie we see where it is going to lead. I’ll admit that the white colored alien was downright eerie to see. It gave me the creeps.
One thing that I really like is that this is definitely NOT the movie that takes place right before Alien. There obviously has to be another film to explain more. While it answered quite a few questions, it opened the door for more lore. I still would like to see one more adventure for Ellen Ripley, but if I can’t get that this is just as good.
Overall I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It’s be no means a spectacular film, but has an important place in the franchise. It was fun, and you could feel the mortality of the characters involved. What did you think of Alien Covenant?
novel – DEVOURED UNIVERSE
It’s here! Available in paperback and digital is DEVOURED UNIVERSE.
Beyond the farthest reaches of the universe lies a threat to the very existence of reality. When Earth receives a signal from deep space, they must embark on a dangerous mission into the unknown. Gordon Lightcap returns to duty after a brief retirement. He will have to use what he has learned to bring together a mismatched group of astronauts, and discover the secrets to existence. Only then will they be able to prevent the annihilation of everything, but at what cost?
$7.99 + shipping for paperback http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/devoured-universe/paperback/product-22842737.html
$3.99 for Kindle and digital https://www.amazon.com/Devoured-Universe-Eternal-Hunger-Saga-ebook/dp/B01L7AFS2Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
novel – Genetic Morsels
Written by Rick Pipito
Cover art by Dan Pipito
Available in paperback at http://www.lulu.com for $8.99
Available for Kindle on http://www.amazon.com for $3.99
Twenty five years have passed since a war with artificial intelligence has forever changed the course of humanity. Belief in the first world leader has been gained by the majority, but there are a few who can see past the media bias. As President Jason Black’s scheme unravels, the next step in human evolution begins. A passing of the torch to a newer generation of unexpected heroes occurs as they mount a resistance into the political fray. Led by Zoe Omandi the team is guided into dealing with not only their conflicting personalities, but also their extraordinary abilities. Real world physics makes this more than just a story of superheroes and villains. It is a story about survival and persistance. Can the heroes overcome the odds and unravel the truth before it is too late?
Day 23: On The Slate
After a little negotiating, I’m allowed to give some information about the upcoming projects in the works for my novels and comics. Here’s what’s going on:
Novels:
GENETIC MORSELS: In a not so distant future, the world has come to accept one world leader. Many believe he is just, but something sinister is in his plans. A small group of unlikely allies must come together to uncover the truth, but they have an obstacle… the next step in human evolution has begun. Homoevolutis are a group of humans that have extraordinary abilities, but unlike comic book heroes, these abilities apply to real world physics and can be more deadly than beneficial. (Look for Genetic Morsels in early 2015.)
UNTITLED Alien book: The government has held secrets from the public eye for years, but there is one secret that might shock all of mankind. As visitors from another world return from long ago, humanity must sort out the past and reveal the truth about our own history. What truly lies out there may be something that even the most inventive of minds has not forseen. (Coming late 2015)
NO, IT’S NOT. YES, IT IS: URBAN LEGENDS: Following the format of the argument book I did, this will share personal experiences and humor to address whether urban legends are real or not. It will take a look at these stories and present facts for and against it. Then you decide if it is real or not.
Children’s Books:
A LITTLE GIRL IN THE LAND OF THE HICCUPS: slated to be released on Black Friday of 2014, this children’s book illustrated by Dan Pipito in his amazing watercolor style, follows the adventures of a girl who must rescue a village from the annoying creatures known as the Hiccups.
A LITTLE BOY IN THE LAND OF SLEEPLESS KNIGHTS: A boy who decides to confront the “monster” in his closet finds himself swallowed into a world where shadowy knights keep children awake forever. Can he stop them before their sleep draining abilities make them unbeatable, and return in time to get some shut eye? (Late 2015)
UNTITLED children’s book: The little girl and boy get lost on a new adventure.
sCrypt Comics Graphic novels:
DEMONIC ENTITIES: This graphic spinoff of the novel DEVIL’S DESSERT focuses on what happened to the demons after the events in the novel.
FINAL UPGRADE: This graphic spinoff of the novel TECHNO FEAST shows more of what happens all over the globe during the events of the novel.
Audiobooks:
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS: The first in a series of audiobooks brings in talent to revisit the novel that started it all. (Coming December 2014)
There are other projects on the board, but at this time I can’t reveal much about them due to copyrights. Stay tuned.
Day 21: Currently Published Plots and more
I figured since it is getting closer to Halloween, I should make a quick list of the current publications I have and a brief idea as to the summary of them.
The Novels:
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS: While zombie incidents plague the world, the survivors must unite to prepare for a much bigger threat.
BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING: Vampires have been a thing of legend, but throughout history they’ve played an important role. Now a team of humans who have survived horrific incidents must seek out the vampire lord and destroy his clan.
BONES AT BREAKFAST: A sinister villain has evolved into a creature beyond imagination. With his army of werewolf servants and allies, he will attempt to reshape the world in his image.
SOULS 4 SUPPER: The ghosts of countless people roam free in a desperate move toward the afterlife. Can a small group of covert operatives surpass them to prevent the opening of Pandora’s Box?
DEVIL’S DESSERT: Hell’s demons have chosen earth as their final battlefield against the forces of heaven. With humanity caught in the center of this eternal war, they will have to choose their own path toward survival or face extinction.
TECHNO FEAST: A supercomputer has evolved and taken control of all networked technology. With the world at its command, humanity must find a way to combat the threat, by seeking out answers that have been hidden from the public eye.
Non fiction books:
NO, IT’S NOT. YES, IT IS: ARGUMENTS: A lighthearted look at arguing through personal experience will give you a few laughs, might teach you a thing or two, and help better your approach when disagreeing with someone. At the very least, you will know how to deal with certain personalities.
Graphic Comic Books:
ZOMBIE INCIDENTS: spinoff filling in back story of events in Flesh and Leftovers.
LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE: spinoff building on the world of Blood, The Second Helping.
IN CASE OF WEREWOLF: spinoff of events in Bones At Breakfast.
GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS: spinoff stories from Souls 4 Supper
Collections:
EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY: Collects Flesh and Leftovers, Blood the Second Helping, & Bones and Breakfast, as well as novelized versions of Zombie Incidents, Legends of Vampire, In Case of Werewolf and bonus material.
PANDORA’S CHAOS TRILOGY: Collects Souls 4 Supper, Devil’s Dessert, & Techno Feast, as well as novelized versions of In Case Of Werewolf, Demonic Entities, Final Upgrade, and bonus material.
All of the above listed are available for purchase in multiple formats through the links on the right of this page.
Day 7: A Shift in Genres for TECHNO FEAST
31 Days of Halloween continues with my 6th novel, TECHNO FEAST. What started out in horror had to graduate slightly for a novel about technology turning against humanity. We depend so much on electronics of all kinds, that society has become spoiled in a way.
I am just as guilty as the next person to find myself staring at my phone reading articles or text messaging. I also enjoy playing video games on occasion, and the luxuries of modern cars and household items. So I thought to myself, “What if technology was gone? What would we do?”
In what has been called by fans as “The Terminator meets The DaVinci Code,” TECHNO FEAST gives us a look at what could occur based on research. If an intelligent computer took over everything tied into a network on the planet, we’d be fighting against an antagonist that is an all controlling, all seeing machine void of human emotion.
Keeping the horror type feel of what I had written to date was my goal, but the elements within give it a slight sci-fi/horror tone. There are some technologies that are in development, and in a few years most of what is in the book will most likely be standard. The horror of it is not necessarily the drama played out, but the thought of this happening, while the sci-fi elements back that tonality. Throw in a touch of thriller and uncovering secrets hidden by various groups such as the Illuminati and the Freemasons, and you’ve got a wild ride that’ll have you questioning whether the humans will succeed by the end of the book.
Enjoy the novel TECHNO FEAST in paperback or on the Kindle via links on the right of this page. Be sure to stay tuned for the graphic comic book spinoff, FINAL UPGRADE.
Inspirational Reads
The folks over at 5 Reads Blog gave me a guest post on my 5 most inspirational reads as an author. Click on over to check out what my mentions are and how they’ve shaped me into the writer I am. http://5readsblog.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/rick-pipito/
sCrypt Publishing 