The Lost Year
My new short story THE LOST YEAR is available today in print at http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/the-lost-year/paperback/product-24285594.html
Be sure to grab your copy and spread the word. Description:
Doctor Erin Vaughn created a virus that could very well cause a worldwide extinction event. As she races against the clock to discover the cure, her travels take her to Mayan ruins in Guatemala. There she uncovers a secret that may explain what happened to the ancient Mayan people, but will she make it out alive? A team of mercenaries on the hunt for Vaughn are hot in pursuit and they are determined to take her dead or alive. This final installment in the Eternal Hunger Saga is a direct follow up to the events closed out in the novel Consumed By War.
Day 31: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS
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Final day of #scrypthalloween 2019 looks at my first #graphicnovel turned #book. Here are some facts: 1) it was published as a comic book back on February 2, 2012 and later became a text version. 2) I’d sworn to only create one #zombie novel but when readers began sending me letters to expand upon that threat I decided to do this spinoff. 3) When @dpipito and I began discussing how we could do it in #art form he suggested bringing nine artists plus himself on to do the work. We recruited from Craigslist and this was the official start of sCrypt Publishing. 4) the cover was a photo we took of severed rubber limbs and leftovers in a refrigerator. Then Dan took the image through a Saran Wrap filter and added a retro horror feel to resemble a creepy Hannibal Lecter type movie poster. 5) the undead circus in the book was Dan’s idea because he wanted to illustrate freaky and deformed zombies. It was a creative element that I couldn’t pass up and features a strong female lead that ends up in my novels later on. What are your favorite zombie stories or comics? #authorsofinstagram #book #spinoff
Day 26: GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS
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Day 26 of #scrypthalloween features my #shortstory GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS. Some facts: 1) it was published in September of 2013. 2) originally it was a graphic novel, but was later released in text format. 3) the cover art was a picture taken in a restaurant kitchen with steam enhanced by graphics of faces to resemble lousy souls. 4) the comic version had us working with artists from the United States, England, and Japan. 5) most of the story aspects were based on my experiences as a kid as well as watching my daughter as an infant and how she reacted to certain scenarios
Day 16: DEMONIC ENTITIES
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Day 16 of #scrypthalloween looks at some facts and an excerpt from my #short story DEMONIC ENTITIES. Here’s some little known info: 1) it was my first spinoff from a novel that was not presented in graphic novel form. 2) publication date 9/13/16. 3) the novel that it spawns from DEVIL’S DESSERT, focuses more on the evils that humans are guilty of with the demons influencing or feeding off of that. The short story allowed me to focus more on the fantastical elements of demonology, presenting the lore to a wider audience. 4) the cover is comprised of multiple photos of my fire pit merged together. In it you can see what appears to be faces and sprites bringing the fire to life in an eerie manner. 5) I studied a list of over 9,000 demon and angel identities to properly portray something from every faith.
Day 14: THE LOST YEAR
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Day 14 of #scrypthalloween shows a preview of my upcoming spinoff THE LOST YEAR. Some facts: 1) it will be published on November 5, 2019. 2) this will be the final entry in the Eternal Hunger Saga. It follows the events of CONSUMED BY WAR but stands on its own. 3) the plot involves a deadly virus and search for a cure. This was originally a concept I had for an earlier book that was shelved until reworked. 4) I wanted to bring some closure to Mayan civilization so tying that into the story was tricky at first. I spent so many hours rewriting and replanting the approach that I could have written half of a full length novel with better planning. 5) the story lead is a strong female character inspired by the amazing women in my immediate and extended family. She’s not perfect but dedicates herself to getting the job done. #book #shortstory #spinoff #virus #mayan #ruins #mayanruins #authorsofinstagram
Day 13: ALIEN ENCOUNTERS
Day 13 of #scrypthalloween delves into my short story spinoff ALIEN ENCOUNTERS. Some facts: 1) it was published on sept 15, 2016. 2) the cover is a negative of a photo that conspiracy theorists believe is a leaked alien picture from the FBI’s files. 3) though the novel it’s based off of PLANET ATE focuses more on the conspiracy of extra terrestrials living among us, Encounters takes a more outlandish approach. I wanted it to be less grounded to appease to a different audience. 4) beneath the font on the cover as well as hidden in the book are the all seeing eye and a pyramid. 5) people talk about #area51 but the truth may lie at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, so including it seemed just as important as Groom Lake.
Day 11: THE LOST HOUR
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Day 11 of #scrypthalloween takes a look at my short story THE LOST HOUR. Some facts: 1) It was published in print and digital at lulu and amazon on 9/26/2017. 2) The book takes place near the Bryn Athyn Cathedral in Pennsylvania. It is where I wrote the entire scene while enjoying the spectacular view of the gothic structures. 3) The book was written when I realized I’d had a loophole in one of my books. In one novel I’d mentioned that Samantha Clayton had a son, and in the next novel she mentions nothing about him as if he never existed. Since I was writing about time travel I used that as a starting point to explain the discrepancy. 4) Many years take place between #novels 9 and 10, so I place this in that time period to be a bridge of sorts between the two. 5) there are rules and guidelines to time travel in the universe I’ve created so this takes an in depth look at the trial and error of why those laws are in place. What is your favorite #timetravel story? #book #shortstory #authorsofinstagram
Day 10 LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE
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Day 10 of #scrypthalloween goes way back to my spinoff book LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE. Some facts: 1) It was originally published as a graphic novel on February 2, 2012 and later in 2016 converted to text. 2) a day before our final submission was due one of the artists backed out with no warning. We were left scrambling because those pages were an important element. So we ended up using storyboards in the missing pages stead. 3) the story of Sampson and Delilah as well as the reason and how the Great Sphinx of Giza was built get a vampiric twist in the story. 4) for the cover @dpipito took a photo of a friend of ours as if she’s been bitten while sipping wine. Then we passed it through an oil canvas filter to give it a rustic feel. 5) the character of Cory Wright is the only character I’ve created to date where his fate is left unaddressed. I left it up to the reader to ponder and discuss. #book #shortstory #vampire #vampires #wine #dracula #authorsofinstagram #graphicnovel
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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 8: EVOLVED MUTATIONS
Day 8 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short spinoff #book EVOLVED MUTATIONS. Some facts: 1) It was published on September 15th 2016. 2) the entire contents of the book are deleted scenes from my novel GENETIC MORSELS. I felt they worked better on their own. 3) one of the scenes came to me when I was standing overlooking #Philadelphia from the top of the Comcast building. I thought how horrible it would be if someone jumped, and it instantly became part of the story. 4) because this was based on people with extraordinary abilities I almost brought artists in to do another graphic novel, but decided it would have not made the due date.Instead I wrote it in a way where it could be converted into a comic version at some point if I desire down the line. 5) the cover is comprised of close up photos of my family’s eyes and altered to represent different super abilities. The top left is my son, then clockwise it’s me, my daughter, and my wife @homemadedelish .
Day 4: IN CASE OF WEREWOLF
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Day 4 of #scrypthalloween is all about IN CASE OF WEREWOLF. Here are some facts about my short story spinoff: 1) it was originally published as a graphic novel featuring artists from all over the United States, 2) October 29, 2012 was its debut in print, 3) the cover was done as a photo using various filters as well as medical model bones, hair and black coffee by @dpipito . 4) Norse mythology, The Moonlight Battle of 1780, Jack the Ripper, Beauty and the Beast, and Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde are the historical and fictitious elements paid tribute to within the pages. 5) I wrote one of the chapters while observing a full moon outdoors in the frigid cold of early January to properly capture a scene I was describing. #book #spinoff #werewolf #authorsofinstagram It’s available in print and digital forms at lulu.com and Amazon as well as part of the Eden’s order trilogy at Barnes and Noble.
Day 1: Cosmic Orbits
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#scrypthalloween is back, so each day I’ll be focusing on one of my books with some fun facts, a teaser page and highlights.
Day 1 features my short story COSMIC ORBITS. Some facts: 1) the cover uses a public domain image taken by the Hubble telescope and thrown through a filter, 2) the book was released on September 16, 2016 on lulu.com and Amazon, 3) it is a spinoff from DEVOURED UNIVERSE and direct follow-up to TECHNO FEAST, 4) the story is the first I’ve done based on reader requests to explain what happened to a certain “character”, 5) the book has a cosmic god-like being called “Unity” which was my response to what the world needs today. Stay tuned for more fun facts and feel free to grab yourself a copy in print and digital just in time for #Halloween #book #shortstory
A new short story
My next novella is now in the works. THE LOST YEAR will be available this Fall and will be quite a thrilling ride. Doctor Erin Vaughn will be racing to find a cure to a virus that makes Ebola look like the flu. She will be put in direct conflict with the U.S. Government and if that’s not enough, her only hope may be in solving an ancient riddle within the Mayan Calendar.
That’s all I’m saying for now. And for those who’ve written me and asked “Whatever happened to Donald Christopher Blake?” you’ll have those answers.
Here’s a mockup I have of the cover art. Let me know what you think. It’s not the final piece, but you get the idea. I’m still working on font.
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.
The Lost Day
It’s release day for my new short story THE LOST DAY.
Imagine waking in a reality that isn’t your own. People who know you well are complete strangers to you, but to them nothing is out of the ordinary. You feel lost, but over time you adapt to this new life; until suddenly you vanish and wake up in a new time and place.
THE LOST DAY is a short story that presents that very scenario. Donald Blake must face the ultimate decision that could place the fabric of reality at risk, while trying to understand a new world beyond his comprehension… Available in print at http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/the-lost-day/paperback/product-23763373.html
Day 20 – The Lost Hour
Day 20 of #scrypthalloween recaps my latest short story THE LOST HOUR. A discrepancy was found in one of my books where a character suddenly didn’t exist. It was as if they were never there, and though he was a very very minor character with no influence on plot, I knew I had to explain his sudden absence. This book does that in an intriguing manner…
official description: In the future, time travel is a tool used for learning. There are strict guidelines that the Continuum organization enforces to make sure that no one can tamper with what is already written. Those rules were put in place for a reason. Samantha Clayton wrote those rules, but what experiences did she have to understand the true consequences of diving into the past? Follow Clayton in events that take place
during one hour of her time. It will be an hour that she will never forget, but that
history will never remember. To every cause there is an effect, no matter how big or small. This short story bridges the gap between the novels DEVOURED UNIVERSE and A COURSE FOR HUMANITY.
Available in print at lulu.com and other marketplaces soon.
Day 18 – Cosmic Orbits
Day 18 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story COSMIC ORBITS. I wrote this one after multiple readers asked if the Network Entity was really destroyed at the end of Techno Feast. It was an ending I’d written to keep the audience wondering, but I decided to move forward with this concept after writing “Devoured Universe”. This works as a spinoff to both novels…
official description: You gaze at the night sky and see something move. Wondering what is out there keeps you awake at night. Countless forms of life are between you and the farthest star, but there’s also something else. It watches and gathers information, growing more powerful along the way.
available in print and digital at lulu.com or on Amazon and Barnes and Noble as part of the Beyond Human Trilogy.
Day 16 – Alien Encounters
Day 16 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story ALIEN ENCOUNTERS. The cover photo is a known public domain work that I had some fun editing. It’s connected to one of the biggest alien conspiracies of all time, which is perfect for representing what’s in the pages….
official description: A phone call from a friend leaves you frantic. He claimed to have uncovered a conspiracy that could get him killed. His final words were, “I’ve seen them. We aren’t alone,” right before the line went dead. Whoever intercepted the call may now have you in their sight. Delve deeper into the mysteries established in the novel “Planet ATE”.
Alien Encounters is available in print at lulu.com. On Amazon in digital as well as Barnes and Noble as part of the Beyond Human Trilogy print edition
Day 14 – Evolved Mutations
Day 14 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story EVOLVED MUTATIONS. For the cover I wanted to show superhuman abilities in an intense way. I used close up eye pictures of my son, me, my wife, and daughter, then passed them each through a filter and placed a reflection of their “abilities” in their eyes with the help of @homemadedelish ….
official description: One morning you wake with a tingling sensation in your spine. Your veins feel as though they have a river of fire flowing through them. You scream out in agony as the change takes over, and suddenly realize you’re on fire. The fire doesn’t burn you, but it incinerates all around you. You panic, but are not alone. Your generation has had its DNA altered. The possibilities are both frightening and promising. This story expands that found in the novel “Genetic Morsels”.
It’s available in print at lulu.com or as part of the Beyond Human Trilogy on Amazon and Barnes and Noble sites.
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 10 – Demonic Entities
Day 10 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story DEMONIC ENTITIES. The cover was a blend of pics taken by @homemadedelish of our active fire pit and then altered to have hidden things such as faces and dancing sprites. The longer you look at it the more you see….
official description: You pray, but something within you screams out. Your conscience flees, leaving you alone with your vices. No longer can you control your actions as the evil emerges. The demon has arrived, and none are safe. This short story follows the events in the novel “Devil’s Dessert.” The demons of the 7 deadly sins aren’t killed that easily.
Book is available in print at lulu.com or as part of the Pandora’s Chaos trilogy at Amazon and Barnes and Noble sites.
Day 8 – Ghostly Hauntings
Day 8 of #scrypthalloween spotlights my short story GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS. The cover picture was taken in a local brewery’s kitchen and @dpipito merged the steam with faces of people to resemble escaping spirits. The graphic novel version of this brought in artists from around the world including Japan and The United Kingdom…..
official description: You’re speaking with your grandfather. It seems like forever since you have last seen him, but your conversation reminds you of being a child again. Then it dawns on you. Your grandfather has been dead for years. As you focus your eyes on him, he vanishes. His absence forces a feeling of dread as your hair stands on end. Available in print at www.lulu.com or as part of the Pandora’s Chaos trilogy at Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Day 6 – In Case Of Werewolf
Day 6 of #scrypthalloween looks at my short story spinoff IN CASE OF WEREWOLF. This was the third graphic novel that @dpipito and I coordinated with 10 artists, and it is now in text form as well. We had some very professional artists for the comic version, and the stories within were written as ones you’d tell around a campfire….
official description: Do your bones ache? Does your instinct sometimes prevail over rational thought? When night descends, do you feel “different”? If any of these are your symptoms, then you are not alone. You may have contracted lycanthropy, and when the moon rises, your inner beast will emerge. This short story is a spinoff of the novel “Bones At Breakfast” and is available at lulu.com in print or as part of the Eden’s Order Trilogy at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Trailer – The Lost Hour
My short story spinoff, THE LOST HOUR, now has the trailer treatment. You can buy the book in print at Lulu.com right now, or as part of my Continuum trilogy on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in 2018.
sCrypt Publishing 