Day 23: BONES AT BREAKFAST
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Chief Whispering Wolf – art by Dan Pipito
On the 3rd Day of Christmas…
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME, 3 WEREWOLVES…
2 vampires, and zombies in a story.
One of the hardest novels I had to write was BONES AT BREAKFAST. There’s only so much lore to lycans that leave little ground for creative freedom and uniqueness. Thankfully, I managed to pull it off once I got past the little obstacles. The novel and its spinoff IN CASE OF WEREWOLF are perfect gifts for the holidays and beyond. The picture at the left was done by Dan Pipito for the graphic novel version of the spinoff.
Order a copy 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 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.
Day 5 – Bones At Breakfast
Day 5 of #scrypthalloween takes a look at my novel BONES AT BREAKFAST. This book proved to be more of a challenge to write than the prior two because I felt limited by the subject. I thought it was difficult to make it feel grounded, but then decided that by explaining the origins of mythology and fairy tales I could make it work. It became my easiest book to write. @dpipito did this cover art (sans text) to keep with the theme of the trilogy…….
official description: Gordon Lightcap and his team are caught in an uneasy alliance. By working alongside Russian General, Alexander Putski, they hope to stop the forces that Cain left in his wake. Unbeknownst to them however, is the fact that Cain is still alive. In his new form, he is an even greater threat than before and one step closer to his goal. #werewolf #werewolves #novel #novels #eternalhungersaga #scryptpublishing #book
Day 9 – Werewolf Influences
While writing BONES AT BREAKFAST and its spinoff IN CASE OF WEREWOLF I was faced with some interesting obstacles. I feared being able to pull it off in a way that would be unique to the lore, but remain truthful as well. I revisited some stories from the past to see what they’d done, and made sure mine was something fresh and new. Some of those influences are listed here.
Stephen King’s Silver Bullet was a great book. It’s one of the first full novels I read at twelve years old, and it gave me nightmares for weeks. I still recall the feeling of dread I had during those long restless nights.
Sega Genesis was a 16 bit gaming system that broke ground with some revolutionary gaming. Its first game was called Altered Beast. In it you were a Greek like god that had the ability to “power up,” and when you did you’d become closer to gaining the were powers of a wolf, bear, dragon, and more. It’s still the coolest werewolf video game of which I know.
The Wolfman 2010 got scathed in the reviews it received, but for someone who is a huge fan of the original Lon Chaney Wolfman movies from the late 30s, it holds a special place in my heart. It was a decent update to an old classic, and to me is highly enjoyable.
While I am writing I like to have a sip of something full of flavor, but relaxing. Werewolf wine was good the first time I tried it, and I actually found this updated art bottle this week at the wine store. It’s semidry with a bold kick.
What are your favorite #werewolf things? Please share and hashtag #scrypthalloween.
Day 8 – In Case Of Werewolf
Have you posted something for #scrypthalloween yet? There are giveaways for those who do. Day 8 continues with the #werewolf theme. For it I’m announcing a revised release of IN CASE OF WEREWOLF. This spinoff from my Bones At Breakfast novel was originally done in graphic comic book form. Now it’s available in text form as a short story on Lulu.com in print, or on Amazon for Kindle in the Eden’s Order Trilogy download.
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.
Day 3: Ancient Tales influence BONES AT BREAKFAST
Cover art for “Bones At Breakfast” The novel. Concept and art by Dan Pipito
31 Days of Halloween continue with day #3. Here, I talk about the miscellaneous folk lore, fairy tales, mythology, and urban legends that proved to be wonderful material to expand my world of werewolves in my third novel.
1) Classic Fairy tales are entertaining for any boy or girl growing up. Being as they are some of the first stories we ever know as children, they tend to stick with us for a long time. There have been a million takes on them, but what if they really happened, just more reality based? For instance: maybe the 3 little pigs weren’t pigs. Maybe they were chauvenistic men who were womanizing slobs. That’s the approach I took on the classics: The 3 Little Pigs, Peter And The Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, & Beauty And The Beast.
2) Following that line of thinking, by the time I was in 6th grade (which at this point is almost legendary as well) I was fascinated with Greek Mythology. I remember watching Lou Ferrigno as Hercules and enjoying those horribly good cheesy movies and stories. I’m a firm believer that every myth is somewhat based in fact. Something made those stories and beliefs stir. In BAB, I made sure one of the stories follows a very human group of people who were intuitive for their day. These people (Herakles, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, & Cerberus) may have been so ahead of their time that people perceived them as gods.
3) Gypsies always freaked me out. I have this stereotypical vision of a withery old lady casting curses on someone. Since they are often tied in to werewolf lore, it made sense. But I also wanted it to be in a time that made more sense, so the Civil War era seemed a likely place to plot one of the story arcs.
4) Sasquatch aka Bigfoot, is one of those urban tales that could be believed even by the most skeptic of people. Why then have we never found definitive proof? Is it because the trail goes suddenly cold? Or could the creature actually be something else entirely? I decided with this to create an entirely new take on werewolves by reversing the thought process of the standard idea.
5) Native American Indians are known for many things. Spirit Animals are one of them. I knew I wanted to do a story in this setting, but wanted to respect the source material as well. Like I did with the fairy tale idea, I delved into endless hours of reading Native American tall tales. What did those people in the pre-United States days believe in? What stories were well known throughout their tribes? So, I found a few that really caught my eye, and amalgamated them into something unique.
6) The moon has obviously been the center of many werewolf stories, but for BAB I decided to focus a bit more on the phases of the celestial object, and the power of the moon as believed in ancient times, and even a bit in conspiracy theories today.
7) The story of the Garden of Eden is as well known today as it was thousands of years ago. Something with that much staying power must be of a higher power. Using Eden as a plot device and setting felt right. I mean after all, what ever did happen to the Garden after humanity was cast out? BAB takes that under its wings.
8) Like the second bullet point, I did the same with Norse mythology. Loki, Fenrir, Odin and more have a real human story that inspired the Nors to believe them as gods.
9) Although this was actually a real battle in the American Revolutionary War, there is little known about it. In itself, it is a very unique happening. The battle to which I refer is called the “Moonlight Battle,” and in BAB werewolves are involved in explaining that.
10) Yeti and the Abominable Snowman are distant cousins in a way to the story of Sasquatch. In the spinoff comic, we follow the diary of Admiral Richard Byrd, who in real life was an explorer in pursuit of the creature.
11) Taking the urban legends of Jack the Ripper and adding a few elements from literature, a new tale is incorporated into werewolf lore.
That’s all for this installment. Tomorrow will bring us more 31 Days of halloween with a new article. Stay tuned. BONES AT BREAKFAST and its graphic novel comic spinoff, IN CASE OF WEREWOLF, are available for purchase in multiple formats on the right side of this page.
Halloween Spotlight: Werewolves
By Rick Pipito
Werewolves are creatures even more deadly than vampires. I knew from book 1 that my third novel would entail Werewolves. I am in constant need of upping the stakes with what my characters face. Keeping with the theme, I wanted all aspects of lycanthropy lore to fit in somehow. I took this and expanded upon it to give more depth.
Dan again was a very effective cohort with the comic book spinoff, and of course the cover art for the novel. Like zombies and vampires, werewolves are told in various ways. Whether it be a full moon, having the ability to change at will or something entirely different, there are countless cases of these tales. “Bones At Breakfast” the novel, and its comic book spinoff “In Case Of Werewolf” gather these varying accounts and bring it into the world I’ve established. Check out the breakdown of our werewolves…
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1) Cursed by a Gypsy: These are people who have done something to anger a gypsy. Once the curse is upon them, they lose all humanity during a full moon. Unaware of their primal instincts, they go on a killing spree, feasting on the bones of their victims. Once they awake in human form, covered in blood and viscera, they are horrified at their state, but have no recollection of what happened.
2) Legendary Creatures: Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch, the Abominable snowman… these have all been names given to a unique and rare race of beings. Born as a wolf, their DNA alters throughout the years to become more human like. As an infant they are 100% wolf, but by the time they reach an elderly age, they are bipedal and appear as a crossbreed between human and lupine. They are extremely fast, which makes catching a glimpse of them very difficult.
3) Effect of the Moon: Very few people were born during a rare blue moon phenomenon. Those who survived grew into their teenage years as normal humans. Even in their youth they discovered that they had instincts and athletic ability beyond others their age. It is in their teenage years that they begin to experience something new. Each phase of the moon has a different effect on their DNA. A full moon changes them into a werewolf void of all reasoning, and blue moons, harvest moons, and other phases of lunar presence have different effects. One man even dared to make his way through school and by excelling as an astronaut, he was able to make it to the moon’s surface. Ever wonder what happens to a werewolf on the moon itself?
4) Mythological influence: Greeks and the Norse speak of two creatures. Cerberus and Fenrir stray from what is known to common man. In fact, they are abominations. Human male dna impregnating a female wolf created these wolf men. They are deadly and intelligent having the appearance of both parental traits as well as the instinct of an animal and thought/speech of a human. To anger them would be unwise.
5) Stories and Folklore: You may have heard of the fairy tales: The 3 Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter and The Wolf, The Strange Cast of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, and Sleeping Beauty, but they were more than just tales. They were true stories that happened quite differently than you’ve ever heard, and the werewolf is the center of them all.
6) Spirit Guide: Many native American Indians had the ability to channel a spirit guide. Those gifted with that of a wolf were able to summon all of a wolf’s abilities for their own use.
7) Changing at will: Some werewolves, bitten by the Experimental werewolf, can change form at will. They have a craving to feed on bone marrow that can sometimes take away their rationality.
8) Superior Werewolves: By experimenting on a vampire with various animal traits, the vampire takes in this super soldier purposed serum and is permanently changed into an Experimental werewolf. His height changes, he becomes androgenous, and exhibits many other enhanced abilities while fully comprehending his actions. His bite will turn any survivor into a werewolf. When a vampire drinks from this experimantal’s blood, they will exhibit a change. For example: a female vampire drinking the experimental’s blood will become a lycan queen. With six to eight breasts and a hideous look, this queen can telepathically communicate with anyone she changes into her minions.
9) Wargs: These are the Lycan queen’s minions. They were once human who are now oversized wolves. They obey her every command and can communicate telepathically with anyone in their army.
10) Historically: Werewolves have not just influenced tall tales. They have been prominent parts of our history on this planet. Charles Howard Bury chased them, The Garden of Eden was located by them, The Moonlight Battle during the Revolutionary war was won by them, and these are only some of the instances.
11) Latin Gang: Manada de Lobos is a Latino gang of murderers that killed those who disagreed with them in horrendous ways. The bodies of the victims were mutilated in such a way as to mimic that of a lupine attack. Each member of this gang bears at least one tattoo of a wolf, and they stay close to each other like a pack.
12) Silver: It is true that all werewolves can be killed by silver, however there are some types that can be killed my normal means as well.
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Now you have an insight into what my werewolves are all about. The books reveal much more. Dan and I kept with our tradition, and celebrated a bottle of wine upon release of our third comic. This time we chose one that captured not just our werewolf, but the fairy tale aspect as well (you know, since werewolves are such an influence on them). Here are our favorites…
Rick’s best pick for werewolf video game is Van Helsing. His movie pick is the classic Lon Cheney WolfMan. Lucian from the Underworld films is his favorite werewolf. When it comes to books, Stephen King’s Silver bullet is his first choice.
Dan’s best pick for werewolf video game is Altered Beast. His movie pick is Teen Wolf with Michael J Fox. Beast from the X-Men is Dan’s pick for best werewolf. For books, Dan enjoys Zenescope Comics’ The Hunger.
What are your favorites? Are you a werewolf fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Bones At Breakfast” 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 “Bones At Breakfast: In Case Of Werewolf” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our bone cracking madness.
“Bones At Breakfast” and its spinoff are (C) 2012 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our ghostly spotlight…
Werewolf Story Breakdown
I previously released plot summaries on this blog for my zombie and vampire stories, so now here come the lycans. How does one become a werewolf? Does a werewolf have control over their actions? The list of questions goes on and on. Werewolf lore has been quite different over the years, and with my third novel and third sCrypt comics comic book, I’ve included these differing accounts, plus my own. As the plot continues, this time, our characters are confronted with a werewolf threat.
The following are each of the short stories in my novel “Bones At Breakfast,” plus the spinoff graphic novel, “Bones At Breakfast: In Case Of Werewolf.” Both of these can be purchased at the links on my sidebar. Find out how all of them tie together into one plot, by grabbing your copy today! Stay tuned for my ghost story breakdown as well.
Bones At Breakfast: (The novel) Gordon Lightcap and his team are caught in an uneasy alliance. By working alongside Russian General, Alexander Putski, they hope to stop the forces that Cain left in his wake. Unbeknownst to them however, is the fact that Cain is still alive. In his new form, he is an even greater threat than before, and one step closer to his goal.
Bones At Breakast: In Case Of Werewolf: (Graphic novel spinoff) 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.
Fairy Tale Wolf: Discover the real story that inspired such fairy tales as “The Three Little Pigs,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “Peter and The Wolf.” Join Alison Ridings as she tries to solve a series of grisly murders that puts her family on the wanted list. (Bones At Breakfast)
Man, Monsters & Myths: Long before the Greeks believed in their mythological lore, the gods whom they worshiped were actually humans. Herakles must journey to a dark land to gain his father, Zeus’ honor. The dark land is owned by his brother, Hades, and his three half human and half wolf sons. His sons are known as Cerberus one, two and three. (Bones At Breakfast)
Vicious Cycles: When a teenager checks in to a mental institution the staff believes his is truly mentally unstable. Each phase of the moon has a different effect on the teen, but when he encounters a rare phase phenomenon, he becomes the most powerful werewolf yet. (Bones At Breakfast)
Manada De Lobos: This is a newspaper clipping like story that tells about a Latin gang. This gang is amazed at how wolves are great survivors, and mimic many of those animalistic instincts. (Bones At Breakfast)
Curse Of The Gypsy: In April of 1719 A.D., Jonas Ford and his neighbor confront a band of gypsies for stealing from them. One of the gypsies places a curse on Jonas, who now becomes a werewolf under the light of a full moon. Once he finally realizes the horrible acts of murder he has done during his lycan state, Jonas begins to worry. (Bones At Breakfast)
Role Reversal: The year is 1958, and there have been many sightings of what people call a Sasquatch. What they assume this creature is, and what it actually is are two different things. This is a documentary style story that tells the tale of a wolf who grows to become more manlike with each year of his life. (Bones At Breakfast)
Foresight: In an alternate future, Madame Callisto has taken on the role of lycan queen. After absorbing her former master, Cain’s traits, she controls her lycan army to become the dominant species on the planet. These lycans are large, warg like wolves. The humans aren’t as easy to defeat as she thinks. As Chastity Smith brings Gordon Lightcap out of his sorrows, they team with a rebellion of wolf men and humans to stop the lycan army. (Bones At Breakfast)
Trail To Guidance: Chief Whispering Wolf guides his grandson with a tale of how he discovered his inner spirit guide. Throughout history, their Native American Indian lineage has been tied with wolf spirits, that grant them special abilities. (Bones At Breakfast)
The Hunt Ensues: Picking up after the events of the “Confrontation” story, the Military Underground Tactical Specialists are on the hunt. Their targets are two Russian soldiers who are now werewolves. To help them on their mission is their newest recruit, code named Chameleon, but will the civilians that stand in their way prove to be more of a threat than the werewolves themselves? (Bones At Breakfast)
Eden: Gordon Lightcap, Johnny Chong, and Chastity smith face off in one final battle against Madame Callisto. Time is against them as the frigid arctic air surrounds them. Meanwhile, Moira Donatelli confronts her former lover, Cain. Can she convince him to stop his mad scheme or will he detonate a nuclear weapon that will forever change the face of the planet by revealing the long lost Garden of Eden? (Bones At Breakfast)
Annabelle And The Prince: The fairy tale “Beauty And The Beast” had its flaws. Here is the real story of how it all went down. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
Son OF A Bitch: Loki, jealous of his brothers’ reputations with their father, creates an arcane son. His son has the DNA of a human and a wolf. His name is Fenrir, and his appetite is ever growing. This is where Norse Mythology grew its roots. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
Lunar Loon: The teenager from the “Vicious Cycles” case is now a middle aged man. He has studied all of his life and become one of NASA’s top astronauts. Finally, trying to discover why the moon has so much influence over his werewolf form, he travels there. Did you ever wonder what would happen to a werewolf if it were on the moon itself? Then you don’t want to miss this. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
Salty Dog: A member of a Latin gang has been released on parole, but he uses the opportunity to escape his watchers. Stealing a plane and then crash landing on an island, he must use his knowledge of how a wolf would survive, and apply it to himself. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
War Wolf: During the American Revolutionary War, there was a battle called the “Moonlight Battle.” That was the night that an elderly Jonas Ford, from the “Curse Of The Gypsy” case, turned the tides of the battle at sea. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
Abominable: This is the long lost journal of Charles Howard Bury and his search for the Yeti. What he finds may not be what the legends describe. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
What If?: In the alternate future where a lycan Queen rules the land, the leader of the human resistance confronts her for one violent final showdown. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
Path Of Guidance: A Native American boy has learned to utilize his inner spirit guide, the wolf. He uses his enhanced abilities to chase the trespassers who would threaten the wildlife of his land. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
Marrow Minded: One of the Russian soldiers being hunted in “The Hunt Ensues” case, acts as a predator in the subway beneath Moscow. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
The Hand Of Eden: When the Garden of Eden is discovered, its healing touch cures all disease on the planet, including that of lycanthropy. (BAB: In Case Of Werewolf)
The Doctor Who Hides: All his life Nigel Beckham has had dreams. In these dreams, he is his brother George, who died at birth. By use of various medicines, he induces a long sleep to see if he can discover this alter ego of his. Unfortunately for him, his alter ego becomes more prominent, and this darker half dominates his nightmares. This is the story that loosely inspired “The Strange Case Of Doctor Jekyll And Mister Hyde”. (Flesh And Leftovers: Eden’s Order Trilogy)
sCrypt Publishing 