Day 24: EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY
Day 24 of #scrypthalloween is here and since it’s my #birthday I’m doing a #free #book #giveaway. First come first serve and if interested in the digital download then inbox me. Here’s the EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY. Some facts: 1) the #collection was originally published in print and digital on May 9, 2013 and can be found at lulu.com as well as on amazon and Barnes and Noble sites. 2) the #compilation includes the novels: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, and BONES AT BREAKFAST, as well as the short stories in ZOMBIE INCIDENTS, LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE, and IN CASE OF WEREWOLF. #zombie #vampire #werewolf 3) the cover #art by @dpipito of @pintsizedpages has a tree representing the Tree of Knowledge, but with the bark being flesh, the branches bone, and the tips blood, which represents each of the novels within. 4) this was originally called “Flesh and Leftovers: Eden’s Order Trilogy” but after the series continued and became known as the ETERNAL HUNGER SAGA, I decided to drop the former title to just reflect the trilogy itself. 5) bonus content in the book includes a comprehensive timeline of all the events within. The plan was to continue with this but as history became a larger factor as the series went on it became nearly impossible to continue, especially since the end of the series brings in time travel and alternate realities aside from our own. #authorsofinstagram #reading #novels
Day 15: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS
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Day 15 of #scrypthalloween goes way back to my first #novel FLESH AND LEFTOVERS. Here are some facts: 1) it became published on August 9, 2010. 2) I initially started it as a response to conversations I had with others about what we’d do in a #zombie outbreak. I had no idea it would spawn a #writing career out of it. 3) I unfortunately did not have an editor for it, so there were a few mistakes during the print, but it was all part of the learning experience. 4) halfway through the #book I realized I was having a lot of fun and decided I wanted it to begin a series with each entry focusing on a different threat. It soon went from zombies to everything else. 5) I had a few emails from readers who claimed I’d given them nightmares and in one instance threw up from a graphic scene. 6) @dpipito created the cover art with teeth tearing into raw meat. It was a subtle way to portray the topic and remains a favorite to this day. What are your favorite zombie stories? #authorsofinstagram #horror
Day 21 – Eden’s Order Trilogy
Day 21 of #scrypthalloween shows the cover of my EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY sans text. @dpipito did the art which depicts a tree that represents the tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, but has hints of skin, blood, and bones to signify each novel within. This collection consists of the novels: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, and BONES AT BREAKFAST. It also contains the spinoff short stories: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS, LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE, and IN CASE OF WEREWOLF, as well as a timeline of events.
It is available in print at lulu.com and Barnes and Noble sites, as well as in digital at Amazon…
Official description: In FLESH AND LEFTOVERS Gordon Lightcap and Moira Donatelli recruit survivors of #zombie incidents in preparation for something much more sinister.
BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING takes the two on separate paths. Gordon seeks answers, assisted by an old flame. As they scour the globe in search of #vampire legends, Moira has aligned herself with Cain, but her goals are in question. BONES AT BREAKFAST places Gordon and Moira reluctantly working for the Russian military. Cases of #werewolf activity become obstacles in stopping Cain from finding the Garden of Eden.
Day 2 – Zombie Incidents
Day 3 – Zombie influences
Back in 2009 while I was working on my first novel, I had some great zombie influences. I always try to take in multiple media for entertainment. George A Romero’s “Of The Dead” movie series have always been a guilty pleasure. The “Resident Evil” video game series and “Zombie Zin” wine still make it into my house to this day. And Joe McKinney’s “Dead City” was the first zombie novel I read that really made me like the genre.
Runners up were “Marvel Zombies” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.
What are some of your favorite Zombie stories or influenced things? Make sure to tag #scrypthalloween.
Day 2 – Zombie Incidents
Part 2 of the Zombie theme in a month of #scrypthalloween is my spinoff short ZOMBIE INCIDENTS. After the success of FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, I wrote ten short stories for the graphic novel spinoff. Now for the first time the stories are available in a text quick read release version only at http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/zombie-incidents-a-flesh-and-leftovers-accessory/paperback/product-22861751.html
Make sure to post your #scrypthalloween favorite picks for a chance to win any number of giveaways this month.
Day 1 – Flesh and Leftovers
Day 1 of #scrypthalloween is zombies, so my first post will be my first novel. FLESH AND LEFTOVERS brought together multiple types of undead lore into what became the beginning of a long journey for Gordon Lightcap.
In the novel, Lightcap and Moira Donatelli recruit survivors of various zombie incidents in order to assemble a team to take on a bigger threat than just the walking dead.
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS is available at Amazon in digital form, in print at Lulu.com, and on Audible in audiobook form.
Make sure to take part in my 31 days of #scrypthalloween. The best posts from each day will win giveaways. Check the previous post for full details, and the chart below for what to post on each day. It can be anything from topic related books, movies, beer, food, the sky is the limit. Tag me in your posts on social media @rickpipito.
- art for cover depicted is by Dan Pipito
Think, Sip, Write – Ep 10: Zombies
Zombies were the topic of my first novel, so it’s only fitting that I talk about them in culture, their origins, and some fun facts. I even give a few tips of my own just in case you find yourself amidst a breakout.
“Flesh And Leftovers” the novel is available for kindle on Amazon, and in print on lulu. I’ve come a long way since writing it, but it is a fan favorite. Check it out if you get a chance. In the meantime, here’s episode 10 of #thinksipwrite.
Eden’s Order Trilogy trailer
Zombies, Vampires, & Werewolves are the three threats in the Eden’s Order Trilogy. Here’s a trailer I did for the collection, which is available on Lulu and Amazon.
The Trilogy contains the novels: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, BONES AT BREAKFAST… plus the graphic novel stories from: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS, LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE, and IN CASE OF WEREWOLF.
There’s also bonus content including 3 extra short stories in the same universe & a timeline.
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS audiobook available!
After months of work it has all paid off. My zombie novel, FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, is available in audiobook format. The audio conversion features some bonus content and is perfect for those of you whose schedules would prefer the listening format.
Produced by sCrypt, it features the following voice talents: Rick Pipito (narrator), Sarah Ashley, Rebecca Burns, Robin Austin, Jillian Gallagher, David McGuire, Kelly O’Donoghue, Bryan Moriarty, Antonio Pipito, Charlene Pipito, Richard Pipito Sr, Dan Pipito, Roberta Pipito, Lana Pipito, & Tara Scott
It features 13 tracks and just under 7 hours of flesh devouring madness.
While the print is still available on Lulu.com and the kindle on Amazon, the audiobook is available in multiple markets. Check ITUNES, AUDIBLE and AMAZON for your copy now. This is where the journey all began, and it continues to become a fan favorite saga.
12 Days of Christmas Giveaways
To celebrate this time of Holiday giving, I’m doing a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. Each day from the 14th through the 24th I will be selecting one winner to receive a free digital copy of one of my books. On Christmas day, I will select one winner to receive a free autographed print copy of one of my books.
Its very simple to enter. First, select the title that most interests you (If you are chosen as a winner, this is the book you will receive). Once you select the title, you will use the hashtag mentioned next to it in your post.
Select from here:
#zombies – FLESH AND LEFTOVERS
#vampires – BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING
#werewolves – BONES AT BREAKFAST
#ghosts – SOULS 4 SUPPER
#demons – DEVIL’S DESSERT
#technology – TECHNO FEAST
#arguments – NO, IT’S NOT. YES, IT IS: ARGUMENTS
#childrensbooks – A LITTLE GIRL IN: THE LAND OF THE HICCUPS
You can enter as many times as you wish, as the drawing is at random, so the more you tweet, fb, etc…. the more chances you have. Then make your status update and tag me in it. (Please also inbox me and let me know, so I can make sure you are included in the drawing.)
Here is a sample of what to say (let’s say I chose Souls 4 Supper as my book):
“#12daysofchristmas Book giveaway by @rickpipito #ghosts.”
Please share this info with as many people as you can, and don’t hesitate in entering. If you have any questions feel free to ask. You can keep entering from now through the 25th of December 2014, so good luck.
Wishing a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!
Day 26: What’s the Deal with the Stick Figures
Back when we were working on the first sCrypt Comics spinoff, my brother and I had been having discussions about how everyone had those window sticker stick families on their cars. It was overkill and I made the comment of “you think they’d do something different.”
A week later, Dan had made sure to have some stickers of his own printed up. The zombie stick family began, and we threw it in the concept art pages as a joke. Now with each installment, we add to the theme another family. I did the ghost one, but still it was fun.
If you’d like your own window sticker, or other merchandise check out our online store at http://www.cafepress.com/scrypt
Day 9: The Story Behind the Art
While the stories to the books written by Rick Pipito are the main content, a good cover to the book is what catches the eye. Let’s take a few moments to talk about the ideas behind each cover and the art that Dan Pipito brought to life.
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS has a cover that come into mind over the phone. I pitched my idea for the first book to Dan and he immediately said, “Zombies? Okay, I’ve got it. The cover is a set of teeth tearing into a raw hunk of meat.” He felt that it matched the title of horror and food amalgamation.
For the spinoff comic ZOMBIE INCIDENTS, the concept was mine. I had access to various fake body parts that looked and felt real. In my mind I thought, “What would Hannibal Lecter keep in his fridge?” We set up my spare refrigerator with a bowl of bloody leftovers, through in the fake body parts and snapped a picture. Then Dan put the whole thing through a celophane like filter to give it that artistic touch (after all, leftovers ARE often found wrapped in plastic).
BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING’s vampire theme is evident in the cover. Dan incorporated a lot of the story elements from the book. The city bathed in blood is symbolic, while the shadowy outline of the antagonist’s face is seen behind the large fangs. A pivotal scene from the book is also shown with a reconstructed body rising from the fountain of youth. It’s a very busy (in a great way) cover that keeps with the theme of the teeth from F&L.
LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE, the BTSH spinoff comic, was another of my ideas. Wanting to keep the real photograph idea of the first comic, this time we had a friend pose for us holding a glass of wine. The closeup shot of her neck with the wine (which is good for your blood of course) was put through an antique filter to give it an oil painting appearance. Dan added the fang marks and highlighted veins to be more pronounced to give it the “I’ve just been bitten by a vampire” paleness.
BONES AT BREAKFAST is the last in the first trilogy, so it made sense to close it out with a similar theme of teeth. This time Dan had the full snout of a wolf prominent in the foreground. You can notice that the jaw is not as pronounced as a normal wolf, giving it that human likeness of a werewolf in front of a very full moon.
The comic spinoff, IN CASE OF WEREWOLF, was another photograph idea. I gave Dan the concept and he took some bones from a medical office skeleton, threw them on a plate with some prop hair, and added a cup of coffee and orange juice to symbolize the bones at breakfast aspect. Again, he passed the photo through a filter before adding text and finalizing the cover.
THE EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY cover is a simple tree. This is no ordinary tree. Upon second glance, you can see that the bark of the tree is stretched skin like in texture, the branches are in fact shaped like bones, and the red tips where the buds would be is blood. This is to show not just the tree of life from the Garden of Eden (a place we visit in the novels), but also to represent the flesh, blood, and bones from the titles of the included books.
SOULS 4 SUPPER marks the start of a new themed trilogy. Dan went simpler this time. I told him about what my version of Pandora’s Box would look like and that is what we decided for the cover. He added intricate gear and piston layouts, and I told him I wanted souls to be wisping from the top of it like they were escaping. His decision for the textured background and very little color is perfect for focusing on the object depicted.
The comic spinoff, GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS, came as an easier venture. Dan worked in a kitchen at the time, so when I said I had this idea to have ghosts escaping from a pot of stew, he grabbed the biggest deepest pot he could and took a picture of the steaming contents. Then he added ghostly faces into the stew and steam. The even better part of this is that the faces are actually warped and altered photos of famous people and pieces of art. They are altered to the point beyond recognition, but if you look closely, you may just see something you recognize.
DEVIL’S DESSERT has an intriguing cover. The Crown of Thorns, the Spear of Destiny, and the Sword of Eden are all artifacts crucial to the book’s storyline. Those are the items represented in the two tone cover, with a little bit of orangy-yellow fire coming from the blade.
TECHNO FEAST’s cover was another mutual idea. The main threat of this book operates from a satellite. This satellite depicted isn’t necessarily THE antagonist, but it makes sense once you read the novel. Outerspace in the background with the purplish gasses displayed among the deep blue make it a contrast that is eye captivating.
PANDORA’S CHAOS TRILOGY is another combination idea. The Statue is a way of representing the ancient history involved in the story (think roman architecture). It’s one arm has a broken limb. You can see feathers of what is an angel wing, while a dragonfly like demon wing droops to the other side. It’s face is very mechanical looking, while his heart is Pandora’s Box yet again, but with ghostly energy emanating from it. Souls, Demons and angels, & technology (the focus of these 3 books) are represented evenly.
NO, IT’S NOT. YES, IT IS: ARGUMENTS is the only book by me (Rick Pipito) that does not have a cover done by Dan. The idea here was to represent the turmoil of arguing that the non-fiction book’s topic is about. I had wanted to represent the two sides to one’s own psyche. There is a wavering of opinions that often are quite contrasting without facts. So, I had my wife take a picture of me facing one way with my glasses on and a different hairstyle. Then I removed my glasses, and took another shot of me with some facial scruff. By putting the two of them together and filtering them to look like a blueprint of arguments, it seems as if my two selves are in a dispute with each other. It not only symbolizes some of the times that I’ve struggled to decide what is right or wrong, but also gave me the experience of making my own cover for what will eventually be a trilogy of non-fiction.
In addition to these amazing covers, there is also the few pieces of internal art that work with the stories when they are needed, and then there is of course the comic books which have multiple artists representing the plots. All of the above book covers can be seen in closer view through the novels and comics sections of this site. They are also available through purchase links on the right side of this page.
Be sure to follow Dan on Instagram and twitter @dpipito, as well as myself @rickpipito. Like our facebook page for all the published works http://www.facebook.com/fleshandleftovers.
Day 4: Eden’s Order
Cover Art for “F&L: Eden’s Order Trilogy” the novel. Concept and art by Dan Pipito
31 Days of Halloween: Day 4 is here and we bring the best of all three previous days together.
THE EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY contains FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, & the BONES AT BREAKFAST novels. Like a boxed set, I wanted to include some extras, so also within are the novelized versions (without pictures) of the comic book spinoffs: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS, LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE, & IN CASE OF WEREWOLF.
So why is it called that name? Well without giving too much away, the Garden of Eden becomes the central focus of what this trilogy is building to. The antagonist, Cain, believes that finding this lost place will bring his type of order to the planet, while the protagonists feel that the unknown is too risky.
The Garden of Eden was supposed to have been a place of pure nirvana. We didn’t have to work for our food, and life was eternal. Our mistake banned us from there, but what happened to Eden? It had to be somewhere on earth right? And if we found it again, then would the peace and order become ours again?
A problem that is often found with the “truth” is that often the facts lead to more questions, so regardless of what happens as a result of such an action, there would be more that comes with it. Zombies, vampires and werewolves are the focus of the first three novels, but the underlying plot as a whole all boils down to this place. It puts in question everything we know and think we know. Getting people to think of the “what ifs” regardless of their beliefs or lack thereof, was my goal.
Open your mind with THE EDEN’S ORDER TRILOGY, available through links on the right of this page. *Note: on Amazon, the kindle version ONLY contains the extras that you wouldn’t get from buying the novels separately. I did this for those fans who had already purchased the books but wanted the whole saga without rebuying them.
Day 1: 12 Facts about FLESH AND LEFTOVERS
Cover art for “Flesh And Leftovers” The novel – Art by Dan Pipito
To start off my 31 days of Halloween, I figured I should begin with 12 facts about my first novel, FLESH AND LEFTOVERS.
1) FLESH AND LEFTOVERS is my one and only zombie novel. It is the only book I’ve written where I didn’t have an editor, but the fan feedback was amazing! People demanded more, and since I didn’t want to write any more full length books about zombies, it made me work with Dan Pipito to create sCrypt Comics for spinoff graphic novel stories.
2) The idea to write a zombie book came when the topic of “What would you do if there was an outbreak” scenarios would come up in many a work place conversation. The problem with these scenarios is that everyone had ideas of what a zombie was “supposed” to be like, based on the varying differences in books, movies, etc. So, I wanted to create a book where they could all be in the same story, but have legitimate reasons for them tying together.
3) Causes for zombies: Mutated strain of rabies virus that affects human and animal life, Viral outbreak, Demonic summoning and control, Radioactive meteor, Cannibals worshiping their “god”, Childhood vaccinations, alien parasite, sixth generation offspring of vampires, drug induced hallucinations, and voodoo (macumba).
4) The first chapter in F&L takes place in Jim Thorpe, PA. It is an annual tradition to visit my Uncle and Aunt’s bed and breakfast during Christmas time there. It was during the winter of 2008 that I knew I wanted to base part of my first published novel in that town. The peacefulness and solitude there brings a wide range of emotions that make a perfect setting.
5) Religion and history have always fascinated me, so when I decided to make Cain (from the Cain and Abel story) an antagonist for future books, his origin of what he becomes had to be researched. I found that despite the different beliefs, the Cain and Abel story remains almost completely the same throughout all religions.
6) It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I decided this could work as a series. My goal was to make it flow but to make each book stand on its own as well, and focus on something unique for each plot. (zombies being F&L).
7) My fascination with zombie lore can be blamed on the George A Romero “of the Dead” movies, and the Resident Evil Series of video games.
8) The characters I’ve created are not based on individual people, but rather personalities of people I’ve met. The only exceptions to this rule are Gordon Lightcap and Moira Donatelli. Gordon was based on my own experiences and the overall person I am, and Moira was created as an amalgamation of what I saw as my “perfect woman.”
Cover for the graphic novel (comic) spinoff, ZOMBIE INCIDENTS
9) Although cannibals are not zombies, I felt the need to place them into the story. How would a “normal” unifected human devour another person? Why would they do it? And What would they do with the parts of the corpse left over? All these questions are addressed in the book.
10) It took me over a year to write F&L because I began to flesh out (pun intended) the sequels that would follow it. I had to make sure my origin story for the characters was in place, and where I wanted to go with it. By the time I was finished writing FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, I had six books planned out in the series (each a stand alone installment).
11) Each “chapter” is called an “Incident.” This was done because I wanted people to be able to pick up the book and either read it straight through or just choose one story at a time. The overall plot can’t be followed by just one incident, but I wanted that option for the reader as they stand can work on their own.
12) When I approached Dan to to do the cover art, he instantly came up with the idea of teeth tearing into raw meat. It is still one of my favorite book covers for my novels to date.
There is my post for today. I welcome any questions or comments you may have. Stay tuned tommorrow for another installment in my 31 days of Halloween. FLESH AND LEFTOVERS as well as its graphic comic spinoff ZOMBIE INCIDENTS are available through links on the right side of this page. It will also be available in audiobook format soon.
Halloween Spotlight: Zombies
By Rick Pipito
My fascination with zombies began a while back. They are what made me decide to broaden my writing from just music to fiction. In early 2010 I began writing my first novel, and that was the beginning of the sCrypt world. Soon, fans began talking about my zombie stories, and they wanted more. I, being part egotist, didn’t want just that. As I moved onto the next topic for my novels, my brother, Dan, and I began writing and organizing our comic books.
Our horror world had been given birth. So what makes our zombies so special? Here’s a little insight into the Pipito mind. “Flesh And Leftovers” the novel, as well as it’s comic book spinoff “Zombie Incidents” takes a look at how the undead can coexist through all sorts of lore. Each incident describes a different cause/effect on humans.
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1) A mutated strain of rabies: Animals are just as susceptible as humans to the rabies virus. A new strain that causes a very violent transformation within the brain, causes those infected to be extremely aggressive. Biting, thrashing, and yes even running human and animals have lost all reasoning, and have one purpose… to spread the rabies further, and quell their foaming mouths. Blunt trauma to the head is the best way to stop them, as their bodies do not feel the pain that a normal person would. The adrenaline coursing through them acts as a narcotic of sorts making them extremely dangerous.
2) Viral (from the infected’s eyes): Imagine having a sexual encounter and catching something; only the thing you catch is a virus that turns you into a flesh craving walker. As the brain begins to lose primary function, the human thought process remains. They can do little more than shuffle slowly after their prey. From the moment one becomes infected, their view on the world begins to change. All they desire is food. Even decapitation of these zombies does not fully kill them. They must have their brains destroyed.
3) Uber Dead: The demons of revelation possess four hosts. These possessed become much larger and stronger than any human. They think clearly about their purpose to end humanity, and can raise minions from graveyards or any other resting place. Although the minions are extremely weak, the demons themselves can mend body damage. For example… if an Uber dead were to lose a jaw, it could literally rip a healthy jaw from a living host and replace theirs like a twisted jigsaw.
4) Radioactive “Freaks”: A radioactive meteor decades ago infected one man’s blood. When he dies of a heart attack, the green blood within him reanimates his corpse. His rampage takes place in a special needs hospital, where the deformed patients become an even ghastlier site than he. These are your standard shuffling zombies, enhanced or hindered by their deformities.
5) Cannibals: A tribe deep within the Himalayan Mountains worships their god Rakshasa. None of them know who or what Rakshasa is, but they do his bidding. Kidnapping wanderers or villagers nearby, they offer their sacrifice to their god. Unable to see his face, they are then returned the corpse. The victim’s blood has been drained, and the villagers use the body as food and more. Their dissection and fileting tactics would make even Hannibal Lecter cringe. These are not the dead. They are humans with a different culture than what we see as standard.
6) Generation Z: Vaccines have been used for years, but every few years these shots that are designed to prevent sickness must be administered to children. The combination of the various strains in them has changed those under the age of thirteen into the walking dead. These dead devour living flesh. The virus is transmitted however differently among adults. A bitten adult will die within hours and never reanimate, while other youthful victims of a bite or fluid transmission, will become shufflers as well.
7) Drug induced: Although not a zombie, the victim of this drug hallucinates severely. They believe the extreme as if zombies are conspiring against them. All touch with reality will fade on a bad trip, and until the effects wear off, any person high on this drug will go as far to murder the healthy people around them, that they perceive as zombie threats. Once the effects are gone, the drug abuser’s brain liquefies within hours bringing death.
8) Voodoo (Macumba): When a black magic powder is used on unexpecting victims, they become zombi. While they remain alive, their comatose state makes them highly susceptible to suggestion.
9) Parasite: A tetrabite is a creature that originated from Martian soil. When it is freed from status, it quickly leaps onto its victim. After burying its tail into a human brain stem, it feeds off its host. Once attached, the host strives to reproduce more tetrabite parasites. The only way they can do this is through human saliva. The host’s bite becomes deadly and within hours, the next victim joins the parasite ranks.
10) The original zombies: Vampires warred with humans long ago. As the vampires turned new victims, and their offspring turned more, they began to change. By the sixth generation, vampires had become extremely different from their predecessors. These creatures no longer desired blood. They no longer thought freely. They no longer moved fluidly. Instead, the craved flesh, and moved slow with only the impulse to continue feeding on flesh (human or vampire).
11) Frankenzombie: Various body parts of dead men, stitched together to form one grotesque creature, and attached to a battery are brought back to life. But the already long dead parts have a mind of their own. The dead jigsaw man sees only death as it reaches to murder those nearby.
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So there you have it folks. Those are the zombies in our universe. I have consulted Dan with his ideas to perfect the stories to his liking. When discussing the spinoff comic, they enjoyed an appropriate wine, pictured above. What makes us love zombies? Well, here are some of our favorite zombie related things…
Rick’s favorite zombie book is the Deadworld series by Joe McKinney. Always at the top of his zombie movie list (despite the low points) is the entire George A Romero Of The Dead series. His love for the genre began and continues with his favorite video game series Resident Evil. Solomon Grundy is his fan favorite pick for zombie of the year.
Dan’s favorite zombie book is World War Z by Max Brooks. At the top of his zombie movie list is 28 Days Later. His favorite video game in he series is Dead Island. Tar-man is his zombie of the year pick.
What are your favorites? Are you a zombie fan? Of course you are; so go grab yourself a copy of “Flesh and Leftovers” 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 “Flesh and Leftovers: Zombie Incidents” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our flesh eating madness.
“Flesh and Leftovers” and its spinoff are (C) 2010 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our vampire breakdown…
New Episode on zombies!
I won’t be plugging my podcast too often on here unless it has to do with something related to this site. In this case it does. Episode 3 is up now for your listening pleasure, and in it we discuss zombies. From their evolution, to the types, we attempt to cover it all. We also briefly chat about “Flesh And Leftovers” and my introduction of the undead to the sCrypt universe. Tune in now, and join the discussion with your comments.
http://thinkaboutthis.podbean.com/2013/02/20/episode-3-zombies/
Zombie story breakdown
What are zombies? Well, there are many takes on the true definition of a zombie, but one thing that they all versions have in common is that only severe trauma to the brain stem will truly stop those undead flesh eaters. Whether they shuffle, run or do something else, one thing is certain… they are a part of horror culture.
When I wrote my first novel in 2010, I didn’t realize how far it would take me. Now we are 4 novels in, 3 graphic novels in, and many more of both to come. So, what are the zombies like in my novels? I tried to appease to every zombie fan out there. I figured that there had to be some common ground among them all. So in a sense, they all exist in the universe we have created in my novels and the comics.
If you didn’t know, the whole “Flesh and Leftovers” series touches on many things. Zombies are our focus in only two of our works: “Flesh and Leftovers” the novel, and its spinoff “Zombie Incidents.” Both of these are available through links on our sidebar on the right. The novels are available in paperback and for the kindle, while the comics are available in print and soon in digital.
My goal was to write a series of short stories in each novel, that all tie together into a greater plot. Here is a brief plot description for each chapter in the books and graphic novels that focus on zombies. I will also release descriptions of the other creatures and phenomenon that my series focuses upon. If you find one that interests you, then check it out. I love feedback and suggestions if you feel I didn’t touch upon something.
The Eden’s Order Trilogy has all of these stories plus a bonus one, and you will notice some reoccuring characters. I’ll first describe the overall plot to the novel and graphic novel, then touch on the chapter content. Next to each story description, I will note where you can find that particular one. All stories are (C) 2010 and 2012, by Rick Pipito. Without further blabbering on, here are the zombie stories (listed as incidents) created by Rick Pipito:
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS (THE NOVEL): Gordon Lightcap and his partner, Moira Donatelli, have created an organization to rid the world of a rising threat, but to better understand that threat they must look back into the horrific events leading up to their current predicament. Join them as they search for the answers through ten short stories of flesh devouring madness. Learn about the very first incident and others to discover an even more dangerous foe who is ready to surface.
F&L: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS (comic book spinoff): It’s dark. You can feel the presence of something reeking of death. Then there are more of them. You look around and find that you are surrounded by zombies that want to devour you. This is the world of Flesh and Leftovers, where tales of zombie incidents will make your skin crawl. Ten short stories are illustrated by nine amazing artists in this graphic spinoff of “Flesh And Leftovers” the novel.
Guns And Veggies: When a mutated strain of the rabies virus turns the town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania into a nightmare, two friends must put their differences aside to survive. Conservative, Johnny Chong, and his liberal best friend make a mad dash to escape the town as human and animal zombies run amok. (Flesh and Leftovers)
Talking Heads, But Not The Band: Shane Munroe is your average bachelor who loves a great time, but when he contracts a new disease, his life is forever changed. See the world from the mind of a man who begins to crave flesh. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Zombie Apocalypse: A group of scientists working for a Top Secret facility in Great Britain have solved an age long mystery. When they place four ancient artifacts together, the result is a disaster. Four demons from before man’s origins possess humans. Now the British government must race to opposite ends of the globe to stop the army of the dead rising from their very graves, and put an end to the demons’ destruction. (Flesh And Leftovers)
The Freak In Me: In the 1960s, a travelling musician found a radioactive meteor while on a hike. Now, in present day, he dies of a heart attack, only to be reanimated by his green hued blood. In a home for those with special needs, he begins to spread his tainted blood among the residents. Teenager, Chastity Smith, must put her fears aside and find a way out. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Cleansing The Soul: A primitive tribe in modern day India worships their god Rakshasa. On a daily basis, they bring a sacrifice to their deity and then devour the remnants of the human. When their master suddenly vanishes, these cannibals turn on each other for food. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Generation Z: Just north of Niagara Falls in Canada, child immunizations suddenly take a turn. Children under the age of twelve begin to turn into mindless zombies. For anyone older than twelve, this virus becomes fatal. An American family finds out the hard way what it takes to survive, and in the end, one boy suddenly finds a new purpose in life. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Dead In Muncie: This newspaper clipping type story from a small town in Indiana, describes an artist who begins to see things that aren’t really there. His drug induced delusions lead him on a killing spree in his claims that “zombies” are everywhere. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Magica Negra E’ Café: A drug lord in northern Brazil seeks out the macumba (black magic) woman, Madame Callisto. He uses her voodoo like powder to control zombi recruits to his army, but his attempts don’t turn out the way he’d like them to. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Evolution And Extinction: The Military Underground Tactical Specialists (MUTS) are recruited to infiltrate a government testing lab that is swarming with the undead. Their mission is to rescue the President’s daughter, who is hidden in one of the environmental experiment rooms. Hawk takes on mountain terrain, Fox makes his way through the desert, Seal skis the arctic, Snake sets up a post in an urban setting, and Hound enters a vacuum chamber, which simulates outer space. Their teammate, Bee, uses a central hub to guide her partners through the hundreds of undead. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Zombie Origins: The Bible mentions the story of Cain and Able, but details have been left out. When Cain murders his brother, the curse of immortality is placed upon him. As his friends and family grow old and die, Cain continues to live by drinking the blood of others. When he realizes that he can pass on a copy of his curse on to others, he begins to build a house of twelve. Those vampires take on their own offspring as well, but by the sixth generation, they have come far from their origins. Now this new generation craves flesh instead of blood. These first zombies turn on their masters as the vampires must seek out human help. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Ready Or Not: Taking place during the “Guns And Veggies” incident, a man is prepared for a zombie outbreak, but is oblivious to the signs of it already happening. (F & L: Zombie Incidents)
Absolution: While Los Angeles is in disarray from a viral outbreak, a priest offers refuge in his church. When an infected person gets past their safety checks all hell breaks loose. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Demons Of The Abyss: Long before the “Zombie Apocalypse” incident, four demons were imprisoned in a tablet and sent to the four corners of the earth. Only when they are reunited will a zombie apocalypse begin. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Just Another Freak: Detective Hwong interrogates the lone survivor of “The Freak In Me” incident. As she goes to investigate the truth, her research leads her to a traveling circus. What she finds is an entire circus ready to devour her flesh. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Old Habits Die Hard: After a cannibal tribe in India loses their guidance, one of the men tries to blend in with society. His tastes for food revert to his primitive urges, and he begins to make a feast of his own. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Dangerous Youth: During the “Generation Z” incident, a mother and father argue over what to do about their two children who want to eat their parents’ brains. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Dreaming The Stranger: A drug abuser loses his sight of reality. The hallucinations begin to turn everything he sees into the walking dead. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Medicine Man: A voodoo master in Haiti turns tourists into his willing zombi. When the woman he has learned his practices from, Madame Callisto, is displeased with his actions, she gives him a taste of his own medicine. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
New Species: NASA has brought back a parasite found in space. This is the same parasite that caused the “Evolution and Extinction” incident. Before they are able to study it, it begins to take over bodies and replicate itself. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
The Dead Wars: King Arthur sends one of his most trusted knights to lead a battalion against the undead hordes. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Life After Death: Richard Marshall uses arcane science to bring back his dead brother from death. This may well be the story that inspired Mary Shelley to write “Frankenstein.” (F&L: Eden’s Order Trilogy)
Artist Of The Month For September 2012: TJB
TJB is an amazing artist. Her style goes well beyond what she had done for sCrypt Comics in our first issue “F& L: Zombie Incidents”. Choosing to remain anonymous and not show off more of her work and contact info, was a professional choice she made. We could not however just let her go unhonored. Here are a few of the frames she did for sCrypt Comics in that aforementioned first issue. As always, click on the images to enlarge. Enjoy!
sCrypt Comics Teams up With My Shoe Connection!
Some would think that this is an odd pairing, but in an epic contest giveaway, My Shoe Connection has agreed to offer a $25.00 gift certificate to their website. How do you win? Well, just look at the two sketches done a while back by Scott McGrath (of My Shoe Connection) and identify who the character is by name. One person who answers correctly will be randomly chosen for the 25.00 giveaway.
Ladies, this is the perfect opportunity for you to get a discount on a great pair of shoes, and guys, this is the chance to get your lovely lady a nice gift.
Send me an email at rickpipito@hotmail.com with the subject line “sCrypt Comics Shoe Connection” with your answer, and you will be entered in the drawing. Deadline for entry is August 31st. A winner will be selected on September 1st. It’s as simple as that. Thanks again to www.myshoeconnection.com and Scott McGrath for making this possible.
Flesh Eating Poll
Our next poll brings in multiple characters that all have something in common… They are dead… or undead if you will. DC Comics has the Black Lanterns (pictured top center), Marvel brings their own zombies (pictured top left) to the table, and sCrypt Comics has their Flesh and Leftovers zombies (pictured top right *art by Dan Pipito). Below are brief summaries of the three, followed by a poll. Please vote for your favorite, or add another in the comments section if you think they are worthy of the battle, and spread the word. The more votes the better.
Zombies in the Marvel Universe spread like wildfire. It seems as if there is no stopping the virus and very few have managed to stay uninfected. While this virus is not in Marvel’s mainstream universe, the alternate one that it infects has managed to cross over into other dimensions as well. While infected, the zombified superhero or villain retains most of their powers and personalities, but with a maddening hunger for flesh that prevents them from thinking straight. It does appear that they are weaker however than their normal uninfected selves would be to head trauma. First appearance was in Marvel Zombies #1 December 2005.
DC Universes are unsafe from the Black Lantern Corps. All of the deceased heroes and villains have become black lanterns with one purpose… to bring about more death. They feed like zombies and are constantly regenerated by their black power rings. The undead members retain most of the powers that they had in life, and gain more power by eating the hearts of the living. They are vulnerable to certain forms of lantern light. First appearance was in Green Lantern vol 4 #43 September 2009
sCrypt Comics began with the world of Flesh and Leftovers. These zombie stories all take place in the same universe, and though they were all human at one time, it would be interesting to see how other heroes and villains with powers would be able to stand in battle against them. Whether they be rabid running zombies, undead animals, radioactive zombies, a parasite from Mars that turns you into a zombie, voodoo zombies, cannibals, or even the deformed spawns of vampires, these undead will haunt you with every page turn. First appearance was in Flesh and Leftovers the novel.
Interview with sCrypt Comics about F&L: Zombie Incidents
Here is an interview featuring sCrypt Comics creators, Rick Pipito and Dan Pipito. They answer fan questions about issue #1: Flesh And Leftovers: Zombie Incidents. We’ve included a picture of the back cover to show the synopsis. Enjoy!
Q1: There is so much talent involved with all of your artists. What kind of agreement do you have with them?
Dan: It’s an independent venture without funding behind it. We want to get artists involved who have talent and like us are struggling to get their names out there. Working for free is hard this day and age, but sometimes it is the only way to get where you need to be in the end.
Rick: I’ve written up a contract for the artists so that they understand about the “pay.” Basically it is agreed that they will take the storyboards and make it their style while keeping the story the same. Once it is completed our end of the bargain must be fulfilled. We give each artist a copy of the final product as well as any contact info that they want attached to their name in the book. The new blog also will feature artists of the month, which will give them more exposure when they are chosen.
Q2: Tell us about the cover art: front, back, and credits page.
Rick: I came up with the concept based on the title. The first thing a lot of people think, when they hear “Flesh and Leftovers” is Hannibal Lecter. So we took some leftover pasta, Tupperware, and Halloween props and took a photo in the fridge for the front and back at different angles. The credits page was a picture of fake skin stretched over a board and placed under the words.
Dan: We wanted it to be a photo. Photography is an art form as well, and we didn’t want any one particular cover artist doing it for fear that it would represent all of what is inside. This way, with the photo passed through a “saran wrap” style filter, it calls out to the viewer to take a peek.
Q3: What is the whole process from hiring to finished product like?
Rick: We took an ad out on Craigslist and immediately got a dozen hits. Most of the responses we got were enthusiastic. We chose the ones we liked based on pieces of art they had sent us. Then the stories, which are already written and copywritten, are turned into storyboards. I am a horrendous illustrator. So what the artists do with the storyboards I give them is amazing. To explain what I am trying to portray I also send them a document with the script and explanations of what is going on.
Dan: Once the artists submit their work in the allotted time, we filter and do basic editing of page sizes and making sure there is bleed along the edges. We are learning more each time ourselves, because the publishers have terminology and things that we have to sometimes work around. Our first publisher probably won’t be around much longer only because they just don’t know how to run a business, but we switched to IndyPlanet and have since been overjoyed with the process.
Rick: When the files are ready to be printed I pay out of pocket for each of the artists’ copies. The payoff is actually getting to meet some of them in person. Obviously not everyone is from around our area, but if I can’t physically meet them, we send it in the mail. Everyone is understanding and patient, which helps a lot. When one person submits art late, it screws every artist on the team, but looks bad on my part. We do our best to avoid any problems, but sometimes it is inevitable and you have to just roll with it.
Q4: Where did you guys come up with the sCrypt Comics name and logo?
Dan: We wanted something cool and catchy, and we had a horror theme. I grew up watching Tales from the Crypt the TV series, so when Rick handed me a script for one of the stories it reminded me of the old show I used to watch. I took the word script and made it sCrypt. The coffin logo had to be simple. I used to draw old logos and I wanted it to be something we could do on the spot if need be. It’s easy but catchy and that is what we wanted.
Q5: So are all these stories just graphic versions of your existing novels?
Rick: yes and no. I didn’t want to repeat anything from the novels or change the image that people may get in their heads when reading them. That is the beauty of a novel. It’s that you can picture the story in your head, and it becomes personal for each reader. I had a lot of reader requests for more zombie stories, but I had already done what I wanted for zombies. Dan was a fan of the book, so I went to him with the idea, and he liked it. There were a few ideas that I cut and some back stories with characters and settings that I thought a comic book version would be the perfect place for. These stories are more of an accessory to the Flesh and Leftovers novel. Both go hand in hand, but you don’t need one to enjoy the other (though I highly recommend the full experience).
Dan: At first, I thought it would be great, but it was too big of a task for just the two of us. That is when Rick told me about getting other artists on board for the stories as a collaborative effort. It was a genius idea really.
Q6: Where can I get the comics?
Rick: The graphic novels are available at www.indyplanet.com and the novel that started it all is at www.lulu.com.
Q7: What kind of obstacles did you face with “Flesh and Leftovers: Zombie Incidents”?
Rick: It’s a trust thing really. Everyone agrees to a deadline and they commit themselves to it, but there are always bad seeds. Something comes up and then suddenly your artist is afraid to communicate with you or they back out. We had to get rid of a couple people, but we scrambled last minute to fix the problems.
Q8: Dan, what is your input in the writing process?
Dan: I had loved the stories Rick had written and he basically came to me for criticism and advice. So when we wanted the new stories to be in the comic, we really sat down together and took notes on how we would lay it out in the easiest way for the artists. I co-wrote the circus story using faces of some people I knew or at least some inspiration. I had never written before, and though Rick came up with the whole story, he basically gave me a beginning and an end and let me do the in between based on his narrative and dialogue. It’s a lot of fun, but takes time to get right.
Q9: I see that there is a concept and sketch art page in the back. Why did you include this as well?
Rick: I hadn’t read comic books in years, so when we started I had to do some research in the library. I must have taken out thirty or so graphic novels for their layout ideas and stories, but then I noticed that they all had one thing in common. There was at least one concept art page at the end, and that was something I thought would be cool. Dan had some art lying around, as well as a couple other people, and my storyboard stuff was filtered through to select a couple of those. It’s really to show our progress, but at the same time is funny to look at. Dan also put up the zombie stick figure art, which in my mind was perfect.
Dan: Yeah, everyone in the world seems to have those stick figure families on the backs of their cars. It drove me crazy as I thought it was a stupid trend, but then I got sucked in and made my own parody family with zombies. It had nothing to do with the comic, but they had to be presented. The sketch art page is basically the director’s cut of things that didn’t make it. As bad as some of the sketches are, they are all responsible partly for the final product.
Q10: What can you tell your fans about the artists?
Rick: Like I said, we took out an ad on Craigslist, and the first response I got was from Phillip Allie. He had a pretty cool portfolio with skulls and zombie heads. It was dark and a unique style of art, so I didn’t hesitate to bring him in. Asher Humm contacted me next and I was immediately blown away. He had a published comic book already and his style was exactly what you see in the professional industry. He also has some great ideas and criticism on how the whole process goes, so I’m glad to have his input as well.
Dan: Sequential art amazes me as well, and when I saw Asher’s work I was super excited to have that skill level involved. We both worked with Fred Loeffler. It took some convincing, but he was on board eventually and brought a more retro style to it. He is from a different generation and has more experience than the rest of us, so it worked well with his talent. We had two high school girls who were trying to build their portfolios. TJB and Tiff Pugliese had seen the ad and were in the process of college hunting. We had seen their portfolios and were happy to add their styles to the collection.
Rick: Our cousin, Vince Pipito, came in and hadn’t been a practicing artist in a few years, but he had loved the novels and wanted to work with us. He needed help scanning and laying out the panels, but the art looks sweet and really captured the feel I was going for. Joe Parisi was a guy we had ready to go for the second graphic novel, but we had to fire a couple of artist last minute and he was more than ready to jump in the slot. He had the zombie children story and contacted me and said, “Hey, man, it’s your story, but I was thinking since it involves children, I’m going to do it in crayon.” I called Dan and said, “This guy might be crazy, but his art is fantastic.” We laughed and wondered how he was going to pull off crayon in a very limited amount of time, but it is one of the fan favorites now.
Dan: Leanne Wiedmeyer also came in to save the day. We put up a status on facebook that we were looking for an artist last minute to help us out in two weeks’ time. We didn’t expect anyone to actually do it, but Lee was also on standby for comic 2 and she said she’d do it. Using pencil, she got back to us in a week and a half with a finished product that blew us away.
Rick: Dan also had to pick up a last minute add on for the third artist we fired. So he has 2 stories in this one, but each was done in a different style.
Dan: Sure, there were a few that might not have lived up to some of our expectations initially, but it was the passion of the group of artists that really gave us the final product that we were hoping for.
The series so far includes the novels available at www.lulu.com: “Flesh and Leftovers,” “Blood, The Second Helping,” & “Bones At Breakfast”
The graphic novels available at www.indyplanet.com and www.comicsmonkey.com: “Flesh and Leftovers: Zombie Incidents,” & “Blood The Second Helping: Legends Of Vampire”
DIGITAL FORMS OF THE ABOVE NOVELS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE ABOVE SITES. YOU CAN ALSO GET THE PRINTED NOVEL OF ALL OF THE ABOVE PLUS MORE IN THE “Flesh And Leftovers: Eden’s Order Trilogy”
Interview with Author Rick Pipito on Eden’s Order Trilogy
I already posted the questions about the three novels, (Flesh and Leftovers, Blood The Second Helping, and Bones At Breakfast) and there arose a few more when the trilogy was published as a whole. Here are those questions and the answers… Be warned there may be some spoiler material…
Q1: Where did he cover idea come from? It is different from the style of the three included books.
Dan was wrapped up with getting the second graphic novel put together, and I knew I needed something quickly. He had done the covers for all three novels and those concepts were all his ideas. For Eden’s Order, I wanted to have a tree to symbolize the Garden of Eden, but I also wanted to include all three themes. If you look, the bark of the tree is flesh like in texture, the branches are shaped like bones, and the ends are colored red to symbolize blood. I presented that idea to Dan, and he came back to me with the cover a few hours later…
Q2: Is there anything different about the trilogy as a whole than as was previously published separately?
The three novels are the story, but this is like a greatest hits package. I expanded the timeline to cover all three novels and graphic novels. There are also 3 new short stories just to make it something extra. The stories from the graphic novels were also included in a novelized form for those people who aren’t too keen on buying a comic book, but are curious as to those extras. Overall there are 63 short stories plus the main plot. I also went in and edited a few things that weren’t caught in the first book gramatically.
Q3: Why don’t you have your picture on the back like in the original publications?
I was rifling through some pictures that my wife had taken and found that one of the tree. After passing it through an eerie horror looking filter I decided it would be a better addition than seeing my mug again.
Q4: So this is the Eden’s Order Trilogy. Do you have names for the further books and plans to publishe them as trilogies?
As I’ve stated before, there are a total of 9 books and 1 prequel/sequel book. There will also be graphic novels for each of these. All of the novels do have names, but I’m only at liberty to tell you this… Book 4 is called “Souls 4 Supper” and is the first part of the “Pandora’s Chaos” Trilogy.
Q5: Tell me about the new zombie story you added.
When people began giving me feedback from the first novel, they asked if I was going to do more zombie stories. I initially said no, but then decided to do the spinoff comics to appease those who wanted it. Then I got more feedback from multiple sources saying “Rick, you covered everything zombie wise, but didn’t mention Frankenstein.” For the trilogy I wanted that little extra, so I decided to read Mary Shelley’s novel and did research on the actual science of what electricity does to muscles. They actually performed these type of experiments in the early 1800s, so I figured on using that as a way to tell the story my way. It remains distant enough from the Frankenstein that we all know and love to be an entirely unique story that “inspired Mary Shelley’s story.”
Q6: What about the new vampire story?
I had covered every vampire legend out there, but since I was writing the new zombie short I wanted vampires and werewolves to get the same treatment. This story is after the events in the trilogy and through a near death experience contracts a rare condition. He ages rapidly and is able to gain his youth back through draining other’s youth.
Q7: Same question about the new werewolf story.
There was really nothing for me to do new with werewolves, so I thought about another classic. For zombies I had Frankenstein. For vampires I had Dracula. So for werewolves I brought in inspiration from a combination of story and truth. The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde is blended with my own originality and Jack The Ripper’s story. The funny thing about this is I’m not really sure if the main character is really a werewolf or just has animalistic urges. You read it and tell me what you think.
Q8: Are the graphic novel stories true to the visual version?
I did everything I could to make the reader visualize what the artists did so well. The challenge was the words. I had no problem turning novel stories into comic spin offs, but to make those spinoffs translate to novel form was a challenge that in the end was a great success.
Q9: Why publish the trilogy as a whole when all three books are so easy to get?
I honestly did it for selfish reasons. It was easier to carry around 1 book instead of 3 books and 3 comics. It was also for marketing purposes. Some people had felt far behind because I had published 3 novels and they hadn’t read the first one yet. With this available on www.lulu.com they can now get it all in one package that is well worth the price. The extra stories can also be found with the three books for the Kindle at www.amazon.com
sCrypt Publishing 