Greetings Everyone,

Long time no update. And there has been news. Oh how there has been news. But also, there has been school and so I’ve been hunkered down with tales of prophecy and murder while contacting scientists who monitor space debris and...well, that’s all done now. School is out, so instead of all that writing, I can spend my time doing...other writing. But like I said, first...news.

I write audio drama/radio plays. (I might have mentioned it.) So naturally one of the first questions I was asked (via the Our Fair City Tumblr page) was whether or not there would be an audio book version of An Unattractive Vampire. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought, being too preoccupied with "Oh my gosh, I have a real, physical book out." But Inkshares thought about it. They thought about it a lot.

I am incredibly pleased to announce that an An Unattractive Vampire audio book is currently in production at Audible. Oh...you know Audible, the leading provider of audio books. They only sponsor about every podcast ever. (Hence why I know they’re intro pitch.) I am very lucky that they have picked up the audio rights to my book and will keep you all posted on this story as it progresses.

Also, I am pleased to report that we are just four reviews shy of hitting our first magic number (50) on Amazon. What does this mean? It means An Unattractive Vampire will show up more in Amazon searches. Which means more eyes. Which means more purchases. Which means money, which means time, which equals writing. (Because that’s how math works. So, please...go to Amazon and review An Unattractive Vampire. I’ll wait.

Other, other news:
A few more positive reviews went up on HorrorTalk.com and Fanbase Press. You can check them out here. Or you know, send them to friends. 

Did I mention that I write audio drama? Well I do and my first episode of Our Fair City Season 7 went out last week. After last seasons cataclysm learn the (tragic?) fate of our lovable molepeople in "A Molepup Misadventure."

So about this audio drama thing. (Pretty sure I mentioned it.) This last weekend was also the HEAR Now Festival in Kansas City, MO, celebrating audio drama and my MAT contest winning piece "Last Transmission" was an official selection for the podcast showcase. (In case you missed it before, you can listen to it at the Midnight Audio Theatre website.)

At the end of June (beginning of July) I will be in Minneapolis for CONvergence. I’ll be doing a couple panels. plastering the convention with postcards and posters, and making my second attempt ever at playing D&D. So if any of you are up in the Great White North, come say hi and watch me flounder around as I try and not judge myself for not being Critical Role. 

That’s all for now.

It is with a very heavy heart that I write today’s Reader Update. As I’m sure many/most of you have seen, the worst mass shooting in US History took place in the early hours of today at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub, in Orlando, FL.

Orlando holds a huge chunk of my heart. It’s where I lived for six years, where I return several times a year, and the inspiration and setting of Welcome to Deadland. Orlando is still home to me. And as a member of the LGBT community, this attack has hit me to the core. I’ve been lucky enough to contact a vast majority of friends and people I consider family, and have confirmed their safety. This is something many friends and family inside and out of Orlando will not be able to say. 

Many of my readers are still living in and around Orlando. If you can, I urge you to find a nearby location to donate blood. It could save another life. If you can’t, a page has been set up to monetarily donate support to the victims of this hate-filled tragedy. I will also be donating 100% of my royalties from the upcoming week to help those that need it far more than I do. 

With love,

Zac

Greetings...

Since everyone liked my update where I shined a light on the JPL. Here are some quick tidbits about the Vampire Legend: While vampires had been around in legend and even part of mass hysteria in eastern Europe very early on. It was the novel The Vampyre written in 1819 that got the ball rolling. Bram Stroker’s Dracula came about in 1897. 

In some legends, creating a vampire was as simple as having an animal jump over a corpse. In others, it was curse from God or Russian Witches. Still, to this day, my favorite method of destroying a vampire from legend:

Iron Nails ran through the chest followed by a Hawethorne stake through each leg. Bits of steel placed in the mouth, over the eyes, and in between the fingernails before burial. Then decapitation of the head, turn it around, fill the coffin with rosepedals and bury the damn thing. This wouldn’t actually kill the vampire mind you, only keep it trapped. As of 2006, they are still finding corpses being dug up with this treatment. 

Which in my head just means they set the vampires free right?

Oh right! Artwork! Speaking of being set free.... here is a scene painted by Lizzy Perez of The Seventh Age:

We are so close to 1000 orders guys. If you are following this campaign and haven’t jumped in yet: 27 spots left. I’m collecting more art such as what’s above for prize raffles when we hit the magic number. Hop in, follow the updates for more bite-sized facts about strange occult legends... and a kick-ass book about what happens when they all come crashing back.