Artifact on Kindle

What’s new? Artifact has made it to Kindle! Click here.

Affordable as a burger and fries, everyone should be able to lay hold of the KvP Alumni’s first succulent novel. If that isn’t enough, order a second helping and get Keys: Unlocking the Universe, our collection of thematic short stories. (Still in softcover.)

For those hungering more, a third collaboration is in progress. Right now, “mum’s” the word on subject content, but suffice it to say, it’s taken a full year to make it into editing. No, this one’s not fast food. It’s a well cooked plot and presentation, by far our most gourmet work. Look for its appearing in 2010.

drjeantre16 & cat

A Novel in the Making

Published short-story writer and friend of The Artifact, Michelle Sussman, has just started up a blog called Michelle Sussman’s Novel Idea.  It will track her progress as she writes her first novel and give us an inside look at the process a writer goes through to create something out of essentially nothing.  Join Michelle as she takes you on a fantastic journey on her blog and in her debut novel … one chapter (and one post) at a time.

Eugene Ramos

“The Concoction” and the Origins of “The Artifact”

I came up with the idea for The Artifact after watching the “South Park” episode which paid homage to the cult-classic, adult-animation film Heavy Metal. In the movie, a glowing green orb travels through seven stories bringing evil wherever it goes. I thought it was the perfect format for the first novel by nine writers who have such different writing styles. Instead of the mysterious green orb, we would have a mysterious alien artifact.

In addition to the Heavy Metal-anthology format, I wanted the stories to have a “Twilight Zone”/”Outer Limits” feel with ordinary people being pushed into extraordinary circumstances. This idea has been a cornerstone of the stories I’ve written and the films I’ve made. My short film, The Concoction, is a perfect example. With its hapless hero discovering a mysterious drink that makes him appear attractive, The Concoction could have easily been a story included in The Artifact.

The Concoction, part 1:

The Concoction, part 2:

Eugene Ramos

NEW DREAMS FOR THEDREAMCONTINUED

It’s been said that dreams only can be had while you sleep, but we have proved that by dreaming big and stretching as far as your imagination can go, a dream can be made a reality!

Oprah put it this way: “I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.”

I wish to publicly thank my fellow writers, my friends for life.  As  THE ARTIFACT: AN ANTHOLOGY  passes all our expectations, first premiering on Createspace, then Amazon.com and now on to Target.com, into our local bookstores and hometown libraries, for never wavering from the dream.  For writing through, pushing on, and pursuing this dream of ours with a passion.

Allowing not only the energy of the universe to  lead us, but also the strength of true friendship to fuse us into an unstoppable force. 

Taking on new strides in the writing industry, and under the banner of G10, undertaking bigger and more profound challenges that will permit the dream to continue ONE SUPERLATIVE LEVEL AT A TIME!

TDC

The Artifact is Published!

                                                            

The reason we all gathered in the first place has finally come to fruition…we are published!

4 1/2 months, several cases of keyboard-based carpal tunnel, dozens of sleepless nights and many,many version later, our book, “The Artifact: An Anthology” is done!

In 2 weeks it will be on Amazon.com, but you can get it now for only $8.99 at: http://www.createspace.com/3350744

If you get a copy, we truly hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for following us this far, and keep coming here for updates on upcoming projects!

A (Pain)Killer of a Prize

Last April I was lucky enough to be one of the finalists in FanLib’s “Painkiller Jane” writing contest.  The grand prize was a professionally drawn illustration of a scene from the winner’s entry.  Here is Jorge Correa Jr.‘s take on my opening scene:

Here’s the scene as it appeared in my script:

INT. ABANDONED HOSPITAL – NIGHT

JANE VASCO lies on an examination table. Her arms, legs, waist and forehead are secured by leather straps. She struggles to move.

Wearing the scrubs of a surgeon, DEREK SUMNER circles around Jane. His face is covered with piercings (ears, nose, eyebrows, lips), a black tribal tatoo, scarification and other body modifications.

DEREK
I assure you, Jane, you will be unable to escape.

JANE
My team will be looking for me, and when they find you —

DEREK
They’ll what? Kill me? Come now. Idle threats don’t scare me.

He runs his finger down her cheek, then SCRATCHES HER WITH HIS FINGERNAIL.

Jane winces in pain as a drop of blood trickles down her cheek. Soon after, the scratch disappears. It has completely healed.

DEREK
You see, you and I have something special in common.

He picks up a scalpel lying in a tray. He brings it to his wrist and cuts across. His face remains stoic.

Jane’s eyes go wide as blood flows out of Derek’s wrist before the wound quickly heals.

DEREK
Except that, unlike you, I don’t feel pain. Congenital analgia, they call it. And unfortunately my attempts to find a cure have been unsuccessful.

As Derek turns his back on her to scrub his hands in the sink, Jane takes a moment to take in her surroundings.  AROUND HER ARE SEVERAL GURNEYS WITH BODIES COVERED IN SHEETS.

JANE
I take it the DOAs are your victims.

DEREK
I prefer the term “test subjects.”

Derek puts on a pair of latex gloves, a surgical mask and a visor.

DEREK
They’ve given me a better understanding of the nature of pain.

He turns around, and Jane sees in his hands a large CIRCULAR SAW.

DEREK
Did you know that your stomach has more nerve endings than your brain?

With the flick of a switch, THE SAW WHIRS TO LIFE.

Jane tries to scurry back, but she can barely move.

DEREK
On a scale of one to ten, tell me how much this hurts.

CUT TO BLACK.

INT. OPERATION HQ

ANDRE MCBRIDE and CONNOR KING wheel a semi-conscious Jane on a gurney through the main hallway of the Neuro-Hunters HQ.

ANDRE (yells)
Doctor!

INT. SICKBAY – CONTINUOUS

DR. SETH CARPENTER rushes toward the gurney. His eyes go wide in horror when he sees Jane.  THE BOTTOM HALF OF HER BODY IS MISSING, AND BLOOD SOAKS THE GURNEY CRIMSON RED.

SETH
Dear God, what happened?

Cool, huh?  Jorge is incredibly economical with his storytelling, and he punctuated the page with a great shot of Jane lying near death, her blood literally spilling off the page.  What a treat to have my words visualized by such a talented artist.  This is definitely being framed and hung on the wall next to my two diplomas.

Eugene Ramos
esr960

Whirlwind Vegas Extravaganza!

They say what is played in Vegas stays in Vegas, but not with this group!  What we shared in Vegas must be shared with all our readers!  As they say…it was Fabulous!

It wasn’t only the thrill of the Star Trek Convention, seeing the stars of our most beloved television/movie series up close, getting the autographs, seeing the shows, or even winning on the one armed bandits ( which now, by the way, are all computerized…I kinda miss walking around with my bucket of nickles) or the black jack tables.  Being at Quark’s for lunch and going through the Star Trek Experience ( which sadly will close it’s doors forever on September 1,2008..[PS~ Thanks Tribble] ) was an absolutely overwelming well, experience, with memories I will treasure for many years to come. 

All this was breathtaking, but I must say for me, meeting and actually shaking the hands of the writers I have been closely linked to for a year now by my online connection, topped the butterflies-in-the-stomach-o-meter for sure!  It was an inspiring and laugh filled time, and we had a hard time parting.  For me a week just wasn’t enough.  These people and their spouses are linked to me like brothers and sisters.  It was wonderful to note that not just the authors/friends I met in person were into this “writing thing” 100 per cent, but our spouses were as well!  We all became instant friends, instant family.

How could anything be more perfect? Well, for me, it can’t.  Everything we do from this point on will give me reason to sit down at this keyboard everyday and write my heart out.  Because I am not only pleasing you, the reader, I am pleasing my friends: my fellow authors. 

Know this, dear reader: because we are commited to our craft, it will make anything you read from this group something you won’t be able to put down. But also knowing that behind the scenes there are friends and compadres who are committed to one another, will not only make our efforts a good read for you, it will make it inspired perfection from the first turn of page one to the exciting conclusion! 

~ TheDreamContinued ~

TDC, Whigworld, DGTrekker and Tribble at Quark

whatever it takes

As I sit in the terminal at Charlotte airport on the last leg of our journey home from the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention, I am thinking back to something Spock said.

Leonard Nimoy was amazing as usual. His antecdotes were funny, and his memories were touching. However, someone asked him a very important question while he was on stage.

The fan stood at the microphone and asked: “Mr. Nimoy, I want to be a photographer. What advice do you have for me?”

Nimoy, an accomplished photographer himself, answered, “You do whatever it takes. Do what you love, do it often, and dont worry about getting paid for it. Just find a way to do it.”

Wow.

That translates into anything, doesn’t it?

star trek convention refreshes, renews

                                            

Like with most endeavors, writing requires a break. A time to relax, a time to refresh the spirit. Sometimes that means a trip to the mountains. Or maybe the beach. Or maybe horseback riding.

In my case, it means a trip to the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas!

As of now, we’re on day 4 of the 5 day trek (pardon the pun!), and it appears to be just what I needed. The sights, the sounds, the people. The whole package.

The coolest thing about this trip? For the first time, 4 of our group have had the opportunity to meet, in person, for the first time. After only interacting on the net for a year, I’m proud to report it was like we had always been friends.

Several of our other comrades had met weeks earlier at the Comic Con in San Diego, so we are slowly, but surely, developing some tight bonds.

It is a great convention, as well. Thousands of people sharing a common love and respect. Up close contact with some fan favorites. Cool and unique ways to spend lots of money.

And, only a week after Fanlib closed it’s doors, it is awesome to be reminded that fandoms are alive and well, and will never die.

So, the three things I have learned so far from this trip?

1. I had great instincts when choosing my friends online
2. It’s good to mingle with thousands of fans as a reminder where our passions lie
3. Never, never hit on 14 when the dealer is showing a 5

-Whig

Fanlib Dies; Creativity Lives On

At 5:04 pm pacific time, Fanlib ceased to exist. Posting on forums continued clear up until the end. A strong attendance of former KvP writers was represented for the final countdown, giving a familiar feel of round four’s countdown to destruction. Indeed, today was a good day to die for the fan site that gave birth to the best collaborative minds of the decade.

For anyone attempting to post after the slightly delayed hour of death, a coded error message was received. In that moment, scores of fans were immediately cut off and left to decide their trek.

While fanlib.com no longer lives, it is survived by countless writers and artists who continue to thrive on various sites throughout the internet. We here on the KvP Alum project are a testimony to that truth. Fanlib’s short life span inspired many creative minds and its presence will be greatly missed.

For those of you who missed the party and list of alternate sites on Fanlib’s home page, we’re big believers in keeping in touch. Just for you:

• DeviantArt.com
• FanFiction.net
• FanPop.com
• LiveJournal.com
• MyFandoms.com
• PhotoshopFaceOff.com
• Quizilla.com
• TheOtaku.com
• TokyoPop.com
• FanLib Refugees — InvisionFree.com
• FanLib Refugees — FanFiction.net
• FanLib Refugees — MyFandoms.com
• FanLib Forever

Boldly writing on,
dr.jeanTre16