Shells Walter

I chat with Author John X Grey

2012-01-18T02:40:00.002-05:00

What made you want to be an author of fiction?

After my failure to complete a Master’s degree in history during the 1990s, and a later personal religious salvation experience in April 1997, I gradually got the notion of trying fiction writing as a potential career by 1999. I had been an avid reader of fiction in the fantasy, horror and science-fiction genres, and non fiction academic subjects. I thought fiction writing might be the best possible career where I could become self-employed and use my active imagination for creativity’s sake.

What is your favorite thing to write about?

The basic answer would be whatever ideas come to mind. To elaborate further, I would say the less-than-perfect hero rising a basic evil force’s challenge or some daunting goal with greater (possibly cosmic) significance. And if the hero can be a little cynical or beaten down by life but not destroyed from adversity, I find that more appealing than the knight in shining armor type hero coming out of the muck immaculate and smelling like a rose.

What is your inspiration as an author?

My relationship with Jesus Christ since being saved in 1997 has inspired some of my novels. Various daydreams and nighttime dreams or fragments from those have also formed the basis for some of my shorter works. Also the good old fashioned settings of movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Rocketeer or The Shadow with their strong nostalgic pulp fiction content depicting a simpler if imperfect actual past.

How has your studies in the history field helped with your writing?

What I learned as an aspiring historian has added some background color and setting structure to certain books or stories I’ve written, especially 20th century settings in my Jack Petrov stories and debut novel (A Legacy of Blood) and certain characters from that century (Evelyn Weiss from 1957 in Sister Helena of the Sword - an unpublished novel I intend entering at Amazon.com’s Breakthrough Novel Award contest this year). Another example was reading as a youth about the murderous Countess Elizabeth Bathory of 17th Century Hungary and later using that historical figure as the origin for the vampire in A Legacy of Blood.

Which do you find it harder to write short stories compared to longer works?

The short stories have sometimes proven far easier, especially when I have them clearly thought out to the point they could almost write themselves. On a few rare occasions I wrote stories in a few days, and during last year finished 45 fresh pieces of short fiction. My first novel took from August 1999 - June 2000 as a first draft, but my creative speed improved over time, and now a new rough draft novel can take from one to three months with additional months of revisions. The two novels written for 2010 and 2011's National Novel Writing Month were the briefest obviously at 28 and 26 days out of the 30-day contest period.

Is there a specific character you have written that is your favorite and why?

I would have to say private eye Jack Petrov at present, who came to life as an idea in 2001 when I wanted to create an adventurer in the Indiana Jones mold, but ended up mixing into that some of the hard luck from a Jim Rockford and the slightly-paranoid atmosphere of literary or film noir in creating Gotham, New Jersey as his home base. Jack is the hero almost worn down over time by evil forces, both supernatural and corrupt humanity, arrayed against him, but refuses to give in to the darkness, or at least not entirely, while championing his own sense of justice. A close second place goes to my costumed crime fighter Professor Midnight, inspired by similar pulp fiction or movie serial heroes of the 1920s and 1930s. That psychiatrist-turned-masked adventurer suffers tragedy but leads a more charmed life than the grittier Petrov even with the private detective’s innate inherited knack for hunting down vampires and the supernatural.

What do you find most challenging about being an author?

Finding an audience for my fiction, lacking reservoirs of self-confidence needed to be skilled as a shameless self-promoter. I get so little feedback from any readers complementing one of my two self-published novels or mentioning a story from some anthology I appear in. I began a website and blog in December 2010 and self-published two of my books last year, along with joining writing message boards and other similar web sites toward greater self-promotion. Unfortunately I cannot tell yet if these efforts are working or do not know what else I can try toward that end at present.

In your experience, how do you view the current writing world out there?

From my limited pessimistic vantage point, things look bleak, but then I’ve almost always been a glass half-empty person. Some bookstores that once sold the printed word are disappearing like relics, while online book sellers take their place even if I cannot tell whether those distribution channels are helpful to my career so far. I also see the increasing popularity of the e-book reader pads (Kindle, Nook, etc.) and am having my first novels adapted to the Kindle by CreateSpace even now. Personally I still like to hold printed pages between my hands for any reading and hope print never disappears entirely in a few more generations. Based on things I’ve read about the publishing business, mainly through the Internet in recent years, it seems harder for any new talent to break into the traditional writing career paths. I have only received token payments for a few stories in 2011, most of my work appearing in for-the-love story collections that grant some exposure at least, for which I remain grateful. The basically bottom line-minded book business (but all businesses think in those terms) wants the sure thing fiction bestseller from established names, just as with celebrity non-authors in non fiction books. Self-publishing appears to be one way around the career roadblocks, but could also become glutted with many books seeking some attention in the marketplace. I hope my work will stand out more in the future.

What is your ultimate goal as an author?

To become one with sufficient name recognition and a reputation for steady output of good material people will want to read, interweaving some ideas throughout stories that might make readers stop and think while being entertained. If I ever become the best seller, well and good, but I’d settle for a long career as the excellent second or third-tier writer with the small to medium very loyal and strong fan base awaiting the next John X. Grey novel or other project. The only things I imagine to stop me once having achieved that goal are death, disability preventing new work or just running out of good ideas. I would never want to retire.

Can you tell us a bit about your novels Worldjumpers and Legacy of Blood?

Worldjumpers: An amazing Journey to Parallel Worlds begins on a parallel Earth where World War III in 1997 destroyed all life except beneath an experimental force field over the small Ohio town of Hope Valley. The scientist responsible for that miracle, Dr. Thaddeus Woodcock, learns in July 2012 the field will fail by December 21st. His unacknowledged biological grandson, the mutant orphan Alon E. Strange Chance, accidentally activates a previously failed experimental machine, while hiding from tormenting bullies in Woodcock’s basement, that creates wormholes to parallel universes. The scientist sends Alon and six other orphaned mutants from the town’s orphanage as scouts to find another Earth where Hope Valley’s 5,000 survivors can begin again. Losing their connection to home through that machine, Alon learns he possesses an innate power (inherited from the biological father he meets on one parallel Earth) to move himself and anyone near him from one world to another, and the scouts continue journeying to various universes, but find each other Earth unsuitable for different reasons, even though they must locate the right one before Hope Valley’s protection fails. They will discover one paradise-seeming Earth, but also learn that living there requires a spiritual price.

A Legacy of Blood - Jack Petrov: Private Investigator/Vampire Hunter begins with a prologue showing how Jack Petrov learned of his vampire hunting abilities in 1919 Russia while a US Army soldier. Jumping forward to 1925, the story turns to that newly-minted private eye’s first case, after his pardon of crimes he was framed for by superiors in Gotham, New Jersey’s police department and city government. Jack is hired by a retired railroad executive Joshua Sloane to investigate the man’s estranged younger wife Helena after she left him and took their young son with her. Aided by bookseller and his retired mentor Willy Krauss, former police comrade Detective Dennis Dooley and local social worker Annie Mertz, Jack uncovers Hungarian immigrant Helena Sloane is in fact a 331-year-old vampire kidnaping and murdering Gotham inhabitants with aid from her loyal domestic servants to drink and bathe in blood for the sake of perpetual youth. Helena is also an illegitimate granddaughter of infamous 17th Century Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Frustrated at every turn to expose Helena, when corrupt city leaders consider him a traitor for his exoneration sending Gotham cops and politicians to prison instead, and losing Annie as he realizes his attraction toward her to Helena’s hypnotic powers, Jack must pretend joining the vampire’s conspiratorial circle for destroying her.

Is there a specific thing from each of these novels you wish readers to understand?

I guess from Worldjumpers and A Legacy of Blood the idea of continued perseverance in the face of adversity, whether from the unfriendly inhabitants of some parallel Earth or the dark, sinister forces both supernatural and mortal in a fictional small New Jersey city, is presented in both my novels, even though practicing it myself in real life has been difficult sometimes. Worldjumpers also concludes with the literal and metaphorical leap of faith required by Alon Chance to gain a new life in paradise, faith being required pursuing a career I consider my calling from God.

Where can we find these novels?

They are for sale at both CreateSpace and Amazon.com. Worldjumpers is now $11.99 (reduced in price from the original $12.99 last month) and A Legacy of Blood $14.99. The Kindle editions for each should be available in a few weeks. I also expect a wider distribution with CreateSpace to other booksellers and including any libraries ordering copies if patrons request those books. They can be found with the keywords "parallel worlds" and "science-fiction" for Worldjumpers and "horror fiction," "vampire hunter" and "vampire noir" for A Legacy of Blood.

http://www.amazon.com/Worldjumpers_amazing_Journey_Parallel_Worlds/dp/1463767579/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314405165&sr=1_8

https://www.createspace.com/3645450

http://www.amazon.com/Legacy_Blood_Private_Investigator_Vampire/dp/146630815X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324138943&sr=1_1

https://www.createspace.com/3684905

Based on your experience with self-publishing, what advice would you give to an author that wanted to take that route?

When all else fails in terms of getting your books to readers, assuming you have the money and time to work with CreateSpace or some other reputable self-publishing company, I say go for it. I regret not trying self-publishing sooner after almost a dozen years of wall-to-wall rejections by large and small publishers and literary agents since 2000 for six different marketed novels. You don’t have to settle for rejection by those gatekeepers in the traditional publishing routes. Just make certain your work is the best possible final draft before any self-publication.

Where can people find out more about you?

I have an author page at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/_/e/B004E5AHE6) and my web page with blog from Weebly.com (http://theanticelebrityjohnxgrey.weebly.com/), the latter site with a revamped blog starting over this year after removing some controversial or self-pitying rants from 2011. Both contain listings of my short and long fiction work, and the Weebly site also has some first chapter excerpts from some of my nine unpublished novels. I also plan to post unpublished short stories for feedback visitors wish to give. Someday I intend publishing those stories in an "orphaned" tales collection. The web site has the label "Anti-Celebrity" to make my pen name John X. Grey more distinctive and mocking America’s celebrity-worshiping culture. I hope at least some visitors to those pages will eventually read and enjoy my work.

Thank you during this sad time

2012-01-17T14:46:00.001-05:00

I wish to thank everyone for their condolences and well wishes during this rough time of my mother's death.

I'm a featured author at Juniper Grove

2012-01-17T14:38:00.000-05:00

http://www.junipergrove.net/featured-author-shells-walter/

I chat with author Joanne Lécuyer

2011-11-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/11/shells-chats-with-author-joanne-lecuyer.html

I chat with author Todd Seaward

2011-11-29T10:22:00.000-05:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/11/shells-chats-with-author-todd-seaward.html

Buy Dead Practices be entered to win an E-Gift Card!

2011-11-28T22:24:00.001-05:00

Buy Dead Practices below directly from Sonar4 Publications in Print Edition and be entered in to win a $25.00 E-gift card to Amazon.com.

The contest will run now through Dec 31st. Winner will be randomly drawn on Jan 1st 2012. Winner will be announced Jan 2nd 2012.

Order below:

Jerrod is a lawyer just like any other lawyer; there is only one exception- he is a zombie or more like what is considered a Zombie Citizen.

Zombies have been converted into Zombie Citizens so that they can live with regular people, IE humans. But someone wants to change the zombies back to the way they were, and possibly take over anything they can. The hitch- it is a client of Jerrod's.

Jerrod and his friend, a police officer named Rusty who is also a Zombie Citizen, try and stop this craziness from happening through a wild adventure that also includes a lot of super-glue.

Praise for Dead Practices

Dead Practices kept me entertained and enthralled as it moved towards its exciting and unexpected ending.

- Brian L Porter

Award Winning Author of A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper .

I recommend Dead Practices for the future fans of Romero. .

- Buyzombie.com .

It's fun, entertaining, and different from anything else you'll ever read. .

-Dollar Bin Horror

Dead Practices is fast paced and entertaining and Shells Walter is a name to remember.

-Shannon Riley Southern Rose Productions

Dead Practices has heart.

-Heather Faville

It was thoroughly enjoyable.

-Author Matthew Nord

I chat with author Daniel Shields

2011-11-28T22:16:00.002-05:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/11/shells-chats-with-author-daniel-sheilds.html

Bite This and Dead Practices on Sale!

2011-10-02T13:08:00.001-04:00

Victor is a man of God. He became a Priest to help people and with his faith, he thought he was doing just that.

Until one day he meets a stranger. As normal, this person needs help and Victor is right there to give that help.

However, this is no ordinary stranger. In fact, he's not even human, but a vampire. Through the interaction Victor soon realizes that maybe his faith isn't enough to deal with this, maybe it never was. Now with what he used to think wasn't real, is.

Can he get through this? Will his faith be enough or will the vampire take a bite out of who he was?

Rob Shelsky of Novel Spot says, " Shells Walter really knows how to spin a suspenseful and intriguing tale! There is still a strong element of horror and gore in Bite This, as there should be in any good vampire tale, but it is nicely balanced by the likeability of the characters. I found it easy to identify even with some of the vampires!"

House of Horror Ezine says, "A dark tale of love and faith in a world where evil walks free, Bite This is a great and easy read, making us realise that no matter how much faith or love we hold in our hearts, it cant always save us from fate that lurks around the corner."

Jerrod is a lawyer just like any other lawyer; there is only one exception- he is a zombie or more like what is considered a Zombie Citizen.

Zombies have been converted into Zombie Citizens so that they can live with regular people, IE humans. But someone wants to change the zombies back to the way they were, and possibly take over anything they can. The hitch- it is a client of Jerrod's.

Jerrod and his friend, a police officer named Rusty who is also a Zombie Citizen, try and stop this craziness from happening through a wild adventure that also includes a lot of super-glue.

Praise for Dead Practices

Dead Practices kept me entertained and enthralled as it moved towards its exciting and unexpected ending.
- Brian L Porter
Award Winning Author of A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper .

I recommend Dead Practices for the future fans of Romero. .
- Buyzombie.com .

It's fun, entertaining, and different from anything else you'll ever read. .
-Dollar Bin Horror

Dead Practices is fast paced and entertaining and Shells Walter is a name to remember.
-Shannon Riley Southern Rose Productions

Dead Practices has heart.
-Heather Faville

It was thoroughly enjoyable.
-Author Matthew Nord

Monster Fest 2011

2011-10-01T20:51:00.004-04:00

Me with costume at Monster Fest 2011. Those wings were huge and heavy! I wore a red and black mask and a red and black long wig too. The wings were stripped black and red.

Hearse Hotrod at Monster Fest 2011 The guy built it in under a year by himself.

Soul Survivors Hometown Tales Vol 1

2011-09-28T19:09:00.001-04:00

Where my 'White Rabbits and Clowns Oh My!' Bizzaro Short Story is in

Undertaker Anthology cover released

2011-09-27T10:07:00.003-04:00

The Undertaker Tales Anthology where my story 'They Know' will be featured in has had it's cover released for all of us to see.

Here it is below:

My next appearance

2011-08-25T09:50:00.003-04:00

I will be appearing at Monster Fest Oct 1st, selling and signing some of my books. Hope to see you there!

Short story The City Accepted

2011-08-25T09:47:00.002-04:00

My short story called The City has been accepted into the anthology Behind Locked Doors by Wicked East Press.

Cover art for Unglued Book Two of Dead Practices

2011-07-11T14:00:00.003-04:00

I'm so glad Jerrod Brown did the cover art for the second book in the Dead Practices series:Unglued. It is just wonderful!

My interview with Adam Mitzner author of A Conflict of Interest

2011-06-07T14:25:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/06/shells-chats-with-author-adam-mitzner.html

My interview with author Jeremy Shipp

2011-05-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-jeremy-shipp.html

Want your fiction book reviewed?

2011-05-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

see here for guidelines:

http://sonar4landingdockreviews.blogspot.com/

Would you like to be interviewed?

2011-05-20T19:05:00.000-04:00

If you are an author or screenwriter of any genre and would like to be interviewed by me please see how below:

Request an interview

My interview with Tommy B. Smith

2011-05-15T12:32:00.001-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-tommy-b-smith.html

My interview with author Michael Tabman

2011-05-12T08:23:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-michael-tabman.html

My interview with author Jesse Petersen

2011-05-09T07:49:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-jesse-petersen.html

My interview with author David L. Craddock

2011-05-06T10:23:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-david-l.html

My interview with author Craig Dilouie

2011-05-03T10:44:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-craig-dilouie.html

My interview with Karen J. Jones

2011-05-02T04:35:00.000-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/05/shells-chats-with-author-karen-j-jones.html

Elric comic being previewed on free comic day

2011-04-28T10:35:00.000-04:00

On May 7th 2011 Free Comic Book Day, The new Elric comic is being previwed. The series is based on the character created by one of my favorite authors, Michael Moorcock.The series is being released by Boom studios and is supposed to start in July of this year.

I also had the chance to interview Michael Moorcock. The interview is below:
http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/01/shells-chats-with-author-michael.html

My interview with Wayne Simmons

2011-04-28T10:32:00.001-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/04/shells-chats-with-author-wayne-simmons.html

My interview with author Anthony Cowin

2011-04-25T11:15:00.001-04:00

http://walterrhein.blogspot.com/2011/04/shells-chats-with-author-anthony-cowin.html

Whitechapel 13 Anthology open submission call

2011-04-25T05:45:00.000-04:00

To help support the:

for research projects, events and funding projects to learn more about Jack the Ripper/Victorian/ Edwardian society and history time period.

This anthology will be in conjunction with the short story competition located here
Meaning the top 3 entries from that competition will be in this anthology along with stories accepted from Sonar4 Publications.

Submission Guidelines

What we are looking for:

Stories dealing with Jack the Ripper/Victorian/ Edwardian society and history time period.

Word count 2,500 words to 5,000 words max.

What we don't want:

Erotica
Science Fiction

Please send your submissions to: whitechapeljack@toucansurf.com with subject line submission,Whitechapel 13, title of your story as an rtf file. Please include a short bio along with your story.

Deadline

May 30th, 2011 or until filled.

Expected Publication Date Fall 2011 Unless otherwise noted

Payment

Exposure only as all net proceeds will go to the Whitechapel Society 1888.

Episode 6 now up of series 2 of The Gentlemen's Club!

2011-04-21T14:36:00.000-04:00

http://gentlemensclubonlineseries.blogspot.com/2011/04/series-2-episode-6.html

Delicious Delights: A Family Cookbook Open call for submissions

2011-04-18T10:35:00.000-04:00

Delicious Delights: A Family Cookbook (WestNeb Books)

Pill Hill Press

Call for Recipes

Delicious Delights
A Family Cookbook

Compiled by Shells Walter
Deadline: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

We’re looking for your favorite family recipes… soups, salads, appetizers, casseroles, sides, etc. If you and your family enjoy the recipe, we’d like to feature it in our cookbook.

Please contact editor Shells Walters at deliciousdelights146(at)yahoo(dot)com if you have any questions.

Payment:
All contributing authors will receive a complimentary PDF copy of the cookbook upon publication

http://pillhillpress.submishmash.com/Submit/4767/Address

See details for submissions above

New book in Dead Practices Series

2011-03-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

I'm currently working on the next book in the Dead Practices series called Unglued. Our favorite zombie will be doing his thing along side his friend Rusty and a few familiar and not so familiar characters.

Enter for a Chance to win a print copy of Dead Practices

2011-03-07T19:53:00.000-05:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Dead Practices

by Shells Walter

Giveaway ends May 20, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

The Stephen King Challenge

2011-02-22T21:30:00.000-05:00

I saw this on another blog and thought I would try it out. Read as many Stephen King books in the year 2011. Can do that, will do that, can't wait!

New Interview with Me

2011-02-15T10:05:00.000-05:00

http://nakedsnakepress.net/?p=531

A nice review for Dead Practices

2011-02-07T22:04:00.001-05:00

http://southernroseproductions.tripod.com/id47.html

Dead Pracitces wins at the P&E Polls

2011-02-01T18:16:00.001-05:00

Dead Practices came in as a top ten finisher in the p&e polls for best Horror novel.

Thanks to all that voted!

Acceptances

2011-01-19T19:11:00.000-05:00

My Poem In Twenty Years I will be Yours got accepted into Static Poetry Anthology.
My Bizarro story titled Stuffed got accepted in the Bizarro anthology Like Frozen Statues of Flesh

Please vote for me in these areas in P&E Poll

2011-01-11T07:36:00.000-05:00

Please vote for me in these areas that I have been nominated for the P&E Poll

Would love your vote:)

author
http://critters.org/predpoll/author.shtml

Best Horror Novel Dead Practices
http://critters.org/predpoll/novelh.shtml

Best Horror short stories skin care and sinking
http://critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryh.shtml

Dead Practices wins cover art award!

2011-01-01T10:04:00.001-05:00

http://susanwhitfield.blogspot.com/2011/01/whitfield-book-cover-award-winner.html

Author interviews

2010-12-16T18:47:00.000-05:00

I have gotten the opportunity to interview authors for a wonderful site called Heroic Fantasy run by Walter Rhein. If you wish to be interviewed please inquiry to the email below

shellsinterviews (at) yahoo (dot) com

Seeing a great author

2010-12-08T16:45:00.000-05:00

Last Sat was a lot of fun listening to David Baldacci give a talk. I got two books signed by him and it was fun to hear him say he liked my shirt. I was wearing my Script Frenzy shirt.

A couple of pictures are below.

Rob and the girls.

Me with the author

David Baldacci giving his talk

Author signing

2010-12-01T20:48:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to be able to go to a book signing and speaking engagement of one of my favorite author's this weekend David Baldacci. I love his Camel Club series and can't wait to meet him.

It will be nice break too with everything that has happened recently.

Have a lot of writing to do before then including some volunteer work on top of my novel writing.

Zombie novel

2010-11-30T09:36:00.000-05:00

The zombie novel I was working on during nanowrimo needs some work and switching around. So that's my next writing adventure getting that done. It's a new twist on the zombie aspect. I don't believe I have read something like it yet, but you never know it's not like I have read everything.

New Interview with Me

2010-11-13T20:01:00.001-05:00

It was a fun interview and you get to learn a bit more about me. That's of course if you want to read it ;-)

It's located here:
http://www.beacon-news.com/interview-author-shells-walter/222239/

New review for Dead Practices

2010-11-12T13:19:00.001-05:00

http://thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com/2010/11/dead-practices-shells-water.html

Eat or be Eaten coming 2011

2010-10-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to be working with Matt Nord and Jessica Weiss on Eat or be Eaten a novella collaboration of 3 novellas one for each of us based on a short story I had written a while ago called Tooth Decay.

Another wonderful review for Dead Practices!

2010-08-15T12:14:00.000-04:00

http://dollarbinhorror.blogspot.com/2010/08/dollar-bin-horror-spotlight-dead.html

Wonderful review for Dead Practices!

2010-08-08T16:23:00.000-04:00

5 Star Review on Amazon!

Mr. B. Porter "Whitechapel Jack"

This review is from: Dead Practices
Set in a future world where 'Zombie Citizens' live side by side with human beings, Dead Practices introduces us to Jerrod Hikens, a lawyer who also happens to be a zombie. Appointed to defend an accused murderer, a human, Jerrod finds himself drawn into an ever escalating plot that leads the reader from simple bank robbery to a complex attempt to kidnap the President of the USA. Jerrod's client appears to have found a way to undo the revolutionary medical breakthrough that enabled the zombie nation to live side by side with the humans, without the need to devour living flesh.So, aided by a horde of revisionist zombies, the killer sets to work on his terrible plot, and only Jerrod and his policeman friend, Rusty, a fellow zombie, stand in the way of the murderer's success.Although not over long, Dead Practices kept me entertained and enthralled as it moved towards its exciting and unexpected ending. Beware the twist in the tale!

Brian L Porter
Award Winning Author of A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper

Novella Project

2010-07-20T15:40:00.000-04:00

I have not really blogged on here in awhile, a bit busy. But some news that I'm really excited about is working on a novella project with Jessica Weiss and Matt Nord based on my short story Tooth Decay.

Currently I'm in the first part of it for writing, got some words knocked down. I'm doing the vampire part. There are two more parts that Jessica and Matt are doing. It is hoped to be published by Wicked East Press.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the full thing done.

They are a great couple of people to work with.

Dead Practices Print Ed on sale now!

2010-07-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

http://www.sonar4publications.com/zombie.html

A new interview about Dead Practices and my writing

2010-06-23T16:04:00.000-04:00

http://kolinatopel.blogspot.com/2010/06/author-spotlight-with-shells-walter.html

I'll be interviewed about Dead Practices on Page Readers Blog talk show at 3pm eastern

2010-06-21T10:20:00.000-04:00

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/show.aspx?userurl=page-readers&year=2010&month=06&day=21&url=shells-walter-dead-practices-on-page-readers

3pm eastern

Making the choice

2010-05-06T20:11:00.001-04:00

Writing for yourself is sometimes the hardest thing to do. As an author and at times even more so as a first time author, it is easy to write for the latest anthology, latest magazine ect. But what happens when you're so consumed about writing for someone else you end up loosing that part of the story that was you?

I've been writing for several years and just a few years back made a choice to want to be published. During this time, I learned a lot about what is accepted, what is not, how to follow guidelines and much more. This process was exciting and yet exhausting at the same time. I ended up writing a lot for places, some being accepted and some getting rejected. In the meantime, I had lost something, the passion for writing, the reason why I started.

It took me awhile to get that passion back. I was frustrated, had writer's block at times and didn't know the reason why. I even went into a somewhat depression phase. Then I discovered my reason for writing, my passion for writing again. It was as if a weight was lifted off me.

So what has this to do with?

It all boils down to writing for yourself. I'm not saying writing for a particular magazine, submitting your work for the next big anthology you shouldn't do, just don't get lost in having everyone making the choice for you on what to write. Writing should come from you, your heart, and your passion. If your work fits somewhere, submit it. If not you know you have given yourself into the writing. When you are published, you are always sharing a piece of yourself. Always make sure you have some pieces left.

upcoming interviews/appearances

2010-04-28T13:42:00.000-04:00

Available for interviews please contact Shells at www.shellswalter.com .

Interviews

Sonar4 Mag Blog Talk Show June 27th
Page Readers Blog Talk Show (Date to be determined)
Coffee with an author Blog Talk Show Sept 13th
DFS Blog talk show (Date to be determined)

Events

Guest Author Blogger at Coyote Con 30 Day Author Conference on May 23rd May 2010

dead practices pre-order now!

2010-04-18T17:35:00.000-04:00

conversations with writers

2010-03-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

http://conversationswithwriters.blogspot.com/2010/03/interview-shells-walter.html

My story They crawled now published

2010-03-05T21:23:00.001-05:00

here http://www.cynicmag.com/feature.aspx?articleid=3220

Pete talks with Shells Walter, author of Justice Served. Jan 15th at 9pm eastern

2010-01-14T22:46:00.000-05:00

Pete talks with Shells Walter, author of Justice Served.

Please vote for me in Preditors and Editors Poll!

2010-01-01T10:48:00.000-05:00

Horror Novel
Shells Walter Justice Served

Horror Short Story
Short Stories Horror
The Gentlemen's Club By Shells Walter

Author
Shells Walter

upcoming interviews/appearances

2009-12-01T13:37:00.001-05:00

Jan 23rd
Author's Read Talk show reading an excerpt from Demon Alley:10 short stories based on your favorite urban legends
9am pacific
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsread
Call in Number:
347-215-8319

Jan 15th 9pm eastern
the adirondack bookhouse talk show
Call-in Number: (646) 716-8094

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theadirondackbookhouse

House of Horror The lounge
12/7/2009
5pm eastern

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/house-of-horrorthelounge
call in number:(917) 889-7295

My interview on the odd mind show

2009-11-20T00:12:00.000-05:00

www.blogtalkradio.com/theoddmind

Upcoming Appearances

2009-11-13T09:05:00.001-05:00

Nov 19th Odd Mind Show 10pm Eastern
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/TheOddMind
Call-in Number: (347) 945-7025

Nov 29th The Funky Werepig 9pm Eastern
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-funky-werepig
Call-in Number: (646) 929-1147

And look for my new interview soon up at Novelspot!

Please sponsor me in Nanowrimo

2009-10-05T06:25:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends, Family, and Righteous Supporters,

This November, the nonprofit Office of Letters and Light will be bringing together the most mighty of endurance novelists for an event that will define our generation forever.

I'm speaking, of course, of National Novel Writing Month. It's a global writing challenge in which participants spend November (and portions of our sanity!) writing a 50,000-word book in just 30 days.

I will be among the participating authors this year. In addition to my writerly duties, I'm raising money to help the Office of Letters and Light continue to put on free creative writing programs for kids and adults in classrooms, communities, and libraries around the world.

Every dollar I raise will keep my spirits high as I write my way towards the realization of my creative goals. More importantly, your contribution will help National Novel Writing Month and its Young Writers Program create a more engaged and inspiring world.

Thank you so much for your support of my writing!

Shells Walter
Sponsor me

see my interview in the monsters next door issue 8!

2009-09-22T12:41:00.000-04:00

http://www.themonstersnextdoor.com/8.html

Interviews with static movement and house of horror ezine!

2009-09-01T18:06:00.000-04:00

http://staticmovement.com/interviewshellswalter.htm

http://www.houseofhorror.org.uk/#/shells-walter-interview/4535233143

small excerpt from upcoming book Dead Practices

2009-08-18T13:39:00.002-04:00

Giving a small excerpt from the rough version of Dead Practices coming out in 2010 from sonar4 publications:

“Hey Jerrod, it’s Rusty. I’ve got a case for you.” Rusty’s deep voice was known throughout the police station. It was also considered too low for a zombie’s voice.

“What you got?” Jerrod moved his right hand around to make sure it didn’t get stiff.

“Hold on, hate these stupid phones, fingers always sticking to them and falling off.” Jerrod nodded in agreement with Rusty. He knew too well about human phones being sticky.

“Okay, got my fingers back into place, well as best as they can be. This superglue doesn’t work like it use to.” A sigh was heard from the other end.

“You’re right and it’s one thing I’m bringing up at the next Zombie council meeting. Since we have to work in a human civilization and with their equipment, we should have something to keep our body parts together.” Jerrod’s tone was harsh. One thing he didn’t like was prejudice against Zombie members.

“I hear ya. But anyways, back to the case I was talking about.”

“Is it another Human case?” Silence.

“Rusty?”

“Yes, okay, it’s another Human case.”

“You know I hate those,” Jerrod said, pacing around the floor making sure his feet didn’t knock any chair legs apart.

“Yes, you’re the best criminal attorney, Zombie or not,” Rusty pushed.

“You mean I’m one of the few lawyers that will take this case at all?” Jerrod spat into the phone, some maggots hit the receiver.

“Well, that too. I’m sorry. I couldn’t think of anyone else.”

“I’m surprised you think at all with only half a brain left.”

“You would be surprised at what these implants can do,” Rusty laughed.

“And I’m sure everyone enjoys half your brain not being there,” Jerrod joked back.

“They deal. They have to now. It’s the law. They can’t make fun of us anymore. Besides, who’s to say one of us won’t revert to the old ways and take a nibble or two out of them?”

Jerrod laughed at Rusty’s comment. It had been years since Zombies had eaten any humans. Jerrod’s father and great-grandfather had made sure that Zombies and Humans could live side by side.

---------------------------------------

Upcoming Interview

2009-08-18T13:39:00.001-04:00

On the odd mind on Nov 19th at 10pm Eastern

Call-in number is 347-945-7025

www.blogtalkradio.com/theoddmind

Secret life of Hank Wilson story published in Static Movement

2009-08-01T09:24:00.000-04:00

July Issue

http://staticmovement.com/shellswalter.htm

Interview with Liquid Imagination

2009-07-07T09:55:00.001-04:00

You can read it here!:)

http://www.liquid-imagination.com/blog/?cat=1

Banner Contest Winners announced from Sonar4 Publications

2009-07-02T11:02:00.001-04:00

winners listed here www.sonar4publications.com/contests.html

Appearing on the Odd Mind Blog Talk radio june 22nd

2009-06-20T11:22:00.000-04:00

i will be appearing on the odd mind talk show june 22nd at 10pm eastern time

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/TheOddMind
call in number:

347-996-3650

Order Bite This now on Sale!

2009-06-18T11:58:00.000-04:00

ORDER PRINT VERSION OR EBOOK VERSION FROM SONAR4 PUBLICATIONS:

Victor is a man of God. He became a Priest to help people and with his faith, he thought he was doing just that.

Until one day he meets a stranger. As normal, this person needs help and Victor is right there to give that help.

However, this is no ordinary stranger. In fact, he's not even human, but a vampire. Through the interaction
Victor soon realizes that maybe his faith isn't enough to deal with this, maybe it never was. Now with what he used to
pray agaisnt, and something he didn't think was real, has become real.

Can he get through this? Will his faith be enough or will the vampire take a bite out of who he was?

ORDER BITE THIS BY SHELLS WALTER HERE

Watch Bite This Trailer below

pre-order bite this my horror book

2009-06-14T17:59:00.000-04:00

www.sonar4publications.com/bitethis.html

Bite This Horror Novella Book Trailer

2009-06-12T11:16:00.001-04:00

Scattered Verses Moonlight Curses (collection of Poetry by various poets)

2009-06-03T10:19:00.001-04:00

Featuring:

Cover art and inner sketches by Kimberlee Traub www.myspace.com/kimberleetraub

Poetry By:
Alexis Child,
Rhonda Parrish,
Charlotte Gledson,
Natalie Sin,
Julie "Cannibal Rose" Thielen,
LB Goddard,
Shells Walter,
Richard Fay,
Benjamin Bussey
Brian Beemer

buy Here!
http://www.themonstersnextdoor.com/scatteredverses.html

zombie lawyer

2009-05-30T22:49:00.000-04:00

Working on a new novel or novella whatever it ends up to be lol featuring a zombie lawyer. Still trying to figure out what the zombie lawyer will drive!

I'm in Scattered Verses , Moonlight Curses Poetry book

2009-05-21T08:52:00.000-04:00

This collection of deliciously dark poetry is presented by The Monsters Next Door Magazine.

Scattered Verses, Moonlit Curses is available NOW to buy. Please support
poets by clicking the link below! At a reasonable price indulge yourself in the raw emotions of loss, regret and pain.

Beautifully illustrated by Kimberlee Traub, this is a gem!
http://www.themonstersnextdoor.com/scatteredverses.html

win a copy of my book, demon alley 10 short stories based on your favorite urban legends

2009-05-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

Sonar4 Publications New Contest Win an Ebook PDF copy of Demon Minds 10 Short Stories based on your favorite Urban Legends by Shells Walter

Create a banner for Shells Sci fi and Horror author for her website and for others to link to her site located here www.shellswalter.com

send submissions as an attached jpg to sonar4contests@gmail.com by July 1st deadline. Winners announced soon after.

The Dark Fiction Show Sat may 16th

2009-05-17T11:07:00.001-04:00

I had a blast on the show! Thanks for all who came!

If you missed the show you can hear it here:

Demon Alley on sale now!

2009-05-13T03:47:00.000-04:00

Remember those Urban Legends you loved? The ones you were not too sure of? Or the ones which gave you the chills?


Shells Walter brings you 10 of these Urban Legends
 in a new twist.

You can buy Demon Alley:10 Short Stories based on your Favorite
 Urban Legends in print edition


Here!

I'll be on the dark fiction spotlight blog talk show may 16th at 11pm eastern!

2009-05-11T10:58:00.001-04:00

this, Saturday! This is a special show, with a guest host, Jason Kepler. Jason is a fellow dark fiction writer, with a great background in comedy, and the arts. We are honored to have him hijack an episode! We look forward to more special events like this.

When? This, Saturday May 16th. @ 11PM EST

Where? www.blogtalkradio.com/dark-fiction-show

Call in #: 718-664-6032

I'm on the author spotlight for wordweavers!

2009-05-03T22:08:00.000-04:00

Through this week of May 3rd, I'm featured on the author spotlight of Word Weavers located here:

http://www.myspace.com/weaversofwords

Demon Alley

2009-04-23T23:21:00.001-04:00

Demon Alley is now done. It was a fun story to write. Now on to the horror to add to the Oz story MUHAAAA

Demon Alley Story almost done

2009-04-23T11:54:00.001-04:00

My second story for LOH is almost done. Demon alley took a bit more research than expected. Though it is becoming one of my favorites I have written.

After that, on to the Oz story ;-)

Upcoming Interviews:

2009-04-17T23:05:00.000-04:00

Upcoming Interviews:

on The Dark Fiction Spotlight on May 16th at 11pm eastern
Call in # (718) 664-6032
www.blogtalkradio.com/dark-fiction-show

On the odd mind on June 22nd at 10pm Eastern
Call-in number is 347-945-7025
www.blogtalkradio.com/theoddmind

Busy Busy

2009-04-08T21:20:00.000-04:00

Currently am working on the next chapter in the Horror Project Dark Macabre Chose your own fate of horror. It's coming along. I can't wait for this to be finished. I'm enjoying this so much and the authors I'm working with are great!

I have some things to do for the LOH as well and they have put up a new website. Looks great. Have to get working on that.

Soon though we may have a new edition to our family, a puppy. Which means much more time loss, but for a good reason;-)

script frenzy started

2009-04-01T20:52:00.000-04:00

Today I started writing my script for the Frenzy. Harder than I thought when our bathroom floor is being done and I'm stuck with doing everything, but I managed a couple of pages to start. Hopefully be able to do more tomorrow.

On a good note: Was able to work through some final edits on the new edition of Justice Served. So that should be ready soon for publication in print format.

And managed to get some things done for LOH as well. Thank God for Laptops.

Script Frenzy 2009

2009-03-20T22:34:00.000-04:00

I'm the ML for Script Frenzy for Hampton Roads area again this year. 100 page script in one month.

This year based on my horror short 'Tooth Decay'. I'm looking forward to it.

If anyone is interested Script Frenzy is located here My name on there is Ravenwonderingdragon.

Horror Project

2009-03-19T19:56:00.000-04:00

The Horror Project being worked on with a few other authors for Sonar4 Publication is moving along. I'm going first with the chapters and am almost done.

We have the cover art done and possibly a title.

I can't wait until this all comes together.

My website

2009-03-19T19:54:00.000-04:00

I finally have my website up about my writing and such. For so long I was focusing on other projects and things of that nature, that I forgot that perhaps I may wish a website for me.

At first I didn't have the time, but was informed I should make the time.

So here it is. I hope everyone enjoys it and it will be updated as things go on.