The Courage of Pursuing a Dream

A fellow author and friend named GB Banks needs our help and I hope everyone who sees this will hear what he has to say and lend a hand in any way they can. Here he is in his own words. 

When I first embarked on the 30-day journey of running an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for my upcoming book, Revolution Z, I don't think I fully understood how much of a personal challenge it would prove for me. I have Type III Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as "Brittle Bone Disease." Some of you may be familiar with the disease from the Samuel L. Jackson role in the film Unbreakable, while others might have become familiar with it from the lead character in author Dean Koontz's "Odd Thomas" series. While my personal story has never been a secret, I've just never been one to spend a lot of time talking about myself. So when I started down this crowdsourcing path, I found myself being told by people I've known for years that they had no idea about the difficulties of my life.

Revolution Z is an epic zombie war thriller about a revolution spearheaded by the resurrected President George Washington, who leads a full assault on Washington, D.C. in order to take back the government from what he feels are corrupt leaders. After seeing the current state of the President Washington is bent on restoring the US to a nation run by the people, for the people. And a brutal war ensues. I strongly believe that this story can be a huge success if I can give it the kind of exposure necessary to get the word out.

My goal in starting this campaign was to raise funds to help me to fulfill a dream. All of my life I've been dependent on others, primarily my parents, for pretty much everything due to my disability. But as both I and they grow older, I've become more conscious about the uncertainty of my future. Writing is a love and passion of mine, not only a way to travel the world I haven't been able to go out and explore for myself, but also as a way to share my own ideas, thoughts, and observations about life from my own unique perspective. My greatest dream would be to make writing my lifelong career. And the opportunities to do just that are all around us these days! But the severity of my disability has left me with the need of assistance with pretty much everything, so the funds I’m trying to raise will not only go toward promotion of the book, but in providing me with the means to pay a private nurse who can accompany me whenever I need to go out to any events that should arise, such as book signings, conventions, etc.

What I quickly learned when I started this campaign was that for the first time in my life, I would have to put myself out front and center, and not just be a faceless fellow hiding behind the anonymity of a keyboard. It took me hours alone just to make a decent video for my Indiegogo page, and I’ve found that trying to get the word out and keeping the momentum going has proven to be a full time job. But I’ve also learned just how amazingly generous and supportive people, even complete strangers, can truly be.

With just a few days left, I don’t know if I will be able to reach my campaign goals, but regardless of the final numbers, I will have learned a lot about myself, and I am truly blessed by all of the love and support I have received over this long 30 days.

My Indiegogo page: http://igg.me/at/RevolutionZ/x/5413551

My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RevolutionZbook

A Quick Update on Season 2 of Primal Shift

Over the last few weeks I've received a number of emails (and one FB comment) asking how Season 2 of Primal Shift was coming along. I'm happy to report that so far it's coming along very nicely. Already I'm about to start episode 9 and hope to have the rest completed by the end of November. There are a number of crazy twists and turns, characters lost and characters found. It's shaping up to be a wild ride indeed.
As always, anyone interested in being notified about the release of the final season of Primal Shift should sign up for my mailing list at the top of the page.

New Release: Hive 3 and The Complete Collection!

I'm thrilled to announce the release of Hive 3. It's been a long time coming, I know, but she's here and I think fans of the series will be happy. I've also combined all three books into a single omnibus called Hive: The Complete Collection. A designer with mad skills named Conzpiracy made the cover and I have to say I really love it. A few of you may spot areas where we took some artistic license, but Conzpiracy won me over with his ability to capture the claustrophobic and high octane mood of the story in a single snapshot. I also couldn't have done it without a small army of beta readers as well as my editor, Andrea Harding. She's edited just about every book I've written. I'm not sure what I'd do without her.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it's a post-apocalyptic zombie story set two hundred years after the world was decimated by a Zees. What are Zees you ask. They're like zombies, except they share a hive mind. The first episode is free for anyone interested in giving it a try risk free.

Here's the blurb to get you started:

There aren't many opportunities for women in Azina's post-apocalyptic, zombie ravaged world; least of all mercenary leader. Not that being told no ever stopped her before.

It's The Keepers of Knowledge who run things, as they have for the last two centuries, working to recover any technology that might have survived humanity's fall. So when The Keepers hire Azina and her eclectic crew of hardened veterans to find four lost Prospectors, it sounds like easy money.

The search leads the group to a crumbling underground city. But what looks like just another ruin from a bygone era isn't nearly as deserted as it appears. A horde of bloodthirsty Zees are stirring from a long slumber. But these zombies aren't like anything in the history books. They share a hive mind. When one sees you, they all see you and worse than that. Something may be controlling them.

New Release: Season 1 of Primal Shift!

The complete first season of Primal Shift is now live on Amazon! Hard to believe how time flies. Fans of paper books should be happy to hear the paperback version should also be online within the next few days. As many of you know I'm working hard on finishing Hive 3. Once that's done, I'll return to the Primal Shift universe and begin scratching out the next few episodes. On another important note. Episode 1 of the series will be free on Amazon from June 7-11th, so if you haven't experienced life after the apocalypse yet, then now's your chance.

Episode 5 of Primal Shift is now on Amazon!

Episode 5 of Primal Shift is now on Amazon! That marks the end of season 1. And let me tell you, it's a great feeling. As soon as I finish Hive 3, I'll be starting work on season 2. But here's where I need input from fans of the series. Should I release season 2 in the same episodic format I used for season 1 or all at once in a single 300-400 page book?

From a reader's perspective, there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Getting bits of the story into your hands quicker is one advantage. If I release season 2 in one lump sum, it won't be out before September this year. So there would be a wait. But it may save you all a buck or two. I guess what I'm asking is, would you prefer your steak cut into strips and served piecemeal every 10 minutes, or would you rather wait a little longer and eat everything at once? Hmm, for some reason my stomach's grumbling. If you're a fan of the series, I'd love you to weigh in and let me know what you'd prefer. All right, back to Azina and swarms of hungry Zees.

New Release: Episode 4 of Primal Shift!

Episode 4 of Primal Shift is now on Amazon! As of now, my plan is to release episode 5 and the omnibus at least two weeks earlier than scheduled, so there's some good news for fans of the series. I'm also continuing work on Hive 3 which I hope to finish shortly. After that, who knows. I got a ton of projects on the back burner just begging to be written. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Happy reading!

New Release: Primal Shift Episode 3

Primal Shift episode 3 is now live on Amazon! If you thought episodes 1 and 2 were good, then hang onto your knickers Shiftites. Fans of my short story Fatherland should also appreciate the cameo by one of the key players in that story. I won't dare ruin the surprise by saying anything more other than if you haven't read Fatherland yet (the thrilling prequel to Primal Shift) head to Amazon, Kobo or iTunes and download it for free. I've also included the story in episode 3 of Primal Shift since without it, readers may be left scratching their heads, wondering what the heck's going on.

A special thank you to my fans and colleagues for all of your wonderful support and encouragement. In particular, Andrea Harding for her editing eagle eyes and professionalism. If there are any typos in PS, they belong to me and me alone. A thank you as well to Craig Mcgray for being a great author, an awesome sounding board and an all-round terrific guy. A final shout-out to all my Twitter peeps who help keep me visible. Last but not least, apologies to the rest of the world who may be feeling like the above sounds far too much like one of those cheesy Oscar acceptance speeches. ;-)

Happy Reading!

PS: A number of readers have asked me when Hive 3, the series finale, will be coming out. It was originally slated for a May 1st release, but I've been forced to push that date back by about a month. Sorry for the delay.

New Release: Primal Shift Episode 2

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let you know episode 2 of my thrilling post-apocalyptic series Primal Shift is now available on Amazon!
Follow the link above if you'd like to take a peek at the blurb and sample pages.

The end of the world in a way you never saw coming!

I'm pleased to announce the release of Primal Shift; an exciting serialized novel about the end of the world and the handful of survivors left behind. The format will resemble a TV show in that 'episodes' will be released a few weeks apart and continue where the last one ended. Episodes 1-5 will constitute the first season and will be bundled into an omnibus (Summer 2013).

Here's the blurb for anyone interested in taking a look:


The apocalypse strikes without warning. A mysterious geomagnetic event that sweeps the globe, leaving a powerful amnesia in its wake.

In the blink of an eye, the human race is robbed of the most basic skills learned in childhood: reading, writing and the ability to speak. Civilization crumbles, plunging the world into an age of unparalleled barbarism.

From the ashes emerge a handful of survivors, largely unaffected by the change. Alone, they must brave a dangerous and chaotic world in order to reach the only known refuge: a camp set in the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah. There lies food, shelter and maybe even answers.

But standing between them and safety is more than bands of armed thugs and bloodthirsty cannibals. A new evil is gathering. One that’s eager to destroy the last vestiges of life on earth and finish what it started, once and for all.

The survivors:

A man who awakens in the bowels of a secret laboratory with no memory of how he got there and only an enigmatic tattoo to guide him.
A Coast Guard sailor searching for a killer who may not be what he seems.
A mother of two and recent widow, struggling to protect her family from a world gone mad.
A former CEO and full-time scumbag determined to do whatever it takes to thrive in this new apocalyptic wasteland.

In other news: I'm working hard to finish episode five of Primal Shift so I can begin working on the final installment of the Hive series. If all goes well, my plan is to get Hive III out by April 1st. A paperback and ebook edition of the series will follow. Other than that I've got at least a half dozen projects I want to tackle. Not to get too mushy, but without the support from my loyal and loving fans, none of this would be possible. Thank you!

Finally, I strongly suggest that anyone who would like to stay on top of new releases sign up for my newsletter (←Go here or top left of my blog page). The next 20 new subscribers will receive a free copy of my short story Fatherland (an important prequel to the events in Primal Shift).

New Release: Nightfall A collection of Dark Tales

So far 2013 is shaping up to be a real cracker of a year. For starters, we were spared a horrible cataclysm on December 21st, 2012 which is a shame really cause I'd spent quite a bit of money on my post-apocalyptic Mad Max style outfit. And trust me when I tell you, trying on assless chaps and a Tina Turner wig in the store was a big mistake.

Joking aside, I've got some more announcements to make. I've recently started a newsletter and a number of people have already joined in so that's very encouraging. I'm not crazy about tooting my own horn, so it's a great way for readers to stay on top of new releases once they hit the shelves.

Most recently in that category is my collection of short fiction called Nightfall. Seven of the best short stories I have, now all in one place. Bird of Prey, The Neighbors, The Second Coming, The Grip, Fatherland, The Bearer and Last Call. I'm naming them here to ensure none of you go out and buy the individual stories. If you're interested, save a few bucks and get the collection.

More importantly, toward the end of February I'll be releasing a post apocalyptic serialized novel that follows four groups of unlikely characters through a frightening end of the world landscape. I'm staying  tight lipped about it now but let's just say civilization is about to come crashing down in a way you never expected. The cover's also really nice but I'll be waiting another week or so before I reveal it.

Dark Passage has also seen an uptick in sales since the promotion I did at the end of January. At the very least, I got my name out there to a few thousand more readers and hopefully they'll enjoy a tour through Griffin Hayes' demented brain (I think I just spoke about myself in the third person, ouch!)

Finally, in April, once work on season 1 of the post apocalyptic series wraps up, I'll be finishing Hive III and combining all three stories into a single volume. After that, I may chop off my fingers and head to a monastery high up on a hill somewhere. Or not. Haven't decided yet.