Read Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom Chapter 1 Absolutely FREE

Welcome to the blog, dear reader. I hope you had a happy, safe, and refreshing holiday season. Things were a little hectic here at MacPherson Manor, but they were also pretty wonderful. Rebecca and I had a terrific time with our sons and family, but it was over far too soon, and we are once again buried to our cephalopodic necks (yes, Cthulhoids have necks) in writing projects. But that is a good thing.

Tweet of Truth

Yesterday whilst reading my timeline on Twitter (don’t judge me), one of my friends Re-Tweeted this interesting bit of information from mainstream comic writer Ed Brubaker:

@brubaker If my Fatale promoting tweets bugs you, you probably don’t understand how hard it is to sell an indie comic.

If a writer who has seen considerable commercial success is having difficulty selling his creator-owned book, perhaps you can begin to appreciate how nearly impossible onerous and frustrating it is for the rest of us. Indie comic creators make comics out of a deep love for the medium, and we rarely see a dime for our efforts. And, to add insult to injury, we often find that some mouth-breathing dunderhead(s) is/are scanning and pirating our books on the internet.

So… with this in mind, I have decided to make the first chapter of Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom available for free download.

The Fine Print

All I ask (and I realize this is a lot to ask) is that if you enjoy this special preview, please pre-order the book and tell your friends and family about it. If you have a blog, Facebook or Twitter page, share a link to this blog post.

You can pre-order Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom from your friendly neighborhood comic shop with the Diamond Order Code JAN12 0814. Or, if you prefer, you can pre-order from your favorite local bookstore or any online comic or bookseller.

I would also mention that the critically-acclaimed first book, Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom, is available from the aforementioned outlets.

FREE DOWNLOAD

To get your copy, simply click the wickedly-cool cover image below. When you get to the download page, click the bubble next to Download Files to my Computer and then click the Download button. Too easy.

Thank You For Your Continued Support

I mean that. I really do. Without each and every one of you, I would not be able to do what I love. You have my deepest and most sincere gratitude. Thank you.

I’ll write more later, but now I must dive back in. *glub*

-D

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen…

The year is quickly winding down, and 2011 will soon be gone! We are moving into our busy social time, so you will probably not hear from us until well into the new year. This is usually the time when people start reflecting on their lives – where they are, where they have been, and where they want to go. For us, it has been an incredible year – full of new projects, traveling, and family bonding. You know how New Year’s Eve goes: out with the old and in with the new. We are looking forward to 2012 and all it has to bring, including several exciting new projects!

We wish you a safe, blessed, and Merry Christmas!

As our special gift to you, just click the image below and get ready for some cozy KRAMPUS Christmastime love (okay, maybe not).

Signed Books

Don’t forget: if you still want to order signed copies of Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom, drop us an email (howardlovecraft(dot)comic(at)gmail.com). They have gone quickly, and we only have a few books left.

The Lovecraft Anthology

SelfMade Hero has announced the March release of The Lovecraft Anthology: Volume II, which features an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation by Dwight and sensational artist Paul Peart-Smith. Check out this amazing cover by our dear friend Francesco Francavilla, and click on the image to find out more about the book.

“Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be… DOUBLE DEAD!”
-The Nightmare Before Christmas

Warm regards,

Dwight and Rebecca and Krampus

PS – You can certainly tell which parts Dwight added! Hahaha!

Give the Gift of Lovecraft This Christmas

In anticipation of the February 28th release of Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom, I have decided to make an exclusive offer to YOU, my dear readers and friends.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE

For the month of December, I am offering signed copies of Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom at the special rate of $15 each (which includes shipping and handling) for readers in the Continental United States, and $20 for international orders. If you order two copies, you will only pay $5 for the second copy, and everyone who orders two copies gets a FREE third copy–all signed and delivered right to your door by a flesh-eating shoggoth (they can change their appearance, you know).

Rebecca and I have three wonderful sons, ages 15, 13 and 11. When I received the box of books in the post, each of them asked for their own copy. So trust me: this is the perfect gift for the young people or the young at heart on your Christmas list!

What The (Grown-Up Type) People Have Said

Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune said that Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom is a “splendid new graphic novel,” and called it a “sumptuously illustrated, cleverly written and deeply haunting novel.”

Publisher’s Weekly said the book will, “appeal to younger readers, who should find the plot’s twists and turns and the young protagonist appealing.”

Booklist said: “Grumps… will not be comforted by the modern plot arc and the constant quipping, but even they will appreciate the upsetting twist ending and the haunting final panel.”

Shroud Magazine gave Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom 5 stars and said that the book “shows us a NEW vision of Howard Lovecraft: precocious, whimsical, witty – maybe even a bit snotty – and hopeful, relatively untainted by the inevitable burden of ‘awful, unknowable things.’”

You can also check out a preview of the book HERE.

After visiting his father in Arkham Sanitarium, young Howard Lovecraft ignores his father’s warning and uses the legendary Necronomicon to open a portal to a strange frozen world filled with horrifying creatures and grave danger!

TO ORDER

Simply send an e-mail with your mailing address and the number of copies you would like to order to howardlovecraft(dot)comic(at)gmail.com and we will take it from there. I should also say that supplies are extremely limited, so it will be first come first served.

Ho Ho FHTAGN!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from me and my family to you and yours, my friends! And be sure to keep an eye out for those flesh-eating, mail-delivering shoggoths (and Krampus, too)!

-D-

The Pirates of Charleston

The MacPherson Clan spent the Thanksgiving holiday with our wonderful family friends, the Laskavys, in Charleston, South Carolina. In all our years of travel, Rebecca and I had never been to Charleston (though this was our son Clayton’s second trip to the historic city), so it was an exciting adventure for all of us.

And there were PIRATES.

DEAD MEN Revisited

Most readers are not aware that I penned DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES with the intention of producing a 12-issue series. In the original script, the 10th issue featured Blackbeard‘s meeting and rough treatment of the “Gentleman Pirate” Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard’s blockade of Charleston in May of 1718, and also his comical abandonment of the ship and most of the men he’d basically stolen from Bonnet after his crew decided they wanted Blackbeard to be their captain.

Why Bonnet?

Blackbeard was skeptical when he heard word of a pardon from the King, so he refused to meet with the Governor of North Carolina. Bonnet, on the other hand, wanted to accept the pardon so he could continue living the pirate’s life like the scurvy knave he was without the fear of being hanged. He would merely work for the British crown as a privateer.

Blackbeard was right.

So, after recovering the ship that Blackbeard had taken from him only to abandon it–along with several of his double-crossed crewmen–he sailed off into the sunset sailed into a trap and was captured.

Yes, Stede Bonnet was apprehended shortly after, and then returned to Charleston where he was held in the provost marshal’s guardhouse (read: DUNGEON) to await his laughable trial, and his long walk off a short pier (read: PUBLIC HANGING).

Believe it or not, the unlucky pirate captain managed to escape.

To an island. He was soon recaptured on Sullivan’s Island and returned to the provost dungeon (see photos below).

In Charleston, he was ultimately tried and hanged from the neck until dead on the 10th of December, 1718.

This explains why the city draws more attention to Bonnet than Blackbeard. There is no question that Edward Teach (or whatever his name was) walked the streets of Charleston, weighed anchor in its harbor, and used his flotilla to blockade the town, but it was Bonnet that was imprisoned, tried, hanged, and buried at the water’s edge in the olde towne.

The Pirate House

There are several stories of pirate houses, taverns and brothels in Charleston. One of the more famous of these houses even has its own website. This was one of the houses that I wanted to make sure we visited.

It should be noted that I made every attempt to contact the spirits of the pirates (“AARRR ya here?”) that haunt the quaint building, but I was only able to reach the answering parrot.

So we took pictures instead.

Oh, and here I am at the (rumored) Pirate Tavern…

X Marks The Spot

Rebecca, Clayton, Duncan, Logan and I had a wonderful time in Charleston. Thank you so much to the Laskavys for their warm hospitality, kindness, generosity and friendship. We hope to return to Pirate Towne…

As soon as I receive my pardon.

+Captain D+

The Horror! The Horror!

Firstly, a big thank you to my lovely wife Rebecca for posting in my absence. She is such an amazing woman! I am truly blessed to have her. I hope you’ve enjoyed her warm and personal perspective.

Secondly, I am happy and proud (and a bit relieved) to announce that I have finished writing my first YA novel, and, to be quite honest, I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever written! I cannot wait to share it with you.

So… the manuscript has been sent to my agent, and I am seated at my desk in the dungeon finally writing an update for my blog and beginning to put my thoughts onto paper for the second book. I have the story plotted in my head, so it’s just a matter of typing it out. That’s an “epic win,” as my 15-year-old son would say.

All I can say about the novel thus far is that it is primarily a work of dark fantasy. And if you are not necessarily a fan of dark fiction, fear not, I can assure you that you will still find something to like about the book.

I’ve learned quite a bit during the undertaking, and I will be sharing my thoughts about the entire process in future blog posts. I think you’ll find them quite interesting, informative–and perhaps even mildly entertaining.

As you know by now, I’ll pull no punches.

Pre-Order Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom NOW

Thirdly, I am happy to announce that Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom is now available for pre-order in the US and the UK! I co-wrote this book with my good friend Bruce Brown, and I think you will agree that I have brought my considerable knowledge of all-things-Lovecraft to bear. This exciting second volume greatly expands young Howard’s world, building upon what Bruce has established in the first book.

This second installment in the Howard Lovecraft series also includes a foreword by personal friend and author of the New York Times Bestselling Immortal Nicholas Flamel series: Michael Scott! How cool is that?!

Amazon seems to have jumbled the synopsis, so here is the cover by superstar artist Erik Fokkens and the correct text as it was given to our publisher:

Howard Lovecraft is back in a new tentacled tale of terror! At last, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom which the Chicago Tribune called a “sumptuously illustrated, cleverly written and deeply haunting novel.” Join Howard as he travels to the planet Yuggoth, where he must face an all-powerful god and an army of monsters to rescue his family and Spot before he becomes a mindless Fishman. All he has to do is surrender his dad’s Book… which would result in the destruction of all mankind.

End Notes

That’s all that I can share at the moment, but I will be sharing my “Novel Concept” blog posts after the holiday. And, speaking of the holiday, be sure to tell your loved ones just how thankful you are to have them in your life. You are not guaranteed tomorrow.

Warm Regards,
Dwight

Happy Veterans Day 2011!

Dwight L. MacPherson, Fort Hood, Texas.

A salute to all the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our wonderful country. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

God bless you!

Rebecca

P.S. GO ARMY!

Happy Halloween! Boo!

Lady Button Eyes by Eugene Field

When the busy day is done,
And my weary little one
Rocketh gently to and fro;
When the night winds softly blow,
And the crickets in the glen
Chirp and chirp and chirp again;
When upon the haunted green
Fairies dance around their queen -
Then from yonder misty skies
Cometh Lady Button-Eyes.

Through the murk and mist and gloam
To our quiet, cozy home,
Where to singing, sweet and low,
Rocks a cradle to and fro;
Where the clock’s dull monotone
Telleth of the day that’s done;
Where the moonbeams hover o’er
Playthings sleeping on the floor -
Where my weary wee one lies
Cometh Lady Button-Eyes.

Cometh like a fleeting ghost
From some distant eerie coast;
Never footfall can you hear
As that spirit fareth near -
Never whisper, never word
From that shadow-queen is heard.
In ethereal raiment dight,
From the realm of fay and sprite
In the depth of yonder skies
Cometh Lady Button-Eyes.

Layeth she her hands upon
My dear weary little one,
And those white hands overspread
Like a veil the curly head,
Seem to fondle and caress
Every little silken tress;
Then she smooths the eyelids down
Over those two eyes of brown -
In such soothing, tender wise
Cometh Lady Button-Eyes.

Dearest, feel upon your brow
That caressing magic now;
For the crickets in the glen
Chirp and chirp and chirp again,
While upon the haunted green
Fairies dance around their queen,
And the moonbeams hover o’er
Playthings sleeping on the floor -
Hush, my sweet! from yonder skies
Cometh Lady Button-Eyes!

“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.”

Fall leaves.

“Come said the wind to the leaves one day, Come o’re the meadows and we will play. Put on your dresses scarlet and gold, For summer is gone and the days grow cold.”

Author: A Children’s Song of the 1880′s

I hope you are all enjoying the turning of the leaves. This is probably my favorite (besides Christmas) time of the year. Can you believe Halloween will be here in five days? Where in the world did the year go…

Halloween is extra special for us since our youngest turns 11. It’s hard to believe our little man is quickly leaving childhood for Tweenworld. I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a birthday on Halloween–or any holiday for that matter.

Well, despite how much I love the changing leaves, in just a short time we will be fussing about having to rake them all up!

Best wishes to you all for a safe and happy Halloween. And I will leave you with a wee ghoulish quote:

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.

~Author Unknown

Rebecca

Deadline? What deadline?

This was me right after Dwight told me the deadline for his first YA novel. But things are coming along very well, and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It has been a blast seeing this story evolve, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

So if you hear crickets when you open our blog, please don’t be discouraged. We are working on something special and priorities have shifted a bit due to the schedule.

It will be well worth the wait; I can promise you that!

Rebecca & Dwight

Who Have You Encouraged Today?

There once was a boy that was not very smart. At least–that is what he was told. You would usually find this young man seated upon a bench in the cold corner of the classroom, a sharp-pointed dunce cap on his head.

This not-so-smart boy’s father was a solicitor, and many of his friends were of the literary variety. And many times, he would invite his esteemed friends to his home to discuss poetry.

When the young man was 16, a famous poet, Robert Burns, stopped by for the evening. Burns noticed a print on the wall with a beautiful illustration and only part of a verse from a poem. He asked if anyone knew who wrote the poem. The timid boy hesitated at first, but then walked over and whispered in Robert’s ear that the poem was called “The Justice of the Peace” and that it was written by John Langhorne. The boy then proceeded to recite the rest of the poem. Burns was delighted, and, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder, told him that he would go far.

Well, Sir Walter Scott did indeed go far in life. He became a famous Scottish poet, novelist and playwright. And it was Burns’ words of encouragement that planted the seeds of success in young Walter’s mind.

We never know how much we will influence someone with our words. Words can be a strong motivator, or they can be a destroyer.

So… who have you encouraged today?

Rebecca