Issue 265: THIS WON’T HURT A BIT
Nightmare Fuel is the official newsletter for fans of my work. Thank you for subscribing. Please share it with others if you think they might be interested!
Last issue, I wrote about the work I’ve been doing on a new video podcast called THE CULLENOSCOPY. This work is ongoing (albeit more slowly than I like, as I’ll discuss in a bit). I’ve got equipment. I’ve got software. I’ve got guest hosts lined up. I think it’s going to be a good time. My pal Chris Grine designed a logo for the channel, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I think it’s embraces the idea of FUN baked into the show’s concept.
There were, by the way, plenty of taglines besides “This won’t hurt a bit” kicked around for the logo. Some of them were… untoward… so I think I’ve chosen wisely.
Maybe we’ll do variant logos at some point.
There will most certainly be stickers and t-shirts at some point.
As I write this, I am on my final day of edits on my novel BONES OF OUR STARS, BLOOD OF OUR WORLD. I’ll admit, I’m a little frazzled. I’ve been putting in a lot of long days and long nights working on this book. The notes from my editor weren’t brutal. There were a couple of bigger thoughts that dug up a little track. What I found, though, is as I made the revisions, I started finding lots of little things (and a couple of big things) that I wanted to change myself. It was a slippery slope, one that, I’ll admit, almost destroyed me in an avalanche of re-writes and self-doubt.
I think the book is in a much better place, but that incessant little whisper is still nagging at the back of my head.
Today, it all comes to an end.
First thing (well, first thing AFTER this newsletter), I’ve got a live interview on local news (KOLR 10) for Tremendicon, then I’ll hit the manuscript one last time. I’ve got two chapters I want to almost completely re-do, then a few paragraphs I want to add in here and there (I wrote them yesterday on my iPad, and now I just have to place them where I want them and smooth them over), and then a few places I think I might be able to punch up some description.
I’m gonna TRY not to go beyond those boundaries.
Then, the week gets REALLY busy.
Over on Cullen Bunn’s Monster Club, a group of readers have formed a book club for THE SIXTH GUN. If you’re a fan of the title, you should check that out and join in the conversation. It’s been fun for me and has reminded me of some elements of the story that I had forgotten. This week, the discussion has focused on A TOWN CALLED PENANCE.
ARCANA ROYALE #1
Hudson Tremaine is a streetwise gambler who has siphoned money from every high-stakes game in Vegas. She’s made a name for herself, but she's also made more than a few enemies in the gambling underworld. When she is invited to play in the most underground card tournaments of all — the Arcanos Mysterinos — she realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined possible.
Imagine a clandestine poker tournament where magicians, demons, and demigods gamble using a set of mysterious tarot-like cards. These games shape the fate of the world... of many worlds... for good or ill. This game has always been played in secret, hidden from the prying eyes of mortals.
Until now.
Hudson has always been willing to bet on herself — but playing for the fate of all humanity is something she never anticipated!
In what little free time I’ve had the last week or so, I’ve tinkered with my Flash Gordon pinball machine, sprucing it up a little. Most of my tweaks are likely imperceptible to most folks. It involved a lot of dusting and polishing.
I made one fun, easy enhancement in regards to the instruction cards. The cards are featured at the bottom of the machine, just under the playfield. The two in this machine were original, meaning they were very simple and very yellowed. Looking online, I found new cards pinball enthusiasts had made. They didn’t have a lot of information on them, so I fired up Snappa and made them my own. I’ll probably mess around with them a bit more, but I’m happy with the way they turned out.
Of course, I didn’t get rid of the original cards. The collector in me wouldn’t allow such things. They’re tucked away under my new cards, the acid slowly eating its way up.
Entropy!
For amusement purposes only!
Ignition Press and Jeremy Haun are doing something really cool over on Kickstarter. Jeremy’s series MURDER PODCAST will be released by Ignition later this year. To kick off the project, build some excitement, and start the conversation, they have launched a Kickstarter for the COLD OPEN of the series!
Each Cold Open is a single comic book issue featuring a self-contained comic book vignette introducing you to the world, the stakes, and characters of a larger story – in this case, MURDER PODCAST. Each Cold Open is a satisfying and complete short story and also contains information on how to get the entire series through more traditional retail channels like comic shops, digital marketplaces, and bookstores. Each Cold Open issue also includes behind-the-scenes material that pulls you deeper into the world of MURDER PODCAST and makes for a richer reading experience. And because MURDER PODCAST: The Cold Open is fully completed, we are able to begin manufacturing and fulfillment immediately after the campaign ends.
I think it’s great approach to what Ignition is doing and, since I’ve got some books coming out with them soon, I’m very interested in how this goes. Not to mention—the premise is super cool and Mike Tisserand’s art looks freaking amazing in this book!
Here’s a quick rundown of convention appearances, signings, and other events. Keep in mind, all appearances are subject to changes and cancellations.
May 3 - Free Comic Book Day, Krypton Comics, Omaha NE
May 30 - June 1 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
June 21 - Route 66 Toy and Comic Convention, Lebanon MO
THE SHOCK SHOP - My online store, where you can find exclusive covers you can only get directly from me!
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE - Listen. You should always shop at your local comic and bookstore first, but if they don’t carry the books you want, you might be able to get them here. And, if nothing else, leave some reviews of the books you love!
You’re a damn machine