Author: grasshopper

Stories in 6 Words

Write a story in six words–the ultimate way to put your brain to the test! I got this idea after browsing around the web one mindless evening. It’s like @VeryShortStory on Twitter, only shorter! However, the idea of writing a tiny splash of fiction is much older than the Internet. Earnest Hemingway won a bet over it. You can read the Wikipedia article if you’re curious.

I took some pictures and used them as prompts. I’m no Hemingway, but I had fun!

 
“One to beam-” cried the redshirt.
 Took a selfie…lost my phone.
 Too stubborn for change, late notice.
Last seen at the lunch counter.
Wanted: a fitting meme and catnip!
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Take a shot at your own!
 [ Your six word story is waiting. ]

Postagram!

Since I’ve had a lot of text heavy posts lately, I’ve decided to mix it up a little bit by doing a picture post–a postagram! I gathered a few random pictures from here and there. The only thing these images have in coming is that they are over 10 years old.

Woody – She belonged to my step dad and was the first car I drove around town. Half the radio stations didn’t work, but she will always have a soft spot in my heart. I’m not sure if I want to reveal this picture’s age…
Tech School – I was studying hard for a test! Think of it as a boarding school for adults, but add the entire military thing.

The Ziggurat – Located in the ancient city of Ur (modern day Iraq).

Me standing at the steps.

This is believed to be the house of Abraham. The local government was working on restoring it at the time. I wonder what it looks like now because this picture is 10 years old.

Cricket – The best cat in the universe (R.I.P.). He was a childhood pet and was at least 20 when he died in 2009 (no joke!).

2014 Cover Launch Party

The pieces are finally starting to fall into place, and the finish line is within site. World Domination Cat has nothing on me! Since I’m thrilled that The Year is Now is almost here, I decided to throw a contest with awesome prizes! The winners will be revealed when I release the cover!

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong, 21 July 1969

I want you to create something based on that epic quote. The universe is the limit. If you knit, let those needles take off! Draw? Awesome; I want to see it! Can you sew? Make a wreath? A diorama? Dress your pet up? Make a meme? Do it!

Entries will be judged on effort and creativity

Prizes!

I’m giving out:

1 signed copy of The Year is Now!

 2 beanies or
2 (3in by 3in) mini paintings

3 personalized digital character cards. Put yourself in Elly’s shoes! 

3 personalized wooden peg dolls!

GRAND PRIZE
1 Signed copy of The Year is Now
1 Mini painting or beanie
1 Personalized digital character card
1 Personalized wooden peg doll

SECOND PLACE:
1 Mini painting or beanie
1 Personalized digital character card
1 Personalized wooden peg doll

THIRD PLACE
1 Personalized digital character card
1 Personalized wooden peg doll

All participants have until 15 May 2014 25 May 2014 to submit their entries.
 The winners will be revealed on 31 May 2014! At that time, I will also unveil the cover to The Year is Now!
 * Prizes will be mailed out once The Year is Now is published. The digital character cards will be emailed out within a 2 to 3 weeks of the announcement.

How to Enter
 + Read the rules and follow them.
 + Send me an email at thecommanddeck [at] outlook [dot] com
+ Use 2014 Cover Launch Party Entry as the subject so that I know it’s not spam.
+ Attach a photograph of your work (or a copy of your work if it is a digital drawing/photograph).
+ Fill out this form in the body of your email:

Name:
Nickname: (if you don’t want your real name revealed to the Internet)
Preference 1: Your first painting or beanie choice
Preference 2: Your second painting or beanie choice (just in case the 1st and 2nd place winners want the same thing)
Your Entry: Tell me a little bit about your entry! It doesn’t have to be long; one sentence will do

Rules
+ No plagiarism. I have ways of detecting it.
+ ONE entry per person.
+ If you are creating a meme, the photos must be original (basically, I need to see effort).
+ You must be willing to provide your address so that I can mail you your prize if you are one of the winners. Your mailing address will be kept private.
+ You must be willing to have your work showcased on this blog if you are one of the winners. Credit will be given to you, of course!
+ International entries are okay!
+ Your work must NOT include any of the following: nudity & sexual content or HATE (this includes hate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or age)
+ You must be 18 to enter. The Year is Now has mild language, violence, and adult themes
+ HAVE FUN!

Questions? 
Direct all questions to the email address provided with Cover Launch Party Questions as the subject.


Donner Lake Disaster – It’s Free!

April is going to be an exciting month for The Command Deck! For those of you who are Americans, we all know what day is just around the corner, so let’s kick the weekend off with something awesome! It’s not a World Domination Cat and Flying Astronaut T-shirt, but if you are bored or stuck in a waiting room somewhere, it will keep you entertained!

My latest eBook is available for FREE!
If your computer cannot read eBooks, I can send you the PDF version. Just send an email to thecommanddeck [at] outlook [dot] com (replace the brackets/etc with their symbols). Have this as your subject: Donner Lake Disaster PDF.  Say hi to me, and I’ll send you the PDF version.

Donner Lake Disaster

The year is Y.E. 0417, and Captain Montgomery Wilfred is about to discover the most horrific crime the empire has ever seen since The Great War. When a routine visit to an outlander reserve takes a turn for the unexpected, he finds that his sanity will never be the same.

Montgomery and his eccentric partner, Sadie, are thrown into a harrowing investigation after they discover that an unseemly doctor with ulterior motives has been secretly experimenting on outlanders. It is a race against the Lafayette—jurisdiction is an awfully bothersome thing.

Horrors lead to more horrors, and Montgomery doesn’t know if he can keep up with the constant chill, the haunting photographs, and the hand! That hellish hand!

Follow Captain Wilfred in this novelette as he struggles to find answers.

Download the eBook here!

Images Around the Empire

A sneak peak at The Year is Now and other images from around the empire! Updated: 22 December, 2014

Elly and Major Pierson – Images of the two main characters
The Year is Now – Images of the novel itself
Things Around the Empire – Images that don’t fit into either category

Elly and Major Pierson

Sketches:

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Things Around the Empire

The card looks nice in a frame!
 #Selfie with my Elly cards!
 
Elly card
 Major Pierson as a dictator cat. It’s now hanging on my wall. Major Pierson is a main character in The Year is Now.
A sneak peak at something that has long since been altered and changed