Much like something insidious waiting just outside space and time, and as close as your shoulder. This idea says that maybe:
Consciousness itself is a separate entity. You are part of a sleeping, protean force waiting to be awakened. Civilization would call it psychosis, but a heart cell would seem psychotic to a ligament.
A smaller-in-scope hive-minded creature is waiting just past the edge of rational thought.
You know what you’re getting…fantasy humor, body horror, gothic mulling, big ideas.
Background ideas in my novels, like how do you use a Fiendish Black Pudding to kill a Tarrasque? How do you use the essence of the barely-dead Tarrasque to power an empire?
My publisher NobleFusion was selected for a beta (or however you phrase that) by Audible to try out their new self-publishing mode. Human professional narrators were paid for the rights to their voices, and those voices have made this the smoothest listening experience I have heard on an audiobook (except for Jeremy Irons reading “Lolita”, because Jeremy Irons). If you prefer your cosmic body horror in your ears, give this a listen! Long-listed for the 2014 Stokers. Beloved by professionals. This is a very good book! Click on the image today!
Yes! The numbers are tiny! Yes! This is the beginning of a small business! Yes!
What can I learn from these blips? First, see the peaks that go above the whole numbers, plus those tiny blips above zero? Those account for Kindle Unlimited page reads. Of what significance are these peaks?
The peaks are on days when I was active on Bluesky. Every Wednesday, I do #horrorwriterschat, which you know better as “Me Being Witty”. While Fazgood is a fantasy novel, I talk about its horrific elements as well as those for the Flesh books.
The total is about $20 in royalties.
But hey there! You like audiobooks?
“The Flesh Sutra” WILL SOON BE ON Audible!
It’s part of a beta test using Audible’s new virtual voice. I’m not crazy about using virtual voiceovers, but even I have to admit that the technology surprised me. Inflections, emphasis, transitions, all are anticipated. And the interface for adjusting pronunciation and creative direction are easy, if a little crude.
There was no way I or my publisher could afford the time or money for audio production. Just No Frigging Way were we gonna do this ourselves; I burned out my DIY long-production nerves back when I was the editor/producer for video and movies. And if the audiobook versions take off, we can budget then.
These are good things! My reflexive negativity is taking a beating today!