Two Years Nine Months of Growth
Current mood: happy
Category: Life

:)

John

9:26 PM - 11 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

SciFiDimensions Auctioning Monkey Love
Current mood: fabulous
Category: Writing and Poetry

It has come to my attention that SciFiDeminsions is holding their annual "Big Auction" at this time. It just so happens that they are auctioning a copy of Monkey Love (signed by myself and the illustrator, Keith Minnion and it is numbered). Right now the price is pretty freakin' low so if you're interested I suggest you jump on it now HERE.

:)

John

12:45 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Stuff Stuff Stuff
Current mood: focused
Category: Writing and Poetry

Marquee Info:

Here's a link to the Horror Mall Message Board where my new chapbook, Marquee is being discussed.

Monkey Love Review:

My friend and noted writer Nicholas Grabowsky reviewed Monkey Love. While you're here check out the other reviews - fun/informative stuff.

SCiFiDimensions Big Auction:

They have an annual auction to maintain status quo (?). This year Biting Dog Press has donated a few books including somethings by me - it's a  mystery as to what they're throwing in, but TAKE A LOOK.

Enjoy

:)

John

4:13 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Marquee - Because You Just Haven’t Had Enough Of Me Yet

The following appears on the Insidious Publications Myspace blog page:

Scott Dryden, manager of the Quinley Inn, believed his story began with the death of Duffy Birdsong, but quickly learned that beginnings and endings are not always as they seem. Reoccurring dreams and visits from the dead drive him headlong into a new reality beyond his own existence, one in which tragedy and hope are intertwined and the purpose of his soul is understood. In Marquee, John Paul Allen leads us into a world where death is merely a brief interruption.

Marquee is book One in Insidious Publications' handmade Chapbook Series; perfect bound, and limited to 125 signed and numbered copies. Also available as a Lettered Edition limited to 26 copies; entirely handcrafted, bound in genuine leather with striking full color interior illustrations in a new and exciting format you have likely never seen in a limited edition, and a bonus story entitled Runs Like Rabbit. Art by Tom Moran.

The lofty artwork we held Tom Moran at gunpoint to do is an unprecedented achievement in design and execution. Two separate pieces of art, overlaid, combined to make both one and separate pieces at the same time! What appears to be one piece of art becomes a much darker piece of art when the clear page is turned. You won't see this anywhere else!

Thank You for your time. I hope you find this title to be an exciting book to add to your bookshelf.

Back to Me:

First, the synopsis at the beginning works pretty well - most of the blog seems to discuss the construction and art of the book. Why? Because it's freakin' amazing. I'm sharing the stage with Tom Moran who I think does great work and concept of double layer art in fiction appears to be introduced here.

So what now? Well, Insidious Publications is taking Preorders. If interested click HERE.

Note 1: Some of you will think the prices are a little high. They are - if compared to something off the shelf at Barnes & Noble or Borders. This is aimed at collectors - something to show your friends when they come over to play and what would be better than starting your collection off with something by John Paul Allen (sounds so literary)? There are only 125 limited and numbered copies and 26 lettered and that's it, so I suggest you hit the link above and ORDER THAT BOOK.

"Help me, help you, help me." - Jerry McGuire

:)

John

11:04 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

An Invite to IMVU
Current mood: animated
Category: Friends

So where do I hang out when I'm not on Myspace, you ask? Well, I'm probably switched to avitar mode where I live a secret life as McFly1954 (thanks to Lisa). At this time I'd like to invite all of you to check it out. Just go HERE and check it out. If you get as far as creating your own avitar let me know.

I am not a geek. I am not a geek. I am not a geek. I am not a geek.

:)

John

12:24 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

The Hellhole Woodducks are Ready to Kick Ass
Current mood: weird
Category: Sports

My fantasy football season begins today and the Hellhole Woodducks plan on bouncing back after a terrible 2007. Note they made it to the championship game two seasons ago. Here's my opening day line up (do I feel your excitement):

QB: Brett Farve, NYJ
WR: Andre Johnson, HOU
WR: Marques Colston, NO
WR: Chad Ocho Cinco, CIN
RB: Steven Jackson, STL
RB: Marshawn Lynch, BUF
TE: Jason Witten, DAL
K:  Rob Bironas, TEN
DEF: Chicago

Bench:

QB: Jay Cutler, DEN
WR: Steve Smith, CAR
RB: Adrian Peterson, MIN
RB: Laurence Maroney, NE
RB: Willis McGahee, BAL
TE: Heath Miller, PIT

Note 1: I picked Farve because he's got something to prove.

Note 2: I benched Peterson because I just have a feeling about the game today.

:)

John

1:18 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Lisa Did This
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Art and Photography

:)

John

1:12 AM - 6 Comments - 9 Kudos - Add Comment

I Frighten Children
Current mood: irritated
Category: Life

I just went out to my car to get something and three little girls were walking coming from the pool. I said, "Hi." They said nothing, but changed their course to avoid walking past me.

A couple weeks ago Lisa and I were in Wal-Mart. While she was looking at something a mother and daughter (I assume) were shopping a few feet from me. That's when I noticed that the girl was standing behind the older woman as she held a frozen look of fear directed at me.

I'm really a nice guy. I like kids. I'm kind of hurt, but I'm also a little pissed. Screw them. I'm going to Lisa's.

Yes, I'm in a mood.

:)

John

11:20 PM - 15 Comments - 11 Kudos - Add Comment

Sunday Notes
Current mood: indescribable
Category: Life

Life: Well, I'm almost hitting the one year mark of my time here in Tennessee (moved in on Nov 5th) and the question of whether I did the right thing might come into discussion - yeah I did. When going from a long distance relationship to one where people see each other daily there's a gamble. Does the light shine the same when you see each other all the time? In my case - more so probably because I've learned that she's been real with me whether we only saw each other a couple of days at a time or the way things are now. No surprises except maybe that she's even better company than I might have imagined. On the other hand, I don't know how she's put up with me. During the same time Lisa's learned that I can be a bit of a geek/nerd/goof and she's yet to not answer the door when I go over there.

Writing: Almost time for Marquee to come out. I received an email on Friday from Insidious Pubs - can't give you all the details, but it appears that along with the standard release there will be some sort of special limited edition and they want "something special" for collectors. I was asked if I had any unpublished stories I could toss in and it just so happens I do. Shortly after the release of Gifted Trust I sold Runs Like Rabbit to an Austrailian publisher for an anthology. Got the contract, signed it, sent it back and the project died. I never pushed the story on anyone so I believe they might give it to those who shell out the extra bucks for the above mentioned LE. Anyway, after posting this I'm going to give RLR a read, make a few changes and get it to them by tomorrow.

Gone - Working on it. I set the deadline for the first draft for the end of September. Not sure if that's going to happen, but I'm not sitting on it.

Zombie Tale - This is new stuff I'm sharing. I was approached about this and I've never done one. Not sure what to do here, because zombies don't frighten me. Characters who get eaten by them deserve it.

Vampire story - Doing research - got in mind my main character, but don't plan on doing any writing until 2009.

Santa story - It's about a guy (mid 30s, successful, great family, smart, who still believes in Santa).

Fantasy Football: Last night (via phone) I took part in the annual draft. Lisa was great about it, though she compared me to D & D geeks. What is this? Eight to ten people take turns picking players from various NFL teams and we get points for whatever they do in real games. Everyone pays and the person with the best team at the end of the season gets the cash. This is my third year. Year one I came in 2nd. Last year my team sucked. Here is this years roster for:

The Hellhole Woodducks

Quarterbacks:

Brett Farve, New York Jets
75.  Jay Cutler, Denver

Wide Receivers:

Andre Johnson, Houston
Marques Colston, New Orleans
Steve Smith, Carolina
33.  Chad Johnson, Cincinnati

Runningbacks:

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Steven Jackson, St. Louis
Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
Laurence Maroney, New England
Willis McGahee, Baltimore
Michael Turner, Atlanta

Tight Ends:

Jason Witten, Dallas
82.  Todd Heap, Baltimore

Kickers:

Nick Folk, Dallas

Defense:

Chicago Bears

Anyway - got to read Runs Like Rabbit and get it sent. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

:)

John

4:24 PM - 7 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Some Things Just Can’t Be Explained
Current mood: Green

I can't think of any way to explain this one except to say Lisa sent it to me and I thought it was funny:

Note : Speedo pics are out of the question.

:)

John

Currently listening : Kermit Unpigged By Kermit & Friends Release date: 1994-09-27

8:02 PM - 6 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment