Not your everyday vampire tale, this time-twisted journey explores an intimate connection between a killer with a thirst for blood and her prey with a taste for memories. 

Life is a memory, and Steve Reynolds starts his life caught in the middle of a political issue involving a rare venom used as a drug. Kandy, a professional killer, helps him find his way through the time-shifting shadows of his life and into hers. Haunted by wraiths from his past, Steve puts his past together discovering not all of his memories belong to him.

Kandy Fangs ebook novella is available for free.

Where to Find

• Download in your preferred format from Smashwords.

• Read online at Scribd.

Novella vs Serial

At about 43,000 words, the novella is slightly longer than the serialized version found at www.KandyFangs.com. Besides polishing, the novella includes a few longer scenes with more details. I edited the two versions separately since the serial requires different breaks. The novella has 14 chapters compared to 27 episodes in the serial.

Comments on the Serial

“The memory-thief concept has turned the vampire shtick on its head” ~Jason (moultworld.com)

“This is always such a mindtrip.” ~Xan (crookedfang.com)

“Wonderful, dreamy, but more like nightmare.” ~Carrie (CarrieClevenger.com)

Thanks for following the serial and sharing your thoughts.

Notes on ebook formats

If you’re not sure which format to pick, epub is the most widely used including iPad, Android devices, and Adobe Digital Editions for the desktop. Choose mobi for Kindle.

This week, March 6th to 12th, my ebooks are included in the promotion at Smashwords. Raven Memory is 50% off and Shadow Memories is free. For 2011, I am donating proceeds from sales of my books to KIPP including from this promotion.

Find my ebooks on my Smashwords page, or browse the promotion for other ebooks.

I will donate all proceeds from my 2011 ebook sales to Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP.)

What is KIPP?

Knowledge is Power Program is a national network of open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools. KIPP improves academic quality by offering more classroom time focused on achievement with great educators. Learn more about KIPP at www.KIPP.org. Also see what Give Well has to say about KIPP.

Donation Details

My ebooks, found on the Books page, are available for free at Scribd. If you would like another format, you may choose an ebook and select a retailer. On December 15, 2011, I will submit a total donation to KIPP, and post the results on this blog.

Here is the breakdown of purchase price, and how much of your purchase will go to KIPP.

Shadow Memories

For $0.99 purchase, the following donated to KIPP:

• Smashwords, B&N, Sony, Kobo: US$0.56
• Amazon: US$0.35

Raven Memory

For $2.99 purchase, the following donated to KIPP:

• Smashwords: US$2.21
• B&N, iBooks, Kobo, Sony: US$1.79
• Amazon: US$2.00

Kandy Fangs (available in March) is free, and not included. If I release another ebook this year, it will be included.

If any retailers make adjustments during 2011, including sales or fees, I will stick with the numbers above for donations.

In summary, I will donate proceeds of my ebook sales during 2011 on December 15, 2011 to KIPP.

Raven Memory cover

Raven Memory is the first novel in the Draco Torre world featuring two individuals with memory problems. Amnesiac Steve Reynolds accepts his identity and the nature of variable memories. His new assistant, Julie Walsh, experiences “black-outs” mixing up her memories and she begins questioning her identity.

Julie is a construct wrapped in darkness dripping the blood of a memory.

Purchase Raven Memory for 50% off (US$2.50) at Smashwords using code: QV83S

Your purchase is considered a donation. Thanks!

Shadow Memories

Shadow Memories is a collection of 9 shorts featuring 6 from the Draco Torre world including “Memor Mora” and “Dunston Monster.”

Purchase for free at Smashwords using code, XZ67K until January 5, 2011.

Welcome to the book release party

Raven Memory cover

Grab a book marker, munchies, bubbly, and say hello. Careful of the wraith skulking about. He won’t bother anyone unless provoked.

Before this story had a title, I referred to it as my “practice novel.” Two years ago some anonymous test readers (I still haven’t met them) reported with excitement and urged me to seek publishing. I wasn’t convinced. It was in poor shape in need of editing. The strange part: after being passed around, the draft was finally returned to me a year later.

Book marker front

So, I decided to share this novel as an introduction to Draco Torre’s world. (Who is Draco Torre?)

The two main characters in Raven Memory have different, but related, memory problems (read the summary in Books menu.) Steve Reynolds uses notepads to help him keep things straight. His new employee, Julie Walsh, begins suffering black-outs, but out of order. Her kiss on Tuesday melts into a kiss the day before. A familiar medallion sparks a memory, and she begins seeing a wraith following her through time.

Back

The story asks some questions:

• Do memories define identity?
• Is it possible to remember the future or change the past?
• What happens when memories from two different people intersect?

Steve and Julie offer their views.

Raven Memory is an urban science-fantasy taking place in Roseland, a modern city home to a species with ideas of their own. Recommended for mature readers. See the teaser page for a summary at www.RavenMemory.com.

You may sample or purchase Raven Memory at

• Smashwords
• Amazon US
• Amazon UK

Celebrating the release of this novel, it is available at 40% discount on Smashwords until September 5th. Use the code: VB68E. In addition, you may download Shadow Memories story collection for free using code: NE26E

While you are at Smashwords, check out Best of Friday Flash – Volume 1 edited by Jon M Strother of Mad Utopia. It includes my story, “Mother Dove” and 66 other great tales.

How to read Raven Memory ebook

• iPad: Download the ePub from Smashwords. In iTunes, select File, Add to Library. Sync. (Coming soon to iBookstore.)
• PC: Download the ePub from Smashwords and use Adobe Digital Editions or download the PDF for printing.
• Kindle: You may purchase from Amazon or Smashwords using mobi.
• Phones: try ePub with a reader like Stanza.
• Sony Reader: get the LRF.

The contents page links work on the PDF and ePub including support for the contents feature in iBooks on the iPad. An interesting note: Raven Memory appears in the latest revision of Smashwords Style Guide by Mark Coker as a well-formatted ebook with working contents page, including screen shot. Thanks J. Dane Tyler (DarcKnyt) for the tip.

Roseland

Thanks

Thanks to the mystery readers. Without them, there would be no Raven Memory. Thanks to Mom for patience while I worked on editing and formatting this instead of writing the next story. And thanks to the readers.

Enjoy

Feel free to ask questions, leave comments, or share your thoughts. Enjoy the story. Thanks for stopping by.

~David G Shrock

iBooks on iPad Contents Screen Shot

For nearly a decade, I’ve been working on stories in Draco Torre’s world, or more accurately, translating stories as told by Torre and friends. Keeping the stories to myself seems selfish, so I decided to share them.

Draco Torre stories follow the lives of the last remaining survivors of a lost civilization crossing through time to discover their past and themselves. The stories include time travel, memory shifting, androids, and strange creatures.

Raven Memory Cover

The first novel in Draco Torre’s world is Raven Memory, a science-fantasy available late summer on Amazon and Smashwords. I finished this novel two years ago, and after some polishing it’s finally ready. You’ll find a brief summary under Books on the menu and repeated below. Visit www.RavenMemory.com or Draco Torre Books Fan Page on Facebook for information updated as the book release approaches.

On AudioBoo, I read a section from the first chapter each weekend. See http://audioboo.fm/Dracotorre to follow along. Keep an eye out for a written chapter sample, artwork, and more.

My second novel (which was originally going to be the first) is nearly completed. It’s a dark fantasy in a similar setting to 19th century America. My Friday Flash stories with Sebastian Rhemus are glimpses. If all goes well, this second novel will be ready next year.

Raven Memory Brief Summary

Julie Walsh’s new employer, Steve Reynolds, is a professional killer with a memory problem. She wants to help him keep things straight, but her days mix up. A kiss on Tuesday melts into a kiss last Sunday. Next Thursday, a wraith frightens her out of her chair on the previous Monday. Realizing that only Steve remembers her favorite novel, she questions her own memories. Caught within the Raven Project, she searches for her identity. Julie Walsh is a construct wrapped in darkness, dripping the blood of a memory.

Shadow Memories available on Smashwords

My book of short stories, Shadow Memories, is available in digital format at Smashwords.

Nine dark tales delve into the shadows stirring up memories from another world. Meet a memory-eating wraith searching for his lost love. Join a giant-sized man on his first quest to solve a mystery of a monster. While running from an invisible attacker, Tigris discovers her former master’s dark secret. Susan chases after her runaway pumpkin through a toy store and into the street.

View my Author Profile: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dracotorre

Sample or purchase Shadow Memories: http://smashwords.com/b/17029

Notes

The contents page works on the iPad, and the links work if using Adobe Digital Editions or PDF. My drawing of Tabitha shows up nice, too. Soft Whispers published a flash version of “Memor Mora” in Deadly Love, Be Mine anthology. Within Shadow Memories, you will find the original full story in all its darkness. “Suffocation Bell” features a minor character from my novel, Raven Memory. Other stories include a selection from my #FridayFlash participation

Stories

• Mother Dove
• Darkness Was Her Dress
• Suffocation Bell
• Runaway Jack
• Memor Mora
• Young Secret
• A Grave Giant
• Dunston Monster
• The Only Color

Purchase Shadow Memories at Smashwords for $0.99 (USD) or get it free using the coupon code until July 4th, 2010.

Coupon Code: GJ34A

Enjoy!

While you’re at Smashwords, fill your cart with great books by #FridayFlash writers such as:

• Eric J Krause
• Shannon Esposito
• Laura Eno
• Trevor Mcpherson

New to digital books?

I recommend downloading the book in ePub which you may read on your PC with Adobe Digital Editions, read on your iPad by using iTunes “Add to Library” and sync, or read on your iPhone using Stanza. If you prefer paper, you may download in PDF and print. Other versions are available. See the instructions for your reading device.

My story, “Memor Mora” is in Deadly Love, Be Mine anthology published by Soft Whispers Magazine along with eleven other short stories and poems. You may read it on Scribd here.

I wrote “Memor Mora” last summer at more than twice the length of the final in the anthology. A few anonymous (I’ve never met) test readers returned feedback, and I paraphrase:

• Dark
• Most powerful love story I ever read
• Don’t read these kind of stories
• Don’t change a word

Sorry, I changed some words. Without success at finding a market, I edited it down to a smaller size for #FridayFlash. I saw the request by Soft Whispers for the theme and submitted it. I like the revised short version better. The original carried on too much muddling the primary story. I hope the test readers don’t mind.

Go read the free anthology and tell me what you think.

Dunston Monster is an 8-part weekly series of #fridayflash stories (posted on Friday) starting January 1st, 2010. This series covers the history of a minor character from my Draco Torre novels. Follow the young Sebastian

Rhemus, the son of a giant taking up the family profession on a journey among monsters under the watchful eyes of Father Young.

Each part is a flash story moving the main story. Within the story, links reference previous Sebastian Rhemus stories, optional background reading. Your comments are welcome on each individual part or on the whole.

Previous Sebastian Rhemus stories

• Young Secret – introduces Sebastian and Father Young
• A Grave Giant – funeral for parents
• Warton Haunt – Sebastian’s first assignment

Dunston Monster

1. Shotgun Welcome
2. Tabitha
3. Riddle on the Ridge
4. Crossroads
5. Sinners
6. Monster Savior
7. Killer [violence]*
8. Demon Hunter [blood]*

Contents links updated each Friday as new part posted.

*Warnings for the very sensitive.

__________________________________________________

Thanks for reading “Dunston Monster.” Comments or questions? Please, let me know what you think. I appreciate your opinion.

“Duston Montster” appears in Shadow Memories available on Smashwords and Amazon.

If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy my novel, Raven Memory, a modern science-fantasy in the same world.

Sebastian is part of Draco Torre’s world. See more of him in future short stories and in my second novel.

-David G Shrock

“Dunston Monster” including artwork copyright © 2010 David G Shrock