Time to Choose or DIE!!!

It's been well over a year since the writers at Choose or Die wrapped their last epic adventure--Ecopocalypse. This week, they've pooled their collective genius and offered up a list of potential storylines for readers to choose from--ten amazing story options to be narrowed down to one (or two).

Choose or Die is an interactive choose your own adventure project written by a group of selected authors. Once the story has been determined the "crew" decides on a writing order. The writer who pitched the storyline will write the first chapter, offering up three choices at the end. The readers vote for their favorite within a short period of time--usually a day or two to keep the story moving and everyone on their toes. The winning option will be handed over to the next chapter's writer, but the losing options are handed to two additional writers and are immediately turned around as "kills". Everything is done rather quickly, and no one knows where it's going to end up. The writers even make a point to make it difficult for other writers to follow. Others will even tie in ridiculous Easter eggs and private jokes. Crazy right?

If you haven't had the chance to check it out, now is the time. Click the image above and check out Season 5's story ideas--vote for your favorite or close your eyes and pick a number. Just vote! No matter which option wins, this season is going to be amazing :)

You can see previous seasons HERE. I am proud to say I've written on all of the previous four seasons--probably more kills than actual chapters, but they were all so much fun to write.

Book Review - Megan: Breadcrumbs for the Nasties Book One

Megan: Breadcrumbs for the Nasties Book One

Written by: Steven Novak

Last night I finished Steven Novak's Megan: Breadcrumbs for the Nasties Book One. I don't want to ruin anything for you, so I'm going to keep this spoiler-free.

Ten year-old Megan is growing up in a world full of monsters--both human and not-so-much. Regardless, these monsters could care less that she's a sweet little girl--there's no Department of Human Services to put the smack down on these nasties. Megan takes a hell of a beating throughout this book, but she's one tough little princess, too, thanks to a mysterious friend, a man she names blueeyes, who's hell-bent on keeping her safe.

I really enjoyed this book--ate it up, in fact. I found myself sneaking in pages as it kept infiltrating my head-space when I really should have been working.

When it comes to writing in the voice of a child, Novak nails it. My daughter, Brynn, is close to Megan's age, so I can completely relate to Megan's inner dialogue and even her actions--I'd expect the same from Brynn if she was thrown into this terrifying world.

I'm intrigued by blueeyes and really wish I knew more about him, even though you get small pieces of his past, there are still plenty of questions that remain unanswered. I look forward to the next book in the series because, truth be told, the ending kinda pissed me off. Sorry Novak. Not that it's not great, but it just leaves me hanging there.

Overall, this book was pretty great. There's plenty of action--blood, guts, and general asskickery, keeping me moving through the book at record speeds. There's also a painful innocence that makes the story more believable, and yeah, maybe I cried a little... just a little.

Have you read it? What did you think?

I read Steven Novak's Megan: Breadcrumbs for the Nasties Book One for this Dystopia Reading Challenge.

Not Your Typical #CYOA Story

If you haven't heard of Choose or Die, you're missing out--it's an insane interactive reader/writer experience. The website sells it to you by evoking some sort of childhood nostalgia.

Once upon a time (don’t all good stories start that way?), young adult readers of the mid-to-late 80s had far more power than they have now.  They had the power to determine the fates of the characters in the books they read.  I won’t name the franchise of books that foolishly gave these young readers so much power, but let’s just say the reader was asked several times during the course of the story to “make a choice” regarding the direction of the “adventure.”

Now that we have grown up, we find ourselves stripped of power and slave to the whims of the writers who think they know better than us what should happen next in a story.  Don’t tell me there haven’t been times you’ve put a book down and wished the author would have called you and consulted with you about that fork in the road.  If only that had happened, the book wouldn’t have sucked so bad, think you. 

 Well, I think it’s time, finally, to give you back the power to make the next call.
Choose or Die is just that place – but wait, before you become too jubilant and drunk on your own remembered power, there are a few things you should know.

With all great power comes great responsibilities.... right? Here's the skinny directly from the Choose or Die website--how it works:

• Majority rules.
You’ll be introduced to a new story, and, of course, at a particularly heady junction in the action, you’ll be asked to make a choice.  But you aren’t alone.  Your fellow readers are also making choices.  Lo and behold, you are now engaged in a battle of wills.  The more people that choose the option you favor, the better chance you have to see your option advanced in the story.  However, if your favorite choice is not preferred by the majority, you will suffer the disappointment of the loser.

• If you lose, you die.
You won’t always win.  Don’t worry.  The losing choices will be addressed, too – but not the way you want.  Beware the pitfalls of being in the minority, because grisly fates await.  Of course, you can always recruit more readers to slant the voting your way . . .

• There are a lot of Scribblers here.
 Every episode, you’ll be introduced to a different Scribbler, a writer chosen for their propensity towards the humorous and ridiculous.  The style may be a little different from day to day.  We like to keep things interesting around here.

• It’s very likely that multiple tales are being told.
Don’t get lost.  Again, we like to keep things interesting, and Scribblers don’t appreciate standing around, waiting on majority rule.

The story is fast paced and completely unpredictable--even the writers have no clue as to where it's going. Once the weekly chapter is posted, the readers vote--the next writer doesn't know what he (or she) is writing until after the votes have been tabulated. Then, he (or she)  has to write the next chapter. The other two options--the losing ones--are written and spit out the same week. These "kills" will likely blow your mind. The "Crew" are little mad-scientists, looking to kill you off in unexpected ways (last season I wrote a death by chicken wing). This way, you can see what would've happened if you chose one of the losing options--although, no one will know if you fib and say you chose something else.

You'll also notice that the writers like to leave awkward options at the end of each chapter, making it difficult for the next writer to pick up where the story left off, so believe me when I say a good time will be had by all. *insert evil laugh here*

Now, we are on the brink of Season Four, and we're ready to get this ball rolling. As the reader you can help pick this season's story by visiting the website, and VOTING on the story that you'd like to see on Choose or Die. There are quite a few options, but be sure to read them all--some will definitely surprise you (and possibly offend you--if the writers are doing their jobs right).

JUMP OVER AND VOTE FOR SEASON FOUR STORY OPTIONS

We've had a blast with previous seasons. Here are the links to past stories, so you can read them start-to-finish, choosing your favorite options along the way. There's other cool stuff on the website--like video trailers made by the ridiculously talented Steven Novak and information on all of the writers taking part in this season as well as past seasons.

It's definitely been fun, and I can't wait until we officially kick off Season Four, so GO VOTE NOW :-)

~2

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"Caught With a Hand in Your Pants" #FridayFlash #chooseorDIE

For this week's #FridayFlash, I'm linking you to my post on Choose or Die. Cheating you say? *insert evil laugh here* I just got lucky and it happen to be posted today. Go read it, and be sure to vote :-)

Click the banner to cut to the chase--leaping through space and time; OR read below for a little more info on Choose or Die and Season 2.5.

.

If you're new to the project, let me give you some quick details. Choose or Die features a choose your own adventure story, where each week the reader reads then votes to determine the path the main character (YOU) takes. The winning "option" is carried on to the next week in the form of the next chapter. The losing options, often referred to as "kills" or "what you didn't choose", are brought to you the same week (usually). Chapters aren't written in advance, so it's guaranteed to be a surprise each week... for both the readers and the writers.

Today, my chapter 5 "Caught With a Hand in Your Pants" is posted. The next chapter is actually the last of this season, so you're coming in almost at the end of the story. That's OK though. Let me get you up to speed on season 2.5 

• It's about time travel *insert geeky SQUEEEEE*
• You're a bit of a dumbass (sorry) -mistaking a shower for a time machine? really?
• You kick some ass--take some names in 17th Century France
• You buddy up to Napoleon Bonaparte - saving his life and winning the attention of his lady friend

Now you've got to figure out a way to get home without totally screwing up the future.

I may have left out some things, so maybe you want to go back and read through the whole thing (CLICK ME) and experience the story from the beginning. Your choice. Regardless, a good time will be had by all.

Choose or... DIE!!!

I am excited to be taking part in the most awesome of projects...



Your choice determines the path of the story and ultimately your fate.

Check out the website http://chooseordie.blogspot.com/ - follow it, fan it on Facebook, bookmark it, tell your family, spam your friends... whatever, just get the word out.

The first story is starting soon. Check out this awesome trailer:



I can't wait for the adventure to begin. Will you make the right choice?

~2

Pimpin' Novak

Long ago, in a land far, far away (MySpace)...

I met an incredibly talented writer/illustrator (add filmmaker into the mix) by the name of Steven Novak, who blogged multiple times a week. Novak's top blog posts were filled with stories of his awkward youth, trying adulthood, and HILARIOUS fiction. He quickly scored readers by the hundreds, and personally responded to each and every comment.

Like most of his older readers, I felt a sort of family attachment. I purchased any self-published projects, to not only support my friend, but also because I was honestly proud of his accomplishments.

So...

Please check out Steve Novak's newest baby, Forts: Book 1 Fathers & Sons!

Description:

For Tommy Jarvis, life has never been simple - quite the opposite, in fact. It is, however, about to become decidedly more difficult. Moments after stumbling through a doorway to another world, Tommy and his friends discover they are the key to ending a war in which the casualties are too great to count and their chances of survival are almost nonexistent. - Amazon listing

Check out the video trailer for Forts: Book 1 Fathers & Sons

I have an affinity for geeks, goobers, and underdogs. I am not saying that Steven Novak is all of the above (maybe a couple), but he is sure to pass on some of those traits to his characters. I am really excited about this book, and I look forward to welcoming these characters into my awkward family.

<3
~2