Today’s the 12-year anniversary of my first novel \u201cZombie Cop.\u201d<\/p>\n
It started out as something to do just to do it\u2026 and then turned into a 9-part series of novels published over the next 10 years where each one is built around a specific kind of monster with my own \u201ctwists\u201d on that monster\u2019s lore, legends, etc.<\/p>\n
A lot of people seem to think the books are all about \u201czombies.\u201d<\/p>\n
No.<\/p>\n
That is merely the first book.<\/p>\n
The rest are about whatever monster is referenced in their respective titles:<\/p>\n
* So the 2nd novel (Vampire Apocalypse) is about vampires.<\/p>\n
* The 3rd novel (Demon Crossfire) is about demons.<\/p>\n
* The 4th novel (Evil\u2019s Child) is about the Tarasque (a monster from French history that\u2019s also prominent in Dungeons & Dragons – and is my version of \u201cThe Terminator\u201d basically).<\/p>\n
* The 5th novel (Werewolf Bastard) is about werewolves.<\/p>\n
* The 6th novel (Hell\u2019s Frankenstein) is my take on Frankenstein.<\/p>\n
* The 7th novel (Lucifer\u2019s Favorite) is about the devil.<\/p>\n
* The 8th novel (God Blood) is not about monsters, but about various monsters throughout a 2,000 year span of time fighting for control of the Blood of Jesus Christ that was collected at the Crucifixion.<\/p>\n
* And the 9th novel (Serpent Seed) is about the devil\u2019s own offspring – literal and spiritual.<\/p>\n
Anyway, back to book #1:<\/p>\n
In honor of its 12-year anniversary, I want to share a valuable tip from the late, great filmmaker Ray Harryhausen who is the special effects guy whose altar everyone from James Cameron to Steven Spielberg to Peter Jackson bows at to this day.<\/p>\n
There is a documentary about him I highly recommend called:<\/p>\n
\u201cRay Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch it.<\/p>\n
Then watch it again.<\/p>\n
Then again, and again, and again\u2026 as many times as you can. Do that and I DEFY you not to be a better copywriter, marketer, salesman, business owner – not to mention content creator, too, of course.<\/p>\n
There are so many lessons in it I cannot possibly do it justice here.<\/p>\n
But, the one lesson I\u2019ll share is related to how I created my own books’ villains.<\/p>\n
And that is this:<\/p>\n
(A quote from the documentary)<\/p>\n
\u201cA good monster has to have personality\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This applies to the \u201cmonsters\u201d (i.e. problems) that afflict your market\/list, too.<\/p>\n
As for my novels:<\/p>\n
They are all on Amazon.<\/p>\n
For more about the paid Email Players newsletter go here:<\/p>\n