Showing posts with label the bulletproof ghost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the bulletproof ghost. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Update: Author Events!

Hello again,

I told you I'd start to blog more often.  Of course, this isn't the normal frequency that I'll be posting.  I'm on vacation for the moment, so I've got a lot of extra time on my hands. 

In any case, let's get to what you're here for: All of my Upcoming Author Events!

Franklin Street Bazaar
Evansville, Indiana
August 12, 2017
Starts at 9am

Though I don't have an exact location for this as of yet, when I have it, I'll let you know.  For the time being, just know that I will be there.  If you're looking to snag a copy of The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades, then you'll be out of luck.  Since the release of In Spades is on August 19, I will only have copies of the second edition of The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes.  I'll also have merchandise such as button pins, t-shirts and bookmarks.  If you've held off on getting a copy of Prototypes until now, this would be a great opportunity to catch up on the saga.

Update: I will be at the Number 22 spot. :)

The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades Launch Event
Barnes & Noble
Evansville, Indiana
Saturday, August 19, 2017
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

I already posted about this, but if this is the first you've heard of it...
I'm going to be releasing my second book, The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades at the Evansville, Indiana Barnes & Noble!  I'll be selling and signing copies of both books.  I'm pretty sure I can't sell my merch here, so it will only be books for this one.  Sorry.

Evansville, Indiana
Saturday, August 26, 2017
11AM - 3 PM

I'm excited about this event because I'm going to be on a panel with other local authors.  Whaaaaat!? Yes!  I'm not sure on the time yet, but not only will be able to get both books and swag, but you can ask me and other authors questions about our work, the process of writing or anything else you want.  That's pretty nerve-wrecking... I mean it's great.  It is great.  Not nervous at all.

Tri-Con
Holiday Inn by Evansville Airport
7101 US-41, Evansville, IN 47725
Friday noon-midnight
Saturday 8am – midnight
Sunday 9am – 5pm


Tri-Con is a multi-genre nerd culture event.  Scifi, fantasy, horror, literature, comics, cosplay, anime and much more convene in Evansville for a weekend of awesomeness. 

So this is a big one.  Three days, much like Geek Galaxy a few years ago, but much bigger.  More people.  Long hours.  This is fine for me.  I love big events like this.  At this event, I will just be a vender with my books and swag.  I hope to have the compilation book and/or the hardback version of Prototypes & In Spades on sale by then.  I also may launch the first Dreadful short story on the first day of Tri-Con.  More information on that as I work the specifics of BPG Hardback/Dreadful Launch.  I may have an other surprise or two for the event, so keep an eye on Twitter @thebproofghost and this blog.

These are all of the events that I've 100% confirmed.  I wanted to talk about several of them for a while, but I needed to make sure I wasn't giving out bad info if they were out of room or my book/swag didn't meet their requirements. Thanks for your patience. 

I'm also aware all of these events are local.  In Evansville, Indiana.  Honestly, it just sort of worked out like that.  The Bazaar, the museum and Tri-Con were bunched up together in less than a month's span.  Releasing In Spades locally makes sense as far as supporting the community.  Not to mention it makes maxing out the potential attendance of the event.

I will schedule events later in September that take place further away from home.  In fact if you don't live near southern Indiana and would like to have me at an event or come to your local bookstore for a signing.  Send me an email at jakedh@bulletproofghost.com .  I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for the support and I'll keep the updates coming.

-Jake dh

















Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Finally, A Release Date for The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades




It has been longer than I honestly should be comfortable with since I last blogged.  To touch on some personal matters, I was switched to first shift at my job-job in October.  I only recently in the last few weeks, was switched back to nights.  When I'm on days, time to blog just kind of falls to the wayside.  I concentrated on my fiction since I barely had time to write.  I also didn't have a lot to report on since I last wrote.

First off, everything regarding the launch of my next book was completely driven by money. Not the money that I was going to make, but the money I didn't have for the various costs for release.  Editing, formatting the interior, formatting the exterior, printing costs, merch costs and not to mention having an honest to gawd launch event.  Well, since October, I received a couple of bonuses from my job and most of this went to cover these costs.  Hooray! 

Other than write in my other projects, which I should blog about in the next few weeks, I haven't really accomplished anything to type about.  Not a full blown blog post anyway.  Check out my Twitter feed @thebproofghost to see all of my tiny updates and various thoughts.

I also would like to give a shout out to the Evansville Local Authors and the Midwestern Writers Guild.  I joined these two groups hoping to make much needed connections.  I wasn't even sure there was a local author community in Evansville, Indiana, but low and behold, there is.  I really didn't care to look before, again, socially different introvert.  I was insanely nervous when I went to my first meeting, but I've gone to several since.  I even helped run a presentation on copyright law at the Oaklyn Branch of the Vanderburgh Library.  I guess I've come a long way since joining the groups.

Thanks to all of the local authors I've met and who have helped me thus far.  I'll be sure to write some blog posts where I talk about them individually or one fat post laying out what each author is about before the next joint event.

Sorry that I'm being long winded, there is just a lot to get to before the main event which is the release of the second BulletProof Ghost novel, In Spades.


The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades
will be released on August 19, 2017.

There will be a launch event at Barnes & Noble on Green River Road in Evansville, Indiana.  I'll be there from 1:30p - 3:00p selling and signing copies of both The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades and the second edition of the previous book,
The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes.


The Address is 624 S Green River Rd, Evansville, IN 47715
In case you didn't want to Google it.

Boom!  Thanks to Barnes and Noble, Evansville for having me.  Thank you to Mariana Mudd, that location's Business Development Manager, specifically for saying yes to this event.

I'll put up another post after this detailing other events I'll be at in the next two months.  There's a lot going on, so if you want to drop by and get some action packed scifi novels, then that would make you a really cool person.  Just saying.

Thanks for the support so far.  There's a lot of distance to cover before I'll be satisfied.

-Jake dh












Tuesday, July 5, 2016

In the lead up to BPG: In Spades' Preorder Indiegogo

The Preorder Indiegogo launches on July 11, 2016!
So in case you haven't been paying attention to the Twitter and Facebook pages, the release of the second book in The BulletProof Ghost saga, In Spades, is quickly approaching.  After the somewhat lackluster release of BPG: Prototypes (no offense to everyone who has a copy), I decided to put the release of BPG: In Spades to better use.  This will benefit all parties involved so let's get down to the brass tacks, shall we?

The Preorder Campaign on Indiegogo for The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades will launch on July 11 and run until August 10.  Now technically I've set this up on Indiegogo so you can Preorder (or eventually order) rewards after this date, but officially, that will be the big push to be funded.

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform and those of you who have been following BPG for a while know that BPG and crowdfunding have a long if not checkered history.  The series was originally going to be a comic book, but funding for the art fell through with Kickstarter.

Kickstarter, though good for some fundraising needs, just doesn't work for me (and apparently a lot of potential backers).  So what is the upside of using Indiegogo for you?  For one, you only need a credit/debit card or a paypal and you can pledge/preorder one of the rewards.  You don't have to sign up on Indiegogo and jump through a dozen hoops.  You can also throw your money at the project right away instead of waiting up to 30 days for it to come out of your account.

Here is a preview to the campaign.  If you are reading this after July 11, 2016, then there should be a link in a later article to the real deal.

There is a Facebook event for the launch in case you wanted to express your support there and receive updates.

I created a video for the campaign that is on that link, but here is the video in case you don't want to for some reason.



The main reward is a softback copy of The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades signed by me, Jake dh and editor (and my wife) Sarah Harris... and quite possibly a couple of other contributors to BPG.  This will run you $10 plus shipping.  There are levels for hardback copies, t-shirts, button pins and even a chance to be a literal part of the BPG Universe as a side or supporting character.  The T-Shirt and Button Pins will be exclusive to this campaign.  I'll have the designs posted by this weekend.

The money from the Indiegogo will allow me to advertise BPG: In Spades and go on a book tour.  The book tour specifically is something I can't do without some assistance, but this isn't like you're just throwing money down a hole.  I'm selling you products for something that's special to me and at least a few hundred other people.  

So yes, after nearly two years of waiting, the second BPG book is coming.  To relieve your worries about the next book in the series, I've already started writing the third book.  It took me 6 months in between the release of Prototypes and starting to write In Spades.  The third book will be out in 2017, I promise.  Maybe early 2017 if all goes well.

Thanks in advance and email me at Jakedh@bulletproofghost.com or tweet me @thebproofghost with any questions.

-Jake dh

Monday, May 9, 2016

The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades' Rough Draft is done!

So I know it had been a while since I've had anything resembling a decent update, but as of about twenty minutes ago, the second book in The BulletProof Ghost series in its most basic form, is done.  The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades is longer than Prototypes, which is part of the reason it took so long to finish.  There were other reasons, but there are previous entries in this blog to explain that.

The synopsis of the new book begins with the fallout from Prototypes (spoilers for Prototypes ahead).  After Kyle Richard was forced to kill four of his five bullies due to William Kintaxin's rage program being activated in Kyle's brain nodes (cybernetic nervous system enhancement); he has to figure out where he fits in the world.  The guilt of his actions (though more or less against his will) weigh heavy on the young cyborg.  Four leaves town to secure funds for creating a base of operations so the two don't have to squat at Kevin Hedwin's house.

Kyle comes into conflict with a criminal organization known as The Spades.  They are run by Mayor Rudolph Vyle, who is also the murdered Nick's father.  Vyle's rampage to find who killed his son puts Kyle's friends, Al and Irene into the crosshairs.  Kyle must not only save his friends, but the soul of his hometown.

I don't want to ruin too much, but I'll have a preview up within a month or so.  I know, waiting sucks, but I want the book to be good.  Honestly, even in rough draft form, I think that In Spades is better than Prototypes.  All of the origin story and technology explaining is out of the way and I felt free to just tell a story.

I'll be ordering a new cover soon so my posts will have a picture to go with them.  I'm not going with the same artist I did last time, so I'll have to shop around... as it were.

If you haven't read The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes, then you should go to The Website and order a copy or get the digital version.  There is a preview on Amazon, Smashwords and this blog.

Once I get the second draft finished and editing begins, I'll hold a pre-order program for In Spades, sort of.
 I'm going to run a GoFundMe in order to:
                          A. Fund a possible release tour for The BulletProof Ghost: In Spades
                          B. Allow a psuedo pre-order system

This means that I might have a prolonged tour for the release of In Spades (fingers crossed), but also that anyone who wants to put money down can reserve their book early AND get a signed copy of not only In Spades, but the 2nd edition of Prototypes as well.  There will be other rewards of course, but those will be announced later.

Thanks for the support so far.  I will try to get over my social anxieties and do local events in Evansville and Owensboro (and possibly a couple of other places) sans crowd funding, provided people will go to get signed copies of the books.  Maybe I'll be allowed to do a Q & A if you want something like that.

The BulletProof Ghost will emerge again.

-Jake dh

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Comic Scripts - BPG Issue #1 (newest version)

This is the newest version of the first script of The BulletProof Ghost comic series.  This version reflects the events and dialogue that took place in the novel.  Hopefully you'll want to see it turned into a for-reals comic.  I know I do.  Updates for a new Kickstarter (yes another one) will come within a month or so.  Keep an eye on this blog.  Also check BPG out on twitter @thebproofghost, Facebook and the Official BulletProof Ghost website.

If you want to buy the novelized version then click HERE.

The BulletProof Ghost Issue #1
The Trials of Cybernetic Prototype 005


PAGE ONE (8 panels)



Panel 1.  The view is from KYLE’S perspective.  He is in DILBANE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.  He is approaching the gymnasium.  His vision is a little blurry around the edges.  You can’t see any of KYLE’S body.



1 KYLE (narration box, different from the later narration box, this is a present tense thought box of the non-cybernetic version of the character)            

                                                                   I HAVE TO SEE HER.  I’M… PRETTY SURE…



Panel 2. KYLE is looking down.  His hands are covered in blood.



1 KYLE (narration box)                              I’M PRETTY SURE I’M GOING TO DIE.



Panel 3.  The panel is black, like KYLE went blind.  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 4.  KYLE’S sight is back, but it’s a little blurrier.  He is really close to the push bars on the gym’s doors.  He is reaching for the door with his blood covered hand.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I’M STARTING TO FEEL SLEEPY… I… DAMN IT. COME                                                                ON, KYLE.  I JUST NEED TO SEE HER… BEFORE I GO…



Panel 5.  KYLE is looking at his feet.  There’s blood all over the floor, running down his legs

and pooling around his shoes.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     IS ALL OF THAT ME?  HOLY SHIT…



Panel 6. KYLE is pushing the door open.  The girls’ gym class is in session.  There’s the

teacher and about a dozen girls playing basketball.  IRENE is in the middle of the group on

defense.  They are where DJHS gym clothes (will include visual reference).  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 7. Everyone looks at KYLE (aka the reader).  They look shocked and unsure of what to

do.  KYLE’S vision is getting blurrier still, mostly around the edges of the panel.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I MADE IT… I CAN’T BELIEVE… IT…



Panel 8.  The panel is twisted on its side.  KYLE is falling, so the view should reflect that.  He

is in mid fall, his legs have given up and his body has fully gone into shock from blood loss.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     SHIT…






















PAGE TWO (4 panels)



Panel 1. The panel is black again.  No Dialogue.



Panel 2. KYLE’S vision is back, but only the center is clear, everything else is indecipherable.

He sees IRENE holding him up and crying.  She is hysterical.  Her face looks like she is scared,

worried and panicked. One of her best friends is bleeding to

death in her arms at the age of 13.  Tears are streaming down her face.  There are people in the

blurry haze standing and watching the scene.



1 KYLE (narration box)                      I CAN’T HEAR HER.  I CAN BARELY SEE.  I WISH

                                                          SHE LOOKED HAPPIER… BUT… I’M STILL GLAD.



Panel 3.  IRENE’S turning her head away while still holding KYLE while he looks up at her.

She is closing her eyes tight.  She is hyperventilating from the stress.



1 KYLE                                               I... NEEDED TO SEE YOU.  I WANTED TO BE WITH

                                                            YOU WHEN THE END CAME.  



Panel 4.  The panel goes black one final time.  KYLE has now died. NO DIALOGUE.










PAGE THREE (1 panel)



TITLE PAGE: The BulletProof Ghost: The Trials of Cybernetic Prototype 005



Side Note: The Narration boxes look different from this point in the story.  This portion is being told by KYLE in the future.



Panel 1. CYBERNETIC PROTOTYPE 005 (KYLE) has SYNTHETIC PROTOTYPE 003'S(SYNTH 3) elbow blade an inch from his helmet as if dodging the strike.  The panel is tight on PROTOTYPE 005’s upper body.  His armor is slightly scratched and scorched.



1 KYLE (narration box, past tense, telling the story from the future)

                                                            I KNEW I COULD TAKE HIM.  I TOOK THE FIRST TWO                                                                   SYNTHS OUT LIKE THEY WERE NOTHING.  THIS THIS                                                                   THIRD ONE IS NO DIFFERENT.

























PAGE FOUR (4 panels)



Panel 1. PROTOTYPE FIVE is using his boosters to hover above the ground while gliding backwards (he’s leaning backwards). One leg is raised with one of his knees bent. The Boosters and stabilizers on his body/armor are lit up blue.  The environment is like a forest with trees sparsely spaced out, but the walls are silver metal with some foliage/moss grow up from the bottom. There is medium height grass covering the ground with sections dug out or burnt due to the current fighting.



1 KYLE (narration box.)                    MY KINETIC BOOSTERS HAVE COME IN HANDY IN                                                                       THESE FIGHTS.  MY MOVEMENTS ARE FLUID WHILE                                                                     HOVERING.



Panel 2. PROTOTYPE FIVE is flying toward the panel/reader in a tight shot that shows the SYNTH 3 in pursuit.  FIVE is still facing the SYNTH meaning his back is facing the panel..



1 KYLE (narration box)                     AS WELL AS FLYING.  SPEEDS APPROACHING AND                                                                       ABOVE SOUND.  SO SAYS...



Panel 3. WILLIAM is standing with his arms crossed watching the battle from far away. His black eyes stare past the reader.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     WILLIAM.  MY SO CALLED CREATOR.  I KNOW BETTER                                                              NOW.  I KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERSON HE IS, BUT                                                           THEN I ONLY SUSPECTED.



Panel 4.  SYNTH 3 is striking at PROTOTYPE FIVE with its elbow blade.  FIVE is blocking the strike with his wrist blade. Blue sparks jut out from the point of impact.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     MY REFLEXES WERE FAST, BUT I WAS BEING WORN DOWN.  I FOUGHT TWO PREVIOUS SYNTHS FOR WILLIAM'S 'TESTS'.  THIS ONE WAS GAINING GROUND DUE TO MY INJURIES.

PAGE FIVE  (7 panels)



Panel 1.  PROTOTYPE FIVE'S chest section has a break (damage) in his armor.  A wound can be seen through the armor.  It is bleeding.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     THE NANITES, MICROSCOPIC MACHINES, IN MY BLOOD STREAM WERE RECONSTRUCTING MY BODY AS I WAS INJURED. THEY DRAW OFF MY POWER SOURCE, THE MORE I FIGHT AND BECOME INJURED, THE SLOWER THE NANITES WORK AS MY SOURCE IS DRAINED.



Panel 2. Same angle, but the wound is partially healed.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     THE SOURCE IS RENEWABLE, BUT ONLY IF I CAN REST.   ONCE IGNITED, MY SOURCE CAN LAST DECADES.



Panel 3. This panel is a side view of the two fighting; still in the strength contest of wrist blades.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     IT KNEW I WAS WEAK.  IT KNEW IF IT COULD BREAK
THE BLOCK AND THROW ME TO THE GROUND; THE FIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.  I WOULD THEN BE KILLED.  IF I WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO HAVE KEPT FIGHTING HIM.



Panel 4. Close up on SYNTH 3 charging its eye laser.



1 KYLE (narration box) I'M NOT…




CONT.

Panel 5. The panel shows the SYNTH firing its eye laser, but FIVE angling their blades to intercept the laser, scattering the beam in a dozen directions. The beam going back into its eye is three times as thick as the others, signifying damage.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     ...STUPID.



Panel 6. The SYNTH is firing blasts wildly as its sensors are scrambled.


1 KYLE (narration box) ITS SENSORS WERE OVERWHELMED FOR A PRECIOUS MOMENT. THIS WAS MY ONLY CHANCE

Panel 7. FIVE rushing forward and slicing the SYNTHS head off. There are energy blasts flying past him. Give an indication that he is dodging them if possible. NO DIALOGUE






























PAGE SIX (5 panels)



Panel 1. FIVE has the head of the SYNTH impaled on his blade (no longer glowing so it does slide off due to the kinetic field). FIVE is showing off a bit.



1 FIVE:                                               HOW’S THAT?



Panel 2. WILLIAM is standing with his hands behind his back walking toward FIVE.



1 WILLIAM:                                      EXCEPTIONAL.  BETTER THAN THE OTHERS.



Panel 3. Close-up on WILLIAM’S black eyes.



1 WILLIAM:                                      THE OTHERS FAILED.



Panel 4. WILLIAM is turned toward a door in the background.  FIVE is walking next to him.



1 WILLIAM:                                      ONE MORE TEST AND THEN YOUR REAL TRAINING WILL BEGIN.



Panel 5. Close-up on FIVE’S helmet.



1 FIVE:                                               SO YOU’VE SHOWN ME THE BASICS OF MY NEW POWERS... ERR ENHANCEMENTS... BUT DID YOU MAKE ME OLDER OR DID THAT MUCH TIME PASS BY?




PAGE SEVEN (3 panels)



Panel 1. Side view of William with FIVE next to him.  WILLIAM towers over FIVE at about 7 feet tall.



1 WILLIAM:                                      WE WENT THROUGH THIS.


2 KYLE YOU TOLD ME THE GENERALITIES OF ME BEING... ALTERED. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE SPECIFICS.

3WILLIAM I BROUGHT YOU HERE 3.5 YEARS AGO. I USED A PROCESS, MOSTLY INVOLVING NANITES TO AGE YOU 12 YEARS IN 2.5 YEARS. THE CYBERNETICS TOOK A YEAR TO INSTALL. MANY HAD TO BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE HEALING NANITES, WHICH REQUIRED HEALING PERIODS. YOU WERE SEDATED AND UNAWARE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I AWOKE YOU, MUCH TO YOUR EXPECTED SHOCK AND AM CURRENTLY SUBJECTING YOU TO THESE TRIALS. OH, AND I INQUIRED WHETHER YOU COULD COMPLETE YOUR FINAL TEST. YOU AGREED TO YOUR FINAL TEST. IF YOU HAD NOT, THEN I MIGHT HAVE HAD TO MOVE ON TO CYBERNETIC PROTOTYPE 006."



2 FIVE:                                               YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME BEFORE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT WORK.

3 WILLIAM I HAVE THE SAME NANITES IN MY SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE. I DO NOT AGE. I HAVE BEEN ALIVE FOR 700 YEARS AND THE 3 YEARS I SPENT ON YOU WOULD BE NOTHING IN MY LIFE. EVERYPROTOTYPE I COMPLETE, I STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND BECOME MORE EFFICTIENT. I INNOVATE. IF YOUR CONVERSION WAS NOTHING MORE THAN LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, THEN SO BE IT.










Panel 2. The two are traveling down the hall to another room. WILLIAM is walking with his hands behind his back (his touchpad is in one of his hands, but you can't see it).  The hall is silver metal, but with white lit up power strips/conduits on the walls, ceiling and floor. The angle of the panel is from the front with both characters in frame.PROTOTYPE FIVE is hovering above the floor like he is testing out his kinetic boosters.



1 KYLE:                                 WHERE DID YOU COME FROM? WHERE DID THIS TECHNOLOGY COME FROM? WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?

2 WILLIAM I GAVE YOU A NEW LIFE.

3 KYLE I'M GRATEFUL, EVEN THOUGH I LOOK... DIFFERENT. I DON'T KNOW THE END GAME.



Panel 3.  WILLIAM has a semi clear circular tablet in his hand. His finger is over a red symbol.



1 WILLIAM:                                      IT ISN'T YOURS TO KNOW. I CREATED YOU. I CAN SHOW YOU AN END GAME IF YOU WANT. THE END GAME WHERE I ACTIVATE THE EXPLOSIVE IN THE BASE OF YOUR FUCKING SPINE.



















PAGE EIGHT (3 panels)



Panel 1. KYLE has his hands up in a hold it motion with WILLIAM standing in frame, towering over KYLE at about seven feet tall.



1 FIVE:                                               THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT. I'LL COMPLETE YOUR TESTS.



2 WILLIAM:                                      MY PEOPLE EXISTED ON AN ISLAND CONTINENT OVER FIVE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. WE WERE MORE ADVANCED AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME THAN YOU ARE NOW. A VIRUS SWEPT OVER OUR HOME AND I WAS CHARGED TO FIND A SOLUTION. A CURE. A VACCINE. ANYTHING THAT WOULD SAVE MY PEOPLE I FAILED. WHEN I CAME OUT OF MY LAB, ALL OF MY PEOPLE WERE DYING OR DEAD. I CURED THE EARLY STAGES, BUT I WAS TOO LATE.



Panel 2. Close up on WILLIAM'S black eyes.

WILLIAM: IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW?

KYLE: WHERE IS THE ISLAND NOW? IS THAT WHERE WE ARE?


Panel 3.  Biodisia is being slowly pulled apart by the nanites. This process took decades, so the island should have the lower half missing, but looking like it’s a gradual process.



1 WILLIAM: NO, THIS IS A MOBILE, ARTIFICIAL FORTRESS. THE ISLAND OF BIODISE IS GONE. I USED NANITES TO PULL MY HOME APART. TO ERASE OUR EXISTENCE FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE REST OF HUMANITY. UNTIL THE TIME CAME TO REVEAL MYSELF. THAT TIME IS APPROACHING PROTOTYPE FIVE. YOU MAY BE A PART OF A BETTER WORLD. NOW COME, YOU MUST PROVE YOUR WORTHINESS.



PAGE  NINE (4 panels)



Panel 1. FIVE and WILLIAM are walking through the doors into the new room.  The view is from the side facing FIVE. NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 2. FOUR in the middle of the room with WILLIAM and FIVE approaching him.  The view is from above.  FOUR’S kinetic panels are not lit up yet.  The room has a glacier-esque environment in the same vein as the forest environment of the other room.  The bottom is covered in ice, but the walls are metal with ice climbing its way up about five feet.



1 WILLIAM:                                      THIS IS YOUR FINAL TEST.



2 FIVE:                                               ANOTHER SYNTH?  WHAT IS THIS THE FOURTH ONE?



Panel 3. Close-up on FOUR’S helmet.  His eye lenses are lit up.



1 WILLIAM:                                      PROTOTYPE 004.  KILL CYBERNETIC PROTOTYPE 005.



Panel 4. FOUR’S stabilizers and boosters are lit up blue as he rushes forward, flying just above the ground.   NO DIALOGUE.















PAGE  TEN (4 panels)



Panel 1. The view is from above.  WILLIAM is walking backward to avoid getting caught in the middle.  FIVE is on guard with his wrist blade extended.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I HAD A LITTLE REST AT THIS POINT, BUT I WAS STILL AT BIT OF A DISADVANTAGE.  NOT TO MENTION THE MORE SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY SYNTHETIC SYSTEMS HAD TO BE REPAIRED.



Panel 2. FOUR’S wrist blades are extended at this point and swiping at FIVE with his left hand. FIVE is dodging backward to avoid the attack.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT THIS SYNTH WAS SMARTER THAN THE OTHERS.  HE HAD NO PATTERN TO HIS ATTACKS AND MOVEMENT.



Panel 3.  FIVE is punching FOUR with his right hand (organic) in the chest.  FOUR is falling back with the blow.  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 4. FIVE is flying up into the air with his boosters and stabilizers lit up. FIVE has his energy blaster raised up and is aiming it at FOUR.



1 KYLE(narration box)                      I NEEDED TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE AND QUICK.   TAKING TO THE AIR SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME.









PAGE  ELEVEN (3 panels)



Panel 1. FIVE is firing a blue kinetic blast (which looks like ball of blue light, think photon torpedoes in Star Trek); the view is from the side with the light illuminating things around FIVE.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     KINETIC BLAST.



Panel 2. FOUR is dodging the blast with the blast sparking up the floor as it hits.



1 KYLE (narration box)         I MISSED.  OF COURSE.



Panel 3. FIVE is blocking a swipe FOUR had made at his head with his own wrist blade.  Sparks fly as the two blades meet, but not from the metal. The two blades are surrounded in a kinetic field (kinetic energy is the energy of motion, so a force is emanated out from the blades when they are lit up blue).  The two are suspended in mid air. NO DIALOGUE.
























PAGE  TWELVE (5 panels)



Panel 1. Close-up on FIVE’s right hand grabbing FOUR’s left hand.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I WASN’T GIVING UP.



Panel 2. FIVE pulls FOUR into to head butt his helmet.  This dents both helmets and cracks FOUR’S left eye piece. NO DIALOGUE



Panel 3. FIVE turns off his boosters and is below FOUR.  The view is from the side.  FIVE is aiming his energy blaster.  NO DIALOGUE



Panel 4.  FOUR has both of his hands held up.  Two energy blasters have popped up out of the top of his wrists.  They are both firing red energy blasts.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     HEAT BLASTS.  THEY TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO CHARGE UP, BUT IF I GAVE IT LONG ENOUGH…  IT’LL BUILD UP ENOUGH POWER TO MELT A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH ME.



Panel 5.  FIVE is taking a heat blast in the shoulder, while dodging the other one.  The section

that’s hit is melted somewhat, like the blast heated up the surface, but couldn’t pierce all of the

way through.



1 KYLE                                              WHOA!  I NEED TO END THIS…







PAGE  THIRTEEN (2 panels)



Panel 1. The angle is so KYLE’S blaster is facing into the panel.  Orange light is coming out of the blaster.  FIVE is using his right arm to stabilize his blasting arm.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I WAS GOING TO DESTROY IT.  I WOULDN’T LET IT KILL ME AFTER I WAS BROUGHT BACK.  I WASN’T GOING TO DIE AGAIN.



Panel 2. The view is from behind FOUR.  FOUR is crossing his arms to block the blast he couldn’t avoid.  An orange energy explosion is pushing him back with FIVE still aiming at him in the background.  NO DIALOGUE.
































PAGE  FOURTEEN (2 panels)



Panel 1. FIVE is on the ground now looking up at the damaged FOUR.  FOUR is in the distance, but is smoking from the previous attack.  FOUR’S armor is damaged.   The stabilizer panels on his left shoulder and right arm are cracked, but still glowing and at least partially operational. FOUR is on one knee as he lands.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     I KNEW THAT THESE LOW LEVEL EXPLOSIVE BLASTS WEREN’T GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE.



Panel 2. FOUR lands on his feet.  The view is from the front with a closer look at the damage he took from the explosive blast.  There are some scorched sections and dents on top of the cracked panels and eye lens.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     ALL OR NOTHING.


























PAGE FIFTEEN (2 panels)



Panel 1. Close-up on FIVE’S blaster with an orange glow coming out of it  If you haven’t noticed each type of energy blast has a unique color.  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 2.  FIVE and FOUR are running at each other.  The view is from the side.  FIVE has his bladed hand up in the defense position.  FOUR’S hands are behind him as he sprints.  FOUR’S wrist blades are fully extended.



1 KYLE(narration box)                      I KNEW THAT THIS WAS RECKLESS.  THAT I SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO KEEP MY DISTANCE, BUT I NEEDED FOUR TO NOT BE EXPECTING MY NEXT MOVE.  KEEP HIM GUESSING.





























PAGE  SIXTEEN (3 panels)



Panel 1. FOUR is throwing an overhead downward arching roundhouse while FIVE ducks it. NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 2.  FIVE is kicking FOUR’S ankles out from under him.  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 3. FOUR brings his wrist blades down to the ground to try to impale FIVE.  FOUR’S right wrist blade punctures FIVE’S left shoulder.  Blood is coming out of the wound.  The right hand (KYLE’S left) is being held at the wrist to keep the blade from stabbing FIVE’S face. There is a scratch down the front of the mask ending at the tip of the blade. NO DIALOGUE.
































PAGE  SEVENTEEN (7 panels)



Panel 1.  The view is from the side.  The situation is the same as before, except that FIVE’S other hand has his wrist blade retracted and the blaster extended.  The energy blaster is pointed at FOUR’S head.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     HE NEEDED TO THINK HE WAS WINNING.  THAT HE WAS GOING TO KILL ME WITHOUT A DOUBT.



Panel 2.  FOUR is moving to the side dodging FIVE's blast.  The blade that had punctured FIVE'S shoulder is being pulled out. An arc of blood is trailing out of the wound.


1 KYLE (narration box)                   DAMN IT HE'S FAST!

Panel 3. FOUR is pulling his left hand back to stab FIVE one final time.

1 KYLE (narration box)                   THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

Panel 4.  Close up on FIVE'S mask.  His eye lenses are lit up orange instead of blue.

Panel 5. The explosive blast is ricocheting off of a glacier behind them, sending itself back towards the two fighters. NO DIALOGUE



Panel 6. The view is from the side, FIVE is holding FOURS hand to keep it from stabbing him. The orange blast is about five feet away from FOUR'S back.


1 KYLE                     I JUST HOPE THIS DOESN'T KILL US BOTH.  DETONATE!

Panel 7. Two silhouettes can be seen inside of an orange explosion. NO DIALOGUE











PAGE  EIGHTEEN (5 panels)



Panel 1. FIVE is on his back smoking, but sitting up slightly.  Ice chunks are falling all around and the ground is melted and cracked around FIVE.  FIVE'S mask is charred and dented; one half of one of the lenses is missing.  FIVE'S white, pupil-less eye can be seen through the hole.  FOUR is lying on top of FIVE.  FOUR'S face is resting on FIVE's shoulder. Just from FOUR'S back, you can tell that FOUR took 85% of the blast, basically acting as FIVE'S shield.  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 2. FIVE is pushing FOUR off of the top of him.  FIVE is not looking at FOUR.  He doesn't notice the missing lense in his helmet yet.  The reader cannot see the front of FOUR'S mask.

1 KYLE                                          GET OFF ME, ROBO-JERK.



Panel 3.  FIVE is getting up.  He is on one knee and is using his fist to prop himself up.  Some of the mesh from his right arm has become disconnected from the armor and is hanging freely (this is also true for his helmet).  This exposes portions of his organic arm.  FIVE’S right eye lens is cracked as well as some of his stabilizer circles/panels.  His is scorched and looks to have trouble forcing himself to his feet.

Panel 4.  FIVE is removing his helmet while standing up.  The parts of the mesh are hanging off of the mask, these portions do not retract into the mask.  The undamaged portions are pulling themselves into the mask (molecular compression is the term). This exposes parts of FIVE/KYLE'S head.  His skin is pale and cybernetic components are attached to parts of his face. His hair is white and frazzled.

Panel 5. KYLE/FIVE is dropping his mask and looking slightly into the distance (not directly at the reader).  He has blood tricking out of the corner of his mouth and out of his left nostril.

1 KYLE                                       WELL THIS IS TRASHED.















PAGE  NINETEEN (2 panels)



Panel 1. FIVE is on his feet walking toward FOUR’S body. FIVE’S wrist blade is not extended.  What can be seen of FOUR is far worse than FIVE’S damage.  None of his kinetic panels are lit up, most are cracked.  Parts of his armor are littered around his body.  None of his skin is exposed to keep the surprise of the last panel.  NO DIALOGUE.



Panel 2. FIVE has his wrist blade extended.  The panel shows the front of FIVE’S armor from the waist up.  FIVE’S left arm is bent so the wrist blade is in view.



1 KYLE (narration box)                     THAT’S WHEN I NOTICED IT.  THAT’S WHEN I NOTICED ITS EYE LENS WAS SHATTERED IN THE BLAST.































PAGE  TWENTY (1 panel)



Panel 1. Close-up on FOUR’S mask.  A human eye could be seen through the lens looking at FIVE.



1 KYLE (narration box) THERE WAS A MAN INSIDE THERE.  HE WASN’T A SYNTH.   HE WAS LIKE ME.






BulletProof Update - New Year Coming.

Hey everyone.  I know I haven't posted in a long time. I was trying to get a youtube channel (not BPG related) off of the ground, but due to issues with staffing (if that's even appropriate for such a small operation) that whole thing has been pulled back to a few videos a month.

This leaves me more time for BPG related things.  Not that I wasn't working on the next book, The BulletProof Ghost - In Spades, but things will start going a lot faster. 

I've also updated the first comic book issue to reflect the events and dialogue in the novel.  There were a lot more changes than I expected, but it's all done and ready to be drawn.  I'm looking into different artists, starting with the last one to offer his services when I was dirt broke.  I can pay for a hand full of images, so once those are done, I'll post them on here and the website right away.

2016 will be an exciting year.  I'm trying to line up literary and comic conventions.  The lack of funding may restrict how many I can attend, but I'll do my best to push the limits of what's possible. 

BPG - In Spades should be out within the first quarter of the year.  I'll have a more definitive date within a month or so.  Thanks for everyone's patience.  Since I have a job job, writing goes a lot slower than it would if I were a pro author.  Hopefully sales will pick up or the conventions/comic book will help ignite sales over the next year.

Thanks again to everyone who supports BPG.  I hope to give you a lot of content this year. 

-Jake dh

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Book Sisters Review of The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes

REVIEW!!


So the first for reals review is up for BPG: Prototypes.  The Book Sisters don't post their reviews to their site.  Full disclosure, they do charge and I did pay.  Apparently they do give out shitty reviews and are supposed to let me know before they post it up on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.  They didn't.  Fortunately for me, they gave me 4 out of 5 stars, which is a positive review   I thank them for their honesty, which will affect the second edition that will release later this year.  She is pretty honest, so there's bad with the good.

Kyle was a really fascinating main character. He starts out as a 13-year-old human teenager who is repeatedly bullied, and then killed. Definitely an interesting start to what will undoubtedly be an intriguing series. Three years have passed, and he is now a robot that is created to do the bidding of William, his creator. In exchange, William promises Kyle revenge on the boys that murdered him. Unfortunately, even though Kyle is now a robot, he still has some human tendencies. He doesn’t believe he can go through with his murderous plan. During his training, he comes across another human turned robot named 004. Kyle is ordered to destroy Four but instead befriends him. This book was sort of a Robo-Cop, Short Circuit, Star Wars mash-up with a YA twist (with the language maybe not so YA). I loved seeing the world through Kyle’s human eyes and watching the computer program within him battle with who he is. The plot isn't really original, but the action along with the exciting twists and turns definitely sets it apart from other books in the same genre. The book had such great detailed descriptions, making the few typos and editing errors easy to overlook. Although at times I felt the story was a bit forced - especially Kyle's thinking and dialogue. But other than those few instances, it was fast paced, and I found myself rooting for Kyle all the way.


4 out of 5 stars

End of Review
I see the Robocop (I guess), though the influences are a little more Goku: The Midnight Eye (obscure anime, look it up) and a little Guyver Anime as well.  I hear the Robocop comparison from time to time, but I guess if you use cybernetics to bring someone back to life, you'll get that (DC comics' Cyborg, cyber-ninjas in Mortal Kombat, etc). That's not a dig at the reviewer, she did a good job for an Amazon formatted review.  Short Circuit?  I'm not sure if Number/Johnny 5 was the reference for CP 005.  I came up with that designation in high school, but I think I just went with a number that had several numbers behind it so I could bring other prototypes into the mix down the road (sorta spoilers).  
I honestly thought the violence and language might detract, but it didn't and the criticisms were more technical.  Though the book was edited and I haven't heard this before, I'll give it another read before I release the second edition in a couple of months.  
Thanks to The Book Sisters for the positive review and I'm looking forward to the next review. 



Pick up your Kindle Ebook or Physical Softback copy today!

Sunday, August 3, 2014

The Beginning is Nigh

His death is only the beginning of the story
           

So for many of you who've been following The BulletProof Ghost, it's been a long journey.  In 2011, I started to try to take an idea I had for years (since high school) and turn it into a comic book/graphic novel.  This process went through two Kickstarters(Kickstarter 1 and Kickstarter 2) and ultimately didn't get the needed funding.  This was at the end of 2013.




Scott's Loesch's high detail sketch of BPG

The finalized Comic Promotional Art by Octographics.net


I hit a wall and wasn't sure where to go.  Originally BPG was going to be a novel series, but the original versions were written when I was in high school and needed to be restarted from absolute scratch.  I refused to look at the old versions and used the comic scripts as a framework.  A lot changed about the plot due to not having to worry about the cost of artwork.  

The BullProof Ghost: Prototypes, the first volume, has been more or less finished, but unedited for a few months now.  My wife and I had our first child and things were super busy for a while. Editing took a back seat to little baby Xander.
Mr. Baby Sleepy-Face

Now the book is edited (with a couple of alterations needed during the weekend).  

The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes should be released on 
Saturday, August 9, 2014.

This is the date for the DIGITAL version.  I hope to have the physical version out, but that may take an extra week or so.  I'll keep you posted when I know for sure.

Thanks for the patience through the years and I hope this is the only the beginning of a multi-saga novel series.  Who knows, maybe BPG can travel to other media if the readership increases enough.  I've given thought to a possible web series in the future, but one step at a time.  Stay tuned.

Jake dh

Sunday, February 2, 2014

The Cover, Physical Copies and Status of BPG: Prototypes

So first off, for those of you that don't follow the Twitter feed or the Facebook page, the cover for The BulletProof Ghost: Prototypes is finished.  Thanks to James Price of AEP Book Covers.

The official cover of BPG: Prototypes

The most recent profile pic of... well all that is BPG at the moment.

I'm impressed and glad that the cover turned out this well for a decent price (half of the comic cover).

The second draft of BPG:P1 is going great.  I have to put a few final touches on it and then Sarah gets to read 90 pages of Kyle's origin story.  She hasn't read anything BPG oriented... well ever, so I hope it goes well.  Sarah is my wife in case you didn't know.  She's voluteered to read the second draft and give me a second set of eyes to help edit and correct anything that might be confusing.  The story has been rattling around in my head for so long, I may need a little perspective.

Physical copies... I want to do a physical copy of BPG (I've had at least four people personally ask me about it).  I'm looking into options, but the physical copy will be substantially more expensive than an ebook; both for me and the readers.  I'll keep you updated if I end up deciding on an outlet, but it will more than likely be after the digital version releases.

For the moment, that is all that is up with BPG.  We are getting close to release.  I should have a release date in a week or two.  I'll keep everyone in the loop on when the free copy drops.  Remember, you'll have to contact me within a certain time period in order to get ahold of BPG: Prototypes for free.  Thanks again.  Stay Tuned.

-Jake dh