Infendo Radio Is In Full Force!

As some of you may be aware, I am a co-host of Infendo radio alongside Harrison Milfeld and Lewis Pugh.  Our focus is mainly Nintendo centric, however we do discuss other gaming companies that impact Nintendo and the gaming industry as a whole.

After a bit of reorganizing, restructuring, and re-imagining, we are back in full force!  We have cut some of the fat in an attempt to present you with an informational and opinionated podcast that will entice our listeners and tickle their gaming fancy. 

Our newest podcast is currently available for your listening pleasure at Infendo.com as well as Itunes!  We encourage you to share your thoughts on the Infendo post, you might even get a shout out on the podcast! More importantly, we urge you to subscribe to our iTunes feed to show your support.

Coming in October, nominations for the podcast awards will be open, it would be amazing if some of you would share your love for Infendo Radio with a nomination shout out (Insert shameless plug smile here).

For those of you that have not yet experienced our podcast, check out our latest episode.  If you like it, be sure to share with your friends, co-workers, and everyone else you know!  Be sure to rate us on iTunes, and maybe share your rating and itunes comment with us!


https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/infendo-nintendo-news-review/id136362346

Knight Stalkers, A Contest, And Some Amazing Reads!

Are you a Knight Stalker?  Maybe you are, or maybe you have not had the opportunity to become one.  Now is your chance!

Being a Knight Stalker is fairly easy, you just need to love a good horror book, and share your passion with others around you, oh...and liking SB Knight would not hurt!

SB Knight is the author of such books as Born of Blood, Drago's Revenge, and Demathia Rising (Click the links at the bottom to find out more about these works of genius).  He is also the Author of Game of Straws, which is currently free on Amazon (Kindle).  You can also get a free kindle version of his book Sampler, which contains the first three chapters of
Born of Blood, Drago's Revenge, and Demathia Rising! (link Below).  The freebies only last from July 26th through July 29th, so be sure to act fast!  You can also like his facebook Page (highly recommended) and leave a comment there, or on his blog, or even his Youtube channel, to be entered for a prize!  The prizes will be announces on his Facebook page soon.  Just leave my name in the comment to qualify for the prize!

So, other than writing some amazing books, what is so special about SB Knight?  Well, for starters, he is an overall amazing guy that cares about his fans...no...that isn't right, because his fans are actually friends to him.  So, you don't get to be just another fan, you get to be his friend.  He is very active with his Knight Stalkers, and shows his appreciation in many ways.  When you become a Knight Stalker, you are not joining a fan-club, you are finding a group of friends with similar interests.  It isn't often that you find an Author that is willing to get to know his fans on a personal basis, let alone respond back to a question or comment.  His interactions have made me a fan for life, and someone I look up to. 

Go ahead and check out his books below, download the two that are currently free for the Kindle, and purchase the others, because you know they will be good!

I am overjoyed to announce that I was recently accepted into Blood Type: An Anthology of Vampire SF on the Cutting Edge.  This is an anthology that I submitted to quite a while ago, with a story that I really grew to love.  In fact, I could see it becoming a full length novel, and possibly a series some day. 

All net proceeds from sales of this anthology will go to The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.  The theme of this anthology is the perfect match for such an amazing organization.


Within this collection, I am honored to stand alongside such greats as William F. Nolan, Peter Giglio, Mike Resnik, Taylor Grant, and many more. 

The scheduled release date is October 31st, 2013, however I will be sure to communicate any updates as they are available

Table of Contents:

1. The Undying by William F. Nolan**
2. Taxing Youth by Rebecca Brown
3. The Souls of Stars by Amelia Mangan
4. Evergreen by Peter Giglio
5. Reptile House by Stephen Graham Jones*
6. Accommodation by Michael R. Collings*
7. A Little Night Music by Mike Resnick*
8. Predators of Tomorrow by Michael Kamp
9. Mountains of Ice by Jilly Paddock
10. Occupation by James Ninness
11. Orientation Day by Peter Watts 
12. The Pilot by Jason Duke
13. Unperished by S.R. Algernon
14. Eudora by James S. Dorr
15. A River of Blood, Carried into the Abyss by John Palisano
16. Better for Burning by H.E. Roulo 
17. I Was There... by Tarl Hoch
18. Strays by Robert S. Wilson
19. Damned to Life by Essel Pratt
20. Happy Hour by GN Braun
21. Temporary Measures by Jay Wilburn
22. I, Vampire by David N. Smith & Violet Addison
23. Slave Arm by Laird Barron
24. Gods and Devils by Taylor Grant
25. 17 by Jonathan Templar
26. Chrysalis by Jason V. Brock
27. Data Suck by Benjamin Kane Ethridge
28. Sun Hungry by Tim Waggoner
29. Wet Heavens by Brian Fatah Steele

Horror-tica Avaialble Today!

Released today, Horror-tica is a fantastic collection of short stories in the Erotic Horror category.  My submission, Blood Lust, is my first journey into the sub genre of horror.

The publisher, Cruentus Libri Press, describes the book as follows:

"The point of a tongue licks its way across full, red lips. They part, showing perfect white teeth. The mouth opens wider, the better for kissing...or biting? Cruentus Libri Press is pleased to bring you sixteen tales of erotic horror fiction, intended to quicken your pulse and stop your heart at the same time. These stories of sex and death will either chill you to the bone, are get your blood boiling...perhaps both. Horror-tica features stories from some of the world's finest horror writers, including Aaron Runyon, Jennifer Loring, Kimber Vale, Chris Roberston, Essel Pratt, Joseph A. Pinto, Naching T. Kassa, Jody Neil Ruth, Kevin G. Bufton, Matt Moody, Brandon Cracraft and Anah Rose, Jay Wilburn, Deb Eskie, Ken Goldman, Allen Dusk and Sheri White."

This is definitely a book that you will want to add to your horror collection!  Be sure to check out Horror-tica and other books that I am published in by clicking the links below.

Literacy and Our Youth Spotlight

When I started writing, I really did not know which direction my stories would take.  Horror has always been my preferred writing method, but I also enjoy Sci-Fi and Fantasy just as much.  So, when I started taking courses at the Institute of children's Literature, I did so to refine my writing skills.  Little did I know that I would actually want to write for children/young adults.  However, now that I have graduated from the course, I find that my style is not defined by one genre.

My current publications are all in the horror genre, although my first published story, "Game Over" published in 31 more nights of Halloween by Rainstorm Press, is more a a young adult horror story.  My first book, assuming a publishing company accepts it, will be a young adult fantasy adventure.  The story pays a little homage to my favorite video game series titled "Final Fantasy".  It was kind of a scary thought to try something that was not my norm.  I really was not sure where to start, but the Institute of children's Literature helped me out with it. 

I also have a fantastic support group made up of many writers from various backgrounds.  Seeing them update their works, share their progress, and just talking to some of them has made me realize that I can write in any genre that I feel comfortable with.  One of those writer friends is Charles Day.

Charles Day is the Bram Stoker nominated creator of "The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief".  His dedication and passion to his artform is truly amazing and admirable.  His newly released book, "The Hunt for the Ghoulish Bartender" is another testament to dedication to his craft.  Charles is not only an acclaimed author, but also owner of multiple publishing companies, such as Hidden Thoughts Press, Evil Jester Press, Evil Jester Comics, and more.

An admirable aspect of Charles Day's passion for writing is his involvement outside of the writing community.  Charles works diligently to reach out to the Young Adult readers to bring excitement back to what I have heard called a "lost art".  In fact, some kids that I have spoken too would rather wait for the movie than read the book.  Sadly, they don't realize that an unsold book does not lead to a movie production.  Charles' outreach to the young readers, and future authors, is helping the literary arts keep its momentum in our culture. 

We need more people like Charles day on our culture, people that believe in our children and are dedicated to educate them and mentor them towards their dreams and goals.  If you are a parent, share your story below about how you help your children to enjoy the literary world.  What books are their favorites?  Do you rely on the highly acclaimed releases, or have you found the hidden gems of the small presses?

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in finding a fantastic book for a young adult to read, click the links below to find both of Charles' young adult novels.  Don't forget to check out some of the Evil Jester Press publications for yourself, I highly recommend Inheritance by Joe McKinney (linked below).

Are You A Fanboy?

What is a fanboy?  According to Merriam-Webster a fanboy is :

noun: \ˈfan-ˌbȯi\: : a boy who is an enthusiastic devotee (as of comics or movies)

Obviously, fanboys are not always boys and aren't restricted to comics or movies. I think it is fair to say that many of you reading this are probably Nintendo/Xbox/Sony fanboys/girls.  However, some of you are like me and don't limit yourself to just one console.  Don't get me wrong, I love each of the big three console makers.  However, like my kids, I don't love one more than another.  Each one has it's uniqueness, and that is what makes them special. 

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of debating an individual (self admitted Xbox 360 fanboy) that disagreed with a me that all consoles have their positives and negatives.  He didn't disagree that they didn't all have good games, instead he felt that a console is nothing without specs.  I tend to believe that specs do help to differentiate one console form another, but the games are what keeps people coming back for more.  Without good games, quality over quantity, what do the specs show us?

Myself, I have consoles dating back from the original pong and commadore 64 all the way to the Wii U and Ouya.  I don't dislike any of the 51 consoles I own, but I don't absolutely love them all either. 

So, are you a fanboy of a specific console?  If so, why (Let's try to give valid reasons, instead of just saying that it is better). 

An Overdue Hello, During A Hectic Time

It has been a while since I posted, and I apologize for that, so I thought I would give an update on my writing and share some links to the books I am published in. 

Near the end of June, I finally finished with the Institute of Children's Literature.  This was a huge accomplishment for me, as I actually began it back in 1995, shortly after high school graduation.  Life got in the way, and I dropped out.  However, I called them up in 2012 to inquire about joining again, and they allowed me to continue where I left off!  So, I started back up and finally completed the course.  I should receive my diploma soon, which I will proudly display.  I also finished the first three chapters of my novel (which was my last assignment), and will continue working on it.  Look for Final Reverie in the future.

My newest short story is published in "Another 100 Horrors", by Cruentus Libri Press.  The concept was new for me, to create a 100 word short story, which I successfully did with the creation of "The Hunt".

You can purchase it today on Amazon in paperback and ebook format:

http://www.amazon.com/Another-100-Horrors-Kevin-Bufton/dp/1489514279/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372726026&sr=8-1&keywords=another+100+horrors

An upcoming short story, titled "Blood Lust", will be included in this upcoming anthology titled, "Horror-Tica".  Published by Cruentus Libri Press, it is sure to be a favorite amongst those that like horror, mixed with a little lust.

The Anthology should be released within the next month or so, so keep tuned in for an official announcement.

Also, if you purchase any of the books, please leave some feedback on Amazon to show some love.

The Apollyon Zine is an up and coming magazine from an indie publisher.  My short story, "Catastrophic Preservation" will be included in the very first issue.  This is my first magazine publication, and I am extremely excited to be part of the debut issue. 

If you are interested in Apollyon, feel free to join their facebook page for updates on the release.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/485535394850185/


The Undead that Saved Christmas, Vol. 3: Monster Bash, published by Rainstorm Press, included my second published story, "The Deal That Saved Christmas".  It takes an alternate look at Santa Claus and how he became the man we all loved as a child.  The anthology is available on Amazon in both paperback and kindle versions.  All proceeds will benefit hugsffa.org.

http://www.amazon.com/Undead-That-Saved-Christmas-Monster/dp/1937758311/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372726685&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Undead+that+Saved+Christmas

31 More Nights of Halloween, published by Rainstorm Press, included my first published short story, titled "Game Over".  I really liked this story and its surprise ending.

This book is still available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback versions.

http://www.amazon.com/More-Nights-Halloween-Joshua-Skye/dp/1937758281/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372726852&sr=1-1&keywords=31+More+Nights+of+Halloween


Although those are my current publications, they are not my last.  I have quite a few short stories out there for final acceptance/rejection letters, and continue to look for more as they become available.  I have a short zombie story that will be released in an an upcoming Anthology that will benefit War Veterans. 

Of course, I am working on Final Reverie, which will be my first novel.  I have a few publishers in mind to possible publication, but want to wait until it is complete, before I get my hopes up.  This Novel is based on a short story that I wrote, and I am very proud of it. 

Let's not forget my work for Nerdzy.com and Infendo.com!  Both sites are fantastic sources for video game news, and nerdzy covers other categories too!  You can also listen to me on Infendo Radio (Which will post on Infendo when new episodes are complete).

As you can see, I have been VERY busy lately, so this little blog of mine has been put on the back burner.  On top of everything above, I have started to study for my Associate's Degree in Psychology with the University of Phoenix.  To add to the chaos, I am also seeking employment, since my company went out of business (anyone need an operations or office manager?).  Although, I wish that my writing paid the bills, sadly it does not...yet!

I will try to keep up on my blog on a more consistent basis, as well as showcase some other authors in upcoming posts! 

Feel free to follow me on facebook as well:

www.facebook.com/esselprattwriting