THE MARATHON IN WORDS: DEAN KARNAZES NAILS IT

If running a marathon could be accurately described in words, it would be something less

than what it is, but this recent article by Dean Karnazes really comes close for me. Here are some highlights.

"The Marathon is not about running, it is about salvation."

"There is no luck involved in finishing the Marathon, the ingredients required to tackle this formidable challenge are straightforward: commitment, sacrifice, grit, and raw determination."

"The Marathon rattles you to the core. It deconstructs your very essence, stripping away all your protective barriers and exposing your inner soul. When you are at your most vulnerable, the Marathon shows no pity. The Marathon tells you that it will hurt you, that it will leave you demoralized and defeated, crushed in a lifeless heap alongside the roadside."

"You fight back, however, and stand courageously at that starting line, nervously awaiting that gun to go off. When it does, you put your head down and charge into the abyss, knowing honestly in your heart of hearts that you either paid your dues or that you skimped along the way. There is no lying to yourself here, the Marathon sees right through excuses, shortcuts, and self-transgressions."

The Dean

Check out the full article on Runners World
The Marathon, by Dean Karnazes

MILK-BLOOD: THE COVER REVEAL

     As I announced last week, I have another book coming out. 

MILK-BLOOD is what happens when a writer and a social worker visit the inner city of Detroit. Based on a real setting and with more truth to the tale than you may believe. It is planned for release in July. Here's the cover: 

What's it about? 

    Lilly is ten years old, born with a heart defect, and already

addicted to heroin. Her mother is gone from her life, and there are rumors that she was killed by her father and buried near the abandoned house across the street. The house intrigues her, she can't stay away, and the monstrous homeless man who lives there has been trying to get Lilly to come inside.

      For her mother is there, buried in the back, and this homeless man is Lilly's true father, and both want their daughter back.

The cover is from Elderlemon Design run by Kealan Patrick Burke and to be edited by Richard Thomas of Dark House Press, (who just announced a two book deal with Random House). A couple of authors got a sneak peak. Here's some feedback:

"MILK-BLOOD is a discomforting story of true inner city horrors, told by characters so real they pop off the page. Add the supernatural mix to the story and it really grabs you by the throat. Mark's writing shows a remarkable assuredness that I caught a glimpse of in On the Lips of Children, but has really flowered with this piece. Very much recommended!" 
~ John F.D. Taff, author of Little Deaths and The Bell Witch

Three advance review copies are being given away on Goodreads. 

CLICK HERE TO WIN A COPY

But that's not all.

There's a companion short story that is FREE on amazon and serves as a prequel, 'character origin' story. Click here for the 15 page read, The Damage Done, which promptly got three five star reviews since it was published last week. 

MILK-BLOOD The story you are about to read is entirely true. I know there was a disclaimer that called this a piece of fiction. It has to say that. So now if you are damaged while reading the story, I am no longer liable.

REAL RUNNERS. REAL WRITERS. AND PENGUICON

REAL RUNNERS

• Celebrate an effective snot-rocket. ✓ 
• Cherish the burn of their chaffed body parts in the shower after a hot, summer long-run. ✓ 
• Get moody and broody when they are injured and can not run. ✓

REAL WRITERS 

• Have their own domain name on their blog without blogspot in the url. ✓(finally) 
• Go to cool conventions, rub elbows, act artsy and speak in esoteric terms.  ✓ (saturday) 
• Get moody and broody when they are injured and can not run. ✓

I will be at the Penguicon convention in Southfield this Saturday hanging out with a bevy of geeks and freaks, listening to author panels, and seeing way cool writers like Ernest Cline of Ready Player One and Julie Hutchings, Books of the Dead published author of Running Home.

What is Penguicon?  Imagine your happy place...
...a happy place where all geeky interests are represented, explored, and respected. A place with hackers, makers, foodies, open source software junkies, anime buffs, and science fiction fans of all ages and backgrounds come together in a hotel for a weekend and totally blow the roof off.