NEW URL ADDRESS

GNBraun.com has now moved to http://gnbrauns.wordpress.com/

All future updates will be through the new site.

Don't Stop the Presses!

Books and the printed word are dying.

That’s what people are saying, and have been since eReaders first came heavily onto the scene in the late 2000s. There were eReaders before then, but they were not widely known or widely used. Now, we have Kindle and Kobo and Sony eReaders. And because of all these, the printed word is allegedly dying.

Turn up to the Y-service club of Bendigo Biannual Book Fair, held every year on the Easter long weekend and then again in October, and you would be hard-pressed to see an eReader anywhere.

For the people who attend, and there are a lot of them, it’s all about the printed book. They open at nine in the morning, but by eight, the line is already up the block and around the corner. The event is going from strength-to-strength.

Every year, over 10,000 books are donated to the YMCA for what used to be their once-a-year Easter book fair. Running for over forty years, it’s proved so popular that it has now been scheduled for twice every year.

“The first year we took a profit of $50,” said Peter Unmack, Y-Service Club secretary. “Most of the books were donated by the YMCA members and their families. Now we have a donation bin that’s emptied three to five times a week!”

Funds raised are channelled directly back into community projects, many youth-related: the Bendigo Youth Choir, the Discovery Centre, the YMCA’s B-Central Youth Hub, residential housing, and local women’s support groups.  Most recently the Fortuna Group CFA received financial assistance to complete storage facilities for a new forward command vehicle, enabling it to be more conveniently located in central Bendigo.

The books sell for between 50 cents and $3.50, and they sell very well indeed. It’s hard to move through all the customers, as they’re packed in like sardines. All kinds of people attend the fair, of all ages.

“We get everyone,” said Peter. “Lots of students looking for text books, older people, mothers and kids... The support from the public has been quite incredible. Some people wait for Easter to get their year’s supply of reading, and leave with boxes full of books.” The Fair has grown so big that the Y’s men have sought help from other groups, just to cope.

This year the Y brought in other organisations, such as the Scouts, to help, said Peter. “And the Y-Service Women are invaluable – invaluable! They do a great job of keeping the books nice during the Fair,” he said.

“I love it,” said Dawn Roach, a very satisfied customer. “I get lost in the place, and could spend hours there.” Dawn is a regular at the Book Fair, lining up with all the other eager buyers, rain or shine.

“I love the concept of pre-loved books, and you can save a lot of money. It’s also a place to find obscure titles and authors,” she said. “Being a uni student and an obscure person, I love the fair. It provides a more diverse range than a bookshop does.

“Bookshops sell to a market, and they buy according to what they think will sell. The fair runs on donations, and who knows what can turn up there. It’s fantastic.”

“I love the sale,” said Leah Gregory, another satisfied customer. “I find all sorts of treasures here.

“I go and have a look on the first day of the fair, and then once more on the closing day,” said Leah. “At that point they’re practically throwing them out the door at ten dollars a box.”

The number of people who attend the fair for the three days it runs are amazing. Locals and non-locals all clutter the aisles, looking for that one book they’ve trying to find for years. Sometimes they’ll find it, but even if they don’t, they’ll walk out with many surprise gems they’d never expected to find.

Many, many people love to read, and many of them love to read a physical book. “Books aren’t dying,” said Peter. He may be of the non-internet generation, but he was given a laptop for his seventieth birthday, and can now see both sides of the reading coin.

“Downloading books is an alternative way of reading, but people still have the wish to read printed material and have the object in front of them.”

The YMCA Book Fair can be found at the Mundy Street Stadium, 49 Mundy St Bendigo, during the Easter long weekend and in the month of October. Donation bins for books await your unwanted books right now.

Free Fiction: The Water Dragon

The Water Dragon

Crashing waves hit the shoreline, tossing flotsam across the gritty, pebbled beach.

Cleana sat alone, staring out over the turbulent ocean.

He’s gone. He’s gone and he’s left me alone again.

A particularly large wave crested and crashed on the shore, running up to soak her skirt in white foam. Tiny creatures scuttled on the pebbles near Cleana’s feet, dredged up from the depths by the turbulent ocean and left beached, far from home, by the waves.

Ambrose was her man, but first and foremost, he was a man of the sea.

After the near-disaster of his last voyage, he’d promised to settle down and marry her, yet here he was, gone once more to sail to the mainland. She remembered their conversation last night.

“But Ambrose. You promised me you’d stay,” she’d said.

“Cleana. I have debts I need to pay before we can settle down. This one last trip to Strangford on the mainland will earn us enough to pay off the debts and repair Ma’s house for us all to live in.”

“I don’t care about the house having a few leaks,” she’d said. “I just want you safe and sound here, in my sight.”

“Enough, woman,” he’d said. “Leave me to make the decisions on finances, as I’m the one that’s responsible for them.”

He’d not wanted to discuss it anymore after that.

Now here she sat, on the bay near Port Erin, where she lived and loved, staring out in the direction of Strangford, praying that he came home safe once more. Praying to the spirits of all that inhabited the waters of the straight all the way to Ireland itself.

Cleana prayed and prayed, and then prayed some more.

After a while, a susurrating murmur made her look up.

She beheld a horrific sight. In front of her, in the shallows, rose a giant serpent—green and grey-brown, scaled and enormous.

It’s yellow, hooded eyes stared at her from a giant wedge-shaped head that sat on the end of a long, snake-like body. It was so large, it filled half the bay.

She tried to move, but fear froze her legs and her voice.

The murmur continued, and she saw that it came from a body clenched between the serpent’s white teeth. She recognised its clothing.

Ambrose!

He seemed unharmed, but it was hard to tell.

The creature leaned even closer, and gently dropped her lover’s body on the pebbles by her side, pulling back once it had let go.

Cleana reached for Ambrose, to see if he lived, but he grunted and coughed up water before she could touch him.

“Wha...” he asked, after he’d spewed up enough water to fill their well at home. “What happened?”

“That’s for you tell me, love,” she said.

“I... I’m not sure. I remember us hitting a storm, and that’s all I knew.” Ambrose lifted himself, turned and leaned against her for support.

“Your ship sank,” a giant voice rumbled above them. It was the serpent who spoke and now it turned to look directly at Cleana. “I heard your prayers, little woman,” said, “and decided to answer your honest faith in the spirit of the ocean.”

“I... I thank you, good serpent,” Cleana stammered.

“See that you sacrifice once each moon. A freshly-caught fish will do.”

“I’ll never forget this, and I thank you,” Clana said.

“See that you don’t forget,” the serpent said.

At that, it turned and snaked under the water of the bay, disappearing in a flash of green and brown torso.

Cleana and Ambrose were married the following week, and to this day, every month, without fail, Cleana takes a freshly-caught fish to the shore where the serpent-dragon returned her Ambrose to her.

Of the other men of his ship, nothing was ever heard again.

2012 Updates

Hi everyone,
Sorry for being so slack in updating, but between writing, studying, building an editing and proofreading business and attempting to have a life, it's been a busy time.
A couple of acceptances so far this year, with more on the way:

Horror For Good: A Charitable Anthology reprinted one of my flash pieces, Autumn as Metaphor, with great reviews coming in.
‎"G. N. Braun’s opening tale, “Autumn as Metaphor,” is a remarkable achievement since the horror upon which the story is predicated has already occurred before the opening line, and the horror to come does not begin until the last lines; even so, it is complete, chilling, effective." - Michael R. Collings


It can be purchased in print form here, with eBook files coming soon!

Midnight Echo is printing a new story, Brand New Day, in edition #7 on May 31st, and I'm looking forward to seeing that one in print. They had this to say on the website: "Dark and gritty are the two words that spring to mind when reading the work of G.N. Braun. Away from the supernatural and macabre, Braun takes us to a place all too common. There’s nothing more terrifying than reality."

Hammered is now out from Amazon (print and Kindle) and Smashwords, and selling well, it would seem. Great reviews coming in on both sites.

"R.B. Clague on March 22, 2012 :      
To say that Hammered: Memoir of an Addict, is a compelling book is a gross understatment. It's a novel that many readers will find uncomfortable with its warts-and-all portrayal of addiction and the consequent lifestyle. So it should. It doesn't paint the author as an angel, nor does it demonize him. It just simply paints - a gritty and realistic portrait of desperation and of one man's struggle to get through each day. This book is to Australia, what Trainspotting is to Scotland. My sincere congratulations to the author for having the courage to pen such a wonderful work. I have a feeling that if Joe's dad is looking down from wherever he is, he's glad that Joe made it through the journey and lived to tell other people that it's possible to escape the abyss."

" By 

Vasbrook (Tasmania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammered: Memoir of an Addict (Paperback)

An honest, gritty account of a drug addict that offers no apologies. G.N. Braun takes us through his accounts of the low life and leaves us amazed he ever escaped the squalid carousel ride each junkie takes. Unsympathetic yet yearning for an escape, Braun packs a lot into 175 pages and you'll feel you've taken a hard yet satisfying journey with an addict that can claim he escaped the darkness. Recommended"

Keep an eye out for more news, hopefully in a more timely manner!

And it's here!

http://beenhammered.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/and-its-here.html

The print books have arrived, and they are beautiful. Orders are still available for signed copies at this Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/events/236051853147308/

Pre-order signed/numbered edition of Hammered

The event is being held here: https://www.facebook.com/events/236051853147308/
All pre-sales will be signed and numbered. Books should be shipping by Monday 27th February.
Within Australia; AU$25 including postage.
International: AU$35 including postage

Jacket Art

Here's the full wraparound cover art for Hammered: Memoir of an Addict.

Some original art, and some great books at the fundraiser

TWO new pieces of original art by Chuck McKenzie... both signed by the artist...

Also, a pack of books kindly donated by Chuck McKenzie:

• Field Combat Manual for Zombie Slayers, written by Marc Sherman
• Boneshaker, written by Cherie Priest
• Dog Blood, written by David Moody
• Shakespeare Undead, A Novel, written by Lori Handeland
• Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: A look at the History and Influence of Zombies on Popular Culture, edited by Christopher Wortzenspeigel from High Quality Wikipedia Articles
• The Zombie Handbook; An Essential Guide to Zombies, and, more importantly, How to Avoid them, Dr. Robert Curran
• Alone Series, Chaser, written by James Phelan (signed)
  
  All are now up at the AHWA site...

A very special auction item...

A very special prize-pack is now up for auction at the AHWA site for Rocky Wood - Melbourne author; member of AHWA; president of HWA and all-round nice guy!

Donated by Jeremy Wagner, the pack consists of:

 

A signed/personalised first-edition trade-paperback of The Armageddon Chord

Deep beneath the Egyptian sands, an ancient and evil song written in hieroglyphics is discovered in the long lost and buried pyramid of the demonic pharaoh, Aknaseth. It is written, that if this song is performed for the world to hear, it will unleash the Apocalypse upon the world of man…Satan will reign and grant immortality to the chosen.

With the help of the abominable Egyptologist, Helmut Hartkopff, nihilistic multi-billionaire, Festus Baustone the Third will do whatever it takes to bring the song to life at any cost—even if his only daughter is to be sacrificed.

Kirk Vaisto, dubbed the “God of Guitar” by his millions of fans, soon finds himself caught between the forces of divine good and monumental evil. Vaisto begins a musical journey that takes him from an unholy chapter in ancient Egyptian history to the very remains of the Holy Cross, to the concert stage, and beyond all this, to the very edge of Hell itself.

Will Kirk Vaisto give the performance of a lifetime and either deliver our world from evil…or he will annihilate us all with the stroke of his hand?

What will happen when Kirk Vaisto strikes

The Armageddon Chord?

A signed/personalised author photo;

 The Armageddon Chord collectible 'jumbo' guitar pick and;

One The Armageddon Chord t-shirt (large).

Remember folks, the page with details is HERE!
You've gotta be in it to win it...

And even MORE auction items for the fundraiser!

Some more specials up for grabs at the Rocky Wood fundraiser auction.

Firstly, a LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION to Dark Discoveries magazine, valued at nearly $300.
Also included is a pack comprised of NINE back-issues of Dark Discoveries:

- Issue #1 (Spring, 2004) – Douglas Clegg, Elizabeth Engstrom, Bev Vincent, Bill Gauthier, Article on Stephen King by Rocky Wood, a SK Bibliography and more.
- Issue #3 (Fall, 2004) – Simon Clark, Tim Lebbon, Gary Braunbeck, Tom Piccirilli, James S. Dorr, Earthling Publications Profile, Bill Gauthier column, and more.
- Issue #4 (Spring, 2005) – Graham Masterton, Jeffrey Thomas, John R. Little, Alan M. Clark, Jeremy Robert Johnson, James Newman, Jon F. Merz and more.
- Issue #6 (Fall, 2005) – Ramsey Campbell, Douglas Winter (Part 1), Norman Partridge, Scott Nicholson, Tim Curran, Matthew Warner, Darren Franz and more.
- Issue #7 (Winter, 2006) – Elizabeth Massie, Douglas Winter (Part 2), Gerard Houarner, Steve Vernon, J.F. Gonzalez, Tributes to J.N. Williamson (Gary Braunbeck and others) and more.
- Issue #9 (Winter, 2007) – T.M. Wright, Brian Hodge, Elizabeth Engstrom, John Maclay, Michael McBride, Tony Richards, Bill Gauthier column and more.
- Issue #10 (Summer, 2007) – Jay Lake, Tim Waggoner, Alan M. Clark, John Everson, Tributes to Charles L. Grant (Christopher Golden, Kealan Patrick Burke and others), Stephen King’s worldwide book tour and more.
- Issue #11 (Spring, 2008) – Joe Hill, Edward Lee, Tim Lebbon, Michael Laimo, Cody Goodfellow, Charlee Jacob, Chad Savage and more.
- Issue #17 (Fall, 2010) – Dark Science Fiction Special. Featuring: Ray Bradbury, John Shirley, David Cronenberg, William F. Nolan, Jeffrey Thomas, Bruce Taylor, Nick Mamatas, Randy Broeker, Jeremy Robert Johnson, Ronald Malfi and more.


As an added bonus, also included are two signed/limited books released by Dark Discoveries:

- CATALYSTS - Bill Gauthier (2007). Introduction by Thomas F. Monteleone and artwork by Alan M. Clark. Features 13 stories, an afterword by the author and story notes. Signed and Numbered Trade Paperback and one of only 250 copies done.
- WILLIAM F. NOLAN: A MISCELLANY (2011). Features a rare story, an essay and bibliography. Signed by the author and limited to 250 trade paperback/perfectbound copies.

Also on offer at the auction site are:

Rain Dogs by Gary McMahon - Signed limited edition from Humdrumming Press (2008)
Inscribed to the winning bidder with an additional signature by the author.

Thought Forms by Jeffrey Thomas - Signed/limited edition from Dark Regions Press (2009)
Inscribed to the winner with an additional signature AND remarqued by the author.

 Nekropolis 1, 2 AND three by Tim Waggoner, all three signed and dedicated to the winning bidder!

Nekropolis

Meet Matt Richter. Private eye. Zombie.

His mean streets are the city of the dead, the shadowy realm known as Nekropolis. And in this first case, Richter must help a delectable half-vampire named Devona recover a legendary artifact known as the Dawnstone, before it’s used to destroy Nekropolis itself. That is, if he can survive the myriad horrors that infest the city itself.

A mass of new auction items!

There's been a rush in the last few days of donated items, so I'm listing all the definite additions here!

Tim Lebbon's The Reach of Children. 112 pages

Signed and inscribed to the winner!

 





The Stephen King Illustrated Companion, by Bev Vincent!
Signed and inscribed to the winner!

Killer Move  by Michael Marshall hardcover.

Signed and inscribed to the winner!



This is Marshall's latest release, and his signed stuff is hard to come by, especially in Australia!

Bone Marrow Stew by Tim Curran.
This is the signed/limited edition published and donated by Tasmaniac Publications. Limited to 250 copies worldwide, this is a PC copy.













And lastly, but by no means least, Scott Nicholson has kindly donated his ENTIRE EBOOK CATALOG! Every...single...book!
The author will email the ebooks to the winner in epub, mobi, or PDF files, as required!
The titles are:

Novels

Liquid Fear

Disintegration

The Red Church

Speed Dating with the Dead

The Skull Ring

Drummer Boy

The Harvest

As I Die Lying

Burial to Follow

Cursed! (with J.R. Rain)

Ghost College (with J.R. Rain)

The Vampire Club (with J.R. Rain)

Bad Blood (with J.R. Rain and H.T. Night)

October Girls

Crime Beat

Transparent Lovers

Creative Spirit

Troubled

Solom

The Gorge

Collections

Curtains

Flowers

Ashes

The First

Zombie Bits

Head Cases

Gateway Drug

These Things Happened

Children’s Books

If I Were Your Monster (with Lee Davis)

Too Many Witches (with Lee Davis)

Duncan the Punkin (with Sergio Castro)

Screenplays

The Skull Ring: The Screenplay

Creative Spirit: The Screenplay

The Gorge: The Screenplay

On Writing

Write Good or Die

The Indie Journey: Secrets to Writing Success