Shaun Meeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "sci-fi"
Shutdown update
My latest novel, Shutdown, has had some real ups and downs in the last year. It was slated to be released the spring of 2013, but after losing the original manuscript in a computer accident, I had to start the project from scratch. It was a little disheartening to have to do that, and I gave up on it for longer than I should have.
Thankfully, I have gotten back on board with it and am now closing in on a finish for it. Last week I managed to get 16,000 words done in four days, so with that said, I should be done writing and editing the book by the end of July. Or sooner.
The book is about a hacker, Tim "Mouse" Jones, who is hired to break into a building owned by a genetics corporation called GenCross. He is hired to steal a file from the mainframe, then upload a virus into the computer that will shut down the building's entire network and wipe all the files from its memory. But when things go wrong and Mouse finds himself trapped in the building, trying to stay out of jail isn't his only concern, he also needs to stay alive.
I have already been contacted by a few publishers about sending the manuscript to them and look forward to sending it off once it's done.
Thankfully, I have gotten back on board with it and am now closing in on a finish for it. Last week I managed to get 16,000 words done in four days, so with that said, I should be done writing and editing the book by the end of July. Or sooner.
The book is about a hacker, Tim "Mouse" Jones, who is hired to break into a building owned by a genetics corporation called GenCross. He is hired to steal a file from the mainframe, then upload a virus into the computer that will shut down the building's entire network and wipe all the files from its memory. But when things go wrong and Mouse finds himself trapped in the building, trying to stay out of jail isn't his only concern, he also needs to stay alive.
I have already been contacted by a few publishers about sending the manuscript to them and look forward to sending it off once it's done.
Shutdown First Draft
This weekend, I finally finished the first draft of my new novel, Shutdown. It took longer than I would have liked due to invites to so many new and cool anthologies. I tried to steer clear of some of them, but what can you do when you get cool opportunities to write stories for some amazing people and amazing collections. Some of these include anthologies by Ellen Datlow, William Cook, The Horror Zine, Michael Bailey, Adam Millard and Chizine. Also there is one that I am still working on for an anthology of stories that take place after Clive Barker's Nightbreed/Cabal.
Regardless, the first draft is done, 93,000 words so far. The book is a strange mix of horror, sci-fi and thriller and moves pretty fast paced. I am hoping to get it polished by the end of this month then ship it over to my editor. She is a tough one that doesn't pull punches, and that's what I need. Once that is done I will start sending it off to publishers that have already contacted me with interest in it. I was hoping to have the book out by the end of the year, but it may not be ready until 2014. If that's the case, there will still be a new release by me this year, a collection of short stories called Dark Reaches. That will be out for the holiday season this December.
I look forward to releasing the novel and seeing what everyone thinks. Once the polish is done on it, I will quickly start work on my next book, The Gate at Lake Drive, which is the the first book of the Dillon Monster Dick series.
Regardless, the first draft is done, 93,000 words so far. The book is a strange mix of horror, sci-fi and thriller and moves pretty fast paced. I am hoping to get it polished by the end of this month then ship it over to my editor. She is a tough one that doesn't pull punches, and that's what I need. Once that is done I will start sending it off to publishers that have already contacted me with interest in it. I was hoping to have the book out by the end of the year, but it may not be ready until 2014. If that's the case, there will still be a new release by me this year, a collection of short stories called Dark Reaches. That will be out for the holiday season this December.
I look forward to releasing the novel and seeing what everyone thinks. Once the polish is done on it, I will quickly start work on my next book, The Gate at Lake Drive, which is the the first book of the Dillon Monster Dick series.
Shutdown is on the way!
So, I’m very happy to announce that J. Ellington Ashton Press (JEA Press) has picked up my debut novel, Shutdown. This book, for anyone that’s been paying attention to this blog, has been looking for a home for about a year. I’m happy that it’s found, not just any home, but a great one. Already the staff and fellow writers have made me feel very welcomed. Soon the edits and the cover process will begin and I’ll share as much as I can of it here and on my Facebook page.
For those that might not have read anything in the past about Shutdown, here’s the gist of what it’s about.
I think it can easily be described as Die Hard written by H.P. Lovecraft. A hacker, Mouse, has been hired to break into a genetics building to steal files and insert a virus to wipe out their mainframe. It seems easy enough, but the building which belongs to GenCross is no easy mark. It has top notch security lead by an ex-military madman named Cap. But for a million dollars, Mouse is willing to risk it.
What Mouse doesn’t know about is the experiments on the tenth floor. A mummy was uncovered in Egypt, one that holds an ancient secret that could change the future of the human race. If the mainframe is shut down, there’ll be no security system left to hold what’s there in place. And if it gets loose, the entire world could be in jeopardy.
I’m so looking forward to this release and can’t wait to see what everyone thinks. Stay tuned here for all the updates, or head over to Facebook and join my author’s page.
For those that might not have read anything in the past about Shutdown, here’s the gist of what it’s about.
I think it can easily be described as Die Hard written by H.P. Lovecraft. A hacker, Mouse, has been hired to break into a genetics building to steal files and insert a virus to wipe out their mainframe. It seems easy enough, but the building which belongs to GenCross is no easy mark. It has top notch security lead by an ex-military madman named Cap. But for a million dollars, Mouse is willing to risk it.
What Mouse doesn’t know about is the experiments on the tenth floor. A mummy was uncovered in Egypt, one that holds an ancient secret that could change the future of the human race. If the mainframe is shut down, there’ll be no security system left to hold what’s there in place. And if it gets loose, the entire world could be in jeopardy.
I’m so looking forward to this release and can’t wait to see what everyone thinks. Stay tuned here for all the updates, or head over to Facebook and join my author’s page.
