Tuesday, December 13, 2016




In the works:

Just giving an update to my fans on what I have going on right now.

The Hunt Chronicles: Volume 3 Crusade

Currently, I am around 50% done with the first draft. I have been slacking on it, but am now writing almost every day. Crusade is different than the first two because unlike those, this is happening “on the road”. There are some new characters being introduced which I’m excited about, and the loss of a couple which saddens me. But remember, Christian is telling his not for the sake of himself, but for those he lost along the way.


Spin Offs

I recently wrote a short story for Chris Philbrook’s latest Anthology Only the light we make. It was fun and I really liked how other zombie authors and fans came together to write stories based in his AUD world. This helped an idea of mine come to fruition.

One reason why it takes me FOREVER to complete a book is because, unfortunately, I am overly detailed when it comes to backstory. You don’t see it, but it is there. It helps me form the world and characters with a sense of history. Rarely, any of it makes its way into the first draft, let alone the final print of my books.

Stories like “Marc”, who owns the store where Enrique killed his wife. Or “Todd from Portland”, who made first radio contact with our heroes. Some of their story was written out in notes, while other parts were left swimming around in my head.

After my part in the Anthology, I decided to do something else. I have been in negotiation with other zombie authors to co-author some of these stories. Primarily, I’m looking for authors that live in the area where the story takes place. The story of “Todd from Portland” is all but a done deal. We have worked out the mechanics of writing the book and, for the most part, the legal deals (waiting for a contract to be drafted).

I am also talking with another author on John Ivanisin’s story. He was the man you never heard from in Revelation. The other group from Maine that our heroes talked with and found out fire was a weapon against the dead. The summary of the story is done. Hopefully, we will come to an agreement.

I love both stories that have been mapped out. The beauty about these books is they are stand-alone stories. You don’t even have to read the original series to understand them.
I am keeping the proposed authors “secret” for the time being, while we get all of our ducks in a row.

Now, you may say, “Why do spin-off’s while we’re still waiting on the series to finish?” Well, there are a few reasons:

     1. Working with other authors allows me to write these spin offs part time. Trading chapters back and forth, with each of us adding our own two cents and developing a unique novel. Time wise, this won’t be too impacting.

          2. Sometimes when I’m writing, I hit a spot I cannot figure out. It happens to most (or all?) authors. Some of my favorite scenes in my books is when I write my characters into a corner without a solution. Think of Chuck, Karina and Christian being trapped in the cooler, or when Fish handcuffed Christian to the desk. I don’t always have the answers to these issues and I have to mull over them and try and figure out how “that or those characters” will escape or find a solution. This can take an hour or a week, depending on how my brain is working. Trust me, there are times I just need to move onto something else for a little bit until a solution pops into my head. This allows me that relief.
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          3. The problem with my series is that it is what one author (James Dean) called “A small epic story”. Now, what does that mean to me? Well, there is a story to be told, and it will not be done until Volume 5. Because of this, every book is a cliff hanger of sort. These books will not only be stand-alone, but complete stories. One book, one account, all happing in the world of The Hunt Chronicles with little to no impact on the original heroes.
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          4. And finally, because I want to. Selfish, I know.

I hope my fans will embrace this idea. Especially given the fact that the authors I am negotiating with are at the top of the list when it comes to zombie fiction. They will add their own special touch to these stories that should make them better than if it was just me writing them.


Shop

I am currently working with someone to develop cool little things for The Hunt Chronicles. Shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, etc. I am excited about this.

Please comment below and let me know what you think!

J.D. Demers

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Characters to Life - Chad

“Characters to Life” - Chad

Characters to Life is a little thing I’m doing for my fans. I am picking a character from my book that I derived from a friend or acquaintance. The Characters, of course, matured into their own, but I think most authors would agree that they steal bits from people they’ve met in real life. This series I’m posting will let you see the faces behind the characters that I’ve developed and learned to love. They are not exact replicas, but they did help me develop some great and interesting people. Hope you enjoy!

Chad



I have a feeling some people thought I went too far with (Character) Chad. Like, how could someone be like that (in the beginning)? Does prison time really have that big of an effect on you? What people do not know is I based this character off of a good friend of mine. (Real) Chad made some mistakes when he was young. And just like (Character) Chad, he had the book thrown at him at the young age of 18 and spent ten and a half years in prison for breaking and entering.

Justice can be harsh. The entire time one should be finding themselves (18-25 years of age), Chad spent in prison. Not a good place to find yourself. I remember when he first got out, my friends and I took him to a bar. Poor guy passed out after a few drinks. The next few years were rough. Looking for work as a felon can be tough. He had his ups and downs…lots of downs. Learning to fit back into society was not easy.



In the end, though, (Real) Chad prevailed. Maybe if (Character) Chad had the same opportunities, he would have too. But unfortunately, the zombie apocalypse happened just six months after (Character) Chad’s release from the penitentiary. No time to grow. He had to grow in the mist of Armageddon. He had to learn how to get along with previously civilized people while civilization itself was collapsing. It was rough, but I think (Character) Chad began to cope better in the end.



(Real) Chad, however, did have the time. After some years of adjusting, Chad settled down with his high school sweet heart. They have two children, and (Real) Chad has a very good career working as a surveyor for pipelines. He makes great money and is a loving father. Not a bad rebound for someone who had all the cards stacked against him at the age of twenty-nine when he was released. Now, he is 42 and doing great.




(Character) Chad was derived from my friend’s background. Just like (Real) Chad, he was quick tempered, socially inept (sorry Chad!) and covered in tattoos-some good, some...ummm, well, jail house. But deep down, both Chad’s were good people. They just needed to find where they fit into their perspective worlds. (Real) Chad did, and I’m proud of him and what he has accomplished. He is a great friend and I want to thank him for letting me put his story both in my books and here in this “Characters to Life” bio.

J.D. Demers
www.jddemers.com
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