I write, teach, and travel. Grab a seat, and learn how I left the real world behind. – John …
Rye Ironstone: Chernobyl Zombie
Available for presale at Amazon – Book two of the series
The Soviet Union has bred a plague of radioactive zombies destined to destroy NORAD, the world’s most powerful military bunker, and jeopardizes the United States ability to protect the free world. Hydra, the secret biker gang and protective force from Special Bureau One is infiltrated by KGB agents, and must be saved through Ironstone’s quick action and unorthodox investigation skills.
All the while, Rye Ironstone, Special Agent for Bureau One, struggles to stay one step ahead of the radioactive cocaine the Russians are peddling, and with President Reagan’s blessing, sets out to eradicate the cocaine-zombie infestation. But will Rye survive his own zombie transformation?
Rye’s second day at Bureau One training camp – Part Two
I stood and flipped the table on its side. Dishes clattered, and spilt coffee splashed to the floor.
“Everybody, into the kitchen.” I pointed my finger at the Samoan and added as much bark to my voice as I could. “Lau, you’re in charge. Get them moving. Move. Move. Move.”
From a far corner, fog billowed from an unknown source and the distinctive sound of the hounds released for the hunt echoed throughout the room.
I grabbed June by the collar, lifted her from her chair, and shoved her toward Lau. “You help him. Go now.”
Her face froze, lips thin, and teeth clenched.
Lau didn’t waste any time. He grabbed June around the waist and slung her over his shoulder. “Everybody follow me to the kitchen.” His booming voice remained calm.
I left the room clearing to my big friend and placed my palm on my pistol. Fog continued to cascade from a distant corner […]
Rye’s second day at Bureau One training camp – Part One
The next morning, I kicked the Vietnam era, woolen covers off my cot and looked around. I was bedded down in a defunct, record store. Waist-high bins held hundreds of titles dating from the dawn of man to sometime in the mid-seventies. Rock and Pop star posters hung from the walls.
When Bureau One started using the indoor mall for training, they left most of the store fixtures in place. It was great to have all the elbowroom, but I couldn’t get past the looming apocalyptic feel.
The previous day’s training wasn’t so bad after the hounds were called off. They ran me through a battery of psych-evals. One persistent doctor kept shaking his head as I answered the inevitable questions about my mother and father. It didn’t help my case when they showed me the inkblot test. It wasn’t my fault. They did it before dinner and I was hungry.
I pulled […]
Rye’s first day at Bureau One training camp – Part Two
The interior of the building wasn’t any better than the exterior. I stepped through a wall of boarded-over glass doors into what was once a side entrance to the mall’s common area. Once my eyes adjusted, I could see an expanse of ripped and stained carpet extending a few hundred feet to my left. Store fronts, some with security gates torn open, others never closed, lined the passage. To my right were another bank of glass doors. Through the glass I could see a mess hall filling a long defunct department store. A dozen faces pressed against the panes. Their eager expressions relishing my situation.
The gray-haired man stared at me. His braded, pony tail hung to his waste. “You going to just stand there?”
I looked at the jumpsuit I held in my hands and figured it might be best to play along. “Here?”
“You always lead with a question?” He crossed […]
Went CHEAP and Got Lucky
I took a foray into a group mixer I found on Meetup a few days ago. We gathered at CHEAP restaurant and spent the evening trading wild stories about our travels. The restaurant located in South Tampa is in an area I use to frequent many years ago. Back when we were all a little bit younger and on the prowl. I get ahead of myself; on the prowl is not the right word. We were unattached and trying to navigate the perils of meeting people. This was before the […]
Free Cosplay Ray Gun – Giveaway
** Ended **
I was cleaning out the workshop and found this ray gun. I must have made it for a costume but can’t remember for what convention. It’s going in the box for one lucky winner. It’s a great costume prop for Cosplay, Steampunk, Dieselpunk or as a cool sci fi weapon. Join the Giveaway and enter your chance to win.
I’ve also included a stack of books with the Giveaway. I’ll ship the whole bundle to you free, shipping included. United States only.
Piles of books litter the floor of […]
Inspiration is everywhere
I keep a digital recorder with me at all times. I have a good one where I dictate notes or blog articles for later conversation by Dragon text-to-speech, but in a pinch, I can use my smartphone.
Having the recorder paid dividends yesterday. I helped my sister deliver an art project she completed near downtown Tampa, Florida. When we arrived at the home, It turned out to have been owned by a local judge at the turn of the 20th century. The stories the new owners […]
