Conrad Zero

Dark Fiction Author

Free Sci-Fi and Horror Shows on Comet.tv

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398px-comet_tv_logo1From their press release:

COMET.TV has an incredible array of movies that you simply can’t get with a subscription to streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu. From wild adventures on Mars to critically acclaimed classics, COMET is the ultimate home of sci-fi and horror… and it’s all totally free, no subscriptions needed.

I checked it out, expecting there to be some kind of membership, or sign up, or other marketing BS. But the fact is, Comet is the real deal. Jump on and, as their tagline says, “Space out.” Good luck trying to understand how their business model works, but it’s nice to see a channel dedicated to science fiction, supernatural, horror, adventure and fantasy series and films. And with over 1500 hours of programming, there’s plenty here you’ve probably never heard of.

Oh, and they just aquired the rights to Mystery Science Theater 3000, so watch for that…

Comettv.com

Reading At Dreamhaven on 31 Aug 2016!

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Conrad Zero Author Reading Flier Dreamhaven Aug 2016

I’ve been attending the Speculations series readings at Dreamhaven Books for years, and it’s an honor to be invited to read there myself!

On Aug 31, I’ll be reading at Dreamhaven books in Minneapolis.

This will be my first “solo gig” since the days of Jagged Spiral. (I think our last show was around 2011?) I’m both nervous and excited to share what I’ve been working on. Expect readings from my published works of dark fiction, science fiction, paranormal adventure, horror and humor, along with some Authorly Q&A. I’ll definitely be reading pieces from my upcoming work, The Gloom Queen, which is described as Stephen King’s Carrie meets E.A.Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart.

The reading starts at 6:30, but you’ll want to get to Dreamhaven early and browse the collection of rare and out of print books, comics, and collectables. And if you’re interested in autographed copies of works from local authors like Neil Gaiman, Emma Bull and more, you’ll want to get there REALLY early!

Dreamhaven Books 6:30-7:45
3801 38th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55380
http://dreamhavenbooks.com/
The event is FREE and All Ages are welcome. The reading should last till around 7:45, and then we’re off to Parkway Pizza for the afterparty! Happy hour 2-4-1s and “Minneapolis Style” pizza.
Parkway Pizza 8PM – ???
4359 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
http://parkwaypizzamn.com/

Hope to see you there! And for those out of state, you should RSVP for the event anyway, I’ll be broadcasting via Facebook Live (if the software actually works!)

Conrad Zero Reading Event on Facebook

Free Writing Tool – Zenpen.io Simplifies Writing

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It doesn’t get much easier than zenpen.io. If you figured out how to view this blog post, then you’re qualified to write text and save it using the wonderfully minimalist and completely free writing tool.

You type in the big open area. You hit Save when you’re done. If that’s too complicated for you, then you’d probably have trouble figuring out a ball-point pen without an instruction manual. In which case, you might wanna consider another medium, like maybe yell your stories out loud at the Mall of America courtyard. Good luck.

Zenpen’s features are accessed through four buttons (maximize screen, light/dark, target word count and save text) and there’s a question mark (about) at the bottom of the page.

Setting the target word count activates a thin meter on the right side of the page. It goes up the page as you type, turning green when it hits the top of the page and you hit your target word count.

Aptly named, beautifully minimalist, and completely free, zenpen is a great way to minimize distractions including those of the writing software which promises to make writing easier, but just clutters up your life. (You heard me, Scrivener.)

If you’re looking for something similar to zenpen, but with online storage and features like stats tracking, google docs sync, and export directly to ebook formats, check out novlr.org. (Monthly fee required)

Zenpen was created by Tim Holman @twholman There’s a whole list of his code antics on his website. (Check out The Finger for an LOL.) BTW, the code for zenpen is open source on github.

Official Website: Zenpen.io

Free Ebook – Social Media Secrets For Authors

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Social_media_secrets_for_authors_coverWhile wandering the AWP Conference, I met Amy Quale from Wise Ink, a Minneapolis-based business offering creative and publishing services to independent authors.

One of the tools Wise Ink is using to promote their business is a beginners-level book titled “Social Media Secrets for Authors ” written by Wise Ink founders/editors Dara Beevas and Amy Quale. The book covers “The Big Four” of author social media: Blogging, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. If you’re an author who is just starting out, and don’t have these four social mediums locked down, then I highly recommend this book. It has action plan checklists, ideas for blog posts, and is essential ‘Social Media 101’ for new authors. [Read more…]

(Never Slept With) Diablo Cody

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[Stream “(Never Slept With) Diablo Cody” at the end of this post. -Z]

In 2008, a coworker handed me a copy of the local newspaper and pointed to the cover story. Diablo Cody had just won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Juno. In the article, she said how she wrote most of the screenplay at a Starbucks in Crystal, MN.

“Isn’t that right by your house?” my coworker asked.

It was. Not only was it right by my house, and not only had I been there many times, but I had actually seen Diablo Cody there many times. But I had no idea what she looked like until that very moment, when I saw her picture on the front page, and connected the name with the face.

“So did you ever talk to her?”

I laughed. “I saw her there a lot, but I didn’t sleep with her.”

The Song Soon To Be Formerly Known As Diablo

2008 was “The Year of the Spiral” and Jagged Spiral was at the height of its career. We were working on a jam with the temporary title of “Disco Spiral.” The jam had been around for a while but I hadn’t come up with any lyrics yet. That evening at practice, Colin asked me what I thought the song was about and something in my head just clicked.

“It’s about how I never slept with Diablo Cody.”

The song became known as “Diablo” and I used that concept to write some lyrics. We played the song out several times, and there’s a rough youtube video of us playing at Station 4 where I’m still trying to lock down the lyrics.

Unfortunately, the song was cursed. Every time we played Diablo, bad things would happen, usually equipment failures. While recording tracks for Diablo, a computer crash wiped out an entire evenings worth of recordings.

Fire and Dice Album Cover by Jagged Spiral

‘(Never Slept With) Diablo Cody’ originally appeared on the Fire and Dice album as the song ‘Prophet.’

The final straw was when we were loading gear into Colin’s car, and Colin said the song might be cursed, because every time we played Diablo…. Just as he mentioned the name, the strap on his gig bag broke and the bag holding his pedal board dropped to the concrete.

It was official. Colin and Josh demanded that we never mention the “D-word” again.

So, I changed the lyrics. Muted the original lyric tracks in the recording and re-recorded the new lines. Diablo Cody became Diablo the Devil. I added some angels and sexual innuendos. Colin proclaimed the song was now called “Prophet”  and you’ll see it listed that way on the Fire and Dice album which we released in Dec 2013. I’m not displeased with the new lyrics, but to be honest, I missed the original lyrics.

The Return of Diablo

In January 2014, I cloned the project file to a new workspace. Deleted the new lyrics. Unmuted the original vocal tracks. Touched up a couple lines. Even managed to add in references to Diablo Cody’s more current projects, United States of Tara, Young Adult and Paradise. Did some MIDI magic with the drum kit . Cut out a boring section of the song that we had intended to cover with solo guitar later but never did.

I completely remixed and remastered the track, and offered it to Diablo Cody on twitter as a Christmas gift at the end of 2014.

This song is not intended as any kind of jab or insult. I have nothing but respect for Diablo Cody and hope she continues to write awesome screenplays.

I don’t know Diablo Cody, but she seems like the kind of person who would appreciate the sense of humor in this song. I hope she likes it.

Free $15 iTunes Gift Card! – Check out The Devil’s Hand #DevilsHand

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The Movie, The Movie Game and The Free iTunes Gift Card!

The Devils Hand GraphicThinking about having a creepy Halloween get-together? Download The Devil’s Hand and throw a #ProphecyParty as well. Download the free Prophecy Party instructions, invite 5 friends over and follow the instructions to see who will survive! [Read more…]

Snickers #MonsterSatisfaction Giveaway!

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Godzilla + Snickers + Fandango + FREE!

In case you didn’t know, there’s a new Godzilla movie being released on May 16th 2014! Yes, the Heavyweight King of the Kaiju is back! No doubt, Godzilla will  go for an afternoon stroll through some city, leaving a swath of destruction in his wake. (Including a train. There’s always a train. Can you have a Godzilla movie without a train? Apparently not.)

To help promote the new Godzilla movie, the folks at Snickers Brand have given  me a prize pack to give away! Some lucky person out there is going to win Five Free Snickers Bars and a $15 Fandango gift card! [Read more…]

New Tips For Making The Best Password Ever

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Best_Password_EverOne of the most popular posts on this website about DARK FICTION is my method on  How To Make The Best Password Ever.  (Go figure.) But a  lot has changed since I posted that back in 2011, and I thought I would share how I’ve recently improved this method to both increase my online security and make it easier to manage.
[Read more…]

2013 Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers’ Showcase

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2013_MNSpec_Writers_ShowcaseDo You Like Fiction?

Then you’ll want to mark this event on your calendar:

On Sunday, November 17th, members of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers’ Group (aka: MNSpec) will be reading stories at Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis.

Come and enjoy Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, and much more. All Fiction. All Speculative.

The fun starts at 12PM, and each writer will have approximately ten minutes to read from their current material.

Fiction Fans, this is your opportunity to experience a large number of local writers in a short period of time. Find a new local author to add to your “must read” list!

Here’s just some of the talented folks who will be entertaining us with tales of the un-real:

  • Joel Arnold
  • Kelly Barnhill
  • Rob Callahan
  • Eli Effinger-Weintraub
  • Terry Faust
  • Catherine Lundoff
  • Michael Merriam
  • Margaret Taylor
  • …and more!

All hosted by yours darkly.

How, you may ask, did I ever get such talented folks to volunteer to read their works?  Let’s just say I know people who know people who run S&M clubs, and leave it at that.

Why, you may ask, did I ever agree to host an event like this? Let’s just say I paid a lot for my cool steampunk hat and goggles, and if there’s an event where I can wear them… then I’m wearing them.

Hope to see you there! And if you want to help share this event with others, feel free to download the jpg graphic above, or here is a link to the pdf version of the event flyer:

2013_MNSpec_Showcase Flyer

FREE Movie Ticket Giveaway for All Is Lost!

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All Is Lost Movie PosterThis site is turning into a giveaway center! But as long as fine folks like All Is Lost are going to give me swag like movie tickets to give away for free, I’m not going to complain!

On Sunday, October 27th, I’ll be giving away 2 free tickets to the movie All Is Lost starring Robert Redford.

Academy Award ® winner Robert Redford stars in All Is Lost, an open-water thriller about one man”™s battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. But with the sun unrelenting, sharks circling and his meager supplies dwindling, the ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his mortality in the face.

Written and directed by Academy Award nominee J.C. Chandor (Margin Call) with a musical score by Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros), All Is Lost is a gripping, visceral and powerfully moving tribute to ingenuity and resilience.

Cool! How Do I Win Free Tickets to All Is Lost?

Easy. On Sunday, Oct 27th, I’ll select one lucky member from the Cult of Zero as the winner! If you’re already a member, you’re already entered in the drawing! If you aren’t a member, well… why the hell not? I think I’ve given away a dozen cool prizes over the past year and I’ve yet to send out a single newsletter, so your odds of winning something cool like DVDs, Blu-Rays and movie tickets is better than your chance of actually getting dark fiction news from me anyway!

Sign up to be included in the drawing right here:

Join the  Cult of Zero
to get Free E-books!
Name:
E-mail:

 

What’s The Catch?

No catch. But there is some fine print.

On the due date, I’ll contact the winner by email and they have 24 hours to respond with their mailing address. Prizes are deliverable to US and Canada only. Prizes will be sent by Fed Ex or USPS, so NO PO Boxes please.

If the winner does not respond within 24 hours, or cannot provide a mailing address meeting the requirements above, I’ll select another winner.

Each household is only eligible to win 2 Free Movie Tickets via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

All Is Lost Interactive Movie Poster

It’s almost 2014. We don’t have any flying cars yet, but we do have cool blog apps like the one below! Run your cursor over the image for cool, interactive, awesomeness, and good luck on those free tickets!