F. P. Dorchak

Speculative Fiction (New Weird) Author

Writing

The Uninvited

by

The Uninvited, © F. P. Dorchak (cover art: Duvall Design, 2013)
The Uninvited, © F. P. Dorchak (cover art: Duvall Design, 2013)

Kacey Miller is running from her past.

Sleepless, frustrated, and out-of-work, she stumbles onto a heinous crime scene. In the dead of night all residents of a brand-new retirement home in the balmy, sleepy south Florida town of Sunset Harbor have been murdered. The killers are everyday people from across the globe. None know why they did what they did, and—once apprehended—many take their own lives.

Desperate for work, and angst-ridden from having left her husband and newborn in a fit of postpartum depression a year earlier, Kacey writes up the story and lands a job as a local stringer—but all is not as it seems with the murderers…nor Kacey. The murderers are normal everyday people, with no history of past violence, and all are confused and vehemently disbelieving of their actions, tormented by inexplicable, supernatural forces. During her investigation, Kacey, like the murderers, is besieged by the same bizarre, supernatural visions the murderers are experiencing, and begins having her own angry, violent nightmares that end up forcing her to confront another long-denied secret: a one-nighter with a high-powered news media executive the night she’d run away from her family…who later turns up during the executive’s national coverage of the crime.

Kacey, the investigators, and the murderers are all forced to confront their actions and inter-relations to examine deep, buried issues to find how they are all tied to each other in ways that will forever change their lives..and those around them.

Welcome in…the uninvited. A bizarre supernatural murder mystery that takes crime scene investigation—and prosecution—to a whole new level. The Uninvited will be released Memorial Day weekend.

Let them in…you don’t really have a choice….

“I get the chills…a most impressive work.”

Rob Butts, Seth Material Facilitator/Author, The Seth Material, The Early Sessions, The Personal Sessions

“I found I could not stop reading this thriller. I became totally fascinated by the depth of Dorchak’s exploration into the many influences beneath the hostilities performed. I was especially delighted with his reference to the modern pioneer in metaphysics and philosophy, Jane Roberts—right there beside the famous psychic Edgar Cayce. Today’s police and lawyers need this novel!”

Madelon Rose Logue, Editor/Publisher, The Black Sheep

Related articles

Goin’ Indie

by

Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Goin’ Indie. (Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark , photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yeah, that’s my steely stare.

Determination.

I’m finally doing it.

Made the decision. Jumping in with both feet and my Bullwhip.

I’m going indie. And by “indie,” I mean e-books and (a little later, maybe earlier) Amazon hardcovers. Not going the route of AuthorHouse anymore. E-books. That’s the route. Check out Nathan Bransford’s post. These things are selling.

I’ve mentioned this once or twice elsewhere, but after the past couple weeks, getting a cover done, interacting with the person who will do my file conversions, going over my manuscripts and talking to those in the indie world, at this year’s PPWC (and this doesn’t even count the years I’ve been thinking about this, kinda watching how e-books “go”…), I’m not waiting another second. It has reinvigorated me, in this whole business of writing. I have four titles (one still needs some work—or might be the title I again try traditionally—but, we’re talking at least into 2014) I can publish, five if you count a Sleepwalkers e-book reissue:

  • The Uninvited. This is my whydunnit supernatural murder mystery about a troubled reporter who stumbles upon a gruesome and inexplicable mass murder in Gulf Coast Florida. This will be my first release. I was originally shooting for the end of May, but since this is my first, is my learning curve, it might actually turn out to be June. But I’m still shooting for May. So, please, stay turned—either way, it won’t be long!
  • ERO. This is my one (so far) science fiction-y, action/adventure novel. It’s about a marooned on-orbit astronaut who tries to reconstruct his life by relying on incomplete memories that place him at the very heart of the UFO conspiracy. This novel is, well, somewhat auto-biographical. It’ll be my next release.
  • Psychic. This is a companion book to Sleepwalkers. Okay, it’s the second in a considered series of three.  There, I said it. It’s actually more of a prequel (but, hey, what is Time, anyway?), and features the origins to the Man With No Name, from Sleepwalkers. I plan at least one more book to this series (it won’t take 12 years, like this one). It’s a supernatural action/adventure about a humble, guilt-ridden hotline psychic who becomes embroiled in the ultimate government conspiracy, involving JFK and remote viewers. Oh, and a really cool teenager.
  • The fourth is one that still needs lots of work, so am not going to give its title just yet, but, it’s about guy who falls in love with…ehhhh…a ghost. Of sorts. Yeah, yeah, I’m know, there have been other books about the topic, but what makes mine unique, I’m not even teasing with, because I still have some runway to ride before taking off. But, it’s not your standard, run-of-the-mill everyday ghost, we’re talking about here, and to tell the truth, I haven’t yet seen a “ghost” like this one.
  • Sleepwalkers. This one depends a lot on if AuthorHouse plans on putting it back into an e-book like they said they would a couple years ago. Haven’t even had time (there’s that word, again) to think about that yet. If can do the e-book to it, I plan on redoing the cover.

Depending on how long all this takes, I’m looking to release one book about every 3 or 4 months until I get all these out, so no real new work for me this year. ERO should come out around September/October time frame, and Psychic, November/December. I plan on pushing the Internet-y promotion as hard as I possibly can (I have some guides, but more on those, later). The Uninvited will be free for about the first three weeks or so, and this is mainly for reviews (this is a standard M.O. among the e-book community). It looks like some sites, like B&N, Amazon, have a way of setting prices (still looking into those), but at places where I can set the price, I’m looking to price it at $2.99, after the free period, but this remains to be seen, once I actually get to the upload part. But, from what I’ve read, e-books tend to sell well between the $2.99 to $5.99 range (and it’s not obvious about going right for the higher price).

So, there it is, that’s my plan. Out into the world at large. I’ll post more as I go, but I’m still cleaning up the manuscript to the The Uninvited, which, depending on a couple other logistical issues, is scheduled to be converted into all the different file formats next month (oooh, it’ll be hot off the author keyboard, like freshly baked cookies!). And while that is being done, I plan on beginning and hitting the promotions.

Look, I’m not pie-in-the-sky, I’ve been around, I’ve tried self-publishing by spending three grand, done and occasionally still do a short story or two, and even got an agent. Still, NYC didn’t think they could make any money off me. But I see and hear where e-books are going. I’m just a guy with voices in my head trying to get my work out there. My work has been termed “thinky,” sometimes jumps genres. But I try to tell stories, to show, perhaps, the way things could be, big What-ifs. I—like most every other writer out there—just like to write. For a while that passion was slowly getting snuffed out…but now I’ve found renewed passion. A new way to go.

A new…What-if.

I hope you’ll join me!

Oh…and I’m an optimist.

Related articles

Goin' Indie

by

Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Goin’ Indie. (Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark , photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yeah, that’s my steely stare.

Determination.

I’m finally doing it.

Made the decision. Jumping in with both feet and my Bullwhip.

I’m going indie. And by “indie,” I mean e-books and (a little later, maybe earlier) Amazon hardcovers. Not going the route of AuthorHouse anymore. E-books. That’s the route. Check out Nathan Bransford’s post. These things are selling.

I’ve mentioned this once or twice elsewhere, but after the past couple weeks, getting a cover done, interacting with the person who will do my file conversions, going over my manuscripts and talking to those in the indie world, at this year’s PPWC (and this doesn’t even count the years I’ve been thinking about this, kinda watching how e-books “go”…), I’m not waiting another second. It has reinvigorated me, in this whole business of writing. I have four titles (one still needs some work—or might be the title I again try traditionally—but, we’re talking at least into 2014) I can publish, five if you count a Sleepwalkers e-book reissue:

  • The Uninvited. This is my whydunnit supernatural murder mystery about a troubled reporter who stumbles upon a gruesome and inexplicable mass murder in Gulf Coast Florida. This will be my first release. I was originally shooting for the end of May, but since this is my first, is my learning curve, it might actually turn out to be June. But I’m still shooting for May. So, please, stay turned—either way, it won’t be long!
  • ERO. This is my one (so far) science fiction-y, action/adventure novel. It’s about a marooned on-orbit astronaut who tries to reconstruct his life by relying on incomplete memories that place him at the very heart of the UFO conspiracy. This novel is, well, somewhat auto-biographical. It’ll be my next release.
  • Psychic. This is a companion book to Sleepwalkers. Okay, it’s the second in a considered series of three.  There, I said it. It’s actually more of a prequel (but, hey, what is Time, anyway?), and features the origins to the Man With No Name, from Sleepwalkers. I plan at least one more book to this series (it won’t take 12 years, like this one). It’s a supernatural action/adventure about a humble, guilt-ridden hotline psychic who becomes embroiled in the ultimate government conspiracy, involving JFK and remote viewers. Oh, and a really cool teenager.
  • The fourth is one that still needs lots of work, so am not going to give its title just yet, but, it’s about guy who falls in love with…ehhhh…a ghost. Of sorts. Yeah, yeah, I’m know, there have been other books about the topic, but what makes mine unique, I’m not even teasing with, because I still have some runway to ride before taking off. But, it’s not your standard, run-of-the-mill everyday ghost, we’re talking about here, and to tell the truth, I haven’t yet seen a “ghost” like this one.
  • Sleepwalkers. This one depends a lot on if AuthorHouse plans on putting it back into an e-book like they said they would a couple years ago. Haven’t even had time (there’s that word, again) to think about that yet. If can do the e-book to it, I plan on redoing the cover.

Depending on how long all this takes, I’m looking to release one book about every 3 or 4 months until I get all these out, so no real new work for me this year. ERO should come out around September/October time frame, and Psychic, November/December. I plan on pushing the Internet-y promotion as hard as I possibly can (I have some guides, but more on those, later). The Uninvited will be free for about the first three weeks or so, and this is mainly for reviews (this is a standard M.O. among the e-book community). It looks like some sites, like B&N, Amazon, have a way of setting prices (still looking into those), but at places where I can set the price, I’m looking to price it at $2.99, after the free period, but this remains to be seen, once I actually get to the upload part. But, from what I’ve read, e-books tend to sell well between the $2.99 to $5.99 range (and it’s not obvious about going right for the higher price).

So, there it is, that’s my plan. Out into the world at large. I’ll post more as I go, but I’m still cleaning up the manuscript to the The Uninvited, which, depending on a couple other logistical issues, is scheduled to be converted into all the different file formats next month (oooh, it’ll be hot off the author keyboard, like freshly baked cookies!). And while that is being done, I plan on beginning and hitting the promotions.

Look, I’m not pie-in-the-sky, I’ve been around, I’ve tried self-publishing by spending three grand, done and occasionally still do a short story or two, and even got an agent. Still, NYC didn’t think they could make any money off me. But I see and hear where e-books are going. I’m just a guy with voices in my head trying to get my work out there. My work has been termed “thinky,” sometimes jumps genres. But I try to tell stories, to show, perhaps, the way things could be, big What-ifs. I—like most every other writer out there—just like to write. For a while that passion was slowly getting snuffed out…but now I’ve found renewed passion. A new way to go.

A new…What-if.

I hope you’ll join me!

Oh…and I’m an optimist.

Related articles

PPWC 2013 Redux

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In truth, I had started this post yesterday, the last day of PPWC 2013. Yeah, I was a little tired, but not too bad, really, better off than I usually am at this point. Truth be told, my neck needed a good crack (it’s better today). This year (as last year) I didn’t pitch any work to anyone—short of showing around the cover I had created for my upcoming supernatural murder mystery e-book (I’ll post the cover art soon—if my schedule of events continue favorably).

But, first, a HEARTY, standing ovational thanks to all who worked their butts off getting this conference up and running! It’s hard work, and it went off exceedingly well! You all done good!

So…what did I do to justify my $395 event fee?

Plenty!

I took in as many sessions as I could over the past three days, focusing on e-book methods and madness (aside: I received many compliments on my cover, created by Karen Duvall—and it really did come out great as a hardcopy!). I filled up the rest of the time with other things, like:

  • How horror bleeds into other genres. Get it? “Bleeds”?
  • How to talk up your book to potential readers (“Hey, do you like to read?”)
  • How to create e-book covers (Mr. Schwartz really liked my soon-to-be-ebook’s cover)
  • How to make the Indie and NY thing work together, and not be an “either/or” proposition
  • A little about how to write psycho characters (cause, like, I really need to understand myself, there—in my personal affairs…)
  • Adapting novels to screenplays, and what that process is (I adapted this mystery of mine into a script years ago—Amber Benson taught this!)
  • How to deal with the sophomoric slump, or “that next book.”
  • How to deal with writer’s block—which was quite enlightening (on several levels) about how different the reasons between guys and girls, when it comes to this—or, maybe, not so much?!
  • What to do once you’re published. Yeah, you’re just getting started….
  • How to write funny, cause Lord knows, I need that, too, in my personal life….

As I’d previously mentioned, I’d also moderated a couple sessions, one read-and-critique session with Kate Testerman and how to write a short story (and send it) in 4 hours, with Zombie-lover DeAnna Knippling (yes, pronounce the “n” in her name). I felt just a little like a fish out of water, moderating, since it’s been about 2 years since I’d done any of that. But it was fun getting back into things.

I also met and talked with all kinds of writers. This time out I was trying to get a little more outside my comfort zone, by sitting at tables for food consumption (during our lunches and dinners) with authors and others not associated with my brand of paranormal fiction bent. I also met and talked with the more “famous-y folk,” listing them in no particular order other than…well…the order I’ve presented below:

  • Terry Banker (always “up,” always friendly, always quick with a handshake and a “How’ve you been, Frank?” He always remembers me!)
  • Becky Clark (now, um, Becky. Yeah. I’m still trying to define, categorize, and define her. Might have to make up a word. I’ll have to get back to you on this one…)
  • Todd Fahnestock (I was so interesting to him, that his eyes glazed over and he had to prop himself up against a wall; that I had him held captive and pinned there, only helped in that endeavor…)
  • Becky Clark (nope…still got nuthin…)
  • Lynda Hilburn (we’ve interacted before by email, but you know you’re in trouble when her first words to you are, “So, what are your hopes and dreams“? Did I mention she’s a practicing and licensed psychotherapist?)
  • Lisa Renee Jones (maaan, I wanna be rich like her!)
  • Becky Clark (okay, okay, got one: she tells cool jokes, like “All work and no play make Lincoln a full-term president” Get it? Think about it…)
  • Aaron Ritchey (this man…he needs his own show; my face and sides still hurt from his EMCEE antics—his 200K “NanoPeakoPikeo” (pardon the spelling, Mr. Ritchey) effort over this weekend; he made me buy his book by being So. Damned. Funny.)
  • Becky Clark (Becky, Becky, Becky…she…she…deifies…Becknification…)
  • Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire star; yeah, PPWC had her; that’s the kinda clout PPWC wields, my friends; she is so danged sweet!)
  • Barry Eisler (he worked his “Agency Mind Tricks” on me to buy one of his books. Damn him…I-I mean…yes, yes, Mr. Eisler, I…will…buy…all your books….)
  • Becky Clark (okay, she uses lots of K-words, and exaggerates—a lot—but…let me take a picture with her:)

    Becky and Me PPWC 2013
    Becky and Me PPWC 2013

Besides all the famous-y ones, I’ve also met up with those who I many times see only once a year. If that makes any sense. I (hopefully) made some new ones, and met several I’ve only dealt with electronically, so it was really cool to put pixels and faces and names together. Without having to virus check. One person, Lynda Hilburn was particularly funny in our first face-to-face, in that we’d been talking for a while at food time, Friday (you know about my hopes and dreams, which quickly morphed into my issues with cigars and lint—to this day I still don’t know how she did this or where it came from—but in the middle of the ball room banquet hall she had me up on a couch recording our session…interlacing images and analyses from Dante’s Inferno into my hot, steaming tears and mother issues), when she glanced down to my name tag and blurted: “Oh, you’re that Frank Dorchak!” I wasn’t quite sure how to take that, so we explored that for a while…

Lynda Hilburn PPWC 2013
Lynda Hilburn PPWC 2013

To be honest…I almost did not attend this year.

I’m not gonna get into reasons why (Lynda’s writing a paper on that for Psychology Today), but the point is, I did go. I learned so much about the e-books, the latest agent and editor Weltanschauung  (I love that word: Weltanschauung, say it aloud with me…), and I met so many wonderful, friendly, and, yes, even sweet people (and I don’t use “sweet” much, besides “Please pass the sweet…ner“). I give Becky grief, cause, well, she gives it right back. Like a two-by-four to the back of  the head. Lynda—she tells people she’s not good at small talk and gets right to the heart of any conversation in an instant. She’s a wonderful, wonderful woman and an excellent conversationalist. You will never be bored talking with her. Ever. She has so much to say, each of her words so dense with meaning and intent, you’re utterly fascinated by her and where her mind goes—and none of it is small talk. Everyone I met and talked with, they all have their stories, their own lives, and I would never have enjoyed any of it…had I not attended this conference.

So, what’s my fricking point, already?

If you’re a writer, a writer groupie, or simply “just” Becky Clark, and you’re hesitant about attending a writer conference—maybe it’d be your first—afraid of putting yourself out there, meeting others, sitting at lunch and dinner tables with people you do not know—that’s okay to be apprehensive—that which does not kill us, makes us stronger (usually)—but do attend. Do not put it off. Do not skip it. Go and enjoy like-minded people you will not find anywhere else. You won’t regret it. But you won’t know you won’t regret it until you come. To at least one. So, make those plans for 2014. Come out and see us. We don’t bite.

Well, at least the non-vampire/zombie attendees don’t bite….

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The Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2013

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Pikes Peak sign
Pikes Peak sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This weekend, I am—once again—attending the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, also known as the PPWC. It started in 1993, founded by Jimmie H. Butler, and I’ve only missed two, I think. Maybe three?  Have to check that. My wife and I talked about this a week or so ago, but I owe a lot to the PPWC. Much of what I know about writing and those whom I know in the writing world I have met through this conference. My agent is from this conference. Granted, I’ve read a fair amount of craft and writing Zen, have met others from another conference, an out-of-town writer group, but I’ve attended this conference for some 20 years. I’ve learned a lot about not only the writing of fiction, but the marketing and promotion of writing. Studied screenplays and even adapted my supernatural murder mystery into a screenplay. I’ve met a lot of great people, including many well-known authors (have sat by and talked-up Bob Crais [many times, and one of THE COOLEST guys I’ve ever met in the industry, très unassuming], Jeffery Deaver [once], David Morrell, and Joe R. Lansdale [talked with him and drove him to the airport], just off the top of my head). Talking with authors, editors and agents also gives you a feel for who and what these people are. Could you work with them? Do you clash? Sometimes, you’d be surprised at your reactions, your discoveries.

I’ve also presented and helped out at the conferences.

Moderated sessions (am moderating two this year).

Run Gopher…drove people to and from airports…given them tours of the local area…set up and torn down sessions and rooms. Addressed the conference with Jimmie Butler on the passing of a good friend of ours (Moe Morris). Moe and I used to meet at a Village Inn and talk writing. Comment on each other’s work. He was a great guy who actually has an Antarctic glacier named after him (Morris Glacier, which is just below the Queen Alexandria Range, in south central Antarctica, flowing down into the Ross Sea; see photo, below). Moe always joked about having a glacier named after him, because, well, he “wasn’t important enough” for a mountain. He used to be a Navy pilot and flew to Antarctica a lot. He was married to his wife, Virginia, of 57 years, who preceded him in death by only 18 days.

Morris Glacier, Antarctica
Morris Glacier, Antarctica

So, this year, I am again going. I am moderating some sessions, but, not driving people around. I plan on just taking it all in. Getting lost in the writing world, again, for a weekend, meet all my writing friends face-to-face, and once again…dream like crazy. It’s a fun world. Hope to post about it afterwards.

Hope to see you there.

I’m Not Spending a Lot For This Muffler!

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The past couple of weeks, I’ve been going back through my supernatural murder mystery manuscript. I’d started it back in 2001, “finished” it three years later, given to a part-time writing schedule, basically about 2 hours a day, five days a week, and whatever I can do on the weekends. But since then, I’ve been trying to sell the damned thing (there’s actually a pun in there…) and tweaking it. Nine years worth of that unrelenting activity. Belief in my manuscript. Anywho, as I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve decided I’m going to e-publish it, so I’ve gotten a graphics artist fellow writer friend of mine to work the cover. She’s been a true trooper!  Karen Duvall (here’s her graphics art page) has hung in there trying her best to find the images I’m asking for for my cover design, sometimes spending hours searching for just the right thing (and I spent a couple of hours one morning, myself, also trying to find the right graphics). But in the world of free art, sometimes you just can’t find what you’re looking for—finding free stuff is haaard! And since I’m e-pubing, I’m trying to keep expenses down. Way down. I already went the AuthorHouse route 12 years ago, when there wasn’t much game in town, but now there is, and I’m not spending a lot for this muffler!

So, Karen came up with a really cool image, after multiple go-arounds and attempts and efforts on her part, yesterday (hope she’s still talking with me…), but I think we’ve finally come up with a great image! I’m looking forward to the Big Reveal, when I finally get everything in place. I love the feel of the cover.

Another interesting development during all this was the Jodi Arias trial. My wife and I have been watching it (me, off and on), and it is amazing to me on many levels, but I bring this up because I have a court scene in my novel that goes in a weird direction, much like Juan Martinez and the Seven Dwarfs goes off in a weird direction (and yes, I included that phrase into my manuscript). Now my court scene isn’t as belligerent as this real-life one, but it amazes me at how utterly combative the Law can get when trying to prove their side of the story. Trying (IMHO) to force witnesses to only give a “Yes” or “No,” when the answer might not really be a case of yes or no, but the “Yes” or “No” can make the witness look bad in the presentation of the case, therefore racking up points for whoever such a thing benefits. It was nice to see someone remain utterly composed (whether or not you agree with LaViolette’s side of the story). And I do mean she is utterly unflappable, not intimidated in any way by Martinez’s constant, unrelenting battering—though he, himself, no matter what HLN commentators say (most of whom I find extremely annoying), is not so (he frequently shows his anger, his frustration, and gives nasty “tone” and body language in his deliveries). I’ve never seen such composure in my life, as I have in LaViolette. I’m not going into if LaViolette is biased…just look at her composure. Incredible. Perhaps comes from dealing with lots of rage in her 36-year-or-so career. She also knows all the psychological tactics Martinez is employing—and calls him on them—and doesn’t fall for them. But I digress. I just wanted to mention this trial because of the weird Seven Dwarfs turn it took, and the trial in my novel also takes a weird turn. I have also had two actual (now retired, I believe) judges read the court-room scenes to make sure it remains true in structure and presentation.

Okay, so after I make all my manuscript redlines, get my Tax ID number, and do the rest of the logistical end of things, I will get this story out there. So, in the meantime, sorry haven’t been keeping up on everyone’s blogs, tweets, e-mails, and what-have-you, but there’s only so much time in the day!