Story Pubbed as Article

You can read the article here: http://www.examiner.com/article/even-an-old-story-can-become-a-new-book

Even an old Story Can Become a New Book

When I was 15 years old, most of the stories I wrote were inspired by the music to which I listened. Heavy rock was my melodies of choice, including a band called "Angel," who was discovered by Gene Simmons of KISS, and received most of their fame on the west coast. Songs such as "Tower" and "The Winter Song" inspired me into visions, daydreams and eventually stories, which formed into my creative mind.

At school, I spent most of my time writing these stories, listening to music and combining the two. "Styx" was another band that inspired. So, with several Angel and Styx songs stirring in my head, I wrote a short story (during class in school, because that's what I did) that, at the time, I titled "White Hot."  I knew nothing of plagiarism back then. "White Hot" was "stolen" from one of Angel's album titles. It seemed a fitting title at the time.

The story was about the band's keyboardist, Gregg Giuffria, who, at the hotel while the band was on tour, gets kidnapped through a mirror and taken into some strange dimension (yeah, I had quite the imagination even as a kid).  In this dimension, he becomes the human sacrifice for an evil lord. Let's just say, he eventually wakes in his hotel to think it all a dream, only to find the injuries he suffered in that world all too real.

Many, many years later, I expanded on this short story and turned it into a novel. Obviously, I couldn't use Gregg, or Angel, so names were changed to "protect the innocent."  And Dane Bainbridge was born! Gregg's long blonde hair was changed to long wavy black hair and eyes to bright blue. 

The band name was changed several times and has ended up as Dark Myst. (it was originally Silent Rage, but then Chuck Norris came out with a movie of the same name so I felt people would think I stole the name, which I had not). I have to admit I was pissed off at Chuck Norris at the time (though I doubt he came up with the name of the movie).

Of course, I needed more of a plot than the simple little tale that was told in the short version, so I started writing... hence, characters were born and more plot was developed. Turns out Dane has been seeing this gal in his mirrors all of his life and he thinks it is normal until he is old enough to realize it's not. After that, he stops telling folks that he sees this chick, to avoid accusations of being crazy. His love of music and extreme talent draw him into the life of a rock star (sex, drugs and rock and roll all included), except he feels so empty! He is missing LOVE!!

This gal within his imagination that spies on within mirrors... she makes him FEEL. So, he is not horrified when, after the band's stage set never arrives due to a blizzard, the entire set is replaced by huge mirrors (to bounce the laser light show, like something from a psychodelic hippie alien freak show). 

One thing leads to another and Dane ends up (you guessed it) kidnapped into this odd world that equates with human hell! Except... she is there!!! 

Anyway, the book is finished and in the process of finding an agent and publisher, so if you want to know more, you will have to wait until it is published and buy a copy.

Have I teased you enough for one day?