Vicious Whispers with Mark Tullius

It was a great week although I didn't get in a ton of writing. I've been more focused on the big picture and my goals for Germany while making sure the family is running smoothly.

For my son's 10th birthday I wrote him a very special letter that he felt compelled to edit.

Training jiu jitsu has been okay despite my knee issues but I'm realizing I need to take it easy.

I'm excited to finally be in a place to work on TNTD: in a Dark Fairy Tale. Working on a few death scenes with my son was all I needed to get reenergized for this project.

A reminder that Unlocking the Cage is the free book of the week on Amazon and the audiobook is on sale for $2.99 at Chirp, BN, Spotify https://geni.us/UnlockingBook

Also includes two short horror stories off of Untold Mayhem

"Marked" narrated by Angelo Di Loreto

Gone for Good" narrated by Vivienne Leheny 

It has been a very long, but very productive week. I've been:

Mailing off books to contest winners.

Talking with Steve Montgomery about finishing and releasing TNTD: Super High this year.

Digging into TNTD: In a Dark Fairy Tale.

5am zoom calls to Germany to discuss an advertising and PR campaign aimed at the region.

Two Try Not to Die T-shirts are being created and will be available to purchase in May.

A reminder that Ain't No Messiah is currently free on Kindle and the audiobook is only $2.99 through 4/30.

https://geni.us/MessiahAllFormats

Includes the first 2 chapters of Ain't No Messiah narrated by Ric Chetter.

Despite screwing up my knee, I'm in a fantastic mood. Part of that is acceptance and knowing it was bound to happen. Another part is all the positive stuff happening in my life.

I had a great time reading through Duncan Ralston's TNTD: At Ghostland death scenes.

I met with John Palisano to deliver his copies of Try Not to Die: At the Wild West. He will be signing copies at the LA Times Festival of Books this Sunday.

I'm excited to have my son help teach me jiu jitsu.

I've been reconnecting with readers on social media so I can send out the latest batch of books to contest winners, special readers, etc.

Also a reminder that the kindle version of Untold Mayhem is free for the next few days. https://geni.us/Untold

The UM and Ain't No Messiah audiobooks are on sale for $2.99 at select retailers.

(10:25) Includes the short horror story "In Charge" taken from the Untold Mayhem audiobook and narrated by Chris Andrew Ciulla.

It was a fairly positive and productive week once I got my ego in check.

In the episode I diiscuss having a beat up body and feeling as if I've lost most of my ability to practice jiu jitsu.

Needing to slow down and appreciate what I have.

I read the flash fiction entry from contest winner: Emily Haynes.

A reminder that 25 Perfect Days: Plus 5 More is free for the next four days. https://geni.us/B3AS0

Winners of the latest Try Not to Die: In the Wild West paperback contest have been selected..

And I read Chapter 3 and one death scene from the WIld West.

What an incredible week it's been. All kinds of awesome stuff happening in my life.

I'm planning ahead for Germany, enjoying the release of TNTD: In the Wild West, and excited to be finishing up Dethfest and Ghostland. 

I'm in the process of hiring a Wild West narrator and discuss the types of collaboration each of these books has been.

I announced the Spotify contest winners and will get all the prizes out this weekend.

I've been practicing German on Duolingo with the whole family.

And as far as the physical/mental side, training jiu jitsu with the family at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Whittier.

(13:00) Also includes the short story "Numbered Days" off of Untold Mayhem narrated by  Michael David Axtell.

Mark talks about his week home with his son while his wife and daughter are out of town. The time home helped him finish more scenes from TNTD: At Ghostland, and finally clean up John Palisano's short story TNTD: In a Hell Hole.

TNTD: In the Wild West is out now and avilable at Amazon for $0.99

Get your copy here - https://geni.us/WildWest

There are 3 contests currently being run. The Spotify giveaway ends today. https://gleam.io/s2PF2/win-a-spotify-99-gift-card-and-audiobooks

Mark reads Chapter Two and a decision from TNTD: In the Wild West.

To celebrate the Tuesday the 28th launch of Try Not to Die: In the Wild West, we've set the price to $0.99, launched a cool contest you can check out here: https://gleam.io/PgM3N/try-not-to-die-worldwide

AND I got a Dethfest tattoo. Yep, once again I can't appreciate what's in front of me and I'm jumping toward the next accomplishment. Even today, while getting the tattoo I had to stay productive, working on several Ghostland death scenes.

Instead of a horror story, I read the first chapter from Try Not to Die: In the Wild West and one of the choices. I hope you enjoy it. To check out the rest of the story you can pick it up for $0.99 on Amazon. On sale for the first three weeks. https://geni.us/WildWest

Mark's back on the brain health rollercoaster, navigating the ups and downs while trying to keep moving forward.

Creativity took a seat in the back thanks to poor sleep, a bad mood, along with friend and family needs.

But even with less focus on fiction, I did manage to sneak in development of TNTD: At the Big Top and TNTD: In Iraq, two titles I hope to slowly develop over the next year.

A reminder that this week TNTD: In the Pandemic is only $0.99 https://geni.us/PandemicMT

Includes two short stories off of the Untold Mayhem audiobook.

(20 :55) "Exposed" narrated by Angelo Di Loreto.

(35:15) "The Fine Print" narrated by Vivienne Leheny.

Derek the Demon and Yoga Bear helped me determine this is my most important episode.

I go over all the possible reasons why I'm excited about the episode:

- feeling good helping a friend

- 10th Planet Whittier is opening soon

- Dethfest album lyrics are done thanks to Luc Cervantez

- Try Not to Die: In the Wild West is available for kindle preorder. Release set for Mar. 28

https://geni.us/WildWest

- Plus other random nonsense

Spoiler alert: It's discovering my life's purpose: Getting readers to sign up for my newsletter. Why would you want to do that?

- Free books like Morsels of Mayhem, Brightside, Somber Stroll.

- Alerts to contests like this one that I just dropped. Grand prize is a 12 Month Subscription to Spotify. 99 others get a free download of one of my 14 Spotify audiobooks. Enter before Mar. 31. https://geni.us/SpotifyTulliusContest

- Learn about my damaged brain and what I've done to improve it. Take bets on when my next mental breakdown might be.

And where do you sign up? Right here at https://marktullius.com/

Also includes two short horror stories off of the Untold Mayhem audiobook.

(19:15) "News First" narrated by Jennifer O'Donnell  (Trigger warning: School shooting)

(37:00) "Taking Out the Trash" narrated by Chris Andrew Ciulla.

Another positive week full of progress. The majority of my time was focused on building my business and I'll be doing much more of that over the next few weeks as I consult with individuals from the Small Business Development Center and the US Commercial Service.

I also took the time to set up the next 3 months worth of discounted/free eBooks and audiobooks. Unfortunately the only one free this weekend is the German edition of Brightside.

I read the first negative review of TBI or CTE and discuss trying to look at it positively even though it felt very unfair.

While it isn't official, I was so happy to hear that my daughter wants to attend the Frankfurter Buchmesse with me in October.

On the creative side, I had a chance to read over Duncan Ralston's first 11 death scenes. Goddamn, he did a fantastic job of being much more demented and brutal than my old, soft, hippie-self.

(14:07) This week we have two short stories, both which are taken from the Untold Mayhem audiobook.

"Results Guaranteed" narrated by Jay Ben Markson

"The Hole" narrated by Amadeo Fusca