Some of you have sent me emails concerning the next posting of Up From the Depths. I would like to explain the delay.
In-laws staying for the holidays.
Nuff said.
Seriously, the in-laws decided to stop by and stay until the New Year. Oh what joy. I have no problem with them stopping by and visiting but staying for that length of time can effect my sanity. As once told to me, the difference between in-laws and outlaws, outlaws are wanted.
While I can blame a percentage of the posting delay on their visit, the remaining percentage falls on me as I have not had a chance to really mold and meld the remaining storyline towards the direction that I wanted it to go.
As pitiful as that may sound, I am actually working on the story when time and company allow. As promised when I first started posting the rewrite, this will not be an inactive or incomplete story.
Please be patient as there will be more chapters coming soon.
For those of you interested, Up From the Depths will have its debut on TerribleThom's Missions website this weekend.
Here's the link:
http://www.thomstales.us/forum/index.php
Here is a general listing of the reviews of Up From the Depths to this point:
'Well written, but I have a problem with Conley's
motivation. He wants a reset but Roberts tells him
about the reanimation and the difficulty in
killing them and it doesn't phase him. A world
full of zombies doesn't seem like what he's
looking for.'
'Just my 2 cents, keep writing I'll keep reading.'
'Some authors need to wander over to your blog and
read your abbreviation list. One of the best for
current vernacular used by military. Let's face
it, it's its own language.'
'so far this is really good and i normally dont
like zo(m)bie movies this is like reading one its
sort of like tom clancy but with zombies it keeps
me reading i want more'
'best zombie story on the web..'
'This is a fantastic and well thought-through
story, I am eagerly looking forward to reading
the rest of it. I have also been reading your
blog. Wow, what a tour de force, which must have
entailed a considerable amount of time and effort.
Much appreaciated.'
'I cannot believe that anyone should complain that
you use actual locations. The vast majority of
books on SOL and BTFH of the type that I read
would not hold up without actual locations. Some
like 'American War Hero' use the White House and
10 Downing Street for goodness sake, albeit, in
that case, during WWII. Reading books like yours
and with Google Maps open in another tab I have
learnt a great deal about North American
geography, other parts of the world too.'
'Great, keep it coming.'
'I had hoped to see more of this one for some time.
To find a complete rewrite is much more than
expected. Hopefully you will fill in some of the
gaps and tie together some of the lose ends from
the origional stories. It was a great read before
and I hope this time around its even better.
Thank you.'
'My kind of story!!!'
'hey. at first i thought that you were not that
good of a writer from how you bounced around but
then you settled down and its gotten really good'
'Great start keep going - This is a great story'
'Woooohoo looks like a good one
Thanks'
'Going along well so far. This is alot different
than the seperated stories you origionally posted.
I can see now how some of those stories fit
together to form a much larger story. Look forward
to reading more. Great story, thank you.'
'You talk about a 4500cu inch Eagle Industries
'Warbag'
That is bigger than a 55 gallon drum!
Surely you must be talking 450 cu inch?
Great story!
Thanks,'
Actually the Warbag has a 6500cu inch capacity, see link: http://store.eaglegear.com//product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=71
I composed this list to help the readers follow the storyline and the intermix of characters. Before anyone points this out, ODA141 is a made up unit that if it exists in the real world, its pure coincidence. 3/124INF (M) is not based in Idaho and is also a made up designation, again coincidental if it actually exists as the one in the story is not based any actual units with that same designation. SSGN 897 falls under that same classification. Any relation to existing units is purely unintentional and totally coincidental.
Up From the Depths Cast of Characters
Doctor Robert Foster, research scientist working in the field of Neurogenesis, fired from his job in Los Angeles and now employed by Nathan Conley
Prominent Crew members of SSGN Claggett and embarked SEAL Team
Captain David Powell, Commanding Officer, SSGN Claggett
Commander Charles Ridley, Executive Officer, SSGN Claggett
Lieutenant Spencer Peters, department head of engineering, SSGN Claggett
Chief Petty Officer Greg Wilson, Chief of the Boat (COB), SSGN Claggett
SEAL Team ‘Shark’
Lieutenant James Willis, SEAL Team Leader
Chief Petty Officer William (Billy) Rogers, SEAL Team Chief
Petty Officer James Webb, designated SOTIC, SEAL Team
Petty Officer Artemis ‘Berry’ Hannaberry, SEAL Team communications expert and secondary SOTIC
Petty Officer, (HM) Elroy Johnson, SEAL Team corpsman
Petty Officer Marcus ‘Smitty’ Smith, SEAL Team demolitions expert
Petty Officer Robert Lindsay, SEAL Team
Dante’s Finger Lighthouse
Amos Coffelt, Lighthouse Keeper, Dante’s Finger
Additional Crewmembers and Survivors rescued by SSGN Claggett enroute to Port Winthrop
Commander Robert Brown, Chief Medical Officer, SSGN Claggett
Charles ‘Chuck’ Carrig, high school student, rescued from horde of infected
Robert ‘Bobby’ Carrig, younger brother to Charles, high school student, rescued from horde of infected
Steve Josephson, high school dropout, part time back up guitar player, Leaden Death garage band, rescued from horde of infected
Julie Samuelson, high school student, girlfriend to Steve Josephson, rescued from horde of infected
Stan Johannson, retired police officer, former commercial shipping dock security guard, rescued from horde of infected
Pedro Rodriguez, owner and operator of a mobile food franchise, rescued from horde of infected,
Norbert Wilcox, sub contractor, United Telex Phone Systems, rescued from horde of infected
Aaron Grant, high school drop-out, dumpster diver, rescued from horde of infected
Personnel of Port Winthrop
Lieutenant Commander Bernard Grant, USN, Administration Officer, Port Winthrop Naval Base
Rear Admiral Vincent Harrington, USN, former Commander, Port Winthrop
Colonel Douglas Burgess, USMC, Commander, Marine Security Forces, Port Winthrop
Warren Noel, General Contractor, Port Winthrop renovation project
Steve Hurgeson, civilian private security supervisor, Excel Security Services, Port Winthrop
Commander Daniel Borsen, USCG, Captain of Coast Guard vessel WMEC Hampton
Captain Greg Harold, USCG, Captain of Coast Guard vessel WHEC Farragut
Warrant Officer Samuel ‘Sandy’ Vaughn, USCG, pilot of HH65 Dauphin rescue helicopter assigned to Farragut
Richard Morris, city of Seaview survivor, rescued by SEAL team
Dale Brown, city of Seaview survivor, unofficial group leader, rescued by SEAL team
Prominent Characters of naval fleet encountered at Objective Log prior to arriving at the City of Key Point
Lieutenant Commander Theodore Winslow, USN, executive officer, LPH 11, USS New Orleans
Captain Wallace Greerson, USN, captain, LPH 11, USS New Orleans
Admiral Jared Crockett, USN, ad hoc commander of remnants of Pacific Fleet
Colonel Gerald Richardson, USMC Commander of combined MEU forces
Site 18 prominent characters
Major General Thaddeus Augustus Lee Royd, USAF, facing mandatory removal from his job, reduction in rank and prison time, was enroute to a maximum-security military prison when IT happened. Seized control of Site 18, a remote US military auxiliary command facility
Colonel Charles Forrester, USAF, Lee Royd’s second in command
Cicero, code name for Lee Royd’s inside man within the Dupont Federal Center
Idaho Falls/Dupont Federal Center prominent characters
Melody Farmer, stepsister to James ‘Jimbo’ Farmer, high school student, City of Idaho Falls
James ‘Jimbo’ Farmer, stepbrother to Melody Farmer, high school student, City of Idaho Falls
Master Sergeant Alan Hathaway, senior National Guard NCO, 3/124 Inf (M), Idaho National Guard
Warren ‘Berg’ Bergeron III, high school student, city of Idaho Falls
Robert and Anna Kennedy, husband and wife, survivors, City of Idaho Falls
Allison Michealson, Warren Bergeron’s silent female companion, survivor, City of Idaho Falls
Corporal Emilio Valdez, 3/124 Inf (M) Idaho National Guard
Sergeant Marcus Axtell, 3/124 Inf (M), Idaho National Guard
Captain Alex Steele, 3/124 Inf (M) Idaho National Guard
Private Joe Dunmire, 3/124 Inf (M) Idaho National Guard
Private DB Wilson, 3/124 Inf (M) Boise, Idaho National Guard
Archibald Connors, irate survivor, City of Idaho Falls
Abigail Redman, senior citizen survivor, City of Idaho Falls
Dupont Federal Center
Major General Franklin Spears, Commander of the Dupont Federal Center (DFC) and Project Blue Light
Major Julio Quintana, General Spears’ aide
Captain Angelina Brandon, US Army, MD, PHD, assigned to Project Blue Light as part of the medical staff, one of the few doctors who were at the center when IT happened
Thomas A Milton, US Army, Staff Sergeant, formerly 5th Special Forces Group (A), reassigned to Project Blue Light
Clive Burchart, City Councilman, City of Idaho Falls, opposed to General Spears taking command after contact with the outside world is lost.
Fort Lewis, Washington
Lieutenant General Douglas Waller, Commanding General, Fort Lewis
Colonel George Stevenson, aide to General Waller
Mayor Rebecca Cross, Mayor, City of Tacoma, Washington
Brigadier General David Taylor, Commanding General, Washington National Guard
Major Michael Cooper, Intelligence liaison with I Corps, Fort Lewis SCIF
Captain Deacon ‘Deke’ Mills, US Army, 1st Special Forces (A), ODA-141
Colonel Daniel Knight, US Army, Fort Lewis, commander of the 168th Aviation Unit
Sergeant First Class Richard Butler, US Army, 1st Special Forces Group (A), Team sergeant ODA-141
Doctor Peter Barnes, Colonel, US Army, Resident Chief Physician, Fort Lewis Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC)
Lieutenant General Montgomery Scott, Commanding General, MAMC
Specialist Andrew Stephenson, US Army medic, MAMC
Sergeant Major Nicholas Johnson, US Army, Fort Lewis installation Sergeant Major
Sergeant Linda Manning, US Army, Fort Lewis
Sergeant Joseph Heller, US Army infantryman, Fort Lewis
Flagstaff, Arizona
Ronald Chambers, research scientist
Candace (Candi) Reed, Real Estate agent and girlfriend to Richard Chambers
Jack Howard, Doctor at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s hospital, friend and colleague of Ronald Chambers
Judy, no last name given, survivor
Jake, truck driver
Chuck, truck driver
Olympia, Washington and surrounding environs
Joe Miller, member of the Western Z-Corps Alpha Squad
Robbie Townsend, member of the Western Z-Corps Alpha Squad.
Kirk Mendenhall, member of the Western Z-Corps Alpha Squad
Ezekiel (Zeke) Moyer, member of the Western Z-Corps Alpha Squad
Randy Walker, member of the Western Z-Corps Alpha Squad
Doug Carrington, Joe Miller’s roommate.
James Martin, resident, City of Tenino, Washington
Christy Martin, wife to James Martin
Rocky Marcone, owner of Rocky’s Market, City of Tenino
Jason Garner, teenager, boyfriend to Michelle Jones
Michelle Jones, teenager, girlfriend to Jason Garner
Nevada
Frank Durst, service technician for Wex-Tec
Francis (Butch) Anfinson, service technician for Wex-Tec
Sharon Wharton, sister to Frank Durst, married to Tom Wharton, an abusive county deputy
Tom Wharton, county deputy sheriff, married to Frank Durst’s sister, Sharon
John Stone, childhood friend of Frank Durst who runs a custom truck and salvage yard
John Mecceloni, professional killer
Cassandra Randall, escort
Camberley, Surrey, United Kingdom
Jack Miler, hotel porter, Royal Windsor Hotel
Arthur Higgins, hotel porter, Royal Windsor Hotel
Patricia Logan, front desk clerk, Royal Windsor Hotel
Leesa Tobias, US pop singer staying at the Royal Windsor Hotel
Texas
Luke Sanders, youth minister, Bartlett Bible Church
Amy Sanders, wife of Luke Sanders
Blue Finney, retired Texas Ranger
Carl Potter, retired police officer, groundskeeper and security for Mount Olive Bible Camp
Cliff Sutherlin, retired police officer, groundskeeper and security for Mount Olive Bible Camp
New York, City
Nathan Bedford Conley, multi-millionaire, secret leader of quasi-religious environmental cult that created the Reset Virus (RV)
Henry Roberts, genetic biologist and main creator of the Reset Virus (RV)
Hollis Williams, doctor in the employ of Conley, not aware what the true function of the work he is overseeing is to be used as a virus.
Greg Stine, doctor, in the employ of Conley, not aware what the true function of the work he is overseeing is to be used as a virus
After receiving several emails regarding this story, one in particular asked several questions that I felt should be addressed. In one of the first chapters, there is a mention of Westside Olympia. Olympia is the capitol of Washington State although if anyone from out of state were to watch the local news channels, they would never know because the primary focus is on the Seattle area metroplex.
Olympia is divided into three separate areas, Downtown, the Westside and East Olympia.
Each of these areas has its own zip code and there is an overlap of those codes into all three of the areas. The cities of Lacey and Tumwater are suburbs to the city of Olympia.
The use of Fort Lewis as a location within the story was also brought up within that same email regarding possible national security issues. While it’s a stretch to go to that level of concern, I will attempt to address that issue.
The information I use about Fort Lewis is taken directly from their public access website and Google Earth. I am in no way violating any national security laws by using public accessible resources to construct a story around a real world military installation.
While personally having more knowledge of said installation, I am not revealing any information that would be detrimental to that installation’s security or that of its tenant units.
That same email also mentioned concern that I could be facing possible criminal issues by using real world locations within my story. While that is comical to ponder considering the genre, such an event did occur when a high school student wrote a short story for a class assignment that involved zombies taking over his high school.
Don’t believe me?
Just Google any combination of high school student jailed for zombie story and read it yourself.
Not having been in high school for quite a number of years, I feel that I have nothing to worry about if that issue were ever to materialize. If anyone has issues with my use of real world locations, just remember that several hundred if not thousands of authors have done the very same thing in each of their own stories, published or not.
One of the very first tips on writing is to write about what you know.
What you don’t know, research.