Wow–talk about a great end-of-the-year present! I just got word that my short story collection, An Amorous Thing, is now available on Createspace! At over three years in the making, this has been long-coming, and I’m glad to say that it’s finally available after all these long months of work.

If you’re interested in getting it now (instead of waiting a week or so for it to show up on Amazon) and in supporting both myself and my publisher (Lame Goat Press) with a higher royalty, please click on this strand of text to go order the book! It’s $15.95, though I’m not exactly sure what the shipping and handling costs per copy. I’d appreciate if someone would tell me the exact shipping and handling amount if and when they order the book.

Again, thank you everyone. I really appreciate all the support I’ve had throughout these last few months. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the collection.

~ Kody

To announce, I will be working on two new projects, consequently and disruptively. The first, though I can’t say much about it, as it’s personal, is called Letters to John, which will be an inflection about current events in my immediate state and how they affect me. It will be written in a journal/diary form, but will contain what I like to think of as ‘immediate purple prose.’ Basically, what that means is that it will be written like a diary, but a diary written by a writer (hence the purple prose.)

The second project, which may take a few days or a few months depending upon how much attention and attention to detail I give to it, will be an article/essay called Great Artistic Ying. If you haven’t already picked up on it, GAY is an anagram into itself. The article/essay will chronicle what I like to call my major coming of age by discussing sexuality, how it came to be (in brutal, pornographic detail,) how I dealt with my ‘other life’ in high school and how I continue to do it in personal life, and how it affects me as both an artist and a visionary. It’ll be a gift foremost to my supporters, companions of civil and equal rights, and the friends who have unabashfully stood by my side throughout all the ugly moments of my life. It will, as such a gift as it is, be released on my website, completed formatted and presented to the readers I have accumulated over my short career.

As it stands, the first ‘secret’ project will be a moment-by-moment thing, and GAY will need to be heavily outlined before I write it so I can be as diligent and honest as I can to the truth. What with Blood being almost finished, and my co-editing project almost finished on Scroll of Anubis, I still have a good load of stuff to keep me entertained. This isn’t counting all the editing and promotion I have to do on old or current projects.

Thanks for tuning in!

~ Kody

1. I’d like what you’d like me to post to already be pre-formatted (meaning I need the proper HTML.) If your promotional post includes HTML, embedded links, videos, or anything else, I need the required HTML formatting in order to post it correctly. This will make it a lot less stressful on both our part’s.

2. I ask that you not send anything containing pornographic material. Now, for you erotica/romance writers out there looking to get on this, have no fear, you’re more than welcome. All I ask is you let me know in your message that the content is erotic in nature and that the adult content is something more than just blood and guts.

3. In exchange for offering this open doorway, I would sincerely appreciate it if you, as a contributor, would be willing to do the same for me in the future. Though your end of the bargain wouldn’t require you to do more than post a link to my collection An Amorous Thing when it comes out, I’d appreciate a little words here and there in order to entice people to at least look at it. I’ll be drafting up a little promotional post that people can spread around here in the near future (as soon as I get the specifics from my publisher,) so if you would like that instead, I’ll be more than willing to offer it.

Those interested in getting in on this offer can email anamorousthing[@]yahoo.com with the subject lining of Blog Promo Exchange.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope we can make this work for both of us.

~ Kody

PS: If you would also be willing to guest blog about your writing/something in particular, I’d be more than willing to let you do that as well.

So, without further ago… from writing, to life, to more personal details, here’s seventeen things you probably didn’t know about me.

1. I’m obsessed with pop culture and what drives people to want to become famous.

2. I get bored with my personal appearance very easily. Many already know that I have a compulsive streak that leads me to make strange decisions. In the past, I’ve—A) Snuck hair dye in and dyed my hair black, B) Shaved my head when I hadn’t cut my hair for three or four years, C) Contemplated cross-dressing as a form of androgynous perception, and D) Wanted hair extensions, makeup and designer sunglasses. Personal appearance has always fascinated me, mostly because it’s so easy to transform into another person in our day and age. I’d be a walking oddity if I could afford it.

3. The 80s is one of my favorite eras, with the 50s running in high second.

4. Due to past (legal) prescription use, I suffer from various and odd lingering side affects. I’m partially night-blind, am easy to burn in the sun, and constantly have dry lips. I also suffer from bloody noses from time to time.

5. I’m obsessive-compulsive with saving whatever I work on. Oftentimes, I’ll click the save button in my word processor a minimum of five times to make sure nothing is lost.

6. A lot of my description works in The Law of Three, meaning that, if I describe something (whether it be personal details, the environment, or something significant,) I usually due it in groups of threes. I.e, his raven hair, his amber eyes and his prudent smile; the fading scaffolds, the cracked windows and the shattered structure.

7. Aside from writing, I’ve have to say that my one major passion is animals. I’ve toyed with the idea of entering the field of marine biology, if only because there’s so much more out there to see. I would also like to volunteer for no-kill shelters, as well as help strays get off the streets and into loving homes. My family and I have personally saved five animals (one of which we only had for a week who passed from Leukemia); I want to continue the process when I move out. I’m also fascinated by Cryptozoology and anything that revolves around it.

8. The majority of my writing revolves around the theme of obsession, love gone awry, or symbolic things coming into ordinary people’s lives. My first story, [A] Prom Queen’s Revenge, was a love gone awry story; my story The Dog on Taylor Road was a symbolic story, and my story Jade—which I read at my Horror Realm Author Panel—dealt with obsession.

9. Despite my outgoing online personality, I’m very shy and extremely introverted, preferring to rely on myself in times of need instead of asking others for help. I have a tendency to put other people first, put myself last, and make sure my loved ones are more comfortable than I am. The Meyer’s personality test classifies me as an INFJ (Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging.)

10. Back in 2007, I used to weigh 210 pounds. I currently average a weight between anymore from the lower 160 to the higher 160s, though I’m planning (and trying) to loose more.

11. I suffered from severe acne (type II) disorder when I was a younger teenager. After becoming immune to medicines such as Proactive and other doctor-prescribed ointments or pills, I was on the highly-controversial Acutane derivative Claravis for around half a year. I still suffer from acne and the scarring it’s inflicted on me.

12. I’m a huge fan of soup. Potato, cheddar potato, broccoli cheddar, chicken noodle, chicken vegetable, vegetable beef, beef, lintel—I haven’t run into a soup I won’t try yet.

13. My worst subject is Math. I averaged a D- in my Freshman year of high school, only barely passing because D- was considered a passing grade. My ISAT (Idaho Standard Achievement Test) showed that I have the Math skills of a sixth grader.

14. I didn’t kiss my first guy until I was seventeen.

15. My three greatest writing inspirations are Stephen King, Poppy Z. Brite and Jennifer Haigh.

16. My greatest mortal fear is sharks.

17. My greatest material, personal fear is the idea of being physically alone, without someone to love me.

I need a little help from you all, particularly on the author-photo front. Although I’ve expressed interest in having a professional take my author picture, I figured I’d did it myself. So… seeing as how I’m (now) back home in Idaho, and I had a digital camera on hand, I took a few pictures to see how they’d come out.

Below are the five I believe are the best in the batch.

If you would be interested in offering an opinion, please pick which one you’d like to see me use as my author photo.

Thank you,

~ Kody

I just got word that tomorrow morning (Tuesday the twenty-fourth,) my short story Angelita will be appearing on the front page of Teen Ink’s website under the Science-Fiction and Fantasy catagory.

If my word isn’t enough, check out the email they sent me:

Dear Kody,

Congratulations from Teen Ink. We’re delighted to tell you that your article, Angelita, received high scores from our readers and tomorrow will appear on the front page of the Fiction -> Sci-fi / Fantasy section of TeenInk.com!

We will send you another email tomorrow morning with the exact link for you to pass along to friends and family – so be on the lookout for it.

Every day, we choose the most popular articles and display them on the front page of each section. Your work will be visible to hundreds of thousands of people who visit our website regularly, so this will be your time to shine!

Click here if you would like to see your article online now.

If you are a Facebook user and have not signed up for Teen Ink using your Facebook account, you may want to do this now. Then when your work is featured tomorrow, you can share the good news with all your Facebook friends. Simply click the Login button on TeenInk.com and then select "Connect with Facebook."

Congrats,
Teen Ink Staff

I knew from the moment Angelita was accepted that this would be grounds for major exposure. I’d like to take this moment to thank all my readers—old and knew—for the amazing love, support and encouragement you’ve all given me these past two months. You don’t know how much it means to me.

Thank you,

~ Kody

     For the past year-and-a-half, I have been both creatively and personally inspired by a woman we’ve all come to know as Lady GaGa. Originally known as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta before she began to play for fame, Lady GaGa has a long, working-woman history to get where she is today. From working in clubs to go-go dancing to help fund studio recording sessions, she is a shining example of what persistence and a good, hard fuck-you to everyone who wants you to fail can do for you as an artist.

     A while back, I had an idea featuring the same title, but a completely different concept. Set on a foreign, Utopian world which had been culturally influenced by a pop-star or something similar, the story that you will now be reading below as nothing like I originally envisioned it. Instead of taking a more fantastical approach, I took a traditional path in writing this piece.

     As a tribute to an artist that has inspired me both creatively and personally, I am happy to share this with the world, if only to show you how inspiration can come in all shapes and sizes.

     I hope you enjoy this piece.

     Thank you,

     ~ Kody

Her Emphyress GaGa

Kody Boye

     The agony, the truth, the game, the fame—it can rush through your blood unlike anything you’ve felt before. Like a kiss in the sand or a hug from the band, its an unapologetic, unemotional response can crush you in the blink of an eye. Many fall at the mere mention of its name, but for others, it’s a goal—a life experience they can’t wait to experience.

     For one girl, her game was fame.

     A race to the top, a crash to the bottom—whatever dice she rolled, those around her began to play.

     She stripped, she strut, she danced and she sang, all for the name of her game.

     In the downtown alleys and bars of New York city, she’d take a microphone in hand and begin her dance. It didn’t matter where, when or what—whatever she could, she would. Life, death, battle, prattle—what came to her mind and out of her mouth was hers and hers alone. A siren, some would say, or a death crow to others, she played until they screamed or steamed. Oftentimes, she’d come off the stage beaming, smiling and waving to those that would one day proclaim her Emphyress, while other times she would run away crying, ashamed of the game she played.

     At home, her parents would console her, wishing her well and always willing her to go on.

     In the end, they said, she’d win the game.

     It was all a matter of time.

     The agony, the pain, the burlesque and the shame, the go-go girls and the things that whirl, the song, the wrong, the dream and the queen—it took but one to win the game.

     Cast your dice, the world would say, and wait for them to look just thrice.

     Fame always came to claim the game.

     From the top to the bottom, the bottom to the top, the shock to the rock and the rock to the pop—when you won the game, it was yours to claim.

     You only won once.

     You lost thousands of times.

     She loved the game, she loved the fame, the discos sticks and the beautiful, dirty rich—the paparazzi and the pink Ferraris; the bad romance, the fancy pants and the just dance, the big boys and all their toys.

     She loved it and it loved her, dear sir.

     It wouldn’t take long before she became strong.

     The world fell to its knees and began to salute.

     One, two, three, four—five, six, seven, eight, time to get their facts straight.

     Her name was GaGa, and she was here to stay.

     She wore a long wig of Saxon-blonde hair and a veil of obscurity meant only for someone of her kind. Call her a God, a Fraud, an Angel or a Saint; a Martyr, a Guarder, a Lady or a Tramp—these were names and names alone. They could not hurt her, they could not scar her, could not burn or turn her away, for she was something greater than human, something greater than the things that walked the land.

     Humans aren’t meant to exist in a world of fame and games, of kings and queens and beautiful serene.

     No.

     Only Gods are meant to play games of fame and shame, to take their blame and give out names.

     With her glasses held high, she listened as they whispered her game.

     GaGa…

     GaGa…

     Emphyress Emphyress, hear her cry, listen as she begs the sky. Watch her twirl and watch her whirl, watch her throw the utmost hurl. Watch the girl as she steps down, then watch her as she steps up. Strut, smut, slut, gut, the army huts and coconuts, the savage flames and twisted aims, the silicone and Joan Beyone—the false lies and pretty guys, the fancy cars that go to Mars.

     She wanted it all.

     She had it all.

     And in the coming days, she would not fall.

     Look at her.

     Listen up.

     Take your stick and begin to thrust.

     Her game is fame.

     Her fame is game.

     She is one, she is all…

     Look out—don’t fall.

     Her Emphyress GaGa commands your attention.

     It’s time to change the world.

Hello everyone,

After a long month of deliberation and consideration, I am happy to announce that Dan Galli of DreamNeonBlack.Deviantart.Com has been selected as the winner of the cover contest.

Combining several of my requested and suggested themes, Dan has not only provided an amazing focal point for the front cover, but has also created a striking and disturbingly-beautiful image. Set on an old, withered diary, you can see six of the objects I’ve suggested—a skeleton, a cat (top picture,) a fish skeleton (second photo,) the giraffe (third picture,) a military dog tag that’s been broken by time or tribulation, and the diary itself, which is what the elements are arranged on.

I chose this preliminary cover design for a few reasons.

1 – The majority of the elements that I requested are represented in a clean and non-cluttered way.

2 – The creative titling, along with the ‘a collection’ cleverly below that made the cover pop in a way that I hadn’t expected.

3 – The warmer coloring, in my opinion, gives the collection a sense of want. From my perspective, I see something not only horrific, but somewhat beautiful. Because the theme of the collection is affection, I wanted something that seemed subdued or somewhat calm, not something that jumped out at you in a threatening way. Ultimately, this is why I chose the collection—for its color and its feel.

     Congratulations to Dan on creating a beautifully-striking cover for my upcoming collection. I am both proud and excited to know that Dan will be further working on the cover and including even more new and surprising elements on the spine and back cover.

     Thanks to everyone who entered. Although I may not have gone about it in a time-friendly way for those who might have wanted to enter, nor did I arrange it in a way that allowed people to enter without having created a piece specifically of the cover, but I don’t regret the way I went about it. I’ve learned a lot from this contest. I’m happy with how it came out.

     Once again, thank you. Expect An Amorous Thing to be out within the following months.

     ~ Kody