"The Other Side" is OUT NOW!!!!

So so so so pumped! "The Other Side" has been released today! It's been a long wait, but wait no more! Blood, sweat, tears, sweaty-tears, some sanity, countless hours of sleep lost, but in the end, I effing did it!

I want to thank all the fans (all two of you) and friends (I won't dare put that number) very much for your support. You took a chance with a first-time writer and stuck with a story that I hoped would set itself apart from the growing post-apoc/zombie genre.

I can't say it enough, thank you.

I truly hope you enjoy the finale. It's a long one (like 2-3 books packed into one), but in the end, I hope you flip (or swipe?) the last page, and then lean back exhausted and say "Damn that was an epic f**king finish!" Or something to that extent. You can choose :)

But again, thank you for your patience, reviews and support.

If you get a chance, I'm sure fellow readers and new ones would like to hear your thoughts on Amazon or Goodreads (lame to ask, I know I know). Hell, even if you wanna send an email my way I'd love to hear from you. But even if you don't I hope you enjoyed the story.

In the words of my good buddy Mike, Ciao for now, world,

-me

You can check out all three books here:
Yup, right here

Where is The Walking Dead series going??

Alright, now that The Other Side is all wrapped up and days from release, I thought I needed to take a break from writing. Who was I kidding...starting to contribute to Zombie Guide Magazine again with an article (my thoughts) on what's going on with The Walking Dead.

Interested? Check it out here :

http://www.zombie-guide.com/walking-dead-dying-coming-alive/

Not interested and just checking in to see when book three will be out? Just heard from Severed that it will be early this week!

Stay tuned world,

me

The Other Side cover art first look!!!

Here it is....in all its bad ass glory...send some love if you love it!

The Other Side, coming reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaal soon...

Great job +michael boyajian 

(having trouble viewing it? Check out FB/Twitter)

Guesss whooooo's done?!?!?!?

That's right!!!!

No B.S.
No subtleties
No playin' coy

I Effing did it! Book three - "THE OTHER SIDE" - the epic conclusion to The Longest Road and The Change, is DONE! Finished! In the bag! I'm not sure of another word or phrase so I'll just stop there.

At times I wanted to step back and make it two parts. Other times I wanted to throw something at my screen. But in the end, I powered through and last night, just before an hours-long power outage in the area, I finished the fourth draft!

Over a year ago I started working on "The Other Side." I knew a general direction of where I wanted the story to go, but one thing I've learned from writing is sometimes you have to let the characters and story take the reins. And I did, albeit to an extent (I am the author after all), but so much happens in this novel, so much love, so much heartache, so many cheers, so much heartbreak, new allies alongside your favorite heroes, despicable bad guys for you to curse, but one thing is certain, you can expect a fast paced, in your face finale. And if I may be so bold as to quote the back blurb from "The Longest Road"....every stop is filled with surprises, twists and turns as their lives continue on this roller coaster driven by hope and shadowed by despair....and this roller coaster is one more wild ride from the end.

After "The Change," I really wanted to take my time with this story. All too often with books, TV shows, and movies, a series finale can be a let down, it can fall short, it can be not exactly what we hope for. But it has been my hardest endeavor to build this book, to create a story with such intensity as this. And after reading through it time and time again, I believe this EPIC ENDING will be worthy of your approval. I hope by the time your finger flips the last page or swipes the screen one final time, that you sit back, exhausted and say "Damn, that was an ending...what a story!"

Okay, maybe you can use your own phrases, but seriously, my goal is to leave you with a bittersweet (mostly sweet) feeling of fulfillment. I can promise you laughs, I can promise you "oh shit!" moments and I can promise that it's not all roses in this story, not everyone makes it...but the struggle, the passion, the drive these characters exert and what they endure is worthy of the ending they achieve.

So Thompson, what does this mean? When can we actually read it?!?! Damnit man give us answers!

Well to answer my metaphorical self posing to be a fan, here's what happens. Some point today I will do a lot of copy and pasting in order to get it in a format to send off to Severed Press. From there, the book will go through editing. With a page-length like The Other Side has, I wouldn't be surprised if it took 3+ weeks to get back from editing, who know's maybe more? It is Christmas (that's right I said it) season- but of course, for those with different beliefs I wish you and yours happy holidays- so the end of the year craziness could also push back editing time frames.

No matter, the hard part is done. So, after it gets back from editing, I'll give it a once over with a finer tooth comb and if all is well, stamp it with my final approval and then it's yours. How does that sound? Awesome. So sit back, pull out your copies of "The Longest Road" and "The Change" and get caught up on all the action because very soon, you'll be neck deep in "The Other Side!"

Well, that's all I got for now. Keep checking back here, Google +, FB, etc for updates. Oh, and real soon, +michael boyajian will be releasing some artwork from "The Other Side" :) which even I have yet to see...

So stay tuned world, and thanks again for your support.

Love,

me

direct questions, comments, concerns, criticisms = theasthompson@gmail.com

BOOK 3, draft two....DONE!!!

What's up everyone?!?!? First off, I'm back stateside, so that's cool.

But more importantly than my safe return...I'M DONE WITH THE SECOND DRAFT!!!!

That's right, literally just finished draft two of "The Other Side" right now, and I mean right now! I wanted to shut off my computer and I donno, go eat, go do something, anything to get me away from a computer screen, buuuuuuuut I wanted to share this piece of awesome info with ya'll.

"So, Thompson, what does that mean?"

Good question...I probably have mentioned it before, but I do write a few more drafts before I send it off....BUT WHAT IT MEANS is that we are SUPER close to release... while I can't give a specific release date, this day- finishing draft two- marks the beginning of the end (dramatic pause.....aaaaaand continue) I mean all that's left is cleaning up the story and adding my finishing touches...kinda like sanding a sculpture, or nothing like it, I donno, I don't sculpt.

I will say that this story is exhausting...in every sense of the word. This epic has everything I know you'll be craving and I'm anxious for you to read and see how it all ends...

But there you have it..I'm tired so no more for right now...any questions about the process (other than "when's the release date?") and I'll be happy to answer.

Stay tuned for more, world...

-me

Long Beach Comic and Horror Convention

Okay, yes, I know, I suck at social media. It's not surprise, though. I check emails and respond to fans and friends alike on a more personal level, but when it comes time to logging on, liking, following, messaging, joining pages, and being actively involved every minute of every day on the million sites, I just suck at keeping up. I even don't get on this blog as much as I should.

Anyway, I just wanted to get that out of the way to explain my absence to the world. Well, I do kinda have an excuse and that is I have been working away at the second draft for book 3. It's coming along nicely! That's so great of you to ask! :)

So with work, book 3 and all the other stuff in between I've been busy...but not too busy to talk about something super important that's coming up....and that is THE LONG BEACH COMIC AND HORROR CONVENTION taking place on November 23rd and 24th! That's 2 days of hanging out with fantastic authors like myself and awesome illustrators like +michael boyajian, who, yes, will definitely be there too...as a matter of fact he and I will be sharing a booth and will be having TONS of goodies to give away!

I know what you're thinking..."I don't live anywhere near Long Beach, CA." Answer: Road Trip! Plane ticket! Bus ticket! Hitchhike! Whatever it takes...I guess we'll see how much you really like me...(seriously though, don't go poor or get killed hitching to get there- there will be other conventions)

Or maybe you saying to yourself, "I want to go, but it's like $25 for a pass!" Answer: It's ONLY $25 for a single day pass and discounted if you go both days, and even cheaper if you go just Sunday!!! That and there's SO MANY PERKS...you can come hang out with me, physically "like me" in person, walk away from my booth with a sh*tton of goodies and giveaways, and even some free candy, yes, delicious-buy-your-love, candy. I'm keeping the grand prizes and best giveaways under wraps, so come!!!

You're probably thinking some other stuff too, but my mind reading is slowing down- I need breakfast. So I think that's about it for now, but get your passes and come have a fun weekend with me!!

Yours truly, world,

me

Oh and if you're looking for some good zombie/horror reads, check out these friends of mine...
+mwgarza
+J. Cornell Michel
+Zombie Fighter Jango
+Phillip Tomasso

The Other Side- first draft, done!

Alright so I neglected eating, drinking, social media (not that that was rare), people and just about breathing, but last night I finally finished the first draft of "The Other Side"!!!

What is "The Other Side?" you ask?

This book is the epic conclusion of the previously released books "The Longest Road" and "The Change"- for those who read this having no idea what those books are about, they are zombie novels that follow a group of cousins after the world was exposed to a viral outbreak (yes the general statement of basically every other zombie story). With elements of conspiracy, family, perserverance, and intertwined fates, mine are WAAAAY different than anything that is out there, but at the risk of writing a long, boring synopsis and losing you halfway through, I won't. Instead, you can find them here: books

You might ask yourself "Yo, A.S. Thompson, why are you making a big deal? It's just the first draft, why's that so special? Why not wait until the book is actually finished and released?"

Whether or not you did ask yourself that, consider those questions, talk like that or you use informal/ gangsta lingo, you're right. A first draft still has quite a ways to go until it is finished, but for the fans and friends who are looking forward to the third book and the die-hards who are jonesing to see how it all ends, I wanted to give an update and let you know the end is almost here.

And there is more than that...

When I first wrote the outline, I debated releasing this book as two parts. Not to be a dick, squeeze your pockets, or tease/taunt you, but because there was SOOO MUCH drama, twists, turns, heartbreak and of course, zombie action that remained- SOOO MUCH story left to tell, that this last book could stand alone as two parts. But I thought about it from a reader's perspective...would I really want to read one part, then wait a million months to read the finale? I hate it when TV shows and movies leave you hanging, craving for the last part, so I said screw it and decided to close this epic zombie tale in a grandiose fashion.

This conclusion is straight up nuts. If you thought book 2 stepped things up, just wait. Even as I write it I think to myself, did you really just do that?!!? Did that just happen?!?!

When I get done with the next couple drafts and iron out the action, you will see. There are brand new characters- friends and foes- new scares, new twists, but you can expect to find the same characters you've come to bond with (hopefully) and cheer for them or scream at them as they follow their path to the end.

Sincerely, I want to thank all of you who have stuck it out this far to read the story, and as always, I have appreciated all the comments and criticisms you have taken the time to write. There is more to come and more updates to divulge, but know that it won't be much longer. Also, for all the fans for the amazing artwork, +michael boyajian will be back to do another badass cover and more interior illustrations!!!

Thanks again, world.

- ME