.   You can follow my blog at  http://twbrown.blogspot.com . .

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My name is Todd Brown and I am the President and Editor of May December Publications.

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I write.  Ever since a sixth grade project where the teacher put a single sentence on the board and said, “write a one page story using this sentence,” and I wrote seven pages (typed with my left and right index finger), I knew that writing was my dream job.

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My life has been anything but boring.  I’ve been a submarine sonar man, a club DJ, a sports talk radio host, a prison inmate, a GED tutor, and a music teacher.  I have four marriages and three divorces and I only really regret one of the marriages.  I’ve played football at the North Pole, seen the Pyramids of Giza and the ruins of Rome. Now that I’m in my forties, I’ve calmed down and really learned to appreciate all I’ve had, seen, and done.  People who know me are a bit overwhelmed and it took those constant reactions to realize that my life has been full. Right now I teach guitar and play in two bands: The Techs, and The Kaqlin’ Zombies.  There is something unexplainable about stepping up to the mike and singing or looking into an audience-be it forty or four hundred-after nailing a guitar solo.  But that’s what I do for fun.

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As I said earlier, I write.  Really, a lot of credit goes to ex-wife number three (Kathy).  She learned of my dream after finding one of my old notebooks.  She told me I had to write.  “If you don’t, you’ll always wonder.” So I wrote “DAKOTA”. She never wavered in her support…just her tolerance for my selfishness and spirit crushing ways. After a lot of cognitive workshop attendance, I learned that I was quite a jerk.  Fortunately, wife #4 (Denise) picked me up, dusted me off, handed me a pen and said, “Chase your dream.  I believe in you.” So I re-wrote and re-wrote (etc, etc,) “DAKOTA”.  I also took up guitar and started college. Fast forward to Ms Bose, my college writing teacher.  How many of us writers have that one teacher who really gets you.  Pushes you.   And finds your strengths.

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After discovering my (unhealthy) love for all things zombie…”Dead” was conceived.  My goal is to try and break away from the steady stream of clichéd character types and story lines.  I want this to be a series and for the characters to grow and gain depth. I write for a few reasons.  First, I love a good story.  That is what drives me.  However, I’d be a big fat liar if I did not admit to wanting the possible fame and fortune.  There is a definite ego gratification in knowing that by putting words on paper I made somebody laugh, cry, or cringe.  People can say “I do it for the artistic expression…” blah, blah, blah.  I write because I want people to be a fan of my writing.  I want you to lose yourself in my story for a few minutes or an hour.  And when you’re done…I want you to want more.  That’s t he honest truth.

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So, what writers do that for me?  Jasper Fforde, Kim Harrison, RA Salvatore, Laurel K Hamilton, and as of late…Billie Sue Mossiman.  Books that I consider “must read” that aren’t from the aforementioned writers? The Stand (best story ever!), The Time Traveler’s Wife, Post-Birthday World, and the Song of Fire and Ice series by George R R Martin.  That is just my opinion.

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My favorite quote is from Gene Simmons of KISS: “Car crashes are neat, but you cant tap your feet to ‘em.”  With that I should say that my favorite band is KISS.  I also really enjoy Sarah McLachlin, Manhattan Transfer, Matchbox 20, Fallout Boy, Nickelback and original line up Van Halen. When I write I listen to Mozart, Holst, or Future Sounds of London.  The last is perfect for zombie writin’ music.     . . . . .

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CONCERNING TODD BROWN