VIRO – Infecting Imaginations One Zombie at a Time

Amazon.co.uk_viro_barnaby_-_2019-03-20_09.21.58

Hi Everyone

It has been 13 months since Book One in the VIRO was published.

I thought it would be useful to compile a list of notable things that have happened since.

 

1. NUMBER ONE

VIRO_eBook_Barnaby_Taylor_Amazon.co.uk_Kindle_Store_-_2019-04-03_09.40.37

With very occasional variations, Book One has been Number One in the Teen & Young Adult Monster Fiction eBooks chart since April 2018. This is very exciting and I have to say a big thank you to everyone who has read the book.

You can get your copy of Book One here.

2. BOOK TWO

The apocalyptic adventures of Jake and his friends continued in May 2018 when Book Two was published. This time the friends find themselves caught between the rampaging viros and the Tall Man, a local militia leader recruiting the able-bodied to help defend his stockade.

You can get your copy of Book Two here.

3. BOOK THREE

Book Three in the series was released in October 2018 and this time Jake and his friends find themselves in a refugee camp where they uncover a sinister child kidnapping ring before having to make their escape back into the apocalyptic wilderness when the camp is overrun.

You can get your copy of Book Three here.

4. BOOK FOUR

Book Four is currently in progress and the adventures continue as Jake and his friends struggle to stay alive in a world infected by a deadly virus.

5. REVIEWS

The VIRO series has been very well received by readers and reviewers and it is so exciting to know that people are enjoying the series. Here is a selection of reviews for the series:

I absolutely loved this book. Powerful and poignant, ‘Viro’ packs a punch. Sad and haunting, ‘Viro’ is a new take on the zombie genre.The characters are dynamic and interesting, finding strength despite their horrifying circumstances. Jake is a character that will stick with you long after the final page. The action sequences are thrilling. I was on the edge of my seat!

 

What a really good book it’s got companionship, action & it seemed to keep me wanting to find out what was gonna happen next.The chapters are short which i find better for reading a good zombie book it seemed to keep me interested all the time. I’m off to read the next book.Give this author a go you will not be disappointed.

 

Amazing trilogy. Bought the kindle editions for my 10-year old daughter who loved them. As a Christmas treat she’s getting the print copies as a surprise. Very highly recommended!

 

“Viro: Book Two” is incredible. Picking up where the first one left off, this book grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. It’s fast paced and superbly thrilling! The narrative is poignant and heartbreaking as Jake’s unique voice draws you in. Highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys zombie stories. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Jake and the gang!

 

I must say that I got book one for free on my Kindle. I found myself sucked right into the characters and never-ending action and gore page after page. I very rarely buy books, but immediately purchased number two which I found equally as engrossing. Yesterday I bought book three in the Viro series and instead of a good nights sleep I’ve got red eyes and a need for Red Bull! Fantastic series for all my zombie lovers out there!

 

6. THE FUTURE – VIRO – Infecting Imaginations One Zombie at a Time

As you can see, it has been an incredible thirteen months and I cannot wait to keep you all up to date with what happens next.

I would love to hear your feedback on the series and all things zombie-related so why not get in touch or leave a comment.

All the best

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‘The Walking Dead meets The Famous Five’ – The VIRO Trilogy is Rapidly Spreading like an Imaginative Infection

 

VIRO eBook_ Barnaby Taylor_ Amazon co.uk_ Kindle Store (4)

Hi Everyone

I have some amazing news.

Can you believe it has been a year since the first VIRO book was published?

A whole year!

And so much has happened since then – it has been an incredible journey so far.

The most exciting news is that VIRO is sitting at Number One in the charts.

VIRO eBook_ Barnaby Taylor_ Amazon co.uk_ Kindle Store (2)

This is really amazing and a special thanks must go out to everyone who has helped to get it there.

In the space of that same year we have also seen the launch of Books Two and Three in the VIRO series.

Amazon.co.uk_viro_barnaby_-_2019-03-20_09.21.58

Slowly but surely, VIRO is changing the way we think about zombie novels.

Even as we speak, Book Four is on the way.

If you have been following the adventures of Jake and the gang then you will know that there will be plenty of twists and turns ahead of them.

Reviews for the series have been incredibly positive and have really helped spread the word.

VIRO_eBook_Barnaby_Taylor_Amazon.co.uk_Kindle_Store_-_2019-03-20_09.25.53

VIRO_Book_Two_eBook_Barnaby_Taylor_Amazon.co.uk_Amazon.co.uk_-_2019-03-20_09.24.43 review

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Amazon.co.uk_Customer_reviews_VIRO_-_2019-03-20_09.28.38

If you are interested in finding out more about VIRO, then why not download a copy today. Book One is FREE for Kindle from Amazon and is a great introduction to the characters and the horrific circumstances they find themselves in. The world has collapsed and Jake and his friends must fight for survival as they search the wasteland for his Jake’s mum.

It really is an exciting series.

VIRO_Book_Three_eBook_Barnaby_Taylor_Amazon.co.uk_Kindle_Store_-_2019-03-20_09.43.50

Have a read, you won’t be disappointed.

Until we meet again, have a really great day!

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The Eleventh Film – Horror/Science Fiction Flash Fiction Series

windy desert

The Eleventh Film XIV

The world looks small now from above and beyond, just another doomed star earmarked for destruction.
The years that followed the angels’ response saw the world’s vitality seep away.
Seas froze over. Temperatures decreased. Glaciers spread. The world’s surface grew a new skin. A tetchy and desperate dermis. Unwilling or unable to nurture any more.
It was like this for a lifetime and then we lost contact with the Library and everyone knew that this truly was the end of days.

VIRO Book Four – Work in Progress

Hi Everyone

I thought I would give you all an update on the VIRO series. What started as a few scratchy notes while I was on holiday two years in Portugal has now become a fascinating experiment in independent publishing.

Book One was launched in March 2018 and has been at Number One in the Amazon chart since May. It is currently free for download for Kindle and this has been an enormous help in getting the book some attention. Book One has currently been downloaded from Amazon 766 times. This is very encouraging. Book One is also currently available for download at Smashwords as well and 84 copies have been dowloaded to date.

Book Two was launched in May 2018 and has been very well received. The following review was left on my Goodreads page:

Having Read Falcon Boy and VIRO, it was with eager anticipation that I started to read VIRO II. Barnaby Taylor has a daring and rich imagination that transports you to new adventures in a re-imagined world, that are vividly written with a fresh and vibrant use of language. The heroes of Barnaby’s books are children on the cusp of their teenage years. I would like to think that this isn’t a coincidence. There appears to be a deliberate opting out in relation to the current generation with Barnaby instead looking to a new, untainted generation to right the world’s wrongs in the guise of the courageous and idealistic young children that inhabit VIRO I and II. Barnaby literally and metaphorically backs the right horse. The purity of the children in VIRO II is evident throughout the book. Jake says ‘I hated violence. I hated violent people.’

In VIRO II, we pick up with the viros (zombies) who are overrunning the world and the small band of children who are trying to survive in this world. The children’s separation from their parents also serves (as it did in VIRO I) as a powerful dramatic device, providing the next generation with the stage and platform to figure out a way forward. Barnaby really understands the mind set of young children and evocatively and beautifully captures their innocence but also their determination and guts to persevere against the odds and you as the reader wants to be with them every step of the way, willing them forward. Barnaby also excels at capturing the petty jealousies and competitiveness that can pervade the group dynamic of young children but equally the intensity and tenderness of their relationships.

To say that this book is a page turner is an understatement. Barnaby can really write an action packed scene with fear inspiring characters such as the Tall Man. Baxter the dog who accompanies the children gives the story the delightful twist of feeling like an apocalyptic Famous Five. Genius. The story is essentially an allegory set in a far more perilous and shaky world and is therefore not only for children but also for adults. Potent messages are present throughout the book. Jake incisively says ‘The world was wrong now. It was bad and broken. I didn’t understand.’ That a new value system is required to fix today’s broken world is also indicated with even the Reverend stating that ‘in order to believe in the Bible, you have to stop asking so many questions and just accept what you are told. And I have always found that hard to do. The world created in seven days? Immaculate conception?’ By the end of the book it’s apparent that the new value systems lies with the children and their unselfish spirit of caring and cooperation, the perfect building blocks of a new world order which the author may reveal in further detail in future iterations of the book as possibly hinted at by the cliff hanger of the book’s ending.

The book is a must read. Barnaby is an exciting and passionate writer. There’s real depth of meaning behind his books. You emotionally engage with and care about the book’s characters. Barnaby’s books also have a strong visual sensibility. His stories particularly VIRO I and II would translate superbly to television and cinema. I am a huge fan of all things zombie orientated and to see the zombie genre reinterpreted from the perspective of children is thrilling. I look forward to more books from Barnaby. He’s one to watch out for. Children, adults and I suspect the film and TV industry people will love this book. I highly recommend it.

Book Two is currently available for 99 cents and the challenge is to convert the free downloads of Book One into purchases of the rest of the series. This is taking some time but I am encouraged with progress to date.

Book Three was released in October 2018 and is slowly climbing up the Amazon charts. I have found that sales of Books Two and Three tend to go together with people buying a copy of each at the same time. Again, the challenge is to convert free downloads of Book One into paid purchases of the other books in the series but there is forward movement here and I am confident that this will keep moving as the franchise continues to spread.

SPOILER ALERT: Book Three also marks the first major character death. I knew that one of the main characters needed to die in order for the series to develop and Book Three is where this tragedy occurs.

Work on Book Four began this week and I am confident that this will be ready for publishing by early 2019. There is still a very long way to go for Jake and the rest of the characters in the series. Also, with each book in the series, the world of VIRO is becoming richer and richer. The writing style is deliberately sparse for this series and it was always the intention for effect to develop over time. Our understanding of the characters deepens in the same way.

ACTIONS GOING FORWARD

  1. Finish VIRO Book Four.
  2. Develop a professional relationship that will lead to representation and/or marketing support.
  3. Explore the possibilities of turning VIRO into a screenplay.

 

Terminal Transit, Verse 1 – Work in Progress

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Hi Everyone

Here’s the opening chapter of Terminal Transit, a novel I have been working on for a while. Terminal Transit tells the story of an ancient race of evil gods called the NotBeSpeak who are hell-bent on destroying the world. Their evil purpose is discovered by an elderly academic called Professor Amhalgaidh Mac an Bhaird who charges a young child called Inteachán to help him try and save the planet from total and utter destruction.

Terminal Transit is set in Dublin, Ireland and the story is interwoven with Irish myth, history and religion resulting in a novel that is a compelling blend of HP Lovecraft and Tomb Raider.

I’m posting the first few chapters over the coming days with a view to generating some interest in the project. I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who might be interested in helping me bring Terminal Transit to publication.

 

Terminal Transit

Chapter I ‘The Song of the NotBeSpeak’

Verse 1.

Professor Amhalgaidh Mac an Bhaird is elderly now, almost ancient. He is an Honorary Fellow and Professor Emeritus of Trinity College and has lived in rooms overlooking Front Square for the last forty-seven years.

Professor Mac an Bhaird has devoted his adult life to the study of what he likes to call the ‘small things that we forget to remember very quickly.’ The Professor’s work is part-chrestomathy, part-analect, and wholly singular in its peculiar ambition. When he wasn’t teaching Professor Mac an Bhaird would spend all his spare time poring over maps and manuscripts and pamphlets and postcards and timetables and booklets and brochures and tickets and notices and newsletters and invitation slips and certificates and all the other truly wonderful ephemera that accumulates when the world isn’t really paying attention.

His wife Sibeal, herself a leading authority on Teutonic textile design during the feudal period, used to joke that the most overlooked thing in all his dealings with the world was undoubtedly her.

‘I fear that one day the only way that you will know that I am still here is when you see my name included on some long-lost list you discover scribbled on a dusty envelope. Only then will you remember to look up and there I’ll be, waiting forlornly in the corner for my turn.’

She slipped her arms around his waist.

‘I love you, Mac.’

‘That will never be the case, my dear,’ said the very-certain scholar as he kissed his wife on the neck.

‘We are simply not fated to end up as forgotten entries in another person’s ledger.’

He pulled her closer.

‘We will fade beautifully towards death together like the most pulchritudinous love letters scribbled on the comeliest of Victorian Christmas cards.’

But Sibeal was taken whilst in labour at 11.03am on September the Sixteenth 1973 and it was at exactly 11.04am that Professor Mac an Bhaird retreated into the deadly safety of scholarly solitude.

That was all those years ago. Now, following a lifetime of lectures and lonely meals in Commons, he sits in his armchair all day indexing his life’s work, Mac an Bhaird’s Miscellanea: Towards the Proposing of a Taxonomy of the Not-Noticed, Oft-Forgotten and Un-Remembered.

Currently standing at over three hundred and thirty-three thousand words Mac an Bhaird’s Miscellanea is a testament to the determination of one man to catalogue, chart, outline, and unravel the seemingly innocuous connections between matters of apparently such little importance as to there being little or no connection between them in the first place. But before we consider a lifetime’s work to be simply pointless and therefore without value we mustn’t forget that generations of academic discourse have depended entirely on exactly the kind of specific pedantry demonstrated here by an elderly Professor. If nothing else this in itself would be a suitably fitting summary of one man’s contribution to the body of knowledge but Mac an Bhaird’s Miscellanea goes much further here because it also exists as a wondrously moving monument to the prodigious properties of paper.

Three hundred and thirty-three thousand words have dutifully wended their way across nearly five hundred and ninety pages and after decades of hermetic handling each page now bears the delicious hallmark of any handwritten document that has aged naturally over time. Many pages are beautifully curled at the corners, as their repeated turning over time now causes them when stacked to fold like the pulpy petals of some ancient, thought-veined bloom. Other pages are torn in places; the longer tears carefully repaired with stamp hinges, now brittle after years of determined gripping. Shorter tears have been left alone for now, borne in mind, or occasionally, overlooked entirely.

All the pages that comprise Mac an Bhaird’s Miscellanea bear the accumulated marks of a lifetime of close attention; stained in some places by the sweat of a thumb; yellowed and coffee-ringed; the sweeping smudge of the back of a hand; ink whirls; curlicues; crossings-out; pencil; ball-point; fountain; wondrous water marks and the arcane collection of proofreading marks unknown to so much of the modern world today – ][, eq #, wc/ww, lc, sp, ||, s/v, first ref., half title, ligature, and stet.

One can read the history of the man in the history of his handwriting and so the bold decisive strokes of a confident young academic gave way to the angry slashes of someone widowed far too soon which then gave way over time to the precise and rigid emphasising of a man obsessed which then give way to the eventually slowed and resigned notation of a dying gentleman battling to complete his life’s work before he passed away.

Yet across the entire length of this turbulent history, one thing had remained a steady constant, Professor Mac an Bhaird’s handwriting was terribly tiny.

Have YOU joined the #VIROSWARM?

Hi Everyone

I’m experimenting with a new trailer for Book One in the VIRO series. I would really appreciate your feedback.

Does the trailer work for you?

Does it make you want to join the #VIROSWARM?

Many thanks

Barnaby

JOIN THE #VIROSWARM TODAY!

VIRO [Book One] is FREE TO DOWNLOAD

➡️➡️➡️ http://bit.ly/VIRO1UKKindle

➡️➡️➡️ http://bit.ly/VIROBOOK1

VIRO – Super-Exciting Publishing News Update – Do YOU want to join the #VIROSWARM?

VIRO BOOK ONE TUNNEL

Hi Everyone

It has been a tremendous few days so I thought I would post an update on where we are, VIRO-wise.

1. VIRO Book One – Number One in the Amazon Charts

Amazon co.uk Best Sellers_ The most popular items in Teen & Young Adult Monster Fiction eBooks (2)

The Kindle version of VIRO Book One got to Number One in the Amazon charts. Currently available to download for FREE, this is really exciting so thank you very much to everyone who has joined the #VIROSWARM. If you haven’t downloaded Book One yet then don’t panic, you too can join the #VIROSWARM HERE and HERE.

2. VIRO Book Two – FIVE STAR REVIEW

VIRO Book Two has just received another tremendous five star review posted up on Goodreads – you can read it HERE.

‘Having Read Falcon Boy and Viro, it was with eager anticipation that I started to read Viro II. Barnaby Taylor has a daring and rich imagination that transports you to new adventures in a re-imagined world, that are vividly written with a fresh and vibrant use of language. The heroes of Barnaby’s books are children on the cusp of their teenage years. I would like to think that this isn’t a coincidence. There appears to be a deliberate opting out in relation to the current generation with Barnaby instead looking to a new, untainted generation to right the world’s wrongs in the guise of the courageous and idealistic young children that inhabit Viro I and II. Barnaby literally and metaphorically backs the right horse. The purity of the children in Viro II is evident throughout the book. Jake says ‘I hated violence. I hated violent people.’

In Viro II, we pick up with the viros (zombies) who are overrunning the world and the small band of children who are trying to survive in this world. The children’s separation from their parents also serves (as it did in Viro I) as a powerful dramatic device, providing the next generation with the stage and platform to figure out a way forward. Barnaby really understands the mind set of young children and evocatively and beautifully captures their innocence but also their determination and guts to persevere against the odds and you as the reader wants to be with them every step of the way, willing them forward. Barnaby also excels at capturing the petty jealousies and competitiveness that can pervade the group dynamic of young children but equally the intensity and tenderness of their relationships.

To say that this book is a page turner is an understatement. Barnaby can really write an action packed scene with fear inspiring characters such as the Tall Man. Baxter the dog who accompanies the children gives the story the delightful twist of feeling like an apocalyptic Famous Five. Genius. The story is essentially an allegory set in a far more perilous and shaky world and is therefore not only for children but also for adults. Potent messages are present throughout the book. Jake incisively says ‘The world was wrong now. It was bad and broken. I didn’t understand.’ That a new value system is required to fix today’s broken world is also indicated with even the Reverend stating that ‘in order to believe in the Bible, you have to stop asking so many questions and just accept what you are told. And I have always found that hard to do. The world created in seven days? Immaculate conception?’ By the end of the book it’s apparent that the new value systems lies with the children and their unselfish spirit of caring and cooperation, the perfect building blocks of a new world order which the author may reveal in further detail in future iterations of the book as possibly hinted at by the cliff hanger of the book’s ending.

The book is a must read. Barnaby is an exciting and passionate writer. There’s real depth of meaning behind his books. You emotionally engage with and care about the book’s characters. Barnaby’s books also have a strong visual sensibility. His stories particularly Viros I and II would translate superbly to television and cinema. I am a huge fan of all things zombie orientated and to see the zombie genre reinterpreted from the perspective of children is thrilling. I look forward to more books from Barnaby. He’s one to watch out for. Children, adults and I suspect the film and TV industry people will love this book. I highly recommend it.’

You can purchase VIRO Book Two in paperback and download.

3. VIRO Book Three – A Death in the Family?

Book Three is shaping up nicely. I am currently a third of the way through and everything is falling into place. Not everything has been decided but there is the very strong possibility that a significant death will take place. I haven’t fully made my mind but it looks like it will be happening.

 

Thanks for reading everyone.

Have a lovely day.

VIRO BOOK ONE BROKEN GLASS JUNE 2018

Barnaby Taylor – How Do You Write Episode 4

 

In this episode I discuss the origins of the VIRO series and describe the central character Jake.

If you would like to join me on my publishing journey then please like my videos and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

You can also subscribe to my blog where I discuss my writing journey and publish writing excerpts – http://www.falconboy.ie

You can also follow me on Twitter @BarnabyFTaylor

Books One and Two in the VIRO series are currently available in paperback and for download at the following links:

bit.ly/VIRO1

bit.ly/VIROBOOK1

bit.ly/VIROROCKS

bit.ly/VIRO2UK

bit.ly/VIRO2US

bit.ly/VIRO2SMASH

Verified Amazon Reviews for VIRO

‘I absolutely loved this book. Powerful and poignant, ‘Viro’ packs a punch. Sad and haunting, ‘Viro’ is a new take on the zombie genre.The characters are dynamic and interesting, finding strength despite their horrifying circumstances. Jake is a character that will stick with you long after the final page. The action sequences are thrilling. I was on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read Book Two!!’

‘I loved this book, and finished it in 2 sittings, a real page turner.’

Great News – VIRO – Book Two just released – Get your copy now …

VIRO BOOK ONE REVIEW COVER9781999633202 (1)VIRO BOOK TWO SINGLE final (1)

Hi Everyone

Due to popular demand, I am thrilled to announce that Book Two in the VIRO series has just been published. Although somewhat earlier than initially planned, it is a buyer’s market and demand was such that I took the decision to bring the publication date forward.

Jake and the other survivors are still fighting for their lives as they hunt for his mother and Book Two brings a whole new series of challenges for them.

Both books in the series are available in paperback and electronic form and links to Amazon are embedded in the images.

Book One and Book Two are also available from Smashwords and I am currently running a promotion where Book One is available for FREE for a limited period of time. Follow the links for more details. All you need to do is use the coupon code JM97Y and redeem your FREE copy of Book One in the VIRO series. Smashwords offers the following ebook formats: epub, mobi, pdf, lrf, pdb, txt, html.

Reviews for Book One have been very positive so far:

‘I absolutely loved this book. Powerful and poignant, ‘Viro’ packs a punch. Sad and haunting, ‘Viro’ is a new take on the zombie genre.The characters are dynamic and interesting, finding strength despite their horrifying circumstances. Jake is a character that will stick with you long after the final page. The action sequences are thrilling. I was on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read Book Two!!’

Don’t take my word for it, why not see for yourself.

The Started Series – Book One – THE ENTRY WORD (Free Ebook Download)

the entry word ebook cover

Welcome to the Started Series.

This is a series of novels that I have started but have never developed.

I am going to give them away free of charge and let the Universe decide.

If there is enough interest in one of them then I will start it again.

Book One in the Started Series is The Entry Word.

Following a texting accident, the World summons Jodocus Meaddowcraft, a constipated alien from another dimension. Jodocus sets about punishing the World for summoning him.

You can download your FREE copy of The Entry Word here.