Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Sneak Peak

So here it is; eight years in the making.  My novel, The Phoenix Blade is getting the finishing touches before it is fully published and ready for the world to see. 


Follow the journey of  Andrew Lancaster and his friends as they are thrown in the middle of the biggest government conspiracy to hit the United States.  After a joking about ridding the world of all the evil people, Andrew gets a call from a man known only as the Benefactor.; claiming to be a government official that has been monitoring Lancaster and his friends.  He is told they have enough to arrest them for treason, but would like to hire them instead for a top secret government project.  As a bonus the Benefactor says he will reveal something Lancaster has wanted to know for the last six years.  Who killed his mother.


I wanted to give my readers a brief glimpse at the Phoenix Blade and hope you all enjoy.





Bright white lights.  It was the first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes. 

“Just relax Mr. Lancaster,” a stern woman’s voice said as she laid a hand on my chest; forcing me back to the bed.  “You’ve been through a major ordeal and need your rest.”

I tried to push myself up on the bed, but found my arms tied down with restraints. 

“What’s going on?  Where am I?”

“Relax, you’re in good hands.”

I craned my neck to look through the window on a solid door.  I thought I saw a woman with short brown hair.  She looked familiar.  I continued to fight the restraints.  I was always claustrophobic and being pinned to a plain white bed didn’t help that feeling.

“Mr. Lancaster, you need to relax,” the woman said. 

My eyes cleared; allowing me to see a tall heavy set woman dressed in white standing over my bed.  Her surgical mask told me something was off.  I struggled to get free, but was locked in too tight.  The woman reached for a syringe and placed it into my IV.

“This should calm you down.”  My vision blurred and my body felt limp.  The woman’s voice sounded like she was yelling down a long hallway.  “He should be out any minute.”

“Good bring him downstairs,” a stern male voice said.  My eyes closed as I was wheeled out of the room forcefully. 

When I awoke, I was back in my parent’s old house; sprawled out on the old brown living room carpet.  The TV clicked on and recaps of last night’s baseball games were playing.  I looked up and saw a teenage boy lying on the couch with the remote in hand.

“Steve,” I asked while pulling myself off the floor.  He didn’t flinch or respond when I called his name.  His eyes were fixated on the TV and wouldn’t budge.

I sat down on the love seat and wondered why he couldn’t hear me.  A woman’s voice could be heard coming down the hallway.  A short woman with shoulder length blond hair entered the room with a slightly chubby sixteen year old boy.

“Now Andrew, you’re in charge while I’m gone.  Make sure your brother doesn’t get into any trouble and no rough housing.”

“Yes mom.”  I looked at the boy and realized it was a younger version of me.

“Hey mom,” Steven said from the couch.  “Can you bring us home lunch?”

“What’s wrong with what’s in the fridge?”

“I’m sick of having soup and making sandwiches.  Can you bring us home something different?”

“Fine,” she reached into her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill and placed it on the fireplace mantle.  “Order yourselves a pizza and try to save me some.  I’ll be back in two hours.”

I watched the teenage version of Steven and I waive to our mother through the window as she approached her car.  I knew what this was.  I dreamt it every night.  I stepped through the front door to stop her from leaving.  The house was gone, and then found myself standing on the side of the road.  A handful of police, fire, and rescue trucks had it blocked off trying to put out a car fire.

“MOM,” I shouted while running towards her overturned car as it burst into flames.  Tires, bumper fragments, and glass littered the highway.  Police tried to keep everyone away who attempted to get a glimpse of the wreckage.  I ran to the car; knowing I couldn’t be stopped. 

I pulled the car door open and walked into a funeral home.  A long line of people stood along the wall; waiting to pay their respects.  There were colorful combinations of flowers lined up around the casket and two large cardboard displays filled with pictures.  The younger Steven and Andrew were standing next to the couches; accepting their guests’ condolences.  I walked past the line of people; wanting to see my mother one last time.

I looked at the pictures as I made my way to the front.  My left hand rested on the kneeler as I looked into the casket.  I jumped back immediately; trying to catch my breath.  I wanted to scream, but somehow lost my voice.  I wasn’t staring at my mother.  The body lying in the box was mine.

The Phoenix Blade is now available on Amazon.com or Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/The-Phoenix-Blade-Andrew-Hess/dp/1482052733/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367867627&sr=8-2&keywords=the+phoenix+blade
 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Anniversary of sorts.

While I was driving the other day, I listened to one of my interviews I did for the Anthony Charles Podcast.  In it he asked me when did I decide writing was my voice.  My answer was it had been six years since I decided to become a writer.  The interview was recorded back in 2011/2012 when my first book, the Chamber of Souls was released.  The interview made me realize that even in a year or two so much can change; writing styles, the way people talk, the way they dress, and the way they carry themselves in both private and public settings.  This can be easily chalked up to the events in ones life helping a person to grow, or a way of maturing. 

After six years of working my way into the writing industry, I felt like I was on top of the world.  I think everyone does when they reach a major accomplishment or goal in life.  But I quickly understood there was much more to learn.

It's been two years later, and this month makes it officially eight years since I decided to become a writer and starter the book that would change my life; The Phoenix Blade (Which I will give my readers more info on in the next post).  In the two years that have passed, I have found and connected with more writers and potential writers than I ever realized were out there.  People who have great ideas, or just stories from their past; itching to written and shown to the world.  A lot has been held back by them because they have been afraid to put themselves out there or didn't know what to write about or how to write it in the first place.  And for that I tell people to push yourselves to learn.  Put yourselves out there for people to see.  If you don't know how to do something, ask for help.  Linkedin is a great place to meet other writers and get their opinions.  Also take to reading more books about how to develop structure, characters, plots, and the specific genre you want to write about.

The thing that I have learned the most in the eight years of writing is that every moment I spent pouring my heart and soul into everything that I wrote and rewrote has been worth it.  Those moments of creating characters, venting into my poetry, working alongside with my brother, and talking to other writers and potential writers I wouldn't trade any of those moments for anything.  It is a crazy, hard working, and dedicated business to work your way into, but it has been one of the most rewarding and inspiring business to be a part of and I have only just begun. 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Pilot TV Shows

I know this may be a trivial matter, but it's something I wanted to discuss.  After watching the pilot episode of "How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life," I came to the realization that I cannot stand over advertised pilot episodes.  Maybe it's just me, but lately I've noticed a common trend.  Each time a new show advertises its pilot episode, they show the funniest or best clips from the premiere episode and nothing from any other episode they have aired.  The end result is seeing the complete episode through the commercial before it ever airs. 

Now I know that the pilot episode is meant to be the measuring stick to see if the show gained enough viewers to continue on the season, but most shows get the clearance to shoot additional episodes before it ever airs on TV.  If the show succeeds in the first few episodes, the network will tell them to film more, or that they are to come back for a full season next year.  If they fail, they are cancelled.

Now I'm not saying networks should change the way they advertise or promote new TV shows.  However, I would like to see them leave something to our imagination for the pilot episode.  Give us something that we didn't already see in the commercials for the last few weeks.  I for one will continue to watch this show because I know Brad Garrett and Sarah Chalke are incredibly funny people and believe the show will be a success.  I mean, the first time I saw the promo for their show on TV was hysterical, but seeing it for the fiftieth time dulled the humor behind it. 

The two things that I learned from watching this seasons new shows were this.  1. Networks need to learn how to not give away the entire pilot episode in the commercials leading up to the premiere.  2. We as viewers cannot render judgement on a show based on the pilot episode.  3. Sit back and enjoy the first few episodes; you never know if the show will be green lighted to move on to next season or be cancelled on the spot.