Announcing A Major New Fiction Project: Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights

[Matthew Wayne Selznick]

Hello everyone!

I'm writing tonight absolutely over-the-top with excitement about my
latest fiction project. This is my biggest news since the July 2008
release of "Brave Men Run -- A Novel of the Sovereign Era" from Swarm
Press!

Introducing "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights," an ongoing episodic serial
fiction webzine, written by yours truly!

http://www.hazydaysandcloudynights.com

“Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights” is the story of a group of friends,
lovers, rivals and rockers living in Southern California. We begin in
1984, when most of the characters are in their late teens, and we’ll
follow them into adulthood and to the edge of the 20th century.

Are you a fan of "Brave Men Run?" You'll be pleased to know that
"Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights" is also set in my alternate history
creation, the Sovereign Era, when thousands of people with remarkable
powers and abilities surfaced in 1985 and affected the course of human
destiny. Our concern in "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights" will be with
the everyday people… but you can expect some crossover of characters
and events with my more fantastic Sovereign Era novels and short
stories.

In fact, the principle characters of "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights"
include supporting characters from "Brave Men Run," including Lina
Porter and Carson Meunetti. Since we're following Lina from before
her meeting Nate Charters from "Brave Men Run," down the line "Hazy
Days and Cloudy Nights" will show us the events of that book from
Lina's and Carson's points of view!

That's a way off, though. The first story arc, "How It All Got
Started," begins in the summer of 1984 and sets the stage for the next
two decades of the characters' lives. I intend to chronicle as much
of that history as possible!

New installments in the ongoing story post twenty five times a year --
about every two weeks. Each installment is at least 2,000 words,
sometimes more.

"Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights" is a membership-based, subscription-
driven website. Membership gives you access to every installment of
the serials as they are posted, plus discounts on future e-book and
print collections of each story arc, participation in the "Hazy Days
and Cloudy Nights" community, special supplemental content, and other
goodies!

Membership is as little as $0.60 per installment if you subscribe at
the yearly rate of $14.99. Monthly ($1.99) and six-month ($9.99)
subscriptions are also available, as is a one-day / one-time free
trial if you want to sample the site first. Intrigued? Sign up right
here:
http://www.hazydaysandcloudynights.com/wp-login.php?action=register

Now, I know that some folks might think the Code of the Internet
requires any fiction on a website to be free. :-) Those of you who
have known me for a while also know that I believe creativity deserves
to be compensated. "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights" represents a gamble,
to be sure... but I'm willing to bet people will lay down the price of
a cheap DVD once a year in exchange for entertaining, engaging,
character-strong fiction.

In fact, my belief in this project and my faith in my audience (that's
you, dear reader) is so strong, I intend to reach 1,000 paying
subscribers in the first six months of "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights."
When that goal is reached, writing "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights" will
become, for all intents and purposes, my day job. At that point, my
creative endeavors will be my primary means of support.

To get there, I'm going to do everything I can to get the word out
about "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights." You can help! If you have a
blog, please consider having me do a guest post or blog interview. Do
you produce a podcast? I'd be honored if you'd have me as an
interview guest. Are you involved in print, radio or television? I'm
available to talk about "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights," serial fiction,
online creative content, the DIY ethic and any related topic.
Finally, even if you're not directly involved in online or traditional
media, you can do the most important thing of all: TELL EVERYONE YOU
KNOW about "Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights." Word of mouth is
*everything.* No act of support is too small, believe me.

One more thing: as you may know, I've been without regular permanent
employment since I was laid off from my position with a down-sizing
Internet start-up back in October of 2008. Because I understand the
stress and anxiety that comes from not having a steady, dependable
source of income, I've decided to do something to help relieve that
stress in others.

If you've been laid off as a result of the global economic downturn,
allow me to offer you three months of access to "Hazy Days and Cloudy
Nights," on me. All you have to do is provide me with some proof of
your circumstances -- details are here:
http://www.hazydaysandcloudynights.com/site-news/out-of-work-enjoy-hazy-days-and-cloudy-nights-for-free/

It's a small thing to do, but it's something I *can* do... so I'm
doing that.

So... there's the big news, my friends! Please check out "Hazy Days
and Cloudy Nights." The first story arc, "How It All Got Started,"
has begun, and the first installment, "First Monday of Summer, First
Monday of Forever," has posted. New installments post every two weeks
or so, twenty five times a year. Stop by! Sign up for a one day
trial... see if you'd like to stick around. I hope you will -- it's
going to be a lot of fun!

http://www.hazydaysandcloudynights.com

Keep on keepin' on!

Matthew Wayne Selznick
Author and DIY New Media Creator
****************************************
"Hazy Days and Cloudy Nights"
An Ongoing Serial Fiction Webzine
http://www.hazydaysandcloudynights.com

"Brave Men Run -- A Novel of the Sovereign Era,"
plus commentary, short stories, music and more:
http://www.mattselznick.com