Jeri Smith-Ready

Guest blogger Mark Henry on internet addiction

Or, why Meredith Vieira is pointing her Holy Water Super Soaker at me.

Introducing your next mad obsession, debut author Mark Henry. Mark's new novel, Happy Hour of the Damned, comes out on Tuesday. It's the first in the series about Amanda Feral, advertising exec-turned flesh-eating zombie.

Tez Miller in her review at Urban Fantasy Land called it "so all-encompassingly engaging that I started hating my work and myself." More soothingly, Romantic Times pronounced it, "A truly unique and wildly warped tale!"

Mark has graciously agreed to take a few minutes away from the cuticle-gnawing, pulse-tripping, inner-cheek-chewing anxiety of a debut release to guest-blog.

But that's not all! He's agreed to give away a signed copy of his book to one lucky commenter. See below for details. But read the entry first.


Blogging: Harmless Promotional Device or Devil's Playground?

When Jeri asked me to guest blog, I was skeptical. Guest blogging, Jeri? I asked. Is that really an effective use of my time? Shouldn't I be writing? Trying to make money for my family? Oh nay, Mark, she assured your naïve and humble writer friend. Guest blogging is a harmless means of reaching out to potential readers. Looking back on the conversation, I can see her now, rubbing her hands together like the succubus she is.

That's right, faithful readers. Goody Jeri is a succubus!

On Wednesday morning, over my steaming cup of Kirkland Signature coffee ground fresh in the most inconvenient coffee pot/grinder (that the devil himself designed) with cream and two Splendas, I saw with my very own eyes. The Today show did a segment on internet addiction. There was Meredith Vieira, that purveyor of all that is holy, talking to an "addictions expert" and an author/blogger who was an "addict." The "expert" reported that authors who blog were particularly susceptible to the "desires of the plastic and wire." I may be paraphrasing that last bit, but it doesn't make it any less true.

Take this blog here. I've spent days trying to figure out what to say. Days I could have spent interacting with my wife, bathing the dogs (or myself), writing a new manuscript. But no. It was not to be.

Why this very morning, Jeri used what they call "e-mail" to remind me that I'd agreed to partake in the guest bloggery. Was I frightened? Yes, dear reader. I'm not ashamed to say, I was. For it was clear. I was being led down the path to "internet addiction."

So I ask you, won't you help? Before I end up in the sights of Meredith Vieira's judgment?

Or at the very least, prove me wrong by buying my book (Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry, in bookstores everywhere February 26th, 2008). That's Tuesday, people. Is it too much to ask?

Or has this succubus entranced you, too?

MARK HENRY was a psychotherapist before he did a 180 to torture minds with his fiction. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, three furry monsters that think they're children, and a waterboard, in case Goody Jeri comes a-calling. His debut novel, Happy Hour of the Damned, is a zombie comedy in urban fantasy clothing. Visit him at his website at http://markhenry.us.

Ask Mark a question or lament/deny your own internet addiction in the comments, before 5 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 28. (That's 3:30 for you Newfoundlanders--don't make me remind you again.) I'll draw a name and announce it Friday morning.

If you don't have a Blogger account, don't worry! Just sign in as anonymous and leave your name at the bottom of your comment so I can identify you.

Labels: Contests, guests, reading

• posted by Jeri @ 2:05 PM
• 59 comments