299 Days: A realistic view of what could and probably will come

[Patriot:Ex Machina]

As many of you probably know by now thanks to the announcment HERE: http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=35534.270,
our very own Heavy G (Glen Tate) has penned a series of novels chronicling a possible future collapse of our system, the fall out from such an event and the effects of it on the lives of the people of the once-United States.
I was honored to be one of the first to actually read the novels, in it's draft form, and even with the rough edges it has drawn me in with it's compelling and gritty story, it's believable characters, and it's overall message of self sufficiency.
"299 Days" isn't your typical " civil unrest/collapse of society" fiction, no nuclear explosions, no EMPs, no zombies, not even a teensy little asteroid to be found in the entire series. No, Glen gives us a far more realistic and terrifying threat: Ourselves.
There is nothing more deadly to the human race, than humanity. It's a sober real look at what happens when a government and a society has stretched itself too thin and allowed it's arrogance and decadence to overshadow it's principles and it's morals.  As the Collapse takes place in the story, Man practices his fine art of self destruction, as his hand made god, the State, struggles to keep a firm grip on the people; by coercion,by brute force, by any means that it has. 
The characters are believable, as they should be. The protagonists are the kind of people you want to be friends and allies with, while the villains, and I do mean villains, will make you want to bash a skull in with rage. That's what I want a novel to do, make me believe in characters to the point that I am lost in the story.
 And 299 Days does just that.
I will not give any spoilers away, and I don't want to delve into the story too much, until the book is widely available. Then we will have to have a discussion thread and as they used to say on Saturday Night Live, "talk amongst ourselves".
But by all means, read "299 Days". In my humble opinion, it's about as real as a SHTF novel gets.

Official website:
http://299days.com/

Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/299-Days-the-book/230715697015924

[Nadir_E]

Looking forward to it - and intrigued by the lack of one of the typical prepper-porn "trigger" events.

Rooting for a big hit for Heavy G.

[Heavy G]

Thanks, Patriot. 

This seems like a good thread for me to answer any questions people have about the book series.  So let 'em fly.

[Shaunypoo]

 

[cheryl1]

Just checked out the website and really looking forward to the books!

[slingblade]

Any plans for an audio book?  Maybe see if Jack would be interested in doing the reading?

[Heavy G]

Any plans for an audio book?  Maybe see if Jack would be interested in doing the reading?

That's a good thought.  I'm going to guess Jack is super busy but I'd love for him to do it.

[Heavy G]

Just got done being interviewed by Jack Spirko.  It was amazing.  You guys will love this episode.  It should be out in a day or two.

"Glen Tate"

[hillclimber]

Looking forward to both the books and the interview.

[cheryl1]

I am wondering if these books will have an author page with a picture of Heavy G. And if he'll have a black box over his face.

[Nadir_E]

I am wondering if these books will have an author page with a picture of Heavy G. And if he'll have a black box over his face.

...and an embarrassing cameo by an inflatable goat somewhere in the background??

[Heavy G]

I am wondering if these books will have an author page with a picture of Heavy G. And if he'll have a black box over his face.

How about a white box:

[PistolWhipped]

So, Mr. "Tate", when can we order those signed copies? 

And is there an approximate release schedule?  I don't want to start a series only to have it end up like Game Of Thrones, one book a decade.

[Heavy G]

So, Mr. "Tate", when can we order those signed copies? 

We will have a formal system set up soon (the demand is more than we thought) for ordering signed copies.

In the mean time, send an email to me at glentate123@gmail.com and I'll put them in a folder.  Then, around September 1 when Book One and Book Two are available, I'll email you and everyone else in the folder the way to get them signed.

But we will have a way to get signed copies.  Count on it.

And is there an approximate release schedule?  I don't want to start a series only to have it end up like Game Of Thrones, one book a decade.

Two-book releases every three months or so.  So:

1-2   September 2012
3-4   late November 2012
5-6   February 2013
7-8   May 2013
9-10 August 2013

This is an approximation.

Thanks for asking, man.

[PistolWhipped]

Great.  The book releases run almost a year past the end of the world in December.  Great planning man.

[TexasGirl]

HG...

You left out the movie.  When will the movie be released??

*Hint:  Avoid the company that is doing Red Dawn II.

~TG

[Heavy G]

HG...

You left out the movie.  When will the movie be released??

*Hint:  Avoid the company that is doing Red Dawn II.

~TG

I retained the movie rights. 

I'll be honest: I can't imagine Hollywood libs green lighting a movie that has Patriots versus Loyalists.  If they want to talk me, I'm all ears.  But I just can't imagine it happening. 

Maybe an independent film maker or a TV producer would be interested.  It'd be a heck of a good story, especially with so many people in America realizing that something bad might be coming. 

[TexasGirl]

I retained the movie rights. 

I'll be honest: I can't imagine Hollywood libs green lighting a movie that has Patriots versus Loyalists.  If they want to talk me, I'm all ears.  But I just can't imagine it happening. 

Maybe an independent film maker or a TV producer would be interested.  It'd be a heck of a good story, especially with so many people in America realizing that something bad might be coming.

If you're serious...

Dubai Film Productions - Dubai Film Production

"Dubai Film Productions is a multi-national production company with offices in Dubai, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Our goal is to create award ..."

www.dubaifilmproductions.com/contact.html


Or check with "Recconoiter" on this forum, he would have the inside track on "friendly" local firms. 

~TG

[WVMan73]

Me too! 

[Mr. Bill]

I'll be honest: I can't imagine Hollywood libs green lighting a movie that has Patriots versus Loyalists.  If they want to talk me, I'm all ears.  But I just can't imagine it happening.

Joss Whedon.  I mean, obviously.

Nathan Fillion can play your role.

[Hootie]

Any plans for an audio book?  Maybe see if Jack would be interested in doing the reading?

I would love an audio book. I spend too many hours in the car, and am always looking for a good audio book help make my 1.5hr commute a little better.

[Docwatmo]

You know, we could always get a group of TSP'ers and some camcorders and just go to town, just sayin.   

I could play myself, the roguishly handsome, one legged, crossdressing, transvestite goat herder from book 9.   

[Heavy G]

Got our first blog review, of sorts.  Since the book isn't out yet, it's not a review as much as it is an "I can't wait to read this book" statement.

CPT Caveman is a brilliant Army officer and friend of liberty.  I know what he does in the Army but I'm not sure I'm supposed to say.

Anyway, CPT Caveman wrote this about 299 Days: http://cptcaveman.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/299-days/

[WVMan73]

You know, we could always get a group of TSP'ers and some camcorders and just go to town, just sayin.   

I could play myself, the roguishly handsome, one legged, crossdressing, transvestite goat herder from book 9.   

Now there's a mental image I definitely did not need...     

Actually that camcorder idea isn't a bad one, Doc. After all, after the SHTF big hollywood film crews wouldn't be there to film it. Do the film in a way that makes it look as if the survivors were documenting the collapse so future generations could know the truth about what happened.

[TexasGirl]

You know, we could always get a group of TSP'ers and some camcorders and just go to town, just sayin.   

I could play myself, the roguishly handsome, one legged, crossdressing, transvestite goat herder from book 9.   

Somehow I think the "transvestite goat" advocacy groups would be all over it.  Once they caught wind of the non-union inflatable goat group affiliation, wouldn't the whole project risk being shut down?

~TG 

[Docwatmo]

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking.  There have been many "Camcorder" type movies the last couple of years, and some have been pretty successful.

I have access to 2 HD Camcorders and all the editing software and computing horsepower needed to produce the video.

"No goats were hurt or molested in the filming of this movie"  Should CYA us.  :-)

[Saint]

G,
just read your introduction; if you've taken the time to be as complete in your novels (wrt character arcs, scenario building, foreshadowing and unintended consequences) as you have here, you've got a winner on your hands.
I'll be sharing the intro with the wife tonight, I do believe its a "soft-sell" intro to realistic, pragmatic prepping.
Much appreciated and good luck! Looking forward to the release.
v/r
Saint

[Heavy G]

I'll be sharing the intro with the wife tonight, I do believe its a "soft-sell" intro to realistic, pragmatic prepping.

That's exactly why I wrote the book: to win over people, especially reluctant spouses.  I do this by (1) not having kooky stuff (conspiracies or racism) in the book, (2) portraying real people (like my wife) who struggle with normalacy bias but not insulting them for "not getting with the program" fast enough, (3) allowing characters to slowly develop and come to various conclusions based on events they are confronting, and (4) showing a REALISTIC collapse scenario.

You have honored me, Saint, by allowing my thoughts to be the thing you use to broach this topic with your wife.  I know how important this is, so I'm honored I'm a part of it.  Thanks, man.

[TexasGirl]

I'm looking forward to it as well, because I have felt the odds are in favor of a collapse looking more like a playground slide than a cliff.  Most prepper porn involves the cliff-crash scenario, where government all but evaporates.  I think it will hang around, becoming more handicapped and corrupt as time goes on.

Will be fun to see how your series plays out!

~TG

[Nadir_E]

...Most prepper porn involves the cliff-crash scenario, where government all but evaporates.  I think it will hang around, becoming more handicapped and corrupt as time goes on.

Agree wrt most prepper-porn having too quick a transition to chaos. As for government, I couldn't agree more - it will NOT go quietly into the night, and some people, like abused spouses will rally to its defense, even at their own peril.

Will be fun to see how your series plays out!

Ditto!

-N