Scapemaker is on 1000+ "to-read" shelves on Goodreads!

I made it!

I've been pushing as hard as I could to reach a minimum of 1000 readers to place me on their Goodreads "to-read" shelves. It finally happened today February 26, 2013. I just looked a few minutes ago. Like any other author, I would like as many people to know about my book as possible. So, 1000 won't be enough, but it is a milestone. I'm excited since it's only been 3 months since its release on November 19, 2012 - my 40th birthday.

Scapemaker has gone through a few great changes. I changed Daedree's relationship with Matthew to reflect something a little more realistic and up my ally as a writier. I also had the book professionally proof read.

Scapemaker is a work of Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy. It's a dream-world fantasy and has a host of creatures and characters. The story is now almost 122000 words ling. At 10 point font, there are 481 pages in the paperback version, being sold on Amazon through Createspace.

This story is a rollercoaster of a ride with an ending that will silence the reader.

Give it a try. The Scapemaker ebook is for sale of $6.18 on Amazon

I am also a photographer

 

 

 

 

Here are 12 images I have taken over the last few years. Interested in an image, let me know. Other than that, have fun viewing. I love photography!

 

 

In the Cottonwood Canyons in Utah

 Yellowstone National Park - Mother Grizzley watching her cubs. I will post the cub images later.

 Yellowstone National Park - Large Bison Bull

 Yellowstone National Park - Coyote scavenging for food

 Bountiful Utah

 On Antilope Island in Utah on the Great Salt Lake

 Pigeon Point Bluff on the Pacific Coast Highway in California

 Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, during Speed Week - 55 Chev

 Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, during Speed Week 

 On the cosway to Stansbury Island in Utah on the Great SaltLake

 On the Alpine Loop in Utah - Leaf placed on stone by me

  Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, during Speed Week

Fun 5 Star Review of Scapemaker

Check out the newest review of Scapemaker. I especially like the comment including Yoda and Neo. Please let me know what you think about this review. I know that not every book is for every person, including mine. However, this review makes mee feel like everyone will like Scapemaker. :-) I really like this review!

Dream it and Do it January 12, 2013

By Stellalunna

I loved this book.

Dreamscapers - people who are able to enter the dream world and protect the non-scapers from night terrors. But watch out because you will encounter ghosts, zombies, skin walkers, magic chutes, soul feeders & a few more characters.

But don't be fouled because all of these characters are not like what you have read before. They all have their different spin.

The story opens and the plot unfolds quickly. The heart racing adventure keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

I would liken this book to "Yoda" meeting "Neo" and going on a hike with the "Goonies." If you believe you can do it, you can!

The only thing that really bothered me about the book was in the beginning. I thought the author didn't know the difference between the words was & were. It was extremely annoying, however as the story gets going this comes up again and the author reveals his humor by making fun of his own character.

The writing is simple and not weighed down. It would have been nice to see a little more description but this is not meant to be a negative since the book stands up to scrutiny.

The story doesn't end nice and clean, there are some questions that have not been answered, but you will not mind. This reader will look forward to the 2nd book Soul Feeders.

I hardly ever rate a YA book a 5 but his one deserves it.

First Review for Scapemaker!

Here is the first review for Scapemaker:

Link to Review: http://one-chapter-ahead.blogspot.ca/

Review:

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Steve Cypert
Format: eBook (series)
Pages: 589 (according to the ereader used)
Rating: 7.5

Summary (via Smashwords): Scapemaker follows Matthew Namely, who is propelled into a whole new world following a few tragic events. After meeting a strange and beautiful girl, he learns the art of dreamscaping. Matthew will come to know of Sandman, who is after a special element called Magineum. Neck deep in skinwalkers, sandsleepers, zombies, night terrors, and more, Matthew must risk his life to save the magineum.

My Thoughts: When I first started this novel I was a little bit worried because the characters seemed off to me. This was partly because of what will from now on be known as writer warm up (the characters spoke funny but don't worry it stops). I was happy to find out that the real reason for this awkwardness was that they were hiding something. The author did an outstanding job of making sure that the reader understood the place the story took place in as well as all the strange...let's call it magic. I loved how original this was. It was different than anything I'd read; however, I felt like it was one of those things that could be real. It made me wonder if it couldn't. Harry Potter did the same thing for me. Why couldn't something like this be true? That thought, though incredible, is also terrifying after seeing the bad that can come from people who only want power.

This story was one of the best I'd read in a long time for explaining characters and their motivations. I'll even overlook the cheese 'I kinda like like you' moment that two of them had. Also, I thought it was great for two of the main characters to bicker. Dae was right though, Matthew was a bit conceded. I'm so glad he got over that in the end.

This novel ends with a lead into the next book in the series though so be prepared to be pulled into it before it starts and left with a lot of questions. I might need to get my hands on the next one to find out how it ends. I want a happy ending, really is it too much to ask?

Final Thoughts: Very few authors could pull off writing a whole new world where almost everything needs to be explained, this one can. This book has everything from ghosts to mermaids (sorta), zombies to love, action, mind reading, flying, and magic. If you like fantasy novels than this would be a good one for you. It has everything and more.

P.S.Nightmares after this book are the worst. I'm not saying it gives you them. It's just that I can't help but wonder if maybe the book is true after all.

Zombie Insurance, Anyone?

Hey, we all know that the end of the world is just around the corner. The Apocalypes is nearing and on the 21st of December, it's time to kiss life as we know it good by. But what about those who actually survive? Who knows? Maybe some dinosaurs would have had a better post apocalyptic life of their own, had they had zombie insurance! Check out http://zombiesurance.com and see if its worth it to you to aquire some zombie insurace or buy some for a friend or loved one or for a good elephant gift.

I got my zombie insurance card. Gert yours before it's too late! :-(

Children's e-book five-star review: BIGGLE and BEE

Biggle and Bee, my 35 page children's e-book got its first review. The review is on Smashwords.com and can be accessed by clicking on the title of the e-book just below. Please enjoy this short but to the point review. The book can be downloaded for free if you use the couplon code: DA94V

Review by Margaret (Literary Chanteuse) - click onto this link to view more review by Margaret.

Biggle and Bee on Nov. 10, 2012

An extremely adventurous story about a groundhog and a gosling that will have you glued to each page. Just when you think the adventure is coming to an end the courageous duo find themselves in yet another dangerous predicament and manage to come through with learning a few lessons along the way. My daughter age 7 who I refer to often as the kinder critic read this story to me and gives it a 5 star rating. A few challenging words for those advanced readers and a little longer than I had originally expected I give it 4 stars. Either way definitely a great story with a good moral lesson.

Check out my new book: "Biggle and Bee"

I wrote Biggle and Bee within the last month and a half, while my new novel was being edited. However, this time I wrote a cute 35 page children's book. I actually had this idea for about 2 years after watching some wildlife show on the Discovery channel or something. It was about how these foxes or coyotes in a certain part of the world search for goose eggs on some prairie where these geese nest. The fox/coyote has several cashes in the ground where they stash the eggs for safe keeping for the winter. I just thought, what if the fox died or was unable to get back to that egg... what happens to the egg? I also thought, what if a golfer or groundhog or something came across the egg? It was then that the idea for this new story was born. I had a window of an opportunity so I took it and wrote the story. I hope, if you actually have kids or like cute children's stories with moral value, that you enjoy the story. Because... it's from the heart.

Here's what the cover looks like:

Pet Photo Contest 2012 - San Diego

Pet Photo Contest 2012 - San Diego: Pet Photo Contest 2012 - San Diego

My Dog, DUKE, is #119. He's such a little fur ball. Please vote for him. :-)

Final Teaser from "Scapemaker" (No spoilers)

Here is the the final teaser from my soon-to-be released young adult novel. Scapemaker is a work of fantasy where dreamscapers, or people who live second lives inside the dream world, face off against night terrors, or dream world criminals. In the dream world anything is possible for both good and evil. The story takes place at two high schools in California and Utah, where dreamscapers cross over into the dream world to attend Scapemaker, a dream world high school specializing in the training of young dreamscapers. But the dark side of the dream world is controlled by a ravenous sandsleeper, Nox, otherwise known as the Sandman. Nox has been in Sandstorm, a dream world prison for night terrors. But he is after a special element that will give him the strength he needs to break out and take over the minds of the world. Matthew, a new dreamscaper and student at Scapemaker, is forced to protect the valuable element and stop the thwarted plan. With a cliffhanging and twisted ending, Scapemaker will keep you biting your nails clean off.


Teaser from chapter 18:

Using the flashlight application on his cell phone, Matthew shined the light into the dark of the stairwell. Matthew then began his fateful descent.

A few steps into the basement Matthew was ankle deep in mud. The basement was rank with the smell of mildew and urine. With mold covering the walls and an inhumane musky odor, Matthew grew sick to his stomach. Placing the phone in his mouth, he tore the sleeves from his shirt and fashioned a makeshift mask that he wore around his mouth and nose.

Each stride forward seemed an unnecessary task as the ankle-deep mud sucked back with nearly an equal force to the pull of his every step. Bearing through the smell and ill mood, Matthew braved a further look.

Wondering to the far end of the disease-ridden room, Matthew could see that the outer wall had been knocked through and the earth behind it dug out. Where the end of the basement should have been, there was now a tunnel leading to the basement of the next abandoned house. Determined in his cause, Matthew didn’t hesitate to continue on. Making his way through the tunnel he could see that the walls and ceiling were barely held up by rotten timbers and twisted old metal bars; some of which were rusted through with holes almost the width of the bar itself. Several areas of wall had crumbled in, creating needless obstacles of earth and rock. Cans of beer and other trash were carelessly strewn about adding to the challenge.

The eerie sound of dripping water echoed off the walls and grew louder as Matthew neared the opening to the basement next door. A strange scratching amplified gradually behind him as he continued forward. The sound seemed to multiply with his escalating fear. Matthew wanted to run but his anxious curiosity forced a quick glance. Taking a deep breath, he spun around half-expecting to see a figure or face with the glow of his light. However, nothing but empty space and dirt walls filled his view. When the sound persisted, Matthew turned the light to the ground only to discover several large rats rummaging through a moldy nest of rotten old waste. The rats were too involved to care about Matthew’s presence.

When Matthew emerged from the tunnel he could feel a light breeze. The sound of dripping water resonated through the air. The staircase at the other end of the room was glowing with a dull burn from the diffused light shining in through the dirt-stained windows above. The poor lighting in the basement was still too dim to see anything. Matthew turned his cell phone light toward the dark. As he proceeded forward following the movement of breeze across the walls, he was surprised to find two separate tunnels; one in the wall to his right and one in the wall to the left. As he walked by he could see that each tunnel was held up by the same sloppy system of braces as the one he just exited. At the head of each tunnel was a burnt out torch held up at shoulder level by a mess of nails and wire driven into a wooden brace.

Still on edge, Matthew stood silent at the threshold of the tunnel to his right; the origin of the dripping water. The echoing ripple of each drip and drop rhythmically moved across several muddy pools. The light from his cell phone wasn’t bright enough to see too far. Something was there in the darkness watching him. Suddenly his cell phone died and everything grew even darker. The sound of the dripping water was constant as Matthew just stood there silently, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Slowly, the glow coming off the stairs created vague silhouettes and shadows. Soon Matthew was able to discern the outline of a torch, though he needed a flame.

"If there's a torch there has to be something to light it with," thought Matthew as he got down on his hands and knees to better see the ground.

Coming across a small coffee cup, he found a cheap two dollar lighter inside and was able to light the torch.

A few yards in to the tunnel, Matthew began to feel claustrophobic. The further he ventured the more difficult it was for his lungs to process the flow of oxygen. Feeling more and more uncomfortable with his choice to enter this tunnel Matthew backed away. He didn’t feel this particular tunnel was the route that would lead him to Hunter and his precious stone. Besides, this route was too eerie and Matthew didn’t want this to be the correct route. He quickly turned around and proceeded to the other tunnel.

With the torch now at full glow, Matthew noticed a dozen shovels scattered about the entrance to the second tunnel. When Matthew approached the entrance, he was again wary. Broken pipe, torn wiring and other such material hung loosely from the ceiling. Half way down the tunnel Matthew came across a patch of mud created by a fractured water pipe along the upper wall. The dirt had been trudged through so many times that a small bog had been created. Matthew waded through the muddy mess sinking to mid-calf at the lowest point. He felt something under his foot and stepped away. It was then that he noticed what appeared to be a man’s muddy face protruding through the surface of the mire. Suddenly, a pair eyes popped open. Matthew instinctively tried to jump away. But due to the overwhelming suction on his feet, he fell onto his back.

The man cried out as though in excruciating pain reaching out toward Matthew. “Help me! Make it Stop! Please, make it stop!” While he continued to plead, the man slowly rose to his knees allowing the thickest portions of mud slip off his body leaving mostly stain. A suit and tie began to show from behind the thinning mud. “Make it stop!” he begged. "Make it stop!"

Where are you from?

I have been watching the page views on my blog increase. It's exciting to see people from all over the world viewing my blog. What I would like to know is exactly where you are from. No, not an address, but the city you live in. describe it for me. I am originally from Los Angeles, CA. The city I am from is actually called Pico Rivera - a suburb of Los Angeles. Pico Rivera borders the city of Whittier. Whittier is where President Nixon is from. Richard Nixon went to Whittier High School, my high school rival. I went to El Rancho High School, home of the Don's (a horrible mascot. It was so horrible, we didn't even have a mascot to portray it). I actually modled a high school after El Rancho in my soon to be released book, Scapemaker. The school in the book is called "Privera High" (Named for Pico Rivera, where El Rancho is located). I graduated from high school at age 17 - a VERY long time ago (I started Kindergarden at age 4). Pico Rivera is somewhere between Hunington Beach and Pasadena, CA.

Tell me about you and where you live!