Vicious Whispers with Mark Tullius

Episode 189: Gratefulness and ”Stuffed” a Thanksgiving Horror Story

Happy Thanksgiving! Keeping this episode short and focused on gratefulness. Also a chance to share the short story "Stuffed" which is off the Morsels of Mayhem audiobook and narrated by Gabriel Michael Get Morsels of Mayhem ebook free by signing up for my newsletter at MarkTullius.com 

Episode 188: Out of Whack Back and Sleep Schedule, Plus Two Short Horror Stories

It has been a rougher week than usual with our new kitten waking me around 4 o'clock every morning. I've kept positive about it and have been getting in a good amount of work, time in the sauna, a quick dip in the cold pool, and a yoga workout in before the kids wake. I also just reinjured my back thanks to not keeping up with my chiropractic treatment. I've been having a lot of fun pouring over Duncan Ralston's Ghostland to figure out death scenes for Try Not to Die: At Ghostland. Reminder that Try Not to Die: In the Pandemic is free on kindle through 11-21 Pick it up here https://geni.us/PandemicBook Includes the short horror stories "No One's Here" and "Glory" taken from the Twisted Reunion audiobook narrated by Tee Quillin.

Episode 187: New Kitten, Old Friends, Free Books, and the Short Horror Story ”Twisted Memory”

This week was different from the norm. We added a fourth cat to our household with Leo the cuddly little kitten. The other cats aren't fond of him, but they're just haters and will surely get over it. The other big thing this week was going to visit old friends instead of staying home to write. It wasn't an easy choice to make but I'm glad my son guided me to that decision. It's easy to forget what's important in life and how the answer to that question isn't writing 100 books. I go over all the sales going on: Brightside is permanently free. Try Not to Die: In Brightside is free on Amazon Nov 11-17  Ain't No Messiah is $0.99 through Nov 21. Unlocking the Cage is $0.99 through Nov 21 Includes the short horror story "Twisted Memory" taken from Twisted Reunion and narrated by Tee Quillin.

Episode 186: Free Books, Cheap Audiobooks, Devaluing an Author’s Work and the Horror Story ”Woodshop After Math”

Why I made my psychological thriller Brightside permanently free - https://books2read.com/u/47lN07   And Try Not to Die: At Grandma's is free Nov 3-7 on Kindle - https://geni.us/GrandmasHouse   My goal is to bring in new readers through free and discounted books. There is a huge audience craving free books and they are a million times more likely to leave a review, rating, or tell a friend than if they never heard about the book because I felt I deserved full price for the book.   I've also significantly reduced my audiobooks for Brightside and 25 Perfect Days, setting them at 6.99 for libraries and retail.   (14:50) Includes the horror story "Woodshop After Math" taken from Twisted Reunion and narrated by Tee Quillin.

Episode 185: Biily Graves of Slasher Sports Cinema and His Halloween Horror Film Suggestion

This week my guest is Biily Graves of Slasher Sports Cinema podcast. He stops by to talk about what drew him into horror, what the SSC podcast is all about, and give us some lesser-known Halloween horror film suggestions. To find out more about Billy and Slasher Sports Cinema: https://linktr.ee/slashersports (40:30) The short horror story "Wrong Side Tavern" taken from Twisted Reunion and narrated by Tee Quillin.

Episode 184: Number Four No More and Dealing with a Duolingo Addiction

It's a short episode as I discuss my Duoling addiction and need to be the best. How I'm going to focus the time I would spend on the app into my book marketing and growing my career, something I always put last. I had a realization that I left out a very important group of friends when I was bragging about how many I have last week in my newsletter. I also discuss Duncan Ralston's Try Not to Die: At Ghostland and where I'm at with Dethfest. I share the short horror story "Each Dawn I Die" from Twisted Reunion. (10:00)

Episode 183: CTE and Transcranial Photobiomodulation (PBM)

My guest, RJ, was a top defensive player in the country as a linebacker at Oregon State University in the 90's. I connected with RJ in the Facebook support group CTE & Brain Injury Global Support - https://www.facebook.com/groups/164998687455984 In this interview, RJ discusses his numerous concussions, unsafe training practices, and the desire to play through any pain or medical problem. It was over two decades later that his TBI/CTE symptoms reared their head, a cascade of awful symptoms that were kicked off by a very stressful moment in his life. Fortunately, RJ was proactive and began doing anything he could that might help. He volunteered for a study at the University of Utah TBI and Concussion Center, with 49 other football players where they used photobiomodulation, a type of light therapy. This treatment turned RJ's life around and although he will never be the person he once was, he is in such a better place and making a difference helping others with their struggles. We talk about the importance of not fighting CTE or any struggle on your own and how important it is to be part of a supportive group. He also has put together the non-proft 4CTE by CTE which is in its early stages. Includes the short story "Going Dark" taken from Somber Stroll and narrated by Tee Quillin. Here is an article on the Light study - https://www.concussionalliance.org/blog/2022/1/25/light-therapy-study-at-the-university-of-utah  

Episode 182: Rage, TBI, and a Message for Pop Warner Parents

It was a very productive writing week and I'm about to put the finishing touches on Try Not to Die: In the Wild West. Also had a great meeting with Steve Montgomery about his TNTD: Super High. Sage Ricci, the mastermind behind TNTD: In the Wizard's Tower is designing a new Try Not to Die shirt. Looking forward to hitting the Knotfest concert tonight with my family. I share a very embarrassing road rage incident I had earlier this week. All the talk of TBI and CTE only makes it that much more difficult to stand by and watch countless kids sustain unnecessary damage playing contact sports before 14. The repeated blows to the head and the concussions can change the trajectory of your child's life, and all because they wanted to play a sport. Please look at the research that has been done and take your emotions out of the decision. Ask yourself is this sport safe for my kid?  Includes the short story "Mutual Understanding" taken from Somber Stroll and narrated by Tee Quillin.