Jon Armstrong: Author of Grey and Yarn. Podcaster. iPhone Developer. Designer.

My Novel, Grey

jon — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:43:29 +0000

Synopsis

In a world pushed beyond the moral simplicity of black and white, all that survives is Grey.

High fashion, corporate malfeasance, celebrity culture, and an obsessed media collide with exuberant violence and volatile intensity in Grey, the explosive debut novel by newcomer Jon Armstrong.

For Michael Rivers, life is perfect. Michael has everything; tall, handsome, and famous, he is worshiped by billions of fans around the globe. He is wealthy beyond measure, the heir apparent to RiverGroup, one of the handful of high-tech corporations that controls the world. He is fashionable, setting trends with his wardrobe of immaculate designer suits, each a unique and celebrated work of art. And Michael is in love, perfect love, sharing a private language based entirely on quotes from the latest fashion magazine advertisements, with Nora, his beautiful, witty, and equally perfect fiancée, the only woman with whom he can see surgically-altered monochromatic eye to eye.

When an assassin’s bullets pierce Michael’s body before the unblinking eyes of cameras, reporters, and viewers at a press junket, everything changes, forcing Michael to question everything about his previously perfect world. Illusions shattered and forcibly separated from Nora, Michael seeks to uncover the reasons behind the attempted assassination, embarking on a quest that leads him to question his relationships with his loud, pro-fane, and narcissistically Ültra father; his estranged mother; and the perilous, contaminated, neo-feudalistic world that lies beyond the safe and protected bubble of corporate family life.

Michael must delve deep into his past, finding that all paths he uncovers seem to lead to the now-closed PartyHaus, and to a time when he was the golden boy, dancing furiously to the beat of notorious all-night Rage parties thrown by his father.

“Armstrong’s vision of the future isn’t far removed from our obsession with “American Idol,” “America’s Next Top Model” and the romantic and rehabilitative antics of Britney, Lindsay and Paris. There are touches of early Kurt Vonnegut and Anthony Burgess in this novel, but “Grey” follows its own well-conceived satirical strategy.” San Francisco Chronicle

“Equal parts ill-fated love story á la Romeo and Juliet, poignant coming-of-age tale, and disturbingly provocative glimpse into humanity’s future, Armstrong’s debut is simply unforgettable — nothing short of a science fiction masterwork. A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century.” Barnes and Noble Spotlight Feature

“A Romeo-and-Juliet tale of star-crossed lovers and their conflicted families plays out against a futuristic backdrop shaped by outrageous fashion trends…” Publishers Weekly

“A dazzling trip through a world alternately glamorous and grimy, set in a crumbling but media-saturated future, with eyeball-kicks galore.” Locus Magazine

“This book is funny, gross, witty, crass, weird, beautiful, bizarre, and bloody: ergo–cool!” Yet Another Book Review Site

“I couldn’t put the book down. This book will hook you early and drag you straight through to the end. Definitely a fun read.” Douglas Lain, author of Last Week’s Apocalypse

“A Clockwork Orange meets American Psycho meets Tank Girl.” Book Stud

“…like a postcyberpunk Bret Easton Ellis.” Chris Nakashim-Brown

“Celebrity worship, reality television, high fashion and corporate sociopathy all take a hit. I love a good tear-down of pop culture.” BlurredEdge

“If you enjoy or, better yet, prefer a more literary than commercial read and you can appreciate a satirical stab at not only the fashionable elite of entertainment but a subtle yet obvious social comment on the general public and its destructive nature, then give Grey a read; it will not disappoint you.” Book Opinions

“This is both an instant classic of post-genre literature, & an outrageous parody of it. It’s Shakespeare on acid with tones of Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, spiced with tones of Gibson, Sterling, Neal Stephenson, and a crazed graphic artist who creates all the artwork with words alone, & quite an original work.”
Amazon Reviewer

Get Grey at: Amazon, B&N, or Powells.

Listen to Grey as a Free Podcast

jon — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:34:44 +0000

***** 5 Stars I love everything about this. The characters have depth, the story is compelling and the reading (by the author) is probably the best performance I’ve heard from a podio book (audio book).

I read and recorded my novel, Grey, published by NightShade Books in 2007 as a podcast and gave it away on iTunes and Podiobooks.com. It was popular and actually sold some real books. Many people emailed to say the liked it so much, they bought the book.

***** 5 Stars Finally!! A podiobook (an audio book) that is not only well written but READ well! Armstrong creates a bizarre yet believable world through which he takes you on a wild ride. His story is compelling and his voice is perfect to relay it.

You can subscribe on iTunes, but please note that for some reason the chapters are in reverse order. Trust me, don’t spoil it and start at the beginning!

It’s funny, quick and filled with tons of cyber/fashion punk cheekiness.

The first two paragraphs:

***** 5 Stars The more i learn about the characters and setting of this novel, the more unsettling they become, because they are so familiar.

The first chapter of Grey. This was from my reading at New York’s KGB Bar as part of the Fantastic Fiction Series:

My Interview Podcast

jon — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:38:35 +0000

I had bought a great microphone (a Samson usb c03u) to record the podcast of my novel. Once that was done, I wondered what else I could do with the mic. I embarked on an interview podcast. While I was promoting Grey, my publisher (NightShade Books) sent me on a 20 city radio tour and I got to see interviews from the other side. Some of the shows and the hosts were terrific. Some weren’t. And frankly, sometimes, I was a good guest and sometimes I wasn’t.

So, I started my own. I’d heard the phrase if you’re just joining us often and used it as my title. I called several friends and was on my way.

However recording both sides of a long-distance conversation proved the biggest hurdle. In the beginning I struggled with a RadioShack phone mic, Skype, Gizmo and all sorts of editing, praying, and profanity.

Over time I’ve learned some tricks to getting good sound. Gradually, I added more music to give it more of a This American Life feel, but for 2010, I think I might be heading in a new direction.

Again, the show is called If You’re Just Joining Us. Click to subscribe in iTunes. And please, write some reviews people!

Want a few recommended shows to check out first? Try:
TV Writer and Producer Rob Long Talks about Hollywood, Cheers, Humor, and Writing on a Container Ship

Author Jeff VanderMeer talks fantasy, noir, writing, book covers, and a wild boar charge.

Menswear designer Jhane Barnes talks Star Trek, Secret Japanese Technology, and Fashion

Interview with Nutritional Anthropolgist, Deborah Duchon, from Food Network’s Good Eats

Follow Me on Twitter and FaceBook

jon — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:42:47 +0000

Follow me on Twitter. Friend me on Facebook.

iPhone Puzzle Game: Mondrian

jon — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:39:40 +0000

My brother and I formed a company to make iPhone games. We named it FuzziTail. Our first is a puzzle game called Mondrian. (There’s a facebook page if you need hints!)

What is it?

We’ve got a lot of great press, but there are critics too. Noted critic Vanderfield Clausen hates the new Mondrian themed iPhone puzzle game.

Here’s a review from iTunes:

5 ****** A masterpiece

Challenging and unique puzzles is what the iDevices are all about and Mondrian does not dissapoint. First, it has an exquisite presentation based on the artist’s style. Mondrian himself guides you through the toughest puzzles, even helping you out when stuck. The levels themselves are quite hard, but the joy you derive when solving one, is of the highest caliber. As others have stated, you will probably have a hard time solving them all, but it’s completly worth it. Give it a try and get ready to embark in one of the most challenging journeys on the iDevice.

Web and Print Design

jon — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:34:09 +0000

I'm a web and print designer. Sites I've designed include SFWA.org, MangoTangoLLC.com and MarinaBudhos.com.