Available in many ebook formats

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Free ebook download - Action Adventure story - QUALA - The Plush Planetary Takeover


Ebook Description

Armed only with squirt guns and water balloons, A 10 year old, orphan girl, and her Artificially Intelligent toy Koala, take on thousands of rogue Ai toys, deceitful humans, and gods to save the universe.


Free to download in these various formats:

Online Reading (HTML)View
Online Reading (JavaScript)View
Kindle (.mobi)Download
Epub (open industry format, good for Stanza reader, others)Download
PDF (good for highly formatted books, or for home printing)Download
RTF (readable on most word processors)Download
LRF (for Sony Reader)Download
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices)Download
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting)Download
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page)

Visit QUALA's Official Website
For graphics, posters and wallpapers!

QUALA - Escape from Headhunter Island - Book 02 - Coming Soon!

Official Book Cover to QUALA - The Plush Planetary Takeover

Monday, October 25, 2010

Quala Book One - Culture Notes and Coordinates (Follow with Google Earth)

Book 01 -  QUALA - The Plush Planetary Takeover

Kimi lands in a place called Rocinha Favela, in Rio De Janeiro Brasil - a place briefly featured in the movie "The Incredible Hulk", http://www.hulkmovie.com/, opening scene, and also seen in the movie "City of God" http://www.miramax.com/cityofgod/


View QUALA MAPS in a larger map


While reading Book 01, you can follow along using this link from Kimi's orphanage on the top of the Rocinha mountainside, and down through the Lagoa Barra Highway.


CULTURAL LESSON


Also in this book, Kimi's orphanage is ran by Mae Do Mar - a condomble priestess -

Candomble

Candomble is an African-Brazilian religion has around two million followers. It is a syncretic religion, meaning that it is a combination of various beliefs. At the core of the religion are the traditional African beliefs of Yoruba, Fon and Bantu. Candomble also has elements of Christianity, particularly of Catholicism. Candomble means “dance in honor of the gods.” Accordingly, dance and music play important roles in the religion. At the center of Candomble is God or Oludumare. Deities called orixas serve Oludumare. Candomble does not have any holy scriptures.

Candomble History

The roots of Candomble go back to the slave trade. Enslaved Africans were shipped to Brazil. These Africans tried to follow their religious beliefs and practice their customs, but were not allowed. Christian slave owners tried to convert them. Although many slaves converted to Christianity, others still practiced their religions in secret or disguised their practices as those of Catholicism. Up to the 1970s, Africans were persecuted if they were caught practicing Candomble. Ever since that time, the religion has become very popular in Brazil, especially in the northeastern city of Salvador da Bahia. Many Africans today visit the city to learn more about their ancestors and their religious beliefs. For many Africans, Candomble is not only a religion but also a cultural identity. Some followers want to rid the elements of Christianity from the religion and take it back to its pure form.

Candomble Beliefs

The concept of good and bad does not exist for followers of Candomble; however doing bad has its consequences. The goal of each person is to carry out his or her destiny, which is controlled by the orixa. Each person’s orixa also acts as a protector. Worshippers perform special dances to allow the orixa to possess them. Orixas are deified ancestors from recent or ancient history. Also known as viduns and inkices, they are spirit gods that link humans to the spiritual world. Each orixa is connected to a force in nature including a certain food, animal, and more. A person's personality is a reflection of their orixa. Orixas are collectively called Baba Egum or Egungun. The moral code of Candomble is regulated by the Baba Egum, who ensures the continuity of morals from one generation to the next.

Candomble Customs

During major rituals, priests and priestesses disguise as Baba Egum. The worship takes place in the form of dances and songs. Dances call the orixa to enter the body. When a dancer becomes possessed, they enter a trancelike condition and publicly act out scenes from the community life through dance. When the orixa leaves the body, the trance ends. Women play a significant role in Candomble. Women, called “mothers of the holy one” lead services and train future priestesses. The sacred places for followers of Candomble are the terreiro, or temples. These structures have indoor and outdoor sections and designated places for the gods. Worshippers enter the terreiro in clean clothes. They also splash water on themselves before entering so they clean themselves from the impurity of the outside world.

Excerpts taken from the site: http://www.typesofreligion.com

Stay tuned for Book 02 - QUALA - Escape from Headhunter Island - November 2010






Saturday, August 14, 2010

QUALA - Book 01 - Now available in various ebook formats

Mark Richmond & Robert Watts new novel in various ebook formats at:
FREE DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE


Illustrated by Skidone, get the illustrations at www.quala.ws, soon available, book 02

Monday, August 2, 2010

Full Lineup of Plushemz - Plush Toys and Figurines - Coming Soon!

Here's the full line of Plushemz (L to R):
Spider Monkey
Chinese Panda
Arctic Wolf
Grizzly Bear
Koala Bear
Silverback Gorilla
Sumatran Tiger
Aftrican Elephant
African Lion

Friday, July 9, 2010

Sneak Preview at QUALA book 01


Here's a sneak preview of some of the screens in the printed version that goes along with the free download of the 60 page story.  I'm keeping some imagery out so there's a surprise when you see Kimi & Quala working together to save the Universe! Oh, you haven't seen Orchid yet either.










Jah Nayabingi















Samurai Monkeys in the Heavens















Commodore Tekton Vivaldo
















Mae Do Mar














Plushemz Ad

Plushem - Koala















Yumiko Akiko of FBNN















The Genius Sir Bristol Bennington















Plushemz Factory































The impatient Factory Boss















Plushem getting shipped
















The suspenseful ending!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Skidone will be at Comic Con 2010 - Release of Quala - Book One

Mark Richmond will be making his own debut along with releasing the first issue of Quala the graphic novel with art and story created by Mark, at Comic Con 2010.  This blog will release digital copies to read and become a fan of for free!  Printed issues will be for sale as well in full color. More information coming soon.

Kimi at 10 years old, the main character in the story.  Growing up as an orphan in Rocinha Favela, Brasil, she and her sidekick AI toy Quala, take on a post apocalyptic world.