About this ebook
“Wake the Wicked delivers on giving readers a sense of uncomfortable terror, keeping them looking over their shoulders long after the book is shut.” — Times Leader
No one shakes the hive of imagination like author Christian Baloga.
In this explosive debut collection of thirteen twisted tales, we meet an alcoholic who’s obsessed with a tattoo of his dead daughter (“Digging Deep”); split Siamese twins with a sinister connection (“Poison Ivy”); two morbid magicians determined to make their final trick unforgettable (“Dusk to Dust”); an army of vengeful wasps who stop at nothing to rebuild a nest (“Unraveling the Nest”); and many more.
About the author
Christian Baloga, b. 1984, Kingston, PA, (United States)
Christian Baloga is an artist known for his multi-award-winning American art, design, development, and authorship.
Raised at Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, Baloga began his artistic journey at an early age.
During high-school in January 2002, Baloga was issued 2 first, and 2 second, place awards issued by Luzerne County Fair for illustration and photography.
Christian displayed his art in his first art exhibit at Luzerne County Community College, PA in 2006.
In 2007 Christian earned an associate’s degree from LCCC, where he studied graphic design. During his studies there, he won the Luzerne County Community College 40th Anniversary logo contest. He also worked at Offset Paperback Manufacturers Inc., as a college help, where he worked in the book bindery as a press operator and printer’s assistant. He was later hired to learn pre-press from artist, Lisa Wray, where he also worked as a Life Celebration Operator who assembled brochures, prayer card templates, and created portraitures under Life Celebration for clients who recently lost a loved one.
In the fall of 2007, Christian enrolled at Marywood University to study graphic design. During this time he obtained a graphic design and illustration internship at the Scranton Times Tribune newspaper. He was elected president and founder of the CMYKlub (graphic design club) and was also elected as the Public Relations Officer for the Marywood University International Club.
In May 2009, he hosted a First Friday art exhibit held at Green Being in Scranton PA; the exhibit also included other members’ art from the CMYKlub. The art had a common theme devoted to ecologically intelligent design.
In 2009, Christian was awarded two bronze Addy Award medals for a book cover design & a candy package design (Gene Bean Jelly Beans); in 2010 he was awarded a gold Addy Award medal for a t-shirt he designed for the CMYKlub.
In 2010, Christian graduated from Marywood University in Scranton, PA, with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specializing in graphic design.
During the years 2010 & 2011, Christian worked as the Head Graphic Designer at Appalachian Apps. There, he designed UI for mobile applications, interactive eBook applications, interactive games, and worked on social media marketing.
Christian won the Helene T. Ciampi Memorial Award for his work entitled “Extinction” at the Fine Arts Fiesta held in Wilkes-Barre, PA. [2011]
Christian, with a team of programmers, was awarded the AT&T winner for best new mobile application for “Rah Digga’s Straight Spittin’.” [2011]
Baloga started his stock illustration and photography contribution in 2011 to the present. His portfolio consists of hundreds of pieces at Getty Images, Shutterstock, Alamy, Adobe Stock, Fotolia, and Bigstock.
On December 21, 2012, Christian fulfilled his lifelong dream of writing, designing, and publishing his first book, “Wake the Wicked: Thirteen Twisted Tales,” edited by Michael Garrett, editor for the most successful writers of our time: Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Richard Matheson (to name a few).
In 2013 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum purchased 3 of Christian’s human hair sculptures which are on display throughout the world at various times.
In 2015, Christian finished a collection of 15 detailed miniature paintings by using his own blood. The paintings are 3/4” or smaller.
In late 2016 — early 2017, Christian’s iMessage sticker pack, Gnome Sweet Gnome was featured on the front page of Apple’s iTunes App store. He continues to create animated stickers for iMessage on the Apple app store.
In 2020, Christian created his first AR Instagram filter, which garnered 10K+ impressions in less than a month and was awarded by Instagram/Facebook for being a trendsetter.
In 2021, Christian illustrated, animated, minted, and auctioned off his NFT collection called, “Piece of Britney” on OpenSea, consisting of 10 high-quality 1/1 animated illustrations.
In 2023, Baloga’s illustrated/animated Britney Spears stickers on GIPHY garnered 10M+ views and continues to grow.
Baloga was accepted in 2023 as an artist at Peggy, the exclusive social marketplace allowing collectors to discover, buy, and sell art.
Decades after embarking on his artistic journey, Christian Baloga continues his ever-evolving quest where passions become purpose.
