Status: Currently writing on Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero; Chapter 179 of The Price of Freedom
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails
Watching: Pink Floyd's "Live Pulse" concert on PBS. (From 1994)
Listening to: Nothing at the moment. Pink Floyd will do for the time being. :0)
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG) (On page 225 finally!)
TOPIC: MILESTONE OF MILESTONES
This one should've gone out a few days ago. But I was so backlogged on e-mails--I haven't had the time to post a new entry.
Oddly enough, ourecho.com doesn't seem to be functioning at the moment. (shrugs)
So I can't post my monthly chapter entries for this month.
Anyway, I am currently at 302,795 words on The Price of Freedom. Chapter 179.
Things have taken a turn for the interesting--to say the least. Kayla Sorenson transformed yet again and this time, she appears to be completely disconnected from reality and those around her.
Kenneth tries to reason with her, but he ends up getting smacked around again--like the last time in Union City; prior to the city's destruction.
But this is on the heels of an F5 tornado which came out of nowhere--and sucked everyone involved inside it.
Hence, Kayla's transformation.
So this time around, she's more light and energy--but she's also machine as well. An interesting angelic hybrid if I do say so myself. :0)
Unfortunately for Kenneth, he's weaponless. The twister sucked up their weapons when the old farmhouse was broadsided.
So I don't know what's going to happen as a result of this new encounter. I'll be finding out when the new month starts.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY.
Status: Currently writing on The Price of Freedom; Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails
Watching: Bears vs. Cowboys (10-10; 3rd quarter with 6:24 left to play.)
Listening to: "Sugar Steps" by Kama Sutra (Visions of Ibiza; Chicane--Disc 1); "Maniacal" by Frontline Assembly; "Chemical End" by Death Horror Incorporated (or DHI)
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: CAR INDUSTRY ANALOGY WITH THE PUBLISHING WORLD
I've found that the whole business model of publishing has some severe design limitations.
In order for them to be successful, you have to write what they want for their little co-op readership.
Secondly, not every book gets selected for representation or publishing--which further limits what they can and cannot publish. (They've set up a box for themselves. A box that they cannot escape from so easily.)
Furthermore, they limit themselves to an ever-changing publishing standard which further alienates even more writers from becoming successful. In order for them to be accepted, they have to lower themselves to the same level at which the publishing apparat operates.
Depending on how you look at it, it can be good for you. But then again, it may not be--since there are a lot of inherent pitfalls.
And on top of that, the whole enchillada is slow to adapt, slow to respond, and slow to evolve to anything which threatens their little domain of absolute supremacy.
So of course, you'll see a lot of vanity-press rackets pop up. Because they are catering to a wide audience of desperate and blind authors--who are ill-equipped to deal with the burdens of being published traditionally.
But at the same time--the publishing industry is ill-equipped to deal with the foreknowledge that their time is now limited by the very technologies which have made their cornerstone of the marketplace--obsolete. The same technologies which they had--at first--spurned out of hand.
And it's that same technology which has allowed each and every one of us to break out of the 'wait and see' mold.
Why wait to see if something good comes around? If it's not there, then invent it yourself. Give yourself a home. A platform from which to operate from.
Let the publishing industry wallow in blind obscurity and the vanity-presses die in blithe arrogance--into believing that they are 'traditional press ops'.
Waiting is for fools. No man (or woman) should have to put their dreams of success on hold because some corporate snog told them they "weren't good enough".
That's what pioneers are for. To blaze new trails.
At least, that's how I look at this whole thing.
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails
Watching: Bears vs. Cowboys (10-10; 3rd quarter with 6:24 left to play.)
Listening to: "Sugar Steps" by Kama Sutra (Visions of Ibiza; Chicane--Disc 1); "Maniacal" by Frontline Assembly; "Chemical End" by Death Horror Incorporated (or DHI)
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: CAR INDUSTRY ANALOGY WITH THE PUBLISHING WORLD
I've found that the whole business model of publishing has some severe design limitations.
In order for them to be successful, you have to write what they want for their little co-op readership.
Secondly, not every book gets selected for representation or publishing--which further limits what they can and cannot publish. (They've set up a box for themselves. A box that they cannot escape from so easily.)
Furthermore, they limit themselves to an ever-changing publishing standard which further alienates even more writers from becoming successful. In order for them to be accepted, they have to lower themselves to the same level at which the publishing apparat operates.
Depending on how you look at it, it can be good for you. But then again, it may not be--since there are a lot of inherent pitfalls.
And on top of that, the whole enchillada is slow to adapt, slow to respond, and slow to evolve to anything which threatens their little domain of absolute supremacy.
So of course, you'll see a lot of vanity-press rackets pop up. Because they are catering to a wide audience of desperate and blind authors--who are ill-equipped to deal with the burdens of being published traditionally.
But at the same time--the publishing industry is ill-equipped to deal with the foreknowledge that their time is now limited by the very technologies which have made their cornerstone of the marketplace--obsolete. The same technologies which they had--at first--spurned out of hand.
And it's that same technology which has allowed each and every one of us to break out of the 'wait and see' mold.
Why wait to see if something good comes around? If it's not there, then invent it yourself. Give yourself a home. A platform from which to operate from.
Let the publishing industry wallow in blind obscurity and the vanity-presses die in blithe arrogance--into believing that they are 'traditional press ops'.
Waiting is for fools. No man (or woman) should have to put their dreams of success on hold because some corporate snog told them they "weren't good enough".
That's what pioneers are for. To blaze new trails.
At least, that's how I look at this whole thing.
Friday, September 21, 2007
FRIDAY NIGHT
Status: Currently writing on The Price of Freedom; Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails
Watching: Q13 News
Listening to: "Hunger" by Spectre General; "Humans Being" by Van Halen; "Share This Poison" by Razed in Black
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ZOMBIE NATION: OUTBREAK ZERO UPDATE
Chapter 1 has 14 pages done so far
Chapter 2 has 17 pages done so far
Chapter 3 has 12 pages done so far--and things are a real mess for Emily Rose Jordan.
Because she's trapped alone with her alcoholic mother--she had no recourse but to dump her mom's booze down the sink and toss the bulk of the cans in the recycling bin.
But when her mom found out about it, she went on the rampage--and pretty much bitchslapped her daughter out of a sound sleep. But Emily didn't stay dazed for long and managed to subdue her mother by accidentally spraining her wrist in the process.
After some choice words from her mother (okay--so there were more than a few choice words), Emily confronted her mother over who she was:
“You wanted me to train and become better able to defend myself–because of what happened with Tiffany. Remember? You held me in my arms after that serial rapist was caught by the police and sentenced to 47 years in jail for first-degree rape and other outstanding charges–including those from four warrants in five other states.
“You told me: ‘Never again, sweetie. I want you to know that. I wasn’t able to do anything to protect both you and your sister.’ ” I looked at her–seeing the shock registering on her face.
“I didn’t think you would’ve remembered that. I thought you were too traumatized by that incident. Even the state psychologists and school councilors said you wouldn’t remember much of that terrible day.” She said.
I looked away from her and then down at the floor.
It took me awhile to find my voice. And my strength of will.
“I remember mom, because I wanted something by which to keep me focused and determined when you and dad enrolled me in those defense classes over in Port Angeles. I didn’t want to forget.” I said with a shaky voice filled with rage and raw anger.
“Tiffany was badly affected by that and she never had the chance at romance, mother. Never had a chance for a normal life or a halfway decent relationship with any boy at school. Because that bastard stole something more precious than a teenage girl’s virginity: Her fucking innocence.”
I stood up then and smoothed out the wrinkles in my pants and dusted myself off. My face still stung like hell, but I wasn’t about to let a little annoyance like a bruise get the best of me.
Even if it was delivered by my own mother.
I looked at the clock and found that the digital hands had read 9:16 in the morning. I went to bed right after I finished with some business in the kitchen–right before I dumped a fresh bag of beer cans into the recycle bin for the trash guys to come and collect.
I couldn’t even remember falling asleep after my head hit the pillow. But I knew that my mom was going to be pissed off more than a mother hen when she woke up from her siesta and found that her cherished stash of booze was gone from the fridge’s cold caress.
“I became what you wanted me to be mom: A cold and distant fighter. Someone who wasn’t going to back down from a situation like the one last year in our own house. And I gave those jerks what they deserved. Every second of it. I didn’t shrink from my duties as the oldest member of the house–seeing how Chuck had gone over to his friend’s house for the night and Tiff was still away at Florida State.” I said tightly–my voice trembling a little. “I embraced them–as any good daughter would.”
But her mom still wasn't thrilled with what happened with her beer--but she didn't press her on the subject matter afterwards.
If you're still wondering when I'm going to get to the flesh-eating zombie part--be patient. This novel hasn't hit its full stride yet.
I still have a lot of work to do on the book.
Yesterday, I found some updated articles on the meteorite hit in Peru and found that the hole caused by the impact was of pretty good-size.
So more material for me to use. :0)
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails
Watching: Q13 News
Listening to: "Hunger" by Spectre General; "Humans Being" by Van Halen; "Share This Poison" by Razed in Black
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ZOMBIE NATION: OUTBREAK ZERO UPDATE
Chapter 1 has 14 pages done so far
Chapter 2 has 17 pages done so far
Chapter 3 has 12 pages done so far--and things are a real mess for Emily Rose Jordan.
Because she's trapped alone with her alcoholic mother--she had no recourse but to dump her mom's booze down the sink and toss the bulk of the cans in the recycling bin.
But when her mom found out about it, she went on the rampage--and pretty much bitchslapped her daughter out of a sound sleep. But Emily didn't stay dazed for long and managed to subdue her mother by accidentally spraining her wrist in the process.
After some choice words from her mother (okay--so there were more than a few choice words), Emily confronted her mother over who she was:
“You wanted me to train and become better able to defend myself–because of what happened with Tiffany. Remember? You held me in my arms after that serial rapist was caught by the police and sentenced to 47 years in jail for first-degree rape and other outstanding charges–including those from four warrants in five other states.
“You told me: ‘Never again, sweetie. I want you to know that. I wasn’t able to do anything to protect both you and your sister.’ ” I looked at her–seeing the shock registering on her face.
“I didn’t think you would’ve remembered that. I thought you were too traumatized by that incident. Even the state psychologists and school councilors said you wouldn’t remember much of that terrible day.” She said.
I looked away from her and then down at the floor.
It took me awhile to find my voice. And my strength of will.
“I remember mom, because I wanted something by which to keep me focused and determined when you and dad enrolled me in those defense classes over in Port Angeles. I didn’t want to forget.” I said with a shaky voice filled with rage and raw anger.
“Tiffany was badly affected by that and she never had the chance at romance, mother. Never had a chance for a normal life or a halfway decent relationship with any boy at school. Because that bastard stole something more precious than a teenage girl’s virginity: Her fucking innocence.”
I stood up then and smoothed out the wrinkles in my pants and dusted myself off. My face still stung like hell, but I wasn’t about to let a little annoyance like a bruise get the best of me.
Even if it was delivered by my own mother.
I looked at the clock and found that the digital hands had read 9:16 in the morning. I went to bed right after I finished with some business in the kitchen–right before I dumped a fresh bag of beer cans into the recycle bin for the trash guys to come and collect.
I couldn’t even remember falling asleep after my head hit the pillow. But I knew that my mom was going to be pissed off more than a mother hen when she woke up from her siesta and found that her cherished stash of booze was gone from the fridge’s cold caress.
“I became what you wanted me to be mom: A cold and distant fighter. Someone who wasn’t going to back down from a situation like the one last year in our own house. And I gave those jerks what they deserved. Every second of it. I didn’t shrink from my duties as the oldest member of the house–seeing how Chuck had gone over to his friend’s house for the night and Tiff was still away at Florida State.” I said tightly–my voice trembling a little. “I embraced them–as any good daughter would.”
But her mom still wasn't thrilled with what happened with her beer--but she didn't press her on the subject matter afterwards.
If you're still wondering when I'm going to get to the flesh-eating zombie part--be patient. This novel hasn't hit its full stride yet.
I still have a lot of work to do on the book.
Yesterday, I found some updated articles on the meteorite hit in Peru and found that the hole caused by the impact was of pretty good-size.
So more material for me to use. :0)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
A PREVIEW FOR MY ZOMBIE NATION BOOK SERIES
Status: Currently writing on The Price of Freedom; Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; working out
Watching: KIRO 7 News
Listening to: "Storm Trooper in Drag" by Gary Numan; "Born to Be Hated" by Hocico; "Annie Would I Lie to You" by Iris
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ZOMBIE ALERT!
Okay. You know the drill ladies and gentlemen!
Drop and give me 40! (lol)
Seriously.
Nah. I'm just joking. No one needs to do push ups if they don't want to.
Anyone know how to get rid of zombies? You know: Those fun-loving, evil-looking, dead guys we always hate, fear, and love?
I decided to embark on a Halloween tradition--apart from my normal day to day postings of my books--and give the horror angle a whirl.
So starting in October, I'm going to be posting chapter drafts of both my Vampiress Hunter novel, and this new Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero series on my skysbooksonline group. Two novels--one running for two weeks at a time.
As part of the Halloween tradition.
Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero is the first novel--and I haven't figured out what the storyline is overall or how long it will be.
But the premise is sound: A deadly virus pops up in South America--causing people to die at an astounding rate. But a meteorite hitting outside a local village is also causing people there to get sick and die of a mysterious illness. Now, whether or not the two are connected--remains to be seen.
But the dead start to come--taking over the continent and then spreading north at an alarming rate.
Anyway, I'm not too worried about the particulars. The novel is being written in a first-person perspective--like my Stories of the Dead Earth (not a zombie saga, but one that is an extremely cool fantasy series)--features a 15-year-old heroine, and has a lot of suspense and horror.
And maybe some comical wit penned throughout.
And no, this has nothing to do with the Andromeda Strain. It's just something which came up out of the blue--from a dream of mine a couple months ago. (The kind that you can't get rid of.)
Also, a recent news article helped fuel things a bit for the book--so I included that in the opening chapter.
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; working out
Watching: KIRO 7 News
Listening to: "Storm Trooper in Drag" by Gary Numan; "Born to Be Hated" by Hocico; "Annie Would I Lie to You" by Iris
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ZOMBIE ALERT!
Okay. You know the drill ladies and gentlemen!
Drop and give me 40! (lol)
Seriously.
Nah. I'm just joking. No one needs to do push ups if they don't want to.
Anyone know how to get rid of zombies? You know: Those fun-loving, evil-looking, dead guys we always hate, fear, and love?
I decided to embark on a Halloween tradition--apart from my normal day to day postings of my books--and give the horror angle a whirl.
So starting in October, I'm going to be posting chapter drafts of both my Vampiress Hunter novel, and this new Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero series on my skysbooksonline group. Two novels--one running for two weeks at a time.
As part of the Halloween tradition.
Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero is the first novel--and I haven't figured out what the storyline is overall or how long it will be.
But the premise is sound: A deadly virus pops up in South America--causing people to die at an astounding rate. But a meteorite hitting outside a local village is also causing people there to get sick and die of a mysterious illness. Now, whether or not the two are connected--remains to be seen.
But the dead start to come--taking over the continent and then spreading north at an alarming rate.
Anyway, I'm not too worried about the particulars. The novel is being written in a first-person perspective--like my Stories of the Dead Earth (not a zombie saga, but one that is an extremely cool fantasy series)--features a 15-year-old heroine, and has a lot of suspense and horror.
And maybe some comical wit penned throughout.
And no, this has nothing to do with the Andromeda Strain. It's just something which came up out of the blue--from a dream of mine a couple months ago. (The kind that you can't get rid of.)
Also, a recent news article helped fuel things a bit for the book--so I included that in the opening chapter.
Monday, September 17, 2007
RIP ROBERT JORDAN
Status: Currently writing on The Price of Freedom
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; working out
Watching: KIRO 7 News
Listening to: Nothing at the moment
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ROBERT JORDAN DIES AT THE AGE OF 58
This shocked me. I mean, I haven't read the Wheel of Time since 1993. But this bit of news had me stunned.
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Author Robert Jordan, whose "Wheel of Time" series of fantasy novels sold millions of copies, died Sunday of a rare blood disease. He was 58.
Jordan, whose real name was James Oliver Rigney Jr., was born and lived in this southern city most of his life. He died at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston of complications from primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, his personal assistant, Maria Simons, said Monday. The blood disease caused the walls of Rigney's heart to thicken.
He wrote a trilogy of historical novels set in Charleston under the pen name Reagan O'Neal in the early 1980s. Then he turned his attention to fantasy and the first volume in his Wheel of Time epic, "The Eye of the World," was published in 1990 under the name Robert Jordan.
Jordan's books tells of Rand al'Thor, who is destined to become the champion who will battle ultimate evil in a mythical land.
Book 11, "Knife of Dreams," came out in 2005; there was also a prequel, "New Spring: The Novel," in 2004. The other titles in the series include "The Great Hunt," "Lord of Chaos" and "The Path of Daggers."
Jordan was working on a 12th volume at the time of his death, Simons said.*
"The younger devotees of the series, who seem to be legion, have a habit of dutifully rereading the complete gospel before each addition. ... (Jordan) creates a universe simple enough to master and then challenges the characters to do the same in meticulously choreographed battles against chaos and dissolution."
In a 2004 online chat on the USA Today Web site, Jordan said he hoped to finish the main "Wheel" series in two more books. "It's not an absolute promise, but I'm very much hoping for it and I think I can do it," he wrote.
Most of the books made The New York Times list of best sellers.
In an interview with The Associated Press in 2003, Jordan discussed having a best seller. The first time it happens "you go out in the middle of the floor and you do a little dance. Then you go someplace booze is being served and buy a drink for everybody in the house.
"You have to have talent to some extent — I certainly hope I have talent — but you have to have luck as well," Jordan said. "Once you get that first shot, that will get you noticed for the rest of your books and that will give the rest of your books a better chance."
He said in the interview that his Southern background came through in his work, even though it is set in a fantasy world.
"What I write is certainly not set in South Carolina, but I have had a number of reviewers comment on the fact that I write with a distinctly Southern voice," he said.
"It goes beyond more than simply where the story is set. I believe it is something we take in in the air and the water. It's a matter of word choices — of the rhythms of sentences and the rhythm of speech in particular."
A graduate of The Citadel, South Carolina's state military college, Rigney worked as a nuclear engineer at the old Charleston Naval Shipyard before taking up writing full time in 1977. He served two tours of duty with the Army in Vietnam. He was decorated several times, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star.
He is survived by his wife, Harriet McDougal Rigney.
*EDIT:
There are indications that his 12th and final volume will be completed from the notes Robert Jordan left behind--prior to his death.
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; working out
Watching: KIRO 7 News
Listening to: Nothing at the moment
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ROBERT JORDAN DIES AT THE AGE OF 58
This shocked me. I mean, I haven't read the Wheel of Time since 1993. But this bit of news had me stunned.
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Author Robert Jordan, whose "Wheel of Time" series of fantasy novels sold millions of copies, died Sunday of a rare blood disease. He was 58.
Jordan, whose real name was James Oliver Rigney Jr., was born and lived in this southern city most of his life. He died at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston of complications from primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, his personal assistant, Maria Simons, said Monday. The blood disease caused the walls of Rigney's heart to thicken.
He wrote a trilogy of historical novels set in Charleston under the pen name Reagan O'Neal in the early 1980s. Then he turned his attention to fantasy and the first volume in his Wheel of Time epic, "The Eye of the World," was published in 1990 under the name Robert Jordan.
Jordan's books tells of Rand al'Thor, who is destined to become the champion who will battle ultimate evil in a mythical land.
Book 11, "Knife of Dreams," came out in 2005; there was also a prequel, "New Spring: The Novel," in 2004. The other titles in the series include "The Great Hunt," "Lord of Chaos" and "The Path of Daggers."
Jordan was working on a 12th volume at the time of his death, Simons said.*
"The younger devotees of the series, who seem to be legion, have a habit of dutifully rereading the complete gospel before each addition. ... (Jordan) creates a universe simple enough to master and then challenges the characters to do the same in meticulously choreographed battles against chaos and dissolution."
In a 2004 online chat on the USA Today Web site, Jordan said he hoped to finish the main "Wheel" series in two more books. "It's not an absolute promise, but I'm very much hoping for it and I think I can do it," he wrote.
Most of the books made The New York Times list of best sellers.
In an interview with The Associated Press in 2003, Jordan discussed having a best seller. The first time it happens "you go out in the middle of the floor and you do a little dance. Then you go someplace booze is being served and buy a drink for everybody in the house.
"You have to have talent to some extent — I certainly hope I have talent — but you have to have luck as well," Jordan said. "Once you get that first shot, that will get you noticed for the rest of your books and that will give the rest of your books a better chance."
He said in the interview that his Southern background came through in his work, even though it is set in a fantasy world.
"What I write is certainly not set in South Carolina, but I have had a number of reviewers comment on the fact that I write with a distinctly Southern voice," he said.
"It goes beyond more than simply where the story is set. I believe it is something we take in in the air and the water. It's a matter of word choices — of the rhythms of sentences and the rhythm of speech in particular."
A graduate of The Citadel, South Carolina's state military college, Rigney worked as a nuclear engineer at the old Charleston Naval Shipyard before taking up writing full time in 1977. He served two tours of duty with the Army in Vietnam. He was decorated several times, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star.
He is survived by his wife, Harriet McDougal Rigney.
*EDIT:
There are indications that his 12th and final volume will be completed from the notes Robert Jordan left behind--prior to his death.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
VACATION OVER--WORK BEGINS ANEW
Status: On vacation (One day left)
Doing: Writing this blog; recovering from being sick.
Watching: Nothing. (Seeing how the Mariners got spanked last night by Tampa Bay. I was passed out yesterday night--so I didn't see the actual end to the game.)
Listening to: Some old Electrobox taped music from C-89.5
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: STARCHILD DUEL AND THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
The week starts anew with a revival of both Starchild Duel and The Price of Freedom.
The plan is to complete the last three chapters to Duel before the final battle between Cara Hastings and Isis McGowan--and go from there.
The intrasystem fight between the two combatants is going to take a more integrated and complex approach.
I could most likely start the fight off by a brief tussle over the Moon before both jump towards Mars via a hyperspace conduit. (These are short jump methods of travel used by the Starchild of Ancient Lore. For long-distances, a hypergate bypass conduit is more favorable.)
I'm still not sure if Talia McGowan is going to want to remain behind. Since Jalen Osoro of Pasik III merged her spirit with the stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore.
I don't think that Tarnek is going to be able to stop her from leaving anyway.
And as soon as Isis gets done playing her role as the 'human ice cube'...?
She's going to have her hands full as it is.
So the novel is sitting at 291,504 words with 144 chapters in play.
As for The Price of Freedom...?
Things couldn't anymore dicier for Kenneth Sparks and Kayla Sorenson.
The shit's flying in the fan as reinforcements from Wynne show up on the heels of an Neos strike force.
Having switched sides, Timothy Caldwell, Kim Sanders, and Anna Ellison join in the fight--and eventually the journey to Jonesboro, Arkansas.
But old scores between them have to be settled first--and that's provided they can survive the Neos as well.
Previously, the 101st Combat Division; 13th Reconnaissance Unit had been partly massacred by another Neos incursion--short of Wynne itself--and at the hands of Kayla herself; when she had been transformed by one of Mother's Seeker units.
The survivors were taken hostage by Susan Meyers people in Wynne and tortured for information and other things--as per Neos sympathizers.
Kayla was left inert and in a stasis lock, while Kenneth Sparks spent 17 days as the female overseer's prisoner and personal sex toy.
This aspect of the storyline took 208 pages to flesh out.
The book so far sits on 174 chapters with 295,656 words.
Doing: Writing this blog; recovering from being sick.
Watching: Nothing. (Seeing how the Mariners got spanked last night by Tampa Bay. I was passed out yesterday night--so I didn't see the actual end to the game.)
Listening to: Some old Electrobox taped music from C-89.5
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: STARCHILD DUEL AND THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
The week starts anew with a revival of both Starchild Duel and The Price of Freedom.
The plan is to complete the last three chapters to Duel before the final battle between Cara Hastings and Isis McGowan--and go from there.
The intrasystem fight between the two combatants is going to take a more integrated and complex approach.
I could most likely start the fight off by a brief tussle over the Moon before both jump towards Mars via a hyperspace conduit. (These are short jump methods of travel used by the Starchild of Ancient Lore. For long-distances, a hypergate bypass conduit is more favorable.)
I'm still not sure if Talia McGowan is going to want to remain behind. Since Jalen Osoro of Pasik III merged her spirit with the stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore.
I don't think that Tarnek is going to be able to stop her from leaving anyway.
And as soon as Isis gets done playing her role as the 'human ice cube'...?
She's going to have her hands full as it is.
So the novel is sitting at 291,504 words with 144 chapters in play.
As for The Price of Freedom...?
Things couldn't anymore dicier for Kenneth Sparks and Kayla Sorenson.
The shit's flying in the fan as reinforcements from Wynne show up on the heels of an Neos strike force.
Having switched sides, Timothy Caldwell, Kim Sanders, and Anna Ellison join in the fight--and eventually the journey to Jonesboro, Arkansas.
But old scores between them have to be settled first--and that's provided they can survive the Neos as well.
Previously, the 101st Combat Division; 13th Reconnaissance Unit had been partly massacred by another Neos incursion--short of Wynne itself--and at the hands of Kayla herself; when she had been transformed by one of Mother's Seeker units.
The survivors were taken hostage by Susan Meyers people in Wynne and tortured for information and other things--as per Neos sympathizers.
Kayla was left inert and in a stasis lock, while Kenneth Sparks spent 17 days as the female overseer's prisoner and personal sex toy.
This aspect of the storyline took 208 pages to flesh out.
The book so far sits on 174 chapters with 295,656 words.
SICK WEEKEND.
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; recovering from being sick.
Watching: Nothing. (Seeing how the Mariners got spanked last night by Tampa Bay. I was passed out yesterday night--so I didn't see the actual end to the game.)
Listening to: Some old Electrobox taped music from C-89.5
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ONE CEO'S TAKE ON E-PUBLISHING, SELF, AND POD.
I've been sick and busy this week. So my second part to the The Starchild interview is going to be done later on in spurts--and posted before the month is out.
Here's something which I'm sure you'll find interesting--if you're considering e-publishing and/or self-publishing.
***
Simon & Schuster CEO to retire
NEW YORK - Simon & Schuster CEO Jack Romanos, who announced Thursday that he was retiring after a 40-year career in publishing, acknowledged that times are tight for the industry and anticipated an increasingly digital future.
"I feel there is enormous pressure on book publishers for leisure time, with all the competition from TV and the Internet and DVDs and cable television and all the other possibilities, which is why I think that growth has been modest," Romanos said in an interview with The Associated Press.
"I do think the digital option—electronic books, print-on-demand and any other application of digital content, are extremely positive ramifications for our business and that in the next decade that's what executives should be focusing their energy on."
Romanos, who turns 65 on Nov. 1, said that retirement makes sense, professionally and personally. Simon & Schuster, which publishes such best-selling authors as Stephen King, David McCullough and Bob Woodward, is enjoying record-breaking growth in an otherwise slow market. And Romanos had long promised to himself that he would step down at 65.
"I'm just blue collar enough to think that 65 is a magical number for retirement and that giving other people the opportunity to step in seems right to me," said Romanos, who joined Simon & Schuster in 1985 after working at Fawcett Publications and Bantam Books and became CEO and president in 2002. "As I will turn 65 in a couple of months, ... I think it's time."
Romanos will be succeeded by Carolyn Reidy, currently president of Simon & Schuster's Adult Publishing Group. Reidy, 58, said she anticipated no changes in the kinds of books Simon & Schuster releases, ranging from novels by King and Don DeLillo to works by Woodward, McCullough and others that have long established the publisher as a leader of political and historical titles.
Reidy, who will officially take over at the end of the year, agreed that the digitalization of publishing was only starting, adding that she expected books not only to be read and sold electronically, but to be written for that format.
"I have it in my mind that a new kind of digital book will come out, for a new generation used to reading on the screen from day one and writing on the screen from day one," Reidy told the AP. "You'll have different designs, different artwork, different jackets. Electronic publishing is not just selling and marketing books online; those are the first steps."
Doing: Writing this blog; recovering from being sick.
Watching: Nothing. (Seeing how the Mariners got spanked last night by Tampa Bay. I was passed out yesterday night--so I didn't see the actual end to the game.)
Listening to: Some old Electrobox taped music from C-89.5
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: ONE CEO'S TAKE ON E-PUBLISHING, SELF, AND POD.
I've been sick and busy this week. So my second part to the The Starchild interview is going to be done later on in spurts--and posted before the month is out.
Here's something which I'm sure you'll find interesting--if you're considering e-publishing and/or self-publishing.
***
Simon & Schuster CEO to retire
NEW YORK - Simon & Schuster CEO Jack Romanos, who announced Thursday that he was retiring after a 40-year career in publishing, acknowledged that times are tight for the industry and anticipated an increasingly digital future.
"I feel there is enormous pressure on book publishers for leisure time, with all the competition from TV and the Internet and DVDs and cable television and all the other possibilities, which is why I think that growth has been modest," Romanos said in an interview with The Associated Press.
"I do think the digital option—electronic books, print-on-demand and any other application of digital content, are extremely positive ramifications for our business and that in the next decade that's what executives should be focusing their energy on."
Romanos, who turns 65 on Nov. 1, said that retirement makes sense, professionally and personally. Simon & Schuster, which publishes such best-selling authors as Stephen King, David McCullough and Bob Woodward, is enjoying record-breaking growth in an otherwise slow market. And Romanos had long promised to himself that he would step down at 65.
"I'm just blue collar enough to think that 65 is a magical number for retirement and that giving other people the opportunity to step in seems right to me," said Romanos, who joined Simon & Schuster in 1985 after working at Fawcett Publications and Bantam Books and became CEO and president in 2002. "As I will turn 65 in a couple of months, ... I think it's time."
Romanos will be succeeded by Carolyn Reidy, currently president of Simon & Schuster's Adult Publishing Group. Reidy, 58, said she anticipated no changes in the kinds of books Simon & Schuster releases, ranging from novels by King and Don DeLillo to works by Woodward, McCullough and others that have long established the publisher as a leader of political and historical titles.
Reidy, who will officially take over at the end of the year, agreed that the digitalization of publishing was only starting, adding that she expected books not only to be read and sold electronically, but to be written for that format.
"I have it in my mind that a new kind of digital book will come out, for a new generation used to reading on the screen from day one and writing on the screen from day one," Reidy told the AP. "You'll have different designs, different artwork, different jackets. Electronic publishing is not just selling and marketing books online; those are the first steps."
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
TUESDAY MORNING.
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; drinking chocolate milk.
Watching: STEAMBOY; CBS Morning News.
Listening to: "Go Zombie" by Zombie Girl
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE
It's been a few days since I've posted anything--with the second part of the interview later due today or tomorrow--so I thought I'd post something from my site called "Finding The Alternative To Successful Writing.* "
***
(*This isn't a conversion to my way of writing and publishing, this is simply my own views, my observations--as I don't know who you are, or what kind of books you like reading. But there are still some unnamed parties out there who feel that I'm trampling on their "Holy Grail" of writing and publishing by having posted this controversial blog entry. If you feel that you are one of these such persons, please disregard this blog in its entirety.)
Here we go!
We've all heard it many times throughout the years: "In order to become published, you have to follow everyone else who is published." Or: "You have to take classes, courses, and hinge on every word from those published before you in order to become published."
But why must we do this? Why must we follow a pre-set pattern to success? Why cannot we try other avenues and methods which aren't etched in stone--thus allowing us some much needed breathing space and flexibility?
Because for some people in this profession, trying anything else is considered unproductive and wrong. It doesn't give them their 15 minutes of fame and fan adoration which easily translates into mega bucks and a comfy retirement.
They don't think that doing things differently will get them to their respective goals any quicker.
So when someone like me comes around once in a blue moon, they get defensive, they get upset, irate, pissed off, whatever words you can think of.
Why does this happen?
Because I offer a different view to success in writing which doesn't involve carbon copy authors, cloned books, fake reviews, fake applause, fake fan clubs which turn out useless chatter about how great their books are, and how much gushing they do wishing they could be just like him or her. (Gag me with a spoon! Please!)
What I offer is some piece of advice and some hard-earned experience. This doesn't make me a genuis, or some god, but rather someone who knows his shit and knows what it takes to write a book.
And to top it off, it doesn't involve going to a writer's class, taking a course to cheat your way through to that coveted (possibly crappy) contract which most likely will end your writing career--because your book sales have basically turned to shit based on your publisher's personal opinion; leaving you in a noticeable rut and your chances of further publication down the drain faster than a hooker going to Sunday confessional!
Success as a writer is a lot like having a successful blog or a successful site:
You've got to know what you're writing and write it well!
If you can't do it, why bother trying to attract the masses if all your book is going to do is make one big giant (and awful-sounding) thud! at the bookstore in that 5-month window of opportunity? (Now two months unfortunately.)
All you're going to do is start beating yourself over the head as to why you didn't take the time to write the book better, and thus save yourself and your career a butt-load of pain in the long run. You're going to start questioning yourself and really making a mess of your own self-confidence and your skills as a writer and author; bemoaning it all as a simple, "How could this have happened to me?" rant and nothing else.
Why indeed?
Because it's not you. It's the publisher. They want everything to be their way (like in the BK commercials), and everyone else can take a flying leap off the nearest suspension bridge.
So you have to play by their rules and not yours. And in doing so, there is a better than 80% chance you'll never get past your first book. And even if you manage to squeak by after the first one, there's still no guarantee that you'll have a successful career in writing and publishing. More than likely, you'll still be working that same tired, dead-end job, and your book will be spending a good chunk of its time collecting dust on the shelf.
So what's the solution?
If I told you that there was an alternative to having a successful publishing career, you'd immediately draw the conclusion that I'm full of shit or pulling your leg.
And you'd probably be right. I don't have an exact alternative which will guarantee that you'll be making millions and drawing in a ton of fans for you and your books.
What I do have is something more valuable than what the mainstream industry hasn't got: And that's knowledge. And knowledge--as they say--is power.
And it's not any kind of knowledge which you can simply pull from a book, or get off on some online web page, but rather personal experience and an insight into what makes a good book good and what makes everything else you've read in the last 10 years to be nothing more than crap.
Because they (99% of today's mainstream authors) are in it for the money. Not the book itself.
And as a result, their books don't make it as far as they should. Because they aren't allowed to go beyond their own limitations--set into place long before you and I were born (in some instances).
Why is that?
Classes and courses are supposed to be the answer to what ills the publishing and writing world. They are supposed to be the roadmap to success and fame for all would-be authors.
But in truth, they are basically useless in the overall scheme of things.
Now--before you start wanting to ream me a new one--hear me out.
Growing up, we are told that we need to get an education in order to survive. Our parents have told us this, our friends have told us this, everyone we know has told us this.
Right?
Duh!
But once we get out into the real world, we only apply maybe 5% of what we've learned in total to the problems facing us in today's society. The rest of what we learned just goes out the window, or gets stuck on the back shelf gathering dust for all eternity--never to be used.
Writing classes are pretty much the same way. Sans the collective chuminess that we all want to hold, feel, and flow around us to give us that all important ego boost, what we learn in those classes, those courses, and anything else that we pick up--essentially is a waste.
A waste of energy, a waste of time. Because you are only going to need a fraction of what you learned in those set time frames. The remainder gets totaled and left out to rot.
And your point is?
My point (for those of us paying close attention here) is that you don't need writing classes, courses, speaking engagements, and flowery "can do" attitudes of published authors--in order to have a successful writing career.
What you do need is the ability to see beyond the limitations to your own writing. Classes, courses, and so forth...they are all structured to keep you and your imagination confined to one particular mindset. That which--in itself--tells you, "No! You can't step outside the box! That's a grave no-no, and will get you rejected faster than you can imagine! No--this is the safer path to success."
In essence, you are programmed to write accordingly and you cannot deviate from that said method. So all of what you will ever write will sadly reflect that level of thinking.
Nice, eh?
So what's left?
What's left is this: In order to be successful in writing, you have to let yourself go. You have to forget everything that was taught to you from the beginning, and embark on new and more wonderous journies which doesn't involve fame, fortune, and all that cozy shit.
You have to understand...writing is so much more than just being able to write and call yourself a writer. You have to know what writing is. It isn't just a collection of words penned on a piece of paper, typed on a screen for you or anyone else to see.
It is a state of consciousness which exists for you and you only, and all you have to do is go out there and find it. But it can't be done in a classroom, or at some posh convention--listening to some stuffed shirt's version of a successful writing career--and hoping you follow in their engravened footsteps.
Because in retrospect, they know less than you do, because they've gone through all the motions set in play by someone else decades before them. (It's like that Pete and Repeat joke all over again...)
But if you can break away from the fold, go off on your own little journey of self-discovery and find out what it means to be a writer, and to write some really awe-inspiring work...?
Then you've become a success. You've found what it takes to be a writer and an author.
And it wasn't through a class, a convention, a $3 writer's course found on the internet.
It's your imagination. And if you use it more often than naught--then you're already on your way to unlocking your potential.
And through that lies your path to overall success. But you can only take it if you don't fear the unknown.
Doing: Writing this blog; drinking chocolate milk.
Watching: STEAMBOY; CBS Morning News.
Listening to: "Go Zombie" by Zombie Girl
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE
It's been a few days since I've posted anything--with the second part of the interview later due today or tomorrow--so I thought I'd post something from my site called "Finding The Alternative To Successful Writing.* "
***
(*This isn't a conversion to my way of writing and publishing, this is simply my own views, my observations--as I don't know who you are, or what kind of books you like reading. But there are still some unnamed parties out there who feel that I'm trampling on their "Holy Grail" of writing and publishing by having posted this controversial blog entry. If you feel that you are one of these such persons, please disregard this blog in its entirety.)
Here we go!
We've all heard it many times throughout the years: "In order to become published, you have to follow everyone else who is published." Or: "You have to take classes, courses, and hinge on every word from those published before you in order to become published."
But why must we do this? Why must we follow a pre-set pattern to success? Why cannot we try other avenues and methods which aren't etched in stone--thus allowing us some much needed breathing space and flexibility?
Because for some people in this profession, trying anything else is considered unproductive and wrong. It doesn't give them their 15 minutes of fame and fan adoration which easily translates into mega bucks and a comfy retirement.
They don't think that doing things differently will get them to their respective goals any quicker.
So when someone like me comes around once in a blue moon, they get defensive, they get upset, irate, pissed off, whatever words you can think of.
Why does this happen?
Because I offer a different view to success in writing which doesn't involve carbon copy authors, cloned books, fake reviews, fake applause, fake fan clubs which turn out useless chatter about how great their books are, and how much gushing they do wishing they could be just like him or her. (Gag me with a spoon! Please!)
What I offer is some piece of advice and some hard-earned experience. This doesn't make me a genuis, or some god, but rather someone who knows his shit and knows what it takes to write a book.
And to top it off, it doesn't involve going to a writer's class, taking a course to cheat your way through to that coveted (possibly crappy) contract which most likely will end your writing career--because your book sales have basically turned to shit based on your publisher's personal opinion; leaving you in a noticeable rut and your chances of further publication down the drain faster than a hooker going to Sunday confessional!
Success as a writer is a lot like having a successful blog or a successful site:
You've got to know what you're writing and write it well!
If you can't do it, why bother trying to attract the masses if all your book is going to do is make one big giant (and awful-sounding) thud! at the bookstore in that 5-month window of opportunity? (Now two months unfortunately.)
All you're going to do is start beating yourself over the head as to why you didn't take the time to write the book better, and thus save yourself and your career a butt-load of pain in the long run. You're going to start questioning yourself and really making a mess of your own self-confidence and your skills as a writer and author; bemoaning it all as a simple, "How could this have happened to me?" rant and nothing else.
Why indeed?
Because it's not you. It's the publisher. They want everything to be their way (like in the BK commercials), and everyone else can take a flying leap off the nearest suspension bridge.
So you have to play by their rules and not yours. And in doing so, there is a better than 80% chance you'll never get past your first book. And even if you manage to squeak by after the first one, there's still no guarantee that you'll have a successful career in writing and publishing. More than likely, you'll still be working that same tired, dead-end job, and your book will be spending a good chunk of its time collecting dust on the shelf.
So what's the solution?
If I told you that there was an alternative to having a successful publishing career, you'd immediately draw the conclusion that I'm full of shit or pulling your leg.
And you'd probably be right. I don't have an exact alternative which will guarantee that you'll be making millions and drawing in a ton of fans for you and your books.
What I do have is something more valuable than what the mainstream industry hasn't got: And that's knowledge. And knowledge--as they say--is power.
And it's not any kind of knowledge which you can simply pull from a book, or get off on some online web page, but rather personal experience and an insight into what makes a good book good and what makes everything else you've read in the last 10 years to be nothing more than crap.
Because they (99% of today's mainstream authors) are in it for the money. Not the book itself.
And as a result, their books don't make it as far as they should. Because they aren't allowed to go beyond their own limitations--set into place long before you and I were born (in some instances).
Why is that?
Classes and courses are supposed to be the answer to what ills the publishing and writing world. They are supposed to be the roadmap to success and fame for all would-be authors.
But in truth, they are basically useless in the overall scheme of things.
Now--before you start wanting to ream me a new one--hear me out.
Growing up, we are told that we need to get an education in order to survive. Our parents have told us this, our friends have told us this, everyone we know has told us this.
Right?
Duh!
But once we get out into the real world, we only apply maybe 5% of what we've learned in total to the problems facing us in today's society. The rest of what we learned just goes out the window, or gets stuck on the back shelf gathering dust for all eternity--never to be used.
Writing classes are pretty much the same way. Sans the collective chuminess that we all want to hold, feel, and flow around us to give us that all important ego boost, what we learn in those classes, those courses, and anything else that we pick up--essentially is a waste.
A waste of energy, a waste of time. Because you are only going to need a fraction of what you learned in those set time frames. The remainder gets totaled and left out to rot.
And your point is?
My point (for those of us paying close attention here) is that you don't need writing classes, courses, speaking engagements, and flowery "can do" attitudes of published authors--in order to have a successful writing career.
What you do need is the ability to see beyond the limitations to your own writing. Classes, courses, and so forth...they are all structured to keep you and your imagination confined to one particular mindset. That which--in itself--tells you, "No! You can't step outside the box! That's a grave no-no, and will get you rejected faster than you can imagine! No--this is the safer path to success."
In essence, you are programmed to write accordingly and you cannot deviate from that said method. So all of what you will ever write will sadly reflect that level of thinking.
Nice, eh?
So what's left?
What's left is this: In order to be successful in writing, you have to let yourself go. You have to forget everything that was taught to you from the beginning, and embark on new and more wonderous journies which doesn't involve fame, fortune, and all that cozy shit.
You have to understand...writing is so much more than just being able to write and call yourself a writer. You have to know what writing is. It isn't just a collection of words penned on a piece of paper, typed on a screen for you or anyone else to see.
It is a state of consciousness which exists for you and you only, and all you have to do is go out there and find it. But it can't be done in a classroom, or at some posh convention--listening to some stuffed shirt's version of a successful writing career--and hoping you follow in their engravened footsteps.
Because in retrospect, they know less than you do, because they've gone through all the motions set in play by someone else decades before them. (It's like that Pete and Repeat joke all over again...)
But if you can break away from the fold, go off on your own little journey of self-discovery and find out what it means to be a writer, and to write some really awe-inspiring work...?
Then you've become a success. You've found what it takes to be a writer and an author.
And it wasn't through a class, a convention, a $3 writer's course found on the internet.
It's your imagination. And if you use it more often than naught--then you're already on your way to unlocking your potential.
And through that lies your path to overall success. But you can only take it if you don't fear the unknown.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
WEEKEND TIP OFF.
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; eating sunflower seeds.
Watching: Biography on political cartoonist Paul Conrad. (PBS.)
Listening to: "Hau Ruck" by KMFDM, "Military Fashion Show" by And One; "Wired Hate" by Sterile
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: PITCHING YOURSELF--AS THE AUTHOR
Time and time again, I find myself staring at all these e-mails; from fellow writers who have books published through places like Lulu.com. (Seems as though the majority have gone through this vanity publisher. And while most of their books are good--I somehow come away with the impression that they are...I dunno...lacking something. Presence maybe? No. Not presence. Something else.)
Each one trying their hardest to get people to click on their offered link.
And what I see is a lack of enthusiasm in the process.
It seems as though when we all get published, the wind gets punched out of our sails--and we're here; drifting aimlessly about--hoping to get a good second wind to recharge the ol' batteries.
But it's much too late: Most of these authors have already lost their chance to clinch a sale.
It's not as much as to pitch yourself in the fewest words possible, but to communicate more about yourself and your books as you possibly can.
Too much information may be your best bet--because too little will be a definite killjoy.
No one likes reading something that resembles a Sudoku puzzle--lemme tell you.
And I'm not saying, 'Load your pitch with as much useless shit as possible, but to really communicate with your reader audience on what you're trying to accomplish.'
That's where the sales come in.
So why be gun shy about it?
Remember what I said about The Starchild?
In the first part of that mock interview, I said: "The novel is about a 14-year-old girl given the mantle of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore."
Granted, there's not much there to grab the reader's interest--but it would be perfect in an interview.
Remember: An interviewer's time is short, so you can't spend a whole lot of it dinking around.
Short is better here.
But when you are preparing yourself for the pitch to your audience, you can't afford to take shortcuts.
You have to really show your reading audience that you have a book worth reading and worth buying.
Otherwise, you'll end up with mounting frustration and little else in the way of a concilation prize.
Some things I have also noticed in past e-mail posts is that the author gives no information--except a plea to check out his or her site, and offer to buy the book.
A book that no one knows about.
Why?
Because the author spent zero time building up his or her audience.
So when it came to 'crunch time'--they had nothing to go on. Nothing to reel their respective audience in with.
Just a name and a link. And what's worse, they kept repeating themselves blindly after that; oblivious to the reality that they are killing themselves both financially and emotionally.
Other authors I've seen try to go one step further, but their pitches sound more like a newspaper obituary than anything else.
Again, they've failed to reel in their respective audience because they are lacking in one thing: Enthusiasm.
They may have an outstanding book, but the sad thing is, is that they burnt themselves out writing it, and didn't spend an equal enough time promoting and advertising themselves with relish. (I like my jumbo spicy dogs with mayo and mustard. Relish is just an added bonus.)
They were so wrapped in writing that Great American Novel--they had forgotten to hold onto the three important things needed to pitch a successful novel:
1) Enthusiasm
2) Enthusiasm
3) Enthusiasm
Why enthusiasm?
How else are you going to get a following--if you don't have as much faith and belief in your books as when you first started?
If you don't show your reader how ethusiastic you are about your writing and your books, no one will care who you are when it comes to print.
So get excited and don't spare the horses! Show your reading audience the glory of your novel and don't be afraid to take chances!
Doing: Writing this blog; eating sunflower seeds.
Watching: Biography on political cartoonist Paul Conrad. (PBS.)
Listening to: "Hau Ruck" by KMFDM, "Military Fashion Show" by And One; "Wired Hate" by Sterile
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: PITCHING YOURSELF--AS THE AUTHOR
Time and time again, I find myself staring at all these e-mails; from fellow writers who have books published through places like Lulu.com. (Seems as though the majority have gone through this vanity publisher. And while most of their books are good--I somehow come away with the impression that they are...I dunno...lacking something. Presence maybe? No. Not presence. Something else.)
Each one trying their hardest to get people to click on their offered link.
And what I see is a lack of enthusiasm in the process.
It seems as though when we all get published, the wind gets punched out of our sails--and we're here; drifting aimlessly about--hoping to get a good second wind to recharge the ol' batteries.
But it's much too late: Most of these authors have already lost their chance to clinch a sale.
It's not as much as to pitch yourself in the fewest words possible, but to communicate more about yourself and your books as you possibly can.
Too much information may be your best bet--because too little will be a definite killjoy.
No one likes reading something that resembles a Sudoku puzzle--lemme tell you.
And I'm not saying, 'Load your pitch with as much useless shit as possible, but to really communicate with your reader audience on what you're trying to accomplish.'
That's where the sales come in.
So why be gun shy about it?
Remember what I said about The Starchild?
In the first part of that mock interview, I said: "The novel is about a 14-year-old girl given the mantle of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore."
Granted, there's not much there to grab the reader's interest--but it would be perfect in an interview.
Remember: An interviewer's time is short, so you can't spend a whole lot of it dinking around.
Short is better here.
But when you are preparing yourself for the pitch to your audience, you can't afford to take shortcuts.
You have to really show your reading audience that you have a book worth reading and worth buying.
Otherwise, you'll end up with mounting frustration and little else in the way of a concilation prize.
Some things I have also noticed in past e-mail posts is that the author gives no information--except a plea to check out his or her site, and offer to buy the book.
A book that no one knows about.
Why?
Because the author spent zero time building up his or her audience.
So when it came to 'crunch time'--they had nothing to go on. Nothing to reel their respective audience in with.
Just a name and a link. And what's worse, they kept repeating themselves blindly after that; oblivious to the reality that they are killing themselves both financially and emotionally.
Other authors I've seen try to go one step further, but their pitches sound more like a newspaper obituary than anything else.
Again, they've failed to reel in their respective audience because they are lacking in one thing: Enthusiasm.
They may have an outstanding book, but the sad thing is, is that they burnt themselves out writing it, and didn't spend an equal enough time promoting and advertising themselves with relish. (I like my jumbo spicy dogs with mayo and mustard. Relish is just an added bonus.)
They were so wrapped in writing that Great American Novel--they had forgotten to hold onto the three important things needed to pitch a successful novel:
1) Enthusiasm
2) Enthusiasm
3) Enthusiasm
Why enthusiasm?
How else are you going to get a following--if you don't have as much faith and belief in your books as when you first started?
If you don't show your reader how ethusiastic you are about your writing and your books, no one will care who you are when it comes to print.
So get excited and don't spare the horses! Show your reading audience the glory of your novel and don't be afraid to take chances!
Friday, September 7, 2007
FRIDAY EVENING ANTICS
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; finished cleaning the office; gone to the AM/PM for a 64 oz OJ, Pink Lemonade and Rico Hatchata (a milk, rice, cinnamon drink) combination. (Interesting taste.)
Watching: NOW and Washington Week; Bill Moyer
Listening to: "The Fine Art of Killing Yourself" by Terror Phat; "Stripper" by Lords of Acid; "I Ran So Far Away" by Flock of Seagulls
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: DOMAIN NAMES--ARE THEY NECESSARY?
I've had this argument before with a few people: Why is it so important to have a domain name?
And the answer I kept getting was: So people can find me easier.
Really?
So...is it that hard to type in Schuyler Thorpe?
Or The Starchild?
Let's see.
Schuyler Thorpe turns up 96,500 entries on Yahoo!
Schuyler Thorpe turns up 9,167 entries on MSN.
Schuyler Thorpe turns up 67,100 entries on Google.
The Starchild turns up 1.1 million entries on Yahoo! (Keep in mind, not all of them are mine.)
The Starchild turns up 132,802 entries on MSN.
The Starchild turns up 1.3 million on Google. (Keep in mind, not all of them are mine.)
The issue isn't whether I need to have a domain name, but whether or not it'll help me reach out to my readers.
And it brings me back to the previous post of whether or not contests are equally beneficial.
Domain names can be a great help for those big name authors like Jacqueline Carey, but what about no name authors like myself--whom have a dozen of websites that aren't so isolated, aren't unknown--but have gotten quite a bit of traffic off of?
Are domain names still necessary?
The answer would be no.
After 5 years of being part of the internet experience, having a domain name is essentially null and void.
I already have exposure. People know me through my various sites. Why do I need to make things more complicated by having another add-on?
Especially one that can be hacked rather easily?
Doing: Writing this blog; finished cleaning the office; gone to the AM/PM for a 64 oz OJ, Pink Lemonade and Rico Hatchata (a milk, rice, cinnamon drink) combination. (Interesting taste.)
Watching: NOW and Washington Week; Bill Moyer
Listening to: "The Fine Art of Killing Yourself" by Terror Phat; "Stripper" by Lords of Acid; "I Ran So Far Away" by Flock of Seagulls
Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)
TOPIC: DOMAIN NAMES--ARE THEY NECESSARY?
I've had this argument before with a few people: Why is it so important to have a domain name?
And the answer I kept getting was: So people can find me easier.
Really?
So...is it that hard to type in Schuyler Thorpe?
Or The Starchild?
Let's see.
Schuyler Thorpe turns up 96,500 entries on Yahoo!
Schuyler Thorpe turns up 9,167 entries on MSN.
Schuyler Thorpe turns up 67,100 entries on Google.
The Starchild turns up 1.1 million entries on Yahoo! (Keep in mind, not all of them are mine.)
The Starchild turns up 132,802 entries on MSN.
The Starchild turns up 1.3 million on Google. (Keep in mind, not all of them are mine.)
The issue isn't whether I need to have a domain name, but whether or not it'll help me reach out to my readers.
And it brings me back to the previous post of whether or not contests are equally beneficial.
Domain names can be a great help for those big name authors like Jacqueline Carey, but what about no name authors like myself--whom have a dozen of websites that aren't so isolated, aren't unknown--but have gotten quite a bit of traffic off of?
Are domain names still necessary?
The answer would be no.
After 5 years of being part of the internet experience, having a domain name is essentially null and void.
I already have exposure. People know me through my various sites. Why do I need to make things more complicated by having another add-on?
Especially one that can be hacked rather easily?
Thursday, September 6, 2007
TOO LATE IN THE MORNING...
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; finished the dishes; my workout; cleaned up a little.
Watching: OKLAHOMA!; CBS Morning News.
Listening to: "Destroy Everything You Touch" by Lady Tron; "No Defect" by Inertia
Finished Reading: The Valiant (ST-TNG book)
TOPIC: BOOK CONTESTS-BENEFICIAL OR JUST PLAIN ANNOYING?
Growing up, I liked contests like the next kid growing up. I wanted to know what they were pitching and selling--as an added incentive to jumping on board.
I guess over time, I outgrew the idea of what having a contest is all about. I just didn't find it that exciting.
After a time--when you find yourself blitzed by thousands of mailers or e-mails declaring that they have a contest going on and nothing else--it's a mighty big yawner after a time.
You get bored with seeing the same thing over and over.
While contests are an important aspect to selling your book, there are some serious questions as to whether or not they really are necessary.
It may bag you some free publicity, but what does the contest really accomplish? What are its overall goals?
And can it be considered a rousing success without driving your readers nuts?
I have been considering doing contests for my books, but I have no idea on what to base them on. I guess you could say that I'm not a real big fan of commercial enterprise or ones based on chance.
I've tried the lottery over the past couple of years, and I got close once--but not without blowing about $160 over that same time period in the process. What it taught me was that the odds of winning are extremely remote--even after playing it in increments.
Contests are basically based on the same principle. The odds of winning something important is pretty much in line with odds of winning the lottery.
I'm just not sure if it's something worth doing. Especially with the books that I have.
It if was for something less important--something I could 'run' without consequence or second thought--I would do it in a heartbeat.
No question about it.
But I have deep reservations about doing contests on my novels.
Only because I seem to be doing well with web promotions and advertising as it is.
Doing: Writing this blog; finished the dishes; my workout; cleaned up a little.
Watching: OKLAHOMA!; CBS Morning News.
Listening to: "Destroy Everything You Touch" by Lady Tron; "No Defect" by Inertia
Finished Reading: The Valiant (ST-TNG book)
TOPIC: BOOK CONTESTS-BENEFICIAL OR JUST PLAIN ANNOYING?
Growing up, I liked contests like the next kid growing up. I wanted to know what they were pitching and selling--as an added incentive to jumping on board.
I guess over time, I outgrew the idea of what having a contest is all about. I just didn't find it that exciting.
After a time--when you find yourself blitzed by thousands of mailers or e-mails declaring that they have a contest going on and nothing else--it's a mighty big yawner after a time.
You get bored with seeing the same thing over and over.
While contests are an important aspect to selling your book, there are some serious questions as to whether or not they really are necessary.
It may bag you some free publicity, but what does the contest really accomplish? What are its overall goals?
And can it be considered a rousing success without driving your readers nuts?
I have been considering doing contests for my books, but I have no idea on what to base them on. I guess you could say that I'm not a real big fan of commercial enterprise or ones based on chance.
I've tried the lottery over the past couple of years, and I got close once--but not without blowing about $160 over that same time period in the process. What it taught me was that the odds of winning are extremely remote--even after playing it in increments.
Contests are basically based on the same principle. The odds of winning something important is pretty much in line with odds of winning the lottery.
I'm just not sure if it's something worth doing. Especially with the books that I have.
It if was for something less important--something I could 'run' without consequence or second thought--I would do it in a heartbeat.
No question about it.
But I have deep reservations about doing contests on my novels.
Only because I seem to be doing well with web promotions and advertising as it is.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
EARLY MORNING INTERVIEW RUN (Part 1)
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; finished shopping; taking the dogs out; fed the animals
Watching: Tavis Smiley
Listening to: Ian Van Dahl; Icon of Coil; INXS
TOPIC: AUTHOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THROUGH INTERVIEWS
Yeah, yeah...
We've heard this one before many of times:
"How do you advertise and market your book?"
>hits the snooze alarm<
Here's a simpler approach to doing it: Take all the guesswork there is to advertising and marketing and pitch what you want about the book and yourself as its author, and creator.
Keep it simple, neat, and clean. You don't want anything more complex than that.
So let's role play an interview on the following book and see how well things turn out, okay?
***
What is the name of your book?
It is called The Starchild.
What is the book about?
The novel is about a 14-year-old girl given the mantle of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore.
How many pages is it?
Roughly 1,273 pages. (1,250 after editing--maybe. It depends on what Linda decides.)
What audience are you targeting?
Anyone who likes a good science-fiction and fantasy read. I'm not all that interested in the usual play-by-play demographics. If you like this kind of genre, then the book may interest you. If not, that's fine. I'm not looking to play favorites here.
I'm just the book's author, not a referee.
When will the book be available? And what format?
Hopefully by the middle of 2009. I'm still waiting on the editing process. But it's a slow go, which is okay with me.
Format? E-book first for $7.50. But I am tinkering with a 2 for 1 special idea. I'm most interested to see how many people would be receptive to that marketing pitch.
Until I can get better established, I'm holding off the limited print edition for a couple of years. But for those who are interested, I am planning on breaking the novel into a serial.
Hopefully, that will happen within the first six months after the book's initial release date.
However, a lot what I am planning now depends on how well the e-book sells. So it's important that I keep getting the word out--whichever way possible.
Are you afraid of failing?
If I wasn't afraid, I wouldn't be here--tempting something mighty risqué. (laughs)
Failure for me is something that I am quite used to. I would be more worried about succeeding 90% of the time and having little in the ways of setbacks and of course--failures.
And if your book were to fail? What then?
If my book were to fail, it's only because I didn't put a whole lot of effort into it. That's the only reason why it would fail outright.
When you put out a product, you're expected to put out your best work. Not something that's half-assed done and skating on thin ice. People are simply not going to give you a second glance at what you have to offer--if you choose the quick and easy path.
Despite all my obstacles and opposition to this novel, I didn't buckle under the pressure. I simply changed the rules.
Changed the rules? What do you mean by that?
Changing the rules by doing things differently. We all learn by doing. But many people are still stuck on the old ways of accomplishing their goals. That's sooo 20th century! (chuckling)
You don't get much done by following everyone else and doing what they do. Believe me, I speak from experience. Once I found a better way, I went and did it--contrary to what others told me not to do.
Yes, it irritated them. Pissed them off even. But I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do.
So with writing my books, I adopted a similar stance. My position garnered a lot of flak--but only because I was still dealing with an obsolete mechanism which had yet to catch up with the rest of the everchanging world.
For example: I had people tell me that first-time writers shouldn't be writing large tomes like The Starchild. But I did it anyways because I couldn't be held back.
My imagination couldn't be held back.
Then I got people telling me that I won't be published because of it.
My response? "It won't stop me from writing them."
Then--as a last ditch attempt--some people suggested that my novel would bankrupt the book industry. (shakes head)
I ask them, "When was the last time an e-book bankrupted a $20B+/year enterprise?"
Seriously, I would like to see that happen! If it does? I'm going to take a bow as being the only author on record to accomplish such a feat!
What would you like to see come out of people reading The Starchild?
I would like people to see the possibilities that exist in their own world--by opening up their minds to ideas and dreams that once existed in the realm of science-fiction and fantasy.
By embracing change, we have less to fear from our fellow man. The Starchild has a lot of what I call 'reality anchors'--which ties the world we live in to the one that my heroine--Isis McGowan--lives in 10,000 years down the road.
Much of it has a lot of bearing on how we have treated ourselves in the past--only to be faced with such a bleak and uncaring future. Is it an omen of things to come?
I don't know. But by giving Isis the power to either save the world or destroy it--as she sees fit--it says a lot about the human equation for unlimited potential.
Why 10,000 years in the future? Why not in the present?
The Starchild was a culmination of 13 years of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. In all that time, I had to juggle many different draft prototypes. Many of which landed me in the middle of a theological nightmare.
I'm not religious. Not by a long shot. I stopped believing in God and religion because the answers contained in either--didn't hold water in the face of reality. In other words, I was lied to.
Once I saw how fake many of our religions were--based more so on politics and power--than faith and beliefs--I started to ask myself more questions about the origins of our own universe and existance. Putting forth science and hard evidence--rather than attaching some spiritual connotation to the problem at hand.
I think so many people miss out on the awe and wonder of our own world--that they forget one important thing: If god were to truly exist, we wouldn't be such a poor and decrepit society in the first place.
We would be everlasting and in perfect harmony with one another.
But past histories have shown that man was always at war with one another. And where was God--I ask you?
Nowhere to be seen, felt, or heard.
The ugly truth is that god never existed--except in the minds of man. That in turn allowed him to use religion as a weapon against his fellow man--to get what he wants.
But never used for the good of the many.
I stopped using theology heavily in The Starchild's final draft because I wanted to show that both God and religion were the works of men and women who wanted nothing more than to covet power and greed; while using religion as a crutch.
By showing the reader what a future without a base religion looked like--maybe people in the here and now could understand that our own religions are nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Our faiths are born out of something which has been proven time and again to be non-existent.
And while this may seem like an attack on people's individual faiths, it's simply how I've viewed the world's source of religion. And presently, it's being used to wage countless wars against other people and their countries.
That's why I can't subscribe to it. It would put me right in the middle of one big hypocritical quagmire. I do respect people's right to having their own beliefs and religions, but that doesn't mean I have to participate in them.
The timeline choice was a concience one. I didn't want to have to deal with the vulgarities of the present and have to have a superhero mixed up in today's world--especially when she's not ready for it.
So I shunted everything forward about 10,000 years, added a ruined society, and the rest--as they say--is history.
So there is no God or Christianity in The Starchild?
No. Not in the religious sense. And my characters don't seem to miss that fact. They live their lives how they see fit--which does disturb Keron Sogi'kiagta. She can't understand how people can live without a source of faith or religion.
Bayen Yelou remarked on how it almost destroyed the planet in the past. Once the God of Insanity came, religion and God basically had no basis in their reality.
Are you afraid that people will call you out on your beliefs?
The way I see it, we can either be afraid of something that has no basis in our reality, or we can be afraid of ourselves, and each other.
People can call me what they will, but it won't change me or my own beliefs in life.
So you aren't a religious person by choice. But what about spiritually?
Spiritually, I have a higher sense of awareness. Of the world around me and the universe in general. That's what I use to guide me. It doesn't have a name, it doesn't have a religion, it doesn't have anything which mankind has pinned itself down with.
How much the storyline ties in with their own lives growing up.
Like what?
Being a teenager. Growing up without one parent or both. But in Isis's case, it was her father. Kelin was jailed for something which wasn't entirely his fault.
Other things which cropped up was Isis's fierce streak of independence and cavalier attitude towards things. It reminded me of the days when I acted out in such a fashion.
And of course, Isis's perchance for not being a morning person. This tied in nicely with me--because I never liked getting up earlier either.
I'm sure that most of my readers will agree with that.
Doing: Writing this blog; finished shopping; taking the dogs out; fed the animals
Watching: Tavis Smiley
Listening to: Ian Van Dahl; Icon of Coil; INXS
TOPIC: AUTHOR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING THROUGH INTERVIEWS
Yeah, yeah...
We've heard this one before many of times:
"How do you advertise and market your book?"
>hits the snooze alarm<
Here's a simpler approach to doing it: Take all the guesswork there is to advertising and marketing and pitch what you want about the book and yourself as its author, and creator.
Keep it simple, neat, and clean. You don't want anything more complex than that.
So let's role play an interview on the following book and see how well things turn out, okay?
***
What is the name of your book?
It is called The Starchild.
What is the book about?
The novel is about a 14-year-old girl given the mantle of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore.
How many pages is it?
Roughly 1,273 pages. (1,250 after editing--maybe. It depends on what Linda decides.)
What audience are you targeting?
Anyone who likes a good science-fiction and fantasy read. I'm not all that interested in the usual play-by-play demographics. If you like this kind of genre, then the book may interest you. If not, that's fine. I'm not looking to play favorites here.
I'm just the book's author, not a referee.
When will the book be available? And what format?
Hopefully by the middle of 2009. I'm still waiting on the editing process. But it's a slow go, which is okay with me.
Format? E-book first for $7.50. But I am tinkering with a 2 for 1 special idea. I'm most interested to see how many people would be receptive to that marketing pitch.
Until I can get better established, I'm holding off the limited print edition for a couple of years. But for those who are interested, I am planning on breaking the novel into a serial.
Hopefully, that will happen within the first six months after the book's initial release date.
However, a lot what I am planning now depends on how well the e-book sells. So it's important that I keep getting the word out--whichever way possible.
Are you afraid of failing?
If I wasn't afraid, I wouldn't be here--tempting something mighty risqué. (laughs)
Failure for me is something that I am quite used to. I would be more worried about succeeding 90% of the time and having little in the ways of setbacks and of course--failures.
And if your book were to fail? What then?
If my book were to fail, it's only because I didn't put a whole lot of effort into it. That's the only reason why it would fail outright.
When you put out a product, you're expected to put out your best work. Not something that's half-assed done and skating on thin ice. People are simply not going to give you a second glance at what you have to offer--if you choose the quick and easy path.
Despite all my obstacles and opposition to this novel, I didn't buckle under the pressure. I simply changed the rules.
Changed the rules? What do you mean by that?
Changing the rules by doing things differently. We all learn by doing. But many people are still stuck on the old ways of accomplishing their goals. That's sooo 20th century! (chuckling)
You don't get much done by following everyone else and doing what they do. Believe me, I speak from experience. Once I found a better way, I went and did it--contrary to what others told me not to do.
Yes, it irritated them. Pissed them off even. But I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do.
So with writing my books, I adopted a similar stance. My position garnered a lot of flak--but only because I was still dealing with an obsolete mechanism which had yet to catch up with the rest of the everchanging world.
For example: I had people tell me that first-time writers shouldn't be writing large tomes like The Starchild. But I did it anyways because I couldn't be held back.
My imagination couldn't be held back.
Then I got people telling me that I won't be published because of it.
My response? "It won't stop me from writing them."
Then--as a last ditch attempt--some people suggested that my novel would bankrupt the book industry. (shakes head)
I ask them, "When was the last time an e-book bankrupted a $20B+/year enterprise?"
Seriously, I would like to see that happen! If it does? I'm going to take a bow as being the only author on record to accomplish such a feat!
What would you like to see come out of people reading The Starchild?
I would like people to see the possibilities that exist in their own world--by opening up their minds to ideas and dreams that once existed in the realm of science-fiction and fantasy.
By embracing change, we have less to fear from our fellow man. The Starchild has a lot of what I call 'reality anchors'--which ties the world we live in to the one that my heroine--Isis McGowan--lives in 10,000 years down the road.
Much of it has a lot of bearing on how we have treated ourselves in the past--only to be faced with such a bleak and uncaring future. Is it an omen of things to come?
I don't know. But by giving Isis the power to either save the world or destroy it--as she sees fit--it says a lot about the human equation for unlimited potential.
Why 10,000 years in the future? Why not in the present?
The Starchild was a culmination of 13 years of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. In all that time, I had to juggle many different draft prototypes. Many of which landed me in the middle of a theological nightmare.
I'm not religious. Not by a long shot. I stopped believing in God and religion because the answers contained in either--didn't hold water in the face of reality. In other words, I was lied to.
Once I saw how fake many of our religions were--based more so on politics and power--than faith and beliefs--I started to ask myself more questions about the origins of our own universe and existance. Putting forth science and hard evidence--rather than attaching some spiritual connotation to the problem at hand.
I think so many people miss out on the awe and wonder of our own world--that they forget one important thing: If god were to truly exist, we wouldn't be such a poor and decrepit society in the first place.
We would be everlasting and in perfect harmony with one another.
But past histories have shown that man was always at war with one another. And where was God--I ask you?
Nowhere to be seen, felt, or heard.
The ugly truth is that god never existed--except in the minds of man. That in turn allowed him to use religion as a weapon against his fellow man--to get what he wants.
But never used for the good of the many.
I stopped using theology heavily in The Starchild's final draft because I wanted to show that both God and religion were the works of men and women who wanted nothing more than to covet power and greed; while using religion as a crutch.
By showing the reader what a future without a base religion looked like--maybe people in the here and now could understand that our own religions are nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Our faiths are born out of something which has been proven time and again to be non-existent.
And while this may seem like an attack on people's individual faiths, it's simply how I've viewed the world's source of religion. And presently, it's being used to wage countless wars against other people and their countries.
That's why I can't subscribe to it. It would put me right in the middle of one big hypocritical quagmire. I do respect people's right to having their own beliefs and religions, but that doesn't mean I have to participate in them.
The timeline choice was a concience one. I didn't want to have to deal with the vulgarities of the present and have to have a superhero mixed up in today's world--especially when she's not ready for it.
So I shunted everything forward about 10,000 years, added a ruined society, and the rest--as they say--is history.
So there is no God or Christianity in The Starchild?
No. Not in the religious sense. And my characters don't seem to miss that fact. They live their lives how they see fit--which does disturb Keron Sogi'kiagta. She can't understand how people can live without a source of faith or religion.
Bayen Yelou remarked on how it almost destroyed the planet in the past. Once the God of Insanity came, religion and God basically had no basis in their reality.
Are you afraid that people will call you out on your beliefs?
The way I see it, we can either be afraid of something that has no basis in our reality, or we can be afraid of ourselves, and each other.
People can call me what they will, but it won't change me or my own beliefs in life.
So you aren't a religious person by choice. But what about spiritually?
Spiritually, I have a higher sense of awareness. Of the world around me and the universe in general. That's what I use to guide me. It doesn't have a name, it doesn't have a religion, it doesn't have anything which mankind has pinned itself down with.
And I am comfortable with that.
What about your book do you think readers will like the most?How much the storyline ties in with their own lives growing up.
Like what?
Being a teenager. Growing up without one parent or both. But in Isis's case, it was her father. Kelin was jailed for something which wasn't entirely his fault.
Other things which cropped up was Isis's fierce streak of independence and cavalier attitude towards things. It reminded me of the days when I acted out in such a fashion.
And of course, Isis's perchance for not being a morning person. This tied in nicely with me--because I never liked getting up earlier either.
I'm sure that most of my readers will agree with that.
If you could, what book would The Starchild be comparable to?
Unfortunately, my exhaustive research over the last decade has pointed to the fact that there is not one single book out there upon which my book could be related to.
I realize that this is critical to good book placement with the mainstream--but if your book (like mine) doesn't have a home, what chance will it have being sold successfully at the chain stores?
So are you saying that you're hosting a lost cause then?
No.
The problem with the mainstream is that they are too rigid and inflexible with their views of what a book should be and what it shouldn't. It used to be that a lot of new books popped up which defied description--and many found homes within the industry itself.
The problem is that even though The Starchild is primarily science-fiction/fantasy, the novel itself is completely alien to the mainstream. It does not fit anything that is--or was--on the market today.
So in other words, this book is so far outside the mainstream, the chances of it being picked up is extremely remote.
Have you tried to write other novels?
(chuckling)
Yes. I've written my fair share of books. But the majority still fall outside the mainstream.
Why is that? Is following the crowd not important? How else are you expecting to become successful?
To answer your first question: I don't write mainstream. I read it. To me, mainstream novels are my source of personal escape. But that's all. I have no desire to copy or emulate them.
The only thing I did was study some earlier published novels for pointers--grammar, spelling, punctuation. But I did not actively seek to follow in their footsteps.
It just wasn't my style.
Second question: Following the crowd is like seeking others' approval for what you are about to do in life. You need their permission before embarking on a new venture.
What's wrong with going at it alone? Find out what works best for you? I certainly found more joy in my writings, then I did if I were to try and emulate someone else by doing it their way.
And--as I found out--doing it their way didn't spell immediate success or instant gratification.
And that left me quite stymied. I was like, Why isn't this working?
Then I realized, "Because agents and publishers have been expecting this."
It's easy to copy and emulate something else without having a full understanding of it. But these agents and publishers are professionals. They are going to see right through your charade like it were nothing.
So I went back to what worked best for me. Does it matter if it will bring me a ton of money and such?
Not anymore. I've looked past the innate desire for money, wealth, and name recognition. It's not important.
As for your third question, success can't be measured by how much money you make or how well known you are. It's primarily by how much of an impact you have on people's lives--both directly and indirectly.
If you like helping people out like I do--than you're a success. If you can write and finish a book, then you are a success.
But writers will be writers. And they will always tie their books to how successful they will eventually become.
Sadly, not many make it. A lot of them burn out trying to be so successful--that they become more of a liability than anything else.
Success for me is measured by the fruits of my labor. Not by how much money I plan on making, how many people I can get to buy my books and so forth.
I've lived an impoverished lifestyle growing up. I still do--despite my best efforts to change it. But everything I've done points to the varying degrees of success I've tallied up.
Despite all the disabilities I have, I was known to never quit--no matter what the circumstances. The mainstream may have shut me out of a promising career as a published author, but it doesn't mean I have to give up my career as a promising writer.
That's success in my book. That's what success means to me.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
8:30 PM...
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog; finished 150 pushups; and watching the cats beat on each other for leftover canned cat food. (shrugs)
Watching: Something on PBS regarding the prison break from one of Germany's infamous prison camps of the second world war. (THE GREAT ESCAPE's been on before. It's a good documentary.)
Listening to: "Slave" by Gary Numan; Falling Stars by Haroon Piracha; and "Try" by Ian Van Dahl.
State of Office: Worse than New Orleans is at the moment; expect a cleanup on Aisle 4 later tonight.
TOPIC: THE VAMPIRESS HUNTER
One of my many book projects that I first completed in 2001--this is a remake of my first attempt at erotic romance involving one wayward vampiress hunter and a San Francisco detective.
The original involved a man named Andrew Scott, but I changed the detective to be a woman this time around by the name of Amanda Scott: A freelance detective whom has a special esper-type ability. And specializes in the paranormal.
As I stated in my other Yahoo! 360 blog, I was pretty burnt out over the "guy meets girl; guy gets girl"-theme.
I just wanted something different for a change with this book.
A different take on romance, the vampire lore, and such. So I took another approach with the novel and wrote it in the first person perspective:
I suppose that my crime of existence was the fact that I was born so very, very poor.
My family–they…they didn’t have very much to sustain either myself nor my sister, Ana , or my brother Petre.
But my mother and father were a proud people–born of excellent Romanian stock from my beloved nation–and descended from the tribal Slavs; immigrating from what was Old East Europe at the time.
So the land upon which we were born and bred upon–we were its masters as well as its loyal servant.
And me?
I bore my mother’s good looks as well–myself being born fair and gamine as any farmer’s daughter should be. Tall in stature, strong and limber in the body, but gentle and caring in the heart and soul.
Like my mom and my sister, I toiled the soil of my beloved homeland–alongside with my family–enjoying every blessed moment, every sacred second which passed by my youthful eyes.
Of course, this the opening to the book; a prologue if you will. But it only tells a little bit of my main heroine's tale--that of Maria Elena Dumitra.
Oddly enough, she still goes by her birth name while attending Berkley University. No one has sought to question her--and those that did, were told of a tale of loss and pain.
But it was just a ruse to cover the truth. No one questioned her after that.
What is different about this vampire novel is the fact that Maria likes both blood and chocolate:
I stared into the case even more, my eyes roving around for potential prey. Though I wouldn’t find the kind I naturally enjoyed from time to time, this one was of a kind that only satiate the beast within.
“Um…” I faltered for a second. “All of them?”
The old man smiled. “So you must be a student, then, huh? Berkley?”
“Yes…”
“Good school. I graduated there back in the 90s. When do you graduate?”
“Two more years.” I said automatically, before finding what I wanted. An enriched, 96% cacao, strawberry-infused bar of the darkest chocolate I saw in quite some time.
Did I forget to mention a couple of important things here? I was a student at Berkley, but I was also hopelessly addicted to chocolate.
Not just the lattes I drank, but the bars which I enjoyed with sweet relish.
So there you have it.
Something new and exciting about my upcoming novel, The Vampiress Hunter.
I only have about 4 chapters completed so far, but it's not going to be finished for a couple more years--as I am in no hurry to complete this novel.
But by the time The Starchild is published in 2009, people will know that I have more than one book--in more than one genre--waiting for them in the wings.
Doing: Writing this blog; finished 150 pushups; and watching the cats beat on each other for leftover canned cat food. (shrugs)
Watching: Something on PBS regarding the prison break from one of Germany's infamous prison camps of the second world war. (THE GREAT ESCAPE's been on before. It's a good documentary.)
Listening to: "Slave" by Gary Numan; Falling Stars by Haroon Piracha; and "Try" by Ian Van Dahl.
State of Office: Worse than New Orleans is at the moment; expect a cleanup on Aisle 4 later tonight.
TOPIC: THE VAMPIRESS HUNTER
One of my many book projects that I first completed in 2001--this is a remake of my first attempt at erotic romance involving one wayward vampiress hunter and a San Francisco detective.
The original involved a man named Andrew Scott, but I changed the detective to be a woman this time around by the name of Amanda Scott: A freelance detective whom has a special esper-type ability. And specializes in the paranormal.
As I stated in my other Yahoo! 360 blog, I was pretty burnt out over the "guy meets girl; guy gets girl"-theme.
I just wanted something different for a change with this book.
A different take on romance, the vampire lore, and such. So I took another approach with the novel and wrote it in the first person perspective:
I suppose that my crime of existence was the fact that I was born so very, very poor.
My family–they…they didn’t have very much to sustain either myself nor my sister, Ana , or my brother Petre.
But my mother and father were a proud people–born of excellent Romanian stock from my beloved nation–and descended from the tribal Slavs; immigrating from what was Old East Europe at the time.
So the land upon which we were born and bred upon–we were its masters as well as its loyal servant.
And me?
I bore my mother’s good looks as well–myself being born fair and gamine as any farmer’s daughter should be. Tall in stature, strong and limber in the body, but gentle and caring in the heart and soul.
Like my mom and my sister, I toiled the soil of my beloved homeland–alongside with my family–enjoying every blessed moment, every sacred second which passed by my youthful eyes.
Of course, this the opening to the book; a prologue if you will. But it only tells a little bit of my main heroine's tale--that of Maria Elena Dumitra.
Oddly enough, she still goes by her birth name while attending Berkley University. No one has sought to question her--and those that did, were told of a tale of loss and pain.
But it was just a ruse to cover the truth. No one questioned her after that.
What is different about this vampire novel is the fact that Maria likes both blood and chocolate:
I stared into the case even more, my eyes roving around for potential prey. Though I wouldn’t find the kind I naturally enjoyed from time to time, this one was of a kind that only satiate the beast within.
“Um…” I faltered for a second. “All of them?”
The old man smiled. “So you must be a student, then, huh? Berkley?”
“Yes…”
“Good school. I graduated there back in the 90s. When do you graduate?”
“Two more years.” I said automatically, before finding what I wanted. An enriched, 96% cacao, strawberry-infused bar of the darkest chocolate I saw in quite some time.
Did I forget to mention a couple of important things here? I was a student at Berkley, but I was also hopelessly addicted to chocolate.
Not just the lattes I drank, but the bars which I enjoyed with sweet relish.
So there you have it.
Something new and exciting about my upcoming novel, The Vampiress Hunter.
I only have about 4 chapters completed so far, but it's not going to be finished for a couple more years--as I am in no hurry to complete this novel.
But by the time The Starchild is published in 2009, people will know that I have more than one book--in more than one genre--waiting for them in the wings.
TUESDAY RUMBLINGS
Status: On vacation
Doing: Writing this blog
Watching: PBS's Rick Steve's Europe series (TV's on mute)
Listening to: "Emotional" by Falco; Final Fantasy 7 JENOVAD Trance OC Remix
State of Office: Worse than New Orleans is at the moment; expect a cleanup on Aisle 4 later tonight.
TOPIC: Author Introductions
Oh god! What have I done?!?
Created another blog using one of my other Yahoo! accounts. (It seems as though blogger doesn't want me to use the same account for a different blog. I'll have to talk to them about that--whenever they get off their butts to...you know...do something about it.)
Had to use my Foundation Aerospace one to get this thing to work. (lol)
Yeah...this could be a bad idea. I mean think about it: There's hundreds of thousands of blogs already created and I just went and created hundreds of thousands plus one.
Sigh...
You think that people like me would learn by now that most readers and visitors barely have time to glimpse a blog entry these days--let alone read one.
By and far, I'm not a newbie to this. I have a ton of blogs and websites out there--but nothing dedicated to me. The reason why I haven't done that is because I value my privacy.
I'm not talking about internet privacy because that's been pretty much blown out of the water. But the privacy at home and locally. I can tell you pretty much anything going on in my life on the internet--but at home?
Don't expect a miracle. It ain't going to happen. I'm simply too busy at the moment--consumed by chaos and other happenstance stuff--to stop for a moment to entertain people.
I just don't see the real point.
Don't get me wrong: I plan on becoming a successful writer.
I'm just not that much of a traditionalist--outside of roughing it. (I can create an impressive lean-two using a hack-saw, brush clippers, and about 2 rolls of rope twine.)
I don't go out there to seek a name for myself.
I hate advertising myself so openly and blatantly. (Sounds a bit fake if you ask me.)
I have my own methods. They may seem off kilter and not going according to Emily Post, but they work for me.
I just don't actively seek the limelight, the media attention, or whatever it is that drives most Hollywood powerhouses out there in the world today to severe alcoholism and prescription drugs these days.
Why? I want to be well known, but I don't be another Paris Hilton.
Her recent exploits completely turned me off to any potential media exposure for myself. If this is what it means to be part of the limelight--well, Fay Wray can have it!
I may be another Thomas Pynchon-style author whom seems to be hell bent on keeping himself out of the public eye, but this is the way that I am.
I use what resources I have afforded to me and I expect people to understand that--and be patient.
My books will come out when they are good and ready. Not when some mainstream hack demands that I write till my fingers bleed, or my head falls off.
I spent a long time on some of my books, but it wasn't because I was slow at it.
I just didn't see the need to rush.
I know the mainstream is in the business of rushing things and they are good at it--I'll grant them that--but for me, the art of writing isn't to rush. It's to tell a story in the only way that I can.
And it does take awhile to work the bugs out.
In the meantime, I plan on writing, promoting and advertising, and just going the way that's been pointed to me all these years.
Sometimes, you have a live a little bit before you can sit down and write about what you've seen.
Doing: Writing this blog
Watching: PBS's Rick Steve's Europe series (TV's on mute)
Listening to: "Emotional" by Falco; Final Fantasy 7 JENOVAD Trance OC Remix
State of Office: Worse than New Orleans is at the moment; expect a cleanup on Aisle 4 later tonight.
TOPIC: Author Introductions
Oh god! What have I done?!?
Created another blog using one of my other Yahoo! accounts. (It seems as though blogger doesn't want me to use the same account for a different blog. I'll have to talk to them about that--whenever they get off their butts to...you know...do something about it.)
Had to use my Foundation Aerospace one to get this thing to work. (lol)
Yeah...this could be a bad idea. I mean think about it: There's hundreds of thousands of blogs already created and I just went and created hundreds of thousands plus one.
Sigh...
You think that people like me would learn by now that most readers and visitors barely have time to glimpse a blog entry these days--let alone read one.
By and far, I'm not a newbie to this. I have a ton of blogs and websites out there--but nothing dedicated to me. The reason why I haven't done that is because I value my privacy.
I'm not talking about internet privacy because that's been pretty much blown out of the water. But the privacy at home and locally. I can tell you pretty much anything going on in my life on the internet--but at home?
Don't expect a miracle. It ain't going to happen. I'm simply too busy at the moment--consumed by chaos and other happenstance stuff--to stop for a moment to entertain people.
I just don't see the real point.
Don't get me wrong: I plan on becoming a successful writer.
I'm just not that much of a traditionalist--outside of roughing it. (I can create an impressive lean-two using a hack-saw, brush clippers, and about 2 rolls of rope twine.)
I don't go out there to seek a name for myself.
I hate advertising myself so openly and blatantly. (Sounds a bit fake if you ask me.)
I have my own methods. They may seem off kilter and not going according to Emily Post, but they work for me.
I just don't actively seek the limelight, the media attention, or whatever it is that drives most Hollywood powerhouses out there in the world today to severe alcoholism and prescription drugs these days.
Why? I want to be well known, but I don't be another Paris Hilton.
Her recent exploits completely turned me off to any potential media exposure for myself. If this is what it means to be part of the limelight--well, Fay Wray can have it!
I may be another Thomas Pynchon-style author whom seems to be hell bent on keeping himself out of the public eye, but this is the way that I am.
I use what resources I have afforded to me and I expect people to understand that--and be patient.
My books will come out when they are good and ready. Not when some mainstream hack demands that I write till my fingers bleed, or my head falls off.
I spent a long time on some of my books, but it wasn't because I was slow at it.
I just didn't see the need to rush.
I know the mainstream is in the business of rushing things and they are good at it--I'll grant them that--but for me, the art of writing isn't to rush. It's to tell a story in the only way that I can.
And it does take awhile to work the bugs out.
In the meantime, I plan on writing, promoting and advertising, and just going the way that's been pointed to me all these years.
Sometimes, you have a live a little bit before you can sit down and write about what you've seen.
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