tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81934977993635883492024-03-13T01:00:32.947-07:00Creative ChatterAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-69307760180035988262013-04-29T07:43:00.001-07:002013-04-29T07:43:56.996-07:00That Golden Horseshoe & a Thank YouThe other day my best friend and fellow author and sometime writing partner Melissa Goodman told me she was going to start walking behind me so that she would catch that golden horseshoe when it falls out. I laughed. But professionally and now personally it seems it's raining good fortune. And there's nothing better than sharing your good fortune with those around you. Especially those who've made the journey with and those who made it possible. And then the others who exist in both of those categories.<br />
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I have never been busier than I have been now in my writing career. On the hook for 23 contracts spread across three separate houses, I'm currently writing a trilogy, a stand alone, and 2 screenplays. I just finished a screenplay and am close to finishing another one. Book 2 in the trilogy is more than halfway done and the stand alone has less than a hundred pages to be written on it. And when I clear the deck I'm going to write and self-publish #24.<br />
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I have traveled a rough road to get here. Childhood was a lonely and terrifying time for me. The adults in my life couldn't be trusted. Men were the enemy by virtue of their actions, and though a few of them showed me they could be kind and loving, it was the majority who were cruel and violent that left their mark on me. I knew my mom and step-dad loved me, but the household was mecurial. They ran hot and cold, fine one minute, furious the next. It was a matter of walking on eggshells and it seemed no matter how good or smart or accomplished I was it was never good enough. They've mellowed in the older age and I never doubted their love for me, but growing up in a household like that leaves it's mark on you. Makes it hard to trust people. Makes you vulnerable to other things. As an adult I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I've been blessed in that regard. Even though I've had breakdowns I haven't had psychotic breaks with reality.<br />
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I've known what it's like to go to bed hungry and wake up hungry as an adult. I have a healthy dislike for hot dogs, spaghetti, and all things Ramen because of it. I did it in the name of pursuing the dream of making a film and in the midst of it that's when I had my breakdowns. People disappear and disappoint in the hard times. Very few stick around. Missy stuck it out as my friend. Those were some hard times. I wasn't always the nicest of people. I was sick, I was poor, and I was hungry and she was kind and along with the doctors she helped put me back together. I'm stronger than ever now.<br />
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I'm happy too. I'm going out on tour with my books. I even have a date! I'm entering Fright Night and Austin with my screenplays (co-written by that same Missy Goodman) and if there are awards to be won it will be all the sweeter because of the road I've traveled with my friend. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-69319101102478023822013-04-21T06:38:00.000-07:002013-04-21T06:38:13.910-07:00Self TransformationTo continue along the theme I started yesterday I'd like to get more into self-transformation. More specifically, reconnecting with a sport that I love even more than UK Wildcat college basketball. LDR-long distance running. And now, more than ever, I think I should be preparing myself to take part in it. Allow me to explain.<br />
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When the movie theater shooting happened in Colorado with the Batman midnight showing I was utterly freaked out and getting myself back to a place where I loved and made my profession and vocation was next to impossible. And with the attack at the Boston Marathon I knew immediately I would have to get back up on the horse or I might never run in a race again.<br />
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As it stands I weigh 289lbs. and quite frankly I am at risk for everything from high blood pressure to heart disease and diabetes. So I have decided to start running races even if they're just five and ten K's. But first I have to build my endurance back up. Which means getting my butt up out of bed every morning and and going whenever I can. I have no car so that means working around other people's schedule. Eating less, moving more.<br />
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I have started the vision board and writing more on various projects. I'll take pictures of me at the park walking (because trust me, I can barely do that) as I progress and FB and social media will become my sort of online vision board. I want success, someone to share it with and someone who embraces my love for running/walking as well as my love for writing. And I plan on making it happen. Here's a picture of me at 289lbs. I'm not thrilled with the idea of putting it on display, but it will help me own it and face it. So as I continue along I'll pick 5K's and 10K's with the ultimate goal of the KDF Mini next year (the Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon. And perhaps even the Triple Crown of Running).<br />
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So that's me. Amy McCorkle, author extraordinaire. I plan on there being a lot less of me by this time next year and being way healthier.<br />
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Until next time...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-56444556847335570472013-04-20T03:30:00.001-07:002013-04-20T03:30:04.153-07:00VISION BOARD & DREAMS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everyone has dreams and goals. Once upon a time I wanted to be a published author. Now I am, with oodles of contracts running out my eyeballs and have enough work to drive a wood man crazy. 2 in progress novels and 3 in progress screenplays, plus a book to be written! That doesn't count my books at my other houses lol. All of this coming at a time when I thought I would never know what it was like to be published.<br />
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Now on to conquer the world. I recently saw Kevin Smith's Burn In Hell Tour on YouTube. Each time I see him speak I'm more convinced than ever he's one of the most under rated storytellers of our time. But he gave the rallying cry of Why Not? The book, the movie, the record, whatever your dream was there was the overwhelming feeling was that life was short and that you shouldn't waste it.<br />
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I've always dreamed of winning the Austin Film Festival Bronze Typewriter and with 2 screenplays eligible for a couple of different categories, Why Not? I want to win an Oscar. Why Not? I want to produce and create an Indie Soap series, Why Not? I want to hit the bestseller's list again, Why Not?<br />
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At ConCave this year I had the great pleasure of sharing a table with Bertena Varney. (Pam we'll be doing Killer Nashville!). She was a great reader and said this was my year. And so far everything she's said has been true! She suggested I make a vision board. I said I wanted someone to share this success with she said that was very much a possibility. I know some don't give much credence to this sort of thing but she is fantastic and is a great guide. <br />
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I embrace my dreams and am making a plan to achieve my dreams and goals. And the vision board I created with what I dream of on it. This is my year. I really believe it. I've been blessed this year no doubt and I hope those reading this might know the success I have over the past few years.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-86123451586994049742013-04-19T06:46:00.001-07:002013-04-19T06:46:16.119-07:00VoiceI once saw a movie that inspired me to write the kind of heroes that most women dream of. I signed a contract where I got paid an advance. What I learned was that I'm one of those annoying writers who was more interested in rubric other than that of the financial gain to define what would be mean success for me.<br />
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I got a lesson in publishing as a business vs. writing as an art form. And while I had learned that lesson early on my time at MuseItUp Publishing had taught me that my voice was as important as the almighty dollar and while I could change a great many things my voice was not one of them. Which led to me making the hardest decision of my life in giving the money back and doing what I wanted with my manuscript.<br />
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I knew the manuscript was great. So I took it to Blackwyrm and while I must admit I'm terrified of what the edits are going to look like I love it there. The publisher, Dave has been nothing but warm and friendly and those whom I reached out to in the Con committee such as Ken Daniels have been fantastic as well.<br />
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My best friend and sometime writing partner Missy Goodman has said she's going to start walking around behind so that when the golden horseshoe falls out of my ass she'll be there to catch it. And I have been blessed. 23 contracts. 7 books out. Awards. I get a royalty check in most cases.<br />
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But I think the reason I have these things is because of my voice. It's definitive and I know how to hook a reader. I'm not bragging I can only assume that's what it is. I never imagined success would look like this. And to my friends who still struggle, your time will come, you work too hard for it not to.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-21885770305144431532013-04-03T03:59:00.001-07:002013-04-03T03:59:15.578-07:00B is for Bond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So how do you take your James Bond? Smooth like Connery? Forgettable like Lazenby? Difficult like Dalton? Light and fun like Bronsan? Or gritty and dark and played with relish by Craig?<br />
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Let's be honest, there is no right or wrong answer. But for my money there are two Bonds worth mentioning. Quintessential Bond, as in Connery, who originated the role and the Best Bond, Daniel Craig.<br />
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Before Casino Royale the brand was a bit long in the tooth. Although I like Bronsan as an actor (I adore him in the Matador) he is not my favorite Bond. But upon seeing Royale, however, I am an uber Craig fan.<br />
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The violent, not caring whether he lives or dies character with layers only hinted at in those beautiful intense blue eyes of his. Who falls in love despite his better judgment and even as he fights to save Vesper he believes in his love of Country. LOVE IT. Casino Royale is a great film with a fantastic love story and is great reboot to the series.<br />
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Then there's SKYFALL. Probably the one that will be talked about for a long time to come. Adele sings the perfect title song. Bond struggles the most. M.'s past comes to roost. And Javier Bardem is the perfect villain. You even get to see Daniel dig shrapnel out of his body (featured in the picture above).<br />
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For my money this is as good as it gets. And that's why for me, today B is for Bond!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-31520471036263699862013-04-01T15:29:00.002-07:002013-04-01T15:29:15.125-07:00A is for AdversitySometimes people look at what I've accomplished in the last two and half years and they think, wow you've really had it easy. Wow all you have to do is breathe and you get what you want. Wow, everyone really loves you. But let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.<br />
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First of all I'm fast approaching my 38th birthday and NOTHING has been handed to me. I've worked my tuckus off to get it. Now I will allow that when I was fast approaching my 36th year on this planet I had something of revelation. I went to digicon put on by Savvy Authors. And suddenly every lesson every taught to me become crystal clear as if someone had given me the decoder ring. I received my first contract and in then my second. In the July of that year I went to my first scifi con and met my second publisher and who would eventually become my third. I have won some awards in the process too. And attend more cons and had my first print book published.<br />
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But as a writer my adversity has come from the world outside of publishing. I have faced the typical variety, oh so you're a writer so what, variety from people I desperately want validation from. But I've also faced the more cutting variety. Poverty, which, until recently, has kept travel to a minimum. Abuse as a child, which I won't go too much into, but suffice it to say, things that have been said and done to me which should make me a much angrier and bitter person than I am. And in some cases I'm pretty sure I shouldn't even be alive. And then there's the mental illness which I cope with on a day to day basis. There's the bipolar disorder, the anxiety, and myriad of many other problems to mention.<br />
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The blatant disrespect I get on a daily basis is another form of adversity. If I can weather all of that I feel like I can enjoy the fruits of my long struggle at finally breaking through in the publishing world. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-56748068067106689842013-03-30T04:52:00.000-07:002013-03-30T04:52:02.928-07:00The Small Press<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contrary to popular belief I can’t make it rain when
it comes to contracts. However, when it comes to the pitch and a synopsis I am
one of heck of a pitch woman, and when it comes to finding a quality small
press the pitch, and knowing what you want, is key.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I belong to three houses. MuseItUp Publishing, Hydra
Publications, and Blackwyrm Publishing. One of them is a Canadian e-publisher,
one is located in Madison, IN, and the other is in my hometown of Louisville,
KY. They each offer me something different. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Muse taught me how to self-market and put me through
a kind of marketing bootcamp. Between them and digicon of Savvy Authors I came
out ready made to promote myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hydra gave me my first print book. That’s what I
wanted. Hydra is in its infancy as a company and Frank has big ambitions for
the company. I signed on for the print book though. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And finally Blackwyrm, they offer a unique set up.
They cover marketing, cover, editing. The book breaks even you get 50% of the
profit. You can ‘jump the stack’ by actively marketing yourself and your work.
It’s more of a partnership and some may not like it, but I’ve seen some things
that I really like about it and I knew what I was walking into.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knowing what a small press can and can not do for
you in key. Their budgets are not that of a traditional press and even theirs
aren’t great for the unknowns. Keep that in mind. Authors have a daydream about
what the Big 6 can do for them and while it does sometimes happen, it’s rare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now all of that being said I am enjoying the fruits
of my labor. The small press rewards fast writers, fast learners, and those who
can pitch extremely well, at least, that’s been my experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And in this in flux publishing world it would do
people well to research their press they choose to go to very well. You don’t
want to be ripped off. I’m not paying a single out of pocket cost to have my
books published. And if you are, you’re in the wrong place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you travel this crazy world of writing and
publishing remember, writing is art, publishing is a business. But that’s
another lesson for another time.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-33817332344021910142013-03-15T11:55:00.000-07:002013-03-15T11:55:03.225-07:00Conglomeration<pre>
Last year, I helped out with Louisville?s multimedia science fiction
and fantasy convention, ConGlomeration. They were so grateful, that
they forced me to serve them for all time. I mean, they inducted me
into the convention committee.
ConGlomeration has some great people and events this year. On a normal
year, you can expect to see authors, artists, gamers, musicians, and
cosplayers (costume wearers). This year, we also have mad science
experiments and a troupe of actors.
We're bringing in the independent theater group The Alley. At their
own place, they've performed such wonders as Evil Dead: The Musical,
Star Wars in 60 Minutes or Less, The Matrix, and Hitchhikers Guide to
the Galaxy. At ConGlomeration, you can see them perform two radio
serial-based shows that are included in your normal ticket price:
Flash Gordon and Commander Cody. Normally, to see two shows by The
Alley would cost more than your generally admission to ConGlomeration,
but these are being thrown in as a bonus.
We?re bringing LVL1 (?Level 1?) hackerspace. They?re a collective
group of scientists, engineers, inventors, and other geniuses who
share a four-story building filled with high-tech equipment, all so
they can play around with it and see what kind of wild stuff they can
make. They're bringing a device that will let ConGlomeration attendees
explode a watermelon with just the power of their minds.
But we're not neglecting our usual attractions. There will be dozens
of vendors, carrying everything from books to jewelry to swords. Our
hospitality suite will be stocked with all the drinks and snacks you
want, including a 'high tea' on Saturday as led by the Louisville Tea
Company. There will be board games, card games, miniatures games, and
roleplaying games played throughout the event, including a game lending library to </pre>
<pre>try out new games. Noted gamer Sean Patrick
Fannon will be up from Atlanta. Indie Press Revolution will be on hand
to introduce you to weird games you?ve never heard of.
There will be dozens of events, seminars, and panel discussions.
Listen to filking (parody singing), and concerts by Drunk & Sailor and
by the Klingon klezmer folk band Il Troubador. Watch our masquerade
for amazing contests and skits.
We also have special guests of honor that we?re bringing in:
Artist: Beth Trott is primarily a watercolorist but also works in a
number of other mediums, including digital, oils, graphite, and pen
and ink. Her clients include Fantasy Flight Games, Paizo Publishing,
White Wolf Publishing, and Wizards of the Coast, and Harper Collins.
Author: Ian 'Lizard' Harac is an alpha nerd, with works published for
Dungeons & Dragons, GURPS, the Dying Earth books, and the HERO system,
as well as a regular column for PC World magazine. He leads the
science fiction and fantasy writers group in Louisville. He'll be
reading from his novel The Rainbow Connection, in which an FBI agent
goes to the land of Oz to solve a Munchkin?s murder, and from Medic,
in which a sentient ambulance in a post-apocalyptic future spew his
thoughts.
Publisher: Jason Sizemore of Apex Books is by his own admission a hillbilly done good.</pre>
<pre>His Apex Magazine has featured pieces from some
of the most famous science fiction and fantasy authors today, and was
a finalist for the 2012 Hugo Awards. As an editor, Jason has been
nominated personally for a Hugo and a Stoker Award.
What: ConGlomeration
When: Friday April 5 ? Sunday April 7 2013
Where: Ramada Inn Plaza, 9700 Bluegrass Pkwy, Louisville KY 40299
How Much: Admission is $45, which covers the entire three days, and
all of the programming.
Online: www.conglomeration.info, www.facebook.com/conglomerationky,
twitter.com/conglomeration
Who: YOU!
--
Dave Mattingly
BlackWyrm</pre>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-65381203451957099352013-02-27T05:35:00.001-08:002013-02-27T05:35:57.296-08:00When Editing...I wish I could say I was the most mature person in the world when it comes to editing. And while I think I am pretty pragmatic about things, every once in a while I too can be difficult if the issue is something I feel sore spot about.<br />
<br />
Two things. Age difference and abuse. Dealing with the latter's subject matter can be difficult. And feeling a personal connection to it sometimes I take the critique's personally. What I have to remember is that this person doesn't know me or my history. They're just looking to make the story better. As for age difference and who has a problem with it. I think it's a generational thing. I noticed the older men and women in my life have more of a problem with it than say the younger ones. What I have to remember is I want a wide swath of people to read it. Still some things I am willing to fight for.<br />
<br />
That being said I think I have the most awesome editor in Austin. He's there to answer my questions and give me guidance on which direction might be best to take. He allows me to find my voice in those suggestions. Yes, he's a guy and my background is in subgenre romance/subgenre erotic romance but he helps shore up my skills and make sure it's not just a wallpaper thriller in the sense there's a few tropes and a fat romance in the middle of it. It makes the writing harder, but in the end it makes me a more skilled writer.<br />
<br />
Also, a shoutout to Denise for making the looong trip from Maryland to Kentucky for one of the more..interesting Cons I've been to and calling me gold. Even if yesterday was rough I came out the better for it. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-29307389261253243042013-02-12T03:09:00.001-08:002013-02-12T03:09:41.729-08:00Welcome DB Corey<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">An
interview with Detective-Sergeant Jacob “Moby” Truax, lead detective in <i>Chain of Evidence</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Good evening. I am your host,
DB Corey, and tonight I’d like to welcome Detective-Sergeant Jacob “Moby” Truax
of The Maryland State Police—Special Investigations Unit. This evening we’re
discussing his latest—and perhaps his final—assignment: The Cyanide Killer
case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hello, Detective Truax. It is,
Tru-ax, correct?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">That’s right. Two syllables.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Great, I just wanted to be
sure. So thank you for granting my request for an interview. I know there are
aspects of The Cyanide Killer case that you cannot discuss, so we’ll just try
to work around them, OK? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My listeners have submitted a
number of questions, hoping to quell their curiosity regarding <i>Chain of Evidence</i>, so if you don’t mind,
I’ll get right to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: This
question comes from Hanna Braver. She’d like to know how you came by such an
interesting and unusual nickname. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Ms.
Braver. Thank you for your question. I came by the name Moby in the 8<sup>th</sup>
grade. One of our class assignments was to read <i>Moby Dick</i> by Herman Melville, and write a 20-page book report. Our
teacher wanted the top three scores to give oral reports to the class. Mine was
the 2<sup>nd</sup> reading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When she handed back my report
to read aloud, I told her I didn’t need it and recited it word for word as she
followed along. She didn’t know that I possessed a photographic memory. It was
as if I was reading from the page. She was so impressed that she had me address
the entire 8<sup>th</sup> grade class during an assembly. I was mortified,
standing there center stage, and my buddies never let me live it down. They
started calling me Moby. The name stuck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Well,
Detective, after hearing that, I feel the need to ask a question of my own.
What sort of advantage does your eidetic memory give you in your work? Does it
give you an edge in your investigations, or your interrogations of suspects?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: There
was a time, when I was young, that my photographic memory was what the kids
today might call, a “mad” skill. But it wasn’t a skill at all. It was a gift. I
could remember everything I was ever exposed to: dates, names, events, numbers,
faces.... There were no limits. It was like a super power when it came to
police work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: You
speak of it in the past tense, Detective. Why is that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">:
Because I no longer possess it. I am nearing 60, the state’s age of mandatory
retirement. Memory fades as one gets older, even a photographic one. Now I’m
lucky if I can remember what I did yesterday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: I’m
sorry to hear that, Detective. I expect it’s quite a loss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: To
say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: But
you must be looking forward to retirement. Do you have any plans, other than
fishing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: I’d
like to say I’m looking forward to retirement, but truth is I can’t afford it.
Have you been paying attention to the economy, Mr. Corey? Our illustrious
government has spent the state into poverty and has decimated the pensions of
retirees to cover the shortfalls. Now they have their eye on those of us <i>nearing</i> retirement. They’re just looking
for a reason to send us on our way in order to cut our pensions. They’re hiring
college kids for a fraction of what they pay tenured cops, and if I screw up
this investigation, my new captain will have my job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Ah
... yes. So, we have another question here, from a Ms. Natalie Bowman. She’d
like to know why is it you haven’t apprehended The Cyanide Killer yet. She says
she’s afraid to leave her house and that the police have had plenty of time to
catch him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Not
all homicides are cut and dried, Ms. Bowman. I can’t divulge too much, but
suffice it to say that this investigation does not follow what we would call
normal patterns. For example, the killer’s MO has changed since the earliest
victims. Those were older women. The more recent victims are younger, prettier.
But the toxin used in each homicide is identical across the board. The evidence
points to a single killer, but I’m not so sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">:
Sounds like you have a different theory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: I
believe there is a copycat at work, but my captain has ordered me to focus on a
single killer. True, the weapon is identical in all cases, but from what I see,
that’s the only similarity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: An
identical weapon? Isn’t that enough to go on?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Not
for me. But as I said earlier, the captain is looking for a reason to unload my
kind. He’s gone as far as to cozy up to the FBI—saddled me with a “partner;” I
have her card right here. Special Agent Francis Vecchio. I call her Frankie.
She hates it, so all the more reason to stay with it. She’s an attractive gal,
and if I were 30 years younger I might have a go at her. But to my old-school
way of thinking, she doesn’t know much about detective work. Keeps asking
stupid questions and flashing her cleavage. I think my captain put her with me
as a spy, or at the very least, a distraction. I must be careful around her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: An
attractive partner? Well, Detective, I suppose there are worse ways to go. So I
see the phone lines are lighting up, so how about we take a call?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Hello
caller. You’re on with Detective Truax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Woman Caller</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Detective
Truax, from what I’ve heard, you sound old. Ah, ol-<i>der</i>. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but isn’t there someone else that
could take this Cyanide case? Maybe someone younger?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">:
Huh.... Sure there is. And I wish the captain saw fit to assign it to one of
his young hotshots. The last thing I need at my age is to chase a serial
killer, especially one who leaves nothing behind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Woman Caller</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: But
you just said you think there is a copycat out there. That means two killers,
right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Like
I said ... the last thing I need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: We
have another caller. You are on the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Male Caller</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: I
work in the department, Detective, and I hear things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Yeah?
Like what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Male Caller</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Your
Captain Atkins isn’t going to wait much longer for you to make some progress in
the case. There are rumors he’s looking for a reason to replace you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: I
thought I said that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Male Caller</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: And
when he does, what will you do then, Detective? You’re running out of time,
Truax. So is your career. You’d better hurry. You’re in the way. People are
waiting to step in.<u> <o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Who
is this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Oh....
They hung up. You have an enemy, Detective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: More
than one. That sounded like Atkins’s Golden Boy, Nichols; brown-nosing as—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">BLAT! BLAT! BLAT!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: What
the hell was that?<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Our
engineer hit the dump button. I’m afraid you can’t use that kind of language on
the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">:
Huh....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: It’s
just as well, because I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for this evening.
I apologize to those listeners and callers who didn’t have their questions
answered, and perhaps Detective Truax will consent to come on with me another
time to address them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Truax</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Yeah,
sure I will. And once I make the connection of the younger victims to the older
ones, I’ll solve the Cyanide Killings. Maybe, I’ll even write a book. God knows
I could use the money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Corey</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: Now that’s something I would enjoy reading. I’ll
look forward to it. And I know a good publisher when you’re ready. So that’s it
for- tonight. Thanks for joining us, and I’ll look forward to hearing from all
of you again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Good night, one and all, and
please don’t text and drive. It’s bad for your health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">G’night now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(Queue <i>Dragnet</i>
theme. Should be public domain by now.) </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-40247931143127077292013-02-07T08:32:00.001-08:002013-02-07T08:32:55.105-08:00Standing On the Shoulders Of OthersI work hard. Insanely hard. And my success did not come easily. Although good things are coming now, great things even I worked very hard for them and I deserve them. I often say my career can be best summed up by the actress Holland Taylor's acceptance speech for her Emmy she earned on 'The Practice', overnight ;).<br />
<br />
I'm no spring chicken and I two years ago about this time I had manuscripts, some half-finished, some done, scripts too. And whenever I would venture to send them out I got big fat rejection letters. Finally a friend and fellow author Pamela Turner told me about Savvy Author's Digicon. I went. I pitched. Three publishers and an agent asked for my work. All of them accepted. I chose MuseItUp Publishing, where the author is nurtured and shown the ropes. It's been crazy ever since.<br />
<br />
I went to Fandom Fest on a tip from Pamela, (who is the author of the fabulous Death Sword and several shorts featured in anthologies by Rayne Hall and Family Tradition, an ebook from MuseItUp Publishing). There I met Frank Hall of Hydra Publications. Who picked me up as an author with my books Bounty Hunter, the Breath of Life series, the Gunpowder & Lead series, and my short story Set Fire to the Rain. Which brought me the attention of the people running the Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Conference. In turn I checked them out. They ran a publishing house Intrigue Publishing which specializes in Mysteries & Thrillers. Which...you get the point.<br />
<br />
So I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Pamela Turner. She works hard. Insanely hard. I think we're both a little insane to be honest with our work schedules.<br />
<br />
Lea Schizas of Muse, (Another Way to Die, No Ordinary Love, GLADIATOR, & ORACLE) made me a better writer. Frank Hall of Hydra (I mentioned the titles at his house) gave me my first print and audio deal. And Denise, Austin, and Sandra of Intrigue gave me my first advance for Sin Of My Father.<br />
<br />
I've won awards, GLADIATOR was an Amazon bestseller, and I was on the cover of Target Online Magazine. If it can make it anyone can. You just have to be insane enough to keep pushing at the wall when it feels like it will never move.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-79935460406880844012013-02-05T02:21:00.001-08:002013-02-05T02:23:10.796-08:00EXCLUSIVE WITH HANNIBAL JONES<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">I don’t generally like being in the spotlight. I guess
the Secret Service taught me it’s better to keep a low profile.<br />
<br />
But I’m not with them anymore, and this reporter Irma Andrews helped me unravel
a series of murders that caused a lot of collateral damage among the families
of the victims. So when Irma asked for an interview I didn’t see how I could
say no. Despite my girl Cindy’s prompting I refused to do a TV piece. Appearing
in print is bad enough. At least Irma didn’t misquote me, but I think she left
out some stuff that makes the whole thing a little misleading. Anyway, here’s
the way the piece ran:<br />
_______________________________________________________________________________________________</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial;">I met with private investigator Hannibal Jones in his office in the
Anacostia section of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state>.
He offered me an excellent cup of coffee, which he said was made from Costa
Rican beans, and sat at his desk with sunlight pouring in through large front
windows. The office was small and Spartan, sparely furnished but warm and
bright. Significantly, while I took notes during the interview, so did Mr.
Jones.<br />
<br />
Irma Andrews: Thank you for speaking with me today. You are listed as a private
investigator but your card describes you as a troubleshooter. How would you
describe what you do, and why is it different from what most P.I.’s do?<br />
<br />
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hannibal</st1:place></st1:city> Jones:
Most private investigators do employment vetting, matrimonial and divorce work,
insurance claims and that kind of stuff. My work is a lot more focused. My
clientele is individuals, not corporations. I work with people who are in
trouble and don’t know where to get help.<br />
<br />
IA: But you do bodyguard work.<br />
<br />
HJ: Sometimes.<br />
<br />
IA: And solve mysteries like any detective.<br />
<br />
HJ: On occasion.<br />
<br />
IA: And if a person has been threatened?<br />
<br />
HJ: Look, I do whatever’s necessary to help somebody who’s gotten themselves
into a jam. I don’t think much about what that might be, going in.<br />
<br />
IA: What qualifies you to do this sort of work? What is your professional
background?<br />
<br />
HJ: As soon as I was old enough I moved to the States and joined the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city> police
force.<br />
<br />
IA: You weren’t born in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>?<br />
<br />
HJ: No. I was raised in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
My dad was an MP in the army. My mom was a German national. We lost Dad in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Anyway, I came to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
to be a cop and I was going to bring Mama over as soon as I was settled but she
passed.<br />
<br />
IA: While you were away.<br />
<br />
HJ: (pause.) Yes. While I was away.<br />
<br />
IA: I’m sorry. So, you became a policeman…<br />
<br />
HJ: Three years on the force to make detective J.G. Then three more as a
detective. Then I passed the Secret Service entry exam. I spent seven years as
a special agent for the Treasury Department, in the protective service.<br />
<br />
IA: But after seven years, you resigned.<br />
<br />
HJ: Yeah, well, stuff happened. I should have been one of the uniforms instead
of going to the protective service. You see, in the protective service they
expect you to not only protect your principal’s life, but his reputation too. I
didn’t think my duty should included covering up a politician’s stupid actions.
My boss disagreed.<br />
<br />
IA: Any politician in particular?<br />
<br />
HJ: Not going to go there.<br />
<br />
IA: A national figure? Executive branch or…<br />
<br />
HJ: I’m not going to go there.<br />
<br />
IA: All right. So you had friction with your supervisor. For that you resigned?<br />
<br />
HJ: Yeah. Well, after I knocked him on his ass the service was good enough to
let me resign.<br />
<br />
IA: Should I print that?<br />
<br />
HJ: Why not. It’s what happened. They were actually pretty nice about it. Could
have stopped me from getting the P.I license you know.<br />
<br />
IA: So why this whole troubleshooter concept? How did you get into this
business?<br />
<br />
HJ: I guess in a way I did it for Mama. She always wanted me to follow my dad’s
example. He was always there for people, always looking out for the little guy.
Here in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state>,
it seemed like there was an overabundance of little guys that needed looking
out for.<br />
<br />
IA: How do you get enough clients?<br />
<br />
HJ: It was slow at first, but word of mouth is a powerful force in the hood. I
did a couple of jobs pro bono - kept a couple of kids from being approached by
drug dealers. After that people started to find me when they had problems.<br />
<br />
IA: So your neighbors are your clients?<br />
<br />
HJ: My clients are people with problems bigger than they are. Naturally that
happens more often to people without big money.<br />
<br />
IA: I know you’ve also had more affluent clients.<br />
<br />
HJ: Well, I do get referrals from old Secret Service contacts. And I get
business referred to me by the attorney I introduced you to, Cindy Santiago,
my, um, friend.<br />
<br />
IA: So you do have entrees into a higher financial stratum, but the well-to-do
don’t come to Anacostia. Why have your office here?<br />
<br />
HJ: That’s a bit of a story. This building used to be a crack house, believe it
or not. I was hired to clear the bad element out of here for the owner. In the
process I kind of bonded with the neighborhood. I felt at home here, and I knew
if I stayed, the bad element wouldn’t be back. I guess the owner knew it too.
He made me a very attractive offer to stay.<br />
<br />
IA: Why not join a larger detective agency?<br />
<br />
HJ: I like deciding who I’ll take as a client, and what kind of job I’ll do.<br />
<br />
IA: What kind of job will you do?<br />
<br />
HJ: All kinds. Well, no matrimonial stuff, or spying on people waiting for them
to do wrong. But I do personal protection, missing persons, sometimes get hired
to prove an accused person innocent. I’ll chase a bad element away like I did
here, keep drug dealers away from kids or a pimp away from a hooker who wants
to quit. Negotiate with loan sharks. Basically, if you have to deal with the
bad guys and don’t want the police involved, I’ll usually handle it.<br />
<br />
IA: You carry a pistol. What do you think of gun control laws?<br />
<br />
HJ: Good gun control means being able to hit the target. Anybody who wants a
gun can get one, so restrictive laws only keep people who obey the law unarmed
and unable to defend themselves.<br />
<br />
IA: But isn’t it too dangerous for everyone to be able to have a gun?<br />
<br />
HJ: Based on statistics, it’s too dangerous for everyone to be able to have a
car. Maybe guns should be more like cars. You get a license to carry at 18,
after passing a mandatory training course.<br />
<br />
IA: Interesting. How would you describe your relationship with the police?<br />
<br />
HJ: I’d call it mutual grudging respect. I don’t mess with them. They don’t
mess with me.<br />
<br />
IA: How would you describe your personal relationship with Cindy Santiago?<br />
<br />
HJ: I would describe it as personal.<br />
<br />
IA: What have you learned doing this?<br />
<br />
HJ: I’ve learned that most people are sheep. They’re not looking for trouble
and they’ll do the right thing if you let them. A few people are wolves. They
prey on the sheep, and they’re going to do wrong no matter what you do. They
need to be shut out or put down hard.<br />
<br />
IA: And you? Where do you fit in?<br />
<br />
HJ: Me? I guess I’m the sheepdog. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-5130671907841090982013-01-06T05:47:00.001-08:002013-01-06T05:47:19.839-08:00Write Yourself Out of This One Joan WilderI am in an undesirable situation. Not career wise. Career wise life couldn't be better. Two publishing houses. Three series, fourteen contracts, five books out, two more coming soon. It's my personal life that seems to be in the crapper. Well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but personally I am miserable/<br />
<br />
A show of hands if there are any other 37 year olds living at home with their parents by choice? A show of hands of those who aren't respected, whose work is seen as oh you get a contract oh big deal? How many hear when are you going to get paid real money for your work?<br />
<br />
My best friend and sometime writing partner said, if you're so miserable, write yourself out of this one Joan Wilder. So I've reset and that's what I've decided to do.<br />
<br />
No one can guarantee the lightning in a bottle success that seems to come along every once in a great while but I know I'm good enough and this story is EPIC enough to get us a sale when things seem so bleak. Granted, I am waiting to hear back on a novel I submitted to what looks like a wonderful small press in Intrigue Publishing, but I do fear they will reject me even after the revisions I've made. But then isn't that every writer's fear,<br />
<br />
So how am I writing myself out of this one? There is a long gestating story that has seen many forms.<br />
<br />
Ariel & Adriana Stuart are the long suffering twins who have survived a mob hit on their families, and Beale and Stone are the men charged with protecting them from the enemies who want to finish the job. So any time you're in a nasty situation watch Romancing the Stone and...write yourself out of this one Joan Wilder.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-90321218019111929962013-01-01T12:24:00.001-08:002013-01-01T12:24:41.413-08:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!I am not one for resolutions because well I always fall down on them. But I do have some goals. So those I would like to share.<br />
<br />
I would like to write three books this year. QUEEN, the final installment to the Gladiator Chronicles series, and the last two books in the Breath of Life series.<br />
<br />
2) Finish edit on YOU KNOW MY NAME, which if it is accepted the title will be changed.<br />
<br />
3) Lose 50 pounds by Romfest.<br />
<br />
4) Train for Kentucky Derby Festival MiniMarathon (a 13.1 mile race).<br />
<br />
5) Lose 100 pounds by December.<br />
<br />
There are few more things but those are the biggies. Of course there's the New York book but that has to wait until my current obligations are filled with the other stories.<br />
<br />
I'm going to chronicle my journey with pictures and regular blogging about my life. This is my platform and that means the good and the bad will come out. There will be good days and there will be bad days.<br />
<br />
I know this isn't much of an entry and surely I'll be up to standards later. I've been sick this last month and really it's a bit taxing now.<br />
<br />
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But my current weight is 275. Here is a picture of me at that weight. A big girl but ready to take on the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-23817139505005839872012-12-20T07:46:00.000-08:002012-12-20T07:46:06.733-08:00How Sweet It IsThis last year I've been on something of a writer's high. Producing work at breakneck speeds and turning them into contracts. Even more so than last year. I had three contracts at this time last year! Which is amazing in and of itself. This year I have 11 more to add to it. So how did I do it? I listened. I learned. I promoted and gave thanks. And I even won a few awards this year.<br />
<br />
Here's the thing. I did not always agree with my publishers. But I always kept in mind they had the book's best interests at heart. They have a business to run. And I realized as time went on they were teaching me valuable lessons. I have three series to my name now. The Gladiator Chronicles, Breath of Life Series, and Gunpowder & Lead (a 5 ebook series I'm co-authoring with my long time sometime screenwriting partner Melissa Goodman). I've LEARNED a lot, I've cut my teeth and now I'm getting ready for hopefully bigger and brighter things.<br />
<br />
On my wishlist for 2013 is good health. This bought with the flu has left me with a nasty case of laryngitis. I will definitely get that flu shot!<br />
<br />
Also on the list, an advance paying contract. An agent. And perhaps an iconic series character to hang my New York contract on. And to land on the New York Times Bestsellers list. But only time will tell if I'm ready for that.<br />
<br />
So on this day, the day before the end of the world. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Good Kwanza, and a Happy New Year!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-70460301758392377832012-12-11T03:10:00.001-08:002012-12-11T03:10:48.442-08:00The GirlsEvery writer has those set of characters that they just can't leave alone. That they go back to time and again because they're like a favorite set of children.<br />
<br />
Typically I'd say this is most obvious in the way George Lucas writes about his Star Wars characters. The movies that are actually good Episodes 4-6 you'd say he found the heart of his story, place where all of the action happened. However, he can't stay away from them.<br />
<br />
You got 1-3 mediocre film at best and now we're going to be getting 7-9. However, he always said he saw 9 films so who am I to judge. It's not like I don't have my own set of Star Wars characters that don't draw me back in from time to time.<br />
<br />
However I think this stab at them just might propel me and my co-author into the mainstream. Missy and I refer to them as the girls. Honestly they've been kickin' around since 1997 and were the first thing we ever created together.<br />
<br />
We cast it after the fact as far as the girls went and Kate Winslet became our guru. Maurice Benard has always been Beale Alstair and Stone had been a rotating character.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-21861610272250548562012-11-07T09:34:00.002-08:002012-11-07T09:34:50.350-08:00The Morning AfterIt is no officially over. We have elected a President for the next four years. President Barack Obama.<br />
<br />
No more commercials. No more Presidential debates. And I promise, the wall photo I just shared of the women elected to the Senate is the last one I will send. I'm not afraid to say it. I'm a liberal democrat who voted for Barack Obama.<br />
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As a woman there was no other choice to be made. A close look at the Republican Party platform let me know rather quickly, along with Romney's choice as a running mate that my best opportunities as a woman and a professional writer lay with the Obama camp.<br />
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Some may disagree, indeed many did. But I have to admit, as things stretched long into the night and I saw the cultural divide between the North and South and as a resident of KY was embarrassed by my state's extreme sentiments. Of course, I'm reminded that as much as I love being from here and the traditions of being from a Southern family, I have to remember that people like my biological father won't even carry a picture of his grandson because he's biracial. The fact a biracial man is now president for another four years may well drive him over the edge.<br />
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As an author I have the freedom of speech to say just about whatever I want whenever I want with certain limitations. Like not to scream FIRE in a crowded movie theater. When the voter suppression effort started in force I was disgusted by a party who in an effort to win sought to shrink the electorate as opposed to expand their message to include everyone.<br />
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I am a woman. People fought before me so that I could do things that honestly I took for granted. I did my civic duty yesterday and put the only person in office who had the message that included me.<br />
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But I say to the people who are so filled with anger and bitterness that a 'way of life' is passing them by. This president wants to embrace you. He will fight for you in ways perhaps your short sighted anger won't let you see at the moment. But he knows right from wrong and has delivered in ways he promised. Have heart, things are moving forward and even if you voted against him his message includes you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-14080979193637850702012-10-24T07:50:00.000-07:002012-10-24T08:00:34.868-07:00GLADIATOR & NANOSo my blog has kind of fallen into a lackluster place where I do none of the heavy lifting and let other authors come on and talk about their books. Well, too be honest. I've felt kind of burned out as of late. And yesterday I was feeling the stress and the burden of the morning after a brilliant debate performance by our president. This morning I awoke believing my book was free on Amazon. That's right folks, I woke up at 4:40AM expecting to get to work promoting GLADIATOR. But nope. It was not to be. My book, which I asked for the 24th and 25th free somehow ended up being today and tomorrow. Friday I will be occupied all day either travelling, sitting on panels, or being an exihibitor at Utopia Con. Now I could get mad and throw a fit or just kind of go with the flow. My publisher is sick and generally speaking she works very hard. I hardly think she purposefully said, 'let's sabotage Amy' lol. (Get better Lea). So if you don't hear it tomorrow. Hear it now. GLADIATOR will be free tomorrow and Friday. Download it. Enjoy it. For me it was about very real problems in this world. I just happened to write steamy sex and love story too. The language is rough. The violence is gritty. But the love story is powerful. Here's the link for tomorrow:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-The-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0094JN30M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351089669&sr=8-1&keywords=gladiator+kate+lynd">http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-The-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0094JN30M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351089669&sr=8-1&keywords=gladiator+kate+lynd</a><br />
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Okay, now that the commercial is over on to NaNoWriMo, my book tours, and where the hey my head is at. Want to know what kind of story I'm writing for this contest, check it out!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-gLRp5bSpw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-gLRp5bSpw</a><br />
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Now last year I wrote a lot of Dystopia and I will continue to explore that very fertile ground. But this year I'm returning to the playground of Another Way to Die and Set Fire to the Rain. Thrillers with a sexy competent hero with a dark and mysterious past and a deeply troubled heroine with deadly capabilities yet is very vulnerable. This song, this film inspired me to get cracking in this field again. Can't wait for November!<br />
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My Bounty Hunter book tour dates are this:<br />
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October 26-28th at the Millenium Hotel for Utopia Con in Cincinnati, OH<br />
November 3rd at the Shepherdsville, KY Author Fair at the Ridgway Library<br />
November 8th in Lexington, KY at Joseph Beth Booksellers at 7PMAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-15334864343526678202012-10-23T13:42:00.001-07:002012-10-23T13:42:12.668-07:00Gladiator- And What Inspired It- <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Author Kate Lynd turns up the heat in this post apocalyptic struggle of love, lust, and survival. The characters are well developed as you see the depth of their emotions throughout the novel. This novella is packed with intrigue, action, and scenes that will get your pulse racing. If you enjoy action and erotic romance, "Gladiator," is the novella for you.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This is a great story! I have been a post-apocalyptic fan ever since I was a kid in the 80s and we all thought we were going to get nuked by the Soviets. I normally like my PA more Mad Max-style, dudes in supercharged dune buggies fighting over gas in the desert. This is a more grim and realistic look at where we'd end up "After the End" than all those cool (but cheesy) old 80s movies, and was clearly written for women, but as a guy I still loved it. The fight scenes are REALLY good, and the erotic parts were pretty damn sexy, too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">- </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Gladiator unravels the tale of what happened to Tristan and how he slid into the life of a gladiator as he searches for a path to redemption. This isn't a story for the under-18 crowd but the plot and characters are engaging with a world that has me longing to learn more.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">And my personal favorite:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">- </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book itself, however, is destroyed by the absolute pornographic language throughout. The story could have been made beautiful but instead the writer chose to appeal to the lowest level of readers. I have deleted it from my Kindle library and will purchase nothing else by this author. What a letdown!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may be asking yourself why did you include the ripping review when the others clearly enjoyed it so much? Because I wanted to prove a point. Not every book is for everybody and what one person takes away from a book is clearly not what someone else will. The first two reviews are from men. And I think it's interesting to note the third review mentions it's not for the under eighteen crowd. And the one who didn't like it considered it pornographic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And why this revisiting of a book that's been out for a while. GLADIATOR is going to be free again tomorrow and Thursday. I love to talk about Daniel Craig, music and sexy gladiators, but in the end that's not what the story was about for me. It was a commentary on our society and how people will do self-injurious things politically when their prejudices and socially conservative views make war on their common sense. When HATE over rules our sense of right and wrong and we do stupid things in the name of that hate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dystopian themes are not pretty ones. They expose the uglier sides of our culture. And GLADIATOR is the first book in a trilogy. ORACLE travels similar territory but pushes the story forward. The third book, QUEEN forces a character introduced to face the consequences of her actions and there is the question of whether or not she will find her redemption at this point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the third review for reasons the reviewer perhaps will never understand. Our current political climate terrifies me. People are willing to walk into darkness even when one party is so clearly manipulating them. To me THAT is pornographic. They use voter suppression tactics. They are attempting to shrink the electorate and push out the disenfranchised and the most vulnerable. THAT is pornographic to me. Sex, violence, and foul language? To me I find it refreshing that all three of those reviewers can read and express themselves freely as I am free to write what I want and express my views as I see fit. Because agree or disagree it is the cornerstone on which our society is built.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-60620779835634449942012-10-17T05:53:00.002-07:002012-10-17T05:53:20.152-07:00Where Have I Been?Such a long, long story. Ever hear of burn out, bipolar disorder, not wanting to take your meds because you have the silly notion that they're blocking you. Well I too have fallen under this bit of fallacy and folly. I have been writing since shortly before February 2011. Either blogs, screenplays, short stories, short novels, or novellas. I've also been promoting my ass off. They tell you finding a balance is important as a 'normal' person, but as someone with bipolar disorder it is absolutely essential.<br />
<br />
But here's the reality, when it comes to my career I am a bit of a workaholic. I write fast, I promote incessantly and I drink copious amounts of caffeine and eat horribly and probably don't get nearly enough sleep. If I don't take my meds correctly, which I am ashamed to admit I haven't been as of late, that is a sure fire recipe for disaster. And after I finished Breath of Life I watched a disastrous performance of a candidate I supported and absolutely freaked out.<br />
<br />
I mean full on, full blown panic attack. I was dealing with these anxieties in the books I was writing as of late and the books were getting increasingly darker. (As you can see, I don't have much faith in people) I foolishly pitched an agent with an unfinished manuscript, I had 30 pages on a screenplay that was one of the strongest pieces I had ever done in that format for a contest, and me and my dad got into it. Then, the bottom fell out and I was so depressed and cried those big fat Matt Damon tears of Good Will Hunting. It was cathartic but I was considering walking away from that agent opportunity and the screenplay.<br />
<br />
But you see, I have this aversion to quitting. Whether it's an internal competitive drive, or a left over from my days as a runner where I competed against myself, or even my will to finish and accomplish things if I only set my mind to it I don't know. I like to think it was taking the medicine and getting a cheerleading effort from my secret weapon Tanja Cilia, and a sweet fan letter from a husband and wife, Tim and Abby Druck who loved Gladiator and Bounty Hunter that lifted me up. Or maybe it was a combination of all of those things.<br />
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I'm still healing and feel raw but I know this, I'm getting better. So why don't you join me on my GLADIATOR tour. I'm giving away free stuff and there's a lot of cool info about my series to be had! Until next time...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-62011666683292761512012-10-02T05:47:00.002-07:002012-10-02T05:47:14.433-07:00Bounty Hunter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To say that there weren't qualities of the hunter to the left in that of Logan Mitchell Jr., the half-breed Lonegal-human of the book Bounty Hunter of my upcoming novel (my first print book by the way) would be a bold faced lie.<br />
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James Bond's redeeming quality is that he believes in his duty as a patriot to England, and more than that, to M. Reportedly that will all be tested in the coming film.<br />
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In Bounty Hunter, Logan is an outsider. Embraced by neither culture he does the only job deemed acceptable by human society, that of a bounty hunter. Tracking down human and Lonegals alike he does so with little little to no compassion and without much care as to what will happen once they are out of his possession.<br />
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The legal system is not kind to criminals, especially half-breeds and Lonegals. Not that Logan typically cares, but when the case of an escaped pregnant, p.o.w. half-breed with connections with his thought to be dead father comes across his desk Logan must decide, help her, or turn her over. While James Bond would most likely seduce her and easily turn his back given his experience with Vesper, Logan finds himself pulled in to her plight and fights within himself to get to the truth and find out is she at all what she seems.<br />
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Folks I'm going to be touring with Bounty Hunter and would be happy to see any number of you out at the different locations.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-77082590619331743712012-09-25T08:36:00.001-07:002012-09-25T08:36:22.000-07:00GratitudeLast night I had a row of sorts with my family. They are jealous. And while I didn't help matters I take issue with a great deal of what they said. My dad is especially caustic and nasty these days. When one does not eat to their emotions everything comes out. Including the anger. I made the mistake of admitting I loved my pet more than I loved any one person in my life. But to be fair, I have trouble connecting with people. In the past people have consistently let me down, including the family of which I speak. But they don't see it that way. However, there is one thing I care more about more than anything and that is my writing. So while they remind me of why I choose my adopted family of friends over them on a consistent basis, let me express why THEY mean the world to me.<br />
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Missy, the one who is, while not perfect, is my rock as my best friend. She believes in me, she gets me, and she understands why I am the way the way I am. If she were Daniel Craig she would be perfect for me. Unfortunately she's not, so I'll settle for the friendship.<br />
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Carla, the Spike personalited, youtubing, genre movie watching, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fan. I can cut loose with her often enough to get relief from the dysfunction of my family to appreciate that they really do love me in spite of the inability to understand me as a person.<br />
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Fellow author Pamela Turner, where do I begin. It wasn't that long ago that the culture of the publishing industry was unkind to epub authors, and a certain element still is. But seeing your success with Death Sword gave me the courage to take the leap at digicon which I would have never found had it not been for you. I know the road is hard. And it wasn't that long ago that I felt the sting that you do, but I believe in you. I know it can happen. You are there for me in ways my family perpetually fails at. And for that I am grateful.<br />
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Elise, my writer friend I found at Adrian's Angels, my best long distance friend. You indeed are an Angel. And one day your ship will come in.<br />
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And of course Daniel Craig, Adrian Paul, Kate Winslet, Maurice Benard, Russell Crowe...too many Angels to count. The dream continues and I am grateful to you all.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-13546387439352903622012-09-15T10:42:00.002-07:002012-09-15T10:42:54.951-07:00Here's Hydra Author Michael Turner!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Story of <s>an</s>
<s>Author</s> <s>Writer </s> a Scribbler<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dear Sanity,<o:p></o:p></div>
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A few things
happened while you were out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My name is
Michael Turner, and most of what will follow, is not a lie. The other little bit however, is very much
so. That being said, where shall we
start? Maybe we should start at the
beginning, or maybe… at the end. No… the
beginning might be best, since the end has not yet found us. It would probably just depress you
anyways. Endings always do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So let it be
known that I relate what follows, only because I believe that some of you have
gone through pretty much the same. That
is correct. I firmly believe that some
of your minds are almost as warped as mine… from experience, circumstance…, and
life in general. Now strap in boys and
girls, it’s going to be a bumpy ride… or maybe not. So where was I…? Ah… yes, the beginning. That is where we should begin, for that will
not be a lie.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was born, (Men
cheered, woman fainted, and children waved multi-colored flags. –lie, but
sounds good with a British accent.) and some other things happened after that. Then for the better part of seven years, my
life was more or less, lived in a cubicle of a certain size. Not a small one, but also not a very big
one. For most of eight hours a day, five
days a week, and sometimes longer in hours and days, I sat in that cubicle. Do you know how much solitaire and
minesweeper one can play in all that time?
I found out, and it would only frighten you to know. (lie… I didn’t
count) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most days the
work did not fill the time but I still had to be there. At least the pay was good, though the boredom
of days that never seemed to end weighed heavily against the good feelings of
monetary gain. I liked to read before,
but in this job, I really had the opportunity to truly devour some books. Imagine taking four years and having the
chance to just tear through almost a book a week, occasionally in less
time. I’m sure a few speed-readers out
there are saying, “I do that already.”
Well I’ve never understood speed reading, and have never been able to do
it. I actually like to read things slow. I savor every last word and syllable. A book is like that old quote about a
journey. It’s not about getting
there. It’s about everything along the
way. I know speedy. That’s just crazy talk. So where were we?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy-wkXWN0FO4xvMwRRh9EjJZHC4KbDaCKqh0C6rjK4td4dj2N3PqLVcSAkSxXC2inuOoNVcrJj9o4teIzBRAMeSwgjLRcC0-xNBBB_Rp1Ynn-eT0LCABJKKxIWbMtfPUJPjIRkZYCdDA7/s1600/DSC_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy-wkXWN0FO4xvMwRRh9EjJZHC4KbDaCKqh0C6rjK4td4dj2N3PqLVcSAkSxXC2inuOoNVcrJj9o4teIzBRAMeSwgjLRcC0-xNBBB_Rp1Ynn-eT0LCABJKKxIWbMtfPUJPjIRkZYCdDA7/s320/DSC_0679.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
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The books
unfortunately only kept my mind occupied for so long. Did I mention that I get bored easily? Well… I do.
After awhile the boredom and I think a bit of insanity was digging its
way through my brain. This job was not a
good place for my mind to be, so it had to eventually go someplace else. That place was a world of my own
creation. It was safer there than in the
office. While it was gone, I did somehow
kill my boss’s cactus. She never asked
me to watch another plant for her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was probably
not there no more than three weeks when I first picked up the pen. It’s interesting that when your boss walks
by, and you are scribbling on a notepad, I believe you actually look busier
than when you’re playing solitaire or minesweeper. I also believe your boss knows exactly what
you’re doing on that computer. Those of
you with your minds in the gutter, please install the helmet. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What I started
to write was definitely not Shakespeare.
In fact I believe most writers would have swatted my nose with a rolled
up newspaper, for some of the things I dropped out of my pen. I’m sure there are still plenty who would do
the same for what I am currently writing.
That didn’t matter though. Those
were my worlds, my creations. No one had
to visit if they didn’t want too, but sometimes they did. All I asked was for them wipe their feet
first.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Seven years I
read books and scribbled on my notepads.
Then something entirely expected happened. I was fired. (lie) Truthfully the whole
company was downsized. Still this was a
problem. After one attempt and many
short stories, my second attempt at writing a book wasn’t quite done. I still had ten chapters to handwrite, and
that was just the first draft.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-not the
end……. (This is not a lie.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsCu8RGTKkcWqwUISQ3y95B2uRNE-1FrcAtreeoYDcfBM0pfhVBbL0cl4aQgVmxEdY9jxosnJPJvupg_Fxc-I6VXPQilupK-zgpUybhz94LzYdOMEQ8ygH4MN12P_fhKsedy2UZQbbto5/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsCu8RGTKkcWqwUISQ3y95B2uRNE-1FrcAtreeoYDcfBM0pfhVBbL0cl4aQgVmxEdY9jxosnJPJvupg_Fxc-I6VXPQilupK-zgpUybhz94LzYdOMEQ8ygH4MN12P_fhKsedy2UZQbbto5/s320/Books.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My name is
Michael L. Turner. I am the Author of
the “Kings and Dragons” series.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This winter I
invite you to enter my world. (Please
wipe your feet)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Visit me on
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Turnerbookpage">http://www.facebook.com/Turnerbookpage</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Or my blog: <a href="http://michaellturner.blogspot.com/">http://michaellturner.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Also Check Out:
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.hydrapublications.com/michael-l-turner/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.hydrapublications.com/michael-l-turner/</span></a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-8887538782310996512012-09-13T06:23:00.001-07:002012-09-13T06:23:46.478-07:00Welcome Hydra Author Raven Bower!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h9z561CFtWLNIX6_T84pbie1qz14XJ-yGHdsic6YXGU3KAZ4OJjQvTIZbP0FqIWcjdlhaf7q2mJ6vaw50QIMIx0t-M-HEz5IqBidpALpisplUMwu4o0szsG4YGA7IlPpanqUaeZ_ev5H/s1600/Primal+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h9z561CFtWLNIX6_T84pbie1qz14XJ-yGHdsic6YXGU3KAZ4OJjQvTIZbP0FqIWcjdlhaf7q2mJ6vaw50QIMIx0t-M-HEz5IqBidpALpisplUMwu4o0szsG4YGA7IlPpanqUaeZ_ev5H/s320/Primal+Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Hi Amy and thanks for hosting me
today for the Hydra Publications Blog Hop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">You asked who my hero was – it’s
my husband Lain. Like my favorite heroes in fiction, he goes above and beyond
the norm, exceeding what’s expected and bringing entirely new dimensions to our
relationship, family and career. He works full time and often over time, yet
when he gets home he’s right at work – whether it be helping the kids with math
or fixing the lawn mower or cutting wood to keep us warm. He’s often my
co-author and always the first to read and make suggestions to our stories. He
creates stellar, deep worlds rife with conflict and chaos – currently he’s been
hard at work developing our shared-world of Andronia for Hydra Games. As if all
that wasn’t enough, he is following his passion in electronics and taking on
the challenge of fixing and upgrading Carver amplifiers as a side job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Yet, within all of that, he
manages to find time for gardening, playing video games and RPGs, reading and
creating invaluable memories with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">It’s a great blessing to have
found Lain and be able to live, work and play together with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">About the Author:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Raven is the author of the
Supernatural suspense series, Apparitions (optioned as a feature film), the
Vengeance urban fantasy series, Nymph’s Lair, the Draekyn Spears adventure
fantasy series and the Weeping Dark: Bleeding Edge epic fantasy series. She’s
the Lead Designer and Head of Hydra Games – creating RPG mods, manuals and
shared-world novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">When she’s not writing, Raven spends
her time with her husband and co-author Lain and their four kids, their two
hell hounds and chaos cats. She’s an avid reader, organic gardener, addicted to
movies and Star Trek. Her current pet project is building a cemetery in their
yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">For more about Raven visit her
website at:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.ravenbower.com/blog" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.ravenbower.com/blog</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Facebook:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RavenandLainBower?ref=ts" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">https://www.facebook.com/RavenandLainBower?ref=ts</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a;">Twitter: @ravenbower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8193497799363588349.post-85560583333682533782012-09-12T08:14:00.000-07:002012-09-12T08:14:04.240-07:00Say Hello to Hydra Author Blaine Lee Pardoe!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ElWutecxunWUL-CLjahNUMwvM73HTs9qsS_DFKHYnwtKq6H5PDewhoTpMqtOt2wI96CI7CnjLKVDQU1K-pJPPEy7Wgb_X2SpuU-whH0LhktThGZWhQvIkEJX_2tgL1onZlpfpq5-_iSg/s1600/Creeper.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ElWutecxunWUL-CLjahNUMwvM73HTs9qsS_DFKHYnwtKq6H5PDewhoTpMqtOt2wI96CI7CnjLKVDQU1K-pJPPEy7Wgb_X2SpuU-whH0LhktThGZWhQvIkEJX_2tgL1onZlpfpq5-_iSg/s320/Creeper.png" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-jV1-E3CVZxqq7OZLEfxO02JLNIKT3eXeNnm3M9vFFNZtZeBarYmVizUruZxE7waiqHH9ewWrjaJNXB-G2SmJ0oRdBMKnccm5DJGi9-Yg_GWZW0ow5-BFT8z6c0H7mbGftRDwHtkJO3H/s1600/DSC00847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-jV1-E3CVZxqq7OZLEfxO02JLNIKT3eXeNnm3M9vFFNZtZeBarYmVizUruZxE7waiqHH9ewWrjaJNXB-G2SmJ0oRdBMKnccm5DJGi9-Yg_GWZW0ow5-BFT8z6c0H7mbGftRDwHtkJO3H/s320/DSC00847.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The long road to getting published - <u>Virginia Creeper</u>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Eight
years ago I began to write the story of the events portrayed in my book, <u>Virginia
Creeper</u>, and a few years after that began to market the idea. I had to
wait, out of the request of one of the parties involved with my 'research' for
the book. (When you read the book, you'll understand…) My agent shopped it
around and we actually got a few very enthusiastic responses. Editors liked the
fact that the book had its roots in real events and locations. Oddly enough,
that was what caused them to back off. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Two
of the publishers wondered if the book might generate the kind of response that
came from <u>The Blair Witch Project</u> - where suddenly people flocked to
Burkittsville Maryland causing a great deal of strife with the local community.
There was apparently a lot of backlash from the movie claiming it was filmed in
Burkittsville, and nervous publishers backed away from that kind of controversy
at the time. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Editors
are funny people. I wasn't worried about people driving up to Pignut Mountain
looking for the Fitzwater cabin. I saw that as potentially good media. Besides,
I didn't have an ego that assumed that millions were going to read my book.
Those risks seemed minimal. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The
other publisher said some of the images were disturbing. Yes, they were. He had
some ideas for altering the plot, the characters etc.. Publishers do this from
time to time, and generally I go along with them. After all, they allegedly
know the business. But I saw that these changes were altering the fundamental
parts of the story that drove the plot. I couldn't change those things - and
you'll understand if you read the book, why. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Slowly
the book became shelved for other projects that were moving forward. Every so
often I pulled it out though, added more to it polished some of it up, played
with how I wanted to tell the story of the events that unfolded in 1998 in
Fauquier and Culpeper County Virginia. I sent it out now and then to a
publisher but responses were lukewarm. One suggested adding zombies to the
story. Talk about succumbing to the latest trend? I couldn't do that. First off
it wasn't true to the events in the story, secondly, it was pretty blatant
pandering. When I want to do a zombie book - I'll do it in a fictional piece
where it fits my needs and desires. (And, for those of you curious, that will
be next year!) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Last
year I pulled the book out again. My wife told me it was time to finish it. She
knew the story intimately and believed in it enough to prod me forward. I
surveyed the landscape of publishers. I wanted to find a newer one, one that
wouldn't attempt to change the story at all but recognize it for what it was.
Some queries to authors and folks I know in the business pointed to Hydra
Publishing. They loved the story for what it was and we arrived at good terms.
Now that the book is out I get emails from people telling me how it frightened
them, kept them up at night, caused nightmares. I love it! I did my job as a
storyteller if that is result. More importantly, the story is finally out there
and people like it. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Whew!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13896656527438542035noreply@blogger.com0