Self Transformation

To 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Until next time...

VISION BOARD & DREAMS

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.

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.

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?

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. 

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.

Voice

I 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

B is for Bond

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?

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.

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.

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.

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).

For my money this is as good as it gets. And that's why for me, today B is for Bond!

A is for Adversity

Sometimes 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Small Press

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Conglomeration

 
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 

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.

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