D. Thourson Palmer's Blog, page 12
March 12, 2015
Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett said, “We are trying to unravel the Mighty Infinite using a language which was designed to tell one another where the fresh fruit was.” If anyone got close, it was Sir Terry himself. If you’ve never read any Discworld, you’re doing yourself a disservice. It’s satire of the highest order, and it’s wiser and funnier and just better than almost everything.
Never before has the death of a famous stranger saddened me as today’s news did. However, we must remember that a person isn’t gone till the ripples they’ve made have ceased, and I expect Terry Pratchett’s to travel and rebound and surge for quite some time.
Pratchett wrote about Death (not death, but Death, the anthropomorphic personification) often. I can think of nothing more comforting than to imagine Death, finally getting to meet the person who got him so right. “What can the harvest hope for, if not for the care of the Reaper Man?” It’s true, as was everything he wrote.
March 11, 2015
OItS Appears in (614)Magazine
Check it: 
, and share with your friends!
“In our Apostrophes section, (614) Magazine attempts to highlight some of the incredible literary talent that lives, works, and writes in Columbus.”
February 25, 2015
Free to Download Fiction Anthology “Through the Suffering of Others”
You want some free fiction? Check out Through the Suffering of Others, an anthology featuring established and up-and-coming writers, available for download here, at Fictiongarden.com. There’s nothing to sign up for or do except get yourself a whole bunch of great short stories and novellas. You just might find your new favorite author. The anthology also features my new original short work, “The High Red Country,” a tale of revenge that begins in fire and ends with – well, you’ll just have to read it.
February 24, 2015
Author Spotlight on Reddit’s /r/books
Hey folks, I’m doing an author spotlight today at www.reddit.com/r/books. Stop by and ask a question!
January 29, 2015
Dead Man – Streaming Netflix Movie Review
I can’t believe I waited so long to watch this. A spectacular, odd, and puzzling film which I’ll be thinking about and certainly revisiting for another viewing.
A Jim Jarmusch (Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai; Only Lovers Left Alive) western emanating style and complexity, Dead Man is one of those flicks that I’d only really heard of on my Netflix instant queue. I gave it a closer look and, aside from pre-Pirates Johnny Depp, found – Jim Jarmusch! A score by Neil Young? Billy Bob Thornton! John Hurt! Alfred Molina! Robert Mitchum! Iggy Pop?! There are even more really fantastic and surprising actors in this, too many to list, but needless to say I jumped right in, brushing off my chagrin at having left the movie to languish on my queue for so long.
Jim Jarmusch
Accountant William (Bill) Blake (no relation to the artist and poet) heads to Machine somewhere in the West to start a new job, only to discover the job’s taken. He finds himself at the end of the line, with no money and no prospects. A simple gesture of kindness to Thel, a beautiful woman who makes paper roses, leads to a series of unhappy events and choices which take William Blake further and further from what he knows. Aided and guided by Nobody, scholar, mystic, and outcast of the local Native American tribe(s), Blake is on a journey through the mirror, unaware he’s already a Dead Man.
Dead Man is filmed in black and white, lending it a style more reminiscent of 40s Westerns than the Leone/Eastwood era. Further setting it apart is the dreamy, kind of trippy vibe, established immediately and reinforced with strange occurrences and poignant, quiet moments that would have been cut from a bigger studio film. Be warned, if you’re looking for fast-paced action, this ain’t it. That’s not to say there aren’t a few boxes of ammo fired, badass lines, or unusual characters–just don’t expect constant shootouts and bar fights.
The depiction of the Native Americans throughout the movie is especially well done and (reportedly) quite accurate. Neil Young’s haunting, stark, and largely-improvised score is perfectly matched to the film. As mentioned, there are too many great performances to list, but Hurt and Molina stand out, and it was nice to see Johnny Depp act a role a little more nuanced and meaningful than some recent ones (*cough drunk pirate cough*). Gary Farmer, whom I’ve only seen in Jarmusch movies but (according to IMDB) is in literally everything, is just fantastic as Nobody.
Jarmusch has a talent for a kind of quiet, heartbreaking combination of violence, peace, hope, and tragedy it’s tough to put words to. Watching Blake’s journey tuned a random evening’s Netflix selection into the discovery of one of my new favorite movies, and provided food for thought for a long time to come. The moment it was over, I was ready to watch it again. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2015
Ours Is the Storm Release Day!
Today is the official release date of Ours Is the Storm!
It’s now available for purchase from the following retailers:
Amazon (paperback or Kindle edition) – http://www.amazon.com/dp/1633370208
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...
Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ours-...
and soon on iTunes
If you like it, please consider submitting a review on any or all of these sites. I appreciate it, and that’ll help drive more readers to the book.
Also, check it out and review on Goodreads.
Thank you all for your support and friendship, and happy reading.
January 11, 2015
Goodreads Giveaway!
Enter for a chance to receive a free, autographed copy of Ours Is the Storm
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Ours Is the Storm
by D. Thourson Palmer
Giveaway ends February 11, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
January 9, 2015
Ours Is the Storm – Chapter One
The Storm is coming, January 14th. Until then, I hope you enjoy this sample chapter. Remember to sign up for emails for special offers and announcements.
Ours Is the Storm
One
Teh’rahin did not come back from the hunt, and he was the first warrior Ahi’rea had known well who did not return. Father said they had been hunting evil spirits, but Mother, when she returned, bearing news of Teh’rahin, was more forthright. She said they were hunting men.
“You should not speak of these things before Ahi’rea,” Father said to Mother. “She is too young for such evil thoughts.”
“She must think on them soon enough. Halkoriv knew we were coming, and his soldiers were ready.”
“Halkoriv,” Father said. Then, they shooed Ahi’rea from the tent, telling her to go wait by the fire.
She stepped into the cold night and shivered, pulling her doeskins tighter. The winds were swift and harsh over the plains, and the dry grasses whispered around the camp. She heard her parents’ voices from within, muffled and low. Ahi’rea could see the glow of the fire ring from around the Huumphar tents, and the shadows of the returned warriors and their kin. She smelled steppe yams and red squash cooking, and the stinging-yet-sweet vapors of bonebark tea. There would be no meat for days, not until after the Sendings, and her stomach was already growling at the thought. She heard Naph’oin beginning the Sending songs for Teh’rahin and the others. She heard Rahi’sta, trying to sing with him, but crying instead, for her father would never return.
Ahi’rea did not go to the fire. She circled the tent, stepping soft, placing each foot with care, as Mother had taught her. Then, she focused her mind, as Father had taught her, and felt the Sight come to her. She shut her eyes, so as to cast no light, and Saw.
Inside the tent, her parents whispered in anxious tones. Mother was angry; she jabbed her finger out, toward the tent flap and the world beyond. “He may never come this close to our lands again. We should go back. We should call the tribes and kill him now.”
Father’s eyes were downcast. “Lasivar’s son will come to us when it is time. Until then, we cannot beat Halkoriv. We will go deeper into the plains, and await Lasivar’s son.”
“And what if he does not come?”
“He will.” Father looked up; though he was smaller than Mother, he always seemed taller in the Dreaming. He took Mother in his arms and kissed her. “You must trust me. I cannot lose you now, and that is what will happen if you attack Halkoriv. All the warriors in the plains and the skies could not defeat him—but we can hold him where the grasses end. I need you. Ahi’rea needs you.”
Mother returned his kiss, and embraced him. They held each other for a long time, and just as Ahi’rea was about to cease her Sight and go to the fire, Mother spoke again. “He butchered them. Halkoriv. He butchered Teh’rahin and the others. I’ve never seen anything like it. The dark came from inside him, and it ate them.” Father brushed her hair and held her, but she went on. “The dark came from him and ate them, and when it lifted there was nothing left but blood and bone.”
Author Spotlight – D. Thourson Palmer
In which B&D talked to me about writing a novel, my next book (also a contemporary fantasy), inspiration, and the publishing process. Check it out here.
December 27, 2014
Ours Is the Storm cover announcement
Boyle & Dalton has posted the cover announcement for OItS:
Boyle & Dalton
The post showcases John Pohlman’s awesome artwork, seen on the Books page, and has some great information/praise for the book. Thanks B&D!
I’ve got the final proofs and as soon as I’m finished with them I should be able to report a release date (and release party date.) See the writer’s house. Witness his messy desk. Imbibe of his many boozes.
Keep in touch, more to come soon, and thanks for your continued support.
