T.E. Antonino's Blog, page 7
July 9, 2016
New book in Production!
Great news! The new Fritz Fombie book, Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage, is in the production phase. I’m working with CreateSpace to put the book together. It will be available on Kindle and a physical copy, and both can be found on amazon.com. I’m thinking it will be on the market in August. This book has been a long journey. My editor, Hannah Krieger, and myself have put a lot of work into this book; hopefully it will show when the book is read. I want to thank everyone who has encouraged me through their interest in the book. I’m happy to say the first Fritz Fombie book was successful. I have my fingers crossed that Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage will follow in its footsteps. The book has a huge cast of characters and is a full blown adventure with all kinds of different and unique characters. I had a lot of fun with the illustrations that I drew for the front cover and the chapter illustrations. The book will run close to 140 pages. It will be a tad longer than the first book. I’m very excited to see how it will be received. I really did some cool things with this book. Thanks again for all your support and encouragement. T. E. Antonino
May 4, 2016
Brusselpop short story!
The Boy with the Unicorn HornBy T. E. Antonino
“Grandma, tell me about the time when all the children had a unicorn horn like mine,” Brusselpop said. “So, my little Brusselpop, you want to hear the story once again,” Grandma smiled. “Remember to listen closely this time, and don’t forget a word of the story.” The years weighed heavy on the grandma, and the story she was about to tell held the beauty of the ages. The old grandma straightened up in her rocking chair and began to speak. “There was a time when all the children of the town painted pictures with watercolors and made all kinds of everything with every color making invention you could think of. They would dance and prance like no horse could ever do. It was pure delight in the children’s eyes to pretend to be knights, princesses, scary dragons, and all manner of fairytale fair. Children made music on their clang-bang-tooters and their drum-a-boomers. Fairytales popped in and out of children’s imaginations like popcorn in a hot kettle. It was a time when books flowed free. The townspeople watched the children’s creative delights from morning till night, and happiness fell on the people like leaves on a windy autumn day. The beauty of all this creating could be felt even in the deeper part of one’s soul. But that all changed on the day the hinge maker rolled into town. He talked about putting hinges on doors, hinges on boxes, hinges on suitcases, hinges on cabinets, and hinges on anything hinge-able. ‘Hinges are the future,’ he explained to the townspeople.”“Grandma, is this when the townspeople stopped buying dancing shoes, and paintbrushes, and noise makers, and fairytale books, and acting costumes for the children?” Brusselpop’s face grew long. “This is the sad part of the story, isn’t it Grandma? It’s when the children’s unicorn horns all disappeared.”“I’m afraid so, Brusselpop,” the grandma said. “The hinge maker declared that any money spent on creativity only creates foolishness and leaves your pockets penniless. The townspeople listened to the hinge maker. They began to spend their time and money only on making hinges both day and night. Soon the gates to creativity came to a close. My little Brusselpop, all children are born with a unicorn horn so that even the very old won’t forget the days of magic past. Remember, Brusselpop, life is more than living.” Those were the last words that Brusselpop would hear from his grandma. For that very night, she took her place among the stars. Brusselpop favored his unicorn horn and made certain it wouldn’t fade away. He spoke in song, but rarely talked. Brusselpop danced through the years and grew more creative all the time, but the boy’s creativity didn’t go unnoticed. The pictures that he painted on sidewalks, barn buildings, and concrete walls inspired the townspeople in ways they would never have thought possible. Many of the townspeople agreed that the music Brusselpop played on his pieced together string-ama-strummers took them to places far away from the glut of hinge making they all knew so well, while others said that Brusselpop’s street corner acting made them see things in a different light. Like catching teardrops from the stars, Brusselpop subdued wonder and revealed it to all those who could see beyond the hinge. The hinge maker was furious over Brusselpop’s uncommon behavior and called a town meeting. As the hinge maker stood behind the podium, he lashed out at all the foolish Brusselpop talk.“We can’t let anything distract us from our hinge making, for it is our future,” the hinge maker said. “This Brusselpop character is a distraction. He produces nothing but fanciful dreams that end with an empty belly.” Some of the townspeople agreed with the hinge maker, but others disagreed with the hinge maker for the first time in a long time. The hinge maker ranted and raved behind his podium as he spoke of the expendability of creativity. Brusselpop, with his magnificent unicorn horn in full bloom, swung open the doors to the town hall. Brusselpop marched right up to the hinge maker, who was still standing behind his podium. The townspeople watched closely with much wonder and curiosity over the unusual character that Brusselpop truly was without a doubt. Brusselpop looked the hinge maker in the eye and said, “Life is more than living.” Leaving the now speechless hinge maker, Brusselpop walked back towards the doors. “Where are you going?” the townspeople asked Brusselpop. “I’m off to embrace the magic of the stars, to feel the Earth beneath my feet, to be carried away to wherever the song leads me, to paint a picture of all that I will see, and to live a story to be told. For life is more than living.” With those words, Brusselpop left, and the townspeople thought, and they thought, and thought, and thought…Fund the arts and save the unicorns!
Check out my book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
“Grandma, tell me about the time when all the children had a unicorn horn like mine,” Brusselpop said. “So, my little Brusselpop, you want to hear the story once again,” Grandma smiled. “Remember to listen closely this time, and don’t forget a word of the story.” The years weighed heavy on the grandma, and the story she was about to tell held the beauty of the ages. The old grandma straightened up in her rocking chair and began to speak. “There was a time when all the children of the town painted pictures with watercolors and made all kinds of everything with every color making invention you could think of. They would dance and prance like no horse could ever do. It was pure delight in the children’s eyes to pretend to be knights, princesses, scary dragons, and all manner of fairytale fair. Children made music on their clang-bang-tooters and their drum-a-boomers. Fairytales popped in and out of children’s imaginations like popcorn in a hot kettle. It was a time when books flowed free. The townspeople watched the children’s creative delights from morning till night, and happiness fell on the people like leaves on a windy autumn day. The beauty of all this creating could be felt even in the deeper part of one’s soul. But that all changed on the day the hinge maker rolled into town. He talked about putting hinges on doors, hinges on boxes, hinges on suitcases, hinges on cabinets, and hinges on anything hinge-able. ‘Hinges are the future,’ he explained to the townspeople.”“Grandma, is this when the townspeople stopped buying dancing shoes, and paintbrushes, and noise makers, and fairytale books, and acting costumes for the children?” Brusselpop’s face grew long. “This is the sad part of the story, isn’t it Grandma? It’s when the children’s unicorn horns all disappeared.”“I’m afraid so, Brusselpop,” the grandma said. “The hinge maker declared that any money spent on creativity only creates foolishness and leaves your pockets penniless. The townspeople listened to the hinge maker. They began to spend their time and money only on making hinges both day and night. Soon the gates to creativity came to a close. My little Brusselpop, all children are born with a unicorn horn so that even the very old won’t forget the days of magic past. Remember, Brusselpop, life is more than living.” Those were the last words that Brusselpop would hear from his grandma. For that very night, she took her place among the stars. Brusselpop favored his unicorn horn and made certain it wouldn’t fade away. He spoke in song, but rarely talked. Brusselpop danced through the years and grew more creative all the time, but the boy’s creativity didn’t go unnoticed. The pictures that he painted on sidewalks, barn buildings, and concrete walls inspired the townspeople in ways they would never have thought possible. Many of the townspeople agreed that the music Brusselpop played on his pieced together string-ama-strummers took them to places far away from the glut of hinge making they all knew so well, while others said that Brusselpop’s street corner acting made them see things in a different light. Like catching teardrops from the stars, Brusselpop subdued wonder and revealed it to all those who could see beyond the hinge. The hinge maker was furious over Brusselpop’s uncommon behavior and called a town meeting. As the hinge maker stood behind the podium, he lashed out at all the foolish Brusselpop talk.“We can’t let anything distract us from our hinge making, for it is our future,” the hinge maker said. “This Brusselpop character is a distraction. He produces nothing but fanciful dreams that end with an empty belly.” Some of the townspeople agreed with the hinge maker, but others disagreed with the hinge maker for the first time in a long time. The hinge maker ranted and raved behind his podium as he spoke of the expendability of creativity. Brusselpop, with his magnificent unicorn horn in full bloom, swung open the doors to the town hall. Brusselpop marched right up to the hinge maker, who was still standing behind his podium. The townspeople watched closely with much wonder and curiosity over the unusual character that Brusselpop truly was without a doubt. Brusselpop looked the hinge maker in the eye and said, “Life is more than living.” Leaving the now speechless hinge maker, Brusselpop walked back towards the doors. “Where are you going?” the townspeople asked Brusselpop. “I’m off to embrace the magic of the stars, to feel the Earth beneath my feet, to be carried away to wherever the song leads me, to paint a picture of all that I will see, and to live a story to be told. For life is more than living.” With those words, Brusselpop left, and the townspeople thought, and they thought, and thought, and thought…Fund the arts and save the unicorns!
Check out my book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
April 8, 2016
Librarycon is coming up! New book getting closer!
I will be selling books at the Waynesville Librarycon on Saturday the 30th of April. It will be held at the Waynesville library from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. They have asked me to draw a manga picture. I’m working on the image now. It will be a totally unique super hero. I’m knee deep finishing up Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. It is taking me longer than I anticipated. I keep making improvements, and I don’t want to finalize the book if there are still ways to make it better. At this point, I have gone through roughly fifteen drafts. The first Fritz Fombie book only took seven drafts. I’m working on making this new book more of a deep third person experience versus a shallow third person. I hope once the book comes out all of the hard work put into it will make it a great reading experience for both children and adults. Hang in there! The new Fritz Fombie book is coming out soon.
Take a look at the first Fritz Fombie book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
Take a look at the first Fritz Fombie book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
March 22, 2016
Librarycon and book update.
I just received my book Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage from my novelist friend. I’m working through her well thought out suggestions. I’ve also begun work on the inside illustrations. I’ve put down another book I’ve been working on titled Kooky Forelong for now, but will pick it up as soon as this second Fritz Fombie book goes into the production phase. I think a timeline of 3 months or less to bring Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage to market is realistic. I will have another short story published in the Waynesville public library newsletter in the next couple of months. I will also be a guest at their Librarycon. I will be giving a super hero manga art lesson. My books will be available for purchase at the event. Best wishes. T. E. Antonino
Check out my book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
Check out my book!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
March 8, 2016
Two new books coming!
The new Fritz Fombie book titled Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage is almost ready. I’ve finished drawing the front cover. It’s my most ambitious drawing to date. I drew eleven images on the cover, which means there’s a lot going on. I believe kids will really have fun studying the cover. A writing friend of mine is going over my manuscript for the last time. Since I have some time on my hands while she looks at it, I’ve started working on another book called Kooky Forelong. I plan to put that book up on Kindle Scout once it’s finished. Kindle Scout is run by Amazon. Readers get to read part of your book, and if they like it, they nominate it. The more nominations you have the more likely Kindle Scout will consider your book for publication. So I have been keeping busy while my writing friend finishes up looking at Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage will be a self-published book and made available to readers in less than three months. That’s the timeline I’m shooting for. Take care and best wishes.
To check out my first Fritz Fombie book click the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
To check out my first Fritz Fombie book click the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
February 15, 2016
Fritz Fombie and Frightful Feats of Courage!
My appearance at the Hazelwood Elementary School annual reading night went great. I enjoyed reading from my book. I gave away a Frtiz Fombie crochet hat, which went over really well with the kids. Lisa Hartzell, the Waynesville public library's children’s librarian, was also there, and she did a great job reading from a picture book as did the teachers from the school. Two children also read from books, which I thought was awesome. It couldn’t have been a better night. I’m working on the illustrations for my new Fritz Fombie book titled Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. I’m also finishing another book titled The Willy Nilly Forest. I co-authoredThe Willy Nilly Forest with my editor Hannah Krieger.
Check out my book by clinking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
Check out my book by clinking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
January 20, 2016
Appearance and My New Book!
I’m very happy to say that I will be a part of the 6th annual winter family reading night at the Hazelwood elementary school. It’s scheduled for February 11th at 6:00 p.m. I’ve had the honor of being asked to read from my book Fritz Fombie Have No Fear.
I will be leaving for Louisville, KY in a week where I will meet with my niece and editor Hannah Krieger. We'll be working on the next Fritz Fombie book that I’m finishing up. The book is titled Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. It will be a wide open fantasy and adventure story bursting at the seams with creative fun. This book is like the first Fritz Fombie book, but also has a societal benefit. The book will help children to see that they can be brave and overcome any obstacle in their way. I’m very excited to see how others will experience this fanciful story that I wrote with a grin on my face. Take care and stay warm.
Check out my book by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
I will be leaving for Louisville, KY in a week where I will meet with my niece and editor Hannah Krieger. We'll be working on the next Fritz Fombie book that I’m finishing up. The book is titled Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage. It will be a wide open fantasy and adventure story bursting at the seams with creative fun. This book is like the first Fritz Fombie book, but also has a societal benefit. The book will help children to see that they can be brave and overcome any obstacle in their way. I’m very excited to see how others will experience this fanciful story that I wrote with a grin on my face. Take care and stay warm.
Check out my book by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
January 5, 2016
Finish line coming up!
I leave to see my editor in less than three weeks. I’ll spend about two weeks working with my editor then the book will be completed. As soon as the book is complete, I’ll start working on the cover and chapter Illustrations. The book now stands at 42,000 words, so it will be a longer read than Fritz Fombie Have No Fear. I’m working hard right now trying to pull all the loose ends together. I’m looking for any illogicality and trying to bring as much fun as I can to the story. Actually, this is the most fun time for me as an author because the story is completely there, I’m just tweaking some things so the story will sing as loud as it can. I will soon be putting on my artist hat and start on the illustrations. Drawing illustrations has a way of relaxing me. That might be because I know I have completed the hard months of putting a book together and the finish line is coming up quickly. I hope you will enjoy Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage as much as you enjoyed the first book. Take care.
Check out my book by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
Check out my book by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
December 25, 2015
Moving along!
I am currently working on the seventh draft of "Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage." I’m now knee deep in the details of the book. I’m very happy with how this book is turning out. There’s a whole lot going on in the book, but I’m working hard to make it a great story that flows well. Take care.
Check out "Fritz Fombie Have No Fear" by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
Check out "Fritz Fombie Have No Fear" by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
December 17, 2015
Thanks!
I would like to thank everyone who has given me a rating or review on goodreads.com or amazon.com. The reviews have really encouraged me as a writer and help me keep the writing faith. I emailed someone very special and told her how I desperately wanted my next book to be as well received as the first book. She emailed me back and told me that all writers worry about that. Those words helped me. Fritz Fombie and the Frightful Feats of Courage is coming very close to being finished. It will be finished probably in the next month and a half or sooner. Then it will be read for the first time by someone other than me. I have to tell you they're butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it, but I bravely go forward hoping for the best. The new book should be out sometime in early spring. Have a happy holiday season. Take care and remember the magic is in the journey. T. E. Antonino
Check out my book by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
Check out my book by clicking the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150848192x
