Marti Booker's Blog
July 15, 2018
Russians
With all the drama about Russians in the news for the past couple of YEARS now, you'd think that more people would be interested in Russia as a topic in itself, instead of just obsessing about complicity in illegal acts and whatnot. Russian literature is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest things in the world. I don't know why it appeals to me so strongly-- I'm probably not insightful enough to connect those dots yet. But the humanism of their literature from the 1800s is immense. The realism, the characters, the passion . . . it's all there, all somehow drawn through the Romantic movement and then refined down. Turgenev, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy . . . it's just amazing. I want to take Russian novels and shove them into people's hands, I'm that enthusiastic about them lately. It's probably not helping that my other reading at the current time is Joyce, whom I loathe, and Anthony Powell, who was, I think, rightfully mostly forgotten about except for his inclusion on the 100 Novels list (ugh, so many bad books on that list.) To go from Powell's bland and distant commentary and ridiculous revolving cast of characters to the grand frustrated emotions in "Fathers and Sons" is like leaving the freezer and going into the sun.
tl;dr Russian novels rock.
tl;dr Russian novels rock.
February 20, 2018
For now
It's interesting how a few events can shake loose your artistic bearings and send you off in a new direction.
2017 was a turning point for me. And 2018 is shaping up to be an entirely different sort of year. My artistic endeavors are zooming off in such a different path that it isn't even recognizably the same.
And so, for now, this name, this reality, and this past is something like an abandoned chrysalis, left behind on a branch while the moth soars away into the night.
Adieu.
2017 was a turning point for me. And 2018 is shaping up to be an entirely different sort of year. My artistic endeavors are zooming off in such a different path that it isn't even recognizably the same.
And so, for now, this name, this reality, and this past is something like an abandoned chrysalis, left behind on a branch while the moth soars away into the night.
Adieu.
October 8, 2017
Congrats!
Congratulations to the giveaway winner, Jackie S.! Your copy of Dragon Venom will be headed your way tomorrow!
For everyone else, the e-pub version is now available on Kindle for $2.99!
For everyone else, the e-pub version is now available on Kindle for $2.99!
September 19, 2017
Giveaway update
I had to set the giveaway back until October 6th, as the publisher won't actually deliver the books until then. Never fear, the winner will get their copy mailed to them the very next day! Good luck!
August 31, 2017
Giveaway
In the meantime, don't be afraid to enter my giveaway for a signed copy of Dragon Venom! I am not abandoning my book, just letting it stand on its own two feet for a while as I work on the next big thing. Now that I actually have a Goodreads author page, an Amazon author page, a website, and all that good stuff, I can do my next book release properly and set everything up right. So look forward to more giveaways and promotions coming in the future.
While you're at it, stop by Amazon and buy a copy of Dragon Venom on Kindle-- it's only $3.99.
While you're at it, stop by Amazon and buy a copy of Dragon Venom on Kindle-- it's only $3.99.
August 30, 2017
Trusting your instincts
So, the sales of my novel haven't been as amazing as I would have liked. Everything in life, however, has a lesson in it, whether we can see it or not. My lesson from this has been extremely multi-layered, starting with knowing myself better, knowing my writing better, and starting to understand what it is that I want from my work.
There's been a lot of talk around lately about a writer's "legacy"-- as if it's something you can actually talk about during someone's lifetime or within their career. Lots of people talk up these fantasy books as if there will be some lasting import to them. It's kind of odd, especially in a genre like ours, to think that there's really ANY lasting import. Just look at the huge fantasy novels of the 80s-- most of them are so dated at this point that I hesitate to even recommend them to new readers of the genre. Most of what was best-selling, mind-blowing, "oh, their legacy" work in 1980 is a stylistic joke at this point. And, in another 30 years, grim-dark and steampunk and all the new subgenres will be just as faded and listless. There's no guarantees that anyone will continue to like your books, even in your own lifetime.
Dragon Venom is published and available, whether it's wildly successful or not. I accomplished what I wanted to with it, which was to write a book about loyalty, friendship, faith, doubt, and difficulties, all without throwing in sex to "spice it up." I chose to write about monks because it's a sacrificial lifestyle, and I find it compelling when people are willing to give up everything for a cause. I've spent hours reading about mountaineering this week, watching documentaries about it, and learning about the people who risk their lives for a very transient sort of accomplishment-- literally getting to stand on top of a big rock that they climbed up all by themselves. But it's incredibly interesting because these people are willing to risk death to stand on that icy rock. Why? What drives them to it? What drives any of us?
I remember finishing the rough draft of Dragon Venom and feeling completely deflated. I knew I hadn't written the next Lord of the Rings, not yet. I think it's a sound first novel, and I still believe that it has an audience. But my instincts are telling me that there's something deeper that I need to be digging for, some story that's still untold that I need to be focusing on. So I am going to be too busy to spend a lot of time on marketing and trying to drum up sales. If people like my book, that's great-- if they like it enough to give it a good review, I will be very pleased. If you like it, please recommend it to your friends who may like it. If you hate it, well, I am sorry it wasn't to your taste.
But it's time for me to spend time on the next story. I've learned a lot since I wrote this book, and I hope to transform some of that knowledge into improvements in my writing skill. To lvl, so to speak. In Dragon Venom, I have told the first part of my story. I'm not the same person I was five years ago, and that has to make a difference in the next book I write. My instincts are telling me to keep moving towards the real tale, towards the source. Towards the passion and the sacrifice and the tears and the blood. And I've got to go.
There's been a lot of talk around lately about a writer's "legacy"-- as if it's something you can actually talk about during someone's lifetime or within their career. Lots of people talk up these fantasy books as if there will be some lasting import to them. It's kind of odd, especially in a genre like ours, to think that there's really ANY lasting import. Just look at the huge fantasy novels of the 80s-- most of them are so dated at this point that I hesitate to even recommend them to new readers of the genre. Most of what was best-selling, mind-blowing, "oh, their legacy" work in 1980 is a stylistic joke at this point. And, in another 30 years, grim-dark and steampunk and all the new subgenres will be just as faded and listless. There's no guarantees that anyone will continue to like your books, even in your own lifetime.
Dragon Venom is published and available, whether it's wildly successful or not. I accomplished what I wanted to with it, which was to write a book about loyalty, friendship, faith, doubt, and difficulties, all without throwing in sex to "spice it up." I chose to write about monks because it's a sacrificial lifestyle, and I find it compelling when people are willing to give up everything for a cause. I've spent hours reading about mountaineering this week, watching documentaries about it, and learning about the people who risk their lives for a very transient sort of accomplishment-- literally getting to stand on top of a big rock that they climbed up all by themselves. But it's incredibly interesting because these people are willing to risk death to stand on that icy rock. Why? What drives them to it? What drives any of us?
I remember finishing the rough draft of Dragon Venom and feeling completely deflated. I knew I hadn't written the next Lord of the Rings, not yet. I think it's a sound first novel, and I still believe that it has an audience. But my instincts are telling me that there's something deeper that I need to be digging for, some story that's still untold that I need to be focusing on. So I am going to be too busy to spend a lot of time on marketing and trying to drum up sales. If people like my book, that's great-- if they like it enough to give it a good review, I will be very pleased. If you like it, please recommend it to your friends who may like it. If you hate it, well, I am sorry it wasn't to your taste.
But it's time for me to spend time on the next story. I've learned a lot since I wrote this book, and I hope to transform some of that knowledge into improvements in my writing skill. To lvl, so to speak. In Dragon Venom, I have told the first part of my story. I'm not the same person I was five years ago, and that has to make a difference in the next book I write. My instincts are telling me to keep moving towards the real tale, towards the source. Towards the passion and the sacrifice and the tears and the blood. And I've got to go.
August 25, 2017
Discount Celebration
In honor of the feast day of that ultimate Catholic author, St. Augustine of Hippo, August 28th, I will be dropping the price of my fantasy novel, Dragon Venom, to $3.99 for the Kindle version.
I have also reduced the price of my mother's short story collection, Momma Sang, to 99 cents for the Kindle version, as well as increasing the amount of the proceeds that will be donated to charity to 25%. The money will go towards research for cures for rare diseases, as so many of my mother's family members suffer from conditions that are inadequately funded. Lots of people look for cures for cancer, but hardly anyone wants to find the secret of defeating auto-inflammatory diseases or connective tissue disease. My mother was always a champion of "the little guy" so I am sure she would approve.
And thanks to the reader who rated Dragon Venom with its first star rating! I appreciate it!!
I have also reduced the price of my mother's short story collection, Momma Sang, to 99 cents for the Kindle version, as well as increasing the amount of the proceeds that will be donated to charity to 25%. The money will go towards research for cures for rare diseases, as so many of my mother's family members suffer from conditions that are inadequately funded. Lots of people look for cures for cancer, but hardly anyone wants to find the secret of defeating auto-inflammatory diseases or connective tissue disease. My mother was always a champion of "the little guy" so I am sure she would approve.
And thanks to the reader who rated Dragon Venom with its first star rating! I appreciate it!!
July 17, 2017
Kindle Book is Live
My book, Dragon Venom, is now live on Kindle, and also available as part of the Kindle Unlimited program. If you like dragons, swashbuckling men, and adventure, this book may be just your thing.
July 13, 2017
Silly Skiffy memories
I went to Hobby Lobby today and found a really great poster-- is has hoofstock on it! Actual eland and waterbuck and a kudu! I have always had a fascination with all the antelopes, but kudu are my particular favorite.
Back in the early 2000's, I actually ran a Thursday night chatroom in mIRC on SFF.Net. It was, of course, named #Kudu. Sff.Net was a fun place back then, and we had several well-renowned authors stop by. Scott Lynch was a regular, long before he'd even finished that first book of his, and Kage Baker was a frequent visitor. She was truly like having a bawdy old auntie stop by, full of sage advice and slightly scandalous stories. Fun times.
I was sad to hear recently that SFF.Net was going out of business. Back in the old days, it felt like all the science fiction and fantasy and horror people were hanging out there, and I got to virtually "meet" a lot of really interesting and talented people. Some of them may have been less charming than others, but most of the community members were friendly and willing to give aid and advice to struggling newbies. I'll always miss old Pat Fogarty (pff) who was our constant and very congenial host on almost any given night.
To absent friends.
MLB
Back in the early 2000's, I actually ran a Thursday night chatroom in mIRC on SFF.Net. It was, of course, named #Kudu. Sff.Net was a fun place back then, and we had several well-renowned authors stop by. Scott Lynch was a regular, long before he'd even finished that first book of his, and Kage Baker was a frequent visitor. She was truly like having a bawdy old auntie stop by, full of sage advice and slightly scandalous stories. Fun times.
I was sad to hear recently that SFF.Net was going out of business. Back in the old days, it felt like all the science fiction and fantasy and horror people were hanging out there, and I got to virtually "meet" a lot of really interesting and talented people. Some of them may have been less charming than others, but most of the community members were friendly and willing to give aid and advice to struggling newbies. I'll always miss old Pat Fogarty (pff) who was our constant and very congenial host on almost any given night.
To absent friends.
MLB
