Les Edgerton's Blog, page 39

Your Neighborhood Trained Killers | Main

Your Neighborhood Trained Killers | Main

Five Quiller Books on Writing

APPEARANCES IN 2013

Hi folks,
I’m starting to get my appearance/speaking schedule together for the coming year. I’m very pleased to be able to announce two events I’ll be presenting at in particular—the Idaho Writers & Readers Rendezvous in Boise, Idaho, May 2-4. It will be my first time in the state of Idaho and I’m really pumped up to go!
Here’s some info and pertinent links to the event. I hope I see a few of my friends from here there!
THE IDAHO WRITERS & READERS RENDEZVOUS 2013 Come to the Rendezvous! In the early nineteenth century the Rendezvous was the event of the year on the western frontier. Mountain men and Native Americans trapping along the streams and valleys of the Rocky Mountains gathered annually to sell their furs, trade for supplies, and tell stories. In that tradition, we welcome you to our annual gathering of writers and readers...

Go here for complete info.

Faculty includes authors, agents, screenwriters, editors, publishers, educators,  poets, and other industry professionals, including: myself, C.J. Box, Elaine Ambrose, Ron Carlson, Michael Collings, Claudia Cross, Anthony Doerr, David James Duncan, Rachel Gibson, Larry Habegger, Janet Holmes, Daniel Manus, Steve Moore, Clay Morgan, Joanne Pence, John Rember, Jamie Talan, Mitch Wieland and others to be announced.
There will be:Author panelsWriting workshopsOne-on-ones: Manuscript and pitch sessionsContests (cash awards!): Short story, poetry, short screenplay, and exciting new "collaborative story telling" categoriesOpen mic nightsBook signings and marketplaceSmall-group dining with an agent, editor, or author Saturday night awards banquet PLUS Pre-Conference Interactive Workshop on Thursday afternoonThe cost is $195 (or $175 for members of the Idaho Writers Guild and students)
Sponsored by the Idaho Writers Guild and the BSU Story Initiative
LUNCH OR DINNER WITH A PRESENTERA limited number of slots are available for lunch on Friday, May 3, or on Saturday, May 4, with a presenter and a few other conference participants. The fee is $20. This does not include the cost of your meal. List your three choices from the following list on your registration form. These slots will go fast, so register early!

Available for FRIDAY LUNCH are:
Larry Habegger, Author, Editor, Journalist
John Rember, Author
Elaine Ambrose, Author & Publisher

Available for SATURDAY LUNCH are:
C.J. Box, Author
Les Edgerton, Author
Janet Holmes, Poet
Clay Morgan, Author, Director of BSU Story Initiative

The locations and times for the meals will be announced at a later date.
I can’t wait to see real mountains!
WRITER'S RETREAT WORKSHOP
The second event I’ll be participating in is the annual Writer’s Retreat Workshops. I was a presenter at two of the WRW events in 2009 when they were held in Marydale, Kentucky. They’ve now moved to Minnesota and I’m stoked to be going to what looks like a fabulous resort. Click here for the website.

THE WORKSHOP/RETREAT

Co-founded in 1987 by the late Gary Provost (author and internationally acclaimed teacher of writing for publication) and his wife Gail, the ten-day WRITERS RETREAT WORKSHOP is an intensive learning experience for small groups of serious-minded writers who are committed to improving and completing their novels for submission. For those who consider their writing to be a vital part of their lives, one they wish to develop as fully as possible, WRW provides the ideal experience. Jason Sitzes is the leader and one of the most knowledgeable and astute writing teachers in the nation.
June 14 - 23
Villa Maria Retreat and Conference Center
Frontenac, MN

Register early to reserve your space
(limited spaces available)


You'll attend class each morning and be taught WRW's in-depth, step-by-step course for crafting your novel, of any genre, for publication. This is not formulaic novel instruction. There is no such formula. Gary broke down novel structure scene-by-scene, dissected characters, taught how to choose words with impact, and shared many other fine details novelists must learn as second nature. Here, at WRW, we review these stylistic tools over and over throughout the week until you leave feeling equipped, inspired, and revitalized about your novel. We don't teach the art-- we teach the craft and instruct you on how to nurture the artist. Class instruction uses examples from classic to bestsellers of that day. Prior to the workshop you will be given a list of books used and a series of pre-workshop assignments. During the workshop you will be given assignments, then go back to your private room or one of the various outdoor spots to write. All work focuses on your novel, so while you work on your story's structure, our dedicated staff will be available to brainstorm with you on your plot. In small group sessions, while learning how to diagnose your own and others' style strengths and weaknesses, you'll also boost your editing skills.

Other optional activities include 7am Early Bird sessions, evening wine and appetizer Shop Talks (featuring agents, instructors, students, and authors), Book Signing night, 10pm Night Owl Sessions, and ample 1-1 opportunities with core and visiting staff. WRW is as close to a ten-day, 20+ hour workshop as you can get. It's unparalleled in what it offers.And most of all, if you want only a nice writing retreat in which you work on your book and socialize when needed-- it's that as well. The only request of new participants is that you attend the morning sessions based on Gary Provost's groundbreaking course-- and you'll want to anyway. WRW is immersion in the writing world whether you're writing genre, literary fiction, children's literature, memoirs, short stories, or any number of creative writing endeavors. That's why top agents and authors return year after year.

Assisting you throughout the ten days will be WRW mentors and In-Residence guests, including authors/agents/editors who will share with you the truth about today's publishing "business" and --when they meet with you -- how best to market your novel-in-progress.

Folks, I’ve been privileged to have been able to participate in a lot of great events, but truly, nothing matches WRW. It’s just amazing. I can guarantee you won’t want to leave when the time comes!
The trip there is going to be fantastic. A very good friend, Bob Stewart, is driving his Jeep up from where he lives in San Antonio to pick me up. Along the way, another friend, Carl Brush, is flying into Louisville from his home in Oakland, California, where he’ll meet up with Bob and they’ll drive up to Ft. Wayne to pick me up and then we’ll continue to Minnesota. Road trip!

And, then... one of my true heroes, crime/noir/literary writer Anthony Neil Smith, who lives in Minnesota, is going to meet us for adult beverages and adult conversations one day in Minneapolis! I'm looking forward to that as much as the retreat itself!

This is just an up-close-and-personal writer’s event. We spend the entire day on various writing lectures, exercises, seminars and all kinds of writing-related activities and then at night, will hang out and enjoy adult beverages and wonderful socializing and mingling. It’s a writers’ Nirvana!
I know I’m going to meet many old friends and a lot of folks come back every year from all over the world and am going to make new friends also.

If you can make it, I’d strongly urge you to consider going. It will be an experience you’ll treasure all of your life.
Blue skies,Les
PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS WRW’S

Preditors & Editors Awards--Mirror, Mirror up for YA award

Hi Folks,

I said in my last post that it was my last post pimping MIRROR, MIRROR. Okay... I guess you can sing that childhood ditty to me now... You know, the one that goes, "Liar, liar, pants on fire..."

I didn't intend to, but it seems it's been nominated in the YA category for the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll this year. So...

If you don't mind taking a minute to do so, you can click here to place your vote for it. If you do, please keep scrolling down after you vote to enter your name and email address for verification purposes.

This is kind of a big deal or I wouldn't bother you! Last year, thanks to all you folks, my thriller, THE BITCH, won the Best Thriller of 2011 from them. It'd be really special to win two years in a row.


That's all... (I think...). I won't ever mention it again... unless it gets optioned for a movie...

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Blue skies,
Les

YELLOW SNOW This video isn't what you probably think it is at first...

In paperback now!

Hi folks,

Don't mean to keep pimping MIRROR, MIRROR quite so much, but just had two things happen that may be interesting to you.

One, the International Thriller Writers organization has just featured it in their online magazine, The  Big Thrill. You can check it out here.

The second thing is that it's now available as a paperback for $9.99! I'm really excited about this! They were able to get it out earlier than they thought. If you order it within the next 20 hours it will be delivered the day after Christmas. You can get it here.


Okay. I'm done pimping it!
Hope everybody has a wonderful holiday!
Blue skies,Les
It wasn't a virgin birth, but it was a birth... This is my wife Mary giving birth to our baby boy, Mike. Believe it or not, I experienced sympathy birth pangs... It was all I could do to take the photo of the blessed event...
What's nice about this method of birth is that one never has to go through the "terrible twos..."

NO ELECTRICITY AND A BIG THANK-YOU!

Hi folks,

Yesterday, our power went off at 2:30 in the afternoon, due to high winds, and finally came back on late last night as we lay shivering in bed, blankets piled high. The outage happened at a particularly bad time--right in the middle of the one-day "99 authors, 99 books, 99 cents" sale my YA thriller, MIRROR, MIRROR was a part of!

There went my computer!

Consequently, I was unable to contact friends to request they pick up a copy, other than the post I was able to get up here before the juice died. But... you guys came through for me! I have no idea what rank it eventually reached, but it must have been good since the day after it was still in the top 100, placing in two bestselling Amazon categories at #10 in Mysteries & Thrillers in all Kindle books and at #12 in Children's books under Mysteries & Detectives. Which means that it most likely did even better during the sale.

I just want to thank everyone who came through for me--you folks rock! I really appreciate your taking the time to buy a copy or three.

It's back up to its regular price of $2.99, still a pretty good deal. Remember, you can buy copies for gifts and have it sent to the recipients on Christmas Day.


If you do, please take a sec and hit the "Like" button. I'm told it helps!

Again, thanks so much for your support! It means a lot to me.

And, we're slowly getting warm again...

Blue skies,
Les

ONE-DAY SALE FOR MIRROR, MIRROR!

Hi folks,

As promised awhile back, my YA thriller, MIRROR, MIRROR is on sale today only for 99 cents! It's part of a mega-promotion called "99 books by 99 authors." There are 99 authors, 99 books, 99 cents each, and $990 worth of prizes you could win! Check out all the great titles.

There are some truly great deals! Check them out here.

If you've got teens on your shopping list, consider glomming onto a copy for them. What's cool is that you can buy it as a gift and don't have it delivered to their e-reader until December 25. A great additional gift for that person who's getting a new Kindle!




Please LIKE and SHARE to get the word out -- great for last minute *cheap* holiday gifts. You can even "gift" them so they don't arrive until Dec 25th!





Don’t forget that you can gift any of these ebooks and choose the date it is received!When you are done shopping, be sure to click on the Prizes page and enter to win $990 worth of great prizes!!

Remember--this is for today only!
Early reviews on Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for pre-teens November 10, 2012
By maegan Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseI'm a big time Les Edgerton fan and my 12 year old daughter knows it. When she sees a new Edgerton book on my shelf or tablet, she always asks, "can I read that?" and my answer is always "No!" Imagine my excitement that Les Edgerton has put out a book I can say "Yes!" to.
Les' straightforward, `take no prisoners' style shines through in Mirror, Mirror and it serves him well, making this book an easy and enjoyable read. The plot moves well and keeps you engaged and is suspenseful enough to keep the story exciting. It's laugh out loud funny and keeps you guessing...Maegan Beaumont

If you're a fan of Les Edgerton, or if you're looking for a good, clean read for your kids,you won't be disappointed.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Teens and Beyond December 3, 2012 By S. Chambers Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseElizabeth has a double in the mirror who convinces her to trade places. But when she does, the mirror double ("Liz") wreaks havoc on Elizabeth's life. Soon Elizabeth finds herself trapped in Mirror World, forced into a battle of the wits with the girl who made it out and is ruining her life. This is a tight read that will have you wondering if Elizabeth will ever make it out of the mirror, and if she does, how will she get her life back? Edgerton keeps things light with a lot of great one-liners and hyperbole in all the right places, all without losing a beat of suspense. A great read for teens and adults alike.Stacy Chambers
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for pre-teens! November 22, 2012 Format:Kindle EditionMy dad (Les Edgerton) wrote this book for me when I was a little girl. I didn't look at mirrors for quite awhile after reading it. This book will definitely get your young adult spooked, I have to admit re-reading this as an adult it gave me a bit of a shiver as well. As always the book is an excellent example of the the mind of Les Edgerton, only down to a young adult level. I highly recommend this for the young adult that likes reading material a little scary, but not too scary!Britney Edgerton-Robinson  


Blue skies,Les 

OUT OF THE GUTTER 8 is now out!

Hi folks,

If you're looking for a really cool gift for the adults on your list, here's one to consider. It's the way-famous Out of the Gutter's eighth collection of short stories and flash fiction from some of the best crime/noir writers working today.



Edited by Matthew Louis, Joe Clifford, Tom Pitts and Court Merrigan, this is the best of the past year's issues, plus some new work selected just for this anthology. In it, you'll find stories by T. Fox Dunham, Chris Leek, C.S. Dewildt, Nicola Murphy, Ryan Sales, Andrew Hilbert, Isaac Kirkman, Les Edgerton (yep, thas’ me!) Matthew C. Funk, Jen Conley, Richie Narvaez, Todd Mohr, Dana C. Kabel, Mike Monson, Michael Bracken, David James Keaton and David Corbett.Warning: This stuff ain't for sissies!


It's available both for your Kindle and in trade paperback. While you're online, head on over and check out Out of the Gutter's website.
I'm really proud to be included in this group of writers!
And, if your pocketbook isn't dented too badly, you might pick up a copy of THE BITCH (for the adults) or  MIRROR, MIRROR (for the teens on your list).




Lots of good stuff available out there!
And now, it's time to post a public service announcement for writers everywhere which I'm doing here in the form of this cautionary cartoon...




Wishing everyone a great and happy holiday!
Blue skies,Les

My only poem...

Hi folks,

Since this is about the time of year during which the event in the poem below took place, I thought it perhaps timely to repost it here.

This is the only poem I've ever published. It's based on a true event and I've included the bio which states that which Blue Moon included.

Some of you may have loved ones who are incarcerated. This is the toughest time of year for most who are inside the walls. A box of cookies is really appreciated! Although, for myself, a carton of butts was even better!

Things are much better these days...





My Father and Robert Frost/Les Edgerton

            One day I found a volume of poetry by Robert Frost in the prison library at Pendleton and checked it out.            Back in my cell, I read: Home is the place where, when you want to go there, they have to take you in.            When I made parole, I called my mom to tell her my good news. I found out that my dad had never read Robert Frost.            At least not that poem.

Published in Blue Moon Literary and Art Review, Issue 6: Fall-Winter, 2010.Included in the forthcoming short story collection, Gumbo Ya-Ya: In the Zone and other Stories, Snubnose Press, Dec. 2011
Author’s bio:
Les Edgerton is an ex-convict, having served a bit over 2 years in Pendleton Reformatory on charges of second-degree burglary (plea-bargained down from multiple counts of burglary, strong-arm robbery, armed robbery, and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. The poem here is based verbatim on his own experience upon making parole.
Yeah, things are a LOT better now!
Blue skies and Merry Christmas,Les

Brass Monkey Award!

Hi folks,

Well, it's official. I've finally arrived on the literary landscape. I've just won the prestigious literary award, the virtual Brass Monkey Award, given out after months, weeks, days, minutes seconds of serioussome deliberation by the award-winning committee of a dozen, severalone, namely, the ubiquitous Anonymous 9, who also goes by the street name of Elaine Ash down at her neighborhood Starbucks and the Bucket O Blood Yuppie Bar and Juice Emporium where she hangs out frequents when appearing in public for her adoring fans.





Author Elaine Ash, A.K.A. "Anonymous 9" (Caught smoking a lipstick... by a People Magazine photog...)
It seems Ms. Anonymous wrote a really cool book that I reviewed for Amazon and Goodreads and she liked (I think) the review and that’s the story of how I came to win this fantastic award from her.

Here’s my review:
HARD BITE by Anonymous 95 stars
Absolutely loved this book. I’m a sucker for vigilante tales and this is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. Plus, it had the bonus of the “crusader” employing a helper monkey to assist him. Unless there’s a genre featuring helper monkeys that everyone else knows about and I don’t, this is only the second novel I’ve ever read that featured one. The first was John Vernon’s magic realism novel, Peter Doyle in which the protagonist, on the hunt for Napoleon’s penis, owned a monkey he’d fashioned from body parts and when he was low on cash, would help fill the coffers by leaping on the backs of sailors, slash their throats and take their purses. Anonymous 9’s use of a helper monkey in Hard Bite,while different, was equally delightful and original. Just wondering how the folks at PETA liked it… Since I eat meat as often as I can, I’m without their prohibitions concerning critters and I give it a 5 out of 5 stars… Just a darned good read!


Here is what Anon 9 had to say in her blog post announcing my award:

Anonymous-9’s Brass Monkey Award goes to LES EDGERTON for publishing a review of HARD BITE on Amazon and getting in a lengthy reference to Napoleon’s penis. Is there any reference to Napoleon in HARD BITE? No! Is there anything about Napoleon’s penis in HARD BITE? No! No! So for sheer ingenuity and creativity in review writing which only the great LES EDGERTON could manage, the virtual Brass Monkey Award goes to him. (He really liked HARD BITE, by the way.)
Les is the respected and lauded author of THE BITCH, among other novels.
I’m presently sitting by my phone, awaiting the call from Stockholm… Eat your heart out, Stevie King!
And my virtual Brass Monkey Award is sitting proudly on my (virtual) mantel, surrounded on each side by my Fatboy posters of Cheryl Tiegs and Pee Wee Herman. (Don’t ask—it’s a long story…)
Blue skies,Les
P.S. Check out her book! It’s really, really good!
Oh, and if you're interested in the other novel in the helper monkey genre, check out Peter Doyle ...

Here's the actor who will play the monkey in the movie...
Word is, this guy's dad used to live with Michael Jackson... He's got show biz in his blood!