Michael Hodges's Blog, page 21

THE PULLER is alive

My debut novel, THE PULLER is now up on Amazon, in Kindle and Paperback format. Click here to order the paperback….and click here to order the Kindle version.

I’m thrilled that this piece is finally out. It’s been years in the making. I started THE PULLER as a short story many years ago. I came back to it after realizing Matthew Kearns had much more to say and do.

Quite simply, THE PULLER is a story about being trapped. Most of us have been there in one form or another, hemmed in by forces outside of our control. It’s much the same way an animal feels when confined to a poacher’s trap. Every time the animal tries to flee, it’s yanked back again and again. The same can be said for Matthew Kearns in THE PULLER.

I hope my readers enjoy it. Of all the novels I’ve written, this was the hardest to write and edit. But it’s also the one I’m closest to.

Stay tuned for more PULLER news. It’s going to get interesting….

THE PULLER release date

THE PULLER release date is Friday the 24th of April. A Puller-related announcement will be made by my agents on Monday the 27th. Also, there are numerous signings and readings planned across Montana and the Pacific Northwest for May, June and July. Looking forward to it.

THE PULLER approaches…

Expect my debut novel, THE PULLER to be released very soon. Accompanying the release will be additional Puller-related news.

THE PULLER mushroomed from my first speculative fiction story. Initially the piece was only several thousand words, but the story called out to me repeatedly to expand. I’ve been blown away by early feedback so far, and I hope this translates once I release my baby into the wild (maybe the wilds of Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula?). I’ve always held this story close to my chest, and it’s going to be hard to let go. But let go I must.

Stay tuned for purchase information, and big news….

The Mission Mountains

Okay, I admit it: I’ve become horribly spoiled since moving to Missoula from Chicago. This scene, which I filmed yesterday is a mere 40 minutes from my town home in the South Hills.

This is unprecedented for me. Sure, I’m used to camping for weeks at a time in the Rockies, but to actually live there, wake up one morning and decide to visit a place like this is simply not possible in Chicagoland.

The Mission Mountains are perhaps the most majestic range in the Rockies. While not the tallest mountains (McDonald Peak tops out at 9,820 feet), the valley-to-peak ratio is almost 7,000 feet…and no foothills. Few ranges in the lower 48 can compete with this.

Not only are the Missions stunning, but they boast a rich tapestry of megafauna like grizzly bears, wolverine, and lynx (although trappers are doing their best to hammer the wolverine and lynx populations).

I did not want to leave this scene. At all. However, I was comforted by the fact that yeah, I now live here. I guess, deep inside, this has always been my home. But now my body rises and sleeps beneath the peaks.

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Stay tuned for a writing update. It’s a big one.

Missoula

Whew.

Since moving to Missoula, I’ve been asked by a bunch of people what I think so far.

In short: the place is amazing.

There’s no mid-size plus town in the lower 48 that can compare within the context of the great outdoors. No town is closer to a national forest. No town is near this much wilderness. Yellowstone is three hours away. Glacier is two and a half hours. The Lolo National Forest, one of the largest and wildest national forests in the lower 48 sprawls across 2 million acres.

The town itself is lovely, with older brick buildings surrounded by 1950’s bungalows, and new construction in the peripheral foothills. The community is a mix of progressives, conservatives and ranchers, leaning towards liberal. Missoula is also a university town, which helps with diversity and liveliness.

However, the impression I’m getting is that if you’re older than 26 and no longer in school, Missoula is a lot smaller than you think. I had planned to arrive in this amazing town, bear down on my new novel, and then expand my photography and connection with the natural world right at my doorstep.

This did not happen.

Instead, I dove into the social scene. My writer brain insisted, so I listened. It’s been a whirlpool of activity, with many positives and a few negatives. And apparently no bottom.

No one begins an endeavor without good intentions (or at least selfish ones). But what we want to happen often flips into something else entirely. A novel I had been working on (THE CORROSION) has been completely sidetracked by the move. I had concrete expectations upon moving to Missoula. But what I thought was concrete was sand, loose and grainy through my fingers and toes.

Writing in Chicago was always so easy for me. I felt suffocated by the endless sprawl there, so naturally most of my stories were about people being trapped. But here, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, I want to write about flowers and snow-capped peaks and the heady scent of ponderosa pine as the forest thaws for the first time.

Yikes.

So I sought drama, gluttony, anxiety, and tension. And guess where I found it? Downtown Missoula.

Ultimately, a writer shouldn’t need to be inspired to work. The pros wake up, engage in their routine and churn the words out. Sometimes with thick beards, cigars, and a glass of whiskey. That sounds good on paper, but people aren’t robots. We feel, we need, we crave, we lose our balance. We lose track. And a writer must find his/her way back any way possible.

So instead of writing about butterflies or horses, I found my drama. I found my source.

The words are flowing now for THE CORROSION. I hope to have the first draft complete in a month. Flower-free.

I’m constantly amazed at the paths and surprises life offers. Chicago to Missoula is such a contrast. It’s what I’ve always wanted. It is my dream.

It still is.

But it’s not exactly what I dreamed. It’s not all sunshine, not all Rocky Mountain Glory©. There are blacks and purples and dark reds smeared across the painting I had envisioned in my mind. But if I take a step back and really look, isn’t that even more beautiful?

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In other writing news, expect a release date announcement for my debut novel THE PULLER soon. And another announcement piggy-backed on the release date. I so wish I could tell you about it right now, but then I’d be violating the contract.

Best,

-Michael

The King is Rising

As my readers know, occasionally I’ll post wildlife photos here since much of my work contains animals. My debut novel THE PULLER features moose, in a rather creepy way (the poor buggers).

This gigantic moose was filmed in Glacier National Park. He did not have to worry about a stealth creature, only a pesky photographer. The usually calm lake was choppy, almost like an ocean. I had to position myself flat on my stomach on the rocky shore.

The moose was looking right at me.

I was freezing. He didn’t care at all.

Also, be sure to check out my Facebook fan page, which will also contain the latest news as we approach the release date for THE PULLER.

Geiter is up at Perihelion Science Fiction

I’ve had great feedback on Geiter so far from initial readers, so I’m excited it’s finally being released into the wild.

Check it out at Perihelion, along with great stories by Rebecca Birch and others.

And yes, THE PULLER news very soon.

By the way, check out the new writing office in Missoula. High ceilings are nice when you’re 6’3.

Geiter – Perihelion Science Fiction

I’m happy to report that my latest short story, “Geiter” has been picked up by Perihelion Science Fiction. “Geiter” features a misunderstood hybrid bear, and explores how herd mentality can cloud judgement.

To be honest, I’ve stopped writing short stories this year in order to focus entirely on novels, but I’m pleased to be back on board with Perihelion, a magazine I truly enjoy.

Also, there will be THE PULLER news soon. The big kind.

The Puller pre-order and release date

I’ve been getting emails and IMs from people on Facebook asking about THE PULLER release dates.

THE PULLER will be out relatively soon, with a pre-order around the corner.

That said, there is other news concerning the novel, news that I can’t reveal in any specificity right now, but interesting news nonetheless. You’ll know soon enough.

I’ve been blown away by early reader feedback so far, and other events triggered by the novel. THE PULLER has always been my baby, and I’m glad it will be released soon.

Best,

-Michael

The Puller

I’m happy to report that my novel, The Puller has been picked up for publication. I’d like to thank FinePrint Literary and my agent, Laura Wood. Also, a big thanks to Gary Lucas at Severed Press. And finally, a huge thank you to Sarah Welsh. The Puller would not be possible without her. Thanks, Sarah.

I first started writing The Puller in 1994. It was originally conceived as a short story, and was accepted for a Northwoods ghost anthology by the now defunct Northward Press. However, the story never saw publication. Northward Press was bought out, and the project cancelled. 16 years later, I grew the story into a 97,000 word novel. The Puller was difficult for me on several levels, most of which I won’t get into here. Writing the story was me saying goodbye to my past, and to a landscape I might never see again.

The novel chronicles 21 year old Matthew Kearns’ trip to a remote cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The plan was to mourn the loss of his father, and figure out his life. But now, he’s fighting for it. Upon arriving, he’s held hostage by a stealth creature. Every time Matt tries to flee, he’s dragged backwards upon reaching a ten acre radius.

This is not a slasher book. It’s a hybrid of dark suspense and magic realism. You’ll also find scientific details concerning habitat loss and the Northwoods ecosystem, which plays an integral part in the plot.

Oh, and did I mention there’s a trailer? Release date is a tentative October 31, which happens to be my favorite day of the year. Check back soon for pre-order information.

The Puller – Trailer from Michael Hodges Fiction on Vimeo.