Devorah Fox's Blog, page 34

Around the Cauldron

I was delighted last year when Mark Barry invited me to join him for an interview around the Wizard’s Cauldron. It was great fun so I was thrilled to be a guest again this year as part of The King’s Redress blog tour.
Mark finds ways to bring out the fun, adventure and magic of being a writer and gives a glimpse of what’s really going on in those drafty artist’s garrets of ours.

Thanks, Mark. I enjoyed my visit as always and hope to be back again.

Red, white, blue and new

This past weekend was the big The King’s Redress launch. I got all suited up in my red, white and blue spangled sweater which I wear once a year on Independence Day and had an explosively good time signing books during First Friday at the Port Aransas Art center.
Then on Sunday I joined knights in suits of armor and guests in their most formal coastal attire for a party.

We had plenty of wine and genuine medieval pizza just like they serve in the great hall of King Bewilliam’s Bell Castle. There were armies guarding the snacks and a cake shaped like a stack of books and a good time was had by all, especially me.

Writing is hard work and when it’s all done, you just gotta celebrate.

Celebrate Indie-pendence Day

Today, July 4th, is Independence Day in the USA.

It just so happens that I’m launching my latest novel, The King’s Redress, during First Friday at the Port Aransas Art Center, 323 N. Alister in Port Aransas, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For my July 3, Dee-Scoveries column in The Island Moon Newspaper, I was looking for way to publicize the event and somehow tie it in with Independence Day. I ended up writing about the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and let me tell you, in the course of researching the story I was struck anew by the enormity of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by that Amendment. It was truly revolutionary. See if you agree:

Friday, July 4th, is Independence Day.

There will be American flags flying from homes, businesses and street lamps. People wearing red, white and blue will watch parades, attend concerts of patriotic music, spend a day off work with family and friends enjoying “All American” pastimes such as at baseball games, picnics and barbecues complete with iconic eats and treats like hot dogs, apple pie and ice cream. Then at dark-thirty we’ll be treated to a fireworks display.

Earlier in the year when I slated the launch of my latest novel, “The King’s Redress,” for the first Friday in July, I somehow overlooked the fact that this would also be Independence Day. What ever does a tale set in a fantasy medieval time that features kings and queens, knights and servants and the feudal system have to do with our declaration of independence?

Not much. But that I can write it, get it published and tell you about it in The Island Moon Newspaper? Everything. It’s all made possible by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The First Amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances—and prohibits any law that infringes on the freedom of the press and abridges the freedom of speech. The amendment was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

There is some speech that isn’t protected such as that which constitutes obscenity, child pornography and speech that incites others to unlawful action but for the most part, we can say what we want, including criticizing government, public policy and other people’s ideas. The Letters to the Editor in “The Island Moon” and Dale Rankin’s editorials are brought to you freely courtesy of this amendment.

During colonial times, England, the country that we sought our independence from, restricted speech. Criticizing the government was a crime. England also had an elaborate system of licensing. Nothing could be published unless one had a government-granted license.

Under colonial rule, our young nation also at first had controls on speech, particularly anything seditious or blasphemous. After the Revolutionary War, there was heated debate about freedom of speech and the press. A 1798 Act prevented the publication of writing against the United States government if it was seditious, false or scandalous but the Act expired in 1800. Today, freedom of speech is considered to be protected by default and limitations on it are the exception not the rule.

My novels also come to you thanks to the First Amendment which guarantees freedom of the press. I have the right to express myself through publication and dissemination of information, ideas and opinions without interference, constraint or prosecution by the government, and this right is not confined to newspapers and periodicals. Again, there are some controls. While we have the right to say and publish what we want, if we run around defaming people in speech or in print we can be sued for slander and libel. Nevertheless we have the right to slander and libel others if we want to pay the price for it.

Another limitation is that of copyright. As the author, I have complete control over who makes copies of and distributes my work. I can grant that license to someone else in exchange for money or even for free if that’s what I want to do. However it is mine to grant and it is illegal for someone to do it without my permission.

To stretch this “independence” theme a little further, over the past few decades it’s become easier for authors to make our work available without the assistance of literary agents and publishers. We don’t have to plead with and depend on someone else to publish our work. We can do it ourselves. That makes me and authors like me “indie authors.” My career as an “indie” began in 1988 when my late husband and I self-published a 500-page textbook on how to drive an 18-wheeler. That book is still in print, by the way, in an updated edition. Recent advances in technology have made it much less expensive to self-publish and that technology has filled bookshelves and e-reader devices with works that otherwise might never have seen the light of day. These aren’t “wannabes” who couldn’t get their work published any other way. “Indie” authors such as Amanda Hocking and Hugh Howey are as commercially successful as traditionally published authors.

So there you have it. I invite you to help me celebrate our rights and freedoms, “Indie-pendence” Day and the launch of my latest novel, “The King’s Redress” during First Friday, July 4 at the Port Aransas Art Center. Come on by 323 N. Alister St. in Port Aransas between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. There will be refreshments and live music. (The City of Port Aransas fireworks show later on will be a happy coincidence.) I’ll see you there.

Book love, Italian style

WoW is right. How cool is this? With the release of The King’s Redress, King Bewilliam and his knights are getting a lot of attention. So it’s great that Holly and Rusty are getting a little love too … in Italy! Check out this neat Web site.
What do you think of the tagline: The book is the only inanimate object that can let you dream?
And for our new Italian friends, yes, of course Naked Came the Sharks and all my books are available from amazon.it.

The bewildering Deidre

Today on The King’s Redress blog tour, you get to meet an intriguing member of the kingdom of the Chalklands. On her blog, Alesha Escobar introduces Deidre, a startling young woman who leaves King Bewilliam more bewildered than ever.
Find more of Deidre’s story in The King’s Redress, Book Three of The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam, available in paperback and for Kindle e-readers.

And while you’re visiting Alesha’s blog, get to know her Gray Tower trilogy which features Isabella, an intriguing young woman in her own right.

Author chat by the sea

I had so much fun being interviewed by John Howell who is himself an author and the greatly appreciated president of the Rockport Writers Group.
For those of you who have been waiting for a digital edition of The King’s Redress,

you’ll be glad to know that the Kindle edition is now available.

 

Cheap at twice the price

Today on The King’s Redress blog tour, I’m a guest on Michael Brookes’s The Cult of Me blog.
I’ll be the first to admit that my contribution, Cheap at Twice the Price, is almost more rant than guest post. Having just finished reading through a lengthy Goodreads author/reader discussion group thread about price points, though, I believe I’ll stand by my sentiments.

When you’re done reading my post, do check out Michael’s posts. In addition to writing scads of book reviews as well as novels and short-story collections, he writes “drabbles”—stories that are complete in 100 words. I’m astounded by that talent. I have grocery lists that are wordier than that!

The King’s Redress finds its newest home

Have you gotten your copy of The King’s Redress yet?
Of course you can find it on amazon.com but it’s also available on Barnes & Noble.

Want a signed copy? Come to First Friday, 5:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m., July 4 at the Port Aransas Art Center, 323 N. Alister in Port Aransas. I’ll have copies there and at the party, Sunday, July 6, 1 to 3 p.m. also at the Art Center.

Can’t make either event but want a signed copy? Just let me know and I’ll be happy to send one to you via USPS.

Touring the blogosphere

King Bewilliam tours his realm to stay in touch with and check on the welfare of his subjects.
I’m touring too to let everyone know that The King’s Redress , Book Three of The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam, has just been published.

Today I’m visiting Samantha Lafantasie’s blog for a cover reveal and a little bit about me. Check it out.

Check out The King’s Redress too and please, add a review to the amazon.com page.

Read me a story

A delightful way to escape is to lose yourself in a book. Even more magical is to lean back and have someone read to you. Remember being a kid and being transported when Mom or Dad or Grandpa or Grandma would read you a story?
You can recapture that feeling on Saturday, June 21, 2014, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m at the Estelle Stair Gallery at 406 South Austin Street in Rockport. The Rockport Writers Group is hosting its 3rd Annual Rockport Writers Roundup. Members of the RWG will read selections of their work as well as be on hand to sign their books and answer questions. Experience hearing a book excerpt, short story or poem in the voice of the person who wrote it.

Rockport Writer Group President John Howell will open the program with a brief introduction to the RWG which has been in existence since 1988. Members are writers who practice writing as a craft and want to improve their skill and technique with the goal of being published. They meet twice a month to share what they’ve learned about writing and to encourage each other in the development of writing skills. An important function of the RWG is the “read-and-critique.” Writers can bring their work to share and get constructive criticism.

The selections for the Roundup represent just about every genre: history and mystery, children’s and young adult books, memoir and fantasy. This year the program will include a “duet” performance; two Rockport writers will provide the voices of the two characters in the work.

The program includes:

BOOK EXCERPTS

Rebecca Ballard, WILD GAME,Thriller

Pat Chapman, TEA ON THE GREAT WALL, Memoir

Devorah Fox, NAKED CAME THE SHARKS, Murder Mystery

John Howell, MY GRL, Thriller

Hazel Fipps-Mann, SPIT ‘N WHITTLE CLUB, Memoir

Heather Miller, MY PEOPLE OR MYSELF, Young Adult

Mike Peters, BOOK OF LIES, Literary/Thriller

SHORT FICTION

David Bayless, THE FISHERMAN AND THE ARTIST, Love Story

Kay Butzin, BANK JOB, Flash Fiction

Woody Davis, A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH, Disturbing Fiction

Lynda Schuessler, THE FLAMINGO CAPER, Short Story

CREATIVE NONFICTION

Kathleen Monju, MIRROR, MIRROR, Domestic Abuse

Mary Wallace, MAMA AT THE ZOO, Childhood Memory

POETRY

Becah Hall, SELECTED POEMS

David Bayless, I’M SORRY, BABY, Prose Poem dramatic reading with Rebecca Ballard

The Wine of Mine Winery, located at 264 S. Commercial Street in Aransas Pass, has donated a selection of wines for guests to sample in between readings. Along with the wine will be light refreshments. A drawing for a door prize will be held at the conclusion of the readings.

For more information about the Rockport Writers Group, send an email to kaybutzin@sbcglobal.net or visit the group’s page on Facebook, www.facebook.com/rockportwritersgroup. To learn more about the Wine of Mine call (361) 944-9463. For more information about the Estelle Stair Gallery, call 361 (463-1059). I’ll see you there.