S.K.S. Perry's Blog, page 3
July 25, 2015
New cover art.
In keeping with my practice of doing absolutely everything myself on my self-published novels, here is the new cover art for THE MOONLIGHT WAR, coming July 31, 2015.
July 24, 2015
From a fan:
Dear Mr. Perry, I don't get it. I just read your post about that REAL author. As a reader and a fan you are as real to me as any of them. A friend recommended your Darkside series to me while we were in Barnes & Noble so I looked it up in the kiosk. I found them easily, available in paperback and as a Nook book. I skimmed through the preview and liked what I saw so I bought it for my Nook and downloaded it. Let me just tell you I loved Loved LOVED your book, so I bought the next two as well. I want to buy them in paperback too so that if I ever meet you I could get you to autograph them for me. I found you on Facebook by Googling you, which led me to your website, and to your Facebook Author's page, and then here. So tell me, how is my experience as a reader any different than if my friend had recommended a book by a REAL writer?
P.S. My friend said she met you at World Fantasy in Toronto and that you were super nice and just as charming and funny as you are in your books and that she doesn't understand why you weren't on any panels because she would go to any panel you were on and it would probably be a hoot!
Me: Thank you so much for this. Your email came at just the right time.
P.S. You realise that's not me in the books, right? (Well, mostly not me.)
P.S.S. I just got an email from someone claiming to be George R.R. Martin telling me I'm a nobody. :)
(I'm pretty sure George doesn't use a hotmail account under the guise "chickenlover69" but I could be wrong.)
P.S. My friend said she met you at World Fantasy in Toronto and that you were super nice and just as charming and funny as you are in your books and that she doesn't understand why you weren't on any panels because she would go to any panel you were on and it would probably be a hoot!
Me: Thank you so much for this. Your email came at just the right time.
P.S. You realise that's not me in the books, right? (Well, mostly not me.)
P.S.S. I just got an email from someone claiming to be George R.R. Martin telling me I'm a nobody. :)
(I'm pretty sure George doesn't use a hotmail account under the guise "chickenlover69" but I could be wrong.)
July 23, 2015
For Sartorias, just because. :)
DARKSIDE: DAMNED IF YOU DO and the rest of the DARKSIDE series is now available in paperback and Kindle format on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/S.K.S.-Perry/e/B0051HEZ30,
and in most eBook formats on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sksperry.
If you could...like...tell everybody, that would be great.
and in most eBook formats on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sksperry.
If you could...like...tell everybody, that would be great.
This is where I stand.
A few days ago I posted an email I recieved from a REAL author, dismissing me and my work as a writer. And though some of you asked, I won't name names--it's just not Canadian, or who I am---but let's just say that if you read spec fic it's probably someone you know.
I, personally, have never met this person, which begs the question, "How the hell have they heard of me?"
Regardless. I plan to write. I plan to write more. I plan to publish--and probably self-publish at that because that seems to be my lot in life.
If you'd like to help, buy my books, leave a review, and tell people about them. As an indie author (that's pretentious snob speak for self-published) word of mouth is about the only publicity I'm liable to get. There are no book signings or convention panels in my future.
If you don't want to help, well that's fine, too. My books get written either way. And regardless whether you're inclined to help me or not, if you're an author--self-published or otherwise--I'll do what I can to help you. Because that's who I am, REAL author or not.
I, personally, have never met this person, which begs the question, "How the hell have they heard of me?"
Regardless. I plan to write. I plan to write more. I plan to publish--and probably self-publish at that because that seems to be my lot in life.
If you'd like to help, buy my books, leave a review, and tell people about them. As an indie author (that's pretentious snob speak for self-published) word of mouth is about the only publicity I'm liable to get. There are no book signings or convention panels in my future.
If you don't want to help, well that's fine, too. My books get written either way. And regardless whether you're inclined to help me or not, if you're an author--self-published or otherwise--I'll do what I can to help you. Because that's who I am, REAL author or not.
July 20, 2015
I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I just can't help myself...
From a...well...an asshole:
Mr. Perry, STOP calling yourself an author. It's embarrassing.. I've never read your work and I never will. You're just another amateur, scribbling down their blatherings and self-publishing. My kid could do that.
Signed, a REAL author.
Me: You've never read my work? Never even glanced at a chapter, or a page? Then shut the f*ck up. Here's one for you, Dear REAL author. Stop calling yourself a human being. It's embarrassing.
Mr. Perry, STOP calling yourself an author. It's embarrassing.. I've never read your work and I never will. You're just another amateur, scribbling down their blatherings and self-publishing. My kid could do that.
Signed, a REAL author.
Me: You've never read my work? Never even glanced at a chapter, or a page? Then shut the f*ck up. Here's one for you, Dear REAL author. Stop calling yourself a human being. It's embarrassing.
July 10, 2015
Let's see Neil Gaiman do that!
So a photographer friend at work (Hago) has offered to do a new author photo for me. Someone suggested I don't do the typical shot, but instead did something that would show off all the cool things I can do.
So my author photo will be of me rappelling from a helicopter with a sword in my hand, down between my motorcycle and drum set, while ninjas flip past in front of me. O.o
So my author photo will be of me rappelling from a helicopter with a sword in my hand, down between my motorcycle and drum set, while ninjas flip past in front of me. O.o
July 7, 2015
It's all their fault.
The reason why guys get fat after they get married is because their wives find things to occupy their time with.
When you’re single, there’s only so much porn you can watch or Xbox you can play before you get bored, and it’s not like you have to clean the house or anything, because….pshaw! Eventually, you get bored enough that you figure you might as well go to the gym. At least there’ll be other people there, maybe even other female people.
But once you’re married you can kiss that free time goodbye. Oh, sure, sometimes your wife will fill that time with awesome things, like sex, and accompanying you to movies to see Rambo 26, or to that monster truck rally, or to watch wrastlin’. Odds are, though, that most of your time will be spent…like…mowing the lawn, or weeding the garden, or antiquing. *shudder*
Or she’ll expect you to go with her to visit her parents. Let’s face it; you don’t visit your own parents, what makes her think you want to see hers? At worst they hate you, because you stole their little girl, and they’re pretty sure you’re sleeping with their angel. At best they like you enough that they have a whole mess of chores waiting for you to do at their place when you arrive.
And a wife will usually insist on feeding you, and at regular intervals even. Most women have to eat something like twelve times a day or they get faint, or sick or whatever. A guy can go for a day easy without eating, and if he does, his stomach rumbles. That’s it. End of story. But, when a guy eats, he eats a man-sized portion at EVERY SINGLE MEAL. Trying to keep up with your wife at that pace is obesity waiting to happen, but we’ll give it a shot, because we’re like dogs and will eat until we explode.
Add that to the no-time-at-the gym previously mentioned, and presto, instant fatty.
When you’re single, there’s only so much porn you can watch or Xbox you can play before you get bored, and it’s not like you have to clean the house or anything, because….pshaw! Eventually, you get bored enough that you figure you might as well go to the gym. At least there’ll be other people there, maybe even other female people.
But once you’re married you can kiss that free time goodbye. Oh, sure, sometimes your wife will fill that time with awesome things, like sex, and accompanying you to movies to see Rambo 26, or to that monster truck rally, or to watch wrastlin’. Odds are, though, that most of your time will be spent…like…mowing the lawn, or weeding the garden, or antiquing. *shudder*
Or she’ll expect you to go with her to visit her parents. Let’s face it; you don’t visit your own parents, what makes her think you want to see hers? At worst they hate you, because you stole their little girl, and they’re pretty sure you’re sleeping with their angel. At best they like you enough that they have a whole mess of chores waiting for you to do at their place when you arrive.
And a wife will usually insist on feeding you, and at regular intervals even. Most women have to eat something like twelve times a day or they get faint, or sick or whatever. A guy can go for a day easy without eating, and if he does, his stomach rumbles. That’s it. End of story. But, when a guy eats, he eats a man-sized portion at EVERY SINGLE MEAL. Trying to keep up with your wife at that pace is obesity waiting to happen, but we’ll give it a shot, because we’re like dogs and will eat until we explode.
Add that to the no-time-at-the gym previously mentioned, and presto, instant fatty.
July 6, 2015
My wife bought me a motorcycle last year, because she’s a...
My wife bought me a motorcycle last year, because she’s awesome. It’s a 1999 Triumph Spring ST, a bike I’d always wanted but never dreamed I’d get.
But seriously, Brits, what’s with the name? The bike is a sport-tourer and looks like this:
And the best you could come up with is Sprint?
Didn’t Chevy have a lame-ass car named Sprint? That thing couldn’t get out of its own way. I think it had a singer sewing machine for an engine. When you stomped on the gas you could almost hear it shift from buttonhook into double-stitch.
The Japanese gave us bikes like the Honda Hurricane, the Suzuki Katana, and the Kawasaki Ninja, and sure that’s a bit of overkill. After all, the Hurricane won’t actually trash your house and flood your town, the Katana can't slice, dice, and julienne fry you, and the Ninja can’t sneak up on you and assassinate you—I think.
And the Sprint really does…well… sprint. It’s fast. But come on, Brits. You named your aeroplanes Mustang and Spitfire. Why shirk when it comes to naming your motorcycles?
Oh well, when someone asks I just say I ride a 1999 Triumph. That’s cool enough for anyone.
But seriously, Brits, what’s with the name? The bike is a sport-tourer and looks like this:
And the best you could come up with is Sprint?
Didn’t Chevy have a lame-ass car named Sprint? That thing couldn’t get out of its own way. I think it had a singer sewing machine for an engine. When you stomped on the gas you could almost hear it shift from buttonhook into double-stitch.
The Japanese gave us bikes like the Honda Hurricane, the Suzuki Katana, and the Kawasaki Ninja, and sure that’s a bit of overkill. After all, the Hurricane won’t actually trash your house and flood your town, the Katana can't slice, dice, and julienne fry you, and the Ninja can’t sneak up on you and assassinate you—I think.
And the Sprint really does…well… sprint. It’s fast. But come on, Brits. You named your aeroplanes Mustang and Spitfire. Why shirk when it comes to naming your motorcycles?
Oh well, when someone asks I just say I ride a 1999 Triumph. That’s cool enough for anyone.
July 5, 2015
Fan response for DARKSIDE: DAMNED IF YOU DO, so far:
“Loved the new book, but seriously, what are you smoking? It can’t be medical grade.”
I’m Canadian. We get the good shit.
“OMG! This book was amazing, well worth the wait. So when’s the next one coming out?”
Seriously? *sigh*
“Another blasphemous book to lead us all straight to hell. You and the likes of Butcher, Lackey, and Arthur should be ashamed for the corruption you spew. At least this time there’s a physical book I can burn in protest.”
Well, at least I’m in great company. And hey, you have to buy them to burn them. Get the whole congregation together and make it a party!
I’m Canadian. We get the good shit.
“OMG! This book was amazing, well worth the wait. So when’s the next one coming out?”
Seriously? *sigh*
“Another blasphemous book to lead us all straight to hell. You and the likes of Butcher, Lackey, and Arthur should be ashamed for the corruption you spew. At least this time there’s a physical book I can burn in protest.”
Well, at least I’m in great company. And hey, you have to buy them to burn them. Get the whole congregation together and make it a party!
July 4, 2015
Here's the thing about my books....
They’re mine. All mine.
I conceived them, wrote them, edited them, copy-edited them, did the cover art and graphics, and formatted them for print and eBooks.
I did this for two reasons:
1. No one else would publish me. (Or even represent me, for that matter.)
2. It’s part of backing up my talk with my walk.
What I mean is that I think a book is a work of art, and as such it should be written by the artist, and not by committee. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how a book might be better with the input of an editor, and a writer’s group, and a professional layout and cover design…um…person. (People?) It's definitely better with the input of a professional copy editor. For the most part these people are essential to selling your book, in creating a marketable product.
But if your book is art, if you’re telling the story you want to tell the way you want to tell it, should you treat it as a product? You plotted the story the way you did for a reason. You added the characters and events you did when you submitted that manuscript to your agent and or editor because this is the way you meant to tell your story. It's a peek into the way your mind works and sees things, the way you decide what's important or not. Any changes they make after that—telling you that you don’t need this scene or chapter, that this character doesn’t add anything to the story, or this or that isn’t moving the plot forward, that maybe you need to add a scene here, or write this part in third person (I was once told by an agent they would consider representing me if I totally rewrote DARKSIDE in third person) is a bastardization of your creative thought process and expression. And I’m not entirely convinced that editorial input necessarily makes your book better; it just makes it different. Anyone who reads your book will have a suggestion as to what they would do to make it better if they were writing it, regardless of their experience, qualifications, or talent. Often it’s just a matter of preference, and once you make these changes, your book is not really yours any more. It’s yours, and theirs.
Admittedly, I’ve taken this process to the extreme, by doing my own cover art, book setup, etc., but what you’re getting when you read my books are my books.
It’s also a bit of an experiment for me. I like the idea that little old me is producing a product it takes an entire company to produce. Especially seeing as I’ve had no formal training what-so-ever. I don’t have a Masters or a B.A. in English or Creative Writing or…whatever. To be honest, after grade four most of my English classes consisted of reading books and doing book reports. I think some teacher went off the reservation and taught me about symbolism and foreshadowing in grade ten, and no doubt lost her job because of it. So I’ve basically taught myself how to write. Or not.
The same goes for my paperback and eBook layouts. And my covers (which is where I think my amateur status stands out the most). All self-taught, done at home on my computer on MS Word and Adobe Photoshop.
So while what I produce may not be the best possible version of my work, it is my work. All of it.
This is me.
I conceived them, wrote them, edited them, copy-edited them, did the cover art and graphics, and formatted them for print and eBooks.
I did this for two reasons:
1. No one else would publish me. (Or even represent me, for that matter.)
2. It’s part of backing up my talk with my walk.
What I mean is that I think a book is a work of art, and as such it should be written by the artist, and not by committee. Don’t get me wrong, I understand how a book might be better with the input of an editor, and a writer’s group, and a professional layout and cover design…um…person. (People?) It's definitely better with the input of a professional copy editor. For the most part these people are essential to selling your book, in creating a marketable product.
But if your book is art, if you’re telling the story you want to tell the way you want to tell it, should you treat it as a product? You plotted the story the way you did for a reason. You added the characters and events you did when you submitted that manuscript to your agent and or editor because this is the way you meant to tell your story. It's a peek into the way your mind works and sees things, the way you decide what's important or not. Any changes they make after that—telling you that you don’t need this scene or chapter, that this character doesn’t add anything to the story, or this or that isn’t moving the plot forward, that maybe you need to add a scene here, or write this part in third person (I was once told by an agent they would consider representing me if I totally rewrote DARKSIDE in third person) is a bastardization of your creative thought process and expression. And I’m not entirely convinced that editorial input necessarily makes your book better; it just makes it different. Anyone who reads your book will have a suggestion as to what they would do to make it better if they were writing it, regardless of their experience, qualifications, or talent. Often it’s just a matter of preference, and once you make these changes, your book is not really yours any more. It’s yours, and theirs.
Admittedly, I’ve taken this process to the extreme, by doing my own cover art, book setup, etc., but what you’re getting when you read my books are my books.
It’s also a bit of an experiment for me. I like the idea that little old me is producing a product it takes an entire company to produce. Especially seeing as I’ve had no formal training what-so-ever. I don’t have a Masters or a B.A. in English or Creative Writing or…whatever. To be honest, after grade four most of my English classes consisted of reading books and doing book reports. I think some teacher went off the reservation and taught me about symbolism and foreshadowing in grade ten, and no doubt lost her job because of it. So I’ve basically taught myself how to write. Or not.
The same goes for my paperback and eBook layouts. And my covers (which is where I think my amateur status stands out the most). All self-taught, done at home on my computer on MS Word and Adobe Photoshop.
So while what I produce may not be the best possible version of my work, it is my work. All of it.
This is me.
