Malcom Massey's Blog

Write Your Story Now Online

 As many of you are aware, I have closed "Inspire Writers Center", the Florida 501c3 that I had established in January of 2022. There were several reasons for closing IWC, among them lack of funding for teaching space, increased competition for available teaching space, and a dearth of qualified
teachers. 

Of course traveling to Virginia for Proton Cancer Therapy at Hampton University had something to do with winding down Inspire Writers Center as well. 

One of our best attended IWC programs was always "Write Your Story", the introductory class that we held at Melbourne area local libraries for as many as 50 persons at a time (Eau Gallie), and included Satellite Beach, and the DeGroodt Library at Palm Bay, and which we eventually taught at West Melbourne Recreation Center. 

I have decided to offer a way of continuing that popular class using the magic of online. This decision was inspired today by my friends Peggy and Lewis. 

Here is how that will work: 

1. Go to the Classful site and download Your copy of the 

Write Your Story Workbook at: Your Story Workbook - Classful . 

This is a site where teachers may post class-related workbooks for sale online. 

The workbook costs $5.00. This step is optional, 

but does offset the loss of classroom teaching income 

that I am currently contending with. 

2. Watch the Online Video of "Write Your Story", 

narrated by Malcom Massey (in my former voice), by clicking the link below: 

https://youtu.be/wNmZoXFMAx0

You will find the PowerPoint follows along with the workbook, making it easy to capture the significant points. 

Keep lots of notesPause when you need to capture thoughts. Then if you need it, I am here to help you. 

Even though I am going through a bit of a challenge, I will find time to answer your questions and to help you move forward. 

Remember, to publish on Amazon Kindle, as I and so many others before and after me have done, all you need are a Word Document and a picture for the cover. Oh, and be sure and tell them where to send the royalties. Your bank account of course. Your regular one or one you open specifically for royalties. 

Next post I will bring in the Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) links that you will need to see your book finally become a reality in print. 

If I have sent you this link, I have seen something in you that resembles what I have seen in others, as well as myself, that makes me believe you can write a book. You should believe it too. Now get to work and WRITE YOUR STORY!

Malcom 

Ethical A.I. for Authors

So much buzz about A.I. or Artificial Intelligence in every industry. Writing and Publishing are no exception.  Programs exist that apparently will provide a completed novel in minimal time to the unmotivated author. What quality is provided? That remains to be seen. 

But is it ethical to use A.I., ( which I prefer to write as A/I ) in your writing? If so, how? 

We face ethical questions daily. For instance, we do not copy/steal/plagiarize others ideas & concepts. Can using a tool, such as A/I, violate ethical principles?

 Let's examine the pros & cons of A/I use for writers:

Pros:  As a tool for inspiration, idea generation, concept expansion

Cons: When the writer presents A/I generated  material as their own original concept, unattributed.

In my latest novel, "The Secret of Blue Scorpion Key" https://tinyurl.com/2hd9vzvz ,I feature an A/I antagonist that opposes my main character. 

For accuracy, I ethically used A/I in two ways: 

1. To learn the nuances of A/I conversation, I interviewed A/I entities such as Bing and various chat-bots to learn, much as I might interview any expert in their field, exploring limits and  parameters of its abilities.

2. I also used A/I to generate images for scenes I imagined but for which I could not find existing images. I provided key words and terms, and the A/I produced images options to choose from. I was careful to use A/I that placed it's images immediately into the public domain, then attributed these as used in my book trailer. 

My A/I experience found severe limitations in the abilities of A/I to converse and to create accurate, realistic images, particularly of humans. I feel my use of A/I in these ways, without letting it write my story, was fair and ethical use. 

Is there an ethical way to use A/I in writing? Yes, with precautions, good judgment and accurate attribution. 

Your opinion?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QSGrzbU3Gcj...

Your Main Character's Name Means What?

 Many readers of "The Martin Culver Series" have asked me, "What is the significance of the name Martin Culver, your main character?" 

I was searching for a name that was short, two-syllable words, like my own name. Similar to myself, Martin Culver has no middle name. 

In addition, most series fans know that  historical research always plays a part in these fast-paced action adventure novels. The same is true for many of my  character names. Here is the straight answer on my main character's name.

Over the course of 8 novels in "The Martin Culver Series", Martin Culver has battled though extended war-like conditions to find limited periods of peace. This conflicted, unsettled existence is foretold in his very name.
Martin is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Martin comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of war. 

The surname CULVER was an Old English locational name 'the dweller at the sign of the dove' or 'one who keeps doves'. Surnames originally denoted the individual's occupation, and at times, their disposition.

So then, the name of Martin Culver is taken from the Roman god of War, and from 'dovekeeper', or 'dovelike'.  War-like and dove-like at the same time. 
The name Martin Culver literally means "War and Peace".

"The Mystery of Calusa Key" Book Trailer Global Premiere

The Global Premiere of "The Mystery of Calusa Key" is now available for you to see and enjoy! You know what this means, right? 

This means that the novel of the same name, "The Mystery of Calusa Key" will be released very soon. Amazon is the publisher, as always, so it will be available on Kindle and in Print. 

So take a listen, and let me know what you think. 

Best place to share feedback?

"The Mystery of Calusa Key" Facebook Page!

Malcom

2022 Writers Conference Melbourne, FL Hilton Rialto

 

I will be participating for the second time in the 13th Annual Writers Conference presented by Authors for Authors, to be held at the Hilton Rialto Sunday April 24th from 9 AM to 5 PM!

There will be speakers, discussions, display tables, with opportunities for networking with other authors. 

This time I will be speaking that day on the topic "Writing the Killer Plot". No, it's not about murder. It's about keeping your readers on the edge of their seat to see what will happen next. I hope to see you there. 

To register to attend this event, click here. Registration is open through April 15th. 

"1982: A Prequel to Orwell's 1984" Published!

 

Today is a great day! My latest novel, "1982: A Prequel to Orwell's 1984" has been published! The print version became available for purchase as of July 30, 2021. Click here to purchase. 

If you read (or have heard of ) Orwell's 1984, you may have wondered about the disastrous chain of events that led to the dystopian nightmare that was Winston Smith's life. 

"1982: A Prequel to Orwell's 1984" is a detailed novel providing a look into the dark months leading up to Orwell's 1984, from the unique perspective of Winston's nephew now living in the former United States, the district of New Acirema. 

Learn what phenomenal events took place to Transition our world from the one that we knew and loved, to a totalitarian nightmare that challenges every concept of freedom and liberty. 

Learn how the Great Reset played out differently than anyone anticipated, to the point that even our calendars cannot be trusted.

Find out who The OverState is, how they seized and Consolidated power, who their enemies are, & their objectives. Unravel the myriad of decades-old strategies that plunged the world into utter chaos. 

This novel, or novella, is a standalone project not connected with "The Martin Culver Series" but will, like those novels, keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. 

You will want to read this novel as a companion piece to Orwell's "1984". 

Order your copy today at "1982: A Prequel to Orwell's 1984."  Digital also available. 

More for Readers and Fans in 2021

Fans and readers of The Martin Culver Series of action adventure novels will be glad to know that writing and publishing activity has taken off like a rocket in 2021, after a Sabbatical Year and a major move in 2020! And all of it benefits my readers and fans!

Thank you to those of you who attended the recent Local Author Book Signing that I held here in Melbourne, FL! I hope you are enjoying your new novels, wherever you are in the series. Watch for more events in the near future, being planned now. 

If you were unable to attend the Book Signing, but want to own any of the 7 novels in the series or purchase them as a gift, email me at: malcom@malcommassey.com. I will respond with a great price for your novel signed, sealed and delivered. This also works for the next novel in the series. 

In addition, I have actively begun writing the 8th novel in the series. This novel is set in Florida, involving sunken treasure, the Calusa tribe, abandoned weapons systems and of course the IAF and the CIA. So now is the time to read up, catch up on the series, make sure you are ready. Publication is anticipated by Summer 2021. Buy your novels for digital reading on any device here: www.amazon.com/author/malcommassey. 

Since so much of The Martin Culver Series revolves around sunken Spanish treasure, I have actively begun to hunt Spanish treasure along the beaches near our new home in Florida. These beaches are the site of the sinking of Spain's 1715 Treasure Fleet. Many millions of dollars of treasure were lost, most of it never recovered. This is also the site of Mel Fisher's first treasure hunt in Florida, one that still produces Spanish silver and gold.  I will keep you posted how this is going. I already have some found items to show you in future posts. You can visit this site again at www.malcommassey.com.

Another feature of 2021 is that I will be making regular updates of Malcom Massey, Author with a special monthly communication to those on our mailing list.  Email me at malcom@malcommassey.com if you want to receive these updates.

These updates are for for readers and fans of The Martin Culver Series, to make the novels come more alive with background details, and will include videos of character and location background, treasure hunt updates, and news related to the series. 

The monthly email will be a summary highlight of the past month, with previews of the coming month's activities and events

Finally, thank you to each of you for helping to make The Martin Culver Series a success. This has been a fun, fantastic journey all the way through, and shows no signs of becoming less interesting, thanks to you. 

Regards, 

Malcom

Sabbatical Year Nearly Complete. What's next?

 Where has the time gone? 2020 is three-quarters done, and won't we all be glad when this year is over?  I know I will be, for several reasons, not the least of which is that I am itchy to begin writing again. 

Trying to  remain positive, I recognize that for all the negatives, 2020 has also had its share of high points. My move to a new state went without a hitch, house renovations went as well as can be expected. I found that I have more applicable skills to the renovation task than I recalled, plus we love our new city. So many new things to see and do. 

As far as writing is concerned, I took off 2020 to focus on the move, shift gears from teaching writing classes and truthfully, to take a break from writing my adventure fiction novels in "The Martin Culver Series" after writing 7 novels. 

I realize now how much miss writing this series, conducting the archaeological research, and discovering what comes next in Martin Culver's ongoing struggle to survive while impacting the endless cycle of stolen artifacts smuggled daily across the globe, perpetuating war and world conflict.

As you read this, I'm gearing up for book 8 in the series, dusting off the keyboard, digging deep into the intense research that goes into every Martin Culver novel. 

A preview you say? I can't do that. But I can tell you that the series moves to the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, with Martin and Sandra Culver back in action together. I can also tell you that the world is a very different place after novel 7 in the series. "The Mystery of The Maltese Venus". Oh, and here is a teaser, the graphic that will be featured on the cover.

The name of the next novel will remain a secret, for now. 

So brush up on your previous reads in "The Martin Culver Series", re-acquaint yourself with the characters you most closely identify with, and get ready. This next novel will grab your attention and have you holding on for the ride of your life. 

Best regards, 

Malcom Massey

Writer's Conference at Hilton Rialto, Melbourne FL

The big day has arrived!

My first Florida Writer's Conference, where I will be selling and signing books, takes place Saturday, June 20, 2020 at the beautiful Hilton Rialto in Melbourne, FL.

Although I attended the AWP Writers Conference in 2018 in Tampa, FL, I attended seminars at that event as a participant, but did not set up a table to sell my books. So this is a pretty big deal! I'm excited, since after many writers conferences and book-signings, this is my first in Florida, the initial focal location of my fiction novels in The Martin Culver Series.

Hosted by Valerie Allen of Authors for Authors of Melbourne, this Writers Conference is the 12th Annual event of its kind where writers will gather to offer their books for sale, to attend seminars, and to network together.

The public has been invited through an effective publicity campaign that was carried by local news outlets.  This will give readers an interesting opportunity to meet writers and have books signed.

If you are in the Space Coast area, please make plans to attend. The address is:

 Hilton Rialto200 Rialto Place Melbourne, FL 32901

A Fellow Action Adventure Novelist Lost

Always a great inspiration and a leader in the genre, the name Clive Cussler will always be identified with action adventure novels, as author, novelist, and mentor.

As most of you know, Mr. Cussler passed from this life on Monday, February 24, 2020. We regret this loss, while celebrating his many contributions to the field of authorship.

Some of you may not know that Mr. Cussler's name often appeared on my Amazon author page under the "Customers Also Bought Items By". This great honor will not be forgotten in my lifetime.

If you have an interest, please check my Amazon page here:
http://www.amazon.com/author/malcommassey

Mr. Cussler, may you rest in peace.