Phil Giunta's Blog, page 60
September 17, 2016
The View From On High: The WWII Towers of Delaware
In case you missed my other five or six posts about the Rehoboth Beach Reads short story contest, my paranormal tale, “Tower 16” took second place and will be published in the anthology, Beach Nights, coming in November from Cat and Mouse Press.
In fact, the book launch is scheduled for November 13, 2-4PM, at Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue.
My story focuses on lonely WWII veteran and Rehoboth Beach resident Reggie Prell and his doting granddaughter, Hannah, who is visiting him during summer vacation with her parents. In between regaling Hannah with stories of his army career, Reggie is confronted by the ghosts of his brothers-in-arms, all of whom have passed away over the years leaving Reggie the lone surviving member of his battery. Realizing that his end is near, Reggie reveals to Hannah the legend of Tower 16—which only materializes to claim the souls of those who served in the fire control towers along Delaware’s coast. Will Tower 16 come for Reggie next?
I was told by the editor of the anthology that my story actually made one of the judges cry. I know it certainly moved me as I wrote it.
So What Is This Tower You Keep Referring To?
I’ve been fascinated by the WWII fire control towers along Delaware’s coast for years and always wanted to write a story about them, but it was not until the Beach Nights contest was announced that an idea finally came to me.
After all, tell a paranormal fiction writer that you’re looking for stories that take place at night and whaddaya expect to get?
My connection to Rehoboth Beach seems to s
trengthen each year. I was married there, and as I write this, I am back in town with my wife as we celebrate our anniversary.
For the past four summers, she and I have rented a house for a week every July with friends, and we take the occasional day trip here as our schedules permit.
When at all possible, I also try to include a visit to Tower 7 in Cape Henlopen. It is the only tower open to the public at present, but there is a growing movement to restore and open some of the others.
This past July, I had the pleasure of visiting Tower 3 near Dewey Beach, which I’d spotted earlier in the day during a parasailing excursion.
Of course, trips to the beach wouldn’t be complete wi
thout stimulating the local economy. This time, I finally bought a few tower-themed goodies from the local shops, including a t-shirt and two wooden plaques as pictured here.
Below are several pictures taken not only of the tower in Cape Henlopen, but images of the ocean, the bay, and surrounding park taken by me from the very top of the tower.
The Purpose of the Towers
The Fire Control Towers were constructed by the US Army in the early days of WWII to protect the Delaware Bay from potential incursion by German vessels.
There were 11 total concrete towers built between Cape Henlopen and Bethany Beach. Across the bay in New Jersey, two were built in Cape May and still exist, while the pair in Wildwood have been demolished.
Further north in Delaware, five metal towers were raised in Fort Saulsbury, but only one remains at Big Stone Beach as shown below. Photo credit: http://www.fortsaulsburyde.com
The towers were mostly constructed in pairs in order to triangulate the position of enemy ships. The information would then be transmitted back to the gun crews.
Cape Henlopen was also the location of Fort Miles army base. Today, the base remains as a tourist attraction with many of the large caliber guns on display alongside the buildings as shown below.
Below: From the top of Tower 7, views of Delaware Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and Tower 12 in Cape Henlopen State Park.
Below: Tower 7 in Cape Henlopen State Park on a perfect summer day.
References:
Beach Nights Launch Party!
The official word is out!
The launch party for the Beach Nights anthology will be Sunday, November 13, 2-4pm at Browseabout Books in Re
hoboth Beach, DE.
We will have wine, cake, free raffles, and authors on hand to sign your copy!
My story, “Tower 16” took second place and $250 in the contest at the end of July. It will be among 24 stories published in the collection.
The final layout was sent to the authors earlier this week for review before going to press. Exciting times!
September 2, 2016
Can Being an IT Geek Benefit Your Fiction Writing?
Shortly after my first novel was published in 2010, one of my co-workers asked me about it while I was installing and configuring his new laptop. The president of our division at the time happened by and overheard the conversation. “I thought you were just a boring IT guy,” he remarked.
Perhaps I am—and that’s fine with me—but as I recalled this memory recently, it occurred to me just how much my 23 years in IT support might have have benefited my fiction writing, as contradictory as that might seem on the surface. Really, it’s all about balancing the skills dominated by each side of the brain. Research suggests that the left brain controls reading and writing, calculation, and logical thinking while the right brain controls three-dimensional sense, creativity, and artistic senses.
Plan the Work, then Work the Plan…but also Be Organic
When it comes to approach, I realize there are two schools of thought—namely “plotters” vs. “pantsers”. The former are those writers who outline their stories in advance, thus creating a road map that plots a course from the beginning through middle to the end and everything in between. The latter group are those who have a fairly solid idea of how their story will proceed, but prefer not to
plan too much, thus writing by the “seat of their pants.”
With few exceptions (such as flash fiction and some short stories), I’m an ardent plotter. Working in the corporate world of project plans that show a logical progression from beginning to end,
with milestone goals along the way, is not much different from outlining a story.
Your outline is your plan that allows you plot a course through your story arc, including your characters’ journeys (protagonist, antagonist, and major supporting characters) and specifying key plot points (milestones) such as the inciting incident, scenes-and-sequels, the moment of change when your protagonist must stand up/step up/adjust attitude to overcome the major problem, and more.
However, writing fiction is an organic process and I have been known to take detours from my outlines if a better idea comes along while writing the story. That’s called flexibility and it’s perfectly fine.
Writing is also an experiment, just like any other art. If you try something that does not work, you can always turn around at the next intersection, or find a new route.
I’ve yet to be involved in a project in the corporate world that has not encountered even the smallest obstacle, required a different solution than what was specified in the initial plan, or needed timeline adjustments.
We’re human beings, after all, not automatons.
Solve the Problem
If there is one skill you hone quickly as an IT support tech, it’s troubleshooting. Some problems have quick fixes (change a setting or the old standby…reboot!) while others require research (a bizarre error message you never saw before) or a complete overhaul of the system (re-installation of the operating system, upgrade or replacement of the hardware).
The same could be said for plot problems. I’m not referring to the plot complications faced by your protagonist in your story. I’m talking about the heart-stopping, “oh-shit” mistakes you encounter while writing.
Did you stumble upon a plot hole that you need to fix? Did you fail to take something into consideration when you were outlining and now it’s become evident while writing your story (hopefully, you weren’t too far along)? Did it stop you in your tracks and prevent you from moving forward? Do you need to step back and rewrite the last several scenes or chapters?
I’ve been fortunate so far in my young writing career that any plot problems found in my drafts were solved with relatively simple rewrites. In a few cases, further research was required, but I’ve never had to completely overhaul or (yikes!) abandon a work-in-progress. I attribute that to solid planning up front.
Troubleshooting problems in your writing can be just as frustrating as it is with technology, but the ability to think on your feet (or in your seat) and try various solutions is a skill that will never let you down and might even improve your story or at least get you moving forward again. It will most certainly mold you into a more experienced writer.
Think Logically
There’s an old writing adage: Real life doesn’t make sense, but fiction must.
IT professionals often encounter system problems that, at first glance, make no damn sense at all. However, careful analysis of the sequence of events that led up to a problem often reveals the cause.
Readers must be able to follow your story’s logical progression without retracing their steps and analyzing the sequence of events that led the characters to wherever they are in the story. If the plot is too dense or stultifying, or contains too much extraneous information, or if you mention something fleetingly in Chapter Three that suddenly reemerges in Chapter Nine as an integral part of the story, this may confuse the reader, which could result in a negative review for your book on Amazon or Goodreads.
I suggest that YOU analyze each draft of your manuscript to ensure a logical and smooth flow of the plot and story. When I finish a first draft, I put it away and do not look at it again for at least a week or more. I then go back and read through it specifically searching for plot problems, areas that need to be rewritten, extraneous narrative, and anything that throws me out of the story.
I don’t believe in the popular saying, “the first draft of anything is shit,” but there ain’t no such thing as a perfect first draft either.
Remember, what made sense to you while writing the story might not make sense to a reader. As you gain experience with each project, you’ll develop an instinct for recognizing more of these pitfalls, but you’ll never catch everything.
I typically wait until a second or possibly third draft before allowing my critique partners to gnaw on it. Through self-editing, you’ll solve some problems and trim some of the fat on your own, deft critique partners will find more, and a perspicacious editor will find ones that escaped everyone else.
I don’t claim that my writing is perfect, but I use my growing skill set and experience to the best of my ability on every project.
Now, balancing time between IT and creative writing careers is a whole other challenge!
August 29, 2016
Short Story and Chapbook Writing Contests!
Passing along two writing contests that might be of interest. I’m working on something now for this first one. Book Smugglers Publishing is looking for stories about Gods and Monsters. Deadline: December 31, 2016.
This second one sounds interesting, but I don’t have time to get something together for it.
Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction Chapbook Contest Aug 1-Oct 17, 2016
If you enter either or both of these, good luck!
August 21, 2016
Witches Day Out!
Looking for some scary reads for Halloween? Catch me at Witches Day Out on Sunday, October 30 from 10AM to 4PM at the Macungie Fire Hall in Macungie, PA! I will have a table there to sell and sign books including my paranormal mystery novels, By Your Side and Testing the Prisoner!
August 13, 2016
Monster Mania Convention Recap
Today at Monster Mania con in Cherry Hill, NJ. Nestor Carbonell (Lost, Bates Motel, Dark Knight) was a pleasure to chat with and although I’d met the legendary Lee Majors (do I need to list his credits?) at a previous convention, I didn’t have the chance to get my photo with him. Corrected that today.
It was an honor to meet these fine gents!
August 9, 2016
From Star Trek to Stranger Things
Two weeks ago, I was off from work on a Tuesday to deal with some personal matters. To take the edge off, I decided to pop over to the local Carmike Cinemas and catch a matinee of Star Trek: Beyond.
I was not terribly fond of J.J. Abrams’s 2009 reboot. Further, I absolutely abhorred its sequel Into Darkness and among my circle of friends, I was not alone in that sentiment. When early reviews for Star Trek: Beyond were surprisingly effusive from those very same friends, I thought I’d give it a chance—and I’m glad I did.
Finally, they got it right.
Star Trek: Beyond, while not perfect, is a grand adventure that allows generous screen time to each cast member. The story was well-written, although it’s another variation of “we have met the enemy, and he is us” that seems to plague Starfleet in some of the previous films such as Undiscovered Country, Insurrection, and the aforementioned Into Darkness. I won’t give away spoilers, but you’ll understand if you see it.
The pacing, action, and humor were impeccable and the tribute to Leonard Nimoy and the original cast was a fine touch. Even if the last two films didn’t do it for you, I recommend Star Trek: Beyond. As both a writer and a loyal Star Trek fan, collector, and convention attendee since the late 70s, I actually walked away from this film feeling buoyant, as if the weight of my recent personal stresses had been lifted, if only temporarily.
After that, things got weird…or should I say strange. Last week, my wife learned about the new eight-episode Netflix mini-series, Stranger Things. I hadn’t heard one peep about it until we sat down to watch it and I was instantly hooked by this atmospheric science fiction thriller.
It’s 1983 in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. Led by Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine), the Department of Energy conducts mind experiments on an 11-year-old girl named, appropriately, Eleven (deftly portrayed by Millie Brown). At the same time, Will Byers, a boy of similar age, goes missing. His frantic mother (Winona Ryder) and older brother (Charlie Heaton) are convinced that Will is alive, but their search leads them to bizarre and horrifying territory.
The two plots intersect in a story that channels everything from The Twilight Zone to E.T. to The Goonies.
Although much darker, Stranger Things is comprised of many of the same tropes and story elements as J.J. Abrams’s Super 8 (which I thoroughly enjoyed). Both focus on the adventures of a group of pre-teen boys and one girl, frantic parents, an alien creature, and a secret government project.
Stranger Things is not only privileged with brilliant casting, but the 80s styles, music, and pop culture references were crafted with a respectful nostalgia for the time period in which I grew up. I look forward to season two!
Book Review: Mr. Monk Helps Himself
Life has changed for Natalie Teeger. After leaving San Francisco months ago to work as a temporary police officer in Summit, New Jersey, Natalie’s career in law enforcement has advanced beyond the role of mere assistant to renowned detective Adrian Monk.
Upon returning to San Francisco, Natalie sets her sights on passing the P.I. exam and becoming Monk’s partner. As a first step in that direction, she begins calling him Adrian instead of Mr. Monk. This does not sit well with the obsessive-compulsive detective who hates change.
If there’s one thing that Monk hates more than change, it’s clowns. When part-time clown Dudley Smith—aka J.P. Tatters—dies after handling cash coated in poison, SFPD Captain Leland Stottlemeyer calls Monk in to consult.
Meanwhile, to help bolster her confidence and reduce her stress before taking the P.I. exam, Natalie turns to celebrated self-help guru Miranda Bigley, creator of the Best Possible Me program. Along with Monk’s new girlfriend Ellen, Natalie visits Miranda’s campus known as the Sanctuary. There, Miranda and her husband Damien teach several workshops including yoga, meditation, and self-affirmation.
On the day that Monk turns up at the Sanctuary to dissuade Natalie from joining this “cult”, Miranda Bigley leaps to her death in front of dozens of witnesses. It isn’t long before Natalie suspects that Miranda might actually have been murdered, but she is unable to enlist Monk’s help since he reluctantly agreed to assist Stottlemeyer track down the clown’s killer. Thus, Natalie recruits Ellen to infiltrate the Sanctuary in search of the truth surrounding Miranda’s death.
This is the first MONK novel written by Hy Conrad, who not only took over from the fabulous Lee Goldberg, but also wrote for the TV series. I missed the final two installments penned by Goldberg, but Conrad does an admirable job of filling in background details. In my humble opinion, this is not the best of the MONK novels, but I’ll give Conrad kudos for his first try. He maintains crisp pacing throughout the story and, with few exceptions, the same humorous banter between the characters as seen in the TV series. Even though all of the MONK novels are told from Natalie’s first-person POV, Mr. Monk Helps Himself is focused far more on her than on Monk, which might turn off some readers.
August 2, 2016
River Reads Book Festival
Join over two dozen of your favorite local authors for readings and book signings at the River Reads Book Festival at Prallsville, Mill in Stockton, NJ on Sunday, October 23 from 10AM to 4PM.
The festival will feature a day of readings and author signings from a variety of authors from the Delaware River Valley. In addition to myself, the current list of participating authors include Brandi Megan Granett (event organizer), Kathryn Craft, Donna Galanti, Jack Hillman, Kerry Gans, Phil Giunta, Kelly Simmons, Mary Shafer, Heather Webb, Kate Moretti, Nicole Loughan, Dylann Rhea, Marie C. Collins, Karen Hodges Miller, Nomi Eve, Caron Kamps Widden, Ethel Rackin, Karen Katchur, Kit Grindstaff, Casey Caracciolo, Richard Ziegler, Sandra Carey Cody, Curt Herr, Kim Kurki, and Kate Gallison.
And click here to read the article on NJ.com!
Hope to see you there!
August 1, 2016
Full List of 2016 Rehoboth Reads Short Story Contest Winners!
The official list of winners in the 2016 Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story contest has been posted to the Cat and Mouse Press website. Click here to see the full list and learn more about the upcoming anthology!
