H.L. Reasby's Blog, page 10
January 26, 2011
Miss Lexi Flint's review of Akhet!
The wonderful Lexi has honored me by dedicating her first ever book review to Akhet!
January 25, 2011
Status Update
I figured it was probably time for another update of what I've been up to lately.
I briefly posted earlier that I'd gotten word that 'Akhet' is now available to the UK library system thanks to the efforts of the wonderful Michael Margerison, but I should probably expand upon that. I'm very pleased that Holt Jackson Book Company has added my book to their system, needless to say. It opens up doors to not only school and public libraries in the UK, but also venues that might be a bit less obvious like government institutions and even (eep) prisons. Cool (and mildly scary)!
I'd ask that anyone in the UK who's interested in reading Akhet, please request it for your local library. It'd be hugely appreciated…. And, hey! If you come across a copy on the shelf at the library, why not snap a pic and post it here? That'd be very cool!
Now I just need to find a way to afford a trip to London (probably not gonna be any time real soon, unfortunately), so I can take Michael out to dinner and take him up on his comment that if I were in the UK, he could get me some appearances scheduled!
I hope that things are good in your neck of the woods!
CHEERS!
January 21, 2011
Unlikely Places Update
I just got word this morning from my friend, Michael, who works for a library in London that he's successfully lobbied for my book to be available in Britain's library system! This is insanely good news as it potentially opens up all kinds of doors…
Now I just need to find a way to afford a trip to London so Garth and I can take him out to dinner as a thank you! :D
January 16, 2011
The Oddest Places
So, my husband and I are engaged in playing Star Trek Online recently… it's a tremendously fun game that I really recommend. However, the reason for this post is not to endorse the game so much as to point out that support for your writing and marketing efforts can be found in the strangest of places.
We've hooked up with a fleet on the game and the guys have been very cool about purchasing the book, arranging for signed copies, and expressing a general level of excitement about knowing a published author.
Recently, the fleet leader, Paul, introduced me to another member of the fleet who works in the library system in London. After talking for a while, he offered to submit a request that they carry my book in the London libraries which would translate into at least one copy per library, and a significant jump in exposure for me! Who knew that playing computer games could benefit your writing career as well?!
January 12, 2011
Updates
So I haven't posted in a bit and I thought I would give you guys some updates on what's going on with book 2.
I have passed the manuscript along to two people other than Garth and Ren (they're kind of in the thick of things with their own books and don't really have time to give mine a read through at the moment); that would be the lovely and brilliant Quiana Kirkland and up-and-coming editor Jenna Huffman. Jenna previously helped edit Ren Cummins' second novel "Reaper's Flight" so I'm looking forward to seeing what she makes of Peret.
I'm hoping to have rewrites out of the way and the book ready for publication by the end of March or early April which would be a year after Akhet's release. I'm hoping to maintain a one-book-a-year pace of publication which should be very do-able.
Once I've finished working on my as-yet untitled Steampunk story, I plan to start plotting out the final book of the Sekhmet's Light trilogy, Shomu, and start finalizing the 5 stories I want to put in the companion book "The Days Upon the Year".
On a personal note, I took a few days of vacation around the new year and have come to the realization that I would really like to be able to give up my day job and write full-time, but until the sales really take off, or I hit a massive lotto jackpot, it's just not going to happen… which kind of makes me a sad panda, but I'll just have to keep trying, I suppose!
Have a great day, everyone!
January 7, 2011
New Reader review!
Xarah, one of the winners from my giveaway on Goodreads.com just posted her review of Akhet!
January 6, 2011
The Mutilation of a Classic
So, today I'd like to talk about something that is extremely serious and which is a major sore spot with me. I'm going to be discussing the recent 'revisions' made to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I will be using the 'n-word' in a few places relation to the use in the book. If you're going to be offended by this, please stop reading now. You have been warned.
Firstly, I'd like to say that my vehement objections to this sort of action, along with the concept of 'banning' or 'challenging' books extends back long before I, myself, was a published writer. I was brought up to cherish books and to respect the work that went into producing them.
I first read Huck Finn when I was about ten (along with dozens and dozens of other classics that my grandmother, who worked at the local library, would send to me) although some of the satirical elements of the story were rather above my head. Never would it have occurred to my family to prevent me from reading it because of racism or poor language. Rather, my parents were wise enough to allow me to read it and be willing to discuss any questions I had about it with me in an open and adult manner. Reading the word 'nigger' did not make me a racist, nor did it permanently damage my psyche, or that of any of the other people I've met who've read it over the years.
My firm belief is that the problem is not with the text of the story, but with the society that is demonizing it. I find Dr. Gribben's actions here offensive on many levels, not just as an artist myself, but as a reader and as an intelligent, thinking person.
Mark Twain did not set out to write an offensive book. What he did do was attempt to present a 'slice of life' in the antebellum South. The fact of the matter is that in that area and during that time period, the black population was enslaved and looked on by many as less-than-human. Even Huck, himself, at the beginning of the novel thinks this way but throughout the narrative of the book, he gets to know "Nigger Jim", and to love him as a friend. The application of the word Nigger goes from being a thoughtless epithet to being almost a part of Jim's name.
In many ways, Huck's evolution in his thinking mirrors our own evolution as a society from ignorantly enslaving of the black community to acceptance and embracing of them. It was hardly easy; there were many bumps in the road, but ultimately, the days of slavery and 'separate but equal' are behind us… but they should never, ever be forgotten.
To me, this is similar to the factions in Germany who want to deny that the Nazi party ever rose to power or those who chose to believe that the Holocaust against the Jews never happened. We cannot forget the atrocities of the past. A co-worker of mine, Tabitha Elders, stated it beautifully when she told me "The message they are sending to the next generations is a little too loud and clear: "If you don't like what history says, sterilize it until it reflects your opinion."
Yes, the N-word is painful to hear and to say, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! To me, to remove that from the text takes away some of what we should feel looking back and looking at the subjugation that occurred. The shock value of it smacks us in the face again and again. The sting of that epithet should inspire us to take steps to ensure that we will never again make the mistakes that our forefathers did.
The above reasons are bad enough, but then there's the hypocrisy involved as well. Dr. Gribben has done away with both 'Negro' and 'Nigger', and yet left the other racially charged epithet intact: 'Injun'. If you're going to be 'racially sensitive', it's not exactly fair to remove some and leave others. I guess the Native American community just isn't vocal enough to be worth Dr. Gribben's effort.
As for myself, I'll leave Dr. Gribben's 'edition' on the shelf and pick up the real books for myself and my family.
January 3, 2011
A great start so far!
So, I'm told by my friend Ren that how you spend new year's day is how you can expect to spend the bulk of the year ahead. I'm not sure how accurate that theory is, but if that be the case, my year will be spent with light housework, some writing, and some gaming thrown in for good measure. I could TOTALLY live with that.
Having the last few days off from work with Garth has been awesome. We'd get up in the morning, do some straightening up of the house, have some breakfast, then sit down and write for a while, both of us at our respective machines, bringing words forth and weaving them into stories. It's just reinforced for me the fact that writing is my passion and what I really want to do with my life… now I just need to get enough money to support myself while I do it full time!
Also, I would love to share with you a new novel by my friend Vincent Formosa. It's titled Eagles of Peenemunde and is currently available over at Smashwords.com, with paperback forthcoming via Createspace. I did some editing on the book and I have no hesitation in recommending it for anyone who's interested in aviation, World War II, or historical fiction in general. Vincent has done a really wonderful job in bringing his characters to life and really making them people you can care about. Needless to say, I'm very proud of him and of his book and I expect great things from him!
December 27, 2010
Things I Learned Watching Kung Fu Panda
I know Disney films as a whole tend to have great lessons about believing in yourself and morals, but somehow it seems like Kung Fu Panda resonates more than the others for me. I've decided that it's one of my 'make me happy' movies because let's face it… everyone has a 'Po' inside them that has these big dreams, but is fearful they won't be able to live up to them.
With that in mind, here are my favorite lessons I learned from Kung Fu Panda:
Everyone has potential! Just because you don't fit the image people think of, that doesn't mean you don't have anything to contribute.
Not everyone learns the same way, so keep an open mind! Po is a cuddly, round Panda bear who is not well-suited to the methods that made the rest of the Furious Five successful, yet once Master Shifu figures out how to motivate him, there's no stopping him!
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why they call it the present." – Master Oogway. To me, this boils down to the idea that you shouldn't dwell on things you can't control like what's already happened or what will happen. Just focus on what you do now and do your best.
"There is no secret ingredient!" When Po leaves the Jade Palace, dejected at his 'failure', his father Mr. Ping finally reveals the secret ingredient of the 'secret ingredient soup': nothing! He simply started calling it that and when everyone started to believe that it was special, it became so. Belief in yourself is essential in life so don't let naysayers get under your skin!
So, there you have it. Those are the chief lessons of Kung Fu Panda, as I see them. If you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch it!
December 25, 2010
I need your help
I'm working hard on trying to get the word out about my book, as I'm sure many of you know at this point.
Working on my own, more or less, I've had some successes, but I'd like to go further… so I'm asking for your help. If you are a reviewer or you know someone who is, I'd love for more reviews of 'Akhet' to get out there before the end of the year. Also, if you're a reporter/interviewer or know one, please pass along my contact information.
I'm hoping to set up a signing at some point, but I'm not certain how soon or at what location just yet. Funds are very tight thanks to the economy and my hours being cut at work so I need do so stuff on the cheap as much as possible… which is why I'm asking you, my friends, family, and readers, for help.
Any assistance would be hugely appreciated!
Heather
