Patrick Todoroff's Blog, page 24

The Real Question isn’t

“How do I get more Reviews?” but “Have I written something worth reviewing?”

When The Barrow Lover is released, I’m sending out copies no strings attached. Of course I’m hoping for READS/REVIEWS. Of course I’ll be looking for Indie/Small Press reviewers, run ads in appropriate markets, but my goal, my prayer, my struggle is to write stories a reader wants to tell others about. I want to craft better stories, sentences, characters – not get all greasy ninja devious to exploit the Amazon and Goodreads systems.

Just sayin’.

On Expert Celebrities

RANT MODE ON

As someone once noted, a celebrity is someone who is famous for being famous. Now I confess being puzzled at aspects of popular culture, not the least of which is the air time given to non-expert opinions. Riddle me this, Batman… Are Steven Seagal’s opinions on Russia/Crimea geopolitics really worth anything? Or Dennis Rodman’s surreal sycophancy of North Korea’s Kin Jong Un? Is Kim Kardashian (of Armenian descent) an expert on Syria or the Middle East? Do I care if Keanu Reeves doesn’t believe in God? Does God care?

I feel the need to restate the obvious: niche expertise, or talent in one particular field, doesn’t translate to profound insight in other areas. A plumber ain’t a surgeon. Sure, everyone’s entitled to an opinion… but that’s what it is – an opinion. And as Socrates noted “opinions without knowledge are shameful and ugly things”. But not if they come from attractive, affluent people? Or actors who pretend to be cool people in movies?

I sound like a grumpy old man, but I want to shout “Who the Frak Cares!” every time I see these inane diatribes or vacuous advocacy. I despair of any generation so easily swayed by celebrity endorsement and propaganda. A people constructing worldviews from soap operas, blockbuster movies, comic books and entertainers are doomed. As Ralph Peters said, ‘Those who forget history die of myth.’ Well Madison Avenue Groupthink, here we are.

I know the internet has brought a biblical deluge of self-proclaimed prophets and experts, but the genuine article is out there as well. Along with sources of accurate information. In real life, complex ideas cannot be reduced to fortune cookie slogans and 30-second sound bites. What happened to critical thinking, to developing accurate frames of reference and proper sorting mechanisms, cultivating a sense of history? To impassioned but civil and informed debate? To a concept of truth?

Barbara Tuchman’s brilliant little book, The March of Folly details willful self-delusion and the consequences of the failure to think. History is replete with examples of people are lapse into ignorance or apathy, who stop thinking for themselves and acquiesce to fashionable piety, prejudices and purposes: they end up burning books.

And where they first burn books, they later burn people.

More important, do you really want Lady Gaga making Foreign Policy decisions? (she’s wearing a meat dress)

RANT MODE OFF

Eric Metaxas

Battling a head cold for the second day, probably why yesterday’s post rambled. (It’s the medicine talking)

I’ve been shying away from I am Second as they seem bent lately on merchandising redemption, but I found this.

There’s a well-known passage in Ephesians, chapter 2 about salvation by grace through faith rather than works, but in verse 10, Paul wrote “… we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I take odd comfort in the fact the Greek word translated as ‘handiwork’ is poiēma, or the root for our English word ‘poem’; i.e. a thing that is crafted with nuance and rhythm and layered meaning. Not a ‘To Do” list, an itinerary, an invoice, a legal brief… A poem.

So here’s to being a good one, and not just ‘there was was a man from Nantucket’.

Have a great day.

The Gospel according to Sci Fi

Consider the implications of the TED talk below. Or rather the ethical implications of this mind-blowing technology: techno-slaved insects/animals, designer hybrid pets, cloning, genetic engineering… If we do it with animals, it’s only a matter of time before the techniques and technology are used on people. Think it’ll never happen? We treat regular human beings with astonishing cruelty and callousness – how much more a being that is designed and grown? 50 Shades of Josef Mengele

One of my favorite books in recent years, Drew Magary’s ‘Post Mortal’, extrapolates a decidedly non-idyllic look at the near-future where age-freezing gene-therapy is developed, debated, then disseminated. Blunt, realistic, well-written, I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those wrestling with the inevitable struggle to integrate the Person and Principles of our faith with advancing technology in a global society. (Side note: I believe in the Rapture, but think it’s too often a cop-out of serious work and thought. After all, why dig deep or plan when you’re out of here at any minute, right?)

Far from being pagan or hostile, science fiction is an incredible opportunity for Christian writers. It challenges us to get a hold of Who and What we believe, then develop credible, consistent, working expressions of God’s redemption, compassion, and holiness. A cloistered, ‘Hold the Fort/Siege’ mentality won’t work. Does anyone actually remember the Alamo? Retreat and separation isn’t holiness – it’s heresy. All you’re really saying is ‘My God is small and stupid and no God at all.’

It’s a shame the TED talk cuts off. I’d love to hear the rest of the discussion.

But maybe that’s the point.

Common Oddities Sideshow e-Zine.

Jessica Thomas hammers out yet another issue of the e-Zine, Common Oddities Sideshow. Loaded with excellent Spec-Fiction, this one includes short stories, poetry, and novel excerpts, including two scenes from the upcoming Clar1ty Wars installment by yours truly. Click on the link to read or DL.

Thanks and Enjoy.

Link: Spring 2014 Issue of Common Oddities Sideshow

The First Commandment

The First Commandment

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?”

– Jer. 12: 5

The LORD would make

the Hebrew prophets eat

His words

and they would be sweet as honey,

or bitter. A furnace raging

in their bones until they spoke woe

and grace.

I am unworthy to face

such oracles, captivated

by all-too-mortal voices

that shake my soul.

Would that I not break

the first commandment.

But there are times I fear

I am turned aside after foreign gods,

hungry for their scrolls

to work their fierce magic

and ravish my cells

in lesser incarnation.

Patrick Todoroff

Rest and much geekery

Having finished both Shift Tense and The Barrow Lover (see below) recently, I’m feeling simultaneously relieved and drained. Now I’ve got ideas on the radar screen, the outlines/initial chapters of two novels, the start of the next Clar1ty Wars collection, but they’re all just kinda… sitting there.

The only shiver of excitement is seeing what Chila at Port Yonder Press does with The Barrow Lover. Someone asked if I was worried an editor would ruin the story, change its voice. I’m sure some do but I’m not sensing that here. I need and want a solid editor. A good book isn’t so much written as re-written, and having an objective yet sympathetic set of eyes to hone a story, tease out the best and grind down the rough edges is critical. Like Twain said, the difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightening and a lightening bug. A good editor helps you in that struggle.

So I’ve moved into a Reading Phase to step back and recharge. Right now, I’ve got Jane Gardam’s Old Filth, Iain Banks’ Surface Detail, Gorky Park, Story by Robert McKee, and The Moth at my bedside. (Plus a bunch of stuff on my Kindle) I’m especially looking forward to The Moth, as immersing yourself in good stories teaches you about good writing as much if not more than a book about writing.

To keep my otaku juices flowing, I’ve been gaming a new set of table top wargame rules titled Pulp Alley, adapting them to science fiction and post-apocalypse settings. My friend and I are having a blast. It’s refreshing to sit back and just enjoy a game.

Here are some pictures from three recent games:

There’s plenty more at my hobby blog if you’re interested.

I’ll also say turning 50 the other day turned out to be more a major blessing, and less one of those ‘acute sense of mortality/passage of time’ things. (I think those are good – in proper doses) My wife rented a house on a lake for a potluck with family and close friends, and we held a story slam that broke up around 11 pm. “All good” is an understatement; it was an opportunity to appreciate God’s grace on my life.

Eshu International backstories?

I plan on releasing the full SHIFT TENSE novel in trade paperback and ebook late this year, but I want to add bonus material to distinguish the separate release from the serialized portions. I was considering short stories centering on Poet9, Tam and Jace, and the Triplets prior to the formation of Eshu International.

I’ve got a killer one for Poet9, but any preferences or suggestions?

I hate marketing

[image error] There, I said it.

I don’t want to be that guy joining forums, groups, discussions just to pimp my wares, a naked ego clothed only in my latest’s back-cover blurb and a Smashwords coupon code. Drive-by marketing is obnoxious, transparent, tiresome at best. And what with Mark Driscoll’s “Real Marriage” dust-up, the last thing I want to do is use ResultSource

I know advertizing and promotion is essential; a good book never read is the same as a bad book. The question is how to carve out the time to invest rather than impose? To locate places of genuine potential interest rather than spin up the hype where it’s unmerited? And contribute genuine support to other members of those online/physical communities?

Time is a precious commodity. With everyone already busy enough, it’s tough to maintain already established connections. And it’s getting more difficult to wade – to even want to wade – through the sludge these days. With ‘The Barrow Lover’ up next, I’m seriously struggling with how I’m going to honestly and earnestly promote it.

Any thoughts here?

Murdered girl’s ghost finds a home.

Port Yonder Press Announcement for 2014 titles. Scroll down a bit

Looks like The Barrow Lover will feature a PYP imprint in 2014. Don’t know specifics yet, but I want to thank Chila Woychik for taking a chance on the story, and her staff readers for wading through the slush.

I suspect I’ll spend a few weeks grinding down rough edges, but at least I have the cover. It will be interesting to see how this small press-traditional publishing plays out. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll keep you posted.

PYP Website: Port Yonder Press

PYP FB: The inevitable FB page

And yes, I’ll make a Celtic stained glass panel to giveaway.