Patrick Todoroff's Blog, page 35
March 13, 2013
Through a ‘Bad Glass’ darkly: a short review
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I don’t mind books/film/art that challenge my worldview. I welcome them in fact, as testing proves authenticity.
Wandering the shelves at B & N the other night, I picked up Richard E. Gropp’s BAD GLASS. I did my ‘Front/Back/First Five Pages test’ and went to the register. I can see why it won a Del Ray writing contest; it’s an unusual, well-written story.
Finished it last night and concluded it’s also a true, post-modern spec-fiction novel. Gropp’s solid writing captures damaged, confused characters struggling to make sense of bizarre, para-normal phenomenon in Spokane. More grotesque horror than sci-fi, there are no answers, there is no resolution, no stability – just a seeping dread at the loss of meaning and trust as even fundamental laws of physics decay.
The book is a challenge to status quo perspective – I’m fine with that – but the constant drug and alcohol abuse, an empty same-sex exchange, the creeping madness, joyless characters losing themselves and each other… I found to be simply tragic. If there is no meaning, no meta-narrative, all that’s left are ashes and tears. It’s a story about slow, inevitable despair at the frayed edge of reality, and the protag (and author) being an amateur photographer, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a shap-shot of this generation’s take on metaphysics.
I’ve been accused of proselytizing in my fiction. Fair enough, I guess. I bring my ‘worldview’ with me where ever I go in the hope it will accurately reflect something of Jesus’ redemption. All I can say is ‘Bad Glass’ left me with a deep sorrow for the characters and the author.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Cor. 13:12
March 8, 2013
To Parry and Shirk
Re-posting a TED Talk is an easy out to meet weekly blogging quotas. I don’t apologize, in that they’re well worth the time and effort. (In fact, it’s my deeply-held conviction TED Talks are a shining example of what the Internet is supposed to offer. As opposed to say, hentai porn.) I do apologize if you were looking for substance of a more personal note related to Christian fiction or artistic endeavor.
Lately, I’ve avoided HSSJ because in hammering out personal issues, I recognize no one’s as fascinated with my life as I am. And, as Fran Lebowitz once said, “Spilling your guts is exactly as charming as it sounds.” I didn’t want to add my semi-digested angst to the Gravitron that is the bloggo-sphere.
In the last two months I’ve declined the security of a Board position on a church council in favor of pioneering a Bible Study, been awarded the job to restore 36 leaded glass windows in a historic church, opted to re-work the entire ending for Shift Tense, and seen the birth of my third grandchild. Add regular work/family/church obligations with the occasional blizzard-induced power outage, and you’ll see its been busy here.
All this has combined to a rather sobering mix of events, forcing a guy who still plays with toy soldiers to do something truly ridiculous, namely act his age. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but I’ve been in narrow-focus, closed mode much more than normal, and my creative energies have been exhausted figuring out ways to avoid smashing my monitor at recent news stories, while not dope-smacking Christians for comments that are irrelevant to the point on inanity. (Small wonder any spare time is spent reading fiction: it makes more sense.)
That said, Spring is almost here, God is still in control, things are getting done.
I’ll end with a great quote I found the other day, as well as a link to a great article by a man who salvaged my faith:
“This is a place where grandmothers hold babies on their laps under the stars and whisper in their ears that the lights in the sky are holes in the floor of heaven.”
March 7, 2013
March 1, 2013
Pop Tart Instructions
In the interest of posting something this week, here’s a clip from one of my favorite comedians. I feel the same way listening to current discussions on the economy and some church/faith-related issues. We’re dissecting the painfully obvious, and while I’m afraid ‘painful’ is going to be the key word, you gotta laugh, trust God and keep going.
February 17, 2013
Interview with author Mark Carver
It’s called Reciprocity.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m an American currently living in China with my wife and son. I teach English classes at a Chinese university. My interests include art, tattoos, heavy metal, cathedrals, a cold beer, and of course, reading and writing.
Tell us about your writing. What genre(s) do you specialize in?
I’ve been writing stories of all kinds since I was a little kid, but I’ve always been drawn to sci-fi, action/adventure, and horror. I like to infuse all the elements that I enjoy reading into my own writing. I’m a sucker for intense dramatic atmosphere and melodrama, and I try to make my writing moody and engrossing. My first book, The Age of Apollyon, came out last fall, and it’s the first book in a trilogy about what could happen after Satan reveals himself to the world.
Who are your favorite authors?
I pretty much only read classics. I rarely pick up a book that is less than one hundred years old, though I do enjoy some modern authors. Anything from the Gothic, American Romantic, and Victorian eras suit me just fine, but I also enjoy intense psychological stories, regardless of genre or era. Lord of the Flies by William Golding is my favorite book.
What inspires you to write?
I like writing what I would want to read. I get most of my inspiration from music and movies. I am a very visual writer and I try to replicate what I see in my mind through words. I listen to a lot of bombastic music like death and doom metal, and this helps put me in the mood to write. I love action movies that are explosive and over-the-top, so I seek to combine rip-roaring action with atmospheric creepiness. Of course, when I write in other genres, my inspiration changes as well.
Describe your writing process.
The time of day doesn’t matter, but I prefer to be alone, either at home or in my office. However, living in China and raising a toddler has enabled me to function without peace and quiet, so I can pretty much write anywhere and anytime. I usually listen to heavy metal music when I write. I find my best bursts of creativity happen after I’ve watched a TV program or movie.
Any upcoming projects?
Black Sun, the sequel to The Age of Apollyon, will be released in just a few weeks. I’m working on a new book now that is not part of the trilogy and is completely different from what I’ve written before. It’s called Indelible, and it’s a story about a man who designs fantasy weapons. He makes a drastic but seemingly insignificant choice in his life, but it changes everything in a big way. There’s nothing supernatural or fantastic, but it’s still a pretty intense story about how people perceive themselves and others around them. I have a few more ideas in my head that are just waiting to pop out. I’m pretty good about keeping a steady writing rhythm, so I hope to crank out at least one book a year.
Where can we find you online?
Official website: http://markcarverbooks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ageofapollyon
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6152317.Mark_Carver
You can add me as a friend on Facebook too!
+++++++
Mark Carver
Foreign Lecturer
Xiamen University TKK College
February 15, 2013
John Cleese on Creativity.
Well worth 36 minutes of your time. Coming up this weekend: Interview with author, Mark Carver.
February 12, 2013
A Poem
I had mentioned an affection for poetry in my interview with Mark Carver. Here’s one from a while back, written for the daughter of a family friend.
***
The Tale of Jessica J
Please take the time for this little rhyme
Of a girl with a curious name,
Of prim apparitions, and crucial decisions
That lead to glory or shame.
Jessica J was four, what’s more,
she could be quite a handful.
She’d scream and shout and point and pout,
And stomp around demand-ful.
Her mother was nice and gave advice
To amend her daughter’s behavior,
She took great pains to try and explain,
And did what she could to save her.
“It’s wrong,” she’d say, “to act that way.”
“Good manners matter most.”
“If you will not heed, I really need
to call Miss Emily Post.”
Jessica J said “Go away!”
While bouncing on her bed.
“You can’t frighten me,” she said with glee.
“Miss Emily Post is dead.”
“I’ll fling all my toys, and make faces at boys.
And build big tents in the hall.
I’ll leave a huge mess, and suck on my dress.
You can’t stop me at all.”
“You’re right,” Mom sighed, with a tear in her eye.
“Whatever shall I do?
At the end of my rope, I’ve given up hope.
What will become of you?”
Then from the first floor came a sound at the door,
A crisp, little voice spoke out.
“Come here, my dears, and do not fear,
Miss Emily Post is about.”
The figure was dressed in clean white and pressed,
carefully fitted apparel.
“You’ve begged and you’ve pleaded. I see that I’m needed.
The young lady is turning quite feral.”
“I’ve seen your plight, I’ll make things right.
I’ve come with a remedy.
Now mother, you must, in me put your trust.
Leave Jessica J to me.”
Emily Post, the elegant ghost, motioned for Jess to come.
But she wouldn’t do it,
grabbed her dolly and threw it,
Turned ‘round and started to run.
Miss Post, she did smile with impeccable style,
And waved a hand full of glitter and light.
She whisked Jess away to the table to stay
until she learned her manners aright.
“Shoulders don’t droop. No hair in your soup.
No burping or feet on the table.
Don’t eat with your knife, or scream for your life.
Pay attention whenever you’re able.
Don’t interrupt, or knock over your cup.
It’s not appropriate in the least.
Or mash food with your toes, suck noodles up your nose.
It makes you look like a beast.
The thing you must know in order to grow
to a lady both joyous and bright,
Is that Fate can be frozen by deeds that are chosen,
So make sure those choices are right.”
Jessica scowled, and furrowed her brow,
A great decision before her.
Should she be bad, and make her Mom sad?
Or should she be good and adore her?
Miss Emily Post, she watched her quite close
to see what path would be taken.
Would she decide to stand firm in her pride,
Or would bad deeds be forsaken?
Jessica J jumped up to say
“I’ve made a decision alright!
While Bad can be easy, I’d rather be pleasing,
and welcome in everyone’s sight.”
Then in great bliss, she gave Momma a kiss
and said, “Never again will I stray.
I’m gonna be good and do what I should
And put Joy back in Jessica J.”
THE END
February 10, 2013
February 8, 2013
Bad Words!
Remember that old George Carlin sketch ‘Seven dirty words you can’t say on TV’? (Google it if you want. It was funny when I was 13.)
Apparently there are some words I can’t use as a Science Fiction Writer now, one of which is ‘space marine.’
I’m not schooled in the subtleties of IP and Copyright Law, but shouldn’t the Marine Corps of various nation-states be the plaintiff in this? As opposed to a toy-soldier company? Why didn’t the USMC send a Force Recon team to GW HQ the day after they released their first box of heavily armored sci fi human troops?
I’m starting to wish they did.
I get protecting against infringement in a related area (table top wargames) or goods deliberately piggy backing your IP for profit. But even then it gets fuzzy, particularly over generic terms that have been employed as far back as the 1930s. SPACE MARINE WIKI ENTRY
Thing is, M.C.A. Hogarth’s little ebook has nothing to do with the Grim-Gothic-Darkness-of-the-Far-Future-in-which-there-is-only-War.And-Litigation
Unfortunately, this might be a case of which party has deeper pockets to laywer-up. But if the bullies can dictate terms, (pun) and that’s what it is in this case, what’s next? Star Army? Fire Team? Assault Rifle?
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out – I hope GW Legal rolls all ones – but in the meantime, I have the sudden urge to write a space marine story and sell off any remaining GW figs from my collection. Call me petty.
Current Despot and Reigning Figurehead of the SFFW, John Scalzi, weighed in on the dust-up HERE
February 7, 2013
Self-inflicted wounds?
Straight to it: As self-published writer, I’ve been told repeatedly I’ve blown my chances of ever getting picked up by an agent/big house. That not only will my material get ripped off, (’cause I don’t have the protection of a Major Publishing wetworks/legal team?) but that my early, lesser quality material will forever bias readers against later works.
Oddly enough, I have read several recent genre novels that contained scenes/phrasing eerily similar to big chunks of my stuff, and I know – like all craft – I need to improve. (See Malcolm Gladwell’s Ten Thousand Hour Rule) however, I’m not convinced this is true.
Here’s an article from an apparently prolific writer I’ve never heard of. My takeaway line:
Then Publisher’s Marketplace followed with the line:
“As everyone knows, originally self-published books made for a number of high-profile crossover deals in 2012–though in total numbers, we recorded 45 such deals in all.”
Of the 300 or so six figure deals that were reported to them in 2012, 45 were from books that started off self-published.
Indie publishing is now a clear route in.
As a self-employed, self-taught stained glass artist, my experience in the last 13 + years is Earn as you Learn is a hulluva lot better than Pay As You Go.
Yes, there have been mistakes, difficult clients, dead-beats, re-dos, refunds and a couple flagrant attempts to rip me off. Yes, there have been lean times. (It’s one of the reasons I started writing fiction.) I’ve had to downsize to a non-retail location. Stop giving classes. Lose walk-in traffic and a chunk of retail revenue. No, I don’t hobnob with the ‘Wine/Cheese/Gallery’ crowd here on Cape Cod. (As a tradesman, I’m the piranha in the koi pond) And no, I probably won’t ever make the cover of Stained Glass Quarterly.
Looking back, are there things I’d do differently? Who can’t say Yes to that? Has my technique improved over time? You bet.
But I have a long list of satisfied clients, starting with those first simple commissions. I’m still in business. I’ve always paid my bills on time. I’ve got projects stretching ahead of me, and thank God, the phone keeps ringing.
Fact is, I had to start somewhere. I wouldn’t be able to tackle my current jobs if I hadn’t learned on those first, simple ones.
In line with that, your can’t write your second book until you’ve finished your first.
Sure Pat, hype and encourage yourself all you want, but the numbers don’t lie.
Amen. In 2012 I sold over a thousand books and netted just under 2 Grand. I average fifty copies a month on Amazon in a ratio of 40:1 ebook to paperback.
So for my writing, I have another year’s worth of experience, some income, a thousand plus new people who are familiar with my work, regular blog traffic, thirty-nine Amazon reviews between two titles, and a Facebook Page. None of which I had before.
So do Real Writers Wait?
Some do. And that’s their choice. Am I inferior or cheapening myself for launching off without official approval? I don’t think so. Am I set irrevocably on this course, forever destined to navigate the murky swamp of indie fiction? No and no.
I’ll end with this thought from the man whose prose first captured my imagination:
If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.
Ray Bradbury
