Mark Matthews's Blog, page 13
February 19, 2015
Detroit Based Horror Fiction: Bird Box and Broken Monsters
With my novel
MILK-BLOOD
being distinctly and specifically based in Detroit, I've been keeping an especially watchful eye on other Detroit based pieces of Dark Fiction or Horror. Recently, two popular such books have been released,
Bird Box
, by Josh Malerman, who lives and sings and flings boomerangs in Detroit, and Broken Monsters, by Lauren Beukes, best-selling novelist from South Africa who realized Detroit is the perfect home for such creative despair. She certainly did her research. More on Broken Monsters later, first up is Bird Box.
Bird Box:
Take a picture of this:
Creatures, or some type of monstrous presence, are making those who see them go mad. At least thats the consenus for those who survive, since they live on by not looking. Instead they stay blindfolded, putting blankets over the windows, and doing so as if their lives depend on it. Most are not so diligent, and madness kills in remarkable ways.
Bird-Box is a remarkable book. Apocalyptic, but with the focus on one mother and how she survives. The story begins with her venturing for safety with her two children, all of them blindfolded, and the children trained on the art of audio detection. Chapters go back and forth to the backstory of the sanctuary she is leaving, and they link together wonderfully. At times when chapters begin, they brilliantly carry over sensory from the preceding chapters, but of a different time period, which makes the stories intersect with near magical realism.
The story read fast, smart, and the author's skills were on display. The author made me feel like a character in the story... and I don't mean just feel 'for' a character in a story, and empathize for them, but like I was trapped in the house with them, wearing a blind-fold. The handicap of not being able to see was terrifying and all my other senses were on fire. Like the characters of the story, my brain was awhirl with possibilities of what was out there. That was tremendous. I wanted to peek and see what was driving us all mad. So many passages were done with no visual imagery, which isn't easy, and could be boring, but not at all here. I had to pull out the Willy Wonka line as I was reading.... "the suspense is killing me. I hope it lasts."
There was more than one nice twist, some odd characters, some noble characters, and the expected infighting where it is your fellow human survivor, not the 'monsters', who become the one to fear.
Detroit landmarks are not especially visible, but they don't need to be. The isolation is there. The neighborhood feeling of both relying on your community yet fearing your community. There is outside evil on the street, living, walking, never fully seen but always present. Just to go outside is to risk your life, and you need to barricade the doors, and be suspicious of those who knock. But ultimately, it is the power of community and heroic acts to save our neighbors that may be the savior of these Detroit streets, as well as human kind in general. Some adventurous young urban spelunker needs to listen to the audiobook of Bird-Box while walking the streets of Detroit.
(Detroit is the city that recently banded together to give a man a car and nearly half a million dollars after it was found he had been walking 25 miles to work each day. This same man had to then leave his home and move due to fear of repercussions from neighbors who certainly would have broken down his windows and robbed him one night.)
Literary license is used to carry the riveting tone of Bird Box as the story gets frenetic towards the end. As great books do, this one does not reveal all its secrets, and doesn't let you see everything at the end that you might want. Then again, if you had seen everything, you would not be a survivor. You'd have bashed your own skull in with the closest blunt object you could find until brain matter dripped from your ears. So be glad for it.
Josh Malerman, from Detroit. (Do you see what I see?)
The author is doing readings to blind-folded participants in the Detroit area.
Bird Box:
Take a picture of this:Creatures, or some type of monstrous presence, are making those who see them go mad. At least thats the consenus for those who survive, since they live on by not looking. Instead they stay blindfolded, putting blankets over the windows, and doing so as if their lives depend on it. Most are not so diligent, and madness kills in remarkable ways.
Bird-Box is a remarkable book. Apocalyptic, but with the focus on one mother and how she survives. The story begins with her venturing for safety with her two children, all of them blindfolded, and the children trained on the art of audio detection. Chapters go back and forth to the backstory of the sanctuary she is leaving, and they link together wonderfully. At times when chapters begin, they brilliantly carry over sensory from the preceding chapters, but of a different time period, which makes the stories intersect with near magical realism.
The story read fast, smart, and the author's skills were on display. The author made me feel like a character in the story... and I don't mean just feel 'for' a character in a story, and empathize for them, but like I was trapped in the house with them, wearing a blind-fold. The handicap of not being able to see was terrifying and all my other senses were on fire. Like the characters of the story, my brain was awhirl with possibilities of what was out there. That was tremendous. I wanted to peek and see what was driving us all mad. So many passages were done with no visual imagery, which isn't easy, and could be boring, but not at all here. I had to pull out the Willy Wonka line as I was reading.... "the suspense is killing me. I hope it lasts."
There was more than one nice twist, some odd characters, some noble characters, and the expected infighting where it is your fellow human survivor, not the 'monsters', who become the one to fear.
Detroit landmarks are not especially visible, but they don't need to be. The isolation is there. The neighborhood feeling of both relying on your community yet fearing your community. There is outside evil on the street, living, walking, never fully seen but always present. Just to go outside is to risk your life, and you need to barricade the doors, and be suspicious of those who knock. But ultimately, it is the power of community and heroic acts to save our neighbors that may be the savior of these Detroit streets, as well as human kind in general. Some adventurous young urban spelunker needs to listen to the audiobook of Bird-Box while walking the streets of Detroit.
(Detroit is the city that recently banded together to give a man a car and nearly half a million dollars after it was found he had been walking 25 miles to work each day. This same man had to then leave his home and move due to fear of repercussions from neighbors who certainly would have broken down his windows and robbed him one night.)
Literary license is used to carry the riveting tone of Bird Box as the story gets frenetic towards the end. As great books do, this one does not reveal all its secrets, and doesn't let you see everything at the end that you might want. Then again, if you had seen everything, you would not be a survivor. You'd have bashed your own skull in with the closest blunt object you could find until brain matter dripped from your ears. So be glad for it.
Josh Malerman, from Detroit. (Do you see what I see?)The author is doing readings to blind-folded participants in the Detroit area.
February 12, 2015
Chasing the Dragon Down the Yellow Brick Road
Chasing the Dragon. A term I over use and over think and over indulge in. Always chasing that next high.
I have been sober from the Running High since October, 2014. This is nothing to celebrate. That was the last time running made me sweat. Since then, I do a mile at a time at most,the slowest miles of my life, and am doing what I can to get back to it.
I used to say that if I ever lost a leg, it would be the biggest threat to my sobriety since I could no longer run. Now that my fear of not running has come true, I have found out that I am no more likely to get high or drunk if I can't run than if I can. The statement was more for hyperbole about how wonderful running has been in my sobriety. But now I need to look elsewhere. There is plenty to be had and I have more than most and perhaps more than I deserve, but God Damn I am still in a unique kind of sick and a terrible sort of suffering. In fact, I did take myself out of the RunWell cause that seemed such a perfect fit.
[image error] I am one resilient SOB. I will follow any trail or make my own and if I get knocked down nine times I'll get up nine times. Then again, perhaps I should not be searching and chasing so hard. Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man, that he didn't already have. I am hoping that chasing the dragon is quite similar, that as I seek out the mythical beast, I realize it was inside me all along. I shall find a way to breathe fire.
February 9, 2015
MILK-BLOOD on Dead End Follies
My book was featured on one of the coolest Dark Fiction review sites in the universe, Dead End Follies. They called it "one of these disturbing tales that could only belong in the golden era of indie publishing."
Here's a snippet:
" In order to appreciate MILK-BLOOD, you need to know right off the bat that you're in for some heavy social stuff. It's a metafictional novel written from the perspective of a Detroit social worker (which is Mark Matthews' real life occupation) and part of its genius is to sneak horror in what otherwise would be a bleak social drama. Don't get me wrong, MILK-BLOOD is 100% horror, but it's narrative slowly unfolds, like an urban legend. You know these campfire tales that always happened to someone the storyteller knows? Mark Matthews uses metafiction in order to give the legitimacy and intimacy to his novel, and by the time the horror elements kick in, you're invested in the narrative like it was happening to your neighbor across the street, so that it terrifies the shit out of you."
Read the whole thing here:
MILK-BLOOD reviewed by Dead End Follies
Here's a snippet:
" In order to appreciate MILK-BLOOD, you need to know right off the bat that you're in for some heavy social stuff. It's a metafictional novel written from the perspective of a Detroit social worker (which is Mark Matthews' real life occupation) and part of its genius is to sneak horror in what otherwise would be a bleak social drama. Don't get me wrong, MILK-BLOOD is 100% horror, but it's narrative slowly unfolds, like an urban legend. You know these campfire tales that always happened to someone the storyteller knows? Mark Matthews uses metafiction in order to give the legitimacy and intimacy to his novel, and by the time the horror elements kick in, you're invested in the narrative like it was happening to your neighbor across the street, so that it terrifies the shit out of you."
Read the whole thing here:
MILK-BLOOD reviewed by Dead End Follies
February 3, 2015
Benefits of Not Running. (Maybe We All Need some Mysoitis Ossificans in Our Lives)
I have run 2 miles in 2015. This was over a span of 2 days, not in succession, and they were slow and easy ones.
Not running has its benefits.
*I have more time on my hand (but accomplish less)
*When I get sick, I don't get sick for as long (but I feel sicker in the head)
*I don't get the major munchies (but I eat more because I am depressed)
*I do much more upper body weights (I pick things up and put them down)
* I save so much money on race fees (which I waste on Chip Ahoys)
*I can get a cardio workout just by taking the stairs (going to the top of a tall building with plans to jump off)
Recently I received some PT, which did some good but also revealed to me the evils of the medical world (charges pending) and I think I once again have another diagnosis. Mysoitis Ossificans, which isn't just scar tissue, it is bone growing into your muscle due to an injury
Myositis ossificans is a rare condition which can occur after the patient has suffered a muscle injury. Returning too soon to training after injury is often a cause. Abnormal bone development occurs where the deep tissue injury has created a hematoma. The patient will experience pain and bruising, and this may cause the development of abnormal bone within the muscle. The muscles get inflamed and the bone formation occurs. When the bones start to form inside the muscle tissue, the patient will require suitable treatment.
Treatment is hit or miss, may require surgery, but does not have a very high success rate. Jumping off a building does. But first, pass the Chip Ahoys. I want to be nice and fat for the splat.
Not running has its benefits.
*I have more time on my hand (but accomplish less)
*When I get sick, I don't get sick for as long (but I feel sicker in the head)
*I don't get the major munchies (but I eat more because I am depressed)
*I do much more upper body weights (I pick things up and put them down)
* I save so much money on race fees (which I waste on Chip Ahoys)
*I can get a cardio workout just by taking the stairs (going to the top of a tall building with plans to jump off)
Recently I received some PT, which did some good but also revealed to me the evils of the medical world (charges pending) and I think I once again have another diagnosis. Mysoitis Ossificans, which isn't just scar tissue, it is bone growing into your muscle due to an injury
Myositis ossificans is a rare condition which can occur after the patient has suffered a muscle injury. Returning too soon to training after injury is often a cause. Abnormal bone development occurs where the deep tissue injury has created a hematoma. The patient will experience pain and bruising, and this may cause the development of abnormal bone within the muscle. The muscles get inflamed and the bone formation occurs. When the bones start to form inside the muscle tissue, the patient will require suitable treatment.
Treatment is hit or miss, may require surgery, but does not have a very high success rate. Jumping off a building does. But first, pass the Chip Ahoys. I want to be nice and fat for the splat.
January 31, 2015
Kinder Words Have Never Been Spoken
MILK-BLOOD continues to be a best-selling chemical dependency book on Amazon, and is now on a .99 Cent Kindle Count Down deal. It is being featured on the top Kindle site, Free Kindle Books and Tips, today. Check it out here and find out why one recent reviewer gave it 5 stars and wrote: "Where does the author get these ideas? How can anybody have this kind of imagination without being mentally insane themselves?"</
Kinder words have never been spoken.
Kinder words have never been spoken.
January 29, 2015
Fare You Well, Fare You Well, I Love You More Than Words Can Tell
The Grateful Dead have announced three huge farewell shows in Chicago this July. Chicago is just a four hour drive so this is a must-see. There is nothing like a Grateful Dead show, except maybe a rocking Baptist service. Really, the two are so much alike. The power in the air and spiritual fusion of thousands leaves a lasting mark.
So, I tried to get in touch with an old friend from college to see if he was going. It's been 20 years since we spoke. He took me to my first Grateful Dead show which did, indeed, steal my face right off of my head. At least a dozen Dead shows would follow. As much as drugs kill, they do have the power to connect, and I felt a creative connection. He was the spark in a group of friends. A true mystic.I remember how many times I heard "St Stephen" blasting from his dorm room, and the first chords always evoke his memory. He was a fan of Kerouac, of writing, of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. At his brothers house every year in Ann Arbor we had the so memorable "Zep Fests" where a group would listen to every single Led Zep album from beginning to end. Usually on the same day of Hash Bash.
I wrote him but did not hear back, tried to contact with his family, but was unsuccessful.
So I googled his name and added obituary and his home state. There it was. 2012. Deceased. 2 years ago. Survived by wife and child. I have no idea how or why, but I was shocked and hurt and saddened because God Damn it He's Gone. I could confirm this not only by the family member names in the obituary, but by the words used to describe him. "He possessed the warmth of an angel, a wealth of knowledge, a romantic dreamer. A brilliant artist, literary genius and sonneteer."
He and I have both lead some crazy ass lives in our times, and while I have no idea how or why he died, either of us could have died long ago. But in this madness I felt an indescribable connection that words would fail. I'll be a lesser person without him, but there is no doubt his spirit will be alive. In Chicago, in July, he will be there.
Fare you well, Robert.
You were indeed the Voodoo Child. If I don't meet you anymore in this world, I'll meet you in the next one, and don't be late.
So, I tried to get in touch with an old friend from college to see if he was going. It's been 20 years since we spoke. He took me to my first Grateful Dead show which did, indeed, steal my face right off of my head. At least a dozen Dead shows would follow. As much as drugs kill, they do have the power to connect, and I felt a creative connection. He was the spark in a group of friends. A true mystic.I remember how many times I heard "St Stephen" blasting from his dorm room, and the first chords always evoke his memory. He was a fan of Kerouac, of writing, of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. At his brothers house every year in Ann Arbor we had the so memorable "Zep Fests" where a group would listen to every single Led Zep album from beginning to end. Usually on the same day of Hash Bash.
I wrote him but did not hear back, tried to contact with his family, but was unsuccessful.
So I googled his name and added obituary and his home state. There it was. 2012. Deceased. 2 years ago. Survived by wife and child. I have no idea how or why, but I was shocked and hurt and saddened because God Damn it He's Gone. I could confirm this not only by the family member names in the obituary, but by the words used to describe him. "He possessed the warmth of an angel, a wealth of knowledge, a romantic dreamer. A brilliant artist, literary genius and sonneteer."
He and I have both lead some crazy ass lives in our times, and while I have no idea how or why he died, either of us could have died long ago. But in this madness I felt an indescribable connection that words would fail. I'll be a lesser person without him, but there is no doubt his spirit will be alive. In Chicago, in July, he will be there.
Fare you well, Robert.
You were indeed the Voodoo Child. If I don't meet you anymore in this world, I'll meet you in the next one, and don't be late.
January 21, 2015
The Joy of Audiobooks on ACX.com
MILK-BLOOD
received some incredible reviews over the last few days, but in keeping with the insidious nature of reviews, I have a confession: Neither of these reviewers even read the book. Instead, both listened to it through Audible.com. Here's what they had to say.
Audio Book Reviewer "Full of intense, fully conceptualized characters. A story line that gives me goosebumps. Reality horror at its finest."
Barks Book Nonsense/ Horror After Dark "A gripping mix of the horror show that is drug addiction and otherworldly horror that feels so natural your skin may crawl. It’s descriptive and gut- wrenching This story is intense and bothered me on a level that most horror can’t reach."Words like these make my blood boil until my heart explodes like a sixth grader's volcano project. None of this would be possible without making an audiobook. I know some writers who don't want to be bothered with audiobooks. Well... Do it. Do it. Get on ACX and make it happen.
Audio-books sell by themselves. They really do. They sell much better than paperbacks and pay more per unit sold. They are better for the environment, and they are a shit load of fun. Having your book read aloud by a narrator brings it to life for both you as author as well as for the reader. It adds dimension and substance. Readers who would never touch an audiobook can still listen to a sample with one click on your amazon page. There is no reason not to have an audio book version of your book. If you have learned how to navigate KDP on amazon, you can do ACX. Even if you have been traditionally published, your publisher may not own audio rights. (This happened with On the Lips of Children.) I have always gone with royalty share, where the narrator and author split royalties. This means making less but less investment and less risk. Here are some tips based on my experience, some of which will only make sense after you have started: *When you load up your book on your acx page, make sure to search by the Kindle's ASIN and load up the digital version rather than the paperback. The kindle version probably has a better amazon rank than the paperback and is more attractive to narrators this way. Since it is narrators you are seeking, your pitch should be an explanation to them on why your book will sell. *Email ACX and ask for a 'narrator stipend', which is basically an extra fee per hour given to narrators to attract them. On the Lips of Children received a stipend, and thus I was able to hire narrator Bob Dunsworth who does Bud Light commercials and Transformer voices. With or without a stipend, there are plenty great narrators waiting to be hired, and I am happy with the narrators for all three of my audiobooks.
*When loading up samples for narrators to audition for the job, make sure to include a passage with dialogue. You want to get an idea of how much voice inflection narrators use when reading dialogue, for this varies. After you agree to a deal and they present the final version for your review, make sure you do listen to the entire book before approving for sale. There was some minor technical errors in both of mine (chapter number issues). *Lastly, after the audiobook goes live, ACX gives out free voucher downloads to both author and narrator. Dish these out generously and with joy. Interested in a free audio version of MILK-BLOOD? Below are codes for a free download of MILK-BLOOD on audio. Instructions on how to redeem also provided.4N8ZJ3RUWW2WN4UTWW29N8SRJH56CUH6Q3HUPR85D38U5K4BPZP6Go to my book's page on Audible.com: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Milk-Blood-Audiobook/B00NJ0BDWW/ Add the audiobook to your cart.Create a new Audible.com account or log in.Enter the promo code and click "Redeem" on the cart page.To change the price from full price to $0.00, click the box next to "1 Credit" and click the "update" button to apply the credit to your purchase.Complete checkout, and start listening to the free copy of the book.
Audio Book Reviewer "Full of intense, fully conceptualized characters. A story line that gives me goosebumps. Reality horror at its finest."
Barks Book Nonsense/ Horror After Dark "A gripping mix of the horror show that is drug addiction and otherworldly horror that feels so natural your skin may crawl. It’s descriptive and gut- wrenching This story is intense and bothered me on a level that most horror can’t reach."Words like these make my blood boil until my heart explodes like a sixth grader's volcano project. None of this would be possible without making an audiobook. I know some writers who don't want to be bothered with audiobooks. Well... Do it. Do it. Get on ACX and make it happen.
Audio-books sell by themselves. They really do. They sell much better than paperbacks and pay more per unit sold. They are better for the environment, and they are a shit load of fun. Having your book read aloud by a narrator brings it to life for both you as author as well as for the reader. It adds dimension and substance. Readers who would never touch an audiobook can still listen to a sample with one click on your amazon page. There is no reason not to have an audio book version of your book. If you have learned how to navigate KDP on amazon, you can do ACX. Even if you have been traditionally published, your publisher may not own audio rights. (This happened with On the Lips of Children.) I have always gone with royalty share, where the narrator and author split royalties. This means making less but less investment and less risk. Here are some tips based on my experience, some of which will only make sense after you have started: *When you load up your book on your acx page, make sure to search by the Kindle's ASIN and load up the digital version rather than the paperback. The kindle version probably has a better amazon rank than the paperback and is more attractive to narrators this way. Since it is narrators you are seeking, your pitch should be an explanation to them on why your book will sell. *Email ACX and ask for a 'narrator stipend', which is basically an extra fee per hour given to narrators to attract them. On the Lips of Children received a stipend, and thus I was able to hire narrator Bob Dunsworth who does Bud Light commercials and Transformer voices. With or without a stipend, there are plenty great narrators waiting to be hired, and I am happy with the narrators for all three of my audiobooks.
*When loading up samples for narrators to audition for the job, make sure to include a passage with dialogue. You want to get an idea of how much voice inflection narrators use when reading dialogue, for this varies. After you agree to a deal and they present the final version for your review, make sure you do listen to the entire book before approving for sale. There was some minor technical errors in both of mine (chapter number issues). *Lastly, after the audiobook goes live, ACX gives out free voucher downloads to both author and narrator. Dish these out generously and with joy. Interested in a free audio version of MILK-BLOOD? Below are codes for a free download of MILK-BLOOD on audio. Instructions on how to redeem also provided.4N8ZJ3RUWW2WN4UTWW29N8SRJH56CUH6Q3HUPR85D38U5K4BPZP6Go to my book's page on Audible.com: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Milk-Blood-Audiobook/B00NJ0BDWW/ Add the audiobook to your cart.Create a new Audible.com account or log in.Enter the promo code and click "Redeem" on the cart page.To change the price from full price to $0.00, click the box next to "1 Credit" and click the "update" button to apply the credit to your purchase.Complete checkout, and start listening to the free copy of the book.
January 12, 2015
SIX MONTHS OF BLOG POSTS ARE DEAD, AND I AM TO BLAME. ARGGGHH.
I just tried to delete 3 blogs posts from draft, and ended up deleting six months worth of blog posts. Six months worth. Last undeleted post happens to be from my sobriety date in June of 2014. I looked to blogger for how to uncover deleted posts, and you can't. Best you can do is look for the cached versions of the deleted posts, and copy and paste and re-enter.
Part of me is tempted to grab a plastic baggy, scoop up this whole blog in one hand, and toss the stinky mess in the trash like a pile of Dog Crap
I think it is time to change the focus anyways. Running isn't happening, and it feels just odd to have it as part of the title. I am doing all that I can to get back to it, and have not quit. Will not quit, but I am not even close.
Other things I still love to write and ramble apart will have to take its place. Media reviews, book reviews (including reviews of my own) and random thoughts about staying sober and chasing the dragon without being able to run. This will be part of my new world order.
Six months worth of blog posts burns me up. It really does. If someone knows how I can transfer all my stinky dog poop into wordpress while keeping my domain name, please give me a shout.
Part of me is tempted to grab a plastic baggy, scoop up this whole blog in one hand, and toss the stinky mess in the trash like a pile of Dog Crap
I think it is time to change the focus anyways. Running isn't happening, and it feels just odd to have it as part of the title. I am doing all that I can to get back to it, and have not quit. Will not quit, but I am not even close.
Other things I still love to write and ramble apart will have to take its place. Media reviews, book reviews (including reviews of my own) and random thoughts about staying sober and chasing the dragon without being able to run. This will be part of my new world order.
Six months worth of blog posts burns me up. It really does. If someone knows how I can transfer all my stinky dog poop into wordpress while keeping my domain name, please give me a shout.
January 9, 2015
Walt Disney World Marathon, Making Outlines, and Cosmic Irony
Cosmic Irony is on the menu so far this year.
Cosmic Irony One:
I signed up for Physical Therapy and took the first appointment available which was Thursday. It included doing the Graston Technique on my leg and some electric stimulation procedure that was reminiscent of The Princess Bride torture machine. Both of these procedures I wanted to hurt more than they did. For some twisted reason, I felt the more it hurt, the more impact it might have. I’ll be back to PT in a few days.
Where's the cosmic irony? the day of my first PT was on the same day of the week I was going to travel to Orlando to run the Walt Disney World Marathon. Marathon weekend is here. At the same time I was driving home from Physical Therapy, I was supposed to be taking the Disney shuttle home from the expo, bib in hand.
In a perfect world, one session of PT will heal me, and I will catch a flight early Saturday to Orlando in time to get to the expo before it closes down Saturday evening. Then on Sunday I’ll run the marathon in 15 minute miles through all the parks as they close the roads down behind me. It's a small world after all.But, I don’t expect that to happen. My poor little bib will go unpicked up, and will be in the dark where unpicked up bibs go to die when the marathon starts.
Cosmic Irony two.
I have actually been writing a lot. I have many scraps of stories written. Short stories, part of stories. Sequels. An On the Lips of Children Sequel and Milk-Blood sequel both have been imagined with some rambling pages done. I've also started on countless other projects, but, with apologies to Chuck Wendig who rightly espouses the power to "finish your shit", I have not finished my shit. I have gone down too many paths with scattered plots. As I am typing away, throwing all sorts of spaghetti against the wall to see wait sticks, the wet noodles pile on the floor.
Then, on a computer next to me, my daughter plops down. She’s 8. She said she’s writing a book. It’s about a family. As she sits down to write, she did not write a single sentence, but instead worked first on her table of contents. She came up with a title for each chapter, and told me what she was going to have happen. The word document has been saved, and only includes the title of each chapter, numbered, and in a sensical progression.
In other words she wrote a dang outline. How dare she! Doesn’t she know outlines save time, provide direction, organize thoughts, and stop one from drowning in spaghetti noodles?. She mocks me.
Argghhh.
January is the cruelest month.
Cosmic Irony One:
I signed up for Physical Therapy and took the first appointment available which was Thursday. It included doing the Graston Technique on my leg and some electric stimulation procedure that was reminiscent of The Princess Bride torture machine. Both of these procedures I wanted to hurt more than they did. For some twisted reason, I felt the more it hurt, the more impact it might have. I’ll be back to PT in a few days.
Where's the cosmic irony? the day of my first PT was on the same day of the week I was going to travel to Orlando to run the Walt Disney World Marathon. Marathon weekend is here. At the same time I was driving home from Physical Therapy, I was supposed to be taking the Disney shuttle home from the expo, bib in hand.
In a perfect world, one session of PT will heal me, and I will catch a flight early Saturday to Orlando in time to get to the expo before it closes down Saturday evening. Then on Sunday I’ll run the marathon in 15 minute miles through all the parks as they close the roads down behind me. It's a small world after all.But, I don’t expect that to happen. My poor little bib will go unpicked up, and will be in the dark where unpicked up bibs go to die when the marathon starts.
Cosmic Irony two.
I have actually been writing a lot. I have many scraps of stories written. Short stories, part of stories. Sequels. An On the Lips of Children Sequel and Milk-Blood sequel both have been imagined with some rambling pages done. I've also started on countless other projects, but, with apologies to Chuck Wendig who rightly espouses the power to "finish your shit", I have not finished my shit. I have gone down too many paths with scattered plots. As I am typing away, throwing all sorts of spaghetti against the wall to see wait sticks, the wet noodles pile on the floor.
Then, on a computer next to me, my daughter plops down. She’s 8. She said she’s writing a book. It’s about a family. As she sits down to write, she did not write a single sentence, but instead worked first on her table of contents. She came up with a title for each chapter, and told me what she was going to have happen. The word document has been saved, and only includes the title of each chapter, numbered, and in a sensical progression.
In other words she wrote a dang outline. How dare she! Doesn’t she know outlines save time, provide direction, organize thoughts, and stop one from drowning in spaghetti noodles?. She mocks me.
Argghhh.
January is the cruelest month.
January 2, 2015
DARK AND DAMAGED GOODS: BEST OF 2014
DARK AND DAMAGED GOODS: BEST OF 2014
The obligatory summary.
MILK-BLOOD was released in 2014, and received some incredible reviews. The book is unique, challenging, (I like to think) and this is reflected in 41 Five Star Reviews ("OMG, what did I just read!") to 7 One Star Reviews ("Awful. Triple Thumbs Down"). It was consistently a best-selling Drug Dependency book on Amazon. After it got some attention from a Horror Writers Association recommended reading list, I was inspired to join the HWA.
Looking back at the books I have read, and it's also been a dark year of reading.
Here are a few of my favorite reads from 2014:
*We Are All Completely Fine
A therapy group commences, and the participants share one common issue: all of them were involved in some sort of monstrous trauma, or been a part of the 'monster' world that exists parallel to ours.
I loved this book. The kind of book you read where the author wrote it just for you. The group dynamics were so spot on, and the author referencing "Yalom", who is the guru for therapy group dynamics and progression, showed that he did his homework. What worked so well for me is that, from my experience working in mental health, the unique affliction felt by the participants of the group are so true to how people feel in therapy: the sense of oddness, that nobody can relate to them because of their oddness, the initial mistrust, ways that trust is gained through self-disclosure and confrontation and identifying ourselves in others. Also, how the group dynamics start to bleed into interactions outside of the group, and behavior gets 'practiced' and then reported back to others. Some PHD student somewhere should use this book for a thesis.
*Corrosion
Yeah it came out in 2013, but, I read it in 2014, and the author's 2014 follow up novel, Factory Town, was close enough in tone to be a sequel. I loved them both, and this author is now on my auto-buy list.
Corrosion was unforgettable and a bit mesmerizing with a unique narration that hit its mark with me. I couldn’t help but think of what effort this must have taken to write. There is a message in here that spoke to me about how the presumed back story of a character can completely change your perspective. In the field of mental health therapy, there is a technique known as “Narrative Therapy”, where one changes the narrative of their own personal history in order to rewrite themselves and give themselves a new identity. Well, this takes that to new dark depths.
*The End of the World Running Club
Another book that seems to be written specifically for me.
I don’t really do running clubs. I run as I dream—alone. But if I did join a club, it would certainly be to run through a post-apocalyptic wasteland with some new found mates, trying to reach my family before they shipped off forever. Any club that helps a runner make a friend of the pain and sets their beast free is right on. This is part of the scenario in this novel. It is a wonderful, harrowing, epic, witty, and emotional story of the apocalypse and one man’s attempt to be the father he wanted to be after the world ends. I almost cried at the end of this book. Well, I did cry, but nobody saw. If a tear falls in the forest….
*The End in All Beginnings "What Becomes God"
A collection of Novellas, really, and everyone will have their own favorite, mine is the first piece called "What Becomes God" about a terminally ill boy and his friend. It highlights Taffs ability to tend to his characters and write about the universal human experiences with the macabre as the backdrop.
Horror works best when the fantastic, the macabre, the twisted, (you name it) is used to bring forth the most basic of human emotions and relationships and throw a spotlight on it through speculation. That is what I found inside all of these novellas. Writing about things that splatter only impresses me if I care about the character. These stories don't splatter, they slowly creep into your heart, and they are smart and rewarding. The situations the humans find themselves in are familiar: childhood friendships, family ties, lost loves, and the things that are important and hold us together (or tear us apart). The writing itself is the kind that makes me marvel at the writer's talent. The plot twists and depth of characters kept me reading.
There are a few hundred books that I am sure would be up here if I had more time, but they are set for 2015.
MILK-BLOOD was released in 2014, and received some incredible reviews. The book is unique, challenging, (I like to think) and this is reflected in 41 Five Star Reviews ("OMG, what did I just read!") to 7 One Star Reviews ("Awful. Triple Thumbs Down"). It was consistently a best-selling Drug Dependency book on Amazon. After it got some attention from a Horror Writers Association recommended reading list, I was inspired to join the HWA.
Looking back at the books I have read, and it's also been a dark year of reading.
Here are a few of my favorite reads from 2014:
*We Are All Completely Fine
A therapy group commences, and the participants share one common issue: all of them were involved in some sort of monstrous trauma, or been a part of the 'monster' world that exists parallel to ours.
I loved this book. The kind of book you read where the author wrote it just for you. The group dynamics were so spot on, and the author referencing "Yalom", who is the guru for therapy group dynamics and progression, showed that he did his homework. What worked so well for me is that, from my experience working in mental health, the unique affliction felt by the participants of the group are so true to how people feel in therapy: the sense of oddness, that nobody can relate to them because of their oddness, the initial mistrust, ways that trust is gained through self-disclosure and confrontation and identifying ourselves in others. Also, how the group dynamics start to bleed into interactions outside of the group, and behavior gets 'practiced' and then reported back to others. Some PHD student somewhere should use this book for a thesis.
*Corrosion
Yeah it came out in 2013, but, I read it in 2014, and the author's 2014 follow up novel, Factory Town, was close enough in tone to be a sequel. I loved them both, and this author is now on my auto-buy list.
Corrosion was unforgettable and a bit mesmerizing with a unique narration that hit its mark with me. I couldn’t help but think of what effort this must have taken to write. There is a message in here that spoke to me about how the presumed back story of a character can completely change your perspective. In the field of mental health therapy, there is a technique known as “Narrative Therapy”, where one changes the narrative of their own personal history in order to rewrite themselves and give themselves a new identity. Well, this takes that to new dark depths.
*The End of the World Running Club
Another book that seems to be written specifically for me.
I don’t really do running clubs. I run as I dream—alone. But if I did join a club, it would certainly be to run through a post-apocalyptic wasteland with some new found mates, trying to reach my family before they shipped off forever. Any club that helps a runner make a friend of the pain and sets their beast free is right on. This is part of the scenario in this novel. It is a wonderful, harrowing, epic, witty, and emotional story of the apocalypse and one man’s attempt to be the father he wanted to be after the world ends. I almost cried at the end of this book. Well, I did cry, but nobody saw. If a tear falls in the forest….
*The End in All Beginnings "What Becomes God"
A collection of Novellas, really, and everyone will have their own favorite, mine is the first piece called "What Becomes God" about a terminally ill boy and his friend. It highlights Taffs ability to tend to his characters and write about the universal human experiences with the macabre as the backdrop.
Horror works best when the fantastic, the macabre, the twisted, (you name it) is used to bring forth the most basic of human emotions and relationships and throw a spotlight on it through speculation. That is what I found inside all of these novellas. Writing about things that splatter only impresses me if I care about the character. These stories don't splatter, they slowly creep into your heart, and they are smart and rewarding. The situations the humans find themselves in are familiar: childhood friendships, family ties, lost loves, and the things that are important and hold us together (or tear us apart). The writing itself is the kind that makes me marvel at the writer's talent. The plot twists and depth of characters kept me reading.
There are a few hundred books that I am sure would be up here if I had more time, but they are set for 2015.
