Christopher B. Wright's Blog, page 50

Curveball Issue One and KDP Select (UPDATE: Nevermind)

UPDATE: Yeah, nevermind. I just found out that in order to go KDP Select I would in fact have to take Issue One offline. Since I don't want to do that, the rest of the experiment is not going to happen. Which means I will be un-de-listing everything from B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, etc. just as soon as the sites finish de-listing it in the first place.

The original article follows.

On February 7 (2012) I posted an article called Everything Old is New Again: Why KDP Select Probably Isn't Good for...

Good Night, Sweet Prince: Part Five

The Bowery, NYC

He rides the trains for hours, switching from line to line just to make sure he’s not being followed. When he decides it’s safe he gets out at the corner of Bleecker and Mulberry, more out of habit than anything else.

An old habit. A very old habit. So old he wouldn’t have considered it a habit at all.

It’s dark when he climbs out of the subway. It’s not like it used to be. It was definitely dirtier then, but it’s not just that. He feels like a tourist now. Back then he was just...

Good Night, Sweet Prince: Part Four

Penthouse Apartment, Manhattan

“Here we are.”

A uniformed police officer steps out into the elevator foyer outside Alex’s apartment. CB steps out after him, looking around once, noting two tape outlines on the floor and the broken remains of door hanging in the door frame.

“Forensics has been over this place three or four times,” the officer says. “There’s not a lot left to see. We didn’t move anything, but they did take a few things. Some kitchen knives and the computer are the ones I remember....

Good Night, Sweet Prince: Part Three

Schaef Earth Garden (Park Slope UMC)

The room is even more crowded than it was before. Someone let in select members of the press—CB is pretty sure whose bright idea that was—and the small groups are now besieged with reporters trying to interview them during a wake. The reverend of the church has closed the doors to the sanctuary and is stating in loud, plain terms that under no circumstances will the press be permitted in there. CB smiles slightly as a very startled Senator Tobias Morgan is...

Good Night, Sweet Prince: Part Two

Park Slope United Methodist Church, Brooklyn

“This is sick,” Jenny mutters.

The sidewalks are so full of people CB can’t imagine how anyone is able to breathe in those crowds, let alone move. Lined up along the curb are the paparazzi, jostling with each other and with the occasional aggressive tourist in an attempt to get a money-making shot. Police are everywhere, trying to keep the crowd on the curb so that cars can continue down the street unimpeded. This is met with only mixed success: as o...

Good Night, Sweet Prince: Part One

Forrest Brownstone, Roof

The roof of the Forrest’s brownstone can’t be called a commanding view, not by New York City standards. But CB likes it. It’s night, but there’s enough light to see over the tops of the other brownstones in the neighborhood and into a small park located behind the houses across the street. In the distance he can see taller buildings rise up into the sky.

It’s chilly tonight. The wind is almost sharp enough to convince CB to go back inside. But he wants to smoke, the hou...

Issue Three: Good Night, Sweet Prince

Story: Christopher Wright
Cover : Jeff Darlington
Logo: Garth Graham

Fake Review #3: Curveball by Milton Horace Dante Longfellow III

Milton Horace Dante Longfellow III wanted to take another crack at writing a review. Having already been burned once by the gentleman, I was dubious. I asked him what he planned to review, and suggested The Points Between, since it seemed a little more in line with his aesthetic than Pay Me, Bug! did. He said “No, I thought I’d review Curveball.” I said “No thanks, I’ll pass.” He said “No really, it’ll be fine.” I said “You must think I’m some sort of idiot.” He said “That aside, I still want...

Fake Review #2: The Points Between reviewed by Weev1l42

Yesterday's sock puppet review was somewhat unsatisfactory... Mr. Longfellow III was too highbrow for the material, apparently, so I made my next sock puppet reviewer a little more... straightforward. Unfortunately Weev1l42 decided to review The Points Between...

There’s a point in every book-reading experience where I wind up wanting to punch the writer repeatedly in face. I rate each book based on how long it takes me to get there: the longer it takes, the higher the grade. So far the highes...

Fake Review #1: Pay Me, Bug! reviewed by Milton Horace Dante Longfellow III

There has been an incredible amount of talk about author's writing fictional reviews on sites like Amazon, Goodreads, etc. in order to generate interest in their work. I'm completely against this. That said, this week I'm writing one fake review a day and posting it on my site. The first is a review of Pay Me, Bug!, written by Milton Horace Dante Longfellow III, a guy you've never heard of because I made him up. Enjoy.

It was with some trepidation that I, your faithful and humble servant, pick...