Scott Carter's Blog, page 3
April 20, 2013
Excited to share latest novel - Barrett Fuller's Secret
I'm excited to share the cover for my second novel, Barrett Fuller's Secret.
http://www.dundurn.com/books/barrett_...
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Barrett Fuller is a world-famous and very wealthy children's author who writes under a pseudonym because he's a self-absorbed womanizer and drug-user. His life changes when he receives an extortion letter, challenging him to live up to the morals he currently espouses in his books. He is presented with a series of tasks to complete or face having his identity revealed to the public, resulting in the ruin of his financial empire.
Richard Fuller, Barrett's nephew, has a secret too, and it's one no kid should bear. He knows why his father left the family and he's never told his mother.
When the extortionist challenges Barrett to spend time with his nephew, their respective secrets move towards a collision that will change their lives forever.
Coming in September!
http://www.dundurn.com/books/barrett_...
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Barrett Fuller is a world-famous and very wealthy children's author who writes under a pseudonym because he's a self-absorbed womanizer and drug-user. His life changes when he receives an extortion letter, challenging him to live up to the morals he currently espouses in his books. He is presented with a series of tasks to complete or face having his identity revealed to the public, resulting in the ruin of his financial empire.
Richard Fuller, Barrett's nephew, has a secret too, and it's one no kid should bear. He knows why his father left the family and he's never told his mother.
When the extortionist challenges Barrett to spend time with his nephew, their respective secrets move towards a collision that will change their lives forever.
Coming in September!
January 29, 2013
Suspense Magazine's Review of Blind Luck
Suspense Magazine April 2011 - Vol. 021
BLiNd LucK by Scott Carter
If you were lucky, really lucky, would you know it? Not the kind of luck we all feel we find every now and then, such as catching all green lights on the way to work. Rather the type of luck when you just can’t lose, at anything, day after day. Would you notice it, or would it be like everything else good in life, we just start to take it all for granted? This is the basic underlying premise of Scott Carter’s outstanding debut novel, “Blind Luck”.
Dave Bolden is an unassuming type of guy. He’s your typical cube rat in your typical dead end job. One morning, suffering a hangover after a night of drinking, his entire world changes. He is left the lone survivor of his tiny company after a truck crashes through the building front. He is left with the questions one would expect, such as “why was I spared?” He comes to view his survival as a curse, instead of the good luck it was. Somebody else however, doesn’t see it that way. In walks Grayson, assistant to a wealthy man, Mr. Thorrin, who views Dave as lucky in everything in life. From that point on, Thorrin hires Dave to test his luck in one twisted game after another. All the while, he is falling in love with Grayson’s sister, who is the polar opposite of Dave.
Scott Carter has delivered a wonderful debut novel, one that is fresh and original. The book weaves between what is happening and flashbacks in Dave’s life that shows how lucky he is. The flashbacks are done in such a way that we can see why Dave doesn’t view himself as lucky. These segments add a depth to the tale and a nice backing to make his non-belief in his luck that much more understandable. The book moves quick, is incredibly well written and exciting in a subtle way. I highly recommend this one.
Reviewed by Carl Isonhart for
Suspense Magazine
BLiNd LucK by Scott Carter
If you were lucky, really lucky, would you know it? Not the kind of luck we all feel we find every now and then, such as catching all green lights on the way to work. Rather the type of luck when you just can’t lose, at anything, day after day. Would you notice it, or would it be like everything else good in life, we just start to take it all for granted? This is the basic underlying premise of Scott Carter’s outstanding debut novel, “Blind Luck”.
Dave Bolden is an unassuming type of guy. He’s your typical cube rat in your typical dead end job. One morning, suffering a hangover after a night of drinking, his entire world changes. He is left the lone survivor of his tiny company after a truck crashes through the building front. He is left with the questions one would expect, such as “why was I spared?” He comes to view his survival as a curse, instead of the good luck it was. Somebody else however, doesn’t see it that way. In walks Grayson, assistant to a wealthy man, Mr. Thorrin, who views Dave as lucky in everything in life. From that point on, Thorrin hires Dave to test his luck in one twisted game after another. All the while, he is falling in love with Grayson’s sister, who is the polar opposite of Dave.
Scott Carter has delivered a wonderful debut novel, one that is fresh and original. The book weaves between what is happening and flashbacks in Dave’s life that shows how lucky he is. The flashbacks are done in such a way that we can see why Dave doesn’t view himself as lucky. These segments add a depth to the tale and a nice backing to make his non-belief in his luck that much more understandable. The book moves quick, is incredibly well written and exciting in a subtle way. I highly recommend this one.
Reviewed by Carl Isonhart for
Suspense Magazine
December 9, 2012
Rack Interview - On Fiction Writing
Scott Carter
By OFW Editor: Michael Keyton
Published: October 29, 2012
Accomplishment: Toronto born author and screenwriter.
Does bestseller mean good writer?
Not necessarily, but it always means a good idea. I understand why many of the books that sell millions have a backlash, but there is no denying that those authors have isolated ideas with mass appeal.
Should writers strive for literary merit?
I have to believe that any writer that is diligent and talented enough to be in a position to publish wants to create important stories that remain relevant over time, but authors have to write about what interests them. To contrive a plan for literary merit would be precarious. You write what you’re passionate about with the most skill you have and hope that it is entertaining and enlightening enough to endure over the years.
Elmore Leonard listed ten rules, one of which is: 'Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip.' What rule or piece of advice would you add to the list, and which one would you break?
I had to look these up, so because it’s fresh for me I’ll start with the one I would and do break all the time. Definitely number nine: Don’t go into great detail describing places and things. The wisdom isn’t lost on me. We’ve all read mundane three-page descriptions about places and things like trees blowing in the wind or skyscrapers blocking out the sun, but when done right the detailing of places and things can be the most enjoyable part of a read. The Road couldn’t be as hypnotic without McCarthy’s descriptions of the settings. I just read Ryan Boudinot’s Blueprints of the Afterlife, and that book is textured by how perfect the descriptions of places and things are. The same goes for Patrick De Witt’s The Sisters Brothers. The places, such as the gold-mining camps and things, such as the toothpaste powder, are what transported me into that world and make it such a special read. So as much as I dig Mr. Leonard’s work, I disagree with that rule.
The piece of advice I would add is: Nothing trumps clarity. Word choice, style, and rhythm can be the most intoxicating parts of writing, but they should never be delivered at the expense of clarity.
Which author makes you jealous and why?
Many authors make me jealous, but Glen Duncan (I Lucifer, Death of an Ordinary Man) makes me envious most often. The beauty and precision of his sentences make me stop regularly when I’m reading his books and wish I had written the combination of words myself. He also has that ability that all special writing does, which is to crystalize insights that have been floating around in the readers’ minds as mere fragments.
What are your thoughts on self-publishing?
I’m not a fan. My biggest problem with self-publishing is that an author is missing the vital stage of working with a professional editor or editorial team. The various stages that a manuscript has to pass before it reaches publication always make it better. If authors are looking to establish credibility they will be much better served by publishing short fiction in journals and magazines.
E-books: Exciting, or a cause for unease?
I won’t say exciting because I love holding the pages of a book, but they certainly don’t make me uneasy. Anything that gets people to read is positive and it’s only natural that the delivery system for stories evolves over time.
What would you tell yourself about this industry if you could send a letter back in time? Would you convince yourself to do something else?
I interned at a publisher in my early twenties and had the privilege of doing research for many veteran authors who helped me navigate the business side of writing, so I feel fortunate to have had mentors that saved me a lot of time and angst. But if I wrote a letter back with some sort of insight it would be not to rush. Writing aspirations require patience and because I like to immerse myself in projects, the pace of the business side of writing frustrated me more in my twenties. Over time, I’ve learned to savour the entire process and enjoy each stage of the journey.
I’d be writing even if it hadn’t worked out professionally, so I definitely wouldn’t try and talk myself out of taking a swing as a young man. Pursuing writing and working in publishing in my early twenties put me in conversations with many incredible people that I wouldn’t have met in any other pursuit, so even though the early years are full of uncertainty, I’d travel the same roads again at that time in my life just for the hangs.
Do you think authors have more success seeking agent representation in their own countries?
I don’t know. But I suspect the manuscript’s quality and projected ability to move units will always trump a loyalty to one’s homeland. Agents need clients that sell copies.
Which is the worst book you have ever read? Which is the worst book you have never read?
I’ve never finished a book that was so weak from a skill perspective that I questioned why it was in print, so the few I’ve come across that fall into that category aren’t memorable. I always worry that there isn’t enough time in life to read all the great books, so I do my best to forget the turkeys.
As far as the worst book I never read, dialogue is one of my favourite parts of reading and writing, so if the dialogue in the Twilight follow ups is anything like it is in the first one, then I’ll go with any of those.
And finally…
Which literary character would you sleep with?
I can’t say I’ve been sexually attracted to a literary character, but in the spirit of the question, I’ll give you a character that stayed with me. Elise, Eric Packer’s wife in DeLillo’s Cosmopolis. She’s a poet, emotionally distant and seems to be uncomfortable with her wealth. The film version just came out, so I’m curious to see if the actress they cast in the role captures the character’s essence.
Scott's first novel, Blind Luck, was published by Napoleon and Company in 2010. His screenplays include a short film that debuted at the Exploding Cinema Film Festival in Los Angeles and The Unspoken Promise, which was written for Bravo! Television and played at the Reel World Film Festival.
He has worked on numerous other films with various companies, including his own Sad But True Entertainment, founded in 2007. His second novel, Barrett Fuller’s Secret will be published by Dundurn Press in 2013.
By OFW Editor: Michael Keyton
Published: October 29, 2012
Accomplishment: Toronto born author and screenwriter.
Does bestseller mean good writer?
Not necessarily, but it always means a good idea. I understand why many of the books that sell millions have a backlash, but there is no denying that those authors have isolated ideas with mass appeal.
Should writers strive for literary merit?
I have to believe that any writer that is diligent and talented enough to be in a position to publish wants to create important stories that remain relevant over time, but authors have to write about what interests them. To contrive a plan for literary merit would be precarious. You write what you’re passionate about with the most skill you have and hope that it is entertaining and enlightening enough to endure over the years.
Elmore Leonard listed ten rules, one of which is: 'Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip.' What rule or piece of advice would you add to the list, and which one would you break?
I had to look these up, so because it’s fresh for me I’ll start with the one I would and do break all the time. Definitely number nine: Don’t go into great detail describing places and things. The wisdom isn’t lost on me. We’ve all read mundane three-page descriptions about places and things like trees blowing in the wind or skyscrapers blocking out the sun, but when done right the detailing of places and things can be the most enjoyable part of a read. The Road couldn’t be as hypnotic without McCarthy’s descriptions of the settings. I just read Ryan Boudinot’s Blueprints of the Afterlife, and that book is textured by how perfect the descriptions of places and things are. The same goes for Patrick De Witt’s The Sisters Brothers. The places, such as the gold-mining camps and things, such as the toothpaste powder, are what transported me into that world and make it such a special read. So as much as I dig Mr. Leonard’s work, I disagree with that rule.
The piece of advice I would add is: Nothing trumps clarity. Word choice, style, and rhythm can be the most intoxicating parts of writing, but they should never be delivered at the expense of clarity.
Which author makes you jealous and why?
Many authors make me jealous, but Glen Duncan (I Lucifer, Death of an Ordinary Man) makes me envious most often. The beauty and precision of his sentences make me stop regularly when I’m reading his books and wish I had written the combination of words myself. He also has that ability that all special writing does, which is to crystalize insights that have been floating around in the readers’ minds as mere fragments.
What are your thoughts on self-publishing?
I’m not a fan. My biggest problem with self-publishing is that an author is missing the vital stage of working with a professional editor or editorial team. The various stages that a manuscript has to pass before it reaches publication always make it better. If authors are looking to establish credibility they will be much better served by publishing short fiction in journals and magazines.
E-books: Exciting, or a cause for unease?
I won’t say exciting because I love holding the pages of a book, but they certainly don’t make me uneasy. Anything that gets people to read is positive and it’s only natural that the delivery system for stories evolves over time.
What would you tell yourself about this industry if you could send a letter back in time? Would you convince yourself to do something else?
I interned at a publisher in my early twenties and had the privilege of doing research for many veteran authors who helped me navigate the business side of writing, so I feel fortunate to have had mentors that saved me a lot of time and angst. But if I wrote a letter back with some sort of insight it would be not to rush. Writing aspirations require patience and because I like to immerse myself in projects, the pace of the business side of writing frustrated me more in my twenties. Over time, I’ve learned to savour the entire process and enjoy each stage of the journey.
I’d be writing even if it hadn’t worked out professionally, so I definitely wouldn’t try and talk myself out of taking a swing as a young man. Pursuing writing and working in publishing in my early twenties put me in conversations with many incredible people that I wouldn’t have met in any other pursuit, so even though the early years are full of uncertainty, I’d travel the same roads again at that time in my life just for the hangs.
Do you think authors have more success seeking agent representation in their own countries?
I don’t know. But I suspect the manuscript’s quality and projected ability to move units will always trump a loyalty to one’s homeland. Agents need clients that sell copies.
Which is the worst book you have ever read? Which is the worst book you have never read?
I’ve never finished a book that was so weak from a skill perspective that I questioned why it was in print, so the few I’ve come across that fall into that category aren’t memorable. I always worry that there isn’t enough time in life to read all the great books, so I do my best to forget the turkeys.
As far as the worst book I never read, dialogue is one of my favourite parts of reading and writing, so if the dialogue in the Twilight follow ups is anything like it is in the first one, then I’ll go with any of those.
And finally…
Which literary character would you sleep with?
I can’t say I’ve been sexually attracted to a literary character, but in the spirit of the question, I’ll give you a character that stayed with me. Elise, Eric Packer’s wife in DeLillo’s Cosmopolis. She’s a poet, emotionally distant and seems to be uncomfortable with her wealth. The film version just came out, so I’m curious to see if the actress they cast in the role captures the character’s essence.
Scott's first novel, Blind Luck, was published by Napoleon and Company in 2010. His screenplays include a short film that debuted at the Exploding Cinema Film Festival in Los Angeles and The Unspoken Promise, which was written for Bravo! Television and played at the Reel World Film Festival.
He has worked on numerous other films with various companies, including his own Sad But True Entertainment, founded in 2007. His second novel, Barrett Fuller’s Secret will be published by Dundurn Press in 2013.
