Huston Piner's Blog, page 7
October 21, 2013
Greedy Bug Book Reviews Interview
Thanks to Cindi, Kazza K, and Mr Austro-Hungarian at Greedy Bug Book Reviews for interviewing me today.
Check out the interview here, and while you're there poke around their wonderful site! (You'll be so glad you did!)
Check out the interview here, and while you're there poke around their wonderful site! (You'll be so glad you did!)
October 8, 2013
Lee Wind features My Life as a Myth
My thanks to the wonderful Lee Wind for featuring My Life as a Myth on his I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?" site. If you don't follow Lee's site, you should bookmark it immediately. Professor Wind has a Masters in Education and is a writer and speaker who empowers LGBTQ teens. He conducts presentations to young people to end bullying and stereotypes . His daily posts cover a wide range of publications of interest to the LGBTQ community. I'm made his site a daily stop for a long time and always find it interesting, informative, and entertaining.
October 1, 2013
My Life as a Myth - Rainbow Awards finalist!
All I can say is WOW!
If it wasn't wonderful enough to receive an honorable mention in the 2013 Rainbow Awards competition, I am overwhelmed that My Life as a Myth is one of the finalists in the Young Adult category!
My thanks to the judges and thanks to Elisa! Given the other titles in the Young Adult category it is, indeed, an honor to be even mentioned in the same breath as such great authors!
Best of luck to all the finalists!
If it wasn't wonderful enough to receive an honorable mention in the 2013 Rainbow Awards competition, I am overwhelmed that My Life as a Myth is one of the finalists in the Young Adult category!
My thanks to the judges and thanks to Elisa! Given the other titles in the Young Adult category it is, indeed, an honor to be even mentioned in the same breath as such great authors!
Best of luck to all the finalists!
September 30, 2013
My Life as a Myth receives honorable mention!
My Life as a Myth receives Honorable Mention 2013 Rainbow Awards!
"Cherie: This book should be required reading for every high school student, assigned of the first day of school in their freshman year. Wow. I honestly believe it could do a great deal to eradicate bullying of every sort, and might well help more than one scared, lonely and hurting kid survive long enough to understand that people aren't just mouthing platitudes when they say it will get better. Frankly, the book is so well written that even the kids on the other side of the bullying equation would be drawn in, and learn what it's like to be the kid bullied. It might well save them too."
http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid...
"Cherie: This book should be required reading for every high school student, assigned of the first day of school in their freshman year. Wow. I honestly believe it could do a great deal to eradicate bullying of every sort, and might well help more than one scared, lonely and hurting kid survive long enough to understand that people aren't just mouthing platitudes when they say it will get better. Frankly, the book is so well written that even the kids on the other side of the bullying equation would be drawn in, and learn what it's like to be the kid bullied. It might well save them too."
http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid...
September 26, 2013
A Giveaway Opportunity!
Register to get an autographed copy of My Life as a Myth to be awarded on November 15th. The winner will receive it just in time for (USA) Thanksgiving weekend.
September 19, 2013
A most flattering review of My Life as a Myth
All I can say is, "Wow! Thanks for a most flattering and complimentary review of My Life as a Myth over at Insight Out!" If you aren't familiar with it, Insight Out! is an amazing review site by bookworm BJ Shephhard, who also writes for
Impact Magazine
and
The Novel Approach
. All three sites are well worth bookmarking!
From BJ's review:
To begin with, this story, very much a YA classic, seemed to be a light-hearted romp as Napalm Nick and his new fame-hungry friend Jesse elevate his social status into the clouds. But as the story progresses, we really get to see Piner strip away the layers to reveal something far deeper beneath. The laughs become a heartfelt cry, the comedy becomes tragedy and the beginning seamlessly paves the way for a beautiful ending. Nominated for 2014’s Stonewall Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, this debut release from the Stateside troubadour has undoubtedly been one of the best reads of the year.
Read the full review here.
From BJ's review:
To begin with, this story, very much a YA classic, seemed to be a light-hearted romp as Napalm Nick and his new fame-hungry friend Jesse elevate his social status into the clouds. But as the story progresses, we really get to see Piner strip away the layers to reveal something far deeper beneath. The laughs become a heartfelt cry, the comedy becomes tragedy and the beginning seamlessly paves the way for a beautiful ending. Nominated for 2014’s Stonewall Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, this debut release from the Stateside troubadour has undoubtedly been one of the best reads of the year.
Read the full review here.
September 18, 2013
On the Introduction of My Life as a Myth... The Real Story
Recently, I was asked by an admirer of My Life as a Myth about the blog entry "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" from back in May. With some minor changes, this entry has found its way to the Amazon listing for the book.
The question was whether the story recounted in the blog entry is in fact how My Life as a Myth came about. Frankly, I had never considered the possibility that anyone would think of it as anything other than a fictional account of the origin of a piece of fiction. Therefore, let me clarify the matter here: No, the blog entry "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is not a factual account; it is itself a piece of fiction thought up for publication day.
The actual story of Myth's origin has been mentioned in several interviews and I'll recount it here. On a Monday morning in the autumn of last year I was getting ready to leave for an appointment. Suddenly, the phrase "my life is a myth" crept through my mind and it just seemed important to jot it down. When I returned later in the day, I sat down and wrote what became the opening scene, Nick waiting for the bus on his first day of high school. That scene read fairly closely to what was eventually published, and with it the story was underway.
As I initially coneived it, the book would be about a poor schlemiel who kept getting into trouble through no fault of his own. Therefore, I thought Myth would just be a comical story. But I wrote a scene where Nick meets a group of guys, including Bobby Warren and at that moment, I realized the story had to be about Nick and Bobby's flowering relationship. Then certain themes began to bubble to the surface and as I've noted before, some scenes/sections left me as startled as anyone. In short, I was at the mercy of the Muses (they're quite the bullies, you know) to write the story they wanted. Thus, six or seven months from that Monday morning when a phrase popped into my head I received an offer, and five months or so after that the book was published.
Since that day in May, I've been astonished by the positive response to Myth and deeply humbled by the generous compliments I've received by so many readers, reviewers, and other authors. I want to thank everyone for their support and say how much I appreciate your kind words.
Thank you each and all!
But no, "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is just another myth.
Maybe a future edition will include it as a prologue.
The question was whether the story recounted in the blog entry is in fact how My Life as a Myth came about. Frankly, I had never considered the possibility that anyone would think of it as anything other than a fictional account of the origin of a piece of fiction. Therefore, let me clarify the matter here: No, the blog entry "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is not a factual account; it is itself a piece of fiction thought up for publication day.
The actual story of Myth's origin has been mentioned in several interviews and I'll recount it here. On a Monday morning in the autumn of last year I was getting ready to leave for an appointment. Suddenly, the phrase "my life is a myth" crept through my mind and it just seemed important to jot it down. When I returned later in the day, I sat down and wrote what became the opening scene, Nick waiting for the bus on his first day of high school. That scene read fairly closely to what was eventually published, and with it the story was underway.
As I initially coneived it, the book would be about a poor schlemiel who kept getting into trouble through no fault of his own. Therefore, I thought Myth would just be a comical story. But I wrote a scene where Nick meets a group of guys, including Bobby Warren and at that moment, I realized the story had to be about Nick and Bobby's flowering relationship. Then certain themes began to bubble to the surface and as I've noted before, some scenes/sections left me as startled as anyone. In short, I was at the mercy of the Muses (they're quite the bullies, you know) to write the story they wanted. Thus, six or seven months from that Monday morning when a phrase popped into my head I received an offer, and five months or so after that the book was published.
Since that day in May, I've been astonished by the positive response to Myth and deeply humbled by the generous compliments I've received by so many readers, reviewers, and other authors. I want to thank everyone for their support and say how much I appreciate your kind words.
Thank you each and all!
But no, "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is just another myth.
Maybe a future edition will include it as a prologue.
September 13, 2013
Can You Take Me Back
http://www.youtube.com/embed/_uYQMRay...
Come experience 1969 high school life for a gay teenager as Nick confronts bullies, callous teachers, and a growing reputation he never wanted. Oh, and then there's Bobby Warren.
My Life as a Myth - available now from Prizm Books!
Come experience 1969 high school life for a gay teenager as Nick confronts bullies, callous teachers, and a growing reputation he never wanted. Oh, and then there's Bobby Warren.
My Life as a Myth - available now from Prizm Books!
August 30, 2013
Seamus Heaney RIP
Rest in peace Seamus Heaney. Not only an outstanding poet, but the man behind the best modern English rendering of Beowulf: A New Verse Translation.
August 20, 2013
Another chance to win an ebook copy of My Life as a Myth
Click over to the fabulous Top2Bottom Reviews site where today they're offering an ebook Giveaway of My Life as a Myth. There's also an interview with yours truly.
Top2Bottom always has interesting features, reviews, interviews and, of course, giveaways. If you don't have it bookmarked for regular reading you're really missing out! Check them out today!
Top2Bottom always has interesting features, reviews, interviews and, of course, giveaways. If you don't have it bookmarked for regular reading you're really missing out! Check them out today!
