M.E. Sutton's Blog, page 16
April 10, 2013
The Liebster
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
So a few weeks ago, I got a very nice comment from L.D. Masterson presenting me with a blog award (me, who'd have thunk?). And I've been a very naughty person, but honestly, the task of finding 11 other bloggers with fewer than 200 followers was daunting to say the least.
So here were the rules:
1. Thank the blogger who presented you with the Liebster Award, and link back to his or her blog. (easy)
2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator; list 11 random facts about yourself, and create 11 questions for your nominees. (easy)
3. Present the Liebster Award to 11 bloggers, who have blogs with 200 followers or less, whom you feel deserve to be noticed. Leave a comment on the blogs letting the owners know they have been chosen. (No tag backs.) (um, yeah, this one was hard)
4. Upload the Liebster Award image to your blog. (easy)
Questions from L.D to me:
What is your favorite...
...room in your house? No question, the den/library. It's small, cozy, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and has a door to shut out the world. Oh yeah, and it's filled with books. =)
...flavor of ice cream? Chocolate. But not just plain chocolate. Give me something with attitude. I particularly like one (the brand/name escapes me now) that is a darker chocolate and has rasperry-filled chocolate hearts in it. Fortunately for my hips, I don't buy it very often because I could easily sit down with the entire half-gallon and a spoon.
...holiday? Hmm, toss-up between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both have family and good food. But I'd probably have to go with Christmas because of the opportunity to share the joy of others as they open gifts.
...vacation spot? I think I'll have to go with mountains on this one. Shocking, I know. But I love trees and grand vistas. I just don't want to go in the winter. Mid-spring or early autumn (all those vibrant colors) is best.
...genre for reading? Oh, heavens. I read almost anything. But for a tried-and-true read, I gravitate to crime-fiction and fantasy. Unsurprisingly, that's mostly what I write.
...breed of dog? Living? LOL Actually, anything that doesn't look like a mop that is missing a handle, isn't a yipper, or isn't an ankle-biter. I'm a sucker for German shepherds, chocolate labs, and greyhounds. I really want a retired greyhound some day.
...time of the day? Mid-afternoon. By then I'm reasonably awake, it isn't so far into the day that I'm exhausted and ready for bed, and I feel alert and productive.
...sports team (any sport)? Probably any team associated with my alma mater, St. Bonaventure University. I've become so jaded with pro sports these days. The game has definitely become a secondary consideration for a lot of athletes.
...book from your childhood? Oh, goodness. There are so many, I really don't want to pick one. But if I have to, probably Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. That was the first mystery to really make me say, "Why didn't I see that?"
...sleepwear? This totally depends on the season. In the winter, long-sleeve t-shirt with fleecy pants (I don't like being cold). In the summer, a light-weight sleep shirt. The only thing I hate worse that being cold is overheating.
...year in your life so far (not counting this one)? The sappy thing to say would be the year I got married or the year one of my kids was born. But I'm going to go with 2012. I finally published something and started to get some traction with fiction writing, which is something I've been trying to do for, oh, forever.
Eleven random facts about me:
1. I got my first gray hair at age 15 (thanks Grandma).
2. I was a red-head for almost 15 years (see #1 above - thanks, Clairol).
3. I love to cook (but not just "make dinner).
4. I think Firefly might be one of the best TV shows ever.
5. While I love chocolate, I do think there is such a thing as "too much chocolate."
6. I love reading while soaking in a bubble bath.
7. Even more than I love chocolate, I think I love salty, crunchy snacks.
8. Unlike most of my family, I can neither wiggle my ears nor curl my tongue.
9. My favorite vacation spot is actually my front porch.
10. I don't dislike cats as much as I say I do.
11. I'm addicted to chai lattes (if only they weren't so fattening).
Eleven questions for others to answer.
Details are appreciated, but not required (and will make this more fun).
1. If you could be any kind of animal, what would it be?
2. Name a book that you really loved, but are really kind of embarrassed you love.
3. What is your favorite article of clothing?
4. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
5. Who is the historical person you'd most like to meet?
6. Who is your favorite composer/musician?
7. What was your most embarrassing moment?
8. What is the one thing you wish you could change about how you look?
9. Would you rather do the cooking or wash the dishes?
10. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet?
11. If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
My eleven award recipients:
Okay, I couldn't find eleven. But here are a few fine folks you should check out:
Annette Dashofy: Writing, Etc.
Kaye George: Travels with Kaye
Edith Maxwell: Edith Maxwell
Gigi Pandian: Gigi Pandian
Jenna Bennett/Jennie Bentley: Jenna Bennett/Jennie Bentley
C. Lee McKenzie: The Write Game
So a few weeks ago, I got a very nice comment from L.D. Masterson presenting me with a blog award (me, who'd have thunk?). And I've been a very naughty person, but honestly, the task of finding 11 other bloggers with fewer than 200 followers was daunting to say the least.
So here were the rules:
1. Thank the blogger who presented you with the Liebster Award, and link back to his or her blog. (easy)
2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator; list 11 random facts about yourself, and create 11 questions for your nominees. (easy)
3. Present the Liebster Award to 11 bloggers, who have blogs with 200 followers or less, whom you feel deserve to be noticed. Leave a comment on the blogs letting the owners know they have been chosen. (No tag backs.) (um, yeah, this one was hard)
4. Upload the Liebster Award image to your blog. (easy)
Questions from L.D to me:
What is your favorite...
...room in your house? No question, the den/library. It's small, cozy, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and has a door to shut out the world. Oh yeah, and it's filled with books. =)
...flavor of ice cream? Chocolate. But not just plain chocolate. Give me something with attitude. I particularly like one (the brand/name escapes me now) that is a darker chocolate and has rasperry-filled chocolate hearts in it. Fortunately for my hips, I don't buy it very often because I could easily sit down with the entire half-gallon and a spoon.
...holiday? Hmm, toss-up between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both have family and good food. But I'd probably have to go with Christmas because of the opportunity to share the joy of others as they open gifts.
...vacation spot? I think I'll have to go with mountains on this one. Shocking, I know. But I love trees and grand vistas. I just don't want to go in the winter. Mid-spring or early autumn (all those vibrant colors) is best.
...genre for reading? Oh, heavens. I read almost anything. But for a tried-and-true read, I gravitate to crime-fiction and fantasy. Unsurprisingly, that's mostly what I write.
...breed of dog? Living? LOL Actually, anything that doesn't look like a mop that is missing a handle, isn't a yipper, or isn't an ankle-biter. I'm a sucker for German shepherds, chocolate labs, and greyhounds. I really want a retired greyhound some day.
...time of the day? Mid-afternoon. By then I'm reasonably awake, it isn't so far into the day that I'm exhausted and ready for bed, and I feel alert and productive.
...sports team (any sport)? Probably any team associated with my alma mater, St. Bonaventure University. I've become so jaded with pro sports these days. The game has definitely become a secondary consideration for a lot of athletes.
...book from your childhood? Oh, goodness. There are so many, I really don't want to pick one. But if I have to, probably Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. That was the first mystery to really make me say, "Why didn't I see that?"
...sleepwear? This totally depends on the season. In the winter, long-sleeve t-shirt with fleecy pants (I don't like being cold). In the summer, a light-weight sleep shirt. The only thing I hate worse that being cold is overheating.
...year in your life so far (not counting this one)? The sappy thing to say would be the year I got married or the year one of my kids was born. But I'm going to go with 2012. I finally published something and started to get some traction with fiction writing, which is something I've been trying to do for, oh, forever.
Eleven random facts about me:
1. I got my first gray hair at age 15 (thanks Grandma).
2. I was a red-head for almost 15 years (see #1 above - thanks, Clairol).
3. I love to cook (but not just "make dinner).
4. I think Firefly might be one of the best TV shows ever.
5. While I love chocolate, I do think there is such a thing as "too much chocolate."
6. I love reading while soaking in a bubble bath.
7. Even more than I love chocolate, I think I love salty, crunchy snacks.
8. Unlike most of my family, I can neither wiggle my ears nor curl my tongue.
9. My favorite vacation spot is actually my front porch.
10. I don't dislike cats as much as I say I do.
11. I'm addicted to chai lattes (if only they weren't so fattening).
Eleven questions for others to answer.
Details are appreciated, but not required (and will make this more fun).
1. If you could be any kind of animal, what would it be?
2. Name a book that you really loved, but are really kind of embarrassed you love.
3. What is your favorite article of clothing?
4. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
5. Who is the historical person you'd most like to meet?
6. Who is your favorite composer/musician?
7. What was your most embarrassing moment?
8. What is the one thing you wish you could change about how you look?
9. Would you rather do the cooking or wash the dishes?
10. Do you prefer shoes or bare feet?
11. If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
My eleven award recipients:
Okay, I couldn't find eleven. But here are a few fine folks you should check out:
Annette Dashofy: Writing, Etc.
Kaye George: Travels with Kaye
Edith Maxwell: Edith Maxwell
Gigi Pandian: Gigi Pandian
Jenna Bennett/Jennie Bentley: Jenna Bennett/Jennie Bentley
C. Lee McKenzie: The Write Game
April 3, 2013
Star Chasers
or How You Shouldn't Overreact to a One-Star Review
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Recently, I came upon this post, expounding on the importance of the one-star review, and how detrimental it can be, especially to indie authors. What particularly caught me was this quote:
Now, I've blogged about reviews before - the importance of leaving them and the importance of being honest. And if you've followed this blog at all (and I assume you have because, hey, you're here), you know I've done reviews - and posted them to Amazon and Goodreads.
But honestly, everyone take a pill and calm down.
In another article (which of course I now cannot find), it was posited that approximately a third of readers will love a book, a third will hate it, and a third will just feel ambivalent. This sounds pretty logical to me. People are different. They all like different things. Heck, isn't that why there is such a plethora of genres and sub-genres in fiction? Some people like sci-fi, some like romance. Some like light romance, some like erotica. And even within those sub-genres, not every fan of the genre likes every book. Some find the characterization well-drawn and the plotting compelling, some don't.
To this I say: to each her own.
There's a popular saying that the sure way to fail is to try and please all people. It's true for a lot of things, including writing. People are so varied that it's an impossible task. Now, the author of the above quote bemoans that this four-star rating is going to exempt her from certain promotional channels. Having looked for those same channels for my own book, I have to say I've never come across one that demands a five-star rating average. Four stars, four and a half stars, but never five. But since I certainly haven't explored the nooks and crannies of the Internet for every possible channel, for the sake of argument I'll assume they exist.
What do you suppose the real problem is here?
To me, the problem is the channels. By insisting on a five-star average (which means every blessed review is five stars), they have set the bar impossibly high. No author in existence can do this. And I embarked upon a little research to see if I'm just out there or if I'm right. I picked four authors considered "greats" and four "great" books. I put "great" in quotes because really, it is kind of subjective. But as a lit major, I feel generally comfortable saying these four authors rank at the top of the literature pyramid. Here is what I found
Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice: Amazon rated 4.5 starsF. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby: Amazon rated 4.2 starsErnest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls: Amazon rated 4.3 starsWilliam Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet: Amazon rated 4 stars (random edition)So right off the bat, these four pillars of English literature would be exempt from these promotional channels insisting on a five-star rating. So I wandered over to my own book, which currently has a 4.6-star rating. Now, am I honestly a better author than Austen, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Shakespeare?
I'm not that proud/egotistical/delusional.
Now let's look at those reviews. Right off the bat, I see a lot of "This sucks," and "Worst book ever." I agree, these are not helpful. But really, I think readers are intelligent enough to weed these out.
For the Shakespeare, a number of one-star reviews were given because of the book condition (it clearly said "used" in the product description, so why give a book a one-star review for not being new?) and because it did not have line numbers as advertised (I assumed these were needed for academic purposes). A legit gripe if that is indeed something you required - but a one-star review gripe?
And then I found this gem of a review for Romeo & Juliet:
I believe readers are smart enough to gloss over this, too.
Speaking of readers, I do a lot of that too, you know. Personally, I am suspicious of books by relative unknowns with nothing but five-star reviews. Because while a review that says "this sucks" is not helpful, neither is a review that says, "Most awesome book ever!" Neither provides any details, why the reviewer felt that way.
And seriously, with all the millions of books in print, "most awesome book ever"?
As a reader, I don't give a lot of five-star reviews. To me, five stars is "I couldn't find any major flaws and any fan of this particular genre should definitely read this." More common is four stars, "An extremely enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre." A couple times I've done three stars: "Enjoyable read, worth picking up, but get it from a library."
The only time I have left one and two-star reviews is when the book is only available for a scandalous amount of money (a hardcover for $35-$40) and there are what I consider major flaws that I think someone should be aware of before spending that money - and they are usually things I wish someone had told me.
So yeah, do I wish more people would learn how to leave a useful (not a good) review? Sure. Is it likely to happen? Probably not. What I wish more is that authors, particularly indies who are already under pressure (self or otherwise) would take a deep breath and realize that a one-star review is not the end of your fiction career. Into every life a few one-stars must fall. It's just the Way Things Are.
If there are promo channels insisting on five-star averages, shame on them. You are not helping. And you are not making me want to work with you anyway.
And at the end of the day, they need me more more than the reverse.
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Recently, I came upon this post, expounding on the importance of the one-star review, and how detrimental it can be, especially to indie authors. What particularly caught me was this quote:
Despite her not even having read the book, she has managed to bring my 5 star rating down to 4 stars. This means a great deal of indie book sites will now not include my book in their free lists or advertising lists of the day.
Now, I've blogged about reviews before - the importance of leaving them and the importance of being honest. And if you've followed this blog at all (and I assume you have because, hey, you're here), you know I've done reviews - and posted them to Amazon and Goodreads.But honestly, everyone take a pill and calm down.
In another article (which of course I now cannot find), it was posited that approximately a third of readers will love a book, a third will hate it, and a third will just feel ambivalent. This sounds pretty logical to me. People are different. They all like different things. Heck, isn't that why there is such a plethora of genres and sub-genres in fiction? Some people like sci-fi, some like romance. Some like light romance, some like erotica. And even within those sub-genres, not every fan of the genre likes every book. Some find the characterization well-drawn and the plotting compelling, some don't.
To this I say: to each her own.
There's a popular saying that the sure way to fail is to try and please all people. It's true for a lot of things, including writing. People are so varied that it's an impossible task. Now, the author of the above quote bemoans that this four-star rating is going to exempt her from certain promotional channels. Having looked for those same channels for my own book, I have to say I've never come across one that demands a five-star rating average. Four stars, four and a half stars, but never five. But since I certainly haven't explored the nooks and crannies of the Internet for every possible channel, for the sake of argument I'll assume they exist.
What do you suppose the real problem is here?
To me, the problem is the channels. By insisting on a five-star average (which means every blessed review is five stars), they have set the bar impossibly high. No author in existence can do this. And I embarked upon a little research to see if I'm just out there or if I'm right. I picked four authors considered "greats" and four "great" books. I put "great" in quotes because really, it is kind of subjective. But as a lit major, I feel generally comfortable saying these four authors rank at the top of the literature pyramid. Here is what I found
Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice: Amazon rated 4.5 starsF. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby: Amazon rated 4.2 starsErnest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls: Amazon rated 4.3 starsWilliam Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet: Amazon rated 4 stars (random edition)So right off the bat, these four pillars of English literature would be exempt from these promotional channels insisting on a five-star rating. So I wandered over to my own book, which currently has a 4.6-star rating. Now, am I honestly a better author than Austen, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Shakespeare?
I'm not that proud/egotistical/delusional.
Now let's look at those reviews. Right off the bat, I see a lot of "This sucks," and "Worst book ever." I agree, these are not helpful. But really, I think readers are intelligent enough to weed these out.
For the Shakespeare, a number of one-star reviews were given because of the book condition (it clearly said "used" in the product description, so why give a book a one-star review for not being new?) and because it did not have line numbers as advertised (I assumed these were needed for academic purposes). A legit gripe if that is indeed something you required - but a one-star review gripe?
And then I found this gem of a review for Romeo & Juliet:
This was by far the worst science fiction novel I have ever watched. While the story of two lovers may seem romantic to some people, the use of spaceships and alien robots was very unneccesairy. The worst part of this play had to be the end where both charaters joined up with Marty McFly to save the universe. Thumbs down to you sir! The remix WAS better.Obviously a joke, right? (Or at least I devoutly hope it was a joke because if it's not, wow, just wow.) But it's still a one-star review. Amazon's engine is not smart enough to filter out a joke review. So poor Will got slammed because some doofus simply didn't like his play and decided to make a joke about it.
I believe readers are smart enough to gloss over this, too.
Speaking of readers, I do a lot of that too, you know. Personally, I am suspicious of books by relative unknowns with nothing but five-star reviews. Because while a review that says "this sucks" is not helpful, neither is a review that says, "Most awesome book ever!" Neither provides any details, why the reviewer felt that way.
And seriously, with all the millions of books in print, "most awesome book ever"?
As a reader, I don't give a lot of five-star reviews. To me, five stars is "I couldn't find any major flaws and any fan of this particular genre should definitely read this." More common is four stars, "An extremely enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre." A couple times I've done three stars: "Enjoyable read, worth picking up, but get it from a library."
The only time I have left one and two-star reviews is when the book is only available for a scandalous amount of money (a hardcover for $35-$40) and there are what I consider major flaws that I think someone should be aware of before spending that money - and they are usually things I wish someone had told me.
So yeah, do I wish more people would learn how to leave a useful (not a good) review? Sure. Is it likely to happen? Probably not. What I wish more is that authors, particularly indies who are already under pressure (self or otherwise) would take a deep breath and realize that a one-star review is not the end of your fiction career. Into every life a few one-stars must fall. It's just the Way Things Are.
If there are promo channels insisting on five-star averages, shame on them. You are not helping. And you are not making me want to work with you anyway.
And at the end of the day, they need me more more than the reverse.
March 25, 2013
Author Interview: Joyce Yarrow
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Today, I'm pleased to welcome author Joyce Yarrow to the blog for an interview. Here is the blurb for Joyce's latest book, Code of Thieves:
Full-time private investigator/part-time poet Jo Epstein travels to New York and eventually to Russia to help clear her emigre stepfather—who is framing him for murder and who is sending him threatening messages in Russian nesting dolls (matryoshkas)? Her investigation takes her on a journey into her stepfather’s past and into the honor-bound code of the “vory,” a Russian criminal syndicate.
Here's Joyce with more.
~~~~~~~
1. You said on your website that “settings are characters.” What do you mean by that?
Well, it is often said that a place ‘has character’ – and since our environment has such power to shape us, I would take it one step further. Cities and towns, suburbs and wilderness all share the qualities of a living organism, both symbolically and in reality. This is why streets are called arteries, mountains taunt us with their grandeur, and Billy Joel sings about being in a ‘New York’ state of mind.’
As I see it, my job as a writer is to bring to life the physical universe in which a story takes place, so that the border between character and setting blurs and the two merge in the reader’s mind to create an alternate reality. Raymond Chandler was a master at this, to the point where a mini-industry has sprung up in Los Angeles, taking mystery fans on tours of the settings portrayed in his books. Here’s a classic example: “The muzzle of the Luger looked like the mouth of the Second Street tunnel, but I didn't move. Not being bullet proof is an idea I had had to get used to.” From The Big Sleep.
When I traveled to Russia in search of settings for Code of Thieves, each place I visited—Vladimir Central Prison, the Moscow Metro, the Matryoshka Factory, et al—became a character in its own right, revealing its unique personality and inviting traumatic events to transpire there.
2. Do you revisit certain themes in your writing and, if so, what are they?
This is a dangerous question to ask a writer who feels that self-consciousness is a hazard of the trade. In my estimation, themes are for readers to find on their own when stimulated by a good story. On the other hand, each book I write has a strong intent. The intent of Ask the Dead was to show how a detective seeks on many levels. The intent of Code of Thieves was to prove that revenge always acts like a boomerang—coming back to destroy the perpetrator—no matter how many years it takes to complete its trajectory.
3. What is one thing you must have when you write?
Time.
4. If your book was going to be made into a movie, what would the soundtrack be like and who would write it?
I did create a video book trailer for The Last Matryoshka (the hard back edition of Code of Thieves). For the soundtrack, I mixed the voices of the Russian Army Chorus with urban American bass & drum beats, reflecting the two continents where the story is set. Istoria’s book trailer for Code of Thieves also includes a wonderful Russian folk song.
Howard Shore did a fantastic job on the music for Eastern Promises and if Code of Thieves were to be made into a feature film, I’d love to see him score it collaboratively with Herbie Hancock.
5. If you could meet any three people (living or dead) who would they be and what would you talk about?
I would love to meet author Ruth Rendell and ask her how she developed the capacity to see so clearly into dark hearts.
If I could meet Albert Einstein I’d ask him how to split the atom of peace.
It would be an honor to meet Salman Rushdie and talk about how he managed to explore so many complex facets of India through one character’s eyes in Midnight’s Children.
6. What’s up next for you?
I am co-writing a novel with Indian writer Arindam Roy that covers two generations of crime, romance, and adventure. The book is set in India and N. America and explores multiple strands of society in both settings. I will embark on my 3rd trip to India next month – this time to go to my first Indian wedding and then to a writing residency at Hesse Centre in Bhimtal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joyce Yarrow was born in the SE Bronx, escaped to Manhattan as a teenager and now lives in Seattle with her husband and son. Along the way to becoming a full-time author, Joyce has worked as a screenwriter, singer-songwriter, multimedia performance artist and most recently, a member of the world music vocal ensemble, Abráce.
Joyce is a Pushcart nominee, whose stories and poems have been widely published. Her first book, Ask the Dead (Martin Brown 2005), was selected by The Poisoned Pen as a Recommended First Novel and hailed as “Bronx noir”. Her latest book, Code of Thieves, takes place in Brooklyn and Moscow. It was published in hardcover (as The Last Matryoshka) by Five Star/Cengage and is now available for Kindle and other ereaders through Istoria Books. (www.IstoriaBooks.com). A new edition featuring an essay by Joyce and an interview with her will be released April 2013.
Joyce considers the setting of her books to be characters in their own right and teaches workshops on "The Place of Place in Mystery Writing."
What people are saying about Code of Thieves:
"Intricately layered like the Russian nested doll of the title..." Library Journal
"You'll want to discover the secrets buried in The Last Matryoshka..." Lesa Holstine, Lesa's Book Critiques
"Joyce Yarrow....may very well prove herself to be the Mickey Spillane of the 21st century...." Seattle Post Intelligencer
Code of Thieves is available for Kindle now. Versions for Nook and other e-readers will be available within 3 months.
Look at other Istoria Books offerings here: http://www.istoriabooks.com
Today, I'm pleased to welcome author Joyce Yarrow to the blog for an interview. Here is the blurb for Joyce's latest book, Code of Thieves:
Full-time private investigator/part-time poet Jo Epstein travels to New York and eventually to Russia to help clear her emigre stepfather—who is framing him for murder and who is sending him threatening messages in Russian nesting dolls (matryoshkas)? Her investigation takes her on a journey into her stepfather’s past and into the honor-bound code of the “vory,” a Russian criminal syndicate.
Here's Joyce with more.
~~~~~~~
1. You said on your website that “settings are characters.” What do you mean by that?Well, it is often said that a place ‘has character’ – and since our environment has such power to shape us, I would take it one step further. Cities and towns, suburbs and wilderness all share the qualities of a living organism, both symbolically and in reality. This is why streets are called arteries, mountains taunt us with their grandeur, and Billy Joel sings about being in a ‘New York’ state of mind.’
As I see it, my job as a writer is to bring to life the physical universe in which a story takes place, so that the border between character and setting blurs and the two merge in the reader’s mind to create an alternate reality. Raymond Chandler was a master at this, to the point where a mini-industry has sprung up in Los Angeles, taking mystery fans on tours of the settings portrayed in his books. Here’s a classic example: “The muzzle of the Luger looked like the mouth of the Second Street tunnel, but I didn't move. Not being bullet proof is an idea I had had to get used to.” From The Big Sleep.
When I traveled to Russia in search of settings for Code of Thieves, each place I visited—Vladimir Central Prison, the Moscow Metro, the Matryoshka Factory, et al—became a character in its own right, revealing its unique personality and inviting traumatic events to transpire there.
2. Do you revisit certain themes in your writing and, if so, what are they?
This is a dangerous question to ask a writer who feels that self-consciousness is a hazard of the trade. In my estimation, themes are for readers to find on their own when stimulated by a good story. On the other hand, each book I write has a strong intent. The intent of Ask the Dead was to show how a detective seeks on many levels. The intent of Code of Thieves was to prove that revenge always acts like a boomerang—coming back to destroy the perpetrator—no matter how many years it takes to complete its trajectory.
3. What is one thing you must have when you write?
Time.
4. If your book was going to be made into a movie, what would the soundtrack be like and who would write it?
I did create a video book trailer for The Last Matryoshka (the hard back edition of Code of Thieves). For the soundtrack, I mixed the voices of the Russian Army Chorus with urban American bass & drum beats, reflecting the two continents where the story is set. Istoria’s book trailer for Code of Thieves also includes a wonderful Russian folk song.
Howard Shore did a fantastic job on the music for Eastern Promises and if Code of Thieves were to be made into a feature film, I’d love to see him score it collaboratively with Herbie Hancock.
5. If you could meet any three people (living or dead) who would they be and what would you talk about?
I would love to meet author Ruth Rendell and ask her how she developed the capacity to see so clearly into dark hearts.
If I could meet Albert Einstein I’d ask him how to split the atom of peace.
It would be an honor to meet Salman Rushdie and talk about how he managed to explore so many complex facets of India through one character’s eyes in Midnight’s Children.
6. What’s up next for you?
I am co-writing a novel with Indian writer Arindam Roy that covers two generations of crime, romance, and adventure. The book is set in India and N. America and explores multiple strands of society in both settings. I will embark on my 3rd trip to India next month – this time to go to my first Indian wedding and then to a writing residency at Hesse Centre in Bhimtal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joyce Yarrow was born in the SE Bronx, escaped to Manhattan as a teenager and now lives in Seattle with her husband and son. Along the way to becoming a full-time author, Joyce has worked as a screenwriter, singer-songwriter, multimedia performance artist and most recently, a member of the world music vocal ensemble, Abráce.Joyce is a Pushcart nominee, whose stories and poems have been widely published. Her first book, Ask the Dead (Martin Brown 2005), was selected by The Poisoned Pen as a Recommended First Novel and hailed as “Bronx noir”. Her latest book, Code of Thieves, takes place in Brooklyn and Moscow. It was published in hardcover (as The Last Matryoshka) by Five Star/Cengage and is now available for Kindle and other ereaders through Istoria Books. (www.IstoriaBooks.com). A new edition featuring an essay by Joyce and an interview with her will be released April 2013.
Joyce considers the setting of her books to be characters in their own right and teaches workshops on "The Place of Place in Mystery Writing."
What people are saying about Code of Thieves:
"Intricately layered like the Russian nested doll of the title..." Library Journal
"You'll want to discover the secrets buried in The Last Matryoshka..." Lesa Holstine, Lesa's Book Critiques
"Joyce Yarrow....may very well prove herself to be the Mickey Spillane of the 21st century...." Seattle Post Intelligencer
Code of Thieves is available for Kindle now. Versions for Nook and other e-readers will be available within 3 months.
Look at other Istoria Books offerings here: http://www.istoriabooks.com
March 20, 2013
The Difference of a Year
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
I was going through my email last week, looking for something, when I stumbled on a couple of messages I've kept around for encouragement. They were sent after a workshop I attended in early March of last year. It was a pretty rough experience and left me doubting my ability to cut it as a writer.
Let me set the stage. I had a novel I'd been working on, off and on, for about 10 years. Yes, you read that right - 10 years. But I'd completed the first draft (finally) the previous summer due to a period of unemployment. I'd submitted a part of it for critique and been told it hadn't sucked. I'd lived with it so long, I figured I knew everything about it by now.
Well, I didn't. That workshop made it glaringly obvious that this manuscript had serious problems. And I despaired of ever fixing it. After crying a bit (okay, more than a bit), I put the story away. Faced with yet another rewrite, I just couldn't bear to look at it any more.
But I knew that I had more to learn. About that time is when I started working seriously in short fiction. I read. I attended more workshops (in person and online). And I kept writing.
Fast forward to March 2012:
I have one book published (the first in the Hero's Sword series), with a contract for three more.I have a short-story accepted for publication in an online magazine.I have another short story accepted for publication in an anthology.I've learned (through workshops and books) a ton about just why that first novel manuscript didn't work.
What a difference a year makes.
The biggest difference in where I was in March 2011 and where I am in March 2012? No, not the books or the workshops (although they have undoubtedly helped). It's something intangible, something I think every successful writer does even if they can't articulate it.
It's perseverance. "Stick-to-it-iveness." A plain-old refusal to give up.
It's changing the mindset from "I'll never get this right" to "I am going to get this right - eventually."
Because honestly? I've wanted to write fiction forever. Really. If you'd asked me at any point in my life what I hoped to be doing in 10 years, I'd have said I'd be a published author (no really, it was part of my answer in an interview in 1998)
And I finally made it happen. Not because I'm talented, or a genius, or the next Stephen King. I just wouldn't give up. Call it what you will - stupidity, stubbornness, whatever.
Am I a NYT or Amazon best seller? No, not yet. Still working on that. And that's something I can't control.
But when I go to Amazon, I get to see a book, an honest-to-goodness book cover, with my name on it. I can control that. I can write and learn and publish myself. And that is pretty freaking cool.
A year ago, five years ago, 25 years ago - I wouldn't have thought it would happen. But it did. And all I really did was show up, keep doing, and stuck to it.
So when my daughter, 12, looks and says, "I'd like to work for a fashion magazine someday, but it probably won't happen" I know what to say.
Keep dreaming, keep working, keep showing up. Persevere.
Because hey, you just never know.
Calendar image courtesy of tanakawho - used under Creative Commons
I was going through my email last week, looking for something, when I stumbled on a couple of messages I've kept around for encouragement. They were sent after a workshop I attended in early March of last year. It was a pretty rough experience and left me doubting my ability to cut it as a writer.
Let me set the stage. I had a novel I'd been working on, off and on, for about 10 years. Yes, you read that right - 10 years. But I'd completed the first draft (finally) the previous summer due to a period of unemployment. I'd submitted a part of it for critique and been told it hadn't sucked. I'd lived with it so long, I figured I knew everything about it by now.
Well, I didn't. That workshop made it glaringly obvious that this manuscript had serious problems. And I despaired of ever fixing it. After crying a bit (okay, more than a bit), I put the story away. Faced with yet another rewrite, I just couldn't bear to look at it any more.
But I knew that I had more to learn. About that time is when I started working seriously in short fiction. I read. I attended more workshops (in person and online). And I kept writing.
Fast forward to March 2012:
I have one book published (the first in the Hero's Sword series), with a contract for three more.I have a short-story accepted for publication in an online magazine.I have another short story accepted for publication in an anthology.I've learned (through workshops and books) a ton about just why that first novel manuscript didn't work.
What a difference a year makes.The biggest difference in where I was in March 2011 and where I am in March 2012? No, not the books or the workshops (although they have undoubtedly helped). It's something intangible, something I think every successful writer does even if they can't articulate it.
It's perseverance. "Stick-to-it-iveness." A plain-old refusal to give up.
It's changing the mindset from "I'll never get this right" to "I am going to get this right - eventually."
Because honestly? I've wanted to write fiction forever. Really. If you'd asked me at any point in my life what I hoped to be doing in 10 years, I'd have said I'd be a published author (no really, it was part of my answer in an interview in 1998)
And I finally made it happen. Not because I'm talented, or a genius, or the next Stephen King. I just wouldn't give up. Call it what you will - stupidity, stubbornness, whatever.
Am I a NYT or Amazon best seller? No, not yet. Still working on that. And that's something I can't control.
But when I go to Amazon, I get to see a book, an honest-to-goodness book cover, with my name on it. I can control that. I can write and learn and publish myself. And that is pretty freaking cool.
A year ago, five years ago, 25 years ago - I wouldn't have thought it would happen. But it did. And all I really did was show up, keep doing, and stuck to it.
So when my daughter, 12, looks and says, "I'd like to work for a fashion magazine someday, but it probably won't happen" I know what to say.
Keep dreaming, keep working, keep showing up. Persevere.
Because hey, you just never know.
Calendar image courtesy of tanakawho - used under Creative Commons
March 13, 2013
Author Interview: Michael Brookes
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Today, I'm pleased to welcome author Michael Brookes to the blog for an interview. Michael's latest book, Conversations in the Abyss, available now. Here's the blurb:
Stealing Lazarus’s miracle gifted him immortality. Combined with his natural ability of invading and controlling people’s minds this made him one of the most dangerous people on Earth.
But the miracle came with a price. His punishment was to be imprisoned within the walls of an ancient monastery and tormented by an invisible fire that burned his body perpetually. To escape the pain he retreated deep into his own mind.\
There he discovers the truth of the universe and that only he can stop the coming Apocalypse.
Here's Michael with more.
1. You work in two creative fields: games and writing. Do you find that they support each other or are they two completely separate parts of your life?
They complement each other. I write a lot of documentation as part of my job. Much of this is public, or at least publisher facing so it has to be interesting as well as informative. Spending more time writing helps improve the writing I do for work as well improving the quality of my novel writing.
And in a happy convergence I have been asked to write the official novel for our new game Elite: Dangerous.
2. What are the major themes you deal with in your writing?
In my latest book I deal with the nature of reality, meta physics and what makes humans different.
3. What’s the one thing you must have when you write?
My laptop! I also require Jaffa Cakes.
4. If you hosted a dinner party, who are six people you’d invite (living or dead)?
I’d invite a varied group:
Assuming he really exists I’d first invite Lucifer and along with him Jesus, I’m sure the two would have plenty to talk about.
I’d then invite Ian M Banks, my favourite author. I’d love to pick his brain.
I think Bill Clinton would have some good stories to tell.
There has to be a pretty face at the table, but preferably somebody with brains as well, so Helen Mirram would receive an invite.
John Milton as the writer of the greatest story ever told would be more than welcome.
5. If your book was made into a movie, who would you want to write the soundtrack?
I think a German band called Grendel (cyber goth) with suitable orchestral backing would do a good job.
6. What’s up next for you?
I have a first draft called Faust 2.0 that needs developing. It’s about an Internet chatbot that starts granting wishes. I also have the third novel in the trilogy to write and the game novel as well. Busy times :-)
Conversations in the Abyss is available now from Amazon US and UK.
About the author
Michael Brookes is an Executive Producer with a leading UK games developer. Working in games and writing are two of his life passions and considers himself fortunate to be able to indulge them both. He lives in the east of England, enjoying starry skies in the flattest part of the country. When not working or writing he can sometimes be found sleeping. Which is good as that is where many good ideas come from.
Also by Michael:
The Cult of Me
For too long he dwelt apart, watched those who passed him by. With his unique abilities he entered their minds and inflicted terrible suffering upon them. They didn't even know who he was. The game has lasted for years, but now the game has become stale. On an impulse he decides to make a final and very public last stand. After surrendering himself to the police he enacts his plan to seize the prison for his final bloody act.
There he discovers that he's not as unique as he once thought.
Buy it on Amazon today
An Odd Quartet
A quartet of dark short stories (10,000 words) to thrill and chill.
The Yellow Lady
Grave robbing is a dirty business, in more ways than one. When he disturbs the grave from a childhood scary story he discovers it's not always treasure to be found.
This Empty Place
At the heat death of the universe, Death contemplates his existence.
Forced Entry
Terrorists seize an average suburban house. A Special Forces hostage rescue team is sent in and encounter more than they were trained for.
The Reluctant Demon
A young demon prepares to take his possession exam.
Buy it on Amazon today
Today, I'm pleased to welcome author Michael Brookes to the blog for an interview. Michael's latest book, Conversations in the Abyss, available now. Here's the blurb:
Stealing Lazarus’s miracle gifted him immortality. Combined with his natural ability of invading and controlling people’s minds this made him one of the most dangerous people on Earth.
But the miracle came with a price. His punishment was to be imprisoned within the walls of an ancient monastery and tormented by an invisible fire that burned his body perpetually. To escape the pain he retreated deep into his own mind.\
There he discovers the truth of the universe and that only he can stop the coming Apocalypse.
Here's Michael with more.
1. You work in two creative fields: games and writing. Do you find that they support each other or are they two completely separate parts of your life?
They complement each other. I write a lot of documentation as part of my job. Much of this is public, or at least publisher facing so it has to be interesting as well as informative. Spending more time writing helps improve the writing I do for work as well improving the quality of my novel writing.
And in a happy convergence I have been asked to write the official novel for our new game Elite: Dangerous.
2. What are the major themes you deal with in your writing?
In my latest book I deal with the nature of reality, meta physics and what makes humans different.
3. What’s the one thing you must have when you write?
My laptop! I also require Jaffa Cakes.
4. If you hosted a dinner party, who are six people you’d invite (living or dead)?
I’d invite a varied group:
Assuming he really exists I’d first invite Lucifer and along with him Jesus, I’m sure the two would have plenty to talk about.
I’d then invite Ian M Banks, my favourite author. I’d love to pick his brain.
I think Bill Clinton would have some good stories to tell.
There has to be a pretty face at the table, but preferably somebody with brains as well, so Helen Mirram would receive an invite.
John Milton as the writer of the greatest story ever told would be more than welcome.
5. If your book was made into a movie, who would you want to write the soundtrack?
I think a German band called Grendel (cyber goth) with suitable orchestral backing would do a good job.
6. What’s up next for you?
I have a first draft called Faust 2.0 that needs developing. It’s about an Internet chatbot that starts granting wishes. I also have the third novel in the trilogy to write and the game novel as well. Busy times :-)
Conversations in the Abyss is available now from Amazon US and UK.
About the author
Michael Brookes is an Executive Producer with a leading UK games developer. Working in games and writing are two of his life passions and considers himself fortunate to be able to indulge them both. He lives in the east of England, enjoying starry skies in the flattest part of the country. When not working or writing he can sometimes be found sleeping. Which is good as that is where many good ideas come from.
Also by Michael:
The Cult of Me
For too long he dwelt apart, watched those who passed him by. With his unique abilities he entered their minds and inflicted terrible suffering upon them. They didn't even know who he was. The game has lasted for years, but now the game has become stale. On an impulse he decides to make a final and very public last stand. After surrendering himself to the police he enacts his plan to seize the prison for his final bloody act.
There he discovers that he's not as unique as he once thought.
Buy it on Amazon today
An Odd Quartet
A quartet of dark short stories (10,000 words) to thrill and chill.
The Yellow Lady
Grave robbing is a dirty business, in more ways than one. When he disturbs the grave from a childhood scary story he discovers it's not always treasure to be found.
This Empty Place
At the heat death of the universe, Death contemplates his existence.
Forced Entry
Terrorists seize an average suburban house. A Special Forces hostage rescue team is sent in and encounter more than they were trained for.
The Reluctant Demon
A young demon prepares to take his possession exam.
Buy it on Amazon today
March 6, 2013
Storm Clouds: Hero's Sword Vol 2, Excerpt 1
While I finish edits and await cover art, here is a sneak peek at the first chapter of Storm Clouds: Hero's Sword Vol. 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kids milled all around me, excited babble filling the air. The last bell of the day rang, signaling our release. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and shut my locker. Someone banged into me, sending me to my knees. “Watch it, dorkface.”
Trina Poppelman’s sparkly pink backpack bounced in front me as she walked to the door with her cheerleader buddies. I wished I had my bow so I could sink an arrow into the stupid, silver “T” decorating the bag.
Okay, I don’t really have a bow. Not in this world, anyway.
My name is Jaycee Hiller. I play this game called Hero’s Sword. A few weeks ago, I was actually transported into the game and became my avatar, Lyla Stormbringer. I had a sword, and a bow, and went on a quest to protect the lady of the estate of Mallory. Then I came back.
If that sounds confusing to you, imagine how I feel.
I got to my feet and brushed off the knees of my jeans. When I’d returned from Mallory, I’d been inspired to stand up to Trina for a while. Well, maybe for a day. But now I was back to my usual routine at Tanner Middle School - namely, trying to hide.
“Hey Jaycee, I think you dropped this.”
I turned my head, and my heart relocated itself to somewhere in my throat. Nate Fletcher, who has been my secret crush for, like, forever, stood there with my zippered pencil case, black with the Hero’s Sword logo, in his hand. “Thanks,” I said. Was my voice always that squeaky? I tried to think of something cool or funny to say, but my mind was as blank as a freshly washed whiteboard.
“Well, have a great weekend.” Nate waved and headed for the front doors with everyone else.
The mass of kids around me had thinned. “Yeah, have a great weekend,” I said. “See you on Monday. Did I mention I like your hair?”
Now that Nate was gone, a million things I could have said crowded my brain. Great timing, as always.
“Uh, Jayce, who are you talking to?” My best friend, Stu Porter, was standing beside me looking concerned.
I stuffed the pencil case in my open bag. “Nobody. Nate Fletcher, but he’s gone. So what are you doing this weekend?”
I walked through the front doors, Stu at my side.
“My mother says if I don’t get the grass cut this weekend, she will ban me from Hero’s Sword until I do,” Stu said, his face sorrowful. His red hair blazed in the sun, making it look like his head was on fire. “And she says I have to help her clean and close the pool, which is going to be completely gross.”
I patted him on the shoulder. “Look at it like a quest. Fearlessly battling the evil slime monster threatening to consume the Empire.” Stu chuckled. We always walked home from school together, at least as far as the turn onto my street. We chatted about Hero’s Sword and our fantasies of defeating cheerleaders for the entire walk.
I waved to Stu, walking backwards as I started down my street. “See you online this weekend?”
“If I get all my chores done, sure. Wish me luck.”
I waved in response, turned, and jogged the rest of the way to my house, your typical suburban thing with a neat front yard. I wished I was allowed to cut the grass. With my luck, my mother would have something else in store for me, something exciting like polishing the silver.
“Hey Mom,” I called as I stepped inside. She was in the dining room, counting out her fancy china and silverware for the party she was hosting tomorrow. I tried to sneak upstairs.
“Jaycee, come in here please,” Mom said as I placed my foot on the stairs. This would not be good.
I wasn’t wrong. “Yeah, Mom?” I stood in the doorway, as if that would protect me from what came next. Fat chance.
“You know my book club is meeting here tomorrow, and I need help getting ready,” she said. “I’ll wash the china. Get the silver polish from the kitchen and get to work, please.” She pushed the box containing her good silver toward me.
I dropped my backpack. “Why can’t you use the every day stuff?” I gave her my best sullen look.
“Because I only host once a quarter, and there’s no reason not to use the good silver,” Mom said. “I know it’ll interfere with your precious video game time, but really, you’ll have all weekend for that. Now go.”
I grabbed the box and stomped off to the kitchen. This would take forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kids milled all around me, excited babble filling the air. The last bell of the day rang, signaling our release. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and shut my locker. Someone banged into me, sending me to my knees. “Watch it, dorkface.”
Trina Poppelman’s sparkly pink backpack bounced in front me as she walked to the door with her cheerleader buddies. I wished I had my bow so I could sink an arrow into the stupid, silver “T” decorating the bag.
Okay, I don’t really have a bow. Not in this world, anyway.
My name is Jaycee Hiller. I play this game called Hero’s Sword. A few weeks ago, I was actually transported into the game and became my avatar, Lyla Stormbringer. I had a sword, and a bow, and went on a quest to protect the lady of the estate of Mallory. Then I came back.
If that sounds confusing to you, imagine how I feel.
I got to my feet and brushed off the knees of my jeans. When I’d returned from Mallory, I’d been inspired to stand up to Trina for a while. Well, maybe for a day. But now I was back to my usual routine at Tanner Middle School - namely, trying to hide.
“Hey Jaycee, I think you dropped this.”
I turned my head, and my heart relocated itself to somewhere in my throat. Nate Fletcher, who has been my secret crush for, like, forever, stood there with my zippered pencil case, black with the Hero’s Sword logo, in his hand. “Thanks,” I said. Was my voice always that squeaky? I tried to think of something cool or funny to say, but my mind was as blank as a freshly washed whiteboard.
“Well, have a great weekend.” Nate waved and headed for the front doors with everyone else.
The mass of kids around me had thinned. “Yeah, have a great weekend,” I said. “See you on Monday. Did I mention I like your hair?”
Now that Nate was gone, a million things I could have said crowded my brain. Great timing, as always.
“Uh, Jayce, who are you talking to?” My best friend, Stu Porter, was standing beside me looking concerned.
I stuffed the pencil case in my open bag. “Nobody. Nate Fletcher, but he’s gone. So what are you doing this weekend?”
I walked through the front doors, Stu at my side.
“My mother says if I don’t get the grass cut this weekend, she will ban me from Hero’s Sword until I do,” Stu said, his face sorrowful. His red hair blazed in the sun, making it look like his head was on fire. “And she says I have to help her clean and close the pool, which is going to be completely gross.”
I patted him on the shoulder. “Look at it like a quest. Fearlessly battling the evil slime monster threatening to consume the Empire.” Stu chuckled. We always walked home from school together, at least as far as the turn onto my street. We chatted about Hero’s Sword and our fantasies of defeating cheerleaders for the entire walk.
I waved to Stu, walking backwards as I started down my street. “See you online this weekend?”
“If I get all my chores done, sure. Wish me luck.”
I waved in response, turned, and jogged the rest of the way to my house, your typical suburban thing with a neat front yard. I wished I was allowed to cut the grass. With my luck, my mother would have something else in store for me, something exciting like polishing the silver.
“Hey Mom,” I called as I stepped inside. She was in the dining room, counting out her fancy china and silverware for the party she was hosting tomorrow. I tried to sneak upstairs.
“Jaycee, come in here please,” Mom said as I placed my foot on the stairs. This would not be good.
I wasn’t wrong. “Yeah, Mom?” I stood in the doorway, as if that would protect me from what came next. Fat chance.
“You know my book club is meeting here tomorrow, and I need help getting ready,” she said. “I’ll wash the china. Get the silver polish from the kitchen and get to work, please.” She pushed the box containing her good silver toward me.
I dropped my backpack. “Why can’t you use the every day stuff?” I gave her my best sullen look.
“Because I only host once a quarter, and there’s no reason not to use the good silver,” Mom said. “I know it’ll interfere with your precious video game time, but really, you’ll have all weekend for that. Now go.”
I grabbed the box and stomped off to the kitchen. This would take forever.
February 27, 2013
When Writing Goes Bad
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Confession: My husband and I watch Merlin, that BBC remake based loosely on Arthurian legend (and I do mean loosely).
We started because we were looking for new TV shows we could watch via Netflix or DVR - something to kill the winter weekdays because watching a 2 hour movie when you have to go to work the next day is not practical, especially since we often wouldn't get to start until 9:30 at night or later. And we typically enjoy programming from the BBC.
At first, the show was in that "so campy it was enjoyable" category. Yeah, this is not Mary Stewart's Camelot. I mean, Merlin and Guinevere started as servants, and magic was a crime punishable by death under Uther. Well, um, that's going to prove awkward. But we looked past that and just focused on the 40 minutes of mindless, campy entertainment.
When Uther finally died, we thought, "Okay, Merlin is going to start to come into his own now." No such luck. Okay, Arthur has found Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone. Here we go. Nope.
And for the past season and a half, the writing has just gotten bad. I mean, beyond bad. We're talking atrocious.
As a writer, the flaws just scream at me. Merlin isn't so much a powerful sorcerer as Morgana (whose abilities have been amplified in the TV show) is incompetent. What could be really clever plot twists fall into a rut - Morgana will be overconfident, causing her to overestimate the abilities of her allies and underestimate her foes, while Merlin fumbles his way to success. At least once a show, she gets the upper hand against Merlin and knocks him on his ass.
Speaking of Merlin, the awkward boy coming into his powers was cute at first, but now it's just annoying. He's the most powerful sorcerer of all time, the Druids have foreseen his coming and a new age for Camelot (they've even got a name for him, Emrys), and he's the last freaking Dragonlord, with the ability to command dragons. Yet Arthur routinely treats him like a half-wit, and he's more often dopey than dangerous. As I said earlier, Morgana's plots fail more because of her own incompetence than Merlin's power.
Oh, and Excalibur? Yeah, there's a show where Arthur's sword is enchanted so he will fall in a duel. Okay, this cannot possibly be Excalibur because don't tell me that Morgana has the power to enchant a sword forged in the dragon's breath. And if it isn't Excalibur, just what did Arthur do with it anyway?
The latest travesty is that Guinevere has been brainwashed by Morgana (okay, a stretch but I'll play along) and she convinces a visiting ruler to assassinate Arthur - after about 30 seconds of conversation. Say what? I know that things have to be compressed for TV, but come on.
The characters have gone from being two-dimensional (which is bad enough) to one-dimensional, if that is even possible. We can fast forward through the boring parts and pretty much tell each other what happened and what is going to happen. Wasn't there an author who said something about trying to skip the boring parts? The dialog is flat, the premises outlandish, and the audience is being asked not to just suspend belief, but toss it out the window. Plots are foiled through coincidence and bumbling, not through any real actions on the part of the players.
All in all, it's become a brilliant example of what not to do as a writer - in any form and any genre. For that reason alone, I recommend suffering through an episode or two. It'll be painful, but you'll see exactly why it doesn't work. And hopefully you'll learn to avoid it.
But really BBC, please - when are you going to release Dr. Who Season 7 to Netflix?
Photo courtesy of ChibiChiii and used under Creative Commons
Confession: My husband and I watch Merlin, that BBC remake based loosely on Arthurian legend (and I do mean loosely).We started because we were looking for new TV shows we could watch via Netflix or DVR - something to kill the winter weekdays because watching a 2 hour movie when you have to go to work the next day is not practical, especially since we often wouldn't get to start until 9:30 at night or later. And we typically enjoy programming from the BBC.
At first, the show was in that "so campy it was enjoyable" category. Yeah, this is not Mary Stewart's Camelot. I mean, Merlin and Guinevere started as servants, and magic was a crime punishable by death under Uther. Well, um, that's going to prove awkward. But we looked past that and just focused on the 40 minutes of mindless, campy entertainment.
When Uther finally died, we thought, "Okay, Merlin is going to start to come into his own now." No such luck. Okay, Arthur has found Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone. Here we go. Nope.
And for the past season and a half, the writing has just gotten bad. I mean, beyond bad. We're talking atrocious.
As a writer, the flaws just scream at me. Merlin isn't so much a powerful sorcerer as Morgana (whose abilities have been amplified in the TV show) is incompetent. What could be really clever plot twists fall into a rut - Morgana will be overconfident, causing her to overestimate the abilities of her allies and underestimate her foes, while Merlin fumbles his way to success. At least once a show, she gets the upper hand against Merlin and knocks him on his ass.
Speaking of Merlin, the awkward boy coming into his powers was cute at first, but now it's just annoying. He's the most powerful sorcerer of all time, the Druids have foreseen his coming and a new age for Camelot (they've even got a name for him, Emrys), and he's the last freaking Dragonlord, with the ability to command dragons. Yet Arthur routinely treats him like a half-wit, and he's more often dopey than dangerous. As I said earlier, Morgana's plots fail more because of her own incompetence than Merlin's power.
Oh, and Excalibur? Yeah, there's a show where Arthur's sword is enchanted so he will fall in a duel. Okay, this cannot possibly be Excalibur because don't tell me that Morgana has the power to enchant a sword forged in the dragon's breath. And if it isn't Excalibur, just what did Arthur do with it anyway?
The latest travesty is that Guinevere has been brainwashed by Morgana (okay, a stretch but I'll play along) and she convinces a visiting ruler to assassinate Arthur - after about 30 seconds of conversation. Say what? I know that things have to be compressed for TV, but come on.
The characters have gone from being two-dimensional (which is bad enough) to one-dimensional, if that is even possible. We can fast forward through the boring parts and pretty much tell each other what happened and what is going to happen. Wasn't there an author who said something about trying to skip the boring parts? The dialog is flat, the premises outlandish, and the audience is being asked not to just suspend belief, but toss it out the window. Plots are foiled through coincidence and bumbling, not through any real actions on the part of the players.
All in all, it's become a brilliant example of what not to do as a writer - in any form and any genre. For that reason alone, I recommend suffering through an episode or two. It'll be painful, but you'll see exactly why it doesn't work. And hopefully you'll learn to avoid it.
But really BBC, please - when are you going to release Dr. Who Season 7 to Netflix?
Photo courtesy of ChibiChiii and used under Creative Commons
February 19, 2013
Goal Setting 101
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
I recently attended a webinar with author James Scott Bell about how to make a living selling ebooks (something near and dear to my heart, of course). As I listened, it reinforced something that I think a lot of authors overlook.
While writing may be art, publishing is a business.
Now, I've never started a business in the traditional sense. But I do know one thing: If you start a business venture without a plan, you are sunk. Dead in the water. Okay, you might get insanely lucky, but in general, going in without a plan is madness.
Part of a plan is something that a lot of people think they are really good at - setting goals. The problem is, most people set "pie in the sky" goals that are really more of a dream. A goal is something that is achievable and within your power. A dream, well, anyone can dream. Consider the difference in the following:
I'm going to get published in a magazine three times this year.
I'm going to submit to at least three magazines this year.
The first statement is a dream. I want to be published, sure. But can I make that happen? At the end of the day, no. The editors of the publication make that decision. I may have penned the next Hemingway-esque piece, but if it's not right for a publication, the editor will say "no."
But I can control the second. I can polish my story, study my craft, and put the work in the (e)mail. After that, about all I can do is cross my fingers.
Some writers may find this intimidating. But I like goals - all sorts of them. Setting a goal - and making it "public" (that is, sharing with others) - keeps me accountable. I set a goal to complete the sloppy first draft (SFD) of the third Hero's Sword book by the end of January and to get my Black Orchid novella ready for beta readers by the end of February.
Since I don't have an editor or a contract breathing down my neck, I needed to set those goals - and share them with my writer friends - to keep me honest. Otherwise, I'd spend my weekends watching horrible TV and thinking, "I can write better than this." And I'm glad to say that I met both of those goals.
But what now? Well, after last week's webinar and reading a lot, I realize that I need new goals, goals that are going to help push me toward my dream of making money off of this fiction thing. And the two most important things (for me) are going to be continuing to write and upping my craft game.
So, in the spirit of planning and goal setting, I announce my goals for the year, in no particular order.
Submit my second Laurel Highlands Mystery story.
It's written, it's been edited, and it's probably ready to go. Now it's just a question of where (okay, not much of a question since the first is going to be published by Mysterical-e, I'll probably start there). Exactly when I submit will be influenced by...
Read at least one craft book per month.
Any writer who says she's learned all she needs to know is probably full of, well, ca-ca (to put it nicely). That's not me. I'm starting with Mr. Bell's Fiction Attack. And I will pick up his Revision and Self-editing so that I can...
Complete revisions of Hero's Sword 3 by tax day (4/15).
Based on the time from when I submitted Power Play to the publisher to when it came out, I'm guessing the publication cycle will be a couple of months. I sent Storm Clouds off in January, so it'll probably come out this spring. I actually think I can pull this one off earlier, but since a goal should be achievable, I'm going with something I am very confident in (a stretch goal would be to complete the revision by the end of March).
Complete the SFD of Hero's Sword 4 by May 31 and first revisions by July 31.
Based on experience, I can write the SFD in a month. This will also include a treatment for book 5 (since I like to plan at least one book beyond what I'm currently writing).
Complete and submit two more Laurel Highlands Mystery stories by the end of summer.
These are generally between 8,000 and 15,000 words (long story story to novelette). I've got at least two ideas sketched out. If I can get two more complete and submitted by fall, that gives me four. A fifth is scheduled to come out in an anthology at the end of the year. That allows me to...
Plan an anthology release of the Laurel Highlands Mysteries by the end of 2013
This is not to say that the anthology will be released at the end of this year - but I will have a plan. I've got decent hopes that I can get the next two sent to Mysterical-e and since they say they like series, there's a decent chance they'll be accepted. If so, the anthology may include a brand new story. Timing of the release TBD, but I can have a plan by year end (especially since one of my targeted craft/business reads is exactly how to make a plan).
So there you have it - some 2013 goals. Of course, things change, life happens, and goals need to be reset. And that's okay. Because that only means that I am approaching things with intent and purpose. These goals may change. New goals may come up. I'm staying flexible.
I believe it was Eisenhower who said no plan survives first contact with the enemy. But by starting with a plan, I feel like I'm ahead of the curve.
Image used under Creative Commons courtesy of Sean MacEntee
I recently attended a webinar with author James Scott Bell about how to make a living selling ebooks (something near and dear to my heart, of course). As I listened, it reinforced something that I think a lot of authors overlook.
While writing may be art, publishing is a business.
Now, I've never started a business in the traditional sense. But I do know one thing: If you start a business venture without a plan, you are sunk. Dead in the water. Okay, you might get insanely lucky, but in general, going in without a plan is madness.
Part of a plan is something that a lot of people think they are really good at - setting goals. The problem is, most people set "pie in the sky" goals that are really more of a dream. A goal is something that is achievable and within your power. A dream, well, anyone can dream. Consider the difference in the following:I'm going to get published in a magazine three times this year.
I'm going to submit to at least three magazines this year.
The first statement is a dream. I want to be published, sure. But can I make that happen? At the end of the day, no. The editors of the publication make that decision. I may have penned the next Hemingway-esque piece, but if it's not right for a publication, the editor will say "no."
But I can control the second. I can polish my story, study my craft, and put the work in the (e)mail. After that, about all I can do is cross my fingers.
Some writers may find this intimidating. But I like goals - all sorts of them. Setting a goal - and making it "public" (that is, sharing with others) - keeps me accountable. I set a goal to complete the sloppy first draft (SFD) of the third Hero's Sword book by the end of January and to get my Black Orchid novella ready for beta readers by the end of February.
Since I don't have an editor or a contract breathing down my neck, I needed to set those goals - and share them with my writer friends - to keep me honest. Otherwise, I'd spend my weekends watching horrible TV and thinking, "I can write better than this." And I'm glad to say that I met both of those goals.
But what now? Well, after last week's webinar and reading a lot, I realize that I need new goals, goals that are going to help push me toward my dream of making money off of this fiction thing. And the two most important things (for me) are going to be continuing to write and upping my craft game.
So, in the spirit of planning and goal setting, I announce my goals for the year, in no particular order.
Submit my second Laurel Highlands Mystery story.
It's written, it's been edited, and it's probably ready to go. Now it's just a question of where (okay, not much of a question since the first is going to be published by Mysterical-e, I'll probably start there). Exactly when I submit will be influenced by...
Read at least one craft book per month.
Any writer who says she's learned all she needs to know is probably full of, well, ca-ca (to put it nicely). That's not me. I'm starting with Mr. Bell's Fiction Attack. And I will pick up his Revision and Self-editing so that I can...
Complete revisions of Hero's Sword 3 by tax day (4/15).
Based on the time from when I submitted Power Play to the publisher to when it came out, I'm guessing the publication cycle will be a couple of months. I sent Storm Clouds off in January, so it'll probably come out this spring. I actually think I can pull this one off earlier, but since a goal should be achievable, I'm going with something I am very confident in (a stretch goal would be to complete the revision by the end of March).
Complete the SFD of Hero's Sword 4 by May 31 and first revisions by July 31.
Based on experience, I can write the SFD in a month. This will also include a treatment for book 5 (since I like to plan at least one book beyond what I'm currently writing).
Complete and submit two more Laurel Highlands Mystery stories by the end of summer.
These are generally between 8,000 and 15,000 words (long story story to novelette). I've got at least two ideas sketched out. If I can get two more complete and submitted by fall, that gives me four. A fifth is scheduled to come out in an anthology at the end of the year. That allows me to...
Plan an anthology release of the Laurel Highlands Mysteries by the end of 2013
This is not to say that the anthology will be released at the end of this year - but I will have a plan. I've got decent hopes that I can get the next two sent to Mysterical-e and since they say they like series, there's a decent chance they'll be accepted. If so, the anthology may include a brand new story. Timing of the release TBD, but I can have a plan by year end (especially since one of my targeted craft/business reads is exactly how to make a plan).
So there you have it - some 2013 goals. Of course, things change, life happens, and goals need to be reset. And that's okay. Because that only means that I am approaching things with intent and purpose. These goals may change. New goals may come up. I'm staying flexible.
I believe it was Eisenhower who said no plan survives first contact with the enemy. But by starting with a plan, I feel like I'm ahead of the curve.
Image used under Creative Commons courtesy of Sean MacEntee
February 13, 2013
Next Big Thing Blog Hop: Laurel Highlands Mysteries
Yeah, yeah, I know. Didn't I do this already? Yes, I did here, but when Sisters in Crime Sib Annette Dashofy put out the call, how could I say no? And I've got a new book (long short story really) to talk about.
You can read all about Annette's work here.
Without further ado - round two of The Next Big Thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. What is the working title of your book(s)?
This story is called "An Idyllic Place for Murder." It is the first in my Laurel Highlands Mysteries series.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
In October 2011 I attended my first "Escape to the Woods" writing retreat with the Mary Roberts Rinehart chapter of Sisters in Crime. It was my first writing retreat and I was going with a group of people who were virtually strangers (I had met two of my sibs exactly once). The retreat was held in Confluence, PA which is in the Laurel Highlands, the area that gives the name to the series. Well, we stayed in a rental house, not quite a cabin, but definitely not a hotel. As we read the guest register, there was mention of "be careful of the Creeper." Apparently, the gentleman who owned the trailer neighboring the rental property was a bit cranky. Well, I was with a group of crime writers, so of course we couldn't resist talking up the potential story lines for a character known as "the Creeper." I conceived of the victim, a woman escaping a messy divorce, and my protagonist, a PA State Trooper. And of course the suspect, a slightly crazy old man known to locals as "the Creeper." And voila! a story was born.
3. What genre does your book come under?
This one is pure crime fiction, a police procedural (not what I intended to write, but I fell in love with my State Trooper Jim Duncan and my feisty public defender Sally Castle, so I was stuck).
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Oh, that's easy. Jim Duncan is a younger Mark Harmon, no question. And Sally Castle looks exactly like Angie Harmon. I've known that from the minute the story was finished (as I talk about in a previous post about character love).
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The Laurel Highlands become anything but idyllic for PA State Trooper Jim Duncan when the body of a young woman is found in a local rental house - but was she the victim of the crazy Creeper or someone else?
6. Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
I'm thrilled to say that the story will appear in the Spring/Summer issue of Mysterical-E , an online crime fiction magazine. Since I have more stories for these characters, I can see an anthology being published someday, probably self-published (since very few markets do reprints for this particular genre/length).
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I think it honestly took longer to plot it out than write it. After the story line and characters coalesced in my mind, I wrote the first draft in maybe 7-10 days.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think it's a pretty standard police procedural story, so maybe LJ Seller's "Detective Jackson" series or maybe Diana Stabenow's "Liam Campbell" series (not that I am comparing myself to either writer - at least not yet!).
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Well, apart from the entry in the guest book, I think I'd have to credit my sibs in the Mary Roberts Rinehard chapter. I've loved reading mysteries for as long as I can remember, and this group of fantastic "sisters" (and "misters") really taught me a lot about how to write and plot crime fiction. And I have to give thanks to Ramona Defelice Long who read an early version of the story, clued me in to the fact that I had unwittingly written a police procedural, and gave me the confidence to keep polishing and submitting it.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
Aside from the crime fiction/police procedural aspect, I think anyone who is familiar with the Laurel Highlands, either from pictures or first-hand experience, would enjoy the local references. Turns out there are a lot of good places to find bodies in and around Uniontown. Who knew?
You can read all about Annette's work here.
Without further ado - round two of The Next Big Thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. What is the working title of your book(s)?This story is called "An Idyllic Place for Murder." It is the first in my Laurel Highlands Mysteries series.
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
In October 2011 I attended my first "Escape to the Woods" writing retreat with the Mary Roberts Rinehart chapter of Sisters in Crime. It was my first writing retreat and I was going with a group of people who were virtually strangers (I had met two of my sibs exactly once). The retreat was held in Confluence, PA which is in the Laurel Highlands, the area that gives the name to the series. Well, we stayed in a rental house, not quite a cabin, but definitely not a hotel. As we read the guest register, there was mention of "be careful of the Creeper." Apparently, the gentleman who owned the trailer neighboring the rental property was a bit cranky. Well, I was with a group of crime writers, so of course we couldn't resist talking up the potential story lines for a character known as "the Creeper." I conceived of the victim, a woman escaping a messy divorce, and my protagonist, a PA State Trooper. And of course the suspect, a slightly crazy old man known to locals as "the Creeper." And voila! a story was born.
3. What genre does your book come under?
This one is pure crime fiction, a police procedural (not what I intended to write, but I fell in love with my State Trooper Jim Duncan and my feisty public defender Sally Castle, so I was stuck).
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Oh, that's easy. Jim Duncan is a younger Mark Harmon, no question. And Sally Castle looks exactly like Angie Harmon. I've known that from the minute the story was finished (as I talk about in a previous post about character love).
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The Laurel Highlands become anything but idyllic for PA State Trooper Jim Duncan when the body of a young woman is found in a local rental house - but was she the victim of the crazy Creeper or someone else?
6. Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
I'm thrilled to say that the story will appear in the Spring/Summer issue of Mysterical-E , an online crime fiction magazine. Since I have more stories for these characters, I can see an anthology being published someday, probably self-published (since very few markets do reprints for this particular genre/length).
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I think it honestly took longer to plot it out than write it. After the story line and characters coalesced in my mind, I wrote the first draft in maybe 7-10 days.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think it's a pretty standard police procedural story, so maybe LJ Seller's "Detective Jackson" series or maybe Diana Stabenow's "Liam Campbell" series (not that I am comparing myself to either writer - at least not yet!).
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Well, apart from the entry in the guest book, I think I'd have to credit my sibs in the Mary Roberts Rinehard chapter. I've loved reading mysteries for as long as I can remember, and this group of fantastic "sisters" (and "misters") really taught me a lot about how to write and plot crime fiction. And I have to give thanks to Ramona Defelice Long who read an early version of the story, clued me in to the fact that I had unwittingly written a police procedural, and gave me the confidence to keep polishing and submitting it.
10. What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
Aside from the crime fiction/police procedural aspect, I think anyone who is familiar with the Laurel Highlands, either from pictures or first-hand experience, would enjoy the local references. Turns out there are a lot of good places to find bodies in and around Uniontown. Who knew?
February 6, 2013
Diving in at Wattpad
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
A couple weeks ago I sat in on a Twitter chat for Author (R)evolution and learned about Wattpad, an online author platform service that allows you to upload excerpts, chat, and connect with readers - that last being extremely important for any author, not just debut ones.
So, today I took the plunge, created an account, and uploaded the first chapter of Power Play: Hero's Sword Volume 1 for reading. You can see everything here.
If you or your tween is a Wattpad member, stop on by. With more books to come in the Hero's Sword series, I'd love to know what you think!
Wattpad logo courtesy of Wattpad.
A couple weeks ago I sat in on a Twitter chat for Author (R)evolution and learned about Wattpad, an online author platform service that allows you to upload excerpts, chat, and connect with readers - that last being extremely important for any author, not just debut ones.So, today I took the plunge, created an account, and uploaded the first chapter of Power Play: Hero's Sword Volume 1 for reading. You can see everything here.
If you or your tween is a Wattpad member, stop on by. With more books to come in the Hero's Sword series, I'd love to know what you think!
Wattpad logo courtesy of Wattpad.
