Michael Allan Scott's Blog, page 2
July 30, 2015
Book Review – Joe R. Lansdale’s The Thicket
An Ocean of Books, But . . . Last book review I posted was more than two years ago. You may well wonder, did he quit writing book reviews, or stop reading altogether. Although I’m busier these days, I haven’t changed my policy on reviewing books (see earlier blog). I do it only when […]
June 17, 2015
End of an Era, and It’s About Damn Time –
It happened in the music business, it’s in full swing in the publishing business, and it’s building a head of steam in the entertainment industry of movies and TV. The era of the manufactured/exploited superstar is coming to a close. A handful of superstars, as well as all the mindless middlemen and bloodsucking control freaks […]
April 19, 2015
Broken –
An American Dream by Michael Allan Scott WARNING This short story contains potentially disturbing content. If the violence of war upsets you, please don’t read it. Behind the wind’s sigh I hear her calling, faint but clear through the chilled night air. I scramble out of the ditch at a glimpse of headlights […]
January 24, 2015
Writing—Everybody’s Doing it! So Can You
Everybody’s Doing It – I saw a statistic in a recent blog – “85% of readers dream of publishing their own book.” This may or may not be accurate, but I wouldn’t be surprised. The trick on this planet is turning a dream into reality. Most of us are here to do just that—turn dreams […]
January 16, 2015
A Rose By Any Other Name . . . The Zeitgeist Of Writing Style
A Rose is a Rose – Or so the story goes. As mystery writers, our craft involves more far than mystery. There’s that all-elusive element of style—highly subjective, to say the least. Of course, there are basics which every writer worth his or her salt incorporates into their prose. Then we get down to choices. […]
December 18, 2014
Self-Published Writers and the Shiny Object Syndrome
DISCLAIMER: At one time or another I’ve been guilty of all the things I deride below. Every now and then something hits me like a bolt from the blue and I can’t repress it. In an idea session at Starbucks with a long-time friend, the Shiny Object Syndrome came up and KABOOM! S.O.S. – Debilitating […]
November 27, 2014
Drone Takes Down ChinaAir Flight 5026
ChinaAir Flight 5026 – Cflow darts across the intersection, squinty eyes scanning for anything unusual or out of place, his scrawny arms awkwardly laden with a large cardboard box. He spots Tabu scurrying across Av. Belo Campo from the other direction, trying to look inconspicuous, a plastic carrying case gripped firmly in his […]
September 20, 2014
One More Grey Daze Excerpt
Pounding on the Publisher’s Door – Grey Daze, the third book in the Lance Underphal Mystery series, spins a murder into new realms of gritty realism, paranormal mystery, and international intrigue. Lance and friends ride a wild underworld roller coaster, slammed through ups and downs as they face drug dealers, corrupt police, and a gunrunning […]
September 6, 2014
Lance Underphal Mystery Books: Research Notes
Making It Real – In one of my early forays into manuscript submission I happened upon an article by bestselling author, L. Ron Hubbard entitled Search for Research. Hubbard begins by acknowledging that all writers want to sell and write more and better stories. He proceeds to state that writers are the laziest people on […]
August 16, 2014
The Next Excerpt From Grey Daze
Peering Into the Chasm – The third book in the Lance Underphal mystery series, Grey Daze, is another hardcore paranormal mystery novel. While still a murder mystery, it’s a very different labyrinth, indeed. Back from my editor, Linda Seed, the manuscript is deep in the editing process. Next steps are another run-through with Linda and […]
