Jamie Sheffield's Blog, page 13
February 2, 2014
Switching sides
.jpg)
She came home yesterday, like once I came home: sore, tired, scared, needing ....
I can hear her in the other room, sleeping, breathing, dreaming, making noises that I try to file as happy or hurt.
A lifetime (my lifetime) of shielding and loving and nurturing,at what cost to her dreams and wants and wishes.
Food, messes, laundry, worries about the dog,all of it flipped on end ... in the end.
I'm angry ... at her frailty or fragility or looming mortality,(don't know which ... maybe all, maybe more)how dare she be so strong for so long, and only now be ... human.
I want my mommy, need her,but now, somehow, she needs me.
February 1, 2014
Author & Protagonist Interview!
with Jamie Sheffield and Tyler Cunningham
Recently I asked readers to send in questions to me and/or Tyler, for an interview on my blog with us … grab a cup of coffee or an ice-cold Canadian Coke (whichever you prefer), and dig into the results:
Q: Is Barry going to show up occasionally in future stories? I enjoyed him in "Caretakers."
Tyler : I think that Barry will continue to live back in the lizard bits of my brain for some time to come … if not indefinitely. I hear him speaking/muttering with some frequency, but had not seen him since the summer … until recent events appeared to call him out of retirement for a few brief face-to-face discussions (which diminished in frequency once things began to resolve).
Jamie : I hope so. He was supposed to be a blip on the radar in the last book, “Caretakers”, but took on a larger role as writing progressed. I find him to be an interesting character in his own right, as well as being an unusual part of Tyler’s make-up.
Q: Tyler's take on politics in general, any use for it?
Tyler : Mickey Schwarz used to sing snippets of songs as commentary on current events when I was a child, and one that I remember (I remember all of them, of course, but this one in particular) him using in the context of politics with some frequency was “meet the new boss, same as the old boss”, and numerous other quotes from what I found was a song by The Who, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” … politics are something that happen outside of me (and human individuals in general), and my voting (which behavior I don’t engage in, by the way) would have as much influence on them as choosing a TV station to watch the weather forecast does on the weather.
Q: Jamie, in what ways does Tyler surprise you? Do you ever worry about what the future may hold for him?
Jamie : Tyler surprises me constantly. I often think that I know what he’s going to do in a given situation (having worked out outlines well in advance), only to be surprised with what he actually does, once the writing begins to flow.
Q: Does he fear being known? or is fear not part of his psychological make up? If not, then why leave NYC post 9/11, too sad?
Tyler : Fear isn’t the issue so much as anticipated rejection. All of my life, the more people get to know me, the less they trust me (and the more they fear me). It is far easier to try and fly below the human world’s radar than to try and appear normal or constantly explain who/what I am to people. Manhattan is/was the site of multiple and ongoing failures in my youth … failures to establish and/or maintain normal relationships with my human peers. I feel fear, as every sentient being does … albeit more as an avoidance response to stimulus likely to lead to negative outcomes than being scared in a more traditional ‘human’ sense. I left Manhattan after 9/11 because nearly every reason (save Mickey) for staying in such a densely populated area was gone. I could/have/will continue my education and life outside of Manhattan more easily than within it.
Q: Did Tyler show signs of these detecting skills when he was still living with his parents? Will there be any backstory about his upbringing?
Jamie : Tyler has always had an eye for details that other miss, or process differently. I anticipate another novella involving Mickey, and a few others from the childhood educational collective, that will bring Tyler back to NYC, and likely involve an expansion of the backstory surrounding his childhood.
Q: Will he respond to a heartfelt hug from a friend, ie: Mickey, or the girl/friend (Dorothy) from the Shelter?
Tyler : I permit/tolerate hugs and handshakes and shoulder-pats when necessary … when it is easier to do so, than to avoid them. A select few people who feel that they are close to me (Mickey, Meg, Dorothy, Maurice) will on occasion initiate physical contact … out of politeness/respect for their feelings, I respond appropriately (albeit as briefly and minimally as is possible to avoid encouraging future/increased physical contact insofar as I am able).
Q: Does Tyler ever venture into NYC, and if so, how does he respond to its energy?
Jamie : Tyler has been down to NYC twice since he left, late in 2001, both times to visit with Mickey and his family. He has mixed feelings about the city, as it is ripe with learning opportunities for him, offers a curious form of privacy that is lacking in a small town like Saranac Lake, but mapping the ever-changing physical and social environment is a daunting challenge that he, so far, chooses not to engage in. Again, I see a novella in the near future that involves a trip down to NYC to delve a bit into that part of his past, along with trying to help secure the future for some of those people he knew pre-9/11.
Q: Can a person live forever hugless, will Tyler learn emotional attachment at some point?
Jamie : Tyler has formed numerous emotional attachments in his new life up in the Adirondacks; they’re just different than the attachments that other people form. In his way, he cares about Hope and Mickey and Dorothy, and the others in his immediate circle. I believe that he will continue to grow and change, as we all do, as he moves through his life; but don’t see him evolving into a person with emotions like (most of) the rest of us have.
Q: What will Tyler do with the dog when he's winter camping? Does Jamie winter camp with his dogs?
Tyler : Hope normally goes to stay with Dorothy when I go camping in the cold months … especially if it is below 20 degrees. Her joints hurt more in the cold (also, she doesn’t enjoy plowing her short body through the snow).
Jamie : My dogs, Miles and Puck, do not go winter camping with me. I’ve tried it, but they won’t join me in my hammock, and without a tent to act as a barrier between us and the rest of the woods, they are too nervous and stimulated to sleep, so they stay home with Gail when I go winter camping.
Q: Would Tyler ever watch television, and if so, what shows intrigue him and why?
Tyler : I watch movies and television shows, but not 'regular' television (I can’t abide commercials). I find that I watch science fiction and mystery themed shows/movies more than anything else … I like the science as well as the procedures/solutions in these stories. Dorothy and Meg and Frank watch a much more broad range of shows/movies than I otherwise would … I consider it a fair exchange for food and their tolerance of me (and am able to replay books/movies I prefer in the theater of my brain if what they’re showing is boring). My biggest issue with the visual presentation of stories is (and has always been) that it happens so slowly … I am able to read much faster than actors can talk/move, and it is easier to skim in a book than with Netflix.
Q: How did you get so sexy?
Jamie : Superior genetics, treating my body like a temple, and my own irresistible brand of interpretive dance!
Click HERE to visit the Amazon page of author Jamie Sheffield, to access his stories about Tyler Cunningham.
Recently I asked readers to send in questions to me and/or Tyler, for an interview on my blog with us … grab a cup of coffee or an ice-cold Canadian Coke (whichever you prefer), and dig into the results:
Q: Is Barry going to show up occasionally in future stories? I enjoyed him in "Caretakers."
Tyler : I think that Barry will continue to live back in the lizard bits of my brain for some time to come … if not indefinitely. I hear him speaking/muttering with some frequency, but had not seen him since the summer … until recent events appeared to call him out of retirement for a few brief face-to-face discussions (which diminished in frequency once things began to resolve).
Jamie : I hope so. He was supposed to be a blip on the radar in the last book, “Caretakers”, but took on a larger role as writing progressed. I find him to be an interesting character in his own right, as well as being an unusual part of Tyler’s make-up.
Q: Tyler's take on politics in general, any use for it?
Tyler : Mickey Schwarz used to sing snippets of songs as commentary on current events when I was a child, and one that I remember (I remember all of them, of course, but this one in particular) him using in the context of politics with some frequency was “meet the new boss, same as the old boss”, and numerous other quotes from what I found was a song by The Who, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” … politics are something that happen outside of me (and human individuals in general), and my voting (which behavior I don’t engage in, by the way) would have as much influence on them as choosing a TV station to watch the weather forecast does on the weather.
Q: Jamie, in what ways does Tyler surprise you? Do you ever worry about what the future may hold for him?
Jamie : Tyler surprises me constantly. I often think that I know what he’s going to do in a given situation (having worked out outlines well in advance), only to be surprised with what he actually does, once the writing begins to flow.
Q: Does he fear being known? or is fear not part of his psychological make up? If not, then why leave NYC post 9/11, too sad?
Tyler : Fear isn’t the issue so much as anticipated rejection. All of my life, the more people get to know me, the less they trust me (and the more they fear me). It is far easier to try and fly below the human world’s radar than to try and appear normal or constantly explain who/what I am to people. Manhattan is/was the site of multiple and ongoing failures in my youth … failures to establish and/or maintain normal relationships with my human peers. I feel fear, as every sentient being does … albeit more as an avoidance response to stimulus likely to lead to negative outcomes than being scared in a more traditional ‘human’ sense. I left Manhattan after 9/11 because nearly every reason (save Mickey) for staying in such a densely populated area was gone. I could/have/will continue my education and life outside of Manhattan more easily than within it.
Q: Did Tyler show signs of these detecting skills when he was still living with his parents? Will there be any backstory about his upbringing?
Jamie : Tyler has always had an eye for details that other miss, or process differently. I anticipate another novella involving Mickey, and a few others from the childhood educational collective, that will bring Tyler back to NYC, and likely involve an expansion of the backstory surrounding his childhood.
Q: Will he respond to a heartfelt hug from a friend, ie: Mickey, or the girl/friend (Dorothy) from the Shelter?
Tyler : I permit/tolerate hugs and handshakes and shoulder-pats when necessary … when it is easier to do so, than to avoid them. A select few people who feel that they are close to me (Mickey, Meg, Dorothy, Maurice) will on occasion initiate physical contact … out of politeness/respect for their feelings, I respond appropriately (albeit as briefly and minimally as is possible to avoid encouraging future/increased physical contact insofar as I am able).
Q: Does Tyler ever venture into NYC, and if so, how does he respond to its energy?
Jamie : Tyler has been down to NYC twice since he left, late in 2001, both times to visit with Mickey and his family. He has mixed feelings about the city, as it is ripe with learning opportunities for him, offers a curious form of privacy that is lacking in a small town like Saranac Lake, but mapping the ever-changing physical and social environment is a daunting challenge that he, so far, chooses not to engage in. Again, I see a novella in the near future that involves a trip down to NYC to delve a bit into that part of his past, along with trying to help secure the future for some of those people he knew pre-9/11.
Q: Can a person live forever hugless, will Tyler learn emotional attachment at some point?
Jamie : Tyler has formed numerous emotional attachments in his new life up in the Adirondacks; they’re just different than the attachments that other people form. In his way, he cares about Hope and Mickey and Dorothy, and the others in his immediate circle. I believe that he will continue to grow and change, as we all do, as he moves through his life; but don’t see him evolving into a person with emotions like (most of) the rest of us have.
Q: What will Tyler do with the dog when he's winter camping? Does Jamie winter camp with his dogs?
Tyler : Hope normally goes to stay with Dorothy when I go camping in the cold months … especially if it is below 20 degrees. Her joints hurt more in the cold (also, she doesn’t enjoy plowing her short body through the snow).
Jamie : My dogs, Miles and Puck, do not go winter camping with me. I’ve tried it, but they won’t join me in my hammock, and without a tent to act as a barrier between us and the rest of the woods, they are too nervous and stimulated to sleep, so they stay home with Gail when I go winter camping.
Q: Would Tyler ever watch television, and if so, what shows intrigue him and why?
Tyler : I watch movies and television shows, but not 'regular' television (I can’t abide commercials). I find that I watch science fiction and mystery themed shows/movies more than anything else … I like the science as well as the procedures/solutions in these stories. Dorothy and Meg and Frank watch a much more broad range of shows/movies than I otherwise would … I consider it a fair exchange for food and their tolerance of me (and am able to replay books/movies I prefer in the theater of my brain if what they’re showing is boring). My biggest issue with the visual presentation of stories is (and has always been) that it happens so slowly … I am able to read much faster than actors can talk/move, and it is easier to skim in a book than with Netflix.
Q: How did you get so sexy?
Jamie : Superior genetics, treating my body like a temple, and my own irresistible brand of interpretive dance!
Click HERE to visit the Amazon page of author Jamie Sheffield, to access his stories about Tyler Cunningham.
January 31, 2014
I call him Puck
He came to live with me a bit more than a year ago,Bentley is what the shelter said his previous family called him.
He didn't/doesn't feel like a Bentley ... to me;I call him Puck, and he seems to like the name well enough.
"What's in a name?" the saying goes ...his feet would smell like popcorn whatever I called him.
He could be Butch or Mike or Clay or Vegemite,and still be as good (as bad) as when I call him Puck.
Did his mother name him, in the whelping box?Nibbly, Tiny, Blaze, Bristle-kisses, Milton?
Does Miles (our other rescue 'lab') have a name he uses,when they speak during the long days while I'm away at work?
Persons and puppies and pencils all have names;identifiers we use to differentiate them from others of their kind ...does this naming make them special, or steal something from them?
something private
My heart loves Puck and Ben and Gail and and baconand paddling through the river at the bottom of Floodwood,but never speaks (or knows) their names.
I call him Puck so the world knows who I'm talking about, but he and I know each other by the way we feel and smile and glow, one in the other's presence ... and that's enough.
Hard Thoughts on a Cold Day
.jpg)
Everything is hard at 20 belowGetting out of bed, walking the dogs,keeping the house warmth enough to avoid icing inside.Snow in the driveway is packed hard and flat, but not slippery ... it's too cold for thatIn summer, my driveway is torture, the potholes have potholesBut the snow has covered them up, filled them in, smoothed them over.
Life is that way, sometimesToday's hardship covers or fills or smooths yesterdays troublesChanging the shape of our lives, sometimes for the better; even while making things ...
hard.
January 19, 2014
5 Reasons to Review Every Book You Read
Reviews Make Books and Authors and the Marketplace Better
I read more books than I write reviews for, but I'm working on it, and getting better every day. Reviews take almost no time, are easy to write, and can make a huge difference to both readers and writers ... here are five reasons why you should review every book you read.
#1 - Reviews are Tips for Writers
When I take a cab or go out for dinner or pass a street performer, I generally give a tip to the cabdriver or wait staff or artist if I feel that I've gotten something above and beyond the ordinary ... it's both polite and supports/encourages excellence. I think the same thing is true for writers. I love hearing from readers that they enjoyed one of my books, a particular character or scene, or that it made them think differently about some aspect of their world ... I love it more than I love getting paid for my writing (which, honestly, is pretty great too).
#2 - Reviews are Tips for Writers
(no, that's not a mistake ... I'm using the same phrase twice, intentionally) I also like hearing from people who have read my books concerning things they wish I had done differently or better. I like getting these tips on improving my writing from the people who cared enough to write them, and tend to take them seriously. I don't always change my writing based on this feedback, but it's nice to know what people are thinking, and it generally has some impact on how I plan and craft subsequent writing projects.
#3 - Amazon Hides Authors/Books with Few Reviews Amazon uses algorithms to help determine which authors and books to promote or recommend to their customers. Writing even a brief review means that more people will see the book(s) that you read and enjoy. Supporting up and coming authors is as easy as writing a review for their books. #4 - Marketing Opportunities Exist for Reviewed Author Lots of books are published every day, and most of them will never sell 100 copies, or get more than a couple of reviews ... sad, but true, and in many cases warranted (by virtue of their not being great, or even good, books). Because of this, many marketing opportunities are out of the reach of independent authors (like me) until they receive 10 or 20 positive reviews. Once an author/book has crossed this magic line in the publishing world, a number of doors open, which can help get our books out to more readers, which is what every writer wants. #5 - Impressing My Mother My mom loves me, and she reads everything that I write ... even the stuff that's too violent or abstract for her. She's loyal and loving and thinks that I'm a genius and the best author since ... other really great authors! Giving me (and by proxy, other indie authors with mothers) reviews for their books will go a long way towards making Thanksgiving Dinner less awkward and embarrassing. Muz (a childhood name for my mother) loves the vindication that having dozens of positive reviews for my work lends her bragging ... so keep it up! All joking aside, I don't want fake reviews (no author does) ... just reviews. I sold a couple of thousand copies of my books last year, and only got a couple dozen reviews. What I (and probably all indie authors) want are honest reviews from more readers than currently write/post them. My rate of reviews is between two and five percent for my various published books ... I would love for that number to jump to twenty percent, but would be very happy with one review for every ten readers (ten percent for those who like reading more than mathematics). I find that I tend to write more reviews for books that I love than the ones that I don't like ... or don't even finish (I gave myself permission years ago, to stop a book that I don't enjoy after a decent number of pages ... generally 75-100). In that sense, my reviews tend to be something of a 'Thank You!' to the authors whose work I enjoy. I'm OK with that ... in a perfect world, everyone (myself included) would write a fully honest review for every book that they read ... if the real world could manage a slightly higher percentage of readers writing reviews for a slightly higher percentage of the books that they read, I'd be very happy. I'm going to do my part, and hope that you will too ... your reviews can be twenty words, and take three minutes, so please make an effort to write more. Thanks, Jamie
Reviews Make Books and Authors and the Marketplace Better
I read more books than I write reviews for, but I'm working on it, and getting better every day. Reviews take almost no time, are easy to write, and can make a huge difference to both readers and writers ... here are five reasons why you should review every book you read.
#1 - Reviews are Tips for Writers
When I take a cab or go out for dinner or pass a street performer, I generally give a tip to the cabdriver or wait staff or artist if I feel that I've gotten something above and beyond the ordinary ... it's both polite and supports/encourages excellence. I think the same thing is true for writers. I love hearing from readers that they enjoyed one of my books, a particular character or scene, or that it made them think differently about some aspect of their world ... I love it more than I love getting paid for my writing (which, honestly, is pretty great too).
#2 - Reviews are Tips for Writers
(no, that's not a mistake ... I'm using the same phrase twice, intentionally) I also like hearing from people who have read my books concerning things they wish I had done differently or better. I like getting these tips on improving my writing from the people who cared enough to write them, and tend to take them seriously. I don't always change my writing based on this feedback, but it's nice to know what people are thinking, and it generally has some impact on how I plan and craft subsequent writing projects.
#3 - Amazon Hides Authors/Books with Few Reviews Amazon uses algorithms to help determine which authors and books to promote or recommend to their customers. Writing even a brief review means that more people will see the book(s) that you read and enjoy. Supporting up and coming authors is as easy as writing a review for their books. #4 - Marketing Opportunities Exist for Reviewed Author Lots of books are published every day, and most of them will never sell 100 copies, or get more than a couple of reviews ... sad, but true, and in many cases warranted (by virtue of their not being great, or even good, books). Because of this, many marketing opportunities are out of the reach of independent authors (like me) until they receive 10 or 20 positive reviews. Once an author/book has crossed this magic line in the publishing world, a number of doors open, which can help get our books out to more readers, which is what every writer wants. #5 - Impressing My Mother My mom loves me, and she reads everything that I write ... even the stuff that's too violent or abstract for her. She's loyal and loving and thinks that I'm a genius and the best author since ... other really great authors! Giving me (and by proxy, other indie authors with mothers) reviews for their books will go a long way towards making Thanksgiving Dinner less awkward and embarrassing. Muz (a childhood name for my mother) loves the vindication that having dozens of positive reviews for my work lends her bragging ... so keep it up! All joking aside, I don't want fake reviews (no author does) ... just reviews. I sold a couple of thousand copies of my books last year, and only got a couple dozen reviews. What I (and probably all indie authors) want are honest reviews from more readers than currently write/post them. My rate of reviews is between two and five percent for my various published books ... I would love for that number to jump to twenty percent, but would be very happy with one review for every ten readers (ten percent for those who like reading more than mathematics). I find that I tend to write more reviews for books that I love than the ones that I don't like ... or don't even finish (I gave myself permission years ago, to stop a book that I don't enjoy after a decent number of pages ... generally 75-100). In that sense, my reviews tend to be something of a 'Thank You!' to the authors whose work I enjoy. I'm OK with that ... in a perfect world, everyone (myself included) would write a fully honest review for every book that they read ... if the real world could manage a slightly higher percentage of readers writing reviews for a slightly higher percentage of the books that they read, I'd be very happy. I'm going to do my part, and hope that you will too ... your reviews can be twenty words, and take three minutes, so please make an effort to write more. Thanks, Jamie
January 15, 2014
Love in Four Dimensions
I spent months before he arrived worried,
that I would let him down, screw him up, not be good … or enough.
I was scared of him when we first met,
certain that I'd drop him or break him … or not know what to do when he pooped.
I didn't, he didn't, we figured it out.
I remember being tired, so very tired … all of the time when he was little.
I could feel the gap between the father that I wanted to be, and the one I was ….
Looking back, I worry about diverging roads,
and being sorry that I cannot go back and take the ones less grumpy/tired/resentful.
He loves me so absolutely, so fiercely, that it frightens me,
I want to be worthy of that brand-loyalty, and am at times certain that I am not (cannot be).
I watch him play and eat and sleep and read and work,
wondering if he's as happy as he could be …
if I should have:
picked him up sooner (or later) when he cried
spent more time (around, with him, reading, snuggling)
told him that I loved him more often/emphatically
His victories and greatness are all his own, his creation … him;
his shortcomings or failings all smell of me … things I did or didn't do.
He was born pure and perfect, nothing but promise,
Any mountains he doesn't climb can be traced back to me.
It's possible that all parents are this flavor of crazy.
Jamie
January 11, 2014
Inuksuit
Piles of words and ideas,sometimes ordered, sometimes messy,guide me through a wilderness, along a path dimly seen at best.
One inukshuk leads to the next,each barely visible from the last,until I have traveled, with mind and keyboard, to my destination.(be it story's end ... a pretty view ... or just a comfortable place to stay for the night)
Some of the inuksuit are mine alone,others were built by vast teams (of books and friends and things I see driving),once in place, their pull along a new trail is hard to resist.
These markers/guides/waypoints provide just enough ... information about the trail, some vague indication of what is to come, people and places I may meet along the way.
I never know everything about (or have a complete picture of) the stories I tell,I don't want to, don't need to, in some essential way ... cannot,it is for me to explore, discover, and then, finally, share the story.
Getting lost and wet and dirty and sore (and scared) along the wayis what makes it work (and worthwhile) ... for me.
Thanks,
Jamie
January 6, 2014
"Caretakers" Published, and Thoughts on Writer/Reader Interaction
My second novel, "Caretakers", went live on Amazon this week.
I'm happy and excited to have written a follow-up to "Here Be Monsters"; proud of both novels (along with my two novellas) for different reasons.
With "Caretakers", I'm trying something a little different, and am hopeful that if it works (even a little) that I will keep it up in and around my future projects.
"Caretakers" is a book about secrets, and I've included a few opportunities for readers to peek behind (and beyond) the screen ... if they want. The book ends (as all books do) with some details left out, still shrouded ... covered up by time or through the actions of evil men.
I wrote a good deal more in the first draft of "Caretakers" than ended up in the final product ... material was cut for the sake of flow and storyline.
I was glad to have written all of the 'excess' material; it provided background and details that I needed to know, even if the reader did not. It was only during one of the final edits of the book that I considered the extra material, and discussed making some of it available with my chief editor.
We decided that it was an important part of the story, if not the novel, so I have posted some of the material to my website, available to readers through a link in the back of the book. I assume that many/most readers will not avail themselves of this extra material, as the novel ties things up quite nicely as is, and only a nosey-parker would need to know more.
I remember this book (and others like it) from my childhood. I loved, and still love the idea of interacting with an author to craft my own reading experience. While this isn't how I want to write my books, I do like the idea of giving readers some opportunity to interact with me, my characters, and my stories beyond the covers as it were.
I like the idea of making some extra materials available to those who want the chance to expand on the experience a bit ...a glance down some avenues or alleyways that the books didn't have time or space or nerve to explore.
I'm still thinking about the concept ... its virtues as well as limitations; I'd love to get feedback from any or all of you.
Thanks,
Jamie
I'm happy and excited to have written a follow-up to "Here Be Monsters"; proud of both novels (along with my two novellas) for different reasons.
With "Caretakers", I'm trying something a little different, and am hopeful that if it works (even a little) that I will keep it up in and around my future projects.
"Caretakers" is a book about secrets, and I've included a few opportunities for readers to peek behind (and beyond) the screen ... if they want. The book ends (as all books do) with some details left out, still shrouded ... covered up by time or through the actions of evil men.
I wrote a good deal more in the first draft of "Caretakers" than ended up in the final product ... material was cut for the sake of flow and storyline.
I was glad to have written all of the 'excess' material; it provided background and details that I needed to know, even if the reader did not. It was only during one of the final edits of the book that I considered the extra material, and discussed making some of it available with my chief editor.
We decided that it was an important part of the story, if not the novel, so I have posted some of the material to my website, available to readers through a link in the back of the book. I assume that many/most readers will not avail themselves of this extra material, as the novel ties things up quite nicely as is, and only a nosey-parker would need to know more.
I remember this book (and others like it) from my childhood. I loved, and still love the idea of interacting with an author to craft my own reading experience. While this isn't how I want to write my books, I do like the idea of giving readers some opportunity to interact with me, my characters, and my stories beyond the covers as it were.
I like the idea of making some extra materials available to those who want the chance to expand on the experience a bit ...a glance down some avenues or alleyways that the books didn't have time or space or nerve to explore.
I'm still thinking about the concept ... its virtues as well as limitations; I'd love to get feedback from any or all of you.
Thanks,
Jamie
January 2, 2014
5 Resolutions Every Writer Should Make for this year!
The beginning of a new year is a great time to plan for change(s).
We've all made extravagant New Year's Resolutions ... jogging every day, eliminating meat and foods that start with the letter 'Q' from your diet, never touching alcohol again, getting to work early and staying late, being a better parent/son/husband/friend, etc.; most of these go by the wayside before the end of the first week in January.
I'm trying a different approach this year, and wanted to share.
As the spinach-eater said, "I am what I am!", and that's not likely to change; so instead, my focus for this year is to change my writing in five ways:
#1: I will write a novel and three shorter works this year
In 2013, I published my first novel, two shorter works, and a number of poems. I would love to plan on writing everyday, but that's not a likely outgrowth of my lifestyle or work/home schedule. I have my 2014 novel ready to publish, and plans for the next two novellas in my Tyler Cunningham series. In addition to that, I have felt the shape of a new work, and am interested in possibly rendering this as a series of short stories, or in serial form.
#2: I will read 24 novels this year
To be a writer, you need to be a reader ... I believe this in the same way that I believe that I need to breathe air to stay alive. I plan to read two new (to me) novels every month; at least half of these by writers I'm not familiar with already. Even if I don't love each of the books, I'm certain to get something useful from them ... something that can inform my writing or thinking or planning process.
#3: I will learn about writing from accomplished writers
I enjoyed reading and listening to a number of essays and books and interviews about and by authors whose work I enjoy. My plan for 2014 is to continue this process, but in a more organized manner. I have built a small library of books and collected interviews in which authors I respect talk about the craft of writing. I would also like to go to more author-events, and maybe conferences to learn more about the art and science of writing fiction from people whose work I enjoy and respect.
#4: I will share my thoughts about writing and/or publish poetry on my blog on a weekly basis
Since setting up this blog, I've tried to post something every week or two; in 2014, I would like to establish and maintain a more rigorous and predictable schedule. I enjoy using the blog as a place to talk about writing, share updates about my current projects, and sometimes share short pieces of my writing with the people who visit. I believe that doing this not only spreads the word about me and my writing, but provides an opportunity for me to practice expressing myself in a public forum, both of which are useful to me as a writer.
#5: I will work on improving the grammar in my writing
The act of writing, and sharing, my work keeps a steady pressure on me to improve my writing. Beyond this, I want to find other ways to polish my style and use of language. Working with my copy-editor during the final stages of cleaning up my second novel, "Caretakers", was a real eye-opener about how much the mechanics of my writing could improve, and I want to stretch myself over the course of this next year to make a more readable product for my readers.
I think that these five resolutions will make me a better writer ... and could help every writer improve the quality of their writing (which is why I'm sharing it). I would love to hear about other ways that writers are resolved to improve their writing over the next year!
Thanks,
Jamie
December 31, 2013
Nearly Published ....
I just returned from a wonderful week in Key West, where I spent no small amount of time giving "Caretakers" a final read-through.
The verdict ... I like it! It's more of a mystery than my first novel. The writing is better. It's very Adirondack-y. I love the story and characters and pacing.
I made sure to take time to smell the tropical drinks, while looking as Hemingway-esque as I can manage (which is important when you're a writer in Key West). The Hogsbreath Saloon is one of my favorite places to be when in KW.
We also like going to the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, where we spent some time in a hammock, between trees, or walking on the beach, or visiting the fort, every day while down at the lower edge of the USA.
Deb Kreider, a friend of ours, recently helped one of her dogs have a litter of puppies, and one of them is named Tyler (presumably ... perhaps presumptuously ... named after Tyler Cunningham, the protagonist in my books). We're looking forward to meeting him, and his littermates on New Year's Day for some puppy-kisses and gentle gnawing.
The book is essentially ready, we're just waiting for our brilliant copy-editor to finish her final reading of the proof copy, and then we'll render it in both print and Kindle versions for your reading pleasure.
Thanks for all of your support and interest in the year since "Here Be Monsters" and my other books were published; I hope that you enjoy "Caretakers" when it comes out (and leave a review to that effect once you've finished it.Jamie
