Daniel Sherrier's Blog, page 60

Coming soon…Plays!

Coming soon to a Kindle near you: Why Shouldn’t the Chicken Cross the Road? and Other Silly One-Act Plays.

It’s a collection of seven comedic plays I’ve written over the past 13 years or so, most of which have been tested in public performances. Since I already have them, I might as well put them to work.

Stay tuned for details.

Meanwhile…work on the next RIP and Earths in Space continues…

Get to Know…R.A. White

This week, we get to know a newly published author, R.A. White. Welcome, R.A.!

Tell us about your book.

My book is titled Kergulen. It’s a fantasy novel about a slave girl who escapes her master by crossing her country’s border into the Kergulen forest, where she hopes to find refuge. She does eventually find a refuge of sorts, but she’s attacked by various forest guardians, and the people of Kergulen are aggressively racist toward her. It’s more about overcoming fears and life’s oppressions than it is about monsters and dragons, but it has those, too. While it deals with some dark themes, it’s mostly a fun story with plenty to laugh at, and a couple characters that require a love/hate relationship with the reader.

Where did the idea come from?

The surface story of a girl escaping into a dangerous forest came from a dream I had when I was maybe thirteen years old. It was just a people-trying-to-kill-me-or-lock-me-in-an-asylum dream, which I still have regularly. Hasn’t everyone had that dream? But this particular dream stuck with me, I think because of the beautiful but scary nature of the forest. I, like many people, have seen some of the horrible things that happen in this world, and so I’d say that life experiences gave me the more important ideas in this book.

Why write in the fantasy genre?

Because it’s so much fun! I’ve been reading Terry Brooks and David Eddings since I was a pre-teen. There’s something to be said for escaping into an alternate reality, even if you’re pretty happy with the life you have. If I’m too busy, I like to escape into fantasy. If I’m bored, I like to escape into fantasy. What better way to deal with real life issues than in a completely made up world?

What’s the book’s opening line?

The slave girl forced herself to accept the blow without shrinking back.

Originally, the first line was: Whack!

I was trying to come up with a beginning for the story, but I had a block. I remember sitting in the library trying so hard to think of a good beginning, and these two ladies were having a gab about their dogs, and not even quietly. I sat there, growing more irritated by the second, and suddenly I had this incredible urge to smack one of them. So I typed out Whack! and that was the official beginning of Kergulen.

What do you most enjoy about writing?

I’m tempted to say it’s the creative outlet. Sometimes that’s true. But most of the time my favorite part of writing is the process of bringing scattered thoughts and feelings together into meaningful and enjoyable sentences, paragraphs, and stories.

Please share a writing tip you’ve found helpful.

Read Strunk and White’s Elements of Style before you share your work with anyone. Then practice it on your own book!

What’s your professional background, and how does it influence your writing?

I’ve had a number of low-level jobs: restaurants, fast food, day-care and so forth. I think that working with other people who make just over minimum wage helped me to identify with those who don’t feel like they have a lot going for them.

I also did apprentice missionary work in Russia for a couple of years, and that experience showed up a lot in Kergulen. I could never have written believably about a person living in a foreign culture without being personally familiar with the kinds of things she would face.

How are you enjoying your experience as a newly published author?

I enjoy the feeling of having accomplished an important personal goal, to write a novel and make it available to the world, but honestly it’s been more work than joy in most ways. It’s been fun to get involved with some online book sites, but even that is a lot of work for a low-tech chick like me.

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

I’m going interpret ‘book’ as ‘novel’, here, and say Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz. It’s less thematic than some of his other great novels, but still it speaks strongly about the joy of living an uncomplicated life with dear friends and family, and about what we must be willing to do for those we love. Plus, it’s hilarious. I’ve read it at least half a dozen times, and it still makes me laugh my head off.

Who is your favorite fictional character? (Any medium)

I suppose she may be off limits, but I’m going to say Rima, the heroine in my own book. She can sometimes be a bit emotional, but I admire her determination to overcome and her refusal to be mired in her past. Her audacity inspires me, and it also makes me laugh.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

I would be a shape-shifter. Then on a cold day I could turn into something furry before I left the house, and then once it was toasty in the car I could turn back into myself. I hate wearing a big coat in the car almost as much as I hate feeling my blood ice up between the car and the grocery.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a sequel, now. I’d say I’m about ninety percent finished with it, and then it still has to be edited, but I’m already excited about it. It’s looking to be a fun story with a broader cast of characters than my first book.

Where can people learn more about your work?

They can look me up on GoodReads or Amazon, but the best way would be to read a sample chapter or two and see what they think. I can write all kinds of things about my writing, and they can read some great reviews on Amazon, but there’s nothing like going right to the book and letting it speak for itself.

Tell us one fun fact about yourself.

While I was living in Russia, my missionary friends and I went on a little trip to Italy. One night we borrowed the sheets from our beds and had ourselves a toga party on the streets of Rome. We ate dinner, visited some sites, and took some great pictures. I remember being concerned that we would get into trouble, but the Italians either thought we were funny or dismissed us as crazy Americans, and the nuns never knew that we had borrowed their bed sheets.

Thank you, R.A.!

Aspiring filmmakers/screenwriters — do this

Are you an aspiring filmmaker and/or screenwriter?

Then you need to check out Taliesin Nexus’ programs.

I attended their 2011 Filmmakers Workshop, and it was a great experience. I met lots of working Hollywood professionals who gave great (if sometimes conflicting) advice on working in the industry. I also got my RIP pilot script in the hands of a working producer. He passed on it, but he actually read the work of an unknown like me.

Don’t ignore opportunities like this.

Get to Know…Sascha Illyvich

This week, we get to know paranormal romance author Sascha Illyvich. (That would be adult romance. Kids, sit this one out.) Welcome, Sascha!

Tell us about your latest works.

My latest work is actually my paranormal erotic collection “Dark Sensualities and Primal Instincts” out from Sizzler Editions.  The two short stories are gay/lesbian, the two novellas are vamp/wolf.  In Dark Traders, I played “what if the Securities and Exchanges Commission were run by vampires and scamming all the people of the world to make a huge profit?”  Miranda, an employee at the SEC is targeted by Jet, rogue hitman and vampire.  Only, he doesn’t kill her, he converts her.  A year later, she comes after him and vows vengeance on the people who turned her only to find her heart in the man who gave her new life.

In Wolf Magic, Marco the young pup is sent to America to stay with Selene, former pack witch of the Opeth pack in order for him to grow up.  Yet, a threat on his life by one of the pack’s more crazy wolves puts his life and Selene’s in danger. 

Where did the ideas come from?

Wolf Magic came about from watching and putting a different spin on the anime series Wolf’s Rain.  Dark Traders was actually dedicated to my significant other and is the first full vampire novella I ever wrote and published.  I’d always played the what if game as I come up with stories and plots.

When and where can we expect to see them published?

They’re out now! http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Sensualities-Primal-Instincts-Paranormal/dp/1482786389/ref=la_B002IYU4J8_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1365359175&sr=1-6

What are the books’ opening lines?

I’m going to give you the opening lines from “Endangered” which I’ll discuss below.  It’s more engrossing, I promise

Wind carried the scent of blood and fear toward her nose.  Leaves brushed against each other from nearby trees and tall grasses on the plains stirred as well.

Standing on the patio of her home in a tiny villa just outside Budapest, Livía contemplated the previous evening’s events.  A breeze blew her hair past her shoulders, loose strands brushing her pale skin.  The crushed velvet of her dress swirled around her frame, whipping gently against her legs.  Tracking the hunter and leading him away from Isabella had been a chore, he was cunning and patient.

What do you most enjoy about writing?

I think the fact that I get to let the demons out and play on paper, create stories where I pretty much play god is one of the most enjoyable aspects of writing.  People think they want to be a deity but when you look at the work going in, it can be both rewarding or tiring.  Luckily, as a romance author, it’s both tiring and rewarding.

Please share a writing tip you’ve found helpful.

Two words:  Thick.  Skin.

What draws you to the romance genre?

The HEA despite the struggles.  Life is hard, harder if you’re struggling, harder still if you’re trying to be the biggest, baddest, best at whatever you’re doing.  It’s filled with strife and hardship, it’s full of no guarantees.  The romance genre gives you all of that, plus the guarantee of the HEA.  I think we need that as people.

How does writing paranormal romance compare to writing more “real world” romance?

I get the option of playing with deeper, harder angst.  Funny you should mention that, as one of my agents is wanting me to write a contemporary novella by mid Summer and I’m not allowed to put any para-rom in it at all.  She wants me to stretch so, we’re going to do this and rock this like a boss!

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

So many to choose from!  Right now I can say JR Ward’s got a spot in my book shelf.

Who is your favorite fictional character? (Any medium)

I’d have to say Michael Westen right now.  Or Batman.  They’re both the same as far as resourcefulness but with Westen (From Burn Notice) he continues to hold his inner demons at bay while trying to save the world and the ones he loves.  All he’d have to do is relax and let them love him, and his world would be improved.  I identify with that strongly.  And Batman, “where did you get those toys?”

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

Tough question.  I already am a seductive, suave and debonair man (those are superpowers in this modern world where men aren’t always gentlemen anymore) but perhaps shooting fire from my hand.  Yeah, that one.  As to why?  One word:  KamehamehAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

What’s next for you?

Red Sage just signed Endangered, the first novel in my Nights of Lust series so we’re pimping that like a beast.  The short version of this story is:  Seeking to rescue her lover’s child from the biggest criminal organization in San Francisco, Livía finds not only a solution, but redemption in a man known as Joséf Staganov.  Yet he holds a deadly secret and an intense death wish unless she can convince him a vampire’s compelling love can heal his heart. 

Where can people learn more about your work?

http://saschaillyvichauthor.com is the blog and main site for now.  I own my name but the site needs some work.

Tell us one fun fact about yourself.

For a man who wears black and deep, dark colors almost all the time, I don’t look half bad in Spring color lingerie.  Those who were at the wedding I recently attended can attest to that!

Thank you, Sascha!

Limited-time bonus!

RIP originally began as a television pilot script, and for the next week, I will give a PDF of that script to anyone who purchases either RIP: Touch or Earths in Space vol. 1: Where Are the Little Green Men?

All you have to do is email daniel@sherrierbooks.com with the purchase confirmation number, and I’ll send you the script ASAP.

Offer ends Sunday, May 5, 11:59 p.m., EST.

It’s like a DVD bonus feature you can read. What could be more thrilling?

Get to Know…Melissa Bowersock

For this week’s “Get to Know…,” we have Melissa Bowersock, a hypnotherapist who’s written fiction and non-fiction. How’s that for versatile? Welcome, Melissa!

Tell us about your most recent book.

My latest book, Marcia Gates: Angel of Bataan, is a complete departure from my usual. I’m a novelist by trade, so when this true story grabbed me by the throat, I was totally surprised. I had never expected to write non-fiction, but this was one story I had to tell. 

Where did the idea come from?

One Veteran’s Day a couple years ago, I was thinking about my aunt, Marcia Gates. She was an Army nurse during World War II and was captured by the Japanese on Corregidor and spent years in a prisoner-of-war camp. I knew this much, but very little else, and she and all her generation are gone, so I had no one to ask about it. I did some research and found out the Wisconsin Historical Society (my aunt was from Wisconsin) had 2 scrapbooks that were created by my grandmother while my aunt was in the service. I was able to download complete files of the scrapbooks and was stunned at all they contained. My grandmother had saved every letter, every telegram, every photo, every newspaper clipping and much more memorabilia. I realized that this was a story that needed to be told, needed to be “out there,” not locked up in a drawer where no one would ever see it—and I was the one who could tell it.

What are the pros and cons of writing in multiple genres?

I didn’t set out to write across different genres, but I guess it’s just my personality that I like variety, both in reading and writing. I never tell the same story twice, and I will write whatever story I find compelling. What I find interesting about this is that each genre has a different voice. I didn’t do this consciously, but I find that a more formal voice lends itself to historical romances, while a more direct voice works better with action/adventure stories. My spiritual novel, Goddess Rising, has a distinct descriptive voice, while my satire on romance novels, The Pits of Passion by Amber Flame, lampoons the flowery voice of regency romances. (Even the villain has “alabaster thighs.”) I find it interesting (and fun) that each genre seems to require its own voice.

The “con” of writing wildly different things is that my readers may expect a single style from me, and they won’t find it. I think most readers, myself included, read one book and expect that author to write something similar in the next. I don’t do that, which means readers may be surprised and/or disappointed if they follow up one of my books with another that is vastly different. Once I tell a story, I’m ready to move on, and even though I’ve had readers ask for sequels, you won’t see them from me.

What do you most enjoy about writing?

I think the very best thing about writing is creating something that wasn’t there before. When my characters become so real that they feel like treasured old friends, that’s when I know I’ve done my job.  When they start to take on a life of their own and start to do things that I never thought of, that’s when I know the magic is happening. Creation is still, and always will be, a mysterious process, but it’s also immensely satisfying.

Please share a writing tip you’ve found helpful.

I don’t plot out every detail; at the most, I will jot down a few lines of major plot points and set off from there. I know the bare bones of the story, but not the detail. That’s revealed to me as I write, much as it is for the reader. As I’m writing, I see the action unfolding in my head, very much like a movie. All I do is describe what I’m seeing. If I find that the “movie” has taken me off the beaten path or has veered into a direction I don’t want to go, I just “rewind” the tape and start over again. I’ve found it’s actually very easy to let the story take me off wherever it wants to go. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and I’m pleasantly surprised by the changes, but sometimes I have to rein it in because it’s taking me away from the story I want to tell. As you can tell, this is not exactly a scientific process! It’s creation and it’s organic, unpredictable, messy and complicated—just like life.

So you’ve been traditionally published and self-published. How do the experiences compare?

Interestingly enough, there are varying degrees of similarities and differences. When my first two books were published by a NY house, I had absolutely zero control over anything. They chose the titles, they chose the book cover artwork, they wrote the blurbs. I didn’t even know the first one was out until I got a box of books from my agent! Back then, being a newbie, I just assumed this was normal which, at the time, it was.

My next three books were all published by small presses. Completely different process. I was in constant touch with my publishers, sometimes sending back-and-forth e-mails daily to talk about everything from title to cover to edits, even the fonts we used. It was much

more collaborative and way more satisfying to be part of the creative process. When my first two books went out of print and the rights reverted back to me, I began to explore self-publishing options just so I could reissue the books and have them still viable, and that’s when I stumbled on this wonderful new industry. I love having total control over the book, determining the look and the feel of it, making it match exactly the vision I have in my head. I find the entire process—writing, editing, formatting, designing, publishing, marketing—to be infinitely satisfying, even though it’s a lot of work.

What hasn’t changed over this entire evolution is the fact that 99.99% of the marketing falls to the author. I’m afraid some writers think a traditional publisher with do all their marketing for them, but unless they’re Stephen King or J. K. Rowling, that’s just not going to happen. No one is as invested in a book as the author, which means no one is going to promote it as much as s/he needs to.

Tell us a little about New Moon Rising’s publishing services. What distinguishes you from the competition?

Gosh, I’ve never really even thought about being competitive. My publishing services are primarily helping indie authors format their books either for self-publishing or for e-books. Since I’ve self-published over 10 books and formatted them all for e-books, I found I was being asked for advice and/or help from others. I figured it was a win/win if I could help someone through these processes with all I’ve learned and keep them from having to re-invent the wheel, and the authors I’ve helped seem to think so, too. That’s what’s great about the indie culture today; it’s moved from a climate of competition to one of cooperation. We’re happy to help each other out because I don’t think we’re going to run out of readers anytime soon!

How’d you get interested in hypnotherapy? What’s a day in the life of a hypnotherapist?

I have always been intrigued by hypnosis and reincarnation, but I thought past-life regressions by a professional hypnotist were way beyond me in terms of accessibility and cost. One day I found out that a co-worker in my office was a hypnotist and did past-life regressions, and I almost vaulted over my desk to get to him and make an appointment. After my first regression, I was completely hooked, and over the next couple of years I reviewed over 20 of my own past lives and learned a lot about the process as well. Later I went to school to become a certified hypnotherapist and although I don’t practice much anymore, I still love hypnosis. It’s a marvelous tool. I find it absolutely fascinating where it can take people, the events it uncovers, the traits it reveals. Knowing our past lives gives us a much more complete picture of the souls that we are, and helps us truly understand who we are and why we’re here.

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

As far as I’m concerned, the best book on the planet is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Irving can be streaky in his writing, and some of his other books are less than inspired, but Owen Meany stands head and shoulders above any other book I’ve ever read. The characters are the most memorable you’ll ever find, the story is inspired and the way he writes is just captivating. He writes in such a wandering, almost circular style that it makes you wonder where he’s going, but then you realize that the whole time he’s been propelling you forward toward the stunning resolution. I read it over again every year and it still makes me cry, still makes me laugh out loud. It’s an absolute masterpiece.

Who is your favorite fictional character? (Any medium)

After much thought, I have to say Gus McCrae from Lonesome Dove. Not only did Larry McMurtry write a fully-developed, complex character in the book, but Robert Duvall’s portrayal in the mini-series was inspired. Gus is a man of many dichotomies—sympathetic to whores, yet he can hang his friend for horse-thieving; studying Greek and Latin while running a dirt-poor ranch; raising laziness to an art but never shirking a task—but he’s as honest as you can get. Everything that Gus is, thinks and feels is right there for all to see. He is just unforgettable.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

Ever since I was a kid watching Superman on TV, I have wished I could fly. I am terrified of heights, yet I am drawn to places with wide, high views. I love the Grand Canyon, even though I panic at the thought of getting close to the edge and falling in. I’ve been able to push back on my fear with a little bit of bravado, going para-sailing and zip-lining, but I draw the line at skydiving, which my husband loves. Being able to fly like an eagle, soaring over all the beautiful places in the world, would be divine. Guess I’ll just have to settle for playing with Google Earth!

What can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?

I am currently finishing up a ghost story. I got the idea from an Arizona Highways show that talked about the London Bridge in Lake Havasu and about the ghosts that were said to haunt it. My initial idea was to write a “fish-out-of-water” story about a ghost going through culture shock when she realized she was no longer in London but in the desert southwest of “the colonies.” I had thought it would be light and fluffy and comedic, but as it turns out, my main (living) character had other ideas. He’s the one who connects with the female ghost, and he has a decidedly moody and dark side to him, and the tone of the story became much more serious than I had originally intended. The good news is that the back story is providing much more texture and tension than my original idea, always a good thing! I’m just now choreographing the end of the book, figuring out the order of the revelations and resolutions, and I’m excited about finishing it. It’s always fun to finish a book, but of course that’s when the real work starts, the editing and rewriting.

Where can people learn more about your work?

www.newmoonrising.net

mjb-wordlovers.blogspot.com

Please share one fun fact about yourself.

I am a complete space junkie and a half. I love everything space-related. In my day job, I work at the National Observatory and am part of a project to build a large telescope in Chile, so for me this is like a kid working in a candy store. Some years back, my husband and I went to adult Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama and had a ball. I’ve already decided that in my next life I am going to be an astronaut, which means I have to choose parents who love math (ug) or at least will support me in my quest.

Thank you, Melissa!

Gravity still works

I once jumped out of an airplane. That was memorable.

I stuck my head outside a rickety old plane nearly 14,000 feet above the ground, looked straight down, and pushed myself out. And I fell.

Sir Isaac Newton was correct about that whole gravity thing after all.

My sisters had the idea to go skydiving at a facility in West Point several years ago. I decided to tag along. Why not? It was only dangerous. We only had to sign a million or so forms promising not to sue if we died. That seemed manageable, so we signed.

Of course, just jumping out of an airplane is absolutely insane. We would never do anything so foolish. If you’re ever considering skydiving, make sure you have some thin nylon to eject above your head and to entrust with your life.

Also, we each had a professional skydiver strapped to our backs as we plummeted. It’s called a tandem jump, and it came in handy.

Nothing is more surreal than taking a 14,000-foot plunge. Falling is not instantaneous. It takes time to cover that distance, even if you’re dropping like a stone.

If you trip off a three-foot platform, the experience is over right about the time you realize it’s happening. When you’re starting more than two miles up, you’ve got time to savor it.

It’s quite windy. I found it difficult to breathe, though I also didn’t yet know I have mild asthma, so that may have contributed.

Basically, when your fall is prolonged, it stops feeling like a fall. You’re just hanging out in the wind, having temporarily misplaced the floor. It’s all rather cartoonish.

I wore an altimeter. It looks like an analogue wristwatch, but instead of telling the time, it measures height above sea level. As the hand moves past each number, that’s another 1,000 feet ascended.

Mine started its second lap. I jumped, and I got to watch its hand retreat counter-clockwise, moving with greater haste, as I realized that the second zero equaled “splat.”

But that’s what parachutes are for. The skydiving instructors taught us a simple arm motion to open them.

Your right hand reaches to your opposite side, grabs the cord, and pulls. Then, parachute.

I grabbed air, which was disappointing.

The next few attempts produced similar results. No ripcord, so no parachute. Meanwhile, the altimeter crept closer toward zero.

I was half-expecting to find Bugs Bunny falling alongside me, holding my parachute in a taunting fashion: “Looking for something, Doc?”

Bugs wasn’t there, but an experienced skydiver was conveniently attached to me. He pulled the cord in plenty of time, and we enjoyed a pleasant descent from there.

My little sister’s parachute actually did fail, but her skydiving professional wore a spare, so all was well. She jumped again last year. That parachute functioned, so she’s one for one, and I’m officially less crazy than she is.

Because, you see, all I was really doing was testing out gravity to make sure it still works.

It does.

Get to Know…E.C. Adams

Paranormal fantasy author E.C. Adams joins us for this week’s “Get to Know…” This is also her cover reveal day, so…look! New cover! Welcome, E.C.!

Tell us about your book.

“The Vampire Code” is a New Adult Urban Fantasy Romance novel about a human lawyer who is hired to defend a vampire wrongly accused of murdering a human in a world where vampires are a social minority fighting for more legal rights. In the process, she of course gets into a ton of trouble and falls in love with the accused’s brother, another member of the leading vampire family of New York, the Fiscards.

Where did the idea come from?

I was watching a TV series which featured vampires who supposedly “lived in secret” and I remember thinking, “How is that even possible in this modern day of Facebook, high-tech airport security, social security numbers and the IRS? This sparked the idea that if there really were vampires, they should “come out”, you know… like gays before them… and would they be a social minority for some time? What would the legal implications be, especially in relation to property, if they don’t have identities? What about inheritance?

What’s the book’s opening line?

“Sebastian Fiscard couldn’t have been older than thirty five when he died. He sat across from me wearing a crisp white shirt over dark blue pants and an air of barely contained impatience.”

What do you most enjoy about writing?

Being with my characters, researching the world they live in. Plotting their home addresses on Google maps. That sort of thing.

Please share a writing tip you’ve found helpful.

Readers want a “powerful emotional experience.” If you can feel that when you’re writing, your readers are bound to feel it, too.

What interests you about vampires?

The fact that they live more than one lifespan, and the wisdom and maturity that should come with that. I cannot help thinking that if I could live that long, I’d be so much wiser and more “balanced” than I am today.

What distinguishes your book from the other vampire stories out there?

Treating vampires as a social minority is definitely a new take on vampires which readers should find refreshing.

What’s your day job? Does it influence your writing in any way?

I’m a lawyer by day and my heroine and narrator is a lawyer, so I’ve definitely drawn from my own experience when writing “The Vampire Code”. Just like my heroine Aurora, I used to work for a large firm, and I understand the pressure on newbies to pull long hours and treat every case as an opportunity to impress their seniors. Aurora is at that stage in her life where she’s ready to move from being a “nobody” to becoming a “somebody.”

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

There can never be a “best,” as authors keep coming up with great books. But I will always have a favorite, and that’s “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. I studied it at school when I was a teenager, and it will always have a special place in my heart as for years I had a crush on Mr. Darcy. (I think I still do… shhhh!)

Who is your favorite fictional character? (Any medium)

I used to love Ally McBeal (TV series 1997-2002). I also have a soft-spot for Sookie Stackhouse from the Southern vampire Series.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

I wish I didn’t need to sleep because I’d get so much more than in one day! Besides my day job, I have three small children to look after. If I didn’t need to sleep, I’d cook better meals for my family at night, while everyone else slept. I’d read and review books as a hobby, and of course, I’d write more books.

What’s next for you?

My original plan was to publish book 2 in “The Vampire Code” Series for Christmas 2013 and a stand-alone about a cryogenically frozen woman who wakes up in the future over the summer. Now, I’m thinking of swapping the release dates of these two books. Problem is, I really want to write this stand-alone!

Where can people learn more about your work?

I have a website / blog: http://www.thevampirecode.com. I’m also a Goodreads.com author and librarian for those who are active on Goodreads.com.

Tell us one fun fact about yourself.

I will not eat the same food for lunch and dinner on the same day. I refuse!

Thanks, E.C.!

“Blaming Beckett”

Today is the birthday of the late playwright, Sam Beckett. So, it seems like a good time to share my short Beckett parody play, “Blaming Beckett.” This was created as a writing exercise and is intended to be just for fun.

Language warning: It’s rare that I use profanity, but I do here. Kiddies, please skip this post.

This work is copyrighted. You can share this link. Otherwise, do not reproduce without my permission.

“Blaming Beckett”
By Daniel Sherrier

Characters:

A, B, C

(The stage is bathed in pink lights.  A is standing in a garbage can with one arm raised in the air.  B is upside-down in another garbage can with legs hanging up in the air, creating a “V” at an angle of 45-degrees.  C stands off to the side, perfectly still, with a bag over his face.  A should be facing C, and a distance of 3.7 meters should separate the two, and at no time should A look at anything other than C.  The distance between A and B should be 0.2 meters.  A’s arm and B’s legs are not to move at all except where noted.  A tree branch containing two leaves and of 1.2 meters in length should be placed 0.3534 meters in front of B’s garbage can.  The garbage cans should be gray in color and not exceed 1.03 meters in height, nor should they exceed 1.97 meters in circumference.  C is not to breathe.  Failure to comply with these stage directions shall result in criminal prosecution.)

B:        Sam Beckett can kiss my ass.

A:        Don’t insult the playwright.

(Lights turn to blue.)

B:        The playwright?  How is he a playwright?  How is this a play?

A:        It’s a work of art.

B:        Yeah, having two people in garbage cans is just so artistic.

A:        Don’t forget C.

(C shrugs.  Lights turn to red.)

B:        Oh, yes, C.  How could I forget good old C?  Just standing there shrugging his shoulders at random intervals.  Oh, such pathos…

(C shrugs.)

A:        It’s supposed to represent the uncertainty of humanity at this crucial point in history when–

B:        I don’t want to hear it.  That’s it.  I’m getting out of this damn garbage can.

A:        No, you can’t get out…It’s not in the stage directions.

B:        So I’m improvising.

A:        You can’t improvise!

(Lights turn to green.)

B:        That’s right.  Beckett’ll sue my ass off if I screw up his precious stage directions.  Fuck Beckett.

A:        Just face it.  You’re upside-down in the can until the play is over.

B:        All my blood is rushing to my head.

A:        It can’t be more than a few minutes longer.

B:        Your arm has to be getting tired by now.

A:        Maybe a little.

(C shrugs.  Lights turn to purple.)

B:        So bring it down for just a second.  No one will notice.

A:        I can’t.

B:        You can.

A:        At the end of the next page, I lower it to hip-level for precisely two-point-four seconds and then raise it back up at an 83-degree angle.  I can wait until then.

B:        Coward.

A:        I don’t see you jumping out of your garbage can, now do I?

B:        Somehow, this has gotten oddly comfortable.

A:        Sure.

(A coughs.)

B:        That was tough acting there.

A:        I had to make sure the cough was delivered at just the precise pitch and volume so as to convey that sense that–

B:        So how’s it going, C?

(Lights turn to yellow.)

B:        C?

A:        Wait for it.

B:        What the hell is he doing over there?

A:        Standing perfectly still.

B:        I don’t get that guy.

(C shrugs.)

A:        There you go.  He shrugged his shoulders.

B:        How shocking.

A:        Isn’t this fascinating?

B:        I don’t get it.

(Lights turn to orange.)

A:        Did you see that?  Wasn’t that great?  Damn, Beckett is a genius.

B:        I can’t see a fucking thing.

(A lowers his arm to hip-level for 2.4 seconds and then raises it back up at an 83-degree angle.)

A:        Ahhh…That was nice…

B:        What was nice?

A:        I moved my arm.

B:        With Beckett’s blessing, I’m sure.

A:        Of course.  I wouldn’t want to mess up his play.

B:        This isn’t a play.  We’re not doing anything.

A:        I just moved my arm.

B:        Oooh…How impressive.

(C shrugs.)

A:        You missed another shrug.  That one was the best yet, I thought.

B:        They’re all the same.

A:        No, you see, they occur in different color lighting, so each shrug has its own, unique personality because of the way the light–

B:        Don’t make me kick you.

A:        You can’t kick me.  Not in the stage directions.

B:        Then I’ll add my own stage directions at the end of the play.

A:        And then after that you can face the wrath of Beckett.

B:        Damn.

A:        Don’t mess with Beckett.  He will get you.

(Lights turn to brown.)

B:        So what are you doing after this “performance?”

A:        I don’t know.  Probably going home and watching some TV.  You?

B:        Probably the same.

(C shrugs.)

B:        What about you, C?

A:        Your timing was a little off.

B:        He’s no fun.

A:        We’re not here to have fun.  We’re here to produce a great work of art.

B:        Oh, excuse me.

A:        You’re excused.

B:        How much longer do we have?

A:        A little bit more.  I haven’t lowered my arm that second time yet.

B:        Are people actually still watching this?

A:        I don’t know.  My head can’t be turned directly at the audience.

B:        Has C suffocated yet?

A:        No, he’s still hanging in there.  I think.

B:        What if he passed out?  Wouldn’t that ruin everything?

(Lights turn to gold.)

A:        That won’t happen.

B:        We should do something different.

A:        No.

B:        You know Beckett’s not even in the audience.  He’ll never know.

A:        He will know.  He’s Beckett.

(C walks over to the branch and stops at 0.05 meters away from it.  C bends knees straight down and picks up branch with right hand.  His arm should never bend.  After holding the branch for 4.5 seconds, C bends knees straight down to place the branch 0.07 meters to the left of its original location.  C then returns to his original location.)

A:        Amazing.

B:        What?

A:        He picked up the branch.

B:        Oh.  Does that mean we’re almost done?  I’m getting kind of bored here.

A:        I think we’re almost there.

(A lowers his arm to hip-level for 2.4 seconds and then raises it back up at an 83-degree angle.  Lights turn to gray.)

A:        Yeah, we’ve got to be coming to an end.

B:        I’m so ready for a new script.  No more Beckett plays.

(C breathes for two seconds.  Lights turn to pink.)

(Repeat entire play.)

B:        Fuck Sam Beckett.

Get to Know…Susana H. Case

This week’s Get to Know features poet Susana H. Case. Welcome, Susana!

Tell us about your latest work.

First, thank you, Daniel, for profiling me on your website. This type of opportunity is probably one of the few ways that someone WANTS to be profiled. Elvis Presley’s Hips & Mick Jagger’s Lips is a book of poems inspired by classic rock and roll. There are poems about the origins of rock and the music business, but also about substance abuse and, of course, sex. Where would rock and roll be without sex? Or maybe the question should be: where would sex be without rock and roll?

Where did the idea come from? Why focus on rock music?

I grew up with rock music and so when I think about my own life, there’s a soundtrack to every event. I think that’s true of many people — so, the music is a way to connect with other people’s  experiences.

What about poetry appeals to you?

It’s a whole world usually packed into a small amount of space. Every word becomes important. I like that condensation. I like thinking about everything left unsaid in the lines of the poem.

How did you get started in writing?

My father was a writer for radio who became an English teacher. So learning to write was like learning to ride a bicycle. My father “bought” my short stories when I was a child. The first career I aspired to was to be a journalist, writing  about the downtrodden. My friends didn’t have career aspirations. They thought I was seriously cuckoo.

What keeps you writing?

As an adult, I became a university professor. That meant I had to learn a different style of writing in order to advance professionally. After a while, though, I returned to creative writing because  it had more intrinsic rewards. I tired of academic jargon. When I write a poem that I feel good about, I feel alive.

Please share a writing tip you’ve found helpful.

Read as many other writers as you can. See how they do things. Seriously, I think this is the way that writing improves: read-and practice.

How do your experiences as a behavioral sciences professor influence your writing?

There are a number of social themes threaded through my work. The first collection that I ever had published, a chapbook, was a series of poems about mathematicians trying to live quality lives in prewar Poland as outside events intruded upon their lives. I’ve also written a full-length poetry book based upon the archives of the Salem witchcraft trials and another chapbook based upon a 1940s sexual instruction manual written by a physician. I’m a researcher by training and I like poring over historical documents, looking for the way to make poetry out of artifact.

So who’s better, Elvis Presley or Mick Jagger?

Ha! — this is an easy question to answer quickly and a hard question to answer in depth. This is how I see it. As a child, my plan — and I fully intended to realize it — was to marry Elvis. It wasn’t until my teens that the plan changed. Even as a teenager, I would have said Elvis was better, because what you have to give him credit for, despite the later deterioration in his music, and also in his life, is creating a blend of the sounds of race records and the sounds of pop music, so, in a sense, he was an early figure in the integration of rock and roll and that was important culturally. But looking at it from the present, of course I would have to say Mick Jagger because he’s had an impact on the complexity and sophistication of rock and for that reason, his work will endure. I also admire his ability to still strut his stuff on stage. Elvis, unfortunately, just got dissolute.

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

This question isn’t fair. Pick only one? That’s hard! Okay, Catcher in the Rye because it was the first time in my life that I read a book and then ran out to get and read everything else I could find by the author. The book spoke to my feelings of alienation and rebelliousness and that experience of needing to read the totality of Salinger’s work was intense. But ask me that question tomorrow and I would pick something else because I don’t really believe it was the best book ever written.

Who is your favorite fictional character? (Any medium)

It’s a good thing I’m not in charge of picking winners for the Academy Awards. I’d never get the names into the envelopes. I will say this: my dog is named after the child in Henry James’ What Maisie Knew. I’m sure my dog considers the adults around her to be totally impossible and their lives to be inexplicably chaotic.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

I’d rather be a really good singer than be able to fly. I consider a good singing voice to be a super-power. I’m off-key and it frustrates me, although my inner “me” is a cross between early Cyndi Lauper and Joan Jett.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on two manuscripts, going back and forth, depending upon my mood. One is a continuation of my love for rock and roll. I have more poems than can fit into one rock and roll manuscript. The other is a series of poems about copper miners and the early history of unionization attempts. I have a fixation on social injustice and a love of research, so this consolidates a number of my interests.

Where can people learn more about your work?

Eventually, information ends up on my website: http://iris.nyit.edu/~shcase/

Tell us one fun fact about yourself.

It takes me less than an hour to pack a carry-on-sized wheelie with enough stuff to go anywhere in the world for five weeks (and probably about ten percent of the weight is cosmetics).

Thank you, Susana!