John R. Stuart's Blog, page 9
July 3, 2013
MR. JABLOWSKI’S TREASURE
I started this blog with the intention of chronicling my journey as a writer. Therefore it seems appropriate to report that I have just published a new short story.
MR. JABLOWSKI’S TREASURE
Available now as an eBook on Sony and KOBO, and via SMASHWORDS and soon to be available at other retailers.
https://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=mr.+jablowski%27s+treasure
http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=MR.+JABLOWSKI%27S+TREASURE
Originally written as an entry for the Toronto Star short story contest many years ago, I didn't enter the story as it was too long to meet their requirements! When I edited it down to meet their word count I felt I had lost some of the important flavor of the tale and it simply wasn't good enough at the reduced version. I was going to enter the story for the 2013 contest, but discovered that as an employee of the Toronto Public Library I was not eligible, as the Library is a sponsor of the contest.
Here’s a brief synopsis and I’ve included a sample to whet your interests. If you decide to purchase and you enjoyed the story please let me know!
A young boy in 1966 is given too much freedom and while he works hard to escape the summertime blues, the bullies and boredom, he makes an amazing discovery. This discovery unfortunately leads to tragic consequences.
SAMPLE:
The passage of the subway train made a dull thundering sound as it squeezed down the tunnel from the Warden Ave. station into the final stop at Kennedy. My head snapped up, awoken from the sleep of the tired commuter. The black walls of the tunnel were in sharp contrast to the bright piercing signal lights that lined the dark dirty walls. My chin sank back down to my chest and I forced my eyes open, returning to the land of the living. It was a pressure induced, begrudging sleep, and I looked to each side to see if I had insulted either of the two fat women that I was sandwiched between, my head resting on one of their broad shoulders while I was in the embrace of the subway snooze, but both were still snoring away.Then I saw Old Man Jablowski sitting directly across the car. I involuntarily gasped, but the train squealed, traversing a tight curve and my gasp was lost in the train’s scream. There he was, as large as life itself, a newspaper clasped in his large hairy hands. I closed my eyes, as if this would make him disappear, yet there he remained when I looked again. But it wasn’t Old Man Jablowski, just a look-alike! He wore the same dull gray fedora pushed back revealing his white hair and the checkered sports coat worn by all tired old men.The white light of the station platform flooded the train as the subway train pulled to a shuddering stop. The Jablowski clone folded his paper carefully and slipped away into the crowd as commuters filed out of the subway car. Swallowed up, as if he he had never been there to awaken the memory of the real Mr. Jablowski. But he had been there, just long enough to dredge up those painful memories that I had prayed would stay buried forever!
I hadn’t thought about that old man for decades, thirty years to be precise; not since that long hot summer in 1966 when I was ten years old. Of course the reality was that I hadn’t given any thought to that entire summer, not since the day I walked back into the crisp, cool halls of the Crescent Road public school the day after Labor Day to begin grade five and let that summer slide away into oblivion! In the summer of 66 my parents let me run wild. I was old enough to be considered responsible and careful enough not to get caught. My father and mother trusted me and in the end that was just a little too much. After all they knew everyone in the neighborhood, if not by name then by face. It was a time when people expected the best from each other and from life and more often than not they were not disappointed. Our street was just like all the streets in our little world. Post Second World War Two bungalows laid out in neat geometric squares. Every house had a car parked in the driveway and although they weren’t new they were well kept. It was not quite the world portrayed in TV shows like “Leave it to Beaver” and the “Nelsons”, but close to it, an age of innocence.
MR. JABLOWSKI’S TREASURE
Available now as an eBook on Sony and KOBO, and via SMASHWORDS and soon to be available at other retailers.
https://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=mr.+jablowski%27s+treasure
http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=MR.+JABLOWSKI%27S+TREASURE
Originally written as an entry for the Toronto Star short story contest many years ago, I didn't enter the story as it was too long to meet their requirements! When I edited it down to meet their word count I felt I had lost some of the important flavor of the tale and it simply wasn't good enough at the reduced version. I was going to enter the story for the 2013 contest, but discovered that as an employee of the Toronto Public Library I was not eligible, as the Library is a sponsor of the contest.
Here’s a brief synopsis and I’ve included a sample to whet your interests. If you decide to purchase and you enjoyed the story please let me know!
A young boy in 1966 is given too much freedom and while he works hard to escape the summertime blues, the bullies and boredom, he makes an amazing discovery. This discovery unfortunately leads to tragic consequences.
SAMPLE:
The passage of the subway train made a dull thundering sound as it squeezed down the tunnel from the Warden Ave. station into the final stop at Kennedy. My head snapped up, awoken from the sleep of the tired commuter. The black walls of the tunnel were in sharp contrast to the bright piercing signal lights that lined the dark dirty walls. My chin sank back down to my chest and I forced my eyes open, returning to the land of the living. It was a pressure induced, begrudging sleep, and I looked to each side to see if I had insulted either of the two fat women that I was sandwiched between, my head resting on one of their broad shoulders while I was in the embrace of the subway snooze, but both were still snoring away.Then I saw Old Man Jablowski sitting directly across the car. I involuntarily gasped, but the train squealed, traversing a tight curve and my gasp was lost in the train’s scream. There he was, as large as life itself, a newspaper clasped in his large hairy hands. I closed my eyes, as if this would make him disappear, yet there he remained when I looked again. But it wasn’t Old Man Jablowski, just a look-alike! He wore the same dull gray fedora pushed back revealing his white hair and the checkered sports coat worn by all tired old men.The white light of the station platform flooded the train as the subway train pulled to a shuddering stop. The Jablowski clone folded his paper carefully and slipped away into the crowd as commuters filed out of the subway car. Swallowed up, as if he he had never been there to awaken the memory of the real Mr. Jablowski. But he had been there, just long enough to dredge up those painful memories that I had prayed would stay buried forever!
I hadn’t thought about that old man for decades, thirty years to be precise; not since that long hot summer in 1966 when I was ten years old. Of course the reality was that I hadn’t given any thought to that entire summer, not since the day I walked back into the crisp, cool halls of the Crescent Road public school the day after Labor Day to begin grade five and let that summer slide away into oblivion! In the summer of 66 my parents let me run wild. I was old enough to be considered responsible and careful enough not to get caught. My father and mother trusted me and in the end that was just a little too much. After all they knew everyone in the neighborhood, if not by name then by face. It was a time when people expected the best from each other and from life and more often than not they were not disappointed. Our street was just like all the streets in our little world. Post Second World War Two bungalows laid out in neat geometric squares. Every house had a car parked in the driveway and although they weren’t new they were well kept. It was not quite the world portrayed in TV shows like “Leave it to Beaver” and the “Nelsons”, but close to it, an age of innocence.
June 14, 2013
TO ‘E’ OR NOT TO ‘E
TO ‘
E
’ OR NOT TO ‘
E
’
Now as a writer I’m about to make a confession. I am a horrible speller, not a very desirable trait in a person that has aspirations to be a writer. Ever since I can remember starting to read and write, nearly 55 years ago spelling has been a profound challenge for me. For many years a good dictionary was one of my best friends, so the creation of spell check is a true blessing!
Where am I going with this post? Well, when I started my second novel I had several titles in mind and as the book progressed one title just seemed perfect.
REBELS AND DESPERADOES
Short, simple, descriptive and it really summed up the story line well. Now when I had the cover produced and I showed it to friends, family and acquaintances - their first reaction wasn't wow, great cover , it was - hey you spelled DESPERADOES wrong!!! Virtually everyone that saw it thought it should be spelled without the E, as DESPERADO.
OK, I’m not stupid and I checked several online dictionaries, pulled out my old book version. In every case it was correct to spell DESPERADOES with an E or without the E, it’s sort of a tomato- tomatoes sort of word, and either spelling was perfectly acceptable. I even went as far as asking my father Captain Stuart (a walking dictionary) if my spelling choice was correct, and after a long discussion - he agreed DESPERADOES was an acceptable version of the plural of desperado.
So to further delve into this challenging word I posed this question to the WRITERS HANGOUT GROUP on Linkedin. Several members responded and concurred that either was correct, however one Spanish writer pointed out that the word desperado is of Spanish origin and in Spanish the plural is spelled without the E.
But the most pertinent comment was that it didn't matter what was correct, it’s what’s perceived to be correct. There cannot be a spelling error on the cover, no matter what!
So what it comes down to in the end is that it rally doesn't matter what I believe is the correct spelling, or what I prefer. What’s crucial is what do potential readers think is correct. If they see the book’s cover and immediately say, hmm - is that a spelling mistake, then - yes it’s a spelling mistake. It doesn't matter in any way shape or fashion that I know it’s correct, if they see it as a spelling error, that it’s an error.
Therefore, the title will be: REBELS AND DESPERADOS
I’d be remiss if I didn't credit the bard- William Shakespeare for inspiring the title of this blog post. But: ‘Would a desperado without the E be just as desperate?’
Sorry, but I just couldn't resist!
Now as a writer I’m about to make a confession. I am a horrible speller, not a very desirable trait in a person that has aspirations to be a writer. Ever since I can remember starting to read and write, nearly 55 years ago spelling has been a profound challenge for me. For many years a good dictionary was one of my best friends, so the creation of spell check is a true blessing!
Where am I going with this post? Well, when I started my second novel I had several titles in mind and as the book progressed one title just seemed perfect.
REBELS AND DESPERADOES
Short, simple, descriptive and it really summed up the story line well. Now when I had the cover produced and I showed it to friends, family and acquaintances - their first reaction wasn't wow, great cover , it was - hey you spelled DESPERADOES wrong!!! Virtually everyone that saw it thought it should be spelled without the E, as DESPERADO.
OK, I’m not stupid and I checked several online dictionaries, pulled out my old book version. In every case it was correct to spell DESPERADOES with an E or without the E, it’s sort of a tomato- tomatoes sort of word, and either spelling was perfectly acceptable. I even went as far as asking my father Captain Stuart (a walking dictionary) if my spelling choice was correct, and after a long discussion - he agreed DESPERADOES was an acceptable version of the plural of desperado.
So to further delve into this challenging word I posed this question to the WRITERS HANGOUT GROUP on Linkedin. Several members responded and concurred that either was correct, however one Spanish writer pointed out that the word desperado is of Spanish origin and in Spanish the plural is spelled without the E.
But the most pertinent comment was that it didn't matter what was correct, it’s what’s perceived to be correct. There cannot be a spelling error on the cover, no matter what!
So what it comes down to in the end is that it rally doesn't matter what I believe is the correct spelling, or what I prefer. What’s crucial is what do potential readers think is correct. If they see the book’s cover and immediately say, hmm - is that a spelling mistake, then - yes it’s a spelling mistake. It doesn't matter in any way shape or fashion that I know it’s correct, if they see it as a spelling error, that it’s an error.
Therefore, the title will be: REBELS AND DESPERADOS
I’d be remiss if I didn't credit the bard- William Shakespeare for inspiring the title of this blog post. But: ‘Would a desperado without the E be just as desperate?’
Sorry, but I just couldn't resist!
June 6, 2013
REBELS AND DESPERADOS - MILESTONE ACHIEVED
REBEL EMPIRE- BOOK TWO- MILESTONE ACHIEVED
I started writing this blog to chronicle my journey as a writer and at the time of the first post on May 29- I had already completed my first rough draft of the second novel in the series REBEL EMPIRE -entitled REBELS AND DESPERADOS which is the sequel to GETTYSBURG REDUX. So today I completed my first re-read and edit of the novel and I consider this one of the first true milestones in this new writer’s journey. So, a milestone achieved, and I must admit I really like this story a lot. I felt I had much more creative freedom with this novel than I did with the first book. In this case there was little or no historical baggage to handle, I used just a few actual historical characters and had free reign to let the creative juices flow.
There was a great deal of trepidation and anxiety in my mind when I sat down on Jan 1, 2013 to begin the sequel, after all I had completed GETTYSBURG REDUX in 1996 and a period of nearly 17 years had passed where I had not written a single word of fiction. Could I do it again, was there a second novel rambling around in my poor old brain? All very valid questions, but fueled with a few great ideas and a new lap top PC, many thanks to the family for the Christmas gift and building on that kernel of an idea which had floated around in my mind for years I started to write. I must admit that this novel basically wrote itself and while I had set an ambitious goal of 200 pages and a completion date of mid July, I was incredibly pleased to be finished the first draft by May 9th, way ahead of my own schedule!. Like I said the novel basically wrote itself, and while I had a reasonably firm idea of where the first half of the story would go, the second half took off and went to unexpected exciting places.
So now the first true rough draft is completed. My goal is now to take a second look at the formatting to seek any strange formatting problems, and then do a final second detailed edit. Once that is complete, hopefully by the middle of July it will then go to my editor. With a little luck the proposed publishing date is mid September. Fingers crossed.
One of the challenges for a writer that takes the independent course and self publishes is the task of getting a cover, a decent cover. For REBELS AND DESPERADOS I had a good idea of what I wanted as a cover and I produced a mock up image using excel. However, I knew it was nowhere good enough to be used as a finished cover. This is where my talented son-in-law Pato Lahman took my primitive attempts and ideas and worked some magic.
Here are the two covers he produced.Cover 1- wanted poster cover
Cover 2, flag only
I prefer cover 1 with the wanted poster, so I’d love to hear your opinion, please let me know which one is better.
May 31, 2013
Short & Sweet-but so important. The eBook Synopsis
Short & sweet-but so important. The eBook Synopsis
When I first published my eBook - Gettysburg Redux I was so excited to have reached the conclusion to my writing odyssey (more to follow on that journey in another blog post) that I gave little or no thought to the importance of the synopsis. The synopsis is that brief but so important description of your novel. It needs to concise and intriguing and capture the reader’s attention. It must say- WOW, this sounds interesting, - I must purchase this book.
So, why then do we tend to neglect this vital item? I suspect it’s largely due to the novice writer’s own ignorance. We’re so tied up in the actual nuts and bolts of our own stories that we fail to realize this 5 or 6 sentence blurb is of such vast importance. Most of us are making this journey on our own with little or no guidance so we just ignore the synopsis and then suddenly we need to write it (just before we publish) and we do a second rate or plain terrible job.
According to the Concise Oxford dictionary the synopsis is- “a summary or brief general survey”, and Merriam Webster defines it as - “a condensed statement or outline”. Sounds simple, but try it yourself- it’s far more difficult to write than it appears.
Recently I was looking for suggestions to increase my book sales and web based sites continually stressed the importance of a great synopsis. This really caught my attention and I took the time an effort to re-write the synopsis for my upcoming eBook.
I then took it a step farther and re-examined the original synopsis for Gettysburg Redux. Much to my grief I realized just how bad this original synopsis was. There was no excitement, little mystery; it had no pull on the buyer’s interest. I couldn't help but wonder how many potential buyers passed on my novel for this reason. So, I undertook to correct this with my published novel.
Here’s the first synopsis:
An alternative version of the American Civil War!
For three bloody days in July 1863 two great American Armies pounded each other to pieces in Gettysburg. This novel follows the exploits of the military elite of both the Confederate and Federal high command and chronicles the hell on earth that was experienced by seven common Rebel soldiers. Could a single bullet change the course of history?
Now the new and (hopefully) improved version:
Veteran Confederate Sergeant Ben Gallows has lived through the blood and terror of the first two years of the American Civil War, but nothing in that period could have prepared him for the madness and chaos of Gettysburg. Under attack by both the Yankees and enemies from within his own regiment will expose him to his greatest challenges.Rebel General James Longstreet has spiraled down into madness and drunkenness and must now lead his Tattered Wolves into the most pivotal battle of the war. Can he overcome his own demons and military opponents to defeat the overwhelming Yankee army?
Gettysburg Redux presents an alternative version of the American Civil War. Could a single sniper’s bullet change the course of history? This is book one of the series - REBEL EMPIRE, book two REBELS & DESPERADOS will be available in late 2013.
Now attached for your consideration the synopsis for the upcoming - REBELS & DESPERADOS:
The year is 1888. Young Confederate secret agent and outlaw -“Black” Judah Lee is the most wanted man in all of North America. His alliance with the Métis warrior nation and his daring bank and train robberies in the Disputed Territories of Dakota and Assiniboia have brought him to the attention of the grim and bloodthirsty Mountie - Superintendent Thornton. Lee and his psychotic partner Drake Kensington have barely managed to avoid capture, but the Mounties and Pinkerton’s are closing in! He has fallen into a world populated by gamblers, rebels, renegade Indians, outlaws, murderers, desperados and whores; his crucial mission to aid the Confederacy hangs in the balance as he blazes a trail of blood and murder across the West.
So there it is, short and sweet but so very important. I’ll report back later if my revised synopsis has lead to an increase in sales!
As always- would love to hear feedback etc, etc!
Gettysburg Redux is available at all eBook vendors including:http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Gettysburg-Redux/book-EmJcfupXO0KokGsKVReurQ/page1.html?s=PbE0K2LerU6lpHHNMHEd-Q&r=1and
http://www.amazon.com/GETTYSBURG-REDUX-ebook/dp/B009EBPNAS
When I first published my eBook - Gettysburg Redux I was so excited to have reached the conclusion to my writing odyssey (more to follow on that journey in another blog post) that I gave little or no thought to the importance of the synopsis. The synopsis is that brief but so important description of your novel. It needs to concise and intriguing and capture the reader’s attention. It must say- WOW, this sounds interesting, - I must purchase this book.
So, why then do we tend to neglect this vital item? I suspect it’s largely due to the novice writer’s own ignorance. We’re so tied up in the actual nuts and bolts of our own stories that we fail to realize this 5 or 6 sentence blurb is of such vast importance. Most of us are making this journey on our own with little or no guidance so we just ignore the synopsis and then suddenly we need to write it (just before we publish) and we do a second rate or plain terrible job.
According to the Concise Oxford dictionary the synopsis is- “a summary or brief general survey”, and Merriam Webster defines it as - “a condensed statement or outline”. Sounds simple, but try it yourself- it’s far more difficult to write than it appears.
Recently I was looking for suggestions to increase my book sales and web based sites continually stressed the importance of a great synopsis. This really caught my attention and I took the time an effort to re-write the synopsis for my upcoming eBook.
I then took it a step farther and re-examined the original synopsis for Gettysburg Redux. Much to my grief I realized just how bad this original synopsis was. There was no excitement, little mystery; it had no pull on the buyer’s interest. I couldn't help but wonder how many potential buyers passed on my novel for this reason. So, I undertook to correct this with my published novel.
Here’s the first synopsis:
An alternative version of the American Civil War!
For three bloody days in July 1863 two great American Armies pounded each other to pieces in Gettysburg. This novel follows the exploits of the military elite of both the Confederate and Federal high command and chronicles the hell on earth that was experienced by seven common Rebel soldiers. Could a single bullet change the course of history?
Now the new and (hopefully) improved version:
Veteran Confederate Sergeant Ben Gallows has lived through the blood and terror of the first two years of the American Civil War, but nothing in that period could have prepared him for the madness and chaos of Gettysburg. Under attack by both the Yankees and enemies from within his own regiment will expose him to his greatest challenges.Rebel General James Longstreet has spiraled down into madness and drunkenness and must now lead his Tattered Wolves into the most pivotal battle of the war. Can he overcome his own demons and military opponents to defeat the overwhelming Yankee army?
Gettysburg Redux presents an alternative version of the American Civil War. Could a single sniper’s bullet change the course of history? This is book one of the series - REBEL EMPIRE, book two REBELS & DESPERADOS will be available in late 2013.
Now attached for your consideration the synopsis for the upcoming - REBELS & DESPERADOS:
The year is 1888. Young Confederate secret agent and outlaw -“Black” Judah Lee is the most wanted man in all of North America. His alliance with the Métis warrior nation and his daring bank and train robberies in the Disputed Territories of Dakota and Assiniboia have brought him to the attention of the grim and bloodthirsty Mountie - Superintendent Thornton. Lee and his psychotic partner Drake Kensington have barely managed to avoid capture, but the Mounties and Pinkerton’s are closing in! He has fallen into a world populated by gamblers, rebels, renegade Indians, outlaws, murderers, desperados and whores; his crucial mission to aid the Confederacy hangs in the balance as he blazes a trail of blood and murder across the West.
So there it is, short and sweet but so very important. I’ll report back later if my revised synopsis has lead to an increase in sales!
As always- would love to hear feedback etc, etc!
Gettysburg Redux is available at all eBook vendors including:http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Gettysburg-Redux/book-EmJcfupXO0KokGsKVReurQ/page1.html?s=PbE0K2LerU6lpHHNMHEd-Q&r=1and
http://www.amazon.com/GETTYSBURG-REDUX-ebook/dp/B009EBPNAS
May 29, 2013
I've finally been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Well, this is my initial post and I have to admit that it’s not without some trepidation that I've finally been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. With the creation of this blog I can no longer claim to be a Luddite!Since this is my first blog a brief introduction is mandatory. My name is John R. Stuart and I’m a resident of Toronto. I’m officially retired now after a 32 year career with Bell Canada; however I’m keeping busy working as a “Page” at the Toronto Public Library and as a writer of fiction.My goal with this blog is to chronicle my experiences with my writing career, with my published novel - Gettysburg Redux- and with the sequel - Rebels & Desperados. I’ll also likely share with you what I’m reading, watching on TV and good films as I see them.Since this is the first blog post I’ll keep it brief today, but will expand my blogs as time progresses. The idea of the blog came from the book I’m currently reading- Publishing eBooks for Dummies. An excellent book to get first time and repeat writers on the correct path to fame and wealth, or so we can only hope.
My first eBook - GETTYSBURG REDUX is currently available at all eBook vendors, and is selling modestly.
GETTYSBURG REDUX is the first book in the series REBEL EMPIRE and it tells an alternative version of the battle of Gettysburg and twists the outcome of the battle and the subsequent ending of the American Civil war. Let’s call it alternative history/fantasy. If anyone has read it would care to comment or review feedback would be greatly appreciated.
My first eBook - GETTYSBURG REDUX is currently available at all eBook vendors, and is selling modestly.
GETTYSBURG REDUX is the first book in the series REBEL EMPIRE and it tells an alternative version of the battle of Gettysburg and twists the outcome of the battle and the subsequent ending of the American Civil war. Let’s call it alternative history/fantasy. If anyone has read it would care to comment or review feedback would be greatly appreciated.
