K.M. Alexander's Blog, page 88
February 13, 2014
And away they go!
Just sent the five signed copies of The Stars Were Right to the latest Goodreads giveaway winners! Excited to get it into their hands. Thanks to everyone who participated. As I said after the last one it’s humbling to see such an amazing turnout for these giveaway. My readers are the best.
Filed under: The Stars Were Right Tagged: Giveaway, Goodreads, The Stars Were Right
February 12, 2014
Signed Copies of “The Stars Were Right” Sold Out Again
Just a quick update: as of this morning I am sold out of signed copies of The Stars Were Right (again!) This is actually perfect timing since I ship everything myself and I am about to head off on vacation any orders would have been delayed by a few weeks which isn’t ideal. Sorry for those of you who missed out on this batch, I’ll get more signed copies back in stock when I return. Until then, you can always get a paperback copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble and eBooks just about everywhere.
Filed under: The Stars Were Right Tagged: ebooks, Paperbacks, Signed Copies, The Stars Were Right
February 11, 2014
Sony Exits From The eBook Market
Sony has finally decided to exit the eBook space. While personally I have never been impressed with Sony’s readers, I do find this a bit sad as they were one of the eBook pioneers. However with strong rivals and little innovation on their part this really isn’t a surprise. Sony just doesn’t have the numbers to keep supporting development. According to their press release Sony will be transitioning Reader Store to Toronto based Kobo.
Shatskin has a really good write up on the whole thing over on his blog. He includes some links speculating that Nook will be shuttered by the end of the year. I’d recommend checking it out.
Filed under: News Tagged: eBook, Kobo, Nook, Reader Store, Sony
February 8, 2014
When the stars were right…
When the stars were right, They could plunge from world to world through the sky; but when the stars were wrong, They could not live.
—H.P. Lovecraft “Call of Cthulhu”
This is the Lovecraft quote where I took the title for The Stars Were Right, it’s also the epigraph at the beginning of the novel. If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, you should enter to win a signed version over on Goodreads. US Only. Winners will be selected on the 11th! Good luck!
(If you have gotten your copy and finished the book, go leave me a review. I’d really appreciate it.)
Filed under: Quotes, The Stars Were Right Tagged: Call of Cthulhu, Giveaway, Goodreads, H.P. Lovecraft, The Stars Were Right
February 7, 2014
Friday Link Pack 02/07/14
It’s time to share a few interesting links I have found throughout the week. Some of these I mention on Twitter, if you’re not already following me there, please do! Have a link I should feature in the upcoming year? Let me know!
Giveaway:
The Stars Were Right Giveaway #2!
That’s right, I am doing another giveaway for five signed copies of The Stars Were Right on Goodreads. (US only.) There’s already a bunch of folks signed up, winners will be selected Feb 11th. Sign up today!
Writing:
Genre fiction and literary fiction
This was the best thing I read all week. Mike Carey, one of my favorite authors, makes some solid points in the whole genre vs. literary fiction discussion. Read it, it’s good.
The secret about advice is knowing when to ignore it
The National’s Bryce Dessner writes a great piece about when to embrace the advice of others and when to ignore it.
Art:
“Here Amid The Wild Woods” New Works by Kari-Lise Alexander
My wife, Kari-Lise, is having a show at Auguste Clown Gallery in Melbourne, Australia. If you’re in Melbourne on February 21st stop in a say hello at the opening, we’ll both be there.
The Art of Laurent Durieux
Mondo Gallery is showing some cool reimagined movie posters by illustrator Laurent Durieux.
Fore-edge paintings hidden in books
In a technique dating back to the 1650s artists hid beautiful paintings in the edges of old books. The results are stunning.
Random:
Real-Life Locations That Would Make Badass Supervillain Lairs
Mountain villas, bunkers, abandoned naval bases, and even a private islands, get inspired by these actual supervillainy locals.
35 Behind-The-Scenes Photos From The Original Star Wars Trilogy
Peter Mayhew who played Chewbacca started tweeting out these incredible photos because #nostalgia and #tbt. Great stuff.
Cashemonet.com
Just go there. (With headphones.)
Lovecraft Story of the Week:
Azathoth
“Of the name and abode of this man but little is written, for they were of the waking world only; yet it is said that both were obscure.”
Farewell Gif of the Week:
Filed under: Link Pack Tagged: advice, Cashemonet.com, genre vs. lit, Here Amid The Wild Woods, Kari-Lise Alexander, supervillains, The Stars Were Right
February 6, 2014
So create.
Why the lucky stiff, photo by Dave Thomas
“When you don’t create things, you become defined by your tastes rather than ability. Your tastes only narrow and exclude people. So create.”
—Why the lucky stiff (aka Jonathan Gillette)
My good friend Ben shared this on twitter the other day. I thought it was poignant and deserved a post here as well.
Filed under: Inspiration, Quotes Tagged: Create, Creative, Quotes, Why the Lucky Stiff
February 5, 2014
THE GAP by Ira Glass
THE GAP by Ira Glass from frohlocke on Vimeo.
Filed under: Inspiration Tagged: Beginners, frohlocke, Ira Glass, Taste, The Gap, Video
February 4, 2014
February 3, 2014
Why not you?
Yesterday, my hometown team, the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII thrashing the Denver Broncos and leaving a final score of 43-8. Before the game I watched an interview with the Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and one of the comments I heard from him really resonated with me as a creative:
“I remember my dad asking me one time, and it’s something that has always stuck with me: ‘Why not you, Russ?’ You know, why not me? Why not me in the Super Bowl? So in speaking to our football team earlier in the year, I said, ‘Why not us? Why can’t we be there?’”
I thought that was a fantastic outlook and something every creative should try and emulate. Why not you? Why can’t you be a successful musician? Why can’t you teach yourself to program? Why can’t you sell your book to a publisher? Why can’t you become a singer?
Usually we make excuses. We try and talk ourselves out of achieving our goals. Fear plays into it, instead of throwing ourselves into the challenge, we fear failure. Sometimes we fear it so much that we never go for it. Our dreams remain in a desk drawer, or folded up and tucked away in storage, or hidden in a home office. You know what: failures and mistakes can be overcome.
There are people proving it every day. Wilson was the 12th pick in the third round of the draft and he just helped his team win a Super Bowl. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis turned down offers from major label and forged their own path and recently won the grammy for best rap album.
It can be done. It takes hard work and perseverance but it can be done.
So why not you? Why not now?
Filed under: Random Tagged: Broncos, Creative, Creative Process, Inspiration, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, Super Bowl XLVIII
February 1, 2014
Soon: Title Announcements!
Ian McNeice as the Newsreader/Town Crier in HBO’s Rome
Happy February 1st! I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday. I’m spending mine working on Old Broken Road, but I wanted to give a few more updates regarding my other projects.
I have mentioned before that I am working on two new titles: the first is the next in the series that started with The Stars Were Right which I am cleverly calling my: Unnamed Waldo Bell Story. This will be the book that follows Old Broken Road and so far I’m really liking where it’s going. The second is a near future sci-fi in a whole new universe. Up until recently it has been operating under the project name: Deep. (You can see some of my inspiration here.) Now, neither of those names are final (some for obvious reasons) and we’re getting to a point where I should change that.
Today, I decided that when I reveal the Old Broken Road cover I will also be announcing the new titles of my next projects! This should all be going down over the next month-ish or so make sure you check back often. I’m getting really excited, cool stuff is coming and I can’t wait to share it all with you.
Have a great weekend. Go Hawks!
Filed under: Old Broken Road, The Stars Were Right, Writing Tagged: Deep, Old Broken Road, The Stars Were Right, Title Announcement
