M.R. Adams's Blog
February 22, 2015
Excerpt: The Apple of Their Eyes (A Juliette Harbinger Novel, Book 1)
Paperback:
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Ebook:
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1Enchanted vines slithered up the side of Creaky Manor, encircling Lincoln Harbinger’s office window. A spell on the glass bent physics for the sake of Harbinger’s privacy and secrecy. An observer could only see through the panes from about a foot. Any further and one saw the old, stately home but focusing on the domicile’s interior clouded their mind. Many thought they were going blind and ran for tonics or a reversal spell to cure them. A few experienced witches and mages who had underestimated the dud Harbinger found themselves locked inside the spell’s charm but knew it would wear off in a couple of hours.
Today, a little black bird flew and rested on the sill. The vines lashed forth, whipping and wrapping around the frail creature. Helpless chirping pricked the air. White buds bled to purple, releasing their flowery perfume. A stillness. A silence. Then with a final pulse, tiny bones broke, the vines unraveled, and the bird was gone.
Harbinger, sitting in his chair, observed this severity. Malevolent intentions deserved a relentless response. When Mrs. Daridill snooped for details on her divorce, the vines swatted her away. When the youngest of the Felfen children climbed up the vines, he was allowed to reach the window. Looking inside, the child saw Harbinger spin around and look right at him. Shocked, he fell back. The vines were rolled out, covered in soft flowers. The boy lay in the bed of petals and was gently returned to earth. Harbinger lifted the window and told the child to wait. After a moment, he opened his front door and said: “Your father will leave your mother alone. I will make sure to that.” He closed the door. He heard a loud “Thank you!” then went back to his work.
Later, as the Head of Harbinger, key solicitor of Newton, walked the streets, he noted the condescending stares. This was a not-so-good day, a day that hinted of when he first arrived in town. Then his adolescence came raging back into memory as a woman spat in his face. Mrs. Felfen beat her fists against his chest, her cheeks flushed. “How dare you tell my child things that don’t concern him!” Harbinger thought this ridiculous. He replied: “The affairs of a man means more to his son than anyone else, even his wife. If he doesn’t have one, then the burden goes to his daughter.” A conservative stance on an ideal, as all children, regardless of gender, learned from their mothers and fathers about the world, but the truth was there. Children lived forever with the feelings of their parents’ actions. Mrs. Felfen finished her show for the sake of her family’s already troubled social position and ran away crying. Her tears were for her children, for her husband, and now for Mr. Harbinger. She had betrayed her family’s only knight. Motherhood mandated sacrifice, but she had never thought her dignity would be bleeding on the altar.
When Mr. Harbinger arrived home, he wrote a note:
Dear Sarah Felfen:
I apologize for my intrusion on your parenting. I never meant to suggest that your manner of child rearing was inadequate. I was only trying to give you one less concern during your family’s troubled times.
Sincerely,
Lincoln Harbinger, solicitor
P.S. I will add to your bill the necessary remedies for my bruises.
He had written this letter for two reasons. One, politeness was a virtue. Two, Mrs. Felfen now had evidence of their altercation. Gossip was a blotchy phenomenon. This would quickly heat up any cold spots. If anyone denied her family charity or service on the grounds of their association, she could cry her rehearsed tears, argue she was just a frazzled and manipulated cog in a devious machine, then show the letter to crystalize the waterworks in the town’s heart. In fact, she became a heroine: The woman who gave His Dud Superior the beating he deserved.
His town was an oddity in this way. As revolting as his presence continued to be over the years, he was always given the space to argue for others. He had even considered that their disdain made them listen and accept his logic. They were so hypersensitive to everything he did on the merits of finding something to condemn him, that he became immune to the necessity of reputation. No one could say anything that had not already been said. No one could hate him any more than he had already been hated. The fires burned lukewarm. In the town’s view, he was a tolerated nuisance who sometimes made sense but acted like God. The pearl of his existence rested in these conditions. Today, though, a bird had died. His daughter was due home, and a bird had died. An omen? A threat? A black bird had died.
Amazon
Ebook:
Amazon | B&N | Apple | KoboSeries Page
1Enchanted vines slithered up the side of Creaky Manor, encircling Lincoln Harbinger’s office window. A spell on the glass bent physics for the sake of Harbinger’s privacy and secrecy. An observer could only see through the panes from about a foot. Any further and one saw the old, stately home but focusing on the domicile’s interior clouded their mind. Many thought they were going blind and ran for tonics or a reversal spell to cure them. A few experienced witches and mages who had underestimated the dud Harbinger found themselves locked inside the spell’s charm but knew it would wear off in a couple of hours.Today, a little black bird flew and rested on the sill. The vines lashed forth, whipping and wrapping around the frail creature. Helpless chirping pricked the air. White buds bled to purple, releasing their flowery perfume. A stillness. A silence. Then with a final pulse, tiny bones broke, the vines unraveled, and the bird was gone.
Harbinger, sitting in his chair, observed this severity. Malevolent intentions deserved a relentless response. When Mrs. Daridill snooped for details on her divorce, the vines swatted her away. When the youngest of the Felfen children climbed up the vines, he was allowed to reach the window. Looking inside, the child saw Harbinger spin around and look right at him. Shocked, he fell back. The vines were rolled out, covered in soft flowers. The boy lay in the bed of petals and was gently returned to earth. Harbinger lifted the window and told the child to wait. After a moment, he opened his front door and said: “Your father will leave your mother alone. I will make sure to that.” He closed the door. He heard a loud “Thank you!” then went back to his work.
Later, as the Head of Harbinger, key solicitor of Newton, walked the streets, he noted the condescending stares. This was a not-so-good day, a day that hinted of when he first arrived in town. Then his adolescence came raging back into memory as a woman spat in his face. Mrs. Felfen beat her fists against his chest, her cheeks flushed. “How dare you tell my child things that don’t concern him!” Harbinger thought this ridiculous. He replied: “The affairs of a man means more to his son than anyone else, even his wife. If he doesn’t have one, then the burden goes to his daughter.” A conservative stance on an ideal, as all children, regardless of gender, learned from their mothers and fathers about the world, but the truth was there. Children lived forever with the feelings of their parents’ actions. Mrs. Felfen finished her show for the sake of her family’s already troubled social position and ran away crying. Her tears were for her children, for her husband, and now for Mr. Harbinger. She had betrayed her family’s only knight. Motherhood mandated sacrifice, but she had never thought her dignity would be bleeding on the altar.
When Mr. Harbinger arrived home, he wrote a note:
Dear Sarah Felfen:
I apologize for my intrusion on your parenting. I never meant to suggest that your manner of child rearing was inadequate. I was only trying to give you one less concern during your family’s troubled times.
Sincerely,
Lincoln Harbinger, solicitor
P.S. I will add to your bill the necessary remedies for my bruises.
He had written this letter for two reasons. One, politeness was a virtue. Two, Mrs. Felfen now had evidence of their altercation. Gossip was a blotchy phenomenon. This would quickly heat up any cold spots. If anyone denied her family charity or service on the grounds of their association, she could cry her rehearsed tears, argue she was just a frazzled and manipulated cog in a devious machine, then show the letter to crystalize the waterworks in the town’s heart. In fact, she became a heroine: The woman who gave His Dud Superior the beating he deserved.
His town was an oddity in this way. As revolting as his presence continued to be over the years, he was always given the space to argue for others. He had even considered that their disdain made them listen and accept his logic. They were so hypersensitive to everything he did on the merits of finding something to condemn him, that he became immune to the necessity of reputation. No one could say anything that had not already been said. No one could hate him any more than he had already been hated. The fires burned lukewarm. In the town’s view, he was a tolerated nuisance who sometimes made sense but acted like God. The pearl of his existence rested in these conditions. Today, though, a bird had died. His daughter was due home, and a bird had died. An omen? A threat? A black bird had died.
December 7, 2014
Free Ebook: Sympathy-B (New Reader Edition)
Amazon | B&N | Apple | KoboNew Reader Edition!This is the first half of The Dark Possessor Saga (Sympathy-B, vol. 1) to try risk-free!
Scheming minds. A war of science. The birth of superheroes...
Foreign cybernetic operatives kidnap a symp, a youth of extraordinary power. One incident creates a domino effect, leading to the first mission of Hyperion Enterprise's superhero team. A culturally diverse squad, led by Derek Peters, faces their first foe only to find a powerful villain lurking in the shadows. Facing death and defeat, will our heroes survive their next battle?
Meanwhile, Daniel Sutheford, Hyperion's CEO, strikes a secret alliance to gain an important asset. This person promises the answer to Earth's fate in a cosmic race against time. Is he bluffing?
Series OverviewConsidered the savior of America's economy, Daniel Sutheford, CEO of Hyperion Enterprises, inherited a project so ambitious that it competed with the vast undertakings of the continental unions. The company's self-sustaining habitats compete with Europe's hovering military bases and Asia's cybernetically enhanced law enforcers in a race to the future. However, Sutheford has invested his legacy in another technology...superheroes.
Sympathy-B is a blockbuster with big themes, explosions, and heart. Featuring LGBTQ and racially diverse characters, this series makes superheroes relatable. Our young heroes fall in (and out) of love, question their identities, and long for family and fulfillment. Filled with action-packed superheroics, drama, and corporate/political intrigue, Sympathy-B is a science fiction action thriller that expands the possibilities of who we are and who we can be.
READER REVIEWS (from previous editions)"The novel is filled with epic battles, villains, politics, and a love story that (without giving too much away) is refreshing in its approach...an exciting Sci Fi story that is character driven."
“The plot could have quickly been a cheap copy of the recent X-Men movies, but the similarity to Xavier’s School for the Gifted is minor and takes off with teens/YA's learning their powers and in search of one taken. The pace is great and the story [is] full of tense moments...A solidly written and entertaining read for sure.”
“The characters are actual human beings, not cookie-cutter action figures...The author tenders plausible scientific explanations (meaning science fiction explanations, of course) regarding the origin and development of a variety of superpowers. In fact, the book is half exploration of these scientific principles and their effect on the psyches of the characters and half high-grade action...I’m suggesting that others who don’t care for superheroes give it a try also.”
CategoriesSuperhero Action/AdventureScience Fiction (Genetic Engineering)Thriller (Conspiracy, Technological, Political, Corporate Espionage)Fantasy (Coming of Age)Drama (Political Conflict, Character Conflict, Diverse Characters, Gay Romance)Teen Adventure
New Release: The Dark Possessor Saga (Sympathy-B, vol. 1)
Paperback:Amazon | B&N | Powells
Ebook:
Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo
Excerpt
Book 1: Initiation of the Lost Scheming minds. A war of science. The birth of superheroes...
Foreign cybernetic operatives kidnap a symp, a youth of extraordinary power. One incident creates a domino effect, leading to the activation of Hyperion Enterprise's superhero team. A culturally diverse squad, led by Derek Peters, faces their first foe only to find a powerful villain lurking in the shadows. Facing death and defeat, will our heroes survive their next battle?
Meanwhile, Daniel Sutheford, Hyperion’s CEO, strikes a secret alliance to gain an important asset. This person promises the answer to Earth's fate in a cosmic race against time. Is he bluffing?
Book 2: Game of Protocols Betrayed and pushed to their limits, the adventures of the Hyperion Team reach an action-packed, epic climax as the world is changed...and lives are sacrificed.
As The President and chairman of Excelsior step on stage, Daniel Sutheford will continue a play of wits that will either further or hinder his mysterious ambitions. Why is Zuna the key? Even more...
Facing battles on two fronts, Derek’s superhero team must fight their own and confront the rotten fruits of political corruption. The Dark Possessor makes his next bid for power, while Dr. Chino witnesses the emergence of a soul crushing plot that could throw the planet into world war. As America and Japan become more entangled in a deadly game of conspiracy and espionage, it will be our heroes who battle the consequences.
Series OverviewConsidered the savior of America's economy, Daniel Sutheford, CEO of Hyperion Enterprises, inherited a project so ambitious that it competed with the vast undertakings of the continental unions. The company's self-sustaining habitats compete with Europe's hovering military bases and Asia's cybernetically enhanced law enforcers in a race to the future. However, Sutheford has invested his legacy in another technology...superheroes.
Sympathy-B is a blockbuster with big themes, explosions, and heart. Featuring LGBTQ and racially diverse characters, this series makes superheroes relatable. Our young heroes fall in love, question their identities, and long for family and fulfillment. Filled with action-packed superheroics, drama, and corporate/political intrigue, Sympathy-B is a science fiction action thriller that expands the possibilities of who we are and who we can be. (For teens and adults)
READER REVIEWS (from previous editions)"The novel is filled with epic battles, villains, politics, and a love story that (without giving too much away) is refreshing in its approach...an exciting Sci Fi story that is character driven."
“The plot could have quickly been a cheap copy of the recent X-Men movies, but the similarity to Xavier’s School for the Gifted is minor and takes off with teens/YA's learning their powers and in search of one taken. The pace is great and the story [is] full of tense moments...A solidly written and entertaining read for sure.”
“The characters are actual human beings, not cookie-cutter action figures...The author tenders plausible scientific explanations (meaning science fiction explanations, of course) regarding the origin and development of a variety of superpowers. In fact, the book is half exploration of these scientific principles and their effect on the psyches of the characters and half high-grade action...I’m suggesting that others who don’t care for superheroes give it a try also.”
Categories
Science Fiction (Action and Adventure)
Fantasy (Superhero, Coming of Age, Drama)
Thriller (Conspiracy, Technological, Espionage)
September 20, 2014
New Release: I, Crimen: a short story
Ebook:Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo
Excerpt
Walk into the light, and find the darkness.
In the wake of a violent act, a young boy is enslaved. He toils in the fields of a mysterious alien colony, never knowing what lies beyond the exotic horizon. He lives a horror his people had experienced generations ago. Many have died in the living garden, but he has only grown stronger. When presented with the chance to be free, there is no reason for him to decline. Or is there?
I, Crimen crushes the rose tinted glasses of romantic heroism to deliver a devastating exploration of oppression on the human spirit. Through a bizarre and colorful landscape, a young man learns that not even the stars are immune to animal nature. This suspenseful short tale harkens back to the classics of science fiction while also conjuring the unnamed protagonist of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. (Short story)
Interview with the Author
Q: What inspired this story?
A: Well, there is a lot going on in the world right now, and we see that for many platitudes seem patronizing. Having people debate whether or not your civil rights have been violated can make one feel very diminished. Where most “enslaved by aliens” stories pattern after the heroic epics, I wanted to give it a more dramatic turn. To move the story into a point of view that was not as privileged and hence was not going to be as romantic. The story is political, looking back on the aesthetics of science fiction to say something about the world we live in now.
The slave narrative can over-define a group in literary fiction, and yet be quite ignored within the realm of science fiction. So in a way I wanted to reclaim the narrative, even if briefly. It provides a diverse take.
Categories
Science Fiction (Alien Worlds)
Literary Fiction (Psychological)
New Release: Humanity: a short story
Ebook:Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo
Excerpt
Humanity can heal all citizens of Future Crimes. Do not resist.
Maria Fabron and her son run through the woods, hunted by the government’s PreEmp. The agent claims her little boy will be guilty of a heinous deed and must be taken away. Fearing for her son’s freedom and identity, Maria engages the agent in a conflict of beliefs where two views of the world clash. She fights, praying her love and strength can be her son’s saving grace. Can free will reign, or is destiny inevitable?
A PreEmp is a special officer sent to capture Future Criminals for rehabilitation. The Department of Humanity dispatches a PreEmp to recover Lyle Fabron, a boy witnessed in a precognitive vision as a dangerous threat. As the agent approaches the house, the mother takes off with the target. Why would a loving woman prevent her child from getting help? What darkness can seize the civilized beasts known as humans to do more harm than good?
Humanity is an exploration of nature where human belief and animal instinct intertwine and dual. Ideology is right in the eyes of its possessor and in turn possesses. Both sworn to defend, a mother and agent face off. Whose view of the world will prevail? Who will determine Lyle’s fate?
(Short Story)
Interview with the Author
Q: This story takes place in a complex world. Will there be more stories?
A: Yes. I do intend to write more stories in the Humanity Universe. I enjoy the Earth introduced here. Writing stand-alone short stories allows me to explore facets of the world without the restriction of adhering to a plotline. It’s like creating a mosaic where each story is a picture within a picture.
Q: The cover is beautiful. What inspired the image?
A: Yeah, it may be a little “off” for a science fiction story in general. The painting is an abstraction of a forest setting. The story does take place in the woods and the idea of nature is a major theme. Having an earthier cover seemed appropriate as the notion of what makes us human and what makes us animals plays an important role in how the reader feels about events unfolding.
Categories
Science Fiction (Adventure, Genetic Engineering)
Thriller (Technological, Psychological, Espionage, Political)
Drama (Ideological, Inner Conflict)
August 19, 2014
New Release: Game of Protocols (Sympathy-B 1.2)
Paperback:Amazon | B&N | Powells
Ebook:
Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo
Excerpt
Betrayed and pushed to their limits, the adventures of the Hyperion Team reach an action-packed, epic climax as the world is changed...and lives are sacrificed.
Facing battles on two fronts, Derek’s superhero team must fight their own and confront the rotten fruits of political corruption. The Dark Possessor makes his next bid for power, while Dr. Chino witnesses the emergence of a soul crushing plot that could throw the planet into world war. As America and Japan become more entangled in a deadly game of conspiracy and espionage, it will be our heroes who battle the consequences.
In Game of Protocols, the name and origins of a great threat are revealed. As The President and chairman of Excelsior step on stage, Daniel Sutheford will continue a play of wits that will either further or hinder his mysterious ambitions. Why is Zuna the key?
Series OverviewConsidered the savior of America's economy, Daniel Sutheford, CEO of Hyperion Enterprises, inherited a project so ambitious that it competed with the vast undertakings of the continental unions. The company's self-sustaining habitats compete with Europe's hovering military bases and Asia's cybernetically enhanced law enforcers in a race to the future. However, Sutheford has invested his legacy in another technology...superheroes.
Sympathy-B is a blockbuster with big themes, explosions, and heart. Featuring LGBTQ and racially diverse characters, this series makes superheroes relatable. Our young heroes fall in (and out) of love, question their identities, and long for family and fulfillment. Filled with action-packed superheroics, drama, and corporate/political intrigue, Sympathy-B is a science fiction action thriller that expands the possibilities of who we are and who we can be.
Interview with the AuthorQ: What were your goals with this installment?
A: The first installment was entitled Initiation of the Lost, because it introduced, or initiated, the Hyperion Team. They very quickly grew up as they went on their first adventures. This second installment expands the Sympathy-B universe. At first, readers were mainly introduced to the superhero action side of the narrative; however now we begin to delve more into the political and corporate thriller elements. We meet the CEO of BeckPro and The President, mentioned only briefly in the first book.
Also, we see that more was going on in the first book than what met the eye.
Q: After a conclusive final battle, the stage is set for more intrigue. What can you share about what doors have been opened and which have been closed?
A: The symps have more or less completed their initial personal journeys. However, more lessons are ahead as they begin to think more about engaging the world outside of the dome and their own kind. They have not yet had to deal with public perceptions. They still think of themselves as humans; however that may come under fire when others have their say in defining them.
The ending is unsettling. However, someone can fully admit that the world’s gluttonous appetite for technology has allowed something very shameful to happen even if the world will never know of that shame.
READER REVIEWS (from previous editions)"The novel is filled with epic battles, villains, politics, and a love story that (without giving too much away) is refreshing in its approach...an exciting Sci Fi story that is character driven."
“The plot could have quickly been a cheap copy of the recent X-Men movies, but the similarity to Xavier’s School for the Gifted is minor and takes off with teens/YA's learning their powers and in search of one taken. The pace is great and the story [is] full of tense moments...A solidly written and entertaining read for sure.”
“The characters are actual human beings, not cookie-cutter action figures...The author tenders plausible scientific explanations (meaning science fiction explanations, of course) regarding the origin and development of a variety of superpowers. In fact, the book is half exploration of these scientific principles and their effect on the psyches of the characters and half high-grade action...I’m suggesting that others who don’t care for superheroes give it a try also.”
CategoriesSuperhero Action/AdventureScience Fiction (Genetic Engineering)Thriller (Conspiracy, Technological, Political, Corporate Espionage)Fantasy (Coming of Age)Drama (Political Conflict, Character Conflict, Diverse Characters, Gay Romance)Teen Adventure
July 24, 2014
New Release: Initiation of the Lost (Sympathy-B 1.1)
Paperback:Amazon | B&N | Powells
Ebook:
Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo
Scheming minds. A war of science. The birth of superheroes...
Foreign cybernetic operatives kidnap a symp, a youth of extraordinary power. One incident creates a domino effect, leading to the first mission of Hyperion Enterprise's superhero team. A culturally diverse squad, led by Derek Peters, faces their first foe only to find a powerful villain lurking in the shadows. Facing death and defeat, will our heroes survive their next battle?Meanwhile, Daniel Sutheford, Hyperion's CEO, strikes a secret alliance to gain an important asset. This person promises the answer to Earth's fate in a cosmic race against time. Is he bluffing?
Series OverviewConsidered the savior of America's economy, Daniel Sutheford, CEO of Hyperion Enterprises, inherited a project so ambitious that it competed with the vast undertakings of the continental unions. The company's self-sustaining habitats compete with Europe's hovering military bases and Asia's cybernetically enhanced law enforcers in a race to the future. However, Sutheford has invested his legacy in another technology...superheroes.Sympathy-B is a blockbuster with big themes, explosions, and heart. Featuring LGBTQ and racially diverse characters, this series makes superheroes relatable. Our young heroes fall in (and out) of love, question their identities, and long for family and fulfillment. Filled with action-packed superheroics, drama, and corporate/political intrigue, Sympathy-B is a science fiction action thriller that expands the possibilities of who we are and who we can be.
Interview with the AuthorQ: Who will like Sympathy-B?
A: Anyone who enjoys fast paced, action/adventure heavy stories should consider Sympathy-B. You don’t have to love comics. Readers who do not like the more pulp take on superheroes have still enjoyed the fictional science and realistic characterizations of this series.
Q: How is the Sympathy-B series collected?
A: Each major story arc is called a volume. Each volume consists of the individual books that make up that arc. At the moment, four books are projected to make up the first volume. (Example: Sympathy-B 3.2 means volume 3, book 2)
Q: What inspired Sympathy-B?
A: A lot. From a nostalgia for my childhood where superhero stories were about every day issues and strangers becoming family, to the extended action scenes of anime, to the fast pace of action films...every genre from action/adventure to corporate and political thrillers to superheroes seems to have found a way into my work.
READER REVIEWS (from previous editions)"The novel is filled with epic battles, villains, politics, and a love story that (without giving too much away) is refreshing in its approach...an exciting Sci Fi story that is character driven."
“The plot could have quickly been a cheap copy of the recent X-Men movies, but the similarity to Xavier’s School for the Gifted is minor and takes off with teens/YA's learning their powers and in search of one taken. The pace is great and the story [is] full of tense moments...A solidly written and entertaining read for sure.”
“The characters are actual human beings, not cookie-cutter action figures...The author tenders plausible scientific explanations (meaning science fiction explanations, of course) regarding the origin and development of a variety of superpowers. In fact, the book is half exploration of these scientific principles and their effect on the psyches of the characters and half high-grade action...I’m suggesting that others who don’t care for superheroes give it a try also.”
CategoriesSuperhero Action/AdventureScience Fiction (Genetic Engineering)Thriller (Conspiracy, Technological, Political, Corporate Espionage)Fantasy (Coming of Age)Drama (Political Conflict, Character Conflict, Diverse Characters, Gay Romance)Teen Adventure
June 13, 2014
Writing Update
I have not produced any new words in a while. I've placed priority on proofing and publishing old material. I've published/unpublished quite a few times, which I've considered as learning. However, I do believe my apprentice phase as a publishing author is over. My covers are beautiful, I format my own books and they look clean and professional, I understand keywords and categories better than ever, and I finally understand who I am (what I write) as an artist creating work for the public experience.
I am still having issues with divided identity though. At first I was torn between being a literary writing who worked in an experimental spirit with a genre writer working in a very pop style. My literary identity has changed (evolved?) into this supernatural fantasy writer. I took the same desire to create new worlds and to explore social politics in fictional town but found an outlet in doing so through the supernatural. At first, my work felt alien. Literary fiction is often too literal in its understanding of realism. I found with the paranormal a great degree of freedom to create slightly reinvented political systems, instead of always having to mirror the worlds most surface level hang ups.
To deal with my fractured identity as supernatural and superhero writer, I chose to focus on imprints instead of pen names. One imprint for each genre. I wanted my name on my work, because I wanted credit.
Rational thinking tells me to delve on one genre at a time. It makes sense. Switching gears (new genres of reading material for inspiration, re-reading previous material to remember what I was doing, slowly immersing myself into each writing style) is a nuisance. However, each idea fulfills something important within me. So as long as I'm working on one, the other is neglected. As long as one part of me is fulfilled, another side is undernourished. Perhaps there is an idea that reconciled everything I needed: more lyrical, action packed, heart filled, exploring race, class, and gender? However, when I read my work I'm very proud of my accomplishments. Unfortunately, as soon as I stop reading society's nonsense starts clamoring away in my head. "Is this epic enough?" "Is this profound enough?" on and on and on ...
So I've at least established both of my imprints by publishing the first work in each ones first series. However, how do I move forward? Do I make myself commit to one, reminding myself it's only for several years? Or do I just follow my inspiration, taking one book at a time? The issue with one book at a time is that I could change my mind daily. I read news on T.V. about the latest DC films, and I want to write my superhero series. I see the Victorian novel on my bedside table, and I want to work on my other series. Making a choice would probably be best to focus myself and resist temptations that get me hung up in confusion.
Vanity did get the better of me. One of the reasons I worked on my literary fantasy was because it was more "adult." I wanted proof that in my late twenties I was capable of something literary. I was concerned with being a writer in his thirties known only for writing more pulpy stories. I wanted my literary dark fantasia out before my 29th birthday. I'm not proud of it. However, honesty is more important to a writer than being perfect. I can do more with understanding vanity than judging it. However, the book is done, now what? Can I write superhero stories without feeling like I'm contributing to the decline of literacy and literary fiction? I'm being facetious. Read between the lines on that one. The point: I love the two forms I write in, but I'm aware the personal and social context around them. Hence, I am ambivalent about much right now.
Again, I tell myself it will all get written in time unless I allow my indecision to turn into procrastination. Making the wrong decision is better than not making a decision at all. The wrong choice at least gets you moving down the path of concretely determining that it was in fact the wrong choice. Otherwise, you're worried that it may be, may not be, may be, may not be... the wrong choice.
I am still having issues with divided identity though. At first I was torn between being a literary writing who worked in an experimental spirit with a genre writer working in a very pop style. My literary identity has changed (evolved?) into this supernatural fantasy writer. I took the same desire to create new worlds and to explore social politics in fictional town but found an outlet in doing so through the supernatural. At first, my work felt alien. Literary fiction is often too literal in its understanding of realism. I found with the paranormal a great degree of freedom to create slightly reinvented political systems, instead of always having to mirror the worlds most surface level hang ups.
To deal with my fractured identity as supernatural and superhero writer, I chose to focus on imprints instead of pen names. One imprint for each genre. I wanted my name on my work, because I wanted credit.
Rational thinking tells me to delve on one genre at a time. It makes sense. Switching gears (new genres of reading material for inspiration, re-reading previous material to remember what I was doing, slowly immersing myself into each writing style) is a nuisance. However, each idea fulfills something important within me. So as long as I'm working on one, the other is neglected. As long as one part of me is fulfilled, another side is undernourished. Perhaps there is an idea that reconciled everything I needed: more lyrical, action packed, heart filled, exploring race, class, and gender? However, when I read my work I'm very proud of my accomplishments. Unfortunately, as soon as I stop reading society's nonsense starts clamoring away in my head. "Is this epic enough?" "Is this profound enough?" on and on and on ...
So I've at least established both of my imprints by publishing the first work in each ones first series. However, how do I move forward? Do I make myself commit to one, reminding myself it's only for several years? Or do I just follow my inspiration, taking one book at a time? The issue with one book at a time is that I could change my mind daily. I read news on T.V. about the latest DC films, and I want to write my superhero series. I see the Victorian novel on my bedside table, and I want to work on my other series. Making a choice would probably be best to focus myself and resist temptations that get me hung up in confusion.
Vanity did get the better of me. One of the reasons I worked on my literary fantasy was because it was more "adult." I wanted proof that in my late twenties I was capable of something literary. I was concerned with being a writer in his thirties known only for writing more pulpy stories. I wanted my literary dark fantasia out before my 29th birthday. I'm not proud of it. However, honesty is more important to a writer than being perfect. I can do more with understanding vanity than judging it. However, the book is done, now what? Can I write superhero stories without feeling like I'm contributing to the decline of literacy and literary fiction? I'm being facetious. Read between the lines on that one. The point: I love the two forms I write in, but I'm aware the personal and social context around them. Hence, I am ambivalent about much right now.
Again, I tell myself it will all get written in time unless I allow my indecision to turn into procrastination. Making the wrong decision is better than not making a decision at all. The wrong choice at least gets you moving down the path of concretely determining that it was in fact the wrong choice. Otherwise, you're worried that it may be, may not be, may be, may not be... the wrong choice.
May 2, 2014
Now in Stores: Origins of Hell
Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Smashwords
Excerpt
Hell is a nightmare of his own making.
Claudius Merloche’s family is killed in a brutal act. He takes his life in his hands, hoping to rejoin his loved ones in the afterlife. Unfortunately, he finds himself on the verge of oblivion in a shadowy netherworld. On the hunt for love and peace, Claudius encounters a mysterious stranger who suggests a suspicious alliance. Can he resist the darkness when everything he dreams of dangles before him?
Exploring human longing, Origins of Hell is a literary and suspenseful short tale that reimagines the underworld for the twenty-first century.
April 23, 2014
Influence vs. Appropriation: Avril Lavigne's "Hello Kitty" vs. Miley Cyrus's Current Existence
The latest non-controversy: Avril Lavigne released a Japanese pop music video to celebrate the only culture that likes her new album. The Western world thinks its racist.
Avril Lavigne's facebook post:
RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan. I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan.
The "Offending" Video:
So the video has been called racist. And at this point in American history, no one even bothers explaining why. People throw around the "r" word and just assume that any "intelligent" person would understand.
The other hot intellectual buzzword is cultural appropriation, "stealing" another's culture.
The problem? What's the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural influence? If America is the melting pot, isn't this kind of stuff inevitable? And now add globalization to the mix. Avril Lavigne's album is succeeding in Japan, so she made a Japanese pop video for her next single. This is not Miley Cyrus twerking; this is not Gwen Stefani parading around like a Native American while her back up band plays. (No Doubt hasn't been a real band in years. We know this.)
Americans know nothing about Japanese pop culture. We are insular. We treat K-Pop like a fad. Yes, we treat another country's pop music like its just some passing trend in our own. Westerners (read self-righteous white liberals) are always telling racial minorities/non-white societies how to feel about the color of their skin.
Say the video is bad. Say the song is worse. However, be careful in criticizing the video. If this video is an homage to Japanese pop culture, and American critics call it out for stereotyping, then Americans are insulting Japanese pop culture. We are saying the Japanese should be ashamed for how they portray themselves. Who's racist now? Thinking you know more about a culture than the members of that culture is racism. You are claiming to be inherently more intelligent than another group of people. It's racist to argue that your cultural aesthetics are superior to another's and hence should be the standard to follow.
If the video was made by Japanese artists for a Japanese audience, then its the Japanese pop fans who will ultimately judge it by their standards. All we can do is shrug our shoulders and say: "We don't get it. This isn't our culture." Americans are just embarrassing themselves. We look ignorant. We are showing how out of touch we are with what's going on in pop around the world. We expect the world to accept American pop as the default pop, but we can't even acknowledge that other countries make music videos and their aesthetics may be different?
The song is western. So hate it all you like.
Personally, the back-up dancers are the only ones making this relevant to me on a musical level.
Since the video stays true to the spirit of J-pop (bright, fun, robo-dancing) I file it under cultural influence. Bonus points for working with Japanese artists, but there is no rule that non-Japanese artists can't pay homage to J-pop.
As for Miley Cyrus, it's complicated. Miley used hip-hop culture to sell a pop album. And it's too obvious that she's using street culture to revamp her image. In other words, she'll be hip-hop for however long it suits her, and she's claiming it not just as an aesthetic for a one off video, but as an identity choice. If she can't experience the burden of black culture, then it's wrong for her to define herself through it. You can't take what conveniences you and leave the rest. Eminem grew up on the streets. He may not relate to black racism, but he's still a true child of hip hop culture who's been consistent with his upbringing. Avril isn't pretending to be Japanese. She's not changing her identity. There's a natural compliment in her fun loving, "I still like pink even though I rock" persona that does mesh well with J-pop. And it was primarily the Japanese who made this observation. White people didn't decide for them.
Also, Miley made such an overblown farce out of street culture to the point that it became a gimmick, undermining the spirit of a genre and community. So long story short, she's filed under cultural appropriation. J-Pop is only a gimmick to ignorant Americans who refuse to see the relativity.
Due to inequality, white people delving into minority/foreign cultures will always be sketchy. A white woman will gain national attention for twerking far sooner than a black woman would. And if the black woman did, she wouldn't be laughing to the bank but defending her race. A white male artist will sooner get a hit single singing an R&B song than a black male would in this current climate. (How did we move backwards from the 90s?) Also, how many black rock singers ever get a major recording contract. Most white people don't even think black rock musicians exist outside of blues. They do. But pop culture has only allowed minorities to succeed primarily through their own culturally defined genres (with rare exception). So when white people then decide to intrude on those genres, because they're bored with the homogenous crap euro-pop they've made generic or they need to look cool to other white people, then it's an issue.
Currently in our society, white people succeeding through black influences highlights racism, because black artists are severely limited in general. However, most people, including many black people, understand cultural influence and living in a free society. The problem isn't JT and Robin Thicke are R&B sensations; but where is the black R&B sensation who can stand next to Timberlake? Usher hasn't had that spot in years. The problem isn't that "Thrift Shop" exists; it's that people think it's the best hip hop song ever, like Tupac never existed.
Ultimately, anyone can be inspired by foreign and minority cultures. The internet backlash does not destroy careers. Our society treats everything so seriously that even serious matters become trivialized, blowing over as the hot air rises so quickly it collapses onto itself. And honestly, Avril is now more relevant to pop culture than she has been in years. Whether it's Miley twerking, Avril J-popping, or Jaime raping Cersei, only no press is bad press. Dominating the cultural conversation is the only important factor to mainstream success...and the corporations know it. It's our fault. Corporations know how public consciousness works. Right now the only show that matters is Game of Thrones, and for tonight, the only musical event that will matter is "Hello Kitty."
It is possible Avril's career will be tarnished forever though. However, it's not because she's racist. It's because no one likes the song, and racism will be used to justify destroying her. For all the conversation around Cersei's rape, even those who complained will watch week after week, because we would never let civil rights get in the way of our entertainment. We'll justify it somehow, not remembering that HBO only cares that you watched, not why.
Avril Lavigne's facebook post:
RACIST??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan. I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan.
The "Offending" Video:
So the video has been called racist. And at this point in American history, no one even bothers explaining why. People throw around the "r" word and just assume that any "intelligent" person would understand.
The other hot intellectual buzzword is cultural appropriation, "stealing" another's culture.
The problem? What's the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural influence? If America is the melting pot, isn't this kind of stuff inevitable? And now add globalization to the mix. Avril Lavigne's album is succeeding in Japan, so she made a Japanese pop video for her next single. This is not Miley Cyrus twerking; this is not Gwen Stefani parading around like a Native American while her back up band plays. (No Doubt hasn't been a real band in years. We know this.)
Americans know nothing about Japanese pop culture. We are insular. We treat K-Pop like a fad. Yes, we treat another country's pop music like its just some passing trend in our own. Westerners (read self-righteous white liberals) are always telling racial minorities/non-white societies how to feel about the color of their skin.
Say the video is bad. Say the song is worse. However, be careful in criticizing the video. If this video is an homage to Japanese pop culture, and American critics call it out for stereotyping, then Americans are insulting Japanese pop culture. We are saying the Japanese should be ashamed for how they portray themselves. Who's racist now? Thinking you know more about a culture than the members of that culture is racism. You are claiming to be inherently more intelligent than another group of people. It's racist to argue that your cultural aesthetics are superior to another's and hence should be the standard to follow.
If the video was made by Japanese artists for a Japanese audience, then its the Japanese pop fans who will ultimately judge it by their standards. All we can do is shrug our shoulders and say: "We don't get it. This isn't our culture." Americans are just embarrassing themselves. We look ignorant. We are showing how out of touch we are with what's going on in pop around the world. We expect the world to accept American pop as the default pop, but we can't even acknowledge that other countries make music videos and their aesthetics may be different?
The song is western. So hate it all you like.
Personally, the back-up dancers are the only ones making this relevant to me on a musical level.
Since the video stays true to the spirit of J-pop (bright, fun, robo-dancing) I file it under cultural influence. Bonus points for working with Japanese artists, but there is no rule that non-Japanese artists can't pay homage to J-pop.
As for Miley Cyrus, it's complicated. Miley used hip-hop culture to sell a pop album. And it's too obvious that she's using street culture to revamp her image. In other words, she'll be hip-hop for however long it suits her, and she's claiming it not just as an aesthetic for a one off video, but as an identity choice. If she can't experience the burden of black culture, then it's wrong for her to define herself through it. You can't take what conveniences you and leave the rest. Eminem grew up on the streets. He may not relate to black racism, but he's still a true child of hip hop culture who's been consistent with his upbringing. Avril isn't pretending to be Japanese. She's not changing her identity. There's a natural compliment in her fun loving, "I still like pink even though I rock" persona that does mesh well with J-pop. And it was primarily the Japanese who made this observation. White people didn't decide for them.
Also, Miley made such an overblown farce out of street culture to the point that it became a gimmick, undermining the spirit of a genre and community. So long story short, she's filed under cultural appropriation. J-Pop is only a gimmick to ignorant Americans who refuse to see the relativity.
Due to inequality, white people delving into minority/foreign cultures will always be sketchy. A white woman will gain national attention for twerking far sooner than a black woman would. And if the black woman did, she wouldn't be laughing to the bank but defending her race. A white male artist will sooner get a hit single singing an R&B song than a black male would in this current climate. (How did we move backwards from the 90s?) Also, how many black rock singers ever get a major recording contract. Most white people don't even think black rock musicians exist outside of blues. They do. But pop culture has only allowed minorities to succeed primarily through their own culturally defined genres (with rare exception). So when white people then decide to intrude on those genres, because they're bored with the homogenous crap euro-pop they've made generic or they need to look cool to other white people, then it's an issue.
Currently in our society, white people succeeding through black influences highlights racism, because black artists are severely limited in general. However, most people, including many black people, understand cultural influence and living in a free society. The problem isn't JT and Robin Thicke are R&B sensations; but where is the black R&B sensation who can stand next to Timberlake? Usher hasn't had that spot in years. The problem isn't that "Thrift Shop" exists; it's that people think it's the best hip hop song ever, like Tupac never existed.
Ultimately, anyone can be inspired by foreign and minority cultures. The internet backlash does not destroy careers. Our society treats everything so seriously that even serious matters become trivialized, blowing over as the hot air rises so quickly it collapses onto itself. And honestly, Avril is now more relevant to pop culture than she has been in years. Whether it's Miley twerking, Avril J-popping, or Jaime raping Cersei, only no press is bad press. Dominating the cultural conversation is the only important factor to mainstream success...and the corporations know it. It's our fault. Corporations know how public consciousness works. Right now the only show that matters is Game of Thrones, and for tonight, the only musical event that will matter is "Hello Kitty."
It is possible Avril's career will be tarnished forever though. However, it's not because she's racist. It's because no one likes the song, and racism will be used to justify destroying her. For all the conversation around Cersei's rape, even those who complained will watch week after week, because we would never let civil rights get in the way of our entertainment. We'll justify it somehow, not remembering that HBO only cares that you watched, not why.
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