Mike Mehalek's Blog, page 3

Guest Blogger: Lee Allen Howard, author of Death Perception

Hi Trickyverse--as promised, here is some great writing advice from author Lee Allen Howard.  Below, you can also learn more about Lee and his writing and new novel Death Perception--T
Using Beta Readers to Evaluate Your Fiction
So, you’ve written a novel and done your revisions and polished it as best you can. Is it ready to send to an agent or publisher—or to publish yourself? Hard to tell.
Instead of crossing your fingers and exposing your manuscript to the risk of immediate rejection, why not first let someone read your book and provide feedback? If they spot any problems with story, plot, characters, or writing, you’ll have a chance to improve your work before you send it to someone who’ll buy.
Writers have been doing this forever, passing on their finished manuscripts to a close circle of trusted readers. But for the new novelist, it’s one more step along the path of learning to become a published and professional writer.Whom should you choose? It’s best not to choose someone who isn’t an avid reader, who doesn’t like the genre you write in, or who won’t give you honest feedback (meaning both praise and constructive criticism).
A good beta reader is someone who reads widely, reads in your genre, and can discuss with intelligence the elements of fiction (characters, plot, description, setting, dialog, narration, etc.). Your best bet may be another writer whose back you can scratch at a later date.
If you’re working to deadline, it’s wise to set a date for the review to be completed. Just make sure you give your reader plenty of time to read, and agree on the deadline beforehand.
If there are specific issues you’re concerned about—for example, “Does Mrs. Gulliver seem like a fully formed character to you, and are her motivations understandable and sufficient to fuel the brutal murder she commits?”—you may want to communicate these up front so that your beta reader can be on the lookout as she reads. And make it clear that you’re looking for constructive feedback to make your story better, not just ego strokes.
If you send an electronic file (.mobi, .epub, .pdf, or other), make sure the copy is marked “BETA” on the cover page. Ditto for a printed version. And if your printed version is looseleaf, put it in a binder to keep the pages from getting lost. Invite your reader to make comments in the margins as she reads.This is your precious intellectual property. You may want to include a copyright statement and warning on the title page and in the footer of every page, along with the specific reader’s name. 
For example:On the title page:  “BETA COPY 1, <date>” In the footer of every page:  “Copyright 2013 <Your Full Name>. Duplication prohibited. <Beta Reader’s Name>- Beta Copy 1 - <date>”

This way, if you create more than one version, even if a page is removed from the binder, you’ll know where it came from. Print a fresh version for your next reader with the footer changed appropriately.

Once you hand your reader the manuscript, leave him alone. Don’t call or text every day, asking about his progress and whether or not he likes it. The exception here is inquiring about progress as you near your agreed-upon deadline.
When the reading is done, it’s time for a talk with your beta reader. You may want to prepare and print a list of questions about characters, plot, description, setting, dialog, narration, and so on. If they fill it out, you have their answers in writing.
If you sit down to interview, make sure you put her at ease and encourage her to speak his mind candidly about his opinion. Then, let him talk, and keep your mouth shut. Resist the urge to jump in and explain everything (although you should answer questions when asked, or if you’re unclear about what they’re saying). Above all, turn off your emotions, turn on your smile, and THANK him for the hours he’s spent helping you.
If you get published, a nice touch is to mention him in the acknowledgments section, gift him a signed copy of the book, or take him to dinner. Or all three. If his feedback was valuable, you may want to call on him again.
Then, you evaluate the feedback. It may be a good idea to get another reader’s opinion before you overhaul your manuscript based on your first reader’s input. Fix obvious errors, naturally, before printing a fresh copy for your second reader. But remember that opinions are just that—opinions. No two readers will agree on everything about your book. However, if two or three readers point out the same problem, it’s a good sign that you need to do more work.
I followed this process with DEATH PERCEPTION, my latest supernatural thriller tinged with horror and peppered with dark humor. My beta readers were Kerri Knutson and Gary Reichart, whose feedback I appreciate very much. You’ll see them mentioned on the acknowledgments page with a few treasured others.DEATH PERCEPTION is available in trade paperback, Kindle (.mobi) and Nook (.epub) at http://leeallenhoward.com/death-perce....


BIO            Lee Allen Howard writes horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural crime. He’s been a professional writer and editor of both fiction and nonfiction since 1985. His publications include The Sixth Seed, Desperate Spirits, Night Monsters, “Mama Said,” “Stray,” and DEATH PERCEPTION , available in various formats at http://leeallenhoward.com.
You can keep in touch with Lee on his Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lee-Allen-Howard-author/117844011639457. Follow him on Twitter @LeeAllenHoward.

Book Launch: DEATH PERCEPTION by Lee Allen Howard

Hello everyone--I'm happy to announce that friend and fellow Seton Hill Alum-er, Lee Allen Howard, has announced the launch of his new novel Death Perception this week.  Part crime novel, part supernatural thriller, part...funeral pyre 'n smores (I kid you not), this is Lee at his very best--putting you in the front car of the roller coaster, careening you past memorable characters, jostling you through hairpin plot twists, and trying his darndest to scare the bejesus out of you while managing to satiate the most macabre of sweet tooths.

It's a really fun read.  Be sure to check it out. 
Then stop back next Wednesday, May 22, when Lee stops by to guest blog about Using Beta Readers to Evaluate your Fiction right here at Writing is Tricky.
Oh and did I mention he's also started his virtual book tour.  Be sure to check out his other appearances throughout the month, listed below.




Book DetailsDEATH PERCEPTION by Lee Allen HowardRelease date: May 15, 2013Available now in Kindle, Nook, and in trade paperback308 pagesISBN: 0615800696ISBN-13: 978-0615800691Front cover art by Neil Jacksonhttp://leeallenhoward.com/death-perception/
Book DescriptionKennet Singleton cremates the dead... and then they speak: "Avenge us!"Nineteen-year-old Kennet Singleton lives with his invalid mother in a personal care facility, but he wants out. He operates the crematory at the local funeral home, where he discovers he can discern the cause of death of those he cremates--by toasting marshmallows over their ashes.He thinks his ability is no big deal since his customers are already dead. But when his perception differs from what's on the death certificate, he finds himself in the midst of murderers. To save the residents and avenge the dead, Kennet must bring the killers to justice.
Author Bio Lee Allen Howard writes horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural crime. He’s been a professional writer and editor of both fiction and nonfiction since 1985. His publications include The Sixth Seed, Desperate Spirits, Night Monsters, “Mama Said,” “Stray,” and DEATH PERCEPTION , available in various formats at http://leeallenhoward.com. You can keep in touch with Lee on his Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lee-Allen-Howard-author/117844011639457. Follow him on Twitter @LeeAllenHoward.
Blurbs"Dastardly devious, cleverly conceived, and just a whole lot of fun to read, DEATH PERCEPTION is Lee Allen Howard on fire and at his finest. Rife with winsome weirdness, it's like the mutant stepchild of Carl Hiaasen and Stephen King, mixing a truly unique paranormal coming-of-age story with a quirky cast of offbeat noir characters into a novel that's simply unforgettable... and hilariously original. A supernatural crime story, blazing with creative intrigue... don't miss it."--Michael Arnzen, author of Play Dead
"Lee Allen Howard's DEATH PERCEPTION is a red hot union of Gothic crime thriller and grim humor that burns with supernatural tension. Beneath the sickly sweet scent of caramelized sugar lies the wildly entertaining tale of a man who delivers justice to the dead while fanning the fires of the living. Ever hear the expression, 'laughing in a morgue'? DEATH PERCEPTION feels just like that. Howard has a gift for crafting eccentric characters and clever plots. This is dark fun at its best."--Jason Jack Miller, author of The Devil and Preston Black and Hellbender
"DEATH PERCEPTION has officially made me envious of Lee Allen Howard. It sings like a choir of angels, yet weeps like a ghost in winter. Everyone should have this in their collection.”--Trent Zelazny, author of To Sleep Gently and Butterfly Potion


5/15/2013  http://armandrosamilia.com
5/16/2013  http://buildingthebridge.wordpress.com
5/17/2013  http://www.marysangiovanni.com 
5/18/2013  http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/
5/20/2013  http://www.huntershea.com
5/21/2013  http://jasonjackmiller.blogspot.com/
5/22/2013  http://mikemehalek.blogspot.com/
5/23/2013  http://josephpinto.wordpress.com/
5/24/2013  http://outofthelockbox.blogspot.com

Valentine's Day Surprise: All This Talk of Love

When I started Writing is Tricky I never considered that it would be anything more than my writings (or snippets thereof), rants, writing tips, and nifty little bits of our universe from travel and biology to Dai Vernon and to all things tricky.   But one pleasant surprise of starting this blog is that I find more and more often my posts turn into a celebration of the writers I know and love, whom I consider some of my closest friends

—no scratch that

—closest family members, not of blood but of passion for writing.  I will continue to post the mishmash of other topics, but I find that this year has been a particularly great year for those said writers, and today is no exception.
And what better day than Valentine's Day to have All this Talk of Love about Chris Castellani's newest novel. All This Talk of Love display at Porter Square Books

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the book launch and first reading of Chris Castellani’s third novel All this Talk of Love (ATToL) at Porter Square Books in Cambridge.  ATToL is a trilogy, unlike any other that I have read, chronicling the lives of an Italian family, the Grasso family, from its ancestral home in Italy just prior to World-War II, its emigration from Italy to the Untied States, and finally, in present day coming full-circle...an unlikely family vacation back to Italy.
The reading itself was a full house, over 150 in attendance--standing room only folks--and wow, hearing Chris read, it was well worth the cramped quarters.

Fans waited patiently for 2+ hours to have their copyof ATToL signedChris' writing style is sharp, polished, and forms a hypnotic cadence that quickly allowed the audience to fall into the world of the Grasso family-- their ambitions, hopes, and fears.
It was laugh out loud funny yet formed gooseflesh in its poignancy.
And at the heart of all this?
What it means to be family.

The reading was, in a word this writer-and-magician does not often use--spellbinding.  I've seen few readings draw in an audience as wholly as ATToL.
"It's like living with a feral animal" Chris describing what it must be like to be the spouse of a writer
You should definitely check Chris out (Check the links below. He may even be coming to a town near you!)
http://www.christophercastellani.com/http://www.christophercastellani.com/christopher-castellani-events.html
Some of Chris' fan base, including yours truly.Can you spot him?Christopher Castellani is the son of Italian immigrants and a native of Wilmington, Delaware. He resides in Boston, where he is the artistic director of Grub Street, one of the country's leading non-profit creative writing centers. He is the author of two previous critically-acclaimed novels, A Kiss from Maddalena (Algonquin Books, 2003)—winner of the Massachusetts Book Award in 2004—and The Saint of Lost Things (Algonquin Books, 2005), a BookSense (IndieBound) Notable Book that was long-listed for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2006.In addition to his work with Grub Street, Christopher is on the faculty of the Warren Wilson MFA program and the Bread Loaf Writers Conference. Christopher was educated at Swarthmore College, received his Masters in English Literature from Tufts University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Boston University.

Raw Dog Cover Reveal: Odd Men Out by Matt Betts

Dog Star Books will be having us all raw dog screaming in 2013.  Here is another sneak peek that I was privy to recently that I wanted to share with the Trickyverse.

It is Matt Betts alternate history/ steampunk novel Odd Men Out.


And WOW! Another great cover by Bradley Sharp, whose work I quickly became a fan of--and am loving more and more with each reveal. 






COVER REVEALBOOK: Odd Men OutAUTHOR:  Matt BettsARTIST: Bradley SharpPUBLISHER: Dog Star BooksGENRE: Steampunk/Alternate HistorySUMMARY: Fighting for survival in a post-Civil War America overrun by zombies, Cyrus and Lucinda join a military group called the Odd Men Out, and together they face a terrorist army from the North in a showdown over a weapon of enormous power.
The Civil War went on far longer than anyone expected, prompting the North and South to call a truce to fight their common enemy: The Chewers – dead men come to life to attack the living. As a result, a peacekeeping force called the Office of Military Operations is created to watch over the tenuous peace.

Cyrus Joseph Spencer didn’t fight in the war and couldn’t care less about the United Nations of America that resulted from it. His main concern is making money and protecting his crew from all manner of danger. To escape a horrible tragedy, Cyrus and one of his wards, Lucinda, board a U.N. dirigible for safety. They quickly discover their situation has not improved as the U.N. team is chasing a group of rogue soldiers in hopes of stopping them from obtaining a terrible weapon.

They also have to contend with a larger threat - Drago del Vapore – a giant lizard attacking the West Coast and wreaking havoc on everything it encounters. As the two sides face off against each other and the huge beast, Cyrus feels more and more like an Odd Man Out and finds it harder and harder to stay out of the fight.




RELEASE: July 2013LINKS: Dog Star Books - http://dogstarbooks.blogspot.comMatt Betts – http://zombiewrangler.blogspot.comBradley Sharp - http://www.bradsharp.co.uk/

Uncle Mike's Band: A tribute to Michael A. Arnzen

I'm a Mike Arnzen fan, I'll admit it.
I also have to admit that I really didn't know Mike all that well--being the uneducated reader I was back then--when I first met him in 2006.  He was a mentor in the writing program I had begun attending at Seton Hill University, the professor that it seemed like all of the horror writers wanted to be their mentor.
But then at a book signing I picked up one of his books 100 Jolts, a collection of over 100 flash stories and randomly flipped to a story entitled "Taking Care of Baby."  After reading that little puppy I must say--well I've already said it haven't I--I became an instant fan*.  
And like all good fans I tried to emulate the master.  Below is my own Arnzen-inspired poem written around the time I first became enamored with flash fiction.
Looking at it now, I know it's not my best work, but it takes me back to the early days of my writing career. 
NOTE: It's best to read aloud using your best Arnzen impression. 
(Blog Continues below...)
Uncle Mike’s BandSevered-head-disco ball scouts the dance floor, spinning its absurd axis.Demons dance...Spirits fly...down the gullets of hoary beasts.  How they shriek, as they digest, over and over for eternity. 
         The band is ready.  Human tendons tuned on monstrous bass guitars.  Flesh stretched tight on primal drums.  Lead Siren spitting words, her lyrics hiss from snaky speakers.  The patrons groove in a trance.
         The bloodied staff cries in angst, werewolves howl, vampires feast.  A VIP guest am I, earning high status for my life.  Hell’s a party. Hell’s a blast.
Hell is the VIP pass.
Hell is Disco for the dammed.  Doomed to numbing light and sound. Severed head, disco ball, I scout the scene, spinning on my absurd axis.



Photo by Jason Jack and Heidi Ruby Miller


Currently, Mike is working on the Fridge of the Damned poetry magnet kickstarter, and like all of Mike's works, you'll want to own a part of it.
Be an instigator, support the Fridge of the Damned poetry magnet kickstarter

*And to date I seem to have survived the ordeal with minimal physical and emotional scars

Dog Star Books New Cover Reveal: A MIRACLE OF RARE DESIGN

Well, while we are getting slammed (or so the weather reporters would have you believe) with snow up here in New England, and any semblance of my humanity goes into deep freeze until such time as Punxsutawney Phil grants absolution, I was granted a small reprieve and a moment of respite upon learning that Dog Star Books have landed and will be launching one of Mike Resnick's books A Miracle of Rare Design in the warm summer months of 2013, with another amazing cover by Bradley Sharp.  Exciting, exciting news! 

BOOK: A Miracle of Rare DesignAUTHOR:  Mike ResnickARTIST: Bradley SharpPUBLISHER: Dog Star BooksGENRE: Anthropological Science FictionSUMMARY: The best way to learn about an alien species is not only to live among them, but to become them in both physical form and function, but could a human really learn to think like an alien, and at what cost to his humanity?

Journalist and adventurer Xavier William Lennox becomes obsessed with the rituals of the Fireflies, an alien culture of gold-skinned inhabitants living on the planet Medina. When he gets too close to their mysterious society, he's captured, tortured, and banished for his curiosity, but vows to learn what it is that the aliens are so desperate to hide, even if it means becoming one of them.

But his curiosity doesn't end with the Fireflies. As opportunities arise to study more alien races, Lennox undergoes a series of cosmetic surgeries so that he can blend in with their cultures. But each time his humanity is stretched until he faces his biggest challenge—trying to return to the ordinary life of a man who has experienced the universe in ways he was never meant to.

RELEASE: Summer 2013 

LINKS: Dog Star Books - http://dogstarbooks.blogspot.comMike Resnick – http://mikeresnick.com
Bradley Sharp - http://www.bradsharp.co.uk/