Scott Eder's Blog: The Mad Muncle's Forge, page 2
November 18, 2013
Larger Than Life Antagonists - Guest Post by Christine Amsden - Author of the Cassie Scot series
And the guests keep rolling in. The Mad Muncle is pleased to welcome Christine Amsden to the Forge. The anvil is yours, Christine...
“There is nothing so evil in the world as what humans can do to one another.” – Edward Scot (Cassie's dad)
The fantasy genre loves larger-than-life heroes, which is probably why we tend to turn to larger-than-life antagonists. Who can stand up to a man with the ability to crush a tree into splinters using only his mind? Not you or me, for sure. So instead we turn to werewolves, vampires, orcs, goblins, and demons, just to name a few.
But for some time I have felt that in the search for evil, we really need look no further than our own backyards. Human beings have an amazing capacity to hurt one another, and many of us even manage to rationalize that it's all for a greater good.
If my hero can crush a tree to splinters using only the power of his mind, then I can give you an anti-hero with the same power. Using that formula, you could say we may as well cancel the magic out and just write about regular people, but where's the fun in that? I do love make believe, or I wouldn't write fantasy. :)
There are serious advantages to writing human anti-heroes, chief among them being that it's rare to find a human who is pure good or pure evil. My kids may like knowing who the good guy is and who the bad guy is at all times, but life isn't like that. When you go beyond demons, you have the opportunity to figure out why the antagonist does what he does in terms that the average reader can understand.
On the flipside, why is your hero basically good? How did a two-year-old with some destructive power learn that he doesn't always get his way? Or did he?
As the fantasy genre matures, the demons themselves are becoming less evil in response to authors' instinctive realization that “BWAHAHA!” is not a great motivation for sowing destruction. Dark heroes are becoming the norm rather than the exception, vampires are simply misunderstood, and shape shifters are getting cuddly.
In Eagle Rock, Missouri, where Cassie Scot makes her home, I opted to create a world of mostly human sorcerers to prey upon one another. And in Secrets and Lies, you'll see some of the worst humanity has to offer.
Author Bio:
Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.
At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.
In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work
Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.
Social Media Links:
WebsiteBlogFacebookTwitter GoodreadsGoogle+
Blurbs:
Cassie Scot: ParaNormal DetectiveCassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.
Buy Links:AmazonBarnes and NobleOmniLit Audible (audiobook)
Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)
Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.
To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.
Buy Links:Amazon Barnes and Noble
Praise for the Cassie Scot series:
From Publisher’s Weekly:“In this entertaining series opener, Amsden (The Immortality Virus) introduces readers to the eponymous Cassie, a decidedly mundane member of a magical family. …Readers will enjoy Cassie’s fish-out-of-water struggles as she fights magical threats with little more than experience and bravado.”
Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series, had this to say:“When sorcerers call the shots, what’s a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won’t let go until the very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban fantasy at its best. More please!”
"Christine Amsden unleashes her brilliant storytelling magic as the adventures of Cassie Scot
escalate to the extreme. Rife with betrayal and a debt too deep for money to clear, Secrets and Lies plunges the reader into an utterly believable world where villains and heroes spring lifelike from the pages. Brace for a whirlwind ride of sorcery, romance and knife-edge peril. A truly original urban fantasy. Not to be missed!”
Thanks for stopping by, Christine. Good luck with the Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) tour.
“There is nothing so evil in the world as what humans can do to one another.” – Edward Scot (Cassie's dad)
The fantasy genre loves larger-than-life heroes, which is probably why we tend to turn to larger-than-life antagonists. Who can stand up to a man with the ability to crush a tree into splinters using only his mind? Not you or me, for sure. So instead we turn to werewolves, vampires, orcs, goblins, and demons, just to name a few.
But for some time I have felt that in the search for evil, we really need look no further than our own backyards. Human beings have an amazing capacity to hurt one another, and many of us even manage to rationalize that it's all for a greater good.
If my hero can crush a tree to splinters using only the power of his mind, then I can give you an anti-hero with the same power. Using that formula, you could say we may as well cancel the magic out and just write about regular people, but where's the fun in that? I do love make believe, or I wouldn't write fantasy. :)
There are serious advantages to writing human anti-heroes, chief among them being that it's rare to find a human who is pure good or pure evil. My kids may like knowing who the good guy is and who the bad guy is at all times, but life isn't like that. When you go beyond demons, you have the opportunity to figure out why the antagonist does what he does in terms that the average reader can understand.
On the flipside, why is your hero basically good? How did a two-year-old with some destructive power learn that he doesn't always get his way? Or did he?
As the fantasy genre matures, the demons themselves are becoming less evil in response to authors' instinctive realization that “BWAHAHA!” is not a great motivation for sowing destruction. Dark heroes are becoming the norm rather than the exception, vampires are simply misunderstood, and shape shifters are getting cuddly.
In Eagle Rock, Missouri, where Cassie Scot makes her home, I opted to create a world of mostly human sorcerers to prey upon one another. And in Secrets and Lies, you'll see some of the worst humanity has to offer.
Author Bio:
Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.
In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work
Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.
Social Media Links:
WebsiteBlogFacebookTwitter GoodreadsGoogle+
Blurbs:
Cassie Scot: Buy Links:AmazonBarnes and NobleOmniLit Audible (audiobook)
Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)
Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.
To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.
Buy Links:Amazon Barnes and Noble
Praise for the Cassie Scot series:
From Publisher’s Weekly:“In this entertaining series opener, Amsden (The Immortality Virus) introduces readers to the eponymous Cassie, a decidedly mundane member of a magical family. …Readers will enjoy Cassie’s fish-out-of-water struggles as she fights magical threats with little more than experience and bravado.”
Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series, had this to say:“When sorcerers call the shots, what’s a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won’t let go until the very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban fantasy at its best. More please!”
"Christine Amsden unleashes her brilliant storytelling magic as the adventures of Cassie Scot
escalate to the extreme. Rife with betrayal and a debt too deep for money to clear, Secrets and Lies plunges the reader into an utterly believable world where villains and heroes spring lifelike from the pages. Brace for a whirlwind ride of sorcery, romance and knife-edge peril. A truly original urban fantasy. Not to be missed!”
Thanks for stopping by, Christine. Good luck with the Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) tour.
November 13, 2013
There’s No Place Like Home - Guest Post by Maria De Vivo, Author of The Coal Elf
The Mad Muncle welcomes fellow Twilight Times Books author, Maria De Vivo. Take it away, Maria.
What’s the old saying? "Home is where the heart is." It must be true because one of the prevalent Humans have an innate honing device that draws us to a nostalgic place of comfort and love. Some of the most influential stories of our time use HOME as a central theme. After having experienced the wonder and glory of Oz, Dorothy said there was no place like it. Her journey brought her to the realization that her black and white world of farm animals and twisters was really where she belonged. Thrust onto an island while the war-torn world around them has no idea of their whereabouts, the children in The Lord of the Flies are in constant pursuit of returning home while in the process, create a home. And more recently, Katniss Everdeen initially strives to win The Hunger Games to go where? Back Home.
themes in story-telling is the concept of Home - Having one, being a part of one, rejecting one, leaving one, desperately trying to find your way back to one.
In The Coal Elf, Ember Skye deals with this notion of Home from the moment she is called to her Life Job. When she is sent to the Mines, her memories of her life Aboveground grip her so tightly that she is almost blinded by nostalgia. The entire novel follows her path of dealing with those memories, confronting certain realities, and altering her own perceptions as to where she belongs, where she fits in, where she’s meant to be.
So what is HOME? What defines it? For me, it’s an unseen structure made up of memories. Spring birds singing in the morning as I waited for the school bus. Running outside on a cool summer night to flag down the ice cream truck. Standing on tree stumps in my backyard as dead leaves fell from the autumn trees. The smell of my father’s work boots in the hallway. Cuddling with my sister on Christmas Eve. Coming home from school and being so angry with my mother for cleaning up my room. My uncle’s voice booming as he and my mother sang Kenny Rogers’s songs. My concept of Home expands far beyond the actual dwelling itself, and now I’m making a Home for my daughter, hopefully helping to build those memories of love and comfort she will seek refuge in her future.
Bio:
Maria DeVivo is a New York native who has had a lifelong love affair with "the pen." A graduate of St. John's University, she has a passion for all things mystical and mythological. She has taught 7th grade Language Arts since 2000, and in 2010, designed the curriculum for an academic elective course entitled Folklore, where she was able to share her passion and knowledge on concentrated topics such as folktales and mythology with her students.
Having grown up in a large Irish/Italian family (where Maria is the oldest child, and of course, the wisest) the mystery and wonder surrounding the holidays were a main staple of her upbringing. At the age of seven, when her mother finally admitted "the truth" to her, she has become somewhat of a "Santa-phile", an obsession that has rooted its way into every fiber of her being. Maria is one of those people who cries when Santa makes His grand appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Coupled with an obsession for all things dark and demented, her debut novel, The Coal Elf, was born.
Maria now lives in Florida with her husband, Joe, and daughter, Morgan. When not teaching or writing or running around after her daughter, she enjoys drinking iced coffee, watching horror movies, and playing video games.
For a cool journey into the inner workings of the elves at the North Pole, check out Maria's, The Coal Elf.
Blurb:
Ember Skye is a fed up teenage Coal Elf with a big ashy chip on her shoulder. Having been torn away from a carefree life and forced into a world of dirt and darkness has started to get the best of her. And being the only girl-elf working as a coal miner at the North Pole doesn’t help much either!
Then there’s Sturd: a power-hungry, twisted elf with a checkered past and a serious grudge against Ember. Slowly but surely, his maniacal tendencies are revealed, leaving Ember with the sacred “Naughty List” literally in her lap.
When a mysterious illness threatens to decimate elves both Above and Underground, Ember is thrust into a journey that will see her confront the literal and figurative demons of her past and lead her to the head of the North Pole himself.
Yes! Santa is real. But this isn’t your childhood Christmas tale!
"...A story with plenty of twists and turns, the reader is drawn into a world of dust and darkness with tension so strong it can be felt throughout. You will hold your breath at the challenges Ember must face and be pulled along as the plot thickens." ~ Anne K. Edwards, author of The Last to Fall.
Amazon Buylink: The Coal Elf is currently at a special holiday price of $2.99
AMAZON Connect with DeVivo:www.mariadevivo.comwww.facebook.com/mariadevivoauthor@Maria_DeVivo
What’s the old saying? "Home is where the heart is." It must be true because one of the prevalent Humans have an innate honing device that draws us to a nostalgic place of comfort and love. Some of the most influential stories of our time use HOME as a central theme. After having experienced the wonder and glory of Oz, Dorothy said there was no place like it. Her journey brought her to the realization that her black and white world of farm animals and twisters was really where she belonged. Thrust onto an island while the war-torn world around them has no idea of their whereabouts, the children in The Lord of the Flies are in constant pursuit of returning home while in the process, create a home. And more recently, Katniss Everdeen initially strives to win The Hunger Games to go where? Back Home. themes in story-telling is the concept of Home - Having one, being a part of one, rejecting one, leaving one, desperately trying to find your way back to one.
In The Coal Elf, Ember Skye deals with this notion of Home from the moment she is called to her Life Job. When she is sent to the Mines, her memories of her life Aboveground grip her so tightly that she is almost blinded by nostalgia. The entire novel follows her path of dealing with those memories, confronting certain realities, and altering her own perceptions as to where she belongs, where she fits in, where she’s meant to be.
So what is HOME? What defines it? For me, it’s an unseen structure made up of memories. Spring birds singing in the morning as I waited for the school bus. Running outside on a cool summer night to flag down the ice cream truck. Standing on tree stumps in my backyard as dead leaves fell from the autumn trees. The smell of my father’s work boots in the hallway. Cuddling with my sister on Christmas Eve. Coming home from school and being so angry with my mother for cleaning up my room. My uncle’s voice booming as he and my mother sang Kenny Rogers’s songs. My concept of Home expands far beyond the actual dwelling itself, and now I’m making a Home for my daughter, hopefully helping to build those memories of love and comfort she will seek refuge in her future.
Bio:
Maria DeVivo is a New York native who has had a lifelong love affair with "the pen." A graduate of St. John's University, she has a passion for all things mystical and mythological. She has taught 7th grade Language Arts since 2000, and in 2010, designed the curriculum for an academic elective course entitled Folklore, where she was able to share her passion and knowledge on concentrated topics such as folktales and mythology with her students.
Having grown up in a large Irish/Italian family (where Maria is the oldest child, and of course, the wisest) the mystery and wonder surrounding the holidays were a main staple of her upbringing. At the age of seven, when her mother finally admitted "the truth" to her, she has become somewhat of a "Santa-phile", an obsession that has rooted its way into every fiber of her being. Maria is one of those people who cries when Santa makes His grand appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Coupled with an obsession for all things dark and demented, her debut novel, The Coal Elf, was born.
Maria now lives in Florida with her husband, Joe, and daughter, Morgan. When not teaching or writing or running around after her daughter, she enjoys drinking iced coffee, watching horror movies, and playing video games.
For a cool journey into the inner workings of the elves at the North Pole, check out Maria's, The Coal Elf.
Blurb:
Ember Skye is a fed up teenage Coal Elf with a big ashy chip on her shoulder. Having been torn away from a carefree life and forced into a world of dirt and darkness has started to get the best of her. And being the only girl-elf working as a coal miner at the North Pole doesn’t help much either!Then there’s Sturd: a power-hungry, twisted elf with a checkered past and a serious grudge against Ember. Slowly but surely, his maniacal tendencies are revealed, leaving Ember with the sacred “Naughty List” literally in her lap.
When a mysterious illness threatens to decimate elves both Above and Underground, Ember is thrust into a journey that will see her confront the literal and figurative demons of her past and lead her to the head of the North Pole himself.
Yes! Santa is real. But this isn’t your childhood Christmas tale!
"...A story with plenty of twists and turns, the reader is drawn into a world of dust and darkness with tension so strong it can be felt throughout. You will hold your breath at the challenges Ember must face and be pulled along as the plot thickens." ~ Anne K. Edwards, author of The Last to Fall.
Amazon Buylink: The Coal Elf is currently at a special holiday price of $2.99
AMAZON Connect with DeVivo:www.mariadevivo.comwww.facebook.com/mariadevivoauthor@Maria_DeVivo
October 28, 2013
What Scares You? (Or where do writers get their ideas?) by Aaron Paul Lazar
(The Mad Muncle is pleased to present a guest post by Aaron Paul Lazar. Be sure to check out his new romance release, The Seacrest. It's out today! Welcome to the Forge Mr. Lazar!)
As an author I'm often asked, "Where do you get your ideas?"
It's one of my favorite subjects, so if you decide to ask me on our next exchange, pull out a chair and settle in. It's hard for me to stop talking about it once I start.
In previous articles, I've mentioned how life in general (news, friends, movies, etc.) can inspire story lines. Today I'd like to discuss how my fearsdrive my plots.
Allow me to open up right from the beginning and tell you what scares the hell out of me.
1) Losing my wife, daughters, grandkids, or other family members (including pets)2) Being caught in a fire (hey, I didn't say my fears were original, did I?)
3) Drowning
4) Heights
5) Bad guys
6) Plane crashes (if I'm inside)
7) Tornadoes
8) Floods (and a subsequent drowning)
9) Snakes. (shudder)
10) Being in a bad accident in a massive snow storm
11) Falling under the ice and not being able to get out
12) Geez! Isn't 11 enough?
As I analyze this long list of fears, I realize I've used those themes over and over again in my twenty-one books. Those twists on all the themes have given my characters fits on a number of occasions. In Double Forte' ,Gus nearly drowns, his daughter is threatened, his grandson disappears, and he goes off the road with said grandson in the vehicle in a bad snowstorm. Uh huh. Looks at all those fears!
In Upstaged , Gus has to deal with a big snake, he's terrorized by a psychotic maniac, and his fiancee's beloved dog is kidnapped.
Mazurka opens with a near plane crash, Gus and Camille are hunted by Nazis, abandoned unground in the Parisian Catacombs, almost drowned when their car plunges into an alpine lake, and are imprisoned during a fierce fire. Oh yeah, Mazurka hit a lot of them.
In Tremolo: cry of the loon ,we do the handcuffed-to-a-bed-in-a-roaring-fire bit, the being-attacked-underwater-and-almost-drowning-bit, and also have Gus misunderstand and think his mother died. Phew. That was a bad one, too.
So I won't go through
Firesong
, which includes many of the above as well, but believe me, fears are intertwined in all the books. And facing those fears by writing about them is good therapy. It's also a good way to get your readers' hearts pumping, for you can be assured that many of your fears are shared by them.
And now that I’ve written my first love story,
The Seacrest
, I realize that I’ve utilized many examples from the first two on the list above – Finn loses his mother, father, grandfather, sister ten years before the story opens, and then he has another huge loss in chapter 1, which starts in 2013. Not to mention the fire! Wow, it’s pretty amazing when you analyze your own work from this angle.
So, writers. What scares you?
Aaron Paul LazarHere's where you can pick up your copy of The Seacrest:
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/16pjh4i Smashwords Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369357 Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17dYYY8
www.lazarbooks.com
As an author I'm often asked, "Where do you get your ideas?"
It's one of my favorite subjects, so if you decide to ask me on our next exchange, pull out a chair and settle in. It's hard for me to stop talking about it once I start.
In previous articles, I've mentioned how life in general (news, friends, movies, etc.) can inspire story lines. Today I'd like to discuss how my fearsdrive my plots.
Allow me to open up right from the beginning and tell you what scares the hell out of me.
1) Losing my wife, daughters, grandkids, or other family members (including pets)2) Being caught in a fire (hey, I didn't say my fears were original, did I?)
3) Drowning
4) Heights
5) Bad guys
6) Plane crashes (if I'm inside)
7) Tornadoes
8) Floods (and a subsequent drowning)
9) Snakes. (shudder)
10) Being in a bad accident in a massive snow storm
11) Falling under the ice and not being able to get out
12) Geez! Isn't 11 enough?
As I analyze this long list of fears, I realize I've used those themes over and over again in my twenty-one books. Those twists on all the themes have given my characters fits on a number of occasions. In Double Forte' ,Gus nearly drowns, his daughter is threatened, his grandson disappears, and he goes off the road with said grandson in the vehicle in a bad snowstorm. Uh huh. Looks at all those fears!
In Upstaged , Gus has to deal with a big snake, he's terrorized by a psychotic maniac, and his fiancee's beloved dog is kidnapped.
Mazurka opens with a near plane crash, Gus and Camille are hunted by Nazis, abandoned unground in the Parisian Catacombs, almost drowned when their car plunges into an alpine lake, and are imprisoned during a fierce fire. Oh yeah, Mazurka hit a lot of them.
In Tremolo: cry of the loon ,we do the handcuffed-to-a-bed-in-a-roaring-fire bit, the being-attacked-underwater-and-almost-drowning-bit, and also have Gus misunderstand and think his mother died. Phew. That was a bad one, too.
So I won't go through
Firesong
, which includes many of the above as well, but believe me, fears are intertwined in all the books. And facing those fears by writing about them is good therapy. It's also a good way to get your readers' hearts pumping, for you can be assured that many of your fears are shared by them. 
And now that I’ve written my first love story,
The Seacrest
, I realize that I’ve utilized many examples from the first two on the list above – Finn loses his mother, father, grandfather, sister ten years before the story opens, and then he has another huge loss in chapter 1, which starts in 2013. Not to mention the fire! Wow, it’s pretty amazing when you analyze your own work from this angle. So, writers. What scares you?
Aaron Paul LazarHere's where you can pick up your copy of The Seacrest:
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/16pjh4i Smashwords Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369357 Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17dYYY8
www.lazarbooks.com
October 4, 2013
Knight of Flame Virtual Book Tour Schedule
10/8/13 - ***New October Tour Stops Added***
Pump Up Your Book! is coordinating the Knight of Flame Virtual Book Tour. I'll be popping up all over the net talking about writing, Knight of Flame, and all kinds of things. Follow along and join in the fun.
Here's the schedule for October:
Monday, October 7 – 1st chapter reveal at Wanted Readers Tuesday, October 8 – Book featured at Naturally Kim B Wednesday, October 9 – Book featured at Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem Friday, October 11 – Interviewed at Broowaha Monday, October 14 – 1st chapter reveal at Miki’s Hope Tuesday, October 15 – Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book Tuesday, October 15 – Interviewed at Acting Balanced Wednesday, October 17 – Interviewed at Review From Here Thursday, October 18 – Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking Thursday, October 18 – Book featured at The Wormhole Monday, October 21 – Interviewed at Straight From the Authors Mouth Monday, October 21 – Book featured at Wanted Readers Tuesday, October 22 – Guest blogging at I’m Shelf-ish Wednesday, October 23 – Guest blogging at Between the Covers Friday, October 25 – Interviewed at Literal Exposure Friday, October 25 – 1st chapter reveal at Literary Winner Monday, October 28 – Guest blogging at Allvoices Monday, October 28 – Book review and Guest blogging at Inside BJ’s Head Tuesday, October 29 – 1st chapter reveal at Queen of All She Reads Wednesday, October 30 – Guest blogging at The Writer’s Life
More dates will be added in November.
Pump Up Your Book! is coordinating the Knight of Flame Virtual Book Tour. I'll be popping up all over the net talking about writing, Knight of Flame, and all kinds of things. Follow along and join in the fun.
Here's the schedule for October:
Monday, October 7 – 1st chapter reveal at Wanted Readers Tuesday, October 8 – Book featured at Naturally Kim B Wednesday, October 9 – Book featured at Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem Friday, October 11 – Interviewed at Broowaha Monday, October 14 – 1st chapter reveal at Miki’s Hope Tuesday, October 15 – Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book Tuesday, October 15 – Interviewed at Acting Balanced Wednesday, October 17 – Interviewed at Review From Here Thursday, October 18 – Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking Thursday, October 18 – Book featured at The Wormhole Monday, October 21 – Interviewed at Straight From the Authors Mouth Monday, October 21 – Book featured at Wanted Readers Tuesday, October 22 – Guest blogging at I’m Shelf-ish Wednesday, October 23 – Guest blogging at Between the Covers Friday, October 25 – Interviewed at Literal Exposure Friday, October 25 – 1st chapter reveal at Literary Winner Monday, October 28 – Guest blogging at Allvoices Monday, October 28 – Book review and Guest blogging at Inside BJ’s Head Tuesday, October 29 – 1st chapter reveal at Queen of All She Reads Wednesday, October 30 – Guest blogging at The Writer’s Life
More dates will be added in November.
September 18, 2013
How a Rocket Scientist Becomes a Writer - Guest Post by Stephanie Osborn
[The Mad Muncle welcomes his first guest to the Forge, Twilight Times Books author Stephanie Osborn. Her Displaced Detective Series is burning up the charts.]
My first published novel was a SF mystery (I seem to have a fondness for combining those two genres) published by Twilight Times Books back in 2009. Burnout: The mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281 is a techno-thriller about a Space Shuttle disaster that turns out to be no accident.
There's a loooong story behind the writing of Burnout. For one thing, it took me between 10-15 years from the conception of the idea, and the published book.
Why? Simple.
I was too close to it.
Let’s back up a couple decades.
I’d just started working in the field when the Challengerdisaster occurred. The program I worked at the time of the disaster was to have led to a Shuttle mission, and I would have been a Payload Specialist candidate. Shortly thereafter, the next phase of my project was cancelled due to the grounding of the Shuttle Fleet. So I moved into the payload flight control area.
Over a couple of decades I worked seven Space Shuttle missions, at least four increments on the International Space Station, and a number of space defense programs. You get into some interesting conversations from time to time.
The seeds of Burnout began as a conversation concerning certain abilities of the Shuttle. It does have an autopilot, and a very limited remote control capability. We discussed under what circumstances a Shuttle could be damaged on orbit and still manage a reasonably safe descent.
Sounds morbid. But the first step to preventing a disaster is to figure out what might cause one, then develop preventive measures and recovery procedures. This means talking about it, working out the details of the malfunction, then working backwards to “fix” it.
And yes, this required considerable knowledge of the guts of a Shuttle. Betwixt us all, we possessed the requisite knowledge. I don't know that we ever did decide whether it was possible.
But that was the birth of the idea. What if I wrote a story about a Shuttle accident, and the ensuing investigation? What sort of accident should it be? Should it cause merely a dangerous, or a catastrophic, malfunction?
And then the idea hit: What if it WASN’T an accident?
And that was when Burnout was born.
My first Shuttle mission was the first Spacelab flight after the post-Challenger Return To Flight. So my research for Burnout included all of the investigative reports and such for that disaster. But I didn’t want anyone thinking I was playing off a tragedy, so I changed the scenario. Whereas Challenger blew during the ascent phase, I’d make my fictional disaster occur during re-entry. I started writing.
So here I was, squarely in the middle of a career in the Shuttle program, writing about a Shuttle disaster. The exact thing that I, as a payload flight controller, did NOT want to see, at least in real life. Certainly not on my watch.
It messes with your head, that.
So I’d write on it awhile, then put it aside when it got to me. I wouldn’t look at it again for months. Then the “plot bunny” would bite again, and I’d pull it out and go at it for awhile.
Somewhere in there, my husband Darrell introduced me to Travis “Doc” Taylor, best-selling science fiction author, TV star of National Geographic’s When Aliens Attack and Rocket City Rednecks and at that time, my husband’s co-worker. Darrell is a graphics artist and does all of the artwork for my book covers, and had done some cover concepts for one of Travis’ books. So when Darrell told Travis I was trying to get published, Travis suggested he introduce us. Darrell did, we clicked, and I acquired a writing mentor.
With that encouragement, I pushed on. Darrell got used to stomping up to me when I was writing: A husband suddenly materializing at my shoulder and saying something is apt to end up with him peeling me from the ceiling.
Eventually I finished a rough draft and sent it to Travis, who’d promised to read it and give me a helpful critique. When he felt it was polished enough, he’d help me further by submitting it to one of his publisher friends. He said he’d been helped like that, and he intended to pass it forward. I promised him I would, too.
So I sent him the Word file and sat back, glad I’d finally gotten the thing finished.
And then, the unthinkable happened.
Columbia went down. And I had a friend aboard.
By that time, I was into military work, or my emotional response might have been even worse. As it was, I put the manuscript away for six months or so. I'd lost TWO friends at one go: KC, and Columbia; because that was the Shuttle with which I'd worked the most.
I talked to Travis later; he said it kinda freaked him too. He went over the whole manuscript in detail, and sent me back a list of compliments, critiques, and suggestions. Unfortunately I wasn’t in any kind of emotional condition to use them. And wouldn’t be for nearly a year.
I seriously considered trashing the manuscript. I downloaded the Columbia Accident Investigation Board’s report and studied it, looking to see if I was way off in left field with my scenario. If I was, then I should probably trash the manuscript anyway. If I wasn’t…
I wasn’t. I didn’t have to change a word.
In the end, I went forward and dedicated the novel to Kalpana and the Columbia crew. I dug up Travis’ notes and printed them out. I had to double the size of the manuscript, which meant essentially writing a whole ‘nother story. So I wrote several stories, and intertwined them in a series of subplots.
I also wrote an afterward in which I basically swore up and down that the book was written BEFORE the accident. I didn’t want anyone prone to conspiracy theories thinking that, as a NASA insider, I’d written the real story of Columbia under the guise of fiction.
And THEN… I sent it to Travis.
The first publisher he sent it to rejected it. Not for any particular flaws in the book; it turns out that 1) they weren’t taking on newbie authors at that time, 2) it didn’t fit the type of book they usually published. That was hard. But I was thankful I had a mentor, because Trav wouldn’t let me get down about it. Instead he sent it to Twilight Times Books. I clearly remember his email going out on a Thursday. On Sunday, the editor in chief, Lida Quillen, sent me an email outlining the standard contract for accepting a book. By Monday, I had my very first book contract in my hands. I was about to become a published author!
Next came a year of reviewing, editing, honing, adding, subtracting, finding a rather large plot hole and plugging it, galley proofs, and being asked to write a book with another author. The Y Factor, co-authored with Darrell Bain, the 2nd book of the Cresperia Saga begun by Bain and Travis with the award-winning Human By Choice, came out in ebook the same day Burnout came out in ebook and print – Tax Day, 2009. Both hit best-seller lists with various sales groups, and both were favorably reviewed by a syndicated columnist in the New York Times.
Burnout has done rather well in the time it’s been in publication. It’s been nominated for awards in four different genres – ebook, science fiction, mystery, and thriller – and has garnered some interest from Los Angeles. I already have the contract in hand for the sequel, and a screenplay is written for a feature film project.
Burnout’s sequel, tentatively titled Escape Velocity, is in work. The master script is nearly finished (though the shooting script isn’t even begun), and hopefully some producers will be interested in bringing my imagination to cinematic life in the near future. The Y Factor’s sequel, The Cresperian Alliance, is out; I’ve written a book with Travis titled Extraction Point. And I have an entire series, the Displaced Detective saga, in work, with the first story in two volumes, The Case of the Displaced Detective: The Arrival and At Speed, just released.
I left the space program shortly before Travis submitted Burnout for me. Now I write full time, and have 10 books, novel and anthology, under my belt. From rocket scientist to author in a couple of years’ time.
Not too shabby, I suppose.
STEPHANIE OSBORN Interstellar Woman of Mystery
Few can claim the varied background of Stephanie Osborn, the Interstellar Woman of Mystery.
Veteran of more than 20 years in the civilian space program, as well as various military space defense programs, she worked on numerous space shuttle flights and the International Space Station, and counts the training of astronauts on her resumé. Her space experience also includes Spacelab and ISS operations, variable star astrophysics, Martian aeolian geophysics, radiation physics, and nuclear, biological, and
chemical weapons effects.
Stephanie holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in four sciences:
astronomy, physics, chemistry and mathematics, and she is “fluent” in several
more, including geology and anatomy.
In addition she possesses a license of ministry, has been a duly sworn, certified police officer, and is a National Weather Service certified storm spotter.
Her travels have taken her to the top of Pikes Peak, across the world’s highest suspension bridge, down gold mines, in the footsteps of dinosaurs, through groves of giant Sequoias, and even to the volcanoes of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, where she was present for several phreatic eruptions of Mount St. Helens.
Now retired from space work, Stephanie has trained her sights on writing. She has authored, co-authored, or contributed to more than 20 books, including the celebrated science-fiction mystery, Burnout: The Mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281. She is the co-author of the “Cresperian Saga,” book series, and currently writes the critically acclaimed “Displaced Detective” series, described as “Sherlock Holmes meets The X-Files.” She recently released the paranormal/horror novella El Vengador, based on a true story, as an ebook.
In addition to her writing work, the Interstellar Woman of Mystery now happily “pays it forward,” teaching math and science through numerous media including radio, podcasting and public speaking, as well as working with SIGMA, the science-fiction think tank.
The Mystery continues.
The Displaced Detective Series by Stephanie Osborn is a science fiction mystery in which the brilliant hyperspatial physicist, Dr. Skye Chadwick, discovers that there are alternate realities, and said alternates are often populated by those we consider only literary characters. Her pet research, Project: Tesseract, hidden deep under Schriever AFB, is her means of looking in on these continua. In one particular reality, continuum 114, a certain Victorian detective (who, in fact, exists in several continua) was to have died along with his arch-nemesis at the Reichenbach Falls. Knee-jerking, Skye intervenes, rescuing her hero Sherlock Holmes, who inadvertently flies through the tesseract wormhole connecting his universe with ours, while his enemy Professor James Moriarty plunges to his death. Unable to send Holmes back without causing devastating continuum collapse due to non-uniqueness, he must stay in our world and learn to adapt to the 21st century. Hijinks ensue, and the series has been aptly described as “Sherlock Holmes meets the X-Files,” as he and Chadwick take on modern spy rings, UFOs, mass spontaneous combustion, and more.
Osborn’s take on the series, in her own words, is “an attempt to see how far I could stretch Holmes without breaking him. I wanted to put him in a situation that would drive most men mad, and see what he would do. He definitely rose to the occasion.”
Books 1-4 of the series have been released:The Case of the Displaced Detective: The ArrivalThe Case of the Displaced Detective: At SpeedThe Case of the Cosmological Killer: The Rendlesham IncidentThe Case of the Cosmological Killer: Endings and Beginnings
Check out these and other great books by Stephanie:Amazon Barnes & Noble
My first published novel was a SF mystery (I seem to have a fondness for combining those two genres) published by Twilight Times Books back in 2009. Burnout: The mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281 is a techno-thriller about a Space Shuttle disaster that turns out to be no accident.
There's a loooong story behind the writing of Burnout. For one thing, it took me between 10-15 years from the conception of the idea, and the published book.
Why? Simple.
I was too close to it.
Let’s back up a couple decades.
I’d just started working in the field when the Challengerdisaster occurred. The program I worked at the time of the disaster was to have led to a Shuttle mission, and I would have been a Payload Specialist candidate. Shortly thereafter, the next phase of my project was cancelled due to the grounding of the Shuttle Fleet. So I moved into the payload flight control area.
Over a couple of decades I worked seven Space Shuttle missions, at least four increments on the International Space Station, and a number of space defense programs. You get into some interesting conversations from time to time.
The seeds of Burnout began as a conversation concerning certain abilities of the Shuttle. It does have an autopilot, and a very limited remote control capability. We discussed under what circumstances a Shuttle could be damaged on orbit and still manage a reasonably safe descent.
Sounds morbid. But the first step to preventing a disaster is to figure out what might cause one, then develop preventive measures and recovery procedures. This means talking about it, working out the details of the malfunction, then working backwards to “fix” it.
And yes, this required considerable knowledge of the guts of a Shuttle. Betwixt us all, we possessed the requisite knowledge. I don't know that we ever did decide whether it was possible.
But that was the birth of the idea. What if I wrote a story about a Shuttle accident, and the ensuing investigation? What sort of accident should it be? Should it cause merely a dangerous, or a catastrophic, malfunction?
And then the idea hit: What if it WASN’T an accident?
And that was when Burnout was born.
My first Shuttle mission was the first Spacelab flight after the post-Challenger Return To Flight. So my research for Burnout included all of the investigative reports and such for that disaster. But I didn’t want anyone thinking I was playing off a tragedy, so I changed the scenario. Whereas Challenger blew during the ascent phase, I’d make my fictional disaster occur during re-entry. I started writing.
So here I was, squarely in the middle of a career in the Shuttle program, writing about a Shuttle disaster. The exact thing that I, as a payload flight controller, did NOT want to see, at least in real life. Certainly not on my watch.
It messes with your head, that.
So I’d write on it awhile, then put it aside when it got to me. I wouldn’t look at it again for months. Then the “plot bunny” would bite again, and I’d pull it out and go at it for awhile.
Somewhere in there, my husband Darrell introduced me to Travis “Doc” Taylor, best-selling science fiction author, TV star of National Geographic’s When Aliens Attack and Rocket City Rednecks and at that time, my husband’s co-worker. Darrell is a graphics artist and does all of the artwork for my book covers, and had done some cover concepts for one of Travis’ books. So when Darrell told Travis I was trying to get published, Travis suggested he introduce us. Darrell did, we clicked, and I acquired a writing mentor.
With that encouragement, I pushed on. Darrell got used to stomping up to me when I was writing: A husband suddenly materializing at my shoulder and saying something is apt to end up with him peeling me from the ceiling.
Eventually I finished a rough draft and sent it to Travis, who’d promised to read it and give me a helpful critique. When he felt it was polished enough, he’d help me further by submitting it to one of his publisher friends. He said he’d been helped like that, and he intended to pass it forward. I promised him I would, too.
So I sent him the Word file and sat back, glad I’d finally gotten the thing finished.
And then, the unthinkable happened.
Columbia went down. And I had a friend aboard.
By that time, I was into military work, or my emotional response might have been even worse. As it was, I put the manuscript away for six months or so. I'd lost TWO friends at one go: KC, and Columbia; because that was the Shuttle with which I'd worked the most.
I talked to Travis later; he said it kinda freaked him too. He went over the whole manuscript in detail, and sent me back a list of compliments, critiques, and suggestions. Unfortunately I wasn’t in any kind of emotional condition to use them. And wouldn’t be for nearly a year.
I seriously considered trashing the manuscript. I downloaded the Columbia Accident Investigation Board’s report and studied it, looking to see if I was way off in left field with my scenario. If I was, then I should probably trash the manuscript anyway. If I wasn’t…
I wasn’t. I didn’t have to change a word.
In the end, I went forward and dedicated the novel to Kalpana and the Columbia crew. I dug up Travis’ notes and printed them out. I had to double the size of the manuscript, which meant essentially writing a whole ‘nother story. So I wrote several stories, and intertwined them in a series of subplots.
I also wrote an afterward in which I basically swore up and down that the book was written BEFORE the accident. I didn’t want anyone prone to conspiracy theories thinking that, as a NASA insider, I’d written the real story of Columbia under the guise of fiction.
And THEN… I sent it to Travis.
The first publisher he sent it to rejected it. Not for any particular flaws in the book; it turns out that 1) they weren’t taking on newbie authors at that time, 2) it didn’t fit the type of book they usually published. That was hard. But I was thankful I had a mentor, because Trav wouldn’t let me get down about it. Instead he sent it to Twilight Times Books. I clearly remember his email going out on a Thursday. On Sunday, the editor in chief, Lida Quillen, sent me an email outlining the standard contract for accepting a book. By Monday, I had my very first book contract in my hands. I was about to become a published author!
Next came a year of reviewing, editing, honing, adding, subtracting, finding a rather large plot hole and plugging it, galley proofs, and being asked to write a book with another author. The Y Factor, co-authored with Darrell Bain, the 2nd book of the Cresperia Saga begun by Bain and Travis with the award-winning Human By Choice, came out in ebook the same day Burnout came out in ebook and print – Tax Day, 2009. Both hit best-seller lists with various sales groups, and both were favorably reviewed by a syndicated columnist in the New York Times.
Burnout has done rather well in the time it’s been in publication. It’s been nominated for awards in four different genres – ebook, science fiction, mystery, and thriller – and has garnered some interest from Los Angeles. I already have the contract in hand for the sequel, and a screenplay is written for a feature film project.
Burnout’s sequel, tentatively titled Escape Velocity, is in work. The master script is nearly finished (though the shooting script isn’t even begun), and hopefully some producers will be interested in bringing my imagination to cinematic life in the near future. The Y Factor’s sequel, The Cresperian Alliance, is out; I’ve written a book with Travis titled Extraction Point. And I have an entire series, the Displaced Detective saga, in work, with the first story in two volumes, The Case of the Displaced Detective: The Arrival and At Speed, just released.
I left the space program shortly before Travis submitted Burnout for me. Now I write full time, and have 10 books, novel and anthology, under my belt. From rocket scientist to author in a couple of years’ time.
Not too shabby, I suppose.
STEPHANIE OSBORN Interstellar Woman of Mystery
Few can claim the varied background of Stephanie Osborn, the Interstellar Woman of Mystery.Veteran of more than 20 years in the civilian space program, as well as various military space defense programs, she worked on numerous space shuttle flights and the International Space Station, and counts the training of astronauts on her resumé. Her space experience also includes Spacelab and ISS operations, variable star astrophysics, Martian aeolian geophysics, radiation physics, and nuclear, biological, and
chemical weapons effects.
Stephanie holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in four sciences:
astronomy, physics, chemistry and mathematics, and she is “fluent” in several
more, including geology and anatomy.
In addition she possesses a license of ministry, has been a duly sworn, certified police officer, and is a National Weather Service certified storm spotter.
Her travels have taken her to the top of Pikes Peak, across the world’s highest suspension bridge, down gold mines, in the footsteps of dinosaurs, through groves of giant Sequoias, and even to the volcanoes of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, where she was present for several phreatic eruptions of Mount St. Helens.
Now retired from space work, Stephanie has trained her sights on writing. She has authored, co-authored, or contributed to more than 20 books, including the celebrated science-fiction mystery, Burnout: The Mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281. She is the co-author of the “Cresperian Saga,” book series, and currently writes the critically acclaimed “Displaced Detective” series, described as “Sherlock Holmes meets The X-Files.” She recently released the paranormal/horror novella El Vengador, based on a true story, as an ebook.
In addition to her writing work, the Interstellar Woman of Mystery now happily “pays it forward,” teaching math and science through numerous media including radio, podcasting and public speaking, as well as working with SIGMA, the science-fiction think tank.
The Mystery continues.
The Displaced Detective Series by Stephanie Osborn is a science fiction mystery in which the brilliant hyperspatial physicist, Dr. Skye Chadwick, discovers that there are alternate realities, and said alternates are often populated by those we consider only literary characters. Her pet research, Project: Tesseract, hidden deep under Schriever AFB, is her means of looking in on these continua. In one particular reality, continuum 114, a certain Victorian detective (who, in fact, exists in several continua) was to have died along with his arch-nemesis at the Reichenbach Falls. Knee-jerking, Skye intervenes, rescuing her hero Sherlock Holmes, who inadvertently flies through the tesseract wormhole connecting his universe with ours, while his enemy Professor James Moriarty plunges to his death. Unable to send Holmes back without causing devastating continuum collapse due to non-uniqueness, he must stay in our world and learn to adapt to the 21st century. Hijinks ensue, and the series has been aptly described as “Sherlock Holmes meets the X-Files,” as he and Chadwick take on modern spy rings, UFOs, mass spontaneous combustion, and more.
Osborn’s take on the series, in her own words, is “an attempt to see how far I could stretch Holmes without breaking him. I wanted to put him in a situation that would drive most men mad, and see what he would do. He definitely rose to the occasion.”
Books 1-4 of the series have been released:The Case of the Displaced Detective: The ArrivalThe Case of the Displaced Detective: At SpeedThe Case of the Cosmological Killer: The Rendlesham IncidentThe Case of the Cosmological Killer: Endings and Beginnings
Check out these and other great books by Stephanie:Amazon Barnes & Noble
September 16, 2013
Knight of Flame Release Day!!!
The war against the last Gray Lord has begun. Knight of Flame is now available on the Nook and Kindle.
Fire. The most chaotic of the primal elements. When wielded properly by the Knight of Flame, it burns like the sun. Otherwise, it slowly consumes the Knight, burning away his control, driving him towards dark deeds.
Stationed in Tampa, FL, Develor Quinteele, sixth Knight of Flame, waits impatiently for the predicted emergence of the last Gray Lord, his Order's ancient enemy. Hampered by a centuries-old tragedy, Dev knows of only one way to control his elemental power—rage. It broils just below his surface, waiting for the slightest provocation to set it alight.
Anticipating Dev's transition from asset to liability, his commander assigns a young guardian, Wren, to report on Dev's actions. Torn between duty and love, Wren struggles to save her Knight; but, after a brutal attack by the Gray Lord's minions for which Dev is wrongly blamed, he's stripped of his freedom until he regains control. With the help of his fellow Knights, can Dev regain his balance and unlock his full elemental potential in time to prevent the destruction of all life in Tampa?Buy Links:KindleNook
Print edition scheduled for a 12/15/13 release.
Fire. The most chaotic of the primal elements. When wielded properly by the Knight of Flame, it burns like the sun. Otherwise, it slowly consumes the Knight, burning away his control, driving him towards dark deeds.Stationed in Tampa, FL, Develor Quinteele, sixth Knight of Flame, waits impatiently for the predicted emergence of the last Gray Lord, his Order's ancient enemy. Hampered by a centuries-old tragedy, Dev knows of only one way to control his elemental power—rage. It broils just below his surface, waiting for the slightest provocation to set it alight.
Anticipating Dev's transition from asset to liability, his commander assigns a young guardian, Wren, to report on Dev's actions. Torn between duty and love, Wren struggles to save her Knight; but, after a brutal attack by the Gray Lord's minions for which Dev is wrongly blamed, he's stripped of his freedom until he regains control. With the help of his fellow Knights, can Dev regain his balance and unlock his full elemental potential in time to prevent the destruction of all life in Tampa?Buy Links:KindleNook
Print edition scheduled for a 12/15/13 release.
September 13, 2013
Be Open. Be Ready. Be Bold. – Building Readership One Person at a Time
I'm an introvert, meaning that I'm more inclined to hunker down in a corner with my own thoughts as company than to go out of my way to talk to other people. Definitely a big 'ole 'I' on the Myers-Briggs scale. During my corporate life, I had to learn how to toggle that trait. At times, I could be all inward focused, living quietly within my own little world. And others, I had to be 'On.' In meetings or presentations, I needed to be the center of attention, to project an air of calm authority and confidence. Once I got back to my office, I turned it off, and reverted back to my quiet, unassuming ways.
Writing is a solitary endeavor. Sitting at my computer, click-clacking the day away fits my natural, introverted tendency perfectly. And then I sold a book.
Don't get me wrong, selling the book was the whole idea. I wanted to get published, to see my name on the cover of a story I wrote, and have readers laugh, cry and live along with my characters. With the first two items completed, I needed to make the third happen. I needed to find those readers.
Manhandling the power of the Internet and the broad appeal of social media is a great way to attract people to your work. Entire books have been written on this subject by people far more experienced than me. Find and devour them. Use the wisdom contained therein to build your readership. I will too, but that's not the purpose of this little blog entry. Believe it or not, there are potential readers right outside your door. Not literally, unless you live in a shop at the mall, but within the comfort of your own neighborhood.
Manipulating the forces of Cyber from behind the safety of your computer monitor is all well and good, but at some point you need to step from behind the glass curtain. And when you do, you need to be ready to "turn it on." Pull your head from the cloudbank of imaginary life, and be open to the immediate marketing opportunities surrounding you.
Readers are everywhere.
Before you open your front door and step outside, make sure you have your business cards in your pocket. Business cards are not only for corporate drones. They are a branding tool, an informational souvenir of your meeting. If you want people to take you seriously and also have something to remember you by, hand them a business card. They are cheap and simple. Here's mine:
It's got my symbol, title, and contact information. Neat, attractive, and uncluttered. You can make them yourself or order 250 online for less than $20. Do it.
Like I said, readers are everywhere. So when I say take your cards with you when you step outside your door, I mean it. Take them everywhere.
Here are three recent, personal examples to illustrate why this is important.
I went to the dentist yesterday. Yuck, right? Damn straight. It wasn't a six month cleaning, either. It was crowning/filling nastiness totally devoid of Awesome…until the end of the procedure. The dentist was cool. The Licensed Dental Assistant (I wanted to call her a super-tooth-fixer-agent, but my cousin Kris, who's in the industry, told me that title doesn't exist. Pity.) was super nice. The numbing, drilling, and molding sucked, but wasn't horrific. So, all said and done, as I got ready to leave, the Licensed Dental Assistant picked up the book I'm currently reading, Wool, by Hugh Howey, and checked it out. She asked if it was any good. Of course I told her it was. She skimmed the back cover and said she was looking for something new to read.
This, my friends, is what's called a perfect setup.
I told her that Wool was good (Actually it's really, really good), but she should try my book. (Sorry, Hugh. I'll buy you a beer at Superstars Writing Seminar, 2015.) That's when I got the wide-eyed stare. "You're book!?" Yep. I whipped out a card, and gave her the elevator pitch. By the time we reached the payment desk, she assured me she'd buy my book. What started out as a mundane trip to the house of horrors ended on a wonderful note.
Something similar happened at the Veterinarian's office (the doghouse of horror?) I took my dog in for her semi-annual exam. In between the "She's so cute"s and the "You're such a good girl"s, the Vet asked if I had been doing anything fun. Well, yeah, kinda. Now that you ask…boom! I whipped out a card, and gave her my elevator speech. As it turned out she was also writing a book. We talked about the craft for a few minutes then she said she'd buy a copy for all the people working in the office. Not too bad for a trip to the vet.
While the prior examples had direct setups, sometimes you have to give Fate a swift kick in the butt to make things happen. Develop your own opportunities.
I coach bowling. I'm there for the kids, but when I see someone reading a book, I just have to know what it is. At practice the other day, one of the bowling moms sat by herself reading a book. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I initiated a conversation with a simple question, "So…whatcha readin'?" The answer led to a conversation where I could, without sounding pompous or overbearing, pitch my book and win over another reader, several readers as it turns out. Other parents listened in and participated in the conversation.
Be careful with this approach, though. I wouldn't just march up to the first person you see, bold as brass, and blurt out your question. You don't want to be perceived as a creeper.
Opportunities abound! Some are overt and drop right in your lap. Others you have to look for as they might be hidden beneath the open cover of a book. Readers don't just cluster together wherever books are sold, or in coffee shops. No. They are everywhere. Supermarkets, hair salons, doctor's offices, etc. Find them. Talk to them. Spread the word.
Be open. Be ready. Be bold.
Writing is a solitary endeavor. Sitting at my computer, click-clacking the day away fits my natural, introverted tendency perfectly. And then I sold a book.
Don't get me wrong, selling the book was the whole idea. I wanted to get published, to see my name on the cover of a story I wrote, and have readers laugh, cry and live along with my characters. With the first two items completed, I needed to make the third happen. I needed to find those readers.
Manhandling the power of the Internet and the broad appeal of social media is a great way to attract people to your work. Entire books have been written on this subject by people far more experienced than me. Find and devour them. Use the wisdom contained therein to build your readership. I will too, but that's not the purpose of this little blog entry. Believe it or not, there are potential readers right outside your door. Not literally, unless you live in a shop at the mall, but within the comfort of your own neighborhood.
Manipulating the forces of Cyber from behind the safety of your computer monitor is all well and good, but at some point you need to step from behind the glass curtain. And when you do, you need to be ready to "turn it on." Pull your head from the cloudbank of imaginary life, and be open to the immediate marketing opportunities surrounding you.
Readers are everywhere.
Before you open your front door and step outside, make sure you have your business cards in your pocket. Business cards are not only for corporate drones. They are a branding tool, an informational souvenir of your meeting. If you want people to take you seriously and also have something to remember you by, hand them a business card. They are cheap and simple. Here's mine:
It's got my symbol, title, and contact information. Neat, attractive, and uncluttered. You can make them yourself or order 250 online for less than $20. Do it.
Like I said, readers are everywhere. So when I say take your cards with you when you step outside your door, I mean it. Take them everywhere.
Here are three recent, personal examples to illustrate why this is important.
I went to the dentist yesterday. Yuck, right? Damn straight. It wasn't a six month cleaning, either. It was crowning/filling nastiness totally devoid of Awesome…until the end of the procedure. The dentist was cool. The Licensed Dental Assistant (I wanted to call her a super-tooth-fixer-agent, but my cousin Kris, who's in the industry, told me that title doesn't exist. Pity.) was super nice. The numbing, drilling, and molding sucked, but wasn't horrific. So, all said and done, as I got ready to leave, the Licensed Dental Assistant picked up the book I'm currently reading, Wool, by Hugh Howey, and checked it out. She asked if it was any good. Of course I told her it was. She skimmed the back cover and said she was looking for something new to read.
This, my friends, is what's called a perfect setup.
I told her that Wool was good (Actually it's really, really good), but she should try my book. (Sorry, Hugh. I'll buy you a beer at Superstars Writing Seminar, 2015.) That's when I got the wide-eyed stare. "You're book!?" Yep. I whipped out a card, and gave her the elevator pitch. By the time we reached the payment desk, she assured me she'd buy my book. What started out as a mundane trip to the house of horrors ended on a wonderful note.
Something similar happened at the Veterinarian's office (the doghouse of horror?) I took my dog in for her semi-annual exam. In between the "She's so cute"s and the "You're such a good girl"s, the Vet asked if I had been doing anything fun. Well, yeah, kinda. Now that you ask…boom! I whipped out a card, and gave her my elevator speech. As it turned out she was also writing a book. We talked about the craft for a few minutes then she said she'd buy a copy for all the people working in the office. Not too bad for a trip to the vet.
While the prior examples had direct setups, sometimes you have to give Fate a swift kick in the butt to make things happen. Develop your own opportunities.
I coach bowling. I'm there for the kids, but when I see someone reading a book, I just have to know what it is. At practice the other day, one of the bowling moms sat by herself reading a book. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I initiated a conversation with a simple question, "So…whatcha readin'?" The answer led to a conversation where I could, without sounding pompous or overbearing, pitch my book and win over another reader, several readers as it turns out. Other parents listened in and participated in the conversation.
Be careful with this approach, though. I wouldn't just march up to the first person you see, bold as brass, and blurt out your question. You don't want to be perceived as a creeper.
Opportunities abound! Some are overt and drop right in your lap. Others you have to look for as they might be hidden beneath the open cover of a book. Readers don't just cluster together wherever books are sold, or in coffee shops. No. They are everywhere. Supermarkets, hair salons, doctor's offices, etc. Find them. Talk to them. Spread the word.
Be open. Be ready. Be bold.
August 18, 2013
Work the Marketing Plan – Local Independent Book Stores
With Knight of Flame coming out on October 15th, I turned the crank on my great wheel of marketing to the notch labeled—Local Independent Book Stores (LIBS). While a tremendous amount of work can be done online, there is no substitute for, or a peripheral device yet invented that replaces, a firm handshake, and that personal touch. Building relationships is still important, still relevant, and a great way to garner support at your local independent book seller. It's not a one visit, wham, bam, buy my book, kind of deal. It can be, if your end goal is to see your book on their shelves; but, if you actually want the store personnel to keep you in mind and recommend your books to their customers, it takes a little more time and attention. I learned a lot during my first visit, and would like to share it with you.
The LIBS I targeted is touted as one of the biggest new and used book stores in Florida. They host quite a few author events, as evidenced by the huge array of signed book cover posters along the walls. These guys have been around a long, long time, founded in 1933 to be exact. I haven't been in a store like that in years. The arid smell—of old paper, dust, adventure, and wisdom—filled the place. I loved it.
Now, I've been in tons of bookstores before, but as a reader. This was my first sojourn with more on my mind than picking up the latest release from Brooks, Farland, Anderson, Owen, or several of my other favorites. So, my expectations were low. I wanted to go in, look around, introduce myself, ask how they made stocking decisions, buy a book (I didn't want to take up their time without giving something in return), and call it a successful recon mission with a plan to come back in a few weeks.
It didn't quite work out that way.
I struck up a conversation with one of the guys behind the desk. It only lasted a few minutes, but I got the chance to introduce myself, handed him my business card, and mentioned that I had a book coming out soon. He gave me the owner's card in return and suggested I give him a call. Done. Nothing major, but I was nice, made the initial contact, and gained the information I needed. Mission accomplished.
Free to peruse the shelves, I found the Fantasy section. Being an avid Fantasy guy, most of the other shelves, and there were shelves everywhere, appear grayed out to me anyway. While perusing the new releases, the gentleman I had spoken to, Roger (name changed to protect the innocent), walked over and picked up the conversation where we left off. We talked about some of the different authors, and then changed topics to cover art.
Roger appeared to be roughly my age, give or take, and he'd worked in the store since he was three, THREE, said he started in the comic book room. Based on his confident demeanor, and the comfortable, familiar way he talked about the authors that had held signings over the years, I got the impression he'd seen just about every book that had come out in the last thirty years worth seeing.
We discussed some of the old Frank Frazetta and Boris Valejo covers from the '80s, among other things. Then, in the midst of Roger bemoaning the trend of some Sci-Fi covers being too abstract, I offered to show him my cover art. I mean, what could it hurt? We were in the midst of the cover conversation and he seemed to know a lot about the topic. He said, "Uh, sure." Not overly enthused, but willing to take a peek. (He mentioned earlier that the owner of the store gets at least twenty calls a day from authors asking for him to stock their books. I bet he sees all kinds of covers, all the time. By his demeanor I assume that most aren't all that spectacular.)
So, I pulled my cover up on my cell phone. Did I mention that I love technology?
Roger's eyes widened. His stance changed. He stared at the cover. "That's a really good cover." His voice sounded deeper, different than it was before the reveal. "You know, every book is judged by its cover. I don't care what anyone says. And yours is really good."
His demeanor changed. I felt he took me more seriously. That great conversation we were having before just took on a new level of subtext.
Still on the topic of cover art, he pulled me to another section in the store, explaining how one particular cover sold well. It was a serious military series with a rifle on the cover. Nothing else. It left no question as to what the story was about. He related that the publisher was concerned that the cover was too serious, and rebuffed some readers who were looking for an element of romance. But there was decidedly no romance in the series. At all. None. Still, they changed that cover, depicting an abstract human torso dressed in a nebulous uniform. It gave no clues as to what the story was about, and the artwork sucked (his words). Sales for that entire series tanked. Roger said that he practically had to force people to check it out. Once they did, though, the story sold the rest of the series.
Since our relationship had evolved, and we were talking about a series of cover, I boldly took another step forward. I explained the plan for the changing covers in my four-book series. There are three consistent POV characters throughout my series to ground the reader. In each book, there is an additional POV character, typically one of the other members of the Knights Elementalis. I explained that each cover would showcase the face of that new POV character in the same style as my Knight of Flame cover. The next book features the Knight of Air.
Again, he paused for a moment, taking in the new information. Eyes wide, assessing, mulling over the possibilities, he said, "That sounds really cool. That could work well. Very distinctive."
I got the same impression as before, could even see it on his face.
We talked about a few other things, moseying about the store. He kept track of the work going on around him, making sure the guys behind the counter could handle the steady flow of customers. When we got to the subject of local writers using recognizable settings in their work, I couldn't resist. I mean, he lobbed a big juicy pitch over the center of the plate, I had to swing for the fence.
"Hmm," I said. "Knight of Flame takes place here in the Tampa/St. Pete area. There's an epic battle atop the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and major events take place on the top floor of the Regions Bank building in downtown Tampa. I've got a strong mix of real and fantasy settings in the story."
He waited for me to continue.
"While the first book in the series is primarily local, the next book expands to the west coast, Canada, and Europe as the influence of the Gray Lord is felt on a more global scale. It escalates further from there until things wrap up in book four. My plan was to build a large story that would draw in readers all over the world."
He smiled and nodded as I spoke. "Sounds really good." That's when he told me the process to win over LIBS. I'll paraphrase.
1. When you go into an independent book store, don't talk about the big retailers like Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. It really doesn't matter to them how much you've sold through the other guys. Focus on the store at hand. 2. Be nice. Roger called out a number of the authors on the wall, all exceedingly nice people. He mentioned a few others, no posters marking their presence, giving examples of how not to behave.
That's it. The key is to be nice. Got it. Roger that, er…uhm, Roger. Business picked up in the store, so he excused himself. Not to belabor the issues, or to push my luck, I paid for my selections and left, exhilarated.
I've had a few days to mull this phenomenal adventure over, and I think there are more steps for a successful visit than Roger let on. I lucked out to some degree. I always try to be nice on general principal, and I have no past history with the big book dogs, so there was no way for me to cross the line there. Here's the process I came up with: 1. Be Professionala. Plan the trip – Don't go in on a whim. Set the date and treat it like a business meeting. b. Look decent – Look the part. Be the protagonist in your own author success story. c. Leave a business card - A good looking, professional business card will enhance their perception of you, and leave a souvenir of your visit. 2. Be Nicea. Courteous b. Respectful c. Watch language – treat the encounter like it's a professional business meeting.d. Get to the point – don't waste their time.
3. Be Prepared – if you follow the first two points, especially number two, be prepared to take it to the next level. Create the opportunity to sell yourself and your work. a. Cover art – my awesome cover art was done by Brad Fraunfelter.b. Back cover copyc. Story pitch – you're not selling to an agent or editor, but you are trying to interest someone in your work. d. Anything else you might be able to use to tell your story
4. If you have the means, buy a book – the LIBS guys and gals need to eat too, and your to-be-read pile can never be too large.
That's it. Simple, right? Now, go out and win over your LIBS.
December 17, 2012
The Next Big Thing – Writers' Blog Journey
I was recently tagged for The Next Big Thing by Maria DeVivo. Her YA Dark Fanasy novel, The Coal Elf, came out last month. Check it out. It's really cool. Her blog can be found at: Beneath The Ash
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?The title of my work in progress is, The Last Clan. It's the second book in my series, The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis. I'm currently shopping the first book, Knight of Flame, around to agents and publishers.
Where did the idea come from for the book?I can't point to a single spark of inspiration. The characters and storyline evolved over time. Fire has always captivated me. I can watch a dancing flame for hours, losing myself in its chaotic energy and dazzling display. Why not create a character with the ability to wield and control such a destructive force of nature?
What genre does your book fall under?The series falls under the Contemporary Fantasy genre.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?That's a great question. I mean, what writer out there hasn't dreamed about their book becoming a movie, and the perfect actors to cast. My family has discussed it at length, but it also pop ups out of nowhere. We can be watching a movie and someone blurts out who the current actor on screen would be perfect to play
-Develore Quinteele, Knight of Flame, played by Daniel Craig.
-Magnus Siggurson, Knight of Earth, played by Gerard Butler.
-Wren Sasaki played by Crystal Liu.
-Cassidy Sinclair played by Anne Hathaway.
-The casting for the villain, Alexander Gray, remains cloaked in secrecy. Actually, I don't have him picked out yet. We need someone suave, intense, handsome, and able to pull of brooding menace with a touch of vulnerability.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?A modern-day Knight must overcome the tragedy of his past and rediscover the purifying force of love that, when balanced against his out-of-control rage, unlocks his potential to save the world.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?I do not intend to self-publish, so I'll either sell directly to a publisher or sign with an agent.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?I rewrote the first one hundred pages several times before I got the traction to write the rest. All told, including the rewrites of the first section, about six months. Once I was happy with the opening, I raced through the next three hundred sixty pages in about eight weeks.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I find this a tough question. Most contemporary fantasy I've read falls into the Urban Fantasy category. Those books tend to be written in a single character's point of view, and have a darker, grittier story to tell—the detective noire of the fantasy genre. The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis is more like an epic fantasy set in the modern world. I tried to capture the camaraderie of R.A. Salvatore's Companions of the Hall in my small cadre of elemental knights. Though their situation is dire and their foes nigh invincible, they manage to bring out the best in each other.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?My family is my inspiration. It's only through their support that I find the time to dream and write about the trials and triumphs of my knights and future characters.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?Readers will get to know each of the members of the Knights Elementalis—Knights of Flame, Water, Air and Earth. While certain characters' points of view will persist through the series, each new book will introduce a new perspective. With it comes a host of new thoughts, motives, and all around juicy goodness.
Other Authors to check out in The Next Big Thing:
Jen Greyson
Lori DiNardi
Their posts will be up next week.
Have fun,
Scott
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?The title of my work in progress is, The Last Clan. It's the second book in my series, The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis. I'm currently shopping the first book, Knight of Flame, around to agents and publishers.
Where did the idea come from for the book?I can't point to a single spark of inspiration. The characters and storyline evolved over time. Fire has always captivated me. I can watch a dancing flame for hours, losing myself in its chaotic energy and dazzling display. Why not create a character with the ability to wield and control such a destructive force of nature?
What genre does your book fall under?The series falls under the Contemporary Fantasy genre.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?That's a great question. I mean, what writer out there hasn't dreamed about their book becoming a movie, and the perfect actors to cast. My family has discussed it at length, but it also pop ups out of nowhere. We can be watching a movie and someone blurts out who the current actor on screen would be perfect to play
-Develore Quinteele, Knight of Flame, played by Daniel Craig.
-Magnus Siggurson, Knight of Earth, played by Gerard Butler.
-Wren Sasaki played by Crystal Liu.
-Cassidy Sinclair played by Anne Hathaway.
-The casting for the villain, Alexander Gray, remains cloaked in secrecy. Actually, I don't have him picked out yet. We need someone suave, intense, handsome, and able to pull of brooding menace with a touch of vulnerability.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?A modern-day Knight must overcome the tragedy of his past and rediscover the purifying force of love that, when balanced against his out-of-control rage, unlocks his potential to save the world.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?I do not intend to self-publish, so I'll either sell directly to a publisher or sign with an agent.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?I rewrote the first one hundred pages several times before I got the traction to write the rest. All told, including the rewrites of the first section, about six months. Once I was happy with the opening, I raced through the next three hundred sixty pages in about eight weeks.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I find this a tough question. Most contemporary fantasy I've read falls into the Urban Fantasy category. Those books tend to be written in a single character's point of view, and have a darker, grittier story to tell—the detective noire of the fantasy genre. The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis is more like an epic fantasy set in the modern world. I tried to capture the camaraderie of R.A. Salvatore's Companions of the Hall in my small cadre of elemental knights. Though their situation is dire and their foes nigh invincible, they manage to bring out the best in each other.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?My family is my inspiration. It's only through their support that I find the time to dream and write about the trials and triumphs of my knights and future characters.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?Readers will get to know each of the members of the Knights Elementalis—Knights of Flame, Water, Air and Earth. While certain characters' points of view will persist through the series, each new book will introduce a new perspective. With it comes a host of new thoughts, motives, and all around juicy goodness.
Other Authors to check out in The Next Big Thing:
Jen Greyson
Lori DiNardi
Their posts will be up next week.
Have fun,
Scott
September 17, 2012
Blog Post #4 – Wisdom from Dragon*Con 2012 Part 1 – Genre Confusion (Doh!)
Hello. My name is Scott, and I write Urban Fantasy. Wait, no, that's what I did two weeks ago, before the revelation, before Dragon*Con. Today, in my post-D*C era, I write Contemporary Fantasy. And the funny thing is that I haven't changed a thing. I still write the same novels, but my genre perception has shifted thanks to the wisdom presented at Dragon*Con. I've heard the advice not to worry about genre. Let an agent or editor figure out into which Fantasy subgenre the book should fall since the writer is not typically the best judge. That's all well and good after the fact, once the book is sold and the decisions on how to market it are made. What about when a writer is discussing his work with publishing professionals or other authors?
When talking about my book, framing it in terms of genre is a natural thing. It's meant to set a certain expectation or set of rules in which the plot unfolds and the characters develop. So, when talking about my book, Knight of Flame, I start off by telling people it's Urban Fantasy with strong romantic elements. Here’s the kicker…I was wrong.
But, Scott, say it aint so. I wish I could. I feel kinda silly about it, actually. Thank goodness I came to the realization myself instead of having someone have to point it out to me. I don't claim to know a lot about this industry into which I'm trying hard to break into. In fact, I know fairly little. That's why I keep asking questions, hanging with those who do know about this crazy business, and attending different cons and seminars. Look out World Fantasy, you're next.
I got my first inkling of my genre faux pas early on. I'd been trying to identify my niche, my stand-out factor. What made my Urban Fantasy novel unique? I realized that one of the differences is POV. My novel has multiple POVs. I haven't seen that much in UF. Most UF stories turn upon the axis of a single driving character—typically a badass detective or bounty hunter protecting their slice of the world from the nefarious creatures of the night.
I was good with the multiple POV thing. I started talking that up and building my case on how my book differed from the others. That went well until I started asking questions of NYT bestselling UF authors about it and got some strange looks. Perhaps there's a reason there isn't much multiple POV in UF.
It seems that the general consensus about UF is that the pacing is very fast. That single POV ass-kicker drives through the story at a very fast pace. The characters don't typically amble about smelling the flowers. They find and fight the badies threatening their town. The tone is dark and gritty, like the dirty streets and water of the cityscape in which they prowl. UF is the noire of the Fantasy genre.
And that's where it all went crazy. Yeah, I see the dark and the grit and the detective aspect of UF stories. Mine decidedly did not have those elements. I realized the only things my novel and UF had in common was that it occurred in a city (for a little while) and brought magical elements into a real-world setting.
Sorry, but that's just not enough. So, Knight of Flame is not Urban Fantasy. It's Contemporary or Modern Fantasy. It doesn't have the grit and dark tones of a Faith Hunter, Jim Butcher, or Kim Harrison novel. It's more like the sense of wonder and camaraderie of the Companions of the Hall from R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books. I loved the interplay between Drizzt, King Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and Cattie-brie. They fed off each other while they saved the world from utter destruction time and again. I wanted to make sure that my characters had that type of relationship and wrote that in from the beginning. Duh. I should have realized.
The book held true to genre, but the writer got lost somewhere along the way.
That's not the only place I got lost. This being my first trip to Dragon*Con, I spent a fair amount of time wandering the floors of the Hyatt and the Marriott. When I did find the right room at the right time, I learned and I'll be passing some of those other lessons on in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Have fun,Scott
Against the Shadow, burns a noble light.
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Observations on Writing, Publishing, Pop Culture, and Just About Anything Else from Fantasy Author Scott Eder
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