John E. Stith's Blog, page 4
May 12, 2020
New Novella sold to Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories has just bought "Tiny Time Machine," a 33,000-word novella. The plan is not that it be published in the magazine, but as a stand-alone, heavily illustrated book, possibly as soon as later this year. The book will be designed for the Young Adult market.
"Tiny Time Machine": All life on Earth will die of thirst unless a couple of loners running from the cops can use a portable time machine to stop a secret project.
In other news, a short-short SF story just sold to Daily Science Fiction.
February 10, 2020
New Pushback Review by Deborah J. Ross
I encountered the work of John E. Stith through his imaginative hard science fiction novels, Redshift Rendezvous and Manhattan Transfer (among others, but these were my gateway). I was curious to see what he would do with mainstream thriller material, and I was richly rewarded. Stith is not only thoroughly skillful in handling character, plot, and descriptive narrative, but in this book, he weaves together a dramatic, tension-filled plot with the main character’s struggles with PTSD. In fact, rarely have I seen a protagonist as functional yet scarred, and PTSD and the techniques for managing it so accurately depicted.
Dave Barlow has made a remarkable recovery from childhood trauma. He’s a successful investment adviser, and happy in a new romance after the death of his fiancée. Things start to go wrong in bizarre, inexplicable ways when he and his girlfriend show up for his high school reunion and no one there has heard of him. Soon it becomes apparent that someone is trying to systematically destroy every aspect of his life – his relationship, his career, his home, his assets . . . and then his very life. The most likely suspects include anyone outraged that he has found love again, like his dead fiancée’s wealthy, reclusive father.
Stith shapes the tension of this thriller with consummate skill, pushing each new threat ever higher. I especially admired how he used Dave’s inner turmoil and still-unhealed wounds to intensify the escalation of pressure. The dramatic story is extremely well handled, but most of all, it’s a compassionate, humane tale of the resourcefulness of a deeply damaged, yet sympathetic, courageous, loving person. Ultimately, it’s as much a story of hope as a page-turner thriller.
The review page is here.
June 17, 2019
Pushback is a Finalist for 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award
Pushback is a Finalist for the 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, mainstream mystery category.
For more information, see https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/daphne
Pictured in the photo is our cat, Scamp, and he was not harmed in the slightest in the making of this notice. In fact, he got a treat.
Here are all the finalists in the published division for 2019.
CATEGORY (SERIES) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Rancher's Covert Christmas by Beth Cornelison
Colton and the Single Mom by Jane Godman
Federal Agent Under Fire by Julie Anne Lindsey
The Sheriff's Secret by Julie Anne Lindsey
Secret Past by Sharee Stover
HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Killer Debt: A Michael Stoddard American Revolution Mystery by Suzanne Adair
The Duke Identity by Grace Callaway
The Naturalist's Daughter by Tea Cooper
A Brush with Shadows by Anna Lee Huber
The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll
Holiday Amnesia by Lynette Eason
Deadly Melody by Connie Mann
Cowboy Bodyguard by Dana Mentink
Fatal Recall by Carol J. Post
PARANORMAL (PTTF) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Hunt the Moon by Kari Cole
Touch the Sky by Kari Cole
Web of Truth by Cecilia Dominic
Sinister Sanctuary: A Wicks Hollow Book by Colleen Gleason
Demons Will Be Demons by AE Jones
SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Too Far Gone by Allison Brennan
Do or Die Cowboy by June Faver Perfect Mistake by Sophia Karlson
Silent Threat by Dana Marton
Threat of Danger by Dana Marton
Undone by JB Schroeder
MAINSTREAM MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
Abandoned by Allison Brennan
For Sale by Killer by Catherine Bruns
All the Pretty Brides by Marian Lanouette
Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks
Pushback by John E. Stith
Winners will be announced during Kiss of Death's annual Death by Chocolate Party at the RWA National Conference in New York City.
May 14, 2019
Pushback is a Finalist for 2019 CAL Award in Mystery
PUSHBACK is a finalist in the Mystery category for Colorado Author's League 2019 CAL Awards. Complete information here.
Excerpted info:
CAL Award 2019 Finalists announced!
CAL | Published on 5/13/2019
Colorado Author’s League
Best of 2018
List of Finalists (in alphabetical order)
...
7. ADULT NOVEL
...
Category B: Mystery, Crime, Suspense
Cynthia Swanson, The Glass Forest
J.A. Turley, The Hole Truth
John E. Stith, Pushback
...
March 30, 2019
New Pushback Review by Readers' Favorite
Readers' Favorite reviewed PUSHBACK on 29 March 2019.
"Pushback by John E. Stith is a riveting, gripping thriller. Dave Barlow, a financial advisor, suffers from PTSD after surviving a painful blowout that took away Allison, his fiancée. It has been a year, and he has found new love in Cathy and is looking forward to moving on. But things take an unexpected turn when he arrives at his high school reunion only to feel like a total stranger. What follows is a breakup from Cathy and the same night he receives a threat through a text message. But it is just the beginning of a nightmare and everything points to the fact that someone is out to hurt him badly. Dave has to choose either to stand up and fight or run for his life, but how can he fight an enemy when he doesn’t have a clue of who they are? Follow this engrossing tale to find out what happens next.
"John E. Stith won my heart with the excellent quality of the writing and his unique storytelling skills. An author who knows what it takes to connect readers with characters and stay with them from one exciting page to the next engrossing one. The action is pulsating and Dave’s PTSD rubs off on the reader in ways that are sure and subtle. The characters are genuinely flawed, humanly convincing, and so real you feel as though you share the same space with them. Conflict is deftly handled and it moves the plot in directions that are surprisingly unexpected. Pushback is pulsating, action packed, and beautifully paced. One of those books that grips you from the start and forces you to read on until the exhilarating denouement. "
The review page is here.
December 20, 2018
Pushback Audiobook Released
Audible just released the audiobook for PUSHBACK. It's narrated by Graham Halstead, who has narrated such titles as Science Fiction Hall of Fame and books by Dean Koontz, James Patterson, and Robert A. Heinlein.
PUSHBACK Audiobook Released
Audible just released the audiobook for PUSHBACK. It's narrated by Graham Halstead, who has narrated such titles as Science Fiction Hall of Fame and books by Dean Koontz, James Patterson, and Robert A. Heinlein.
December 1, 2018
New Pushback Review/Interview in The Big Thrill
The Big Thrill (the newsletter of International Thriller Writers) published a Pushback review/interview by K. L. Romo in the December 2018 issue.
"Ordinary Hijacked by Extraordinary, With Comedy"
"what’s most captivating about Pushback is that even with people like Dave Barlow—just an average guy doing average things—life can take a shocking turn for the worse. But the book reminds us that, also like Dave, we have the power to turn it right-side up again, with humor at the center of our inner strength."
See full review/interview here.
November 30, 2018
New Interview in Mysterious Book Report
Mysterious Book Report posted a new interview today. See the interview here. A couple of my answers needed to be edited for length, so the full answers are here.
Our interviewee today is bestselling and award-winning author John Stith, whose newest thriller is reviewed in MBR No 354, along with a brief account of our own serendipitous introduction by Ms. Nickless. It’s an honor to be able to speak with you, and please accept our sincere thank you for doing so. That said, here’s our first question:
Who’s your favorite mystery author?
That's a very tough call. I can narrow it down to, at the moment, Nelson DeMille and Lee Child. Both write about intelligent, resourceful characters who typically go their own way, more or less regardless of what nearby law-enforcement officials say. Both offer interesting insights into whatever location they find themselves in. DeMille's Up Country has a fascinating portrayal of modern day Vietnam from the perspective of someone who was there decades ago in a much different capacity. DeMille's The Cuban Affair offers an intriguing tour of the new Cuba. Child's observations of various communities in America ring true and make me feel I've spent some time in each place.
I love DeMille's sense of humor, which really adds to his work. Child offers pretty little humor, and often includes a page or two that passes my violence comfort level, but his plotting is wonderful and it's exhilarating to see Jack Reacher a step ahead of where I expect him to be.
Do you plot-outline or wing it?
I'm an outliner. Part of that is I already have to do enough re-writing. Writing a book in which you place clues, and foreshadow where you're going requires a level of structure that either has to be baked in or has to be kneaded back in after the cake is baked. I want the reader to have to opportunity to get to where my protagonist is just before the protagonist does. Too early and the protagonist looks dim. Too late, and the reader can get the idea the author isn't playing fair.
That said, outlining doesn't preclude surprises along the way. It's like I plan a vacation to a Estes Park but I might decide to pick up a hitchhiker or I could suffer a tire blowout along the way.
Do you read your reviews?
Yes, sometimes. Becoming a writer requires one to develop a thick skin or quit. Most writers get plenty of rejections along the way, and the notion that you can’t please all the people all the time is one of the things we all learn early.
The internet brings out the nastiness in some people, but it’s not too hard to distinguish a troll from a reader who just isn’t in your target audience, or an instance where I could have been more skillful. If a troll gets under my skin, the best antidote for me is to read a few negative reviews of books I love. It’s a reminder that even the most beloved works don’t please everyone. Writing a negative but helpful review is a skill that’s rare.
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Quit if it's easy to quit. Make writing a habit. Read vociferously in the area you want to write in. Don't try to keep pace with trends. Write what you love. Say only what you need to and then stop.
What makes a character endearing?
A save-the-cat moment is often a good start. By that I mean the character rescues an underdog, or takes an action that shows us he or she is a fundamentally decent person. (See Save the Cat by Blake Snyder.) A sense of humor can take the edge off a crusty character who might otherwise have less appeal. Doing the smart thing is always good, whether the character is brainy or average. (It’s the characters who go down in the basement needlessly that I lose patience with, even though I know the writer is directing the foolish behavior.)
How did your first book get published?
I will boil this down to the essentials. I wrote a first draft. Then I wrote another half-dozen drafts. I sent it out and had it rejected a few times. I joined a writers workshop where we all gave each other feedback that helped us hone our craft. I did another major draft, and then a couple more drafts, and then tried contacting agents rather than publishers. The first agent said no. The second one said yes. A year later, he called with an offer from Ace Books.
How long did it take?
Start to finish about three years. I was reading my second novel to send to the agent when he called with the good news about the first.
Do you belong to a writers group?
I've belonged to several writers groups over the years. I found them all extremely helpful, thanks to having a fortunate mix of members. The Colorado Springs Writing Seminar was the group I was in the longest, from the early 80s until the late 90s. I also made the trek to the Northern Colorado Writers Workshop for quite a few years. (NCWW is the only group still meeting.) And finally, I participated in a series of workshops we called Milford Minor, spearheaded by Cynthia Felice, Connie Willis, and me. Milford Minors took an entire long weekend, roughly every 6 to 9 months.
The Milford Minor group changed over time, but we were lucky enough to have Vance Aandahl, Jerry Earl Brown, Ed Bryant, Carol Emshwiller, Simon Hawke, James Patrick Kelley, John Kessel, Jerry Oltion, Dan Simmons, David Skal, Melanie and Steve Tem, Sheri Tepper, David Zindell, and others. The monthly workshops saw talents like Thea Hutcheson, John Kennedy, and Barbara Nickless and many others.
The monthly workshops met on a Saturday or Sunday for a few hours. In all the workshops, the basic format was that people turn in manuscripts, usually a short story or a chapter or two of a novel, and each member in the group critiqued the pages, identifying what worked and what didn't. We tried to offer insight that would help a writer best tell the story he or she wanted to tell, not tell the writer how we would do it. Sometimes I would see that the story in my head wasn't the story that made it to the page. And I would see better ways of accomplishing what I wanted to do. In essence, the process shortened my learning curve, and served as informal writing classes. Membership in all the groups was capped at around 20, and people were required to submit their own work periodically to stay active.
Where could you be reached on the World Wide Web?
My website is www.neverend.com.
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter. I also have a personal Facebook page where all are welcome.
November 15, 2018
Mysteristas Interview
Mysteristas posted a new interview today. See the interview here.
