Kory M. Shrum's Blog, page 29
January 9, 2015
#FreebieFriday and @tomswritinglife #Interview #amreading #mystery
Not too long ago (Sunday, December 28th to be exact), I posted a review of Tracks in the Smoke, debut novel by Tom Savage. You can read that review or go straight to the giveaway here, if you like. Otherwise, cuddle up with a warm cuppa (as our friends in the UK say *I think*) and get to know the lovely person that is Tom:
How would you describe this work to someone who’s never heard of it?
Classic Private Investigator novel with unique contemporary components, strong female characters, and a protagonist with an unusual and troubled past. The case revolves around the ruthlessness of today’s music industry.
Who were your inspirations for this story?
There wasn't really a who, it was more what I perceived to be a lack of risk.I always believe that risk creates tension. In so many stories the protagonists never seem to face any real risk, and for me, this always takes away from the tension. I wanted to write a story about a guy who isn’t invulnerable and who doesn’t always have the best quip for every situation. He’s a guy who does the best he can with what he has, and never gives up. I wanted to read a story about that guy.
Do you lI love detective novels, but I am picky about my protagonists. I was struggling to find anyone new to read and that led me to creating Dante.
Have you always been interested in writing this story or did you find this story accidentally?
I had originally taken my year off to write a TV show ‘Sentence’. It’s about a young procrastinating writer who is given a tough deadline. Realizing he will never make it, in desperation he tries to get sent to a minimum security prison, believing he will be able to finish it there. I finished the show but then realized there was a problem with the format. I moped around the house for a few weeks, thinking I had made a huge mistake taking time off work to write. Then one morning I woke in a panic, realizing I had to write something I sat down and with no plan wrote the first seven thousand words of the novel, so yes, it was certainly an accident, but a happy one.
What inspired the dynamic between Felix and Nick? (Kory: which is my favorite part!)
Available here--Just $0.99!I was interested in the idea of lonely people, with different reasons for being lonely. I was drawn to the idea of two people who need each other but the last thing they need is a sexual relationship. Nick and Felix are looking for something more concrete than a fling, and I wanted to challenge the old adage that men and women can’t be friends. Nick know’s Felix is attractive, but his motivations to help her come from a different place, that’s what inspired their dynamic. We will find out more about Felix in book two, about why she is the way she is, which I hope will be really interesting for readers.
Who is your favorite fictional P.I.?
Philip Marlowe, every time. However, I have a soft spot for Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) in ‘The Last Boy Scout’ (Not sure if a film is cheating?). I love all the guys who want to do the right thing but make poor decisions. I am also currently reading ‘Inherent Vice’ and loving Doc Holliday.
Favorite authors who influence your work?
Raymond Chandler, Horace McCoy, Nathaniel West and Terry Pratchett.
Can we expect a sequel?
Yes. I wrote thirty thousand words of a second novel, but then decided to hide it away. I am in the process of making a documentary about Ray Krone the 100th man in America to be released from death row due to DNA evidence, and I am talking with Ray about using his story as a template for a Nick Dante novel as a way to draw attention to his case. I loved how you skillfully used a split narrative in ‘Dying by the Hour’ and I think that could be an interesting idea with Nick and Felix. (Kory: *blush* Awww, thanks!)
What are you working on now?
Mainly the second 'Tracks in the Smoke' but I’ve also got a few ideas slowly percolating and sitting on my desktop. ‘Love in Reflection’ a novel about a married couple whose divorce gets put on hold when the wife goes into a coma. Also a Gothic children’s mystery about an introverted piano teacher ‘Hanna Piana’ who tries to find out who killed her elderly upstairs neighbor, Franklin Steinberg, still working on the title for that one. I've got an idea for Young Adult novel with a female protagonist, but at the moment I am trying to pick my way around all of the other amazing stories out there and write something which is unique and original.
What is your favorite word?
Ambidextrous.
What is your least favorite word?
Shamazing (Kory admits she does not know this word.
Who is your favorite author?
Grahame Greene, the first half of ‘The Human Factor’ is the best thing I’ve ever read.
If you could have any (but only one) super power, what would it be?
Hmm, tough one. I went on a hi-wire once and thought; actually flying might on the whole be a bit boring, so I think I’d go for teleportation. Then I could visit my nieces and nephews much easier.
If you could pick the brain of any writer/poet/artist from anywhere across space and time, who would it be and why?
I am always interested in people who approach things differently. I would love to sit down with the producer Mad Lib (who sadly passed away) and learn about the process of how he took music in such a different direction, but one that everyone followed. His sound is so unique you always recognize it when you hear it. I would love if it someone read a paragraph of my work and recognized it and said, ‘That reads like Tom Savage.’
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?I always wanted to be Atticus Finch, so it would have to be a lawyer. Having recently done Jury Service, I am glad I went into teaching.
What profession would you not like to do?
I worked as a travel agent for a year, and I was terrible. I kept telling people to go away and think about it rather than closing the sale - they invariably bought a cheaper ticket online. Except for one month where - thanks to a Spanish Nun - I was the top salesman in London. That was the only time I ever hit my sales target.
If Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell existed, which circle would you be trapped in and why?So they don’t exist? Phew! I would imagine I would be in ‘Heresy’ but it would be okay because I could chat to Ancient Florentines about politics and religion.
Thanks for joining us, Tom! And for the rest of you, be sure to enter the giveaway below. Why not? You made it this far :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
How would you describe this work to someone who’s never heard of it?
Classic Private Investigator novel with unique contemporary components, strong female characters, and a protagonist with an unusual and troubled past. The case revolves around the ruthlessness of today’s music industry.
Who were your inspirations for this story?
There wasn't really a who, it was more what I perceived to be a lack of risk.I always believe that risk creates tension. In so many stories the protagonists never seem to face any real risk, and for me, this always takes away from the tension. I wanted to write a story about a guy who isn’t invulnerable and who doesn’t always have the best quip for every situation. He’s a guy who does the best he can with what he has, and never gives up. I wanted to read a story about that guy.
Do you lI love detective novels, but I am picky about my protagonists. I was struggling to find anyone new to read and that led me to creating Dante.
Have you always been interested in writing this story or did you find this story accidentally?
I had originally taken my year off to write a TV show ‘Sentence’. It’s about a young procrastinating writer who is given a tough deadline. Realizing he will never make it, in desperation he tries to get sent to a minimum security prison, believing he will be able to finish it there. I finished the show but then realized there was a problem with the format. I moped around the house for a few weeks, thinking I had made a huge mistake taking time off work to write. Then one morning I woke in a panic, realizing I had to write something I sat down and with no plan wrote the first seven thousand words of the novel, so yes, it was certainly an accident, but a happy one.
What inspired the dynamic between Felix and Nick? (Kory: which is my favorite part!)
Available here--Just $0.99!I was interested in the idea of lonely people, with different reasons for being lonely. I was drawn to the idea of two people who need each other but the last thing they need is a sexual relationship. Nick and Felix are looking for something more concrete than a fling, and I wanted to challenge the old adage that men and women can’t be friends. Nick know’s Felix is attractive, but his motivations to help her come from a different place, that’s what inspired their dynamic. We will find out more about Felix in book two, about why she is the way she is, which I hope will be really interesting for readers.Who is your favorite fictional P.I.?
Philip Marlowe, every time. However, I have a soft spot for Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) in ‘The Last Boy Scout’ (Not sure if a film is cheating?). I love all the guys who want to do the right thing but make poor decisions. I am also currently reading ‘Inherent Vice’ and loving Doc Holliday.
Favorite authors who influence your work?
Raymond Chandler, Horace McCoy, Nathaniel West and Terry Pratchett.
Can we expect a sequel?
Yes. I wrote thirty thousand words of a second novel, but then decided to hide it away. I am in the process of making a documentary about Ray Krone the 100th man in America to be released from death row due to DNA evidence, and I am talking with Ray about using his story as a template for a Nick Dante novel as a way to draw attention to his case. I loved how you skillfully used a split narrative in ‘Dying by the Hour’ and I think that could be an interesting idea with Nick and Felix. (Kory: *blush* Awww, thanks!)
What are you working on now?
Mainly the second 'Tracks in the Smoke' but I’ve also got a few ideas slowly percolating and sitting on my desktop. ‘Love in Reflection’ a novel about a married couple whose divorce gets put on hold when the wife goes into a coma. Also a Gothic children’s mystery about an introverted piano teacher ‘Hanna Piana’ who tries to find out who killed her elderly upstairs neighbor, Franklin Steinberg, still working on the title for that one. I've got an idea for Young Adult novel with a female protagonist, but at the moment I am trying to pick my way around all of the other amazing stories out there and write something which is unique and original.
What is your favorite word?
Ambidextrous.
What is your least favorite word?
Shamazing (Kory admits she does not know this word.
Who is your favorite author?
Grahame Greene, the first half of ‘The Human Factor’ is the best thing I’ve ever read.
If you could have any (but only one) super power, what would it be?
Hmm, tough one. I went on a hi-wire once and thought; actually flying might on the whole be a bit boring, so I think I’d go for teleportation. Then I could visit my nieces and nephews much easier.
If you could pick the brain of any writer/poet/artist from anywhere across space and time, who would it be and why?
I am always interested in people who approach things differently. I would love to sit down with the producer Mad Lib (who sadly passed away) and learn about the process of how he took music in such a different direction, but one that everyone followed. His sound is so unique you always recognize it when you hear it. I would love if it someone read a paragraph of my work and recognized it and said, ‘That reads like Tom Savage.’
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?I always wanted to be Atticus Finch, so it would have to be a lawyer. Having recently done Jury Service, I am glad I went into teaching.
What profession would you not like to do?
I worked as a travel agent for a year, and I was terrible. I kept telling people to go away and think about it rather than closing the sale - they invariably bought a cheaper ticket online. Except for one month where - thanks to a Spanish Nun - I was the top salesman in London. That was the only time I ever hit my sales target.
If Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell existed, which circle would you be trapped in and why?So they don’t exist? Phew! I would imagine I would be in ‘Heresy’ but it would be okay because I could chat to Ancient Florentines about politics and religion.
Thanks for joining us, Tom! And for the rest of you, be sure to enter the giveaway below. Why not? You made it this far :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 8, 2015
#TBT: How to Get Good Reviews for Your #Books #amwriting
Throwback post from one of my most popular last year--in case you need it. Besides, who doesn't need more reviews? At 124 reviews for
Dying for a Living
, I'm not even satisfied myself!
I am working from the assumption that you have written a good book. After all, no amount of trickery can force people to like your book if you’ve submitted terrible content. So make sure your book is well-written, well-edited, and ready for the next part of the process—the reviews.
FACTS ABOUT REVIEWS
Fact #1 People are more likely to buy a product that has good reviews. No surprise right? How many of you have purchased a product (book or nifty hand vacuum) based on what your friend or Amazon said about it? So reviews ARE important.
Fact #2 You cannot FORCE people to review your book. Unfortunately. And it is unethical to ask them to write a good one. Instead, ask for honest reviews.
Fact #3 Certain actions can be taken to encourage people to post a review of your book, increasing the likelihood that you’ll get a review. And that is the focus of this post. I’ve made a list of actions you can take to help increase the number of reviews you will receive. And what credentials do I have you ask? Well, my book has only been published for 2 weeks and I have 33 reviews on Amazon and 18 on Goodreads, last I checked. So I must not be a total failure! :)
STEPS FOR GETTING REVIEWS
1) Start early. You need to send ARCs (advanced reader copies) out no later than 10-12 weeks BEFORE your book is
published. Most of your readers will already have TBR piles and you’ll be waiting in line. If you want that review on or
before your release date, earlier is better.
2) Target the right people. Don’t just throw your book into the wind and hope someone likes it! Find the people who specifically read and enjoy your genre. You can find them on Goodreads, Amazon, book blogs, etc. You can use social media to find your demographic as well, but whatever you do, target. Don’t just shoot in the dark. You will still make the mistake of giving your book to the wrong person sometimes and that is okay. It might mean they don’t love it as much as a diehard (insert your genre here) fan, but if you target more than shoot blindly, your chances of good reviews are much higher.
3) More is better. Not everyone who agrees to write a review for you actually will. Either they forgot or got too busy to review your book or maybe they didn’t like it and don’t want to hurt your feelings. Who knows. But if you are hoping for 20 reviews in the first week, you’d better request reviews from no less than 100-150 people.
4) Be specific in your requests. Once you’ve made your hit list, you’ll want to contact them with a friendly email/tweet/whatever. In this friendly request, be specific. Tell them where you hope they’ll post their reviews (on Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords, and/or their blog). If you want them to post in multiple places (for example some of my reviewers posted both on Amazon and on Goodreads, then say so. Whatever your specifications, give them upfront so they can politely accept or decline your offer.
And DO NOT tell them that you expect a positive review. Just ask for an honest review and where you hope to see it. If you know the publication date, it would be nice if you gave them that as well, so they have a deadline in mind.
5) Be organized. Keep a running list of who you’ve asked and whether they said yay/nay. This will help you later when you…
6) Send out an email on release day or a few days before. Politely remind your reviewers that your book is now available and that you would love it if they shared your review. This would also be a good time to remind them of your specifications.
7) Be grateful. It takes a lot of time to read a book and write a thoughtful review! Be sure you express your gratitude to those who shared their reviews.
8) Think ahead. Keep the list of reviewers who you enjoyed working with. You may want to contact them again (and repeat the process again!) for future books.
Remember these are just the tips I’ve been using so far. If you have tips, please share them in the comments section! I’m always looking to improve my repertoire ;)
And if you want to read about my favorite reviews that I've received for Dying for a Living so far, click here.
I am working from the assumption that you have written a good book. After all, no amount of trickery can force people to like your book if you’ve submitted terrible content. So make sure your book is well-written, well-edited, and ready for the next part of the process—the reviews.
FACTS ABOUT REVIEWS
Fact #1 People are more likely to buy a product that has good reviews. No surprise right? How many of you have purchased a product (book or nifty hand vacuum) based on what your friend or Amazon said about it? So reviews ARE important.
Fact #2 You cannot FORCE people to review your book. Unfortunately. And it is unethical to ask them to write a good one. Instead, ask for honest reviews.
Fact #3 Certain actions can be taken to encourage people to post a review of your book, increasing the likelihood that you’ll get a review. And that is the focus of this post. I’ve made a list of actions you can take to help increase the number of reviews you will receive. And what credentials do I have you ask? Well, my book has only been published for 2 weeks and I have 33 reviews on Amazon and 18 on Goodreads, last I checked. So I must not be a total failure! :)
STEPS FOR GETTING REVIEWS
1) Start early. You need to send ARCs (advanced reader copies) out no later than 10-12 weeks BEFORE your book is
published. Most of your readers will already have TBR piles and you’ll be waiting in line. If you want that review on or
before your release date, earlier is better.
2) Target the right people. Don’t just throw your book into the wind and hope someone likes it! Find the people who specifically read and enjoy your genre. You can find them on Goodreads, Amazon, book blogs, etc. You can use social media to find your demographic as well, but whatever you do, target. Don’t just shoot in the dark. You will still make the mistake of giving your book to the wrong person sometimes and that is okay. It might mean they don’t love it as much as a diehard (insert your genre here) fan, but if you target more than shoot blindly, your chances of good reviews are much higher.
3) More is better. Not everyone who agrees to write a review for you actually will. Either they forgot or got too busy to review your book or maybe they didn’t like it and don’t want to hurt your feelings. Who knows. But if you are hoping for 20 reviews in the first week, you’d better request reviews from no less than 100-150 people.
4) Be specific in your requests. Once you’ve made your hit list, you’ll want to contact them with a friendly email/tweet/whatever. In this friendly request, be specific. Tell them where you hope they’ll post their reviews (on Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords, and/or their blog). If you want them to post in multiple places (for example some of my reviewers posted both on Amazon and on Goodreads, then say so. Whatever your specifications, give them upfront so they can politely accept or decline your offer.
And DO NOT tell them that you expect a positive review. Just ask for an honest review and where you hope to see it. If you know the publication date, it would be nice if you gave them that as well, so they have a deadline in mind.
5) Be organized. Keep a running list of who you’ve asked and whether they said yay/nay. This will help you later when you…
6) Send out an email on release day or a few days before. Politely remind your reviewers that your book is now available and that you would love it if they shared your review. This would also be a good time to remind them of your specifications.
7) Be grateful. It takes a lot of time to read a book and write a thoughtful review! Be sure you express your gratitude to those who shared their reviews.
8) Think ahead. Keep the list of reviewers who you enjoyed working with. You may want to contact them again (and repeat the process again!) for future books.
Remember these are just the tips I’ve been using so far. If you have tips, please share them in the comments section! I’m always looking to improve my repertoire ;)
And if you want to read about my favorite reviews that I've received for Dying for a Living so far, click here.
January 5, 2015
#Mondayblogs: 2015 Resolutions for this #author #amwriting #thewritinglife
I'm aiming for a little accountability here. You see, I have performance issues. If I tell you guys I'm going to do something, then I MUST. I'm trying to use the fact that I'm a bit of a show off to my advantage here. Work with me.
I have altruistic resolutions for the year: be a better partner, take better care of myself, give more and all that...but here I want to focus specifically for my writing/publishing goals for 2015:
In no particular order:
Publish Dying for Her: Brinkley's Story (Book 3 of the Jesse Sullivan series)
Publish Untitled Book 4 of the Jesse Sullivan series
Produce corresponding audiobooks of all available titles
Publish Badass and the Beast anthology with the fabulous Angela Roquet
Pursue possibility of adapting Jesse Sullivan series into graphic novels--
launch possible Kickstarter
Submit YA novel (tentatively titled Water & Dark to ABNA contest--or self-pub)
Write a blog post every MWF for the whole year, totaling about 150 posts (*snort*)
Bonus round--release box set of all Jesse books and possible 5th title!
I have only one concern that may interfere with these big goals:
(sorry about the darkness and the horrible smacking my lips habit; Clearly I sit in the dark with a dry as *&^% mouth and lament about #firstworldproblems #whoisahotmess)
Hehhhh. Yes. So crazy ridiculous or not, these are my goals for 2015. What do you guys think? And better yet, what are your goals?
I have altruistic resolutions for the year: be a better partner, take better care of myself, give more and all that...but here I want to focus specifically for my writing/publishing goals for 2015:
In no particular order:
Publish Dying for Her: Brinkley's Story (Book 3 of the Jesse Sullivan series)
Publish Untitled Book 4 of the Jesse Sullivan series
Produce corresponding audiobooks of all available titles
Publish Badass and the Beast anthology with the fabulous Angela Roquet
Pursue possibility of adapting Jesse Sullivan series into graphic novels--
launch possible Kickstarter
Submit YA novel (tentatively titled Water & Dark to ABNA contest--or self-pub)
Write a blog post every MWF for the whole year, totaling about 150 posts (*snort*)
Bonus round--release box set of all Jesse books and possible 5th title!
I have only one concern that may interfere with these big goals:
(sorry about the darkness and the horrible smacking my lips habit; Clearly I sit in the dark with a dry as *&^% mouth and lament about #firstworldproblems #whoisahotmess)
Hehhhh. Yes. So crazy ridiculous or not, these are my goals for 2015. What do you guys think? And better yet, what are your goals?
January 1, 2015
Happy New Year!
I released two novels, an audiobook, and gained over 27,000 new Twitter-friends, so it's been a great year for me!
Thank you!!!
...because I couldn't have do it without you. More than that, I hope your year was just as amazing and wish you only the best in the months to come.
Happy 2015!
December 28, 2014
$25 Amazon Giftcard #Giveaway and Book Review
I recently had the fine pleasure of reading Savage's Tracks in the Smoke. Here's what I thought:
I love a good mystery story and this detective novel fits the bill! The story features detective Nick Dante. He is a private-eye who is not exactly a people person, yet charming nonetheless. He “enjoys reading, doing the crossword, and sitting in a pub having a drink--or six”. His ex-military background makes him well-equipped to do his job--as inconsistent and unstable as his job might be.
Enter Felix, a sassy 22-year-old woman who looks like she should be the lead singer of a rock band. When she signs up to be his assistant, we get a great look at all her own potential to be a PI someday and her knack for keeping Dante in line. Though not a romance (thank god), I love the Nick-Felix dynamic and found their scenes to be my favorite. :)So if you like British detective novels, irascible PIs with a dark past, and sassy sidekicks, this one is a quick, fun read for you!
As a debut author, I think Tom put out a quality first novel. You'd be lucky to win a free copy of the book by entering the giveaway below--but even better!--Tom is offering up a $25 giftcard to one lucky winner.
Good luck everyone! :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 18, 2014
Not Another Danger Boy: Happy Book Release to @DangerBoyOne
Releasing a sequel isn't easy. I should know! But author Dan Combs did just that here, with his newest title Not Another Danger Boy: The Sequel. A collection of autobiographical short stories centered on life-changing events might be exactly the kind of read you're looking for this holiday season. Better yet, he's a local Lansing author like myself! :)
To celebrate his release, here is a fun Q&A:
Q. How would you describe this work to someone who’s never heard of it?A. A collection of autobiographical short stories centered on life-changing events: first skydiving lesson, first white water rafting expedition, first Olympics. You know, the fun stuff!
Q. Who were your inspirations for this story?A. I don’t know if I was inspired as much as goaded. By a bunch of people. The ones who, after hearing me talk about some of the wilder happenings in my life would say, “You should write a book!”
Q. Did you find the sequel harder or easier to write than the first installment?A. Much easier. By the time I sat down to write volume two, I’d gotten enough practice. My style was set, I’d had plenty of time to think about what stories would fit, that kind of thing.
Q. Have you always been interested in writing this story or did you find this story accidentally?A. I can’t recall ever wanting to write memoirs. So I guess you could say they found me.
Q. What about your story makes it unique?A. The fact that I’ve done so many different kinds of things. There aren’t many folks I know who jump out of planes for fun, compose music, write screenplays, and ride a unicycle.
Q. Can we expect a sequel to the sequel or is this it for Danger Boy?A. I’m in the process of finishing volume three as we speak. That one ends with a reference to the title of the opening story in volume one, so I’m almost hoping the series cycles around and stops there. Although, if it becomes popular, I might have to do another one. And I haven’t quit being semi-crazy yet, so there’s more material being created all the time.
Q. What can we expect to see from you soon?A. I do have an entirely different type of project in the pipeline. A creative non-fiction book based on my parents’ lives during the Second World War. They met while my dad was playing trumpet in my mom’s father’s bar in Jackson, Michigan. He was immediately drafted and they wrote letters back and forth for the duration. She had to finish high school, he went on to fight in both North Africa and at Normandy, was badly wounded and almost didn’t get home. Good stuff.
Q. What is your favorite word?A. Obstreperous. I actually stole that as a favorite from a roommate back in the day.
Q. What is your least favorite word?A. Prejudice. I grew up during a time when diversity was just beginning to be recognized as an asset. Sadly, there hasn’t been as much progress in that area as I would have hoped.
Q. Who is your favorite author?A. William Gibson. I found Neuromancershortly after it was first published. Knocked my teeth out.
Q. If you could have any (but only one) super power, what would it be?A. Teleportation. I go through a lot of shoes!
Q. If you could pick the brain of any writer/poet/artist from anywhere across space and time, who would it be and why?A. Thomas Pynchon. I consider myself and much of our current version of Western civilization a product of World War II. His take on that particular conflict in Gravity’s Rainbow has always fascinated me. I’d love to sit down and compare notes.
Q. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?A. Conductor for a world-class orchestra. I got a taste of it in high school. I was elected Student Conductor for the spring concert a couple of times, and when our band director was out with a hernia for a few weeks, he assigned some of us to take over, running the band through songs we’d already learned. Then he sent in a new piece - one that we ended up playing at the annual state-wide band competition that year - and gave me the task of conducting it.
Q. What profession would you not like to do?A. Anything retail. Customer service is not my thing.
Q. If Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell existed, which circle would you be trapped in and why?
A. If there’s a level where all you do is yard work, I’d be there. Hate it and avoid it at all costs. So, for the sin of feigning a bad back to get out of doing it, well…you get the picture.
Well there you have it folks! And show a little love, would you? He can be followed on Twitter, liked on Facebook, or stalked on Goodreads.
To celebrate his release, here is a fun Q&A:
Q. How would you describe this work to someone who’s never heard of it?A. A collection of autobiographical short stories centered on life-changing events: first skydiving lesson, first white water rafting expedition, first Olympics. You know, the fun stuff!
Q. Who were your inspirations for this story?A. I don’t know if I was inspired as much as goaded. By a bunch of people. The ones who, after hearing me talk about some of the wilder happenings in my life would say, “You should write a book!”
Q. Did you find the sequel harder or easier to write than the first installment?A. Much easier. By the time I sat down to write volume two, I’d gotten enough practice. My style was set, I’d had plenty of time to think about what stories would fit, that kind of thing.
Q. Have you always been interested in writing this story or did you find this story accidentally?A. I can’t recall ever wanting to write memoirs. So I guess you could say they found me.
Q. What about your story makes it unique?A. The fact that I’ve done so many different kinds of things. There aren’t many folks I know who jump out of planes for fun, compose music, write screenplays, and ride a unicycle.
Q. Can we expect a sequel to the sequel or is this it for Danger Boy?A. I’m in the process of finishing volume three as we speak. That one ends with a reference to the title of the opening story in volume one, so I’m almost hoping the series cycles around and stops there. Although, if it becomes popular, I might have to do another one. And I haven’t quit being semi-crazy yet, so there’s more material being created all the time.
Q. What can we expect to see from you soon?A. I do have an entirely different type of project in the pipeline. A creative non-fiction book based on my parents’ lives during the Second World War. They met while my dad was playing trumpet in my mom’s father’s bar in Jackson, Michigan. He was immediately drafted and they wrote letters back and forth for the duration. She had to finish high school, he went on to fight in both North Africa and at Normandy, was badly wounded and almost didn’t get home. Good stuff.
Q. What is your favorite word?A. Obstreperous. I actually stole that as a favorite from a roommate back in the day.
Q. What is your least favorite word?A. Prejudice. I grew up during a time when diversity was just beginning to be recognized as an asset. Sadly, there hasn’t been as much progress in that area as I would have hoped.
Q. Who is your favorite author?A. William Gibson. I found Neuromancershortly after it was first published. Knocked my teeth out.
Q. If you could have any (but only one) super power, what would it be?A. Teleportation. I go through a lot of shoes!
Q. If you could pick the brain of any writer/poet/artist from anywhere across space and time, who would it be and why?A. Thomas Pynchon. I consider myself and much of our current version of Western civilization a product of World War II. His take on that particular conflict in Gravity’s Rainbow has always fascinated me. I’d love to sit down and compare notes.
Q. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?A. Conductor for a world-class orchestra. I got a taste of it in high school. I was elected Student Conductor for the spring concert a couple of times, and when our band director was out with a hernia for a few weeks, he assigned some of us to take over, running the band through songs we’d already learned. Then he sent in a new piece - one that we ended up playing at the annual state-wide band competition that year - and gave me the task of conducting it.
Q. What profession would you not like to do?A. Anything retail. Customer service is not my thing.
Q. If Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell existed, which circle would you be trapped in and why?
A. If there’s a level where all you do is yard work, I’d be there. Hate it and avoid it at all costs. So, for the sin of feigning a bad back to get out of doing it, well…you get the picture.
Well there you have it folks! And show a little love, would you? He can be followed on Twitter, liked on Facebook, or stalked on Goodreads.
December 16, 2014
What the *&^% is on your face? #beauty #health #wellness
One of my friends from college just recently took up a great cause. Not that I'm surprised. This amazing lady, that's Mick Teti-Beaudin to you ladies and gents, often champions heart-warming causes.
So I'd like to give a shout-out to her latest cause, Beautycounter with Mick. (Though how she has time for this endeavor in between rescuing all the animals and knitting adorable baby garments, I have no idea).
Beautycounter's mission? "Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including, but not limited to asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and infertility) are on the rise, and due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it's in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry...The European Union has spent the past two decades banning or restricting more than 1,300 ingredients, the US has only banned 11 to date.
WE DESERVE BETTER, AND WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT."Read their full mission statement here.
I spent a great deal perusing their site and can vouch that they have an extensive line of bath and body products, as well as cosmetics.
As that fru fru hippie chick who already reads the ingredients on the back of all her shampoos and makes her own face moisturizer, I can totally get behind this. And I know that many of friends are also super concerned about what they put on their bodies. So if this is something that you are into, please hit up my friend Mick. She's a fab lady who will take good care of you.
Here is the link to Mick's beautycounter again: BAM!
Also, be sure to give her a like on Facebook while you're at it!
So I'd like to give a shout-out to her latest cause, Beautycounter with Mick. (Though how she has time for this endeavor in between rescuing all the animals and knitting adorable baby garments, I have no idea).
Beautycounter's mission? "Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including, but not limited to asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and infertility) are on the rise, and due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it's in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry...The European Union has spent the past two decades banning or restricting more than 1,300 ingredients, the US has only banned 11 to date.
WE DESERVE BETTER, AND WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT."Read their full mission statement here.
I spent a great deal perusing their site and can vouch that they have an extensive line of bath and body products, as well as cosmetics.
As that fru fru hippie chick who already reads the ingredients on the back of all her shampoos and makes her own face moisturizer, I can totally get behind this. And I know that many of friends are also super concerned about what they put on their bodies. So if this is something that you are into, please hit up my friend Mick. She's a fab lady who will take good care of you.
Here is the link to Mick's beautycounter again: BAM!
Also, be sure to give her a like on Facebook while you're at it!
What the *&^% is on your face? #beauty #allnatural
One of my friends from college just recently took up a great cause. Not that I'm surprised. This amazing lady, that's Mick Teti-Beaudin to you ladies and gents, often champions heart-warming causes.
So I'd like to give a shout-out to her latest cause, Beautycounter with Mick. (Though how she has time for this endeavor in between rescuing all the animals and knitting adorable baby garments, I have no idea).
Beautycounter's mission? "Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including, but not limited to asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and infertility) are on the rise, and due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it's in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry...The European Union has spent the past two decades banning or restricting more than 1,300 ingredients, the US has only banned 11 to date.
WE DESERVE BETTER, AND WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT."Read their full mission statement here.
I spent a great deal perusing their site and can vouch that they have an extensive line of bath and body products, as well as cosmetics.
As that fru fru hippie chick who already reads the ingredients on the back of all her shampoos and makes her own face moisturizer, I can totally get behind this. And I know that many of friends are also super concerned about what they put on their bodies. So if this is something that you are into, please hit up my friend Mick. She's a fab lady who will take good care of you.
Also, be sure to give her a like on Facebook while you're at it!
So I'd like to give a shout-out to her latest cause, Beautycounter with Mick. (Though how she has time for this endeavor in between rescuing all the animals and knitting adorable baby garments, I have no idea).
Beautycounter's mission? "Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including, but not limited to asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and infertility) are on the rise, and due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it's in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry...The European Union has spent the past two decades banning or restricting more than 1,300 ingredients, the US has only banned 11 to date.
WE DESERVE BETTER, AND WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT."Read their full mission statement here.
I spent a great deal perusing their site and can vouch that they have an extensive line of bath and body products, as well as cosmetics.
As that fru fru hippie chick who already reads the ingredients on the back of all her shampoos and makes her own face moisturizer, I can totally get behind this. And I know that many of friends are also super concerned about what they put on their bodies. So if this is something that you are into, please hit up my friend Mick. She's a fab lady who will take good care of you.
Also, be sure to give her a like on Facebook while you're at it!
December 15, 2014
#Mondayblogs: I wrote 100+ posts this year! Now what? #amwriting
My very first attempt at blogging was back in 2012. I had a food blog (that didn't last long because it turned out I was more interested in eating than telling you guys about what I was eating).
I wrote about 5 posts on this blog in 2012. And only 13 posts in 2013. So when Jan 2014 rolled around, one of my resolutions was to write 100 posts this year! I thought that was an ambitious goal (especially considering how often I'd managed to blog before that) and I am happy to say that somehow I've reached that goal--with almost a month to spare!
My 100th post rolled in on December 5. Woo!
Anyway, so I took some time to review this year's stats and see what people liked most from the blog.
Here are the top three performing blog posts from the year:
Your Brain on Learning
How To Get Writing Done Despite the Hellishly Busy Holiday Season
Congrats @AngelaRoquet: Read the newest Lana Harvey Book
It seems as a whole you guys like inspiring, introspective stuff. You also enjoy giveaways and author spotlights.
But what am I missing?
Thinking ahead to 2015 and my new goals for the blog next year, what kind of posts would you like to see? I'd love to improve my content, with the hopes of getting better and better each year. So tell me what you like to read about. What inspires you? What helps you along? Or simply, what do you enjoy?
I wrote about 5 posts on this blog in 2012. And only 13 posts in 2013. So when Jan 2014 rolled around, one of my resolutions was to write 100 posts this year! I thought that was an ambitious goal (especially considering how often I'd managed to blog before that) and I am happy to say that somehow I've reached that goal--with almost a month to spare!
My 100th post rolled in on December 5. Woo!
Anyway, so I took some time to review this year's stats and see what people liked most from the blog.
Here are the top three performing blog posts from the year:
Your Brain on Learning
How To Get Writing Done Despite the Hellishly Busy Holiday Season
Congrats @AngelaRoquet: Read the newest Lana Harvey Book
It seems as a whole you guys like inspiring, introspective stuff. You also enjoy giveaways and author spotlights.
But what am I missing?
Thinking ahead to 2015 and my new goals for the blog next year, what kind of posts would you like to see? I'd love to improve my content, with the hopes of getting better and better each year. So tell me what you like to read about. What inspires you? What helps you along? Or simply, what do you enjoy?
December 11, 2014
Ho Ho Ho: 80+ Books & Prizes #Giveaway #IndieBooksBeSeen
I was invited to join this super fun indie book giveaway just in time for Xmas.
Click here to enter giveaway.
As you can see, it's already generated great deal of interest and I'm thrilled to offer up signed copies of both Dying for a Living and Dying by the Hour as two of the 80+prizes!
So if you support indie writers or if you simply want the chance to win a bunch of cool stuff, then you should enter while their is still time. :)
Happy Holidays everyone! :)
Kory
Click here to enter giveaway.
As you can see, it's already generated great deal of interest and I'm thrilled to offer up signed copies of both Dying for a Living and Dying by the Hour as two of the 80+prizes!
So if you support indie writers or if you simply want the chance to win a bunch of cool stuff, then you should enter while their is still time. :)
Happy Holidays everyone! :)
Kory
