Kory M. Shrum's Blog, page 37

Writing As A Force of Good & #FreebieFriday

I’m giving away 20 free e-copies of “Blind”. Keep reading to find out how/why I would be so cray.
I’m one of those bleeding heart do-good types. So there is no surprise to those who know me that I would write a short story and then donate the royalties from that project to a charity that supports young artists.
Sure I could just give money directly to charity (and often do), but the great thing about writing a story AND donating is that I have a chance to humanize the issue and generate awareness.
Some people might argue that there are better causes: the whales, child abuse, poverty, cancer and so on.
I don’t know about you but creativity and writing saved my life. Coming from a really dark background/childhood, my creativity and imagination provided me with the hope that a better world, or a better life existed than the one I’d been given. And if that creativity had been squashed rather than fostered, I don’t know that I would have survived my environment. So I believe this cause is important and feel so grateful that I've come far enough to be a position to support it.
I chose The Dreaming Zebra Foundation as the recipient of the royalties from “Blind”, and you can learn more about TDZF here and here.
So, now for the good stuff! In order to get your free copy of “Blind” gifted to you, you need only do the following:
Post a comment in the section below, answering the following question: If you had an art-related superpower, what would it be?
I would want to have power over paper, so I could make anything out of it. ANYTHING, be it huge buildings, shields, flying machines, etc. You name it. I would just need a sheet of paper. And really, when I think about it, I may already have this power.  ;)

Now it's your turn. First 20 comment-ers (err, commentators?) win. 

In Defense of Television #amwriting

I am the guilty type. The kind of person to feel really terrible about television marathons. I could be learning French, I think, or cosmology or how to build a robot. Do I want to be lying on my deathbed regretting the lost weeks or months (hell, maybe yearsif we are being honest here), watching Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Haven, Bones, House, Supernatural, or True Blood—just to name a couple...
I should be writing.
And that is really what it comes down to. I feel guilty about every free moment I have that I squander instead of writing.
I have it so easy. I have a dog and a partner that do not rely on me—(*tips hat to the writer parents out there*). I have a job that I largely control—my own hours, pants optional.I could not have it easier—which I love—and which I did a lot of work to achieve (years of rearranging my life and seizing certain opportunities so that I could be more and more my own person).
So why the guilt if instead of enjoying what I’ve sown? I worked hard to get here and shouldenjoy it.
Yet, I can’t help but feel like I need to make excuses for slacking and it may be because I haven’t realized all my writing dreams yet. I don’t have a Hugo or Nebula (or Nobel Peace Prize). I am not #1 New York Times Bestselling Author (or even on the list). I am not a household name—so it feels like I am sabotaging my own success every time I turn on the TV instead of barreling through that next chapter.
And maybe I do need to make adjustments to my schedule. Perhaps I am not so good at reinforcing a schedule when I have flexibility out the wahzoo. Or maybe instead, I should tout the virtues of television.
After all, isn’t good television nothing more than a good story—just like fiction? Don’t we see character development and plot? By watching vast quantities of television, it is easy to see how a character arc is stretched over a season (equivalent to that of a novel). We see examples of conflict and tension. It is easier to see how a large plot arc is developed over several seasons (just like in several of our favorite book series).
Good TV writing can also show a writer how conflict can deepen character motivation and personalities as well as add theme and depth to the story itself. When TV writers change gears or POVs, it also provides good examples of narration, its multitude of angles and all the possible ways a person can tell the same story.
And why not? Some TV is based on the book anyway (though that is no substitute! Who said I wasn’t reading!?!)
And I can’t write ALL the time. I need to fill my creativity well more than I drain it—or I will find myself blocked and worthless. And if I fill my well with good books, movies, Sims—and TV—then so be it.

So excuse me while I go watch an episode Lost Girl.

Crushing Hearts & Library Love #Mondayblogs

I recently read and loved a great anthology featuring one of my friends, Rebecca Poole of Dreams2Media. I asked Rebecca and her editor to clue my readers (and me!) into the project itself—as well as the motivation behind its creation.
Let’s start by telling everyone what The Rise of the Goddess anthology is about. The Rise of the Goddess is all about overcoming adversity. Some of the stories are very traditional in their mythology theme, while others are not, but they all show the reader that faith (rather it be in their own self or a higher power) can overcome any obstacle.
Tell us more about Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. CHBB was officially launched in 2012 by the fabulous author and publishing genius SJ Davis, and soon after acquired both Vamptasy Publishing and Hot Ink Press. The ever growing ranks of authors include some of today’s best selling indie minds. Beyond the success of the company and their tireless efforts to bring amazing stories to the readers, CHBB is a family with a heart.
What was the source of inspiration for this theme of The Rise’s anthology? Though many ideas were considered by the founding members of the anthology, the idea of breathing new life into the traditional mythology came from author, contributor, and secret goddess in her own right, Sinead MacDughlas. The inspiration behind the idea was simply the want to inspire others.
The anthology also has art in addition to stories. How do you think this enriches the reader’s experience? I believe that the pieces of art, including the cover, express the ideas held within the stories and give the reader a visual of the passion that went into every aspect of the collection. If you the images by Mr. Ford, Mrs. Poole, and Mrs. McMahon, they tell a story all their own. Was it fun to collaborate with so many talented artists and writers? Absolutely! When working on a project like this, you get to meet so many amazing people and you become friends, you become a family. Some of these contributors I have known for years, some were brand new and I was able to give them their first break in the writing world. Still others were seasoned authors who I was able to meet for the first time. We even have our very own rock star in the group, Beth W. Patterson. I love everyone of the authors and artists, and I hope to get to work with them in the future.
This project is a charitable project, with all proceeds going to Elliott Public Library. What led to this decision? The answer to this is simple. We wanted to give back to the world of readers for all that they have given us. We wanted a great cause to support, and what better cause can there be other than a small town library that is suffering under heavy budget cuts while the sole librarian struggles to serve over three hundred customers a month.
Was there a special reason why you chose this library as the object of your charity? The Elliott Public Library has a very special secret; its librarian is a Goddess. Fellow CHBB/Hot Ink/Vamptasy author and long time friend of many of the contributors, Ada McEwan, works tirelessly in her position at the library out of love and kindness. Struggling with the limited funds, Mrs. McEwan strives to provide after-school programs for the children of Elliott, to upgrade the facility, to support indie authors by housing their books on a special shelf right up front, and to maintain this safe haven of books for her community.
How important do you think it is for writers and artists to give back to their communities? I think it is absolutely vital! Authors write words, and without anyone to read them, they are just simply lines on a page. It is important give back to those people who breathe life into our stories with their imaginations and heartfelt rapture in the worlds we build. Who knows? The next Hemingway, Bronte, or Poe may very well be molded inside the walls of the Elliott Public Library on some sunny afternoon all because we helped keep the library alive and there for the children of the next generation.


Can we expect to see more charity anthologies from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing soon?
It is my hope and desire to continue assisting CHBB with putting together charity anthologies for great causes in the future. Philanthropy is a theme within the company that already exists with authors such as Rue Volley and Sinead MacDughlas donating proceeds of their individual works to cancer research and women’s safe houses, and I believe that many others will continue to carry that torch of giving onward.
Thanks so much for taking the time to let us know about your fabulous project, ladies! I hope to talk more about writing and charity soon, but in the meantime dear Reader, please feel free to share your comments below. Do you often write for charity? Do you read anthologies? Why or why not?

You can also learn more about Rebecca here and CHBB here.

Will This Be What Kills Us? #FreebieFriday

I was already in love with Roquet because of her well-done Lana Harvey Series (Her first book Graveyard Shift is free! Get it here) , so imagine how excited I was when I found out she coauthored another book.

This is not the first book to examine a "survival of the fittest" scenario. In fact, I would argue that many people are obsessed with fiction of this theme. We have tons of movies, literature, and the like to prove this theory.

So my question is: What do you think will kill us off?

Mass extinction event?
Zombies?
War?

Give me your answers in the comments below and a lucky winner will receive a free copy of Ross & Roquet's Backwoods Armageddon eBook.

What's Your Survival Plan? #Freebie Friday and #NewRelease: Fiction Gold for the #Prepper

I was already in love with Roquet from her well-done Lana Harvey Series (Her first book Graveyard Shift is free! Just FYI! Get it here) , so imagine how excited I was when I found out she coauthored another book! I snapped up my copy the moment it came out.

The pacing, voices, and character development are all excellent. There are laugh out loud moments as well as serious anxiety-causing moments! I was swearing and clutching the sheets during some particular scenes (I was reading in bed, you perverts!). Anyway, the shifting POV gives the reader a full-bodied experience of what happens to this town when a tornado tears it apart. And of course, as in all “survival-of-the fittest” situations, the situation gets dangerous real quick.

You’ll love it! :)

In fact, I'm so convinced you'll love it, that I'll give THREE copies of it to lucky (i.e. Random) winners who do the following:

1) Share your survival plan below--you know, your "what if this happens" schemes.
2) Be sure to let us know if this is zombie apocalypse plan, Yellowstone volcano erupts, California fell into the sea, blah blah. Just let us know what your prepared for. Feel free to also share multiple plans.
Anyway, this is mostly for fun folks, so enjoy yourselves! Tell me how you would survive, whatever the world will throw at us--or whatever you think is coming!  :)

Book Review: Dive: a short story by Kory M. Shrum | I Smell Sheep

Book Review: Dive: a short story by Kory M. Shrum | I Smell Sheep

Q&A with me! (Another #Awkward #Vlog, Guest-starring Pug!)

You guys praised my "keepin' it real" style on the last vlog, so I raised the bar! In addition to hosting the Q&A in my own living room, I was sure to include:

Awkward use of notecards? Check!
Poor eye contact? Check!
Random, unplanned, and questionably clean outfit courtesy of my bedroom floor? Check!
Crazy hair befitting any eccentric shut-in? Confused and bewildered pug? Check and check!

Enjoy. And be sure to post those questions below ;)

#CoverReveal & #Confession

If there’s the cover, where is the confession? Ok, ok. Here we go:
Soon I will release “Blind”, another short following Edison, a boy with mechanical eyes. Some people may argue that it is dark YA. Others with say it is definitely science fiction, coming of age, and heavily meditates on what it means to be an artist or choosing one’s own path in the face of adversity. I’m sure people will talk about my lack of genre conformity, just as they have for the last two works that I published.
At least, this is the dialogue I’m hoping for.
Because I confess I’m very nervous that there will be a different dialogue completely. That people will talk about how this is different than Dying for a Living and “Dive”, but not in a good way. They may even call it the worst thing I’ve ever written—which I assure you is not true, as NONE of you have (or ever will) read my high school poetry notebooks.
But I think releasing new work is always nerve-wracking and always pulling on those ol’ heart strings of doubt. So I wanted to confess upfront that I am worried about how my readers will receive my new work, just like everyone else out there who is facing the odds and publishing.
But I’m also determined to publish what I write for better or worse. Even if I know some of you won’t like “Blind” as much as “Dive” or Dying for a Living. Or because some of you will like it more.
I’m beginning to realize as a writer, my only job is to transcribe the weird *&^% from my head onto the page and then to put it out there regardless of the consequences. But for anyone who has written anything, it is harder to do than it sounds. And I have to accept this doubt may never go away. I keep waiting for it to get easier--after one more positive review, one more gushing fan, one more good writing day--but it isn't getting easier. So I have to accept this possible truth:
Publishing will never be easy.
After all, I’ve listened to/watched/read enough writer interviews from Gaiman, King and the like, who regardless of the years of practice they have under their belt, continually voice the same hesitations.
But they succeeded—despite the acclaim or criticism—because they published anyway, whatever the emotional, physical, or financial obstacles. They published anyway.
And that is my new personal goal—to publish anyway.

Any way I can.

#Divergent Influences & Other #Writerprobs

I saw Divergent last night. And we will all just have to agree to put aside any thoughts like “What is a 30-year-old woman doing watching *&^% like that” and focus on the real problem:
I have a massive hangover.
The first mistake is that I watched the movie way to close to bedtime. And I don’t know how it is for most people but anything portraying lots of action and violence, etc gets my sympathetic nervous system all worked up and I turn back into that nine-year-old kid who has just watched 3 Ninjas and is leaping off all the furniture and tearing the stuffing out of all living room pillows.
So in addition the fact that I slept horribly amidst a plague of divergentesque dreams, I am finding it really hard to focus today. I’m googling things like “Maggie Q tattoo” and “Did Macklemore really play Eric?” when I should be working.
Which brings me to the purpose of today’s blog—is it bad to expose oneself to outside influences?
I can blame my massive movie hangover not on the movie itself or even the crappy sleep. I know it has to do with the fact that I have an “overactive” imagination. I know it has to do with the fact that I can make any movie “good” in my head, and often do, because I often do a great deal of character development, theme exploration, and add those “greater meanings” in my own head—even when the story’s original creator failed to actually do so--which can be a problem, because I lose a lot of time getting way to involved in someone else's creation.
So because I know I’m like this—should I limit what I expose myself to? Should I worry that it will influence or “corrupt” my own style?

Do other writers worry about this? 
This is an invitation to tell me so. Is there anything you don’t watch or read because you think it will make your own writer mind mush?  Do you have a way of curing your own book/movie hangovers or getting yourself out of someone else's sandbox?
Is there any hope for my living room pillows?

Happy #Zombie Jesse Day!

As most of you know this is Easter weekend, AKA Zombie Jesus Day. Because my protagonist is named Jesse and also a zombie--eh--Necronite, I thought we could celebrate with free books all weekend in honor of Happy Zombie Jesse day! So the kindle version of Jesse's book will be free until 11:59PM, Sunday, April 20.

For those of you who are interested, here is the synopsis:

On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. As a Necronite, she is one of the population’s rare 2% who can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don’t have to. Although each death is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory. 

But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself—or die trying.


And for those of you who've already bought the book, I am pretty sure you can gift copies to all your friends and family, which I totally encourage you to do! I'm all about sharing the love! :)

You can get your free book here. And as always thank you for your support! 


Have a grave weekend! 
heh.

Kory