April 2017 Group Read with guest author Glenn Rolfe

[Glenn]

Vicki wrote: "I finished the novella. I thought it was excellent too. Another scary mystery creature. Those kids were braver than I would have been!

Thank you Glenn for participating in this! It made it so much..."
Thanks, Vicki. I 'm glad you gave my work a chance. As for Boom Town... I may have a follow-up novel in the works called, Ascension Agenda. ;)

[Glenn]

Troy wrote: "The novella sounds good, Vicki. I may have to check it out sooner rather than later!

Glenn, I have a question regarding the ending of BECOMING. [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[Troy, the ending felt right to me. I felt as though the people we care about in the story are the main focus. The creature, for me, not so much. I felt like we get them through the event, and life goes on. In my mind, I imagine they immediately tell someone, whether anyone believes them or can find evidence of the creature in the lake...I'm not so sure. I wouldn't rule out a return to the lake type of novel. I have other ideas about how things turn out afterwards, but I'm gonna keep them to myself in case I do write a sequel. (hide spoiler)]
Thanks for reading with us, Troy.

[Kenneth]

Vicki wrote: "I finished the novella. I thought it was excellent too. Another scary mystery creature. Those kids were braver than I would have been!

Thank you Glenn for participating in this! It made it so much..."

My pleasure, Vicki. I've had the good fortune to have read most of Glenn's work and I truly think he gets better with each new offering. So, when the opportunity to do a group read with him and his new book presented itself, it was a no-brained. I'm giddy with excitement that you liked it!

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "The novella sounds good, Vicki. I may have to check it out sooner rather than later!

Glenn, I have a question regarding the ending of BECOMING. [spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]
..."

You're welcome, Glenn! Thank you for responding to all my questions!

[Kenneth]

I'm 30% in and I agree, the atmosphere is excellent. The other thing that I'm noticing is how good the dialogue is. For so many writers, this is one area that tends to be their weak spot. Not here. The dialogue is spot on and, for me, it's taking the atmosphere to a new level of realism. Loving it!

[Glenn]

Ken wrote: "I'm 30% in and I agree, the atmosphere is excellent. The other thing that I'm noticing is how good the dialogue is. For so many writers, this is one area that tends to be their weak spot. Not here...."
Thanks, Ken. I take pride in my dialogue. I have so many weaknesses as a "technical writer", but I feel like dialogue and atmosphere are two things I do well. You guys are reinforcing that feeling for me, so thank you.

[Glenn]

Story time:
I've had one reviewer who Veronica Mars was lost on. Not surprising, really. It wasn't a huge show, and I never watched it when it was originally on, but my wife is a huge fan. And nowadays, with Netflix and other streaming options, the younger and older generations are falling in love with shows that they missed or never knew existed. For me, Veronica Mars is terrific and Kristin Bell's character just seemed the perfect fit for my thoughtful, questioning, young antagonist, Michele. I am a Kindle junkie, but even more, my oldest daughter (10) is always diving into Netflix on her Kindle. I easily pictured Michele stumbling upon Veronica Mars and identifying with the teen girl who lives with dad (who happens to be a private eye). Michele envies some of that. What would Veronica Mars Do, was something that survived from my original manuscript for Becoming. I'm glad it did, and it ended up fitting this version of the story even better.

[Kyleigh]

I'm about 15% into BECOMING and I'm really enjoying it!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha,

I finished just now. The ending had mix feelings. Regardless, I enjoyed the book. I hope you write book two of this.

Mahalo,
RM Griffin
🎗

[Glenn]

Kyleigh wrote: "I'm about 15% into BECOMING and I'm really enjoying it!"
Nice!

[Glenn]

RM wrote: "Aloha,

I finished just now. The ending had mix feelings. Regardless, I enjoyed the book. I hope you write book two of this.

Mahalo,
RM Griffin
🎗"

I'm glad you liked it. As for a book 2... there's definitely some ideas swirling in my my head. Thanks for reading my work. I hope you'll try some of my other stories, as well.

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha,

I plan to read your books this weekend. Blessings.

🎗

[Glenn]

Okay, as an additional thank you for you guys reading BECOMING, if you message me, or comment with your email address, I will send you the EXCLUSIVE eBook of my short story, "One of These Things...". It went out this morning exclusively to members of the Get Rolfed Horror Club .

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Glenn wrote: "Okay, as an additional thank you for you guys reading BECOMING, if you message me, or comment with your email address, I will send you the EXCLUSIVE eBook of my short story, "One of These Things......"


Mahalo!

historyandbooksrock@gmail.com

[Janie]

Phew, I thought I missed this group read. I am just getting started. Btw, the ending of One of These Things... creeped me out. :)

[Glenn]

Janie wrote: "Phew, I thought I missed this group read. I am just getting started. Btw, the ending of One of These Things... creeped me out. :)"
Thanks for coming, Janie. :)
Glad you enjoyed "One of These Things..."

[Janie]

I have been admiring the cover design of Becoming, and it was interesting to read the story behind it.

[Kenneth]

Finished Becoming today and what a fun ride! I think this is your best one yet, Glenn. There are shades from so many of my favorite stories and movies in here, yet it stands completely on its own. I had no trouble whatsoever visualizing this one from start to finish. Great job!

(view spoiler)[ I like the way you weren't afraid of killing off main characters. Michele's mom wasn't so much of a surprise, but when you offed her dad, it felt like no one was safe and the hopelessness of the situation was almost to the breaking point.

Did you know, going in, who would live and who would die? Or did it come as you got to that point in the story?

It felt like there might have been more to Clint's health and why he was "tainted". Did you decide from the start to not include much of that or did it get the chop during editing?

(hide spoiler)]

[Glenn]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ken.
(view spoiler)[ I never shy away from letting the story do what it wants. I write as I go. Very little plotting and planning. I knew I wanted Michele to make it to the end, and luckily, she did. Other than that, I let the dominoes fall and whoever was left was left. I feel like, as a writer, you know when it doesn't feel right. You know when you took a wrong road. I was nervous about Michele's dad, but after i finished, it felt right.

This is the second version of Becoming, as I had scrapped the original manuscript. There are bits that survived. Clint's issues were one of them. In my mind, Clint had cancer, and it was this cancer, the tainted part of him, that kept him from "becoming". I didn't tackle it in the story. I think it would have taken away from my main vision,. I don't like to do too many side treks. I like a certain flow in my stories. I felt like going down that avenue would have disrupted that flow. In the end, it didn't feel necessary it explain it in detail. I like leaving little mysteries in my stories. It can add tension, intrigue, and sometimes, up the fright level. You can't give everything away. Some writers do. I'm not one of them. (hide spoiler)]

[Glenn]

Janie wrote: "I have been admiring the cover design of Becoming, and it was interesting to read the story behind it."
That cover was done by Jason Lynch. He's done the covers for The Haunted Halls and for Slush .
I usually give him a section from a story, say chapter one or two, and let him come up with whatever he has in his crazy mind.
He's currently at work on the design for the print version and he's promising me it is going to be killer.

[Janie]

Judging from his previous work, it's going to be a winner! :)

[Troy]

I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action starts up, it is hard to put down.

A gave it a solid 4 stars. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Glenn, earlier you mentioned a potential follow-up. I would totally LOVE to see a follow-up novel to this. This story has big potential! How did you come up with the idea for the novella? Any interesting anecdotes to share? By the way, I like when you throw in movie or book references. The Incredible Melting Man is such a cheesy flick; I love it! :)

[Glenn]

Troy wrote: "I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action starts up, it is hard to put down.

A gave it a solid 4 stars. Here i..."

Hey, Troy. I have started the follow-up novel. Looking to release it sometime toward the end of next year.
As for the inspiration for Boom Town. A number of years ago, there were a series of loud underground booms in Clintonville, Wisconsin. For days, no one knew what they rumblings were. Scientists came to town to help figure it out. I saw this over a couple of days watching Good Morning America and logged it away in my mind.
They figured out it was the rock beneath the ground shifting in that area of the state. I went with what my alien loving mind came up with instead.

Funny thing, we had a similar mysterious boom that shook the ground near my home in Maine a couple weeks ago. It woke my wife up, she said the house shook from the boom. It has yet to be explained. Aliens, dude. Aliens.

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action starts up, it is hard to put down.

A gave it a solid 4 ..."

Thanks for sharing, Glenn! I love the fact that Boom Town was inspired by actual events. Looking forward to the follow-up novel.

[Glenn]

Troy wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action starts up, it is hard to put down.

A gave..."

here's the cnn report--http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/23/us/wisc...

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Sorry I'm late - I started reading today and am 20% in. Fun Monster Book so far :)

[Janie]

I have only read 40% so far (too many distractions), but I'm having fun reading this book, too.

[Glenn]

Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Sorry I'm late - I started reading today and am 20% in. Fun Monster Book so far :)"
No worries, Erin. Glad you made it in. I'll be around as long as Ken will have me.
Glad you're enjoying it!

[Glenn]

Janie wrote: "I have only read 40% so far (too many distractions), but I'm having fun reading this book, too."

:)

[Kenneth]

Glenn wrote: "Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Sorry I'm late - I started reading today and am 20% in. Fun Monster Book so far :)"
No worries, Erin. Glad you made it in. I'll be around as long as Ken will hav..."

This thread stays open indefinitely. As long as people are reading this baby and posting on here, she's all yours, Glenn!

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action starts up, it is hard to put ..."

Very interesting article, Glenn! Thanks for sharing. My bet is on the buried alien machinery or sewer cats! :)

[Glenn]

Troy wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action starts up, it i..."
Ha! Yes!

And here's what happened in my neighborhood just a couple weeks ago. Eerie!
http://www.centralmaine.com/2017/04/1...

[Janie]

I just finished Becoming - what a grand finale! Great imagery, Glenn! Troy mentioned a sequel earlier - will that be for Becoming, or for Boom Town?

I am going to start Boom Town asap, especially after reading the above story and articles.

[Glenn]

Janie wrote: "I just finished Becoming - what a grand finale! Great imagery, Glenn! Troy mentioned a sequel earlier - will that be for Becoming, or for Boom Town?
I am going to start Boom Town asap, especially ..."

Janie,

That was for Boom Town. I'm calling it, Ascension Agenda.
Becoming may get a follow-up, as well.
Right now, I'm working on the sequel to Blood and Rain (WAITING FOR DARKNESS), my next novel, WINDOW, and a novella called, FOLLOW ME DOWN.

I'm glad you enjoyed BECOMING. :)

[Janie]

Glenn wrote: "Janie wrote: "I just finished Becoming - what a grand finale! Great imagery, Glenn! Troy mentioned a sequel earlier - will that be for Becoming, or for Boom Town?
I am going to start Boom Town asap..."

I was thinking that a prequel would be interesting for Becoming, but it sounds like you have your hands full at the moment. I look forward to your next book! :)

[Glenn]

Just wondering, I always love when a character connects with a reader. Who is your favorite character in BECOMING?
Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine.

[Janie]

I liked Mae the best.

[Glenn]

Janie wrote: "I liked Mae the best."
Loved writing Mae. Her and Shane survived from the original manuscript. I knew they had to be in this new version.

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "I finally got around to starting BOOM TOWN tonight. I really enjoyed it and ended up reading it in one sitting. Once the action st..."

That is creepy! Sounds like another basis for a good piece of sci-fi/horror fiction :)

[Troy]

Glenn, I enjoyed reading "One of These Things...". Thanks for providing your short story for free. When you have an idea for a story, how do you decide whether it will be a short, novella or novel? Do you brainstorm ideas and explore the depth to which you require to tell the story?

[Glenn]

Troy wrote: "Glenn, I enjoyed reading "One of These Things...". Thanks for providing your short story for free. When you have an idea for a story, how do you decide whether it will be a short, novella or novel?..."
I never know the length when I start, unless I'm setting out to write a sequel. or a short story for an anthology. Normally, I get a scene that crosses my mind. Then I write that scene and see where it goes. I can usually tell right off if there's "more to the story' or not. From there, I really just go by feel. I never attempt to fluff a story up to make it any length. I try to go by feel and let the story tell me where it wants to be.

[Vicki Willis]

I just read the short story One of These Things. Very creepy. It made the hair on the back of my neck rise!
Be careful what you wish for...
Thanks Glenn! You are awesome!!

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "Troy wrote: "Glenn, I enjoyed reading "One of These Things...". Thanks for providing your short story for free. When you have an idea for a story, how do you decide whether it will be a short, nove..."

That makes sense. Thanks, Glenn!

[Glenn]

Vicki wrote: "I just read the short story One of These Things. Very creepy. It made the hair on the back of my neck rise!
Be careful what you wish for...
Thanks Glenn! You are awesome!!"

Thanks, Vicki. Glad it worked for you. :)
I love that story.

[Glenn]

Sinister Grin Press just put my novella, CHASING GHOSTS on sale for 99 cents for the Kindle edition!
This one is my ode to Ketchum, Laymon, Janz, and Keene. Check it out!
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Ghosts...

[Vicki Willis]

That is awesome Glenn!
I will definitely check that one out.

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "Sinister Grin Press just put my novella, CHASING GHOSTS on sale for 99 cents for the Kindle edition!
This one is my ode to Ketchum, Laymon, Janz, and Keene. Chec..."
Snagged it. Thanks, Glenn!

[Glenn]

Thanks, Tony. Thanks, Vicki.

[Glenn]

We're almost wrapped up here. I wanted to say thanks to Ken for having me, and also thanks to those of you who read the book.
If you have any more questions or comments regarding BECOMING, leave 'em here. I'll check back for the next week or so.
If any of you are interested, I have three new pieces of fiction coming your way over the next year and a half: FOLLOW ME DOWN (novella), WAITING FOR DARKNESS (novel, follow-up to BLOOD AND RAIN), and WINDOW (novel). Not sure which will see the light of day first, but those should be the next three releases.

[Troy]

Glenn wrote: "We're almost wrapped up here. I wanted to say thanks to Ken for having me, and also thanks to those of you who read the book.
If you have any more questions or comments regarding BECOMING, leave '..."

Thanks, again, for answering all my questions, Glenn! I enjoyed the discussion! I will definitely keep an eye out for your upcoming releases.