I spent my afternoon introducing a handful of teenagers to Edgar Allan Poe's THE RAVEN. Our intent is to do a theatrical recitation for an upcoming talent show in March. All but one of these kids have never heard of Poe before or his famous poem THE RAVEN.
It's interesting to see them stumble over words or the rhythm, unsure and trying. Soon they will be reciting like the masters, pausing for effect when needed, and adding inflection at the appropriate times.
I found this version read by James Earl Jones and once again, got the chills.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
My New Co-writer!
Meet my new co-writer, Watson, a 7 week old American Cocker Spaniel. He's my new walking buddy, lap warmer and cuddle bug.
Monday, January 2, 2012
A Big Announcement!
I have come to a decision that will change the course of my writing career. I have decided to self publish the first book in my PETER AINSLEY mystery series later this year if I cannot secure an agent.
This has not always been the plan. For ten years or more I have been writing and submitting, making mistakes and learning from them, all the while believing I needed someone in the publishing industry to tell me I was good. When my last book was rejected for lack of erotica, I realized books are not bought and sold because of a writer's ability, but because of their sell-ability. Many indie authors have proven editors and publishers wrong by taking their rejected manuscripts and self publishing them in e-formats. Some indie authors make lots of money, some barely recoup their costs.
I haven't submitted my AINSLEY series to anyone yet, and so it has not been rejected by anyone. I knew when I wrote the first chapter that I was on to something. I knew he was going to be an interesting character, that I would do him justice and that others would enjoy his adventures as much as I did. It never occurred to me to self publish, until a few weeks ago.
Self publishing will give me a tonne of benefits over traditional publishing. Namely control. I will be able to make all the decision regarding the story, the cover art, the marketing and promotion. I can set my own release dates and write at my own pace without the added pressure to fulfil publishing contracts. I can write what I want. One series can be historical, another more contemporary. I can ultimately make those decisions based on my own needs and not that of a corporation.
I won't be sitting on baited breath waiting for a table of editors to tell me 'yay' or 'nay' on a pitched series. I recently met one published author who's career fell flat when the publishing company she was contracted with was bought out and the new publisher didn't want to honour her contract. She wasted a year waiting for the word from the new owners, not writing (which is crazy) and is now back at square one career wise without much clout despite having one published book. A publisher does NOT guarantee success. A writer writes their own destiny.
Modern day authors have many expectations put on them by publishers. Books tour funds come out of the author's pocket, though the company will schedule your book signings. There is an expectation of self promotion which equates to a lot of time and work spent guest blogging, advertising and networking. How is this different from self-publishing? Gone are the days when writers wrote in their dark room, sent their manuscripts to the publishers and washed their hands of it. Nowadays, authors are much more hands on throughout the whole process. This has benefits but not when royalties are so low compared to that of self publishing.
The cover artist I have contacted is amazing and I am still on the look out for an "editor for hire" who can give my manuscript the once over with a fine toothed comb. I was not kidding when I said good things lie ahead. Each day is another day closer to publication and the excitement is building exponentially.
This is beyond exciting and more than a little scary. Self publishing takes money, sometimes a lot of it and no one wants to throw money at a venture that falls flat. Having said that though, I believe in myself, my writing ability and my ability to promote my books. I have been paid for my writing in the past as a reporter and
the majority of the feedback I have received regarding my current manuscript has been nothing short of encouraging. At this point in my personal life and professional life, self publishing may be the way to go.
This has not always been the plan. For ten years or more I have been writing and submitting, making mistakes and learning from them, all the while believing I needed someone in the publishing industry to tell me I was good. When my last book was rejected for lack of erotica, I realized books are not bought and sold because of a writer's ability, but because of their sell-ability. Many indie authors have proven editors and publishers wrong by taking their rejected manuscripts and self publishing them in e-formats. Some indie authors make lots of money, some barely recoup their costs.
I haven't submitted my AINSLEY series to anyone yet, and so it has not been rejected by anyone. I knew when I wrote the first chapter that I was on to something. I knew he was going to be an interesting character, that I would do him justice and that others would enjoy his adventures as much as I did. It never occurred to me to self publish, until a few weeks ago.
Self publishing will give me a tonne of benefits over traditional publishing. Namely control. I will be able to make all the decision regarding the story, the cover art, the marketing and promotion. I can set my own release dates and write at my own pace without the added pressure to fulfil publishing contracts. I can write what I want. One series can be historical, another more contemporary. I can ultimately make those decisions based on my own needs and not that of a corporation.
I won't be sitting on baited breath waiting for a table of editors to tell me 'yay' or 'nay' on a pitched series. I recently met one published author who's career fell flat when the publishing company she was contracted with was bought out and the new publisher didn't want to honour her contract. She wasted a year waiting for the word from the new owners, not writing (which is crazy) and is now back at square one career wise without much clout despite having one published book. A publisher does NOT guarantee success. A writer writes their own destiny.
Modern day authors have many expectations put on them by publishers. Books tour funds come out of the author's pocket, though the company will schedule your book signings. There is an expectation of self promotion which equates to a lot of time and work spent guest blogging, advertising and networking. How is this different from self-publishing? Gone are the days when writers wrote in their dark room, sent their manuscripts to the publishers and washed their hands of it. Nowadays, authors are much more hands on throughout the whole process. This has benefits but not when royalties are so low compared to that of self publishing.
The cover artist I have contacted is amazing and I am still on the look out for an "editor for hire" who can give my manuscript the once over with a fine toothed comb. I was not kidding when I said good things lie ahead. Each day is another day closer to publication and the excitement is building exponentially.
This is beyond exciting and more than a little scary. Self publishing takes money, sometimes a lot of it and no one wants to throw money at a venture that falls flat. Having said that though, I believe in myself, my writing ability and my ability to promote my books. I have been paid for my writing in the past as a reporter and
the majority of the feedback I have received regarding my current manuscript has been nothing short of encouraging. At this point in my personal life and professional life, self publishing may be the way to go.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Happy Christmas!
FATHER CHRISTMAS AND THE DOCTORS
Old Christmas comes but once a year,
Of that there is no question;
But when he comes we all feel queer,
Hurrah for indigestion!
Dyspepsia follows in his train,
The Stomach-ache attends him;
And every sort of inward pain
A gay enjoyment lends him.
As honest country-people say,
In all their sickly hobbles,
We’re “wrong inside”—alas, the day!
“We’ve got the colly-wobbles.”
Though we are poor, roast goose is rich;
So, gladly let us greet it:
Plum pudding is a dainty which
Upsets us; so we’ll eat it.
A Christian people prove they’re such
Not by their lives amended;
But just by eating twice as much
As Nature had intended.
Avaunt ye doctors, silly elves!
In vain your righteous passion,
We mean to over-eat ourselves
In good old English fashion.
Black draught and pills of awful blue,
By-and-bye from you we’ll borrow,
To-day we’ll be to Christmas true,
You’d better call tomorrow.
**As appeared 23 December 1885 in the Judy, or the London Serio-Comic Journal
I found this on a blog I visit, The Quack Doctor.
Old Christmas comes but once a year,
Of that there is no question;
But when he comes we all feel queer,
Hurrah for indigestion!
Dyspepsia follows in his train,
The Stomach-ache attends him;
And every sort of inward pain
A gay enjoyment lends him.
As honest country-people say,
In all their sickly hobbles,
We’re “wrong inside”—alas, the day!
“We’ve got the colly-wobbles.”
Though we are poor, roast goose is rich;
So, gladly let us greet it:
Plum pudding is a dainty which
Upsets us; so we’ll eat it.
A Christian people prove they’re such
Not by their lives amended;
But just by eating twice as much
As Nature had intended.
Avaunt ye doctors, silly elves!
In vain your righteous passion,
We mean to over-eat ourselves
In good old English fashion.
Black draught and pills of awful blue,
By-and-bye from you we’ll borrow,
To-day we’ll be to Christmas true,
You’d better call tomorrow.
**As appeared 23 December 1885 in the Judy, or the London Serio-Comic Journal
I found this on a blog I visit, The Quack Doctor.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Reading & Research
A writer is not worth their salt if they are not a reader as well. I have met many writers who can not give me a name of an author they like and some even have long explanations as to why they don't read. I have heard it all. One amateur told me they don't read and nor do they derive inspiration from music or art work. They told me they just let it flow and after she told me this I realized that was most likely the reason why her vocabulary was so limited and her writing elementary.
A writer can not get better at their craft if they do not study the masters.
A historical writer can not create an accurate historical world without research. For the overall amount of time I spend on my book, average about 15 to 20 hours a week, half is spent writing or editing. The other half is spent reading either fiction, mainly historical mysteries at the moment, or non-fiction books like the one I just got at the library and just can't put down.
Poison, An Illustrated History by Joel Levy.
This book is very heavy on science and terminology, which is not normally what I go for but the subject matter is so intriguing and I am reading it with my notebook at the ready to jot down facts as I read them or even plot lines that occur off the cuff as well.
These kinds of books, historical non-fiction, have fulfilled a need within me to find out as much as I can and also provides a three dimensional aspect to my books. I doubt I will ever stop devouring historical non-fictions because I will never learn it all. I will forever be a student of the past.
A writer can not get better at their craft if they do not study the masters.
A historical writer can not create an accurate historical world without research. For the overall amount of time I spend on my book, average about 15 to 20 hours a week, half is spent writing or editing. The other half is spent reading either fiction, mainly historical mysteries at the moment, or non-fiction books like the one I just got at the library and just can't put down.
Poison, An Illustrated History by Joel Levy.
This book is very heavy on science and terminology, which is not normally what I go for but the subject matter is so intriguing and I am reading it with my notebook at the ready to jot down facts as I read them or even plot lines that occur off the cuff as well.
These kinds of books, historical non-fiction, have fulfilled a need within me to find out as much as I can and also provides a three dimensional aspect to my books. I doubt I will ever stop devouring historical non-fictions because I will never learn it all. I will forever be a student of the past.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Falling In Love with a Fictional Character
I realized this weekend that I am absolutely in love with PETER AINSLEY and he's not even real. I made him up. Everything about him, his hair, his eyes, his arrogance and propensity to drink are all figments of my imagination and yet he seems as real to me as anyone else. I think about him all the time. What he is doing and where the story will take him next. I worry about his family and career and whether or not I am putting too much on his shoulders.
Because I feel such a connection to him I have decided to write another book about him. The editing phase of book one has begun and I am two chapters into my next book. I am also working on a submission for a mystery anthology and decided to use PETER AINSLEY as my main character in that as well.
Is this like putting the cart before the horse?
There is no guarantee that anyone will be interested in book one, so what makes me so sure there will be a need for book two?
Absolutely nothing. I am writing on blind faith at this moment hoping it all comes together. I really love the act of writing. Editing and marketing are okay but I do all that so I can write.
I am hoping I can approach literary agents soon with queries but should that not pan out, I have decided to self-epublish. And I really hope readers like Peter as much as I do.
Because I feel such a connection to him I have decided to write another book about him. The editing phase of book one has begun and I am two chapters into my next book. I am also working on a submission for a mystery anthology and decided to use PETER AINSLEY as my main character in that as well.
Is this like putting the cart before the horse?
There is no guarantee that anyone will be interested in book one, so what makes me so sure there will be a need for book two?
Absolutely nothing. I am writing on blind faith at this moment hoping it all comes together. I really love the act of writing. Editing and marketing are okay but I do all that so I can write.
I am hoping I can approach literary agents soon with queries but should that not pan out, I have decided to self-epublish. And I really hope readers like Peter as much as I do.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Almost Done!
Can you believe it? I am almost done my first draft of my mystery novel. I am in the midst of writing the final showdown scene between my protagonist, PETER AINSLEY, and the murderer he never suspected. It is all suppose to come to ahead in that one final, satisfying scene but I have a problem; there are so many ways I could approach this, it's hard to choose just one.
I want this to be big, and like I said before, satisfying. There is nothing worse than an author who can't deliver a good ending after a strong build up of tension. At least for mystery writers.
My ending word count should be around 85,000, and it's taken my 14 months to get to this point. I could have really focused and got this puppy finished months ago but I'm an artist and we never get things done on time.
It doesn't matter. I am in the home stretch. Man, what a party I will have when I can type in the words; the end.
I want this to be big, and like I said before, satisfying. There is nothing worse than an author who can't deliver a good ending after a strong build up of tension. At least for mystery writers.
My ending word count should be around 85,000, and it's taken my 14 months to get to this point. I could have really focused and got this puppy finished months ago but I'm an artist and we never get things done on time.
It doesn't matter. I am in the home stretch. Man, what a party I will have when I can type in the words; the end.
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