tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58473315239789208732024-03-12T15:35:45.769-07:00The Mad Muncle's ForgeObservations on Writing, Publishing, Pop Culture, and Just About Anything Else from Fantasy Author Scott EderScott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-13679662192393000942014-09-04T16:04:00.000-07:002014-09-04T16:04:24.400-07:00Fire it Up! The Forge's coals have been banked for too long. What with bowling and writing and Cons, I haven't spent much time with the metaphorical hammer and tongs. Time for that to change. Time for some new stuff. Let's start with some news and a new short story.<div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTlReBpsSLk/Ujcm_FEPlcI/AAAAAAAAAhA/Wd70TLVI_uo/s1600/KnightofFlame_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTlReBpsSLk/Ujcm_FEPlcI/AAAAAAAAAhA/Wd70TLVI_uo/s1600/KnightofFlame_med.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><i>Knight of Flame</i> won a Gold medal for Contemporary Fantasy in Dan Poynter's 2014 World Ebook Awards! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oISeEDRfgmg/VAjpfT20QTI/AAAAAAAABWA/4eXBQMxOXH4/s1600/gold_ebk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oISeEDRfgmg/VAjpfT20QTI/AAAAAAAABWA/4eXBQMxOXH4/s1600/gold_ebk.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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My new short story, "The Last Dregs of Winter," is available in a great new anthology from WordFire Press, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Horn-Rule-Them-All/dp/1614751927/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409870750&sr=1-1&keywords=one+horn+to+rule+them+all" target="_blank">One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology</a></i>. </div>
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Can you believe it? An entire collection of short stories featuring purple unicorns. That's the kind of magic that happens at the <a href="http://superstarswriting.com/" target="_blank">Superstars Writing Seminar</a>. Helmed by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, Superstars is the best seminar in the galaxy on the topics of being a professional writer. All proceeds from the sale of One Horn goes to the Superstars scholarship fund. And it all started as a silly example. </div>
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One of the presentations given by Kevin and Rebecca is about how to act like a professional writer. One of their points is if you are invited to submit a story to an anthology, you had better write the best darn story you can because to someone, it will be his or her first exposure to your writing. It doesn't matter if you hate the topic. If you agree to write the story, don't "phone it in". Even if the anthology is about Purple Unicorns, and you hate Purple Unicorns, the readers who buy that book want to read about Purple Unicorns. Therefore, it is in your best interest to write the best Purple Unicorn story you can. Make sense? </div>
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They used that example for a few years, an each year the class talks about really writing those stories. In 2014, Lisa Mangum, the Managing Editor for Shadow Mountain, attended as a guest speaker. Kevin and Rebecca gave their talk using the Purple Unicorn example. Lisa fell in love with the idea and offered to donate her editing time if Kevin would publish the finished book through WordFire Press. They invited top authors like Jody Lynn Nye, Todd McAffrey and Peter S. Beagle to submit, while opening most of the story slots up to Superstars' alumni. And the result? An amazing anthology filled with wildly different takes on the Purple Unicorn theme. </div>
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Check it out this awesome new anthology. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Horn-Rule-Them-All/dp/1614751927/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409870750&sr=1-1&keywords=one+horn+to+rule+them+all" target="_blank">One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology</a></i>. </div>
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That's it for now. I'll post a Con update soon. </div>
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Have fun,</div>
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Scott </div>
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Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-85153494345744054852014-05-02T11:05:00.001-07:002014-05-02T11:06:16.809-07:00The Science of Mind Magic - Guest Post by Christine Amsden<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xwqUppe6rI/U2PcPemUwpI/AAAAAAAABB0/1pRtCrCW4Vw/s1600/MindGames_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xwqUppe6rI/U2PcPemUwpI/AAAAAAAABB0/1pRtCrCW4Vw/s1600/MindGames_med.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a>[The Mad Muncle is very pleased to welcome Christine Amsden back to the Forge. Her new release, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Games-Cassie-Christine-Amsden-ebook/dp/B00JLRNZ3C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399053165&sr=8-2&keywords=cassie+scot" target="_blank">Mind Games</a></i>, the next book in the beloved Cassie Scot series, recently hit the shelves. Check it out. That's enough of my hot air, here's Christine:] </div>
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The trouble with mind magic is:
How do you know if someone's controlling you? </div>
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You could drive yourself crazy wondering if your thoughts
are your own or the product of someone else's superior will. In the world of
magic, there is something inherently sinister about the idea that one person can
mess with someone else's thoughts, feelings, and desires. This is a theme I've
been building from the first book in this series, <i>Cassie Scot: <s>Para</s>Normal
Detective</i>, when Edward Scot says:</div>
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“Magic itself is never black, only the uses to which it is
put, but mind magic is already tinted a deep, dark gray.”</div>
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Matthew Blair, a telepathic mind mage who takes center stage
in <i>Mind Games </i>(Cassie Scot #3), disagrees. His response to this
statement is:</div>
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“Any kind of power is already tinted a deep, dark gray.
Haven’t you ever heard that power corrupts?”</div>
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Of course Matthew would say that. He's a mind mage and he's
actively trying to manipulate our heroine, but as with all skilled manipulators
he understands the power of <i>truth </i>and <i>subtlety</i>. </div>
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Mind control is not a uniquely magical phenomenon. People
try to influence us wherever we go in subtle and overt ways. When you go to the
store, the packaging of the products you browse screams at you, “Pick me! Pick
me!” Retailers know how to use product placement to maximum affect (as every
mother who has ever taken children through a candy-filled checkout knows).
Advertisers bombard you with messages that work on your mind even when you
don't know it. Drug companies fill the airwaves these days with medicine most
of us don't need at any given moment, but they know you'll remember when the time
is right. </div>
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There are people in the real world who possess charisma – a
trait I've lent a quasi-magical aspect to in my series. But you know what I
mean. Some people just exude charm and grace and a little bit of “<i>trust me.”
</i>Trendsetters. Natural leaders. Born politicians. Shapers of men and of the
minds of men (and women). These people fill our minds with thoughts we embrace
as our own, sometimes without our even realizing we have done so.</div>
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Before you ask – no, I'm not one of those people. I could
wish, but in person I tend to be a little bit awkward. I'm much better at
expressing myself through the written word.</div>
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One of the pointless (circular) existential questions I
sometimes like to ask myself is: What do I fervently believe that is simply not
true? And since I am so certain of this truth, why would I ever seek to correct
that impression? I don't consider myself to be a close-minded person (who
does?) but I can only be open-minded when I am aware of a possible discrepancy.
I must see that something in the world is inconsistent with my core beliefs. I
have to get caught in a lie. </div>
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Getting back to the world of magical mind control, I often
see authors going to extreme lengths when it comes to mind magic. Direct,
obvious controls that the hero is just strong-willed enough to throw off
because he or she has a superior... spirit? Intellect? Force of will? A little
bit of all those things, I suppose. </div>
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In this story, I wanted to show how hard it would be for
even a strong-willed individual to throw off competently woven mind magic. This
isn't about strength at all, but skill. Matthew Blair tells Cassie in chapter
one that he is a telepath and “hears” everything she thinks. He says this to
her because he senses that Cassie will be drawn to the truth, and drawn to the
genuine sense of alienation he feels because of his power. Cassie has always
been drawn to help people in need. Matthew knows this about her, and he uses it
against her. </div>
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To beat Matthew, Cassie will have to learn things about
herself that make her stronger. She is going to have to face certain truths
that she has been running from for two books. </div>
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Ultimately, she has to figure out that it's happening. How
can you change your mind if you don't know it needs changing? </div>
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If that's too heavy for you, feel free to enjoy this book as
a fun magical mystery. Here are a couple of lighter reader questions to ponder:</div>
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1. Would you want to be a telepath? (Why?)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7wf4EZRQhc/U2PdElG8shI/AAAAAAAABB8/ugfu_By3puw/s1600/CassieScot_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7wf4EZRQhc/U2PdElG8shI/AAAAAAAABB8/ugfu_By3puw/s1600/CassieScot_med.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">Thanks Christine. Readers, if you haven't read Cassie Scot yet, now's your chance. The first book in the series, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cassie-Scot-ParaNormal-Christine-Amsden-ebook/dp/B00C7VR69I/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1399053502" target="_blank">Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective</a></i>, is on sale for $.99 for a limited time. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3yNiJLmbMY/U1k8iQkKexI/AAAAAAAABA8/f-xwQcZ632o/s1600/Muncles+Forge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B3yNiJLmbMY/U1k8iQkKexI/AAAAAAAABA8/f-xwQcZ632o/s1600/Muncles+Forge.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mad Muncle's Forge</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmJp69-40Nk/U1k-nDH8zBI/AAAAAAAABBU/_Bkz5XhQZfQ/s1600/happy_brad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmJp69-40Nk/U1k-nDH8zBI/AAAAAAAABBU/_Bkz5XhQZfQ/s1600/happy_brad.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
This gorgeous piece was created by the amazing <a href="http://www.bradfraunfelterillustration.com/" target="_blank">Brad Fraunfelter</a>. That's him to the right. Seems like a happy fellow, don't you think?<br />
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Through the use of modeling, photography, lighting, and other...artisticy (I've been told that's the technical term) type things, he creates beautiful images full of light and color and awesome. Check out the composite below, taking us from concept sketch to finished work. Magical!<br />
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And to think, it all started with his cover sketch of an intense fireball, Develor Quinteele, the sixth Knight of Flame.<br />
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Brad's done many book covers and other magnificent pieces. You can find more great examples of his work, a glimpse behind the curtain into his process, and even buy prints at <a href="http://www.bradfraunfelterillustration.com/" target="_blank">Brad Fraunfelter Illustrations</a>. Check him out.<br />
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<br />Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-88772300150360694682014-04-22T17:57:00.000-07:002014-04-22T18:19:38.973-07:00The Writing Process Blog Hop<div class="MsoNormal">
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My friend and fellow Twilight Times Books author, <a href="http://mariadevivo.com/" target="_blank">MariaDeVivo</a>, asked me to join in the fun of The Writing Process Blog Hop. Check out
Maria's novel, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009RY5D6Q/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0E232CSQR59PJMRYCYR5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846" target="_blank">The Coal Elf</a></i>, to get your YA Dark Fantasy fix. Yes! Santa is
real. But this isn't your childhood Christmas tale. The story is a lot of fun, and with over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon, you won't be disappointed. Check it out. <br />
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For the blog hop, I answered a few writerly-type questions,
and tagged a few of my friends to do the same on their blogs. Keep a look out for
their posts next week. </div>
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you working on?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I'm finishing up the second book in
The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis series, <i>Knight of Air</i>. The story continues three weeks after the events in <i>Knight of Flame</i>, and adds the
point-of-view of Cyndralla, the Knight of Air. In addition, I'm working on the
outline for a novella set in the Knights Elementalis universe focusing on
Cyndralla's past. We only catch the barest glimpse of her back story in the
first book, and I wanted to prime the pump for book two. Look for the yet to be
named novella to come out in the Fall, 2014.</div>
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your work differ from others in its genre?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I have a hard time with this
question. It's not that <i>Knight of Flame</i>,
and the Knights Elementalis series, isn't unique, far from it. I just find it
difficult to say why it differs. I would much prefer to tell the readers what
it IS…and that, at its core, Knight of Flame, in fact the whole series, is a
story about relationships. Sure there
are all kinds of cool and groovy action, and magic, and dragons, and humor, and
tragedy, and honor, and… But, when all
is said and done, it's the relationships that drive everything else. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Why do
you write what you write?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
I write what I love to
read—character/relationship-driven stories of love and honor, good versus evil,
set within a fantasy universe. It just so happens that my fantasy universe
lives and breathes within our modern world, hidden (or sometimes not so hidden)
in plain sight for those curious enough to look. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b>What is
your writing process?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
I'm a hard-core plotter. I need
that roadmap of what happens when, where and to whom in order to make the story
elements fit together. Writing from multiple POV's presents the
challenge/opportunity of telling the story from different angles through the
eyes of fleshed out characters, each with his or her own goals, motivation, and
emotional baggage. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
My outline consists of a
scene-by-scene breakdown of the entire novel. Within each scene description, I
determine the setting, POV character, additional characters, emotional drivers,
and objectives. Each scene must accomplish at least three things in the story
otherwise it gets cut or combined with another scene. Once I know what happens
and where "things" go, so to speak, I start writing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
I use the outline as a guide only—a
map from the beginning to the end. It is not the end all, be all of the
storytelling. That still happens during the writing. I come up with new and
exciting ways to torture my characters all the time. The plot lives and
breathes until I finish multiple edits, and lock everything down. If you're looking for ways to improve your writing, please check out <a href="http://www.davidfarland.com/writingworkshops/" target="_blank">David Farland's</a> writing courses. His classes are amazing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p>Look for The Writing Process Blog
Hop post from this fine author next week: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItSvIwbX_fg/U1cPDcLtW9I/AAAAAAAAA_k/jni1UIPohlg/s1600/Cover+portrait.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ItSvIwbX_fg/U1cPDcLtW9I/AAAAAAAAA_k/jni1UIPohlg/s1600/Cover+portrait.png" height="200" width="166" /></a></div>
Colette Black - When Colette isn't caring for her family, dogs, and a mischievous cat, she
spends her time writing. Born and raised in the United States, she has also
lived in the Philippines and Switzerland. Currently, she resides in the far
outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, where she loves the warm weather and the cotton
fields. Colette's newest release, <a href="http://www.coletteblack.net/noble-ark-first-chapter" target="_blank">Noble
Ark</a>, is available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JPRU5C2" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and will release to all major book sellers April 25th.
Her short story anthology, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOVVPCO" target="_blank">The Black Side</a>, released March 1st and you can find her recent
story, Watchboy, through <a href="http://isotropicfiction.com/blog/2014/03/19/watchboyexcerpted-from-if11/" target="_blank">Isotropic Fiction</a>. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.coletteblack.net/" target="_blank">www.coletteblack.net</a><br />
<br />
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<div class="gmail_extra">
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Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-29463057847809206322014-03-10T16:49:00.002-07:002014-03-10T16:49:51.616-07:00Book Signings – Always Bring Extra Copies
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YN9LLmZSR9A/Ux5PEVGMMFI/AAAAAAAAAv4/1uNgRM7YwgA/s1600/cropped-new-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YN9LLmZSR9A/Ux5PEVGMMFI/AAAAAAAAAv4/1uNgRM7YwgA/s1600/cropped-new-logo.jpg" height="113" width="320" /></a>The <a href="http://superstarswriting.com/" target="_blank">Superstars Writing Seminar</a> is an amazing experience. The
information about the business side of being a professional writer is presented
fast and hard, like drinking from a fire hose, by best-selling authors and
experts in the field. After wrapping up, I leave with my brain overflowing, and
my creative soul bursting at the seams. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
One of the most important pieces of advice I took away from
this year's seminar came about in a casual conversation over dinner. I had the
privilege of spending a few hours with NYT best-selling author Brandon
Sanderson. The conversation ranged from royalties, to plotting, to anything and
everything Brandon related. When I mentioned that I had a Barnes & Noble
signing coming up, he offered up some practical advice. He said to always bring
extra copies of your book. Don’t try to sell them yourself because the bookstore
wouldn’t appreciate that; however, you can work out a deal to sell your copies
as if the store had ordered the books themselves. After the event, they can
order books to replace the ones out of your stock. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
It's a simple and elegant plan where everyone wins. And I
had the opportunity to test it out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3K_qJXLbY8E/Ux5OihDU-9I/AAAAAAAAAvw/oTl32ZRF3dc/s1600/CAM00132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3K_qJXLbY8E/Ux5OihDU-9I/AAAAAAAAAvw/oTl32ZRF3dc/s1600/CAM00132.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
This past weekend I participated in my second book signing.
The Brandon, FL Barnes & Noble hosted an event for several local authors.
We were a magnificent group of seven, with books spanning the genres from
thriller to self-help, religion, inspirational, and my contemporary fantasy. No
two authors' genres overlapped, so we had a little bit of everything to offer.
After setting up, and before the signing officially started, we mingled a
little, handing out business cards and exchanging information. Everyone was
really cool.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
For a local author event like this, Barnes & Noble is
pretty conservative. According to their stats, most authors only sell four or
five copies. Just in case, they may order a few more. They ordered ten copies
of Knight of Flame with the expectation they might have some left over. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I was concerned. I shouted the details for the signing from
every physical and virtual rooftop I could find, so I had high hopes that I'd
have a decent turn out. That being said, I didn’t want anyone who made the trip
to the book store to walk away without a signed book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Other authors had said that Barnes & Noble wouldn't let
them sell their own books when the store's stock ran dry. Readers wanting a
book had to have it shipped to their house. While they did eventually get a
book, it wasn't signed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
So, keeping Brandon's advice in mind, I brought extra copies
in the hope the store would go for the plan. There is a difference in the
author selling directly versus providing additional stock for Barnes &
Noble to sell. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
On the day of the signing, I sold out of the B&N copies
in the first thirty minutes. It was awesome. At one point I actually had a line
four deep. As the stock dwindled and we still had ninety minutes left in the
schedule, I made the suggestion Brandon talked about. At first, the Customer
Relations Manager thought I suggested selling my books on consignment, and
didn't go for it. But, once I explained that I was allowing them to sell my
stock as if it was their own, after mulling it over, she went for it. Sweet! I
grabbed a few copies from my bag and kept signing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
The bottom line is it’s really a win-win-win. The store
sells more books, and makes their customers happy. The readers get what they
came for -- a signed book. The author gets the additional sales, happy readers,
and a stronger relationship with the book store. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
It helps to be prepared. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Good luck
with your own book signings. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Have fun,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Scott</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
"Against the Shadow, burns a noble light."</div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-62207944174524023192014-02-22T10:21:00.001-08:002014-02-22T10:21:06.776-08:00Book Signing on March 1st at the Brandon, FL Barnes & NobleThe Mad Muncle wants to remind everyone about the upcoming book signing. The Brandon Town Center Barnes & Noble is hosting a multi-author event on March 1st from 1:00-3:00. Stop in, say "Hi", and pick up your signed copy of Knight of Flame. <br />
<br />
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Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-42397945087397577602014-01-27T20:02:00.000-08:002014-01-27T20:02:06.486-08:00On the Other Side of the Table - Book Signing Tips<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been to many
sci-fi/fantasy conventions over the years. I've anxiously walked up to an
author's table for his precious signature and a moment to talk about his work.
I love to hear the passion from the author directly. No amount of marketing
text or a silver-penned hook on the back can encapsulate the author's vision,
the gift of his soul bound between the shiny covers. Nothing beats that
in-person experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Over the weekend I had
my first experience on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other</i> side
of the table. It was my turn to be that author, to talk to existing and
potential readers about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Knight of Flame</i>.
And you know what? It was glorious. Did I sell a lot of books? Nope. I sold
four. It was a small show in the back room of a very nice comic book store. I
was the only author surrounded by eight or nine very talented Indy comic book
artists. They sold prints and sketches. The artist next to me, Javier, sold like
five sketches to eager fans. It didn't matter which beloved character requested,
Javier banged out an amazing custom piece in about twenty minutes. And the fans
were thrilled. So was I. I'm a big superhero fan, after all, and love to watch
a talented artist bring a drawing to life. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So there I was
surrounded by a room full of artists doing what they do…drawing. Many heroes
and creatures were born that day. What the heck was a novelist doing in that
room? "Hey kid, for ten bucks I'll write you a paragraph." Yeah…no. A
collection of words, no matter how poetic, meaningful, and life-altering, could
not compete against a detailed sketch of Thor bowling, or Batman playing
Yahtzee across the table from Deadpool and Cinderella. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I was doing there,
aside from drinking in the creative ambience and soaking up the coolness of
every second someone wanted to talk about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Knight
of Flame</i>, was learning. This was my first event, and I wanted to cut my
teeth in a small venue before taking my show to bigger events later this year. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'd done my homework. In
the weeks before the show, I'd read several blogs on the topic and an ebook by
David Farland, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blockbuster Book Signings!</i>,
to clue me in on the basics. Farland's book dealt mainly with staging bigger
events, headliners where I'd be the main attraction and how to draw in the
crowds. While all good information, I'm not there yet. Talk to me in a few
books and we'll see. Still, I found several tips that really helped out. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Based on what I learned
during this event, here's my signing plan going forward. There are three key
areas to address:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Planning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Presentation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Attitude</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Planning </b>– Once the event has been scheduled, getting the word out
is critical. The venue will advertise to some extent, but the author needs to
spread the word to the best of her ability. Tell everyone via email, social
media, and every other means at the her disposal about the upcoming event. The
more people who attend, the more successful the event. The more successful the event,
the greater the likelihood that the venue will invite that author back for her
next book. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In addition to the
advertising, make sure to stock up on the essentials—giveaways, candy,
supplies, product. We'll talk more about each of those in a minute. Oh, don't
forget to bring enough change. Turning away a sale due to a lack of small bills
would be a crime. I'm a very lucky guy in that my wife thinks of everything.
She made sure that before I left the house, I had plenty of ones and fives to
make enough change for every one of my books twice over. It came in handy too.
The artist next to me might have lost a few sales if I hadn't hooked him up. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Presentation –</b> I'm going to spend the most time here, because this
requires the most thought and effort. Let's start from the bare bones and work
our way up. Assume the presentation space will be nothing more than a plain
table, and it's our job to prepare a feast for the eyes, something that will
pop, and draw in potential readers. Keep in mind that a professional looking
presentation space speaks volumes about the person sitting behind that
table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Table
cloth</i> – When buying a table at a con or event, it's impossible to know what
state that table will be in. It could be an old wooden table that has seen one too
many cons, or a stained plastic mess. No worries. Cover that bad boy up. Bring
a table cloth or two in a color that compliments the product on display. My
book cover is black with orange accents, so I might choose a white cover. Even
though I prefer black, the book would blend too closely with the table cloth. I
want <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Knight of Flame</i> to appear to
leap off the table. I got lucky this time. I didn't have a table cloth for this
event, but the table itself wasn't too bad, and I covered most of it with my
"stuff". <br />
<br />
I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> have one for the next event.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Banners/Signage
</i>– A colorful banner proclaiming who resides on the other side of the table
helps to draw in future fans. Most events provide a little paper sign with the
author's name that sits flat on the table. Most people would need to be right
in front of the table to read who's there. The heck with that. Develop a
colorful image that screams an appropriate message, and either tie it across
the front of the table or hang it from a stand behind it. If possible do both.
Be seen. Get noticed. Stand out. If someone tries to put Baby in the corner,
everyone will still see her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The artist across the aisle from me, Stephen, unrolled a
banner and clipped it to the front of his table. It was colorful, simple, and
proclaimed exactly who sat at that table. I wanted to bring a banner, looked
into it in fact, but the artwork I had in mind wasn't of a high enough
resolution to print on a large (4'-6') scale, so I let it slide for this show.
But seeing Stephen's banner across the front of his table made a big difference
in terms of perception. It screamed "I'm a pro. Check out my work."
And the fans did. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> have a
banner for my next signing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKa34UHaPTc/UucpbAd2D-I/AAAAAAAAArg/Kk9u9jE2wLs/s1600/KnightofFlame_med1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKa34UHaPTc/UucpbAd2D-I/AAAAAAAAArg/Kk9u9jE2wLs/s1600/KnightofFlame_med1.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Product</i>
– Having a good product to display is critical. Beautiful covers sell. Period.
A striking cover displayed prominently will draw interest. Set several copies
of the book on stands to make that cover easier to see. Just laying the book
flat on the table is fine for those already standing there, but won't catch the
eye of the visitor a table or two away. </span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I printed the cover on photo-quality paper, and displayed
it in a picture frame. For the next show, I'd like to print it up poster sized
and hang it up behind me either on the wall or using one of those telescoping
stands, drawing the eye of potential readers from across the room or down the
aisle. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Snacks </i>-
Con/event attendees like snacks. Who can resist a little chocolate or a mint?
Lure them in with candy, and pounce like a world-class diner waitress as soon
as their mouth is full. That'll provide a few seconds to hook them. Make them
so interested in the book that they can't walk away without either buying a
book or taking a card.
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<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For
this show, I picked up a tub of soft chewy mints and a big bag of Hershey's
miniatures from Sam's Club. I set the mints at one end of the table, and the
chocolate at the other to catch people from both sides. People stopped to
munch, which led to a quick conversation. Candy is dandy, my friends. Use it. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mementos
(takeaways)</i> – If someone buys a signed book, she has something to take home
to remind her of the experience. But what about the other people who stop by
the table? Not every sale is generated in the moment. Some happen after the
show. The important thing is to make a positive impression and to ensure that a
potential reader takes something home to remember the experience. In his web
classes, NYT best-seller Tracy Hickman talks about creating a memento of the
author-reader meeting. A bookmark is just a bookmark, but a signed bookmark is
a piece of memorabilia. It becomes a reminder, or souvenir. It adds that
personal touch that can differentiate an author. When thinking about what a
reader can take away from the signing table, try to inject that personal touch.
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I totally agree with Tracy's philosophy on this and ordered
rack cards months ago to hand out in my travels. Rack cards (3.9" x
8.3") are bigger than normal book marks, showcasing the book cover and
allowing for marketing text on the back. I think they are the perfect size to
act as a bookmark for trade paperbacks and hard covers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgH9hbyFubY/UucphCOcZRI/AAAAAAAAAro/hfz7RR5Oos0/s1600/rack+cards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgH9hbyFubY/UucphCOcZRI/AAAAAAAAAro/hfz7RR5Oos0/s1600/rack+cards.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On mine, I added the first few lines of my back cover copy,
a promo blurb from David Farland, and a QR code that points to the first five
chapters of the book on my publisher's website. Below that I left enough space
to sign. At the comic book event, Javier saw me with a normal pen in hand set
to sign the card, and yelled over. "Dude! What are you doing? You gotta go
bold." He tossed me a gold marker. I signed cards in gold the rest of the
day. For the books I still used a regular pen, but the cards…. On my list of
things to get for the next show are a collection of different colored markers
to step up the boldness factor. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In terms of display, I fanned the cards out across my
table, and laid a stack next to a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Knight
of Flame</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span> </div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Professionalism</i>
– All of the above combine to not only display the product, but to showcase the
author's level of professionalism, which, in my opinion, goes a long way to
promote the book. In actuality, while the author may push his latest release,
he's really selling himself. Be prepared. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Attitude:</b> Be open. Be cheerful. And above all, be nice. I've talked
about this in other blog posts, but it is most decidedly true when talking to
your future fan base. Be inviting. No one wants to stop and talk to a grump.
Say, "Hello." Smile. Make eye contact. Engage the passersby with a
simple, leading question like, "Do you like to read fantasy?" Once
they answer, ask another, and steer them toward the topics of your book. Don't
pressure them. Engage. Discuss. Close the sale. Offer a takeaway. Wish them
well. That's it. Easy peasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Keep in mind these
public events are not all about the sales numbers. Sure, we'd like to sell lots
of books, but I believe the key to a successful event is in making that
personal connection. Sales can happen any time. Face-to-face meetings, not so
much. Make it the best it can be with a little up front planning, a strong
presentation, and the right attitude. Be bold.</span> </span></div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-43381942575897589722013-12-19T12:27:00.000-08:002013-12-20T15:53:07.185-08:00Another Hot New Release from Twilight Times Books - Dragon Fire - by Dina von Lowenkraft[When the Mad Muncle heard about Dina's debut YA fantasy, Dragon Fire, he couldn't wait to tell the world. That day has finally come. Not only does he get to share the goods, but Ms. von Lowenkraft has graciously provided a bit of world building wisdom. Enjoy.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dragon Fire</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2kJ7WnQuikY/UrMqz-e1a4I/AAAAAAAAApw/0ez_knxH_Ms/s1600/DragonFire-cover-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2kJ7WnQuikY/UrMqz-e1a4I/AAAAAAAAApw/0ez_knxH_Ms/s400/DragonFire-cover-front.jpg" width="265" /><br />
</a>Some choices are hard to live with.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<font-size: 12.0pt="">But some choices will kill you.<o:p></o:p></font-size:></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="FreeFormA">
<font-size: 12.0pt="">When seventeen-year-old Anna first meets Rakan in her hometown north of the Arctic Circle, she is attracted to the pulsing energy that surrounds him. Unaware that he is a shapeshifting dragon, Anna is drawn into a murderous cycle of revenge that pits Rakan and his clan against her best friend June.<o:p></o:p></font-size:></div>
<div class="FreeFormA">
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<font-family: 12.0pt="" ar-sa="" en-us="" imes="" new="" quot="" roman="" serif="">Torn between his forbidden relationship with Anna, that could cost them both their lives, and restoring his family’s honor by killing June, Rakan must decide what is right. And what is worth living – or dying – for.</font-family:><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MANBq6iFmnY/UrMqzVUsGvI/AAAAAAAAApo/hx8-uONglUU/s1600/Dina+von+Lowenkraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MANBq6iFmnY/UrMqzVUsGvI/AAAAAAAAApo/hx8-uONglUU/s1600/Dina+von+Lowenkraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MANBq6iFmnY/UrMqzVUsGvI/AAAAAAAAApo/hx8-uONglUU/s1600/Dina+von+Lowenkraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MANBq6iFmnY/UrMqzVUsGvI/AAAAAAAAApo/hx8-uONglUU/s320/Dina+von+Lowenkraft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Born
in the US, Dina has lived on 4 continents, worked as a graphic artist for
television and as a consultant in the fashion industry. Somewhere between New
York and Paris she picked up an MBA and a black belt – and still thinks the two
are connected. Dina is currently the Regional Advisor for SCBWI Belgium, where
she lives with her husband, two children, three horses and a cat.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dina loves to create intricate worlds filled
with conflict and passion. She builds her own myths while exploring issues of
belonging, racism and the search for truth... after all, how can you find true
love if you don’t know who you are and what you believe in? Dina’s key to
developing characters is to figure out what they would be willing to die for.
And then pushing them to that limit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt (Chapter One):</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the Arctic winter, the sun never rises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the Arctic summer, the sun never sets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the Arctic, the world is at your feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Chapter
1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
Circle Tightens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The candle flickered in
the subzero wind but Anna made no move to protect it. She stopped on the hill
in front of Tromso’s three-year high school and watched the water of the fjord
shimmer below. Even though it was mid-afternoon there was no sun, just the
luminous reflection of the moon. The procession of students continued on without
her, leaving only the fading sound of crunching snow in their wake.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
seem as eager to go to Fritjof’s memorial vigil as I am,” June said, startling
Anna with her sudden appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 35pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna
fingered the oval piece of bright orange coral that she had carried around like
a talisman since she was a child. She usually kept it in her pocket, but today
she wanted to feel its soothing energy closer and had it in her glove. She had
never liked Fritjof, and even though she wasn’t glad he had died, she wouldn’t
miss him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 35pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">She
turned to face June whose cobalt blue eyes were at odds with her otherwise
Asian features. June and her boyfriend had also been out on the mountain when
the avalanche claimed Fritjof. “I’m glad it’s not yours too,” Anna said. “I’d
really miss you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It
would take more than an avalanche to kill me,” June said, trying to smile. But
Anna could feel her friend’s pain lurking under the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey.”
She wrapped an arm around June to comfort her. But as soon as her hand touched
June’s shoulder, a burst of energy exploded from her stone. Anna ripped off her
glove and the piece of coral went flying. “What the—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
spun around, pushing Anna behind her as if to protect her from an attack. She
scanned the area, her body tensed for a fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Who
are you looking for?” Anna pressed her palm to dull the pain as she glanced
around the deserted hilltop. “Whatever it was, it came from my stone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
relaxed her stance. “Are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
think so.” Anna gestured towards the coral-colored sparks that crackled in the
darkness of the Norwegian winter. “What do you think it’s doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t
know.” June crouched down to get a better look. Her hand hovered as a bright
green light flashed around the stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t
touch it,” Anna said sharply. Her stone had always had a special energy, but
never coral-colored sparks. Or green flashes of light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s
okay now.” June pulled her hand back. “Look for yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna
knelt next to June. The stone was dark and lifeless and she felt a sudden pang
of loss. She prodded it gingerly with her good hand, but felt nothing. She
picked it up. It was just a pretty bit of coral. The gentle pulsing energy that
she had liked so much was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Can
I see it?” June asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna
nodded, her throat constricted. The stone had always reminded her of her
father. Its energy was something he would have been able to feel too. The only
other person she had met so far who was open to that kind of thing was June.
Everyone else got freaked out, or thought she was crazy. So she had learned not
to talk about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
closed her fist around the stone. “Where did you get this?” Her voice wavered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna’s
attention flicked back to June. She never wavered. “I found it in the
mountains. Years ago. Why? What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“A
trigger.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“A
trigger for what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
returned Anna’s searching look. “I have no idea.” She handed the stone back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“So
how do you know it’s a trigger?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
just feel it.” June picked up the candles that lay forgotten in the snow. “If
you’re okay, we should go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna
picked up her discarded glove and froze. In the middle of her left palm was a
star-shaped scar. She stretched her hand to get a better look. It was about the
size of a dime. She touched it. Like an echo under the fading pain, she could
feel the energy of her stone pulsing faintly in her palm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Here,”
June said, offering Anna a candle. She stopped mid-motion. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
don’t know. The stone…” She held out her palm. “Look.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
dropped the candles and took Anna’s hand in hers. Gently, she ran her fingers
over the slightly raised ridges of the scar. “A Firemark,” June said as if
talking to herself. “But how…?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What’s
a Firemark?” Anna examined the scar. It was almost silvery in the moonlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
looked up, her fingers still on Anna’s palm. “It’s like a living connection
between two people. But… there was only the stone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It
always felt alive,” Anna said. She touched the Firemark one last time before
putting her glove back on. It was warm and smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
shook her head. “But even if it felt alive, it shouldn’t have left a Firemark.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna
shrugged. “Maybe. But I like it.” Anna closed her hand around the Firemark. It
felt like she was holding her stone. She smiled. She’d never lose it now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
re-lit the candles again and handed one to Anna. “Ready?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anna
hooked her arm through June’s. “I think so.” They walked silently through town
and across the bridge that straddled the green-black fjord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do
you think it’s over?” Anna eyed the Arctic Cathedral that sprawled like slabs
of a fallen glacier on the other side of the fjord. It was lit up like a temple
of light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">June
shook her head. “It’s only just begun.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s enough.”
Khotan’s voice snapped like a whip across the barren land of Ngari in western
Tibet. “You’re not going to kill her. I will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
[Hooked? You can read more at <a href="http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/DragonFire_ch1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Twilight Times Books</span></a>.]<br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Guest Post - World Building</h3>
I
have always loved world building - and, as most kids do, I did it constantly,
whether playing with my friends in the trees or building homes for my stuffed
animals. What we were all doing, without thinking about it, was creating a
setting for our story. No story can happen without characters, and no character
can come to life in a void. They need a setting. The setting is the structure
in which the characters will evolve and the story will unfold. It shapes how the
characters view the world and how they react. Whether done consciously or
unconsciously, the world we create as writers informs the story problem and its
themes.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One
of the exciting things about world building is that you can create your world
starting from any point, be it the physical realm, the society, the character
or the story problem. But no matter where you start, at some point you have to
decide how your main character and his/her story problem fit into the larger
world he/she lives in. It is this interplay between the character and his/her
world that will help give a story the depth, and coherence, necessary to engage
readers and create a vibrant world that will live on in their minds well beyond
the end of the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although
it is easy to see details of world building when reading about Middle Earth or
Starships, a contemporary novel set in a small town also has a distinct world
that the author has created – either by constructing a fictional setting or by
choosing which parts of a real setting to include or to omit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A
world is a complex system of interdependent threads ranging from the physical
to the metaphysical and covering everything in between. Geography, population,
government, history, ethics and religion are just a few examples. The clearer
you are about the impact of each thread on your characters and story arc, the
more depth your world will have and the more alive it will feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A
river that floods, such as the Nile, can be seen as destructive or life-giving
or both – but it can’t be ignored. No matter how it is perceived, the river’s
cycle will affect how the civilization that it nourishes develops. Climate and
local resources influence everything from clothing to fighting techniques to
societal structure and religious beliefs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just
as in our world, the way fictional characters perceive the world around them is
shaped by the culture they grew up in, their past experiences and their own
ideas of right and wrong. This in turn will affect how each character can
evolve over the course of the story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For
example, in <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic","serif";">The Game
of Thrones</span>, Dany wouldn’t be who she is, or where she is, without the
past events that pushed her and her brother into exile. Of course, what she
chose to do afterwards was based on her own experiences and understanding of
the world around her and the potential she had within herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All
worlds, even ones with magic, have limitations – and limitations are often a
great starting point for introducing problems and increasing tension. And
tension, especially when it is innate to your world’s structure and your
character’s personal view of the world, is what makes a book something a reader
can’t put down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What are your thoughts on world building? What do you
usually create first, the world, the characters, the story problem? I’d love to
hear from you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwilightTimesYAandNAbooks" target="_blank">Twilight Times YA& NA Books on FB</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/vonlowenkraft/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Fire-ebook/dp/B00ECNEZ6G/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></a></div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-11230283250268752842013-12-19T09:00:00.000-08:002013-12-19T09:00:10.846-08:00Hot New Release from Twilight Times Books - Mythos - by Heather McLaren [The Mad Muncle is very pleased to offer his forge as the fiery setting to present this hot new release from Twilight Times Books-- <i>Mythos</i>, a debut YA fantasy by Heather McLaren.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">MYTHOS</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: auto auto 0pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmI1R4b_wmI/UrMfY6pKfNI/AAAAAAAAApQ/eUXINM69org/s1600/Mythos3%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmI1R4b_wmI/UrMfY6pKfNI/AAAAAAAAApQ/eUXINM69org/s320/Mythos3%5B1%5D.JPG" width="206" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">True love was
the last thing David Cooley expected to find in the Bahamas, But the moment he
laid eyes on Faren Sands, he knew he had found the girl of his dreams. How could
he know she was a mermaid from the lost island of Atlantis?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin: auto auto 0pt;">
<a href="" name="_GoBack"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Because of the
strict laws regarding human contact, the couple flees the consequences of their
forbidden passion, struggling to survive a conflict that has been brewing
between the mermaids and sea demons for the last eleven thousand years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto 0pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">Once the epic
battle begins, fate forces David to make a decision that will forever affect his
young life. Should he stick by the woman he loves, risking his mortality for a
civilization that hates him?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-iQw20W2lY/UrMfbB0zWSI/AAAAAAAAApY/bpXRLiKV_Ko/s1600/1451532_236101726552782_198115579_n2%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F-iQw20W2lY/UrMfbB0zWSI/AAAAAAAAApY/bpXRLiKV_Ko/s320/1451532_236101726552782_198115579_n2%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heather
McLaren is a Cherokee writer living in southern Illinois with her husband and
four children. <i>Mythos</i>, the first of
five books in the <i>Mer Chronicles</i>, is
her debut novel. She is currently working on the second book in the series, <i>Beyond Legend</i>, and plans on bringing
fantasy into the lives of young adults for years to come.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Faren reared back and kicked Mineane with
everything she had. The demon’s eyes popped open, and she flew off her feet,
crashing headlong into the television screen. There was a loud <i>crunch</i>, and Mineane grew still. Her body
turned to dust, leaving her tentacles behind as the only evidence she was ever
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Suri looked up but she didn’t seem to care
about her dead partner. She continued to strangle David without blinking an
eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Faren ran up and ripped the knife from her
back, but Suri knocked her to the floor before she could stab her again. The
weapon flew from Faren’s hand and skidded across the tile out of reach. She
crawled toward it, grunting and groaning. Suri grabbed her leg, and Faren fell
flat on her face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“No!” Faren screamed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">So
close, so close.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She reached for the knife again; her hand
grazed the handle, knocking it even farther away. As a last minute decision,
Faren attacked Suri, pounding her in the head with her tiny fists. The monster
let go of David’s throat and grabbed Faren’s hair again, yanking her to the
floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Let me go!” Faren cried, latching onto the
demon’s wrists. She tried to twist her way free, but Suri’s strength outweighed
hers by ten. “No, stop!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">David punched Suri in the back of the head
once, twice. She fell to her side, but kept a good grip on Faren’s hair. David
managed to crawl out from underneath her, and he punched her in the head again.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As soon as Suri released Faren, the couple took
off for the stairway leading to the bedrooms. They didn’t get far. A pair of
the most enraged eyes they had ever seen met them halfway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You’re not going anywhere,” Suri croaked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Faren couldn’t think straight. The hefty demon
blocking their path no longer existed. All she could see was the stairway,
their only lifeline to the outside world, across the room. But it seemed a
million light years away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“You’re trapped,” Suri said, shoving a chair
out of the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“Come
on!” David rushed Faren to the glass patio door, slid it open, and pushed her
out onto the balcony. “We have to jump!”</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mythos-Heather-McLaren/dp/1606190938/ref=Sr_1_1?s=books&i.e.=UTF8&qid=1386871946&Sr=1-1&keywords=heather+mclaren+mythos" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mythos-heather-mclaren/1117055299?ean=2940148374343" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.omnilit.com/product-mythos-1313948-143.HTML" target="_blank">OmniLit</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mythos-1313948-143.HTML" target="_blank">All Romance eBooks</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://heathermclarenfantasy.webs.com/" target="_blank">Author Website</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://twilighttimesbooks.com/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://twilighttimesbooks.com/" target="_blank">Twilight Times Books</a></div>
</h3>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-80861981766526374492013-11-18T08:05:00.000-08:002013-11-18T08:05:47.583-08:00Larger Than Life Antagonists - Guest Post by Christine Amsden - Author of the Cassie Scot series<i>And the guests keep rolling in. The Mad Muncle is pleased to welcome Christine Amsden to the Forge. The anvil is yours, Christine...</i><br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There is nothing so evil in the world as what humans can do to one another.” – Edward Scot (Cassie's dad)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fantasy genre loves larger-than-life heroes, which is probably why we tend to turn to larger-than-life antagonists. Who can stand up to a man with the ability to crush a tree into splinters using only his mind? Not you or me, for sure. So instead we turn to werewolves, vampires, orcs, goblins, and demons, just to name a few. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But for some time I have felt that in the search for evil, we really need look no further than our own backyards. Human beings have an amazing capacity to hurt one another, and many of us even manage to rationalize that it's all for a greater good. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If my hero can crush a tree to splinters using only the power of his mind, then I can give you an anti-hero with the same power. Using that formula, you could say we may as well cancel the magic out and just write about regular people, but where's the fun in that? I do love make believe, or I wouldn't write fantasy. :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are serious advantages to writing human anti-heroes, chief among them being that it's rare to find a human who is pure good or pure evil. My kids may like knowing who the good guy is and who the bad guy is at all times, but life isn't like that. When you go beyond demons, you have the opportunity to figure out why the antagonist does what he does in terms that the average reader can understand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the flipside, why is your hero basically good? How did a two-year-old with some destructive power learn that he doesn't always get his way? Or did he? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the fantasy genre matures, the demons themselves are becoming less evil in response to authors' instinctive realization that “BWAHAHA!” is not a great motivation for sowing destruction. Dark heroes are becoming the norm rather than the exception, vampires are simply misunderstood, and shape shifters are getting cuddly.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
In Eagle Rock, Missouri, where Cassie Scot makes her home, I opted to create a world of mostly human sorcerers to prey upon one another. And in Secrets and Lies, you'll see some of the worst humanity has to offer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-difEri_XB6k/Uoo1mLmfSCI/AAAAAAAAAlI/0OpJmjuW4Ts/s1600/Christine+200+by+300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-difEri_XB6k/Uoo1mLmfSCI/AAAAAAAAAlI/0OpJmjuW4Ts/s200/Christine+200+by+300.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Christine Amsden has been
writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves
to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by
her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative
fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary
situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it
is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful
for everyone.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">At
the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition
that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally
blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors.
She also does some freelance editing work</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christine
currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been
her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.</span></div>
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Social Media Links:<br />
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<a href="http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Website</span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/?page_id=200"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Blog</span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Amsden-Author-Page/127673027288664?ref=hl"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Facebook</span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Twitter </span></span></span></a></div>
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<span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="ttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030664.Christine_Amsden"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Goodreads</span></a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/117845642477854934607/posts"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Google+</span></span></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blurbs:</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJRdcy9YmzQ/Uoo5azE6JvI/AAAAAAAAAlc/WLZTzilsffI/s1600/CassieScot_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJRdcy9YmzQ/Uoo5azE6JvI/AAAAAAAAAlc/WLZTzilsffI/s320/CassieScot_med.jpg" width="206" /></a><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cassie Scot: <s>Para</s>Normal Detective</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cassie
Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but
belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but
earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s
reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and
tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she
truly belongs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Buy Links:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cassie-Scot-ParaNormal-Christine-Amsden/dp/1606192752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368971523&sr=8-1&keywords=Cassie+Scot"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Amazon</span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassie-scot-christine-amsden/1115049717?ean=9781606192757"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Barnes and Noble</span></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.omnilit.com/product-cassiescotparanormaldetective-1152602-344.html"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">OmniLit</span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Liberation Serif', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Cassie-Scot-Audiobook/B00FA89FZ8/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1379697202&sr=1-1"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Audible (audiobook)</span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooma4lhzipA/Uoo2uOSuY9I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/FR_UIqSGMls/s1600/secretsandlies_med1rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ooma4lhzipA/Uoo2uOSuY9I/AAAAAAAAAlQ/FR_UIqSGMls/s320/secretsandlies_med1rev.jpg" width="206" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div>
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Cassie
Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical
world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite
everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">To
complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to
deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team
up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin
their hopes for happiness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Buy Links:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cassie-Scot-ParaNormal-Christine-Amsden/dp/1606192752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368971523&sr=8-1&keywords=Cassie+Scot"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Amazon</span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Liberation Serif', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassie-scot-christine-amsden/1115049717?ean=9781606192757"><span class="InternetLink"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Barnes and Noble</span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">P<b>raise for the Cassie Scot series:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">From
Publisher’s Weekly:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“In
this entertaining series opener, Amsden (The Immortality Virus) introduces
readers to the eponymous Cassie, a decidedly mundane member of a magical
family. …Readers will enjoy Cassie’s fish-out-of-water struggles as she fights
magical threats with little more than experience and bravado.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kim
Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment
Series, had this to say:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">“When
sorcerers call the shots, what’s a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a
ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions
bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie
Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won’t let go until the
very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban
fantasy at its best. More please!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Christine Amsden unleashes her brilliant
storytelling magic as the adventures of Cassie Scot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">escalate to the extreme. Rife with betrayal and a
debt too deep for money to clear, Secrets and Lies plunges the reader into an
utterly believable world where villains and heroes spring lifelike from the
pages. Brace for a whirlwind ride of sorcery, romance and knife-edge peril. A
truly original urban fantasy. Not to be missed!<span class="StrongEmphasis">”</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="StrongEmphasis">Thanks for stopping by, Christine. Good luck with the </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2) tour. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></i></div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-64051298957887522002013-11-13T04:00:00.000-08:002013-11-13T04:00:05.612-08:00There’s No Place Like Home - Guest Post by Maria De Vivo, Author of The Coal ElfThe Mad Muncle welcomes fellow Twilight Times Books author, Maria De Vivo. Take it away, Maria.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ySQnu6b0Jc/UoLXbEIcLlI/AAAAAAAAAk8/4VdOuUG8ji8/s1600/526407_559183390794189_2054227992_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ySQnu6b0Jc/UoLXbEIcLlI/AAAAAAAAAk8/4VdOuUG8ji8/s320/526407_559183390794189_2054227992_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="214" /></a>What’s the old saying?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Home is where the heart is."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be true because one of the prevalent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humans have an innate honing device that draws us to a nostalgic place of comfort and love. Some of the most influential stories of our time use HOME as a central theme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After having experienced the wonder and glory of Oz, Dorothy said there was no place like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her journey brought her to the realization that her black and white world of farm animals and twisters was really where she belonged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thrust onto an island while the war-torn world around them has no idea of their whereabouts, the children in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lord of the Flies </i>are in constant pursuit of returning home while in the process, create a home. And more recently, Katniss Everdeen initially strives to win The Hunger Games to go where?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back Home. <br />
themes in story-telling is the concept of Home - Having one, being a part of one, rejecting one, leaving one, desperately trying to find your way back to one.<br />
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In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Coal Elf</i>, Ember Skye deals with this notion of Home from the moment she is called to her Life Job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she is sent to the Mines, her memories of her life Aboveground grip her so tightly that she is almost blinded by nostalgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire novel follows her path of dealing with those memories, confronting certain realities, and altering her own perceptions as to where she belongs, where she fits in, where she’s meant to be.<br />
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So what is HOME?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What defines it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, it’s an unseen structure made up of memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spring birds singing in the morning as I waited for the school bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running outside on a cool summer night to flag down the ice cream truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing on tree stumps in my backyard as dead leaves fell from the autumn trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smell of my father’s work boots in the hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cuddling with my sister on Christmas Eve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming home from school and being so angry with my mother for cleaning up my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My uncle’s voice booming as he and my mother sang Kenny Rogers’s songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My concept of Home expands far beyond the actual dwelling itself, and now I’m making a Home for my daughter, hopefully helping to build those memories of love and comfort she will seek refuge in her future. <br />
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<strong>Bio:</strong><br />
Maria DeVivo is a New York native who has had a lifelong love affair with "the pen." A graduate of St. John's University, she has a passion for all things mystical and mythological. She has taught 7th grade Language Arts since 2000, and in 2010, designed the curriculum for an academic elective course entitled <i>Folklore, </i>where she was able to share her passion and knowledge on concentrated topics such as folktales and mythology with her students.<br />
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Having grown up in a large Irish/Italian family (where Maria is the oldest child, and of course, the wisest) the mystery and wonder surrounding the holidays were a main staple of her upbringing. At the age of seven, when her mother finally admitted "the truth" to her, she has become somewhat of a "Santa-phile", an obsession that has rooted its way into every fiber of her being. Maria is one of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>those people<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>who cries when Santa makes His grand appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Parade. Coupled with an obsession for all things dark and demented, her debut novel,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The Coal Elf</i>, was born.<br />
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Maria now lives in Florida with her husband, Joe, and daughter, Morgan. When not teaching or writing or running around after her daughter, she enjoys drinking iced coffee, watching horror movies, and playing video games.<br />
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For a cool journey into the inner workings of the elves at the North Pole, check out Maria's, <em>The Coal Elf.</em> <br />
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<strong>Blurb:</strong><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFYJJhihwGc/UoLXU_yM4gI/AAAAAAAAAk0/M-OW8TZNtOY/s1600/coal+elf+pic+for+vid%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFYJJhihwGc/UoLXU_yM4gI/AAAAAAAAAk0/M-OW8TZNtOY/s320/coal+elf+pic+for+vid%255B1%255D.jpg" width="207" /></a>Ember Skye is a fed up teenage Coal Elf with a big ashy chip on her shoulder. Having been torn away from a carefree life and forced into a world of dirt and darkness has started to get the best of her. And being the only girl-elf working as a coal miner at the North Pole doesn’t help much either!<br />
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Then there’s Sturd: a power-hungry, twisted elf with a checkered past and a serious grudge against Ember. Slowly but surely, his maniacal tendencies are revealed, leaving Ember with the sacred “Naughty List” literally in her lap.<br />
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When a mysterious illness threatens to decimate elves both Above and Underground, Ember is thrust into a journey that will see her confront the literal and figurative demons of her past and lead her to the head of the North Pole himself.<br />
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Yes! Santa is real. But this isn’t your childhood Christmas tale!<br />
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"...A story with plenty of twists and turns, the reader is drawn into a world of dust and darkness with tension so strong it can be felt throughout. You will hold your breath at the challenges Ember must face and be pulled along as the plot thickens." ~ Anne K. Edwards, author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Last to Fall.</i><br />
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<strong>Amazon Buylink: The Coal Elf is currently at a special holiday price of $2.99</strong> <br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "DejaVu Sans";"></span></b><a href="http://amzn.com/B009RY5D6Q"><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "DejaVu Sans";">AMAZON</span></b></a><u><span class="InternetLink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "DejaVu Sans";"> </span></span></u></div>
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<b>Connect with DeVivo:</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "DejaVu Sans";"></span></b><a href="http://www.mariadevivo.com/"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">www.mariadevivo.com</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/mariadevivoauthor"><span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">www.facebook.com/mariadevivoauthor</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">@Maria_DeVivo</span><br />
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<br />Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-82832755765773222632013-10-28T12:02:00.003-07:002013-10-28T12:12:46.803-07:00What Scares You? (Or where do writers get their ideas?) by Aaron Paul Lazar(The Mad Muncle is pleased to present a guest post by Aaron Paul Lazar. Be sure to check out his new romance release, <i>The Seacrest. </i>It's out today!<i> </i>Welcome to the Forge Mr. Lazar!)<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">A</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">s an author I'm often asked,
"Where do you get your ideas?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's
one of my favorite subjects, so if you decide to ask me on our next exchange,
pull out a chair and settle in. It's hard for me to stop talking about it once
I start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">In
previous articles, I've mentioned how life in general (news, friends, movies,
etc.) can inspire story lines. Today I'd like to discuss how my </span><i style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">fears</i><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">
drive my plots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Allow me to open up right from the
beginning and tell you what scares the hell out of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">1)
Losing my wife, daughters, grandkids, or other family members (including pets)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">2)
Being caught in a fire (hey, I didn't say my fears were original, did I?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">3)
Drowning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">4)
Heights</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">5)
Bad guys</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">6)
Plane crashes (if I'm inside)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5847331523978920873" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5847331523978920873" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5847331523978920873" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">7)
Tornadoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">8)
Floods (and a subsequent drowning)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">9)
Snakes. (shudder)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">10)
Being in a bad accident in a massive snow storm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">11)
Falling under the ice and not being able to get out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">12)
Geez! Isn't 11 enough?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fAzn83GrtA/Um6xb4jn9eI/AAAAAAAAAkU/t4VznFXit1g/s1600/DF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fAzn83GrtA/Um6xb4jn9eI/AAAAAAAAAkU/t4VznFXit1g/s1600/DF.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As
I analyze this long list of fears, I realize I've used those themes over and
over again in my twenty-one books. Those twists on all the themes have given my
characters fits on a number of occasions. In </span><a href="http://www.legardemysteries.com/doubleforte.htm"><i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Double
Forte'</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">,</span>
Gus nearly drowns, his daughter is threatened, his grandson disappears, and he
goes off the road with said grandson in the vehicle in a bad snowstorm. Uh huh.
Looks at all those fears!</span><br />
<br />
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<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5pkhneei_8/Um6xcAkMA1I/AAAAAAAAAkM/TUzLyYkmpNI/s1600/Upstaged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5pkhneei_8/Um6xcAkMA1I/AAAAAAAAAkM/TUzLyYkmpNI/s1600/Upstaged.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
</span><span style="color: #ffe599;"><a href="http://www.legardemysteries.com/upstaged.htm"><i><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Upstaged</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">,</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Gus has to deal with
a big snake, he's terrorized by a psychotic maniac, and his fiancee's beloved
dog is kidnapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.legardemysteries.com/mazurka.htm"><i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mazurka</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span>opens with a near
plane crash, Gus and Camille are hunted by Nazis, abandoned unground in the
Parisian Catacombs, almost drowned when their car plunges into an alpine lake,
and are imprisoned during a fierce fire. Oh yeah, Mazurka hit a lot of them.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
</span><a href="http://www.legardemysteries.com/tremolocryoftheloon.htm"><i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tremolo:
cry of the loon</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
we do the handcuffed-to-a-bed-in-a-roaring-fire bit, the
being-attacked-underwater-and-almost-drowning-bit, and also have Gus
misunderstand and think his mother died. Phew. That was a bad one, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:47.75pt;height:73.95pt;
z-index:3;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;
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mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\SE2DE3~1.HOL\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"
o:title=""/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g99-2MseT4Q/Um6xb5jp35I/AAAAAAAAAkE/VahVPK7iPYw/s1600/FireSong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g99-2MseT4Q/Um6xb5jp35I/AAAAAAAAAkE/VahVPK7iPYw/s1600/FireSong.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I won't go through </span><a href="http://www.legardemysteries.com/firesong.htm"><i><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Firesong</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #ffe599;">,</span> which includes many
of the above as well, but believe me, fears are intertwined in all the books.
And facing those fears by writing about them is good therapy. It's also a good
way to get your readers' hearts pumping, for you can be assured that many of
your fears are shared by them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cUkK8BOgpQs/Um6xb1Tpz8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/kAzcoiIgFBw/s1600/Seacrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cUkK8BOgpQs/Um6xb1Tpz8I/AAAAAAAAAkI/kAzcoiIgFBw/s1600/Seacrest.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
now that I’ve written my first love story, </span><a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/theseacrest.htm"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Seacrest</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #ffe599;">,</span> I realize that I’ve
utilized many examples from the first two on the list above – Finn loses his
mother, father, grandfather, sister ten years before the story opens, and then
he has another huge loss in chapter 1, which starts in 2013. Not to mention the
fire! Wow, it’s pretty amazing when you analyze your own work from this angle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_21" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/theseacrest.htm" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:0;margin-top:.35pt;width:141.65pt;height:180.05pt;z-index:4;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
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<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
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o:title=""/>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/theseacrest.htm"></a><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, writers. What
scares you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aaron Paul Lazar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Here's where you can pick up your copy of <i>The Seacrest:</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Amazon
Link:</b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<a href="http://amzn.to/16pjh4i"><span style="color: #ffe599;">http://amzn.to/16pjh4i</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b>Smashwords
Link</b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">:
<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369357"><span style="color: #ffe599;">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/369357</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span><b>Goodreads:</b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">http://bit.ly/17dYYY8</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.lazarbooks.com/">www.lazarbooks.com</a></span></span></div>
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</div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-34064208745631830812013-10-04T14:25:00.001-07:002013-10-08T13:46:59.684-07:00Knight of Flame Virtual Book Tour Schedule10/8/13 - ***New October Tour Stops Added***<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/" target="_blank">Pump Up Your Book!</a></span> is coordinating the <em>Knight of Flame</em> Virtual Book Tour. I'll be popping up all over the net talking about writing, <em>Knight of Flame</em>, and all kinds of things. Follow along and join in the fun. <br />
<br />
Here's the schedule for October:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday, October 7 – 1st
chapter reveal at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://wantedreaders.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Wanted Readers</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tuesday,
October 8 – Book featured at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://naturallykimb.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Naturally Kim B</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wednesday,
October 9 – Book featured at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Friday,
October 11 – Interviewed at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.broowaha.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Broowaha</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday,
October 14 – 1st chapter reveal at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.mikishope.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Miki’s Hope</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tuesday,
October 15 – Interviewed at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pump Up Your
Book</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tuesday,
October 15 – Interviewed at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.actingbalanced.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Acting Balanced</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wednesday,
October 17 – Interviewed at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://reviewfromhere.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Review From Here</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thursday,
October 18 – Guest blogging at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://literarilyspeaking.net/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Literarily
Speaking</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thursday,
October 18 – Book featured at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://wormyhole.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Wormhole</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday,
October 21 – Interviewed at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://straightfromtheauthorsmouth.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Straight From the Authors Mouth</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday,
October 21 – Book featured at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://wantedreaders.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Wanted Readers</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tuesday,
October 22 – Guest blogging at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.imshelfish.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">I’m Shelf-ish</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wednesday,
October 23 – Guest blogging at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://bookexcerpts.wordpress.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Between the
Covers</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Friday,
October 25 – Interviewed at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.literalexposure.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Literal Exposure</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Friday,
October 25 – 1st chapter reveal at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.literarywinner.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Literary Winner</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday,
October 28 – Guest blogging at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.allvoices.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Allvoices</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Monday,
October 28 – Book review and Guest blogging at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://insidebjshead.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Inside BJ’s Head</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tuesday,
October 29 – 1st chapter reveal at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Queen of All She Reads</span></a></span></strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wednesday,
October 30 – Guest blogging at</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://thewriterslife.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #154a7f; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Writer’s
Life</span></a></span></strong></div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></strong></div>
</div>
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More dates will be added in November. </div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-83536207968631188292013-09-18T08:07:00.002-07:002013-09-18T09:11:10.274-07:00How a Rocket Scientist Becomes a Writer - Guest Post by Stephanie Osborn<div class="MsoNormal">
[The Mad Muncle welcomes his first guest to the Forge, Twilight Times Books author Stephanie Osborn. Her Displaced Detective Series is burning up the charts.] </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My
first published novel was a SF mystery (I seem to have a fondness for combining
those two genres) published by Twilight Times Books back in 2009. <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout: The mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281</span><i> </i>is a techno-thriller about a Space
Shuttle disaster that turns out to be no accident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">There's
a loooong story behind the writing of <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span>.
For one thing, it took me between 10-15 years from the conception of the idea,
and the published book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Why?
Simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
was too close to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Let’s
back up a couple decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I’d
just started working in the field when the <i>Challenger</i>
disaster occurred. The program I worked at the time of the disaster was to have
led to a Shuttle mission, and I would have been a Payload Specialist candidate.
Shortly thereafter, the next phase of my project was cancelled due to the
grounding of the Shuttle Fleet. So I moved into the payload flight control
area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Over
a couple of decades I worked seven Space Shuttle missions, at least four
increments on the International Space Station, and a number of space defense
programs. You get into some interesting conversations from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
seeds of <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span> began as a
conversation concerning certain abilities of the Shuttle. It does have an
autopilot, and a very limited remote control capability. We discussed under
what circumstances a Shuttle could be damaged on orbit and still manage a
reasonably safe descent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sounds
morbid. But the first step to preventing a disaster is to figure out what might
cause one, then develop preventive measures and recovery procedures. This means
talking about it, working out the details of the malfunction, then working
backwards to “fix” it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And
yes, this required considerable knowledge of the guts of a Shuttle. Betwixt us
all, we possessed the requisite knowledge. I don't know that we ever did decide
whether it was possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But
that was the birth of the idea. What if I wrote a story about a Shuttle
accident, and the ensuing investigation? What sort of accident should it be?
Should it cause merely a dangerous, or a catastrophic, malfunction?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And
then the idea hit: What if it WASN’T an accident?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And
that was when <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span> was born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My
first Shuttle mission was the first Spacelab flight after the post-<i>Challenger</i> Return To Flight. So my
research for <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span> included all
of the investigative reports and such for that disaster. But I didn’t want
anyone thinking I was playing off a tragedy, so I changed the scenario. Whereas
<i>Challenger</i> blew during the ascent
phase, I’d make my fictional disaster occur during re-entry. I started writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So
here I was, squarely in the middle of a career in the Shuttle program, writing
about a Shuttle disaster. The exact thing that I, as a payload flight
controller, did NOT want to see, at least in real life. Certainly not on my
watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It
messes with your head, that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So
I’d write on it awhile, then put it aside when it got to me. I wouldn’t look at
it again for months. Then the “plot bunny” would bite again, and I’d pull it
out and go at it for awhile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Somewhere
in there, my husband Darrell introduced me to Travis “Doc” Taylor, best-selling
science fiction author, TV star of National Geographic’s <i>When Aliens Attack </i>and <i>Rocket
City Rednecks</i> and at that time, my husband’s co-worker. Darrell is a
graphics artist and does all of the artwork for my book covers, and had done
some cover concepts for one of Travis’ books. So when Darrell told Travis I was
trying to get published, Travis suggested he introduce us. Darrell did, we
clicked, and I acquired a writing mentor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">With
that encouragement, I pushed on. Darrell got used to stomping up to me when I
was writing: A husband suddenly materializing at my shoulder and saying
something is apt to end up with him peeling me from the ceiling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eventually
I finished a rough draft and sent it to Travis, who’d promised to read it and
give me a helpful critique. When he felt it was polished enough, he’d help me
further by submitting it to one of his publisher friends. He said he’d been
helped like that, and he intended to pass it forward. I promised him I would,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So
I sent him the Word file and sat back, glad I’d finally gotten the thing
finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And
then, the unthinkable happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Columbia</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> went down. And I had a
friend aboard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By
that time, I was into military work, or my emotional response might have been
even worse. As it was, I put the manuscript away for six months or so. I'd lost
TWO friends at one go: KC, and <i>Columbia</i>;
because that was the Shuttle with which I'd worked the most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
talked to Travis later; he said it kinda freaked him too. He went over the
whole manuscript in detail, and sent me back a list of compliments, critiques,
and suggestions. Unfortunately I wasn’t in any kind of emotional condition to
use them. And wouldn’t be for nearly a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
seriously considered trashing the manuscript. I downloaded the <i>Columbia</i> Accident Investigation Board’s
report and studied it, looking to see if I was way off in left field with my
scenario. If I was, then I should probably trash the manuscript anyway. If I
wasn’t…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
wasn’t. I didn’t have to change a word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In
the end, I went forward and dedicated the novel to Kalpana and the <i>Columbia</i> crew. I dug up Travis’ notes
and printed them out. I had to double the size of the manuscript, which meant
essentially writing a whole ‘nother story. So I wrote several stories, and
intertwined them in a series of subplots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
also wrote an afterward in which I basically swore up and down that the book
was written BEFORE the accident. I didn’t want anyone prone to conspiracy
theories thinking that, as a NASA insider, I’d written the real story of <i>Columbia</i> under the guise of fiction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And
THEN… I sent it to Travis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
first publisher he sent it to rejected it. Not for any particular flaws in the
book; it turns out that 1) they weren’t taking on newbie authors at that time,
2) it didn’t fit the type of book they usually published. That was hard. But I
was thankful I had a mentor, because Trav wouldn’t let me get down about it.
Instead he sent it to Twilight Times Books. I clearly remember his email going
out on a Thursday. On Sunday, the editor in chief, Lida Quillen, sent me an
email outlining the standard contract for accepting a book. By Monday, I had my
very first book contract in my hands. I was about to become a published author!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Next
came a year of reviewing, editing, honing, adding, subtracting, finding a
rather large plot hole and plugging it, galley proofs, and being asked to write
a book with another author. <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">The Y Factor</span>,
co-authored with Darrell Bain, the 2<sup>nd</sup> book of the Cresperia Saga
begun by Bain and Travis with the award-winning <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Human By Choice</span>, came out in ebook the same day <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span> came out in ebook and print –
Tax Day, 2009. Both hit best-seller lists with various sales groups, and both
were favorably reviewed by a syndicated columnist in the New York Times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> has done rather well in the time it’s been in
publication. It’s been nominated for awards in four different genres – ebook,
science fiction, mystery, and thriller – and has garnered some interest from
Los Angeles. I already have the contract in hand for the sequel, and a
screenplay is written for a feature film project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">’s sequel, tentatively titled <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Escape Velocity</span>, is in work. The master
script is nearly finished (though the shooting script isn’t even begun), and
hopefully some producers will be interested in bringing my imagination to
cinematic life in the near future. <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">The Y
Factor’s</span> sequel, <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">The Cresperian
Alliance</span>, is out; I’ve written a book with Travis titled <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Extraction Point</span>. And I have an entire
series, the <i>Displaced Detective</i> saga,
in work, with the first story in two volumes, <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">The
Case of the Displaced Detective: The Arrival</span> and <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">At Speed,</span> just released. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I
left the space program shortly before Travis submitted <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Burnout</span> for me. Now I write full time, and have 10 books,
novel and anthology, under my belt. From rocket scientist to author in a couple
of years’ time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Not too shabby, I suppose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">STEPHANIE
OSBORN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Interstellar Woman of Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O9IF2a0hmy0/Ujm83bXbAzI/AAAAAAAAAhM/2JSrgBBSv-Q/s1600/DSC_7613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O9IF2a0hmy0/Ujm83bXbAzI/AAAAAAAAAhM/2JSrgBBSv-Q/s320/DSC_7613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Few can claim the varied background of Stephanie Osborn, the
Interstellar Woman of Mystery.</div>
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Veteran of more than 20 years in the civilian space program,
as well as various military space defense programs, she worked on numerous
space shuttle flights and the International Space Station, and counts the
training of astronauts on her resumé. Her space experience also includes
Spacelab and ISS operations, variable star astrophysics, Martian aeolian
geophysics, radiation physics, and nuclear, biological, and <br />
chemical weapons effects.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stephanie holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in four
sciences:<br />
astronomy, physics, chemistry and mathematics, and she is “fluent” in several <br />
more, including geology and anatomy. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition she possesses a license of ministry, has been a
duly sworn, certified police officer, and is a National Weather Service
certified storm spotter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her travels have taken her to the top of Pikes Peak, across
the world’s highest suspension bridge, down gold mines, in the footsteps of
dinosaurs, through groves of giant Sequoias, and even to the volcanoes of the
Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, where she was present for several phreatic
eruptions of Mount St. Helens. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now retired from space work, Stephanie has trained her
sights on writing. She has authored, co-authored, or contributed to more than
20 books, including the celebrated science-fiction mystery, <i>Burnout: The Mystery of Space Shuttle
STS-281</i>. She is the co-author of the “Cresperian Saga,” book series, and
currently writes the critically acclaimed “Displaced Detective” series,
described as “Sherlock Holmes meets <i>The
X-Files.</i>” She recently released the paranormal/horror novella <i>El Vengador</i>, based on a true story, as
an ebook.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to her writing work, the Interstellar Woman of
Mystery now happily “pays it forward,” teaching math and science through
numerous media including radio, podcasting and public speaking, as well as
working with <a href="http://www.sigmaforum.org/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">SIGMA,</span></a> the science-fiction
think tank.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Mystery continues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
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The Displaced Detective Series by Stephanie Osborn is a
science fiction mystery in which the brilliant hyperspatial physicist, Dr. Skye
Chadwick, discovers that there are alternate realities, and said alternates are
often populated by those we consider only literary characters. Her pet research,
Project: <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tesseract, hidden deep under Schriever
AFB, is her means of looking in on these continua. In one </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">particular reality, continuum 114, a certain Victorian
detective (who, in fact, exists in several </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">continua) was to have died along with his arch-nemesis
at the Reichenbach Falls. Knee-jerking, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Skye intervenes, rescuing her hero Sherlock Holmes, who
inadvertently flies through the tesseract wormhole connecting his universe with
ours, while his enemy Professor James Moriarty plunges to his death. Unable to
send Holmes back without causing devastating continuum collapse due to
non-uniqueness, he must stay in our world and learn to adapt to the 21st
century. Hijinks ensue, and the series has been aptly described as “Sherlock
Holmes meets the X-Files,” as he and Chadwick take on modern spy rings, UFOs,
mass spontaneous combustion, and more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Osborn’s take on the series, in her own words, is “an attempt
to see how far I could stretch Holmes without breaking him. I wanted to put him
in a situation that would drive most men mad, and see what he would do. He
definitely rose to the occasion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Books 1-4 of the series have been released:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Case of the Displaced Detective: The
Arrival<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Case of the Displaced Detective: At
Speed<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Case of the Cosmological Killer: The Rendlesham
Incident<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Case of the Cosmological Killer: Endings and
Beginnings</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AafZ2xjZuZo/Ujm_5Or-p9I/AAAAAAAAAh4/ErA0V90bN04/s1600/SO_Covers_Single_pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AafZ2xjZuZo/Ujm_5Or-p9I/AAAAAAAAAh4/ErA0V90bN04/s320/SO_Covers_Single_pic.png" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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Check out these and other great books by Stephanie:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Osborn/e/B0026DM46M/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1379516562&sr=1-2-ent" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/stephanie-osborn?store=allproducts&keyword=stephanie+osborn" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-21473546986838937072013-09-16T08:45:00.003-07:002013-09-16T08:52:54.401-07:00Knight of Flame Release Day!!! The war against the last Gray Lord has begun. Knight of Flame is now available on the Nook and Kindle. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTlReBpsSLk/Ujcm_FEPlcI/AAAAAAAAAg8/axCyElPy1AI/s1600/KnightofFlame_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTlReBpsSLk/Ujcm_FEPlcI/AAAAAAAAAg8/axCyElPy1AI/s320/KnightofFlame_med.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fire. The most chaotic of the primal elements. When wielded properly by
the Knight of Flame, it burns like the sun. Otherwise, it slowly consumes the
Knight, burning away his control, driving him towards dark deeds.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Stationed in Tampa, FL,
Develor Quinteele, sixth Knight of Flame, waits impatiently for the predicted emergence
of the last Gray Lord, his Order's ancient enemy. Hampered by a centuries-old
tragedy, Dev knows of only one way to control his elemental power—rage. It
broils just below his surface, waiting for the slightest provocation to set it
alight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Anticipating Dev's transition
from asset to liability, his commander assigns a young guardian, Wren, to
report on Dev's actions. Torn between duty and love, Wren struggles to save her
Knight; but, after a brutal attack by the Gray Lord's minions for which Dev is
wrongly blamed, he's stripped of his freedom until he regains control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With the help of his
fellow Knights, can Dev regain his balance and unlock his full elemental potential
in time to prevent the destruction of all life in Tampa?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Buy Links:</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Flame-Knights-Elementalis-ebook/dp/B00F7SXQ8I/" target="_blank">Kindle</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knight-of-flame-scott-eder/1116911291" target="_blank">Nook</a> </span><br />
<br />
Print edition scheduled for a 12/15/13 release. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-91867906848724688702013-09-13T08:00:00.002-07:002013-09-13T08:00:52.219-07:00Be Open. Be Ready. Be Bold. – Building Readership One Person at a Time <div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
I'm an introvert,
meaning that I'm more inclined to hunker down in a corner with my own thoughts
as company than to go out of my way to talk to other people. Definitely a big
'ole 'I' on the Myers-Briggs scale. During my corporate life, I had to learn
how to toggle that trait. At times, I could be all inward focused, living
quietly within my own little world. And others, I had to be 'On.' In meetings
or presentations, I needed to be the center of attention, to project an air of
calm authority and confidence. Once I got back to my office, I turned it off, and
reverted back to my quiet, unassuming ways. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Writing is a solitary
endeavor. Sitting at my computer, click-clacking the day away fits my natural,
introverted tendency perfectly. And then I sold a book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Don't get me wrong,
selling the book was the whole idea. I wanted to get published, to see my name
on the cover of a story I wrote, and have readers laugh, cry and live along with
my characters. With the first two items completed, I needed to make the third
happen. I needed to find those readers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Manhandling the power
of the Internet and the broad appeal of social media is a great way to attract
people to your work. Entire books have been written on this subject by people far
more experienced than me. Find and devour them. Use the wisdom contained
therein to build your readership. I will too, but that's not the purpose of
this little blog entry. Believe it or not, there are potential readers right outside your door. Not literally, unless you live in a shop at the
mall, but within the comfort of your own neighborhood. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Manipulating the forces
of Cyber from behind the safety of your computer monitor is all well and good,
but at some point you need to step from behind the glass curtain. And when you
do, you need to be ready to "turn it on." Pull your head from the
cloudbank of imaginary life, and be open to the immediate marketing
opportunities surrounding you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Readers are everywhere.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Before you open your
front door and step outside, make sure you have your business cards in your
pocket. Business cards are not only for corporate drones. They are a branding
tool, an informational souvenir of your meeting. If you want people to take you
seriously and also have something to remember you by, hand them a business
card. They are cheap and simple. Here's mine:</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8vFL_7QcPS8/UjMnXRZL4xI/AAAAAAAAAgg/4QHy7vpcVmI/s1600/business_card.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8vFL_7QcPS8/UjMnXRZL4xI/AAAAAAAAAgg/4QHy7vpcVmI/s1600/business_card.png" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
It's got my symbol,
title, and contact information. Neat, attractive, and uncluttered. You can make
them yourself or order 250 online for less than $20. Do it.<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Like I said, readers
are everywhere. So when I say take your cards with you when you step outside
your door, I mean it. Take them <i>everywhere</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Here are three recent, personal examples to illustrate why this is important. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I went to the dentist
yesterday. Yuck, right? Damn straight. It wasn't a six month cleaning, either.
It was crowning/filling nastiness totally devoid of Awesome…until the end of
the procedure. The dentist was cool. The Licensed Dental Assistant (I wanted to
call her a super-tooth-fixer-agent, but my cousin Kris, who's in the industry,
told me that title doesn't exist. Pity.) was super nice. The numbing, drilling,
and molding sucked, but wasn't horrific. So, all said and done, as I got ready
to leave, the Licensed Dental Assistant picked up the book I'm currently
reading, <i>Wool,</i> by Hugh Howey, and
checked it out. She asked if it was any good. Of course I told her it was. She skimmed
the back cover and said she was looking for something new to read. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
This, my friends, is
what's called a perfect setup. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I told her that <i>Wool</i> was good (Actually it's really,
really good), but she should try my book. (Sorry, Hugh. I'll buy you a beer at
<a href="http://superstarswriting.com/" target="_blank">Superstars Writing Seminar</a>, 2015.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That's when I got the
wide-eyed stare. "You're book!?" Yep. I whipped out a card, and gave
her the elevator pitch. By the time we reached the payment desk, she assured me
she'd buy my book. What started out as a mundane trip to the house of horrors ended
on a wonderful note. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Something similar
happened at the Veterinarian's office (the doghouse of horror?) I took my dog
in for her semi-annual exam. In between the "She's so cute"s and the
"You're such a good girl"s, the Vet asked if I had been doing anything
fun. Well, yeah, kinda. Now that you ask…<i>boom</i>!
I whipped out a card, and gave her my elevator speech. As it turned out she was
also writing a book. We talked about the craft for a few minutes then she said
she'd buy a copy for all the people working in the office. Not too bad for a
trip to the vet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
While the prior
examples had direct setups, sometimes you have to give Fate a swift kick in the
butt to make things happen. Develop your own opportunities. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I coach bowling. I'm
there for the kids, but when I see someone reading a book, I just have to know
what it is. At practice the other day, one of the bowling moms sat by herself
reading a book. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I initiated a conversation
with a simple question, "So…whatcha readin'?" The answer led to a
conversation where I could, without sounding pompous or overbearing, pitch my
book and win over another reader, several readers as it turns out. Other
parents listened in and participated in the conversation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Be careful with this
approach, though. I wouldn't just march up to the first person you see, bold as
brass, and blurt out your question. You don't want to be perceived as a
creeper. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Opportunities abound!
Some are overt and drop right in your lap. Others you have to look for as they might
be hidden beneath the open cover of a book. Readers don't just cluster together
wherever books are sold, or in coffee shops. No. They are everywhere.
Supermarkets, hair salons, doctor's offices, etc. Find them. Talk to them.
Spread the word. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Be open. Be ready. Be
bold.</div>
Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-36941045062165313202013-08-18T18:02:00.001-07:002013-08-18T18:07:30.572-07:00Work the Marketing Plan – Local Independent Book Stores<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwLmTXPBWlA/UhFtCxkgtwI/AAAAAAAAAc0/9wGpqO1hoqc/s1600/wom.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DwLmTXPBWlA/UhFtCxkgtwI/AAAAAAAAAc0/9wGpqO1hoqc/s200/wom.png" width="200" /></a>With <i>Knight of Flame</i> coming out on October 15<sup>th</sup>,
I turned the crank on my great wheel of marketing to the notch labeled—Local Independent
Book Stores (LIBS). While a tremendous amount of work can be done online, there<i> </i>is no substitute for, or a peripheral
device yet invented that replaces, a firm handshake, and that personal touch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Building relationships
is still important, still relevant, and a great way to garner support at your
local independent book seller. It's not a one visit, wham, bam, buy my book,
kind of deal. It can be, if your end goal is to see your book on their shelves;
but, if you actually want the store personnel to keep you in mind and recommend
your books to their customers, it takes a little more time and attention. I
learned a lot during my first visit, and would like to share it with you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
The LIBS I targeted is touted
as one of the biggest new and used book stores in Florida. They host quite a
few author events, as evidenced by the huge array of signed book cover posters
along the walls. These guys have been around a long, long time, founded in 1933
to be exact. I haven't been in a store like that in years. The arid smell—of
old paper, dust, adventure, and wisdom—filled the place. I loved it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Now, I've been in tons
of bookstores before, but as a reader. This was my first sojourn with more on
my mind than picking up the latest release from Brooks, Farland, Anderson,
Owen, or several of my other favorites. So, my expectations were low. I wanted
to go in, look around, introduce myself, ask how they made stocking decisions,
buy a book (I didn't want to take up their time without giving something in
return), and call it a successful recon mission with a plan to come back in a
few weeks. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
It didn't quite work
out that way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I struck up a
conversation with one of the guys behind the desk. It only lasted a few
minutes, but I got the chance to introduce myself, handed him my business card,
and mentioned that I had a book coming out soon. He gave me the owner's card in
return and suggested I give him a call. Done. Nothing major, but I was nice,
made the initial contact, and gained the information I needed. Mission accomplished.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Free to peruse the
shelves, I found the Fantasy section. Being an avid Fantasy guy, most of the
other shelves, and there were shelves <i>everywhere</i>,
appear grayed out to me anyway. While perusing the new releases, the gentleman
I had spoken to, Roger (name changed to protect the innocent), walked over and
picked up the conversation where we left off. We talked about some of the
different authors, and then changed topics to cover art. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Roger appeared to be roughly
my age, give or take, and he'd worked in the store since he was three, THREE,
said he started in the comic book room. Based on his confident demeanor, and
the comfortable, familiar way he talked about the authors that had held
signings over the years, I got the impression he'd seen just about every book
that had come out in the last thirty years worth seeing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
We discussed some of
the old Frank Frazetta and Boris Valejo covers from the '80s, among other
things. Then, in the midst of Roger bemoaning the trend of some Sci-Fi covers
being too abstract, I offered to show him my cover art. I mean, what could it
hurt? We were in the midst of the cover conversation and he seemed to know a
lot about the topic. He said, "Uh, sure." Not overly enthused, but
willing to take a peek. (He mentioned earlier that the owner of the store gets
at least twenty calls a day from authors asking for him to stock their books. I
bet he sees all kinds of covers, all the time. By his demeanor I assume that
most aren't all that spectacular.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
So, I pulled my cover
up on my cell phone. Did I mention that I love technology? </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
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<br />
<!--[endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Roger's eyes widened.
His stance changed. He stared at the cover. "That's a really good
cover." His voice sounded deeper, different than it was before the reveal.
"You know, every book is judged by its cover. I don't care what anyone
says. And yours is really good." </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
His demeanor changed. I
felt he took me more seriously. That great conversation we were having before
just took on a new level of subtext. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Still on the topic of
cover art, he pulled me to another section in the store, explaining how one
particular cover sold well. It was a serious military series with a rifle on
the cover. Nothing else. It left no question as to what the story was about. He
related that the publisher was concerned that the cover was too serious, and
rebuffed some readers who were looking for an element of romance. But there was
decidedly no romance in the series. At all. None. Still, they changed that
cover, depicting an abstract human torso dressed in a nebulous uniform. It gave
no clues as to what the story was about, and the artwork sucked (his words).
Sales for that entire series tanked. Roger said that he practically had to
force people to check it out. Once they did, though, the story sold the rest of
the series. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Since our relationship
had evolved, and we were talking about a series of cover, I boldly took another
step forward. I explained the plan for the changing covers in my four-book
series. There are three consistent POV characters throughout my series to
ground the reader. In each book, there is an additional POV character,
typically one of the other members of the Knights Elementalis. I explained that
each cover would showcase the face of that new POV character in the same style
as my <i>Knight of Flame</i> cover. The next
book features the Knight of Air. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Again, he paused for a
moment, taking in the new information. Eyes wide, assessing, mulling over the
possibilities, he said, "That sounds really cool. That could work well.
Very distinctive." </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I
got the same impression as before, could even see it on his face. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
We talked about a few
other things, moseying about the store. He kept track of the work going on
around him, making sure the guys behind the counter could handle the steady
flow of customers. When we got to the subject of local writers using
recognizable settings in their work, I couldn't resist. I mean, he lobbed a big
juicy pitch over the center of the plate, I had to swing for the fence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
"Hmm," I
said. "<i>Knight of Flame</i> takes
place here in the Tampa/St. Pete area. There's an epic battle atop the Sunshine
Skyway Bridge, and major events take place on the top floor of the Regions Bank
building in downtown Tampa. I've got a strong mix of real and fantasy settings
in the story." </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He
waited for me to continue. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
"While the first
book in the series is primarily local, the next book expands to the west coast,
Canada, and Europe as the influence of the Gray Lord is felt on a more global
scale. It escalates further from there until things wrap up in book four. My
plan was to build a large story that would draw in readers all over the
world." </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
He
smiled and nodded as I spoke. "Sounds really good." That's when he
told me the process to win over LIBS. I'll paraphrase. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->When you go into an independent book store,
don't talk about the big retailers like Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. It really
doesn't matter to them how much you've sold through the other guys. Focus on
the store at hand. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Be nice. Roger called out a number of the
authors on the wall, all exceedingly nice people. He mentioned a few others, no
posters marking their presence, giving examples of how not to behave. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
That's
it. The key is to be nice. Got it. Roger that, er…uhm, Roger. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Business
picked up in the store, so he excused himself. Not to belabor the issues, or to
push my luck, I paid for my selections and left, exhilarated. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
I've
had a few days to mull this phenomenal adventure over, and I think there are
more steps for a successful visit than Roger let on. I lucked out to some
degree. I always try to be nice on general principal, and I have no past
history with the big book dogs, so there was no way for me to cross the line
there. Here's the process I came up with:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Be Professional</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Plan the trip – Don't go in on a whim. Set the
date and treat it like a business meeting. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Look decent – Look the part. Be the protagonist
in your own author success story. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Leave a business card - A good looking,
professional business card will enhance their perception of you, and leave a
souvenir of your visit. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Be Nice</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Courteous </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Respectful </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Watch language – treat the encounter like it's a
professional business meeting.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Get to the point – don't waste their time.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Be Prepared – if you follow the first two
points, especially number two, be prepared to take it to the next level. Create
the opportunity to sell yourself and your work. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Cover art – my awesome cover art was done by
<a href="http://www.bradfraunfelterillustration.com/" target="_blank">Brad Fraunfelter</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Back cover copy</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Story pitch – you're not selling to an agent or
editor, but you are trying to interest someone in your work. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Anything else you might be able to use to tell
your story<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->If you have the means, buy a book – the LIBS
guys and gals need to eat too, and your to-be-read pile can never be too large. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">That's it. Simple,
right? Now, go out and win over your LIBS.</span></div>
<br />Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-54065258245266709232012-12-17T18:06:00.000-08:002012-12-17T18:07:27.476-08:00The Next Big Thing – Writers' Blog JourneyI was recently tagged for The Next Big Thing by Maria DeVivo. Her YA Dark Fanasy novel, The Coal Elf, came out last month. Check it out. It's really cool. Her blog can be found at: <a href="http://www.ebonycragg1.blogspot.com/">Beneath The Ash</a><br />
<br />
<h3><o:p></o:p><u>Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:</u></h3><br />
<h4><o:p></o:p>What is your working title of your book?</h4><o:p></o:p>The title of my work in progress is, The Last Clan. It's the second book in my series, The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis. I'm currently shopping the first book, Knight of Flame, around to agents and publishers. <br />
<br />
<h4><o:p></o:p>Where did the idea come from for the book?</h4><o:p></o:p>I can't point to a single spark of inspiration. The characters and storyline evolved over time. Fire has always captivated me. I can watch a dancing flame for hours, losing myself in its chaotic energy and dazzling display. Why not create a character with the ability to wield and control such a destructive force of nature?<br />
<br />
<h4>What genre does your book fall under?</h4><strong><o:p></o:p></strong>The series falls under the Contemporary Fantasy genre.<br />
<br />
<h4><o:p></o:p>Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</h4><strong><o:p></o:p></strong>That's a great question. I mean, what writer out there hasn't dreamed about their book becoming a movie, and the perfect actors to cast. My family has discussed it at length, but it also pop ups out of nowhere. We can be watching a movie and someone blurts out who the current actor on screen would be perfect to play<br />
-Develore Quinteele, Knight of Flame, played by Daniel Craig. <br />
-Magnus Siggurson, Knight of Earth, played by Gerard Butler.<br />
<o:p></o:p>-Wren Sasaki played by Crystal Liu.<br />
<o:p></o:p>-Cassidy Sinclair played by Anne Hathaway. <br />
<o:p></o:p>-The casting for the villain, Alexander Gray, remains cloaked in secrecy. Actually, I don't have him picked out yet. We need someone suave, intense, handsome, and able to pull of brooding menace with a touch of vulnerability. <br />
<br />
<h4><o:p></o:p>What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</h4>A modern-day Knight must overcome the tragedy of his past and rediscover the purifying force of love that, when balanced against his out-of-control rage, unlocks his potential to save the world.<br />
<br />
<h4>Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?</h4>I do not intend to self-publish, so I'll either sell directly to a publisher or sign with an agent. <br />
<br />
<h4>How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?</h4>I rewrote the first one hundred pages several times before I got the traction to write the rest. All told, including the rewrites of the first section, about six months. Once I was happy with the opening, I raced through the next three hundred sixty pages in about eight weeks.<br />
<br />
<h4>What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? </h4>I find this a tough question. Most contemporary fantasy I've read falls into the Urban Fantasy category. Those books tend to be written in a single character's point of view, and have a darker, grittier story to tell—the detective noire of the fantasy genre. The Chronicles of the Knights Elementalis is more like an epic fantasy set in the modern world. I tried to capture the camaraderie of R.A. Salvatore's Companions of the Hall in my small cadre of elemental knights. Though their situation is dire and their foes nigh invincible, they manage to bring out the best in each other. <br />
<br />
<h4>Who or what inspired you to write this book?</h4>My family is my inspiration. It's only through their support that I find the time to dream and write about the trials and triumphs of my knights and future characters.<br />
<br />
<h4>What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?</h4>Readers will get to know each of the members of the Knights Elementalis—Knights of Flame, Water, Air and Earth. While certain characters' points of view will persist through the series, each new book will introduce a new perspective. With it comes a host of new thoughts, motives, and all around juicy goodness.<br />
<br />
Other Authors to check out in The Next Big Thing:<br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.thesurvivalmama.com/">Jen Greyson</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://loreezlane.wordpress.com/author/loridr/">Lori DiNardi</a></span></span><br />
Their posts will be up next week. <br />
Have fun,<br />
Scott</span>Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-67593671696557374152012-09-17T08:18:00.004-07:002012-09-17T08:26:15.566-07:00Blog Post #4 – Wisdom from Dragon*Con 2012 Part 1 – Genre Confusion (Doh!)<br />
<h2 class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
</h2>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrgEBsxtiWY/UFc_MKH4T5I/AAAAAAAAADU/kjn04D7O7ag/s1600/thinking+dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrgEBsxtiWY/UFc_MKH4T5I/AAAAAAAAADU/kjn04D7O7ag/s320/thinking+dragon.jpg" width="240" /></a>Hello. My name is
Scott, and I write Urban Fantasy. Wait, no, that's what I did two weeks ago,
before the revelation, before Dragon*Con.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, in my post-D*C era, I write Contemporary Fantasy. And the funny
thing is that I haven't changed a thing. I still write the same novels, but my
genre perception has shifted thanks to the wisdom presented at Dragon*Con.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I've heard the advice
not to worry about genre. Let an agent or editor figure out into which Fantasy subgenre
the book should fall since the writer is not typically the best judge. That's
all well and good after the fact, once the book is sold and the decisions on
how to market it are made. What about when a writer is discussing his work with
publishing professionals or other authors? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When talking about my
book, framing it in terms of genre is a natural thing. It's meant to set a
certain expectation or set of rules in which the plot unfolds and the characters
develop. So, when talking about my book, Knight of Flame, I start off by
telling people it's Urban Fantasy with strong romantic elements. Here’s the
kicker…I was wrong.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But, Scott, say it aint so.</i> I wish I could. I feel kinda silly
about it, actually. Thank goodness I came to the realization myself instead of
having someone have to point it out to me. I don't claim to know a lot about
this industry into which I'm trying hard to break into. In fact, I know fairly
little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's why I keep asking questions,
hanging with those who do know about this crazy business, and attending
different cons and seminars. Look out World Fantasy, you're next.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I got my first inkling
of my genre faux pas early on. I'd been trying to identify my niche, my
stand-out factor. What made my Urban Fantasy novel unique? I realized that one
of the differences is POV. My novel has multiple POVs. I haven't seen that much
in UF. Most UF stories turn upon the axis of a single driving
character—typically a badass detective or bounty hunter protecting their slice
of the world from the nefarious creatures of the night.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I was good with the
multiple POV thing. I started talking that up and building my case on how my
book differed from the others. That went well until I started asking questions
of NYT bestselling UF authors about it and got some strange looks. Perhaps
there's a reason there isn't much multiple POV in UF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It seems that the
general consensus about UF is that the pacing is very fast. That single POV
ass-kicker drives through the story at a very fast pace. The characters don't
typically amble about smelling the flowers. They find and fight the badies
threatening their town. The tone is dark and gritty, like the dirty streets and
water of the cityscape in which they prowl. UF is the noire of the Fantasy
genre. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And that's where it all
went crazy. Yeah, I see the dark and the grit and the detective aspect of UF
stories. Mine decidedly did not have those elements. I realized the only things
my novel and UF had in common was that it occurred in a city (for a little
while) and brought magical elements into a real-world setting. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sorry, but that's just
not enough. So, Knight of Flame is not Urban Fantasy. It's Contemporary or
Modern Fantasy. It doesn't have the grit and dark tones of a Faith Hunter, Jim
Butcher, or Kim Harrison novel. It's more like the sense of wonder and
camaraderie of the Companions of the Hall from R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten
Realms books. I loved the interplay between Drizzt, King Bruenor, Wulfgar,
Regis, and Cattie-brie. They fed off each other while they saved the world from
utter destruction time and again. I wanted to make sure that my characters had
that type of relationship and wrote that in from the beginning. Duh. I should
have realized. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The book held true to
genre, but the writer got lost somewhere along the way. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That's not the only place I got lost. This
being my first trip to Dragon*Con, I spent a fair amount of time wandering the
floors of the Hyatt and the Marriott. When I did find the right room at the
right time, I learned and I'll be passing some of those other lessons on in the
coming weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Have fun,</div>
Scott <br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Against the Shadow,
burns a noble light.</span>Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-27459092056369823422012-07-05T08:51:00.000-07:002012-07-05T08:51:46.234-07:00Blog Post #1 - An Auspicious BeginningI've never had a blog of
my own before, never thought I really needed one. Didn't think I had all that
much to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I promoted a new ebook
under a different pseudonym, a different genre, a different life, I'd guest
blog at a dozen or so other sites to extol the virtues of my latest release.
I'd write about a salient, real-world topic that tied into the story and hope
that my clever snippet of prose would win over new readers and drive sales.
Wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong. Wrong. Sure, I sold a
couple of extra copies from the blogs, but not much, nothing to write home
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What I didn't realize
then, but have since had drummed into my writing core, is that I need a voice
and a platform and a nice place to interact with, what I hope to be, a growing
readership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mad Muncle's Forge is the
place where I step outside the fiction and talk about life, the universe, and
pretty much anything else. I'm flexible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What comes up, comes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've got
a couple of future topics in mind, but the rest will be whatever hot nugget o'
thought-splat I transcribe into a coherent thousand words or less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And I want the Forge to
be comfortable. I'll ask the Muncles to turn up the air conditioning so the
heat doesn't become oppressive and stifle the creative juices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come on over and set a spell. Feel free to
comment on the posts and let me know what you think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not a prude, nor am I the language
police, but I do ask that you be courteous and not use language that you
wouldn't want your mother to hear you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My grandmother legalized cursing in my house when I was thirteen years
old, so I may drop the occasional s-bomb or damn or Hell or…you get the idea. Keep
it reasonable and we'll all have a good time. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
After I get this going
for a little while, beat the bushes for a couple of interested parties beyond
my close friends and family, I'll invite some of my author friends to hawk
their wares and tell you what's going on with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then, it's all about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hehe. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I'd like to introduce
you to some special friends of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
my first book, KNIGHT OF FLAME, I introduce readers to a race of elemental
beings that live in the stone of the Cradle of the Elements—the Knight's
headquarters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Originally created by the
Lord of Earth to maintain and protect the Cradle, the muncles (short for
homunculus) have evolved into so much more. There are several different muncle
types, but when I thought up the name of this blog, I pictured Jester. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
patchwork of different colored stone—tan, brown, gold, and white—Jester stands
no more than three feet tall with s</span>pindly arms and legs, big stone hands
and feet, and a flat, stone-block head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He's a clever little bugger, communicating his thoughts and emotions
through his gemstone eyes and the versatile mouth groove carved across his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
KNIGHT OF FLAME is not
available for general consumption just yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm working on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the
book itself is ready to go, I'm searching for the right publishing home. I'll
keep everyone posted on progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Alright. That's all for
now. Have fun.</div>Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-41042162748230559912012-07-05T08:45:00.000-07:002012-07-05T08:45:48.246-07:00Blog Post #2 - Split in Two<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So…I've
been working on the second book in my Knights Elementalis series. It's been
going kinda slow. I make progress every day. It's not the kind of machine gun
typing I'd like to see, blurping out 3k, 4k, or even 5k words in a clip. Man,
that would be SWEET. Lately my pace is more like a sedate 2, 2.5k. Slow and
steady wins the race, right?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I've
been distracted. Another story idea, one that's percolated behind my eyes for a
while, one which I've tried to write out twice already, won't leave me alone.
In the middle of a scene with Dev and Magnus, I start thinking about this other
idea and how the character should react to his given situation. What the hell?
I'm trying to help Dev deal with his fury and this other character steals the
spotlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It's
rude, if you ask me. Take your ticket and wait your turn, buddy. You'll get
your chance. But no, that's not good enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I've
been split in two. During the Superstars Writing Seminar, Kevin J. Anderson
said we should have multiple projects going on in different stages of the
writing process. If you get stalled on one project, you can slide over and
tackle one of the others. Great advice. I'm all over it. I figured I'd focus
and write out The Last Clan while I plot the new story. Cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
plotted the story. Now what? The Last Clan moves ahead slowly while this
upstart project siphons off my creative power. It's like a having a new puppy
in the house. As soon as you leave it alone behind the gate in the kitchen to
go and do something else, the fuzzy ball of cute whines and yips and growls
until you're forced to come back into the room and play with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Somehow,
someway, I've got a metaphorical new puppy. Not as fuzzy and definitely easier
on the newspapers, he demands just as much attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">And…grrrr,
I gave in. This weekend I could resist those sad, doggy eyes and lifted him
over the fence. I started writing the story and I hope that, once he hits the
page, he'll let me concentrate on The Last Clan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Don't
get me wrong. I'm super excited about this new project. I believe it will be my
next gihugic thing after the Knights. It's got the kind of cinnamony depth
swirled with chocolaty conflict topped with flawed character sprinkles into
which I as a reader love to sink my brain. I just wish it would be a little
less insistent and play nice with the other creative children in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But
there's a big risk here. What if I get so enamored with the new project that I
don't go back and finish the first? To that I say, "Hogwash." I'm not
going to leave the Knights hanging in their fight against the Gray Lords. The
world is at stake and I, in good conscience, must write it out of jeopardy or
let it fall into darkness. Either way, there must be closure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The
shiny new work, while uber cool and exciting, will not derail my Knights
Elementalis train. I simply switched KE off the main track for a few days while
I test out a new engine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">No
worries. I got this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Have
fun,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Scott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Against
the Shadow, burns a noble light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847331523978920873.post-29798981733336313512012-07-02T11:32:00.001-07:002012-07-02T11:32:29.673-07:00Blog Post #3 - Creativity is a NinjaYou never know when the
solutions will come, so be open and be ready. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As a music fan, it's
been a week of keen despair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Queensryche, the prog-metal masters who recently celebrated their 30<sup>th</sup>
year together, announced that they would continue on without lead singer Geoff
Tate. Holy crap. Much like people who were alive during the Kennedy
assassination and the attack on the towers of the World Trade Center, I'll
never forget where I was when I heard the news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My son and I were driving back from the bowling alley when a DJ blurted
a cryptic comment about the band having a new singer. No, I must have heard
wrong. Geoff Tate is one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time, surely his
band mates wouldn't kick him out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I drove home in a numb
haze of denial, assuring myself that this disaster couldn't possibly be true.
Queensryche's music has always been there for me, helping me through the myriad
highs and lows that life has thrown at me. In essence, they've provided the
soundtrack to my life. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Alas, I Googled and
found the truth. The band will never be the same. For good or ill, all members
are moving forward into an unknown future and I wish them all well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As a writer, though, it's
been an amazing week. I've been trying to figure things out, flesh out the
details for the overall story arc of my Knights Elementalis series. I wrote the
first book on a basic premise, but now I need more…more details, more design,
just more. I've come up with a lot of groovy ideas, but none that spiked my
thermometer into the red until…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t57gDDeF_B4/T_HoeZSRuaI/AAAAAAAAABs/drTtcVVGEJ8/s1600/ninja%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t57gDDeF_B4/T_HoeZSRuaI/AAAAAAAAABs/drTtcVVGEJ8/s320/ninja%5B1%5D.png" width="241" /></a>After the Queensryche
bombshell, I sat on the couch. Numb, not ready to accept the truth, I stared
mindlessly at the TV. The kids from one of those inane Nickelodeon shows
pranced around on the screen. With a tween daughter I learned to tune those
shows out a long time ago, but in the chirpy, happy background noise that it
provided…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Blammo. I got it. I
know what happens. The final scene of book four came to me as clear as if I were
watching the movie adaptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One by
one, the info for the blanks I needed to fill came to me. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Revelation.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Creativity is a ninja,
sneaks up and attacks at improbable moments. I've been attacked in the shower,
on the throne, driving, shooting hoops with the kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, while looking the other way at the Queensryche
deal, I took a shuriken to the temple, which unlocked the secrets I've been
looking for. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Rock on, Ninja, rock on.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Have fun,</div>
Scott <br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Against the Shadow,
burns a noble light.</span>Scott Ederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491148744569989942noreply@blogger.com0