Strange Sights of the Week

The Call of Pumpkin Pie or The TP'ing over Innsmouth.

We must remain vigilant or else.

And you thought our recalls were bad.

Just calling a spade a spade.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Remember what we called them before we called them EMO?

I am the one who came up with Freedom Fries, yeah that was me.

I should get this for Storymakers 10. That'd show em.

Thin SKIN

I would like to be read by as as many people as possible, the same I am sure as most writers. And one thing I have pondered and noticed since I have started on the journey and throwing myself out there is the novice writers typical thinness of skin.

A little perceived (or even deserved) criticism is tossed out and many will hide away for quite some time to lick their wounds. I know I did. My first public submission was poorly received on account of POV issues as I recall, as well as some quibbles over my not naming the main character. I thought that was a stupid argument, you didn't need to know his name. That was closer to four years ago than three-and strangely enough the story I thought was the worst won. I swore I would never enter that contest again-but I am a liar. I did re-enter just recently and I won.

I subbed two stories, Song of Saphir won and Covenant of the Scalp was a very close second. My point being that I know in the last four years I have grown as a writer in talent and skill-and the thickness of my skin has calloused too.

IF you wish to be a success with your writing you have to throw it out into the roiling ocean, surrounded by chum, for the sharks to pick at-how else are you going to bag that trophy fish? It takes guts and planning and talent but along with all of that there is a tenacity that comes with letting some things roll off your back, and enduring whatever slings and arrows are tossed your way-because they will come. Accept it, let the skin grow a little thicker and move on, because there are only two kinds of writers.

Book Review: Precession

Thanks to twitter I have made friends with the lovely and talented Abigail Arrington. She is pretty funny and always has great 140 character insights to share. For the sake of the FTC and since Abby has an extensive background in law I have to disclose that she offered and gave me her book to review, which I was pleased to do so regardless that this is not my usual genre-but I suspect a number of my blogger friends read more suspense than I do so...

Abby's novel Precession has done the miracle of actually making me like a lawyer. The main character Riley Morgan (who I couldn't help but picture as Abby while reading) is an attorney with spunk. She is clever, attractive and confident, her dedication had me rooting for her at every turn, despite my natural inclination to abolish all lawyers. Abby you have changed my mind at least slightly.

The title Precession is referring to the astronomical term for a shift in position, and is related to Riley and her client Evan Cole. Evan is stuck with a bad recording contract which Riley is helping him to get out from under, while his star is about to rise in a familiar singing competition. At the same time a killer is loose wanting vengeance on Riley for her role in child services taking his children away as well as for domestic abuse. While this novel could be termed Suspense/Romance I was not put off by the romance because it had such a natural flow I could relate too.

Other interesting characters include Riley's dog Mason, her assistant Dani, and a federal agent Kent Donovan that is likable but wasn't in the book quite enough-I believe Abby is planning on expanding his role in future installments. To me, that is where a lot of Arrington's strength lies-how great she is with her characters and making me want to see what happens with them next. She has drawn a lot from her professional and personal life to create this novel. Like all great writers (and Attorney's) she has observed people and presents them in great realistic tones that show motivation, conflict and drama.

For the sake of any of you wondering I would definitely categorize it as a clean read, with only the slightest hint of language by antagonist attorney Sam Stone. I also liked a lot of her observations about society that were slid into the characters dialouge-for instance the idiocy of using the term "sick" as a good thing. Riley Morgan isn't sick, she's a legal Valkyrie.

This You Can Trust

Just got the Atlantean sword from a local crypt and had to teach my son the Riddle of Steel. He can barely pick it up, but he'll get there.Then later at night his older brother watched the old animated Lord of the Rings and I had the delight of his first reaction to Gandalf and the Balrog. He said, "Dad! The Balrog it has a whip and it took Gandalf and he fell and he said 'Fly-You Fools!'and now he's dead!"
That was awesome to see his first take on a classic.

I just found this while I was pondering teaching my son all that befalls you on the Tree of Woe and had to share. Basil Poledouris was a GENIUS, this was performed only 4 months before his death.

This was truly a score worthy of the source material. This is some of my absolute favorite music to write too. It has a magic that haunts and grips your soul, no wonder so many other movie soundtracks borrow it for promo's. We will miss Mr. Poledouris.

Me messing round the backyard, notice Cimmeria in the background.

Readings of February

This has been a busy month for me writing, and so in turn the reading has dropped quite a bit. I do have a friends novel I'm reviewing-but I'm gonna save that for Monday. So beyond that I have mostly been reading short stories this month-still always reading but in smaller quick increments.

Swords in the Mist, by Fritz Leiber
This is a collection of short stories about Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, two of the greatest swordsmen who ever lived (according to Leiber) I have to admit that when I first read some of their tales years ago I wasn't as taken as I could have been but picking them up again was very pleasing this time around. Leiber is rather purple in his prose but that has never bothered me much at all if I am enjoying myself and with these tales I certainly was. Cloud of Hate was a great romp of action with an ending tossing the usual heroic yarn out the window. Lean Times in Lanhkmar also had quite the tongue in cheek about it. And though not in this particular volume I also read Bazaar of the Bizarre another Fafhrd and Gray Mouser tale from a later collection-that too was a most excellent Sword and Sorcery tale.


In The Void, by Michael Collings
I bought this from Michael Collings at the LTUE a couple weeks back. It is a collection of his poetry with a Sci-Fi,Fantasy, and Horror slant. I haven't read all of these yet, but have greatly enjoyed those I have read. Just flipping the book open anywhere I was struck by his raw energetic prose. Sasquatch has a delightful twist, Myrmidon brought the echoes of that immortal conflict the Trojan war scurrying back across the field before the gods and Because I Would Not Stop For Death=Awesome.


Desolate Souls was an anthology collection from the World Horrorcon 2008. It had quite a variety of contributors and thus far the standouts for me was a piece by Orson Scott Card-Lostboys and another poem by Michael Collings, Crows. I also liked Awake, Awke Ye Northern Winds by Simon R. Green a moody pirate/zombie piece.







I just received a copy of Rage of the Behemoth, another anthology put out by Rogue Blades Entertainment I have been meaning to get ahold of this for awhile and finally did. Its moving to the top of my to read pile for the weekend. I have also been re-reading The Dark Muse by Karl Edward Wagner and Black Colossus and Beyond the Black River by Robert E. Howard for the sake of my own stories mentioned below.

And of course finally, there is the short story contest at the LDS Publisher Blog. I mentioned this earlier in the week but I have 2 (out of 26) stories posted anonymously. If you had the time I wouldn't mind more people reading and voting, the poll is open until Saturday midnight. I have read them all and some are better than others (that's as kind as I can be) and some surprised me with their new twist on things.

How to write Stories that Rock

This is related to the LTUE I went to a week and a half ago. It was cool to meet and talk with these guys. John Brown has some very good writing tips on his site. And I like Larry Corriea even more because he considers himself a pulp writer. Here are the first 2 of 12.

My Short Storys at LDSPublisher

I haven't been posting much lately in part to getting a lot more writing done. I am anxiously waiting on whether or not some short fantasy yarns will be accepted for a couple different anthologies coming out in a few months and instead of just one I submitted two 5K tales to a short story contest at the LDSPublisher Blog.


The tales are all listed anonymously until the voting is done and the winners are selected. Once selected the winners will be given a spot in an anthology. (as yet untitled)


So I can't reveal which one's are mine for you to read-just know that two are mine and I would appreciate a vote. I think readers of this blog will have a pretty good idea on which are mine.


If I am blessed, I'll have my novel out soon (month or so) and at least three anthologies with my stories inside.