Pat Wood - Hot Hot Hot!

This interview was originally posted in August 2007. Pat's book is now a yearling and is doing very well. Believe it or not, I finally had a chance to read "Lottery" and I recommend it without reservations. So, on with the first birthday celebration of Patricia Wood's book

Today, we talk with Patricia Wood, author of Lottery, a book released by Putnam in August (2007), but is now available.

I started seeing a book title mentioned here and there on the internet. I thought, "why is everybody getting excited by Shirley Jackson's famous story all over again?" Turns out that "Lottery" (not "The Lottery") is the debut novel of Patricia Wood. Predictions is that this Renaissance woman's novel will become a best seller.

The fabulous Miss Snark mentioned it on her blog in a very admiring post written with the usual Snarkly humor. Then, a link from Kimber An's blog, then other mentions and pretty soon, I've just got to go take a look myself.

ABOUT PATRICIA

Patricia was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She has served in the U.S. Army, worked as a Medical Technologist, horseback-riding instructor, and most recently as a marine science teacher working with high-risk students in Honolulu. Patricia is an avid SCUBA diver, has assisted with shark research, won the Hawaii State Jumper Championship with her horse Airborne, crewed in a 39-foot sailboat across the Pacific Ocean from Honolulu to San Francisco, and is now pursuing her dream of writing. Currently a PhD student at the University of Hawaii, her work is focused on education and the study of disability and diversity. She has been fortunate to have the guidance of author Paul Theroux, who spends his winters in Hawaii and has been her mentor. Patricia lives with her husband, Gordon aboard ORION, a 48-foot sailboat moored in Ko`Olina, Hawaii. She has a son, Andrew who lives in Everett, where Lottery takes place.

ABOUT LOTTERY

Perry's IQ is only 76, but he’s not stupid. His grandmother taught him everything he needs to know to survive: She taught him to write things down so he won't forget them. She taught him to play the lottery every week. And most important, she taught him who to trust. When Gram dies, Perry is left orphaned and bereft at the age of 31. Then his weekly Washington State Lottery tickets wins him 12 million dollars, and he finds he has more family than he knows what to do with. Peopled with characters both wicked and heroic who leap off the pages, LOTTERY is a deeply satisfying, gorgeously rendered novel about trust, loyalty, and what distinguishes us as capable.

Read the review by Bernita Harris.
Read the review by John Coyne.
Check out Pat's Website. Read an excerpt from Lottery here.
Read Pat's Blog here.

Whew! Now, we'll get on with the interview.

Marva: Hi Patricia. Thanks for taking my questions. Your resume, listed above in your bio, only lacks working on a shrimp boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Do you bring a little of all those experiences to your writing?

Patricia: I have never considered that my age or circumstance puts limits on me. My interests are mercurial and varied. If something piques my curiosity, I am motivated to learn about it or do it. One caveat. You will never hear that I have parasailed or jumped out of an airplane.

Marva: Where did "Lottery" come from? Somebody you know or some past experience? Dream? Epiphany?

Patricia: Combination over-active imagination, dream, and conjecture. The two words: What if?

And then the characters. They took over and started talking to me. They arose out of my subconscious.

Note: Patricia's brother-in-law, Jeri, was born mentally challenged. Working as a public school teacher, she dealt with many students whose needs were not met by the system. Her father won the Washington State lottery--hence the Lottery theme--giving Pat inside info on how lotteries work. Finally, Pat is a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii enrolled in a Certificate program in disability and diversity. Whew again.

Marva: I slapped the book blurb up top. Is there anything else you'd like to add about Lottery to pique the interest of potential book buyers?

Patricia: I wrote Lottery because it mirrored what I want to read. I love books that move me. That make me think in different ways. I adore endearing unconventional protagonists and seeing them grow and transform and while I do not require happy endings I want a book that satisfies me. That when I close the last page I sigh and say, "I LOVED that book." and then I think of three or four of my friends I can pass it on to.

So if I add anything it would be "You will want to pass this book on to all your friends."

Marva: Your website says you use "beta" readers. Can you explain that a little bit? How do you get beta readers? And do you keep them chained in your basement?

Patricia: They are my swabbies (sic) below deck ARGGHHH!

My beta readers originated because I live in a marina. If you know anything about sailing, you will know that sailors are great readers and will read anything. They are also cheap--too cheap to buy books! Whenever anyone would discover I was an aspiring novelist, they would ask to read my work and they actually WOULD read it and comment! My first beta reader was my good friend Bob from Wandering Star in the next slip. He is a blazingly fast reader and one of my fans. Although he prefers mysteries and thrillers, it was a tip off to me my work was getting better, when he would give me increasingly positive feedback. As each person communicated to another of their friends my beta group increased. I recommend finding voracious readers NOT writers. Many of my novels have been read by captive audiences crossing the Pacific! Another one of my readers shares my name -- Pat. She lives in California and has read all four of my novels and several of my short stories. She is the demographic I write for. I suggest to writers to invest in as much energy finding a group of beta readers as they do in their writing.

Marva: You mention writer Paul Theroux as your mentor. How did you get so lucky? Are you a stalker?

Patricia: It would seem so! It is one of those serendipitous occasions in life. I have been an avid horsewoman and have taught riding in the past. A friend of a friend recommended me, when Paul and his wife told her they wanted to take lessons. Although I was a bit reluctant (I shirked from getting back into giving lessons again and I only knew Paul from his books and interviews) -- they both have been a delight.

We have become great friends. It goes to show you that networking and maintaining wide interests help. I refused payment and Paul offered to read my work. He liked what he read and became my mentor and friend. Keep in mind he did NOT send me to his agent and he did NOT show my work to his publisher. It is a collegial relationship about reading and writing and as such is invaluable.

Marva: How many agents did you approach before being snapped up? I know at least one name, which we won't mention. Also, did you try publishers directly?

Patricia: Only one publisher - McAdams I believe -- and that was with my first novel. I was quite naïve. The rest were agents and they probably number in the neighborhood of between 50 to 70 (I queried some twice). Keep in mind that was for all my novels and over three years.

After attending the Maui Writers Retreat and Conference in 2005 and meeting the author Holly Kennedy and taking a class from Jacquelyn Mitchard I was able to refine my query, start understanding how the business worked, and ultimately was started on the path to creating Lottery and being published.

Marva: Lottery is your debut novel, but do you have a trunk full of old manuscripts in the closet? What else have you published? What future plans can you reveal?

Patricia: I still love the premise of my first novel and I have a total of four completed (including Lottery). I am the finest example of being picked out of the slush pile. I have no real publishing credits outside of a couple small articles in horse magazines that I never ever mentioned in my query.

As far as my next novel I will be cryptic. It is still being edited and will focus on endearing characters in tragic-comic conditions.

Marva: I like to end every interview with a spot where the interviewee can spout off about anything they want. Go.

Patricia: I guess I'll end with what every author is prepared to be asked: What is your advice to aspiring novelists?

My advice? Keep on writing. I think many writers get stuck on one book. You need to write several and FINISH each one, go back and edit, and then start the next. Rinse and repeat!

I am not one for ongoing writers' groups as I think over-all other writers' opinions often times can be detrimental but I am a great one for choosing a writers' retreat or conference that you can attend every year. Get to know other authors through other venues. Teaching riding opened up doors that I might not have had. Keep your eyes and ears open for those great premises...oh yes...and write.
Keep writing.
And never stop.

Marva: Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed. We all, of course, wish you monster sales when the novel comes out in August. A reminder to my readers: You can order Lottery from Amazon right this second.

Encore: Michelle Moran - Walk Like an Egyptian

UPDATE: Nefertiti is now available in paperback!

Buy it at Amazon.com for only $10.17! The entire great story at a bargain price.

Michelle Moran had a vision of a Queen of the Nile. No, not the notorius Cleopatra, but the more mysterious Nefertiti. Was she a Pharaoh? What was she like? There’s a lot that the average person doesn’t know about her. Michelle has done all the work for we curious, yet lazy, folk. She has painted a portrait of a lady hidden in the mists of time for the rest of us to enjoy.

Michelle was always a history buff, focusing on the great English writers from Chaucer to Milton. She had a chance to go on an archeological dig and turned into a history maven. From her travels (she’s been everywhere) to her research, she homed in on Nefertiti. She spent four years researching and writing the novel and it just came out on July 10th. It’s already very successful, beyond the wildest dreams of most of us writers.

Since I’ve been a follower of Michelle’s History Buff blog, I’d thought about bothering her for an interview. With the release of NEFERTITI it seemed the perfect time.

Please visit Michelle’s website for a host of background information about the Egypt described in her novel. She has lots of interesting facts, including a really fun interactive family tree.

In addition, Michelle hosts the blogs History Buff and History Buff Interviews.

And, of course, Nefertiti: A Novel is available wherever fine books are sold. Try Amazon if you like to order on-line, but I'm sure the book will also be showing up in your local bookstore.

Now on to the interview.

Marva: Michelle, thanks for taking the time to answer some burning questions about your new novel, “Nefertiti: A Novel.”

I noticed some recent documentaries on Egyptology on the History Channel and on Discovery. Strangely, much of this news circles around Nefertiti and her husband, Akhenaten. Did you have any idea the release of your book would coincide with these new discoveries?

Michelle: The timing was certainly fortuitous, with the identification of Hatshepsut’s mummy taking place just a few days before the release. Another story that has been bubbling away concerns the very bust of Nefertiti that had first sparked my interest in her story. It has been on display in Berlin for decades, but recently there has been pressure from the Egyptian government for its return, creating a diplomatic war of words. So certainly I feel that timing helps. But on the other hand, there remains a great deal left that we are always discovering about Egypt, and so much that is timeless about its appeal. Ultimately, people respond to the story, and to a period in history that enthralls us.

Marva: The bust of Nefertiti is one of the most recognizable artifacts from ancient Egypt. What drew you to write about this famous, yet mysterious, queen of Egypt?

Michelle: My travels to archaeological sites around the world have been enormously influential in my writing career. In fact, my inspiration to write on Nefertiti happened while I was on an archaeological trip. During my sophomore year in college, I found myself sitting in Anthropology 101, and when the professor mentioned that she was looking for volunteers who would like to join a dig in Israel, I was one of the first students to sign up. When I got to Israel, however, all of my archaeological dreams were dashed (probably because they centered around Indiana Jones). There were no fedora-wearing men, no cities carved into rock, and certainly no Ark of the Covenant. I was very disappointed. Not only would a fedora have seemed out of place, but I couldn’t even use the tiny brushes I had packed. Apparently, archaeology is more about digging big ditches with pickaxes rather than dusting off priceless artifacts, which were kept far from the clumsy hands of amateurs!

Volunteering on an archaeological dig was hot, it was sweaty, it was incredibly dirty, and when I look back on the experience through the rose-tinged glasses of retrospect, I think, Wow, it was fantastic! Especially when our team discovered an Egyptian scarab that proved the ancient Israelites had once traded with the Egyptians. Looking at that scarab in the dirt, I began to wonder who had owned it, and what had possessed them to undertake the long journey from their homeland to what would become Israel.

On my flight back to America I stopped, as I mentioned, in Berlin. With a newfound appreciation for Egyptology, I visited the Altes museum where Nefertiti’s limestone bust was being housed. The graceful curve of Nefertiti’s neck, her arched brows, and the faintest hint of a smile were captivating to me. Who was this woman with her self-possessed gaze and stunning features? I wanted to know more about Nefertiti’s story, but when I began the research into her life, it proved incredibly difficult. She’d been a woman who’d inspired powerful emotions when she lived over three thousand years ago, and those who had despised her had attempted to erase her name from history. Yet even in the face of such ancient vengeance, some clues remained. Those clues formed the structure of Nefertiti: A Novel.

Marva: Research. The biggest part of an historical writer’s time is spent simply researching. Tell us a little about your methods and sources. Then, how do you apply the research to your novel? And a chicken-egg question. What came first? The research or the plot?

Michelle: I begin by purchasing what feels like every book ever written on the subject I'm interested in. Sometimes that means our mail carrier will be delivering sixty books to my house in one week. It takes me several months to go through them, and when I feel like I have a pretty strong outline of my subject's life, I make a storyboard and begin to look for holes. Whatever holes I find, I try to patch with an event that is coherent with other facts, logic, and human nature, (three fairly constant guiding stars.) If I have doubts with a setting or a scene, I have friends in the archaeological world who can advise me on whether or not something I want to include is realistic.

Which means that all of the major events and characters in NEFERTITI are based on fact. Even the description of Nefertiti’s palace and the images she had painted beneath her throne are historically accurate. Archaeologists today are extremely lucky that so much of Nefertiti’s life is well-preserved. But it wasn’t always this way. After Nefertiti’s reign, her enemies tried to destroy her memory by demolishing her city. The historical character of Horemheb, in particular, wanted to be sure that nothing of hers remained, so he broke her images down piece by piece and used them as rubble to fill the columns of his own buildings. Fast forward three thousand years, however, and as Horemheb’s columns began to deteriorate, what was found hidden inside were the perfectly preserved shards of Nefertiti’s image and life story. The irony! I think that this is the core of what we trust in as writers- that the essence of our subjects’ lives will come tumbling out through our stories, if we only chip away at the right spot…

Marva: Nefertiti is your first novel. It’s getting a great reception for a debut novel. What was the process from finished manuscript to publishing?

Michelle: I am represented by the wonderful agent Anna Ghosh at Scovil Chichak Galen, and she took on the task of submitting the novel that a previous agent had suggested I write. But my heart hadn’t been in the book. It was set in the 20th century, and my specialty – what I studied in college and what I’ve since become an amateur historian on – is ancient Egypt and the Middle Ages. We had quite a few near-misses with the novel, where editors wanted to purchase the book but were turned down by the acquisitions team, (since all sales have to be approved by committee.) After Anna had completed the rounds of all the major publishing houses, I began to panic that I’d been dropped as a client. That is when I started Nefertiti, a project I was extremely passionate about. Anna waited patiently for two years while I worked, and eventually went on to sell the novel and its sequel for six figures to Crown. After that, her foreign-rights colleague Danny Baror sold Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen to more than fifteen countries.

I do believe there is a moral to this story, which is to be persistent and not to be afraid of starting a new project. Much as Thomas Edison famously found 1,000 ways to not build a light bulb, I have thirteen books that I’ve written thus far- and just because they’re not published doesn’t mean I didn’t learn from them, or that the stories aren’t worth telling. It’s even possible, though unlikely, that with some reworking I may publish one or more in the future. I think what aspiring writers need to understand is that if something isn’t right for the current market, that doesn’t mean they should simply give up. With each book you’ll get better as a writer, and eventually you will strike gold!

Marva: What are the important points of Nefertiti’s life? What made her worthy of historical study, aside from that fabulous face?

Michelle: As a young girl Nefertiti had married a Pharaoh who was determined to erase the entire Egyptian pantheon and replace it with a single sun-god he called Aten. It seemed that Nefertiti’s family allowed her to marry this impetuous king in the hopes that she would tame his wild ambitions. Yet far from showing restraint, the royal couple pushed Egypt’s fragile peace to the breaking point, as Nefertiti joined him in building his own capital of Amarna from where they ruled as god and goddess. The powerful Nefertiti did have a sister who tried to keep her grounded, and in an image of her found in Amarna, the sister is depicted standing off to one side, her arms downcast while everyone else enthusiastically praises the royal couple. That image served as the kernel for the novel’s narrative. The story, (as told by this skeptical yet kind sister Mutny) is about not only the historic clashes that swirl around the kingdom, but also Mutny’s own struggles for normality and love in the shadow of a demanding Queen’s constant crises.

Marva: I’d like to know something obscure that you discovered in your research about her. What about Nefertiti excites your imagination the most?

Michelle: Perhaps Nefertiti’s style, the individualism that still set her apart even millennia later. This ranged from her radical approach to politics and religion, down even to the seemingly trivial fact that she had double ear-piercings at a time when no-one else apparently though to do the same. Then, as now, this “uniqueness” soon had its imitators! Nefertiti’s daughter, for instance, developed her own perfume line. It probably would have been similar to the fragrance found in King Tut’s tomb, which was made with:

One quarter cup coconut oil
6 drops of essential oil of spikenard
6 drops of essential oil of frankincense

So look for those ingredients in the spikenard aisle of your local grocery store!

Marva: I always like to end an interview with an open invitation for the interviewee to fill us in on anything she’d like. Go for it.

Michelle: Well, I have an open question of my own. I’d love to see her story adapted to the big screen, but who (amongst actors you’ve heard of!) would blog readers like to see playing the role of Nefertiti and the other leads?

Marva: Good question for my readers. I'll chime in with Angelina Jolie for Nefertiti. She's exotic enough for the role. As for the other leads? Catherine Zeta Jones for Mutny. With these women, who cares who plays the men?

Thanks, Michelle, for giving us the low-down on Nefertiti. I look forward to reading it and writing a review when my copy arrives.

M.E. Ellis - Writer, Editor, Reviewer, Mom

This was posted way last March. More recently, M.E. edited the anthology Weirdly in which I was lucky enough to have some stories.

M.E Ellis is a writer and editor. She came from relative obscurity only a couple of years ago into being a well-known novelist all while raising five kids. M.E started in the psychological horror world with the ebook "Pervalism," which is now also in print format. M.E's blog profile says:

Writer, horror editor of WildChild magazine, associate editor of DredTales ezine, novel reviewer, editor and proofreader for WildChild publishing & Freya's Bower, all-round strange woman, mother, wife, cleaner, cook, soft-arsed eccentric.

Visit her website M.E. Ellis
And for good laugh, check out her blog Nutter's Gang

Q: First off, why don't you give us a rundown on what you're up to these days. We already know you've published:


Pervalism: Psychological horror.
Quits: Psychological horror.
Garou Moon: Horror erotica.
Charade: Humour erotica.
All About Brenda: Humour erotica.

You're becoming a regular library all on your own. Which baby is your favorite? Come on, I won't tell the others. And what's on the burner for your next book?

M.E: My favourite is Quits. I'm currently conversing with my mind to persuade it to create Quits 2, title Aquitted. Seems people want to hear more from Wayne, the mental-case in Quits. I could tell you which book of mine I absolutely hate (excuse me one moment, two of my boys are fighting and I need to speak with them in a manner that lets them know that an early bed time is upcoming...) Yes, I could tell you which one I hate but that isn't very good business practice.
* Read a review of Quits at Cocktail Reviews

I have one novel, Five Pyramids, which I've half-heartedly wanged at a few agents. Though half have rejected it, most did comment that my writing was good, just too dark for them to sell. It's either dark or light with me, so, when one agent said she'd be happy to read something of mine that wasn't so horrific, I had to wonder what I could send her. I'm still thinking about that.

My current WIP is another dark one, though I've gone with the softer horror approach. More of a 'reader knows what's happened but I haven't spelled it out'. The MC refers to her murders as 'accidents' and they can, in fact, be claimed as such. She also listens to everything her doll tells her, which makes for some creepy scenes (so my wonderful ‘read as I write’ people have said).

Q: You've turned recently to writing erotica. Okay, humour erotica. What's that all about and how do you hide it from your kids?

M.E: Garou Moon is my only rude-rude erotica. I was uncomfortable writing that book. I'd alternate from having bright red cheeks from being embarrassed at what I'd written, to laughing out loud every time I wrote the word cock or buttocks. Like a small child swearing for the first time, Garou Moon was certainly an eye opener for me. I then settled for the sweeter chick-lit (say that word when drunk and it sounds like a part of the woman's anatomy that made me laugh while writing it) erotica as it was easy on my cheeks to write. The demand for erotica is so high, I thought I'd get my name out there that way too.

As for hiding it from my kids, I don't. I mean, I don't sit here and yell, 'Hey kids! Mom's just wrote cock, come see!' but I have explained that some people like to read about sex so I've written something for them to read. The boys found it hilarious. I remember telling them about it while walking round town, as they asked what I was writing at the time while I poked and prodded some fruit in the market. My middle son, quite loudly I might add, said, 'Mum writes about dicks!' We got some funny looks but I steered them in the direction of a shop and bought them a gobstopper candy.

Q: I'm a longtime reader of your blog and I'll have to say you're one of the funniest people I know. How did you get to be so funny, yet scare the pants off everyone at the same time? What attracted you to horror, then to erotica?

M.E: How did I get to be so funny? I wasn't really aware that I WAS funny until people mentioned it in emails and on blog comments. I literally just write my blog posts as I would speak. In real life, I did go through a phase of being a silly person so that people laughed and thought everything must be fine with me. Hilarity can cover up a multitude of hurts.

I used to write cheesy romances and, looking back, those books really are quite crap. I sat down one day after writing a few funnies on the crit group I once belonged to and bashed out a dark piece. People kind of liked it, so I decided to try my hand at a horror novel and Pervalism was born. Dark writing helps me purge inner angst from my past, from the horrible stuff going on in the world. And it gives me a chance to murder all those people who have hurt me in some way. There are many walking cadavers in my life now--unaware I've sliced and diced them in my books.

With erotica, it's just one of those things--I wanted to try my hand at it (at the writing not at...oh balls...) and see if it was my kind of thing. Full blown sex isn't but the sweeter versions are, so that's cool.

Q: Besides writing, you're also an editor for WildChild and Freya's Bower. What advice can you give other writers as an editor? What are your pet peeves and what do you really like to see when you're editing?

M.E: Advice, murder your darlings. Learn as much as you can. Don't just settle for shoddy editing so that you can say, 'I'm a published writer!' Soak up as much knowledge as you can, study published books, break up the plot, get into the author's mind to see how they made the book work. I do that all the time, takes the pleasure out of reading though.

Pet Peeves? I don't really have a pet peeve anymore. When I first started editing, certain things bugged me quite a bit, but those things are so common in nearly every MS that I've edited that they fail to annoy me anymore. They are just every writer's quirk, I guess.

What do I like to see in an MS? If just one line lights up the screen and brings tears to my eyes from the beauty of it, then the whole book is worth it. I've read some superb lines in my time, they stand out from the rest and bring great imagery. I also like character-heavy books. Probably why I write those kind myself.

Q: You've also got a hat that says "Reviewer" on a slip of paper tucked into the brim. How do you keep your Editor persona in check when you're reviewing?

M.E: I used to find it really hard to review without screeching or picking. Now I have to zone my mind out, read the book with the characters and plot in mind, not the editing (or lack of). If I didn't do that, I would have to close the document and never open it again. I'd miss out on some great books if I did that. Just a shame the was-ings etc are all there to bug the crap out of me. Might just be me. Other people don't seem to mind them!

Thanks, M.E. See you on Nutter's Gang!

Book Review: Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Nefertiti: A Novel by Michelle Moran

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Crown; 1 edition (July 10, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307381463
ISBN-13: 978-0307381460

What if your sister was called "The Beautiful One" and was married to a Prince while you can’t even go on a date because your father insists that you wait on her hand and foot? You’d probably be a little more than ticked off and looking for an opportunity to throttle the selfish bitch.

On the other hand, you know that your sister was cashiered into service to the realm and her job was to keep her nutcase husband in line. Maybe you’d put up with her for duty and country.

This is the situation faced by Mutnodjmet, the sister to the Queen of Egypt, Nefertiti.

Michelle Moran has combined a lot of careful research on the Eighteenth Dynasty of the Egyptian Pharaohs with some insight into sisterly duty and love. Told from the point of view of Mutnodjmet (Mutny), Moran weaves a tale of power, love, intrigue, murder, and religious turmoil.

I like historical novels that pay more than lip service to events and settings. Moran has satisfied my desire not to say "oh puhleeze" when an author wanders off into a fantasy world leaving facts dying by the wayside. Historical romances tend to do that (don’t hit me!) because their purpose is to take the reader on a journey away from their own lives and to bask in the great loves and passions, which just happen to be set in some historic time and place.

Moran has found a balance to satisfy we avid watchers of the History Channel with those who dote on Oxygen (a romance-oriented cable channel if you hadn’t heard). About half-way through the book, I googled Nefertiti, Akhenaten, Amunhotep, and others to see how well archeological reports jibed with Moran’s retelling. Pretty darned close, I’m pleased to say. I’d think "what about such and such" and the next few pages answered my questions.

On the other hand, getting into the head of historical figures is nearly impossible with not much more to go on than some statues and bas reliefs found in excavations. This is why Nefertiti is a novel and not an historical treatise. Moran brings the people to life by imbuing them with personality, desire, hate, prejudice, love, and ambition. This is where the novelist shines: making the reader feel for the characters.

Okay, as for Moran’s writing, I found her style flowing and descriptive. I could see the temples, statues, and the Nile barges. I learned a lot about herbal medicines of the period, since Mutny was a healer. Was she really? There is no historical evidence of this, but it fits the persona of Mutny Moran has chosen. So, too, with Nefertiti. Was the most powerful woman in the world really such a petulant and insecure girl? Moran presents a compelling argument given the context of what we do know for historical fact.

I liked this book a lot. I’m glad I found Michelle Moran in my wanderings through the blogosphere. Her site, the History Buff, is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in history. I’d recommend this book highly to any reader and especially to those who have a fondness for watching the History Channel.

If I gave out stars or thumbs-ups, this book would get 4-1/2 out of 5. Why not 5? Well, I’ve got to hold back something, don’t I?

Michelle Moran - The History Buff

I enjoy a good historical novel. For me, the history accuracy has to override the romantic storyline. If your historical novel is filled with anachronisms and the language is totally out of line for the time period, I'm not going to read past page 2.

That's why I think I'll like "Nefertiti" by Michelle Moran. I wish I could say I've read it, but (alas), it just hit the shelves on July 10th. Consider that when I looked at the page, her Amazon ranking was 1019 and you'll get an idea of how popular this book will be.

If you're a fan of the History Channel and watch any documentary on archaelogical digs, then I'd invite you to peruse Michelle's blog History Buff. Where she digs up (ahem) all this great information, I'll never know. How she finds the time to do the digging is also a mystery.

If you enjoy historical novels, Michelle also interviews other authors on her History Buff Interviews blog.

One of these day and after I get to read Nefertiti, I'll see if I can hit up Michelle for an interview. I'll have to drag her away from the professional media, no doubt.

Tales Now up on Amazon

I got an email from Amazon today. Was it a note to the author telling her that the book was now available? Nope. I got the email as a customer of Amazon because I'd indicated interest in that particular author (me). Nevertheless, it's cool to have Tales of a Texas Boy now available worldwide. Yes, it's also listed on Amazon.UK and Amazon.FR and a bunch of others.

Buy (or at least admire) the book on Amazon.com.

New Release by M.E. Ellis

Wild Child Publishing has released the latest ebook. Quits book 2: devils is the followup to the original Quits book 1: demons.

I haven't read this one yet, but I know it will be good as evidenced by M.E.'s published works. Check M.E.'s blog here for information on all her works, plus a bunch of really funny posts.

"Still tormented by the demons from his past, Wayne Thomas embarks on a course of therapy at the Klinter Institute. His therapist, Jen, is eager to ensure he faces every single demon he encountered in his childhood and to re-establish Wayne into society. With the help of Kathy, a speech therapist, and Herbert, a physiotherapist, Wayne begins to rebuild not only his mind, but his body and self-confidence. Once therapy makes a marked improvement upon Wayne, he is offered the chance to move out of Klinter to The Apartments, the second stage of his integration.

However, inner demons and devils are sometimes hard to erase. Wayne's linger in his subconscious, waiting for a chance to break free once more, to wreak havoc within his unstable mind. Will Jen's hard work pay off? Or will Wayne spiral into a world where redemption and payback rule?"

Identifying Your Market

I just got back from a selling trip. I walked about one block down the street to deliver a copy of Tales of a Texas Boy - Large Print Edition to a neighbor.

Last week, I posted flyers on the bulletin boards located on the mailbox kiosks in the 55+ manufactured home park where I live. I attached business cards to each flyer so nobody would have to remember the information when they get home. I should mention that the narrator, Eddie, is my father. The book contains mostly true (think Tall Tales) stories about him. My parents live across the street from me.

I got my first sale from this strange marketing technique. Of course, I also received a tour of the lady's garden when I delivered the book. That was a definite bonus. Her husband, like my father, is losing his vision. He can still read the large print editions, so my neighbor thought it was nice that she could get a book written about a man she chats with often.

Think global, sell local. Your best customers might be living right down the street from you.

Interview of Me by Bryan Catherman

My friend, Bryan Catherman, not only recommended Tales to his blogreaders, he decided to interview me.

For most writers of short story fiction, an idea is developed, a manuscript is written, query letters go out, rejections come in, and eventually he story is accepted and published. The writer celebrates and then moves on, often reinventing the wheel every time. No so for Marva Dasef, short story writer and author of Tales of a Texas Boy.

Read the entire interview on Bryan's blog, The Hopeless Writer. Gotta laugh at the blog name. Bryan is the patron saint of Hopeless Writers?

Edward Cox - Living Stone Release

Edward lives in the Essex area of England and has just completed his BA Honours degree in creative writing at the University of Luton. He was first published in 1999 and hasn't looked back. He's a regular in the Sam's Dot Publishing world of science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Read more about Ed on his website and on his MySpace page.

Buy Living Stone at The Genre Mall.

Marva: Thanks for dropping by, Ed. Let's get right to it. You have a novella just being released from Sam's Dot Publishing. Tell us a bit about "Living Stone."

Ed: It’ s essentially a vampire story, set in a place called Forest Gate in the Eastend of London (which, incidentally, is where I was born). The story is divided between two timeframes: one present day, the other 1000 years ago.

The present day thread follows a policeman called Oscar who’s on the trail of an enigmatic serial killer known as Old Herne. Old Herne has reputation for being particularly brutal in his killing methods, and always dumps his victims’ bodies at an old, abandoned church in Forest Gate. The past timeframe deals with the builder of this church, Morgan, and his mysterious apprentice. It’s this yesteryear thread that plants the plot seeds that reach fruition in Oscar’s timeframe.

It’s difficult to say much more without spoiling the plot; there are a few twists and secrets along the way that don’t get answered until the end. And although "Living Stone" will be classed as a vampire tale, I like to think it’s a little more than that, as it’s sprinkled with a healthy dose of fantasy. Oh, but I can say that Tim Ramstad has done a great job with the cover art. He’s a very talented guy.

Marva: I understand this story was part of your thesis for your recently-earned BA Honours Degree. What's your school and how the heck did you manage writing a vampire story for your thesis?

Ed: Hah! Well, there’s no secret, really; my degree was in the subject of creative writing, and was conducted at the University of Luton (now Bedfordshire), which is just north of London. You see, at the time, I’d already been writing stories for many years, but always felt there was something missing from my technique that I couldn’t put my finger on. I knew I needed help if I wanted to improve as a writer. I spent a long time finding the exact type of course that I wanted to do, one that dealt directly with actually sitting down and writing, and wasn’t steeped in academia. Although academics will come into any university course to some extent, the creative writing degree at Luton was mostly based on coursework, and what the students’ imaginations could dream up.

It lasted three years, and covered many individual modules like Science Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Reviewing, Scriptwriting, etc. The thesis module was called Special Projects, and ran the entire length of the final semester. We were assigned a project supervisor (I was lucky enough to get my main lecturer and mentor, Keith Jebb – a great man and poet), and then we had to write a proposal for what we wanted our Special Projects to be. Mine was obviously "Living Stone", and my supervisor passed the proposal. I got an ‘A’ for my efforts, which ensured that I attained a 1st with honours for the BA, which made me very smiley indeed J see?

Incidentally, I should say a big thank you to Terrie Leigh Relf here, and I’ll explain why: I originally wrote "Living Stone" as a 4000 word short story for Hungur magazine, of which Terrie is the editor. She liked the tale, but declined it because the plot was too short and confusing. She was very helpful, and suggested that it perhaps needed to be a bigger story. It made sense as there was so much history and detail that I hadn’t explored, and I’d forced the word count to fit Hungur’s 4000 submissions limit. Once I started exploring the tale further, it was like opening a can of worms, that was, on occasion, maddeningly frustrating to write. I’m pleased with the results, though, and I’ll be forever grateful for Terrie’s advice, and that I was smart enough to take it. Not only did "Living Stone" get me top grades for the BA, it was also good enough for Tyree Campbell to believe in it as a publication of its own. Sometimes it really does take another to make you appreciate what you have on your hands.

Marva: What else are you working on? Any novels in your future?

Ed: I’m fortunate inasmuch that I never seem to be shy of story ideas. I probably have more than I’ll get around to writing in my lifetime, which, as a writer, is good, but also sad; I’m only 35 and I already worry that I don’t have enough time left, and I try to write everything at once. At any given moment, I’m working on several projects, and switch my attention between them depending on how well each project is going. I have a really bad habit of forgetting pieces that I’m writing, too, and I’m always surprising myself when I rediscover stories, lurking half-finished at the back of my computer. For example, there’s a short novel called "Bone Shaker" that I have been working on periodically for the past ten years . . . I should really get that finished. To be honest, I think I’m a lazy person trapped in a busy person’s body.

As for the present, I’ve moved on from the BA straight into an MA in creative writing, again at the University of Bedfordshire under Keith Jebb’s supervision. For this I’m writing a novel, a fantasy with the current working title of "The Relic Guild". I’m also working collaboratively with Tyree Campbell on another novel called "Aoife’s Kiss", and with Terrie Leigh Relf on a short story. I’m also slowly piecing together a collection of my previously published and unpublished short stories and novellas. Once its ready, and I can start looking for a publisher, it’ll be kind of an "Ed – The University Years" anthology. To date, I did some of my best work during the BA, and I think it’ll make a good read.

In between these projects, I’m working on a few pieces of flash fiction and poems. Often, like many writers, I need to occasionally feel that sense of completion, so I always have a couple of short shorts around to counterbalance the longer projects. Also, I’ve been branching out a little of late, and I’ve just become a project editor for Sam’s Dot Publishing.

Marva: Now that you've graduated, are you looking for a real job?

Ed: To be honest, the future frightens the pants off me. At the moment the MA keeps me busy, and I have enough to get by. I’ve also run a couple of lectures at my university, and teaching does appeal to me. Though, if I pursued it as a career, it would definitely be with older students. At the moment, over here in England, teaching lower ages, outside of colleges and universities, is a nightmare job, and I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole. Of course, like many writers, my ultimate aim is to earn my living as a storyteller. It’s what I do, what I’m best at – it’s who I am.

Marva: Here's where you get to add anything you want. Go for it!

Ed: Well, seeing as I’m all ranted out I guess I’ll end with a note to readers, writers and artists in the realm of speculative fiction. If you want to find out what’s going on in the independent press, and find some solid markets to submit your work, go to Sam’s Dot Publishing. Everything you need you will find there, including a community of like-minded and approachable folk.

Marva: Thanks for the visit, Ed. Best of luck on Living Stone.

Two New Releases

My story, "A Visit to Potter's Field," is in the July issue of Lorelei Signal. Cool illustration, huh. The illustrator is Lee Kuruganti. Here's the direct link to the story. Be sure to vote!

Also, Drabbler #9, a print issue full of drabbles--100 word stories--is now available at The Genre Mall. My micro-story, "Walking on the Darkside," is in the issue.

Guest Review - J.W. Coffey on Tales

I'm turning the blog over to Jesse Coffey today since she wrote such a nice review of Tales of a Texas Boy. Here's the review just as she wrote it.

Book Review by J.W. Coffey -- Tales of a Texas Boy

A lovely lady by the name of Marva Dasef asked me to do a review exchange and I agreed. Now, I normally don't read subsidy press books for the magazines I write for. But when someone asks me as nicely as Ms. Dasef did. I decided to give it a whirl. I'm very glad I did. The read/exchange was worth it.

Tales of a Texas Boy
ISBN: 978-0-6151-4896-0
Publisher: Texas Boy Publications
Rights Owner: Marva Dasef
Copyright: © 2007 Marva Dasef Standard Copyright License
Language: English
Country: United States
Edition: First Edition

Buy at Marva's Website (save Shipping) OR at Lulu.com

Tales of a Texas Boy is a series of short stories detailing life in a simpler time, life in Texas during the early half of the 20th century. Ms. Dasef sat down and spoke with her father--Eddie--at length, listening to his memories of Texas at a time when the radio was all they had for entertainment. When lightning filled the sky. When life was simpler and the work was harder. Taking her father's memories, she has woven bits of fiction in with the historical and come up with a lovely book.

Each story is told in the first person dialect, giving a sense of Eddie's personality. Ms. Dasef has drawn up a delightful person, full of the awe and wonder of a young lad. Eddie tells us about hunting jackrabbits (Rattlesnakes and Jackrabbits) and the purchase of one obstinate, nasty tempered jackass (The Auction). The characters are well rounded but still presented from young boy's point of view, seen as he would see them. These are only two of the stories included but easily my favorites. The rest of the stories are very engaging, the book a true page turner in a very gentle fashion.

The stories give a very accurate portrayal of life--post depression era--Texas. The characters are endearing, real, and complex. Ms. Dasef has created a marvelous world that will please any reader--from young adult to older audiences. The characters are vivid. The stories are told in such a way that you feel as if Eddie is talking only to you. The feel is intimate, true sharing. The style is very vivid, as if you're right there with Eddie in all of the situations.

If there is one flaw here, it will be in a bit of editing choices that I would have disagreed with. "Ever" as in "every" that should have had an apostrophe (ever', e. g. ever' bit of it...). But if all I can find is something mechanical, then it's of small consequence.

Tales of a Texas Boy is available in paperback format. I heartily recommend this book for readers sixth grade and up. The kind of thing that will make you smile and give you great entertainment.

I give Tales of a Texas Boy 4.5 out of 5 stars. Kudos to Ms. Dasef for a great book.

Jeremy Shipp - Dealing with the Devil

The Vacation by Jeremy C. Shipp is available from Raw Dog Screaming Press.

It’s time for blueblood Bernard Johnson to leave his boring life behind and go on The Vacation, a yearlong corporate-sponsored odyssey. But instead of seeing the world Bernard is captured by terrorists, becomes a key figure in secret drug wars, and, worse, doesn’t once miss his secure American Dream.

Jeremy says, "I suppose I'd describe Vacation as "A journey into civilization's festering wound--metaphorically speaking."

"This is an intriguing, challenging, literate, provocative novel I'm not sure I understand and suspect I'm not meant to… I recommend it to those who find reality boring; it may make them see it in new ways."
—Piers Anthony, author of the Xanth series

To see if you'd enjoy Jeremy's writing, check out his short story Camp in Chizine.

Find out more about Jeremy on his website Haunted House Dressing and on his MySpace site.

I was thinking of interviewing Jeremy Shipp about his book "Vacation." I read some of the reviews and decided I really couldn't think of the right questions to ask. The only person (or should I say 'entity'?) qualified to interview Jeremy is The Devil. Herewith is the interview. Please pardon the fire and brimstone emanating from your computer screen.

Devil: First of all, let's get this out of the way. Do you dislike to avoid abstaining from not eating babies?

Jeremy C. Shipp: What?

D: Just answer the question!

JCS: No.

D: Ah, you do eat babies then.

JCS: No, I meant that I won't answer such a confusing question.

D: So you're not as smart as you claim to be.

JCS: I'm not claiming anything.

D: You wrote a novel. Isn't that another way of saying, "Look at me. I'm smarter than everyone else. I belong on a pedestal so that I can throw tangerines at people's kidneys."

JCS: Are you evil or just stupid?

D: Moving on. Let's talk about your novel.

JCS: Finally.

D: What inspired you to write a story that's pure evil?

JCS: I wouldn't say it's evil.

D: Aha, but didn't you say in a prior interview, and I quote, "I'm Jeremy. I like writing evil stories. Anyone who reads my book loves the Devil and wants to marry him?"

JCS: I never said that.

D: Your word against mine. Anyway, if your book isn't evil, then why do you kill every single character?

JCS: You haven't even read it, have you?

D: I can read it in your eyes.

JCS: That's it. We're done.

D: No, wait! I'm sorry. Sometimes I get a little overexcited. It's a condition. If you say your book isn't pure evil, then it isn't pure evil. I'm sure it's filled with baby puppies dancing on giant sunflowers.

JCS: Don't get me wrong. Bad things sometimes happen in the book, because bad things sometimes happen in life. People don't always act respectfully towards one another. The book, I'd say, has a good heart. It wants the world to be a better place.

D: I understand. You're saying that you're some sort of savior who can save mankind from all its suffering.

JCS: Just…forget it. This interview's over.

D: Fine. But before we can publish this interview, I'll need you to sign right here.

JCS: There…wait a second. What was all that fine print?

D: Nothing.

Mr. Ed

Okay, we all know Mr. Ed's a horse of course. Wrong! Ed Kostro goes by Mr. Ed at the Author's Den. I get email nearly every morning: "Mr. Ed has added a new poem." Or story, article, book. He's a busy writer.

But Ed is more than just a writer. He's an animal activist, but not one of those letting out lab monkeys (well, maybe he is). Instead Ed Kostro spends his time and energies in a variety of ways helping animals wherever they're in need: shelters, rescue groups, wherever he can help.

Please stop over at Ed's Author's Den or Ed's MySpace and check out what he's up to. You'll be inspired if you love animals even a little bit.

From Ed's Author's Den site:

Ed Kostro is a freelance writer with a passion for nature, animals, our valiant veterans, world history, nostalgia, and humor. He's a member of The Society of Southwestern Authors and The Cat Writers' Association, and the Vice President of the newly formed International Animal Writers and Illustrators Association.

Ed is also a veterans' advocate, an environmentalist, animal rights activist, animal rescue worker, and proud member of The National Wildlife Federation, The World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Assisi Foundation, The Best Friends Animal Network, and Alley Cat Allies.

IM - Do You Really Want to Hit Send?

Rick Reed writes horror. Rick writes gay horror. That thought intrigued me, so I asked Rick if I could get a bit of clarification on this sub-genre.
A few words about Rick, first. Rick has written a basketful of books, all of them available from Amazon. Simply search for Rick R. Reed and you’ll come up with several novels that deal with the seamier, more demented side of the psyche.

He recently moved from Chicago to Florida, so he's probably in a somewhat culture-shocked state right now. His latest book, IM, is just being released this month from Quest Books.

IM, stands for Instant Message or is that Instant Murder? A serial killer stalks men through gay instant message sites. This is a chilling tale of the dangers of high tech friendships.

In the Blood is scheduled for release in November and Deadly Vision: Book One of the Cassandra Chronicles is scheduled for release in January, 2008, both from IM book trailer on YouTube.

Marva: Welcome, Rick. Thanks so much for stopping in.

Rick: You’re welcome. I couldn’t resist, especially when you have cookies set out. And martinis.

Marva: First up, tell us a bit about your latest book, IM.

Rick: IM is a light-hearted romantic romp about the trouble one can get into when one goes searching for love online. Readers might be dismayed to find those troubles can include murder and dismemberment. But seriously, IM has been called a "deliciously nasty psychological thriller" by one reviewer and I think that’s a pretty good descriptor. It’s about a serial killer who may or may not be dead himself luring his victims through Internet hook-up sites. It has a lot of twists and turns and I think keeps readers guessing right up to the end.

Marva: A cautionary tale? It makes me think twice about instant messaging. The theme of people walking into dangerous situations unthinkingly is a horror icon. Was that part of your thinking? To warn about consequences of risky behavior? After all, every teenager in horror movies just has to explore that creepy house by the lake.

Rick: Another reviewer called it a ‘cautionary tale’ and I can understand why, since one doesn’t have to look too far to see a warning about the perils of inviting strangers you’ve met online into your home. I don’t really set out, though, to write tales that are ‘cautionary;’ I just set out to write good stories that keep readers turning the pages. If anything is ‘cautionary,’ it’s because horror and suspense come from dangerous situations. So, using that logic, any book about a dangerous situation might be labeled cautionary.

Marva: You wrote a blog on questions asked by a friend about the label 'gay horror writer'. Tell us about that.

Rick: First, he asked me if it bothered me being labeled a gay horror writer. He wondered if I resented the label and if I just would prefer to be called writer and let my writing be looked at simply for its own unique characteristics rather than under some arbitrary labels, especially ones that had the potential for being loaded, like "horror" and "gay." I told him that booksellers and publishers were very fond of labels and of fitting writers into niches. More than fond, it was almost a necessity. I said that I didn't really mind because labels help readers find me. If people out there are looking to read some good gay horror, I'm happy to be found on that particular shelf. I'm happy to be found anywhere, because I have been known to be invisible, but that's another blog, or a topic for discussion with a good psychotherapist.

Marva: Do you feel as if you're a spokesman for gay horror writers?

Rick: The guy who asked me about gay horror was of a mind that I was the only writer operating under such a mantle. I told him first that I was not the only gay horror writer. There are many other very talented writers out there who might also be labeled the same way: Doug Clegg, Christian Muncy, Michael Rowe, Clive Barker, to name just a few. But if I were given a tiara and a sash that read "Gay Horror Queen" I would wear it with an enormous amount of pride and would endeavor to fulfill all the duties (including being a spokesperson and letting the world know how gay horror can contribute to world peace). In the end, though, I’m just a writer who wants to tell goosebump-raising stories; I leave the spokesperson stuff for the ad people and politicos.

Marva: Some of your previous books don't have a 'gay' theme (whatever that is). IM, your latest book, is very upfront about that. How does it advocate 'gay' anymore than, say, King's Misery advocates overzealous book fans?

Rick: These questions coming right now seemed fitting. As you said, IM is probably one of the gayest of gay horror books I've written, even though one reviewer (bless him) said that it could be enjoyed by any fan of mysteries or crime fiction. I don't mind being a gay horror writer, but it's always nice to cross over. But IM really deals with the gay community, particularly the community that is exploding onto sites like Manhunt, Men4Men, AdamforAdam, Gay.com and so on. I do think IM will resonate with gay men especially because of how it ties anonymous sex to the potential for anonymous murder. I think any "community" has its own unique horrors...and with IM, I just explored one I knew.

Marva: A friend of mine mentioned he didn't read horror because it didn't scare him. What does IM offer somebody like my friend? How would you entice him to read it?

Rick: Your friend and I would get along, because I’ve said the same thing about both horror movies and books. I’ve become too jaded to scare easily. But I would tell him to not close the door completely because when something does succeed and does scare me, then it’s priceless. One movie that did that was an Asian horror film called AUDITION. It still disturbs me to think about it. I’d like to think that IM would have the kind of dread-filled moments in it that might frighten your friend. Even though we’ve had all this talk about it being gay, I think the fear in IM is pretty universal. Gay, straight, or whatever, I think we’ve all taken risks when it comes to making a human connection for love or sex, and therein lies the fear. All it would take is one mentally unbalanced person, thinking, "it could never happen to me" and allowing yourself to be alone with this person. I think what makes IM scary—and what makes a lot of my work scary—is that in my definition of horror, it could really happen. When a stranger you met online comes over, looks harmless, and then pulls out a hunting knife, I think that’s pretty damn terrifying.

Marva: I like to end with an invitation for a writer to say/plug anything they want. 500 words or less. Go.

Rick: I love nothing better than plugging myself. Thank you. I’d just like to encourage anyone out there reading this to stop by and visit my website at http://www.rickrreed.com/ or my MySpace page, www.myspace.com/rickrreed. A quick visit to either place will give you a pretty good snapshot of who I am and what I’m all about. I would also encourage all of you to pick up a copy of IM…it’s sure to make you deliciously unsettled.

Thanks, Marva

Marva: You're entirely welcome. Grab another cookie on the way out.

Resonance - Chris Dolley

Chris is a friend of mine on MySpace. He decide to throw a virtual book tour for the release of his new book, "Resonance." Check out this site for more detail.

For the tour, I asked Chris a couple of questions (posted here with his answers). To see more of the questions and The Worldwide Virtual Book Tour go to Chris's MySpace site.

My questions for Chris:
Marva: How did you get the idea of the virtual book tour and the set up for doing it?

Chris: I got it from Mindy Klasky who organised a virtual book tour last year. The idea's been around for few years and each author tweaks it some. I think there's even a company that organises them and charges a fee to place your book with 'popular' blogs. Which, to me, sounds like a recipe for disaster for the 'popular' blogs as once the word gets out that they're selling space to promote books no one'll believe a word they print.


But maybe that's just me. I also think it's more fun to organise the event yourself as it gives you more scope to be inventive and interact with friends and readers. Like my remote signing experiment. How many other authors have attempted to sign books by astral projection? And lived.

Which is why I contacted Microsoft and got a hold of a beta copy of Window ESP. It's the perfect platform - that and having two mediums strapped to a quantum computer - when you need to access the astral plane.

But, seriously, the biggest enemy of a new or mid-list author is anonymity. And virtual tours help us authors who live in the middle of nowhere get out and meet people without having our luggage go astray.

Marva: Why do you live in France? Just lucky?

Chris: Very lucky. We moved to France twelve years ago to take advantage of the property price differential - homes in France were a third of the price in England - and the better climate. We try to grow all our own food so having cheap land, deep soil and a long growing season is a huge bonus. And the pace of life is different in France. It's changing but when we first arrived
it was like stepping back into rural England as it used to be in the 50s - lots of small family farms and an emphasis on lifestyle rather than profit.

About Resonance

You can't create a world in seven days without cutting corners Graham Smith is a 33 year-old office messenger. To the outside world he's an obsessive-compulsive mute, weird but harmless. But to
Graham Smith, it's the world that's weird. And far from harmless. He sees things others can't . . . or won't. He knows that roads can change course, people disappear, office blocks migrate across town. All at night when no one's looking. The world's an unstable place, still growing, sloughing off layers of reality like dead skin. One day you drive by, and it's changed.

Annalise Mercado hears voices, all from girls calling themselves Annalise. Sometimes she thinks they're spirit guides, sometimes she thinks she's crazy. But then they tell her about Graham Smith, the men who want him dead, and how only she can save him. So begins the story of two people whose lives appear fragmented across alternate realities and how, together, they hold the key to the future of a billion planets. . .

Tyree Campbell - Con Man

A retired U.S. Army translator, Tyree taught at a business college for three years, did post-graduate work in Chinese studies, and all the while wrote and wrote and wrote and finally turned rejection slips into acceptances. Since 1 January 2000, when his first story was published, he's had some eighty short stories and two novels published, and about two dozen poems, including a third-place Rhysling. He writes primarily soft science fiction, some dark fantasy, and the occasional spooky horror. He's also the Managing Editor of Sam's Dot Publishing and invites you to take a look at what SDP has to offer.

Also, checkout Tyree's MySpace site.

If you're in the neighborhood, you can meet Tyree in the Dealers areas at these upcoming Cons:

May 18-20 DemiCon, Des Moines, Iowa
May 25-27 ConQuest Kansas City, Missouri
August 3-5 DiversiCon,Minneapolis, MN

Marva: Hello, Tyree. Welcome to Dasef Central. There are so many places to start with you, but I've decided to start with your role as Managing Editor of Sam's Dot Publishing. At the top are Conventions, since that makes my heading work. I know you go to many cons as a dealer. An unnamed source said "it was a bit like watching a used car salesman at work." Would you care comment on that?

Tyree: LOL. Yeh, it is a bit like selling used cars (and I know which unnamed source named J to thank for that comment). But…well, see, most conventions have several tables that sell books. New books, used books, small publishers, and so forth. Those who sell new books, by frex Robert Sawyer or Mercedes Lackey, don’t have to do anything. Those sellers can sit there in total confidence that customers will flock to them. Same with sellers of used books. Everyone is always looking for that one Vance or Wilhelm or Farmer that they missed. But small indie publishers cannot just sit there like rutabagas and expect people to come to them (yet I see so many small indies doing just that at conventions).

My approach is proactive. First, I’m almost always standing. People notice someone who is standing. That leads to eye contact. As soon as I have eye contact, I say something. Hello, or Reading material, or something to engage the potential customer. Don’t forget, my job is to relieve this person of some hard-earned money for publications they’ve hardly heard of. So…I also hand them a flier that tells about us…hand them, as opposed to expecting them to take a flier. This way, the physical act of handing it to them usually compels them to take the flier. I’ve established contact. Then I try to find out what they like to read. Sometimes they are specific: science fiction, or fantasy, or whatever. No matter what they respond, I almost always have something that fits their desires. And I go on from there.

If they say they like just about anything, I clasp my hands together, raise my eyes to the sky, and say, “They’re gonna buy one of each! Thank you, God!” This usually gets a laugh, eases the connection, and I can talk with them.

If they say they don’t know what they like, I have some off-beat publications I can introduce them to, like the Drabblers, or David Kopaska-Merkel’s tales of nursery rhyme crimes solved by an adult detective (Why did the dish abduct the spoon, and was there ransom involved? Who mutilated the three blind mice, and why?).

Like I said, proactive. And it seems to work.

Marva: The splash screen of SDP says: "Dedicated to the late James B. Baker…our editor, our mentor, but most of all our friend. We’ll love you forever, Jim." Tell us about ProMart and your relationship with Mr. Baker.

Tyree: Jim was the first to accept and publish one of my stories ("Thanksgiving Dinner," 1 January 2000, The Martian Wave. What a great way to start the millennium). Time went on and I had several other stories and poems published [and won most of the voting contests]. Jim wanted to go into print publications, and needed someone to develop a print magazine. I offered to develop one called "Aoife’s Kiss." So it got developed. Problem was, Jim had an ego, and I was stubborn. No, wait. I had an ego, and Jim was stubborn. No . .. well, you get the idea. So we butted heads on occasion. But toward the end, I called him, we talked…he really really was a wonderful person…and he was concerned about the fate of his publishing after he had moved on to the next phase. I told him I would take care of it. And WE all have done this…

Marva: Sam's Dot Publishing has a lot going on: several 'zines and lots of individual books and chapbooks. Where do you hope to go with Sam's Dot Publishing in the future?

Tyree: Oh, more of the same, really, but always improving. Our mission statement says we publish new and beginning writers. We will always do that. It’s what Jim wanted. That’s our roots. At the same time, I do hope to attract some "names." And we’re doing this. Five-time Hugo nominee Robert Reed [wrote the novel "Marrow," among others] will be in the June 2007 Aoife’s Kiss. Robert Sawyer has indicated he will send an original story when I ask for it. Mike McCarty, a Stoker nominee, has been published twice in HUNGUR Magazine (including the current issue). Jason Sizemore, who runs Apex Digest, was in the March 2007 Aoife’s Kiss. Mary Turzillo, who has graced many a page of Asimov’s, has a novella and a short story with us. Bud Webster, maybe Barry Malzberg…we’re getting some names in.

That helps our street cred.

But most of all, it’s important to keep in mind that in between the Charles Sheffields and the writers who haven’t quite reached their skill level there are hundreds…thousands…of writers and stories out there that may not be worthy of a professional rate but are nevertheless fine fine stories and poems, and are worthwhile to read. We live in a culture that emphasizes winning…and yes, the really top writers deserve all they can get. All I’m saying is that the next few tiers of writers have much to say that is worthy. And that’s where we publish.

Future publications? Well, this August we’re coming out with a biannual magazine called Sounds Of The Night…it’s a crossover magazine, sf/f/h, but primarily sensual science fiction. No, not erotica, certainly not porn…but we do want stories and poems that excite the senses.

And Cover Of Darkness, which we just released, has done so well already that we probably will do it again next year.

Marva: SDP has poetry magazines (Illumen, Scifaikuest) and poetry included in the other magazines, too. Why all this poetry in the midst of fantasy, horror, and science fiction?

Tyree: I like poetry.

Okay, that’s a facile response. Speculative poetry is…the exquisite expression of an idea. Science fiction (yes, and fantasy and horror) is a realm in which people deal with ideas. It’s interconnected. I think a writer has to have something of a poet, even if that something is just a vague understanding, in order to write lucidly and succinctly. Look at Terrie Relf’s poetry, just for an example. Her poems are waaaay out there. But she takes an unusual approach in her prose, her stories, and I think her poetry—more specifically her poetic vision—helps her to do that. Let’s face it, most storylines have been written and rewritten time and time again. I think it was Heinlein who said there was really only one story. Well, poetry—the poetic vision—helps you to see that "one" story from several different vantage points and battlefields.

Besides…I like poetry.

Marva: Your writing reminds me of Robert Heinlein and John Varley. Good guess? Or, just who would you like to be compared to?

Tyree: Oh, my, yes, I loved Varley’s character Cirocco Jones. She is the subconscious template for most of my female protagonists. Philosophically I’m pretty much a libertarian, which relates well to Heinlein, and I like Heinlein’s simplicity of style to express complex issues. But my favorite writer is Jack Vance. He creates worlds, and fills these worlds with all sorts of characters—heroes and villains and everything in between. I don’t know that I consciously emulate any of them…but certainly I have learned from them.

Compared to? Oh, hahaha. Instead of the second John Varley, I’d rather be the first Tyree Campbell. But I’ve quite a long ways to go, yet….

Marva: Your latest book, The Dog at the Foot of the Bed, was just re-released and Nyx, your first book is still available.. Give us a rundown on what's these books are about.
(Read the Ed Cox Review of The Dog at the Foot of the Bed)

Tyree: Hmm…the lineage of the two books intertwines, actually. "Dog" under another title was really the first novel I started. It underwent three complete rewrites. In I think the second revision, there was a character who underwent great hardships and rough terrain just to get a message to the protagonist. Then she disappears from the novel—she was just a very minor character, and what she did was not really needed in the story, so I excised her [that is so difficult to do, too, to terminate an unnecessary character]. Well…she was so interesting that I decided to write a novel about her. Thus Nyx. The style I used comes from…okay, back in the 60s and 70s there was a series of maybe 25 paperback books—assassin espionage things—by Donald Hamilton (who also wrote some kickin’ SF). These were the Matt Helm books. Yeh, Dean Martin played Matt Helm in some very insipid movies (The Wrecking Crew, The Silencers, etc.) that had—trust me on this—absolutely nothing to do with the books or even with Hamilton’s protagonist. Hamilton has a direct, cold-blooded style that I found useful to convey my character. Nyx is an assassin, some 500 years from now. She is utterly cold-blooded—think La Femme Nikita. And she is logical in her approach to self-defense.

Frex, at one point, Nyx is holding a weapon on a baddie. The baddie suggests that someone is sneaking up behind Nyx. Nyx reasons that she has only one possible response. See…if she turns around, the first baddie will get her. If she does not turn around, the second baddie will get her. So…she shoots the first baddie, then turns around to deal with the second one, knowing that she is now safe from the first baddie. This, of course, is hard on the baddies…which is just tough bananas.

Well…in this story, Nyx finds that in order to accomplish her mission, she must reacquire her long-lost femininity.

Oh, btw…at several conventions I’ve been approached and asked when the sequel to Nyx was coming out. I hadn’t planned on writing sequels to it…but yes, I’ve already started one, and might well have several before I’m done. Look for "Mystere" late this year or early next.

As for "Dog," it’s a science fiction who-dunnit. Some sixteen years before the main story takes place, the Shannen family was attacked and their farmhold destroyed. The children, including twins Ovin and Siobhan, escaped to a remote planet. Seeking revenge, Ovin became an assassin, and Siobhan became in effect a police officer. One of Siobhan’s assignments is to bring Ovin to justice. The other siblings: Kevan, Una, Deyrdra, want the family to be reunited, of course. So there is additional pressure and conflict for the twins to deal with.

Well…some catastrophic events (including the fact that now, sixteen years later, someone is trying to kill the Shannen children again!) occur that require Ovin and Siobhan to work together to resolve them. But I plotted it so that if they succeed in resolving those events, Ovin and Siobhan might forever be separated.

In essence, The Dog At The Foot Of The Bed is about a family torn apart by outside forces and by their responses to these forces. It’s difficult to write at length about Dog because I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises—and there are quite a few unexpected developments and twists and turns. But Dog is also a romance—a love story, and sometimes the sexuality will take some unconventional twists. Nobody ever actually says "I love you" in Dog…and when you read it from beginning to end, you will find that fact totally astonishing.

Marva: Tyree, what would you like my blogreaders to know about SDP that we haven't mentioned already?

Tyree: I think Robert Sawyer said it best, in his novel "Mindscan"—that quite often the difference between an award-winning novel and a little known but competently written novel is "the breaks." In other words, only a few pieces of writing receive awards. But there is a great body of sf/f/h literature out there that is just as readable and merits attention. I’d like to think that Sam’s Dot Publishing presents this "readable" literature in our various publications. So sure, go ahead and read Sawyer and Farmer and Heinlein. But keep in mind that we have some fine stories and poems and illustrations that will thrill you, too. We’re worth it.

Marva: Thanks, Tyree.

In the interests of full disclosure, Sam's Dot Publishing is my publisher for the Cadida series and I've also had a couple of stories published in The Fifth Di..., another SDP magazine.

Super-powered Heroic Fiction

An Interview with Robin Reed on Superhero Fiction

I found Robin Reed on a forum on general writing topics for writers. When I saw Robin's release of the second in her series "Power vs Power," I decided to ask a few questions. This is a relative small niche market, but the writers and followers of the genre are enthusiastic.

The question comes to mind: Where do superheroes come from? I don't mean in the Superman sense of arriving from the planet Krypton, but how superheroes are formed in the minds of the writers. Marvel and DC comics aren't the only venues for superheroes. The Metahuman Press on-line zine is a place you can find brand-new superheroes to admire. If the topic rings your bell, check out Robin's work on MHP and go to their forum to bat ideas with the folks creating the new superheroes as we speak.

By Robin Reed
Power vs Power series:
Reflection
Hero Without a Name
Xanthan Gum: Print and ebook available through Booklocker
Earth - the fobidden planet! Where strange beings called humans toil endlessly, creating the stories loved throughout Galactic Civilization. Stories collectively called The Movies.

One brave soul dares to go there. He has a dream. He wants to be a Movie Star like his hero, E.T.

Xanthan Gumm is his name, and he has risked everything to be in The Movies and to meet the King of Earth - Steven Spielberg!

Robin also draws a mean cartoon. Check out Barstow Productions

Marva: So, since superheroes are iconic...

Robin: I have to stop you right there. Who says superheroes are iconic? I read a lot of comics in my life before I ever heard that superheroes are iconic, and I regard it as the kind of idea that is used when people write Ph.D theses on popular culture but don’t actually read the original material. I will grant that the most well known DC superheroes, especially Superman, have become a bit iconic because you can say “Superman” anywhere in the world and people will assume you’re talking about the superhero rather than anything by Nietzsche or George Bernard Shaw.

I have never liked characters that are the least bit iconic. Icons are boring. They never change. Superman in particular is hard to write because he can do so much. When I was a kid DC had a lot of Superman titles but they all were about Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen and how their lives interacted with Superman. The man of steel himself is too perfect to be interesting.

The only interesting stories about Superman that I have seen are really about Clark Kent. He arrived as a baby on Earth and was lucky to be taken in by a couple that taught him how to be human and what is right and wrong. They taught him to like humans, to believe that their lives have value even though they are so much weaker than he is. Imagine the same baby being picked up by people who tried to abuse him, or even being in an orphanage or a series of foster homes. If he learned to hate people, if he became selfish and never had any discipline, he would grow into a monster and use his powers to make himself Emperor of Earth. Actually, you don’t have to imagine this, just see General Zod in the Christopher Reeve Superman movies.

I was never a DC reader anyway. I was a Marvel reader. In Marvel comics each character - hero, villain, or otherwise - is an individual, a person. If someone gains amazing powers, whether they use them for good or evil depends on their character, the person they are before they gain the powers. Peter Parker starts out using his powers just to make money, he becomes a celebrity. Only when his uncle is killed by a criminal that Peter didn’t bother to stop, does Spider-Man start doing good.

In the Marvel universe, characters sometimes change sides too, bad guys become good and vice versa. Things happen in their lives that change them. Icons never do that.

Marva: How do you create that feeling of superhero-ness when nobody has heard of your SH before?

Robin: I’m not sure how to answer this. All fictional characters start in the brain of a single person. Nobody ever heard of Sherlock Holmes before the first story was published. If a writer creates a character that many people like, soon that character will be famous.

Marva: Do you follow specific rules in SH creation? That is, is there a formula for backstory, as shown in Spiderman (created by external forces superhero) or Superman (SH by birth) or Batman (SH by use of wealth?). Are there other creation formulas?

Robin: There are no rules. Or formulas. Writers just come up with ideas that they like. Sometimes they go on to glory, often they flop.

Of your three origin stories, “external forces” is really a huge variety of origins. The origin is just a way to get your character started, though. It could be anything. What matters is the character of the human being and how he or she uses his or her new abilities. Even being born with powers doesn’t guarantee whether someone will be a hero or a villain, it’s the person.

Marva: Who's your superhero? What are his super powers? How does he or she fit into the mythos of comic book superheroes as outlined above?

Robin: I have created two for the series at MetaHumanPress.com. One is a riff on Batman, I will admit. I always thought that a billionaire could do a lot of good in the world without donning a costume and personally beating up bad guys. He can prevent crime by giving inner city kids some hope and getthing them good educations. Batman, as Bruce Wayne, is shown supporting charities in the comics, but just the cost of one Batmobile could help a lot of people.

My other one is a young man who has Superman like powers given to him by a strange amulet he finds. He is attracted to superheroing by the glory, the applause of other people, rather than by a real devotion to doing good. He means to do good, he is not a bad person, but he can’t handle the responsibilty to use the power properly. He will become famous, a shining example of heroics to the world, but will let himself come under the control of dark forces. He will do bad things even while the world still thinks of him as a hero, even iconic.

Marva: How does your methodology differ from that fan fiction?

Robin: I don’t know how much comics-based fanfic there is. I mostly hear about fanfic related to TV shows and movies. I might be surprised if I searched for it on the internet.

Marva: Thanks for answering my questions, Robin.