Doin' the NaNo Shuffle

Okay, okay. I couldn't resist at least giving it another shot this year. Day 2 and I've got 4700 words, which is decent although not heating up the computer capacity.

As long as I continue in Nano, posts will be infrequent and possibly show a picture of me hanging myself.

I have one thing that may do me in. My beloved cat, Cornelius, is dying. He's got a huge tumor in his belly, which cannot be removed. Since he was hacked open only to discover there was nothing the vet can do, he's been in pretty good shape. He lost a ton of weight (for a little cat) and has been eating constantly. Of course, we've catered to him. Today, he decided food wasn't too appetizing. When he moves, he wobbles a bit and is breathing hard. He likes to sit on my lap when I'm at the computer--his way of getting maximum attention--and his purr was raspy and harsh. I've been periodically crying today. I know he may die as early as tonight. He's that bad off. Not in pain, but clearly he's not well. Here's a picture of him in a typical Cornie pose.

Boo!

Tis The Season

NaNoWriMo season, that is. The November madness will soon be upon us. What is it, you ask? Sheesh, have you been hiding in a coal mine? Okay, if you're not a novelist (I sort of am), you probably don't give a big whoop anyway.

NaNoWriMo happens during November--all month long, so forget about going to the relatives for Thanksgiving. If you're participating, you just won't have time for that. Oh, yeah, that's only if you're American. The rest of the world has November open for anything they want to do.
The concept is to write 50,000 words of a novel in one month. For some, this is entire novel. For real novelists, that's about half a novel. Since I primarily write for the kiddies, 50K or less is fine.

On the Nano website, you can delve into the forums which offer help, plot ideas, challenges, tricks for getting word count, suggestions for the proper herbs to keep you going, and general encouragement. You can join a specific group (there's a group for just about any flavor you are) and/or a regional group (your city, state, province, canton, or whatever). Within regions, Nanoers can also meet in the flesh for write-ins, gripe sessions, pizza, and shoulder-crying.

Interesting in hitting your inner editor over the head with a sledgehammer and stuffing them into a closet for a month? Go check it out. Maybe it's just the type of madness that will help you get that novel out of your head and onto your computer hard drive.

National Novel Writing Month

Oh, yeah, they also support literacy campaigns for kids with your donations.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

I received the Freya's Bower Newletter and I thought this article by Marci Baun was well worth sharing. I asked permission and she said okay, so here it is. Please visit Freya's Bower and WildChild Publishing. - Marva

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, along with Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many others. However, domestic violence, while a virulent disease, receives very little attention and is pushed under the rug.

Some years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles, I dated a man briefly whom I'd met salsa dancing. He was intelligent, attractive, and an amazing dancer. He was also abusive. On our first date, we met at a dance club where he and some of his salsa friends liked to go. We were having a great time until he said something that made me pause: "I would never allow one of my friends to dance with you. They might steal you away." A little voice in my head whispered: "Wait a minute, weren't these people his friends? And when did I become his property?" But I ignored that voice and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

By the second date, he had insulted me several times, but in an insidious manner that had me questioning myself. (The insults seemed to have a kernel of truth, but only enough to make the insults seem plausible and start the questions.) When I realized what was happening and that my self-esteem was spiraling, that little voice grew louder, more insistent. I listened--because whenever I don't, I usually end up in trouble. That's when the answer hit me: this man was an abuser. I felt in my bones. If someone is attracted to you and supposedly likes you, they don't insult you and they certainly don't treat you like property. If someone likes you, they praise you, they respect you, and they support your dreams.

In any case, we were supposed to see each other again the next day, but I decided that he was not good for me. The following phone call confirmed my suspicions. He belittled me in an attempt to get me to see him again. I refused. I am so thankful that I did and consider myself lucky to have escaped with very little damage.

I encourage every person who has ever heard that little voice warning them to get out... do it. That voice will never lie to you. It is protecting you. It is never wrong and it is never too late to listen. And you deserve better. You deserve to be emotionally supported, to be loved, to be praised, to be respected.

Most of us don't realize what constitutes abuse. Here is a list of behaviors that can be found in the foreword of Dreams & Desires: A Collection of Romance and Erotic Tales, published by Freya's Bower .

1. Jeckel and Hyde behavior: Your partner is wonderful and caring for a while and then will do an about face and be angry about things that they thought were fine at an earlier time. They switch back and forth between behaviors for no apparent reason.

2. Life Would be so Good If: You frequently think that your relationship would be perfect if not for his or her emotional storms. The storms seem to be coming more and more frequently. Between times, life is wonderful, but when a storm is coming, you can often tell by that Walking on Eggs Feeling.

3. That Walking On Eggs Feeling: You feel at times that any action on your part will cause your partner to erupt into anger. You try to do everything you can think of to avoid it, but the longer the feeling goes on, the more likely the blowup will happen, no matter what you do.

4. I Can't Stand You, But You Better Not Leave: Your partner keeps telling you that you aren't worth having a relationship with, but will not consider breaking off the relationship and acts more outrageously when he or she finds out you are attempting to leave the relationship.

5. So Much, So Fast: Your partner just met you and doesn't know much about you, but he or she has to have you, so you must commit now.

6. It's You That's the Problem: Your partner never seems to consider his or her own part in your domestic disputes. You get blamed for all problems because of the most ridiculous things.

7. This Happened to Me and It's All Your Fault: You are blamed for your partner's problems even when it was his or her responsibility to not make mistakes. This could be things like him or her not getting to work on time and getting in trouble, not getting a job, not paying the bills in a timely manner, etc.

8. It's Their Fault: Your partner is never the cause of his own problems; if it's not your fault, it was somebody else's.

9. Overreacting: Your partner overreacts to little irritations. Small offenses like leaving the cap off the toothpaste cause him or her to have huge anger scenes or act out in an outrageous manner.

10. I Will Get You for That: Your partner doesn't try to negotiate a better relationship, but retaliates by doing something to you that he or she knows will hurt you emotionally.

11. All the Fights are about What I Do Wrong: You never seem to be able to talk about his or her wrong actions; the discussion always seems to be about what you did wrong, and there always seems to be something new that you did wrong.

12. You are Worthless: Your partner keeps telling you that all your problems are because you can't manage to do anything right.

13. Unrealistic Expectations: Your partner is dependent on you for all his/her needs and expects you to be the perfect mate, lover and friend. You are expected to meet all of his/her needs.

14. Blames Others for His/Her Feelings: You are told, "You make me mad," "you're hurting me by not doing what I ask," or "I can't help being angry".

15. Intense Jealousy: Your partner tells you that expressing jealousy is a sign of love. Jealousy is a sign of insecurity, not love. You are questioned about who you talk to and you may frequently receive calls or unexpected visits during the day.

16. Isolation: He or she has attempted to cut off your family, friends, and independent financial resources. Your friends and family are put down, and you are put down for socializing with them. You or they are accused of ridiculous motives.

In honor of this month, we have discounted all formats of Dreams & Desires -- http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/132/77/ . Please help us help others.

Marci Baun
Editor-in-Chief
Freya's Bower

This makes me happy

Sometimes, I get all frustrated and feeling down. Here's where I go to make myself feel better. Tell me you don't smile.

Singing Horses

Easy to Carry Book

Not having much else to do with my spare time, I created a mass market paperback of Tales of a Texas Boy. The dimensions are 4.25x7" (approximate). This is a handy size to slip into a purse or pocket. Hey, maybe that's why they call them pocketbooks!

Anyway, this version is only for sale from me or through Lulu.

Pocketbook size Tales from Lulu

To keep the price down, I omitted the illustrative photos from this version. That's a shame, because the pictures do add to the charm. This book is 134 pages long.

Price: $8.00 plus shipping. If you want to buy a copy direct from me, send me an email and we'll work out a Paypal or other option.

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!

Why I Self-Published

It's tiresome to run across article after article castigating the self-published author. I feel bad for the authors, especially those with excellent books which couldn't get the time of day from agents or publishers.

Yes, there's a ton of bad vanity press out there, but you're not likely to run across any of it without looking hard. The fact is, self-pubbed books don't have the marketing support given by major conventional publishers. Heck, small presses don't have those resources either. So, unless you can get your book into the diminishing number of big-time conventional publishers, you can either stuff your manuscript in a drawer or send it off to any of dozens of self-publishing companies.

Here are some reasons why people have self-published:

1. The topic of the book is very limited in scope either because it's something like a family history or set in one tiny corner of the world that nobody is interested in hearing about.

2. The writing isn't up to par. Without lots of first readers, critiquers, and whoever else a writer can shanghai into helping out, then it's almost impossible to have a decently written book. No more lonely (drunken) writer hanging out in a dark garrett, then getting discovered by BIG PUB company. It takes a village to create a book. Writers definitely need to work at their craft and improve their writing through coursework, joining critique groups, and buying some good how-to-write books.

3. Time is of the essence. This is where I fall in the self-published reasons list. The one and only book I'll self-pub is "Tales of a Texas Boy." I've mentioned before this is based on stories my father told me about his life growing up on a West Texas farm in the Depression Era. I think of this as his book and I was merely the (rather talented) scribe to convey his stories. Maybe I should have put his name on the cover with an "as told to..." line following his byline. Then, I wouldn't have the stigmata of self-pubbed on my name. But, I didn't think of that at the time and now the damage is done. Still, I'm glad to have his book out in the world, even for the limited audience who'll find, read, and enjoy it.

I know a lovely lady who self-pubbed four books. I told her she should have tried to get an agent or conventional publisher because her writing and stories are certainly good enough. Her answer was "I'm too old to wait for that process." She's a senior citizen. She wanted her books published. End of story.

4. Good writer, good book, good topic, but the writer was naive and believed that the likes of PublishAmerica was a "real" publisher. These folks were conned because they didn't do their homework and gulped down the snakeoil the Vanity Press was selling.

Anyway, I just wanted to say a few words on the subject. Don't be put off by a book you think might be interesting because you recognize the publisher as a vanity press. Fortunately, Amazon has the nice Search Inside feature. Use it. Read some of the book. Does it pass muster? Does it interest you? Then buy the damned thing and make the day of some poor writer who fell into one of the above categories.

October Issue of Lorelei Signal

Lorelei Signal is a bi-monthly on-line zine featuring science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. The only "rule" is that the story features a strong woman. Yea! on that. Fortunately, that's the type of story I write, so I've been privileged to have three stories published by Lorelei. The latest, "The Delegate," is in the October issue which will go live on September 30th. Nice illustration by Lee Kuruganti >>

All of my past stories are archived, so you can check them out now.

The Delegate - October 2007

A Visit to Potter's Field - July 2007

Chilpequin 22 Miles - October 2006

Google Book Search

When I published Tales of a Texas Boy, I had the option to place my book on Google Book Search. Well, here it is something like 12 weeks later. Still the presentation is kind of cool and if you want to sample the text, it's there for the tasting.

Tales of a Texas Boy on Google Book Search

I'm not sure who uses Google Book Search and to what purpose, but it might be interesting to find out if anything happens because of it. How will I know? I haven't a clue.

However, I'll say that GBS is interesting to browse. While looking for my own book, I searched for the generalized tag "Dasef". I found all sorts of interesting things. . .about my husband's family. Try it on your own family name if it's unusual enough. If found old year books from Michigan colleges from the 1920's. We discovered that one of my husband's uncles had lots of material produced in medical journals. I already knew about Grandpa Dasef's History of Montcalm County, but it was fun nonetheless. My original last name is Perkins and it doesn't get much related to me. But, it's fun to noodle around in GBS.

It's Alive!

Update: The Buy button is now live.

The ebook version of "Tales of a Texas Boy" now has its sales page up with my pretty picture on it. I'm going to keep that photo until the end of time. So what if I'm three four (grumble) years older than when it was taken?

Tales of a Texas Boy at Cantarabooks

See the Cantarabooks main page here.

Two New Reviews

Tales has received a couple of new reviews over the last week.

Womblin, an editor for the sadly-departed The Deepening, posted a review on her blog.
Womblin's World

Indeed, these tales are addictive. I challenge anyone to only read one without wanting to continue to the next. Overall, a lovely and valuable collection, I highly recommend it.

Ed Cox, author of Living Stone writes critiques for Sam's Dot Publishing. Read the entire review at Storyteller

All in all, there’s nothing to dislike about Tales of a Texas Boy. With the help of her father’s testaments, Dasef recreates the era with real clarity. She conjures the characters and landscape until you can hear that southern drawl, and taste the dust in your mouth. One day a scriptwriter will find this book, and discover that it lends itself just as entertainingly to a TV series.

Introducing Jo-Brew

I met Jo when she signed up for my Meet the Authors event. She's written five novels, with the latest, "Marge: Back on Track," just out. Jo's writing emphasis is on women's lives--how they cope with life-changing situations, such as a husband's stroke, a daughter's drug addiction, and mother's terminal cancer. The stories are touching and very real for those who have gone through these situations, but also uplifting in how Jo's heroine's handle life.

You can purchase Jo's books through Amazon. Visit her website for a complete list and links.


Now, on to the interview questions. By the way, I also want to thank Jo for coming up with good questions to ask herself. I'm just claiming credit for blatantly stealing the questions she asked me.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in the southeastern part of Colorado, left for California as a toddler and arrived in Southern Oregon to begin high school. Keeping my restless soul in a restricted area, I have managed to stay in the Eugene area since my older children, began high school. They are all grown and very independent now so my husband and I are on our own to chase our dreams. During those years I taught school, eventually left to delve into real estate sales, and then into a stint building and remodeling as a couple. All that time, I was writing, non fiction newsletters, articles, guides and a couple of undercover efforts at short stories. When I could officially call myself retired, I began taking the writing seriously with classes, workshops and critique groups. I’m still doing those.

Now I write fiction dealing with the issues contemporary women face in their lives. My fifth novel has just been released. "Marge, Back on Track," is the second in a series of women in retirement. Marge is an athletic and active woman who leaves the career she loves to take care of her husband after he’s had a stroke. His attitude soon makes her care an obligation and stretches the boundaries of her abilities.

I also write a weekly column for a newspaper in Creswell, a nearby small and growing town. The column gives me deadlines and puts me in front of the keyboard to keep me stimulated on a regular basis. The Creswell Chronicle also archives my columns on the web so they are accessible to anyone who is interested. My children keep track of me that way.

How has living in Oregon affected your writing?

It is the basis of all my stories, they are all set in Oregon. I’m grounded now and appreciate where I am. I find a rich environment here. When I take a character to Seattle, I suffer the pain of having to go visit and research. The same applies to San Francisco or the coast. In the first retirement novel, "What Next, Ms. Elliott?", Ruth Elliott sadly needed the make a mid winter trip to Arizona. Very nice for me.

Where do your ideas come from?

Something I see, a woman walking by my house daily in very short, shorts but using a cane, an isolated farm house, a woman sitting on the curb of a parking lot to cry. Anything that stimulates my interest. The three retirement stories started from a telephone conversation with a friend-I think the honest word would be gossip.

Was there ever a moment you thought you couldn’t write?

No. Not even when I didn’t really know how. There were lot’s of moments when I was afraid no one would be interested–there still are.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Between one and two years. "Marge, Back on Track" will be officially released next week and I am revising the first draft of the next book in the series, "Anne Marie’s New Melody" (The title is always subject to change.) I am hoping to be able to hold it in my hands next fall.
How do you manage time for writing?

Mostly, I get up very early. I am active in several groups as well as serve as chief chauffeur for my mother which all take a lot of daytime hours. I don’t watch much TV so I have do have free hours when my husband is involved and I can disappear.

How can readers learn more about you?

Visit my website, http://www.jo-brew.com/. Besides information about me and about what I write, there are links to all my connections.

Lots of New Stuff

My, but it's been busy around here lately.

Tales received a lovely review on Cocktail Reviews, which I've mentioned here before. Read the review here. Here's the summary:

A lovely set of tales, read in one sitting. I couldn’t put the book down. With a wonderful voice throughout, Ms. Dasef brought sadness, humour, and contentment to my day. I’m very glad I selected Tales of a Texas Boy for review. Delightful!

I received the proof copy for the ebook version of Tales of a Texas Boy, which is published by Cantarabooks LLC. Originally scheduled for a November release, it looks like it will show up within the next week or so. How fun is that!

Of course, today is the scheduled release date for Weirdly published by Wild Child Publishing. I've got a few stories in that, so I hope you'll buy a copy.

Jo-Brew posted about Tales and her interview of me on Women Writing the West. I encourage everybody to check out the site if you're interested in a writers' organization for western authors, those who live in the west and those who write about it.

And I invite you to check a new blog I found titled BitchAngelEditor. I read that as Bit Change lEditor, so I thought it must be French (l'editor). See what an editor would like to say about major problems with submissions--those show-stoppers that might keep your book from being published. Words to the wise.

Weirdly Gets Its First Review

The first review of the horror anthology Weirdly is on Cocktail Reviews.

Buy the ebook at Wild Child Publishing.

Being an egotistical writer, here's a quote from the review on one of my stories:

The Country Faire

Oh! Much delight with this one. Gritty, to the point, the voice in this story is punchy and spot on for the subject matter. MC has an unfortunate incident happen at the country faire. One that she insists on correcting year after year…

Payback is a bitch.

This tale got my evil side going. Yeah, now where’s my knife…?

Review written by White Russian of Cocktail Reviews.

The Writers Meet

Not too many attendees, but the writers had fun yakking and exchanging books. I've posted photos on my website if anybody would like to take a look.

Writers Meet at Daneland - September 12th

Meet the Authors Event - September 12th

Meet the Authors at Daneland Park, 1199 N. Terry Street in Eugene, Oregon. On September 12th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, nine local authors will be discussing their books and signing copies. Some authors will read from their works.

The authors include Dan Armstrong, author of "Prairie Fire" and "Taming the Dragon"; Tom Arnold, author of "Checkpoint Charlie"; Diane Bentley Baker, author of "Child of Light"; Jo Brew, Creswell Chronicle columnist and author of "What Next, Ms. Elliott?"; Marva Dasef, author of "Tales of a Texas Boy"; Elbert DeMoss, author of "Sweet Oregon"; Peter Jensen, author of "Secrets of the Sonnets"; and Sandy Jensen, author of "I Saw Us in a Painting"; and Linda Kuhlmann, author of "Koenig’s Wonder."

There’s a bit of something for everyone’s interest: historical, thriller, biography, memoirs, poetry, non-fiction, and fantasy. The event will take place in the clubhouse. Come spend a pleasant September afternoon at Daneland to talk with the authors, munch a cookie or two and drink a little fruit juice.

Review - Archelaus Hosken's Dilemma

Archelaus Hosken's Dilemma
by F J Warren
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Exposure Publishing (June 18, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1846858194
ISBN-13: 978-1846858192

Archelaus Hosken's Dilemma is a quick read. It's also sweet, lovable, readable, and fun. It didn't take too long for me to feel I was reading Dickens, but a more entertaining Dickens. Sure don't want to put you off on that. F J Warren has a knack for the 19th Century style. Set in 1808, the story follows the intrepid Archie when he is both saved (from the noose) and condemned (to marriage) all within days. His Dilemma is how to handle a firebrand wife who controls his every move and (of course) the money. Leave her and he faces gaol if not hanging. Stay and he faces a harridan the rest of his life. As it turns out, his dilemma is solved but in a surprising way. No, I won't tell you because I'm sure you'll enjoy reading the book and finding out for yourself. I'm making it my reviewing policy to not award five stars to any books, so Warren's book gets my top rating of four stars. I'll knock off the one star for some typos, okay? There's certainly nothing wrong with the plot (darling), writing (workmanlike), or typography (nice wide gutter so you don't have to break the book's spine).

Review - Tonia of Trelawney

Tonia of Trelawney by Jacqueline C. Grant
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (December 20, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0595394175 ISBN-13: 978-0595394173

About the Book:
In the charming novel Tonia of Trelawney, two young girls set sail upon treacherous and pirate-infested seas to escape the tyranny of an angry slave master. Author Jacqueline C. Grant paints a vivid picture of life on a sugar plantation in seventeenth-century Jamaica.

In 1670, Tonia, a young slave girl, lives at the Trelawney Sugar Estate on the island of Jamaica. She thinks this is the only life she will ever lead until she forms an unlikely friendship with an English girl named Maggie, whose family recently moved to Jamaica.

For reasons unknown to Tonia, Master William, the plantation owner's nephew, hates her. She longs for nothing more than to buy her and her mother's freedom so they can flee from William's cruel authority. Tonia and Maggie devise a daring plan to leave Trelawney by disguising themselves as boys. By hiding in hogshead barrels being sent to the port for shipping, Tonia and Maggie escape from the plantation and set off on their journey to find the great pirate Henry Morgan and hire on as part of his crew.

Tonia of Trelawney tells the adventurous tale of two brave girls who become the most unlikely of buccaneers. Come along on their turbulent voyage as they learn the ways of the ocean and reach beyond the limits of their strength and courage.

About the Author:
Jamaican-born Jacqueline C. Grant holds a master’s degree in Latin American history and gender studies and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Caribbean history at the University of Miami. She called Trelawney Sugar Estate home for several years and now lives with her two children in Miami, Florida.

I just finished Tonia of Trelawney and my main complaint is that I wished the book was longer. Ms. Grant tempts us with a story about a time and place that most of us only know from Pirates of the Caribbean. What I read, I liked...a lot.

What I wanted was more. We get a glimpse into plantation life in Jamaica and the buccaneers inhabiting the area in the 17th Century. Darn it! More! I learned that the name 'buccaneer' comes from 'boucon' for the smoked meat the pirates took on their voyages. I learned some about sugar cane plantations.

I think Ms. Grant has a wealth of knowledge about the location and era and she could have doubled the size of this book giving us more details.

I was entertained and my interest piqued with the story of two girls adventuring with pirates to earn Tonia's life out of slavery. This is exciting stuff and very readable for girls and boys.

Add to it, Jacqueline! How about a sequel, following Tonia's and Maggie's lives after this adventure?

Not bad for my age

66% GeekMingle² - Stupid ad here that I geekily removed.

Reviews

My latest review comes from Prof. Stephen Holder, past Chair of English Language and Literature at Central Michigan University:

"I enjoyed reading Marva's book. American local color writing has always been a favorite genre, and she handles this very well. She creates characters colorfully and effectively. She was smart, I think, to avoid having the boy make any thematic conclusions on his own, and leave them for the reader to think about. The book is a very nice snapshot of one kind of life. I tell students that the chief reason for reading literature is to gain insight into the possibilities of the human experience, and that certainly would be true in this case. Overall, my compliments!"

My husband happens to be an old friend of Steve's and he wrote telling him I was pleased to get the kind words. Professor Holder responded:

"Glad I could make Marva's day, but it wasn't just polite praise: I really liked the book. I think in genre it is somewhere between what we call Regional Realism (e.g., Garland, Jewett, Harte, Kirkland, et al.) and Creative Nonfiction (e.g., E.B.White, Roger Angell, et al.)."

To be compared to Bret Harte is fabulous. Now, I'll have to look up the rest of those people and see who the heck they are. It's amazing how much I've forgotten about American literature since college. As you might know, I attended Bedrock U. with Fred Flintstone so most American Lit of the time was limited to some wall decor created by the Anasazi. I graduated Magma cum Lava, of course.

Something to keep you entertained

Here's one of those fun quizzes. What book are you?

You're Cat's Cradle!

by Kurt Vonnegut

You believe quite firmly that free will deserted you long ago and far away. As a result, it's hard to take responsibility for anything. Even though you show great potential as a leader of a small 3rd world country, the choices are all made ahead of time. You're rather fond of games involving string. Your fear of nuclear weaponry is trumped only by your fear of ice.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

A Review: Taming of the Shrew

Today, I'm reviewing "The Taming of the Shrew" by Will Shakespeare.

Mr. Shakespeare has taken an old story and given it some twists to delight the audience standing in the pit. Loaded with double entendres and sly turns of phrase, the play whizzes by despite its three-hour running time. I commend the Bard of Avon on this comedy, except for an unfortunate sexist theme. Should Kate think of Petruchio as her Lord and Master? Not in this day and age, buddy. Oh, well, the ending did show Kate dragging Petruchio off to bed. I'd say that despite Kate's references to Petruchio as her Lord, the reality back then is much like today. The men think they're in charge of things, but maybe that's just what the women let them believe. I'd give Will Shakespeare four stars out of five. As for the actors who presented this bit of Shakespearean fluff, five out of five for a lively and fun performance at the Shakespearean Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

Interconnections

I dropped by Kimber An’s blog and joined in a discussion about the new Flash Gordon series on the Sci Fi channel. That set me off looking at connections between various science fiction movies and series and the actors who play in them.

It seems that many of these actors get around and stay within the genre. For example, the lovely, kick-ass Karen Cliche (pronounced Kleesh) showed up on Flash Gordon. I exclaimed to spouse: Spouse! That’s the same actress who played in that show we liked that got cancelled. What was it? Oh, yeah. Adventure, Inc. So, I looked up Karen on the IMDB movie database and found she had also showed up in a few other series I enjoyed. Namely, The Dresden Files and Mutant X. I recall seeing her in both. I like her. She seriously looks both stunningly gorgeous and like she’d kick your ass and take no names. She’s typecast, but does she care? She’s getting steady work in various TV series all having a science fiction theme.

That led me to think about Stargate. I’ve enjoyed that series a lot. When Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver, of course) moved on, then Ben Browder of Farscape came in to lead the intrepid SG-1 team.

Claudia Black of Farscape also joined in the fun on SG-1. Typecast? Again, I don’t think they care as long as they get work. Too bad they decided to end SG-1. Sigh. Why do they keep doing that to series I like. My hubby and I truly believe we’re the kiss-of-death to any series if we like it. We have a ritual now. We turn on the ol’ TV to watch one of those series we like and immediately start saying how much we hate it. We’re hoping the Perverse Imp is fooled and will not realize we actually like the show – a lot.

What are your favorite short-lived series? Go look it up on IMDB, search for the series name, and find the actors. Check the actors’ filmographies. Amazing, isn’t it? The shows you like keep hiring the actors you like. May they keep on with those series forever.

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?

Amazon Search Inside

How fun is this? My book's Search Inside feature is now up and running on Amazon. Also, it's up and running on every Amazon in the world. Now, the French, German, and Japanese can all be puzzled by West Texas dialect. I think the Canadians shouldn't have any problems, eh?

Tales on Amazon

Tales - Large Print on Amazon

Or if you prefer to read product pages in foreign languages, try these links:

Tales on Amazon Germany

Tales on Amazon France

Tales on Amazon Japan

China doesn't seem to be interested. Go figure.

Tales Now on Presale

Tales of a Texas Boy finally has a page for presale on Cantarabooks, the publisher producing the ebook version. The ebook is a shorter version of the magnificent, wonderful, funny, touching print edition.

Cantarabooks

Look for the title in the left-hand column. The ebook is in 8-1/2x11 PDF format and sells for $4.95.

Sir Richard Burton - No, Not That One

I read a biography of Sir Richard Francis Burton about a million years ago. My thought was that this was one wild and crazy guy. How’s this for some factoids:

Burton traveled throughout the Middle East dressed as an Arab in his role as an Orientalist, Ethnographer, Explorer, and Writer.

He traveled with John Speke into the wilds of Africa in search of the source of the Nile River. He was also sent by the Royal Geographical Society to explore East Africa and discovered Lake Tanganyika (well, the indigenous folks already knew it was there).

He spoke 29 European, Asian, and African languages.

He translated the most popular English-language version of the Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana.

He brought the Arabian Nights to the attention of the Western World by his collection and writing of the many stories told by Scheherazade.

Hey, it goes on and on. How he managed to stuff so much into one life is beyond me. I’m lucky if I explore the wilds of the local shopping mall.

Burton was born in 1841. He attended Trinity College at Oxford, but was permanently expelled for attending a steeplechase and insisting students should be able to do such things. He joined the army, becoming a Captain in the East India Company. He served in India, initiating his life-long love of the Orient. He had a talent for learning languages while in the army.

He asked for leave from the army to explore the Middle East and became very familiar with Muslim society by traveling as an Arab. Talk about dedication, he had himself circumcised to make his disguise complete.

I don’t have room enough here to give you a complete history of Burton’s travels and accomplishments. He lived his own life, causing no end of grief to the establishment.

I wanted to bring this amazing man, known as 'Ruffian Dick' to your attention and encourage you to read one of his many biographies or his autobiography (preferable) and delve into his other writings. I’m sure you’ll at least be intrigued enough to pick up a copy of the Kama Sutra or his translation of the Arabian Nights.

For the science fiction fans, you might recall him as a character in Philip Jose Farmer’s Riverworld series.

A decent article about him with a fairly comprehensive bibliography is available on the Free Dictionary site.

Much of his writing is available as free downloads. See this complete list of on-line resources.

Sir Richard Francis Burton died in 1890. As an obituary described: "...he was ill fitted to run in official harness, and he had a Byronic love of shocking people, of telling tales against himself that had no foundation in fact." Ouida reported that "Men at the FO [Foreign Office]... used to hint dark horrors about Burton, and certainly justly or unjustly he was disliked, feared and suspected... not for what he had done, but for what he was believed capable of doing..."

Summarizing

I've made a variety of announcements about my books and where you (dear friend) can buy them. Here's are the links and basic info:

My Website marvadasef.com/tales.aspx: Both the regular trade paperback size and the jumbo print edition. I sell these using a PayPal click through. There are buttons for each of the sizes. They are both the same price ($13.95 US) and I autograph them and ship them to you. Shipping is included in the price, so I think this is your best deal. Also, seniors (65+) can email me for a discounted price.

Amazon: Both editions are on Amazon now. Again, the price is approximately $13.95. There are alternative booksellers if you click the New/Used link. I think the bottom price is $13.69, so not much savings. On Amazon, you pay $3.99 for shipping unless you have more than $25 in your shopping cart, then shipping is free. So, if you want to buy my book along with your copy of Harry Potter, this becomes the best deal.

Tales of a Texas Boy - Regular Edition on Amazon
Tales of a Texas Boy - Large Print Edition on Amazon

For some reason, the LP edition doesn't show up in searches. I've got to get after Amazon for that. The LP edition also has less information on it. Amazon claims it ships in 4-6 weeks, rather than being In-stock as it says for the regular edition. Possibly, the problem here is that both titles are similar, so Amazon is ignoring the Large Print edition.

Lulu: This is my POD printer. They are NOT my publisher, despite the fact that bit of misinformation is being corrected. Nevertheless, both editions are for sale here through my storefront. Again, the price is $13.95, but the shipping cost is less than Amazon if you're buying only one book.

My Storefront on Lulu

There are a few other sites selling the book, but none have particularly good prices. If you're looking for a book and want to get comparative prices, use the AddAll Book Search site.

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.

Harry Potter Spoilers

I certainly don't want to be left out of the frenzy, so here are some spoilers that I've made up on the spot. They're probably as good a guess as the other spoiler sites have posted.

Harry and Hermione have sex and Hermione gets pregnant. Hermione has to drop out of Hogwarts. But when Harry Jr. is born, he has red hair. Hmm?

Ron goes over to the dark side and joins up with Voldemort. Voldemort decides Ron is far too inept a wizard to keep in his hand-picked army of bad guys. Since he causes more problems than he solves, Voldemort lets Harry have him back, assuming that Ron will screw up Harry's chances.

The waffling Snape finally picks a side. He gives up magic and runs off with the Luna chick.

Everybody dies. Why not? It's the last book, right?

Dumbledore is the only one who survives. Yes, he died in a previous book, but they hired another actor to play him and he was reincarnated.

Magical Mystery Tour

Well, maybe not magical or mysterious, but this is the place where you can find out where your fav authors are showing up to do book signings or readings.

Booktour.com has two sides: authors and readers. Of course, many of my readers happen to be authors so you'll be interested either way. Authors enter their own information and schedule of events. Readers can look up their favorite authors and see where they'll be.

I found this site on (what else?) an author's blog. M. J. Rose has a nice write up and interviewed the co-owner of Book Tour. Here's Ms. Rose's blog Buzz, Balls, & Hype. She has a lot of good information. Fav her link to keep up on the buzz in the publishing industry.

It you want to go straight to her write-up on Book Tour, click here.

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?"

Interview BY Edward Cox

In a turnabout is fair play move, Ed Cox decided he wanted to interview me. I think he's honing his interviewing skills by playing with a captive audience: me. Here's his interview.

Marva Dasef, writer and interviewer extraordinaire, had been entertaining us with her tales and interviews for sometime now. Recently, she kindly gave me a loan of her interviewing microscope in the good faith that I needed it for an interview . . . little did she know that she was my intended victim all along . . .

EC: Hello, Marva. you've had you fingers in many pies lately with the release of "Tales of a Texas Boy", and the "Cadida" stories, not to mention your successful run of interviews and other shorter works. Do you plan to keep your horizons broad, or do you feel that one particular pie will ultimately present a plump that you'll stick with?

MD: Yes, I've been very busy with all this and more. And, boy, am I exhausted! Once all these pies are baked, then I'll definitely move on to something new. I do have a YA fantasy in the works and I write a variety of genres in my stories. I'd like to write more stories, of course, but I'd love to work up the energy to write a novel. Heck, don't all writers hold that out as the Holy Grail? It makes you feel all grown up and such.

A nice man who bought four copies of Tales (see how nice) said he was looking forward to Tales of a Logger. He knows my father (the narrator of Tales of a Texas Boy) and has heard a few of his exploits over a 50-year career in the logging industry. Sigh. Here I am an environmentalist and my father wanted to clearcut Oregon. Fortunately, he didn't succeed but it's not like he didn't try and still has schemes going at age eighty-five.

Okay, now I'm rambling. Next question, please.

EC: So what did your Dad think of "Texas Boy"?

MD: Oh, he loves it. He doesn't display his emotions. Tough guy and all that. But that he keeps giving away copies to everybody is pretty good evidence that he likes it. Darn it. He insists on buying them from me, so he gets them at my cost.

This is a good place to point out that the reason I self-published is not because I couldn't sell Tales through the normal channels. After all, seven of the stories were picked up by on-line and print journals. It's a timing matter. My father is eighty-five. Although he's in reasonably good health and might live to ninety or older, I couldn't take the chance that he'd never hold his book in his hands.

A publisher has accepted Tales for ebook. Eventually, it might sell enough ebooks to get print publication. As we know, small presses don't sell huge numbers. It could be an ebook for too long. Besides the ebook doesn't even have my personal touches like the old photos illustrating the stories. Some are family pictures, but there just weren't enough to fit the stories. My Aunt Dorothy made off with all the photos and who knows where they are now. We don't have much contact with her kids since she and her husband both died.

EC: It's funny how photographic memories get lost that way, and it seems to be a reoccurring theme with many families. Do you find researching fiction based on fact harder or easier than the Speculative Fiction you write? What are your research techniques generally?

MD: Most of what I write, I do at least some research. The amount depends on the genre, of course.

When I'm writing science fiction, I'll research quite a lot. I don't want anything too fantastical in it. I look at astronomy, theories on FTL, androids, space stations, things like that.

I research fantasy, too. I started the Cadida series with just my own ideas. Once I got going, I started to incorporate the mythology of ancient Persia and Babylonia. I've found the Encyclopedia Mythica a wonderful source on all mythologies.

For Tales, I researched a lot. My father provided some bare bones of stories and I had to provide the settings and make sure what I added to flesh out the stories was historically accurate for the period. You wouldn't believe how long I spent on how to crank start a Model T. For Texas history, I found the Handbook of Texas Online a great source of information. Every state should support such a thorough reference. Many probably do; I just happened to be researching Texas.

My research technique is probably just like everybody else: Google. I've also collected a variety of links to general information, such as on-line encyclopedias. Wikipedia is wonderful, but if you're going for hard facts, you need to follow up elsewhere to verify the information is true. Usually, I follow the outside links on all articles to make sure.

EC: You mentioned earlier that your ultimate goal is to write a full-length novel. Any firm ideas cooking away at the back of your mind?

MD: A barely simmering thought, if anything. I'm toying with the idea of a tell-all (but fictional) novel about early Silicon Valley, specifically the beginnings of a certain computer products store (hint: begins with Comp and ends with Land). Why, you might wonder? I was there, working with the people who clawed, lied, and cheated their way into becoming multimillionaires. Sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, court cases, off-shore accounts--all the elements of a real potboiler. But first I have to learn how to write sex scenes. That's hard to do with one hand clapped firmly over my eyes. Hey, I write kids' books; the adult stuff embarrasses the hell out of me.

However, I know people who write adult (ahem) books. Maybe they'll give me some hints.

EC: Would that be taking tips from Jackie Collins, or a grittier approach, say like Chuck Palahniuk's "Invisible Monster"?

MD: Uh. I guess I'd have to go read something by the two authors to answer the question. I think I read something by Jackie Collins when I was a teenager. Seemed soapish to me. I saw the movie Fight Club and Palahniuk is a lot grittier than I could ever write. Answer: neither one. Chuck Palahniuk and I are both University of Oregon alums. That's where any resemblance between us ends.

EC: Ok, side-stepping the bad question, it sounds as though you're keen to delve into unfamiliar territory. Do you feel that seeking out new areas and techniques is an important part of being a writer? For you, is it a conscious effort, or part of a natural process?

MD: Definitely. I've seen writers who succeed at one thing, then just keep repeating themselves. This includes some pretty famous authors. It's absolutely fun to sell your work, but it's even more fun to sell something you've never done before. Yes, I want to move on to ideas different from anything I've done before.

On the other hand, I like to come to some feeling of completion on a project as well. I've got six Cadida stories lined up with Sam's Dot Publishing. In every story, I've deliberately left an opening to go to a new adventure. I've got ideas for a couple more of these, but I'll need to close it, tie up the loose ends and move on.

With the Tales of a Texas Boy stories, I've tried to wrap up by publishing the stories in a single book. My father just told me another bit the other day. I'm waffling on it. Write more or just leave it as a job well done? In a year or two, I might be ready to write another Texas Boy story, but not right now.

That's why I'd like to try something more adult. I've got a few horror stories out that I wouldn't want kids to read. I feel the need to stretch myself in that direction and any other directions that arise. I know some authors writing erotica. It's intriguing. Can I even do that? Why not try and see what happens?

EC: Now you have quite a few interviews under your belt, what's your philosophy on interviewing, and how does it feel to finally be under your own microscope?

MD: My philosophy is to encourage the interviewee to say whatever is on their mind, but to try to direct it to their current work. Nearly all my interviews have been for authors with just-released books, so that definitely sets a direction. On open-ended interviews, such as this one, I like the back and forth with emails we've done. I think I'll use it in future interviews on my blog.
I didn't feel like a bug on a slide, so you must be a good interviewer. ;-) Thanks for the invitation.

EC: Thanks for the compliment. Let’s get speculative: you're given one single genie's wish, and it has to be used selfishly - Go!

MD: My first thought is the fortune of Bill Gates, J.K. Rowling, or even Queen Liz. Then, I realized I couldn't be completely selfish if I was that rich. My first urge is to start giving money to people in need. My second thought is to have the writing skills to be a world renowned author. Darn it. Too much work even if you're a great writer. Besides, I'd get all that money and start giving it away.
Third is excellent health, which means I'd live as long as possible and not regret still being alive into my hundreds. Then, it occurred to me the evil genie would make sure I was dirt poor and living on the streets my whole life. You can't trust those genies, you know. I've come to the conclusion it's impossible to have a completely selfish wish. Anything truly selfish will eventually make you miserable. So, my wish is "Go away and leave me alone, you rotten genie!"

EC: Let’s coin a Marva favourite, shall we? This is where you get to say anything you like.

MD: I'm a very privileged person to be able to spend my time writing stories. I'm enjoying the writing, the interaction with other writers, and even marketing my books. Well, that last not so much. I hope that people read and like what I write. My purpose in doing this is not to become a famous writer, since that's not likely to happen, but it's nice to have a small, but loyal, following of readers who like what I do.

I've written and sold fantasy, science fiction, horror, childrens, humor, and even an essay or two. That I've had some success in so many different areas makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

I'd especially like everybody to read at least one story from Tales of a Texas Boy. I'm rotating stories on the Excerpts page of my website and there are a few available through links on the Tales page (http://marvadasef.com/). If you enjoy one, maybe you'd enjoy them all.

EC: Marva, it was an absolute pleasure talking to you.

MD: Thanks, Ed. Maybe you can find a home for this interview when I become famous, eh?

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?

Recommendation for Tales

Bryan Catherman (disclaimer: he's my friend) wrote up a recommendation for Tales of a Texas Boy on his blog. He is, indeed, qualified to express his opinion since he's read most, if not all, the stories while they were in various phases of readiness. He also bought the book and it was duly delivered by the postal service. So, since he's now read every last story, he is eminently qualified to comment.

Here's where to read the recommendation.

Oh, yeah. The picture above is one I used in the book. That darling little boy is really my father. The story: "No Angel." Every story has an old-time photo illustration. Some are family pictures and the rest are ones I found that just seemed to fit the story.

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.

June Post Recap

June was a full month of fun and interesting posts. I can say that because my guests did all the talking and I merely recorded their wonderful thoughts.

June 2 - Review - Sylvia Beach Hotel
June 5 - The Truth About Publishing (Nonsequitur Comic Strip)
June 6 - Steal This Book
June 10 - Mr. Ed (Ed Kostro)
June 12 - Tales of a Texas Boy - Reviewed! (by Enduring Romance)
June 13 - Plug Your Book (Steve Weber)
June 18 - Karen Newman - Mistress of the Dark
June 21 - A Brief Announcement (yes, my book again)
June 22 - Jeremy Shipp - Dealing with the Devil
June 26 - A Wager of Blood - Book Review
June 28 - Guest Review - J.W. Coffey on Tales

And a couple of announcements from me on this and that.

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.