Just an FYI that the First Chapter of Maelstrom is up!
Sorry for the lack of posts here recently, but I've been writing a lot of content for the Maelstrom site, desigining a chapbook, and doing other writerly things. I'm also starting to plot a sequel to Maelstrom, which will take the band to Texas and a Dia de los Muertos festival.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Contest Announcement
NOTE: This is cross-posted to my main blog.
I'm running a Valentine's contest at the Maelstrom site, and the winner will receive chocolate and a chance to guest blog or be the subject of a Maelstrom story. Head on over and check it out!
I'm running a Valentine's contest at the Maelstrom site, and the winner will receive chocolate and a chance to guest blog or be the subject of a Maelstrom story. Head on over and check it out!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
New Story: Once to Buy a Mattress
I've posted a new Maelstrom story: Once to Buy a Mattress.
The website continues to take shape. I have a "review" in the works for one of Maelstrom's shows, and the original artwork will be ready in about a week. I'll probably leave the remaining formatting and link issues as they stand now until I have the art, in case I end up needing to do an overhaul to accommodate the art.
Comments and suggestions about the website are much appreciated!
The website continues to take shape. I have a "review" in the works for one of Maelstrom's shows, and the original artwork will be ready in about a week. I'll probably leave the remaining formatting and link issues as they stand now until I have the art, in case I end up needing to do an overhaul to accommodate the art.
Comments and suggestions about the website are much appreciated!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Easier Than Expected
The changes I wanted to make before opening the blog to all comers were easier than I thought! It's still a work in progress, but drop on by when you get a chance and share your feedback!
Maelstrom's Website
Maelstrom's Website
Coming Soon: Maelstrom Website
Although I still haven't got my artwork, I've decided to open up the Maelstrom website for viewing sometime between now (Friday) and the end of the weekend. The driver for this is a new flash fiction piece I want to share and of course, my own impatience.
So...new website coming soon!
So...new website coming soon!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Done!
I finished Maelstrom last night. Or rather, this morning.
Sometimes I get a crazy notion and just won't let go, and yesterday that notion was that I would finish, no matter what. It took until 4:00 am, but what the heck, I don't go back to work until January 5. In spite of my earlier worries that I was going to go wildly over my anticipated word count, the draft came in around 93K words. Whew!
I'm not too crazy about the final scenes of the book, but we all know the drill--you can edit crap but you can't edit a blank page. Well, no more blank pages. I'm on to the editing phase!
Overall, this is a pretty clean draft so I'll be needing beta readers sooner rather than later. More on that soon.
For today, I'm just loving my Christmas present to myself--a completed draft!
Sometimes I get a crazy notion and just won't let go, and yesterday that notion was that I would finish, no matter what. It took until 4:00 am, but what the heck, I don't go back to work until January 5. In spite of my earlier worries that I was going to go wildly over my anticipated word count, the draft came in around 93K words. Whew!
I'm not too crazy about the final scenes of the book, but we all know the drill--you can edit crap but you can't edit a blank page. Well, no more blank pages. I'm on to the editing phase!
Overall, this is a pretty clean draft so I'll be needing beta readers sooner rather than later. More on that soon.
For today, I'm just loving my Christmas present to myself--a completed draft!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Maelstrom Excerpt: Christmas (conclusion)
We conclude Ricky's Christmas with more than just a bit of holiday cheer.
“Your friends sure are a lively bunch,” his mother said, scanning his face in concern. “Why were you so mean to them? They obviously think highly of you.”
“The bass player kissed my wife,” Mike said darkly.
“Holiday spirit,” Ricky informed him. Then to his mother he said, “I wasn’t trying to be mean. It’s just that I told them not to go caroling. I don’t want them making any mistakes and getting bad publicity.”
“It seems like good publicity to me,” Joanne said, still glassy-eyed over her encounter with Bo. “We should go see their show.”
“Not on your life,” Mike said. He poured himself a drink. Then in an uncharacteristically generous move, he poured one for Ricky. “Cheers?”
Ricky touched his glass to Mike’s and tried to smile, but there was something in his brother's coolly appraising look that he didn’t like. Something had aroused his suspicion and it wasn’t just Bo giving Joanne a holiday kiss.
While the family settled in front of the TV to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, Ricky sipped his scotch and pondered. Where had the band gone next? Were they keeping out of trouble or were they about to ruin everything he had helped them build since summer? And why did Mike keep looking at him that way? Seeking a distraction, he opened his Christmas stocking. Most of what was inside was typical holiday fare—chocolate and peppermint candies, a snowman magnet for the refrigerator, a packet of almonds, and a silver Christmas coin like the ones Nevin had given the children. It was the envelope, though, that Ricky found most curious. He opened it to find a card with a reindeer and Santa on it, and the words, “Holiday Wishes.” He opened the card and what he found inside left him staring in shock.
Mike was watching him carefully. “What’s the matter, Ricky?”
Deep breaths. It had to be a joke, except the band didn’t kid around when it came to matters like this. More deep breaths.
“Love letter from your cute guitar player?”
“No,” Ricky said. “Just an ordinary Christmas card. And my holiday bonus check.”
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and very best wishes to you and yours, whatever you're celebrating this year!
“Your friends sure are a lively bunch,” his mother said, scanning his face in concern. “Why were you so mean to them? They obviously think highly of you.”
“The bass player kissed my wife,” Mike said darkly.
“Holiday spirit,” Ricky informed him. Then to his mother he said, “I wasn’t trying to be mean. It’s just that I told them not to go caroling. I don’t want them making any mistakes and getting bad publicity.”
“It seems like good publicity to me,” Joanne said, still glassy-eyed over her encounter with Bo. “We should go see their show.”
“Not on your life,” Mike said. He poured himself a drink. Then in an uncharacteristically generous move, he poured one for Ricky. “Cheers?”
Ricky touched his glass to Mike’s and tried to smile, but there was something in his brother's coolly appraising look that he didn’t like. Something had aroused his suspicion and it wasn’t just Bo giving Joanne a holiday kiss.
While the family settled in front of the TV to watch It’s a Wonderful Life, Ricky sipped his scotch and pondered. Where had the band gone next? Were they keeping out of trouble or were they about to ruin everything he had helped them build since summer? And why did Mike keep looking at him that way? Seeking a distraction, he opened his Christmas stocking. Most of what was inside was typical holiday fare—chocolate and peppermint candies, a snowman magnet for the refrigerator, a packet of almonds, and a silver Christmas coin like the ones Nevin had given the children. It was the envelope, though, that Ricky found most curious. He opened it to find a card with a reindeer and Santa on it, and the words, “Holiday Wishes.” He opened the card and what he found inside left him staring in shock.
Mike was watching him carefully. “What’s the matter, Ricky?”
Deep breaths. It had to be a joke, except the band didn’t kid around when it came to matters like this. More deep breaths.
“Love letter from your cute guitar player?”
“No,” Ricky said. “Just an ordinary Christmas card. And my holiday bonus check.”
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and very best wishes to you and yours, whatever you're celebrating this year!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Maelstrom Excerpt: Christmas (continued)
Continuing with the Christmas excerpts from Maelstrom, Ricky confronts the band over having ignored his instructions not to go caroling.
Spurning his coat, Ricky chased them to the tour bus, which was painted for the occasion with red and white stripes like a peppermint stick. He ignored Calvin, who seemed impatient to get going, and cornered everyone against the bus door in the lightly falling snow. “What the hell was that all about?”
“Christmas cheer,” Kalila told him. “Really, Ricky, you should study up on your culture.”
“But I told you I didn’t want you to go caroling. Please tell me this was a special thing you did just for me.”
Vic sneered. “You’re not that special, human. We already did Jeff Truitt and a couple other music reporters.”
“And we have several more people on our list,” Kalila said. “So we need to get going.”
“What others? This is not acceptable.”
“Oh, Ricky.” Nevin shook his head sadly. “Where’s your Christmas spirit?”
“We’re conforming to human expectations of behavior,” Bo pointed out. “In case you didn’t notice, I could’ve banged your sister-in-law, but I didn’t. We have things completely under control.”
“That’s because we’ve got snacks on the bus,” Vic said. As if on cue, two blondes in Santa hats opened a window and leaned out, waving and shouting, “Merry Christmas!”
Ricky shook his head. “Jesus Christ.”
Vic adjusted his scarf. “That’s what it’s all about. Excuse me, but one of these young ladies is type O and I need a little refreshment before our next stop.”
He shoved his way past and got onto the bus, with the others following suit. Nevin was the last to go, after giving Ricky a hug and wishing him a Merry Christmas. Ricky watched the tour bus head down the street, then went back into the house, shivering and in need of an egg nog with a lot of extra rum. In fact, screw the egg nog. Just the rum would do.
to be continued...
Spurning his coat, Ricky chased them to the tour bus, which was painted for the occasion with red and white stripes like a peppermint stick. He ignored Calvin, who seemed impatient to get going, and cornered everyone against the bus door in the lightly falling snow. “What the hell was that all about?”
“Christmas cheer,” Kalila told him. “Really, Ricky, you should study up on your culture.”
“But I told you I didn’t want you to go caroling. Please tell me this was a special thing you did just for me.”
Vic sneered. “You’re not that special, human. We already did Jeff Truitt and a couple other music reporters.”
“And we have several more people on our list,” Kalila said. “So we need to get going.”
“What others? This is not acceptable.”
“Oh, Ricky.” Nevin shook his head sadly. “Where’s your Christmas spirit?”
“We’re conforming to human expectations of behavior,” Bo pointed out. “In case you didn’t notice, I could’ve banged your sister-in-law, but I didn’t. We have things completely under control.”
“That’s because we’ve got snacks on the bus,” Vic said. As if on cue, two blondes in Santa hats opened a window and leaned out, waving and shouting, “Merry Christmas!”
Ricky shook his head. “Jesus Christ.”
Vic adjusted his scarf. “That’s what it’s all about. Excuse me, but one of these young ladies is type O and I need a little refreshment before our next stop.”
He shoved his way past and got onto the bus, with the others following suit. Nevin was the last to go, after giving Ricky a hug and wishing him a Merry Christmas. Ricky watched the tour bus head down the street, then went back into the house, shivering and in need of an egg nog with a lot of extra rum. In fact, screw the egg nog. Just the rum would do.
to be continued...
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