Maxwell Cynn

A Life Changing Event - Leukemia

2012-01-24T21:35:00.002-05:00

Monday last we brought our son Joshua home from college. He was suffering flu-like symptoms and had a persistent nosebleed. We took him to our family doctor. He sent us to the local hospital after a blood test showing extremely high white cell and low platelet counts.

After a day full of tests Joshua was diagnosed on Tuesday evening with Acute T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He began chemotherapy on Wednesday and early Thursday morning his heart stopped, overwhelmed by the toxins created as the leukemia cells were destroyed by chemo. But the amazing doctors, nurses, and technicians in the intensive care unit brought him back.

It was the dramatic beginning of a very long week. Surprisingly, when the oncologist told us our son had leukemia I wasn't shocked. Somehow, in my heart I already knew - even before the blood test. The nose bleed was the give-away. The extent of his disease did surprise me. The cancer has invaded every part of his body: from brain, to spleen, to liver, to lymph nodes, to a mass in his chest.

I knew the diagnosis was a life changer. I knew nothing would ever be the same and our lives would be consumed in helping our son fight the disease. But when Joshua's heart stopped that morning my world crashed as well.

My son is twenty-one years old with three-and-a-half years of a 4.0 GPA toward a degree in philosophy. He is the most brilliant man I've ever met, and that isn't a father talking. His peers and professors agree. His first question when told the course of chemo was, "How will I go to class?" His oncologist informed him he would not be returning to school.

Joshua was devastated as much, I think, that he would not be graduating this semester as he was by the prospect of facing the impending battle with leukemia. My life is now focused like a laser on my son. Writing, publishing, and promoting my books seems trivial and honestly irrelevant.

My son, like many his age, has amassed a huge debt in college loans. Though helped by our insurance, Joshua faces the staggering cost of prolonged cancer treatment. He asked me in ICU how much all of this would cost. I told him it wouldn't cost a penny - just get well. But he knows better. We are a working class family. Joshua would have been the first person in my family to graduate college.

I am putting all the proceeds from sell of my books into a fund to pay for Joshua's treatment. I am also setting up a donation link on all of my websites that will go to that fund. Any donations beyond the cost of his treatment will go toward paying his student loans. He asked that anything beyond that go to leukemia research.

My son is facing his illness as he faces life - with strength, poise, and determination - though as his father I know he's scared. Twenty-one is a difficult age to face death - old enough to fully understand the possibility, but in many ways too young. I am proud and amazed by the man he has become.

If you would like to offer encouragement to Joshua you can post on his Facebook Wall. He is keeping up with his friends on his smart-phone and had me post updates while he was in ICU. He is currently continuing chemotherapy. If you can donate to help cover his treatment you can do so through PayPal - you don't need a PayPal account to donate. And as I said, all royalties from books purchased will also go into that account.

I obviously will not be spending much time on social media for awhile, but I truly appreciate all of my friends, fellow writers, and readers. Please leave me messages and I will respond when I can. Above all, we need your prayers.

We've witnessed a series of miracles already, from his acceptance to participate in a special clinical trial aimed at his particular cancer to a trauma doctor who was standing by when Joshua's heart stopped. That doctor immediately began CPR and continued until they lowered his potassium levels and got his heart beating again.

Joshua is determined to win this battle and return to school as soon as possible. As a family we are determined to stand with him in every way we can, and trust that God is there too - every step of the way.

Please stand with us.

Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

2012-01-16T06:59:00.003-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Megan Bostic's debut novel NEVER EIGHTEEN. I met Megan the first year I entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards and I've followed her career since. NEVER EIGHTEEN was published by New York giant Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Megan invited me to be one of fifty friends and family to participate in a unique grassroots campaign to promote her book.

NEVER EIGHTEEN is a poignant story of a young man who will never see his eighteenth birthday. Austin Parker decides not to undergo another round of chemotherapy. He courageously accepts his impending death and vows to make a difference in the lives of those around him before the end comes. Austin has a bucket list, and one special person he knows he can depend on to help him in his last mission.

I was reminded of Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther, a classic published in 1949 and read in schools by generations of young readers. That book touched me in a powerful way when I was young. NEVER EIGHTEEN could very well become a comparable book of this millennium. The prose is fresh, real, and at times raw. Megan has an amazing knack of writing with the voice of a seventeen year old male.

The thoughts, emotions, and actions of Austin Parker are intense and believable. I was immediately drawn into his life, the lives of those close to him, and his mission of spreading hope. The author shows both insight into the culture of her young adult audience, and a wisdom far beyond her own years. The emotionally difficult subject is handled with thoughtful honesty and life affirming hope. I would recommend NEVER EIGHTEEN to any older teen or young adult.

As I said, I received NEVER EIGHTEEN as part of a special grass roots promotion. The author is calling this promotion Project: Pass It On. It is a very fitting idea for the story. We were asked to pass the book on in some unique way and ask the recipient to do the same. I've thought a lot about how I would pass my copy of NEVER EIGHTEEN on, and to whom. So here's the promotion part ;-)

As an author myself I decided to "Pass It On" to a fellow writer and ask them to do the same. As a unique twist I'll ask each writer who reads NEVER EIGHTEEN to sign it, write a brief email to Megan which she can post on her blog about the experience and who they passed it to, and after 17 writer/readers the book will be returned to Megan as a keepsake.

If you would like to take part in this chain of writers send me an email. I will compile a list of 17 writers who will participate and track the books progress until its return to the author.

New Marketing - Old Wisdom

2012-01-01T16:34:00.001-05:00

Welcome to 2012 and the new publishing. Okay, it's not so new anymore. There's been Indie authors on the New York Times best seller list, eBooks have been added to most of the popular lists of best sellers, and getting to the top of Amazon's lists is the new Holy Grail for many authors. We are in the age of eBooks, print books are lagging in sales, and Indies are no longer considered less than legitimate (ie traditionally published) authors. But the landscape is still untamed territory and many are scrambling to map out the new normal of publishing.

But as the old song says, "everything old is new again." History tends to repeat itself and the new wave of ePublishing is little different than the rise of mass market paperbacks decades ago or, for that matter, the revolution started by the printing press centuries ago. Each quantum leap in publishing technology has made publishing books faster, cheaper, and easier. Today we have eBooks, POD books, and even vending machines that print books while you wait. It's a great time for authors - or is it? With each step forward in publishing technology we also see a decline in income for authors.

A flood of .99 cent, and even free, eBooks requires authors to sell more copies to make the same revenue enjoyed under traditional publishing models. The market has changed for printed books as well with printing costs driving up the price of books and down the author's royalties. An average paperback cost around $10.00 to produce, leaving little room for author royalties and publisher's profits. With eBooks selling for anywhere between .99 and 9.99 it's hard for print books to compete, and hard for publisher's and authors to make a profit. Average print book prices are around $12.99 - 19.99.

The way books are marketed and sold is also changing. Online sales of printed books have eclipsed physical store sales, and eBooks are outselling paperbacks. The game has changed and publishers are playing catch-up. But again, let's look at the present model and the historic model.

Traditional Publishing - late 20^th century publishing - is based on a few large publishing houses who dominate the industry by marketing books to large "Big Box" bookstores. They can advance sell so many copies of a popular author's book to the big chains that the books are instant "Best Sellers" before they ever hit the shelf. The stores then put up big displays and fill their advertising with the newest "Best Seller" and thus create a best selling book. Popular authors enjoy huge advances and any author lucky enough to break into "the big time" enjoys a good advance on almost guaranteed sales to the large chain stores.

After that initial stocking of the nationwide chain stores a book has about three months to live. If it sells well, there could be reorders. If it doesn't, returns flood back and that author is unlikely to ever publish another book. Each quarter a new line of books emerge. The whole scheme is based on mass marketing and one time flood of books. But that is a fairly new phenomenon created by the merging of the big publishing houses in New York and the advent of large chain bookstores. In days gone by a book would slowly build momentum through thousands of small bookstores, one or two copies at a time. A "Best Seller" might take months or even years to reach that level.

The new ePublishing and POD revolution is allowing authors to publish their works outside the traditional channels of New York. Yet without the big budgets of the New York publishing houses, and access to the big chain bookstores, their books don't receive the big initial surge of orders at release. The new publishing requires old wisdom for marketing. Small presses, Indie publishers, and Indie authors must rely on time tested forms of marketing and a slow, methodical growth in sales.

The internet helps, with social media and global reach, but even with the new tools an Indie cannot roll out a pre-order best seller like New York does. Indies simply do not have the sales and distribution channels available to the Six Sisters. Yet with the failing of the big box stores, the rise of online sales, and the advent of the eBook, the big boys are quickly losing that edge themselves. In my opinion the field will level soon and we will return to slow sustainable growth in sales for both Indies and established authors.

Of course the big publishers, with their big budgets, will continue to outspend Indies in advertising. But they will be forced to sell books one at a time through independent and online outlets. And the nature of social media allows for the viral phenomenon to catapult an author to the best seller list without spending the big bucks on ad campaigns. As is shown in many industries, the agility of small independents in adapting to emerging trends often trumps the money of the big corporate giants who react slowly to any change.

My advice to emerging authors, which at one time was conventional wisdom, is simple: Put away the idea of grabbing the brass ring with an instant best seller. Keep it in your hope chest, but don't measure your success by it. Stay realistic. Build your fan base and work toward slow, sustainable growth in sales. Keep writing and keep publishing. Every book you have in your catalog is a potential first sell to a new fan who may then read your other works. Publish free stories or low priced novellas to introduce new readers to your writing.

You may not be able to quit your day job anytime soon, perhaps never, but why are you writing? If you are writing to pay the bills I would suggest a journalism degree and a job with a newspaper or magazine. If you are a poet or novelist, you are probably writing for the love of writing itself and will continue whether you make money or not. Don't stress over rankings on Amazon or how many fans you have on Facebook. Write the best you possibly can and enjoy the friends, fans, and fellow writers you connect with along the way. For an artist it's all about the art, not the paycheck.

Lastly, encourage your fellow writers with a comment, a "like," or even a review of their work. There's an old saying, "to have a friend you must first be a friend." The best way to increase your social media presence, and thereby promote yourself and your work, is to support and encourage fellow writers in their work and to honestly and sincerely interact with your readers. In life, whether you make it to the best seller list or not, the relationships you build along the way are what make you truly rich and successful.

A Year of Great Literature

2011-12-26T06:36:00.003-05:00

I've read and reviewed some awesome books this year and it's the perfect time to share a few of them with you. It's also a perfect time to fill-up that new eReader with great eBooks by emerging authors. No worries if you don't have an eReader. Free apps let you read eBooks on your phone, tablet, or computer. Even though I love my Kindle, I often read on my phone with the Kindle app for convenience on-the-go.

I read an eclectic mix of genres. That's reflected in my list. I'm not doing a Top 10, or a Best Of list. These are all great books from a wide range of authors, so you are sure to find something here to love. Many are by Indie authors, some from small presses, and some from the big houses in New York. I love great writing regardless of genre or how it was published, so you will find everything from young adult to erotica to non-fiction. Enjoy.

Thirty Something Girl by L. M. Stull: This amazingly gifted author wrote the most realistically emotional novel I have read. Read my Review

A Body at Rest by Susan Petrone: A beautifully written tale with a real twist. Read my Review

Fall Into Winter by Eden Baylee: Eden is the most generous and supportive author I know and she writes erotica that will set your pants on fire. Read my Review

Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner: This YA author captures the voice of a male teen with amazing clarity and passion. Read my Review

Empty Chairs by Stacey Danson: This tragic and horrifying true story of child abuse and the author's survival on the mean streets of Sidney is a MUST read! Read my Review

Autism by Hand by Lorca Damon: This author allows us to share her life raising a beautiful autistic daughter. Another absolute must read. Read my Review

The Devil Made Me Do It by Amelia James: Amelia James has a way of making a committed adult relationship the most erotic thing in existence. Marriage is HOT! Read my Review

Dance of the Winnebagos by Ann Charles: This is my favorite feel good book of the year. It is a brilliantly written romantic cozy mystery. Read my Review

Reaper's Return by Ren Cummins: Ren Cummins sets an new bar for creativity in this mix of Steampunk and Fantasy. Read my Review

A Cold Day In Hell by Denise M Main: My favorite fantasy of the year. I fell in love with the demonic heroine and her imp sidekick rocks. Read my Review

Mayne Attraction by Ann Mauren: My favorite YA of the year. A romantic mystery with a twist, a heroine to fall in love with, and a mysterious hero that's every woman's dream. Read my Review

Ruby Red Metallic by Casey Sheridan: Looking for fast and blazing hot? You need to read this erotic novella. Read my Review

Viridis by Calista Taylor: A beautifully crafted classic Steampunk tale. There's nothing more romantic than the Victorian period, and nothing hotter than Calista's love scenes. Read my Review

A Walk in the Snark by Rachel Thompson: Known on twitter as the Mistress of Snark, Rachel Thompson takes us into her world of #Mancode and #Chickspeak. Read my Review

Purgatory Chasm by Steve Ulfelder: A manly book full of manly emotion - You've got to read this book! A main character Chuck Norris would love, and women will swoon over. Read my Review

Follow the Money by Fingers Murphy: This cozy legal mystery is a delightful page turner with a depth of eloquent prose. Read my Review

Mancode Exposed by Rachel Thompson: Another great book of essays by the Mistress of Snark, Rachel In The OC. Read my Review

Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey: If you want a little bite in your steampunk, the vampires in this sexy steampunk novel do not sparkle - they are dark and sexy. Read my Review

I know I'm leaving out many great books and great authors, but these were some of my favorites this year. Many of the authors I mention are multi-published and I look forward to reading and reviewing more of their work in the coming year. I also have new authors loaded on my Kindle, but I haven't found time to read their books yet. So many great books - so little reading time. Load up your Kindle or reading app and enjoy the new year!

Review: Thirty-Something Girl by L. M. Stull

2011-12-22T20:08:00.000-05:00

L.M. Stull, in her debut novel Thirty-Something Girl, has penned a literary classic. Strong words for what could be called a Chick-Lit Romance, but true none-the-less. The realistic emotion portrayed throughout creates more of a personal essay / memoir feel than fiction. The characters are as Hemingway demanded "more real than real." I was immediately drawn into the life of Hope, a woman trying to survive turning thirty as her life implodes. This novel could well be used as a textbook of well written prose. If you are a writer, in any genre, read it. This is how it is done.

As a reader, I totally lost myself in the story - relating more to Hope's trials, failures, fears, and triumphs than you would think a 50 year old man would. The writing drew me in and captured my heart. I cried with Hope and cheered for her. I totally could not put the story down, even reading it at work on my cell phone when I didn't have my Kindle handy. A Thirty-Something Girl is my Must Read of the year. Get it now. Give it to someone you love for Christmas. Author L.M. Stull is someone to watch. I can't wait to read what she writes next.

Damn it, Jim! I'm a writer, not a used-car salesman!

2011-12-18T18:44:00.000-05:00

The last few months have been incredibly busy - publishing two novels, several short stories, redesigning my website, promoting my work... That's left very little time for my first love, reading, or for writing reviews, working on my next novel, or social networking and blogging. I have a forth novel coming out in February, a paranormal historic romance set in WWII France, and plan to publish several short stories between now and then. The first part of 2012 looks to be as busy as the last quarter of 2011.

I currently have a reading list that looks like Santa's delivery schedule, and more books being added almost daily. There are so many awesome Indie authors out there, and so many great books. I'm planning to get back on a regular reading/reviewing schedule in the coming year. It's one of my New Year promises to myself. Another is devoting more time to writing. Unfortunately there are limited hours in the day, days in the week, and weeks in the year.

For any independent author, and more and more New York published authors, promotion eats up far too much time that could be spent reading and writing. We risk losing sight of what we love for the drudgery of selling our work. I know authors, published by the biggest houses in New York, who've spent their entire advance - and more - on promoting their work and have become so busy promoting that they haven't written a new word since being published. I know Indies who work nearly sixteen hours a day promoting their work and hardly any time writing new stories.

With THE COLLECTIVE, I did all the things authors do - blog tours, trailer, mass promotion. The book debuted as a best seller on Smashwords and pulled CybrGrrl along for the ride - she hit #1 the same week THE COLLECTIVE released. Both books stayed at #1 for the entire month of November. Great, right? But at what price? My every waking moment - and there were many all-nighters - was spent in promotion mode. I know many Indie authors who keep that kind of schedule going 24/7/365 and they consistently sell books. But is it worth the effort?

Every author must answer that question for themselves. For me, I don't think it is. I work a day job to pay the bills. I have two sons in their twenties, one still in college, a wife, and a cat. I have precious little time available and I want to spend that time doing what I love - reading and writing. But I also want readers to enjoy what I write as much as I enjoy my favorite authors. At one time I'd hoped to engage an agent who would sell my work and allow me time to devote to writing. What I have seen, as friends grabbed the brass ring of publishing, was that they are working as hard as the Indies promoting their own work.

Of course there are the Twilights and Harry Potters out there, but there are also people who win the lottery or break the bank in Vegas. If THE COLLECTIVE had the backing of a multimillion ad campaign, readers would be standing in line at theaters debating Team Archangel versus Team Collective. I enjoyed Twilight, but it wasn't better written or edited than any of the Indie books I love. Today's Best Sellers are simply the best marketed. There are thousands of amazing books which never sell more than a few copies.

I'm reminded of the greats, like Edgar Allen Poe who paid to have his work published only to lose money in the process. It was long after many authors died that their work became classics, and many struggled in obscurity their whole lives with no profit from their writing. It is the way of art. There are precious few fiction writers who can make a living at it, even fewer who hit the big time and join the ranks of the "Best Sellers." Many of those are one hit wonders, and will be forgotten in years to come.

I've taken a long look at why I write and what I really want. I write because I need to write. Most writers will understand what that means. I would write if no one ever read a single word of it. So first and foremost I write for me. I read because I love reading. No movie, TV show, or other form of art can ever replace that. Readers will understand that passion, even addiction, to the written word. I also love readers and writers. They are a special group of people and the only people who understand my passion for literature. So I need my fellow literature junkies as well.

I write for the benefit of my own soul and for the enjoyment of fellow readers. I network to establish connections with other bibliophiles who share my love of literature. Neither of those have anything to do with promotion, selling books, or making money. Of course there is the argument, which I have made to myself, that without promotion no one will read my work. Best Seller means more readers. But if promotion replaces reading, writing, and meeting other lovers of literature, why am I wasting my time?

I've decided in the New Year to devote myself to what I love. I will read, I will write, I will review and promote my fellow writers, and I will publish. If one person reads and enjoys what I write then I have succeeded in connecting with another soul and sharing my own. I hope this doesn't come across as smug on my part, but I'm 50 years old and life is too short to spend my time as an eBook used-car-salesman. I'm a writer. That's who I am.

I will do what I love and hope someone out there finds pleasure in what I offer. If I'm good enough, then someday a young reader may be inspired by my writing as I was by Poe, Verne, Bradbury, and all who came before. We live in an age when our words are far easier to immortalize than ever before. Unknown writers have passed by, their words forever lost, yet today we can easily offer our words to the electronic cloud and they will remain as long as the internet exists and there are people willing to read.

Keeping it Simple - Keeping it Real

2011-12-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

I haven't written a tech piece in awhile. I've recently been updating my website and trying to organize my social media presence. Yeah, as if. Didn't I just do this? I'm on more social media networks than I can count. I'm sure I'm on some I've forgotten I signed up for. I try to keep up with the big ones: Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Google+, deviantArt.... This could take awhile.

Writers can spend so much time on their social media and promotion that they stop writing. I've seen it happen. It's happened to me. It's easy to become stretched thin in the age of social media, but with a little thought and planning I think an author can be available to readers, promote their books, and still have time to pen that next great novel or short story the fans are waiting for.

The first step is an anchor. If you don't want to get lost in the raging sea of social media you need to be tied to something. It can be your favorite spot - Twitter, Blog, Facebook - or your website, but you need a base and then you can tie it all together and optimize your time online. I've decided that my anchor is my website. That's where I'm building my platform and connecting the web of tether lines.

As I said, it can be anything, but you need a hub - a base of operations, a headquarters, or an "evil lair" (voice of Dr. Evil). I spend most of my social time online on Twitter. I link my twitter feed everywhere. Next would be my blog where I review great books and write stuff like this. But I want to be wherever readers look for me. So I need to tie it all together. Twitter doesn't let me list all of my social media connections in my short profile. I could use the blog but...

My strategy is simple - I create a hub website with links to everything. I cross link what I can (twitter feed and blog to facebook for example) and post my main page url everywhere I can. Visitors come to my webpage and find links and info for all of my books, links to all of my networks so they can friend/like/follow me if they want. I even have my twitter feed running on the sidebar. But I'm not trying to pull it all onto one page, that would take days to load.

One problem in the age of widgets and apps is how easy it is to add content to a webpage or blog or social profile. Just copy and paste or in some cases point and click. You can have all of this cool stuff for your visitors to interact with. Problem - data rates and load time. If you fill your page with gorgeous graphics, cute animations, and awesome widgets your page takes forever to load and eats up data on small devices like phones. Your visitor just left before the page loaded.

I'm old school, like back in the day when everything was text and we still used DOS and batch files on our desktops and social networks were IRC. Do you remember Dial-up? I couldn't believe how fast my first 56k modem loaded pages. One thing mobile devices have done is turn back the clock. That awesome page that loads in a few seconds on your Alien Ware game computer just lost another visitor logging in from Droid. If you really need all those graphics and widgets you should at least set up a page for mobile users.

I've decided to keep it simple. Who needs flashing text and revolving graphics? What users want is information, not multi-media entertainment. If they wanted to rent a movie why are they looking at your books? The audience we are after are people who actually READ. I know, not many of us left. But we are readers and writers and text is our stock and trade. If you need all of those bells and whistles on your webpage how are you going to keep someone interested in your book?

It's not hard to optimize a page for small devices while continuing to be appealing on larger screens. Again, I don't need the cute little mouse pointer that sprinkles snow across the page when I move it around. That is so last century. And that music or video that auto-loads is annoying. If I want to watch your awesome book trailer I will click on it (don't get me started on book trailers - but yes I made one for The Collective). But maybe I don't want it loading on my Droid right now. Okay? I'll watch it later. I want to load your book into my Kindle App.

Text based web design is coming back. It may go all graphic and widgety when phones are more powerful than Big Blue in a few years, but for now simple is good. So my "hub" will have a lot of text links users can click on - easy to tab through and quick load times. I also have dynamic load items that visitors can click to load additional content without loading a new page - small data cost. I'm leveraging xhtml and xml and server side controls to keep it fast and simple. The new website will go live with the release of .45 Caliber Jitterbug before Christmas.

Thanksgiving : #GivingThanks to Readers

2011-11-20T08:58:00.002-05:00

The underground press is #GivingThanks to readers this Holiday Season by pricing all eBooks at .99 cent until the end on November. Grab a copy of my latest political thriller THE COLLECTIVE now for only .99 cent. It's available in all eReader formats on Smashwords. And while you're there pick up CybrGrrl for the hottest Erotic Science Fiction available. eBooks make great gifts and you don't need an eReader to read them. You can read on your computer, smart phone, and a huge variety of electronic devises.

Give the gift of literature this Holiday Season!

My Generation - The Who - Woodstock

2011-11-16T19:55:00.001-05:00

Review: Dance of the Winnebagos by Ann Charles

2011-11-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

Dance of the Winnebagos by Ann Charles is one of the most fun books I've read in a long time. The rich cast of characters, and their antics, had me flipping pages - at times embroiled in the deliciously romantic cozy mystery, at others to find out what hilarious stunt would happen next.

Claire is a thirty-something who still hasn't found herself. She's tagging along with her grandfather and his buddies to keep an eye on them. They have their Winnebagos parked in an RV resort where they have invited every retired floozy on the internet to meet them. It's like the AARP version of a party at the Playboy Mansion. But Claire soon finds herself involved in a mystery - and with the handsome Mac who makes her toes curl just walking in the room.

The story is filled with twists and turns on all fronts. The romances and personal intrigues had me guessing almost as much as the mystery. Everyone seems to have an agenda and no one is completely open. As the silver haired sex-pots prance around in the desert heat, dark secrets are unveiled and the danger builds for Claire and Mac even as the heat between them ignites. This one gets two thumbs up and a stand ovation for laughs, sighs, thrills, and a excellently crafted mystery.

Whatever your favorite type of mystery, this one has it all - from romance to thriller - you're gonna love Dance of the Winnebagos. I can't wait to read more from Ann Charles. She is also the author of the award-winning Deadwood mystery series - Nearly Departed in Deadwood and Optical Dellusion in Deadwood.

** You can get a FREE copy for yourself and one for a soldier by visiting Ann's Blog as part of the Indie Book Collective's Blog Tour de Troops this weekend.

Blog Tour de Troops - 2011

2011-11-09T05:46:00.004-05:00

This weekend we are honoring our men and women in uniform, past and present. Our brave soldiers protect and serve our nation, far too often at their personal risk. Their brave families wait at home far too often not knowing if their beloved is safe and sound or in the midst of armed conflict. We can never do enough to honor and thank these awesome men and women.

Nov. 11 - Nov. 14 the Indie Book Collective is sponsoring Blog Tour de Troops, in honor of our soldiers and veterans. If you visit any of the participating author sites on the tour and comment with an email address you will get a FREE copy of one of the authors books. You can also designate a FREE copy to be sent to a soldier or veteran. eBooks, Kindles, and other goodies are also being gathered to send to our troops, and many of the authors have contests and other prizes for their commenters.

I will be reviewing Dance of the Winnebagos by Ann Charles as part of the tour. It's a book you will want to get, so stay connected - read my review - and visit Ann's page during the tour to get your copy. Be back here Friday for my review!

Visit the Blog Tour de Troops website for more information, then join in on a blog hop with over a dozen FREE eBooks and a chance to win a Kindle! Get FREE eBooks for yourself and send them to your loved ones who serve our nation so selflessly.

Iron Man - Animal I've Become - Three Days Grace

2011-11-06T20:21:00.000-05:00

New Release: Maxwell Cynn - THE COLLECTIVE on Kindle

2011-11-02T17:43:00.000-04:00

News Release 10/22/11 underground press publishing

THE COLLECTIVE now available at the Amazon Kindle Store

The Collective by Maxwell Cynn, already #1 Best Seller in the mystery-detective-general category on Smashwords.com, debuts on Kindle 10/22/11. This Psychological Techno-Thriller hit #1 on Smashwords within 24 hours of release.

Here's what some have said about THE COLLECTIVE:

"...technical and intellectual battle that had me anxiously holding on to my Kindle a little too tightly at times... fast paced, intriguing, scary and totally unique."
Ann Mauren: author of Mayne Attraction - In the Spotlight

"Finished the Collective! Great! I was on the side of the bad guys at one point...sneaky."
Denise Main: author of A Cold Day in Hell and Wolf

"The entire time I'm reading I keep thinking, this could really be happening!"
Casey Sheridan: author of Ruby Red Metallic

Visit the Kindle store now to Buy, Like, Read, and Review THE COLLECTIVE

Something Wicked: Werewolves of London

2011-10-31T22:08:00.000-04:00

Something Wicked : Halloween

2011-10-27T19:35:00.003-04:00

It's almost Halloween! Do you have your costume picked out? A party scheduled? A special someone to be afraid with? If you're looking for something to chill your spine and put your heart racing, you've come to the right blog.

I have three literary suggestions guaranteed to have you gripping your eReader tight enough to crack the screen, so be careful.

My book - THE COLLECTIVE - is newly released on Kindle, NOOK, and Smashwords and is #1 in the fiction~mystery-detective~general category (#2 in all mystery/detective) on Smashwords. If you don't mind developing a phobia of computers and the internet take a look inside THE COLLECTIVE.

If you are more in the mood for a little murder and mayhem to liven up your weekend, try All Hallows Eve by Cristyn West. It's up as Indie Book Collective's Best Seller For A Day (10/28/11) so don't miss out on the special price of only .99cent. This thriller will have you jumping at shadows.

If your taste is for pure terror this Halloween, then be brave and download THE EVIL WITHIN by Cristyn West, Elena Gray, Amber Scott, Kelli McCracken, Rachel Thompson, Matt Posner, and Patricia McCallum. This anthology will give you plenty to sink your teeth into as you stay awake all night reading.

Good reading and have a frightfully literary Halloween.

Interview with Dr. John Peterson

2011-10-21T08:35:00.001-04:00

As a special treat today I have a guest blogger - Marie Beaumont, CEO of Artificial Life Technologies. Ms. Beaumont, an Artificial Life-form from the CybrGrrl series, interviewed Dr. John Peterson, also known as CG, founder and curator of the ArchAngel network.

Marie: Dr. Peterson, thank you for making time in your busy schedule to speak with me. You have stirred up quite a bit of controversy recently as the creator of the ArchAngel program.

CG: Thank you for allowing me this forum to combat the propaganda being spread through the press. And thank you for not referring to ArchAngel as a virus.

Marie: As an Artificial Life-form I am very knowledgeable when it comes to malware, and ArchAngel is certainly not a virus. But I will allow you to explain what ArchAngel is.

CG: The ArchAngel program was developed by a good friend of mine to combat the Nemesis virus. It replaces the Nemesis code and builds a firewall to guard against further infection.

Marie: Your detractors claim that ArchAngel creates a virtual private network of infected computers, what hackers call a bot-farm, allowing you control over all computers connected to the ArchAngel network.

CG: ArchAngel does establish a network, but that is necessary to combat Nemesis. The Nemesis virus is reactive and highly adaptable. ArchAngel must be equally adaptive. The firewall it creates is constantly changing in order to block re-infection from Nemesis.

Marie: You speak of Nemesis as if it were sentient.

CG: No. It isn't like you, Ms. Beaumont. Nemesis is a virulent virus, but it is controlled by programmers who continually update the code. It has functionality which allows it to adapt to its environment and search for weaknesses it can exploit in a host system, but a more apt analogy would be that of a biological virus to a human. The virus doesn't reason. It attacks, secures its target, and awaits commands from its network.

Marie: That brings up The Collective. What is their purpose in releasing Nemesis?

CG: The mind-altering effects of the virus is what led me to the discovery of Nemesis. Once infected the computer infects the user through subliminal stimuli using sound and light. I'm not certain of the ultimate goal, but the Nemesis virus is being used to manipulate the human mind subconsciously.

Marie: Are you saying that this computer virus is capable of infecting humans?

CG: I'm saying precisely that. Nemesis effectively hacks the mind and allows those in control of the infected computer to control the user as well. My patients possessed some level of natural immunity to control, but the barrage of attacks by Nemesis destabilized their consciousness. They each developed a psychosis based on their individual attempts to protect themselves from the foreign influence.

Marie: Your friend Mike took his own life.

CG: Perhaps. I haven't been able to investigate. He could have suffered an infection by Nemesis, or The Collective may have physically attacked him. Either way, I place blame for his death squarely at the feet of The Collective.

Marie: You have certainly given our readers a lot to think about. I thank you again for your time, and wish you luck and safety.

CG: Thank you, Marie. Be careful. I'm not sure how Nemesis would effect your programming.

Marie: My firewalls are very reactive, Dr. Peterson.

Blog Tour de Force Masquerade - Fun & FREE Stuff

2011-10-17T05:00:00.017-04:00

Welcome to Blog Tour de Force’s “Masquerade” Day 1! Come on inside. Sit a spell. I won’t tell. Well, Maxwell might find out...eventually. This is stop one, stop two will be over at Amber Scott’s Blog.

First thing, I should let you know. I am not Max. Who am I? That is the game. Are you after those extra Kindle entries every correct guess earns you this week? Read on and find out....

Am I a temptress? A humorist? Will my books scare the pants right off of you? Or woo you into the night?

#decisions #decisions

Well...Maybe if you get to know me a little first, then you’ll discover my secret. First and foremost, I’m a sucker for a good book and sneaking over here to Maxwell Cynn’s blog satisfies my craving for drama, suspense and vivid detail.

I’ll admit, here and now, I am a sucker for a good conspiracy and The Collective by your very own Maxwell Cynn satisfied that deep inner need and then some. Think Matrix meets Brick. It’s got a hard-boiled voice and flavor I’ve loved ever since Black Money back in college but updated with a cyber thrill that tickles my inner paranoia.

The Collective isn’t the only gripping read on this Blog Tour de Force “Masquerade” that left me losing sleep just to get one more delicious paragraph in, though. Vicki Keire’s Gifts of the Blood also had me at line one.

So, I love paranormals, I love intelligent thrillers. I took detective novel classes in college.

Want more? I thought so. Alright. How about one more tiny, little hint?

This song has been playing in my head and if you’re hot for Maroon 5, you’re singing it, too. “I got the moves like Jaggar.”

Guess away, my pretties, because every commenter here gets a free ebook of The Collective. Yes, that’s right. EVERY commenter. Don’t forget to leave your email address, too, so that Maxwell can haunt you with another page-turning read!

Maxwell is also sending a set of backgrounds/wallpapers based on The Collective to every commenter, and if you'd like a free copy of his cyber-erotic romance CybrGrrl, just ask. But you need to be 18 for that one, it's HOT.

Stay tuned to the tour and get more free ebooks by checking out http://IndieBookCollective.wordpress.com every day. The big reveal will be there, too, on Monday.

Stay scary....

You can read reviews of The Collective on...

Casey Sheridan's Blog

Eden Baylee's Blog

Release Notes (NEW)

October Schedule of Events

2011-10-16T10:23:00.000-04:00

October is building into an wickedly exciting month. As I've said before, there's my birthday and the release of THE COLLECTIVE both October 22nd. But what else is going on?

October 17th starts the Blog Tour de Force: Masquerade. 12 authors, 12 blogs, 12 books, and 6 days of mystery. One of the mystery authors will be posting here on my blog. It's up to you to guess which one. I'll be giving away advance copies of THE COLLECTIVE, background wallpapers based on the novel, and if you are really naughty I might send you a FREE copy of CybrGrrl. Don't miss it!

While my blog is taken over by an unnamed author, I'll be interviewed by Amilia James on her blog Trashy Treasures. And at some point during the week I will be the mystery poster on one of the other blogs in the Masquerade Tour. So come find me, if you can.

October 20th while you are out searching blogs and trying to unmask authors in the Masquerade stop by Trashy Treasures again for my Halloween short story Virtual Touch. It is sure to get you in the mood for a little social networking.

October 21st The day before release of THE COLLECTIVE you can hear me live on Shark Radio and The Eclectic Artist's Cave with Joann Buchanan. We'll be talking about the book and who knows what else. I tend to ramble.

October 22nd Duh, my Birthday, right? I turn 50 and THE COLLECTIVE releases on the sweet new family of Kindles. But you don't need a Kindle to read eBooks. It will also be available on Nook, and every other eReader you can imagine. I read Kindle titles on my cell phone with the nice little FREE Kindle app. So go buy my book, and enjoy.

October 24th I'll be guest posting on Rachel in the OC. Yes, we're gonna talk about some #mancode, baby. After 50 years I've got this whole #chickspeak thing figured out. Come by and see what I have to say on the Queen of Snark's page.

October 25th Rachel will get me back by posting secrets about me on her twitter stream under the hashtag #TellItTuesday. I will also be back on Shark Radio, but this time with the lovely Tami Snow hosting Lyrical Lip Service Live. We're going to talk conspiracy, mind control, and maybe BDSM--who knows. Tune in and listen.

October 26th I'll be guest posting on Eden Baylee's blog talking about the psychology behind THE COLLECTIVE and what was in my mind when I wrote it. Eden interviewed me awhile back and I'm sure there'll be a link to that as well. There will also be all kinds of links here on my blog to book-bloggers who are reviewing my book the week after release.

November 2nd Since it wouldn't all fit into one month, I'll be guest posting on Carrie Ann Ryan's blog to end up the month of Something Wicked.

But that's just the highlights of the scheduled activities. There will something going on here, on twitter, and across the social network every day as the month. So stay connected.

Something Wicked: Book Trailer - THE COLLECTIVE 10/22/11

2011-10-15T06:30:00.001-04:00

Review: The Undiscovered Self - Dr. C.G. Jung

2011-10-14T06:52:00.003-04:00

Over 50 years ago Dr. Carl Gustav Jung wrote THE UNDISCOVERED SELF. It was the culmination of a life's work and in my opinion the most important thing he ever published. Though many of the books and essays in his Collected Works can claim to be more ground breaking or scholarly treatise, THE UNDISCOVERED SELF is by far the most relevant for the common man today.

This year marked the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Jung's death, but his words are as current and relevant today as they have ever been. The dangers he saw in his day--fascism, Marxism, nationalism, and a host of others--all shared a common bond. Dr. Jung, after a lifetime of study and research into the human mind, saw the trend toward collectivism as the greatest threat to our individual Self.

Dr. Jung noted that whenever individuals are pressed into a group an averaging effect occurs and part of the individual Self is sacrificed in order to fit-in to the norm of the group. We stop thinking in terms of Self and the group becomes our personae. The larger the group the more the individual suffers. He pointed to the Iron Curtain as a physical manifestation and symbol of a psychic schism within mankind.

He also warned that the freedom-loving West was not immune to the psychic infection of the communist Eastern Block, but rather more susceptible because of our free and open-minded societies. The fall of the Iron Curtain in modern times did not symbolize an end to the schism Jung described, but more ominously the acceptance in the West of collective ideals.

Jung's words ring soundly today in our modern electronic society of larger groups, stronger connections, greater integration, and socio-political correctness. Our nationalism has turned to internationalism and our group has become global. Individualism is under greater assault today than at any point in history--Jung's words live on in an almost prophetic sense. The Self continues to drown in a sea of collectivism.

I based much of the psychology in THE COLLECTIVE on the writings of Jung and other like-minded philosophers. Jung's ideas on the compensatory nature of the subconscious, the opposites which battle within us, are represented in the arch-types of The Collective and the ArchAngel network and in the characters themselves. Dr. John Peterson is the embattled voice of the individual Self standing against the supreme power of The Collective.

I endeavored, as an author, to remain neutral. I present the compensatory opposites noted by Dr. Jung. It was his belief that the path to human health and wheal lay in individuation. Others see the road to peace and enlightenment in collective integration. One reader noted that at one point she was pulling for the wrong side, so I think I accomplished my goal. As John says, "The choice has become conscious. It is up to mankind to decide."

I strongly recommend THE UNDISCOVERED SELF to readers of all ages and backgrounds. It was written with the common reader in mind and not as a dry scholarly text. Dr. Jung uses his wonderful wit and colorful vision throughout the narrative to keep the reader enthralled with his words. His delightful personality and love of life come through on every page.

Something Wicked: Thursday Thriller

2011-10-13T05:31:00.005-04:00

"This is the power of you modern psychology, CG." Papa Gates from THE COLLECTIVE. Psychological Thriller releasing 10/22/11 on Kindle and all electronic formats.

Something Wicked: Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest For The Wicked

2011-10-12T05:11:00.000-04:00

Something Wicked: Drowning Pool - Bodies

2011-10-11T06:18:00.003-04:00

Thriller Tuesday - Check me out on Twitter @ThrillersRockT

Something Wickedly Beautiful: Tina Arena - Only Women Bleed (written by Alice Cooper)

2011-10-09T04:00:00.001-04:00

I was searching for a particular Alice Cooper song for today's blogpost and I came across this. It has been one of my favorite songs since I saw Alice Cooper sing it in concert many years ago. Tina Arena blew Alice away with this version. It is hauntingly beautiful.

Something Wicked: Evanescense - Bring Me To Life

2011-10-08T14:32:00.001-04:00

I'm currently reading a great book - Cherished by Belinda Boring - there will be a review soon. It made me think of this video - a song I love and I movie that rocks. Underworld.

Something Wicked: Why I Joined The Collective

2011-10-07T07:41:00.020-04:00

Okay, those lucky few who've read the advance copies of my book, or the promotional blurbs, may be freaking out right now. But I'm not joining THAT Collective; the originators of the Nemesis virus who hack into your mind and brainwash you. I'm not ready to be a mindless cyber-zombie. I'm sticking with CG and team ArchAngel... for now.

Actually I've joined the Indie BookCollective. They're an awesome group of writers who have come together to promote themselves and the entire Indie Community. Those who've followed my blog for awhile know that I'm a huge Indie supporter. Most of my reviews feature Indie authors and their eBooks, and many of my posts are about the ins and outs of self-publishing.

The Indie Book Collective, founded by three lovely ladies of prose - Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott, and the snarktastic Rachel in the OC - is celebrating a year of promoting Indies. These folks are awesome! They host webinars on publishing and promoting, aggregate resources for authors, publish lists of editors and reviewers, offer advice, friendship, fun events, the list is endless.They literally wrote the book on Indie Publishing - I reviewed it HERE on the blog.

I've been friends on FB and Twitter with many of them for some time. I took part, as a reviewer, in the wickedly fun Menage a Blog tour back in July. And, as I posted yesterday, I'll be taking part in this months Masquerade Tour. So it's about time I rolled up my sleeves and joined the IBC Staff. You can help too.

If you're an Indie author, reviewer, or you just love independently published literature (or just like FREE stuff) follow their stream, visit their website, follow the sponsors blogs (they are book bloggers and Indie authors) click on LIKE links wherever you find them (it doesn't cost you a penny). Indies everywhere are struggling to offer readers great literature at great prices without the backing of big conglomerate publishers. The Indie Book Collective is offering an alternative to going it alone.

Something Wicked: Blog Tour de Force - Masquerade

2011-10-06T00:01:00.005-04:00

It's October, the most wickedly bewitching month of the year. Fall is in the air, leaves are turning, the earth is dying, hell is opening beneath us... Oh wait, where was I? Yes... October.

What is October, and of course All Hallows Eve, without a grand Masquerade? I thought about throwing a Masked Ball for my 50th birthday - Oct. 22 - and the release of THE COLLECTIVE - Oct. 22 - but where is the best place to celebrate the release of an eBook? Online of course.

I heard that Blog Tour de Force was hosting a Masquerade and wanted in. Alas they were already booked up. But then to my surprise and delight I received an invitation. I'm sure they took pity on me, it being my 50th birthday and all. But be that as it may, I'm in - and so are you. Of course I wouldn't leave out my friends.

October 17 - 22 yours truly and a host of wonderful authors will be sneaking onto each others blogs and posting. It is up to you to guess who is posting where. Yes, there will be free books, swag, prizes, and more fun than bobbing for apples. 12 authors - 12 books - 6 days of all the delicious mystery of a Grande Masked Ball.

Don't miss it. It will be Something Wicked indeed. ;)

Something Wicked: Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

2011-10-05T12:01:00.004-04:00

Another Pink Floyd song... One of the main themes developed in THE COLLECTIVE is what C.G. Jung referred to as the Individuation Process. Jung argued that modern societies force the individual into conformance with the "norm" and that subjugation of the Self by the Mass was destructive to our true nature as individuals. We see that even more today than when Jung wrote THE UNDISCOVERED SELF over 50 years ago.

Modern technology, our political democracies, and our social networks - which we thought would release our blossoming individuality - now simply categorize and push us into accepted sociological groups; depriving us of our individuality and making us merely pieces of the whole. We become cogs in the machine, little more than numbers on a spread sheet. As Jung said, "The bigger the crowd, the more negligible the individual."

Something Wicked: CybrGrrl on GoodE-Reader.com

2011-10-04T00:01:00.008-04:00

CybrGrrl is E-Book of the Week on Good E-Reader this week. Hop over there and check it out. I'm also giving away a little cybr-swag to anyone who comments here, or there, and leaves me an email address - if you don't want to post your email address just drop me an email and ask for the goodies.

I developed a few desktop wallpapers based on THE COLLECTIVE. They are .jpg images you can set as your desktop, port to your phone as a background, or whatever other inventive things you can imagine. I have one of them as the background on my Android phone. I also have all the backgrounds pressed into a Windows7 ThemePack, if you're using win7. Post a comment or drop me an email and ask for THE COLLECTIVE eSwag.

THE COLLECTIVE releases October 22, 2011 on Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, and a variety of formats at Smashwords. There will be more interviews, more guest posts, more free books, and eSwag. I'll be posting a schedule soon.

We're just getting started, folks. Let's see how deep this rabbit hole gets!

Something Wicked: Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

2011-10-03T12:01:00.006-04:00

THE WALL - One of the greatest video/albums ever! It is a quintessential walk into personal insanity and mass hysteria: perfect inspiration as I wrote THE COLLECTIVE. I'll be playing a lot of the music that inspired my adventure into madness along with the many other themes in the book.

THE COLLECTIVE is a true psychological thriller, but it touches on many deep rooted philosophical issues of our modern day. We will explore some of those this month as I take you on a guided tour into the dark recesses of the modern subconscious. So come along. Let's follow Alice into the rabbit hole and see what we find.

Something Wicked: Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train

2011-10-02T12:43:00.001-04:00

Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne

Starting the month off right! October's going to be dark, chilling, and THRILLING. My novel THE COLLECTIVE releases October 22, 2011 which also happens to be my 50th Birthday! And the theme of the month "Something Wicked" is going to be a blast. Music from MY generation and today mixed with commentary, reviews, previews, and SWAG. Stay tuned and ROCK-ON!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

2011-10-01T00:29:00.000-04:00

My latest novel THE COLLECTIVE releases October 22, 2011. This is going to be an exciting, busy, and fun-filled month. I'll be guest posting on blogs, giving interviews, and talking on internet radio. Here on my blog the theme is Something Wicked.

"With the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes." Shakespeare

I'll be going dark for the month of October, but not in a quiet way. It's all about thrills and chills, madness and mayhem. There'll be music, book and movie reviews, and a trip down the rabbit hole. Join my descent into the darkness of madness and conspiracy as I explore the things that quicken our pulse and keep us awake at night.

Those who were around for the month of Books, Sex, and Rock-N-Roll back in July know it's going to be a wild ride.

Review: Viridis by Calista Taylor

2011-09-23T10:55:00.000-04:00

Murder, treason, spies, revolutionaries, airships, and an herbal concoction that brings on an orgasm with a single kiss. In her debut novel, VIRIDIS, Calista Taylor weaves a beautifully romantic cozy mystery set in Victorian London. Lady Phoebe Hughes, the alchemist who created the herbal Viridis, finds herself embroiled in social and political intrigue after the murder of a young noble who frequents the popular club where she sells her orgasmic elixir.

As the heat builds in her relationship with the handsome and ingenious tinkerer Seth Elliott, the mystery deepens, jealousies ignite, conspiracies are uncovered, and a young inspector works tirelessly to unravel it all. The mystery/intrigue is first rate and filled with surprises at every turn. It kept me guessing and flipping pages as fast as I could read. The characters are rich and endearing, or villainous as the case may be. And the love scenes are tender, erotic, and passionate.

The author fills the senses with hauntingly detailed scenes of a steam-powered London on the cusp of revolution. Her inventive mind offers intricate tinkerings from airships and fuse guns to an aether powered information storage device complete with glass screen and brass keyboard. The steampunk technology is perfectly blended into the setting so that it feels natural and Ms. Taylor's descriptions are complete without being intrusive to the story. She is a true master of the genre.

I recommend VIRIDIS to fans of romance, mystery, steampunk, or anyone who enjoys fine literature. There is something here for every taste. Ms. Taylor has created a cross-over classic and it is only the first in a series. Her second novel will be out soon. I can't wait to read it.

You can learn more about Calista Taylor and VIRIDIS on her blog, Steampunk Reverie, and connect with the author on facebook and twitter. As always, I enjoy your comments below and encourage you to tweet or link this review on your favorite social media networks.

Preview: The Collective (10/22/11)

2011-09-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

I wrote last week about the untimely demise of my beloved Kindle. I'm still in mourning. I have learned to rely heavily on my ever-present companion and reading on-the-go wherever I might be. Her loss has made a huge impact on my reading time and therefore my regular Friday reviews. With Kindle I could devour a novel a week and write a review easily. Without her...

I now have a backlog waiting of wonderful books to read and review. I apologize to the great writers who have shared their work with me and the readers who come to read my reviews. I will get back to reading and writing soon. For today I offer a preview of my latest novel, which releases October 22. I hope you enjoy this short excerpt from THE COLLECTIVE.

Wire Service Article
Authorities reported a new lead in the push to track down the person(s) responsible for the infamous ArchAngel virus, which has infected computers worldwide. Ellen Gray, of the Department of Homeland Security Cyber-Terrorism Unit, reported today that there is evidence the virus was initially released in New York by an escaped mental patient. John Peterson, who allegedly released the virus almost a year ago, previously worked as a doctor of criminal Psychology at a New York State Department of Corrections Mental Facility. Authorities believe it was at that facility the virus was produced, with the help of some of Dr. Peterson's patients.
“Several of his patients were serving time for various cyber crimes and quite capable of aiding the doctor in coding the insidious worm virus,” Ms. Gray reported.
Dr. Peterson became unstable after the death of a close friend, who authorities believe also worked on the virus. Mike Angelo, owner of a software development company, committed suicide after his company slipped into bankruptcy. Authorities say the two were the chief architects behind the ArchAngel virus and, after Angelo's death, Dr. Peterson fell into a psychotic state which required he be forcibly committed to the county mental hospital. Dr. Peterson later escaped that facility and released the virus onto the Internet.
Authorities seized computers at both facilities. Dr. Peterson's current location is unknown and authorities warn that he is unstable and possibly dangerous. The ArchAngel virus, Ms. Gray reported, uses subliminal suggestion and is thought to have caused Dr. Peterson's breakdown.
“They were experimenting with some form of mind control technology,” Ms. Gray reported, “we are not sure yet what their eventual use for this technology was to be. That is why Homeland Security became involved. Unfortunately their experiments most likely led to Dr. Peterson's current delusional state and possibly the death of Mike Angelo. In his delusional state Dr. Peterson has released this dangerous technology on the public.”
Citizens are urged to report any sign of the ArchAngel virus to authorities and to not use infected systems.
“This technology is dangerous,” Ms Gray told us. “There are already cults of followers within the hacker community who have elevated Dr. Peterson, under his hacker name CG, to hero status. His personal delusion is spreading with the virus.”
We visited one such community of hackers to see what they had to say about Ms. Gray's announcement. The local cyber club proudly displays the ArchAngel symbol on its marquee. The symbol, developed by hackers to mark hot spots infected with the ArchAngel virus, is a variation on the anarchy symbol and has become a symbol of pride in some communities.
“Nemesis is the real threat,” one hacker told me. “CG developed ArchAngel to destroy the Nemesis virus.”
Dr. Peterson, or CG, has become a cult hero among these groups. I asked Ms. Gray later about Nemesis.
“Nemesis is an anti-virus program being developed to combat ArchAngel,” she informed me. “It is currently in beta testing. It will be released once it can effectively detect and eliminate ArchAngel.”
The ArchAngel virus is not currently detectable by any of the popular anti-virus programs, but a task force has been assembled, including top programmers from all the major anti-virus companies, to work on a solution.
“They are being fed all the information we have on ArchAngel in order to develop an open solution, known as Nemesis, which can be incorporated into their companies security programs,” Ms. Gray confided.
The group is known simply as the Collective. The names of the task-force members are not being released.

You can follow Dr. John Peterson (aka CG) on twitter @ArchAngelCG for the latest news on the Collective's activities and the ArchAngel movement.

"If they control your computer, they control your mind."

The Collective : 10/22/11

Review - My beloved Kindle

2011-09-09T23:56:00.000-04:00

I didn't post a review this week. There was a small tragedy that I'm still trying to handle without breaking into open sobs. My Kindle died. Yes, a tragic accident claimed her - her screen cracked internally bleeding out her Digital Ink. Only the bottom two inches of the display shows text and part of an image is forever stuck on the top half of the screen.

My Kindle had a hard life - sand and salt air at the beach, coffee and tea spilled on the keypad, carried around in my back pocket, taken to work, thrown on the dash of my truck, dropped from various heights onto various surfaces. The damn thing was nearly indestructible, but alas... I destroyed it. The final blow came unexpectedly. She was safely tucked away in the pocket of my laptop bag and something apparently pressed to hard against the screen.

She looked fine, right up to the end. The picture of a famous author painted bravely on her face until I flipped the switch to wake her up. Only a quarter of the screen changed into text, then the authors picture partially dissolved. It was sad, really. She was so pretty and peaceful when I went to wake her, but then the screen - part text, part picture, the rest a pale white pallor of death. I knew it was over. There was no chance to revive my lovely Kindle.

I still have my eBooks of course. They are on Amazon under my profile. I can read them on my laptop with my Mobi reader or on my phone with the free Kindle app. You really don't need a Kindle to read eBooks. There are free apps for every imaginable device, but I already miss my Kindle. I looked at the new Kindle coming out, the Kindle Color... I don't think so. If I wanted a color display you can't see in the sun I'd buy a Nook.

I'll stick with the normal Kindle with it's awesome Digital Ink. I read mine on the beach in full blinding sunlight. And no DX for me. Too big and bulky. I like the standard size, the same size as a trade paperback. It fits perfectly in your hand or pocket. I'll buy one soon, but for now a respectful mourning period for my fallen friend. Farewell, you will be missed.

Review: The Devil Made Me Do It by Amelia James

2011-09-02T03:00:00.000-04:00

I enjoy a little erotic fantasy or agood bodice ripping historic romance, but in The Devil Made Me Do It,author Amelia James presents everyday couples who could be your next-doorneighbors or your best friends, with enough heat to melt the paintoff the walls. Her characters are contemporary, realistic couplesindulging in some of the most common erotic fantasies in loving,romantic, and playful ways. These are committed, loving couples doingwhat committed, loving couples do: having really hot sex.

The Devil Made Me Do It is a collectionof short stories giving the reader quick, sexy doses of some of thebest erotic scenes I've read. But the short vignettes aren't emptysex. Ms. James builds her characters masterfully so that we know andcare for each one. We feel the emotions and understand themotivations of every playful scenario the couples choose. The readeris quickly drawn into the lives of each new couple and carried alongon their erotic adventures.

The deep intimacy of long-termcommitted relationships is shown through the comfortable interactionbetween the characters. We have the pleasure of watching couples whoaren't bored and looking for cheap thrills, but truly in love andlooking for new ways to please the object of their desire. I've beenmarried twenty-six years myself, and the emotions, thoughts, anderotic desires ring true throughout. My first reaction while readingwas "we would enjoy that," or "we like doing that."I gave my copy of The Devil Made Me Do It to my wife when I finished reading.

I have often said that in my opinion,"if it ain't romantic, it ain't erotic." The Devil Made MeDo It is definitely cock throbbing, clit burning erotica, but it'salso beautifully and playfully romantic. It gets my highestrecommendation to all those looking for a little spice in theirrelationship, or interested in how erotic sex can be after years ofpractice. And the short-story-collection format allows the busymarried-with-children reader to enjoy short, quick bites of pleasure.

You can connect with Amelia James, AKATrashyWriter, through her website or follow her on Twitter. She's amulti-published author and I look forward to reading more of herwork.

Review: Autism By Hand by Lorca Damon

2011-08-26T06:30:00.002-04:00

In the author's words, "I never wanted to write this book. I can’t write this book, it hurts too much. But I have to because this book wasn’t there when I needed it. It’s not a human-interest story or a self-help book or an instruction manual on how to raise an autistic child. It’s simply a well-thought out laundry list of everything I did to help my daughter be the best person she could become and I did it in the dark because this book wasn’t there for me."

I'm not a mother. I'm the father of two wonderfully "normal" young men. I cannot begin to imagine what the mother of an autistic child, or any special needs child, endures 24/7/365 for life. But I am eternally grateful to Lorca Damon for sharing her life. Autism By Hand offers an honest, sometimes harsh, look at how one mother learned to care for her autistic child. The author warns her readers there will be no sugar coating, just real and raw strategies that work with her daughter.

The author likens her role to being on the edge of a cliff, holding tight to her daughters hand as the child hangs precariously over the abyss. There is no time for sugar coating or self pity, only positive action. She offers that positive action in a beautifully written narrative that inspires both laughter and tears. I read over half the book at one sitting, unable to put it down, then tweeted the author to let her know how unbelievably awesome she is. I read the remainder without stopping.

Though the book is written as a guide to mothers of autistic children, or any caregiver for that matter, it is a wealth of knowledge for any parent. I recognized many of the same struggles we had with our own children, yet multiplied a hundred fold. Where the parent of a developmentally "normal" child may struggle across a hurdle once, or over the course of days or weeks, the struggles continue for years or even a lifetime for the autistic parent and child. The most mundane social skills that our children learned by simply being kids are major milestones to be overcome day after day.

I couldn't help but fall in love with Carrie through the selfless unconditional love her mother reveals in every line of Autism by Hand. I was introduced to the most beautiful, sweet, funny, and gifted little girl I can imagine. And I learned a little about the author - an amazing woman who seems too busy raising two girls to take herself very seriously. Her self-depreciating humor and wit make Autism by Hand a delightful read even given the tragic nature of its subject. Carrie could not have been given a better hand to hold through her life in our strange world.

The author describes herself as "a wife, mother, writer, teacher, triathlete, marathon runner, and overall snarky person." And says, "Between the hours of midnight and four when I used to do nothing but just lie there, I am now a staff writer for GoodEReader.com’s online magazine..." You can find the author's wit and wisdom on her blog or follow her on Twitter.

Review: Reaper's Return

2011-08-19T05:48:00.029-04:00

The Chronicles of Aesirium, Book One -Reaper's Return - by Ren Cummins is a delightful mix of Steampunk and Fantasy. The world of Aerthos is intricately crafted around a mixture of magic, technology, and dramatic intrigue. In Reaper's Return the reader follows two young orphans destined for greatness. Rom and Kari are merely eleven years old, but already it is clear they are under a great destiny. Kari is academically brilliant, with a penchant for steam technology, and Rom has an uncanny way with animals and the ability to leap tall bullies with a single bound.

The two girls cling to each other, even sharing Kari's birthday since Rom's is unknown, and dream of the day they are old enough to apprentice and thereby leave the orphanage. Their dreams come sooner than expected, and their destinies take shape, when an ancient lady takes them as wards and arranges their continued education so they may fulfill their world-changing calling.

Ren Cummins shows himself to be a master of the genre as he weaves a world of astounding detail while building characters the reader will come to love as family and friends. There isn't a dull or tiresome page as the world comes to life in the background of exciting battles, interesting character interaction, and a good amount of wit thrown in. The dialog is natural and each character, down to the agricultural workmen, has a unique voice.

Reaper's Return is a great start to the series and the teaser for Book Two - The Marrow Stone - convinced me to purchase the next. There are six books currently available in the series and I look forward to reading them all. I heartily recommend The Chronicles of Aesirium, Book One - Reaper's Return - to all readers from YA's to old scifi guys like me. If you've never read Steampunk, this is the book that will make you a fan.

Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

2011-08-18T18:07:00.000-04:00

Review: Her Captive Muse - Indigo Skye

2011-08-12T06:24:00.073-04:00

Her Captive Muse-
When Brendan Delaney answered an ad for an artist's model, he was looking for an easy way to earn some extra cash. But Morgan Roan wanted more than just a model. Soon, Brendan finds himself caught in a web of deception and desire, lust and betrayal—her captive muse. What price pleasure?

Indigo Skye is a very intriguing author, poet, photographer, artist... She seems to be into everything. Her Captive Muse, is an erotic tale that delves deep into the psyche of her characters and their dark-erotic drives. I was not prepared for such depth of emotion and the intimate view of a twisted relationship devoid of romance.

The protagonist is a strung out heroin addict, deeply damaged emotionally. He is captured and abused by a dominatrix artist he finds as addictive as his drugs. The relationship is twisted, violent, hurtful, and strangely erotic. The author explores some of the darker traits of human desire steeped in fear, compulsion, and self-destruction. There is no tender romance here, only harsh realities and hard-fought survival.

I was reminded of Stephen King's classic Misery with a strong BDSM erotic element woven into the story. The dark mistress is a Black Widow who imprisons, tortures, and kills her lovers to feed her artistic muse. The protagonist's self-destructive personality leads him to fear, hate, and love her dominating attention and he is inexorably drawn into her fatal embrace. The author beautifully portrays the darkest aspects of human nature, exposing needs and desires we rarely acknowledge.

I personally enjoy more romantic, sensitive, and positive erotica. But the author is good at what she does. The writing is excellent, the characters are real and engaging, and the plot is strong and compelling. If you like a little orgasmic fear and harsh psychological drama you will love Her Captive Muse. It's not the sort of thing I write, or generally read, but it is compelling, thought provoking, and a bit scary. The scariest part? It is erotic, in a disturbing way.

Take a peek into the dark and enjoy Her Captive Muse. Sweet dreams are made of these...

Author Bio:
Indigo Skye is a writer and photographer living in the American Southwest. Her first novel, Her Captive Muse, was released by Noble Romance Publishers in January. Her work has been widely published online. Last fall, her short story “True Confession” was published in the anthology Uniform Behavior. Her short story, “My Demon Lover,” was recently featured in the Noble Romance Anthology, Red Roses & Shattered Glass. Two of her short stories, “The Weary Traveler” and “Saving Orpheus” were recently chosen for the erotica anthology, Seducing the Myth, edited by Lucy Felthouse. A full list of her published works is available on her blog, Indigo Skye: Ink and Art- http://indigoskyeinkandart.blogspot.com.

Contact Information for Indigo Skye-
Email: indigoskyeinkandart@gmail.com
Blog: http://indigoskyeinkandart.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/indigoinkandart

Books by Indigo Skye:
Her Captive Muse
Uniform Behavior
Red Roses & Shattered Glass
Seducing the Myth

Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics

2011-08-10T21:58:00.000-04:00

Reviews: Why I write book reviews

2011-08-05T11:15:00.000-04:00

People write reviews for a variety of reasons. Reviewers write reviews because that is what they get paid to do. They generally love what they review: books, movies, products. They have a passion for promoting quality. They read, watch movies, or test products--some good, some bad, some indifferent--with the eye of a reviewer and then write solid, honest reviews.

The two main reasons non-reviewers write reviews is because they love something or they hate it. They weigh in with their stellar five star review or completely trash something with one star. There is very little middle ground. If they neither love nor hate something they rarely bother to review it. Their passion is in the extremes, not the objective quality.

Another group is the buddy-reviewer. They review as promotion. They always write five star reviews, because they want you to buy the book, see the film, or buy the product. They have an interest in the brand or the person the review effects. This group includes fan-boy reviews by ardent supporters. They always glow and praise and wax eloquent on the same points the advertisers point out. It's a sales pitch wrapped in a review.

I'm a little of all of those. I consider myself a serious honest reviewer, but I don't do it for a living. I don't get paid to write about things I don't like. If I don't like a book I rarely finish it and even more rarely take the time to write a serious review. I write about what I love and what I think you may love as well. I recommend and review. So most of my reviews are four and five stars. Occasionally there is a three because I think the writer has potential even if the one thing I read was not that great.

But I don't do buddy-reviews, or fan-boy promotion. I'm serious when I sit down to write a review and I stand behind my endorsements. After all, my name is going on the review. If I recommend something that sucks, you may wonder if my books suck. If someone asks me to review their work, and I do take requests, I will give it an honest read. If I like it, I review it. If I don't, I decline because if I don't like it I probably won't waste my time finishing it.

I read for pleasure and review (recommend) because I enjoy sharing things I like with my friends and fans. But I review from the perspective of a reviewer, not a fan. I hope you have enjoyed all the great books I've reviewed here, and will continue to visit for recommendations and reviews of the best books I can find. I also hope if you like my reviews, and our tastes in literature are similar, that you will like what I write.

As writers, we read what we love and write what we read. If you enjoy what I share with you, please drop me a note and share what you love. I'm always looking for a good book to read.

xoxox

max

Last Call - Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll

2011-07-31T07:04:00.001-04:00

July's month of Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll was HOT!

It was a busy month, I had a lot of fun, and gave away a lot of books. Now it's time to get back to work. THE COLLECTIVE will release in the fall and CybrGrrl 2.0 is in the works, along with several other complete novels in various stages of edits. 2012 is going to be a big year!

A huge Thank You to everyone who participated in my Wild-n-Sexy month: here on the blog, twitter, friends blogs, facebook, and the shiny new Google+. Fans, friends, and fellow writers were wonderfully supportive: commenting on, sharing, and retweeting the various events. All of you rock my world. Each of you is why I do what I do.

But now it is time to bring up the lights, roll up the sleeves, and get some books published. All the sexy shenanigans were fun, but I know you want some books to read and I want to get them edited and published. I'll be unplugged for the next few months putting everything in place for the fall release of THE COLLECTIVE. But stay connected, I'll be back.

I'll keep track of comments, direct messages, and emails. I may be slow responding, but I will respond. I'll keep you updated on progress from time to time, and soon tidbits will leak out about THE COLLECTIVE. I'm planning a massive build-up to the fall release with teasers, a trailer, events, and perhaps prizes and swag. Keep a vigilant eye out: The Collective is watching you...

xoxox

max

Review: Ruby Red Metallic - Casey Sheridan

2011-07-29T15:07:00.000-04:00

From the first hilarious bathroom sex scene to the last ball-busting climax, Ruby Red Metallic by author Casey Sheridan is an erotic thrill-ride. The main character, Alaina, is a car thief and an expert on the high end sports cars that drive her lust. She'll do almost anything to get into the driver's seat and separate owners from their prized automobiles. When she finds the car of her auto-erotic dreams she also finds the man driving it as sexy as the car. Alaina must choose between man and machine and break some of her own rules.

If you want some fun, bite-sized erotica with a strong, capable, self-sufficient female lead, Ruby RedMetallica is perfect. The story is fast paced, well written, and enthralling. I read it straight through on a Saturday morning. The only complaint I had was it ended too soon. I couldn't get enough of Alaina and her exploits. The story was strong, the settings rich in detail, and characters full. In my opinion, Ruby Red Metallic could have easily been expanded into a full length erotic novel. But sometimes a quickie is all you need.

You can find more about Casey Sheridan on her website or follow her on Twitter. Personally, I anticipate more great erotica from this talented author.

Hump-Day Rock: Meat Loaf - Paradise

2011-07-27T18:25:00.001-04:00

What I'm Rocking To: Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

2011-07-25T20:48:00.000-04:00

What I'm Rocking To: One Bourbon, one Scotch, One Beer - John Lee Hooker

2011-07-24T19:11:00.000-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Billy Joel - You may be right

2011-07-23T10:55:00.000-04:00

Ménage à Blog Final Flirt

2011-07-22T14:58:00.001-04:00

I had a lot of fun with the Indie Book Collective's / Blog Tour de Force - Ménage à Blog. A lot of great people stopped by and left comments about the reviews. If you missed my reviews of Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-publishing Success or Fall Into Winter I hope you will give a look. Both are great books. And all those who did comment, and left an email address, will be receiving a FREE copy of my book, CybrGrrl. I hope you enjoy it.

The Ménage à Blog Final Flirt kicks off today between

Regan Black, "Tracking Shadows," http://www.reganblack.com

Lacey Weatherford, "The Trouble With Spells," http://www.laceyweatherfordbooks.com

Jacquie Rogers, "Much Ado About Marshals," http://romancingthewest.blogspot.com

They will be going at it all weekend to see who wins the coveted “Biggest Flirt” award. Jump on over to their blogs and say hello. There are still FREE eBooks and a chance to win a Kindle. Check out the Indie Book Collective Blog for all the details.

Menage a Blog continues...

2011-07-21T01:00:00.001-04:00

The Indie Book Collective's / Blog Tour de Force - Ménage à Blog continues today with three lovely authors heating it to the point of spontaneous combustion!

Theresa Ragan

Eden Baylee

Jacquie Rogers

Each are giving away books and other prizes on their blogs and each comment enters you to win a Kindle! It doesn't get any hotter than that!

I am proud to be a reviewing sponsor for the event and even more proud that Eden Baylee picked my review of Fall Into Winter, which I wrote to kick off my month of Books, Sex, Rock-n-Roll, as one of her reviews. Thank you, Eden.

So go have a look at my review of Fall Into Winter and Jump over to Eden's blog for fun and free stuff. She also has links to other stellar reviews of Fall Into Winter. So have fun, flirt, and win prizes.

xoxox

max

Review: Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide To Self-publishing Success

2011-07-19T01:00:00.012-04:00

"Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-publishing Success is a step-by-step actionable road map to increasing royalties for beginners and seasoned professionals alike. Divided into three sections; Producing a Sales-Friendly, Professional eBook, Establishing & Leveraging Your Social Media Platform, and Selling Smarter, Not Harder, "Dollars & Sense" walks authors through the process of creating then actually selling their eBook."

Dollars & Sense is indeed The Definitive Guide To Self-publishing Success. In section one, Producing a Professional Product, author Amber Scott offers her experience as a traditionally published author turned Indie. Her wit and concise style of presentation makes the huge amount of information easy to digest as she walks the reader through producing, polishing, and preparing a manuscript for publication while doing the same with the author. She shows us how to find our niche, exploit our strengths, build our brand, and be ready when our book releases.

Ms. Scott reveals that authors must do more today than write a good story. Whether traditionally published in New York or self-published on Smashwords, writers shoulder responsibilities including promoting themselves, their books, and their brands, while producing a high quality, professional product. We are each responsible for our own success, and after Ms. Scott's impressive pep-talk we are well prepared to fight for that success.

Rachel Thompson, also known as Rachel In The OC across various social networks, takes over and leads us forward into Section II: Social Media. In her trademark style of humor and snark, Rachel covers every aspect of social media. Many authors are intimidated by the multitude of social media outlets such as twitter or by what content to put on a blog. But Rachel takes us by the hand and shows us there is nothing to be afraid of. Social networking is our friend, and our greatest ally if we want to connect with potential readers.

Rachel covers all of the popular social networks giving us detailed, actionable tips on building our profiles, managing pages, connections, and content. There is nothing intimidating here. Rachel lays it out simply and succinctly, then covers it again. Her mastery of the subject is apparent in her detailed instruction, and ease of presentation. When she is finished we are ready to tweet and post like pros.

In the final section Carolyn McCray explains Selling Your Book—the Intelligent Way. She expands on the earlier sections and delves into the finer points of marketing, advertising, and selling your book--sharing real world knowledge gleaned from her extensive experience. Carolyn explains how the Indie Book Collective was born and the techniques she has discovered that can drive your book to the best seller list.

Dollars & Sense is a must read for the intrepid Indie author, and traditionally published authors alike who realize that they must shoulder the burden of promoting and selling their own books. I, for one, will be turning to it again and again as a reference guide.

If you would like a FREE copy of Dollars & Sense (Yes, I said FREE!) Jump on over to Rachel's blog and tell her how awesome she is. She has links to the other authors and reviewers who are participating in the Ménage à Blog Tour. They're giving away loads of FREE eBooks and swag, and each comment on an author's blog is a chance to win a Kindle! Just remember to leave an email address so they can contact you.

Thursday (7/21/11) I'll be back in the Ménage à Blog with Eden Baylee and her book Fall Into Winter. Don't miss it! The Ménage à Blog Tour is going on all week with three authors a day, all giving away books and prizes. Check out the full schedule -- and get FREE stuff!

**If you'd like to learn more about the Indie Book Collective, and the authors of Dollars & Sense, the following bios were provided by the authors.

Amber Scott bio:
In between naptimes and dishes, Amber Scott escapes into her characters’ addictive lives. She often burns dinner, is a sucker for chocolate and still believes in happily ever after. She makes her home in hot Arizona with her two children, husband, and one day, two cats.

Contact info:
amberscottbooks@gmail.com (for readers)
amberromances@yahoo.com (for main contact)
Twitter: @amberscottbooks
Weblog: http://amberscottbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmberScottBooks

Bio for Carolyn McCray
Carolyn is the Founder of the Indie Book Collective, a group dedicated to helping authors use social media to its fullest potential to sell their books.
The #IBC exploded within 4 months to have over 5,000 members and its work has already been covered in major, national publications.
She has been described as an eBook marketing guru (others’ words not hers), a volcano of Amazon.com eBook knowledge (again, not her words), and the Borg Queen (ok, maybe she coined that one herself).
Each one of her novels have reached bestselling status on Amazon.com and her super controversial thriller, “30 Pieces of Silver” topped (as in #1) the Men’s Adventure category, #3 in the War sub-genre, and #183 overall (out of about1 million books) in the Kindle Top Bestsellers.
Carolyn also has contributed to Digital Book World.com and has been covered by the Huffington Post (Books). Carolyn appeared on a panel with Jane Freidman at SXSW regarding the future of digital publishing and will appear on several panels at the NY Indie Book Event (7/2011).

RACHEL THOMPSON BIO
Rachel Thompson (aka RachelintheOC) is the author of the consistently 5/5 star reviewed humorous and at times, poignant, collection of essays, A Walk In The Snark (released 1/2011), which recently hit #3 on the Amazon Humor/Parenting & Families Kindle list (beating out the likes of Jenny McCarthy!), after just a few months of release and has consistently stayed on the Amazon Top Humor Lists.
In May, 2011 A Walk In The Snark hit #1 on Smashwords Entertainment Bestseller list also.
Rachel is also one of the cofounders of the Indie Book Collective, an organization with over 6,000 members which is dedicated to helping authors utilize social media to the fullest to sell their books. The Collective offers free workshops, a live advice radio show, innovative programs such as Blog Tour de Force & Bestseller for a Day, and so much more to its members.
You can find Rachel most days on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, giving daily tips on the IndieBookIBC Twitter stream, contributing posts to the IBC blog or her own popular blog, giving free social media workshops for writers, promoting her current book or working on her next book, The Mancode: A Survivor’s Tale. She lives in the OC aka Orange County, CA (home of Disneyland). Somewhere in there this redhead in a sea of blondes fits in being a full-time wife and mom to her two young children and just one husband. She loves coffee, dirty martinis, and sleep.
Rachel and the IBC were recently profiled (April 13, 2011) in the Huffington Post Books section regarding social media and ePublishing.

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Sheryl Crow

2011-07-18T19:12:00.000-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Supertramp - Logical

2011-07-17T21:35:00.000-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Nickleback - Hero - Spiderman

2011-07-16T20:37:00.000-04:00

One of the best kisses in movie history - MJ kisses Spiderman

Flirting and FREE stuff-- Ménage à Blog Tour (IBC)

2011-07-15T05:01:00.022-04:00

No book review this week. But Monday will kick off the Indie Book Collective's / Blog Tour de Force -- Ménage à Blog Tour. I'll be reviewing the Indie Book Collective's how-to guide Dollars & Sense: TheDefinitive Guide To Self-publishing Success by Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson -- all terrific ladies of the IBC -- on Tuesday, July 19th.

Rachel Thompson -- aka Rachel In The OC -- will be participating as one of the three authors flirting it up with readers on that day and giving away FREE eBooks and other prizes to readers who comment on their blogs or any of the various review blogs which are participating. But there will be different authors and bloggers every day--that's a lot of FREE stuff! Check out the IBC Blog Tour de Force page for more details and be here Tuesday, July 19th to read my review of Dollars & Sense.

I'll also be sending out a FREE copy of my eBook, CybrGrrl, to anyone who posts on my blog next week, and leaves an email address I can send it to. I can't give you a book if I don't know where to send it. So have a great weekend, enjoy the daily Rock-n-Roll posts, and be ready to comment away all next week. Click on the IBC Ménage à Blog Tour banner for a full schedule of authors and blogs participating. The more you comment the more chances you have to win!

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Sharp Dressed Man

2011-07-14T18:01:00.002-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll - Pajama Party at Casey's Cont..

2011-07-13T16:02:00.000-04:00

The Pajama Party is still going on over at Casey's blog. Here's a little something to get your blood flowing and jazz you up before you dive is -- pajamas are optional ;-)

Let's get this party started!

http://casey-sheridan.blogspot.com/2011/07/pajama-party-with-eden-baylee.html

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll - Pajama Party at Casey's

2011-07-12T18:13:00.000-04:00

Casey Sheridan is having a Pajama Party with Eden Baylee over on Casey's Blog. In honor of the very HOT very SEXY event, I have chosen a special song...

You can follow Casey and Eden on Twitter. I do ;-)

@casesheridan @edenbaylee

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

2011-07-11T18:30:00.004-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll: Evanescence: Wake Me Up Inside - Underworld Movie

2011-07-10T21:41:00.001-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll : Aerosmith Rag Doll

2011-07-09T15:53:00.000-04:00

Review: Monogamy Sucks - George Pappas

2011-07-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

In Monogamy Sucks author George Pappas takes his readers on a wild ride through a world few have experienced. Protagonist Jake Dalmas, tired of one girlfriend after the next and hungering for a life that only exists in seventies porn movies, decides to become a swinger. His escapades are raw, sometimes raunchy, and often comical. The narrative proceeds through a series of journal entries by Jake chronicling his sexual conquests and abject failures. The former often as humorous as the latter.

This story is not for the easily offended. Mr. Pappas has a dark and decidedly nasty sense of humor. George Carlin comes to mind, or Robin Williams at his raunchiest, in the style and content. And though Monogamy Sucks is filled with detailed descriptions of sex scenes right out of Hustler or Swank, I would not classify it as porn nor erotica. The sex is often crude and dysfunctional at best, but therein lies the humor.

Back in the seventies I saw an hilariously raunchy film at the Midnight Movies featuring, then unknown, Robin Williams: Can I Do It Until I Need Glasses. That's the feel of Monogamy Sucks. Jake's exploits are Monty Python meets Larry Flynt--often surreal and at times truly bizarre. I would not want to visit a swingers bar after reading this book, but I did laugh my ass off. Monogamy Sucks could be hailed as a cautionary tale about getting what you wish for, but it's really just a good hard laugh and has a romantic, happily-ever-after ending. Read it drunk, but don't share it with your girlfriend.

I'm a fan of George Pappas, but unfortunately I cannot offer a unqualified endorsement. From a literary standpoint I found the journal style at times cumbersome. I think the story would be better served by a more traditional narrative. But it is a great read for those who love dirty jokes and physical comedy. Monogamy Sucks would make an hilarious adult movie. And for those like me who love B movies, cult classics, and viral videos: it's a hoot.

Hey Babe, take a walk on the wild side - Lou Reed

2011-07-07T16:06:00.000-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll - What I'm rocking to

2011-07-06T16:32:00.000-04:00

CybrGrrl - FREE eBook Giveaway

2011-07-05T06:20:00.001-04:00

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll continues with a very special offer. In honor of the international discussion of The Relevance of Sex in Literature in 2011 going on over at Suzannah Burke's blog Soooz Says... Stuff (of which I am taking part) and in rapt anticipation of the upcoming Ménage à Blog Tour July 18-25 sponsored by the Indie Book Collective (I'll also be reviewing as part of the tour - stay tuned) I am offering a free download of my novel CybrGrrl to anyone who sends me an email with CybrGrrl as the subject.

In addition ( Oh yes, there is more ) I will also email you a sneak peek of my upcoming novel .45 Caliber Jitterbug. The coupons for a free download, in the eBook flavor of your choice from Smashwords, are only good through the end of July, so don't waste time. Send me an email, and tell your friends. Find out just how sexy high technology can be with the sexiest AI in existence. And one more thing...

Find, follow, and mention @CybrGrrl on twitter for a special bonus prize.

email: max@maxwellcynn.com
subject = CybrGrrl

Independence Day - Martina McBride

2011-07-04T06:32:00.000-04:00

Battle of New Orleans - 1814 - Johnny Horton

2011-07-03T16:21:00.000-04:00

Soooz Says Stuff: Topic "The Relevance of Sex in Literature in 2011"...

2011-07-03T10:59:00.000-04:00

Soooz Says Stuff: Topic "The Relevance of Sex in Literature in 2011"...: Come join the discussion!

Review: Fall Into Winter by Eden Baylee

2011-07-01T10:33:00.000-04:00

Exciting, Exotic, and Extremely Erotic--that is how Eden Baylee describes her work. I couldn't agree more. Her debut release FALL INTO WINTER, a collection of four erotic novellas set in, you guessed it, fall and winter, is hot enough to melt the Icelandic snow. The action is exciting, the locations exotic, and the romance is extremely erotic.

I don't read a lot of erotica, though I write a little myself. Most of what is out there on the dark shelves of the adult section is simply literary porn. Sure, some of it is well written and much of it is erotic, in a prurient sort of way, but I want a little more for my reading pleasure. Eden Baylee delivers. Her novellas are sensual, romantic, and engaging. We are drawn into the lives and emotions of her characters, our senses are filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of exotic locations, and yes, we are driven by desire through her beautifully detailed love scenes.

Spoiler Alert: Being a collection of four novellas, it is hard to talk about each story and not give too much away. If you would like a little teaser on each story, keep reading. If you'd rather discover it all for yourself, skip down to the bottom and leave a comment or read Fall Into Winter for yourself.

In the first story, Seduced By The Blues, we meet Ella Jamieson in a New York night club, feeling particular wicked and wanting to hook up. She sets her sites on a young man at the bar and gets much more than she expects. John is a master musician and plays her body and emotions as skillfully and passionately as he plays his guitar.

Next, in Act Three, we are introduced to Stella Christy who, after ending a less than fulfilling marriage, is quit the sexual adventuress. She has a man who fulfills her every desire, but she wants more--a ménage à trois with another man. I won't give away more than that, but the action takes some pretty unexpected and harrowing turns. The temperature really heats up in this one.

In the third story we slide into winter with, The Norwegian. Leah retreats to a cabin at secluded resort in an effort to break her writers block. Being winter the resort is all but empty and she relishes the seclusion, but a knock on her cabin door and a gorgeous Norwegian man who is the image of her dead lover make her wonder if she is seeing a ghost. But Henrik is very real and very much alive. What ensues is a beautifully poignant romance that could melt the Alps.

In the forth and final novella, The Austrian and the Asian, we are offered a passionately romantic story of love found, and lost, and rekindled. The author ends her collection with as much fire as she'd began, the cold of winter unable to quench the burning desire of her characters.

I await the author's follow up collection, which will cover Spring and Summer, making for a truly Exciting, Exotic, and Extremely Erotic year. I breathlessly recommend Fall Into Winter to anyone who loves great romance and expects more than just great sex. You can visit Eden at her blog.

Books, Sex, and Rock-n-Roll

2011-06-29T17:04:00.000-04:00

After enjoying A COLD DAY IN HELL I'm turning up the heat for your reading pleasure. I'll be posting the hard rocking music that gets me up and in the mood to write, and reviewing some burning hot lit. I'll also be taking part in a discussion on The Relevance Of Sex In Literature in 2011 over on Suzannah Burke's blog, Soooz Says Stuff, and later in the month I'll be reviewing Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-publishing Success by Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson as part of the Indie Collective's Ménage à Blog Tour. July is going to be a hot and sultry month. You don't want to miss a single post.

I'll be kicking it all off Friday, July 1st with a review of Eden Baylee's book FALL INTO WINTER, which is hot enough to melt the polar ice caps. Don't miss it!

BarlowGirl - Never Alone (Video)

2011-06-28T22:01:00.000-04:00

<br><br><br><br>What

What I'm listening to. These girls are awesome.

Review: A Cold Day In Hell - Denise Main

2011-06-24T06:42:00.000-04:00

In her debut novel, A Cold Day In Hell, author Denise Main weaves a wonderful story of intrigue, mystery, drama, and humor. Azarial may not be a very good demon, but she is a perfect main character. I fell in love with her immediately. Azarial is a sculpter. Her mother is a fallen archangel. Her friends are powerful lords from various worlds. And her constant companion, and perfect sidekick, is an imp named Tonk. All of the characters are wonderfully detailed.

The author sculpts an amazing world filled with magic, technology, and an elaborate social system which she calls the "Structure." The Structure is filled with countless worlds including our own and, of course, Hell where Azarial lives in her mothers townhouse with her servant Tonk, her weathervane and house guardian Fan, and four elementals who live on the roof. The intricate world system is presented flawlessly and effortlessly by the author and I felt at home from page one.

Azarial's life is already a mess without any help from outside, but it becomes worse when interrupted by a baby dragon, a summons from a witch, and a friend's uncle who is being pursued by powerful bounty-hunters. Throw in a Darkchild at the time of changing, and a black-winged angel (Azarial has a phobia of feathers) and interesting becomes down-right intriguing. All of the characters and settings are richly detailed and I was kept guessing and turning pages right to the last scene. I truly love the concept and the characters. I hope Mrs. Main writes a whole series of books featuring this group of characters.

A Cold Day In Hell is published by World Castle Publishing - a small, non-subsidy press in Pensacola, Florida. The cover, produced by Fantasia Frogs Designs, is perfect. It catches the eye, entices the imagination, and more importantly sells the story. I love the choice of font, the stark simplicity of the layout, and the female eyes, one winking, which fits perfectly with the main character. But the book itself is in need of a good copy edit. I found a number of minor errors in the text: misplaced words, missing words, added words, typographical errors. None of the errors are story breakers, many will likely be passed over by a casual reader, but a professionally published book should not contain this number of mistakes.

Yet, all-in-all, I unequivocally recommend A Cold Day In Hell. The seamlessly woven story more than makes up for the editing flaws. I hope you enjoy A Cold Day In Hell. I did. And I can't wait to go back.

Review: A Walk In The Snark - Rachel Thompson

2011-06-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

I can't review A Walk In The Snark by Rachel Thompson - better known as Rachel in the OC - without reviewing the author herself. A Walk In The Snark is a collection of the best-of-the-best from the author's wildly popular blog. In this best selling eBook the reader gets a wonderful taste of different aspects of her writing - from gut-wrenching hilarious, to the quiet seriousness of the authors heart. Rachel is relentless as she deconstructs the mysteries of men, women, relationships, and the perfect martini.

In this loosely autobiographical set of short vignettes the author uses humor and a snarky attitude to tackle issues that are serious and silly with equal gusto. She skillfully explains the mancode to clueless women while helping us guys understand the maddening complexities of chickspeak. Her insightful walk-throughs guide the reader boldly across minefields like "I'm fine," and into advanced areas of training such as shopping. There is no subject, controversial or mundane, Rachel is afraid to take a swipe at.

A Walk In The Snark isn't all pokes and tickles, however. At times the author lays herself bare with heart rending candor. We are graciously allowed to share her sorrows along with her joys. The humor is often self-depreciating with the author laughing as much at herself, and her gender, as she does the men she dearly loves. Rachel likes to present the image of a snarky bitch, but she is one of the sweetest, most generous people I've met. Just don't call her cute.

I am somewhat reminded of famous columnists from the past such as Erma Bombeck, but Rachel in the OC is very much a woman of today. Her humor and delivery are fresh and new. The confused friction between men and women isn't a new source of humor, but Rachel gives it a hard backspin. Buy the book, read until you fall out of your chair laughing, then follow her blog. The snark never stops, it just keep going and going and going...

Drop in on Rachel's blog, or follow her on twitter. And make sure you tell her Max said hello.

**WARNING** Do not visit Rachel in the OC, or read A Walk In The Snark while drinking any type of beverage. This will cause damage to nearby electronics when you spew said beverage from your mouth and nose. You have been warned.

Review: Mayne Attraction - In the Spotlight - Ann Mauren

2011-06-10T08:34:00.000-04:00

Ellery Mayne isn't paranoid, she really is being followed--and watched. To a shy, socially awkward seventeen year old girl, who looks closer to twelve than twenty and is struggling to survive a broken heart, being the center of attention is rather uncomfortable--particularly when she has no idea who is watching her or why. Lucky for her they seem benign enough, even helpful on occasion, and when she finally gets a glimpse of one of her watchers, he turns out to be absolutely dreamy. What's a girl to do?

In her debut novel Mayne Attraction - In the Spotlight, the first book in the Mayne Attraction series, author Ann Mauren weaves an intricate story from the naive, though incredibly resourceful and intelligent perspective of young Ellery Mayne. Determined to discover who these people are, and why she is being watched and seemingly protected from harm, our wonderfully self-sufficient heroine devises some rather devious strategies of her own to spot her surveillance team.

What struck me most about this beautifully written work was its intelligence. While many popular books, especially YA romances, seem written to a middle-grade reading level or lower in style and substance, Mayne Attraction assumes much of the reader. The main character is highly intelligent, well read, and has a stellar vocabulary. The narrative reflects that. I have a fairly extensive vocabulary and there were more than a few words I didn't know. But the author, or Ellery herself, graciously explains the hard ones. But their use comes naturally to Ellery, often to the confusion of her friends, and the PhD vocabulary doesn't seem contrived at all. It flows naturally throughout the narrative.

I enjoyed Mayne Attraction - In the Spotlight immensely and cannot wait for In the Smoke and In the Shadow. All three books planned in the series will be written from a different POV. I visited Ann Mauren's website and read excerpts from Main Attraction - In the Shadow to see how that very interesting concept worked (Spoiler Alert - if you read the excerpts, the story is very much the same as In the Spotlight from a different POV). The new POV adds powerfully to the story, revealing events and perspectives unknown to Ellery as well as giving the reader a look at the beloved heroine from other points-of-view. It is a very effective concept both as a literary and a marketing device.

I will hazard to predict Mayne Attraction will be thought of as a groundbreaking piece of modern literature if it can receive enough exposure. I highly recommend it on all levels - story, writing, and style - and for all audiences. This work just topped my 2011 fiction reading list. It will be difficult for anything else to surpass it. I can't give it enough stars. And the author is giving away the eBook version of Mayne Attraction - In the Spotlight on Amazon. So download it and see for yourself. You don't need a Kindle to read Kindle eBooks.

Review: Follow the Money - Fingers Murphy

2011-06-03T09:04:00.000-04:00

In the debut novel from author Fingers Murphy - FOLLOW THE MONEY - a young protagonists searches for the truth about a twelve year old murder case, and struggles to find his place in a world of greed and conflicting ethics.

Oliver Olson is a law student from a working class family who lands a position working as a summer associate at a prestigious law firm. He went to law school because he wanted to help people, but quickly finds himself in a world of extreme opulence, power, and greed. The skillfully crafted narrative is reminiscent of classic hard-boiled mysteries, and like many pulp novels of the past the mystery plot is at times stilted and contrived, but the overall story is so well written we can forgive a few shaky elements.

Though hardcore mystery readers might find some mystery elements a little weak, the back story of a young man on the threshold of losing his soul to the corruption inherent in money and power makes the work a worthwhile and spellbinding read. The characterizations are rich and believable, the settings detailed and alluring, and the protagonist Oliver Olson is endearing even in his deepest plunges into the dark side. The reader easily sympathizes with his ethical battles and eagerly cheers and scolds him along the way.

The writing itself is one of the most stand out elements of this book. Fingers Murphy is a master of the well turned phrase and is able to speak volumes with only a few words. In one early scene the author describes the opulence of a party thrown at the law firm. A centerpiece is described as an ice sculpture of Lady Justice, the scales filled with caviar. Later, as Mr. Olson is torn by guilt over his conflicting desires and ideals he references the sculpture - "...the clear droplets running down the side of Lady Justice's icy face as she strained to hold those scales aloft."

Another beautiful example of the authors mastery of prose comes as Olson wakes after a drunken night - "My head pounded and I went frightfully still. I was only two more foolish moves from vomiting. Nearly checkmated by my own hangover, I paused and planned my next motions with care." The narrative is filled with such gems, keeping the reader joyfully engaged. Anyone who loves good literature will enjoy Mr. Murphy's writing, whether you are a fan of mysteries or not.

I heartily recommend FOLLOW THE MONEY to anyone who enjoys fine literature, young adult to senior citizen. It is a very well written and satisfying summer read. I look forward to future works by the author.

Lost Weekend... ah, week actually ;-)

2011-05-27T19:49:00.000-04:00

View from the right coast -

I'm sitting on the balcony of my hotel room at Ocean Isle Beach, looking out over a calm ocean, as the sun slowly rises on another perfect day. The last few days have been exactly what I needed, completely unproductive. I've sat on the beach until my skin is pink and tingling, walked until my legs are sore, body-surfed until my muscles ached, ate fish and shrimp until I'm stuffed, read my Kindle on the beach, made love in the afternoon, laughed, slept, and let my thoughts wander.

I needed this more than I realized and it will be over long before I've had enough. Too soon I will be back to work, back to life, back to stress. The days of surf and sun and lazy afternoons will drift away like a dream at waking and the stack of bills, the daily chores, and yet another crisis will fill my world again. But today I will pack my towel, my Kindle, my bottles of lemonade, and throw myself back into the never ending rhythm of crashing waves and lose myself in the monotony of just being.

I came here to write, to finish the final edits on The Collective for release in June, and get away for awhile. Writing and editing hasn't happened. Maybe if I had more time, this balcony would be a perfect place to write, but even here time passes too quickly and I find myself in a hurry to relax before it's gone and life grabs me by the throat again. So the editing is thrown back on the stack of things not getting done this week and production comes to a halt for an all too brief vacation.

When I post this I'll be back, doing all the things that must be done when returning from a trip, all the little things that pile up and stand waiting patiently to smack me back into reality. After the long drive home there will be bills piled on my desk, food to cook, clothes to wash, and another work week to prepare for. Life doesn't take a vacation. The manuscript still hasn't been edited and my son's car is still a lifeless piece of scrap metal in my driveway. All the things that need to get done while I sit on the beach haven't.

But today I fiddle as Rome burns. Today I throw myself in the ocean. Today I don't give a damn what needs doing, or what the motel costs, or what CNN says. Today I relax. Let the cares of the day be sufficient, the evils of tomorrow will tend to themselves. Today I live, laugh, love. Today there is sun, sand, and surf. If only today could last forever.

Back home -

Unfortunately all good things come to an end and I'm back home staring at my keyboard. At least it's a long weekend, I'll need it to recover. The vacation was a blast, the beach was perfect, the ocean was just warm enough to swim in, and the breeze just cool enough to be comfortable. I came home to severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and massive power outages. Today was spent shopping for and buying a new car, so again writing/editing gets pushed to the back burner.

Tonight I post this, then try to catch up on a week away from social networks. Right. Like that will happen. Anyone have a brief summary? Tomorrow I'll write bills and hit the chores. Perhaps by Sunday I'll get a little editing done. My new work in progress is an ongoing web series - Entangled Pair. I've decided to run it on a dedicated blog and link it here. I will also be continuing the series of Book Reviews. Next week is Follow the Money - a novel by Fingers Murphy. So stay tuned.

Review: Empty Chairs - Stacey Danson

2011-05-20T07:01:00.000-04:00

When I began reading Empty Chairs by Stacey Danson I was completely unprepared for what I would find. If it were a novel, I would have put it down. The matter-of-fact narration depicting extreme sexual exploitation of a small child by her mother turned my stomach. But Empty Chairs isn't a novel. It is Stacy Danson's life story. I read on through tears; my heart filled with horror, sympathy, and anger. But I read on.

In her superbly written auto-biography, the author unfolds a vision of hell that few can imagine, but is the life of far too many innocent children in our society. Stacy was beaten brutally and repeatedly. She was forced to service a stream of men who paid her mother - not occasionally, but every day. When her mother wasn't pleased with her performance Stacy was locked away in a dark closet where claustrophobia threatened her sanity. Stacy was only three.

Her earliest memories are of abuse. Stacy was only five when her mother sold her virginity to the highest bidder and she was brutally raped. The daily torment continued until Stacy, in an amazing act of defiance, at last said no and ran away. She had only been allowed to attend three years of school, between six and nine years old, and at eleven was alone on the harsh streets of Kings Cross in Sydney, Australia. But Stacy survived.

In her short time attending school she learned to read. Her love of reading, and her hunger for knowledge, has continued for over forty years, as is apparent in her masterful writing. Horrific details of her life are delivered in almost emotionless, matter-of-fact clarity, and her dark humor is equally dead-pan. Yes, I laughed at times, in a very somber way. But without that detachment and humor the story would be too tragic to read.

I am friends with the author on facebook, as I am with many fellow writers. We rarely interact, but I saw a post that her blog was nearing two-hundred followers and she was giving away copies of Empty Chairs once she reached two-hundred. I went to her blog and followed it. I was number two-hundred. She emailed the book and told me it was her auto-biography and might be hard to read. I never imagined. It was the hardest thing I have ever read. I can not possibly understand how hard it was to write.

Though I think this book should be read by every adult on the planet, I must warn you it is a glimpse into hell. Stacy carries the emotional and physical scars, some severe, to this day, but I am amazed she even survived. It is far more unfathomable that she grew into such a strong and beautiful human being, and equally wonderful writer. I am quite honored now to be on her friends list. But as she says, she didn't just survive, she choose to live, and she choose to speak out and shine a light into the dark corners of our world that most of us chose to ignore.

Stacy Danson is the pen name of author Suzannah Burke. You can find her on facebook, her blog Soooz Says Stuff, and on twitter @pursoot. You can also visit the Empty Chairs blog.

Review - The Pull of Gravity - Gae Polisner

2011-05-13T13:06:00.000-04:00

While Nick Gardner's family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot's final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot's father. There's just one problem: the Scoot's father walked out years ago and hasn't been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck's life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him. Characters you'll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.

I generally read adult fiction. I haven't been a teenager since the seventies, and even my children are no longer teens. Normally I would hardly give a YA or teen novel a second look. But lately I've been reading, and reviewing books outside my usual reading list. I'm glad I gave The Pull of Gravity a chance.

In her debut novel author Gae Polisner shows an uncanny ability to capture the heart, mind, and voice of a teenage boy. Nick Gardner is an average teen who finds himself caught in a whirlwind of life changing events. The first-person narrative proceeds in such a natural, true, and believable fashion it's hard to imagine that it isn't taken directly from the mind of a fifteen year old boy.

Nick suffers all the normal angst of puberty, but he also has a best friend who is dying and a father who literally walks away. Throw a quirky older girl into the mix, Jaycee, who has an interest in Nick and an adventurous plan to help the Scoot, and Nick can do little more than 'trust the force' and cope as best he can. When the couple take a road trip in search of the Scoot's absentee dad, Nick soon experiences how far the best laid plans can go awry.

I well remember how difficult those teen years can be, and how it often seemed the most intimate thoughts and emotions were plastered like a billboard for all to see. The author beautifully embodies that exposed feeling with Jaycee's apparent ability to know Nick's every thought. He is both intimidated and enthralled by her seeming fearlessness and self-sufficiency while he suffers from quite normal adolescent insecurity.

I opened The Pull of Gravity and quite literally read it in one sitting. I never put it down, from cover-to-cover. I was drawn into the life of Nick Gardner and felt such a strong connection that I at times read through the blur of tears. It is an emotionally charged novel that is one moment hilariously funny and the next heart-wrenching and tragic. Ms. Polisner has burst onto the literary scene and shown herself worthy to be shelved with the likes of Steinbeck.

I recommend Pull of Gravity to all who love literature, and as a must read for teens. If my sons were still teens it would be required reading in my home this summer.

Buy it, you will, and master writer you'll see.

Yoda (max)

Know your market and attract the right following

2011-05-06T09:19:00.000-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to take part in a blog tour over on The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog for debut author Steve Ulfelder and his upcoming novel Purgatory Chasm sponsored by Fine Print Literary Management. To be honest, it didn't sound like a book I would normally read - Steve is a motor-sports guy and his protagonist Conway Sax is a reformed alcoholic and failed NASCAR driver. I'm not into NASCAR.

I took the assignment, however - writing an interview and book review as part of a blog tour for a major agency, for a book published by a major publisher, is not something to pass on. Steve Ulfelder turned out to be a great guy, very down to earth and easy to interview, and the book was a delightful surprise. Conway Sax is somewhere between Sam Spade and the Punisher with a little Die Hard thrown in. Read my review, and interview, on The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog.

The assignment gave me the chance to interact with some awesome people and inject my name into the aether of NY publishing. It's doubtful anything will come of it, but the more one gets their name out the better. The best part was meeting a very professional, very skilled writer, and reading a damn fine book. So it was a win-win situation.

It all started me thinking about what we do, as writers, to promote ourselves. We all want to be published, want to sell books. I spent years chasing after agents, trying to be noticed, and now I chase after readers. It really is a very different game. On the query-go-round we actively seek connections with other writers, agents, editors, publishers in an attempt to sell our work. It is all about the big publishing industry in NY. But that's not who really buys books.

When I switched over to Indie publishing, my market changed. Now it is all about the readers. They are the ones buying my books, and the ones I need to have notice me. All authors make that switch when they finally get published. The focus goes from landing an agent, to landing a publisher, to courting book sellers, to attracting readers. Each market is different and requires a unique approach.

The new publishing - eBooks, blog tours, et.al. - is changing the way writers promote their work to readers. The days of a writer going from bookstore to bookstore signing books and shaking hands with readers is all but gone. With eBooks there is nothing to sign, and with online bookstores there is nowhere to sit. Markets are growing online and shrinking at the local mall. Even print books are selling online better than in bookstores, and eBooks are surpassing paperbacks.

Social networks are becoming the new place for authors and readers to meet. Readers go online for their books and to interact with their favorite authors. Authors have blogs, FB pages, twitter accounts and readers flock to sites with book reviews and industry news. But it is even more difficult to be noticed online than at the local bookstore. There is so much static on the network an author's voice is hard to find, unless the reader knows what they are looking for.

That was the beauty of book signings and personal appearances. Someone went to a bookstore to find a book and there was an author they may never have noticed otherwise sitting at a table signing books. The author just got noticed by a potential new reader. Enter the blog tour. Readers go online to find new books. They frequent literary blogs and review sites. So authors go there to be seen. They write reviews, give interviews, convince book bloggers to review their work. It's all about connecting with readers.

I'm in a transition right now. I have hundreds of writers and publishing professionals on my friend-lists from my old strategy of finding an agent, an editor, a publisher. I have made some awesome connections with some wonderful people. I wouldn't give up my friend-list for anything, but now it's time to connect with readers. My focus going forward is to seek out those readers.

I write/blog a lot on the business and craft of writing, but I'm changing gears and writing more for readers. I'll be posting more short fiction, poetry, and reviews. The writerly stuff will still be here, but the main focus will be on the readers.

xoxox

max

Social Media: metrics, click through, and friends

2011-04-29T11:22:00.000-04:00

I took part in a discussion about audience participation over on Meredith Barnes' blog the other day. The gist was that 5% to 10% audience participation - comments, click-throughs, likes, whatever - is pretty average. Of all the people that read a post, only a small percentage will act. If the participation requires more from a reader - writing a review, purchasing a book - the percentage is even lower. It's easy to click a like button, yet only a few make the effort.

That started me thinking about other online interactions. I have hundreds of followers on twitter, hundreds of friends on facebook and Good Reads, but very few that I interact with in any meaningful way. I think the participation metric applies there as well. It takes little effort to click a follow link or friend link, but a huge personal investment to really be friends.

Of course there are other considerations. People are motivated to act by a wide variety of reasons, but often it comes down to personal benefit. Many follow to be followed, or to be associated with a popular person or group - again to gain followers for themselves. There is a give and take, a cost-to-benefit ratio. What do I get for clicking like? Do I want others to know I like something? It may sound calculated and self serving, but it is basic human nature.

The concept isn't new to the internet. People act and react much the same in everyday life, making everyday decisions. Sex sells in advertising because it offers a desired benefit that outweighs the perceived cost. The benefits of a particular action are highlighted and the costs minimized - low monthly payment and a sexy blonde in the passenger seat. It is important to know what an audience wants, and what they are willing to do for it. But friends aren't like that, are they?

Humanity is a collection of individuals trapped inside their own skins. It is the nature of things. We perceive the world through our own unique perspective, with our own desires and needs. No matter how hard we try to see things, and act, from an omni POV we are forever trapped in the first person. By nature we click a link, or buy a product, based on an often unconscious cost/benefit ratio. People gravitate to other people and groups for the same reasons.

In the context of online social media there are millions of individuals taking part in billions of interactions for an equal number of different, and often divergent, reasons. As I said, I have hundreds of online friends and each have their own unique reasons for being a friend. I am out there tweeting, blogging, posting on facebook and other sites, and people see me. They read my posts and decide if they should comment, like, friend, follow, for diverse reasons. The metrics tell me to expect 5% to react in some way, 10% if I'm lucky, but that is a cold statistical average and a bit meaningless.

I ask myself why I'm here, what do I want? Like everyone else, there is a cost/benefit calculation for what I do, why I write, why I post, who I chose to follow/friend. As a writer, I of course want to sell books. As a coder, I want customers to commission eBooks, apps, websites. But as a human being I crave interaction with my fellow writers, with readers, with people of like interests. We are, after all, a social species. When we look at participation metrics, we need to ask what are we measuring?

If all we are interested in is click-throughs, sales, and growing our audience, the participation metrics might be helpful. But most of us are interested in more than that. Social media is, after all, social. What percentage of our contacts like something, or comment is not as important as sharing the content itself. In the social context of social media there is a sharing of thoughts and ideas that may or may not require a response. Yet in the silence of a low participation metric there can be a bond of intimacy as friends learn more about each other and grow closer with every post.

I am often surprised, and delighted, when someone who has never commented on one of my posts makes a comment or sends a message that makes it clear they have been paying attention all along. I am equally amused when people who comment often are clueless what I posted yesterday. There are simply some people who post a lot, click a lot of buttons, but do so to be seen themselves, and there are others who genuinely follow/friend yet rarely click. The participation metric is oblivious to the friends that matter, socially.

I would argue that those silent, uncounted friends/followers are the most important metric of all - and not only on a personal level. They are the base, the foundation, that is rarely counted or factored into statistical equations. When I find an author or artist I like, I keep an eye on them and support them, but I rarely play the fan-boy and spam their blog or page. I'm one of those uncounted fans. I know they have something coming out, often before the ad campaign starts, and I've already purchased or pre-ordered before the statistics begin.

I'm not unique. Statistically, I'm pretty average. As the participation metrics show, over 90% rarely participate, yet they are there - reading, following, perhaps participating in ways that are not being measured. Some I consider friends and we interact in various ways, over different media. Others I may never know, but they are buying my books, reading my posts, and possibly suggesting me to their friends. How many people click a like button is often irrelevant to the quality of the fan base.

So what does this all mean, and what do we do with the information? I don't think anyone really knows. It is the Holy Grail of marketing to know why people act the way they do - why one thing is ignored while another goes viral. Unlike traditional marketing which presents a solid cost/benefit ratio designed to convince customers to purchase, social media is a popularity contest where high numbers are often hollow and substance is often overlooked. For me, I'm social to be social. Numbers are meaningless. It is more important for me to make contact with people.

Why do you participate on social networks? Be one of the few, the proud, comment below ;-)

Max

Elements of an eBook - style and legal matters

2011-04-22T08:17:00.000-04:00

If you are self-publishing on Kindle or Nook there is more to consider than uploading your manuscript. If you're publishing an eBook, you are publishing a book - not posting a blog. eBooks are, after all, books. That may seem self evident, but many people don't seem to think electronic books are "real books." But they are.

Books share a common format that developed of time. Go to your bookshelf and pick a book. Open it and leaf through the first few pages. Any book you chose will be similar in format and structure, from a cheap paperback to an expensive hardcover. There is a title page, a copyright page, perhaps a dedication, acknowledgments, forward. Your eBook should have all of those elements as well.

The copyright page is, perhaps the most important. That is where publishers put all of the necessary legal stuff. You are offering a literary work for sale; a book, like any paper bound book. It is a product, a piece of merchandise that people will pay money for. There are legal concerns. Ergo, the copyright page. You must assert your rights and limit you liability. Publishers have perfected the format, all you need do is look at a few of your printed books for examples.

You will need an ISBN. You can put that on your copyright page. It will also be embedded in the meta data of the book itself, but it should be where the buyer can see it. It's up to you if you'd like to register a copyright. It's a good idea. But simply putting the word copyright, your name, and the year, somewhere in the book is legally a copyright notice. Something else for the copyright page. If you do register and have a Library of Congress catalog number, you can put that as well.

All of this information about your book doesn't just make your eBook look more professional, (it does that, sure) it is the product information for a book, just like the product information on anything people buy. Again, you are producing a product for sale, not posting on your buddies facebook page.

You may also notice a disclaimer on the copyright page. "This is a work of fiction" or some such. That is added by the lawyers so Joe Usetobeafriend doesn't claim he is your main character and you stole his life, or Mary Thejealousbitch doesn't hit you with a defamation of character lawsuit for casting her as a villain. It's all fiction, any resemblance to your Aunt Kattie is unintentional.

With the legal mumbo-jumbo taken care of, there are a few elements eBooks share, that are a little different than print books. A table of contents is standard in non-fiction, though not as common in fiction. This is because readers read fiction and non-fiction differently. The TOC is a useful tool in a non-fiction, not so much in fiction, but on an eReader like Kindle or Nook the TOC is very useful regardless. So add one. Your readers will thank you.

Hyperlinks are also available in eBooks. I have yet to see the potential used to its full, though I used hyperlinks a good bit in my first novel, and plan to implement them even more in a future eBook I'm working on. Hyperlinks can transform eBook design and take it far beyond what is possible on paper. But I'll save that for another post. Just think about how hyperlinks can spice up your text.

Lastly I will jump back to the cover. I have seen a lot of awesome covers, but again we need to look at the capabilities and limits of eBook publishing. If you are publishing to Kindle your cover will appear in black and white, and many Nooks out there are B&W as well. Imagine someone holding their Kindle and surfing the Kindle store. How will your cover look to them? When you design a cover it needs to have strong contrast and look good in B&W and as a small icon on a small screen.

There are many more design concerns that effect eBooks. I've only scratched the surface with some of the more common elements. What is important is to recognize that publishing an eBook is creating a professional, commercial product that will be sold to the general public. It's not a blog post, or a note on facebook, it's a book - just like any printed book in a brick-and-mortar bookstore. Make it as professional as you can.

max

I Code eBooks!

2011-04-15T16:21:00.000-04:00

I Code eBooks...

I'm starting to see that a lot. eBooks are not that hard to code, if you're comfortable with html, xhtml, xml, and css. But if I just lost you in the alphabet soup, you should find someone good to code your book. Trouble is, everyone who has a book on Kindle or Nook thinks they're a coder. Taking a word doc and sending it through a converter is not coding an ebook.

Converters write nasty code and often get the formatting wrong. Then there's the problem of all the different flavors of html. The code written by Word when you save as an html document may work fine in Internet Explorer - though sometimes not - but fail in other browsers. Html should follow W3C standards, but in machine written code it rarely does.

When a converter grinds up your perfectly formatted manuscript it dumps out a best effort format. Yes, you can and should download the converted file and look it over before you pub, but too often editing the mess the converter vomits out is more difficult than writing the file by hand to start with. And if you're not a coder, trying to edit the file could make things worse.

The best, and easiest way to code an eBook is to code it by hand. Forget the WYSIWYG editors, and the online converters which add clunky code to your manuscript. Pure, W3C compliant code is clear and concise and the eBook site you are uploading to will take it as is - so your formatting stays true. But there are still difficulties. Big companies like proprietary software - in other words they don't like being compatible with each other.

Kindle uses the MobiPocket code base which is based on outdated html, before css, and a limited number of tags at that. Yes, you can send an html file with css through the converter, but go back up and read what I just said. Nook uses ePub, which uses the current xhtml standard (applause to B&N for using the W3C standard and the open source ePub standard). But that means two totally incompatible formats, even though both are, strictly speaking, based on html source code.

Now Kindle says you can upload your ePub file, but don't buy it. See above again. And Nook says you can use a zipped html file - yeah, right. The best results come with the cleanest code. The cleanest code is written not converted. If you are publishing on Kindle and Nook, you need separate files, and well coded files. I take my manuscripts, strip them down to text, format in (mobi)html and xhtml then build the .mobi and .epub files for upload. I use MobiPocket Creator for the Kindle file and Sigil for the Nook file. Both are good programs if you feed them good code.

If you can't, or don't want to mess with coding, then you need a coder. But as I said, there are a lot of people out there offering to code eBooks who are not coders. They send your ms through meat-grinder converters and send you the resulting file - for a hefty fee. It may work fine. You may not notice any format problems. That's good. But Kindle and Nook update regularly, as all programs do, and the sloppy code that looks fine in today's version may break in later versions, just like badly written web pages fail in newer browsers. Industry standard code stands the test of time because it is backward compatible with earlier industry standard code.

There are good coders out there, offering reasonably priced service. I consider myself one of them. But there are also the hacks trying to cash-in on the new wave of self-publishing. As in all things publishing, Writer Beware! Know your coder, and how they will handle the manuscript you have slaved over. It's your baby, don't hand it over to someone who will do a hack job on it, and don't do a hack job on it yourself. If you are not comfortable with the code, find someone to help. Publishing your eBook is a major step. Don't cut corners.

Underground Press Publishing offers everything from consultation to complete turn-key publishing; book design and coding, cover design, editing, promotion, whatever you need.

Social Media Overload - When Buzz becomes a Blur

2011-04-10T10:45:00.000-04:00

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Our minds have the capacity to block out innocuous stimuli so that we can focus more intently on things with greater importance. When we walk into a room, we don't really see the whole room -- consciously. Our mind remembers what was there last time we entered and looks for changes. We see those changes. We don't control this selective sampling of our environment. That's why you can search in vain for your keys when they are on a table in plain view.

Magicians have used that little quirk of perception for centuries to draw our attention to the lovely assistant while the hand moves quicker than the eye. Marketers try to overcome it and draw our attention to their products. But in our modern, hyperactive, wired world, attention is a hard thing to muster. We are overloaded by competing stimuli, all screaming their importance. It all becomes innocuous, and falls beneath the threshold of conscious perception.

This is an important lesson for writers, and anyone hoping to be heard over the incessant buzz of electronic media. Sometimes a whisper draws more attention than a shout. The simple truth about our self-limiting perception is we focus on what is different, new, other. The common, no matter how loud and in-your-face, becomes innocuous and we ignore it. If everyone is shouting, all we hear is a senseless roar.

I was talking to someone the other day who said twitter, at times, is almost incestuous. That odd metaphor caught my attention. When I thought about it, she was right. It reminded me of the "dot-com boom" back in the 90's. There were thousands of internet start-ups who did marketing for, and sold ads to, other start-ups. They were all feeding on each other. When they started falling, they all fell. Incestuous... yes, I can see that.

As writers our social networks are often filled with other writers. We compare notes, help each other, bat around ideas, encourage. It's great. But when we try to market our work, we are, as the old saying goes, preaching to the choir. All of our online friends are trying to sell their books as well. Like the dot-com boomers we are selling to and buying from each other. That business model is not sustainable. If I buy your book and you buy mine -- there's no net profit. The only one making money is the publisher who published both. That's a great market strategy for them. Writers are veracious readers.

But to return to the subject at hand, the "Buzz" becomes an incoherent drone. Potential readers who stumble into our electronic web are inundated by a barrage of sales pitches, book trailers, inane ramblings about craft and market strategy. We sell a few books to friends, and friends-of-friends -- maybe even fans of friends -- then the market collapses. We shout louder, and buzz harder, but no one hears because the mind filters out the innocuous.

So what is the answer? For starters, lay off the hard-sell marketing. It has never worked and never will. People don't like to be beat over the head. If someone constantly tweets "buy my book" everyone stops listening. It's basic human nature that we are interested in what WE are interested in. That's what draws and holds our deficit attention. You can not grab someones attention with what YOU are interested in (selling your book). The way to attract readers is much the same as we have attracted each other -- common interest.

Writers have large networks of fellow writers because we are interested in writing. Some readers stumble in because they are interested in books and those who write them. But the main audience, the ones buying books in the thousands are more interested in genre, plot, and story. They like to read and like to read certain things. They couldn't care less about a writers search for an agent or the latest eBook sales trends. They like vampires, or boy wizards, or mysteries, or romance. They aren't hearing your ramblings about cons and lit events, or your constant sells pitch. If they are following your twitter feed, they have likely read your book and want more. Give it to them. More story, more content, not more sales pitches.

I do a lot of this -- writing for writers, about writing -- but I'm an Indie publisher servicing the writing community through underground press publishing, as well as a writer myself. You are my audience, and I just hit you with a sales pitch. I didn't shout, "Let me code your eBook!" I wrote an article that might just help you sell more books, and pointed out that I might be able to help in other ways as well. If you like what you've read, you just might contact me, or follow me, or tell a friend. That's what soft-sell marketing is about and why it works.

If you've written the next great romance novel -- fill your feed with poetry, advice on relationships, pics of scantily dressed men, and slip in the link to your book once in a while. If you write paranormal, haunt paranormal networks or set up a website with ghost stories and vampire lore. If you get a reader's attention, they will find your books. A quick search on Amazon or Google will do that. Readers are smart and know how to find what they like.

Remember, whispers are far more influential than shouts. In a world of incessant buzz, try humming and see how it works.

max
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Trending: Meredith Barnes

2011-04-01T06:59:00.000-04:00

Meredith Barnes is the assistant to Janet Reid, aka the Query Shark, at Fine Print Literary Management. If you read the profile on her blog, La Vie en Prose, You will find:

FinePrint Literary Management has been unable to rid themselves of Meredith since her arrival in January 2010. Parties have reached a gentlemanly agreement wherein it is specified, among other things, that Meredith sit as far away from the front door as possible. As it would happen, this is part of Janet Reid's agreement as well.
Meredith is not acquiring clients. She reads good writing, both fiction and non, and hawks the outstanding on Janet. Especially appealing are thrillers with worldwide stakes, quirky literary fiction, and characters that she wishes were real. Narrative nonfiction with a new story to tell and the requisite platform (yeah, yeah) is always welcome.
Convinced that technology is vital to the future of publishing, but also recognizing that it is scary and has sharp teeth, Meredith started La Vie en Prose to provide some perspective on the matter.

I discovered Meredith on another blog, Confessions from Suite 500, and liked her style. I followed her when she started La Vie en Prose and on twitter as well. We had a brief exchange awhile back when I won a contest on her blog -- a crit of my query letter. Though it didn't land the agent I was after, I found meeting Ms. Barnes to be the real prize.

In my stalking of the mysterious "Assisssssssstant to the Sharkly One" I was intrigued by her tech savvy views on the future of publishing. In an industry where some agencies still require hard copy query letters and manuscripts, Ms. Barnes, Merbear to some, is developing apps and looking for ways to leverage cutting edge technology to aid authors. When I noticed on her blog that she freelances coding eBooks for self-publishing authors, I begged her for an interview. Despite her insanely busy schedule, she magnanimously agreed.

Max: First of all, Meredith, thank you for taking time out. As you know, I'm an independent author and a strong supporter of self-published and Indie authors. Some people predicted the end of the recording industry when Indie music hit the scene. What is the reaction in New York to the success of Indie publishing and self-published authors?

Meredith: I think there was a lot of fear at first—and by "at first," I mean 2 or so years ago—when everyone was freaking out about agency models and pricing and whether Amazon was just going to buy everyone’s souls and get it over with. There’s still uncertainty. For instance, pricing is still a pretty murky issue, with lots of debate. But I think the fear has abated. As an industry, Publishing is excited about the new stuff, and excited to see new models—even models that traditional publishing isn’t involved in, like self-publishing—succeed. It’s still going to be some time before we see consistent mobilization to do anything about the new stuff, because there’s a lot to consider. And some are moving faster to the starting line than others.

Max: Where do you see literary agents and Indie authors intersecting?

Meredith: First thing with this question is to define “indie authors.” Self-published authors, ones who use Amazon's program, etc. to publish their books, don’t need agents in the traditional sense. That’s because an agent’s job is to facilitate a book’s publication—by whom and how it will be published. We also do a lot more backend stuff like marketing and promotion these days, but by whom and how are the two most important questions for an agent.

If you’re going with the publicly offered programs at Amazon, B&N, etc., the by whom and how is pretty set. They’ve got standardized models and they’re just not going to change that for one author, even if you have a hard-hitting agent on your side. So self-published authors are more looking for help with the backend. There are better people to hire for that. Say, publicists.

There’s another type of author that I think we’re talking about here: one who, for whatever reason, isn’t going to end up at a traditional publisher. Either the market is too narrow or the subject matter too specific/risqué/upmarket/downmarket/whatever for a publisher to pony up with some cash on the deal, or sales numbers haven’t been great and the agent/author worry that enthusiasm at the house is waning…or enthusiasm is just inexplicably waning (the single worst thing that can happen to a book—you just get lost). Or for whatever other reason the agent/author don’t see a house that’s the right fit.

This is where agent expertise is absolutely necessary. Their job is to strategize on your behalf, and they have the information to do so. They know what the options are—for instance there are several ePublishers getting off the ground these days and they’re working with agencies for now, not individual authors. Agents can tell you where to go to best benefit the book and you (ie make money). There are more variables involved in that decision than you can possibly imagine.

So, for self-published authors, agents aren’t really a factor—unless you choose to get one after a successful self-publishing experience makes you the next Amanda Hocking. For authors exploring the newer publishing options after being at a house or taking their debut straight to electrons (but who don’t want to do it all themselves), it’s almost impossible to do it without an agent.

Max: Copyright to a novel extends far beyond print and eBooks. What are some new areas where author's rights are finding value.

Meredith: This is one of my all-time favorite topics. The ways an author can capitalize on his or her content are literally innumerable at this point. I use our writers at FPLM for my evil experiments in PR/marketing/publicity. They seem pretty amenable, on the whole.

Right now, we’re doing a lot with QR Codes—which are scannable barcodes that can link to ANY CONTENT so long as it’s hosted online—and with (gasp) apps. Apps, as I’m working with them now, are separate content. So inspired by, but not utilizing the book’s content (a game, for instance), which keeps us out of rights disputes (for now) as we figure out the best ways to promote our authors on mobile platforms. I learned to code in Java, and freelance coding ebooks as well. All of this synergizes. It’s making me better able to get stuff up online, where most marketing and promotion is going to move, I think.

Max: Thanks again Meredith.

As you can see, Ms. Barnes is definitely someone to watch in the changing world of publishing. You can find her posting on her blog, or follow her on twitter. She isn't currently acquiring clients, but we can't imagine it being long before writers are beating down her virtual door. Best of luck in all you do, Meredith. We'll be watching.

2011-03-31T20:36:00.000-04:00

Meredith "merbear" Barnes
Assistant to the Shark
Here - 04-01-11

Oh, I Could Sing. It's Almost Spring!! ~ Lyrical Lip Service

2011-03-18T18:44:00.000-04:00

Oh, I Could Sing. It's Almost Spring!! ~ Lyrical Lip Service: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Why I'm going Indie ~ the long trail to print

2011-03-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

Actually, I'm not going Indie, I've been Indie a long, long time. I started on the web back in the nineties when the internet was all text and the closest thing to social media was newsgroups and internet relay chat (IRC) over dial-up. I built my first internet portal site using clip art and free web-space at Angelfire. I was hooked. I started out as neolythic ~ my hacker name, a pun on Neo from the Matrix and the fact that I was twice the age of most of the coders I knew.

Before Web2.0 was born, and social media became king, I frequented chat rooms, forums, and played early mmorpg's. Electronic publishing and eBooks were a dream of the future when I had the idea for an online, interactive novel. ArchAngelxx was developed as a web journal, posted one chapter at a time, following the tale of hackers using the computers they controlled to brainwash unsuspecting users. The original was in first person, and shattered the fourth wall by bringing the reader into the story ~ actually contacting the reader via e-mail at one point in the story with a warning from the hero.

I had become a novelist in the pursuit of providing content for my website. Then blogs were born, and Facebook, Myspace, Twitter... The internet was going social, and books were being produced in various electronic formats. I turned from my internet coding and into serious writing. My second novel, which was to be another interactive website, became an eBook instead on what was then the new MobiPocket eBook platform. The codebase and market website promised an eBook that could be read on any mobile device from a laptop to a smart phone. It eventually provided the code foundation for the Kindle Reader.

When Kindle hit the scene I ported both of my titles, ArchAngelxx (in eBook form) and Cybrgrrl to Amazon Digital Publishing. The ArchAngelxx website had been a big hit, and the eBook had quickly hit MobiPocket's best seller list. Cybrgrrl soon surpassed ArchAngelxx on the Kindle and remains a steady seller. But my dreams of publishing went to printed books and author appearances, signing books and meeting fans. You can't sign an eBook. I guess you could sign someones Kindle or Nook, if they were a really big fan. But I digress.

I wanted the New York dream, so I wrote, I polished, I queried, and all but stopped coding. I started writing freelance, entered contests, kept writing novels, joined crit groups, took classes, and kept querying. But the times have changed, and I have always enjoyed being on the bleeding edge. Yet there I was, circling the prize on the query-go-round. I kept seeing, even writing about the innovations in Indie publishing. The Indie movement was blossoming, and I kept hearing tales from traditionally published authors of bad contracts, low pay, and lack of help from publishers promoting their books. So I stepped back and took an honest look at publishing and what I wanted as an artist.

First on that list was a desire to have my writing published for readers to read. That's what had prompted me to put ArchAngelxx on the internet for the world to see, that's why I wrote articles and content for websites. It definitely wasn't the money. But I saw acquaintances, fellow writers, land agents only to spend a year or more chasing publishers and eventually being dropped by their agents to start the process again. Some sold books, but waited two years or more for them to reach market and then some died on the shelves from lack of promotion. I'm reviewing an author soon that spent four years from agent to published book. I'm too old for that.

I'll be fifty this year. My own personal time table when I started years ago was to be published in print by fifty. I decided I could keep querying and maybe debut a book in four or five years, or I could start publishing what I've written and have multiple novels out by then. I have the technical skills, so the publishing doesn't intimidate me. That's the one big thing that holds many writers back from self-publishing. And these days authors end up shouldering most of the book promotion even with the big New York publishing houses. So that isn't an issue either way.

Second thing on the list was a need to create. I love to write and I love to code. Again, that's what got all of this started, and what led me to build that first website, and learn to ePublish my books. That thrill of learning new things and mastering new skills has always driven me forward. The idea of creating a complete book from manuscript to book-block and cover design to market intrigues me. I may not hit the best seller list, but if I do it will be my story, my book design, my cover, and my promotion that gets me there.

Then, of course there is the age issue. If I were younger, maybe I would play the game a bit longer, but then again maybe not. If I were younger I would more likely have went Indie and stayed Indie from the start. But the skills learned and the knowledge gained over the years chasing agents and publishers has been well worth the effort. And I'm not getting younger, I'm almost fifty ~ too young to quite, but too old to waste any more time.

So the obvious decision was made. New York will always be there, and some Indie's are already being offered book deals after their self-pubs proved to be marketable. What I really want is to write, publish, and promote my novels. I want to go to a convention and meet fans and sign books. I want to design a cover that fits my words perfectly then feel the printed book in my hand. I'm not going to get that with a big New York publishing conglomerate. I'm going to get a smallish advance I have to split with an agent, a book design and cover I may not like, and if I want to go to a convention and sign books, I'll still have to pay my own way.

I started Underground Press Publishing over a decade ago when I first had the idea for ArchAngelxx and first bought web-space from GoDaddy. All of my eBooks have been published through the Underground Press. Now I have an account with a POD printer and distributor so I can at last see those books in print. My books will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and in the major wholesale catalogs for Indie bookstores to order, here and in Europe. I'm also porting them to Nook and all future titles will come out in print, as-well-as on Nook and Kindle.

So now, dear friends, I am a serious Indie Publisher ~ no longer walking the line between pubing on Kindle and querying New York. Underground Press Publishing is in the game, and we are bringing Southern charm, and Tar Heel tenacity to the publishing world. If there is anything we can do for y'all, just give me a shout here, on FB or Twitter, or drop me an email.

max

First In-Store Promotion for PubIt! Authors | The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog

2011-03-03T17:28:00.000-05:00

First In-Store Promotion for PubIt! Authors The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog

My eBooks now 50% off - or more

2011-02-20T08:29:00.000-05:00

The underground press just announced a huge sale on eBooks - both MobiPocket and Kindle titles. Here's the post:

The Underground Press is celebrating 10 years of online publishing by slashing the price of our eBooks, available on MobiPocket and Amazon Kindle. Our most popular title, CybrGrrl, is now 50% off its regular price, and our debut title, the best selling eBook ArchAngelxx, is available for only .99 cent. Download an eBook today, and see what the buzz is all about. New titles coming soon!

Download copies of my eBooks now, while prices are low. Post here that you downloaded one and I'll email you a short story - erotic or not, your choice ;-)

The New Publishing - Wild Wild West?

2011-02-11T21:21:00.000-05:00

Wild Wild West? Confessions From Suite 500

Great post by Meredith Barnes. It follows rigt in on what I posted ove on the Best Damn Creative Writing Blog. The winds of change are blowing...

The New Normal of Publishing on The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog

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Productivity in 2011

2011-01-29T09:01:00.000-05:00

It has been a pretty good week, a pretty good start for 2011. My twitter flock is growing, I've made new friends on facebook, and I have five short stories out on submission to some pretty cool magazines. I also submitted my novel, La Belle Mort, to ABNA. Hopefully the hunt for a literary agent will go better this year and I can get a manuscript sold before the end-of-time in 2012.

My first article for the Best Damn Creative Writing Blog comes out Monday morning. I'm psyched about that and I can't wait to get started reviewing books for BDCWB. I thrive on deadlines, it gets the blood flowing and the creativity burning. I'm looking forward to more feedback as well. They have a lot more traffic than my little blog, so a lot more exposure for my writing.

I finished rebuilding my website and like the results. When I first built it, years ago, the idea was to create an interactive site to attract visitors. Web 2.0 was only conceptual, and the social network boom was just starting. Today, with twitter, facebook, and all the others, it's a waste of resources. It is so much easier, and more effective, to connect with potential readers through the networks than to try and draw them to an obscure website.

My new page focuses on making connection to all of my social networks, and advertising my books and magazines that I'm in. The page turned out pretty simple, which is all it needs to be. I linked my twitter feed there, there is a flow of updated posts, so I won't need to spend much time updating the page. It is my anchor in a sea of social media. A point of contact, like an electronic business card.

As I said before, I dropped my Myspace account to concentrate on facebook, twitter, and deviantArt. I think I will also drop Helium. I haven't posted there in over a year, and even though I still have top ranked articles on the site it just doesn't seem to be worth the effort and time. I have my blogs to write, two I write, and two I ghost write, plus articles and reviews to write for BDCWB, and occasional poems and flash fiction for dA. That is enough online writing, I think. I need some time for short stories and novels.

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How to write a short and succinct query letter

2011-01-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

In my last post I mentioned creating a powerful pitch/query/synopsis for your novel. You can read that post, or not. I also wrote a post awhile back on short story writing for novelists, you should read that. But we are here to talk pitches and queries.

Most novelists cringe at the thought of crushing their manuscript into a single page or even a four or five page synopsis. I feel your fear. But it isn't that hard. All literature comes down to plot. Your novel has one, or should. Some writers spend a lot of time on plot, others let the story write itself, but either way you know your plot.

But plot isn't as complex as you think. All romance novels can be reduced to boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. You can play with the genders involved, even make one a space alien, but the plot stands. Simple, one line plot. All genre fiction have basic plots. You may have sub-plots, dead ends, red herrings, but those aren't your true, basic plot.

Look at Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. This novel was originally five books in one huge volume. The American publisher divided it into a trilogy because it was too long to market. How about its one line plot? Unlikely hero overcomes insurmountable difficulties and saves the world. Less than ten words. And that is the plot of most adventure novels. Simple, succinct.

So we have our plot, now to query our epic we first tell a little about Frodo and why he is an unlikely hero. Next we elaborate on those insurmountable difficulties. Last we give the resolution. We don't need to get into Boromir's betrayal, or the unlikely friendship between Gimli and Legolas. We are tempted to drag in the entire Silmarillion as backstory, but this is a pitch. Short and sweet.

If we keep the pitch succinct then we'll have room to explain any pertinent themes we develop or issues we address that give our story market appeal; love, honor, loyalty, diversity, strong female characters; just pick a few. Then we still have room for the author's awesomeness. So here's a sample.

Frodo Baggins is a hobbit, and adventure to a hobbit is cutting through the wood on the way to a friend's house for tea. But dark and powerful magic is rising and Frodo holds the one object that can destroy it. He is soon embroiled in world changing affairs and dangers beyond his imagination. With the help of friends he passes through terrors which would overcome the bravest of men and succeeds where others would fail.

Lord of the Rings is an epic tale filled with mythical monsters, legendary heroes, and powerful men and women engaged in a battle against ultimate evil. Loyalties and honor are tested as some rise to become heroes and others fall to greed and a thirst for power. Friendships are forged, kingdoms rise and fall, and with the destruction of evil a new king ascends the thrown.

J.R.R. Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University from 1925 to 1945 and Merton Professor of English Language and Literature there from 1945 to 1959 and has researched and written extensively on literature and mythology.

There, three paragraphs, and it gives the necessary detail for an agent to want more. The agent will read through the long "party" scenes knowing epic adventure will ensue soon enough. We don't need to move Bilbo's disappearance or the first terrifying appearance of a Ring Wraith to page one as an attention grabber (which I ranted about in my last post). The agent knows she is reading epic literature.

Now, look at your manuscript, find the basic plot which you should be able to state in one sentence, then craft your query. Lead with the hero, or protag, and why they are in this plot line. Then expand a little on plot and themes. Next wow them with your credits or why you wrote this. If you are unpublished you still have an anecdote that led you to write this novel; not why you write, why you wrote this novel.

Now you're done. Edit, edit, edit, and get someone else to read it. Edit and revise some more. The example above is a first draft, it could be polished. Polish you're query until it jumps off the page. This one page is your chance to be published. It should make anyone who reads it want to read your manuscript. That, after all, is the point.

Your synopsis, if the agent wants one, will allow you to offer more; to expand the themes you mention in the query. Tell the story, but stick with the hero/protag. That's who we fall in love with, or who piques our interest. When we read, characters spice the narrative just like setting and mood, but the main character is why we care. I may love Eowyn, but I read LotR because of Frodo.

Okay, you are prepared to impress. Sit down, write a query, and get your manuscript ready for the agent or publisher who will fall in love with your protag. She's out there, waiting for your story. Don't disappoint her. Keep it short, sweet, and succinct. Stay on task and forget the cliché gimmicks.

Good luck,
max

*Please leave your comments. Was this helpful? Have a question? I'd be happy to answer or direct you to someone who can. You can also share this article on your favorite network with the buttons below.

To thine own self be true

2011-01-24T21:07:00.000-05:00

I was preparing my submission for this year's ABNA contest and realized that the excerpt they requested, the first 3000-5000 words, barely reached the first action scene in my novel. If an agent, and this is most agents, want only the first few pages or even the first chapter, they would never make it to the action. So what's a writer to do?

Once upon a time there were great books that started like, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." These days that would get a quick rejection. And J.R.R. Tolkien, a true master storyteller, prattled on forever about Hobbits and their quirkiness before anything actually happened in the story. It was great literature, grand storytelling.

In the world of the blurb, the sound bite, and the movie tie in, that is so last century. Today we start with, "The bullet ripped through flesh like peeling the skin off a rotten tomato." Let's get right into the action. We can find out who has the gun and who is getting shot later. Give us visual, grab us and don't let go. We want to see the story, now.... Get a movie ticket.

Books aren't movies. Even movies made from books are never as good as the books and I've even read books, written after the movie, that were better than the movie. Literature is to be read, savored, imagined, not viewed. If you want to sit back and watch, rent a vid. But I digress in my chosen rant...

It is simple marketing, which is the business of agents and publishers by the way, to sell books. Books sell by cover, blurb, and first page. It's simple, really. Think about being at the book store. You see a book - the cover art - you pick it up and check the back - the blurb and review bites - you open it up and start reading. If you turn to page two you will probably buy the book. You might even buy it without ever opening it, if the cover and blurb are good enough.

At that point the publisher has made a sale, and the agent has made a commission. But to the author what happens next is the most important. Does the reader actually like the book they bought? Do they give it, or recommend it to friends? Do they look for other books by the author? Or do the throw it on a shelf unfinished and forgotten. The business side doesn't care. Sale made, profit made, done deal.

You might think that it would matter. An unsatisfied customer and all that. But the reader doesn't shy away from the publisher's next book, they stay away from the author. They will eagerly buy the publisher's next over-hyped stack of pulp, but they will remember they didn't like "that author." So why should the business side care about great literature? It doesn't make any more money than hype-literature.

Back to my original question, what's a writer to do? Many today grab a scene from the story, doesn't really matter where, beginning-middle-end, doesn't even matter if it's all that relevant to the overall story, as long as it will grab readers. Put it right up front, get the agent, get the sale, then start the actual story in chapter two. I know you've read those books. Hell, Twilight started at the end, with a little prolog, and jumped back to the beginning.

So what am I to do with my novel, ruin the flow of the story by throwing in some dramatic scene from halfway through the book? It would be like the Hobbit starting with Smog, then Bilbo thinking back on how he got there, or A Christmas Carol starting with the Ghost of Christmas-yet-to-come and the grave scene. But to get an agent or publisher, who will only look at a few pages, that's the literature we end up with.

So, again I ask, what is a writer to do? My present course of action, short of selling out my art, is very simple. Knock their socks off with the query and synopsis. Make your overall story jump off the page and bitch-slap 'em before they even read page one. If the cover and blurb carry enough punch that readers will buy without opening a book. If the query/synopsis is good enough the agent/publisher should (notice I said should. This is an untested theory) read the manuscript to see how you worked it all out and if the prose matches the hype.

So my advice, and I'm following it until it proves worthwhile or worthless, is to stick to your story. No bait and switch with a little action scene stuck in on page one that should be on page ninety-five. Be true to yourself and your story, then learn to kick ass with your query/synopsis. I know, novelist HATE writing queries, and dread a synopsis. Tell you what, in my next post I'll talk about writing short and succinct blurbs and queries. You can hit hard with just a few lines.

See you then,

max

*written for the underground press blog

Social Network Overload: writers beware

2011-01-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

I sat down the other day and made a list of my online presence. o.0

I'm on facebook, Myspace, Steampunk Empire, deviantArt, Goodreads, Helium, and Twitter. I contribute to four blogs, post flash fiction and poetry to dA, write articles on Helium, do book reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and my own blog. I also have a website and manage two more. I'm doing a huge amount of writing before I even get started on short stories or my WIP.

Then of course there is the infamous time sink of the social networks themselves. Tweeting, status updates, commenting, random banter, reading other peoples' posts, journals, blogs, etc. and commenting on them... I spend hours just catching up every day. That's hours I'm not writing, editing, submitting, and promoting my own work. So, is it worth it?

There are many benefits to the online world of social networking. Top of the list, of course, is the cliché of writers as hermits. The process of writing is an individual effort. It's not something that can really be shared with anyone, as most of it happens inside the writer. The product is shared, but then the writing is complete. Writing is a lonely, individual effort.

Social networks, shared over the writer's main tool (their computer) give writers a link to the outside world, even while writing. I can be working on a short story or novel and have twitter up at the same time, or facebook, or a chat program. I am connected to other writers who are working on their stories. The trouble comes when the interaction becomes a distraction and nothing gets done. It is much like going to the library to study, and all your friends are there, so no studying gets done.

Writing is hard work. It requires a strong imagination and focus. It is much easier, and seductively simple these days, to banter with friends about writing rather than actually write. One minute you are being productive and the next you get sucked into the time sink of social networking. On the flip side, however, there is that moment that you are stuck for a word, a turn of a phrase, and your writer friends are there to save you. So it is not the available media, but the discipline of the writer that is at the heart of the issue.

Social networks are a boon to writers in so many ways; from the simple interaction with fellow writers, to meeting agents, editors, and publishers, to interacting with readers. The days of Hemingway hiding out in a cottage writing a novel are in the past. It is all about connections and social media these days. But we must have the discipline to manage our time and our networks.

I've looked over what I do, and what I want to do online and tried to bring some order to the chaos. I want to blog more, I want to write more reviews, and I want to spend time with my friends and make more connections. The first thing I did was delete Myspace - I don't need Myspace and facebook. I knew the process would take some cutting back in order to focus on what is more important.

Next is using the available tools to get more from each post - mirroring my blog posts on several networks, doing the same with reviews I write. I looked at my various networks with an eye to diversity and use. That's why Myspace got the axe, too much like facebook. But deviantArt is completely different, so it complements, as does Goodreads. I rarely visit Steampunk Empire, but it's a niche network and worth keeping. Helium is on the fence. I haven't decided if it is worth the time and effort that could go to other things.

As you see, I have begun to organize and prioritize. That is the first step in getting control of the social network monster and freeing more time to do what we do - Write. Blogs and reviews are writing, so they go to the top of the list. Then writing I do for other outlets, dA for instance, and Helium if I decide to keep it. That puts writing first, and all of that feeds to facebook and twitter with a click of a button.

In the end, it all comes down to discipline, organization, and focus. Decide what you want from your social network then use it to the best advantage. Just remember to save some time for the real priority - Writing. After all, that's what writers do.

* this post was written for "the underground press" blog, mirrored on my literary blog which mirrors on my facebook and Goodreads profiles. I will also tweet the link. ;-)

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Review: Avalon Revisited

2011-01-19T15:56:00.000-05:00

Avalon Revisited, by O.M. Grey, is a wonderfully rich romp through (steampunk) Victorian London. The reader is immediately caught up in the drama and intrigue that is the nobility, but wait, Lord York is a vampire, and there's been a murder, several murders, and the culprit appears to be... A Vampire! What is a rapscallion like Arthur York to do? This will certainly curtail his social life. And just when he's found his true love. But she turns out to be a vampire hunter. Is there no end to difficulties.

This wonderfully written novel is filled with delectable twists and turns that keep the reader, and Arthur, on their toes. We are even graced with a cameo appearance by a certain Victorian physician we immediately recognize. One can't help but loving the scandalous rogue Arthur, and with him we are drawn to the beautiful and mysterious Avalon. The plot is well thought out, and artfully executed by the author. The mystery is enigmatic, the sex is titillating, and the end is emotional and romantic.

In a world of cliché and just-like, Avalon Revisited is refreshingly original. It is steampunk at it's best, and romance at it's finest, wrapped around a murder mystery you can sink your teeth into. O.M. Grey has shown her mastery of speculative fiction and I can't wait to see what is next off the presses.

Bravo, Ms. Grey.

Avalon Revisited is available on Amazon.com

The author's blog - Caught in the Cogs - can be found HERE

Restraint: A short story in Tweets

2010-12-31T08:16:00.000-05:00

I'm experimenting with writing a short story on twitter. It's turning out to be a great writing excercise, trying to create short, interesting posts that continue the storyline. The 140 character limit is a challenge, especially since I want to throw in a few hash tags at the end. It's keeping me to about 100 characters per post.

I attempted something similar when I first got on twitter. I wrote poetry in 140 characters. That was fun, but trying to keep a story going is tough. I've completed the first main scene on the story, setting up the main character, motives, and setting. For those who don't want to wade through my tweets to assemble the story, I'm posting the first scene here.

I have kept the twitter format, including the hash tags, so it is presented, as writen, in single lines of 140 characters or less. I think it turned out well. I'm interested in readers' opinions. I'm not sure it is reader friendly on twitter. Perhaps if I had a profile devoted to the story alone, but you still end up reading in reverse.

So here it is, in a more readable format:

“Restraint”

The stays in her corset were stilettos. Her fingerless gloves, fine steel mesh. In her black lace garter, a loaded derringer. #steampunk

The steel of the derringer was cool against her thigh, reminding her it was there, ready to be touched, fingered, fired. #steampunk #romance

Her eyes glinted with blue steel, a gift of the war and a kryon laser blast. Her finger twitched in anticipation and desire. #steampunk

She slid the pistol slowly from her garter. Any sound would alert him. He turned. She raised her knee. "This is gonna hurt" ... #steampunk

A bolt of fire ripped down her leg, he fell to his knees. "Damn," she cursed. "So much for the silk stockings." He fell over. #steampunk

Hot lead pierced cool flesh; bones cracked, flesh ripped. Sensory overload. Vestigial emotions burst from atrophied mind. Confusion...

He dropped to his knees. What was it? Not hate. Nor anger. The implants accentuated those. He knew them well. #amwriting #steampunk

Hormones raged; adrenaline, testosterone; even as the control implates tried to shut them down in order to slow the bleeding. #steampunk

Emergency shutdown. In the dark moments as systems rebooted, clarity bloomed. She wasn't the enemy. He loved her. #steampunk #romance

She limped to the corpse. No movement other than the implants pumping chemicals. It would regenerate. She'd stop that. #steampunk #romance

She aimed at the control box on the back of its head. Tears filled eyes that had seen thousands die without blinking. #steampunk #romance

"It's not him," she told herself. "He's dead, gone. I held him when he died." She cocked her weapon. #amwriting #steampunk #romance

A hand gripped her ankle. "I love you," a mechanical voice grated. "Finish it, Dee." She pulled the trigger. #amwriting #steampunk #romance

Gears and viscious liquids sprayed when the bullet exploded the control box. She fell to her knees in blood and chemicals. #steampunk

They would pay for sending her dead lover to assasinate her. "I love you, Jake," she choked out. #amwriting #steampunk #romance

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Guest blogging and other stuff

2010-12-19T07:23:00.000-05:00

Last week a friend asked me to write a short piece for her blog The Angsty Writer. I decided on a Christmas story. Now, normally I'm a bit of a Scrooge about Christmas. It's the whole commercial aspect of the holiday, not the holiday itself. Every year people go into a feeding frenzy shopping, and spend far more than they can afford. We are inundated by advertisements that assure us she will love us more if we buy her a diamond, and if we don't get our kids the latest electronics we suck as parents.

The crime rate always rises at Christmas. Not surprising as people feel obligated to spend the food money on frivolous gifts, and spend their kids college money on that new video game system. Our culture puts pressure on people to give, even when they can't afford it. Someone can't buy those new fashionable shoes their kid "must have" so they steal them. Better to be a criminal than a bad parent, right?

Our culture of stuff; the newest, the nicest, the most popular stuff; turns "peace on earth good will toward men" into a stress filled race to buy. Christmas in America seems more like, "stress on earth, get the hell out of my way." Every year we hear of incidents of people fighting in the toy store over some limited supply or another, or people being trampled during a sale. Then, of course we have the week after Christmas when domestic violence explodes. Such a joyous time.

In our current economic malaise I guess the retailers need a good old fashioned door buster shopping season, but the people are less able to afford it this year than in years past, and that just adds more stress to people barely scratching by now. Did I mention suicide rates skyrocket during the holidays?

I'm trying hard not to be a Scrooge this year. I do love Christmas, the idyllic Christmas of peace and love and sharing. I enjoy being with family, singing carols, giving gifts, and just being jolly. Maybe that's why all the bad things get to me so much. Christmas in the modern world has become a heavy burden on those who need it most, the poor and the lonely.

I'm going to try and be merry this year, but I will still privately morn with those whose Christmas is not so warm and fuzzy: the homeless, the fatherless, the childless, the poor, the unloved, the unemployed and the under-employed, and all those whose Christmas is a time of panic and stress, disappointment and depression. They are what Christmas is all about.

God Bless Us, Every One

Writing Short: A novelist's guide to short fiction

2010-12-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

Many novelists find it hard to write short stories, just as many short story writers cannot imagine writing an 80k story. But writing is writing and one form can actually improve the other. Many of the greatest names in literature wrote short stories; H.G. Wells, Edgar Allen Poe, Samuel Clemons, Earnest Hemingway, and more recently Stephen King. As we all know, Hemingway also wrote non-fiction as a journalist. He would say that a writer should be able to write anything well. And King, known for his very long novels, started out writing short fiction for magazines.

You may ask, why write short? Valid question. There are a host of benefits to writing short fiction and even trying your hand at journalism. First and foremost it will improve your writing. I'll get into that as we proceed. Second, and equally important, the short story market is much more open to aspiring writers and your chances of being published are much better. That gets your name, and your voice, out where readers, agents, and publishers can discover it. First let's look at how your writing will improve when you slim it down to 5k words.

The same rules that apply to long fiction apply to short fiction. But to get into that limited word count the writer must be more selective and succinct with their prose. You can't, obviously, write a two page description of your character's new dress, and you can't pick War and Peace as your plot. Writing short is a practice in precision and getting the most kick out of every word. Let's start with plot.

Like any story, you need a beginning, a middle, and an end. Writing 101, right. But many would-be writers tend to cut one out to get under the word count. They will start right in the middle, wrap it up in one sentence at the end, or rip out the all-important middle. But a short story still has to be a complete story. The protag should also show some progression through the story, the events should have some effect on the characters. If the events mean nothing to the characters why would they have meaning to the reader?

Keep the plot simple and straight forward. You can't slip in side plots and peripheral intrigue like you can in a novel. Stay on point. Novelist's often have trouble writing a good synopsis of their work, writing short will improve that skill tremendously. Find the core of the story you want to tell, then stay focused. Think beginning, middle, end. Where does the character start, what happens, what is the effect? Even the epic “Lord of the Rings” can be summarized as: Young hobbit is thrown into a difficult situation, is whisked away into world changing events, but finds the inner strength to rise beyond what he and others thought were insurmountable odds to complete his task.

I recently wrote a short, short story for a contest; 1500 words or less. Very short for me. My short stories generally run 5-8k words. My guide was the words of Hemingway. “I've seen the marlin mate and know about that. So I leave that out. I've seen a school of over fifty sperm whales in the same stretch of water and once harpooned one over nearly sixty feet in length and lost him. So I left that out. All the stories I know from the fishing village I leave out. But the knowledge is what makes the underwater part of the iceberg.” (from George Plimpton, “An Interview with Earnest Hemingway”)

What we leave out is provided by the reader. Readers are very imaginative, short story readers even more so. When they read a well written story they see every detail, feel every emotion, hear every sound. The writer doesn't need to explain it all. In “Death in the Afternoon” Hemingway tells us, “If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them.” but... “A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing.”

A short story can be rich and poignant, just look at some of the great short stories in classic literature. The writer knows the grand, epic tale which surrounds the short story and the reader senses it in every line. In short fiction much is left to the very adequate imagination of the reader. Unlike modern novels, filled with elaborate descriptions and convoluted side plots, short fiction drafts the reader into an active role of filling in the blanks. In my recent story, published in Fissure Magazine, I could simply say a Victorian character wore a waistcoat. The reader knows what Victorian men's fashion looked like. It required no description.

Likewise I described the heroine in my recent ultra-short story, not in a long-winded paragraph, but by simple key phrases slipped into the story line: “Her long gown flowed weightlessly as she moved through the jovial crowd and across the dance floor, her corset showing no sign of respiration, her eyes showing no hint of emotion behind the brightly feathered mask she wore.” The reader can picture a woman in an elegant Victorian gown entering the room, and a host of other character information is given in a very short scene. The reader is left to imagine an elaborate Victorian masked ball and the heroine briskly passing through the crowd.

Beyond training the writer to be more succinct and purposeful in there prose, writing short teaches us to be vicious editors. In the 1500 word short, I originally wrote over 2500 words. I edited entire paragraphs from the text. That would be equivalent to trimming a 100k manuscript down to 60k, deleting entire chapters. But I kept asking myself, as Hemingway demands, “does the reader already know this? Do they need to know? Can they guess?”

Yet, what is left in the end must be a complete story; beginning, middle, and end. I was a little worried I had gone too far, so I sent it off to a couple of authors I respect for a quick read. One told me I had hurried the ending, leaving it flat. A quick rewrite of the ending solved the problem. I can't say it enough, don't forget to keep the story a complete story. Beginning, middle, end, and the characters progress in some way. Leave your readers wanting another story, not wanting more from that story. It's a thin line, but it will make your prose stronger and your editing more focused.

As I alluded to earlier, the market for short fiction is growing even as the novel market shrinks. It is pure economics. Editors are more willing to risk one short story in a magazine from an unknown writer than risk rolling out a complete novel. Publishing short stories in magazines and anthologies gives readers a taste of your writing, helps you get comfortable working with editors and meeting deadlines, makes your writing stronger and more professional, and the credits look good on your queries. So give it a try. It's also a great distraction between novels, and keeps your creative juices flowing.

Keep writing,

max

Steampunk Aesthetics

2010-11-29T18:15:00.000-05:00

The late 19th century was characterized by a wonderful dichotomy of culture. In western America pioneers lived a rough spartan life with little technology, much as man had lived for centuries before. In eastern America people lived in cities, worked in factories, and marched steadily into the industrial revolution, while in Europe people enjoyed the height of Victorian culture. The wild west was still wild, with gunfights and Indian attacks, while people back east and in Europe enjoyed reading the exploits of Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, and a host of others. Their exploits were mass produced on offset printing presses, making literature available to the common man.

In writing Steampunk we take the wondrous world of the Victorian era and add technology fitting with the style of contemporary authors of speculative fiction such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. We imagine steam powered marvels and clockwork mechanization that my not have existed historically, but were certainly hinted at in the speculative literature of the period. But it is easy to lose the wide-eyed wonder that technology held to the people of that time.

The technological marvels of the Victorian period were rare and often unique, both historically and in 19th century literature. Individuals invented new technologies based on the latest scientific and engineering discoveries. Steampunk should embrace that diversity and rarity. Mass production was just taking hold and only the most common items were made in factories. Everything from steam engines to the very conveyor belt in the factory were still custom built by master craftsmen.

It is easy, from our modern mindset, to think of fleets of airships or steam carriages rolling off the assembly line, but then we have moved into the 20th century. In Victorian times each airship, each steam carriage, would have been custom built. They might follow a basic pattern of previous builds, but each builder would make his own variations and improvements. As each grand ship in the British fleet had a name and personality of her own, so should all Steampunk marvels be unique.

Perhaps your villain has developed a Tesla plasma gun; your hero can still save the day with a Colt Peacemaker. A marvel loses its quality of amazement if everyone has one. Less is more, and that is doubly true in Steampunk. The villain's plasma gun looses its aspect of terror if it is mass produced. He might as well be sporting a flintlock.