The Hermit

Ontology 101: Structure of Time

2012-01-21T02:23:00.000-08:00

Ontology 101: Structure of Time - I decided to write a little primer to some of the other works I have on there. Gotta love metaphysics and philosophy of time.

2012-01-02T02:35:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of novels nearing completion and I ponder sending one to publishers or agents. But then I remember I am a chronic migraine sufferer with a full time job... I don't have the energy to focus on all the letters, applications, waiting, waiting and more waiting for a decline and then repeating it. I write because it makes me handle pain better to have an outlet. I love it. And I want to share those stories. If I were able to I would do the regular publishing method, but I don't have the mental energy after work required to find an agent who accepts my sort of works or a publisher that will take a look at something without an agent. What I need is a middle man. Someone to do all that connecting with agents and publishers for me. Or, obviously, self-publish. So I think I will have to give up on the publishering dream for awhile or at least till my migraines settled down. So these next two novels will be self-published. I will go with kindle for the e-book and maybe lulu for the paperpack if I use paperback this time.

A little non-fiction for you all

2011-11-06T22:19:00.001-08:00

I have a few book reviews I'm working on but until then this is my most recent philosophy essay. Bertrand Russell's Tristram Shandy Paradox

A Brush of Darkness: Allison Pang

2011-10-21T23:22:00.001-07:00

Another awesome fantasy read. This one more on the urban fantasy side of things and as per that sub-genre statisticaly we have a main character who is female, in a modern world with elements of romantic sub-plots and of course magic and supernatural happenings... in otherwords, can't get better than that. Abby Sinclair is the main character in this novel and she is called a 'touchstone' that has the ability to help Faery anchor to our reality rather than only being able to be around during certain parts of the day. From the beggining we are thrust into a mystery... her faery employer has gone missing and Abby assumed she would return of her own accord, but four months have past and things get complicated. Complicated as in an Incubus shows up asking for help because several Succubae have gone missing including his sister... and Abby accidently becomes his touchstone. Which considering he is an Incubus has some obvious perks. Abby is a character who has recently gone through a tragedy, the death of her mother as well as surviving an accident that changed her life forever and left her with seizures. She does not know enough about the supernatural world she is involved in and signed the touchstone contract without much thought. She quickly feels overwhelmed by the situation expecially when other people she knows go missing. This novel was a fasinating read with mystery and emotional complexity. I became immersed in the character's emotions and life and while the main plotline is resolved there is definately potential in the broader spectrum for future novels, which I look forward to.

Cold Magic - Kate Elliott

2011-10-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

Kate Elliott is a great writer to begin with. This new series starting with Cold Magic was better than I'd thought it would be. Now I thought it would be good because of the author, but it surpassed expectations. First of all it is written in first person but has the feel of epic fantasy, which rarely works. First person often defines the character but in this case there is significant world building, that you see in the spic genre side of things. Which means at 600 plus pages you are not going to just fly through it, it is going to be savored. Now when there is great world building sometimes writers get bogged down in the beggining because they see the whole picture and those novels take a bit to get into even if they are worth the journey in the end. With this novel it jumps right into it and reveals slowly as you go along so you get all those nuances. The character Cat (short for Cathrine) is an orphen after her parents died in an accident and she is taken in to be raised by close family. Right in the beggining (I feel free to mention it due to the fact it is on the back cover) she is betrayed by her family and forced to marry a Cold Mage. She is thrown into a volitile political enviroment and is simply trying to survive and protect her cousin. One the way she learns some puzzles of her own history which raise more questions than answers. There is a lot of history and culture in this story that brings it alive as we are drawn to Cat's personal story.It is an excellent story and I am looking forward to buying the next one.

Painful inspiration

2011-10-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

I admit my chronic migraine pain influences my fiction writing. All that write what you know business. It has made a few of my newer characters have unbearable pain. But they are lucky because they get their victory, while the rest of us, not so much. I also get sleep paralysis which can be a terrifying experience and one I have used in a few novels. Sometimes I even get inspiration from dreams. I have never been one to dream of anything mundane. I don't tend to get stress dreams. Often I do not even play a role in my dreams, as in I am a character. Sometimes I have super powers. I think even in my sleep I enjoy escapism. My last dream, where I was a secret agent actually caused me to be late for work. The alarm rang and I stared at the numbers for a long few seconds and thought 'I'm not supposed to meet my secret agent friend for another twenty minutes' and promptly went back to sleep. Although honestly the most powerful dream imagery comes from migraine nightmares... because the pain soaks into the dream thus making them suprisingly violent and bloody. Part of me thinks pain should come with blood. Like a migraine should make you bleed from your eyeballs and ears. Because blood means injury to ourselves and others, but pain alone cannot be shared. So while I may inflict my characters with unbelievable torments what makes it so much better than real life is that there is a reason for their pain. There is a reason, a solution and an end to their pain. I suppose that is what writing and reading are all about to me, that escape from a pain defined existence.

Blog a Novel

2011-09-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder for anyone who wants a free read, on my blog a novel site I'm now posting chapters of a new novel, Mage Poison. Which can be found at Hermit: Blog a Novel

Designing a website

2011-09-02T00:18:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've had a website. I went to blogs quite a bit back simply because maintaining and programing a website from scratch was a lot of work and blogs aren't, plus my internet provider went from do as you wish to only allowing a template which is no fun at all. But a website has its perks and it can be a central hub to all other various world wide web tidbits. So I'm setting one up at the domain http://thehermitmichellemyth.com which is a mouthfull but, obviously, available. I have never actually had my own domain so I did the instant set up, which is what is on there now, and will have to update one I have the set up in place to load files on there. So pretty basic right now.

Kindle version is out

2011-08-24T01:16:00.001-07:00

So here are the first two Kindle versions of Blood Lines and Soul Dancer.

The next one I have planned witll be finished soon. I'll run it through my blog a novel site first, prior to publication.

Publish an e-book for Kindle?

2011-08-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

How cool is that! I am addicted to my kindle and it is the only thing saving me from becoming a book hoarder. So I have read some self-published authors, some of which just have e-book formats. Frankly, selling e-books is more reasonable price wise for self-publishing. You have to be somewhere within normal price ranges and with e-books you can choose the price you want. So I am checking out how user friendly it is to self-publish an e-book through Amazon kindle. So far I am testing via Blood Lines and Soul Dancer. Amazon provides the programs needed to compile a compatible e-book and generally I have found it easy. The only issue I had really was having to manually go into an html version of my book and add code to ensure there was a page break for every chapter, since inserting one into the doc format did not carry over to the html format. But easy enough and there is a program to review the kindle e-book to see if you get it right before uploading it. So not bad at all. I am all for expanding my market availability and considering the slow process of submitting manuscripts, if I can gather the audience, I am not against self-publishing more recent works. Actually that would be fun since my most recent work is a series. I have been hesitant to work on a series simply because if you can't land a publisher for the first one, why write the next until you do? But this series there was already a plotline for the other books so i could not resist continuing.

In this economy, world-wide, I almost think it would be harder to get published the old fashioned way, even if I like the idea of it. It just seems publishers would want to be more selective and take less market risk. So maybe self-publishing e-books that are more affordable is a good idea. And really I love to write because it is something that I have a passion for, or a unhealthy addiction, but I also want to be read. It is less about making money and more about sharing my stories with as many people as possible.

I have not posted in a bit...

2011-08-14T01:54:00.000-07:00

becasue I have been, writing and writing. One of these days I'll figure out the marketing angle. Right now though I have been focusing on a series for a bit.

I had the weirdest migraine nightmare recently that I could totally use for inspiration in a book. Migraine nightmares tend to have violence, injury and blood in them... like the pain being felt translates into situations that could cause pain. In this dream I was trying to save some people who were being murdered one by one. In this dream I was not human and neither were the ones being killed. It is still vivid in my mind and I love those dreams that are of adventures where I play a roll.

H.P. Mallory

2011-08-14T01:48:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading these two books on my kindle and ther series is already getting interesting. I hope the next one comes out soon because second one left one hell of a 'what!' factor and I want to know more. Plus I want to know what happens on the romance angle.

Kindle reads

2011-01-27T00:54:00.000-08:00

The first e-books I bought on the Kindle where by this author J.A Saare. Both of which were quite interesting and fun to read in the urban fantasy genre. Darn cheap through the kindle too. I have been buying books left right and center on there. It is damn addicting.

Kindle

2011-01-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

Yep, got myself a Kindle. A fine choice for me given my extreme photosensativity and thus issues reading from a bright screen... this has a nice matte like screen with no blurry, haziness from light. Awesome. And now finally when I run out of books to read I can simply download some... instead of grabbing something from the pharmacy and possibly throwing money away on something I simply cannot digest. This way I can pick up a book for under five bucks and down to 99 cents... even if I make a poor choice, that certainly is not a waste of money. It is lightweight, easy to read from and about the only thing I would tolerate in place of an actual book. Plus it will lessen my book hoarding concerns.

Linda Robertson

2011-01-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading these three books by Linda Robertson, a series following the witch character Persephone. This being after, finally, a sucessful hunt at the bookstore rather than being reduced to what is available on the pharmacy shelf... bout time too. This series is pretty darn good and has some strong parallels with Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. Without ruining the plot I will say that it involves a master vampire, a king of werewolves and a witch. That is seen with Anita Blake as well but the similarity extends to the fact these three characters become increasingly linked together through life and magic. Now, every story that has ever been written has been written before, so re-occuring plots and themes are common enough, or even inspired by each other. These are unique in-themselves with character's that are complex with varied motivations. Most definately Robertson's series is not nearly as insanely erotic as Hamilton's, but that is neither bad nor good in my book, just different. I quite enjoyed this series, as it is filled with hard fates and even harder choices... just showing that being special is a hard thing to be. I think she also adds some good witchery. I have seen witch craft portrayed very loosely and sometimes very detailed... and in Robertson's we see some of the ritual elements, but not enough to bog the reader down with details, some spiritual aspects, but not too much as to make it cerebral and/or flakey and some very powerful religious components showing the relation of a witch to her gods. As for the vampires and werewolves, I rather think she has them down in rather like the move series Underworld, where the two speicies came into existence through one cursed individual each. Looks like there is already a fourth on the shelves that I can look forward to reading.

Recession Rejection

2010-12-26T03:46:00.000-08:00

What is with these recession rejections lately? "Due to the economic climate we need to be careful to choose novels that are highly marketable..." blah blah? Makes one realize the appeal to self-publishing, since you can write what you wish. High fantasy out of fad? Who cares if that is your thing. Personally I read all and every fantasy, so I am the least likely to pick a particular fad. But I really do like reading fantasy with strong female characters, being as I am female and that is what I usually write as well. And I have been writing more urban fantasy since I have been reading a lot of it as well. But I also like to write stand alone novels, not epic, not a series, and not urban fantasy... that follow from interesting world-building ideas, but those indeed are less marketable in the genre because urban fantasy is hot right now, as are vampires of course, but also publishers love a series writer. Writing a series, that is same world, same characters, but different plots per book is actually quite easy with urban fantasy. Writing more than one novel with a continuous plot is easy with epic fantasy. Who knows what publishers want these days, given they are even more particular on who they pick up 'given the economic climate'. Just one more hurdle I suppose.

Although, that does not explain some of the poorly written and horrific plots of some novels I have bought recently. One wonders who chose them and why they thought repitition, simplictic characters with predictable plot lines would be a smashing hit. Whoever that dude is, he should be fired. And I am not talking about decent novels that simply do not appeal in style or some other characteristic personally, but are well written and interesting enough to finish reading. I'm talking about truly aweful novels that you toss aside in disgust either without reading it to the end, or finish reading only when you have nothing left to read or re-read. As a writer you can't take rejection personally, since novels that are awesome can be rejected for many reasons from some publisher or another, sometimes simply because they don't want to 'bet' on a new author. But when you read one of those horrible novels it is a little insulting that something like that could have been published, for any reason, over and above the thousands of novels that were at least well-written. Maybe it is the genre though, since I find most fantasy novels of a decent standard, even the fluffy romantic ones. But when I pick up a random romance at the drug store, it is luck of the draw really and the most boring or aweful novels I have ever read have been so called romances. Some can be short, simple and following rather predictable lines and still be fine for a quick read. Those would be tolerable, if at the bottom of the barrel for that genre. But some simply are bottom of the barrel for any published book of any sort simply due to the poor writing craft itself. It really does make me wonder why they were ever published. And maybe to avoid picking them up I should take note of the publisher of those novels rather than the author, since obviously the publisher saw some merit and clearly I do not, so I should not be able to trust any of their choices for that very reason. Granted I read more books in a month than most people do in a year, but I expect a minimum of quality, otherwise I would by e-books of people never published all the time. When an author is published, having undergone the long, drawn out process of submitting and the billion of rejections I am familair with, I do have the expectation there is quality there. If not then surely that is some fault of the publisher in question who do not have the same standards as others. When I buy a book I am rarely influenced by the cover, or author (unless it is someone I love), I am someone that carefully reads the back of the book to see if it is interesting (or I am desperate), but maybe to weed out these waste of money and time books I should look at the publisher first? Interesting idea, unfortunately if I cannot remember an authors name then I am hardly going to remember a publishing companies name. Although this year I have given four boxes of books to charity because those books are ones I don't even want on my shelves... and 'due to these economic times' I really should be more careful on those I choose to buy. I should weed out those publishers that are publishing for the sake of publishing, who are looking at marketing rather than quality. I should not take the 'risk' of purchasing a book from a publisher that chose to publish drivel rather than some minimum standard of quality. Yes, truly, in this day and age we need to be far more picky, as publishers and as readers. In fact, I might just buy myself and e-book reader so that when I am purchasing books to have on hand when I am out of my fav authors and want to try someone new and unknown, I might just buy e-books instead, as to save money on potentially disapointing works. It is a pity that a self-publishing author would not be compelled in the same way as a publishing author to continue with a particular series... such that if I loved them, I would not have as many works to read from them. Still, for fluff books, where I do not have that expectation, that would be fine. I have been meaning to pick up an e-book reader for a bit now, just to save on some shelf space really.

As for writers. Maybe it is a good idea to keep in mind the marketability of your writing, if you have ideas that are in the genre that are the latest thing. But don't let that stop you from writing what you wish to write, since fads are fickle things. And it is weird how a particular sub-genre takes a life of its own as capitalists jump on the latest money maker. Provides a lot more available books in the sub-genre for sure, and a lot more not so awesome ones in the mix. But it decreases availablity in other sub-genres which is disapointing. If an author writes the most amazing epic fantasy, that should not be held against them... there are not enough of them out there any more. I used to wait very impatiently for the next Robert Jordan book... he just drew you into this complex and fasinating world. There have been a few since then I have latched onto, but not as many as there used to be. That is a pity. Thanfully, I enjoy about 90% of any fantasy books out there. Other genres I am more specific... like I only like soft science fiction.

Bukisa

2010-12-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

Bukisa site for posting articles and essays which pays per qualified viewer has now added Adsense affiliates to earn on your content if people click on the adds shown. This increases the earning potential for your content.

Another site I found is Hub Pages which is similar as it is paid per qualified viewer with the extra potential earnings via Adsense, Amazon and Ebay affiliate programs.

Perfect Match Novel by Jodi Picoult

2010-12-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

Perfect Match: A Novel is a brutal, horrific novel, but not in the sense that it is poorly written or a poor read... but, rather, in the sense that is is horrifically traumatic and no matter how it ends everyone is scarred. I could not put it down until I finished. I just needed to know how it ended. The novel is about a child that is sexually abused and right there is a torment that is never ending for that child and for that family. Most of us when we think of child molesters we think the death penalty is the only option, but the reality of it is sadly not the case at all, if they even get prosecuted, it is not for a long term. No one knows that more than the mother in this story since she herself is a prosecuter. Once again this author gets into everyone's mind with such clarity and depth. For that reason alone I was hesitant to even start this novel knowing child sexual abuse is horrifc enough without delving into it and all the collateral damage. I won't tell you the ending or even what happens, you have to read it for yourself, but I will say that the ending was a good one, even if everyone is forever changed by the story.

2010-12-01T17:57:00.000-08:00

The Brutal Telling: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel is a mystery and I do not usually read mysteries. I am not overly fond of the genre, essentially becsause I read to escape from the brutal truths of reality, so murder mysteries not that fun. Plus you either know who did it way ahead of time or it could easily be several people who had motive and opportunity and the seems like the author randomly chooses one of them in the end. That being said I liked the 'Brutal Telling' and likely would like more of the same series as a result. The author is an excellent writer, so the structure does not get in the way of the story. The main detectives and their relation to each other is captivating. I think what I enjoyed about the plot is that it is a mystery within a mystery. Yes, there is a dead dude, but no one knows who he was or where he was killed. And as things unravel more mysteries drew me in until I really, really wanted to know what went down. Although, since it is a small town full of interesting people, I did not want any of them to be guilty of the crime. Alas, a stranger being killed by a stranger simply would not make much of a story. I would recomend this one to any of those mystery readers out there (and will in fact be passing this one on to my mom, who loves mysteries).

2010-11-28T01:28:00.001-08:00

Yeah, not a fan myself, but then I'm not a 12 year old girl either... posters make me laugh though.

That is not to say I don't know full grown women that enjoy this series... or at least enjoyed it by the time they got to book three. Me, on the other hand, fell asleep reading the first one. In fact, I was waiting the whole time for something interesting to happen, such that I did not remember getting to the end of it. When I saw the movie I realized, yeah, I did finish the book and, yeah, it was that disapointing. It might be just me though. I am not fond of the Harry Potter books either, but I have watched the movies and therefore know there is at least a lot of significant things going on this books. When I was a kid I read the Narnia series in a week and did not much like that either, although a few of them were enjoyable. At the same age I read the Chronicles of Amber, which to this day is a fav, and have read over and over... so maybe I never was one to enjoy pre-teeny fiction. At least there is more out there for those pre-teens to read these days.

Why some books suck to me...

2010-11-25T00:40:00.000-08:00

I just finished this book by a well known author that was shockingly dull and I realized there are two reasons I found it so, that others might very well not. It was not in the genre I usually read (but then I should stop saying that because, really, I'll read anything you put in front of me). It was what I would call general fiction, which means no real theme (court, mystery, detective, romance, fantasy... whatever) and without that theme it seemed like I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing really did. In some sense I think general fiction like this is about the people more than anything, because some authors totally pull it off and I am enthralled by the depth to the characters. Not so in this case. It reminded me of those movies that are about random chance and the people involved, rather than a plot and the ending always seems so incomplete and unsatisfactory. Anyway, clearly I want something significant plot wise. A rise in intensity, action or mystery. A culmination. And a satisfactory ending. Something that compels me to finish the story. However, I suppose there must be some appeal to this sort of story, about people, their relationships and interactions without any significant drama. To me, without some intensity and without some really fine characterizations, it is like someone telling you a dull story about people you don't know.

The other factor that clinched it with me was the perspective. I can enjoy a good first person novel. Especially when that character is interesting, unique and/or funny. I whiz through them reading wise, because that tone just makes it so much easier to do, but sometimes they are awesome reads. I also enjoy third person limited, where either the whole novel or each chapter is defined by one person's perspective. It has more depth to it. And if you are going to tell a story about people and their interactions, this is a fine way to do it, since each person would have chapters devoted to their life and mindset... giving you a more complete picture of what is going on. What I don't really like, and what this novel was, is third person omniscient where it jumps around from thoughts of one, to thoughts of another, but with no real depth to anyones. The reason I don't like it is that it lacks depth and life. This novel I found to be... flat statements of the bare facts and sometimes rather repetative in those bare facts. I knew what the characters were feeling because it was clearly and simply stated, but that gave me no real 'feel' for them. I really did not feel any empathy for anyone.

So that goes on the discard pile for sure. Makes me wonder how such an author, of so very many books, is considered to be so 'good' when I found it barely sufficient and near the end was speed reading just to get it over with. Which just goes to show you that when people think genre fiction is the lesser sort, they are making a very broad generalization. I have said in the past that I am often disapointed with hype novels, because it seems to me I am usually very disapointed with them... even when they get rave reviews. In this case it is simply a matter of presentation and tastes. Just not for me.

2010-11-22T00:42:00.000-08:00

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race - is Awesome and uber funny. I thought I would mention it because it would be a great Christmas gift for just about anyone. It is packed full of fun tidbits from history to culture of the human race. But then I love John Stewart's show... it is the only way I get any news on the States of any worth. Wish we had a Canadian Daily Show!

For the Freelance Writer in You

2010-11-17T00:04:00.000-08:00

During my time off work (best left not discussed) I have been filling in the day with some freelance writing. Some of which is content writing for companies, which can be fun, but also article writing for certain sites that pay residual income of some sort for articles written. There are three I am trying out and here they are in no particular order:

1) Helium - (http://www.helium.com/users/440442/show_articles) Helium is interesting and the payments seem to be relatively higher than the others, assuming your ranking is acceptable and assuming you have a star earned for content or rating. If you have an article or essay you can see if the topic is already on there and add to it... which is what you want, since you get ranked in comparision to others in competative titles which then affects your overal content ranking. If the subject is not there, and there are numerous subjects, then you can request a title to be added. They also have a market place and various debates you can join. Tons of ideas to get you going. The downfall is that if you have a specific subject it might not be listed and when it is not comeptative there is little gain to having it there. Another downfall is that once it is posted you cannot delete it and to even edit requires effort.

2) Bukisa - (http://www.bukisa.com/join/90612) Bukisa's payments per qualified view seem lower in general. However, you can post a topic on anything at all. There is no title restrictions nor competition with others who wrote something similar. Posts are put in quickly with no wait time and reviewed quickly as well. I find this site awesome for my health related essays, since they are about coping strategies and more vague topics than found on the other two. You can delete if you wish and edit at any time. I would say it is more flexible certainly.

3) Infobarrel - (http://www.infobarrel.com/signup.php?ref_id=31577). Again you can post on any topic you wish. The posts stay in review stage longer. Posts cannot be deleted but they can be edited. I have been using this site for more specific research papers in philosophical topics generally. What is interesting about this site is how you earn on it... which is through a Google Adsense and Amazon Associates, which means you get a percentage of the earnings from someone clicking on those adds, assuming you set up accounts with them. It intrigues me, but not sure yet on the profitablity aspect.

A couple short stories...

2010-11-07T03:03:00.000-08:00

Old Style Witch Burning - A short story where the main character is accused of being a witch, with a twist and some humor mixed in there.

Dreamscape - A story about a very odd dream from a character plagued with sleep disorders.

Now, usually, I so not write short stories, because I always want to take the tale further. Most of them that I do write tend to be little weird concepts or situations with a good dose of humor thrown in.

International Reply Coupon

2010-11-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

Why is it every time I go to the post office here they have no idea what an International Reply Coupon is... and as a result randomly give me something else. Since I have no idea what one looks like I can't say it is the wrong thing they are handing me. But it is. I looked it up online. Now I will print off that page, bring it back in, hand the printout to the chick and say 'This is what I want specifically', since describing its function is getting me nowhere.

It is, by the way, a coupon you send with your manuscript with an envelope, so that they can reply with the proper postage... if you are sending out internationally, which if your a Canadian writer mean pretty damn well all the time.

Glass Castle: Jeannette Walls

2010-11-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

If you think you have had a rough life, then I would recommend reading this to get a little perspective. I have never known poverty, even when my mother raised us kids as a single mother there was always a meal on the table. Seeing it through the eyes of a child is fasinating though, where when she is a toddler some things seem like a game but as she gets older she is literally fending for herself by rumaging through garbage. Likewise seeing how her parents use various rationalizations to be the ay they are is frightening really and yet we get a glimps of their childhoods and why they believe the things they do. I had a step-father who was a drunk and, frankly, I never had any use for him. Walls' father is also a drunk but even though he cannot hold down a job (which is not his fault, it is the mob or some other wierd work complication) she still idolizes her father for his dreams and for his brilliance. Perhaps the greatest gift these parents gave their children was a love of knowledge, reading, dreams and creativity. Although I can relate to her father ruining holidays, since that is something I remember well. Yet for all their struggles the children break the cycle, maybe it is because they leaned on each other so well while growing up. The parents do not fair so well when their children leave to make their way in New York on by one. In the end the parents follow them but end up homeless and pretty determined to stay that way. The book is heart breaking in some places and I cannot help but feel relieved that she makes it through to the other side, when some trauma could have been worse or marked her forever.

I just killed a tree

2010-11-04T19:44:00.001-07:00

Yep, getting a manuscript, full, ready to send out to a publisher. I really rather send an email... save the paper, the ink, the mailing and of course the SASE which has to be some sort of international coupon when you send to the US.

Freelance writing

2010-10-31T22:06:00.000-07:00

Since I am currently on a leave from work I have decided to do some freelance writing on the side. I took a position with a company that writes specified content for buyers with keywords and phrases and well as some article writing for potential residual income. While I do not expect to make much in the beginning, it is something and will hone my skills. It would be ideal to have a work from home source of income for me anyway and I should use my skill set to do so, which is essential research and writing. It should be interesting. What I find odd so far is that to prevent someone copying a site word for word they use a commonly used program called copyscape to prevent that. Awesome. Good idea. Not one likes cheaters.

Now, that being said, it would be benificial if some of the editiors had enough brains to determine which words are necessary to the topic (like terms that are not flexible) rather than suggesting you 'edit' them. By all means, instead of saying 'A mortgage can be open or closed with a variable or fixed rate' that can be changed to 'A mortgage can be set up such that it can be paid off at any time without penalty or it can be set up such that should it be paid before the term is up it will incur penalties. The rate can fluctuate with the market or have a stationary rate'. Now the first is a simple statement with simple terms that can be then expanded on giving the reader the right terms and a definition following. Simple and concise. The second needs to be expanded because the terms cannot be used, thus in the end, certainly not helping a reader understand the basic terms needed. So I let go my first article, which by the way was awesome and about a complex idea that necessarily needed to use the actual terms, lest the reader have no clue what was going on. I changed all the idiotic things like verbs to different verbs, but could not change the terms needed to explain the general idea. Certainly not worth my time, given the payout, to attempt to do so in a way that half assed made sense. So that is a bit of a downfall with companies that rely on Copyscape rigidly, or an editor that does so, but in general it works and besides that fact, I still have a fully formed article on that topic I can use elsewhere.
I will also be sending out a manuscript to a publisher and, of course, continuing with my fiction pursuits.

Jaye Wells: Red-headed step child and Mage in Black

2010-10-25T22:40:00.000-07:00

I must say I have been quite lucky with book choice in the last few months... which means I have been reading like crazy. Last time I went out I hit this author, Jaye Wells, and she is a new one for me. The main character, Sabina, is an assassin working for vampires (one of the head honchos being her grandmother) and Sabina is a mixed breed: half vampire, half mage.

In theRed-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) we understand quite quickly that being a half-breed is hardly seen as a positive, and Sabina really is not feeling the love with her grandmother. She is sent to assasinate a man who is the leader of a cult like organization, but first to find out what he means to do and who he has on the inside. It is fast paced and exciting... I think I blew through it in a day it was so fun to read.

The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane) starts with Sabina going to meet her mage side of the family for the first time. Having been raised by her prejudice and uber nasty grandmother she knows next to nothing of mage kind. She has discovered however, that she has an identical twin sister she was never told about. Certainly she is more well liked among her mage kin, and in fact they seem to believe she is Chosen to unite all the races, but she does not buy into the destiny jazz.

Bloodlines 10% off for the holidays

2010-10-22T21:46:00.001-07:00

Mob Rules: Cameron Haley

2010-10-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Mob Rules (Luna Books) by Cameron Haley, is about a mob enforcer called Domino, but in this case these mob outfits are magic users. The scene is set with an occult assassination that may be the first in an open war with another outfit. An enjoyable read and very urban fantasy... because really if people had magic I hardly think they would fit into mainstream society. Just when you think you get what is really going on in this book, you get thrown another tidbit that does not make sense. As the character goes about figuring out, or proving, who is behind the attack and what to do about it, I followed along just as confused as she was. Very well put together and the main character is quite interesting.

Soul Dancer discounted for the Holiday Season

2010-10-18T22:56:00.000-07:00

Get 25% off your copy of Soul Dancer today!

Second Glance: Jodi Picoult

2010-10-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Now I do not usually read what I would call general fiction. Just ain't my thing, but my uncle gave me a book by Jodi Picoult to read and House Rules: A Novel was a great book. You understand what is going on but have no idea if the characters will figure it out because one of them has Asperger's syndrome and can't communicate in the way others do. I thought the depth of the characters interactions was what impressed me the most and so when a co-worker of my let me borrow a few more books from this author I jumped on it.

The one I just finished reading is Second Glance: A Novel and if anything this one was even better. So good it made me tear up a few times. It begins with the story of Ross Wakeman who is a ghost hunter, who lost his wife years ago in a car accident and has been rather suicidal ever since while looking for proof of the after life. Now there are several characters she follows that circle around a dispute over a property and a open murder case from seventy years ago. Since I myself have contemplated and tried to commit suicide I could really relate to the characters (although in my case it is more an escape from pain rather than dying to meet up with someone on the otherside). What astonishes me is how the author can write these stories and truly understand the pain in people, all sorts of sorrow, doubts, regrets in a way that is far more empathic than most people are capable of. This book is a fasinating and complex view of people and their interactions that intertwine in unusual ways. Definately recomend this one.

I have decided to read the TrueBlood books

2010-08-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

I had read the first one by chance really... one of those random pick a book up at the pharmacy because I am out of books deal. (i get chronic migraines and the pharmacy knows me by name, so I also pick up lots of random reading from there.)

I like good vampire books. I like bad ones as well. All in good fun I say.

Sookie is a waitress who also happens to have the disability of telepathy, knows a little more than she would like about some people at times. Frankly not a gift I would like either. However, she meets a vampire (and since they outed themselves and drink synthetic blood this is not a astonishing fact, although the first one she had ever met). Bill the vampire. She finds out she can't read his mind and that is something she likes a great deal. Eventually they get together.

The writing style is in 1st person and simple, but this way we get a good feel for Sookie. I like the character, find her light and interesting. Being that she is a 'good girl' she finds herself in some very uncomfortable situations with some serious moral dilemmas by dating a vampire.

I just finished reading Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)

Now if you watch True Blood on TV (and it is an awesome show) then you will find some immediate differences in this book from the series, of which is no real surprise... one being an interesting character in the series dies in the beginning of the second book. Although while reading this second one I caught glimpses of themes in some of the episodes in the past... but honestly you could enjoy the books and the series and not have any concerns over it. Although if you are looking for the steamy sex scenes you see on the series to be in the book, not so much, the book keeps that part pretty tame (as in Sookie gets action from her boyfriend, but we do not get the step by step of it). Because we have the voice of Sookie you might think the writing is simplisitc and sometimes a little on the fluff side, but that reflects the character being a nice girl, who knows everyone in the small town she is from and their lives, admits to not being worldly and at one time had a nice simple life.

I recommend reading them. They are not perhaps the best series of vampire books I have come accross, but they are different in tone (not dark and sensual) and the plots are fasinating really. I had not considered reading the entire series. I had bought the first one and thought 'different' but not something I want to go buy the rest right away. It was the TrueBlood series which I began watching that made me really want to get into the series and see if the interesting develops there take place in the books. (shapeshifters, werewolves... me oh my)

My next blog a novel will be Soul Dancer

2010-07-18T02:32:00.001-07:00

Interesting app...

2010-07-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

I write like
Arthur Conan Doyle

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Ran out of books again

2010-07-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

I really read too fast for my own poketbook I must say. I have just finished the last books in my fantasy fiction pile, which is generally what I read. Now I am left with books I pick up at the pharmacy, which are what I call 'fluff' books... enjoyable but very fast reads. So until my next book hunt, I can't really post what I have been reading, but will post a few I forgot to mention. Some good ones in there for sure.

The Warded man- Peter Brett

2010-07-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

The Warded Man by Peter Brett is an interesting novel to say the least. It starts off a little too slow for me, so I read a few books inbetween, but once it gets going it draws you in. This is not a story about someone 'Chosen' for great deads, rather it is more like a story of Becoming... how these three characters became what they are at the end and how they came to be that way. In a way that seems to be the main theme, although the plot had to do with overcoming the demons that rise from the earth every night to eat anyone that is not safely behind wards. And each characeter had their own powerful story to follow. I definately recommend this one and the next should be even more interesting now that we have established who the characters are.

Blood Ties- Pamela Freeman

2010-07-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

This book stayed on my back burner for a little bit because of the annoying tendancy to go from third person limited to first person. The story line is third person, but she adds the perspective of others, not plot related, in first person. I get what she has done here. It is like the six degrees of seperation. Everyone the main characters touch adds a piece to the story and depth. Still, it irked me, since it was not necessary most of the time and I could have done without it completely.

Nevertheless, the actual storyline is intriguing. She has done some great world building here, with excellent history and culture. The characters themselves and their story is captivating, which means there is a possibility I will read the next one.

swift rejections...

2010-06-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

I got three agent rejections back, just waiting on two more. And then I will pick out another five and give a go with them.

Two responses where "not intersted at this time" sort of responses and the third was:

Thank you for your submission. Though interesting the project unfortunately isn't right for us at this time.

I wish you the best of luck.

Short and sweet. And quick. Which is not bad at all. The quest continues....

Going through the motions...

2010-06-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Since I got up insanely early today I have so far managed to send off two query packages to some agents. That combined with the WeBook agent in a box method ought to be enough for now. So I will wait a month or so before sending out a few more. Give them a chance to reply first.

Frostbitten- kelley Armstrong

2010-06-13T00:49:00.000-07:00

I found this author in the horror section of the local book store... which I find odd, since I would have it in the fantasy as a sort of urban fantasy type style. This is the latest book of hers I have picked up, Frostbitten that is the third one so far involving Elena, a werewolf. I must say that Elena and the Pack she lives with is my favorite of the characters the author follows in these books- a series of books within the same world set up. Maybe because I feel werewolves don't get all the attention they deserve... its all vampire this and vampire bite that. What is nice about this series of books is that I have not read them all yet, and not in order, but each novel is stand alone and if begin with one character and read those, you can jump into another one with no difficulties.

In this particular novel Elena is off to Alaska for a Pack job and runs into some interesting things and more than a few complications. Just for starters running down a mutt (non-pack) werewolf to warn him that his previous companions are likely out to get him and ends up following all the way to Alaska to do so but while there investigates some 'wolf' kills that have been said to happen in the area. An enjoyable read.

WeBooks

2010-06-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

I am going to submit to some agents using Webooks... it is an interesting feature called agent in a box. You pick your genre and it narrows down the agents that go for this genre and the requirements, then you e-submit. I think given it is paperless and you avoid all the printing and mailing expenses, it is reasonably priced. I keep having issues with updating my submissions, but I hope this time I will be able to edit efficiently. This will be the beginning of my sending out queries.

Facing the facts...

2010-06-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

All the awesome publishers of my all time fav urban fantasy writers require agents. So I figure I will check out these authors, do a little research to find out who their agents are, and send out a few queries to them. And this time, yes, I will remeber the whole International Coupon business!

Changes... Jim Butcher... you are Awesome

2010-06-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

I just finished the new Jim Butcher novel Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12) which is awesome. I love the whole Dresden files to begin with. I would say it defines all the great things about urban fantasy. We have a wizard who makes his living as a PI and complications abound. The main character is believable and you have to empathize with the situations he gets into and the brutal treatment he often endures doing so. This latest installment starts with a roar and keeps on going. It starts off with us finding out Harry has a daughter, starts out with him just learning this fact as well. And his little girl is in some serious trouble. This story rolls hard and I would highly recommend it.

Inspired Author Magazine

2010-06-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

Inspired Author is a site I had bookmarked ages ago and was just checking to see if it was active... and it is, but it seems different than I remember. It looks like an interesting little hub of information tidbits for writers right now.

Thought I would toss out a query only to find....

2010-06-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

That the publishing company does not seem to exist. Hmmm.... I don't think it is a very good sign when you can find nothing on a particular publisher, as in not rated via the usually channels I use, as in not listed at all. That screams 'new' and in this case 'vanity press'... which is a drag, I thought it was just a nice small company.

Cavewriters- When I googled it for more inforamtion I did find this wee article and again it is essentially saying vanity press.

yorkshire publishing.com - yeah, from all information I can find this is a vanity press, which is so not the direction I am going in. Bummer.

absolutewrite.com forums gets into this issue here... with other people wondering just what type of publisher they are looking at here.

Bookshelf porn? I am intrigued....

2010-06-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

http://bookshelfporn.com/ is a rather cool blog featuring pictures of interesting boofshelves. Some of them vast libraries that make you go 'ah!' and some just wee little liabraries that are jo so cute.

A little unplanned time off work...

2010-06-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

Until Mid June I find myself not working. This is because my neurologist has this brilliant plan to beat the hell out of my chronic migraines with drugs. I am all for the drug plan. And it means a couple weeks off, which is rather nice. What does this mean? It means I have some extra time to write and to read, both of which make me happy.

Jim Butcher, one of my favorite living authors, came out with a new book in is Dresdan Files series, Changes
, which I am currently reading... but because I enjoy it so very much I expect I will have finished it in a couple days.

I also found a new series by Rachael Caine and have read both Unknown (Outcast Season, Book 2)
and Undone; it is quite a fun read, since the main character is thrust into a human body in the beginning but is so not like a human. The main character being, or had been, a Djinn... I don't think I have ever read an urban fantasy that makes use of this mythos, but thats what makes it great.

And for a bit more on what I have been thinking on today just click to read on...

I am doing a little non-fiction writing, fiction writing a loads of blogging. Introverted hermits really only need themselves for entertainment. I read somewhere that all our devices that we use to communicate, via email, texting, blogging and the lot are making us disconected from others and even from our families. I don't need technology to feel disconnected... I have an invisible disability, and in this sense able to be inivisble is not a super power. I get what the dude was saying. Nothing like a family where the kids are texting each other all day, without even saying a word... can you say children of the corn? It is bizzare. I mean, my generation growing up was the beginning of the personal computer (ever program in Basic... that there is Hours of fun, my friends). I did enjoy video games. I was also an advid reader. I liked to creative write. Collect comic books. See the pattern here? I had all the necessary requires to becoming a hermit, just did not know it yet. But also got booted out doors by my mom to go play... and we played cops and robbers or a sort where both sides were cover teams, we rode our bikes, roller bladed, we belonged to sports and had activities. However, family was family. There was board game night, there was clean the house Saturdays, there was eating dinner at the same table and all sorts of little things that I simply learned to believe were essential in being a family. You take that all away and yes, your family will feel disconnected, but don't blame the technology on that one... blame that you do not have some laid down family habits, like no TV between 6-8 or in this New world, not texting, computer or TV between 6-8. Whatever it takes. Without these things, well, it is rather like a relationship without kissing, hugging and affection... it begins to lack in intimacy.

That being said, I rather like socializing on the internet, it is just a different type of socializing and has its benifits and problems. If you have children and this is the main way they communicate with others that is a problem, because then they will never learn how to properly interact with others. Might explain a lot about this generation actually. So while it is a type of intereaction it should not be your main type of intereaction. First of all, you're missing all the nuances of person to person conversations. Secondly, you only see what is presented to you by others, which might be right out lies (but hard to get that vibe when you can't see them) or might just a facet of that person, whereas real people have layers, like a cake. I personally think there is little depth to online friendships, most of mine are very limited to the area I am in (here are writers and readers), so for me that is fine. I get that if you chat with people endlessly you may feel like you know so much about them that you are truly and completely in love with each other, even though you have never seen each other. Sweet, but no, you're not in love. You have some sort of wierd infactuation without the lust. There is nothing wrong with that, that awesome rush of hormones and such that makes us feel so 'connected' to someone else, the mistake is thinking it is love. Love is not a permanent state of mind that you fall into in a moment of time. Love is a day to day affirmation, when you know the strengths and the weaknesses of your partner, but you endure the decades together becuase you mesh, and you know each other so well and you care deeply about them. So it's not love, but nor is it true infactuation, since that does have a 'Hawt' component... the lust factor if you will. So I never really got the whole internet dating biz. I mean I think it is a fine way find people you might be compatable with, but if there is no ability to actually meet face to face, then how would you feel that vibe... that intuition that says 'he is way creepy' or 'he has control issues' or 'he is so hawt!'.

Then there is this need today, this overpowering need for teenagers to text and tweet every moment of their lives. Talk about taking you out of the moment. Not only is that seriously boring stuff kiddies, but you are writing about the moment while you are in the freakin moment, and thus not truly experiences a damn thing. Have you even been having a blast doing something with a bunch of friends that you have never done before, or a super awesome road trip, and thought to yourself 'this is so fun, I wish I had a way to imprint it into my memory' and then you start thinking about the fun you have had and are having, such that you become dislocated from the actual moment? I have and what I do is give myself a quick mental slap to the mind. Be in the Moment. .... plus cell phones will mess with your junk if you're a man, and possibly cause a big ear tumor, so use with caution.

So as an introverted Hermit, this all works for me quite well. I like getting into certain areas of the net with people, as this about as much interaction as I need really. Although with my family, its different. They are real people and so I do not email them when I want to talk to them and my texts are limited to 'you're a goof' or 'can u bring home milk'. But I like my alone time... my writing time.

Got a new self-published work for my Blog a Novel

2010-05-17T22:56:00.000-07:00

One my main author site, as opposed to The Hermit which is about the process of writing and publishing and those lovely rejections. What was I saying? Ah, yes, on that main site I do my Blog a Novel. First was Aura Sight, currently featuring Blood Lines... and after it is complete, I am considering a gritty fantasy novel call Soul Dancer.

Feel free to read them on: http://michellemythe.wordpress.com/ or even puschase the down load or order the books found on the 'books' page.

ohcrapdamit

2010-05-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

Ohcrapdamit is my newly created word. As in Ohcrapdamit I sent a SASE with my agent package for the wrong postage. Cause I'm Canadian and the agency, as most, is in the states.

A SASE would be the self addressed stamped envelope which is not all that complicated.... if you are in that country.

If sending a query by mail, it is customary to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for the editor's reply. Omit this only if you already know the editor well or if the editor has specifically requested material from you. Some editors will toss out your queries if you do not enclose an SASE. Across national borders enclose International Reply Coupons - available at most post offices.

See where I'm going with this. I knew there was something I was forgetting about this, but I thought hey they will know at the postal office. So I asked 'I need a SASE that will make it so someone there can mail back to me... here. Get it?' The clerk did not. I'm not going to say the girl was incompetent, because obviously if I knew to ask for a 'international reply coupon' at least we would have been on the same wave length. I can reasonably surmise that she did not have much training and also there was not too much experience with the English language (nice Norwegian accent though). She ended every sentence with 'yeah, right?' and I kept wanting to respond 'I don't know. That's why I asked.' So we obviously had issues. But we both acknowledged that sending a SASE with Canadian postage did not seem right, but neither of us knew the solution... and of us both I think she should have known more than me, as I was the confused customer. Either way, I got a little irked with the fact I was getting nowhere fast and said 'okay give me a stamped envelope, I'll add another stamp and see if that works'.

So then I come home and vaguely recalled having researched this before. I google it (as that is the fountain of all attainable knowledge) and re-discovered the whole international coupon biz, which I still don't know what that is and obviously neither does the local postal outlet.

So Ohcrapdamit. I really hope the agency I chose is super nice and ignores my SASE ~~incompetence~~ inexperience.

Sending out my new urban series to Agency

2010-05-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have a book called 'White Witch Where Art Thou?' that I will be sending out to an agency. I will also send short pitches on the two other novels in the series: Drugged Up and Nowhere to Go and The I of Me. I chose the agency because one of my favorite ubran fantasy writers uses them. The turn around is three months, but since I have not started the third novel it will be time well used.

It is also the first one I have sent by mail. I am an email gal, but a lot of places are old school, so I have to start choosing the agency I want and sticking with them.

I'll tell you what they say when I get the SASE back, but again no company names.

If first you don't suceed, try, try again.

Finished the Blood Lines Book!!

2010-01-25T22:56:00.001-08:00

Blood Lines is complete and up for sale now.

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/blood-lines/7250922

Blog a novel

2010-01-08T00:48:00.000-08:00

I rather enjoyed my blog a novel with Aura Sight. So I'm doing it again with an urban fantasy called Blood Lines. http://michellemythe.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/blood-lines-chapter-1/

Since I have been self-publishing some novels, I find blogging them, twittering it, have a fan page on facebook is a good way to get your name out there. Not to sell books, but to built your persona. Only with stand alone novels, since serial novels or epic novels would be what you would want to be publishing in the long run. Just novels that were fun and explorative in some way.

Got me a generic rejection letter.

2009-12-18T00:40:00.000-08:00

Bit of a bummer really. However, I did find an agency I really would like to have on my side, if I can pull it off. But before then I want to have this novel polished to a shine, as well as, the cover letter and synposis, which generally I am weaker in. I am over half way complete the second in the series as well as have the plot laid out for the third, so it would be awesome to have representation. But best to get the first one up to par.

Just so wrong

2009-11-29T23:24:00.000-08:00

I get the dudes in the movie version of Twilight are hot... for young men that have not reached that fully matured man stage. So I can say they are pretty, but not attractive in any sense to me and I am only thirty.

I am kinda tempted to read the full series. The first book was quite disapointing, but then I am 30 not 12. I found the plot rather... lagging and not all that interesting. It could be just that it is a slow start to a series, in which case that is irritating since you have to read the whole damn thing to get the entire plot and a satisfactory ending. Or it could be that it is written for a younger crowd... but then I remember what sort of fantasy novels I read when I was younger and this would not have made the cut even then. Some people say it gets better, but that the second book sucks... so why the hell would I keep reading if the second is worse than the first? Except that I have run out of books to read and don't want to make a trip to the city... so have to choose from the selection at the pharmacy. But then I think, there will be werewolves, so how badly can it suck?

Rejection... stings.

2009-10-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

This is my latest rejection on an urban fantasy I wrote. This one was sent out about a month ago with the usual synposis/three chapter combo. I was thinking the same thing this editor was, that the first chapter has a wee info dump feel to it. I was thinking about expanding into two and easing into some things. Since my character had immediate contact with more than one race, it does mean I have to get the reader into those right of the get go, but with an extra chapter I can ease them into some of the backstory first. I do not like rejections, but this one does give an excellent critisism which I will then use and hopefully improve the feel of those first chapters.
Although I think you have some great ideas, your world is very complicated and has a lot of specialized characters -- and you throw us right into it. This means you are either spending time explaining things in infodumps or losing us here and there. It is a little like reading the fourth book in a series that you've tried to force explanation into. :-)

You might want to consider why most popular fantasy series start with a book that gradually introduce the reader to all these aspects of a world and its characters?
Congratulations on your imagination, but let us poor readers in on it in smaller doses? :-)

Women sink their teeth into urban fantasy... including me for sure.

2009-10-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Women sink their teeth into urban fantasy novels

By Solvej Schou

HEADSTRONG Bella is in love with a vampire. Zoey has a crescent moon seared onto her forehead, the mark of a fledgling bloodsucker. Sixteen-year-old Ever can hear people’s thoughts. Calliope is, reluctantly, Death’s daughter.

All are modern female heroes written by women, read by women and not only obsessed over by teenagers but also their older sisters and mothers.

The economy may be deeply troubled, but urban fantasy novels about vampires, were-wolves, zombies, supernatural creatures, blood and romance are booming, and women are sinking their teeth into them in ravenous numbers.

“We’re living in a frightening time. I don’t know if it’s an escapism as in there’s scary stuff out there so let me control it through the medium of reading,” says Amy Clarke, a lecturer at the University of California, Davis who teaches science fiction literature.......

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009072744892

My urban fantasy book

2009-08-29T01:11:00.000-07:00

I am polishing up this urban fantasy book I have, thinking I will send it to a publisher when I am done. The world I created though has inspired possibilities for new plot lines within that world and my character. So I am starting to write the next one. Unlike an epic fantasy story that has an extended plot, I find urban fantasy to be more light, but engaging, as it goes into more detail on the protagonist and mini-plots.

There is another appeal to the urban fantasy genre and that is you are writing about our world, or a alternate reality of our world, but with magic in it. Every fantasy reader wishes there could be real magic in our world. I am the same way. What fasinates me about our world are the great mysteries in it, are the unexplained phenomena and the faint wish that some things are possible.

Urban fantasy

2009-08-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

I am kinda liking writing urban fantasy these days. I like the themes and the mixture of now with alternate realities. I enjoy reading it as well, so it is only natural I would enjoy writing it. I never was an epic fantasy writer to begin with... I have loads of respect for people that pull of excellent epic fantasy, becuase that is depth... depth to characters, to plot and to world-building. I have always been more focused on one character, one plot per book that maybe leads into another storyline, but not always. And Urban fantasy is set up that way. You got your main character, with one plot per book, but then you can continue with that character and world with a different event. Often it follows along with the characters occupation, like a dectective in a mystery. I like that they are faster paced as well.

Nora Roberts

2009-07-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

I admit that while I love fantasy and write fantasy... I do like a good romance. Mostly because they are light, entertaining and easy to read when my brain is bogged down by a migraine. And since I gorge on books regularly... because of aformentioned migraines pretty much preventing any other activity, I read a great deal of them, and anything really.

So my boss gave me a bag load of Nora Roberts books to read. And I am half way through that bag of books and then some others in between. She is a diverse writer, that I can say. Mystery, fantasy, and general romance. And since I like a good sub-plot to the romance some of them are quite good. Then there are these ones that are just so not good. The ones where it is literally about a relationship and its normal progression, which just makes it boring. If that is your plot alone, then I seriously expect some sort of trouble to be stirred, some serious misunderstandings, but not so much. Found that a little wierd. But anyway I am getting all Nora Roberted out. I do like the ones with a fantasy twist to them. Still, not sure I would buy one of her books of my own accord. Since generally I look for paranormal fantasy romances, which kick azz. But if I go for straight up romance I want either light and funny or drop dead rockin sexy.

Drag...

2009-07-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

First rejection on this latest bunch of queries to agents... I still wonder how an agent is to choose from one query on one specific novel. This one was the only one I sent out for a urban fantasy genre and not sure if I will send out more or not, might be a nice one to self -publish. I think my other urban fantasy, which is now complete but letting sit for a bit before I do a final edit, is better than the other one, plot wise, so maybe if I do send out for urban fantasy I will go for the second.

Anyway this short but to the point rejection was 'appriciate your submission... careful considation... not a good fit for us at this time'. I should reply and say 'well, how bout this one then'

I have had a very bad migraine week.... very, very bad and it would certainly make my year to have one agent say they would take me on. Just not sure how to find that one agent. Of course, I can always send to publishers that do not require an agent, which I might soon... just thought it would be nice to do things in the proper order and hope for the best. i think, at the very least, my queries are getting better. practice makes perfect, eh?

The quest continues...

2009-06-28T01:43:00.000-07:00

I have sent out a few more queries, mostly by email again, simply to make it easier on my part. All on my fantasy novel, except for one I sent out my recent urban fantasy as well. I plan on sending more, just looking for who to send to. But the waiting is driving me crazy. I know agents are fairly prompt in their responses but for some reason I am impatient to know. Really, the more I do this, the more amazed I am that anyone finds an agent. On the plus side if I ever do find one and he/she manages to find me a publisher, I will have already established my web presence through my self-published works and free readings. I gained a new fan on my facebook fan page which gave me the same warm fuzzy feeling I get when I sell an e-book.

Decline in female fantasy writers?

2009-06-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

I had heard another blogger mention there seemed to be a decline in new fantasy fiction writers and it got me thinking. Off the top of my head I can name Anne Bishop and Kate Elliott as being fine women fantasy fiction writers... but then they have been around a bit. After I thought about I realized he is quite right. I could not name a recent woman writer in the genre that is seen as a great writer in the field and all the new stars have been men. I have come across women authors, since I pretty much raid the book store on a regular basis and anything new and sparkly is snapped up in moments. Yet, it does seem the woman side of things is lagging. As a writer who just happens to be a woman, I rather do not like the trend. But you have to wonder as to the reason for it.

Maybe it is simply that women who like the fantasy genre do not necessarily stick to classic hero type fantasies. Maybe because they tend to be about some poor young farmboy who ends up saving the world. A popular theme but maybe one that does not appeal to the female writer. As such, there may be less to choose from or publishers less inclined to pick them up if they stray too far from the normal fantasy formulas. It could be there are more woman writers branching into different fantasy genres and that these have a great deal less marketing appealing than a classic trillogy or ten book series. Somtimes that works. Jacqueline Carey and her Kushiel series is pretty far from normal formulas of the art, but a damn good series.
There has been a marked increase in woman writers in the urban fantasy genre. Again, maybe because the genre is dominated by stories with strong female characters and thus appeal to a female audience and thus highly marketable. Some of those novels are kick ass. They appeal to women on so many levels it is hard not to consume them like chocolate. In fact, I do not even bother resisting the temptation, where with chocolate at least I have some restraint. First, strong female character. I am woman hear me *rawr* characters. They have the same flaws and fears as all women, but they kick butt and take no sass from anyone. Second, they usually have an alpha male relationship, which whether it works or not, totally hits the female vibe again. We are woman, we can have dominate men without being dominated. Third, they take place in an urban, our world setting that we can related to, but with a whole lot of fun supernatural stuff for us fantasy lovers. That sub-genre is flourishing and so a publisher would be more inclined to take on a new writer within it.

So maybe it comes down to what woman writers are writing, and how marketable it is and the likelihood of a publisher picking them up. I think a new female writer would have a greater chance being published in urban fantasy or dark fantasy, than in heroic or swords and sorcery fantasy.

Which makes me depressed now. I tend to write straight up fantasy. I have strayed into urban fantasy and like it as well. I would like to be published in both, if I get the chance to be published at all. But who is to say what is causing that sort of sad trend. Could be the next Robert Jordan (who really when you talk about fantasy he is king) could be a woman.

Number 1 attempt to get me an agent

2009-06-14T01:08:00.000-07:00

So I have chosen an agent to try for on my Soul Dancer novel. And will be mailing out the query plus sample chapter as soon as I can figure out the self addressed stamped envelope thing, which when it will be mailed from the US to Canada. I'm hoping the post office knows how to get that cleared up. .... I have always been fine with email rejections. Anyway, this is the first attempt, and since it is by mail, could take a bit.

Now to hunt for another...

I did also send it to an agency in Canada, because I liked the agent... and because it is Canadian. originally I sent the Afflicted to them and they liked it, but not quite enough to take it on. The Afflicted is not the sort of novel that would appeal to many, I think, a little too odd to be marketable... but fun to write. Soul Dancer is more a straight forward fantasy, a bit darker as well, plus more reflective of my style in that genre. I am more light hearted with my urban fantasy, maybe, or maybe I like dark. That was an email query anyway, so I should get a response in a few weeks from her. Keep your fingers crossed for me...

Maybe I am getting old...

2009-06-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

You know your getting old when you pick up a book from the pharmacy (cause your there to get all your meds)and you think 'vampires... cool'. Without realizing there is a hype about the book (which usually actually means a bad read--- Da Vinci Code... need I say more?). Can you guess already that I am refering to Twilight? I like a good urban fantasy or paranormal romance. I find them to be fast paced, easy reads that I can absorb when I have a migraine without forgeting the plot, but are also enjoyable (sometimes sinfully so) and tend to have a lot of action. Usually, they are great reads, fun and sometimes dark.

It was by far the worst book I have read this year... and I read about three books a week on average lately (bad migraine year). It was the sort of book that was painfully slow to start and then did not go anywhere.... until it became just painful. You kept expecting it to go somewhere, but it didn't. I read about four or five books while struggling not to bore myself to tears reading Twilight. It came very close to going on that pile of books I have half read but are so poorly written or the plots are just so tiresome you stack them up for when you run out of anything else to read, or re-read. The only reason it did not, was because it was a fast read, when you got to it. So I finished it and thought 'well, no point buying the next one'. Then I forgot that I finished it, because the ending at been so anti-climatical that when I watched the movie (cause for some reason i thought it might be better as a visual and maybe action packed vampire flick)... I kept expecting something else to happen, cause I thought I had not finished the book... turns out I had and thus the ending of the movie was just as sad as the book.

I have to wonder that if I was a teen (maybe 12 or 13) this book might have been better. It is obviously geared to a younger audience and so what I found to be tiresome and lame might have been interesting to a younger generation. But then i remember at 12 I was reading the Chronicles of Amber (which I borrowed from my dad's shelf). Which to this day remains my fav fantasy series and have re-read it numerous times. I remember by that age the Chronicles of Narnia set lasted me a few days and was only moderately entertaining. So maybe Twilight would never have been the book for me.

If a book has next to nothing for plot and a mystery that is no mystery (oh... he is a vampire)... then what is the appeal? I have read some trashy romanaces that were by far not the best written or with indepth plots... but at least they were fun and there is an obvious progression to the characters relationship. I read Anne Rice when I was a kid and loved those books... the plots were interesting, the characters dark and disturbing... all good stuff. I think it must be an age thing. I think I am far too old to enjoy teenie books... and maybe, too old even when I was a teen.

Most books are worth reading. Some have more depth than others. Some you read for different reasons than others. There are only a few books that are so bad you can't finsish reading them and you wonder how they got published in the first place. I am just one of those people that does not like those books people seem to rave on about. The Da Vinci Code was just a lame predictable version of Foucault's Pendulum . Never saw the appeal to the Harry Potter thing. And obviously I find Twilight lacking. I suppose my tastes are off. If it is a best seller and a 'must read' then apparently you can take it right off my list. Now I get why the Harry Potter ones don't appeal to me... I am not anywhere near the target audience for them and I think they are awesome for kids these days (encouraging kids to read is awesome) And I get the hype on the Da Vinci Code... which was hype becase of the idea of the grail being the bloodline of christ (which is not a new thing at all, but got people's panties in a bunch), but it was not a good book... you could see the plot and the ending a mile away (that one did make a better movie). But I totally don't get the hype on Twilight... maybe the teens love the guys in the movie... but the book was so utterly dull and predictable. Maybe the series gets better, but obviously not my scene.

Spreading through the web...

2009-06-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

So my self- marketing strategy for marketing Aura Sight is simply to spread out my web presence. Thus far:

1)MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/michelle_mythe :Not normally a site I was interested in, but on my list to spread my social presence. So far, loads of friend requests, but all people promoting their music. Does me little good, but found some awesome local bands.

2)Facebook: Well I love facebook already, but the problem is I use a pen name for writing and you cannot have two accounts. So I created a fan page, as you can imagine not too much of a fan base yet.

3)Twitter: http://twitter.com/mythemichelle :Again not a site I would usually use... cause, seriously, does any need to know the random junk in my head or what I am doing. However, as an author it has intriguing possibilities. You can link to your work for one. But also, what I have been doing for the 30 or so followers I somehow achieved, is posting two chapters a week for a free reading of Aura Sight. Mostly to attract attention, or a interested audience or even feedback.

4)Blog listings: over the last few weeks I have been adding myself to various blog listings, for this site and my main author site. Just to potentially pull in traffic.

That is about it so far, except of course putting some free reading on some other sites.

Yep.... yet another query attempt

2009-06-09T00:52:00.000-07:00

Queries are the bane of my existence. However, while I am marketing my self published work Aura Sight, and the upcoming Blood Lines, I decided to go the formal route with Soul Dancer. Which by the way was done before, but then I edited and extended, then edited, and then edited some more. I am aiming at agents this time, simply becauase of the speed of rejection... I don't want to wait a year from a publisher when in that time I can see what dozens of agents think... asuming they like my query, which, lets be honest, I am not skilled at yet. So here goes. Feel free to tell me if it is crap or decent or briliant.

Dear so and so:

Please find enclosed the complete manuscript of my 164,000-word fantasy fiction novel, Soul Dancer. My novel involves the struggle between the ruling class of mages and their magically bred warriors, the Nyxra. The mage born rulers, the Creed, designed the Nyxra using the offspring from two races, human and Angithic, then infused the essence of a third race called the Nyxi. However, when Shakti, a Nyxra assassin is sent outland on assignment she discovers her target to have the same energy scent as her people and refuses to complete the task. Her instincts tell her these strange pale Angithic are near-pack and therefore allies.

Shakti becomes allied with the Angithic and when other Nyxra are sent across the border to kill and kidnap more of the Angithic’s half-breed offspring she is willing to help them find answers. She believes the Angithic are the way to win freedom for all her people. On her way to help retrieve the kidnapped children she enters her homeland again and it is there she encounters the Nyxi. To her the Nyxi feel like enemies to the pack and as a result there is a irresistible instinctual response to attack, but instead she finds herself unwilling mate bonded to the Nyxi messenger and promising to help release their captured consort of their queen. Somehow by helping the Angithic with their children she must start a rebellion to over rule the Creed, free her people while trying to prevent the Nyxi from attacking their northern border.

I have not been published before in fiction works, but do self-publish some of my novels and therefore do quite a bit of online marketing. Feel free to check out my author site for samples of other works: http://michellemythe.wordpress.com In addition to the first three chapters I also attached a synopsis as per your instructions. Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Michelle Mythe

Thank goodness for Writers Beware site

2009-06-06T00:58:00.000-07:00

I tell ya, so hard to find an agent as it is within the bad ones. I saw this Writers literary Angency and thought I might give them a go... assuming the passed the writers beware site... which they did not, there is even a alert on them. Good thing we have somewhere to go to weed these out. Still, I am left wondering who to send this to, again. I suppose since I have some time off work, I will make up a list of the good ones and work down it.

Reading/Writing Sites

2009-05-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

I have decided to post a novel I am working on, on the site WEbook. The site allows writers to start a project by themselves or with collaborators and have people able to make comments and rate. I cannot post novels that I will be seeking publication on, but it is great for novels you are writing for fun or are planning to self-publish and certainly a great way to post material for people to read. This particular novel is one of my straight up fantasy novels. WeBook-Lazirica

I also posted a complete novel on NovelMaker, again just for anyone who wants to read. It is a novel I wrote about seven or so years ago, but has not been rigorously edited or refined. Mostly because I was not sure what I was going to do with it. When time permits I may smooth it out and self-publish it, but till then feel free to read, well, for free. Novel Maker-LifeLines

The dreaded slushpile

2009-04-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

I tend to send out unsolicited manuscripts to publishers, because it is difficult where I live to find an agent, and then there are few in my genre, most of which in the US. According to 1001 reasons to stop writing he blogged that there has been a marked increase to the slush piles, of unpublishable material. It means, one, slush pile is bigger than ever, so have fun standing out, and two, since most of them are unpublishable, you might look good in comparision. I may be joining their numbers soon, as I polish up a work that I might try and go the agent route again.

Here is a pick from 101 reasons:

So I have a book to sell and e-books...

2009-04-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

Now I need traffic. Since I do not have a website for this purpose, it means traffic to my blog. To that end I have been finding some blog listings to add my blog to. One of them, for women bloggers only, of which proudly I am. More listings means more interest in the blog and potentially more book sales if someone becomes intrigued by what they find. More traffic to my blog would help anyway. My migraine blog easily gets four times as much traffic than this one.

Whoop... Aura Sight now available on Amazon

2009-04-17T22:24:00.001-07:00

Aura Sight

I will be getting my copy soon and then check out the author prices.

Or to purchase from the source, you can also get the E-book Version for 6.00. Which is why I like self-publishing e-books.

Aura Sight is complete

2009-04-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

Aura Sight is the book I am publishing with iUniverse, to compare to Lulu. They are sending me out the finished copy and I can go from there. I would prefer to market mostly online and to some extent that means ways of promoting this blog. So I am trying to find places where you can list your blog. Still working in that. I am pretty inexperienced with this side of things and hope to muddle my way through on this book, picking it up as I go along. I think their prices on the books will be a problem, one that may be solved by buying at author rates. If not, then selling the e-book would make more sense. However, if the e-book is the only method of selling I can market with iUnivere, well, then Lulu being free and all would obviously work better. Hopefully by the end of that journey the book I am working on now will be completed and I can decide whether to go with them again, or Lulu, or the traditional method.

Marketing and networking in action...

2009-04-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

My newest marketing tool, is another networking one. Twitter. I am sure you have heard of it by now. I have not had any use for it before, but now I am getting into it. I think authors should twitter. So I am. Of course, you have to have small, neat little things to say. But you tell people on your book progress or a release. You can also tell them about your recent blog post or someone elses, or a site to check out. And, well, network.

Cover design

2009-03-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

With my other self published works, I used pictures for my covers, because I cannot design one. But with iUniverse they have cover designers. I am checking out what they can come up with. The cover is very important, because many people look at the cover first when they are looking for a book. I will see what they can come up with. Production on the book has moved on at a steady pace and nearing the end. I will be pleased to have a product to actually market soon.

What to do to market a self-published book...

2009-03-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

Well, of course I have my blog, so one step is to market the blog.

A author website is also a great idea. I will be setting one up as soon as I find a provider that is within my cost range.

There are various advertising methods via the publisher to get hits, worth thinking about. I will likely use one of those soon. And a few social sites you can also advertise on. But that does cost money and you have to think of the potential return of your investment (your book or books), so while it promotes activity I would not use it for long. In my case I am waiting until I have book products in addition to my current e-books.

One of my steps was to set up a myspace page and I am not sure if that will work or not, but good to establish my presence and talk about my work. I am still messing around with it, figuring out what I can do. I am used to more flexibility on such sites.

I will be adding more sites while I explore options but here is one I found so far.

1~ We Read- a site for readers and authors. Authors can post their works. This will be more use when I get my actual books complete, or the iUniverse one is ready for production, and not so much for my e-books.

Aura sight

2009-03-05T23:25:00.000-08:00

I am publishing Aura Sight with iUniverse. And it is different in the sense that they want to talk over marketing strategies and have contact with me. Which I am not used to and don't do well with when I have been laid out by migraines lately. But I will get a hold of them soon and see what insights they have. So that should be ready on market in the next few months and we will see how it goes.

Next novels to be worked on

2009-02-26T23:20:00.000-08:00

I am editing a urban fantasy I finished recently, but not sure if I will be doing an e-book or trying to get it published. I will see when it is done.

One that will be self-published is called Soul Dancer, and I am just freshening up the ending. It is already in the final edit. So almost good to go. Where I will self-publish and whether I will just stick to the e-book format I am not sure yet.

I have been consistently going through each novel and deciding what to do with it. And that is working well. Soon I will be left with the novels I am actually working on. All the fresh stuff.

The Afflicted e-book

2009-02-16T15:06:00.001-08:00

While I am messing around with font and format for the Weaver series I have set up The Afflicted in e-book form.

What if to have magic meant it fundamentally changed the perception of reality? Where you do indeed gain abilities, but the world becomes a fractured and chaotic environment and, to others, you are considered insane. Lily Haven is one such person. She can see the past and the future, but sometimes has a hard time staying in the present moment. Warren is her assigned Handler. He is there to help her relate to reality and to keep her as calm as possible. The world is a bright and scary place to the afflicted so their environment must be a stable and controlled place. Together they must go on a field mission to find allies in a war only Lily sees will happen. Will they be able to understand each others’ world, in order to communicate? It must be done to prevent a war. Could it be possible two people who perceive reality so differently find love or will the misconceptions of Lily’s insanity destroy it.

The Afflicted E-book

This is one of those novels that would be diffcult to find a publisher for, simply because it is not mass market style. Yet it was a blast to write and came from a clear concept. Makes for a bizzare fantasy romance. And there is nothing wrong with that. Just hard to market, and thus fine for an e-book format, I figure.

Book self-publishing...

2009-02-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

I do like the ease of using Lulu. I do not much like the sell price, but at least the e-book price is easily set. However, you do need to order a few trial copies to get it down... I kept getting small print until I began to mess around with the source files. So I need to wait for the next copy in order to set up the most recent edition. I will be happy when that is all to my satisfaction and I can move on to marketing.

iUniverse

2008-12-22T21:59:00.001-08:00

I think I am going to try another self-publishing site. This one a little different than Lulu. It is called iUniverse. So far I am just looking at it. But I like the idea of self-publishing, more in the e-book format, but also the option of having books to offer. Lately, the more I write, the less inclined I am to try and market a book I finished years ago. And the more I try to market, the less thrilled I am by finding little agent and punlishing options in Canada, and the fact that more and more of both are saying things like 'in these marketing conditions we are closed to submissions or only looking for one or only looking for agent represented...' You get the point. So why not? I like the traditional route, but right now it just does not seem feasible to me. Or perhaps, at the same time, it is fine. But no law against doing both.

Out of the blue

2008-11-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

Just got whammed by a rejection letter, for a submission I forgot I submitted. I will have to note that on my spreadsheet. Still, a bit of a downer to get that in the email, when you were not expecting it. Such a good novel that one is as well. All things considered, market wise, I expect it will be even harder than usual to get published in the traditional fashion. Pity. I'm an old fashioned girl who likes to read on paper (better for chronic migraines as well), but as a writer I just gotta learn to expand those horizons.

I have been reading a termendous amount lately. I have been near insatiable. As a result, I am astonished when I come across a novel that is just so horrible I can barely digest it. Predictable plot and just nasty writing. The worst mistake by far is when the author seems to forget what they had their own fricken characters say and then mess up later. I have to wonder how an editor would not only fail to edit that sort of crap, but intentionally choose it for the hundreds of submissions to be that book they will publish. Then after my disgust I wonder how crappy must I be, if I am even lower than the crap I cannot even finish reading? Man, how depressing is that? Not that it will deter me from writing mind you. I will write forever, for however long forever is. It would be lovely, awesome, and just so sa-weet, but not necessary.

Huh... record sales on e-book sales

2008-09-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

I sold 5 e-books this month via Lulu.com. Pretty impressive when you think it is just passive marketing. Other than that I have not been up to much since I just got back from a trip to Scotland. So just mellowing out for a few days and working on Aura Sight marketing stuff.

Writing programs

2008-08-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

I downloaded a writers aid program, which is a lot like notepad. Very simple in design, but what I find interesting and useful is that it has a side menu for creating chapers and then descriptions within the chapters. In other words, it is outlining while you write. I can even write a memo on a future chapter, to remind myself where I was going with it. I find it quite interesting and even more organized. Perhaps better than my novel notebooks. The down side to this free download is less ability to format and no spell check, which makes it a little tricky to edit as you go, as you actually have to closely edit. But it can be exported out to another program, and even if not, a little cut and paste would not take too long. I have been using it on one novel as a trial to see how it works, and so far, it is helping me keep in the flow of the novel. An interesting, and simplistic blend, of a spreadsheet and notepad.

To all those with migraines...

2008-08-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

The collection of artwork, essays and poetry 'Migraine Expressions' is out! And it is awesome. I recommend buying it if you live with someone with migraines or have them yourself. You will learn a great deal from the stories held within. And if you suffer from migraines (as I chronically do) you will feel something echo from those words, miroring your own experiences. We all know pain is subjective and what I feel you cannot, and vice versa. But though these works of art and essays you connect with people who have felt or do feel the same way.

I am mentioning it on my writing/reading blog because... my informative yet humorous essay 'To all those with migraines: I, too, share your brain cramps' is in the collection... specifially pages 28-30... so flip there first and have a giggle.

So check out the site:
Migraine Expressions Site where you can pre-order, order, preview and check out links.

Idlewild: my brief trip into sci-fi

2008-08-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

Nick Sagan is the author of Idlewild, and my first temptation on the shelves I chose in the genre. I enjoyed it, but it took me awhile to get into it. Virtual reality times two plus gimpy computer. While the world within a world within a world is vaguely Matrix like... and also a little similar since their real-real world is crummy really. After they get out of the system they have a task... a task they were born for, created for... the task to cure a plague and bring humans back, or at least clones of the humans back. I found the book intrigued me, the author is intelligent and it adds a great deal of depth to the story. The characters are interesting and flavorfull, with fasinating virtual lives, and so not prepared for how the real world will affect them physically, having been outside of it for all their lives. An enjoyable book and so fully willing to read the next one 'Edenborn'.

Need a little focus...

2008-08-03T02:50:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a lot lately... a lot. And now I am at that point where there is very little to read. Which is a good time to get with the writing. So here is my list of projects I feel I could focus on:

- 'Fey'- just a novel about alernate reality of the present.

- 'The Island- a fantasy novel about a world isolated from reality and one woman's quest to regain her memory, get revenge and destroy the barrier.

- 'Bite me'- a novel about a vampire trying to control the spread of rogues in a blood lust.

- 'Mage Poison'- about a drug addicted brilliant spell caster who wants to take the goverment down.

The first three of which are me playing around with first person, and I have yet to see which will be the one I choose to make a finished product of. Mage poison on the other hand is almost complete, alhough I am playing with POV and the ending.

I have others I could work on, solid straight up fantasy, but I will let them simmer some more and see how these ones go. This would be a free writing stage, which is what I am in the mood for, so that is what I am going to do.

I have a line on a interesting marketing site, but I need to explore it more and detail my marketing junk before I post any remarks about it.

Impatience

2008-07-05T02:03:00.000-07:00

I plan on sending out Aura Sight again to a publisher. And so I am doing a revision, it is all about revisions and plenty of them.

But lately I have been trying out different self-publishing routes like Lulu.com, where I put my epic series. And Webooks, where I put the Afflicted, for now.

But I have two other complete novels as well. Should I go the slower than snail publishing route with them? I think I will do a revision on them both as well. And yet, when I do I was thinking of other markets... self-publishing, e-book companies and such. I work hard on these novels, and these are some of my older ones as well. I hate to think while I focus on Aura Sight (as my strong fantasy novel), that the others will be forever ignored. I want them to be out there too, even if it is as an e-book or lulu book.

I like the idea of doing this, with solid novels, to get them out there. To clean house so I can work more focused on a potential sequence to Aura Sight, and work on some other primarily fantasy books that, are not experimental or hard to market.

It is partly born from impatience as well. Geting published is a slow thing. And I like to idea that I have more than one book of different markets, as it widens my exposure over the internet... and exposure is never a bad thing.

And as I make my Lulu books into books, rather than e-books, it has given me a sense of satisfaction that I produced a product. So I might choose them again, with newer works. But really, I want to expand into different areas.

So revise, revise and then see if I can find what I am looking for.

Faith Hunter

2008-06-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

I have recently finished reading 'Bloodring', 'Seraphs' and am in the process of reading 'Hosts', by Faith Hunter. Which clearly indicates how when I like something, I both read very quickly and consume as much as I can of that author. This author is one of those that embraces the internet, and internet persona, and thus her website somes with all the sparkles (wallpaper, banners and such). And I will say the cover art on her books is wicked cool. So if you are one of those people that gets into an author in more ways than just reading their books, then go ahead and check out whatever is on there. I am one of those people that forgets an authors name and thus have about a thousand unfinished series rolling around in my head until I randomly chance upon them again. Which just makes me wish some fantasy novels were a) not so serial and never ending or b) the author would write faster or c) I find this author they have completed the series so I get that warm fuzzy feeling of a finished story line. I have to wonder if the author's parent had fun with name picking day, or why the author would use a pen name at all, but it seems to be a trend.

Eh-ehm, Anyway most of all that is besides the point. This series is interesting on many fronts. It is based post-Apocalypse. Of course some people make it through all the booms, shakes and plagues... and the religious folk are wondering why they don't get to eat their cake now. And naturally, as human disasters tend to do, the devotely religious kooks, get kooky-er... but they have motivation, as in super powerful angel-like beings, with all the smite power of the all-mighty included. Plus we have mutants, as in people who after surving all the plagues had some funky DNA changes and now have the mage like abilities to tap into earth energy. So in some parts the story is kick-ass action, other parts are philosophically religious, with a bit o' bible thumping hate to make it fun. While the basic story line is rather, well, basic... the characters, pace and worldbuilding make up for it. So you get one enjoyable story, plus the sub-plots add some interesting texture.

The Name of the Wind

2008-06-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

I finally got in the mood for a good classic fantsy novel and it just so happens on my last jaunt to the bookstore I found one. It is called The Name of the Wind. What I mean by 'classical' fantasy is that it is a boy made hero story, starting at boy and working its way up. The difference is it does not have the 'shiny' element often seen, where it is to unplausible and the boy (oddly enough never a girl, which is rather irksome), is 'chosen' in some way. This one the boy earns his accomplishments the hard way... with more than a few bumps and bruises and some realistic obstacles, such as his poverty.

I did not get into this book right away, because the reason I had chosen it amongst the other pretty temptations was becuas it was written in first person, so I thought if it was not good, then at least it would be fast. However, when I began to read it it was in third person. And this turned me off, nothing is more irksome than a writer switching from 3rd to 1st like that. But then you get where he is going with it... it is like a hundred page prologue of getting into the character, before the character tells his own story. So there is a strong storytelling feel to it, obviously, but it works quite well. You want to find out what happened to this character to end up where he is. And it was in fact extremely entertaining. It has a slow pull to it, but once you get sucked in, your entranced... then the bugger leaves you hanging and you have to go buy the other two just to get some satisfaction... ah well, its not like I don't enjoy a good trillogy or dexology. But one thing I liked about this story, and also one thing I like about Mistborn, is this seperation between what actually happened and then people's perception of what happened. How a story grows, charges, fractures into a thousand pieces until you don't know the truth of the matter. And in both stories the characters make use of the way people, rumors and the turning of a tale to work to their advantage. Anyway, awesome tale, worth reading.

The Afflicted

2008-06-17T22:49:00.001-07:00

The Afflicted

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Migraine Expressions

2008-06-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well folks, the Migraine Expressions is due to come out in mid-July! I am excited to see it really, since it is composed with articles and artwork. I really love some of the artwork used to express migraines. Anyway, in this fantastic collection you will find my amusing essay 'To all those with Migraines: I too share your brain cramps'.

WEbook.com - Myth1977\'s Profile

2008-06-07T02:20:00.001-07:00

I found this new site called WEbook, where you post your work and can get feeback from others, or even get colaborators. When you are done you can submit it to be reviewed by the members and WEbooks will add it to their self punlications of ebooks and POD books. I am checking it out, using the novel The Afflicted, since I have never had any feedback on it yet, and it is a different sort of novel. So if when I am done they take me one, then this will be my second self-publishing adventure. Lulu worked for my older epic series, it is a fine format, but of course, hard to self market. Anyway, I am reading through the novel, making minor tweaks and posting. Then I supose I will be doing some reviewing to see if I get any good feeback I can work with.

WEbook.com - Myth1977's Profile

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Stumble is so fun...

2008-05-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

I have been messing around with StumbleUpon... which is a quick way to find sites that interest me. I found some interesting ones under 'writing'... because they are less about people who enjoy writing, and more about sites where you contribute in some way. Amusing ways to waste time, as if I do not already have that problem with facebook.

1) Write Something- Literally, just write something and add to the collective unconscious... the 'endless senseless collaborative Book'.

2) One Word- they give you one word and then you write about it... you can see how others respond when you are done.

3) One Sentence- which as the title says, you try to write one awesome sentence.

Short story attempt

2008-05-22T23:41:00.000-07:00

Due to the feedback on my last post, I thougt I would write a short story for their new E-zine to return the favor. It is a good break from my novels. Should be finsihed it in a few days and send it off to them. If they like it and use it, that would be great. See how it goes. Maybe I will work up a few more stories, for fun.

Murder of Angels

2008-05-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

I picked up this book 'Murder of Angels', by Caitlin Kiernan, during my last shopping spree and it is an odd one. Basically you are looking on a theme about one person's crazy is anothers reality. Afterall, perception is reality, and so if your perceptions are telling something is there, who is to say you are wrong? Well, you are defined as crazy, if everyone else does not see what you see. In this novel the main character is delusional, but actually she is in tune with alternate realities. I am only half way through it so far, muddling my way through it really, since it is a tad over decriptive and annoying really. The plot is slow and the foreshadowing is just confusing. I am not all that interested in finishing it really, but since my to read pile is getting thin, I likely will. I suppose it is an interesting speculation into the delusional mind. So far it is just rather depressing really, with most people in the characters' pasts having offed themselves for various reasons, and many of them being drug addicts or drunks. So, yes, dark, but not the sort of dark I enjoy reading.... too 'I'm emotionally haunted by my past' stuff. Maybe I will turn to something funny after this one... some good Terry Pratchet to lighten the mood.

So maybe all that migraine aura stuff I see is actually real. Maybe little sparkling fairies that only I can see... or maybe not.

Ever...

2008-05-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, imaginary blog reader, but I often play out different conversations between characters when I am bored, working, pretending to work... but mostly when I am trying to sleep. Anyway, it seems I get a lot of story line and character inspiration by just playing it through my mind. Such as it was today. And a fine concept it is too. But, being the determined person I like to pretend to be, I have to finish the alt ending to Soul Dancer first. So I must push this idea from my mind, temporarily, or just think about it some more, let it simmer in the ol brain, and wait till it is its turn. Once I am doing a refined edit on Soul Dancer I can play with any novel I wish until one gets to that point where I should focus on it exlusively. So where does inspiration come from? Why, from my schizo brain chatting itself up, of course!

Protagonize

2008-05-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

I found a knew creative writing site... while on Facebook, cause that is how a hermit socializes. Anyway, I have yet to explore the site yet, but looks like fun. Just something to play with to keep your creativity goin and interacting with other writers. The concept is interactive stories... you post a segment and people can add onto what you have created and vice versa.

I know its been awhile...

2008-04-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

But I don't call this blog the Hermit for nothin, you know what I'm saying? I have been working on the extended ending of Soul Dancer, fleshing out the details of how I want it to end. Of course once I am done that, I will have to edit through start to finish to make sure it all meshes. It has been fun to work on really, and so far I have been able to resist the itch to work on something else.

Rather boring to blog about really. Maybe I have been spending too much time on the facebook to find anything amusing to post on here. And not enough rejections to post yet either... those are always fun.