Archive for June, 2009

I finally got my biography up on the site, if you’re interested. It really is odd that this took me so long. I can’t think what it was about this subject that made me procrastinate so. I mean, I love expounding on myself—I’m sure you do as well. Meaning talking about me. Who would enjoy talking about someone other than me? I mean, that’s just ridiculous!

(Please forgive this arrogance in excess of even my standard fare. My natural antisociality results in an intrinsic lack of interest in biography, including my own. To overcome this I had to summon a considerable platform of hubris from which to leap. In that cause, I find the above sufficient.)

I have sold myself.  Perhaps it’s better characterized as rent?  Whatever the case, it is certain that aspects of myself are now available for purchase.  What’s better, it’s for a good cause.

A writer named Cynthea Liu is celebrating the release of her latest book by having a charitable auction.  Lots of people in the writing business have offered packages of their work or services for people to bid on, including me.  I’ve offered to critique a novel proposal package, including a first chapter, the cover letter, and a synopsis, as well as to answer any questions the person may have about submitting throughout the life of their package.  At this point the bid is $50.  If you’re interested you can bid on my package by going here; if you aren’t interested, please spread the word about this auction.

I don’t get people, which is to say I don’t understand them, not to say I don’t receive them.  Now don’t those two meanings for “get” make a bit of a difference in what I said? 

I’m sometimes teased, pestered, persecuted, and needled in general for my fixation on precise semantics.  Apparently, there are people out there who don’t wonder why “practically” can mean “in close proximity to a location or condition” while “impractically” cannot mean “in excess or great separation from a location or condition.”  (You may officially look for the notion of “impracticality” as a spacial relation or conditional term in my future work, as I like the concept.)  I just don’t understand this comfort with almost-understanding of words.  ”Never” and “rarely”—what’s the difference?  In this nightmarish world—at least to my mind—to be near is to be neighborly, a compliment is a crown, and I suppose cuteness is to execute a witticism. (And did you know that there is only one usage for the word “cute” that men are licenced to employ, that, of course, being in reference to a girl or, if he’s very comfortable in his masculinity, occasionally for infant humans—but not puppies.)

Well, the world (people not the planet) may mock (disparage rather than impersonate) me as it will (desires rather than a prognostication)—I will know what I say.  And I’ll know what others say, so may those with blunt-edged tongues guard themselves, for they’ll inevitably hear me ask, “Now, when you say that, do you mean…?”

My annotations for chapter 2 are available, for any that are interested.  Now, as I just finished working out and typing makes my biceps jump like electric shocks, I will say goodbye, good weekend to all, and to all a late night.  (There is something perversely settled in those building-up hours of the early morning.  I much prefer a little late night agitation.)

I’m not big on most holidays.  I’m too ornery for the social ones, too pessimistic for the hopeful ones, too cheap for the commercial ones, and too well adjusted for the stupid ones (Lee’s National Denim Day on Oct. 2nd).  As holidays go, the 4th of July is one of the best, despite the fact that the Declaration of Independence was officially approved—making the sentiment law—two days earlier.  It’s a chance to get together with family and friends—or not—out in the sunlight—or not—for a barbecue that, in most cases, is really just amateur grilling—or not.  The or nots are a very important component, because or notting some holidays is just too heinous even for me.  Really, who can sluff off Christmas or Thanksgiving or Easter without coming off as a bit of a prick.  Ditch the 4th and you might be viewed as unpatriotic, but this new post-modernist trend of not expressing patriotism being patriotic makes this whole area fuzzy, so you’ll be okay.

As I’ve said, I’m not a big practitioner of holiday events, especially the larger varieties.  But I was just invited to a 4th of July party that literally means more to me than any other party invitation ever.  I’ve been invited to a Sudanese cultural celebration being held here in Salt Lake on the 4th.  Immigrants, many refugees, from many states are gathering for a long evening of cultural celebration, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Declaration of Independence and all it stands for than celebrating these Sudanese people.  For those who don’t know, Sudan is the nation in which Darfur is located.  Some of the most hellish atrocities on this planet are happening in the homeland of these people, and they are more than witnesses.  Many of them have been victims, and just as many heroes resisting evils that we in the states can’t imagine.  That such an event happens here is the ultimate celebration of American culture’s best attributes.   

A student and friend of mine named Achual is doing a lot to arrange the event.  Many of the leading figures in the Sudanese community are located here in Utah, as we’ve taken a prominent role in offering refugee status and welcome to those fleeing the Sudanese civil war and Janjuweed genocide.  I’ve had the privilege of helping a number of pivotal Sudanese student leaders with their writing, and Achual is as smart, diligent, and industrious as they come.  He brought in the last invitation for this event for a final once over and, when the session ended, asked if I wanted to attend.  I was speechless.  Having met a number of these students, I’ve accepted that the awe-bordering respect I feel for them will never dissipate.  That’s as it should be.  Great courage and spirit should always strike us as profound.  But to have a chance to celebrate this culture under threat with hundreds of people who have survived the worst this world has to offer, and still lift their heads to celebrate….  

Whatever your religion or lack of such, I tell you that some things in life are sacred.  For me, this is one of them.

It looks like my first school visit tours for GDC are beginning to settle into place on my calendar. Most aren’t set yet, but I’ll be in the north and south Salt Lake area sometime in September, and in Layton on Sept. 9-10th. Each tour will include a Thursday signing at Barnes and Noble. I won’t put these up on my calendar until they’re finalized, but I thought I’d give a heads up—after all, I haven’t written anything in a week and needed something to say.

Here’s another something. I just passed the six month mark of a certain publisher considering a certain requested manuscript. When they buy it—yes, when!—I’ll let you know just what “certain” means.

And finally, I’ve been so busy I had to invent time to read, so I no longer spend half and hour or so puffing away on my elliptical every morning—instead, I spend half an hour puffing away on my elliptical every morning with a book in hand. It means all the stress of the machine is born by my bad knees but so far I’m managing to tough it out. The book of the moment is Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Just started two days ago, but so far? It’s a really fun read, which for me on Neil Gaiman is about an “egh, so-so” level comment. I’m not finding it on the same level as American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book, but then saying something isn’t on par with one of the hundred greatest novels of the last hundred years, a Newberry winner, and a should-have-been Newberry winner isn’t the most biting of criticism. I’m liking Anansi Boys better than Stardust, which was a fine book in its own right. Let you know if my feelings have changed when I finish.

I just learned from Jacketflap that I didn’t write GDC after all. Turns out it was my friend and fellow “assistant” to R.D. Henham, Amie Rotruck (who did, in fact, write Bronze DC). Who knew?

How disappointing.

My chapter annotations for the prologue of GDC are now available. You might have noticed the chapter annotation section of the site is now accessible from the main navigational bar for any visitor, not just members. I think I’ll keep it there and open access. If you’re interested in how this book came about, from my inspiration behind the story, to compositional techniques, to changes made in the editing process, I’ll comment on all these aspects. If you wonder how honest I’ll be just read the prologue annotation, that should give you an idea.

My goal is to do at least two chapters per week for the short term future, maybe more if I can manage it. I hope people check these out and enjoy them. I think they’ll be interesting, especially for writers looking to get a glimpse into how someone else—in this case, me—crafts a novel. Oh, and while I think I’ll just do the chapters in order, if anyone has a special request of a chapter for annotation, let me know and I’ll do that next. As always, I aim to please—mostly myself, but others when circumstance allows.

If everything went as planned, I now have a book sitting on bookstore shelves nationwide. It’s a pretty cool thought. Theoretical, as I haven’t actually been in a bookstore to see, but pretty cool nonetheless. You know, when you wait for over two years for a day to arrive, when it finally comes you expect something BIG to happen. Me, I kind of thought I’d grow wings. Whenever I thought about having a book in print I got this hollow, flighty feeling that had me envisioning buzzing to and from work like a hummingbird.

The day has come, and I’ll not be flying about sans-jet pack any time soon. But being a terrestrial-bound published author isn’t too bad, all things considered.

Now to find out what people think of the book. I’m really looking forward to this. Good feedback, even bad—it all appeals to me, as it means I’m being read. To be read by people for no other reason than that they might enjoy or otherwise benefit from the experience is incredible to me. Whatever the verdict, I’m looking forward to hearing it.

Which brings me to a very special request: if you read and like my book, please tell people. By all means, post reviews on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Boarders and the like; but more to the point, tell readers you know. Word of mouth is the magic of the world of literature. Nothing gives more life to a good book than someone willing to put out the word that it is indeed good. Readers respect the recommendations of their friends and close acquaintances more than that of critics, media hype, or most awards. Every single book purchased means a lot to me; but every recommendation, every testament of personal character that something I have written is of value to someone, means far more. I hope GDC is the kind of book readers will finish and want to tell others about, believing that their friends would be a little happier, at least for a time, having read it as well.

I hope people feel such affection for GDC, as well as all the following books I write. If not, I hope they feel that way about other books. Whenever we feel such passion, I request that we all go out and tell people. Some people argue that great written story is no longer as important as it once was; that such doesn’t fit into our digitized, hyperfrenetic world of soundbites. When we talk about great books, we make clear not only that there is room in currently life for written story, but that the best stories shape and inform all the other aspects of our lives. I hope that GDC has, in a small way and to a modest degree, this affect on some readers. Simply said, I hope if you read the book that you are glad you’ve done so when you’ve finished, and that you think others might feel the same way.

Time to find out.

Just got back from the signing at The King’s English here in Salt Lake. Speaking from my utter lack of experience—this was my first book signing—I think it went well. Lots of friends showed up and no enemies did. That’s always a good balance for a happy life. We sold out the store’s stock of GDC, I think fifteen books, so that can’t be that bad.

I met Jenn Northington, Event and Marketing Manager for The King’s English, for the first time in person. She was great; very on top of things and made sure everyone enjoyed themselves, authors as well as patrons. If you’re ever looking to do a book signing or other literary event in the Salt Lake area, I couldn’t recommend a location more than The King’s English. It’s one of those great places built on the love of books—the brick and mortar forms a peripheral support structure only. I love all bookstores, but those stubborn independents that manage to stay open are special, and this is such a place.

I also have to thank Sydney Salter, friend and SCBWI regional chair, who set everything up. She was there signing her own book as well. Other writers who signed include Anne Bowen, Kristyn Crow, Kristen Landon, Jean Regan, Wendy Toliver, Sara Zarr, and my friend Jill Vanderwood. While they were all great, you may notice a bit of an unbalance there in the testosterone/estrogen mixture. Luckily, Mike Knudson shared my table and we stayed back-to-back, putting in a good showing for the Y chromosome.

My only regret is that people came to get author signatures and, clearly by mistake, some actually asked me. Yeah, bad break. Can’t wait to do it again.