Hey fans,
Here are a few events going on, interviews of Steve Alten, author of MEG: Hell's Aquarium to be more exact.
• TODAY, June 29! 2:08 PM Alaska Time (6:08PM EST), www.kybr.com - Eddie Burke Show
• July 1st, 9:35 am EST, www.wmov1360.com - Live with Greg Gack
• July 7th, 9:05 am MST (11:05am EST), www.1530kcmn.com - Tron in the Morning
Enjoy the events! If any past ones get archived, I'll be sure to get them up on the website so you can listen to them at a later date - all authors included.
Thanks fans! Looking for certain content? Let me know and I'll see what I can do.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sean Young
Can the real Sean Young, please stand up? =)>
If you're out there Sean, we need your contact info. Since you've moved from your old S. African residence we have no contact info for you.
For all you others, take a look at Sean Young and his historical thriller, Violent Sands.
Thanks everyone.
If you're out there Sean, we need your contact info. Since you've moved from your old S. African residence we have no contact info for you.
For all you others, take a look at Sean Young and his historical thriller, Violent Sands.
Thanks everyone.
Paul Byers Says Thanks; Steven Savile Interviewed
Good day people,
I couldn't help but post something on a Monday, it's been habit =)>. Any who, Paul Byers, author of Catalyst, had a couple of signings a few weeks back, and in response to that he wanted me to send out a message of thanks:
Thank you fans of the Great Pacific Northwest!
Thanks to all of you who came out to Borders Books on June 6th, you helped make my first signing there in Lynnwood a great success and thank you to those who came out the following week to the Borders in Everett who helped keep the interest going strong there.
Also a special thanks to those who attended the Olympic Flight Museum’s air show in Olympia, this past Father’s Day weekend. It was a great show and with your support, my best turnout for a book signing yet!
Thanks to all.
Paul
We here at Variance also thank the fans that went out for your support!
Next, Steven Savile, author of SILVER, had an interview posted this past weekend, and what a great interview! You can find it here, http://hagelrat.blogspot.com/2009/06/steven-savile-interview.html, and granted it's not on SILVER specifically, but is on Steve, who he is, and what he's about.
And speaking of SILVER, we are so close to a finalized cover... I can't wait to unveil it!
That's it for now. I may have more later today, including upcoming events for a few authors, so enjoy this for now and we shall talk to you soon!
I couldn't help but post something on a Monday, it's been habit =)>. Any who, Paul Byers, author of Catalyst, had a couple of signings a few weeks back, and in response to that he wanted me to send out a message of thanks:
Thank you fans of the Great Pacific Northwest!
Thanks to all of you who came out to Borders Books on June 6th, you helped make my first signing there in Lynnwood a great success and thank you to those who came out the following week to the Borders in Everett who helped keep the interest going strong there.
Also a special thanks to those who attended the Olympic Flight Museum’s air show in Olympia, this past Father’s Day weekend. It was a great show and with your support, my best turnout for a book signing yet!
Thanks to all.
Paul
We here at Variance also thank the fans that went out for your support!
Next, Steven Savile, author of SILVER, had an interview posted this past weekend, and what a great interview! You can find it here, http://hagelrat.blogspot.com/2009/06/steven-savile-interview.html, and granted it's not on SILVER specifically, but is on Steve, who he is, and what he's about.
And speaking of SILVER, we are so close to a finalized cover... I can't wait to unveil it!
That's it for now. I may have more later today, including upcoming events for a few authors, so enjoy this for now and we shall talk to you soon!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Authors Are People Too! - Daniel Brenton
Tidings Variance fans!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are excited for this, the last, Authors Are People Too! Our final guest is Daniel Brenton, co-author of RED MOON.
Q. What questions have you always wished people would ask you?
A. We managed to finagle a few interviews, a couple of them being by podcasters, which turned into interviews by phone or by Skype. One interviewer asked a question that I felt was really pretty thoughtful, to the point of being innovative: "Is there anything I didn't ask that you wished I had?"
I think we both drew a blank at that point.
I didn't realize interviews could lead to moments of hair-raising astonishment, but this one in particular did. I'll need to set this up a little.
In the book, Dave Michaels used the historical character of S.P. Korolev, the father of (and driving force behind) the Soviet space program, to make the point that the space program was a way to divert attention (and some funding) away from the nuclear weapons race. On the other side of the ocean, he had a collaborator in spirit: most of you probably remember John Kennedy's words that provoked America to throw the gauntlet down before the Soviet Union and challenge it to a duel in the heavens:
First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.
With this, Kennedy did in fact turn the Cold War into a symbolic war in the heavens, which almost certainly distracted us from our seemingly hell-bent drive for Mutual Assured Destruction.
In the interview I made reference to this theme and specifically to Kennedy's challenge, and managed to get out the sentence: "by doing this, he may in fact have saved the human race." In the final podcast, the interviewer closed the episode by seizing on this sentence and repeating it staccato with several enhancing effects, which, frankly, gave me chills when I heard it.
Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A. Everyone asks this question, and I guess I'm a little surprised that people ask it. I say this in that I've always had a very active imagination (RE-active at times, sometimes to my detriment), so much so I still am surprised at people who don't share this. I think in part the reason I do is that it was a childhood escape. Frankly, my home environment was not particularly pleasant emotionally. As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, and I remember many happy days spent at libraries during the summers, absolutely fascinated with any book with anything to do with space flight. A personal favorite (long after it had become outdated) was The Exploration of Mars by Willy Ley and Wernher von Braun, featuring those gorgeous paintings by Chesley Bonestell. In reflection, this was probably about as far as I could get from my home (symbolically), so it's not really surprising.
To ... actually answer the question: sometimes, outwardly, I can juxtapose two very different ideas and come up with something interesting, though I think this is really a way of accessing an internal process. I think it's really a matter of being quiet and letting the mind connect with the unconscious mind. Usually if I have a story problem or need, I get a handle on the problem and hang on to it until I get an answer. I've been doing this so long that I pretty much take for granted that there's always an answer, even if it's an answer that says I have to start over. It's a process.
Ideas, actually, are cheap. It's the execution that's important. I read recently that Harlan Ellison, author of all those award winning science fiction short stories ("'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," "The Deathbird," and on and on) sued the producers of The Terminator for infringing on his scripts of the classic Outer Limits episodes "Soldier" and "Demon with a Glass Hand." There are some similarities in the material, but in my opinion Ellison was just plain wrong. The execution and theme were so different it shouldn't have even been a question.
And, no, I don't have a percentage of the Terminator franchise. Wish I did.
Q. What has been your experience with Variance as a publisher?
A. Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased to be in the Variance "stable" of writers. The contractual relationship between Variance and the book is actually with Dave, but Variance has been kind enough to treat me like part of the project and not an unwanted appendage, as some have treated me in the past. (Not naming names, but you know who you are.)
Q. Do you have any advice to new writers?
A. In all honesty, I'm a new writer. As much as writing has been a dream for me for most of my life, in reflection I see I have not approached it with the level of determination it needed to get anywhere. This, truly, was my mistake.
Advice?
Write, keep writing, look for your opportunities, and create them if you don't see any. It's an uphill climb, and it's not one little bit as glamorous as the stereotype suggests. But you know you have to do it, and to deny that is to deny a part of yourself. Don't wait until later in your life to start taking it seriously.
Do it now, because now is all you have.
Great way to close it, Dan! To learn much much more about Red Moon be sure to take a jaunt to Luna 15 or visit the Variance Red Moon Page. Be sure to check out Daniel's blog, The Meaning of Existence (and all that): The Curmudgeon's Guide to Spirituality, at danielbrenton.com. You can also follow Daniel on Twitter: @DanielBrenton. Be sure to leave your questions and comments below for Dan to check out too!
I'm kind of sad to see it go - I've truly enjoyed reading what our authors have had to say who have been so kind let us into their lives. This won't be the end though! Starting up soon will be a twist on this idea, Author on Author interviews (who better to interview an author than another author?). Want to put your two cents in on the next sessions? Shoot me an email, I look forward to seeing your ideas.
Thanks again for all your support, both authors and fans! Talk to you soon,
--ST
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are excited for this, the last, Authors Are People Too! Our final guest is Daniel Brenton, co-author of RED MOON.
Q. What questions have you always wished people would ask you?
A. We managed to finagle a few interviews, a couple of them being by podcasters, which turned into interviews by phone or by Skype. One interviewer asked a question that I felt was really pretty thoughtful, to the point of being innovative: "Is there anything I didn't ask that you wished I had?"
I think we both drew a blank at that point.
I didn't realize interviews could lead to moments of hair-raising astonishment, but this one in particular did. I'll need to set this up a little.
In the book, Dave Michaels used the historical character of S.P. Korolev, the father of (and driving force behind) the Soviet space program, to make the point that the space program was a way to divert attention (and some funding) away from the nuclear weapons race. On the other side of the ocean, he had a collaborator in spirit: most of you probably remember John Kennedy's words that provoked America to throw the gauntlet down before the Soviet Union and challenge it to a duel in the heavens:
First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.
With this, Kennedy did in fact turn the Cold War into a symbolic war in the heavens, which almost certainly distracted us from our seemingly hell-bent drive for Mutual Assured Destruction.
In the interview I made reference to this theme and specifically to Kennedy's challenge, and managed to get out the sentence: "by doing this, he may in fact have saved the human race." In the final podcast, the interviewer closed the episode by seizing on this sentence and repeating it staccato with several enhancing effects, which, frankly, gave me chills when I heard it.
Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A. Everyone asks this question, and I guess I'm a little surprised that people ask it. I say this in that I've always had a very active imagination (RE-active at times, sometimes to my detriment), so much so I still am surprised at people who don't share this. I think in part the reason I do is that it was a childhood escape. Frankly, my home environment was not particularly pleasant emotionally. As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, and I remember many happy days spent at libraries during the summers, absolutely fascinated with any book with anything to do with space flight. A personal favorite (long after it had become outdated) was The Exploration of Mars by Willy Ley and Wernher von Braun, featuring those gorgeous paintings by Chesley Bonestell. In reflection, this was probably about as far as I could get from my home (symbolically), so it's not really surprising.
To ... actually answer the question: sometimes, outwardly, I can juxtapose two very different ideas and come up with something interesting, though I think this is really a way of accessing an internal process. I think it's really a matter of being quiet and letting the mind connect with the unconscious mind. Usually if I have a story problem or need, I get a handle on the problem and hang on to it until I get an answer. I've been doing this so long that I pretty much take for granted that there's always an answer, even if it's an answer that says I have to start over. It's a process.
Ideas, actually, are cheap. It's the execution that's important. I read recently that Harlan Ellison, author of all those award winning science fiction short stories ("'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," "The Deathbird," and on and on) sued the producers of The Terminator for infringing on his scripts of the classic Outer Limits episodes "Soldier" and "Demon with a Glass Hand." There are some similarities in the material, but in my opinion Ellison was just plain wrong. The execution and theme were so different it shouldn't have even been a question.
And, no, I don't have a percentage of the Terminator franchise. Wish I did.
Q. What has been your experience with Variance as a publisher?
A. Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased to be in the Variance "stable" of writers. The contractual relationship between Variance and the book is actually with Dave, but Variance has been kind enough to treat me like part of the project and not an unwanted appendage, as some have treated me in the past. (Not naming names, but you know who you are.)
Q. Do you have any advice to new writers?
A. In all honesty, I'm a new writer. As much as writing has been a dream for me for most of my life, in reflection I see I have not approached it with the level of determination it needed to get anywhere. This, truly, was my mistake.
Advice?
Write, keep writing, look for your opportunities, and create them if you don't see any. It's an uphill climb, and it's not one little bit as glamorous as the stereotype suggests. But you know you have to do it, and to deny that is to deny a part of yourself. Don't wait until later in your life to start taking it seriously.
Do it now, because now is all you have.
Great way to close it, Dan! To learn much much more about Red Moon be sure to take a jaunt to Luna 15 or visit the Variance Red Moon Page. Be sure to check out Daniel's blog, The Meaning of Existence (and all that): The Curmudgeon's Guide to Spirituality, at danielbrenton.com. You can also follow Daniel on Twitter: @DanielBrenton. Be sure to leave your questions and comments below for Dan to check out too!
I'm kind of sad to see it go - I've truly enjoyed reading what our authors have had to say who have been so kind let us into their lives. This won't be the end though! Starting up soon will be a twist on this idea, Author on Author interviews (who better to interview an author than another author?). Want to put your two cents in on the next sessions? Shoot me an email, I look forward to seeing your ideas.
Thanks again for all your support, both authors and fans! Talk to you soon,
--ST
Monday, June 15, 2009
Authors Are People Too! - Craig Alexander
Another weekend gone, zealots, and another Monday returns in what will be one of the last few of sessions of 'Author Mondays' until we pick back up in July sometime with author-on-author sessions (not to get too far ahead of ourselves). Without further ado, let's begin our segment now with Craig Alexander, author of The Nineveh Project.
Q. What made you want to be a writer?
A. You mean besides seeking fame and fortune?
The answer is simple: I love books! I've always wanted to be a writer and I actually decided to do something about it in my mid-thirties. It's really hard to write a novel if you never start it.
I'm kidding about the fame and fortune part. But, I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to the fortune.
Q. What's the most interesting thing that's happened to you since your first book was published?
A. A lot of exciting things have happened and I've had a chance to meet a lot of people. But, one thing that really sticks in my mind is an email I received. A high school student from a small village near Stuttgart, Germany contacted me asking if I would be willing to answer some questions for him. He had chosen The Nineveh Project as the subject of his English language book report. I thought that was really cool.
Great job, Craig! I hear you on the fortune part... =)>. To get more on his action packed novel, visit The Nineveh Project's book page. For more on Craig, you can visit his author page, or his website at CraigAlexanderOnline.com.
Next weeks guest will be Daniel Brenton. Have a great week!
Q. What made you want to be a writer?
A. You mean besides seeking fame and fortune?
The answer is simple: I love books! I've always wanted to be a writer and I actually decided to do something about it in my mid-thirties. It's really hard to write a novel if you never start it.
I'm kidding about the fame and fortune part. But, I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to the fortune.
Q. What's the most interesting thing that's happened to you since your first book was published?
A. A lot of exciting things have happened and I've had a chance to meet a lot of people. But, one thing that really sticks in my mind is an email I received. A high school student from a small village near Stuttgart, Germany contacted me asking if I would be willing to answer some questions for him. He had chosen The Nineveh Project as the subject of his English language book report. I thought that was really cool.
Great job, Craig! I hear you on the fortune part... =)>. To get more on his action packed novel, visit The Nineveh Project's book page. For more on Craig, you can visit his author page, or his website at CraigAlexanderOnline.com.
Next weeks guest will be Daniel Brenton. Have a great week!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Authors Are People Too! - Kristina Schram
Wow, Zealots, it's Monday again. How time flies! This weeks guest is Kristina Schram, author of The Chronicles of Anaedor - The Prophecies (which is in process of getting republished for later this year through our Young Adult Imprint... more info to come in the future).
Kristina does writing workshops with third, fourth, and fifth graders... here are a few of the interesting questions she's been asked over the years.
Q. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A. Yes, three sisters and one brother.
Q. Followed-up by: What do they do for a living?
A. They work. Um, kids? This is about me. I’ve had to compete with my siblings for too many years to count. Now it’s my turn in the spotlight. There are five of us. Because there were so many of us, my mother failed to retain one unique memory of me as a child, except those involving wrongdoing on my part (don’t even get me started on the orange pop incident). Anything cute she thought I did, she soon realizes it wasn’t me, but my little sister. I’m tired of being a non-entity. So, let’s keep our eyes on the prize.
Q. Upon learning that I hailed from Minnesota: Have you ever been to the Mall of America?
A. Yes, it’s big.
Q. Is your picture in your book?
A. Yes, it is, I answered, and then showed it to the little rugrats. They laughed. Hmmm… I’m thinking maybe I should change my photo.
Q. Did you write that book?
A. This question is always asked in a surprised tone of voice (and has been asked more than once, typically at the end of the workshop). Um, yeah, that’s why I’m here talking to you. I’d prefer to say, no I didn’t write it, but I’m pretending I did because it makes me feel important. Or, the personality that you see now did not write the book. Another part of me did.
The hardest question -
Q. How long did it take you to write your book (The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Prophecies)?
A. I’ve made so many changes to it, done so many revisions and had three kids in the middle of it all, that I truly don’t know the answer to that question. Forever, I guess.
Q. What are the names of the other books you’ve written?
A. I kind of hedge on this question, basically by not answering it. You know how kids can be. I’m afraid that they’ll take the idea, write a better story using it and get the book published before I can.
Here are a few questions I wished people would ask me:
Q. How do you manage to balance all the things that you do?
A. I’m always looking for the opportunity to brag about how much work I do. My husband has long since learned that of the two of us, I work the hardest. Even if he actually does, it doesn’t matter. In my mind, I’m the warrior worker. So how would I answer this question? Well, it’s simple really. I have a clone.
Man, I wish. In a typical week, I do five loads of smelly, dirty laundry (although with three boys, I strangely have very few socks and underwear to wash), grocery shopping for a family of nine voracious eaters (including three boys, three cats, and one dog – myself, I only nibble on chocolate), pay exorbitant bills, look after my sassy four-year-old and help (hinder) the other two with their homework (there’s a good reason why I don’t home school), clean the house (which, I believe, has expanded in size since we moved in), make meals that everyone will like (ha! They eat what I serve or starve), take care of and try to train our puppy (who has no desire to be trained), do yard work (mowing, cutting wood and stacking it, fixing broken things of which they are a plethora, gardening, raking, fighting off Vikings, etc.), make appointments and take kids to necessary ones (and hopefully keep them straight in the process – no one likes to have unnecessary surgery performed on them), plus doing all my writing work (write, edit, blog, network, attend workshops, give workshops, answer these questions, etc.).
Most kids ask if being a writer is all that I do. Of course, it’s not, I tell them. I simply wanted to set the record straight here, for anyone else who might consider asking that question. The above answer had nothing to do with proving that I am the warrior worker.
Now you might look at the list and say, Kristina, I do more work than that (everyone thinks that they do more work than everyone else). My response? This is an incomplete list, and you should know better than to challenge the warrior worker.
Q. Are you really as cool as you seem?
A. This is where the term artistic license is best used. My answer: Yes, yes I am. Because in reality, no, no, I’m not. And yes, I know I don’t even seem cool. I’m a bona fide nerd. But since we all create our own realities, this is mine. So throw me a bone and ask me the question!
Q. Can I buy the rights to your book and make it into a blockbuster movie with heart?
A. That’s a hard question. But I’m going to have to go with yes.
Q. Can we put your book on our summer reading list?
A. Obvious answer.
Q. What’s not to love about you?
A. I want to say nothing (my husband would give the same answer. He’s also quite aware that I know where he sleeps), but then I would be abusing that artistic license thingie. So here’s the scoop. I am an overachieving perfectionist. I’m a control freak. I always think I’m right. I’m kinda bossy.
Okay. I think that’s it. Oh, and I also tend to throw things at people’s heads…then blame it on someone else.
Q. Are you truly a hermit?
A. Yes. Now go away.
And with that, I suppose the only thing I can say is that The Chronicles of Anaedor - The Prophecies is a young adult, silly good time. For more information on it, be sure to visit the book page for a full description and sample. Enjoy!
Next week's guest is Craig Alexander.
Kristina does writing workshops with third, fourth, and fifth graders... here are a few of the interesting questions she's been asked over the years.
Q. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A. Yes, three sisters and one brother.
Q. Followed-up by: What do they do for a living?
A. They work. Um, kids? This is about me. I’ve had to compete with my siblings for too many years to count. Now it’s my turn in the spotlight. There are five of us. Because there were so many of us, my mother failed to retain one unique memory of me as a child, except those involving wrongdoing on my part (don’t even get me started on the orange pop incident). Anything cute she thought I did, she soon realizes it wasn’t me, but my little sister. I’m tired of being a non-entity. So, let’s keep our eyes on the prize.
Q. Upon learning that I hailed from Minnesota: Have you ever been to the Mall of America?
A. Yes, it’s big.
Q. Is your picture in your book?
A. Yes, it is, I answered, and then showed it to the little rugrats. They laughed. Hmmm… I’m thinking maybe I should change my photo.
Q. Did you write that book?
A. This question is always asked in a surprised tone of voice (and has been asked more than once, typically at the end of the workshop). Um, yeah, that’s why I’m here talking to you. I’d prefer to say, no I didn’t write it, but I’m pretending I did because it makes me feel important. Or, the personality that you see now did not write the book. Another part of me did.
The hardest question -
Q. How long did it take you to write your book (The Chronicles of Anaedor: The Prophecies)?
A. I’ve made so many changes to it, done so many revisions and had three kids in the middle of it all, that I truly don’t know the answer to that question. Forever, I guess.
Q. What are the names of the other books you’ve written?
A. I kind of hedge on this question, basically by not answering it. You know how kids can be. I’m afraid that they’ll take the idea, write a better story using it and get the book published before I can.
Here are a few questions I wished people would ask me:
Q. How do you manage to balance all the things that you do?
A. I’m always looking for the opportunity to brag about how much work I do. My husband has long since learned that of the two of us, I work the hardest. Even if he actually does, it doesn’t matter. In my mind, I’m the warrior worker. So how would I answer this question? Well, it’s simple really. I have a clone.
Man, I wish. In a typical week, I do five loads of smelly, dirty laundry (although with three boys, I strangely have very few socks and underwear to wash), grocery shopping for a family of nine voracious eaters (including three boys, three cats, and one dog – myself, I only nibble on chocolate), pay exorbitant bills, look after my sassy four-year-old and help (hinder) the other two with their homework (there’s a good reason why I don’t home school), clean the house (which, I believe, has expanded in size since we moved in), make meals that everyone will like (ha! They eat what I serve or starve), take care of and try to train our puppy (who has no desire to be trained), do yard work (mowing, cutting wood and stacking it, fixing broken things of which they are a plethora, gardening, raking, fighting off Vikings, etc.), make appointments and take kids to necessary ones (and hopefully keep them straight in the process – no one likes to have unnecessary surgery performed on them), plus doing all my writing work (write, edit, blog, network, attend workshops, give workshops, answer these questions, etc.).
Most kids ask if being a writer is all that I do. Of course, it’s not, I tell them. I simply wanted to set the record straight here, for anyone else who might consider asking that question. The above answer had nothing to do with proving that I am the warrior worker.
Now you might look at the list and say, Kristina, I do more work than that (everyone thinks that they do more work than everyone else). My response? This is an incomplete list, and you should know better than to challenge the warrior worker.
Q. Are you really as cool as you seem?
A. This is where the term artistic license is best used. My answer: Yes, yes I am. Because in reality, no, no, I’m not. And yes, I know I don’t even seem cool. I’m a bona fide nerd. But since we all create our own realities, this is mine. So throw me a bone and ask me the question!
Q. Can I buy the rights to your book and make it into a blockbuster movie with heart?
A. That’s a hard question. But I’m going to have to go with yes.
Q. Can we put your book on our summer reading list?
A. Obvious answer.
Q. What’s not to love about you?
A. I want to say nothing (my husband would give the same answer. He’s also quite aware that I know where he sleeps), but then I would be abusing that artistic license thingie. So here’s the scoop. I am an overachieving perfectionist. I’m a control freak. I always think I’m right. I’m kinda bossy.
Okay. I think that’s it. Oh, and I also tend to throw things at people’s heads…then blame it on someone else.
Q. Are you truly a hermit?
A. Yes. Now go away.
And with that, I suppose the only thing I can say is that The Chronicles of Anaedor - The Prophecies is a young adult, silly good time. For more information on it, be sure to visit the book page for a full description and sample. Enjoy!
Next week's guest is Craig Alexander.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June Appearances - More to come
Good Thursday, readers!
I hope June as been good to you so far this month. With so many good books out there, I can only imagine how good it has truly been =)>. Well, it's only just beginning. If you are a military buff, there are a few appearances going on that you should know about. The first set takes place in the Washington state area, so listen up Pacific-Northwesters.
Paul Byers, Author of Catalyst, will be signing books at the following locales:
• Borders - Lynnwood, WA, June 6, 12-4pm
• Borders - Everett, WA, June 14, 12-4pm
• Museum of Flight Air Show - Olympia, WA, June 20-21, 9am-5pm (both days)
And now for the rest of the nation (and the world), Brigadier General AJ Tata, Author of Sudden Threat and Rogue Threat, will be on the Sons of the American Legion show, WVOX-1460AM. It's a live show, so be sure to tune in on June 8 at 2:30pm EST. You can find the Listen Live link at the upper left portion of the page header.
Thanks everyone! I hope you enjoy the events. I'll update you as they become available.
I hope June as been good to you so far this month. With so many good books out there, I can only imagine how good it has truly been =)>. Well, it's only just beginning. If you are a military buff, there are a few appearances going on that you should know about. The first set takes place in the Washington state area, so listen up Pacific-Northwesters.
Paul Byers, Author of Catalyst, will be signing books at the following locales:
• Borders - Lynnwood, WA, June 6, 12-4pm
• Borders - Everett, WA, June 14, 12-4pm
• Museum of Flight Air Show - Olympia, WA, June 20-21, 9am-5pm (both days)
And now for the rest of the nation (and the world), Brigadier General AJ Tata, Author of Sudden Threat and Rogue Threat, will be on the Sons of the American Legion show, WVOX-1460AM. It's a live show, so be sure to tune in on June 8 at 2:30pm EST. You can find the Listen Live link at the upper left portion of the page header.
Thanks everyone! I hope you enjoy the events. I'll update you as they become available.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Great MEG: Hell's Aquarium Review
Good day, MEG lovers!
For those of you who can't get enough of the ravenous ocean giant, here is another HELL's AQUARIUM review, this one from Steve Donoghue at OpenLettersMonthly.com. He's got quite the head on his shoulders! Though it was a tad long, it was one of the best reviews I've read. Period. If you don't have the time now, here is the 'sum of all things' sentence:
"[Alten]'s written the Moby Dick of giant killer shark novels. Turn your mind off, open wide, and eat, eat, eat."
But please be sure to go back and read it when you have the time, it will be well worth it! Thanks to the folks over at OLM.com, and again to Steve Donoghue for contacting me. We look forward to seeing more from you, Steve and OLM!
For those of you who can't get enough of the ravenous ocean giant, here is another HELL's AQUARIUM review, this one from Steve Donoghue at OpenLettersMonthly.com. He's got quite the head on his shoulders! Though it was a tad long, it was one of the best reviews I've read. Period. If you don't have the time now, here is the 'sum of all things' sentence:
"[Alten]'s written the Moby Dick of giant killer shark novels. Turn your mind off, open wide, and eat, eat, eat."
But please be sure to go back and read it when you have the time, it will be well worth it! Thanks to the folks over at OLM.com, and again to Steve Donoghue for contacting me. We look forward to seeing more from you, Steve and OLM!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Targets of Deception Trailer
With less than three months left, zealots, things are amping up for the release of Jeffrey Stephens, TARGETS OF DECEPTION! To help the process, Jeremy Robinson teamed up with Stephens to create an intriguing trailer to get your taste buds tingling...
A few of the blurbs include:
“Jeffrey Stephens has arrived with TARGETS OF DECEPTION; a ripping, good yarn of intrigue that will keep you turning the pages all the way to its explosive ending.”
--#1 New York Times Best-Selling Author Vince Flynn, of PROTECT AND DEFEND
“Jeff Stephens is a writer to watch. His first book, TARGETS OF DECEPTION, is a very solid, fast paced thriller that carries the reader on a globe-trotting adventure into the world of counter-terrorism. We will want more of CIA agent Jordan Sandor.”
-- Robert K. Tanenbaum, Bestselling Author of MALICE, COUNTERPLAY, and FURY
"Jeffrey Stephens takes the reader on a fast-paced tale of international intrigue and suspense in this, his first novel, TARGETS OF DECEPTION. With a terrific lead character in Jordon Sandor, and many plot twists, I look forward to watching Stephens develop as a top-notch author."
-- Steve Alten, NY Times best-selling author of MEG: HELL'S AQUARIUM and THE SHELL GAME
To see more, visit the Targets of Deception book page. You can also find the two-chapter sample there! When you're finished, let us know what you think, I look forward to your comments.
A few of the blurbs include:
“Jeffrey Stephens has arrived with TARGETS OF DECEPTION; a ripping, good yarn of intrigue that will keep you turning the pages all the way to its explosive ending.”
--#1 New York Times Best-Selling Author Vince Flynn, of PROTECT AND DEFEND
“Jeff Stephens is a writer to watch. His first book, TARGETS OF DECEPTION, is a very solid, fast paced thriller that carries the reader on a globe-trotting adventure into the world of counter-terrorism. We will want more of CIA agent Jordan Sandor.”
-- Robert K. Tanenbaum, Bestselling Author of MALICE, COUNTERPLAY, and FURY
"Jeffrey Stephens takes the reader on a fast-paced tale of international intrigue and suspense in this, his first novel, TARGETS OF DECEPTION. With a terrific lead character in Jordon Sandor, and many plot twists, I look forward to watching Stephens develop as a top-notch author."
-- Steve Alten, NY Times best-selling author of MEG: HELL'S AQUARIUM and THE SHELL GAME
To see more, visit the Targets of Deception book page. You can also find the two-chapter sample there! When you're finished, let us know what you think, I look forward to your comments.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Promotion a la The President's Henchman!
"THE PRESIDENT’S HENCHMAN is both timely and entertaining. Full of intense action, pulse-pounding suspense and more than a few good laughs. Flynn is at the top of his game!"
-- Jeremy Robinson, author of ANTARKTOS RISING and KRONOS
"Joseph Flynn's own 'First Dude', Jim McGill, pulls you through a masterful, page-turning, suspense-filled political thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and, when you're done, compel you to keep one eye trained on the husbands of our nation's top female politicians."
-- A.J. Tata, author of SUDDEN THREAT and ROGUE THREAT
"Once Flynn gets his narrative in motion, he develops it along three main lines... although there’s a fair amount of political intrigue factored in here, the author’s primary focus is on all the criminal shenanigans taking place.
..this is a marvelously entertaining yarn. After all, who hasn’t wanted to maim a smug senator in a one-on-one basketball game, as McGill does here with such relish?"
-- Edward Morris, FOREWORD MAGAZINE
"Flynn's is a different breed of suspense than you might expect. There's more Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett than John Grisham or Clive Cussler in Flynn's style, giving Flynn a strong case for becoming heir apparent to the throne of such mystery fiction heavyweights."
-- Lou Mattei, www.whatshappeningonline.com
"Joseph Flynn provides fans with a brisk political thriller starring the First Nor sleuth in the White House."
--Harriet Klausner, Amazon's #1 reviewer
These along with 14 other reviews on Amazon (Harriet was one of the 5-star)and 3 more 5-star reviews on Barnes&Noble, pepper the internet with praise for Joseph Flynn's THE PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN. In turn, for all the new fans that are getting turned on by Flynn's talent, we here at Variance Publishing combine forces with Joe to give-a-way an ebook copy of his classic thriller, THE NEXT PRESIDENT (.pdf)! For complete rules, visit the HENCHMAN PROMO page, but the give-a-way starts today, June 1, and goes through the rest of 2009! That's right, seven full months. All you have to do is buy THE PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN between now and then, and send me a copy of the receipt. Simple, right? You can purchase it at Amazon, bn.com, or your local bookstore (ISBN: 978-1-935142-02-7)!
... Well, what are you still sitting here for? Go out and get your copy today and get your free ebook of THE NEXT PRESIDENT. Enjoy!
-- Jeremy Robinson, author of ANTARKTOS RISING and KRONOS
"Joseph Flynn's own 'First Dude', Jim McGill, pulls you through a masterful, page-turning, suspense-filled political thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and, when you're done, compel you to keep one eye trained on the husbands of our nation's top female politicians."
-- A.J. Tata, author of SUDDEN THREAT and ROGUE THREAT
"Once Flynn gets his narrative in motion, he develops it along three main lines... although there’s a fair amount of political intrigue factored in here, the author’s primary focus is on all the criminal shenanigans taking place.
..this is a marvelously entertaining yarn. After all, who hasn’t wanted to maim a smug senator in a one-on-one basketball game, as McGill does here with such relish?"
-- Edward Morris, FOREWORD MAGAZINE
"Flynn's is a different breed of suspense than you might expect. There's more Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett than John Grisham or Clive Cussler in Flynn's style, giving Flynn a strong case for becoming heir apparent to the throne of such mystery fiction heavyweights."
-- Lou Mattei, www.whatshappeningonline.com
"Joseph Flynn provides fans with a brisk political thriller starring the First Nor sleuth in the White House."
--Harriet Klausner, Amazon's #1 reviewer
These along with 14 other reviews on Amazon (Harriet was one of the 5-star)and 3 more 5-star reviews on Barnes&Noble, pepper the internet with praise for Joseph Flynn's THE PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN. In turn, for all the new fans that are getting turned on by Flynn's talent, we here at Variance Publishing combine forces with Joe to give-a-way an ebook copy of his classic thriller, THE NEXT PRESIDENT (.pdf)! For complete rules, visit the HENCHMAN PROMO page, but the give-a-way starts today, June 1, and goes through the rest of 2009! That's right, seven full months. All you have to do is buy THE PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN between now and then, and send me a copy of the receipt. Simple, right? You can purchase it at Amazon, bn.com, or your local bookstore (ISBN: 978-1-935142-02-7)!
... Well, what are you still sitting here for? Go out and get your copy today and get your free ebook of THE NEXT PRESIDENT. Enjoy!
Authors Are People Too! - Jeremy Robinson
Good Monday, people! It's great to be back on schedule. This weeks guest is Jeremy Robinson, author of Kronos, Antarktos Rising, Raising the Past, and The Didymus Contingency (what a mouthful!).
Q. What, if any, music do you listen to when you write?
A. I tend to listen to soundtracks when writing because music with words tends to distract me more. It’s hard to think of words while singing along with someone else’s. I tried listening to Rage Against the Machine while writing PULSE for Thomas Dunne (because it has a similar tone) but I got too distracted by the repetitive lyrics and tapping my fingers on the desk (I was garage band drummer in college so it's impossible not to). For PULSE I switched to the Batman Begins and Dark Knight soundtracks. Listened to them every day I wrote. Helped keep the tone of the book even throughout. For Kronos I listened to the soundtrack for Lady in the Water. In fact, I highly recommend reading KRONOS while listening to that soundtrack. For ANTARKTOS RISING it was a combination of military thrillers. Can’t recall all of them, but I know The Rock was among them.
Q. We now know that you played the drums in addition to being a writer, do you have any other creative endeavors?
A. I played the drums, past tense. Would LOVE to pick it up again some time soon, but the first go around ruined my ears. Ahh, the joy of tinnitus. That said, I play the guitar and piano. I do neither extremely well, having never had lessons, but I’m not bad...for never having lessons. I like to self-teach myself things...which is actually how I learned to write. I’m also an artist/illustrator and this is what I went to college for. I got my creative start, and my first taste of the writing bug, in comic books.
I have done 50% of the covers for Variance publishing and 20ish covers for self-publishers. I’m currently illustrating the new edition of THE CHRONICLES OF ANAEDOR and a top-secret project that only five people on the planet know about. Oh, and I illustrated my non-fiction book, THE SCREENPLAY WORKBOOK. And last, but not least, I’m an amateur director with about ten short films and fifteen ads under my belt including the super fun viral video spot for PULSE’s promo contest: http://www.jeremyrobinsononline.com/pulsecontest.html
Q. Do you have any unique writing habits?
A. Other than listening to soundtracks...I tend to play video games in between scenes or when I hit a mental block. The kinds of games I play (first person shooters and real time strategy) often have a connection to the story I’m writing. When I wrote PULSE I was playing a lot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which is similar to PULSE, which is focused on a team of Delta operators. The book and game share some of the same weapons and as I played the game it would inspire action scenes and help set the tone...just like the music. I should also mention that one of my goals with PULSE was to have it made into a first person shooter series, and the gaming definitely helped. It’s no surprise that the review from Booklist says it reads like a video game (and they meant that as a compliment!).
The other habit I have is during the idea stage. I get my notebook, sit in a comfy chair and pop on Godzilla. I have about twenty of the Godzilla movies and couldn’t guess how many times I’ve seen them all. This is a habit I have been in since childhood. During the years of Creature Double Feature (which I think only aired in New England) I would wake up, eat my Cocoa Pebbles, watch Godzilla, Gamera, etc, and draw. This is when I came up with my best ideas. In a way Godzilla is my creative mascot. In fact, there are two Godzilla and one Gigan sitting on my desk, staring at me all day.
Q. So would you say your childhood is an inspiration for what you write?
A. Absolutely. All my life I have rabidly devoured sci-fi, monster and action stories. My father played a large part in exposing me to these things. I have vivid memories of staying up late with my Dad to watch Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who, The Greatest American Hero and then in the morning I tuned into Godzilla, Force Five, Starvengers, Tranzor Z, Robotech, etc. I couldn’t get enough, and still can’t. And when I decided to write thrillers I was told “Write what you know.” In other words, if you’re a doctor, write medical thrillers. If you’re a lawyer, write legal thrillers. Well, that didn’t apply to me. I was...creative. I drew, wrote, played instruments. Not exactly thriller material. So I modified the question and I really think this is what writers should use as a guide for what they write: Don’t write what you know. Write what you love. That’s what I do.
Great job, Jeremy! As many of you know, Jeremy and I used to work in the same room together (if not, see Jeremy's video blog - you can hear me in the background on occasion), and to this day I still hear all those soundtracks in my head when thinking back =)>. To see all that he has to referred to, visit Jeremy Robinson's website. If you have any questions/comments, be sure to post them here and he will be back to reply!
Next weeks guest, Kristina Schram. See you then!
Q. What, if any, music do you listen to when you write?
A. I tend to listen to soundtracks when writing because music with words tends to distract me more. It’s hard to think of words while singing along with someone else’s. I tried listening to Rage Against the Machine while writing PULSE for Thomas Dunne (because it has a similar tone) but I got too distracted by the repetitive lyrics and tapping my fingers on the desk (I was garage band drummer in college so it's impossible not to). For PULSE I switched to the Batman Begins and Dark Knight soundtracks. Listened to them every day I wrote. Helped keep the tone of the book even throughout. For Kronos I listened to the soundtrack for Lady in the Water. In fact, I highly recommend reading KRONOS while listening to that soundtrack. For ANTARKTOS RISING it was a combination of military thrillers. Can’t recall all of them, but I know The Rock was among them.
Q. We now know that you played the drums in addition to being a writer, do you have any other creative endeavors?
A. I played the drums, past tense. Would LOVE to pick it up again some time soon, but the first go around ruined my ears. Ahh, the joy of tinnitus. That said, I play the guitar and piano. I do neither extremely well, having never had lessons, but I’m not bad...for never having lessons. I like to self-teach myself things...which is actually how I learned to write. I’m also an artist/illustrator and this is what I went to college for. I got my creative start, and my first taste of the writing bug, in comic books.
I have done 50% of the covers for Variance publishing and 20ish covers for self-publishers. I’m currently illustrating the new edition of THE CHRONICLES OF ANAEDOR and a top-secret project that only five people on the planet know about. Oh, and I illustrated my non-fiction book, THE SCREENPLAY WORKBOOK. And last, but not least, I’m an amateur director with about ten short films and fifteen ads under my belt including the super fun viral video spot for PULSE’s promo contest: http://www.jeremyrobinsononline.com/pulsecontest.html
Q. Do you have any unique writing habits?
A. Other than listening to soundtracks...I tend to play video games in between scenes or when I hit a mental block. The kinds of games I play (first person shooters and real time strategy) often have a connection to the story I’m writing. When I wrote PULSE I was playing a lot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which is similar to PULSE, which is focused on a team of Delta operators. The book and game share some of the same weapons and as I played the game it would inspire action scenes and help set the tone...just like the music. I should also mention that one of my goals with PULSE was to have it made into a first person shooter series, and the gaming definitely helped. It’s no surprise that the review from Booklist says it reads like a video game (and they meant that as a compliment!).
The other habit I have is during the idea stage. I get my notebook, sit in a comfy chair and pop on Godzilla. I have about twenty of the Godzilla movies and couldn’t guess how many times I’ve seen them all. This is a habit I have been in since childhood. During the years of Creature Double Feature (which I think only aired in New England) I would wake up, eat my Cocoa Pebbles, watch Godzilla, Gamera, etc, and draw. This is when I came up with my best ideas. In a way Godzilla is my creative mascot. In fact, there are two Godzilla and one Gigan sitting on my desk, staring at me all day.
Q. So would you say your childhood is an inspiration for what you write?
A. Absolutely. All my life I have rabidly devoured sci-fi, monster and action stories. My father played a large part in exposing me to these things. I have vivid memories of staying up late with my Dad to watch Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who, The Greatest American Hero and then in the morning I tuned into Godzilla, Force Five, Starvengers, Tranzor Z, Robotech, etc. I couldn’t get enough, and still can’t. And when I decided to write thrillers I was told “Write what you know.” In other words, if you’re a doctor, write medical thrillers. If you’re a lawyer, write legal thrillers. Well, that didn’t apply to me. I was...creative. I drew, wrote, played instruments. Not exactly thriller material. So I modified the question and I really think this is what writers should use as a guide for what they write: Don’t write what you know. Write what you love. That’s what I do.
Great job, Jeremy! As many of you know, Jeremy and I used to work in the same room together (if not, see Jeremy's video blog - you can hear me in the background on occasion), and to this day I still hear all those soundtracks in my head when thinking back =)>. To see all that he has to referred to, visit Jeremy Robinson's website. If you have any questions/comments, be sure to post them here and he will be back to reply!
Next weeks guest, Kristina Schram. See you then!
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