Virginia Festival of the Book

OMG…OMG… OMG…I was totally saying this when getting a picture with David Morrell. Still my favorite author after 25 years.

So, under advisement and with someone else to drive so I could write, I decided to make a day trip to the Virginia Festival of the Book. Not only did the event have people there from the industry along with authors of all flavor, two of the authors that I ALWAYS pre-order books from were going to be there–Kim Harrison and David Morrell. Different ends of the spectrum. I know, right? I am eclectic after all.

So, I had a choice of two things to go to when we first arrived: Digital Publishing For Your Book or Promoting the Smart Way. The first one dealt with how to edit, publish, and promote digital books. I went to that one, hoping to get some secrets I hadn’t heard of. Turns out, everything they had to offer I had either scooped out of the internet or through the various groups I belong to. Turns out skipping through sites filled with writers who live and breathe it is a good thing. It wasn’t a total loss, however, as  I got to introduce myself to Stacey O’Neale, the publicist for Entangled Press. They’re on my list, once I write something that fits what they sell (fantasy…duh!), I want to send it their way. She was very nice and cordial, giving my a card with her web address on it because she’d already run out of business cards.

The discussion went from how important cover art is, especially when it’s shrunk to thumbnail size, to formatting and good editing. Some people can pay through the nose for these services when self publishing. Oh and fuck Vanity Presses… authors get paid, they don’t pay. They also said something that had me nodding–don’t self-publish because you got a couple of rejections. There’s always a reason why you got rejected. Hell, I looked at the first piece I ever got rejected and, even though I brooded for days, the company who said ‘no’ in a form snail mail letter was in the right. ‘enuff said. While I didn’t learn anything new, I thought the whole panel did a great job in informing up and coming writers of what to expect, what to do, and what not to do. Like, for example, don’t troll the trolls giving you a bad review. Turn them into a lizard in your next book and kill them off.

Kim Harrison is beyond nice. I was very honored to meet her and will treasure this book. Isn’t her business card way cool?

Next I whisked away for Romance: Strange Brew. Paranormal Authors “Sell” Out Their Secrets. Oh yes, I got to meet Kim Harrison. SQUEE! Okay, before I get too much into that, I want to mention each author that was on the panel. In no particular order they were: Pamela Palmer, Jeaniene Frost, Kim Harrison, and Vicki Pettersson. What a delightful group of ladies. They talked about how they got into the paranormal business. I laughed, almost to tears, and they joked around. I agree with them on paranormal creatures–you can make shit up. Now, as with this genre, the question of sparkling vampires came up and whether or not ‘traditional’ lore should be the basis of these creatures created. Much as it pains me to say, they hit it on the head when they noted changing it up hasn’t hurt you-know-who’s bank account. They have a point.

They also said one thing–write what you love. Jeaniene Frost, in particular, noted she’d started her vampire books before the vampiric craze swept the nation. She got rejection after rejection before and a bit of “riding the bandwagon” after. It goes to prove that you shouldn’t write something because it’s popular or in demand unless it’s something you believe in. Great advice! I loved Kim Harrison explaining how Al’s full name is pronounced. The whole evolution of the characters they created was also nice. Some of them were pantsers too! YAY!

Unfortunately, dummy me left the camera in the car so I didn’t get a picture with Kim. Maybe next year. I did get a copy of her last Hollows book (Ever After) signed. So that’s staying on the bookshelf while I read the Kindle edition. Again, all of these ladies were engaging and nice.

Next was lunch before I passed out. The last thing I wanted was the local papers to announce “Crazed David Morrell fan passes out on best-selling author, cracking two vertebrae”. So we found this awesome burger joint called The Citizen Burger Bar. Great service, excellent food. I was even surprised to see Tröegs beer on their extensive beer selection. I mean, you cannot buy this beer outside of Pennsylvania. No, I didn’t have one. I prefer Yuengling Lager which they had none. Poh. The burger and fries made up for it. I highly recommend this place if you’re in the Charlottesville, VA area. Just make sure you have a shit ton of money for parking. Geez.

My last event made my geek level go to eleven. Scenes of the Crime. Hank Phillippi Ryan, Ed Falco, David Morrell, and Martin Walker. Again, what a great panel to listen to and honestly, I could have listened to them all for another two hours and not get bored. While it’s not a genre I’m interested in writing, I love reading it. Crime and espionage books, when written well, suck me in. That was one of the topics that they mentioned as well and these scholars of writing on the panel couldn’t stress it more. Do your research!

Finally I got to meet David Morrell (Proof in the first photo!). Actually I thought saw him earlier but I turned into some tween-aged dope and didn’t have the nerve to approach him. What do you say to the man that helped inspire you to pursue your dream of writing and was the first author to take your hard-earned burger flipping money when I visited the book store without parental supervision? Yep, Brotherhood of the Rose was my first purchase. Until then, I’d read whatever my dad gave me or bought me. Not to say I didn’t enjoy those books. I’m a reading fiend at heart.

Again, every one of these authors was so engaging and very approachable. I love hearing how someone wove their stories. About the adventure in their research. Some of it actually lives outside of the internet. One thing this panel mentioned was though social media is a great way to connect with fans, it’s also a time sink. So like anything else, chose what  you do wisely. I’m looking forward to going next year and donating some of my hard earned royalties to the cause. Yep, it’s free because of donations so consider tossing money their way.

The piece of advise was to keeping writing and not let that unfinished manuscript mock you. Speaking of which, I’ve got a few snickering at me. Time to whip them into shape.

So what’s your favorite geek author moment?

The Crit Police

I’ve belonged to private crits groups, anonymous email ones, and a couple of sites devoted to writers helping writers. I’ve found, for the most part, the help to be useful in fixing errors my glazed-over I’M THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD! eyes have missed. No writer has mastered the art of perfection though we try. As with most people’s opinions, you have to take it with a grain of salt. Is the person giving you advice on your manuscript pointing out your logic errors? Are they finding the plot holes the size of the Grand Canyon? Or are they the kind that either rewrite your manuscript or give you a pile of inane drivel that has nothing to do with what you wrote?

Today I’m talking about that last part. It’s an annoyance to a level that is face palm worthy. The site I invest the most time in for posting and critting work has seen its shares of ups and downs in membership. I’ve watched as people I adore leave in a huff or to get away from the distraction the place can be. I’m sad to say, in my experience, some of the people that come in are a bit on the touched side.

Granted, critting is serious business and a new person, who let alone has trouble showing their own work, must first offer their opinions on a complete stranger’s manuscript. Daunting, right? Still, it’s part of the learning process. In order to get, you must give and hopefully learn from how others do things. I know I have learned some new tricks of the trade and broken free of my covered shell over it.

In order to help our fellow man, I offer my humble suggestions to get you eased into this quid pro quo environment.

Grammar is good but readability trumps it.

Yeah, I said it. This isn’t to say I don’t find grammar important–far from it. I’m saying the overall concept/plot/characters are far more important. What good is having all the punctuation, tense, and proper meanings if the story reads like a college term paper? If you’re going to get down and dirty, you’ve got to comment on more than the grammar fail. Tell the author what worked for you, as a reader, and what left you baffled at the altar while your spouse-to-be makes out with your best man/maid of honor…or both.

Don’t focus on just the negative.

Even the worst writer has a golden nugget factor in the story, even if it’s the overall concept (though poorly executed) of the story. Let them know that! Tactfully, mind you. Some can take harsh criticism akin to telling them to stick their manuscript in a shredder, take the clippings and allow a pack of wild dingoes to ‘do their business’ on them before using it as garden compost. Others pretend they can while secretly they’re in the corner ruining their eyeliner. Best ere on the side of caution.

But…

You know, or should know, the connotation of ‘but’. Example: “I really think you’re pretty, Mary Sue, but your sister Bobby Jo has those real fine sea green eyes I could get lost in for days”. This is what I call the back-handed compliment. You give praise at first yet when the word ‘but’ is involved, it negates the feeling of accomplishment the person thought they had in your initial ‘before the conjunction’ words. I find the term ‘however’ a little less jarring. Example: I find that dipping one’s toes in the cool water of the creek refreshing however the algae that sticks between my webbed feet is a little icky. See? Isn’t that better?

Leave the rose-colored glasses in the desk drawer.

If a critter says this never happens, they’re telling a tall tale. It happens to the best of us. We’re chugging along, gobbling up chapter after chapter of someone’s manuscript and just loving what we see. In fact, there seems to be nothing wrong with it and it’s best they send it to the first literary agent they accost in a dark alleyway.

Wrong.

If this ever happens, take a step back from going through the chapters and take a break. Read a book or crit something that’s not this particular author’s if you can. Once you’ve looked into the mirror and realize those glasses are perched at the end of your nose, you’ll be able to toss them off and start anew.

Don’t list a whole bunch of writing books for the aspiring author (or worse–published author) to get to ‘hone their craft’.

Okay, we get it. You think these books merit some attention. However, pounding someone over the head with an arm’s length worth of reading material when they haven’t asked for it just smells of pompous ass to me. These books are more like guidelines than hard and heavy rules. While I find reading them (I’ve indulged in On Writing by Stephen King, Lessons in a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft and The Successful Novelist: A Lifetime of Lessons about Writing and Publishing by David Morrell, and The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass) give perspective, it’s not going to make you a literary genius no more than writing 5,000 words a day is going to make you the best writer EVAR!

Well that’s all my addled brain can come up with for now and I hope this has helped in some way. As I’m sure I haven’t covered everything, please feel free to add your own bits of wisdom in the comments section. I’d love to read them.

The Naked Edge by David Morrell

The suspense thriller is a slow tease. Sometimes it reveals a little bit just to crook a finger at you and send you in another direction. The best give you enough to keep you turning the pages, or in this case, pushing a button.

The Naked Edge is an eBook novel by David Morrell. Unlike the rest of the novels he’s created, this one is only available electronically. Innovative? Maybe. Shocking? Not really considering where the industry is trending. While the eBook sales aren’t beating books sales, they are increasing. No, check that, they’ve passed paper sales since the original posting of this review on Gnarrative.

Take into account the money involved in publishing a wonderful dead tree ink-infected treasure. Why wouldn’t a publishing company venture into it? Profit drives the market. For a person of Morrell’s caliber to go in this direction says a lot. It’s not about giving in or pushing sales of eReaders. It’s about being ahead of the game. However, the profits to the writer aren’t improving with this money saving venture. The eBooks are cheaper to produce but the consumer wants in on that savings as well.

On to Morrell’s latest offering to the reading world.

The book introduces Cavanaugh, the main protagonist, and his wife Jamie. A retired protector, Cavanaugh’s mundane life is interrupted by—for lack of a better way to put it—his past life. The chaos that ensues turns the story into hyper drive. Interesting to this section is the back and forth of the PoV. Not from the persons with Cavanaugh but the ones trying to take him out. This is the reader’s first insight to the antagonist Carl. It takes a good span of the book for him to be drawn out and his relationship to Cavanaugh to be revealed. Of course the premise of the story gives it away somewhat.

While the multiple PoVs are a way to give a broader scope in the story, it becomes a little overindulged in places. For example, we see the depths the main antagonist—Carl—will go through to reach his ultimate goal by the callous way he kills. However, we are shown, through casual vanilla characters, in vivid detail as an airplane explodes in midair. The passage before, and Carl’s previous actions, gives the reader enough to what happened to his victim.

Great cinematic detail, but a bit cumbersome to read. It leaves little to the imagination giving too tight of a control in the writers creation.

Even with that little quirk, we get the exceptional research and outstanding writing expected from Mr. Morrell. The characters, as a whole, are well developed. They leap from the digital page and compel compassion—on both sides. On one hand, you witness the destruction of something Cavanaugh has just inherited—Global Protection Services. He goes from someone who reluctantly takes on something bequeathed to him to a man fighting to keep it afloat. The human element explodes as one by one other protectors fall. We see a transition from Cavanaugh, through the writing, analyzing everything. The people he comes across are described in painstaking detail. It falls in line with his former work. You can’t protect someone if you’re not aware of your environment. We come to understand his revelation to his childhood friend Carl’s behavior. No matter how depraved someone seems, hindsight compels us to analyze what we could have done to prevent that person from straying.

The cat and mouse games are extraordinary. The way Carl is painted stroke by stroke gives the reader the insight to the warped sense of wanting acceptance. A person who craves attention by going to the extreme. The compelling part is, though he’s the proverbial bad guy in the book, you can’t help by feel the slightest twitch of remorse for his situation. Does he get what karma’s dealing out in the end? Absolutely, but it doesn’t deter from the sickening human factor he exhibits.

A word of caution to those stuck in the past: If you’re looking at the cover art of the book, calculating the knife factor and adding the cat versus mouse ratio to equal the next installment of Rambo, back away from your eReader. David Morrell does not subscribe to the cookie cutter thriller.

You can follow David Morrell through his website or interact in lively discussions on his Facebook page.