BETWEEN THE LINES

Wall-e

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:17:25 GMT

This was a fun movie for tech, sf geeks and kids alike. Lots of cute references to 2001 Space Odysee. HAL, the Monolith when the Obese Generation ship Captain stands erect for the first time ever, etc.

Here's the autopilot

Here's HAL

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:50:54 GMT

Pardon the language, but this is hilarious. Those who have taken theory and music history courses will find it even funnier.

Jet Man

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:40:55 GMT

This is really cool

That's what it's all about.

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:39:12 GMT

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed recently.

Larry LaPrise, the man that wrote "The Hokie Pokey" died peacefully at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started.

Subjectivity

Fri, 30 May 2008 16:05:47 GMT

To further prove the point that you can't take take all feedback too seriously, I thought I'd share something interesting.

Between the time when I first started pitching my book BEYOND JUSTICE and now, I've gotten a wide range of feedback. From writers, readers, editors and agents. This book has always garnered polarized opinions. Either they liked it a lot or they really didn't like it. Well, some in the middle probably didn't say anything to me.

Here's something interesting though, that proves just how subjective people can be.

The first agent (from a reputable agency in NYC) I queried asked for a partial (sample chaters) and a synopsis. She later sent me a rejection letter that said:
Though I really like your writing, I'm not in love with the story.

Just yesterday, I got another rejection from a different big name agent. And he said:
The idea has merit, but the writing is still a ways away.

Two very different agents with opinions which seem to contradict eachother. And that's just one example. Recently someone tried to advise me to collect feedback from different agents and editors' rejections and make changes to my book accordingly. I balked at that idea for this very reason. Can you imagine how insane one would get if they tried to bend to every opinion?

In the end, you have to really believe in your product. Sure, consider feedback, but also remember how subjective it is. In the end, it's YOUR book. You have to decide what you want it to be. Then you just have to find the right publisher who is as enthusiastic about your book as you are.

In some ways, I'm glad to have these rejection comments negate each other. It makes me put less stock into the opionions of others and forces me to really know my own work.

Publisher Blitz - Part The Second

Tue, 27 May 2008 19:50:35 GMT

A few hours after the nice rejection letter from one of the editors I queried, I get another email from an editor at a major publisher that said:

Your premise is intriguing. Could you isend me a full manuscript? Email would be fine.

Yay!

I gotta tell you all that I have been praying for this book to be pubished. All my friends who pray are doing that as well. On top of that, I've decided to query agressively with an attitude I didn't think I could muster: That I have a great product to sell and any editor would benefit from making it their product as well. And doing the research to find the right editors, emailing directly to them with confidence in my letter. All this, I'm sure is helping.

Not getting my hopes up too high, but I'm feeling good about all this. I know it's in God's hands and He will provide the perfect publisher and agent, as I've dedicated this book and all books I'm writing to my mission of spreading the good news of hope and grace.

So far, I have:

2 Partials (100 pages) out to 2 agents
1 Partial (50 pages) out to one agent
1 Full MS out to one Editor

Why email is the best way to query -almost always

Tue, 27 May 2008 17:01:09 GMT

Before the long weekend, I emailed 8 editors and 1 agent for my book BEYOND JUSTICE. I found a way to describe a plot element in my book by comparing it to Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE. Over the weekened, the 1 agent replied with a nice rejection (no biggie). But this morning an editor sent me this nice, personalized rejection:

Paul-

Thanks for thinking of me with this, The Dead Zone is actually a personal favorite and aspects of your pitch are certainly compelling. That said, per the sample chapter, you make a good start, but not exactly what I’m looking for in a thriller. Best of luck and feel free to query me again in the future.

Best,
John

Okay, call me weird to be excited by a rejection letter but two things that I liked about this.

1. The editor replied almost immediately and told me things he liked about my query. I was wondering if comparing my work to Stephen King's was a good idea. Turns out it was in this case.

2. He's invited me to query him again in the future. I will this week. But now I have a personal basis for contacting him again. And it's in email, so if I reply to his email, he will automatically be reminded about the legitimacy of my contacting him directly.

Lesson learned: Had I sent him a snail mail query, as I have my first few queries back in February, I may never have heard back from him because: a) his assistant never gave it to him from the slush pile, b) my query got lost in his own slush pile.I might have just gotten a form letter from his assistant.

But with email, it's so easy for him to read all my materials and click reply to send me a personalized response. This entire process is trial and error for me. I firmly believe that even if I make mistakes,unless they are particularly egregious, insulting or whatever, no editor is going to remember. They might remember things they liked about my query, or that I stood out from the slush pile by daring to go straight to them.

I'm already preparing to send this agent another query for my 2nd novel HUMAN RESOURCES. I like the fact that I can remind him that he invited me to send him another query.

PUBLISHER BLITZ - Part One

Thu, 22 May 2008 19:58:18 GMT

Only because of my limited amount of time have I queried 9 editors and one agent today. All by email.
Got one quick rejection (wrong type of book for that publisher, oh well. Keep going)

What's My Motivation

Wed, 21 May 2008 23:40:04 GMT

Next time you watch a movie, watch for the non-verbal actions the actors do. A really good actor won't just say her lines and stand there. And believe me, nothing a great actor does is without purpose.

Watch his facial queues, what's he doing with his hands, what's his posture, what tone of voice, is he fidgeting, is he stuttering?

All these things enhance and bring verisimilitude to the scene/dialogue.

A question actors will often ask of their directors is: What's my motivation?

Let's say a character is talking to his dad.

Billy: Hey Dad. How are you?
Dad: Good, you look taller.
Billy: I'm sitting. Besides, you say that every time you see me.
Dad: Maybe if I saw you more often I wouldn't notice as much.
Billy: Yeah, well, we know who to thank for that.

Actor playing Billy says to Martin Scorcese, "what's my motivation?"

I'll do one. Then write out in prose how it affects the scene and actions. Feel free to send me another motivation and I'll try to create a different scene based on it.

Scorcese: Okay, Billy. You're Dad's in prison for murdering your mom. You hated your mom. She abused you. You were only sorry Dad got caught. Deep down you blame your mom for everything.

Action!

Billy sat at the plate glass marveling at how close he could actually sit to Dad, and not even touch his hand. He shifted around in his chair. What's taking him so long? Did he forget? Dad finally arrived. Looked like Hell. Did he get beaten by prison guards?
"Hey Dad, how are you?"
"Good. You look taller."
Billy smirked. "I'm sitting. Besides, you say that every time you see me."
"Maybe if I saw you more often I wouldn't notice as much." The trip from Owensville to the State Pen. took two hours. If only Dad hadn't gotten caught. That witch deserved to go. After all she'd done. it was her fault he was locked up. Locked up for saving him. Billy sighed and gave Dad poignant smile. "Yeah, well, we know who to thank for that."

Now, let's say the motivation is different.
Scorcese: OK, Billy. You have to visit your dad in order to find out why he murdered your mom. It's part of his closure process according to his shrink and he won't sign off on your probation until you've completed his treatment.  But you can't abide even looking at the bastard who killed your mother.

Action!

Billy paced around before the plate glass hating the fact that his shrink advised him to come here. This was sick. But getting Dr. Crane to sign off on his papers was the only way he'd finish his probation, so whatever. Finally, Dad arrived and sat behind the protective barrier.
"Hey Dad, how are you?" Billy barely made eye contact as he sat.
"Good. You look taller."
Billy flipped him the bird.   "I'm sitting. Besides, you say that every time you see me." He glared at the clock. Five minutes. That's all he needed to do. Then he was outta there. Never coming back to see that bastard again, until the day they strapped him down and pumped him up full of lethal drugs.
"Maybe if I saw you more often I wouldn't notice as much,"  Dad said.
Billy slammed the plate glass with his hands. Snarling, he bolted up, his chair flew back and hit the wall.   No way he was going to allow the man who murdered his mother turn the tables of blame on him. '"Yeah, well, we know who to thank for that!"

If you have any other motivations, send them along. I'll try my best to create a different scene with the same dialogue.

Dialogue Contest

Wed, 21 May 2008 22:50:05 GMT

So I decided to enter an Agent's Blog contest, best dialogue in 250 words here:
http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/05/preposterously-magnificent-dialogue.html

The question arose to what makes good dialogue. For me, here are some thoughts:

BAD DIALOGUE:

As you know Bob-ism
"As you know, Phil, I was born in 1975 to a family of Menonites and in 1977 we all converted to Islam..."

Long drawn out speeches, arias
Think of the pages and pages of discourse in THE DAVINCI CODE

Talking heads
"Hi Bob."
"Hi Phil."
"Do you think contests are worth entering, Bob?" said Phil.
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"I don't know, maybe."
"That's cool."
"Yeah. Later, dude."

A most unreliable method of talking head prevention. AKA Dialogus Interuptus

"What are you doing here?" Doug exclaimed, passing his hand through his wavy, chestnut hair.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." Jane pulled her sweater, which was a size too small down to cover her midrift.
"You here for the party?" Doug always wondered if it was poor form to come too early.
"Well, no," Jane said, trying to look as if she had a better excuse to show up, other than to see Doug.

ARG! I hate that kind of dialogue. Now, sometimes you can't avoid the stage direction. But my problem with it is when every single line of dialogue is followed by a stage direction in the same repetitive pattern. Repetition should only be done deliberately and for a specific desired effect.

Good dialogue consists of conflict, tension. A scene with people talking about things they both know, but say for the reader's sake, or all agreeing on the topic is boring and serves no purpose.

Good dialogue
Doesn't explain everything, but makes the reader want to know more.
Makes the reader push to the next sentence, and the next, and so on.
Carries subtext
Doesn't happen in a vaccuum, unless it's on the phone, and even then, the characters should be doing something or dealing with something.
Even if its purpose is to convey information, there should be some conflict, or a distraction happening at the same time.

At the risk of extreme hubris, I am posting a scene from my current book ONCE WE WERE KINGS. I'm quite proud of the dialogue here but I know I'm sticking my neck out for criticism.

ONCE WE WERE KINGS
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Gossamer veils draped down from the high vaulted ceiling enshrouding High King Corigan's bed in royal crimson. All torches had been long extinguished. All, save for the one above, which filled with a rose coloured hue the area around his immense bed.

There, Corigan sat up, cross-legged, back against the padded head board. The train of his abandoned robe dangled to the ground. Before him, rested a wooden table just tall enough to reach his lap. Atop the table sat his goblet, filled and drained more times than he bothered recalling with Fire Orchid Wine, an exotic gift from the Eastern Empire.

"Your majesty has been careless," his guest said. She smiled and took an alluring sip from the goblet. With long, white fingers, she lifted her horseman piece, moved it across five spaces and captured his partisan. She lifted her eyes, with pupils black as ink, and smiled. Not once had Corigan even noticed her shift while seated in the bed and facing him.

"Leite is a game of patience, my illuminated one," he said, as he surrendered his piece to her. "Of strategy."

"Ah, but it also a game of cunning, no?" Her hand, cold to the touch, sent a shiver through his blood. He quite relished the sensation for it excited him.

"Nevertheless. A game it is, and shall always be."

She pursed her blood red lips. "You intentionally permitted me to dispatch your partisan. Was such a sacrifice made in the name of strategy?"

"Or perhaps, cunning?" Corrigan lifted his siege engine, the piece with the emerald jewels, and captured her horseman. And her cleric and her siege tower as well.

The bed pulsed with her slowly erupting laughter.

"What now?" Corigan said. "You have lost your final line. And this amuses you?"

She took his hand, turned his open palm upwards and stroked it with her fingernails. Then she dropped the three pieces into his hand, but they were too many to grasp. One of them dropped to the bed.

"Well?" Half a smile tugged the corner of Corigan's mouth.

"You well know, by now."

"Do I?"

"Apparently less than you realize, but yes. You do."

"Pray enlighten me then, my elusive, exotic beauty."

Placing her fan over the top of her bodice, she stared out the window and sighed. Her smile never fading, unnaturally so, but it aroused Corigan all the more, she sighed. "A game of cunning."

"Indeed, but what do you find so amusing about losing your key pieces?"

"Don't you see, Your Majesty?" Another sip of Fire Orchid left her lips wetter and redder than before.

"I see many things, but this..." he tossed the captured pieces over his shoulder, put his hand upon hers and leaned in so close her cool, sweet breath touched his lips. "I prefer if you tell me. With your own words."

"This game of Leite, which you have taught me so well, oh High King, is more truthful than you or I."

"Oh? How so?"

She leaned over and brushed his ear with her lips and whispered, "You would never have penetrated my defenses, had I not desired it." And with that, she brought her executioner from behind her last two partisans and, through the opening that Corigan himself had forced, captured his Prince's Castle.

Corigan grit his teeth. Still two or three moves away, but once again, he had lost to her. The roots of his hair tingled. "You cheat!" He swiped the pieces aside and climbed off the bed.

"I've done nothing of the sort." She also stood, the hem of her silver gown alighting upon the ground.

"It is hardly fair, the way you distract me so ."

"It is, nevertheless, a game." She fanned her bosom and turned her eyes towards the window again. "Did you not say as much yourself?"

"What I said--!" Finding himself in a deficit of words, Corigan paused. He calmed himself, lest he once again surrender the upper hand. "What I mean... that is to say, I..."

"You despise losing," she said and place her hand gently on his face. At her very touch, his anger ebbed, giving way to feelings far more dangerous. "Now see." She pointed out the window to the northern sea where a line of lights underscored the black horizon. "Once again, it is my move."

"How many?"

"Do not fret, Your Highness. Only half of my armada. And they have been instructed to stay clear of the citadel."

"But that is inequitable. I sent only a quarter of mine, and only to the remotest, most backwards villages to which you alluded to as your most troublesome!"

Again she laughed. This time it was more of a scoff. "And you were so impressed with yourself for having dictated the terms to me." Corigan's face burned. He knew that his bridled rage only masked his humiliation for having been taken in by this dark, yet formidable temptress. "And now," she said, with feigned humility and a half-hearted inclining of her head, "I must take my leave."

"But you said you'd stay till morning." Corrigan's heart raced simultaneously with desperation and self-loathing. "We haven't yet had a chance to--"

Her countenance, always calm as the placid waters of a pond at daybreak, now hardened. Immediately, Corigan ceased his ranting. Her gaze like ice, her words like frost, she said, "You are just like TyanKwuo's dead Emperor. Weak, controlled more by your loins than your head! There is a reason he is no more. A very good reason."

Corigan dared not speak another word. For she had him at such a disadvantage anything he said would be rope for his own noose. "Perhaps then, it is indeed time for you to take your leave."

They stood, eyes locked, The High King doing all he could to keep his head erect. And finally, her smile returned. Corrigan breathed again.

"If all goes well, My dear King, I shall greatly enjoy your company in my palace. It is quite lovely in the Spring."

"Yes. Yes, of course."

She lifted the train of her gown, bustled it and went to the door, where no doubt on the other side, her ladies in waiting had been listening and giggling. "Let it never be said that The Empress Dowager Xieh-Suh of TyanKwuo is anything but hospitable."

Another Agent Blitz

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:17:16 GMT

So I did another agent blitz. This time to seven different agents in the same house (Trident Media Group). They have some A-list clients and big agents. I also sent a query to an editor at Berkley.

So the stats are now:

37 queries out
3 requested partials from agents
11 rejections (I forgot last time to list the editor rejection for my full manuscript)

The research takes a lot of time and energy. But as you can see, I'm only about 50% to the 75 query mark that Dean Koontz hit before selling his first novel. I'll keep plugging along. Next wave is an editor/publisher blitz!

Third Agent Request

Mon, 19 May 2008 21:46:56 GMT

Over the weekend I got two more rejections via email. Both were very kind and intimated that my book was really good, but they have too many clients on their list now. Might just be a nice excuse, but I have a feeling they were sincere, based on the words they chose in their response.

But the good news is that I got another request for sample chapters and proposal from another agent. That brings me to a total of three agents who have requested partials for my novel BEYOND JUSTICE. One of them, I really hope signs on to represent my book.

Must keep trying.

stats to date:
30 queries out.
10 rejected
3 requested (3 chapters-100 pages)

Rejections!

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:37:04 GMT

Every writer dreams of doing this.

My Superhero Team

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:27:27 GMT

Superhero Team Quiz

LiveJournal Username

Your Primary Super Power

Cape?

Identitiy

Origin

Location of Head Quarters

Primary Costume/Uniform Colors

Why are you a Superhero?

Your Superheroic Codename

The veteran grim member of the team

ineti

The sexist and crass but annoyingly effective one

sarahahoyt

The bright-eyed novice or sidekick

arcaedia

The teammate that will eventually go evil or insan

robot_scandal

The inept yet determined/reoccurring supervillain

ineti

The sinister Arch-Villain and team's greatest foe

jaylake

The perky civilian that keeps getting kidnapped

robvagle

How often does your team actually 'save the day'?

78%

This Fun Quiz created by Shannon at BlogQuiz.Net

Tragedies inBurma and China

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:57:49 GMT

This is a message from my friend Luke Chen, pastor of CBC, regarding the recent tragedies in Burma and China. There are never any easy answers for how a good God could allow these things to happen, but Luke provides some excellent and challenging insights.

The newscasts of bloated bodies in Burma and mothers crying over their crushed child in China have been disturbing and heartbreaking. The confirmed death tolls of the cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China altogether already exceeds 100,000. The numbers are overwhelming. The suffering is immeasurable. How can God allow, or even cause, such monstrous calamities and inflict such suffering on millions of people?

In these moments it may be hard for many to believe that God is almighty, all loving, and all good. Many would say he does not exist. Even faithful Christians wonder what good could come out of such terrible disasters, and if there will be good that comes out, was it worth the price?

These are hard questions, and finding satisfactory answers may not be easy or possible. Heb. 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” In times of unexplainable disasters it ultimately comes down to faith that God is always righteous and good. This kind of faith is likened to knowing someone’s character so well, that when he or she does something that seems totally out of character, we conclude, “There must be something else going on,” rather than believe that his or her character has changed. When we know God well enough, nothing can shake our confidence in his righteous and merciful character. When we don’t know God well enough or not at all, disasters and suffering shake our confidence in him.

What is the “something else going on” that may explain why God allows mankind to suffer catastrophic disasters? The Bible gives us several likely reasons ….

1. 1. All of creation has been terribly corrupted because of sin (Rom. 8:19-21). There would be no natural or man-made disasters if mankind did not sin. Once sin entered into the world it was like a poison that cursed all of creation, not just man. Not only does mankind not work properly as a result, nature does not work right any more. God may use disasters as a powerful sign that we are sinners living in a sin-broken world.

2. 2. Man’s sins bears a great part of the responsibility. Burma’s government took no action to warn its citizens of the impending cyclone and is inhibiting relief efforts. Many of the collapsed buildings, even the new ones, in China are being found to have been of substandard quality. Builders took short-cuts and the residents paid the ultimate price for their failures. God may be using disasters to convict the world of sin and the need for repentance.

3. 3. Natural disasters are signs that Christ is returning at any time (Matt. 24:7). The message is that we as a human race needs to repent and be prepared to meet our maker.

4. 4. Natural disasters and other kinds of suffering are meant to humble us and help us realize that we are not the powerful creatures we think we are (Consider the 10 plagues on Egypt). We are mortal and our lives are unpredictable. Therefore we must worship and obey Christ and not the things of this world.

You may still wonder, “I understand that mankind’s suffering is directly or indirectly man-made, but if God is merciful, why doesn’t he intervene to prevent such disasters.” This is a valid question which we may again never have a definitive or acceptable answer. The Bible, however, reveals at least these three relevant truths:

1. 1. Things would be a lot worse in this world were it not for God restraining the flow of evil in this world (Rev. 7:1). So God is intervening. We just don’t realize it because we don’t know the calamities that He has already prevented.

2. 2. God loves us too much to treat make us his robots (Josh. 24:15). He has given mankind freewill because he loves humanity. None of us would enjoy a God who give us no freedom. Freewill, however, is a two- edged sword because it allows man to either do good or do evil. As a result in times of natural disasters we humans can either cause great suffering to each other, or do great good.

3. 3. Without suffering we may never realize the need to change, repent, and put our faith in Christ.

Given that God is merciful and has acted mercifully throughout human history, it is nonetheless a reality that God has not applied his mercy universally. As we see in the earthquake and cyclone, some were spared. Some were not. We are drawn to ask, “Why?” The biblical answer is not very humanly satisfying. God said, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy.” (Rom. 9:15) In other words, He is saying, “It’s my choice.” This makes God seem inherently unfair or capricious. The apostle Paul’s answer to that in Romans 9 is basically that we have no right to judge God. In the same chapter the apostle Paul suggests in Rom. 9:23 that God may even deny mercy to some so that those who receive mercy will realize how glorious God is. If you find these answers hard to accept, you are not alone

In the end, it comes back to faith. Do you have the faith to still believe that God is good despite all the difficult things you see in the world and read in the Bible? Or do you put your faith in your own intellect and knowledge and believe that you are the fair judge of what is right, wrong, true, or false? These are the ultimate questions.

Finally, disasters are opportunities for us to act mercifully and righteously. Let us not get so caught up with pondering God’s responsibility that we neglect our own. Act now to give to the relief effort, pray for the victims, and empower Christians to share the love of God to the victims and survivors. CBCSD will be giving donations to various relief efforts. The church encourages you also to give directly to Chinese Christian Herald Crusade (CCHC) for China relief efforts and World Vision for Burma relief efforts.

Blessings,

Pastor Luke

Thoughts and prayers for those suffering are needed. But so is practical help. Please consider making donations and/or volunteering whenever disaster strikes

Another Agent Request

Wed, 14 May 2008 22:54:48 GMT

So I am officially up to 30 queries out there for my novel BEYOND JUSTICE.

Today, in less than 2 hours since I queried one particular big name agent, I got a request for a 100 page partial and synopsis! Wow.
She was concerned a bit that my book of 74,000 words seemed a bit short. Funny because it started at 165,000 words and has since been cut down. But she said it might not be a problem.

We'll see if this turns into anything. Dean Koontz said he got 75 rejections before his first novel sold. So I won't quit until:

1. I get a sale
2. I pass 75 rejections (even then, I won't quit, I'll just slow down a bit in the querying and focus more on my current projects.)

Things are a-movin'! Thank God.

Agent Blitz

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:24:55 GMT

I think I'm getting the hang of it. Or at least starting to actually have fun with it. Scott Carter's blog Selling Your Book: Ten Tips on Creating a Sense of Urgency Among Agents and Editors" said something about taking on a certain attitude with querying. I devoted most of my day to researching and querying agents today and decided to take on the attitude of: Just go for it. No fear, just query anyone who seemed a good fit. And I decided to start querying via email, since I've never tried before.

So I snail mailed one query and emailed 8 others for my book BEYOND JUSTICE.

The more query letters I wrote, the more confident I became. This sort of goes with the "dare to be bad" writing mentality. A freedom that only comes when you aren't afraid (nothing to lose). Finding that really good, personalized first paragraph is proving the biggest challenge, but when I get it right, it's kind of fun. I think it was Noah Lukeman who said something to the affect of making the first paragraph all about the agent/editor you are querying. This makes it immediately important. I can see that. If I get an unsolicited email and it's all about the person sending it or the product he/she is trying to sell, my finger hovers over the delete key. But if this email points out something about me, or my work (in a positive light, of course) you can be sure I'll want to read on. I guess this is pretty basic.

One agent replied within three hours from an email query and asked me to send her a proposal and 100 page partial! That was the quickest turnaround I've ever gotten.

Anyway, it's almost 2:30 AM and I just sent off my last query for the day.

I'm not going to get too excited about that one request for a partial, but I am pleased that I did this query blitz. Recently I've suffered from query block.

PS: Thanks Scott, you're an inspiration.

Fatal Shark Attack in San Diego

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:07:37 GMT

A66 year old triathlete was attacked this morning by a great white shark. Unfortunately, he died before he could be airlifted to the hospital.

I've never been a fan of swimming out at the beach, and I don't think that position is going to change soon.

More Queries Out

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:32:50 GMT

The good news is that after sending out nearly a dozen queries, I've only gotten back about 3 rejections. Not sure that's good news, but I'm glad it's not more than 3 for now.

So I'm sending out four more queries, 1 Editor and 3 major agents today.

I'm feeling good so far. One day, BEYOND JUSTICE will sell. Just a matter of time and persistence!

Amazon/Penguin contest - Top 100!

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:46:53 GMT

Permit me to swell a bit here. On Feb. 19, Amazon.com and Penguin books announced their top 100 seminfinalists. Penguin Books has narrowed down the contestants from 5000 in the qualification rounds to the top 1000 and now to the top 100 manuscripts and my book BEYOND JUSTICE is one of them.

Needless to say, I'm excited and grateful to everyone who reviewed my excerpt. If you haven't read my free downloadable excerpt for my book, please do and give it your honest review as it seems like it plays a part in the finalist selection.

Here is a link to my book excerpt.

Thanks again!

Nothing New Under the Sun

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:14:44 GMT

It's comforting to know that nothing has changed in Tech Support, since the middle ages.

Whadday know

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:14:54 GMT

You Are a Dragon

You are very charismatic and incredibly popular. People are drawn to your energy, but you are a very difficult person to get to know. You are very active - you are usually hard at work or play. You enjoy drama, and you enjoy anything unusual or eccentric.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

I swear, I didn't try to fit the bill for this one, but this is what I got as a result of this quiz.

Speaking of Dragons...

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:00:45 GMT

A SILVER Dragon Lies Beneath!

My inner dragon is to dragons what the Ranger is to humans. I possess considerable intelligence and self-confidence. I live by my own code of ethics and I stick to it at all times. Click the image to try the Inner Dragon Online Quiz for yourself.

I Believe I Can Fly

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:48:01 GMT

I had a dream last night that I could fly.

It was an odd dream which started off with me driving a car with my wife next to me. We were on a three lane highway and the traffic began to slow. Over to the right, I noticed that the shoulder and the concrete sidewalk were torn up, as if there was major construction.

Gradually, the traffic came to a halt and over in the slow lane, a car accident caugh my eye. The vehicle was badly mangled and a tow truck was trying to get it hitched. We continued driving and then came to a place where I haven't been to in 9 years. East New York, a rough part of Brooklyn. A green street sign read Remsen Avenue (not sure if that is actually in East New York, but it's in Brooklyn for certain.)

A Korean store owner greeted an African American neighbor. Now I was standing on the street corner by myself, somehow waiting for my wife to catch up, on foot. The Korean man's 10 year old son zipped across the sidewalk and while hot-dogging, slipped and fell. He wasn't hurt, but the father scolded him for showing off and not being careful.

Next, I was riding the skateboard. And my wife was standing on it with me. We couldn't move until we synchronized our motions. She would lean the back in one direction, while I leaned the front in the opposite, then we'd both swing the other way. Reminiscent of the way a fish swings its tail to propel itself.

Before I realized, we were floating in the air. With an inevitable sense of belonging, we turned left around the corner and found ourselves in an alley, floating with some people I don't remember, but somehow knew they were close friends. There was such joy in our hearts, a feeling of knowing that we could all fly.

And I said, "I knew it, we can fly." And out of nowhere, Nathan Petrelli of Heroes shows up, next to me. "Just not as fast as him."

"Of course you can," he said. And rocketed into the sky.

I, however only hovered, not quite as high as "Flying Man," but joyful nonetheless.

I believe this dream signifies the huge life struggles my wife and I are encountering now, with our the growing pains of our business, our general burned-outedness, and most recently, her mother's diagnosis of Stage 4 Lung Cancer. And I wonder if perhaps I am dreaming of our overcoming all these difficulties with a power from above and within.

If nothing else, I have been inspired. This dream gave me the perfect ending for the first act of my YA Fantasy book, the idea of which caught while I sat waiting for my brakes to be repaired in the shop. The scene is about faith and flying. Look for future mention of Kobaltdrache [The Kobalt Dragon.]

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

ADVERBS!!!

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:58:23 GMT

I am not a great fan of adverbs in writing. Sometimes, when used judiciousLY, the can be quite effective. But often I find them used as a lazy person's way out of good characterization. This is especialLY true in dialogue tags.

eg.

"Your sister's back."
"Oh great," he said, sarcastically.

If the framing dialogue and writing in general were adequate, then it would be clear that when the character says, "Oh great," he is being sarcastic. Sure, it's quick and easy, and even in some cases, would be the right choice. But in general, I think it better to characterize the sarcasm by showing, not telling. Here's what I mean:

"Your sister's back."
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Oh great."

Instead of lecturing the reader and telling what should be obvious, I'm showing the reader.

Stephen King said, "The road to hell is paved with adverbs." :)

So just to torment me

erdnase2000sent this to me: