Blog « Kelly A. Harmon

Thursday, July 4th, 2013

Happy Independence Day, USA!

History.com has this awesome July 4th infographic to celebrate the day (and I am shamelessly posting it here…)

I’m off to eat a hot dog! Hope everyone enjoys the day.

Click on the image to enjoy a larger (and more readable) version.

Monday, July 1st, 2013

Badge of Lies: Jason Kahn

Jason Kahn and I go way back, published by the same small press several years ago, where we both ‘discovered’ each other’s work. His stories have continued to intrigue me. His latest work, Badge of Lies, is no exception.

Rather than do the standard guest interview, I’ve asked Jason to provide an excerpt to whet your appetite, and he’s rather handsomely obliged. I hope you enjoy it. Once your’re done, read more about Jason in my original interview with him here.

Badge of Lies is a story of trust and betrayal, of a good cop who has to do bad things to make things right. Thanks to Pro Se Productions for making this possible, and I hope everybody enjoys the ride!

~ Jason

From Badge of Lies by Jason R. Kahn:

I worked it out as I inched ahead, thought about the layout of the place, figured where I’d lay an ambush if it was me. A grim smile spread on my face as I paused at the entryway to the kitchen. There’s Ronnie, head down at the table, top of his head pointed at me, but I’m not focusing on him. I take a single long stride into the middle of the kitchen and pivot left, pointing the Glock. A moment of shock, even though I expect it. In the open window off the inside courtyard, a shadowy figure crouches, waiting. It was a big shadow.

He raises his arm and I don’t need to see the gun as I squeeze the trigger on my Glock and dive. Muzzle flares explode as multiple shots reverb like canon fire in the confined space. I squeeze off a few rounds at the same time as the other guy and feel a sting in my shoulder as my hurtling body crashes into a refrigerator. I go down for a moment, sprawling on the cracked tile floor. Panic spurs me as I scramble to my feet expecting another volley, but he’s gone.

I stood there motionless, gun pointed at the open window for several long seconds as left-over nerves washed through me. My chest stopped heaving as I shakily lowered my arms and re-holstered my piece, moving quickly to the window. I stuck my head out, cool drizzle pattered against my face as I noted the fire escape leading down to the alley behind the building. Doubtless the guy was long gone. I stumbled away from the window, aches and pains starting to radiate through my body as the adrenaline wore off.

Badge of Lies is now available in paperback and Kindle electronic. Buy it now:

Also available: The Killer Within (Kindle) which continues to get great reviews!

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! For a bigger taste of Jason’s work, you might try listening to one of his previous novels, Dark InSpectre, on audio. Jason makes them available for free – linked from his Web site, here.

Learn more about Jason:

Website: www.jrkahn.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jrkahn

Blog: http://jasonkahn.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jkahn1

Friday, June 28th, 2013

Writing Prompt – All in a Day’s Work

Backhoe digging dirt in a field. Most people work to earn a living.

So, unless you write about fabulously wealthy people all the time, I’m going to assume that your characters are working-class folk.

And even if you write fantasy, your character is going to have to make a living somehow–whether it be by herding sheep or in the castle guard–so I think you might find this useful.

For most people, work defines who they are. When you meet someone at a party, you’re inevitably asked, “What do you do?” We’re slotted into pigeonholes at first meet: he’s a computer programer, she’s a lawyer, he owns a plumbing and heating company…

This works for fabulously wealthy people who spend their time on good causes, too: She does books for a soup kitchen, he’s a doctor at a free clinic, she reads to the blind.

And like it or not, what we do for a living–or to fill the time–shapes us. We spend a huge amount of our time in pursuit of it: exposed to the politics, embroiled in projects, learning our pecking order, gaining experience both good and bad.

So knowing what your character does for a living is important–even if it’s never mentioned in the book. Because what he learned on the job is a takeaway to his life. Keep this in mind when creating new characters.

Here’s Your Prompt:

Write a scene or a story about an important event in a person’s life…but come at it from the perspective of work: you can only reveal things as they are happening on the job.
Write a story about a person who keeps making the right decisions at work, but keeps landing in deeper and deeper trouble for them.
Write the scene (or an entire story) about a bitter person who’s got the dream of a lifetime–her dream of a lifetime–and how it ruined her.
Go large on the work idea: write a story that takes place at a business. The characters can only be seen as how they act on the job – no scenes away from the workplace.
Write a story where your main character is having trouble keeping his job. This difficulty can be central to the story or not.
If you Journal…
- Write about the loss of your job.
- Write about all the summer jobs you’ve had, or about your favorite summer job.
- Write about your Worst. Job. Ever. (Or worst boss!)
- Have you ever been profoundly effected by someone else’s job — or job loss? Write it.

Good Luck!

Friday, June 21st, 2013

Writing Prompt – Epitaphs

Spina Monument - O Holy Redeemer Cemetery - Baltimore MD I attended a family member’s funeral on Monday.

It was not unexpected, and I’ve been thinking a lot about death in the last weeks or so. I’m the unofficial genealogist of the family, and have a collection of death memorabilia — so it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that I’ve been paging through albums of tombstone photos this week.

I love tombstones.

I’ve always wanted something really cool to mark my spot in the acreage where generations of my family are buried. (It’s unfortunate that we’ve become so lazy as a society that many cemeteries are no longer allowing upright stones since they’re harder to mow around. If I want to be buried with my family, then no stone for me…)

I’ve thought long and hard about what I want my epitaph to read.

Epitaph: a commemorative inscription on a tomb or mortuary monument about the person buried at that site.

(You should know: most epitaphs are composed not by the deceased prior to his or her demise, but by the person who buries him. Not a rule, it’s just how it happens…)

Sadly, like a tattoo, I can’t seem to find the phrase I want to be stuck with for eternity. But I keep trying.

Long ago, pre-teen, I heard a (trite, pithy, silly) poem about death which has always stuck with me:

When I’m gone
Bury me deep
Lay two speakers
at my feet
Put some headphones
on my head
And Rock and Roll me
When I’m dead!

Yes, please! And make it heavy metal. I want to rock through eternity!

Here’s Your Prompt:

Write your own epitaph! Be known how you want to be known for eternity.
Write the epitaph for the characters in your WIP.
Create a character for a new novel or story. Start by writing the character’s epitaph. Work backwards to fill in the details of the person’s personality based on the slogan. Here is a list of famous epitaphs to give you some ideas.

If you write an epitaph, please leave it in the comments. I’d love to read them.

Good luck!

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

You Know You’ve Made the Big Time… (ha ha)

… when Amazon refers your own book to you.

I’m on the Amazon.com mailing list to receive recommendations for new Science Fiction and Fantasy books. I got the email below a few days ago.

(Last week they recommended a whole slew of books I’d already purchased. Methinks they need to revisit their algorithm!)

Scanned Image of Amazon Letter recomending Sky Lit Bargains to me (the author)!

Friday, June 14th, 2013

Writing Prompt – United States Flag Day

June 14th in the United States is Flag Day, commemorating the day the 2nd Continental Congress adopted the flag. This happened in 1777, though Flag Day wasn’t officially celebrated until 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation.

Congress officially sealed the deal in 1949 by establishing National Flag Day.

Originally, flags were used in military maneuvers for coordination on the battlefield and identifying sides. In environments where other types of communication are hampered, flags have served as basic signalling devices.

Here’s a link to an article on International Maritime Signal Flags.

Today, flags are still used for communication and messaging, but can be seen in advertising or used for decorative purposes.

Here’s Your Prompt:

Create a flag to identify you, or a character in your stories, or a place in your world. Devote some time to thinking about what should be depicted on the flag and what the symbols will stand for. What traits are you, your character or your worlds built on? What ideals?
Here is a web site devoted to flags and flag symbolism.
Flags are often associated with patriotism. Write a poem about patriotism or a patriot.
In the US Colonial Era, Patriots were despised by the Loyalists (Tories, or, King’s Men). Write a story or poem from the point of view of someone like a Tory.

Good luck!

Cover of The Dragon's Clause by Kelly A. Harmon depicts a Navy Aircraft Carrier on a moonlit night.

Have you read The Dragon’s Clause?
For hundreds of years, San Marino paid tribute to the dragon living beneath their mountain city. But no one alive remembers him. Despite the existence of a contract, the town refuses to pay this year. When the residents renege on the deal, they must face the wrath of the beast.

$2.99 at Amazon.com | $2.99 at Barnes and Noble

~~~~~~~~~~
Flag Poster from the Library of Congress Collection.

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Writing Prompt – Rainy, Rainy Day

Pink rose with raindrops on the petals. It’s raining, it’s pouring
The old man is snoring
He went to bed and bumped his head
And didn’t get up until morning!

It’s raining today where I am, just hard enough for me to hear the commotion, but gentle enough to qualify it as a spring rain. It’s been raining for hours, too, watering my plants and greening things up all over the yard.

I love it when it rains on the days I’m able to sleep in. The room stays dark and cool, I hear the pattering of the rain on the eaves, and I can pull my feather pillow closer and snooze a little longer.

It’s apparently not bothering the birds, who are our in murders, chimes and parties (crows, wrens, and blue jays) searching for worms.

(Really, they ought to try the driveway, because that’s where all the worms hang out on rainy days. Up on the hill is so last week.)

Here’s Your Prompt:

Write about a group of employees stuck at work, because the rain (the storm) is so bad they can’t get home.
Similarly, write about a group of people huddled together in a bus stop shelter. What happens when they’re there for an “extended” period of time.
Write from the point of view of the storm: are you the tiny raindrop, the dark, thundering cloud, or the bolt of lightening? Are you something else?
Write about the best time your were trapped out in the rain. Write about the worst.
Write how you feel about rain. Do thunderstorms affect you more than gentle spring rains? Do you hate all rain? What would be better in your life without it? What would be worse?
Consider:
Kase here am facts days mighty plain, An’ any time you sees ’em you kin look fuh rain… ~ James Weldon Johnson, ed. The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922.

Do you (or your character) always look for rain? Write about a time you (or your character) were looking for rain–as usual–and were surprised not to find it.
Re-write an important scene in your current work in progress so that it happens while it’s raining. How can the intrusion of rain make your scene more dramatic?
Write about:
Dusk in the rain-soaked garden, And dark the house within. A door creaked: someone was early To watch the dawn begin. But he stole away like a thief in the chilly, star-bright air… ~ Siegfried Sassoon, The Dark House, 1920
Write a story where record-breaking floods (caused by rain) destroy someone’s life. (This isn’t about killing a character, this is about the flood waters taking away the most important part of his or her life: his family, his lover, her livelihood, etc.)

Good Luck!

Cover of Selk Skin Deep by Kelly A. Harmon depicts a Navy Aircraft Carrier on a moonlit night.

Have you read Selk Skin Deep?

JFK never envisioned a Navy SEAL like him: a selkie, ignorant of the ways of man, learns what it’s like to be human.

$2.99 at Amazon| $2.99 at Barnes and Noble

Friday, May 31st, 2013

Writing Prompt – How Do People Travel?

Airplane on the Runway I attended Balticon this past weekend. (Had a terrific time, as usual.)

Balticon takes place at a hotel in Hunt Valley, Maryland and gets booked solid by the time the event rolls around. On the opening day, the hotel entrance is over-crowded by folks who come from all around loaded for bear with all the things they can’t live without for four days.

It’s amazing to see what folks travel with, and how they travel: like the eight folks that traveled together down from New York in a single car, but got separate rooms because they needed the space.

Then there’s the dichotomy of those who will travel as light as possible, forgoing even a change of clothes (I hope they brought their toothbrush!) so they’ll have room in the car for all the treasures they’ll take home; and those who travel with trunks filled with costuming gear, and you’ll see changed several times a day.

I’ve seen folks come in with several coolers and (little red) wagons loaded with food so they never have to leave the hotel in search of a less-expensive meal. (And NOT at Balticon, I’ve seen these same folks pull their wagons and coolers up to a gaming table so they can play all night without having to leave their chair!)

Here’s Your Prompt:

Make a list of things your characters absolutely can’t live without when they’re traveling. And/or, make a list of things your characters can’t live without when they’re just “about town.” Now: lose those items.
Write the scene where your character needs those items and discovers that they don’t have them. What happens? How do they work around the loss?
Send your character on a road trip. Have the car (train, bicycle, airplane — not in the sky!) break down. What happens?
“THE silent room, the heavy creeping shade, The dead that travel fast…” — Fabien dei Franchi, Oscar Wilde.
Write a scene about how the travel (the view, the journey, the people met) affected your character in a life-changing way.
Put your main character in a situation where he or she has the opportunity to embark upon an affair. The setting is a country he’s never been to with a language he does not comprehend.
“How heavy do I journey on the way When what I seek, my weary travels end, Doth teach that ease and that repose to say, Thus far the miles are measur’d from thy friend! — Sonnet 50, Shakespeare
If you journal, write about a time you traveled that had some profound affect on you. Did you make a promise to live life differently after that? Have you kept that promise?

Good Luck!

Cover of Sky Lit Bargains by Kelly A. Harmon depicts a woman dressed in armor, leaning against a stone wall.

Have you read Sky Lit Bargains?

Forced to leave her home when her twin sister marries, Sigrid takes up arms to make her own way.

$2.99 – Kindle | $4.99 Paperback | $2.99 – Nook

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Remembering the Fallen

Graves at Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day - 2008

Friday, May 24th, 2013

Writing Prompt – A Bit of Randomness

A very young girl in curlers and make up. I’m heading over to Balticon later on today, and it’s been a frenetic week preparing. Not because I’ve got such a large schedule — I deliberately don’t have much of one at all this year — but because life just got in the way.

I’m sure there’s a blog post/writing prompt for “life getting in the way” but that seemed kind of vague to me this morning. Watch for it later, I’m certain.

So, today’s prompts are rather random. Just some ideas I’ve been playing with that haven’t gone together for one huge post…and they all start with the photo.

Your options: choose the photo for the prompt, one or some of the prompts, or all of them (that might prove interesting!) and write away.

The Random Prompts

A woman on her honeymoon is shocked to learn a major secret from her husband’s past.
“Uncle John, I don’t like this.”
I loved her with all my heart – but every day she became more of a leech.
While driving to work one day, you decide to drive by the office, and just keep going.
A woman on her honeymoon is shocked to learn a major secret from her husband’s past.