Wishing everyone a wonderful day today!
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Friday, November 16th, 2012
It’s a classy cast-iron affair with a glass window to look through while the fire burns and a fan on the back if we want to heat the place up like a sauna. Needless to say, we’ve been playing with fire for the last week or so. Lots of fun. Here’s Your Prompt:
Good luck! Monday, November 12th, 2012
Your hard work, service, and dedication are neither forgotten, nor overlooked. My family has a strong history of military service: grandfathers on both my mother’s and father’s side of the family and more uncles than I can count have served. Some have given their lives in service, some have dedicated their lives to serving. Pictured is my great-uncle, Walter J. Rakowski. He held the rank of Staff Sergeant and served as an Ordnance Officer (ammunition) up until the time he died in service. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. I often wonder, not just on days of remembrance, what life would have been like had they not made the choice to enlist. I know it wouldn’t be as good as it is. To all U.S. Military personnel: Thank You. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Web site, History of Veteran’s Day: The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words: Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.  Rest In Peace, Uncle Walter. Rest In Peace all who have served our country and are no longer with us. Friday, November 9th, 2012
It wasn’t until a day later when citizens rushed to the wall and started breaking it down and chipping off pieces for souvenirs. In the weeks that followed — though the walls were still guarded in many places — it finally toppled. During its existence, officials did permit some travel from East to West — with the necessary permits — and usually to anyone but those trapped behind the wall. Some families were cut off from contact for decades. East Germans who worked in West Germany immediately lost the jobs they could no longer travel to. The erected wall cut railway stations in half, closing stations and orphaning lines. Economic outcome grew dim. Here’s Your Prompt
Good Luck! Friday, November 2nd, 2012 I finished a novel Tuesday night (yes, during Hurricane Sandy, in the dark, by candlelight)! I’m in a funny place because I don’t have anything else I’m working on. Usually, I’ve got two or three projects working at one time, but for once, I don’t. I have a bunch of story ideas, but they’re big projects, and I want to write a few short stories right now. What do I do when I just want the juices to flow and I haven’t given it any major thought? I choose three random words and see what falls out of my brain. Here’s Your Prompt Find three random words, write them at the top of your page, and recite them over and over in your head for a few moments. Once an idea forms, free-write for 10 or fifteen minutes. Don’t worry about plot, structure or character. If you’re a poet, don’t worry about choosing the right words: just let the ideas flow. If you journal, don’t worry about the details, just the broad strokes. You can worry about editing, plotting and details when you sit down to edit. This is just about finding some ideas. Can’t find three random words?
Still can’t come up with words? Here are some lists of three:
Want an online generator? Try this random word generator at Creativity Games.Net. It will generate up to eight random words. Good luck! Monday, October 29th, 2012
“Lucky Clover” is a psychological thriller/ghost story, and I’m honored that it’s going to included in a book with great horror writers such as Nancy Holder (of Buffy fame, and a five-time Bram Stoker Award™ winner), Mehitobel Wilson (nominated for a Bram Stoker Award™ and awarded Honorable Mention in the Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror Anthology five years in a row!) and Yvonne Navarro (also a winner of the Bram Stoker Award™). Deep Cuts is edited by Angel Leigh McCoy, E.S. Magill and Chris Marrs: all very talented and capable, and lovers of horror. (I’ve already had the pleasure of working with Angel, and it’s been fantastic. I’m certain this anthology is going to be terrific.) You can read more about the anthology (or the players!) at the Deep Cuts Kickstarter page (campaign now closed) or the Deep Cuts Web site. Friday, October 26th, 2012 I’m currently finishing up a novel and getting ready to start a new one. I’m thinking a lot about beginnings. The opener, or hook, of a novel — and especially a short story — is the most important part of the tale. It’s what attracts the reader to your story, and — one hopes — is enticing enough to keep them reading. But this post isn’t about writing good hooks. It’s about using what’s already out there to help us in our own writing. (I’ll get to that.) Some authors have been so successful in writing good hooks that the first lines of their books have made it into popular vernacular and used even by folks who have not read the book. (And maybe, don’t know what they’re quoting!) Do you know these famous first lines?
Here’s Your Prompt: Choose one of the famous first lines below and start writing where it leaves off. For more creative freedom, you might want to choose a line from a book you’ve never read (or have no assumptions about). Type or write the famous line first, and keep going. When you’re done, delete the famous first line and see what you’ve got!
Good luck! Thursday, October 25th, 2012
In a few weeks (hopefully less) they should be available via iTunes as well. I’m also working on getting them distributed through Kobo. When I get the word on iTunes and Kobo, I’ll let you know. Friday, October 19th, 2012 I’m sitting here sorting through all my boxes of Halloween decorations and watching Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride with my foot propped up. (Surgery update: My foot looks like a corpse foot. Stitches are out, and it’s blue, green and purple. But it’s on the mend. Yay!) I’m definitely in the mood for Halloween, my favorite holiday. So, to get you in the mood… Here Are Some Prompts:
Good Luck! Sunday, October 14th, 2012
It hasn’t worked its way into the Amazon or Barnes & Noble databases yet, but you can find Blood Soup at Smashwords if you’re interested. Don’t you love the new cover? I think it’s a lot less misleading than the cover from the original publishing company. It is a dark fantasy, but skulls on the cover was a little over the top. (If you don’t remember it, you can see the old cover of Blood Soup here. I still have a copies of the original paperback if you’re interested. Drop me a line if you want to purchase one. If you want the current version in paperback, fear not. It’s coming. I’ll drop a line when the other formats become available. |
We recently purchased a new wood stove at the House of Awesome™.
On November 9, 1989 the Berlin wall came down – figuratively. Officials opened it and allowed citizens to travel from East Berlin to West Berlin.
I just signed a contract for my story, “Lucky Clover,” to appear in the Deep Cuts Anthology early next year!
Blood Soup is now available at 