Jam-Packed

05Mar10

Book03 is currently being reviewed by some literary agents. I crossed the halfway point for Book04 not too long ago. I guess creating an (EXTENSIVE) outline (prior to the actual commencement of writing the book) works well for me. It’s a YA cyberpunk/urban fantasy book with a neat hook (if I may say so)…so I’ll be doing my darndest best to come up with a good query + synopsis to accompany the ms.

I’ve usually waited till I’ve completed the book, before crafting the pitch and synopsis. I’m currently working on them all three at once, and making tweaks along the way when I feel I should.

I’ve an exciting [15-page (!)] advertising plan to complete for one of my subjects this semester. The plan I proposed was to draft a formalized advertising plan for the marketing of my self-published books [with the intent of gaining enough exposure over time so that I will: a) eventually establish a self-sustaining business model, and b) eventually garner the attention of a literary agent / major publisher].

I was hoping the lecturer would give me the okay, because I’d be able to actually put the plan into use in real life. I’m glad she did indeed welcome my proposal!…so I’ll be super busy, as usual, over the next few weeks…I’ve Herman Melville and Shakespeare to peruse too.

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Tags: writing, books, author, cyberpunk

night light

26Feb10

‘night light’ is a poem I wrote, which was accepted for publication in an issue of Side of Grits (Rural Messengers Press).

‘night light’ also features in (the poetry section titled ‘Appetizers’, of) my second book, 4:Play. The formatting’s better in the book; it isn’t supposed to be left-justified.

night light

(i hear) clock on mantelpiece
heart *thump-th-th-th-thump*
your step floorboard creak
door swing you’re in

(i see) your shadow figure
lunging forward throwing covers
crystal-white night light you
hungry action ready go

(i feel) you me move
alive awaken midnight
blinded.by Truth Purity
blood.on.fire baptized skyhigh

(i taste) glory power you
man woman love life
egos breaking selves transcending
bodies holy communion

(i smell) you me clean
dirty fresh wet
sweet tongues bathing
skin+bones hit by lightning

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Author Interview, J. Timothy King

23Feb10

Author Interview #4, with J. Timothy King!

Describe yourself in 5 words:
Tim: Out to change the world.

Share a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words):
Here are a few short paragraphs from Tim’s latest contemporary romance novel:

But by the time I had been offered that job, it was clear we had both made a huge mistake. Our differences were preventing us from finding our way together…

“We should never have gotten married,” I told him. “I knew I wanted to work on my career. We both knew. Now, we’re living two separate lives.” …

He never told me that I made him sad, and I didn’t ask. He didn’t say anything. We didn’t fight. By then, we didn’t fight about anything anymore.

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Tags: j timothy king

Book04

19Feb10

–> handwritten notes for Book04

For some odd reason, my notes for Book04 have been divided across four separate notebooks. The first “plot points” were conjured up in late 2008…so it’s been a while. I’ve been going back and forth with it because the genre’s new to me (I’ve written fantasy and speculative fiction before, not at book-length though), and I intend to blend several elements (it’s both plot and character-driven, etc).

Though actually, my one NanoWrimo attempt so far (back in…2004? Has it been that long?!) was fantasy-themed. In fact I’m borrowing a few (of the best) paragraphs from that draft and incorporating it right into Book04, lol.

I’ve got to fix up a few more details in the planning today. The last thing I want (as always) is something pretentious + yawn-worthy.

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Tags: books, writing

Author Interview, Shelagh Watkins

17Feb10

Author Interview #3, with Ms. Shelagh Watkins!

Describe yourself in 5 words:
Shelagh: Honest, easy going, hard working.

Share a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words):
Excerpt from The Power of Persuasion:

… as I stepped forward, a gust of blustery wind took hold of my skirt and revealed a substantial amount of leg. To struggle with the thing would only draw attention to my legs. Trying to remain cool, I continued to walk towards, of all people, F. William D’Arcy, who, seeing my predicament, not to say, a great deal of leg, smiled and allowed me to enter the lecture theatre ahead of him.

This was the third time I’d seen him – definitely not the luck of the Irish.

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Tags: shelagh watkins, writing