![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
When you're writing your fantasy query, do NOT say anything that will lead an agent's mind to the tired, old, same stuff written by every other newbie fantasy writer.
I won't go into detail, but just say I had an agent comment on my first page. She had EXPECTATIONS about the story because of some of the names I selected. Point is, her expectations were stupid. If she wanted trite and typical, than her expectations were spot on.
Unfortunately, my story is neither trite nor typical. However, I did get the lesson. If you say ANYTHING that has ever been used in the entire history of the world (e.g., dragons, elves, etc.) make sure your query doesn't lead the reader to believe you have the same old trite typical crap. They'll not get past that first dragon or elf mention without expecting you'll have a trite typical dragon or elf. Don't even use the words!
Just leave it at a mystical race of creatures if you're talking dragons or elves. Say 'dragon' or 'elf' and you've typecasted your book into oblivion.
I'm seriously considering taking a pen name of Kassandra. That way, I will tell the truth, but expect to be ignored. Makes life much easier. Mortals just can't help being stupid.
Since nobody reads my blog anyway, it won't hurt to mention that I've been turned down by a lot of (ahem) less than diligent query-readers who jumped to conclusions so fast, you could hardly see them move. FTL agents. Hey, I like that. We could get our rejects before we even send the queries. Saves a lot of time and stress.
P.S. Richard, you were fast on reading this on my other blogs. Thanks!!!!
I won't go into detail, but just say I had an agent comment on my first page. She had EXPECTATIONS about the story because of some of the names I selected. Point is, her expectations were stupid. If she wanted trite and typical, than her expectations were spot on.
Unfortunately, my story is neither trite nor typical. However, I did get the lesson. If you say ANYTHING that has ever been used in the entire history of the world (e.g., dragons, elves, etc.) make sure your query doesn't lead the reader to believe you have the same old trite typical crap. They'll not get past that first dragon or elf mention without expecting you'll have a trite typical dragon or elf. Don't even use the words!
Just leave it at a mystical race of creatures if you're talking dragons or elves. Say 'dragon' or 'elf' and you've typecasted your book into oblivion.
I'm seriously considering taking a pen name of Kassandra. That way, I will tell the truth, but expect to be ignored. Makes life much easier. Mortals just can't help being stupid.
Since nobody reads my blog anyway, it won't hurt to mention that I've been turned down by a lot of (ahem) less than diligent query-readers who jumped to conclusions so fast, you could hardly see them move. FTL agents. Hey, I like that. We could get our rejects before we even send the queries. Saves a lot of time and stress.
P.S. Richard, you were fast on reading this on my other blogs. Thanks!!!!
- Mood:
crazy
I've added a complete chapter from my WIP, Scotch Broom, on my website. Click on over and peruse.
http://marvadasef.com/excerpts.aspx
http://marvadasef.com/excerpts.aspx
- Mood:
crappy
Okay, so no more videotape. Well, I still use it, but apparently I'm in the Dark Ages in regard to technology. I can record onto a DVD, but only if I'm watching (or have the channel on).
Neither here nor there. My topic is Sex and Lies. Forget about the videotape.
I'm sticking my tender toe into the water of romance. Spicy romance. E.g., the characters have sex, but I don't describe bodily parts.
Personally, I think that penises are really ugly. C'mon guys! Admit it. That piece of flesh ain't pretty. To be fair, I'm pretty certain that female genitalia is pretty nasty, too.
What gets me is that guys automatically pant over the sight of a, ahem, female genitalia, therefore men think that them waving about their bits is also sexy.
Okay, I'm ready for the Women of the World to tell me otherwise, but male genitalia is not only ugly, but creepy.
Sexy pix of men for women (at least as I can discern it) is of chests (they're all over the place in romance) without heads. Also creepy.
My personal preference for attractive male bodily parts? Forearms. I know. I'm a sad case. But those sinewy forearms are the primary sexual part. Weird, eh?
Now that I've revealed my own particular likes, you tell me. What part of the opposite sex REALLY turns you on? Guys, only answer if it is NOT breasts or butts.
Neither here nor there. My topic is Sex and Lies. Forget about the videotape.
I'm sticking my tender toe into the water of romance. Spicy romance. E.g., the characters have sex, but I don't describe bodily parts.
Personally, I think that penises are really ugly. C'mon guys! Admit it. That piece of flesh ain't pretty. To be fair, I'm pretty certain that female genitalia is pretty nasty, too.
What gets me is that guys automatically pant over the sight of a, ahem, female genitalia, therefore men think that them waving about their bits is also sexy.
Okay, I'm ready for the Women of the World to tell me otherwise, but male genitalia is not only ugly, but creepy.
Sexy pix of men for women (at least as I can discern it) is of chests (they're all over the place in romance) without heads. Also creepy.
My personal preference for attractive male bodily parts? Forearms. I know. I'm a sad case. But those sinewy forearms are the primary sexual part. Weird, eh?
Now that I've revealed my own particular likes, you tell me. What part of the opposite sex REALLY turns you on? Guys, only answer if it is NOT breasts or butts.
- Mood:
thoughtful
I've been writing and editing and critting others so much, I haven't been keeping up reading in my genre: juvenile fantasy. To make up for that, I ordered up a bunch of the very popular writers to see what I might be missing.
I am enjoying the books. Really. However, I see all kinds of stuff that my crit partners would knock me upside the head for doing. Switching POVs randomly. Using the horrid adverbs. Repetition. Well, the list goes on. What can I say? The well-known, famous, richly-rewarded writers make all the goofy mistakes that I make. Apparently, however, they didn't have a crit group and, somehow, their agents didn't notice how they broke every rule in the book.
I won't mention the books, because they are very popular, and somebody is bound to want an argument about the quality of the writing. I don't want to argue. I just want to state that the big names make every stupid newbie mistake that unpublished authors make. BUT, they seem to get by the sentinels.
This is what I glean from this information. You can make every freaking booboo, but still get published if you write in some indiscernible style that appeals to agents and publishers. What is that style? There's no telling since said agents and publishers cannot articulate that certain something that sets these authors apart from the great unwashed crowd.
Until said agents and publishers can explain what the hell they want, then those of us in the slush pile can only beat our heads against the wall and cry out, "Why? Why? Why?"
It's so hard to tell why your own writing falls short, when you see horrendous examples of famous, well-paid writers committing mistakes and bad writing techniques over and over.
It's a mystery.
I am enjoying the books. Really. However, I see all kinds of stuff that my crit partners would knock me upside the head for doing. Switching POVs randomly. Using the horrid adverbs. Repetition. Well, the list goes on. What can I say? The well-known, famous, richly-rewarded writers make all the goofy mistakes that I make. Apparently, however, they didn't have a crit group and, somehow, their agents didn't notice how they broke every rule in the book.
I won't mention the books, because they are very popular, and somebody is bound to want an argument about the quality of the writing. I don't want to argue. I just want to state that the big names make every stupid newbie mistake that unpublished authors make. BUT, they seem to get by the sentinels.
This is what I glean from this information. You can make every freaking booboo, but still get published if you write in some indiscernible style that appeals to agents and publishers. What is that style? There's no telling since said agents and publishers cannot articulate that certain something that sets these authors apart from the great unwashed crowd.
Until said agents and publishers can explain what the hell they want, then those of us in the slush pile can only beat our heads against the wall and cry out, "Why? Why? Why?"
It's so hard to tell why your own writing falls short, when you see horrendous examples of famous, well-paid writers committing mistakes and bad writing techniques over and over.
It's a mystery.
- Mood:
uncomfortable
I'll admit it. My writing is not up to the standard of Meyer or whoever is the best thing since sliced bread. But, I write passably well. I also have far fewer misspelled words and typos than the average.
However, my writing is not up to par according to agents. It's not my grammar, punctuation, or spelling. I'm pretty good with that stuff. I'm lacking some "it" factor which, despite reading a lot in my genre, appears to be lacking. I don't know what it is.
I need an agent to tell me how to add that je nais se quoi, but I have to have it before an agent is interested.
Catch 22.
However, my writing is not up to par according to agents. It's not my grammar, punctuation, or spelling. I'm pretty good with that stuff. I'm lacking some "it" factor which, despite reading a lot in my genre, appears to be lacking. I don't know what it is.
I need an agent to tell me how to add that je nais se quoi, but I have to have it before an agent is interested.
Catch 22.
My story, Extraordinary Rendition, is up on Fear of Monkeys, a site for political fiction and non-fiction.
This story was previously published at The Deepening.
"If you want a serious interrogation, you send a prisoner to Jordan. If you want
them to be tortured, you send them to Syria. If you want someone to disappear -
never to see them again - you send them to Egypt." Bob Baer - Former CIA Agent
I do have some folks who are not sock puppets that really like Quest for the Simurgh. I'll just dup their reviews here for those of you who won't look over >>>> there at Amazon. Oh, yeah. I also have Kindle and Smashwords editions for those who like cheap ebooks.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Story.,
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Quest for the Simurgh,
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5.0 out of 5 stars What's a simurgh?,
> "What the heck is a simurgh?" My second was: "Who cares?" > > But I'm familiar with Marva's work; I wanted to see what she had to > offer. I had no clue what to expect when I finally got around to > reading it. Folks, this ain't no Harry Potter. Thank goodness! That's > been done to death. Marva's magic school is nothing like Hogwart's > Academy. > Marva's simple school of magic features a wizard who teaches > about magical creatures but has never even seen one. Not only that, he > teaches the kids reading and writing before they even get started on > wizardry. Marva, through her mediocre mage, gives the young reader > his/or/her first hint that the pen is not only mightier than the > sword, but it can evoke more magic than a wand. > Faiza, her heroine, battles alongside gods against demons, where > the puny magic of humans would be worthless anyway. Can she use her > wits and lead her merry band of men..., er, boys-to save the human > race from worldwide war? Epic battles test her, but her teacher has > taught her well. > > So final thoughts to Marva Dasef: Why didn't you come up with a title > that would give a potential reader a hint of the simple, yet elegant > tale that is Quest for the Simurgh? Final thoughts to the reader: I > still haven't revealed what a simurgh is, have I? Buy this book and > find out for yourself. You'll be glad you did. |
Prisoners of Gender
by John Bushore
First off a disclaimer. I am not a regular reader of "spicy" literature. I write kids' books and I generally like to remain pure of heart (quit laughing, you people who know me!).
When John Bushore asked if I'd read "Prisoners of Gender" and I'd seen an excerpt, I enthusiastically agreed.
I'm not sorry. Hey, John! You're a hot guy! No MonkeyJohn kiddie books here for sure.
This is a wonderful fantasy, sexy, fun read.
Princess Marissa and gallant soldier Bardak are the victims of a badly handled curse. They switch bodies and have to learn to live with a huge change in their lives, all the while seeking the nasty Wizard who could make them swap back to their original bodies.
Marissa starts to like the rugged, strong, sexy male body she now occupies. Bardak is torn. He has sworn to protect the Princess, but the Princess is now in two places. Not only is he wearing her body, he has to also protect the mighty warrior occupied by the princess. Confusion ensues.
Well, you can see where the title comes from. As the two learn how to deal with their decidedly different circumstances, they bicker while being mightily attracted to their own bodies worn by the other person. I was reminded of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy arguing it out in the 40's comedies which (way ahead of their time) showed gender prejudice for what it was--a stupid set of societal rules. Unfortunately, there are countries that still think along the lines of weaker-stronger sex.
John has shown this to be the false piece of lies that every feminist has known for years. His handling of Bardak in Marissa's body and Marissa in Bardak's shows his sensitivity to both sides of the physical spectrum.
Now, this is also a somewhat epic fantasy, which I define as set in an alternate fantasy world unrelated to the world in which we live. I say 'somewhat' only because the book is not 200,000 words long with way too many mighty thews. I'm not a fan of epic, so I really enjoyed John's take on the fully fantasy world that epic's usually inhabit.
The writing is crisp and fast-moving. "Prisoners" is a fun romp and a good fantasy book, too.
Stars? Hey, on a five-star scale, I'd give this one 4-1/2 at least.
- Mood:
creative
A fellow writer has started up a Kindle books collection for servicemen and women overseas. Quite a few have Kindles, but cannot download from Amazon or any other source since they're outside the US. Edward C. Patterson, formerly SPEC 5 E. Patterson, 6th Batallion, 60th Artillery (1966-1968), is the coordinator behind this worthy project. Writers with Kindle books they can give away can contact Edward through the KindleBoards forum:
http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/to
I donated two books via Smashwords by providing a link and coupon code for both. Edward downloaded the copies and can send them to as many service personnel as he likes.
Here are the details direct from Edward:
1- I (Edward) will maintain a list of service personnel email addresses as they come in to me.
2- Authors should have available a DRM Free Kindle compatible version of yourbook or books.
3- If you don't have that available, the easiest (and beneficial way to you as well) is to put your books up at Smashwords.com. And then download a free copy to yourself.(One author has suggested using Smashword's coupon system, which is an option. Iwill be emailing my books directly, however, anyway that you can get the book tothe troops, is fine)
4- Once you have the book in place, let me know. I'd like to have your email address. Right now, I'm using PMs, but as this takes off (and I have no doubt that it will), it will be easier for me to email new troop email addresses out to all the participating authors in one email.
5- Once the author has the email address, just send the book(s) - if many, then ZIP -and put in your subject line: Operation Kindle Book Drop. Whatever you want to put in the body of the email is up to you, and I guarantee that among the obvious good deed done stuff, you will get a response from the troop. I plan to save mine, to read on those days when I get a 1-star review and feel that I have failed somewhere.
Readers can participate by getting the word out or helping with nifty links.
http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/to
I donated two books via Smashwords by providing a link and coupon code for both. Edward downloaded the copies and can send them to as many service personnel as he likes.
Here are the details direct from Edward:
1- I (Edward) will maintain a list of service personnel email addresses as they come in to me.
2- Authors should have available a DRM Free Kindle compatible version of yourbook or books.
3- If you don't have that available, the easiest (and beneficial way to you as well) is to put your books up at Smashwords.com. And then download a free copy to yourself.(One author has suggested using Smashword's coupon system, which is an option. Iwill be emailing my books directly, however, anyway that you can get the book tothe troops, is fine)
4- Once you have the book in place, let me know. I'd like to have your email address. Right now, I'm using PMs, but as this takes off (and I have no doubt that it will), it will be easier for me to email new troop email addresses out to all the participating authors in one email.
5- Once the author has the email address, just send the book(s) - if many, then ZIP -and put in your subject line: Operation Kindle Book Drop. Whatever you want to put in the body of the email is up to you, and I guarantee that among the obvious good deed done stuff, you will get a response from the troop. I plan to save mine, to read on those days when I get a 1-star review and feel that I have failed somewhere.
Readers can participate by getting the word out or helping with nifty links.
- Mood:
chipper
Yes, the Blob creeps and seeps, but so does "Quest for the Simurgh."
It's now live on Barnes & Noble along with Amazon in Print and Amazon in Kindle.
Of course, I've already mentioned that you can get a free download at Smashwords. Use coupon code LE99P until 9/9/09.
The ones I don't get are some third part sellers trying to hawk this book for $30 or more. What are they thinking? Surely, if anybody had the slightest interest in buying the book, they'd just do a search and find out the cheapest place to buy.
Speaking of prices, I've set the retail price at $7.95. Amazon sells for that amount, but I've undercut them with a $6.50 price tag. Of course, that isn't as much a bargain when you count in the $3.99 shipping you'd have to pay to buy through Amazon Marketplace.
Let's see, the Kindle edition is $1.99. A pretty good deal for Kindle ebooks. I'll point you to Smashwords as long as the free download coupon is good. Smashwords is in the process of putting its clients' books into a Premium Catalog. There are some rules the files have to follow to be included in the catalog. That will be cool, since B&N ebooks and Fictionwise will use the catalog for listing some or all of the books. Not sure how that will work. When the ebooks are up for sale, they'll be priced at $4.95 so everybody gets a piece of the profits. Hopefully, that will include a pittance for me, too.
Here's the backcover text, if you haven't seen it before and the cover is my current avatar.
The village magician, Wafa, has gone missing. His star pupil Faiza thinks he has left a clue for her on a page of the Magicalis Bestialis. With the page open and marked with an X, she believes Wafa is telling them to seek out the Simurgh, the mythical birds who possess all the knowledge of the universe. She convinces her three classmates that they must seek the help of the Simurgh to find their teacher.
She leads the boys on a difficult journey into the mountains in search of the elusive birds. A strange little man becomes their guide. However, they do not know he is a spirit leading them toward a battle between good and evil. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are being set up by the otherworldly forces for a much larger task than finding their teacher. The students were chosen to take sides in the battle which might spell the end of the world: a battle between the demons and the spirits.
- Mood:
moody
Books by self-pubbers are a dime a dozen. I understand that. How do we who agents and publishers consider to be unworthy prove our worthiness?
How about free ebooks? I know, ebooks are a pain to read on-line. I'd rather be holding that paper myself, so I understand entirely.
But could you sample an ebook then decide whether you might like to read it in paperback? Free, no charge, zero cost, no strings?
You can download just a sample or the whole book at Smashwords. If you think it has some merit, let me know and you can have a free, no cost to you print version of same. I just need a little bit of positive feedback. If you like, I'd love if you'd post a review on Amazon or your own blog (be sure to let me know).
Let's just go back to that free sample thing. Here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/ltxkpu
If you want to try out the whole book, just enter coupon code LE99P at checkout. Yours for free. Or, you can just grab a sample to see if you want to bother. No problemo.
As a bunch of authors, you understand that getting your book into the public eye is your responsibility. That's true whether you self-pub, get a small publisher, or even get a major publisher. The author is now the door-to-door salesman. Read my blog at http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/2009/08/gle
Do you want me to buy your book? I surely will if you give me the opportunity to read a few pages for free.
Do I want to pay a big-name publisher $14.95 (or more) without even a preview? No way. But I will sample and buy if I like what you've done. I only ask that you pay me the same favor. What's it cost? A couple of clicks and a couple of minutes of download time. What do you have to lose?
How about free ebooks? I know, ebooks are a pain to read on-line. I'd rather be holding that paper myself, so I understand entirely.
But could you sample an ebook then decide whether you might like to read it in paperback? Free, no charge, zero cost, no strings?
You can download just a sample or the whole book at Smashwords. If you think it has some merit, let me know and you can have a free, no cost to you print version of same. I just need a little bit of positive feedback. If you like, I'd love if you'd post a review on Amazon or your own blog (be sure to let me know).
Let's just go back to that free sample thing. Here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/ltxkpu
If you want to try out the whole book, just enter coupon code LE99P at checkout. Yours for free. Or, you can just grab a sample to see if you want to bother. No problemo.
As a bunch of authors, you understand that getting your book into the public eye is your responsibility. That's true whether you self-pub, get a small publisher, or even get a major publisher. The author is now the door-to-door salesman. Read my blog at http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/2009/08/gle
Do you want me to buy your book? I surely will if you give me the opportunity to read a few pages for free.
Do I want to pay a big-name publisher $14.95 (or more) without even a preview? No way. But I will sample and buy if I like what you've done. I only ask that you pay me the same favor. What's it cost? A couple of clicks and a couple of minutes of download time. What do you have to lose?
Quest for the Simurgh
Ebook in Several Formats at Smashwords Use Coupon Code LE99P for a free download
Print Edition Now Available at CreateSpace
128 pages
$7.95 (send me a message to get a $2.00 off discount code)
ISBN: 978-0-578-00499-0
Texas Boy Publications
The village magician, Wafa, has gone missing. His star pupil Faiza thinks he has left a clue for her on a page of the Magicalis Bestialis. With the page open and marked with an X, she believes Wafa is telling them to seek out the Simurgh, the mythical birds who possess all the knowledge of the universe. She convinces her three classmates that they must seek the help of the Simurgh to find their teacher.
She leads the boys on a difficult journey into the mountains in search of the elusive birds. A strange little man becomes their guide. However, they do not know he is a spirit leading them toward a battle between good and evil. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are being set up by the otherworldly forces for a much larger task than finding their teacher. The students were chosen to take sides in the battle which might spell the end of the world: a battle between the demons and the spirits.
- Mood: crazy
Quest for the Simurgh
by Marva Dasef
Enter coupon code LE99P at checkout
The village magician, Wafa, has gone missing. His star pupil Faiza thinks he has left a clue for her on a page of the Magicalis Bestialis. With the page open and marked with an X, she believes Wafa is telling them to seek out the Simurgh, the mythical birds who possess all the knowledge of the universe. She convinces her three classmates that they must seek the help of the Simurgh to find their teacher.
She leads the boys on a difficult journey into the mountains in search of the elusive birds. A strange little man becomes their guide. However, they do not know he is a spirit leading them toward a battle between good and evil. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are being set up by the otherworldly forces for a much larger task than finding their teacher. The students were chosen to take sides in the battle which might spell the end of the world: a battle between the demons and the spirits.
- Mood: crazy
When Lulu and Amazon decided to not talk to each other, I got left hanging out to dry. However, now that the Large Print edition of "Tales of a Texas Boy" is available only from me as a merchant (forget those high-priced nitwits), my sales are better than ever.
Nice to get sales here, there, and other. Kindle sales are even picking up. I've priced two of my books on Kindle at $1.99 each. Seems like Kindle owners are looking for cheap reads, so don't hesitate to set your retail price low. Some sales are better than no sales.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IYFAWE
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JAH10M
All books for $1.99. Cheap reading, folks!
Nice to get sales here, there, and other. Kindle sales are even picking up. I've priced two of my books on Kindle at $1.99 each. Seems like Kindle owners are looking for cheap reads, so don't hesitate to set your retail price low. Some sales are better than no sales.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IYFAWE
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JAH10M
All books for $1.99. Cheap reading, folks!
Wondrous Web Worlds Vol. 8 edited by J Alan Erwine {Sam's Dot Publishing}.
Stories:
Tyree Campbell: The Quinx Solution
Marva Dasef: Final Exam
Mike Robinson: The Cyclops Conference
David Lee Summers: Through Fires and Snares
William Golynn: Poisoned Mouse
Sam Cash: Alienation
Sherry Peters: The Greatest Honor
L. Mad Hildebrandt: Emily's Arms
David Boop: The Devil You Haven't Met
Edward Cox: Siren of Rain
John Bushore: Portrait of a Weeping Soldier
Matthew Keville: Here Be Dragons
Tracie McBride: The Blue Screen of Death
Mark Allan Gunnells: Last Night
K. P. B. Stevens: The Needle of Despair
Poems:
Theodora Fair: Mayday 45659
Troy Umphlette: Freedom
Kristine Ong Muslim: The Most Secret Rooms
Susan Sailors: Wild Irish Rose
Robert E. Porter: Morituri
Jim Hart: The Tie That Binds
David C. Kopaska-Merkel: Strangers Bloom
Karen R. Porter: The Jersey Devil's Blues
Holly Day: Bad
Cathy Buburuz: Lahnee Chee's Orange Orchard on Mars
Marcie Lynn Tentchoff: Seasonal Color
Richard H. Fay: Explorers
C. A. Gardner: Holding Faerie
Theodora Fair: Sagan's Seed
Cathy Buburuz: A Matter of Respect in the Louisiana Bayou
Marge Simon: Patriots' Day
Bruce Boston: A Man Made of Dreams
U.S. ORDERS: $12.00 + $4.00 S&H OUR PRICE: $11.50 + $4.00 S&H
I will be selling and signing books at Art and the Vineyard at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Oregon on July 5th, 11:30 to 5:30.
The annual fundraiser for Maude Kerns Art Center is humongous, featuring a ton of fine artists, authors, live music, food venues, and wine tasting.
Art and the Vineyard
The featured authors (besides myself) include a number of well-known regional and national authors.
To read the complete list of authors:
Living: Lifestyles | "Have a chat with local authors" | The Register-Guard | Eugene, Oregon
- Mood:
busy
An audio version of one of my stories is now available at The Deepening.
www.thedeepening.com/world-of-fiction/20
It's always kind of weird, yet fun, to hear your stories read by someone else. The story is from "Tales of a Texas Boy," a set of twenty related stories narrated by a boy growing up in West Texas in the Depression era. The book is based on my father's reminiscences, but I call them fiction since I had to make up a lot of stuff to fill in his brief descriptions.
Check my website if you enjoy the story and might like to buy a copy of the book.
www.thedeepening.com/world-of-fiction/20
It's always kind of weird, yet fun, to hear your stories read by someone else. The story is from "Tales of a Texas Boy," a set of twenty related stories narrated by a boy growing up in West Texas in the Depression era. The book is based on my father's reminiscences, but I call them fiction since I had to make up a lot of stuff to fill in his brief descriptions.
Check my website if you enjoy the story and might like to buy a copy of the book.
- Mood: cheerful
Buffets have gone downhill big time. Our fav, Paris, is a ghost of its former splendor. Not sucks, but isn't to die for anymore.
We didn't get to Tournament of Kings. Do you know how long a Vegas block is? I believe approximately one mile. We couldn't even walk that far.
We did go to a couple of new places:
Terrible's: Yes, it is. Don't bother. The $4.99 buffet is poisonous and not worth the trip off strip.
Hooter's: Offers $3.00 blackjack. Yeah, sure. If you're really early and want to wait a couple of hours for a stool at the ONE table. We left, unassuaged.
We did play $5.00 blackjack and Flamingo's. Music is way too loud, but they did go into a 50's rift that we enjoyed. Nothing like about four margaritas to get you singing along with the oldies. Best part that in two days play, we left up about $90. That was cool.
Jubilee: This is the Bally's hearken back to old Las Vegas showgirls. Yeah, topless. Not too disturbing, but my writer/critiquer side really wondered what the point was. There is no point to the topless part except to tittilate juvenile males. Sad. The dancing and singing was okay, but nowhere as good as we've seen at the Rio's FREE show before. Disappointing.
Nathan Burton: Fun afternoon, relatively cheap (for Vegas) comedy magician. Good show. Some really nice tricks. Worthwhile investment.
Buffets overall: Nowhere near as good as they used to be. Las Vegas is in denial. Make those buffets about five bucks and you'll fill your f-in' casinos. Same with setting lots of $3.00 blackjack tables. What good does it do to have dealers standing at the $10 tables with nary a player? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Penny poker is the way to go to spend your time without going broke.
Maybe Reno is our next destination?
We didn't get to Tournament of Kings. Do you know how long a Vegas block is? I believe approximately one mile. We couldn't even walk that far.
We did go to a couple of new places:
Terrible's: Yes, it is. Don't bother. The $4.99 buffet is poisonous and not worth the trip off strip.
Hooter's: Offers $3.00 blackjack. Yeah, sure. If you're really early and want to wait a couple of hours for a stool at the ONE table. We left, unassuaged.
We did play $5.00 blackjack and Flamingo's. Music is way too loud, but they did go into a 50's rift that we enjoyed. Nothing like about four margaritas to get you singing along with the oldies. Best part that in two days play, we left up about $90. That was cool.
Jubilee: This is the Bally's hearken back to old Las Vegas showgirls. Yeah, topless. Not too disturbing, but my writer/critiquer side really wondered what the point was. There is no point to the topless part except to tittilate juvenile males. Sad. The dancing and singing was okay, but nowhere as good as we've seen at the Rio's FREE show before. Disappointing.
Nathan Burton: Fun afternoon, relatively cheap (for Vegas) comedy magician. Good show. Some really nice tricks. Worthwhile investment.
Buffets overall: Nowhere near as good as they used to be. Las Vegas is in denial. Make those buffets about five bucks and you'll fill your f-in' casinos. Same with setting lots of $3.00 blackjack tables. What good does it do to have dealers standing at the $10 tables with nary a player? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Penny poker is the way to go to spend your time without going broke.
Maybe Reno is our next destination?
Long time since our last out-of-towner. We're heading for Sin City on Sunday. We'll drag our sorry asses back on Thursday. What are we looking forward to the most?
The Fountains at Bellagio: A tremendous gift to the world. Free, every half hour, always brings tears to my eyes.
Paris Le Village Buffet: To die for. The dessert kiosk alone could kill. Eat in Provence, Normandy, Brittany, and Alsace. Go before 3:30 and get the lunch price!
Tournament of Kings: The dinner show at the Excalibur. We've been several times and love it every time we go. Huzzah! We hope to sit in the Black Knight's cheering section, but if that doesn't work, the king from Norway is way hot. Beautiful horses, jousts, sword fights, fire-breathing dragon. What's not to like?
After that, then the pirate battle at Treasure Island, the volcano at Mirage, Fremont Street Experience. All free, all spectacular.
As for the ants: I got a library book and found it infested with ittty-bitty ants. I'm freaky on ants and my husband thinks I'm nuts, but a phobia is a phobia, damnit! The book is going back to the library (after being sprayed) without me reading the rest.
We did get to the terrific used/new bookstore and picked up some reading material for our trip. Love Esther Freisner, Holly Lisle, Steven Brust, David Brin. Great take-alongs. If you have not read Silverlock by John Myers Myers, then find a copy. Wonderful fantasy with all your favorite characters in a single volume.
That's it from Oregon. Please don't stop at my house to break in and steal stuff while I'm gone. For one thing, Bitch Kitty will rip your eyes out and eat them for breakfast. She has a paw and she knows how to use it.
The Fountains at Bellagio: A tremendous gift to the world. Free, every half hour, always brings tears to my eyes.
Paris Le Village Buffet: To die for. The dessert kiosk alone could kill. Eat in Provence, Normandy, Brittany, and Alsace. Go before 3:30 and get the lunch price!
Tournament of Kings: The dinner show at the Excalibur. We've been several times and love it every time we go. Huzzah! We hope to sit in the Black Knight's cheering section, but if that doesn't work, the king from Norway is way hot. Beautiful horses, jousts, sword fights, fire-breathing dragon. What's not to like?
After that, then the pirate battle at Treasure Island, the volcano at Mirage, Fremont Street Experience. All free, all spectacular.
As for the ants: I got a library book and found it infested with ittty-bitty ants. I'm freaky on ants and my husband thinks I'm nuts, but a phobia is a phobia, damnit! The book is going back to the library (after being sprayed) without me reading the rest.
We did get to the terrific used/new bookstore and picked up some reading material for our trip. Love Esther Freisner, Holly Lisle, Steven Brust, David Brin. Great take-alongs. If you have not read Silverlock by John Myers Myers, then find a copy. Wonderful fantasy with all your favorite characters in a single volume.
That's it from Oregon. Please don't stop at my house to break in and steal stuff while I'm gone. For one thing, Bitch Kitty will rip your eyes out and eat them for breakfast. She has a paw and she knows how to use it.
- Mood: quixotic
I've decided to query the second book in the Witches of Galdorheim series. All three books stand on their own feet (if books actually have feet), so I can go with any of the three. Since the first is not getting much love, I'll just give #2 a whirl.
Dear Ms. XXXX:
(some personalization for the agent) MIDNIGHT OIL is a completed 47,000 word contemporary middle-grade fantasy.
Teen witch, Katya, discovers that an evil forest spirit has kidnapped her brand-new boyfriend. Setting out from her island home, she gets dumped into the Arctic Sea, meets a legendary sea serpent, and is caught up in a battle between warring elementals. To complicate matters, a mutant tribe takes her brother’s girlfriend hostage, demanding that he bring them the magical Midnight Oil--the only thing that can make the mutants human again.
Mustering every bit of her Wiccan magic, Katya rises to the challenge, invoking her magical skills to free her boyfriend, find the Midnight Oil, and help a friendly air elemental win the battle against a spiteful sibling.
I have more than thirty-five stories published in a variety of print and on-line publications, several appearing in ‘Best of’ anthologies. Sam's Dot Publishing, a small press, published my YA Science Fiction novella, First Duty, in June, 2008 and my middle-grade fantasy, The Seven Adventures of Cadida in January, 2009. I am a member of SCBWI and Willamette Valley Writers.
I would be pleased to send a partial or complete manuscript of MIDNIGHT OIL for your review. For your convenience, I have pasted a brief synopsis below. Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially,
Marva Dasef
(and the rest of the stuff)
Any agents or publishers out there interested? I could also post the synopsis. Do you like sea serpents, ultralights, snakes, witches, icy seas, trolls, rocs, mutants? This is the book for you.
- Mood: creative
