I thought I'd give this 30 Days of books meme a go, but rather than do a bit each day, or break it into so many each post, I thought I'd do it in one great swoop. So...

Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)


Eric Lustbader's Nicholas Linnear series. I'll admit to having fallen behind a touch with these, not having read the latest instalment, but that's only because I have so much on my to read shelf already I've been banned from purchasing any more. I wish/hope this series continues on.
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about

The Nathan Steele series. Lock this one into the memory banks - it will be huge!
Day 03 – The best book you’ve read in the last 12 months

The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff. I'll admit to being a long way behind on my reading this year so I have very slim pickings to choose from, but Alex does not disappoint her growing legion of fans with this offering.

Day 04 – Your favourite book or series ever

WOT series by Robert Jordan would be my favourite series (the final instalment sits on my to read shelf), but Misery by Stephen King is my all time favourite book.

Day 05 – A book or series you hate

I don't tend to remember bad books. I don't tend to keep them on my shelf either. I never finish them unless it's for a review.

Day 06 – Favourite book of your favourite series OR your favourite book of all time

Isn't this the same question, only reworded, as number 4? I've not finished WOT yet so I can't pinpoint a particular book in that series but Misery is my favourite book ever (or for all time).


Day 07 – Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise

This would be a toss up between dream sequences and time travel. It seems whenever an author paints themself into a too tight a corner, some of the lesser artists out there resort to it never happening by way of dreams or time travel. That pisses me off!

Day 08 – A book everyone should read at least once

The Bible. Even if you don't believe it will give you solid ground to stand on when you argue your case against it, plus, there are some great stories in there.

Day 09 – Best scene ever

Misery, the crippling of Paul Sheldon. I could feel his pain...

Day 10 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, or Romeo and Juliet. I read all of these as part of my education while in high school. At the time I preferred to read King, Struab, or Saul so I hated anything that took precious reading time away from me. Obviously, in the end, I'm glad I decided to read them rather than fudge my way through English.

Day 11 – A book that disappointed you

The Haunting of Hill House. I know it's supposed to be a classic but it just didn't do it for me.

Day 12 – A book or series of books you’ve watched more than five times

How do you watch a book? I've never read a book five times. I have seen the movie version of Romeo and Juliet a lot, and the stage play a few times, actually performed it once, and read the book and a screenplay based on it. I've watched most Stephen King adaptations more than five times, particularly Carrie, The Mist, and Christine.

Day 13 – Favourite childhood book OR current favourite YA book (or both!)

I adored the Famous Five series but I can't remember any individual titles. Where the Wild Things Are was a favourite and its recent rebirth through the movies has bought back some wonderful memories.

Day 14 – Favourite character in a book (of any sex or gender)

Hannibal Lecter - perhaps the most well rounded evil dude in history

Day 15 – Your “comfort” book

On Writing by Stephen King. Not a novel, I know, but I take great comfort in reading this one when I need a lift to move forward once more in my writing endeavours.

Day 16 – Favourite poem or collection of poetry

I can't remember the name of the collection and seem unable to find it on the Net, but the only poetry I ever enjoyed was by William Blake. On the whole, I'd rather not be subjected to it.

Day 17 – Favourite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)

Books of Blood by Clive Barker

Day 18 – Favourite beginning scene in a book

Honestly, I can't remember one - good or bad. I know at the time of reading a bad start can put me off a book so most that I have continued to read have at least been good enough to retain my interest but I can't remember any openings that continue to linger (but then I forget a lot now-a-days).

Day 19 – Favourite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)

Deep Inside by Polly Frost - sorry

Day 20 – Favourite kiss

In a book? Really? Nah...


Day 21 – Favourite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)

Romeo and Juliet - yes, I'm boring.


Day 22 – Favourite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)

Todd Bowden and Kurt Dussander - Apt Pupil by Stephen King. Never have I come across two more manipulative bastards who really like each other than these two.


Day 23 – Most annoying character ever

I can't think of a specific character in a book or series that I've read who annoys me to a point that I remember them for this specific reason. Yes, some characters are poorly written or some traits used that annoy me, but I always remember that this is fiction, and, in the end, I can always close the thing and go on with my life.

Day 24 – Best quote from a novel

I don't tend to quote novels - film lines, yes...occasionally - but rarely novels. It may be that some of the lines I quote from a film originally came out of a novel, but then I'm not sure about that. Either way, I do like to try and be original most of the time, and because my memory is like a slice of Swiss cheese, I never remember the good quotes.

I actually remember bringing the odd line to the attention of my wife, so there must have been some good ones, but I have no idea what they were. :c(

Day 25 – Any five books from your “to be read” stack

The Keeper by Sarah Langan
The Devil's Labyrinth by John Saul
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
Shattered by Dean Koontz
Just After Sunset by Stephen King

Day 26 – OMG WTF? OR most irritating/awful/annoying book ending

If we were talking about a book adaption to film ending, The Mist would have my WTF prize hands down. As for the ending of actual books, I've scoured my shelves for something to jump out at me - nothing.

Day 27 – If a book contains ______, you will always read it (and a book or books that contain it)!

Words of fiction or words of advice from Stephen King. Yep, I'm a fan.

Day 28 – First favourite book or series obsession

First book would have been Where the Wild Things Are but my first real novel favourite was Carrie. My first series obsession was James Clavell's Shogun series.

Day 29 – Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)

When Annie gets it in Misery - that was satisfying! But when Juliet dies, that would be my saddest (yeah, I know - soft)

Day 30 – What book are you reading right now?
 
Doing lots of research now so I have a number of books on the go about witchcraft.
 
 

Life

There are stirrings of life within my dead-as-road-kill brain.

I'm reading. My lovely wife purchased a whole heap of books from Jodi Lee (of New Bedlam Project and Belfire Press fame) for my birthday. For those of you who know and follow Jodi, you'll all be aware of her different lifestyle to what many in the city and cloistered religions of the world would call the norm. Well, I'm interested in introducing a new character into Inner Voice with some of the same inclinations but with a great deal more internal conflict, and who, by her very nature, will also cause my other two main characters plenty of conflict.

In the words of Homer Simpson: mmmm...conflict!

So I'm researching and educating myself in the ways of older beliefs and interesting rituals and getting a really good grasp on this new character. No new writing yet, but I have a plan for that as well - so in the not-too-distant future, I'll be putting it into action and producing lots of lovely new words.

At the same time, I've decided I'm going to ween myself off the coffin nails (cigarettes for those not in the know). I've been smoking for 33 years so it's going to be a monumental task (especially without medicinal help), but I'd like to think my will power is strong enough to enable me to control my own body. We'll see. I'm on day two of my quest and have so far gone from smoking 25-30/day on Tuesday, to 10 on Wednesday and 9 yesterday. My promise didn't start until yesterday (hence only day two today), but I began cutting it down a day early anyway. Lunchtime has just commenced and I've only had two so far. Hopefully I'll be able to climb into bed at the end of the day having only consumed 8 or less. Wish me luck. The plan is not to cut down by one each day but it seems to be working out that way at this early stage. Whatever works...

The final title I'm reading is (I believe) a yet to be released manuscript also involving Jodi Lee (she has a lot to answer for). I promised I'd read it and review it for her some time ago and am only now actually getting around to it (sorry, Jodi).

So there is life in the old creative side of my grey matter. I was beginning to think I should sell all my jumpers and t-shirts which claimed I was a writer! I think organising some time off between now and November is the next step so I'm fully into the groove come NaNoWriMo, which is when I want to write the next book in the series. A big statement seeing how I haven't finished the first one. Best be getting a move on...

A Quick Update Before The Weekend

Another tough weekend of cricket ahead as we take on yet another top team (yes, they managed to leap frog us and the team we beat last game).

This will be tempered with a night of frivolity on Saturday night as the ATCO Cricket Club hosts the annual fancy dress night. If I remember, or if someone else posts some, I'll try to have photos so you can check out the spectacle I make of myself.

And lastly, I've whittle down my unread submissions list to the last 23 stories. Not far to go now. I'm still hoping to knock them all off come Sunday evening but I'll have to see how I pull up after Saturday (and Saturday night). I'm happy to say my work over the last couple of days has not been wasted as almost every story made me stop and think. Unfortunately not all of them have made it onto my current short list...but some of them have :c)

Have a great weekend and remember to keep your fingers crossed for all the ATCO teams over the weekend. Okay, not for the whole weekend. If you could possibly send best wishes or remember us in a thought (or two), it would be much appreciated.

WIP Wednesday

(Day three of Alan Baxter's Blog Tour)

Only 1046 words in a week - not great, but at least I'm moving forward. I've also written up the review for the second book in the Dexter Omnibus and got a fair bit of reading done. I have a couple of weeks to finish two more Dexter books and two or three other fantasy books. I don't like my chances of reaching those deadlines. Still, I've read four books in a touch under four weeks - not bad.

Cue the bean...

WIP - And An Update

Not the week just gone, but the week before, Danielle had a rejection week from hell. Unfortunately it seems my somewhat dismal week is carrying over. I'm up to six rejections this month and no acceptances. :c(

But, I'm happy to announce all my pieces are still out on submission. I'm getting very nice rejection comments which hasn't led me to make any changes to the pieces, so I find a new market and out they go again.

In other news, I'm still reading the Dexter Omnibus which is becoming a bit of a drag. I really should have switched to something else between each book, kind of like the reading equivalent of a glass of water to cleanse the palette. I've never understood how people manage to read more than one book at a time, but I'm beginning to think about giving it a go.

As for my WIP - which still doesn't have a title. It seems the idea has not come to me fully formed as first thought, or at least it will need some additions. Following my outline, and using my upgraded skills of not rabbiting on about nothing within a story (or at least not as much as I once did), I've suddenly found that I've combined the first two chapters together. That is, everything I intended to cover in the first two chapters, I've managed to meld together in the first chapter quite succinctly. In the current scheme of things, that has robbed me of around 3000 words. When I'm targeting only 45k to begin with, there shouldn't be that much fat to trim, especially not while I'm still writing the first draft of the first chapter!

Still, I'm not going to worry about it at the moment. I'll move on with the story as per the outline and see where it takes me. So, currently my untitled YA book for boys stands at: (Psst! Cue the pantless one...)

Never Rains But It Pours

I should have stayed in bed catching little electric Pokemon instead of opening my email today.

Spoilt Rotten has gathered its second rejection. Need to find another target market.

AHWA competition results have been released and neither of my entries did any good. Now I need to find new targets for Digging Up The Past and God's Piscatorial Church.

I got my piece for The New Bedlam Project back from Pharo and it needs work, although The Great One does believe the story can work which is encouraging. I just need to fix a couple of things.

I need to finish revising Arcanum and send it out.

I need to send pieces off to Necrotic Tissue. Does 1 short and 1 100 worder count as multiple subs for this market? Nat? Cate? Anyone?

And lastly, I've had another story idea, but this time while I was wide awake - actually while I was out shopping with the better half. Not sure about the length of this thing yet, but the themes buzzing around my head are screaming for a proper manuscript. More thinking to be done and then some outlining, or maybe the other way round - quite excited over this one - again! What happened to concentrating on shorts for a while?

And lastly, I need to get a $@#$ load of reading done - 6 novel-length books in 5 weeks! Where the hell am I going to find the time to read my lovely copy of Necrotic Tissue which finally arrived in my letterbox. Oh, and thanks goes out to Jodi Lee. My copy of her and her daughter's chapbook arrived safe and sound. It's beautifully presented (handmade even) and full of interesting facts and fun activities. Head on over to her site and have a look. Very cool.

Being crook has placed me firmly behind the eight ball - time to get back in the saddle and get some work done.

Reading and Ideas

As regular visitors know, I read a lot. Today I managed to finish reading Issue 6 of Necrotic Tissue's back catalogue (loved Ms Sin's submission in there - the description of his nuts heading for higher ground made me smile and wonder if a little bit of hermaphrodite doesn't linger within her psych - but I digress), and I also finished the April Issue of New Bedlam.

If you haven't been over to read this little gem of an online zine, I encourage you to do so immediately. Honestly, it won't take you long and it's full of creepiness. And has filled me with all sorts of story ideas.

Regulars will also know that I'm currently targeting NT and NB as my next markets of choice. Yes, I will be submitting to other markets, but I'll also be penning new stories with these markets in mind. I've written a 100 worder for NT already - actually I wrote that over two weeks ago, and I have another story currently on the go, but have a horrible suspicion it's going to go over word length - and it could turn into a serial - did I mention the other day that my timelessness bubble had burst?

But I have four ideas for stories in or around New Bedlam. We'll see how that plays out. The July issue isn't far away, and the next reading period is July 1st to August 31st, so I can play with my ideas, see what comes out in July and refine my plan of attack.

As you can also see, I've moved on to read Vacation by Jeremy C Shipp. I was going to read Sheep and Wolves but discovered Vacation was written first so I figured I'd better do this in the right order.

I also had to go into work today to finish off some geek stuff in my 'day job', but while I waited for some other stuff to happen, I managed to write a bit more of my new (possible serial) story so it now stands at 1706 words. I've got maybe three more 'scenes' left to write so I could go close to getting out of it under 3000 words, hopefully under 2500 - but we'll see. If i can't tie this down into more of a serial format, then it will definitely race past 5000 - again!

Thank you to everyone for the nice comments on my Apex news. I'm still quietly doing the Snoopy Dance inside.

Dave, I began my new story at 2 o'clock last night and I've only just realised I didn't use FLASHWriter as I promised. I'll see if i can come up with something else and start using it immediately - old habits die hard.

So that's it from me for today. It's been quite productive without having to push myself. Life is good. I hope it's been just as good for you as well.

Reading List 2009

I've seen many blogs with a list of what's been read by the owner and I've decided I want one. So over on the sidebar, in the coming days as I gather the titles together. you will see a list of everything I've read so far this year and I'll try to keep it updated.

Why? Reading is part of learning as a writer, and showing what I've read and what I'm currently reading is visible proof to myself that I'm not slacking off completely.

Yes I have the GoodRead widgets toward the bottom, but I want books that I've read this year listed by themselves. I know I read 27 books last year, but I don't know how many, or what ezines or print magazines I read. I need to know where my time is going because I have so little of it to go around.