Posts tagged author
Spread the word: A Blade Away
Mar 2nd
Mark your calendars ladies and gentlemen, for April 15th, 2011 will be the big day the first in the Fringe Killer series, A Blade Away, will be launched. This thriller marks the beginning of an exciting new series that will take the main characters (Detective Jamie Davenport and Skip Abrahm) to the fringes of society and back. The killers are unique, the situations grim, and the characters always within reach. But what makes this series different than any other thriller?
Email PostSuzan Tyrpak: Early poem
Mar 2nd
Joel Arnold: My First Attempt at Writing
Mar 1st
Sure, we all have writing assignments in school, creative and otherwise, and maybe some of us kept a journal while growing up – I did – but the first time that I wrote something with hopes of publication happened in the ninth grade. I was already a horror fan by that time; I’d fallen in love with Stephen King’s writing, had a subscription to Twilight Zone Magazine, and had seen my first slasher film – the original My Bloody Valentine. So for someone who dreamed of becoming a writer, horror seemed the way to go.
Remembering my first attempt at writing
Mar 1st
I was going for a run the other day when a memory hit me with a right-hook. I should preface this by saying much of the memories of my youth have been, for whatever reason, blocked out. So when a memory hits me, it hits me hard and fast. This memory in particular really took me by surprise, as it was very fitting that I would remember it now. The memory? The first time I took a real, honest stab at writing.
Gothica update
Feb 28th
After much consideration, I have decided I am going to hold off on the publication of Gothica. There is a very good reason for this. Gothica is the second book in the “Fringe Killer” series and it makes no sense to relaunch this book prior to the launch of the first book in the series, A Blade Away. What this means is I have pushed the edit date of A Blade Away up so I can get this titles on sale as soon as possible. The end will certainly justify the means in this case.
One of the reasons for this, is that A Blade Away introduces both Jamie and Skip to the reader and I feel this introduction, although not necessary for the enjoyment of Gothica, very much helps to enrich the experience and give the read the full Jamie and Skip effect.
Moments that make your heart melt
Feb 27th
Back when I was in graduate acting school (Go Boilermakers!) I had a movement teach who served as my first real role model. One day in class he instructed every student to go roam the campus in search of something, anything, that would move us. During that exorcise I happened across a thirteen-lined ground squirrel that had, for unknown reasons, lost the use of it’s hind legs. The little guy was dragging himself around with his front legs as if life was meant to be lived that way. That moment went beyond “moving me”. It changed me.
I am my writing, therefore my writing is me
Feb 25th
Is the axiom in the subject true? As writers we are always told to write what we know, write what we love. Therefore, it could be concluded that we are what we write. Right? Although I fully agree we should always write what we know, I see more to it than that.
Tips for a successful author reading
Feb 23rd
The majority of people can barely stomach the idea of having to be up in front of a crowd and speak. It’s caused great men and women to crumble and lesser men and women to fold in on themselves and whither away. It doesn’t have to be like that. Anyone can speak in front of a crowd and, as a writer, more than likely you are going to have to at some point.
For over twenty years I was an actor. I enjoyed performing on Broadway and in theatres across the country. I also taught acting, voice, and movement at two different universities. So speaking in front of people has been not only second nature, but a joy to me for half of my life. So I thought I would take that knowledge and help out my fellow writers with some tips on reading selections from their book to an audience.
Looking for blog tour
Feb 23rd
Very soon I am going to lay down the gauntlet and get professional on the ebook publishing world. Before that happens, I need to find a good blog tour. What is a blog tour? Simple, a writer finds various blogs that suits his genre and goes guest blogs on the site. It’s a win-win for both sides of the equation. The writer gets publicity for their books, the owner of the blog gets valuable content.
Gothica update redux
Feb 22nd
I just heard back from my editor she has completed the second half of Gothica! What does this mean? It means it’s close to enjoying a complete relaunch. I do have some work to do on the ending, but that work should be completed so that Gothica will hit the shelves for the re-launch by next week. At least in theory.
It hurts to end a book
Feb 9th
I am about to draw a close on the first draft of my sequel to “I Zombie I” (on Amazon and Barnes & Noble). The new book (“My Zombie My”) picks up where the first book left off, but the zombie landscape is now navigated by the female protagonist, Bethany Nitshimi. Where “I Zombie I” was from the perspective of a man slowly transforming into a zombie, “My Zombie My” sees Bethany trying to survive the landslide of the apocalypse while trying to find a cure, fight off zombies, and run from newer, far worse enemy.
Marketing frenzy
Feb 5th
So, what is it like to run an indie digital press and write novels that sell as ebooks? Madness. At first blush one might think it a somewhat romantic notion: Being a writer, not having to answer to a stodgy publisher, setting your own schedules, publishing at will…
