Door Closed, Window Open.

As I promised on my Facebook fanpage, here is the story of the horrible news I received regarding a publisher with whom I've had a wonderful working relationship over the past few years. As some of you may know, a few of my short stories have appeared in their anthologies, and I have always been pleased with the results.

Recently, I'd been waiting and waiting for news of when my latest monster hunter story would see print, as it had been accepted months ago. I was eager to know because this would mark my third story in Pill Hill's monster hunter series, meaning I'd so far appeared in all of them. But repeated questions on the publisher's message board resulted in nothing concrete until yesterday when I and several other authors received the following email:

Announcement from Pill Hill Press Forum

I’m afraid I have some unpleasant news. Jessy was going to write this, but she has accidentally deleted her account. We have decided to close PHP.

Jessy has been trying to go back to work for the past few weeks and, with the babies she cannot give Pill Hill or the authors’ creations the time, attention, and love they deserve.

All short stories currently in submissions are returned to the authors. All rights on unpublished books revert back to the author. Authors who are currently getting royalty statements will be getting a snail mail letter about rights, etc.

The website is down, and we are contacting lefora about closing the forum.

This decision did not come without a few tears. We have truly enjoyed working with all of you, and have met some wonderful people, some of whom I consider to be friends. Thank you for sharing your creations with us, the glimpses into your imaginations have been entertaining, thought provoking, wondrous, and at times a little scary. It has been a privilege to work with all of you.

All our best,
Alva J Roberts
Pill Hill Press

I was understandably upset and crestfallen. Then my favorite (former) Pill Hill editor sent us the email below:

 

Hello Monster Hunters,

As many of you know by now, Pill Hill Press has closed its doors. The news came yesterday (a little over 12 hours ago for those in the UK) in the form of an email that took everybody by surprise. I responded as quickly as I was able to let folks know that I have started a new press, Emby Press, and that I will be publishing Use Enough Gun exactly as described and planned by Pill Hill.

I know that there has been confusion regarding the silence on the Pill Hill Press forums and over the past few months I've been biting my nails like everyone else. During the summer and early fall, I updated the thread on the forum and posted the "Campfire Tales" interviews thinking that we would have a book out by Christmas, but I stopped updating when I lost contact with Jessy. Then, about a week and a half ago, I heard back from her and she told me that she and Alva had been swamped with their new family and that they were considering closing the press (having a 3 year old son myself, I told her that I understood completely and figured everybody else would as well). I mention this now as an acknowledgement that it has been a frustrating wait for all of us and that in a time when so many other small presses have closed or just gone silent, I understand and very much appreciate everyone's patience and your not giving up on this book!

Several of you have asked me if I know anything about Wicked East Press or Static Movement Press and simply put, I do not.

But I can tell you all about Emby Press! First, the website is currently under construction and will be posted at www.embypress.com as soon as it's ready. My focus will be to publish Use Enough Gun and to re-release Leather, Denim & Silver and The Trigger Reflex. And, as soon as the website goes live, there will be a new call for submissions for the next monster hunting volume. I'm going to keep the theme of this one general, similar to Leather, Denim & Silver - just wanted to mention that in case anyone wanted to start making notes.

For Use Enough Gun, I have all of the stories so there is no need to worry or re-send anything. I will need to draft a new contract for each author to return to me - everybody knows the drill (the terms and payment will be the same as the old contract). As soon as the contract is ready, I'll send it to all of you. I'm still sorting through what will be needed for the re-releases of Leather, Denim & Silver and The Trigger Reflex and will post that info as I have it.

The physical books will be of the same quality as the Pill Hill volumes. The ebooks will be go up for sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as before. I do want to try and expand to ibooks (Apple) as well, but I'm still looking into it.

I plan to communicate with everyone through the website and facebook - I don't plan on opening a forum up right away because managing those suckers is a full time job in and of itself.

I think that's about it...

For now, what I will ask from all of you is that you reply to this email to let me know that you still wish your story to appear in Use Enough Gun. Just a quick note that says "Of course I want to be included in this epic new venture!" or, alternatively "Please do not ever contact me again or I will be forced to report you to the authorities". This will let me know if I need to replace any stories or if the book will remain intact.

I'm sure that there will be more questions and you can hit me here (milesboothe@comcast.net) or on facebook at Miles Boothe (I'm the ghost) of the Legends of the Monster Hunter page.

Thanks again for your patience with all of this. We are all monster hunters - we know the risks and we accept that not everyone is coming back. But the hunt will go on.

MIles Boothe

Emby Press

 

 

And just like that, we were back in bidness. I look forward to working with Emby Press and am sure the relationship will be just as mutually beneficial. There, corporate lingo exhausted. Isn't this freakin' awesome!?

 

2012 In movies (Revised & updated)

2012 was not an inspiring year for movies, at least not when it came to the ones I saw at the movie theater. Below is a list of the films I went and saw with brief reviews of each one:

The Hunger Games- Genuinely awful. This is the type of film that reminds me why teenagers are still developing their taste. Bad dialogue, mopey “acting” substituting as grim resolve and dull situations made this one of the more painful exercises in futility I’ve suffered through in years.

Amazing Spider-Man- Embarrassingly bad. As far as I was concerned, there was no need to reboot a franchise that was working, but since Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire wanted an extra year to develop a quality Spidey flick, the studio stupidly chose to green light this abortion. Spidey for the “Twilight” degeneration, this film features a mopey Peter Parker with a soap opera level backstory and some of the cheapest-looking visual effects I’ve seen since the Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns.”

The Bourne Legacy- Very good. Not as good as the Greengrass/Damon films, but the same screenwriter from those films wrote and directed this one with a mostly positive pay-off. Kudos to him for creating a separate yet equally interesting concept running concurrent with the events of the third film. It’s a bit draggy and confusing in the beginning, but once the film finds its legs, it’s one helluva ride!

Skyfall- Absolute drivel. I was never keen on the reboot to begin with, but "Casino Royale" turned out to be an astoundingly good film. Then "A Quantum of Solace" showed me what happens when idiots run the show. Now "Skyfall" comes along and reveals how little there is left to say in a Bond film. Featuring a screenplay that felt as if it was written by fifteen different teams of writers who never met or compared notes, this garbage pile lurches along from uninspired scene after scene until a pathetically awful conclusion ripped out of "Witness" with Harrison Ford. It's so poorly structured, that a scene at the end that should have held emotional relevance resulted in a shrug from me. I have now officially lost interest in Daniel Craig's Bond films. 

Lincoln- Very good. Still, it could have been better. And had Spielberg not been the director, it probably would have been. I’ve always seen Speilberg as a superficial director whose skills in creating suspense are not useful when doing character studies. His historical films have been at best uneven and, at worst, “Schindler’s List.” Daniel Day-Lewis is excellent and Sally Field does well with what she’s given. It’s the acting that makes this rather static film move.

The Avengers- Excellent. I’m not just saying that as a fanboy, either. This was a film that could have easily not lived up to the hype, but it exceeded it. The characters are well-represented, the dialogue is crisp and serves the plot rather than hampering it like the awful lines uttered in the Spider-Man reboot, and the action is phenomenal.

John Carter- Great. An underrated adaptation of a difficult novel, this film was unfairly maligned because of its budget. It’s the first thing I’ve seen in years that made me feel the way I felt when I first saw Star Wars. Even the JJ Abrams Star Trek didn’t do that.

Taken 2- Painfully awful. To be fair, repeated viewing of “Taken” the first reveal it to be a deeply flawed film with little redeeming quality beyond its star and subject matter. But compared to its sequel, the first one is a masterpiece. Taken 2 pushes the concept of kidnapping to its illogical extremes and actually has the daughter running around Turkey tossing live grenades onto rooftops so Super-Liam can direct her to where he’s being held prisoner. The fight scenes are stiff and geriatric feeling and the climax between Neeson and the main bad guy is so abrupt, I literally missed it. Terrible, terrible movie that I feel dumber for having watched.

Ghostrider: Spirit of Vengeance- Meh. I didn’t have a problem with the first one, so the idea of a revamped sequel was lost on me. Yes, Johnny Blaze is darker and crazier in this one, but the story feels rushed and all the cool setup gets lost in asides showing how crazy and evil the title character is.

Total Recall- Forgettable. Instantly forgettable. I’ve never seen a more disposable remake. I used to have a strong dislike for the Schwarzenegger original, but that one at least had feeling behind it. The remake feels cold, functional and serviceable at best.

Django Unchained- This was the one film, other than the "Avengers," I'd been waiting for. It was also the perfect way to close out the year, following the dreadfulness of Bond and the whitewashed classroom boredom of "Lincoln." The writing, the directing, the acting are all perfect, Tarrantino once more showing that he exists in a world of quality filmmaking quie separate from most of his peers. Best movie of the year.

 

Congratulations Are In Order!

I'd like to take a break from discussing myself and extend a hearty congrats to my literary home-gurl and favorite editor, Jeani Rector, who took first place in three different awards in the recent Preditors and Editors poll.

Best Fiction Ezine

Best Poetry Ezine

Best Ezine Editor

Here are the results:

Take a bow, Jeani, you maginificent !#$%^&*()!

 

 

Read the Ezine in question here.  It's free!

 

My 8 Writer Resolutions for 2013 (Because you care and you know you do):

 

These are in no particular order.

Work on getting past my resentment of the e-reader phenomenon. I am an old school sorta cat when it comes to reading, preferring the crinkle, smell and look of an actual printed page to a screen. However, e-readers and their kindred have ensured that reading, an endangered species since the Eighties, will continue to occur. Plus, although it seems to have plateaued, it ain't goin' nowhere, so I might as well learn to embrace, if not love, its impersonal butt.

Place focus back on novels. 2011 was a phenomenal year for me in terms of published short stories. 2012 wasn't too shabby either. I firmly believe in bending with the breeze, and in those years it was definitely blowing in the short fiction direction. However, I have neglected three unfinished novels and they deserve my attention.

Prioritize my life. As the great Joe Lansdale recently posted on Facebook, writing is important to a writer, but it's not the only thing. For years I have placed undue emphasis on writing as if it defined me and everything else was merely time spent away from my true path. Recent awakenings have shown me how wrong I was and I have lots of catch-up to play!

Return to my favorite Genre. The focus on novels will actually cause this to happen but, despite my enjoyment of horror and recent publishing success with it, it's a genre I sort of fell into on the way to dark urban fantasy. For those not in the know, that means stories taking place in current times, generally in a city setting that usually does away with the dragons and wizards of typical, traditional fantasy lore, but still involves some form of magical realism. Most of my stuff fits that category or even what I reluctantly call dark urban science fiction, which is probably a good name for my “Infinity's Core” trilogy.

To not jump at every opportunity for publicity. If there is such a thing as a free lunch, it probably doesn't taste very good. If being a writer has taught me anything, it is that many people think they're doing you a favor by “letting”you write for them or even by discussing your work in a public forum. There is a sickening devaluation of the author in this country (U.S.) Sadly, a chance to pimp one's work is often too good to be true, as I recently rediscovered. Caution is the watch word for 2013.

To Read more Non-fiction. I don't dwell in a world of pervasive fiction, but I also find those who read naught but non-fiction to be collosal bores and wastes of time. Still, I do enjoy a riveting piece of non-fiction, including biographies. One can never be too well-read regarding the real world when writing about the world in one's head. Besides, a well-written non-fiction piece is a real prize, as most of it tends to skew towards the dry and dull.

To continue to strive for originality. Despite that one-hit wonder Shakespeare's assertions to the contrary, there are still new things under the sun, they just aren't as new as they once were. I'll let that one sink in for a moment before continuing...Anyway, I'm not interested in treading ground that's filled with the footprints of those who walked through before me. Nor am I interested in jostling for position with others eager to trod upon said ground like pilgrims to Mecca. When I write a story, I try to come up with something I haven't seen before. I don't just mean a new spin on a familiar concept, I mean something I truly have not seen or, at the least, has not been done often enough to yet be considered a staple. That's me, of course. Ya'll other writers do what ya'll want.

Write more of the types of stories I want to see. For the past couple of years, I've been tailoring much of of my fiction to the guidelines and requirements of others. Nothing wrong with that; it's often how one gets published. However, as mentioned above, my phenomenal year and a half of publishing opportunities began to dictate what I wrote. Often instead of finding markets for my written work, I was looking for what anthology and magazine editors wanted and writing stories to suit them. As a friend said to me years ago,“You used to write adventure stories.” I miss those. Time to rediscover what caused me to love the written word in the first place.

Quote of the Week.

"It's said that a universe exists inside each mind. That is infinitely believable to me, given what appears to be reality among so many of our fellow...creatures."

-My Uncle Mike, inadvertantly helping me figure out a story I couldn't get to work until now.

5 Ways to Spot a Hack.

If there's one thing that truly saddens me about being in a creative field like fiction writing, it's the overwhelming amount of people involved in it who seem more interested and content in being perceived as being in it that in actually doing it. It's as if the 1980s never ended and the perception of greatness means more than actual accomplishment. The internet has only given them more of a platform for their pretentions.

Non-writers don't always know the difference; to them, anybody who puts their name on something is the same as someone whose name was put their because they know what they're doing. However, there are way to spot hacks, time-tested signs and traits that have not been eradicated by the hopeful cluelessness of online chatter. Below, you'll find a  list that was not developed exclusively by me because, unlike the people I'm writing about, I don't possess the godlike powers of all-knowing arrogance and certitude:

(In no particular order of importance or egregiousness)

Their sense of entitlement far exceeds their abilities. To quote another source, “It amazes me how some can be so sure they are better than others with no room for improvement.” Well, it astounds me. These people are borderline sociopaths, some not so borderline, who were obviously filled with unrealistic concepts of their own brilliance either by bad parenting or by surrounding themselves with others just like them. Half these people can't even string together a decent sentence, let alone use proper punctuation, but they're the first ones to criticize others and offer up their incoherent ramblings as proof of true greatness.

They always think you're the problem. To quote yet another source, “Hacks believe that the reader will 'get' what he or she is trying to do instead of actually writing for clarity (this encompasses grammar, puncutation, plot, story, characters, etc.) All I can add to that insight is that the mentality stretches beyond the reader to any attempts at editing as well. Everyone who has a dissenting viewpoint is a moron because, like, people didn't get that Picasso guy either!

They end to think everything they do is orignal, even when they acknowledge that they're doing something that's been done before. “Nobody's ever done it like this!” they rant. That's often because real professionals knew it was a bad idea.

They incorrectly believe there's no such thing as bad publicity. Per one source, “Hacks will trash other, more established authors for a little name recognition...Citing other authors and [publishing] companies as the reason they aren't published is another tactic along the same lines.” Let's clarify something that should beg no clarification: Writers are not gangster rappers or punk rockers. Instigating one-sided wars with people who are more powerful than you and don't care who you are is pointless, absurd, and the fastest track to obscurity. Unless you're looking to transform yourself into a self-publishing guru like JA Konrath whose income is greatly augmented by that status, I and all serious writers suggest you just shut the hell up and write.

They think we're interested in their need for therapy. I blame Eminem for this one. His insistence that his more controversial subject matter was a form of self-therapy surely lent credence to the idea for hack authors, too. If their family was dysfunctional or they have experienced a traumatic experience, we're expected to find that riveting. As one author put it, “The idea is to create a fiction that seems real, not make people read your therapy journal while you work out your Daddy issues.”

 

(This list will have a continuation at some point)

I'm not a screenwriter for the most part but I dig the sentiment anyway.

Next Big Thing Blog Hop!

I’ve been tagged by the one and only Montilee Stormer to answer a set of questions for the “Next Big Thing Blog Hop,” a post started by someone named Dana M. Baird. I only respond to this because Montilee wrote “This is simplicity itself: each tagged author blogs answers to the same set of questions about their current work in progress and then passes the torch to some other great authors who will do the same.”

Easy and a compliment? Yep, I’m in.

What is the working title of your next book?

That would be the next novel in my “Infinity’s Core” trilogy, “Echoes of Infinity’s Core.” Despite more delays than Michigan traffic during construction season, I’m optimistic that this particular tome shall rear its head sometime in the earlier portion of 2013.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was leaving my house on the way to work and, in the middle of closing the door, I suddenly thought, “Y’know , the story didn’t really end in ‘Dreamers.’” From that point forward, I suddenly realized my characters were in charge and it was my job to provide yummy snacks and plunge their toilets while they told me how the story should work out.

What genre does your book fall under?

Urban/Dark Fantasy, a genre whose definition shifts more than Mitt Romney’s political convictions!

What is the synopsis or blurb for this book?

Hold on, lemme pull it from that dark place nobody wants to explore. Ahem!  “Six months have passed since Ned and Ernie faced oblivion, but nothing really ended that day. The ravenous entities are still hungry, only now one of their two enemies might just turn out to be a willing participant in their plans.”

What actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I don’t picture actors when I write, just real people.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Neither. I already have a publisher.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

About five months.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My own misery at the time, the idea that heroes often sacrifice too much and maybe one of them might say “Fuck that! I want mine, too!”

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

If I write something that I find comparable to someone else’s work, I stop writing it. It’s not my thing to copy others. Too many writers are doing that these days and, frankly, it disgusts me. However, I did notice disturbing similarities in tone to “John Dies at the End,” which was published after my novel. *hitches up belt*

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

It features a randy, naked old lady and an insane cop who lectures people about following the law then shoots them in the back of the head. Yet, I still insist it’s a work of fiction!

Some Stuff I'd like to See Happen or Go Away in 2013.

I used to do these lists on my alter-ego's blog and they were always a big hit with my readers, most of whom have followed me over to other forms of social media and even my published fiction. Those lists were pretty raw and mea culpa to anyone expecting that level of foul-mouthery here. This is, after all, my professional writer's blog. However, just for the old-timers, I'll thrown in a few swears.

Okay, I've over-indulged myself enough. Scroll down for the most important list you'll ever read!

Everlasting Love for Taylor Swift!-While she symbolizes all things bubble-gum, I sincerely hope to see her in a healthy, productive relationship in 2013! Every time someone turns on the radio at work, her latest evil boyfriend anthem bursts forth form the speakers like some dime store version of primal scream therapy. I can't halt the onslaught of her creatively bankrupt warbling, so at least I can hope she never ever everrrrrrrr writes another breakup song...like, EVER!

No More Teabaggers- Nothing would please me more than to witness the dissolution of the so-called “Tea party” this coming year. They're a blight on the political landscape and a collective of self-deluded armchair revolutionaries who can't seem to see the real world. Their moment came and they squandered it by allowing the Koch Brothers and Fox “News” to co-opt their movement while it was in its infancy. Time's up, Baggers.

Zombie Crap-pocalypse: the Final Chapter- While I'm on the subject of things going away, how 'bout that zombie fad? What do ya say? No? Sorry, you'll have to pull your head out of your ass so I can hear you better! Enough is enough! I predicted this fad a few years back and I've never been less happy to be right. Perhaps it's the social networking association that's the real issue here. Every other person on Facebook is posting about the coming zombie apocalypse every other minute. A sub-genre of horror that always had very little appeal for me or much to say in has now become the equivalent of Magic the Gathering and other lapses into extreme dorkiness. It's why I'm reluctant to write them and why an entire book publishing company's very existence disgusts me. I know I'm not alone on this one.

Adele Back to Hell- Speaking of fad's out-staying their welcomes, hasn't this derivative, self-pitying waste of space experienced her fifteenth minute yet? If I wanna listen to Allison Moyet, I will. I realize there are millions of white women over thirty who have had bad relationships and don't relate to Taylor Swift, but surely they can do better than some third rate would-be blue-eyed soul singer from the English 'Hood?

And now for something a bit more optimistic, if not necessarily realistic:

Actual Bi-Partisan Cooperation- Having already mentioned my desire to witness the demise of Teabaggery in the coming year, I'd also like to see the two major parties cooperating the way they used to before Karl Rove and Newt Ginrich effectivelty stymied all forms of bi-partisanship in their bid to dominate the political landscape. Their failure hasn't registered with everyone on the Right yet, and it has paralyzed government in several key ways. It would be nice to see that diminish.

More Superhero Movies- I don't care if you disagree! Actually, I do care. Because if you do, we got a problem and the only way to solve it is for you to pucker up! When I was growing up, the concept of well-made properly funded movies featuring costumed heroes was a pipe dream, the wishful thinking of fandom still not loud enough to make a difference. Those days are over, and now we're seeing the online marauders railing against the trend, as if it's anywhere near as obnoxious as “Twlight”or zombies. More! More, I say! I won't say “Enough” until all viable characters have been exhausted and the only one left is Vibe! (Look him up!)

 

Big Changes for Fox News- Look, I realize such a well-funded corporate entity isn't just going to vanish. And truthfully, I don't want it to. But what I would like to see is Fox admitting its bias or, even better, being pushed in a more centrist direction. Contrary to what its viewers think, the pundit shows are not the only ones on Fox pushing a blatant agenda. It's far more complex than that. The issue and phrase of the day originates on the morning show and slowly disperses to everyone else. That's not news, that's PR.

No More Shows About Nobody's- I don't care if you're a rich man's wife or had a hit single in Zimbabwe in 1987, you don't deserve your own TV show. Being bitchy and shallow should not result in being rewarded. We're supposed to break children of those traits, yet older, plastic surgery-mutilated people prove daily that they're perfectly fine. Glorification of idiots has hopefully hit its epoch, judging by the various backlashes I've noticed occuring in the past year. I sincerely hope that backlash is harnessed into an actual removal of such demented forms of entertainment. But don't touch Honey Boo-Boo 'cause that reminds people what can happen when Teabaggers run things.

Coldplay No More Play- Recently, a Coldplay concert was playing at a local theater whose Facebook page I just happen to follow. My reply: “Hooray, said the Year 2002!” I was kindly admonished for my irreverance. I was serious, though. Except for a brief moment during a time when I was severely depressed and their sophmore release spoke to me in deeply personal ways, I've always considered Coldplay little more than the after-birth of a great Nineties Britpop movement. I own CDs from superior bands who came out around the same time, but with one possible exception, none of them exuded the customary blandness that's become a requirement for American radio play. I've heard Muzak with more creativity and a happy Chris Martin is the worst thing to happen to an already mediocre band.

The Much-Anticipated “Echoes of Infinity's Core”- Without boring you with behind-the-scenes tales, the second novel in my (for now) “Infinity's Core” trilogy has experienced several release delays. For those of you who've been asking me about the book, yes, it was completed long ago. However, other books have taken priority with my publisher, a fact with which I have no problem. However, I do feel the need to apologize to those who were expecting it in 2012. I was only going by what I was told.

Floorboards: The Short Movie- Speaking of delays, another slighter one took place regarding the production based on my as yet unpublished short story, “Floorboards.” For those in the Unaware Club, a former co-worker of mine who is apparently a fan of my work approached me recently about filming some of my short stories. We sat and storyboarded the hell out of the story mentioned in this section, and filming was to begin in November before he ran into some personal issues that caused a delay. It's coming, though.

The Return of Good Movies- 2012 was a garbage dump in the film's released department. With the exception of The Avengers and the latest Bourne film, everything else I saw theatrically was either terrible or just okay, the latter being films like Skyfall and Lincoln. I still hold out hope for Django Unchained, my most anticipated film of the year, but here's hoping 2013 will be an improvement. I'm tired of sitting in the theater thinking, “Did I like that? Why not?”

A Law Prohibiting Those Gawd-arful Vocalist Talent Shows- I don't care if you enjoy them. These shows have not only out-stayed their welcome, they've become a detriment to creativity. I won't even mention originality because it stirs too much controversy. By taking the concept of the local talent show and turning it into a national showcase, the producers of shows like American Idle and Such a Voice have caused music to further devolve into little more than a backing track for fabricated celebrities who've earned none of their fame and add nothing to the overall human condition. Think I'm being too lofty? That makes you part of the problem. While these bubble-gum turds might have a place, they're the equivalent of Harlequin romances: Distractions of no consequence that are easily discarded and forgotten.

 

 

That's it for now and possibly forever if this list causes a negative backlash or, even worse, people don't find it entertaining. Let me know so I can find a different way to make an ass of myself!

And Now, An "Awwww" Moment.

My pups posing with Santa.

Another Positive Mention of "Always Say Treat"

What can I say? The Brits, they get me, man. They get me!

Read the Review by the British Fantasy Society here.