My new book, Dead Wind Hollow, will soon be available as a Kindle e-book download through Amazon.com, for only $6.95! This is exciting because it allows those (like myself) who like reading books on an electronic book reader the ability to purchase a download for their device. I hope this will go a long way to getting my book out there. So make sure to tell all your friends who have a Kindle or similar device about this new electronic edition! You can even read the book on a computer or cell phone by downloading the free reader application from Amazon.com!
Many people have asked if I'm going to be working on another Simon Quinn mystery soon. I do have a new story in mind, which I'll start working on in a couple of weeks, but I'm not too clear if Simon will be in it. I have to give it some more thought, and decide if the story is right for him, and what part he will play in the plot. But, whichever decision I make, I'll let everyone know here!
I'm also trying to complete my commissioned ventriloquist figure. I'm a little behind, so I need to bust my buns and get it done. Pictures and details about my progress coming soon!
Take care everyone,
Michael
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Book is Available for Purchase!!
Not much else is happening, other than the usual family stuff. I've been feeling pretty sick lately, combination of a cold, sinus infection, and nausea, but I'm feeling much better.
I haven't done much on the ventriloquist figure I've been building, but during the last few days I've done some work on it. I've been working on hooking up the mechanics of the eyes and mouth, and working out how to do the wiggling ears. I've been debating with myself on whether I'm going to do raising eyebrows or not. The eyes have been the most trouble. I've had to cut out and reshape the eyelids several times. But I've finally got them the way I want them.
I will have more details on the figure build, with pictures, soon!
Coming soon, I'll be hosting a giveaway of copies of my novel at GoodReads.com! GoodReads is free to join, and it's a great little forum for those of us who love to read. You can create lists of books you've read, want to read, and can share your literary interests with others. You can even connect with actual authors. In a previous post, I mentioned that I have an author page there. You can find it here. There are quite a few authors who are members of GoodReads, and many of them have giveaways you can sign up for! Just go to goodreads.com, and sign up for a free account. Then go to the author page here to find the list of giveaways!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
My First Novel is Being Published!
Hello everyone! I write today with GREAT news! I have finally finished writing my very first complete novel, and I have just submitted it for publishing!
The last time I wrote anything about writing I was working on a science fiction novel called, "Dead Gods Weeping". This is a story I'd been working on for about ten years, and it still stubbornly refused to go where I was leading it, like a big untrained dog. So I locked it in its kennel some time ago, and changed gears. Last November, I joined a group called "National Novel Writing Month" or "NaNoWriMo" for short, and took up the challenge to write the first draft of a manuscript in 30 days. I decided to steer clear of science fiction or fantasy, which has given me so many problems, and instead tried my other favorite genre, mystery/suspense. I thought of a tantalizing story, and dove in.
I successfully completed the book by November 30, 2009, which is the first time I'd ever completed anything I started, as far as writing novels goes. Since then, I've labored on making the story publishable. I've gone over every line as carefully as possible, eliminating errors and adding things as they occurred. It took much longer than I had intended, due to the other things I've had to do, like looking after the kids, cooking and cleaning, attending my other husbandly duties, and spending the necessary amount of time being ill and unable to move (as some of you know, I am disabled, and have problems with episodic paralysis and seizures).
I thought I was done this summer, and sent the book to about fifty different literary agents and publishers. As expected, they were all rejected, so I took a second, third, and fourth look at my manuscript to find and fix any problems and inconsistencies. I consumed a dozen books on writing and technique, and even communicated with a few well-known writers through email.
Meanwhile, I decided I didn't want to go through the traditional publishing methods, at least not yet. Because of my health problems, I am extremely wealth-challenged, and I frankly don't have the resources that others have. I can barely even afford Internet access as it is. In any case, I wanted my story to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. So I began researching other publishing methods.
Most methods of self-publishing are even more expensive than traditional publishing. Until I found the great folks at CreateSpace! This self-publishing service has many methods of publishing, and I found one that worked with my practically empty pocket book. Working with them, my book is being prepared for publishing as we speak, and will soon be available on Amazon.com as well as other online retailers, as well as many major bookstores!
The book I've written is called "Dead Wind Hollow". Despite its similar title, it's nothing like the failed science fiction story. In this story, Simon Quinn, a famous and wealthy sculptor, who also happens to be a dwarf standing only 3'6" tall, is living the good life, until everything is turned upside down with the kidnapping of his fiancee, Samantha. Unable to wait until the police solve the case, Simon begins his own investigation, and in the process uncovers a dark conspiracy unlike anything he'd suspected.
I had a lot of fun writing it, and I learned a lot about things like police procedure, detective work, guns, and pawn shops as I did the research. I probably still got things wrong, but I tried to make sure everything was as correct as I could make it.
Why is my hero a dwarf? Well, ever since I was little, I've been fascinated by dwarves and midgets--people that are the same size or smaller than children, but are in fact adults. Some of my favorite actors are dwarves, such as David Rappaport of Time Bandits fame, and Warwick Davis of Star Wars and Willow. I delved into the mind of "little people" as best I could. I knew there would be no way I could completely understand what they go through, since I'm more than six feet tall, but I did my best. I read books about and by dwarves and others afflicted with similar problems. I even spent weeks (not all together, mind) walking around my house on my knees, so I could see what the world looked like. It was a humbling experience.
In the story, I do my best to show that someone with dwarfism can do anything anyone else can. One of the agents I sent my manuscript to wondered why I didn't have my hero use his size as a major advantage in solving the crimes in the book. I had thought about that early on, and actually intended on doing that when I began writing. But as I wrote, I began to feel that it would be more valuable to show my character succeeding despite his problems with his size, rather than in spite of it. I think I'm right in this, and I stand by the decision.
Anyway, be looking for "Dead Wind Hollow" to be available for purchase online and at your favorite bookstore. I'm not sure when the process will be completed, but I'll keep everyone updated!
The last time I wrote anything about writing I was working on a science fiction novel called, "Dead Gods Weeping". This is a story I'd been working on for about ten years, and it still stubbornly refused to go where I was leading it, like a big untrained dog. So I locked it in its kennel some time ago, and changed gears. Last November, I joined a group called "National Novel Writing Month" or "NaNoWriMo" for short, and took up the challenge to write the first draft of a manuscript in 30 days. I decided to steer clear of science fiction or fantasy, which has given me so many problems, and instead tried my other favorite genre, mystery/suspense. I thought of a tantalizing story, and dove in.
I thought I was done this summer, and sent the book to about fifty different literary agents and publishers. As expected, they were all rejected, so I took a second, third, and fourth look at my manuscript to find and fix any problems and inconsistencies. I consumed a dozen books on writing and technique, and even communicated with a few well-known writers through email.
Meanwhile, I decided I didn't want to go through the traditional publishing methods, at least not yet. Because of my health problems, I am extremely wealth-challenged, and I frankly don't have the resources that others have. I can barely even afford Internet access as it is. In any case, I wanted my story to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. So I began researching other publishing methods.
Most methods of self-publishing are even more expensive than traditional publishing. Until I found the great folks at CreateSpace! This self-publishing service has many methods of publishing, and I found one that worked with my practically empty pocket book. Working with them, my book is being prepared for publishing as we speak, and will soon be available on Amazon.com as well as other online retailers, as well as many major bookstores!
I had a lot of fun writing it, and I learned a lot about things like police procedure, detective work, guns, and pawn shops as I did the research. I probably still got things wrong, but I tried to make sure everything was as correct as I could make it.
Why is my hero a dwarf? Well, ever since I was little, I've been fascinated by dwarves and midgets--people that are the same size or smaller than children, but are in fact adults. Some of my favorite actors are dwarves, such as David Rappaport of Time Bandits fame, and Warwick Davis of Star Wars and Willow. I delved into the mind of "little people" as best I could. I knew there would be no way I could completely understand what they go through, since I'm more than six feet tall, but I did my best. I read books about and by dwarves and others afflicted with similar problems. I even spent weeks (not all together, mind) walking around my house on my knees, so I could see what the world looked like. It was a humbling experience.
In the story, I do my best to show that someone with dwarfism can do anything anyone else can. One of the agents I sent my manuscript to wondered why I didn't have my hero use his size as a major advantage in solving the crimes in the book. I had thought about that early on, and actually intended on doing that when I began writing. But as I wrote, I began to feel that it would be more valuable to show my character succeeding despite his problems with his size, rather than in spite of it. I think I'm right in this, and I stand by the decision.
Anyway, be looking for "Dead Wind Hollow" to be available for purchase online and at your favorite bookstore. I'm not sure when the process will be completed, but I'll keep everyone updated!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
New Client, New Figure
Wow!
Needless to day, I was blown away. Not only was he going to actually PAY me, but he wanted a realistic figure of a living person, something I’ve never done before. I was very apprehensive, but challenging though the project seemed, I got to work!
Now, this guy whose face I’m sculpting is definitely no dummy; by the members the Church, he’s regarded as a holy prophet. Even if you don’t believe that stuff, he’s a really nice guy who is respected the world over, by people of many different religions and nationalities. Not exactly a candidate for bad caricature, so I’ve got to do the best job I can. As if I ever do anything else!
My friend asked me to take occasional pictures of my progress during the building of this figure. So, naturally, I thought, what fun it would be to post them here.
Preparation
OK, maybe I’m not that great at portraits. But my aim was to get a general idea of what he looks like so that the figure I make will look like him as well. Besides, I’m not only using these drawings as a guide, but also some actual photographs.
Beginning the Build
I don’t have pictures of the armature, but it was essentially head-shaped, a bit smaller than the figure’s head would end up being. I’m making this figure out of Paperclay. When I first began building figures, I used various things like wood, wood pulp, epoxy putty, etc. They worked OK, but my problem is that I live in a tiny apartment, and don’t have a workshop. I wanted something easier to work with in a small, confined area. I was told about Paperclay by a very well-known sculptor and doll maker named Bill Nelson. Paperclay is amazing stuff. It’s lightweight, works just like clay, and can be easily sanded and carved when dry.
I began building up the face on the armature using small, wet pieces of Paperclay. Keeping the clay wet made it easy to work. Once I got a fairly even coating of about ¼ inch or so, I began building up the nose, eyes, cheeks and mouth. Once I had a fairly basic structure completed, I let it dry. I used a fan to help speed up drying, and let it sit for about 12 hours. Normally I’d have let it sit longer, but I knew my armature was mostly newspaper, which would soak up the water. In order to prevent the head shell from warping under a wet armature, I removed the shell from the armature before it was completely dry. Using a pocket knife I cut the head into two shells and carefully removed them from the armature. I then let both halves of the head dry completely, using various sized popsicle sticks to help prop the hollow opening, so that both halves would fit when dry.
Once the shell was completely dry, I continued adding details to the face, using my drawings and photographs as a guide, trying to make sure everything looked right. This, in my view, is the most difficult part of figure building. You’ve got to make it look good, since this is what everyone will be seeing and interacting with. In fact, this process is pretty much ongoing until the figure is painted. Even when I get the head installed with mechanics, I still may be carving or adding clay to some feature I feel may need prucing up. I’m a perfectionist in this area, so it is always the most lengthy step.
Here I have cut the mouth out using a pocket knife. I made the lines as straight as possible, but they are still not exact. But that’s OK; any gaps will be filled in after the pivot rod for the mouth is installed. First, though, we’ve got to build a box for the mouth to sit on.
The mouth box is made of wood, and is basically the interior of the mouth, and the hardware that attaches the mouth to the pivot rod. This is an important step, since you want the mouth to open and close as smoothly as possible, so everything must be measured. I’m using basswood from a hobby shop and a small hobby saw to cut the pieces for the box, and wood glue to glue them all together. Once the pieces are glued together, I fasten rubber bands around it to hold it together as it dries
After the mouthbox is dried, I must glue the box to the back of the clay mouth piece. This requires some shaping of the mouth box with a knife and sand paper to make a close fit. I let this all dry for another 24 hours, to make sure it is strong before I continue to the next step.
This is where I am now. Next post, we’ll install the pivot rod and fit the mouth in!
Michael
Friday, July 16, 2010
I'm Back! Where the Heck Have I Been?!
Hello Fans!
Sorry for the extremely long absence. I've been extremely busy, and for a while did not even have internet access!
I also haven't done much writing, and none on the science fiction novel I've been discussing lately. I've put that back on the shelf for later.
Instead, my little family and I have moved to Cheney, Washington. No, it isn't pronounced like the former vice president's name; it's pronounced "CHEE-NEE". Natives are very particular about this! Cheney is a wonderful little town just thirty minutes outside of Spokane. The people are extremely friendly. In fact, when we arrived, there were already some twenty people gathered to help us unload! This is largely because we had contacted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (of which we are a part), and they organized the helpers. I later learned that another person was moving into the ward on the same day, and these same twenty people had just been helping her move in. Now THAT'S service!
We moved because my wife will be attending Eastern Washington University in the fall. She is working on her Bachelor's degree in Biology, but hopes to go into nursing. Good for her!
Moving, though, as most of you know, is NOT fun. It's a total PAIN. When you are forced to box up your stuff and move it somewhere else, you very quickly become aware of how much stuff you have, and how much of it is useless junk. When you don't have to move residences, it's notoriously easy to collect stuff and notice how much of it there is. We live in an apartment, and moved from one apartment to another. It's not very big, and so I didn't think we had all that much. After all, most of our stuff is in storage. But, I quickly learned I was wrong! I thought there would be no end to the boxes! Good thing there were plenty of stores around we could get empty boxes from!
Moving also meant that I couldn't have internet access for almost an entire month. Most of us take this wonderful blessing for granted, but when it's suddenly gone, you feel cut off from the world! It's as if you've just had all of your limbs removed! For the first week or so I went into MAJOR withdrawals. One of my favorite things to do was to watch movies and TV Shows on Hulu and Netflix while I cleaned or folded laundry (I'm the stay-at-home parent, after all). Without the internet, and since we don't have TV, 95 % of my daily entertainment was taken from me!! The good thing is, that once we got the internet back last week, I realized I had absolutely no desire to watch movies or shows online anymore. I haven't watched a thing on my computer since. It's incredible how much extra time you suddenly have when you aren't wasting it in front of the Tube!
The other thing I've been up to is getting my new mystery novel ready for publishing. It's called "Dead Wind Hollow", and I wrote it last November as part of National Novel Writing Month. The first draft was written in less than 30 days. I've made some changes and corrections, but it is largely unchanged. I'm publishing the book myself through Amazon with the help of their awesome Create Space service. I've had a few proof copies printed, and everyone who has read the book has loved it! The story is about a dwarf named Simon Quinn. He is a famous sculptor, whose work is found in museums and palaces the world over. The book is set in the Spokane area. As the book opens, we learn that Simon is engaged to be married to a beautiful woman named Samantha. He has love and fortune...everything he ever wanted in life. This, of course, is when his life begins to fall apart. He receives a phone call from an old acquaintance named Ronin, someone he thought was long gone. This person has it out for Simon, and informs him that he has kidnapped his fiancee.. he even drops hints that he's brutally murdered her. At first there is no evidence of the crime, but Simon is determined to learn the truth. He and his fiancee were to spend the weekend together at Simon's rural cabin near the small town of Cheney, so he decides to go there to see if she shows up. He is accompanied by one of his clients, a beautiful German girl named Adelheid Arndt. When they arrive, they don't find Samantha, or her body. Instead, they find a plastic mannequin that has been mutilated in the same manner described by Ronin over the phone. After contacting the police, the mannequin mysteriously vanishes. Working closely with the police, Simon uses his artistic talents, short stature, and gift for thinking out of the box to uncover the truth, and finds much more than he has bargained for!
I hope to have the book available on Amazon by September. Until then, I'll post some excerpts and see what you all think of it!
It was very difficult but interesting writing a book about a character with dwarfism. I did a lot of research into the affliction, and learned quite a bit I hadn't known or even considered before. Since I'm fairly tall (6'2"), I also did a lot of walking around on my knees in an attempt to experience the world from Simon's viewpoint. Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by people with dwarfism and giantism
Until my book is available for purchase, you can still obtain an advanced proof copy through me for only $7.00. Feel free to email me if you are interested!
Sorry for the extremely long absence. I've been extremely busy, and for a while did not even have internet access!
I also haven't done much writing, and none on the science fiction novel I've been discussing lately. I've put that back on the shelf for later.
Instead, my little family and I have moved to Cheney, Washington. No, it isn't pronounced like the former vice president's name; it's pronounced "CHEE-NEE". Natives are very particular about this! Cheney is a wonderful little town just thirty minutes outside of Spokane. The people are extremely friendly. In fact, when we arrived, there were already some twenty people gathered to help us unload! This is largely because we had contacted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (of which we are a part), and they organized the helpers. I later learned that another person was moving into the ward on the same day, and these same twenty people had just been helping her move in. Now THAT'S service!
We moved because my wife will be attending Eastern Washington University in the fall. She is working on her Bachelor's degree in Biology, but hopes to go into nursing. Good for her!
Moving, though, as most of you know, is NOT fun. It's a total PAIN. When you are forced to box up your stuff and move it somewhere else, you very quickly become aware of how much stuff you have, and how much of it is useless junk. When you don't have to move residences, it's notoriously easy to collect stuff and notice how much of it there is. We live in an apartment, and moved from one apartment to another. It's not very big, and so I didn't think we had all that much. After all, most of our stuff is in storage. But, I quickly learned I was wrong! I thought there would be no end to the boxes! Good thing there were plenty of stores around we could get empty boxes from!
Moving also meant that I couldn't have internet access for almost an entire month. Most of us take this wonderful blessing for granted, but when it's suddenly gone, you feel cut off from the world! It's as if you've just had all of your limbs removed! For the first week or so I went into MAJOR withdrawals. One of my favorite things to do was to watch movies and TV Shows on Hulu and Netflix while I cleaned or folded laundry (I'm the stay-at-home parent, after all). Without the internet, and since we don't have TV, 95 % of my daily entertainment was taken from me!! The good thing is, that once we got the internet back last week, I realized I had absolutely no desire to watch movies or shows online anymore. I haven't watched a thing on my computer since. It's incredible how much extra time you suddenly have when you aren't wasting it in front of the Tube!
The other thing I've been up to is getting my new mystery novel ready for publishing. It's called "Dead Wind Hollow", and I wrote it last November as part of National Novel Writing Month. The first draft was written in less than 30 days. I've made some changes and corrections, but it is largely unchanged. I'm publishing the book myself through Amazon with the help of their awesome Create Space service. I've had a few proof copies printed, and everyone who has read the book has loved it! The story is about a dwarf named Simon Quinn. He is a famous sculptor, whose work is found in museums and palaces the world over. The book is set in the Spokane area. As the book opens, we learn that Simon is engaged to be married to a beautiful woman named Samantha. He has love and fortune...everything he ever wanted in life. This, of course, is when his life begins to fall apart. He receives a phone call from an old acquaintance named Ronin, someone he thought was long gone. This person has it out for Simon, and informs him that he has kidnapped his fiancee.. he even drops hints that he's brutally murdered her. At first there is no evidence of the crime, but Simon is determined to learn the truth. He and his fiancee were to spend the weekend together at Simon's rural cabin near the small town of Cheney, so he decides to go there to see if she shows up. He is accompanied by one of his clients, a beautiful German girl named Adelheid Arndt. When they arrive, they don't find Samantha, or her body. Instead, they find a plastic mannequin that has been mutilated in the same manner described by Ronin over the phone. After contacting the police, the mannequin mysteriously vanishes. Working closely with the police, Simon uses his artistic talents, short stature, and gift for thinking out of the box to uncover the truth, and finds much more than he has bargained for!
I hope to have the book available on Amazon by September. Until then, I'll post some excerpts and see what you all think of it!
It was very difficult but interesting writing a book about a character with dwarfism. I did a lot of research into the affliction, and learned quite a bit I hadn't known or even considered before. Since I'm fairly tall (6'2"), I also did a lot of walking around on my knees in an attempt to experience the world from Simon's viewpoint. Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by people with dwarfism and giantism
Until my book is available for purchase, you can still obtain an advanced proof copy through me for only $7.00. Feel free to email me if you are interested!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Dead Gods Weeping: The Prologue
OK, finally, we have arrived at some actual novel writing!
The working title of this novel is "Dead Gods Weeping", like I mentioned in a previous post. I won't rehash what the book is about. I'll just let you read it for yourself, starting with the Prologue!
PROLOGUE
On a silent, dead planet orbiting a lonely yellow sun on the outskirts of the galaxy, a prophet was having a vision.
He was tending the fire in the river rock fireplace of his weather-beaten shack when he felt the signs. His tired, old body suddenly tingled with warmth and energy as it always did on these occasions. Placing the hardwood poker back on its rack, he stood, and cocked his head as he listened to the voice that he knew only he could hear.
“Yes, Orrin my Lord,” he answered when the voice had finished, and hurried to his heavy oak table and cushioned chair. Taking up his reed pen and checking to make certain his inkwell was full, he opened the large, leather-bound codex before him to a fresh page. “Ready, Lord.”
The prophet’s eyes went glassy as the voice spoke again, his mind filling with images and sounds. To him it seemed as though he was being transported to another place and time, as though his spirit had been whisked away, cradled in the arms of the Creator. He knew he was still within his body, but for the moment he was entirely consumed by the vision. His little shack with its river rock fire place and wood-shutter windows vanished; he no longer even felt the pen in his hand.
The prophet had no idea how long the vision lasted. It might have been seconds, hours, or days. But when the vision did finally end, and he found himself back at his table with his pen still in his hand, he knew that some lengthy amount of time had passed. All his joints ached more than usual, and his limbs were stiff and numb. The fire had long burned itself out, and the morning sunshine was peeking through the cracks in the shutters of his east window.
“Now write the vision I have shone thee,” the voice in his head commanded.
“Yes, my Lord,” the prophet said. He obediently dipped his pen in his inkwell and began to write. As the sharpened point of his reed pen scratched across the page, the vision replayed itself in his mind, allowing him to remember and record it as precisely as possible. Again, he was unaware of exactly how much time passed, but by the time he set his pen down, he had filled several pages of the codex. The sun had crossed the sky, and was now beginning to show through the cracks in the shutters of his west window. He sighed deeply and stretched his sore fingers.
But the voice had not finished.
“This is the last vision which I shall show unto thee, my son,” the voice said. “Thy work is done, and I shall take thee unto myself, to rest for a time in my kingdom.”
The prophet felt tears spill from his bloodshot eyes, and run like little rivers down his deeply lined cheeks. He smiled. “Thank you, my Lord Orrin. My soul is yours.”
As a warm glow of light began to surround him, the prophet could not help thinking about what the Creator had just said. “Lord,” he said. “Thou hast said I shall rest in thy kingdom ‘for a time’, yet thou hast also said my work is done. Hast thou more for me to do?”
The glow of light around him intensified until all around him was obscured. “My son,” the voice said, only this time, the prophet did not just hear it in his head. “Thou hast long been faithful, and hast obeyed my every command, even when all around thee fell, and the jaws of death snapped at thy feet. The work which I had called thee to do is finished, and thou hast earned thy rest. And when thou hast rested, and have been prepared, I have another work for thee.”
As the light carried him away, the prophet felt his mind enlightened, and he began to understand. “The One Who Comes,” he said eagerly. “Like in the vision. I am to instruct him?”
“You shall guide him on his way. He shall have many temptations, and much trial and tribulation. He shall live in a time when all of my children throughout the galaxy shall be at war. His friends shall become his enemies, and it will be as though all the world is against him.”
“But when shall this be?” He could hardly contain his excitement. He had learned patience in his long years alone, but at the moment he was bubbling with questions. Life was returning to his old bones, as if his age were melting away, leaving him once again young and new. “Will it be soon? And when shall the End Battle be, when Vardaxis is released from his bonds the final time?”
A kindly gentleman was walking toward him now, through the light, dressed in flowing white robes. He smiled, and placed a warm hand on the prophet’s shoulder. “The time is not far distant, my son, and thou hast much to learn. For now, it is time for thee to rest. Come.”
The prophet reached to embrace his Lord, but stopped. He couldn’t help it. “But, my Lord, what about my codex? How shall thy children receive my words as thou hast promised? How shall they be carried to every heart and soul before the End comes, as thou hast said, when I am the last of this world?”
“Fear not, Zambeezee, my son,” Orrin said, still smiling. “I have many servants. Thy words shall be found.”
A sleek, silver starship landed on the windswept mountain, next to an old, rickety shack nestled in a copse of scraggly trees. The hatch opened, and a man stepped out. He hesitated before descending the ramp, checking numbers and figures on a handheld device. Pressing a button at his belt, his personal force field lowered from around his head, and he sniffed the air.
Climbing down the ramp, the man made his way toward the small shack, wondering for the hundredth time why he had come to this tiny, godforsaken planet. A hundred light-years from the nearest civilized world, with the heart of the empire a thousand times further, he was in the middle of nowhere. But, somehow, it felt right.
The man could not image anyone living up here. According to his instruments, this mountain was the highest point on the entire planet. Nothing grew this high up, and the air was thin. But there the shack stood, rooted to the edge of the cliff as though it had grown there. The small, weathered structure stared innocently back at him, proof that someone had not only been here, but had once lived in these impossible conditions.
“Sweet Orrin,” he said. Just like in the dream . . . .
As the man approached the shack he realized just how small it was. The washrooms back in the imperial parliament building were probably larger. Whoever had lived here was not concerned with comfort. The structure was almost perfectly square, and no more than eight or nine feet to a side. Just enough space to fit a bed and maybe a table, but not much else. He placed a gloved hand carefully against the door, and pressed ever so slightly, half expecting it to crumble to dust. But it held firm, and when he felt certain the little house would not come tumbling down on top of him, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
It was like stepping back in time.
Everything was still in place, as though someone still lived here. Fireplace tools sat neatly in their rack, worn sheets and blanket sat neatly folded on the small cot in the corner; the only thing that seemed out of place was the large, leather-bound book which sat on the old, heavy wood table in the center of the room. A thin reed pen had been laid on the table next to it, and an ink bottle still stood open on the table, as if the former inhabitant had been in the act of writing when he left. The only bit of physical evidence that this shack was not still in use was the thick layer of dust which coated everything.
Working the controls on his handheld device, the man ran some numbers, and tested some air samples. When finished, he gave a low whistle. “Remarkable,” he said out loud. If his numbers were correct, everything in this little shack had been undisturbed for more than four hundred years.
On the one hand, this was not terribly surprising, when one took into consideration the dryness of the climate at this altitude and on this planet. Everything had stayed pretty well preserved. On the other hand, he actually expected the time to be longer. Earlier tests taken while he had still been in orbit showed that the entire world had been devoid of human life for at least a thousand years, if not longer. How, then, could one man have survived on his own for more than six hundred years?
As the man thought about this, his eyes fell again on the large book on the table. He suddenly felt warm and tingly all over. He smiled. “This must be what I’ve come for,” he said, and reached for the book.
The working title of this novel is "Dead Gods Weeping", like I mentioned in a previous post. I won't rehash what the book is about. I'll just let you read it for yourself, starting with the Prologue!
PROLOGUE
On a silent, dead planet orbiting a lonely yellow sun on the outskirts of the galaxy, a prophet was having a vision.
He was tending the fire in the river rock fireplace of his weather-beaten shack when he felt the signs. His tired, old body suddenly tingled with warmth and energy as it always did on these occasions. Placing the hardwood poker back on its rack, he stood, and cocked his head as he listened to the voice that he knew only he could hear.
“Yes, Orrin my Lord,” he answered when the voice had finished, and hurried to his heavy oak table and cushioned chair. Taking up his reed pen and checking to make certain his inkwell was full, he opened the large, leather-bound codex before him to a fresh page. “Ready, Lord.”
The prophet’s eyes went glassy as the voice spoke again, his mind filling with images and sounds. To him it seemed as though he was being transported to another place and time, as though his spirit had been whisked away, cradled in the arms of the Creator. He knew he was still within his body, but for the moment he was entirely consumed by the vision. His little shack with its river rock fire place and wood-shutter windows vanished; he no longer even felt the pen in his hand.
The prophet had no idea how long the vision lasted. It might have been seconds, hours, or days. But when the vision did finally end, and he found himself back at his table with his pen still in his hand, he knew that some lengthy amount of time had passed. All his joints ached more than usual, and his limbs were stiff and numb. The fire had long burned itself out, and the morning sunshine was peeking through the cracks in the shutters of his east window.
“Now write the vision I have shone thee,” the voice in his head commanded.
“Yes, my Lord,” the prophet said. He obediently dipped his pen in his inkwell and began to write. As the sharpened point of his reed pen scratched across the page, the vision replayed itself in his mind, allowing him to remember and record it as precisely as possible. Again, he was unaware of exactly how much time passed, but by the time he set his pen down, he had filled several pages of the codex. The sun had crossed the sky, and was now beginning to show through the cracks in the shutters of his west window. He sighed deeply and stretched his sore fingers.
But the voice had not finished.
“This is the last vision which I shall show unto thee, my son,” the voice said. “Thy work is done, and I shall take thee unto myself, to rest for a time in my kingdom.”
The prophet felt tears spill from his bloodshot eyes, and run like little rivers down his deeply lined cheeks. He smiled. “Thank you, my Lord Orrin. My soul is yours.”
As a warm glow of light began to surround him, the prophet could not help thinking about what the Creator had just said. “Lord,” he said. “Thou hast said I shall rest in thy kingdom ‘for a time’, yet thou hast also said my work is done. Hast thou more for me to do?”
The glow of light around him intensified until all around him was obscured. “My son,” the voice said, only this time, the prophet did not just hear it in his head. “Thou hast long been faithful, and hast obeyed my every command, even when all around thee fell, and the jaws of death snapped at thy feet. The work which I had called thee to do is finished, and thou hast earned thy rest. And when thou hast rested, and have been prepared, I have another work for thee.”
As the light carried him away, the prophet felt his mind enlightened, and he began to understand. “The One Who Comes,” he said eagerly. “Like in the vision. I am to instruct him?”
“You shall guide him on his way. He shall have many temptations, and much trial and tribulation. He shall live in a time when all of my children throughout the galaxy shall be at war. His friends shall become his enemies, and it will be as though all the world is against him.”
“But when shall this be?” He could hardly contain his excitement. He had learned patience in his long years alone, but at the moment he was bubbling with questions. Life was returning to his old bones, as if his age were melting away, leaving him once again young and new. “Will it be soon? And when shall the End Battle be, when Vardaxis is released from his bonds the final time?”
A kindly gentleman was walking toward him now, through the light, dressed in flowing white robes. He smiled, and placed a warm hand on the prophet’s shoulder. “The time is not far distant, my son, and thou hast much to learn. For now, it is time for thee to rest. Come.”
The prophet reached to embrace his Lord, but stopped. He couldn’t help it. “But, my Lord, what about my codex? How shall thy children receive my words as thou hast promised? How shall they be carried to every heart and soul before the End comes, as thou hast said, when I am the last of this world?”
“Fear not, Zambeezee, my son,” Orrin said, still smiling. “I have many servants. Thy words shall be found.”
*
Climbing down the ramp, the man made his way toward the small shack, wondering for the hundredth time why he had come to this tiny, godforsaken planet. A hundred light-years from the nearest civilized world, with the heart of the empire a thousand times further, he was in the middle of nowhere. But, somehow, it felt right.
The man could not image anyone living up here. According to his instruments, this mountain was the highest point on the entire planet. Nothing grew this high up, and the air was thin. But there the shack stood, rooted to the edge of the cliff as though it had grown there. The small, weathered structure stared innocently back at him, proof that someone had not only been here, but had once lived in these impossible conditions.
“Sweet Orrin,” he said. Just like in the dream . . . .
As the man approached the shack he realized just how small it was. The washrooms back in the imperial parliament building were probably larger. Whoever had lived here was not concerned with comfort. The structure was almost perfectly square, and no more than eight or nine feet to a side. Just enough space to fit a bed and maybe a table, but not much else. He placed a gloved hand carefully against the door, and pressed ever so slightly, half expecting it to crumble to dust. But it held firm, and when he felt certain the little house would not come tumbling down on top of him, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
It was like stepping back in time.
Everything was still in place, as though someone still lived here. Fireplace tools sat neatly in their rack, worn sheets and blanket sat neatly folded on the small cot in the corner; the only thing that seemed out of place was the large, leather-bound book which sat on the old, heavy wood table in the center of the room. A thin reed pen had been laid on the table next to it, and an ink bottle still stood open on the table, as if the former inhabitant had been in the act of writing when he left. The only bit of physical evidence that this shack was not still in use was the thick layer of dust which coated everything.
Working the controls on his handheld device, the man ran some numbers, and tested some air samples. When finished, he gave a low whistle. “Remarkable,” he said out loud. If his numbers were correct, everything in this little shack had been undisturbed for more than four hundred years.
On the one hand, this was not terribly surprising, when one took into consideration the dryness of the climate at this altitude and on this planet. Everything had stayed pretty well preserved. On the other hand, he actually expected the time to be longer. Earlier tests taken while he had still been in orbit showed that the entire world had been devoid of human life for at least a thousand years, if not longer. How, then, could one man have survived on his own for more than six hundred years?
As the man thought about this, his eyes fell again on the large book on the table. He suddenly felt warm and tingly all over. He smiled. “This must be what I’ve come for,” he said, and reached for the book.
Yeah, it's a little rough, but it's a good beginning, I think. But don't take my word for it...what do you think?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Making Dummies
Hello again World!
Some of you already know I just started sculpting. Some of you may even know that I recently made a ventriloquist figure (or "dummy" as you non-ventriloquists call them). What you may not know is that I just sold the first figure I ever made on eBay!
This is also the very first thing I've ever sold on eBay. Nearly everybody I know is totally eBay savvy, but I've largely ignored it until recently. However, I have to say that the whole thing went smoother than I expected. Because of Pay Pal I got paid pretty fast. The most difficult thing, I'd have to say, is mailing the figure. My figure is BIG...about the size of a four year old child, with a much bigger head! The box I put him in was 30" x 15", and weighed over 20 pounds. And it cost nearly $70 to send! Oh well. Small price to pay, since the figure was sold for a pretty sum.
Anyway, just wanted to mention that.
I've been working on my book, as I said last post, but I've been having enormous trouble deciding on two different versions of the Prologue. I may post both unfinished versions and let you decide. But, for now, I'll just keep writing and see which one sounds best.
Until then,
Michael
Some of you already know I just started sculpting. Some of you may even know that I recently made a ventriloquist figure (or "dummy" as you non-ventriloquists call them). What you may not know is that I just sold the first figure I ever made on eBay!This is also the very first thing I've ever sold on eBay. Nearly everybody I know is totally eBay savvy, but I've largely ignored it until recently. However, I have to say that the whole thing went smoother than I expected. Because of Pay Pal I got paid pretty fast. The most difficult thing, I'd have to say, is mailing the figure. My figure is BIG...about the size of a four year old child, with a much bigger head! The box I put him in was 30" x 15", and weighed over 20 pounds. And it cost nearly $70 to send! Oh well. Small price to pay, since the figure was sold for a pretty sum.
Anyway, just wanted to mention that.
I've been working on my book, as I said last post, but I've been having enormous trouble deciding on two different versions of the Prologue. I may post both unfinished versions and let you decide. But, for now, I'll just keep writing and see which one sounds best.
Until then,
Michael
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Writing At Last
Whew! It's been a while since I posted anything, and I apologize to all my millions and billions of fans out there! I've just been very sick and weak. It's pretty annoying, because I'm sick a lot. I don't want to make any big deal out of it, but let me just quickly mention, that once I recovered from the kidney stone ordeal, I developed a Staph infection from the stint they had left within my urethra. THAT nearly killed me, but I got over it. The day after I recovered from Staph, my daughter came down with H1N1 (Swine Flu). So we all rushed to get vaccinated as soon as they were available in our area. She quickly recovered, being young and strong, but I got sick from the vaccine. My particular H1N1 vaccine was a type of nose spray, and it included live virus. The reason I didn't get the arm shot, which normally has dead virus in it, was because I was also getting vaccinated for the regular flu. So I got that as a shot, and the other as a nose spray. It took almost two weeks to recover from that. Then, just before I recovered, I got a sinus infection! That's what I still have, and I'm still not feeling at a hundred percent, but I've got things to do, so I'm doing them anyway!
OK, with that dull stuff out of the way, I've gotten back to work on my novel project. There is some interest in my work, so I'm trying to get the thing done and submitted to my editor. First, though, I decided it would be fun to post excerpts and rough drafts of some of my chapters here, so that you can take a sneak peak, and give me some feedback!
So, let's start out with the basic story line.
This novel is one I've been writing and rewriting for about ten years. It's taken me a long time, because I've had to learn how to write a novel along the way. I'm also a perfectionist, and my own worst critic. I think I've written and rewritten the opening chapters at least twenty times, if not more! The current working title for the book is "Dead Gods Weeping". I chose this title, because it is just obscure and weird enough to peak a reader's interest right off the bat. The title also describes the basic idea behind the story: that a man who had been worshipped as a god dies, which thing does not make him happy. Life after death is part of the story, so we can say that his consciousness continues. Assuming there is an afterlife, wouldn't your own murder be something to make you weep?
I also decided on this name because I'm a big fan of the work of the late Philip K. Dick. Most of his novels and stories had odd, obscure names, too. The one I've read most recently is "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said". This title was taken from a dark poem, which was used in the story. Being poetic, the title doesn't really have much to do with the story. Rather, the tone and feel of the title mimics the tone and feel of the story. More than anything the title drove me to read the book, and I wanted that type of interest and excitement to come from the title of my book.
The novel is about a galactic empire, which has existed in relative peace for thousands of years. The empire has also ever only had one emperor...the godlike Padmir Michelus. A strange, unknown power has kept Padmir alive well beyond his normal years, and keeps him from aging. This has led most of the citizens of the empire to worship him as a god. Many, in fact, believe him to be the Creator Himself.
This faith in the emperor--and indeed the entire peace of the empire itself--is shattered when the emperor is suddenly murdered by an unknown hand. Thousands of worlds erupt in war as ambitious men battle for the crown. Back at the imperial palace however, the emperor's right-hand man, Consul Rione, assumes control and names Gladston Spindle, the captain of the late emperor's personal guard, as the murderer.
This is a shock to Gladston, as he knows nothing of the affair. He is as surprised as anyone when his god is killed. He fights against the temptation to dissolve in tears of grief, and instead decides to find out who the real murderer is. Going undercover with the help of his friend and robotics engineer Jadene, he not only discovers who murdered the emperor, but also a dark conspiracy which threatens the very existence of the entire galaxy.
What do you think of the synopsis so far? It is vast in scope, but too vast, I hope. I'm shooting for 100,000 words, which is a little less that four hundred typewritten pages. Seems to be a good length. Next entry I'll give you a more detailed outline of what I'm planning on happening within the story.
Until next time, take care everyone!
-Michael
OK, with that dull stuff out of the way, I've gotten back to work on my novel project. There is some interest in my work, so I'm trying to get the thing done and submitted to my editor. First, though, I decided it would be fun to post excerpts and rough drafts of some of my chapters here, so that you can take a sneak peak, and give me some feedback!
So, let's start out with the basic story line.
This novel is one I've been writing and rewriting for about ten years. It's taken me a long time, because I've had to learn how to write a novel along the way. I'm also a perfectionist, and my own worst critic. I think I've written and rewritten the opening chapters at least twenty times, if not more! The current working title for the book is "Dead Gods Weeping". I chose this title, because it is just obscure and weird enough to peak a reader's interest right off the bat. The title also describes the basic idea behind the story: that a man who had been worshipped as a god dies, which thing does not make him happy. Life after death is part of the story, so we can say that his consciousness continues. Assuming there is an afterlife, wouldn't your own murder be something to make you weep?
I also decided on this name because I'm a big fan of the work of the late Philip K. Dick. Most of his novels and stories had odd, obscure names, too. The one I've read most recently is "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said". This title was taken from a dark poem, which was used in the story. Being poetic, the title doesn't really have much to do with the story. Rather, the tone and feel of the title mimics the tone and feel of the story. More than anything the title drove me to read the book, and I wanted that type of interest and excitement to come from the title of my book.
The novel is about a galactic empire, which has existed in relative peace for thousands of years. The empire has also ever only had one emperor...the godlike Padmir Michelus. A strange, unknown power has kept Padmir alive well beyond his normal years, and keeps him from aging. This has led most of the citizens of the empire to worship him as a god. Many, in fact, believe him to be the Creator Himself.
This faith in the emperor--and indeed the entire peace of the empire itself--is shattered when the emperor is suddenly murdered by an unknown hand. Thousands of worlds erupt in war as ambitious men battle for the crown. Back at the imperial palace however, the emperor's right-hand man, Consul Rione, assumes control and names Gladston Spindle, the captain of the late emperor's personal guard, as the murderer.
This is a shock to Gladston, as he knows nothing of the affair. He is as surprised as anyone when his god is killed. He fights against the temptation to dissolve in tears of grief, and instead decides to find out who the real murderer is. Going undercover with the help of his friend and robotics engineer Jadene, he not only discovers who murdered the emperor, but also a dark conspiracy which threatens the very existence of the entire galaxy.
What do you think of the synopsis so far? It is vast in scope, but too vast, I hope. I'm shooting for 100,000 words, which is a little less that four hundred typewritten pages. Seems to be a good length. Next entry I'll give you a more detailed outline of what I'm planning on happening within the story.
Until next time, take care everyone!
-Michael
Monday, January 11, 2010
Coping With Pain
It's just after one in the morning, and I can't sleep.
I recently had kidney stone surgery, which involved a lot of pain, mostly in recovery. The procedure was simple, I am told. Though I don't completely understand how, the stones were broken up with a laser, and since then I've been passing the pieces.
Some days, the pain is so great I can hardly think. All I can do is sit, staring at nothing, and trying not to bite my lip in half. I had been prescribed some powerful pain medications, but they don't take all the pain away, especially now that it's been almost three weeks since my operation.
But the pain is not just from the kidney stone operation. In the past few days, I've developed a staph infection. I began feeling extremely sick to my stomach, and started shivering uncontrollably the other day, and was taken by my wife to the emergency room. Staph was diagnosed two days later, after lab work was done with my blood and urine samples.
I still feel quite ill, sharp knives are still stabbing my guts from within, and my left kidney still tries to push itself out of my back each time I visit the john, but I'm told I'm through the worst of it now. I'm taking my myriad of pills like a good boy, and praying for the best.
I recently had kidney stone surgery, which involved a lot of pain, mostly in recovery. The procedure was simple, I am told. Though I don't completely understand how, the stones were broken up with a laser, and since then I've been passing the pieces.
Some days, the pain is so great I can hardly think. All I can do is sit, staring at nothing, and trying not to bite my lip in half. I had been prescribed some powerful pain medications, but they don't take all the pain away, especially now that it's been almost three weeks since my operation.
But the pain is not just from the kidney stone operation. In the past few days, I've developed a staph infection. I began feeling extremely sick to my stomach, and started shivering uncontrollably the other day, and was taken by my wife to the emergency room. Staph was diagnosed two days later, after lab work was done with my blood and urine samples.
I still feel quite ill, sharp knives are still stabbing my guts from within, and my left kidney still tries to push itself out of my back each time I visit the john, but I'm told I'm through the worst of it now. I'm taking my myriad of pills like a good boy, and praying for the best.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Intro and Welcome
Ok, this is the first time I've attempted a blog, so bear with me. Hopefully I'll get the hang of it soon. Until then, welcome!
Now, let's get a few things straight. The purpose of this blog is not to please or entertain any particular audience. I started this blog initially as a sort of soap box, upon which one might climb in the middle of a busy town square filled with people. While on this box, I'll basically be saying whatever the heck I feel like. I have some pretty strong views on most things, not all of them popular. But then, I'm not looking for popularity.
The other reason I started this thing is as a place to talk about things that interest me. I have a wide range of interests, which include cartooning, painting, drawing, sculpting, writing, ventriloquism, journal-keeping, history, and science, just to name a few. I'm in the middle of writing two books right now, and I'll be talking about them, too.
If this weird little blog of mine helps get other people interesting my writing and art, then that will exceed my expectations. Mainly, this blog is here for me.
So please feel free to visit often, and leave comments and things about my postings. I'll be pleased to hear from you.
Now, let's get a few things straight. The purpose of this blog is not to please or entertain any particular audience. I started this blog initially as a sort of soap box, upon which one might climb in the middle of a busy town square filled with people. While on this box, I'll basically be saying whatever the heck I feel like. I have some pretty strong views on most things, not all of them popular. But then, I'm not looking for popularity.
The other reason I started this thing is as a place to talk about things that interest me. I have a wide range of interests, which include cartooning, painting, drawing, sculpting, writing, ventriloquism, journal-keeping, history, and science, just to name a few. I'm in the middle of writing two books right now, and I'll be talking about them, too.
If this weird little blog of mine helps get other people interesting my writing and art, then that will exceed my expectations. Mainly, this blog is here for me.
So please feel free to visit often, and leave comments and things about my postings. I'll be pleased to hear from you.
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