Update and Kittens!

From Kevin Dooley

I’ve been a very busy writer bee these days. I recently sent of Struck by Chocolate to a critique group, and will be hearing feedback from them in a couple weeks. I sent in a contract to Daily Science Fiction for my story “If You Want the Rainbow”; not sure when that will be out but I’ll post the link here when it happens. I’ve finished two short stories this year–one which sucks and one which [I think] is pretty cool. I’m in the middle of a third, which I’m enjoying immensely. And now I’m outlining a new novel! (Time traveling, hackers, human trafficking and tons of romance.)

From Brian Costelloe

It helps to see all those things laid out, because here it is the end of February and–as always–it doesn’t feel like I’ve been doing much. Which isn’t true at all. I set these really lofty goals for myself, and because the goals are so damn high, I don’t always reach them. Then, on not reaching them, I feel like I should have tried harder. But if I’d tried harder, sacrificed the time I spend doing other, non writing things, I think I’d go a little crazy. So, balance is good. Cause I like not being crazy.

I’m really falling behind in my book reading goals, having only finished 8 books this year. Goodreads says I am one book behind schedule in my 60 book year reading goal. I have to mention the book I’m reading right now, though. First to Burn, by Anna Richland (whom I work with on ECWC, and is part of the GSRWA) is a romantic paranormal suspense. An immortal viking stationed in Afghanistan, an army doctor, and drug smuggling. It’s a fun plot, but even more than that I just love her writing, and the way she uses the setting and these character’s backgrounds to really flesh out the internal monologue. Everything these characters think feels really appropriate and genuine for who they are. I like it so much I’ve inadvertently been reading it really slow, to savor it.

From Mohammed Al-Jawi

On Thursday nights I’ve been attending the Citizen’s Academy, which is a thirteen week course put on by a nearby police department. Once a week, for three hours, I sit in the courtroom and learn about the different facets of the police department. From the traffic division, to a tour of jail cells, to a K9 demonstration. It’s been super informative, and I already have a ton of notes and inspiration. There’s a good chance a PD near you offers a similar program, if that sounds as awesome to you as it did to me.

Along with minor house stuff, some directed journalling and spending more time with the supercool people I’m lucky enough to have in my life, (and working and commuting) my time seems to evaporate quicker than ever. But I take comfort in knowing I have something (albeit mostly Scrivener documents) to show for it.

Busy! Work! Busywork!

Let’s just say this is for Memorial Day. From Me2 (Me Too)

Busy! I’ve been busy. Except, it doesn’t really feel like being busy. I think, more, id that I’ve been doing a lot of things that are emotionally and mentally draining, so I feel like I’ve been doing a lot, without necessarily having the products to show for it.

Things like commuting 45 minutes four times a week.

Writing a book thing. (Oh, book thing, I lovelovelove you. I do. I know sometimes I yell at you, but when I step back and think about you for half a second my heart aches with how much cool I think you are.) (Aaand, there come the tears. That’s a good sign!)

Being a wife/friend/cat mother. I spend an inordinate amount of time bonding with my kitties. It is also time I spend reading, more often than not. And what is reading if not job prep? There! I spend a lot of time working. ^_^

Other stuff. Some of it cleaning. But not much.

I’ve been feeling pretty tired lately, and have been struggling to get my wordcounts done. I’m a bit troubled by this phenomenon, especially considering the above lovelovelove I have for said book. Next weekend we will be going out of town to visit Caleb’s family, down at the beach. I think the change of scenery will help, as well as having some time off work. My goal is to get ahead of wordcounts a bit, so I can take it easy and just enjoy the company of good people.

(Dear characters: you are good people [most of you], but you are also in my head. And it smells weird in there, so pardon me if I get out for a while.)

I’ve written before about how important it is to keep yourself fueled. Since restarting my dayjob, and dealing with a much longer commute than I’ve ever had before, that need is more apparent to me than ever. also, harder to keep up. I’ve been exercising more, too, since that’s supposed to be good for, well, everything. And the walks I take with Mr. Eliza are pretty fantastic. So long as we don’t walk around the part of our town where the crackheads live. Cause that’s just depressing.

What I want: A weeklong solo retreat at a house with no wifi, situated on a rocky beach far from humanity.

What I have: A turquoise office with a pair of Parisian Street Urchins and two adorable if distracting kitties (and one adorable if distracting husband).

You know, in the grand scheme of things, I’m coming out ahead.

Now, if I could just get those damn queries sent out.

Persuaded to like Persuasion

In an effort to read a dozen classic novels this year, I have been working my way through Persuasion by Jane Austen. It’s not the first of her books I’ve read. When I went to England, before moving to Seattle, I took along a copy of Pride & Prejudice, and read the lion’s share of it while staying at an adorable B&B in Bath. Maybe it was the setting (being so near one of Austen’s homes), or the time in my life, but I was able to easily and happily fall in love with the book.

I’m not having such a facile experience with Persuasion.

I chose this particular work by Austen because of it’s unusualness. The heroine, Anne, is older than most of Austen’s heroines, clocking in at 27 (just like me!) compared to Elizabeth Bennet’s 20, or Catherine Morland’s 17. Due to her ‘advanced’ age (there are several passages where Anne laments the fact that she may end up unloved and unmarried, a spinster companion for Lady Russell), Anne also has more of a past to work with than is the norm for Austen’s heroines. She was on the verge of getting married, well before the book takes place. And we all know what kind of baggage that brings, especially in the era in which the book takes place. In short, I wanted something that pushed Austen’s boundaries a bit.

And for the first half of the book I felt like I was weighted down in mud every time I switched on my Kindle.

I think primarily I struggled with the language. There are a lot of words used to illustrate small things! And they don’t always seem to make sense sitting next to one another. Things seem overexplained, but in such a way that I wasn’t grasping them, despite two paragraphs leading to, say, a character leaving the room. For context, I am a big fan of the pared down prose of Rowling, Butcher, etc. Say what you mean, and say it with clarity. Sure, beautiful language is a plus, but those first two things are imperatives for me.

Then, perhaps because I’ve been soaking up urban fantasy and romance like they’re air, I found the conflicts to be difficult to give a damn about. I know this is a complaint a fair number of people have about not just Austen, but a great number of books written during that time, and those written later trying to emulate that setting. The stakes are love, the hurdles are society, and a lot of the time that’s just not interesting. Not interesting enough, at any rate. Because I want to sit the characters down and say to them: Say what you mean, and say it with clarity.

Hunh.

But–and there is a big but here (teehee)–I found a way in. I found myself truly enjoying Persuasion, and even eager to get back to reading it. The moment I realized my attitude had shifted, I wanted to know why. What changed? I think I found the answer, in Mary.

For those who haven’t read Persuasion, Mary is Anne’s perpetually put upon younger sister. She’s continually complaining about being left out, ignored, slighted and abused in some fashion or another. Always seeking attention and praise, when she really, really doesn’t deserve it. Quick to insult, quick to take insult. She goes on these long drags about how terrible everyone is to her, how ill she is and how no one cares. She writes a letter to Anne which starts off: I make no apology for my silence, because I know how little people think of letters in such a place as Bath. This, after six weeks of silence, in which Anne has been waiting for news of an injured sister.

So, why did this pretty terrible character shift my perception of Persuasion? Because she is fucking hilarious and I recognize her. I know people like her. I’ve spent agonizing hours with these sad, sorry souls. Happening upon her in the safety of a book gives me the ability to laugh out loud at that ridiculousness, without fear of offending anyone. And, if I’m being honest, I’ve even been her once or twice.

Seeing Mary, finally understanding her, has helped to bring the other characters–Anne and Wentworth and Mrs. Smith–into sharper relief. She’s given me something I’m familiar with to illuminate other characters, and help me tease out the parts of their personalities that I recognize as well.

I’m about 3/4 of the way through the novel now. I know what’s going to happen. Anne and Wentworth hook up, after some wrenching scene beforehand. That’s the way Austen’s books work, and it’s part of why they work. Happily Ever After is a concept that has kept the romance industry afloat in a way other genres can only aspire to.

But I’m pretty sure, once I reach the ending, I won’t turn my thoughts to the hero, I won’t lounge in the happiness of the heroine. Instead, I’ll think of Mary, in all her awful hilarity.

Do you have any secondary characters you love (or love to hate) more than the stars of the story?

photo used under creative commons license from Rich007

My TBR 2013 Shelf: Books on Writing

1. Writing the Other by Nisi Shawl

I was fortunate to receive this book in our handouts during Clarion West 2011. A slim volume, dedicated to exploring the idea of writing, as it says, the Other. That is, anything that isn’t you. A different race, a different sexual orientation, a different culture. In order to write books and stories that reflect the diversity of real life, every author will eventually need to write about (and often from the persepctive of) someone who is very, very different from the author themselves. I’m excited to read Shawl’s thoughts on this particular challenge.

2. How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card

I read this book a few years ago, and I think it’s time to revisit. I’ve learned a lot since then. In particular, I’m interested in rereading his thoughts on what he calls the M.I.C.E. quotient. Essentially, he says, every story is one–or a combination–of the following: Milieu, Idea, Character, Event. After hearing it referenced twice in recent Writing Excuses episodes, I’d like to brush up on my understanding of the idea.

3. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

I see this book recommended a lot, especially to people looking to write more ‘commercial’ fiction, which I absolutely am. Criticized by some for being too clinical and crass, praised by others for being organized and informative. Based on everything I’ve read and heard about it, I think I’ll like it, if taken with a big grain of put-up-with-hyperbole salt.

4. Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction by Patricia Highsmith

I don’t remember my exact reasoning behind picking up this book, other than the title. I can’t even remember when I bought it. But since I like writing suspenseful works, and want to get better at doing just that (and I already own the book), this is on my list.

5. The Art of Time in Fiction by Joan Silber

Recommended by Jenni Moody, as one of the books she read and benefitted from when working on her MFA. This book looks at the different ways to use time in a story, and how time can effect a story. This sounds fascinating to me, as I’ve been an almost exclusively linear writer. I can’t remember a single story where I played with time at all. It’s always seemed a kind of intimidating and tricky element, which I’d like to learn more about. Hopefully it’ll inspire me to bend my stories more.

6. Don’t Murder Your Mystery by Chris Roerden

This recommendation comes from Minister Faust, one of my instructors at ClarionWest. He was very enthusiastic in his recommendation, citing that a lot of books–not just mysteries–benefit from pointers in how to divulge information and create tension, ways to keep readers guessing without annoying them. And since a lot of the stuff I write is, in some degree, a mystery, I think this’ll be helpful.

7. Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood

This last book was recommended to me by Folly Blaine. With a lot of ‘mini-lessons’ designed to help the author dig deeper into the description of emotions, and stop relying on eyes, or hands, or the timber of a character’s voice to give readers clues into the mental states of our beloved heroes and heroines. (Geez. That’s a mouthy sentence.) I know I spend a lot of time talking about voices, for one. And eyes. And occasionally strange movements. (I had to explain to a reader recently that the witch touching my heroes cheek was creepy, not sweet. That should have come through without an explanation.)

Do you have any books on writing you’ve read and loved? Or any you’re looking forward to tackling this year?

My TBR 2013 Shelf: New New Books

A quick note to anyone with a novelly manuscript in the SF or YA categories: Writer’s Digest is hosting the 13th “Dear Lucky Agent” contest on the GLA blog. Basically, you can submit 150-200 words of your ms. The top three winners get a critique of their first ten pages, and a year’s subscription to Writer’s Digest. One catch-you have to mention the contest twice in social media to be eligible. Consider yourselves mentioned at!

2013 is looking to be a good year for new books! Of course, it doesn’t hold a candle to 2014, when Corinne Duyvis’ Otherbound is slated to hit shelves. That will be the best year.

I’m usually not great about reading new releases. I lose track of authors, I slip into the instant gratification downloading I mentioned in the last post, I go to a garage sale and pick up an armload of books that Mr. Eliza complains about until I read or get rid of. Preferably both. But going to a book store and laying down money for a shiny new release is just so rarely in my list of to-dos, that I find myself reading books, and getting excited about them, well after the fact. Which I’m really okay with, overall. Still, there are a few books coming out this year that I’m super excited about.

And if you know of any books coming out you think I need to read, or you’re particularly thrilled about, let me know! Even if I don’t read them this year, I can always use new books for my TBR list.

1. Fragments by Dan Wells

The John Cleaver series by Wells is one of my most beloved, most recommended series of recent memory. Partials, the first in this new series, was published after the Cleaver series, and I was hesitant. Then I read it, and up until about 75% of the way through I was pretty sure I didn’t like it. Then, the end came, and I found myself experiencing All. The. Emotions. Upon reflection I realized I was directly comparing two very different styles of books (tight, first person fantasy/horror to multiple POV, third person sci-fi). So of course the book came up wanting, initially. That’s all to say, I will read anything Wells publishes.

2. Cormorant by Chuck Wendig

This is a contingency book. In my last TBR post I wrote about needing to read Mockingbird. Cormorant is number three in the series, so if, for some strange and unlikely reason, I find Mockingbird so much of a letdown that I don’t care about Miriam Black anymore, I won’t read this book.

3. Transparent by Natalie Whipple

I discovered Whipple through her blog several years ago, back when she was still struggling to connect with an agent. Now, she’s got a slick new book coming out from HarperTeen. The story itself looks great–dastardly dad, invisibility skills, hints of domestic abuse and vengeance–and I’m gung-ho to support this new author.

4. City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster

How can you resist a title like that? Not to mention the main character’s closest companions happen to be a group of mysterious cats. Add in a handful of murders, and you get a mixture that makes me eager to pick this up.

5. Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross

A story set in Paris, in the belle epoque period (go figure), late 1800s. That, in itself, is almost enough to make me want to read it. The main character takes a job as a, essentially, the ‘ugly friend’, someone used to make someone else look better by comparison. Only, she gets hired by a girl’s mother, unbeknownst to the girl in question. The Goodreads blurb says ” the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested.” Which, to me, could either mean she gets to be real friends with the girl, or that the girl is doing something  wicked. Hopefully, it means neither of these, and I will be surprised!

6. Ink by Amanda Sun

Yes. Yes. Oh, hell’s yes. You may have noticed by now that I am a sucker for a good setting. And, ever since meeting Mr. Eliza, I’ve become more interested in Japan, and the Japanese culture (my first published story–the story that got me into Clarion West–was based around a mythological Japanese creature). This book is based in Japan, and centers around a gaijin girl and a Japanese boy who has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan. Yes. And an added bit of fun: the series is called The Paper Gods, which in Japanese would be kami no kamisama, since kami means both paper and god. I like that.

7. Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare

The fourth in a series, of which I have only read the first. Of course, this means I will have to catch up, before I read this one. Horror of horrors, more Tessa Dare in my life? I couldn’t possibly. In all seriousness, I love this author. Smart and funny and fun, she writes romance novels that make me want to write romance novels, and I’m sure this one will not disappoint.

My TBR 2013 Shelf: Old New Books

The title of this post is a little misleading, I think. My To-Be-Read shelf is way too big to put in a single blog post. Or a long series of posts, for that matter. I’m sure most of you can relate. So many shiny covers! So many intriguing blurbs! So many fancy reviews! I find myself logging onto Goodreads three or four times a day to throw a couple books on my list. A list which I keep telling myself I will reference next time I find myself coming on the last chapter of whatever I’m reading.

But, I rarely do so. Instead, I scour the library’s website for something interesting and–more importantly–available immediately. Which means I end up reading something like Witches On Parole. Now, I’m not saying that’s bad. In fact, so far the book is quite fun. It’s just not something I normally would go out of my way to read.

As a result of my instant gratification downloading, I end up shoving books I really, really want to read into the back of my brain closet. which is a shame, and something I hope to rectify this year. So the books on this list aren’t new releases. Or even recent releases, in some cases. I’ll do a post next week about the books I’m looking forward to from 2013.

If you’ve read any of these, let me know what you thought. But no spoilers!

1. Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed

Back in 2011 Writing Excuses had Ahmed on their show to talk about non-traditional settings, writing about something other than corsets and campfires. This was my first introduction to his work. I think Throne was slated to come out the following year, and as soon as they started describing it, I knew I had to read it. Djinni, a fantastic Middle Eastern settings, political intrigue, holy warriors. Sounds. Awesome.

2. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Another Writing Excuses inspired read. I don’t remember where I first heard about this book, but I know Sanderson has talked about it some on the show. This, I think, is a little out of my comfort zone. I’m not usually into epic fantasy (as much as I love Game of Thrones, it’s a slog for me). And this is just book one in a planned ten book series. Super epic. But it’s received great reviews, and I’d like to sample all of the Writing Excuses crew’s works, since I like the show so much. I’ve read everything by Dan Wells, dabbled in Schlock Mercenary, Howard Tayler’s work, and read Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal. This year, I read Sanderson. (Plus, I think this may be a good book to introduce to my husband, who does like epic fantasy.)

3. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Another book that intrigues me with the world. Set in Nigeria, the main character is an albino witch, who gets involved with three other kids around her age who also have magic powers. In addition to the taste of Nigeria, I’ve heard very good things about Okorafor’s writing. In that it’s beautiful. So, bonus.

4. The Space Between & Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Yep. Two in one. These aren’t part of a series, or anything, just the two book’s Yovanoff has released since her debut novel, The Replacement. Which I loved. Loved. And why it has taken me so long to pick up her other works, I don’t know. Okay, that’s not entirely true. I’m nervous. Worried that these won’t live up to the first. Because it’s rare I find an author I wholeheartedly enjoy, without reservation. I guess I’ve been trying to preserve that. Which is stupid.

5. Mockingbird by Chuck Wendig

Another one of those “preserve the moment” authors. I want to cut Blackbirds up into tiny pieces and roll around in the awesome mixture of darkness and humor and perfect vulgarity of that book. My expectations for Mockingbird, the followup book, are high. Please, Mr. Wendig, don’t let me down.

6. The Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron

I learned about Aaron through her blog. Particularly through a post about how she changed her approach to writing and increased her productivity from ~2k per day to ~10k. It’s good stuff, which I think I’ve mentioned here before. Aaron’s book isn’t one I want to read just because I respect her authorly persona. That’s just part of it. I want to read this book, the first in a series, because the main characters sounds awesome (a cocky thief who can communicate with objects), and the pace sounds promising (thrilling, with a healthy dash of fantasy!).

7. Long May she Reign by Ellen Emerson White

I don’t read much contemporary, but on a recommendation from I don’t remember where, I picked up the first book in this series, The President’s Daughter. I was blown away by White’s command of the English language, as well as her complex-without-being-complicated plot, and the well-rounded, completely believable characters. The next book, White House Autumn, blew me away, again, as White took her readers through feelings of helplessness and betrayal and frustration. Then, with Long Live the Queen, White deftly handles more powerful emotions and circumstances when the main character gets kidnapped. Everything I read from White is powerful and real and gut-wrenching. I trust her completely to give me a great story.

8. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Because Shirley Jackson. That’s reason enough. (Also, has anyone other than me and my mother read Raising Demons? Very different from ‘typical’ Jackson, but so good! [Also, also, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is one of our favorite books. Hi, Mom!])

A Little Late to the Party: Plans for the New Year

But first, speaking of party, check out Liz Argall’s write up of this year’s Horrific Miscue Christmas party. There were hats! And booze! And glow sticks! (Which should never be left on the floor because kittens will try to eat them, and then foam at the mouth when they get some of those weirdo chemicals on their tongue. *SCARY*)

Now, on to the post.

Looking back at last year’s goals post, I achieved exactly one half of one of my goals. Not so hot. Of course, I did a lot of things not on my list, like go to KillerCon with Folly Blaine, write a new novel and a bunch of short stories, take six months off work, BUY A HOUSE. Yeah, hadn’t exactly planned for that one but I am so happy we were able to pull it off, and to get this house, of all houses. (Love my house!) And we finally got kittens! And we built a table! So all in all, 2012 was a success.

2012 is going to be hard to beat, overall, but I’ll give it the old school try.

2013 Goals

• Write 20 short stories (includes flash) (done with 2 already)
• Write 3 novels
• Revise and submit Toulouse
• Revise and submit Rare Cultivation
• Read fifty-two books
  • 12 Nonfiction (done with one)
  • 12 Books on writing
  • 12 Classics
  • The rest can be whatever
• Write fifty-two blog posts (this will be #2!)
• Finish sekrit projekt script
• Attend WHC (fuck yeah, Caitlin Kiernan!) and ECCC (fuck yeah, Patrick Stewart! And Adam West! And Carrie Fisher! And Gillian Anderson! And Chris Sarandon! And Jhonen Vasquez!) (head explodes)
• Be more active in the writing community

Yeah. I don’t aim high or overbook. Not at all. I think it’s doable, though, if I stay focused. Which is good, because when I get unfocused I get laaaazy. In order to keep track of a number of these (reading and short stories) I created a spreadsheet to keep track. Numbers! Tabulations! Be still my racing heart!

In addition to all that, one of the books I’m planning on writing requires massive worldbuilding, an exercise I’ve never fully delved into. Yay for new skills!

So, looking back at my new year’s post for last year, I achieved exactly one half of one of my goals.

So how about you: resolutions or goals? Or neither? And what do you have planned for lucky 2013?

Photo used under creative commons license from Corey.C

Review of Alma Katsu’s “The Taker”

An added benefit of my time at ClarionWest was all the free books I got. Every week we would have a drawing, and Les and Neile would pass out ARCs and donated books, along with a healthy dose of random Archie McPhee goodies. (I’ve got those ubiquitous octo-fingers in mind here.)

Since I live in Seattle, and I am rather eclectic (and ravenous) with my reading, I was in the lucky position of being able to take care of books that my overseas classmates were hesitant to pack up and fly home. The Taker, by Alma Katsu, is one of these books. And I must say, I’m glad I took the gamble.

The Taker is a story weaved within a story, with an extra story thrown in for good measure.

We start with Luke, a downtrodden doctor in a little town in Massachusetts, who makes the acquaintance of an arresting young woman, Lanny, brought to his hospital under police custody. She’s covered in blood, beautiful, and disarming.

Throughout the book, Luke’s story (told in 3rd person, present) mingles with Lanny’s story (told in 1st person, past). Only–wait for it–Lanny is immortal! Katsu takes us through the tale of Lanny’s transformation, her heartache over her one true love, and the darkness that came with being granted what so many wish for.

The third story, plopped in the middle of the book, explores the transformation of the man who gave Lanny her immortality, a Magyar peasant by the name of Adair.

This book is haunting, dark, sexy. In truth it reminds me a lot of Interview With a Vampire, in the best way. The overall mood is contemplative and sad, without being sentimental. The history is rich and varied. The settings are both familiar and utterly obscure. I admit, I have never read a book set in the early 1800’s, in a tiny logging town out in the nether reaches of Massachusetts.

(I especially like when Katsu overlays Lanny’s memories of her hometown with the reality of modern day St. Andrew.)

I would recommend this book if you are in the mood for something quiet, and quietly engaging. The pace is a bit slow at times, but I think that fits with the language, and this kind of story-telling. For a debut novel, I am thoroughly impressed, and I’m excited to see what Katsu does next.

Also, I must add, I am SO much more enthused about the UK cover. I would snap that puppy up in a heartbeat. As it was, this book languished on my bookshelf for about three months, before I bothered reading the jacket copy and got all excited. Though, I think the US cover fits the actual story better. Oh, dilemma.

A Lightness So Visible

You’ve probably seen this sparkling about the interwebs recently, but I feel compelled to throw in my 2c.

In case you haven’t read it–and have no intention of doing so–I’ll give you a brief rundown. Gurdon, of the Wall street Journal, writes about the current state of YA fiction. In particular, she bemoans the apparent lack of ‘positive’ books, and tries to say that all the books being published for the YA sector are depraved, immoral, grotesque, etc. According to her, the only thing we can find in the YA section right now is black book covers oozing blood and body parts.

Gurdon goes on to say that the authors of these books are essentially railroading teens, and younger, into filling their minds with pain and torture and sadness. YA authors are ruining our children’s lives. By exposing teens to such real-life problems as self mutilation, rape, child trafficking, abuse, etc., we are doing them no favors, according to Gurdon.

I know there are people who stand on both sides of this fence. Plenty of parents want to ‘protect’ their kids by shielding them from these things as long as possible. I have my own opinions on this matter, definitely, but that’s not the point of this post.

Gurdon entitles her article ‘Darkness Too Visible’. I have to say, if you go into a bookstore and all you find is darkness, then you sure as hell (OMG, did I just cuss? Somebody alert the brigades) aren’t looking.

She references a mother in the beginning of the article who walked into a bookstore looking for a gift for her thirteen year old and came out not only empty-handed but disheartened. Thwarted, even! Because she didn’t want to give her daughter a book that contained “vampires and suicide and self-mutilation.” Gurdon backs up this woman’s impression of the shelves by quoting, entirely out of context mind you, particularly unsettling lines from a couple of books.

Essentially, what I think it comes down to is that Gurdon is doing a bit of fear-mongering and cane-waggling. Her whole article feels like an old woman lamenting on the good old days (which, if we’re honest here, the good old days never really existed), while harping on about these damn kids. Except, instead of these damn kids, she’s railing against these damn authors influencing our precious, noble children.

Come on. The teens who want to read about maiming and dismemberment will do so. I did, and none of the books I was reading were found in the YA section. The teens who want to read about love stories will do so. Kids are going to read what they want to read. The responsibility of authors is to write what is true to them, what speaks to them. Otherwise we’ll have bookshelves of empty, dead books.

A story written out of passion is powerful. A story written without passion is forgettable. I’d rather have a little blood, and a lot of passion.

Photos lifted from the interwebs, featuring three of my favorite non-‘dark’ authors that are currently populating bookstore and library shelves.

On Being a Fangirl

 

Hahaha! Which one is me?

I feel like a teenager again, and it’s totally, like, weird.

When I was in those harrowed hallowed days I had an unsustainable amount of passion. I hated Nazis and skinheads, loved punk rock and Peter Murphy, and wore all my emotions on my sleeve. Often literally. I was intense, and, frankly, a lot to deal with. (Sorry, mom.) But one defining aspect of my teenagehood that I don’t look back on with a tiny cringe is my fangirldom.

There weren’t a LOT of things I would have considered myself a fan of. I didn’t do comic books outside of JTHM, and my music preference never landed too solidly on any one band. TV? Fugheddabouit. (I must confess a deep and abiding love for the Nightmare Before Christmas.) But books…oh, glorious printed word, how I could find myself worshipping you…

My first fancrush, that I remember, was on Poppy Z. Brite. She wrote these books full of goth punk vampires and creepy tree ghosts and rugged, ragged musicians. I loved it. Ate it up. Then she wrote Exquisite Corpse, a novel featuring two serial killers as the protagonists, and I found a book I would quote to other people. I distinctly remember one day in choir class, reading a portion of a scene to a classmate.

I will not relate the scene in question. You’ll have to read the book for that. Let’s just say it has a lot to do with internal organs and meat lockers and misplaced sexual energy. All while learning the melody of Send in the Clowns.

Ah…high school.

So I guess it should come as no surprise that my fangirl badge has been renewed, many years after its last use, by Dan Wells, an author that writes about serial killers (sort of). But, and here is where I find some sense of relief and maturity, the MC in these books is fighting against succumbing to his darker nature, as opposed to reveling in it. He is fighting for the good, instead of glorying in the evil.

And I don’t think I could go back to Exquisite Corpse. It sits on my shelf, untouched, a relic of my youth. Occasionally, I’ll think of picking it up, but my fingers always skitter to one side or the other, unwilling to crack the spine. (Creepy puns-yay!)

But Dan Wells’ books? Well, I’m waiting on pins and needles for the final installment of his Serial Killer trilogy–I Don’t Want To Kill You–to be released next week. I have the t-shirt. I’ve been to both of his readings. These are the only books I’ve pre-ordered. Ever. I plan on rereading I Am Not a Serial Killer (Book One) and Mr. Monster (Book Two) before the 29th, so I can get the whole trilogy in one, satisfying gulp.

I think there is more here than just the appeal of the stories, though. They’re excellent, don’t get me wrong. And I think that would be enough. But Mr. Wells has, in my opinion, gone above and beyond. He runs a great blog, where he often posts about topics that take some serious consideration. He has made his method of storyplanning available in an informative and entertaining Powerpoint/video series.

And he’s cute. There! I said it. I’m shallow. 🙂

Why you may ask, have I decided to bring this all up now? Well, in conjunction with the impending release date of his latest novel, Mr. Wells is going on a booksigning/reading tour, which includes a stop in Seattle and, it seems, the opportunity to join him and other fans for dinner at a local restaurant. I’ve got to admit–that is cool, and totally something I am going to do when I go on tour. A chance to connect with the readers in person? Yes, please!

I’m especially glad he’s doing this, because I always feel like such a goober at the signings.

So, for any of you looking for a few good books, let me introduce you to Dan Wells.

This post has been sealed by Eliza’s Fangirl Stamp of Approval.