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Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Giveaway & guest post by Gail Z. Martin: Promoting Your Book with Podcasts & Trailers
Guest post by Gail Z. Martin
You’ve written a book. Congratulations! Now you need to let the world know, and
attract readers. That’s the hard part.
Out of the many options you have for promoting your book,
many authors choose to make podcasts and trailers part of their marketing
plan. One reason for this popularity is
that podcasts and trailers bring sound and visual to the written word, adding
excitement and engaging multiple senses.
Another reason is that smart phones, digital cameras and inexpensive
software have made podcasts and trailers easy to create. And the third reason is, they’re fun to
produce and fun to consume, making them a great way to reach out to readers and
create a bond.
“Podcasts” don’t really require an iPod. They are audio recordings shared via the Web
that can be downloaded to and listened on any device that can play an MP3 or
WAV file—iPods, smart phones, computers and a variety of MP3 players—and shared
via social media.
“Trailers” are like the previews you see at the movies—short
visual commercials that tease the viewer into wanting to know more. These can be viewed on YouTube, Vimeo and
other video sites, downloaded to computers, and shared via social media.
What do you talk about on a podcast? Anything you want. Some authors interview other authors. Some podcast hosts record readings from their
books, either with a single voice or a cast of characters like old-time radio
shows. Others do a radio show-type of
format that includes whatever catches their fancy. The point is that a podcast is a regular
recording you share via social media that provides a way for readers to get to
know you in a setting that isn’t specifically promotional.
How do you create a podcast?
Although it’s pretty easy, that’s a little beyond the scope of this
article, although you can read “Podcasting for Dummies” by Tee Morris or my own
“Launching Your Books Without Losing Your Mind” book for tips and how-to
ideas.
If you’ve been on YouTube or Goodreads, you’ve probably seen
book commercials, sometimes called “trailers.”
The simplest book trailers are really a video of a PowerPoint slide
show, doing a transition from photo to photo to tease the viewer into wanting
to find out more about the book. More
complex trailers use special effects and even live action to create a
commercial that brings a book to life.
One author I know who wrote a book with a pirate theme found
a local pirate-themed event and went with her camera, taking photos of participants
in pirate gear (with their permission) and sequencing the photos into a fun,
simple book video. (If you use photos of
people, be sure to get them to sign a simple form authorizing you to use their
image.)
You can bring your commercial to life with music. Just be sure to purchase royalty-free tunes
from a place like MusicBaker.com so that you stay on the right side of the law,
and always use photos that you’ve either taken yourself or obtained through a
royalty-free online service so that you don’t infringe copyright. You can use the iMovie app (about $5) if you
have an iPad, or Windows Movie-Maker (usually a free part of your basic
software) if you use PC, or even a program like Camtasia if you want to get
fancy. Or, you can hire a service like
Apex Reviews or Circle of Seven (COS) Productions, both of which I’ve
used.
Why bother? The short
answer is, because podcasts and trailers help you sell books. The long answer is, because a career as an
author is all about building a relationship with readers, and that relationship
happens over a period of time, utilizing a variety of senses. Podcasts and
trailers give prospective readers new ways to meet you, get to know you, and
learn about your books without a direct sales pitch. By engaging readers through sound and
visuals, your books come to life before the reader turns the first page.
Still not sure? Check
out the author podcasts and videos on Goodreads, including the ones on my
author page. There are as many styles as
there are authors, and you can find something that fits your technology comfort
zone, busy schedule and lifestyle.
Give your books a life of their own with podcasts and a book video, and see what happens to your sales!
See the mini-trailer:
The Hawthorn Moon Sneak Peek Event includes book giveaways, free excerpts and readings, all-new guest blog posts and author Q&A on 21 awesome partner sites around the globe. For a full list of where to go to get the goodies, visit www.AscendantKingdoms.com.
@GailZMartin Book Giveaway on Twitter—Every day from June 21 – June 28 I’ll be choosing someone at random from my Twitter followers to win a free signed book. Invite your friends to follow me—for every new 200 followers I gain between 6/21 – 6/28, I’ll give away an additional book, up to 20 books!
Gail Z. Martin is the author of Ice Forged in her new The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga (Orbit Books),
plus The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven & Dark Lady’s Chosen )
and The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn and The
Dread). She is also the author of
two series on ebook short stories: The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures and the
Deadly Curiosities Series. Find her online at www.AscendantKingdoms.com.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Writing the Fight Scene: Your Character is Never Unarmed—and Neither are You
People who are trained to fight –cops, military, martial
artist, etc—tend to think differently from most people. I find myself often
blinking in amazement at the statements of the untrained or in amazement when
they don’t realize something that I saw in less time than one of those blinks.
This could sound arrogant, but in truth it comes from the surprise that I have
to remind myself of the training and experience I have had is a lot different
than they have had. Maybe this is why I enjoy writing about writing fight
scenes, for it is my way to share and explore with others this train of
thought. Most of the blogs (here or on my old Coffee with David blog site that
you can find on my webpage below) contain not only information about writing a
fight scene but also elements of self-defense.
This posting is no different.
Think about your character. What clothing do they wear in
whatever scene you writing? Do they need a gun or a knife to defend them or are
they armed without it. Despite what people generally think, and despite
restrictions on weapons that various Government agencies might impose—like for
travel or whatever—unless your character (or you) are naked (no jewelry even),
you are never unarmed. Before we go down the road of explaining further, let’s
redefine the word “weapon.”
But, before we do that, let us dig a little bit into
history. In history, there are often many examples of cultures that have
disarmed the masses and restricted arms to certain people. The result of this
was that the masses redefined what could be a weapon. Two great examples of
this were the cultures of Scotland and Japan:
1. Scotland had been invaded by the English. The English
took away (or attempted to) all their swords and other known weapons. So, the
Scottish resorted to using stones, long heavy logs, and long poles. From this
came the weapons of the caber and the long pike;
2. Japan is perhaps the best example as the weapons that
were developed were more prolific. Laws were past to restrict weapons,
particularly the sword (or Katana) to the Samurai class. The peasants were
limited or not allowed weapons at all. So, what did they do? They took farming
and other tools and reworked them to be weapons. Some are even used by modern
police today (the tonfa is the basic design that certain modern police sticks
are based on). Here is a short list of the weapons that Japanese created based
on how they re-defined the word weapon, feel free to explore other sources for
more information:
a. Tonfa
b. Sai
c. Jutte
d. Three Piece Staff
e. Rice Paddle (This actually may have been used first as a
weapon in China)
f. Mitsubishi. (no , not the car)
Let us now redefine the word “weapon”. A weapon is anything
that can be used for one of three things:
attack, defend, or distract.
Please go look in the mirror, look around your surrounding s for a
moment and come back. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
What are you wearing? Do you have shoes? Do you have a belt?
Do have rings on? What about a watch? Or a necklace? What about a shirt or a
blouse? Are you eating anything? Maybe a stick of gum? Do you have a pen or a
pencil in your hand? Do you smoke? Do
you have salt and pepper nearby? Sand? Do you have a wash rag or a towel? How
can any of these be a weapon?
Let’s start with clothing, going from your feet to your
head:
1. Shoes. There are
many reasons I am glad I am a guy and not a woman, shoes for the purposes of
wearing them is one of the reasons. But when it comes to using them as a
weapon—heels are something to be jealous of—in fact at the time this is being
written, a woman in Texas used her high heel shoe to kill her “abusive” partner
(I forget if it was husband or boyfriend). Regardless of the kind of shoe you
have, you are wearing clubs. Yes, you read that correctly. You are wearing
clubs. What are clubs? As a weapon they are objects that you can use to apply
blunt force trauma to an opponent with. Take off your shoes, pick them (or one
of them up) and you have a club to use against an attacker. What kind of shoes
is your character wearing? What kind of thumping could they do to their
opponent?
Another thing about shoes is they make great distractions and buy you or
your character time to run (assuming you are not on a surface that makes
running barefooted painful). Just toss it in the attacker’s face. Aim for the
eyes! (Throwing it at their chest or anywhere else is not too effective.) They
will have to dodge it or (if you are lucky) let themselves be hit with it. Either
way, it will give you a head start.
2. It is unlikely that you would want to take off your pants
or skirt, but they can be used in the same way as the shirt or blouse which we
will discuss in number 4.
3. Are you wearing a belt? If so, you have a whip. You can
use this whip in any of two ways. If you want to hold onto the buckle, it may
give you (or your character) a good hand hold. Or you can use the belt’s
“tongue” and apply the buckle to the body of the opponent. Ouch!
You can also take the belt and wrap it around your knuckles.
It won’t be like brass knuckles, but it will add something to your punch.
Finally, you can take the belt and use it as a garrote.
4. If you are wearing a shirt, blouse, pants or skirt, you
have another whip. No it won’t hurt like the belt. It is a softer whip that can
be used to catch the other person or their weapon and end up entangling them.
Note, you can also make a rat’s tail out of it quickly if you have the right
material. Also, this can be used as a
garrote.
Shirts, etc. are also weapons of distraction. You can toss
it in the opponent’s eyes (I don’t care how much it costs, your life is more
important) as you run or attack with something else. If it is at their eyes,
they can’t see for a moment. You can
also entangle their head in it. There is an old adage in martial arts and
war—if they can’t see, they can’t fight.
5. Now let’s go with rings. I don’t tend to wear any, but
should you or your character have any on, then you have (at least partial)
brass knuckles.
6. What about a necklace? Then you or your characters have a
small whip and another garrote.
7. Do you have change in your pocket? You have a weapon of
distraction. Toss the coins in their eyes.
What is in your surroundings?
1. A moment ago I asked if you had salt and pepper. Sounds
screwy, right? Excuse the evil laugh, but you have one of the best non-lethal
home defense systems. Add cayenne pepper and it makes a fiery mix. You can also
add sand, ground glass, or ash.
How do you hide a mountain? Answer: By putting sand in the
eyes of those looking for it.
Remember what I wrote above about not being able to see. The
same is true about not being able to breathe. Here’s how it works. Dump some salt and pepper (and any of the
other ingredients) into your hand. The pepper is critical. You can either toss
it or blow it into the face of the opponent.
You are really aiming for the nose and the eyes. Even if they have
glasses on, the nose is good enough and will take care of the eyes.
When you toss or blow the contents at them, surprise will
kick in. What do people do when they are surprised? How do you describe
surprise in your writing without saying Johnny was surprised? People react with
a sharp inhaled breathe and wide eyes. The pepper (and the cayenne pepper to a
degree) will irritate the nose and they will sneeze—a lot. Do you know anyone
who can sneeze with their eyes open? It’s very hard to do. When people sneeze, their
eyes water. The salt (and here comes the fun of the cayenne pepper should you
have used it) will enter the eyes and mix with the water. While they are sneezing and rubbing their
eyes, they are temporarily blinded and have difficulties breathing that you or
your character can take advantage of.
Note: If you add ash, sand, and/or ground glass, the
opponent will do damage to their eyes when they rub them.
2. Is there a fire extinguisher? Just use your imagination.
3. Do you have a drink (hot or cold)? Throw it in their
face. What is a person’s reaction when you do that? How have you described it
in your writing? It’s a nice weapon of distraction.
4. What about gum? Yes, it is a weapon—of distraction. You
can throw it at their face or lob it into the air in front of them. Their eyes
will follow it. There is some kind of evolutionary response in us that watches
with a certain grotesque fasciation
things that come out of people’s mouths to be sure the object doesn’t
touch us. (Not to mention the question that has to go through the opponent’s
mind of “what are you doing with that gum?”)
The distraction works for a short time for you to run or attack with
something else.
5. Do you smoke? Don’t blow smoke in the opponent’s face. Second
hand smoke doesn’t do much right away. Instead, blow the burning leaves into
their face. Also, you can burn other places. Very few people like to be burned
at all—even the ones who like pain.
6. I asked if you have a pen or pencil. A few years ago, I
(with a fellow Black Belt) gave a self-defense and Writing the Fight Scene
lecture where we demonstrated that the pen or pencil can be mightier than the
sword. If you place it in your hand right, it can be driven into the opponent
and used to just stab them or even kill them (depending on where you strike).
This topic and the use of examples can go on for pages. I
hope that you can look at weapons in a different light, realize that you and
your character are never unarmed (even if your character doesn’t realize it)
and are able to build some uniqueness into any fight scenes than just using the
normal knife, gun, broken bottle, baseball bat, or chair.
Finally, I will leave you with a challenge. This is the same
challenge I gave to a former martial arts pupil of mine when we discussed the
topic of how anything can be used as a weapon. If you think there is something
that can’t be used as a weapon, put it in the comments below—give me a reason
why you think so. I will respond. Who knows, maybe there is something that
can’t be. But I don’t know what.
Thank you for reading and please visit
www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on
twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the
world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the
human condition as he chooses.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Exploring Mistakes Writers Make: Desire versus Starting
The first step to any journey is not the desire to
take it, but to put one foot in front of the other and walk it. In all my years
of writing, taking classes, and going to writers’ groups I run into this
strange creature called a “wannabe.” In all honesty, sometimes I feel like I am
in their same boat as I look at the “less than a hill of beans” that I have
been able to accomplish. However, there is the difference. Wannabes have not
started the journey.
I run into a lot of new writers. They come to a
writing group, a lecture, a conference looking to learn the craft and the art.
They have started the journey. They may dream about the fairy tale contract and
being the next household named author. There isn’t any shame in wanting to be
that successful. It is a task where you are either Heracles or Sisyphus. But,
they are on the quest.
Wannabes never get started. Sometimes it is because
they are afraid or they think they must have everything checked off on some
clipboard someplace like an airline pilot must do a pre-flight check before
take off. Maybe sometimes they don’t realize just how huge of a task writing a
book, a collection of poetry, or a novel is. Science Fiction writer Ben Bova
once described the preparation for writing of a novel as preparing to lay siege
to a city. Many wannabes don’t have any
concept of what such work entails or they just see in their dreams that they
can simply sit and let the words magically flow. If such magic existed, is there someplace I
can buy a bottle, container, or bag of it?
Writing is hard work. That hard work starts with a
simple question: Do you want to be a writer or a wannabe? If you want to be a
wannabe, that’s fine. You can stop now and live in your fantasies—there’s
nothing more you need to do.
If you want to be a writer, then you have everything
you need to START your journey. You have the desire to drive you and you have
some idea of something you want to write. It doesn’t have to be any good. It
doesn’t have to be the next best seller. Just write it. Write. Write. That is
how all writers get started.
Yes, the dream you may have once had may fade and be
replaced with the fact that you are doing it. You are walking the walk—the
journey—the quest to be the author that is within you. There are no certain
paths, but if you want certainty, you should never have started this quest.
Welcome to the quest and write!
Thank you for reading and please visit
www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on
twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the
world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the
human condition as he chooses.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
From the Crime Writer’s Library: Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit
Previously in “From the Crime Writer’s
Library,” we discussed Journey into Darkness by John Douglas and Mark
Olshaker. Today, we are going to explore another book by the original FBI
“Profiler.” In my previous entry I
raised the question of what are the effects of staring into the abyss of
humanity. Mindhunter answers that question and more. Mindhunter
is not only an exploration of profiling of some of the most dangerous killers
in the modern age, but it is also the personal and professional journey of John
Douglas and what his pioneering cost him—including almost his life.
Mindhunter explores
Special Agent John Douglas’ twenty-five year career with the Investigative Support
Unit. He pursued some of the most notorious and sadistic serial killers of our
time:
* The killer who hunted
prostitutes in Alaska;
* The Atlanta Child Murdered who almost set Georgia ablaze with race riots; and
* The Seattle's Green River killer—a case that almost cost Douglas his life.
* The Atlanta Child Murdered who almost set Georgia ablaze with race riots; and
* The Seattle's Green River killer—a case that almost cost Douglas his life.
Douglas was the model for Thomas Harris’ Jack Crawford
in The Silence of the Lambs. Douglas has
confronted, interviewed, and studied scores of serial killers and assassins,
including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein, who was the inspiration for
Hitchcock’s movie Psycho and who dressed himself in his victims' peeled skin. By
getting into the mind of both predator and prey, Douglas examines each crime
scene, reliving both the killer's and the victim's actions, creating both sets
of profiles, describing their habits, and
predicting their next moves based on the behavior of the killer.
If you are writing about serial killers or about any
murderer, you will want to read and understand the work of John Douglas. You
can learn more about him, follow his and Mark Olshaker’s work at this website: http://mindhuntersinc.com
Thank you for reading and please visit
www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on
twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the
world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the
human condition as he chooses.
From the Crime Writer’s Library:
Obsession: The FBI's Legendary Profiler Probes the Psyches of Killers, Rapists,
and Stalkers and Their Victims and Tells How to Fight Back
Over the past few months, “From the
Crime Writer’s Library” has focused on the work of John Douglas, the founder of
and once head of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit. For a crime
writing—be it true crime or fictional
crime—the works of John Douglas are a must read into the behavioral science and
understanding of the dark side of humanity.
In Obsession: The FBI's Legendary
Profiler Probes the Psyches of Killers, Rapists, and Stalkers and Their Victims
and Tells How to Fight Back by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Douglas
gives an unsugar coated account and profile of the crimes and case histories of
serial killers, serial rapists, child molesters, stalkers and others. “Douglas
shows how he and his colleagues can assess the different temperaments and
motivations at work behind grisly acts. Rapists tend to fall into four basic
categories, for example, the "power-reassurance rapist" (driven by
feelings of inadequacy), the "exploitive" rapist (impulsive and
overtly macho), the "anger" rapist (who uses sex to displace his
rage) and, cruelest of all, the "sadistic" rapist, who "simply
gets off on hurting people." What stands out in this eye-opening book is
how Douglas's compassion for the survivors of violent crimes seems to equal his
understanding of the criminals themselves. His description of the work of the
countless people who counsel, comfort and fight for the rights of victims
serves as a welcome reminder that horrific and isolated acts of darkness and
coldness are counterbalanced by a warmhearted and, one hopes, more natural
human determination to help.” (Publisher’s Weekly)
Douglas and Olshaker do even more as
they also give in this book many resources for victims, also a valuable
resource for writers of these crimes.
While we, crime writers, walk in the shadows of the darkness that
investigators like John Douglas and Mark Safarik found themselves immersed in.
Speaking for myself only, the writing of crime stories is not to glorify the
crime but to tear it apart, understand it, and help society in general and the
victims of the crimes face what has and is happening. Sometimes the only way to
shed light on the horrific side of man is to walk into the scary places of his
mind and soul.
The next edition of “From
the Crime Writer’s Library” will go into another work on profiling. This work
is the compellation of the unit Douglas started and provides the tools to dig
deeper into crime.
Thank you for reading and please visit
www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on
twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the
world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human
condition as he chooses.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
FREE! 6/22-6/24 in honor of HNS
By T.W. Fendley
Everything happens at once.
Three events I've been anticipating are all happening this week. Two are in Las Vegas--manifestation training offered by Dr. Joe Gallenberger, and the Applied Precognition Project conference. The third is in St. Petersburg, Fla.--the Historical Novel Society conference.
It was a hard decision, but with so many online friends to meet, I couldn't pass on Vegas!
In honor of the HNS conference, I'm offering the two prequels to ZERO TIME--my historical fantasy novel--for free on Kindle this weekend, ending Monday (June 22-24). I'm just sad I can't be in two places at one time (did I mention I'm a Steve Berry fan!).
JAGUAR HOPE, a novelette, tells of the ill-fated journey to Earth’s Age of Crystal. Two black jaguars become the symbol of hope for a race facing extinction when they accompany a dying traveler back to her home planet.
Four-year-old White Heron begins her journey as a master shaman when she arrives in Teotihuacan with her sister Quilla and Mama Couen. Her fledgling skills prove the only defense against a priest of the Lord of Darkness in THE MOTHER SERPENT’S DAUGHTER, a short story.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
SLWG Author Series on The Writers' Lens Tumblr Page!
SLWG
Author Series on the WL Tumblr Page!
On the third Thursday of every month, St.
Louis Writers Guild holds its long-standing lecture series. In May, I
interviewed L.S. Murphy author of Reaper and we discussed writing for young
adults and her process for creating stories. You can see the interviews on the
St. Louis Writers Guild website, and if you’re a member, you can participate online
during the interview, but now you can see them on The Writers’ Lens Tumblr
page!
SLWG Author Series Interview with L.S. Murphy
author of Reaper!
L. S.
Murphy
L.S.
Murphy lives in the Greater St. Louis area where she watches Cardinals
baseball, reads every book she can find, and weaves tales for teens and adults.
When not doing all of the above, she tends to The Bean (aka her daughter), her
husband and a menagerie of pets. “A Reason to Stay”, a contemporary romance
novella, is available as of November 2, 2012. Reaper is her debut
young adult novel and is available as of January 7th, 2013.
She is a co-rep for the Southern Illinois
region of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
and a member of the St. Louis Writer’s Guild.
To purchase Reaper by L. S. Murphy
L.S. Murphy
REAPER (J. Taylor Publishing)
A REASON TO STAY (Calliope - an imprint of
Musa Publishing)
SLWG Author Series
Third Thursday of every month
7-8pm
NEW LOCATION:
All on the Same Page Bookstore
11052 Olive Blvd. Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Free and open to the public!
St.
Louis Writers Guild has a new format for its long-standing Lecture Series. Like the webinars, the SLWG Author
Series is now available online.
There are three ways to view the interview.
1: Be part of the audience, the discussion continues even when the camera stops.
2: Watch live online and ask questions via text chat or Twitter.
3: Watch the recorded lecture after the event.
1: Be part of the audience, the discussion continues even when the camera stops.
2: Watch live online and ask questions via text chat or Twitter.
3: Watch the recorded lecture after the event.
As
a benefit of membership with St. Louis Writers Guild, an email will be sent
with a link to the live online broadcast of the interview.
The
next SLWG Author Series Event is Thursday, June 20, 2013!
For more information visit www.stlwritersguild.net
Brad R. Cook is a historical fantasy
author and President of St. Louis Writers Guild. Please visit www.bradrcook.com , follow me on Twitter @bradrcook https://twitter.com/bradrcook
,
or my tumblr page Thoughts from Midnight http://bradrcook.tumblr.com/
Friday, June 7, 2013
What Books Made You A Writer?
What Books Made You A Writer?
By Brad
R. Cook
Everyone
has a top ten list of favorite books. For some it may only be a top three, but
for writers and voracious readers, a top ten list of beloved books is a window
into the soul. A glimpse at the weave of our universe. This
isn’t a top ten list of the year, or even of my favorite novels – I don’t know
if I could have only ten, maybe a top 100 – no, I’m talking about the
books that inspired you to be a writer.
This
post was inspired by an article on the Top Ten Science Fiction Books that
people pretend they’ve read. I had read several, but it got me thinking about how
books influence us. Some of the books mentioned were fundamental to me becoming
a writer. What we read when we are young directly
affects how we write, what we write, and is part of the source of our passion
for writing.
Here’s
the article – how many have you read?
10
Science Fiction Novels You Pretend to Have Read (And Why You Should Actually
Read Them) by Charlie Jane Anders for io9.com
Today
what I am focused on are the books that moved you, help mold the person you are,
and made you the writer you are today.
10 books… that molded my life and inspired
me to write!
Lord of
the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien
– Don’t even try to create elvish,
it’s been done, but I will never forget when Eowyn rips off her helmet and says, “I am no man.” Best twist ever.
The
Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
– Love language and slang. Give an
English teacher something to talk about.
Dune by
Frank Herbert
– Epic is good, very epic is
awesome!
The
Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
– Good stories are timeless.
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Encyclopedia
Brown by Donald J. Sobol
– My first Sherlock. Remember to
slip in a few hidden clues.
The
Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
– Kenders teach us that Wanderlust
is a good.
Their
Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hursten
– Books can move you, fundamentally changing
who you are after reading them. Words
can paint.
20,000
Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
– Steampunk has always been cool,
and the best stories merge imagination and fact.
Le
Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory
– Books are timeless, and some of the
best fantasy was written over 500 years ago.
The
Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
– Follow your dreams.
I would be remiss if I didn’t include plays; it’s where I got my start.
Top 3 Plays or Musicals
Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
– Several could be here like,
Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or the Tempest but Macbeth is my favorite.
Man of
La Mancha (based on the book Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra)
– I think I like the musical better
than the book… did I say that out loud?
Noises
Off by Michael Frayn
– Comedy comes in many forms,
slapstick, one liners, and more.
And
since we are talking about books that formed who we are today, here are a few
blasts from my past.
Top 3 Kids Books
The
Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
– Think outside the box, or the
sandwich as it were.
Chitty-Chitty
Bang Bang by Ian Fleming
– Bond, middle grade Bond.
The Choose
Your Own Adventure Books
– I would reread them out-of-order making up
my own stories. They are probably directly responsible
for me becoming a writer.
Think
about the books that inspired you to write. Knowing where you come from and why you are standing where you are
today can be invaluable in helping you move forward. Ten might be too much, so…
What three novels inspired you to be a
writer?
List
them in the comment section below.
Brad R. Cook is a historical fantasy
author and President of St. Louis Writers Guild. Please visit www.bradrcook.com , follow me on Twitter @bradrcook https://twitter.com/bradrcook , or my
tumblr page Thoughts from Midnight http://bradrcook.tumblr.com/
St.
Louis Reflections http://www.stlbooks.com/B009271-1211-51/Review.aspx
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