Friday, June 29, 2012

Crimsonstreaking in Richmond


The Tour 2012 continues tomorrow in Richmond, Indiana. I return to my hometown* to sign copies of I, Crimsonstreak and catch up with friends.

Grab a copy, get a bookmark, and see if you can get me to sign a copy of 50 Shades of Grey.

Here's the relevant information:

4601 National Road East
Richmond, IN 47374
1pm-3pm

*I'm not from Richmond precisely...I grew up in Williamsburg. However, the Burg was destroyed in the book, thus...the signing is in Richmond.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Weekly Update

  • I, Crimsonstreak got a review at Comic Attack if you want to take a look at it. A follow-up interview is coming soon.
  • I will be at Hastings in Richmond, Indiana, on Saturday to sign some books and catch up with folks from my hometown.
  • I'm currently 38,000 words into my current work in progress, a humorous science fiction novel. The concept is interesting, but I'm not sure it's coming together just yet. I'm shooting for 90,000 on this one, putting me at a little less than the halfway point.
  • My next project will be a memoir "written" by Mortimer P. Willoughby. Working title: Mortimer: International Man of Taste and Intrigue. I'm excited about this one.
  • I saw Brave this week. Another solid, heartfelt movie from Pixar.
  • I plan to blog 20 Great Moments from Batman Begins and 20 Great Moments from The Dark Knight. This is all in preparation for the release of The Dark Knight Rises, that indie Batman movie that's been flying under the radar.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Current Reading List

The Kindle is great...death to the Kindle.

My reading list is waaaaaaaay too long.

Let's take a look:

Green Light Delivery by Anne E. Johnson
Wildcards I by George R.R. Martin
Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig
Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill
Fly into Fire by Susan Jane Bigelow
Haunting Blue by R.J. Sullivan
The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods by Hank Haney
Star Wars: Allegiance by Timothy Zahn
The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
After the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn
Crown of Vengeance (Fires of Eden Series) by Stephen Zimmer

You know what...actually...it doesn't look that bad.

These are the "priority" books. I'm always adding to the list, so even when I check one of these off, a new one gets added. My reading list is kind of like HYDRA that way, "Cut off one head...two more shall take its place."

Monday, June 25, 2012

In Richmond this week!

I'm Crimsonstreaking into Richmond, Indiana this weekend. I'll be at the Hastings on National Road East to swap stories and sign copies of I, Crimsonstreak. I'll be doing this from 1pm-3pm this Saturday.

It's the final confirmed stop on the Tour 2012, but once it's over, I still have some other things percolating.

Analyze Your Writing Style

I was having fun with the I Write Like tool. I took random passages from several of my novels and plugged them into the analyzer to see what would happen.

Here's what the tool found.

The Franchise:

I write like
Arthur Clarke

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Seven:

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



I, Crimsonstreak:

I write like
William Gibson

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Sheridan's Hammer:

I write like
Vladimir Nabokov

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



17th Parallel:

I write like
Charles Dickens

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Mortimer P. Willoughby's Guide to Superhero Etiquette (12th Edition):

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



I don't know the metrics involved here and obviously the analysis can't include things like tone and symbolism, but it's an interesting exercise. It's not exact, of course. Different sections of The Franchise returned different results (Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen King, and Charles Dickens--although the Clarke analysis was remarkably consistent). The program isn't suggesting my writing is up to the level of those great authors--it's simply saying there's an echo of their style and word choice reflected in my prose.

A fun exercise nonetheless.

I took a few sections of text from some of the authors I've recently read...here's what the program came up with:

Adam Christopher (Empire State, Angry Robot)

I write like
Raymond Chandler

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Susan Jane Bigelow (Broken, Candlemark & Gleam)

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles)

I write like
George Orwell

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



George R.R. Martin (A Clash of Kings, Bantam)

I write like
William Shakespeare

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island)

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Timothy Zahn (Star Wars: Allegiance, LucasBooks)

I write like
Cory Doctorow

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Jane Austen (Pride & Prejudice)

I write like
Jane Austen

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Chuck Wendig (Blackbirds, Angry Robot)

I write like
Chuck Palahniuk

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Stephen Zimmer (Crown of Vengeance - Fires of Eden Series), Seventh Star Press)

I write like
L. Frank Baum

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Random Amazon Review for a Computer:

I write like
Cory Doctorow

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



So...um...not an exact science, right?

Which author do you write like?

Click here to find out (it's a simple copy & paste of your text) & drop your answer in the comments.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Writing Music

I love music soundtracks. More specifically, I love music scores. Nothing immerses me better than throwing on some earphones and firing up some movie scores. I came across I few CD's I hadn't added to the collection on my computer and ripped them today.

The new additions:

The Rock
Jurassic Park
Air Force One
Gladiator
Saving Private Ryan
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The New Species of Rogue with Anne E. Johnson

A special guest joins me on the blog today. Let's welcome Anne E. Johnson, fellow Candlemark & Gleamer and author of the wacky sci-fi adventure Green Light Delivery.

Take it away, Anne!



“A romance in the picaresque style offers a good deal that is not a little amusing.”
When the British literary critic John Ballantyne wrote that in 1810, he invented a very useful term. “Picaresque” refers to any novel in a style dating back to sixteenth-century Spanish fiction, featuring a picaro, or rogue. Henry Fielding’s The History of Tom Jones - A Foundling and Hunter S. Thomson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are seminal English-language examples, although they were written more than two centuries apart.

I should hasten to add that, in 1810, “romance” did not mean love story. It meant adventure story. So a picaresque novel is an adventure about a rogue or rascal or trickster. These stories also normally have a main character who travels around a lot, allowing him to have far-flung adventures and play the rogue to many different people.

Which brings us to Green Light Delivery. I’ve been mulling over whether my novel can be considered picaresque.

Green Light Delivery offers plenty of adventure. There are intriguing and dangerous techno-gadgets. There’s reckless driving on water, land, and air (or in vacuum, as the case may be). There’s gang warfare and a mysterious lunch buffet. Everything an adventure-seeking reader could want.

The main character certainly does his share of traveling. Webrid, a carter who delivers goods for a living, has a laser implanted in his skull at the beginning of the story. Turns out it’s a delivery job, and he spends the whole novel wandering around, even planet-hopping, in search of the client who ordered the stupid thing.

So far, so picaresque. The big question, though, is whether Webrid can be considered a picaro. Unlike most classic rogues and tricksters, Webrid is not terribly cunning, although he does get himself out of a few scrapes. Fortunately for him, he has the good sense to surround himself with very smart friends to help with the heavy thinking.

But Webrid does have a biting tongue on him. Two tongues, actually. And his sarcastic quips in every situation and against every species he meets are enough to make him seem a pwetty wascally alien.

And there’s no denying his roguish eye for the ladies, even the ones with suction cups. So I say, yes. Webrid qualifies as a picaro.

And what about Ballantyne’s claim that a picaresque novel should be “not a little amusing”? As Webrid’s grandfather used to say to him, “People will laugh when you tell ’em you’re a carter, boy-o.” I sincerely hope he was right.

Green Light Delivery is available from the following retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Webrid is a carter, like his mother and grandfather before him. It's not glamorous work, but it pays the bills, and it gives him time to ogle the sexy women on the streets of Bexilla's capital. Mostly, he buys and sells small goods and does the occasional transport run for a client.

Then he gets mugged by a robot.

Now, with a strange green laser implanted in his skull and a small fortune deposited in his bank account, Webrid has to make the most difficult delivery of his life. He doesn't know who his client is, or what he's carrying, but he knows that a whole lot of very dangerous people are extremely interested in what's in his head. Literally. And they'll do whatever it takes to get it.

With the help of some truly alien friends, a simple carter will journey across worlds to deliver his cargo. And hopefully keep his head in the process.

Drawing on an eclectic background that includes degrees in classical languages and musicology, Anne E. Johnson has published in a wide variety of topics and genres. She's written feature articles about music in serials such as The New York Times and Stagebill Magazine, and seven non-fiction books for kids with the Rosen Group. She has published nearly thirty short stories, both for adults and kids.

Greenlight Delivery (Candlemark & Gleam) is her first science fiction novel. She is also a children’s author. Ebenezer's Locker, a tween paranormal mystery novel, was recently published by MuseItUp. Her tween medieval mystery, Trouble at the Scriptorium will be released by Royal Fireworks Press in August.

You can learn more about Anne E. Johnson on her website.

For updates on publications and appearances, like her Facebook Author Page.


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Comic Attack Review

Andrew Hudson at Comic Attack reviewed I, Crimsonstreak, and it seems he liked it. His favorite thing about the book? I'll let him take it from here.
Speaking of characters, Matt Adams’s greatest strength here is the characters’ chemistries and dialog, with many of the lines being used for well done humor. One of my favorite chemistries is between Crimsonstreak and Mortimer. Mortimer is Crusading Comet’s butler, essentially what Alfred is to Batman. Mortimer’s dry, backhanded remarks which drive Crimsonstreak insane always make for good comedic relief.
Check out the full review here.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Interview at Inkproductions

The awesome Elle at Inkproductions.org asked me a few questions about I, Crimsonstreak over at her website.

We talk about a lot of things--my road to publication, my preferred superpower, and what inspired me to write the novel:
Simply, I love superheroes. I may not be the most rabid comic book reader out there, but the world of tights and flights, capes and cowls fascinates me. I’ve always loved them, from Batman to Superman to the X-Men and Spider-Man (a lot of “man” in there, isn’t there? Geez!), and wanted to put my own spin on superheroes–something that was bright, splashy, and fun.
You can find out more (including my biggest writing quirk) right here.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Weekly Update

  • I've completed the first draft of 17th Parallel. I'm about a fifth of the way through the first pass of revisions. There's a lot to do.
  • The sequel to I, Crimsonstreak is almost ready to undergo a significant overhaul. I also plan to write material for the book's appendices.
  • I'm toying with the idea of writing a "memoir" by the great Mortimer P. Willoughby. I think I have the basic concept nailed down. I need to outline and refine it.
  • I'll be at the Hastings in Richmond, Indiana, on June 30 for a book signing. I'd love to see a lot of my old high school pals there.
  • I'm working on a first draft of a satirical science fiction book. I'm holding this one close to the vest for now, but I really do like the concept.
  • Unless I continue to write the first draft of my latest book at a breakneck pace, I want to devote time next week to polishing and submitting short stories.
  • The last bit of news has nothing to do with me. I'm still glad to share it. A class action complaint has been filed against scammy PublishAmerica. You can read more about that here. I've read through the complaint...and it's pure gold. I hope everyone gets their money back...and that this drives PA into the ground.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Take 5 with Zeus Caesar



Matt: A first today for our Crimsonstreak Tour 2012 Take 5 series...a bona fide supervillain. Zeus Caesar joins me on the blog to...um...I guess we'll find out. Thank you for joining us today.

Zeus Caesar: Who is this "us" you speak of? Are there others listening in? Are they hidden? Have they powers?

Matt: It's a blog...you know what? Never mind. Thanks for joining me.

Zeus Caesar: Do you wish to take over the world? Do you wish me to join you in this bold endeavor?

Matt: (facepalm) Tell me about your upbringing. Where did you grow up?

Zeus Caesar: I was suckled by the gods themselves, raised up high on Olympus and privy to the glory and honor of the highest powers. With my mighty hammer I crushed all comers and became worthy of renown, forging mine own army of Legionnaires to sweep across this tainted sphere and restore the full glory of the Roman Empire.

[Editor's Note: Zeus Caesar was born Arthur Roman in 1973. He grew up in New York. This story about being "suckled by the gods" on "Olympus" is his usual delusional rambling. It is included for entertainment purposes only. Note how he mixes in some Nordic lunacy. To my knowledge, he never carried a hammer.]

Matt: That's quite a story. This Legionnaires Army...where did it come from?

Zeus Caesar: I was granted these charges by Olympus himself, who sent me an army of powerful warriors to crush the armies of this mortal realm and remake the Empire.

[Editor's Note: Here, Caesar refers to Olympus a god. It's a mountain. The "warriors" sent from Olympus were mostly disaffected extras from a Hollywood epic. Surprisingly, he actually did train them well for combat.]

Matt: Are you Greek or Roman?

Zeus Caesar: Yes.

Matt: I see. So, what's with the lightning?

Zeus Caesar: As the son of Zeus and Caesar, I command the heavens. I strike with the mighty roar of my forebears, unleashing energies of untold power.

[Editor's Note: Translation: he controls lightning. Again, he was born in New York. His parents were immigrants, although he seems to believe Zeus and Julius Caesar created him. He might mean this literally...but then again we are talking about Zeus Caesar. He's...unbalanced.]

Matt: What's going on up there? In your head?

Zeus Caesar: This question baffles me.

Matt: This interview baffles me. Let's say you kill someone in battle. What happens to them?

Zeus Caesar: (nods and smiled broadly) Yes, now I understand. I am afflicted with the souls of those whose lives I have taken. They continue to live within me, as if I am Charon guiding their souls across the river Styx. I fear they may never reach home.

Matt: That actually explains a few things.

Zeus Caesar: What things?

Matt: It's not important. Thank you for joining me.

Zeus Caesar: Cura ut valeas.

Matt: Read more about Zeus Caesar in I, Crimsonstreak, available in a variety of formats from these fine retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

GO TO CRIMSONSTREAK CENTRAL!

Friday, June 8, 2012

In Madison Tomorrow!

If you're in the Southern Indiana/Louisville area, I'll be signing at That Book Place tomorrow. We'll go from 11am to 2pm or so. Would love to see you there...I'll literally sign anything.

Here's the address:

337 Clifty Drive
Madison, IN 47250

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Take 5 with Warren Kensington III



Matt: We've already interviewed his son...now we welcome Warren Kensington III to the blog for Take 5.

Warren III: Thanks for having me, but I'm in uniform.

Matt: You want me to call you the Crusading Comet?

Warren III: Please.

Matt: We talked about this. You know what you have to do.

Warren III: (grunts) Do I have to?

Matt: I can call you "Trip" or "Trey" if you like, Mister Kensington.

Warren III: (defeated sigh) I'm Batman.

Matt: (claps) Thank you. The Crusading Comet joins me today. First question. Where do you get those wonderful toys?

Crusading Comet: I don't think I like the direction of this interview.

Matt: What about those toys?

Crusading Comet: I don't have toys. I have tools. Gadgets. Weapons. Not toys. Most of them are assembled in-house with supplies appropriated from different markets. Mortimer is my acquisitions expert.

Matt: What about the acronyms? Why CIGAR (Comet Intrusion Glider for Aerial Reconnaissance)? Why the Comet Aerobic Recreational Drilling and Intensive Athletic Center (CARDIAC)?

Crusading Comet: It's our way of putting our mark on our tools.

Matt: You could just...stamp them with a Crusading Comet logo.

Crusading Comet: We do.

Matt: You mentioned Mortimer P. Willoughby just a minute ago. A charming man, for sure. What role does he play?

Crusading Comet: The question really is "what role doesn't he play?" Mortimer is everything you could ever ask for. Mentor. Confidant. Chauffeur. Pilot. Craftsman. He was like a father to me...and like a father to Warren.

Matt: Let's delve into your relationship with your son, who will one day take up the mantle of the Crusading Comet. How would you describe your relationship with him?

Crusading Comet: Warren has a lot to live up to. His father is a superhero. His grandfather was a superhero. His great-grandfather was a superhero. For better or worse, it's part of being a Kensington man. It isn't always easy. While other trust fund kids were going on expensive trips and getting designer clothes, my son was learning hand-to-hand combat and working on his computer skills. Leading a double life is hard enough when it's just one of you. Bringing a son into it...complicates things.

Matt: I imagine that's where Morty is a big help.

Crusading Comet: He doesn't like being called "Morty." But, yes, Mortimer is the unofficial teacher and trainer of future Crusading Comets. My responsibilities often keep me out of the penthouse. Mortimer always picked up the slack. I can't imagine what we'd do if he left.

Matt: Shifting gears a bit here, but what can you say about Colonel Chaos?

Crusading Comet: Chaos is a super-powerful, super-intelligent man. I think, if the world were ever in danger, he's the person I'd want in charge. He's fair-minded and sees the big picture. That's a actually a hard thing to admit. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye...my family had dealings with him before he became a good guy. Chaos could've plunged our world into an abyss we'd never be able to claw our way out of. He's changed. Our mutual distaste subsided during a crisis in the Heroic Legion.

Matt: You're talking about the Trial of Demonspawn.

Crusading Comet: That's correct. Some of our prominent heroes, mostly Samson Knight and Great Alexander, wanted a summary judgment. Chaos felt a fair trial was in order. I agreed. It was one of the few times we found common ground on anything. Subsequently, our views began to align.

Matt: That's all we have time for today. Thank you for joining us.

Crusading Comet: This was...better...than I thought it would be.

Matt: Glad to hear it. You can learn more about the Crusading Comet and his world in I, Crimsonstreak, available from these fine retailers in a variety of formats:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

GO TO CRIMSONSTREAK CENTRAL!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Take 5 with Scarlet DashBoy



Matt: I'm pleased to welcome Scarlet DashBoy--one of the lesser heroes in the I, Crimsonstreak universe--to the blog today.

Scarlet DashBoy: What do you mean, "lesser?"

Matt: I mean you're not in the book as much as some of the others, obviously.

Scarlet DashBoy: Oh, okay.

Matt: DashBoy, what's your ability?

Scarlet DashBoy: I'm a super-speedster, like Crimsonstreak.

Matt: Do you do anything else? Shoot laser beams from your eyes?

Scarlet DashBoy: No.

Matt: Fly?

Scarlet DashBoy: No.

Matt: Jump high?

Scarlet DashBoy: No.

Matt: Just a super-speedster, then?

Scarlet DashBoy: Yeah. Now wait a second...I'm just like Crimsonstreak. He can't do any of those things.

Matt: His parents can.

Scarlet DashBoy: But how's that--

Matt: Next question, then. What is your fascination with Crimsonstreak? I've asked you two questions and you've mentioned his name twice already.

Scarlet DashBoy: You've asked like seven questions.

Matt: I didn't know you could count that high. Just answer the last one.

Scarlet DashBoy: I've always looked up to Crimsonstreak. Like, he's the best superhero out there. He's funny, he's fast, he wears a red costume. I love red.

Matt: I think he prefers people to refer to his uniform as crimson. You've kind of taken the same approach to fighting crime as Crimsonstreak, then?

Scarlet DashBoy: What do you mean?

Matt: Not to put too fine a point on it, but you basically ripped off everything about him.

Scarlet DashBoy: So I wear red. I run fast. That doesn't mean I'm just like Crimsonstreak.

Matt: There's that name again.

Scarlet DashBoy: You made the comparison.

Matt: You call yourself Scarlet DashBoy. Your power is super-speed. You don't see any similarities?

Scarlet DashBoy: I guess he did kind of rip off my style.

Matt: I see. He says you took his super-suit once and made everyone think you were him. Is that true?

Scarlet DashBoy: Sometimes you have to help those lesser heroes make a name for themselves.

Matt: You didn't answer the question.

Scarlet DashBoy: There was a big crisis. I wanted people to think Crimsonstreak was there to handle it.

Matt: Are you sure you didn't want to save the day and have everyone give you the credit?

Scarlet DashBoy: I don't think I like you.

Matt: I don't think anyone likes you.

Scarlet DashBoy: That's not very nice.

Matt: Neither is stealing another hero's identity. (sighs) Are you going to be in the next book?

Scarlet DashBoy: Will there be a next book?

Matt: I don't know.

Scarlet DashBoy: You're not much help.

Matt: You wanna do the plug?

Scarlet DashBoy: Sure. I, Scarlet DashBoy is available at a variety of fine retailers...

Matt: The book is called I, Crimsonstreak.

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

BACK TO CRIMSONSTREAK CENTRAL!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Take 5 with Miss Lightspeed



Matt: We're set for another Take 5 today. Joining me is Karen Jo Fairborne, better known to the world as Miss Lightspeed. Thank you for being with us.

Miss Lightspeed: My pleasure, Matt.

Matt: Your husband is famous and infamous, your son equally so. How do you keep it all together?

Miss Lightspeed: Some days I don't know the answer to that one. Bill [William Avery Fairborne AKA Colonel Chaos] and Chris [Christopher Gregory Fairborne AKA Crimsonstreak] are a handful. When you add saving the world to that equation...life gets tricky. I try to do the typical "mom" things, you owe that to your children, but I have another set of responsibilities to juggle. I've learned how to prioritize over the years, and I hope I've taught my family that injustice and poverty are just as important to fight as the average villain of the week.

Matt: Do you think your husband and son have gotten that message?

Miss Lightspeed: For the most part, I believe so. It was much harder on Chris when he was younger. Now that he's getting older, I believe he really understands why I have to be away from home sometimes. And Bill...well, my husband is like me in many ways. He doesn't love it when I'm gone, but he knows I'll go where I'm needed when I'm needed.

Matt: Let's talk a little bit about the Super Diplomats Corps. This has been a controversial undertaking for a woman who's been so beloved worldwide.

Miss Lightspeed: Is there a question in there? Or are you going to browbeat your viewers with opinions disguised as questions?

Matt: (bites lip) What can you tell us about the Super Diplomats Corps?

Miss Lightspeed: (smiles) The Corps is one of my passions. Superheroes shouldn't be limited to stopping bank robberies and taking down supervillains. There's a bigger picture we have to see. We have to take a look at society and see where things are going wrong; where injustices go unnoticed. I had the idea for a team of heroes that would look at these international crises and find ways to solve them. I was fortunate enough to encounter like-minded individuals who joined the cause. Our primary goal is humanitarian aid and social justice. It may not get as much attention as throwing a bad guy through a window, but I argue that it's more important.

Matt: You've taken some heat for intervening in certain countries. How do you respond to those who are critical of your efforts?

Miss Lightspeed: I'm assuming you're referring to our operations in places like Cuba, Iran, and North Korea?

Matt: That's correct.

Miss Lightspeed: To look at the leaders of a country and then assume all the people are the same way just isn't right. Those people need just as much help--probably more--than anyone else. How is a disaster in Paducah, Kentucky, or Las Vegas, Nevada, any different than one in Pyongyang or Tehran? Do those people suffer any more? Any less? Why refuse to provide humanitarian aid in a crisis? How does that improve the world? The Super Diplomats Corps sees the global picture. We're all in this together. I know that's a simplistic way of looking at things, but superheroes are here to help. If that means extending an olive branch to countries that aren't "in the club," so be it.

Matt: Clearly, this is a passion for you. I suppose anyone who gives you flak for this would have to deal with your husband.

Miss Lightspeed: They'd have to deal with me first. Bill could take whatever's left.

Matt: Let's get to the last question now. What do you think of the Heroic Legion?

Miss Lightspeed: (inhales deeply) Well...that could be five questions on its own. The group means well, but sometimes they're too bureaucratic for my tastes. They make a motion, they take a vote, they make a motion about the vote, vote on the motion, and then, if we're lucky, they take action. It's not that I don't have respect for governments and policies, because I believe that's where everything starts. In a crisis, people need to see their leaders take quick and effective action. Sitting in a room and delaying what you know to be the right response doesn't help anyone. I wish the Legion understood that. I think, deep down, they do.

Matt: Thank you for joining me today, Miss Lightspeed. You can read more about her and the Fairborne family in I, Crimsonstreak, available at these fine retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

BACK TO CRIMSONSTREAK CENTRAL!

Monday, June 4, 2012

News and Notes for the Week of June 4

  • The first draft of 17th Parallel, my latest novel, is almost finished! It currently clocks in at 98,000 words and is well on its way to 100,000. I already have some major changes in mind, but I have to complete the draft before I can take care of those.
  • I'm getting ready to re-read the sequel to I, Crimsonstreak. Once that's finished, I expect to make some significant tweaks to the narrative. The book seems a little overstuffed at the moment, so I need to streamline some plot points and characters. A few of the main characters are underwritten and underdeveloped.
  • Another superhero novel, The Franchise, is almost ready for beta readers. I've polished the book over the last two months and plan to do another read-through to see if I can solve a few of the problems with the manuscript.
  • My second book signing for I, Crimsonstreak is this Saturday in Madison, Indiana. I'll be at That Book Place to talk about the book and sign a few copies. Would love to see you there if you're anywhere in the Madison/Louisville area!
  • I will have another signing at Hastings in Richmond, Indiana, on June 30.
  • I may dust off some of my short stories and submit them to some different markets. I've been concentrating primarily on novels over the last few months, but I have some short fiction I'd like to place. Perhaps I'll devote next week specifically to my short stories.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Take 5 with Warren Kensington IV


Matt: Another Take 5 to share with you today. Joining me on the blog, Warren Kensington IV. Thanks for being here.

Warren IV: Whatever.

Matt: You're sometimes referred to as the "Once and Future Crusading Comet." What does that mean?

Warren IV: You tell me. It's a stupid epithet. What does it mean...that I'm King Arthur? It doesn't make any sense.

Matt: I hear you're quite the technological marvel. Show me something that will wow me.

Warren IV: (takes phone from pocket, makes a series of quick button presses) Check out your Twitter stream.

Matt: (pulls out phone, checks Twitter) "I'm a Nancy boy who loves the Patriots and that one Selena Gomez song." That's very mature.

Note: The following Twitter mini-war then erupted:


Matt: You promise you'll stop with the Twitter hacking?

Warren IV: If you'll stop calling me the "Once and Future Crusading Comet."

Matt: You haven't read the sequel, have you? (Warren shakes his head) Sure. I'll stop calling you that.

Warren IV: Next question.

Matt: When did this turn into a Drew Rosenhaus press conference?

Warren IV: What?

Matt: Never mind. Third question. What can you tell me about Mortimer P. Willoughby?

Warren IV: Mortimer's been like a second father to me. Well, maybe a first father; it's hard to say. Dad says Mortimer's been with me since the day I was born. It certainly feels like it, anyway. He's a great teacher and mentor, although sometimes I can't stand to be around him. He gets all...uptight sometimes. He's always talking about rules and etiquette and protocol. Like a living Threepio...with sarcasm.

Matt: You just compared your father figure to a droid from Star Wars. What are you, kid? Like fifteen?

Warren IV: I'm seventeen years old.

Matt: That's pretty young.

Warren IV: You keep up this interview style, I'll outlive you.

Matt: Point...taken. We've touched on Morty and your knack for computer wizardry. Let's talk a little bit about Crimsonstreak. You guys didn't get off to a good start, did you?

Warren IV: Hmmmm...let's see. The guy left my father at the Clermont Institution for the Criminally Insane. His father took over the world and started a war on superheroes. My father never thought too highly of him and neither did Mortimer. I was skeptical of his motives and his methods, but a funny thing happened on the way to saving the world. It turned out he was one of the good guys after all.

Matt: It seems like you guys eventually became friends, which is pretty cool. Last question. What was it like going through the Comet Accelerator?

Warren IV: (Smiles...yes, actually smiles) Oh, man. That was one wild, righteous ride. It was like being squeezed through a tube while simultaneously being wrapped in a warm blanket of your memories. I saw kids I hadn't seen since kindergarten, communed with cartoon characters, and re-watched every movie I'd ever seen. The experience lasted an eternity, but it was no more than a blink of an eye.

Matt: Thanks for joining me today, Warren. Do you want to wrap up with the book plug?

Warren IV: Why would I want to do that?

Matt: Mortimer did it. So did Colonel Chaos.

Warren IV: I'm not them.

Matt: All righty, then. I, Crimsonstreak is available in a variety of formats from these fine retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

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