The Farthest Reaches

And the Winner Is...

2012-01-13T08:57:00.000-06:00

You've met the Decision Committee. You've been privy to the short list of nominees. Now, it's my great honour to introduce the final winner of this year's Farthest Reach Award. The Indie Book Collective (IBC) In no particular order, the principals of the IBC are: Amber Scott Carolyn McCray Rachel Thompson My most sincere congratulations, ladies! And to

Behind The Words // Marni Mann

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'll be honest. I'm not sure what drew me to try Marni Mann's new book. She and I have been connected on the web via Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and probably a few other places for some time, and I knew what she liked to read, what she liked about my writing and that she seemed very far from the subject matter of her first novel. Yeah. That's it. I think that's has to be it, the very heart of

The Farthest Reach Award // 2012 Short List Announced

2011-12-08T10:53:00.001-06:00

It's been a long road, but we finally have whittled down the close to 50 nominees to our short list of five. In the coming weeks, watch this website for an announcement of the final winner from this list. It could be anyone shown below. For more information on the Farthest Reach Award, please learn more here. So without further ado... On behalf of the Decision Committee, I mark this moment by

Behind The Words // David Lender

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

I met Author David Lender through his acquaintance with a good friend of mine, Eden Baylee. She said, "Hey, check this guy out!" I did. And it began a connection that has, thus far, culminated in David coming to the Reaches to hang out. More about David, and, boyohboy, it gets interesting: He's the bestselling author of Vaccine Nation, Trojan Horse, The Gravy Train and Bull Street. He spent

Behind The Words // J. Thorn

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

J. Thorn is a writer, artist, musician, educator, student, husband, father, cynic, and human. In addition to writing novels and blogging, J. fronts Cleveland doom metal band, Threefold Law. He recently began converting novels to Kindle books for other authors (at ConvertForKindle.com) and enjoys frightening his kids with original bedtime stories. He’s been known to speak in HTML code. I

Behind The Words // Susan Helene Gottfried

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Susan Helen Gottfried is a multi-talented wonder. She writes, she edits, she designs, she markets. I first fell into her lap (oh she'll love that euphemism) when we were hanging around Bestsellerbound.com late last year and we've had a tug-of-war of wit ever since (She's the wit, I'm the war). She writes about rock and roll and, hell, if anyone's been keeping up with me, we all know I love me

Behind The Words // Allen Schatz

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Allen Schatz is the author of two mystery/suspense stories, “Game 7: Dead Ball” and “7th Inning Death” and approached me to see if we might be able to find room for him on The Farthest Reaches. I was excited and pleased that he would be interested and, not knowing his work, I was still keen on learning about his creative process. So, without ado, I graciously turn the floor over to Allen...

Behind The Words // Luke Romyn

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

I came into contact with author Luke Romyn earlier this year on the web, just as I have most of the fellow authors I call acquaintances and friends. Though we've yet to really get into any hearty debates or trade any material with each other (barbs, praise or otherwise), I get the sense from Luke that he's passionate about writing and keen on creating a unique reader experience right from the

The Night Walk Men, Book 1 - Preview an Excerpt

2011-10-13T09:12:00.000-06:00

The Night Walk Men is a short novella that acts as a prologue to an as-yet unfinished and much longer work. I released the prologue last year and, since October of 2010, it's been downloaded by over 50,000 readers. I took that as my cue to keep working on this universe and allow us to get better acquainted with Sperro, Fallow and the rest of the Night Walk Men. So I'm working on Book One of

Behind The Words // Cyndi Tefft

2011-10-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

The year was 2010. The month, October. I was a fainting fool at the hands of a brand new Twitter account. I had all of three followers. I was excited. I believe one of my first half-dozen followers was an indie author named Cyndi Tefft. She seemed enamoured with my surname and confessed to being madly in love with people from Scotland. I quickly unlisted my phone number and wrote a hasty

BLED // Launch Tour Continues with 50 FREE copies!

2011-09-21T13:27:00.000-06:00

September 18th, 2011 was the official launch date of my new novella BLED. You can learn more about it. So, right now, the first 50 copies of BLED sold at AMAZON will get a copy of SHED, the second book in the series sent to the buyer by email for FREE. Just send your Kindle receipt directly to me jason (@) thefarthestreaches.com and I'll send you SHED in the format of your choice. Also, to

J. Alexander Greenwood // What Happens Next?

2011-09-20T10:41:00.002-06:00

Alex Greenwood's approach to the marketing of his fiction is similar to my own. He's spent the last year or so building up recognition of his first title, 'Pilate's Cross' with appearances on book blogs, author sites, social media and traditional media. He's had a successful run at creating a unique mix of virtual bookshelf space for his work and also traditional space by doing media events and

Larry Enright Presents: A King in a Court of Fools

2011-09-10T06:00:00.033-06:00

WANTED One Dead Tree Paperback or Alive in EBook! For Having Way too Much Fun Name: Tom Ryan Age: 10 Physical Description: Too big for his britches, too tough for his own good Distinguishing features: a scar in the shape of your nose on his right hand Aliases: “The King,” “Tom Terrific,” “Hey Ryan,” and “Big Trouble” Known to frequent: The Cherry Tree Hideout, Isaly’s, The

Behind The Words // L.M. Stull

2011-09-02T06:00:00.012-06:00

Watching L.M. Stull's Twitter avatar these days is like the downtown Christmas light display. It's brilliant and beautiful. But in a second or two, it'll change. And I know she'll be amused by this comment. Laughing yet, Lisa? L.M. Stull (Lisa) is one of those rare writers who is not solely focused on writing but also on how it gets to readers. As such, she's an active member of several

BLED - Trailer now online!

2011-08-30T07:35:00.005-06:00

SHED has been downloaded by readers over 15,000 times since its arrival last October. It's the story of two young boys in the island town of Dovetail Cove who are coming to grips with a new and demanding stepfather. But there's more. Something's not right in Dovetail Cove. Readers have felt passion, deep investment, and melancholy reading the story of Simon and Rupert in SHED. Now the legacy

Surpassing 100,000 Downloads

2011-08-29T11:29:00.000-06:00

Today, a press release went out announcing that 113,000 copies of Jason McIntyre books have been downloaded in the last twelve months. Where did they go? They went primarily to Amazon Kindle users, but also to readers using the Barnes & Noble Nook, the Apple iPad and other iDevices, plus through Smashwords, which offers ebooks in most available formats. It's a pretty exciting time to be

Behind The Words // Ryne Douglas Pearson

2011-08-26T06:00:00.014-06:00

Ryne Douglas Pearson is a screenwriter, author, and whackjob. The good kind of whackjob, though, one who doesn't do it for the bodycount. He's in it for the entertainment value, pure and simple. I met Ryne through BestsellerBound.com late last year and our online friendship (no, Mom, not *that* kind of 'online friendship') has definitely evolved. First we were flagrant enemies (

Behind The Words // Ryan Dalton

2011-08-19T06:00:00.011-06:00

It's refreshing to meet someone so forthright about their goals and aspirations. Ryan Dalton is writing his first book and he's gearing up to let the world know about it. He's approachable, funny and really enjoys the networking aspect of being a writer. Plus, Ryan has recently started a blog, www.ryandaltonwrites.com, where he aims to talk about his writing process among a myriad of other topics

In The Dark - Suspense and Horror

2011-08-10T09:30:00.000-06:00

It's been long overdue, and after some demands on my life were made, I decided to make another 'In The Dark' video. I'm doing these a bit faster now, as I get accustomed to yakking in front of a camera so, if viewers/readers here at The Farthest Reaches are interested in seeing me goof-off in my dark studio some more, leave a comment so I know if I should keep staying up late and finding

Behind The Words // Jonas Saul

2011-08-03T05:00:00.005-06:00

I met writer Jonas Saul through his lovely wife, Brenda Sedore. Readers here at the Farthest Reaches will remember that I had Brenda as a guest some months ago and I've been looking for an excuse to have her husband here for a stint ever since. Jonas Saul, as you'll find out is a pseudonym and, as it happens, an increasingly successful one. Though Saul has been a prolific writer for years,

Behind The Words // Ellie Ann Soderstrom

2011-07-27T06:00:00.010-06:00

Ellie Ann Soderstrom assures me she hasn't yet published a book. I assure her that there's still a place for her -- a big one -- here at The Farthest Reaches. Behind the Words is about talking your way through the process of writing, about seeing what habits form the successes we call words on paper. And besides, Ellie's good Twitter friend (and mine), Ryne Douglas Pearson says putting "your butt

Flash Fiction // Remembering Train Car Six

2011-07-21T10:06:00.004-06:00

I challenged readers and writers who visit The Farthest Reaches to write a little flash story based on the prompt, "A forgetful character starts discovering actions made in his favour at some point in the past. The only catch? He honestly can't remember doing them himself. Funny, sad, poignant or horrific, have fun with it. No character limit, but maybe anywhere from 200 up to a couple thousand.

Behind The Words // Al Boudreau

2011-07-20T11:14:00.001-06:00

Al Boudreau. Novelist. Indie supporter. Tweeting mad man. There are more titles for Al, but he'd probably appreciate this one the best: friend to authors across the world. Al is also a member of the decision committee for the 2011 Farthest Reach Award, dedicated to recognizing outstanding members of the book marketing community. Al's going to be working with the team to winnow down the

Taking Care of Future Jason

2011-07-17T06:24:00.005-06:00

No, I didn't name my son Jason Jr. This is a vanity post, make no mistake, but not quite in the same way. I thought I'd mix it up and talk a little bit about my life and how I think. By that last clause, some of you are surely ready to jump in with a smarmy comment. I invite you to. Most readers of The Farthest Reaches are astute, capable and filled with wit. And you should take every chance you

Behind The Words // Maria Savva

2011-06-30T08:41:00.006-06:00

Maria Savva is one of those fine folks who is always a pleasure to speak with, work with and, in my case, even write with. Late last year, I had the distinct pleasure of co-authoring a suspense-farce novella called Cutting The Fat with Maria and, boy, did we have a blast. Among many benefits, that exercise allowed a writer like myself into the world of someone like Maria and probably allowed some

The Farthest Reach Award // Announcing the Decision Committee

2011-06-29T08:25:00.013-06:00

A short time ago, nominations opened on The Farthest Reach Award, with the goal of giving kudos and high-fives to indie and pro writers, publishers, book professionals and readers who are doing a bang-up job of marketing themselves or their industry. Learn more about the Award here and please consider making a nomination of support for someone you feel deserves recognition. The time has come

Behind The Words // Marty Beaudet

2011-06-23T06:00:00.004-06:00

A mormon missionary in the CIA? A book written based on a nightmare? Without a doubt, Author Marty Beaudet's work runs the gamut. I first came into contact with him on Bestsellerbound.com and then later at Facebook and Twitter. I've been fascinated watching his evolution from the political thriller world to suspense and psychological drama. He always seems to be trying something new. As a writer,

Announcing the 2012 Farthest Reach Award

2011-06-21T09:43:00.012-06:00

Nominations are open! The Farthest Reaches is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the 2012 Farthest Reach Award, honouring brilliance and 'reach' in the world of book marketing, sales and readership. Do you know someone who, this year, has displayed unprecedented successes in marketing or promoting their own work or the work of others in the field of books and publishing?

Behind The Words // Casey Ryan

2011-06-15T07:00:00.016-06:00

So far, Behind The Words has focused on authors sharing a little about how they work and where the magic happens. My hope is to expand the reach of this feature and talk to professionals in many other areas. This week, we're looking at a radio host, personality and interviewer to discover some of the motivations and strategies behind his words. I connected with podcast host Casey Ryan via

Behind The Words // Darcia Helle

2011-06-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hello to all and a huge thank you to Jason for inviting me to hang out here today. You're probably wondering who I am and why you should care. Honestly, I often wonder that myself. Don't you hate it when someone says, "Tell me about yourself,"? What does that mean? My height, weight, age, hair color and eye color doesn't tell you much, aside from whether I take up two seat cushions on the

Writing is like...

2011-06-07T23:25:00.005-06:00

This is a blog meme, instigated by my friend and fellow writer, S.B. Poscente. You can hang out with her at her place and I highly recommend that you do. Now, on to my little attempt at keeping this meme alive... Writing is like...being cast away on an exotic island. You have beautiful things to eat but no cutlery. The fish, lobster and crab are the best you've ever seen and you just know

The Night Walk Men // unBound and Determined

2011-06-06T23:53:00.004-06:00

To everyone the last week who helped spread the word about my novelette, The Night Walk Men, I want to extend my hand to you. Thanks to all of you --you know who you are-- for helping to push this story as high as [EDIT] #3 on the Amazon Kindle Top 100. It also topped out as #1 for Suspense fiction and #1 in Occult fiction before it began its retreat from the top ten. In about a week's time,

Behind The Words // Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

2011-05-25T06:00:00.008-06:00

As a writer, Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick is as prolific as he thinks I am, if not more so. The author of four novels, plus the purveyor of an author-centric and review blog, Joel also devotes time to marketing, self-publishing and is the newly anointed Acquisitions Director for Journalstone Publishing. Joel and I met late last year and soon, I was honored to be included as a guest at his blog. He

Behind The Words // Ann Mauren

2011-05-19T03:00:00.010-06:00

Author Ann Mauren pays attention. She pays attention to the details of story, character, plot and book marketing. And, what's even more impressive, she pays attention to the details of her tweeps' lives and all the various things they're doing. On Twitter--and in life--Ann Mauren is a pleasure to know. I was lucky enough to get some time with Ann and learn a bit about what she's working on,

Ah. Food. (And an Award)

2011-05-18T10:28:00.001-06:00

I've been bestowed the "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog" Award by fellow blogger, author, and wonderful person S.B. Poscente. Check out her awesome digs here. That cake looks so good but I'm an hour or two out from lunch so I'll stop licking my monitor. I suggest you do the same. But, S.B. is right when she said, "Doesn't that make your mouth water?" Here's a great big THANK YOU to S.B. who I

East Meets West

2011-05-15T07:00:00.001-06:00

East Meets West is a short story from my upcoming anthology BLACK LIGHT OF DAY. It will appear on this website for one day and then be removed. Tell your friends about it if you think they like freaky dramatic tension in the Burbs. I know I do. EDIT (10:10 PM Sunday, May 15, 2011): Well, the day is nearly done and so is the free, limited-edition version of this short story. I had a blast

Behind The Words // Eden Baylee

2011-05-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

Erotic Author Eden Baylee's website is so provocative, I'm not allowed to look at it. Seriously. When I want to check in on what my favourite Torontonian adult author has on her upcoming agenda, a firewall leaps up and says, "Uh-uh-UH! Not so fast, my dear Canadian suspense author!" I've had the opportunity to read one of Eden's novellas and upon getting three or four pages in, I put it down and

Behind The Words // Thea Atkinson

2011-05-04T07:00:00.001-06:00

Author Thea Atkinson has over one million different titles available. Okay, I exaggerate . But she is prolific and every encounter I have with her is fun and insightful. She has a number of shorts and full-length novels available and she's writing new material all the time. I feel a certain kinship with Thea as she tends to write really character-driven pieces that each look at some of the darker

In The Dark - What's In A Name?

2011-04-25T19:22:00.000-06:00

Time again for a glimpse into the dark with me, your silly but loyal author friend. If nothing I'm consistent. After all, weeks have gone by now since I started this video blog feature and I'm still filming it from the dark cavern of my studio. This time, however, the result is a touch more serious. In the current edition, I talk about some meanings and interpretations behind the title of my

Behind The Words // Larry Enright

2011-04-20T07:00:00.001-06:00

I know Author Larry Enright from Twitter, after first hearing his name uttered by mutual acquaintances who mentioned how darn funny his book, "Four Years From Home" is. When I think of Larry I imagine a somewhat seasoned writer who's seen it all, done a good heaping portion of it, and took home the t-shirt as a souvenir. Plus, he's charming as all-get-out. Let's see what Mr. Enright has to say

Behind The Words // "The Night Walk Men" - Alternate Ending

2011-04-14T22:59:00.000-06:00

I've been getting a lot of questions about how I work. I will, in time, write a lengthier piece about some of my habits as I put quill to digital paper for those of you that are curious about such things. In the meantime, though, I thought I'd share some cut pieces from one of my more popular short stories, currently free at Smashwords. This is done in the hopes that it may give a bit of

Behind The Words // Berit Ellingsen

2011-04-13T08:40:00.001-06:00

Berit Ellingsen's focus is on speculative and literary fiction. Oh. And fjords. She's based in Norway and her entire presence on the web (and in my world) is streamlined and precise. I know she'll disagree with this statement. I met Berit on Twitter and continue to enjoy following her and learning what fascinating and 'science-y' stuff she's currently writing about. She comes across as a very

Behind The Words // J. Alexander Greenwood

2011-04-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Time for a new feature here at The Farthest Reaches. Guests step behind their words to discuss some of the elements that go into their writing. This is a bit different than most guest posts by authors on other websites; I'm not focused on selling or plugging -- though you will see a link to the author's website where you can presumably make a purchase. I'm all for facilitating a way for

In The Dark 2 - Another Reader Question

2011-04-03T20:27:00.000-06:00

Ah, music. The light of my life. What would I do without it? I love music. Classic rock, pop, baroque, dance, techno, weird, ethnic. I love music. Today's "In The Dark" segment has a fun, albiet brief look at music from my writerly perspective. Oh, and by the end, I'm sure someone will be calling me up and sharing news of my nomination for the "Hammiest Half-Ham Award" in cheeseball facial

In The Dark - Reader Questions Answered

2011-03-22T14:30:00.000-06:00

Check out the embedded video below for what will hopefully be a series over the next while. I get the occasional question about a specific issue in a book or about how I work and I thought it would be fun to do some short videos to explain bits about the stories or about my writing process. There will be some fun questions and answers but I hope to provide some actual insight too. (Hint: this

Reader Reviews Revisited

2011-03-16T09:55:00.000-06:00

While compiling some of my best reader and critical reviews for a new section on this website, my thoughts returned to a previous post about what I think makes a good review. The gist of that post was this: Short reviews are fine for average readers and they can still do a ton to help with the credibility of a book, helping an audience find that book and making the author aware of how they're

Refreshing the Writing Momentum

2011-03-08T21:14:00.000-06:00

We've all been here, in this spot: just starting a new book or other long story. You're finished the 'beginning' part of writing and have a sense of who your main characters are, where they might be going and what's going to befall them. You start with a great idea. You blast off with ten thousand words. Maybe twenty. You don't hit a wall. You're not blocked. But there's fatigue. Maybe life

On The Gathering Storm // Audiobook is Available!

2011-03-07T22:07:00.000-06:00

On The Gathering Storm by Jason McIntyre Narrated by Jeffrey Kafer Running time: 6 hours, 15 minutes Unabridged For a sample, or to buy:   Amazon Audible SpringBrook Audio This is a creepy, eerie narration by Jeffrey Kafer. He pulls out all the stops with his performance, giving the characters and the landscape the power and raw, focused clarity they deserve. This production is top quality.

Meaning What You Say; Saying What You Mean

2011-03-04T10:02:00.000-06:00

I'm no expert and, quite often, when I craft a story it's much less about craft than it is about feeling. I'm basically a blind man in a room with lots of buttons. I get feedback (a whistle or a buzzer or a bell) when I press the right button at the right time. I get a shock when I press the wrong one a second too late or maybe a little too hard. But I do know a few 'rules of the road' when

Dispatches From the Farthest Reaches

2011-03-01T14:26:00.000-06:00

Busy, busy! Here's an update on what's been going on lately: a couple new interviews, an eerie new book trailer and a surprise. Creepy Book Trailers Are All the Rage THALO BLUE, my latest novel is available on Amazon.com, Sony, and Smashwords and will be coming on line at all the other retailers in the coming weeks. Here's the teaser trailer: I talk with my hands but you can't see that on

Short Reviews Are People Too

2011-02-23T10:42:00.000-06:00

EDIT: I've changed the title of this post. Originally, it was "The Longest Review is the Worst Review" after I discovered that, while eye-catching, it probably wasn't the most accurate portrayal of the post -- or my thoughts. Carry on. I've been sharing my books and stories with readers for a while now. As a writer, it's both hard and gratifying to get a review. Like books themselves, sometimes

Fill the Frame With People

2011-02-17T15:56:00.000-06:00

Ever notice the number of photos snapped at a picnic, a family vacation or the Christmas party that show a giant, gaping backdrop but small, badly framed figures? I get irritated when someone emails or sends a hard copy of a picture from their trip to the local fishing hole and there's this giant background of some blurry water and then, in the mid-ground there are two people with grainy faces

Thank You Sony Readers!

2011-02-16T08:29:00.000-06:00

Since September, my books and stories have been downloaded thousands of times. Many (most) have been freebies, but that doesn't change the fact that a whack of people have been reading and enjoying what I've been writing. As a writer whose job it is to entertain and inform and have people be satisfied with the book they've read, this thrills me. I'm filled with hope to keep producing

Help Support Local Charity for Abused Women

2011-02-05T22:15:00.000-06:00

Here's what I'm doing: Until March 1st, my book, "On The Gathering Storm" is being sold at Amazon for 99 cents. Since the book deals with women's issues, and specifically violence towards women, ALL my profits from these sales will go to a local CHARITY FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. All of it. No question. For the security of the women and children it benefits, the charity will not be named

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

2011-02-03T14:28:00.000-06:00

Well, the serial portion of THALO BLUE has come to an end. By the look of the stats, it was a raging success. The thirteen THALO posts garnered over 4,000 visits in December and January. I thank all of you for taking a look, sharing your comments and, well, reading the story as it began to unfold. For those of you who are hooked, there are two ways to keep reading: 1. The book is going to

THALO BLUE #013

2011-01-31T01:02:00.000-06:00

Three-thirty came so quickly. By then, on the overhead speakers inside the Ground’s Edge, the Workman record had ended. Now it was The Dandy Warhols, telling him that he was Godless. He looked about the café and it was empty. Full of people, but empty. Below him on the table’s coffee-ringed surface, overturned with a straining and lined spine, was the black-faced book of poems. On its

Are Your Characters Playing Against Type?

2011-01-28T14:25:00.000-06:00

When I decide on supporting characters to follow in a written story I do it the same way it's done in Hollywood for a TV show or a movie. I have casting calls in my head and then I do auditions. Yes. To answer your next (and possibly only question), I am clinically insane. They just haven't caught me yet. Some writers relieve writing fatigue by trying different genre-bends or perhaps

THALO BLUE #012

2011-01-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

IV. A Ticking Clock’s Faithful Rhythm “You’re staring,” she said, this girl of unparalleled beauty. There was a hint of a smile in her words. Her velvet eyes, green, had a glimmer of something that he found irresistible. “Your eyes—I’m sorry. It’s your eyes.” Then he wanted to make her laugh full out, so he said: “My mother taught me to always look pretty girls in the eyes.” And she

Explaining 'Nestor Maronski' To My Two-Year Old

2011-01-26T11:09:00.000-06:00

Maria Savva and I recently co-wrote a cracking little novella called "Cutting The Fat". You can pick it up today at Amazon for 99c. It's also floating around as a prize in a number of draws at places like www.bestsellerbound.com. I won't spoil the plot, but essentially it's about a group of writers who attempt to get a bloody and gruesome revenge against a nasty book reviewer, one who has

THALO BLUE #011

2011-01-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

The night of Sebastion’s first real kiss also became the first night he ever made love. He got up on the dirty wooden slats of the potting bench to join Vivian and they laid their clothes beneath them. The moth continued to flit and fuss in the fixture above, but nothing would have dissuaded them. No outside sounds or sights, save for the ones they traded across each other’s bodies, intruded

THALO BLUE #010

2011-01-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

Zeb did not see his kaleidoscope colors only, did not witness fancy shades that whirled like mingled carnival rides and nothing else. There was more than just his magnificent view of the alphabet, of those candy-shaded contours that held meaning separate from the words they built. He heard things too, saw shapes and felt shadows of pressure across his body when certain other senses were

THALO BLUE #009

2011-01-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

III. Disquiet Philosophy When Zeb was thirteen, he started seeing his Aunt Sicily quite regularly. That year Oliver the crow continued to make appearances every night at the window, Zeb brought a friend home after school for the first time, and Oliver, his father, began making it abundantly clear that the nick name, the one his mother had given him, should be outgrown. Jackson Cavanaugh,

THALO BLUE #008

2011-01-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

(New here? Catch up on previous installments of THALO BLUE!) Back to little Vaughan they went, all three, Zeb oblivious, Sadie contented, and Oliver happy as the proverbial bowl of spiked punch. As they drove on Yonge Street that day, the foliage in Vaughan wore vibrant green; the spring had been not damp, but moist. Luxurious and wet, but mixed with heat in the afternoons, like something

THALO BLUE #007

2011-01-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

(New here? Catch up on previous installments of THALO BLUE!) That night when Sadie and Oliver lay in bed, she reading, and he going over papers from work, Sadie brought up the topic of Sebastion’s drawing. She told Oliver about Sebastion’s insistence that his name be spelled with a Z instead of an S. “He doesn’t like the S,” she said. “And he got especially picky about it.” She showed

THALO BLUE #006

2011-01-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

(To catch up on previous installments of this serial: THALO BLUE) Sebastion, to this day, has a set of three distinct images which he can call to mind with perfect clearness, as though they were still photos taken with Oliver’s SLR camera, ones that he could hold in his hands and stare at. These snapshots, all from his early childhood, those years between three and nine when it seemed his

Why do we read?

2010-12-30T14:19:00.000-06:00

"There's no mistaking a photograph. It has the clearest, cleanest memory." - "On The Gathering Storm" Given the prolific availability and now low cost of producing and distributing photos and video, plus the ubiquitous nature of high-speed Internet access in the last four or five years, why do individuals continue to read text? Why do people still read books when they could just watch

Finding That Perfect Moment

2010-12-23T21:09:00.000-06:00

Every so often, I hope to post short anecdotes about the impetus behind some of the characters, backdrops or ideas expressed in my writing. Right now, a short note about the "happy accidents" that can occur when combining two ore more notions into something meaningful. A lot of writing is about choosing the correct details to share about a scene, a character, or a moment in the story. It's

THALO BLUE #005

2010-12-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

(To catch up on previous installments of this serial: THALO BLUE) II. The Default Color for Pain A crow used to visit Sebastion by his bedroom window, used to perch on a bare tree branch where the boy could see it as he lay in bed, under his blue bedspread. Black and shiny, it would cock its head this way and that, and it would stay there for a while, as Sebastion looked on. When he was

THALO BLUE #004

2010-12-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

Instructions from the dispatcher via the 911 operator had told Officer William Sheers and his partner, Owen Lipnicki, that a forced entry would be necessary. “Suspect is possibly armed. Victim is potentially injured. Location: front-facing east bedroom. End of the hall. Last door on the right. Hurry.” After careening through a ridge of packed powder and across an icy street gutter the

THALO BLUE #003

2010-12-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

The sirens grew. Sebastion, in his cubby-spot, heard them too, became red in the face with the renewed hope they brought. And here, this intruder, this stranger, heard them rise. Perhaps this was at an end. They were close and he had nothing, no way out this time. But they didn’t know he was here, didn’t know he was sitting on this sofa, in this room, in this house. They didn’t know that

THALO BLUE #002

2010-12-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

The stranger bashed the base of a small sculpture—an opulent copy of the Bust of Nefertiti—through the television screen in the living room as images of a car commercial flashed across it for the last time. His hand held Nefertiti by the throat, long and slender it was, and the follow-through gouged his skin all the way up to his wrist in dozens of places. Sparks and a brief shot of smoke

THALO BLUE #001

2010-12-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

One: THE LANGUISHING; Long Drawn Out Silences Listening to the silence is as importantas deciphering the noise.-Drawing Lines in the Sand:A Way of Life,DAVID R. G. LANGTREEThis life just goes on and on;Will it end? And when?-THE BOOK OF THE DEAD,September 21I. Fade Away DivineSebastion Redfield awoke to the squeak-crunch of footsteps in snow outside his father’s bedroom window. Alone, he lay

THALO BLUE // Web Serial Starts MONDAY!

2010-12-02T20:51:00.000-06:00

I've been hard at work prepping my next novel to become a web serial. That's right. You read it correctly. THALO BLUE, Book One is going to begin rolling out here on THIS page on MONDAY as a web serial. Please check back to see when it lands. I want to share this one with everyone and get as much traction as I can with it. Dare I say, it's the best thing I've written? So, what's it about? A

Tids of Bit

2010-12-01T10:41:00.000-06:00

The Indie Books Holiday Giveaway Event begins NOW! All through the month of December, Darcia Helle at Quiet Fury Books is hosting the giveaway and everyone is free to enter. I'm sponsoring 25 prizes of my book, On The Gathering Storm, but much more importantly are the prizes being donated by loads of other authors -- all of them so fantastic in their genres. Seriously. If you like reading and

Still a Student

2010-11-21T14:36:00.000-06:00

"The key thing to remember about me is that I'm still a student. I'm still in boot camp. If anyone is reading any of my thoughts, I'd keep that in mind. Don't take it all too seriously. If you want to live your life in a creative way, as an artist, you have to not look back too much. You have to be willing to take whatever you've done and whoever you were and throw them away. What are we, anyway?

What's in an eBook Cover?

2010-11-18T15:58:00.000-06:00

The cover for THALO BLUE, Book One of a novel trilogy - Coming Soon! Despite there being a lot of text on this cover, there are only three different fonts on here. However, colour and treatment vary, giving it all a lot of visual interest. I'm a writer but I'm also a graphic designer. I've been doing professional graphic design for about twelve years and have worked on everything: magazine

Brenda Sedore, Author of "A Snake In Paradise"

2010-11-16T12:48:00.000-06:00

My guest today is author Brenda Sedore, whose book, A Snake in Paradise, was released this week. It's the story of Aja, a twenty-something woman who goes on an Italian adventure after a media frenzy engulfs her family. Why does the media storm her family's castle? Because Aja just had a run-in with her boyfriend resulting in a near catastrophe with said boyfriend's man parts and a sharp, gleaming

I'm A Dweller on the Threshold

2010-11-09T14:37:00.000-06:00

Stephen King. John Grisham. The Joy Luck Club. Twilight. The Catcher in the Rye. These authors and these book titles are what people call household names. Even people who don't write, who don't read a lot, or haven't in a very long time, have probably heard of or read one of the above. For the purposes of this essay, and as it relates to fiction only, I will term this as mainstream: something

What the %$#! is 'genre' anyway?

2010-11-03T09:47:00.000-06:00

I'm taking part in a fun writing exercise with independent author and all round fantastic woman, Maria Savva. She's the author of Second Chances and, clearly, from our project, she's one prolific writer. We're over at www.bestsellerbound.com and getting a number of hits from people following along as we build a story together. It's been a blast: on a whim, Darcia Helle (another talented scribe)

Behind the Words

2010-10-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

The Story of "Mr. Mean Man" Every so often, I hope to post short anecdotes about the impetus behind some of the characters, backdrops or ideas expressed in my writing. Today, it's a spark from my real life which ignited into the character known in the opening chapters of "On The Gathering Storm" simply as Mr. Mean Man. <> <> <> I was living on Vancouver Island and had headed out to catch the

"He didn't get out a the cocka-doodee car!"

2010-10-26T16:20:00.000-06:00

So I'm watching "Dexter" the other night, a show I really enjoy. The writing is killer. Without ruining it, I'll say that there's a scene in this particular episode where Dexter is chasing after someone he has locked in a room. He goes inside and the captive manages to get past him, darts through the door and gets the upper hand by now locking him inside the same room where she's been locked up.

The One Lovely Blog Award

2010-10-22T13:21:00.000-06:00

I was granted the award by Maria Savva author of Second Chances and a whole pile of other novels. Her Goodreads blog is a well-oiled machine with many frequent visitors. Thank you, Maria! The way the award works is that you accept the award, post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. Pass it to 15 other blogs you've recently discovered

New Interview at Smashwords Reviewed

2010-10-14T19:44:00.000-06:00

Author of the anthology Believable Lies and the upcoming comic thriller Rooster, reviewer and blogger Neil Crabtree has interviewed me for his popular website, Smashwords Reviewed. We talk about getting no sleep, strategies for making ebook sales and how cold it gets in my studio, among a myriad of other topics. It's always a bit disconcerting for me to yak about myself but I do my best and Neil

Write What Challenges You

2010-10-06T20:41:00.000-06:00

In his essay, 13 Writing Tips, Chuck Palahniuk says to confront things in your writing: Number Twelve: Write about the issues that really upset you. Those are the only things worth writing about. Life is too precious to spend it writing tame, conventional stories to which you have no personal attachment. Well, do I confront things in my writing? When I set about to write the beginnings of a

What creates suspense?

2010-09-28T11:19:00.000-06:00

Years ago, a film-maker friend of mine told me he wanted to try something radically different with his next project: he wanted to shoot a story that had absolutely no conflict. He told me he didn't want to have a boy-meets-girl-then-loses-girl-love-story or a man-robs-bank-to-provide-for-his-family morality play or anything else that showed person A coming up against person B or obstacle C or

Where can you download my work?

2010-09-22T21:28:00.000-06:00

My full-length debut novel, "On The Gathering Storm" -- along with the rest of my currently published catalogue -- is now available directly from a number of online stores. If you find my stories at any other websites than these, they're not legal and I'd love it if you let me know about it! Below is a listing of certified sellers followed by the number of ratings at that particular location.

Morgan Freeman Should Narrate My Life

2010-09-11T21:11:00.000-06:00

Not that he needs the help, but I have a genius idea for Morgan Freeman's publicist. Since the actor has narrated nearly every piece of film since The Shawshank Redemption, and he has played everything from a convict to God himself, I figure he should hold a contest to cement his status as the world's most popular go-to guy for voiceovers. How should the contest roll? That's a detail I'll let

Honesty, It's Such a Lonely Word

2010-09-03T09:01:00.000-06:00

As I see it, there are three kinds of truth-telling when it comes to writing. 1. There's narrative truth-telling. I'll come back to this in another post, but this is essentially the insides of the story. How much of what you're being told as a reader is true or bent or completely fabricated. Is your narrator trustworthy? Or does he have an agenda all his own? Are you--as a writer now--

Avoiding the Time Suck™ (And Other Philosophies For Life)

2010-08-31T10:32:00.000-06:00

As some of you may recall, I've been enjoying (!) the throes of home improvement this summer. While trying to get readers to "discover" my stories that are out there on the web, plus working full time, I've also been finishing the entire basement level of our house (and doing much of the work myself). It's been a nearly ten month fiasco of ups and downs, hiring some good people to help, hiring

Now Available on Amazon Kindle

2010-08-26T09:21:00.000-06:00

"On The Gathering Storm" is now available for purchase and download onto your Amazon Kindle reading device. See it or get it here!

J Goes To The Movies: 127 Hours

2010-08-25T13:46:00.000-06:00

I follow film in the same way I follow literature -- tagging along with writers and directors who do good work. Well, the new film by Danny Boyle who brought us "Slumdog Millionaire" and "28 Days" and "The Beach" looks, from the trailer at least, as if it's going to be well worth the price of admission when it opens in November. Only thing is, I can't wait that long. Seriously, you should check

The Book Teaser: Long or Short?

2010-08-23T09:31:00.000-06:00

You readers out there: when you come across the description of a new book, either on the web, on your e-reader, or standing in the store and reading a book jacket, how long and detailed do you like it to be? Do you want to know all the major plot details or would you rather have a teaser and discover the details as you read? I have heard many movie-goers complain about movie trailers which show

Availability Update

2010-08-20T11:49:00.000-06:00

"On The Gathering Storm" is now available directly from: Barnes & Noble Diesel eBooks Sony Reader Store Apple iBookstore Smashwords If anybody has a buying experience to share (good or bad!) from any of these ebook stores, I'd love to hear it. My novella and other short stories are set to be up on the iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone platforms in the next week or so as well.

What Am I Working On?

2010-08-18T11:12:00.000-06:00

With my home renovations nearly complete (at least for now!), I'm looking forward to more time here in late August and September to get back to writing. I have a short story on the horizon which looks like it will really get cooking soon. I am so eager to see how it turns out. It is always very exciting at the early stages of a story before you've stared at the pages so many times. The

Behind The Words // Road Markers

2010-08-12T08:32:00.000-06:00

Every so often, I hope to post short anecdotes about the impetus behind some of the characters, backdrops or ideas expressed in my writing. Up now is a little depth regarding my short story, "Road Markers" which is available for free at Smashwords. There's a section in the story, "Road Markers" which has Dean thinking back on a perhaps imaginary memory from his childhood which may or may not

New Short Story: "The Night Walk Men" / "Shed" Proving Popular

2010-08-10T10:15:00.000-06:00

I've published a new e-only short story at Smashwords, entitled "The Night Walk Men". The official synopsis is: A little girl named Gabriela is playing with her brother on a train platform and two mysterious strangers will decide her fate over a cup of tea. Is there such a thing as destiny? And, what is the value of doing your job, even if you don’t think it’s right? It's another thriller so

New Novella: "Shed"

2010-08-05T09:19:00.000-06:00

I've published a new e-only novella at Smashwords, entitled "Shed". The story takes place in 1974 on a small island off the coast of Washington State in the Gulf Islands. Two young brothers, Simon and Rupert, experience a turmoil like no other when their Mama marries a new man, Everett. He is an abusive and domineering presence in an age and place where wives still feel compelled to need and

New Short Story: "Road Markers"

2010-08-04T12:51:00.000-06:00

A new short story called "Road Markers" has been published at Smashwords. As with "On The Gathering Storm" this one is available in all the popular e-reader formats, plus PDF and text files for those of you that would like to read on a laptop or personal computer...or if you want to print off your copy and climb into the bathtub to do your reading. So. What's it about? It's always precarious for

How to Waste an Hour (Or More)

2010-07-30T23:23:00.000-06:00

We all know about Fail blog and the various Cheezburger sites for time wasting. But have you seen 2Leep? It's more visual and updated throughout the day. Why is it that whenever I want to accomplish something I get sidetracked by looking at Toilets with a nice view?

Summer Sale Ends Tomorrow

2010-07-30T08:30:00.000-06:00

Smashwords' month-long summer sale ends tomorrow and my novel, "On The Gathering Storm" is being offered at a 50% discount. To get the deal, visit the book's page, and enter the discount coupon code ( SWS50 ) at the checkout. Get it soon, because the sale concludes with the stroke of midnight tomorrow. Smashwords offers many great books in different genres so, even if my story isn't your cup of