The King & I

As touched upon in my previous blog post: I don't have the best memory. There are few things from over decades ago I can recall with absolute certainty.

This is one of those things.

I remember, vividly, being young and on vacation at the Aquarius Motel in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. My family frequented there in the early summer for many years. On the visit this memory takes place in, one of the days during our week stay was a rainy, dreary day. Not beach-going weather for sure. In the office of the motel was a bookshelf. Being an avid reader, I journeyed to that bookshelf. I looked over the covers lining the shelf and came across one such striking image on a hardback that demanded my attention.

What is there for a boy not to like? Aside from the simple nature of the artwork, there's a green, inhuman hand reaching out of the storm drain, above which proclaims the nature of the being as, simply, IT.

This was my introduction to Stephen King.

I took this book called IT back to the motel room, where I read the first pages detailing a boy chasing his runaway paper boat during a dreary afternoon rainstorm - a dreary afternoon rainstorm not unlike the one that kept my family and I off the beach that day and me finding this book. The fate of the boat is that it ends up down the drain from the cover. Needless to say, I had a pretty good idea of what was already down there before the boat slipped inside, thanks to the cover.

IT could have been anything, but, as we all know, IT's most common form was that of Pennywise the Clown. And we can all guess what happened to that unassuming little boy chasing his boat once he caught up to it.

We'll just leave it at saying the boat wasn't the only thing that floated down there..

Of course the book being so dense, and the time being on vacation so precious as it was, I had to return the massive book unfinished. At that age the name Stephen King meant nothing to me. Little did I know. I never thought to jot the author's name down and find the book again after we got home. So it was many years before I stumbled upon Mr. King's work again.

And when I did, this was what I came upon at my hometown Barnes & Noble:

Like a hammer, a swift deja vu cracked me over the head. I know this book! my subconscious told me. So I bought it.

In case you're wondering: No, I have not read IT. Don't know why, just never got around to getting too deep into the book. Either this or THE STAND is one of the King epic classics I hope to crack this year, but as it turned out the first King novel I would actually read was CELL. That's where my small obsession with King's work began. And when I say obsession, I don't mean the Annie Wilkes type. (If you haven't read King's work that joke was lost on you.)

CELL was a Christmas present I got back in 2006. The back blurb promised a zombie-type apocalypse set in motion via cell phones. That was enough for me.

The opening - basically the sudden (very sudden) destruction of civilization in downtown Boston, all witnessed by main character Clayton Riddell, no more a hero than you or I - had me absolutely hooked. The pages play like a film in your head and the violence - in some cases bizarre, extreme, even crazy violence - is almost to the point of being overwhelming in how the crisis never lulls. Certainly your heart rate will up a few beats reading about these characters being surrounded by explosions, people falling out of windows, airplanes falling out of the sky, more explosions, numerous car wrecks, and, who can forget, the phone-crazies.

I won't spoil the book but it's a fast, fun read. Many King readers weren't impressed with the ending but I found it very fitting. It does play to one of King's weaknesses though in how he always lets characters be right about something that they have no business knowing...how their hunches are always correct. Anyway, don't let that detract you from enjoying CELL. It's one of my favorite King books and I am so excited for the film version coming next year. So far the casting of John Cusack and Sam Jackson mean it's off to a good start (though I didn't picture the character of Tom McCourt as a tall, intimidating black guy who leads The Avengers...but hey, Sam can pull anything off).

After CELL I began collecting King's books. I went to used bookstores, shopped Amazon, eBay, Abebooks, and bought some brand new off the racks. Some were rare finds that I got for great prices. A copy of THE BACHMAN BOOKS, which includes RAGE (the only King work out-of-print due to its subject matter), that I got - and it looked brand new - only cost me $2. Ditto for a pristine copy of THE COLORADO KID paperback - only a dollar fifty.

And after seven years of tracking down every King book, the collection was finished just a little over a week ago when my wife gave me DOCTOR SLEEP for my 31st birthday.

I'll spend years reading all of King's work. Thus far I've finished 16 of his novels. Currently I'm in the middle of DOCTOR SLEEP, number 17. I'm as enthralled with the story and characters as I was reading THE SHINING (another of my favorites). I think SLEEP is one of King's better novels because you can tell the focus is there, he knew what he wanted to do, and he was firing on all cylinders when churning it out. Maybe the pressure of doing a suitable follow-up was good for him. The macabre imagery he puts forth just incites goosebumps. For instance, in one early scene the members of the True Knot gather just outside of New York City to breathe in the "steam" let off by those - possibly hundreds or thousands of those - who have the shining as they are dying in the attack of 9/11...

When I read that scene I felt like someone was strangling me. Then I read that scene again.

I make sure to read other authors in between King, to vary my tastes and because sometimes too much King can boggle down the mind. I find him a wonderful writer but sometimes he can dwell too long on something insignificant. The middle of UNDER THE DOME was tough, mostly because of too many characters and it felt like everything was just at a standstill with no direction for far too long. I also felt that there were way too many descriptions of banners and advertisements. He's got a thing with that. I did enjoy the last 200 pages, though. It was just a chore getting there.

Interesting to note is that while King is my favorite author, I don't look to write like him. What I admire so much is his comfort and confidence in his work. He knows he writes horror and he's fine with that. He's also written such touching stories as THE GREEN MILE and RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. He writes what he wants too. So do I. I love how he creates hundreds and hundreds of pages of characters and towns and worlds to get lost in. These are real places and people in his books. No stone left unturned. Me? I try to be sparse when I can. I don't like unnecessary words in my work. If I can cut it, I will. I don't like being too wordy. Not to say King always is, but, like I said, no stone unturned. That's what works for him. I'm also not a horror writer. There are suspenseful, dark tones in some moments of my work, but I try to put a little bit of everything into the mix. See what happens.

What comes out often works for me.

And that's what matters.

If I can ever ignite a feeling in my readers that I get, say, like when I read that scene from DOCTOR SLEEP...that's better than any praise in any review a writer could get.

Which excites me even more for my first novel's release this spring.

(And in King news, readers can expect TWO new novels this year:  MR. MERCEDES in June, and REVIVAL in November.)

A Day with Darren Sardelli

I don't have the best memory. Let me lead with that. There are many things I do remember - things I would swear on my life and anyone else's life (including yours - yes, you) that've happened. But then there are times from my distant past I wouldn't trust myself regurgitating as complete fact.

Basically, unless it was meaningful, I have terrible recall.

For example, in regards to this blog: I don't ever remember a single author coming to my school when I was a kid.

That's not to say they didn't come. I mean, I remember having Library (yeah, Library was an actual class when I was a kid), so the librarian had to have brought someone in at some point to talk to us and get us excited about reading and writing.

But I don't remember.

Which means the person, or people, couldn't have been very memorable.

I have always loved to read (Ralph S. Mouse and Fudge - both of Beverly Cleary's imagination - were some of my favorite literary characters), so I feel I would have remembered an author visiting my class.

With that said, now that I'm going to be a published author in a few months, and trying to be a memorable presence to the kids (and adults) I hope to speak to, I've been trying to find authors doing live events so I can go and get the feel, experience the atmosphere of what it's like to be that person standing in front of a bunch of strangers and discussing their work, their passions. See what they had to say; how they get audiences excited about them and wanting to purchase copies of their work.

And, more important than studying them, I want to support them. Root for them.

Back in the fall my wife worked to get a children's author who wrote funny poetry to visit her school. We'd seen an article about the author, Darren Sardelli, in a local mailing from the school district we live in. The article praised Sardelli and his workshops with the kids so we looked him up. In doing so I remembered (and that's key for me) that I had seen him before - I had caught the tail-end of one of his assemblies at the school where I work after-school care. I didn't remember much about his assembly because it was just wrapping up when I arrived. I did, however, remember the applause from the kids at the close of the assembly and hearing that the teachers were very pleased.

My wife sought out reviews by contacting schools around our area that he previously visited. All had glowing reviews. So, the rest as they say is history and she got Darren to come for a visit.

Knowing this was a great opportunity - one not to be missed - to watch an author at work - an author whose work is targeted toward children (as my own upcoming novel is geared in the direction of YA) - I had to take the day off from my day jobs and observe. I'm so glad I did.

From 8am Wednesday morning until 8pm that night, Darren worked with high energy. He performed three assemblies from 8:40am to 11 - three assemblies with three different age groups. In each assembly the crowds of children were absolutely captivated, entertained, and ever so willing to partake in moments when he looked for participation (and were quite willing to participate even when he wasn't looking for it). Obviously being the professional he was, Darren made each assembly flow, riding the crests of the children's enthusiasm. And while children's interests are very hard, if not impossible to predict, one might think that a man trying to get kids on board with writing poetry would be facing a tough task, one in line with that of pushing a double-decker bus up a muddy hill.

Not so.

Darren's poetry is funny and the subject matter very relatable to kids (and adults who can appreciate the silliness of childhood and the innocence of their creativity). His imagination begs for participation, and the kids, as I mentioned earlier, were all too willing to raise their hands and provide input, even at times when they weren't being asked. I've seen many speakers of different subjects bore an audience of children to tears. Not one kid wanted their assembly to end.

They were totally on board with poetry. It was made cool to them.

Probably the best part of my day was actually getting to speak to Darren one-on-one. I hadn't gone with the intention of picking his brain (God knows I never intend on bothering anyone, especially someone who probably gets approached all the time by those wanting to know every nook and cranny of his career), but he actually approached me, asked about me. When I told him I was being published in the spring he offered a genuine congrats and gave me his business card with an offer to help out with anything I might need. How cool is that?! (I, of course, handed him one of my cards in return.)

During some down time in his busy day, Darren asked about my book, and I asked him questions about his school tours. He gave me priceless advice on doing talks at schools and the importance of getting into libraries. We also talked about performing live comedy. I mentioned I did improv comedy and he told me about wanting to try stand-up some day.

Overall, the experience of meeting Darren Sardelli and seeing his morning assemblies and afternoon poetry writing workshops and evening parent assembly with a follow-up book signing was simply inspiring. To know someone living that lifestyle that all writers/authors wish for (to know how hard he works to earn that lifestyle) - to see him work for twelve hours straight (and not show one sign of being worn out in front of the kids or their parents) is a type of inspiration beyond simple words.

I highly recommend Darren to any school or function.

And his visit is one that I - and I am sure every child and adult who saw him on Wednesday, or any other place he's been - will always remember.

Even at the cost of a terrible memory.

To find Darren online:
www.laughalotpoetry.com
www.facebook.com/darren.sardelli
www.twitter.com/DarrenSardelli

My First Brush with Press

Already framed and hanging in my office.

One evening last September, for about an hour, I discussed every nook and cranny of my..."writing career" (as it was at the time) with an absolute stranger.

Darla Klinko, of Vestal Town Crier, called me up and conducted, over the phone, what was my first ever author interview. I knew going in that I would have to be open about many things regarding the craft - as it relates to myself - that I normally don't speak much about. Most notably the failures. Because if you're a writer you have a lot of them. I have boxes full of them in my closet, but more on that in a bit.

Another topic I've been hush-hush about that I knew I needed to be generous with: my soon-to-be published novel - AKA The One That Made It (AKA Woo-hoo!)!

I considered this phone interview good practice for the many interviews and speeches I hope to be giving in the near future. At the very least I would know what it felt like to field questions out of the blue.

Gratefully, Ms. Klinko went easy on me.

As it turned out, this introvert (me) turned out to be quite chatty. Even when it came to my failures.

For reasons I'm sure many of you understand, talking about the things you haven't been successful with isn't a preferred topic. For writers, no matter what we've written - be it short stories, novels, poems, etc. - we (at the time of writing them, and for a good period of time afterwards) have felt a connection to that work comparable to the greatest loves of our lives. And, at some point, we either had to let go of some of those stories, or witness their rejection (either at the hands of test/beta readers, or editors). It's then that find ourselves with no other choice but to move on to the next story. Maybe in the future we'll get an idea and circle back, but often times, no. We have to give up and try something else. Never an easy thing.

When Ms. Klinko asked about the previous novels I'd written, I mentioned each one with the fondness of an old happy but fuzzy memory, despite the number of issues (lack of confidence, anxiety, etc.) these "lost" stories caused me at the time of their creation. Point was, all those "failures" helped make me better. Helped get me to this point.

It hadn't dawned on me just how much work I'd piled up that never amounted to more than filling individual white printer paper boxes stuffed away on shelves in my closet, not until I spoke of them. Fortunately many of the details I gave in my interview with Ms. Klinko regarding all those stacks of unpublished work didn't make the final article (how boring would that have been?). As the article simply states, I have written seven novels. The fifth one, Seeing, will be my first published. The rest...maybe someday I'll return to and spruce them up. One in particular I know I will. A few though have very little chance of seeing the light of day and I more or less keep them around for personal reasons.

But that's how it goes, isn't it? All those "failures" are considered part of paying the dues, right? Sometimes I look back and wonder if I ever had the ability go back in time and tell myself that I would have to write four full-length novels before the fifth one would be dubbed The One, would the past me still go through with it all? Still go through all the struggles and frustrations and rejections and time spent locked away in a room typing till the words got blurry on the screen, worrying if I'll ever "make it??"

I'd like to think so. Because we all start somewhere.

Truth be told - and I mentioned this to Ms. Klinko (a little nugget of info that also didn't make the article) - after I'd written Seeing, I always saw it as my first book. Even after writing two complete novels following, it just didn't sit right that any other of my manuscripts could be my first novel.

Seeing is what I consider to be the "least strange" of all my work, and in that, the most straightforward as well. Where I love writing about the supernatural (chalk that up to growing up on reruns of The Twilight Zone - created by Rod Serling who also grew up in Binghamton), such a... presence, shall we say, is kept mostly to the peripheral for this first story - left to the imagination of the reader. Beyond that, I won't say another word.

And that's been tough as well. I want to talk about my book but not spoil anything. At one point in my interview I opened up too much and let a huge spoiler slip. Thankfully that slip wasn't printed (phew!).

As for what was printed regarding Seeing, I really like the description of the novel Ms. Klinko quoted me with:

The story is about a 13-year-old named Jake who has had a rough year. His father abandoned the family, so he's dealing with loss. Then his grandfather moves in and fills the male role in the family, which brings hope. Then Jake hears his grandfather tell an amazing story and he wonders if it's true. So he starts researching it.

To be honest, I used the words she printed. I also elaborated and threw it all up in chunks (how's that for a visual?). She just cleaned up my description and made it cohesive.

But in all seriousness, what makes this a great summary is that it mentions hope.

Because that's what the book is about. Hope.

Hope - much like my previous failures - has led me to this point, where I've gone from writer to author, about to see my first novel published this spring by the wonderful people at Winter Goose Publishing.

(That's Winter Goose Publishing, not Winter Goose Press as it was mentioned in the article. Sigh. I guess this goes to prove some things in print are beyond even a writer's control...the ultimate irony I suppose.)

And hope is what will keep me going from here.

You can find the entire article from Vestal Town Crier for download in .pdf format on the News page of my site.

Till next time!

A New Year, A New Website

I'm a tinker. Reiterating all the way back from my first blog post, I like to toy with my website here and there. Do touch-ups where and when necessary. My goal being to make my little home on the web (a necessity for any writer/author these days) as efficient and easy on the eyes as possible. I never want it to look congested or too busy. And I only want to put up what information is relevant.

I think I've succeeded.

I was even able to add a few flashy effects here and there (mostly in page transitions, which I didn't feel was too bothersome nor detracted from the subject matter of the site - I am a writer after all, not a special effects wizard).

But a little while ago I discovered a problem. The company that I built my website through (Wix) uses Adobe Flash to make all those nice effects happen on the page. The problem with Flash is that many mobile and portable devices (your iPhones, iPads, and other tablets) don't support it. If you tried to visit my website on a mobile device you would get a message that your Flash player needed updating in order to view it (ironic, in a way). Thus we circle back to the original problem.

Being that most young adults (the direct audience for my upcoming book) and even adults (always an audience for my work) mostly use their phones and tablets to surf the web (meaning fewer of them use desktops or even laptops anymore unless for work-related purposes), my website would have remained invisible to them.

I couldn't have that. It just wouldn't be smart of me to remain with a Flash site.

Fortunately, my site provider Wix had an alternative website tool and I was able to build a "normal" html-based site, shift my domain over, and now all of it is live! You may even be viewing this on your iPad.

Granted, I'm still tinkering (trying to make the mobile version a little more attractive, or even just taking the mobile version away completely and having all devices point right to the main website page if I can). Point is, the site's up now, for everyone to see.

And, for me, that's one step toward having a stress free beginning to the New Year. One less thing to worry about.

Time to go put on the annual Twilight Zone marathon!

See you next year!

The Falank Family Christmas Letter, 2013 Edition: The Blog Version (with pictures!)

Dear Family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, Facebookers, Twitterers, all the Whos in Whoville, the Hobbits in Hobbiton (this also extends to Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori, and of course, Thorin), as well as any and all followers and those who've stumbled their way by.

Welcome.

This is my/our first attempt at an annual Christmas letter. Before I get going, first, two things: This will only be "annual" if I/we remember to do this again next year, and second, I'm saying "I" and "we" (we being Rebecca and I) respectively in regards to publishing this letter because this was my idea and Becca's helping me. So if you enjoy it (and I/we hope that you do) then we did a great job. If you don't like it, blame the author. I can only try to promise to try and do better next year, and actually put out a physical version to be mailed to friends and family. If I remember to do this.

Nothing goes back to the beginning of 2013 like resolutions. For the last three years I've kept the same resolution: to get published. I'm overwhelmed to share that this year I've been fortunate enough to have accomplished that feat not once but three times. In April and October I had two short works ("The Morning After" and "Answering the Call") put into print in issues 10 and 12 of RiverLit magazine. And it's what's been the biggest news of my writing "career" thus far, in May I was contacted by Jessica Kristie of Winter Goose Publishing, expressing interest in publishing my first novel, Seeing, which is due out in the spring.

Signing my contract!

Yes, I realize technically my first book being published is more a 2014 thing, but I'm sure you can overlook that detail. More about it in next year's letter (setting reminder now).

After a workload that even I cannot comprehend, this year marked a wonderful accomplishment for Becca. As she put it herself:

"600 hours, 50 pages of daily log, a bunch of annotated bibliography entries, 4 STAR activities, 3 evaluations, 2 school board meeting reports, 1 leadership project, an updated resume, and 8 months later .... I am officially ready for my meeting with my internship supervisor.

"Tomorrow, it all comes to an end, but as with all things,

"A new beginning comes from some other beginning's end!"

This list doesn't account for absolutely everything she had done during her Education Administration Certificate program (there were countless small and big tasks asked of her to perform that just don't fit into specific categories) but nevertheless she completed her last few courses (ending with a 3.95 GPA!) and once she takes her final tests in March, will be certified to be a school administrator. I couldn't be more proud of her :) No matter what was put in front of her, she didn't flinch. Not once.

A shared goal Becca and I had this year was to get in better shape. Cliche? Yeah, sure. But it kept us focused. Over the summer we trained for a Color Run (a 5K where participants are doused with colors at random checkpoints) by participating in a free program called C25K (Couch-2-5K). In all honesty, you learn quickly just how out of shape you are when you begin this program. On top of that, I worried I would struggle with my asthma. Neither of us were expecting to do too well given that through the program, the running intervals begin to increase. We had a tough time of it at first, being winded just running for 90 seconds, but by the time we completed the program in August, we could sustain running (without stopping, without the use of an inhaler) for over 20 minutes.

In October, on a chilly, foggy Saturday morning, we drove to Scranton for the Color Run.

Mission Accomplished!

And we're gonna do it again when the Color Run comes to Binghamton in April 2014.

2013 wasn't all work and goals. We also took a few vacations. Over spring break we spent a couple of days in Washington D.C.

The available speeches to read were Nixon's resignation and Clinton's "I did not have sexual relations with that woman"...

In August we also visited a little place you may have heard of called Aruba!

It was really hard to hold this pose waiting for the picture to be taken.

One of the really cool "firsts" for the both of us happened in early August when we were given the opportunity to go up in a hot air balloon during Binghamton's annual Spiedie Fest.

I had a death grip on my phone whenever I attempted to take a picture.

Overall, as I am sure it was for many of you, 2013 was a very exciting year for us and we look very much forward to the New Year and all the surprises and good news it brings.

I do feel like I missed something else that happened in 2013...

...

Oh, yeah, we both turned 30.

...

Nothing more to be said on that.

2013: The Year in Reading

"So many books, so little time." - Frank Zappa

I'm a slow reader. Very slow. On a vacation to Aruba this summer, my wife read an entire novel (One Summer) on the four-hour plane ride down. I finished a book on the plane ride home but I'd already been reading it throughout the week we were down there, soaking up the sun and being entertained by the many different-sized lizards hanging out by the pool. We partook in many other adventures while down there as well, but I'm saving that for the next blog entry.

Now I'm not ashamed of my reading speed. I like taking my time with a book. It took me two years to get from one end of Bag of Bones to the other. Not because I didn't love it, but because I was enjoying it rather than racing through it. I was also reading other books at the same time and that's a no-no for me. I much prefer to focus on one book at a time. That way it may only take me about a month to get through. But, as it is, I like snuggling into the story and staying there as long as I can. The pages appear like a film running in my head. I'll even re-read passages that give me shivers because they're so good.

Last December I got the thought to start jotting down when I finished a book, to see how many I read in a single year. So I kept a list in my Droid for the last year and can now say that by the time the clock strikes midnight December 31st, I will have read twenty books in 2013.

That's not bad. For me.

Now, the twenty books read includes two volumes (Miles Behind Us and Safety Behind Bars) of The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. Some may not consider these "books" and hold firm that graphic novels and novels are separate, but I counted them because I didn't just breeze through the volumes admiring the pictures and reading the dialogue. I put myself in with those characters as they struggled in the harsh elements of winter and fought daily for survival. And I re-read many of the pages.

For this entry I thought I would pull a handful of my favorite titles from throughout the year and discuss them. Talk about why I enjoyed them, or maybe something about them I didn't enjoy.

Let's start with...

The Shining (by Stephen King)

Yes, I know. Having been a Stephen King fan for many, many years and only in the beginning of 2013 did I get around to cracking the spine of what is arguably King's most beloved novel (most beloved for many, second to others who favor It or The Stand before this third King novel). What surprised me most about this book was how much violence there isn't. The Shining is more a personal journey, or rather a personal deconstruction, of Jack Torrance - a man who has worked so hard to build himself back up after swearing off alcohol and attempting to forgive himself over an accident where his anger resulted in injuring his son, Danny - than it is about anything else.

Reading The Shining, I expected...well, blood. I expected violence. Ghosts. Noises in the night. Pleasantly I found the story to more heartbreaking and tragic than I did scary or even a tad bit unsettling. I love when a book gives you something unexpected. In a good way. The slow pace, the isolation, even knowing the destined outcome of Jack turning against his family somehow enhanced the punch of his downfall.

The ending though, much different than the Kubrick film, offered the redemption I was rooting for.

    

Rise of the Governor and The Road to Woodbury (by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga)



I grouped these two books together because they tell a single story (to be completed in the two-part Fall of the Governor - Part 1 out now, Part 2 in early March). What I really liked about these two novels was how the character of The Governor was humanized. We learn how desperate he was - this man Blake - to save his...daughter...(if you don't know much of Kirkman's Governor character outside the excellent TV show - and excellent portrayal by David Morrissey - then Book 1: Rise of the Governor holds a wicked twist)...how desperate he was to save what remained of his family, and himself. This man, as you discover, is quite justified in his actions - per your own opinion. He's not addicted to violence or determined to lead (quite the opposite), but finds that he trusts no one else to help their small group. Because other people, other survivors, prove too untrustworthy. People plot, steal, and kill to survive. How would you feel leaving the safety of your loved ones up to those you felt were crazy and/or dangerous, or even just plain incompetent? Would you just assume do the job yourself? And, in that, know you have to be ruthless yourself so as not to be usurped like the previous leader?

The world Kirkman and Bonansinga create in these books is both lush with description - sometimes too much description - but also bleak. These are the end times. Surviving is cruel and other survivors even more cruel. The dead - call'em Walkers or Biters or what have you - are a constant threat and ever so present. They're not just fodder for a "Kill of the Week." We believe any one of the infected are capable of taking out any one of our...heroes.

The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I (by Stephen King)

Back in the world of King (and there's plenty more of him on this list), this is another overdue book I perhaps should have picked up and examined long before calling myself a SK fan.

I'll be very blunt: This is a much different read than many of King's books. The prose is thickly poetic, the description of the world heavy with elements of the fantastic, and, to be honest, not much happens. All you need to know about this book heading in is summed up in what is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable first lines of fiction anywhere: The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed.

I was entertained by the brief novel but became ultimately excited to continue onward into King's Magnum Opus at the close. In the confrontation with the Man in Black does our hero, the Gunslinger, realize just how insignificant he is, and it's a moment that smacks the reader with an unexpected cold fist as much it does the protagonist. The moment borders on cruel truth and revealing just how evil the MIB really is.

And this is just Book 1.

When You Reach Me (by Rebecca Stead)

Occasionally I check out what's making an impact in YA fiction. I get plenty turned off when I see the same things: tragic/melodramatic love story, tales of adventure where the main character is "The One", stories that are fine for stretching the realms of possibility but are just plain stupid.

Early in 2013, I saw this book topping many critic's and reader's lists. I read the plot summary, read a sample, and ordered a copy from Barnes & Noble. I'm not one to blind-buy too many books. I have my favorite authors and plenty yet to read (I can't say how many books I have sitting on my "Waiting To Be Read shelf) and it takes a lot for me to open the cover of someone I've never heard of. But I am so glad I did that with When You Reach Me.

This book I don't feel I can talk too much about. There are too many spoilery details I don't want to give, but I will say that, overall, Stead's book is a very pleasant surprise. Very pleasant. It's also a very down-to-earth book. There are some elements of Science Fiction but that's not the focus and don't let that put you off if that genre isn't your thing. It's also not a supernatural romance, which, haven't we seen enough of lately?

What When You Reach Me is is an honest look at one girl's life in NYC, a life that's had its share of struggles, and a life that takes an unusual turn. Most unusual.

One thing's for sure: The ending will have you saying Woah...

Things Slip Through (by Kevin Lucia)

Of the twenty titles I absorbed through the year, this was one of my favorites, and not just because I know the author, but because it is very good. It's well thought out. It keeps its promise of being exactly what the premise offers, and even a little bit more for the readers to discover as the story unravels throughout a string of short stories connected by a main plot.

In an attempt to save myself from being too repetitive, I point you in the direction of the review I did on Things in an earlier post back in October. I will say though that the world Lucia has created in this book feels incredibly real. His Clifton Heights feels very much like a real spot on the map by the time you finish. A real spot like many small towns we pass on the Interstate and wonder about. What would we discover if we were to take that exit... Of Clifton Heights: I pictured a town where the sun was never out. The skies during the day were always on the grayscale (much like any episode of the X-Files when it was filmed in Vancouver), the shadows just a little longer in most places. The abundant amount of trees would always rattle, just loud enough to cover the noises of what horrific things were happening in this place.

More Than This (by Patrick Ness)

Ever since I read A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness has become one of my most favorite authors. With very controlled prose - a simple, witty, and spare style - Ness wove a beautiful, and beautifully heartbreaking tale of loss. And since finishing that book, I've awaited his next.

In a wonderful surprise, Ness released two books this year.

Well, depending on where you live. The second title of his (The Crane Wife) won't be available in the U.S. until January.

Through eBay, I managed to get hold of an advanced reader's copy of his 2013 YA release, More Than This. The story - about a boy who drowns and wakes up unsure if he's experiencing the afterlife - is very effective, and quite surprisingly so due to the fact that much of the book's first third has this boy, Seth, wandering an empty world alone. I don't wish to spoil anything beyond that, and that alone you can read on the book's jacket, but I will say I was not as in love with this title as I wanted to be.

Sprinkled throughout the text are flashbacks to Seth's life. In these flashbacks we learn that Seth is gay and is in a relationship. I don't have a problem with that, doesn't bother me any, and I imagine anyone who reads Ness doesn't care either (Spoiler alert: Patrick Ness is gay). What I did have a problem with is that the fact that Seth's sexual preference was treated like a twist in the narrative. It's like saying if he were straight then it's no big deal, but because he's gay it requires a reveal. I think More Than This would have benefited more if Seth being gay wasn't treated like it was trying to surprise the reader. It is a point of contention with his parents, well, one of them, and the way that's handled is fine because its part of Seth's story. Just felt like Ness was giving you reasons to like this character and feel sorry about him dying and then told you he was gay to challenge you and see if you'd stick with the book after that.

Under the Dome (by Stephen King)

Remember when I said I was a slow reader? Well, I got this book for Christmas the year it came out (2009) and reading it on and off, finished it this past summer. That's four years, folks.

No doubt about it, this novel has one of the best openings in a King book since Cell. Visceral imagery aplenty of both the death and destruction variety as the titular dome descends over the small Maine town of Chester's Mill. Everyone inside is cut off from the rest of the world and, of course, panic ensues with grapples for power by those with secrets. Everyone on the outside can do nothing but watch the chaos.

Like many King tales of great length, it's the middle section that wears on you. Much like with Lisey's Story, which I'll be finishing soon, King fills the middle pages with a lot of details and events so that you are imagining/experiencing a real life and a real town these people have. King doesn't like cookie-cutter characters, though more than a few times falls into some serious cliches and popcorn movie dialogue. He wants you to see everything, even if its dull. And sometimes it is.

Also like many King books, once you start the last quarter, things kick into high gear and you're scrambling to finish like you might miss out on something.

As for the ending? I don't know...I mean, I enjoyed it and thought it clever. Many took issue with it. I guess after reading over 1,000 pages there's not much in the way of explanation for the dome or for the fate of the characters within that will make you completely happy. To each their own, my friends. To each their own.

Joyland (by Stephen King)

Yes. I read a lot of Stephen King. I figure I'll be spending a great deal of my life reading his work. What makes him my favorite author is not just his impressive and immense body of stories spanning all genres, but also his commitment to the craft. I cannot wait to read Doctor Sleep and I have a few of his books planned to read in 2014, but I do read at least one or two other books by other authors in between every King story. Like I said before, his middles wear on you.

But not this one.

Joyland is fast paced and worth every word. This is easily my most favorite book of the year. I also think this is King's best work since Cell. Cell was urgent, fast paced, and yet still allowed a lot of quiet character moments. There was just always a purpose driving the characters. Same as in Joyland. Also, given the shorter novels associated with the pulp stories of decades ago (being emulated by the publisher: Hard Case Crime), it is essential here that King restrain his usual long-windedness. What readers get with Joyland is a simple murder story that rides alongside the tale of a young man growing up.


So, that's it - my year in reading. Yeah, I did read other novels throughout the year, but these were the standouts.

With 2014 coming, I'm very much looking forward to the end of The Walking Dead quadrilogy with the two-part Fall of the Governor, as well as digging into Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and the first two books in Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines series. Also, another of my favorite authors, Laurie Halse Anderson, has a new YA book (The Impossible Knife of Memory) out in January after a long absence.

Just maybe, with a little bit of hope and some speedier reading, I'll crack more than 20 spines next year.

We'll see...

And just maybe, hopefully, many of you readers of my blog will be cracking the spine of my book in 2014.

On Writing, Part 3

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." - Ernest Hemingway

[Note: I apologize for the lengthy period it took to finish this third, and final part of this "...On Writing" blog series. Around the time I finished Part 2 I also finished another novel. Having gone non-stop writing with that manuscript, a few short stories and some blog entries, I just found myself slipping into an extended break. Usually when I finish a novel I take some time to recoup before I dive into edits. Plus, life just gets busy.

That out of the way, the conclusion to my three-part "...On Writing" series...]


In this final piece on writing I'll finish up the remaining digits of my "Top Ten List of Things I've Learned..." in regards to the craft. To reiterate one last time: I'm no authority on writing. Everything that has appeared in this blog series has been my view, my opinion, based on my path. Yours will be different. Everyone's is. What I hope you take away from this series of blogs is the confidence to keep going and to develop your own list of Things that work for you.

Before delving into Part 3, you can read up on Parts 1 and 2...

5. First drafts suck.

Doesn't matter who you are, your first draft will be terrible. And that's OK. As long as you finish the first draft there's always time, and room, for improvement. Doesn't matter how many story or character inconsistencies are present in the draft, as long as it's done, you can (and will) make it better. Patience is key.

Last month I finished a first draft of a novel I spent the last three months writing. No lie, I think there're more red pen corrections marking up the pages than black ink from the initial draft. But I'm happy about that, because I know the story (and the writing) will only be better in the end.

6. Take a break.

When you finish the first draft, leave it alone for a while. Anywhere between three and six weeks is prime before you start editing. In that time you're eyes will be off the project - heck, you may start working on something else and refocus your mind. The idea here is that the break will allow new ideas to flow and when you come back to the material you'll do so with a fresh set of eyes and thoughts on how to start shaping it up.

There needs to be space between the creator and the created. You need to miss it. You need to feel that thrill that was there when you started the first lines.

7. First Drafts are for YOUR EYES ONLY.

While you are taking your break, I don't suggest you show anyone (not your spouse, not your mother, not your best friend) your first draft. This is for three reasons:

1. Your writing is not at its best.
2. Chances are you won't get the most honest feedback.
3. If you do get the most honest feedback, you're likely to be dissuaded from continuing on (because that most honest feedback should include that while the story may be good, the writing is messy).

Don't go looking for instant gratification in regards to your writing, because you'll either be lied to or given a harsh truth you may not be ready, or strong enough for. We're all very protective of our writing, so why show anyone if it's not top notch?

8. Your writing WILL get better with edits.

As long as you keep working, keep writing, you will get better. If you quit or leave long absences between times you're putting pen to paper then how can you possibly get better? Writing is very much a talent, a skill. It can be argued that the talent to write is subjective to each person (some have it, some don't). I do believe that. I also believe that if you want something bad enough and are willing to put the effort and time in, you will amaze yourself (and others) with the results.

For me, I know I'm onto something good with a story when I'm reading my words and not hearing my own voice reciting it back in my head.

Good writing is all about the flow. So edit, edit, and edit some more. It may take you sixteen drafts to finally feel like you're getting it right, and all that means is draft seventeen will be miles better.

Just wait till you're at draft twenty-three.

9. You will get rejected.

When it comes time to start submitting for publication know that you will get rejected. I am not saying this to be negative, but to be truthful. Your work won't be for everyone's tastes. In fact, because you're taking the risk of putting your stuff out there in the world to be read and criticized, don't be surprised if you ever receive some nasty, inappropriate feedback. It happens. But the world doesn't end. I promise. Try not to take it personally, even if those giving the feedback intend of making it a point to say they hate your guts. You may get replies that range from personal attacks on you and your writing to a very general form letter of rejection that's quite impersonal.

You may even get helpful advice on how to improve.

Regardless, no matter what kind of rejection you receive, just mark it down in a notebook so you know where you've submitted the work (jot a few notes alongside if necessary) and then move on to submitting elsewhere. Don't respond to anyone who rejects your work. It's a no-win situation that may only further your agitation that it wasn't accepted.

Remember, your work isn't for everyone. "No" may be all you hear for a long time. But it only takes one "Yes!"

Which leads into...

10. There's no feeling in the world like being told you're going to be published.

You may have to wait weeks, months to hear back from publishers or agents. Depends on the publisher or agent. No kidding, I still get notices back from submissions I sent out two years ago - submissions that have long since been edited and cleaned up and submitted elsewhere. Anymore I just laugh when I get them.

In the beginning you'll be driving yourself nuts waiting on responses. No matter what I or anyone else will tell you, you're gonna be constantly checking your e-mail. You're going to go through emotional highs and lows. You'll be hopeful about your work, then depressed by it, then ecstatic. Sometimes all in the same day. You'll get rejections (as mentioned), and you may begin to feel like things will never change. But they will.

I got serious about writing three years ago. I've sent out queries everywhere. I've received many rejections. Some were form letters. Some included tidbits on improving the story. Some I just plain never heard back from. And that happens, too.

But I've also made some good contacts, got invaluable feedback, and learned a lot more about publishing and all its different levels. I've also learned a lot about agents and marketing.

Most important: I didn't give up.

And that's the key. That's the answer to this and any other "On Writing" advice piece. No matter what anyone tells you. It's all about persistence.

There were times I wanted to give up. There were times I just wanted to cry out "Screw this!" and just leave whatever I was working on to neglect in a wake of my own frustrations. But those times were few and fleeting.

Because I have a deep desire to tell stories. Because I hate quitting.

Because being a storyteller is what I am supposed to do. I feel that.

And eventually I got my "Yes!"


In conclusion (an "...On Writing" Epilogue):

There are many things more I could tell you about writing, but there's not much point in my doing so. From the beginning I've said your experiences will be different from mine. The important thing to take away from all of this is to keep at it. That's it. Not everything I listed in this entry or the two previous in the series were pretty, but they're honest.

So, now that you've read what I've learned, it's time for you to tell your story. Time for you to develop your list of Things Learned. Time for you to sit down and develop and write your fiction.

Because you're only ever going to get good at writing by actually doing it.