Five best books I read this year in no particular order:
Everything Matters- Ron Currie Jr.
This book took over my life for a few days. I was at the lake this summer, and the rest of my family couldn't figure out why I wouldn't leave the bedroom. It's so good, it hurts to read because it makes me face my own limitations as a writer.
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter- Tom Franklin
I loved Poachers, Smonk, and Hell at the Breech, but Franklin's latest may be his best. Small town Southern gothic murder mystery wrapped in a dual past-present narrative. Did I mention the flawless writing?
Tunneling to the Center of the Earth- Kevin Wilson
Read this: http://www.greensbororeview.org/fall-2005/birds-in-the-house.html
Most of the stories are that good. Nuff said. If you want more, I have a more in depth analysis here.
We're in Trouble- Christopher Coake
Read my thoughts here. A stunning collection. Can't wait for this guy to write a novel.
Looking for Alaska-John Green
Much like Everything Matters, this book held me under its spell for a few days. I talked about it so much with my wife that she read it and even tried to get her book club to read it (no go; most of them had already read it and didn't like it).
Seek these out if you haven't already.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
My Year in Review (2010)
It's been a good year.
Or at least a good five months. From January to July of 2010, it was shaping up to be one of the most frustrating years since I began writing nearly a decade ago. I was struggling to finish the novel that was supposed to be "the one." As in the one that would get me an agent, get me published, and launch my career. I finally finished it in April and then began the frustrating process of querying agents, some of whom requested partials or fulls, but no matter how enthusiastically an agent raved about my potential or how he or she wanted me to send them my next book, I didn't get any real bites. At the same time, I had this short story collection sitting on my desktop and in the slushpile at one place (Chizine Publications). It was frustrating because I kept hearing the same old mantra- Nobody buys collections. Because of this, and because they'd had my collection for over seven months, I didn't hold out much hope that Chizine would buy it either. And if they didn't, I had no idea where else to send it.
Enter August. I was still querying agents, mostly those who handled young adult. Since my novel had a 14 year old protagonist, I believed I had written a young adult book. Yet, most of the responses I got from agents were along the lines of "if you decide to rewrite this in the kid's voice think of me." See, I had a 14 year old protagonist but the voice was that of a thirty year old man remembering his fourteenth year. I was frustrated and about to give up when I received an email from an agent that I didn't even query. Her name was Beth Fleisher and she said she'd like me to send the whole manuscript to her as well as some of my short stories. I did a little checking and saw that she was with BG Literary, and I had queried Barry Goldblatt, so I could only assume he'd passed the query and the first fifty pages onto her. I sent her what she requested, thinking it would be another long wait followed by another positive rejection (if you're a writer, you know a positive rejection is like kissing your sister). But lo and behold, Beth got back to me the next day with one of the most exciting phrases I think I've ever read in an email. "Can we set up a time to talk next Monday?"
And we did. One of the first things she told me was that my novel was not young adult. It was literary horror. After some reflection, I agreed, and a few weeks later, Beth was my agent. She's been outstanding so far, offering advice and counsel on both the manuscript and all aspects of the business. Landing Beth alone would have made 2010 my best year ever. But it gets better.
Remember that collection? The one I thought Chizine would never buy? In September, I heard from Brett Savory and Sandra Kasturi and they said they loved the stories and wanted to publish it. I informed Beth and she immediately went to work ironing out the contract, which at this date is actually still being tweaked (I also learned the publishing works really, really slowly this year), but I do have a tentative release date- April 2012.
As if that wasn't enough, I also found out that one of my stories "The Water Tower" was selected for inclusion in Paula Guran's Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror (Prime) and another story "Long Fall into Nothing" was a finalist in the Crime Factory sponsored contest and will appear in a future issue.
So yeah, it's been a pretty good year.
Or at least a good five months. From January to July of 2010, it was shaping up to be one of the most frustrating years since I began writing nearly a decade ago. I was struggling to finish the novel that was supposed to be "the one." As in the one that would get me an agent, get me published, and launch my career. I finally finished it in April and then began the frustrating process of querying agents, some of whom requested partials or fulls, but no matter how enthusiastically an agent raved about my potential or how he or she wanted me to send them my next book, I didn't get any real bites. At the same time, I had this short story collection sitting on my desktop and in the slushpile at one place (Chizine Publications). It was frustrating because I kept hearing the same old mantra- Nobody buys collections. Because of this, and because they'd had my collection for over seven months, I didn't hold out much hope that Chizine would buy it either. And if they didn't, I had no idea where else to send it.
Enter August. I was still querying agents, mostly those who handled young adult. Since my novel had a 14 year old protagonist, I believed I had written a young adult book. Yet, most of the responses I got from agents were along the lines of "if you decide to rewrite this in the kid's voice think of me." See, I had a 14 year old protagonist but the voice was that of a thirty year old man remembering his fourteenth year. I was frustrated and about to give up when I received an email from an agent that I didn't even query. Her name was Beth Fleisher and she said she'd like me to send the whole manuscript to her as well as some of my short stories. I did a little checking and saw that she was with BG Literary, and I had queried Barry Goldblatt, so I could only assume he'd passed the query and the first fifty pages onto her. I sent her what she requested, thinking it would be another long wait followed by another positive rejection (if you're a writer, you know a positive rejection is like kissing your sister). But lo and behold, Beth got back to me the next day with one of the most exciting phrases I think I've ever read in an email. "Can we set up a time to talk next Monday?"
And we did. One of the first things she told me was that my novel was not young adult. It was literary horror. After some reflection, I agreed, and a few weeks later, Beth was my agent. She's been outstanding so far, offering advice and counsel on both the manuscript and all aspects of the business. Landing Beth alone would have made 2010 my best year ever. But it gets better.
Remember that collection? The one I thought Chizine would never buy? In September, I heard from Brett Savory and Sandra Kasturi and they said they loved the stories and wanted to publish it. I informed Beth and she immediately went to work ironing out the contract, which at this date is actually still being tweaked (I also learned the publishing works really, really slowly this year), but I do have a tentative release date- April 2012.
As if that wasn't enough, I also found out that one of my stories "The Water Tower" was selected for inclusion in Paula Guran's Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror (Prime) and another story "Long Fall into Nothing" was a finalist in the Crime Factory sponsored contest and will appear in a future issue.
So yeah, it's been a pretty good year.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
A lot of news...and links
The last few months have been really cool. Let me list the ways:
1. Haunted Legends came out.
2. "The Water Tower" was accepted for reprint in the Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror.
3. I found an agent, Beth Fleisher. She works with BG Literary, and I couldn't be more pleased with her so far. I just sent her the revised version of my novel, and if it meets her approval, she'll be submitting it soon.
4. Finally, Chizine Publications has accepted my short story collection, Shoebox Train Wreck to be published in Fall of 11 or Spring of 12. Still negotiating contract stuff, so hopefully I'll know more soon. If you aren't familiar with Chizine, they put out some of the most beautiful books. Check their covers out here.
Some other folks have had some good times recently as well:
Sam W. Anderson has a funny (and twisted) story in the recently released Blood Lite II.
Erik Williams continues his hot streak with more best sellers at the Horror Mall. Check out Blood Spring and The Reverend's Powder, not to mention his books available for the Kindle.
The Horror Library 4 is up for preorder. It contains stories by Erik, Kim Despins, and Kurt Dinan.
Speaking of Kurt, his story "Nub Hut" will also be appearing in The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror.
Ian Rogers has a new chapbook out from Burning Effigy Press called The Ash Angels. It's already been very well reviewed.
Paul Tremblay's collection In the Mean Time is due out any day from Chizine. I'm really looking forward to this one.
John Rector is still selling The Cold Kiss. If you haven't picked one up yet, do yourself a favor and buy a copy now. He's also got The Grove coming soon.
If I missed anyone, I apologize, but that's all the linking I can handle on a Saturday morning.
1. Haunted Legends came out.
2. "The Water Tower" was accepted for reprint in the Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror.
3. I found an agent, Beth Fleisher. She works with BG Literary, and I couldn't be more pleased with her so far. I just sent her the revised version of my novel, and if it meets her approval, she'll be submitting it soon.
4. Finally, Chizine Publications has accepted my short story collection, Shoebox Train Wreck to be published in Fall of 11 or Spring of 12. Still negotiating contract stuff, so hopefully I'll know more soon. If you aren't familiar with Chizine, they put out some of the most beautiful books. Check their covers out here.
Some other folks have had some good times recently as well:
Sam W. Anderson has a funny (and twisted) story in the recently released Blood Lite II.
Erik Williams continues his hot streak with more best sellers at the Horror Mall. Check out Blood Spring and The Reverend's Powder, not to mention his books available for the Kindle.
The Horror Library 4 is up for preorder. It contains stories by Erik, Kim Despins, and Kurt Dinan.
Speaking of Kurt, his story "Nub Hut" will also be appearing in The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror.
Ian Rogers has a new chapbook out from Burning Effigy Press called The Ash Angels. It's already been very well reviewed.
Paul Tremblay's collection In the Mean Time is due out any day from Chizine. I'm really looking forward to this one.
John Rector is still selling The Cold Kiss. If you haven't picked one up yet, do yourself a favor and buy a copy now. He's also got The Grove coming soon.
If I missed anyone, I apologize, but that's all the linking I can handle on a Saturday morning.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror
My story "The Water Tower" (originally appearing in Fantasy Magazine) will be reprinted alongside some great authors in the 2010 Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror edited by Paula Guran. It should be a cool book with some absolutely first rate authors including Peter Straub, Paul Tremblay, Kelly Link, John Langan, Margo Lanagan, Holly Black, Stewart O'Nan, Norman Prentiss, and Kurt Dinan. Dinan, as most of you know, is in my writing group, so I'm especially excited about sharing a TOC with him.
Look for it this fall.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Reading...
I've been doing a lot of reading lately, so it's time for a report:
Everything Matters by Ron Currie Jr.
There's nothing much I can say about this book to do it justice. I will say this: Best book I've read this year, probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. If you haven't read it yet, quit reading this and go buy it now.
The Cold Kiss by John Rector
I always dread when I have to read a friend's book. What if it sucks? What if it's just okay? Do you just say nothing or lie about it? I still haven't figured that one out, but luckily, I don't have to worry about it with John Rector's debut. It's a hell of a first novel. I loved the setting, the characters, the impending sense of doom, the growing claustrophobia as you read. Most of all, I loved the writing--smooth, polished, and stylish. Check it out if you like thrillers or noir.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
This National Book Award winner tells the story of a kid who grows up on a reservation and decides to attend the "white" high school in order to better himself. This doesn't go over so well with his best friend and some of the other kids on the reservation. He becomes torn between loyalty to his community and loyalty to himself. A fast-paced, insightful, and often hilarious read about an important topic. I liked it a lot.
Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks
Okay, this is not a book I would normally pick up, but it was assigned to me for a class. I was surprised that I kind of liked it. Well-written and has a few surprises, but definitely a little too romantic for my tastes.
My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Yeah, this one was exceptional. About a girl who lives in a forest with her father. They live on the fringes of society and they like it. It's a sad and strangely uplifting book. Highly recommended. I'll be picking up some of Rock's other books.
And on a semi-related note, I recently found out I'm getting a Kindle! Thanks Linda and Eugene!
Everything Matters by Ron Currie Jr.
There's nothing much I can say about this book to do it justice. I will say this: Best book I've read this year, probably one of the best books I've read in a long time. If you haven't read it yet, quit reading this and go buy it now.
The Cold Kiss by John Rector
I always dread when I have to read a friend's book. What if it sucks? What if it's just okay? Do you just say nothing or lie about it? I still haven't figured that one out, but luckily, I don't have to worry about it with John Rector's debut. It's a hell of a first novel. I loved the setting, the characters, the impending sense of doom, the growing claustrophobia as you read. Most of all, I loved the writing--smooth, polished, and stylish. Check it out if you like thrillers or noir.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
This National Book Award winner tells the story of a kid who grows up on a reservation and decides to attend the "white" high school in order to better himself. This doesn't go over so well with his best friend and some of the other kids on the reservation. He becomes torn between loyalty to his community and loyalty to himself. A fast-paced, insightful, and often hilarious read about an important topic. I liked it a lot.
Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks
Okay, this is not a book I would normally pick up, but it was assigned to me for a class. I was surprised that I kind of liked it. Well-written and has a few surprises, but definitely a little too romantic for my tastes.
My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Yeah, this one was exceptional. About a girl who lives in a forest with her father. They live on the fringes of society and they like it. It's a sad and strangely uplifting book. Highly recommended. I'll be picking up some of Rock's other books.
And on a semi-related note, I recently found out I'm getting a Kindle! Thanks Linda and Eugene!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Sigh (story by story)
I finished Christopher Coake's brilliant collection WE'RE IN TROUBLE about twenty minutes ago and I still feel the chills rolling across my skin. It's one of those books whose cover is full of effusive praise that the skeptic in me looks at and thinks, "Yeah, right." But then you open the book and begin to read, and suddenly Nick Hornby saying that "you forget to breathe" when you read these stories doesn't sound so ridculous. Coake's tales have a certain intangible voice about them that makes it feel as if he is literally whispering the words in your ears. The subject of all of these stories is love in the face of death, which in lesser hands could quickly fall into sentimentality, but Coake writes in such spare, yet lovingly assembled prose that such concerns quickly seem ridiculous.
And as always, I find myself horribly conflicted upon reading such a great book. I want to celebrate the brilliance even while I want to lock myself in a room and tell myself over and over that I'll never be able to write this well. Yeah, I suffer from a few self-confidence issues.
On to the stories:
We're In Trouble- this opening suite of three stories, sets the dark and probing tone of the book. These short explorations into tragic circumstances aren't the best tales in the book, but I enjoyed them and realized very quickly, I was in the hands of a writer who knew exactly what he was doing. 8/10
Cross Country- a story within a story about a kid who sees something on a cross country drive with his father and then imagines all the details that occurred to create said moment. It sounds complicated, but that's because I'm not describing it well. It's really a very well-done story that reminds me of how there is a story behind every small gesture. 9/10
Solos- a story about a woman waiting to find out about the fate of her husband who is mountain climbing. In the meantime, she has an almost affair with his brother and frets over the future of her son. Coake has a knack for taking the reader deep into the interior lives of his characters, and it is the narrator's conflicts and desires that seem so familiar to us that make the story truly transcend. 9/10
In the Event- when his best friend dies, Danny is left with the staggering responsibility of caring for his friend's young child. The story takes place on the night Danny discovers the news of his friend's death, and he choses not to wake the child. Again, this story shines as it explores Danny's fears and doubts about taking over a job he feels ill-prepared for. 8/10
A Single Awe- this was my least favorite story, but it was still an engaging, thought-provoking read about why we love people and how sometimes, those reasons are not good enough. 7/10
Abandon- I loved this story about Brad and Mel, two people on the brink, who find love and then disaster in a Michigan snowstorm. Very affecting and real. 10/10
All Through the House- this is the story that gave me chills. I won't say much more than it centers around a sheriff and his best friend who snapped one night, murdering his whole family and then himself. It's perfect in every way, and it lingers long after you close the book. 10/10
Overall- 9/10
Read this now.
And as always, I find myself horribly conflicted upon reading such a great book. I want to celebrate the brilliance even while I want to lock myself in a room and tell myself over and over that I'll never be able to write this well. Yeah, I suffer from a few self-confidence issues.
On to the stories:
We're In Trouble- this opening suite of three stories, sets the dark and probing tone of the book. These short explorations into tragic circumstances aren't the best tales in the book, but I enjoyed them and realized very quickly, I was in the hands of a writer who knew exactly what he was doing. 8/10
Cross Country- a story within a story about a kid who sees something on a cross country drive with his father and then imagines all the details that occurred to create said moment. It sounds complicated, but that's because I'm not describing it well. It's really a very well-done story that reminds me of how there is a story behind every small gesture. 9/10
Solos- a story about a woman waiting to find out about the fate of her husband who is mountain climbing. In the meantime, she has an almost affair with his brother and frets over the future of her son. Coake has a knack for taking the reader deep into the interior lives of his characters, and it is the narrator's conflicts and desires that seem so familiar to us that make the story truly transcend. 9/10
In the Event- when his best friend dies, Danny is left with the staggering responsibility of caring for his friend's young child. The story takes place on the night Danny discovers the news of his friend's death, and he choses not to wake the child. Again, this story shines as it explores Danny's fears and doubts about taking over a job he feels ill-prepared for. 8/10
A Single Awe- this was my least favorite story, but it was still an engaging, thought-provoking read about why we love people and how sometimes, those reasons are not good enough. 7/10
Abandon- I loved this story about Brad and Mel, two people on the brink, who find love and then disaster in a Michigan snowstorm. Very affecting and real. 10/10
All Through the House- this is the story that gave me chills. I won't say much more than it centers around a sheriff and his best friend who snapped one night, murdering his whole family and then himself. It's perfect in every way, and it lingers long after you close the book. 10/10
Overall- 9/10
Read this now.
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