Author: Caleb J. Ross

  • My night with Edgar Allan Poe and screaming teenagers

    My night with Edgar Allan Poe and screaming teenagers

    (part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series)

    Last night I went with a few friends to the Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe Haunted House in the 12th street West Bottoms area of Kansas City. This has become a bit of a tradition for us, going to the haunted houses, which many people consider to be the best in the nation.

    Being the literary nerd that I am, the Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe house was especially intriguing to me. This is not to discredit the others (The Beast, The Edge of Hell, and Macabre Cinema – this last one is designed to replicate famous horror movie scenes; I’m looking at you Stephen Graham Jones). They are all great, but being able to experience Poe’s stories in full round simply meant more to me.

    This was the first year for the Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe house, and in being so, lacked some of the pizazz I was hoping for. The experience was amazing, definitely, but I wanted more Poe immersion. The house felt more like someone took iconic (re: well-known) Poe imagery and fluffed the scenes with traditional horror garb. Ravens and black cats galore, yes, but where was the Mask of the Red Death? What about the The Cask of Amontillado? Perhaps these were included, but if so, they were so buried by strobe light and fog that I couldn’t tell.

    However, the Tell-Tale Heart room and the crawlspace illusions were worth the ticket price alone. If you are in Kansas City, definitely go. If you are not, consider making a trip this way to take in all four of the houses.

  • Stranger Will popping up in strange places

    Stranger Will popping up in strange places

    News aggregator sites collect information in strange ways. Ever since Otherworld Publications went public with their 2011 book lineup, many unrelated aggregator sites have picked up the story. Usually, even with the seemingly unrelated, there is something within the text of a press release that would cause aggregators to jump on board. Let’s see if we can find those reasons.

    First, here’s the release in full:

    Otherworld Publications is Excited To Announce the 2011 Publication Line-up

    04/10/2010
    Otherworld Publications

    Louisville, KY (PRWEB) October 4, 2010

    Otherworld Publications is tickled to denote the 2011 publication line-up. We have another breathless year ahead of us

    About the Authors:

    Michael Wallace

    Michael Wallace grew up reading all the history texts and novels he could find. His library shelves are filled up with a range of genres from H.G Wells and Jules Verne to Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy. It is only biological he writes thriller adventures with a science fiction twist and some history shed in for fun. At the point the reader becomes at ease with the pace of his stories, he will struck you with a plot twist, which will change the game

    His first novel, The Red Fire Fly, broke new ground when it was released with its own soundtrack. The combination of music with a novel adds a third dimension by permitting the readers get word the background of the scenes

    He lives in Colorado where on weekends you will find him rock climbing, or kayaking, or backpacking, or snowshoeing, or hiking, but most likely, you will find him running a trail somewhere. He runs 30 to 40 miles a week and he does it unshod. Yep, he is one of those amok barefoot runners and to make it worse he hopes to one day run in all the stages of the Four Deserts Race. You can larn more about him and his books at http://thehashwriter.com

    Jennifer Cloud

    Jennifer Cloud was born in Asheville, North Carolina. She got down her love of books at a young age and soon after observed her love for composing. Her husband boosted her to finish up her first novel after happening a biased manuscript she had concealed away in an armoire. She now resides in Missouri with her husband and two daughters. She is the author of many novels in both print and electronic versions. She has also had two dozen little stories printed and many novellas.

    David Donaghe

    David H. Donaghe lives and works in the eminent desert of austral California. David has three passions in life: scanning, composing and teasing his motorcycle. When not cutting into into an acceptable book or setting his face in the wind on his motorcycle, David writes little stories and novels. He has had three short stories printed so far and another coming out in an anthology

    David’s other hobbies include, fishing, hunting, karate, camping, horsemanship and other outdoor activities. He uses these experiences and other life experiences in his composing. David is currently sunning life and working on his next novel.

    Brandon Tietz

    Brandon Tietz is the author of the novel, “Out of Touch,” a transgressive take on nightlife, socialites, and sensory deficiency. He enjoys a well-poured vodka tonic, acceptable conversation, and the ariose stylings of Röyksopp.

    Currently, Tietz serves as one of the moderators of the Chuck Palahniuk Writers’ Workshop and is working on his second book, a themed collection, entitled, “Vanity.”

    His work can be seen on Lobster Cult Magazine and Outsider Writers Collective. He is also a three-time Chuck Palahniuk anthology finalist

    Thomas Matthews

    Thomas K. Matthews is a printed author, award acquiring designer, feted illustrator and nonrecreational communication coach. He has composed twelve novels and teaches composing workshops, speaks at eminent schools and localised colleges as well as lectures for the localised Learning Annex on self printing. The son of a retired American Literature professor he has been engrossed in the written word since birth. Thomas lives in California with his wife and son

    Caleb J. Ross

    Caleb has a degree in English with a minor in creative writing from Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. Based on his composing merit, ESU funded his attendance to the Tin House Writer’s Workshop in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2004 where he had the opportunity to study with novelist Peter Rock. He has recently finished a six-week writing intense with Craig Clevenger, author of the novels The Contortionist’s Handbook and Dermaphoria (MacAdam/Cage). His fiction and non-fiction have came out widely. His fiction chapbook, Charactered Pieces, was let go of in 2009 from OW Press, and traded out of its first print run within two months.

    Beth Ann Masarik

    Beth Ann has been writing since she was 15 years old, and was published in the 2002 Schreiber Times. She took constructive composing classes in college, and feels that they assisted her go the writer she is today. In addition to writing the sequel to The World Among Us, she participates in a foreign anthology project, where writers from around the world come together to share their talent.

    Originally starting as a writing assignment for college, The World Among Us series has sparked up a role playing group online, and a fan base of over 170 followers on Facebook, and over 200 followers on Twitter. Beth Ann lives in New York where she is a legal assistant and teaches for her Family Time program, a religion program for the kids in her parish. She is also a lector on the weekends

    Stephen Prosapio

    Stephen Prosapio received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from DePaul University in Chicago. After announcing for one of the nation’s largest fantasy football websites, footballguys.com, Stephen composed his first novel. Competing against 2,676 other novels, he acquired a Top Five Finalist award in Gather.com’s 2007 First Chapters contest

    Articles about him have been featured in the San Diego Union Tribune, The North County Times, Today’s Local News, San Diego Magazine and the DePaul University Alumni magazine.

    In January of 2010, Stephen established a Facebook XPI Fan Club for people interested in things paranormal. The group stood out 1,600 members in April and continues to mature approximately 500 members a month

    Stephen works as an executive recruiter and resides in Oceanside, California. He is currently crafting a sequel to Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum that chronicles the ongoing adventures of Zach Kalusky and the Xavier Paranormal Investigators

    Michael Sonbert

    Michael currently teaches ninth grade English in South Philadelphia and his first novel, The Never Enders, was released in September 2008 by IBOOKS Inc., an act upon of Brick Tower Press in Manhattan. Presently, he runs a workshop intense on Chuck Palahniuk’s Official Website.

    About Otherworld Publications:

    What makes Otherworld Publications different? We are revolutionizing the publishing business. We are a publisher with the Author in mind. Our goal is to assist Authors be boffo. Let’s form the future together!

    We have a team of authors, editors and graphic artists to help make your publishing dreams come true. Most of us are printed authors and we key out with the trials and tribulations for the printing industry. That’s why we organized Otherworld Publications with the Author in mind.

    ###

    Here are the aggregators:

    Renewable Alternative Energy
    Solar power – Wind power – Save money with Alternative Energy

    My guess is that the word “wind” mentioned once in the press release, interested this aggregator. Pretty desperate. I can’t imagine anyone thinking, “I’d like to know about wind,” to which a friend asks, “what aspect of wind?” “Oh, anything,” says the first. “Wind power, wind energy, and hell, just the word ‘wind’ shoved into any paragraph would be great.” I know, this entire scenario is stupid, as it supposes this wind searcher has a friend.

    iPhone – iPod – iPad
    iPhone, iPod, iPad Hacks and Tricks

    I am equally confused with this one. Maybe “broke new ground when it was released with its own soundtrack. The combination of music with a novel” iTeased this iAggregator. iHope not. That would be iDiotic.

    JAG’s Sports News

    This one is pretty easy, though no less irrelevant than the others. The phrase “After reporting for one of the nation’s largest fantasy football websites, footballguys.com…,” has got to be the culprit. But again, what the hell is so relevant about the simple combination of vague terms (the words football and website)? Time to tease the aggregator: “baseball and modem,” “Foosball and screen resolution,” “fantasy and internet.” That last one will probably be popular for dirty reasons.

    WP Themes Choice

    Judging by the url, this one was tagged as “publication.” Surely this blog doesn’t pull in any press release with the world “publication.” Wait, aggregators are stupid. Never mind.

    good news – Awesome Blog

    Again, I don’t know why the press release appeared here, but honestly, I can’t be mad at a site with such an awesome name.

  • Read Mel Bosworth’s Grease Stains, Kismet, and Maternal Wisdom

    Grease Stains, Kismet, and Maternal WisdomGrease Stains, Kismet, and Maternal Wisdom by Mel Bosworth

    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    Mel Bosworth’s second bound book, Grease Stains, Kismet, and Maternal Wisdom, reads like a sequel to the recently released i am here And You Are Gone by Shome Dasgupta. The two books share simplistic linguistic style and an explored relationship that is both as awkward and beautiful as the characters themselves. The hook with this novella, if the somewhat commercial term like “hook” can be used, is the strangely absent origin story of the two characters, David and Samantha. How these characters met remains unsaid, which allows a unique tension in this fairly traditional story. Grease Stains, Kismet, and Maternal Wisdom is a great example of how a single detail is all a true writer needs to turn a story into his story.

    View all my reviews

  • You decide what I wear; voting for the STRANGER WILL cover

    You decide what I wear; voting for the STRANGER WILL cover

    VOTING HAS ENDED.

    You get to choose the cover of my forthcoming novel! Go to the Otherworld Publications voting page and vote for your favorite Stranger Will cover. Seriously, the winner is the winner. No Florida re-counts here (dated reference, I know).

    I do like one more than the others. But which one, I won’t say. The novel is set to be released on March 18th, 2010. Voting ends on November 30th. That means if I don’t get the cover I want, I have 3 1/2 months to cry about it.

    Click here to vote.

    Click on cover images below to see full size image.

    1-Vertical Bench, white 2 – Birds on Wires, red
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    3 – Snowy Bench, shadow title 4 – Snowy Bench, floating title
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    5 – Mirror Trees, sideways title 6 – Mirror Trees, wraparound title
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  • Slaughterhouse-Five means delicious BBQ

    Slaughterhouse-Five means delicious BBQ

    (part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series)

    Historically, with these Unexpected Literary References, I have focused on cartoons. But today, when I made my rare trip just a few miles north to Oklahoma Joes Barbecue on  47th street I was reminded of one of the strangest literary references I’ve encountered. The name of the barbecue team which birthed this amazing restaurant/gas station is Slaughterhouse-Five. Yep. Nothing says “let’s eat meat” more than images of dying war prisoners.

  • Will you lend me a virtual couch?

    Will you lend me a virtual couch?

    In late 2009 I embarked on a the Blog Orgy Tour in support of Charactered Pieces: stories which took me all the way from my living room to the Javanaut coffeehouse on 39th street and everywhere in between with wireless internet access. Oh, the groupies. But that’s for another post.

    As some of you may know, my novel Stranger Will is set to be released in March 2011 by Otherworld Publications. I miss the road (which remains unmoving just outside my office window). So, I want to do another tour. Announcing the

    Posting for Strange: The Blog Orgy Tour II: Stranger Will: (Unnecessary Colon)

    (I’m still working on the name)

    My goal this time is to embark on a marathon blog tour, from the release of Stranger Will in March all the way to the November 2011 release of my second novel, I Didn’t Mean to Be Kevin (Black Coffee Press). This is quite ambitious, but I’ve been looking for a good way to get burned out on this whole writing thing. I think this is it.

    So my question is: will you help?

    My primary request is for one day’s worth of blog space. I’ll write a post which you will publish a pre-determined date. Simple. This post can be entirely my own, or it can be an interview, or I could write a review of a book…whatever, really. If you have a cool idea, I’m all for it. I would like to try and fit my post content into the content of your site (when in Rome, blog as the Romans blog). If you critique cartoons, I’ll do the same. If you review lit journals, I’ll do the same.

    My secondary request would be for you to spread this tour stop request to all of your lit-reading friends and contacts. Obviously I will need a lot of sites in order to fill the 32+ weeks of tour time. If I average 3 posts per week, that’s 96 sites. Damn. If you know someone with a writing-related blog, please pass along my information. Or even pass his/her information my way and I’ll reach out.

    If you are able to help, please let me know. Though I won’t start posting until the middle of March 2011, I’ll need as much time as possible to organize all of the dates and content with the various website editors.

    Please contact me at caleb [at] calebjross [dot] com. Put something about the blog tour in the subject line, so my spam bots know that you’re cool.

    Already drowning,

    Caleb J Ross

  • My book rating methodology

    My book rating methodology

    I’ve been asked a few times lately why I give so many 4-5 star ratings at online book sites like Goodreads and Amazon. “Surely,” goes the thinking, “not all books I read can be ranked among the top 80% of all books.”

    Well, actually they can. Here’s how.

    Getting rid of the 1 star possibilities:

    If a book disappoints me withing the first 50 pages or so, I won’t finish it. And by not finishing it, I don’t feel as though I have the right to give it a ranking. I can’t rate a beer without feeling its hangover, right? This eliminates the majority of 1 star possibilities.

    Getting rid of the 2 and 3 star possibilities:

    A book, by the time I open it, has already survived multiple filters, and in having done so, is sure to find my favor. My brethren over at The Velvet and The Cult are my taste-makers. Having received praise from those groups of readers, a book has already beaten the 2 star, and possibly the 3 star, level.

    Very rarely do I pick up a book without any prior introduction. In fact, the most recent example is Chip Kidd’s novel, The Learners, which I bought based on Kidd’s reputation as a book designer (and the video below). My purchase had nothing to do with his reputation as a writer (I’m not sure he has one, good or bad, having only two novels published). I haven’t read the book yet, so let’s hope my anti-book-by-its-cover reaction proves just.

    How much faith do you, as a reader, truly put into ratings book site ratings?