Today, as part of my Blog Orgy Tour in support of my fiction chapbook, Charactered Pieces (OW Press) I head over to Lit Drift to offer a few words on what I think could be the origin of the book networking circle that we know today.
See the rest of my stops, both past and future, here.
Just a few more stops on this crazy marathon tour. This thing has been amazing.
Today, I get a bit learn-y as I hit Gordon Highland’s (author of Major Inversions) Medialysis blog. In his words, regarding the purpose of Medialysis:
The idea is to share knowledge, identify and critique trends, stir the muse, and further our professional development. I advise from personal experience, offer tips, tricks, and quickie tutorials, link to items of interest, and just generally pimp stuff I think rocks. With some laughs along the way.
I play my role with an answer to a question posed of me via Facebook. It’s a writing concern I’ve heard often, so I hope a few people find my answer useful. Paraphrased, “how can I workshop my stories without peeing my pants?”
After finding out the answer at Medialysis, why not flip back through my previous Blog Orgy Tour stops, and take in the dates for the few remaining stops, here?
Today, Jason Kane is kind enough to have me at his blog. I’ve known Jason for a few years, and have been consistently impressed with his writing. There’s not much of it out there to read, but here’s hoping, fingers crossed and all that, that he starts putting some more out there soon.
I post over there a bit about my story creation process. There’s even scans from my “junk binder.” Not that said binder contains any secrets, but come on, we’re all voyeurs.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the stop, here.
Craig Wallwork, author of the aptly titled Craig Wallwork blog, takes over with this stop, letting me rest for a day. But lucky for you, you beautiful groupie, Craig’s post may just be better than all of mine combined. At least my ego thinks so.
Click over to Craig’s blog to read a stunning review of Charactered Pieces. This thing make me blush every time I read it (and I read it more this is probably healthy).
Here’s a taste (read the whole thing at Craig’s blog to know what he means with the swimming analogy):
It is a great achievement for any writer to see their work in print, but to produce a piece that could, given time, be a significant bit of storytelling of our age, is awe-inspiring. For personal reasons I am indebted to Caleb for allowing me to read his work. Like the boy of twelve years, I jumped into those deep waters with little hope of ever resurfacing the same person, or ever resurfacing at all. I was anxious and fearful of the consequences. And just how being forced under the water allowed me to appreciate the world above it, by the same token Charactered Pieces forced me to take that first breath again after turning that last page with a greater appreciation of life, even if it is flawed and imperfect.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the stop, here.
Lastly, a second printing of Charactered Pieces is in the works! That means almost all 100 copies of the first print-run have been taken in by readers. I want to thank everyone who has purchased and read a copy. Because of you, I feel I may have something good going on here.
In my possession, I have literally just 3 numbered copies of the initial print run left. I think Amazon.com has a few more too. After that, there will be no more numbered copies EVER! So, if you’re a book nerd like me, and you’d collect abortion pamphlets if they were signed by the author, then order quick.
Today is a special day in the Blog Orgy Tour. Not only is this the first stop of the new decade, but it’s a unique stop in that I have a brand new story to offer. The story, “Legs Unwilling,” is one of the most disturbing stories I’ve ever written. And between this story and an older story, “Petty Injuries,” I might have the makings of a collection of stories built around mentally disabled children. How’s that for a feel-good read?
I’m quite glad to have Rotten Leaves post this story. The editors, Axel Taiari and Christopher Dwyer are fantastic writers themselves. Stick around the site and check out the other offered fiction.
The Blog Orgy Tour is winding down. But damn good things are still to come. See the dates, here.
Today is another double-header, sending me from the literary and artistic haven for poets, writers and artists known as Troubadour21 to the subterranean bloke’s room populated by Bukowski, Kerouac, Carver, and Waits known as Bukowski’s Basement (I think Bukowski contributes more than is 1/4 of the rent to get his name on the sign).
At Troubadour21, a full story from Charactered Pieces is posted. This one called “Refill,” which originally appeared in the now defunct Green Muse Review. This story is a personal one, semi-autobiographical, yet despite what that description implies, it isn’t boring.
Over in Bukowski’s Basement, I talk a bit about my secret dream of being a barstool stereotype. It’s not secret anymore. The post also acts as the final installment of my Author Notes, this one about the non-fiction piece, “A Chinese Gemini.” Fitting, the piece spends some time in a bar.
The Blog Orgy Tour is winding down. But I promise that these final days just might be the best. I’ve got an AMAZING review coming from Craig Wallwork’s blog; a bit on my note-taking process at Jason Kane’s blog; I help some writers at Medialysis; I promote scribbling in books at LitDrift; I have a top five list at Deckfight; and last A FULL WEEK OF FREEDOM BLOGGING AT 3AM MAGAZINE. Click here for links to all the upcoming stops.
You want to be a part of it all. Contact me. I’ll swing by and mess up your blog, too.
Today, I stop at Nicholas Karpuk’s blog, which consists of a series of posts tagged “Cartoon Hell,” that comment on a cartoon DVD from a $5 collection called “150 Cartoon Classics.” You have no idea how much this idea excited me when I first heard about it. So, to be able to add a bit of cartoon talk to his blog is an honor.
There, I talk about how Ren & Stimpy inspired the cover design for Charactered Pieces.
And just for fun, check out this playlist featuring Tex Avery’s most well-known cartoons. As a child, I absorbed Looney Tunes cartoons. Avery’s “[Blank] of Tomorrow” newsreel satires were my favorite (as evidenced by an earlier post here).