As I said in my last post, Mocha Memoirs newest anthology release is Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires, a Steampunk horror collection. The new Sherlock Holmes anthology is currently in production. Last year, we produced Avast, Ye Airships! and An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Past anthology offerings included In the Bloodstream and The Grotesquerie.
Why should you care?
Many reasons. First of all, an anthology is a brilliant way to see the work of many different authors for a substantially cheaper price than if you bought their longer works without knowing anything about them. Of course, we hope that you will want to see more of their writing, but if someone's style doesn't resonate with you, you have other stories to read.
Tying in with that, it is a great way to find new favorites. An anthology usually has a mix of authors--some you may follow regularly, and others you may never have heard of. With a small press, you are even more likely to find some unfamiliar names.
Anthologies usually have a unifying theme or subject matter, which means that you are going to be getting stories that all relate to something you are interested in. Like Airship pirates, or Sherlock Holmes. :)
It can be a lot of fun to collect the authors' autographs too--though sometimes a challenge, as we have many foreign contributors. Which is another benefit: you get to see varying perspectives when you have authors from around the world.
Finally, you don't have to invest a great deal of time all at once to reading it. With short stories from different authors, you can pick and choose the order to savor them depending on the time you have to devote to reading at the moment. Anthologies are great for Kindles and other readers when you might be stuck in a waiting room or a long line.
Search for anthologies on Amazon, and you will be amazed at the variety of offerings. Of course, some may be higher quality than others. In these fast-shifting days of publishing revision, there are many anthologies that have been cobbled together quickly--but even the worst that I have seen have a gem or two in them, and for a reasonable investment.
And Mocha Memoirs has treasure chests full of carefully-chosen gems for you to enjoy!
Showing posts with label anthology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anthology. Show all posts
Monday, November 7, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
Has It Really Been a Month Already?! -- Endings and Beginnings
Time flies when you are having fun...
It looks like October will be a month of endings and beginnings here at Mocha Memoirs. First of all, if you haven't gotten your story in to Alexandra Christian for the latest Sherlock Holmes anthology call, submissions END on October 14th. Time is running out--so if you have been procrastinating...get a move on!
It will also be the BEGINNING of availability for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires, the Steampunk Horror anthology that debuts on October 27th. I can't wait to see the book in print. There are some wickedly awesome stories in it.
Of course, Halloween is also coming--that is the END of October (and my personal favorite holiday) and marks the BEGINNING of National Novel Writing Month. If you have never participated in NaNoWriMo, give it a shot! What have you got to lose? Even if you don't finish, you will have more words than you started with. :)
The goal is 50,000 words in a month, which is a bit daunting, I know--but that works out to only 1667 words a day to make the goal. That isn't so bad. After all, this post has over 200 words, and look how short it is... It is a lot of fun, and I've gotten at least five or six completed manuscripts from the rough first drafts of November. Who knows? You might be the next discovery for us!
It looks like October will be a month of endings and beginnings here at Mocha Memoirs. First of all, if you haven't gotten your story in to Alexandra Christian for the latest Sherlock Holmes anthology call, submissions END on October 14th. Time is running out--so if you have been procrastinating...get a move on!
It will also be the BEGINNING of availability for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires, the Steampunk Horror anthology that debuts on October 27th. I can't wait to see the book in print. There are some wickedly awesome stories in it.
Of course, Halloween is also coming--that is the END of October (and my personal favorite holiday) and marks the BEGINNING of National Novel Writing Month. If you have never participated in NaNoWriMo, give it a shot! What have you got to lose? Even if you don't finish, you will have more words than you started with. :)
The goal is 50,000 words in a month, which is a bit daunting, I know--but that works out to only 1667 words a day to make the goal. That isn't so bad. After all, this post has over 200 words, and look how short it is... It is a lot of fun, and I've gotten at least five or six completed manuscripts from the rough first drafts of November. Who knows? You might be the next discovery for us!
Monday, September 5, 2016
Why Do My Posts Always Seem to Land on Holidays?
Because the first Monday of the month often is, I suppose...
It's been a busy time for me this month, and part of that was getting Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires ready for bed. The manuscript is currently in production's hands. Can't wait to see the final package!
Putting together an anthology is a labor of love. It is a very fine balance making sure all the stories work together, make the page count, show variety--a thousand other considerations. As both an anthology editor and frequent contributor, I just wanted to remind all our writers out there that an anthology rejection is not always because your story needed more work than we could realistically give it...sometimes, the story is PERFECT--for another anthology. I got so many submissions that were well-written but without a speck of Steampunk. Couldn't use them. They didn't fit the theme of the anthology.
As a writer, it is your job to read the requirements carefully and make sure that your story meets them. The Pac-Man story wasn't even Victorian...I might have been able to stretch a little, but not that far.
As an editor, it is my job to think outside the box if there is a quirky story that fits the requirements but might need a little work to polish it up. It is NOT my job to make your story fit the guidelines.
I love editing anthologies, but I don't see how someone does it all the time. It is exhausting! My hat's off to those who do nothing but anthologies--or even more extraordinary--still manage to make time for their own work as well. I'm a once-a-year anthology editor. At least for the time being. ;)
It's been a busy time for me this month, and part of that was getting Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires ready for bed. The manuscript is currently in production's hands. Can't wait to see the final package!
Putting together an anthology is a labor of love. It is a very fine balance making sure all the stories work together, make the page count, show variety--a thousand other considerations. As both an anthology editor and frequent contributor, I just wanted to remind all our writers out there that an anthology rejection is not always because your story needed more work than we could realistically give it...sometimes, the story is PERFECT--for another anthology. I got so many submissions that were well-written but without a speck of Steampunk. Couldn't use them. They didn't fit the theme of the anthology.
As a writer, it is your job to read the requirements carefully and make sure that your story meets them. The Pac-Man story wasn't even Victorian...I might have been able to stretch a little, but not that far.
As an editor, it is my job to think outside the box if there is a quirky story that fits the requirements but might need a little work to polish it up. It is NOT my job to make your story fit the guidelines.
I love editing anthologies, but I don't see how someone does it all the time. It is exhausting! My hat's off to those who do nothing but anthologies--or even more extraordinary--still manage to make time for their own work as well. I'm a once-a-year anthology editor. At least for the time being. ;)
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
SUBMISSION CALL!!! Curious Incidents: More Improbable Adventures
Mocha Memoirs Press is pleased to announce that they will be publishing another Sherlock Holmes anthology with editor A.C. Thompson! So sharpen those pencils and get ready to write.
“The game is afoot!”
Welcome back to
Baker Street! Holmes and Watson are there to greet you once more with amazing
tales of murder, mayhem, and mystery with a supernatural twist. This time the
great detective and his stalwart companion will venture into alternate
universes, histories, and futures to solve puzzling cases of the paranormal
beyond the bounds of imagination.
In Curious
Incidents: More Improbable Adventures, I am looking for stories that
diverge from the original canon setting of Victorian England. The adventures
should be paranormal in nature, but the universe is completely open. In fact,
stories set in the traditional
Victorian will not be considered.
Some examples of alternate settings might be: steampunk, weird west, distant
future, space, ancient world (ok, so I’d just really like to see if someone
could do it…), dystopian, American noir, or even modern times (BE CAREFUL WITH
THIS. I CAN’T PUBLISH SHERLOCK BBC FANFICTION!).
Word of warning:
Sherlock is a beloved character with a very distinct voice and manner. We
want to be sure that we keep and/ or expand on those attributes that have made him
a literary icon. However, I am very interested in seeing diverse
characters in starring roles (gender, ethnicity, etc.). The entire original
canon is available on Kindle for FREE. Take advantage.
This time, I’m a
little more flexible with genre. I am looking for stories that will fall into
the speculative fiction genre and all
its subspecies (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, magical realism, gothic
horror, etc.). I’m even being adventurous this time and allowing for a romantic
element as long as you stay true to the character, but NO EROTICA (it’s not
that kind of book). The important thing is--- it has to have a paranormal
thread. These are CURIOUS INCIDENTS, not everyday occurrences.
Let your
imaginations run wild and give me something I haven’t seen before!
Publication of CURIOUS
INCIDENTS: MORE IMPROBABLE ADVENTURES will again be handled through Mocha
Memoirs Press and therefore, all submissions are subject to their general
guidelines which include, but are not limited to: no bestiality,
glorified rape, necrophilia, hate language, etc. We are not seeking
erotic stories for this anthology.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: October 14, 2016
Minimum word count: 4,000 not to
exceed 8,000
Payment: split royalties + 1
contributor copy.
General Mocha Memoirs Press Submission
Guidelines:
·
Submit your work to animprobabletruth.mmp@gmail.com with “CURIOUS INCIDENTS” Sub: [Your
Story Title]; [Your Name] in the subject line. Attach your story as a DOC or
DOCX file. Submissions sent in the body of the email will not be read.
Stories should be in 12pt, Times New Roman font. Please double space.
Don’t forget to include a title page that includes all contact
information.
·
Include a brief cover letter in the body of
your email stating your name, pen name (if using one), story title with word
count, a brief (1 paragraph) synopsis, and bio.
·
No simultaneous submissions, please. We ask
that you do not submit a story to us and to another market at the same time.
·
Multiple submissions—sending more than one
story for consideration—are okay. If sending more than one story, please send
them in separate emails.
Monday, June 6, 2016
Steaming Along....
Well, I got so busy I totally forgot to write a May post until far too late to matter. I apologize for that. Especially since I promised the Table of Contents for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires. You may recognize many of the pirates from Avast Ye, Airships on the list, but we have some new writers to welcome to MMP as well.
The stories are set in several continents, and various time periods, but they all have elements of Steampunk horror that resonated with me. :)
The order hasn't been finalized, but, in alphabetical order, the stories are as follows:
A Few Days in Kansas 1881 -- Jim Reader
Better Left Dead -- TC Phillips
Death in the Witch House -- John Lance
Engineered Deceit -- Amy Braun
Footloose -- Ross Baxter (Title may change)
Honeymoon in a Jar -- Robert Perret
Here, Where Our Blood Spilt -- Eric Del Carlo*
Last Dance with Mary Jane -- Wynelda Deaver (Title may change)
Light Over Birmingham -- Mattia Ravasi
Muzzle the Monster -- Leigh Ward-Smith
Purchase & Possess -- Steven Blake
Restless Spirit -- Rie Sheridan Rose
Steel and Steam -- Andrew Knighton
The Express -- Jason Gilbert
The Horrors of War -- Stephen Sanders*
Through the Darkness of the Opera House -- DJ Tyrer
*will update with links when I find them. :)
I am very proud of the lineup, and I think that the resulting anthology is going to be awesome.
The stories are set in several continents, and various time periods, but they all have elements of Steampunk horror that resonated with me. :)
The order hasn't been finalized, but, in alphabetical order, the stories are as follows:
A Few Days in Kansas 1881 -- Jim Reader
Better Left Dead -- TC Phillips
Death in the Witch House -- John Lance
Engineered Deceit -- Amy Braun
Footloose -- Ross Baxter (Title may change)
Honeymoon in a Jar -- Robert Perret
Here, Where Our Blood Spilt -- Eric Del Carlo*
Last Dance with Mary Jane -- Wynelda Deaver (Title may change)
Light Over Birmingham -- Mattia Ravasi
Muzzle the Monster -- Leigh Ward-Smith
Purchase & Possess -- Steven Blake
Restless Spirit -- Rie Sheridan Rose
Steel and Steam -- Andrew Knighton
The Express -- Jason Gilbert
The Horrors of War -- Stephen Sanders*
Through the Darkness of the Opera House -- DJ Tyrer
*will update with links when I find them. :)
I am very proud of the lineup, and I think that the resulting anthology is going to be awesome.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Last Chance!
This is it. The deadline was extended a week, but this is your final opportunity to be part of the Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires Steampunk horror anthology. We have some really great reads for you, but there is still room for a few more. If you've been hesitating or procrastinating, this is the time to put pen to paper! (And I am in the same boat...)
So far, I am really pleased with the Table of Contents. I'll be revealing it soon. ;)
Mocha Memoirs is beginning to have quite a nice collection of Steampunk:
Heliodor by Shannon Wendtland
Avast Ye, Airships edited by Rie Sheridan Rose
"The Head Above the Gate" in RieTales...
But we can always use more, and that is where you come in. Get me a story by Friday! I want to see what YOU have to add to the genre. :)
So far, I am really pleased with the Table of Contents. I'll be revealing it soon. ;)
Mocha Memoirs is beginning to have quite a nice collection of Steampunk:
Heliodor by Shannon Wendtland
Avast Ye, Airships edited by Rie Sheridan Rose
"The Head Above the Gate" in RieTales...
But we can always use more, and that is where you come in. Get me a story by Friday! I want to see what YOU have to add to the genre. :)
Monday, February 1, 2016
Spooky Victorian Sensibilities
When you think of Steampunk, it harkens back to the era of Victoria. The streets were dark, lit by sputtering gas lights. There was a dreariness to the London air enhanced by the coal dust and damp which created the infamous "pea-soup" fogs.
So...is it any wonder that the era also abounded with mediums and spiritualists? Ghosts were very real to the denizens of Victorian England. Remember, this was the heyday of the post-mortem memorial photo. The science of photography was not something everyone carried around in a smartphone. Photographs were fairly expensive, and time-consuming. Sometimes the photo of a dead child was the only representation of them that a family would have.
The desire not to lose all connection to their loved ones kept many a spiritualist well-fed and dressed.
Steampunk seems an ideal genre to marry with this era of mysticism. Imagine a steam-powered magic lantern device that could project the image of a deceased loved one -- and how that loved one might be angered if the medium tried to cheat those left behind.
Or perhaps a safety-coffin goes horribly awry. The "deceased" could be relying on rescue -- literally being "saved by the bell," and instead finds themselves buried alive with no hope of escape.
A couple of free story ideas for you. Now someone go and write me more submissions for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires! The pickings have been thin so far. If you've forgotten the guidelines, check them out here.
So...is it any wonder that the era also abounded with mediums and spiritualists? Ghosts were very real to the denizens of Victorian England. Remember, this was the heyday of the post-mortem memorial photo. The science of photography was not something everyone carried around in a smartphone. Photographs were fairly expensive, and time-consuming. Sometimes the photo of a dead child was the only representation of them that a family would have.
The desire not to lose all connection to their loved ones kept many a spiritualist well-fed and dressed.
Steampunk seems an ideal genre to marry with this era of mysticism. Imagine a steam-powered magic lantern device that could project the image of a deceased loved one -- and how that loved one might be angered if the medium tried to cheat those left behind.
Or perhaps a safety-coffin goes horribly awry. The "deceased" could be relying on rescue -- literally being "saved by the bell," and instead finds themselves buried alive with no hope of escape.
A couple of free story ideas for you. Now someone go and write me more submissions for Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires! The pickings have been thin so far. If you've forgotten the guidelines, check them out here.
Monday, January 18, 2016
A New Year, A New SALE!
Winter is here, finally and the holidays are over. Those dreary wintertime blues are starting to set in. We here at Mocha Memoirs Press love our readers and want to start 2016 with a bang! To that end we're having a blowout SALE on all of our anthologies and collections. We've got everything from steampunk to steamy erotic romance collections that are just the thing to curl up with on a cold winter's night!
From 1/18/16- 1/29/16, MMP is hosting the Warm Winter Collections SALE and CONTEST! All digital copies of our anthologies and collections will be just $2.99! And if print is more your speed, we're slashing those prices by 30% (for those print discounts, you'll need to go to CreateSpace and use Discount Code S9JNPK2Q).
We're also having a big celebration on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 7:30-9:30pm EST on Facebook. You can join in from the comfort of your couch to talk with some of our authors about writing, submitting to anthology markets, and all their little tricks of the trade.
So there's really no reason not to fill up those Christmas Kindles with a ton of stories that will get you through the gloom. And if that wasn't exciting enough, we're also giving away a $10 Amazon gift card that you can use to buy even more books! So chin up, buttercup! We've got you covered at Mocha Memoirs Press!
In the meantime, click HERE to ENTER the Warm Winter Collections Contest and get lots of chances to win $10 in Amazon cash!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
From 1/18/16- 1/29/16, MMP is hosting the Warm Winter Collections SALE and CONTEST! All digital copies of our anthologies and collections will be just $2.99! And if print is more your speed, we're slashing those prices by 30% (for those print discounts, you'll need to go to CreateSpace and use Discount Code S9JNPK2Q).
We're also having a big celebration on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 7:30-9:30pm EST on Facebook. You can join in from the comfort of your couch to talk with some of our authors about writing, submitting to anthology markets, and all their little tricks of the trade.
So there's really no reason not to fill up those Christmas Kindles with a ton of stories that will get you through the gloom. And if that wasn't exciting enough, we're also giving away a $10 Amazon gift card that you can use to buy even more books! So chin up, buttercup! We've got you covered at Mocha Memoirs Press!
In the meantime, click HERE to ENTER the Warm Winter Collections Contest and get lots of chances to win $10 in Amazon cash!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, September 14, 2015
New Cover Reveal: An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
loved ones insane, I can finally reveal the cover for the Sherlock anthology! It's such an honor for
me, as a Sherlock Holmes fangirl but also because I had the chance to work with one of my favorite
people, Anne Rosario. Anne is the stupidly talented artist who rendered this beautiful cover. More
importantly she put up with me and all my harebrained ideas to come up with something that's
unique and absolutely fits the tone of the book.
Coming October 27, 2015!!!
“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable,
must be the truth.”
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable characters in Western literature. Conan Doyle’s
inimitable detective has been the subject of literally thousands of books, movies, television shows,
plays and even songs. With the rise of the BBC series and the release of all copyrights, the beloved
character has found a new life among modern audiences.
In An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 14 authors of horror and
mystery have come together to create a unique anthology that sets Holmes on some of his most
terrifying adventures. A pair of sisters willing to sacrifice young girls to an ancient demon for a taste
of success, a sinister device that can manipulate time itself, and a madman that can raise corpses
from the dead are just a few among the grisly tales that can be found within these pages.
Curl up with a warm cuppa and leave all the lights on. This is not your grandfather’s Sherlock
Holmes.
Look at this list of stories! Doesn't it sound fantastic??!!
The Fairy Pool by Lucy Blue
Sherlock Holmes and the Hungry Ghost by Katie Magnusson
The Diamond Carter Ghost by Matthew Wilson
The Haunted Branch Line by Tally Johnson
The Arendall Horror by Thomas Olbert
Worlds Collide by S. H. Roddey
Time is Running Out, Watson by Adrian Cross
A Voice in the Blood by Dan Shaurette
The Hunt of the Red Boar by Thomas Fortenberry
The Canaries of Clee Hills Mine by Robert Perret
The Chase by Melissa McArthur
The Adventure of the Missing Trophy by Mark W. Coulter
The Case of the Rising Dead by Trenton Mabey
The Adventure of the Slow Death by Harding McFadden
I know, I know... I'm stalling. It's called BUILDING THE SUSPENSE. But now, without further ado...
Want to stay abreast of the developments of this exciting anthology and other MMP news? Join our Newsletter! (scroll down to the bottom)
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Thursday, June 18, 2015
Read
When people ask me what advice I'd give to new writers, the first thing out of my mouth may seem counterproductive, but it's essential.
Read.
Read, read, read, READ.
However, there's a catch.
Read what you're interested in writing...but also read everything else. Why? Simple. To learn.
I've learned story structure from literary types like Mark Twain and Raymond Carver. I've learned unusual devices from the beat writers. Nonfiction has given me all sorts of insights into how the world works, but also personal experiences of all types. Never, ever underestimate the personal truth recorded in a memoir. For the longest time I binge-read how to and self help books, not just for entertainment value, but because I was fascinated. I just couldn't shake the feeling that even if they didn't change my life, I might be able to use some of that information somewhere.
Horror has helped me learn to build tension, Sci-Fi has taught me when to rely on research and when to go with the romance of the situation.Anthologies have given me access to authors I never would have known otherwise. Romance has taught me the up and downside to writing with a formula in mind, as well as when research would have helped a plot along and given characters more to do.
Here's the thing. By writing, you learn by doing. By reading, you also learn by doing...by experiencing. You make the journey from acknowledging that something doesn't feel quite right in an author's pacing to realizing just what the bump in the road is (in your opinion, anyway). You discover different ways of approaching the same genre or the same theme. You're allowed to see what tropes are overdone, and you might get insight into how you could change things up a bit, or discover something that hasn't been done enough. By reading everything, you can see what's out there, but also slowly discover where you fit into the giant scheme of things.
I've discovered some beautiful descriptions and stories in short folklore narratives and poetry. I've found amazing storytelling devices in comics and graphic novels, things that aren't usually applied to traditional fiction. Same with the format of long-running manga and even (dare I say it) fanfiction. Think of it - there has to be reasons that certain things appeal to people, so by taking a peek you can see how you can make that work for you.
You also can get an idea of things you aren't comfortable with, or maybe, find hope in examples of how you could approach styles that you never would have tried on your own. Nancy A. Collins and Clive Barker gave me courage to be more graphic in my horror, and Neil Gaiman gave me permission to go back to my love of folklore and start using that as a foundation in my various fantasy work.
You just never know what's going to help you until you start looking.
With that in mind, don't neglect the acknowledgements. People drop some interesting references and names in those at times. I discovered Ray Bradbury, my favorite author, because he was mentioned in a forward in a Stephen King collection. I collect all sorts of industry names by perusing these sections. Pay attention if an author gives you backstory in a short story collection. Places, events, little asides - all of these may turn up gold.
Even if you're not a writer, read everything. By doing this, you slowly expand your comfort zone and your awareness.You'll fall in love with other worlds, open up emotions in yourself, maybe see things in slightly different ways. Why is that important? I'd like to think that it expands tolerance. You never know whose story you're going to end up relating to and who will change your life.
Years ago I passed by the new arrival section in the library and glanced up at the Nikki Sixx photography book/memoir This is Gonna Hurt. At that point in life, I had some fairly strong opinions about Motley Crue. I loved the music, but interviews I read left me cold. I couldn't look away from the cover of that book, though, and as I flipped through it, I was thunderstruck. I think I read that thing in less than a day, then read it again. And again. I still go back to that book because it encourages me in an aggressive way to be more creative, to be better, and I need that. It made me realize that by pre-judging the author because he was in a certain band with a certain stage persona, I was acting in a way that was against what I believed in: empathy, tolerance, and giving people a chance. It gave me back my love of Motley Crue, actually, but it also led me to others. By name dropping artists like Lita Ford, it made me realize that rock isn't just a dude's game, which helped to further get the chip off my shoulder. It introduced me to people like Amy Purdy, who modelled for the book, and the challenges she's overcome in her life - plus, that provided research for a title I was working on, as well. I've gotten so much gold from that book over the years, and it never would have happened if I'd just wrinkled my nose and walked on by.
I'm not saying you have to love everything or even finish everything. Just get out of your comfort zone and read, read, read.
So what do you love to read? What else could you be reading? What's your favorite title? Do you have something that came out of nowhere for you, something that you never dreamed you'd like until you read it?
What are you reading?
As an aside, I will also be here Saturday, June 20, with books in hand and MMP swag at the ready. If you're close by, come see me at the Midwest Authors Syndicate table!
Read.
Read, read, read, READ.
However, there's a catch.
Read what you're interested in writing...but also read everything else. Why? Simple. To learn.
I've learned story structure from literary types like Mark Twain and Raymond Carver. I've learned unusual devices from the beat writers. Nonfiction has given me all sorts of insights into how the world works, but also personal experiences of all types. Never, ever underestimate the personal truth recorded in a memoir. For the longest time I binge-read how to and self help books, not just for entertainment value, but because I was fascinated. I just couldn't shake the feeling that even if they didn't change my life, I might be able to use some of that information somewhere.
Horror has helped me learn to build tension, Sci-Fi has taught me when to rely on research and when to go with the romance of the situation.Anthologies have given me access to authors I never would have known otherwise. Romance has taught me the up and downside to writing with a formula in mind, as well as when research would have helped a plot along and given characters more to do.
Here's the thing. By writing, you learn by doing. By reading, you also learn by doing...by experiencing. You make the journey from acknowledging that something doesn't feel quite right in an author's pacing to realizing just what the bump in the road is (in your opinion, anyway). You discover different ways of approaching the same genre or the same theme. You're allowed to see what tropes are overdone, and you might get insight into how you could change things up a bit, or discover something that hasn't been done enough. By reading everything, you can see what's out there, but also slowly discover where you fit into the giant scheme of things.
I've discovered some beautiful descriptions and stories in short folklore narratives and poetry. I've found amazing storytelling devices in comics and graphic novels, things that aren't usually applied to traditional fiction. Same with the format of long-running manga and even (dare I say it) fanfiction. Think of it - there has to be reasons that certain things appeal to people, so by taking a peek you can see how you can make that work for you.
You also can get an idea of things you aren't comfortable with, or maybe, find hope in examples of how you could approach styles that you never would have tried on your own. Nancy A. Collins and Clive Barker gave me courage to be more graphic in my horror, and Neil Gaiman gave me permission to go back to my love of folklore and start using that as a foundation in my various fantasy work.
You just never know what's going to help you until you start looking.
With that in mind, don't neglect the acknowledgements. People drop some interesting references and names in those at times. I discovered Ray Bradbury, my favorite author, because he was mentioned in a forward in a Stephen King collection. I collect all sorts of industry names by perusing these sections. Pay attention if an author gives you backstory in a short story collection. Places, events, little asides - all of these may turn up gold.
Even if you're not a writer, read everything. By doing this, you slowly expand your comfort zone and your awareness.You'll fall in love with other worlds, open up emotions in yourself, maybe see things in slightly different ways. Why is that important? I'd like to think that it expands tolerance. You never know whose story you're going to end up relating to and who will change your life.
Years ago I passed by the new arrival section in the library and glanced up at the Nikki Sixx photography book/memoir This is Gonna Hurt. At that point in life, I had some fairly strong opinions about Motley Crue. I loved the music, but interviews I read left me cold. I couldn't look away from the cover of that book, though, and as I flipped through it, I was thunderstruck. I think I read that thing in less than a day, then read it again. And again. I still go back to that book because it encourages me in an aggressive way to be more creative, to be better, and I need that. It made me realize that by pre-judging the author because he was in a certain band with a certain stage persona, I was acting in a way that was against what I believed in: empathy, tolerance, and giving people a chance. It gave me back my love of Motley Crue, actually, but it also led me to others. By name dropping artists like Lita Ford, it made me realize that rock isn't just a dude's game, which helped to further get the chip off my shoulder. It introduced me to people like Amy Purdy, who modelled for the book, and the challenges she's overcome in her life - plus, that provided research for a title I was working on, as well. I've gotten so much gold from that book over the years, and it never would have happened if I'd just wrinkled my nose and walked on by.
I'm not saying you have to love everything or even finish everything. Just get out of your comfort zone and read, read, read.
So what do you love to read? What else could you be reading? What's your favorite title? Do you have something that came out of nowhere for you, something that you never dreamed you'd like until you read it?
What are you reading?
***
Monday, April 6, 2015
What Do You Want to Read?
I had been sitting here trying to decide what to write about this month, and realized I was trying to think from the writer's perspective...and what the blog is about is the reader. :)
So, I want to ask you--the reader--a few questions.
1) What do you want to see in a story?
Sweet Romance with a touch of Spice?
Try Jacqueline and the Giant or the lovely stories in The Golden Apple and Other Stories.
Science Fiction?
How about Subject 82-42 or Drink My Soul...Please.
Fantasy?
The Portal Guards is fascinating, or the stories in Avast Ye, Airships! run the Steampunk gamut. :)
And if you like Horror, we have lots of titles to choose from
The Grotesquerie is an anthology by women writers of horror, and In the Bloodstream combines horror and dark fantasy.
2) Do you like to read series connected by theme?
Try the spicy romance of C.A.K.E. -- visit Death's Cafe or the witches of Toil, Trouble, and Tempation
3) What would you like to see more of?
Leave a comment with your dream story and we will see if we can find it for you. ;)
Monday, February 2, 2015
It's February! Get Ready for Pirates!
February is going to be a HUGE month.
First of all, it is Women in Horror Month. If you haven't heard about this before, Women in Horror Month celebrates the female in what is traditionally considered a male dominated genre. Mocha Memoirs will be posting blogs about this all month, so I am just going to leave that there...
Even more exciting for me, it will see the publication of Avast, Ye Airships! I feel like I am sending my first child off to school to interact with the public for the first time. This anthology has been dominating my thoughts since April--so basically nine months--I guess it is my baby. :)
The manuscript has been turned in. It is a solid mix of adventure, humor, and romance. We have eighteen stories altogether. They come from all over the country, all over the UK, even as far away as Romania.
Steampunk, Airships, Pirates--what else can you ask for? Coming February 26th.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Airships Preparing For Take Off!
After months of preparation, the final boarding call has been sounded. The contacts have started, the crew is being finalized, and the Airships will soon be climbing into the skies.
We had over forty submissions (thirteen of them in the last two days!). They came from as far away as Romania, and as close as my downtown.
We had really great pirates, really bad pirates, and a few airships with no pirates.
There was a submission with cat pirates and a submission with squirrel-like aliens.
I had the pleasure of accepting a writer's first sale.
We had stories set on other worlds, and stories where the airship was almost a world unto itself.
It was difficult indeed to narrow things down. But I think you will be pleased with the results. I know I am.
It's time to bring the last provisions aboard. I'm assigning the crew to their quarters, and then we head to the skies! We will be heading your way the end of next month, so prepare a berth for us.
And chocolate..,all pirates love chocolate!
We had over forty submissions (thirteen of them in the last two days!). They came from as far away as Romania, and as close as my downtown.
We had really great pirates, really bad pirates, and a few airships with no pirates.
There was a submission with cat pirates and a submission with squirrel-like aliens.
I had the pleasure of accepting a writer's first sale.
We had stories set on other worlds, and stories where the airship was almost a world unto itself.
It was difficult indeed to narrow things down. But I think you will be pleased with the results. I know I am.
It's time to bring the last provisions aboard. I'm assigning the crew to their quarters, and then we head to the skies! We will be heading your way the end of next month, so prepare a berth for us.
And chocolate..,all pirates love chocolate!
Monday, December 1, 2014
It's Beginning to Look Like the End of the Year...
Alright then--NaNoWriMo is over. Did you participate? It was a heck of a ride, but I made it. I even got to take most of Sunday off.
But now THAT'S over, what next? It's December, and it is time to take stock of the year. It hasn't been quite the whirlwind of activity last year was--but it has also been a bi less exhausting.
And it isn't quite done. There is still time for you to add a few credits to your resume. There are quite a few anthology calls still looking for contributors. Including ours. Have you submitted to Avast, Ye Airships yet? My friend Diane Jortner just recently made a blog post with a number of anthology calls collected together. You still have time for most of them. ;)
And even if you don't submit anything new before the end of December, take a moment to take stock of what you have managed to accomplish this year. Whether you submitted once or a thousand times, take this chance to make a list, set a goal, write a blog post--somehow chronicle your year, and look forward to what you will do next year!
Last year's goal proved impossible for me...300 rejections was a bit much for anyone...
This year's goal wound up sidetracked by a lot of things--like being burned out from trying to get 300 rejections!--and I didn't get terribly close to my 200 rejections.
Next year, I am going to shoot for 100 rejections. If I push myself, that should be possible. (Especially with my new Dragon Speaking Naturally which should be here any minute...)
What will your goals be for the new year?
December can be an end or a beginning. You get to choose which.
But now THAT'S over, what next? It's December, and it is time to take stock of the year. It hasn't been quite the whirlwind of activity last year was--but it has also been a bi less exhausting.
And it isn't quite done. There is still time for you to add a few credits to your resume. There are quite a few anthology calls still looking for contributors. Including ours. Have you submitted to Avast, Ye Airships yet? My friend Diane Jortner just recently made a blog post with a number of anthology calls collected together. You still have time for most of them. ;)
And even if you don't submit anything new before the end of December, take a moment to take stock of what you have managed to accomplish this year. Whether you submitted once or a thousand times, take this chance to make a list, set a goal, write a blog post--somehow chronicle your year, and look forward to what you will do next year!
Last year's goal proved impossible for me...300 rejections was a bit much for anyone...
This year's goal wound up sidetracked by a lot of things--like being burned out from trying to get 300 rejections!--and I didn't get terribly close to my 200 rejections.
Next year, I am going to shoot for 100 rejections. If I push myself, that should be possible. (Especially with my new Dragon Speaking Naturally which should be here any minute...)
What will your goals be for the new year?
December can be an end or a beginning. You get to choose which.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Hand Beneath the Pump
If you have seen or read "The Miracle Worker," you know that there is a moment when Annie Sullivan is trying to teach Helen Keller that the signs she keeps making in her hands mean something. As they stand beside the pump, and Annie runs water into Helen's hand, wearily signing "water"over and over, suddenly--a lightbulb goes off in Helen's head, and she makes the connection that has been eluding her all along.
Why am I bringing it up? I had one of these "watershed moments" the other day about my writing, and I think it is worth sharing.
My husband refuses to critique anything I write. He says I can't take criticism, and I have spent more than ten years arguing that I can take constructive criticism, that I am getting better at accepting edits all the time...but I have been wrong. If anyone suggests something I don't agree with in their edits, I argue or justify, or ignore it. I can be a terrible editing subject.
As I was in tears over an edit I thought was asking way too much by way of rewrites, my husband said quietly, "You know why the QA department loves me?" (He's a computer programmer.) "Because I know they are trying to make my code the best it can be; that I might have missed something that would make it better; and I listen to what they have to say."
I thought about what he was saying. Really thought about it. And, for the first time, the analogy made sense to me. Editors are a writer's QA department. They see things we might not. They understand things we don't. We need to listen to them. Without whining about it. :) I made the changes they were asking for...and you know what...they were right. It was a stronger story for them.
(Okay, I may be a little self-serving, as I am about to go into editor mode....lol. Don't forget about our new Steampunk anthology, now open for submissions.)
Why am I bringing it up? I had one of these "watershed moments" the other day about my writing, and I think it is worth sharing.
My husband refuses to critique anything I write. He says I can't take criticism, and I have spent more than ten years arguing that I can take constructive criticism, that I am getting better at accepting edits all the time...but I have been wrong. If anyone suggests something I don't agree with in their edits, I argue or justify, or ignore it. I can be a terrible editing subject.
As I was in tears over an edit I thought was asking way too much by way of rewrites, my husband said quietly, "You know why the QA department loves me?" (He's a computer programmer.) "Because I know they are trying to make my code the best it can be; that I might have missed something that would make it better; and I listen to what they have to say."
I thought about what he was saying. Really thought about it. And, for the first time, the analogy made sense to me. Editors are a writer's QA department. They see things we might not. They understand things we don't. We need to listen to them. Without whining about it. :) I made the changes they were asking for...and you know what...they were right. It was a stronger story for them.
(Okay, I may be a little self-serving, as I am about to go into editor mode....lol. Don't forget about our new Steampunk anthology, now open for submissions.)
Monday, October 14, 2013
Blurbs of Horror: In the Bloodstream
Not so fast, creepy critters...we have one more new title to showcase and give you shivers...
The love of horror is like a virus.
It gets into your bloodstream, causing an insatiable hunger for more. There is no cure, only
the ability to soothe the craving until the need—once again—grows too great. And you
crave:
Urban legends that are sickeningly real.
Attempts to cheat death that don’t quite succeed.
Creatures with power over this world and the next.
Twisted desires of the flesh that must be met no matter what the cost.
Just in time for Halloween and all its thrills, “In the Bloodstream” brings together some of
horror’s most imaginative new writers. These thirty-one short stories will infiltrate your
system and leave you wondering about that creaking outside the door, while satisfying
your need for the darkly disturbing.
At least for now…
It gets into your bloodstream, causing an insatiable hunger for more. There is no cure, only
the ability to soothe the craving until the need—once again—grows too great. And you
crave:
Urban legends that are sickeningly real.
Attempts to cheat death that don’t quite succeed.
Creatures with power over this world and the next.
Twisted desires of the flesh that must be met no matter what the cost.
Just in time for Halloween and all its thrills, “In the Bloodstream” brings together some of
horror’s most imaginative new writers. These thirty-one short stories will infiltrate your
system and leave you wondering about that creaking outside the door, while satisfying
your need for the darkly disturbing.
At least for now…
***
So now you have some options to tear into this Halloween, some titles to curl up with in the dark to delight to. Just remember to make sure that the doors and windows are locked tight, there's nothing under your bed, and that any strange phone calls you might receive can't come from inside the house. After all, you want to enjoy these reads, and it's better to be safe and scared than sorry..
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