Omaha Super-8

Yet another picture. This one is of Lissa Merriman on my right and Deborah Elliott-Upton on my left.

Lissa is multi-talented. She can do it all. fiction, Non-Fiction, and even Greeting Cards. Besides she is a huge hockey fan and a lot of fun to be around. Debbie pens a weekly blog which you can find here on Criminal Brief. On top of being a mystery author she also does non-fiction, screen plays and she is one heck of a teacher. I took a short story class from her several years ago and found it to be very helpful in all of my writing. A link to Deborah's personal website can be found in my post entitled, Let the Fun Begin from last week.

Now for a rant. As I said earlier in the week I'm out of town right now. Staying at a Hilton in Houston, Texas. I did not choose this hotel myself. I am here the the Texas Postal Workers Union state conference. In order to use the internet here, I must fork over ten dollars a day. Yes a day. I normally pay ten dollars a month for service at home. granted that is dial-up and this is wireless, but still.

Way I figure it, my money is probably going to Paris's legal defense fund. At least indirectly I am contributing to her spoiledness. Is that a word? I can live without a lot of thing. for instance I have not purchased a single one of their six dollar Shiner Bocks while here. I just keep telling myself that adds up to thirty-six dollars a six pack and at the Golden Light I can buy a whole pitcher for four bucks on a week night and eight on the weekend.

My favorite DJ on Sirius satellite radio is a fellow named Mojo Nixon. He is crazy as all get out and not for easily offended, but recently he wondered outloud if Paris Hilton was named something else, such as Omaha Super-8 would we have to hear about her every exploit.? the obvious answer is no, and if I this hotel I'm at didn't have Hilton in the name you can almost be assured that I could get internet service for free, or close to it.

My rants over but here's your chance. Tell me about something about your day that got under your skin.

Follow the Bouncing Ball

I'm sure all of you are getting sick of seeing my image since I've gone picture nutty in the last few days. The bad news is I have more to post in the coming days. This one is of me just before last night's game between The Houston Astros and Oakland A's. Sorry for the poor quality but all I had was my cell phone. The ball in my hand was a homerun hit during the A's batting practice. Wish I knew who smacked it to the four hundred plus feet out to my seat in deep right field but the players were all wearing generic green practice jerseys. My four year old has already laid claim to the ball.

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Okay, both AlternateFish and WordVixen have tagged me with the Thinking Blogger award, which means I in turn have to nominate five blogs that regularly make me think. Now this poses a problem for me because most of the blogs I read are funny and while they are though provoking I read them more for the humor, and to keep up with friends than to learn. The ones I do read for out and pout knowledge are from professionals in the publishing world and I'm really not comfortable tagging agents and editors on the off chance that they would be irritated in some way.

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So here goes my list of blogs that I read often to think and learn about the publishing business. I'm breaking the rules because I'm not going to notify these people I have nominated them but maybe a few of you will go check them out and read if you weren't already.

1) Literary Agent Kristin Nelson's Pubrants - Her once a day posts are always enlightening and she represents a lot of projects that share a similar audience to my novels.

2) BookEnds Literary Agency Blog - The recently revamped blog has a new look but is just as educational as ever. Jessica Faust, Jacky Sach, and Kim Lionetti all contribute although Jessica is bar far the most prolific. I have met Jessica in person and found her to be both an entertaining speaker and a nice person to simply sit down and chat with.

3) Literary Agent Nathan Bransford - His blogs often spawn great discussion in the comment section and often times I learn as much there as in the actual blog. Nathan is really good about chiming in with extra comments in response to those made by others.

4) Lori Perkins Agent In The Middle - This is a great blog to learn about the daily life of an agent. Doesn't take long to learn that being an agent isn't all long lunches and four day work weeks like us writers want to assume.

5) Writer Unboxed - This is a relatively new discovery by me and I have yet to go all the way through the archives, but there is a ton of interviews, advice and all around good info here.

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I'm trying to catch up on a few things, including my recent reads which I'm way behind on so here is the list. The Tin Box by Holly Kennedy, Physik by Angie Sage, Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie, and Until I find You by John Irving. Librarything.com has been down due to some technical problems but as soon as they are back up I'll post links.

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Now let me leave y'all with three questions.

1) What is the one novel that you are embarrassed to admit you've never read when a discussion breaks out?

2) What novel have you read that is usually considered one of the must read classic, but for whatever reason you consider it to be ho-hum?

3) And finally, what is your guilty pleasure? Give me an author or novel that a true literary snob would sneer at but you love to read anyway.

I'll give you mine in the comments sections later tongiht, or first thing tomorrow.

My Life of Crime

It is probably never a good idea to confess to crime on the internet. Much less on a blog with my name plastered all over it, but for the sake of your entertainment I'm gonna do it anyway.

The Golden Light Cantina sits along sixth street in Amarillo. Back in the day this was part of historic Route 66. Now this particular stretch of the famed roadway is lined with antique stores and bars. For my money The Golden Light is the best live music venue in all of the Texas Panhandle. You'll have a hard time finding a night when they don't have something worthwhile going on.

So there we were Saturday night at the Golden Light listening to Lee Sheetz and Borderline play. Those present were myself, My wife, Cicily Janus, Kensington Editor Hilary Sares, and Jeff Campbell.

Now me and my wife are regulars at the small bar, or at least we were before we had children, but everyone else was from out of town. Cicily and Jeff, are from Colorado and of course Hilary is from New York City.

So there we were having a good time, listening to some tunes, taking an occasional turn around the small dance floor. Over the years I've known her Hilary has become quite adept at the Texas Two-Step. As a group we were four or five pitcher of Shiner Bock into a good evening when Hilary motioned for me to follow her over to the other side of the room.

Whispering the best she could over the loud music she pointed to a poster on the Ladies room door and asked me how much trouble she'd get in if she took off the wall and ... well for lack of a better term -- STOLE IT.

Now I'm not one to let my guests get thrown in jail so I volunteered to get the poster for her. About a foot and a half by two foot the poster was for a musician scheduled to play later in the month.

I went back to my table, waited for a few songs and then calmly walked over opened the women's restroom door, we're talking small one-seater bathrooms here, and while I had it open I popped the poster free from the door. Then I shut it, did what anybody who'd consumed a fair amount of beer would do, flushed and walked out with the poster in my hand. Luckily there was a back door only a few feet away and the thing was propped open to allow for better ventilation. So I walked out deposited the poster in my vehicle and then rejoined my group. All in all a heist in about forty-five seconds. Maybe I can get a part in Ocean's Fifteen or whatever number they are up to now.

What I didn't tell you earlier was that not only is Jeff Campbell a writer, but he also used to be a state policman in New Mexico. So I knowingly committed a theft with an ex cop right there to witness, but what I really want to know is how many of you reading this will be willing to contribute to my bail when the authorities read this blog?

Back in the groove

I off in Houston sweating in the heat and humidity. Actually, right now I'm sitting in the nice air conditioned confines of my room on the fifteenth floor of the Hilton. I can look right out my window at Minute Maid park, home of the Houston Astros.

As promised here is a picture from the recent Frontiers in Writing Conference in Amarillo, Texas. This one is of Cicily Janus -better known on this blog as bluefingers, keynote speaker Barry Eisler, and of course the tall goofy looking one is me.

Barry is not only a best selling author, be sure and check out his latest novel, Requiem for an Assassin, but a heck of a speaker and a really nice guy. He shared a ton of advice on how to market yourself both before and after publication.

I am currently reading his first novel in the John Rain series titled, Rain Fall and I'm really enjoying it.

I'll post more conference pictures and stories later, including my new life of crime, but for now I'm gonna keep it short since my nerves are shot. Man do I hate airports, and three in one day is about all I can stand.

Let the Fun Begin

This could be my last post until late Sunday evening. Why? Because The Frontiers In Writing Conference kicks off tomorrow evening here in Amarillo and since I am one if the trusty volunteers, I'll be busy.

This is one of my favorite times of the year because I get to catch with and chat with many of my writer friends. Even though most of them live in this area and we occasionally talk via email this is when I get to sit and talk nothing but writing for several days. For anyone who lives within a days drive of Amarillo, basically the ares between Denver and Dallas and Tulsa to the Arizona, New Mexico line, should try to attend next year. There are always great speakers along with agents and editors. This years lineup included New York Times best selling author Barry Eisler, RWA Hall of Famer Jodi Thomas, Kensington editor Hilary Sares, literary agents, Andrea Brown and Terry Whalin. As well as authors Britta Coleman, Solana Delamant, Linda Rohrbough along with editor Melanie Rigney. The netwroking is great and who knows I met move one more rung closer to publication.

If you get bored in my absence check out some of the links above or pop over to these blogs and websites so you can check out some of my writing friends. The ones I will be hanging out with this weekend.

Bluefingers -- Deborah Elliott-Upton -- Jennifer Archer -- Dee Burks -- Phyliss Miranda --

I'm sure I have forgotten about someone who has a blog or website, but these are the ones that come to mind. I'll try to post something quick between now and Thursday but if not I promise to post the next edition of The Feedstore Chronicles Sunday night once I land in Houston. That is where I'm headed just as soon as the writers conference is over. I'll also try to take some pictures and post them next week.

Webster's Evil Twin

Despite the fact I'm sitting at the computer when I'd rather still be in bed. Despite the fact I have a headache. Despite the fact yesterday was one crummy day at work. --- I'm in a good mood.

Why?

Because my current WIP is suddenly flowing well. I just finished chapter four and for the first time in several weeks I can feel that surge of energy I only get when my writing is going well.

My friend Alex Keto has asked me to define Women's Fiction. Check out his blog and be sure to follow his link for the modern day motivational poster. It is hilarious. I'll probably screw this up and I fully expect somebody out there to disagree but I'm feeling froggy this morning so I thought I'd jump.

Fiction about women, for women, and USUALLY written by women. I'm guessing that most people would use something like this to describe women's fiction.

I wouldn't necessarily disagree but I think it is much more and still think the term is a bit misleading, at least in my instance since I read a lot of novels that fit this category.

A story dealing with real world people and true-to-life complications where the emotional journey of the character, is as important as any other plot point. Maybe there is a romance, maybe not, but either way the protagonist, male as well as female grow in some way. And even if there is a romance and the two characters end up together I think it is important that neither becomes dependant on the other. Women's fiction is not damsel in distress and man rides to her rescue. She must find a way at least mostly on her own.

I say that but at he same time I think women's fiction can have a male as the main character so long as the man appeals to women readers and does some other than trying to bed hot women.

I know there are quite a few women's fiction authors who read this blog and more than a few who are published. Help me and Alex out by explain why I'm wrong.

Call me Benedict

No, not the Pope, the traitor. Not only do I read and write women's fiction but I'll admit it. I also happen to enjoy watching a good chick flick from time to time. You know that is much harder to admit than the bent of my writing. Now I did say A GOOD CHICK FLICK.

I've seen some bad ones, with more sap than a syrup far,. Are they called farms, or orchards or what? Sorry we don't have many Maple trees down Texas way. Anyway I don't like any story, on the bi,g screen, little screen, or the page, that interject tears, and drama just for the sake. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I LIKE CHARACTERS. Make me feel as if I know them and I'll follow them to hell and back.

Why Am I droning on about this? Last night my wife and I plunked down the four bucks to order The Holiday on Pay-Per-View. I got into this movie. they way Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz's characters intertwined. Like all movies I would have liked more - internal thought, background, character development -- but I understand you can't do a lot of this on the big screen, which is exactly why books are better.

In the next day or so I'm going to spring for another PPV movie, Little Children. I've heard mixed reviews for the movie but I loved the novel. Tom Perrotta is one of my favorite authors. Speaking of which I wonder when his next one is due. It has been a while. Okay, I just checked out his website and he has a new novel titled The Abstinence Teacher due in the Fall. Another of my favorites Richard Russo also has a new novel coming out in October, The Bridge of Sighs. I love that title as I'm sure I will the book.

So in the spirit of this post I'm going to post a few questions. What is you favorite movie adaptation of a book? I can think of a couple that i actually think turned out better than the book. And what is the worst Hollywood hack job you've ever seen done to a novel?