I recently saw a blog from a fellow writer about the tricky issue of diversity. Funny that he should explore this thorny bush because the topic has been on my mind for some time. I recently tweeted my disappointment when someone posted somewhere the following statement–“I just don’t see how non-white characters fit into my book.” To be fair, I recognize that every book is different and reflects the deep thoughts of the writer. But it…
Category: Vanity Cards
Requiem For The Query Letter
So, I’m doing some volunteer work for a wonderful non-profit organization called Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP). Some of you will know the obvious reason, but that’s another story. (Click here if you want to see what HIP is all about). I agreed to help HIP select an IT vendor to run their systems. So I put together the usual Request for Proposal that gets sent out—no sweat. But it turns out there are a…
Now Don’t Blink…
I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer. It’s the best time of the year! Here’s a piece of advice to make it last . . . don’t blink! Many of you have asked why I haven’t been saying much lately. Well, the excuse is . . . my day job fool! But I have also been busy trying to find a agent for Heaven’s Ant Farm. So far no takers, but from my research…
Wagon Train To The Stars
It’s been a while since my last blog entry. I’ve been busy with work and some personal things needed attending. I also wanted to spend more time honing my flying skills—got to stay practiced or you could have a very bad landing. I also started to read the book These Are The Voyages: TOS Season One by Marc Crushman and Susan Osbourn. It’s a historical recounting and detailed analysis of how Gene Roddenbury created the…
Vanity Card #7- Is Lucifer a Christian?
It’s about a week before the #PitMad event. The Twitter universe is going to light up like a Christmas tree full of bright would be authors trying to attract the attention, and a favorite nod, from some agent looking for the next Stephen King. And yes my light will be shining as well, hopefully at eye level, to lure in that elusive agent contract. The #PitMad event happens March 11 and I got my…
Vanity Card #6- About Your #$@%*! Comments
I thought this would be a good time talk about the comments I received from visitors to this blog. Overall, the response has been outstanding! Thanks to you all for your remarks and kind words. Your thoughts about Heaven’s Ant Farm are spot on. But this trait of clever insightfulness and observation does not seem to be coming from all corners. And the usual response I get from a group of slackers (and you know who you are) is…
Vanity Card #5 – Nailing It
As I read through yet another literary agent reject letter, I reflect back on Chuck Lorre’s Vanity Card #436 for some solace and encouragement. Here, Chuck explains why a young actress’ only scene in a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory got cut. It “had absolutely nothing to do with her performance […] she nailed the part. Just nailed it.” Then he goes on to say they cut her scene in order to get…
I’m Not Religious–but I wrote this damn book
I’m not religious. But there is something big and wonderful going on out there…and no one can figure it out. Sure, there are the mystics and priests and prophets who claim they know. They speak with complex and convoluted ideas that some turn to their own advantage. Then there are the hard facts of evidence—theorems and experimental proof all written in complex equations of high order math and multi-dimensional string theory that few of us…
Houston, we still have a problem!!
Just saw this post in Tumblr titled Rich in Color where someone said, “I just don’t see how non-white characters would fit into my book.” Huh?? Houston we still have a problem! http://richincolor.tumblr.com
What’s That Book About…Again??
At 34,527 feet somewhere over Greenland, I’m working on my 15 second elevator speech to have at the ready. I have always found it hard to describe what Heaven’s Ant Farm is about. There is so much to say and so little time to say it. And there is always the ever present danger of the dreaded “glaze effect.” You know, when the eyes of the afflicted takes on a frosty catatonic look as I dive…