PNWA 2015's Editors Forum

(Image of Perry White from Smallville Wikia)

 

This year's Editors Forum was actually the fourth conference session I attended.  Normally, I write my blogposts in chronological order, but I'm feeling lazy and I'm pressed for time.

Back in 2012, when I last attended, Perennial Emcee Bob Dugoni skipped the Editor introductions in the interest of saving valuable time, assuming everyone could read their bios in the conference handout.

He said he wouldn't do that again because he nearly had a riot on his hands afterwards.  So each editor present introduced themselves, told the audience what publication they work for and what genres they're interested in acquiring.

Bob assured the audience that these folks were friendly and approachable (unlike Perry White, pictured above), and didn't fall asleep at night counting the ways they could reject your work.

So here's this year's list of Editors-at-Large:

Peter Field (Timberline Review)

Sheila Gilbert (DAW Books)

Brit Hvide (Simon & Schuster)

Jennifer Letwack (Thomas Dunne Books)

Allison Lyons (Harlequin)

Anna Michels (Sourcebooks)

Lynn Price (Behler Publications)

John Raab (Suspense Publishing)

Robert Sappington (Harken Media)

Adam Wilson (Gallery Books)


After the intros, we jumped right into the Q&A (Questions & Answers).

Since I'm writing a webcomic, and wasn't stalking submitting work to editors, I didn't pay too much attention to inquiries and responses.

When I was paying attention, I actually learned a few things:

One of them being the new term "New Adult" to describe books for college-aged kids (18-22 year olds).  These are mostly coming-of-age stories that are romance-focused, and attempt to answer such monumental questions like:  What kind of job will I get? What will I do with my life? Will I ever get laid? 

The term "mainstream" tends to be a literary default setting when publishers aren't sure what genre to pigeon-hole your work.

One-of books are increasing in popularity among publishers.  They're reluctant to invest additional seed money into a series, especially since subsequent books usually don't earn as much as the initial book.

So when you're pitching you're book, and envision it as Number One in an Epic Series of Epic Proportions, it's best to keep your delusions hopes to yourself. 

Unless publishers inquire about the possibility of a series, or your name is George R. R. Martin, or J. K. Rowling.

In the meantime, each book must stand alone and be a complete story in-and-of itself.

Product Review: Blucher and the Hundred Days Campaign

(Image from:  Wargame Info's review of Blucher)

While attending this year's PNWA Summer Conference, we were often reminded that as writers, we're suppose to read a lot, especially in my genre. 

 

Since my favorite "genre" is wargaming, I spent my down-time reading Sam Mutstafa's latest release in his Honour Series:    Blucher.

 

Blucher 176-page rule booklet for playing Napoleonic battles in the grand tactical scale.  That is, units representing 4-6 infantry battalions (2000-3000 soldiers), 6-12 squadrons of cavalry (1000-2000 horsemen), and 2-4 artillery batteries (18-24 guns).  Although the game is flexible enough so players can increase or decrease the troop scale.

 

The rules are quick, easy, enjoyable to read and beautifully illustrated.  I finished the basic rules in two hours, and I-am-a-slow-reader. 

 

Despite the page-length, Blucher is a hardcover booklet, which not only contains the Basic and Advanced Games, but also the Scharnhorst Campaign System, not to mention Appendices, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and seven pages of Quick Reference Charts (QRCs).

 

I've always been intrigued by military campaigns and how battles developed, often more so than how that battle itself was fought.  It was the Scharnhorst system that was the deciding factor in my decision to buy Blucher.

 

Scharnhorst takes up only 25 pages in the rule booklet and is easy to follow.  The author emphasizes that the intent is not to play a lengthy campaign game, which can take on a life of it's own, but to bring about a battle in a manner other than lining up troops along opposite ends of the game table.  In other words, Scharnhorst is more of a battle generator that campaign game per se.

 

 Blucher is the most enjoyable set of rules I've read in my gaming life.  Not only because the rules were easy to understand, but Mr. Mustafa's sense of humor is infused in some of the pages, especially the side-bar notes.

 

Be forewarned:  If you post emotionally-charged complaints on the Honour Forum, you may find yourself on the receiving end of Mr. Mustafa's wit.

 

Here's a response to a hapless player who expressed his hatred for the Scharnhorst system, because an isolated column of his army was destroyed by converging forces of the enemy (as if this never happened historically):

 

As I see it you have two options:

 

1. Distract him [your opponent] with junk food and cheat somehow, OR

 

2. Man Up and accept that you've gotten yourself in a bind, and now you'll have to fight a seemingly hopeless battle against terrible odds.  It will be an epic defense worthy of remembrance in song, legend, and hyperbolic 19th Century novels.  In the movie version you'll probably be played by Sean Bean, but maybe if your lucky, Russell Crowe.

 

(From the sidebar at the bottom of page 148).

 

I've read this quote several times and it still makes me laugh, which compelled me to post it verbatim.

 

A more practical note of caution about Blucher is the ground-scale unit of measure.  That is how players measure movement and weapon ranges.  Instead of using standard measurements, like in the English (inches) and metric (centimeters), distances are measured in Base Widths (BWs). 

 

This allows players to utilize miniatures of all sizes, from 6 millimeter (mm) to 28mm, or maybe even larger.

 

The only drawback, especially for someone as artistically challenged as I am, is that players have to make their own measuring devices.  These are usually dowels, cut-to-length, and painted in an alternating color scheme to denote BWs of the appropriate scale of their miniature collection.

 

Despite the need to venture off to your nearest DIY/Home Improvement store, the Honour website provides a plethora of free downloads not only for Blucher, but for their other games as well.

 

(Image found on:  Sally 4th)

 

Another (although not-free) accessory to Blucher is The Hundred Days expansion kit for the 1815 Waterloo Campaign.  This is a set of gorgeously illustrated cards that can be played in lieu of miniatures.  Since I don't own any painted Napoleonic figures due to being artistically challenged as I mentioned earlier, I added the deck of cards to my order.

 

I wish I discovered this 5-star set of rules earlier, and had the time to game a session during the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

 

PNWA Celebrates 60 Years

(Image found on The Innovative Instructor Blog)

The last PNWA Writers Conference I attended was in 2012.  My work schedule prevented me from participating these past couple of years.

This year, I managed to squeeze three out of four conference days in between two sets of work shifts.  But it was "strictly business."  Due to the compressed timeline, I skipped out of the after-conference activities...

(Image from Flavorwire, 20 Excellent Photos of Famous Authors Partying)

...by which I mean, the Keynote Speaker Addresses and the Writing Competition Awards Dinner.

In honor of the association's 60th Year Anniversary and founding members, the selected theme was "Connections."

I'm glad I was able to attend and re-connect with some of my writer friends, such as:

PNWA's President, and my Popular Fiction teacher, Pam Binder,
Secretary, and author of  Jeff Ayers;
Board of Trustee Member Terry Persun,
his daughter and fellowette Trustee Member Nicole Persun;
along with Jason Black (aka The Book Doctor).

Robert Dugoni performed his Perennial Emcee duties during the Agents and Editors Forums, but I didn't get a chance to talk to him.

I was happy to encounter my fellow "rank and file" friend Chelly Wood.
According to her, she got the idea of making a stop-motion film of Romeo & Juliet using her daughters' Barbie Doll collection, from my webcomic Breakout from Bongolaan and my YouTube gaming videos.

(Image from Chelly Wood's Free Printable Barbie Clothes Group Pic)

I was humbled by Chelly's praise and even more humbled by her advanced photographic skills.  My "movies" are merely slide shows, so I'll be seeking Chelly's advice on actual stop-motion techniques.

Chelly is writing a how-to book on this subject and pitched a book proposal to an agent.  I wish her all the best.

Another rank and file friend I met was Abigail Carter, formerly of Writerly, and now Bibliocrunch.  I caught up at her Bibliocrunch booth when she wasn't overwhelmed with inquiring attendees.  Upon seeing Abby again, I remembered I bought her book The Alchemy of Loss and asked her to autograph it for my mom, who always grieved the loss of my dad.  When my mom passed away last month, I had to confess to Abby I'm not sure what happened to her book during the maelstrom to settle my mom's estate.

A few classmates from Pam's Pop Fic Class also attended, and I ended up sharing workshops with Emily and Lara.  One alum I didn't see was Tara Sheets, who had not just one, but two stories make it in the Finalist Category of the Annual Writing Competition.

In addition to catching up with old friends, I did make two new connections this year:

1. Jazmyn Wright, who was toying with the idea of turning her work-in-progress into an on-line graphic novel.

2. When I told fantasy author Ardyth DeBruyn about my work, she thought I'd find Penny Arcade's Strip Search, Darths & Droids, along with her brother's webcomic, Sluice.

I did suffer a lengthy low moment midway through the conference.

(Image by Gary Varvel)

I learned about the four Marines (and now one Sailor) shot and killed in Chattanooga, TN, early on Friday, before heading to the gym for a pre-conference workout.

It's at moments like this that I wish I was back on active duty again.

But despite my longing to don my uniform again, I enjoyed the conference, learned a lot and look forward to re-re-connecting with my writer friends again next year.

Coming Attractions:

I attended a dozen workshops during the three-out-of-four-days conference.  I'll be writing more detailed posts about these in the upcoming days/weeks/hopefully not months ahead.

Book Review: Badass

 

Even though many Americans love barbequing and watching fireworks on Independence Day, they find the actual history of how we achieved our independence from Britain boring. 

 

If they bother to learn it at all.

 

Or any history, for that matter.

 

Part of the problem may often be in how history is written, or presented.

 

Take this passage from Wikipedia on The First Triumvirate: 

 

The First Triumvirate was a political alliance between three prominent Roman politicians (triumvirs) which included Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great) and Marcus Licinius Crassus.

 

Informative, but dull to read, isn't it?

 

(Yes, I know it's from Wikipedia, but I'm sure you've read textbooks that should have been filed under the Self-Help Section because they're good cures for insomnia).

 

Now here's a passage regarding Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, from page 57 of Badass, by Ben Thompson:

 

These guys called themselves the triumvirate, which is the official term for a group of three classical-age diabolical madmen working together to control the government until such time as they all decide to backstab and kill each other.

 

While this may not be the most accurate forensic psychoanalysis of Caesar and his Frenemies, it's certainly a more lively account of Roman politics than you'll find in any sleep-inducing textbook.

 

And there's 39 other badasses (and some badassettes) in this book about the ...relentless onslaught of the toughest warlords, Vikings, samurai, pirates, gunfighters, and military commanders to ever live.

 

Badass began as the website Badass of the Week, which continues to provide an ever-growing list of badasses, in history, mythology and fiction.

 

Both book and website are written in an over-the-top, pulp-fiction, profanity-laced, humorous style.

 

In addition to--or despite--the entertainment/shock value, the author does shed light on some of history's obscure historical figures, such as: Chandagrupta Maurya, Liu Ji, Tomoe Gozen, Bass Reeves, Henry Lincoln Johnson, Irena Sebrova and Bhanbhagta Gurung.

 

Badass enjoys an overall 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com.

 

I give it 4-stars myself.  I thought the book was both entertaining as well as informative.  However, while I'm not offended by printed profanity, I try to be more judicious using it in my own writing.

 

However, not everyone loved Badass. 

 

Out of 138 raters, 12% gave it only 1-star, and 5% gave it 2-stars, while 6% thought the book was okay, but could have been better. 

 

(Note:  Amazon has gone to percentages instead of actual numbers of  raters).

 

Many these readers were put-off by author's style, while several of them complained about historical inaccuracies.

 

I only spotted one factoid that I thought was incorrect.  This doesn't mean no other mistakes exist within the pages of Badass.  I simply didn't catch them.  I'm more of a "big picture" kind of guy anyway.  Plus, I'm too lazy too busy to conduct a badass fact-check on Badass.

 

If you read the front and back covers of Badass, you'll see you have a book that focuses on entertainment.  This isn't a bad thing, since it may energize a reader into examining more boring tomes scholarly works.

 

Sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover--and it's illustrated pages--which were provided by the following artists:

 

Miguel Coimbra,

 

Thomas Denmark,

 

Steven Belledin, who also did the front cover, and,

 

Matt Haley.

 

(Image by Matt Haley on Badass of the Week FAQs)

 

In case your wondering why this book review contains a few other labels, it's because I bought my copy of Badass at this year's Emerald City Comicon.  So Badass's author might be a badass himself, but he's pleasant enough to autograph his books.

Happy Independence Day!

(Image from: Latter Day Learning, The Short History & Origin of Independence Day)

Book Review--William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back

Ian Doescher hath strucketh again! 

I finally got around to reading his book  William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back, which my wife bought me for Christmas.

This time, The Empire Strikes Back gets the Shakespearian-spin treatment.

To which my feelings for Doescher's latest pastiche mirror my initial feelings towards William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope.

Illustrations by Nicolas Delort abound.

(Image from The Empire Striketh Back, page 152)

However, the author incorporated some changes in Striketh since Verily was published. 

The first change is, the role of the Chorus is reduced in favor of the panoramic action being described by one of the main characters in soliloquy form. 

The second is speaking roles were given to non-speaking "characters," primarily the Wampa, the Exogorth and yes, even the AT-ATs.

I actually learned something from this aspect of the story:  I didn't know what the giant, asteroid-dwelling space worm was called until I read this book.

The final change is the deviation from iambic pentameter by some of the characters.  Specifically, Boba Fett speaks in prose, reflecting Shakespeare's technique of representing the low-born. To reflect Yoda's speech pattern, the author utilized Haiku. 

The Empire Striketh Back is available on Amazon.com, where it's earned an average 4.7 out of 5-stars.  Since I like this book as much as I did Verily, A New Hope, I'll give this one a 4-star rating.

However, I'm not well-versed in Shakespearian verse, beyond the smattering of plays we read in high school.  So the longest 3-star rating by Phil Keeling caught my attention.  While Phil liked the book, he felt the author spent too much prose in a "did-you-get-this-Shakespearian-reference" manner.

The Empire Striketh Back also gets favorable reviews on Goodreads and Barnes & Noble.

One of the problems I had reading Shakespeare was having to flip through the plethora of footnotes explaining all the obscure facts, customs and references.  I had no such problem reading The Empire Striketh Back, because I've seen the original movie numerous times which made it easy for me to mentally visualize the story.

So this book would make a good gift to Star Wars fan familiar with Shakespeare, or a Shakespeare fan familiar with Star Wars. 

The full line of Shakespearian Star Wars books are, or will be, available through Quirk Books.

There's even a book trailer featuring The Bard battling boredom.