Writers' Symposium Ezine, Issue #7

The Writers’ Symposium Ezine

“Helping Writers Write”
Issue #7, June 2009
The K.I.S.S. the Pen Issue

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Contents
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From the Editor: Paul Genesse
Featured Author Bio: Monica Valentinelli
Featured Content: The K.I.S.S. Writing System by Monica Valentinelli
Featured Content: Not Happy With Your Writing Pick Up A Pen, by Monica Valentinelli
New and Current Releases from Writers’ Symposium Members
List of Current Writers’ Symposium Members & Contact Info
Final Thought

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From the Editor
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One of the best things about being a writer or attending the various conventions is meeting other writers, and people who are interested in writing. In this issue, I’d like to introduce you to one of my coolest new friends, writer and internet marketer, Monica Valentinelli. She just joined the Writers’ Symposium and will be speaking on the panels at Gen Con Indy 2009. She shares with us her K.I.S.S. method, and also suggests a return to actually using a real pen to get inspired. Her blog is full of incredibly useful information, and Monica is a great addition to the Writers’ Symposium. These articles are helpful, but please visit her blog and dive in.

Paul Genesse, Editor and Author of THE DRAGON HUNTERS—releasing May of 2009


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Featured Author: Monica Valentinelli
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Monica Valentinelli splits her time between writing, working as an online marketer, and filling the role of project manager for the horror and dark fantasy webzine www.flamesrising.com. As a freelance writer for the gaming industry, Monica has over a dozen game and game fiction credits to her name including: Worlds of the Dead by Eden Studios, an award-winning fiction piece entitled “Promises, Promises” for Promethean by White Wolf and her recent novella “Twin Designs” which was part of the collection Tales of the Seven Dogs Society for the game Aletheia by Abstract Nova Press.
Look for her horror short story “Pie” in an anthology called “Buried Tales of Pinebox, TX.” To read more about Monica, visit her urban fantasy novel series located at www.violetwar.com or her blog located at www.mlvwrites.com, which is geared toward helping “new” writers embrace writing as a hobby or as a career.

Please visit Monica at her awesome blog filled with informative posts about writing and thriving at www.mlvwrites.com where you’ll get the perspectives of a writer and an internet marketer.

Remember the Writers’ Symposium Blog: www.writerssymposium.blogspot.com

New Fiction by Monica Valentinelli

Buried Tales of Pinebox, TX—featuring a story by Monica Valentinelli

Welcome to Pinebox, a sleepy little East Texas town with more than its share of trouble. Whether it’s the snake cultists running the local bar or vengeful spirits haunting the high school boys locker room, there always seems to be some sort of trouble brewing just below the surface. Join us for a dozen tales of horror from these haunting voices in fiction.

Buried Tales of Pinebox, Texas is available now from many sources, check http://buriedtales.12tomidnight.com/.


Tales of the Seven Dogs Society—featuring a novella by Monica Valentinelli

Written in the first person, Monica’s novella entitled “Twin Designs” is a tale of two brothers named Ralph and Edgar Whitman. Each of the twins have the ability called “Presque Vu,” which enables the gifted to see whether or not an event is part of the grand design.
The book is comprised of three novellas written by Monica Valentinelli, Jim Johnson, and Matt M McElroy.
Tales of the Seven Dogs Society is available at indiepressrevolution.com and fantasy.drivethrustuff.com.


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Featured Content: IS YOUR NEXT WRITING PROJECT WORTH THE TROUBLE? USE THE K.I.S.S. SYSTEM AND FIND OUT!
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There are a lot of ways to communicate your point, but sometimes the simplest vocabulary and the shortest sentences offer the biggest benefit. While every writer knows and understands that, what’s not so simple is our process for making decisions.
Enter the K.I.S.S. system, which stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. (The acronym can also be used to describe Keep It Short and Simple, too.)
Sounds easy enough, right? Well, the challenge for a lot of writers is this little thing called “the brain.” This spongy mass tends to get in the way of great writing because it’s easy to “over-think” your projects and what you’re working on. Having a strategy to write is one thing, but thinking about your writing so much that you end up either a) not writing or b) writing something you’re not happy about. Our writing ends up suffering because we feel obligated to write something rather than focus on something we want to write.
If you feel you’re over-rationalizing your projects, then read on because I’ve got good news for you. You can use the K.I.S.S. system to simplify your woes and get back to writing what you want to write. All you have to do is ask yourself these simple questions and limit your responses to one, two or three word answers.
I’d like to help you by using an example. Let’s say you are tasked with writing an e-book about how to use WordPress. Here’s how the K.I.S.S. system can help you:

1. What am I writing? - e-book
2. Who am I writing it for? - first-time users
3. What is the format of my project? - how-to, non-fiction
4. What is the primary focus? - explain main features
5. Do I need to do any research for this project? – no
6. Do I need to use any additional skills? - yes, screen shots
7. Is the project paid or unpaid? – paid
8. What do I achieve by working on this project? - money, publication credit
9. Do I own the rights to the content? – no
10. Is there a contract? - yes, work-for-hire
11. Are edits including in the contract? – no
12. Is this a project I want to write or have to write? - have to, money
13. Am I getting paid fairly? – no
14. Is the publisher reputable? – yes
15. How much time will this take? - 10 to 15 hours

Here you can see that fifteen questions, broken down into simple answers, offer a wealth of information. In this example, the writer can see at-a-glance what the project will entail from the legal side of things to the production side. Based on these fifteen questions and responses, is this a project you would take on in your schedule?

If you’re interested in a related topic, I offered a little bit of information on this when I designed some writing exercises on my website. The K.I.S.S. system can also be applied to the way in which you write as well. A writer’s style is often something that develops naturally over time. Using simple, clear phrases can help improve your writing in some cases, but may not work for every project that you’re writing for.

What kinds of questions would you ask yourself when working on a project? Can you limit your answers like I did?



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NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR WRITING? PICK UP A PEN!
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One of the things that I’ve discovered, is that if you overload yourself on the business of writing and the essentials of everyday life, your writing can be affected in ways that you don’t even realize. I find that this is especially true if you “rush” toward a deadline.
If you find you’re not enjoying your writing anymore, or if you realize that your writing has become crunchy and mechanical, I recommend putting away your keyboard and picking up a physical pen instead. Sometimes, all it takes to create a great story, is to channel the writers of old by getting back to the basics of writing implementation. Sometimes, all you need is a great pen, a journal or an old typewriter and some fancy paper to remind yourself that writing is not just about typing away on your computer. Often, the way we put the words down on the page can have as big of an impact on us as what we’re writing.

How do I break away from the computer while I’m on deadline? I’ve found some great writing implements and other creative tools that I use to help me focus.

I picked up this glass pen and ink set at www.renfaire.com. The glass pen can also be found underneath a special name, as a Murano glass pen. What’s neat about this set is that it’s pretty inexpensive yet you get two glass pens and six inkwells of various colors. I’ve had a lot of fun with lettering using my set, too.

I find that it’s essential to have on hand an excellent box of paper for all manner of correspondence. My box is a stack of #24 pound, white linen paper with matching envelopes. They weren’t cheap (good paper never is) but it’s an investment that I don’t regret. When I’m offering writing submissions through print, I typically print out my cover letter on my fancy paper then opt for plain, white paper for the actual story or article. You can typically find a really nice box of paper through your local printing company, or you can go to an office supply store. Expect to spend about seventy-five dollars for the set.

I’ve mentioned the products that www.doverpublications.com offers before, on my blog www.mlvwrites.com. Through Amazon, you can get the books discounted at a great price, and you can sign up for free art samples from Dover directly. I really enjoy this particular book because I can use the ornate letters in various writing projects for that extra touch. The ornate alphabets range from medieval lettering (i.e. what you might find in projects for illumination) to Victorian-era replete with scrollwork and ivy. Why not make your own stationery for your business letters and correspondence? When was the last time you sent a hand-written note?

Last but not least I’d like to mention some of the journals I’ve used over the years. Every journal I own has a history to it, either I’ve received one as a gift or I’ve picked one up for a special occasion. One of my favorite types of journals to get are the ones with a magnetic flap on the front. Although it takes a little getting used to, the flap is nice because you don’t have to worry about the journal’s pages opening. I’ve seen many fellow writers taking a journal with them everywhere to write ideas down, and this is a practice I need to do more often.
Hope these ideas have inspired you. If you have any to share, let me know!


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Congratulations to Hugo Award Nominee, Editor John Helfers!
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Congratulations to John Helfers, who was recently nominated for a prestigious Hugo award for his editing with the very cool Vorkosigan Companion, which was co-edited by Lillian Stewart Carl. John is an amazing editor, a very busy writer doing tons of projects, and a big fan of Lois McMasters-Bujold’s Vorkosigan books, which chronicle the life of Miles Vorkosigan—who is short of stature, but big of heart and intellect. I recently read my first Vorkosigan novel and loved it. We wish John the best and hope he walks away from World Con in Montreal with a Hugo.


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New and Recent Novels, Anthologies and More by Symposium Authors
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***The Writers’ Symposium welcomes it’s newest member, Greg Wilson, who will be speaking on many of the panels at Gen Con this year. Visit him online at gregoryawilson.com/thirdsign/

THE THIRD SIGN, a novel by Gregory A. Wilson

“Wilson's fantasy debut recalls the complexity of classic epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan. Combining adventure with mystery and memorable characters, this is a good choice for committed fantasy fans.”
—Jackie Cassada, Library Journal

“In The Third Sign, Gregory Wilson pulls off the single most difficult feat of magic in an epic fantasy: he makes it real...A very satisfying tale from an intriguing new voice.”
—David Niall Wilson, Bram Stoker award winning author of “Deep Blue” and “The Relic of the Dawn.”



GRANTS PASS, Anthology Edited by Jennifer Brozek

The apocalypse has arrived.
Humanity was decimated by bio-terrorism; three engineered plagues were let loose on the world. Barely anyone has survived.
Just a year before the collapse, Grants Pass, Oregon, USA, was publicly labeled as a place of sanctuary in a whimsical online, “what if” post. Now, it has become one of the last known refuges, and the hope, of mankind.
Would you go to Grants Pass based on the words of someone you’ve never met?

Featuring stories by Jennifer Brozek, Jay Lake and Ed Greenwood, plus many more.
Visit morriganbooks.com for more.



TERRIBLY TWISTED TALES Edited by Jean Rabe
18 original stories that take familiar fairy tales and shift them around to give them an entirely new slant. Like, Revenge of the Little Match Girl—where one of the most innocent characters of all time becomes a homicidal pyromaniac.
Edited by Jean Rabe and Martin H. Greenberg. Read stories by Dennis L. McKiernan, Chris Pierson, Kathleen Watness, Jim C. Hines, Stephen D. Sullivan, Paul Genesse, Skip & Penny Williams, Elizabeth A. Vaughan, Janet Deaver-Pack, Kelly Swails, and Michael A. Stackpole. Released May 2009



GAMER FANTASTIC, Edited by Kerrie Hughes
From a teenager who finds a better future in virtual reality; to a private investigator hired to find a dying man’s grandson in the midst of a virtual reality theme park; from a person gifted with the power to pull things out of books into the real world; to a psychologist using fantasy role-playing to heal his patients; from a gaming convention where the real winners may not be who they seem to be; to a multi-layered role-playing game that leads participants from reality to reality and games within games—these imaginative and fascinating new tales will captivate both lovers of original fantasy and anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of role-playing games. Edited by Kerrie Hughes. Releasing July 1, 2009. Featuring stories by Donald Bingle, etc. . . .



DEADER STILL by Anton Strout
“Following Simon’s adventures is like being the pinball in an especially antic game, but it's well worth the wear and tear.”
-Charlaine Harris, author of the SOOKIE STACKHOUSE series.
It’s hard to defeat evil on a budget. Just ask Simon Canderous.

It’s been 737 days since the Department of Extraordinary Affairs’ last vampire incursion, but that streak appears to have ended when a boat full of dead lawyers is found in the Hudson River. Using the power of psychometry—the ability to divine the history of an object by touching it—agent Simon Canderous discovers that the booze cruise was crashed by something that sucked all the blood out of the litigators. Now, his workday may never end—until his life does.

DEADER STILL BY ANTON STROUT RELEASED FEBRUARY 24, 2009



UNHOLY by Richard Lee. Byers
I saw something 
fouler
than I’ve ever seen before.
Something truly
unholy.
I understand now what drove Fastrin mad.
Why he was willing to slaughter us all.

The formerly green fields lie in war-torn ruins. The formerly living populace is undead. And the formerly brilliant necromancer, the mastermind behind the civil war that drove the ruling council into exile, appears to have gone insane. But rumor spreads of a reason behind his randomness -- a reason all survivors of Thay must rally against.
Releasing February 3, 2009



CATOPOLIS, Edited by Janet Deaver-Pack
Seventeen original stories about the “city of cats.”
Set in a world that exists on the same plane as humans, yet is hidden from us, CATOPOLIS introduces readers to an assortment of cats, ranging from a feline Seer who must take destiny into her own paws to defeat a dictatorial tomcat thug...to a black cat who can call upon the powers of the “big cats” to wage a war against evil...to a cat who would be king...to the ins and outs of cat politics and the perils of using mice as ballots...to a cat burglar looking for a musical treasure for his “boss.”
Featuring stories by Richard Lee Byers, Paul Genesse, Don Bingle, Jean Rabe, Marc Tassin, Elizabeth Vaughan and more.



THE STEPSISTER SCHEME by Jim C. Hines. What would happen if an author went back to the darker themes of the original fairy tales for his plots, and then crossed the Disney princesses with Charlie’s Angels? What’s delivered is THE STEPSISTER SCHEME—a whole new take on what happened to Cinderella and her prince after the wedding. And with Jim C. Hines penning the tale readers can bet it won’t be “and they lived happily ever after.”

“These princesses will give ‘Charlie’s Angels’ a serious run for the money, and leave ‘em in the dust.” –Esther Friesner, author of NOBODY’S PRINCESS
Releasing January 6, 2009



GREENSWORD is a dark comedy about the environment, extremism, stupid criminals, and the lengths to which people will go to avoid getting a real job.

They’re about to save the world; they just don’t want to get caught doing it.
Says Hugo and Nebula Award Winner, Robert J. Sawyer: “Science fiction has always been a great vehicle for biting satire and social commentary­­from H. G. Wells’ THE TIME MACHINE right on up to Donald Bingle’s engrossing, GREENSWORD, Bingle is a terrific writer.”
Releasing January 21, 2009



DAY TWO: THE WISE MAN’S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

An escalating rivalry with a powerful member of the nobility forces Kvothe to leave the University and seek his fortune.

In The Wise Man’s Fear Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.

Releasing sometime in the near future. Visit Pat’s blog for all the details.



WHITE STAR by Elizabeth Vaughan

The Lady High Priestess Evelyn, known as Evie to her friends, is a healer, dedicated to using her magic in the service of the goddess to aid others and give strength where it is needed. Orrin Blackheart couldn’t be more different. With his black armor, a black name and a blacker reputation, he’s been feared and hated in equal parts. So on his defeat and capture in battle, the Goddesses insistence that Evie saves him from a death sentence astonishes them both—as does the growing attraction between them. But in saving Orrin Evie condemns herself to a prohibition on her magic and a penance posting on the edges of the land, while to retain his salvation Orrin must battle a spreading plague across the land. Fate clearly has plans for them both—but to fulfill them, both must survive the perils ahead.
Releasing April 7, 2009



THE DRAGON HUNTERS, Book Two of the Iron Dragon Series

On this hunt, you give up everything.

The last of an order of dragon hunters must track down the dragon king’s daughter and stop her from getting the Crystal Eye, an ancient artifact that will cause the destruction of their world.

Advance Praise for THE DRAGON HUNTERS:
“Genesse stresses the necessity of trust between races and cultures and the perils of bias and dissention, and he keeps the plot moving quickly . . .”
—Publishers Weekly

“Paul Genesse is a talented writer with two rare gifts: the ability to create wonderful worlds, and the skill to share them with his readers. Through his deft handling of magic and mythic creatures, Paul Genesse transports us into a realm of wild imagining. Taut suspense and fantastic imagery make The Dragon Hunters a tale no fantasy fan will want to miss.”
—Michael A. Stackpole, New York Times bestselling author of the Star Wars novel I, Jedi

Read the first two chapters for free at paulgenesse.com, isten to a free podcast of Paul reading the book, or watch a video on YouTube.



DEATH MARCH –Jean Rabe. Escaping from the slave pens of a Dark Knight mining camp was no easy feat, but what awaits Direfang, a former hobgoblin slave who has become the reluctant general of a growing goblin army is every bit as perilous.



BLACKSTAFF TOWER—Steven Schend. Young friends stumble across a terrifying conspiracy that holds the heir to the Blackstaff, the defender of the city of Waterdeep, in terrible danger.



IMAGINARY FRIENDS. We’ve all had them. We’ve all needed them. In this fun fantasy anthology, readers are given thirteen variations on what kinds of friends come in handy. Featuring stories by Jean Rabe, Don Bingle, Tim Waggoner, Paul Genesse and Jim C. Hines.



CROSS COUNTY by Tim Waggoner
When surviving gets this hard, death comes easy...

CROSS COUNTY secrets run deep. Settlers first came here hundreds of years ago, taking the land from local tribes sworn to guard its dark secrets. The Cross family now holds the power in the region. When a grisly murderer, hearkening back to a series of killing from years ago, shakes the community, it's up to the local sheriff to get to the bottom of things before it's too late.

Part murder mystery, part supernatural terror, CROSS COUNTY will appeal to fans of Greg Iles and Patricia Cornell, as well as horror fans who love Stephen King and Dean Koontz.



DAGGER-STAR by Elizabeth Vaughan

After captivating readers with her CHRONICLE OF THE WARLANDS trilogy, USA Today Bestselling author, Elizabeth Vaughan now returns to that world with a beguiling tale of daggers and destiny, a cold and beautiful mercenary known as Red Gloves, and Josiah, a lone fighter emerging from the torched fields and razed farms of his homeland. All Josiah knows about the mysterious woman is her dagger-star birthmark, a sign that she is destined to free the people from a ruthless usurper's reign of terror.

DAGGER-STAR was released in April from Berkly Sensation. Visit www.eavwrites.com for all the details.



THE GOLDEN CORD, By Paul Genesse. A hunter must leave behind the woman he loves, give up all hope of survival, as he is forced to guide his most hated enemies to the lair of the dragon king.

“The plot is well constructed, the characters are wonderful, and the middle-ages setting creates an ominous feel. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for more. BOOK ONE OF THE IRON DRAGON SERIES is a rich and compelling fantasy full of adventure, danger, dragons, battles, revenge, magic, and more.”
VOYA MAGAZINE

“THE GOLDEN CORD is indeed a hellishly good read.”
THE PEDESTAL MAGAZINE

Watch a video about THE GOLDEN CORD and download the first chapter for free at www.paulgenesse.com .
Watch a video about The DRAGON HUNTERS ON YouTube.com, coming soon to the website.



UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS, edited by Julie Czerneda and Jana Paniccia. The Prix Award Winning Anthology featuring SHADOW OF THE SCIMITAR by Janet Deaver-Pack. From the true role of the Freemasons to Chronographers who steal pieces of time to an assassin hired by a group that reweaves the threads of history, here are fourteen imaginative tales of time and space and realms beyond our own-all watched over, preserved, or changed by those who work covertly under cover of darkness.


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Writers’ Symposium Members—Visit them on their sites or on the W.S. Blog
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Jean Rabe www.jeanrabe.com
Paul Genesse www.paulgenesse.com
Don Bingle www.orphyte.com/donaldjbingle
Brad Beaulieu www.quillings.com
Anton Strout www.antonstrout.com
John Helfers stonehenge@new.rr.com
Pat Rothfuss www.patrickrothfuss.com/blog/blog.html
Luke Johnson www.lukejohnson.com
Kelly Swails www.kellyswails.blogspot.com
Tim Waggoner www.timwaggoner.com
Elizabeth Vaughan www.eavwrites.com
Marc Tassin www.marctassin.com
Richard Lee Byers www.richardleebyers.com
Steve Schend www.brainstormfront.livejournal.com/
Janet Deaver-Pack www.janetpack.com/
Daniel “Doc” Myers www.medievalcookery.com/
Sabrina Klein elvenfire@att.net
Kerrie Hughes stonehenge@new.rr.com
Linda Baker lbaker@zebra.net
Chris Pierson mailto:cpierson72@comcast.netcpierson72@comcast.net
Jim C. Hines www.sff.net/people/jchines/
Jennifer Brozek www.jenniferbrozek.com/
Monica Valentinelli www.mlvwrites.com
Gregory A. Wilson www.gregoryawilson.com

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Final Thought
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Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Writers’ Symposium Ezine. I don’t know about you, but the books on my shelf are piling up! With the release of book two of the Iron Dragon Series, The Dragon Hunters, I got a little behind with everything. I’m thrilled to have book two out, and am so thankful for all the readers who helped make book one, The Golden Cord, the bestselling fantasy that Five Star Books has ever had.

Now it’s time to rewrite the manuscript of book three, The Secret Empire. I will definitely keep Monica’s articles in mind, and try to keep it simple as I rewrite. I’m also interested in her idea of picking up a pen when I get stuck on things. There is truth to what she said about going back to the basics, and putting pen to paper. Now all I need is a magic pen . . .

Happy writing!

Paul Genesse, Editor and Author

P.S. Don’t forget to look at the new world-building article by Sabrina Klein at writerssymposium.blogspot.com.

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Thank you for reading the ezine. Please forward it to all your friends interested in writing or reading. Please visit the Writers Symposium Blog for more information on writing—and to interact with the members of the symposium. Thanks again!

www.writerssymposium.blogspot.com
Visit www.paulgenesse.com/writerssymposium

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Thank you!

The Hunt For Gollum

Review of The Hunt For Gollum

I watched an awesome short film (37 minutes) last night. It’s called, The Hunt For Gollum. It’s a fan film of such high quality that you can almost see Peter Jackson making it. I’m not kidding. It’s that good.

The film tells the story of Aragorn and Gandalf’s hunt for Gollum, which takes place before The Fellowship of the Ring, and after The Hobbit. The story is mentioned in the appendices of the book, Return of the King, and also in the Lord of the Rings movies.

The film has amazing actors and fantastic writing. This actually looks like a Hollywood movie. Everyone did it for free, so no one is making money on it. If you’re a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies you have to watch this, preferably on a large computer screen in high definition on a good high-speed internet connection.

Watch it on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H09xnhlCQU

Enjoy!

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

Hilarious Graphic Novel!

Schlock Mercenary: Under New Management by Howard Tayler

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a hilarious graphic novel! I loved reading this book. I’ve been a fan of Howard Tayler’s work for a few years, reading his daily online web comic, www.schlockmercenary.com. This is one of my favorites of his books. He puts out the books every year or so with the collected web comics, and they’re well worth the fifteen bucks. It’s just so cool to read all of the comics combined together in a book. Howard is obviously a huge fan of the sci-fi genre, and he makes fun of it in such cool and imaginative ways. The military SF genre is one of my favorites, and this comic has such a hilarious new spin that fans will totally appreciate.



Sergeant Schlock, an amoeba like creature with an amorphous form that looks like a large pile of poo, yes, poo. Anyway, Sergeant Schlock has a knack for mayhem and destruction, which is just awesome. I mean hey, you can solve any problem with a plasma cannon, right? The crew of the ship are also quite funny. Go and check out www.schlockmercenary.com and read the comic for free. If you’re into it, get some of the books. You’ll be happy you did.



Paul Genesse

Author of The Dragon Hunters

www.paulgenesse.com






View all my reviews.

Review of Old Man's War by John Scalzi

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi is an excellent book. I read it in two days, and could barely put it down. Scalzi did a masterful job keeping up the tension and my interest. The novel is written in first person and chronicles the distant future when old men and women are given the opportunity to join the Colonial army and go into space—when they reach the age of the seventy-five. There is a promise of being young again and starting over. No spoilers here. However, I will reveal that there are a lot of aliens out there, and defending the colonies is a huge priority as well as a necessity. Did I mention that it’s incredibly dangerous and horrible?



The main character, John Perry, gets a lot more than he bargained for after he joins up. I loved seeing his character evolve. It all felt so real and true. The book is written in the tradition of Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, but is a little more modern. I loved the book, Starship Troopers, and if you liked that, you’ll probably enjoy Old Man’s War. The spin that Scalzi puts on things is quite fascinating. If you’re into military science fiction with strong characters, this is a book for you. Also, if you like Ender’s Game, this is also a book you’d probably enjoy.



Please note the book is for older teens and adults, related to some off-screen sexual content, and would probably garner a PG-13 rating if it were a movie. I cannot emphasize enough that style of the writing is top-notch, and Scalzi seems quite deserving of all the praise he’s gotten for this series, which continues with Ghost Brigades.



Happy Reading,



Paul Genesse

Author of The Dragon Hunters

www.paulgenesse.com




View all my reviews.

World-Building, Mythology

By Sabrina Klein

World-building a mythology is an interesting way to come up with something unique, and hold on to a reference that the reader will know and understand. Every culture known in the world has myths. A myth is defined as per Merriam-Webster as: usually a traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the worldview of a culture or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. Many authors have stolen ideas from mythology. J.R.R. Tolkien took many things from the Northern Europeans, and just about every dragon story ever written in modern day has a root within a dragon myth somewhere in the world. Some of these myths become Euhemeristic, and the culture interprets the mythology as an account of historic events and/or persons. A great example of that are the five mythic invasions of Ireland.
Myths have a purpose within cultures. They help define natural phenomenon, humanize the god(s), and teach lessons or a chosen history. They can often contain information vital to survival within a culture, and can strengthen traditions and ties to the gods. Often time myths are tied to the gods in some way, and sometimes become part of a religion or help define it.

All of us remember tales that are told to us as children. Some popular tales that could be considered myths of modern day are the Boogieman, Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, big foot, and the Lochness monster all of these still came from somewhere else. As a little girl, my grandmother told me that thunder was God bowling with the angels in heaven and he was losing. What was the purpose? It made me feel safe from the thunder and lightning, but if it were two-thousand years ago in Greece I would have been told it was Zeus in the heavens. In Scandinavia I would have been told well into the twelfth century that it was Thor. Every culture has a different explanation for natural events.

Creating a mythology doesn’t have to be extensive just create what you need. Characters within reoccur throughout the mythology of the culture you create. Remember to be consistent it is essential. Consistency in myth will create a basis of fact by which people believe in the world. Don’t forget that just because it isn’t real . . . that doesn’t give you license to not give an explanation. If you don’t feel comfortable making your own, steal it from a culture. There are plenty of myths out there that aren’t common knowledge, use ‘em.

Sometimes it just takes stealing part of a myth. The Tuareg of Africa wear a taguelmust, a characteristic turban. It protects them from their environment, but also has a cultural tie. This Saharan people believe leaving their mouths uncovered opens possibility of inhaling evil spirits. The Norse have guardian spirits that are acquired at birth called a Fylgia or Fylgjur, which protects a person or the family, and can be transferred to another family member after death. Often they appear as animals, in dreams, or as females in times of crisis, but not everyone has one. Then you can mix and match, say you have a culture that wears a cloth across their face to protect them from inhaling evil spirits. In this culture there are small groups of people who have guardian spirits called Fylgjur, which give them magical powers. These warriors are sacred and battle evil spirits that live in the world and their identity is determined lineage, sex, maybe a happenstance occurrence that draws the spirit to them, or they could be anyone the spirit chooses. Maybe there is a sacred ritual to see which family member the Fylgjur transfers to.

There are so many conflicts that can arise from that alone to make a story.

*Coming soon, Issue #7 of the Writers' Symposium Ezine

The Third Sign

Hello,


A cool new book came out today. It was written by a friend of mine, Greg Wilson. He writes epic fantasies in the tradition of Robert Jordan and J.R.R. Tolkien. Check out these reviews:

"Wilson's fantasy debut recalls the complexity of classic epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan. Combining adventure with mystery and memorable characters, this is a good choice for committed fantasy fans."
—Jackie Cassada, Library Journal

"In The Third Sign, Gregory Wilson pulls off the single most difficult feat of magic in an epic fantasy: he makes it real...A very satisfying tale from an intriguing new voice."
—David Niall Wilson, Bram Stoker award winning author of "Deep Blue" and "The Relic of the Dawn."

"If anything...the quality of the book is so good I maybe expected it to be perfect. The fact remains, this is Mr. Wilson’s first foray into the fantasy genre and if this book is any indication, he is in line for a long successful career...I am eagerly looking forward to [his] next novel. Four out of five stars."
—Andy Gray, The Beezer Review

"Within the first few chapters [I] was immersed in the vivid fantasy world which Gregory Wilson has created...He manages to create a sense of underlying danger that simmers away, making you nervous for the characters involved...[all] learning to cope with their own forms of loss and new responsibilities...There is never a dull moment...The Third Sign is an enjoyable and gripping read. I eagerly await the next installment."
—Helen Kerslake, SFFWorld.com

Check out his website: http://www.gregoryawilson.com/thirdsign/


Happy reading,

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

Review of Wake By Robert J. Sawyer

WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer

My review

Wake by Robert J. Sawyer is a very intriguing book. I read the first 260 pages in one sitting. I read the last hundred pages quickly as well. Overall, I was shocked that Sawyer could keep my attention for so long without anything happening. Okay, some things happened, but this was a very low tension book.—not at all what I usually like. The writing showed how masterful Sawyer is to have been able to keep me going with this story about a fifteen-year old blind girl getting an implant that allows her to see, with the overall idea of the internet waking up and becoming sentient. There are some other plot threads that explore expanding consciousness, but they aren’t resolved, as this is a trilogy—I just found that out from Amazon.com. I don’t think I’ll read the other books, but I guess I’ll see. I think I’d rather read some of Sawyer’s Nebula or Hugo award winning novels, as my reading time is limited. I’ve met him and he’s a very cool guy. This novel was not mind-blowing, but I was impressed with what he accomplished. I believe he has huge amounts of confidence to write this story and present it in the way he presented it. Very impressive. Read the Amazon.com reviews to get a better understanding of the novel, or to decide whether or not you want to read it.



Happy reading,





Paul Genesse

Author of The Dragon Hunters

www.paulgenesse.com






View all my reviews.

Review of Wake By Robert J. Sawyer

WWW: Wake by Robert J. Sawyer

My review

Wake by Robert J. Sawyer is a very intriguing book. I read the first 260 pages in one sitting. I read the last hundred pages quickly as well. Overall, I was shocked that Sawyer could keep my attention for so long without anything happening. Okay, some things happened, but this was a very low tension book.—not at all what I usually like. The writing showed how masterful Sawyer is to have been able to keep me going with this story about a fifteen-year old blind girl getting an implant that allows her to see, with the overall idea of the internet waking up and becoming sentient. There are some other plot threads that explore expanding consciousness, but they aren’t resolved, as this is a trilogy—I just found that out from Amazon.com. I don’t think I’ll read the other books, but I guess I’ll see. I think I’d rather read some of Sawyer’s Nebula or Hugo award winning novels, as my reading time is limited. I’ve met him and he’s a very cool guy. This novel was not mind-blowing, but I was impressed with what he accomplished. I believe he has huge amounts of confidence to write this story and present it in the way he presented it. Very impressive. Read the Amazon.com reviews to get a better understanding of the novel, or to decide whether or not you want to read it.



Happy reading,





Paul Genesse

Author of The Dragon Hunters

www.paulgenesse.com






View all my reviews.

The Assassins of Isis

The Assassins of Isis by Paul Doherty

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I love reading about ancient Egypt, and when I saw this book I had to get it. I found it used, online, for a very cheap price. It was quite entertaining and the details about ancient Egypt were excellent. The overall thrust of the novel is that tomb robbers have been breaking into the tombs of the noble Egyptians, and also, a powerful general has been murdered. The pharaoh calls in her chief judge, a good man named, Amerotke. He is a cool character and investigates the murder of the general and the tomb robberies--which all seem to lead back to the Temple of Isis.



The plot is very complicated and the author kept me guessing throughout. I don't read a lot of mysteries, and found the mystery part of this almost superfluous to enjoying the ancient Egyptian setting. That said, I didn't feel like the author captured the mind set of the ancient Egyptians. I've read some other ancient Egyptian novels, especially by Wilbur Smith, that really captured my idea of what those ancient people would be like, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually.



I'm not saying P.C. Doherty did a poor job, just not a great job. The research that he did was top notch, and the description of the world was fantastic. It just wasn't as tense and engaging as other novels that I've read. Overall, it was a fun book, easy to enjoy, and well-researched. If you want to get a description of what ancient Egypt looked like, this is the book for you. If you're interested in a epic story that is very tense, read Wilbur Smith, who wrote Warlock and Rivergod. Both are very cool.



If any of you have any ancient Egyptian books you'd like to recommend, please let me know.



Happy reading,



Paul Genesse

Author of The Dragon Hunters

www.paulgenesse.com






View all my reviews.

Internet Radio Interview

Hello,


Tonight I was the guest of Residual Hauntings Live, an internet radio show hosted by Tom and Russ. They are paranormal investigators and I've gone on an investigation with Tom. He's a very cool guy and I really enjoyed being on the show again. I was on it last year when The Golden Cord came out. We chatted about the haunted characters in the Iron Dragon Series, about ghosts, and about writing. Tom has read book two, The Dragon Hunters and really liked it, so it was fun to chat with him. You can listen to the show by going to this address.

http://residualhauntings.podOmatic.com/entry/2009-06-03T21_41_25-07_00

I hope you enjoy their show. They have a lot of great back episodes on the website.

Best wishes,

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
Book Two of the Iron Dragon Series