I remember very clearly when science fiction entered my life and sparked my imagination. It was the mid-Fifties, and I got hold of Alfred Bester's "Fondly Fahrenheit." Selected for the Science Fiction Hall of fame, it's the story of the conflicted James Vandeleur and his murderous android who has absorbed its owner's personality - or so it seems. As the viewpoint shifts back and forth between Vandeleur and the android it's hard to tell, but the effect is chilling.
Essentially, when the temperature reaches 91.9 degrees Fahrenheit, the android/Vandeleur malfunctions and young girls get killed. As critics have pointed out, Bester's prose in this story is sometimes corny, but the pace was breathless and compelling. The impact of his tale was immediate and thrilling. It was a story I couldn't forget...a story that told me, "Wow, if this is what it means to be a writer, then I'm in!"
Of course, it took me over 35 years to realize that goal, but "Fondly Fahrenheit" sustained the dream over all that time. I'd like to think that if Alfred Bester were alive today, he'd be immensely proud of his impact of his story upon me and countless other science fiction writers. If you haven't read it, give it a try along with his novel, The Stars My Destination....My latest novel in the Fragger Sparks series is out. It's called The Blood of Fragger Sparks. Give it a try as well.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Hey, it's been a long time since I posted on this blog! My apologies, but I was working on my latest novel in the "Fragger Sparks" series, and now it's done and available in both print and ebook formats. For those of you interested in the writing process, some novels write themselves easily and some write themselves hard. The Blood of Fragger Sparks falls into the latter category. One of the reasons it was difficult was due to the fact that after I wrote the first draft, I found that I had eight different points of view - a recipe for fictional disaster. So, I had to go back through the whole book to cut down the number of POVs and, naturally, that took time. Like all writers (I assume), I cut off the critical part of my brain during first drafts and just let things flow. This time it came back to bite me in the butt! No complaints, however. It was fun and taught me more "tricks" I can use in future books. Anyway, it's good to be back. Hope you also have fun reading this blog (and future ones) and The Blood of Fragger Sparks!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Back again!...It's been two+ years since I posted! My apologies, but I was writing my latest novel in the Fragger Sparks series - The Blood of Fragger Sparks. It's now published and is available in both print format (Amazon, B&N, and Booklocker.com) and, soon, Fictionwise.com, Synergebooks.com, etc. For any fellow writers, you now how time-consuming writing a novel can be. So, I feel like I've come up for air for the first time in 24 months! (That has to be a world record for holding your breath.) I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone the best in 2013!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Real Life Character Defects - A Writer's Treasure!
Wow, I can't believe it's almost a month since I last posted! Unfortunately, I was deep into everything but fiction - triple net leases, real estate syndication, marketing, etc.
That's the life of a freelancer, though. I write (and have written) about everything under our young sun as long as it's not too technical like...urinalysis machines...food for zoo ungulates and worms...stocks, bonds, joint ventures, entrepreneurship, gears, plastics, crops, cows, hogs, and on and on!
The reason I mention these subjects is a) they keep a writer humble and grounded) and b) they're all potential sources for short stories and novels - novels in particular!
By nature, novelists are omnivores; they digest anything within reach because it provides such a treasure for stories, plots and characters. For me, it's been real life characters in particular.
For example, there was my co-worker, "Johnson," a man whom I silently called "Quite Frankly," the reason being that everytime he was lying to you he'd begin the conversation with the phrase, "Quite frankly." He never knew he was doing it!
Then, there was "Bob," our 80-some-year-old landlord in my younger days. Bob was an alcoholic and an unfeeling man, in some respects, because periodically he'd say of his dead wife, "Yup, I was married to that woman for 50 years. God, I hated her."
Then there was "Sally," the hypochondriac who carried around a small wooden case full of the medications she suppposedly had to take and who - of course - just had to go through everyone of them for you. By the time she finished, you were convinced hell existed and you'd just landed in the middle of it.
Finally, there was "Leon," a man so afraid of making a mistake in his work that he would actually stay up all night correcting commas, semi-colons and the like - even though he had an expert editor at hand.
Well, you get my drift by now. The sources for fiction lie in your own life and experience. Just apply patience, persistence and hard work, and a story will arrive!
That's the life of a freelancer, though. I write (and have written) about everything under our young sun as long as it's not too technical like...urinalysis machines...food for zoo ungulates and worms...stocks, bonds, joint ventures, entrepreneurship, gears, plastics, crops, cows, hogs, and on and on!
The reason I mention these subjects is a) they keep a writer humble and grounded) and b) they're all potential sources for short stories and novels - novels in particular!
By nature, novelists are omnivores; they digest anything within reach because it provides such a treasure for stories, plots and characters. For me, it's been real life characters in particular.
For example, there was my co-worker, "Johnson," a man whom I silently called "Quite Frankly," the reason being that everytime he was lying to you he'd begin the conversation with the phrase, "Quite frankly." He never knew he was doing it!
Then, there was "Bob," our 80-some-year-old landlord in my younger days. Bob was an alcoholic and an unfeeling man, in some respects, because periodically he'd say of his dead wife, "Yup, I was married to that woman for 50 years. God, I hated her."
Then there was "Sally," the hypochondriac who carried around a small wooden case full of the medications she suppposedly had to take and who - of course - just had to go through everyone of them for you. By the time she finished, you were convinced hell existed and you'd just landed in the middle of it.
Finally, there was "Leon," a man so afraid of making a mistake in his work that he would actually stay up all night correcting commas, semi-colons and the like - even though he had an expert editor at hand.
Well, you get my drift by now. The sources for fiction lie in your own life and experience. Just apply patience, persistence and hard work, and a story will arrive!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Science Fiction Sorrow and Joy!
The thing I love about writing science fiction is that I can create my own world(s)! Frankly, although I love the sheer act of writing, I love the fact that I control my world, galaxy, universe, etc. That's the joy.
As is true apparently with many writers, I use fiction in an attempt to understand myself and my relation to the world. Or perhaps it's because my "Fragger Sparks" character is a surrogate for the war action I didn't experience in my life.
I've never been in combat (but my eldest brother was killed in combat). I've never even been in a fight since I was about 15 years old (but my best friend survived Vietnam).
And yet I've very adept at writing combat action scenes and describing far-flung worlds that will never exist.
Perhaps it's all my attempt to make up for what I see as the lack of "manly activities" in my life.
And yet....although I was in the Army, I would have made a miserable combat soldier. Beyond being very nearsighted, I simply didn't have the heart for killing. Most likely, I would have been dead within days had I gone to Vietnam or any other war zone.
It always struck me as weird that I was envious of soldiers who'd faced combat. Everybody who's faced a ruthless opponent says they wouldn't wish it on their worst enemy. And yet, those of us who haven't faced death are envious of them. That's the sorrow.
It's a weird hierarchy, isn't it? Without soldiers, wars wouldn't be fought, and heroes wouldn't exist. And heroes don't exist without writers.
Life is, indeed, strange!
As is true apparently with many writers, I use fiction in an attempt to understand myself and my relation to the world. Or perhaps it's because my "Fragger Sparks" character is a surrogate for the war action I didn't experience in my life.
I've never been in combat (but my eldest brother was killed in combat). I've never even been in a fight since I was about 15 years old (but my best friend survived Vietnam).
And yet I've very adept at writing combat action scenes and describing far-flung worlds that will never exist.
Perhaps it's all my attempt to make up for what I see as the lack of "manly activities" in my life.
And yet....although I was in the Army, I would have made a miserable combat soldier. Beyond being very nearsighted, I simply didn't have the heart for killing. Most likely, I would have been dead within days had I gone to Vietnam or any other war zone.
It always struck me as weird that I was envious of soldiers who'd faced combat. Everybody who's faced a ruthless opponent says they wouldn't wish it on their worst enemy. And yet, those of us who haven't faced death are envious of them. That's the sorrow.
It's a weird hierarchy, isn't it? Without soldiers, wars wouldn't be fought, and heroes wouldn't exist. And heroes don't exist without writers.
Life is, indeed, strange!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Happy Science Fiction Springtime!
I sat outside this morning after a long Wisconsin winter and sipped my coffee while I enjoyed the heat of the sun. I hope you were able to do the same and appreciate every molecule of fresh air!
If not, well, here a few facts (courtesy of NASA) about the solar system to make you really savor the sweetness of Earth's springtime!
On Mercury, there really aren't any seasons because its axial tilt is, essentially, zero. So,you couldn't enjoy springtime there. Well, heck, with temperatures ranging from -280F at night to +800F, you wouldn't be enjoying much anyway, would you?
On Venus, springtime is shorter than on Earth - around 50-58 days as opposed to approximately 90-98 days. Again, it wouldn't matter much for you since the surface temperature is around 865F year-round. You wouldn't have to worry about getting the lead out - it'd all be melted, and you would be too!
One more to make you appreciate Earth's springtime: On Uranus, springtime (and all seasons) last about 21 years. That's the good news. The bad news - temperatures hit -300 F, and the planet has storms the size of the U.S!
As you can, if you were on one of these planets, you'd be smashed, trashed, fricaseed, frozen and just flat out, well, flat!
So, get out there and enjoy spring right now - you're a lucky, lucky being!
And you'll be luck too if you try out one of my science fiction novels listed below, available at Amazon, Booklocker.com, Synergebooks, and many other sites!
The First Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Leads the Way
The Second Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Loses the Way
The Third Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Paves the Way
If not, well, here a few facts (courtesy of NASA) about the solar system to make you really savor the sweetness of Earth's springtime!
On Mercury, there really aren't any seasons because its axial tilt is, essentially, zero. So,you couldn't enjoy springtime there. Well, heck, with temperatures ranging from -280F at night to +800F, you wouldn't be enjoying much anyway, would you?
On Venus, springtime is shorter than on Earth - around 50-58 days as opposed to approximately 90-98 days. Again, it wouldn't matter much for you since the surface temperature is around 865F year-round. You wouldn't have to worry about getting the lead out - it'd all be melted, and you would be too!
One more to make you appreciate Earth's springtime: On Uranus, springtime (and all seasons) last about 21 years. That's the good news. The bad news - temperatures hit -300 F, and the planet has storms the size of the U.S!
As you can, if you were on one of these planets, you'd be smashed, trashed, fricaseed, frozen and just flat out, well, flat!
So, get out there and enjoy spring right now - you're a lucky, lucky being!
And you'll be luck too if you try out one of my science fiction novels listed below, available at Amazon, Booklocker.com, Synergebooks, and many other sites!
The First Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Leads the Way
The Second Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Loses the Way
The Third Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Paves the Way
Friday, March 19, 2010
Triple Your Writing Troubles!
Well, quite a week for intimations of mortality - a strained back, a recovering shoulder (from a fall on the ice) and part of a silicone ear plug (for swimming) stuck in the ear! Without even trying, I got myself in trouble. :)
Which reminds me of an old writing precept. I can't remember the author but it goes something like this: "Put your protagonist in trouble and then triple that trouble." (Believe me, I hadn't planned on doing it to myself.)
As those of you who've read my "Fragger Sparks" science fiction series know, I've followed that precept with a vengeance. There's no sort of trouble Fragger hasn't been in!
I continue to follow the precept for two reasons. One is, obviously, that trouble creates a great story - everyone wants to see what fix Fragger will get into next and how the devil he's going to work his way out of it.
The second reason is personal. It may sound odd, but it keeps me writing! By that I mean that I need to pose myself a problem and then get an adrenaline rush from solving it.
I'll have to admit that this is not a very noble or literary reason for writing, but then I've always been a practical person at many levels, and my attitude is, "If it works, use it!"
Actually, I spent a large part of my life not writing for various reasons (even though I wanted to) and am grateful for any spur that allows me to put words on the page.
Besides, it's enabled me to write four novels (and four non-fiction books) in about 10 years! So, here's to practicality and the acceptance of one's inadvertent gifts!
Hey, find out how much trouble I've gotten Fragger Sparks into by reading one in the series (and, remember, I'm working on the latest one)!...
The First Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Leads the Way
The Second Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Loses His Way
The Third Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Paves the Way
Also, try American Job if you enjoy comedy, satire and tragedy all rolled into one epic tale!
Which reminds me of an old writing precept. I can't remember the author but it goes something like this: "Put your protagonist in trouble and then triple that trouble." (Believe me, I hadn't planned on doing it to myself.)
As those of you who've read my "Fragger Sparks" science fiction series know, I've followed that precept with a vengeance. There's no sort of trouble Fragger hasn't been in!
I continue to follow the precept for two reasons. One is, obviously, that trouble creates a great story - everyone wants to see what fix Fragger will get into next and how the devil he's going to work his way out of it.
The second reason is personal. It may sound odd, but it keeps me writing! By that I mean that I need to pose myself a problem and then get an adrenaline rush from solving it.
I'll have to admit that this is not a very noble or literary reason for writing, but then I've always been a practical person at many levels, and my attitude is, "If it works, use it!"
Actually, I spent a large part of my life not writing for various reasons (even though I wanted to) and am grateful for any spur that allows me to put words on the page.
Besides, it's enabled me to write four novels (and four non-fiction books) in about 10 years! So, here's to practicality and the acceptance of one's inadvertent gifts!
Hey, find out how much trouble I've gotten Fragger Sparks into by reading one in the series (and, remember, I'm working on the latest one)!...
The First Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Leads the Way
The Second Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Loses His Way
The Third Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Paves the Way
Also, try American Job if you enjoy comedy, satire and tragedy all rolled into one epic tale!
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