Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game"--Ready For The Next Generation Of Readers...And Writers

The book sat on a table at SpikeCon. It lay among other books available for whomever wished to have one. There were several, many of which I'd never heard of.

But I had heard of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game.

I picked up the book and put it in my bag.

Hours later, after returning home, I unpacked it and gave it to my son.

He's fourteen, almost fifteen.

It was time.

Every genre has books that everyone interested in that genre must read. There are books people should read even if they're not necessarily interested in that genre. Ender's Game is one of those books. In fact, if you want to understand both today's authors of science fiction, and the books they're writing now in the genre, a good place to start is by reading Ender's Game. The reason why is simple--most authors in that genre have read the book.

When I asked my son what book he wanted me to write almost three year ago, he said he wanted to read a science fiction story. That's what I wrote. Chaser came about because of his answer. When I saw Card's book on the table, I wondered if he would like it. Turns out, the next day he was already several chapters in--and we didn't have to "remind him" to read it.

I have no idea if my son will turn out to be a writer--it's possible he may be. More likely, he'll be a reader and I'll be completely overjoyed if that's the case. But if he does turn into an author and he writes science fiction, I'm sure Ender's Game will have had an impact on him. I know it did on me and thousands of other writers out there.

It's that good.

Bryce Beattie's "Once Upon And Through The Mountain" Is Available...Now!

Yesterday at our convention I got the opportunity to pick up and leaf through Bryce Beattie's newest novel, Once Upon and Through the Mountain. It's the latest offering from Immortal Works Press. I asked the author if he did a happy dance when he first got to hold a copy of his book. He said a neighbor had ordered his book so the first time he held the book was when the neighbor brought it over for him to see.

And he did indeed dance.

Once Upon and Through the Mountain is a story about Mia, a curious girl with questions. I have a daughter and I wonder if all young girls are full of cuteness and questions. I'm sure it's more the norm than the exception.

One very cool thing about seeing an actual copy of the book was also seeing the actual art used for the front and back cover created by the very talented artist Rowan North. She's the daughter of two authors and inherited their creative genes. I loved that Immortal Works commissioned her to create the artwork. If you'd like to order Once Upon and Through the Mountain, you can order it: HERE. You can also check out more of Rowan's art: HERE.

I love the fact that Immortal Works chose another middle-grade novel for their library of titles. Now mine is not the only one that we can market to the younger readers and their parents. It was fun to watch the author and artist see the result of all their hard work. And hopefully, it'll be more fun to see the books go to the homes of readers and change a young mind for the better. Yes, creating art is an amazing experience. If you've got a young reader, please consider ordering this book. I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

Ben Ireland...An Author You Should Get To Know

"Plus he's British. And not just regular British--space British. 

Which is like three times sexier than earth British."

Ben Ireland

I heard about Ben some time before I met him (oh, and he's Australian, not British...). He and I both published stories with Xchyler Publishing. They chose several of my short stories as well as short stories and a couple of novels from Ben. I always admired the novelists--back then I hadn't written a novel and wondered if I ever would. It's like being a mountain climber, having reached several lower summits, but seeing a Denali, Kilimanjaro, or Everest and wanting so much to climb them, but being terrified to do so at the same time.

If climbing is writing, then Ben's not only climbed the big mountains, but reached the top.

What make's Ben's writing even more impressive is he's two series, one middle-grade and the other, for an older reader. One exciting thing about the Blacksmith Legacy series is it's soon to have another edition. Billy Blacksmith: The Irønsøul is due out later this summer. I'm hoping to get all three books for my son who is just beginning to understand the importance and awesomeness of reading. And I think Ben's books are an excellent way for him to continue on that literary journey.

You can access Ben's Amazon page: HERE. You can also catch him at this year's Fyrecon writing symposium going on this weekend in Layton, Utah. You can access Fyrecon's website: HERE. I attended a class Ben taught last year--definitely engaging, definitely helpful. And--this is really cool--you can get artwork from Ben's books at his Teepublic site: HERE. You can get the images put on shirts, mugs, wall art, even computer covers. Check it out--there's some great stuff there!

One of the most amazing things I've discovered by attending these conventions and writing stories is getting to know local authors--getting to know them both as individuals and as authors. If you get a chance to pick up one of his novels or short stories, I recommend you do it. I'd love to hear what you think. Plus, if you get a chance to meet the author/mountain climber, I recommend you do that, too. Support your local artists--the world's a better place when you do.

So...Today Was A Good Day

I knew the package was coming--I just didn't know when. Looks like today was the day. The package was small, just large enough to hold five copies of Immortal Work's latest publication, Scott William Taylor's Chaser. Yes...it's real.

The book launched on the 16th of this month, but it was digital. I'm not complaining, mind you. The fact that something I wrote can be downloaded to literally billions of phones, computers, and tablets blows my mind. But to many of you--myself included--nothing compares to the feeling of actually holding a book in your hands, feeling the coarseness of each page, smelling the paper as the pages turn. 

It's visceral, tangible, wonderful.

A few years ago I put together a collection of short stories called Speckled that I wrote and had published. Getting a box full of unread, unopened books was a surreal experience. It's one of those things authors brag about, and they do so because it's amazing. Today it happened again. The brown cardboard package hides its contents, but once it's opened, the books come out and there's smiles all around.

I've spent time with a lot of authors over the past couple of years. Some publish books several times a year, some, like me...well, let's just say, it's not something that happens to me a lot. Yes, today was a good day. Hopefully in the future, it'll be less than three years between times the boxes show up at our door. 

And if you want a box of your own and experience that special feeling of getting a real "flesh-and-blood" book, check: HERE and it'll happen to you!

Six Years Ago I Took A Picture Of A Wish...Today that Wish Came True

Today was exciting for the Taylor household. My book Chaser went on sale on Amazon--the digital copy. I spent much of the day doing a little self-promotion, but hopefully, not too much. I received well-wishes from friends and family and even got a review posted on the Chaser Amazon page (you can access that page: HERE for yourself...).

But it wasn't until I did a little Facebook reminiscing that I found something that totally blew me away. You see, six years ago to the day I was in a Barnes & Noble bookstore imaging a book written by me in their store. I took a picture of the exact place a novel written by Scott William Taylor would be shelved. I used it as my Pic Of The Day. I know I was in Barnes & Noble on January 16th because one of my Pic Of The Day rules is I can only post a picture that I took the same day.

To an aspiring author, Barnes & Noble is like a pinnacle, a place that proves you are a real author. Since 2012 I've learned a lot about publishing. The publishing world is multi-faceted and complicated. Back then, I thought all you did was write a fantastic book and the world rushes to your door with cash and accolades. 

Sorry--didn't happen then; doesn't happen now.

I'm excited about my book, but I'm not unrealistic. And it may never actually be wedged between Patrick Taylor's An Irish Country Village, and Terence Taylor's Bite Marks--especially since mine is a middle-grade novel and the two Taylor novels appear to be written for readers not necessarily in jr. high school. But something made me search a bookstore exactly six years ago today, make a little gap between two books, take a picture, then post that picture on social media with the caption, "Mmmm...I think something's missing." It's taken six years, but today, on a digital shelf somewhere, it finally happened.

Creativity...And The Toilet Paper Roll Cardboard Tube

What does a toilet paper cardboard tube have to do with writing and creativity?

That's a good question. 

I was working on my script yesterday. It's a science fiction story and it was time for me to understand what the spaceship looks like. In the first draft, I skipped over the details of the ship--I didn't want to take the time to explain it all when I wrote the story during NaNoWriMo. But now, as I go through it again, I need to explain things to the readers and just because I see it in my mind, I need to make it sound believable.

The spaceship has a spinning section to create the artificial gravity the astronauts needed to survive the multi-year mission to a distant planet. Everyone's now onboard and the mission is about to begin. I need to describe the inside of that spinning tube, the rooms, hallways, storage compartments. I need to see it in my mind so I can let everyone else see it too.

I started jotting down some ideas of how big the spinning part of the spaceship needed to be. My artistic abilities just didn't cut it. I needed something else. That's where the cardboard tube helped. It gave me a visual aid I needed. The tube on the ship will be about as long as an American football field, 300 feet long and 160 feet wide, except the ends of the field will connect.

I should probably blog more about my writing. Truth is, I should probably write more in general. It's amazing the feeling that comes when the ideas flow. It's difficult to describe. Working on that little problem, designing the layout of the kitchen, living quarters, hospitals, and laboratories, it's one of the cool parts of writing, one of the things that makes it worth the time and effort, even if the book never sells. 

This writing thing--full of surprises!

NaNoWriMo...Some Third Week Thoughts

It's been three weeks tomorrow since November, 2016 began, and in ten days it will be over.

And when November ends, I will have produced my first middle-grade novel, complete with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

At least, that's the plan.

I'm three weeks in. Here's how it's going so far.

I've written everyday, except Sundays. Some days I've only written a couple hundred words, which, considering my schedule, is great.

My story takes place in a spaceship that travels to another planet. Due to lack of organization and planning before NaNoWriMo began, I didn't layout the story very well. I took the road most traveled--I thought I could just write by the seat of my pants, or what's known in writing circles as "pantsing."

In the beginning, it worked out great.

Then came the second ten-thousand words. Oh, the story drags. But that's okay because NaNoWriMo is about getting the words down, not worrying about editing, or voice, or even pace. Just get it down on paper or in the computer. I thought journeying to the planet could take 50,000 words...easy.

I was wrong. It took about half that.

Before I began,  I wondered how the story might unfold once they got to the planet, but I didn't think about it much. After all, if I extended it to having them do much on the planet would make the book too long.

Yesterday, I had the most successful writing day I've ever had, at least in shear numbers. I wrote over 7K. And because of that, it brought me to over two-thousand words for each day in November. Getting my characters to the planet opened up a whole new way for me to look at the overall story. If I had had more time yesterday, I probably could have written a couple of more thousand. That will just have to wait until next week.

The next ten days will be busy. We're opening a show on Friday, having Thanksgiving the day before. But I do have ten days to write just under 18,000 words. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

NaNoWriMo Tracker: 975 words written Friday, 7031 words written yesterday,

32715 words total

NaNoWriMo...Some First Week Thoughts

I began like millions of others on Tuesday. My story did not begin on the bus commuting to or from work, not at home after working my shift. No, I began my NaNoWriMo experience at a theater.

Actually, that makes a lot of sense to me.

For the past couple of years, I've wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo (the National Novel Writing Month). The goal: write 50,000 words in thirty days. November is the month that's been chosen. Yes, I've wanted to write a novel in November, but each year, I've been so busy. I'm usually in a play. This fall I made the decision--I'm finally going to do it.

And then I was asked to do another play.

And I said, "yes."

Tomorrow it will be one week into my first NaNoWriMo experience. And, to my surprise, I was able to get a fifth of the way to my goal. Seriously, I didn't think I'd get that far. It makes me think I really can do this.

Then there's the story I'm writing. Oh, it needs help. For years I've been hearing advice on how to properly write a novel. There are things you should do, pacing, cliffhangers, humor, etc. And there are things you shouldn't do--basically, the opposite of all those things. And as I'm putting down the words, I'm realizing there's so many of those "should do" things that I'm forgetting. I know that I can make changes later and that NaNoWriMo is to get the words down--worry about the other details later.

Still, I can't complain too much. I was able to write successfully for five days straight. I didn't write today because I'm taking Sundays off. It makes reaching my goal a little tougher, but it's the rules I've set for myself. Plus, it's been fun for me to revisit my Fields of Barley story I wrote years ago. Posting a little of that story each day has been a good way for me to keep blogging and have time for NaNoWriMo.

Yes, the first week is in the books, as it were. Before this month ends, the show I'm in will go through final preparations and will actually open the day after Thanksgiving. Putting a play on the stage takes a lot of time and long rehearsals, time I can't use for writing. But, if the first five days of the month is any indication, I've got an excellent chance of reaching my goal. I'll keep you posted.

NaNoWriMo Tracker: 2655 words written yesterday, 10020 words total

Maybe I Will Do NaNoWriMo This Year...

I have many friends who not only participate, but complete the NaNoWriMo writing challenge. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, it's basically this:

During the month of November, you write a novel. To complete the goal you must write 50,000 words during the month of November. I've thought about doing this each year since I began writing a few years ago. One major problem is that in 2012, 2014, and 2015 I've done a Christmas play and November is the month when the shows begin.

The question is, should I do it this year or not? 

After the latest Salt Lake Comic in September I decided I should begin a new project, one for middle-grade readers, one my son would enjoy. A typical middle-grade story runs around 50K words. This could work out nicely.

In order to do this, and to keep my full-time job, I've got to break down the project. November has thirty days. November 1 is on a Tuesday and the month ends on a Wednesday. I do not write on Sundays (except for blog posts...) which leaves me 26 days to write 50,000 words. That's a total of 1,923.08 words a day to reach my goal. November has two recognized holidays, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, plus I work four ten-hour shifts that leaves my Fridays free. Since most of my nights will be busy with the play, maybe I should keep a writing goal by the week. That means I would need to write 12,500 words every seven days.

I did make promises and I need to honor. I think this just might be the year I join others who, on December 1 can proclaim to the world, "I did it!"