Tuesday, August 30, 2011

New for Jack The Ripper Week! from Jon Hartless


Jack The Theorist
by Jon Hartless

Only one man dares to confront the meaning behind the crimes. Only one man sees through the tangled skein to the truth. Only one man knows the answers.

Or, at least, only one man thinks he knows the answers... Follow Professor Wolf, the world’s first Ripperologist, on his delusional journey into the world of the Ripper. Follow his long-suffering friend, Sir Arthur Smythe, who suspects that it will all end in tears.

Gasp at the revelations. Tremble at the truth. Wonder at the sanity of a mind that leaps from conspiracy to conspiracy without ever touching reality.


Check out the fabulous new tongue-in-cheek murder mystery from Jon Hartless. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Omnilit and the Vagabondage Press Bookstore.

READ AN EXCERPT

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Author Insides - Natalie Jacobs

Natalie Jacobs was a serious writer all her life. In 2008 she died suddenly at age 35. She left a body of unpublished work, including a fictional biograpy of Franz Schubert entitled When Your Song Breaks the Silence. “An die Freude” is a chapter of the novel. It describes the famous premiere performance in Vienna of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, here seen through eyes of an admiring Schubert. "An die Freude" was featured in the Winter 2010 issue of The Battered Suitcase.

“An die Freude”- The Story Behind the Story


by Judith Jacobs

“An die Freude” is a novel excerpt that appears in the Winter 2010 issue. It is a chapter from a fictional biography of Franz Schubert. This is Natalie Jacobs’s first published work and it is appearing posthumously: Natalie died suddenly of viral myocarditis in January, 2008. At 35, she was only four years older than Schubert himself was when he died.

My daughter Natalie Jacobs was a writer as early in her life as I can remember. She once explained that she used writing as solace for her unhappiness growing up, that it was absolutely vital for her. She wrote on many topics over the years and once told me that she somehow felt an affinity to Schubert. When she was eleven, she wrote a story about the composer as a young child trying myopically to interact with his family and surroundings.

When Natalie passed away, we gave her computer to her longtime friend in Portland, OR where Natalie had moved. Soon after Natalie’s death, her friend told us of a large body of writing she had discovered on its hard disk. To the great surprise of all of us, Natalie had left not only several short stories but a novella about the adventures of a feckless young man from Devon, England, and a novel-length fictional biography of Schubert (later to be entitled “When Your Song Breaks the Silence,” a line from one of Schubert’s lieder).

In her other work, Natalie usually wrote about what she knew: she had spent her junior year abroad in England and taken a subsequent trip there, and she drew from these experiences to write about Andy Godwin in the novella, “Andy’s Story.” Later, when she moved to Portland she became deeply involved in alt-country and other music, both performing, composing, and attending concerts and this informed her most recent story, about Jim Shaughnessy, a young Portland musician. But the creation of “When Your Song Breaks the Silence” is a mystery. Natalie was not especially interested in classical music. She had never been to Vienna. But anyone reading her Schubert fiction would have trouble believing this; Natalie seems to get inside the composer’s head as he lives and works. She had a strong scholarly bent, so it is not quite as surprising how thoroughly she researched the history and the music scene of Schubert’s time. Years ago, she had sent us two or three stories about Schubert which seemed part of a longer narrative. Little did we know there was a finished novel, nor did we know when she completed it.

It may have been a combination of unsureness and a lack of persistence that prevented Natalie from sending her work out for publication. She did not consider herself a writer first and foremost; at the time she died she was completing several years of training in midwifery and intended eventually to practice it. It remains now for us her family to bring her work to the audience she never found herself. We are grateful to Battered Suitcase for helping us begin to put together Natalie’s literary memorial.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Author Insides - Jaime Heidel

6JaimeAHeidel's photoJaime A. Heidel is a Connecticut native who just recently relocated to North Carolina. She’s been writing since childhood and her recent publishing credits include her short story “Phobia” in a print anthology called Night Falls on Everyone and a short story, “The House Sitter,” published online by Spine Tingler’s.

Her short story, "Astray," appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of The Battered Suitcase.
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote my first short story when I was 7 years old but I think I knew I wanted to do it as a career around 12 years of age. I tried to teach myself to type on an old typewriter but I couldn’t figure it out so I took typing classes in high school and was so glad when I no longer had to write my stories out by hand.

Why do you write?
I write because it’s in my blood. Writing is like an old friend and an exciting new lover all rolled into one. Even though I’m the composer, it sometimes feels as though the characters are speaking through me. It’s a new adventure every time.

Is being a writer/poet anything like you imagined it would be?
In most ways, yes. I’m also a non-fiction writer and that took some getting used to but I was pleasantly surprised to find I like writing non-fiction as well. I wasn’t expecting that.

What do you think makes a good story?
A good story has characters you can really invest in. Somebody or something you can understand, empathize with, even despise. A good story gets the reader involved. For me, a good marriage of emotion and suspense is everything.

What's your favorite genre to read?
Horror and thriller fiction is my favorite. It combines the above-mentioned elements perfectly.

Who is your favorite author or poet?
Dean Koontz. I love his writing style. The way he draws you into the characters and the plot and weaves twists and turns you can get lost in but still find your way around.

What books or stories have most influenced you the most as a writer?
I’d have to say stories by Dean Koontz, James Patterson and Stephen King inspire me the most. However, classics like Dracula and Frankenstein are incredibly visual in a way modern fiction no longer seems to be. Since the invention of the television, I think that kind of living, breathing story is hard to come by these days. Don’t get me wrong, modern writers are great but something seems to have been lost along the way.

What books or stories have most influenced you as a person?
This is where I get away from my favorite genre and talk about books like, “The Celestine Prophecy” series, “Conversations with God” and “The Secret”. Those are the type of spiritual books that nourish my soul.

Where/how do you find the most inspiration?
Inspiration seems to find me. Often when I’m in the shower or driving when I can’t possibly write anything down. Lol! Isn’t that always the way?

What does your family think of your writing?
I was always a very imaginative child so they’re not surprised. They’re very proud.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
When it comes to non-fiction, I get up and get at it until it’s done. I like to be ahead of deadlines. When it comes to fiction, I wait for the muse to strike, get on the computer and write like a woman possessed.

Do you have any writing quirks or rituals?
Writing is probably the only place where I don’t have quirks or rituals. Lol! I do, however, like to listen to New Age radio on Pandora while I write. It’s calming and there’s no lyrics so I don’t get distracted.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Editing can be a pain in the butt or when I know exactly how a story is going to end but have no beginning or middle. Then, it just sort of stalls and I move on to the next thing until those parts come to me.

What are your current projects?
I currently own and operate a natural health website: www.itoldyouiwassick.com, I’m a ghostwriter for another major natural health website and I’m writing fiction on the side when the muse strikes.

What are you planning for future projects?
I have a story kicking around in my head right now about somebody who plays a trick on somebody they NEVER should have messed with. I haven’t had time to sit and write it yet but it’s germinating. *smiles*
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Write and keep writing. Pick up and read a copy of Stephen King’s book, “On Writing”, it will save you a lot of grief and keep submitting. Don’t take rejections personally and learn from your mistakes. Also, join a writers critique group such as www.fanstory.com. I’ve learned so much from the suggestions other writers make on this website and it has improved my writing ten-fold. Also, read. Take the time to read and absorb new information and return to old favorites. You’ll be amazed at how it can spark inspiration.

Where else can we find your work?
Anthology: Night Falls on Everyone, Online at http://www.jaimeaheidel.com/




Monday, August 22, 2011

New From Vagabondage Press: Jam Don't Shake


Jam Don't Shake by Nicholas J. Carter

They seem so innocent: jars of jellies and jams. But the inhabitants of the town of Goodman know better.

An additive in Auntie Goodtimes Jams and Jellies turns good people into rioting murderers when their supply is cut off, the factory burned to the ground, and the National Guard closing in.

Doug is trying to survive in this post-Goodtimes world, sating his addiction with a carefully dosed tablespoon a day of jelly. And, when supplies get low, Doug, like others, finds that cravings can be quelled with the blood of fellow addicts. 

Is it really murder when it’s a matter of survival?

Genre:  Dark Literary Fiction/Dystopian
Format: Digital (ePub/Mobi/PDF)
Length: 19K / Rating: 18+
ISBN: 978-1-4524-3647-0

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Author Insides - Justin Carmickle

Justin Carmickle lives in Bloomington, IN. His work has been published in various journals, including Breadcrumb Scabs, Canvas, Bastards & Whores, Unlikely 2.0, and Leaf Garden. His first chapbook is forthcoming from CrackCrack press.

His poetry appeared in the Autumn 2010 issue of The Battered Suitcase
 
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I first began writing film scripts as a teen. Then, once I began studying English and Creative Writing at Indiana University-Bloomington, I realized my true passion to be fiction (I also enjoy poetry).

Why do you write?
Writing, for me, has become habit. Even with essays, homework, and exams to contend with, I still find myself drawn to the computer where I'll work on a piece. I find it liberating not only to write, but also to edit my own work, as well as the work of others.

Is being a writer/poet anything like you imagined it would be?
At 21, it may be too soon to answer this question. Ask me again in 5 years?

What do you think makes a good story?
Though many will disagree, for me the main element that leads to a good story is sentence level writing. A good sentence keeps the reader in the story no matter the plot.

What's your favorite genre to read?
For the most part I tend to read realism. I go from reading novels to short stories.

Who is your favorite author or poet?
My favorite fiction writers are Andre Dubus (the father) and Flannery O'Connor. I enjoy the poems of Elizabeth Bishop.

What books or stories have most influenced you the most as a writer?
Definitely Flannery O'Connor's complete stories. Also, the collections of Andre Dubus, such as Separate Flights, Adultery & Other Choices, and The Times Are Never So Bad.

What books or stories have most influenced you as a person?
Again, I have to go with the Dubus collections. Their pages hold not only some wonderfully complicated characters, but some of the most powerful sentences any writer/reader can hope to encounter. He really is a marvelous writer.

Where/how do you find the most inspiration?
I find my most inspiration through single images. A piece I recently published was inspired by a family member who was telling me a story about how one harvests honey.

What does your family think of your writing?
My family supports my writing. However, only my grandmother reads literary fiction, and she is always excited when I've finished a new piece.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Mostly I write for 2-3 hour blocks. I tend to think of my fiction while walking to and from class. My process is very slow.

Do you have any writing quirks or rituals?
I listen to music when writing. Conor Oberst, The Kinks, Miles Davis.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Mainly, I tend to involve too much conflict in my pieces. I need to stop trying to jam multiple stories into one.

What are your current projects?
At the moment I am working on a short story and revising two others to submit for publication.

What are you planning for future projects?
I plan to continue writing fiction and dabbling in poetry for...life? Next year I’m applying to MFA programs to continue studying fiction.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Read and revise. Through revision comes real writing.

Where can we find your work?
I have a short story forthcoming in Louisiana Literature. I'm very excited about this publication. This is a wonderful journal that has published Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler, so I'm blessed to be included in the journal's pages.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Get Your Free MFA Right Here!


If you're not following GalleyCat - and you probably should be - check out this blog entry from Tuesday:


The Blurb brags. Get the core knowledge of a prestigious MFA education without the tuition. Have you always wanted to get an MFA, but couldn't because of the cost, time commitment, or admission requirements? Well now you can fulfill that dream... 

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

New Release - Jack the Theorist by John Hartless

John Hartless

Only one man dares to confront the meaning behind the crimes. Only one man sees through the tangled skein to the truth. Only one man knows the answers.

Or, at least, only one man thinks he knows the answers... Follow Professor Wolf, the world’s first Ripperologist, on his delusional journey into the world of the Ripper. Follow his long-suffering friend, Sir Arthur Smythe, who suspects that it will all end in tears.

Gasp at the revelations. Tremble at the truth. Wonder at the sanity of a mind that leaps from conspiracy to conspiracy without ever touching reality.