Raven's Hollow

Apex Birthday Sale!

2010-03-16T12:03:00.000-04:00

by Jason Sizemore
It's missing an alien head!

Five years ago today I released the first issue of Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest. And now here we are with twenty books under the alien head banner, a pro-level e-zine, and a fan base that I adore and love.

The past five years have been a blast. The best part of having created Apex Publications has been the multitudes of friendships I’ve made. Without Apex, I would not know people like Deb Taber, Mari Adkins, Gill Ainsworth, Maggie Jamison, Jennifer Brozek, Alethea Kontis, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, Jerry Gordon, Lavie Tidhar, MM Buckner, Ekaterina Sedia, Cherie Priest, Geoffrey Girard, Jennifer Pelland, Judi Davidson, Michael A. Burstein, J.M. McDermott, Sara M. Harvey, Melissa Gay, Alex McVey, Katja Faith, Gary A. Braunbeck, Lucy Snyder, Nick Mamatas, Wrath James White, Gene O’Neill, Eugie Foster, Steve Gilberts…frankly, this list could go on for pages (and many of these people have been by my side for the whole five years). As you can see, I have been blessed with an abundance of awesome friends and support.

To celebrate I’m giving out a $5.00 coupon for use in the Apex Shop good on any order until March 23rd. Just enter BIRTHDAY on checkout to receive your discount. (Hey, after five years, y’all know that I’m always hustling!)

*Raises alien head shot glass to the air*
And here’s hoping the next five years are as great as the past five!

--
--
Apex Book Company - Dark SF, Fantasy, and Horror
http://www.apexbookcompany.com

Great News!

2010-03-05T14:19:00.001-05:00

From my publisher!

Final Sword Productions, parent company of Under the Moon and Ad Astra Games, is proud to announce that they've signed a contract with Mercedes Lackey to produce a D6 roleplaying game and sourcebooks based on the Valdemar books.

Terri Pray, who's books are currently on sale with Loose Id, Mojocastle, Cobblestone Press and others, is the lead creative for the project and will also be overseeing continuity.

Sam Pray will be handling artwork, maps, layout and charts, along with RPG material.

Scott Palter, well known for his work with West End Games, will be working on RPG material, finance and admin.

Ken Burnside, who's work includes the Honor Harrington games and the award winning Attack vector: Tactical, is dealing with the game mechanics.

For further updates about the project, where we are, snippets of work, artwork, and more as the months progress, please see http://valdemar.underthemoon.org/

For further information please contact Terri Pray via valdemar@underthemoon.org

Spring!

2010-02-27T08:04:00.002-05:00

If you're following the route for the Romance Writers Behaving Badly tour you should have landed here after visiting Mary Quast's blog. If you haven't been there - please drop by blog and post as well.

Anyway welcome to the Hollow! It's almost March and I'm betting most of us are tired of winter's cold clutches. Never fear - spring is near and with it blooms hope and new beginnings! It's a great time for renewing and creating bonds...and for picnics!

For the sake of fun this spring why not shake up the traditional idea of picnic?

Whoever said they had to happen in the day? What about night...in front of a low blazing fire. We'll skip the traditional sandwiches and crackers and cheese and instead since we're not dealing with the melting effects of the sun - chocolate! Yes! Dark chocolate, milk chocolate...chocolate covered strawberries and oh chocolate body paint!

Of course there must be wine - red would be best suited for chocolate and the night.

Mmm and what to wear...why that little black dress or that scorching red one of course!

Cheers to all of you and have a most wonderful 2010...shake it up!

Please post below with your ideas and additions or brand new thoughts on shaking up a romantic picnic for your chance to win prizes!

Next on the Blog Tour - Jaime Aline

Who Wants to Behave Badly With Us?

2010-02-21T10:38:00.002-05:00

With who?
RomanceWritersBehavingBadly, that's who! Tons of fun fabulous writers like Jeanne St James, Mary Quast and more have banded together to make it their mission to make you misbehave! Oh the fun we'll have (wiggles eyebrows suggestively) . Our official kick off is today, following by an exciting blog tour! Did we mention the prizes? There's lots of prizes, so come on over and say hello,and start following to learn how to win!

See you there!
http://romancewritersbehavingbadly.blogspot.com/

Apparitions New Ebook!

2010-02-18T10:32:00.000-05:00

Annnd it’s out! Woohoo! The new Apparitions is now available in ebook! You can get it from Under The Moon or GenreConnections. The print book will be out in June! Yay!

Check it out!

I Did It!

2010-02-17T07:19:00.001-05:00

No not that...get your minds out of the gutter...well, bah, you can keep it there if you like ;)

I ran 2 miles yesterday...yes without stopping! I'm so not a runner and never did that before. But I liiive! And am sore but lets ya know you're alive eh?

Here he comes a wandering...

2010-02-16T10:05:00.002-05:00

I know it’s past Christmas but there’s no time when creepy stories are out of season!

I just had the pleasure of author Matt Cowan’s story “HERE HE COMES A WANDERING”. It won the Pod of Horror Christmas Story Contest and I can certainly see why.

Veeery creepy and will make you look at Christmas a bit differently…especially wandering off on the holidays…or well, looking out your windows at night at any time of the year!

If you like scary stories tune in to Episode #58 of The Pod of Horror. Mark Justice reads this story complete with voices. I particularly like the window scene…yipes! It’s near the end and you’ll know it when he gets to it.
It can be found at http://www.horrorworld.org/poh.htm . It is episode #58 (which is the most recent episode at the moment) and is read around the last 15:20 mins. left in the show.

~Raven

DWIFF

2008-07-01T07:46:00.001-04:00

Lain and I attened the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival this weekend in Detroit. What a fun time it was! It was great to meet such wonderful and like-minded people. We saw the latest technology (not that I as allowed to touch it...for the safety of everyone there and in the surrounding area) in film editing. It's simply amazing how far along programs have come to make the lives of directors easier!

They had workshops on acting, scoring music and various other classes. There were opportunities to meet and talk to those ambitious folk who are shaping the entertainment industry here in Michigan.

We'd like to thank everyone who attended Lain and I's workshop on screenwriting. We had an awesome group of people with tons of great questions. Next time we'll have to aim for a longer workshop to be more direct and encompassing.

We met people there who I'm sure will become enduring friends and co-conspirators.

We'd also like to thank Scott for his fortitude in putting the Festival on and making sure everything went smoothly. Great work Scott!

And a big thanks to Billy who not only intruduced us but suggested that we do the workshop. He was lurking around the festival too, keeping everything on task and running.

Thanks guys!

The Art of the Query - Part One

2008-06-24T15:31:00.000-04:00

To become a published author in today's market a writer must not only study how to write excellent fiction (and apply what they learn!) but also learn how to write for the business side of the profession.

This week I'll focus on writing the query letter. I see you out there, trembling in fear...just wait until I get to the synopsis :D hahaha then you can run for that is the source of true dread.

Anyway, query letters are simple things but often fouled up by writers. Why? Mostly because they spend so much time writing fiction that they don't research into what else is involved in the profession. When they find out they need a query letter to approach agents and editors - they just toss a letter together.

Here are some of the top mistakes to avoid:

1. Queries that run over one page. When an agent/editor asks for a query, they mean one (as in single) page. No more. Don't annoy them by sending a mini-book describing your entire novel and life.

2. Telling them what your mother, brother, sister, aunt, best friend etc. thinks of your writing. Usually family and friends are bias and heck, most moms would say your novel on odes to toenail clipping was pure poetry.

3. Telling the agent/editor how much they'll love your work. No one likes others making assumptions about them and their tastes -- agents/editors are no different.

4. Lavishing praise on your work. This is closely related to 3. Few people enjoy a boaster and agents/editors are people too (honest they are). At best they'll ignore the horns and whistles and at worst, cringe every time they see your name and run with their ears and eyes covered. Save them the bruises please.

5. Telling them how hard the novel was to write. The odds are they don't care how hard it was for you to pull that nagging story out of your head and pound it into the keyboard. Being that they work with authors they're used to a certain amount of insanity...but talking about how your characters so insisted that their story be told and kept you up for nth nights in a row...well...lets just say that doesn't strike a good note.

6. Cutting down the genre(s) they represent or publish. I never thought I'd be adding this to my list...but I recently saw a query that did just that. Something akin to "Imagine me, an adult woman writing a paranormal young adult book. I mean, come on, I'm a level headed lady..." Paraphrased, but you can see the tone. This writer obviously has no respect for the genre she's writing nor the other authors in the genre who work very hard to get their 'stuff' out there and in turn, no respect for the professionals - like agents and editors - who represent and publish that genre. Don't get me started on the insult to the readers of the genre! There would be brimstone and the blog would reek for weeks.

7. Being flippant about writing. This is another I didn't think I'd need to add. But again I was made witness to one such query, that paraphrased was roughly - "I just threw this together and decided to try my hand at publishing." Yeah. I don't think I really need to go into what sort of tone that sets.

8. Giving out your resume. Agents and editors don't want to hear where you went to school nor how many jobs you've inhabited throughout your life. Nor your divorce or kids or...you get the point. Unless it directly relates to the book at hand - say, if you're a police officer with background in criminal investigations and you just wrote a crime fiction novel - then leave it out.

9. Being overly friendly. By all means, please be nice and genteel. However, skip the "Hey Jude, want to take a look at my new novel?" type wordings unless you personally know and are on a friendly basis with the said agent/editor.

10. This is what I call writers writing smack. My kids love to do it on video games, that's annoying. Getting it in query letters from adults well...wow. What is this smack? The "I'm the next (enter any well established author out there - King, Rowling etc.)" or "My series is the next (Harry Potter or enter any well selling series here)." First it's pretentious. Do you like pretentious people? I didn't think so. Secondly, no one wants another King or Rowling or...whoever. Agents and editors want new voices, strong voices that will build an audience because the story is so darn good and unique. They don't want remakes.

*breathes*

So, there's the top ten Refrain from Doing list. The next installment will be what agents and editors DO want to see! Stay tuned and hey, aren't you supposed to be writing? Or reading? shoo. ;)

When Logic Goes Wildly Astray

2008-06-17T11:48:00.000-04:00

One would think, logically, that if the weather for tomorrow cannot be accurately predicted that the weather 100 years from now cannot be accurately predicted. Yet, these Global Warming Alarmists keep gaining ground by playing on emotions. This is a technique we fiction writers use to gain reader sympathy...it belongs in fiction NOT in the news or in reality.

Before you jump on the Global Warming Alarmist band wagon and abandon logic and reason - do some research people. Think a bit please. The world is a natural thing, not a computer. It has natural warming and cooling trends that we cannot do a thing about besides accept and acknowledge them for what they are. The theories and 'science' behind this farce is so flawed it blows my mind that they're able to connive so many.

I suggest starting your research with this article and then look further before believing all the hype you hear on TV and radio.

Mysteries of Pen Names

2008-06-13T08:55:00.002-04:00

Join me on Sandy Lender's blog - Today The Dragon Wins

We're talking about the use of pen names and why some authors, like me, use them. It's been her topic for the month so please browse through the other posts and discover the shadowy world of...Pen Names!

The stories are fantastic! There are glimpses into each author's life and reasoning. Drop on by!

To add to the fun, Sandy is running a contest! Post on her blog during this month and get entered to win a FREE e-book of her fantastic fantasy novel - Choices Meant for Gods

Nothing Hits Like Hockey!

2008-06-05T20:31:00.000-04:00

After a fabulous and exciting season - the Detroit Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup!!! Go Wings!

They played very well and I'm proud of all of them.

If any of you missed the game... (ahem...and just what excuse do you have for THAT?) you can check out more at the NHL website.

You can also read how this is the 4th...yes 4th Stanley Cup for the Wings in 11 years here. It also has some interesting numbers.

The Pens played a good game, can't say I care overly much for their coach...he's more than a tad rude. But still they gave the Wings a run and did well.

And alas Hockey season is now over and I must resign myself to EA Sports (it's in the game -- sorry...that's so engrained in my head) on the PS...

Thanks Wings for a great season and all the hard work you put into game!

Malkin

2008-06-05T20:29:00.001-04:00

I felt I had to put this up even though Malkin is on the Pens team and not the Wings.

Out of all the Pens, I enjoyed watching him. He's young yet and you could tell he was under pressure. Still, I think there's a lot of talent there. I doubt the Pens coach can bring him to what he needs to be (again, I don't like the Pens coach...did I mention that before?). I think he needs to be elsewhere to really shine.

Just my two cents that needed to be said.

25k Word Writing Challenge!

2008-05-01T03:59:00.000-04:00

I'm participating in a writing challenge - this is my first time for such an event...woohoo! The goal is to get at least 25k words written between today and the end of May. That's roughly 800 words a day every day and the key to writing is, well, writing!

I want to thank everyone invovled for devising such a challenge to motivate us.

Thanks!

Now onward to writing!

Thrillerfest 2008!

2008-04-15T19:32:00.001-04:00

Thrillerfest is the place to mingle with some of the leading lights in the thriller world. Learn what makes them tick, the secrets of their craft, and what inspires them to write what they do.

ThrillerFest hits new heights. Not only will ThrillerMasters SANDRA BROWN and JAMES PATTERSON, along with spotlight authors ERIC VAN LUSTBADER, BRAD THOR, and KATHY REICHS be there. But DAVID BALDACCI, R.L. STINE, STEVE MARTINI and ANDREW GROSS have also joined the ThrillerFest lineup! Along with many, many more of your favorite New York Times authors.
Writers focus on the craft of writing at CraftFest. Some of the teachers include: "Writing the Breakout Novel" author/agent Donald Maass, Publisher and editor in chief of G.P. Putnam Neil Nyren, Patterson co-author Andrew Gross, New York Times best sellers: Lee Child, Eric Van Lustbader, Heather Graham, Steve Berry, James Rollins, David Morrell, Joseph Finder, Gayle Lynds, David Hewson, Jon Land and MJ Rose.

AgentFest is a big hit! Over 30 agents/editors want to meet you and hear about your projects. This will be a one on one "speed dating" with an agent meeting--introduce yourself, pitch your project, ask questions, this time is for you!

Click here (http://www.thrillerwriters.org/subscribe.php) for a chance to win a free ticket to Thrillerfest or go to http://www.thrillerfest.org for more information.

July 9-12th, 2008
The Grand Hyatt
New York, New York

2008 Muse Online!

2008-04-13T15:01:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again! The conventions are gearing up and everyone is going nuts. Now if this snoooooow would go aaaway! Can you tell I dislike the cold?

Anyway, I'm running a workshop again at the Muse Online Writer's Con. It's in October and will run from the 13th -19th. You can check out their main page here: http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/2007testimonials.htm

My workshop this year is: Magic Ink

In this we'll be discussing the ins and outs of screen writing and how it's the same and yet different from writing fiction. Assignments will be given along with worksheets. We'll also be taking apart one of my favorite movies - Practical Magic - to see foreshadowing, beginning / ending linking and other script writing techniques.

I will warn though - watching a good movie is like magic...and like a good magic show it's best watched when you don't know the tricks. Once you know the tricks the magic shows take on a different tone. Please be aware of that.

Other than that, I look forward to having you guys there! If you have any subjects you'd like addressed in the workshop - post them here or email me at raven@ravenbower.com I'll try to get all of them in!

Choices Meant for Gods

2007-12-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

For those on your list who love Fantasy novels and Dragons!

Sandy Lender is offering a contest to win a FREE copy of her book, Choices Meant for Gods. For details check out Author Island or Sandy's Blog.

n the high fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods, not even the gods noticed when Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian seek shelter from a mad sorcerer in a household not just full of secrets and false hope, but watched by the god who will unwittingly reveal her role in an impending war. When an orphan sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies she uncovers? And will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?
 
 Pick up your copy of Choices Meant for Gods at a local Barnes & Noble or order it online today!

Sandy Lender began writing stories as soon as she learned to string words together on the page. As a child, she entertained the folks in her great grandmother's apartment building in Southern Illinois with tales of squeaky spiders and mice picking berries, and then won awards with short stories and writing projects as she moved through the elementary and high school systems in the St. Louis area. It was apparent that a career in journalism was her calling, and she found herself proofreading, editing, and (finally) writing for trade publications after she graduated from Truman State University in Missouri. Now she writes in Southwest Florida where her love of sea turtles and all things related to the Gulf waters keeps her imagination growing. Her fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods is now available from ArcheBooks Publishing. You can get information about grammar and writing from her blog at www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com.

A Grave Injustice

2007-12-05T09:42:00.001-05:00

This is a new title put out by ArcheBooks and written by Prudy Board -

A Grave Injustice: A Grave Injustice  ~ When GI Karl von Brett is murdered while training at Buckingham Gunnery School in Fort Myers, FL, his death is ruled suicide and he's labeled a saboteur. Aching for revenge, he haunts a local reporter until his murderer is brought to justice and Karl's name is cleared. In the meantime, the reporter finds
herself in grave danger because the murderer, now a wealthy pillar of society, is alive and well and determined to kill her to stop her from finding out the truth.  Hardcover. 348 pages. $28.99

A Grave Injustice is author Prudy Taylor Board's 18th published book. A native of Florida, she sets her mysteries and horror novels in the settings she knows and loves.

Blood Magic ~ by Matthew Cook

2007-12-04T08:01:00.000-05:00

I met Matt at Context in Ohio when we sat on a panel together. You can see him in the panel picture on my web page. He was kind enough to give me his new book, Blood Magic, released by Juno.

This book would make a great gift - to yourself or others. Please take a moment to read the information on it and then visit Amazon.com to find out more.

Blood Magic is the story of Kirin, a young necromancer who can summon “sweetlings” - zombie-like minions that she looks upon with the same love and
affection as a mother for her offspring – from the bodies of her fallen foes.  Over the course of the novel, we see the events that formed her unique (and troubling) world view, as she avenges the death of her twin sister and abandons the safe, well-planned life her family planned for her, embarking on a new life as an Imperial scout and trapper.  There, she meets Lia Cho, a young elemental mage, who gives her a new perspective on life.   When her new home is invaded by the inhuman Mor, a race of powerful subterranean beings that have warred with humanity in the past, Kirin must use her dark power in defense of life, and in doing so, is faced with a terrible choice.


Matthew Cook was raised in Washington D.C, educated in illustration and
photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and lives in Columbus, Ohio.  Blood Magic is his first published novel.  The sequel, Nights Of Sin, is due out in August of 2008, also from Juno Books.  He is currently editing an urban
fantasy novel, set in modern-day Chicago.

Christmas Gift Alternatives

2007-12-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

The rush to buy gifts for the people on your list is in full swing. Instead of tossing all of our American dollars at the massive Sweat Shop that's China...Allow me to make a few suggestions on how to keep our dollars here and help promote our own economy and businesses.

Consider giving the gift of a book.
Books are always in good taste, be they a cookbook or fiction or how-to. Throughout December I'll be highlighting different books and alternatives for you, so stay tuned.

Consider giving the gift of art.
Instead of the same old ties and junk that breaks a month after Christmas...consider local artists and their work. Whether it's a painting, a photography print, sculpture or clay pot - giving the gift of an original work of art made from the hands of people in your very own 'hood' will warm the heart faster than a gidget swiped up at Walmart.

Consider giving the gift of film.
Most movies are produced here in the States or our neighbor, Canada. Consider giving the gift of a DVD, particularly one that's produced locally. Support your Indy Film companies and find a truly unique film to give to your friends and family.

Consider Crafts.
Don't forget that this is the time for craft shows! Visit your local craft show or shop. You can find everything from handwoven hats, mittens, comforters, quilts and wood products galore.

Consider Neighbors.
Most people have a hobby or a small cottage business. Don't be afraid! Get in touch with them and ask if you can purchase some of their goods for gifts. If you know a neighbor who makes quilts or sweaters - ask! If you know a local artist who creates paintings, photos, pots or writes books - get a hold of them. Chances are they would be glad to sign the gifts you purchase from them - making the gift YOU give a custom, one of a kind thing!

These are but a few of the many ideas you can impliment that will make the Holidays something special to everyone. Make gift giving an art form instead of a 'one stop swiping spree' at your local outlet for China Goods (aka Walmart and the other purveyors of junk goods).

An Average Lie

2007-10-19T13:17:00.000-04:00

I thought this was an astoundingly logical article from my publisher, Bob Gelinas. I'll let it speak for itself...ponder it.

(posted with Bob's permission)

An Average Lie
By Robert E. Gelinas, © 2007 All Rights Reserved.
"Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius)
around the world since 1880, much of this in recent decades."
NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies
The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It
may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may
not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our
preferences do not determine what's true.
Carl Sagan

Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.
Thomas H. Huxley

Here's an old joke, albeit dark humor: A guy is being tortured. He's bound and forced to sit naked on a
block of ice, freezing his behind, getting frostbite. They pour lighter fluid on his head and set fire to his hair. He's screaming in agony. One of his tormentors turns to another and remarks, "I don't know what he's complaining about. On average, he's doing just fine."

Indeed, statistically speaking, if your hair is on fire and your butt is freezing, then the mathematical
average between the two extremes may theoretically be "just fine"—even if the physical truth is torturous agony. This is an excellent example of the old line by Mark Twain in his autobiography: "There are three kinds of lies—lies, damn lies, and statistics."

In the context of "statistics," let's look at the simple and clear definition of the word "Average," used in the sense of an "arithmetic mean." Per the American Heritage Dictionary: The value obtained by dividing the sum of a set of quantities by the number of quantities in the set. For Example: Four students take a test. Their test scores are 75, 85, 90, and 95. The sum of these 4 numbers is 345. 345 divided by 4 equals 86.25. Therefore, the average test score was 86.25. Simple. Two students scored above average, one near average, one below average. This might be useful information to the teacher in helping her instruct her students. So far, so good.

Let's try another example of averaging. At the zoo there are 4 lions, 2 elephants, 6 zebras, 12 monkeys and 100 fish. What's the "average animal"? Wait – not the most populous, not percentages of the total. What's the average animal? Scratching your head? Do the math. OK, let's see… 4+2+6+12+100 = 124,
divided by 5 = 24.8. What does 24.8 mean? Is that the average number of animals of each kind? If so, that wasn't the question. Do you think perhaps the basic question makes no sense? Does the very concept of computing an "average animal" seem a bit absurd?

Let's try again. There are approximately 6 billion humans on earth. 51% of them are female, 49% are male. So what then is the "average gender"? That question doesn't make much sense either, does it?

OK then, what's the "average race" of all humans on earth? Or, what's the "average religion" of everyone on earth? Not the most predominant, not the percentage of each within a population—no, the question was: what's the mathematical average? What number is computed when the values of all the
samples are added together and then divided by the number of samples? What do these computed numbers represent? Still an absurd question?
Yes it is, and that's because the basic assumption of computing an "average anything" is that you are comparing a measured common value of all members in a common or homogenous set.

Let's try something everyone is a little more familiar with, something simpler. Let's try the weather.

What's the "average temperature" today in South Florida, i.e. if you know that today's low is 72 and its high is 92? Well, if you are looking for a daily average, the average would be 82 degrees. We get that by adding 72 and 92 and then dividing by two. That's easy. But if we were referring to a seasonal average,
we would have to decide whether we wanted to look at the daily high or low, or use the daily average like we just computed, and then observe how that number compares to the same day of the year in years past, or within some window of time, or something along those lines. Right?

If you did that exercise, all that math for the weather in South Florida on a particular day could be statistically correct. But wait a second. Let's go back to the daily average of 82 degrees. How long during the twenty-four hour day was the average of 82 degrees a physical reality versus a statistical abstract? In
fact, the low for the day occurs close to sunrise, just before dawn; and then after the sun rises, the heat of the day increases rapidly, getting into the high eighties by mid-morning and staying in the nineties all afternoon. So the actual period of time the air temperature is 82 degrees occurs in a very small window of time, and doesn't cool off below 82 until after midnight, technically the next day. In reality, if you took a temperature measurement each hour of the day, you'd discover that the true "average" temperature during that same day was much higher than 82. So with respect to the math used to compute the daily average, which was based solely on looking at only two data points of the high and the low, while it was statistically correct, it was also physically wrong.

Let's add another wrinkle to this line of thought. What is the average temperature between South Florida and Anchorage, Alaska on this same day we're looking at? Let's only look at the highs this time and assume the following as our measurements: it's 92 degrees for the high in South Florida, and Anchorage has a high of 50 degrees. If we add those two numbers we get 142. Divide them by two and we get 71 degrees as the "average temperature" for these two locales on that day. Again, this number is mathematically correct. But does it matter that the temperature in South Florida never got down to 71 degrees in this twenty-four hour period, or that the temperature will never get up to 71 in Anchorage? Please note, for both locales, the computed average temperature of 71 degrees never physically exists.

Let's add a couple of more data points to our "average temperature" calculations. Let's throw in Death Valley, California, which had a high of 120 in this same day we are considering, and South Pole Station in Antarctica, which had a high of minus 50 degrees on the same day. So, 92+50+120-50 = 212. Divide that
number by four and you get 53 degrees. Funnily enough, once again, while 53 degrees is the correct statistical calculation, not one of the four locales experienced a moment of 53 degrees that day. More to the point: the number 53 degrees is completely meaningless and irrelevant to each of the locales in
consideration.

What's the flaw in the logic here? The problem is a simple matter of comparing "apples and oranges."

There's no common source of data points, specifically data points originating from the exact same set of causes and influences, which is what we're attempting to average. Averages can no more be applied to disparate climate locales than we can try to average animals at the zoo, gender, race, or religion. They're
different "sets," not a "common set," which defies the definition of the computation of an average. It can be done mathematically as an abstract calculation, but it makes no sense in reality.

Here's why: Remember the test taken by our four students? The common source of data points wasn't the students; it was the test. The four students were four iterations of the exact same test being taken, which is why an average score could be computed and the resulting number made sense and had some practical application. If, however, one student had taken a history test, the second a math test, the third an English test, and the fourth a biology test, would averaging their scores together have any meaning?

No. The common element of data points was that the same test was given to each student. When you change the source, or better yet "cause," of the data point values, you invalidate the common relevance of the data and make it nonsensical.
Now, you could average a history test, a math test, an English test, and a biology test, if you were talking about those four different tests all being taken by the same student. In that context, the common source of data points becomes the one student's performance. The numerical "average" computed becomes part of that student's overall grade average. However, that particular student's grade average
only has comparable applicability to any other student if another student took the exact same courses and tests—i.e. the same sampling and measurement criteria.

This is analogous to the weather in the sense that you may average multiple sampling points (a high or low within the day, week, month, year, years, etc.) if you are talking about just one locale or homogenous region, which is the common element influenced by a fixed set of factors germane to that specific place.
In the context of the weather or climate, the thermometer is simply the measuring device, like the teacher using her answer key to determine the number of right and wrong answers on a test and assigning a numerical score. The thermometer labels a value of a data point at a particular point in time, but it isn't the source or cause of the air temperature at any point in time. Air temperatures are clearly influenced by a myriad of factors: the sun, precipitation cycles, seasonal changes, day-night cycles, proximity to large bodies of water or deserts, altitude from sea level, ocean temperatures and currents, increased urbanization (concrete and asphalt tend to retain a lot more heat than grass and trees), volcanic/geothermal activity, forest fires, glacier retreat (which has been occurring continually for over 10,000 years since the last ice age), deforestation, and yes, even some man-made pollution, and many, many other factors unique to specific geographical locations.

That's why "averaging" temperatures from completely disparate climate zones, like Death Valley and Antarctica, may produce a mathematically correct statistic, but it is a number that is meaningless with respect to any individual climate used as a data point in the cumulative calculation.

The fatal flaw in the supposition here is that it is readily evident that temperatures in any and all locales are the result of many, many varying factors, not one unified cause nor a fixed and uniform set of causes, which means that temperature readings (an effect not a cause) are not "homogenous" and therefore cannot be
rationally "averaged" to produce any logical meaning. And, by the way, the total number of data points you add to this erroneously-based calculation doesn't matter. If it's nonsensical and meaningless to do it for two or four of them, then that must also be true for most if not all of them puddled together.

Otherwise, at what point of adding samples does doing something nonsensical and illogical begin to make sense and is no longer meaningless?

So…with all this in mind. When you hear reported that the "average global temperature" has risen by a little over half a degree or a whole degree in the last 100 years, what might you conclude about such an assertion?

Even if manylearned experts tell you that "the math doesn't lie," did it ever occur to anyone that the very concept of an "average global temperature"—as though a single number could accurately represent the cumulative unified condition of all the disparate climate varieties on the entire planet—in fact, doesn't exist anywhere in the real world beyond the abstract realm of statistics? And if that's true, then what value is any argument that is based upon a completely mythical concept?

"It is impossible to talk about a single temperature for something as
complicated as the climate of Earth. A temperature can be defined only
for a homogeneous system. Furthermore, the climate is not governed by
a single temperature. Rather, differences of temperatures drive the
processes and create the storms, sea currents, thunder, etc. which make
up the climate." (emphasis added)
Physicist Bjarne Andresen
Professor at The Niels Bohr Institute
University of Copenhagen
Ref: American Thinker, 3/18/07

"The great masses of the people…will more easily fall victims to a big lie
than a small one."
Adolf Hitler

A Must Have Writer's Workshop!

2007-10-11T12:13:00.001-04:00

If you're an aspiring author or if you're already an author and are trying to find your way through the mess of the publishing industry and marketing...this workshop is wonderful!

ArcheBooks (a traditional publisher of trade paperbacks and hardcover books) puts on an intensive, weekend workshop for writers and authors. It used to be that you had to fly to Florida, incur the cost of flights, hotel rooms and food on top of the entrance fee to the workshop to attend it.

No more!

Now they are offering the very same workshop in digital form that you can listen to and do the work in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace and without having to shell out money for planes, hotels and eating out.

If you're at all serious about a career in the world of publishing - I highly suggest you check this out!

Click here for more info!

Thank You CCWs!

2007-10-10T10:36:00.002-04:00

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting with a ladies book club in Cadillac Michigan - termed by one of the women as the Crazy Cadillac Women. They were such a great group to be around - friendly, open and full of life.

They ran the meeting like a social - complete with sandwiches, cookies, cheese, crackers, wine, pop and beer. Their hospitality was fantastic. They were even kind enough to give me a box of lucious chocolates! I'll be getting into those while revising :D

They asked some really great questions and I look forward to our next meeting together when Windigo comes out!

Thanks guys!

This Week's Events

2007-10-10T10:36:00.001-04:00

Today kicked off the first day in my week long online workshop at The Muse Online Writer's Conference. For all of you who joined - thanks! There's posts in there for you and I look foward to creating with you.

On Tuesday I'm visiting with a Book Club up in Cadillac Michigan. I'm pretty excited about that - I love talking to readers!

Also this week (hopefully) I'll be making an official announcement here...on what...I'm not gunna tell yet :P

But once it's all ready, I'll put up the post.

Other than that, we're in the midst of revising Windigo, the sequel to Apparitions. So if you see any sparks flying from over here - it's just me trying to get it all polished up and done.

Weird Science

2007-10-06T10:31:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time I was in a convo about writing and genres. Since I happen to read in all genres and have plots set for several of those genres, this question came about:

"What genre would you not write in?"

To which I answered:

"Historical fiction because I'm not a big enough history buff to pull it off. I'd flub up the dates and get letters and emails from everybody's mother's sister's boyfriend's uncle's friends that I screwed up the dates on the Civil War.

Sci-Fi too, because, as we all know I'm Techie-dense. Science and machanics are some vague, weird stuff concocted in a universe far far away from mine."

Yep. So what happens the other night? I get a neat dream complete with workable tid-bits to a Sci-Fi plot...The more I think on it, the more the sub plots are coming to light.

So, remember what I said about not writing Sci-Fi? Erase it. Now I have to go beg the muses to not....NOT go to the Historical side...

Have any of you had weird plots that are way off your genre or style come popping into being?

Skin That Smoke Wagon

2007-10-05T12:01:00.000-04:00

Yes, a line straight out of Tombstone. That movie was fantastic and I had to steal the line from Wyatt for this post.

In my Apparitions series there's an emphasis on law enforcement and criminals. The best way I can describe them is that they're supernatural stories mingled with crime stories and honed with suspense. That said, when I first developed the series I had to learn about firearms. Can't have the Sheriff and his Deputies running around without firearms now can we?

Now I know how to take firearms apart, info on various ammo, how they handle, how to shoot (anything from semi-auto pistols to revolvers to shotguns to rifles). At Context I actually had to pack all long sleeve attire because of a bruised shoulder from rapid target shooting with the 12 guage and heavy ammo.

Anyway, I'm in revisions for book two in the Apparitions series, Windigo. Now, I've been to the ranges but always during the day. In Windigo there's a scene where my Sheriff, Trace, is firing his weapon at night. Well, we've all heard the term 'guns a blazin' and seen torrents of fire erupting from muzzles and barrels on TV and movies. Understanding that the bullet is projected out of said barrels by the force of an explosion, I figured there would be some flames, surely. But...how much? Is it really as brilliant in life as it is on the screen?

I may write fiction, but I do try to make everything as true to life as I possibly can through research and well, doing it myself. Which is perhaps why I can never end my list of hobbies or things I enjoy doing.

So in a writerly moment (you know, those times you get a wise idea and go out and do it without really thinking it through?). Lain and I were in the kitchen, it was dark outside and it went a little like this:

Lain (who knew about the scene in question): "You know, it's dark outside..."

Me: "Let's break out the Penetrator. I'd like to see what Trace would see and experience."

And so, we did - right then, right there.

(Yes, I name my stuff...almost everything. For those of you fellow Xeno heads out there, you'll know where Penetrator came from heheheh Go Ziggy!!!)

Yeah. Let me tell you...guns do indeed blaze. That thing looked like we'd fired a torch through it, not a slug. So when you see the Hollywood films they really aren't exaggerating.

On a side note...darkness does not dampen sound. Nope. Silly me, in my writerly mode of absorbing what Trace would see, feel, hear and do...forgot my ear muffs. Ahem. So if you ever get the idea to go out and really see what happens when you shoot a firearm in the pitch of night - take it from me and do wear ear protection. There are some things we writers really don't need to experience and ringing ears are one of them :)

ConClave

2007-10-04T16:34:00.000-04:00

I haven't been able to update my web site lately due to computer issues with Lains rebellious machine. However, I'm posting this here and on my other blogs/boards.

Although I'm listed on their site and it's shown on my Events page that I'm attending ConClave next weekend - I will not be there.

That said I believe I owe you a why.

I talked to their Programming director last year about participating. Since then and after many of my emails since early this year being unanswered, it seemed to me like they dropped the ball.

Indeed, we weren't made aware of the program details until this morning...A week before the event. Ahem. And AFTER I'd already made other commitments because of the lack of responses since early this year.

After reading their program - let me say they DO have some good classes and panels. However, the panels I was stuffed on won't lose anything by my not being there. One is on Friday night, which I specified when I first contacted them I wouldn't be able to be there until Saturday. It is an interesting panel that I would have liked to participate on.

The two I was put on for Saturday...yeah. How can I say this nicely? They appeal to some. Not to me. I don't read Lovecraft...haven't since I was in high school. I'm not a big fan of his and I so do not have the time to cram in reading his work on a week's notice. So...not much I can add to that panel except to sit and go...uhmmm why did they put me here? The second, on e-book publishing...my book is NOT an e-book. It is available in an an e-book form, but Apparitions is a hard cover orginal. I don't agree with strictly e-book publishing. For me, as a reader, I want something solid. Reading a novel on a computer screen would burn my eyeballs out.

The Sunday panel on Marketing would have been a lot of fun. That is something I could have actively contributed to.

So yeah. Now see, there are other quite interesting panels and talks that I could have provided some content to.

It would stand to reason, to me, that if you want people to participate - which I'd have loved to had communications been there - maybe make sure you communicate with them and find out where they can contribute the most. This isn't just for the good of the participants but also for the Convention itself and the people paying to attend.

At least that's what common sense would tell ya.

So I won't be there and that's why - lack of communication and not wanting to pay to walk in to something I have no clue as to what is going on.

It did serve well in another respect. I now very much appreciate the time and effort put out by the other Conventions I've dealt with in providing their participants lists of panels they could willingly sign up for (instead of stuffing them on panels that the staff has no idea if the participant even fits on) or letting you know well in advance what they're thinking of putting you on and...the courtesy of - asking...

Context 20

2007-10-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

This last weekend we attended Context 20, in Columbus Ohio. Let me tell ya, if you get a chance to attend next years (which I fully intend to) do so! It was a blast.

Lain attended the World Building Workshop, which he said was quite enlightening. They had so many good panels planned that it was often a toss up on which to attend. Often we had to split, each attending different panels and taking notes for the other.

I had the honor of sitting on a panel with fellow authors Matt Cook, Fran Friel, James Daniel Ross and Paul Melko.

We met Shawn Sine and Erin Hoffman who are endless knowledge pits on gaming and programming. I spent some time stalking Juanita Coulson on her panels. Listening to her experiences with movies while she was young was fun. Fantasy author Sandy Lender was lurking about and we enjoyed various converstations with her.

One of the most intriguing people I met there was John Dalmas. He's such a spry man with this impish glow in his eyes and an endless wealth of knowlege. Thank you John for being there and talking with us!

Jason from Apex Science Fiction & Horror Digest was there. They throw a heck of a room party, with artwork projected on the ceiling and everything.

There were so many others that we met, talked with and hung out with and many more we saw in passing. All in all, it was a lot of fun, very informative and a must go to Con for next year.

This Week's Event

2007-09-24T13:44:00.001-04:00

I'm actually being good this week and putting this up on Monday! woohoo.

Anyway, this week's event is Context it's a convention for Sci-fi, Horror and Fantasy in Columbus Ohio. Check out their web site if you're interested in attending. There's all sorts of panels and discussions. My panel will be on Sunday morning - still not sure of the exact time, except it'll be somewhere between 9a - noon.

See you there!

This Week's Event

2007-09-20T13:56:00.001-04:00

Annnd the events are back after a weekend haitus for my little brother's wedding.

This Saturday I'll be at Horizon Books in Cadillac MI from 1pm - 3pm.

If you'd like to see events that I'm attending in advance, please visit my site and go to Events on the top bar. I keep that fairly well up-to-date.

See ya there!

Congratulations Ben & Nikki!

2007-09-20T13:55:00.000-04:00

Wooohooo! My little brother is now married! Who'd have ever thought?? I sure didn't. In fact, it didn't hit me that he was actually really getting married until we walked up to the church...and saw him standing there in his suit. Then I had one of those Oh My Gosh...this is real moments. Very surreal.

His wife, Nikki, is great. I couldn't ask for a better choice for him or better sister-in-law. She's funny, creative and sweet. She looked stunning.

The reception was a lot of fun. They told the DJ to think of it as a bar or club setting - so the music rocked! I didn't hear the Chicken Dance at all - thank all that is holy and green on this earth. Ugh. Any one here ever been subjected to THAT abhorrant dance?

They did do the traditional throwing of the garter and flowers - but the woman who caught the flowers was far from the traditional blushing maiden, shyly submitting to the practice. Oh no. My cousin Andrea caught it and was out there just cutting it up and making a grand show of it. Way to go Andrea!!!

So what does an author do at a wedding? Kick the kids to Lain's parent's house...go out with said Lain...get sloshed and talk her tongue off. Yup. Pretty much sums up what we did. The gin and tonics flowed and were drank! I got a chance to talk to a lot of family members I never see except for weddings and funerals. I also got a surprise - my friends from High School, Michelle and Mike were there. Shocked me...I had no idea they knew Ben. But apparently Mike works with him and Mike is dating Michelle. Really very neat.

Oh and I did dance once - a slow song at the end. Then Lain picked me up and carried me out of the hall :D That was fun too.

So...Congratulations Ben and Nikki! And thanks to all who attended and had fun with us!

This Week's Events

2007-09-05T08:35:00.000-04:00

This Saturday we'll be up in Traverse City at Horizon books from 7-9pm. Drop on by, say hi and visit the bay. Lake Michigan is very pretty around this time of year.

Apparitions Review!

2007-08-23T18:06:00.000-04:00

This review was so exciting to see! Especially after the day I just had. Thanks James!

Northwoods Journal Review, August 23, 2007

..>..>

I have a tired and true measure of how good I think a book is-- if I finish a book over the course of two or three nights then the book falls into my must read category and Apparitions fits that bill.

This debut novel by Raven Bower is a wonderfully crafted supernatural/horror story that is sure to keep the reader up late into the night. Reclusive author Bailey Khane has a secret, something much scarier than missing a writing deadline, she is visited by spirits of murder victims and only by writing down the details of their murders can these wayward souls find solace and move on in peace. But evil forces have discovered her hiding spot from the world and other "things", and they want to destroy her or anyone else in their way.
This hair-raising story raises an interesting question--what is scarier, supernatural evil or human evil? Because Apparitions is not only about paranormal monsters but it is also a story of the evil that lurks in the worst of us.
I really enjoyed Ms. Bower's book except for the fact that I have a pond in my backyard that I enjoyed swimming in from time to time. Unfortunately after reading her book it will be quite some time before I take a dip into the water. Readers will understand why.

James Clifford
Reviews Editor-Northwoods Journal
Author, Double Daggers

This Week's Events

2007-08-01T13:38:00.001-04:00

Saturday, August 4th

I'll be signing at Book World in St. Ignace Michigan from 11a - 2p. For more information or directions please call: (906) 643-7569

Friday August 10th

I'll be at Book World in Marquette, Michigan from 2p - 9p. For more information please call (906) 228-9490

Saturday August 11th

Join me for lunch and coffee at the fabulous Falling Rock Cafe in Munising Michigan. For more info or directions please call: (906) 387-3008

Silver Leaf Ren. Faire - Revisited

2007-07-31T09:19:00.001-04:00

We went to the Silver Leaf again - this time as patrons. It was a total blast. I had the chance to visit with the vendors and see all their wares (hint - great place for shopping!). We were able to see some of the shows and watch the antics of the cast.

We did watch some of the International Jousting Tournament, however, I have to say...no offense to anyone...I like Silver Leaf's original Jousters better. By far.

Lawren and Mark - both new to the world of Faires - had a great time too...even to the point where Mark is planning his next trip to the US around it :D

For those of you who haven't gone - for goodness sake go! You won't regret it...unless you get stewed, or put in jail or...

This Week's Events

2007-07-26T09:21:00.001-04:00

We'll be doing a book signing atLeelanau Books in Leland, MI from 1p-3p

Check out their web site for directions and more info.

See you there!

~Raven

On The Suspension of Disbelief

2007-07-23T09:12:00.000-04:00

(This was written by a friend of mine, Michael Costello, I thought it was very neat, so he gave permission for me to post it here. Enjoy! ~ Raven)

You know, it's funny but, I know people who would jump at the chance to tell that guy how ridiculous his story was and what a freak he must be, but I run across this stuff all the time and I always ask myself, "What would be the point, besides just generating a lot of hard feelings?"

Some people just don't bother to stop and ask themselves, "What difference does it make how ridiculous a story is?"

It's almost as if they feel like they can't "let someone get away with conning them", because if they're forced to allow their imagination to wander for a moment, it's going to damage their brain somehow.

These are the people who won't allow themselves to have an interest in cryptids or the paranormal and if you were to examine their lives, I'd bet you'd find out that they're suspicious of all the wrong things, anyway.

As a member of unknowncreaturespot , there have been a number of occasions when someone related an experience that even I, with my wild imagination, had a hard time with.

I've given this a lot of thought and the conclusion I've arrived at is that this can go in three different directions.

#1. You can be completely gullible and believe everything that crosses your path, despite all the red flags.

#2. You can be completely suspicious and miss out on a lot that life has to offer.

#3. In cases where it makes no difference and no one gets hurt, you can just run with it.

It's my opinion that, there's gullibility and then there's the "suspension of disbelief", because doing so, hurts no one.

Personally, if someone can tell a colorful story and make it interesting, I don't have a problem with letting my imagination run with it for a moment. Ultimately, it's my decision as to whether I want to believe it or not. Frequently, I do, for no other reason than, it's fun.

Besides, you never know.

It might actually be true. Mike

Michael L. Costello
Copyright (c) 2007

Worming a Rabbit

2007-07-21T13:30:00.001-04:00

As some of you know Mark (my dear friend/brother from Finland) is in the US visiting with us for a month!! We've been having a blast.

Today in fact, we both did something we've never, ever considered doing before. We wormed a rabbit. Yes. A rabbit...

See. My Hellhound was out in the field, hunting, as Mark and I plotted away by the picnic table. Then, we see that the said Hellhound had actually caught something! A bunny to be precise. We saved it, I cleaned it up from Hellhound slobber and realized he (the bunny) was bleeding and it smelled awful. Worse than regular rabbit blood (no, I'm not going to say he was Bunnicula) Turns out he was somehow injured in the foot and maggoty worms infested it. GROSS!

Sooo to make a long story short, Mark and I spent the eve cleaning up the bunny's foot (we call him Herbert now) and pulling maggots out of its wound with tweezers. It was...interesting...I'm happy to say though, that Herbert is doing fine and he hasn't bit me yet...yet. If he did I wonder if I'd become a Bunicula too...or perhaps a weremaggot!

Sandy Lender Doesn't Recommend Quitting Your Day Job

2007-07-21T13:27:00.000-04:00

Sandy Lender Doesn't Recommend Quitting Your Day Job
Or...the joy and insanity of being a writer

By Sandy Lender, fantasy author

Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman University, prides itself on offering a liberal arts education to graduates. I got out in four years with a degree in English and a liberal arts education that has garnered me a 15-year career in magazine publishing and public relations/marketing, but my true passion, the "career" I've nurtured since I was about six years old, is writing. And I don't mean journalism. Yes, journalism and editing are what have paid the bills the past 15 years (and will continue to do so), but fiction writing...oh...fiction writing is what has kept me alive.

It's probably going to be the death of me.

Let me explain. If you're visiting this site, you've probably been drawn here by an interest in books or authors or a writer's lifestyle or something along those lines. Let me give it to you straight. All writers have a touch of insanity about us (this is normal). We usually carry a muse around with us, but this is not always by choice. We complain about characters fighting for their rights, refusing to conform to our wishes in a scene. We go on writing binges that keep us up until 3 a.m. before collapsing next to our computers just to get up and start typing again when the sun blazes in to wake us around 7, skipping meals, showers, potty breaks and phone calls until some aspect of reality forces us out of the writing cocoon. We will tear a room to shreds looking for a pen if an idea has just struck us. And woe to the fool who gets between us and a piece of paper when we get hold of that pen...

Because I've experienced the insanity described above, I've been lifted up by hearing stories of people who have enjoyed my first published novel, Choices Meant for Gods. Now I get to read comments on my Amazon.com page of people claiming Nigel Taiman is "by far" their favorite character, or "I want to be just like Chariss when I grow up," and I feel this lump of pride in my darlings rise in my throat.

That's the joy and insanity of being a writer. You pour your heart and soul into the work; and pray that someone out there likes it, too. Now here's the hard part. People have to read it to like it. They have to know it exists to read it. So you have to get it to them.

Enter the marketing and promoting aspect of the new author's job. I attended the ArcheBooks Publishing's Professional Novelist Workshop about two weeks before receiving my contract for Choices Meant for Gods, and had attended the Naples Press Club Writers Workshop the week before that, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of the marketing nightmare new authors faced. I was ready. Lay it on me, I thought.

Now I'm on the last day of a two-month online book tour I organized myself, contemplating repeating a moderately successful instore book signing at the local Barnes & Noble that I organized myself, and managing six blogs (including www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com) for the promotion of my fantasy novel that I've organized myself, preparing a spate of press releases I've written myself that I'll spew forth like water from an erupting sprinkler next week, etc. Do you see a trend there?

New authors are on their own. Unless you have the few thousand dollars it takes to hire a publicity firm/PR agency to send out press releases for you, you're on your own. I don't have a few thousand stray dollars and I don't trust people who charge less than professional rates to do a professional job.

I take hope in the fact that even J.K. Rowling was once in the same boat I'm in now. She was down to her last food stamp as the story goes when that fateful call came: Her little story about a boy named Harry Potter had been picked up. I've already had my call. Choices Meant for Gods is published and out there. Now I need my lottery winning event to propel me into J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter status, but, for right now, I'm going to just keep writing deep into the night and reading those fabulous e-mails that praise Nigel and Chariss. Because making a living at this would be nice, but, truly, the writing binges that result in someone singing Chariss's praises are the real joy and insanity of being a writer.

I'd like to thank my host today for posting this guest blog article. And I'd like to thank everyone who made the CMFG Online Book Tour the raging success it's been. You know that paragraph above where I said new authors are one their own? I'd like to correct that. We actually have each other. Without each of you, the name Sandy Lender wouldn't be all over the internet right now, and readers wouldn't be one click away from http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1 to pick up my epic fantasy novel. And new author Sandy Lender is grateful to every one of you.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: sandy lender, fantasy author, northeast missouri state university, truman university, liberal arts, journalism, fiction writing, writer's life, muse, choices meant for gods, nigel taiman, marketing and promotion, archebooks publishing, professional novelist workshop, naples press club, online book tour, today the dragon wins, fantasy novel, j.k. rowling, harry potter

This Week's Events

2007-07-13T18:57:00.000-04:00

I'll be doing a book signing at Log Mark Bookstore in Cheboygan, MI with a few other authors. We'll be there from 5p - 7p.

Drop in and visit!

LOG Mark Bookstore

334 N Main St
Cheboygan, MI, 49721
(231) 627-6531

Silver Leaf Ren. Faire

2007-07-13T18:56:00.001-04:00

Silver Leaf Ren. Faire

We spent Saturday at the Silver Leaf Ren. Faire in Battle Creek, MI. We had such a good time my cheeks were sore! Seriously. From smiling and laughing of course. I love Ren Faires but haven't been to one in years and never to the Silver Leaf. It was very impressive. It's mostly set in the woods - so you walk in through the gates and it's like you're transported back in time. Dirt paths, colorful and creative tents - food! all nestled into the forest. They have almost everything there you could possibly want - including 6" pencils made of branches...they're good for more than just writing (oh and get your minds out of the gutter...) we were thinking sneaky weapons.

The people there were just awesome. The story line runs like Camelot. There's Arthur and his court, Knights of the Round Table, Mordred and his skulking band (the Huntress was so fun to watch as she stalked her prey). The Lord Marshall Edward Egglesworth posted proclaimations about fairies - yes there are fairies there! What does he do with them? That my friends, you have to go and see for yourself. There were dryads, pixies and wizards. If you manage to make it there (which I highly suggest) make sure you drop by and catch Robyn the bard's show. He's got quite a talent for filking.

We also met pirates! Imagine that! Kevin the Pirate was right across from us - it was a blast. If you have kids - or know kids - he and his family make wooden swords, axes and shields. Just go straight down the path once you walk in and look to the right, he'll be the pirate telling you that you'd better smile...I wouldn't ask 'or else?' if'n I were you...

There were also a lot of wonderful people there who visited, stopped to chat and in general were having a grand time. There's nothing better than to talk to people who are really enjoying themselves by emersing into a fantasy world.

We were there with the gracious help of Heather, the Vendor Goddess, who managed to sneak me in last minute despite how incredibly busy she must have been co-ordinating the Faire. Thanks Heather!

Thanks to all those who work so hard to put the Silver Leaf Ren Faire on! They go above and beyond so that the lot of us can have fun. They should get boxes of chocolates after all that.

In fact, we're going back. Yes indeed. Purely to glut on the fun this time. Mark is coming with us - he's from Finland - did you know they don't have Ren. Faires in Finland?? Blasphemy I say. Lawren will be there (she's going as a 'Fair Maiden....but don't believe it...she's not as innocent as she looks) and Lain too as a snotty noble. I'm also looking forward to meeting up with a few friends from Battle Creek area that I've met on line but never in person. It's exciting.

We'll be going the weekend of the Jousting Tournament. I was told by the Lord Marshall (with a great amount of glee in his voice by the way) that it's REAL jousting... and not the fake stuff. If you're a fan of knights in shining armor, the International Jousting Tournament is on July 28th -29th.

Annnyway, I think I should stop this rampant post. It's tremendously long but, what can I say, I loved it! Oh and to check out pictures and more info go to their web site there's also some pictures from this year's Faire on my web site.

~Raven

Event - Saturday July 7th - All Day!

2007-07-05T19:10:00.000-04:00

If any of you like Renaissance Faires like I do...(Love them!!) this event might be for you.

This Saturday I'll be at the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire in Battle Creek, Michigan signing my book, Apparitions. It's an all day event - so come early or late to enjoy the festivities. It's their 'Believe the Magic, Live the Legend' weekend - filled with elves, fairies, draaaagons and of course us magic folk!

Pop on by, have some fun and say Hi!

~Raven

4th of July

2007-07-03T14:55:00.001-04:00

4th of July
Category: Writing and Poetry

During the festivities of this Fourth of July weekend, please take a moment to remember - and thank - the brave men and women to whom we owe our freedom. Without their sacrifice and the sacrifices endured by their families, we wouldn't have a day as grand as the 4th.

Remember your freedom
Remember the blood spilled to obtain it
Thank those who are bleeding now to preserve it

For my small part -

Thank you, to the men and women of all branches of our military. May you find the courage you need to continue, the support you need to be successful and may you find your way safely home.

Yours,
~Raven

Interview with Sandy Lender

2007-07-02T09:46:00.000-04:00

Tell us how you got started writing. Was it something you've always wanted to do?
Always. I think I was writing in the womb…
I got started writing because my great grandmother, to whom Choices Meant for Gods is dedicated, encouraged me. When I graduated from the cute little stories about mice picking berries and getting frightened by cats, I started writing books with chapters. But to do that, you need a table of contents. So I used to write books, starting with the TOC, where I very primly wrote in page numbers where I believed each chapter should begin.

Do you have a set writing schedule? How do you balance your writing time with your personal time?
The only real schedule is to get home from work, turn on the computer, and start typing. (although I update www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com every morning like clockwork—that's on a schedule) My writing time is my personal time. My muse shackles me to the desk and away we go!

What would you consider your major life achievements so far?
I'm only 36. So far, my major life achievements would be rescuing a disoriented baby sea turtle near Bonita Beach Road, and seeing Choices Meant for Gods published.

What 5 words most sum you up and why?
Impulsive—I make decisions (a lot of them sound) quickly and firmly
Obsessive—Once I get taken with an idea, I don't let go easily; I've been a Duran Duran fan since 1983, a St. Louis Cardinals fan since 1982, a Charlotte Bronte fan since I first read Jane Eyre
Conservative environmentalist—I am obsessed with protecting sea turtles and our oceans. You'll notice that a majority of Choices takes place at an estate that overlooks the Meredore Ocean; that's not an accident.
Imaginative—I built a fantasy world and have a language for the Ungol that I'll be unveiling in the second book of the Choices trilogy
Exhausted—I get about three hours of sleep a night these days, sometimes four

If you get to Heaven and the gatekeeper informs you that you forgot to do one thing and sends you back to earth to do it, what would that task be?
That's going to depend on when and how Jesus calls me home, but if I get to play around with the space-time continuum, I need to go back to the '70s and do a better job of hiding Grandma's cigarettes. I failed her there. But when I get to the gates, St. Peter will probably tell me I left the stereo on. (And the neighbors are complaining about how loud it is.)

What is your favorite colour and what does it remind you of?
Lavender, of course! Seriously, I've always been fond of purple and lavender, so when I looked at Chariss, I saw her eyes as lavender and I saw the gem on her cheek as an amethyst. Now I find myself surrounded by purple and lavender things because I'm in full-out marketing mode for the book and it's all about her beautiful eyes and that beautiful gem that seals her fate.

Many authors often put traces of themselves into their characters. Which character in Choices Meant for Gods is most like you and why?
You know, I realized when I was working on marketing materials that I'd put poor Chariss through something that I'd been through in my life without realizing it. You see, I was born on Homestead Air Force Base and had moved about 18 times prior to going to college, so I was "on the move" a bit during my childhood. Without realizing it, I put Chariss and Hrazon through that by putting them "on the run" from Drake for 16 years. Now, I didn't have an evil sorcerer chasing me with the intent to kill as I was growing up…

As for characteristics, I've given Chariss some of my cynicism (see the balcony scene in chapter 22), which is a shame, but I think it contributes to her flawed and faulty life view. And she needs that for her overall arc through the trilogy. I think I gave both Chariss and Nigel some of my "just-get-it-done" attitude.

You have also mentioned a…fondness…for Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Has Jane Eyre influenced Choices Meant for Gods?
Go ahead and call it an obsession. The thing is that my obsession isn't just with the novel Jane Eyre—it's with the whole Bronte family. Expensive, let me tell you. I've been informed that my Bronte reference library is more impressive than that of a nearby university library's. I don't have the first edition of Elizabeth Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte, but I have a third edition two-volume set, and I think I'm going to give up and say that's as close as I'm going to get. I was really trying to get that first edition because I wanted the original references to the Cowan Bridge School and Branwell's "affair" with Mrs. Lydia Robinson, which Elizabeth was forced to change after the first edition came out and people started flipping out and threatening her publisher.

Anyway. Your question was how has Jane Eyre influenced CMFG? Greatly…and mostly subconsciously, which I found intriguing, and I'll explain. But Charlotte's life also influenced the novel, and I'll explain that, too.

First of all, Jane Eyre includes a fabulous gothic mansion called Thornfield Hall with a deep, dark secret fastened away inside, protected by its dark and mysterious master. As I wrote CMFG, I realized I painted Nigel Taiman as my Edward Rochester, so I had to be cautious not to mirror the gentleman too closely, but I didn't realize until the novel was complete that Hleo-Arcana mimicked Thornfield.

The moment that I realized I had basically written Rochester's proposal to Jane for Nigel and Chariss (see the balcony scene in chapter 22—it's not a proposal, but it's close enough), I nearly came unglued. I feared the Bronte Society, of which I'm a member, collectively appearing on my doorstep with a cease and desist order of some kind. Needless to say, I did some heavy editing to adjust that scene. The savvy Bronte fan will still recognize it, and probably send me a chastising note unless they realize I adore Charlotte. The Jane Eyre reference that truly caught me off guard, though, and the one that should have been the big, neon, flashing sign, is Chariss's status as an orphan seeking refuge at Arcana and discovering her attraction to the master of the house. How insane am I that I didn't recognize this parallel until years after the novel was complete? I was writing some snazzy text to include on a bookmark for marketing purposes and I referred to Chariss as an orphan, and all those thoughts fell into place.

As for Charlotte's life, there is at least one little piece of the story that brings me this incredibly sad feeling, and it's influenced by Charlotte's real-life experience during her mid-twenties. Charlotte and Emily Bronte had gone to Brussels to study at the Pensionnat Heger when Charlotte was 26 years old (Emily 24) and Charlotte fell in love with her professor M. Constantine Heger. The gentleman, to his credit, appears not to have led her on, for he was married with a gaggle of children. When Charlotte returned to Haworth, she absolutely pined for this man she adored yet could not be near. She wrote to him concerning a boarding school endeavor she and her sisters wished to undertake and he offered her a recommendation, but when her letters became too frequent (or too flowery, who knows?), he wisely suggested she could only write to him once every six months. It was like a punishment to her, and her notes prove it. In CMFG, Abigail Farrier literally pines for Nigel Taiman, living on another continent where she fantasizes and dreams and builds the man into something ultra-heroic that even our amazing Mister Taiman couldn't possibly measure up to. Or could he? Abigail grieves for this man she can't have, and when she finally sees him, finally lays eyes on this creature she's obsessed over for years, she learns that he's on a quest to assist another woman who's essentially preparing for war—and a woman that he intends to marry because he's so much in love. Abigail is crushed. As I wrote those scenes, I could feel Abby's heartbreak and I could feel the influence of Charlotte's experience with her professor.

Where can readers buy your book?
Right now, Choices Meant for Gods can be ordered at any book store you walk into, if it's not sitting on the shelf. I know of three stores in the United States that have it on the shelf, but unless you're near the Borders in downtown Tulsa, the Barnes and Noble in Chesterfield, Missouri, or the Barnes and Noble in Naples, Florida, I can't make any guarantees. But you can always order it online at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781595071651&itm=1 if you want to use your Barnes and Noble membership card. You can also shop online at Amazon to get the free shipping option at http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1.

Tell us about your debut novel, Choices Meant for Gods.
Choices Meant for Gods is an epic fantasy tale about a young lady who's been on the run from a madman all her life. To make it worse, the madman is an evil sorcerer. When Chariss finally chooses to stand and fight, she discovers she's wrapped in centuries of prophecy that demand she protect the gods of her society. It's a tall order for an orphan who doesn't, at first, believe in herself.

But her mentor/guardian wizard believes in her. And that's the dear and tender storyline in the novel. This powerful and amazing wizard Hrazon of Mon'dore, who once collected the four-year-old Chariss when Jamieson Drake murdered her family, and fled with her, has raised her for sixteen years, taught her how to use the geasa, which is a form of "magic" that I created for this world, taught her how to take care of herself, taught her how to survive, and taught her how to fulfill her destiny—to be the protector of an arrogant god that Hrazon doesn’t think deserves his girl's sacrifice.

Of course, it's not as simple as that. She doesn't just stop running from place to place, figure out she's supposed to protect a god, and, pow, we're done with the tale. No. The sorcerer teamed up with an evil goddess as old as time itself and they're coming after Chariss, who, by the way, is no longer a moving target. But where did Chariss stop? She stopped at an impressive, gothic estate on the southeast border of Onweald where her latest benefactress reveals a few secrets...

It's the kind of fantasy story that involves a map, which my amazing artist friend Megan Kissinger provided for me, even though the majority of the action takes place in the same corner of Onweald.

How long did it take you to write Choices Meant for Gods?
It's kind of strange to fix a time on this because I first met Chariss back in about 1982 or '83. I saw her standing on Lord Baine's balcony with her arms open, holding back the curtains, as if embracing the morning. I didn't realize at the time that I was viewing her through the bad guy's eyes. I was seeing her as Jamieson Drake saw her. Drake actually spoke to me before any of the other characters, and neither he nor I knew Chariss's name at that time. So I began meeting the characters and sketching out little ideas and little scenes years ago. It wasn't until 2000 that I sat down and started typing. I pounded out three chapters on the keyboard, printed them—double-spaced, of course—and took them with me to get the tires replaced on my car. Yeah, I had to sit at the mechanic's shop for this interminable block of time one Saturday, and I knew it, so I took the beginning of Choices Meant for Gods with me and just sat there writing like a fiend. They had to think I was crazy… I finished the first book—more than 270,000 words—in June 2003.

How did you get started on Choices Meant for Gods?
The process began when the main female character, Amanda Chariss, appeared to me on her benefactor's balcony. I didn't know it then, but I was watching her from the vantage point of the bad guy that morning. I fell in love with her instantly, which is probably why the dragon in the story cares for her as deeply as he does.

You've stated on your Dragon blog at www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com that there are Old English and Anglo-Saxon themes in Choices Meant for Gods. Can you explain that?
First of all, a lot of the strange words that you can't pronounce (and you're welcome to make up whatever pronunciation you want for them) in Choices Meant for Gods probably start out with an Old English root. All during this online tour, I'm featuring those words in the Word of the Day section on my blog at www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com, so I encourage folks to jog over there to check that out. Words like Wepanchiele and Freotho and Dreorfahn all have meaning other than being a river, a mountain, and an army, respectively.

Next, there are elements of Anglo-Saxon society and literature that are fascinating to me so I couldn’t help but include them in a medieval society like the one Chariss lives in. The mead hall is one item that intrigues me. I love the idea of a bunch of burly ol' warriors gathered around a huge wooden plank of a table slogging down mead and telling riddles and challenging each other to stupid drunken broad-sword fights. So I made a mini-mead hall in the family's dining room at Hleo-Arcana (and hleo-burh is another Old English word). Now, the Taiman family doesn't get rip-roaring drunk and challenge one another to crazy duels, but they do have a huge wooden plank of a table and they gather around it in a sense of camaraderie that makes this author happy.

Then there's the introduction of Sergeant Brendan Naegling. Can any of you visitors guess where his name came from and what his purpose will be?

I've got a Middle English reference to Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde in there as well.
There are other elements, but folks will have to read the book to pick them out.

Sandy's Bio -

2007-06-30T19:00:00.001-04:00

To help us dig for more info!

Sandy Lender began writing stories as soon as she learned to string words together on the page. As a child she entertained the folks in her great grandmother’s apartment building in Southern Illinois with tales of squeaky spiders and mice picking berries, and then won awards with writing projects as she moved through the elementary and high school systems in the St. Louis area. It was apparent that a career in journalism was her calling, and she found herself proofreading, editing, and (finally) writing for trade publications after she graduated from Truman State University in Missouri. Now she writes in Southwest Florida where her love of sea turtles and all things related to the Gulf waters keeps her imagination growing. Her epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods is now available from ArcheBooks Publishing at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm. You can get information about grammar and writing from her main blog at www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com.

If You Missed Her...

2007-06-30T18:55:00.000-04:00

On my myspace blog, don't fear! Sandy Lender will be here (that really wasn't intended to rhyme) on Monday!

Come on over and read her interview, ask questions or just hang.

~Raven

Promo Day

2007-06-21T18:42:00.000-04:00

This Saturday I'll be attending Promo Day. It's a free on-line conference for writers and readers. If you want to see what's new on the shelves from the authors - go to the Promo chat room. If you'd like to talk about the writing industry, go to the Writer's chat.

I'll be hopping around in both!

Hope to see you there :)

~Raven

Nudge of the Week

2007-06-18T17:47:00.000-04:00

Yeees it's back! Now that my computer is somewhat back on track.

Characters are the backbone of any story. Where do they come from? All around us, within us...they walk out from the mists of our minds.

Make a list of the top five personality traits that grate the most on your nerves. Then try to design a sympathetic character who has one of those traits.

Good luck!

~Raven
Author of Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

I Have the Best Friends in the WORLD!!

2007-06-06T18:13:00.001-04:00

Seriously, they are.

Lain spent ungodly hours working on my computer and putting up with my frustration during this entire thing. And he did so cheerfully! I was very impressed. I'd have told myself to shut up and quit moaning about losing writing time several times...(If I were him, which I'm not thankfully). He didn't do anything but try to make it better.

Mark has been working on getting labels done for the massive mailings I've been doing. Putting up with me being cranky while trying to juggle everything while catching the balls I'm missing so they don't bonk me in the head on their way down. And still offering to do more! Amazing. He even called today, which cheers me up any day, and took time to hash out some just for fun plots to play with. Not to mention tell me he had free time this week...

My friend Lawren, sensing I was stressed, ordered me to take a night off and just watch movies. (Good call Lawren!) Then, last night, as I was tired and drained and wondering just what in the world I was supposed to be doing at that moment...she calls me. Telling me about a lady that had picked up my card and was excited about Apparitions. The timing couldn't have been better. Nor the fact that Lawren herself was excited. Something about the excitement of friends makes things look different, less overwhelming. To top it off, after she heard that publishers do little to market a book and that it's, for the most part, on the shoulders of the author - she took pity on me. The kind soul offered to help me with the mountains of Marketing To Dos that have managed to mound up around me.

Sandy Lender (fellow author - I'll be hosting her here for an interview next week - so drop in and ask her questions or talk!) sent me a wonderful email. Unbeknownst to me she sent Apparitions' first chapter to Jamieson Wolf. She also included a few other nifty tidbits! Thanks Sandy!

I was so impressed with all of them. I say 'thanks' and yet it seems so...not enough. But thanks guys! I don't think I could have made it this far without you guys and I'm not sure I could continue onward without your support, nudges (and sometimes boots...) to keep at it. You guys are the best!

AWOL

2007-06-06T18:11:00.000-04:00

If you've been wondering where I've disappeared to...I just managed to get my computer back to par after a worm infested it...and ATE my hard drive. Pretty much wiped out everything, thankfully I have back ups of my writing. Phew. In the good news, I now have a new drive and lots more room for all the info I collect.

On the other hand it's been amazingly frustrating to re-install Windows and all the happy programs that go with it.

Apparitions is Released!

2007-05-26T15:20:00.001-04:00

The two year journey I've had with Apparitions has finally began anew - in print form! I'm happy to say it was released today by ArcheBooks and is available for pre-sale!

To check it out, along with sample chapters, go to the book page here.

They're also offering Apparitions for $6 off the cover price - which is a pretty good deal!

It'll hit Amazon.com, Shocklines, Barns and Noble.com and bookstores at the end of June.

If you read it, please let me know what you think. I believe that readers mold writers and so, your opinions matter!

Enjoy,
~Raven

Apparitions' Cover Art!

2007-05-22T09:27:00.000-04:00

The cover art for Apparitions is set! It's made by the ever impressive, talented Lain, otherwise known as Mr. B, Hashy or the Hubby-type.*drum roll*

Bob, my publisher, made a neat scene for the back too. I don't have that picture though. But imagine a forest shrouded in mist with a nasty dead chick on it. muahah.

____________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks, May 2007)

Nudge of the Week

2007-05-21T13:30:00.000-04:00

Sometimes all our minds need to get fired up and in gear for writing is a little nudge. Each week I'll be posting new nudges that I use to kick my muse in gear and help improve my writing. Feel free to try them out yourself! I repeat them now and again to compare how I did before to how I do now.

Enjoy!

Detail

Good writing involves the ability to not only pay attention to detail, but, to remember those details later. This nudge helps to teach yourself how to absorb details and recall them.

Choose an object, this can be anything you want but try for something you don't always look at. Stare at it for 1 minute and note all the details you can - shape, shadows, texture, smell, etc.

After a minute turn away from it, close your eyes and try to remember it. Write out all the details you can remember. When you can't think of any more, return to the object and see how you did.

Almost...Done

2007-05-17T19:37:00.000-04:00

Galleys are almost done. My publisher, Bob, and I decided to re-do the last chapter. It's muuuch more dastardly than the original. Muahahahahah

When we're done tweaking and editing the final chapter, then off to the printers!

For right now I'm going to go find my eyeballs while Bob checks out the new ending. They seem to have fallen out of my head...so be careful where you step please...

The Galleys Are Here!

2007-05-16T10:06:00.000-04:00

My galleys came last night! YAY!!! I'm editing through Chapter Six and I'll keep at it til it's done. So far I've liked the changes my publisher made - all very good calls.

I have to give a hats off to all the editors of the world...Kudos guys. You must have eyeballs of solid steel. Mine are about to fall out of my head and this is just one manuscript. I can't imagine doing this all day every day.

Anyways I must get back to it. I'll be slow or absent for a few days while I get it done, but I will eventually respond :)

___________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

News From The HWA

2007-05-15T18:08:00.000-04:00

n an effort to promote its members, the Horror Writers Association has launched Dark Whispers, an electronic newsletter aimed at librarians and booksellers.

Dark Whispers will deliver news about new releases from HWA members on a monthly basis. Vanity press publications are excluded from inclusion in Dark Whispers.

To get this project off the ground and gauge interest, Dark Whispers will begin as a Yahoo group.

Although the target audience is librarians and book sellers, anyone is welcome to join the list.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hwa_dark_whispers/

ArcheBookZine!

2007-05-09T18:51:00.001-04:00

My publisher, ArcheBooks, just made an announcement today – they are doing something new and spiffy in the book world! Imagine all the adventures of a book in magazine format (minus the annoying advertisements) and you have the new ArcheBookZine. So check out ArcheBookZines.

Check for all ArcheBooks' titles in the ArcheBookZine format.

And may I take a moment to encourage you to check out John DeDakis' mystery suspense novel, Fast Track, also available in the new format. I've read Fast Track and let me tell you, John's writing is fast! He starts out with a whopper of a beginning (talk about not being able to walk away…) and doesn't let go until the end. So if you like fast, like mystery, suspense and want to know a wonderful character named Lark – check it out!

He's also working on the sequel. If you like Fast Track visit his site and email him…tell him to get the sequel out! (that's a purely selfish request btw…as I want to see Lark again :) )

___________________
About the author:

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Pirates of the Caribbean!!!!

2007-05-07T14:36:00.000-04:00

It's coming out...soon!!! May 25th they say...YAY!!!!!!!

Ok ok...I'll calm down. But I love this series and I've been waiting since Jack was swollowed to see this next one! I might even make Lain take me to go see it in the theater - which we never have done except for the LoTR series. That should tell you how geeked I am.

_________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

GenreCon - News off of LightSpeed PressWire!

2007-05-03T13:11:00.000-04:00

FANTASY SCIENCE FICTION/All Ages/GenreCon 2007/GenreCon 2007 Final List of Panels and Authors

SARNIA, Ont., May 3/LPW – The annual Fantasy Science Fiction Horror gathering, GenreCon, has finalized the list of panels and participants. GenreCon will be held May 12, 2007, at the Sarnia Branch of the Lambton County Library.

Final list of Panels and Panelists:

12 p.m. Genre Jumping a Good or Bad Idea?

Moderator Sarah Zettel, Robert J. Sawyer, Kelley Armstrong, Steve Climer, Jean Rae Baxter

Does writing in more than genre increase or decrease the success of your writing career? If you do jump genres what are the best ways to do it and what are things to avoid? What are some examples of successful and unsuccessful attempts to jump genres?

1 p.m Spear Carriers: The Characters Other Than the Hero

Moderator Jeff DeLuzio, John McFetridge, Peggy Herron, Dennis Collins, Suzanne Church

How are they created? How can they be used to fill out the background of the story giving texture and detail without overwhelming the plot. The writers will talk about where the character came from and how they were developed.

At the end of the discussion the audience can choose a picture, list words describing a person in it and write a paragraph putting the words together and voila: a character is born. At 5:00 PM we will have a follow up where people will then read their paragraphs.

2 p.m. The Art and Science of Evolving as a Writer

Moderator Sarah Zettel, Sylvia Hubbard, Suzanne Church, Peggy Herron, Jake Doherty

In order to improve as a writer you have to practice. What are some of the ways to do this? How can you tell if there is improvement?

3 p.m. Creating an Effect With Your Writing.

Moderator Rick Blechta, Sylvia Hubbard, Caitlin Sweet, John McFetridge, Steve Climer

Many writers strive to create a certain feeling in the reader with their work. How is this achieved and how does it affect the creation of the story.

4 p.m. So How Does it End?

Moderator Dennis Collins, Rick Blechta, Caitlin Sweet, Jake Doherty, Jean Rae Baxter

A good ending leaves the reader satisfied but also wanting more. What kinds of ways can a writer end a story and what are ways to come up with a good ending to your story?

5 p.m. Show and Tell Panel on Characters

Jeff DeLuzio and Kelley Armstrong moderators

Name: GenreCon
Where: Sarnia Branch, Lambton County Library,
124 Christina St. South, Sarnia, Ontario N7T 8E1
Sarnia is one hour north east of Detroit Michigan on I-94 and
One hour west of London, Ontario on the 402.
ConChairs: Jeff Beeler and Ellen Dark

____________________
About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

Bitternest - by Alan Draven

2007-05-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

Fellow horror author Alan Draven's new book has just hit the stands! You can find his book at Amazon.com, Barnsandnoble, Borders and BooksaMillion. It's also available in a PDF form for $6.00.

Here's a brief synopsis:

Synopsis
Bitternest. A Louisiana city of sunken dreams and drunken ambitions. A hidden gateway to hell infused with dark myths and a sinister history where evil lurks in every fog-shrouded corner. A pandemic of avian influenza is slowly crippling the world. Oddly, only this city appears to be resisting, but at what cost? Following a grim discovery, Detective Terry Graves is taken to a secret underground crypt, and thrown into the dark realm of vampires. There he learns that their numbers are dwindling; their only salvation lies in creating an alliance. Together, they must face a new breed of creatures waging war to both man and vampires while a drug lord with a hidden agenda plans the city's downfall. Nothing is what it seems. Terry finds himself drowning in a web of deception. Upon seeking answers, he realizes that something much worse is looming in the city, for an ancient evil has been unleashed-and cannot be stopped.

For more information check out his page here: Alan Draven

_______________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Grave Thoughts Interview

2007-04-24T14:29:00.001-04:00

Greg K. at Grave Thoughts Radio did a wonderful job with the interview we did! He asked some great questions and the music he chose to go with the interview and reading were perfect.

Thanks Greg!

Check it out here and take some time to listen to his other interviews as well!

Grave Thoughts Radio

___________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Appparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Apparitions Reading is Here!!!

2007-04-17T14:11:00.000-04:00

The reading for Apparitions is up and running! dun dun dun! The scene I'm reading in it matches the trailer - so if you listen and then watch the scenes click together nicely.

Two warnings though!!!

This reading streams so when you click it will PLAY! So if you're at work make sure the boss isn't lurking around!

Also, I sound like a dork. But if you manage to get past that the scenes being read are neat :)

So if you're brave...click here: Listen

___________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Friday the 13th

2007-04-13T09:20:00.001-04:00

Eeeeek! I just went through my calendar to see what needs doing today and realized...it's Friday the 13th!

Gah! Stay out of the woods! Lock your doors! Run! To where I don't know but still...

_______________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May/June 2007)

Apparitions' Trailer is Out!!!

2007-04-13T09:14:00.000-04:00

The trailer for Apparitions is done and ready to be viewed!!! Hashy did a fabulous job on it!

Check it out at my web site. To view it scroll down to the bottom of the main page and click on 'See The Trailer'.

__________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May/June 2007)

Meme! Obsessions One at That!

2007-04-06T10:13:00.002-04:00

I got tagged by Sandy Lender, author of Choices Meant for Gods, with a meme. Now...I barely even know what these buggers are! But I'm game to play!

The topic is:

Five things I can admit to being obsessed with:
1) Writing - yes indeed I am. Most people who know me can attest to that! I actually get cranky if I don't write. It's bad...very bad. But it gets the novels turned out!

2.) RP! - I adore RP! It's one of my favorite things to do. Plotting...creating characters...creating creatures and worlds! What can beat that?

3.) Reading - I have a library of books. Seriously. I don't collect dolls, or china or cards or well anything...but books...I'm like a dragon. Rwar! I horde them. Read them...horde them...read them...I'll keep doing it too!

4.) Age of Wonders - It's a fantasy strat. game where you take over the world! (right up my alley!) I play it when I need time to just destroy things and veg out a bit. I like the old version. You know, the one you can't find any more. If my disk ever dies oh my word...there will be rants and steam and smoke and brimstone and...and...yeah...lets hope that never happens!

5.) The Supernatural - I've always had a thing with the supernatural. Ghosts, werewolves, vampires, big foot, magic, lore, sirens, nymphs...you name it. I research them endlessly and create different and new versions of them. Right now I'm creating some custom 'spells' for Book Two in the Bailey Khane Supernatural series - Windigo. Apparitions is book one of course! I keep waiting for someone to blow themselves up with them or get sucked into a void or bring forth hordes of pixies. It's great fun!

Now...there are my five additions! What are yours?

For this game I tag 5 other people and they paste the same question on their site or blog and give their answers. Have fun!

My five vict....ermmm...tagees are:

Bob Gelinas - Author of The Mustard Seed, Dead Man's Run and Anticipation. Publisher at ArcheBooks.

Jonathan Eakin - fellow writer and RPer

M.B Weston - author of A Prophesy Forgotten

Lawren - my fun, fiesty friend

Tracy Cooper-Posey - author of Lucifer's Lover & Silent Knight

____________________
About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

"Living in a Fantasy World" Chat

2007-04-06T10:00:00.000-04:00

Sandy Lender, author of Choices Meant for Gods, is having a live chat about "Living in a Fantasy World". It'll be on Tuesday the 10th at 7pm EST and is hosted by ArcheBooks.

Come join us for some talk and fun!

ArcheBooks Chat Room

___________________
About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

ArcheBooks' Writers Forum!

2007-03-23T14:51:00.000-04:00

My publisher, ArcheBooks, introduced new boards today! We have all sorts of forums where you can talk to authors from fantasy to sci-fi to horror to contempory and self-help.

There's also an area for Conventions, Events, marketing tips, general writing conversation and lots more.

Drop by and check out the forums!

____________________
About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks, May 2007)

Work Out Cheats!

2007-03-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

No, I don't mean cheating by less reps or weaseling out of working out :P

One of the best things you can do for yourself, personally, AND for your carreer is keeping in shape. A rigorous work out routine and a healthy diet give you more energy and brain power than any substitute for it - like high energy drinks, coffee, pop or worse...those energy pills.

So by all means work out and keep working out!

However, here are some ways you can eek writing into your work out -

If you go to a gym turn off your radio on your way to and from the gym. Use the time driving to ponder your plots, characters, twists or promotions.

Use timers. If your workout can be timed instead of having to count reps by all means do it. This frees your mind to ponder!

Take full use of video and DVD workouts. Once you run through a workout a few times with the people on the screen you can put yourself on autopilot. I do this a lot...I tune out what the instructor is saying (I've already worked through the program a few times - so I don't need the repeat), visually follow their movements and allow myself to delve into my characters, hash out the days writing (I usually work out in the morning), work through plot issues or ponder new promotions for Apparitions.

Give it a shot and see how much time for writing you can swindle in during your workout!

____________________
About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Grave Thoughts

2007-03-15T19:41:00.000-04:00

I've got exciting news! Greg from Grave Thoughts will be hosting me on his show on April 10th. There will be a short reading from Apparitions and an interview. He seems like a really interesting guy and I can't wait to talk with him.

In the meanwhile, check out his site and listen to the other authors and artists he has featured including - Steve Vernon, Gary Braunbeck and Scott Nicholson.

______________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Re-Casting

2007-03-13T13:47:00.000-04:00

I'm often asked by writers -

"What do I do if I'm stuck?" or "What's wrong when I get stuck?"

My answer is usually there's something wrong either with the characters (wrong ones or the right ones were forced to do the wrong thing etc.) or the plot went awry or there's an opportunity (scene, elaboration etc.) that's missing.

The first one is what just happened to me with the new horror / suspense novel I'm working on - Windigo. Now, see, with my horror novel Apparitions (ArcheBooks, May 2007) I started with a very strong set of characters, a hint of a plot and let plot develope from there. With Windigo it's the opposite. I started with a strong plot and a vague idea of the characters. It also didn't help that I changed the slant of the plot several times without thinking to re-cast.

So I sat...and sat...and pondered why it was none of my scenes were fitting. I couldn't jump start the story. It was all flat. Bleah.

Then I remembered my own advice and went through the plot. Nothing wrong there. Then the characters...and the AH HA! moment hit. A few of my characters were definately off and, as they stood, had no real role in the story. I was trying to make them fit and that just wasn't working.

I've since re-casted oh...4 of them, tweaked their bios and gave them new jobs. Now the subplots are coming along nicely and the plot is falling into place.

So next time you're stuck try seeing where things got off track and even if it takes some time and some changing - fix it! It'll be worth it in the end.

_____________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Time Change

2007-03-08T07:01:00.000-05:00

[Start Public Service Message] This is a warning. This is real and not a test. Starting this Saturday at Midnight (our beloved hour even...blasphamy...) the clocks turn forward by one hour. Yes. We lose one hour of darkness. Find and prepare your shelters now! Again, this is not a test........This has been a public service message from the dark side.[/End Public Service Message]

________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

Improved Method

2007-03-05T10:08:00.001-05:00

On my web site I mentioned that I'll be using a new method with Windigo (horror / suspense) than I have with my previous two novels - Apparitions (horror / suspense) and Night Wing (dark fantasy). Here's a brief summary of the new system -

All characters (big and small) are written out on 3x5" cards.
Each character with major to moderate roles are color coded with different markers
Each character with minor roles are color coded all in yellow.

I'm keeping a running set of cards on 'Detail' - ie the details of the fictional town I've created for Windigo.

Each scene or sequel is written out on a card and color coded in the VP (view point) character's color. Included on the card is a list of details (sensory type stuff - this addition is thanks to M.B Weston), list of actions, brief summary, list of emotions and most importantly the RESULT (effect) of the scene.

Working with a cause and effect system I list out each scene and sequal, make a calendar allotting for when each happens in 'fiction time'. Then I break these cards into chapters usually consisting of 4 average sized VPs or up to 7 short ones.

Then all of these are placed neatly into an index file with appropriate segments ie - Characters, Details, Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and so forth.

On top of this file I keep a 3 pronged folder with print outs of the major characters' bio sheets, intensive write up of the area and general plots (broken into the main plot and the various sub plots).

Annnnd I keep a spiral notebook (usually a matching color - I lean heavily to purple ;) ) where I do my bubble charts, notes and various other doodling.

It seems intensive but for anyone that's taken on a novel length work organization is key! Or in my case, organised chaos...

So this is my new system. Once Windigo is out you can let me know if it worked!

____________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

World Fantasy Convention '07

2007-03-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

I just got an email from the WFC - their hotel rooms are already half full. If you're planning on attending please book your room soon!

For more info contact them here

___________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

Dun Dun Dun

2007-03-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

I had a great interview with our Undersheriff yesterday. He helped me out quite a bit with honing details for Windigo. It was very exciting and I can't wait to get all of this on paper now!

Outlining and Character write ups start today. 'course the kids have the day off of school because of the ice storm heading our way. So we'll see how far it actually gets...

___________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Snow snow snow...GAH

2007-02-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

We got dumped on here in Michigan. Lots of snow and wind...

Right now I'm plotting Windigo, a horror suspense novel. So this is actually good, it gives me an excuse to not do the errands in town and instead bundle up, get cozy and work on plotting! :D

___________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

New Web Site Design!

2007-02-25T15:35:00.000-05:00

Whoever works on web design for a living is an angel or demon...in either case they possess unearthly powers of patience.

After lots of trial and error we present the new and greatly improved Raven Bower web site!

Take a gander. It's design has been spiffed up and 98% of the content is available. There are some links to horror sites, Halloween sites and other fun stuff.

_____________________
About the author:

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Att: Authors

2007-02-19T11:03:00.001-05:00

If you're a fellow author please consider attending the Book 'Em program. If you can't make it they accept donations of books from authors and publishers. It's an annual Book Convention that donates its proceeds to literacy programs.

____________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks May 2007)

Night Wing

2007-02-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

The first book in a dark fantasy trilogy I wrote is now off to my publisher, ArcheBooks. To get a slight gist of the style it's fantasy meets horror…or horror meets fantasy…depending on how you view it :)

I didn't even try to keep the creepy, horror slant out of this one. I've given that up and no...not just for Lent...forever! It's something that will be present in all of my work from hence forth.

It's written in the fantasy world of Farath and is rife with evil creatures and dastardly plots!

Keep your fingers crossed for it!

I'll update as I get news.

_____________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

Free E-book

2007-02-15T11:53:00.000-05:00

My publisher is offering a free e-book to anyone that visits their web site. So take a gander - you just might find some neat new authors!

ArcheBooks

__________________
About the author -
Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks 2007)

Boards at Horror World

2007-02-15T09:46:00.000-05:00

Nanci at Horror World was kind enough to create a message board for me. Thanks Nanci :)

For those of you who'd like to take a gander check them out here - Raven's Board

While you're there check out the other boards. There's a lot of authors, publishers and places for general talk on writing -- particularly horror of course!

__________________
About the author -
Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

Annnnd It's Done!

2007-02-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

Night Wing is complete and done! YAY!!!! Finally.

I wound up changing the ending and adding a few more nasty surprises :)

The extra work of editing through it for the nth time and honing it even finer has paid off! At least according to the final readers which is what matters to me!

Thanks guys for all your support and help. Not to mention kicking me for doing silly things in it.

So as far as this Dark Fantasy goes I'm calling it good. I'll be contacting my publisher to see if he's interested. Hopefully he will be and we can get it into your paws soon. If not it'll be sent off to find another home. Either way I'll keep you guys updated.

_______________________
About the author -
Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

ITW Contest

2007-01-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun contest from the International Thriller Writers --

150 Thrillers!

It's a thriller lover's dream - the chance to win 150 novels by some of the biggest and best thriller authors in the business. That's right, 150.

Imagine receiving books written by Joseph Finder, Tess Gerritsen, John Lescroart, Gayle Lynds, and David Baldacci for free. Then multiply that by thirty, because they represent only five of the 150 books you will receive if you're the winner in the International Thriller Writer's "150 Thrillers" contest.

The best part? Just by entering you'll begin receiving the free ITW newsletter, a monthly email newsletter that contains loads of information about upcoming thriller novels, thriller authors and thriller news.

All you have to do is go to www.150Thrillers.com, or email contest@150Thrillers.com before February 15th and sign up to get the free ITW newsletter. That's it.

Once you've subscribed, you're entered. The winner will be picked randomly from all entrants, and will receive 150 thriller novels from some of the top novelists writing today. Three runner-up entrants will each receive a copy of the 2006 Thriller Anthology, edited by James Patterson. But really, everyone who signs up to receive the ITW newsletter is a winner.

So go on, sign up. You know you want to.

Please note: one entry per person, and, as usual, ITW will not share your email information with anyone.

For further information, contact M.J. Rose at MJRoseAuthor@aol.com

Print Print Print

2007-01-03T10:31:00.000-05:00

Well the readers are done with Night Wing and thus far feed back has been great!

Thanks to those of you that took the time and effort to help me in this newest adventure -- Greg, Mark & Jas. A special thanks to Lora for her excitement after reading the first half -- it really helped to get my rear in gear on the rest of it.

I've printed out the hard copy and am final editing through that. All I can say is wow. It's amazing how different things look in print than on the computer screen. I find myself saying...

"We've been through this five times and never caught that!?"

So this week's tip is -- no matter how done you think you are print your story and go through it again. Snuggle into your favorite chair and get cozy with those old-fashioned red pens. Chances are a lot managed to slip by you in the electronic version that you...and editors...will note in the final copy.

______________________
About the author -
Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

Apparitions Blog

2006-12-28T10:19:00.000-05:00

The time has come to say farewell to 2006 and usher in 2007! YAY! 2006 was a rough year for us and I can't wait to kick its arse out the door.

Sticking with tradition I've concocted a list of New Year's Resolutions. I find that if I use the word 'will' instead of 'I'll try' etc. and keep things doable it's easy to obtain most if not all of your goals.

So for 2007 I WILL:

Spend more time with positive friends and family members
Support hubby in his artistic endeavors
Work more with the kiddos
Do my best editing job on Apparitions and get it out to you
Find a home for Night Wing
Have Windigo done by November
Continue to learn and grow in my chosen fields
Work out regularly so I can be around to write for a good long while

________________________
About the Author -
Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

Apparitions Blog

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

The Christmas season is here and we're close to heralding in a new year! Such a grand time of year!

We're going to be doing the family thing and visiting a dear friend of mine that I haven't seen in two years. And she's pregnant with her first baby. How wonderful is that? I can't wait to see the belly!

In other good news my second novel, the first in a fantasy series -- Night Wing -- is finally done!!! YAY! Due to a hectic year in our family most notably the deaths of three dear family members, it took me a lot longer to complete than I had planned for. But it is now done and the final reader is red-penning it. After that I'll print it, go through it in hard copy again and make corrections. Then it'll be ready to go!

Which means I might have time to actually read a novel over Christmas holidays! I'm so excited! I haven't read a novel since Koontz's last Frankie came out.

Anyway, have a Merry Christmas! Enjoy your company, enjoy the food and drink! The season isn't about worrying about your waist line!

Cheers!
~Raven

_____________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

Apparitions Blog

I believe...

2006-12-10T16:02:00.000-05:00

That the term 'ignorance is bliss' is way off mark. I happened across this link at Writer's Market -- take a gander.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/books/07pync.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin

I find it truly astounding that the article against McEwan ever found its way to print. Plagiarism is indeed vile and should be stomped ruthlessly when found. However, there is a vast difference between plagiarism and the results of research and proper writing of procedures.

Writers research everything from police procedures to hospital procedures and so on. If the topic is touched on in the novel chances are the writer has spent time researching it. That said, there are realistically only so many ways things are done in this world. Must writers have to incessently find 'new' ways to describe them? If so then not only would our fiction read like tripe but it'd confuse the hell out of readers -- particularly those who do know how things work in a given field.

In this instance, Mr. McEwan is accused of plagiarism because he describes the techniques that a period hospital uses. Without creating such absurdities such as 'He jumped twice, turned in circle, doused the bandage in fuel from an alien ship and then smacked it on his patient' there truly are only so many ways you can apply a bandage.

I find this modern plague of finger pointing and court trials over such flimsy cases of plagiarism disturbing.

Face it folks, nothing 'original' or 'authentic' has been written since the bible and if we include verbal storytelling…nothing new since we learned how to speak. Since days untold writers have been building off of the research and imagination of other writers. Nothing is created from a vacuum and that certainly includes fiction.

____________________

About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

Apparitions Blog

Stress'n

2006-11-28T18:38:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine made a post elsewhere asking what others do to relieve stress. Here's my answer to his question --

I think the first step towards dealing with stress is accepting its reality and accepting the knowledge that it will grow the older you get and the more responsibilities and freedom you get. The same applies when particularly stressful times arise. For example this next 12 months for us is going to be a time of very high stress and nearly zero 'play time'. We have to accept that and realize that once the goals get met then the stress will start to ebb and time will free up for a bit. Without that acceptance the time of stress seems like an infinite black hole and that only compounds the stress.

I used to write to de-stress. Although I still love writing and couldn't live without doing it...once you add in those deadlines and it becomes a career instead of relaxation or 'experiment' time the ball game changes. Writing still works, to a limited degree, to vent -- particularly the articles I write for the blogs. Or those wonderful, choice moments when the story is flowing so well and it's so vivid that deadlines, commitments and marketing fade to nothingness.

Another thing that works well for me with stress is using that negative energy like I use the negative energy of anger -- aim it at positive goals. I ran into 3 really mean book store owners last week that were so rude they left me staring at the phone with that "wow. When's the last time they had a BM?" look. It took my stress level from already high to sky rocketing. I had to be in this area at this particular time and all the owners were treating me like some form of flesh eating bacteria. I turned the stress into anger and aimed it at the problem. Researched the area more found other stores, fired my proposals at them and landed 3 more signings. To the other peeps I say...

If the stress comes from lack of time I find that stepping back from activities helps. Cut out any unnecessary things to free up time to work on what you need done. Trips are nice. Gaming is nice. Hanging out is nice. Visiting is nice. Partying is nice. Goofing off is nice. Playing games is nice. But if they aren't necessary to your goal then cut them for a while and see how much time that frees up for you to accomplish your goal. Once your goal is met and the stress is off then pick them back up as seen fit.

Sometimes all that's needed is a bit of blow off time. This is usually the case when you've been working on something for so long your brain is mush, you feel like the blob and you can't decipher the ground from the sky. In those cases I set up a limited amount of time to just 'blow off'. This is time you just wantonly waste on brainless movies, video games or whatever it is you want to do. But do note the 'limited'. The idea is to blow off enough stress and relax enough to get back to obtaining your goal. Any more than that and you can go backwards in your goal which again compounds stress. As well as guilt for not getting done what was needed or promised.

Anyway, those are the primary modes I use to destress and get back on track. And using them helps to keep me from being a danger to others :D

__________________
About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming Horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks April 2007)

Apparitions Blog

2006-11-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

Take a few moments out of the hectic Holiday rush to give thanks for all your blessings. It's what Thanksgiving is about!

I think my dentist has a fabulous idea too. Instead of promising yourself you won't stuff yourself this holiday season...just admit that it'll happen and have fun! Eat and enjoy! It's better than feeling down on yourself or guilty about the fun and good times you had.

Just increase your activity for the next month by a few minutes a day and your body will never know you splurged.

__________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

'Finding' Time to Write

2006-11-19T22:18:00.000-05:00

I don't think any writer finds the time to write. They make it.

Life is filled with choices -- large and small -- and it is our choices that determine what we're able to do. Throughout my time writing Apparitions there were countless other distractions I could have occupied myself with. I chose not to.

I don't watch T.V so that is never an issue for me. I have a great fondness for movies though and will watch them by the dozens if allowed to. Since most people won't reign you in, you have to do it yourself. So unless I'm in-between projects (which hasn't happened in almost 2 years) I set aside Friday nights as my movie night. That's the only time I watch anything.

There are many things I've given up that I enjoy in order to dedicate myself to a career in writing while juggling hubby, kids, hell hound time, fitness, family, community and social obligations. As hard as it is to say 'no' to the desire to wonk out on Age of Wonders or watch the newest horror film that's hit the stands…I don't regret any of it.

To me the sacrifice is well worth it. The question I would pose to potential writers that ask the 'How do you find time to write' question is -- what is it worth to you?

If writing is a high priority then cut everything that you don't absolutely have to do and use the time that frees up to write. If you can't do that then writing isn't really that important to you and that's ok. It doesn't have to be. Just work with the hours you can manage to eek in between everything else. Just don't complain about it…because you could change it if you wanted to.

__________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

Where Do Fiction Ideas Come From?

2006-11-10T10:10:00.000-05:00

Everywhere.

The old saying that a writer is always working is true. A writer is never truly off the clock. We're notorious people watchers -- constantly gathering information (mostly without even realizing it) for future characters. So whenever we're around other people be it at a party or sitting in a restaurant details are being stored away on notepad or brain. These details are anything from an interesting eye color to a particular way a person holds their fork to a strange pattern of speech. Anything and everything.

That is one of a writer's most valuable tools -- observation.

Eavesdropping, intentionally or not, often brings about very interesting subplots or twists. I gleaned one twist for the sequel to Apparitions -- Windigo -- (also a horror / suspense novel) by overhearing a snippet of a rant. I wasn't intentionally listening but managed to walk by at the right time to hear just enough to make a nice 'what if'.

Some writers get ideas from newspapers. Personally I never read the things unless an article title hits me in the face and I can't resist.

Glancing through magazines at doctor's or dentist's offices. These are a treasure trove of character ideas, stories or histories. Sometimes stories.

Catalogs -- yes, believe it or not. I'm going to leave the piece of jewelry I saw a mystery, as I'm using it as a basis for a future plot. But, I will say I got a nice nugget for a plot from browsing through a catalog and finding a neat piece of jewelry…to which the 'What If' engine started churning.

Dreams. I had a vivid nightmare last night actually that will go into my book of Notions to be hammered into a plot. Though it disturbed my sleep and hubby's (he heard me and woke me up) I think it was worth it. I get a lot of my plots and subplots this way, usually for my horror stories.

General observations. This one is in a tie with dreams as a plot source. Driving or walking along in life often brings about the most astounding 'What Ifs'. Anything from an eerie looking tree to a strange house to a paper floating aimlessly. Anything can cause that germ of an idea to sprout.

In the end all of it comes down to an open mind, observation and the willingness to let your mind play with the mundane and concoct new and strange tales.

__________________
About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror / suspense novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

Dispelling The Myths

2006-11-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

Myth: "Once I sell a book I'll have it made…money will just roll in!"

Truth: I get this attitude from people a lot. A woman contacted me this past week asking me questions on publishing. She had this idea (a good one) for a non-fiction series but she'd made all her plans based on the first one gaining her enough money for her husband to quit work and them and their family travel around the US in a brand new RV. Mind you, she also expected this windfall to happen right now and huffed about the time it took publishers to go through manuscripts and time from acceptance to print.

Anyway, this woman fell under the common misconception that simply writing a novel and getting it published is cause for millions of dollars of royalties to flow your way. I can understand where they get this idea -- Hollywood promotes it and there are those 'over night' wonders that manage to hit on the right idea at the right time and make it big. But remember, Hollywood films are fiction just like any horror story (only scarier in how they function…) and while becoming an overnight success is possible, banking on it is like putting stock in winning 30 million in the next lottery game. More than a little unrealistic.

Here are the facts --

As a new author very few people, if anyone, will know your name. Therefore there aren't going to be swarms of people clamoring for stores to carry your book.

Booksellers are in business for themselves -- that is to make a profit. They will only carry titles that they feel certain will sell and thus give them that profit.

That taken into account and given that the average bookstore has limited shelf space and hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from -- take your own guess at how likely it is they'll order a book from an author they know nothing of when they can have almost guaranteed sales by stocking the 'big names'.

Given the stats that only 2% of titles sell over 5,000 copies and your average royalty is 5%…I think you'll see how this idea of publishing a book equating to instant millionaire is way off.

Don't get me wrong, a writer should want to make a profit, as much as they can in fact, just like any other professional. However, if you're writing ONLY for the money thinking that it's an easy buck -- go try something else. Play the stocks, play the lottery and you'll have better chances with a lot less work.

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About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror / suspense novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

2006-10-31T09:14:00.000-05:00

For those who love to create the thrill and chill of fear! For darklings, strangelings, the morbid and the imaginative --

Have a grand time on this most hallowed of holidays!

Perhaps take some time out and read a ghost story or better yet, read it to someone else too.

_________________

About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

Do You Outline?

2006-10-28T18:53:00.000-04:00

When people discover that I'm an author -- especially those with an interest in writing -- they usually ask if I use an outline or not and if so what it includes.

Currently the answer is yes…and no.

In my first horror novel, Apparitions, I created an outline for a straightforward suspense / thriller. If you visit the blog for Apparitions you'll see how that little adventure turned out. But to make the story short, it went through two different outlines and then ended with none.

In the next project I started with no outline at all and found that didn't work either. Without some idea of what the next goal was the story kept branching off into areas that it shouldn't or couldn't without bringing the plot to conclusion too quickly. It ended up with an outline and with a few shifts and adjustments went well.

Now I start writing a new project by first using 3" x 5" cards and markers. I then give each character with a Point of View (PoV) an assigned color. After that I write up a card for each major scene that I know must happen for the character(s) to reach their goal(s) and color in the upper left hand corner of the card with the PoV. This color system may seem like extra work at first but let me assure you…when you have a lot of characters and you're working with a novel length project not coding them becomes a major mess. Coding them allows you to see who you're supposed to be in at any given time and allows you to balance out scenes according to which character you want to focus on.

Then for each scene I think of logical 'what ifs' and list them, finally choosing the most appealing idea I came up with and make a card for those.

And so on.

Then I arrange these into piles that generally equate the chapters.

I've found when I set these cards out in front of me while working I can retain focus on the character I'm in and what the ultimate goal of each scene is.

Now…do I stick with this order? No. The order changes and scenes get their PoV re-assigned if I find a different character would have more interesting thoughts on the matter than the original character. Scenes get juggled in sequence, added or deleted. It's all a part of the growing novel and growing characters. As they say about life 'The only constant is change' so it goes with the lives of your characters and your novel.

In fact, if I found a novel went smoothly from my original lay out to end…I'd be concerned.

If you're a writer and wondering which technique will work best for you my advice is to try them all and see. Each writer is different and what works for one might not work for another. Read some books on plotting and making scenes and chose what appeals to you.

__________________________

About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

To Co-Author or Not to Co-Author

2006-10-27T13:12:00.000-04:00

That is the question…

And that question can be answered by asking yourself a few different questions --

Are you fanatical about being in control of the plot, characters and flow of the story?

Do you think your ideas and concepts surpass all others and you aren't open to changing them?

Do you have problems accepting criticism?

If you answered yes to any of the above save yourself and all those in ranting range the frustration and stick to writing solo.

If you answered no to the above questions and are interested in writing with another author then by all means give it a try. At best you'll have a saleable novel and a lot of fun. At worst you'll, hopefully, recognize early on that it just isn't working out and go back to writing solo. Assuming you haven't caused severe damage to your partner -- you're no worse off for trying.

Okay, so you've decided to try it. What next?

The most important part of making a co-authorship work is choosing the right partner. Just because you get along personally with another writer doesn't automatically mean you can work well with them. I know many brilliant, creative writers that I have fun with…but couldn't pull off a novel with. Nine times out of ten it's because they're the types to answer 'yes' to the questions above.

Once you find a writer that you get along with and passes the test of the first three questions don't consider you're choice made. Make certain you are both on the same page by asking him/her and yourself a few more questions, make sure you both agree.

Is this a project purely for fun or for eventual print?

Are you both equally reliable?

Do your voices match well enough?

Are you both able to write in the genre you are proposing?

Do you trust each other?

If you find a writer that you agree with on all points, then congratulations! You're off on a fun and memorable journey.

As for how you work your co-authorship…that's up to the two of you. The most common ways I know of are --

The one I call the 'back and forth' style -- first author writes the first draft then the second author takes it and does the re-write. After which they both sit down and do a final third…or fourth…or fifth draft.

Role-play style (my preferred choice) -- each author has their character(s) and the novel is first role-played out. Then a solid POV is chosen for each segment and the author in control of that character re-writes the drafts for their character's segments. Each edits the other's work.

Whether you choose solo, co-authorship or a mix writing is a grand and gratifying career. Enjoy it and good luck!

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About the Author

Raven Bower is the author of Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Raven is currently working on several writing projects including a fantasy novel Depths of Sin, co-authored with Markus Niemi

Apparitions Blog

Words of Thanks

2006-10-25T19:02:00.000-04:00

No one gets where they are alone. Though writing is considered a solitary venture -- just the writer and their ghosts -- once you start that venture you quickly realize it is not solitary at all. True enough, if you want to write purely for your own pleasure and your own eyes (which is great too) it can be quite the solitary art. If however you write as a part of your life and for readers - to see them shiver, to watch them smile, to hear their hearts pounding out of their chests…then that is a career.

As in any career choice you need a support network. It is essential that your family and friends understand and back your choice. Those special people are rare and when you find them -- keep them and thank them often.

Although everyone in my life has contributed to who and what I've become I'll note a few special ones here. They aren't in any particular order…so just shush.

Greg - My husband, without him I don't think I'd be anywhere near where I am today. He's always there to work through plot kinks, character issues and editing. Without him quite a few of my computers and indeed perhaps the entire world wide web would have exploded from me attempting to use code or create pages…so so not good.

Mark - My brother, perhaps not by blood but of the spirit. He's always there to point out where a plot or character has gone wrong. He's my best editor and soundboard as well as my co-author for one completed work and another upcoming.

Bob (Robert) Gelinas - Publisher of ArcheBooks for having faith in me and new voices in the publishing world. Not to mention kindly tolerating my constant questions.

Jas - Even though he's a pessimist…he still prods me on and continues to be a great friend.

Jon - For not only his friendship but also his insistence that I could do this. (Might have something to do with the innate stubbornness of the Irish)

Chris, Eden, Curtis - for all the fun times, for joining in our world and working together to make grand plots and schemes.

_____________________

About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Apparitions Blog

A Writing We Will Go!

2006-10-25T14:25:00.000-04:00

Post upcoming

In the meantime, feel free to post, comment, question or hang and have fun!

~Raven Bower

Apparitions