New Post over at Nerdiquette 101

My most recent post is over at Nerdiquette 101.

Extricating Yourself from Uncomfortable Situations

Nerdiquette 101 is a movement started by three women who all had "that guy" encounters at a science fiction convention in 2012.

Today's post is called "Extricating Yourself from Uncomfortable Situations" and offers a short list of suggestions for removing yourself from situations that make you uncomfortable.

I hope you enjoy!

Guest Post: Gail Z Martin

As part of Gail's Days of the Dead blog tour, she kindly offered to stop by my blog!

The Con-Going Writer

I met Tera at a con--I'm guessing many of you did, too.  In fact, I run into Tera at several cons each year.  Sci-fi conventions are part of the fun of being a fan or a writer, and every con I go to offers the opportunity to learn something new, meet fantastic people, hang out with other authors, and see new places.  That's why I'm a con-going writer.

Writing is a fairly solitary affair.  Once in a while you come up for air to connect with beta readers, agents and publishers, but most of them time is spent inside your own head.  My dogs make sure I get exercise, having an uncanny ability to smell the exact moment when I have gotten a great idea, at which point they need to go out to the back yard.  But on the whole, writing isn't a social activity.

Genre conventions are a way for me to include that social piece into my writing life and not get thrown wholly off track.  I've attended many panel discussions on historical or scientific topics and come away with new ideas for plots, characters or story twists.  I've learned a lot about the industry by sitting down for coffee or a drink with other authors and listening to what they're working on, how their relationship with a publisher or agent is going, or what new project they're developing.  In the new world of hybrid careers and professional self-publishing, I've learned a lot about how other folks are successfully creating their own ebooks or print runs, sourcing artwork, and finding the best software. 

Talking with readers is just as instructional.  It's good to hear from the other side of the desk, to find out what people are reading and why, what they're tired of, what they want more of.  Yes, it's anecdotal, but it's still outside input, and if you go to enough cons in a year (and I do), all that anecdotal information sifts together to form trends.

Cons are also places to get contracts.  I've come home from many a convention with a contract or an invitation for a short story in an anthology, and I enjoy talking with editors and publishers of all sizes of publishing houses because I learn something from every conversation.  Good relationships eventually open doors.  Besides, it's nice to talk shop with other people in the business who actually understand the highs and lows--writing is a strange occupation.

Going to cons also gives me plenty of grist for the social media mill, with photos to post on Facebook, bon mots to tweet on Twitter, and new ideas for blog posts.  Sometimes, I end up tagged in someone else's post, which is cool too.  And on many occasion, I've landed a magazine, blog or podcast invitation just by showing up.

Most of all, cons are an opportunity to reconnect with friends and meet new ones, talk about the fan stuff other people don't understand, shop the dealer room, and stretch your creative muscles.  All the more reason to be a con-going writer!

Come check out all the free excerpts, book giveaways and other goodies that are part of my Days of the Dead blog tour!   Trick-or-Treat you way through more than 30 partner sites where you'll find brand new interviews, freebies and more--details at www.AscendantKingdoms.com.

Ice Forged will be a Kindle Daily Deal with a special one-day price of just $1.99 only on October 31!  Get it here: http://amzn.com/B008AS86QY

Reign of Ash, book two in the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga launches in April, 2014 from Orbit Books.  My new urban fantasy, Deadly Curiosities, comes out in July, 2014 from Solaris Books. I bring out two series of ebook short stories with a new story every month for just .99 on Kindle, Kobo and Nook—check out the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures or the Deadly Curiosities Adventures.

About the author: Gail Z. Martin is the author of Ice Forged in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga and the upcoming Reign of Ash (Orbit Books, 2014), plus The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven & Dark Lady’s Chosen ) from Solaris Books and The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn  and The Dread) from Orbit Books.  In 2014, Gail launches a new urban fantasy novel, Deadly Curiosities, from Solaris Books. She is also the author of two series of ebook short stories: The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures and the Deadly Curiosities Adventures.  Find her at www.ChroniclesOfTheNecromancer.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com.

30 Days hath September...

So it’s suddenly September. Hard to believe how fast the summer has flown by.  I had a blog already for August but then in between Vacation and school starting for the Geeklet…I kind of forgot to post it.  So here’s the scoop.

In writing news…

I spend the entire month of July attempting to write 250 words every day.  I had success in  that I managed to write every day!  I did miss the word count once, though.

Least written: 163 words

Most written: 1000

Total word count: 13,901

Overall, having the goal of tracking the word count and posting it to FB at least semi-regularly was good.  I appreciated the positive feedback I got from folks as I posted them.   

It was also interesting because I spread the writing around.  I worked on my short stories, my urban fantasy novel and blog posts.  I also counted some “new” words around the recap of the gaming sessions. Mainly because even though I take notes during our game sessions and basically just rewrite them, I also tend to include some character thoughts. I counted those as new words. J

I definitely think I’ll go back to counting in September.

I also got the first chapter in the Steampunk novel back from an editor!  So now it’s time to send the rest to be edited in terms of getting it publishable. J 

I also had another short story accepted for publication.  It’s by a very, very small press called KYStories that focus on Southern Writers and Stories.  My short story, Fires within the Blank Page, is included. 

http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B00EQNFDQS/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

This was an interesting story.  It got its start in an older writing group prompt.  The characters are mostly named after friends.  And the heroine and main Witch’s names were sourced via Facebook.  Special thanks to Misty Massey and Amy Wilkinson Ware for providing the names.

How many times/Do we swallow our ambitions 
Long to give up the same old way/Find another road to take 

Keep holding on so long/'Cause there's a chance 
That we might not be so wrong/We could be down and gone 
But we hold on 

~Rush, We Hold On

Movie Influences

We’ve talked before about how books and music influence my writing, but inspired by today’s post over at Mythic Scribes, I thought I’d talk about what  Antonio del Drago describes as “which fantasy movies have had the greatest impact on my writing, and why they are so meaningful.”

These aren’t in any particular order.

Labyrinth.   The music, the book reflecting the real world, the music, Jim Henson’s puppets, the music, the story about being yourself, did I mention the music?  Labyrinth probably helped define my love of the fantasy genre as both escapism and transformation.  It is one of those movies where the heroine realizes it’s okay to grow up and okay to still want for “childish” things.  Somewhere in my house I have a bumper sticker that reads…”I break for Unicorns.”  I’ve had it for more years than I can count, but it, like Labyrinth for me, is symbolic of it being okay to dream/to believe in the impossible.   And, yes, I had the biggest crush on David Bowie in that movie.  And the music!!!

Star Wars.  Now, obviously, Star Wars is a space opera, not a fantasy, but for the purposes of impact on writing…I have to keep it on the list.  Star Wars is all about the Hero’s Journey.  At the same time, it tells the story of someone accepting responsibility for “something greater than self.”  I find that a lot of my short stories and novel work focus on transformation.  I think a lot of that came out of Star Wars.  I think it’s one reason Han is one of my favorite characters.  He really moves from something of a mercenary pain in the @$$ to someone who believes in helping others and the cause, even if he is going to be grumpy about it.

The Princess Bride.  This is another one where the book and movie intersect.   For me, this is a love story.  It has Kisses! It is about overcoming adversity to be with the one you love.  I’ve read the novel and interestingly enough, I still find the movie to be more impactful.  I don’t know if it’s the cast or what… but the movie is one of those that I can stop and watch any time it is on.  It has a great ensemble cast.  While most of my stories center around one or two people, the paranormal fantasy I’m writing is leaning more toward an ensemble cast and I want that sense of reality and connection to appear in the work.  And lines… I want to write a book that when it’s made into a movie gets quoted everywhere… “Hello! My name is Inigo Montoyo,” “As you wish,” “I do not think it means what you think it means.” “Have fun stormin’ the castle!”

Sleeping Beauty/Beauty and the Beast: I put these together as the “Disney Films.”  While they tell two different stories, what appeals to me in both movies is Disney’s ability to capture the essence of dreams.  Sleeping Beauty is my favorite of the Disney Princess’s – a girl meets the love of her life only to be pulled away and sent into a magical sleep.  The love of her life turns out to be a prince who defeats the dragon and rescues the girl.  (Maleficent is the perfect Evil.  I want my BBEG to be like her.  No regrets just Evil.)  Beauty and the Beast takes a “bookish” girl and an “ugly” boy and they fall in love, seeing the beauty beneath each other.   I don’t know how many girls loved Beast more for his Library than himself… but I was one of them.   Both are completely different stories written in different times.  In reality, it is Belle who rescues the Beast unlike Prince Phillip who rescues Aurora.  But something about both stories is incredibly enchanting to me.

Later movies:

Lord of the Rings/Harry Potter/PoTC: These are all epic stories told with Epic descriptions and amazing visuals.  I want my stories to reflect that… but I have found it very challenging to write those kinds of descriptions.

Stardust/Enchanted:  This is another set of Love Stories where what you expect to “love” isn’t really what you want/need/end up with.  I like the twist.

While I am sure there are a ton of other great movies out there, these are the ones that I think have had the most influence on my writing style.

When I think about the connection between my favorite movies and my stories, it seems that I like to write stories about transformations.  My heroes are people who either change through the course of their actions or as a result of the actions of others around them. 

Clearly though…I need to write a love story. J

We don’t have to talk/We don’t even have to touch

I can feel your presence/ In the silence that we share

Got to keep moving/At the speed of love

Nothing changes faster/Than the speed of love

Got to keep on shining/at the speed of love

Nothing changes faster/than the speed of love

~Rush, Speed of Love

Back to the HR World

I got a job!!!

It’s an amazing opportunity to work for the Center for Creative Leadership.  I’ll be working in their Talent Management Department but what is truly cool is that it is a 30 hr week job which gives me time to continue to write as well as work on the house decluttering!

In writing news, I’ve got a few short stories out for submission and I’ve started a new series: The Last Scion.  It’s an urban fantasy but with an Arthurian legend influence.  I hope it works.

I’m also trying the Magic spreadsheet though I’m not brave enough to do the public one, I’ve downloaded the excel and am keeping track personally.  I’m also trying to remember to post to FB my daily word count and a teaser on the Last Scion Series.  I need to start plotting the Witches books as well.   Do background/plotting notes count for word count?

And in the grumpy, I just noticed that the brand new business cards I ordered…have my website address where my email address is.

And random sentence:  The thunder rumbled like a Harley left idling outside the house.

Time is a spiral -- Space is a curve

I know you get dizzy, but try not to lose your nerve

Life is a diamond you turn into dust

Waiting for rescue, and I know you just

Don't get it.

~Neurotica, Rush

New Post at Nerdiquette 101

Today's post can be found over at the Nerdiquette 101 blog.

http://nerdiquette101.blogspot.com/

Nerdiquette 101 is a movement started by three women who all had "that guy" encounters at a science fiction convention in 2012.

Today's post is called Dos and Don'ts for taking pictures of costumers and is short list of recommendations for interacting with costumers during conventions.

I hope you enjoy.

Books that changed my life

Inspired by this post:

Geek Mom: Books that changed my Life

Geek Mom Sarah Pinault describes it as “not books that changed my life through ‘because it’s great’, but books that you can use to pinpoint a change in your life, a change in your way of thinking, your growth be it emotional or otherwise.” 

I thought it was an interesting idea, and since I am in the process of de-cluttering (which results in the removal of some books), I thought I’d take a look at the books I choose to keep.

The first book/series that comes to mind is the Narnia Chronicles.  I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the fourth grade as part of a class reading.  I remember finishing the book and immediately heading to the library to find out if there was more.  There was!  I devoured the rest of the series by the end of the year.  It opened my eyes to the world outside of Judy Blume and Mary Ingalls Wilder.  By the end of fourth grade, I’d been introduced to the Chronicles of Prydian as well.  (Yeah fantasy!)

Fifth Grade for me was a defining year.  A lot happened in my personal life. My Dad spent the year stationed in Korea and my Mom hurt her back and spent several months unable to do much.  I learned a lot about responsibility that year, as I learned to cook, clean and take care of my little brother.   Thank goodness for my godparents, who helped with things like yardwork and errands. 

That same year, I had the most amazing teacher who introduced me to a whole world of books.  Mr. Nesbit introduced me to Mystery novels (first Trixie Belden, and then Nancy Drew), Shakespeare (we put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Madeleine L'Engle. 

He had this corner in his room that was wrapped in books.  I remember reading book after book. 

That same year, my mom was reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.  When she finished the book, she handed it to me.  By the end of the year, I’d finished all three books in the series… and thrown my first book across a room.  

In terms of changing my life, I think being introduced to Shakespeare so young gave me a love of English and Literature that has carried all the way through my adult life.   Mr. Nesbit kept the essence of the story while shortening the lines to make it easier for 10 year olds to memorize.  It gave me my first performance on stage and I remember reading more of the plays (in their original form) that same year.  Though a lot of the jokes went over my head, as I learned when reading it later in college, I remember reading it with a dictionary beside me and learning a whole new vocabulary.

Trixie and Nancy were female detectives.  I think more than anything, they started me down the path of belief that a woman can be anything, even something that was bit dangerous.   Growing up, I wanted to be a pilot.  Unfortunately, my eyesight was too bad to fly in the military. (Ah, well.)  I still love the fearlessness of both characters and while I am not anything like either, I like to think I have tried to bring some of that fearlessness into my life.

Then came Dragonlance.  Dragonlance (DL) opened my world to “adult” books.  That is, books written for adults not kids or even young adults.  Once I started reading DL, I never went back to young adult books.  I remember going to the bookstore and starting in the fantasy/science fiction section.  From DL, I learned about Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, and of course, Tolkien.    Once introduced to Fantasy novels, I eventually made it to Science Fiction, devouring Robert Heinlein and Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451 OMG!), though I never could get into Asimov for some reason. 

Shortly thereafter, my mom brought home Mercedes Lackey’s Arrows and Last Herald Mage trilogies.  Mercedes was the first person who wrote about “shay’a’chern” or gay relationships.  I think having been introduced to it in novels so young, is why I’ve never really been bothered by the concept of gay relationships or marriage.  In fact, it’s very likely that the stories made it so not only does it not bother me, but I feel strongly enough to have voted for and continue to support same-sex equality in marriage and in other laws.

There are probably tons more books that influenced my life. From the Star Wars novels of Aaron Allston, Mike Stackpole and Timothy Zahn, to the Forgotten Realms stories of Elaine Cunningham & RA Salvatore, there are tons of books that inspired me to become an author in my own right.

I knew he was different, in his sexuality/ 
I went to his parties, as the straight minority/ 
It never seemed a threat to my masculinity/ 
He only introduced me to a wider reality.

~Rush, Nobody's Hero