Ah, the joys of enjoying things that don’t necessarily go together. Like apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic goodness…and humor.
I finally watched I Am Legend this week, and despite my general agreement with the critics that the third act is weaker than the rest of the film, I still loved it. Will Smith proves, once again, that he alone can carry a film. And for any fan of post-apocalyptic imagery and survival narratives, wow, the film is solid gold. In particular, I really love the first act, where we see his daily routines, and where we share his dread of night. I love the scene where he’s bathing his dog, Sam, and his alarm goes off. The fear that paralyzes him carries through nicely into the next scene, where he’s lying in the bathtub, rifle in hand, hearing the howls and screams of the infected running around outside his house. Totally creepy…
Having watched I Am Legend, as well as the original Shutter (a Thai horror flick that’s as good as any of the best J- and K-horror films out there), I’m reminded of why I wrote Solstice in the first place. My love of all things post-apocalyptic, as well as my fascination with horror and the supernatural, have had such a huge influence on the way I write and the things I write. Throughout the years, I always felt that there weren’t enough good movies or books about the end of the world. I always wanted more, and I wanted stories that fused together both sci-fi and horror elements. So I guess Solstice was my first stab at trying to add to the post-apocalyptic cannon. Wow, that sounds pretentious… Anyway, it’s also why I want to continue writing uplifting stories about the end of the world, such as The Mourning Syndrome ^_^ It’s just a lot of fun for me to sit down, envision these terrible survival scenarios, and playing them out on paper (actually, on a word processor).
There’s only one problem. I also love to laugh. As I continue to work on the next draft of my new novel, Inventing Vazquez, I’m reminded of how much fun it is to write comedy. And make no mistake, Inventing Vazquez is a comedic satire, and a very funny one according to my first two test readers, one of whom claims she nearly died laughing on the bus during this one scene. My humor tends to gravitate toward the zany, borrowing comedic elements from a wide range of influences, including The Simpsons, Monty Python, Margaret Cho, and the Coen brothers. So writing humor tends to be just as enjoyable for me as writing dreary, somber fiction about the end of the world. Probably more so, because it’s a more free-spirited writing style. Like you’re releasing your literary id or something.
So as I’m working on Inventing Vazquez, I’m already thinking of expanding the story into a sequel. In fact, if this first book is addressing the representation of Latino/as in movies, I’ve already thought that a possible sequel could involve politics. Which sounds great and all. Especially since I really love the group of characters I’m working with, and would love to continue to work with them.
This is where things get confusing for me as a writer. I want to tell very different kinds of stories. On the one hand, every time I watch a movie like I Am Legend (and there’s a slew of post-apocalyptic films coming out in the next several months), I’m inspired to write stories like it. And with The Mourning Syndrome, I definitely have a story that will again combine my favorite elements—sci-fi, apocalyptic fiction, and supernatural horror. In some ways, The Mourning Syndrome will probably be darker than Solstice…if that’s possible ^^;
But then, when I start thinking on the comedic possibilities of the Inventing Vazquez storyline, I want to keep writing that. Having had so much fun writing Liliana’s story, it’s like, I want to keep doing so. And I guess I like making people laugh. Humor tends to be my expressive model of choice (even at work, my best pieces have been the ones where I’ve been allowed to be humorous), and so it seems to flow more naturally out of me.
What to do? Who knows. In an ideal world, I’d quit my job and dedicate myself to writing full-time, using the day to write my comedies, and the night to write my apocalyptic stories. But alas, that isn’t going to happen. Not unless I win the lottery. Which would be doubly miraculous considering I don’t even play the lottery! ^^;
Still, there’s this one story I have in the back of my head, one that might be a nice way of reconciling the chasm between my writing preferences. There’s a story on the drawing board that would be sort of a comedic take on apocalyptic fiction, a story that would spoof all of us that go gaga every time something like I Am Legend hits the screens. I’ve thought of several possible scenes, and think it’s a promising enough idea to pursue sometime soon.
I guess it’s just frustrating, though. Ideas, I have plenty. My novel queue is already log jammed. Inspiration, I have lots of. The only thing I don’t have is time. And an agent ^^; Oh well, just gotta keep plugging away.
I gotta think of new ways to market Solstice. I feel like I’m missing a golden opportunity here to promote the book. The commercial success of films like I Am Legend shows that the post-apocalyptic crowd is alive and well. The fact that Hollywood is making more and more such films is a sign that it’s become trendy again. So here I am, sitting on a novel that will appeal to readers of sci-fi, apocalyptic, and post-apocalyptic fiction…and struggling to get the word out. I better get on it before this stuff goes out of style again ^_^
Hmmm, one thing I’m going to venture to ask you, kind readers. If you’ve purchased and read Solstice, would you be willing to talk about it online? It can be on a blog, or through a user review on Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com, or even on something like goodreads.com or librarything.com. Any way you choose, it’s a great way to help spread the word about Solstice. Because in the absence of a marketing budget, word of mouth is our most effective marketing tool. I’d be deeply appreciative if you’d be willing to do that. Hey, if nothing else, you’d be supporting ‘the little guy’ ^^;
Okay, I’m going to shut up now. ^_^;
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
A new (and narcissistic) way to promote the book!
Okay, so I know I’ve neglected this blog. And my friends. And my family. And my e-mail contacts (gomenasai, Tsubashi-san!). And everything. But I hope things get better now. That’s because I’ve completed the first step of my new wave of marketing for Solstice. What is it? My own personal web site ^^;
Yep. I’ve taken the plunge into narcissism and created my own web site, ulisessilva.com. Normally, this isn’t the kind of thing I’d want to do. I’m too low-key a person to have ever envisioned a url based on my name. But alas, every book marketing book says that an author site is a must. So there you have it.
Building the thing was a nightmare. It’s been years since I designed and built my own web site, and over the past week or so, I was reminded of why I stopped doing so in the first place. It’s a long and tedious process. Very. Very tedious. Creating all the graphics took me the better part of last week. Actually building the site and its many components took virtually the entire weekend. But it’s done, at least. Yay. So if you’d like to stop by and learn a bit more about yours truly, please stop by! The URL is…well…www.ulisessilva.com. ^_^;
I’m especially happy now that I finally got that done. Because now I’m free to return to Inventing Vazquez. It’s been weeks since I finished the first round of edits, and I’m itching to get started anew and improve upon the first draft. And I hope to start an agent search in earnest by the end of April.
So that’s it for now. This week I’ll also be working on a new promo banner for Solstice, because my friend Don over at Quiet Earth let me know of a cool banner exchange program that will help me promote the book on other sites. For free. Which is kind of nice given my still-non-existent marketing budget ^_^; But hey, we do what we can. That’s about all we can expect.
Oh, one final note. Acid Mothers Temple, the Japanese band who allowed me to use their song, “Pink Lady Lemonade” for the Solstice trailers, is coming back to town later this month. My friends and I are planning to go. I also plan to take a copy of the book and give it to Kawabata Makoto, the band’s guitarist. He was the one, after all who gave me permission to use the song ^_^
Okay, short babble this time. Hopefully, I’ll be better about updating this blog from here on out.
Yep. I’ve taken the plunge into narcissism and created my own web site, ulisessilva.com. Normally, this isn’t the kind of thing I’d want to do. I’m too low-key a person to have ever envisioned a url based on my name. But alas, every book marketing book says that an author site is a must. So there you have it.
Building the thing was a nightmare. It’s been years since I designed and built my own web site, and over the past week or so, I was reminded of why I stopped doing so in the first place. It’s a long and tedious process. Very. Very tedious. Creating all the graphics took me the better part of last week. Actually building the site and its many components took virtually the entire weekend. But it’s done, at least. Yay. So if you’d like to stop by and learn a bit more about yours truly, please stop by! The URL is…well…www.ulisessilva.com. ^_^;
I’m especially happy now that I finally got that done. Because now I’m free to return to Inventing Vazquez. It’s been weeks since I finished the first round of edits, and I’m itching to get started anew and improve upon the first draft. And I hope to start an agent search in earnest by the end of April.
So that’s it for now. This week I’ll also be working on a new promo banner for Solstice, because my friend Don over at Quiet Earth let me know of a cool banner exchange program that will help me promote the book on other sites. For free. Which is kind of nice given my still-non-existent marketing budget ^_^; But hey, we do what we can. That’s about all we can expect.
Oh, one final note. Acid Mothers Temple, the Japanese band who allowed me to use their song, “Pink Lady Lemonade” for the Solstice trailers, is coming back to town later this month. My friends and I are planning to go. I also plan to take a copy of the book and give it to Kawabata Makoto, the band’s guitarist. He was the one, after all who gave me permission to use the song ^_^
Okay, short babble this time. Hopefully, I’ll be better about updating this blog from here on out.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What would it be like?
Hello all, and welcome to another installment of Ulises Babbles On and On ^_^;
So what’s been going on? A few things. I already started editing Inventing Vazquez, and am very excited about where it’s going. I don’t know how long it will take me to edit all 850 pages of it @_@, but I’m hoping I can move quickly and get to a second draft by April. I think that’s feasible.
Part of my urgency now is because I’ve begun to think that I will try and find an agent for Inventing Vazquez. After hearing some disturbing news about small-press distributors, I’ve started to weigh all my options. Self-publishing fiction is always a risk; that goes without saying. But when you throw in something as uncertain as the future of small-press distribution into the mix, it increases that risk. And there’s no denying that Solstice wouldn’t have had its success without the support of Biblio Distribution. They’re the ones who got it into bookstores, after all.
Besides, when I start to think of all that we’ve achieved with Solstice, I sometimes wonder what I could have achieved with the support of an agent, a publisher, and a real marketing budget. Consider the numbers. I wrote, printed, distributed, marketed, and promoted Solstice with an impossibly small budget (roughly $6000 less than the standard budget for self-publishing a book). I had to learn and do a lot of things myself (like typesetting, graphic design, and accounting) in order to save costs. Yet despite it all, we’ve sold more than 1,400 copies in less than four months. That’s about 50% of our total print run thus far. We’ve gotten five reviews (and a possible sixth one coming soon on horrorwatch.com), including in premier publications like Library Journal, and all of them have been positive. We’ve turned a profit, and according to the industry numbers, 95% of self-published books fail to do so. Even with a microscopic budget and a lot of improvisation, Solstice bucked the odds and became a small-time hit in its own right (well, it’s a hit in my own mind, but that’s probably because my only real goal was giving it to my family, not making money).
When I consider what I achieved with Solstice, I wonder what I could have achieved if I’d had a real budget to work with. If, say, I had some money to actually buy some promotional space (I’ve targeted some web sites for advertising, but right now I simply don’t have the cash), or the contacts to spread the word, who knows what Solstice could have become. Given the success it had on such a small scale, I wonder what it would have done on a larger scale.
I think this is one of the reasons why I’m considering going with an agent for Inventing Vazquez, or at least try to (you’ve heard the horror stories about finding an agent, I’m sure). I’m nervous about the distribution aspect, for sure. But I’m confident the new novel is better, and will have a much broader appeal for readers (my two test readers are already saying so, and that the book is really funny), and so I think there’s a chance it can perform well in the literary marketplace. So maybe it’s in my best interest to at least try and land a reputable agent, and see how things work.
Of course, how do you market a doofus that writes an apocalyptic novel about the end of the world, and then a comedic satire about a mousy film consultant? ^_^; Oh well…
I’m not adverse, though, to self-publishing Inventing Vazquez too. The fact is, I love the creative control that comes with self-publishing (in fact, we already have a crazy idea for a catchy book cover). I think that’s the single-best aspect of self-publishing; you call your own shots. As long as you’re willing to take the risks, temper your expectations, and do a LOT of work, I think self-publishing is an amazing challenge, and an even better experience.
Speaking of happy novels about the end of the world, my girlfriend and I were doing some brainstorming about The Mourning Syndrome on Sunday, and once we were done, I felt completely energized and excited about writing the novel. I think I was stalling because I was trying to be too clever, and maybe outsmarting myself in the process (not a hard thing to do -_-). But once I simplified things (e.g., a single narration instead of two narrations from different characters), and once we talked about the other main character, things started to open up. I now have a very solid and promising direction for the book, and some chilling possibilities for the main character’s initial antagonist. So I’m going to try and keep working on The Mourning Syndrome alongside Inventing Vazquez’ editing. We’ll see how that works.
Oh, and because I need more to do with my life, I’m trying to get a band together ^__^; Not an easy thing to form an indie rock band with Japanese rock influence here in Michigan, let me tell ya…
So what’s been going on? A few things. I already started editing Inventing Vazquez, and am very excited about where it’s going. I don’t know how long it will take me to edit all 850 pages of it @_@, but I’m hoping I can move quickly and get to a second draft by April. I think that’s feasible.
Part of my urgency now is because I’ve begun to think that I will try and find an agent for Inventing Vazquez. After hearing some disturbing news about small-press distributors, I’ve started to weigh all my options. Self-publishing fiction is always a risk; that goes without saying. But when you throw in something as uncertain as the future of small-press distribution into the mix, it increases that risk. And there’s no denying that Solstice wouldn’t have had its success without the support of Biblio Distribution. They’re the ones who got it into bookstores, after all.
Besides, when I start to think of all that we’ve achieved with Solstice, I sometimes wonder what I could have achieved with the support of an agent, a publisher, and a real marketing budget. Consider the numbers. I wrote, printed, distributed, marketed, and promoted Solstice with an impossibly small budget (roughly $6000 less than the standard budget for self-publishing a book). I had to learn and do a lot of things myself (like typesetting, graphic design, and accounting) in order to save costs. Yet despite it all, we’ve sold more than 1,400 copies in less than four months. That’s about 50% of our total print run thus far. We’ve gotten five reviews (and a possible sixth one coming soon on horrorwatch.com), including in premier publications like Library Journal, and all of them have been positive. We’ve turned a profit, and according to the industry numbers, 95% of self-published books fail to do so. Even with a microscopic budget and a lot of improvisation, Solstice bucked the odds and became a small-time hit in its own right (well, it’s a hit in my own mind, but that’s probably because my only real goal was giving it to my family, not making money).
When I consider what I achieved with Solstice, I wonder what I could have achieved if I’d had a real budget to work with. If, say, I had some money to actually buy some promotional space (I’ve targeted some web sites for advertising, but right now I simply don’t have the cash), or the contacts to spread the word, who knows what Solstice could have become. Given the success it had on such a small scale, I wonder what it would have done on a larger scale.
I think this is one of the reasons why I’m considering going with an agent for Inventing Vazquez, or at least try to (you’ve heard the horror stories about finding an agent, I’m sure). I’m nervous about the distribution aspect, for sure. But I’m confident the new novel is better, and will have a much broader appeal for readers (my two test readers are already saying so, and that the book is really funny), and so I think there’s a chance it can perform well in the literary marketplace. So maybe it’s in my best interest to at least try and land a reputable agent, and see how things work.
Of course, how do you market a doofus that writes an apocalyptic novel about the end of the world, and then a comedic satire about a mousy film consultant? ^_^; Oh well…
I’m not adverse, though, to self-publishing Inventing Vazquez too. The fact is, I love the creative control that comes with self-publishing (in fact, we already have a crazy idea for a catchy book cover). I think that’s the single-best aspect of self-publishing; you call your own shots. As long as you’re willing to take the risks, temper your expectations, and do a LOT of work, I think self-publishing is an amazing challenge, and an even better experience.
Speaking of happy novels about the end of the world, my girlfriend and I were doing some brainstorming about The Mourning Syndrome on Sunday, and once we were done, I felt completely energized and excited about writing the novel. I think I was stalling because I was trying to be too clever, and maybe outsmarting myself in the process (not a hard thing to do -_-). But once I simplified things (e.g., a single narration instead of two narrations from different characters), and once we talked about the other main character, things started to open up. I now have a very solid and promising direction for the book, and some chilling possibilities for the main character’s initial antagonist. So I’m going to try and keep working on The Mourning Syndrome alongside Inventing Vazquez’ editing. We’ll see how that works.
Oh, and because I need more to do with my life, I’m trying to get a band together ^__^; Not an easy thing to form an indie rock band with Japanese rock influence here in Michigan, let me tell ya…
Monday, January 7, 2008
Anything is possible
Happy New Year, everyone. A few days late, but wishing it all the same. Hope everyone had a painless transition into 08.
Things have been both busy and quiet here. Next week I pick up Inventing Vazquez again, which is good because I’ve stalled on The Mourning Syndrome. I’m actually giving thought to going with another project, but then, I really do like the idea of MS, so maybe I just need to find the right inspiration.
In the meantime, I’ve got a bit of cool news. We got another review, this time from Midwest Book Review! That’s five reviews (all positive) for a book that was not supposed to get any. Wow. Anyway, I thought I’d recap and post the five blurbs Solstice has received (beginning with the newest one ^^):
“A riveting, original saga.” – Midwest Book Review
“Latino author Silva brings a fresh new voice to the genre in this debut featuring a Latino-Asian hero and expanding the demographic appeal of sf. A good selection for most sf collections.” – Library Journal
“Silva spends much of his time investing in characterisation, bringing the players to life in front of the reader’s eyes…a very impressive launch for an exciting new author.” – SciFiNow Magazine
“This debut speculative fiction/horror novel is reminiscent of The Matrix and John Twelve Hawks’ The Traveler (2005).” – Booklist Reviews
"A clever spin and a birthing of a universe equal to Dick's replicants and humans in Blade Runner, or Marv Wolfman's skinwalkers and vampires in Blade…While Dick's influence is clear, Silva's terrain is a unique one, his style noirish, his female characters strong and tender, ruthless and unstoppable." – Lisa Alvarado, La Bloga
Oh, and Lisa Alvarado over at La Bloga was kind enough to interview me ^^; You can read our conversation here. In it, I also talk a little about Inventing Vazquez, so think of it as a sneak peak ^^;;
On top of that, the book is definitely getting some attention out there. In fact, the president of the company I work at (yes, the President and CEO ^^;) posted a blurb about Solstice on the company Intranet, where he describes it as a terrific book ^^; Angry Asian Man posted a blurb about it on his site (thank you!). And I'm starting to see the book being mentioned on forums and in blogs (including this one here ^^;;; Thank you, Roni!). Total craziness, I tells ya...
I guess it goes to show that anything is possible. That, no matter what people say (e.g., “self-published books are never reviewed, self-publishing is a big mistake, you suck”), you can accomplish anything if you set out to do it right. I mean, who would have guessed it that even a premier sci-fi magazine in the UK would feature Solstice in its book reviews? Or that the Library Journal would review it? Always aim high, I guess. And always take your best shot.
So what else is going on? Well, I’ve got a crazy new idea, one that’s actually been on the drawing boards for years. My brother and I are big Anime fans, and both of us dabble in Anime artwork (him more than me). And for the longest time, we’ve had it in mind to do some kind of manga or webcomic. The other day, it hit me: why not just do it? He’s got the talent and the means now to produce quality artwork relatively quickly. I’ve got the story ideas and writing. So we’re going to consider doing a joint project: a webcomic or *gasp* an actual manga (i.e., a published book). Art is something he loves and is GREAT at (take a look at his latest opus, which I ADORE). And assuming we can find a way to split up the workload and still create something that looks consistent, then why not? Hopefully we can pull it off. In fact, there’s an outside chance we’ll actually do a manga based off Inventing Vazquez! He’s the one who suggested it, and I’m still trying to figure out that angle. But it’d be awesome…
Anyway, that’s the New Year babble. I’ll shut up now.
Things have been both busy and quiet here. Next week I pick up Inventing Vazquez again, which is good because I’ve stalled on The Mourning Syndrome. I’m actually giving thought to going with another project, but then, I really do like the idea of MS, so maybe I just need to find the right inspiration.
In the meantime, I’ve got a bit of cool news. We got another review, this time from Midwest Book Review! That’s five reviews (all positive) for a book that was not supposed to get any. Wow. Anyway, I thought I’d recap and post the five blurbs Solstice has received (beginning with the newest one ^^):
“A riveting, original saga.” – Midwest Book Review
“Latino author Silva brings a fresh new voice to the genre in this debut featuring a Latino-Asian hero and expanding the demographic appeal of sf. A good selection for most sf collections.” – Library Journal
“Silva spends much of his time investing in characterisation, bringing the players to life in front of the reader’s eyes…a very impressive launch for an exciting new author.” – SciFiNow Magazine
“This debut speculative fiction/horror novel is reminiscent of The Matrix and John Twelve Hawks’ The Traveler (2005).” – Booklist Reviews
"A clever spin and a birthing of a universe equal to Dick's replicants and humans in Blade Runner, or Marv Wolfman's skinwalkers and vampires in Blade…While Dick's influence is clear, Silva's terrain is a unique one, his style noirish, his female characters strong and tender, ruthless and unstoppable." – Lisa Alvarado, La Bloga
Oh, and Lisa Alvarado over at La Bloga was kind enough to interview me ^^; You can read our conversation here. In it, I also talk a little about Inventing Vazquez, so think of it as a sneak peak ^^;;
On top of that, the book is definitely getting some attention out there. In fact, the president of the company I work at (yes, the President and CEO ^^;) posted a blurb about Solstice on the company Intranet, where he describes it as a terrific book ^^; Angry Asian Man posted a blurb about it on his site (thank you!). And I'm starting to see the book being mentioned on forums and in blogs (including this one here ^^;;; Thank you, Roni!). Total craziness, I tells ya...
I guess it goes to show that anything is possible. That, no matter what people say (e.g., “self-published books are never reviewed, self-publishing is a big mistake, you suck”), you can accomplish anything if you set out to do it right. I mean, who would have guessed it that even a premier sci-fi magazine in the UK would feature Solstice in its book reviews? Or that the Library Journal would review it? Always aim high, I guess. And always take your best shot.
So what else is going on? Well, I’ve got a crazy new idea, one that’s actually been on the drawing boards for years. My brother and I are big Anime fans, and both of us dabble in Anime artwork (him more than me). And for the longest time, we’ve had it in mind to do some kind of manga or webcomic. The other day, it hit me: why not just do it? He’s got the talent and the means now to produce quality artwork relatively quickly. I’ve got the story ideas and writing. So we’re going to consider doing a joint project: a webcomic or *gasp* an actual manga (i.e., a published book). Art is something he loves and is GREAT at (take a look at his latest opus, which I ADORE). And assuming we can find a way to split up the workload and still create something that looks consistent, then why not? Hopefully we can pull it off. In fact, there’s an outside chance we’ll actually do a manga based off Inventing Vazquez! He’s the one who suggested it, and I’m still trying to figure out that angle. But it’d be awesome…
Anyway, that’s the New Year babble. I’ll shut up now.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Moving along with another review (plus some notes about the next novel)
Saludos!
Well, Solstice has just gotten another review! Woohoo!! This one is by Lisa Alvarado, a noted Chicana author (Sister Chicas), poet, and performance artist, and regular contributor to La Bloga! And it’s a good one ^^; In fact, Ms. Alvarado has this to say about the book:
"It's a clever spin and a birthing of a universe equal to Dick's replicants and humans in Blade Runner, or Marv Wolfman's skinwalkers and vampires in Blade…While Dick's influence is clear, Silva's terrain is a unique one, his style noirish, his female characters strong and tender, ruthless and unstoppable."
…....wow ^___^; I highly encourage you to stop by La Bloga and read the rest. La Bloga is a site run by a group of prominent Chicano authors and writers, and dedicated to the reviews, discussion, and exposure of new Latino/a creative voices. Needless to say, I consider it an absolute honor to be mentioned on their site. So Lisa, muchas gracias!!! ^__^
Some other stuff has been going on as of late. Let’s see…
Well, as I mentioned the last time I wrote in this thing, I finished my first draft of my new novel, a comedic satire I’ve entitled Inventing Vazquez. I’ve decided to put the book away for a month before starting on the rewrite, to kind of clear my head and approach the book in January with fresh eyes. But I’m excited about having finished the draft all the same, especially because now I can start thinking in terms of ‘when will this be published?’ In fact, assuming I’m going the self-publishing route again (and given the unexpected success of Solstice, it’s not an idea I’m adverse to), I think I’m going to shoot for an early 2009 release ^^;; Hey, I’m crazy, I know.
Of course, in the meantime, with a month to spare before picking up Inventing Vazquez again, I’ve decided to start working on my new novel. Only problem is…transitioning from Inventing Vazquez’ light-hearted, mirthful tone, to The Mourning Syndrome’s dreary, depressing, and apocalyptic tone, is proving more of a challenge than I thought. I hope to start writing soon, because I really want to get going on it. Just have to finish outlining the plot, the main characters, and a single plot-related question that has, so far, been unanswerable. I guess I have to keep brainstorming. And watching Kairo 15 more times ^^;;;
It’s funny, too. I know some people have expressed concern over my schizophrenic writing projects (i.e., end of the world story, happy story, back to end of the world story, next one probably happy again). And I know that, given the fact that I’m trying to establish myself as a speculative fiction writer, Inventing Vazquez could be a problem to market. Still, I haven’t let that stop me. Not only was the new book a lot of fun to write, but the truth is…it tells a story that I think needs to be told. That’s to say, I have some thoughts on Hollywood and its portrayal of Latino/as and people of color, and Inventing Vazquez gives voice to those thoughts. So I’m not really worrying about whether it’s wise, career-wise, to publish it. I’ll do so regardless, and let the chips fall where they may.
Oh, I’m starting to take up some other projects as well. In fact, I just wrote a review of a Japanese movie called Dragon Head for Quiet Earth, and you can read it here. It’s given me the idea that, considering how much I LOVE Japanese and Asian horror movies, I might start a review blog for them. So there’s that. Also, I’m meeting with Christopher from Urban Molecule next week in NYC, and there’s a chance I might be able to contribute something to them, which would be really exciting. I guess I had to come out of my writing shell at some point, huh? ^^;
Okay, I’ve babbled long enough. And don’t forget to buy your copy of Solstice at our site or anywhere where books are sold! After all, nothing says, “happy holidays, I really love/like/marginally tolerate you, so here’s a joyous gift for you” than a book about the end of the world ^^;;
Well, Solstice has just gotten another review! Woohoo!! This one is by Lisa Alvarado, a noted Chicana author (Sister Chicas), poet, and performance artist, and regular contributor to La Bloga! And it’s a good one ^^; In fact, Ms. Alvarado has this to say about the book:
"It's a clever spin and a birthing of a universe equal to Dick's replicants and humans in Blade Runner, or Marv Wolfman's skinwalkers and vampires in Blade…While Dick's influence is clear, Silva's terrain is a unique one, his style noirish, his female characters strong and tender, ruthless and unstoppable."
…....wow ^___^; I highly encourage you to stop by La Bloga and read the rest. La Bloga is a site run by a group of prominent Chicano authors and writers, and dedicated to the reviews, discussion, and exposure of new Latino/a creative voices. Needless to say, I consider it an absolute honor to be mentioned on their site. So Lisa, muchas gracias!!! ^__^
Some other stuff has been going on as of late. Let’s see…
Well, as I mentioned the last time I wrote in this thing, I finished my first draft of my new novel, a comedic satire I’ve entitled Inventing Vazquez. I’ve decided to put the book away for a month before starting on the rewrite, to kind of clear my head and approach the book in January with fresh eyes. But I’m excited about having finished the draft all the same, especially because now I can start thinking in terms of ‘when will this be published?’ In fact, assuming I’m going the self-publishing route again (and given the unexpected success of Solstice, it’s not an idea I’m adverse to), I think I’m going to shoot for an early 2009 release ^^;; Hey, I’m crazy, I know.
Of course, in the meantime, with a month to spare before picking up Inventing Vazquez again, I’ve decided to start working on my new novel. Only problem is…transitioning from Inventing Vazquez’ light-hearted, mirthful tone, to The Mourning Syndrome’s dreary, depressing, and apocalyptic tone, is proving more of a challenge than I thought. I hope to start writing soon, because I really want to get going on it. Just have to finish outlining the plot, the main characters, and a single plot-related question that has, so far, been unanswerable. I guess I have to keep brainstorming. And watching Kairo 15 more times ^^;;;
It’s funny, too. I know some people have expressed concern over my schizophrenic writing projects (i.e., end of the world story, happy story, back to end of the world story, next one probably happy again). And I know that, given the fact that I’m trying to establish myself as a speculative fiction writer, Inventing Vazquez could be a problem to market. Still, I haven’t let that stop me. Not only was the new book a lot of fun to write, but the truth is…it tells a story that I think needs to be told. That’s to say, I have some thoughts on Hollywood and its portrayal of Latino/as and people of color, and Inventing Vazquez gives voice to those thoughts. So I’m not really worrying about whether it’s wise, career-wise, to publish it. I’ll do so regardless, and let the chips fall where they may.
Oh, I’m starting to take up some other projects as well. In fact, I just wrote a review of a Japanese movie called Dragon Head for Quiet Earth, and you can read it here. It’s given me the idea that, considering how much I LOVE Japanese and Asian horror movies, I might start a review blog for them. So there’s that. Also, I’m meeting with Christopher from Urban Molecule next week in NYC, and there’s a chance I might be able to contribute something to them, which would be really exciting. I guess I had to come out of my writing shell at some point, huh? ^^;
Okay, I’ve babbled long enough. And don’t forget to buy your copy of Solstice at our site or anywhere where books are sold! After all, nothing says, “happy holidays, I really love/like/marginally tolerate you, so here’s a joyous gift for you” than a book about the end of the world ^^;;
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
So very close…
Saludos!
Well, things are a bit quiet for now. And they might be even quieter in a few days. That’s because I’m a chapter and a half away from finishing the first draft of my new novel ^^;; Total madness, I tells ya… Even my girlfriend is stunned at the insane pace I’ve been able to keep up. Although I keep telling her, it’s like this novel is writing itself. Since it’s a much more lighthearted subject matter than Solstice, it was more fun to write, and hence, easier to do so. Of course, it’s only the first draft. And I already have a laundry list of changes in mind. To say nothing of the changes that will have to be made once my editor takes a first hack at it *wink wink*.
At the rate I’m going, it’s conceivable that I’ll actually finish the novel tonight. But, for the sake of playing it safe, I’m going to say that I expect to finish it tomorrow night ^^; Maybe then I’ll share with you all the title I’ve given it ^^;
What’s funny about the whole thing is that, in a way, I’ve caught myself unprepared for the next step: starting the next novel. Yes, the next novel.
See, the thing is, my current novel is a comedic satire about a mousy, soft-spoken protagonist who, literally and figuratively, has to find her voice in order to deal with the film industry. Her character is funny, witty, conversational, and very friendly. For this past year, I’ve forced myself to see the world through her eyes to write her story. And I’ve been saying all along that this novel is a FAR cry from Solstice. Whereas Solstice is about…well…the end of the world ^^;, the new one is more about films and their portrayal of race relations in the U.S. It’s about the things we see, and don’t see, in Hollywood. And it’s supposed to be comedic ^^;
So why is all this a problem for the next one? Possibly because I’m reverting back to my doom-and-gloom style of writing ^^;; The next novel, which I’ve tentatively titled The Mourning Syndrome, is going to be another heartwarming tale about…the end of the world ^^;; Eep. And it’s going to be very eerie, very dreary, and very…um…dark (sorry, couldn’t think of another word that rhymed). In other words, it’s going to be another COMPLETE departure from my current novel.
I plan to put away my current novel for a month once I complete it. That will give me time to forget about it, and then come back to it fresh next year to start working on editing and rewriting it. In that time, I’m certain to start work on The Mourning Syndrome. Which is why I think I’ve caught myself unprepared for it given the frantic pace that I maintained writing this last one. I feel like I’m going to have to switch gears in mid-stride, and start writing a very dark, very creepy story right on the heels of something that was lighthearted and comedic.
I told my girlfriend that, in order to prep myself for it, I might just have to watch Kairo (the original Japanese version of The Pulse) 17 times just to put myself in the mood, although hopefully I Am Legend will work too (I am GEEKED about seeing that one! You know me and my love of all things apocalyptic ^^). So who knows how the transition into The Mourning Syndrome will work out. Hopefully I won’t break something ^^;;
I wonder if I should even start working on that one at all. See, one of the things I’ve also realized as I stand a chapter and a half away from finishing my next novel, is that I have quite a few options open to me. There’s The Mourning Syndrome of course. And there’s the sequel to Solstice that I have planned. And there’s another project I have in mind, a comedy about…the end of the world ^^; That one, in particular, is only on the drawing board, but I think it’ll be a great opportunity to write another apocalyptic novel, but in a way that allows me to use the writing style I used and loved with my new novel. But like I said, that idea is the least developed of all, and my girlfriend really thinks I should work on The Mourning Syndrome first. Especially since its message is more relevant to our current socio-political climate. And, well, I think it’s too soon still for the sequel to Solstice ^^; We’ll see, I guess. It’s nice to have choices, though.
So this week should be interesting. If I can finish my novel, I’m going to throw a party (well, not really), watch a movie…and then get right back to work ^^;
Oh, one more thing. There’s a chance Solstice will receive another review from Horrorwatch.com. I got in touch with one of their staff members, who kindly agreed to read and maybe review the book on their site. That would be huge, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed hard ^^;
Okay, I’ll shut up now ^^;
Well, things are a bit quiet for now. And they might be even quieter in a few days. That’s because I’m a chapter and a half away from finishing the first draft of my new novel ^^;; Total madness, I tells ya… Even my girlfriend is stunned at the insane pace I’ve been able to keep up. Although I keep telling her, it’s like this novel is writing itself. Since it’s a much more lighthearted subject matter than Solstice, it was more fun to write, and hence, easier to do so. Of course, it’s only the first draft. And I already have a laundry list of changes in mind. To say nothing of the changes that will have to be made once my editor takes a first hack at it *wink wink*.
At the rate I’m going, it’s conceivable that I’ll actually finish the novel tonight. But, for the sake of playing it safe, I’m going to say that I expect to finish it tomorrow night ^^; Maybe then I’ll share with you all the title I’ve given it ^^;
What’s funny about the whole thing is that, in a way, I’ve caught myself unprepared for the next step: starting the next novel. Yes, the next novel.
See, the thing is, my current novel is a comedic satire about a mousy, soft-spoken protagonist who, literally and figuratively, has to find her voice in order to deal with the film industry. Her character is funny, witty, conversational, and very friendly. For this past year, I’ve forced myself to see the world through her eyes to write her story. And I’ve been saying all along that this novel is a FAR cry from Solstice. Whereas Solstice is about…well…the end of the world ^^;, the new one is more about films and their portrayal of race relations in the U.S. It’s about the things we see, and don’t see, in Hollywood. And it’s supposed to be comedic ^^;
So why is all this a problem for the next one? Possibly because I’m reverting back to my doom-and-gloom style of writing ^^;; The next novel, which I’ve tentatively titled The Mourning Syndrome, is going to be another heartwarming tale about…the end of the world ^^;; Eep. And it’s going to be very eerie, very dreary, and very…um…dark (sorry, couldn’t think of another word that rhymed). In other words, it’s going to be another COMPLETE departure from my current novel.
I plan to put away my current novel for a month once I complete it. That will give me time to forget about it, and then come back to it fresh next year to start working on editing and rewriting it. In that time, I’m certain to start work on The Mourning Syndrome. Which is why I think I’ve caught myself unprepared for it given the frantic pace that I maintained writing this last one. I feel like I’m going to have to switch gears in mid-stride, and start writing a very dark, very creepy story right on the heels of something that was lighthearted and comedic.
I told my girlfriend that, in order to prep myself for it, I might just have to watch Kairo (the original Japanese version of The Pulse) 17 times just to put myself in the mood, although hopefully I Am Legend will work too (I am GEEKED about seeing that one! You know me and my love of all things apocalyptic ^^). So who knows how the transition into The Mourning Syndrome will work out. Hopefully I won’t break something ^^;;
I wonder if I should even start working on that one at all. See, one of the things I’ve also realized as I stand a chapter and a half away from finishing my next novel, is that I have quite a few options open to me. There’s The Mourning Syndrome of course. And there’s the sequel to Solstice that I have planned. And there’s another project I have in mind, a comedy about…the end of the world ^^; That one, in particular, is only on the drawing board, but I think it’ll be a great opportunity to write another apocalyptic novel, but in a way that allows me to use the writing style I used and loved with my new novel. But like I said, that idea is the least developed of all, and my girlfriend really thinks I should work on The Mourning Syndrome first. Especially since its message is more relevant to our current socio-political climate. And, well, I think it’s too soon still for the sequel to Solstice ^^; We’ll see, I guess. It’s nice to have choices, though.
So this week should be interesting. If I can finish my novel, I’m going to throw a party (well, not really), watch a movie…and then get right back to work ^^;
Oh, one more thing. There’s a chance Solstice will receive another review from Horrorwatch.com. I got in touch with one of their staff members, who kindly agreed to read and maybe review the book on their site. That would be huge, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed hard ^^;
Okay, I’ll shut up now ^^;
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
What a ride!
I got back from NYC yesterday after taking part in this year's 20th Annual Independent and Small Press Book Fair in New York City. What a crazy few weeks these past ones have been! Between two book signings at local Barnes and Nobles and now the book fair, it seemed that November (and early December) were all about getting the word out. Which is good, because that’s the only way people are going to know about Solstice ^^;
The book fair was pretty good. Though none of the big industry names that were supposed to be there showed up, it was still a good chance to promote the book with readers, and to get to meet some very cool people. I ended up selling 10 copies of Solstice, too ^__^
I got to chat with some fellow self-publishers and authors, including Marc L. Abbott who wrote The Hooky Party, and with Polly Frost, an author of erotica who gave me a copy of her book, Deep Inside. Very cool people who were great to talk to and get to know! Did a book exchange with them, so I’m looking forward to reading their work.
Also got to meet and chat with a lot of up-and-coming authors. Two of my customers, in fact—Lauren Small and Fayomi—are writers looking to publish (actually, Lauren is already published) and are considering the self-publishing route for their future works. It was fun to be able to talk with them about the long, but rewarding, process of self-publishing a book. Another future writer, a young man named David, bought two copies ^^; It was great to be able to talk to him about the writing process, and to hear about his great ideas for his first novel. If you’re reading this, David, remember: write, write, write! Some stories have to be told ^_^ Another of my customers was the actual Assistant Director of the whole book fair, Christopher de la Torre, who himself is a speculative fiction writer and member of a coming e-zine, Urban Molecule. Also got to chat with a fellow Latina writer, Jaqueline Donado of NY Book Expo. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you, but thank you for the copy of your book! I hope you also enjoy Solstice!
Overall, I’d say it was just a rewarding experience because of the many interactions I was able to have with customers and non-customers alike. Since I only sold 10 copies, you can say that I took a big loss on the whole thing (when factoring registration and transportation costs). But I actually see the experience as a complete success. It was invigorating and rewarding just to be there, talking to people about Solstice, watching them take an interest in the story, taking the bookmarks I printed out for the fair. It’s a thrill unlike many others to have others express an interest in your work, even if they don’t buy a copy. And when they do, it’s an amazing experience to think that they’re going to read your words, and hopefully enjoy them.
Being there, I felt part of a writer’s community for the first time. Because, surrounded by writers and publishers like myself, I realized that we are a community, and it’s one that’s always inviting new members. I guess that’s why I love talking to people about writing—I always want others to discover this incredible joy that is writing, publishing, and promoting your work. That’s why I’m always badgering my friends Dan and James into writing. I guess I just want others to be able to share in this incredible experience.
So, thanks to all of you who bought a copy of Solstice at the fair, or who took the time to chat with me, or who just passed by and said hello! Thanks to all of you, including Christopher, David, Jacqueline, Polly, Lauren, Fayomi, and Marc, who shared your works and your ideas with me! Now I gotta get to work and follow up with you!
I’m excited to mention a couple of other things. I’ve now passed the 1300 book sales mark, and my distributor is now recommending I send over another 850 copies even though they still have 355 in stock. I am looking into just sending them my remaining stock (about 1500 copies). And if they sell those…are we looking at a reprint of Solstice??? @___@ Wow…
And the first draft of my next novel is almost done! I’ve mapped out the rest of the story, and I have exactly nine chapters and the epilogue to go! But considering that two weeks ago I was punching out a chapter a day, it’s now conceivable that I can meet my goal of finishing the first draft before the end of the year. The projected page total? A whopping 800-900 pages! ^^;; Eep… I really want to push myself and finish it; my mom really wants to read it, and I’d like to have it to her by the time I go back home for the New Year’s celebration in three weeks.
Okay, I’ve babbled too much again, as usual ^^;;
The book fair was pretty good. Though none of the big industry names that were supposed to be there showed up, it was still a good chance to promote the book with readers, and to get to meet some very cool people. I ended up selling 10 copies of Solstice, too ^__^
I got to chat with some fellow self-publishers and authors, including Marc L. Abbott who wrote The Hooky Party, and with Polly Frost, an author of erotica who gave me a copy of her book, Deep Inside. Very cool people who were great to talk to and get to know! Did a book exchange with them, so I’m looking forward to reading their work.
Also got to meet and chat with a lot of up-and-coming authors. Two of my customers, in fact—Lauren Small and Fayomi—are writers looking to publish (actually, Lauren is already published) and are considering the self-publishing route for their future works. It was fun to be able to talk with them about the long, but rewarding, process of self-publishing a book. Another future writer, a young man named David, bought two copies ^^; It was great to be able to talk to him about the writing process, and to hear about his great ideas for his first novel. If you’re reading this, David, remember: write, write, write! Some stories have to be told ^_^ Another of my customers was the actual Assistant Director of the whole book fair, Christopher de la Torre, who himself is a speculative fiction writer and member of a coming e-zine, Urban Molecule. Also got to chat with a fellow Latina writer, Jaqueline Donado of NY Book Expo. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to you, but thank you for the copy of your book! I hope you also enjoy Solstice!
Overall, I’d say it was just a rewarding experience because of the many interactions I was able to have with customers and non-customers alike. Since I only sold 10 copies, you can say that I took a big loss on the whole thing (when factoring registration and transportation costs). But I actually see the experience as a complete success. It was invigorating and rewarding just to be there, talking to people about Solstice, watching them take an interest in the story, taking the bookmarks I printed out for the fair. It’s a thrill unlike many others to have others express an interest in your work, even if they don’t buy a copy. And when they do, it’s an amazing experience to think that they’re going to read your words, and hopefully enjoy them.
Being there, I felt part of a writer’s community for the first time. Because, surrounded by writers and publishers like myself, I realized that we are a community, and it’s one that’s always inviting new members. I guess that’s why I love talking to people about writing—I always want others to discover this incredible joy that is writing, publishing, and promoting your work. That’s why I’m always badgering my friends Dan and James into writing. I guess I just want others to be able to share in this incredible experience.
So, thanks to all of you who bought a copy of Solstice at the fair, or who took the time to chat with me, or who just passed by and said hello! Thanks to all of you, including Christopher, David, Jacqueline, Polly, Lauren, Fayomi, and Marc, who shared your works and your ideas with me! Now I gotta get to work and follow up with you!
I’m excited to mention a couple of other things. I’ve now passed the 1300 book sales mark, and my distributor is now recommending I send over another 850 copies even though they still have 355 in stock. I am looking into just sending them my remaining stock (about 1500 copies). And if they sell those…are we looking at a reprint of Solstice??? @___@ Wow…
And the first draft of my next novel is almost done! I’ve mapped out the rest of the story, and I have exactly nine chapters and the epilogue to go! But considering that two weeks ago I was punching out a chapter a day, it’s now conceivable that I can meet my goal of finishing the first draft before the end of the year. The projected page total? A whopping 800-900 pages! ^^;; Eep… I really want to push myself and finish it; my mom really wants to read it, and I’d like to have it to her by the time I go back home for the New Year’s celebration in three weeks.
Okay, I’ve babbled too much again, as usual ^^;;
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