In The Finest Dickensian Tradition . . .

. . . a serial in several parts.

Part One:

さようならさようなら脂肪質のろば。

Stay tuned.

But Then Again, You'll Have This . . .

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rafiki Says...

It is time. It's been 15 years since I left the book business (I only count the final year and a half for chronological purposes; that place sucked the soul right out of me). It's been 16 years since I had a book release through a traditional publisher (Oogie Boogie Bounce, I'm looking at you). Approximately the same amount of time since I published anything at all (Legerdemain, which I consider my literary, red-headed stepchild; much loved but mostly underappreciated). Occasionally, I run into someone from that previous life who asks me if I'm still writing. My default response is to smile politely and say something along the lines of "Not as much anymore." They usually smile in return, and that's the end of that conversation. Even more rare are the times I meet someone who recognizes either my face or name and says, "Aren't you the writer?" In those times, my standard answer is, "I used to be." Their response follows the path of t...
Read more

Simulacrum . . .

A few days ago, while scrolling through Facebook, I happened across one of those anonymous memes, cutesy script on a purple background, extolling the virtues of what the unknown author -and by extension, the poster- claimed were the province of a "real woman." In less words than are used to describe a pasta entree at the local franchised Italian restaurant, the nameless meme-maven stated that a real woman eschews drama and avoids wasting time on people that "don't matter." Noble attributes to be sure, but hardly sufficient proof of authenticity. But the Hallmark-lite pablum, composed by someone with a trial version of Photoshop and too much time on their hands, isn't what struck me. I'm certain the mastermind of this web-based fortune cookie had the best intentions, maybe even splashed a few tears on the keyboard, but I believe each subsequent like and share diminished whatever sentiment this person originally meant to express. Which b...
Read more

The Heinlein Principle . . .

Before we start, allow me a brief, Science Fiction fan digression. Many authors create coherent universes in the course of their novels. Stephen King has tied nearly every piece of his fiction into the Dark Tower Mythos, even if it was done as an afterthought through some very creative, retroactive continuity tinkering. Brian Keene has done this as well; his Magnum Opus will be the often-mentioned Labyrinth. Careful readers of both authors (and if you’ve tried one without sampling the other, then shame on you) will recognize characters from previous works in cameo roles, as well as places and events from prior offerings. While these subtle connections reward faithful fans, they’re done in a way that doesn’t send a casual reader into fits of confusion. And, it’s a cool concept. I’ve tried to do a similar thing with the Oogie Boogie novels. Lieutenant Ducalion aficionados have noticed an ongoing Whodunit case during the Intermission section of Bounce. This was an intentional inclus...
Read more