Goin's On's

To contact us Click HERE
This week I am over at Unicorn Bell posting about how we write culture into our stories.

Which sounds way more snobby then it really will be.

Mainly I'll be discussing the background noise that goes into the writing of a book. The 'stuff' the reader doesn't notice, but will if it's wrong.

I'll also be discussing the interesting phenomenon that happens along with this when readers bring their Own culture to your story. When they assume they know what the 'rules' are. But don't. I read a very quick snippet of an article on this in Writers Digest (I think) about how readers will Assume your world is male dominated, unless otherwise specified. How your readers will assume a pregnant woman has a husband, unless otherwise specified. How your readers will assume all sorts of things. It was rather interesting. And frustrating. And explained the old way of doing 'info dumps' at the beginning of fantasy and sci-fi books. Problem is. We don't do that now. So how do we get the rules of our worlds across without boring the pants off our readers?

Head over to Unicorn Bell! :) This is what we'll be exploring this week! Politics! Art! Religion! Weapons! All sorts of fun stuff.

Meanwhile...

WRiTE CLUB is still going on! Don't forget to head over there and vote! Vote! Vote!

My Blog My Rules.

To contact us Click HERE
So I've been thinking about this for a bit.

But every time I go to write the post I shy away from the topic, and consequently..end up not writing anything. Hence the lack of posts for a span here in Saffron Wine world.

And honestly it's not even really a huge topic. Its just one that kinda makes me feel a bit, well, annoyed with myself.

I'm bored with my own blog.

There. I've said it out loud. Writing about writing on a daily basis...gah! And I think it's because I'm not confident enough to really speak with any knowledge on the subject. I don't know enough in this field (yet) to really go at it with any authority. Or have much of a base to work from. So when I'm trying to come up with post ideas...generally I come up blank. And that annoys me.

Yes. Time is a factor in lack of posts as well. I've been busy lately doing a bunch of projects that needed doing. But that's beside the point. Every time I sat down to Write The Blog. Nothing. And worse...I would get this tired feeling between my eyes. I hate that. Then, flipping through other blogs, reading other posts...which are all great! Man. What have I got to offer this world of blogging?

Which is the question. Right?

What are other people going to come to my blog to read. What can I write that's interesting? And really...there's only one thing that I can honestly come up with. Well. Two. But it's all one subject.

Food and Wine.

So. If you're not interested in reading about food and wine. Run away now. Cause that's what I'll be writing about from here on out, kiddo's!
Maybe some writing too...cause I do do the writing and all....But it's not the Main focus by any stretch.

And it's not gonna be your average food porn pictures either. (Mostly cause I have a hard time getting my phone to talk to my chromebook...help..anyone?)  It's gonna be a hardcore, ingredient driven, make this or die trying talk about food that people feel in their souls...wine that makes you close your eyes and stop breathing for a second it tastes so good. That type of blog.

So.

Well.

I feel better!

And on that note. Hopefully I see a few of you around!

Thanks!

Up Next...Where my Blog Name came from...

The Next Big Thing!

To contact us Click HERE
What a lovely day for a Blog Hop! Marcy over at Mainewords clued me into this one so make sure you go over there and check out here lovely blog...

Meanwhile...I have some questions that needs be answering!

What is the working title of your book?

It's laboring under the title of "The Machination's of Jekyll"
 
Where did the idea come from for the book?
My BRAAAAAINS! Ha. Honestly...I wanted to simply write a character driven book that was dark, yet humorous...and had a twisty plot. So I started asking myself a lot of 'what if...' questions. And writing the answers down. My plot map on my story board is a wreck. I swear. If the Secret Service ever breaks into my house, they're gonna lock me away for a long time.

What genre does your book fall under?
Steampunk Horror Detective. Hmm. Is that a genre? It is NOW dammit!

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Yeesh. Umm. The Detective. Owen Straff. I would have him played by the guy that played Dresden on the TV show all those years ago. He's just the right amount of scruffy and beat up. Yet smart and conniving. Jekyll needs to be a slightly insane person, though very charming at the first. You know. Your average sociopath. I'd also need someone British. Christopher Walkin would have been great in his earlier years. Not sure now. Anthony Hopkins. The guy that played Moriarty on Sherlock. I need a no name for the woman lead. For my own personal reasons. And on to the next question!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Private Detective First Class Owen Straff has sworn to protect Queen and country though this is made harder when Dr. Jekyll starts rampaging about England in an Undetectable Dirigible backed by an army of half biological half clockwork monsters of his own creation.
 
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Hopefully Represented by an Agency.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Still working on the first draft. I'm very much a plotter. So every detail is planned out...pretty slow going. Plus I'm pretty new to this "serious writing" thing. :) I've only been doing it for about a year. And I totally ditched my first WIP after reading "Hooked".

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Huh. Well. I've come to realize that I've not read a whole lot of Steampunk. I THOUGHT I had...but on further research...I'm woefully behind. Pathetic really. I have a list. Working on it now. But I think the horror is somewhat Lovecraftian a bit. Quite dark. But I try to balance it out with snarky humor. Not over the top. Just dry wit. What I like to read. Maybe like Butcher? I don't know though.

Who or What inspired you to write this book
That's a hard one. I really can't say. It was weird when I Really started writing I kept it kinda secret. And I still don't let a whole lot of people read my writing. (Confidence?) But I'm getting better. My inspiration came mostly from within. Just needing to write. Something. Anything. Be heard. Which is ironic as I rarely let anyone read what I write.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
The difference between my book and your average Detective Mystery book is the characters. They're flawed. They don't fall in your perfect little square boxes. They have issues. And the plot twists. I know that every writer wants to believe their story has that killer plot that just gonna make the reader's jaw drop and really who's does? I don't know. But I'm working to try to break out of the stereotypes. Trying to find different ways to bring these characters together, pull them apart, I want my readers to really believe the horror Straff feels when he discovers Jekyll's lab and the atrocities therein. Yet, also the sence of wonder. Because isn't it amazing that a person could still be breathing, yet have had his heart replaced with gears and levers! Amazing! 


So there you have it. My Next Big Thing! Hopefully I didn't forget anything!  

Confessions of a *cough*Middle Age*cough* Blogger

To contact us Click HERE
I have Road Rage.

Oh baby. And let me tell you. Living in the Mid Coast Maine? Lincoln County is the Oldest (age wise) County in this state. Joy. And no, I don't have ANYTHING against the elderly driving. I know several elderly people that are speed demons. You know. 45, 50 miles per hour. Wicked fast.

sigh.

Anyway. See. I was driving along Rt. 1, which for those that don't know is the main corridor in this area. The. Main. Corridor. As in really the only way to get from point A to point B in any realistic length of time. The speed limit on Rt. 1 is 55. Not 33. Not 40. FIFTY FIVE.

Sigh.

Also. There is a breakdown lane that is about as wide as the traveling lane. This is good for merging into if you are going to be making a right hand turn. OR if there is a car in the traveling lane stopped to make a left hand turn, you can keep traveling at speed, into the breakdown lane, and just go around them. It's called Maintaining the Flow of Traffic! You do NOT STOP in the traveling lane and then Turn Right! As well...you do not sit behind a car waiting to turn left. Waiting. Waiting. As I sit behind you. And then three cars sit behind me. And suddenly there is a WHOLE LINE of traffic that can't go anywhere because you didn't just go AROUND them in the first place.

Sigh.

And since WHEN did the whole "Slower Traffic Pull to the Right" when going up hills thing go out of vogue? There is a pretty long hill right as you come into town. It's two lanes going up so that slower mini-van traffic can pull over and let faster, better Subaru drivers (ie: Me) go by and get to their appointments on time. However. This only works if people play by the rules. Which they don't. What the hell is going on? I'm not laying on my horn! Maybe I should! I'm not flashing my lights! Maybe I should! I'm probably cursing at you quite vociferously and pirate like as I crawl ever slower up the hill. Because your silly little 1.2 liter automatic mini-van engine can't handle being hauled up that MASSIVE hill. Lately I've been tempting fate and passing them on the right. But it's only a matter of time before that all goes badly.

Sigh.

And can we all please...Please. PLEASE. Please. Just agree when going through the light down here at the end of  my road to just wait for me to go first. You know the one. The one that you don't know how to turn left at because you've never quite figured out that if there is another car, from the other direction turning left as well...you don't need to go around each other. Really? How. The. Hell. Does that even happen??? ??? Holy Mother of GOD!  It's simple. Really. It's a HUGE intersection people. You cross in Front of each other. Get it?! Yikes.

Sigh.

Anyway. I was driving along Rt. 1...looked down at my speedometer and realized that I was going 25. Looked in my rear view and saw a LINE of cars...at least nine...behind me. The car in front of me? A Buick from Florida with a veteran plate. Seriously. Not to sound 'age-ist'. But if you cannot maintain the speed limit, which right there was 55, I would argue that you should not be driving. I am all for elder rights, and them having their freedom and all of that. But obviously, if he's (and yes it was a he, cause I passed him) going that slow, he obviously doesn't feel comfortable or safe driving anymore.

Sigh.
And No. I don't have a solution to this. Feel free to school me. :)

Motivational Juices

To contact us Click HERE
I have been in the mood for Whiskey lately.

I'm not sure if it's because it's been getting colder lately. Or if it's because it's just been that kind of, well, month. But really. Whiskey makes things so much smoother.

Yes. I'm a huge snob when it comes to this sort of thing. There are some things that you can buy cheaply and be fine with. Wine...you can get a decent bottle of wine for 5, 10 bucks. But Spirits. It's hard to buy good hard Spirits for under 20. Unless you're just getting them to mix with other crap. Then yah. Go ahead and buy crap. But if you're like me, and just want it to drink straight up, or with one rock. Gotta get the good stuff. Otherwise it's like licking the underside of a used band-aid.

Personally. The cheapest/best Combo that I've found is Tullamore Dew. It's an Irish Whiskey (Hence the 'ey'). It's a smooth whiskey. Great for sipping. Quite malty, yet not overwhelmingly so. It's a good whiskey for those that are just starting to try whiskey I think. Normally, I can find a bottle of this for around 25 bucks.  It's been my 'go to' whiskey for a good solid 2 years now. Which is saying something. Since I'm a major Whiskey Snob.


Speaking of which. I really should get stocked up, by the sounds of this storm heading our way! Shnikeys!

My reason for being such a spirit snob is simple. My introduction to this world was access to the best of the best, and the worst of the worst. I very quickly came to understand the difference.

Early on in my career I was bought a shot of whisky, Scottish origin, hence the lack of 'e', which I do not remember the name of, as it was many moons ago. I know it began with a "Ge..." and it cost over $200 a bottle. And it was amazing. Like liquid firey toasty peaty oakyness. Yet it was smooth, silky. Almost spicy. With just the right hint of citrus. I was hooked.

Bad cheap whisky, and whiskey, can taste like iodine. I'm not sure if it's a filler ingredient...but it's amazing how much like band-aids it tastes. Not comforting on a cold winter night at All!

Anyway. I'm on the hunt tomorrow to restock my spirit cupboard. As I'm out. Tragedy! Maybe I'll splurge and get a nice Scottish Single malt.

Probably not as I only have a limited budget.... damn.

Writing Songs

To contact us Click HERE

Dear Sir or Madam,
Will you read my book? It took me years to write, will youtake a look? It's based on a novel by a man named Lear and I need a job, so Iwant to be a paperback writer.

It's a dirty story of a dirty man, and his clinging wife doesn't understand. Theirson is working for the Daily Mail, it's a steady job but he wants to be apaperback writer,

It's a thousand pages, give or take a few. I'll be writing more in a week ortwo. I can make it longer if you like the style. I can change it round and Iwant to be a paperback writer.

If you really like it you can have the rights. It could makea million for you overnight. If you must return it, you can send it here. But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer.
Sincerely,
Paperback Writer
I'm a Beatles fan and I've probably listened to the song "Paperback Writer" (these are slightly modified lyrics) a couple hundred times but it wasn't until I wrote my first query letter that I actually understood what John Lennon and Paul McCartney were getting at.

It's a freaking query letter!

Like most writers, I'm fascinated by words. So I guess it's not surprising that I love song lyrics. I've even written a couple songs myself!

And I LOVE it when two of my favorite things come together, writing and music.

There are dozens of songs that reference different aspects of writing. Lyric writing is a craft unto itself but it shares a lot with all writing genres. For example:

Anna Nalick shares the pain of the creative process and what it feels like to have something so personal go out into the world for everyone to put their own spin on.


Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings share their thoughts about work ethic and dealing with publishers music executives.


And Vampire Weekend even has strong opinions about grammar!

  I'll leave you today with a quote from songwriter and singer Tracy Chapman that mirrors my own feelings about all types of writing:
 
Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It's something I don't feel like I really control.

Sci-Fi Stories and Paying Market

To contact us Click HERE
Just a quick heads up:

If you're looking for some quality science-fiction, check out Abyss & Apex. They have some pretty awesome FREE stories up on their site.

For all you sci-fi writers, A&A is also a paying market: "US $.05/word (five cents a word) up to 1,500 words, and a flat payment of $75.00 for longer stories".

I submitted a story a few days ago. Keep your fingers crossed for me!