Last night I sent off my first query letter. This morning I got back my first rejection letter. According to what I have read somewhere (I don't remember where)I can now claim to be a real author.
I am not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I had hoped despite all the odds it would be a simple process to get published. On the other hand now I have been rejected future rejections don't seem to matter as much.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
The party ended. The revelers who once filled the street with noise and life have stumbled wearily to their lodgings. For the first time in a week subdued silence fills the streets. Seeking refuge in his rented room, Gillian takes to his bed and gratefully falls asleep.
From the hall, a thin sliver of light dimly illuminates the dark room as the door eases open. The light causes the exhausted Gillian to stir. After a brief pause, a slight form slips through the door and steals into the room. Once in the room the invader extinguishes the tightly shuttered lantern and sinks into the shadows watching her beloved. Deep in sleep Gillian does not wake and does not realize his sometime stalker, Athdara, invaded his room.
Unnoticed by either Athdara or the slumbering Gillian another form slips into the room via the open window. With the ease of long practice Gildor slithers silently across the empty floor. He pausing for a moment when he saw Athdara seated on the floor. She was looking right at him but not seeing him. Waiting for the right moment Gildor did not move. Athdara looked away seemingly lost in thought or perhaps in her music. The moment was now. Gildor quietly stole to the side of Gillian’s bed keeping the bulk of the bed between him and Athdara.
It would be so easy to kill this one, Gildor thought. Just a quick thrust of a dagger to the heart or, a stiletto in the ear. If it so easy, why couldn’t I kill her? It should have been so easy. Now the contract is broken, the assassin’s guild will come after me. Rajah has been looking for an excuse to come after me and I have handed him one on a silver platter. I should go back. I must go back to her room and finish the job… I can’t go back.
With a shrug Gildor redirected his attention to the take at hand. It would never do to have him screaming Gildor thought.
With the speed of the striking snake Gildor’s hand shot out and covered Gillian’s mouth.
The slight warrior monk’s reactions are good. As soon as he felt Gildor’s hand cover his mouth, he brought his hands up and readied a strike. He relaxed bit when he felt the intruder’s other hand press some paper against his chest. Fully awake Gillian realized he’d been expecting this intruder.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t get you a copy of the documents as you expected. It is unusual for me to request access to the archives let alone documents of this nature. They were watching me like hawks watch mice. This is the best I could do.”
Gillian nodded his acceptance but could not keep the disappointment from his face. He hoped that this unexpected expected meeting would end his life quest to find what happened to his parents.
Gildor turned back to the window and prepared to leave.
“Wait,” Athdara cried, “Who is that woman.”
Gillian bolt upright, “What are you doing in here?”
“Never mind that now,” Athdara replied. Then looked back at Gildor, and demanded, “Well who is that woman?”
“What woman. Oh you must mean Lisaria, she is the woman I am going to die for.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am going to be killed because of that woman.”
With that Gildor slipped out the window and disappeared into the darkness below.
Athdara ran to the window trying to get one last glimpse of her new infatuation but she was too late.
Gillian walked over to Athdara grabbed her shoulder and roughly spun her to face him. Leaning forward so close that there noses were almost touching.
Slowly and distinctly Gillian said, “What… Are… You… Doing… Here?”
“This is the first time I’ve done it.” Athdara said defensively.
“Well don’t do it again.”
Gillian turned his attention away from the unrepentant Athdara to the folded paper he still had clutched in his hand. Slowly Gillian walked the room looking for light source so he could read the document. After several seconds of looking he found Athdara’s abandoned lantern. Glancing sidelong at Athdara, Gillian picked up the lantern and lit it.
Un-shuttering the lantern and carefully unfolding the paper Gillian studied the contents.
It is a map, a map of Elvendaria. The northeast section of the map contained a small red circle. The margins of the map had a handwritten message it read:
“I’m sorry this is the best that I could do. I could not get access to the documents describing what happened to your parents. Those documents are classified Crown eyes only. They must be a part of the legendary Book of Kings. The documents I do have access to describe a secret military base at the location marked on the map. I used to be an officer in Special Forces, until I saw these documents I had no idea the base even existed. There is something there the area has been given a threat level IV rating. Until today, the highest treat rating I have head of was level III. If you decide to go to this area you need to know the King intends for this secret to remain secret the soldiers are authorized to use deadly force to keep out intruders.”
From the hall, a thin sliver of light dimly illuminates the dark room as the door eases open. The light causes the exhausted Gillian to stir. After a brief pause, a slight form slips through the door and steals into the room. Once in the room the invader extinguishes the tightly shuttered lantern and sinks into the shadows watching her beloved. Deep in sleep Gillian does not wake and does not realize his sometime stalker, Athdara, invaded his room.
Unnoticed by either Athdara or the slumbering Gillian another form slips into the room via the open window. With the ease of long practice Gildor slithers silently across the empty floor. He pausing for a moment when he saw Athdara seated on the floor. She was looking right at him but not seeing him. Waiting for the right moment Gildor did not move. Athdara looked away seemingly lost in thought or perhaps in her music. The moment was now. Gildor quietly stole to the side of Gillian’s bed keeping the bulk of the bed between him and Athdara.
It would be so easy to kill this one, Gildor thought. Just a quick thrust of a dagger to the heart or, a stiletto in the ear. If it so easy, why couldn’t I kill her? It should have been so easy. Now the contract is broken, the assassin’s guild will come after me. Rajah has been looking for an excuse to come after me and I have handed him one on a silver platter. I should go back. I must go back to her room and finish the job… I can’t go back.
With a shrug Gildor redirected his attention to the take at hand. It would never do to have him screaming Gildor thought.
With the speed of the striking snake Gildor’s hand shot out and covered Gillian’s mouth.
The slight warrior monk’s reactions are good. As soon as he felt Gildor’s hand cover his mouth, he brought his hands up and readied a strike. He relaxed bit when he felt the intruder’s other hand press some paper against his chest. Fully awake Gillian realized he’d been expecting this intruder.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t get you a copy of the documents as you expected. It is unusual for me to request access to the archives let alone documents of this nature. They were watching me like hawks watch mice. This is the best I could do.”
Gillian nodded his acceptance but could not keep the disappointment from his face. He hoped that this unexpected expected meeting would end his life quest to find what happened to his parents.
Gildor turned back to the window and prepared to leave.
“Wait,” Athdara cried, “Who is that woman.”
Gillian bolt upright, “What are you doing in here?”
“Never mind that now,” Athdara replied. Then looked back at Gildor, and demanded, “Well who is that woman?”
“What woman. Oh you must mean Lisaria, she is the woman I am going to die for.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am going to be killed because of that woman.”
With that Gildor slipped out the window and disappeared into the darkness below.
Athdara ran to the window trying to get one last glimpse of her new infatuation but she was too late.
Gillian walked over to Athdara grabbed her shoulder and roughly spun her to face him. Leaning forward so close that there noses were almost touching.
Slowly and distinctly Gillian said, “What… Are… You… Doing… Here?”
“This is the first time I’ve done it.” Athdara said defensively.
“Well don’t do it again.”
Gillian turned his attention away from the unrepentant Athdara to the folded paper he still had clutched in his hand. Slowly Gillian walked the room looking for light source so he could read the document. After several seconds of looking he found Athdara’s abandoned lantern. Glancing sidelong at Athdara, Gillian picked up the lantern and lit it.
Un-shuttering the lantern and carefully unfolding the paper Gillian studied the contents.
It is a map, a map of Elvendaria. The northeast section of the map contained a small red circle. The margins of the map had a handwritten message it read:
“I’m sorry this is the best that I could do. I could not get access to the documents describing what happened to your parents. Those documents are classified Crown eyes only. They must be a part of the legendary Book of Kings. The documents I do have access to describe a secret military base at the location marked on the map. I used to be an officer in Special Forces, until I saw these documents I had no idea the base even existed. There is something there the area has been given a threat level IV rating. Until today, the highest treat rating I have head of was level III. If you decide to go to this area you need to know the King intends for this secret to remain secret the soldiers are authorized to use deadly force to keep out intruders.”
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Editing Finished for now
I have printed a copy of my book. Yes I am finally finished with editing. I have a friend who is a professor of English. She is going to take a look. I dropped the book off at her home last night. After I get it back from her I know there will be some issues that need to be corrected. After I correct those issue. Time to find an agent and publisher.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Alternate beginning for my book.
I have been thinking about the beginning of my book. I am not sure if it attention grabbing enough. I have come up with an alternate beginning. See if you like it. Keep in mind it will just be place at the front of what I have already posted. I am not sure if I am including this section so it is still in a rough form.
A blinding flash of light and a thundering blast the Prima-cord detonated sending the ornate door crashing into the room.
“Go, go, go,” lead screamed into my ear.
My feet slammed onto the door as it hit the ground under my feet. I was the first in the room with Roberto right on my heels. Smoke from the blast obscured the room. Rifles readied we piled into the room. Wood and glass crunched under foot.
My feet tangled on a smashed piece of cabinet, causing me to stumble. Roberto advanced in front of me.
Blurring up from the couch a woman stood with a pistol in her hand. Barking once the small weapon fired. Roberto’s head snapped back, blood streaming from the exit wound.
I centered my sight picture on the woman. She’s turning her weapon in my direction. Squeezing the trigger almost caressing it I fired. A quick burst from my weapon splashed her all over the back wall. It’s a beautiful sight. It’s the sexiest way to look a woman, bloodily spattered all over the walls and the floor.
Roberto was always a stupid bastard now we are going to have haul his heavy ass out of here and find the stupid bullet case from the woman’s gun.
The target should be in her room. We don’t have much time. We shouldn’t have had to fire a shot we shouldn’t have to search the room for the bullet case. The staff would be calling the police. Lead headed off in the direction of the girl’s room. I followed closely on his heels. My rifle covering the left hand side as we traveled down the hall. Reaching the door to the girls room Lead took a Tranquilizer gun from his vest holster. Lead nodded his head; I reached out and opened the door. The target was out in the open. She was crossing the room, she must have been curious about the noise. Makes it easy for us.
With a little puff of air the dart sped out of Lead’s pistol and into the girls chest. She stood there looking at the dart stupidly for a couple of seconds. Then, her legs gave out and she toppled over. I gathered her in my arms and tossed her over my shoulder.
The trip back to the door was fast and uneventful. That’s good for us; we don’t have too much time.
“Two, get her into the van,” Lead ordered, “Three, get the bullet case if you can spot it quickly. Then, get Four’s body and get out of here. Don’t take more than thirty seconds.”
I raced to the van with the girl. I think that I crossed the distance in record time. The door slid open automatically.
“Was there any trouble Malloy,” The driver asked?
“Some, Roberto bought it.”
A blinding flash of light and a thundering blast the Prima-cord detonated sending the ornate door crashing into the room.
“Go, go, go,” lead screamed into my ear.
My feet slammed onto the door as it hit the ground under my feet. I was the first in the room with Roberto right on my heels. Smoke from the blast obscured the room. Rifles readied we piled into the room. Wood and glass crunched under foot.
My feet tangled on a smashed piece of cabinet, causing me to stumble. Roberto advanced in front of me.
Blurring up from the couch a woman stood with a pistol in her hand. Barking once the small weapon fired. Roberto’s head snapped back, blood streaming from the exit wound.
I centered my sight picture on the woman. She’s turning her weapon in my direction. Squeezing the trigger almost caressing it I fired. A quick burst from my weapon splashed her all over the back wall. It’s a beautiful sight. It’s the sexiest way to look a woman, bloodily spattered all over the walls and the floor.
Roberto was always a stupid bastard now we are going to have haul his heavy ass out of here and find the stupid bullet case from the woman’s gun.
The target should be in her room. We don’t have much time. We shouldn’t have had to fire a shot we shouldn’t have to search the room for the bullet case. The staff would be calling the police. Lead headed off in the direction of the girl’s room. I followed closely on his heels. My rifle covering the left hand side as we traveled down the hall. Reaching the door to the girls room Lead took a Tranquilizer gun from his vest holster. Lead nodded his head; I reached out and opened the door. The target was out in the open. She was crossing the room, she must have been curious about the noise. Makes it easy for us.
With a little puff of air the dart sped out of Lead’s pistol and into the girls chest. She stood there looking at the dart stupidly for a couple of seconds. Then, her legs gave out and she toppled over. I gathered her in my arms and tossed her over my shoulder.
The trip back to the door was fast and uneventful. That’s good for us; we don’t have too much time.
“Two, get her into the van,” Lead ordered, “Three, get the bullet case if you can spot it quickly. Then, get Four’s body and get out of here. Don’t take more than thirty seconds.”
I raced to the van with the girl. I think that I crossed the distance in record time. The door slid open automatically.
“Was there any trouble Malloy,” The driver asked?
“Some, Roberto bought it.”
stupid weather
It is has been snowing outside. I really don’t care for snow in the spring. Just a couple days ago it was nice warm weather. Time to fly the kite and take Trajen to the park. Trajen loves parks. He loves to slide down slides. Big slides, little slides all slides he likes ‘em. Now it’s cold and wet and looks to be cold and wet for the rest of the week.
I am not really sure of the point of this post. If anyone has any Ideas please let me know.
I am not really sure of the point of this post. If anyone has any Ideas please let me know.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Revison update.
I‘m finally done with this round of revisions. (Applause for author)
Hopefully the next round won’t be as difficult.
Hopefully the next round won’t be as difficult.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A different sort of "Savage Worlds" adventure
Inspired by a friend of mine (Richard) I purchased a new Role Playing Game book. The book is for the “Savage Worlds” game. It looks like and interesting gaming system. The rules look very simple and the game looks like it was designed for fast play. The rules are set up to cover any Genre. Tiffany wants me to work on a pirate adventure. I have been toying with a scenario in which Zombies attack our apartment building. Both games can be played with the same system. Cool huh.
But, that’s not the real reason that I am writing this blog. The real reason, I had an adventure in just getting the book. I bought the book on Saturday by Monday some of the pages were starting to come out of the binding. This is not really a problem as I was just going to have Kinko’s cut off the spine and have the book spiral bound.
I took the book to Kinko’s on Monday, they told me they could have it bound while I waited. So I was just chatting back and forth with the Guy who was doing the work. While he was punching the holes for the binding the said Oops.
Oops is never a good thing and I told him as much. He said, “No it’s not. I will show you what happened in just a second.”
The man continued to punch the holes once completed he brought it over for me to inspect. One section of the book had not been aligned correctly causing the holes to walk off the edge of the page. Only about the bottom third of the page could be correctly bound.
The man was obviously not happy about his work. He did suggest a couple of cosmetic fixes but still he was not pleased. I was not pleased with his work. I asked him for his suggestion. He sent me back to the Hobby store where I purchased the book to by another copy on his dime. I then brought back the book to his store where he rebound the book for me. When I told asked him how much I owed him he refused payment.
Who says Customer service is dead. I will be going back to that Kinko’s in the future.
But, that’s not the real reason that I am writing this blog. The real reason, I had an adventure in just getting the book. I bought the book on Saturday by Monday some of the pages were starting to come out of the binding. This is not really a problem as I was just going to have Kinko’s cut off the spine and have the book spiral bound.
I took the book to Kinko’s on Monday, they told me they could have it bound while I waited. So I was just chatting back and forth with the Guy who was doing the work. While he was punching the holes for the binding the said Oops.
Oops is never a good thing and I told him as much. He said, “No it’s not. I will show you what happened in just a second.”
The man continued to punch the holes once completed he brought it over for me to inspect. One section of the book had not been aligned correctly causing the holes to walk off the edge of the page. Only about the bottom third of the page could be correctly bound.
The man was obviously not happy about his work. He did suggest a couple of cosmetic fixes but still he was not pleased. I was not pleased with his work. I asked him for his suggestion. He sent me back to the Hobby store where I purchased the book to by another copy on his dime. I then brought back the book to his store where he rebound the book for me. When I told asked him how much I owed him he refused payment.
Who says Customer service is dead. I will be going back to that Kinko’s in the future.
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