On a Sad Note

Leading puppet animation producer Kihachiro Kawamoto has died of pneumonia. He was 85. He was best known for his "Sangokushi," (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), but was also behind several other animations. Select this link for the complete story, then please join me in a virtual sake toast.

He was an amazing artist.

Sites You've Got to Check Out

I just found this site about Antiques and their uses. Before you think, "Bah humbug, I hate antiques and what do they have to do with writing, anyway?" Remember, you may want to write something within an historical context someday. One of the fascinating articles they've got up discusses how folks used to cook with quicklime (cooking without a fire) before Chef Boyardee made self-heating cans.

This is an interesting contest with Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown. I fear the chance to enter has now closed (I'm not sure on that, so don't quote me) but it's still a learning opportunity.

For authors of color, this might be lucrative. Check out publisher Lee and Low's New Voice Award contest.

And last but not least, many thanks to Fiction Groupie for the link to Jenn Stark's article on branding tips and trends. Check it out and have a great weekend!

Upcoming Book Release Event

I met Jeannie Lin about four years ago as of this coming October. We had both competed in a Miss Snark competition and I loved her entry involving a warrior princess on the way to her wedding and some serious kick-butt action. Since then, Jeannie won the 2009 Golden Heart award and I've been so delighted to rediscover Jeannie. She's a terrific author and mentor and I couldn't be more tickled that her book, "Butterfly Swords" will be released on the four-year anniversary of when we met - give or take a few days. (I'm SURE the publisher planned it that way. ;D)

Coming up in September, I'll start a Jeannie Lin season involving give aways, a guest blog with the author, reviews of first her short story, "The Taming of Mei Lin" and then in October, "Butterfly Swords." In the meanwhile, feast your eyes on this fabulous book trailer:

Then head over to the "Butterfly Swords" promotion page and sign up to win a free copy of "Butterfly Swords" among some other really cool stuff.

2010 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival

Traditional Japanese Musical Performances

Denver Taiko, Kuniko Yamamoto (Japanese Storyteller),

Aya Uchida (Japanese Pop Singer from Japan), God of Shamisen,

Koto and Shakuhachi, J-Band, Bunraku Puppets, K-State Yosakoi Dance Troupe,

KU Okinawan Dance Troupe, Buyo Dance, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and more

Musical Performances

Concert 1:2-4:30 P.M.     Concert 2: 5:30-8:30 P.M.

Japanese Candy Artist

Traditional Japanese Food

11 A.M. - 7 P.M.

Japanese Beer and Sake Tasting

4-7 P.M.

Traditional Japanese Snacks and Sweets

Bazaar Shopping Extravaganza

Unique Japanese craft items, Kimono, dolls and much more

10 A.M. - 8 P.M.

Exhibits

Samurai Armor, Kimonos, Japanese Hina Dolls, Ikebana and Bonsai

Japanese Cultural Village

Fun activities, pictures in Kimono and Samurai armor, craft shop, special performances for kids and adults

Workshops and Demonstrations - Cultural Presentations

Martial Arts

Anime & Manga

Anime and Manga Vendors

Cosplay Contest with Cash Prizes (sign up on the GKCJF website)

Volunteers

Want to volunteer at the GKGJF? Go to the festival website to sign up.

Website

For complete information on events and times, go to:

http://www.kcjapanfestival.org/

And the Winner Is...

Straight from the hands of my four-year-old who loves picking out pieces of paper for my contest winners, the winner is...

Jeannie Lin! Jeannie, if you would contact me off line with your address, I'll be delighted to send you "A Wild Light."

Thanks to both of you for playing!

Part Two: A Wild Light Review

A Wild Light is the third book in the Hunter Kiss series and it's the first one of the series I've read. It stands on its own just fine. I suppose I didn't devour it as fast as I might have otherwise done as I had to read slowly to digest things. (It took me three days instead of one. *Shrugs*) Still, dang, this woman can write.

This book is set in modern day America (no, this one has nothing at all to do with Asia, sorry) and is urban fantasy to the hilt of Maxine Kiss's demon blood-soaked blade. There's romance in that she rediscovers the love of her life after having him ripped from her memory - that happens right after her Grandfather is murdered. (Having never read the first book in the series, I cannot tell you if I would have approached this novel feeling like the romance part of the plot was a re-hash of a previous read. She did make me feel all the love and angst about their relationship, though.) Maxine struggles to find her Grandfather's murderer and instead discovers a horrific source of evil buried deep within herself.  She must find a way to overcome herself and bring about peace on earth between human or demon-kind or there will be hell to pay.

Throughout Maxine's memory recovery and fight for personal and world-wide survival, there was never a moment when I felt the plot dip into slowness or convenience. In fact, the following passage occurs just before the novel's halfway point, right when you might expect a reduction in plot-speed:

The darkness stirred again, but I did not push it away.


A single eye open inside my mind—its eye—and I thought, Yes, this time I need you.

They need you, said that sinuous voice, just a hiss in my mind, like a thought captured between dreams and waking. You are tangled in all those bleeding bones, and war-hearts. Your knots run deep as death, and the endless night.

"No," I said out loud. Grant glanced at me, but only a moment. Bodies dropped from the cut in the sky. My heart charged up my throat like I was going to turn inside out, and I kept turning, and turning.

I counted dozens, maybe a hundred, falling through the sky— a cloud of silver bodies that cut through the mist like pale ghosts. I felt removed from myself as I catalogued all the alien details —long, naked limbs, flying hair, humanoid masculine bodies—until, closer yet, I saw the holes of their eyes; and closer, the sharp angles of their faces; until they slammed into the earth in front of us, so hard the world shook. Some landed in the conifers, breaking branches, but none of the demons fell—simply leapt, light as air, onto the ground to join their brothers.

Grant slid around me to stand at my back, watching the ones who landed behind us. My spine and chest began vibrating, like a tuning fork was pressed between my shoulder blades. His voice, rumbling so low I could only feel it. I flexed my hand, and the armor shimmered, white-hot, blinding—

— Until I held a sword in my hand.

It was a familiar weapon. An extension of the armor itself. A chain ran from the pommel to my wrist; delicate as the blade, which was long and slender, engraved with runes. The metal gleamed with inner light—moonlight, starlight, icelight—and when I scraped the edge with my thumb, sparks flew. I felt good holding the blade. Better. Grounded.

I forced myself to breathe, slow and deep, and thought of my mother. My fearless mother.

She’d eat these bastards for breakfast. You can have them for lunch. 

Did I mention a giveaway the other day? Sigh. Thought I did. Yep, here's the moment when I have to follow through and give up my lightly used copy. I promise the contest isn't rigged so a "relative" wins. LOL Here's what I'd like you to do.

Comment = 1 pt.
Mention the giveaway on any or all of the following:
Facebook = 1 pt.
Tweet it = 1 pt.
Blog it = 2 pt.
Follow me = 2 pt.

Good luck to all - even if you're not already a fan, you'll enjoy this book.

Addendum: My apologies. I forgot to say when the contest would end. I'll close it up by midnight on Wednesday night, that Midnight (CST) 8/11/10.

Book Review: Marjorie Liu's Tiger Eye

If you've never read Marjorie Liu's books, you're in for a treat. I had seen them on the shelves. Books with sexy women, women with tattoos, women with swords. Since I tend to gravitate toward historical fantasy, I hadn't picked up a Liu book yet.

Finally, I checked out Tiger Eye, which is partially set in modern day China, but has roots sunk deep within history. I'd have to admit, there was a minor plot line that seemed under developed, but I didn't care. Not in the face of everything else this book offered. From the discovery of an immortal shapeshifting lover to betayal and murder, Liu makes sure you don't want to put this book down. I devoured it in two sittings. Keep in mind, this was right before Crested Butte and I had things I was supposed to do. But there was a book calling me....

Would you like a peak inside? I thought so. :) A few weeks ago, Catwoods mentioned making your characters stink. Try Liu's shapeshifter on for size:

     He reached past Dela to pick up the box, and his sudden closeness made her breath catch. She smelled moss, the musk of some forest cat, sharp and hard.

In two sentences, she conveys both Hari's presence, his shapeshifter's nature and his sexuality. That's good writing.

Liu has you breathing in her world, and her characters for 342 pages and at the end, you'll be sorry it ended. The good news is, it doesn't have to. I received news from Liu's press agent that a video game version of the book will be out soon. In fact, it may already be available. All ye who love the joystick as much as a page turner, get ready.

My next review is another one by Liu and as much as I hate to say it: a giveaway. I will send one lucky winner my ARC of Marjorie Liu's "A Wild Light," which is the next book in the Hunter Kiss series.

Crested Butte Coverage Continues and Other Goodies

Just when you thought I was done, head to Janet Lane's site. She has blogged on part of James Scott Bell's talk that I didn't touch on here.

And speaking of conferences, contests and other alliterations, check out these opportunities:

The WriteOn Free Online Conference will take place August 10-12, 2010. It will be attended by HOSTS of agents and authors. For the complete schedule, go to the WriteOn website.

The 2011 Missouri Writer's Guild Conference will be in St. Louis this year. Marcie Posner from Folio Literary Management and Kristin Nelson from the Nelson Literary Agency are just two of the many agents in attendance. I'm delighted to say one of the Masters Class presenters will be Jeannie Lin from All That You Desire. The conference will be on April 8-10, 2011, so save your pennies.

Addendum:

I just heard about this tonight, or I would have posted all of this together:

The 2010 Montezuma All-Iowa Writers’ Conference will be held in Montezuma, Iowa at the Montezuma Community School on Saturday, September 18 from 9 – 5, with registration starting at 8:30. It's an all-day event where you can learn writing tips, get advice on how to choose a publisher and learn new ways to market your work. Iowa authors scheduled to attend and inspire include: Donald Harstad, Shirley
Damsgaard, Kathy Bacus, Leigh Michaels, Tamara Siler Jones and Kali Van Baale. Admission is only $25! If you have ever dreamed of writing a book, this is a must-attend event. Email debwrite [@] zumatel.net for more details or look them up on Facebook at Our Front Porch Books Publishing Company.

Details and a registration form will soon be available at http://www.ourfrontporchbooks.com/. Many thanks to Tammy Jones for posting this information!

Day 3: Janet Lane on Free Range Characters

This talk wasn’t just about characterization, but how proper characterization can become indistinguishable from plot.


Janet suggests plotting stories using Inner and Outer story questions, advice most of us should be familiar with by now, but we’ll go over it using the plot from Avatar because everyone’s seen it by now. Right?

The Outer story question is a specific, tangible action-oriented goal and the character must strive for (or against) it. In Avatar, the Outer Story question is: Will greed destroy Pandora?

The Inner Story Question must be stated as a question, involves the character’s need, each character has his or her own inner question that is resolved in yes/no fashion by the story’s end with a resolution that is satisfying to the protagonist. The inner story question DRIVES the Outer Story.

Avatar’s Inner Story question: Will Jake sell his soul and betray Neytiri and the Navi to walk again?

Now, how free are your characters? What are their turning points?

It’s only a turning point if someone acts. Most turning points are at the beginning of Act I and 2. (Sometimes there’s one in the middle to act as a buttress to your story arc.) Who drives the characters’ decisions?

In Avatar, the first Turning Point for Jake is when he abandons the scientists and the NAVI and joins the Colonel and the “Greed” team. He is motivated by his desire to walk again. The second Turning Point is when he defies the Colonel and the team and fights for the NAVI. He is motivated for a variety of reasons including love, revenge for the Colonel’s lies and the death of the NAVI, their spiritual center and the death of Sigourney Weaver’s character.

What are your story’s Turning Points and what are the character’s motivations for turning? In other words, who is driving the story? Are external events doing it, or are the changes brought about by your character’s decisions and motivations? Who is in charge of your character arc?

Another way of looking at motivations, is to examine what the character wants, why he/she wants it and why they can’t get it, their worst fear (which should probably revolve around the inciting incident) and how they accept the call to action.

See how this works for Jake: He wants to be accepted, believes “he’s just another dumb drunk”, he cannot get what he wants because he hasn’t yet claimed his life, his worst fear is that his naysayers are right and that he’ll never be more than a broken ex-marine, but then his twin brother dies, giving him an opportunity to fit in again. He accepts the opportunity and travels to Pandora. Do you see how most of that happens off screen?

Many thanks to Janet Lane and her exceptional handout sheets. I would never have been able to reproduce this for you without them. Make sure you check out Janet’s site as she was able to post on the part of the conference I arrived too late to see. This is my last blog on the Crested Butte Writers Conference. Thanks for joining me; we will now return to our regularly scheduled programming. ;D