The End of a Chapter

It took me a while to summon to courage to write this letter, but I feel I now can without pushing away from the keyboard.

 

To my amazing fans:

 

I know you are all counted in a small group comprised of brave individuals who love reading, and care deeply for the stories that take you out of your world. You’ve read the first book, and are probably wondering when the 2nd one will come out. I can’t answer that yet, as there are many kinks in the manuscript that I still need to work through. You’ve been with the characters of Itarathrough their turmoil and troubles, pain, love, and laughter of their stories, and traveled with them on their journeys. You’ve walked alongside Jareth with his determined stride, laughed or groaned at Khyler’s gamboling nature, fought beside Kyra and the people of the Ferryn, and felt the flame of magic with Mason as he struggles to learn his place in the world. I respect you all for your time, your heart, and your imaginations. Without you, their stories could not come to life.

That is why, with a heavy heart, I must inform you of a change in the world of Itara. I sent an email to Black Rose Writing a few nights ago asking to be released of my contract.  On March 5th, I received a formal letter of cancellation, releasing all rights back to me as the author.  I am no longer published under the Black Rose Writing name.  Although making the decision to leave Black Rose is not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination, I feel it is a necessary step. Please know this is not a decision made in haste, but rather over a couple of months of hard deliberation. I weighed the pros and cons, listened to the emails sent to me by my fans, and took the advice of industry professionals seriously. I believe you, my beautiful readers, deserve a story that is well written, and well edited. The last thing I want is for errors to take you out of the world of Itara, as it seems this printing is notorious for doing. I am embarrassed by volume of mistakes within the book. You deserve far more.

Don’t fret just yet. Simply because I am cutting ties with Black Rose does not mean I am cutting ties with Itara. It is my life’s work, my legacy, and my baby, and it will be a part of me for the rest of my life. I will still work on the 2nd and 3rd manuscript, and will keep this page going, even if there isn’t anything else to speak about. You are still free to post your thoughts and feelings here (being respectful of others, of course), and I will continue to work on Wizzfeth Stipplewhim’s tales of daring do.

On that topic, there will be a new Wizzfeth story at the end of this month.

Thank you for sticking by me, and for believing in Itara, and it’s messages. I will not give up, and I promise someday your curiosity about the rest of the story will be sated.

Yours in the art of wordsmithing,
M.K. Presson

Noteworthy Music from Skyrim

Now, although my poor little netbook isn’t powerful enough to run “Skyrim”  (insert flood of tears here), I fast became a fan of the main theme sung by a woman with a voice like Sarah McLaughlin.  The song “The Dragonborn Comes” was written by Jeremy Soule.

Skyrim Tribute to “The Dragonborn Comes.”

Her name is Malukah.  I hope you feel the same sense of depth and wonder that I did.  Although it is for Skyrim, if you take it as itself as a stand-along piece, it can be applied to Mason’s story, or the story of any hero of any class that grabs your fascination.  I tip my hat to Jeremy for his instrumental and lyrical skills, and to Malukah for her voice.

And play the game, folks.  I hear you can punch a dragon to death.  Curse my feeble computer!

(Yes, that is my hand catching a shaft of sunlight one winter day in 2011.)

M.K. Presson Featured Author on “Beyond Worlds.com”

Hey, everyone! On January 16th, my story and that of my novel, Itara’s, went live on the website, http://habeyondworlds.com/ on the home page. Please check it out. Not only can you find my featured story, but the fantastic stories of many other authors. If you’re an avid reader, this is a great place to find honored authors and unique tales.

As a reminder, I have not forgotten about posting the first story of Wizzfeth Stipplewhim’s adventures. Look for it here at the end of the month. Khyler’s uncle somehow winds up in the most interesting and fantastical situations, and –by his own recollection– retells them again and again, each with a different spin on the same story. Which adventure will Wizzfeth find next? Stay tuned!

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning…

Where the heck do I begin?

It’s one of the oldest questions in the history of the wordsmith.  You’ve got this amazing story swirling in the gray mist in your head, birthing images and witty little one-liners you know will bring chuckles or dramatic 3-chord pauses, but as soon as you plunk your butt in the chair, it disappears.  That magnificent first line the muse whispered in your ear on the drive home went right out the other.  Raise your hand if this has happened to you.

I see you’re all raising your hands.  Except for you.  Sit down.  No cookie for you.

If you’re not Mr. Perfection sulking sadly in the back without a cookie, then this article is for you.  Though I can’t give you a magical fix-it for this head-scratcher, I can offer what fantastic or crappy knowledge I’ve gained over the years. I’ll offer a few ideas on how to start that story, but ultimately it’s up to you to stalk, hunt down, chase, stab and eat the one that’s crunchiest for you.

1.  Short and Simple

Take the start of this thread, for example.  Being that it was the keynote of the entire piece, it wasn’t hard to come up with.  This particular tidbit of tastiness came from the enigmatic mind of my peace corp adventurer college English professor, Jim Toner.  Keeping the first paragraph limited to one short sentence, even one word, is a way to snag the reader by the nubbins and pull them into your work.  This is a dangerous method, though, as it doesn’t always have the desired effect unless you choose you words carefully.  It’s like picking out that perfect outfit for a blind date.  Which will impress him/her more with an Emerol BAM!?  This is one of my favorite tactics to use.  I also like to think of this one as the “Attention Deficit Disorder Intro– oh look, a butterfly.”

2.  It Burns Us!

Setting fire to your reader with a description of hellmouths and brimstone as though you’ve thrown them into the lava along with your character is one way to go.  There are some stories I’ve read where I’ve enjoyed being sucker-punched into a chair by the power of the first paragraph, and times when I’ve walked way rubbing a bloody nose.

3.  Float Gently Like a Leaf on Water

A Zen philosopher sits down on the smooth petals of a bed of lilies, opens his mouth, and whispers the lilting words of ageless wisdom.  You are softened into his tome as though pulled into a cushion of warm air where the sinewy arms of delicate fairies wrap themselves around you in pure comfort and sing you into the world of the powerful, yet caressing voice of the author.  In this into, you can either float along the descriptions, or deliquesce into them.

4.  Enough Already!

The Information Bomb.  The story begins with a full page of description detailing family trees, battlements, weapons, the lusty woes of a tainted woman seeking revenge, minute setting details down to the number of legs on the insect crawling up a wall, and the strategy one house uses on another to dethrone their influence in the land, or world, or galaxy.  This type of intro I’ve affectionately named the “Slow Press.”  It’s like a good cup of coffee, only you don’t get a single cup to savor while wondering what the next cup tastes like.  Oh no.  You get the entire boiling bubbling percolating pot.  Before you know it, you’re heavy with indigestion and running for the bathroom.  I’ll name one author who did this to me.  I was lucky to fight my way through the thick gnarl of straight-up information two chapters thick:  Frank Herbert, “Dune.”  Now, if you like this sort of beginning, and it works for you, by all means use it.  Use it to all of its great bombastic potential.

Some of us are coffee people, and some of us are tea people.  You’ll never know what your reader likes until they pick up your story.  Try out a few things and see what fits.  Much like in school with those “what does this mean to you” questions, there are no wrong answers, just curious interpretations that leave your teacher wondering how their student made it this far.

The Adventures of Wizzfeth Stipplewhim to be Announced

Hello, everyone.  Happy New Year to all, and many resolutions you will see through, or at least give a tremendous shot at seeing through.  Starting in 2012, at the end of January, I will post the first adventure of Khyler Fannisand’s favorite uncle, Wizzfeth Stipplewhim.  Throughout book 1, Khyler is constantly recounting the wondrous tales off his uncle’s journeys through Itara.  With these stories, I’m hoping you will read the title as the capricious little Gedni begins the tale and know the story as a sort of behind-the-scenes taste.

The Adventures of Wizzfeth Stipplewhim coming soon!

The Union Democrat Runs Story on M.K. Presson

On Thursday, Dec. 1st, the Union Democrat in my home of Sonora, California ran a half page story about me and my first novel, “Itara: Son of C’reseth.”  I’d post a link, but it seem the Weekender page on the Union Democrat site is currently down.  When my father called to tell me about the article, I squealed like a little girl and bounced around the office.  This is the first time I’ve been featured as an author in a newspaper.  It means so much more that the place of my upbringing is the first to give me this fine honor.

A heartfelt ‘thank you,’ to everyone on the staff at the Union Democrat.  You’ve given me a wonderful Christmas present.

Were You At Comikaze 2011?

Rainbow Dash

If you were at the 1st annual Comikaze convention at the L.A convention center, you probably saw me ‘dashing’ around as the competitive attitude queen, Rainbow Dash.  When I wasn’t being snagged for photo ops (which were all awesome!), I busted out my own camera and took some shots.  If you dressed up, I may have caught you in one of my pictures. I’ve put up the ones that turned out on my photobucket page.  Check it out!  If you find yourself, that’s great!  If you can’t find yourself, seek therapy. Or just wait for yourself to come home from where ever you were.

http://photobucket.com/comikaze2011

If you see yourself, please let me know and I will change the title on the picture.  You can send me a direct message via the contact page on this site.   I’m not a professional photographer, but I do know how cool it feels to see a picture of yourself that someone snapped guerrilla style.

The number of intense, amazing, detailed, and jaw dropping costumes I saw at Comikaze landed somewhere in the… hundreds, maybe? We’ll say there were a lot, so please let your imagination fill in the rest. I ran into a plethora of Batmans, Supermans, Pokemon, and a few other ponies with Yaya Han.  Even the guide for the Haunted Mansion ambled by lighting the way with his trusty lantern, and I got to race Sonic the Hedgehog (I’m still faster, by the way.)

As Rainbow Dash would say, the people, the costumes, the camaraderie, the friendships, all made the first annual Comikaze Expo “20% Cooler.”

Comikaze Comes to LA!

GENTLEMEN!  BEHOLD! 

ComicKaze has returned to Los Angeles!

Cthulu Takes Over the World

Now for a bit of nerdnip….. Mark Hamill will be there!  SQUEE!  Hence the photo on the comikaze home page.

It’s like a less expensive version of Comicon, with sweet guests like Stan Lee and Elvira, and again… Mark Hamill.

How is this related to “Itara” you ask?  Why simple, my friends:  I will be there as a customer (sadly not as a boothie) dressed as Rainbow Dash, in a costume I hand stitched together myself. I am very proud of the wing production and intend on being in the Masquarade to show off my work. Even if I don’t win, just being there will be fun.

Congratulations.  You officially got a sneak peak into my little hobby of cosplaying –however lightweight it may be.  Although I am not a professional seamstress, I still have fun running around a convention center and posing for pictures as I show off my Hard Work and Guts! (less of the guts, though, I hope).

If you see me there in sky-blue clothes, rainbow hair, a colorful tail, and 3 foot wings, please stop and say hello!  I’d love to hear if you’ve read my novel, or are planning to buy it, or get a stack of them for Christmas gifts.

Comickaze website –>click
Times: Nov. 5th–6th.
Masquerade@ 4pm, Sun 6th.  Vote for Rainbow Dash!

Author’s Mugshots

If you’re a new author out there holding your baby manuscript in your hands as it cries for recognition, you’ve more than likely come across this one important question in your search to be noticed: Do I include an author photo on the back cover or not? If you haven’t yet pondered this quandary, then sit back and let me dispense some useful (or useless) advice.

First off, what kind of book did you spend hours slaving over a keyboard writing? if it’s a weight loss book, then you probably want your mugshot to say “Hey look-it! If I can loose a small panda in weight, so can you!” It’s an excellent marketing tool to perk up your readers to your ideas and let them see the results they could achieve from following your carefully devised diet plan. If you’re a chef, then the answer to showing off your happy smile over a skillet of sauteed veggies is a a lip-smackin’ mmmm-good. You’ll notice those two examples fall into the ‘self-help’ category.

If you’re like me, and you wrote an epic fantasy novel, more than likely the answer to this burning question is not as clear as an 80′s crystal plastic phone. Fantasy and Science Fiction novels are predominately populated by male authors –usually middle-aged, (although Christopher Paulini broke that vicious circle with “Eragon.” –and yes, I know what you’re thinking. I’ll write a post discussing the Paulini topic later.) The rare women such as Ann McCaffery, Tanya Huff, and J.K. Rowling stamped their permanent signitures in the Fiction Club for Men sign-in book. Because of this genre’s history, my mentor advised me to keep my visage away from my first novel and save it for the 2nd one. By that time, my reader will (hopefully) be hooked on the story enough to not care what M.K. Presson looks like, or if he/she has boobs or moobs.

Statistically, guys are less likely to pick up an epic fantasy written by a woman. It’s probably because they think girls don’t know how to write battle scenes, and will fill every page with hearts and romantic beach scenes staring Fabio’s gorgeous younger look-alike–like a harlequin novel. Let me be the first to call that assumption a great big pile of gantu stank. Not only can women write amazingly vivid battle scenes, but we also know how to write of wounded men missing limbs, or women lamenting over their dead husbands, and of children becoming orphans when their father is impaled by the enemy’s halberd and left to rot in a steaming pool of his own squishy eviscerated innards.

Nastyness aside, if you decide you want to put your photo on the cover of your book, it’s your choice. If you throw caution to the wind, make sure your photo is professional and matches the tone of your story. If you’re more paranoid or want to keep your story androgynous, then just make sure your bio on the back lets your readers know you’re serious. Either way, I wish you the best of luck, whether I see your smiling face staring back from a bookshelf or not.

Stay imaginative, my friends.

Poets! Poets! Gads of Poets!

Well folks, they’ve done it again!

Tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 24th, all day on Venice beach is a massive gathering of poets! I will be there with my books at the same booth with Apryl Skies (you may know her from her children’s book “Sky the Troll”). She will be reading some of her poetry at 2pm.

Come down. Listen to vivid poetry. Eat lots of food. Find all kinds of literary goodies. Enjoy the beach, and make your weekend 50% cooler.

For more information, visit the Calliope’s Closet link to the right of this page.