When Freedom of Expression Becomes Censorship 05/22/2017 I am an immigrant. My parents brought me and my two younger sisters to the United States in 1973, with hopes of providing us with the best educational opportunities this country has to offer—in both the academic and the moral sense. During our first year here, when I was only eight years old, my father sat me down one evening after dinner and said, “Anak [which means “daughter” in Filipino], I want you to learn everything this country has to offer, both the good and the bad. You have a rare
I am an immigrant. My parents brought me and my two younger sisters to the United States in 1973, with hopes of providing us with the best educational opportunities this country has to offer—in both the academic and the moral sense. During our first year here, when I was only eight years old, my father sat me down one evening after dinner and said, “Anak [which means “daughter” in Filipino], I want you to learn everything this country has to offer, both the good and the bad. You have a rare
Enter "the Victor" Indie Author Contest! 05/02/2017 When we considered sponsoring an Indie Author award, we had two basic goals: to encourage local writers to finish their novels and to discover and promote local writing talent. Although “the Victor Indie author award” contest has only been publicized for a short-while, we’re already heartened by the positive response we’ve received from Southern California writers. We hope to receive more entries before the August 1st entry deadline. Participation in the contest is free, and the winner will
When we considered sponsoring an Indie Author award, we had two basic goals: to encourage local writers to finish their novels and to discover and promote local writing talent. Although “the Victor Indie author award” contest has only been publicized for a short-while, we’re already heartened by the positive response we’ve received from Southern California writers. We hope to receive more entries before the August 1st entry deadline. Participation in the contest is free, and the winner will
Editing: Carving the Angel From the Marble 02/15/2017 Perhaps someone has told you your manuscript needs editing. Instead of getting your hackles up, ask for clarification: there are at least four types of editing, each corresponding to a specific stage of the book publishing process. Ideally, a manuscript will be subject to all four stages of editing. However, self-publishers may not have the budget to hire professional editing at all stages of the process. Understanding the editing process and your own strengths and weaknesses will help you plan
Perhaps someone has told you your manuscript needs editing. Instead of getting your hackles up, ask for clarification: there are at least four types of editing, each corresponding to a specific stage of the book publishing process. Ideally, a manuscript will be subject to all four stages of editing. However, self-publishers may not have the budget to hire professional editing at all stages of the process. Understanding the editing process and your own strengths and weaknesses will help you plan
Should Authors Advocate Censoring “Dangerous” Books? 02/03/2017 On Wednesday night at UC Berkeley an angry mob wearing masks gathered at a lecture hall, attacked attendees with rocks and paint, pepper sprayed a young woman, beat a man unconscious, overturned barriers and used them to smash windows and attack the police, and burned University lighting equipment, all in a successful attempt to stop the free speech of a man they deem to have dangerous political beliefs. The violent protesters mostly seemed to be Black Bloc Antifa, which stands for
On Wednesday night at UC Berkeley an angry mob wearing masks gathered at a lecture hall, attacked attendees with rocks and paint, pepper sprayed a young woman, beat a man unconscious, overturned barriers and used them to smash windows and attack the police, and burned University lighting equipment, all in a successful attempt to stop the free speech of a man they deem to have dangerous political beliefs. The violent protesters mostly seemed to be Black Bloc Antifa, which stands for
Great Opening Lines 01/31/2017 There’s a lot more to a great novel than a few good opening lines. But who can deny that an intriguing opener can hook you and make you want to read more. Here are a few opening lines, both modern and classic, that stand out to me. On one otherwise normal Tuesday evening I had the chance to live the American dream. I was able to throw my incompetent jackass of a boss from a fourteenth-story window. – Larry Correia, Monster Hunter International (2009) He was born with a gift of laughter and
There’s a lot more to a great novel than a few good opening lines. But who can deny that an intriguing opener can hook you and make you want to read more. Here are a few opening lines, both modern and classic, that stand out to me. On one otherwise normal Tuesday evening I had the chance to live the American dream. I was able to throw my incompetent jackass of a boss from a fourteenth-story window. – Larry Correia, Monster Hunter International (2009) He was born with a gift of laughter and
Self Publishing, Indie Publishing, Hybrid Publishing . . . What the—? 01/26/2017 First there was publishing. Period. Now there are traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing, partner publishing, indie publishing, micro publishing, small publishing. . . . The publishing industry is experiencing an identity crisis. Access to new technology (especially freeware or open source applications like Scribus and Sigil) has placed the ability to publish a book within the grasp of a precocious twelve-year-old, spawning a raucous litter of small publishing companies. So
First there was publishing. Period. Now there are traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing, partner publishing, indie publishing, micro publishing, small publishing. . . . The publishing industry is experiencing an identity crisis. Access to new technology (especially freeware or open source applications like Scribus and Sigil) has placed the ability to publish a book within the grasp of a precocious twelve-year-old, spawning a raucous litter of small publishing companies. So
Aionios Books in Today’s Publishing Arena 01/26/2017 How it all started Two years ago, this big, bearded guy, who possessed a fearsome tennis serve along with furious ground strokes, decided to help me with my game, specifically my stroke technique—which sadly sucked (I hope it has improved since!). In the course of the twelve-some months that followed, Daniel Primbs and I became good friends, tennis buddies who share not only a love of the game but also a love of books and learning. I was writing poetry at the time, and Daniel kept prodding
How it all started Two years ago, this big, bearded guy, who possessed a fearsome tennis serve along with furious ground strokes, decided to help me with my game, specifically my stroke technique—which sadly sucked (I hope it has improved since!). In the course of the twelve-some months that followed, Daniel Primbs and I became good friends, tennis buddies who share not only a love of the game but also a love of books and learning. I was writing poetry at the time, and Daniel kept prodding
Are Self-Published Books an “insult to the written word”? 01/12/2017 Laurie Gough, an author, has created a brief furor over her Huffington Post article in which she claims self-published books are an “insult to the written word.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-gough/selfpublishing-an-insult-_b_13606682.html One has to credit Gough with bravery if nothing else. All the writers who have been rejected by publishers, along with all the hundreds of thousands who have already self-published, aren't happy to have their books prejudged as “insulting to the
Laurie Gough, an author, has created a brief furor over her Huffington Post article in which she claims self-published books are an “insult to the written word.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-gough/selfpublishing-an-insult-_b_13606682.html One has to credit Gough with bravery if nothing else. All the writers who have been rejected by publishers, along with all the hundreds of thousands who have already self-published, aren't happy to have their books prejudged as “insulting to the
How to Share Your Love of Reading with Your Kids 12/08/2016 The stack of Christmas books was in the upstairs linen cabinet. You’d see them during the year when you were doing your chores, folding and organizing the sheets and towels. You’d feel that wistful pang in mid-September, probably earlier. My parents read to my brother and me year-round. But the Christmas books never came out before December. My parents knew how to make reading a big deal. They gave me an effortless love of books. And in this world of screens and short attention spans, I’ve
The stack of Christmas books was in the upstairs linen cabinet. You’d see them during the year when you were doing your chores, folding and organizing the sheets and towels. You’d feel that wistful pang in mid-September, probably earlier. My parents read to my brother and me year-round. But the Christmas books never came out before December. My parents knew how to make reading a big deal. They gave me an effortless love of books. And in this world of screens and short attention spans, I’ve
How to Know It’s Time to Quit 11/16/2016 Warning: The following contains mixed metaphors. Just roll with it. There’s a first draft, aspiring novel, saved on my computer, a jumble of scenes that half exist in eerie quasi-corporeal suspensions. Squint the right way and you’ll see them, but they vanish in plainer sight. My first draft has been good to me, but it’s given all it can give, and as I sit here in its hesitant glow, I know. It’s time to quit. I know that quitting one project does not mean I’ll quit every project. I have
Warning: The following contains mixed metaphors. Just roll with it. There’s a first draft, aspiring novel, saved on my computer, a jumble of scenes that half exist in eerie quasi-corporeal suspensions. Squint the right way and you’ll see them, but they vanish in plainer sight. My first draft has been good to me, but it’s given all it can give, and as I sit here in its hesitant glow, I know. It’s time to quit. I know that quitting one project does not mean I’ll quit every project. I have
