HOUSE!!!

We got a house! Yahoo! It's 2000 square feet, on an acre. It's cute! There are citrus trees, nut trees, flowers and a tree house!

I'm very excited, in case it wasn't obvious. The kids will have their own space, as will all the adults and pets. Whew. Timing was pretty indicative that this was 'the one'. We're all very happy and will be having people over as soon as we're able.

Artistry & Advocacy. The Long and Short of Independant Publishing

This is a blog by my best + friend Ryan B. Clark. Please read it through and check out his sites on MySpace and Facebook. Thanks.


Now his words begin :
So....

I have been brooding on this for a while now, and it has come time to at the very least put the ideas out here... although editing them a bit from time to time might be necessary at some point.

Here is the deal...

I first got into the crazy world of publication (well, attempted anyway) about five years ago or so when the first draft of GRAVE WHISPERS was completed as part of my Master's Degree Thesis. So, I jumped into the world of sending out query letters to agents and trying to find a home for my opus of a first novel. (145,000 words when most first works are recommended at about 80,000 or so). I was greeting with about 85% form rejection letters and the other 15% or so, nice and personal rejection letters: it was too long, it was too dark, it was too horrific, it was too..... I didn't have a deep enough publishing history, I didn't know the right people, I didn't have impressive enough recommendation letters, I didn't... blah blah blah.... You get the idea.

So, I refocused. Along came the opportunity with Sinister Landscapes, and my first short story - SCOTLAND YARD DEMONS finally saw the light of day. The second story, THE ADDICT followed very closely. Now two more - THE HAUNTING OF AL TZIMER and THE HORRORS are in the queue, and Black Bed Sheet Press is getting ready to launch.... so, I would love to say.....

And the rest was history..... but..... I digress.

Here is the issue:

Black Bed Sheet Press is a small book press with a lot of aspirations, a lot of promise, and a couple of guys at the helm with a hell of a lot of determination. BUT... it is small. This is not Random House, or Knopf, or Viking, or Penguin...

This is what this means:

GRAVE WHISPERS is going to release (January.... keep your fingers crossed) as is RED WET DIRT by Nicholas Grabowsky and BLOOD BAR by Norman Applegate. These are the first three novel releases from the publisher. We are hoping to cover a lot of ground, get ourselves recognized by catelogs and distribution people and away we go.... but, all of this is going to have to start...

WITH YOU.

Independent ( I use the word as Black Bed Sheet was spawned by a artist who said, "Hell, if you can't get it done right sometimes you gotta do it yourself"... and away we went) artistry required the same kind of grass roots push as you have seen in elections. And it is going to take all kinds:

Some of you are really going to like this book.

Some of you are going to completely hate this book, but buy it because your crazy ex-English teacher wrote it.

Some of you are family and are going to buy it and then look very weirdly over your glasses at me at holiday meals and wonder how close you should be letting me sit to your children.

Some of you are probably just humoring me, and have no plans on plopping down your hard earned nickels and purchasing my ravings....

BUT...

Here is the bottom line. Everything at this point is going to come down to word of mouth. I need a street team. I need a vocal engine. I need folks to say, "Hey - have you read that new guy Clark's novel?" It takes less than five seconds. it doesn't cost you anything. And it could be just the push that this needs to achieve lift off.

SO PLEASE......

Your support is paramount.

I love you. There are so many people that I need to thank and deserve trophies for all they have done. I have stood on the shoulders of so many and been influenced by so many.

Please.... as we approach the launch date (Specifics to follow soon)....

Spread my name around. Recommend my book to folks that like horror fiction. Pass around my website.... www.ryanbclark.com (coming soon).

One of the first things my publisher asked me is if I had a myspace account. I do. It has 760 friends or something like that of a whole bunch of folks trying to do exactly what I am doing. The reason I like facebook more is people actually seem legitimately connected. People seem more plugged in. People seem to actually care about what is being said and blogged.....

SO.... ????

I need you. I need the power of your persuasion. I need your passion. This book is not going to start off on the NEW RELEASE shelves of Barnes & Noble or Borders. It is going to take WORD OF MOUTH to get it there. It is going to take public knowledge. I have plans on the PR side for me. My publisher does as well. But, the real part that counts is the voice of individuals who want a hell of a good read.

Thanks all.

I will keep you posted on release info. Plan on a release party in Phoenix.... probably first part of February.

Smiles and Bests.

I got flipped off by a Beaver.

Before we get much further, let me explain the title. I understand why it's wrong to call people names, for instance--it's not really nice of me to call this 'lady' a Beaver. Her behavior will lead me to my conclusion that she is in fact, a 'beaver'.

I was calmly, routinely driving to work this morning. As I approached the merging section of the 101 and the 202 West, I heard a honk. I looked out my drivers side window. Lo and behold there is a 'lady' driving a brand new Mercedes SUV type vehicle. There are two kids in the back seat. The children are dressed in nice matching outfits. They are drinking what I assume to be their morning juice, while their mother drives them to where-ever people who drive brand new Mercedes take their kids during the day. The mother upon my second glance is a mid thirties, (dare I say, white) woman. She has bleached to radioactivity (sorry Sarah) hair, fake eyelashes (I suppose she might have been part Snuffleupogas), and what I think was too much makeup on. She points to my back window, and mouths the word 'sticker'. She may have been talking out loud...

Anyhow, I have three stickers on my back window, I have the Ani DiFranco VoteDammit sticker, a Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers sticker and I have an Obama/Biden sticker.

I was pretty sure she was referring to the Obama/Biden sticker when she stuck her short, stubby finger with the long manicured nail, complete with rhinestone--up. Yes, that finger. Then I see her begin to mouth (again she could have been screaming) obscenities at me. I'm driving my beat up 2002 Suzuki. She's driving a 50K car with HER CHILDREN in it. I'm embarrassed for her at this point. I am looking at the children and hoping that they're not as smart as my daughter who constantly reminds me to put both hands on the wheel. I hope that her children are deaf.

I realize that no parent is perfect. But why resort to obscenities and vulgarity at 8 in the morning, during the commute. I understand politics making people angry, trust me. This year alone--I've fought with almost my entire family. I understand not knowing where to direct your anger. I understand being swept away by the sentimentality of it all. I understand, not knowing where to get your facts from. I understand not wanting to lose.

The difference, is that my children will never see me lose my temper over a bumper sticker on a strangers car. I think that's ridiculous. I just thought I'd share that little "Happy Monday Morning".

To wrap up the Beaver comment, it's better than calling anyone a vulgarity-- and it illicits a giggle. Like when people say 'gosh' or 'heck'.