BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER TWO

We're back again for our second newsletter. This week I'll start out with a question.

I've noticed that a large number of writers I engaged with over the years are no longer around. I realize that much has changed in the publishing business, but many people have seemingly just given up. Did they simply lose interest in writing? Some authors told me they simply got tired of the wonky website crap. I eased off on certain posts of mine because it seemed to me that a lot of people were in attack mode and got downright nasty. My reaction was to simply ignore them and stick to sharing stuff about fellow authors. Even at that, I'd get some people telling me on my own posts that I was wrong. Idiocy. After a while, I realized I didn't have to respond back to them. For the most part, that did the trick. I don't think there's any one solution to handling this. It is what it is. Some people are like that. Others aren't.

Unfortunately, others were ponied up to a press which went under and didn't get their rights back so they could republish their books. Of course, this would leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth. Read the fine print on your contract when you sign on the dotted line. Make sure the rights belong to you. I always have, and I'm certainly happy I followed my instincts. The position I'm in now is a good one. I write what I want to write, when I want to write it. I like being in charge of my work.

To get back to the part about civility, here's a post I wrote a while back about it.

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I tend to get highly agitated by some people. I don’t mind folks having a difference of opinion from mine. That’s their right. But for them to get rude is an entirely different thing.

There are a lot of inconsiderate people popping up in the various groups on Facebook and elsewhere lately. I'm concerned mainly with writers groups. As an example, one author posted her book cover of a soon to be published novel. This should have been a happy time for her, right? It wasn't. Some guy blasted her over it saying it was horrible. I remembered him posting other things of the like in the past. He's rather opinioned, rude, and it seems he sells book covers. Hmm. I checked his credentials and didn't think his covers were all that good. My opinion, of course. Other authors said the same thing. Their covers were also not worth bragging about in my eyes. They were not horrible, but not great either. One guy liked the cover the woman had. Me? I also liked the cover. Obviously, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Unless you just wish to bring someone down, that is.

The same thing can be found with people finding flaws with formatting, editing, and much more. People come out of the woodwork to attack their peers. Wow! Why? No one is perfect. Remember that. As a rule of thumb, read the free sample on Amazon for a book and base your decision on that.

I am an editor as well as an author. As such, I see some great work and some that is lacking. Thank goodness I don't have to tell individuals when their work is not up to par. Another person handles that part. When I review a book for someone, I only give 5Star or 4Star reviews. If the work doesn't warrant such, I don't bother to leave a review. If the author knows I've read the book and asks me about it, I'll tell her/him in private. Yes, I get some authors who tell me I'm wrong, but I don't care. They asked, and I told them.

Another thing that irritates me are people with high noses who have won many awards and try to lord it over the authors they consider to be beneath them. Sorry, people. I read for the content and not the celebrity. In fact, there are many authors who people love that I just can't get into. Their tastes; my tastes. No one is right or wrong. Also, there is still some stigma attached to self-published authors and their books. There shouldn't be. A good book is a good book. Plain and simple. We don't need gatekeepers anymore. Those days are over.

I suggest that if you want to say something to help out a fellow author that you do it in private and do it in a constructive manner. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. There's too much negativity in this world today.

One of my author friends was attacked by about one hundred people who objected to the cover of her book and said some vile things online. I won’t mention the author or explain the cover, but these retards stepped over the line with their threats and insults. This was from supposedly God-fearing people on some agenda. We don’t need attacks from these self-righteous clowns.

Another thing that came to my attention was a major attack on a large Facebook group. This is supposedly a responsible group which is not tolerant of writers being slammed because of color, sexual preference, for being anti or pro religion, or gender equality. You get the idea. Everyone appeared to be after everyone else. It got to be quite infantile before it was over. And, for a writers group, there were many illiterate people. That’s another thing I get angry with. If an author posts something, they should put up one with no incorrect words or misspellings. I look at that and never bother to buy their books.

Thank you for reading this.

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My artist this week is Peggy Szasz. She is a master with quilt art. Because Facebook and I don't play nice with each other when it comes to sharing pictures, I'm sending you a link to her Facebook page where you can see some of her stupendous quilts. You'll love them!

https://www.facebook.com/peggy.szasz 

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My Woman In Horror Post this week is a very interesting one where I interviewed JD Phillips. Take a read. I'm sure you'll enjoy what this lady has to say.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/5501000319026198085

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Romantic Shadows is this week's pick of books published by Blazing owl Press. It's a special book for Terri Delcampo and me.

https://books2read.com/u/31rapl

Romantic Shadows, by Terri DelCampo and Blaze McRob, is a collection published by Blazing Owl Press on our wedding anniversary back in 2016. We eased up a bit on our usual horror fare and wrote some romance-themed short stories and poems. Yes, there are certainly elements of horror contained within, but that is not all we present in this tome. Lovers are reunited in magical ways, the Dance Of Love soothes yearning hearts, and much more.

We hope you enjoy the softer side of horror we share with you here.

Blaze McRob

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True love drowned by stormy seas?

Nun and lover brought to knees.

Wig transforms a broken girl.

Lady killed by shrapnel hurled.

Lambada's passion warms the soul.

Tears in heaven are wrath's toll.

Like seeks like when soulmates meet.

Poe's adoring shadow greets.

Will child be mother's resurrection?

Powwow lovers pose for perfection.

Artists' souls joined with paint eternal.

Chilesa's life raft is infernal.

Moon beams and lovers dream – forever

All in this tome – a dark romance endeavor.

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Cover art and poem above done by Terri DelCampo

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https://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Revival-Carson-Buckingham/dp/0692219412?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g7RgD5C-EZJ8aqF7vyPxcHsbVYaY8CVEHGDG9fG6UwEr8PUpS7Vxk0DMMO9F-Yun9VFwwxRv81Sw9aRXtt85-A0C6CVUU0yGu9PBwbkgRvAJ5IZvu0Phl_1UbXOBqZ0hFOylA6zgcfeavDJCZ6PCn-FSgHGr53Iwx0WaozAgsggW7g5UDtULmZLroaz11Fiu15t0hY830535Ig7-wzA_JU6pQw7Njqg-oEBb_cySME8.LH5aW2defAAzsk1Q6h9gmjZA5HNo3kU-5vJNSvRg_BU&dib_tag=AUTHOR

Here's my book review for Gothic Revival, by Carson Buckingham. This is a great novel!

Blaze McRob

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Book description:

Alex and Leo Renfield are a husband and wife contractor team who’ve recently moved to the village of Woodhaven, Connecticut to escape the chaos of life in New York. Pretty close to broke, they meet Theodora Hamilton, a somewhat unsavory and odd individual, who offers them an astronomical amount of money to repaint the first floor of her family home.

But along with the huge paycheck comes a set of unsettling rules that must be followed explicitly if they are to accept the offer; one of which is they must reside on the property having no direct contact with the outside world until the job is complete.

Is Theodora Hamilton just an eccentric woman with a peculiar way of doing things, or is there a more sinister agenda that Alex and Leo are unaware of? What exactly does she have in store for this down-on-their-luck couple who have no choice but to accept the offer and the strange requirements that come along with it?

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5.0 out of 5 stars Gothic Revival Is Carson Buckingham's Masterpiece!,

By Robert C. Nelson

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This review is from: Gothic Revival (Kindle Edition)

Gothic Revival, by Carson Buckingham, is the author's best work to date. One would think a 536 page novel would have some slow, drawn-out sections, but not for Carson. She is a master at Gothic story-telling and knows how to keep the story moving.

I am particularly impressed by the fact there is no elaborate over-description involved. To me, that is boring. Give me some action; some psychological horror. Carson gives the reader all the description she/he needs without describing every useless tid-bit a reader doesn't want to know.

How does she do this? Through her skillful use of dialogue. Too many authors are totally without dialogue skills. Carson could write a non-fiction book on the subject. But then again, anyone who reads Gothic Revival will see what I'm talking about. Her dialogue is written the way people actually talk. Fancy the concept! She has hit upon a secret so simple that it eludes far too many authors.

Now I come to a part of Carson's writing that I really enjoy. Her sense of humor. What, you ask, humor in Gothic horror? You betcha. Once more, Master Carson Buckingham comes riding along on her trusty steed and delivers the right amount of humor at the perfect time. Superb!

Take dialogue unmatched by any author past or present, add in humor, suspense, romance, and a foreboding creepy feeling polishing it all off, and you have Carson Buckingham.

You will notice my review does not tell you the details of the story. Yikes! Why do that? Read the description and the free sample for that. I'm here to tell you about the author's skills. Of that, Carson has many. Besides, I wanted to blurt out some goodies, but that would have been a spoiler. Not my style.

Gothic Revival is a masterpiece!

 

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That's it for this week! I hope everyone got something out of this newsletter.

Blaze McRob

BLAZING OWL PRESS NEWSLETTER: NUMBER ONE

 

This is the first newsletter for Blazing Owl Press. We'll be running it weekly on our press website and on Patreon. It won't be only exclusive to books and articles by Terri DelCampo and Blaze McRob. We'll be sharing the great stuff that many other great authors, artists, and more are doing. Also, we're not limiting the newsletter to the horror genre only. I hope you'll find some fantastic people to add to your must-follow list.

I want everyone to know right off the bat that this is not a newsletter that will delve into politics or religion. Maybe, just maybe, some of what we believe may be in some of our writings. Or not. Fiction can be a tricky mother.

This newsletter will be divided into many segments. The past, present, and future. Here it comes.

Blaze 

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Many authors believe that Amazon is the only game in town. It's not. While they're the big boys of the publishing industry, they're not the only ones. Neither do I believe that the Big Five is the way to go. I've had books published by big name publishers before, and I'll never do it again. An author loses control of their work with them, I believe. Also, if you're an indie author, you get a bigger piece of the pie. A novel author friend of mine was only getting 7&1/2 % for each book sold. That's crap.

Me? All my new writing is being done on Patreon now. That's the way it will be for the remainder of 2024. Perhaps longer. My account there is https://www.patreon.com/Blaze_McRob

Draft2Digital is another good option if you wish to go wide. https://www.draft2digital.com/

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Here's a link to a Woman In Horror post I wrote for Dona Fox a while back. She is a superb master of the craft.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/5072061380251534006

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Terri DelCampo has been doing some great artwork, not only for our book covers, but for Fine Art America and local places in the city we live in. Here is one of her many pieces.

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527027449764294729/1566935780010902067

These are some cute critters!

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Peg the Egg: An Introductory Resource to Allergens, Allergies & Anaphylaxis

by Amy L Marley

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=amy+marley&i=stripbooks&crid=22GAP4XP43CGU&sprefix=amy+marley%2Cstripbooks%2C90&ref=nb_sb_noss

Peg the Egg is an introductory resource for kids of all ages to read with their parents, families, teachers, carers or specialists.

Information is presented with photographic illustrations to ensure there is no room for "make-believe".

A clear reminder that allergies are REAL. Reactions are REAL 

Each of us is at different stages and plays various roles along the allergy journey, a journey nobody processes in precisely the same way. With that in mind, Pete the Peanut is a resource that is designed to dip in and out of as opportunities along their unique relationship living with allergies are presented. 

While there is no one size fits all approach, the most important thing we can do is to educate our children with as much information as we possibly can. Bearing in mind each child's individual readiness to absorb and use while navigating their worlds and their lives. Expanding their understanding and assessing their personal risks as they experience, grow and learn, not only for themselves but for others around them too. 

We can't allergy-proof the world but we can use our voices and share information as a powerful way to expand the awareness of allergies. In doing so, we empower children living with allergies to self-advocate in a world filled with distractions. 

You'll love reading this cute book written about a serious matter. Amy does a great job explaining about food allergies. It is a must read!

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LIVING GREEN: WHY SILENT SPRING, BY RACHEL CARSON, IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK TO READ: BY BLAZE MCROB

Painting by Vi Huntley-Franck

Today, I’m going to suggest a great book to read for those of you concerned with pollution, climate change, and being a responsible human. I’ll be adding in more as my Living Green series continues.

I’ll start with the book that started it all off for environmentalists everywhere. Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson.

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Spring-Rachel-Carson-ebook/dp/B004H1UELS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PR4AL4QSG5CZ&keywords=silent+spring+rachel+carson&qid=1644716283&s=books&sprefix=silent%2Cstripbooks%2C95&sr=1-1

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was first published in three serialized excerpts in the New Yorker in June of 1962. The book appeared in September of that year and the outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century. 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work. --This text refers to an alternate kindle edition edition.

First published by Houghton Mifflin in 1962, Silent Spring alerted a large audience to the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides, spurring revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. “Silent Spring became a runaway bestseller, with international reverberations . . . [It is] well crafted, fearless and succinct . . . Even if she had not inspired a generation of activists, Carson would prevail as one of the greatest nature writers in American letters” (Peter Matthiessen, for Time’s 100 Most Influential People of the Century).

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This is a great book which should be read by every person on the planet. We must not allow giant industries to pollute at will, solely for the purpose of making money. When Rachel Carson wrote this book, she was attacked mercilessly by the killer barons who couldn't care less if untold numbers of people died because of their greed. She fought these people to the grave. Read her book and learn what true dedication to a cause is all about.

Blaze McRob 

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Here's a post I did a while back. I believe it's still relevant today.

WRITING IS EASY

Writing Is Easy! What, you ask? How can writing possibly be easy? Writing is one word after another. That's it. There's nothing difficult about that.

Someone in the back is shaking their head, thinking that I'm an idiot. No problem with that. That's his right. He can even leave the room and I won't care.

Ah, you ask. "What are the words?" Again: simple. Put a picture in your head of the story you want to write. Write about that picture. If you have no story in your mind, forget about writing. Writing is easy, but only if you have a tale to spin. I get one simple thought in my brain, many times a sentence, or even a single word. Wham! Go from there.

As an example: in an upcoming novel, I think about my garage. I sleep in the garage because my wife is a bitch. The start of the picture in the gray matter is forming. Other senses come into play. Mice pitter-patter around and they make me think of rats from 'Nam. A presence forms, cutting off my air supply; a moldy stench surrounds it. This is not the first time this has happened, but this time . . . this time something is different. What? It talks to me this time. It never has before.

See what I mean? One word, garage, got into my mind and horror surrounds me. No build up needed. Pure action from the beginning.

Some people will rebel against what I'm saying next. Do not outline! It kills the flow of your story.

Let your tale roll unfettered and free. I never know how my stories will end. That's the fun of writing. Let your story people determine the outcome.

Do not worry about perfection in your first draft. Just write a story that flows. Don't worry about anything else. Hemingway said the first draft of anything is shit. He was right. So concentrate on the story first, and then polish in your next drafts.

Now, your story is done, and a grand tale it is. Except for one thing. It sucks! The story itself is great, but it needs some serious editing. Comma splices abound. There's not enough white space. You have over-used words; you are redundant. Mark in chapter one is Matthew in chapter ten.

Now what? You work on your edits first. Don't annoy your friends and ask them to be beta readers. Do the job yourself. Read your story out loud as you edit. That will help with your commas. Over and over again, do your edits. When you are satisfied you have a good story, send it to an editor. An author is too close to her/his own story to do it justice in the final edits.

Okay, I'm sure many of you have heard the old beta reader thing over and over again from friends. They are not editors. Hire an editor. There are many good ones out there and they will not all gouge you. Many have great rates.

If you are going to self-publish, get a great cover artist. Don't go half-ass here. It is very important. Also, consider doing books with interior art scattered about. It is impressive, and a lot of Publishers are doing it.

Have someone who knows what they are doing, do your formatting. Make certain you check everything out before you publish your tale.

Happy writing to everyone!

Blaze

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Next week I'll add in more of the great authors I know, more articles, and more art. Let me know what else you want me to write. 

Thank you for reading.

Blaze McRob