I really don’t know what to say about this. Just reading the title may kill the Passionate Foodie. But here it is, scotch in a can. Wow.
“Each can of Scottish Spirits will contain 12 ounces — about eight shots — of 80-proof “single grain scotch whisky,” distilled and matured for three years in oak casks in Scotland, according to Rubenfeld. The company hopes to have its cans on shelves in major American markets by Feb. 1, retailing for $5 apiece.”
Filed under Humor
Regulars to this site know that it’s an eclectic mix of Brett J. Talley self-advertisement, humor, music, and chronicle of my own journey into the bizarre world that is publication. And man, do I learn something new every day about it. I think most aspiring authors think if they can just get the book finished and get it published, then they are golden. Fame and fortune await! And that may very well be true if you are published by a major publisher like Random House. (I don’t actually know what that’s like, but in my mind I imagine Random House editors feeding their authors grapes while reading them their latest glowing New York Times review). But if you are an Indie or self-publisher, you know that getting the book on paper is just the first step. Dreaded marketing then awaits.
After all, if nobody knows about your book, how can they decide to read it? Oh but there are pitfalls, my friends. Say, speaking hypothetically of course, you have a really well-reviewed book of Lovecraftian/Gothic horror. Now, there are dozens of sites on the internet where lovers of such things gather. So you show up at one of those sites. “Hey guys!” you say. “Just wanted you to know I wrote this book you might like. Check out some of the reviews and see what you think.” Seems perfectly reasonable, right?
The problem is, people really kind of hate that sort of thing. The wheretos and the whyfors of that are complicated. Part of it is you have to earn your way into the group. You have to build up your credibility. The problem for you, of course, is while you probably want to do that, you don’t have time. And more importantly, the first thing you want to talk about is your book. You may think the group is the greatest thing since chocolate oranges, but your participation starts with your novel, even if it ends with something else.
Perhaps more importantly for the group, there are lots of you out there. Everybody and their mother is writing these days. It’s a great thing; now with self-publishing, writing is democratized. People can do it on the cheap. But that also means there are literally thousands (tens of thousands?) of people out there marketing for themselves. And so for a group that really just wants to focus on whether Azathoth or Nyarlathotep is cooler, when dozens of authors showing up basically shouting “Buy my book! Buy my book!”, it’s rather off-putting.
I think the key is to be respectful of the group and its rules, to try and accommodate yourself to their ways, to be almost apologetic for bothering them at all. The fact is, most people like to hear about new things, especially when it interests them. Two groups that have treated me especially well are the H.P. Lovecraft group on Facebook and the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, also on Facebook. I have to say a special word about the HPHLS. They are the source for everything Lovecraftian from radio plays based on his works, to movies, to clothes, and everything in between. The fact that they are a business makes it even cooler that they have allowed me to sell my own wares via their Facebook page. I hope you will check them out.
This post is getting long, but I do want to share one of my marketing failures, just to show you the pitfalls you might run into. Since I started this thing, I have discovered all sorts of cool stuff on the internet I never knew existed. One of them was Reddit. If you are like me, Reddit is just one of the funny looking buttons at the bottom of this blog post. Apparently some of you have been clicking it, as I began to notice I was getting hits back from that site. So I went to check it out. I still don’t know exactly what it is, but it appears to be some sort of news aggregator (just writing this makes me feel old). People subscribe to certain interests and whenever someone clicks the Reddit button on a blog post and tags it with that interest, it shows up in their feed. If they like it they can give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down if they don’t. They can also comment on it. And there’s even a Lovecraft interest. Yesterday, as you may remember, I posted a good review of That Which Should Not Be. Thinking that this would be something Lovecraftian types would want to read, I sent it to Reddit. Apparently that was a mistake. People said I was a spammer. I didn’t have enough “link karma” (?) and was not engaged with the community (I just thought it was a news aggregator! I didn’t know it was a community 😦 Sadness.) Anger abounded and I was basically banned from Lovecraft Reddit. As an Independent Author, that’s a pretty bad result. I apologized, but I am pretty sure they all hate me at this point. The Reddit experiment was a bust. Yay, the joys of writing!
Filed under Tips for Authors
Writers, listen up! Here we find out what the readers really think.
1. Why don’t you introduce yourself? Where do you live? What do you do for a living?
Hi, there! *waves* I’m Italian, but I’ve become proficient enough in English to read and write fluently in that language – it took me years, though, so I’m not a young person, LOL! I still live in Roma where I was born and have a dreaded part-time Day Job that I hope to quit sometime in the future when my writing career takes off. I’m married to Writing and eventually my husband of 30+ years will pay the bills! *grin*
2. What’s the first book you remember reading?
Probably the collection of world tales illustrated (it’s like 8 volumes…) – I enjoyed fairy tales very much (and not in their Disney version). Or the books of Emilio Salgari (adventure in foreign countries, mostly India, Malaysia and his three Western books), soon accompanied by Verne & Dumas (I grew up in French-speaking countries, so they were school-reading. Sort of).
3. What is your favorite book/author?
I started writing after falling in love with Brunella Gasperini’s works back in the 1980s. I don’t have a favorite at the moment – also because I’m trying to discover new stories that grab ME, and adult halfway through her life who has long forgotten her teenage years but still loves to dream of other worlds.
4. What’s the biggest influence on what you read? Word of mouth? Cover art? Price?
In France/Switzerland I had learned to choose books by their covers. In Italy I discovered publishers “recycled” covers (like random Boris Vallejo paintings on the covers of David Eddings’ Belgariad…), so I stopped choosing based only on that. Yes, the cover is still the first thing that catches my eye, but I immediately go to the blurb to see if it’s something that I’d actually like to read. And if the blurb is too cryptic about the actual plot, I’ll check reviews for more hints on what the story is about.
5. Does advertising have any affect on what you read?
Nope – although the smart Amazon suggestions often got me to buy another. But more in the DVD department than books.
6. What’s something authors do that gets on your nerves?
The “editing” mistakes like confusing your own characters’ names, killing a character and have him show up in a later scene, etc. I’m also very plot-oriented, so if there’s a hole in your story, I’ll notice (although if it’s sci-fi, being technologically challenged, I might not notice).
7. What’s your opinion on so called “mature” themes? Sex, violence, foul language? Do they affect whether you will read a book?
I’m an adult, I don’t care. I do put them in my writing if I think the story needs them. I’m not a fan of erotica, but I can read it. I don’t like horror and its gory details, but I can read it. I even read gay porn once because I was curious (good research for writing M/M romance as well, LOL)! OK, once I had to stop reading a book because it was becoming too intense (torture porn?), but then I picked it up again and finished it anyway.
8. Writers do a lot of spamming on social media sites. Annoying or influential?
Very annoying. The constant “buy my book” makes me want to yell at the darn author “Go write the next one and prove me you’re not a one-shot wonder first, you moron!”
9. Is there any genre you would never read?
Probably not. I’m curious and think there are stories everywhere, even in non-fiction. OK, some non-fiction topics don’t interest me, and like I said I don’t like horror and porn, but that doesn’t mean I’ll never ever read them. Although… I’ve tasted enough South American literature, unable to finish any, to know it’s not my cup of tea, so I better stay away from them!
10. If you could be a character in any book, what would it be?
Dunno. Busy being my own character. Besides, I’m probably a “strange” reader. I tend to interact with characters I like (from books, movies, whatever), but I don’t want to be any of them. I want them as friends or lovers, but I’d still be me.
11. Have you ever considered writing a book?
I’ve been writing since my teens. I started indie publishing stories of my world, Silvery Earth, last year. I need time to translate and rewrite a lot of stuff (and some can stay in the drawer, thank you. Of 500+ titles, not all deserve to see the light of day – or meet the readers!), and I’m all set with a publishing schedule for the next 5 years at least. Not too mention the new ideas that keep popping up…
12. If you were a writer, what kind of book would you like to write?
I’ve written in many genres, but now I’m concentrating on fantasy. Except it’s adult fantasy, character-oriented and has none of the epic flavor of LOTR (which I never read, BTW). I like smaller and more personal conflicts, I’m tired of Quests or Good vs Evil stories. My world is in shades of gray and most of my characters are outcasts or outsiders trying (or not) to fit in in their society. No great battles and raging wars, but as I cover centuries of history of Silvery Earth, something is bound to happen – kingdoms and empires come and go, Magical Races come and go…
13. Do you have a blog where people can follow you?
http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com. I don’t have an author webpage yet, but on my blog there’s everything – writing AND reading!
14. What book are you reading now/next?
“Away with the fairies” by Vivienne Tuffnell. Her first novel “Strangers&Pilgrims” was very touching and I look forward to read this one.
Filed under Reader Interviews
My favorite reviews are when you can tell the reader really “got” what you were trying to say in the writing. This is definitely one of those reviews. Check it out here.
“I hope to see more Lovecraftian fiction from Talley. I recommend THAT WHICH SHOULD NOT BE to readers who are looking for some newer Lovecraftian tales, as this is one of the better novel-length efforts I’ve come across in years. Because it neatly ties in some other more traditional horror themes and tropes (e.g., the wendigo, the Flying Dutchman, evil cultists and psychopaths) with the Cthulhu Mythos, I think that fans of horror fiction who have not yet encountered the Mythos should enjoy this one as well.”
Filed under Reviews
I always think people who are proud of their grammatical and spelling abilities are funny. English is the most gosh-darn ridiculous language since people first scratched lines on clay shards somewhere in Mesopotamia. If you are somehow an expert in it, I’m not sure that is necessarily something you want to brag about. If you doubt me, read this article.
Filed under Humor
If somehow you have missed out on the phenomenon that is The Avett Brothers, consider yourself educated. I and Love and You is the eponymous first track from their major label debut. Pitchfork hated the album, which usually means it’s not to be missed. I love this song and own the album on vinyl. I recommend it to anyone that likes good music with heartfelt lyrics and a folky twang.
Filed under Music
Response to the Reader Interview has been so positive that I am doing another one today!
Writers, listen up! Here we find out what the readers really think.
1. Why don’t you introduce yourself? Where do you live? What do you do for a living?
Hello, my name is Steven Beltzer. I live in Washington State and work for an employee owned grocery chain as an over night stock clerk.
2. What’s the first book you remember reading?
Wow, that’s going way back but I believe the first book I remember reading was Where The Wild Things Are and I remember wishing I could find a place like that for real with big goofy looking monsters romping around. For some reason my favorite monster was Bernard. He looked the least ferocious to me. Hanging out with monsters would be fun but only if they don’t plan on ripping you apart and eating you.
3. What is your favorite book/author?
Now this is an extremely tough question because of how huge my favorite author list is. Have many favorite authors but with each author I think I have one title of theirs that stands out the most to me. Like with Stephen King it’s The Mist, With Dean Koontz it’s Phantoms or it could now be Odd Thomas, with Clive Barker it’s The Thief Of Always, and the list could go on but as you see with Koontz my favorite titles can change a bit as well. I think as we get older our perspectives change and maybe even what we fear and yearn for evolves into something new.
4. What’s the biggest influence on what you read? Word of mouth? Cover art? Price?
All these things are factors for me. I have found many new authors I have really enjoyed just by someone, a family member, friend, or a complete stranger recommending a title to me. I have had that happen many times in the library, bookstore and even while I was at work one time sitting on my break. A regular customer passing through the store on her way out noticed me reading and recommended an author named Nelson Demille to me, and let me tell you what a favor that was. Demille’s books were filled with such action packed thrills and suspense along with locations I could relate to. I ended up chatting about these books with this lady all the time afterwards.
As for cover art, it’s important but so is the quality of the book. Both paper and binding along with neat little illustrations and such. If all these things are included I would have to expect a higher price and yes price sometimes is a factor cause my allowance for books is sometimes thin. I really love finding hardcover books with great stories but with illustrations and quirkiness through out that makes it just stand out above others. Growing up I used to really enjoy 2 types of books; pop up books with their little cardboard levers and such that made things move and those horror titles with their hologram covers that turned the pictures all spooky, Rick Hautala had a few covers like that. Actually, it would be cool if one of todays bestsellers like Stephen King would put both those qualities back into a published book…just think of the possibilities.
5. Does advertising have any affect on what you read?
I think it probably does more than I or anyone else realizes. It helps inform that the book is coming out so we can save up, gives us a date and I have really enjoyed some of the TV ads that have the authors promoting their work. I’ve seen a few James Patterson ads that I liked and one for a Koontz book that was done all spooky like and really caught my eye and reeled me in. I wanted to jump up and rush out and get it…then I saw my check book and what was left after bills … total bummer :o( Actually, there was one ad that I saw in a magazine years ago for the first Maximum Ride book by James Patterson. Something about the words Angel Experiment just drew me in and I had to read this book. So, I had money :o) and ran out and bought a copy. Let me say I got more than my moneys worth with that title.
6. What’s something authors do that gets on your nerves?
Oh that’s a very easy answer for me. They create these awesome books series that I get into the first few books but I can’t afford to keep up with…oh and my local library sucks so buying is usually my only option. Oh and I know we are going into the age of ebooks but I can’t see me totally giving up a hardcover or paperback from time to time so I would really enjoy seeing authors going on more tours for signing and meeting with their readers. We have met a few this past year and each author my wife and I met was such a fun time.
7. Writers do a lot of spamming on social media sites. Annoying or influential?
I think if it’s legal and they have the ok through the people that run the sites it’s all good. It’s tough enough in today’s economy to do something creative like be an author and with the lack of funds for some authors a bit of free advertisement shouldn’t be such a big deal. Most authors I’ve talked with have never pushed their book on me. They usually just recommend it once and ask if I like it could I tell a friend about it and well yeah if I read something really great of coarse I will share that with others.
8. C.S. Lewis once said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” Do you agree with that statement?
Well I might have to agree cause if only the children enjoy it then sharing with older family members might not be as fun for them if mom, dad, or big sis or brother are bored and not listening…or maybe if everyone that grew up stayed a child at heart, which they usually do, then that statement would be bogus.
9. If you could be a character in any book, what would it be?
This was kind of a tough question cause I also enjoy comic books and well Batman would be my pick there but I’d be the older retired Batman with all the cool toys and money but just finally settled down with a nice wife that is an awesome cook and kids that I can share my toys and mansion with. But if we are going with novels I’d have to say Odd Thomas. Yeah he sees dead people but they are pretty quiet and share info with him that’s helpful. Plus, he would have the answer to the biggest question on everyone’s mind, Is there life after death? With a positive answer of yes, I think life may be a bit more comfortable and less worrisome.
10. Have you ever considered writing a book?
Actually, I have quite a few things I’ve started and I’m in the middle of but don’t know if I will ever get published or be ready to publish. Maybe when I have more time in the future after my kids are both out of school. I’d actually love to co-author something and maybe help out with chapters of a book sometime. I have ideas that are new and fresh and would love to share them with someone that has the time to write.
11. Do you have a blog where people can follow you?
I started something at a book blog site but never really go there. I usually just read, review, and blabber everywhere about what I’ve read at Goodreads, Facebook, and through emails to family and friends. If I did anything more I’d run out of time to read.
12. What book are you reading now/next?
I am reading Amaranth by Rachael Wade right now and I was pleasantly surprised at a twist in the story. I thought it was going one way and she through me for a loop…I like that.
And next I will be starting Toys by James Patterson & Neil McMahon. I grabbed this one because I’ve heard so many mixed reviews on it which some were really bad but I also watched this book get sold out off shelves everywhere in town this Christmas. So, thankfully there was one book my library had that I really wanted to read.
Filed under Reader Interviews
Continuing what is to be a regular feature on The Site That Should Not Be, here is my interview with reader Justin Beinvenue. If you are a reader who is interested in an interview, visit the Contact Me page and shoot me an email.
Writers, listen up! Here we find out what the readers really think. (Justin happens to be an author as well, but today he is putting on his reader hat).
1. Why don’t you introduce yourself? Where do you live? What do you do for a living?
My name Is Justin Bienvenue, I’m currently 24 years old. I live in the New England area in the state of Massachusetts. Right now I am currently working at home as an author for a living.
2. What’s the first book you remember reading?
My memory is good at times but that’s something I cannot remember lol.
3. What is your favorite book/author?
“Pronto” by Elmore Leonard and I don’t really have a favorite author.
4. What’s the biggest influence on what you read? Word of mouth? Cover art? Price?
I’d say word of mouth and price. If someone is explaining their book to me or recommending it I usually listen and if it interests me I definitely look into it. Also price is a factor, you got to know to quality of what your getting and if its a reasonable price I’m all for it.
5. Does advertising have any affect on what you read?
Not really, but it certainly grabs my attention to let me be aware of it.
6. What’s something authors do that gets on your nerves?
Being an author myself I don’t think theirs anything all authors do that gets on my nerves but rather what some individual authors do such as lack of supporting fellow authors.
7. Writers do a lot of spamming on social media sites. Annoying or influential?
I’d say both. I myself do this but I try not to go overboard. You want to try to get the word out but your going to come off as annoying to some people.
8. C.S. Lewis once said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” Do you agree with that statement?
Yes, but I think it really all depends on whether you have an imagaination or are still a kid at heart, anyone can enjoy a book childrens or not.
9. If you could be a character in any book, what would it be?
I’d say a vampire in one of Anne Rice’s Vampire series books. I read a few of them and being involved in the story would seem very cool.
10. Have you ever considered writing a book?
I have! It’s called “The Macabre Masterpiece: Poems of Horror and Gore”, it was my first book i’ve ever written.
11. If you were a writer, what kind of book would you like to write?
I am a writer and although I’ve written my first book on poems and horror its not what im all about. I will write about just about anything as long as I know that I and other people will be interested in it.
12. Do you have a blog where people can follow you?
Yes, you can follow on my official website at http://jbienvenue.webs.com/
13. What book are you reading now/next?
Not sure, I am currently waiting on a fellow author to send me his book so I may read that, or I have a couple in my library I need to get to.
Filed under Reader Interviews
One of my favorite sites is up for some awards. Check out this post on the Lovecraft eZine and go vote!
Filed under Uncategorized
I don’t know what it is about this particular challenge that intrigued me (the evil clown, perhaps?), but I decided to join up. Wanted to share the info with all of you as well.
http://sweepingme.com/2012/01/2012-reading-challenge-horrorthriller/
Filed under Uncategorized
My review of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum is up over on the reviews page. Read it here. My review says it all, but in short, I really loved this book. Just a great read, one I am even considering reading again (something I almost never do). I’ve also set up an interview with Stephen Prosapio, author of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum. Come back in a couple weeks to check that out. In the meantime, buy his book here. I promise, you won’t regret it.
Filed under My Reviews
Jeff Wilson is one of my favorite writers out there. In addition to being a great talent, he is also an American hero, having served with the Navy SEALS in some of our nation’s recent conflicts. His story, “The Writer,” was featured in the 90 Minutes to Live anthology; it is easily one of the best stories in the book. Here’s my interview with him. When you get finished, pick up a copy of 90 Minutes to Live and his novel, The Traiteur’s Ring.
Filed under Interviews
New Years is always an amazing time to me. The possibilities, the opportunities. Who knows where we will be at the end of the year (assuming the Mayans were wrong)? My last year is the perfect example of that.
2011 was something else. This time last year, I was an unpublished author with a manuscript that I thought was pretty good. Then I won JournalStone’s novel contest, and all of the sudden, That Which Should Not Be was published. Then it was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award and, as of this writing, That Which Should Not Be has twenty-one Five Star reviews on Amazon (and forty-eight on Goodreads).
I won the Absent Willow Review’s 2011 Short Story Contest. My short stories have been included in two anthologies, Christmas Lites and 90 Minutes to Live. And now I am wrapping up my second novel to be published by JournalStone this summer. Like I said, the future is bright. 2012 should be an incredible year.
Filed under Uncategorized
You know, maybe it’s cause I’m a lawyer, but this makes perfect sense to me. You run out in front of a train, you have to be responsible for the people who are injured by your severed head. Am I right or am I right?
http://gawker.com/5871847/man-killed-in-train-accident-sued-by-woman-his-flying-body-parts-injured
Filed under Humor
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Beware The Shadows 