Wrapped Up Like a Blog

so there's a phone application for mobile blogging, eh? can I conceive of anything in my life interesting enough to blog about while in the run? basedon the content of this post, perhaps not. how about you?

Here is an interview with me on the blog of the awesome Kent Holloway!

http://kenthollowayonline.blogspot.com/2010/12/let-me-introduce-you-torp-steeves.html

Wisconsin and M Streets, NW, Georgetown, Washington, DC



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Check out the ebook edition of Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick in... Capitol Hell, available from Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HB1WFK

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Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick in... Capitol Hell comes out in e-reader format in a few shorts days (print version to follow in early 2011!), and it got me wondering: what do YOU think about e-readers?

Like Stephen King, I make sure I always have a book with me. Though I now have a few games and gadgets on my phone to pass the time, I have made it a habit to keep a book with me at all times since childhood. I never know when I am going to be stuck waiting somewhere, or even when I might have a few minutes of down time. I also keep a notebook with me to jot down ideas, but more often than not, I reach for the book when I am bored. Of course, a paperback is portable, able to be tucked into a pocket, which is nice. Also, if I misplace it or drop it in a puddle, it can be annoying, but not the end of the world.

However... a paperback is merely one book (or a collection, I suppose, but the number is finite). With an e-reader, the world is at a reader's fingertips, which is amazing. Plus, there are many books that are in the public domain that can be downloaded for free, so at any time, one might have an entire library in his bag, rather than a single paperback. When I think about it, this astounds me, and I feel like I am living in a science fiction movie (pieces of technology like a GPS, iPhone and Kinect have the same effect on me). So, I guess in a long-winded way, I am saying that the convenience of an e-reader is astounding, and I love it.

I know there are a lot of other issues to consider with e-readers: power, ease on the eyes, the smell and feel, convenience, connectivity to the Internet, etc., etc., and I plan on musing on some of these other topics a bit later, but I was wondering, dear readers, what do YOU think of e-readers?

To answer the above question: Nah!

It's been an interesting year for me. Many good things happened, some of which I cannot mention for privacy reasons (though come April, people across the country will see for themselves), and some for personal reasons. But suffice it to say, I've had a couple highlights of the Year We Made Contact.

3) I joined the After-LOST Podcast. Along with Andrew and Nancy Drew (I am the third Drew, Dru Chance), I take part in a weekly (more or less) podcast which involves a rewatch of that seminal television show LOST. It ended in May, but fans continue to ponder it in wonder and frustration. If you loved the show, you can listen as we analyze it with the perspective of the entire series. If you've never seen it before, you can listen to the firt half of the program with no fear of spoilage. Check out our website at www.after-lost.com if you're interested!

2) I joined the team at Smarties Tutoring Services. 2 years after I left the classroom, I am back in the education business, though in a very different role. I spent a couple years as an editorial assistant at a puzzle magazine publisher before I realized it was not for me. Now I am adjusting to my new job, with a new group of people who are fun, dedicated and talented, and, though it can be tough and stressful at times, I know that I made a good decision.

1) My book is coming out! I remember clearly, back in February, I stayed home on Super Bowl Sunday putting finishing touches on my manuscript for submission to Seven Realms. I had been rejected by dozens of agents as well as a few small publishers. But Kent Holloway, the big cheese at 7R saw something in Misty Johnson and became its biggest fan (well, second biggest after me!). Having someone who is enthusiastic about my work made a big difference. It was a long wait from then until now, but in one week, the ebook verison of Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick in... Capitol Hell comes out. It's been a dream of mine since childhood, and I am thrilled it is finally coming to fruition.

So, while I've had some down times: flat tires, feline intestinal surgery and other minor issues, I am happy to say that 2010 has been a good year for me, and I hope that 2011 continues the trend! Here's hoping your coming year is better than the last!

You've read the secret origin of Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick, but one character does not a novel make. So here's a little insight into the supporting characters and antagonists in the world of Misty Johnson.

If Misty is the Sherlock or the Poirot in this universe, then I quickly decided that she needed a sidekick, a Watson or a Hastings. Misty was created to be somewhat irascible, sarcastic, bad with technology, stubborn in her ways and old-fashioned. So I knew I wanted a foil for her, someone that a reader could identify with more easily than a woman with an unnaturally extended lifespan. Thus came the character known as Dru Chance. I can't tell you where his name came from, at least not without spoiling some of the more interesting aspects of his character, but I can tell you that he has his own Twitter account @druchance and that he's the one who updates Misty's Facebook page.

In addition to the investigative pair, I knew I needed a client. I created a Senator, one Brock Carlson (that's a name I chose purely on the sound of it), a senior Senator from an unspecified political party. I didn't want him to be the one who'd interact with Misty and Dru, though, better to keep him on the fringe. So I created a congressional aide for him. Teri was designed to be the one character firmly planted in the modern, non-magical world. Smart, ambitious and dedicated, she would be the person that knew nothing about the supernatural realm, who could ask the questions on the mind of the reader, and also help the supernatural characters navigate the political realm.

The last character I created at the start was the pure comic relief. I wanted Misty to have a friend who would hang around the edges of the investigation, cracking wise and acting like a whacky sitcom neighbor, but who just might have something else going on below the surface. That character became the groovy landlord, who quickly became my favorite character to write for.

That's a little taste of the supporting cast you'll read about in Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick series. There's more to most of them than meet the eye, but you'll have to read the book to learn their secrets!

So it's about time to get to the elephant in the room. Recently, my mother asked me the title of my novel. I told her. She asked me to repeat it. I did. She then asked me if it was the kind of thing she could tell her friends about.

Trust me, it is.

But, of course, the title of the book: Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick in... Capitol Hell. Well, even I must admit that it's a doozy. I've had some people compliment me on the title, and others wrinkled their noses in disgust. But the number one question I after that intial reaction is: "Where did that come from?"

To answer that question, I suppose it's necessary to dissect the title. Let's start in the middle, shall we?

I knew I wanted my lead character to be a detective who specializes in mystical cases. The idea, of course, is not an original one, and there are a few characters with this job description out on the shelves in bookstores worldwide. In fact, there are quite a few more than I expected. There are paranormal investigators and mystic detectives, staking claim to some of the titles I wanted to use. Frustrated because my clever idea was not so clever, I hit on an idea. My character was a woman out of time. Wouldn't it be appropriate, then, if she used a title that was as out-dated as some of her beliefs and behaviors? So I decided she'd use the term 'private dick,' which is a virtually extinct nickname for a P.I. Once I settled on the 'dick' portion of her title, it was a matter of trying out different synonyms until I found one that sounded right. Thus, supernatural dick was coined.

After she had a title, my supernatural dick needed a name. I knew I wanted a name that seemed simultaneously typical and interesting, with a surname that was common and a first name that was less so. I also like the sound of names with two syllables. I bandied about several combinations and finally settled on Missy Jackson. But, after writing a few chapters, it didn't sit right, so I changed it, and Misty Johnson was born.

As for the subtitle, well, that was the easiest of all. Once I had the series name of Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick, I quickly decided that the subtitle of the book needed to be a pun, even a bit of a groaner. The book was set in Washington, DC and focused on a pair of Senators, so it was a quick trip from Capitol Hill to Capitol Hell. It evoked the nasty aspects of the supernatural and was sufficiently corny to fit right in with the rest of the title.

And there you have it: Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick in... Capitol Hell. Wait until you hear the subtitle of the sequel!