Michael H

This is an interesting development for those who have their books out as POD products with folks like iUniverse (now owned by Author House) and Author House. I've provided two links for interested parties. Please note, I do not wish to begin a discussion of the merits or demerits of POD companies here. Publisher's Weekly Writer's Weekly Michael Halfhill

Europe is a big place. Where are you off too? Be safe. Never give your credit card to anyone. My sister ate a place and gave her credit card to the waiter. All seemed fine until she got home and found her account bare. Her card was copied and sold all over the place. There were charges in Spain for soccer tickets. Of course that can happen anywhere. I've been many times and never had a problem. Have a good time. Take lots of pictures! Michael

I always include the names of my beta readers in my acknowledgments because no beta reader has asked for $$$ to read for me. Those who edited for me were paid professionals. I have to confess that my betas did a far better job! My feeling is, if you pay someone to edit your work it isn't necessary to thank them or mention them on the acknowledgments page of your book. Beta readers, however, provide a wonderful service. As said before I have a group of about six who read for me. Their contribution is worth more than I can say. Michael Visit My Website

Gary, I've been interested in getting all three of my books in AudioBook format for a year or so now but I have no contacts who know how to get it done. I live close to the University of Delaware so I suppose I could hire a voice from their drama department. This person would have to be comfortable reading some of the content--no, not the sex stuff, that's pretty mild. But then what, a recording studio? What kind would I need? How high tech would it have to be? How much would a project likely cost? Some folks have suggested I do it my self but I'd rather have a Larry Olivier kind of voice--You know, "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York." kinda thing. Gives me shivers every time I think of that scene. Anyway, got any suggestions? Michael Visit My Website

Kit, I'm not going to defend this article. It was compiled by professionals who are very hard nosed about what they feel their experience tells them. Personally, I feel the article's explanation is poorly said. In your argument, you use the term "great author" but this article is about getting published, not how to become a great author. That said, your point is well taken, but consider this. If everyone wrote only in his/her sphere of experience then all the murder mysteries would have to be written by murders. War would be the sole province of warriors. My books have murder, sex trafficking, body modification, and a host of other themes along with of all things, crossing a desert on a camel! I haven't experienced any of these. Would you say I shouldn't write about them? Am I to censor my writing to fit my experience? If every writer did that some of us would be writing pamphlets instead of novels. Michael Visit My Website

Folks, it looks like the PDF file I sent out may be cropped on the right side. If you have that and want the word doc I can send it out to anyone requesting it. It may read okay for you. I just opened mine up and I had a devil of a time aligning it. Michael

Kit here is what the article says on that topic. If you want the whole article I can send it to you. Autobiographical stories.

Gary, I believe that many if not most readers have opinions about the books they read. Among writers/authors there seems to be a code that dictates that if a story or piece is, umm, not written well or so highly flawed with typos that criticism, without praise, should be withheld. This I think is especially so in regards to newly minted authors. The concept, I believe, is a good one. What I personally hope to see is an increase in private responses if the remarks are not happy thoughts. You see how diplomatically I write! Much of this can be avoided if authors take the time to have their works read by beta readers--strangers who owe them nothing but honesty. Then there are readers who do not feel they can convey their feelings adequately and so remain silent. Not much you can do about that. I think too some readers don't understand what the author is getting at in a story. In my first book, an older man offers to take a young man under his rather wealthy wing. A familiar theme in many M/m stories. However, this older man wants this fellow all to himself for purposes other that the usual sex, paterfamilias, stuff. He sends the young man home to mommie dearest with a proposal. He will buy the kid for a stated amount of cash. The mother, shocked at first, is seduced by circumstance and agrees. The story unfolds with all the consequences that flow from these three and their decision; the man who makes the offer, the kid who carries the scheme to his mother and the woman herself who takes the cash and runs. My point is few who read my book realized what it was really about. Oh, I got lots of mail praising the story but no one seemed to get it--not entirely. My point for that long winded speech is, I think reviewers often get hooked on their own notions of they're reading and don't look beyond the story line. Michael Visit My Website "I could never be satisfied with just the approval of the critics, and, boy, I've certainly had to be satisfied without it." ~Norman Rockwell

Libby, I know what you mean about rules. Finding one's own style takes time. I took my degree in journalism. That form is rather fixed and doesn't often lend itself to soaring prose. Oh yes, a journalist can dazzle readers with words and usages that are impressive and even humorous but nothing compares to fiction and its liberating form. Fiction provides a writer the elbow room to ignite the reader's imagination. That for me is the most fun. I had a reader in Scotland email me and say that after reading my first book Bought and Paid For, she found herself at odd times wondering how Jan Phillips (the main character) was doing. Was he happy and where life would lead him. I never forgot that, for that lady my character was alive in her mind. Young writers, be they straight or gay, have a wonderful tool in the internet where so much information and guidance is there for the asking. A far cry from my early days! Michael Visit My Website

Sorry, I keep forgetting to add that darn thing! Visit My Website

If I had to define the term I'd say an author is someone who has put pen to paper. A writer on the other hand is someone who makes his living putting pen to paper. So, all writers are authors but not all authors are writers. I have three books out and catalogued in the Library of Congress but I don't consider myself a writer. I'd be one lean cookie if I depended on royalties to eat! I do agree with Gary. When I begin a story I write the first chapter and the last, then I let the characters find their way. That doesn't mean I'm wedded to the end chapter but it gives the story a balance I feel I need. Michael

Folks I have an article by Moira Allen that details five mistakes that lead to fiction being rejected by editors / agents and publishers. Bad Beginnings Wordiness Undeveloped Characters Poor Plots No Point This is not just a simple list but each is detailed as to what they mean and best of all Moira tells us what to do about them. Included in this article are the seven deadly sins of writing. They are: Preachiness. Cliches. Outlandish names. (Crystal D'Kanter comes to mind). Lack of knowledge. Autobiographical stories. Cute Titles. Anyone wanting this may email me through my website and I'll send it as an attachment. I won't post it here because it's a 3000+ piece which is way too long for this forum. I would appreciate it if our mod could / would make this offer in the editor's forum. I don't want to get into a cross posting war. Michael

You know, a few years back I read a comment by a gay man who was very active in reviewing gay books and even on selected emails posted in gay forums. He said that he would rather read a well written scathing review than a poorly written story. At the time I was saddened by such cynicism. It's been my experience that many poorly written stories have quite good plots / themes. It seems what happens is the writers lack experience in writing and the contacts for beta readers or a good editor who won't rob them. Add to that, writers invest so much of themselves in their stories that it becomes painful to accept guidance, no matter how gently it is given. IMO it is this last aspect that restrains those who want to help. After all, beta readers and reviewers don't get anything for their effort but a thank you--sometimes not even that! When I read for someone and it becomes obvious there are systemic problems with logical sentence structure and plot continuity I urge the writer submit to a rigorous beta read with those (6 to 8 readers) willing to take on the task. Most importantly, the writer needs to know first and foremost that he /she needs help or the project will likely be a disaster. By the time I had heard the term "beta reader" I had finished my second book. It was dear Lori Lake who told me what it meant. Both my first book and my second are doing well but I'm convinced that they would be better by half had they been beta read before seeing print. Michael

I agree with Duncan. I'm less interested in getting royalty checks than I am being read. I'm not discounting the value of reviews, especially those posted to online catalogues like Amz. These are valuable for making sales but the most rewarding for me are the private emails I get from all over the world. That, is truly heart warming. I rarely review publicly. If I do a review I don't rate the book with stars or numbers. Also I always send a copy of my review to the author before I post it publicly. I don't do spoilers and I never pan a fellow writer's work. I will, however, communicate privately with him or her. Now to me a review is quite a different thing than feedback. I'll review a completed work if asked. Feedback is something I limit to WIP. I confess many who ask for feedback really want stroking. That's all well and fine, but if I feel a piece needs work I'll say so and I'll be specific. Saying I loved a piece does nothing to illuminate the mind. Michael

Rose I was in a hurry when I posted B-day greetings. What a mess I made. Anyway, have a wonderful day and many more! Michael

Folks this is an essay I wrote shortly after Ted Haggard's confirmation that he had sex with a man. Note: This is not an apology for hypocrisy. ECLIPSE Notes on a Fallen Icon A personal view by Michael Halfhill All rights reserved @2006 In a letter to his congregation Pastor Ted Haggard admitted he had sexual contact with a man. Haggard resigned all his ministerial duties and has submitted to a

Free will allows for the choice over good and evil not over our natures. Which are the result of a divine spark. Later today I'm posting my essay on the fall of Ted Haggard: ECLIPSE Notes on a Fallen Icon A personal view M

Correction: Isn't amazing how much of our money goes into researching the sex life of a fruit fly! You've gotta wonder about people who make their living driving rats crazy.

Thanks Kevin. I'll leave it here. I think Joe's Mysterical-E site is one of the best of its type. Michael

I looked around for a forum where authors can add links to interviews they've gotten but so far I can't find one. If this is not a good spot for this link I ask the moderator to move it for me. Attached is a link to the Mysterical-E website. Here is the interview Joe DeMarco conducted with me last Fall. Interview with Joe DeMarco

Candy? It's about candy? Oh! Now I get it. Michael

Do certain songs / lyrics inspire your writing? If so, do the lyrics inspire the entire theme of a story or do many songs, in concert, reflect themselves over the range of a manuscript. I'll go first. Jan Phillips has inherited a fortune yet lost his life's love. He's just finished a phone call with his attorney and is alone in the apartment he shared with his lover. This scene was inspired by these lyrics from the song ONCE UPON A TIME. "Once upon a time The world was sweeter than we knew Everything was ours How happy we were then But somehow once upon a time Never comes again" ~ Lee Adams and Charles Strouse Here is the scene from BOUGHT AND PAID FOR "... Jan turned their conversation over in his mind. Money; it was poor compensation and it did nothing to lessen his feelings of inadequacy. With Tim at his side, Jan felt that nothing was beyond his reach. Now, everything seemed beyond him. He called the Pinnacle Club for messages then went into the living room and poured himself a small Campari over ice. He leaned back against the leather-covered wall and rolled the cool crystal glass across his forehead. The spicy aroma brought back memories of Italy, the Gulf of Salerno

Sharon, Josh lives not far from me. We planned a dinner date last year but couldn't get our schedules aligned. I hadn't heard about the publishing deal. I've read his books. Perhaps the rewrites will be better--maybe not. Have you been to his website? He's a painter too and some of his work is featured there. M