Michael H

So many books I have yet to read! After I begin a project I stop reading. It soon becomes clear that I fall behind, but that's how I operate when I'm in write mode. M

MW, I read The Art Of War when I had a major conflict with a work colleague. This could have been a career breaker had I not employed Tzu's wisdom in dealing with some one determined to push me out of my laboratory and ultimately my job. IMO, The Art Of War is a must read for anyone who finds himself at odds in any serious situation. M

PW, I loved that book! The way Roberts portrays his characters through their speech patterns is so deft I quickly fell into the rhythm of each one. Here, as promised is the excerpt I mentioned before. Background: Didier a gay man now late in life is recounting his involvement with a much older man when he, Didier was a young teen. He sits a bar in Bombay drinking with the main character. “He loved me, and I loved him, it was true, but he made an error of judgment. He gave my love a test. He allowed me to discover where he kept a large sum of cash. I could not resist the temptation that he offered me. I took the money and ran away. I loved him, but I took his money and ran away. For all his wisdom, he did not know there is no test for love. Fifteen years later in Genoa [my insert]. I walked the same boulevard of sand where he had taught me to read Rimbaud and Verlaine. And then I saw him. He was sitting with a group of men his own age—he was more than sixty then—and they were watching two elderly gentlemen play chess. He wore a grey cardigan and a black velvet scarf, although the day was not cold. His hair was almost gone. That silver crown of hair was…gone. …I walked on past him, averting my gaze, so that he should not recognize me. I even pretended a strange, stooping walk to disguise myself. I glanced back at him, watching him as he coughed violently into a white handkerchief. There was blood, I think, staining that white handkerchief. I walked faster and faster until I ran with the haste of a man in terror. …I have lived what many—or most—would call a wicked life. I have done things that could put me in prison, and things that, in some nations, could see me executed. There are many things I have done that I can say, I’m not proud. But there is one act that I can say I am truly ashamed of it. I hurried past that great man, and I had money enough and time enough and good health enough to help him. I hurried past him, not because I felt guilty, or about his sickness, or the commitment it might cost me. I hurried past that good and brilliant man who had loved me, and taught me how to love, simply because he was old—because he was no longer beautiful any more.” ~SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts M

I'm reading SHANTARAM by Gregory David Roberts. This novel does not gay genre but it does have a prominent gay character. Highly recommended. If anyone wants I can post a paragraph from this book. It's a real tear jerker. Also, I have recently reviewed The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson by Robert Hofler. My review can be found on on this age of the Amazon.com catalog: Rofler REVIEW Anyone who hasn't read The Phoenix by Ruth Sims can read my review on this page of the AMZ catalog: Ruth Sims Review Michael

Gary, you're probably right. It didn't occur to me that these readers would do research on a subject so removed from their history. I wonder if the Two Spirit tradition exists among the Australian Aborigine? I should ask. M

My first book began with a photo of a crowded street in Philadelphia. I picked out a man in the crowd and began to give him a history, and a present life. Where did he live? Is he wealthy? Does he work? If so at what? What makes him tick? Is he a good man or a not so nice man? That sort of thing. It all came from a photo. I spun off two other books from that fist one. Research is easy as long as you have a computer and if you ask the right questions. When I begin a book I write the first chapter and then I write the last chapter. Many writers do this. Writing the last chapter gives me a terminus. With the first book I wrote three alternate endings and when I got to the end I wrote a fourth, which I used. I research as I need it. In my second book my MC travels via camel from a fictitious spot in Sudan's Nubian Desert to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. I calculated the speed of a walking camel from my spot to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. I didn't know I need that until I was faced with the scene. That's when I sat with calculator in hand and figured it out. I knew that if I got that time wrong some smarty pants would post a review on Amz pointing out my hasty research. All my books are researched that way. God bless the internet! This new project is new to me because I write intrigue not romance, and I'm writing about a time I never saw. Not only that, my blood is not native to this land. The culture I hope to illuminate is only now beginning to be recognized and rediscovered as a part of the native experience. The easy part is that this is fiction. I just have to get my facts right. With this book I got the inspiration (if I dare use the term) from an "In The Life" episode aired in 1995. I have the link if anyone is interested in the Two Spirit tradition of the American Indian. Oh, a word about PC. In my book the Native Americans are always referred to as Indians because it is the usage of the time. M

Thanks Rose. I'll definitely look around for a few beta readers when I get something more than a few chapters down. I have a cadre of six to eight readers. They sure saved my bacon with my last book. However, two live in Australia and one is in Scotland. My WIP is about the Two Spirit tradition among the Native Americans at the turn of the last century. The title is "The Bow And The Basket" so you can see why these three readers wouldn't have much to say in the way of authenticity. The research for this project is fascinating! M

It depends on the subject discussed. I don't care much for small talk. If the subject interests me I'll join in and be attentive to everyone. If the topic is not one I can get into I don't join in and therefore am not prone to zoning out. I also avoid confrontation. No one enjoys having his / her nose rubbed in a slip of the tongue or even an odious position firmly held. The downside of that is sometimes I get tagged as a snob. I'm not, but if I've nothing to substantive add why say anything? To paraphrase Calvin Coolidge, You don't have to explain something you never said. This doesn't mean I haven't had my share of people telling me off in no uncertain terms. Of course they will be sorry when I'm king! M

A short story? Oh dear! Jack I can't write a shortie for nothin'! That's why I write novels. I do write essays and reviews but short fiction has always made me crazy. I do have a chapter from my first novel that never made the cut. It's written in first person. Perhaps that would suit. When I dig it up I'll send it to whomever is putting the anthology together. If it fits in all well and fine. If not that's okay too. M

Thanks for the welcome, Moonwolf. I'll be scanning the various boards in a few days. I expect some will attract my attention. I did read over the newsletter last night but it was just a glance. When I left the work-a-day world I thought I'd have nothing to keep me busy. Ha! My partner Peter and I are gearing up for an AKC dog show in York, PA this weekend. That means bathing one of our 85lb borzoi, putting her through a few paces to remind her what's expected of her in the ring. Once I get permissions I'll post some pics of our girls. We also have 5 Welsh corgis. Although our WCs are show quality we keep them as pets. Once the borzoi finish their championships they too will retire to a life of running, lounging and living the good life without the spotlight. M

Thanks Kevin. As I work though my WIP I'm sure I'll turn to some members for beta reading. When I worked in the real world I had a secretary who caught all my typos and misplaced modifiers. Now I zip along with my auto-correction reading glasses making all my booboos evaporate. Fortunately my readers are a forgiving lot. I wrote my first novel in 5 weeks. When I finished I ran spellcheck, read it over and sent it in. I told myself that was easy. Buzzzzz! After my second novel I learned that value of beta readers. Their worth is beyond rubies. It's hard work! M

Hi Krista. You haven't seen me stumble yet. When I do, it's usually a spectacular goof! I keep a jug a water nearby to wash down the foot I always seem to have in my mouth! M

Thanks Tiff and Everyone. You're all so welcoming. I'll be watching the threads to see where I can be useful. Although I have a WIP, I'm taking a break from writing. Getting my last novel out took over a year from the final draft to a printed product. That's the longest I ever took to finish a project. I guess I'm suffering some burnout. I suppose my WIP would be considered a "romance" but it is a departure from the intrigue plot lines of my first three novels. Finding the tension device between the two MCs is not easy because they are so good to one another. The "usual" issues don't apply. I have posted a couple of book reviews (posted elsewhere). When I get my legs here I may add them here. M

Hi gary. Yes A and I have been friends for about six years. We've never met face to face but we speak regularly by phone. In fact it was A who encouraged me to find a readership. He's been very supportive, especially when I've been slow to get my butt in gear and put something on paper. M

Hello Everyone. My name is Michael Halfhill. I'm a published writer. A writer friend urged me to take a look at this site and I was immediately swept up in the energy of the posts. I'm resisting the temptation to spend the evening and what's left of the day sifting through all the forums! I have a website designed and managed by my partner of 12 years. My site features my books, excerpts and reviews. I also write social essays which are not on my site. Perhaps after I complete my posting requirements I'll post a few. I'm rotten at these intros so if anyone has questions about me and my work I'll be happy to reply. Thanks again for having me here. Michael Visit My Website