Since when has a villain in a story ever been a Chinese woman? Mostly they are men. Mostly white men. (But that's okay, since mostly the heroes are white men, too.) Increasingly white women are becoming the heroes, (or at least the protagonists) in stories. That's probably because women are doing a lot of writing lately. But even though these women writers often make their protagonists women, I ask how often do they make the antagonist a woman? My guess is not as often.
It's becoming more common of late that non-white men are being written as villains. And I've even seen a few white women represented as villains. Or at least as antagonists. But off the top of my head I can't think of a single non-white woman who's ever been a villain. I do remember the Vin Diesel movie called The Pacifier, where a middle aged Chinese couple were the antagonists. But that was a light movie, a Disney movie, at that, and not serious. And it wasn't just a single Chinese woman, it was a married couple from China who were on a mission as spies.
But I can say that Ming Sang, a young Chinese woman makes a very good villain. In Killer Eyes, the sequel to Killer of Killers, Ming Sang is the leader of the Killers Guild. And she is a killer. She has beautiful eyes. They are mysterious, but they exude an evil, too. How? Well, you'd have to see them. It could be the way she carries herself, her demeanor, and it gets expressed in her eyes. It's the complete package. An evil package. And she is also a martial arts expert.
But so is Trent Smith. Trent Smith is regarded by his peers as the greatest martial artist in the world. And Ming Sang's ego wants that person as her own. She wants Trent Smith by her side or failing that objective, she wants him dead. Which will it be? Oh, to be sure there is a whole lot more going on with Ming Sang than just her infatuation with Trent Smith.
For one thing, there's NANKING. It's where she was born, and it's where her parents were born. You see, Nanking, China is her home town, and if you don't know what happened there during World War II, I would suggest you Google it. Most people are familiar with the Holocaust that took place in Europe during WWII, but they don't know about the Holocaust that took place in Nanking. It could be what influenced Ming Sang and her evil ways.
Look for Killer Eyes soon. You just might learn a lot about real history. Like Nanking.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
Get the Word Out--Promoting Your Book
Promotion is the subject today. Promoting your books, that is. Big Publishers get their books into bookstores. Even some independent publishers can do that. But not small publishers. Particularly not small POD publishers. Or even big POD publishers. That's because bookstores don't want to pay upfront for the books they stock on their shelves. And that's just what you have to do for a POD book. Pay first, that is.
Bookstores also want to be able to send back any books that don't sell after a particular amount of time. You can't do that with POD books. So if you are published with a POD publisher, (like I am,) then you won't have your books in any bookstores.
So what can you do then? Here's what. Get the Word Out. You have to tell people about your book. But then those people have to read it. And after they read it, they have to tell other people about it. Then those people have to read it, and so on and so forth.
You see, if you tell people about your book, but then they don't read it, that's the same as if you never told them in the first place. It's as if you said, Hey I wrote this book, check it out. But then that person said, Oh that's great, but never checks it out. It was all for nothing. No progress, no promotion, and no word getting out.
It only works if the people you tell about your book actually buy and then READ your book. Of course it will help a lot if they then LIKED the book. I mean REALLY liked it. Not just say they liked it. It's like they might say, Oh, yeah, I read the book, it was great, but they really didn't give a darn about it at all, and they won't tell anyone else anything. Again, no progress is made, and no promotion is ongoing.
They really do have to 1-BUY your book, 2-READ your book, 3-LIKE your book, and 4-TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT your book, which is a very good reason your book better be a story that people will like and want to tell other people about.
It goes without saying that the author likes it, Otherwise that author wouldn't have written it. But there's another factor involved. It might actually be a good story, but not written well or not written well enough to tell the story in a way that will make other people like it. That's up to the writer, the talent that writer has in his or her ability to write well. But that comes with experience, too.
It's like I've said about everything. The more you do it the better you get. That goes for writing, and I suppose for promotion, too. I just need to get better at promotion now. Hopefully I can. But HOW? Keep telling people about the books. Use FACEBOOK, and don't be like I was before, meaning very picky about who I friended on Facebook. The more friends the better. Even people I've never met before. Even complete strangers. You never know. That one person who you never knew before might just be the person who was the catalyst at getting the word out about your book!
Bookstores also want to be able to send back any books that don't sell after a particular amount of time. You can't do that with POD books. So if you are published with a POD publisher, (like I am,) then you won't have your books in any bookstores.
So what can you do then? Here's what. Get the Word Out. You have to tell people about your book. But then those people have to read it. And after they read it, they have to tell other people about it. Then those people have to read it, and so on and so forth.
You see, if you tell people about your book, but then they don't read it, that's the same as if you never told them in the first place. It's as if you said, Hey I wrote this book, check it out. But then that person said, Oh that's great, but never checks it out. It was all for nothing. No progress, no promotion, and no word getting out.
It only works if the people you tell about your book actually buy and then READ your book. Of course it will help a lot if they then LIKED the book. I mean REALLY liked it. Not just say they liked it. It's like they might say, Oh, yeah, I read the book, it was great, but they really didn't give a darn about it at all, and they won't tell anyone else anything. Again, no progress is made, and no promotion is ongoing.
They really do have to 1-BUY your book, 2-READ your book, 3-LIKE your book, and 4-TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT your book, which is a very good reason your book better be a story that people will like and want to tell other people about.
It goes without saying that the author likes it, Otherwise that author wouldn't have written it. But there's another factor involved. It might actually be a good story, but not written well or not written well enough to tell the story in a way that will make other people like it. That's up to the writer, the talent that writer has in his or her ability to write well. But that comes with experience, too.
It's like I've said about everything. The more you do it the better you get. That goes for writing, and I suppose for promotion, too. I just need to get better at promotion now. Hopefully I can. But HOW? Keep telling people about the books. Use FACEBOOK, and don't be like I was before, meaning very picky about who I friended on Facebook. The more friends the better. Even people I've never met before. Even complete strangers. You never know. That one person who you never knew before might just be the person who was the catalyst at getting the word out about your book!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
What About Characters in The Vase?
I've talked extensively about actors who would be right for the roles in Killer of Killers. But not so much about my second novel, The Vase. True, I have a permanent spot of text under my blog header that is dedicated to the characters in The Vase, something I don't have for KOK. But I never really talk about which actors could play those parts.
And that's because I really haven't given it much thought. As you can see in that spot under the header, I begin with the character Muhsin Muhabi. And the story actually does begin with him. Muhsin is a forty-something Palestinian potter who owns a pottery shop in the Old City Market in modern day Nazareth, Israel. He works with his 14 year old son, Naji. And the only actor who comes to mind to play the part of Muhsin Muhabi is that guy from the TV show, Lost. Naveen Andrews.
Then you have a middle aged Professor Hiram Weiss. When I created him, I had in mind a middle aged Lawrence Olivier. But since he's no longer around, I'm not sure who would work. But that's the image I had in mind. So someone like that.
As for Captain Benny Mathias, well he's got to be someone who conveys a heroic personality. He's a war veteran, and a covert assassin. He heads the Kidon, after all. I haven't been looking for an actor for him, although I'm sure one could be found. I'll keep my eyes open.
What about an actress for Mary Levin? I think most stories should have a beautiful woman, and Mary Levin is just that. Unlike my blond beauties in Killer of Killers, Mary is a raven haired beauty. And right now, I just haven't found the actress for her. But when I do, I'll let you know.
As for Harvey Holmes? That one's easy. As he looks right now, Jim Carrey would be perfect. Harvey Holmes is a comedic character, but takes himself seriously. Jim Carrey would be the one for that role. Stay tuned.
And that's because I really haven't given it much thought. As you can see in that spot under the header, I begin with the character Muhsin Muhabi. And the story actually does begin with him. Muhsin is a forty-something Palestinian potter who owns a pottery shop in the Old City Market in modern day Nazareth, Israel. He works with his 14 year old son, Naji. And the only actor who comes to mind to play the part of Muhsin Muhabi is that guy from the TV show, Lost. Naveen Andrews.
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| Naveen Andrews-Muhsin Muhabi |
Then you have a middle aged Professor Hiram Weiss. When I created him, I had in mind a middle aged Lawrence Olivier. But since he's no longer around, I'm not sure who would work. But that's the image I had in mind. So someone like that.
As for Captain Benny Mathias, well he's got to be someone who conveys a heroic personality. He's a war veteran, and a covert assassin. He heads the Kidon, after all. I haven't been looking for an actor for him, although I'm sure one could be found. I'll keep my eyes open.
What about an actress for Mary Levin? I think most stories should have a beautiful woman, and Mary Levin is just that. Unlike my blond beauties in Killer of Killers, Mary is a raven haired beauty. And right now, I just haven't found the actress for her. But when I do, I'll let you know.
As for Harvey Holmes? That one's easy. As he looks right now, Jim Carrey would be perfect. Harvey Holmes is a comedic character, but takes himself seriously. Jim Carrey would be the one for that role. Stay tuned.
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| Jim Carrey-Harvey Holmes |
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
You Decide: Amber Heard or Ellen Hollman
If Corey Yuen were to make Killer of Killers into a movie...or if any reputable director were to decide to do that...or even the STARZ channel, or HBO...who would get the role of Trent Smith? Well, for me right now, Dustin Clare is my top choice. Casper Van Dien, who was my original choice, is getting too old. Sorry Casper.
But the choice for Samantha Jones, the beautiful blond police detective, is still up in the air. I've been saying Amber Heard for a long time. And I still believe it. But the actress who worked with Dustin Clare before, in the STARZ show Spartacus, was Ellen Hollman. She's a pretty blond woman, too. And she was Dustin's love interest in Spartacus. So they have a history working together already.
Amber Heard is up and coming. Her star is rising. She's being cast in movies and is now engaged to Johnny Depp.
Meanwhile, I don't know of any movies that Ellen Hollman has been in. In fact, she and Dustin Clare both seem to have their careers on hold. So maybe that would be a reason for STARZ to pick up Killer of Killers. Once I have all three books written, there might be a good miniseries there for them. And STARZ already has used both Dustin Clare and Ellen Hollman. So in that case, Ellen Hollman would get the nod for Samantha Jones, police detective.
But not if it's a movie, and preferably made by Corey Yuen, the veteran martial arts movie director. You see, Samantha Jones is considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. And for a role like that, I say Amber Heard is just right. But, hey, I wouldn't complain about Ellen Hollman getting the part, either.
So what differentiates them? Well, Amber Heard is a more effeminate beauty in my opinion. Whereas Ellen Hollman has a harder look to her. It doesn't reduce her beauty at all. She just looks tougher. And the role of Samantha Jones doesn't require that. In Killer of Killers, Samantha Jones is a police detective, but that doesn't mean she's on the streets beating people up. In fact, there are no scenes at all where she gets physical. (Well, there is, but that's a bed scene.) She never has to fight anyone, is what I mean.
So readers, that means you. If you've read the book, or even if you haven't, write a comment, or drop me a line and let me know which one you prefer. I won't mind either choice. Both are beautiful and both will work fine.
But the choice for Samantha Jones, the beautiful blond police detective, is still up in the air. I've been saying Amber Heard for a long time. And I still believe it. But the actress who worked with Dustin Clare before, in the STARZ show Spartacus, was Ellen Hollman. She's a pretty blond woman, too. And she was Dustin's love interest in Spartacus. So they have a history working together already.
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| Amber Heard |
Amber Heard is up and coming. Her star is rising. She's being cast in movies and is now engaged to Johnny Depp.
Meanwhile, I don't know of any movies that Ellen Hollman has been in. In fact, she and Dustin Clare both seem to have their careers on hold. So maybe that would be a reason for STARZ to pick up Killer of Killers. Once I have all three books written, there might be a good miniseries there for them. And STARZ already has used both Dustin Clare and Ellen Hollman. So in that case, Ellen Hollman would get the nod for Samantha Jones, police detective.
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| Ellen Hollman |
But not if it's a movie, and preferably made by Corey Yuen, the veteran martial arts movie director. You see, Samantha Jones is considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. And for a role like that, I say Amber Heard is just right. But, hey, I wouldn't complain about Ellen Hollman getting the part, either.
So what differentiates them? Well, Amber Heard is a more effeminate beauty in my opinion. Whereas Ellen Hollman has a harder look to her. It doesn't reduce her beauty at all. She just looks tougher. And the role of Samantha Jones doesn't require that. In Killer of Killers, Samantha Jones is a police detective, but that doesn't mean she's on the streets beating people up. In fact, there are no scenes at all where she gets physical. (Well, there is, but that's a bed scene.) She never has to fight anyone, is what I mean.
So readers, that means you. If you've read the book, or even if you haven't, write a comment, or drop me a line and let me know which one you prefer. I won't mind either choice. Both are beautiful and both will work fine.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Don't Forget Feedback
Come one, come all, when you buy a copy of Killer of Killers, don't forget to let me know what you liked or didn't like about it. It's called feedback. And that's one of the advantages of a writer's blog. Readers can let the writer know what they liked or what they didn't like about the book. This is not to be confused with a review. It's more personal. It's a reader communicating directly with an author about the book he or she read.
In the old days, readers had only one way to do that. They could write a letter to the author of a book. I guess that was the concept of "fan mail." But these days, many authors write blogs, and readers can post comments or even email the author, and it's as fast as typing on your computer. Technology is amazing. I was slow to embrace it, and I still don't have an iPhone, but I do have a flip type cell phone. And I do use my computer. So I'm getting there.
But I welcome any comments about any of my books. Once Killer Eyes is published, I'll go full steam ahead on the John Dunn revisions, and then continue writing my new book Second Chance. I haven't worked on two books at the same time since KOK and The Vase. That will be exciting. Can't wait.
Just so you know, here is a list of my books in queue:
Killer Eyes - Book Two in the Killer of Killer series
John Dunn, Heart of a Zulu - Based on the true story of John Dunn, the white chief of Zululand
Second Chance - A football story
The Killers Guild - Book Three in the Killer of Killers series
Inside the Outhouse - YA novel about a boy who discovers beings from another dimension
So it's up to me to keep busy and get these done! Stay tuned.
In the old days, readers had only one way to do that. They could write a letter to the author of a book. I guess that was the concept of "fan mail." But these days, many authors write blogs, and readers can post comments or even email the author, and it's as fast as typing on your computer. Technology is amazing. I was slow to embrace it, and I still don't have an iPhone, but I do have a flip type cell phone. And I do use my computer. So I'm getting there.
But I welcome any comments about any of my books. Once Killer Eyes is published, I'll go full steam ahead on the John Dunn revisions, and then continue writing my new book Second Chance. I haven't worked on two books at the same time since KOK and The Vase. That will be exciting. Can't wait.
Just so you know, here is a list of my books in queue:
Killer Eyes - Book Two in the Killer of Killer series
John Dunn, Heart of a Zulu - Based on the true story of John Dunn, the white chief of Zululand
Second Chance - A football story
The Killers Guild - Book Three in the Killer of Killers series
Inside the Outhouse - YA novel about a boy who discovers beings from another dimension
So it's up to me to keep busy and get these done! Stay tuned.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Why Russia? Why China?
I've talked about my blog audience before, mostly because my stats page indicates that I get a lot of readers from Europe and Asia. Of those two continents, it's usually Russia leading the way, by the numbers, that is, and then there's China.
Now that is to assume that readers in those two countries do indeed read English. And if they do, and if they are indeed reading this blog, I'm wondering just what it is that is drawing them to this blog. I mean, really...Russia and China? I don't suppose those visitors are all avid readers. Nor do I suppose they are all buying my books.
I say that because if they were, by the numbers indicated on my blog, then I'd have a couple of best sellers here. And since I don't, then I can only assume they come here to read what I write, and not to buy my books. Of course, I would prefer it to be the other way around. But since it's apparently not, then what do they want to read that I write if not my books? Just the posts on the blog? It seems so. And the posts that seem to attract the most hits, are the posts I've made about Amber Heard.
Sure Amber Heard is a beautiful woman, and that's why I wrote about her. I focused on my opinion that Amber Heard would be the best choice for the part of Samantha Jones in the book Killer of Killers, if that book would ever be made into a movie.
So I'm guessing that Russians, and even some Chinese might like Amber Heard, and perhaps they Google her name on their computers, and my blog posts about her come up. That's all fine and good, because then they learn about the books, too. Maybe they'll buy a copy. But like I said, the numbers don't indicate that they are.
Still, you never know. One hundred people may pass on the book, but that 101st, might just be the person who doesn't. Maybe you, oh reader, are the 101st person to hit on this blog post, and maybe that means you are the one who will buy a book. Either Killer of Killers or The Vase, or both. I believe you will enjoy them. That is if you read English.
You still have time to buy and read Killer of Killers before the sequel comes out. Killer Eyes is almost done. I'm on the final read through right now. Stay tuned.
Now that is to assume that readers in those two countries do indeed read English. And if they do, and if they are indeed reading this blog, I'm wondering just what it is that is drawing them to this blog. I mean, really...Russia and China? I don't suppose those visitors are all avid readers. Nor do I suppose they are all buying my books.
I say that because if they were, by the numbers indicated on my blog, then I'd have a couple of best sellers here. And since I don't, then I can only assume they come here to read what I write, and not to buy my books. Of course, I would prefer it to be the other way around. But since it's apparently not, then what do they want to read that I write if not my books? Just the posts on the blog? It seems so. And the posts that seem to attract the most hits, are the posts I've made about Amber Heard.
Sure Amber Heard is a beautiful woman, and that's why I wrote about her. I focused on my opinion that Amber Heard would be the best choice for the part of Samantha Jones in the book Killer of Killers, if that book would ever be made into a movie.
So I'm guessing that Russians, and even some Chinese might like Amber Heard, and perhaps they Google her name on their computers, and my blog posts about her come up. That's all fine and good, because then they learn about the books, too. Maybe they'll buy a copy. But like I said, the numbers don't indicate that they are.
Still, you never know. One hundred people may pass on the book, but that 101st, might just be the person who doesn't. Maybe you, oh reader, are the 101st person to hit on this blog post, and maybe that means you are the one who will buy a book. Either Killer of Killers or The Vase, or both. I believe you will enjoy them. That is if you read English.
You still have time to buy and read Killer of Killers before the sequel comes out. Killer Eyes is almost done. I'm on the final read through right now. Stay tuned.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Revisions-Don't Forget Time Continuity
While doing my revisions to Killer Eyes, I discovered what might have been considered a major flaw. Specifically, I'm referring to a time inconsistency. One chapter ended at near midnight, and when I got back to that scene in another chapter, it was to take place at midnight. But I had another chapter in between those chapters. And the sandwiched chapter took place during the daytime. You see the time inconsistency there.
Well, I might have shuffled the chapters or the scenes, and forgot about that continuity, and then proceeded without checking it. But in my revisions, I saw that it was near midnight, and then it was daytime, and then it's near midnight again.
I would think that my Beta reader or my editor would have caught that, but I caught it. And it only goes to show that editing and revisions are absolutely necessary. But I already knew that. It was an easy fix, really. I just made that in between chapter a night time scene as well. No more problem.
A lot of continuity errors needed fixing, and I'm glad to say that they have been fixed. I'm even finding myself thinking that Killer Eyes is more intense and more involved than its predecessor, Killer of Killers. It could be true. I'll suffice it to say that they are both exciting and intense stories. As for the readers? I'll let them decide
Well, I might have shuffled the chapters or the scenes, and forgot about that continuity, and then proceeded without checking it. But in my revisions, I saw that it was near midnight, and then it was daytime, and then it's near midnight again.
I would think that my Beta reader or my editor would have caught that, but I caught it. And it only goes to show that editing and revisions are absolutely necessary. But I already knew that. It was an easy fix, really. I just made that in between chapter a night time scene as well. No more problem.
A lot of continuity errors needed fixing, and I'm glad to say that they have been fixed. I'm even finding myself thinking that Killer Eyes is more intense and more involved than its predecessor, Killer of Killers. It could be true. I'll suffice it to say that they are both exciting and intense stories. As for the readers? I'll let them decide
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