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Michael B. Neff

Goodreads Author

Website

http://allthedarkwewillnotsee.com

Genre

Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy

Influences

David Lynch, Ray Bradbury, Anais Nin, Faulkner, Sartre, Miller, Fitzge ...more

Member Since

June 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/michaelbneff

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A Bio With More Than You Want to Know

During his years in Washington, Michael was inspired by courageous women and men who told the truth about corruption and criminality in Washington—termed "whistleblowers" by their peers. While employed in management and budgetary job series in the administrations of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton and two years of Bush Jr., he also learned just how much the U.S. government hated these whistleblower types (and with good reason). Nevertheless, at GSA during the early Bush Jr. years he blew the whistle on GSA's failed stewardship of federal advisory committees and the never-ending corporate corruption infecting them.

Upon parting ways with Washington, Michael (in his role as publi A Bio With More Than You Want to Know

During his years in Washington, Michael was inspired by courageous women and men who told the truth about corruption and criminality in Washington—termed "whistleblowers" by their peers. While employed in management and budgetary job series in the administrations of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton and two years of Bush Jr., he also learned just how much the U.S. government hated these whistleblower types (and with good reason). Nevertheless, at GSA during the early Bush Jr. years he blew the whistle on GSA's failed stewardship of federal advisory committees and the never-ending corporate corruption infecting them.

Upon parting ways with Washington, Michael (in his role as publisher and editor of literary journals such as Del Sol Review) worked closely with the ACLU and other plaintiffs to successfully defeat Internet censorship laws instigated by the religious right in battleground states like Michigan and Arizona. Years later he volunteered to work with the Government Accountability Project, lobbying offices on Capitol Hill for greater whistleblower protections.

His literary work has appeared in many national publications including North American Review, Quarterly West, Pittsburgh Quarterly, The Literary Review, American Way Magazine, and Conjunctions. He was one of the winners of the first Imitation William Faulkner Contest sponsored by the University of Mississippi and has served as judge for various writing contests including the Writer's Digest Finalist Prize for best short fiction. In addition, he is the director of Algonkian Writer Conferences, chief editor of The Writer's Edge blog, and publisher of Del Sol Press.

Prior to his years with Uncle Sam, Michael worked as a brick mason, roofer, waiter, telemarketer (two weeks in hell), various "sales" jobs (more weeks in hell), and for Royal American Shows as a carny touring the deep south and selling trinkets on the midway (worse than hell). He was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. His mother was Jewish, and his father, a Swiss Catholic. As a young boy he was forced to go to Catholic school for 12 long years.

This explains many things. ...more

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Michael B. Neff I believe WB to mostly be an outcome of two major circumstances: 1. Believing bad advice that insists you never plan your fiction story in any way but…moreI believe WB to mostly be an outcome of two major circumstances: 1. Believing bad advice that insists you never plan your fiction story in any way but simply create a character and turn them loose to chart a path across the paper-white wasteland; 2. Having insufficient story telling skills from the onset and thus being stuck on how to organize, sketch, or conceive the story path going forward. Only sufficient doses of inspiration filtered by a knowledge of technique will solve this problem.(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Michael B. Neff Learn from the onset how to become a good writer by seeking the right sources so you won't spend years or even decades struggling to achieve mediocrit…moreLearn from the onset how to become a good writer by seeking the right sources so you won't spend years or even decades struggling to achieve mediocrity. Choose your universe (academic, commercial, or independent), your genre niche (SFF, mystery, thriller, historical, etc.), and immerse yourself in those environments. If commercial genre or upmarket, join Publisher's Marketplace to learn all you can about what is selling, who is selling and who is buying. Get your work in front of professionals. Be very skeptical of feedback from amateur writer groups working sans any real criteria or experience. And most of all, shelve the narcissism and accept you know nothing and must become an apprentice to your craft, and that this will take years. An author friend of mine was told at a cocktail party by a neurosurgeon that he would take the summer off and write a novel, whereupon the author responded, "Good idea. I'll take the summer off and work on a few brains."(less)

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Michael B. Neff’s books

Average rating: 5.0 · 4 ratings · 3 reviews · 1 distinct work

All The Dark We Will Not See

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings

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13 posts
Michael B. Neff's Blog

Honest Human With Integrity Prevails Over Corporation

Pro Se Sarbanes Oxley Whistleblower Prevails in Jury TrialJason Zuckerman, November 01, 2016“A very interesting read for whistleblowers. Below is a blog by Jason Zuckerman, who is featured in the piece “How to Help a Whistleblower” by Jan Wolfe in Corporate Counsel’s Novemember edition.” An article in Corporate Counsel titled How to Help a Whistleblower tells the story of Dr. Perez, a S Read more of this blog post »

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Published on November 22, 2016 11:47

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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Neff is currently reading

Guardians of the Galaxy - Annihilation: Conquest

by Brendan Deneen

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Michael Neff said: " Love this version of GOTG! Deneen knows how to choreograph his own unique word cinema on the page. The characters wriggle and burst to life, scene by scene as the plot engine revs hotter.

IMO this author should be put in charge of the whole franchise ...more "

Jun 02, 2023 11:26AM · see review

Michael Neff is currently reading

The Chrysalis

by Brendan Deneen

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Jun 02, 2023 11:07AM

Michael’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by Juliene

Oct 30, 2017 11:59AM

Michael--Though this isn't the right place, I'm contacting you with a purpose. About a year and a half ago i recommended my book, THE DOWN COMFORTER and you were kind enough to respond and say you liked it. A new second edition is forthcoming. You were the only one I "tried out" recommending on Goodreads, so I'm not sure how to do it. I have a large list of friends among whom I am glad to name you. I would like to send them a notification of some sort.
The book has actually become a classic--fantastic endorsements and reviews. Your kindness, integrity and smarts encourage me to ask you for advice. Julieneberk@gmail.com.

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