M.L. Weaver's Blog
July 25, 2016
What happened?!
I logged off for five minutes, and now it's more than a year later, I'm enrolled in mortuary school, my second novel is in the final stages of editing, and the third is taking shape in my mind!
It's good to be back, and I hope to see you all soon!
It's good to be back, and I hope to see you all soon!
June 20, 2013
99-Cent Reads by Various Authors
Here's a great place to look of you want something to read this summer! A whole bunch of books for 99 cents!
http://samplesaturday.blogspot.com/p/...
http://samplesaturday.blogspot.com/p/...
I READ A BIT DIFFERENTLY - AND IT’S RAYMOND E. FEIST’S FAULT
I READ A BIT DIFFERENTLY - AND IT’S RAYMOND E. FEIST’S FAULT
I think. Actually, I’m not sure.
Of the dozens of fine book Raymond E. Feist has written, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master are my favorites.
The first time I read them I did so as I imaging any author would prefer: page-by-page.
Since then (so many years ago) I’ve enjoyed these stories many more times--but never as wholes.
Sometimes I pull them from the shelves and feel like following Tomas. So I do, skipping vast swaths of text in order to reap only the Tomas grains. Other days I do the same with Pug.
And it’s all Mr. Feist’s fault. Despite the excellence of the chapters in which neither Tomas nor Pug make an appearance, I leaf right past them.
Put another way, Mr. Feist created two characters who so deeply connect with me that I can’t leave them alone to visit any of the others.
A good problem for an author to have, I would imagine…
What books--what characters--affect YOU in the same way?
I think. Actually, I’m not sure.
Of the dozens of fine book Raymond E. Feist has written, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master are my favorites.
The first time I read them I did so as I imaging any author would prefer: page-by-page.
Since then (so many years ago) I’ve enjoyed these stories many more times--but never as wholes.
Sometimes I pull them from the shelves and feel like following Tomas. So I do, skipping vast swaths of text in order to reap only the Tomas grains. Other days I do the same with Pug.
And it’s all Mr. Feist’s fault. Despite the excellence of the chapters in which neither Tomas nor Pug make an appearance, I leaf right past them.
Put another way, Mr. Feist created two characters who so deeply connect with me that I can’t leave them alone to visit any of the others.
A good problem for an author to have, I would imagine…
What books--what characters--affect YOU in the same way?
June 12, 2013
Summer Reading for Angsty Teens
READING FOR ANGSTY TEENS
BOOKS YOUR YOUNG ADULT SHOULD READ
Do you remember being a teenager?
Really, truly remember? Neither do I.
I have a vague recollection of it being angsty, and since I didn’t have a video-game console I had to make do with books (glad about that, by the way…). Here are my top three picks for teens to read while eagerly awaiting the start of the school year.
Stranger in a Strange Land
This may not be an obvious choice of reading material for someone in the “I-don’t-want-to-be-different” stage of life. But it’s a good choice. Michael Valentine Smith is different, and Heinlein shows clearly what the world does to those it considers “other.” But he also gives hope in the form of Jubal and the girls, who love Michael for who he is and stand by him no matter what.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Richard Bach’s tale of a plane-ride Messiah and his accidental disciple is filled with lessons of hope for the future and belief in one’s self. Could there be any better reason to hide the PlayStation?
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Teens and adults often see one another as alien species. Time dims memories of our youth, and our children just haven’t had the experiences we have. Yet. Bradbury reveals that growing up is less about becoming adult than uncovering the adult within.
BOOKS YOUR YOUNG ADULT SHOULD READ
Do you remember being a teenager?
Really, truly remember? Neither do I.
I have a vague recollection of it being angsty, and since I didn’t have a video-game console I had to make do with books (glad about that, by the way…). Here are my top three picks for teens to read while eagerly awaiting the start of the school year.
Stranger in a Strange Land
This may not be an obvious choice of reading material for someone in the “I-don’t-want-to-be-different” stage of life. But it’s a good choice. Michael Valentine Smith is different, and Heinlein shows clearly what the world does to those it considers “other.” But he also gives hope in the form of Jubal and the girls, who love Michael for who he is and stand by him no matter what.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Richard Bach’s tale of a plane-ride Messiah and his accidental disciple is filled with lessons of hope for the future and belief in one’s self. Could there be any better reason to hide the PlayStation?
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Teens and adults often see one another as alien species. Time dims memories of our youth, and our children just haven’t had the experiences we have. Yet. Bradbury reveals that growing up is less about becoming adult than uncovering the adult within.
June 5, 2013
Pen, Ink, and Hypocrisy
Reposted from my blog at http://www.lunarisen.com/alltheotherb...
Not so much related to the reading and writing of books, but very much about reading and writing…
Somewhere, a yellow Pennzoil box gathers dust in a garage or storage shed. Where, exactly, I don’t know.
What I do know is that the box contains dozens of letters, all hand-written and all addressed to me.
I like to think that a similar box, though perhaps not misplaced, gathers dust far from where I write this. In my imagination, that box also contains dozens of letters…all hand-written, and all written by me.
Together these two boxes contain the heart of a relationship between two people separated first by distance--and finally by time.
I wish I knew where my box waits. Its treasures--fewer, I’m sure, than 50 in all--cannot be replaced.
The dance of exchanging letters is deeper than the mere trading of words. Email can do THAT more quickly and cost-free.
Emails can be short. They can ramble. They are, it seems, deathly allergic to grammar and punctuation and the heartfelt expressions of dreams.
To pen a letter is to reveal one’s soul even in the shapes of penmanship.
To exchange letters is to anticipate.
To imagine the reaction of the reader. To keep one eye on the mailbox.
Words written on paper reveal. They archive.
Electronic facsimiles of words and sentences disguise. They may be saved, but form no archive of a life.
Who among us has ever sifted through old emails and dreamed of days lost to distance and time?
Not I. Have you?
Who among us has recently taken the time to pen a letter, lick an envelope, and drop a message into the magical post-office slot?
Not I. Have you?
Not so much related to the reading and writing of books, but very much about reading and writing…
Somewhere, a yellow Pennzoil box gathers dust in a garage or storage shed. Where, exactly, I don’t know.
What I do know is that the box contains dozens of letters, all hand-written and all addressed to me.
I like to think that a similar box, though perhaps not misplaced, gathers dust far from where I write this. In my imagination, that box also contains dozens of letters…all hand-written, and all written by me.
Together these two boxes contain the heart of a relationship between two people separated first by distance--and finally by time.
I wish I knew where my box waits. Its treasures--fewer, I’m sure, than 50 in all--cannot be replaced.
The dance of exchanging letters is deeper than the mere trading of words. Email can do THAT more quickly and cost-free.
Emails can be short. They can ramble. They are, it seems, deathly allergic to grammar and punctuation and the heartfelt expressions of dreams.
To pen a letter is to reveal one’s soul even in the shapes of penmanship.
To exchange letters is to anticipate.
To imagine the reaction of the reader. To keep one eye on the mailbox.
Words written on paper reveal. They archive.
Electronic facsimiles of words and sentences disguise. They may be saved, but form no archive of a life.
Who among us has ever sifted through old emails and dreamed of days lost to distance and time?
Not I. Have you?
Who among us has recently taken the time to pen a letter, lick an envelope, and drop a message into the magical post-office slot?
Not I. Have you?
May 27, 2013
SHORT-FICTION COMPETITION
SHORT-FICTION COMPETITION
Posted 27 May 2013
My friend, author Michael Brookes, is now running a short-fiction competition on his website!
Each month, Michael will post a picture. Write a fiction short (500 words maximum) and enter have it published! Winners also receive Amazon gift cards.
Michael is the author of An Odd Quartet, The Cult of Me, Conversations in the Abyss, and Faust 2.0. Take a look at his work when you enter the competition!
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/j...
Posted 27 May 2013
My friend, author Michael Brookes, is now running a short-fiction competition on his website!
Each month, Michael will post a picture. Write a fiction short (500 words maximum) and enter have it published! Winners also receive Amazon gift cards.
Michael is the author of An Odd Quartet, The Cult of Me, Conversations in the Abyss, and Faust 2.0. Take a look at his work when you enter the competition!
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/j...
May 23, 2013
11 Reasons Reading Kicks Television’s ***
11 Reasons Reading Kicks Television’s A**
1. Dropping a book on your toe hurts less.
2. You don’t have to pay for 500 books to get the 6 you want to read.
3. American Idol.
4. No fighting over the remote. Because…you know, books don’t HAVE remotes.
5. Your favorite book is never preempted by the State of the Union. Or hockey.
6. Books still work when the power goes out.
7. Books inspired the original DVR. It’s called a bookmark.
8. Lining your shelves with 60-year-old televisions doesn’t make you look smarter.
9. Larry the Cable Guy.
10. Ray Bradbury.
11. Not one brain cell ever committed suicide in the middle of a book.
1. Dropping a book on your toe hurts less.
2. You don’t have to pay for 500 books to get the 6 you want to read.
3. American Idol.
4. No fighting over the remote. Because…you know, books don’t HAVE remotes.
5. Your favorite book is never preempted by the State of the Union. Or hockey.
6. Books still work when the power goes out.
7. Books inspired the original DVR. It’s called a bookmark.
8. Lining your shelves with 60-year-old televisions doesn’t make you look smarter.
9. Larry the Cable Guy.
10. Ray Bradbury.
11. Not one brain cell ever committed suicide in the middle of a book.
Discover New Authors Here!
If you're looking for something to read, great authors post excerpts for your enjoyment at http://www.virtualebookfair.com/
May 15, 2013
5 Ways to Kill Between-Book Time
We each have a favorite author. That one writer who wields words as lures and stories as traps. We read their work as captives. When the last page turns, we grieve to stumble across empty paper.
A reader recently asked when my next novel will be available. My answer--late 2013--disappointed. I understand how she felt. But creating a compelling story takes time.
So what do we, as readers, do to kill the between-books time? I have a few suggestions:
1. Engage with your favorite author on Twitter. Authors love to engage with readers (if your author doesn’t…switch to me! I recently spun my author feed away from my publisher feed and would love to hear from you!).
2. Watch television. If the thought recalls the times your parents told you to “pull your head out of that book and go outside,” then go outside! Buy a portable TV first.
3. Ensure more future reading time by helping your significant other around the house. Put away the dishes. Hold up each plate, cup, and spoon one at a time and ask, “Where does this go?” Or volunteer to mow the lawn. Leave wide swaths of uncut grass in your wake. Do this enough times and you’ll never again hear, “Honey, can you put that book down and help me for a minute?”
4. Read a different author. Or even a different genre. You might try The Lightness of Dust. If you do, let me know what genre it belongs to.
5. Don’t have a #5. Don’t like even numbers, either.
What do you do while awaiting your favorite author’s next release? Seriously. I’d like to know…
A reader recently asked when my next novel will be available. My answer--late 2013--disappointed. I understand how she felt. But creating a compelling story takes time.
So what do we, as readers, do to kill the between-books time? I have a few suggestions:
1. Engage with your favorite author on Twitter. Authors love to engage with readers (if your author doesn’t…switch to me! I recently spun my author feed away from my publisher feed and would love to hear from you!).
2. Watch television. If the thought recalls the times your parents told you to “pull your head out of that book and go outside,” then go outside! Buy a portable TV first.
3. Ensure more future reading time by helping your significant other around the house. Put away the dishes. Hold up each plate, cup, and spoon one at a time and ask, “Where does this go?” Or volunteer to mow the lawn. Leave wide swaths of uncut grass in your wake. Do this enough times and you’ll never again hear, “Honey, can you put that book down and help me for a minute?”
4. Read a different author. Or even a different genre. You might try The Lightness of Dust. If you do, let me know what genre it belongs to.
5. Don’t have a #5. Don’t like even numbers, either.
What do you do while awaiting your favorite author’s next release? Seriously. I’d like to know…
May 8, 2013
My Interview with Author Jill Sanders
I’m pleased to have the opportunity to interview Jill Sanders, author of Finding Pride and Discovering Pride.
Thank you for joining us today. How are you?
Hello everyone. Thanks for having me. Right now I'm cold. I [Matt’s note: It took longer than expected to get this posted. My apologies to Jill; it was indeed cold when we did this interview] can't wait for summer so I can sit on my deck and write. But, other than that, I'm good.
Tell us about yourself—outside the world of writing.
This is always the hardest question to answer. Funny, I can describe my characters to a tee, but when it comes to describing myself I draw a blank. Okay, I grew up in a large family on a farm in Washington state and LOVE the northwest area. I currently live in Texas with my husband of 19 years and two teenage boys.
What does writing mean to you?
The freedom of expressing myself. I actually get to be all my characters. I think that if I couldn't write down some of my thoughts, I would shrivel up.
How long have you been writing?
I started wanting to write young adult or romance books when I was a teenager. I actually wrote a “novel” with my twin sister and best friend. I started really writing almost ten years ago, shortly after my mom passed away.
Please tell us about the first thing you wrote for publication.
Finding Pride is a heart warming story about Megan Kimble. After her divorce from a very abusive man, she moves to Pride, Oregon when her brother, Matt, dies. Deciding to try her hand at a new life in this small, tight-knit community, she takes over her brother's new business, a bed and breakfast, with the help of his best friend Todd Jordan. Todd, seeing Matt's sister arrive broken and bruised, feels it's not only his calling to see that she is taken care off, but the fact that he can't keep his mind off of her, makes him realize he's fallen in love.
Do you find that your work fits easily into a particular genre? If not, why?
Yes, I've always been a huge reader of romance.
To what extent do you draw on your own experiences and personality to create your worlds and characters?
I have always been a “story teller” in my mind. This may sound weird, but most of my stories come from...
Please enjoy the rest of the interview at http://www.lunarisen.com/alltheotherb...
Thank you for joining us today. How are you?
Hello everyone. Thanks for having me. Right now I'm cold. I [Matt’s note: It took longer than expected to get this posted. My apologies to Jill; it was indeed cold when we did this interview] can't wait for summer so I can sit on my deck and write. But, other than that, I'm good.
Tell us about yourself—outside the world of writing.
This is always the hardest question to answer. Funny, I can describe my characters to a tee, but when it comes to describing myself I draw a blank. Okay, I grew up in a large family on a farm in Washington state and LOVE the northwest area. I currently live in Texas with my husband of 19 years and two teenage boys.
What does writing mean to you?
The freedom of expressing myself. I actually get to be all my characters. I think that if I couldn't write down some of my thoughts, I would shrivel up.
How long have you been writing?
I started wanting to write young adult or romance books when I was a teenager. I actually wrote a “novel” with my twin sister and best friend. I started really writing almost ten years ago, shortly after my mom passed away.
Please tell us about the first thing you wrote for publication.
Finding Pride is a heart warming story about Megan Kimble. After her divorce from a very abusive man, she moves to Pride, Oregon when her brother, Matt, dies. Deciding to try her hand at a new life in this small, tight-knit community, she takes over her brother's new business, a bed and breakfast, with the help of his best friend Todd Jordan. Todd, seeing Matt's sister arrive broken and bruised, feels it's not only his calling to see that she is taken care off, but the fact that he can't keep his mind off of her, makes him realize he's fallen in love.
Do you find that your work fits easily into a particular genre? If not, why?
Yes, I've always been a huge reader of romance.
To what extent do you draw on your own experiences and personality to create your worlds and characters?
I have always been a “story teller” in my mind. This may sound weird, but most of my stories come from...
Please enjoy the rest of the interview at http://www.lunarisen.com/alltheotherb...
