Exquisite Corpse Screening

Jason Jack Miller and I attended Mike Arnzen's screening of Exquisite Corpse on November 9. Ten directors from around the world made eleven short films based on his work in 100 Jolts.

Michael A. Arnzen Photo by Heidi Ruby Miller



We first had dinner at Primanti's with Timons Esaias, Al Wendland, Moira Richardson, and Mike Brendan.

Timons Esaias Photo by Heidi Ruby Miller


Then it was off to Seton Hill where we met up with Pat Picciarelli, Becca Baker, Bruce Siskawicz, and Karen Herc.

Patrick Picciarelli and Jason Jack Miller Photo by Heidi Ruby Miller

Karen Herc and Becca Baker Photo By Heidi Ruby Miller


Here's Arnzen casually drinking his coffee before it all got underway.

Michael A. Arnzen Photo by Jason Jack Miller


And, here's Bruce's reaction to Mike's latest book LICKER.

Bruce Siskawicz and Heidi Ruby Miller Photo by Jason Jack Miller

Unfortunately we missed the second Greensburg screening on November 25, but he's hoping to show it at residency in January.

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Michael A. Arnzen, Exquisite Corpse, Seton Hill University, Writing Popular Fiction, 100 Jolts

Writers' News

#1 - Seton Hill author Penny Dawn's new paperback, Ancient History, just came out.

#2 - Maria V. Snyder is giving away signed ARCs of Poison Study with 5 referrals to family and friends. Here's what she says:
"Just have your friends/relatives/co-workers/strangers email me at maria at mariavsnyder.com. Make sure all five include your name and the fact you mentioned my book(s) in their email. And make sure YOU email me your address so I can send out your special prize!"

#3 - Danny Adams' review of Challenging Destiny #23 is online at Tangent.

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Penny Dawn, Ancient History, Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study, Danny Adams, Tangent, Challenging Destiny, Seton Hill University, Writing Popular Fiction

Interview with Kim Howe

As promised, here is Seton Hill writer Kim Howe's responses to my Questions about Characters.

To participate in an ongoing discussion about women in the military, you can visit one of my previous LJ entries.

Interview with Kim Howe

HEIDI: Out of all the works you've written, who is your favorite character and why?

KIM: In RED DIAMOND, Kinshasa Omari, an eleven-year-old African boy, plays a pivotal role. When his parents are murdered by a Warlord, he is drugged and manipulated into becoming a boy soldier. Yet, he maintains a moral stance and never gives up hope for a better life. Having just traveled to Kenya, I was inspired by the resilience and warmth of the people there. I hope I capture that essence in Kinshasa.

HEIDI: Out of all the works you've read, which character do you wish you could have created?

KIM: Hannibal Lectur. Brilliantly drawn villains are the most interesting characters. Thomas Harris used just a few details to make his cannibal serial killer stand out. Who could resist an academic gentleman who likes fava beans and Chianti with his “dinner.” The impact of Hannibal can be demonstrated by this fact: With less than 16 minutes of screen time, Anthony Hopkins' performance in The Silence of the Lambs was the shortest ever to win a leading acting Oscar. Now that’s impact!

HEIDI: Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

KIM: Never. I’m married to a lawyer and know better. :) Actually, I tend to use a compilation of character traits that I see in friends, family, and strangers to make up unique individuals. Characters become a melange of all the people I’ve met.

HEIDI: Is there a character you've written who is more like you than the others?

KIM: I would have to say that all of my female protagonists have a little bit of me in them. Industry hazard. Authors tend to use writing as inexpensive psychotherapy!

HEIDI: Do you cast your characters or give them theme music when writing them?

KIM: I definitely cast my characters, especially the heroes. Matthew McCaughahay would be a very busy actor if my books were made into films. :)

Don't forget you can vote for Kim's book ONE SHOT TWO KILLS in the American Title III Contest by e-mailing webmaster@romantictimes.com with ONE SHOT TWO KILLS in the subject line.

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American Title III Contest, Kimberley Howe, One Shot, Two Kills, Seton Hill University, Writing Popular Fiction, Romantic Times

The Pedestal Magazine Reviews

Both Maureen McHugh and Catherynne M. Valente's books received wonderful reviews from JoSelle Vanderhooft in the November Issue of The Pedestal Magazine.

Mothers and Other Monsters review

The Grass-Cutting Sword review

I had the honor of being on a panel about Women in SF with both Maureen and Catherynne recently at Context 19. Their ideas of the strong woman not necessarily being a Buffy or Xena type are certainly reflected within their work.

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Maureen McHugh, Catherynne M. Valente, The Pedestal Magazine, Mothers and Other Monsters, The Grass-Cutting Sword, JoSelle Vanderhooft

Kim Howe's Back at Drunken Writers

You can catch her guest blog appearance here.

It deals with Kim's reaction to one of the judge's comments about women serving in the military. (Scroll down on the main page to ONE SHOT TWO KILLS.)

X-posted to ambasadora, penncamping, MySpace, Heidi Ruby Miller, WPF Writers

New SHU Mentors

A warm welcome to our new Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction mentors:

Tim Waggoner
Anne Harris
Scott A. Johnson

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Tim Waggoner, Anne Harris, Scott A. Johnson, Seton Hill University, Writing Popular Fiction, mentors

Poison Study Wins Another Award

Seton Hill writer Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study won the Salt Lake County Library's Reader's Choice Award. It also won the Compton Crook Award this past May.

Worries about the LUNA line ending seem to be founded, but luckily Maria's third book Fire Study will be published through the MIRA line. The line is also reissuing the other two Study books in trade paperback. You can see the new cover for her original Poison Study here.

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Seton Hill University, Writing Popular Fiction, Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study, LUNA, MIRA, Salt Lake County Library, Magic Study, Fire Study

Free PDF Download from Subterranean

Thanks to Christopher Paul Carey for this heads up.

Subterranean Press has a free PDF download of Issue #4, the cliche issue. Inside are stories by Charles Coleman Finlay and Tobias Buckell among others.

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Subterranean Press, Tobias Buckell, Charles Coleman Finlay

Kim Howe Makes Round Two

Seton Hill writer Kimberley Howe made it to round two of the American Title III Contest, sponsored by Romantic Times.

The descriptions about her hero and heroine are up now for viewing. One of the judges actually says that she was turned off by Kim's heroine because she's an ex-sniper, and apparently the judge doesn't believe women should go into combat. Huh?! What year is this anyway?

If you'd like to vote for Kim, please e-mail webmaster@romantictimes.com with ONE SHOT, TWO KILLS in the subject line.

You already got my vote, Kim.

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American Title III Contest, Kimberley Howe, One Shot, Two Kills, Romantic Times, Seton Hill University, Writing Popular Fiction

Post or E-mail Submissions

Looking at my submission record today, I realized that out of 82 total submissions this year, I only had 20 post submissions.

I think I know why I seem to prefer e-mail:

#1: It's easier. (no printing and stuffing)
#2: It's cheaper. (no postage)
#3: It's less cluttering. (pop the sent e-mail into a yahoo folder instead of keeping a real folder of papers)
#4: It's immediate. (find a market from Ralan or Duotrope, open a new window, send off an e-mail to the market right then and there)

I wonder if I'm unconsciously limiting myself by heading first for the markets which accept e-mail submissions. Truth is, I save the ones who only deal through the post for last.

Anyone else run into this phenomena?

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submissions