dashPunk

After what feels like ages of manipulating pixels to form the shapes and colors we were looking for, the cover for Shine Like Thunder is finally done.

I am the first to admit that I am not an artist, but I really enjoy working on these covers. It is a chance for me to explore the worlds and characters in more depth. I feel closer to a character after I draw them. If it didn’t take me so long to finish and image, I would love to make a portrait of every character but that would take me years.

Shine has been sitting around for a while. Unlike Liquid Sky, it is a much more personal story about a man struggling with loosing his very identity and soul. The plot mirrors dark night that I went through several years ago, and I wrote it in the deepest depths of depression. I was shocked when I read it how much it hope and fear embody the struggle of the characters.

I debated for a long time whether I wanted to even release it because of the personal reflections that fill the pages. Alternating between near diary-like passages and dark fantasy/planetary romance, Shine Like Thunder tells the story of a young prince who has lost his home and is fighting his inner demons not to loose himself. Love, honor, desire and power struggle against each other as Saadhia and his friends fight to survive the hostile world on which they are marooned.

What do you think about the cover? Let me know in the comments. Shine Like Thunder will be available soon.

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I have been chasing an interesting story around the net. Hillel Italie reports for the AP that “Brief Books are in Style.”

In the decade since James Atlas revived the form with his “Penguin Lives” series, at least 10 publishers have started their own lines of short, nonfiction books, on subjects ranging from scientists to presidents to mythology. Although the advances are low — and sales often to match — short books have attracted such best sellers and prize winners as novelists Jane Smiley and Larry McMurtry, essayists Christopher Hitchens and Bill Bryson, and historians Robert Dallek and Sean Wilentz (Boston.com).

The majority of the article is various authors bemoaning the restrictions of the brief format. I, on the other hand, have a very different point of view.

As a reader, I simple don’t have the time to sit down for 20-30 hours and enjoy a brilliantly elaborate tale of intrigue and daring do. If it weren’t for Audible, Podiobooks, and Narrator (software for the Mac that turns text into an audiobook/play), I would not have much time to read at all.

I hear it all the time from friends and family as well. Gas prices are going up, few and few movies are coming out that we want to go see, and our obligations are multiplying, nibbling away at what little free time we had in the first place. This is a problem.

As a writer, I am happy and scared by this trend to smaller books. I love serials, and pulp era fiction, and this push to smaller books lets me write more like my heroes. It is also a strong pressure on me.

I have been working on a fix up of my book Liquid Sky so that it will be more serial friendly. It will be released as four books, one for each part, and a collected volume, and Shine Like Thunder is a short book too.

I like the format. It is possible to do more with less. My only real fear is that if our free time keeps eroding, then we will have no recreation time at all.

For now, I have to say three cheers for the short form book! Maybe, just maybe, we will see a new golden age of fiction.

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C.E. Dorsett

Shore Leave was amazing this year! This was my first convention since Liquid Sky came out, and it was wonderful!

Friday, July 7, 2006

Things were a bit confused when we arrived early on Friday. Since my panel was confirmed little over a week before the convention, no one knew what my status at the Con would be. When I received my badge, they gave me a regular attendee pass and didn’t know if I would be included in any other events at the convention. I felt a great deal of support from the other attendees who supported and accepted me immediately upon my arrival. After being bounced around to several people, I got my badge fixed. They attached a program participant notice to the bottom, hopefully I will earn a guest badge in the future. I was also welcomed at the “Meet the Pros” writers’ alley later that night.

The first book I sold a copy of Liquid Sky too at Shore Leave was to the wonderful people from Selmak.org. They were a great deal of fun, and good people to boot. They took a picture of me with Selmak, and I am told it will be up on their site soon.

I met a lot of wonderful people Friday night, and that night, I was seated on the “Meet the Pros” writers’ alley next to Ray Villard!! As a science geek, this was like sitting next to a rock star. This man has done so much to bring science alive in my imagination and countless others.

Being there, surrounded by all of these writers that I have admired for so long was an amazing experience. After so many years on the other side of the table, I was privileged and overwhelmed. Everyone did so much to make me feel at home and at ease among so many great writers. I have to add here, Paulette, if you read this, I really enjoyed our conversation and I hope you enjoy the book.

Saturday, July 8

After such an amazing day, I was afraid of what I would find on my full day at the convention. Quickly, I found my fears were nothing but jitters. I met many wonderful people really early on. Mark, it was great to talk to you. I really felt like I met kindred spirit in you.

A high point for me was the Gay Fandom: a melding of two communities panel. I was happy to see so many GLBT people coming out to discuss the good and the bad aspects of the portrayal of GLBT people and themes in SciFi media and press. This is a subject near and dear to my heart, especially since I have found it so difficult to publish any of my stories with prominent GLBT characters and themes. I also hope to begin a relationship with Dragon Lady Productions.

That night, I met Martin and Teresa, two very cool people who hung out for the rest of the night with me. Cheers y’all.

My panel, “Anime Themes in Literature” spent most of our time discussing the differences between Japanese and American SF, and the difference being more one of style effecting content, and not content in and of itself. My thesis was simple. Japanese SF is focused more on telling and imaginative story whereas American SF is preoccupied with the definition of “odd things” as odd. Maybe I’ll write an essay for the site. The panel went well.

Sunday, July 9

I got to attend the Writer’s Only Breakfast! I sat next to A.C. Crispin, who is one of the reasons I became a writer. She offered me a lot of good advice, and really made me feel like a novice. She was blunt in her comments, but her words will hopefully help me as I shop “Shine like Thunder” around.

Our Breakfast was accidentally paid for by a representative from Pocket Books. A.C. Crispin became enraged, while Brian and I slipped out.

Other Notes

In short, Brian and I had a great time. Our reception at Shore Leave was amazing. I hope all of the people who we met will stay in touch. I hope you all enjoy the book and I hope to see you all next year.

After consultation with a good deal of people, we have decided to make Liquid Sky into the first Audiobook available from Podiobooks.com. I hope to have it ready soon.

Thanks to everyone who made our time at Shore Leave so enjoyable.

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C.E. Dorsett

The Book is finished! It is short, but in a way I think that could be a good thing. I am excited by the nature of doing such a short work. I will be editing it soon, but I also be working on a couple of Novelettes in the mean time. One of the novelettes should be pretty funny, if I can get it done.

Now, I what you’re thinking, “Eric, can you be funny?” Well, I really don’t know so I will give it a try. Do not fear, I will not neglect the fight scenes and obsessively written fantasy scenes. After all, they are why I write in the first place.

I am just bubbling over!! Hope to reveal more about this book soon.

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C.E. Dorsett

I have reached 50,353 words, 174 pages, 276,053 characters typed, 2,082 paragraphs, 5,025 lines, in 10 pt Courier New font That is an amazing amount of writing for 29 days. There are around 1,600 words left to be written in the book (it is a small book). I will finish it today!!

I am so excited! I made it to the end. Last year, I only wrote 19,649 words in NaNoWriMo, but found the experience exhilarating. This year I made it, and I can’t wait for next year!

More on the new book soon…

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by C.E. Dorsett

I have to do something about my anger… There are too many stupid things happening in the world, and every little thing has started to piss me off. It is getting in the way of my work. I am having trouble concentrating… I know it is partially because it is constantly too hot, the allergens are swarming me from every side, and I am having these strange muscle spasms in my sides that make it impossible to breathe… It is scary to feel your own muscles strangling the life out of you.

My spirit is weak, but I have a lot of work to do. We have to fight the fight. Silence is not an option. We will make it through this together.

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