Monday, November 7, 2016

Britannica

I wrote an article for Encyclopedia Britannica!

This is the result of several years of research on William Longespee (Longsword), Third Earl of Salisbury, a very interesting figure if there ever was one.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Longsword-3rd-earl-of-Salisbury

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

So Many Ups and Downs

Just a few hours after being told that I'm going to have to take a pay cut and go from stocking shelves to cleaning toilets if I want to have a job tomorrow, I got an e-mail from Encyclopedia Britannica's editors.

I had told them a week or two ago that I had done some research on William Longespee, Third Earl of Salisbury, that had synthesized more information in one source than nearly every biographical blurb I had ever found about him (including their own sparse page about him).

The focus of my research has been both in the synthesis of biographical material and in the argument for his being at the center of a sort of undercurrent of mythmaking that began shortly after he died and has continued well into the present, with Count William morphing from a medieval diplomat to an archetypal knight in shining armor.

Long story short, the editors at Britannica want to have a look at my research!

Life lately has been a roller coaster when what I need is a rocket.  If Britannica finds my research useful, then I'll have contributed to one of the most respected and authoritative reference sources in the English Language.  Why am I still doing menial jobs?!?  Something's got to give.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Latest Projects

Here is a rundown of my latest projects:

*I wrote a screenplay based on my novel "Basecraft Cirrostratus."  Dubbed "Steel Clouds," it is currently making the rounds at screenwriting contests.

*Another screenplay is on its way, this one based on my novel "The Vimana Incident" and sharing that title.

*My novel "The Linen Butterfly" is still in development (as it has been for far too long) and it is now being developed to incorporate parts of "The Goldenlea," my first novel.  "Butterfly" was intended as a sequel for "Goldenlea," but I saw the opportunity to revamp both stories into a single work I can really be proud of.

*I am working with a translator on a Spanish translation of one of my novels.

I also have an interesting bit of news.  The other day I stumbled on a used copy of "The Vimana Incident" on eBay listed by a French seller for 34 Euros (about $38)!  Considering the book is still in print and can be bought in the EU from Fusselschwarm in Germany for only 9.95 Euros, this means that (in France at least), my books are now selling for more used than they sell for new!

So, am I a cult fiction author now?

Meh, probably not.