Saturday, July 20, 2013
WHAT PRICE ROLE MODELS?
If pop culture actually produced a decent role model for your teenage son, would it be worth $2.99? You want THIS.
Friday, July 19, 2013
CLEAN INDIE READS INTERVIEW
Many thanks to Lia London at Cleanindiereads.com for this nice interview! You can find it in its original form HERE.
CIR: What inspired you to write Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter?
MM: When I taught middle and high school English, parents would express to me how difficult it was to find decent new material for their teenagers to read. And by “decent” they didn’t just mean well-written, they meant optimistic, uplifting, wholesome – not obsessed with darkness. Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter is my answer to that lament. It’s principally an action-adventure story, but with a lot of humor layered in – and even a dash of CLEAN romance!
CIR: So, is this geared for your former students?
CIR: What inspired you to write Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter?
MM: When I taught middle and high school English, parents would express to me how difficult it was to find decent new material for their teenagers to read. And by “decent” they didn’t just mean well-written, they meant optimistic, uplifting, wholesome – not obsessed with darkness. Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter is my answer to that lament. It’s principally an action-adventure story, but with a lot of humor layered in – and even a dash of CLEAN romance!
CIR: So, is this geared for your former students?
Sunday, July 7, 2013
FAITH AND REASON
Faith and Reason are like the twin blades of a pair of scissors: always complementary, never at odds — except in the befuddled mind of postmodern Man. Their edges intersect elegantly and precisely from one end to the other, such that they always kiss but never clash. Only working in concert can they decapitate the two-headed dragon of Doubt and Superstition.
Friday, July 5, 2013
YES.
“I believe like a child that suffering will be healed and made up for, that all the humiliating absurdity of human contradictions will vanish like a pitiful mirage, like the despicable fabrication of the impotent and infinitely small Euclidean mind of man, that in the world's finale, at the moment of eternal harmony, something so precious will come to pass that it will suffice for all hearts, for the comforting of all resentments, for the atonement of all the crimes of humanity, for all the blood that they've shed; that it will make it not only possible to forgive but to justify all that has happened.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
THE IMPORTANCE OF AWESOMENESS (BULLWHIP PRIMER)
Folks who work with youth these days have their work cut out for them, and holding the attention of boys/young men can be especially challenging.
The reality is that we parents, teachers, and youth workers have got to have more than just a soft spot in our hearts. We have got to be competitive.
All sorts of things clamor for the attention of boys: video games, movies, the Internet, girls, and so on. American popular culture specializes in sizzle without the steak, and even though you may have a Grade A filet mignon, you’ve still got to grill it so it can be heard.
As my wife is fond of saying, “If you can’t reach ’em, you can’t teach ’em!” Which brings us to a little something I like to call...
THE IMPORTANCE OF AWESOMENESS.
The reality is that we parents, teachers, and youth workers have got to have more than just a soft spot in our hearts. We have got to be competitive.
All sorts of things clamor for the attention of boys: video games, movies, the Internet, girls, and so on. American popular culture specializes in sizzle without the steak, and even though you may have a Grade A filet mignon, you’ve still got to grill it so it can be heard.
As my wife is fond of saying, “If you can’t reach ’em, you can’t teach ’em!” Which brings us to a little something I like to call...
THE IMPORTANCE OF AWESOMENESS.
ON PORTRAYING EVIL
The author’s challenge is to represent evil without expanding its acreage — to portray seductiveness without seducing. To faithfully represent darkness for what it is, and yet not darken the minds or hearts of one’s readers — especially if they happen to be children or young adults.
I think the key to walking the tightrope is to spend as little time as possible on the glamor and allure of evil, and to focus instead on its consequences — to give readers a strong sense of the victim’s experience. Not that a writer should necessarily wallow in gruesome details, either — the goal is not to blot out the sun. I simply mean to say that when readers vicariously feel what it is to be on the receiving end of evil, they are less likely to mistake it for being “cool.”
I think the key to walking the tightrope is to spend as little time as possible on the glamor and allure of evil, and to focus instead on its consequences — to give readers a strong sense of the victim’s experience. Not that a writer should necessarily wallow in gruesome details, either — the goal is not to blot out the sun. I simply mean to say that when readers vicariously feel what it is to be on the receiving end of evil, they are less likely to mistake it for being “cool.”
Friday, June 21, 2013
BEST WESTERN
What is the best Western ever written? For my money, that’s an easy one: Shane, by Jack Schaeffer. (I know the movie is also considered to be a great classic, but to me, Alan Ladd just doesn't match up to the hero described in the book.)
This quintessential tale of good-versus-evil is also one of the shortest. My copy has only 119 pages, making it pocket-portable, and the ideal summer read.
What's so great about it?
This quintessential tale of good-versus-evil is also one of the shortest. My copy has only 119 pages, making it pocket-portable, and the ideal summer read.
What's so great about it?
Thursday, June 20, 2013
FREE EBOOK TODAY! (6/20)
Get your free Kindle ebook version of WADE BOSS: HYBRID HUNTER at Amazon – HERE! The ultimate summer read – YA literature at its best! Adventure, high-octane thrills, plots twists, genetically engineered hybrid monsters, and even romance! For guys AND gals – true FAMILY entertainment!
(Is it “shameless self-promotion” if I don’t feel shame?)
(Is it “shameless self-promotion” if I don’t feel shame?)
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
WADE BOSS PRIMER
Dangerous New World. Old-Fashioned Hero.
That’s the tag-line on the back cover of Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter, and it’s the controlling image for the story. Wade Boss is the kind of action hero I loved reading about when I was a young man: brave and capable, but also good-hearted, with a sense of humor. He’s an animal trainer who works in Hollywood, but he comes from Texas, and he’s cut from the cloth of the American cowboy.
When the story opens, Wade gets a call from the LAPD to help capture an escaped tiger that has made its way into an old lady’s garage. Except that when Wade finally corners the animal, it turns out not to be a tiger, but a half-tiger hybrid monster. By the skin of his teeth Wade captures the creature alive, and this puts him on the radar of a covert, government hybrid-hunting agency.
Wade soon learns that this hybrid phenomenon is a growing problem, unbeknownst to the general public. Each hybrid is unique, and no one knows who is creating them – or setting them loose. Wade discovers that he has a special talent for catching the creatures, but his moonlighting as a hybrid hunter quickly throws his orderly life into disarray. He keeps trying to back out of the whole crazy business, but his highly-tuned conscience won’t let him rest as long as innocent lives are in danger.
During my days as a middle and high school English teacher, parents would express to me how difficult it was to find decent new material for their teenagers to read. And by “decent” they didn’t just mean well-written, they meant optimistic, uplifting, wholesome – not obsessed with darkness. Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter is my answer to that lament. It’s principally an action-adventure story, but with a lot of subtlety and humor layered in – and even some (clean) romance!
That’s the tag-line on the back cover of Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter, and it’s the controlling image for the story. Wade Boss is the kind of action hero I loved reading about when I was a young man: brave and capable, but also good-hearted, with a sense of humor. He’s an animal trainer who works in Hollywood, but he comes from Texas, and he’s cut from the cloth of the American cowboy.
When the story opens, Wade gets a call from the LAPD to help capture an escaped tiger that has made its way into an old lady’s garage. Except that when Wade finally corners the animal, it turns out not to be a tiger, but a half-tiger hybrid monster. By the skin of his teeth Wade captures the creature alive, and this puts him on the radar of a covert, government hybrid-hunting agency.
Wade soon learns that this hybrid phenomenon is a growing problem, unbeknownst to the general public. Each hybrid is unique, and no one knows who is creating them – or setting them loose. Wade discovers that he has a special talent for catching the creatures, but his moonlighting as a hybrid hunter quickly throws his orderly life into disarray. He keeps trying to back out of the whole crazy business, but his highly-tuned conscience won’t let him rest as long as innocent lives are in danger.
During my days as a middle and high school English teacher, parents would express to me how difficult it was to find decent new material for their teenagers to read. And by “decent” they didn’t just mean well-written, they meant optimistic, uplifting, wholesome – not obsessed with darkness. Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter is my answer to that lament. It’s principally an action-adventure story, but with a lot of subtlety and humor layered in – and even some (clean) romance!
Monday, June 17, 2013
MORE THAN ‘RELATABLE’
It’s one thing to be ‘relatable’, but the job of the Storyteller is not merely to meet a reader where he’s at – especially if he happens to be stuck in a miserable place.
The Storyteller has the high calling of leading a reader by the hand to a metaphorical place where he can find HOPE – that is, insight that can be applied in practical ways. Insight that can withstand the rigors of the real world.
This is where most entertainment these days fails. It takes your hand in the darkness, wanders around with you in circles, and finally lets go of your hand – leaving you still wandering in the darkness.
The Storyteller has the high calling of leading a reader by the hand to a metaphorical place where he can find HOPE – that is, insight that can be applied in practical ways. Insight that can withstand the rigors of the real world.
This is where most entertainment these days fails. It takes your hand in the darkness, wanders around with you in circles, and finally lets go of your hand – leaving you still wandering in the darkness.
Monday, March 25, 2013
ON “IMPOSSIBILITIES”
Everything is lame until it’s cool. Everything is unsuccessful until it succeeds.
Progress in this world is made only when people of vision defy conventional wisdom and show the world what is truly possible.
Science-fiction movies were a joke until George Lucas made Star Wars. Everybody knew that fantasy films were ridiculous until Peter Jackson made The Lord of the Rings. And who could have imagined 50 years ago that comic book heroes would one day rule the box office?
The same story has played out in the publishing industry: everybody knew that there was no money to be made in young adult books until Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games.
Nobody had use for a computer... until they did. Nobody shopped online... until they did.
The conclusion? THINGS CHANGE.
When “they” tell you that a thing is impossible, they really mean that it is impossible FOR THEM. But since that fact doesn’t sit well with their egos, they’d like you to believe that you are no more capable than they.
Today, “everybody knows” that independent publishing is just for hacks and wanna-be authors.
Sounds familiar...
Progress in this world is made only when people of vision defy conventional wisdom and show the world what is truly possible.
Science-fiction movies were a joke until George Lucas made Star Wars. Everybody knew that fantasy films were ridiculous until Peter Jackson made The Lord of the Rings. And who could have imagined 50 years ago that comic book heroes would one day rule the box office?
The same story has played out in the publishing industry: everybody knew that there was no money to be made in young adult books until Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games.
Nobody had use for a computer... until they did. Nobody shopped online... until they did.
The conclusion? THINGS CHANGE.
When “they” tell you that a thing is impossible, they really mean that it is impossible FOR THEM. But since that fact doesn’t sit well with their egos, they’d like you to believe that you are no more capable than they.
Today, “everybody knows” that independent publishing is just for hacks and wanna-be authors.
Sounds familiar...
Saturday, March 16, 2013
FEMALE PERSPECTIVE
Is Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter for female readers? Read this review by Amaryllis on Hubpages:
Why I Was Wrong About This Book
I was really dubious about this book. There was something about the character’s name, Wade Boss, which seemed corny. When I found that the book was intended as teen fiction, I groaned. I have a young teen, who is, sadly, very cynical. I couldn’t even begin to imagine her reading this book. I was also worried about the fact that it had come from Createspace.
On all counts, I was utterly, totally and completely wrong. And I can prove it.
When I gave the book to my cynical sixteen year old and asked her just to read the first chapter and give me an opinion, she went on to read the rest. Her comment?
‘It’s nice to read about a hero who’s good.'
In case you’re thinking ‘isn’t that the point of a hero’ the answer’s no. So many books these days, especially for teens, are either ‘gritty and realistic’ (their words, not mine) or escapist supernatural romance. The heroes are either romantic icons that couldn’t possibly exist, or men with a problem - they’re battling addiction, recovering from a failed marriage, coming to terms with the death of a loved one or going through a divorce. Think about it. Yes, that even covers Harry Potter!
Enter Wade Boss. He’s a nice guy. Really. He is. He has standards and principles. He likes animals and doesn’t want to kill them. He likes his girlfriend and doesn’t want to cheat on her, he even gets on with his parents. He’s an adult male and he doesn’t have sex with everything that moves. I noticed all this as I read the book, but my daughter actually made the list, so if you’re wondering whether all this comes through to the target audience, I can tell you, it does.
Wade Boss Hybrid Hunter is a great action adventure story about a nice guy who always tries to do what he thinks is right. As a result, the world doesn’t always go his way, and at one point it seems he's going to lose everything, but in true heroic fashion he doesn’t let that stop him. He does the job as best he can, and his best is pretty good!
In genre terms, the story is action/adventure. The action sequences are exciting, but it’s not overly violent or gory and Wade's weapon, when fighting the hybrids, is interesting and well described. When I saw the cover I wondered whether a hero in cowboy hat and boots was just too old fashioned, but again I was wrong.
The book ends in a way which seems to promise more adventures for Wade Boss, when hopefully we’ll find out more about the hybrids, where they’ve come from, and whether Wade finally manages to save the world, get the girl and keep the change.
Speaking for myself (and my daughter) the next book can’t come too soon.
- Amaryllis (Find her original posting HERE.)
Why I Was Wrong About This Book
I was really dubious about this book. There was something about the character’s name, Wade Boss, which seemed corny. When I found that the book was intended as teen fiction, I groaned. I have a young teen, who is, sadly, very cynical. I couldn’t even begin to imagine her reading this book. I was also worried about the fact that it had come from Createspace.
On all counts, I was utterly, totally and completely wrong. And I can prove it.
When I gave the book to my cynical sixteen year old and asked her just to read the first chapter and give me an opinion, she went on to read the rest. Her comment?
‘It’s nice to read about a hero who’s good.'
In case you’re thinking ‘isn’t that the point of a hero’ the answer’s no. So many books these days, especially for teens, are either ‘gritty and realistic’ (their words, not mine) or escapist supernatural romance. The heroes are either romantic icons that couldn’t possibly exist, or men with a problem - they’re battling addiction, recovering from a failed marriage, coming to terms with the death of a loved one or going through a divorce. Think about it. Yes, that even covers Harry Potter!
Enter Wade Boss. He’s a nice guy. Really. He is. He has standards and principles. He likes animals and doesn’t want to kill them. He likes his girlfriend and doesn’t want to cheat on her, he even gets on with his parents. He’s an adult male and he doesn’t have sex with everything that moves. I noticed all this as I read the book, but my daughter actually made the list, so if you’re wondering whether all this comes through to the target audience, I can tell you, it does.
Wade Boss Hybrid Hunter is a great action adventure story about a nice guy who always tries to do what he thinks is right. As a result, the world doesn’t always go his way, and at one point it seems he's going to lose everything, but in true heroic fashion he doesn’t let that stop him. He does the job as best he can, and his best is pretty good!
In genre terms, the story is action/adventure. The action sequences are exciting, but it’s not overly violent or gory and Wade's weapon, when fighting the hybrids, is interesting and well described. When I saw the cover I wondered whether a hero in cowboy hat and boots was just too old fashioned, but again I was wrong.
The book ends in a way which seems to promise more adventures for Wade Boss, when hopefully we’ll find out more about the hybrids, where they’ve come from, and whether Wade finally manages to save the world, get the girl and keep the change.
Speaking for myself (and my daughter) the next book can’t come too soon.
- Amaryllis (Find her original posting HERE.)
Friday, February 22, 2013
FUN INTERVIEW
Many thanks to Amy at GamesFiends for a thoughtful interview about Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter! You can read it here.
Monday, January 14, 2013
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