Comments for Michael Andre McPherson

Comment on Amanda Hocking is Not a Fluke by WillowRose

WillowRose — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:45:59 +0000

I’m going to disagree. I do find Amanda Hocking “a fluke”. I’m currently reading Switched and although it’s the only story of hers that I’ve yet checked out, I find her characters annoying. I won’t go into detail for the sake of spoilers. But too much in the story happens for the sake of “being convenient”. Some of the characters don’t seem to be sure of their own “character”, switching up the tone of their personalities from one chapter to the next for the sake of it “being convenient”. The only conflict that seems to be going on is the “will she get the guy or not?” conflict. And some things just don’t make any sense, like why an overprotective brother well into his twenties tries beating people up that upsets his sister but then cries over the phone when she tells him she isn’t coming back. I think the writer forgot the brother was a man and not a mother. And if he was really that concerned about why she wasn’t coming home, why didn’t he call the cellphone back that she had called him from? The writer makes it a point to mention how many times the girl “twirls her thumb ring” but forgot to mention why the brother didn’t bother to try calling the number back.

It takes a lot of styles and a lot of stories to make the world go round. But when someone in their mid-twenties strikes it rich by writing a story that anyone else could have written and than gets called “the next JK Rowling” when they should be called “the next Stephanie Meyer” instead, it’s frustrating. Amanda Hocking is a go getter and made it happen. That’s what she should be getting credit for.

Is her story really that amazing to be put above other struggling writers trying to get their stories read? No. Did luck land in her favor putting her on a pedestal? Yep. And to me that’s called “a fluke”.

Comment on Is Self ePublishing in a Bubble? by Renee Pawlish

Renee Pawlish — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:50:18 +0000

A very insightful post. I agree that the publishers don’t deserve a bailout, and I like what you say about everyone trying to get in on the gold rush. What’s sad to me is so many of these people, as you say, think they’re the next ___ (fill in the blank) and they can’t take it when someone says their writing stinks. But I hope you’re right that over time the “bad” writing will be weeded out because people give up. Writing, publishing and certainly making money at writing is a marathon, not a sprint, so we’ll see what a lot of the newbies end up doing. If you want to guest post on my blog, feel free to – you have wonderful thoughts that provoke a needed discussion.
Thanks.
Renee Pawlish

Comment on Rango – The Post-Apocalyptic Western by Steven Montano

Steven Montano — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:49:42 +0000

Great post!!! (And thanks, of course, for referencing my own post ;D).

You make a great point about the connection between the Western and post-apocalyptic fiction. I think this is especially true of the later, grittier Westerns (starting with 1969′s “The Wild Bunch” and continuing on through the 70s), when the dark tone of the Western reflected a growing dissatisfaction on popular culture’s part with “The Establishment”, and really brought to light our desire to return to simpler (albeit bloodier) times.

Comment on Title and Cover Woes by Joan

Joan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:29:12 +0000

Nice cover. Great name. I’m sold. When is the next one coming out?
Shamans? Inspiration? Enlightenment? Sounds reasonable to me

Comment on When I Gave Myself Up for Dead by Joan

Joan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:49:57 +0000

Yes, this is Mom and I am proud of you, Mike, – even if you scared me to death a few years ago. Keep writing won’t you. Your reasons are legit.
About dying: I’ve picked out what I want them to put on my tombstone. Such a relief! Now I can forget about it and proceed to enjoy living.

Comment on When I Gave Myself Up for Dead by Mike

Mike — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Your stories have scared the crap out of me

Comment on When I Gave Myself Up for Dead by Rebecca M. Senese

Rebecca M. Senese — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:00:21 +0000

I want to tell stories and scare the crap out of people. So far I’ve managed to raise the ire of several old women and sold a few books. Mission accomplished! Gives the incentive to write more twisted tales. Hee hee hee…

Comment on Apocalyptic Fiction Authors Beware by Mike

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:17:36 +0000

I’ve read a synopsis and I’ve got the book on order from the library (I know I’m a Kindle guy, but I refuse to buy any book that’s priced more than its paperback edition) After reading a description and some passages of Weisman’s book, I’ve been performing a neighbourhood version of his thought experiment. I picture sewers that aren’t vacuumed out once a year. Garrison Creek flowing down my street, my basement full of water, the roof caving in. Hey, that almost sounds like my house when I bought it.

Comment on Apocalyptic Fiction Authors Beware by Stephen Kotowych

Stephen Kotowych — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:58:22 +0000

Have you ever read Alan Weisman’s ‘The World Without Us’? It’s an incredible thought experiment about what the world would look like if humanity just up and disappeared (died, raptured, mass alien abduction–doesn’t matter the cause, so long as we all go bye-bye as one). It’s kind of ruined a lot of post-apoc fiction for me since there are so many bits and pieces of our technological world that need tending lest they unleash radiation, wildfires, toxic gas clouds, etc. And not a lot of ‘day after’ authors take this into account (I know that’s not usually the point of such books, but still, doing so could make for some very interesting plot twists!)

Comment on EBook Sales “Only” Double Over Last Year by Mike

Mike — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:09:29 +0000

Re: upgrade, it depends on your model. My Sony was two years old, and the new Sony readers have much better contrast and screens, so I decided to upgrade just to make reading easier. Thing is, I bought a Kindle 3G because I’m unhappy with the Sony reader store. If you want a tablet for watching Netflix or the like, the Kindle Fire is apparently going to be capable of all that, but if you’re just looking for a device to read with then I’d suggest staying with your Kobo unless it’s quite old. I think the tablets won’t get much use as readers because the back-lite screen is harder on the eyes and burns a lot of battery power.