My Not-So-Freshman Fifteen

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Matthew S. Rotundo

I’m not much of a meme guy, but I’ve been tagged twice on this one, and it really does interest me, so here goes:

"Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes."

I won’t bother tagging anyone, because so many people I know have already done it.  But here are my fifteen, in no particular order:

1.  Dune, Frank Herbert
2.  Hyperion (and The Fall of Hyperion, which is really just the second part of a two-volume work), Dan Simmons
3.  Foundation, Isaac Asimov
4.  The Dead Zone, Stephen King
5.  David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
6.  The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein
7.  Wuthering Heights (Yes, really.  Read it in high school and fell in love with it.), Emily Bronte
8.  Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
9.  Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
10.  Lord Valentine’s Castle, Robert Silverberg
11.  A Game of Thrones (and the rest of the Song of Ice and Fire series), George R.R. Martin
12.  Dracula, Bram Stoker
13.  The Essential Ellison, Harlan Ellison
14.  R Is for Rocket (which includes "The Fog Horn," possibly my Favorite Short Story of All Time), Ray Bradbury
15.  A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline L’Engle

First fifteen that came to mind.  I could go on and on . . .

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Progress Report, in which I cover my bases

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Matthew S. Rotundo
Churned out 5K of Wet Work, despite a chaotic schedule.  Magic Meter say:

 


And already, I’m having "Where the hell does this go next?" moments.  I thought I might get a few chapters’ worth of leeway, but not so.  I got only one chapter this time, then ran smack into a wall.

Not that I let a little thing like that stop me.  I figure if I just keep typing, something will come.  And if not, well . . . you’ve seen The Shining, yes?

No problem.  All bases covered.

Write Club update:  Not one, not two, but three rejections from agents on novel queries.  What fun!

Pardon me, I think I hear Shelley Duvall calling from the next room . . .

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Progress Report, in which I find the cure for what ails me

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Matthew S. Rotundo

The new novel is officially launched.  I’m using the same title as the short story I wrote last year featuring this protagonist:  Wet Work.  That’s subject to change, of course.

Here’s Magic Meter to make it all official-like:

Projected length is, as always, a complete guess.

Man, does it feel good to be drafting again.  I get so edgy if I’m away from it for too long.  I guess I’m hooked right through the bag.  Looks like I’m doomed to do this writing thing until I die.

Works for me.  I can think of worse addictions.

Write Club update:

Personal note from Damnation Books.  Response time, one month.

And on that note . . .

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