I have a startling confession to make. I am not technically an Ingham. Now, that isn't to say my real surname isn't Ingham, but genetically my lineage does not appear to extend back to anyone of that name.
My grandfather took his stepfather's last name, which was obviously Ingham. However, my great-grandfather by blood was Raymond W. MacCain. Now, I haven't been able to find out much about the MacCain line. Other than a few names and places, all that I really know is that my great-grandmother Effie divorced Raymond sometime in the early 1920's, for what reasons I can only imagine.
Both my father and grandfather were alcoholics, and my grandfather was very much a womanizer in his youth. I must wonder if Raymond W. MacCain, Sr. was much different than Ray Junior. If so, I must consider that MacCain men may have a predisposition toward being drunken whore-chasers. If there is a genetic link to such behavior, my own blood has been sufficiently thinned to avoid such predilections (or maybe I'm just a rebel at heart). I currently don't have enough background on the MacCains to tell.
I've written to a few MacCain cousins that I've been able to identify through my research, though none have gotten back to me. Obviously, 2nd and 3rd cousins aren't much to speak of, and I can understand their desire to remove themselves from the extended family line. There's no telling what kind of weirdoes your relatives might be. Why, they might even turn out to be me!
Despite being a MacCain by blood, I still consider myself to be an Ingham. My great grandfather was very much a true relative, if not by blood, then by spirit. I only had the chance to meet Great-Grandpa Ned once, when I was 5 years old, but what I remember of the man is someone who was every bit family as any genetic progenitor.
Who knows, maybe I'll find an Ingham somewhere in my bloodline. There are still many branches that remain unmapped.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A Quandary of Cousins
It has been far too long since last I blogged. Those of you who deign to read my mad ramblings should not be forced to wait through such prolonged spells of inactivity. I shall henceforth resolve to post something to this blog at least twice a week. Even if the posts are merely short status reports about my mundane existence, it will no doubt keep you in the loop.
While my writing projects continue to crawl along, I have made some amazing inroads with my family research. The work, while time-consuming, is proving to be very entertaining. It is the world's greatest puzzle, and each new piece sheds new light on my own existence. I'll have to stop and give it a rest soon, or else I'll never get anything else done.
As my family tree continues to expand, a most curious question plagues me. When does a cousin stop being a cousin? By that I mean how far back does blood count? It is not a simple question when you can trace your lineage back 10+ generations. Would you consider a fifth cousin once removed to be family, or does the blood get too thin? I am finding it hard to say.
The easiest answer (one no doubt a lot of you have already considered) is that cousins stop being "real" family when you can legally marry them. However, this assumption would be horribly flawed, for it turns out that 25 States allow first cousins to marry. As gross as that is, you can see the problem. You can't cut your blood ties that close, now can you?
It's amazing how extended my extended family is getting. In the upcoming weeks, I'll reveal more of my findings, including a shocking truth about my own surname. Be forewarned; you just might be a cousin!
While my writing projects continue to crawl along, I have made some amazing inroads with my family research. The work, while time-consuming, is proving to be very entertaining. It is the world's greatest puzzle, and each new piece sheds new light on my own existence. I'll have to stop and give it a rest soon, or else I'll never get anything else done.
As my family tree continues to expand, a most curious question plagues me. When does a cousin stop being a cousin? By that I mean how far back does blood count? It is not a simple question when you can trace your lineage back 10+ generations. Would you consider a fifth cousin once removed to be family, or does the blood get too thin? I am finding it hard to say.
The easiest answer (one no doubt a lot of you have already considered) is that cousins stop being "real" family when you can legally marry them. However, this assumption would be horribly flawed, for it turns out that 25 States allow first cousins to marry. As gross as that is, you can see the problem. You can't cut your blood ties that close, now can you?
It's amazing how extended my extended family is getting. In the upcoming weeks, I'll reveal more of my findings, including a shocking truth about my own surname. Be forewarned; you just might be a cousin!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Ingham Line
In my genealogical research, I'm happy to report that I've succeeded in uncovering some data about Albert Ingham, my great-great-great grandfather. Just in case anyone's interested in it, I'll post this data here.
Albert Ingham was the son of William Ingham and his third wife, Abby Dodge. William was the son of Erastus Ingham and Elizabeth Hutchinson. William was born in Connecticut, but moved with his parents to Massachusetts sometime after the Revolution.
William first married Betsey Smith on March 3, 1806 in Middlefield, Massachusetts. They moved away from Massachusetts sometime around 1815 with their two children, Betsy Maria and William Smith Ingham, and eventually settled in Cato, New York, where they both spent the rest of their lives. They had at least 1 more daughter born in the early 1820, and several children who died very young. They also had a son named Albert Hoyt Ingham (born in 1824), who died at approximately 3 years of age. This Albert must not be confused with my ancestor, who was born after the fact and was obviously named after his dead brother.
Betsey died in 1826, after which William married Myrilla Phelps, who then died in 1827. Shortly thereafter, William married Abby Dodge, who gave birth to Albert Ingham on December 8, 1828.
William Ingham died in 1832. His widow, Abby, lived until 1883.
Albert's wife was Cynthia Van Wie. I had previously suspected this may be her last name, because one of her grandsons was Albert Van Wie Ingham. He was apparently named in honor of his grandparents. Cynthia's parents may have been Abraham Van Wie and Lorinda Beebe, though I have yet to find conclusive evidence to that effect. Records for upstate New York in the early 1800's can be hard to find.
The graves of Albert, Cynthia, William, Betsey, Abby, Myrilla, and William Smith Ingham can all be found in the Meridian Cemetary on the outskirts of Cato, New York.
Identifying William as Albert's father has opened up a larger family line, leading all the way back to Joseph Ingham who arrived in Saybrook, Connecticut sometime in the mid 1600's. There is a lot of information to pick through, and I'm going to get back to it.
Albert Ingham was the son of William Ingham and his third wife, Abby Dodge. William was the son of Erastus Ingham and Elizabeth Hutchinson. William was born in Connecticut, but moved with his parents to Massachusetts sometime after the Revolution.
William first married Betsey Smith on March 3, 1806 in Middlefield, Massachusetts. They moved away from Massachusetts sometime around 1815 with their two children, Betsy Maria and William Smith Ingham, and eventually settled in Cato, New York, where they both spent the rest of their lives. They had at least 1 more daughter born in the early 1820, and several children who died very young. They also had a son named Albert Hoyt Ingham (born in 1824), who died at approximately 3 years of age. This Albert must not be confused with my ancestor, who was born after the fact and was obviously named after his dead brother.
Betsey died in 1826, after which William married Myrilla Phelps, who then died in 1827. Shortly thereafter, William married Abby Dodge, who gave birth to Albert Ingham on December 8, 1828.
William Ingham died in 1832. His widow, Abby, lived until 1883.
Albert's wife was Cynthia Van Wie. I had previously suspected this may be her last name, because one of her grandsons was Albert Van Wie Ingham. He was apparently named in honor of his grandparents. Cynthia's parents may have been Abraham Van Wie and Lorinda Beebe, though I have yet to find conclusive evidence to that effect. Records for upstate New York in the early 1800's can be hard to find.
The graves of Albert, Cynthia, William, Betsey, Abby, Myrilla, and William Smith Ingham can all be found in the Meridian Cemetary on the outskirts of Cato, New York.
Identifying William as Albert's father has opened up a larger family line, leading all the way back to Joseph Ingham who arrived in Saybrook, Connecticut sometime in the mid 1600's. There is a lot of information to pick through, and I'm going to get back to it.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Elements of Style
I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to one of my favorite little books on writing. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White is not a large text, and it isn't something that'll tell you how to be the next big name author, but it is a nice collection of style pointers that every writer should know.
The book goes over a lot of commonly misused words, it explains the proper way to use a comma, and it also gives many pointers on basic writing composition. You'd be surprised how many "classes" these days are actually teaching things contrary to these classical elements of style, and I think it is a shame.
That being said, even I do not completely adhere to every rule given in this book. However, I do take note of them, and follow most of them most of the time. There are certain elements which I follow to the letter, such as the extra comma when separating 3 or more terms with a single conjunction (such as this, that, and another thing).
I recommend that anyone involved with the publishing industry (writers, editors, proofreaders, etc...) get a copy of this book and read it. Even if you don't follow all of the style elements, you should at least be aware of them, and recognize the value of traditional composition.
That being said, even I do not completely adhere to every rule given in this book. However, I do take note of them, and follow most of them most of the time. There are certain elements which I follow to the letter, such as the extra comma when separating 3 or more terms with a single conjunction (such as this, that, and another thing).
I recommend that anyone involved with the publishing industry (writers, editors, proofreaders, etc...) get a copy of this book and read it. Even if you don't follow all of the style elements, you should at least be aware of them, and recognize the value of traditional composition.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Spread the Word!
Since I lowered the price of The Rogue Investigations (kindle version) to 99 cents, new readers have begun to trickle in. As things pick up for that title, I have decided to drop the price of Prisoner of Time (kindle version) to 99 cents, as well, hoping it will start to sell again. Additionally, I've reduced the price in the UK to 75p for both titles, which is as low as you can get according to Amazon's pricing scale. I hope that bargain price will catch a few readers overseas.
As good as a bargain price is, it's nothing if people don't know about it, and there is only so much one man can do. That is why I must ask for your help today. Please take the links in this post and share them. Post them on facebook, stick them on your blog, post them in online forums, or email them to friends. Any or all of this would be a great help, and it'll only take a moment of your time.
Word of mouth is a writer's single greatest advantage. If you spread the word, good things will happen, not just for me, but for everyone who reads Science Fiction and Fantasy. A greater fan-base means more activities. People will be able to discuss these books, and share insights about them, which will be fun for all.
With your help, we'll get the ball rolling, and my writings can be enjoyed by more people around the world.
The Rogue Investigations (kindle version)
Prisoner of Time (kindle version)
The Rogue Investigations (UK)
Prisoner of Time (UK)
As good as a bargain price is, it's nothing if people don't know about it, and there is only so much one man can do. That is why I must ask for your help today. Please take the links in this post and share them. Post them on facebook, stick them on your blog, post them in online forums, or email them to friends. Any or all of this would be a great help, and it'll only take a moment of your time.
Word of mouth is a writer's single greatest advantage. If you spread the word, good things will happen, not just for me, but for everyone who reads Science Fiction and Fantasy. A greater fan-base means more activities. People will be able to discuss these books, and share insights about them, which will be fun for all.
With your help, we'll get the ball rolling, and my writings can be enjoyed by more people around the world.
The Rogue Investigations (kindle version)
Prisoner of Time (kindle version)
The Rogue Investigations (UK)
Prisoner of Time (UK)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
A Rogue Bargain for the Kindle
In my continuing efforts to encourage new readers to sample my material, I have dropped the price of The Rogue Investigations (Kindle Edition) to an all new low of 99 Cents. This is as low as it can go according to Amazon's pricing formula for independent authors such as myself. If you've been holding back for whatever reason, now is the time to buy. It'll never be cheaper than this, and after you read it, the bargain will be obvious.Don't wait. Get The Rogue Investigations on Kindle today!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Entering the Fray Once More
It's that time of year again. The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest is back in full swing, and is accepting novel entries in both General Fiction and Young Adult Fiction (with various sub-categories including Science Fiction). As many of you may know, The Guns of Mars was a semi-finalist in 2009, and this year I'm hoping to get at least that far once more, with an all new novel.
I know you'd probably love for me to tell you about my entry, and extoll its high points and exciting storyline. However, that will have to wait. As I advance in the contest, I'll share more information about the book I've entered, but until we're through the initial "pitch" phase, I'd rather not share too much information about this entry. Content is supposed to be anonymous at these stages, to prevent any bias in the judging, so there's no sense giving myself away (you never know who might be reading your blog).
In 2010, I didn't advance beyond the pitch phase, and in hindsight I can see why. The pitch I had written, while not horrible, didn't meet the high standards needed to rise above the competition. This year, I have made sure to have a very clear and entertaining pitch, which should get through, but there's no way to tell how the initial judges will receive it. A lot of it is chance. If the right reader likes what they see in the pitch, then the entry will advance. If, however, I catch someone in a bad mood, or someone who just doesn't like the sound of my story for whatever reason, I'll get summarily dismissed. Let's hope whoever reads my pitch likes a good science fiction adventure, and isn't looking for some touchy-feely yawn-fest.
I invite my fellow authors to submit their own manuscripts for the contest. Get all the information here, and lets get this contest rolling!
I know you'd probably love for me to tell you about my entry, and extoll its high points and exciting storyline. However, that will have to wait. As I advance in the contest, I'll share more information about the book I've entered, but until we're through the initial "pitch" phase, I'd rather not share too much information about this entry. Content is supposed to be anonymous at these stages, to prevent any bias in the judging, so there's no sense giving myself away (you never know who might be reading your blog).
In 2010, I didn't advance beyond the pitch phase, and in hindsight I can see why. The pitch I had written, while not horrible, didn't meet the high standards needed to rise above the competition. This year, I have made sure to have a very clear and entertaining pitch, which should get through, but there's no way to tell how the initial judges will receive it. A lot of it is chance. If the right reader likes what they see in the pitch, then the entry will advance. If, however, I catch someone in a bad mood, or someone who just doesn't like the sound of my story for whatever reason, I'll get summarily dismissed. Let's hope whoever reads my pitch likes a good science fiction adventure, and isn't looking for some touchy-feely yawn-fest.
I invite my fellow authors to submit their own manuscripts for the contest. Get all the information here, and lets get this contest rolling!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Searching For Family
I know I've been pretty silent for the last 3 weeks, as I've found myself tied up with various projects. Yes, I have been doing some writing on the Fantasy Western, though most of my time has actually been focused on an entirely new line of research. I've been digging into my heritage, seeking to build a family tree and uncover more about my extended family, as scattered as it seems to be.
It all started with a bunch of old photographs my mother left me before she died. Among them were notes and notations, which allowed me to piece together much of her side of the family, into the mid-1800's. Shortly thereafter, I was able to find a few online trees other people had made, which let me go well beyond that on some fronts.
On my father's side, I knew enough to get me to his mother's father, George Sylvester Counts. From there, it was pretty easy to find several other family trees which took me far into the past. I've only scratched the surface on how far back I can trace certain branches of the family tree, and there is still a lot of data I've yet to confirm, but from the looks of it, there are some lines that lead back to the middle ages.
Quite a bit of the core tree I'm building is based on other people's research, however I'm piecing together quite a bit on my own. The Ingham line, in particular, was virtually untraced, so I had to build it from scratch, using census data, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital statistics posted online. I have thus far been able to link back to Albert Ingham, born circa 1830, though that seems to be as far as I can reach at the moment. His wife's name was Cynthia, and I suspect her maiden name may have been Van Wie. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to confirm that, or get further back on this line of my heritage, but I'll keep trying.
I'm not sure why I've suddenly become so obsessed with uncovering my roots, but it's always bothered me to be so isolated from family. I've had virtually no contact with any of them on either side for various reasons, so I'm naturally curious to see who's out there. Who knows, maybe this is a big mistake, and I'd be better off to remain cut off from my various cousins, though I might as well find out. If I don't at least try, I'll be stuck wondering if I'm missing something.
Known Relations:
Here's a short list of some of my closer relatives. If you are related to any of these people (or know anyone who is), let me know:
Father's Side:
George Sylvester Counts (Great Grandfather; Son of James Wilson Counts and Mertie Gamble)
Lois Hazel Bailey (Great Grandmother; Wife of George S. Counts, daughter of Charles W. Bailey and Mary Stark)
Raymond W. Ingham (Grandfather; Son of Edward "Ned" Ingham & Effie K. Robinson)
Mother's Side:
William E. Forthman (Great Grandfather; Father of Ethel, Anabell, Ruth, Kathryn, William Jr., and Mary Nadine).
Anna Littlefield (Great Grandmother; Wife of William Forthman, daughter of Anne Carney Littlefield)
Julius John Kirton (Great Grandfather; Son of Newton Kirton)
Mary Alice Nelson (Great Grandmother; Wife of Julius Kirton, daughter of I.R. Nelson and Ada Urech)
It all started with a bunch of old photographs my mother left me before she died. Among them were notes and notations, which allowed me to piece together much of her side of the family, into the mid-1800's. Shortly thereafter, I was able to find a few online trees other people had made, which let me go well beyond that on some fronts.
On my father's side, I knew enough to get me to his mother's father, George Sylvester Counts. From there, it was pretty easy to find several other family trees which took me far into the past. I've only scratched the surface on how far back I can trace certain branches of the family tree, and there is still a lot of data I've yet to confirm, but from the looks of it, there are some lines that lead back to the middle ages.
Quite a bit of the core tree I'm building is based on other people's research, however I'm piecing together quite a bit on my own. The Ingham line, in particular, was virtually untraced, so I had to build it from scratch, using census data, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital statistics posted online. I have thus far been able to link back to Albert Ingham, born circa 1830, though that seems to be as far as I can reach at the moment. His wife's name was Cynthia, and I suspect her maiden name may have been Van Wie. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to confirm that, or get further back on this line of my heritage, but I'll keep trying.
I'm not sure why I've suddenly become so obsessed with uncovering my roots, but it's always bothered me to be so isolated from family. I've had virtually no contact with any of them on either side for various reasons, so I'm naturally curious to see who's out there. Who knows, maybe this is a big mistake, and I'd be better off to remain cut off from my various cousins, though I might as well find out. If I don't at least try, I'll be stuck wondering if I'm missing something.
Known Relations:
Here's a short list of some of my closer relatives. If you are related to any of these people (or know anyone who is), let me know:
Father's Side:
George Sylvester Counts (Great Grandfather; Son of James Wilson Counts and Mertie Gamble)
Lois Hazel Bailey (Great Grandmother; Wife of George S. Counts, daughter of Charles W. Bailey and Mary Stark)
Raymond W. Ingham (Grandfather; Son of Edward "Ned" Ingham & Effie K. Robinson)
Mother's Side:
William E. Forthman (Great Grandfather; Father of Ethel, Anabell, Ruth, Kathryn, William Jr., and Mary Nadine).
Anna Littlefield (Great Grandmother; Wife of William Forthman, daughter of Anne Carney Littlefield)
Julius John Kirton (Great Grandfather; Son of Newton Kirton)
Mary Alice Nelson (Great Grandmother; Wife of Julius Kirton, daughter of I.R. Nelson and Ada Urech)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Crusoe: The Complete Series (Review)
The Monday after Christmas, a package arrived from Amazon. It was a DVD set I had ordered a few weeks prior, which I had gotten for a serious bargain price. I paid less than $9 with my Goldbox deal of the day, so it was a low-risk entertainment investment.
The set was Crusoe: The Complete Series on DVD, a short-lived television show which ran for only 11 episodes. It was filmed primarily in South Africa, with some bits done in the UK, and overall it was a very fun production, with a lot of swashbuckling, pirates, cannibals, and other exciting island adventure. The writers were very creative, inventing new scenarios each week to keep the stories fun and entertaining. While the storyline did not follow the original book, it was a very well done series, and I'm sorry it didn't run longer. The DVD set has no extras, but the episodes themselves more than make up for it. There is nothing really offensive about this show (no nudity or swearing) so it's suitable for the whole family.
I've seen big budget movies that weren't as good as this series. I can think of a lot of modern blockbuster movies about pirates and the carribean that look like pathetic garbage compared to this intelligent work of cinema. Why this show didn't take off is anyone's guess, but I'd personally wager that an executive at some network didn't like it. Maybe I'm just feeling a little mean spirited today with the conspiracy theory angle, but that's the way a lot of good tv series seem to die. The infamous "powers that be" decide a show isn't "right" for some reason, so they manipulate things to assure its quick demise.
I put this series up there with "Firefly" in the pantheon of slaughtered television shows that should have run a lot longer, but for whatever reason weren't given a fair chance. Unlike that brilliant sci-fi show, however, I don't think they'll be making a movie to conclude Crusoe. At least they left it in a decent place, and not with some cliffhanger.
I would certainly recommend this show for everyday viewing. 4 out of 5 stars.
The set was Crusoe: The Complete Series on DVD, a short-lived television show which ran for only 11 episodes. It was filmed primarily in South Africa, with some bits done in the UK, and overall it was a very fun production, with a lot of swashbuckling, pirates, cannibals, and other exciting island adventure. The writers were very creative, inventing new scenarios each week to keep the stories fun and entertaining. While the storyline did not follow the original book, it was a very well done series, and I'm sorry it didn't run longer. The DVD set has no extras, but the episodes themselves more than make up for it. There is nothing really offensive about this show (no nudity or swearing) so it's suitable for the whole family.
I put this series up there with "Firefly" in the pantheon of slaughtered television shows that should have run a lot longer, but for whatever reason weren't given a fair chance. Unlike that brilliant sci-fi show, however, I don't think they'll be making a movie to conclude Crusoe. At least they left it in a decent place, and not with some cliffhanger.
I would certainly recommend this show for everyday viewing. 4 out of 5 stars.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The Fantasy Western Novel
A few months ago, I told you about "A Dwarf at High Noon," the short story I sold to Hall Brothers Entertainment for their "Villainy" anthology. The short story, which incorporated Fantasy elements into an Old West setting, was received well, and I now have some exciting follow-up news.
I am pleased to announce my next great writing endeavor: the Dwarf at High Noon novel project. Unlike my previous works, which were all written first and then shopped out to different publishers, this work has been contracted ahead of time by Hall Brothers Entertainment, first for display on their website, and then publication in book form. The book is currently planned to be displayed in 8 weekly episodes on the HBE website starting in August 2011, and the print edition will likely be released sometime in September/October.
So, what's this whole story going to be about? I know you're dying to know, but I can't give away too much at this point. I can say it will follow several main characters, one being Boron "Ron" Grimes, a gunslinger Dwarf who's been deputized by a Nevada sheriff. We'll also see a bit of that sheriff, who happens to be a Warlock. There will be some arrogant, trouble-making Elves to contend with, and an arch villain who threatens all of creation. I hope that's enough to whet your appetites for this upcoming epic.
At present, I have a solid plotline running around in my head, along with the first "episode" drafted. I'll keep you all apprised of my progress, and hope you'll be around later this summer to read the Dwarf at High Noon saga.
I am pleased to announce my next great writing endeavor: the Dwarf at High Noon novel project. Unlike my previous works, which were all written first and then shopped out to different publishers, this work has been contracted ahead of time by Hall Brothers Entertainment, first for display on their website, and then publication in book form. The book is currently planned to be displayed in 8 weekly episodes on the HBE website starting in August 2011, and the print edition will likely be released sometime in September/October.
So, what's this whole story going to be about? I know you're dying to know, but I can't give away too much at this point. I can say it will follow several main characters, one being Boron "Ron" Grimes, a gunslinger Dwarf who's been deputized by a Nevada sheriff. We'll also see a bit of that sheriff, who happens to be a Warlock. There will be some arrogant, trouble-making Elves to contend with, and an arch villain who threatens all of creation. I hope that's enough to whet your appetites for this upcoming epic.
At present, I have a solid plotline running around in my head, along with the first "episode" drafted. I'll keep you all apprised of my progress, and hope you'll be around later this summer to read the Dwarf at High Noon saga.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Camera-Mania
After repeated requests from my wife, I finally broke down and bought a digital camera. Yes, I know, such an affordable piece of equipment is something I should have had a long time ago, though Christmas was a good excuse to pick one up. The one I purchased was a Panasonic Lumix (below), and I am quite pleased with it thus far. The image quality is pretty good (10.1 megapixels), and the price was nothing to complain about. Overall, this is a fine camera for everyday use.
I'm sure some of you would like to see some pictures I've taken, so I will not disappoint you.
Left, is a picture of my wife, Jenna, with our oldest daughter, Sylvia. Right, we have a fresh picture of my wife with our most recent addition, Kathryn.
Here's a picture of my foot. It was just too fun and wacky to exclude!
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| The Foot of Fear! |
Some more interesting pictures of the kids:
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| Wyatt in a more sedate mood than usual. |
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| One happy LePage supporter! |
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| Gene the cat, friend of the family. |
Here are some interesting wall pictures. Left, we have the back wall of our kitchen. It's some nice stonework my father did about 30 years ago. Right, we have a view from the hallway leading into the kitchen, and some very nice pine board paneling. That facing board is about 18" wide.
More nice paneling I recently stained and sealed. The shelf is 16" clear pine, and I gave it a nice coat of clear poly to keep it tha way. The boards underneath and to either side were done with Minwax Polyshades Olde Maple Satin.
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| Freshly sealed shelf beside hallway leading into kitchen. |
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| Shelf with lamps added. |
Another lovely feature of the camera is a "sepia" coloring, allowing for some interesting antique appearances. Here's a good example:
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| Martin T. Ingham, Circa 1890 |
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Sweepstakes Winners!
I have drawn the names for my 2nd Annual Christmas Sweepstakes, and we have the following lucky winners:
Grand Prize: Sean Brezovsky
Grand Prize: Sean Brezovsky2nd Prizes:
Paul Weiss
J. J. Tirinato
Chris Redding
Congratulations to these winning participants, and a big thank you to everyone who joined in the fun. I'll do another one of these next year, with a brand new book release (yes, there will be one, details forthcoming in the new year).
Monday, December 13, 2010
A Near Miss
A little while ago, I received an acceptance letter for one of my novels, "Frontier Jump." The book relates the tale of the far future, where people are grown en-masse in rearing facilities, and natural conception is outlawed. It is told from the perspective of a "Nature Born" teenager, who falls in love with a genetic reject (someone whose genome didn't meet manufacturer's specifications) and runs off with her aboard a ship of smugglers, hoping to escape to a distant frontier world, where they will not be persecuted for their genetic imperfections.
Now, before you break open the champagne to celebrate, I must inform you that I had to decline the acceptance.
Hilliard and Harris is the company that wanted to publish the book, but their contract was simply unacceptable. First, they wanted to purchase ALL RIGHTS to the work; not just publication rights, but everything (copyright, movie rights, etc...) for the duration of the contract (7 years). This is not standard procedure these days, as most publishers simply buy exclusive publishing rights.
Second, there was a clause stating that I had to purchase 100 copies of the book at a 50% discount. This is something I could not financially afford at the moment, and it is somewhat underhanded. If they want to be a subsidy publisher, they should be up front about it.
The third (and most egregious) problem was a "non-competition" clause, which said I couldn't try to sell any literary work that is "similar" to the novel, or might "harm sales." The vagueness of the clause could be easily construed to say I couldn't publish any other books with any other publishers for the duration of the contract. That may not have been the intent, but it was far too dangerous a possibility!
I pointed out these problems with their standard contract in a polite and professional manner, and I requested that they be changed. Sadly, they were inflexible, and refused to budge in these areas, so I had to turn them down. I really had no choice. I wasn't going to give them all rights to my work, be forced to buy copies I couldn't afford, and be barred from publishing other novels for the next 7 years. It really is a pity, but truly unavoidable.
I haven't given up on "Frontier Jump," and this near miss has only steeled my resolve to get it into print. I already have it sent out to another publisher, and hope to receive another acceptance in the near future. It's a good book. All I have to do is find the right editor.
Now, before you break open the champagne to celebrate, I must inform you that I had to decline the acceptance.
Hilliard and Harris is the company that wanted to publish the book, but their contract was simply unacceptable. First, they wanted to purchase ALL RIGHTS to the work; not just publication rights, but everything (copyright, movie rights, etc...) for the duration of the contract (7 years). This is not standard procedure these days, as most publishers simply buy exclusive publishing rights.
Second, there was a clause stating that I had to purchase 100 copies of the book at a 50% discount. This is something I could not financially afford at the moment, and it is somewhat underhanded. If they want to be a subsidy publisher, they should be up front about it.
The third (and most egregious) problem was a "non-competition" clause, which said I couldn't try to sell any literary work that is "similar" to the novel, or might "harm sales." The vagueness of the clause could be easily construed to say I couldn't publish any other books with any other publishers for the duration of the contract. That may not have been the intent, but it was far too dangerous a possibility!
I pointed out these problems with their standard contract in a polite and professional manner, and I requested that they be changed. Sadly, they were inflexible, and refused to budge in these areas, so I had to turn them down. I really had no choice. I wasn't going to give them all rights to my work, be forced to buy copies I couldn't afford, and be barred from publishing other novels for the next 7 years. It really is a pity, but truly unavoidable.
I haven't given up on "Frontier Jump," and this near miss has only steeled my resolve to get it into print. I already have it sent out to another publisher, and hope to receive another acceptance in the near future. It's a good book. All I have to do is find the right editor.
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