This is how we used to do it!
(A few MS Word txt. files and this sucker hit capacity!)
Oh, and BTW, this post is the 101st thread in 101 days! Yes, it’s a paltry post if there ever was one, but, well…did you hear me? 101 BLOGS in 101 DAYS! And most of them are 1000+ words! Sweet!
See you tomorrow, Loyal Reader!
I love getting reviews of my work. No matter what you hear, no matter the humility, no matter the idiot ego, working writers DIG reading what other writers (yes, critics are writers by trade too!) have to say about their chops. They can wave a dismissive hand all they want and pretend not to care, but they’re not fooling anyone. They care. Trust me, they really, really care.
And when they get a bad review (it’s happened to me approximately two times), it hurts.
(You suck! Ha! Ha! Ha!)
Oh, we’ve got thick skins and we slink along seemingly unphased and try to act like it doesn’t matter, but we don’t write these books to have them slagged. We want you to like us. That’s why we write what we write. We hope it works and entertains (and changes the world or whatever).
When a negative review rolls in, I pick apart my work and wonder what it is about a particular piece that a particular reviewer can’t seem to stomach. It eats me a little.
But then, I cheer myself and think that if I have to wonder, and the critic in question hasn’t laid out any firm, concrete problems, I can breathe a little easier. That I can’t understand a critic that can’t understand me, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just reaffirms that we aren’t right for each other. C’est la vie.
It’s the articulate critics that do me in. Clarity stings.
(So true.)
Lucky for me, one of the best writers in the on-line critic game, Adam Groves of FRIGHT.com, seems to enjoy my work. He’s said some awfully nice things about my first two novels (I WILL RISE, AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT). Same for my collection (BLOOD & GRISTLE) and a goofy, little novella I published with Delirium earlier this year (BLEED FOR YOU).
The guy isn’t made of praise. He dings what he believe needs to be dinged. I’ve been fortunate enough to garner mostly glowing critiques, and I love reading how awesome I am at this, or how effective I am at that (and, yes, I even appreciate reading about my work’s shortcomings), but mostly, I enjoy Mr. Groves’ reviews because the man can write his butt off.
He is uber-articulate. And he attacks works with an intelligent, literary gusto missing from most online review sites.
Browse his reviews – you’ll actually get smarter (I promise).
Start with his latest – a review of my sold-out Bloodletting release, DEATH & DESIRE IN THE AGE OF WOMEN.
No. Of course not. I am one blog post behind schedule so I have to do this quick post to catch up.
My brother is visiting so I should get off the computer and hang out.
Here is a quick link back to an earlier blog that melted my heart into a pool of pure jelly. Presenting (again)…Sofia!!!
My wife and I went to see the cancer comedy 50/50. Seth Rogen is super enjoyable as the cool, best friend. He’s the funniest dude alive. The lead, the kid from 3rd Rock From The Sun (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is good. I could relate to a lot of the stuff what with my own cancer experiences. The movie does a good job of conveying what it’s like. They don’t over do it or get too sentimental. Recommended!
So go see a movie with a loved one – whatever you’re doing, it’ll improve your mood.
Okay, go watch my niece’s video one more time. Listen to the way she enunciates and try not to smile your face in half.
(I’m glad I never shaved my head. Despite some gnarly treatment, my hair actually hung in there. It’s getting thicker and fuller as we speak, enhancing my devilishly good looks!)
This just might make me rich, Loyal Reader…
Watch awesomeness. I’ll wait for you…
Now how can you possibly say ‘No’ to that? There is absolutely no way. And that disturbing brain. How can you resist? You know what you gotta do…
(Click me!)
7 BRAINS
by: Michael Louis Calvillo
Chapbook, 60 pages
ISBN: 978-1-926611-14-3
No verbal smackdowns today. Everything went easy. Students were well-behaved and mostly on-point. They did cute things like make GO MR. C signs and then hold them up while I’m teaching class. You could go two ways with this. You could browbeat them and tell them to pay attention and get all grumpy, or you can just stop, raise the roof a bit, and claim your props. Point it out to the class. Enjoy it. Encourage kindness. Then, after a minute of laughing, get started soothing the beast. Then work your way back into the Epic Poetry of my man, Odysseus.
(Lost at sea + sweaty oarsmen = one stinky boat!)
I love Odysseus. He is the most awesome of the awesome. There’s a cool arrogance about him. He can be icy. He don’t take no crap. And he’s of exceptional intelligence (which is why the Gods toyed with him so much).
We are in Book 9 – New Coasts & Poseidon’s Son – in which Odysseus and a crew of 720 men are lost at sea and looking for home. They encounter hostile forces, mind-erasing flowers, and a grisly, man-eating cyclops called Polyphemus.
(On the grind)
We left off right where Odysseus and twelve of his best warriors are trapped in a cave with a demented, overgrown, hungry devourer of man flesh. How do they get out? Is Odysseus able to out-wit the beast and free his men? Things get messy, but, as not to spoil too much Loyal Reader (there are some of you who have yet to read Homer’s THE ODYSSEY – this needs to be corrected), I’ll save it for the classroom.
And this is why I love my job.
Sure I have to teach it five times a day, but each run is kind of a practice run. By the end of the day, I’m on fire. The force is strong with this one.
Hopefully tomorrow goes as perfectly. Sometimes you have one of those sucky days where nobody wants to listen. Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth to get them interested. Good days like today keep me happy though. There are usually plenty of them to keep me going all year long.
Anyway, go read some classics and get cultured. Or, better yet, screw all that and buy my latest novella 7Brains – it’s like junkfood for the soul.
(This the movie I show after we finish reading – Armand Assante is actually really, really good!)
Here’s a great clip of Odysseus falling into Calypso’s grasp…
At long last, the link has arrived. Burning Effigy is selling my gruesome chapbook, 7Brains!
$8 bucks gets you a visceral tale of love, duty, honor, desire, and lots and lots of disgusting brain eating!
(Buy me!)
Here’s the swell, sing-songy backcover copy:
Humanity is on the cusp of a New Evolution. Yep! Pure Emotion has curdled and given way to empty solutions, a gilded edge of bling-bling exteriors masking Rampant Corruption, Souring Evil and Internal Pollution.
Our hero, Malcolm, the reluctant man with a reluctant plan, purpose fluttering in his chest from zero to a million miles an hour in seconds flat, holds the keys to the kingdom of light. All he has to do is eat seven lovely brains and set things right. He’s got a hacksaw, and a hammer, and a set of determined, pearly whites. Can he usher in hope before the imminent descent of everlasting night?
Okay, Loyal Reader, stop reading my blog and get up on some of my fiction. It’s what I do best! Order 7Brains and support the cause! Welcome to the New Evolution!
I came this close to forgoing my blog for the evening.
Killercon wore me down. I had a nice day teaching. The kids were well-behaved and receptive to the opening strains of THE ODYSSEY. But when I got home from my weekly blood work session (for tomorrow’s chemo session – ugh), I crashed out.
When I woke up an hour or so later, I felt like I had been run over by a semi. Every square inch of my body ached. I was covered with sweat. My feet and hands tingled. This is all typical cancer / chemo side effect crap. I’m sort of used to it (not really). Except, lately, when I wake from a short nap (not a full night’s sleep, but tiny cat naps), I experience all of these torturous little pangs at full volume.
Internal screaming commences. Oh yeah, it sucks.
Alas, like all things, it passes…
Like now.
The aches are merely murmuring. They’re speaking in tongues (the language of warring biology) and keeping to themselves.
So here I am blogging away and feeling fair. All is well. But…my heart’s really not in it, you know?
That’s the whole writer thing in a nutshell, I guess. Coming up with an exciting narrative takes heart and passion and an OCD-quality level of discipline. If things aren’t firing properly, nothing gets done. Words become frustrating.
Wait.
That’s not necessarily true.
In fact, I take it all back.
I’ve gotten plenty of solid writing done in less than enthused states of being. I’ve laid foundations despite fatigue or ho-hum clicky-clackery. I’ve written entire drafts on the edge. This is all well and good, but then, that sort of writing never actually sees the light of day. It has to go through the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, eager, eager, eager, Ready-To-Write, Ready-To-Revise version of me first.
Well look at that, Loyal Reader?
This lackluster blog about temporal agonies, has blossomed into some nice writer’s insight, huh?
That’s another thing with writing. Sometimes, all I need to do is just get to it. As my fingers find their ghostly rhythms and my brain starts working without me, I usually find my groove. Stuff starts to make sense and take on a life of its own. Themes solidify. Purpose becomes apparent.
And that is why I know I am meant to do this – I have to do this – I can’t not do this!
(Fighting the good fight!)
If you write, none of this is ground-breaking information. We all have bad days and we all write tired, and sick, and hung-over (if that’s your thing), and uninterested, and dizzy, but still, we write. Still, we engage the beast and hope for the best. I suppose that’s what separates the wheat from the chaff. If taking a day off from the written word is absolutely unthinkable then you’re definitely one of us.
Remember – we are not crazy. Though the impulse to get writing even though writing is the last thing you want to do can be maddening, there is nothing wrong with us. We’re just driven (and in most cases, possessed by something deep inside that simply will not SHUT THE HELL UP).
Recognize, Loyal Reader – as down as we get, it’s important to understand that it’s okay to suffer a bit for your art. Suffering and art go hand in hand.
Okay then, your turn. Get writing!
This is totally random with regard to the context of this post, but hey, it makes me smile. Maybe it’ll make you smile too…
(not sure who is who or what is what, but someone has some fun with a homemade video for Ween’s awesome Ocean Man)
We’re taking things back to Saturday. I reported on Thursday and Friday in the first installment of this series, Party All Day And Every Night – Well, At Least Until 11PM! (Killercon 3, Part I). Now I’m gonna finish up with Saturday and Sunday of my Con coverage. Lots of pictures and links to follow…
(You know how we do… Brains all over the wall!)
Killercon 3 was a huge success (congrats to Wrath James White and crew). It was well-attended and fun. I made out with eight new books (ready? let’s go: CRIPPLE WOLF by Jeff Burk, URBAN GOTHIC by Brain Keene, THE FAGGIEST VAMPIRE by Carlton Mellick III, DEMON by Eric Williams, DOUBLEJACK by Gene O’Neil, a chap book by Sam W. Anderson (the name escapes me at the moment…), SARAH’S STORY by John Little, VANISHING HOPE by Tobin Elliot, THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE by Nate Southard and a very cool Jason Dark reader by Guido Henkel).
The readings were lively, the forensic blood splatter panel rocked, and the dealer room was filled out by none other than Jack Ketchum. Manning a table of his wonderful work, the man was accessible and down-to-earth. I admire the guy.
(Read this book.)
Same for Gene O’Neil. Gene is in his seventies, but he could pass for forty-five. His indomitable spirit makes me feel…right. We seem to understand each other and I learn so much every time we talk.
The list goes on and on and if I don’t mention all of them I’ll feel bad. I can’t rank each experience and I can’t write about all of them either. Many folks made my weekend special and you know who you are. I just wanted to give you a virtual hug and say thanks for the killer time. I mentioned some of them yesterday sans links. Let me fix that. Search out Weston Ochse and John Palisano and Lisa Morton. They jam.
(Me and my pal, Lisa Morton. Our combined writing abilites have the potential to destroy the planet.)
Lastly, but certainly not least, I gotta give a shout out to Monica and Burning Effigy. They hosted an incredible party (with incredible poster art) and did an exquisite job on 7BRAINS.
So then, Saturday began a little late. Michelle and I slept in until about nine. I wrote my blog (after calling the crappy, intermittent Internet service) then the two of us went to a buffet for breakfast with my writer buddy, Benjamin Kane Ethridge, and a few friends who came out to attend the convention with us.
(Who says reading isn’t fun?)
I got to the convention for Gene O’Neil’s reading (in which the man doesn’t read a thing – he donates his time to talking other writer’s works – he helps the new guy/gal get a little coverage – that’s supercool). After Gene tore it up (charisma for days), Mr. Ethridge read a story about a rising tide of mean, old, stinky, alcoholic sludge and the furious regrets that follow us from this world to the next. Loved it. I almost won a shirt (Ben raffled them off), but alas, like all forms of gambling (examples coming soon…), I didn’t win. Damn. That’s okay, I plan on buying one once they go on sale (and you should too).
After that, we checked out the forensic blood splatter panel then sat in on the mass signing. I signed lots of 7BRAINS and even a few of my older works. It was nice to meet a few fans and collectors who I’ve seen on line via Facebook posts, but have yet to meet in person. I had a blast.
(Brad Hodson gets his kill on at the forensic blood spatter exhibition.)
(Weston Ochse is the King of Cool.)
Michelle and I took about an hour off and relaxed in the room. Then we reconvened with friends and went to see Penn & Teller’s show at the Rio.
What do you know, Loyal Reader? In my Killercon report you also get a quick show review. The always entertaining duo did their thing very well. They’ve been playing the Rio for ten years(!). Their act is a well-oiled machine.
The pacing is just right. The show doesn’t feel short or long. Some of the magic set-pieces (The Magic Bullets) have been done before on some of the team’s television and cable specials, but there were lots of subtle, understated stuff – particularly Teller’s wordless finesse (the man is a slight-of-hand master) – that were new to me. Watching Teller wow the crowd without a word while Penn played a nice, noirish, jazz jam on an upright bass worked really well. Same for the bits where Penn broke down the elements of magic while Teller illustrated the trick step by revealing step.
(Tricksters.)
Penn & Teller have always been magic comedy’s subversive, bad boys. They insist that you understand that magic has nothing to do with magic. Magic doesn’t exist. But tricks do. Same goes for psychics and magicians who pretend what they do is real. Penn rants (on TV and in the show) about clairvoyant and psychics, pissed off that they play on people’s weaknesses and pretend to contact dead loved ones.
I’m with the big guy. I agree 100%.
The entertainers hung out after the show and took pictures with the crowd. A few of my buddies got pictures (including fellow writer Brad Hodson) with Penn, but I held off. I figured I would look like a small child next to his 6′ 7″ frame.
All-in-all the show rocked. Recommended.
We followed the show with some sushi and a place called Sushi Samba at The Palazzo. It was freaking expensive, but really, really nice. We had a great meal.
(Me and my girl.)
It was 2:30AM by the time we got back to our room. No time for a blog. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…
Michelle and I got out of town pretty quickly. We packed then checked out then went to Caesar’s Palace for their Sunday buffet. $26.95 a person later we tried to enjoy every bit of it as much as we could. It was nice.
I played a few slots (some of the new machines are way high-tech – this one particular STAR WARS video slot kicked butt), but lost money so quickly I had no choice but to throw my hands in the air with frustration and sulk away.
(Loser. The force is not strong with me.)
At long last I’m back home in my comfortable recliner bashing away on the keys. I’m so excited to post this and then watch something on the DVR and relax.
Oh, and Loyal Reader, don’t forget… Killercon 4 is only twelve months away. You best start training now.
I am one blog post behind. This is the first of two blogs that’ll run tonight then I’m caught up.
Presenting…video of me spazzing out during a Reading. I read and rap and discuss my writing. I’m still too skinny (working on it). And, no, I wasn’t joking, I am kind of spazzy. But spazzy in a good way. I can deal with it, I just can’t watch it. The following video has been shot by my wife. She assures me I am presentable.
A WARNING: Though I’m not much of a cusser in real life – having a kiddie and teaching kids all day keeps my language lean , mean and clean – I think it’s super-fun to do it in my writing. When I put these crazy, horror stories together, I envision R-rated horror movies. The violence, profanity, sexuality, and taboo themes reach R-rated levels of mayhem. They are not for children. 17 and older please. The youngins reading this can come back in a few years and check it out then ;-)!
Okay. Holding my breath. Don’t laugh too hard.
Michael Louis Calvillo killing it at Killercon!
Uh-oh. I technically missed a day of blogging which means I ruined my perfect average! I accomplished about eighty posts in eighty days and was well on my way to a perfect 365. Damn. Oh well. Still, I’m not giving up. I’m gonna knock out two posts today and then pick myself up and carry on. After another 200+ of these things (IN A ROW!!!), nobody’ll notice any sort of difference…
So what happened?
Well, as you all know, we are at Killercon 3. I hopped on the computer last night around 10PM. I was dragging. It had been a long day and I was ready to crash (so much for partying all night – ah, to be young again ;-(. Anyway, I logged in and the Internets refused to cooperate! I paid 12 bucks for Internet access (because for some reason or another, these damn hotels are too cheap to offer Wi-Fi as FREE service), but nothing worked!
Long story short, Michelle got the Internet service on the phone this morning and we’re back in business.
Killercon then. We got in to Vegas on Thursday around 9PMish. There was a smallish opening party going on in the hospitality suite, but Michelle and I and our friend Ben Ethridge, opted out and went to eat some pricey Italian instead. Then we went back to the room (we got a very roomy suite, hey!) and hung out until about 2:30AM before calling it a night.
Friday was a big one. Monica K. from Burning Effigy presented me with the first ever copy of 7BRAINS (Yay!) – an excellent way to start the morning. I said hello to tons of folks then followed opening ceremonies with an 11:30AM reading. Surprisingly, the reading was well-attended (the surprise stemming from all there is to do in Vegas – that people choose to check me out was very, very cool). Luckily, I killed. Everyone was into it. I fired off a few jokes and told a little about my climb then I read some raps from my (hopefully) forthcoming novel HYPNOTIC.
My flow was strong – nice cadence, nice rhythm – and the rhymes were funny. The crowd of mostly non-hiphop heads were pleased.
After getting down with it, I picked up 7BRAINS and did the traditional reading thing. I read the first chapter (about 10 pages). Momentum carried us along. There was a lull here and there, nothing that anybody will remember in retrospect (especially with my raps still kicking about in the back of their brains). All in and all, it was a very successful performance.
Before getting off the stage, I raffled off five books (Michelle passed out tickets to everybody in attendance).
I spent some time in the Dealer’s room and caught several other great readings. We saw Lisa Morton read a killer, thoughtful piece called THE DEVIL and then John Palisano read from his upcoming, first novel, NERVES (coming from Bad Moon very soon…).
I then took a nap which ruined me for the rest of the evening (I couldn’t wake-up!). Bleary-eyed and refusing to give in to fatigue, we watched two more readings – one by Jeremy Wagner reading from his thriller (the name escapes me) and then one by the one, the only, the fantabulous outlaw wordsmith, Weston Ochse. His performance rocked the house (literally) as he broke up his reading of PLAYLIST AT THE END (forgive me if I mangled the title) with snippets of music.
Putting on a successful reading, Loyal Reader, isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Most folks who try run the risk of boring the audience. Let’s be honest – reading aloud isn’t the most exciting thing. Sometimes, it’s like watching paint dry. I really appreciate Weston’s approach. I already know the guy (and love him to death), but readings like that are the type to convert the masses. Audiences become fans. It helps that he can write (very, very, very well) because when those fans reach out and take a chance on his stuff they’ll surely become devoted.
Next, we hit the Burning Effigy party where I happened to be one of the guests of honor. We schmoozed for a bit, took some pictures, had a few drinks, then went off in search of food.
I never got dinner (long story) and ended up conking out by 11PM.
In Vegas?!
11PM?
I know, I know, but the party animal in me just isn’t what it used to be. Maybe I’ll have better luck tonight?
Okay then, Loyal Reader, remember… This is technically yesterday’s blog. I’ll put something new up tonight. Sorry for the lack of pictures / videos / handy links, but I’m on the road and none of this tech crap wants to work for me! If you want more info on the wonderful authors mentioned above, copy their names into google and search away. They’re worth the effort.
P.S. – I met, and had some wonderful conversation with Jack Ketchum! I was initially star-struck (he is a horror writing icon), but he’s such a nice dude, I now consider him a friend. Trippy, huh?
Michael Louis Calvillo writes lovely, dark fiction. If you like to read you will probably enjoy his stuff. Why not order something and give it a shot?
Michael Louis Calvillo Must Be Destroyed 