The Master of Verona

Final links of 2007

This week I've returned to VOICE OF THE FALCONER for some editing, including a major rewrite in the final chapter. Going well so far, but it's keeping me busy. Plus there's been some light fight-choreography to do. However there have been two lovely posts from people I count as friends that I thought I should link to here.

The first is Christopher Walsh's interview with me. It was done after my signing at the Book Cellar, while we hung out and I drank peach tea (my favorite). Chris has become a contributer for Metroblogging Chicago, so that's where the piece is posted. While I must say I've never worn lace-up boots in private life (motercycle boots, ten years as my standard footwear), and I've never EVER performed at a Ren-Fair, it's a lovely piece. Thanks Chris!

The second bit came out of the blue - Sarah Johnson over at Reading The Past listed THE MASTER OF VERONA as one of her top ten books of 2007. I'm humbled - that woman reads everything, and is an editor for the Historical Novel Society. Being ranked among her favorites is like being listed in the AFI top films of the year.

I can't see doing much posting over the next couple of days - too much to do, what with playing with Dash around the tree, wrapping the final presents, and finishing the edits on VF. So to all, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Cheers,

DB

AuthorBuzz #10 - Final Winner!

And the final winner in the AuthorBuzz contest is:

Melody C*******r in Spokane Valley, WA!

Congratulations all. Some books are en route, the rest leave within the next 24 hours.

Thank you, every one, for participating in the give-away. For those who did not win, I hope you'll consider picking up THE MASTER OF VERONA in your local bookstore. Cheers all, and have a wonderful holiday.

DB

AuthorBuzz #9 - The Penultimate Winner

The ninth winner of the AuthorBuzz/Dear Reader promotional giveaway of THE MASTER OF VERONA is:

Angela B***t in Green Valley, AZ!

Congratulations, Angela. If there's any special dedication, let me know before I send it off tomorrow.

DB

AuthorBuzz #8 - Eighth Winner

The eighth winner of the AuthorBuzz/Dear Reader promotional giveaway of THE MASTER OF VERONA is:

P. H***n in NJ!

Congratulations, P. If there's any special dedication, let me know today before I send it off.

Two to go!

AuthorBuzz #6 & 7 - More Winners

Okay, sorry AuthorBuzz readers – I took a personal day yesterday. Jan had a matinee of Romeo & Juliet, so I had Dash all day. Then, last night when I told myself I was going to post the AuthorBuzz results, I got distracted by the prescreener for the final two episodes of Dexter (yes, I know how it ends!).

So today is a two-fer:

Phyllis S*******l in

Iowa

Linda R*****n in NY

Ladies, please let me know if there’s a personal note you would like. Everybody, thanks for playing, and more tomorrow! Got three left to give away!

DB 

Christmas Cheer

While Dash has fallen in love with A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (probably because I play Vince Guaraldi music through the year), I've been doing a marathon of Christmas films that aren't really about Christmas. You know what I mean - DIE HARD, THE THIN MAN, LETHAL WEAPON, etc. This before I watch the holiday classics like MIRACLE ON 34th STREET, WHITE CHRISTMAS, & THE BISHOP'S WIFE. Because seriously, there's more to the holidays than good cheer. Apparently there's a lot of ass-kicking and wise-cracking.

So while TV bombards you with reruns of holiday classics to make up for the dearth of new material (see United Hollywood for more WGA Strike news), go out and rent - don't download! - a good holiday mystery or action film.

Beacuse now I have a machinegun. Ho. Ho. Ho.

MJ Rose - Hand Yelling MV

MJ Rose is a bestselling author and the genius behind AuthorBuzz. She was excited enough about THE MASTER OF VERONA to put a post up at her blog, Buzz, Balls, & Hype. She's one of the industry's major players, and you can only imagine how gratified I am to have her good opinion.

AuthorBuzz #5 - Fifth Winner

The fifth winner of the AuthorBuzz/Dear Reader promotional giveaway of THE MASTER OF VERONA is:

N. C*****s in SF!

Congratulations, N. If there's any special dedication, let me know today before I send it off.

There will be a brief break in the contest for weekend festivities. One of the two theatre companies I am an official member of is partaking of a fundraiser tomorrow night, and I am listed as a director for some of the entertainment. In this instance, I'm a little allergic to the term (borrowing a phrase from my friend Steve Pickering, who is acting in the pieces), because it's Steve's show and I'm just an outside eye. Oh, and I suggested two of the short pieces he's going to perform, but that's only because he and I share similar tastes in sick and twisted humor.

So, there will be other posts this weekend that I can prefab, then on Monday I will resume the drawings. Cheers!

DB

AuthorBuzz #4 - Fourth Winner

The fourth winner of the AuthorBuzz/Dear Reader promotional giveaway of THE MASTER OF VERONA is:

Scott A****o in VT!

Congratulations, Scott. If there's any special dedication, let me know today before I send it off.

Yesterday I finished Chapter 11 of FORTUNE'S FOOL, and did a little editing on VOICE OF THE FALCONER (books 3 and 2, respectively). Then, after putting Dash to bed, Jan and I watched the final three episodes of Heroes (thank you TiVO). They're more enjoyable when watched back to back - like a good novel, there are several storylines running alongside each other. But sometimes an hour-long format isn't the greatest delivery system. Watching three in a row is the best way to get invested.

The writing often makes me cringe (Peter can walk thru walls and melt metal - why is he straining to tear off a safe door he could manage much more easily?), but the overall fun of the show keeps me coming back. If only they could hire Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, and Brian Michael Bendis to pen episodes, this show would rule.

Meanwhile, my treadmill movie this morning was After The Thin Man. Now there's great dialogue!

Cheers, and more tomorrow.

DB

AuthorBuzz #3 - Third Winner

The third winner of the AuthorBuzz/Dear Reader promotional giveaway of THE MASTER OF VERONA is:

AnneMarie D*R***r

Congratulations, AnneMarie. If there's any special dedication, let me know today before I send it off.

Meanwhile...

It's been a long time since I had a solid 6,000+ word day. But today was one of those days. I finished Chapter 10 of Fortune's Fool and moved on to Chapter 11, most of which is already done (non-linear writing makes for headaches, and a lot of fill-in-the-blanks later, but you gotta go where the words lead you).

I tend to create 2,000-4,000 words in an average writing day. My best was during the first draft of THE MASTER OF VERONA, when words were coming faster than I could type and I had a week of 10,000 word days. But that was seven years ago, before Dash, and before the complete fragmenting of my brain.

Anyway, more books to give away tomorrow! (and tomorrow, and tomorrow)

DB