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The Idea Factory

It’s a very chilly evening here in Upstate New York. The last night of November and I’m surprised there’s no snow on the ground. (Yet, laughs Mother Nature.) As I sit at the computer sipping from a glass of Reisling and humming along to the holiday tunes on the stereo, I find myself in a decidedly unfamiliar situation.

See, in the past, whenever I’ve turned in the final edits on a novel, I’ve been immersed in the next one–sometimes WELL immersed in it. But this time is different, and instead of offering advice, I’m asking for it. I could use a little input.

I’ve turned in the final edits on Starting from Scratch (and let me just pause to give a big hallelujah for that), but I am not currently in the midst of the next project. Go back and read my older blogs to see what’s taken up all my time lately to see why. Which is not to say I have no ideas. On the contrary, I find myself in the strange predicament of having three ideas, but being uncertain of which way to go. I’m itching to get writing, but I’m feeling paralyzed by too many possibilities. So, so weird.

Frankly, one idea is more suitable to a mainstream press, so I’m going to set that one aside for the time being. That leaves me with two ideas. Two good ideas (I think so, anyway). Neither is very fleshed out, which I suppose is a good thing, but it’s also what’s keeping me indecisive: I can’t see very far down the road. At this point, they stand equal chances of being the right idea to run with. So I ask you writers out there (and the readers too, if you have a suggestion), what’s the best way to proceed? What would you do? Two decent ideas, not a lot of detail, which way do you go?

Does it make sense to play with the characters, see which ones grab on the tightest? Would you try expanding on the plots themselves and see where they go? I’ve honestly never been in this situation. I normally have the next single idea and I run with it…I’ve never been held up by too much creativity and it’s freaking me out. Advice?

I’m forever debating with myself the merits of e-books v. the old fashioned comforts of holding a book in my hands. There are many arguments in favor of e-books/readers, and for me, not nearly as many for print books. Let’s compare:

The pro side of e-books/readers

  • My entire, clumsy, unmanageable collection of books gets compressed into one tidy, portable location.
  • E-books, for the most part, are cheaper.
  • When ordered online, e-books are delivered instantly.
  • E-book readers make it possible to take your entire library on vacation with you.
  • E-book readers are just plain ol’ cool.
  • E-book readers (selective versions) have the option of having newspapers and magazines delivered daily. 
  • If you don’t like the book, just hit delete. No need to find a new home for a book that didn’t do it for you.
  • The Nook (Barnes & Noble’s new reader out this month) has the option to “loan” e-books to friends for 14 days.
  • The Kindle (Amazon’s reader) has the ability to read the book aloud to you. Nifty for those of us who like the driving friendly option of audio books.

In favor of print books

  • Nothing beats the feeling of a book in your hands (okay, a few things do, but we are talking about books here).
  • You never pick up a print book only to discover the battery is dead.
  • Print books will bio-degrade naturally over the course of time. Can the same be said for an e-reader?
  • If you don’t own an e-reader, e-books read on a computer are hard on the eyes.

It’s really a matter of personal preference, but in trying to keep up with the changing times, I moved the Nook from Barnes and Noble to the top of Christmas wish list.

 

 

Read outside your box

Hi, all–Thanks to Sandra for the “thankful” list! Hope everyone is feeling groovy.

Okay, first things first, and in case y’all care: I’m doing a book signing (marking the release of The Ties that Bind at the Seattle Mystery Bookshop in downtown Seattle.(um…yeah. The name probably gave that away.) So if you’re in that area and you have some time on Saturday December 5th at noon, it’d be neat if you came by. Joan Opyr will also be in attendance, so I’m sure hijinks will ensue. If you want to know more about Ties and the other stuff I write, click here. That’ll take you to the “Books” page of my website, where you can also read excerpts from each.

All right. And now, let’s talk about thinking beyond your general reading niche, something I’m pretty big on, if you hadn’t already guessed.

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A Lesfic Thanksgiving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here’s my:

Top Ten Things to be Thankful for in the Lesbian Fiction World:

10 – Dedicated Lesfic OrganizationsLambda Literary Foundation – For their GLBT book reviews, writer retreat, the Lammies, and in general, evangalizing queer fiction, andGCLS for their Goldies ;-)

9 - Lesbian books in the library – They’re there, they’re queer, and thanks to interlibrary loans, I can get them shipped to my local library!

8 –  Just About Write – Which is a whole lot more than just writing. Bimonthly book reviews, author interviews and a whole lot more.

7 – Lesfic Forums and groups – for lively discussions in the Lesbian Fiction Forum (for those like me who love forms ) and Lesfic Unbound (in yahoo group style) amongst many others!

6 – List of Publishers - Print, ebooks, big, small, it has ‘em all for lesfic books!

5 – Dedicated lesfic online bookstoresSCP in the US and DivasDirect (formerly Libertas) in the UK. But don’t forget your favorite publisher websites, for direct purchase and more ebooks.

4 – Website for Lesbian Science Fiction books – So much to read, so little time!

3 – Lesfic Books turned into Movies  – Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith!

2 – Yearlylesfic  eventsWomens Week in Provincetown, MA  and York Lesbian Arts Festival, in York, England

 and lastly…

The #1 think I’m thankful for – A four-day weekend to read read read and READ!

What are you thankful for this thanksgiving? Got any other links to share on lesfic resources?

Not long ago I wrote the blog Trusting the Difficult Child about my soon-to-be-published novel “Spanking New” and all the tribulations it has put me through. The journey of writing it to getting it published has turned me into a nervous wreck, causing me to doubt its success. So bear with me as I flaunt this first advanced review. It’s written by Anita Kelly, the LGBT Coordinator at Muhlenberg College.

“Clifford Henderson has written a masterpiece in ‘Spanking New’. She explores the serious issues of our day such as heteronormativity, heterosexism, homophobia and pro-choice in a humorous and non-threatening manner. The author’s use of the unborn as the story teller generates an air of awe, wonder and hope regarding these important topics. Henderson’s clever exploration of her protagonists’ feelings leads the reader into a world where gender and identity are fluid. “Spanking New” should be a required reading for all gender and queer study courses.

“While the author addresses serious issues, her book is fun, fun, fun! The playfulness, curiosity and fresh naivety as portrayed through the eyes of the storyteller is refreshing and often humorous. It is pure genius on Henderson’s part to write from this perspective. The protagonists are endearing and very human as you follow their struggles to navigate through life. The reader is able to sympathize with the antagonist’s feelings as well, in this richly developed exploration of human being’s struggles to make sense of their worlds.”

After looking up the word heteronormativity,  I felt like yelling Sally Field’s famous, “They like me! They really like me!” And I’m still gloating.

So, thanks for sharing this moment with me. And, if reading this compels you to buy an advanced copy of “Spanking New”, please avoid the evil Amazon and go straight to the publisher, http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/forthcoming.html#FEBRUARY. In the end it’s better for all of us.

Guilty Pleasures

I used to be a literature snob, bragging that I preferred writers who died before the 20th century ever rolled around. There were few exceptions, most notably Willa Cather and Harper Lee. Recently, I’ve found myself craving a different kind of story. Rather than life lessons, I read for distraction. An uncomplicated girl meets girl romance is a recipe for a successful, cozy afternoon/evening.

Taking it to a whole new level, I’ve recently developed a disturbing addiction to fanfic. Specifically Buffy/Faith fanfic, from the wonderful world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The writer in me feels the need to justify my obsession with the chosen two. I mentally catalogue the benefits of reading/writing fanfic. For example, it’s a great study in character development. These characters are established and well known. If the writer gets it right, she can put them into uncharacteristic situations that become believable because the reader believes the character. That takes some pretty impressive manipulation of character traits to make that happen.

I don’t see myself ever delving into fanfic (never say never), but I bet the exercise would be beneficial. Am I good enough to take someone else’s character and get it right? Hell, I have to fight to get my own characters right. I’d mangle the crap out of someone else’s.

On this fine Monday morning, I leave you with some recommendations for my all time favorites.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

 

Harper Lee’s classic novel of a lawyer in the deep south defending a black man charged with the rape of a white girl

One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It won the Pulitzer Prize, has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. Most recently, librarians across the country gave the book the highest of honors by voting it the best novel of the twentieth century.

 

 

 

 

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Set in a small Alabama train stop town in the 1930s, this gem of a book almost could have been shelved as just another light romantic comedy. Various women’s voices tell anecdotes of Whistle Stop, as the chapters jump back and forth through time. We hear from Mrs. Threadgoode, reminiscing fondly from her nursing home in the 1980s, and the chatty Dot Weems, editor of the gossipy town newsletter (1929-1969), and then listen in on spirited dialogue set in the town of Whistle Stop itself. The storytellers never find use for the label “lesbian,” nor do they see fit to take us behind closed doors, but this is nevertheless the irresistible story of a fierce and true love between two women, Idgie and Ruth. After Idgie saves Ruth from an abusive marriage, these two friends become partners in running the Whistle Stop Cafe, where no one, “not even hobos and colored,” is turned away for inability to pay. Readers are set down in the corner booth to eavesdrop on the comings and goings of an array of eccentric, ragtag characters who drop in for buttermilk biscuits, Big George’s barbecue, and, eventually, news about their own hometown murder mystery. Among revelations big and small, Fannie Flagg mixes direct and empowering confrontations with racism, sexism, and ageism with the colorful and endearing language of the depression-era South and the cafe’s recipes for grits, collard greens, and, of course, fried green tomatoes.

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

“The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman,” writesWilla Cather in O Pioneers! The country is America; the woman is Alexandra Bergson, a fiercely independent young Swedish immigrant girl who inherits her father’s farm in Nebraska. A model of emotional strength, courage, and resolve, Alexandra fights long and hard to transformher father’s patch of raw, wind-blasted prairie into a highly profitable business. 

A gripping saga of love, murder, greed, failure, and triumph, O Pioneers! vividly portrays the hardships of prairie life. Above all, it champions the belief that hard work is the surest road to personal fulfillment. Described upon publication in The New York Times as “American in the best sense of the word,” O Pioneers!celebrates the men and women who struggled to build a nation that is both compelling and contradictory. 

Broken Wings by L-J Baker

In a magical world where being different is the norm, why must Rye Woods fear for her life if the truth about her hidden identity is revealed?

When Rye Woods, a fairy, meets the beautiful dryad Flora Withe, her libido, as squashed and hidden as her wings, reawakens along with her heart. But Rye is a poor builder’s labourer with a teenage sister to raise, while Flora is a wealthy artist-celebrity with a tree-top condominium and a sporty, late-model flying carpet. If those aren’t obstacles enough to the scorching attraction that rapidly develops, Rye lives under the pall of a dark secret that has made her a fugitive in the very land where she sought freedom. The more Rye reveals to Flora, the more vulnerable she is to her past catching up with her. Can she and Flora find their way to loving one another in the face of their social and cultural differences while struggling with the dark forces that threaten Rye?

Mine by Georgia Beers

What happens when you’ve already given your heart and love finds you again?

Three years after Courtney McAllister loses her partner in a car accident, she’s finally trying to move forward. She’s even dated halheartedly over the past year, but no one is able to penetrate her emotional barricades until she meets aggressive real estate broker Rachel Hart. Despite Rachel’s cool façade, Courtney is drawn to her—when she isn’t furious with her. Still, despite an undeniable attraction, Courtney has given her heart once and doesn’t have room for that kind of love in her life again. Rachel isn’t looking for love, especially not with a woman who belongs to someone else, and taking second place has never been her long suit.

 

Maybe Next Time by Karin Kallmaker

Sabrina Starling always believed in maybe next time . . . until now.

Sabrina doesn’t need love. She has fame as a brilliant violinist and unlimited options for female company. Nothing can shake her — except the memory of her very first love. Knowing that neither the teenaged nor adult Jorie will ever return her feelings, Sabrina has escaped into her music and the arms of other women.

When injury leaves her temporarily unable to perform, Sabrina finally finds the one woman who could free her forever from the memory of those stolen Hawaiian nights with Jorie. There’s one problem. The object of Sabrina’s desire, Diana, is deeply in love with Pam, the woman who has shared her life for the past eighteen years.

A family funeral calls Sabrina home to find that Jorie may want her, after all these years. But now the painful memory of Diana has left Sabrina certain that next time won’t be any different.

And the list wouldn’t be complete without  links to my favorite fanfic sites: http://buffynfaith.net/fanfictions/index.php

http://www.oralfxatn.com/updates.htm
Happy reading, folks!

Apocalypse…now?

Hi, kids! I think the apocalypse should happen on a Saturday. That way, on the Friday before, you can party like it’s 1999.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about an apocalypse these days, which is not entirely unusual for me, given that I sort of grew up in a milieu that supported those sorts of ruminations: “well, when the s*** hits the fan, we’re going to be living off the grid and growing our own food!” said family members. So I was steeped in that sort of thinking way before I went to grad school and ended up researching a topic for my doctorate that did, in fact, incorporate apocalypticism.

Where/when is she going? Go see!

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Best Lesbian Erotica 2011

Editor: Kathleen Warnock Publisher: Cleis Press

Payment: Honorarium of $100

Deadline: April 1, 2010

Kathleen Warnock is now accepting submissions for Best Lesbian Erotica 2011, to be published by Cleis Press in Fall 2010.

Submission Guidelines:

- Submit short stories, self-contained novel excerpts, other prose

- Unpublished material will be considered

- Previously published material will also be considered, provided it was or will be published between 9/1/2009 and 12/31/2010

- Submit two hard copies of each submission

- Include a cover page with: Author’s Name, Pen Name (if applicable) Title of Submission(s), Address, Phone, and Email Address

- All submissions must be typed and double-spaced; number the pages.

- Each submission should be a maximum of 5,000 words (list word count on title page). You may print double-sided.

- You may submit up to 2 different pieces of work

- No email submissions will be accepted, except in the circumstances detailed below; you can email queries to Kwarnockble (at) gmail.com

- Manuscripts will not be returned

- VERY IMPORTANT: Any submission that is being simultaneously submitted to another annual erotica anthology (for example, The Ultimate Lesbian Erotica, Best Women’s Erotica, etc.) will not be accepted. We will consider stories that have been published in other themed anthologies.

E-mail submissions: You may submit your story via email (as a Word document or PDF) under the following conditions:

You live outside of North America or Europe

The cost of postage would be prohibitive from your home country

The content of your submission may be illegal to send via postal mail in your home country Submission

Deadline: Submissions will be accepted throughout the year. The final (postmark) deadline is April 1, 2010. All submissions will be responded to by the end of September. Early submissions are encouraged.

Send all submissions to: Kathleen Warnock 31-64 21st St., #319 Long Island City, NY 11106 Attn: BLE2011

If mailing from the US, First Class mail is fine. If you require a confirmation other than the USPS Delivery Confirmation, please included a self-addressed stamped postcard (not an envelope). If mailing from Canada, Airmail or XpressPost USA are recommended.

Please note: April 1, 2010 is a postmark date. You don’t need to overnight it as long as it is postmarked by then. If you are unable to make the postmark date, please email Kathleen to discuss the possibility of an extension.

So I’m thinking of making this it’s own blog category, the story that can’t be written, or at least tagging it with something original.  Anyway, my latest crazy story came to me this morning. It’s probably too far out there to write, but here goes:

Imagine a world where our prehistoric hominid relatives DIDN’T die off.  Neanderthals? still around.  Homo Erectus (get your mind outa the gutter!) – still around.  What would the world look like?

In my crazy story, Neanderthals are alot like us. They have full speech, creativity, governmental structures, etc.  In most ways, just as humans as humans.  That doesn’t mean there isn’t a PILE-LOAD of prejudice against them though. Let’s face it, if we can have tremendous bile and hatred against people just because of their skin color or religious beliefs, imagine how much MORE there would be if there was an entire sentient species sharing this globe with us.

Then, just to make it more interesting, we’d have the Homo Erectus (lovingly called the grunts). They’d have reduced faculties over modern people, limited verbal communications (Andi will pipe in I’m sure if that’s not accurate for them in the real world!). And they’d be the workers of the world.  Think a cross between slavery and domesticated animals.  Most grunts would be owned the same way farm animals are owned today. As an added twist, escaped grunts would go feral, forming groups in the wilds (and I’m sure creating a bit of havoc now and then).

Oh, and for kicks, most of Europe would be Neanderthals.  And for more kicks, there would be a far higher percentage homosexuality than in modern humans. That would keep their population numbers lower, and just add a fun kick to the whole story.

So the MC would be a kickass Neanderthal woman – broad shouldered, strong-willed, and advocate for the grunts, whom she thinks are sentient and deserving of fair treatment by the two dominant species. I’m thinking a love-story w/ a grunt is taking it too far, but bi-species offspring might be fun to toss in as well.

So, what do you think? Crazy? Do I need to get my head out of the Archaeology books for a while?

What crazy, potentially unwriteable story ideas have you had?

Back on the Grid

Howdy folks. It’s my first day to blog on the new Women and Words site and I’m pretty excited. I hope you guys are enjoying the new look as much as I am; there’s really a lot here, including some great tips from some terrific writers. I’m proud to be a part of it all.

I’ve been off the grid for a while, so I want to take this opportunity to jump back on, thank you for hanging in there and staying in touch, and let you know what’s going on with me, writing-wise. By the time my turn rolls around again, I’ll be back in full writing swing and maybe I’ll even have something useful to pass along. For now, I’m going to copy Jove and give you an update on my work/life/mind. Bear with me.

As many of you know, Bonnie and I have just moved into our new home after six months of living with my 90-year-old grandmother. We’ve been hauling, unpacking, arranging, rearranging, and cleaning. The good news is that for the first time in the fifteen years I’ve been with Bonnie, we have a three-bedroom house, which means one bedroom is all mine specifically for my writing. I couldn’t be more psyched (go look at my last blog about space and you’ll understand why…though my goal is to one day have a studio like Cliffi!).

So, I sit here typing to you from my brand new (to me) office, complete with a sweet little leaded glass window, stacks of boxes yet to be unpacked, piles of books on the floor, and a wet spot on the carpet where Finley decided he should leave a big pile of poop today just to show how annoyed he is at being left home alone after six months with Grandma. Ah, home.

I have a lot coming down the pipe as far as writing goes, and maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling the itch lately. Whatever the reason, that itch is always a very welcome thing and I tend to panic when I’m not feeling it. Outsiders has been very well-received. (It’s a collection of five novellas from Susan Smith, Lynn Ames, JD Glass, SX Meagher, and moi.) I’ve gotten several e-mails, lots of them asking if there’s going to be a sequel to “Balance.” The answer to that is simply, I don’t know yet. It’s not definite and it’s not out of the realm of possibility. And hey, if you’re in the Upstate New York area, come and see us. We’re having a sort of New York State book tour, hitting Buffalo on Friday night at Rust Belt Books, reading and signing at 7pm. Then on Saturday, we’re at the Midtown Tap & Tea Room in Albany at 8pm. Yes, lots of driving happening this weekend, but that’s okay. I love to hob-knob with my readers. It’s always a great time and you guys are so generous and sweet.

Starting from Scratch is only two months away from release! (Hmm…maybe I ought to get that final copy off to my publisher sometime this month, huh?) God, I feel like I’ve been waiting for it to be published for over a year. Oh, wait. That’s because I have. It will have been nineteen months since my last novel and I’m ready to give you guys something new. You’ve been so patient and kind to me and I want to say thanks. It’s a good novel that I’m very proud of and I hope it’s been worth the wait for you. I’m excited to hear what you think.

Now, I’m off to tend to that itch…new idea are a-brewin’! Thank god.

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