BIG NEWS!!! ...that I can't tell you.

YEAH! Big news that I can't tell any of you. SORRY! That's how this shit works. Just trust me, if you knew you'd be happy. Because it's awesome. And yes, it regards publication. NO, I have not been given an offer. Yet. But, we're getting close. SO close...


Anyway, I can't just leave you hanging and not give you something. A couple of bits of news about my agent. First, Cari will be at the Killer Nashville convention on August 20-21. She'll be offering advice, hearing pitches, and selling our books--and having lots of fun! If you're there, tell her Sean said hi! Another thing for you all is an interview my agent Cari did for The Examiner.

Also, the Tribe website has been updated so that you can leave comments on the individual author's page! So, pop by and say something flattering about me. I can take it, I promise. Don't be afraid to check out all the other fine authors and talents represented by TribeLit while you're there!

While we're on the subject of flattery, there is a great deal of it due to my friend and fellow TribeLit author, Luke Romyn. Luke's book: The Dark Path received a stellar review by all the beautiful people at Bitten By Books! Swing by and take a look at the review, then buy and read The Dark Path! Tiamat wills it!

From Formspring: Why haven't your books been published yet? It's been like a year!

I get asked this about once a week. I didn't answer before because I didn't have a definite answer to give. Now I do: it will take as long as it takes.

Publishing is a very conservative business. Considering the amount of money, time and effort that publishers put into a book, as well as an investment in the future creative output of that author, it is a very long, drawn out process. I promise I'm not holding out on you guys. I would love to be announcing I've been signed by a publisher right now. I'd like to have made that announcement several months ago. But, that isn't how it works. Yes, there are examples of writers to get offered a huge contract by the first publisher they approach days after finishing the rough draft of their manuscript. These examples are rare near to the point of being mythical. Most of us have to ride the train, and it's a very old, slow train on a really long track.

Luckily, I'm not on the train alone. I have a very aggressive, intelligent, hungry and dedicated pair of literary agents working to see my books published. Remember, they don't get paid one cent until I get offered a contract. They are motivated to sell. But they are also very smart and know the business. Publishers work with creative people, and creative people are notoriously difficult to work with. Anyone who has been in a band or dated a painter knows this. Time is money in publishing, and every minute counts. If a publisher thinks a writer is going to be difficult to work with, they'll pass...it isn't like there aren't a lot more out there from which to choose: starving writers who would sell their soul for a five figure advance and a contract...or less. Agents have to strike a balance between enthusiasm for the sale and appearing desperate or obnoxious.

All things considered, my story is a fortunate one among writers. Maybe it was the quality of my writing, beginners luck, the product of my odd charisma, my obnoxious talent of self-aggrandizement toward strangers or a combination of any of the above, but my road has been far shorter than many. I know writers who spend years, some decades, just trying to land an agent--or, having landed one, changing agents until they find one they feel comfortable with. This is often after multiple publications in magazines and journals--which don't pay very well but help build a resume. I scored one that was a perfect fit for my style and enthusiasm in less than a month and I haven't had a story published in a magazine in over 10 years...and that was a non-paying submission that I didn't even mention in any of my queries because the magazine doesn't exist anymore. Within two months, my manuscript was out to publishers. A month later, we had our first nibbles from publishers requesting partial or full manuscripts. More have come in the following months. I'm now just over seven months into this. I'm not bragging, I'm just pointing out that I have been incredibly fortunate, and that compared to the sacrifices and struggles that many talented writers must endure on the road to publication, my path seems downright gold-bricked.

So it will happen when it happens, and it will take as long as it takes. I appreciate all of you going down this road with me, and your love and support will not be forgotten when (not if) I get there. Thank you all for hanging in there with me. I know many of you want to read the book, and no one wants you to be able to read it more than me. 

From Formspring: Assorted Questions pt.3

As promised!

While writing your books, do you focus on that story exclusively, or do you work on multiple projects simultaneously? asked by mrsbrownstar
 

I usually work on more than one at a time, editing one of my books while writing another. Sometimes I’ll be writing more than one at a time. I did this with Max’s first book, which I wrote while working on the fourth book in the Dragon’s Blood Chronicles. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up at that rate once I start having to do promotion, but with the way my attention fluctuates, I have to be working on more than one thing at a time.

Since vampires are host to a demonic virus could they be possessed by another entity like a ghost or something?

The virus that turns people into vamps changes their physical makeup so that they are closer to demons than human. Some demons (Voidborne) can possess others of their kind. Ghosts are a different matter, and aren’t something I’ve addressed much in the books.

Why do penguins march so much when they're such great swimmers? Is it because they're trying to adapt to life on land? ARE THEY PLANNING ON TAKING OVER?!

Decide for yourself…

Could a Komodo dragon beat a vampire? I know it's not an actual dragon but they are pretty badass.

Yes, Komodo dragons are pretty bad-ass. But, their hunting method makes taking down a vampire unlikely. Komodos hunt by hiding in tall grass or trees until something walks by. Then they lash out and bite it. If the target survives (most do) they get infected with all the super bacteria concentrated in the Komodos’ teeth. The subject then dies a few hours or days later, and then Komodos track the smell to the corpse and chow down. Since vampires are immune to disease and heal very fast, the Komodo would have to kill then in the initial attack. At that point, it would depend on the size of the Komodo and the age/power of the vampire. However, vamps can’t regenerate limbs so, if the Komodo got him in the leg, he could probably finish him off. This assumes that the vamp wasn’t carrying a weapon, which most of them would.

You don't ever do the cliche in your books where they knock someone on the head and then they're fine do you?

No. Having been struck in the head a number of times, in my books I treat concussions with the respect they deserve.

What would you suggest for someone transitioning from writing persuasive essays to writing fiction? What common ground do they have?

In both cases, you have to keep your reader’s attention and interest. There will be a temptation to replace most (or all) exposition with dialog. Fight this. Some exposition in dialog is fine, so long as you break up long blocks of dialog with action. Too much exposition in dialog is boring and confusing. In addition to losing track of who is talking, you’re also giving your readers what would in the legal system be considered hearsay. Readers would rather witness the events themselves, rather than hear about them from the characters. Exposition in dialog is fine for characters giving background or establishing events from their past, but major plot points shouldn’t usually be described in dialog. For a perfect example of how boring and annoying this is, read Bram Stoker’s Lair of the White Worm. In Dracula Stoker was able to tell the story from multiple dialogs (in the form of letters and journals) but in Lair… he simply has the main character return home each day and tell his butler about all the spooky shit he saw and did. It is so annoying and dull.

But, the best advice I can give for this is also the best advice any writer can give: read. Read the kinds of books you like, the kind of books you want to write and even books you don’t want your book to resemble. Learn from them. Feel free to imitate their style, because the more you write the more your own voice will emerge.

Whats your favorite?

Cookies and Cream. No, wait...Ringo.

Are we not all predatory animals by instinct? If humans ceased wholly from preying upon each other, could they continue to exist?

No. Yes.

Do you ever get yourself angry on purpose to self-motivate? asked by accuseanaccuser

I don’t usually find anger very motivational for writing. Sometimes I get sad or angry when writing a scene that is sad or angry. 

Do you ever write naked? And if so can you please describe what that looks like? And can you do it in a sexy voice? And in the scene can you please have a Winston Churchill blow up doll? That will really help get things going...

Yes, no, NO, and absolutely not.

Since vampirism is a blood borne demonic virus, could someone become a vampire from having sex with a vampire?

Yes, any fluid transmission can spread the virus. However, only a small portion of the population is susceptible to the virus. Otherwise, the planet would be overrun with vampires. For whatever reason, most people can’t get infected. Even among those who can, the virus is spread best by blood-to-blood transmission. Saliva and semen will spread the virus, but it works faster if one of those fluids comes in contact with blood.

Would the echelon ever consider the killing of a dragon by a non-dragon justified? What if it was for a vendetta they considered dubious?

The Echelon doesn’t care what non-Dragons do. If a non-dragon managed to kill a dragon, they’d consider it that dragon’s problem. The only way they’d consider it worth their time would be if someone had decided to eliminate dragons, and appeared to have at least a remote chance of succeeding. Neither event it likely and both the odds of both are almost nil.

Would it be considered dishonorable combat for a dragon using powers or abilities particular to its type? Like a much smaller dragon that uses shape shifting for example.

Not usually, as long as they were natural abilities the dragon possessed and not augmentations from sorcery or technology. While a few dragons have shape-shifting abilities above the others—like Aoni’a’s ability to take any human form or Wenonah’s ability to take animal forms—it’s unlikely those would be much help in a fight with another dragon, unless they were just trying to hide. There is a dragon in one of the later books who has augmented the natural aura of obfuscation that dragons exude (that’s why most humans can’t see them) to the point that it works on other dragons—at least until she attacks—but her use of that power isn’t considered dishonorable: it’s part of who she is. However, a dragon strapping an air-to-air missile to it’s neck would be in poor taste, to say the least.

How much territory is claimed by dragons, and how big are they usually (the territories)? Where are the largest unclaimed areas?

Dragon’s value quality over quantity, the largest territories tend to be in areas where humans can’t or won’t live. Dragons that enjoy being around people claim entire cities as their territory, while more solitary dragons stay where there are fewer people. The largest dragon territorial claim is probably in Antarctica, where an ancient named Wotan lives. He probably claims the entire continent, though there are several other dragons living there. As far as unclaimed areas, dragons tend to assume any land connected to theirs is part of their claim if no other dragon has claimed it. This only becomes a problem when another dragon tries to claim it or take it away. Fortunately, most of these disagreements end peacefully, as the less powerful dragon submits to the more powerful one without a fight.

How much influence would you say arguing with people online has had on your writing style? asked by accuseanaccuser

I’m not sure, but I know it helped me learn to type really fast.

Angus, what do your cow eyes see?

Grass. A lot of grass.

From Formspring: How are your books coming along and when can I get one?

From sagetherage, 5/23/20010

The books are coming fine, thank you. I've completed books 1-4 of The Dragon's Blood Chronicles, which comprises the first story arc for that series. I've also finished my first draft of book five, but there are several things I want to change about it so I don't consider it completed. I've also finished Max's first book, a paranormal mystery I'm tentatively calling Moth. I've started work on Max's second book, which I haven't come up with a name yet. All of the Dragon's Blood Chronicles have long, elaborate titles so I'm thinking for Max's series they'll have one word titles. This is all subject to publisher approval, though. They sometimes what you to go with a different title.

As far as when you can get them...well, my agent and her senior partner are working very hard to secure a good publishing deal for me. We're in frequent contact, and the process is slow going but I expect good things soon. Believe me, as soon as I know, you'll know. I can say that my work is in the hands of several excellent publishing houses, some of which have already requested full or partial manuscripts to review for publication. They can't be rushed, they have to make the decision on their own time. If I thought harassing them would help, I'd probably be very annoying right now. All we can do is wait.

This is a nerve wracking process, and the publishers are taking their time because of the economy, but as I said I'm confident we'll know something soon. I'm as excited to get these out as everyone else. These books have been a lot of work for me, and I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who have read the manuscripts. Just keep your fingers crossed.

And...if you happen to be friends with the editor at a publishing house, you might lean on them a little for me. I don't want to come off as desperate here, but I'm willing to donate kidneys if anyone at the publisher needs them. I've got two...and can get more.

The March to Publication Continues...

Hey, all. I just got some great news! Another publisher has requested my manuscript! This is great! I can't say which one because publishers get annoyed if you talk about them being interested before they make an offer. But it's a good one, like the two before. I also got a rejection, but that's fine, especially since they don't typically publish my genre; but you never know when publishers may change their mind so it pays to cast a wide net. So far that's 1 rejection, 3 requests for partial or full manuscripts! All the thanks should go to my agent Cari Foulk and her senior partner Jonathan Clements! Very good news, and I'm very excited!

I'll keep everyone posted on the developments as they...develop...happen...whatever.

From Formspring: Can vampires or dragons in your mythos get radiation poisoning? If so, how much compared to a human being?

I hadn't really thought of that yet. I suppose that yes, they could...but the regenerative power of a vampire is different from that of a dragon.

Vampires heal much faster, within seconds of being wounded. The more severe the wound, the longer the regeneration period. Still, it doesn't take very long. However, they are as relatively easy to injure as a human.

In contrast, dragons regenerate slower, but are very difficult to hurt--even in human form. In the excerpt of The Shadow of Tiamat, Garrett survives what should have been a fatal crash with no visible signs of injury--short of torn clothes and a busted motorcycle helmet. Obviously, in dragon form he is even harder to hurt.

If I understand it correctly (and please, correct me if I am wrong) radiation poisoning is so insidious because once it enters your body, you never get rid of it. It's with you forever. That's why X-ray techs stand behind a wall and wear a lead-lined apron while you lay there with a backless paper gown and plastic booties. It is unlikely you will ever get enough X-rays to harm you, but an X-ray tech taking dozens of X-rays a week (or day) can easily build up a fatal amount in a short career. Presumably, the regenerative abilities of these otherworldly creatures would most forms of radiation from their body, much in the same way our blood is able to filter alcohol.

The initial effects of severe radiation--i.e. the burning and tissue damage--would still occur. Based on the severity, a vampire or dragon may be able to survive this. In the case of mild radiation, the vampire might suffer some burns but heal them quickly, whereas the dragon (depending on the form they were in at the time) might not be effected at all. On the other hand, severe radiation might burn a vampire to a crisp faster than his body could repair the damage, while the dragon would take the damage but probably survive so long as they got away from the source of the radiation.

As far mutation of DNA...since vampires are human-based they still have DNA but the ability of the vampire-virus to heal it's host would (I think) restore the DNA with some manner of super-genome. Some viruses already do this to some extent. It stands to reason that an otherworldly virus would be able to do it even better.

As for dragons...um...I can't really go into that without spoiling more of the books. I'll just say this: more about the nature of what dragons are is revealed as the series progresses. I don't want to give any of that away, since it's not even something disclosed in the first book.

Ask me anything

From Formspring Don't you hate pants?

I have complex feelings towards pants. I don't think it would be fair to say I hate them. More of a love/annoyed-because-they-don't-fit-right-anymore relationship.

Ask me anything

From Formspring: OMG! Your new photo is so hot! I want to see you naked!

Thank you, sir. I'm flattered...but I assure you, I'm not that attractive. It's mostly a series of light tricks and photo-shop mixed with a talented photographer, http://www.clovenlife.com/.

And you really don't want to see me naked. I don't even like seeing me naked. Just take my word for it.

Ask me anything

From Formspring: Don't you feel like Dragon books are an archaic medium? Wouldn't you instead want to make your main character/dragon a mysterious brooding sort who has shunned drinking human blood and has befriended an average, awkward girl?

You make a valid point. Vampires have only been around culturally for the last nine-hundred years or so, whereas stories about dragons predate pottery. So, comparatively, vampires are a fresher medium by about an eon.

Regardless, you are certainly correct: the love between an out-of-sorts teenage girl and a self-loathing vampire is an under-explored theme in contemporary literature. If only more people were willing to write vampire-in-love-with-teenager love stories...

But, I'm far from a trailblazer...so I think I'll just stick to the dragons, if for no other reason that the kick way more ass than vampires.

Also, there ARE vampires in my books...and not the cute, cuddly sparkle-motion vampires that seem to have become popular these days. The vamps in my books are criminals and monsters who prey on children. They are frightening and dangerous...but they tend to get smashed to pieces by the dragons or shot in the head a lot. Because, let's face it: dragon verses vampire = dragon wins. Verses thirty vampires...

Dragon wins.

--StP

PS: Thanks for the best question all month, Spearman

Ask me anything

Family update

For those of you who asked, my father-in-law is doing much better and should be home from the hospital soon--if not already.

Thank you everyone for your kind words, positive thoughts and prayer. I'm not a religious man, but my father-in-law is and I know he and my mother-in-law appreciate it. My wife and I appreciate it, too.

Thank you.

From Formspring: What kind of software do you use to write?

Office Word 2007. I've thought of switching to Open Office when I get a new laptop. We'll see.

Ask me anything

From Formspring: How organized is your approach towards writing? Do you use outlines or anything like that?

I write out notes for a book, but nothing too formal, like an outline. I do this a little more with Max's books than the Dragon's Blood Chronicles, since mysteries are a little more challenging to write (for me, at least) and it's difficult to keep track of when information is revealed.

I don't make myself a slave to an idea, though. Many of the books I've written veered so far from the outline that they became unrecognizable. For example, Max's books was originally going to be about a preacher who murdered a young girl who rebuked his sexual advances. The skinheads (and vampires) were going to be a subplot, but I liked the idea of vampire Neo-Nazi's as antagonists so much that I changed the whole book.

I do often make lists of character names and traits so I don't forget things, or contradict myself...especially with background characters. For example, I don't have to remind myself what color Meg's eyes are (green) because she's a main character and I talk about her a lot. But Max's girlfriend Sadie's teenage sister Porche is used so infrequently that I have to have notes just to remember how old she is and what she looks like, otherwise she'll wind up taller than Sadie with blue eyes in one book, then shorter than Sadie with brown eyes in the next. It's also handy to keep track of other minor character traits, less they be forgotten, like how old Meg was when her father died, what tattoo Yvonne has in the small of her back, and so on.

I do almost all of my writing on a computer, so I do my notes there, too. I have a folder on a jump-drive (backed up to another jump drive, my hard drive, and an online Norton 360 backup drive) called Writing. In the Writing folder, I have a different folder for each of my story branches: right now, that includes the Chronicles, Max's series, and a third series I'm in the process of planning right now. A couple of other folders are there as well, including one full of story fragments and idea, and another with Shadowrun stuff--that's the role playing game I play with this group of registered sex offenders I met online. Any notes I keep on a story or character I place in the same folder, so I know right where to find it.

Ask me anything

From Formspring: Are the lights on?

Yes. But no one's home. Your will is not your own. Your heart sweats(???) your teeth grind. Another kiss and you'll be mine.
You like to think that you're immune to the stuff. Oh, yeah. It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough. You know you're gonna have to face it you're addicted to love.

Don't worry...we'll help you. We care about you. This is an intervention.

We care about you.

Oh, yeah...

Ask me anything

From Formspring: What are the craters on Venus named after?

Your mom's...um...butt! Yeah! Her butt! That's right, I went there. So did the Italian Navy. BOOM!!!
Seriously though, all the craters on Venus have female names. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_craters_on_Venus

Ask me anything

From Formspring: WHO ARE YOU!?!?

For although nepenthe has calmed me, I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men. This I have known ever since I stretched out my fingers to the abomination within that great gilded frame; stretched out my fingers and touched a cold and unyielding surface of polished glass.

Ask me anything

Life According to Tiamat

Here is something I did a while back on Facebook. In a few days, I may try it again using songs by Danzig. Yes, there is a band called Tiamat. No, they don't have anything to do with my books, other than the source of the name (the Babylonian goddess). Though Tiamat has been a big inspiration for me, music wise, the band isn't featured in my books. For more information about how Tiamat is used in my books, read my old blog entry on the origins of Tiamat.

Okay, here is the game:

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions.

Pick your Artist:
Tiamat

Are you a male or female:
For Her Pleasure

Describe yourself:
Brighter Than the Sun

How do you feel:
I am in Love with Myself

Describe where you currently live:
Garden of Heathen

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Mount Marilyn

Your favorite form of transportation:
On Golden Wings

Your best friend is:
Cain

You and your best friends are:
Too Far Gone

What's the weather like?
Summertime Is Gone

Favorite time of day:
Summer By Night

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?
Sleeping in the Fire

What is life to you:
To Have and Have Not

Your relationship:
A Pocket Sized Sun

Your fear:
The Return Of The Son Of Nothing

What is the best advice you have to give:
Carry Your Cross and I'll Carry Mine

Thought for the Day:
However You Look at it, You Lose

How I would like to die:
Heaven of High

My soul's present condition:
Sixshooter

My motto:
Love is as Good as Soma

Praise Tiamat!

--Sean P.
represented by Tribe Literary, a Wheelhouse Group Agency

www.seanpoindexter.com

Facebook Fan Page
Sean Poindexter @twitter

So...stuff.

I'm in the process of moving my blog from myspace to Blogger. This is the same blog I posted yesterday, 4/3/2009, on myspace. I'll continue posting both places, until the blog is transferred over.

Hey, friends! Lots of excitement! Got some good news from my agent today...which I can't really talk much about except to say some fine publishers have requested more of my manuscript for review. I can't say which ones, but I can say this: they are good ones. Really good ones.

I'm understating my elation: when Cari told me the news, I backflipped into a wall. That's okay, I can fix the wall.

So, we're all pretty happy about that.

In other news, the following other things are happening that make me very happy:

1. The Hills is going off the air. Television will get just a little less stupid.


2. My friend (and possibly cousin or something) Larry Poindexter has a guest spot on Supernatural starting April 8th:



That's him playing the priest there. Go kick some ass, Larry!

3. After six years, Danzig will release a new album in June! He will also tour. I'll see you there, Mr. Danzig.

4. Obama's health care reform passed. I know, some of you aren't happy about it, because you think it's a big socialist takeover of medicine. It isn't. Trust me...I WANT a big socialist takeover of medicine. I VOTED for a big socialist takeover of medicine. That isn't what we got. We actually got a much more moderate, pro-free-market plan. It is not socialist. Not in the least. Need proof? Here is an article from the International Socialist Party, the hub of all liberal socialist movements world-wide, complaining about how conservative and non-socialist Obama's health care reform is. IF you really are terrified of socialism in America, you really don't have any room to be scared until these guys are happy.

5. Stargate: Universe is back. Yeah, that's right. I know it's kind of like Battlestar:Gallactica, except minus the trite dialog, unlikable character, overacting, misplaced aggression, meandering plotlines, convoluted backstories, ham-fisted political allegories, redundant sermonizing, inexplicable 1940 War-era motif...okay, I guess it isn't anything like Battlestar:Overactica afterall. Whatever. Stargate is a superior franchise.



6. Kick-Ass.

7. Starting to play Shadowrun again, after like seventeen years. That is pretty significant, because Shadowrun was my introduction to the urban fantasy genre, and has had a lot of influence on my work. I'm getting back into it with my friend Ross, and a new group of college-age guys. Also, they are all registered sex offenders, so that's a relief. What? You'd rather I play with unregistered perverts? Sorry, I have to draw the line somewhere.

8. Next and nowhere near least, my beautiful (and patient) wife Amanda and I celebrated our sixth (?) anniversary last month. Yay for us. Well, for me. Between us, I think I got the better end of the bargain. Still, you can help me make her suffering worth while by purchasing many copies of my book when it comes out.

9. My grandfather's birthday was last week. He is my last surviving grandparent. He's a fine man with a huge, loving family. And though I know there is no possible way he's ever going to read this blog, I just want the world to know what a wonderful man Virgil Thompson is.

10. Iron Man II.



Next: Thor. Hell. Yes.

Finally, on a more serious note, I want to add a couple of words about another good man: my father-in-law, Armin. He's in the hospital as I write this, having tests run to see if they can figure out what's going on with his heart. I don't want to go into it too much, but I'll just ask that my friends keep him in their thoughts and prayers (if you pray) and hope for a speedy recovery.

That's all I've got for now, friends. Take care, and I'll try to stay in touch!

Praise Tiamat!

--Sean P.
represented by Tribe Literary, a Wheelhouse Group Agency

www.seanpoindexter.com

Facebook Fan Page
Sean Poindexter @twitter