Monthly Archives: August 2010

Nope…

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…I don’t have my notes together yet, but the research is fascinating, in the morbid and exhausting sense. More to follow on the Case of the Sarcastic Butterflies.

In the meantime, Marc received a stellar review from Publisher’s Weekly yesterday. It says:

Konig’s Fire

Car salesman turned speculative-fiction writer Schooley (The Dark Man) burrows deep into the heart of Sascha König, called Nebuchadnezzar because he was an incinerator operator for the Nazis who could make flames so hot no evidence was left of the bodies of Jews who were incinerated in his oven. In the forest of Romania where the Nazis have set up a furnace in an old mine, König is haunted by the face of a gypsy girl he did not save while a force beyond his control closes in on him and his fellow executioners. Schooley’s style is introspective, philosophical, and a bit overwrought, but that can be overlooked as the new author develops an über-fantasy historical niche of Christian fiction. He provides a gold mine for readers who enjoy the blend of paranormal fantasy with one man’s desperate search for meaning and self-sacrifice.

Uber-fantasy…? I think somebody bought into the paranormal Nazis so hard that it spilled over into the review. Cool. [Edited to add: Ohmigosh LOOK! Amazing cover on the MLP site...click here for the whole fifth list and sample chapters.]

For myself, I feel totally smug about the “developing new author creating a niche of his own” part, because I’ve been telling the guy since forever, he’s going to hit a groove around his fourth or fifth novel and blow the lid off like totally everything dude.

Tomorrow, another exciting writerly thingy: P.A. Baines’s book releases from Splashdown. We’ll have an extensive, unpredictable and wide-ranging two-day/two-part interviewish chat with him. The Ministry of Silly Talks is in session Sept. 1-2.

The Day Marc Schooley Died

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You know, I’ve tried about three different ways to think what to say, or if anything even should be said. It’s not like it was, anymore.

All I can do is start at the beginning.

The book arrived, its cover beautiful and bizarre, with a retro feel that hinted at the anachronistic. I didn’t understand the image at the time. I now know it’s perfect. I opened it up. Being as weird as I am, I did what I always do, the thing that tells me about the writer. I read the dedication.

For the Schooner, who loved the gospel,
in part because he knew the dark man

Well, that was mysterious. Slightly ominous, even. Where some dedications provide a moment of mundane insight, these words locked me out. They told a story inaccessible to anyone who didn’t already know it. I turned the page, turned it back, and read them again.

Who was the Schooner? What was his significance to this writer, when so many dedicate their work to Mom, apple pie and Jesus? No clue was given except that obscure second line. It is the sort of metaphor writers use in order to be poetic about their concepts.

I sensed that the Schooner was central to the learning of the concept, that what he’d imparted was in some way a heartwrenching, inexorable shaping, for better and worse. A partaking. And yet, it was something so essential and true that it could not be gone back from. Once there, a person couldn’t think of returning to the shallows.

It was no mere concept.

Continue reading →

13 O’Clock News: Fun Stuff and More

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Monday

I’m not sure yet. But I will at least explain why. Let’s just say I’ve had a bohemian moment, full of words on the inside that won’t come out.

Tuesday

If I can get my notes together, the documentation of the correlation that was alleged to be invented as a straw fundamentalist last week. (The correlation was not seen by my friend. However, Quixote once noted I’ve got enough lawyer in me never to ask a question I can’t answer myself, so trust me a little, here…)

Wednesday

Quick, Batman! To the Funmobile! P.A. Baines’s Alpha Redemption releases, and we begin a two-part interview with the author. We talk about the creation of Alpha (I learned surprising things, and also sulked in creative angst), writerly banter, and the book itself.

Thursday

Double whammy! Yorkshire puds and our friendly Mr. Baines’s eclectic global background. Plus — we reveal a new Highly Bohemian Guest Blogger.

Friday

I should probably muse. It feels long overdue. Anyone for a northern lakeside and the brilliant starscapes of late summer?

What Women Really Want

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First, some housekeeping items. Quixote, I regret to inform you that due to your admission of being a trained feminist, you are under the judgment of God. (See John Holzmann’s post link below. This is what “The Men’s Homeschool Leadership Summit” has decided. You are in big trouble now mister.)

And now to our main topic. Because we should all take pretty-looking internet information seriously.

It is easy to misconstrue spanking and domestic discipline as something violent or mean-spirited.  Whether for play, therapy or genuine discipline, it does involve demonstrative physical and emotional actions, so it must be approached with caution.  Only proceed if you are sure you know what you are doing.  Its [sic] your responsibility.  You won’t get any “Just follow these simple instructions – its easy!” stuff from me…

Some or most domestic violence results from one or both partners being genuinely interested in subjugating and harming the other and/or being way out of control due to drug use (including alcohol and excessive caffeine).  There’s nothing on this site which will encourage such people.  In my opinion, they have no idea how to live.  I hope they discover that the pleasure of giving, sharing and facilitating is greater than whatever they get from taking and destroying.

Other loving couples fall into brief but nonetheless extremely dangerous and unacceptable episodes of domestic violence as a result of not understanding themselves, not communicating properly and failing to set limits on behavior which leads to an out-of-control situation.

In particular, if a man does not know that a woman may test his resolve to the bitter end (including with extreme emotional abuse and physical violence), growing more and more frustrated at his failure to put a stop to her rot (asking or pleading with her to stop, or hiding, are not what she is looking for, she needs instructions, warnings and if necessary a long, hard, safe spanking ),  Continue reading →