A WRITER’S JOURNEY: Part 16.1

A WRITER’S JOURNEY: Part 16.1

The Books that Started it ALL

I won’t say it’s true for all writers (exception to every rule and all that jazz) but most writers can pinpoint a single book as the one that inspired them to write. I’ve heard all kinds of inspiration stories from my friends and peers. Children’s book writers wanting to capture the joy of hearing Dr. Suess read to them as a youngling. Horror writers hiding under the covers terrifying themselves with their first scary book. Or the writer so unimpressed with a horribly written book they are inspired to write something better.

We all have a story about the first book that made us want to write. More often than not, those same books have an influence on what we write. And it seems that for authors who write in certain genres, they can often share the same book or writer as their initial influence.

I credit a few books and writers on changing the course of my journey to becoming a full-time writer. But the one that made me say, “I want to be a writer”, is No Change, Please by Gordon Korman. Korman will probably be familiar to Canadians more than Americans or UK readers. Korman began his writing career at a very young age, barely into his teens he began with his Bruno & Boots books. The first in the series was This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! begun during a semester in the 7^th grade. His English teacher encouraged him to finish the book, which was published by Scholastic along with many of his 55 books that followed.

My grade 5 teacher was reading No Change, Please to the class and explained to us how Korman started his journey to the book we were hearing. That was the moment. Right there. Being told that a kid roughly the same age as me had written a book and had it published, inspired me to try and do the same. Well, I didn’t. I wasn’t published until I was in grade 8 and it was a short story in the photocopied school newspaper. I followed that up with a few poems in different issues of that paper and a couple more short stories and poems in highschool Writers’ Guild anthologies.

But I’d been bitten by the bug.

For this part of A Writer’s Journey, I decided to ask some of my peers to share their stories about the book that inspired them to write. They were all asked the same question and I was amazed by their responses. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Maybe you’ll find a book in their answers that will inspire you to write your own book. Or possibly you’ll take the time and read something by the authors themselves and find that spark you’re looking for.

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Zoe E. Whitten

Website http://www.zoewhitten.com/

The first book to make me want to be a writer was Stephen King’s It. His characters were so real, and I wanted to create people just as flawed and believable.

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David Dunwoody

Website http://daviddunwoody.com/

I think I’ve wanted to write since I was 10 or so. Around that time I wrote a story called “The Lost Souls” (recently updated as the novella “Lost Souls” for THE UNDEAD: HEADSHOT QUARTET). At that time I was reading Louis Sachar and Roald Dahl, but I don’t believe they were as much of a direct inspiration as what I wasn’t allowed to read – the King books in my parents’ bookshelf, books my older sister had told me about and at which I sneaked peeks whenever I was home alone. It was more than likely IT that did it for me, as that’s the only one I can recall with clarity. I didn’t read the entire novel until I was in my twenties, and it is one of my favorite books today, if not my #1. As a kid, I think the mystique and taboo of the book was as affecting as what I actually glimpsed in its pages (and what I did glimpse was wonderful and scary and definitely left an impression). Between its title – emblazoned in giant blood-red letters on the hardcover – and the fact I wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near it, the book took on a mythic quality which only drew me more to it and to that genre. I really do have my parents to thank for getting me into writing horror. I don’t think they’d take that too hard.

***

Mark Leslie (Lefebvre)

Website http://markleslie.blogspot.com/

Wow. That’s a tough one. When I first heard the question I thought, oh, cool question – now what book was it for me? And then I realized that I couldn’t be 100% sure. Why? Because I’m pretty sure I wanted to become a writer long before I actually started typing out stories on my typewriter which was in my early teens. Of course, it was many years after when I started sending my stories out to publishers (which is often what I think about when I think about becoming a writer). But to be true to wanting to become a writer, it goes back even earlier than my teen years, it goes back to even before I wrote long prose tales. When I was a boy, I loved to draw cartoons; to tell stories via a combination of words and images. Before that, I remember creating epic adventures with either my Lego figures or my Fisher Price figures, compiling long complex plot adventures that would last weeks in short episodic segments.
And throughout all that time, there were a lot of books I read, many of which likely provided me inspiration to want to tell my own tales, produce my own stories.

So, nailing down a specific single book that inspired me to become a writer is a challenge indeed. I mean, if I go back far enough, it was likely a comic book (likely a poignany story told by Stan Lee about a young outcast teenager with the proportional strength, speed and agility of a spider) that inspired me to want to write my own tales. Later on in my childhood, it might have been one of Lester del Rey’s novels such as Marooned on Mars or Tunnel Through Time. In my early teens, there were books such as George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides that I remember enjoying so much and wanting to write my own post-apocalyptic tale.

And when I first pulled out my Mom’s Underwood typewriter and started seriously hammering out tales, Piers Anthony was a writer whose science fiction and fantasy novels I was avidly consuming. The use of my pseudonym of “Mark Leslie” was derived from reading about how this particular author’s full name was Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob and he simply sliced off the extra names to get a “writer’s handle” that was easier to say and spell.

But in a nutshell, it might seem like a cop-out to the question, but it seems as if books have always inspired me to be a writer – and the books I read today continue to inspire me to write. When I was young and I read a tale that I marvelled at, that tickled my imagination, I would set forth and want to write my own story that would do the same thing for other readers. And when I write today, it’s not without that part of my mind that conjures up the feeling I get when I read a great story or book.

***

Amy Grech

Website http://www.crimsonscreams.com

When I was twelve, an aunt gave me a copy of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. Being at a very impressionable age, I devoured the entire novel in one sitting! King’s haunting portrait of an All-American family facing evil sparked my imagination—that’s when I knew I wanted to become a writer!

***

I’d like to thank all of the writers for taking the time to answer.

I’ll be coming back to this question again. Hopefully you’ll join me for the second half of this part of A Writer’s Journey.

Until next time, keep writing!

SCHOOL BOARD BANS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

I spent Mother’s Day taking a 3 hour drive to drop off flowers at my mother’s grave. For those of you who don’t know, she died of breast cancer. She didn’t have any in her actual breast this time. She did the first time, ten years before her second battle with the deadly disease. The second time around, breast cancer cells had migrated into her brain and lungs. They gave her six months to live and she fought for nearly two years. That was two years ago.

A week after I placed those flowers I’m saddened and angered to find out the school board in Oshawa, Ontario, (the city where we lived) is in essence, banning a breast cancer awareness campaign.

I’m previously from Oshawa, I’ve dealt with the Durham District School Board’s policies as both a student and as the parent of a student. I can’t say it surprised me when I read in this article on MSN  about their decision to ban the “I Love Boobies” bracelets.

Naturally, as a child who lost a parent to breast cancer, I am disgusted with their decision. The reason behind it? I’m sure they’ll give tons of other reasons because that’s the kind of responsible educators these administrators are. I’m sure it falls under their rule about inappropriate words on clothing, which is part of their dress code. This same dress code stipulates that all skirts or shorts must reach below fingertips when standing upright when arms and shoulders are relaxed. Try that test out yourself and you’ll see how short these skirts and shorts are. I have long arms and if this was my guideline for choosing shorts they would barely cover my buttcheeks while standing, never mind bending over.  But the main reason is the word “Boobies”. Yeah, BOOBIES. Not TITS, or KNOCKERS, or  MILK CANS, or any of the numerous other nicknames for our lovable mammary glands. Boobies. Before I was taught to their were called, BREASTS, I was told they were called BOOBIES.

The bracelets also say BREAST on them as part of the breast cancer awareness campaign’s slogan to catch attention and encourage education. Click here to find out more about the campaign. Thanks to The Keep A Breast Foundation, a breast cancer campaign is finally targeting a portion of the populace that is often portrayed as the family of breast cancer victims instead of potential victims themselves. TKABF should be applauded and encouraged instead of stomped on by so-called educators who claim they are looking out for the best interests of their students.

In Canada, supporters of the Public School system often criticize Christian home schoolers for not educating their children on topics of sex and same-sex relationships. Talk about hypocrisy. The I Love Boobies campaign has as much to do with the health of these children as teaching tolerance and understanding of STDs or Homosexuality. Because I’m sure the numbers are nothing like they should be, I want to encourage teens (both female and male) to take part in my polling to find out how many of them are performing self-exams on themselves. Take the poll, click here.  The first time my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was 16. I knew nothing about what breast cancer was, how it was treated or what the survival rate was. I was lucky that my mother was a nurse and was capable of answering my questions. The Durham Highschool I was attending at the time was aware of my mother’s illness and never once was I asked if I wanted to speak to the school counsellor about it or asked if I had any questions. Nothing. When my grades fell from stress and depression, they didn’t ask me why. When I skipped school because I couldn’t cope, they didn’t ask me why. They gave me detention and threatened suspension. That’s how the schools in Durham dealt with these issues a decade ago. I’m not surprised not much has changed.

I’m left wondering, if this campaign existed while I was still in school and my mother had died back then – instead of two years ago — from breast cancer, would they have denied me the right to show my love and support for her, and a campaign aimed at preventing further deaths by wearing at bracelet with the word Boobies on it? Because I’m sure there are teens at Durham high schools who are coping with the recent diagnosis of a loved one and they ARE being denied this right.

I’m sure there are kids wearing these bracelets for negative reasons, but instead of educating them, the Durham Board is punishing children seeking education and showing support for breast cancer sufferers/survivors.

I’m putting out a call to everyone who has been diagnosed with or has a loved one diagnosed with breast cancer, or has lost someone to breast cancer, to contact the Durham Board and protest this decision. I’m posting a template of what I recommend each of you should say in asking them to reverse this decision. Please be polite, respectful but passionate. Don’t damage our efforts by being mean or abusive. That kind of attitude is no better than their banning.

You can write to them at

400 Taunton Road East, Whitby, ON, Canada, L1R 2K6

Or call them at (905) 666-5500 or 1-800-265-3968

Fax them at (905) 666-6474

I also encourage residents of Canada, especially the province of Ontario to write their MPs, MPPs and if you live in Durham Region, your municipal representative, to ask them to make a change to this ban put in place by the Durham Board.

Please take a minute to vote in my poll on breast cancer self-screening.

Let your voice be heard! Since when is “Boobies” a bad word?

Brandon

P.S. Please feel free to add your personal experience with breast cancer to your call or letter to the Durham Board. Let them know why this banning hurts.

Call or Letter template:

Hello, this is (state your name) and I am calling after hearing about the Durham District School Board’s decision to ban The Keep A Breast Foundation bracelets. This decision greatly upsets and disturbs me. I believe you are giving the wrong message to kids about educating themselves about breast cancer. I think the Durham Board of Education should be embracing this campaign and its message instead of shunning it. I’m asking that your administration reconsider this decision and instead use this as an opportunity to set aside class time for discussion and education for both female and male students. This is a time for teaching respect for women and awareness about a disease that affects men and women of all ages. If you choose not to reverse this decision, I would consider it a show of disrespect to the students and families in your district who are affected by breast cancer. I hope you will consider what kind of message you are sending to the children who have lost a mother or father to breast cancer. In banning the “I Love Boobies” bracelets, you are stripping them of the right to grieve and cope by doing something positive about it.

Thank you for your time. It is my hope you will apologize for this misguided decision and do the right thing.

One of the BEST days

What do you say when a writer you have the utmost respect for, that the genre has the utmost respect for, tells you he thinks the first half of your unpublished book is good? Yeah, sure you say “thank you”. Or you can smile like an idiot and jump around like I did. Because I haven’t yet revealed who’s reading the book and since I didn’t ask his permission I can’t give out names or go into too many details (Updated below post). I’m just too damned happy to keep my mouth shut about my excitement. I have spill some of it.

Before I talk about what was said, I want to talk about the author in question. He’s written some of the most innovative horror I’ve ever read. He continually amazes me with each book I read. His fiction has made me laugh, turned my stomach and want to jump in the pages to kick some ass. He’s one of my top favorite horror authors. So any praise from him, means a great deal to me. It’s that validation we’re all looking for. You want to hear from someone who’s been there and still doing it, that you have what it takes too.

He’s not done reading the manuscript yet, and I’ve got fingers crossed his opinion doesn’t turn sour on it before the end, but… seriously, he’s already made my year. The only thing that could top it would be being able to send him a copy of the published book with one of my wishlist of publishers’ names on the spine.

To top off all the great things he said about the book, he made me feel like a writer. There’s always talk about the lonely writer sitting in a dark basement plugging out words nobody is going to read. Well, a lot of days in front of the laptop, I feel like that. Today, I didn’t feel like that. And I probably never will again. Thanks to him. So if you’re one day reading a copy of “A Walk Amongst the Dead”, be sure to drop him a line and tell him thank you again (for me, and you, if you like the book) right after you read his introduction to the book. He’s offered to write one and I want to take him up on that offer, hopefully future publishers will see it my way and put it in.

I rank this one of the best days of my life. So far.

I’m not done writing you know.

*After asking if it was okay to post his name, he said it was okay. I’m very honored to say the author of roughly 60 published books, Grand Master Stoker Award-winning author, who is reading “A Walk Amongst the Dead”, is none other than… Ray Garton! If you don’t know who he is and you’re a fan of Horror, you should be ashamed of yourself. March out or log onto Amazon and buy one of his books today. He writes some of the craziest, scariest, most twisted stuff out there. His book “Lot Lizards” recently went into reprints through e-Reads.com buy a copy HERE It’s a good place to start. Then move onto Live Girls, Bestial, Ravenous, Nightlife, The Loveliest Dead, Dark Channel and many more you’re sure to enjoy them all.

A Chance to Help

Recently through the ongoing #SupportTheLittleGuy campaign I was asked if the campaign could apply to assisting filmmakers. This falls into a gray area for the campaign which is aimed at helping small press publishers and writers gain more exposure. But I took a moment to check it out.

I’m glad I did. Edward Hightower (I’m reposting his comment left in my “About” section below) of Landed Gentry Productions is soliciting the public for funds to back a small film project called, “A Waltz”. There is a link to the video in his comment below. I watched the video, you should too. I’ve seen a few of these videos on kickstart.com and the ones I’ve seen are not as professionally made as this one. It was inspiring and showed the promise this film has in the hands of these independent filmmakers. Unfortunately, there is less than 7 days left to donate money to this project, but I encourage everyone reading this blog to take some time to invest in someone’s future. This is a great opportunity to do something worthwhile, to be able to look back and say “I helped to make this film happen”. They are still close to 2/3 away from their $10,000 goal. Even if you can only donate $1 it helps and you can considerate a Christmas gift to future generations who will benefit from this film being available for their viewing pleasure. Watch the video and see if you aren’t moved to find out more about this story.

Now a few words from Mr. Hightower:

Hello Brandon, Edward Hightower here, actor in and producer (one of three) of A Waltz, which fearofwriting recently shared with you. Here’s a link, to refresh your memory or introduce the project to others: http://kck.st/9DKqbZ We have 7 days to go and really need to get the word out there. This project is created, performed, produced, filmed, edited and whatall-ever-else by entirely local Northern California artists and technicians. Not only does its success fund locally-produced independent film, it also supports local artists and the local economy. Filmmakers are the chasers of unimagined dreams. Help us build a net to catch them.  Thank you, sincerely, Edward Hightower Actor/Producer The Landed Gentry

As writers, we are often inspired by film. This is a way to say “Thank you” for all of those movies that sparked an idea for a story and to ensure that you have more inspiration in your future.

Donate today and #SupportTheLittleGuy

Take care,

Brandon Layng

WE DID IT! Don’t forget the LittleGuy!

Our efforts bore fruit. The Pedophile’s Guide to Love & Pleasure has been pulled from Amazon.com. I’d like to thank Amazon.com for doing what’s right, for listening to their customers as they stood united against this book. I’d still prefer to know that all profits from the book have gone to make reparations to victim support groups. But I’ll leave that up to Amazon.com and the author to make that wise decision.

Now it’s our turn.

We need to remember that a continued boycott of Amazon.com means we’re hurting the people who deserve our support. #SupportTheLittleGuy and return to your regular shopping. Many small press/indie publishers and authors depend on Amazon.com as a way of continuing to provide us with hours of entertainment with their written words. If anything we need to show them now more than ever that we support them. In your anger don’t forget the LittleGuy.

Please buy a book from a small press publisher or author today.

I’ll be removing my previous post later today, because I don’t want people to misled into believing this issue continues in regards to this individual book.

Note: I would like to add, that if you purchased this book, out of curiosity or any other reason, I strongly suggest you consider making a donation to victims of sexual abuse support groups. You should also feel shame. You’ve lined this man’s pockets and shown others that a book like this can make money because of people being morbid. You’ve helped to encourage his cause.

Hold Amazon Accountable for Pedophile Guide!

NOTE: This post was deleted later today. Amazon.com has removed the book and we can all get back to supporting the small press by buying a book today. Please visit http://www.supportthelittleguy.wordpress.com to find out how you can join the Twitter based campaign to help bring more attention to the small press.

Thank you to everyone who took a stand. I’m proud of you.

Brandon Layng

What’s a Happening

 

What’s a happening with Brandon Layng’s writing?

A few good things to report about myself. The launch of #SupportTheLittleGuy E-zine was a success, with positive feedback on the stories and the reviews. The campaign itself is taking off and writers/publishers have gotten back to me with plenty of good news. I’m happy to see it’s helping out so many people. But it is pretty strange being back in the publishing end of things. Read more about the campaign to bring more exposure to the small press publishers and writers, at: http://www.supportthelittleguy.wordpress.com or read the first issue of the e-zine at: http://www.stlgzine.wordpress.com

If you’ve been keeping up with my infrequent postings you know that “The Last Concert” my zombie Apocalypse concert tale has a home at www.talesofworldwarz.com and readers are enjoying it so far. Many comments have labelled the concert in the story, “Deadstock”. Which has brought a smile to my face.

One of my newest written short stories, “Wigging Out” has been accepted for “Made You Flinch: 2 for Flinching” edited by Bill Tucker from Library of Horror Press. It’s a must-read when it comes out, too many great writers in both volumes of the antho to name, but also my story includes some real-life creepy things that happened to me as a kid. Believe me, it freaked me out then and it will freak you out now. I’ll post more once I find out the release information on the anthology.

Speaking of creepy stories in anthologies. Gef Fox who runs a review site called, Wag the Fox ( http://waggingthefox.blogspot.com ) recently reviewed Belfire Press’ Courting Morpheus anthology, which if you recall contains my short story “Can of Worms”. I was very pleased when I saw a mention of my story in the review. Gef calls my little terror tale “stomach-turning horror”. It gives me great pleasure when a reader comes away from my work feeling that way 8)

You can read the rest of the review here: http://waggingthefox.blogspot.com/2010/11/rabid-reads-courting-morpheus-by-jodi.html

What I’m working on now.

“Don’t Know Your Own Strength” is a novella I’m tentatively labelling as Young Adult Horror. I’m never sure how far the horror elements of a story will go and it’s possible that it may become something too mature for highschool aged readers by the time I’m finished. As it stands the story (approx. 13K at the moment) will appeal to both young adults as well as adults. Here’s a brief synopsis:

Quincy Banner considers himself a geek, a comic book nerd, and it doesn’t help that almost everyone else agrees with him. He’s an outcast from the comic book crowd for his love of old horror comics instead of spandex wearing busty super-woman and men. The school jocks consider him easy prey any time they have a bad day and to add to the 1980′s film plot that is his life, he’s in love with the quarterback’s girl. Quincy’s had enough of being saddled with every affliction plaguing a teenager’s chances at popularity when he decides to answer an ad in one of his comic books. Dr. D. Satanica’s wonder pill promises to fix it all. But will they cause more problems than they’re worth when he wakes up in the woods covered in blood?

“Unravelled” another novella, I’ve been writing that pits an amalgamation of all the television mystery men from the ‘70s and ‘80s (from Columbo to Mike Hammer) against an ancient Egyptian mystery revived in our modern day. I’m having a helluva fun time writing the character, Det. Harry Brakes, a divorced, too smart for his own good, alcoholic, cop with a knack for solving the tough stuff. The only thing that’s been holding back this story has been a lack of communication from a local museum I was hoping could help me with research. I may have to resort to contacting a few other museums instead.

“Orphan Mary” I’ve been working at this one piece by piece since the story appeared on www.talesofworldwarz.com More often than not, Tales of the Zombie War gets sent my undead tales – with the exception of “Princess” which appeared in the Undead Special Edition of Morpheus Tales Magazine – and this one received a lot of response from readers wanting to know more about my Typhoid Mary-like character who was responsible for spreading the zombie plague. She’s just a little girl wishing for a family and she has a story to be told, so I’m trying to tell it.

“Life Sentence” which is another Tales of the Zombie War e-zine story has received the most responses by readers for one of my stories on the site. I asked readers when it originally was published to give it a read and let me know if they wanted more. And they did. The account of an inmate trapped in a super jail written between the lines in an Ernest Hemingway novel caught people’s interest and they asked to be told what happened after his cellmate re-animated into one of the “Rhinos” (a thick-skinned zombie controlled by a mutated strain of the cold-causing virus). “Life Sentence” is not a novella like the others I’ve mention but is a shorter novel at this point. I’ve continued to work hard on it as the story builds but it has been slow going. I’m hoping to have the first draft finished by early 2011.

“Angel’s Crossing” my debut novel, which has been sponsored as a newsletter exclusive e-serial from Graveside Tales Publishing is now in its 7^th instalment. We’re into Part Two now. Readers have met “The Writer” in his lonely library office, writing the world into being. They’ve been introduced to the bloody lust of the Bedroom Slasher, a serial killer stalking the bedrooms of Forest Hills’ female population. Raphael and Eddie Raleigh had a vivid, savage meeting at the Gas King gas station out on the highway before the angel left the gas station attendant a shocking surprise at home while he went off to watch a concert starring the paraplegic trumpet player, Gabriel Cruise. The sky opened up all of its fury and Michael Howe burned in its fiery column, while Uriel tended to an old widow’s horses with his dog, Judas. In the most recent instalment the reader discovers the true nature of the Bedroom Slasher and what his presence may mean for the little logging town of Forest Hills. Don’t miss out on any more instalments, sign up for The GRAVESIDER newsletter today at http://www.gravesidetales.com If you’re already reading the book and you’re enjoying it, why not tell a friend to subscribe so they can get their free read too? I’d greatly appreciate it. Coming soon to my website will be an audio commentary on the book. I’ll be talking about the process of writing along with what inspired certain scenes. Keep an eye out for it.

“Movie Night” & “5 Perspectives on an Artificial Baby Toy” PDFs are still available to my followers on Twitter. If you’re not already following me on Twitter, why not start today? DM me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the first PDF as a free gift to say, thank you for following me. If you tell a friend about me and they DM me your Twitter screen name, I’ll send you a copy of the second PDF. “Movie Night” originally appeared in Darkened Horizons: Halloween Special Edition and is an homage to 80s slasher flicks like A Nightmare on Elm St.. “5 Perspectives on an Artificial Baby Toy” is a never-before, never-will be published novelette reserved as a special thank you gift for promotions. The only way you can ever read it is by taking advantage of times like this. The story takes place in a future where the world’s trees have been wiped out by biological warfare and the surviving population lives in super-cities with oxygen machines. The way of the world hasn’t been altered by the struggle to survive; elitism and commercialism have reached new depths in depravity. Follow me on Twitter today for your chance to receive these terrific reads, http://www.twitter.com/BrandonLayng

CHAT — I’ll be hosting another chat again soon. An announcement will be made on here, my site and over at Twitter. Watch for it and come join me. We’ll talk about Angel’s Crossing, #SupportTheLittleGuy and Horror movies/books in general. It’ll be a good time had by all.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Brandon on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/BrandonLayng

“The Last Concert” http://www.talesofworldwarz.com/stories/2010/10/01/the-last-concert-by-brandon-layng/ 

“Orphan Mary” http://www.talesofworldwarz.com/stories/2008/11/08/orphan-mary-by-brandon-layng/ 

“Life Sentence” http://www.talesofworldwarz.com/stories/2008/05/02/life-sentence-by-brandon-layng/ 

Angel’s Crossing/The GRAVESIDER http://gravesidetales.com/gravesider/?p=subscribe&id=1 

#SupportTheLittleGuy HQ http://www.supportthelittleguy.wordpress.com

#SupportTheLittleGuy E-zine http://www.stlgzine.wordpress.com