Now on to authors I've actually had the pleasure to talk to myself. Starting with:
Phil Whitley:
How many of us had our favorite storyteller? Everytime they came around we would beg and plead for them to tell us a story. That is Phil Whitley. He told his stories for many years. Only orally though, he felt that he was unqualified to write them down. Then at the age of 50, Phil’s daughter was born. He was afraid that all those family stories would be lost by the time she would be able to enjoy them. He wrote a story that he called ‘Stories From My Childhood’. He still was unsure about his abilities, nevertheless Phil would send his stories online for his friends to enjoy. They enjoyed them so much that they finally convinced Phil that he should submit them to be published. Now we can all enjoy this fine storyteller. I suggest checking out the beautiful illustrations and learn more about his book at his website. www.PhilWhitley.com
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
King and Leroux
Today my topic is Stephen King and Gaston Leroux. Many have heard of the first one, but what about the second?
Leroux started out writing as a theatre critic. Then he became a journalist, however he loved the writing of ones like Poe, Dumas, and Doyle. He decided to write his own thrillers. They were very successful. One was entitled The Mystery of The Yellow Room. It was one of the first 'locked-room' mysteries. His most famous title though seems to fade out his name with another, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Leroux was the original author of 'The Phantom of The Opera.' Contrary to my other authors who have since died, his death was more of the normal variety. Unfortunately, he lived high of the high life and because of it he died from it.
Stephen King
He started out writing to help pay off his school loans. He wrote short stories for mens magazines. His first professional one was 'The Glass Floor' written for Starting Mystery Stories. He soon started his teaching job and continued to write short stories on the weekend. His first novel, Carrie, was accepted in the springtime. The rest is history.
I hope that I've been able to express my thoughts. It doesn't matter where an author gets their start. Talent comes from all sources.
Next time, I'll be starting my series on Publish America authors. I believe that they are extremely talented and people need to hear more about them. I'll be starting with Phil Whitley. Hope to see you then.
Leroux started out writing as a theatre critic. Then he became a journalist, however he loved the writing of ones like Poe, Dumas, and Doyle. He decided to write his own thrillers. They were very successful. One was entitled The Mystery of The Yellow Room. It was one of the first 'locked-room' mysteries. His most famous title though seems to fade out his name with another, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Leroux was the original author of 'The Phantom of The Opera.' Contrary to my other authors who have since died, his death was more of the normal variety. Unfortunately, he lived high of the high life and because of it he died from it.
Stephen King
He started out writing to help pay off his school loans. He wrote short stories for mens magazines. His first professional one was 'The Glass Floor' written for Starting Mystery Stories. He soon started his teaching job and continued to write short stories on the weekend. His first novel, Carrie, was accepted in the springtime. The rest is history.
I hope that I've been able to express my thoughts. It doesn't matter where an author gets their start. Talent comes from all sources.
Next time, I'll be starting my series on Publish America authors. I believe that they are extremely talented and people need to hear more about them. I'll be starting with Phil Whitley. Hope to see you then.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe
Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe
Tonight on my list of authors is Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
I'll begin with Hemingway. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. He started working on his high school newspaper. Being denied by his father to join the army during the first World War, he became a journalist for Kansas City Star. He wrote many things and is very well known. However, he never seemed to find contentment.
Speaking of the discontented, Edgar Allen Poe. He's as much a mystery today as when he was alive. Many scholars disagree to what his life was really like. He started writing poetry, but his first book of poems was never published. We still quote his poetry today. He's still extremely well-known.
What's very sad about both of these extremely talented men is that they both were so unsatisfied with their life. There is a certain morbid theme here. It is completely by accident. However, the three authors that are no longer alive, all have adnormal deaths. Stay tune next time for Gaston Leroux and Stephen King.
Thank you to the following websites for the information I used:
http://www.eapoe.org/, http://www.ernest.hemingway.com/, http://www.jkrowling.com/
Agatha Christie from her Autobiography
Tonight on my list of authors is Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
I'll begin with Hemingway. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a writer. He started working on his high school newspaper. Being denied by his father to join the army during the first World War, he became a journalist for Kansas City Star. He wrote many things and is very well known. However, he never seemed to find contentment.
Speaking of the discontented, Edgar Allen Poe. He's as much a mystery today as when he was alive. Many scholars disagree to what his life was really like. He started writing poetry, but his first book of poems was never published. We still quote his poetry today. He's still extremely well-known.
What's very sad about both of these extremely talented men is that they both were so unsatisfied with their life. There is a certain morbid theme here. It is completely by accident. However, the three authors that are no longer alive, all have adnormal deaths. Stay tune next time for Gaston Leroux and Stephen King.
Thank you to the following websites for the information I used:
http://www.eapoe.org/, http://www.ernest.hemingway.com/, http://www.jkrowling.com/
Agatha Christie from her Autobiography
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Where were they before...
Why did they start writing?
After reading on a message board many conflicting views on what constitutes a good author. Where do they come from these author who are renowned? Many different places it turns out. I decided to find out for myself by researching some of them online. Most of the information I got came from websites either written by them or for them by researchers. Except for my first one, I read her autobiography.
Agatha Christie started to write her first book during WWI. She started to think it out while working in the Pharmacy department. When she finished, she sent it to many different publishers. No one excepted it. One day, her husband showed it to a friend who had connections to a publisher. She continued with her war effort until the end of the war. 2 years later, she received a letter from a publisher telling her they would except her book. She completely forgot she wrote a book. Now, she is known as one of the best mystery writers ever.
To stick with the women:
J K Rowlings
Author of the Harry Potter series. She is probably one of the top selling authors today, if not top. Where was she when she wrote her first Harry Potter book? She was a single-mom. She wrote every chance she could. Sometimes, she could only find a quiet spot at a coffee-shop. During the day, she worked as a teacher. But when it was done, many publishers were jumping at the chance to publish her book, right? Nope, she sent it in many times and faced many rejections. I bet they are kicking themselves now though.
That is all for now. Stay tuned for my next blog. The authors I will be highlighting will be two famous men. Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
After reading on a message board many conflicting views on what constitutes a good author. Where do they come from these author who are renowned? Many different places it turns out. I decided to find out for myself by researching some of them online. Most of the information I got came from websites either written by them or for them by researchers. Except for my first one, I read her autobiography.
Agatha Christie started to write her first book during WWI. She started to think it out while working in the Pharmacy department. When she finished, she sent it to many different publishers. No one excepted it. One day, her husband showed it to a friend who had connections to a publisher. She continued with her war effort until the end of the war. 2 years later, she received a letter from a publisher telling her they would except her book. She completely forgot she wrote a book. Now, she is known as one of the best mystery writers ever.
To stick with the women:
J K Rowlings
Author of the Harry Potter series. She is probably one of the top selling authors today, if not top. Where was she when she wrote her first Harry Potter book? She was a single-mom. She wrote every chance she could. Sometimes, she could only find a quiet spot at a coffee-shop. During the day, she worked as a teacher. But when it was done, many publishers were jumping at the chance to publish her book, right? Nope, she sent it in many times and faced many rejections. I bet they are kicking themselves now though.
That is all for now. Stay tuned for my next blog. The authors I will be highlighting will be two famous men. Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe.
My goal for my blog
My goal is to write everyday. Some days are easier than others. I decided I'm going to use my blog for my blank canvas, sort to speak. I'm going to try to write short articles or little bits of information. Possibly not everyday, but as much as possible. The only way to become a better writer is the same as everything else. Practice, Practice, Practice. If anyone has any suggestions, please leave me a message. I've already started in the blog after this. Please read on!
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