This Myspace page is now....
Current mood: artistic
Category: Blogging

Some have asked why I've changed my page, stripping off most of the references to my writing projects.  With the recent acquisition of a literary agent and our writing partnership solidified, Vicky Knerly and I will establish a joint Myspace page to feature our writing projections. Thus this Myspace page will now become my personal page with very little reference to our novels.

For those of you interested in our new page, once it's created I'll post a blog with the link.

As always, thanks for your friendship and support.

Gary

1:40 PM - 7 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

In shock
Current mood: rockin
Category: Sports

As a writer, I should never be left speechless. But I'm still in a bit of shock after yesterday.  My writing partner, Vicky Knerly, and I had a conference call with a literary agent who reviewed our manuscript, "Half-Red Skull." (I had previously self-published the novel last year, but Vicky helped me rewrite it to tighten the storyline and, therefore, she's now the co-author.)

Well...let me just cut and paste what Vicky said in her blog on the subject.  I couldn't have said it any better. lol

________________________________________________

(Excerpt from Vicky's blog.  You can find her in my Top Friends.)

I can't tell you how excited I am right now! I haven't put anything about this on my MySpace profile, because I felt like it might somehow jinx us. I've partnered with author Gary Williams in Jacksonville (see "Gary Williams (author)" in MySpace or link to him through my Top Friends) to write novels. It's been a great association so far, since he's the creative evil genius, and I'm the grammar Nazi! We started soliciting agents for our first manuscript, Half-Red Skull, late in 2007. We had a bunch of nibbles and two requests for the full manuscript and then it sorta fizzled. So we started to rewrite one of Gary's older novels that he had self-published. We changed the name and had just recently solicited agents for that as well, when one of the agents who had requested Half-Red Skull got back to us! We had a teleconference with her this afternoon, and she wants to represent us. WOOHOO!

The agent is fairly young, but the agency she works for has Nicholas Sparks and Debbie Macomber (among others) as clients, so they're definitely a reputable firm. They're based in NYC, and they look for long-term relationships, so we're hoping this will work into a lifetime thing for us. She wanted to send us some suggested changes along with the contract, and once the changes are made and we're all happy that it's a killer novel, then she'll bring it to publishers. She said it could take up to 2 years from the time we sign the contract until the book actually hits the stores, but that includes editing time and "hype" time to get the public interested before it comes out.

They also have ties to studios in L.A. (you might have seen Nicholas Sparks' movies The Notebook and Message in a Bottle that were based on his books), so who knows? If any of our books are successful, we might just have movies eventually, too!

She also asked for a copy of our second manuscript as well. That one is the first of a trilogy, so that could be our next project after Half-Red Skull is published.

10:46 AM - 36 Comments - 61 Kudos - Add Comment

You shouldn’t miss this
Current mood: excited
Category: Parties and Nightlife

To my friends in Northeast Florida, please see the announcement below from Mark Frank (with Jacksonville Florida band, "Big Al & the Kaholics.").  It's going to be a great event and I plan to be there as well:
____________________________________________

What do you get when you combine one of the most prestigous professional golf tournaments (the TPC) with an OFF THE CHAIN PARTY and CHARITABLE DONATION?

You get the 7^th ANNUAL PLAID PARTY FEATURING BIG AL & THE KAHOLICS TO BENEFIT CYSTIC FIBROSIS!!

When:  This Friday, May 9, 2008

Time:  9pm-2am

Where:  Fast Boys Pierside (Beach Blvd on the Intercoastal, formerly Club H2O and Tsunami's)

Drinks:  All you can drink for $20 (with advance ticket purchase) or $30 at the door.
 
This party is unreal.  People dress up in plaid (hence the party name) – wear your most obnoxious plaid pants, or sexy school girl plaid skirts, or go with the golf knickers, whatever works for you.  To see more info, including photos, go to www.myspace.com/plaidparty.

HOW DO YOU BUY TICKETS?

1.      Best option is to buy them in advance from Big Al & the Kaholics.  But those are running out FAST!!  We only have 19 tickets remaining.  These are at the "Advance" price of $20.  And again, this party is ALL YOU CAN DRINK.  To secure any of these remaining tickets, email Mark from Big Al at the following email address:  musicmark1@comcast.net and put Plaid Party in the Subject line.  State how many tickets you want and put your phone number.  Mark will call back in the order the emails are received….first come first served…and arrange for you to pick up tickets this week in advance by Thursday afternoon.  Once tickets are sold out, Mark will reply to remaining emails that the tickets are gone.

2.       If you miss out on the advance purchase, you can buy tickets at the door for $30.

Do not wait, do not hesitate, do not pass GO.  Email your ticket request now.  This is hopefully the beginning of a new Big Al TPC tradition!!

5:32 PM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

The new novel
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Writing and Poetry

Okay, this is amusing.  Thanks to Leigha Fox for sharing some Stewie dialogue regarding the "new novel."

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=3284363

7:24 PM - 6 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

My apologies
Current mood: artistic
Category: MySpace

Sorry for being an invisible Myspace friend over the last eight weeks or so.  I once wrote a blog about "Time" and people who say that they "have no time" for this or that. My point in the blog was that people make time to do what they want, and take time away from other activities. I’ve been working on an implementation at my corporate day-job while simultaneously soliciting literary agents and constructing the storyline to the next novel.  I chose to focus my time on those activities, knowing that it would be limited and that I would be able to return to Myspace by late March or April.  Well, things have finally slowed marginally, so I’m back.  (Although I can hear some people booing. lol.)

So to my friends, again, sorry I’ve been out of touch.  It was an active decision to spend less time on Myspace and focus on other activities.  In retrospect, I probably should have put up a blog announcing my temporary absence. (I think some people thought that I’s passed away and that my signature on "Fish of Souls" might actually be worth something now.)

One more thing. An interesting turn in my writing carrer happened in late January when I formed a writing partnership with Vicky Knerly of Georgia.  Most of you know that I’m a fan of Preston & Child.  Now you’re going to get Williams & Knerly in 2009.  (Or Knerly and Williams. We’ll let our attorneys figure that out. lol). In any event, I’m very excited to be working with Vicky.  You can find her in my Top Friends.

Oh, just started reading the Douglas Preston novel, Blasphemy.  Great opening chapter. Hope the rest of the novel is as good.

Gary

P.S.  Happy Easter to those of you it applies.

7:50 AM - 15 Comments - 23 Kudos - Add Comment

Living life legally
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

My son Josh turned 21 today.  He's in my Top Friends as "Jay."  (He's playing pool in the picture.)  Feel free to send him a Happy Birthday e-mail.

Gary

4:10 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

The Good, the Bad and the Hokey
Current mood: silly
Category: Writing and Poetry

Most authors are quick to share glowing reviews of their work. Those comforting words by a third-party that praise and then compare the writing style to some established literary Icon.

But in truth, over the course of a career, every author will get critiqued harshly for something they write. It's inevitable. A simple fact that somebody will find fault with what you've penned. Sometimes it's punishing, even cruel. Other times, it's minor comments. For a writer, there should be no shame in it. Accepting and acting upon constructive criticism is what propels us as humans to become better at whatever endeavor we pursue. The best someone can hope for is that the praise outweighs the incoming tomatoes. And you must always remember that a review is a personal expression. A solitary view. Not a consortium of opinions.

As most people know, I'm a fan of the New York Times bestselling co-author team of Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. Yet even these guys received critical feedback that is, in some cases, downright nasty. So what do they do with them? Well, they don't sweep them under the rug. Instead, they created a "Rogue's Page" on their web site. Something few authors would dare do. On the page, they list some of the harshest comments they've received from reviewers. (Of course they responded to the comments with their own witty, even whimsical, remarks.)

So without further ado, below is a recent review for my first book, "Fish of Souls." (Two months ago I published my fourth novel.)  While the reviewer rated "Fish of Souls" three stars out of five (which I suppose qualifies as average), it is not a "glowing" review. But in the interest of disclosure, and in sharing the good reviews with the not-so-good reviews, here it is:

Review of "Fish of Souls"

There is something ancient hidden on the Florida Peninsula: the strangely preserved skeleton of a prehistoric-looking fish. The fish was once a tool of God but has given itself entirely to evil; in the wrong hands, it can cause unimaginable terror. Unfortunately, it has been found, and although it holds tremendous power, it is at first unclear what. Longtime friends Scott and Curt have come upon the skeleton after researching a 400-year-old manuscript. Unsure of what they have found, they soon discover that they may be responsible for recent unsolved murders. Only after it is too late do they realize the evil they have unleashed. With a hurricane the likes of which Florida has never seen approaching, Scott and Curt must fight to contain the evil and save those they love. Fish of Souls is the first in a series by Gary Williams.

A summary of the plot makes Fish of Souls sound like an original voice in the horror genre – and, for the most part, it is a novel idea (forgive the pun). But the details turn the idea into something more like a made-for-television movie: entertaining, but a bit overdramatic and hokey at times. At times it appears that Gary Williams is trying too hard.

Still, for a debut novel and one that was the product of the publish-on-demand market, it is not a bad effort. Williams does an admirable job at creating a good backstory with ties to Christianity, though the ties may be too strong at times for those who do not avow Christian belief. The action is also described with decent ability and the dialogue is adequate, although again sometimes hokey.

Overall, Fish of Souls comes out decently. The prospective reader should be prepared to put a bit more work into it than may be desirable as the page count climbs over four hundred. Also, be aware that it is the first in a series, though excluding the last paragraph or two it works quite well as a stand-alone novel. All told, the reader who finds the story intriguing, is looking for a lighthearted read, and is willing to overlook the novel's weaknesses might want to take a look at Fish of Souls .

Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Matt Eskesen, 2008

To which I respond: That's the first time I've been accused of trying "too hard."  And by the way, Matt, three-point deduction for using the word "hokey" more than once.

Gotta love reviewers.

Gary

2:41 PM - 38 Comments - 38 Kudos - Add Comment

Tonight’s 4 winners!
Current mood: imaginative
Category: Blogging

Congratulations to tonight's contest winners. Christean, Dan, Pearl and Geri have each won an autographed copy of my latest novel, "Half-Red Skull."

Happy Holidays!

Gary Williams

P.S. Join me again next December when I'll hold the 3rd Annual Autographed Novel Give-A-Way.

7:34 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Contest is on!
Current mood: exanimate
Category: Writing and Poetry

Okay, let the contest begin to win signed copies of "Half-Red Skull"!  I'm giving away 4 tonight!

Pick either the first or second set of 3 questions below to respond to. (Note: there will be a total of three Myspace friends who will win tonight!)

_________________________________________

You'll find the answers to the questions immediately below on my Myspace page. The first two people to e-mail me at Myspace with all three correct answers wins.

1)  In what year did Osceola die in prison?

2)  Besides the 3 Myspace pages that I set up for my novels, what fictitious character is on my Top Friends?

3)  What was my minor when I attended the University of North Florida?

 ___________________________________________________

Or, for those of you who have read, "Fish of Souls," the first two people who e-mail me at Myspace with all three correct answers to the questions below will also be winners.

1)  What University did Professor Marvin Sellon graduate from?

2)  Where does Charlie Tatterhorn work?

3)  Robert Bruin is an alias. What is the man's real name?

Remember, you must e-mail your answers to my Myspace e-mail. As I get the winners, I will post messages in my "Friend Status" and a blog when I have all 4 winners.

Good Luck!

Gary Williams

7:00 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Tonight is your last chance
Current mood: focused
Category: Life

Tonight at 10 p.m. ET (USA) is the last signed novel give-a-way. Please note that there are two changes to tonight's contest.

1)  Since I have a brand new web site being installed (and not all the links are working yet), I will be asking questions from the content on Myspace page instead of my web site.

2)  I'm awarding signed copies of "Half-Red Skull" to two winners in each category. (2 for answering the Myspace content questions and 2 for answering questions from "Fish of Souls.")

As always, I will post the blog with the two sets of questions promptly at 10 p.m.  You choose which to answer. Remember, Myspace tends to lag posting blogs and I've noticed that if you're a blog reader of mine, you tend to be able to access the blog with the questions sooner.

Good luck to everyone who plays!

Gary Williams

One more thing: Blogs are not posting timely on my page. Therefore at 10 pm ET, I will post the questions on a blog and in a bulletin. Good luck!

2:04 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment