I’m pleased that Fictionwise is now carrying Cruising the Green of Second Avenue in addition to Wild Child Publishing. Thanks, Faith, for keeping the ball rolling.
Look for it at www.fictionwise.com. Simply key the title into the search engine at the top left of the site. You’ll even find an excerpt from “Frank Cassidy and the Canarsie Chick.” By the way, someone has figured out the book takes 100-141 minutes to read. Christmas is coming. Make a reader happy with a gift, and an author happy with a royalty.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Magic of Childhood
I left a mistaken impression on my blogsite recently that Written Word Magazine (http://www.writtenwordmag.com/) was nearing defunction. It’s very much alive, but its Web site was functioning oddly on my PC. I’d wait interminably, wanting to go out for a long walk or a short beer, until the graphics loaded. But—huzzah!—there in its archived June 2008 issue was “The Wishing Pool.”
This has been one of my favorite stories, written in January of ’06. Why? My childhood days were ominous, filled with omens, portents and symbols. The child matures when the signs come together. I put together a few of these signs and secret codes in “The Wishing Pool.” I’m happy, not only for the sale, but because the youngsters in the story nibbled at my heart. Perhaps I once was “Otto,” making bets on when the first snowfall would close school and wondering when my father would come home from his business travels.
My own childhood days in a small Oregon town were filled with tokens as powerful as having a Lone Ranger pistol ring. They were as mysterious as the X-ray machine at the shoe store where we watched our toes wiggle while the salesman sought out our Buster Browns. We believed in 1947 that the dead cat we found in the bushes had died violently. Why else would its mouth have turned into that horrible rictus? It was poisoned—and this was our nexus of fear: To touch it would be death for us too.
We were in awe of tramps, like the one who reputedly lived in the willow grove by the Northern Pacific tracks and carried a shotgun loaded with bacon rind. Yes, bacon rind, my brother, Chuck, explained: This was so he wouldn’t actually kill you when you were shot for intruding. We knew tramps left secret messages on our houses, messages hidden so carefully that only other gypsy tramp initiates could tell whether this house or that one would offer a welcome.
Every event, every glance, every crack in the sidewalk was filled with meaning. Dogma was established by my friends in second grade. “If you step on a crack, you’ll break your mother’s back.” And, there was World War II revisionism, “No, no, if you step on a crack you’ll break Tojo’s back!” And each of us guaranteed a little good luck by stamping on a Lucky Strike pack.
Oh, and in regard to “The Wishing Pool,” sometimes kids know everything and understand very little. You know this. You were a kid once, weren’t you?
This has been one of my favorite stories, written in January of ’06. Why? My childhood days were ominous, filled with omens, portents and symbols. The child matures when the signs come together. I put together a few of these signs and secret codes in “The Wishing Pool.” I’m happy, not only for the sale, but because the youngsters in the story nibbled at my heart. Perhaps I once was “Otto,” making bets on when the first snowfall would close school and wondering when my father would come home from his business travels.
My own childhood days in a small Oregon town were filled with tokens as powerful as having a Lone Ranger pistol ring. They were as mysterious as the X-ray machine at the shoe store where we watched our toes wiggle while the salesman sought out our Buster Browns. We believed in 1947 that the dead cat we found in the bushes had died violently. Why else would its mouth have turned into that horrible rictus? It was poisoned—and this was our nexus of fear: To touch it would be death for us too.
We were in awe of tramps, like the one who reputedly lived in the willow grove by the Northern Pacific tracks and carried a shotgun loaded with bacon rind. Yes, bacon rind, my brother, Chuck, explained: This was so he wouldn’t actually kill you when you were shot for intruding. We knew tramps left secret messages on our houses, messages hidden so carefully that only other gypsy tramp initiates could tell whether this house or that one would offer a welcome.
Every event, every glance, every crack in the sidewalk was filled with meaning. Dogma was established by my friends in second grade. “If you step on a crack, you’ll break your mother’s back.” And, there was World War II revisionism, “No, no, if you step on a crack you’ll break Tojo’s back!” And each of us guaranteed a little good luck by stamping on a Lucky Strike pack.
Oh, and in regard to “The Wishing Pool,” sometimes kids know everything and understand very little. You know this. You were a kid once, weren’t you?
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A Nice Review of Cruising
Coffee Time Romance has just given Cruising the Green of Second Avenue a nice “three cups” review. They say, “The life and times of Jake is [sic] once again fodder for a fascinating look into bachelorhood in the ‘60s. New York City is at the heart of it all for Jake and his friends. Their stories prove that at some point we all need to grow up and move on. Their roaring twenties have up and gone, and now Jake is finally ready to be an adult. But did he wait too long to realize that there can be life beyond the Big Apple? The quick wit and humor are back with this second installment, and worth the read.
Read it all at http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Cruisingthegreenofsecondavenue.html --and then buy a copy at http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/content/view/426/125/. Help support a writer who needs periodic maintenance and accolades.
Read it all at http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Cruisingthegreenofsecondavenue.html --and then buy a copy at http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/content/view/426/125/. Help support a writer who needs periodic maintenance and accolades.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Introduction
Hello everyone, I would like to introduce myself to the Wild Child Publishing family. My name is Christopher Tran and my debut novel Tiffany's Twisted will soon be coming out. Working with M.E. Ellis, fellow author and my editor, has taught me alot about the writing craft. Her wisdom and efficiency were invaluable. I am a 25 year old novelist, and write in the suspense/thriller genre. Thank you for the invite to your wonderful team. I appreciate all you have done for me.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Nigh Spring and Full Worm waxing
Two days until the Vernal Equinox (Mun Geri) and also the Full Worm Moon. The fogs are heavy and deep. 'Tis Werewolf Weather -Beware!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
CONTEST WINNER- BRANDY
The answer is: The symbol appears on the cover of Santana Abraxas on the left hand of the Red Demon.
I'm hoping Brandy will enjoy the novel and maybe write a review.
Stay well, all
Ron Scala
(between Moons)
Friday, February 29, 2008
CONTEST for BECKONED
The Contest for a free download of “Beckoned” has not been won after a month. I am willing to give the following additional clues. With a little sleuthing, this should now be easy. I think you will find it worth the effort. Beckoned is a horror novel with both a touch of romance and some deep historical elements. I think you will enjoy it.
When you have the answer, please email me at ronaldscala@gmail.com
BUT NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY 29 -Ron
Question: Where did I get the symbol that appears on the cover of “Beckoned”?
Clues:
- Check http://ronaldscala.blogspot.com/ for a better view of both the original image and the book cover
- Released @September 1970 (not 1969 or 1971)
- LP album
- Left hand (you may need a spy glass)
- http://www.oldielyrics.com/s.html
-
Ron Scala
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Submit 3 to 5 poems in the BODY of an email. Tell me a little about yourself and any prior publications you may have. Also, tell me what the basic theme is for your collection. Is it love poems? A mix of things? Poetry about life? The seasons?
If I like what I read, I will request the full collection.
Note: no ISBNs will be given for poetry. Collections will be in e-book format only.
This is great exposure for poets. WCP is growing fast and many big names watch our titles.
Send submissions and/or questions to editorfaith @ sbcglobal.net (close the spaces)
www.wildchildpublishing.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Full Snow Moon plus
Hi,
February 20: Tonight is Full Snow Moon AND a lunar eclipse. Don’t miss it. Be careful of the werewolves though. I’m OK. Yukon is half wolf so they leave me alone.
ron
Monday, February 18, 2008
New Here
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Stan Grimes. I recently had my sci-fi novel, "The Sound" published by WCP. I am happy to be a member of Wild Child Publishing authors' group. I think I have a great deal to learn about writing and publishing, etc. So, I will listen and watch the new posts and hopefully learn something from such a great group of writers. I have read some of your works and must say I am impressed with such great talent.
Here's to you all (I just finished a Budweiser on your behalf).
Stan
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Stan Grimes. I recently had my sci-fi novel, "The Sound" published by WCP. I am happy to be a member of Wild Child Publishing authors' group. I think I have a great deal to learn about writing and publishing, etc. So, I will listen and watch the new posts and hopefully learn something from such a great group of writers. I have read some of your works and must say I am impressed with such great talent.
Here's to you all (I just finished a Budweiser on your behalf).
Stan
Friday, February 8, 2008
New Clues for contest "Beckoned"
Hi,
I haven’t received a real good response from the contest for free download of “Beckoned” so I wanted to give a few more clues. It probably is a little tough without help. Here goes.
Question: Where did I get the symbol that appears on the cover of “Beckoned”?
Clues:
- Check http://ronaldscala.blogspot.com/ for a better view of both the original image and the book cover
- Released @September 1970
- LP album
- Left hand
Ron ScalaPublish Post
Saturday, January 26, 2008
CONTEST for free book
CONTEST for FREE Download
I am offering contest to win a free PDF download of my newly released horror novel, “Beckoned”. It is open to everyone. To win, you need only send to me on one of the following sites the answer to this question.
Where did I get the symbol that appears on the cover of “Beckoned”? I’ll even give you two hints
(1) an unaltered image of the original symbol can be seen on, http://ronaldscala.blogspot.com/
(2) Released September 1970
If you think you have the answer, send it to me at the Blog or to my email address ronaldscala@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Art Imitating Reality—or Vice Versa?
A feature in today’s New York Times reported overweight people are resisting entreaties to become rail-thin. “Blogs written by fat people—and it’s fine to use the word, they say—have multiplied in recent months, filling a virtual soapbox known as the fatosphere.” The bloggers (Kate Harding’s Shapely Prose at www.kateharding.net has 3,710 hits per day) resist the notion that a St. Bernard has to become a greyhound.
Hurray! “Laura Lard Takes No Prisoners,” one of my stories in Cruising the Green of Second Avenue (published by Wild Child, of course) has our eponymous heroine telling a waitress, “[Salad] is not the food of my people. Where I come from, a decent meal should be heavy enough to hold down a circus tent in a hurricane.” She has enough confidence in her image to make the cosmetics sales ladies at Bloomingdales wet their panties.
I’m a skinny guy, so maybe my opinions don’t count. Laura’s story line, however, is that her being fat is an attribute, and she defends it by doing an Elliott Ness against the Prejudice Mafia. Writing this, a part of me expressed a strong belief that public sentiment wants to remake the obese, corpulent, oleaginous, turgid, stout and plump minority into the size, shape and silhouette of the chosen. Health and science demands it, the evangelists say.
That scares me. It’s just a matter of time until I become a target because I’m a casual smoker, whiskey drinker, book reader, fiscal conservative and social liberal. Oh—wait a minute! I already am a target! Beware the Prejudice Mafia. They’re watching you.
Hurray! “Laura Lard Takes No Prisoners,” one of my stories in Cruising the Green of Second Avenue (published by Wild Child, of course) has our eponymous heroine telling a waitress, “[Salad] is not the food of my people. Where I come from, a decent meal should be heavy enough to hold down a circus tent in a hurricane.” She has enough confidence in her image to make the cosmetics sales ladies at Bloomingdales wet their panties.
I’m a skinny guy, so maybe my opinions don’t count. Laura’s story line, however, is that her being fat is an attribute, and she defends it by doing an Elliott Ness against the Prejudice Mafia. Writing this, a part of me expressed a strong belief that public sentiment wants to remake the obese, corpulent, oleaginous, turgid, stout and plump minority into the size, shape and silhouette of the chosen. Health and science demands it, the evangelists say.
That scares me. It’s just a matter of time until I become a target because I’m a casual smoker, whiskey drinker, book reader, fiscal conservative and social liberal. Oh—wait a minute! I already am a target! Beware the Prejudice Mafia. They’re watching you.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Full Moon at Midnight
Amazing night. I went outside around midnight. Waxing toward Full Wolf, the moon illuminated the backyard, the trails and the woods and cast deep shadows. Already below 10 degrees, I wanted to check on my dogs, Yukon, who is half wolf, and Kato, my Husky. Though the near-full moon was bright, I could see brilliant stars, even next to it. The air was crisp and fiercely cold and the ground rock solid. The crust of snow crunched beneath my boots and I imagined this might be what it would be like on one of the moons of Jupiter; cold, sterile, brutally beautiful. Everything was so still, like the cold had frozen even time. Amazing.
Friday, January 18, 2008
G'morning from Cambridge (Mass., not U.K.)
As the new guy on the block--er, blog--let me say hello. Recent fiction credits include “Call Him Lucky” in the April 2007 issue of Northwoods Journal, “Big Willa and a Push Toward the Edge” published by Lunch Hours Stories in July 2007, “Not My Wife” in the September ‘07 issue of Mouth Full of Bullets , and "Dreaded Conversation " in the Oct. 15 issue of Every Day Fiction. Upcoming issues of MFOB, EDF, Written Word and Bewildering Stories will also carry my short fiction. I didn't pay attention in history class, so have tried to regain an education by writing for Military History Online, Copperfield Review, Whim’s Place and other print and online venues. My collection of short stories, Cruising the Green of Second Avenue, has just been published in two volumes by Wild Child (http://www.wildchildpublishing.com). Earlier, I directed corporate communications at Fortune 500 companies in New York for more than 30 years--and therein lay my misspent youth that resulted in the Cruising stories.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Greetings
Hi, all. I’m Ron Scala and I am new to this Blog. In fact, compared to most of you, I am new to the field. My first novel, Beckoned, was just released on Jan-2 by Wild Child Publishing (Thanks, again, Marci.). It’s a horror tale with just a bit of paranormal romance that hopefully will make it interesting to folks inclined to either genre. It was expertly edited by M.E. Ellis www.meellis.blogspot.com to whom I am indebted. Please visit my Blog at http://ronaldscala.blogspot.com/ .
Ronald Scala
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
