Michael F. Stewart's Blog, page 5
December 4, 2011
Insyde Story has launched -- how authors can use it.
So this platform has been a journey. I've officially launched Insyde Story -- a location based storytelling application.
It just released and is available in the AppStore
Here’s a quick demo: http://www.youtube.com/user/InsydeStory
Why did I do this? Well, I can’t tell you a story on Facebook or Twitter. Try it, you really can’t. Even a Flickr stream doesn’t tell a story. So I made Insyde Story.
Insyde Story allows users to discover, create and share threads of videos, recordings, music, images and text inspired by the world around them. An important component of the application is that you don’t need the app to share and view stories. www.insydestory.com is much like a YouTube experience (tap on View Scene) but with all forms of media, not just video.
How can you use it? Got a book tour? Map it out. Have some cool research you want to share? Share it based on the location you found it. Have stores that are keeping your book in stock, show people. Or, create something entirely different, a bit of transmedia where you bring your book to life.
I hope you'll find your own uses for Insyde Story and I look forward to hearing your ideas.
It just released and is available in the AppStore
Here’s a quick demo: http://www.youtube.com/user/InsydeStory
Why did I do this? Well, I can’t tell you a story on Facebook or Twitter. Try it, you really can’t. Even a Flickr stream doesn’t tell a story. So I made Insyde Story.
Insyde Story allows users to discover, create and share threads of videos, recordings, music, images and text inspired by the world around them. An important component of the application is that you don’t need the app to share and view stories. www.insydestory.com is much like a YouTube experience (tap on View Scene) but with all forms of media, not just video.
How can you use it? Got a book tour? Map it out. Have some cool research you want to share? Share it based on the location you found it. Have stores that are keeping your book in stock, show people. Or, create something entirely different, a bit of transmedia where you bring your book to life.
I hope you'll find your own uses for Insyde Story and I look forward to hearing your ideas.
October 21, 2011
Reversion of Rights
Rights for 24 Bones have reverted to me and I'm really excited. Why?
Because 24 Bones is one of my favourite novels--and it could be even better. So far I've cut 10,000 words from the first 25,000 words. That's a lot. Sure I've added in other places to ensure some of the plot elements follow, but essentially I don't give the reader much time to get orientated anymore.
If anyone is interested in reading the new version, I'd be glad to comp them a copy before it goes to the copy editor. My main concern is that it's a little too fast paced and I'd love to see what others think. I can guarantee a good read. What genre? I'd call it a thriller/fantasy. Lot's of magic, but present day and doesn't follow the tropes that would slot it in urban fantasy.
Because 24 Bones is one of my favourite novels--and it could be even better. So far I've cut 10,000 words from the first 25,000 words. That's a lot. Sure I've added in other places to ensure some of the plot elements follow, but essentially I don't give the reader much time to get orientated anymore.
If anyone is interested in reading the new version, I'd be glad to comp them a copy before it goes to the copy editor. My main concern is that it's a little too fast paced and I'd love to see what others think. I can guarantee a good read. What genre? I'd call it a thriller/fantasy. Lot's of magic, but present day and doesn't follow the tropes that would slot it in urban fantasy.
October 5, 2011
Insyde Story
So...it's time for me to begin talking about a secret project of mine. And when I say mine I really mean me, two technical advisers, one content adviser, a host of developers and some business folks. A real team, and what a pleasure it is to work with smart people.
Oh, yeah, the project. Insyde Story. Ever since I left my job in venture capital I've wanted to create new forms of story. I tried my hand at graphic novels, novels, short stories. And I don't intend to stop writing any of these.
I've genre hopped and found my niches. I even created a social network story which Scholastic now markets in three countries. But I want more. And the more I want to create stories in new environments, the more I realize they won't be successful.
I've followed all the ARGs you can imagine, augmented reality stories, location based stories, I even went pretty far down the road of creating my own, but I finally came to the conclusion that new media isn't about cool new stories, it's about narrative spaces. Twitter is a narrative space. YouTube is a narrative space. Wattpad is. Broadcastr is. So I decided to create a space of my own. That's www.insydestory.com. It's coming soon. I hope you'll check it out.
Oh, yeah, the project. Insyde Story. Ever since I left my job in venture capital I've wanted to create new forms of story. I tried my hand at graphic novels, novels, short stories. And I don't intend to stop writing any of these.
I've genre hopped and found my niches. I even created a social network story which Scholastic now markets in three countries. But I want more. And the more I want to create stories in new environments, the more I realize they won't be successful.
I've followed all the ARGs you can imagine, augmented reality stories, location based stories, I even went pretty far down the road of creating my own, but I finally came to the conclusion that new media isn't about cool new stories, it's about narrative spaces. Twitter is a narrative space. YouTube is a narrative space. Wattpad is. Broadcastr is. So I decided to create a space of my own. That's www.insydestory.com. It's coming soon. I hope you'll check it out.
September 1, 2011
JT Ellison, Where All The Dead Lie - An ITW Interview
I must say I was quite taken by JT. J.T. Ellison is extremely forthright and I appreciated her candor with regard to following her literary heart. It's clear she wishes to grow as an author and it'll be interesting to see where she's headed.
If you want to read the full interview, and why Where All the Dead Lie is a little different, please check it out here!
If you want to read the full interview, and why Where All the Dead Lie is a little different, please check it out here!
May 3, 2011
Interview with James Jaros
My interview with thriller author James Jaros is up on the Big Thrill. It's a great interview with a fantastic author regarding his amazing new book Burn Down The Sky. I encourage you to check it out.
The world drawn by James Jaros is parched, the future bleak. Many describe his writing as dark; I prefer searing. As I finished the first chapters I had a deep unsettling sense of hopelessness. The comparison to the Mad Max series is both apt and undersells the emotional depth here. One of the great benefits of being an interviewer is that you often read works that you likely would not have otherwise discovered. I’m thirsty for more. And I’m not the only one…
If you want to read more go to the Big Thrill!
The world drawn by James Jaros is parched, the future bleak. Many describe his writing as dark; I prefer searing. As I finished the first chapters I had a deep unsettling sense of hopelessness. The comparison to the Mad Max series is both apt and undersells the emotional depth here. One of the great benefits of being an interviewer is that you often read works that you likely would not have otherwise discovered. I’m thirsty for more. And I’m not the only one…
If you want to read more go to the Big Thrill!
March 18, 2011
Back Covers
So first of all my new website is up. I'm pleased with it. Did it myself and all. Man are there some amazing tools out there for the lay person! www.michaelfstewart.com
Not what I wanted to discuss though. Truth is, I need help! I'm working on a back cover for my next book, an action adventure titled HURAKAN. Here's what I've got so far...I'd love comments good or bad:
When Samantha’s husband doesn’t make the flight for their family’s Belizean jungle vacation, she’s not entirely disappointed. With their divorce all but certain, Samantha could use an adventure with some romance on the side. But the escape of a murderer bent on sacrificing a maiden to the Mayan rain god may be more danger than she wished. Then, on a trip through an underworld cave, her daughter disappears.
Trapped in a hurricane, in the midst of a jungle teeming with the warriors of an ancient tribe and tracked by the most dangerous gang in the world, Samantha must find the strength to become the person she’d always hoped to be—to save her family—or to die trying.
What do you think? Action adventure with a touch of romance is the genre. Do you like the blurb? Would you pick it up off the shelf?
Not what I wanted to discuss though. Truth is, I need help! I'm working on a back cover for my next book, an action adventure titled HURAKAN. Here's what I've got so far...I'd love comments good or bad:
When Samantha’s husband doesn’t make the flight for their family’s Belizean jungle vacation, she’s not entirely disappointed. With their divorce all but certain, Samantha could use an adventure with some romance on the side. But the escape of a murderer bent on sacrificing a maiden to the Mayan rain god may be more danger than she wished. Then, on a trip through an underworld cave, her daughter disappears.
Trapped in a hurricane, in the midst of a jungle teeming with the warriors of an ancient tribe and tracked by the most dangerous gang in the world, Samantha must find the strength to become the person she’d always hoped to be—to save her family—or to die trying.
What do you think? Action adventure with a touch of romance is the genre. Do you like the blurb? Would you pick it up off the shelf?
March 1, 2011
ITW Interview, A. Scott Pearson
I had the pleasure to interview A Scott Pearson for this month's Big Thrill. Check it out here.
I'm quite interested in picking it up myself as I'm fascinated by the motivations of the antagonist, a serial killer named The Organist, who uses a 16th Century manuscript as the basis for his crimes. Pearson said he was a sympathetic character and I wonder how he pulls that off!
Public Anatomy
I'm quite interested in picking it up myself as I'm fascinated by the motivations of the antagonist, a serial killer named The Organist, who uses a 16th Century manuscript as the basis for his crimes. Pearson said he was a sympathetic character and I wonder how he pulls that off!
Public Anatomy
February 15, 2011
And So It Begins
In my last post, I talked about a secret undertaking.
I'm working on the development of a mobile application which is going to help authors (and I use this term very broadly) to tell their stories.
It also ties into my educational work with Klikables as I'd like to redevelop the application to license it schools, allowing students to create new media stories all from the comfort of a smartphone.
I'm working with great people that have a strong technical and user experience background as well as a development house that should have it completed within 4 months.
So, on my birthday (today), here's to storytelling past, present and future.
I'm working on the development of a mobile application which is going to help authors (and I use this term very broadly) to tell their stories.
It also ties into my educational work with Klikables as I'd like to redevelop the application to license it schools, allowing students to create new media stories all from the comfort of a smartphone.
I'm working with great people that have a strong technical and user experience background as well as a development house that should have it completed within 4 months.
So, on my birthday (today), here's to storytelling past, present and future.
January 10, 2011
A lot to talk about
Okay - so where to start really?
It's the new year and it's time to set priorities right? It's also amazing to look back and see what goals I set for 2010 that I did achieve, didn't achieve and those that I just don't give a rat's ass about. I do set goals each year and write them down. It helps to see overtime what's important to me. They break down into writing, health, family, and social. Often for one to improve another has to drop so sometimes I'll actually chart out what's going up and what's going down, which tells me whether I'm being realistic or not.
For example if I'm going to write more books than usual this year, spend more time with my family, work out five times a week and play more with friends then they're all going to chart going up and that just isn't possible. Do you set impossible goals for yourself? I try to focus on what's within my control.
At any rate, writing is going up this year. 2011 will mark the release of my graphic novel THE TERMINALS, my action adventure HURAKAN, and my sf COLOR OF THE CROW.
On the YA front BULLY FOR YOU will be released next month, more on that later, and I'm trying to place my dystopian steampunk, zombie novel which teaches about New Media Literacy.
New projects? I've got one secret, which I'll talk about later (if you were a part of my lecture at Coyotecon last year you might have an idea). More Klikables.com hopefully. A YA called ASSURED DESTRUCTION (and actually two more I'd like to write but don't have the cycles). Frankly, I want to do all of the above by the end of August!
Alright, maybe I do set impossible goals!
It's the new year and it's time to set priorities right? It's also amazing to look back and see what goals I set for 2010 that I did achieve, didn't achieve and those that I just don't give a rat's ass about. I do set goals each year and write them down. It helps to see overtime what's important to me. They break down into writing, health, family, and social. Often for one to improve another has to drop so sometimes I'll actually chart out what's going up and what's going down, which tells me whether I'm being realistic or not.
For example if I'm going to write more books than usual this year, spend more time with my family, work out five times a week and play more with friends then they're all going to chart going up and that just isn't possible. Do you set impossible goals for yourself? I try to focus on what's within my control.
At any rate, writing is going up this year. 2011 will mark the release of my graphic novel THE TERMINALS, my action adventure HURAKAN, and my sf COLOR OF THE CROW.
On the YA front BULLY FOR YOU will be released next month, more on that later, and I'm trying to place my dystopian steampunk, zombie novel which teaches about New Media Literacy.
New projects? I've got one secret, which I'll talk about later (if you were a part of my lecture at Coyotecon last year you might have an idea). More Klikables.com hopefully. A YA called ASSURED DESTRUCTION (and actually two more I'd like to write but don't have the cycles). Frankly, I want to do all of the above by the end of August!
Alright, maybe I do set impossible goals!
ITW Interview - House Divided, by Raul Ramos y Sanchez
Raul Ramos y Sanchez was an interesting person to interview. As a Canadian, I'm not immersed in American politics let alone immigration issues but I know they're a big deal. I did encounter them in my gang research for HURAKAN (which by the way is scheduled for May release!) and in particular the MS-13. I get into it a bit with Raul in our interview. Suffice to say his book looks extremely interesting. I'd like to read the first America Libre before delving into it further.
If you like somewhat dystopian fiction with a cultural twist then check out my interview http://www.thebigthrill.org/2010/12/h... and heck, pick up a book!
If you like somewhat dystopian fiction with a cultural twist then check out my interview http://www.thebigthrill.org/2010/12/h... and heck, pick up a book!
