MGOC Contributor: Sally Bosco

SALLY BOSCO

EXCERPT from "The Manga Explosion" by Sally Bosco in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

A half-werewolf, half-vampire undergoes a mysterious and terrifying transformation during the full moon: he turns into a girl.

A young woman artist meets a vampire who is so beautiful and breathtaking she uses him as a model.

A rebellious angel is sent back to earth. His curse is that he's in love with his sister.

What type of writing has these genre-bending plots? Why, manga of course!

Why do people like them? They are little portals into other worlds that entertain, delight and educate. At sales of $210 million per year, manga, or Japanese comic art, is a huge and lucrative business. Formerly only popular in Japan, manga has exploded into the U.S to the point that schools are putting manga into their curriculum in an effort to encourage students to read. Large book retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Borders have created separate manga sections. In a sagging publishing market, manga is infusing new life into the industry.

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EXCERPT from "From Far East to West" by Sally Bosco in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

Fans I've interviewed often state that they like manga because it doesn't follow the typical dramatic formulas we see in western stories.

In the stories we're used to seeing, the good guys almost always win. The Japanese feel that this isn't realistic; good guys usually don't win. It's not unusual for a major character to die, to lose the one they love to another, or to fail at what they are trying to do. Villains can change their ways and heroes can commit horrid acts.

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Sally Bosco has always been drawn to the dark side. A corporate slave by day, at nights and on weekends she writes young adult horror and paranormal romance. Sally recently received her M.A. degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She has published a YA horror novel, AltDeath.com and an adult paranormal romance, Shadow Cat (as Zoe LaPage). Her hobbies include painting, working out, running and traveling. She lives in Florida with the most spoiled cat in the world, MiniKitty. Check out Sally at sallybosco.com and zoelapage.com.

MGOC Contributor News: Dana Marton's The Third Scroll

Many Genres, One Craft contributor Dana Marton has a new novel out--The Third Scroll.

A maiden healer sold to barbarians.

A world of savage warlords and cruel concubines.

When ancient powers collide, can the slave save the realm and the high lord's heart?

Sold into slavery, Tera, a budding healer, is thrust into the savage realm of barbarian warlords, the same realm which claimed her mother years ago. She must avoid the displeasure of her warrior lord and survive the cruelties of the concubines, even as war threatens on the horizon.

Yet a greater danger looms when she catches the eye of the most powerful lord of the land and he takes her for his Pleasure Hall. Tera struggles to escape, while searching for the secret behind her mother’s death. But what she discovers challenges everything she believes in. A path set long ago beckons. A path that could lead to triumph, or the destruction of her world.


posted by heidi

MGOC Contributor: Michael Bracken

MICHAEL BRACKEN

EXCERPT from "I Write Short Stories" by Michael Bracken in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

I write short stories. A lot of them.

In a publishing environment where many writers bemoan the lack of markets for short fiction, I've placed almost 900 short stories. That's 2.7 million words, give or take, or the equivalent of 45 short novels.

When I began writing as a teenager in the 1970s, short story publication was considered the first step to becoming a genre novelist. Writers learned their craft by publishing short fiction in the popular magazines of the day before grappling with the complexity and length of novels. They established writing credentials, providing heft to their query and cover letters, and developed a readership before their first novel ever hit the wire racks at the grocery store.

That doesn't seem to happen much today, and many writers, perhaps encouraged by the ease of publication offered by low-cost vanity publishing companies, leap directly into novel writing without first establishing their writing skills and publishing credentials. Among those who succeed as novelists, some write short stories as an afterthought and some established genre novelists write short fiction only at the invitation of anthology editors.

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Michael Bracken is the author of 11 books, including All White Girls, Deadly Campaign, and Tequila Sunrise. More than 800 of his short stories have been published worldwide. His “Dreams Unborn” was named one of The Best American Mystery Stories 2005 and “All My Yesterdays” received a Derringer Award. Bracken edited five crime fiction anthologies whose stories have been short-listed for the Anthony, Derringer, Edgar, and Shamus awards. Bracken served as V.P. of both the Private Eye Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America’s Southwest chapter. He also belongs to the Horror Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Bracken received his B.A. in Professional Writing from Baylor University.

Many Genres One Craft: Now Available in Ebook!

We're pleased to report that an ebook edition of Many Genres, One Craft is now also available for the Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook.

Our Encore Signing

Our encore signing at Seton Hill University in June 2012 was another success, and several readers took advantage of the one-of-a-kind opportunity to get their hardcover copies signed by the fount of contributors on hand. Headlines Books provided quite a spread of books to sell. Photos have been posted at Mike Arnzen's website and the Raw Dog Screaming Press page.

After the signing, we learned that Many Genres won another publishing award: this time, a Silver Medal in the 2011 Book of the Year Awards sponsored by ForeWord reviews. It's amazing how many awards this book has had the honor to receive. We're proud of all the great work that the contributors and Headline Books put into this book to make it such a raving success this first year in print. -- Mike & Heidi

MGOC Signing on Friday 6.22 7pm at SHU

The annual Writing Popular Fiction MFA summer residency at Seton Hill begins this week, and we'll be joined by the annual summer reunion/workshop of alumni. The alums are hosting a feature rich workshop with many interesting guests and workshops -- see http://inyourwritemind.setonhill.edu/ -- and our campus at Seton Hill U in Greensburg, PA will be hosting their large public booksigning in the McKenna Center this Friday, June 22nd, 7-9pm.

Over thirty writers will be selling and signing their books, including: Kate Martin, Shelley Bates, Victoria Thompson, Meg Mims, Jason Jack Miller, Heidi Ruby Miller, Lawrence C. Connolly, William Horner, Rachael Pruitt, Scott A. Johnson, Sheldon Higdon, Gary Frank, Maria V Snyder, Patrice Lyle, Michael Knost, Geoffrey Fuller, Sally Bosco, Jessica Warman, J.L. Benet, Lynn Salsi, Lee Allen Howard, Lee McClain, Lana Ayers, Nicole Peeler, Ron Gavalik, Barbara Miller, Kristin Dearborn, Anne Harris, Rachell Nichole, and Mike Arnzen. The indie publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press, will be there with copies of Arnzen's latest book (The Gorelets Omnibus) and launching alum Jason Jack Miller's new novel (Hellbender), among other things. Headline Books will also be there with a table and have copies of Many Genres for sale.

Obviously, this is a rare opportunity to get our anthology signed, as plenty of contributors from Many Genres, One Craft will be on hand to chat and sign copies of the book. To get a sense of what we expect the signing to be like, check out our array of photos from the launch of Many Genres at last summer's campus event.

MGOC Events: Raw Dog Screaming Press at Morgantown Poets

Scott Emerson and The Morgantown Poets hosted Raw Dog Screaming Press (RDSP) night at the Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, WV for Michael A. Arnzen and Jason Jack Miller.



Mike, co-editor of Many Genres, One Craft, read from his latest release through RDSP, The Gorelets Omnibus, which is available in both eBook and paperback.






Jason, a contributor to Many Genres, One Craft, read from his upcoming novel through RDSP, Hellbender. Pre-order the paperback here: http://www.rawdogscreaming.com/hellbender.html







Find more photos on the Gorelets site!

posted by heidi

MGOC Contributor: Teffanie Thompson White

TEFFANIE THOMPSON WHITE

EXCERPT from "And the Award Goes To..." by Teffanie Thompson White in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

Frederic Melcher saw the need in 1921 to encourage children’s authors for their gifts to the literary community. He proposed an accolade and named it after eighteenth century bookseller, John Newbery.

Once a year, since 1922, the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Librarian Association (ALA - www.ala.org), presents an American children’s book with the Newbery Medal and names the runner-ups as honor recipients. The book must have been published in English in the previous year. Original published work should have appropriate style, quality presentation and exceptional development of the elements of literature.

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Teffanie Thompson White played with pen in hand. When pen was absent, she scratched words on ashen legs. Teffanie has worked as a tutor, teacher and administrator to high school students. She completed the Institute of Children's Literature and received a Master's degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Through these programs Teffanie created several writings for children to include her thesis, middle grade novel, Dirt. Her picture book manuscripts, Bug Talk and For Tents and Ribbons, have been adapted into onstage ballet performances. Teffanie co-authors and co-publishes pictureless books. She lives in Texas with her children, Imhotep and Halima.

Many Genres, Many Awards -- An Update

Last June, we had a phenomenal book event at the Seton Hill University writer's workshop, celebrating the launch of our collection, Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction. As we come up on our one year anniversary, we're honored to note that the book has been doing so well, receiving so many accolades from readers, teachers, students and reviewers... and even awards from the publishing industry.

Here are the awards we've been fortunate to receive:

• Winner, "Business: Writing and Publishing" category, 2012 International Book Awards.
• Winner, "Education/Academic" category, 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
• Winner, General Non-Fiction Award. 2011 London Books Festival Award.
• Listed 5th in "This Year's Ten Most Terrific Writing Books" by The Writer magazine (Dec 2011).
• Finalist, "Business: Writing and Publishing" category. USA Best Books 2011 Award.
• Finalist. 2012 Eric Hoffer Book Awards.
• Finalist, "Writing" category. ForeWord Review's 2011 Book of the Year Awards.

We're proud of our contributors and owe it all to them. Every testimony we've heard has been positive about the book and the lessons it has to teach.


In other news:

Our publisher, Headline Books, is looking into releasing an ebook edition in the near future. Considering how hefty and voluminous this title is, that is sure to be a treat.

We'll have copies of Many Genres for sale and signing once again at the In Your Write Mind alumni workshop at Seton Hill U in Greensburg, PA, on Friday, June 22nd, 2012. 7-10pm.

The editors have new books out, so if you don't hear from us here as often as you'd expect, come on by our individual websites to learn more about what we're up to. Heidi's latest book is Greenshift and you can learn more about it at http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com. Michael's latest is The Gorelets Omnibus, and you can visit him at http://gorelets.com. Chances are very good that if either of us are at a convention or publishing event, we will be talking about Many Genres somewhere on the program, or will have copies of the book with us to show you or sell if you'd like one. Of course, the book remains in print and is available to order online from amazon or your favorite bookseller -- see our "Ordering" page for more information.

Thank you to everyone for sharing their reactions online and in person... it means a lot to us to know that the book is helping you write. There are many genres, one craft to study...but you also have many stories to write...especially the one you're working on right now. So go -- get to it... and persist!

Cheers!
-- Michael Arnzen & Heidi Ruby Miller

MGOC Contributor: Jennifer Brisendine

JENNIFER BRISENDINE

EXCERPT from "Keeping It Real: Mixing Truth and Fiction in YA" by Jennifer Brisendine in Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction

If you know even one pre-teen, ‘tween, or full-blown teenager, you recognize how difficult it is to pull the proverbial wool over their eyes. You can’t easily persuade the average young adult that a loss of privileges is really harder on you than on him, or that she should clean her room for the sense of accomplishment, or that yes, he will need to know the finer points of the quadratic equation in his everyday life.

Selling young adults on fiction is equally challenging… no matter how fascinating a story you tell.

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Jennifer Brisendine's creative non-fiction appears in the Seal Press anthology The Maternal Is Political, and her essays have appeared in LiteraryMama and the Mom Writer's Literary Magazine. After ten-plus years in the high school English classroom, she currently works as a freelance editor and writer while continuing to pursue fiction and non-fiction projects. She lives in southwestern Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and a petite 100-pound Great Dane.