Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The philosophy behind the Chronicles
For anyone who might be interested in hearing, in detail, some of the philosophical aspects behind the creation of The Death Wizard Chronicles, please check out this radio podcast and also this video interview from interviews conducted earlier this week. Also, check out this feature in The St. Petersburg Times.
Monday, October 22, 2007
More positive press!
I finally scored my first review in a large newspaper, this one from the Tampa Tribune. Click here.
Here's what else is happening this week:
* I'm doing an interview with the St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday for a story that should run later this week. I worked at the Times for 25 years.
* A radio spot with thatradio.com on Wednesday at noon (you can listen live online or catch it on archive later). Special thanks to my publisher for setting this up.
* A video appearance with Tampa Digital Studios on Thursday at 6 p.m. (you also can listen live online or catch it on archive later).
* A banquet entitled Novel Night associated with the Times Festival of Reading in St. Petersburg on Friday at 7 p.m.
* A talk, reading, and signing at the Times Festival of Reading in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday at 1 p.m.
* And a book signing at the Tyrone Barnes and Noble in St. Petersburg on Sunday at 1 p.m.
And finally, this from someone I met at a recent bookstore appearance:
Jim,
I don't know if you remember me. I met you in Highlands, N.C., at your signing.
It was interesting, our meeting. At first, I listened. Here sat another aspiring author, blowing air on (and around) his books to keep the dust off boxes of unread, unworthy books, doomed for the lower shelves in the furthest corners of the stores. WRONG!!! I am so glad you kept my attention and piqued my interest. I told you of the juvenile book I had just read in hopes for the next great series to quench my thirst ... for faraway travels of my mind, my break from this world ... The Death Wizard Chronicles, The Pit, had everything I was thirsting for. The detail in which you wrote was exquisite and left me longing for more! I am sure, there will be lines waiting to meet you with the hope of getting a glimpse of Torg and the future of Triken. You are an impressive writer ...
Your Newest Fan,
Julie Robinson
Here's what else is happening this week:
* I'm doing an interview with the St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday for a story that should run later this week. I worked at the Times for 25 years.
* A radio spot with thatradio.com on Wednesday at noon (you can listen live online or catch it on archive later). Special thanks to my publisher for setting this up.
* A video appearance with Tampa Digital Studios on Thursday at 6 p.m. (you also can listen live online or catch it on archive later).
* A banquet entitled Novel Night associated with the Times Festival of Reading in St. Petersburg on Friday at 7 p.m.
* A talk, reading, and signing at the Times Festival of Reading in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday at 1 p.m.
* And a book signing at the Tyrone Barnes and Noble in St. Petersburg on Sunday at 1 p.m.
And finally, this from someone I met at a recent bookstore appearance:
Jim,
I don't know if you remember me. I met you in Highlands, N.C., at your signing.
It was interesting, our meeting. At first, I listened. Here sat another aspiring author, blowing air on (and around) his books to keep the dust off boxes of unread, unworthy books, doomed for the lower shelves in the furthest corners of the stores. WRONG!!! I am so glad you kept my attention and piqued my interest. I told you of the juvenile book I had just read in hopes for the next great series to quench my thirst ... for faraway travels of my mind, my break from this world ... The Death Wizard Chronicles, The Pit, had everything I was thirsting for. The detail in which you wrote was exquisite and left me longing for more! I am sure, there will be lines waiting to meet you with the hope of getting a glimpse of Torg and the future of Triken. You are an impressive writer ...
Your Newest Fan,
Julie Robinson
Thursday, October 18, 2007
My first audio interview!
I recently was interviewed by Bob Andelman, the author or co-author of several best-selling biographical, business, management and sports books, including Will Eisner: A Spirited Life.
As one of the top freelance writers in the U.S., Andelman is in high demand -- and he has written ten books as well as countless magazine and newspaper articles. On his Mr. Media online site, Andelman also conducts exclusive interviews with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, and comics. In the past, he has interviewed Billy Bob Thornton, Larry Thomas of Seinfeld fame, and Seth Bauer of National Geographic, to name a few.
Bob's interview with me is now online, and he asked some great questions about The Death Wizard Chronicles. Please check it out here.
And for those of you who might have missed my recent Q/A and review on the Virtual Wordsmith, please give them a look, as well.
As one of the top freelance writers in the U.S., Andelman is in high demand -- and he has written ten books as well as countless magazine and newspaper articles. On his Mr. Media online site, Andelman also conducts exclusive interviews with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, and comics. In the past, he has interviewed Billy Bob Thornton, Larry Thomas of Seinfeld fame, and Seth Bauer of National Geographic, to name a few.
Bob's interview with me is now online, and he asked some great questions about The Death Wizard Chronicles. Please check it out here.
And for those of you who might have missed my recent Q/A and review on the Virtual Wordsmith, please give them a look, as well.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Writing strengths
Lynn tagged me with a writing meme. I'm supposed to write about my writing strengths. Since someone asked ...
My greatest strength is that I write from the heart. My deepest thoughts are laid bare, often subtly, but laid bare, nonetheless.
I am persistent and start what I finish. And I am single-minded in that pursuit. Plus, I'm a journalist by trade, so I consider myself a professional.
Chris, you're it.
My greatest strength is that I write from the heart. My deepest thoughts are laid bare, often subtly, but laid bare, nonetheless.
I am persistent and start what I finish. And I am single-minded in that pursuit. Plus, I'm a journalist by trade, so I consider myself a professional.
Chris, you're it.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Q/A about my series and me
A Q/A with editor, writer, and reviewer Mary "Lynn" Lewis can be found on the Virtual Wordsmith. Please give it a look!
Monday, October 8, 2007
A fabulous review!
This from The Virtual Wordsmith, a blog written by Mary "Lynn" Lewis, who is an editor and freelance writer. Read her review below and check out her blog here and her website here.
"The Pit is the first of a six-book epic fantasy series called The Death Wizard Chronicles. It is an incredibly dark, yet inspiring book that turns the typical good versus evil parable right on its ear.
After reading the first five pages of The Pit, I wasn't sure I was going to get through it. By page six, Jim Melvin was off and running, creating a new world, new theories, new perspectives -- a new twist on the age old story of good versus evil. I was hooked!
I should probably, in the interest of full disclosure, tell you I'm not a huge fan of the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre. Sure, I've read Tolkien, McCaffrey and Robert Jordan, but the only reason I stayed with them was the amazing writing, the vivid descriptions and the sheer entertainment value of each. And, oh yeah, the fact that those particular authors have always left me thinking long after I closed the books.
The Pit is beautiful -- gorgeous, even -- yet it is also dark and deep and vibrant. There is a fine line between love and hate. The distinction can be a bit foggy at times. Jim has illustrated that fine line. It is possible to feel sympathy for someone you hate, as well as despise someone you love.
I fell into this book. Time disappeared, as well as the chores that needed to be done, the bills that needed to be paid, and virtually everything else that had been chasing itself around in my head. This book is inspiring, entertaining, and I want to say absolute escapism, but after I finished reading I found myself pondering what I had just read. Escapism doesn't typically elicit that reaction in me.
I am purposely not sharing much about the story or the plot, because anything I say could quite possibly take away from the pleasure of discovering this book on your own. The Pit is fabulous, but don't take my word for it. Go get a copy, set aside some time and fall in love the way you did with the first book that truly grabbed you!"
-- Mary "Lynn" Lewis
"The Pit is the first of a six-book epic fantasy series called The Death Wizard Chronicles. It is an incredibly dark, yet inspiring book that turns the typical good versus evil parable right on its ear.
After reading the first five pages of The Pit, I wasn't sure I was going to get through it. By page six, Jim Melvin was off and running, creating a new world, new theories, new perspectives -- a new twist on the age old story of good versus evil. I was hooked!
I should probably, in the interest of full disclosure, tell you I'm not a huge fan of the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre. Sure, I've read Tolkien, McCaffrey and Robert Jordan, but the only reason I stayed with them was the amazing writing, the vivid descriptions and the sheer entertainment value of each. And, oh yeah, the fact that those particular authors have always left me thinking long after I closed the books.
The Pit is beautiful -- gorgeous, even -- yet it is also dark and deep and vibrant. There is a fine line between love and hate. The distinction can be a bit foggy at times. Jim has illustrated that fine line. It is possible to feel sympathy for someone you hate, as well as despise someone you love.
I fell into this book. Time disappeared, as well as the chores that needed to be done, the bills that needed to be paid, and virtually everything else that had been chasing itself around in my head. This book is inspiring, entertaining, and I want to say absolute escapism, but after I finished reading I found myself pondering what I had just read. Escapism doesn't typically elicit that reaction in me.
I am purposely not sharing much about the story or the plot, because anything I say could quite possibly take away from the pleasure of discovering this book on your own. The Pit is fabulous, but don't take my word for it. Go get a copy, set aside some time and fall in love the way you did with the first book that truly grabbed you!"
-- Mary "Lynn" Lewis
Monday, October 1, 2007
Now available: Book Two
Book Two, Moon Goddess, now can be ordered here on Amazon.com.
Also, I will be in Waynesville, N.C., this Saturday (Oct. 6) from 3-5 p.m. for a reading/signing at Osondu Booksellers, which is one of the more prestigious independent bookstores in all of N.C. For more information, go to here. If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by! I'd love to meet you.
Also, I will be in Waynesville, N.C., this Saturday (Oct. 6) from 3-5 p.m. for a reading/signing at Osondu Booksellers, which is one of the more prestigious independent bookstores in all of N.C. For more information, go to here. If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by! I'd love to meet you.
AW Blogchain #11
Thanks, Jen, for the baton. I'll run like hell with it.
Wow! To this point you guys have blown me away. Though some of this chain has been relatively light-hearted, much of it has dug deep into some very sensitive areas: obsessiveness, dysfunction, psychological damage ... with a few teaspoonfuls of depression tossed in to add some emotional spice. What I never saw, however, was hopelessness or weakness.
What causes our distresses? Is it our upbringing? Our insecurities? Our physical appearance? All of the above and much, much more? Depending on our spiritual views and level of education, we all have our own theories.
I am a practitioner of mindfulness meditation. This involves sitting in a quiet, peaceful place and watching my inhalations and exhalations. But it goes much deeper than that. The mindful meditator watches not just the breath but everything that comes within his or her vision, including the full gambit of emotions: love, hate, jealousy, anger, fear. And what he or she eventually learns is that all things are impermanent.
All things.
If something is impermanent, is there really such a need to sweat it?
At the height of meditation, when the frenetic inner workings of the mind have been silenced, there arises a joyous peacefulness that renders all else meaningless. At our core is something lovely and grand. And each and every one of us, regardless of our circumstances, contains this grandness. It is, in truth, who we are. Everything else is illusion.
For anyone who might like to learn the basics of mindfulness meditate, check out this book. Regardless of whom you are or what you believe, meditation can help ease your pain and unclutter your mind. It's like exercise for the mind.
A wise man once said:
“In the end
these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?”
Your turn, Gillian.
Virtual Wordsmith
(The Blog Formerly Known as) Taosbound
Virginia Lee: I Ain't Dead Yet!
Kappa No He
Playing With Words
A Thoughtful Life
Mad About Kites
Confessions of a Fat Chick
The Death Wizard Chronicles
Food History
A View From The Waterfront
awchain
Wow! To this point you guys have blown me away. Though some of this chain has been relatively light-hearted, much of it has dug deep into some very sensitive areas: obsessiveness, dysfunction, psychological damage ... with a few teaspoonfuls of depression tossed in to add some emotional spice. What I never saw, however, was hopelessness or weakness.
What causes our distresses? Is it our upbringing? Our insecurities? Our physical appearance? All of the above and much, much more? Depending on our spiritual views and level of education, we all have our own theories.
I am a practitioner of mindfulness meditation. This involves sitting in a quiet, peaceful place and watching my inhalations and exhalations. But it goes much deeper than that. The mindful meditator watches not just the breath but everything that comes within his or her vision, including the full gambit of emotions: love, hate, jealousy, anger, fear. And what he or she eventually learns is that all things are impermanent.
All things.
If something is impermanent, is there really such a need to sweat it?
At the height of meditation, when the frenetic inner workings of the mind have been silenced, there arises a joyous peacefulness that renders all else meaningless. At our core is something lovely and grand. And each and every one of us, regardless of our circumstances, contains this grandness. It is, in truth, who we are. Everything else is illusion.
For anyone who might like to learn the basics of mindfulness meditate, check out this book. Regardless of whom you are or what you believe, meditation can help ease your pain and unclutter your mind. It's like exercise for the mind.
A wise man once said:
“In the end
these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?”
Your turn, Gillian.
Virtual Wordsmith
(The Blog Formerly Known as) Taosbound
Virginia Lee: I Ain't Dead Yet!
Kappa No He
Playing With Words
A Thoughtful Life
Mad About Kites
Confessions of a Fat Chick
The Death Wizard Chronicles
Food History
A View From The Waterfront
awchain
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About Me
- Jim Melvin
- Clemson, SC, United States
- I was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla. I graduated from the University of South Florida (Tampa) in 1979 with a B.A. in Journalism. I now live in South Carolina near the Blue Ridge Mountains, a pleasant setting for writing, to say the least. I was an award-winning journalist at the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years and I currently work at the Charlotte Observer. I am married with five daughters.
The author
Jim Melvin, a veteran journalist, debuts as novelist.
