Exposition Imposition

The Interim Generation is book three of my Infinity series, and it's getting reviews. Most are good, while others, well, there's this one:

The momentum of the story drew me in fairly quickly. The world building was also handled better than average. Definitely wasn't overburdened with exposition. There were some moments the writing could've been tightened up a little. The author did a good job bringing this dystopian world to life.

What do you think? Should you get a copy of The Interim Generation? The world building is, after all, better than average. And you won't be overburdened with exposition. What more can you ask?

Interim David Gideon

Here were go again! Some kind observations about my book The Interim Generation:

Writersive on Amazon says: I mistakenly got the third book first but to my surprise it reads well as a standalone. I really love the engaging concept and captivating storyline. I'm hooked! Definitely getting the earlier 2 books for sure!

Why thank you! I'm certainly okay with that approach, especially as I try to style my books as stand alones!

See more about The Interim Generation: Interim

Josh offers this about David Gideon: This book truly is a very entertaining literary book. The story really is quite creative and illustrates the life of a fictional character named David, who apparently had a wide arrange of professions over his lifetime. Overall the story highlights different elements of suspense, drama, intrigue, and even inspires leadership. Leadership is actually one of the big qualities that the main character begins to recognize in himself. Overall a very satisfying read!

Check out what others are saying: DG

I'm really, really happy with the progress of my writings. Thank you all!

More Can I Do

I was quite happy this morning to find this review of my first collection of blogs, The Sublime to the Ridiculous: Family Lore:

The Sublime to the Ridiculous is a delightful collection of short stories that captures the ups and downs of family life. The tales are fun, relatable, and often quite touching, making it a great pick for light reading. While I enjoyed the mix of humor and heartfelt moments, some stories felt a little too brief, leaving me wanting more detail or depth. That said, the writing style is inviting, and it’s easy to pick up and enjoy a few pages at a time. A lovely book for anyone who appreciates family anecdotes with a mix of laughter and nostalgia.

Well, a little too brief, eh? That can be easily remedied. I can become more elaborate, more verbose; I can inject a great deal more detail into my stories. I can talk a lot. Quiet, Ron.

Seriously, isn't it good to leave them wanting more? And if you want more Sublime to the Ridiculous, here's the link Thank you!

David Gets Complimented

I typically avoid politics. Honestly ... I haven't watched the news in three years. I don't even know why I chose this book. But I'm glad I did. The characters were believable, and the discussions thought-provoking, pensive and entertaining. I could see a TV series in the future. Write-on Charles.

Well, thank you Rick on Amazon. I am very pleased with your review of my book David Gideon. It isn't really supposed to be about politics but, rather, David becoming President is merely the hook. On that basis, it does offer a forum for raising questions and having discussions about this issue or that, whether within the circle of family and friends or in the larger society. I don't want readers to get hung up on his Presidency. I want them to see the man, and the woman behind him. David may not be the actual hero, you know. 

Write-on Charles. I like that turn of phrase. And a TV show? Well, I hadn't given it that much thought. But man, what a compliment!

A fella is naturally apprehensive in putting his writing out for public consumption. I mean, this blog, The Sublime to the Ridiculous, is exactly that. Just froth by and large. To put the kind of effort I've put into my books and have folks rave about them like Rick, wow. A guy feels as though he can write well enough, but it's the readers who actually can tell him whether he in fact does. I feel good reading such reviews. It really does make one feel humble too, if it isn't too bizarre to be humble and ecstatic at the same time. 

The characters are believable and the story is entertaining. Thought provoking and pensive. To hear that from a man I'll never know, wow. Just wow.

And after all that attempt at humility, now I've got to be a shill for the book: David Gideon

Thanks for reading this, and thank you for all the support and encouragement you've given me.

Self Analysis

I've long held to the standard that you aren't the best judge of your self, your motives, or your actions.  You're either too harsh - especially if you're Catholic, ha, ha - or too lenient. Indeed I will editorialize for a moment and say that unfettered leniency is the hallmark of the secular world, and look where that's gotten us. Still, know thyself, the unexamined life is not worth living, and all that. You should examine the things you've said and done, and probably more the things you've said as they might be the best window into your soul. And when you're trying to establish yourself as a writer, you discover very quickly that you've put a lot on the public record.

On the whole I like what I've written. Yet that doesn't mean I don't appreciate reasonable criticism. With five books available on various platforms and with each having garnered anywhere from 40 to 180 reviews, some brief, some extensive, I almost - almost - find the critical ones the most fair.

A more routine negative comment is that my writing is at times a slog. I could get angry, except that it's true. Sometimes I'm just bridging a gap because I couldn't figure out how else to jump from A to B and it shows. 

I've been advised that it can be hard to stay interested in my stories, and I know that to be true. My personal favorite book of mine is A Subtle Armageddon. Yet even I must concede that it drags at points. I think that story has to drag a bit, given the parameters inherent within the tale, but so it goes. 

Ah well. Before I go on too long (quiet, Ron) here's what I'm about today: links to my books. Buy them. If you are into examining your motives, you'll find that you've occasionally spent your time less wisely than in helping an aspiring author rise among the greats. Yes, that's cheeky. We writers can do that.

A Subtle Armageddon

Michael's Story (Kindle)

Michael's Story (paperback)

The Interim Generation (Kindle only)

David Gideon (all formats)

The Sublime to the Ridiculous - Family Lore (Kindle only)

Reviewing Reviewers

I spent most of this morning reading reviews of my own books. It's a valuable way to measure how good or bad they may be. Of course, I like my writing. But my opinion of me is quite skewed.

The extremes you can toss off without much thought. There's the occasional one which gushes as though I've written the Great American Novel. I haven't. My books are decent enough but won't be mentioned in literature courses two hundred years from now. Then there's reviews which rip a book to shreds. I pass over those equally. I think I can honestly say nothing of mine is shallow or amateurish. Yet for whatever reason the reader was horribly offended. Oh well.

It's the ones which are constructive, or at least are obviously trying to be, which are the most useful even where I disagree. I've been told I use too many adverbs. I'm not sure that I do, but the issue comes up enough that I need to consider it. Similarly, a book is occasionally dinged as in need of a professional edit. That might be useful, I admit. Yet those things cost (one to two thousand dollars is not unusual), and I'm not sure there's a real return on investment there, at least at this stage of my literary career. As I'm doing this writing thing mostly on a hope and a prayer, I'm set to do what promotion I can on the cheap and see how it all plays out.

On the whole, things look good. Each book (five are currently available) ranks between 4.3 and 4.7 on Amazon's five star scale, and the general interest readers appear to like them. And that's my intended audience. Not grammar geeks, though grammar is far more important than we think, but folks who just like to read. Enough so to give even my scribbles a chance.

By the way, my books are available online. It's true! Just click any of the following: David Gideon A Subtle Armageddon Michael's Story The Interim Generation and Family Lore

More Good Words

Here's what Jerry, an Amazon reviewer, says about my book The Interim Generation:

"The Interim Generation" is a thrilling addition to the Infinity Series. The author has masterfully crafted a complex and engaging story that seamlessly blends science fiction and political intrigue. The characters are richly developed, and their struggles and triumphs will keep you on the edge of your seat. His writing style is both descriptive and concise, making it easy to visualize the futuristic world he has created. The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. Overall, "The Interim Generation" is a must-read for fans of the Infinity Series and anyone who loves a good sci-fi adventure.

I can't say how much reading reviews such as these please me; what writer wouldn't be happy? It's particularly satisfying because I didn't think the story was ready to be put 'out there'. 

I actually published Interim on something of a lark. My own opinion was that the story was too loosely constructed and needed to be tighter. I felt it was missing something, some spark which would give it a life of its own. But the little angel on my shoulder said to get it out there, right now. Don't wait for paperback, (it's only available on Amazon Kindle right now but I'm working on that) just make it available, I was told. And the proof of the pudding? It has the highest average of the three books available in my Infinity series. 

When you hear things such as a 'masterfully crafted...complex and engaging story' with characters 'richly developed' and the style 'both descriptive and concise' of a world 'easy to visualize' a fella starts to think (hope?) that he might actually have a clue to what he is doing. 

The results so far have me considering whether to publish book four now, or whether to wait awhile. Book Four is finished; do I publish it or leave that as a tease?  Well, to tease for a minute, it's a love story about Ben and Natalie, occurring right as the world of Infinity is taking complete hold. Ben believes in the new world; Natalie believes in her and Ben. Their challenges are similar, yet different, from what Michael and Kim and Nathaniel and John face. Sound interesting?

In the meantime, fire up your Kindle and order The Interim Generation here:  Book Three

Not So Subtle?

I write things. Blogs and books and Facebook updates, you name it. I write.

My favorite book is my first one, A Subtle Armageddon. Yet I've always feared that it was too obscure, too unclear, for the general audience. Still, it's doing well with reviews on Amazon, averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars over 119 reviews. So I'm hoping that perhaps it's an easier read than I believe.

One reader said: A Subtle Armageddon paints a gripping portrait of a world devoid of emotion, where nature becomes the ultimate teacher. The prose is vivid, with moments of profound insight. Both unsettling and thought-provoking, this book questions dependence and the essence of existence.

Another remarks: (A Subtle Armageddon) is a fascinating dive into a dystopian future where human emotions have been neutralized. Following the protagonist's inner journey, the book explores the transformative power of nature and the awakening of human consciousness. The author interweaves suspense and philosophy in a compelling and thoughtful narrative. With vivid scenes and moments of palpable tension, the story pushes the reader to question control, dependence and freedom. An original and profound novel, perfect for those looking for an intense and stimulating read.

What do you think? You can find A Subtle Armageddon here and decide for yourself.

And Don't Know It

As many of you know, I've been working on book promotion this year. You can find my books here A Subtle Armageddon here David Gideon here Michael's Story and here The Interim Generation. 

One thing about book promotion is that you begin to get reviewed. Reviews are nice; they help Amazon's Magical Algorithms drive folks to sample your wonderful prose. But some reviews are questionable. One such review which gave me pause praised my book A Subtle Armageddon for its great poems. Yet there isn't a poem in it.

Poetry is something which has never really peaked my interest. Perhaps comic poetry holds a certain appeal for me as it did for me Pops. You can read about his favorite poem here Me Pops the Poet. Yet on the whole, I find that poets are simply trying to tell us things without actually getting to the point. At least, that's my take on the vast bulk of poetry the teachers forced upon me in high school English. 

I expect now that the poetry crowd will be breaking down my door, hurling vile epithets upon me in sonnets, free verse, and odes. I should be quite interested in the haiku which might condemn me though.

In The Interim Generation

Reader Eric Myers had this to say about my Book The Interim Generation:

I am a fussy reader. Not just any book will make my favorites list. For me, a book must have the complete package if I am going to continue to read more books from that writer… and if I am going to recommend that book to others. The Interim Generation has everything.

What grabbed my attention immediately were the delightfully intricate characters. No stereotypes or templates here. Each one is well-formed, fully dimensional and comes with an array of strengths, quirks, and foibles.

We were off to a good start but remember, I am demanding.

The next pleasant surprise was the story. The author, while respecting the genre, had his own take on what an adventure thriller should be. There were fun twists and interesting developments. A lot of time went into creating this storyline.

Along this incredibly fun journey were immersive settings, realistic dialogue, and heroes to cheer for.
The ending was a bit of a surprise, yet incredibly satisfying.

Well, Done, Charles Martin Cosgriff. Can’t wait to read your next one. I am pleased to recommend this to everyone.

Thank you, Eric. FYI the book is available here I hope you enjoy it too!

By Its Cover

I really am happy to be getting so many positive reviews for my books. I really am. The response has been far better than I had hoped. Yet sometimes I get a review which puzzles me.

As a courtesy I won't name names or even identify which book. But a certain reviewer absolutely raved about how great my book was. Great characters, great writing, great background; they seemed very ecstatic about it. So much so that I was confused at only being given four starts out of five. 

Then at the end of the review they said all that makes them give it only four stars was the dull and uninviting cover. I must admit I did a wait, what? This is a spectacular book which you demote one star because of the cover? But I thought you couldn't judge books by their cover, as me brother Phil pointed out. 

Reviewer, you sure didn't seem to mind the story as it was by the way you heaped praise on it. But I'm debited a star because of the graphics? Such things have never stopped me from enjoying a book or not. I never once said or thought, great book even with that lackluster cover. Even if I were to concede that a better cover would be nice, and perhaps so (other critics have expressed the same thought), I just don't get that at all.