2012: My Year in Books

For the last several years I've tried to make a point of reading 100 books in a year. Last year I only managed read around 67 titles. Not a large number, but a little over half of my year-end goal. It was a big dent, but I, for whatever reason, didn't get around to reading all of the titles I had picked up of my own volition, or had been gifted for consideration for review for Sci-Fi Guys. Therefore, I'm going to make up for it as much as possible in 2012. Although I say that now, I can't promise that I'll get to all of them in the new year.

I can promise, however, that come hell or high water, I'm going to read 100 titles in 2012. But, I said that in 2011, and only managed a meager 67 titles read. I also said the same thing in 2011, but only got around to 75 titles. Yes, the latter was a few inches closer than 2010's list, but not close enough. Hell, it wasn't even close enough for a cigar; there was no 100, or click over to 101.

When that happens, I promise you there'll be a picture of me with a big ol' fat stogie, but until then, no cigar.

So, I've decided to devote The Bloody Pen to several things this year. In addition to reading 100 novels a year, I plan on reading a short story a day for a full year. (The short story collections will count towards the 100 novels a year). And, finally, interviewing new authors, specifically the ones who haven't managed to find a publisher yet. But, the latter two will come later. Until then, keep your eyes on a new tap to pop up within the next day or so, and a second tab to follow soon after. These will both be updated lists that will track my reading throughout the year.

And hopefully, if there's time, I'll post quick reviews of both novels and stories here, when the time permits. And whatever titles fall into the Sci-Fi Guys category will get a full treatment, and a cross post here.

This place is gunna be hoppin'; and hopefully turn into a real blog!

~Rodney

Some Exciting News!

I'm happy to announce that I am now a member of The Seventh Star Press Team. Which means, I'll be posting bi-weekly blogs on anything and everything regarding the publishing industry, writing, reading and overall nerdgasmic stuff!

Here's the link: http://www.seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/

My first blog is entitled: My Life as a Reviewer: A Love Affair

Enjoy!

~Rodney

The Last Book.

With Borders' last dirge being played, I figured it was only appropriate that I share with you all, the last book I'll ever buy from Borders. Even though it's just a book, it's special to me.

For the longest time I've been wanting to pick up a copy of Walter Jon Williams incredible novel Implied Spaces, but for one reason or another I've never been able to pick up a copy. And so, on my last trip to Borders with my lovely girlfriend, I went ahead and spent the $4.27 instead of the regular $8.55 for it. And boy, am I glad I did!

For those writerly types out there, have you ever wandered across a book while browsing the isles of your book store to discover a title that looks interesting? Only to pick it up, get five pages into it and realize that it's the same first five pages on your current Work-in-Progress, or a story that you've put to the side for the time being?

Implied Spaces is the second of such occurances for me. The first being James Enge's phenomenally fantastic Blood of Ambrose, which I'm happy to report is nothing like my story. (I've read Blood of Ambrose something like eight times now. For good measure, you understand. Can't be ripping off poor Mr. Enge, now can I?)

I still haven't found the time to read Implied Spaces yet, but when I have done so, I'll post an in-depth review about it.

Until then, I'll leave you with this question: Have there been any books that you wish you had written, and if so, why?

~Rodney

Back In The Saddle

Well, I'm back in the saddle. Not that I ever fell off, mind you. I just lost the time of day -- a year and a half to be precise -- thanks to school, life, reviewing, writing and yahoo.com. Somehow I managed to lock myself out of my e-mail account for signing in to Blogger, and the password. After several tries all ending in dead ends, today I was finally successful. So, here I am.

This site will be getting a face-lift here soon. The majority of it will stay the same: it will still be used for my writing, musings, rants and whatever the hell else I decide to throw on here. What will be changing: the look, feel and approach.

It will take some time to get everything in the order I want it, but time I've got. For now I'm okay with being back in the saddle.

~Rodney

I, Will: 2. Good news and bad noose.

2. Good news and bad noose.

I awoke to my alarm at 9:30, just like I did every morning. After drinking a cup of coffee and looking at the Sunday paper, I got cleaned up, shaved, donned my army jacket and hopped in the old Chevy. I took out eight hundred from the pretty black girl behind the counter at the Bank & Trust, and made my way downtown to the little private one bush plane airport.

When I walked in, the receptionist – a twenty something broad with an IQ the size of her bust – smiled at me and asked for my name.

“Will Flynn. I was wondering if I could rent one of those planes over there,” I nodded to the window and the plane that was parked in hangar C, “and of course a pilot. Hoping a gentleman named Ned might be around today to take me up.”

The receptionist with the low IQ smiled as her fingers fluttered away on the keyboard. Her gum popped and snapped as she scrunched her face at the computer screen in concentration. “Well, I got some good news and some bad,” she said, mutilating news into noose. Something I wished I had at that point in time.

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Ned’s here, but busy.”

“Fine, I’ll wait.” I said, taking a seat twenty feet away, underneath a painting of palm trees on some distant beach, far from southern Iowa. I day dreamed about sitting on that beach, sand between my toes, enveloped in the shade of the palm trees, swinging back and forth between a pair of ‘em, in a hammock. Outside storm clouds were brewing.

I, Will: 1. 10 Again.

1. 10 Again.

When mom had gotten home from work she was still angry about the phone call incident, but didn’t seem to want to talk about it too much. She looked tired, and her clothes were all out of whack, like she had tried dressing herself with one hand in the dark, drunk off her ass.

The drunk off her ass part I could believe.

“Go to bed. Tomorrow you and I are going to go somewhere, and I want you to be as well rested as possible,” she told me, her cold lips kissing me on the forehead. I returned the kiss, only I placed mine on her cheek. It was cold and clammy, and up close I realized that she smelt like dirt and Rosco – my hamster – after I had found him decomposing behind my dresser, a month after he escaped from his cage.

Edgar Allan Fucking Poe...

Yeah, it's inappropriate and rude, but I don't care. Nobody reads this blog anyways... If you haven't seen this yet, then I'm in shock, so, without further ado, here it is, courtesy of author Tom Piccirilli who posted it on Facebook, and author Brian Keene, who in-turn posted it on his blog:

For those of you who don't know anything about Poe, you probably won't understand a single thing about this poster. That is why I suggest you do some research. Poe is one of the Godfathers of the Horror genre, and for good reason!

On another note: I know, I know, I never posted a quote for this week, but it's been one hell of a week, so please forgive me this once. As of recently life had veered out of control, and there was a lot of things that I needed to do personally, before things could happen on here again.