There 'is no authority for the abuse of cheese',or so we're told. Maybe she's right. Perhaps potatoes are the best ingredient for breakfast. Could we have it all wrong? Breakfast is dinner, dinner should really include cereal???
I hear it's best for dieting. The metabolism is raring to work first thing, before the sluggish plodding of night.
Poor Stein, she has a bad rep. What with all the oddities of her use of language. Showing the readers that not a thing makes sense. Why should it? In fact what if the reverse, the oddities of convention make more sense. If of course there is sense.
'Why am I reading this!' I hear you scream. Is there a point? Well, no. Not really. The point is that there is no point. This is the joy of Gertrude Stein.
For the best Stein poem follow this link http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88v/ifitoldnew.html
Or, even better, an interpretive dance to the poem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NppkBGkMctI
Introducing the world to oddities and away from convention!
Monday 9 April 2012
Monday 2 April 2012
First book!
Eight weeks to plan, write, edit and produce a book. Wow! Busy few weeks, I can tell you! The book launch is looming, only a few days before the speech begins. I'm not a public speaker, not about my own work anyway. This speech could be the most grueling aspect! It's only five minutes sure, five very long minutes, of fumbling over words and sweat. Buckets of sweat. Not to mention the blushing, lighting the room like a beacon.
Oh, for any crime lovers find my book at blurb.com, then search my book Ann-Marie Fleming, The Scenic Route.
A quick synopsis: Julia Penn is an ice cream munching criminal detective. Sent to Rome to solve a murder, where Julia faces drugs and sexism. Will she solve the crime? Or are the limits of the law too much?
It's a short novel, I had a word limit. I would have preferred a longer first novel, but what an experience! An article is due in my local paper, pretty crazy really. Crazy to think of myself as a small time author.
Once this book launch is out of the way I may consider a new project.Perhaps another Penn novel, a longer, more advanced one.
Penn: The Criminal Series will be cool...hmmm...Much work to do if that were ever to be the case.
Until then, I'm a blogger and proud.
Oh, for any crime lovers find my book at blurb.com, then search my book Ann-Marie Fleming, The Scenic Route.
A quick synopsis: Julia Penn is an ice cream munching criminal detective. Sent to Rome to solve a murder, where Julia faces drugs and sexism. Will she solve the crime? Or are the limits of the law too much?
It's a short novel, I had a word limit. I would have preferred a longer first novel, but what an experience! An article is due in my local paper, pretty crazy really. Crazy to think of myself as a small time author.
Once this book launch is out of the way I may consider a new project.Perhaps another Penn novel, a longer, more advanced one.
Penn: The Criminal Series will be cool...hmmm...Much work to do if that were ever to be the case.
Until then, I'm a blogger and proud.
Saturday 25 February 2012
The priority of covers.
The publication date is fast approaching. Keeping priorities in mind, I dwelved away from story writing to designing.
Writers block is a bitch.
However, I can say that the first half of the book is complete.
No pressure. Only two weeks to write the end and edit...
I'm always one for a challenge, but eight weeks to write a book has been stressful.
Not being one for drawing,(a stick man is my limit), the front cover became a hassle. I couldn't steal a picture from the internet, all sorts of copyright problems are there just waiting to happen. The title stared at me, mocking me, parading on a blank cover.
Facebook became a much needed distraction. My resources were used up. People with mindless status' whom I never talk to were more entertaining. Until, thrown into complete boredom I viewed previous photos. My golden light was right there. A picture I had taken in Rome, parading before me like a Parisian flasher.
There was my front cover.
More updates soon on the completion of the story, and the awful editing process.
Writers block is a bitch.
However, I can say that the first half of the book is complete.
No pressure. Only two weeks to write the end and edit...
I'm always one for a challenge, but eight weeks to write a book has been stressful.
Not being one for drawing,(a stick man is my limit), the front cover became a hassle. I couldn't steal a picture from the internet, all sorts of copyright problems are there just waiting to happen. The title stared at me, mocking me, parading on a blank cover.
Facebook became a much needed distraction. My resources were used up. People with mindless status' whom I never talk to were more entertaining. Until, thrown into complete boredom I viewed previous photos. My golden light was right there. A picture I had taken in Rome, parading before me like a Parisian flasher.
There was my front cover.
More updates soon on the completion of the story, and the awful editing process.
Friday 17 February 2012
Crime Novel.
I have recently discussed the need for crime fiction to renew itself away from its current stagnancy. To move it back to literary roots, and away from low brow entertainment.
So, I have embarked on a novel due for publication in April. I cannot promise I have reached all of my goals expressed earlier this month, but I have tried.
Over the next few weeks I shall post about its progress, and how I am trying to get the genre to teach and entertain.
I am not Raymond Chandler, nor Paul Auster, but, I do hope my first novel will lead me in directions to try to be a good as them one day.
So, I have embarked on a novel due for publication in April. I cannot promise I have reached all of my goals expressed earlier this month, but I have tried.
Over the next few weeks I shall post about its progress, and how I am trying to get the genre to teach and entertain.
I am not Raymond Chandler, nor Paul Auster, but, I do hope my first novel will lead me in directions to try to be a good as them one day.
Sunday 5 February 2012
Crime Fiction.
Crime fiction has become dull.
Streams of TV series' and books pounding out the same plots, has reduced crime fiction to low brow. The characters have become stale. Fed up with the drunk detective who is emotionally unattached to the world, I propose a new beginning for a beloved genre.
No longer will it be about cheap thrills for sun seekers, lazing on the beach reading the same methods over and over again. No longer will TV produce the same series just in a different state. It has become absurd. Writers joining together to churn more of the same crap. James Patterson was once a fresh crime writer. Kiss the girls and Along came a spider are excellent books. But now his novels seem reproductions of his past works. He seems to be no longer creating, but replicating.
Writers need to change the expectations of crime fiction.
Raymond Chandler, whom, in my opinion, is one of the great innovators of crime fiction. He tried to make it literary. His style was not that of a paperback, but crime fiction as art. How did we degenerate back?
Paul Auster in recent years has also dealt with the crime fiction form. In 1987, he produced a postmodernist novel called The New York Trilogy that destroyed the genres conventions. Yet, readers and writers have fallen complacent. Accepting the drivel, and not challenging new ways to produce crime fiction as ART.
Edgar Allan Poe, James M. Cain, Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy and Paul Auster have all taken the genre and pushed it as far as they could. It is now our chance to do the same. I am not proposing we write the grotesque to regain the public's attention. Instead, I suggest we experiment with crime fiction's form and characters. The idea is to make it fresh. To make the reader feel like this is the first crime fiction novel produced. To exceed expectations.
Crime affects society. Literature should aim to entertain, but also to teach. It needs to show society itself, without apology. Literature promotes change. We must produce literary and experimental works to revitalise crime fiction, so that it may teach society once more.
Streams of TV series' and books pounding out the same plots, has reduced crime fiction to low brow. The characters have become stale. Fed up with the drunk detective who is emotionally unattached to the world, I propose a new beginning for a beloved genre.
No longer will it be about cheap thrills for sun seekers, lazing on the beach reading the same methods over and over again. No longer will TV produce the same series just in a different state. It has become absurd. Writers joining together to churn more of the same crap. James Patterson was once a fresh crime writer. Kiss the girls and Along came a spider are excellent books. But now his novels seem reproductions of his past works. He seems to be no longer creating, but replicating.
Writers need to change the expectations of crime fiction.
Raymond Chandler, whom, in my opinion, is one of the great innovators of crime fiction. He tried to make it literary. His style was not that of a paperback, but crime fiction as art. How did we degenerate back?
Paul Auster in recent years has also dealt with the crime fiction form. In 1987, he produced a postmodernist novel called The New York Trilogy that destroyed the genres conventions. Yet, readers and writers have fallen complacent. Accepting the drivel, and not challenging new ways to produce crime fiction as ART.
Edgar Allan Poe, James M. Cain, Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy and Paul Auster have all taken the genre and pushed it as far as they could. It is now our chance to do the same. I am not proposing we write the grotesque to regain the public's attention. Instead, I suggest we experiment with crime fiction's form and characters. The idea is to make it fresh. To make the reader feel like this is the first crime fiction novel produced. To exceed expectations.
Crime affects society. Literature should aim to entertain, but also to teach. It needs to show society itself, without apology. Literature promotes change. We must produce literary and experimental works to revitalise crime fiction, so that it may teach society once more.
Thursday 11 August 2011
Youths vs. Order
Policeman 1: (leans forward on the desk, eyebrow raised)Why'd you do it son?
Youth:(Folds his arm) Why not? What do you know about what it's like for us?
Policeman 1: You understand theft of this kind will lead to a prison sentence?
Youth: (shrugs) And?
Policeman 2: Make it easier for yourself, tell us all you know. Give us names. We'll work out a deal.
Youth: I ain't no grass love. (leans back on his chair disgusted)
Policeman 1: (rubs his thumb and forefinger in the corner of his eyes) Are you from London?
Youth: Yeah. You?
Policeman 2: That's none of your concern.
Policeman 1: (Holds up hand to silence her) Yes I am.
Youth:(Leans forward) The nice bit I bet. The problem with you people is that you don't know what it's like. Pushing and shoving. I ain't got a job cos this country's gone to shit. No one helps or listens, just push and push. Then they cut the help they're givin' us. I wanted to be a doctor you know? I didn' want this life. You think I want to be sittin' here with you two wankers? Nah. Benefit cuts, unemployment, raising tuition so people like us can't afford uni? Keeping the rich rich and the poor poor. That's why the country is angry. Tell me your not angry when they make cuts to the NHS. So the sick wait longer, whilst the rich get their private medical care. The country's pissed. Understand?
Policeman 1: And what are you gaining from looting? Burning down the shops of people like yourself?
Youth: We're making a stand.
Policeman 2: Stupid boy.The country makes money whilst shops are open. The country makes money from rental of homes and shops. The money that is used to pay your benefits. You think by ruining people's lively hood you are making this country better?
Youth: You don' understand.
Policeman 2: (stands up and leans over the table) Oh, I understand. You're pissed. Everyone is pissed. But you know what you don't understand? People get punished in this country, punished for theft, punished for arson and punished for violence. And do you know why?
Youth: (turns his head to the floor) Yeah.
Policeman 2: Well you don't. If you did we wouldn't be here. ( Turns to policeman 1) I think we have all the information we need. You tell your friends, this country is angry, but smashing it up is not the way to fix it.
Youth: (shrugs)We're gettin' noticed though ain't we? (leaves the room)
Youth:(Folds his arm) Why not? What do you know about what it's like for us?
Policeman 1: You understand theft of this kind will lead to a prison sentence?
Youth: (shrugs) And?
Policeman 2: Make it easier for yourself, tell us all you know. Give us names. We'll work out a deal.
Youth: I ain't no grass love. (leans back on his chair disgusted)
Policeman 1: (rubs his thumb and forefinger in the corner of his eyes) Are you from London?
Youth: Yeah. You?
Policeman 2: That's none of your concern.
Policeman 1: (Holds up hand to silence her) Yes I am.
Youth:(Leans forward) The nice bit I bet. The problem with you people is that you don't know what it's like. Pushing and shoving. I ain't got a job cos this country's gone to shit. No one helps or listens, just push and push. Then they cut the help they're givin' us. I wanted to be a doctor you know? I didn' want this life. You think I want to be sittin' here with you two wankers? Nah. Benefit cuts, unemployment, raising tuition so people like us can't afford uni? Keeping the rich rich and the poor poor. That's why the country is angry. Tell me your not angry when they make cuts to the NHS. So the sick wait longer, whilst the rich get their private medical care. The country's pissed. Understand?
Policeman 1: And what are you gaining from looting? Burning down the shops of people like yourself?
Youth: We're making a stand.
Policeman 2: Stupid boy.The country makes money whilst shops are open. The country makes money from rental of homes and shops. The money that is used to pay your benefits. You think by ruining people's lively hood you are making this country better?
Youth: You don' understand.
Policeman 2: (stands up and leans over the table) Oh, I understand. You're pissed. Everyone is pissed. But you know what you don't understand? People get punished in this country, punished for theft, punished for arson and punished for violence. And do you know why?
Youth: (turns his head to the floor) Yeah.
Policeman 2: Well you don't. If you did we wouldn't be here. ( Turns to policeman 1) I think we have all the information we need. You tell your friends, this country is angry, but smashing it up is not the way to fix it.
Youth: (shrugs)We're gettin' noticed though ain't we? (leaves the room)
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