Unfaithful to the Parodyverse.

I admit it. I’ve been seeing someone else. That’s part of why I haven’t been around too much. I’ve been taking money for it.

More specifically, financial constraints finally pushed me to abandon my long-held refusal on selling my fiction writing. My reasoning has always been that when your hobby becomes your job it’s time for a new hobby. However, my current reasoning is I have bills to pay and less money in my bank account right now than I gave away to charity last year.

So, first up is a short story for the Sentinels superhero series. That’s an Avengers-style team usually written by Van Allen Plexico. I’m a bit hazy about exactly which hardcover and softcover volume my short story is in, but it’s there somewhere and when I get sent a copy I’ll let you know. The story is very short indeed and it’s called “Worst Origin Ever”, written to echo the feel and content of those old Ditko/Lee Journeys into Mystery or Tales of Suspense.

Then there’s “The Girl in the Glass Coffin”, one of eight stories in an anthology about a Solomon Kane-type adventurer in the 18th century, published by Airship 27. The other contributors are all established authors and I even own books by some of them! That’s due out sometime around summer and I’ve already been asked to submit a story for the planned volume 2, a tale called “The Witchfinder’s Frog”.

Also for Airship 27 I wrote “The Western Mail” for a collection of new Sherlock Holmes tales. However, due to a mixup about the length of story they wanted that one’s now scheduled for volume 2 and I’ve had to write another one, “Dead Man’s Manuscript”, for volume 1 – so I’ll actually fill one quarter of the whole book with that novella.

Finally, I was shocked to find out that “Assembled”, a collection of essays and comments on the Avengers comic book that I contributed quite a few items to is still selling pretty well (more units than around 1/3 of Marvel’s trade paperbacks, so I’m told). Therefore “Assembled 2” is scheduled to be out for this year’s convention season and I’m a major contributor to that too. All the proceeds of these two volumes go to charity, so if anybody wants one you’re best to buy direct off the publisher, White Rocket Books, because then Amazon or Barnes & Noble don’t cream off 60% of the profits each time.

People are even enquiring about publishing whole books by me, but I’m holding off on that until I see how my experience of short story publishing goes. I admit I do have six completed novels sitting on my hard drive, plus a four-volume fantasy story, so if I do decide to go for broke at least I have some back catalogue.

One strange correspondence I’ve had of late has been around a pen name. At the moment I think I’ll be using I. A. Watson to differentiate me from that other guy who keeps on selling books; but suggestions are welcome.

Anyhow, once I’ve surfed the current wave of “get Ian to write this” – and the current wave of “Here’s another letter from the court about your divorce/custody battle” - I hope to be back to writing for the PVB as usual, and catching up on other people's efforts. Assuming I’m not locked out and made to sleep on the couch.

IW

Congrats on getting your work published, even though the circumstances behind you deciding to go that route aren't ideal. I am one of those who bought the Avnegers Assemble book and would probably purchase the second. And this Sentinels anthology appears to have a couple of things going for it, judging by the cover.

Good to hear from you, now and in the future, no matter what pen name you choose to take.

I'm glad you haven't left the PVB entirely. I admit I was a little worried at first - because a lot of people, when they go through tough times like a divorce and a negative career change, one of the first things they think of is "leave the old life behind and start over". Then they often cut off all ties to everything that came before for a fresh start. Most of the time that's a pity, unless it's someone involved in crime or drugs.

Also glad you didn't adopt the "I'm a pro writer now, I can't be seen with you losers!" thing some newly pro writers do.

Happy that you're getting some money out of it. Wish I knew how to do the same, but my resources and exposure in the writing world are very limited.

Anyway, good luck and hope to see something posted from you soon.

Nice to hear that your getting some recognition outside of our little group.

I've also kind of a been unfaithful to the PVMB. Another group I'm apart of is starting up a Super Hero RPG & from what I've read in what the universe will become I saw a few things that I reminded me of here. Also, I think my time here will greatly benefit me when it does get off the ground. I've also noticed that my creation for that "game" seems to be an L! greatest hits compilation: I've been able draw connections to STL, Ham-Boy, Catherine & various other things. There are also ideas I'm using that I've had in mind but just hadn't gotten around to using here.

I definitely understand your perspective here, but hey, there are certainly worse ways to make a paycheque. Especially in today's economy.



Well, hopefully the experience is a positive one. Not that I'd ever want you to stop writing around here, but at the same time I think you deserve the wider exposure (and, y'know, money) that comes with being published. So, congratulations, Ian! I'll make a note to check into how I can get a hold of your upcoming stories.



I'm sure there'll always be a warm bed for you here. But me, they make sleep out back in a tent. (But that's probably to be expected, at this point...)

Quote:
Unfaithful to the Parodyverse.

I admit it. I’ve been seeing someone else. That’s part of why I haven’t been around too much. I’ve been taking money for it.

More specifically, financial constraints finally pushed me to abandon my long-held refusal on selling my fiction writing. My reasoning has always been that when your hobby becomes your job it’s time for a new hobby. However, my current reasoning is I have bills to pay and less money in my bank account right now than I gave away to charity last year.

So, first up is a short story for the Sentinels superhero series. That’s an Avengers-style team usually written by Van Allen Plexico. I’m a bit hazy about exactly which hardcover and softcover volume my short story is in, but it’s there somewhere and when I get sent a copy I’ll let you know. The story is very short indeed and it’s called “Worst Origin Ever”, written to echo the feel and content of those old Ditko/Lee Journeys into Mystery or Tales of Suspense.

Then there’s “The Girl in the Glass Coffin”, one of eight stories in an anthology about a Solomon Kane-type adventurer in the 18th century, published by Airship 27. The other contributors are all established authors and I even own books by some of them! That’s due out sometime around summer and I’ve already been asked to submit a story for the planned volume 2, a tale called “The Witchfinder’s Frog”.

Also for Airship 27 I wrote “The Western Mail” for a collection of new Sherlock Holmes tales. However, due to a mixup about the length of story they wanted that one’s now scheduled for volume 2 and I’ve had to write another one, “Dead Man’s Manuscript”, for volume 1 – so I’ll actually fill one quarter of the whole book with that novella.

Finally, I was shocked to find out that “Assembled”, a collection of essays and comments on the Avengers comic book that I contributed quite a few items to is still selling pretty well (more units than around 1/3 of Marvel’s trade paperbacks, so I’m told). Therefore “Assembled 2” is scheduled to be out for this year’s convention season and I’m a major contributor to that too. All the proceeds of these two volumes go to charity, so if anybody wants one you’re best to buy direct off the publisher, White Rocket Books, because then Amazon or Barnes & Noble don’t cream off 60% of the profits each time.

People are even enquiring about publishing whole books by me, but I’m holding off on that until I see how my experience of short story publishing goes. I admit I do have six completed novels sitting on my hard drive, plus a four-volume fantasy story, so if I do decide to go for broke at least I have some back catalogue.

One strange correspondence I’ve had of late has been around a pen name. At the moment I think I’ll be using I. A. Watson to differentiate me from that other guy who keeps on selling books; but suggestions are welcome.

Anyhow, once I’ve surfed the current wave of “get Ian to write this” – and the current wave of “Here’s another letter from the court about your divorce/custody battle” - I hope to be back to writing for the PVB as usual, and catching up on other people's efforts. Assuming I’m not locked out and made to sleep on the couch.

IW

Quote:
Nice to hear that your getting some recognition outside of our little group.

I've also kind of a been unfaithful to the PVMB. Another group I'm apart of is starting up a Super Hero RPG & from what I've read in what the universe will become I saw a few things that I reminded me of here. Also, I think my time here will greatly benefit me when it does get off the ground. I've also noticed that my creation for that "game" seems to be an L! greatest hits compilation: I've been able draw connections to STL, Ham-Boy, Catherine & various other things. There are also ideas I'm using that I've had in mind but just hadn't gotten around to using here.

I'm glad I passed by while that was at the top of the list.

Does that mean (he says hopefully) that we might see the fall of Atlantis in print?

As far as pen names, I always said you should publish as Karen Kilbraith...