All posts by philgiunta@ptd.net

Blog, Book Signings, Events, Writing and Publishing

Easton Book Festival

The Easton Book Festival will take place the weekend of October 25-27, 2019 at various locations throughout downtown Easton, PA.

As part of the festival, the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group is sponsoring a series of writing workshops, presentations, and discussion panels on Saturday and Sunday at the Easton campus of Northampton Community College on the corner of 3rd and Pine Streets (adjacent to the Crayola Experience).

At this time, the topics have been selected, but the schedule is still tentative. I will present a one-hour session on self-editing called “Trim Your Story” on Saturday at noon and  another one-hour session called “Time Management for Writers” on Sunday at 1PM. I’m also slated to participate in  a discussion panel called “Writing in the 21st Century” on Saturday at 2PM.

Other authors will present topics on writing memoir, poetry, biographies, historical fiction, cover design, traditional publishing, and much more. I will post the final schedule when it becomes available.

In between all of that, I will have a table where my books will be available.  Looking forward to a weekend dedicated to the love of literature. Hope to see you there!

Blog, Book Reviews

Book Review: Stalking Kilgore Trout by Rachel C. Thompson

Stalking Kilgore TroutAn entertaining collection of clever stories addressing religious, governmental, and LGBTQ themes, Stalking Kilgore Trout showcases Thompson’s breadth as a storyteller, offering an imaginative variety of characters, plots, and settings. The tales range from silly and outlandish to serious and critical, with more than a few that are blatantly—and perhaps intentionally—“on the nose.”

My only criticism is that the manuscript would have benefitted from a more thorough proofreading. Nevertheless, there were several gems including “Mary Cook and the Railway Men,” “Stalking Kilgore Trout,” “Death by Lawnmower,” “The Jesus Probe,” “Going Up the Mountain,” “The Witch Child,” and “A Cat’s Tale.”

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

2 Comments

This week, Anne R. Allen laments the rise of “dark pattern marketing” by authors who attempt to bully potential readers by invading their privacy.

Dana Isaacson advises us on the effective use of flashbacks while Kristen Lamb reminds us of what it takes to be successful.

Going by the numbers, Jordan Dane expounds seven categories of conflict and Chris Winkle offers six types of climactic turning points. Oren Ashkenazi warns us to be aware of the messages we’re communicating through our writing and Angela Ackerman delves into the repercussions of fear.

All that and plenty more. Enjoy!

Is a “Personal Relationship” with Authors What Readers Want? by Anne R. Allen

How to Write Amazing Flashbacks by Dana Isaacson

Key Types of Conflict: Which One Best Fits Your Story? by Jordan Dane

In It to WIN It: How Committed Are You to Being a Successful Author? Kristen Lamb

Six Types of Turning Points for Climaxes and Filling In Your Story’s Middle by Chris Winkle

Depicting Characters Held Back by Fear by Angela Ackerman

Authorial Endorsement 101 by Oren Ashkenazi

Give Your Reader an Experience by Kathryn Craft

Negotiating Social Privilege as a Writer by Rheea Mukherjee

The Wonders of Your Character’s World View by Jim Dempsey

 

Blog, Sales

Firebringer Take Two on sale at Amazon!

The paperback version of Firebringer Press’s first double novel is available for $6.65 on Amazon (normally $10.99)! Good thing it isn’t one penny higher! Nyaaah!
 
👻🧛‍♂️ Ghosts, Vampires, and American History… 👻🧛‍♂️
 
Firebringer Take Two combines Steven H. Wilson’s vampire tale, FREEDOM’S BLOOD with Phil Giunta’s paranormal mystery, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTERS in the format of the classic double novel (read one story, flip the book over and read the other!).
Firebringer Take 2 Cover
 
Click here for more details! Since Amazon plays with pricing at random, we’re not certain how long this sale will last. Thank you for supporting small press authors!
Firebringer Take 2 - eBook Cover
Blog, Book Reviews

Book Review: Arthur C. Clarke’s Voices from the Sky

Voices from the Sky by Arthur C ClarkeDivided into three sections, Voices from the Sky delivers a series of enjoyable essays–some prescient, others less so–on topics ranging from spaceflight and communication satellites to the future of human culture as shaped by technological advancement.

While many of Clarke’s predictions have come to pass, others miss the mark including the elimination of business travel and the obsolescence of cities as a result of video conferencing and a global communications network. So enthusiastic was he about the U.S.A.’s burgeoning space program of the 1960s, that Clarke predicted mankind’s expansion to the moon, Mars, and beyond. He could not have known that budget cuts would curtail our space program by the 1990s.

Still, Clarke’s considerable talents as a science fiction writer and science communicator, combined with his cosmopolitan viewpoint, provide fascinating insights from a time when humanity was just entering the space age.

Blog, Book Reviews

Book Review: The Making of Star Trek II by Allan Asherman

Making of Star Trek II by Allan AshermanAn excellent and succinct account of the making of what is arguably the best entry in the Star Trek film franchise. Asherman’s book recounts the genesis of the story, the various drafts of the script, the and the special effects as created by ILM. Through interviews with producers Harve Bennett and Robert Sallin, director Nicholas Meyer, and cast members Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley, we gain insight into the creative decisions that went into crafting the plot, the music, the wardrobe, and—most especially—the death of Spock.