Nicole Givens Kurtz :: Blog

Greetings again from MileHiCon 37, here in Denver, CO.

I had a great time reading this morning. I read with author, Deborah LeBlanc, and she was powerful, enchanting reader. I read after her, and I hope I entertained the three people that showed on this morning to listen.

After the reading I headed down to the dealer's room and tried to generate some interest in my work. Nothing doing. One woman took the book out of my hand, read the backcover and said, "Uh, no!" She shoved the book into my hands and stalked off as if I had somehow offended her. Another woman kindly looked at all three of my works, but politely declined to purchase any.

The good news is that I met several new, fun, and totally hilarious authors while at this convention. I had a great time, spent time with David Lee Summers and some of my other friends, like Cindy Clark. I sold a few books, bought many more books to read, and overall had a good time.

I am sorry too that it had to end. As I packed the bags into the trunk (okay, I didn't do it; my husband did), I felt sad that it was over so soon. Overall, I bill this con as a successful one, and one I will probably go to again next year.

Kurtz signing off again from MileHiCon 37.

Greetings again from MileHiCon 37, here in Denver, CO. I had a fantastic time today. As it is 2:09 MST, I have just returned from the Tails of the Talisman room party, where editor David Lee Summers and art director, Laura Givens and other Talisman contributors met together to have a good time. Yours truly will have an upcoming story in the Volume 2, Issue 2 Tales of the Talisman. Stay tuned here to read more about that.

I was on two panels today and had on autograph session. The first panel dealt with the best "out of your world" fiction and films. The panel spent a lot of time coming up with what "out of your world" meant and then later we came up with a somewhat incomplete list of fiction and films that are "out of your world." See my newsletter for more discussions on this topic.

The second panel I was on was the Tales of the Talisman panel. There David Lee Summers and J Alan Erwine discussed small press magazine publishing and the general tone of their respected magazines. I was on this panel as a writer/contributor to Tales and as a former editor/publisher of an online magazine, Mocha Memoirs, to which I operated from 1998 to 2003. The audience for this one was smaller, but it was still a great deal of absolute fun.

I did have an author's signing scheduled, and I met some fantastic people. I even sold some copies of Zephyr Unfolding. I love cons, and the primary reason I do is because I actually get to talk to people about science fiction and fandom, along with the occasional writing conversation tossed in for good measure.

I ate at Chedd's again, and I went to a fantastic middle eastern restaurant with my friends that live in Denver. Had some great food and intriguing conversations about cults, Ethiopia, and fandom.

All in all today was a good day (though not to die). I read from Zephyr Unfolding tomorrow at 10 am and then I'll leave around 12:30.

I think I made some good contacts and some good memories.

Kurtz signing off from MileHiCon 37.

Greetings from MileHiCon 37 in Denver, CO.

Thanks in part to this blog, I will be able to write about my experiences at this particular convention while I am actually here; as opposed to writing it later on when I get home to Gallup.

Tonight I participated in the Authors' Alley massive autograph sessions. Authors were sprinkled around and inside the Dealer's Room. I met some nice people, and talked at length to David Lee Summers, who's book, Vampires of the Scarlet Order, is doing quite well with fans of horror and Las Crues.

I did have an apple martini at a Japanese restaurant (I do not recommend doing that for reasons I care NOT to go into right now). Otherwise the sushi was good, and the fresh water eel was good too. I liked it and will probably go back again tomorrow. Unless of course I get invited out to dinner with someone else.

Conventions are supposed to pair writers with readers and fans with their icons, but it hasn't been that way for me. In fact, most conventions I go to seem to be a bit cliquey. I mean, the "traditionally published" authors hang together, and the small press authors kind of look through the glass at the "cool" authors chatting away with each other. I know I'm probably generalizing, but you'll have to find it in your heart to forgive me. I think we should all sit together and talk as peers, but again, I'm dreaming of a writers utopia--a place were who published you is not the topic of conversations, or status, but the level of writing is the goal and important piece.

I know, I know...it's a dream.

But why dream at all if you're not going to do it right?

Nevertheless, I got some cool magazines, posters and conversations from some convention goers. I saw a funny, horror, and semi-pornographic movie made with a low budget and tongue-in-cheek humor. Though some people did leave because the content was graphic, I found it funny and a bit predictable. Won't type the name of said movie here...people are still at the con and the director is selling copies of it on DVD.

I'll report again tomorrow...well after 12:52 here. I have three panels tomorrow and an author signing.

Wish me luck and lots of success.

I'll write tomorrow and let you loyal readers know how good your wishing did for my luck.

Kurtz signing off from MileHiCon 37.

A few weeks ago I blogged about my need for recognition, about the reason why I write.
I wrote on that heartfelt blog entry, “Sure my novels and short stories mean something to me, well, more than something; they mean a lot to me. Yet the acknowledgement that they meant something to others...complete strangers, now that is why I write."

Well, for all of my bellyaching and (dare I admit it?) whining, I have finally been recognized. Round Table Reviews has just completed their review of my latest novel, Zephyr Unfolding. A side note: You can read the exciting first chapter for free at my website.



Anyway, here’s what they said…

“ZEPHYR UNFOLDING is a powerhouse of a sequel to BROWNE CANDIDATE. As usual, Nicole Givens Kurtz' storytelling is brilliant. Her characters are compelling, emotional, and very real, and the action is frankly fabulous. ZEPHYR UNFOLDING has everything you are looking for in a science fiction thriller--action, adventure, romance, narrow escapes, and ironic twists of plot. Ms. Kurtz does a great of job of interweaving political drama into the story without seeming heavy-handed or predictable. The cloak-and-dagger sequences are as good as any episode of "Alias" and certainly as well written as Tom Clancy or Larry Bond. Ren and Angel's romance is endearing and both are incredibly noble characters. All-together, ZEPHYR UNFOLDING is a wonderful read. If you are a fan of science fiction, political thrillers, or just looking for a great adventure story, don't miss ZEPHYR UNFOLDING--you'll never forgive yourself!”

I encourage you to read the rest of the review here.

When I read the review, I could hardly believe it. Me--just as good as Clancy? Bond? Even any given "Alias" episode? Well, that is true recognition, isn’t it? When your work is compared to the "greats"in thefield, you've definately made a mark of some kind.

I have in fact gotten exactly what I wanted.

At last someone else—a complete stranger has read my work and acknowledged that my story meant something to them or left some favorable impression upon them. Even more so, that person is encouraging others to try the book too! This is a recommendation I endorse. :-)
Not that this is the first review of my novels. I’ve had many reviews and of course, like most things that solicit an opinion, the reviews have swayed between absolutely dismal to good. Yet this review went beyond good. This review went nuclear!Exploding in a sea of compliments and praise for a job well done.

Am I pleased? Yes. It is always a welcome sight to get good things in the mail, the email, or published online. Sure it’s not a New York Times or Kirkus Review, but it is a review all the same.

And it is also a little recognition...

As most aspiring writers know, the waiting for a response from a publisher, agent, or contest is enough to make you want to shot yourself in the head and then (because most writers are zombies) drive out in front of an on-coming truck. Still you wouldn’t be dead and you’d still have to wait to get a response.

For the record, I absolutely detest waiting for a response from publishers, agents, and contest coordinators/judges. Even though I understand completely that there is only a handful of people responsible for handling a trash-collection-truck size amount of submissions, I find the waiting tortuous at best.

Couple that dread for waiting with the automatic and sometimes snotty rejection responses and well, you have the bane of my existence. It is also one reason I publish my work electronically and prefer to submit my queries online as well.

Oh, sure, I can understand the agent’s view of not wanting to come to work and open an email in-box stuffed with six hundred queries. But come on! Join the 21st century! Snail mail is not only slow, but cruel and unusal punishment!

Not that sending my query faster via electronic means guarantees that I’ll get a response sooner. There are still some agents I have never heard from and it’s been years! So, how can I, a writer, and one who needs an agent, publisher, etc. to look at my work reconcile myself to the wait?

I don’t really know. Many articles about writing state that I should busy myself with my other works or begin writing something new.

Good advice, and honestly, it does keep me busy for awhile, but then…

The new project is ready to be published (in my opinion) and so the cycle begins a new…I write a query letter and wait for a response.

Pretty soon I am waiting for many responses and I have to create a spreadsheet just to keep up with what’s come in and what’s gone out.

Nevertheless it is a necessary evil of the business, and I know it.

I just wanted to vent about it here…