Being the upstanding writer-type he is, you can read a [...]]]> Ebook shorts, that is! This Mayday, May 1, 2010, Edward G. Talbot is releasing two ebook collections of short stories. A Funny Pair of Shorts contains three humorous shorts, while  A Horrifying Pair Of Shorts has three horror stories. Each set is only 99 cents!

Being the upstanding writer-type he is, you can read a sample of the stories, so you know what you are getting into.

• Sample the Funny Shorts
• Sample the Horror Shorts

For all of the details, including a groovy contest, go to Edward G. Talbot’s site right now!

In Lost Gods, Coyote takes Anansi to a Hold Steady show. [...]]]> Anyone who knows me, or who has read Lost Gods, knows how important The Hold Steady is to me. I am pretty sure they are the best band making music right now, and I often (or always) listen to them when I am writing.

In Lost Gods, Coyote takes Anansi to a Hold Steady show. That concert experience was lifted from my own expereince seeing the band at the Opera House here in Toronto a few years back:

The lights went down, and the curtains opened, revealing a somewhat motley looking group of musicians in standard rock and roll formation. Drums, keyboard, lead and bass guitar, fronted by a wildly enthusiastic front man. They launched into their first song, a story of booze soaked love and redemption that managed to avoid being cliché, and the crowd exploded. Coyote’s eyes were shining as he looked at the stage, wide with wonder and delight.

“Let’s go down,” he shouted. We swept down the stairs, and immediately felt the wall of heat from the crowd. Coyote, with a carnivore’s instinct for sneaking around unnoticed, lead us in a winding path through the packed bodies, until we were directly in the middle of them. We settled in behind two large indie kids, their shoulders making an inverted proscenium arch through which I had the perfect view of the stage. Song after song, the band played, drank, and communed with their audience. The subject material was dark; people living on the fringes of life, with a tenuous grasp on reality. I could relate. What was amazing is that no matter how dark the song, no matter how bleak the lives of the characters, the singer was so enthusiastic, so happy. The show was like a perfect distillation of joy, for all to indulge in. Joy as the new drug. And the audience was hooked. For over two hours the band played, giving their heart and soul to this celebration of life. It was staggering. Finally, they finished, and we went out into the night.

All this to introduce the new album, streaming below. Enjoy.

I know what you are saying right now. “Drew is being awfully complementary, he must want something.” If that is what you were thinking, shame on you. I don’t want anything from you.

Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing.

I have a short story up at [...]]]> Hey all you beautiful people,

I know what you are saying right now. “Drew is being awfully complementary, he must want something.” If that is what you were thinking, shame on you. I don’t want anything from you.

Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing.

I have a short story up at Smashwords.com. It’s called Double Deal. It already has 1 four star review, and Patrick Pillars says:

“Double Deal is a very good story with a protagonist you’re pulling for, right from the beginning. With excellent description and crisp language, the reader is right there, right in the story. I look forward to more titles from Mr. Beatty.”

So that is pretty cool.

Here is the other cool thing. You can buy it for just 99 cents! I mean, 99 cents, less than the cost of a cup of coffee, and you can have Double Deal in a variety of eBook formats. Take it with you on the go. Read it on your phone, computer, laptop, or iPad thingie.

You can buy it here. I hope you like it.

Look at that math. I have two Pod Novels out. Other Toronto area writers [...]]]> I know, that seems bold doesn’t it. Not “one of Toronto’s Podcast Novelists”, or even “A pretty good Podcast Novelist from the Toronto area”. No, Toronto’s greatest Podcast Novelist. Me. Why do I make that claim? The answer is simple. Volume.

Look at that math. I have two Pod Novels out. Other Toronto area writers only have one. Let’s break it down.

Terry Fallis: Yeah, the guy won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour, Canada’s biggest literary prize for humorous books, and winning that award on the basis of his self-published book got him a publishing deal, but how many books does he have out: One.

Steve Saylor: Yes, Steve Saylor is huge in the new media field, and always has some new project or another cooking. But how many books does he have out: One.

John Mierau: Yes, his Serving Worlds podcast is very popular. Even Robert J. Saywer blogged about it. But how many books does he have out: One.

James Melzer: Okay, so his book The Zombie Chronicles: Escape hugely popular, and he got a publishing deal with Simon and Schuster. But how many books does he have out: One.

I know, you could point to his “Invasion” as a second book, or his Twists of Fate project with Jenny Hudock , but I am disqualifying them on the basis that they are incomplete works.

Me, I’ve got two books out. TWO BABY!

So, I win.

So, what does this mean for you, the reader? Well, I’m glad you asked that. Now that I am Toronto’s Greatest Podcast Novelist, I am going to take my job a little bit more seriously. I will be adding more content, fiction and non-fiction. I will try to write some reviews, talk about other podnovel works, and try to be a more engaging presence, generally. Also, I will be working harder on my third novel, currently titled “The book that I cannot think of a good title for,” although I am not sure how that scans.

Stay tuned, people, there will be a lot of fun ahead!

Drew.

P.S. If you made it this far and didn’t realize I was joking yet, please realize that I was joking.

kthxbai

P.P.S. Except for the part about making more content and it being more fun. It will be.

Over and out.

Being a foreign student in Canada is an expensive proposition, but for Pierce Derks it is double frustrating. Is an American who has applied for permanant [...]]]> Community is about forging relations, and helping people whenever possible. I have come across an interesting opportunity to help someone, and I thought I would share it with you.

Being a foreign student in Canada is an expensive proposition, but for Pierce Derks it is double frustrating. Is an American who has applied for permanant residency in Canada, a bright committed person who wants to live and work and contribute to Canada. The government is dragging it’s heels processing this, and now Pierce is on the hook for $10,000 in educational fees. He can’t cover this.

His friends have set up a website at SavePierce.org, and they are hoping ordinary people will consider donating $10.00. If you can’t afford $10.00, perhaps you could donate $5.00. Really, any amount, just as long as we can keep great talents like this in Canada!

If you are reading this and you are American, sorry, but we want to keep him!

You need to prepare yourself.

This is only the beginning.

Warts and all. Like I have said, this is still just a draft. I am working on the editing a little bit, while trying to keep up with writing and editing a few stories. But, the rough copy is up, although the ending is the weakest writing, I was rushing to GET IT DONE. [...]]]> 03.05.06

Warts and all. Like I have said, this is still just a draft. I am working on the editing a little bit, while trying to keep up with writing and editing a few stories. But, the rough copy is up, although the ending is the weakest writing, I was rushing to GET IT DONE. Now it’s done, and up. Lemme know what you think!

So, the novel (at least the first draft that is going up here so far) is finished. Complete. Done.

Now, I just have to edit, and edit, and edit a little bit more after that.

And then there is the editing to do.

But the first draft? Done.