tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15938807508512512442024-02-19T08:10:27.951-07:00GashlariaTeresa Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13531372159835328424noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-63797595558194382582011-05-22T13:24:00.003-06:002011-05-22T13:51:22.705-06:00Welcome to Earth<p>Dear Aspen,</p> <p>It all started with a dinner at the restaurant Zupa's. I, of course, was against the idea, because the place makes me sick, what with all the high maintenance girls who frequent it, squandering their men's hard-earned money on dainty soups and salads and chocolate-dipped strawberries, things they feel they're entitled to, neverminding the exorbitant prices nor their male counterparts who modestly exchange the fruit of their labors for un-glamorous but good, old-fashioned, hearty dollar burgers, packed with the real meat of life and smothered with the simple yet godly pleasures such as mayonnaise. I counted twenty-seven women and four men. The whole time we were there (about an hour), not once did any man enter without a woman leading his way.</p> <p>That being said, the food was pretty good. I like Zupa's.</p> <p>Anyway, we were there because your mom had her membranes stripped that morning, which means she was more-or-less induced, which means we were expecting you within twelve to forty-eight hours. So Grandma was watching Ariah, spoiling her, and I was watching your mom, spoiling her. Once again we'd taken up the fruitless topic of naming you. I've come up with so many awesome names (meaning they make me laugh and Teresa cringe), that I'm thinking of writing my own "Name Your Baby" book. Here's a list of a few:</p> <ol><li>Andromeda (I think this is the prettiest name ever, but everyone's against me in it)</li><li>Shwanna</li><li>Scratia</li><li>Tigra</li><li>Vampira</li><li>Valkira</li><li>Fangra</li><li>Elfira</li><li>Smareglyn</li><li>Grimpleasure</li></ol> <p>I'll stop at ten. I guess when it comes to babies, to me they're the ultimate product of dream. I mean, I can dream up a novel or a movie, but in the end, they're nothing more than ideas and illusions. A baby, on the other hand, grows into a god or goddess, a creator of worlds, a self-aware, thinking consciousness, the very best thing I can imagine in the entire universe. So it's hard for me to sum up all that glorious potential with a name like "Susan" or "Sally". I just want to dream and push limits and distance myself from limiting reality and ... well ... be silly.</p> <p>It was about 11:00 PM, and your mom was having heavy contractions. We were watching "Tron Legacy". Cool movie with stunning visuals. Though I think I would have enjoyed it more if it were in German, because (and this is perhaps the first and only time I'll say this) for me the story actually got in the way of the visual experience. I would have preferred either an actually thought-provoking, philosophical piece, or a unabashed mindless trip through a psychedelic, neon world.</p> <p>Turns out they weren't real contractions, just "Braxton Hicks". We both fell asleep disappointed and woke up rather humdrum, saying, "Well ... I guess we have to get back to real life now. I was even contemplating something as depressing as going to work, when to our joy, your mom's water broke. Then it was off to the hospital.</p> <p>Your mom had been terrified of a uterine rupture, which was a threatening possibility with a vaginal birth following a C-Section (VBAC). For a long period it appeared that the contractions weren't progressing, you were stuck, and another C-Section would be necessary. After nearly eleven hours of labor (though your mom insists that it wasn't bona fide labor, because she had two epidurals) and about three hours of pushing, the doctor used a vacuum to latch onto and pull out a cylindrical piece of head. After some more pushing from your mom and pulling from the doctor, the rest of the head was procured, followed by a body. Then there you were, my slimy, new daughter with a cylindrical protrusion of head, the happy ending to a long ordeal. Good had prevailed, and lightning from heaven struck the earth upon the glorious birth of Tigra Gashler.</p> <p>Actually we still hadn't agreed on a name. For the hospital records, you were "Girl Gashler". You're beautiful, life is good, and I do so very much enjoy my vacations at the hospital every few years. The nurses here at the American Fork Intermountain Health Care are among the most saintly women I've met.</p> <p>There has, however, been a complication. Your mom got an amniotic infection called chorio. During labor she had a fever with a high temperature, and your little heart rate was too high for a long time. As a result, you've been separated from us and placed in intensive care for 48 hours, lest you contracted the infection when you were in the womb. It could turn into a week or more of care depending on how things turn out tonight. You're being intravenously fed antibiotics. Your mom's all right, and it appears that you'll be just fine too. Which is kind of boring to write about. I mean, by the time you're reading this, you'll either know that you turned out just fine, or you'll already be very aware of the long and gruesome, sickly life you've suffered as resulting from your unfortunate birth. Or you'll be dead and won't be reading this anyway. In any case, let's just say the air is full of tension, and only fate knows what's in store.</p> <p>The runners up for your name were Evelyn, Lydia, Maya, and Aspen. We've almost agreed on the name Aspen Gashler. That is, we have agreed on it, but at least I haven't fully digested it yet. Maybe because a random woman in the hall told us that it was a tongue twister. Which I can't contest. But maybe you're that kind of girl. Your first name would resound with the crispness of the forest and the smell of sap in the sound "asp". Your last name would jut out like a waterfall with the "sh" of Gashler. Altogether you would be bold and fresh. Aspen.</p> <p>The night of your birth, I told your mom that social media is dumb, and I felt no need to broadcast anything, nor any need to to sift through the resulting list of congratulating prattle. But she insisted that I post something, and as we hadn't agreed on a name yet, I posted, "Please welcome Tigra Gashler to earth." There were lots of replies such as, "Congratulations! How do you pronounce that?" Apparently it was hard for people to believe that any human being would put a tiger into their daughter's name. And alas, your mom wouldn't have it. When she found out this morning, she called me an evil man, though we had a good laugh.</p> <p>Anyway, you're Aspen. Live with it. Like Ariah, your middle name will be yours to decide when you're of a timely age. Though I'm going to recommend right now: Valkyra. You'll have plenty of years to think it over.</p> <p>Oh, and I love you. Even though, as far as I've gotten to know you so far, you're nothing more than a mass of constantly-sleeping baby, exhibiting no personality whatsoever, you beat Ariah in the hair contest. And it looks like you're going to be a blond. Also, I'm pretty sure you're going to be a veterinarian. A space veterinarian. We are in the twenty-first century, after all. I'm gonna go finish my burger now.</p>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-19244611069308086992010-11-06T08:56:00.001-06:002010-11-06T08:56:10.570-06:00Medieval Spice<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div class="video"><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DtXjeSC6-JM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DtXjeSC6-JM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></div><br/><p>Our commercial for "The Bent Sword" musical.</p><br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-31465468936345815312010-11-06T08:54:00.001-06:002010-11-06T08:54:11.386-06:00Our Show Featured in the Daily Herald<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/article_f718f1b0-50da-5b0e-b870-99754adcf232.html'>Read what the press is saying</a><br /> about "The Bent Sword" musical. Our first two performances have gotten <br />fantastic reviews. Please come and be a part of the fun! Our show runs <br />through November 15th, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at <br />7:30 with matinees at 2:30 at the Provo Theater (100 N 100 E). For <br />tickets, visit <a href='http://newplayproject.org/'>newplayproject.org</a>.</div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-19202188888832348682010-10-21T17:18:00.001-06:002010-10-21T17:18:53.330-06:00Free tickets in exchange for your help<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>For The Bent Sword Musical, running from November 4th through<br /> November 15th at the Provo Theater,<br /> we're looking for many props and costumes that could work for a <br />medieval theme. If you have any of the following and would be willing to<br /> lend them to our show (a non-profit, student-funded production that <br />really needs your help), please let us know, and if we can put your <br />item(s) to use, we will happily give you a free ticket to the opening <br />night of our show for each lended item. It's a great cause, a great <br />reward, and it will be great fun. Here's what we need:<br/><br /><br /><br /><br/><br />PROPS:<br/><br /><ul><li>swords</li><li>spears</li><li>helmets</li><li>shields</li><li>armor (chain, plate, leather, etc.)</li><li>rustic or shiny five-pointed stars</li><li>a bendable sword</li><li>large leathery book</li><li>medieval-looking books</li><li>wooden or leather box<br/></li><li>parchment / old paper<br/></li><li>quill and ink<br/></li><li>golden comb</li><li>barrels</li><li>baskets</li><li>satchels or bags</li><li>fake rocks<br/></li><li>plates</li><li>cups</li><li>stocks (you know, for torturing people)<br/></li><li>shackles</li><li>fancy tablecloth</li><li>bow and arrows</li><li>money purses<br/></li><li>crib</li><li>drapes</li><li>dice</li><li>flags / tapestries<br/><br /></li><li>medieval-looking trumpets or horns</li></ul><br />COSTUMES:<br/><br /><ul><li>wizard hats</li><li>nun robe</li><li>monk robes<br/></li><li>male shirts / blouses<br/></li><li>female shirts / blouses<br/></li><li>tunics</li><li>dresses / skirts<br/><br /></li><li>crowns</li><li>aprons</li><li>boots</li><li>shawls</li><li>scarfs</li><li>sashes</li><li>vests<br/></li><li>coats</li><li>kerchiefs<br/></li><li>football shoulder pads</li></ul></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-26369175742794319182010-09-23T10:01:00.000-06:002010-09-23T10:01:00.080-06:00Last Opportunity to Audition<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Today's the last opportunity to audition for The Bent Sword musical at the Provo Theater, 100 N 100 E, from 4:30 - 6:30. Uncle Sam wants you there. <a href='http://thebentsword.com/site/?p=287'>Get more information</a>.<br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-35951352597542684162010-09-18T08:38:00.001-06:002010-09-18T08:38:44.846-06:00Huge Signing Today at Barnes & Noble<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Authorpalooza today at Barnes & Noble in Orem (over 40 authors) from 1 - 4. Be a friend and come visit me in the back of the store while everyone else waits in line to see Brandons Sanderson and Mull<br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-7497340269864882732010-08-30T08:40:00.001-06:002010-08-30T08:40:51.918-06:00The Fleece of Handsomeness RPG<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Citizens of Earth,<br/><br/>Partly as a writing exercise, partly for kicks and giggles, I'm going to be hosting an online role playing game hosted on my blog, based in the medieval world of my novel The Bent Sword. My best ideas for stories have often come from role playing games, so who knows, if your character and story is good, they may end up in future novels. The format will be like this: I write a post establishing the story, then every character may make one comment describing their action. The next day, I update the story. More specific rules will be given in time.<br/><br/>To make the game more interesting, I'm going to send a free copy of The Bent Sword to the winner. The winner is the person who either completes the quest, survives the longest, or the last person who doesn't drop out from boredom. If you're interested, click on the link below, where you'll need to make a comment with the following information:<br/><ol><li>Your character's name</li><li>Any distinguishing attributes of your character</li><li>Why your character isn't lame</li></ol>http://stephengashler.com/?p=479<br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-31314761556466913042010-08-26T20:20:00.002-06:002010-08-26T20:26:48.264-06:00Birds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N_74z8QSxOltT4xCL7eLq-j9Wv42i9nVgGfBkkull0YXIMD6qTf8mpE1AL4OIyR8eOpOo92UUjJ61xzXc4cR0QcYi7D_Cexsvz8HN2jmfjq_RddlvrW_HUf61PG7NI8iSQjXR4d8hrUJ/s1600/img_0961.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N_74z8QSxOltT4xCL7eLq-j9Wv42i9nVgGfBkkull0YXIMD6qTf8mpE1AL4OIyR8eOpOo92UUjJ61xzXc4cR0QcYi7D_Cexsvz8HN2jmfjq_RddlvrW_HUf61PG7NI8iSQjXR4d8hrUJ/s320/img_0961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509909859182471362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReKT7T_swVfCwZebGm3k9mBjplpkHaBMzs5woryZwyTx2ia6QU3ec1wRQUIH1OD-fs-1lJUSd8CpYM2zubyASpOE7YT6hfpw94jo3HwteODvVwvFDanPebG-sZXU8XQiPK1yUBGIB9iHR/s1600/img_0951.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReKT7T_swVfCwZebGm3k9mBjplpkHaBMzs5woryZwyTx2ia6QU3ec1wRQUIH1OD-fs-1lJUSd8CpYM2zubyASpOE7YT6hfpw94jo3HwteODvVwvFDanPebG-sZXU8XQiPK1yUBGIB9iHR/s320/img_0951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509909847234184450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ8K-JC4D9pe3n5dcbOX8qjmFbjc7hArp40_odnYo4qUCvxiANxKJ8OmDYOkEHXTk4Pvo8JGIqQ58DzzuANY1dmnU9wAad0RthMC8YLf0x5fXIMHEKZwPm5VaQeEZd3R4QrBiMaxY9l5T/s1600/img_0950.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ8K-JC4D9pe3n5dcbOX8qjmFbjc7hArp40_odnYo4qUCvxiANxKJ8OmDYOkEHXTk4Pvo8JGIqQ58DzzuANY1dmnU9wAad0RthMC8YLf0x5fXIMHEKZwPm5VaQeEZd3R4QrBiMaxY9l5T/s1600/img_0950.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDRiMRnBfp65gFTmrHzCftuO7-d8tGj63XJPkdF5irumkFWkIJU913dumstYACwfIF4xgh-GF0LN8Xg1Ls2kEba7-eohlC6pvuNJHJh6PSG9_YemviEgLoGc94G6KZr6LgBhLeuREfMcW/s1600/img_0948.jpg"><br /></a>Teresa Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13531372159835328424noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-10280183730506102122010-08-26T19:50:00.012-06:002010-08-26T20:19:18.785-06:00Salem Pond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj531ePTQ26-3WHdwLT2m8ViyNk0sbd1Jy3Szbj3TyBi-Detq3Jz59761LQhS1dSTtNPF9BDNG0nvgyM70aZA8tx6p6c2sF2i2jD7u2wUPEZDr_ByzZIDl2oZ-404zaTBveZ4qkX-9hyphenhypheniFa/s1600/img_0871.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj531ePTQ26-3WHdwLT2m8ViyNk0sbd1Jy3Szbj3TyBi-Detq3Jz59761LQhS1dSTtNPF9BDNG0nvgyM70aZA8tx6p6c2sF2i2jD7u2wUPEZDr_ByzZIDl2oZ-404zaTBveZ4qkX-9hyphenhypheniFa/s320/img_0871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509906074356984610" border="0" /></a><br />This summer we filmed a screenplay I wrote called "Removed". The main character Derek wants to have a Walden experience, so he decides to "live deliberately" by giving up all his worldly possessions to his roommate and starting a new life in the nearby city park. Unfortunately for him, the city park fails to be the Walden fantasy that he's looking for as he confronts skateboarders and a girl who is constantly on her cell phone. As he seeks to learn from nature, he ends up learning what he didn't expect. The movie will be coming out within the next couple of months, so we'll keep you posted.<br /><br />We chose to film it at the beautiful Salem Pond. I highly recommend it as a beautiful park to enjoy a lunch or dinner at with your family or friends. It's huge! It has a big beautiful pond with ducks to feed, a big field to run around on, picnic tables, a playground, and plenty of benches to ponder on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdQrzUwBetJMmDlM-4RprTGrFqyR8pLd-pZiNeh54CJ3hyg-E3qXlSmqgYBI8j1MoRol4zLdbFVbwBILRiSVs3bBTuwmF9Z5DZ-27gtntnGU1ABHeY-bXxecJ53Atg2jo1jXiibnBmzbV/s1600/img_0859.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdQrzUwBetJMmDlM-4RprTGrFqyR8pLd-pZiNeh54CJ3hyg-E3qXlSmqgYBI8j1MoRol4zLdbFVbwBILRiSVs3bBTuwmF9Z5DZ-27gtntnGU1ABHeY-bXxecJ53Atg2jo1jXiibnBmzbV/s320/img_0859.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509904032348876914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyYWFXk4HDB-Sh60yW7EGAbaGRz-xcGVifhySRtBXjOUCJSiW9eObB_1DCRemgPLQnpWqFuS5HcB-sfouiXiH7QUTnlyqeHmu8n8ZFsMdeMznzWEepLXYxST2HTgXO0nKQV1BDjWv7UBW/s1600/img_0869.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyYWFXk4HDB-Sh60yW7EGAbaGRz-xcGVifhySRtBXjOUCJSiW9eObB_1DCRemgPLQnpWqFuS5HcB-sfouiXiH7QUTnlyqeHmu8n8ZFsMdeMznzWEepLXYxST2HTgXO0nKQV1BDjWv7UBW/s320/img_0869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509903825368453458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBEb1JZ_XbHbB8E83fiQT1h-9ww9Iuf4b9NR6QX2rCI0lz0sc4vV-UG-oiB1NLMktfAhy2UU0U7Va8e9OZ-EJS_i3-OfYZkB7VAhTIwIaeqpiQVPRjY4TVleh9olTUzxwlCCf7_tASVf2/s1600/img_0877.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBEb1JZ_XbHbB8E83fiQT1h-9ww9Iuf4b9NR6QX2rCI0lz0sc4vV-UG-oiB1NLMktfAhy2UU0U7Va8e9OZ-EJS_i3-OfYZkB7VAhTIwIaeqpiQVPRjY4TVleh9olTUzxwlCCf7_tASVf2/s320/img_0877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509903623784035570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFq2pFUNrO5hfsltrHyYYrEhHX2-m0-64sC2tNVknMXVZhlBdz3595wlXJzTicOHsAOzy8NdCwQ3YhB1QvUV-CjrdpkG2Rs_FUd65LdQP0kDIa2wZzR_REiOCW7MgD7w81nQ2RWZqG6rD/s1600/img_0886.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFq2pFUNrO5hfsltrHyYYrEhHX2-m0-64sC2tNVknMXVZhlBdz3595wlXJzTicOHsAOzy8NdCwQ3YhB1QvUV-CjrdpkG2Rs_FUd65LdQP0kDIa2wZzR_REiOCW7MgD7w81nQ2RWZqG6rD/s320/img_0886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509903251516915762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9jVwDJVMcid8RRwzgJz9rB4KuY_ijfXAbRzCw1BnDnTugKx_ZJn_2LT6Q4qvAC5INnJmVw0UROqVXjKmE6Evpj-W90U30JIlJGzHoQ-91JQibEmoMsbfQ0HmCNYa9GI2a4uFOBcLhSYd/s1600/img_0902.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9jVwDJVMcid8RRwzgJz9rB4KuY_ijfXAbRzCw1BnDnTugKx_ZJn_2LT6Q4qvAC5INnJmVw0UROqVXjKmE6Evpj-W90U30JIlJGzHoQ-91JQibEmoMsbfQ0HmCNYa9GI2a4uFOBcLhSYd/s320/img_0902.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509902971985840738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6gmlUDwCnvvnhdkS0ExaxPDpwBWkRscHRtFvtSEKN0NU1qEIEHEhTw8DGPQaaitbf8o6cd3RIbf2rmgQpgyBicTJBt5IY1IcoEz5cSs3o6OvV7G17Bcyw1NBYNLqEAPALHR1sEkXfyUh/s1600/img_0905.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6gmlUDwCnvvnhdkS0ExaxPDpwBWkRscHRtFvtSEKN0NU1qEIEHEhTw8DGPQaaitbf8o6cd3RIbf2rmgQpgyBicTJBt5IY1IcoEz5cSs3o6OvV7G17Bcyw1NBYNLqEAPALHR1sEkXfyUh/s320/img_0905.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509902809254422994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7DtHIlU5Z6WBaU8VDWeFkR6v2FNJutjyVKtjGsSfrag3OY7g260XA1debwtDJTZlnlpSlxiQxugDkblea11YAHuzRcG5xiqzrfAykmhJVPSxr9HsxQPlnGOBqujhIwwnKbXYCZRz60pr/s1600/img_0917.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7DtHIlU5Z6WBaU8VDWeFkR6v2FNJutjyVKtjGsSfrag3OY7g260XA1debwtDJTZlnlpSlxiQxugDkblea11YAHuzRcG5xiqzrfAykmhJVPSxr9HsxQPlnGOBqujhIwwnKbXYCZRz60pr/s320/img_0917.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509901994353024594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaNhEWQ1UoenKNe0r9lEFsOWvi9b_CPPN2U5hALICzeLipJozxQlpUGz6SKsu2RDHkMDqXychvFGQNhrjdsCDQ96JHhTFMvkuPfqUNUwTiN6Z6UtIdi1pk_l4iQCDq2l6fWDpGJAEsY2Y/s1600/img_0918.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaNhEWQ1UoenKNe0r9lEFsOWvi9b_CPPN2U5hALICzeLipJozxQlpUGz6SKsu2RDHkMDqXychvFGQNhrjdsCDQ96JHhTFMvkuPfqUNUwTiN6Z6UtIdi1pk_l4iQCDq2l6fWDpGJAEsY2Y/s320/img_0918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509901754565239794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzmyG09eijzN83rvVq18qaD699QoANT3pLn-GmERoAFjNJepwqhWtxZ2HvIDJ2Yqd-y3VIEmg_7YKpJuK4qd1KRVdYAqRb46k18ZFAskjgdLt5KdDH9RWnkOmQfulR_lzZqbWHe8CgE1n/s1600/img_0919.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzmyG09eijzN83rvVq18qaD699QoANT3pLn-GmERoAFjNJepwqhWtxZ2HvIDJ2Yqd-y3VIEmg_7YKpJuK4qd1KRVdYAqRb46k18ZFAskjgdLt5KdDH9RWnkOmQfulR_lzZqbWHe8CgE1n/s320/img_0919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509901581665359026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA2MNGJCaFElRbhKAXiftmNYDsnJdDzPM4lfH2UfDZ7NvbH5QT4x96USPH4ce9FadSDL1XtfIQHBFbYMUN0L7S1HkWMjxs-RrNxLSpT9fTqumlX5mkyBExXP8yLm5GZczMWaSrxL1780P/s1600/img_0930.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlA2MNGJCaFElRbhKAXiftmNYDsnJdDzPM4lfH2UfDZ7NvbH5QT4x96USPH4ce9FadSDL1XtfIQHBFbYMUN0L7S1HkWMjxs-RrNxLSpT9fTqumlX5mkyBExXP8yLm5GZczMWaSrxL1780P/s320/img_0930.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509901290943654610" border="0" /></a>Teresa Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13531372159835328424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-24554946990283405392010-08-18T10:18:00.001-06:002010-08-18T10:18:37.541-06:00Book Giveaway<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Two (and a half) book reviewers are giving away a free copy of The Bent Sword. <a href='http://twoandahalfbooklovers.blogspot.com/2010/08/review-and-giveaway-bent-sword-by.html'>Read their review and enter to win</a>.<br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-89451380820817721152010-08-17T12:40:00.001-06:002010-08-17T12:40:38.749-06:00Book Signing Tonight<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I'll be doing a book signing tonight from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the BYU Bookstore in Provo. You (the ambiguous, statistical cloud of potential customers whom I nevertheless hold an endearing brotherly love for) should come.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=82c1d68a-ca2b-816e-9610-ea272ad5a81d' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-29905887431479431972010-08-05T22:15:00.001-06:002010-08-05T22:15:21.000-06:00Book Seller Conventions<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Tuesday night was a dinner at Cedar Fort in Springville, where LDS booksellers from around the world (some as far as England and Switzerland), came to hear authors pitch their books. We only got two minutes to do so. I think I packed a good punch. It was fun to finally meet some of the people at Cedar Fort that I've been corresponding with for months.<br /><br />Tonight was a similar event at the South Town Expo Center in Sandy, where there was a large mingle with booksellers and authors. It was fun to see how many people were in my same camp ... first time authors that were more or less clueless but gun-ho nonetheless. One bookseller from Montana was very insistent that I needed to come and do a signing at her store. I smiled and nodded, but I can't imagine at this point how that could be economical. Some other booksellers from Idaho told me that they already had my book. That was a pleasant surprise. On top of all the other contacts I made, I tried to bond a little with famous fantasy author James Dashner, but in the end I realized that I hadn't read any of his books and I frankly had nothing to say to him. I became friends with the uncle of another famous fantasy author, Brandom Mull. He promised to buy my book.</div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-75494549537400514442010-08-04T22:10:00.001-06:002010-08-04T22:10:03.119-06:00Teresa's Birthday in Space<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>For Teresa's birthday party last Friday, I turned our basement into the bridge of a Star-Trek-esque spaceship. I accomplished this by creating cool hexagonal shaped architecture with our recording studio soundboards, setting up our laptop computers at a desk with cool screen savers that mimicked Star Trek computers, shutting out the light of the windows with multiple layers of garbage bags, setting up a large flat panel, wide screen TV with my computer, which ran a realistic space simulation program, and by playing a continuous soundtrack I created of spaceship engine hums, futuristic computer noises and all manner of spacey sounds.<br/><br/>Teresa is by no means a Star Trek fan, but in trying to think of something fun and original to do for her (if you're unaware, we have a longstanding tradition of trying to outdo each other with "surprise" birthday parties twice a year), the thought of this was irresistible. I'd hosted a similar party in high school, though with much cruder resources. And frankly, creating amazing space simulations has always been a dream of mine. To get Teresa and myself psyched for the event, we checked out and watched the new movie Star Trek the night before. Unfortunately, neither of us liked it. Though we're just haters.<br/><br/>Of course, when I picked up Teresa, whom I'd sent off to her parents' house, she was under the impression that we had some date plans in Salt Lake City. Though she was no doubt suspicious, as her mom had slightly leaked some information. When she entered our basement, many friends and family members, dressed in Star Trek outfits, soluted her as captain and escorted her to the captain's chair. She didn't known any Star Trek jargon, and as her first mate, I wasn't very good at it either. But our crew improvised well enough to get us launched deep into space, when, not long after, there was a transmission from an enemy ship (friends in the basement bedroom who communicated with us through a multiple camera setup and a TV of their own). Enemies boarded our ship, violent struggles ensued, engines were deactivated, victims were hurled into the vacuum of space, the captain was kidnapped, rescue missions were sent, etc., and it was good fun ... though short-lived. It was short-lived because our basement, in the heat of July, with nothing to cool it but a single fan, was so unbearably hot, especially in the super-insulated spaceship, that no one could take much of it before having to go outside and cool down.<br/><br/>Tragically, we forgot to take a picture of the spaceship.<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=103df4b3-f176-8095-8183-0416867173e1' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-1865014050969828372010-08-03T22:52:00.001-06:002010-08-04T22:15:36.838-06:00A Message From Lord Bore<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><embed width='300' height='230' allowfullscreen='true' allowscriptaccess='always' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://blip.tv/play/hfBGgfODWQA'> </embed> <br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5d88e2ee-2c6b-8cea-b40d-6f87146c2932' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-33666573054570713652010-07-27T17:10:00.001-06:002010-07-27T17:10:12.088-06:00Last chance to win a free book<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Less than a day left to win a copy of The Bent Sword. Enter now before <br />bees come down and eat your bones! <a mce_href='http://tiny.cc/0kn7f' href='http://tiny.cc/0kn7f'>http://tiny.cc/0kn7f</a></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-20894373780689303322010-07-21T11:01:00.001-06:002010-07-21T11:04:15.024-06:00Book Giveaway<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>We'll be giving away a copy of The Bent Sword one week from today to a randomly selected person from our email list, so if you haven't subscribed to our email list yet, now's the time! <a href='http://thebentsword.com'>http://thebentsword.com</a><br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-88759042636407614062010-07-19T11:27:00.001-06:002010-07-21T11:02:13.899-06:00Contest Winner<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Winner of the Box of Boredom Busters: <a href='http://thebentsword.com/site/?p=241'>http://thebentsword.com/site/?p=241</a></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-3464537703333533982010-07-17T08:30:00.001-06:002010-07-17T08:30:15.393-06:00Launch Party for The Bent Sword tonight<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Reminder: The official launch party for The Bent Sword is tonight, starting at 7:00 at 2102 N 80 E in Provo. There will be shish kabobs, swordfighting, books and signings, and all manner of fake British accents! Your attendance is highly desired. And medieval garb is highly recommended.</div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-39935800639000111792010-07-14T06:00:00.001-06:002010-07-13T14:26:42.939-06:00A sketch of Lord Bore<p>If you've wondered what Lord Bore looks like, the amazing <a href="http://thegoldengluegun.blogspot.com/">Dallin Blankenship</a> rendered this very accurate depiction:</p><br /><img alt="Lord Bore, the dark wizard of boredom" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_L8sGv6SAfHY/TDyAZyykBwI/AAAAAAAAALI/MiODLILw_U8/%5BUNSET%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="300px" />Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-12702254525786309432010-07-12T13:27:00.001-06:002010-07-12T13:27:19.978-06:00Box of Boredom Busters revealed<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>For those of you who haven't entered our contest for <a href='http://thebentsword.com/site/?p=157#comments'>The Box of Boredom</a><a href='http://thebentsword.com/site/?p=157#comments'> Busters</a> yet, there's only a few days left! As promised, we're now going to reveal what's inside of the prized box for the winner, which is a fantastic book entitled "Fun on the Run!" by Cynthia L. Copeland:</p><br /><a href='http://stephengashler.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02funontherun.jpg'><img width='300px' src='http://stephengashler.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02funontherun.jpg'/></a><br /><p>This book, having gotten great reviews, is described as "The perfect antidote to <i>boooring</i> car rides, waits at the doctor's office, restaurant fidgetiness, supermarket meltdowns -- hundreds of super-quick games and activities to roll out at a moment's notice. <i>And no props required!</i></p><br /><p>What better way to defeat the dark Lord of Boredom? To win this awesome book, just <a href='http://thebentsword.com/site/?p=157'>tell us about a time you defeated the Lord of Boredom</a>.</p></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-4895777938623078462010-07-10T22:42:00.000-06:002010-07-10T22:42:00.456-06:00My Interview With Cedar Fort Publishing<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Q: Tell us about yourself.<br/><br />A: I am great. Frankly I don’t know anyone greater than me.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: Where are you from?<br/><br />A: You may not believe this, but I’m actually from outer space. I know a<br /> lot of eccentric people make that claim, but I’m telling the truth. And<br /> rest assured, I was telling the truth about telling the truth. I may, <br />however, be lying about that last sentence, but the odds are that I’m <br />not. Currently I’m residing in Orem, Utah.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: What did you study at college?<br/><br />A: I have no formal education. In fact I was raised by wolves. And yes, I<br /> did roam around the forest in a red speedo. Though I like to tell <br />people that I got my bachelors degree in Digital Media from Utah Valley <br />University.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: Marriage?<br/><br />A: No thanks, I’m already spoken for.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: Kids?<br/><br />A: I’d say that my one-year-old daughter’s cuter than yours, but I don’t<br /> like to boast. You can judge for yourself whether the foregoing <br />sentence counts as boasting or not.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: All the works…<br/><br />A: Yes, and with anchovies if possible. I prize myself in my <br />appreciation for all things rare and exotic. Like that Mexican sausage <br />made out of beef salivary glands I bought a few weeks ago at the grocery<br /> store.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: What are your hobbies?<br/><br />A: Country dancing, watching TV, chatting with my friends on Facebook, <br />listening to popular music, shopping for clothes, staying up with the <br />latest trends, eating spicy curry. Only minus everything but the curry.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: What is your favorite book, why?<br/><br />A: The Book of Mormon. Because I pride myself in flaunting my <br />died-in-the-wool-true-blue-through-and-through-Mormonness. Beyond that, <br />the most influential novel in my life was probably that dilapidated book<br /> from my parents book shelf entitled “Robin Hood”. I don’t think it even<br /> listed the author. But reading it made me who I am. To this day, I am <br />Robin Hood.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: Do you have an author who inspires you? Who and why?<br/><br />A: My wife can attest that every time I pick up any sort of literature <br />by Daniel Pinkwater, I giggle like a schoolgirl until my eyes are red <br />with tears. He has a knack for non-conventional, left-fielded, totally <br />innocent young adult comedy with a heavy dose of mind-bending coolness. I<br /> want to write stuff like that.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: When did you start writing, or what inspired you to start writing The<br /> Bent Sword?<br/><br />A: I first learned about the Lord of Boredom while in fifth grade in <br />Sandy, Utah. He was the dark spirit of all things … school. As a way of <br />showing off my eccentricities to the girls at recess, I engaged in <br />imaginary light saber battles with Lord Bore, but just before I sealed <br />my triumph, the aid would always blow her whistle, and I once again <br />found myself a prisoner. Soon I realized that it would take a great deal<br /> of dream magic to oppose the dark lord, so one recess I invited all of <br />my friends to join me in a holy quest, one that would inevitably be full<br /> of adventure, filling us with dream and giving us the power to free <br />ourselves from our fifth grade oppression. All sorts of invisible <br />oracles spoke to me and informed us that our final object was to <br />“conquer the Tupperware”, a phrase that randomly entered my mind.<br/><br /><br/><br />After battling myriads of invisible skeleton warriors, outrunning title <br />waves, and surviving the booby traps of ancient temples, the invisible <br />spirits of improvisation revealed to me that the Tupperware was the <br />domed monkey bars on the playground. To conquer it, every member of our <br />fellowship (there were six or seven of us), had to stand on the highest <br />bars with our hands in the air at the same time. It was a cold and <br />blustery day, and my friends were antsy to end the quest. I watched <br />their hands carefully, and though, to appease them, I told them that the<br /> Tupperware was conquered, I knew in my heart that we never quite <br />achieved our goal.<br/><br /><br/><br />And so the dark lord lived on. And at the close of my sixth grade year, <br />he revealed his terrible power, whisking me away from my friends forever<br /> and, along with my family, planting me in the strange land of Provo, <br />Utah. There I faced a lonely summer, surrounded by mists of boredom, <br />soon to confront the horror of middle school as a lone adventurer. It <br />was a world where people were starting to lose their childlike virtues, <br />allured by the evils of pop culture. I hated it all. But by the time <br />eighth grade rolled around, I had found new brothers in life and death, <br />outcasts and weirdos like me, who shared my aversion to all things <br />grownup. It was during this Renaissance that I remembered my unfinished <br />quest, of the unconquered Tupperware. I realized that it was none other <br />than my old nemesis that was poisoning the minds of my middle school <br />peers, and I had to defy him.<br/><br /><br/><br />Thus a second quest was born, and this time we could not fail. Each man <br />took on a new name, giving birth to Steffin of Peaville, Jimbob the <br />wizard, Mammoth the friendly giant, Sir Him and Garrick, Sir Percivel <br />Flowermander, and others. To defy the kids around us, who were <br />preoccupied with sitting around and being cool, trying to forget that <br />they had ever played pretend, we wandered and ran about the school, <br />speaking in fake British accents, filling our minds with dream, and <br />improvising the tales that were destined to become The Bent Sword.<br/><br /><br/><br />The following summer, I realized that my friends and I had come up with <br />so many great characters and stories that they needed to be written <br />down. Other friends had similar ideas, and there was a birth of <br />TupperWar literature. But in my story, the Tupperware evolved into the <br />container for the dark lord’s power. The pathetic, cardboard sword <br />wrapped in duct tape made by my friend Patrick (Percivel), became the <br />symbol of our satirical, postmodern adventures, and, to avoid trademark <br />violation, the new name of our epic. And one night, while gazing at the <br />heavens, I realized just how important our story was. It was written in <br />the stars!<br/><br /><br/><br />Many drafts, many years, and many rejection notices later, my dream <br />became a reality through Cedar Fort. Of course, having become a wizard <br />of dream magic through my adventures, I always knew that this time would<br /> come. I’m just glad that it came before I was sixty. My hope is that <br />through reading the book, others will be inspired to join me in my <br />quest, which is far from finished. And I hope to sell lots of books so <br />that I can pump out the sequels and have a swimming pool.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: What did you enjoy the most about writing The Bent Sword?<br/><br />A: Creating characters, then watching them come alive before my eyes. As<br /> described in the book, storytelling is a highly magical art and good <br />fun.<br/><br /><br/><br />Q: What made you choose Cedar Fort to publish your book?<br/><br />A: Everyone else rejected me ;-). I learned that my home teaching <br />companion’s wife Jennifer Boss worked at Cedar Fort, and she offered to <br />personally put my manuscript onto Cedar Fort’s acquisitions desk. Alas, <br />it’s true what they say about life revolving around who you know. That <br />being said, I really like Cedar Fort’s values-driven media. And I just <br />found out that my uncle, Ted Gashler, was also published through Cedar <br />Fort, so I guess it’s a family loyalty now.</div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-85188058083898855292010-07-10T06:00:00.003-06:002010-07-10T11:18:52.934-06:00Invitation to Launch Party<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Everyone and his dog is hereby formally invited to a spectacular<br />launch party for The Bent Sword on Saturday the 17th. There will be fun<br />medieval atmosphere, free food (like shish kabobs), book signings,<br />games, sword fighting and more! Here’s the official invitation:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebentsword.com/media/images/marketing/Invitation%20to%20Launch%20Party%20%28small%29.jpg"><img alt="Invitation to Launch Party" src="http://thebentsword.com/media/images/marketing/Invitation%20to%20Launch%20Party%20%28small%29.jpg" title="Invitation to Launch Party" class="aligncenter" height="420" width="277" /></a></p></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-26708398114736256702010-07-09T06:00:00.000-06:002010-07-10T11:01:13.938-06:00My experience getting published<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I've had friends ask me about my experience getting published, so here's my response:<br/><br/>Getting published was hard, as expected. I tried once to submit my manuscript directly to a publisher but was rejected. Knowing that most publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts anymore, early last year I focused on sending my works to agencies that looked for Young Adult Fantasy, as listed on the Writers Market website, which I subscribed to temporarily. I was told by everyone in the business that agents are a necessary evil. Though I sent my query (cover letter, synopsis, first three chapters) to every agency listed, all of them either ignored me or rejected me. Then I learned that a lady in my church congregation worked at a publishing company (Cedar Fort). I talked to her, and she was happy to put my query on the desk of the lady who does acquisitions. This act made all the difference, and Cedar Fort told me that they wanted the full manuscript. So either everyone else hated my stuff, or more likely, they never even looked at it.<br/><br/>To finally read something besides a rejection letter was pretty exciting. I wanted to make sure that my manuscript was polished, so I sent it to some family members who helped me with some edits. But I was naive and was more concerned with expanding the story than polishing what I already had. Not wanting to let too much time go by, I ended up sending a 500+ page manuscript that was so large that it had to be carried in a box, and the story wasn't even finished. Months went by before Cedar Fort gave me their rejection letter, due to the length. Apparently a long novel isn't a good idea for a first time author. Though they told me that if I trimmed it down, they'd reconsider it. So basically I chopped my novel in half (creating a sequel), tied up some loose ends, and resubmitted it. Weeks later, Cedar Fort told me that they wanted to publish my book. Cool.<br/><br/>Cedar Fort requested that I send it to my own editor prior to it being reviewed by their own editor. I asked a friend, and she was happy to take on the assignment. What surprised me the most about both editors was how few comments they had. They fixed a lot of grammar issues, sure, but I was expecting a lot more critical feedback. This still has me a little worried. Though, I guess, perhaps the novel's just really ready to go. Seems too good to be true.<br/><br/>And there you have it. Now my wife and I are working on all the fun promotion stuff. We just set up my first book signing at Borders, which was surprisingly easy to do. Throughout it all, there's the looming dread that my book won't be received that well. I'm reminded of George Lucas throwing up in the bathroom while Star Wars was premiered for the first time :). I guess we just need to have a little faith in ourselves and push our work as if it's the greatest work ever written, because that's how the business succeeds. Hope that helps.<br/></div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-20068017969345128582010-07-07T17:29:00.001-06:002010-07-07T17:29:50.928-06:00The Bent Sword released!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Steve's novel The Bent Sword hits stores today, so hopefully you’ll be able to find a <br/>copy. If not, let your local merchants and librarians know that you <br/>demand this book, followed by a slap in the face and the line “Pull <br/>yourself together, man!” Because haven’t you always wanted to do that?</div>Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593880750851251244.post-71282584593646092052010-06-07T17:59:00.005-06:002010-06-07T18:09:23.704-06:00The Bent Sword Cover Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwaU7oRJHMYjtKpq1Fr1UyEY4SBD2eb-GnLz94NJMu3WLitcJf20EIA0QwUDINT1gf1MHVAMdA0fnNxOJOaSGqmQVMsW53B9l0E39WpJpft5ERE7amvIg8pb4mOPFk0c5LpGxoCDrjfI/s1600/Cover-Art.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwaU7oRJHMYjtKpq1Fr1UyEY4SBD2eb-GnLz94NJMu3WLitcJf20EIA0QwUDINT1gf1MHVAMdA0fnNxOJOaSGqmQVMsW53B9l0E39WpJpft5ERE7amvIg8pb4mOPFk0c5LpGxoCDrjfI/s400/Cover-Art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480186286335033714" border="0" /></a>We have Tanya Quinlan, Melissa Caldwell, and all the folks at Cedarfort to thank for this beautiful cover art. We're having a party first week of July to celebrate it's release, so we'll make sure to have the details for you soon.Stephen Gashlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00360669498725214579noreply@blogger.com3