The Contrarian

I’ve always been one and never realized it, until I received the latest publisher rejection letter. And, I’m not sure whether I need to hang my head in shame or stand proudly and wear it like a badge of honor.

Okay, that’s enough set-up suspense. I’m referring to the fact that I am a contrarian.

Reflection on it began when a Houston publisher sent me a very nice rejection letter on a manuscript I’d queried him on. He complimented the writing, the structure and the style and then he let the bomb fall by stating he didn’t think it would sell. That began a rampant flow of analytical juices flowing through my brain.

I’ve always been told to write what I know about. I’ve been doing that; and did on that particular manuscript, too. But, if it won’t sell, what’s the point... personal satisfaction? Here’s where my drummer splits from the parade and heads out alone; you know, that different drummer we always hear about.
When I first began writing novels, working with things I had knowledge of actually never crossed my mind as the intelligent choice. I just did it, but for a totally different reason than you might imagine. It was a conscious choice to not write another military, detective, cop, espionage, or medical thriller. There are many fine authors that are all over those genres and, at any given time, half or more are on the New York Times Best Seller List. Smart money said do it. But, I had to be the contrarian and take my chances in less plowed fields.

Once I figured out that that choice would likely keep me on the verge of destitution, it became clear that I’ve always had a penchant for going against the norm. That was not an isolated case.

If everyone is cheering one team, I’m quietly rooting for the other. If market advisers are saying some stock is the buy of the century, I’m looking at a little known competitor struggling to stay in business (I’ve lost lots of money thinking that way). At a party, when all the guys were buzzing around some blonde chick like green flies on a manure heap, I drifted over to the girl standing alone and appearing amazed by the pattern on the wallpaper. I could go on but I think you get the point.

So, you see, this behavior is nothing new. It’s just that I’ve finally realized it and in the process of accepting it. I, honestly, have risked too much in my life harboring opposing views and, sometimes for no good reason. Still, I’ve come to believe it’s not what I am but who I am. Is that so bad?

I do realize now that if I’d chosen to go along with popular beliefs more frequently in my life, I may have been driving a luxury car and living in an expensive loft somewhere by now. I suppose though, if I’m going to be a contrarian, I might as well be the best one I can be.



Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/ ebook available now 2010
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX

The Last Radiant Heart Debut

Last weekend, I debuted my new novel, “The Last Radiant Heart”, at a book signing at Hastings in Lubbock, Texas and the next day thirty miles down the road in Brownfield.

Two reasons for these two locations: Part of the setting and plot in LRH are near these two towns and, secondly, I grew up there. Both were successful and I want to thank everyone for caring enough to stop by, visit and buy my book.

I hope everyone within the scope of this blog will pick up a copy today. I invite you to go to www.virtualtales.com where you’ll be able to read the first four chapters. I’m positive you’ll find it entertaining and invite your comments about it at wrightthing@hotmail.com .

Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/ ebook available now 2010
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX

Press Release - "The Last Radiant Heart"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Now in Print & eBook: THE LAST RADIANT HEART by Texas Author Daniel Lance Wright

Vancouver, WA (USA) — September 17, 2010 — Virtual Tales, a privately held publisher of trade paperbacks, eBooks, and eSerials spanning a variety of fiction genres and styles, announced the paperback release of the science fiction novel THE LAST RADIANT HEART by Waco, Texas author Daniel Lance Wright. This enthralling time-travel novel tells the story of Jack Dane, a reporter who would have preferred insanity to the truth about his family. But the unwanted power within him can be invoked whether he wills it or not, and will take him and his friends on a paranormal adventure that will shatter his ability to believe.

Ask for THE LAST RADIANT HEART at your favorite bookstore, or buy it online at the Virtual Tales website, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many other outlets. It is available in most eBook formats through Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Books on Board, Diesel eBooks, eBookMall, eReader.com, FictionWise, the iBookstore, Mobipocket, Powells, Kobe (ShortCovers), the Sony Reader Store, Virtual Tales, Waterstones, WHSmith and many other outlets worldwide. It is also available as an eSerial exclusively through the Virtual Tales website. Interested readers can view the first four chapters of THE LAST RADIANT HEART for free by visiting the Virtual Tales website, or by sending an empty email to radiant-heart@virtualtales.com.

THE LAST RADIANT HEART

Genre: Science Fiction

Print

Paperback: 218 pages

ISBN-13:978-1-935460-38-1

ISBN-10:1-935460-38-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010935467

Retail Price: $13.95 USD

eBook

ISBN-13: 978-1-935460-40-4

ISBN-10: 1-935460-40-4

Price: $6.95 USD

Virtual Tales is a privately held partnership founded in 2006 to publish original works of general and genre fiction in multiple formats, including print, eBooks and eSerials. Trade paperbacks are available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other outlets throughout the world. eBooks are offered in a variety of formats, including ePub, MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader, Amazon/Kindle and Adobe Acrobat. eSerials are delivered through email as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files suitable for reading on a PC, Mac, PDA, eReader, mobile phone and other devices. Virtual Tales is based in Vancouver, Washington, just north of Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States.

# # #

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sheri Gormley, sheri@virtualtales.com, +1-208.352.0396

No Time For Negativity

I’ve given considerable thought to the sequel for a novel that, itself, remains unpublished as of this writing. That creates an interesting conundrum: How much effort and thought time do I invest in such an endeavor before the first one finds a publisher that will take it on?


This is where I could allow negativity to cloud my forward thinking on the matter. The questions are like buzzing mosquitoes around my ears. I keep swatting them away, but they keep coming back: What if the first one is never published? Will I have wasted weeks and months? Will a sequel be the equivalent of pouring good time after bad?

No matter how upbeat and positive one may be, I think it’s impossible to prevent such questions from assaulting the creative process, maybe even stopping it altogether.

I once heard a wonderful line by an Italian actor in a ‘70s vintage movie called “The Gumball Rally”. He was sitting in the passenger side of a sports car and offering instructions to the driver on how to win. As he spoke, the driver began adjusting the rearview mirror. The Italian fellow abruptly stopped talking and broke the rearview mirror from its bracket and tossed it out of the car. He then said, “You wanta to winna the race? Then you no worry what is behind you.”

I believe this to be perfectly applicable to writing novels. If the desire to write something is strong enough to consume ample thought time, then all the negative thoughts in the world shouldn’t matter. Just do it!

You want to win? Then don’t look back. Forge ahead. The quality of your work will be evident when you act on the fire within you to write it and not cave to pessimistic perceptions that may or may not be valid.

This is as much to reinforce my own resolve as it is advice.



Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/ ebook available now 2010
“Trouble”, short story/CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX

Just Bragging

SANTA FE, NM – Danny Wright, from China Springs, Texas, has won an honorable mention from the CrossTIME Short Science Fiction Contest. His story, “Trouble”, will be featured, along with stories from fourteen other authors, in the CrossTIME Science Fiction Anthology, Vol. IX.

Wright is a native Texan freelance writer and novelist. He has published three novels (Six Years’ Worth, Paradise Flawed, and The Last Radiant Heart) and one eBook (Where Are You, Anne Bonny? ), and is in contract negotiations for another title.

“Having spent the first nineteen years of my life on a South Plains cotton farm and the next thirty-two in the television industry,” says Wright, “I’ve seen the world from two distinctly different angles. This divergent perspective on the world helps add depth when bringing together characters from different backgrounds.”

The CrossTIME anthologies feature science fiction, fantasy, and urban fantasy stories of under 7,500 words that demonstrate the best of the human spirit. This year’s submissions were received from around the globe.

Invitation

To anyone within the listening area of 89.5 FM in Weatherford, Texas, tune in tomorrow morning (Sat. 9/11) for the program "Books 'N' Authors, hosted by Linda Blackwell of Weatherford College. I'll be visiting with her about my latest release "The Last Radiant Heart" and whatever other topics she wants to discuss.

It should be interesting and I know it'll be fun for me.

Confrontations

From the day of first awareness in this life, we all come to know personal idiosyncrasies but never really think about them. The reason is simple: These things are just what make us who we are. No deep contemplation necessary. Unless high on some mind altering drug, we don’t consider our arms, hands, feet and head because they are just part of the total package, like those little things we do, say or think every day, all the time. But, on occasion, something happens that vaults a quirk front and center—not to be appreciated but questioned as an aberration that, maybe, shouldn’t be. That’s what happened to me this morning. I think I’ll call it an epiphany.

As you may have learned about me, I’m an extremely early riser. After about an hour of editing a manuscript, I developed an urge for a Spanish omelette from my favorite breakfast haunt. So, I stopped working and was on my way by 5:30. It was a pleasant drive; not much traffic that early. In fact there were few vehicles at all on the streets, except at the four-way stop I pulled up to. I rolled to a standstill. A second later, two others did, too—one left of me and one across the intersection. Now, I am aware of the first come, first go rule and then take turns clockwise. But, the other two lurched forward and stopped. That’s when I figured the rules were out the window and it became a game of chicken.

I envisioned Clint Eastwood with that squinty stare chewing on that slimy cigar butt and the theme from “A Fistful of Dollars” playing in the background, checking the eyes of all the shifty bad guys wondering who would draw first.

I had no intention of entering that fray-in-the-making in which one motorist had already honked and the other responded with a double beep. At first, I thought it was humorous, although by the rules of the road, I’m the one that should’ve had the right of way. Eventually, the other two felt their way through and raced on down the street; both obviously angry at the other, judging by rates of acceleration.

I’ve always hated four-way stops because, by nature, I’ll go far out of my way to avoid confrontation, if it is my choice to do so. Why am I that way? It would have been my right to take charge and go on through the intersection but I chose not to. It then occurred to me that I do that all the time and it has very little to do with courtesy. It just doesn’t seem worth the effort. Why wouldn’t being right be worth initiating a confrontation? I listen to people rant all the time about politics, religion or other sensitive subjects that I, too, have strong opinions on but I’ll just smile at them while thinking, “Dumb shit,” and never press a point of my own.

It’s important to note, that although I do not instigate confrontations, I’ve never backed away from one that I did not start and will never. So, it’s not a backbone issue either.

This is a quirk I’ve always known about myself but never pondered the potential consequences of such a mindset, until today. And suddenly this peculiarity has become relevant and important. I now look back at several crossroads in my life that, had I aggressively confronted a person or issue, my lot in life may have turned out markedly different, maybe better.

I think this qualifies as an epiphany.


Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright
Author of
"Paradise Flawed"/Dream Books LLC/2009
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/2007
"The Last Radiant Heart"/Virtual Tales/August 2010
"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/ ebook available now 2010