Sunday, December 12, 2010

Time is On My Side! (Yes it is)

Sorry I've been away for a while, but I've managed to complete my fifth semester at City College in grand style. Now that I've got more time I can return my focus to working on a few projects. As of today, the second edition of Falling Down is now complete. My copy editor has given the thumbs up on my last submission, with some edits here and there on his own. My graphic artist has completed a strikingly beautiful cover. As for Mystery, Malevolence & Murder - Vol One, I've nearly completed my edits and will send that to the copy editor once they're done. The cover should be done soon as well.

As for school, 2011 will be the year I finish my Master's degree. I'm starting this year with a bit of sadness. I've really enjoyed my time at City College. For someone who didn't have a bachelor's degree back in 2006 to be looking at an MFA by the end of 2011 is really something. I've had a lot of hustle in me for the last four, going on five, years and my MFA will be the crown jewel of all my hard work. If you would've told me years ago that I would be in this position I probably wouldn't have believed you. But through the support of so many wonderful people who believed I could do it, I doubt if any of this would be possible. City College is such an underrated place. It's recognized as a great school, but I don't think it quite gets the respect it does. I subscribe to Poets and Writers Magazine and for the last two years they've done a ranking on the top MFA schools. In last year's edition CCNY finished 94th or 95th in the top 100. The latest P&W only did the top 50 and we didn't place. These rankings have been criticized heavily by magazines like The Writer's Chronicle and members of writing faculties across the country because it appears biased and incomplete. That's why I feel City is underrated. Every class has been chock full of talented writers who bring real live perspectives to their work. Many of us have careers that we tend to everyday and we bring that gift into our school and breathe life into it with each stroke of the keys. I've seen a lot of good people in my classes, all of whom could be very successful, and I feel blessed to be in their presence - learning and listening to them share such wonderful works of art. My last class in particular had several talented writers and I hope and wish the absolute best for all of them. While I'm looking forward to graduating next year, I will miss seeing them, as well as the beautiful campus of CCNY, which has become almost a home away from home for me.

I'll make sure I enjoy the remaining time I have. Meanwhile, it's back to work - writing, designing and managing my time so I can make my own way. One day at a time.

db

The Guide: AWP's 2011 Ranking of MFA Programs

The Guide: AWP's 2011 Ranking of MFA Programs

I mentioned AWP Writer's Chronicle Magazine in a recent post. If you're interested in MA/MFA Writing Programs I think it bears your consideration.

Dave

Friday, October 29, 2010

Cuckoo's Ghost! The Short Film

Special thanks to Christopher Harris on his fine directorial and editing skills.  Thanks Chris!  Happy Halloween everybody!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Progress

I'm working on several new projects for the upcoming year.  I've recently completed Mystery, Malevolence & Murder - Volume Two, which will be released under Another Shore Press sometime late 2011 or early 2012.  I'm also working on "The Merchant Chronicles", a short series about an old man who owns a Curio Shop in Chicago and sells strange "knickknacks" that seem to have a life of their own.  At the moment "Lux Ex Tenebris" is entering its third re-write, and since I'm in graduate school it will end up being my thesis project.  I'm expected to graduate on time (December 2011).  I love City College very much and the experience has been wonderful, but I'm ready to get out there and hustle, make my own way.  My time will come, I just need to be a little more patient.  I was once told that you should be careful about wishing away your life.  I agree wholeheartedly, and since I'm now a year away from my goal at CCNY I need to absorb every moment.  I certainly plan on it. 

Stay tuned, folks.  I've got a lot more in store in the near future. 

Dave

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Dedication!

Last Saturday I went on a 600 mile journey from New York to Baltimore to Washington, DC and back, walking around until my feet ached in 95+ degree weather.  The blistering sun loomed overhead, making me feel like a rotisserie chicken.  I wasn't feeling well that week, having called off work two days prior so I could get some rest.  I slept on a friend's hard couch (thank you Dave) and surprisingly felt well enough to meet dear friends for dinner where I shared my busy day.  All of this done because I feel the passion, the love, the desire to make my longtime dream of being a successful writer and business owner a reality.

Every day I wonder if this was meant to be.  I wonder am I on a path that will allow me to fully become the person that God meant for me to be.  Through prayer, self-discovery and sheer will (not to mention help from caring people) I'm slowly beginning to realize how lucky I am, how I believe I'm mean to do great things.  I may not become the greatest writer or the smartest or most successful businessman, but if there's one thing I hope to gain from all of this, it's the ability to inspire others to do big things.  With my business, besides printing and selling my work (and eventually the work of others), writing contests and other typical "literary stuff" my hope is to set up scholarships and conduct seminars for young minorities who are interested and love to read and write.  Success without service is hollow, and I plan on really doing something special that's well-rounded and worthwhile.

But it all starts here, right now, with me hustling around in 95 degree weather, sometimes in shaky health, sleeping on hard surfaces and logging heavy miles. And I'll do it gladly out of love for the written word.

Stay tuned, readers.  Good times are on the way.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The "Devil" made me do it: A Review of M. Night Shyamalan's latest work.

About two weeks ago I watched Trilogy of Terror, a 1974 collection of three short suspense/horror tales all starring Karen Black, whose virtuoso performance introduced us to Julie, Millicent, Therese and Amelia - all very different but compelling characters.  The film was directed by the legendary Dan Curtis of Dark Shadows and The Night Stalker fame.  The stories were penned by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet).  While watching this movie I remember thinking how the genre seemingly has lost its way into the twenty-first century and wondered if this kind of "Poe-ish" style of writing would ever make a comeback.  The days of watching fun TV shows like The Outer Limits, One Step Beyond, Night Gallery and The Twilight Zone (which Matheson wrote numerous scripts) would forever be lost or the stories themselves uninteresting. 

Evidently someone has heard my prayers.

This afternoon I went to see Devil, the first of three short tales in the The Night Chronicles series based on ideas by Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan.  Given his track record of late, I was hesitant about spending my hard earned money on anything related to Night, but after reading an interview with Bokeem Woodbine, who starred in the movie, and watching the trailers I decided to give it a shot.  The performances were great and the action kept my eyes glued to the screen until the end.

The main plot of Devil surrounds five seemingly random people who become trapped in an elevator of a large office building in Philadelphia.    Being stuck in a crowded space by itself can be nerve-wracking, but there's another problem: one of them is The Devil.  Yes, THAT Devil.  Outside the elevator there are additional issues: no one knows the identity of those trapped inside, the building staff and the fire department have found themselves unable to rescue the passengers with any degree of simplicity, one of the security guards is a devout Catholic whose passed-down tale about how the Devil "works" is unfolding before his eyes, the lead detective has a past that haunts him to this day.  And, oh yeah - every time the lights go out in the elevator something really bad happens.  You can't see it, but the presence of evil is clearly there.  I know all of that seems like a lot to digest at once, but that's actually the point.  These people seem to not be related to one another, but as time passes the truth, and the Devil, both come forth.  I won't give anything away, but as a fan of old school horror, I thought the timing and the implied "frights" that were all over this movie worked well, even down to little details like everyone wearing "red."  Night did the right thing in trusting someone else to expound upon his ideas and I hope it's something he does from now on.

The second film of The Night Chronicles is called Twelve Strangers.  There is no release date as of yet, but it appears to be well on its way.  I look forward to seeing it, and based on what I've seen today, this series could be a throwback to the great horror flicks of the past. 

Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come!

David T. Boyd gives Devil: *** and 1/2 Stars.
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Monday, August 30, 2010

New Website!

After several months of work, I've finally completed my new website.  This is one of many things I've been up to this summer.  Go to www.davidtboyd.com and take a look.  Be sure to send me comments.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Official Announcement

June 19, 2010

Dear Friends:

As of August 1, 2010, Falling Down and Mystery, Malevolence & Murder will no longer be for sale through iUniverse. Instead, I have decided to take my career into my own hands and create an independent literary press, Another Shore Press, LLC.

Why now? Simple, because the time is right. With our economy being what it is, publishers and booksellers are not taking on new talent as they used to, and for those few who are being picked up, much of the advertising is left up to the writer. If I am going to spend my time getting the word out about who I am and what I'm all about, I might as go all the way and create something of my own. Besides, I would prefer to have full creative license to my work without compromise. To quote William Earnest Henley: "I am the master of my fate, I am the commander of my soul." True words to live by!

At present, I am working on updated editions to both books and will put them back on the market under Another Shore Press, LLC by Fall of 2010. I also have three additional projects I've been working on for the past few years that I anticipate will be released in either 2011 or 2012. Be sure to check www.davidtboyd.com or www.anothershorepress.com for more information.

Thank you for your continued support, and I'll see you soon!

Dave

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Summer's here and there's lots of work to do!

Well, I've completed my second year of graduate studies on a high note. Now that the summer is here and things have settled down at my "day job" I'm able to focus more of my time and energy on various projects that I've been preparing for these last few months. By August I will have discontinued my contracts with iUniverse for Falling Down and Mystery, Malevolence & Murder - Volume One. I'm doing re-writes on both books and will re-release them through Another Shore Press, LLC. I've turned in all the legal paperwork to the state and have submitted notices of LLC formation (a requirement for New York State) to local newspapers. The IRS sent me information regarding taxes, which I've already completed. My fax and phone lines are done. I've got a working PO Box, business cards, etc. Things are moving along.

I have already completed Mystery, Malevolence & Murder - Volume Two. This will be the first original release of Another Shore Press, LLC sometime next year. I haven't determined the date yet, but will post it as soon as it's available. Based on the comments from people in my class, I will also be doing re-writes of Lux ex Tenebris as well. Thus far I'm quite satisfied with my progress on this novel and think it will do well.

I cannot say how blessed I feel right now for all the good things that have been happening lately. I've really worked hard at making all of this happen. I'm actually exhausted from work, school and writing non-stop since I went back to get my degree in 2006. I don't sleep as well as I did before this whirlwind started, but on the flip side I'm within a year and a half of having my MFA and am embarking on an interesting chapter of my life - writing and publishing my own work. Once all this is done, I'll make a little more time for sleep. :-)

Until next time....

Saturday, April 3, 2010

"Lux" and LLC's!

Well, my fourth semester is drawing to a close, and though it's been a fairly hectic few months I've been quite happy with what I've accomplished. I've screened my latest novel, Lux ex Tenebris, to my novel workshop class and the response has been wonderful. In upcoming weeks I will be doing extensive re-writes of the book, with the hope that I will have everything completed (to my satisfaction) by the end of the year. I'm also in the middle of a new project titled The Merchant Chronicles, which is a four-part piece about a strange old man who owns a "curio shop from hell." Fun stuff! I will tell more at a later time.

I also have made a decision, one that I feel is leading me in the right direction. For a long time I've considered the possibility of running my own independent press. Given the economy and the change in how people read books (Kindle, eBooks), publishers are selecting fewer new writers, and for those they DO choose, funding for book tours and literary events is next to nothing. These days the writers have to, as Hercule Poirot would say, "exercise the little grey cells" in order to gain a following. Because of the sophistication of computers, the internet, social networking sites and a little will power, I think it's possible for writers to create a market of their own. I've spent the last year carefully putting together a business plan for an independent press - one that I think, if done correctly, will enable me to have the freedom of expression I've been searching for, as well as the ability to blaze a trail of my own. Therefore, after sharing ideas with a dear friend from Ohio, I've selected "Another Shore Press" as the name of my press for two reasons: first, it reminds me of The Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine - one of the most serene places I've ever visited. Second, it denotes an arrival at a new destination where there is opportunity in a place not originally seen before. This is the shore where I will search for the meaning of life through the written word. In this land is where my destiny resides.

A general site is now available. There will be further updates to the site as the official launch date nears.

www.anothershorepress.com

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Good luck with "Lux?"

Okay - here goes! I have completed a third draft of my new novel, "Lux Ex Tenebris," and have submitted it to my novel workshop class to review. To say I'm nervous is a bit of an understatement, but I think I have a good group of writers who will offer constructive criticism. The biggest thing is I'm confident in the abilities of the professor, who also happens to be the CW program director at CCNY, to lead the class and draw the very best from each student. It will be an exciting, and scary, time for me; however, I think my book turned out far better than I could have imagined and look forward to seeing what my other classmates think.

More on that later! Next week I turn in the copies for everyone to read.

Dave

Saturday, January 16, 2010

A New Year!

As 2009 left me behind and the New Year made its way forward, I have to say I've really made some sincere progress in my work and educational pursuits. This past semester was my best yet, and as the year came to a close I managed to complete both a short story compilation and a first draft of a new novel. Mystery, Malevolence & Murder Vol. 2 is complete with seven new tales of suspense and intrigue; Lux Ex Tenebris went from being a simple short story (that originally was supposed to be the eighth story of MM&M) and developed into a 50,000+ novel that also has the potential to be an epic piece.

That's the magic of doing what I love to do so much. Through the coursework I'm taking at The City College of New York I'm finding the new concepts I'm working through grow and expand into areas I never would have deemed possible. During the fall term I took a Gothic Literature class where we read Bram Stoker's "Dracula," Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat," plus Angela Carter's "The Bloody Chamber." Personally I like those kinds of stories because the gothic works of these talented writers are incredibly versatile. I never considered this before, and I'm sure many would disagree with me, but their works can be seen both as literary and cinematic. These are fantastic tales that very discreetly reflect the social issues of their day in symbolic fashion while clearly being rooted in the basic fallacies of mankind. In my opinion, that's what has given these stories their staying power, for material goods may change over time, but the needs of human beings will always remain the same. There's an aspect of magical realism that makes these tales so intriguing even today, but they clearly reflect the basic story-telling structure, scene description and good use of dialogue that classic writers like Oscar Wilde, Jane Austin, George Eliot and Charles Dickens have implemented.

The MFA experience is giving me so much thus far, and the depth and texture of my work has deepened because of it. It has been a wise choice on my part to attend graduate school and I am taking full advantage of it!

More to come!
DB