"Lux" is finally done!

Last night, after three years and eight months of hard work that began on Block Island, RI, I finished the third and final draft of my novel "Lux ex Tenebris." I can't believe how far I've come with this book and never in my wildest dreams did I think it would develop into a 350 page, 90,000 body of work. During the course of my entire graduate school experience I have slaved over it, month after month, taking it through four fiction/novel workshops at City College, slaving over re-writes and agonizing sessions where I wondered what book were other people reading during critiques. I'm glad I stuck with it. Perhaps it's a part of my "Taurus" nature - stubborn, determined and thick-skinned. Wanting to see a project through and make it into something special. Not only do I believe I've done just that, I also have left the door wide open for it become a series.

So what is "Lux ex Tenebris" about? It chronicles the lives of two men: "Cupid" - an African-American man born on Chicago's south side, who has suffered tremendous heartache at the early loss of his parents and is raised by his grandmother and grandfather, and Antonio "Tony Cupp" Cuppicciotti, Jr - an Italian-American man born in "Little Sicily" on Chicago's north side, who has long lived under the shadow of his celebrated father - Antonio Cuppicciotti, Sr. "Tony Senior" became a superstar in the Chicago Police Department due to his legendary take down of the Ferruccio Crime Family. "Cupid" (a nickname given to him by his mother after giving birth to him on Valentine's Day) and Tony Junior both do seemingly evil things, but Cupid serves as an anti-hero who struggles to find meaning in his life while Tony Junior was affected by a single moment from his childhood that puts him on a path of rancor and vitriol. Their lives parallel for most of the book until a chance occurrence brings them together. Can they put out the fire that burns within them and make a return to love? I guess you'll have to read the book and find out!

This became my masters thesis somewhere around a year and a half ago. I had another project in mind, but this book took up so much of my time that I thought it would make a great thesis. It really feels great being done with it, and my intention is to locate an agent who will hopefully land it with a traditional publisher. Why this, you ask? I believe not only could this book fare well in a larger marketplace, but I can also see a film project come out of this as well, in addition to a three or four book series. I will consider later projects for Another Shore Press, LLC, but this could be the one that gives me the exposure I'm looking for.

We'll see.

Mission Accomplished (Partly)

I cannot believe it's actually happened, but I have completed the re-release of Falling Down and Mystery, Malevolence & Murder: Volume One. Both books have now successfully been released through my own press, as of yesterday. For some reason it continues to defy belief that I started this process a few years ago with a simple thought, a simple spark of inspiration. Now it's grown into this huge thing that I've been blessed to witness firsthand. God has really been very good to me on a number of levels and I'm glad that I was wise enough to slow down and accept his blessing.

This was one of a few things on my short list that I'm marking down. The next challenge will be to complete my thesis and graduate from CCNY this coming December. I'm so busy getting Lux ex Tenebris ready for evaluation and will be meeting with a faculty advisor, who will serve as a mentor to me through this process. It's not over by a long shot; there will be a lot of long nights ahead of me, but I can do it. If I can get my publishing company off the ground, and do so where it doesn't break the bank, I can do just about anything.

In the upcoming months I have a few other projects I'm working on. I have another short story collection that I'm putting together. Lux will be released through Another Shore Press, LLC sometime late next year or early 2013. MM&M Volume Two was completed a year ago and will enter the copy editing stage shortly. The Falling Down film project is moving forward. Lots of great things coming, so I'm looking forward to posting them here.

Stick with me. There's a lot more to come.

Special Thanks: Rolf Wolff, David P. Schafer.

Changes

This has been an interesting couple of months for me. My business has officially launched its first publications, I'm in the process of completing my master's degree and am making plans on my future. I have to admit, I'm both excited and nervous because I'm actually on the verge of really living my dream. I've always wanted to write while also being in full control of my destiny, which is really not an easy task. Every step I've taken over the last five and a half years has been carefully thought out, and to see it come so close to fruition is such a blessing. While I'm glad to be finishing at The City College of New York in December, I'm really going to miss it. A good portion of what I'm doing now originated from being in the MFA program and I really owe a lot to CCNY as well as my professors and classmates, some of whom I'm going to be working with professionally.

In terms of what happens after I graduate, I plan on hustling - getting out there and telling as many people as I can about me and the press and what I'm trying to accomplish with all of this. I also have this dream of making my hometown of Chicago proud by representing the city through my art. My inspiration, drive and determination all come from that "Windy City by the Lake", and so often Chicago is overlooked for being a hotbed of culture, art and music (which it has been for many years). I think with the innovations in technology and a growing movement of new and fresh independent artistry, the ability of writers to get their work published and in front of the reader is changing the entire publishing industry. Chicago has long had a thriving literary scene and the list of talented authors from the city is long, but now there's going to be an upswing because more people are able to more things on their own. That's going to be a wonderful thing to witness and I plan on being a part of it.

There are more changes coming, but I'll hold onto those for now. I don't want to give away too much too fast! :-)

Dave

What's going on?

Hey there! Sorry I've been off the radar for a while, but I've been so busy with school and working on my projects. Fear not! I'm still on the horizon, doing what I do best - hustle! I'm really excited about the possibilities that I see coming down the pike and I'm working toward a long future as a full time writer.

Very recently I attended a book signing event and discussion of Walter Mosley's new book, titled "When the Thrill is Gone." The book is the third installment by Mosley of the Leonid McGill series, and judging by the reviews and the reading he gave, it appears to be quite good. Mosley's ability to get inside the mind of his characters as they process what they see and feel makes reading his work such a delight. I've bought a lot of his books, most of which are still waiting for me to read (and I will, once I get through with this semester) so I look forward to learning all about McGill and what he's up to in this post-Obama society that we live in.

Another writer I love to read is Sara Paretsky. I love her V.I Warshawski books coupled with her rich descriptions of my hometown Chicago. In fact, Paretsky is SO good with her books that I've actually forgiven her for living on the South Side (White Sox Country) while being an unabashed Cubs fan. Sara! If you're reading this blog, I love your work, despite rooting for the North Side team!

I also attended the AWP Conference in Washington, DC this past February. I had a GREAT time and next year's event will be in Chicago. I will definitely be there hawking my books and talking to people, trying to get the word out.

It's my intention, as my new work gets ready for print, to push myself to become the very best I can be. I feel like my years here at The City College of New York have been so beneficial and have helped refine my work to the point where I've become a far better writer because of it. I think I can do anything I set my mind to, and I'm intent on making it on my own. I've chosen two incredible writers as mentors and have learned so much from their work and listening to them speak, but I'm well on my way to making a name and a style all my own. Someday I hope to be able to influence someone to do the same thing.

Who knows?

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

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

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

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

Preparing for the Future!

When I begin my first class of the spring semester at The City College of New York I will officially be at the half-way mark of my MFA experience. The time has really flown by!

While it's always a great thing that you are enjoying life in the "present," at some point it all must end. Those of my classmates who are near the end of their MFA experience are scrambling to find something to do once they receive their degrees. Others are unsure of what they will do next. This is one of the downfalls of being in the arts. Regardless of whether you are a writer, painter, sculptor, musician or whatever - you have to always think ahead, because before you know it, change will commence and you'll be left completely unprepared. Start NOW thinking about where you want to go with your MFA (or whatever degree you are pursuing). If there are things in place as the transition begins, you could seamlessly move from one area to the next and hit the ground running. The last thing anyone wants is to be stuck in neutral while those around you are moving forward.

Right now I'm making plans on life "Post-MFA." I've been lucky with City College. It's a vibrant community with great writers and instructors. There is a deep sense of community here, and there's also a true concern among the students for the "what next?" I'm attending a series of panel discussions titled "Life After the MFA," where writers, teachers and industry professionals are speaking to us about possible career choices to consider. The last one I attended had a former City College alumnus doing a reading and discussion, along with talking about the life of teaching creative writing students balanced with pursuing his own literary interests. Great discussion! If your school offers these kinds of events I highly suggest you attend them. They can be very helpful.

As far as myself, I've come to an understanding of what I want from this MFA experience that I'm privileged to be a part of. First - I want to continue to find my voice and develop beyond my main genre of interest, meaning in addition to writing mystery novels and short stories, I'd like to segue into literary fiction, script writing for plays and film. Second - I want to make long-lasting contacts with other writers and perhaps work on joint projects after my MFA days are over. Third, I want to write and publish, hopefully on a full-time basis. Not all of us are able to do that. Sometimes we might have to work for a while until our work gets noticed. Having the MFA will allow me to teach at any university or work at a magazine or newspaper as an editor.

Perhaps the most exciting venture that I'm up to is I'm in the process of starting my own small literary press! This is exciting and I'm busy collecting data for the press. I've found ways of doing it that are both affordable and professional. Very soon I will announce on my website what I'm up to once I've completed my research. If this works out, not only will I be an accomplished author, but a businessman as well. More on that later!

I'm so enjoying being in school. The City College of New York is a vibrant community. The campus is beautiful, the program is one of the best in the country. It sits high on a hill next to St. Nicholas Park in Harlem - home of the Renaissance. So much history and tradition at CCNY, but at some point it all must end. And when it does, I promise I will be ready!