Thursday, March 10, 2011

Sherlock Holmes style…wha?

BookCover030211

  Here is a tentative book cover for my fiction writing…yes, I said fiction. It’s time for a new journey into some other venue and given that I’m a Sherlock Holmes junkie, I figure it’s a natural. As always, readers will decide their acceptance of this project by voting with their ‘click to buy’ selection of this new offering. As it should be.

  Am thinking of using a pen name, re: Henry H.H. Hittlebloome. Sounds English doesn’t it? I’ve researched the Hittlebloome name and have found nothing, which is good in many respects. The name sounds English old country, circa 18th, maybe 19th century. Perfect.

  Naturally, I wanted it to be similar to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of the Sherlock Holmes series. If you’re going to write fiction like Doyle then maybe you should have a name like him. Also, am hoping to style the writing in a Sherlock Holmes-esque fashion with a deductive reasoning bent, similar to Holmes, but with a present day setting, 21st century.

  Because the ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,’ was such a incredible classic I figured ‘the mystery styling's of Jake Spade,’ would sound…uh, current. Thinking the words, ‘mystery styling’s’ as a substitute for ‘The Adventures of…,’ would be a perfect replacement for the original and yet convey a present day setting. Yes…I realize it’s a funny title and maybe it doesn’t need to be funny. Yet, I’m thinking the title needs to speak to those who want funny (today)…who need funny (now). So, there you have it. Who knows, maybe I can cross-market the book as a coping stratagem.

  This information is made available now as: 1) an introduction to my writing fiction, re, mystery/detective/investigative/thrillers, and 2) your opinion about the books cover and title, and pen name, and (insert here)… 3) because I want those people who follow my escapades, to be informed of what’s coming in 2011.

  Am thinking of releasing episodes (under the books title), in a 15 to 20 thousand word segments, making them available as they are written one after the other, after the other…then later compiled into one large offering. This method keeps the ebooks cheap and I dig that.

  Okay, here’s your task: tell me what you think (comment section below), about…the book cover, the title, the pen name and/or whatever you feel you need to comment on.

  As always…Thank You for buying my books. And, Thank You for your support.

Respectfully, Garry M Graves

Posted by The Remembrance Tree at 5:19 PM

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What are "The 5 Most Important--But Fleeting Virtures?"

Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion and Humility.

.....this is a portion of the "introduction" or prologue to the book (not yet completed)...email with your comments.

The books title; Character Happens! The 5 Most Important—But Fleeting Virtues, describes my belief these five important virtues (Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion, Humility), are sporadic in use and diminishing in personal character. The books message is in recognizing this “fleeting” nature and from that reinstitute a more virtuous choice in your decision making.

The paradox of the two words; Character Happens, with another two words: “S### Happens”* (decorum prevents use of actual word) is not without merit. My belief is that observed human character is much like, well...s###! This kind of observation can be disconcerting at times. So confusing that society can hardly make the distinction between the two words and there obvious different meaning. Individuals make virtuous and un-virtuous choices/decisions for innumerable reasons, both consciously and without deep thought. If we postulate; can an individual make a 'more' virtuous choice in life’s decisions should they want to do so? Answer—perhaps. How does one 'reinstitute a more virtuous choice' into their personal makeup...making the response more automatic? Answer—practice. With a concerted effort at 'practice' I believe...an individual might just develop a more 'repetitive' decent response...much like grooving a golf swing.

I love golf. I think the game is like no other. The five stories that make up Character Happens! have a golf storyline. Some readers may not be able to relate to the game of golf or its vernacular or for that matter, why people...a large number of people...love golf. Too bad! You should try it sometime...because it’s more than a game...it can be a life experience. The golf course environment alone is enough to put most people at ease.

Golf is a game played by the individual as opposed to being a member of a team, like baseball. Baseball has umpires who enforce the rules of the game. In golf you are the umpire. Because of this unique method of enforcing the games rules—golf is a “hotbed” for testing the players character...their honesty, their integrity, their courage and sometimes their compassion. And, because all golfers started from knowing nothing about the game; like how to swing, how to putt or chip... they also learn of humility. Now doesn’t it make perfect sense that a book about character would juxtaposition a storyline with the game of golf? Anyway, I thought so.

There are five stories, one for each virtue. The book has six main characters that make up a group of what I call 'golf buddies.' The storyteller, Spencer Madison, in reality is me. Well, somewhat like me...as I have a better golf game than Spencer. The five others vary in age, gender, education, religious beliefs and definitely personality. The 'binder' of the group or what brings them together; golf.

The reader will hopefully discover in their own lives a similar incident with one of the story’s in Character Happens! If not, that’s okay too...as the stories are earnest while humorous, carefree yet compelling. And, I believe each chapter or story makes a 'point' in this wonderful, wacky, dynamic world in the 21st century.

The stories are fictional as are the characters. Names, personalities or incidents are fictional and in no way resemble or refer to a living person. I’ve used paraphrasing of many authors’ ideas and concepts and have referenced them in a special section. Because of these references and the specific genre where the book is to be found, it’s categorized as a non-fictional, personal development book.


*...sorry for the language but this word best describes the thought I want to convey. In Forrest Gump the term was used to describe situations that happen to all people for no particular reason.