Wanted: Dorkman reviews.
I'll probably put up one of these posts every now and then for anyone who has read our novel and would like to review it. Whether you like it or not, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments to one of these posts or at your own blog. If you do post them at your personal blog, we're also asking for permission to link.
Since we're craving honesty from our readers, we'll not remark on any personal reviews left in the comment threads. We're not moderating comments so all that we ask is that you keep your review clean and relatively family-friendly, whether you liked Dorkman or not.
Anyone who contributes, we thank you.
And if you'd rather choreograph a revue based on the book instead, you have our best wishes as you skip along your merry way.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
FAQs for P&S at the DBF in the ATL
Some of the more frequent questions we were asked about Dorkman or ourselves at the Decatur Book Fair and their answers appear below:
1) Is Dorkman at all autobiographical?
I think the question people really wanted to ask, but were too polite to do so, was: Are you guys dorks? To which the answer is obviously a resounding SOMETIMES!!!
However, to answer the precise question asked, Dorkman is a work of fiction and while some of the experiences and situations we have encountered in our lives might have peripherally slipped into the narrative, there's really nothing autobiographical about it. Both Ken and my personalities and commonalities are probably somewhere between Cole's and Gordon's, but neither of us mirror any of the characters within the book.
2) How do you write together, and is it difficult to do?
Easy questions. Nothing's difficult as long as Ken does what I say. Of course, if you believe that, I've got some fool's gold in my pocket for $400 an ounce.
With different projects we've taken different roles in the writing. For Dorkman in particular, I was the lead writer for the first draft, and Ken did some of the major rewriting and basically accomplished most of the editing functions. The roles reversed some when he rewrote the first couple of chapters in their entirety and added a couple in the middle of the book. In one of our newer projects, The Legend Hunters, Ken has taken the lead in writing chapters for our main POV character while I rewrite and edit. For us, either way can work.
Both of us have complementing strengths that override most of our weaknesses as writers. Having said that, it's never easy to hear that anything you've written needs to be altered. Aren't we all arrogant enough to think the first version of what we write is the perfect version? Well, it never is. From a personal standpoint, once I've written a piece, Ken has a unique and supportive way of highlighting the places where the work needs polishing, lacks sparkle, or even needs trashing, all the while pointing out the merits and strengths in what I've accomplished. We both enjoy the united aspect of team sports, and we see that same camaraderie in our writing together.
So, yes it's difficult but also exciting, and the work we've completed together far outweighs anything we could do separately. We both believe in that strongly, or we would have long since gone our own ways.
3) Will you come and speak to schools / youth groups / reading clubs, and how much notice do you have to have?
Absolutely we will speak to any of these groups about Dorkman, the issues contained within, or writing in general. However, there is a caveat. As both of us have jobs other than writing that, for now, pay the bills, scheduling will have to be strategic. At this point, we'd like to line up a series of speaking engagements in or along the way to specific places. For the most part, we'd also prefer to be able to drive to "wherever" to keep costs down, but we'll preclude nothing. There may be some instances where time or scheduling doesn't work out, but a "no" for a specific time doesn't mean a "no" forever. We're always going to try to work something out. Also, there is the compensation issue for expenses and whatnot. For now, we'll work that out on an individual basis.
We're based in Huntsville, AL, so if you would like us to speak to an institution or organization that is not in the northern or central Alabama vicinity, we'd ask for at least a month's lead time. Once again, we'll work with you.
4) Was Dorkman self-published?
No. OnStage Publishing (Onstage), a children's book publisher based in Madison, AL, bought the Dorkman manuscript. OnStage publishes children's novels and chapter books marketed for kids aged eight to eighteen. Presently, OnStage carries eleven titles and publishes two or three new titles each year. For what it's worth, most of the new titles last year came from first-time novelists. The submission guidelines for OnStage can be found at the company's website, which is www.onstagepublishing.com.
5) Is Dorkman any good?
Any good? No, it's not good. IT'S GREAT!!! AWESOME!!! WONDERIFIC!!! INCREDABULOUS!!! A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME-DON'T-DIE-WITHOUT-READING-IT type of book that you'll find nowhere else evvvvvvvv-errrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Read it today.
1) Is Dorkman at all autobiographical?
I think the question people really wanted to ask, but were too polite to do so, was: Are you guys dorks? To which the answer is obviously a resounding SOMETIMES!!!
However, to answer the precise question asked, Dorkman is a work of fiction and while some of the experiences and situations we have encountered in our lives might have peripherally slipped into the narrative, there's really nothing autobiographical about it. Both Ken and my personalities and commonalities are probably somewhere between Cole's and Gordon's, but neither of us mirror any of the characters within the book.
2) How do you write together, and is it difficult to do?
Easy questions. Nothing's difficult as long as Ken does what I say. Of course, if you believe that, I've got some fool's gold in my pocket for $400 an ounce.
With different projects we've taken different roles in the writing. For Dorkman in particular, I was the lead writer for the first draft, and Ken did some of the major rewriting and basically accomplished most of the editing functions. The roles reversed some when he rewrote the first couple of chapters in their entirety and added a couple in the middle of the book. In one of our newer projects, The Legend Hunters, Ken has taken the lead in writing chapters for our main POV character while I rewrite and edit. For us, either way can work.
Both of us have complementing strengths that override most of our weaknesses as writers. Having said that, it's never easy to hear that anything you've written needs to be altered. Aren't we all arrogant enough to think the first version of what we write is the perfect version? Well, it never is. From a personal standpoint, once I've written a piece, Ken has a unique and supportive way of highlighting the places where the work needs polishing, lacks sparkle, or even needs trashing, all the while pointing out the merits and strengths in what I've accomplished. We both enjoy the united aspect of team sports, and we see that same camaraderie in our writing together.
So, yes it's difficult but also exciting, and the work we've completed together far outweighs anything we could do separately. We both believe in that strongly, or we would have long since gone our own ways.
3) Will you come and speak to schools / youth groups / reading clubs, and how much notice do you have to have?
Absolutely we will speak to any of these groups about Dorkman, the issues contained within, or writing in general. However, there is a caveat. As both of us have jobs other than writing that, for now, pay the bills, scheduling will have to be strategic. At this point, we'd like to line up a series of speaking engagements in or along the way to specific places. For the most part, we'd also prefer to be able to drive to "wherever" to keep costs down, but we'll preclude nothing. There may be some instances where time or scheduling doesn't work out, but a "no" for a specific time doesn't mean a "no" forever. We're always going to try to work something out. Also, there is the compensation issue for expenses and whatnot. For now, we'll work that out on an individual basis.
We're based in Huntsville, AL, so if you would like us to speak to an institution or organization that is not in the northern or central Alabama vicinity, we'd ask for at least a month's lead time. Once again, we'll work with you.
4) Was Dorkman self-published?
No. OnStage Publishing (Onstage), a children's book publisher based in Madison, AL, bought the Dorkman manuscript. OnStage publishes children's novels and chapter books marketed for kids aged eight to eighteen. Presently, OnStage carries eleven titles and publishes two or three new titles each year. For what it's worth, most of the new titles last year came from first-time novelists. The submission guidelines for OnStage can be found at the company's website, which is www.onstagepublishing.com.
5) Is Dorkman any good?
Any good? No, it's not good. IT'S GREAT!!! AWESOME!!! WONDERIFIC!!! INCREDABULOUS!!! A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME-DON'T-DIE-WITHOUT-READING-IT type of book that you'll find nowhere else evvvvvvvv-errrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Read it today.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
If You Write It, They Will Come
IT'S OUT!!! HIP-HIP-HURRAY!!! Dorkman has hit the streets, and we're ready to rock-'n-roll!
Saturday and Sunday, September 2 and 3 of 2006, Ken and I enjoyed ourselves at the Decatur Book Fair (DBF) in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. We had an unforgettable time in that the people that we sold books to there at the fair were our very first customers. If any of you guys/gals/ladies/gents that we met in Decatur make it to this blog, please give us a shout out. If you've read the book, let us know what you think. If you stopped and talked to us, we'd love to hear from you, too.
A couple of notes:
1) We'll post to the blog on this, too, but just a brief mention that our "official" local kick-off signing will be at Shaver's Bookstore at 2362 Whitesburg Drive in Huntsville, AL on September 23, 2006 -- that's a Saturday -- from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We're looking forward to that, and as we love our local independent bookstores, we're hoping for a huge turnout there to support Mr. Shaver. (On our post, we'll include directions as well.) If you're anywhere near the Huntsville vicinity, please come and see us at Shaver's to say "hi" and get your copy of Dorkman. You won't be disappointed.
2) Anyone who has been to our Dorkman website and been to the "How Do I Get Mine?" page might have noticed that the OnStage publishing link (that states availability as of August 31, 2006) does not yet have Dorkman on its Order Form page. Please be patient with us because I assure you we're working hard to make our book available in as many places and by as many avenues as possible. We're hoping that the OnStage Order Form will be updated this week. However, if you cannot wait to get your copy of Dorkman -- and let's face it, who can? -- you can e-mail OnStage publishing at onstage123@knology.net and request orders. The way that'll work is that you may send your e-mail order and Onstage will respond to you with a price. Then, mail a check to OnStage Publishing at send it ATTN: Dianne Hamilton, 190 Lime Quarry Road, Suite 106K, Madison, AL 35758. Upon receiving payment, Dianne will ship the order. I apologize for the hassle here at the beginning and promise that book availability will not be a problem in the near future. Thanks for bearing with us here at the start.
3) At the DBF we had a Dorkman Art Contest where kids could draw their best cartoon or comic book art -- like Gordon Dorfmueller aka Dorkman. Really, it was like the best cartoons or superheroes a kid could draw in five to ten minutes... it wasn't easy. However, we still received some very good comic art. We'll be linking a page of some of that artwork very shortly at the www.dorkmancometh.com website, so be on the lookout for those. Furthermore, we'll soon be having a National Dorkman Art contest over the site, whereby the winning pictures will be featured in additional printings of Dorkman, so that'll be cool.
That's the long and longer of it for now. If you haven't gotten Dorkman yet, we're hoping it's in your hands very soon. Visit our website if you haven't. We'll be talking to you.
Saturday and Sunday, September 2 and 3 of 2006, Ken and I enjoyed ourselves at the Decatur Book Fair (DBF) in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. We had an unforgettable time in that the people that we sold books to there at the fair were our very first customers. If any of you guys/gals/ladies/gents that we met in Decatur make it to this blog, please give us a shout out. If you've read the book, let us know what you think. If you stopped and talked to us, we'd love to hear from you, too.
A couple of notes:
1) We'll post to the blog on this, too, but just a brief mention that our "official" local kick-off signing will be at Shaver's Bookstore at 2362 Whitesburg Drive in Huntsville, AL on September 23, 2006 -- that's a Saturday -- from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We're looking forward to that, and as we love our local independent bookstores, we're hoping for a huge turnout there to support Mr. Shaver. (On our post, we'll include directions as well.) If you're anywhere near the Huntsville vicinity, please come and see us at Shaver's to say "hi" and get your copy of Dorkman. You won't be disappointed.
2) Anyone who has been to our Dorkman website and been to the "How Do I Get Mine?" page might have noticed that the OnStage publishing link (that states availability as of August 31, 2006) does not yet have Dorkman on its Order Form page. Please be patient with us because I assure you we're working hard to make our book available in as many places and by as many avenues as possible. We're hoping that the OnStage Order Form will be updated this week. However, if you cannot wait to get your copy of Dorkman -- and let's face it, who can? -- you can e-mail OnStage publishing at onstage123@knology.net and request orders. The way that'll work is that you may send your e-mail order and Onstage will respond to you with a price. Then, mail a check to OnStage Publishing at send it ATTN: Dianne Hamilton, 190 Lime Quarry Road, Suite 106K, Madison, AL 35758. Upon receiving payment, Dianne will ship the order. I apologize for the hassle here at the beginning and promise that book availability will not be a problem in the near future. Thanks for bearing with us here at the start.
3) At the DBF we had a Dorkman Art Contest where kids could draw their best cartoon or comic book art -- like Gordon Dorfmueller aka Dorkman. Really, it was like the best cartoons or superheroes a kid could draw in five to ten minutes... it wasn't easy. However, we still received some very good comic art. We'll be linking a page of some of that artwork very shortly at the www.dorkmancometh.com website, so be on the lookout for those. Furthermore, we'll soon be having a National Dorkman Art contest over the site, whereby the winning pictures will be featured in additional printings of Dorkman, so that'll be cool.
That's the long and longer of it for now. If you haven't gotten Dorkman yet, we're hoping it's in your hands very soon. Visit our website if you haven't. We'll be talking to you.
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