If your book is controversial for its audience, perhaps that may provide you with the extra attention which will make it a success...?
If you really feel you need to worry about your life being put in danger by some nutjobs, maybe consider doing an interview where you state that you included the Israeli character because you thought it would make the story more interesting and unique; present it as a business decision...? Practice your response to their question before they ask you. Say it with a proud smirk, that you are attempting to hide, that can be read as something you feel will help make you rich. That part of the world should be able to understand that...?
I certainly don't think my life is in any danger here in the US, even from nut jobs. And even in Egypt the fundies haven't been in the business of offing artists in awhile. But they have mastered the art of making scary blanket threats that I don't particularly want my family to have to deal with. In other words, I'm not worried, just frustrated and sad.
Though controversy would boost book sales, it's not the kind of publicity I want; there's something craven about it. My hope is that the only people in the ME who will read the book are people who will understand it. :) I'll cling to that hope until I'm forced to cling to something else.
I've been writing for some time, and it's actually fiction that got me into the activist projects I do. What I've found is the people who pick apart one's work are generally those who never wrote anything more challenging than a grocery list. You don't need to apologize for your work anymore than you need to apologize for your face. It's there, and it's yours, and that's the way it is.
It's the challenging bits of fiction that keep it an art, not a science. By writing something that maybe not everyone would "get" right away, you've done the rest of us writers a service by reminding us that only genuine works are really worthwhile.
"Clearly she hasn't learned that a ninja never hands over her weapon," he said, pointing to a character swathed in a black face-veil and robe, who was giving her gun to a skeptical-looking man in a burnoose. The character's name was Tova. She was an Israeli soldier, not a ninja. I held my peace. The guy went on to tell me he hoped I was ready for the big-leagues of fiction after something so trivial as journalism. (Journalism is like falling out of bed, he drawled, It's like, woah, did I just write something? Fiction takes actual work.) Guys like this are an occupational hazard of comic-writing, and if they're buying what I write, far be it for me to mock. I let him talk, nodding at appropriate intervals. But I had been thinking about Tova too, and about the other people who would look at her and see something she is not.
It's an occupational hazard of many businesses and activities, including all kinds and types of writing. It's one reason I write under pen-names, and have various cover identities.
I have no interest in the vast majority of "fans," or "trench coat experts" who gain all of their expertise and personal experience from things they read on the internet by people who write only on the internet. Unfortunately you'll also meet a lot of writers who are that way, everything they ever learned they learned from television, the movies, comic books, and at a college campus rally-fest. But, you'll just have to get used to it I'm afraid. Goes with the territory.
As for your post-modern post-modern review and the genius of the insight that the world is ever doomed, I also hate that kinda thing myself, and how everything has to be categorized according to the latest and most sophisticated post-modern categorizations. Modern people nowadays can't say anything about anything without categorizing it for what it is, or ain't, according to the most navel gapingly popular category of currently self-absorbed social malaise they can devise. When you gotta quote sociologists for effect, and to add weight to your observations, that makes me laugh.
Sometimes I think there is a direct inverse relationship between rarely good for anything modern hyper-sophistication, and actually beneficial at all times wisdom and common sense. Then again who in the modern world often talks about wisdom or common sense? So I reckon it's a wash.
What would have made this recommended, 21st-century book truly daring? Maybe if there was no happy ending…
So if you did write in a happy ending Willow, guess what sister, good for you and piss on those who want the world to end with a wheeze and a whimper. They can post-modern choke on their own post modern angst.
However...as a practical matter:
I certainly don't think my life is in any danger here in the US, even from nut jobs.
It has been my personal experience that a little prevention can go even farther than a lot of psychosis in security matters. And never underestimate how many nut jobs there are among us, who, just to be blunt, will kill for things that are senseless to you. Their motivations are not your motivations. They are truly post modern, in the most modern sense, and because of that some people are dangerous in ways not common to the common man. Or woman.
So if your gut ever tingles with that, "something is just all wrong with this..." feeling, then trust your gut. It knows more than you do. Because the more recognized by others you become, then the more recognized you are by others even when you have no idea that you're being recognized by others. It's part of your occupation now. That's just reality.
Always be prepared, just in case, and the odds say nothing bad will ever occur in a case like yours, but if it does, and you're ready, well, that beats the alternative.
You know a happy ending trumps a bad one most every time, regardless of what you read in the reviews.
So, Godspeed in every sense.
And I'll be looking for it.
Willow, the Abramaic faiths all share the story of Moses, yes? You're not the first to show us a better world when you can't live there yourself. And unlike Moses, you can hope that it's "not yet."
I was planning to avoid the comic store for a couple of weeks. My car has been making a nasty rumbling sound, and I feared a $1,000+ repair. No, that's not my two-week comic budget; but it would be hard to justify comics while scraping by for car repairs.
Turns out the tire shop guy who replaced my tires a couple of weeks ago didn't tighten a wheel down properly. Total bill: $80 to replace one wheel post. (Worth it just because I get to crow to the tire guy, who has been in the business for 30 years and should know better, and who also happens to be my big brother...)
So now I'm off to the local comic shop to look for CAIRO!
Just so you know, Willow, I passed up Mr. Willingham's latest Jack of Fables book for this; and though I was weak and picked up one more book -- Jeff Smith's Shazam! Monster Society of Evil -- yours was the one I read first. I read it while enjoying a big meal at my favorite local Middle Eastern restaurant. It seemed appropriate.
The meal was excellent, as always. The book was better.
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
If your book is controversial for its audience, perhaps that may provide you with the extra attention which will make it a success...?
If you really feel you need to worry about your life being put in danger by some nutjobs, maybe consider doing an interview where you state that you included the Israeli character because you thought it would make the story more interesting and unique; present it as a business decision...? Practice your response to their question before they ask you. Say it with a proud smirk, that you are attempting to hide, that can be read as something you feel will help make you rich. That part of the world should be able to understand that...?
Though controversy would boost book sales, it's not the kind of publicity I want; there's something craven about it. My hope is that the only people in the ME who will read the book are people who will understand it. :) I'll cling to that hope until I'm forced to cling to something else.
It's the challenging bits of fiction that keep it an art, not a science. By writing something that maybe not everyone would "get" right away, you've done the rest of us writers a service by reminding us that only genuine works are really worthwhile.
I thank you for that! You will inspire others.
It's an occupational hazard of many businesses and activities, including all kinds and types of writing. It's one reason I write under pen-names, and have various cover identities.
I have no interest in the vast majority of "fans," or "trench coat experts" who gain all of their expertise and personal experience from things they read on the internet by people who write only on the internet. Unfortunately you'll also meet a lot of writers who are that way, everything they ever learned they learned from television, the movies, comic books, and at a college campus rally-fest. But, you'll just have to get used to it I'm afraid. Goes with the territory.
As for your post-modern post-modern review and the genius of the insight that the world is ever doomed, I also hate that kinda thing myself, and how everything has to be categorized according to the latest and most sophisticated post-modern categorizations. Modern people nowadays can't say anything about anything without categorizing it for what it is, or ain't, according to the most navel gapingly popular category of currently self-absorbed social malaise they can devise. When you gotta quote sociologists for effect, and to add weight to your observations, that makes me laugh.
Sometimes I think there is a direct inverse relationship between rarely good for anything modern hyper-sophistication, and actually beneficial at all times wisdom and common sense. Then again who in the modern world often talks about wisdom or common sense? So I reckon it's a wash.
So if you did write in a happy ending Willow, guess what sister, good for you and piss on those who want the world to end with a wheeze and a whimper. They can post-modern choke on their own post modern angst.
However...as a practical matter:
It has been my personal experience that a little prevention can go even farther than a lot of psychosis in security matters. And never underestimate how many nut jobs there are among us, who, just to be blunt, will kill for things that are senseless to you. Their motivations are not your motivations. They are truly post modern, in the most modern sense, and because of that some people are dangerous in ways not common to the common man. Or woman.
So if your gut ever tingles with that, "something is just all wrong with this..." feeling, then trust your gut. It knows more than you do. Because the more recognized by others you become, then the more recognized you are by others even when you have no idea that you're being recognized by others. It's part of your occupation now. That's just reality.
Always be prepared, just in case, and the odds say nothing bad will ever occur in a case like yours, but if it does, and you're ready, well, that beats the alternative.
You know a happy ending trumps a bad one most every time, regardless of what you read in the reviews.
So, Godspeed in every sense.
And I'll be looking for it.
By the by, I meant to say, "navel-gazingly" but this is one time I actually agree with a Microsoft spelling screw-up.
Navel-gapingly makes me laugh.
I was planning to avoid the comic store for a couple of weeks. My car has been making a nasty rumbling sound, and I feared a $1,000+ repair. No, that's not my two-week comic budget; but it would be hard to justify comics while scraping by for car repairs.
Turns out the tire shop guy who replaced my tires a couple of weeks ago didn't tighten a wheel down properly. Total bill: $80 to replace one wheel post. (Worth it just because I get to crow to the tire guy, who has been in the business for 30 years and should know better, and who also happens to be my big brother...)
So now I'm off to the local comic shop to look for CAIRO!
Just so you know, Willow, I passed up Mr. Willingham's latest Jack of Fables book for this; and though I was weak and picked up one more book -- Jeff Smith's Shazam! Monster Society of Evil -- yours was the one I read first. I read it while enjoying a big meal at my favorite local Middle Eastern restaurant. It seemed appropriate.
The meal was excellent, as always. The book was better.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.