Friday, May 24, 2013

Truth






Truth.

It’s such a simple term, but one of the hardest things to face.  We glaze over the word as if we had mastery over it, yet we don’t really even grasp it.  Many of us deceive ourselves into thinking we walk in its essence, often in a cloak of self-righteousness.

I’ve been learning a lot of lessons about truth this year.  Many of these are hard truths about me.  Sometimes I’m proud of what I discover, other times make me cringe and I drop my head in shame. But, I can’t make an informed decision unless I know and face the truth.

We walk around in this world and profess hopes and dreams as truths, and we judge our fellow humans with the same measure of truth we apply to ourselves.  But what is that measure?  Is it the real truth?  Do we really look at ourselves honestly and question our motives, our actions, and our words?

How often have we mistaken an others' intentions, actions or motives because we judged them with our own set of truths? 

We all judge and condemn each other that is the truth.  We fight amongst ourselves believing WE hold the real TRUTH and those in opposition are wrong.  All of us.   My heart breaks a little more every day when I witness how we treat each other in this world.  I’m not a bleeding heart, but my heart has been battered, bruised, abused, neglected, hated, judged, rejected, broken and discarded all my life, that is the truth.  Yet, I still cling to a hope. 

Truth.  There really is only one and we only have two choices seek it out or not.  Knowing the truth doesn’t answer all your problems, but it will at least give us a more accurate picture so we can at least take appropriate actions. 

Today, take a moment and ask yourself, What is the truth?

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray

Friday, May 03, 2013

Writer Spotlight - Featuring Jeff Suwak

Every once in a while I come across a new talent that makes me stop and consider my self, my writing style, and my writing goals.  Many in the business of writing, unfortunately, see fellow writers as competition.  While that is a partial truth, most view competition as an opposing force or something to overcome.  I see it as a motivator, inspiration and a fulcrum lever to help me lift my dreams off the ground.

I'm in a valley at the moment.  Last year, I released three books and went on a whirlwind book tour and then in January fell into exhaustion and a much needed rest.  For the past four months, I've... drifted.  I've allowed myself to become distracted, but not deterred.  I've been busy ...learning new writing styles and dabbling in short stories, erotica and poetry.

During my down time, I've taken a breath and looked around me. I can now enjoy the beauty and wonder of the talented writers in my life.  I've come across many new writers these past four months... and not being "on" (being fully in marketing mode), I've been able to enjoy the fruit of their gifts, and it's amazing.  However, I've also been resting, but it's time to go back to work.

Over the next couple of months, as I immerse myself back into the foray of what is writing/publishing/marketing/etc, I will feature some of these new writers I've become blessed to know... and today, I start with writer Jeff Suwak.

By day, Jeff is a technical writer for the U.S. Geological Survey in Tacoma, WA, but by passion,  he is a very talented, very determined and very dedicated writer. One of his favorite literary influences is Cormac McCarthy.  As a former Army Ranger, Jeff is no stranger to discipline when it comes to his work, and it's very evident in every piece of his writing I've read.

Here are some current and upcoming publications of Mr. Suwak.  Please check them out and leave a comment when you can.  Upcoming writers need all the encouragement and support we can give them in this literary journey. I'm very proud to know Jeff Suwak, and to be able to call him my friend.

The Ridehttp://www.efictionmag.com/ehorror/ - a horror short story to be published in eFiction Magazine - eHorror in June 2013.

Night Terrorshttp://www.innersins.com/innersins_110.htm - a horror short story published in Inner Sins Magazine - issue #9 - May 2013.

The Big Showhttps://sites.google.com/site/thespeculativeedge/home - a science fiction short story published in the Speculative Edge Magazine issue #8 - April 2013

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
www.tlgray.net

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Meeting the Black - Tom Piccirilli Review



Meeting the Black – Tom Piccirilli
Review by T.L. Gray - as published in West Georgia Living Magazine - May/June 2013 Edition




Author: Tom Piccirilli
Publisher: Crossroad Press & Macabre Ink Digital; Crossroad Press First Digital edition
Release Date: November 16, 2012
Pages/Genre: 17/Memoir



Bio: Tom Piccirilli is an American novelist and short story writer. He has sold over 150 stories in the mystery, thriller, horror, erotica, and science fiction fields. Piccirilli is a two-time winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for "Best Paperback Original" (2008, 2010). He is a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. He was also a finalist for the 2009 Edgar Allan Poe Award given by the Mystery Writers of America, a final nominee for the Fantasy Award, and he won the first Bram Stoker Award given in the category of "Best Poetry Collection".



Book Description:
Publication Date: November 16, 2012
Meeting the Black

Meeting the Black is a powerful and emotional piece written by Tom Piccirilli describing what he was going through, both mentally and physically, before and after his recent operation. 100% of the sales amounts of this and his other Crossroad Press titles, both eBook and audiobook, will continue to go to Tom to assist with his medical bills associated with his cancer treatment.





Review:

Wow! I'm familiar with musings, having written a few, and this one was honest, raw and beautiful. My eyes are filled, not with tears of sadness, but of hope.
There’s a lot to be said for a great opening line.  Some of the greatest works in literature have memorable starts.  It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife,” Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin.  Call me Ishmael,” Moby Dick by Herman Melville.  Now I have another opening line that captured my attention.  Noir truth,” Meeting the Black by Tom Piccirilli. 
My French may be rusty, but I know my colors very well, and instantly my mind interpreted the opening line of this memoir to say ‘black truth’.  This made me instantly go to a dark place and wonder what could possibly be so black, void, or dark.  Instantly a mood was set and Piccirilli was faithful to deliver. 
The second line proved to be as powerful as the first, straight to the point, no holds bar.  What I know:  I’ve got a tumor in my head that’s halfway between the size of a golf-ball and a tennis-ball, according to the neurosurgeon.” Wow.  I can’t even imagine what this author is going through, but I’m definitely hooked to find out. 
From his presence in the literary world, it seems Mr. Piccirilli has so far enjoyed a very successful writing career, having published over twenty-two (22) novels since 1990, two (2) series, four (4) novellas, more than thirty (30) anthologies, two (2) non-fiction works, and four (4) time winner of the Bram Stroker Award, and two (2) time winner of the International Thriller Writer’s Award, literally a writer’s dream come true.  Some in this field would say he was a very lucky man, indeed.  But in life, tragedy doesn’t look at a writing resume or care how much success someone might enjoy.
Being a fellow author, his story touches my heart, and many times he echoed some of my own fears in this memoir.  One of the most touching paragraphs states:  “What I know:  Things aren’t right.  I’m not myself.  I’m often in a fog lately.  I can’t see, I can’t think clearly, I haven’t been writing much.  And there it is.  When everything else runs out on me, I can always count on the writing.  It’s always there.  And now, it’s slipping through my fingers, too.  Jesus, not that, take the rest of it, but not that.  What if I can’t write? I’m not me.  I’m not the person I’m supposed to be.”  Many, many times these are the very same words that I mutter in the middle of my fear.  So, I instantly related to Mr. Piccirilli, and he stole my heart.
As his story progresses, Mr. Piccirilli talks about the love between him and his brother, the loss of a mother, father and step father to cancer, and we begin to see a picture of man who has in one way or another fought against cancer his whole life.  Now, it is his life he must battle this horrible disease.
I can’t imagine the fear and the struggle this author must go through on a daily basis, but one of the best illustrations of his fight for hope is when he was given the advice to speak to his cells, to encourage them to fight, because he had not the strength to do it on his own. 
What I really want to say to my cells:  ‘Look, blame me if you want, okay.  I did you wrong.  I ate bad shit. I smoked cigars for a while.  I’ve never been trim and fit.  Hold the grudge, but don’t give up the good fight now.  We’re, what, halfway through the race? Come on, you can hold on for longer than that, can’t you?  Besides, who are you really hurting, huh? Me? You’re gonna go in the ground with me, f**kers.  Lars is going to yank you out of my brain and throw you on the floor.  Cells, get in line, get back into formation, hup one, two, all that, start doing your jobs again.  Besides, it’s all just energy, there are no coincidences.”
After a successful surgery and a trip to the lab, Mr. Piccirilli receives the bad news; Noir truth …his tumor is cancerous.  Anytime anyone is faced with such a stark, bold, and life changing truth, one of the stages of grief, even though still living, is the self blame, self analysis and self reflection.  My heart breaks as this talented author goes through this analysis and shares his vulnerable thoughts with us: “Consciously or unconsciously, for the price of a dark dream, you have brought about your own doom.  I didn’t go after the wrong woman, I didn’t mouth off to a bad cop, I didn’t push a  gun into a the ribs of the mob boss, I didn’t shove the old lady down the stairs in her wheelchair.  I’m a lousy noir character.
Facing a terminal illness changes priorities.  This writer of mostly horror and thrillers transforms into a love guru, telling everyone with every chance he gets how much he loves and appreciates them as he ponders his own mortality.  He comes to another phase in his journey where his thoughts turn deep in his understanding of noir truths.  There are so many quotes that have such a deep meaning that I want to write them all down separately and place throughout my house to remind me of them daily.  Words of noir truth such as: “You can lose the fight, but you have to lose it fairly.  You can’t cheat in the last reel.  You take it on the chin or in the gut or in the back of the head, but you stand tall doing it.  No blinking, no last minute wincing.  You play your string out to the end.” 
We all hold onto hope when we face tragedy.  We try to look for the positive amongst the terrible things that come into our lives.  I wept when I read the final passage in this short memoir, where Mr. Piccirilli is told that his cancer is aggressive and terminal, as I’m sure some of you will as well.  So, I leave you with his words, because he says them better than I ever could.
“Noir truth: I’ll be fighting it for the rest of my life and it’ll probably do me in one of these days.  I keep picturing a feathery, fluffy, black growth trying to take over the pure, snowy, gleeful thoughts already there.  The pure-driven snow personality is me.  The black rot, what is it? The death wish? My noir heart?
“Cells?”
“Yo!”
“We still rockin’?”
“A-OK, babe.”
“You keep doing your thing and I’ll keep doing mine.”
“Let’s call it a plan of action.”
“Right on.”
So what’s left?  Skull bones, titanium steel plates, fruiting bodies of toadstools, and a million more stories? 
What I know:  I’m scared and will always be scared.  I’m still here among the living.  I fight because when you get down to it, you have no choice.  You suck air, you focus will, you dream, you fight past your demons and shadows and enemy cells.  Thanks to all of you –“
Mr. Piccirilli continues to fight his cancer, and my heart and prayers go with him and his family.  Crossroads Press, the publisher of Mr. Piccirilli’s work, has designated all proceeds, funds and sales for any and all titles, including this memoir, directly to the him and his family in an effort to help him in his fight against cancer. I’m not only a huge fan of this author’s work, but I’m now a huge admirer of his heart.
This is the hardest review I’ve had to give to date, but it’s also the one I believe in most.  So, if you get a chance, please pick up one of Tom Piccirilli’s titles today, send him a note of encouragement on his Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tompiccirilli) page, or say a prayer for him and his family. 
Latest update:  March 29, 2013: “Hello everyone, this is Michelle. Tom had his MRI on Monday this week and today we had appointments at two different doctor's offices and he had blood test done. His MRI came back clean with no sign of cancer. This is the forth MRI in a row since his surgery and radiation that has come back clean. Tom's oncologist told us that he is now in REMISSION.”
. 

Till next time,
~T.L. Gray