A threepenny twist of Brecht

I remember when the revelation hit. It was way back in the early 80s in some Theatre History class. To be honest, I was never really all that comfortable with theatrical theory or all that high-falutin' intellectual discussion-making about art. I could partake of it when I chose, but I much preferred to opt out and simply enjoy or not enjoy as I saw fit.

I saw my own appreciation of the arts sort of like that famous Peanuts comic strip where Charlie Brown and Linus are laying on their backs perusing cloud formations above them. Linus sees all kinds of intricately detailed imagery from mythology and the Bible - St. Paul's conversion on the way to Rome or something lofty like that - but then when it is Charlie Brown's turn to share, he sees merely a horsey and a ducky...

Sometimes I'm with you, Chuck.

Special New Year's contest!

Yes, you too can own a personally autographed copy of the chilling new novel, "The Missionary and the Brute"! Here's how:

Book signing for my Disney book.

To qualify, there are two easy steps:

• First - join this site.
• Then - reply to this thread with a comment and your email address. (Comments are moderated so if your comment does not immediately appear - no worries - it will be added within 24 hours. One comment per entrant please.) 

One lucky winner chosen at random will receive a copy of "The Missionary and the Brute" personally autographed by author John Kenworthy - that's ME!

You know, not everyone in this life knows precisely what they are worth, but I do. Exactly $3.28. Yup. That's right. $THREE DOLLARS and TWENTY-EIGHT CENTS! Woohoo!

How do I know this?

Quite simply that's the average increase in value for autographed copies of my first two books sold on ebay compared to those sold without a signature. $3.28. That means that this prize winning book will have an actual perceived value of $14.95 + $3.28ish...

Not bad.

This contest will be open from now until January 6th. (Over 200 people have registered to win copies of my book on GoodReads. I assume your odds will be much better here!)

I do ask that you please be over 18 years old as this novel has adult elements of sensuality and violence.
After registering - Why don't you stop by other pages on the blog to read about the 'Making of "The Missionary and the Brute"'. I think you'll enjoy.

Good luck!

Wicked humor...

It is somewhat strange that I find "The Missionary and the Brute" to have been so fun to write. It is a dark novel with plenty of death, intrigue, dust, death, sex, depravation and more death. Not everyone walks away from this novel. It is filled with wicked twists, horror-filled tableaus (An avocado placed rudely in a gaping neck wound anyone?), and unsympathetic protagonists. Yet there is something light and humorous within as well. Or so I think...

When I first conceived the novel, I saw the twists and misdirections guiding the path - and as a writer the foreshadowing and leading astray are joys to undertake. But as the bodies piled up, and the mood turned more somber for the characters - I nonetheless still felt a lightness in my literary step.

Some of it was planned.

Best writing books...

Sometimes people ask me what reading material I would recommend for young writers. I have been privileged of late to read a lot of great writing from young writers who are doing quite brilliant stuff and aside from a fresh set of eyes to purvey their work, not sure they really need much more assistance than gentle encouragement to embrace the passion for their art. Sometimes I read work that is so literate, so remarkably, consistently brilliant that I feel as if I have stumbled across a nascent John Irving. Amazing and humbling to witness. (And yes, Sam Kirshaw - I'm talking about you.)

As a writer, I feel I can honestly learn as much from others as I can in teaching them. It's an odd supportive community that somehow oddly works.

But since folks ask, I will trot out my list of helpful tomes.

Roman a Clef and the Brute

"Newton, Iowa it was..."

Newton, Iowa it was...

I love that. It's my favorite line from "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac by far and for reason. I love it because Newton, Iowa - don't you know - is my hometown. I was born there and grew up there. I spent a couple of decades of my existence in that small midwestern industrial community and felt it was an absolutely lovely place in which to be born and raised.

Newton born; Newton bred; when we die, we'll be Newton dead.

Charting...

Hey... we're finally on the charts - "The Missionary and the Brute" is now #975,535 in Books on Amazon.com. (My previous books are "The Hand Behind the Mouse" - #227,909 and "Bungee Jumping & Cocoons" - #3,311,955). So it is nestled nice and snuggly betwixt the two for now. More and more people are following this blog and are LIKE-ing "The Missionary and the Brute" on GoodReads, Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter and FaceBook, so I am happy the word is getting out and know that those numbers will grow and grow! Thanks so much for sharing with your friends. Keep up the good work!

It's not too late to order your own copy with delivery in time for Christmas. If you have a reader who enjoys challenging adult, literary horror - order now here or on Amazon! Great late night fireplace reading. Enjoy!

The Fiddler on the Hut

There is a certain device that some writers have used wherein they populate an otherwise natural story with a character so unique as to be wholly unreal. The classic case of this is the title character of "The Fiddler on the Roof". The Fiddler plays a very real role as being one of Tevya's village-mates, but yet has a more important role as an otherworldly symbol as well. It is almost as if the Fiddler is the very conscience of the play. What he plays upon his violin, is the pure ethereal thread of hope and light that sustains. Even though it is not a speaking part, it is an essential role - one that is part mime, part soundtrack, part Greek Chorus, and every bit amazing as a unifying element.

There are similar character elements throughout literature - from the Fiddler to Beatrice in Dante's "Il Purgatorio" to Jiminy Cricket.