 The reason I ask this question is that of lately, I find myself disappointed with more and more endings. All kinds of endings. Book endings, TV show endings, and movie endings. Perhaps I'm just too picky, and some of what I may say you might shake your head and say, "She's nuts! That ending was perfect!" In the last few weeks I feel myself surrounded by bad endings. Mostly from books in a series or from the movies/shows I've watched. Let's just say that I feel quite unsatisfied and let down. Example number one (and feel free to disagree), was in watching THE WOMAN IN BLACK.  (Possible spoiler alert, though I try to be vague) When I'd first seen the trailer for this move (see below) I was instantly drawn in and put this movie on my TO BE WATCHED list. I like a good scare--but not a super scary movie, since I'm a chicken that way--so this movie seemed right up my alley. Since I don't get out much (tis the life of a hermit writer), my husband and I watched it on DVD. I liked it. I was intrigued. Certain parts scared me, and then BOOM...the stupid ending. I actually said out loud, "Are you serious?" From what I understand, the movie's ending is different than from the book ending in which the movie is based. Since I haven't read the book, I have no idea what the real ending is, but I can tell you the movie ending sucked. I won't go into too many details in case you haven't seen the movie yet and still have the desire to check it out. I can see what the movie makers/producers were going for--a happy ending of sorts--but it was just wrong. That was not the ending I was looking for. The ending I wanted was either a) defeat the weird ghost at her games OR b) give me more creepy by showing us that the crazy ghost can not be stopped. Don't have the crazy ghost mend the guys broken heart by doing what she did (see, trying to be vague here). This should be a scary movie and not a "You helped me get what I want so now I will help you get what you want, even though it is wrong and disturbing." I had high hopes for this movie and I was let down by the ending. So yes, for me, the ending matters.  Another let down came after watching back seasons of BIG LOVE on HBO. It's an interesting show, a but wacky and bizarre, but I watched all five seasons, got to the series finale and was like, "Seriously? That's how it ends?" I didn't like it one bit. Not at all. I wanted something bigger. Then, I've been reading a few books that are the first books in a series. I loved the book...until the very end. It was as if the author took a REALLY big book and then chopped it up into pieces to make it a series--no real conclusion or wrap up at the end. That's not satisfying at all. And when an author does this, I have no desire to pick up book two to see what happens. I know it won't end well either since there is a book #3 and a book #4. I think it is incredibly important for a book in a series to have some type of conclusion. Not everything can be cleared up, I get that, but the book should be able to stand on its own if it had to. When it can't, that is a failure.
Some books with really bad endings...The Lovely Bones (stupid ending), The Road (so depressing), Mocking Jay (sorry, I really didn't like the way it ended at all. I wanted more relationship development or why she chose who she did), My Sister's Keeper (are you kidding me???). But this has me thinking...how important is the ending? Can it make or break a book (movie or whatnot)? I say yes. For the most part, I have a hard time looking beyond it. I like the feeling of a great ending, of walking away feeling satisfied and as if I haven't wasted my time. So what say you? How important do you think an ending is? Can you forgive a good book with a bad ending? What book left you shouting, "Are you kidding me?"
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Guy was on drugs? Maybe. But maybe not. Either way, this is totally disturbing. AND, the cop shot him and he kept on munching away. If that ain't zombie-like, then I don't know what is. You can also read more here about this incident.
 As authors, we are told to figure out who our intended audience is and then write for them. Sound advice, if I do say so myself. So when I wrote WANTED: Dead or Undead my intended audience was teen girls (Yes, a zombie book for girls). There are some gross zombie scenes, of course, but mostly it is a romance set in the wild, wild west.
So when someone, who is not a teen girl, decides to pick up my book and give it a read, I get a tad nervous. But guess what, so far so good. I've had teen boys tell me they read it in one day and loved it, wanting to know when the second book will be available. I've had older women read it and tell me really enjoyed it. I've even had some men read the book who liked it (though they are a little harder to please--they don't care for the romance so much and want more blood and guts. So I warn them--this book contains gross stuff like hungry zombies, decapitations, and kissing). But my most favorite fan mail came from the daughter of a sixty-five year old man. This is what she had to say: "I have to tell you about my dad's experience with your book. Let me preface with this, my dad is not a reader. He is EXTREMELY picky about what he reads, and he does not read often. That being said, you can now say you have a new fan in your 65+ category. My dad is already finished. He started reading it last night, and by the time he looked at the clock he realized, "Oh s%@# ! It's past midnight!" Those are his exact words. So when he gets up this morning, he gets ready for the day and picks the book up again. He finished it by the time my mom came home at two! He read the first chapter of your next one and wants to know if you'll give him some hints as to what happens next! He said it would make a "damn good movie", and would like to see that happen! He did say there were a couple parts that were "pretty steamy", but he can't wait for it to snow again so he can make some snowmen and cut off their heads. (I have no idea what that means because I haven't read it yet, but I will as soon as I can pry it out of his hands). He does have some questions for you, like: How many books are there going to be in the series? Can she give me a little hint as to how they get out of the trouble they're in? How soon can I get a copy of the next book? Oh, and he says to get your butt in gear and finish the second book already." To know that my Young Adult intended book is a hit will senior citizens--and male senior citizens to boot--is a pretty awesome feeling. So yes, write for your intended audience, but don't be afraid to let those outside of your target audience give it a go. You may just end up with a new fan or two you were never expecting :)  Evolved Publishing is making is easier for you to enjoy their eBooks. Get 12 of them, each with fantastic reviews, some awards, and legions of fans... for just $2.99 each (SAVINGS of $1-2 EACH). But hurry! This special event lasts for 3 DAYS ONLY – May 22-24.
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Evolved Publishing – Current Promotions  With my contemporary YA book, DESERT RICE, scheduled for release on June 26th, I'm freaking out a little.
I can't help but wonder how a book without paranormal elements will fair in a market saturated with angels, devils, shiny vampires, werewolves, time travel, or being the only person to possess the keys or powers that will save the world from utter destruction. There's nothing paranormal here. No magical necklaces with a secret. No "average high school student who finds out they are anything but average." No falling in love with a supernatural creature. No bumping into the new student at school who also happens to be SUPER gorgeous and mysterious. And no, not even one zombie (yeah, I know. Sorry about that). I've got nothing. But before you start thinking, "The author is telling us she's got nothing, so this must be a super lame book" I just want to let you know that of all the books I have written, DESERT RICE is by far my favorite. Twelve year old Samantha (or Sam as she likes to be called) is the only character I have ever created (do we really create them or do they simple find us?) who sat on my shoulder, day after day, whispering her story in my ear, and forced me to write words that pained me to do so. Her story took a turn I hadn't expected, and honestly, it was a subject matter I had never planned to write about. But it was her story not mine. (Readers may not understand this, but every author will be nodding their head). As much as I love this book and love Sam and her teenage brother Jacob, I wonder about the market place for this kind of book. I love contemporary fiction, especially YA, but what about everyone else out there? Are we so anchored in paranormal and fantasy fiction that books based on every day living, coping with everyday struggles have no room in the hearts of readers? Many a book store shelf would lead me to believe this is true. Walk into Barnes and Noble lately? What do you see on the shelves in the YA section? Lots of girls in flowery dresses who are either: a) a witch b) in love with a vampire or c) who had a vision of a loved ones death that they, and only they (with the help of a magical necklace or ring) must stop. Despite the uphill battle I face bringing this non-magical book to the marketplace and hoping there will be an audience for it, it's one I'm willing to climb. I'm passionate about this story. There might not be any sexy aliens in it or talking squirrels, but I think it's pretty damn good without them. I'm not a market chaser, never have been, nor will I ever be. I write the stories that I'm meant to write--zombies or no zombies. That's all I can do. All I know is that Sam chose me to write her story, and I'm damn glad she did. What's your take on contemporary YA fiction? Love it? Hate it? Oh, and if you happen to be a lover of YA fiction, check out my DESERT RICE page. If you think it might appeal to you, let me know. In the next few weeks I will be looking to gather some feedback and reviews, and I would love to give you a copy (ebook format of your choice) for helping me out. Just let me know in a comment below, and I will be in touch with you. Thanks. This blog post came about after I left a comment on Facebook saying I have Blog Block (inability to blog due to lack of creativity) and asked my followers and friends to toss out a blog topic for me to write on. So this is what you get :)  Big Love I don't understand polygamy. I don't. I guess that's why I find myself obsessively watching Big Love, season after season. (If you've never heard of the show Big Love, you can click HERE to learn more. Warning: it will suck you in). It isn't as though I've never heard of polygamy--heck, I live in Utah (not that all Utahns are polygamists; that's a myth. In fact, most are NOT polygamists), but still, I don't get it. I guess it has to do with the fact that I love my husband. Even after all these years, I still like that guy and so, should he ever get a vision or revelation that he needs more wives, I would most likely go to jail for poisoning my sister wives (much like Wanda from Big Love). I guess I'm just not the sharing kind of type :)  Crazy Wanda...gotta love her. I was discussing the show and its premise with a good buddy, ol' pal of mine, and asked, "Why would anyone want to be a polygamist?" And to my surprise she answered, "Well, I bet polygamists make really good peanut butter bars. I'd join just for that reason alone." That got me thinking...I, too, like peanut butter bars, and home cooked meals, and clean sheets, and crafts, and ironed clothing, and obedient children--things I know nothing of. Hmmm...lets think about this...on one hand you have to share your man, but on the other there is peanut butter bars. This is tough. My friend makes a good point.  I wish someone would explain to me the hair. Now the clothing and hairdo's alone really sway me into just saying NO. I'm not sure I have what it takes to done such attire, BUT if a group of sister wives surprised me with clean sheets, folded laundry, and peanut butter bars, I'd probably say toss me a dress and let's flip up my bangs. There's a lot to consider for sure. So the question changes from, "Why would you want to be a polygamist?" to "Why wouldn't you?"  I totally wouldn't join for religious aspect of it (that's weird), but for a home baked treats...I just might give it a go :)
So leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts on this subject (play nice, polygamists have guns and stuff. We don't want to tick them off). And if you leave a comment, you will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Brady Udall's book called THE LONELY POLYGAMIST, because I'm nice like that. Oh, and I'm still looking for some interesting blog topics to write about and could use your help. Toss out some ideas and lets see what happens. Thea Isis Gregory's Video Review of WANTED: Dead or Undead, The Zombie West Series by Angela Scott5/12/2012  I'm not very political. I hardly, if ever, watch the news. The world could be ending tomorrow, and I would never know it. I'd wake up (saying I survived) and wonder where everyone went. Democrat? Republican? Liberal? Honestly, I don't know. And heaven forbid any of my children come to me with homework concerning the various branches of government--boring stuff in my mind. I don't know that stuff, and really don't care to. Should someone ask me to name my city's Mayor or who the Governor of the state of Utah is...well, I couldn't. It is what it is. So when I found myself stuck in a car, listening to the conversation between two good friends over the plight and effects of corn on our children and how the legislative got involved to ban it, I sat up a little taller in my seat. I hadn't realized that corn was so dangerous or so problematic. I love corn. Corn on the cob is my favorite. My family and I enjoy corn on a regular basis.  The conversation mostly centered on how one elementary school got the legislative involved after a slew of students came to school, day after day, bringing corn onto school property. When the children were questioned about the corn, the school found out that right next to one of the bus stops just so happened to be a corn stand. The kids had easy access to the corn, which the school did not want them to have. So the school PTA got involved, contacted the state legislative (still not sure what that is, but sounds impressive) to have the corn stand shut down. NO MORE CORN AT SCHOOL.  Everyone was thrilled when the corn stand was put out of business--the school, the parents--but I couldn't help but think about the poor farmers who all they wanted to to do was sell some corn and make a living. Darn those kids for snagging their corn and bringing it to the school! Didn't anyone think to punish the kids? "Stop bringing corn to school or no recess for you!" See, totally effective, and the government wouldn't have had to spend precious tax payer dollars on something so dumb. AND, why did we care about kids bringing corn to school anyway? If my kids walked into school carrying corn, just tell them to put in their backpacks and take it home. We don't mind corn at our house.  I looked at my crazed friend in the backseat of the car and asked, "Why such the uproar over corn? What's the big deal? Were the kids making a mess in the halls or something?"
She looked at me as though I had just grown an extra head. "I don't want my kids having corn! It affects the chemicals in their brains and they'll get addicted to it. It's not good for them!" My friend was a health-nut FREAK! Don't get me wrong, I get that corn syrup isn't good for you and that it just so happens to be in EVERYTHING. I try to buy foods with little or no corn syrup in them, but CORN? Really? Come on! "Well, I, for one, love corn. And my kids can have as much corn as they want. I don't think it's as bad as you're all making it out to be. Utah's gone crazy!" "Angela! You'd seriously let your kids have corn?" "Everyday if they wanted it! It's the only vegetable I can get them to eat!" "Wait...Did you say vegetable? Are you thinking we're talking about CORN?" My friends began to laugh, but I still didn't see what was so funny. "We're talking about PORN. Porn-og-raphy. We don't want the kids to have access to porn and especially not right next to a school bus stop." Okay...that made better sense. I was seriously thinking I needed to get new friends. Hilarious. |
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