Panhandling Fantasy Publishing
Follow us:
  • Home
  • From our Author
    • How to Reach Us
    • Tell Us What You Think
  • What's the Buzz?
    • Author Interviews & Promotional opportunities for Writers
  • News Events & Appearances
    • Book Signing Events
    • Hot Conferences and Expos
  • Panhandling Fantasy Store

The Art of Lying

5/9/2013

 
Picture
Credit: Flickr
There are two truths we take for granted -
1. All our life we are told not to lie.
2. Most books of fiction are believably fabricated lies with a dash of truth thrown in to hold the story together.

Why does that matter to you? Writers of fiction make a living as being resourceful liars. Good examples of this are things that go bump in the night like zombies and witches. They are real, really! I'll try to explain these two twisted truths to the best of my ability so it all becomes clear. We'll start with an obvious choice: witches.Witches are dotted throughout history as an important pillar of authority as a sort of spiritual guide and a medicine man. High priest, shaman, and voodoo priests are all varying titles for the same job, which is typically referred to as a tribal healer: a lofty position held primarily by both women and men. Most often, herbs were used to heal the sick in a very elaborate way to make tribal members think magic was the root cause for their miraculous recoveries. Because of flashy dances and rudimentary slight of hand, the practice of shamanic ways lost traction as Christianity gained momentum. Shamans and their ilk became feared and their ceremonial practices were looked at as barbaric.

This way of thinking sprouted inaccurate tales of people summoning demons and placing curses of unsuspecting folk. Here is were witches and their less talked about counterpart, warlocks, find a comfy home buried beneath the rubble of lies that created their myth. Truth is something others see to fit a particular problem, an ugly truth no one wishes to admit to. Nowadays, writers toy with the built-up mythology surrounding witches to fulfill mystical enchantments other creature cannot do or brew concoctions to fill a need like a love potion.

Did someone say zombie apocalypse? Yes, it is time to move on to an undead subject. Zombie have found a way into the hearts and (clearing throat) minds of people. Where did it all being? It all started in the African and Haitian nations by a little religion called Voodoo. I can't find the video clip I'd seen years ago explaining this phenomenon of zombie making, but I do remember the news anchor talking about an indigenous plant as the main ingredient to create a zombie. Witch doctors would use this plant to drug clients and essentially make them appear dead. Afterwords, when professional doctors proclaimed them dead, those under the drugs influence would rise up again and unconsciously do the witch doctor's bidding. Again, over time we deformed the myth of zombies into what we now know of them.

Getting back to what I originally started with, writers take something true and spins it until only a fraction of the original tale exists to keep his or her story based in reality. Some of what I told you above are loose interpretations of how each creature got its start to emphasize how truth begets a lie. Fibbing makes a writer money, rooting a story of fiction with real situations creates a good book. Its all in how you look at things. When Americans first created their flag did they keep the same colors as the United Kingdom's Union Jack as a slap in the face when proclaimed independence? I don't know, but it sounds good.

Last - But Never Done

3/23/2013

 
Picture
Welcome back again! Our featured author, Adam Santo, has finished up his blog series about creating the perfect book. It's not an end to his writing, just a beginning. Help him along by liking, following, or visiting Adam on his fan page to show how much you appreciate him.
He has done a fantastic job of condensing considerable knowledge down to a brief introduction to writing. Find books written by Adam Santo on our author page here and read some of the excerpts there, too.
We wish him the best of luck in his writing career. May our partnership in printing continue as long as the written word is being read.


Design By Humans

Another Year of Splendor Gone

12/28/2012

 
Picture
What a year it has been for all of us. The world almost came to an end (again), our faith in Wall Street sits on a fiscal cliff like lemmings waiting to take that final step over the edge, an outcry over SOPA went out to the masses, and Facebook tried the stockmarket.  We had a run for our money in 2012. Now that the Mayan calendar has run out, what will 2013 bring us?
On a personal note I accomplished a few goals. Two more books went out with my name on them - Ocean's Fury (a tale from your own view of events about a cruise ship in peril) and Temperature: Bitter Cold. They are available at any online bookstore along with Temperature: Dead and Rising.
I also had a small book signing locally to kick off the release of Temperature: Bitter Cold with some of the proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (It's never too late to donate. Contribute directly or purchase a book to help out). I also made time to print out fanfare for the coming novel - Get quality work at VistaPrint http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/34Bhzd .
The holidays would not be the same without family there to support you. I had a great support team this year, which allowed me to spend way too much time in my office to finish writing instead of partaking in routine events around the house. So, to make up for it I stopped blogging, making notes for the next manuscript, and killed off the majority of time I spend on social networks promoting my work to spend quality time here in my home. Time management isn't my friend and Santa forgot to gift wrap me some. I hope to fix that in the coming year by spreading my time evenly between family, a paying job, and my passion to write. To that end, I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays and good tidings for the coming year.

Microsoft Store

Halloween with a Bitterly Cold Snap

11/1/2012

 
Picture
Spooky fun at the book launch of Temperature: Bitter Cold.
Our author, Adam Santo, has created another great novel, Temperature: Bitter Cold. Soon reviews will be available. Until then, let's hear about his Halloween launch party he held recently.

Another month is behind us. That month, October, holds a special place in my heart. My second novel - Temperature: Bitter Cold - came out on the 3rd. A Facebook event catapulted the novel to great heights and soared over a hauntingly full moon. Bountiful giveaways were at task to fill an eager reader's goodie bag to the brim. I even did the impossible and filmed myself doing a drawing (impossible, because I don't do well on camera) shown below.
I enjoyed the interaction between myself and the readers following along. Some of them joining me for my launch had read Temperature: Dead & Rising with high expectations for the sequel. They have not been let down. Even greater anticipation has built for the final novel in the trilogy. To keep the fun rolling into November, I offer you "Thanks" for "Giving" my blog a read by cutting the price this month. Use code: NOVTHANKS on Etsy.com and enjoy a nice discount on all of my books! Happy Holidays from me and Panhandling Fantasy.

Picture
Click on the cover for an eBook copy.
Temperature: Bitter Cold Synopsis:
Adam Santo offers this riveting sequel to his debut dark fantasy novel of the Temperature Trilogy. It will have readers twisting and turning in their seat. A magnificent blend of intrigue and suspense, with a dash of trenchant wit. Sally’s trek through a world of unimaginable creatures will bring her face to face against a menacing entity to outdo them all – the church’s secret division, The Cross. Sally has been kidnapped by them and Bocnic, her zombie-fied knight in slightly shiny armor, must find her before it’s too late. And, that’s just the beginning. Much more stirs beneath the deviously shallow waters of life than either of them know about. Will riptides of a forlorn lover drive a wedge between Sally and Bo? How will this bitterly end?


Find my books at CreateSpace, Authorhouse, Smashwords, or at your favorite book retailer.

Save up to 86% on Magazines

The Sweet Sounds of a Click

10/14/2012

 
Picture
Having problems swimming with the big sharks through the cedar trees?? Find a niche in self-publishing. Recently, our author, Adam Santo, posted a few blogs about getting published. Please show him some support by commenting on either blog. One is found on his personal website, while the other is on our WordPress account. He will send you down the publishing path based on his own experiences. Follow him down his short path of creating art out of words, breathing life into print. A manuscript is only the beginning. Read on to see where Adam's footwork took him.

MX iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store

    RSS Feed

    From the PFP desk...

    PFP (Panhandling Fantasy Publishing) will be posting new and upcoming novels on this blog to keep readers up-to-date with all that is happening with our exciting books.

    Categories

    All
    2012
    2013
    2014
    Blog
    Book
    Celebration
    Charity
    Christmas
    Ebook
    Family
    Holidays
    Horror
    Novel
    Print
    Publish
    Publishing
    Thanksgiving
    Writing
    Xmas

    AuthorHouse Self Publishing Boook Company

    Archives

    April 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    June 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.