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The Latest Rives’ism
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Sat, March 13, 2010
My dad’s from Texas, I’ve spent a good bit of time out there, I’d like to think part of me is from there and I am one of those folks who believes The Alamo is hallowed ground. A few months ago, I returned from a research trip out there where I bought a coffee mug at the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, TX. It’s now my favorite mug. It says ‘Texas Rangers’ on one side and on the other is a rather famous quote from Davy Crockett. The quote is drawn from a speech Crockett made in his re-election campaign for Congress. He lost and was killed year later at the Alamo. Around my house, Davy Crockett is held up on a pedastal, as is any man who died at the Alamo. One problem: on more than one occasion guys like Travis, Bowie, Houston and Crockett said things I might not want my first grader reading—or repeating. Yet. To be honest, I didn’t know Rives was paying attention to the fine print on the side of my coffee mug.
You see where this is going?
‘Ask Charles’ No. 2
Posted in Ask Charles on Fri, March 12, 2010
Q: Which of my books is my favorite?
A: I get asked this question alot. The short answer is, I don’t have a favorite. You might as well line up our three sons and ask me who I love the most. I love them all the same, equally and for different reasons. There are scenes in various books that I’m proud of, specific moments, I look at and think, ‘that’s some good stuff,’ but not one book. I’ve said this alot but it remains true: when I’ve finished every book, I’ve been able to lay it down and honestly say, ‘that’s the best I can do.’ It’s not like I held back somewhere. Each has required all of me to write it. Books do that by default. (At least mine do.) I am either all in or I’m not. Can’t be half in the computer screen and half out. Can’t be half pregnant. That said, this latest one is pretty good. Course, I’ve said that same thing everytime a book has released.
‘Ask Charles’ No. 1
Posted in Ask Charles on Fri, March 12, 2010
Q: Do I work out of the house?
A: Sort of. Our house doesn’t have a garage. Because of that, we bought a portable, metal shed and had it dropped in the back corner of our yard when we moved in. Christy liked the aesthetics of it so much that she quickly surrounded it with shrubs and bushes which now conceal it quite nicely. Anyway, we stored all the normal garage stuff in there. I.e., Christmas decoration boxes, flashing reindeer, ski clothes, kayaks, lawnmowers, backpack blower, etc. I took a closet in the house and turned it into my office…
Bluffed and Poofed
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Thu, March 11, 2010
Rives (7) has his own way of communicating how he feels. If he’s eaten too much, he’ll put his hand on his stomach and say, “I’m bluffed.” Translation: stuffed. If he’s tired, then he says he’s “Poofed.” Trans: pooped, or tired.
Last night he was looking a little run down. I said, “How you feeling?”
He said, “I’m bloofed.”
I looked at Christy. “What’s that mean?”
‘It means he’s bluffed and poofed but too tired and full to say both.”
;-)
And yes, this will definitely find its way into a book. It’s too good.
More Rules For Writers…
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Thu, March 11, 2010
A friend sent this to me. An article from the UK. More rules for writers. Some are quite good. Some I can do without. Some I’d like to add to my own. Especially, Leonard. It’s difficult to argue with him. He can pace a story like nobody’s business. As can King. Oddly enough, their rules sound a lot alike. Enjoy.
The Truth Is…
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Fri, March 05, 2010
I forgot my kids at school yesterday. Completely. At 3:40 p.m., almost an hour after they were released, the school tracked me down here in my office, (I wear headphones to drown out the noise). The lady said, “Ummm…Mr. Martin, we have your sons in the office.”
I jumped up. Oh Crap! Son of a…
Actually,I think I thought something else but you get the picture. “I’ll be right there.” Christy was off doing some stuff with her sister on a much-needed break. She’d left me with strict instructions. Even texted me a little after noon to remind me. This one was ALL me.
Monster Trucks
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Tue, March 02, 2010
Saturday, I took the boys to the Monster Truck show here in Jax. One of the cooler things I’ve ever witnessed. Sort of like NASCAR on some serious steroids. We actually witnessed history. Saw this happen. The first time in Monster truck competition it’s ever been done. The place went berzerk!
What I listen to when I’m working…
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Mon, March 01, 2010
...changes frequently. I listen to alot of different music when I’m working. My playlists are varied and eclectic. I’m pretty big on acoustic stuff. For a year or so, I’ve been listening to these guys. They put out something new called ’The Outsiders.’ Good stuff.
Some Thoughts on Mountain
Posted in Book Research Interviews on Thu, February 25, 2010
My 7th book, The Mountain Between Us, releases June 1st.
It’s set in the mountains between Salt Lake and Denver but that’s not really the mountain I’m talking about. Most, if not all, of my stories, follow the arc of a character from a real bad place of being broken to a place of not broken. If you ask me ‘what fires me up as a writer,’ it’s that. That arc. From messed up to maybe not so messed up. Why? Because at the other end is hope.
The Funniest Thing I’ve Ever Heard…
Posted in The Kitchen Sink on Mon, February 22, 2010
The other night, we were all getting into the car. Coming back after dinner. Evidently, dinner had…affected the kids. The boys were kidding around, racing to the car, first one in, claiming the backseat, etc.. John T. (10) elbowed his way in front of Rives (7). John T. climbed in and made Rives climb over him. When Rives did climb in, John T. then tickled him or poked him in the ribs or something. Rives brushed his hand aside, waved his finger like a windshield wiper in front of his face and said, “Don’t mess with me or I’ll gas you so bad your grandchildren will stink.”