Arnold Wolf's Howlings

East Harlem Latino Book Festival

2012-01-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Please visit 1petition.com and sign the petition for THE FIRST ANNUAL EAST HARLEM LATINO BOOK FESTIVAL

www.ipetitions.com

It's a great way to promote Latino literature and literacy!

This is petition for THE FIRST ANNUAL EAST HARLEM LATINO BOOK FESTIVAL. Join the movement! Sign now!

New writing gigs...

2011-12-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, I almost forget to tell you...

I'm also currently writing articles about Latino literature for Salsa magazine on Facebook, and I'm also writing fish article (yes, fish articles!) for the Brooklyn Aquarium Society's newsletter.

2012 Latino Authors & Writers Conference

2011-12-25T12:09:00.001-08:00

Ho, Ho, Ho. I hope everyone is having a great holiday season! As for me, my dreams are filled with images of sugar plums and my 2012 Latino Authors & Writers Conference! This year's conference was a blast and now I'm thinking about the fun we'll all have next year! I'm thinking about the guest speakers, the sponsors, supporters and partners, and I'm thinking about the great Salsa band that will play at the end of the conference! Wow, I love it! Hope to see you there!

2011-09-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

My Poets and Writers Event is next Saturday! I've got a dancer coming, guest speakers, poetry, writers, continental breakfast, raffles... Keynote Speaker is Judge Edwin Torres; author of "Carlito's Way." There will also be a fundraiser for an independent film, "Woven," about the interactions between an Ethiopian family and American family. One of the Writers/Producers, Salome Mulugeta, will make the presentation. Please come out and support. Bring a friend, it's only $25.00 per person.

http://www.poetsnwriters.com

Woven

Poets and Writers Event October 1st!

2011-09-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

New York Supreme Court Judge Edwin Torres (Ret.), author of

"Carlito's Way," as well as other books and novels, will be the Keynote

Speaker at my Poets and Writers Event next Saturday!

Boo-Yah!

Iolanthe

2011-05-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to attend the opera Iolanthe and my daughter who is performing in the opera, you can buy a ticket at www.savoy.org . There will be 4 shows in all: May 26 & 27 and June 10 & 11. The May shows are on a Thursday and a Friday at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, PA. The June shows are on a Friday and Saturday at Longwood Gardens (if you don't have a car, or live far from this area, I don't suggest trying to make the Longwood Garden shows). Even if you can't make it, you can still support the Savoy Company by making donations (which are tax-deductible) to the company.

Great Books for Sale

2011-05-03T05:51:00.000-07:00

You know, this conference has a lot of my attention and getting it together and ready is taking up a lot of my time, but I love the concept so much!

I just wanted to encourage avid readers to visit the site and check out the books by some of our authors, the books are fantastic and you would, of course, also be supporting a Latino(a) author. As we get closer to the conference date, we hope to add the works of more attendees, supporters, etc.

Thank you.

Editing

2011-04-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

EDITING

I still argue that in the brouhaha that is publishing, we
often forget about the reasons that traditional publishing
existed to begin with, and why writers didn't just publish
themselves from the outset.

Traditional publishers fund works out of their pockets,
and they beat a dead horse in terms of preparing a book
for release. This has been true since Gutenberg printed
the first Bible. So I believe traditional publishing will
continue for many years to come.

Yes, I tend to lean to the . . . traditional side. (Bet you
thought I was going to say right or left, huh?) However, I've
self-published as well. I've seen good self-publishing and bad.
I've seen good agents and bad. I've marveled at good traditional
works and bad.

Nothing in publishing is perfect.

However, two items get overlooked, in my opinion, when it
comes to do-it-yourself publication.

1. Platform
2. Editing

The Steve Laube Literary Agency has quite the informative
blog, and lately they've run a series called, "A Defense of
Traditional Publishing." The latest post of April 26 addressed
"Content Development."

http://www.stevelaube.com/in-defense-of-traditional-publishing-part-three/

A reader cursed me (yes, I'm a "biatch") for advising her to
slow down, complete her book, and edit it to death before
considering the publisher, the movie, or the television
appearances. The point I tried to make was that editing
isn't a simple proofreading job before you forward the file
to a publisher.

Steve Laube explained the multiple editing tasks under a
traditional roof.

ACQUISITIONS EDITOR - Finds, acquires, negotiates the project.

LINE EDITOR - Performs the actual content edit (also call the
"line" or "substantive" edit).

CONTENT EDITOR - Reads for accuracy, balance and fairness,
cogency of argument, adequate treatment of the subject matters,
and conformity to the original book proposal.

COPY EDITOR - Scours the manuscript for accuracy in grammar,
citations, and factual content.

PROOF READER - Fine tunes punctuation and other nit-picky details.

Yes, there's room for self-publishing, especially if you
have a platform to die for, and a following that would
purchase anything you held up in your hand. But if you
are venturing into the publishing world alone, wouldn't
you want these people in your court?

by Hope Clark - http://www.fundsforwriters.com

The Latino Authors & Writers Conference

2011-04-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Hi. Well, the conference is on schedule and rolling along at full steam! We have four great agents joining us, guest speakers, a wonderful Mistress-of-Ceremony... and so much more! I want to thank all of the people, organizations, agencies, and corporations that are helping to make this possible. i also want to say thank you to all of the Latino media that's promised to do a story about us. In fact, Philadelphia Spanish daily, Al Dia, is doing a story about the conference and is interviewing our guest speaker, Dr. Hector R. Ortiz!

Wow, so it's really happening and I'm really proud of all the work (and money!) that's gone into it. It's gonna be a blast!

"Meet the Author"

2011-01-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

Went to a "Meet the Author" in Philly on Saturday. The guest author was Hector R. Ortiz, author of "The Creative Energy of Positive Thinking." It was a very interesting and informative evening. I'm considering asking him to speak at my conference! I bought a copy of his book and he autographed it. I also had the opportunity to introduce myself and network with the president of Taller Puertorriqueno, and another lady that was head of another Latino organization. I handed out business cards and received very positive comments about the conference. Now I'm looking forward to next month's event, "What it means to be Afro-Latino in Philadelphia: Stories from El Barrio." This is going to be a photo-documentary by photographer Sandra Andino, and it promises to be interesting as well.

Vote for me!

2011-01-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

Host with the Most!

Arnaldo L.

The New Year!

2011-01-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a new year and I'm really hoping for great things to happen in 2011! I'm looking forward to getting this conference up and running, I'm hoping that this Fantasy novel I've written gets published by a major publisher, I'm going to try and get more short stories published, and I'm working on an artsy coffee-table book with a friend that I hope gets published too! All in all, I'm going to be working on a lot of projects and I'm hoping they all do well! Happy New Year!

FELIPE RODRIGUEZ - Cada Navidad.wmv

2010-12-28T17:27:00.000-08:00

The Blizzard of '10

2010-12-28T14:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, did anyone expect all of this snow and wind? True blizzard conditions, and my son and I celebrated by walking about 11 blocks and getting a bucket of fried chicken from the fried chicken place on Merrick Blvd! It was crazy! We couldn't see 5 feet in front of us, the snow was already knee deep in places, and the crystalline snowflakes stung our faces like chinese throwing stars. What fun!

Anyway, I also finished a short story for a Wordhustler contest in which the winner gets his/her story made into movie. I think it's one of the best I've ever written. I've also finished the first of a trilogy of Fantasy novels... I think this one's pretty good too. Let's not forget the writers conference I'm putting together for next year, hard at work on that too! Anyway, have a Happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

New Novel finished...

2010-11-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

Well, I've finished my latest novel. It's a departure from my previous novel which was basically a crime story. It involved cops, a serial killer, realistic New York City scenes... this new novel, which is actually a collaborative effort between my son and I is a FANTASY novel. The working title is "The Father & Son Chronicles" and I actually had a lot of fun writing it. I'm planning on making it a trilogy, but if it continues to be so much fun (and if people are actually reading it) I may keep going. It has knights, barbarians, dwarves, elves, assassins, monsters, gods, kings, queens... it just keeps going and going! Anyway, I'm hoping it gets picked up by an agent and then a major publisher like Tor. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

30 years and counting...

2010-11-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

Right at this very moment, my family and I are preparing for the celebration of my 30th wedding anniversary. Well, to say just my anniversary is wrong of course since my wife sure had a lot to do with it! You know, the years just went by in a blur, and all I can really remember is being happy. I married the woman I loved, my high school sweetheart in fact, and we had some great times before and after the kids were born. Now don't get me wrong, we had plenty of tough times... there were days we didn't eat because there was no money, there were those weeks and weeks when all we could afford to eat was boxed (instant) macaroni & cheese because they were three for a dollar, there were the days in winter with no heat and no hot water, and those sweltering days in summer with no air conditioning and only hot water coming out of the faucets... We were young and too proud and stubborn to ask for help... but we preservered. We raised three beautiful children, I'm close to retirement, and we have a wonderful granddaughter.

2010-10-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all! Just wanted to drop a note in my blog here to let everyone that reads this (yeah, all 2 of you!) know about the writer's conference I'm hosting next year. It's slated for October 1st, 2011 (it's a Saturday) in New York City as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. There will be networking, classes, agents, goodie bags, and more! So if you're a Latino author or writer, mark this date off on your calendar and plan to join us!

Granta names 'best young Spanish-language novelists'

2010-10-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

Extending its celebrated selections of rising literary stars into the Spanish-speaking world, journal tips 22 young authors for the future

The future Ian McEwans and Salman Rushdies of the Spanish-language literary world have been named by Granta magazine in a list of the best young Spanish-language authors writing today.
From Argentinian author Federico Falco to Chilean poet and novelist Alejandro Zambra and Spain's Pablo Gutiérrez, the literary magazine unveiled the 22 writers to make it into its list of the best of young Spanish-language novelists in Madrid this morning. Running since 1983, when the literary magazine included Julian Barnes, Martin Amis, McEwan and Rushdie in its list of the best of young British novelists, Granta's "best of young novelists" series has tipped a host of future writers for stardom, from Edwidge Danticat to Jonathan Franzen, but has never looked outside America and the UK before.
A panel of judges including acclaimed Argentinian film director and writer Edgardo Cozarinsky, award-winning novelist Francisco Goldman and journalist Isabel Hilton, along with the Spanish edition of Granta's editors Aurelio Major and Valerie Miles, chose the Spanish-language writers, who also include Peruvian short story writer Carlos Yushimito del Valle, currently finishing his first novel, and Argentinian poet and short story writer Matías Néspolo, whose first novel, Siete maneras de matar a un gato (Seven Ways to Kill a Cat), is due out in English from Harvill Secker.
"From Borges to Bolano, the Spanish language has given us some of the most beloved writers of the 20th and 21st centuries," said Granta. "But as the reach of Spanish-language culture extends far beyond Spain and Latin America, and the US tilts towards a majority Hispanic population, it is time to ask who is next in this exciting tradition."
Granta said that fiction from the 22 authors, which will feature in the new editions of Granta and Granta en español next month, would give readers "an unprecedented insight into the world of Spanish letters". Of the writers selected, eight come from Argentina, six from Spain, two each from Peru and Chile, and one from Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia and Uruguay. Five of the 22 writers are female.
Granta's best of young Spanish novelists:
Carlos Yushimito del Valle
Matías Néspolo
Alberto Olmos
Antonio Ortuño
Andrés Felipe Solano
Santiago Roncagliolo
Elvira Navarro
Andrés Neuman
Patricio Pron
Carlos Labbé
Oliverio Coelho
Rodrigo Hasbún
Sònia Hernández
Andrés Ressia Colino
Samanta Schweblin
Pola Oloixarac
Javier Montes
Federico Falco
Pablo Gutiérrez
Andrés Barba
Alejandro Zambra
Lucía Puenzo
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

The NYC Pitch Conference

2010-03-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

What can I say except... wow. I went to the 2010 NYC Pitch & Shop writers conference and I had a great time. I met some very talented people who also happened to be very nice and a lot of fun. I wish it didn't have to end so soon, but I have to admit I was exhausted by the time it did end. I was lucky because the editors of two publishing houses indicated that they wanted to see more of my manuscript. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Anyway, like I said, it was a wonderful time and I could feel my atrophying creative muscles come back to life. It was great!

Marketing, marketing, marketing

2010-02-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

You know, I just LOVE beating that dead horse! I've been so busy trying to market my novel, Chickenhawk, that I haven't been able to write much of anything new. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've started plenty of things (short storys, articles, fiction and non-fiction books), but I haven't been consistant and I haven't finished anything. Three marketing things I'm doing are:

1. Participating in the L.A. Book Festival via Authorsden. They'll put three copies of my novel on their shelves at the festival, and hand out copies of my promotional bookmarks to attendees.
2. My publisher, PublishAmerica, is sending five copies of my novel to Random House. I have no illusions about the results of this, but I figure that for the opportunity to be read by someone at Random House it's worth the money I paid.
3. I'm participating in the NYC Pitch and Shop next month, in which I will have the opportunity to pitch my novel to several agents; as well as shop it around to various publishers. Again, I feel that the possibilities outweigh the costs.

Anyway, I'm going to have to cut this stuff out and get back to writing, but it's so hard...! Wish me luck!

Foreclosure Looms...

2010-01-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

Hi,
Well, today I answered the foreclosure summons I received on the 16th of January. Everyone involved at the courthouse was very nice. I have never been this close to losing my home and yet I am filled with a profound sense of calm... it can only be God, because I really can't afford to be homeless, and there are times when I ask myself inwardly if I shouldn't be more afraid, more panicked... my daughter even mentioned it today. The entire family feels this warm sense of calm in the face of our foreclosure... it's weird. No, no, we haven't given up or resigned ourselves to losing our home, we still intend to give it our all in the attempt to save our home (such as the Answering of the Foreclosure Service today), but I think that we have all really placed this in God's hands.

And so it goes...!

2010-01-09T21:29:00.001-08:00

Okay, I'm getting ready to leave work. I'm beat... tired... Not from the job, but from the rigors of life. I usually enjoy a good fight, but the constant battles I've been engaged in for the past three years have taken their toll... and I'm tired. I don't really see a way out of my current dilemmas, and I was ready to just stick my head in the sand and just call it a night. But I have maybe one more idea... maybe I can make something happen to save me financially... we'll see. But it's not just finances... there have been family illnesses, deaths, the deaths of friends and acquaintances - too many - , negative family drama, my own failing health, the non-interest in my novel, the recent failure of a job interview, and so many more things... like the possible foreclosure on my home, the loss of my car... ah well, everyone's got problems and I guess I should stop whining about mine. Thanks however, to those of you (if there's anyone out there at all) that have stopped to read my words. Take care and God Bless. Ciao.

Scary stuff!

2010-01-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I received a letter from a law office stating that unless I pay off my house in FULL, it will go into foreclosure! I'm at a loss... I have to admit that I don't know what to do!

Poor Christmas

2009-12-24T14:42:00.000-08:00

Ah-h-h... well, this is going to be a poor Christmas for me and my family. I'm having money trouble, but in this economy, who isn't? A good thing is that my kids are all grown up now so a lot of the pressure I used to feel to buy them stuff for the holidays is minimized. This year everyone gets a card, a hug, kind words, and a warm, home-cooked meal. This all sounds so good, it's almost hard to believe that in the old days I'd go nuts with all the shopping, card mailing, decorating and stuff... not having any money can be kinda liberating - ya know? I still harbor pangs of guilt at not being to at least buy them something, but I assuage that guilt with the knowledge that it honestly can't be helped, and that it's not their or my birthday anyway. Putting the Christ back in Christmas should be the priority, and it's a shame that it took this long to better see that. It's Jesus' birthday afterall, and it's He who should be getting all the gifts... gifts of praise, love, faith, peace, harmony... and charity. Once again, please don't forget those less fortunate than you. Merry CHRISTmas and God bless.

Have a happy...

2009-12-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. May all of your hopes and dreams come true, may all of yours needs be fulfilled. Please don't forget those less fortunate and remember them in your prayers... and please... write!

The Holidays

2009-12-19T14:11:00.001-08:00

As we move into the holidays, I can't help but think of those who are worse off than I am... people that have lost their jobs, their homes... Americans that are going to bed hungry... I almost lost my own job about a year ago and it was scary. Financially, I'm still struggling to get back on my feet. How do those that have lost their income make it? I can only pray for them.. and for me. Still, I'm writing and reading, and hoping that maybe something that I write will make some money.
Happy Holidays everybody, and God bless.

Interview with Ella of EDC Creation's Black Pearls Magazine

2009-08-08T19:52:00.001-07:00

Intimate Conversation with Arnold Wolf

Arnold Wolf was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York (East New York/Brownsville to be exact) about half-a-century ago, but now makes his home in Queens, New York where he has lived with his family for about 14 years now. He is employed as a manager with the MTA in New York City. As well as writing, Mr. Wolf is an artist and photographer. As a writer he’s sold articles to Railway Age magazine, Homeland Defense Journal, and Reptile & Amphibian magazine; scripts to Archie and Personality Comics; and short stories to Neo-Opsis magazine, Lost Souls e-zine, and various Sci-Fi and/or horror newsletters and fanzines. Arnold Wolf considers as his major influences the people and places he's seen and interacted with in New York City over the years. As far as the writers that he feels that have influenced him the most, they are - in no particular order - Ernest Hemmingway, Robert E. Howard, Lawrence Sanders, Harry Turtledove, Isaac Asimov, and Stephen King.

Ella: Where are you from? How did you start your writing journey? I'm from Brooklyn, NY. I've always enjoyed reading and writing, my first published work being when I won a writing contest in D.C. Comics.
Ella: Arnold, introduce us to your book Chickenhawk. Tell us the Intimate Details.My novel is Chickenhawk; Genre-Crime Fiction; ISBN# 1-4241-7491-0. Synopsis: Eddie Ramos is a cop. He and his partner, Tommy Cucitti, are detectives in the elite squad known as Manhattan North Homicide. Eddie’s an old-fashioned kind of cop; heck, Eddie’s an old cop period. He’s a proud man; proud of being a cop, of having been a cop for a long time, and he’s proud that his marriage has survived the rigors of the job. All of these things, the things he’s proud of and considers important however are put to the test when young men and boys start winding up dead all over his town, young men and boys that share a common source of livelihood…they’re all prostitutes.
Eddie Ramos doesn’t like cell phones or computers; he trusts paperwork, procedure, and his instincts. He’s been married to his childhood sweetheart for 30 years, he’s a family man, a church-going Catholic, and he still carries the same 5-shot revolver they gave him when he graduated from the academy. Tommy Cucitti is younger, brasher, more of a hothead and usually in trouble. He knows computers and always carries his cell phone. He’s single and lives with his street-wise Armenian girlfriend; Daphne. Tommy and Eddie are two different kinds of men that are the same kind of cop; dedicated, hardworking and resourceful. They’re after a serial killer that manages to stay below their radar while the body count keeps climbing in a city that’s turning into a powder keg.
Theodore “Paki” Pakidorapopulos is a successful and well-known writer and columnist for a popular and respected New York City magazine. He has an impressive house in the trendy section of Eastern Long Island , a beautiful wife, two adorable children, and the respect and admiration of his family, friends, and fans. He also has a secret. He has sex with boys and young men.
Paki is one of hundreds, if not thousands, of seemingly happy and satisfied married men that nevertheless troll the streets of New York City searching for young men and boys to satisfy their sexual needs before going home to their unsuspecting wives. Paki, like the majority of these men, does not consider himself a homosexual and in fact he is well known for his conservative views and has regularly ridiculed gay causes in his column. He is of course discreet since this particular night-time activity may not sit well with his tony neighbors or the other members of the country club.
Paki’s discreet and genteel life are threatened however when he becomes ill. He’s never felt so bad in his life and he suspects that he knows what it is. He fears that he has contracted the AIDS virus from one or more of the young men that he’s paid for sex. Paki never thought that he’d get sick. Now everything he’s worked for, everything he’s built will come crashing down around him in a wave of humiliation, mistrust, and accusation. Paki is incensed and he vows that if he is cursed to die so ignoble a death, then he will take those responsible for making him sick to the grave with him. Paki’s vow becomes a plan, the plan then becomes action, and people start to die.
Ella: Who are your two main characters and what do you like most about them? My main characters are Eddie Ramos and Tommy Cucitti... they're cops. I like the way they react to and with each other throughout the book.
Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader pick it up?My novel is very realistic. In fact a former producer from Forensic Files lauded my novel's realism in an email to me.
Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?I want them first and foremost to be entertained.
Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating books?I learned how hard it is for a writer of color to get an agent interested in their work.
Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer? Finishing my novel; Chickenhawk.
Ella: What advice would you give a new writer?Write, just write, no matter what.
Ella: Would you change anything about your journey?Yes. I'd write more and more often.
Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful author, in your opinion?Lots of reading, writing, persistence and talent.
Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?More crime novels of course, but I'm also working on a fantasy novel, a couple of non-fiction books about terrorism, and some short stories in a variety of genres.
My website addresses:www.authorsden.com/arnoldwolf www.myspace.com/arnoldwolf
www.blackauthors.ning.com/arnoldwolf
www.facebook.com/arnoldwolf
www.goodreads.com/arnoldwolf
This is my book trailer on YouTub e
Checkout my reading list on Goodreads - where you can see what your friends are reading.

Vacation

2009-07-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

Ah-h-h-h, I'll be going on vacation soon and I can't wait! The whole family is going on what may be our last vacation as a family unit. We're going to Puerto Rico! Man, I can't wait for the sun, surf, smells and food. It'll be great for us and the kids to be together and just relax, explore, and just have some fun for a change. I won't be taking any of my writing, but I'll have a small pad to jot ideas on just in case, and a camera of course. The last time I was in Puerto Rico I went alone and camped out in the rainforest. It was a weird and wonderful experience, and I was lucky because they don't let people do that anymore. But the camping thing, wow, it was just so cool! I hope to take the family to the rainforest, as well as to a couple of other places that are mostly tourist attractions... but then, we're going to be tourists so it should alright. Am I rambling? I feel like I'm rambling. Oh well, maybe I'm already in vacation mode. I will, of course, let you know how it all turns out...

Where's the money man? Where's the money?

2009-07-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

You know, times are tough right now and it seems that everyone and every company is counting their pennies... me included. Well, add all that to the fact that I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks and so I've been kinda extra careful with my funds lately. Imagine my surprise (I've been getting surprised a lot lately haven't I?) when I went to pay my mortgage and found that more than half of the money was missing from my account! I thought maybe the bank made a mistake and so I went to confront them and instead found out that someone has been siphoning money from my acount for at least a couple of months! Who? Who? How? Uh-oh, I guess I wasn't as careful as I thought and someone took advantage...
The bank is now performing an investigation. We'll see what happens...

The budget, the budget, the budget...

2009-06-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

I had to report to work early today... seems I had two meetings to go to. The first one wasn't so bad, My immediate boss told me to write up evaluations on the level one supervisors here and hand them in to him. That task took about 30 minutes... no biggie.
The next meeting was a bit of a surprise; a shock really. I met with the director of my department along with two members of Human Resources... egads!!! Well, I was informed that due to the recession, there was no longer enough money in the budget to pay me! I felt like the floor was puled from under me! All I could think of was my wife, my kids, my mortgage, my bills... in just seconds my thoughts were spinning around in a miasma of fear and worry... then the two HR people, apparently seeing my thoughts play out on my face, assured me that I was not being laid off. They told me that there wasn't enough money in the budget of my present department to pay me! Sheesh, I'd nearly had a coronary. They told me that they'd look for another, larger department with enough of a budget to take me in. They said I wouldn't lose any pay and may even wind up in a place where I'd be earning more, maybe even my old department (which I loved!). They also said that if I found a position in the Job Postings that I felt I qualified for, to let them know via email and they'd put a good word in for me! Man, what a revelation... in the space of just a few minutes I went from jobless to maybe even getiing a better job! Wow.

Six Weeks of Meditation

2009-04-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

On January 13, 2009 I was suspended from my job without pay "Pending Dismissal." I wound up being suspended for six weeks, at the end of which I wound up being quite broke, angry, upset, and introspective.
My first day back on the job was March 3, 2009. I knew I shouldn't be but I found myself being very upset with my bosses and my workplace in general. It took me several days after going back to work to remember that I should be grateful to have a job, especially in light of today's economic downturn. Still, I find myself repeating my new mantra, "I love my job, I need my job," over and over again.
Why was I suspended?
That's a conversation for another day...

Sleepy

2008-12-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

It's about 6:30 pm and I'm sitting in the Rail Control Center for NYC Transit. It's a fascinating and impressive place, with a lot of stuff going on... unfortunately I'm sitting here waiting for a snowstorm that seems intent on taking its time. I had to do a double yesterday so I didn't get off 'til 3:00 am, didn't get home 'til 5:47am, didn't hit the sack 'til 6:00am. Got here at 2:00pm and have to stay until 10:00pm... so I'm kinda sleepy. Why is this a problem? Well, I'm supposed to stay alert in case of any emergencies, and I tried working on a couple of my short stories but I kept dozing off. Ah well, what can you do? I finally get some time I can use to work on some of my writing and I'm too sleepy to focus!

Reflection of Me anthology...

2008-11-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

One of my short stories, The Toll, has been included in an anthology published by AAMBC Publishing. It's a decent story, kind of a Sci-Fi/Fantasy hybrid. I enjoyed writing it and I hope readers will enjoy reading it. I encourage all who enjoy African-American/Minority literature to purchase a copy of this anthology and give it a looking over, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Rain

2008-10-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Well, it's raining out. It's a good day to watch a movie, curl up with a good book, or catch up with a writing project. It's also a good day to just stare out of the window and think about things.

The Thin Man...

2008-10-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, the title of this particluar post is, The Thin Man.... and no it doesn't refer to the great mystery series that featured the erudite if perpetually inebriated Nick and Nora... it also doesn't refer to the fact that I have recently shed more than 20 pounds... unfortunately it refers to the fact that I think I may have spread myself a little thin in my quest for gaining more readers for my novel. What I mean is that since the publication of my novel, I have joined a myriad of literary websites, joined clubs, associations, blogs, organizations, fellows, etc. Now I find that in trying to keep up with all of those things, I actually wind up failing them all to one degree or another. Not only that, but I find that I spend so much time at those tasks that I haven't spent near enough time at my actual writing. Anyway, even with the knowledge that marketing is extremely important, I find that I must pull back somewhat if I am to ever finish (or even start) some of the other projects that I want to sink my teeth into. Do other authors exeperience this feeling of being pulled in multiple directions at once like a soft, malleable piece of taffy? Um-m-m, taffy, yum-yum. Do you feel guilt when you leave the marketing of your current project in order to work on your next one? Alas, until next time.... ciao.

Radio Interview that Never Happened

2008-06-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well, the radio interview never happened. But I did receive an email from the host of the radio show explaining what went wrong. Below is that email:

Good Afternoon Arnold,
I hope and pray that all is well with you. I have no complaints. I would like to sincerely apologize to you for not being able to Interview you on the show. As my show says "Everybody Has Issues". On Tuesday morning my Computer Crashed and I was unable to do my show. I had to put it in the shop and did not get it out until Thursday evening. Because my show is Broadcast via the internet and all of my information is stored on my computer, I had no way of contacting you. I did however apologize to you on air, Thursday evening and Friday and at the same time promote your book. Please accept my sincerest apology and I would love to reschedule you on the show again soon, to discuss your Book. My fans would love to hear from you. Again, this was beyond my control and I apologize for any inconvenience that it may have caused. I will check the schedule and see when we can have you on the show as soon as possible. Thanks for your understanding. Until my keyboard clicks on again - Peace!
Appreciatively,
THE b.r.burns SHOW"
Everybody Has Issues!"

Radio Interview a BUST!!!

2008-05-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Well, I was all ready for the radio interview... What radio interview you ask? Well I was contacted by a representative of the b.r. burns blogtalkradio show and asked to be a guest on May 28th. I accepted of course! I then did all the things that I was asked to do by the represetatives of the b.r. burns show... I sent them my bio, I emailed and told all of my friends, family, and associates to tune in, I even bought a new telephone because my old one is a cordless model and can sometimes be unreliable. I psyched myself up, did some additional research on the topic, and I even rehearsed a little... I mean I was ready!

The time came for the show to begin, the website counted down to the start of the show, then a message came on at the time the show was supposed to start, reading, "Waiting for Host to call in." That message stayed on for the entire one and a half hours that the show was supposed to air until it finally just went off. No interview. No explanation. No email (even though I emailed them and politely asked what happened), no nothing. So... so much for that. I'll just keep on promoting my novel in whatever venues possible and keep on keeping on. I'd still like to know what happened though...

On The Shelves...

2008-05-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay... this may not seem like such a big deal to you, but to me it was BIG! What was it? Well, a lot of people that say they are interested in my novel complained that they could't find it in any of the bookstores. When I asked different bookstores why, I received a lot of different reasons why not... most of the reasons boiled down to stocking choices being made between my novel, and novels by names like Stephen King and John Grisham. Uh, guess who won?
Anyway, I was checking out Barnes & Noble online when I saw that the store on 86th Street and Lexington Ave in Manhattan says that it has copies of my novel IN STOCK!!! That is so-o cool! I wanted to go see for myself today, but didn't get the chance. You better believe however that I will find my way to that bookstore, along with my trusty digital camera, and I will take a loving photo of my novel on the shelf. Wow.

What's been going on since...whew, February!

2008-05-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

If anyone is actually reading this thing, I offer you all my humblest and most sincere apologies. I haven't written anything on this blog since February, so now I shall endeavor to try and catch up on things as they currently pertain to my novel, Chickenhawk.

Chickenhawk seems to be selling briskly, I ran into an old friend recently that admitted to buying TEN copies of my novels and distributing them amongst her family members! She has my eternal gratitude to be sure and yet... I know plenty of friends and relatives have been buying my novel, but I'm concerned as to whether or not complete strangers are. I really, really wonder whether there are people out there that don't know me, but are interested enough in the novel to actually purchase one. I have been doing a lot of marketing, but most of it has been pretty much low-level stuff like flyers, postcards, business cards, etc., and I've sent out press releases, and some other things... but are my efforts working? Are all those little things bearing any fruit as far as the general public is concerned? I just don't know and it's driving me kind of batty...

Some positive things have come about because of my efforts however... I was profiled by the Queens Tribune, a local newspaper. The reporter, Sasha Austrie said some pretty positive things about me and the novel. Here's a brief excerpt: "The novel is wonderfully vulgar, lending character and authenticity to the story. The book opens up with a dastardly, gritty scene. The scene, written in explicit detail, grabs the reader from onset."

I also received a Five-Star review from Apex Reviews (see below):

Welcome to the Apex Book Review of Arnold Wolf's "Chickenhawk."
www.apexreviews.net
info@apexreviews.net

Chickenhawk by Arnold Wolf
ISBN: 9781424174911
PublishAmerica
Reviewed By Sylvia Griffin
Official Apex Reviews Rating: Five Stars

"Catching an unsuspecting Manhattan off guard, a series of gruesome killings begins drawing increased attention from both the authorities and the media. The reason: each victim is a young male Hispanic prostitute, who, prior to having his head blown off, is forced to perform fellatio, then simulate the same act on the instrument of his ultimate doom.
Relying on their seasoned savvy and extensive underground contacts, Detectives Eddie Ramos and Tommy Cucitti work around the clock in order to track the killer down and prevent more bloodshed. As the killer’s body count grows higher and higher, though, the detectives begin to feel increased heat from all angles – especially considering the fact that it’s an election year and the mayor’s job is in jeopardy.
The case finally breaks, though, as clues begin to point toward the most unlikely of suspects: a prominent, happily married syndicated columnist – who also happens to be a father of two and considered to be one of the leading authorities on morality and conservative values. What possible connection could he have to the deaths of young male prostitutes? Is it possible that he is somehow linked to what the media has begun to call the infamous “Chickenhawk” killer?
Finding out the answer to that question takes the reader on an engrossingly entertaining thrill ride in Chickenhawk. In this impressive tome, Arnold Wolf does a masterful job of intertwining mystery, suspense, and drama, resulting in a riveting script that, despite its 390 pages, reads incredibly fast and seems to end much too quickly. His genre-bending instant classic is teeming with the perfect assortment of witty, engaging characters, heartbreaking tragedy, and all-too familiar situations literally ripped from the pages of everyday life. With a jaundiced, pragmatic eye, Wolf combines such various elements with seamless precision, and with the refined skill of a true master he redefines the concept of a cliffhanger.
Like any John Grisham or Stephen King novel, the reader will finish Chickenhawk with the fervent hope that a suitable movie version is quickly forthcoming; however, as flawless as the book proves itself to be, he/she is sure to realize – with bittersweet reservation – that such a feat would be nearly impossible to achieve."

I was also interviewed on Tamara Grants author blogsite. You can check out the interview at: http://tamaragrant.blogspot.com/

Also, I'm going to be interviewed on a radio show! The following is more information about that:

Dear Arnold Wolf, I hope and pray that all is well with you. I have no complaints. I am celebrating Authors during the month of May. I would like for you to be a guest on my Show, so we can talk about you, and your book and how you're making things happen!!!. The topic of the show is: DOWN WRITE GRITTY!: "Up From The Subway Of New York City - Comes Chickenhawk!" Tuesday, May 27, 2008 @ 7:30 pm CT.
I would love to share your Story with my fan base. I would like to discuss your beginnings and any upcoming projects or events. Of course you can promote your book and your website and any engagements that you may have, on the show. Please confirm as soon as possible. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Until my keyboard clicks on again - Peace!Appreciatively,brburns.com THE b.r.burns SHOW"Everybody Has Issues!" LOG ON AND LISTEN LIVE!www.blogtalkradio.com/everybodyhasissues www.myspace.com/everybodyhasissues
"If It Ain't One Thang - It's Anotha'!"

So some good things have come about due to my marketing efforts, which admittedly, aren't enough. So it's back to the drawing board... nose to the grindstone... and all that kind of thing until I make things happen. I'll be writing soon (I hope!)

Limited Feedback

2008-02-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

Well, some limited feedback has begun trickling in concerning my debut novel, Chickenhawk. Some of the information is good, some of the information is bad. Here's the gist:
The novel could have used some added editing and revising. I agree. Most of it is just little stuff like missing punctuation (mostly not my fault), but there are some mistakes which can be glaring, like some grammar (mostly my fault). There is a flashback sequence which should have been more clearly defined as a flashback in order to reduce any confusion. One person stated that she didn't believe the antagonist's motivation for muder (she obviously doesn't read the papers where people are killed every day for no reason at all), and a few other things but these were the main ones. The news is mostly good, especially where my characters are concerned. Most people find the characters believeable and 3-dimensional, most people are reacting to my characters and what they do as I hoped they would. All in all, it's all been pretty decent. So far...

The book... at last!

2008-02-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

My publishers sent me my free authors copies of my book... they're great. Or perhaps I should say it's great. My daughter, who at first didn't really want to read my novel because of its content, asked for one to read after she saw one and actually held it in her hands. She said out loud the same thing I was thinking, "Wow, it looks like a REAL book..." Yes, it does. It does look like a real book, at least to us. I am very proud, and I'm sure my parents are too. Now we wait and see how it sells.. or not. Like almost any writer, I am hoping that it seels well enough to propel me into the bestseller lists (at least one). Or maybe just well enough to garner it a mention from a reviewer (hopefully a positive one). Well, we'll see... meanwhile, I've got to get to work on the next one... ciao!

Now Available...

2008-01-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

My novel is now available for sale on my publisher's web site. I always thought that at this moment I'd feel elation, excitement, and accomplishment... instead I find myself possessed of feelings more akin to dread. Now that the rubber is meeting the road, I wonder if it was all worth it. What will readers think of it? What will be the reactions of family, relatives, friends, associates, complete strangers? Will my words cause the controversy I'd hoped, or will they fall flat and leave everyone feeling as if they'd just wasted their time? Only time will tell...

Cover me, Scotty!

2008-01-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

Today I received the first draft of my novel's cover design. It was so strange... I guess the fact that my novel is finally being published never really hit me until I actually saw that cover. It's mine. My name on the cover, partially my design, my photo on the back cover... it's me. Mine. Wow.

My publisher asked if I had any ideas concerning how the cover should look. I designed a cover and emailed it to them. The cover they sent back was very close to my design, so that makes it doubly special for me. I am sorely tempted to simply sit on my laurels, enjoy the ride, and see where this all goes... Yet, I know that the wisest course of action would be to continue working on my second novel, and eventually start on my third, etc. Keep going. Write. Create.

I'm working on marketing my novel as well, trying to generate interest. Working to keep it away from the bargain bin as long as possible. I am no salesman... I believe that most artists, writers, and the like, make lousy business people--the opposing sides of their brains war constantly for dominion--the creative side and the... other side. Rarely will a person achieve both, although many have through sore necessity become artists with some knowledge of business, contracts, marketing, and all those things that so many creative people find so-o-o-oo boring. Didn't YOU fail accounting 101?

The cover... so cool.

Finally...

2008-01-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Well kiddies, it's finally happened... I am now a published author! My first novel Chickenhawk will hit the shelves starting next month with an initial printing of 8,000. Will it sell? Will it flop? Only the Gods can tell... What I am hoping however is that it will cause controversy, conversation, consternation... at the very least a squirming discomfort among at least some of my readers or reviewers. I mean, I hope they enjoy the read... it's just that I feel that crime writers, like horror writers, sometimes aim not just for the mind and heart, but for the viscera.

I started my novel over ten years ago when I was employed as a Token Booth Clerk with NYC Transit. I worked nights and the nocturnal activities of the young, male prostitutes caught my attention... no, not that way... I wondered why these tough-looking, urban youths were doing what they were doing, and their answers surprised and intrigued me. They looked and acted like any other of the young, thuggish males that populate the urban areas of cities all over country, yet they made their money by selling their bodies. I talked to them, between customers, and all of them, everyone, insisted they were not gay but committed acts of prostitution with other men mostly for partying money. This was one of the things that intrigued me... and so it is now part of my novel.

I'm not much of a talker, no doubt there will be those who will say that I am also not much of a writer, regardless, I will try to keep this blog current. Chickenhawk is my first novel, I am currently working on my second. This is also my first blog (like I said, I'm not the talkative type), so I ask that you bear with me. Thanks.