MASTER! MASTER!

I didn't realize this shirt would match so well.

of Fine Arts, that is. In Creative Writing (which always makes me think of unicorns and spiral notebooks and skulls), more specifically in Fiction and Stage & Screen. This MFA 19 years after receiving my BA in Professional Writing.

In between those two degrees I've written:

a shitload.

And I was fortunate to have had some successes here and there.

Queens didn't teach me to write, but it did push me to be a better writer. To push my voice, not alter it. And perhaps more importantly, it introduced me to a community of serious fiction writers who not only inspire me, but are just as happy to drink and laugh as they are to throw down about the craft.  (Ah, "Queens' Finest.") We'll be doing so for the next 19 years. Count on it.

That hood is just as much about those 19 years as it was about the two year program. And I'm glad I'm done with both. This was and is a milestone that is easy to appreciate, and in writing that can be a rare thing.

XOXOX
DSH

CLONING CHRIST: The Second Book of Daniel

CLONING CHRIST: The Second Book of Daniel

Sales are picking up nicely on this, my techno science thriller, and I find that very satisfying.

Due to the structure of the book I didn't have to go back and update it for this new digital age. Which I am grateful for, because, well, I'm a lazy bastard.  And second I wanted to honor the younger author and the time in which it was written. Many overnights spent exploring this topic and how it might come to to fruition. Some amazing interviews with experts in the then emerging field of cloning.

I think the book has room for a thrilling sequel (there's no cliffhanger so you're getting a complete story) and maybe if things (demand) merit it, I'll explore that possibility, and I know after revisiting it, I thought, Hmmm, I wonder what happens next for our gang... in this new digital age?

But for now, I'll file that story away and maybe it will take root. As a writer it's sometimes fun to go back and play with the old toys, it's just to hard sometimes to tear ourselves away from the new shiny ones.

And speaking of new and shiny.FOUNTAIN.

Thanks for your support,
DSH 

FOUNTAIN

Now on sale.

click here: FOUNTAIN by David Scott Hay

Praise for FOUNTAIN:

"Darkly funny... a howling success!" - Pinckney Benedict, MIRACLE BOY AND OTHER STORIES

"Smart, inventive, and accomplished." - Naeem Murr, THE PERFECT MAN

"David Scott Hay has done a something incredible - an artful book about an arty subject that doesn't drop into pretension. 

'Fountain' is an affecting story about tough, interesting people who hold beauty up like Achilles' shield against a very real, very bitter, and oddly funny world. 

A must for fans of sharp tongues and sharp writing." - Darren Callahan, The White Airplane & Horror Academy: Two Plays

A postmodern satire for the fans of Chuck Palahniuk, Kurt Vonnegut and Thomas Pynchon. 

In a kiddie art exhibit two masterpiece works of art are created in the span of forty-five minutes; one by Timmy O' Donnell, a 10 year old sociopath and one by Tabby Masterson, a 62 year old Midwestern widow, forever changing the lives of the artists and witnesses.

The source of their inspiration is soon revealed to be a drinking fountain on the third floor of a Museum of Contemporary Art, which grants the ability to create one artistic masterpiece. Fame and fortune await...

But shortly thereafter you just might die.

It's your life versus your legacy. How bad do you want either?

Fountain follows four characters caught in the shockwaves:

Jasper P. Duckworth, an art critic and failed playwright, who wants to champion the fountain.
Ross Robards, a successful TV show artist and burnout, who wants to stop the fountain.
B, a middle-aged underground artist, always on the verge of a big break. Will he drink?
Jawbone, B's rival, a talented, but self-destructive underground artist. Will she drink?

For anyone that's ever had a creative idea, urge, or just wanted to call bullshit on something hanging in a museum.
For anyone that's sacrificed blood to the muses.
For anyone that thought I could do that.
For anyone who's said they want a revolution.

A story that stretches from Chicago to Mars.

I Have A Theory About Superman's Day Job

I have a theory about Superman's Day Job.

Poor bastard is the most powerful man (and illegal alien for those of you on the right keeping score) on earth. This poor bastard, you know what he needs? Corporate sponsorship. Why the fuck is he holding down a day job? He has the best bachelor pad. Ever. Sure, it's off the beaten path. But for someone who can fly faster than a speeding bullet, it makes my train commute look silly. 

Instead, he embraces getting yelled at by some old school editor that can't grasp the digital age of publishing, being treated as less than a man by a man-eater of an ambitious career woman, and being ribbed by some ginger-haired copy boy who can't get laid. One day Mr. Kent is going to clock his pal James Olsen, and you know what we'll say privately: that little shit had it coming. 

Now I know Supes wouldn't take sponsorship by, say, BP or Haliburton, but what about Amnesty International? Imagine how the donations would pour in. Now I know he would need to stay in the city, have some sort of perfunctory base of operations, purely for visibility and moral support. Complete with a sort of command center with a dispatchers manning a few dozen red Bat-phone type hotlines.

But he doesn't.

And you know why? 

I think Clark Kent loves language.

I think this perfect physical specimen, who is nigh invulnerable, likes getting lost in his head. I think he likes the puzzle of our alien language. I think he likes the investigative work, connecting the dots. Unlocking the combination for a feature article. One where he can give his mind the flexing it needs. Perhaps interject a bit of commentary from someone with a much wider world view though still filtered through a sensible Midwestern sensibility.

And he's doing this at a newspaper that is going to be widely read. Perhaps he touches more people in a single day as Clark Kent than as Superman. I imagine working on the farm, the Kents at night after a friendly game of cards, perhaps pinochle, might -- I can't imagine them with a TV and perhaps that's being naive, but I can imagine them retiring to the library they must have had. A family fortress of solitude. Now you may think of farmers as simple folks...

But here's what farmers need to know to survive:

Meterology. Agriculture, husbandry, mechanicals. Market flux. Government subsidies. Banking, etc. And now Software and Computer Sciences. Accounting. Carpentry. And much much more. For escape and respite I can imagine handmade bookshelves filled with volumes and volumes of true crime, non fiction, historical biographies and mysteries (cigarette-ashes-on-the-carpet-in-a-locked-room). 

And surely Sherlock Holmes. And perhaps it was here in these stories that mysteries gripped Clark's mind.  Captured his imagination in a way that hauling bales of hay one in each hand could not. Also Holmes' use of disguises. Perhaps this inspired Clark to keep his Clark persona in the big city.


And maybe, just maybe, Sherlock Holmes' habitual drug use showed Clark that even heroes can be flawed and forgiven. And that sometimes we all need a little chemistry, because for us, the yellow sun only burns.


But now think about Clark Kent, a respected jounalist but must have dumbed down his articles. Just a bit. Arguably, Clark Kent with his wealth of infinitely superior knowledge passed down to him by a top scientist of an advanced race could have become a world famous authority on damn near anything.

Now take that knowledge and mix it with the down home folksy charm and wisdom of a Midwestern farmer. Imagine the insight and humanity woven into even the most dry, investigative story. Clark Kent should have been a world famous writer.  I imagine there is a whole catelogue of polished articles that would have catapulted anyone else to the ranks of world class investigative jounalists. Someone sought after to host a TV special. Like Night Line. Or 360 with Clark Kent, etc.

But no, he is just above average. Workman like. And knew he could do better. But he knew his obligation was to communicate clearly and effectively. Yet again, another sacrifice from a man that could have ruled the world.

So, for me, I'd like to think in his heart of hearts, Clark Kent is a writer first and foremost, and his obligation, his real day job is wearing a red cape and saving our asses from ourselves.

Fountain cover 2.0

And here is the FOUNTAIN cover 2.0. It's more highfalutin' and all. But I dig the cleanness of it.

The print version may differ with the blurbs on the cover, but in the age of digital publishing, all that razzle dazzle can be put on the web page. 

In fact, Andrew Vachss looks like he just put out his first unpublished novel A BOMB BUILT IN HELL with a cover by Geoff Darrow that has no text on it. And it looks great.

Thanks to Kid A for this cool design. 

Thoughts?

david@davidscotthay.com

xoxoxo

DSH

CLONING CHRIST

If you found your way to this blog by purchasing CLONING CHRIST: THE SECOND BOOK OF DANIEL from Arson Books off Amazon, I thank you. I believe it's a fun read.

"CLONING CHRIST heralds a mercurial new talent to the page! Quirky, riveting, hilarious, disturbing, and unclassifiable (in the best sense). It is a page-turner that is at once magically realistic and completely allegorical. If Christ were cloned, as is the central conceit here, he would enjoy the hell out of this book." - Jay Bonansinga, National Bestselling Author of PINKERTON'S WAR, PERFECT VICTIM, and co-author of THE WALKING DEAD TRILOGY.

And if you made it far enough you may have come across the preview for FOUNTAIN. I consider FOUNTAIN to be my best work. The feedback has been tremendous from both my peers and colleagues. Initally, the response from the publishing world was divided into two camps: 1) I don't get it. 2) Brilliant. But pass.

Until Arson Books. More about those crazy guys later.

FOUNTAIN should be released this coming weekend on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook. And if all goes well, a paperback version later this year.

At right is a mock up of the cover. It plays more to the satirical nature of the book. Another version which I'll post when completed plays more to the literary version. Regardless of slant, the word on the street is the book is funny. Which I guess means I've hit the funny bone. I've also heard it's haunting. (This from a best-selling author who hasn't released her official blurb to me yet). But I've gotten other very gracious and flattering blurbs from some very talented other writers, including this one from Darren Callahan who seems to sum it up best:

"David Scott Hay has done a something incredible - an artful book about an arty subject that doesn't drop into pretension. 'Fountain' is an affecting story about tough, interesting people who hold beauty up like Achilles' shield against a very real, very bitter, and oddly funny world. A must for fans of sharp tongues and sharp writing." -- Darren Callahan, "The White Airplane and Horror Academy: Two Plays by Darren Callahan"

But until then enjoy CLONING CHRIST: THE SECOND BOOK OF DANIEL. I consider it an early work/boot leg demo, but still a good read and a journal of what my thoughts and interests were at the time. Feel free to tell me what yours are at david@davidscotthay.com. I'd love to hear from you.  
And if you haven't downloaded a copy, you can do so here:  CLONING CHRIST: THE SECOND BOOK OF DANIEL . There's a little extra preview in the back for another project.

So, thanks for taking a peek. I'll be posting more about this new venture as well as some other exciting things. That is, if we survive the end of the world this Saturday.

XOXOXO
DSH

DAVE'S FAVE FIVE 2010

Hello, creative folks and friends:

Once again my top five of 2010 for books, movies, and music.

xoxo
DSH

Books:

War- Sebastian Junger- the documentary RESTREPO by the same folks is good, but much much more detail and context is in the book. I recommend reading it then watching the movie to get the full effect of a year spent deployed in the most dangerous place on earth, the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan.

Bear V. Shark- Chris Bachelder. An amazingly insightful satire. Almost every page and line therein is like flipping a channel. A tad cold by its nature, but you’ll finding yourself nodding in agreement and recognition. Will cure your satirical urges. But the next book you’ll read, you’ll want a pure story. Like Savages.

Savages - Don Winslow. Knew nothing about his previous work before reading it. Hell thought he was a first time author. A thriller stripped to the bone and told with an unapologetic FU smart ass attitude. You'll either dismiss it or strap in. But there's a page turner here with cool characters and a sprinkling of politics, smarts, and yes, even some poetry and recklessness. Unapologetically loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Marketed as a thriller and thats true, but like any good story it's really a love story. (Just finished it this week. Days later it's still sticking with me.)

Day by Day Armageddon/Beyond Exile- J.L. Bourne. Two books in a trilogy (third not out) It's zombie fiction written by an active duty soldier. Very smart and knowledgeable with plenty of military insight. A very small story that continues to grow in scope. The first book was fun, but sort of just stops. The second picks up immediately after and the author really finds his stride with this one. Hell of a hook at the end of this one

Miracle Boy and Other Stories- Pinckney Benedict. I hear this guy is crazy and so are his stories. I’ve been savoring this book, dipping into it occasionally like a fine scotch. Unpredictable, but accessible. He’s a helluva mentor as well.

HM:

The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brien – when I want to see what good clean writing that packs a wallop in nice short bursts looks like I go to this book. I’ve almost gotten over the feeling that it makes me think I'm a hack. Given away almost as many copies of this as I have of Fight Club. The only reason it's on the HM list is because this was a reread.

Chuck Klosterman IV- Chuck Klosterman - The Greatest Hits essays of the last ten years. Steeped in pop culture and sharp observations and insights. The author has revised many of these and added some footnotes graced with the passage of time since the initial publication.

Rock N Roll Will Save Your Life- Steve Almond – For music lovers. He gets it. Gets why we get it and if you don’t feel music is as important as breathing, then you and I have nothing to say.



Movies:Okay, haven’t seen a ton, but these are movies though maybe not technically the best or critically acclaimed, either surprised me or made me laugh or engaged me in a way that I was not expecting.


Big Lebowski (Fest) – If you dig the Dude, there is nothing like drinking a few White Russians in the theatre with a few hundred fans screaming lines or adlibbing along. A BLAST!

The Expendables – More fun than the cold, joyless Inception. As a child of the 80’s it was comfort food. A good fun time with no expectations. I enjoyed myself.

The Square – Wow. What a great stripped to the bone thriller. Highly recommend for noir fans. Holy Shit. Netflix it.

The Ghost Writer – I love a movie that I can simultaneously enjoy, respect, admire, mock and be surprised by.

George Washington – Gem of a movie. Honest, compelling and heartbreaking. David Gordon Green's debut, and I would say best.

HM:
Inglorious Basterds – Very rewatchable. Was surprised how much I liked it.
Scott Pilgrim V. the World – Had a blast. Great music.
Get Him to the Greek – Made me laugh when I needed a few.



Best Live Music Show:
Dandy Warhols – How is this band not bigger in the States? Great seats, great music. They softened some songs up, rocked up some more, but kept it all cool. I have a daisy on my left toe…
Justin Townes Earle - The single greatest music moment of the year for me. JTE laying his acoustic guitar down and doing Randy Newman’s Louisiana 1927. Punctuated by the occasional footstomp. You could hear a pin drop. Was like going to church should be like. Soulful and transcendental. Haunting. And sorrowfully fleeting. I live for these moments that make me feel we're more than a bag of meat and bones. (John Boutte's 2007 live version is a soul cousin to the JTE version, but still not the same.)

The Giving Tree - A bunch of young Illinois boys with several acoustic guitars, upright bass, banjos etc. A rollicking mix of folk, bluegrass, Americana, roots rock and just sheer fun. Thanks to Fitzgeralds for yet another great showcase.

Ray Price – Dancing with Carrie Hill while old school country legend Ray Price sang Crazy Arms at my favorite Juke Joint in Texas. It don’t get much better. Ever.

HM or tied for 5th:Del Moraccos
Modern Sounds
Concrete Blonde
Patty Griffin
Willie Nelson


Best TV Show:
Californication – 3rd Season not as strong as 1 and especially 2. But a few episodes made it worth it.

Breaking Bad – holy shit.

Sons of Anarchy – Shakespearian in scope. The politics and secrets keep it humming. The action, though, is somewhat pedestrian, so they use it sparingly. Every character has something going on and growth, which is nice. Both good guys and bad guys and that label changes frequently.

Walking Dead - Downloaded but not watched. Zombies and Darabont, so I give this one a free ride.

Community - Thank you for filling the void left from Arrested Development.

Happy 2011, y'all.