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Topics - Firemeboy

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Matthew Buckley / Finished!
« on: July 20, 2008, 04:43:52 AM »
The final chapter of The Super Trio is up. You can now listen to the entire book at http://thesupertrio.com

I've had a lot of fun doing this, even though my reading skills leave a lot to be desired. If you know of a little person, between the ages of 5 and 12, please send them my way. The book is free. There are no ads. It's just a whole lot of fun.

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Matthew Buckley / My latest project...
« on: April 21, 2008, 03:48:50 AM »
I have tried for a year to start on another book, but it just wasn't coming. I had planned a third in the Headlights series. However, about a month ago I was lying in bed, and the idea for a mid grade reader just came to me. In about an hour I had the story worked out in my mind. I couldn't help but giggle into my pillow, and take notes so I wouldn't forget it while I slept.

Well, I've finished the book and have decided to deliver it as a podcast. I'm going to read the book and post it a chapter at a time. The first chapter is up, and I would love if you passed this link on to anybody you think might be interested. I think the book will appeal to 5-11 year olds.

http://thesupertrio.com/

The book is completely free. I'm not going to do anything like ask for donations, or make people pay for 'the rest of the book'. I plan on trying to get an agent, and get the book published, but for now I'm giving it away.

"Rafter Hans Bailey looked at the clock. In 12 more minutes he would finally be ten. And in 12 more minutes, he would finally be a superhero..."

So, if you know anybody who would like a good story read to them over the next three months, point them my way!

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Table-Top Games / Anybody Here Played Diplomacy?
« on: December 20, 2007, 06:26:27 PM »
Has anybody here ever played the classic board game, Diplomacy?  I've never played it in person, and don't think I would much care for it, but online it's an absolutely fabulous game.  I was wondering if there would be any interest in playing one here on timewasters?  I'd volunteer to moderate the game in hopes that somebody else would return the favor so I could play at a future date.

For those that haven't played the game, it's quite easy to learn.  There is a great little program you can download that helps you learn the rules.  What usually happens is you do your diplomating for 4-7 days, and then send the moderator your orders.  I resolve the orders and send out a new map.  Then it starts all over.  The game takes very little time (maybe an hour spread out over a week, and it's mostly replying to a few e-mails), and the game itself can last several months.

Anyway, if there is any interest, let me know.

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Brandon Sanderson / Brandong headed to the chilly north?
« on: October 14, 2007, 02:34:27 AM »
I hear Brandon is coming to Logan?  Our motto up here is 'just as nice as the rest of Utah, only 40 degrees colder'.  It's actually not too bad, if you can get past the polar bears.

Anyway, I'm going to try to make it to the dinner.  Should be fun!

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Matthew Buckley / It's the end of the world as we know it...
« on: June 08, 2007, 09:59:15 PM »
Fictionally speaking, of course.

I've been kicking around an idea for a story.  I've  finally got to the the point where I'm putting some initial work up on the wiki.  This particular story takes place in the very near future.  Through a series of coordinated events, America has been attacked, and civilization as we know it has crumbled.  This isn't some doom and gloom story, nor is it a story about the end of the world.  This is a story about a few people who are caught up in the end of the world.  If you have seen Jericho, it is a similar feel.  We don't know what caused the end of the world, only that it has taken place.

Anyway, if you'd like to participate, you can do so here.

http://www.buckleywiki.com/scouts/index.php?title=LDS_Speculative_Ficiton

I've written a few things and posted them to the wiki, much of which I'm not very happy with, but it is a good starting point.  One area I'd particularly like help with is the 'tid bits'.  While I never come right out and say what causes the end of the world, I do need to describe what happened to this group of people during the end of the world.  So what did it look like to them?  Sometimes we think that the end of the world will be broadcast right into our living rooms on the evening news.  But that is assuming that our satellites, power, and several other things 'still work'.  In this case they don't.  So I'm looking for some ideas on how the world ends, and how these people experience it.  I've already written up a brief piece on this, but again, it's not very good.  I'd be interested in any feedback, or if you want to add new stuff or ideas yourself, feel free.

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Matthew Buckley / Bullies is in the stores.
« on: April 19, 2007, 11:19:00 PM »
Just found out that Bullies made it to the stores yesterday.  Going down to pick up a copy (just in case nobody else does).


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Matthew Buckley / Fears...
« on: March 23, 2007, 11:40:14 PM »
For some reason, I'm dreading this book coming out.

When I wrote my first book, I think I was nervous, but not too much.  If they liked it, great, if not, I'd feel bad, but hey, that's life.  Did I really just use five commas in a 14 word sentence?

Anyway, this book has me worried silly.  Since then I've met with a lot of folks who have liked my book.  A lot of them have asked me if I was working on a second one, and when I answer in the affirmative, they always look excited.  And THAT is why I'm lying awake at night.  With my first book there were no expectations.  Pick up a book, read it, no harm no foul.  But now people are expecting something.  They will want a similar experience with the second book.  How can I possibly live up to that?  I can tell you right now the book is not as funny.  I think it's just as 'good', but good for a different reason.  But now I'm worried that I will have a few thousand kids, use their allowance to buy a book, only to be severely disappointed.  Will they curse my name?  Will they cry into their pillow because they just flushed $12 down the drain?

May 1 is a loooong way off.

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Matthew Buckley / Bullies
« on: March 06, 2007, 04:28:38 AM »
Looks like the official release date for Bullies in the headlights is first week in May.  Should be fun, but I'm likely not going to do many book signings.  I just don't have it in me.  I enjoy signings with other authors, but the thought of sitting by myself for 8 hours in a day, and get treated like you have leprosy...  Not my idea of fun.

If I could play World of Warcraft while I sat there...  Now that would be another story.

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Everything Else / A first for me...
« on: January 19, 2007, 08:52:36 PM »
I don't know if any of you read Digg, but it's a great site to get caught up on the latest geek news, among other stuff.  Anyway, I wrote an article on a blog that I contribute to, and it was submitted to digg and made it to the front page.  Kind of fun...

http://digg.com/tech_news/The_Wikipedia_dilemma_What_is_the_ideal_reading_level

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Matthew Buckley / Deseret Book buys Seagull and Covenant Communications.
« on: December 29, 2006, 02:14:48 AM »
For those that might not understand what that means, it's kind of like Microsoft buying Apple.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=760746

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Matthew Buckley / Cool Program
« on: December 18, 2006, 10:35:24 PM »
Do any of you remember those choose your own adventures books?  I used to eat them up as a kid.  Then when I was older, and learned how to read, I found even more pleasure from them.

Well, there is now a very (and I do mean very) easy program out there (and of course, it's free) that lets you create this type of thing on the web.  I went back and put the first chapter of my book in this format.  It is now is more 'interactive', and reads kind of like an adventure with choices instead of just a linear story.  Granted, the choices don't branch out much, but I'm thinking about adding some.  I think it would be a great way to market a book to kids.  Give them 3-5 chapters of an adventure online, and then encourage them to read the book to find out how the story unfolds.

Anyway, if you're interested in the program, you can find it here.

http://gimcrackd.com/etc/src/#Twee

And if you'd like to see an example, e-mail me and I'll send you what I did this morning (took roughly 15 minutes).  It's just a simple web page, but there isn't any way to post a file in here.  My e-mail is matthew q buckley at gmail dot com.  And of course take out the spaces and replace the at and dot.

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Matthew Buckley / Second Printing
« on: December 16, 2006, 06:47:22 AM »
I just recieved word that my first book is going to be reprinted. So if you want a 'first edition', better run to the stores now. :)

It's a small second run, so they aren't making very many changes. The only thing I'm aware of is fixing a small error we found after the first edition. If you've read the book, you'll notice that all of the chapters have a name except for the last one. So if you ever want to tell the difference between the first edition and the second, look to the last chapter and see if it has a title.

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Matthew Buckley / Book Signing
« on: December 04, 2006, 10:49:57 PM »
I don't do many book signings anymore, so I thought I'd mention this one.  I'll be at the Book Table Midnight Madness sale this Friday from 7:00 until Midnight.  The Book Table is located in Logan Utah, which is about 39 degrees colder than anywhere else on the planet.

But hey, if you don't like the coldness, you can at least enjoy the inversion.

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Matthew Buckley / CF Short Story
« on: October 30, 2006, 01:23:18 PM »
So, as many of you know, I'm working on my doctorate, and have chosen collaborative composition as my topic.  I wrote my last book in a wiki, and had a few folks drop by to 'help out'.

But I'd like to start a new work of collaborative fiction (CF), and I was wondering if anybody here would like to be involved.  This project will be a short story, and I would think that in a few months it would be finished and ready to submit to some magazines

I think in an ideal world we would get at least 10 people who are willing to help out.  

What would be required of you?

  • Should have fairly decent writing skills.  
  • Should be willing/able to spend around 1 hour a week in reading/writing/editing our short story  
  • Be able to work well with others (i.e. flamers need not apply)  ;)


What would you get in return?

  • You'd get your name in print (assuming we write something print-worthy).  Everybody who helps out will be listed as a 'collaborative author.
  • If you're interested in learning to write better, this is almost like a writers group.  You will be getting feedback on things you write
  • If this works out well, I'd like to see us write more stories, maybe even tackle something big like a book.  Those that help out might get to choose the next story.
  • If the story gets published, and there is actual money recieved for it, I would like to take half of the money and put it toward a web site where more stories like this can be created.  Users will be able to talk about stories, start their own, etc.  The other half of the money will be divided evenly among anybody who has made a contribution to the story.  So you'll be getting, like, $3.84 or something like that.


Anyway, is anybody interested?  Let me know here, or send me an e-mail at marionjensen & gmail , com.

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Matthew Buckley / 300 Millionth American?
« on: October 18, 2006, 01:47:46 AM »

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