F. P. Dorchak

Speculative Fiction (New Weird) Author

Nutshell

The Music of ERO

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Unlike writing The Uninvited, where I listened to a lot of one particular band, while writing ERO, I listened to a variety of music. But even though I listened to a variety of bands (Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, etc), I did gravitate toward one in particular Alice in Chains. “A Chains,” as they are also called (here’s their website), is turning out to be one of my favorite bands, though I’ve listened to them for years. They have a dark, metal, grunge, alternative feel to their music. I got back into them after hearing one of their coolest hits, “Nutshell,” while working on another project I’ve since backburnered. “Nutshell” is an emotional, acoustic piece with dark lyrics dealing with loneliness, death, and despair. Click here for “Nutshell” lyrics. This song, like it did for my backburnered project, fits the tone of ERO.

I also listened to a lot of Tool. I’ve also loved and listened to this band for years. They’re known for their trippy, long and complex tunes, described as “style-transcending” and part of progressive rock, psychedelic and art rock. Dark. Experimental. Love em.

I also listened to a lot of science fiction movie soundtracks, including the X-Files soundtrack, “Songs in the Key of X.”

I didn’t always listen to music while writing the manuscript, but when inputting my redlines or doing something that didn’t require intense focus, I’d put on an “album.” It’s amazing the frame of mind music can put you into.

Whatever music each of you enjoy, I hope you also enjoy ERO, which is still set to go on sale, this Saturday, July 20th, coinciding with the 44th anniversary of the Apollo 11th moon landing.

Question everything.

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The First Book of the Rest of Your Life (In a Nutshell)

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It's Been A Wild Ride. (Photo credit: NASA's Vomit Comet. Wikipedia)
It’s Been A Wild Ride. (Photo credit: NASA’s Vomit Comet. Wikipedia)

On January 12, 2013, at 11:15 Mountain Time, I completed the first draft to the first new novel manuscript I’ve written since 2008. This is the first in an action/adventure X-Files-like conspiracy series.

I’ve written before as a guest blogger that I’ve been in a slump, trying to understand WTF, and all. Well, since that time, I’ve been giving it the ol College Try and finally, after almost five years, have completed a full manuscript. It’s full of holes and after having analyzed the content, my content timeline and storyline the past couple weeks, I realize have much work to do with…but I have much work to do with it!

Isn’t that great?

After all this time I have a project in-hand, and it’s written out, warts and all! Sure, I’ll butcher and maim the hell out of it, but the material is there. In novel-length format. It’s not something I’d written years ago and shelved, not a short story, but a full-blown book. I’m sure many writers operate the same, but my second drafts are the toughest efforts, most rework-heavy drafts, but when I get into the mode of initial, first-draft writing, I just vomit it out. This manuscript was actually a little different, more a series of brutal dry heaves early on, but once I found the Zen, it became one big Vomit Comet for the finish line. I intentionally ignored some of the subplots and just wanted to get the basic story out. I don’t usually do that, but I did not want to lose what momentum I had going (given, you know…), because I’d tried that on this manuscript, and felt the moment start to suck wind. So, I forewent my usual M.O. and did things a little differently. No matter how good the process, it seems every book I start is different in some manner.

So, I’ve been pouring over the storyline, finding holes, finding issues, and think I finally have what I need to begin the actual rework (I actually began rewriting yesterday). And…I’m actually quite excited about it. They’ll be my “conspiracy books,” my nod to the X-Files and some other shows (I’d like to add Twilight Zone in there, but don’t know that I’m much of an O. Henry/Rod Serling kind of writer, I’ve finally admitted to myself…but you never know…). You know, if I can actually sell them. But I love the idea, the characters, and it has potential for an on-going series beyond three books. It could well become, well…

Yes, it could become a thing.

From my POV, anyway.

As much as I still want to write everyday life weird and paranormal, there’s still this other side of me that wants to do X-Files kinda work, and now I have this outlet to do so. And I’m real happy about it. I’m happy I have some meat to work with. I’m happy to have new energy out there. New work. And it’s already getting in the way of responding to e-mail, posting blogs and tweets, and getting household chores done.

So, yes, I had a huge dry spell there for a bit, but things appear to be looking up.

Alice in Chains’ “Nutshell” is playing on Pandora right now (love this band, and this tune—which epitomizes much of my series’ tone). It’s germane to my series. So, I leave you with an important stanza that sums the series:

“We chase misprinted lies We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home.”

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