Calkins Day Recap - and a Podcast Opportunity

Shortly before Calkins Day, the editor of a podcast reached out to Ed Calkins on the BryonySeries email account.

He had read an article about Ed and was inviting Ed to appear on the Dyslexia Explored podcast and share his story about living with dyslexia and how he overcame hid dyslexia in order to write his first novel, "Ruthless."

The only challenge is that the podcast is based in Scotland and we, of course, live in the Midwest in the United States. So the time difference is six hours.

But we found a mutually compatible time to meet on Zoom. Yes, "we."

For all of Ed's hilarious posts, he is actually very shy and lacks confidence, especially where his dyslexia is concerned. So he wanted Nancy and me to meet the host, Darius Namdaran (who also has dyslexia), with him.

I stayed mostly in the background until our meeting drew to a close so the three of them chat. Then I asked the "who" "what" "when" "where" and "how" about the actual podcast so Ed would know what to expect.

He was relieved to know it would look much like that day's Zoom meeting, except it would be recorded and it would have no video.

Scheduling was a bit of an issue, due to the time difference and my work schedule because Ed and Darius insisted I should be on the podcast, too.

But we are going to record it early in the morning early next week, before I would even need to be at work. When the link is live, I will share it on this blog. I've learned a lot about Ed and Nancy and dyslexia this past year through Ed's writing of Ruthless, and I am looking forward to hearing more of their stories.

As far as Calkins Day went, I think it went as well as a virtual event could go. No one had any major technical difficulties (except Chef Tim at the beginning). 

My WriteOn Joliet co-leader Tom Hernandez is a wonderfully engaging host, and Chef Tim's three cooking demos, sprinkled throughout the one-hour program, added to the vibrant, upbeat flow of the night.

We had thirty people register in advance. A few wound up not making it, but then a few registered shortly before the event started. We gave away three books (which Ed will sign and ship as soon as he receives them), with one of the winners being this author. 

A few people showed up as much as an hour early, so I quipped about them wanting to get a good seat. Anyone who brought the requested food ingredients could assemble their own refreshments under Chef Tim's tutorials. Anyone in attendance who wanted the recipe was invited to email us after the program.

We did not record the event to respect the privacy of those attending. So those who missed it will not, unfortunately, be able to catch it on the BryonySeries YouTube channel.

What about sales?

Ed's expectations are extremely modest and realistic, despite the proliferation of indie author success stories on the internet.

He's thrilled that he's sold about half a dozen copies online so far (before and after the event) and feels he's way ahead of Chaucer.

Ed and I both agree that the main goal is to write a good story and then work hard to find that story a home in the hands and mind and hearts of people who want to read it. BryonySeries marketing efforts are directed to that end.

To that end, this dyslexic, sixty-something, newly retired paper carrier is already working on his sequel.

Ed Calkins signs copies of his first book (a compilation of blog posts) at the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet during Calkins Day 2018.

Practice Zoom Call with Ed and Nancy Calkins

This morning, Timothy and I have another practice Zoom call with Ed and Nancy Calkins in preparation for the Calkins Day celebration next week.

The couple had never used Zoom, but Nancy has a new iPhone. So Timothy sent them a tripod, and we spent a nice hour making sure they could get on, adjust settings for camera and microphone, and work some of the other features.

We had a nice conversation, too. They are so excited for next Saturday.

During the call, Ed brought out a surprise. He had framed a copy of his first royalty check from his surprise book and author event in 2018.

This time, we are celebrating the release of “Ruthless,” by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, is a work of absolute literary nonsense about the last seven seconds in the life of an Irishman and his afterlife as an Irish vampire, most of which never happened.

Calkins Day 2021 will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Calkins Day (Feb. 13, 2021) on Zoom. 

Real food and drink available if you bring your own ingredients. 

Calkins and his sidekick “The Goddess” will chat about author collaborations, how to legally  fictionalize a real person, literary nonsense. Irish vampires, deep time psychosis, and Astro-Time Physics.

He will also answer questions but doesn’t promise you’ll understand the answers. Calkins will also randomly give away three copies of “Ruthless.”

Local author and WriteOn Joliet co-leader Tom Hernandez will emcee. 

Chef Tim will give three demonstrations. Menu and ingredient list provided after registration.

Calkins Day is free. To register, visit bryonyseries.com/registerforcalkinsday.

Timothy Baran invites you to a very special event.

A Cast of "Ruthless" Characters

Good morning!

I'm happy to announce the release of Ruthless by Ed Calkins the Steward of Tara, the very first BryonySeries novel that I didn't write (may there be many more).

The book is now available from Amazon, and we are celebrating its release with a virtual one-hour party from 7 to 8 p.m. on Calkins Day (Feb. 13).

The party is free but you must register for the Zoom link and menu. 

Yes, menu.

Chef Tim will give three demonstrations that will allow you to enjoy chef-created refreshments during the party. No cooking is involved; you only need to have a few, simple, common, key ingredients ready.

Register here: bryonyseries.com/registerforcalkinsday.

Although you'll find the description for Ruthless on Amazon, you should know that the novel is a book of literary nonsense. Think Lewis Carroll for adults.

On the first (and maybe even second) read, Ruthless seems all over the place. 

But it really has a well defined structure, and the pieces come together nicely, leaving the reader wondering if Ed will write a sequel (the answer is yes; he is already working on it, having been bitten by the vampire muse).

The book parodies vampire lore, Irish lore, time travel, kink, politics, abuse, death, dyslexia, religion, the newspaper delivery industry (to name a few) and really extols the values of creativity, self-esteem, friendship, and true love in ways that aren't immediately apparent but are very sweet by the end of the story.

The characters are very, very human, and I found myself connecting to them (even the ones that didn't appeal to me for a while) as I moved through the pages.

For the most part, Ruthless simply expands the Ed Calkins perspective of the BryonySeries trilogy. In places where it deviates (and deviates significantly), the reader must remember that Ed as Steward of Tara is an unreliable narrator. Therefore, anything he says/writes can't be trusted as truth, since he lives so much in his own imagination.

As with all the books in the BryonySeries, you can read Ruthless as a standalone. Meaning, you don't have to be familiar with the other books to read this one.

With that, I give you "A Cast of Ruthless Characters":

NEW CHARACTERS:

Ed Calkins: The lead role, of course, is Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara, in several incarnations: the character he created for himself (of which I further modified for the BryonySeries), elements of his real self, and the further development of all of these. As one beta reader commented, "He's died four times, and I'm still in the first chapter."

Nalla: Ed's angel wife. I knew immediately this was based on his real wife, Nancy. And she really does sing in her sleep. 

Rick: Ed's son (and he really does have a son).

Rick's Hot Wife: I only know this character has red hair and seems really nice. Other than her nickname.

Rick's two young daughters: One of them, Michaela, becomes a vampire slayer in her teens with a weapon Rick designed for her. She's destined to put her grandfather to rest when the time comes.

Trudy: Last name not given. She is a bipolar, auxiliary police officer for Beulah County (Munsonville is in Beulah County). She's also a professional dominatrix and a poet. Except she's given up the former because she's sort of in a relationship now. She's the ex best friend of Ed, and she's convinced she shot him - except she can't remember it. And she's scared of the repercussions.

Bathrobe: Trudy's love interest.

Sheriff Matt: Trudy's boss.

Dr. Roslyn: Trudy's childhood psychiatrist who lost her license for abusing kids. She's now a vampire.

Arkiens: A leprechaun and a were-goat who impersonates Satan and speaks with a thick Irish brogue.

The Inquisition: They debate over Ed's dying body on how to manage his eternal fate.

Ramon (and the other brownies): Ramon is the leader of a group of brownies who hang out with Ed in his van, roll newspapers, and clean houses for seniors living in trailer parks.

Ruthie and Millie: Two of the members of Ed's verbal harem. Members of WriteOn Joliet might recognize Ruthie from one of our flash fiction nights. I put her in my werewolf book and, by a strange and fantastical coincidence, Ed placed her in Ruthless.

Knights of the Red Branch: Often discussed, but their appearance is for the sequel.

Members of Ed's self-help group: They attend his wake and share their memories

The Goddess: Me 

Father Chokey: the priest who abused Ed as a boy

Malcolm: Ed's high school chess rival. They play a tense chess game for Trudy's hand.

New Medicine: The brownie who claims Trudy.

O'Murray: A king in Ed's imagination.

Boris: The owner of a bar Trudy used to manage.

Marci: A merrow (mermaid) that's Ed's secretary for one of his incarnations in his imagination.

Vita Vernon: head of the vice department in Detroit.

Jake Noble, Robert: Ed's bosses at the news agency

Mary Steward: a vampire with ties to organized crime

Tommie Gun Ton, Tommy the Gun, and Hank the Lobster: members of the vampire mafia

Also, assorted leprechauns and their human daughters, sprites, pixies, and other creatures. Oh, and the Magi.

And lots and lots of mirrors.

RETURNING CHARACTERS:

Glorna: A wood sprite who assumes several identities. One of those is now dead (You'll know who this is if you've read Staked!). He's also the caretaker of a child in an electric womb. And he loves spaghetti westerns so he impersonates John-Peter (down to the red hair and green skin) impersonating Clint Eastwood.

Eircheard: Owner of a pawn shop in Jenson (therefore, wealthy) and a leprechaun.

John Simons/John Simotes: He works for Ed in the newspaper delivery agency Ed manages. But in reality, Ed works for John, as he covers John's nighttime vampire activities and has been commanded to make a changeling son for him.

Melissa: 1970s teen girl obsessed with John in all his forms.

Henry Matthews: A dandy vampire who explains Deep Time Psychosis to Ed and how that's part of his destiny.

Dr. Abner Rothgard: A specialist in vampire health issues

No. 42/Angela: The brownie-raised and brownie-educated human girl that was swapped for the changeling.

Aodhan: A winged creature in Ed's imagination and good friend of Glorna's.

Quick confession: My new literary crush is Glorna. I love how Ed developed him. Not sure when the "crush" developed, but I finally realized it was there after Glorna said for the third time, "Mighty fine horse, ma'am," in the hanging scene.

Although editing a nearly 150,000 word novel by a dyslexic author was a nightmare (you have no idea), I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel.

Expect some typos. But Ed said people might not believe he wrote it if it didn't have typos. 

Typos, he claimed, is how readers will know its authentic.

Have a great Monday!

Illustration by Nancy Calkins for "Ruthless."

Do Three Good Things At Once

Anyone who has accompanied me on any part of my writing journey knows that, when it comes to book marketing and sales, I'm rather soft in my approach.

That's going to change a bit over the next few weeks. And then I'll return to soft.

I'm running a special BryonySeries holiday book sale in conjunction with The Book Market in Crest Hill. I wrote why I created this special sale yesterday.

But by participating, you will do three good things at once.

1) You will have an opportunity to try out a piece of my fiction by purchasing a book.

2) You will help out an independently owned and operated bookstore during this COVID pandemic.

3) If you give away my book, or if you give away the store credit you earn with the purchase, you will also promote the cause of literacy.

Details are here.

Thank you for considering a purchase and for reading this blog.

Photo by Timothy Baran