Earl Merkel's Blog
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Feb.18.2013
If you --like me-- thought a "RIHANNADIANA" was the echoing sound an elephant with the flu might emit, you'll be relieved to discover that it is merely the noise an analogy makes when it is stretched to ridiculous extremes.
The overextended, "let's throw two pop-culture icons together to hype up...
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Feb.18.2013
I'm starting to suspect that the question wasn't "Why did he leave us so soon?"
Given the day-in-the-life illustration here, I'm awash in awe that Hunter S. Thompson survived as long as he did...
-- Earl Merkel
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Feb.17.2013
An experienced, published author disagrees with my "The Synopsis In Excerpts" concept (see Friday (2-15-13) posting, on this website)... and I respond.... -------- "Earl-- Your synopsis reads like an outline. I think both a synopsis and an outline are helpful in writing a book. Yes, a synopsis...
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Feb.14.2013
Offered to my fellow procastinators also in desperate search for a last-minute Valentine's Day message to their Beloved: my own choice of Valentine's Day card, an eloquent expression of undying love...
Properly presented, this has the standard boring flowers-and-chocolate beat, hands-down.
-- Earl...
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Feb.13.2013
As with so many of my fellow authors, I HATE writing a synopsis. If a novel could be adequately encapsulated in a few pages --usually (at least, if based on the synopsis "examples" offered by "how-to" books on writing) excrutiatingly stripped of style and liveliness... well, then why did the writer...
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Feb.12.2013
HEADLINE:
"Maker's Mark lowering proof to meet demand"
And in related news, citing response to high demand for books, publishers today announced that they will increase the amount of "leading" between lines; this will allow books to remain at current page volumes, while permitting authors to...
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Feb.11.2013
SPOILER ALERT FOR GRAMMY VIEWERS/DOWNTON FANS:
In the latest of a string of unerringly wise decisions, Lady Edith is apparently about to start dating her editor.
Oh, yeah-- only good things can result from THAT.
-- Earl Merkel
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Feb.11.2013
The most dangerous phrase in the world is rapidly becoming that which the "supporter" of ex-LAPD cop and murderer Chris Dorner voiced in the final graf. (See accompanying image.)
God save us from the ill-informed, oft-ignorant and mindlessly enthusiastic who gather under the banner of "...
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Feb.09.2013
In an excellent New Yorker piece on the intriguing case of Amy Bishop --the neurobiologist who killed several colleagues at the Univ of Alabama/Huntsville in 2010, and two decades earlier had killed her brother in an "accidental shooting"-- I don't think I've ever encountered a better extended...
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Feb.07.2013
Yes, indeed-- this should work wonderously well.
I hope the fine folks in the Pakistani and Afghani parliaments are taking note here.
In fact, domestically, why doesn't someone try applying this approach to, say, gun control? Let's use a li'l imagination, lawmakers!
-- Earl Merkel
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Feb.07.2013
I'm trying hard to remember when the Saturday mail delivery brought anything but bills and those bulk, pulp-paper ad-'n-clipper-coupon sections...
Nope. Too far back to recall.
Frankly, a one-day-per-week delivery schedule --Tuesday, perhaps; it's usually a pretty bland day anyway-- would...
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Feb.07.2013
It would appear that the headline writers at The Daily Caller are already on Spring Break...
Still, many Faithful Readers may find this an... uh... uplifting story.
Certainly, the protagonists experience profound change in the course of the plot.
http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/07/brown-...
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Feb.07.2013
From our "Sign Of The Times" archives: IL Gov. Pat Quinn, in yesterday's "State Of The State" address, called for an increase in the Illinois minimum wage to slightly more than $10/hour.
This will, of course, further cut job opportunities for the very folk it is "intended" to "help:" low-...
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Feb.06.2013
Yes. Once they know a stickler's particular grammatical peeve, they go out of their way to twist the knife.
Not, we hope, literally.
(Cartoon pilfered from the Candorville daily comic strip by the insightful --literally-- Darrin Bell)
-- Earl Merkel
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Feb.06.2013
From our "Ambigious And/Or Ominous Headlines" -files, a tale of (I hope) simple misdirection...
Might I suggest they consult some kind of instructional manual? I suspect they're somehow just doing it ...well, wrong.
(Photo courtesy of HuffPo)
-- Earl Merkel
(POSTSCRIPT: Tho, admittedly, we do live...
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About Earl
Earl Merkel is the author of Fire Of The Prophet (Diversion Books, 2013); Virgins And Martyrs (Five Star 2008, under the name "E L Merkel"; Final Epidemic (PenguinPutnam/NAL), a Barnes and Noble national bestseller re-released in hardcover by Elmtree Press/...
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