Tag: Nick DeWolf

Posted on

What Are We Doing and Where Have We Been?

The authors at Vintage City Publishing get lots of questions like, “Where do you get your ideas?” and “How do you come up with such interesting characters?” and “When are you guys going to pay your bar tab?”

But the most common question is, “What are you working on now?”

We thought we would put the question to our current stable of writers and see what they’ve accomplished in 2021, and maybe a sneak peek at what they have planned for 2022 and beyond. So without further ado…

Continue reading “What Are We Doing and Where Have We Been?”
Posted on

BOOK REVIEW: “Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence” by Joel Christian Gill – Reviewed by Nick DeWolf

I gave this book to my kids. I’m not necessarily saying you should do the same, but I chose to. And, in all honesty, some people may think me a bad person for doing so. Joel Christian Gill’s graphic novel is a harsh, stunning, guttural, cutting, painful tale. It depicts so many things parents in the middle and middle upper class feel they should shield their kids from: sex, violence, racism, hate, sexual assault. But because it’s how the author handles these issues that I believe it’s important for people living without them to see, both adults and children.

Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW: “Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence” by Joel Christian Gill – Reviewed by Nick DeWolf”
Posted on

Review of “Woman: An Intimate Geography” by Natalie Angier – Nick DeWolf

This review is going to start with an anecdote. Yes, this is an inherently self-centered way of writing, but I can’t think of a better example of what this book can mean.
I live in a metropolitan area which is relatively progressive. I was reading this book on my way home from work, while riding the subway. A man took the seat next to me and we rode in silence, me reading, him doing his own thing. As we went, I could see him taking peeks. I adjusted my position, to allow him just a bit more access to the page, hoping it inspired him to find his own copy.
The train began to slow, and he gathered his things. In a friendly voice, he said, “so, what is that, an instruction guide or something?”

Continue reading “Review of “Woman: An Intimate Geography” by Natalie Angier – Nick DeWolf”
Posted on

Nick DeWolf’s Review of “A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore… or… “Word Salad” by A Usually Solid Writer

Moore is regularly a bright, funny, poignant writer who fine tunes his books the way a great chef would a recipe, removing all excess ingredients and giving us just enough of each of the primary flavors that our senses are delighted and intrigued. This time, it he took whatever was in his fridge that wasn’t quite rotten but not still fresh, poured it into a casserole dish, set the oven to 450, and prayed. Then when it didn’t come out right, he slathered it in cheese, added some 150 proof rum, and lit the top on fire. And as such, I will politely decline the offer of seconds, thank you.

Continue reading “Nick DeWolf’s Review of “A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore… or… “Word Salad” by A Usually Solid Writer”

Posted on

My Thoughts on Nick’s Villains Never Die

The first thing you should know about Villains Never Die is it’s going to be familiar. The second thing you should know about Villains Never Die is it’s going to be completely foreign.

That might seem like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. If the superhero story is a classic Mustang, Nick DeWolf brought it into his shop, tore out all of the old junk that engineers have improved in the last half century, replaced it with new technology, gave it a real good wash and wax, and then sent it out to the showroom floor.

Continue reading “My Thoughts on Nick’s Villains Never Die”
Posted on

Why I Hired Sensitivity Readers

Because it’s 2019.

Because I’m a white guy living in the U.S. who is purposefully writing characters who are anything other than white, and I don’t want them to be stereotypes.

Because just making them not stereotypes isn’t enough.

Because I haven’t lived as a POC and there will be things I get wrong.

Because I haven’t lived as a woman and there will be things I get wrong.

Because part of being a writer… no… part of being aware… no… part of being a decent human being is letting go of your ego.

Because if I want diversity in my books, and diversity in my readership, I need to have diversity in the creative process.

Because Google Translate doesn’t really speak Spanish.

Because I have unconscious biases. As much as it hurts to admit and as scary as it is to face, it’s true.

Because POC deserve respect. Part of that is me putting in the time and energy and cost of getting things right, when creating something to (hopefully) represent them.

Because women deserve respect. Part of that is me putting in the time and the energy and the cost of getting things right, when creating something to (hopefully) represent them.

Because sensitivity readers aren’t hard to find. Seriously. Go to Twitter, type it in as a hashtag. Easy. No more excuses.

Because they were professional and polite and more than one showed appreciation that I was trying to be better. They didn’t have to do it, and I didn’t expect it from them. Still, it warmed my heart.

Because they made my book so much better.

Because I learned things about myself. Some of them made me sad. But sadness is good. Sadness is a tiny wound, and now I can heal it.

Because I learned things about others. Some of them were beautiful. Now, I can carry them with me and go back to them and smile.

Because words matter, and I have a duty to use mine for something good.

Because there’s no good reason not to.

Because it’s time for me to be better.

Posted on

Judging A Book By Its Cover

“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Sure you can. Most people do. And the thing is, it doesn’t matter if their assessment is right, because they’ll never know.

If someone looks at a book cover and judges it to be of poor quality, or not interesting, and they believe the contents of the book are the same, what are the chances they will read the book to see if they’re right? Zilch. Nada. Because there are too many other books out there, books with far more interesting covers that will draw their attention, and ultimately their reading time. Continue reading “Judging A Book By Its Cover”

Posted on

The Path

Everyone works differently.  I’m going to focus on writing, here.  Not that it’s what I do best (that would be eating cookies while singing in the shower), but because it’s something I put a lot of thought and thinking time into.  As a note, it would be better if I used that time for actual writing, but that’s hard and I’m tired and stop telling me what to do.

One thing most writers do is talk to other writers.  We discuss the craft, the process, the joys and the pains.  Well, just the pains.  There are no joys.  No, there are, but they’re not really joys.  They’re just the absence of pain.  Important thing to keep in mind.

Continue reading “The Path”