Blog Posts for Michael Thomas Ford

From the Mail Bag

Michael Thomas Ford — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:02:00 -0800

For some reason Mondays bring the most reader mail. I don't know if it's because people have more time over the weekend and decide that writing to me is preferable to cleaning out the garage or what, but the mailbox always seems to be particularly stuffed come the start of the week.Today I received two e-mails that--for very different reasons--made me happy. Here's the first one. (Note: I've ...

Thank You Note

Michael Thomas Ford — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:12:41 -0700

Note: This piece was written 10 years ago. I now have a lovely agent who, although he never sends me anything at Christmas, has sold a lot of books for me and is one of my dearest friends. But I think a lot of us feel this way from time to time.This morning I had some tea. It was some kind of mixed berry tea, herbal because caffeine does weird things to me that makes me think I probably ...

We Now Return You to Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

Michael Thomas Ford — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:24:00 -0700

I know. It's been a long time. I've been working on the new books. And I should be working on them right now, except:1. I don't want to, and2. I have to bitch about somethingBut first let's talk about Jane Bites Back. It's all done and now I'm just enduring the wait until it's released on December 29. This is always a strange time, particularly if you've moved on to other projects. The book ...

Under Cover

Michael Thomas Ford — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:03:59 -0700

I know, it's been a while. That's what happens when I have a book due and can't seem to get it done. My poor editor has been very kind about the ongoing delays, but that only makes me feel more guilty. I swore I'd have the book done by the time I leave for Alaska on Saturday--but I won't. Life has intervened with one stupid little thing after another. My drysuit (I'm going to Alaska to go scuba ...

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Michael Thomas Ford — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:38:53 -0700

I want this lamp. It's called Colgao (the hanged man) and it was made by a Spanish art collective called enPieza! I believe it's one of a kind, so the likelihood of anyone getting it for me for my birthday is small. But you never know. I think this is the perfect lamp for a writer to have on his desk. Well, for this writer to have on his desk. I love the gallows humor of it. (Ha ha! See what I ...

Name Calling

Michael Thomas Ford — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:21:39 -0700

Last month I sold my first photograph. I've been taking pictures for about two years now, but just recently began showing them publicly. This was my first show.This morning I was telling a friend about the sale and she said, "Congratulations! You're a photographer!"Well, no, not really. I take photographs, and one of them is interesting enough that someone bought it and hung it in his ...

First Things First

Michael Thomas Ford — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:29:11 -0700

Yesterday, instead of working on the new novel, I spent a great deal of time reading the comments on my friend Michael Rowe's Huffington Post piece regarding the Sacramento, California radio jocks (Rob Williams and Arnie States of KRXQ's Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning) who recently thought it would be entertaining to discuss the issue of transgendered people by referring to them as ...

To Read Or Not to Read

Michael Thomas Ford — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:51:56 -0700

Take a good look at the photo below. This is the view an author has when standing in front of an audience at his (or her) reading. I took this Wednesday night at a reading at A Different Light bookstore for my novel What We Remember. Notice that there are 12 seats. Then notice that only six of them are filled. Then subtract the store's author events manager, two of my friends, and two friends of ...

And You Can't Make Me!

Michael Thomas Ford — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:36:59 -0700

Starting about two years ago I went through a period where I was late on every single project I had under contract. And not just a few days, or a few weeks, or even a few months late. We're talking really late, as in moving a book from one year to the next and a couple of publishers sending me "or else" letters.Being late had never been a problem for me. In fact, I believe I owe a great ...

Author Admission #1: My Characters Are Not My Friends

Michael Thomas Ford — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:29:45 -0700

A couple of years ago I was doing a book signing with several other authors. During a break from the crushing mob of 6 people who came to see us, one of the other writers said to me, "Whenever I'm writing a book my partner has to hold my hand when we walk down the street, because sometimes I see my characters waving to me from the other side of the street and I want to run to greet ...