August 24th, 2010 by aarondietz
During the writing of Super, I kept track of a few funny, interesting, or odd comments left by my editor from the many edits of my manuscript. And here they are:
This seems like a lot for such a short paragraph.
Costume repair.
Drugs?
Does it have to be Bob? Could it be Gary? Or Frank?
Run like hell
Is this like she’s making soup?
Guns shoot bullets, and people load bullets into guns.
Yes, more wild. Wild it.
What other sites would terrorists be smart to attack in the U.S.?
Now the book gets interesting! (p. 153)
Opened 5-gallon pickle buckets.
Yep. NOW, and only NOW are you funny. (p. 161)
August 18th, 2010 by aarondietz
Step 1: Come up with a nifty logo (this part was done by Charlie Potter,
who is the graphic designer and book designer for the book).
Step 2: Order pizza.
Step 3: While waiting for the pizza, cut the logo out of your stencil.
Step 4: Eat the pizza.
Step 5: Test your stencil using the pizza box. Does it look cool? Oh yes, it looks cool. Good job, you. CAUTION:
Do not vandalize other people’s property. It’s okay to spray paint your
own pizza box, but don’t spray paint anyone else’s. Or anyone else’s
other stuff. The principle (and law) applies to more than just pizza
boxes.
Step 6: Buy one of those glow-stick things for kids.
Step 7: Crack it and shake.
Step 8: Cut it open using a knife you don’t care about, and then drain it
into a plastic cup that you don’t care about. Cut slowly and carefully!
CAUTION: Do not actually do this stuff! It could be dangerous! At the
very least, get your publisher to do it while you shield and avert your
eyes! Special note to publishers: Don’t do it!
Step 9: Apply glow-in-the-dark mixture to stenciled paper.
Step 10: Stand back, and then say, “What the heck does RBZ mean?”
RBZ Logo by Charlie Potter.
For more info on the book, check here: http://aarondietz.us/super
August 4th, 2010 by aarondietz
Sometimes putting a title on a book is more challenging than writing the book itself. Here’s a list of titles that weren’t quite as good as Super. The book is about Superheroes that work for a county agency, so that’s what most of these titles were attempting to express.
Superhero Suckdown
The Right Thing or Whatever
Apocalypse Management
Hostile Work Environment
To Err is Superhuman
Municipal Light and Powers
Superize Me
Rescue This Book
FOIA L-351-ORB-12
Security Blanket
Not a Zombie Book
Super Qualified
I Just Work Here
A Poorly Titled Novel That’s Actually Rather Good
Opportunity Screams
Materials that Stretch
Extra Sensitive
You Are the Hero
July 27th, 2010 by aarondietz
I always have a bit of trouble explaining what my novel is about, so I’m lucky to have a synopsis written by the talented Alex Reed, with a few choice additions from my editor, Bryan Tomasovich.
The Synopsis
Do you need a new job?
Does the world need another superhero?
You see the connection, don’t you? If you had the chance to save lives…could you handle the adventure? The pressure, the risk, the grotesque, the insane? Most of all, could you handle your humanity? Update your resume, ‘cause here we go. Either stick with being sucked down further into your life, or earn the lift-off of the elite.
Aaron Dietz’s debut novel moves with an experimental edge into America’s heroic mythology. Structured as a novel-length job application for a superhero agency, Dietz uses his iron touch to explore themes that go far deeper than the swashbuckling world of comics and costumes. It’s a story about commitment, ability, bureaucracy, possibility, crisis, and heartbreak. Super.
June 21st, 2010 by aarondietz
My novel, Super, is being published by Emergency Press.
Not only are they incredible to work with, they’re also a participant of the Green Press Initiative, and they’re publishing some of the most exciting authors out there right now.
For example, Tom Hansen, Gina Frangello, and Erika Rae. I’d tell you more about them, but the trailers and excerpts are awesome, so don’t let me keep you.
Tom Hansen’s American Junkie
Trailer: here
Excerpts: here
Gina Frangello’s Slut Lullabies
Trailer: here
Excerpts: here
Erika Rae’s In a Handbasket: Notes from a Recovering Evangelical
Erika Rae’s book isn’t out yet, but you can sample her writing on TheNervousBreakdown.com.
May 11th, 2010 by aarondietz
I have a novel coming out this fall called Super. It’ll be published by Emergency Press.
Do you want to see the cover? Oh, goodie! It’s a rough cover, and could change, but here it is at the moment.
The cover art and book design is by Charlie Potter. More on him later this month or so.
Oh hey, and you know what? It takes an army for a small press to get a book out. If you want to help or have suggestions, let me know. I have an entire insane plan in the works and there is a lot to do. I mean, I’ve spent over $30 on stickers already.
