Tee Morris

Writer, podcaster. and streamer

Tee Morris

You Know I Can Hear You, Right? — Revelations about the Internet and the Lesson of St. Fu

“I think the Internet is a grand arena for poorly thought out words.” — Philippa Ballantine, 2/18/2014, on Facebook

1000px-Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895Presently, The Science Fiction Writers of America are at odds with one another once again, its members still in a brouhaha over the divide between men and women in the business. It’s hard to say when this rift started. I know this debate has raged for a long, long time as I remember people engaging in spirited conversations about this when I first entered the publishing game in 2002. There’s been a lot of back-and-forth about feminism, misogyny, old guard mentality, new blood in SFWA, and the like, especially in the wake of the 200th issue of the SFWA Bulletin which attempted to harken back to nostalgic days of the Red Sonja-esque fantasy covers.

It all boiled to a fever pitch yesterday when John Scalzi posted this quote on his blog:

“The problem is that the ‘vocal minority’ of insects who make up the new generation of writers don’t scramble for the shadows when outside lights shines on them—they bare their pincers and go for the jugular. Maybe it is a good thing that SFWA keeps them locked up. The newer members who Scalzi et al. brought in are an embarrassment to the genre.”

— (name withheld) on SFF.net, during the recent unpleasantness.

 Wow. Just…wow.

I have a lot of opinions about SFWA, about the Bulletin, SFF.net and LiveJournal (where a lot of this discussion has raged), and about women in the business; but that is not what is driving me bananas. What I find to be completely and utterly nuts is this fallback position “professionals” (and when you think comparing your experiences with a celebrated Science Fiction author to “your irrational fear of dogs” is a good analogy I use the term “professional” loosely.) are taking. These defensive crouches range from a First Amendment-“I have the right to freely express my opinion on this…” argument to “I’m calling my lawyer!” which, I bet, the lawyer is thrilled to know you’re pulling them up on speed dial.

I have a piece of free advice for these professionals: Please, for the love of God, shut the fuck up. You’re making asses of yourself on many levels, the highest of these being—and let’s be blunt—that you honestly don’t know how the Internet works. [Read more…] about You Know I Can Hear You, Right? — Revelations about the Internet and the Lesson of St. Fu

Happy Valentine’s Day from Billibub Baddings!

ind-ratpackToday marks the seventh anniversary of the first episode of The Case of the Singing Sword: A Billibub Baddings Mystery. I still remember when I first put together the first episode, and then moved along to create the following four episodes. I remember the email to the creative mind behind Rubber Band Banjo who was gracious enough to offer his music as the theme to Billi’s podcast. It was 2007 and still podcasting was a wild frontier. Back in 2005, it was me, Scott Sigler, and Mark Jeffrey as the Three Musketeers of Podiobooks. Two years later, it was me, Scott, and new guy J.C. Hutchins, and we were dubbed “The Rat Pack of Podcasting.”

I was Dean.

So how does one celebrate a podcast’s anniversary? For me — I launch a Kickstarter. [Read more…] about Happy Valentine’s Day from Billibub Baddings!

Endless Possibilities Blog Tour: Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie on the Pros and Cons of Being a Book Critic

This week the Endless Possibilities Blog Tour features a unique perspective: the point-of-view form the book reviewer’s chair. Welcome Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie to TeeMorris.com. She is not only a writer herself, but she also picks up the pen and reviews books. You might wonder “Isn’t that a little risky to review books with people you work alongside?” and that is what Kristy shines a little light on today.

BLOG_bird-header

There’s good and bad in reviewing books while being a writer, and here’s her own thoughts on it.

And if you like what she has to say, why not give her work a read and a review? She’d appreciate it.

“Keep calm and review on.” Words I live by. While I know it’s out-of the ordinary to review books when I myself am a writer, I have found a lot of good reasons to continue with sharing my thoughts on my recent read. As with anything, though, there are pros and cons. Writing book reviews is no different, and here’s a few things to keep in mind when you decide that you still want to review books as well as earn bylines. [Read more…] about Endless Possibilities Blog Tour: Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie on the Pros and Cons of Being a Book Critic

Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Dan Verner Looks Back on Looking Ahead

The Endless Possibilities Blog Tour rolls on with a very special blogpost from Dan Verner. He’s a freelance blogger, journalist, editor, and writer, and it’s that last hat he wears that we are showcasing today! He’s got a work-in-progress, the fourth installment of a series; and Dan is offering up a sneak peek at it on his blog. If you like what you’ve read, pick up a copy of On the Wings of Morning now available on Amazon.com.

Here you are, Dan. My audience, ready to hear your story… 

I worked as a high school English and creative writing teacher for 32 years, and always wanted to write a novel. Like Grandma Moses, I waited until I was older to do it. I worked on my manuscript for five months, revised it about thirty times, had fifteen “beta readers” look it over, revised it some more, collected rejections from 30 publishers, and caught on with eLectio Publishing in August of 2013. The book came out in late October, and it was literally a thrill of a life time to see it appear on Amazon.com.

Since then I’ve had a launch party and several signings. The book is selling well, and readers have been most kind in their comments about the book. Readers liked the first book well enough in fact that they asked me about a sequel. I wrote that in three months, and eLectio is bringing out at the end of May. It’s called On the Wings of Eagles, and will be available on Amazon and from me as well.

I want to thank all the people who helped and encouraged me–my readers, my friends, my family, the fabulous writers of Write by the Rails and Christopher and Jesse at eLectio. I’ve finished Book 3 (On the Wings of Angels) and am 20,000 words into the fourth volume, On the Wings of Grace. Stay tuned–the series will have nine volumes and follow Otto Kerchner to the present day.

And if you want a brief glimpse at what Dan has to offer, here’s a sampling from On the Wings of Eagles… [Read more…] about Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Dan Verner Looks Back on Looking Ahead

Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Nancy S. Kyme asks “Are You a Writer?”

Part of me is so flipping excited about this Endless Possibilities blog tour! Makes me happier than Coke executives the day after airing a Super Bowl commercial reflecting on what makes America great! 

What? Too soon?

Anyway, it has been a real kick introducing you to my fellow authors at Write by the Rails; but I just hope that when all is said and done, you’ll stick around for more musings from the TeeMonster, right? I’ve got to get some posts in the hopper for when it is just me, but until then continue to comment and syndicate on these  terrific and talented individuals. Today the blog belongs to my hostess from earlier this week, Nancy S. Kyme. She is the author of Memory Lake, the Forever Friendships of Summer, a 2012 Next Generation Award Winning memoir and she comes out of the blogger’s box swinging with a pretty deep question for you. 

Heck, on some days, it’s a deep question for me…

18691SD2“Click, tap-tap-tap. Click,” my fingers shifted across the keyboard.  “Clang,” the grandfather clock in the hall chimed one.  “Why am I still awake?” I whispered.

Oh, I see it now.

That last sentence must go to the front of the paragraph.  It no longer needs the second sentence.  Perfect.  My point is made in fewer words and the chapter is almost polished.  I hit ‘save.’ I closed the Toshiba, tip-toed upstairs, and into bed.

The alarm would go off in four hours.  [Read more…] about Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Nancy S. Kyme asks “Are You a Writer?”

Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Shay Seaborne on Loving when Loving Is Hard

Continuing the Endless Possibilities blog tour, I’m happy to introduce here a few words of wisdom on parenthood from author, teacher, photographer and sailor Shay Seaborne. When it comes to kids and getting to understand them, Shay brings a lot of experience to the table, sporting numerous bylines for home schooling journals and magazines.

Shay, welcome to my blog. Readers, say “Hey!” to Shay. Parents, take notes.

Love_Graffiti-1024x768Kids seem to know when a parent is most overloaded–and that’s when they act up the worst! I swear they have radar for this. If yours are like mine, they even have a pact to take turns being “the bad and annoying one.” One will be super obnoxious until I’m about ready to kill and eat her, while the other plays the angel. Then suddenly, they switch; the angel becomes the devil and vice versa. The better to wear me down.

Unfortunately, kids pick up on parental energy and tone, amplifying and acting it out. So, they are being their worst at precisely the time we need them to behave at their best. This is one of the things that truly sucks about parenting, and I say this out of experience. [Read more…] about Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Shay Seaborne on Loving when Loving Is Hard