Tee Morris

Writer, podcaster. and streamer

Writing

The Price of Publicity

I promised myself to work on my blogging skills. It’s a bit like getting back into shape, you know? I’m struggling to get back into a routine, and everyone around me is telling to cut myself a break considering the year I have been facing. The reality is, just like staying in shape, I have to do this. Next year, as many of you know, I will be returning to novel-length fiction with my first mass market paperback novel, Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel. Me. The Kiwi. Steampunk. The cover is just beautiful, I’m telling you. Stay patient and, as soon as we get approval, we will go live with it.

2011 is a big step for me as a writer; and I’m trying to take everything I have learned since 2002 when Morevi first rolled off the presses, and apply it to the now. One of the hardest lessons I learned over this near-decade of writing professionally is just how easy it is to find yourself in the red. Not the red ink of an editor’s pen, mind you, but the financial red of your bank account telling you in so many words that you — the professional author — are flat broke. [Read more…] about The Price of Publicity

GUEST BLOGPOST: Real Women Have Heads

As many of you know, I collaborate with a kiwi. When Philippa Ballantine and I get together, silliness and trouble usually ensue. Whether it is podcasting or The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, people tend to really grok what Pip and I produce.

But this time, the rant is 100% New Zealand made.

Celebrating the upcoming release of her solo title and mass market paperback debut Geist, Pip brings her own gripes and grumbles to my desk. The rant she’s got delivers a swift kick to the jimmies to that age-old saying “Never judge a book by its cover…” and I got to say that she is spot on. She is certainly not alone in this stance, and perhaps with Pip’s cover (featured here) and the as-yet-to-be-released-but-oh-so-hawt Ministry cover, the tide could be turning in her argument. Still, after reading this post, you will not be able to refrain from giggling when you visit a bookstore.

I mean, the kiwi — she’s got a point.

 

 

Perhaps in the podosphere and blogosphere I am not know for my rants—and New Zealanders are generally stoic, get-on-with-it types, but when Tee offered up his blog, I knew this was the perfect location for me to let loose on a subject that has been bothering me of late. [Read more…] about GUEST BLOGPOST: Real Women Have Heads

GUEST BLOGPOST: Wherein the Tinker’s Art Is Discussed

I’m looking to return to my blogging habits because, dashitall, I do miss blogging so. As my last steampunk entry featuring the delicious Gail Carriger, was quite the scandal (and therefore, popular), I turned to another author stepping into realms of cog and gear for opinion and commentary. Gentle readers, I introduce to you to O.M. Grey, a lass quite shy when standing within range of the camera obscura. She also claims to be a complete novice when it comes to all things shiny and modern , but methinks the lady doth protest too much as we met on the quaint device known as Twitter. Ms. Grey pens paranormal romantic Steampunk, and her novel Avalon Revisited is about to be unveiled.

I am pleased to bring you Ms. Grey and her five favourite Sterampunk gadgets.

If her book is anything like this column, I believe Avalon Revisited has quite the run ahead of itself. Godspeed, Ms. Grey, and may your airships find strong tailwinds.



When podcast guru Tee Morris asked me to write a guest post for his blog, I was absolutely thrilled! Assigned topic: Five Favorite Gadgets in Steampunk

(Editor’s Note: For referring to me as a “guru” I have placed a warning by her name in the Great Book of the Uber-Nemesis. I do, however, understand this is Ms. Grey’s first novel. Therefore, let the mercy of the Uber-Nemesis befall upon her as a sweet Spring rain.)

My mind just reeled! With all the wonderful technologically bizarre Steampunk gadgets there were to choose from, it would be rather hard to pick just five! He said they could be either ones I use in my new book Avalon Revisited or from other works, so I’ll do a mixture of the two.

[Read more…] about GUEST BLOGPOST: Wherein the Tinker’s Art Is Discussed

Tee Morris Cooks Up Erotica ala DARK!

At the end of 2009, I was invited by The Chef to return to the Erotica ala Carte kitchens for another round of saucy, spicy fun. My menu items on this go-round were:

  • Female P.O.V.
  • Time travel
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Leather and Lace

The end result was “Dagger of the Mind” and my return to podcasting fiction. In light of so much talk and controversy concerning it and coupled with the way my year has been, I have been ready — so very ready — to do this.

But be warned…this story goes dark. WAY dark. Darker than I imagined I could ever go in my writing. This is not safe for work, kids, queasy dispositions, or those new to Pip’s podcast. I’d recommend working up to this one by listening to early episodes, and then having a listen to what the Chef describes as “the darkest we have ever gone…”

Something terrible is in Anna’s mind. Something alien that uses desire as a whip, but is it trying to drive her mad or is something even more nefarious going on?

This is my return to writing, and I can’t thank Pip enough for being my Muse (or Swift-Kick-in-the-Pants, whichever you prefer) in this setting. This story has been receiving a lot of traffic on Twitter, and I’ve been pretty humbled by the reactions. The inspiration behind this stems from one of my favorite movies of all time — Time After Time. (It’s on my AppleTV Wish List.) The film marked the directorial debut of Nicholas Meyer (who went on to direct Star Trek II and VI), and stars a young Malcolm McDowell as H.G. Wells and a young David Warner as Dr. John Leslie Stevenson whom we find out later is Jack the Ripper. I love time travel stories, but this one stands out as a favorite. I also wanted to try something different, something the EalC Kitchens had never seen before. I went into fetishes that haven remained unexplored, and then there was the Horror angle I dedicated in following. I was told in one harsh critique that “Horror and erotica simply do not mix…”

Someone didn’t tell Clive Barker that. Twisted as it is, Hellraiser is an incredibly sensual, erotic work. (And yes, terrifying.)

What has surprised me the most about this short story is that, for the first time as a writer, I’m discovering the possibilities. This world, these characters, and this situation are far from done. I’m thinking I may have my first erotic thriller in the works, and I am thrilled at where my ideas are leading me.

Oh my Muse, you are the dark, delicious, and saucy temptress…

And while people have been talking about it, I should point out that both my Erotica ala Carte dishes are eligible for the 2010 Parsec Awards. So if it hasn’t happened already please consider nominating:

If you shared your thoughts (good or bad) concerning my “Erotica ala Dark” on Twitter, thank you! Feel free to leave comments here, or go to the Erotica ala Carte site and share your review with the Head Chef.

And feel free to share this twisted tale on your own blog….if you dare….

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I Remember Joe: 2010

I’m not the biggest fan of April Fool’s Day. Never have been. The history behind April Fool’s Day is quite cool, but that’s about it. I don’t like pranks played upon me and playing pranks on others I’m not too crazy about. (I do remember one prank, though, where a college suitemate covered another suitemate’s doorway with newspaper. Guy opens the door and sees a wall of headlines staring back at them. I had a hand in that, and that was funny. Not to mention, harmless.) April 1st Is also crappy when you have to report news or stay on top of current events, and too many news outlets now think it’s “fun” to throw in gag stories. And now, on Twitter, tweetpranks are running amuck.

Yes, I hate April Fool’s Day.

I hate it all the more as one of my best friends, Joe Murphy, passed away on this day in 2007.

joetribute

Every year, Jack and I ask that you remember our fallen friend, Joe Murphy. From the reaction on Facebook to my profile picture already (only posted an hour ago, and Robin Hudson, Marc Bailey, and Robert Goshko suggest Root Beers to be drank in his honor), the Community keeps Joe in their minds and hearts.

For those of you new to podcasting, you might have missed the audio wit and always-clever banter of my friend, Joe Murphy. He was (and still is) an amazing guy, his voice now part of the history of such podcasts, as Wingin’ It, Slice of SciFi, The Kick Ass Mystic Ninjas, and the award-winning The Case of the Singing Sword: A Billibub Baddings Mystery. He was taken from us too soon, and on April 1 we remember him.

I got to see Joe a month before he died, and it was hard. He was sick. You couldn’t deny that. On April 1, I remember my friend, Joe, in memories like the one I have posted above. I remember his banter against Michael, Evo, and the crew of the original Wingin’ It. I remember his loyalty. He pushed me to be a better writer, and he never pulled punches on how I carried myself, both as a writer and as a person. This is how I remember Joe. A smile that can turn around a bad day. An honest opinion that you could grow from. He was an amazing guy, and I miss him terribly.

Please syndicate this tribute show (originally produced in 2008 as part of the Give Us a Minute podcast.) through your feeds, blog about Joe Murphy, tell a friend today about Joe, show your support in an avatar change (be it a picture of Joe or a candle in remembrance), and let the Community know that you also remember Joe.

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INTERVIEW: Tee Morris on Blog Talk Radio’s Breakthrough Business

I’m starting to get my groove back (like Stella) in producing ideas, writing (seriously), podcasting, and playing with Sonic Boom. This road has been difficult (and no kidding, a blogpost is written, but I am not ready to drop it just yet. Bear with me…), but I’m taking everything one step at a time, one day at a time…

One of those positive steps is getting back into the interview circuit. Recently, Que Publishing contacted me concerning All a Twitter. The book is being featured again in Barnes & Noble Bookstores everywhere, and Que is hoping to get the first Twitter guide written from a user’s perspective (and when my byline says “written by Tee Morris” it means it!) into new readers’ hands. They asked me “Whatever you can do to get the word out…” and so I sent out a query to my Twitter networks.

Meet Michele Price. She queried me before I tweeted!

Michele is the host of Breakthrough Business, and on her BlogTalkRadio show we talk about Twitter, about my job at Intersections Inc, and about approaches that go against the grain of the marketing books. We talk about how “old school marketing” just doesn’t work with Social Media, and how businesses need to understand that Twitter (and Social Media, on a whole) is about people.

We had a blast on this interview, and there are more slated for the month. The geekier ones I’ll feature here, but if you want to hear more about the Social Media, take a trip to Imagine That! Studios for the full blogosphere-podosphere interview tour!