Chris McClelland, multiple award-winning short story writer and novelist, also sometime writing coach

Florida Literary Arts Alliance, Short Fiction Award National Veterans' Contest, Bronze Award for Fiction I am mainly a fiction writer, w...

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Saturday, November 2, 2024

Blog #128; Two day give away of digital version of the BEST SELLING World War II novel by Chris McClelland: IN LOVE AND WAR

On November 2nd and 3rd, we will be giving away electronic copies of IN LOVE AND WAR, the BEST SELLING of all of Chris McClelland's many books.  This novel was Chris' debut novel, (my second full-length novel is being released in just a few months) and IN LOVE remains nearly 8 years after its release, a solid and unique read.  Just see what some Amazon readers have said about it over the last eight years:

Sadly, war seems to be a perennial constant.  It seemed to me that as long as humanity was plagued with warfare, we would not have a situation where my book was not relevant.  I released it in 2016, and with little fanfare.  No big publishing house behind it.  No ad blitz.  But more and more, people responded to the story. The numbers were in the hundreds, but they responded.   Combat veterans from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam told me it helped them heal.  So maybe it did some good for the readers.  I invite you to open your heart to your humanity.  Open yourself to Mack and Inga's plight, and I promise this book will affect how you see love and war.

Customers say

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable. They also appreciate the emotional content, saying the characters are real and the relationships are deep and meaningful. Readers praise the author's excellent job of interweaving stories and tying them all together.


Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2018

You can tell that Chris writes from the heart. You can almost feel the humidity and smell the Orange blossoms of central Florida and feel the dust and grit and heat of North Africa, but mostly you can feel the perfectly human love and angst of Mack and Inga and their families, all through the fabric of this book. Kudos, Chris.

Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
Great read! Great quick read while I was traveling on a plane last week. Good storyline and suspenseful. Enjoyed this book very much!


 







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Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Blog #127; Consultant for Hire for Your Developing Fiction Writing

Have you ever thought of learning to better write your own stories? Learn the tricks of the trade that make your stories stand out with real impact? Have you thought about even publishing some stories, or even entering awards contests? A multiple award winning fiction writer and editor, I have won numerous awards and have had stories and poems published dozens of times. For the month of November, 2024, I am offering a special deal for those of you who have been loyal readers to my Blog and who have bought/read my give-away books. Are you interested in taking the leap to writing and publishing your own short stories… 


For the month of November, you can be on your way to giving yourself a most special Christmas present this year: the permission to pursue your dreams. You can send me a rough draft (it doesn't matter how rough) of a fictional short story, of any genre (mystery, literary, sci-fi, horror, etc.), up to 4000 words (16 pages total), and I promise to give you a detailed full page double spaced professional level summary of suggestions for improvement at a modest 20 dollars introductory offer. If you find some merit in my comments, we can continue an exchange if you like. If you feel the comments weren’t helpful, just let me know why and I will ask no questions and we can part friends. You have nothing to lose but a bit of time at the desk… 


PS As a special offer this month, contact me and we will provide a one page commentary as described above for a friend in addition to your own paid one for free. Two for the price of one! Consider it a Christmas Present for the Season. 


I have many years (decades now) creative writing teaching experience (college level creative writing courses, workshops with other writers and editors, and one-on-one consulting work). If you are ready to put my extensive experience to work for you, please contact me at provocanyonreview@gmail.com.

Monday, October 7, 2024

Blog #126; New Look; Free Books Available Soon; New Compact Collection TBD; Putting Out My Shingle as a Creative Writing Coach

Welcome to the new look of the blog page!  Thanks to my ever-talented wife, Erin!  This look better reflects who I am and what I’m about.

In the next few days, we will have some free digital books available to gear up towards the holiday season.  If you’ve already bought and read the book (and liked it, I hope), consider buying copies for friends and family!  (or, during my specials, getting them for free)

Also, I have been having things published more online in the past year than in all others combined.  That means I have more stories to include in the latest compact collection, which I want to release before Christmas.  It is called, No More Tragic Kingdoms.  You can read the title story here: https://militaryexperience.org/as-you-were-the-military-review-vol-20/no-more-tragic-kingdoms/

Please keep in touch for more info about this release as matters develop!

 

Also, though I have rarely brought attention to it in the past on this blog, I have many years (decades) creative writing teaching experience (college level creative writing courses, workshops with other writers and editors, and one-on-one consulting work).  If you are interested in bringing your stories, poetry, etc. to the next level and are ready to put my extensive experience to work for you, please contact me at provocanyonreview@gmail.com.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Blog #125; Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea Re-considered

I am currently re-reading that 20th C. classic, The Old Man and the Sea and plumbing the depths of the old master’s talent.  When a young man studying creative writing in Paris in the 1920s, the author famously said he wanted his readers, after finishing a book of his, to not be able to distinguish Hemingway’s well-crafted depictions and “felt-life” or an actual memory of a true experience.  Hemingway achieves this by painstaking selection of imagery (ie, description that appeals to the five senses).

 

While the old man is sailing the currents of the Caribbean outside Havana, Hemingway strategically places the reader right in the environment and experience.  The monumental fight with the marlin, the taste of the salt spray of the ocean water, the heat of the sun beating his exposed back, the ache of the muscles well past the point of failure.  Hemingway expresses the experience as only he can, and the reader’s experience of life is all the richer for it.

Monday, September 30, 2024

Blog #124; Notes on—Historical Fiction; the writing process; short v. long form; Hemingway’s The Old Man an

Blog #124; Notes on—Historical Fiction; the writing process; short v. long form; Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea;

 

“History is a nightmare from which I am struggling to wake from”—James Joyce

 

The above quote has the challenge implicit in every thoughtful historical fiction work: how to make old questions fresh for the present generation.  As a high-level staff officer in Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army in 1945, Hyrum Fratelli (and we as readers) will be given a front row seat to the discoveries of the atrocities of Hitler and his death camps.  As a novelist in media res creating A Contrite Spirit, I am still searching for guidance in how to proceed here.  If only Willie appeared to me as the author.  But no.  Willie is Hyrum’s fictional spirit counselor and that is probably how I will go forward.  What light can Willie shed on the situation, if any?  How will Hyrum, and subsequently, the rest of the Fratellis react?  Time will tell.

 

Short Fiction and Poems

The late award-winning short story writer and poet Philip Deaver (Silent RetreatsForty Martyrs) once told me the short forms of the short story and poem and the making of them had much more in common with each other than the longer fictional works.  As I get older, and ripen as I grow as a writer, I see this is true.  And I think in the balance of these two (three?) forms, I have found my own solution to the potential for writer’s block.

 

Publication so far this year:

See the below list of links for poetry and short fiction I have published this year.

https://irreantum.associationmormonletters.org/_21-1-pilgrimage-along-montparnasse/

https://www.poetryformentalhealth.org/featured-poetry---september-2024

https://militaryexperience.org/as-you-were-the-military-review-vol-20/no-more-tragic-kingdoms/

 

New Reading Horizons

After the most recent Harlan Coben thriller (Think Twice) I think I will re-read one of my all-time favorites: Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Blog 123; Harlan Coben Thinks Twice

In his latest Myron Bolitar installment, I believe that Harlan Coben has reached new heights as an author of suspense/mystery fiction. One thing that always kept me from being “all in” with his writing and novels was the general “clunkiness” of the prose, and a certain ham-handedness that betrayed a lack of fully developed writing style. Some people find that kind of clunk writing endearing, or even relatable, but I prefer my pop Grisham with a dash of classic Hemingway, thank you. And this is what I got with Think Twice. As a reader, I can really appreciate the care and extra time Coben put into the artful crafting of the novel and its key characters. You can tell, unlike with some other suspense authors, that Coben really feels for his characters, even the minor ones. Even from the serial killer’s point of view. He paints the killer as a sadly doomed kind of adrenaline addict who can’t stop the killing, despite best efforts. It is a poignant reminder that the author sees his characters as real, oftentimes frail, people. And this warmth and compassion comes across in a story that is propelled by heart. Good guys, bad guys, regular guys and gals. Makes no difference. Harlan Coben is fast becoming that rare breed of author who started out in the trenches of the mass market world only to find himself a creative author out to break your heart. I won’t give away any spoilers in this review, but suffice it to say Coben pulls away from some potentially devastating punches at the very ending to my dismay. Compassionate, yes. But there are a few heart-stopping scenes toward the end where everything slows down and is on the line and then the book becomes a study in premeditated violence, a tense, edge of your seat, true blue thriller. I wanted to say this is his best work yet, and it is close, but I am not totally sure after the overall ending. I can think of a few other novels that had stronger plotting even if lighter character development. But as an accomplished literary artist, Harlan Coben has raised the bar for everyone and is reaching the height of his powers thusfar. I believe in time, his novels may end up with an even longer shelf life than anyone would be able to predict in today’s rough and tumble fiction market. An old friend in the writing world with a philosophical bent once told me: “The excellent becomes the permanent.” I believe with Think Twice, Harlan Coben has crossed into the realm of the truly excellent creative artist with heart.

Monday, September 16, 2024

Blog 122; Publication Update; Two Poems in Poetry for Mental Health; Upcoming article and fiction story in SwimSwam

 I have two poems recently published on mental health-related themes, in Poetry for Mental Health, and my final article on recovering from heart disease is upcoming in SwimSwam.  Also, in November, be ready for an extra-special fictional story in SwimSwam set in a fictional future Olympic Games.

Take care,

Chris