Great New Authors and Artists Join Ranks of Young Upstart Company
Rebuking Ockham's Razor, Inc. has broadened its horizons from its original comic-book base to include online publishing with some gifted artists and authors just stepping onto the publishing scene.
(PRWEB) July 25, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
Contact: Shannon Reinbold-Gee, CEO Company: Rebuking Ockham's Razor, Inc./ROR, Inc.
Telephone: 813-643-7990
E-mail: press@tailtellers. com
Web Address: http://www. tailtellers. com (http://www. tailtellers. com)
IndependentsÂ’ Day!
Tampa, Florida: Things have been hopping for the staff at the independents' company Rebuking Ockham’s Razor, Inc. TailTellers. com opened in April and they began hunting for talented people to fill what they see as a definite need for unique writing and self-expression. They were not disappointed in the quality of creators we have begun to gather, but the lack of quantity of quality (say THAT ten times fast) did give them pause, states CEO Shannon Reinbold-Gee. "We know there are more gifted creators out there…but we’re not sure where they’ve hidden (though there’s tons of slush to hide within, evidently). We are continuing to slog through the slush in order to sift out the hidden beauty some creators have, but it has become a daunting prospect (of course, we never thought life would be easy—we do remember middle school with frightening clarity)," Gee grins.
"Through the mud and muck of half-baked story ideas and poetry with no soul we did locate some lovely pieces we are proud to share with a literate public," Gee stresses. "As people should have learned by now, we are not your standard creating company. We like things that make the reader think. For us, double-meanings are a thing of beauty, subtext is ambrosia, and irony a turn on."
So, if you feel your pulse quicken at the mention of "foreshadowing" and "metaphors"—Read on, brave adventurer!
New Novella:
What Rough Peace ©
By Josh Davis
Josh Davis is a very talented young author with a truly unique voice that comes cleanly through in his writing. "There are moments as an editor," Gee points out, "that you go sifting through the virtual slush pile just praying that either people will get a Word-A-Day Calendar for their next birthday or that their fingers will somehow short out every keyboard they come in contact with from then on. And then, thereÂ’s someone like Josh."
"Josh is well-read and well-written. He impressed us immediately with his style, and whereas we had been dreading reading more of some pieces that were submitted, Josh’s What Rough Peace © pushed us to read on… just to see what would happen next." CEO Reinbold-Gee was pleased to read through this particular tale herself. "It reassured me that literacy is not completely lost on the youth of America."
Josh writes to voice life experience in a new and original fashion. When ROR asked him about what actually inspires him to write, he said, "A lot of itÂ’s due to that fact that I donÂ’t see the same ideas and ingenuity and enthusiasm represented in modern literature as there has been in the past. Every generation in the last century seemed to have a voice in literature. Like the "lost" generation and the "beat" generation. People like Ernest Hemingway, Scot Fitzgerald, and Jack Kerouac really seemed to have a cultural impact in writing what they saw. I donÂ’t think the John Grishams and the Tom Clancys are doing that now."
Largely influenced by the works of James Joyce, who writes in "the way thoughts sound in your own head," as Josh puts it, Josh keeps in mind that "When your mind is racing, when something dramatic occurs, we tend not to think in complete sentences." His desire to reflect the thoughts that tumble through our heads is certainly not lost on readers. Seeking to capture "The real rhythm of life," Josh yanks the reader into his setting, allowing you to feel the true essence of his tale. The story, What Rough Peace ©, is set in and out of the Baltimore-DC areas and Josh writes like he knows the city streets intimately.
As he controls all aspects of his story through his youthful and visionary portrayal of the grittiness of life and society, so he also likes a controlled environment in which to write. "There are two ways to write. Sometimes I'll write on the fly, as something is happening, so I capture an essence or a reality. But ultimately, you have to type something up and edit, and I think the work will suffer greatly if you donÂ’t have a real controlled environment. I usually write by low light, listening to music thatÂ’s up to the tone of the writing, something thatÂ’s got elements of melody and elements of experimentation."
Josh is currently working on several new books, one dealing with death, one about Europe (which from this the CEO's standpoint could easily be combined into a single tome and acknowledged as her most recent trip abroad), and one, which promises to be along the lines of What Rough Peace ©. Josh says of the similarities, "It incorporates a lot of the college experience, but from a sort of alien perspective. And there’s always a girl. Somehow I'm still a real sucker for a love story. I think the ranges of emotions experienced in any relationship are equal to the whole of a life. There’s always a birth, a living, a struggle, and a death. And I think that’s something that everyone can relate to."
Gee feels certain readers will certainly relate on one level or another to Josh’s current What Rough Peace © and Gee says eagerly "I look forward to reading more myself. Josh will either make you love language, or hate people with larger vocabularies than your own."
New Poetry:
Vengeance of the Desert Rose ©
By Morgan David Reinbold
"HeÂ’s been writing and inspiring others to write for years. As time has passed his style and his subjects may have shifted, but at the heart of everything he writes there is an undeniable sense that this man understands life in all its "big picture" ways," Gee says of David Reinbold. He has penned many poems into many volumes, even binding the books himself. He is truly a Renaissance man, and anyone who knows him will laugh at the included double-meaning.
His Vengeance of the Desert Rose © is an epic poem about a woman and her search for justice, making herself a tool for it, no matter how it is to be meted out. Set in an eastern desert, it is the story of a young woman who knows tragedy and seeks to avenge the murders of her father and his fellow tribesmen. But Desert Rose isn’t the only piece Morgan David will have posted on www. TailTellers. com. He also will have some great short poems including: Maiden Waiting in the Wings©, Dead Men’s Eyes©, Mermaids©, The "Crow"© , Farewell to an Island Girl©, Old Warrior©, and Dragon’s Blood©. Most will realize from the titles that the author tends towards fantasy works.
Morgan David Reinbold grew up in Shillington, Pennsylvania and graduated Albright College with a BA, before going on to Penn State where he earned his Masters in Education. He has been teaching history to high schoolers for most of his 36 years in the field, as well as coaching shooting for 42 years.
He has always been involved in creative endeavors, playing in the Militia at reinactments (oh, the stories he can tell!), blacksmithing, photography, silversmithing, and scuba diving. Currently his projects include: cultivating an herb garden and eventually an oriental garden in his back yard, and continuing to work on Volume 5 of his poetry collection.
Hell Has No Fury ©
By Pam Tyler
Pam Tyler will have some passionately written poems posted at www. TailTellers. com, including : Hell Has No Fury ©, Empowering Me ©, Sister of Your Soul ©, My Blues ©, Incarceration © and I Love...© . While pushing to obtain her degree from MWSC and being a mother, a warrior, and queen (as well as raising one of her own), Pam lets her admiration of Maya Angelou guide her poignant writing. She is quick to remind writers to "Just do what you love, whatever it is. Someone somewhere will enjoy it as well, and even if they don't you'll still be doing what you love."
"Pam is a woman who writes what she feels, and feels things deeply," Gee states. "Just a good person who writes from the heart. If you step into our site to read her work, you are certain to catch a glimpse of an incredible soul, and feel her driving passion and power. You will easily know her strength through her words," proclaims ROR's CEO.
Frosts ©
By Morgan Dirk Reinbold
Okay, so he stands six feet tall and is a legend (at least in ROR's mind, and possibly his own). His talent is only now being tested, as deadlines are his greatest nemesis. Heck, heÂ’s one of the reasons CEO Shannon Reinbold-Gee got into this business. Who the heck is he? Some days everyone on staff wonders. His name, though, is Morgan Dirk Reinbold.
He’s been in love with art and writing since he was just a youngster (God knows Shannon tried to stop him—ask him some day about his capabilities of drawing rocks), so it was only natural that he’d fall for comics eventually.
The duo both began shelling out their hardly earned allowance on comics like Transformers and ElfQuest early on, but while Shannon fell in line with novels he continued to build a nice collection of various comics, even delving in to the independents when Shannon was just starting to read GaimanÂ’s "Sandman." Together they stood in line in a tiny shop in Reading, Pa. to meet members of what was then Wild StormÂ…pleased to get a sketch from the youngster Todd Nauk.
Dirk jokingly says his favorite quote, currently "Sic semper tyrranous"— deals with editors. His goals and ambitions? "Get out of current job, breathe in and out all day, yeah, grad school, doctorate in psychology—blah, blah, blah." Although what he'll have to offer on www. TailTellers. com shortly are poems: The Madman ©, Sirens and Silence ©, Causation I ©, and a piece as yet Untitled and short stories (Frosts ©), he is currently readying a mini comic entitled "Phone Pole Lonesome" © for official publication and the Handbasket Chronicles’ "A Fool’s Game" ©.
New Short Fiction:
Mark836 ©
By Gregory Kurcynski
Greg Kurcynski met the company at MegaCon in Orlando this past March. "After chatting at our booth, and sharing the bizarre experience of watching comic authors and artists sing karaoke after a drink or two in order to raise money for the CBLDF, he probably figured that submitting work to ROR would be almost as interesting, but not quite as risky," Gee smiles.
He has "always been an avid fan of horror and science fiction - films, books, comics, television, etc., and [has] always felt a strong need for a creative outlet." His first piece on www. TailTellers. com reflects what he loves.
Mark836 © is a frightening short story that will have you looking differently at your computer after you’re done reading. Greg has only recently begun to hone his talent. "About a year ago I took a more serious, disciplined approach to writing after I realized through meeting and reading interviews with different creators whose work I admired that the main difference between me as a fan and them as creators was that they took the initiative to practice and improve their craft. I decided to go beyond writing as a hobby and take advantage of any opportunity to improve my writing skills in the hope that my work could be noticed and appreciated. And, of course, published," Kurcynski grins.
Where does he get ideas like the one that started him on the trail to Mark836’s © completion? "My notebook is filled with strange little items that usually get buried on page four. Not all of these end up being useful, but they do help when I'm drawing a blank for ideas. My short story Mark836 © came about from a news story about a guy who actually auctioned his soul on eBay a couple years ago. If I remember correctly, he got seven bucks for it."
Well, ROR may have GregÂ’s story on loan at www. TailTellers. com, but so far theyÂ’ve been unable to acquire his soul. But, remembering that most creators reflect their innermost being in their workÂ…perhaps theyÂ’re close enough.
GregÂ’s already planning for the future, and ROR certainly hope heÂ’ll explore more of it with them. "As I continue to improve and learn I want to proceed to novel length works. I'd also like the opportunity to work with a filmmaker or artist and see if my ideas would make successful transitions to film or comics."
The Penitent Lucifer ©
And
The Moon’s Fall ©
By Shannon Reinbold-Gee
"Examine life from all angles. That’s the only way you’re sure to spot the beauty amidst the chaos and destruction." Shannon Reinbold-Gee has been writing and drawing since she was young, trying to find a balance between her two loves. The closest she has come to achieving that balance is through her comic series War Dogs and Glory Hounds ©. "Series?" she chuckles, red-faced. "Well, that IS the intent, but a series should come out at regular intervals, and more often than annually."
It has been a difficult first year for her work and her company. "It’s always brutal in the beginning. Think back to the stress of your first date—that’s how the first couple years of business are, in my opinion. But everything that’s worth having is worth the struggle and grind."
Things started for the group just prior to the Expo (www. spxpo. com) in Bethesda last year. "We were like crazy people trying to slam things together in preparation. And we made a strong first showing, and were pleased with all the compliments we got. But then life intruded again on art and a lot had to be put on the back burner." Shannon doubles as a history and drama teacher at a middle school in Florida. "I don’t even want to talk about this year as far as teaching goes. Talk about becoming dramatically disillusioned with something you loved and always thought you would love! Don’t get me wrong, I still love teaching, but the system we’re forced to work within is only perpetuating defeat." So why is she smiling? "Because I got to use a word with more than two syllables. Teach teenagers—you’ll see what can happen to your vocabulary."
MegaCon (www. megaconvention. com) was the second convention the company showed up at, but their numbers were lower than they had hoped. "That happens when your company’s heart and soul resides north of the Mason-Dixon, but part of the body lives in Tampa. And yes, absence DOES make the heart grow fonder. We learned a lot at MegaCon, like ‘Ask every question you can think of,’ then ask them all again, to another person. But we got to meet some wonderful people, too. People with visible talent. Some took to us, some got scared, and some were just way too arrogant to exist on this plane. If some artists’ egos took up physical space—Well the hole in the ozone layer would be by far the least of our worries." Gotta’ love those prima donnas.
"But I should plug my stories—The Penitent Lucifer ©, and The Moon’s Fall ©. The story Penitent Lucifer © is from a series yet to be officially born in comic format. It’s a break-off of what will officially be known as the Miracles and Madness © series. A story that will encourage you to re-evaluate your belief in things unseen.
"The Moon’s Fall © is completely different, more of a myth with a lesson about the danger of arrogance." Arrogance, prima donnas— seems like there’s a common thread. "Pride goeth before the fall."
So will we see any War Dogs and Glory Hounds © online comic issues on www. TailTellers. com? "Yes, yes. I love War Dogs more than most of the pieces I’ve done, but it’s rough prioritizing business needs versus the needs of my own art. Soon, though. Very soon."
New Art Offerings:
By Stan Morrison
Stan is definitely the man when it comes to fantasy-inspired artwork. If you like dragons, you can now stop by and download some of the lovely wallpaper he has posted as freebies for visitors. Want something more tangible? Soon you'll be able to check out his very reasonable prices for prints of his art. Stan is one of the most mobile of the TailTellers' creators, so to check out what show his art (and perhaps Stan himself ) will be at, Gee invites you to stop by the site and take a peek under the Art section.
By Shannon Reinbold-Gee
Shannon’s got some more wallpaper for visitors—some scherenschnitte, some comic-based, and a handful of photos. She also intends to make available L3s © (Life-Lessons-Learned) in wallpaper that you can send someone anonymously when they need a "thwap" over the nose by the "great rolled-up cosmic newspaper," as she likes to put it.
Still Beating the Bushes:
ROR, Inc. is still looking for talented artists and authors to fill out their ranks on the www. tailtellers. com site. "With flexible contracts and a helpful staff, we have every intention of continuing to grow and expand our youthful venture. If you are a gifted creator, feel free to contact ROR, Inc. at staff@tailtellers. com," Gee invites. So go ahead, check out the Submissions and Contracts pages and then send them your best work.
