It’s All Connected…Writers, Rubber Suits, and Begging for Readers by Michael P. Spradlin and The Spider Strikes Giveaway

 Happy Monday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Michael P. Spradlin here to share a guest post to celebrate the release of his MG, The Spiker Strikes. I interviewed Michael last year when Threat of the Spider was released. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this WWII story. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

 

Amid the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany, a twelve-year-old boy and his friends confront rising Nazi threats during a family trip to Austria in this third book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.

It’s the summer of 1931 and, like most summers, Joshua and his family are vacationing in Salzburg, Austria. But unlike most years, Joshua is looking forward to escaping the upheaval and bigotry back home in Heroldsberg and the Nazi presence threatening Jewish families like his own. This year, he’s invited his best friends Rolf and Ansel to join him for one last summer before Rolf leaves for America with his father.

But the trip becomes far from relaxing as the Nazis take root in Austria as well, and a gang of Hitler Youth set their sights on Joshua and his friends. When the boys decide to hike up the mountains to camp out at Joshua’s family cabin, things go from bad to worse when they quickly realize they aren’t alone. Can the boys evade the Nazis and make it back to their families safely? 

Followers News 

Before I get to Michael’s guest post, I have Follower News to share. Nina Snyder has published a Mardi

Gras-themed picture book with illustrations by Paola A. Crisante. Blue Crab feels left out when Clown Crab doesn't invite her to his Mardi Claw party, so she decides to host her own party. But the coral reef isn't big enough for two parties... or is it?  "A bright, beautiful work that serves as a gentle introduction to diversity and schoolyard dynamics." -- Kirkus Reviews. Here’s a few links: Buy on Amazon Kirkus Reviews 

It’s All Connected…Writers, Rubber Suits, and Begging for Readers by Michael P. Spradlin 

            As a pretty big fan of Star Trek (although I refuse to call myself a Trekkie) I recently watched a documentary called CENTER SEAT: The Making of Star Trek. I’m always fascinated by these behind the scenes looks at how things were built. How the creators had to chase down money, support or even readers and fans. In this case, the producer of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, spent many of his early days on the show, going to Science Fiction conventions and literally begging people to watch the show. (It worked! And funnily enough, I find myself doing a version of the same thing these days. Going to conventions and conferences and begging for readers!) 

            The documentary was extremely well done, displaying how a television show is/was produced. Many of the stories I had heard, but most I hadn’t. And through the interviews with the actors, directors and producers one thing kept coming back to me. It seems to me that the most common thread running through this sixty-year phenomenon and what really held the whole property together was the writers. 

            If you watch the original series, it’s plain to see that fans of the show didn’t come to it for the brilliant special effects. Maybe some tuned in to see the actors’ performances (the thrice Emmy nominated Leonard Nimoy became a global phenom because of the show). The vast majority of the fans came to the show for the stories. And given the confines and realities of 1960s television, some of the stories were inarguably silly (Dr. McCoy’s ex-girlfriend turning into a giant salt monster) there were some that stand the test of time and hold up in any era. 

            I was watching the episode titled City on the Edge of Forever, in which Kirk and Spock much travel back in time to correct an error in the timeline that wipes out their future existence. This classic episode was written by the great science fiction writer Harlan Ellison. And like many of the best Star Trek episodes, it leans away from the special effects or aliens and into the story and the characters. It’s often voted the greatest episode of the Original Series. It’s a love story. 

            It’s said that Harlan Ellison was disappointed in how the story was filmed and produced and for many years hesitated to have his name associated with it. But eventually he came around and this episode became the yardstick by which most other episodes are measured. It explored the themes that make great stories in a new and unique way. Love. Life and death. Loyalty. Selflessness.

            City on the Edge of Forever is the perfect jumping off point to explain why Star Trek caught on and became the multi-billion dollar franchise that it is. But in those early days it was writers like Ellison and Robert Bloch (Psycho) and D.C. Fontana that held it all together. My view is that it was one of the first TV shows that placed an emphasis on writing and storytelling. When we think of television today, you can swing a salami and hit two dozen brilliantly written television shows. But for those of us who came of age in the 60s and 70s, it wasn’t always that way. Trust me. My Mother the Car anyone? 

            I’m fairly sure, given the enormous amounts of fan fiction for Star Trek and Marvel Comics that I wrote in my youth, that they are one of the pillars that led me becoming a novelist. I could rewrite the ending of a Star Trek episode and change the villain in a Batman story. I learned that it’s the writer that has the control and that was a powerful realization. 

            Today, after forty some books, I still find myself turning to the silver screen for inspiration. Modern Classics like The Wire and Justified have carried the torch forward from the sixties and the show with the men in the tiny rubber suits. And during long writing sessions, when things start to bog down, when I feel the dialogue is getting stale, I’ll turn to YouTube and listen (listen NOT watch) clips of some of my most favorite scenes and the dialogue that creates them. 

            That’s the great thing about writing. We all have our secrets and our techniques to get the words down. Whether inspiration is from other  formats, other writers, music, art or whatever inspires you. There is no right or wrong way. 

Even aliens in rubber suits can inspire you to boldy go where no one has gone before. 

Thanks for all your advice, Michael. You can find Michael at michaelspradlin.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.  

Giveaway Details 

Michael’s publisher is generously offering a paperback of The Spider Strikes for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by February 28th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Michael. on his social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.  

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, February 23, I have an interview with Christyne Morrell and a giveaway of her MG The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite 

Wednesday, February 25, I have an agent spotlight with Renee Runge and a query critique giveaway 

Sunday, March 1, I’m participating in the Lady Luck Giveaway Hop 

Monday, March 2, I have a guest post by Donna Galanti and a giveaway of her MG The Secret Winners Club 

Wednesday, March 4, I have an interview with Stacey Lee and a giveaway of her YA Heiress of Nowhere 

Monday, March 9, I have an interview with Ciera Burch and a giveaway of her MG Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away 

Wednesday, March 11, I have an agent spotlight interview with Lindsey Aduskevich and a query critique giveaway

Monday, March 16, I’m participating in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop 

I hope to see you on Monday!