Curiosity
Curiosity is published!!!!!!!
I’m very excited to announce that Curiosity, my second novel, is now available on lulu.com as a paperback POD or as an ebook. The link to learn more, and purchase if you wish, is my lulu.com author spotlight at:
http://lulu.com/spotlight/helenvalentina
As I’ve blogged about before, Curiosity is very different from my first novel, The Seed. The first novel was a passionate, heavy, introspective, character driven dark romance. Curiosity is lighter, though the humor is dark. It’s a satire of aspects of our modern media age.
Curiosity tells the story of a (somewhat) benign sociopath – Peter Graham – who believes the world has already ended and no-one noticed. He believes at the moment the world dissolved into the current state of chaos and meaninglessness, everyone had one essential characteristic remaining to them. His is curiosity. And his curiosity drives him to do something which inadvertently makes him one of the most comprehensively mis-understood ‘heroes’ of the modern media world. What follows from that is satire about the media, politics, bureaucracy, public policy and the internet.
One of the key elements of Curiosity is excerpts from Peter’s journal where he chronicles his ‘proofs’ that the world has ended. These are the things we might notice about our deconstructed world if we really thought about it – things that suggest that life as we thought we knew it is no longer there.
As part of blogging promotion for this novel I’m going to write a few more proofs – not the ones from the book (you’ll have to read it for those!! 😉 ) but to give the idea of his thesis.
What I’m hoping is you might respond – in comments or on your own blogs – with proofs of your own, if this inspires such thought. 🙂
So, to get things rolling, here’s a couple of proofs that the world has ended and nobody noticed:
Proof That The World Has Ended: Unemployment Statistics
This is a cunning proof that implies there are actual figures for actual levels of unemployment that actually mean something. Of course, nothing can really mean anything in a non-existent world, but we hold on to the chimera that suggests it can, and things like employment – given they determine how much money we have to spend and the life we want to enjoy – cause great anxiety. And because of that, they also have significant implications for whatever political party governs us.
So governments and the recruitment industry create the ‘story’ of figures. It’s one part government statistics, one part the number of jobs advertised, one part how many people actually line up for employment benefits, and one part sugar and spice.
Because the statistics lie – ALL statistics lie – the number of jobs mean nothing. One job may be advertised by a number of recruitment agencies, some jobs aren’t even real and are advertised to get resumes to recruitment firms, and some are just fishing expeditions or quasi promotion from businesses wanting to imply they are growing in comparison to competitors. And as for those collecting employment benefits, depending on the country you are in, there are limits to timing, to level of personal assets and so forth that also limit the numbers.
So when you put all that in the melting pot and come out with a figure, it essentially means…nothing.
Which is entirely appropriate for a world that no longer exists. But it is cunning as I said because it suggests one still actually does, that we can work productively in it and that we can actually really measure anything. All of which is a lie.
No wonder they say ‘lies, lies and damned statistics’….
- Vanilla Statistics (Photo credit: vanillaforums)
Or another proof, just to illustrate the concept a bit more:
Proof that the World Has Ended: Reality Television
I love the term ‘reality television’. Given that it describes a completely fabricated, scripted ‘reality’ on a medium that is all about distortion and fantasy. The irony inherent in the title is the give away about the proof, but it’s also just wonderful in and of itself.
Reality contests where the voting is rigged or the outcome is manipulated by the judges. Reality ‘voyeurism’ shows where narcissists knowingly let themselves be watched doing things aimed at either keeping them on the show or creating a mini-celebrity for themselves. Dating shows that are designed to bring out the worst in daters, which is hardly the real object of dating one would have thought. Cooking shows that suggest that there really is culinary skill required in the non existent world…..
And we lap them up. They are cheap to make and we watch them in droves. We know they aren’t real, and underneath we are quite content because we really know, in our souls, that nothing is real anymore.
So reality television is exactly what is says it is – in a way it isn’t ironic at all – it shows us, day by day, show by show, what the ‘reality’ of the world now is – ie, that there is no reality in the world anymore. None at all.
- English: This is a production sound mixer Lance Lundstrom in action. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So that’s just a couple to give the idea. I do hope this inspires some – whether it just be examples without explanation in comments, or something longer.
So if this seems like fun please join in. 🙂 I’ll post more on and off over the next few weeks/months, so feel free to join in whenever you like.
Cheers, and stay curious!! 😉
Helen V
helenvalentina 
Congratulations! This is totally unreal….and published all while nobody noticed! You sneaky thing you. i knew it was coming, but this was quick 🙂
Yes, lulu.com are very quick when it comes to publishing etc and do a fabulous job. I’m still working with them on some video media to promote The Seed, so that’s a slower process, and I’m waiting to see how that goes before I commit to do such activity for Curiosity.
Is your POD getting any closer? I check semi-regularly on your blog in the hope I can head over to Amazon to order… 🙂
It still isn’t quite ready. I have another manuscript edit since the final print copy was sent. So that may take a few more days. They are so very slow when it comes to back and forth correspondence.
I feel for you – that is so frustrating! And I’m so looking forward to getting my copy, but I am sure my impatience is small compared to what yours must be!! Fingers crossed it is almost ready now!! 🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on mybrandofgenius and commented:
new Book on the market! “Curiosity” by Helen Valentina, her second book 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere and commented:
Helen Velentina has published her second book ‘Curiosity’. Congratulate her and give it a look.
Thank you!! 🙂
Reblogged this on Year 'Round Thanksgiving Project.
Thank you!! 🙂
Reblogged this on howanxious and commented:
Latest publication of Helen Valentina…
Thank you!! 🙂
That is great news. Congratulations! 🙂
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on Rambles, writing and amusing musings and commented:
I can’t wait to read it!
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
Nothing is real any more! I love that line. Will definitely have a read of your new book, very much looking forward to it after that brilliant, biting post.
Proof that the world has ended… perhaps a general loss of meaning in our lives, the way people openly desire an ending. The proliferation of zombie fiction is, to me, a sign of this. We desire an end of ourselves. But perhaps we always have. Humanity loves to play on the knife’s edge.
Thank you – yes, those are great proofs!! Zombie fiction is definitely a sign – I think the authors know something we don’t, LOL! Thanks so much for commenting and joining in!! 🙂 🙂
No worries. Thanks for providing such an interesting post.
Bought both of your books. The e-pub files aren’t quite as friendly as the Kindle files. Although there is certainly a good variety of apps to open e-pub files. Do you have any one in particular you recommend using?
Sorry, I have no idea. I’m a bit technically challenged at times. Thank you so much for your support… I hope someone can help with the ebook file for you. Let me know how it goes. 🙂
🙂 I downloaded Abode Digital Editions. It looks good and seems fairly straightforward to use.
Now to read!
🙂 Hope you enjoy them – they are both very different. 🙂
Ha ha! Thank you 🙂
Congratulations Helen this is very exciting for you. I hope to have a read soon.
Thanks so much Michael!! 🙂 🙂
Congrats, Helen….
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
Congrats Helen! I love this whole idea it is absolutely fascinating!
Thanks so much, it was fun to write!! 🙂 🙂
I am so thrilled for you, Helen!!! I honestly do not know how you do it. You truly are gifted. I am so proud of you, Sis!! The Seed is so amazing; I cannot wait to see what you have done now!! Reblogging and buying!! Lol. Congratulations hugs!!
Thanks so much dear Skye! 🙂 🙂 xxxx
Reblogged this on The Sanctuary of My Heart and commented:
My amazing friend, Helen, has done it again!!! Please check out her information regarding her second book!!!! It is a fascinating concept!! The Seed, her first, is a great book that I am in the process of reading. It will not let you down either!! Congratulations, Helen!!!!! I am so proud of you!!
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
So Very well done Helen…Congrats! 🙂
Thanks so much Kev!! 🙂 🙂
Congratulations! 😀
Thank you!! 🙂 🙂
Congrats on your second book pub! That’s very exciting. 🙂
Yes, I am very excited about it! Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
Congratulations!
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
Congrats. Sounds like a good premise. Hoping to check it out.
Thanks so much – if you do I hope you enjoy it!! 🙂 🙂
Congratulations, Helen! Curiosity sounds like a great read, quite topical. Perhaps after reading it, we will start to wonder if the world has really come to an end (and, yes, sometimes I already think it has) 🙂
LOL, thank you – yes, perhaps my protagonist is right…when you start thinking up proofs you really start to think there may be something in the theory…LOL!! thanks!! 🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on 1WriteWay and commented:
Helen Valentina, author of The Seed, has just published a new novel called Curiosity through Lulu.com. Click the link for more info!
Thanks so much for the reblog, so much appreciated!! 🙂
I of course will read it! 🙂 Congratulations!
Thanks so much, your support is very appreciated!! 🙂 🙂
The philosophy guiding this sounds very new-age and sophisticated. Reminds me of the perfect crime, a philosophy book by Jean Baudrillard. Congrats on getting your second novel published.
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on Green Embers and commented:
Woohoo! Check it out!!!!
Thanks so much Bradley!! 🙂 🙂
You’re welcome! 😀
Hey there – I have a proof…. http://solothefirst.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/curiosity-proof-the-world-no-longer-exists/ I hope Peter would agree?
That is a seriously cool proof my friend, I hope everyone clicks the link to go and see your proof. 🙂 🙂
Thanks so much, I hope they do too… hey… would that then be another proof? haha
Could well be…. 🙂
Can I ask who the cover artist for Curiosity is? Because that illustration is amazing!
It is, isn’t it? Lulu.com did the artwork based on ideas I had. I think they have sources of stock imagery but they are very good at finding the right image to fit your ideas. 🙂
Congratulations, Helen.
Thanks so much!! 🙂 🙂
Congrats on the new book!
Thank you!! 🙂 🙂
Congrats! Wish you all the success in the world.