Sunday, April 29, 2012

First Draft of Soul Forge (Working Title) Underway

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Today I began the actual writing of the next (third) novel in the First Civilization's Legacy series. Although not one of my first lines has ever remained 100% intact beyond the first draft, here's the start of Soul Forge (working title):


I’d seen men asleep, and I’d witnessed my share of soldiers, unconscious and dying. For some reason I recognized the young enchantress lying before me hung somewhere in between.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Voices of Fiction - From Idea to First Draft - Part Two at Footsteps of a Writer

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My contribution to "From Idea to First Draft" is featured at Cher Green's Blog today.

If you want to know how writers (or other writers if you are one) approach this issue, click on over.

Don't hesitate to add your two cents in the comments.

Link: Footsteps of a Writer
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Monday, April 23, 2012

Lilly of Flank Hawk and Enola of Waterworld

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While I was grading the objective question section of quizzes last night, I also had on in the background Waterworld. Yes, that 1995 post-apocalyptic SF film staring Kevin Costner.

While watching the film, it struck me that the little girl, Enola (played by Tina Majorino), was just like Lilly (from my novel Flank Hawk) would've been as a child--spunky attitude and willingness to express her opinion (except Lilly obviously could swim).

Lilly from the cover of Flank Hawk

Enola (Tina Majorino) from Waterworld



Tina Majorino at about Lilly's Age
While there are some physical similarities, it's really the character attitude, actions and interactions in Waterworld that I found to be what I'd have imagined Lilly as a child.

Although I couldn't find clips of the several specific scenes that would best demonstrate my point, here's one that may remind you a bit if you've seen the movie.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Highlander: The Last Scene of the Series

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Highlander is a televsion series I enjoyed. Actually, the previous school year I re-watched it while grading papers (mundane stuff like objective questions for context clues). I thought the wrap-up scene was pretty well done. Of course, I enjoyed the song, Bonny Portmore, sung by Loreena McKennitt, and the scenes  depitcted did a solid job of spanning the entire series in just a few minutes. There's some things they missed, like MacCleod's Doctor Girlfriend, Anne Lindsey.






I alwasy felt that if Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen) was in the episode, it was an interesting one.
Amanda and Duncan

  If you don't know what the series is about, well, it's about immortals who can only be killed if someone takes their head (usually another immortal via sword) until there is only one left at the end (of the Gathering). There's a lot more to it, but you'll just have to watch a few episodes to understand.

It's based on the original Highlander movie starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, which iis an excellent film.

Ramirez and Connor MacLeod


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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Ohioana Book Festival 2012

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In addition to meeting readers and signing books at the Ohionana Book Festival I'll also be a panelist for Fantasy and Science Fiction: A Writer's Roundtable from 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm. Also participating will be authors Cinda Williams Chima, Yvonne Anderson, J. Kelley Anderson, Lucy A. Snyder, and Denise C. Verrico.

The 2012 Ohioana Book Festival is being held:
Saturday, May 12th from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm at the

Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center
546 Jack Gibbs Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Hope to see some of you there!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Memorable/Effective Movie Opening

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Don't know how many who visit my blog have seen Adventures in Babysitting, but I am guessing more than a few. For my money, this is one of the more catchy and memorable openings--a solid song by the Cyrstals, and Elizabeth Shue performing. (Has anyone ever read the titlework/credits during the opening scene?)



It's just a fun movie. Don't foundations save important or relevant films of certain eras? I'd vote for this one for the 1980s.
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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Flank Hawk Audiobook Trailer Released

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Here's a trailer I put together for the audio book version of Flank Hawk.
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Friday, April 6, 2012

A Memory: Thurman Munson

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I remember back as a kid sitting on the living room floor in front of the TV next to my dad watching baseball. My dad was a Yankees fan, and thus, so was I. My childhood sports hero was Thurman Munson, catcher for the NY Yankees. I still remember the August day when I heard on the radio that he'd died in a plane crash.

I remember him as a tough, fair-minded, never-give-up player. I kind of wonder how he'd fit into or look at the Major League today.

I've included below a portion of a program that talks about Munson. Wish there were more athletes out there like him.