Archive for the 'Writing Movements' Category

May 19, 2008 | Book One, Book Stuff, DA Series, Draven Atreides, Life in General, Movie Queue, The 4-1-1 on Me, Writing Movements

Saturday morning, I had a business breakfast with my BF (she also happens to be my business partner as well). We’re trying to come up with ideas for the book release party next year. She’s a great marketing person because she makes me think. What’s the purpose? Who’s your target audience? What’s the draw? Why are these teens going to come and see you? Basically, I have to get out there more. She’s been telling me this forever and I keep saying, “Yeah, I know.” In my rose-colored world, I would just write the books and have someone else promote them. Radio interview? Let me know what time. Book signing? Tell me where to go. Simple. Talk in front of an auditorium full of people? Ahem. Yeah. Uh. I’ll get back to you on that.

But it’s not that simple. Unfortunately.

I’ve got some research to do but she came up with great ideas, though.

After breakfast, we parted ways and I went to see Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

If you’ve seen the trailers for this then you know they’ve been saying “it’s better than the first.” Rarely are sequels better than the first, but for once I have to agree with the critics. It’s been only a year for Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter, but it’s been 1300 for Narnia. A lot has changed since the first movie. The children have grown up—literally and figuratively—and Narnia is now in the tight-fisted clutches of an evil ruler, Miraz. The young Prince Caspian is next in line to rule…until his uncle’s wife bears a son. Caspian is forced to flee to the forest, but not before his tutor gives him a special horn, who instructs him to use it only when he’s in “dire straits”.

It seems like these children are always fighting for something—mostly Narnia, sometimes Aslan—and it’s not the rinky-dink bike-racks-at-3pm kind of fights, either. They’re serious battles. These children are leading armies and fighting armies, wielding swords and slinging arrows (except Lucy, of course) like they were born to it. Peter shows major balls by challenging Miraz to a fight to the death. To the death, people. This is a boy of 15? 16? fighting a full-grown man, in full armor, with sword, to the death. How brave is that? In the first movie, they ruled Narnia for a while. We saw them become adults…until they found the wardrobe again and became children. Again. When Prince Caspian realized who he summoned when he blew the horn, he said “I thought you’d be…older.” I couldn’t help but think the same thing. I don’t understand they didn’t become older when they arrived in Narnia.

Besides the whole Davy and Goliath analogy going on this movie, I liked the message they were sending out even more: kids can change the world. They’re braver and stronger than people realize and if they want it bad enough, they can be the change they want to see in the world. When I was younger, and I was reading this series, it was pure entertainment for me. Seeing the movie adaptation of the books is still pure entertainment for me.

From a writer’s perspective, I’m more aware now of underlying themes, but I’m reminded yet again why I love to write: pure entertainment. And if you pick up anything else along the way, that’s cool, too.

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Technorati Tags: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

May 12, 2008 | Book One, Book Stuff, DA Series, Draven Atreides, Family Portrait, Life in General, Movie Queue, Revision Hell, The 4-1-1 on Me, Weekend Wrap-Up, Writing Movements

I hope you all had a great Mother’s Day. Both mothers and non-mothers alike. Friday night, I went with my parents to see my niece’s 5 minute Film Shorts Festival. 100 scripts had been submitted, they’d narrowed it down to 20, and hers had won first place! I’m so proud of her and she did such a great job. As a writer, we’re constantly asked of any similarities between us and our characters. I can honestly say that when her play, “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”, was being acted out, I could picture her saying some of those lines:

“I said sip it, not inhale it.”

It was very funny and I laughed hysterically during one play titled “My Son Johnny.” And my throat got tight during another, “45th Infantry.” That one hit close to home because I’m sure there were some people in the audience that had family members over in Iraq. All of the plays were written by the students and directed by the students. During the time my niece went to this school, I made sure that I caught all of her performances and it never ceases to amaze me how talented these teens are. She’s graduating next month and plans to spend the summer in California with one of her father’s cousins, who makes commercials. Maybe something will come up and she’ll get a break. I may be biased, but my niece is super talented.

Saturday, I “stimulated” the economy by spending my half of the check we got back from the IRS. I bought a couple of sundresses on sale at Old Navy, bought Mother’s Day gifts for my Mom ($25 Bucca di Beppo GC), sister (Prosperity Pie by SARK…which it turns out she already has a copy.) and co-worker ($20 Old navy GC). Bought a birthday gift (drawing pad and colored pencils) for said co-worker’s 8 yr old daughter. She celebrated her birthday yesterday. Ate breakfast at my favorite place, The Original Pancake House, and went to see a movie (Speed Racer). I’ll get to the little movie review in a minute, but I also did some research for the DA Book One.

A local resort spa was the inspiration behind the spa in the current story and I’m at a certain point in my revisions where I needed a visual of a home that can be rented. A really pricey rental home. I called down there the day before to see if I could take a tour and was given permission. Needless to say, the pictures on the website didn’t do it justice. Seeing it in person was pretty cool. I’m so glad I was able to see it because it was just what I needed. Normally, I would’ve post the link and let you guys have a look-see, too, but that will come later. I’m going to have a website created for the series some time in August and when I give a little back story about each book, I plan to include the local places that inspired me: mostly links, but hopefully some pictures, too.

So, the whole Speed Racer thing… (more…)

Technorati Tags: Old Navy, Bucca di Beppo, Prosperity Pie, SARK, The Original Pancake House, Speed Racer

May 1, 2008 | Book Stuff, Life in General, The 4-1-1 on Me, Writing Movements

~ You put the wrong lock on your laptop carrying case and don’t know it until you’re at work and want to work on revisions during lunch so you go home during lunch hour and spend a good portion of your lunch hour using a butcher knife to cut your laptop out and end up opening a drawer and finding the lock you shouldve used…AND YOU WANT TO BREAK A WINDOW.

~ You’re home in the evening typing up handwritten revision pages only to realize that you’ve somehow misplaced 5 pages from Chapter 5 and you “oh god, where could they be?” “how could I have-” “they should be right here in this binder or in these two notebooks” “I’m so #@$%#$ed” and search thru garbage then look thru the binder again only to discover that you accidentally put them in the new Chapter 6 and you get a hug from your hubby…AND YOU WANT TO BREAK A WINDOW.

Welcome to my life.

Rinda, I think we need a T-shirt. Something with the words “writer” and “PMS” in them. kthanks.

April 28, 2008 | Book One, Book Stuff, DA Series, Draven Atreides, Life in General, Revision Hell, Writing Movements

Still going well. I got 15 handwritten pages in this week. It may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it’s revisions. As I mentioned in my last report, I can still use some of the previous material.

There’s going to be a “special announcement” on May 2nd regarding this book. It was an idea I read about and thought would be a great way to generate interest in the book–as well as the series. So, I’m stealing it. LOL.

Stop by my place this Friday to find out what the big news is.

April 28, 2008 | Family Portrait, Life in General, Movie Queue, The 4-1-1 on Me, Writing Movements

On Saturday, I participated in the Laveen Boutique at Thomas Jefferson High School (which I found out is a charter school). We saw very little traffic at this event, but my parents showed up and one of coworkers did, too. Again, it was a case of buying from each other. I’ve started to think that even if I don’t make a sale (I sold two books and a keychain), it’s all about exposure and networking:

~ I had a gift custom made for my niece who’s graduating from high school in June.

~ I found an interesting toy for my cat. Which can also be used as a baby toy.

~ I found a new “cleaner burning candle” with a great scent: Heart of the Ocean. I plan to contact this rep and get the Fresh Laundry. I’m a sucker for ocean/rain/clean scented candles. I LOVE her last name. I didn’t realize it said that until I got home and looked through my goodie bag of business cards and flyers.

~ I connected with a vendor who’s products would make great party favors for the DA book release party next year.

~ I met an woman who works for the Board of Education. She teaches all the teachers before sending them out to the schools. Thanks to her, I might have an “in” when it comes to doing school visits.

See? It wasn’t a total waste of time. I have another boutique this weekend at another school. We’ll see what kind of connections I can make at this one.

Saturday night, the hubby and I had Date Night: dinner at the Macaroni Grill (their tiramisu wasn’t as impressive this time. Although you get a bigger portion than you do at Olive Garden) and off to see The Forbidden Kingdom:

It’s about an American teen who is transported back in time to ancient China, where he joins a crew of warriors to help free the king. For the record, the hubby and I are big martial arts fans. Before I met him, he got a chance to train at the Shaolin Temple in China for 3 weeks. Any movie that has Jet Li, Jason Statham, or the main plot surrounds martial arts, we’re SO there. While we’re not real keen on Jackie Chan (his stuff seems so cheesy), we’re fans of Jet Li, so we wanted to see it. It wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be. But it was Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Together. In the same movie. For the first time. Ever. It was like a momumental occasion or something, so we had to see it. There was some wire work (like in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) but it wan’t overdone.

Then on Sunday, while the hubby was male-bonding with his BF, I went to see Nim’s Island.

I thought it was a real cute movie. Kinda like Swiss Family Robinson, but not with so many family members. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Jodie Foster in a movie and surprisingly enough, she’s got a funny side. In this movie, she plays bestselling author–and slight agoraphobic–Alexandra “Alex” Rover, who writes Indiana Jones-type novels involving a male character that bears the same name as her: Alex Rover. Gerard Butler does double duty as Nim’s father and the character Alex Rover. I love his accent (which he uses while he’s portraying the novel character). I loved him even more when he was half-naked in 300. Whew, is it getting hot in here?….

So, that was my weekend. Short but sweet. How was yours?

Technorati Tags: Laveen Boutique, Thomas Jefferson High School, Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, The Forbidden Kingdom, Shaolin Temple, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Jackie Chan, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Nim’s Island, Swiss Family Robinson, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, 300.