tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91810252898475561532024-03-14T05:52:44.198-04:00ColdFireTera's JournalTera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-24788870059144908312023-09-25T12:20:00.000-04:002023-09-25T12:20:32.396-04:00Come Monday...<p style="text-align: left;">Ya'll...I cannot believe it has been since 2016 since I've posted a blog...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Real life can sometimes really mess ya up. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;">So Jimmy Buffet passed away on Sept 1st. And it's taken me this long to figure out what I wanted to say about him/his music. I decided I had to write a little bit about his songs and what they mean to me just to get it out of my head. (and maybe make it so I didn't tear up everytime one of these came on.)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I am pretty sure that my first introduction to Jimmy was "Come Monday" because it was one his songs that played on the country stations when I was growing up. There was something about the optimism in that song that I just fell in love with. And there is a bit of irony in that it is off his 1974 album (which is the year I was born).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">The next song that impacted my life significantly was "A Pirate Looks at Forty" - way back when, we had a pirate re-enactment group (and I was not forty...) - it kind of became our groups theme song. There was just something about that song that just fit with our band of ne'er-do-wells. One of my favorite memories is gathering at Stellarcon one year and singing "A Pirate Looks at Forty" at Klingon Karaoke. I can't even tell you how many years ago that was...and as time has passed I've definitely reached that over-forty victim stage.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">I'm an over-forty victim of fate<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Arriving too late, arriving too late</span></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Book on Shelf is one of my favorites. As a writer I love the references to writing that all throughout the song but I also love the idea of an "all-star cast" of friends who are with you as well as the idea that part of being young is believing young and not being ready to "put the book on the shelf." As I am nearing the half-century mark, "moving and listening and amusing myself" has become something I'm more paying attention to than I did in my 20's. This one reminds me that it's worth doing thing and having those memories. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Ooh, I know these stories were<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">All lived before me<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Still, I got a couple that<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">I'll keep to myself<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">I'm so damn lucky to have an all-star cast<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Some lovely, some crazy<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Who ever thought this would last?<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">You know if I hadn't lived it<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">I'd read it myself<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Tellin' tall tales is still<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Good for my health<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Keep movin' and listenin' and amusin' myself<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">I'm not ready to put the book on the shelf</span></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Without going too deep into it...a few other of my favorite lyrics: </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Oh, yesterday's over my shoulder, so I can't look back for too long/</span></i><i style="font-family: inherit;">There's just too much to see waiting in front of me and I know that I just can't go wrong </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Most mysterious calling harbour<br /></span></i></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">So far but yet so near<br /></span></i></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">I can see the day when my hair's full gray<br /></span></i></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i>And I finally disappear</i> - <i><b>But Not Yet - as he would sing live</b></i> (One Particular Harbor)</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks<br /></span></i></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i>And I learned much from both of their styles </i>(Son of a Son of a Sailor)</span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-style: italic;">I want to be there<br /></span></span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-style: italic;">Want to go back down and lie beside the sea there<br /></span></span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-style: italic;">With a tin cup for a chalice, fill it up with good red wine<br /></span></span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i>And I'm a chewin' on a honeysuckle vine </i>(Tin Cup Chalice) - I have to admit this one took me a while </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">but over time it's become one of my absolute favorites.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">I'd like to go where the pace of life's slow<br /></span></i></span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Could you beam me somewhere, Mister Scott?<br /></span></i></span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge">Any old place here on Earth or in Space<br /></span></i></span></span></span><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="font-family: inherit;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><i>You pick the century and I'll pick the spot</i> (Boat Drinks) - Hello?? Star Trek Reference!!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, we have "Coast of Carolina" off of License to Chill. It's probably not one of his most famous songs but it was one of the most meaningful to me. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">From the bottom of my heart<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Off the coast of Carolina<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">After one or two false starts<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">I believe we found our stride<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">And the walls that won't come down<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">We can decorate or climb or find some way to get around<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge">Cause I'm still on your side<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" jsname="YS01Ge"><i>From the bottom of my hea</i>rt</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">From the Come Monday's reference in the second verse to the chorus which speaks so much to my relationship with my husband, it is one of those songs that I identify with almost as much as Rush's ColdFire.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">I was lucky enough to see Jimmy in concert one year (I have no idea what year.) in what had to have been one of the hottest days in memory. I still remember his coming out and saying "Now that it's cooled down to 99 degrees, let's get this party started" (Or something like that.) It was so hot we barely drank any alcohol (so no Margarita's or Boat Drinks!) and were downing water bottles like crazy. But I am really glad I got to see him once before he passed.<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">One of Jimmy's last songs is Bubbles Up. Now I'm not a scuba diver but there is definitely something about this song that speaks to the challenges we face in our daily lives and that fact that there is always joy and light if we look for it.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Bubbles up<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
They will point us towards home<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
No matter how deep or how far we roam<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
They will show you the surface<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
The plot and the purpose<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
So, when the journey gets long<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
Just know that you are loved<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
There is light up above<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
And joy, there's always enough<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>
Bubbles up</i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So thanks Jimmy for all the music...<i>Bubbles up</i>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><br />
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And I'll try not to let 5+ years go by before I post again. ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-73137397312288276142016-10-12T16:35:00.001-04:002016-10-12T16:35:37.074-04:00Facing the Enemy WithinBy now, most of my readers know that I am a huge Rush fan. From my first introduction to them at Presto to their last tour, I have been an avid listener of their music. Their music has always been something that helps me put words to feelings. From “Cold Fire” to “Roll the Bones”, from “Totem” to “Dreamline,” (go listen!), the lyrics help ground and center me - I keep lines from all of those songs on my desk at work.<br />
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The lyricist of Rush - also their drummer, Neil Peart - has a way with language that I truly admire. And so whenever I find myself faced with a difficult situation or trying to find words to describe what I am feeling, I fall back on Rush.<br />
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A few months ago, I was asked to be a part of #HoldOnToTheLight, a movement of authors designed to bring awareness around treatment for depression, suicide prevention, domestic violence intervention, PTSD initiatives, bullying prevention and other mental health-related issues. As both a sufferer of depression and anxiety and an author, I volunteered to take part.<br />
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And so, as I tried to think of words to talk about how I felt, Rush came to the rescue again, with "The Enemy Within." <br />
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<i>Things crawl in the darkness</i><br />
<i>That imagination spins</i><br />
<i>Needles at your nerve ends</i><br />
<i>Crawl like spiders on your skin</i><br />
<i>Pounding in your temples</i><br />
<i>And a surge of adrenaline</i><br />
<i>Every muscle tense to fence the enemy within</i><br />
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I can't remember the first time I had a panic attack or the first time I felt truly depressed. For me both had been a part of my life for so long that it wasn't until I was speaking with my general practitioner about always feeling tired and stressed, that she started asking questions. And eventually diagnosed me. It's an interesting feeling when you suddenly have words that define a part of you. Anxiety. Depression. That feeling of always being tired, of going through the motions of the day - Depression. Or being faced with a task that seems so daunting, so overwhelming, that it makes your head hurt just thinking about it. Even when the task is as easy as making dinner – Anxiety. <br />
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So after being diagnosed and, to quote a friend, with "better living through chemistry," I find that I am not always tired, or always stressed. It may come in waves - some days are worse than others. But for the most part, since I started taking medicine, my brain has been much more neutral than it was in my high school and college years.<br />
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That being said, medicine isn't a magic cure-all and doesn't work for everyone. I know people who can’t take the same medicines I take because it makes their skin crawl. It took conversations with my Doctor to find the right balance. I also rely on my support system - family and friends when things get to be too much. <br />
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<i>Every breath a static charge</i><br />
<i>A tongue that tastes like tin</i><br />
<i>Steely-eyed outside to hide the enemy within </i><br />
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Now I realize that for a lot of people who know me in person, this may come as a surprise. Because I am frequently seen as the happy, bouncy “Minnie Mouse on Speed.” But one of the things I learned, probably way too early in my life, was that people needed me to be the upbeat one, the one who held it together, the one who could get things done. And so for the longest time, I hid that Enemy Within.<br />
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But I am learning that I can’t be afraid to talk about the fact that I suffer from a mental illness and that medicine helps balance my brain. That balance means I am able to focus on things like writing (and not feel overwhelmed that my writing sucks) or run a con (and not feel like I'm constantly being judged as not good enough). For me, medicine is what helps me feel the world around me but in a good way – not overwhelming or lost.<br />
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For some reason, between work, child, con-running, writing, gaming, cleaning the house, etc - sometimes my life gets a little crazy and I start to feel like the world is crashing in around me - there is too much to do, too much going on, too many feelings, too many of everything. That's when I know it's time for me to take a step back and slow down. It's usually in those moments, that I take a little extra help for my brain, and then find a book or a CD and disappear into another world for a little bit.<br />
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<i>To you, is it movement or is it action?</i><br />
<i>Is it contact or just reaction?</i><br />
<i>And you, revolution or just resistance?</i><br />
<i>Is it living, or just existence?</i><br />
<i>Yeah, you, it takes a little more persistence</i><br />
<i>To get up and go the distance</i><br />
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For me, I have realized that fighting depression and anxiety is a daily thing. Some days I win, sometimes the medicine helps, and sometimes, things are so bad that I really do just want to go hide in my bed and not get up. <br />
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But, one of the things that I realized very early on, was that I wasn't going to let the Enemy Within keep me from doing the things I love - writing, gaming, running cons. <br />
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It can be hard sometimes to remind myself not to listen to the anxiety or depression when I am writing, but I try to keep things in mind like <a href="http://thebloggess.com/2012/09/10/today-and-forever/">Jenny Lawson's</a> “Depression Lies.” And the belief that I can do all the things I want to do with my life, including the implausible dreams.<br />
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<i>I'm not giving in to security under pressure</i><br />
<i>I'm not missing out on the promise of adventure</i><br />
<i>I'm not giving up on implausible dreams</i><br />
<i>Experience to extremes</i><br />
<i>Experience to extremes</i><br />
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About the campaign:<br />
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#HoldOnToTheLight is a blog campaign encompassing blog posts by fantasy and science fiction authors around the world in an effort to raise awareness around treatment for depression, suicide prevention, domestic violence intervention, PTSD initiatives, bullying prevention and other mental health-related issues. We believe fandom should be supportive, welcoming and inclusive, in the long tradition of fandom taking care of its own. We encourage readers and fans to seek the help they or their loved ones need without shame or embarrassment.<br />
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Please consider donating to or volunteering for organizations dedicated to treatment and prevention such as: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hope for the Warriors (PTSD), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Canadian Mental Health Association, MIND (UK), SANE (UK), BeyondBlue (Australia), To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.<br />
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To find out more about #HoldOnToTheLight, find a list of participating authors and blog posts, or reach a media contact, go to http://www.HoldOnToTheLight.com and join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeHoldOnToTheLight<br />
<br />ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-63145669506025122352016-09-12T15:25:00.000-04:002016-09-12T15:25:40.571-04:00Other Authors…and their influence on me!<div class="MsoNormal">
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So one of the things that went around recently was a “name 7 authors who influenced you.” I decided that rather than do it on FB, I’d do it here instead.</div>
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<ol>
<li>Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman – I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles in the 5th grade. Now, 5th grade was one of those formative years for me. I had an amazing teacher who had a passion for literature (we put on Shakespeare’s <i>A MidSummer Night’s Dream</i>, and he would leap on to his desk reciting <i>The Jaborwocky</i>!) but it was also the year my father spent in Korea. So it was a year that had a lot of changes. One of the things I most admire about Weis and Hickman’s writing is their ability to make you care for the characters. From the moment of introduction, I felt a connection to the characters and wanted to follow their adventures. To this day, they still hold the record as the only book I have ever thrown across the room at the wall – when one of the characters died. And I still come to tears when I reread that scene.</li>
<li>Anne McCaffrey – my first introduction to Pern came through the Harper Hall trilogy (<i>Dragonsong, Dragonsinger</i> and <i>Dragondrums</i>). From there I devoured everything in that series I could find. And then expanded into her other novels – the Crystal Singer trilogy still being one of my favorite non-Pern series. I think what I love the best about McCaffrey’s work is that it doesn’t fit genre niches very well. I know I read the Pern stuff as Fantasy for years before I realized it was probably a truly SF series. </li>
<li>The Narnia Series by CS Lewis – Right, so I can’t ignore this series as it was in all honesty my introduction to the genre of SF and Fantasy. I had to read <i>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</i> for school in the 4th grade. I loved it so much that I checked out from our school library the rest of the books and from there got introduced to <i>The Black Cauldron</i> as well. </li>
<li>“Carolyn Keene” and Julie Campbell/“Kathryn Kenny” – ie the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden Mysteries. I was a huge fan of these two mystery series. Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden were very much the brave and impulsive teenager that I always wanted to be. Not that I ever was. It wasn’t until YEARS later that I found out the books were all ghost written by a variety of authors. I think that was one of my first moments of “disillusionment” at the world of writing. </li>
<li>Ray Bradbury – I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Bradbury at DragonCon before he passed and to this day he is one of the authors I aspire to be when it comes to fans. He would sign every book possible even as he was walking out to the car to get to the airport. He talked to every person who walked about to his table. Of course, his stories are influential as well, but I think it was his way of interacting with the fans – he always seemed truly thrilled to interact with someone - that I admired most.</li>
<li>“The Big 3” (Star Wars) – Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston. <i>Heir to the Empire</i> came out when I was still in High School. I don’t know if I stole it from my Parents or if I got it as a gift but I remember devouring it and waiting impatiently for the next two to come out. Zahn managed to capture the essence of the heroes for me – I could hear Harrison’s voice in the words that Han Solo spoke; I could see the looks on Leia’s face when she talked to him. He captured the feel of the movie and put it into words. Stackpole and Allston then introduced me to a whole new world of characters in the Rogue Squadron. Characters with personality and history and while a lot of them were never part of the movies, you felt that they could have been. They captured that “Star Wars” feel in their writing. And while it was there SW books that introduced me to them, I think it is some of their non – SW stuff that has been most influential. Zahn writes amazing SF Mysteries – where by the time you finish the story you can go back and see where all the clues were. Stackpole’s fantasy worlds are rich and detailed – and like no one else’s. And Aaron Allston – Aaron’s sense of humor comes through in everything I’ve ever read. And it this point, more than anything, I consider them friends as well as influences.</li>
<li>The Con Writers – there are a bunch of writers who I met because I run conventions. And whether it’s their stories or just their personalities or their way of doing everything (Gail Martin!), I have found myself influenced by them over the years. So here’s a quick list:</li>
<ul>
<li>Val Griswold-Ford – bought my very first story!</li>
<li>Michael Ventrella – invited me to write in his world!</li>
<li>Janine Spendlove - overworked mom, marine and inspiration! And invited me to the Athena's Daughters Anthology which was an amazing experience!</li>
<li>Gail Martin – OMG, she is so organized, and writes, and does social media and does so many other things…</li>
<li>Misty Massey – who is a pirate at heart, (yarrgh!) and unfailingly kind.</li>
<li>Faith Hunter and David Coe – Two authors whose works I admire but more than that they “pass it on” – incredibly encouraging to new authors and always willing to share via blog posts or panels writing advice.</li>
<li>Edmund Shubert, Stuart Jaffe, Stephen Mark Rainey – “con authors” who are great panelists and great authors as well as always encouraging to new authors. Stuart to this day asks me where I am on my novel every con he sees me</li>
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<li>I know I’m supposed to stop at 7 but here are a few more influences. Looking around my bookshelves, they are filled with lots of books that in same way influenced my writing.</li>
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<li>Kathryn Kurtz – her ability to merge history and fantasy is amazing.</li>
<li>Niomi Novak - her alternate history is a wonderful take on dragons!</li>
<li>Jack L. Chalker and Joel Rosenberg – I love their takes on taking normal folks to new worlds.</li>
<li>Simon Hawke – Simon’s series were so much fun and a light hearted take on Fantasy and SF.</li>
<li>Mercedes Lackey – Valdemar is one of my favorite worlds to visit regularly. She was also one of the first authors who wrote about LGBT characters in way that made it seem like it was just part of the world and I loved that! </li>
<li>Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, Jim Butcher – author’s whose storylines cross from book to book and whose series’ I eagerly anticipate(d) each new volume. </li>
<li>JRR Tolkien – yeah… well, come on.</li>
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ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-59290028569557844452016-08-07T18:47:00.000-04:002016-08-07T18:47:07.759-04:00Good afternoon my friends.<br />
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I am trying (again) to get back to writing on my blog more regularly. The biggest challenge for me in blogging is that once the con is over, any free time I have I want to spend writing. And the blog isn't (for me) true writing. <br />
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I know that blogging is one of the ways to increase my audience but since I actually don't have anything new published this year, I'm not sure how much audience drawing I want to do - unless maybe draw people to the con.<br />
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<a href="http://www.con-gregate.com/">www.con-gregate.com</a><br />
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Writing-wise - my biggest goal for the rest of the year is to finish the edits on the Steampunk novel so that I can get it to the editor for editing. <br />
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I do have two short stories in process that I'm playing with - both actually using the main characters from the Steampunk novel. One I am hoping to finish for the Second Open Call for Weird Wild West. Another one is a ghost story that I've been playing with but I don't have a place to send it.<br />
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Of course, the catch to both of those, is that I need to finish them. I also have a story sitting with Michael Ventrella's Fortannis series but I'm not sure exactly which next anthology that's due to be in.<br />
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I also really want to put together a Sherlock story for Mocha Memoirs anthology. <br />
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Anyway, I'm going to try to write more often. Even it's more personal and less writing.<br />
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<br />ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-36974649171911412812015-11-23T11:38:00.002-05:002015-11-23T11:38:49.793-05:00Special Guest Post: Interview for "An Improbable Truth"Good morning, beloveds!<br />
<br />
I'm back from the craziness that is con-season and with a special guest post today.<br />
<br />
Author Melissa McArthur joins me today to talk about her story in the Sherlock Holmes Anthology "An Improbable Truth," edited by A.C. Thompson and published by Mocha Memoirs Press.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Your Name: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi! I’m Melissa
McArthur. Thanks for having me today. Blog interviews are the best thing ever! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tell us a little about yourself? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b> </b>Starting
with the hardest question, I see. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was born and
raised in Harlan County, KY, but I moved to South Carolina when I was 17. So
I’ve spent about half my life here now. Wow. I didn’t realize that until I’d
typed it out. I do lots of things. I teach college, I work as a freelance
editor, I write twice monthly for Magical Words, I tell stories. I have a large
orange cat named Garfield, but he does not like lasagna. I am utterly
fascinated by books. There’s something just magical about holding them in your
hand and watching as the words disappear and the story unfolds before your
eyes. I hope I can do that for readers. That’s my ultimate goal as a writer: to
create stories that engulf you, change you, scare you, bewilder you, make you
laugh, make you cry. Through stories I hope to reveal a deeper truth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, that got weird
fast. Next question, please?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What made you want to become a writer? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not sure I had
any specific moment or realization that made me want to become a writer. It’s
something I’ve wanted to do as long as I can remember being alive. I’ve always
loved reading, and I had great role models in my parents and my grandmother who
all emphasized the magic and importance of reading, so I suppose it was a
natural progression. Stories float around in my head all day, every day. If I
didn’t get at least some of them down on paper, I think my head might explode.
Well, probably not, but it would certainly feel like it could.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a different
direction, I have focused more on the act of writing than the dream of writing
in the past few years. I have had some really amazing folks who have mentored
me, encouraged me, helped me through the process of publishing, and answered my
(sometimes ridiculous) questions with great grace and patience. I am forever
grateful for them. Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, John Hartness, David B. Coe,
Alexandra Christian, Tamsin Silver, and so many more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Probably the thing
that most solidified that I wanted to make my dream a reality is the wonderful
community of writers that I have met and now call friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>Could you tell us a bit about your story?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My story, “The
Chase,” is about a case that Holmes thinks is really not a case at all, just a
crazy woman with a crazy story. But,
when a young girl starts mysteriously haunting him, leaving wet footprints in
his apartment and speaking to him, he realizes that there may be more to the
case than he first thought. Watson thinks, at least at first, that Holmes has
been using drugs again and has imagined it all. Once the chase begins, they
both realize that this is not a case like any other they’ve solved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What gave you the inspiration for your story? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was working
on my undergraduate degree at Winthrop University, I took a class on the
Neo-Victorian novel. One of the books I read for that class was <i>The Seven Per-Cent Solution</i> by Nicholas
Meyer. Reading that book was the first time that I realized the role drug use
played in Holmes’ stories. I’ve been fascinated ever since. The mystery of it
intrigued me because I began to question the stories entirely. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What aspect of Sherlock did you change or focus on?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I focused on the
idea of perception versus reality and how drugs can blur that line. Or do they?
One thing that I really wanted to show was the questioning that Watson does of
Holmes’s grasp on reality, particularly when Watson realizes that he’s been
using the drugs again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b>The
juxtaposition of illusion and truth is something that I have always found
fascinating.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Are your characters based off real people or did they all
come entirely from your imagination? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sherlock is real, right?
And Watson? Moriarty was definitely real.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b>Otherwise,
no. None of my characters are based on a real person. Actually, unless you
count the dog, there’s really only one other character in my story besides
Holmes and Watson. That character is entirely from my imagination. Thank
goodness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What is your favorite writing tip or quote?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b>I have
to pick just one? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My favorite thing
that has been said directly to me was said to me by David B. Coe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Finish the damn book.” – David B. Coe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My favorite writing
quote in general is actually in my email signature so I see it all the time! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“People think there is something magical about writing, that you go up in
the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a
story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work,
and that’s all there is to it.” – Harlan Ellison<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What else have you published?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have published
three short stories in my <i>Maggie the
Gatherer</i> series: The Weaver’s Fate, The Magician’s Secret, and The Water’s
Edge. The fourth in that series, The Gatherer’s Power, is scheduled to come out
in November. In this series, we find ourselves in a world where magic is
real—but it’s also dangerous, powerful, and finite. Maggie’s job is to gather loose
magic as magic users die and return it safely to the Guides, those ethereal
beings who control and distribute the power to the worthy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a few other
projects in the flux phase as well. Hopefully I can announce those before too
long! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tell us a little about your plans for the future.
Do you have any other stories or books in the works? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, always! I am actively
working on three projects: the planning stages of a short story for an upcoming
anthology, drafting the fourth Maggie story, and working on a novel as well.
The novel is quite different from the paranormal things I usually write. It’s a
mystery with no supernatural things at all! So far…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am also looking
for places with open calls for short story submissions! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Where can we find you online? (please cut and paste
links):<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love the internet,
so I am all over the place! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/melissamcarthurwrites">https://www.facebook.com/melissamcarthurwrites</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/mcarthur_me">https://twitter.com/mcarthur_me</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Web: <a href="http://melissamcarthur.net/">http://melissamcarthur.net/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Goodreads Author
Page: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/melissamcarthurwrites">https://www.goodreads.com/melissamcarthurwrites</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Amazon Author Page: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-McArthur/e/B00UPBGIP0">http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-McArthur/e/B00UPBGIP0</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Smashwords: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/melissamcarthur">https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/melissamcarthur</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Melissa
McArthur grew up in Harlan Co. KY, but now she lives in SC with her husband,
daughter, and fluffy cat, Garfield. She teaches writing at her alma mater and works
as a freelance editor at her company, <a href="http://clickingkeys.com/">Clicking
Keys</a>. She loves writing because she believes that through language we can
create magic in our otherwise mundane world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>From “The Chase” by Melissa McArthur<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Her laughter echoed through the
night; she longed for the chase as much as the detective himself. Holmes jerked
his head to the left and broke into a run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I straightened and tried to
follow him, but he was gone. I ran in the direction he’d headed, stumbling over
fallen branches and ruts in the earth. I cursed the man and the girl. How they
could navigate the night woods was a mystery to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The woods broke and I emerged
from the forest into a clearing, the mist of the night hanging low over the
dead leaves and grass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She waited for us. Hovering in
the center of the clearing, she held her arms out to her sides and threw her
head back as she twirled around, laughing as she spun. Holmes stood near the
center of the clearing, facing me, eyes trained on the ghastly child. Her bare
feet dangled below the hem of her stained cotton gown. Her golden hair fanned
out around her head. She’d allowed him to find her. A twisted game of cat and
mouse where she was both predator and prey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Holmes looked over her shoulder
and found me. His eyes locked onto mine; I knew he had a plan and I wouldn’t
like it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Breaking eye contact, he snapped
his gaze back to the girl and reached out to touch her arm. His hand passed
though without grasping her as she moved far too quickly for him to catch. He
stumbled forward and fell to his knees. Her laughter filled the clearing as she
lowered herself to the ground, once again to look into his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Cursed child. What are you?”
Holmes sat back on his heels, turning his head to the side and looking at her.
She was a puzzle to him, a nightmare to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I am nothing. I am everything. I
am the darkness cloaked in light.” Her singsong voice belied her words, words
shrouded in danger and born of evil. She lowered herself to the ground and
turned to run again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Holmes slumped to his side, the
dried leaves crushed beneath him. “Holmes!” I shouted and ran toward the center
of the clearing. I dropped to my knees beside him and put my fingers to his
throat. He pulse was racing, his breathing shallow and quick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“My left breast pocket. It’s
there.” His words were soft, strained. I felt his coat pocket and pulled out a
small leather case containing a syringe and a cork-topped vial. The seven
percent solution. His only weakness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>BUY LINKS:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;">Mocha
Memoirs: </span></b><a href="http://mochamemoirspress.com/store/"><span style="font-family: "Verdana,","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Verdana\,"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Verdana\,";">http://mochamemoirspress.com/store/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;">Amazon: </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016XGVTS6?keywords=An%20Improbable%20Truth&qid=1445444517&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: "Verdana,","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Verdana\,"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Verdana\,";">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016XGVTS6?keywords=An%20Improbable%20Truth&qid=1445444517&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;">Shortlink: </span><a href="http://goo.gl/7FMUJO"><span style="font-family: "Verdana,","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Verdana\,"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Verdana\,";">http://goo.gl/7FMUJO</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;">B&N: </span></b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-improbable-truth-ac-thompson/1122855374?ean=2940150930056"><span style="font-family: "Verdana,","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Verdana\,"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Verdana\,";">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-improbable-truth-ac-thompson/1122855374?ean=2940150930056</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Verdana,', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-69642297882747301382015-10-04T17:08:00.000-04:002015-10-04T17:08:05.187-04:00Have got find a better way to write regularlySo I have come to the conclusion that writing blog posts is definitely not something I'm good at scheduling.<br />
<br />
::looks askance at the fact her last post was 8 months ago::<br />
<br />
I have been completely slack about writing too. Though i did get some great advice on story from the last con.<br />
<br />
Real work just kind of took over for the last few months.<br />
<br />
I'll be at <a href="http://atomacon.org/">Atomacon</a> in Charleston in November. And of course, we'll be pirating at the Renn Faire but other than that things are quiet until 2016<br />
<br />
I'm working on updating my new planner for 2016 to try to balance work, writing and running programming.<br />
<br />
Somehow I need to create a planner that allows me to track everything.<br />
<br />
Well, I'm off to go work on that. ;)<br />
<br />
<br />ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-28018528627764630922015-02-05T15:46:00.000-05:002015-02-05T15:46:00.986-05:00Frosty VoxBox and InfluensterSo I got my first #VoxBox in the mail right before the holidays. So the basic premise is that by joining Influenster, I get the box for free and then share my thoughts on social media and on my blog. I figured it would be a good way to get my name out there a bit more and perhaps pick up some new followers for the blog. <br />
<br />
The box included: <br />
<br />
Rimmel Gentle Eye Make up Remover ($7.49)<br />
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eye Liner ($4.49)<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NY Expert Last Lip Color</span> in Sugar Plum ($1.99)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea (sample)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Boots #7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum (sample)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Fruit Vines Bites Strawberry ($1.28-$1.79)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Eco Tools Hair Brush ($10.99)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">McCormick Gourmet Thyme ($4.79)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">First up...the NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum...okay first off - I really love the color. It's this pinky brown that looks very natural. It also is very smooth and moist, I really like how it felt. Given the price range, if all of their lipsticks are this nice, I may be switching.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVRvm6AKogyl9lIWLg2fnlVWm2Qv0jj0PdZ9KlssGK48jD_ATVa17iri979hSCzVY8w6kL2yO3n5Ep_WiPxSedKJxCuSsjZh1O6cFKeOuaqMs6J-fxBPfNJwOJA41uCllzDrZpkv-nbM6/s1600/Lipstick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVRvm6AKogyl9lIWLg2fnlVWm2Qv0jj0PdZ9KlssGK48jD_ATVa17iri979hSCzVY8w6kL2yO3n5Ep_WiPxSedKJxCuSsjZh1O6cFKeOuaqMs6J-fxBPfNJwOJA41uCllzDrZpkv-nbM6/s1600/Lipstick.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">Next up I tried Rimmel's Scandaleye's Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eye Liner. Holy Cow does that stuff last. I put it on about 6.45am and it was still on when I took it off at 10pm that night. I can see where it would be great for pirating in the summer! The only downside which I think is a factor of the waterproofness is that it doesn't smudge well. So it's definitely more for defined eyelines.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCggHvmTD_7wKAuTEdAAHbwVNjaUlo77MhhZrP4JBFOldxwUz8O926rgcoT5fzxi7hzvGVvmhkOKeEjqpwKbkv_YmIZfmFsf5geOOre7xIL62gT4Mdd-x0NlN_jenksfjdtOqfRThnAt8Z/s1600/eyeliner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCggHvmTD_7wKAuTEdAAHbwVNjaUlo77MhhZrP4JBFOldxwUz8O926rgcoT5fzxi7hzvGVvmhkOKeEjqpwKbkv_YmIZfmFsf5geOOre7xIL62gT4Mdd-x0NlN_jenksfjdtOqfRThnAt8Z/s1600/eyeliner.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
Next up, I made some broiled porkchops with the McCormick Gourmet Thyme. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I use Thyme frequently in my cooking and so loved having a fresh bottle. The minute you opened the bottle the warm slightly spicy scent fills your nose. The thyme itself is crisp and has a bit of bite. It adds a great flavor to meat without overpowering.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS8dyz1hA6W4DRPNLRsW40V9ZrLsyvkicw_qzAfRzoMuD-LIcWmsAXQ-qcUPEyeIhM2ABUP_6FNmZI1zSfeikqCNghITbrx1m2KwUZqopWCokrJwRsRs7NSsovWk24USPNhv6_Hc7blL-/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS8dyz1hA6W4DRPNLRsW40V9ZrLsyvkicw_qzAfRzoMuD-LIcWmsAXQ-qcUPEyeIhM2ABUP_6FNmZI1zSfeikqCNghITbrx1m2KwUZqopWCokrJwRsRs7NSsovWk24USPNhv6_Hc7blL-/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><br />Next up is the EcoTools Volume Hairbrush. I was a bit unsure about this but it turns out to be really cool. I'm not sure about the whole drys faster thing but I really liked how it dried my hair without getting tangles</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><br /><br />Then the Geeklet and I tried the Fruit Vines Strawberry. They were sweet but honestly not as good as Twizzlers!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><br />Anyway, that's all I've managed to review so far. </span>
Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes.ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-23866104685217029272015-01-09T14:50:00.002-05:002015-01-09T14:50:56.663-05:00At illogicon this weekendSo I'll be hanging out at illogicon this weekend. I've got three panels and then you can pretty much find me at ConGregate's table!<br />
<br />
The panels I'm on are:<br />
<br />
Witches - 10am Saturday<br />
Mother Matron Crone - 5pm Saturday<br />
The Sports Geek - 1pm Sunday<br />
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If you are going to be at the con, stop on by and say hi! (oh, and pre-register for ConGregate!)<br />
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~TColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-39948631836586872332015-01-06T15:38:00.002-05:002015-01-06T15:38:37.042-05:002014 in ReviewSo now that I'm back from spending the holidays in the land of the mouse, crazy a plan as that was, I thought I'd review 2014.<br />
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All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good year. <br />
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Publishing:<br />
<i>"Not Broken, Just Bent"</i> was included in the wildly successful Athena's Daughter's Kickstarter. I was so thrilled to be a part of this project for it's emphasis on women but also have to admit to being thrilled that I got paid a significant amount as compared to my other projects! So woot!<br />
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<i>"The Cellar Door"</i> which was my first try at horror came out in the anthology Dark Fairy Tales Revisited.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tera-Fulbright/e/B00I0A1EWA">http://www.amazon.com/Tera-Fulbright/e/B00I0A1EWA</a></div>
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I have one other story due to be published in 2015 but then unless someone asks me for a story, I think I'm really, really, really, going to concentrate on finishing a bloody novel! <br />
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Cons:<br />
I attended a couple cons: illogiCon, Mysticon, RavenCon, ConCarolinas, and of course, ConGregate. I enjoy attending cons and sitting on panels but it's hard to do that and promote our own convention. So I'm only going as a guest to one con this year: illogiCon coming up this weekend.<br />
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Speaking of Cons - ConGregate is shaping up to be a lot of fun this year with a slew of Star Wars guests. I think folks will really enjoy the con.<br />
<br />
ConGregate: Our first year went off pretty well. We had some minor mishaps mostly related to the hotel itself but folks seemed to have had a good time overall. And that's the goal.<br />
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Costumes: I did try out a few new costumes this year: Jarael - which I need to work on the white make-up, Victoria Hand, and of course, Elsa!<br />
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<br />
Work:<br />
I was hired full-time at the Center for Creative Leadership and am quite happy to be back in HR doing the aspects of it that I love - events and onboarding. <br />
<br />
Pirates: The pirates actually got to do a bit more this year...in addition to our regular trip to Victory Junction, we also got to close out the pirate exhibit at the Greensboro Science Center as well as visit the Geeklet's Kindergarten Class. Of course, we also pirated for the Renn Fair!<br />
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<br />
Travel: In addition to spending the Christmas Holiday in Disney, we took a quick trip to Maryland since both James and I have family up there. I got to see my "Aunt/Uncle" Godparents and Cousin and... eat blue crab!!!<br />
<br />
Family:<br />
Geeklet is doing well in school. She's starting to really enjoy reading, mainly as long as she isn't reading to Mommy. But she's getting good grades and doesn't have any behavior issues so I'm happy there. (She doesn't even get the "talks too much" that I did at her age.) She loves to sing and dance.<br />
James is working hard both at his day job and running ConGregate. As the president and con chair, a lot of the work falls to him. <br />
<br />
Self:<br />
We lost some friends (Aaron - yub, yub Commander!) and some family and some family of friends but we made it through. I'd still like to be healthier but my sanity seems to be doing okay. We game regularly which is a great way to just get away and hang with friends for a couple hours. Oh, did I mention I turned 40?<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's the year 2014 in review!ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-79918264882377853412014-12-17T08:18:00.004-05:002014-12-17T08:18:54.615-05:00Guest Post from Misty Massey<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Today, we have a guest post by the wonderful Misty Massey...</i></div>
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From the high seas to the high plains...<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most people know that I love to play at pirates. I write about them, I dress up like them, I
occasionally talk like them (although it takes a shot or three of rum to get
the accent just right!) In fact, Tera
and I met because of our shared love of the outlaws of the oceans. Pirates are cool.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But gunslingers are pretty cool, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know that real pirates and gunslingers are dangerous
criminals who hurt people for a living (and sometimes just for the entertainment
of it), so that's not the kind I mean.
I'm talking about the kind who live in fantasy stories. Sometimes they're bad guys with hearts of
gold, and sometimes they're badly misused heroes who need to find their way
back to the sun again. But stories about
outlaws, whether in ships or on horseback, are full of thrills, chills and
derring-do. These are characters who
fight through the fear to accomplish whatever they've set their minds to do. Some of the best Western movies are about men
who live on the wrong side of the law – A Fistful of Dollars, The Good, the Bad
and The Ugly, or They Call Me Trinity.
So we have strong characters to begin with...why not throw a little
magic at them and see how they react?
I'm sure the Man With No Name would have liked access to a spell that
made him invulnerable to bullets (would have saved a lot of time at the end of
the movie, don't you think?) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Both the Golden Age of Piracy and the Wild West period were
very short, historically speaking. And
that makes the people of those times even more interesting, since their like
were not around for long. It's much the
same as the idea of magic being wiped out by the Industrial Revolution and its
fondness for cold iron. At the end of a
day of sorting books for transit between libraries, washing clothes, making
beds and cooking dinner, it's refreshing to dive into a story that takes me
away from my mundane life onto a journey across a dusty plain under a hot
sun. I can't be a gunslinger in today's
reality, but I sure can pretend.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We'd love you to join us in backing The Tales of the Weird
Wild West Kickstarter. We have stories
lined up from wonderful authors like Jonathan Maberry, R S Belcher, Tonia
Brown, Diana Pharaoh Francis, John Hartness, Gail Martin, James Tuck, and
me! If we can manage to fund to our
stretch goal amount, we have more great authors lined up for a second volume of
stories – Faith Hunter, Laura Anne Gilman, Devon Monk, Charles Gannon, Nicole
Givens Kurtz, Barb Hendee and more!
There are neat pledge rewards and stretch goals available. And if we manage to fund successfully, we'll
be opening up four submissions to an open call, so you might make it into the
book your own self. But this only
happens if you help us out. Please visit
our Kickstarter page, and make a pledge.
Then go to Facebook and Twitter and tell your friends to pledge,
too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks, y'all! I look
forward to bringing you all sorts of wonderful stories of a West that never
was!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/From%20the%20high%20seas%20to%20the%20high%20plains...%20%20Most%20people%20know%20that%20I%20love%20to%20play%20at%20pirates.%20%20I%20write%20about%20them,%20I%20dress%20up%20like%20them,%20I%20occasionally%20talk%20like%20them%20(although%20it%20takes%20a%20shot%20or%20three%20of%20rum%20to%20get%20the%20accent%20just%20right!)%20%20In%20fact,%20Tera%20and%20I%20met%20because%20of%20our%20shared%20love%20of%20the%20outlaws%20of%20the%20oceans.%20%20Pirates%20are%20cool.%20%20But%20gunslingers%20are%20pretty%20cool,%20too.%20%20%20%20I%20know%20that%20real%20pirates%20and%20gunslingers%20are%20dangerous%20criminals%20who%20hurt%20people%20for%20a%20living%20(and%20sometimes%20just%20for%20the%20entertainment%20of%20it),%20so%20that's%20not%20the%20kind%20I%20mean.%20%20I'm%20talking%20about%20the%20kind%20who%20live%20in%20fantasy%20stories.%20%20Sometimes%20they're%20bad%20guys%20with%20hearts%20of%20gold,%20and%20sometimes%20they're%20badly%20misused%20heroes%20who%20need%20to%20find%20their%20way%20back%20to%20the%20sun%20again.%20%20But%20stories%20about%20outlaws,%20whether%20in%20ships%20or%20on%20horseback,%20are%20full%20of%20thrills,%20chills%20and%20derring-do.%20%20These%20are%20characters%20who%20fight%20through%20the%20fear%20to%20accomplish%20whatever%20they've%20set%20their%20minds%20to%20do.%20%20Some%20of%20the%20best%20Western%20movies%20are%20about%20men%20who%20live%20on%20the%20wrong%20side%20of%20the%20law%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Fistful%20of%20Dollars,%20The%20Good,%20the%20Bad%20and%20The%20Ugly,%20or%20They%20Call%20Me%20Trinity.%20%20So%20we%20have%20strong%20characters%20to%20begin%20with...why%20not%20throw%20a%20little%20magic%20at%20them%20and%20see%20how%20they%20react?%20%20I%27m%20sure%20the%20Man%20With%20No%20Name%20would%20have%20liked%20access%20to%20a%20spell%20that%20made%20him%20invulnerable%20to%20bullets%20(would%20have%20saved%20a%20lot%20of%20time%20at%20the%20end%20of%20the%20movie,%20don%27t%20you%20think?)%20%20%20%20Both%20the%20Golden%20Age%20of%20Piracy%20and%20the%20Wild%20West%20period%20were%20very%20short,%20historically%20speaking.%20%20And%20that%20makes%20the%20people%20of%20those%20times%20even%20more%20interesting,%20since%20their%20like%20were%20not%20around%20for%20long.%20%20It%27s%20much%20the%20same%20as%20the%20idea%20of%20magic%20being%20wiped%20out%20by%20the%20Industrial%20Revolution%20and%20its%20fondness%20for%20cold%20iron.%20%20At%20the%20end%20of%20a%20day%20of%20sorting%20books%20for%20transit%20between%20libraries,%20washing%20clothes,%20making%20beds%20and%20cooking%20dinner,%20it%27s%20refreshing%20to%20dive%20into%20a%20story%20that%20takes%20me%20away%20from%20my%20mundane%20life%20onto%20a%20journey%20across%20a%20dusty%20plain%20under%20a%20hot%20sun.%20%20I%20can%27t%20be%20a%20gunslinger%20in%20today%27s%20reality,%20but%20I%20sure%20can%20pretend.%20%20We%27d%20love%20you%20to%20join%20us%20in%20backing%20The%20Tales%20of%20the%20Weird%20Wild%20West%20Kickstarter.%20%20We%20have%20stories%20lined%20up%20from%20wonderful%20authors%20like%20Jonathan%20Maberry,%20R%20S%20Belcher,%20Tonia%20Brown,%20Diana%20Pharaoh%20Francis,%20John%20Hartness,%20Gail%20Martin,%20James%20Tuck,%20and%20me!%20%20If%20we%20can%20manage%20to%20fund%20to%20our%20stretch%20goal%20amount,%20we%20have%20more%20great%20authors%20lined%20up%20for%20a%20second%20volume%20of%20stories%20%E2%80%93%20Faith%20Hunter,%20Laura%20Anne%20Gilman,%20Devon%20Monk,%20Charles%20Gannon,%20Nicole%20Givens%20Kurtz,%20Barb%20Hendee%20and%20more!%20%20There%20are%20neat%20pledge%20rewards%20and%20stretch%20goals%20available.%20%20And%20if%20we%20manage%20to%20fund%20successfully,%20we%27ll%20be%20opening%20up%20four%20submissions%20to%20an%20open%20call,%20so%20you%20might%20make%20it%20into%20the%20book%20your%20own%20self.%20%20But%20this%20only%20happens%20if%20you%20help%20us%20out.%20%20Please%20visit%20our%20Kickstarter%20page,%20and%20make%20a%20pledge.%20%20Then%20go%20to%20Facebook%20and%20Twitter%20and%20tell%20your%20friends%20to%20pledge,%20too.%20%20%20%20Thanks,%20y%27all!%20%20I%20look%20forward%20to%20bringing%20you%20all%20sorts%20of%20wonderful%20stories%20of%20a%20West%20that%20never%20was!%20%20%20https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dackley-mcphail/tales-of-the-weird-wild-west"> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dackley-mcphail/tales-of-the-weird-wild-west</a><o:p></o:p></div>
ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-84781729592827326332014-10-26T12:04:00.000-04:002014-10-26T12:09:32.710-04:00NaNoWriMo 2014<div class="Publishwithline">
So it should come as no surprise, but I’m going to do
NaNoWriMo again this year. I don’t know
what it is about the month of November and writing…perhaps it is the camaraderie
that comes from so many people struggling with the same issues.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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My goal is to finish “The Devil Drives a Porshe.” – I’ve got
the basic bones of the story plotted out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And of course, I have a good start (50K words) from last year’s
NaNoWriMo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know technically we’re
supposed to start fresh, but I really want to concentrate on this story in
particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been rattling around in
my head for several years now and I really, really want to get it finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Besides, I’ve got an editor on retainer and I’d really like
to hand her something!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I’ve done a couple things that I think will help, I’ve
plotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Which is really not something I do.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted it’s a very
rough plot and I fully expect things to change as I start writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also blocked time to write in my
calendar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially my work one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other thing I’ve been working on is organizing my 2015
schedule and plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying to find a
way to “block” writing into my day on a regular basis (along with all those other "life things" like dinners, exercise (hah!), etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I’m not a morning person so there is no way I’m
getting up earlier to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunch is usually
spent running errands so that pretty much leaves me evenings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of which I can definitely write – those days
the Geeklet is at Choir and Dance, for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the other evenings that I struggle with
writing time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like being able to read
and watch TV some at night…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, wish me luck and good luck to anyone else crazy
enough to do this!<o:p></o:p></div>
ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-73323413321529215122014-08-13T13:42:00.001-04:002014-08-13T13:42:32.730-04:00Our Bravest Face<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In the whole wide world
there's no magical place</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">So you might as well rise put on your bravest
face</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Oh, you might as well rise put on your bravest
face</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
~Rush, Bravest Face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I debated about
this post. A lot. You see…A lot of
people are going to talk about Robin Williams this week. A lot of folks are going to talk about
Depression and Suicide this week. But
then I thought that not talking about Depression is one of the problems. So this is me…sharing. These are just my thoughts and they are
longer than usual. YMMV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">This has been a
rough year for death. We’ve lost family, had friends who have lost family
members and dear friends; we lost a great author and friend in Aaron Allston
and this week, we lost the comedic icon, Robin Williams to what appears to be
suicide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">With death so
prevalent this year, it would be easy to fall into a depression…but it’s times
like these that I remind myself that “Depression Lies” and try to find ways to
cope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Jenny Lawson,
The Bloggess, talks about her struggle with Depression </span><a href="http://thebloggess.com/2012/09/today-and-forever/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">. Jenny
keeps the mantra “Depression Lies” to help her.
Wil Wheaton, King of the Geeks, talks about his own struggles with Depression
</span><a href="http://wilwheaton.net/2012/09/depression-lies/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">. Like
Wil, I suffer from Depression and Anxiety; like Wil, I take medicine to keep
those particular demons at bay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I know that
there are folks that will read those words and have trouble believing them –
believing that I suffer from Depression.
But that is because they only see “the bravest face.” Those are the people that only know me
through the internet or cons or even my writing. They see the perennially happy, excitable, “Minnie
Mouse on speed.” But that is… for me… my
bravest face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">But one of the
things I found myself thinking about recently, in light of Robin’s passing, is
how hard it is to talk about depression and anxiety. How even in this day and
age where modern medicine can do wonders, we still keep our struggles silent. As
a society, we don’t talk about mental illness – and it shows. I hear people
talk about suicide and they say something like “didn’t he/she know…/how
selfish/cowardly.” The thing is that, while a part of them may have known how
much they were loved and appreciated, depression can twist the world around
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">So, like many
people I respect and love, I’m going to try to talk about it. You’ve probably
heard this before but here’s the thing: Jenny’s right…depression lies. It tells
you that you aren’t good enough. That you will never succeed. And that you are
alone. It tells you that you can’t do anything right. That you are a failure as
a writer, a mom, a wife…a person. But
it’s not true. Depression lies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">It takes a lot
to get past that… to hear the lies for what they are. And find your truth… whether that is
medication, counseling or whatever. Depression only goes away if we talk about
it to someone and get it treated. And even then it doesn’t really go away… it
just goes quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">But here’s the
other side of that… depression also tells you that no one cares, that you are
over reacting, that others have it worse and so we have to put on a brave face.
Depression lies to the depressed about what others may think. Depression tells
us: he’s got enough on his plate, don’t
worry him, or she’s dealing with her own issues, she doesn’t need yours on top of
it. And I think that is the hardest thing to overcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Those of us that
are depressed, struggle to find a way to talk about our depression so that it
can be understood by those that don’t suffer and don’t understand it. But it’s
hard, because depression lies. It lies
when it tells us that it’s all in our head. It lies when it tell us we can get
better on our own. It lies when it tells
us that things will be okay if we’re not here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The outside
world doesn’t hear the lies. I think if they could, they might see how hard it
is for someone who is depressed to reach out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">For me,
depression always starts with the little things. Life gets busy and I don’t get
to write anything for several weeks, then when I try to go back to writing,
it’s a struggle to find the rhythm and so I walk away for a little longer. And
then it’s a few more weeks and then months and then I wonder why I bother. Then
it might be something related to work…a project didn’t go as well as I hoped.
And so I feel like I didn’t do your best or that others are thinking poorly of
me. And then it’s something else, maybe a fight with my child or spouse or a
catty comment from a co-worker. And so I don’t do anything. I disconnect. I
find that I am tired. So I watch TV or surf the internet. It’s a struggle to
find the energy to do basic things like dishes or laundry. It’s tired… when I’m
utterly exhausted and haven’t done anything. That’s how I know I’m facing my depression.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Anxiety is worse
for me though than depression. It is like every thought, every “to-do,” every
should-do, every want-to-do, every we need you to…comes crashing in around you
at one time. It surrounds you like this big giant noisy bubble that you can’t
get away from. Your mind jumps from thing to thing to thing and then back again
and you find that you can’t concentrate on anything. You start to feel tense
and your hands start to shake. You can’t breathe. You find yourself ready to
curl up in a corner until things go away. You can’t do anything, so you don’t
do anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Medicine helps
me. I have one pill I take daily that keeps the depression at bay. I have
another pill that I take as needed for anxiety. But for me… it’s a gift when it
comes to anxiety. It takes all those
“you need, I need, I should” moments and pushes them back. They’re still there but
they are no longer right in front of my head. It gives me the time to breathe,
focus and concentrate. It gives me the awareness that it’s Anxiety not me. It gives me the distance I need to deal with
the problems one at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Music helps me
too. Music is one of things that keeps me sane when my own demons start to
crowd in. I keep an entire list of music quotes on my wall at work:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">“I’ll be
around, if you don’t push me down, I’ll be around, if you don’t let me down.” -
Rush </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">“I am
made from the dust of the stars and the oceans flow in my veins.” - Rush </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Hannah,
you’re my inspiration, my fountain of youth.” - Styx </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">"I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’ll
take the hit but not the fall” – Bon Jovi</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I have an entire
CD called </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Roll the Windows Down, Turn the
CD up, Music to Scream by</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">. It lives in my car and includes music like
Queen’s “I want it All,” “Damn Yankees” by Damn Yankees, “Riding the Storm Out”
by REO Speedwagon, and “Armegeddon It” by Def Leppard. It’s music I can listen
to when I just need to get away for a few, to push the world away.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I can scream at the top of my lungs and no
one thinks I’m crazy because all they hear is the music.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We game, too.
Our regular D&D games are an absolute solace for me. I miss the release
that comes from gaming when we go a several weeks without one. In gaming, for a
few hours, I get to go be someone else and all the “should, woulds, needs,” go
away. We relieve stress by killing the bad guys, sometimes even demons and
devils – I admit to liking those sessions best.
Gaming also gives us a chance to connect with our friends. We catch up
with each other’s lives. Talk about
things we are doing. It helps to see
people caring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Mostly though, I
rely on my family and friends. My husband’s hugs and his smile when I come home
from work keep me going every day. The fact he brings me coke and advil when I
wake up with a headache. My daughter’s
smiles and enthusiasm for everything! brings a smile to my own face. Many of my
closest friends know that I struggle with depression and anxiety. Their encouragement
when I think my writing sucks gives me hope. When they tag me on FB with a
funny thought that reminds them of me. These are what keep me going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Many of us that
struggle with Depression and Anxiety have resources that we use, words or mantra’s
that we keep in mind, songs that we listen to that pull us out. But fighting mental illness is not easy; it’s
not something people talk about. So
that’s why I’m talking about it today.
Maybe my little note will help one person understand that those of us
who struggle with this aren’t being selfish or cowardly, but that sometimes we
truly can’t hear or see the positive around us… because depression lies to us.
And so we put on our bravest face and go out into the world and wonder how long
it will be until we can’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">If you are
struggling with depression, please seek help. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-67455899031652306552014-08-01T09:29:00.000-04:002014-08-01T09:29:03.050-04:00New post up at the Gamers Codex<br />
My newest blog post is up at the Gamers Codex!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thegamerscodex.com/index.php/geek-girls-gaming-girls-at-the-table/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=geek-girls-gaming-girls-at-the-table">Geek Girls Gaming - Girls at the Table</a><br />
<br />
Enjoy.<br />
<br />
~Tera<br />
<br />ColdFirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729289431631007529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-73240215983594619072014-05-29T09:30:00.001-04:002014-05-29T09:35:55.418-04:00Headed to ConCarolina's<div class="MsoNormal">
So we’ll be headed down to ConCarolina’s tomorrow to brave
the mad crush of folks who want to see George RR Martin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll be splitting my time between the ConGregate table, my author table which I’m sharing with the incredible Janine Spendlove, and doing a few
panels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://livecon.net/convention/47/session/12201"><span style="background: white; color: #0081ff; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Breakfast
and Books</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday 9:00am</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><a href="http://livecon.net/convention/47/session/12380"><span style="background: white; color: #0081ff; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Writing for Anthologies II</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday 12:00N</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><a href="http://livecon.net/convention/47/session/12356"><span style="background: white; color: #0081ff; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Brigands, Thieves and Pirates<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday 8:00pm<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, if you've ever wanted to buy one of the anthologies that I'm in, stop by the table, I'll have copies of a couple of them!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if by some chance, you haven't registered for ConGregate, stop by that table and we'll get you taken care of!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking forward to seeing everyone!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
~Tera<o:p></o:p></div>
Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-72869597347500277742014-05-08T09:22:00.003-04:002014-05-08T09:22:22.361-04:00Happy May!<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been an eventful couple of months. I’ve attended a couple conventions, returned
to the HR world full-time and had another short story published.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Con-wise, we attended illogicon, Mysticon and Ravencon so
far this year. There’s been an unusual
trend in emergencies in hotels – illogicon had a tornado warning, and Mysticon
and Ravencon each had the fire alarm go off.
Not sure what set off Mysticon’s but apparently the Ravencon hotel was
hit by lightning. Certainly makes for
exciting conversations! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next up in the con-circuit is <a href="http://www.concarolinas.org/">ConCarolinas</a> which is likely
to be packed to the gills this year with GOH George RR Martin. I will be splitting my time between the
<a href="http://con-gregate.com/">ConGregate</a> table and a table I’m sharing with <a href="http://www.ailionora.com/">Janine Spendlove</a>. I’ll actually have books for sale!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My part time position at the Center for Creative Leadership
moved to full-time in April. Good in
terms of working, bad in terms of time for writing. It does mean that if I’m ever going to finish
a novel, I really need to start buckling down and getting it done. ::sigh::<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did have my first horror story published. It’s in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tales-Revisited-Christofer-Nigro-ebook/dp/B00JYXK40A">DarkFairy Tales Revisited</a></i> by Horrorfied Press.
My husband describes it as “Not Disney’s Cinderella.” It was a bit of a
challenge to write, and while I enjoyed stretching my wings on it, I’m probably
not going to be called to do a lot more horror writing. I think I’ll stick with
fantasy and SF.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lastly, my darling husband, beta-reader and webmaster, has
updated my <a href="http://terafulbright.com/">WEBSITE</a>! We’re keeping it
clean and simple, but I really like the color scheme. Is there anything else you’d like to see on
the website?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, that’s pretty much the extent of the last few
months. Hard to believe we’re already in
May!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
~Tera<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Have you lived a
lifetime today -/Or do you feel like you just got carried away</i> ~Rush “The
Stars Look Down.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-17609398126468396592014-04-01T11:27:00.000-04:002014-04-01T11:27:26.147-04:00Conventions and Writing and Role-playing <div class="MsoNormal">
So as my *few* followers know, I adore going to cons. Of
course, for the interaction with other attendees and with guests. But I also love going because ever since we
had the Geeklet, con’s mean I get to go back to my room around 9pm, put her to
bed, and write. This leaves my poor
Husband to do the party hopping and smoozing (not Smofing!), but the division
of labor works for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weekends ago, we travelled to Mysticon in Roanoke,
Va. Great con, still a little crowded
for the space but the con-runners are very attentive to both guests and fans
and the hotel staff (especially the Restaurant) is fantastic!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat on a few panels over the weekend… Nerdiquette 101,
Role-playing, Anthologies, Form and Function around Costuming and a Tribute to
Anne McCaffrey. All of which were very
enjoyable, and informative. I really
enjoyed the role-playing panel, which leads me into my main topic today.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writers write. We
know that. It is something that most of us can’t stop doing. And while I like writing short stories, and
I’m desperately trying to finish one of my novels, I find it interesting that I
love writing about my role-playing characters.
Especially when I build new ones.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m often the one that has the most detailed, longest back
stories. Part of that is so I have a
good feel for the character when role-playing them, but also because I enjoy
writing the “story up to here” part of a character. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I build a new character, I often start from either a
basic concept or an image. From there I
build the stats and such that make the character but then I start to work on
their story. Who are they? Where did
they come from? What events happened in their lives that made them make the
choices they did. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, writing the character’s backstory and personality
help create or explain some of the choices the character may make in
role-playing. I have a character now
that is a latent werewolf. The other
characters in the game know it, but I think most have forgotten because the
character is also a druid that wildshapes.
As part of her back story, she is running away from the werewolf in her,
and the family that embraces the werewolf… so what happens when they catch up
to her?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because most of my stories are character driven, I often do
the same thing with my story characters. What happens when an Air Force pilot
gets thrown back in history to meet Grace O’Malley? Backstory for Brianna Ni Rianne: Irish
–American, normal happy childhood, military family. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What happens when a new knight finds out there really isn’t
shades of gray in the world? Backstory: Knight who knew she was going to be a
Knight from a young age, proud of her study.
Believes the world is shades of gray, everyone can be redeemed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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My most recent story in Athena’s Daughter (you can order
<a href="http://www.silenceinthelibrarypublishing.com/product/athenas-daughters-vol-1/">here</a>!) is about a woman who is suffering from PTSD and how it affects the
decisions she makes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my novel, I realized recently that the action had been
happening to my heroine. In Morgan’s
backstory… she grew up fairly quickly and had responsibility thrust on her at
an early age. She has always been the driver of her life. She knew what she
wanted to do (teach) as early as elementary school. She pursued that dream even as she side
tracks as a writer. Now, however, she
had been thrust into this world of change and confusion and has been pulled
along, going from event to event. I
realized that it meant I was stuck waiting for the next event to happen. But then I thought about the character and
realized that she would also realize this and wouldn’t sit and wait. That meant
her next step had to be doing something herself, not waiting for someone else
to let her know what to do. Exactly what
that is… I haven’t figured out yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, the point of today’s lesson… writing your characters
backstory whether for a novel or for a rpg can help determine the characters
personality, and reactions. When you
know the history of the character sometimes, it can help drive why a character would
do something.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"I run between the shadows/Some are phantoms, some are real." ~ Rush,
Double Agent</i><o:p></o:p></div>
Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-23949605936828351102014-03-13T09:32:00.001-04:002014-03-13T09:32:16.143-04:00New Blog Post at The Gamer's CodexMy newest blog post is up over at the Gamer's Codex for Geek Girls Gaming!<br />
<br />
I talk to Misty Massey, Jaym Gates, Laura Haywood-Cory and Gail Martin about their experiences playing D&D and how it has impacted them!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thegamerscodex.com/index.php/40-years-of-dd-through-the-eyes-of-authors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=40-years-of-dd-through-the-eyes-of-authors">40 Years of D&D through the eyes of authors</a><br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
~TeraTera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-52901769297427537122014-03-01T11:01:00.000-05:002014-04-01T10:01:16.563-04:00A Tribute to Aaron Allston<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’d had this post all written for Friday about cons and
role-playing and writing…and then Thursday night about 10:30am, I got a phone call.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our Dear friend, Timothy Zahn, had called to tell us that
friend and fellow SW author, Aaron Allston, had passed away. He was 53.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aaron.allston">Facebook</a>
is filled with touching memories and tributes to Aaron. So many that it is
truly awe-inspiring to see how many lives he affected as a game designer, a SW
author, a mentor and a friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I first met Aaron at Stellarcon <st1:metricconverter productid="23 in" w:st="on">23 in</st1:metricconverter> 1999. At SC24, he came
back along with Tim Zahn and Mike Stackpole and for a number of years, the
three of them returned to Stellarcon every other year while I was involved in
the con and even some after I stepped away. (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) Aaron was
also at Scon 25. Poor Aaron though, he did miss one year due to food poisoning
at the airport!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember we held the first SW trivial pursuit game where
fans teamed up with Aaron, Mike and Tim to answer trivia questions. I’m pretty
sure Mike won but I also remember that Aaron was the one that made us laugh.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At Stellarcon 25, in 2002 the Carolina Garrison inducted all
three authors as the Legion's first three Honorary Members.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aaron was at all times a gracious guest, impossibly patient
with the foibles of a university-run convention and dedicated to his fans. He
was so incredibly fan-friendly. It wasn’t hard to find Aaron in a crowd; he was
the one sitting around making people laugh. Or groan with his beyond horrible
puns. Well, that and wearing the loudest shirt possible. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I loved Aaron’s SW stuff, but I liked his Doc Sidhe books
best. They still hold a place of honor
on my shelf. His writing always had this
undercurrent of humor. Much like Aaron,
they refused to take life too seriously.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Star Wars, Gaming and Cons will not be the same without him.
And those of us he touched will never be the same without him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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May the force be with you, Aaron. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
"Suddenly you were gone/from all the lives you left your mark upon." ~ Afterimage, Rush</div>
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Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-74993120511909899642013-12-18T08:04:00.002-05:002013-12-18T08:22:51.951-05:00Today's blog post Today's blog post is up at Silence in the Library Publishing...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.silenceinthelibrarypublishing.com/blog/">guest post at SitL Publishing</a><br />
<br />
I talk about the most common questions I get asked at cons!<br />
<br />
And if you haven't pledged, take a look at our kickstarter<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/athenasD">http://tinyurl.com/athenasD</a><br />
<br />
We've got tons of great additions for backers at $5 and more!<br />
<br />
Thanks!Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-64571563222416510782013-12-11T08:11:00.004-05:002013-12-11T09:28:36.066-05:00Some cool stuff regarding Athena's DaughtersWow! In one day, we are less than $1000 from the original publishing goal (and therefore much closer to reaching my stretch goal! Thank you so much to everyone who has backed us so far!<br />
<br />
I wanted to go ahead and share some story summaries, links to previews and blog posts from some of the authors.<br />
<br />
Danielle Ackley- McPhail: <b>Looking Back</b> - If necessity is the mother of invention, then desperation is its sire. Lady Clara is left with stewardship of her lost cousin's inheritance and the uncertainty of her own fate. She employs the dubious assistance of an American inventor to find her cousin before all is lost, only neither could have anticipated the unique nature of their...success.<br />
<a href="http://danielleackleymcphail.booklikes.com/post/721768/excerpt-looking-back-by-danielle-ackley-mcphail-athena-s-daughters">Preview Looking Back</a><br />
Daniell's <a href="http://danielleackleymcphail.booklikes.com/post/726227/a-project-of-athenian-proportions">blog</a> post.<br />
<br />
Maggie Allen: <b>Lunar Camp</b> - Having to spend her summer break at Camp on the Moon is more (and in some ways less) than thirteen-year-old, botany-loving Bee bargained for.<br />
<a href="http://www.wattpad.com/32032406-athena%27s-daughters-lunar-camp-exerpt">Preview Lunar Camp</a><br />
Maggie talks on the <a href="http://www.silenceinthelibrarypublishing.com/athenas-daughters-kickstarter-launches-maggie-allen-space-camp/">Silence in the Library Blog</a>.<br />
<br />
Conley Lyons: <b>Oh, Sisters, Let’s Go Down to the River</b> - Mary Walker thought there weren't nothing scarier than cleaning out the inside of the family well. But she didn't ever count on hearing voices while she worked.<br />
Conley Lyon's <a href="http://t.co/XgyH42fzov">blog</a> talks about it as well.<br />
<br />
Gail Z Martin: <b>Retribution</b> - A vintage silver hip flask and a Roaring Twenties-era poker set spell trouble for Cassidy Kincaide when old ghosts turn murderous. Cassidy runs Trifles and Folly, an antique and curio shop in historic, haunted Charleston, SC that has a secret mission: to get dangerous magical objects off the market. Can Cassidy discover what ties the tragic history of an abandoned hotel to the maliciously haunted objects before more people die?<br />
Gail's <a href="http://disquietingvisions.com/2013/12/10/strong-women-exciting-stories-athenas-daughters-anthology-kickstarter-live/">blog</a> talks about the project.<br />
Preview <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/10512852-retribution">Retribution</a><br />
<br />
Jean Rabe: <b>Visage</b> - When Peaches' father goes missing along the Amazon River, she hires a guide to search for him. Instead, Peaches uncovers a grisly secret that stretches back centuries.<br />
<br />
Sherwood Smith: <b>Commando Bats</b> - Commando Bats: what happens when old women get powers.<br />
Sherwood talks about the project on her <a href="http://sartorias.livejournal.com/592625.html">blog</a>.<br />
<br />
Janine Spendlove: <b>Millie</b> - What happens when a modern day military pilot, Major Sara Colón, meets a time traveling aviatrix? <br />
<a href="http://www.wattpad.com/32027002-athena%27s-daughters-millie">Preview Millie</a><br />
<br />
Vicki Steger-Johnson: <b>Burly and Cavendish Blend</b> - It looks as though archaeologist, Abigail Watts, obsession with ancient artifacts will lead to her demise, when she and her cousin, Dawson Willoughby, are left to die in an abandoned Egyptian tomb.<br />
<br />
DL Stever: <b>Vernon’s Angel</b> - Gentle Vernon's desire to become popular with the tough high school basketball team is only in his dreams. When help comes in a most surprising way Vernon's life changes for the better.<br />
<br />
C. A. Verstraete: <b>The Songbird's Search</b> - Marietta was plain-looking, but she had a voice the men found irresistible. Now with time ticking, she hoped to find just one who would appreciate her true, inner beauty.<br />
<br />
Jean Marie Ward: <b>The Gap in the Fence</b> - A ten-year-old girl will do anything to save her best friend's dog from being put down--even bargain with the fairies who live behind "The Gap in the Fence."<br />
Jean Marie talks about it on her <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-gap-in-your-library-you-didnt-know.html">blog</a>.<br />
<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/books/excerpt-the-gap-in-the-fence/">Preview The Gap in the Fence</a><br />
<br />
Fellow stretch goal author, Tricia Barr, talks about the Kickstarter on her <a href="http://fangirlblog.com/2013/12/athenas-daughters-kickstarter-is-live/">blog</a>.<br />
Fellow stretch goal author, Tanya Spackman, posted a <a href="http://www.orangehoodie.com/?p=2123">preview</a> of her story.<br />
<br />
There's a discussion group over at Goodreads for interested folks. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/120244-ask-athena-s-daughters-strong-female-characters-for-today-s-readers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=group_widget">Ask Athena's Daughters</a><br />
<br />
And of course, here's the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/103879051/athenas-daughters-women-in-science-fiction-and-fan?ref=home_popular">link</a> to the Kickstarter in case you haven't pledged yet. :)<br />
<br />
Hugs!<br />
~Tera<br />
<br />
<br />Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-60249631536919347372013-12-10T16:00:00.000-05:002013-12-10T16:00:09.668-05:00Athena's Daughters Kickstarter Launches!!I get to be a stretch goal!!!<br /><br />I've partnered with Silence in the Library Publishing, Kickstarter, and a host of renowned authors including names like Mary Robinette Kowal, Gail Z. Martin, Jean Rabe, Janine K. Spendlove , and many others in a new Kickstarter project titled Athena's Daughters. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-gSsB5z54ex-qHMeaihXCSbQ03nrJa9q962g4K7GQemOztSlj1ECW5aVmrZ7MLh6Cc3d-grag0Ojk1IW_oO08WTL9v26zWMq7sX0eAjpLlMmBqVsYQn8lsnYvriH8BMZXCheXINpP0tv/s1600/cover+athena.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-gSsB5z54ex-qHMeaihXCSbQ03nrJa9q962g4K7GQemOztSlj1ECW5aVmrZ7MLh6Cc3d-grag0Ojk1IW_oO08WTL9v26zWMq7sX0eAjpLlMmBqVsYQn8lsnYvriH8BMZXCheXINpP0tv/s320/cover+athena.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Athena’s Daughters is a collection of short fiction from some of the best female science fiction and fantasy authors in the industry. This anthology features stories written by women about women. We are also incredibly excited to have an introduction to the anthology by retired astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander Pam Melroy. <br /><br />If the Kickstarter reaches the goal of $17,500, I, along with new author Tricia Barr, get to add stories to the anthology. If it reaches $18,000, every backer at $5 and up will receive a free digital download of my short story "Fires within the Blank Page." <br /><br />Additionally, my fellow authors and I, and the staff at Silence in the Library Publishing believe that any good project should contribute something to improving the human community. In keeping with that goal, a portion of every book sold will go to RAINN. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.<br /><br />This is only a small portion of what is waiting for you when you visit the Athena's Daughters Kickstarter project page. Please join us and become a part of the Athena's Daughter's journey by visiting <a href="http://tinyurl.com/athenasD">http://tinyurl.com/athenasD</a> and contributing today!<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" type="cite">
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Also, keep an eye on this space as I'll share more information about the stories and the authors as I get it!</div>
Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-68849950167539091302013-10-30T12:59:00.001-04:002013-10-30T12:59:14.118-04:00New Post over at Nerdiquette 101My most recent post is over at Nerdiquette 101. <br />
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<a href="http://nerdiquette101.blogspot.com/2013/10/extricating-yourself-from-uncomfortable.html">Extricating Yourself from Uncomfortable Situations</a></div>
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Nerdiquette 101 is a movement started by three women who all had "that guy" encounters at a science fiction convention in 2012.</div>
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Today's post is called "Extricating Yourself from Uncomfortable Situations" and offers a short list of suggestions for removing yourself from situations that make you uncomfortable.</div>
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I hope you enjoy!</div>
<br style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" />Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-62734936177138873712013-10-25T07:02:00.000-04:002013-10-25T07:02:15.166-04:00Guest Post: Gail Z Martin<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">As part of Gail's Days of the Dead blog tour, she kindly offered to stop by my blog!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Con-Going Writer</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I met Tera at a con--I'm guessing many of you did, too. In fact, I run into Tera at several cons each
year. Sci-fi conventions are part of the
fun of being a fan or a writer, and every con I go to offers the opportunity to
learn something new, meet fantastic people, hang out with other authors, and
see new places. That's why I'm a
con-going writer.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Writing is a fairly solitary affair. Once in a while you come up for air to
connect with beta readers, agents and publishers, but most of them time is
spent inside your own head. My dogs make
sure I get exercise, having an uncanny ability to smell the exact moment when I
have gotten a great idea, at which point they need to go out to the back
yard. But on the whole, writing isn't a
social activity.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Genre conventions are a way for me to include that social piece
into my writing life and not get thrown wholly off track. I've attended many panel discussions on
historical or scientific topics and come away with new ideas for plots,
characters or story twists. I've learned
a lot about the industry by sitting down for coffee or a drink with other
authors and listening to what they're working on, how their relationship with a
publisher or agent is going, or what new project they're developing. In the new world of hybrid careers and
professional self-publishing, I've learned a lot about how other folks are
successfully creating their own ebooks or print runs, sourcing artwork, and
finding the best software. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Talking with readers is just as instructional. It's good to hear from the other side of the
desk, to find out what people are reading and why, what they're tired of, what
they want more of. Yes, it's anecdotal,
but it's still outside input, and if you go to enough cons in a year (and I
do), all that anecdotal information sifts together to form trends.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cons are also places to get contracts. I've come home from many a convention with a
contract or an invitation for a short story in an anthology, and I enjoy talking
with editors and publishers of all sizes of publishing houses because I learn
something from every conversation. Good
relationships eventually open doors.
Besides, it's nice to talk shop with other people in the business who
actually understand the highs and lows--writing is a strange occupation.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Going to cons also gives me plenty of grist for the social media
mill, with photos to post on Facebook, <i>bon
mots</i> to tweet on Twitter, and new ideas for blog posts. Sometimes, I end up tagged in someone else's
post, which is cool too. And on many
occasion, I've landed a magazine, blog or podcast invitation just by showing
up.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of all, cons are an opportunity to reconnect with friends and
meet new ones, talk about the fan stuff other people don't understand, shop the
dealer room, and stretch your creative muscles.
All the more reason to be a con-going writer!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Come check out all the free excerpts, book giveaways and other
goodies that are part of my Days of the Dead blog tour! Trick-or-Treat you way through more than 30
partner sites where you'll find brand new interviews, freebies and
more--details at www.AscendantKingdoms.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ice Forged will be a Kindle Daily Deal with a special one-day
price of just $1.99 only on October 31!
Get it here: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://amzn.com/B008AS86QY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reign of Ash, book two in the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga launches in
April, 2014 from Orbit Books. My new
urban fantasy, Deadly Curiosities, comes out in July, 2014 from Solaris Books.
I bring out two series of ebook short stories with a new story every month for
just .99 on Kindle, Kobo and Nook—check out the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures or
the Deadly Curiosities Adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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About the author: Gail Z. Martin is the author of <i>Ice Forged</i> in The Ascendant Kingdoms
Saga and the upcoming <i>Reign of Ash</i>
(Orbit Books, 2014), plus The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (<i>The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven
& Dark Lady’s Chosen </i>) from Solaris Books and The Fallen Kings Cycle (<i>The Sworn</i> and <i>The
Dread</i>) from Orbit Books. In 2014,
Gail launches a new urban fantasy novel, <i>Deadly
Curiosities</i>, from Solaris Books. She is also the author of two series of
ebook short stories: <i>The Jonmarc Vahanian
Adventures</i> and the <i>Deadly Curiosities
Adventures</i>. Find her at
www.ChroniclesOfTheNecromancer.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on
Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and
GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-90957231639999099392013-09-03T19:49:00.000-04:002013-09-03T19:49:00.941-04:0030 Days hath September...<div class="MsoNormal">
So it’s suddenly September. Hard to believe how fast the
summer has flown by. I had a blog
already for August but then in between Vacation and school starting for the Geeklet…I kind of
forgot to post it. So here’s the scoop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In writing news…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I spend the entire month of July attempting to write 250
words every day. I had success in that I managed to write
every day! I did miss the word count
once, though.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Least written: 163 words<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most written: 1000<o:p></o:p></div>
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Total word count: 13,901<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, having the goal of tracking the word count and
posting it to FB at least semi-regularly was good. I appreciated the positive feedback I got
from folks as I posted them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was also interesting because I spread the writing
around. I worked on my short stories, my
urban fantasy novel and blog posts. I
also counted some “new” words around the recap of the gaming sessions. Mainly because even though I take notes during our game
sessions and basically just rewrite them, I also tend to include some character
thoughts. I counted those as new words. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I definitely think I’ll go back to counting in September.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also got the first chapter in the Steampunk novel back from
an editor! So now it’s time to send the
rest to be edited in terms of getting it publishable. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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I also had another short story accepted for
publication. It’s by a very, very small
press called KYStories that focus on Southern Writers and Stories. My short story, Fires within the Blank Page, is
included. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B00EQNFDQS/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1">http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B00EQNFDQS/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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This was an interesting story. It got its start in an older writing group
prompt. The characters are mostly named
after friends. And the heroine and main
Witch’s names were sourced via Facebook.
Special thanks to Misty Massey and Amy Wilkinson Ware for providing the
names.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;">How many times/</span><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;">Do we swallow our ambitions </span><br style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;">Long to give up the same old way/</span><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;">Find another road to take </span><br style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;" /><i style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;">Keep holding on so long/'Cause there's a chance <br style="letter-spacing: 0px;" />That we might not be so wrong/We could be down and gone <br style="letter-spacing: 0px;" />But we hold on</i><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px;">~Rush, We Hold On</span></span></div>
Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181025289847556153.post-22142449246050102052013-07-24T16:19:00.000-04:002013-07-24T16:19:14.738-04:00Movie Influences<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve talked before about how books and music influence my writing,
but inspired by today’s post over at <a href="http://mythicscribes.com/miscellaneous/best-fantasy-movie"><span style="color: windowtext;">Mythic Scribes</span></a>, I thought I’d talk about
what Antonio del Drago describes as “which
fantasy movies have had the greatest impact on my writing, and why they are so
meaningful.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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These aren’t in any particular order.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Labyrinth.</b> The music, the book reflecting the real
world, the music, Jim Henson’s puppets, the music, the story about being
yourself, did I mention the music? Labyrinth probably helped define my love of
the fantasy genre as both escapism and transformation. It is one of those movies where the heroine
realizes it’s okay to grow up and okay to still want for “childish”
things. Somewhere in my house I have a
bumper sticker that reads…”I break for Unicorns.” I’ve had it for more years than I can count,
but it, like Labyrinth for me, is symbolic of it being okay to dream/to believe
in the impossible. And, yes, I had the
biggest crush on David Bowie in that movie.
And the music!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Star Wars</b>. Now, obviously, Star Wars is a space opera,
not a fantasy, but for the purposes of impact on writing…I have to keep it on
the list. Star Wars is all about the
Hero’s Journey. At the same time, it
tells the story of someone accepting responsibility for “something greater than
self.” I find that a lot of my short
stories and novel work focus on transformation.
I think a lot of that came out of Star Wars. I think it’s one reason Han is one of my
favorite characters. He really moves
from something of a mercenary pain in the @$$ to someone who believes in
helping others and the cause, even if he is going to be grumpy about it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Princess Bride</b>. This is another one where the book and movie
intersect. For me, this is a love
story. It has Kisses! It is about
overcoming adversity to be with the one you love. I’ve read the novel and interestingly enough,
I still find the movie to be more impactful.
I don’t know if it’s the cast or what… but the movie is one of those
that I can stop and watch any time it is on.
It has a great ensemble cast.
While most of my stories center around one or two people, the paranormal
fantasy I’m writing is leaning more toward an ensemble cast and I want that
sense of reality and connection to appear in the work. And lines… I want to write a book that when
it’s made into a movie gets quoted everywhere… “Hello! My name is Inigo
Montoyo,” “As you wish,” “I do not think it means what you think it means.”
“Have fun stormin’ the castle!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Sleeping
Beauty/Beauty and the Beast:</b> I put these together as the “Disney
Films.” While they tell two different
stories, what appeals to me in both movies is Disney’s ability to capture the
essence of dreams. Sleeping Beauty is my
favorite of the Disney Princess’s – a girl meets the love of her life only to
be pulled away and sent into a magical sleep.
The love of her life turns out to be a prince who defeats the dragon and
rescues the girl. (Maleficent is the
perfect Evil. I want my BBEG to be like
her. No regrets just Evil.) Beauty and the Beast takes a “bookish” girl
and an “ugly” boy and they fall in love, seeing the beauty beneath each
other. I don’t know how many girls
loved Beast more for his Library than himself… but I was one of them. Both are completely different stories
written in different times. In reality,
it is Belle who rescues the Beast unlike Prince Phillip who rescues
Aurora. But something about both stories
is incredibly enchanting to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Later movies:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lord of the
Rings/Harry Potter/PoTC</b>: These are all epic stories told with Epic
descriptions and amazing visuals. I want
my stories to reflect that… but I have found it very challenging to write those
kinds of descriptions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Stardust/Enchanted:</b> This is another set of Love Stories where
what you expect to “love” isn’t really what you want/need/end up with. I like the twist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While I am sure there are a ton of other great movies out
there, these are the ones that I think have had the most influence on my
writing style.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I think about the connection between my favorite movies
and my stories, it seems that I like to write stories about
transformations. My heroes are people
who either change through the course of their actions or as a result of the
actions of others around them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Clearly though…I need to write a love story. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We don’t have to talk/We don’t even have to touch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I can feel your presence/ In the silence that we share<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Got to keep moving/At the speed of love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nothing changes faster/Than the speed of love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Got to keep on shining/at the speed of love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nothing changes faster/than the speed of love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">~Rush, Speed of Love</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Tera Fulbrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18284166491425947545noreply@blogger.com0