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Category Archives: Other Strangeness

Content and Awards

04 Nov

abc-award

A lovely lady from the UK, Jade Reyner, thought enough of my blog to gift me with the Awesome Blog Content Award. I am honored. If you have not stopped by her blog to give her a hard time to see her fun and informative posts, you should do so immediately, if not sooner. Be sure to ask her for a cuppa and some clotted cream. Trust me on this.

As for the award, I have received a few awards in the past. But as I think about this one the name of it means a little more to me now than it did over a year ago. Content.

We who blog, should give a great deal of thought to the content of what we post. Whether our blog’s purpose is to entertain, inform, or provoke thoughts, we bloggers need to weigh carefully the content we attach to our names. I’ve been reading Kristen Lamb‘s book, ‘Rise of the Machines’. In it, Kristen talks about authors using social media to build a brand which is , in fact, is our names. Good content is received and remembered by the author’s name. Bad content is also received and remembered by the author’s name. If the blogger’s goal is to build a following, regardless of the purpose of the blog, then the quality of the content is critical.

Therefore, to receive acknowledgement for the content of my blog, is something I truly appreciate. That it comes from someone I respect for their own content makes it doubly so. Thank you, Jade.

For those of you new to blogging, most awards have rules attached to them which usually involves providing information about the nominee to learn a little about the person behind the blog.

So, here are the rules:-

1. Display the Award on your Blog.
2. Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who awarded you.
3. Present 8 deserving Bloggers with the Award.
4. Link your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment.
5. Write a word or phrase about yourself for each letter of the Alphabet.

Numbers 1 – 3 are easy…number 4 takes some thought…and here is the tricky bit, number 5. Here goes!

A- Archer – I shoot a custom longbow for fun and hunting

B- BCP (Business Continuity Professional) – I help my company prepare for and mitigate the effects of a                                                                            disaster.

C- Complex – My interests and views vary widely.

D- Devoted – 32 years with the same domestic CEO

E- Educated (both academic and street) – Some long stories here.

F- Friendly – Okay it’s my opinion.

G- Gallant

H- Husband – See ‘D’ above

I- Inquisitive – The day I no longer want to learn, put me in the ground

J- Jokester – I love to give and receive.

K- Knife maker – One of my many hobbies

L- Loyal –

M- Medic – Eight years as an Emergency Medical Technician on Advanced Life Support ambulances

N- Noble – I like to think so.

O- Open-minded – See “I” above

P- Punctual (Except when posting a blog) If you’re on time, you’re late!

Q- Quaint (Old fashioned) I believe in manners and rustic things

R- Respectful – Something sorely lacking in today’s youth!!!!!

S- Sensitive

T- Thankful – I have lived a blessed life and I’m not afraid to said it out loud.

U- Upfront – What you see is what you get…for the most part.

V- Verbal – Once I get to know you.

W- Warped – Sense of humor

X- Xenagogue (Yes its a real word and it fits look it up.)

Y- Young-at-heart. I try to laugh every day (**secret** to a long marriage!!!)

Z- Zeebee – (High School Mascot)

Here are some blogs that you really should follow:

Matthew Wright

Kristen Lamb

Kourtney Heintz

Bayard & Holmes

Jennifer M Eaton

Broadside

 
9 Comments

Posted by on November 4, 2013 in Other Strangeness

 

Cultural Integration in Fantasy and Sci-fi

30 Sep

What do sushi, craft beer, Christmas, body piercing, and Bollywood dancing all have in common. They are cultural integrations. Any time two cultures come together, whether for trade, war, or accident, there will be some form of conflict.This is good for the story line. However, there will also be some form of integration, whether it’s food, entertainment, religion, clothing, naming, or art. This can enhance the depth of the setting. Let’s use sushi as an example.

Japanese culture comes to the United States

Japanese culture comes to the United States

Sushi has been around, in Japan, since the early 1800’s. In 1966, a gentleman by the name of Noritoshi Kanai along with a Jewish business partner, Harry Wolff, opened Kawafuku Restaurant in Los Angeles. Initially successful with Japanese businessmen, they then introduced it to their American colleagues to the ‘new’ cuisine. Soon after, sushi bars began to pop up in both New York and Chicago. Now, you can find sushi bars throughout the U.S.

Christmas vs. Yuletide

Christmas vs. Yuletide

Easter vs Various Fertility Festivals

Easter vs Various Fertility Festivals

Another example is the way the ancient Romans aligned religious holy days with pagan festivals in an effort to pacify and convert the conquered Peoples to Roman beliefs.

Keep in mind that the most frequently integrated pieces of a culture were ideas/beliefs, things that could be easily carried, or things created from raw materials common to both cultures. So, the genres of Fantasy and Sci-fi are the perfect vehicles to play and experiment with this type of cultural integration. First of all, the author already has strange cultures to develop. Why not add a few cultural integrations and connect these strange cultures in a real way.

Food and drink are the easiest by far. Just add a race or place-name and your there. E.g. Fae wine, Romulan rum, French fries, hot springs water. Clothing is a bit more subtle in that the fabric can be placed from somewhere else or perhaps the cut of the clothing. E.g. Italian cut suit, Chinese silk, or Western wear blue jeans. Some things will take some explanation as to the origin and for the integration, like sushi or chocolate. This can be tricky as the author needs to balance need for information against the dreaded info dump.

The bottom line is this. Cultural integration happens wherever two or more cultures bump into each other. The exchange of ideas and information enriches the affected cultures, though not always equally. Fantasy and Sci-fi authors who fail to incorporate these cultural integrations, short-change their world, the story, and ultimately the reader.

So, as I sit back in my Adirondack chair, wearing polar fleece, western denim jeans and Navajo boot moccasins, drinking Russian vodka and Sprite soda, nibbling on Klingon krinkles and Wisconsin cheddar cheese, I will contemplate how best to incorporate a group of intoxicated faeries into a Plains Indian Eagle Dance.

 
4 Comments

Posted by on September 30, 2013 in Other Strangeness, Thoughts on Writing

 

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Menagerie

24 Sep

I have a new favorite first line! “Digging graves is hell on a manicure, but I was taught good vampires clean up after every meal.” I just started reading “Red-headed Stepchild” by Jaye Wells and with an opening line like that, it promises to be an unusual read. I plowed through the first four chapters last night and actually missed most of the Denver Broncos vs Oakland Raiders football game. I will provide a review of it for my friends at Find Stuff 2 Read.

The past four days have been event filled, to say the least. Let me give you a little rundown. First, Friday night, the domestic CEO and I went to see the Broadway musical, ‘Wicked’. It was her first Broadway production. Excellent show based on an excellent script. I picked the book up several months ago but have yet to read it. A cold weekend in front of the fire at the cabin might be the best place for that.

Saturday night was spent with or neighbors. Now for most people, that sounds pretty mundane. However, Our neighbors are professional boxing trainers and boxing promoters. So, we spend a quiet Saturday night with several thousand inebriated boxing fans watching one of our neighb’s fighters win the USBA Middleweight title. The fight ended in the fourth round with Caleb knocking out his opponent. He is now ranked 2nd in the US and 10th in the world! I think I see Las Vegas in our future travels.

Sunday was spent CLEANING the house. Considering how much time we have spent at the cabin this year, it is no surprise the house needed a good scrubbing from top to bottom. I find that helping the CEO with this project scores MAJOR points that will come in handy when a writing conference or archery tournament comes up that I really want to go to. And, as I stated in a previous post, being a gentleman is just how I roll.

To top it all off I added a year to my existence and am looking down the barrel of the AARP as they try and recruit me into the ranks of geezerhood. Not yet my friends. I’m at the tail end of the baby boomers and as the youngest of the brood, I will fight it all the way. Actually, for the record, fifties are the best time. Even better than being forty-something.

The best part of the weekend was getting some writing in on a very difficult scene that has been giving me fits. It seems to be working its way out.

 
6 Comments

Posted by on September 24, 2013 in Musings and Odd Thoughts, Other Strangeness

 

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Blood Power to Steam Power – Part 2

26 Aug

In my last post, I talked about my visit to the Mayan exhibit at the Minnesota Science Museum. This puzzling civilization was controlled by priests that obtained their power by blood sacrifices.For nearly four millennium they stood as one of the most advanced  cultures on earth. The reason for their decline is still a mystery.

The day following my trip to see the Mayan exhibit, I volunteered in a gardening Q&A booth at a small country town festival (threshing show) near my home. One of the key elements of this show was a historical accounting and progress of the steam-powered engines and specifically the farm tractor.

Coal-Fired Steam Tractor

1923 Case No. 11 Coal-Fired Steam Tractor

The festival grounds were covered with booths and exhibits of steam engines dating back into the 19th century. There were steam engines that would fit in the palm of your hand and steam engines that ran full-sized sawmills.

Cutting logs into boards

Cutting logs into boards – Note the blade on the left and the size of the man in the center.

There was even a stem engine that ran a ringer washer.

No more hand cranking the ringer.

No more hand cranking the ringer. Watch your fingers!

In the eighteen hundreds, steam ran everything from Eli Whitney’s cotton gin to the Mississippi Queen-styled river boats. In short, the steam engine powered the industrial revolution. Most steam engines were powered by either wood or coal. The smell of a coal burner is unmistakable. The potential for the fires getting out of control or the boiler explosion from over-pressurization made early models somewhat dangerous to operate. However, the hiss…pop…hiss of a steam engine is very cool. And a hundred or so all running at the same time sounded like a really strange symphony.

So, for those of you writing historical fiction, steam punk, or historical fantasy, don’t forget to include these amazing machines in your story. Realism is what we are all after and there isn’t much that is more grounded and gritty than a good old-fashioned steamer, grinding and puffing in the background. Maybe it’s a turn of the century steam shovel working in a strip mining operation or a high-speed steamer headed for the Yucatan. Whatever you choose. these machines will help you bring your story to life.

 
2 Comments

Posted by on August 26, 2013 in Musings and Odd Thoughts, Other Strangeness

 

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Inspiration from a Writer’s Conference

24 Jun

I just spent the last three days at the 4th Street Fantasy Con here in Minnesota. It is a small, single-track convention devoted to Fantasy writers and readers. Attending panelists and participants traveled from as far away as both coasts. I believe Canada was represented as well. The panel discussions were fully interactive with audience participation the rule rather than the exception. The single track meant that you could see every panel without worrying if you would miss something. As usual the small group discussions between panels and after hours were some of the most interesting. These people were scary smart and some of the best read individuals I have every met. Talk about recharging the creative batteries!

More importantly, as a “First-timer” I was welcomed and treated like an old friend. I can say with all honesty that, as a writer of fantasy fiction, this was the best three days I have spent in a very long time. I will be making this an annual event on my calendar. Over the next several weeks, I’m going to use my panel notes to discuss some of my take aways from this conference.

First and foremost, I have been reading from many of you that you are or have been stuck, hit a wall, become unmotivated, lack confidence or direction, or in any other way have stopped writing. I too have been suffering from a form of Spring shutdown. Mine has been due primarily to landscaping projects that were postponed from earlier in the year due to a LONG winter and WET Spring. However, prior to attending this weekend’s conference, I had decided to take back my writing time and recreate my writing habit.

Attending the conference was like pouring gasoline on smoldering embers. Listening to and participating in active discussions about writing with highly intelligent and well-published authors and editors in my genre was like touching off the solid rocket boosters on the space shuttle. I received some well thought out advice, as well as heard ideas and trends that fired my imagination. Even though I didn’t always agree with what was being said, the sheer volume of information transfer was enormous. I defy anyone who is a fantasy writer to sit through a 4th Street Fantasy conference and NOT be amped to get back to the keyboard.

So, I have brushed off some goals I set for myself in January. Set a few new ones and readjusted my priorities. Going forward, if I am engaged in writing at the appointed times, the following will apply: If it is not bleeding, it breathes normally, or has been poisoned but, will not die until after my writing timer dings, DO NOT OPEN or knock on the door to my writing room. DO NOT call me and expect me to answer. DO NOT expect me to retweet or post blogs until that day’s WIP writing is finished. PERIOD! End of discussion! Got it!

Okay, that was mostly for my benefit, not yours. 😉

Now for a few questions for you. Have you attended a writer’s conference that just fired your rockets? Which conference was it? Are you aware of any Writer’s forums were intelligent discussions on craft and ideas are discussed regularly? Do you read outside of your genre? What do you look for when you do?

 
11 Comments

Posted by on June 24, 2013 in Other Strangeness

 

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Administrative Housekeeping

25 Mar

Boy have I been busy! After reading a series of posts at Life in the Realm of Fantasy relating to branding yourself (No, not with a hot iron!), I have been setting up a social media footprint for my writing self. I now have an author Facebook page, a twitter account, a LinkedIn author profile, and About.Me page and soon will be out on Pinterest. Woof! My fingers are tired just thinking about it.

It appears, at least on the surface for now, that they are all linked together and anyone who would like the dubious honor of reading what I have to offer, can find me in any number of ways. Actually, if you following the instructions in Connie’s posts, it’s pretty easy to set up.

All of these sites require an author’s bio. Wanting to be as professional as possible, I did some research into how to write an appropriate bio. First let me say there are several kinds of bios. Mostly defined by that pesky word count. there is the 50 word, 100 word, and the most important 250 word bio. This last one is the one you will base the back inside cover of your book with. Kind of important, huh? So, I went to work and polished up a 250 word bio, updated my “About page” on this blog, and set up the aforementioned sites.

Lastly, I spent a little time rearranging some pages and links. I hope it will make finding some of the material easier to find. There will be a couple of new categories coming soon, but it’s a surprise.

Stay tuned as Actress and the Warlock Part VI will be posted soon, as well as, the next installment of What’s in Character.

 
12 Comments

Posted by on March 25, 2013 in Other Strangeness

 

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Very Inspired Blog

21 Mar

Cassidy Cornblatt tagged me with this award back in January and I am sorry that it has taken me so long to acknowledge his praise. I’m not sure if this means the blog is inspiring or if the material contained is inspired. Either way, thank you Cassidy. One of the reasons I started to blog was to reach out to help other writers and hopefully be receive help from them. So, this was very nice to receive.

veryinspiringblogaward

As with most awards, there is a catch. Here come the rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog – Check (look in About/Awards)

2. Link back to the person who nominated you – Check (See first two words of post)

3. State seven things about yourself – Check (See below)

4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them (Really? Hmmm!)

5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements – They know how I feel about them because I tell them.

Seven facts:

1. I drink 80 to 120 ounces of water every day..

2. Wearing a necktie is a mortal sin, in my opinion.

3. Kentucky bluegrass is the most common weed in my yard. I prefer planting beds with perennials and ornamental grasses.

4. I believe the Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights are just fine the way they were written without  a lawyer’s or politician’s “Interpretation”.

5. Raspberry iced tea is my drink of choice on hot days.

6. I’d rather be fishing than doing almost anything else.

7. I recently started to Tweet. Yikes!!!

Nominations:

Please see the Blogs I Read and list of blogs For Writers to the right of this post. These people inspire me daily and they know how I feel about them.

 
6 Comments

Posted by on March 21, 2013 in Other Strangeness

 

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