WEDNESDAY STRIKE?

Status: Currently writing on The Price of Freedom--Chapter 180.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails; working out.

Watching: Nothing.

Listening to: "Autumn Tactics" by Chicane

Reading: Windows on a Lost World by V.E. Mitchell (ST-TOS)


TOPIC: RERUNS!!!

Hollywood bracing for writers' strike as deadline looms

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Hollywood writers and producers were locked in negotiations Wednesday to head off a potentially damaging strike threatening to halt film and television production.

A mediator was sitting in on talks between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in an effort to hammer out an agreement before the current contract expires at midnight.

"Negotiations are ongoing. We are expecting another long day of talking," a spokeswoman for the union told AFP.

Writers are seeking a greater share of residual profits from television series sold on DVDs as well as pay schedules for programs shown on the Internet, cellular phones and other new media outlets.

The producers have rejected the demands as unworkable, raising the possibility of a walkout by writers when their current contract expires.

If the strike goes ahead it is expected to disrupt television programming, with late-night chat shows hosted by David Letterman and Jay Leno, which both lean heavily on teams of union writers, expected to go off the air.

Other nightly shows such as Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" and Stephen Colbert's "The Colbert Report" are also tipped to shutdown, according to Daily Variety.

The immediate impact on major Hollywood studios is expected to be limited as several have already drawn up contingency plans, according to industry reports.

Variety reported on Wednesday that most of the major studios had built a portfolio of five films with scripts and plots strong enough to overcome the possible lack of a union writer on board to execute re-writes.

On Tuesday, talks ended with "no significant progress made", according to a WGA official. As a result, the union was preparing to present a "comprehensive package proposal for review" at Wednesday's meeting.

However, Alliance president Nicholas Counter warned that producers would not buckle in the face of any "unreasonable" demands.

"We are committed to a fair, reasonable and sensible agreement that is beneficial for everyone," Counter said. "However, opportunities do not come without challenges.

"We will not agree to any proposals that impose unreasonable restrictions and unjustified costs. We will not ignore the challenges of today's economic realities, the shifts in audience taste and viewing habits and the unpredictability of still-evolving technology."

Although the WGA has authorized its leadership to call a strike if no new contract is agreed before the existing agreement expires, people familiar with the negotiations say talks could continue if progress is made.

A strike is also unlikely to be called before a WGA membership meeting on Thursday, reports said.

Industry analysts believe that mounting resentment from writers towards management has been building for years and could lead to a lengthy strike.

A WGA strike in 1988 lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry an estimated 500 million dollars. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has warned that a similar strike today could cost the industry almost double.

"If it (cost the industry) 500 million dollars in 1988, a slowdown of that length would have over a one billion dollar impact today," Villaraigosa told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm very concerned."

TUESDAY'S SILLINESS.

Status: Currently writing on The Vampiress Hunter--Chapter 8.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails; working out.

Watching: NBC News

Listening to: "Nevermeant-V2"--by Razed in Black

Reading: Requiem by Michael Jan Friedman and Kevin Ryan

TOPIC: GARFIELD!

Whether you are a writer or not--this one made me laugh...

TUESDAY TIDBITS.

Status: Currently writing on The Vampiress Hunter--Chapter 4.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails; working out. (Not to mention bleeding from passing of more kidney stones.)

Watching: Rick Steve's Europe on PBS.

Listening to: "Cowgirl" by Underworld; "Head Like A Hole" by Devo; "The Touch" by Stan Bush

Reading: Reunion by Michael Jan Friedman


TOPIC: GETTING BACK ON THE HORSE


Yeah. It sucks.

Being set back from your goals.

But I am not going to let these problems hinder me from delivering one kick-ass novel.

The Starchild will be published--whether I have something to say about it or not.

So, to get things going again, I have begun Chapter 5 of The Vampiress Hunter. (If I can only stop from hitting the G-key every time I try to spell the last part of the title...? Sigh...)

Anyway, some deviations from the norm about vampires so far:

• Maria likes cats and has one of her own. His name is Sebastian. And he's a bug-eater extraordinaire


• She watches TV.


• She also eats. What, I'll have to invent. (If she likes chocolate--then she likes other things--right? Does this make her a true vampire? I dunno. Quite frankly, I enjoy bending the classic genres and breaking them a little. Gives people something new to look forward to.) But it's not moshing on blood packets--like they show in the movies, shows, and whatnot.

More in a bit.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR.

Status: Currently writing on Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero--Chapter 11.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails

Watching: SMALLVILLE; SUPERNATURAL

Listening to: "So Much For Salvation" by Mindless Faith

Reading: Reunion by Michael Jan Friedman

TOPIC: RELEASE DATE FOR THE STARCHILD DELAYED OR DEAD--TAKE YOUR PICK.

Like so many times in the past, I've had to deal with insurmountable obstacles in getting my books done, books being published, and so on.

So many times, I've had to halt my projects over the years because of times of personal crisis, transition, and even moving from one state to the next--only to resume; only to start again.

From scratch.

7 years ago, I was this close to publishing The Starchild. But 9/11 happened and my dreams of becoming a traditionally published author went up in smoke.

So I had to start over and start from scratch. Again.

This time, I thought for certain that I was going to overcome this...stigma, and finally be able to have a book under my belt.

Even if it's self-publishing.

Unfortunately, that's not to be the case.

Since I don't have a job--and things look to make it so that I can't trust myself to work again--my Social Security benefits have been used to partially fund my dreams.

I thought for sure that nothing would be able to interfere with that.

Sadly, this isn't one of those times.

In 2000, I was working 2 jobs to support myself--having lived with an ex-roomie of mine since 1997; off and on.

At this time, I wasn't receiving Social Security--but I was still getting my medical. Now whether or not this ties in with the debt I now owe Social Security--I don't know.

But the sudden $3,191 that I owe (7 years later) has now crushed any slim chances that I will be able to publish The Starchild until at least 2012.

Or 2019. I don't know. Depends on what happens next month.

As some people know, I've invested in the services of a professional editor, but this sudden drop in my income has put a serious question mark on my ability to keep the payments going every month.

It's going to take me 29 months to finish the payments instead of 10. (I still have $2200 to go.)

And I can't repeal this. Social Security is adamant that I pay back the amount that I owe. It's either that or face termination--and that includes my medical--until April of 2008.

But given the fact that I need my medical to stay alive, there is little I can do.

I don't know how I've been able to stay afloat on what little I have, but now, I am going to have less.

Starting in November, my new amount until 2011 will be $519.

And that's if housing will accept the fact that I have lost $115 in my income--rather than just having withheld it. Because all I will have is $262 left open. And I have $176 dollars in bills each month to pay.

I know, it's not much left on limited income. But there's nothing I can do. Finding work--now--is just going to kill me later with my benefits.

That's the hard lesson that I've learned about being disabled: You can't trust anything Social Security says anymore. It's just one big trap.

Apologies to anyone and everyone has been hoping to buy the book in a couple of years.

I know that this isn't what you wanted to hear. But my hands are tied again.

I just wish there was some other way I can do this quickly and efficiently. I really do.

But I am fresh out of miracles on this front. I played a good hand for the longest time and I lost.

Now, all I can do...

Is start over from scratch. Begin again.

Sky

EMILY ROSE JORDAN--DONE BY MYKIA TANISHA

Status: Currently writing on Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero--Chapter 11.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails

Watching: STARGATE SG-1; STARGATE: ATLANTIS

Listening to: "Suicide Blonde" and "Disappear" by INXS; "Free Your Hate" by KMFDM

Reading: Finished Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)

Man what a great book!


TOPIC: CHECK IT OUT MY FELLOW BLOGGERS!

Thanks to the kind-heartedness of a fellow writer and artist, the world now gets to take a peek into what Emily Rose Jordan looks like--based on the physical descriptions I gave her; plus one anime pic which I helped give Mykia as a guide.

Emily Rose Jordan may not look it, but but she's really a kick-ass ninja girl whose about to go and save the world from--what else?

ZOMBIES.

This is--of course--in reference to my new novel, Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero.

Emily is 15-years-old and a junior at a local high school in Forks. Her hobbies are writing, surfing the 'net, and has this crush on a boy at her school.--besides her ongoing martial arts training. (Which was the result of a traumatic childhood incident when she was only 7.)

So what do you think? Did Mykia did a good job or what?

WAKING UP.

Status: Currently writing on Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero--Chapter 10.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails

Watching: KIRO 7 News; CBS Evening News

Listening to: "Singular" by Mindless Faith

Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG) (On page 225 finally!)

TOPIC: WRITE HOW YOU WANT, PUBLISH HOWEVER YOU WANT TO

The current argument that I've been getting is: "You're not a real author until you're traditionally published."

And it's lame. What we (writers) are being told is that no one will take us seriously enough unless we're taken in by Random House, Bantam, or Tor Books.

And even then, people still don't take us seriously enough!

Getting traditionally published doesn't mean you gain instant respect and accolades from your peers.

In many respects, you're still an unknown author and your chances of making it are pretty small.

But these prideful writers who are pushing people like you and me to become traditionally published are still ignorant of the facts and the odds behind such an endeavor.

Personally, I would love to be traditionally published. Y'know?

To see my book on the shelves so prominently.

But things are tight right now in the marketplace and not many agents or publishers are taking on new authors. The reason behind it is simply this: Money and the bottom line.

The publishers are facing a problem with people not reading enough books these days. The internet and online reading has gained traction and is tearing many traditional readers away from the paperback variety.

Then you have costumers shopping from their homes--on their computers (just as the Jetsons predicted would happen decades ago), and you have even less reason for people to go shopping at their once favorite reading haunts.

To top that off, the last Harry Potter novel did little to save Barnes and Noble, and Borders bottom line in the last quarter--as predicted. Adding severely limited shelf space, the rising costs of books, and you have a real nightmare for the publishers.

And even still, I am being told to traditionally publish. To keep going.

But I've already done that.

I spent 8 long years pushing myself to become traditionally published. I sent out dozens and dozens of query letters; all rejected out of hand.

The reason? None of the agents or publishers took fiction.

But not their brand of fiction. Just mine.

What I write isn't what they want.

So where does that leave me?

Well, ever since I announced my intentions that I was going to self-publish my books under my own imprint, there has been (naturally) some resistance to the idea. It isn't the imprint part that's got some people up in arms, but the self-publishing part.

Many people mistaken that for vanity-press, and so they think that's what I'm doing.

But the irritating part is, is that this isn't what I am doing.

Despite me telling them that this isn't vanity-press, I'm still getting hammered for my choices in publishing or even writing my books how I want.

They still want me to traditionally publish. How many times will I have to say, "No!"?--before they get it through their heads???

I am not interested in the maintream any longer! I have done my bit for king and country--and I am not the least bit inclined to continue spending the rest of my life trying to get into an establishment that is more based on chance than it is on reality.

Please do me the courtesy of allowing me to follow my dreams however I wish., okay? And support me because I am an author just looking to share his numerous works with fellow readers.

I don't need adulation, approval, a ton of money, or an overpowering fan base to know that what I write is good enough for the big guns.

I just want to write what I would like to see read.

Even if the mainstream industry doesn't.

If you like my books, then tell me. But don't ask me to hold back on my imagination.

That's not what an author should do in order to become successful in his or her endeavors.

THURSDAY DREARINESS

Status: Currently writing on Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero--Chapter 10.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails

Watching: Nothing at the moment

Listening to: "Pistolero" by Juno Reactor; "Caanan" by Mindless Faith

Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG) (On page 225 finally!)

TOPIC: UPDATE

Last few days have been pretty busy. My sleeping patterns have gone askew--and I've been writing like crazy on Zombie Nation: Outbreak Zero.

I creamed an astonishing 4,255 words yesterday--never thinking that operating on 4-hours of sleep could do that to you. (I napped for another 4.5 hours today.)

But things have gone full steam ahead. The novel is presently sitting at 118 pages in less than a couple weeks worth of writing.

In the last chapter, Emily wanted to leave, but she ended up tangling with hospital guards instead. Then the police came and the SWAT-teams; and all hell broke loose.

The girl got arrested and she's looking at some jail time, but I don't know how things are going to play out.