Status: Writing on Chapter 146 of Starchild Duel. (Page 1,321)
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: Nothing. Usually during the day hours--up till 5PM; the TV stays off.
Listening to: Nothing at the moment. Have a bit of a crushing migraine at the moment. (Weather changes yet again--forcing yet another sinus cold onto me.)
Reading:
Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
Star Trek: Crucible: McCoy:-Provenance of Shadows. Page 11.
TOPIC: WHY DO SOME PUBLISHED AUTHORS TREAT THEIR FANS LIKE SHIT?
I know I'm going to get snarked on this one. I mean nobody should go and upset the Miss High and Mighty J.K. Rowling.
But a recent article in the New York Times had me pissed! So I had to stick up for book fans everywhere. If anyone here is concerned about copyright issues and the like--you can go and kiss my red and white butt.
This isn't about author rights and such, but how most fans these days have been treated like crap and garbage for so long--underfoot--by their uncaring authors.
Fans should be treated with respect and like a precious commodity. This article I read just proves that fans are run ripshod over the very people they look up to.
And the question is why? Why are some authors real bitches and assholes about how their work should be perceived and coddled? If they didn't want their fans to get this heavily involved in their work--impassioned would be more like it--then maybe they shouldn't have wrote it!??
Heavens to Mergatroid! Sheesh!
***
The thing about this article is that it reveals a lot of things about the state of mind of an overtly successful author whom pigeon-holed herself into just writing one series based on one concept--and never branched out to distinguish herself into a well-rounded writer over the years.
That's the one thing that has doomed Rowling forever and ever.
But she sits there and complains that someone is taking something from her that's already been a universally recognized and established cult icon.
It's not even close to being true.
Vander Ark's lexicon is nothing more than a dictionary-compendium filled with terms and definitions written about the HP universe--along with some of the book's passages and examples.
A fan's most exalted version of a fantasy guide come to life. And Ark is a die-hard fan. And he did it because he truly loved her work.
Not because he wanted to insult her intelligence.
The only reason why Rowling is trying to stop the lexicon from being published is because she had intended to publish a similar book--but Vander Ark torpedoed that idea out of the water--years earlier than she was expecting.
But also for control of the idea and the notion that she alone has absolute rights to the HP theme--and no one else. (Reason why she's suing RDR Books for copyright infringement.)
Which is why Vander Ark felt betrayed by her in this whole affair.
She's not doing this because she feels "angry" or "outraged", but because HP was a major cash cow for Rowling (to the tune of billions), and she doesn't want to see a penny of that being challenged by some then unknown fan on the internet.
So money is the sole reason for this suit. But it's a bit hypocritical for someone whom is sitting on $300M dollars in assets--isn't going to hungry any time soon--to complain about some poor fan's intent to publish an entertainment lexicon that charges only $24.
But what she wants from Vander Ark is "control". She's okay for the book to be published--but so long as it doesn't take away work that's been already in print for the last decade.
It would be a completely differently story if the man took the HP theme and characters and copy-cat her work on an entirely different level--but he didn't.
The article clearly is trying to make it so that Rowling is the victim here. When in fact, she went and endorsed the site from the get go, admitted freely that she often perused the site to keep her own facts in the books'--straight--and said nothing about keeping the site information from ever seeing print.
Not once.
And the idea that people won't read anymore HP books if the lexicon ever goes out to print is utter foolishness. How many here have read HP more than once? How many of you have read spin-offs, compendiums, and whatnot--on HP alone? Did it stop you from going back to reading the originals?
I don't think so.
That's like saying: "There's hundreds of STAR TREK books out there, I guess I don't need to watch any of the series, now do I? I got all the information I need right here."
Screw that! I'm still watching them! lol
The argument is lame to the extreme. In their minds, it's all about money-making schemes and everyone else--not counting the millions Rowling's raked in in toy endorsements and food-related contracts with major companies here in the States and over in Great Britain.
The lexicon won't take anything away from what's already out there.
What I got from this was some amusement as well: Ms. Rowling being so distraught over the idea that someone was going to publish this lexicon--it gave her writer's block.
On what? A book that can't possibly surpass the overpowering success of HP? This is what I meant by being "pigeon-holed" earlier. If you only write one thing and one thing only, you're not going to be able to branch out to other genre--let alone other books.
Because people will link you to whatever success you had before and they won't accept anything less than that.
That's why I branched out to as many genres as I possibly could. If any one of my books were to make it, I wouldn't be confined to just one book series. I have many to choose from.
Rowling no longer had that luxury. In the 10 years since the first book came out, not one other book came out to compliment HP as a companion book.
And the idea that if Rowling loses this suit, the "floodgates will open" and writers everywhere will "lose control over their material".
Pardon my frankness, but that's literal bullshit.
One? Fan-fiction on HP has been written for the better part of the decade. The moment the book went into extreme-success mode, all bets were off on fans, readers, and writers to not capitalize on the sensation which Harry Potter was generating.
How many spin-offs of HP have their been in the 10 years hence? I lost count.
Two? Since when did Rowling ever give a damn about writers everywhere? Ever since this saga of hers went gangbusters, this woman has been on a vanity trip that would make the 60s love and peace movement look like a cakewalk.
She's been so high on herself, salivating on her on self-importance, that she hasn't cared one whit about the rights of other writers--up until now.
This is all about herself. This is all about her. This act of hers--in this instance--is more of an insult than a nod to us writers everywhere. She's trying to cry victim over an act that is widely as being more asinine than having any real substance or value.
At some point in her life, she's going to have to realize that she has next to zero control over what happens with the Harry Potter books. People are going to continue to prosper off of her work--for good or not.
Three? Unpublished writers like myself have had our works on the net for the better part of the last decade. I'm working on 6 years myself.
So why would the publishing or writing world care about what I put on the net?
I'M UNPUBLISHED. I'M A NOBODY!
Hel~lo people! No one's going to care! (lmao)
And thus far, I haven't lost control over my work. My books are so massive and complex, who the heck is going to spend hours over hours on end--trying to take something that their collective 5th-6th grade education and comprehension skills can't possibly grasp--let alone understand well enough to duplicate and then try to publish on their own accord?
Personally? I'd give out the Freedom Medal if someone were out rightly successful in their endeavor 10 or 20 years down the road. I'd like to shake their hand personally and congratulate them on the one thing which I've been failing at for the last 8 years!
("Hey, buddy? What's you're secret?")
But...? That's not going to happen.
So I'm not worried. Because--again?--no one cares who I am or what my books are about.
And my wife--whom is an avid fan of HP herself (I'm not)--put everything in contrast to this court-room drama by saying this the other night: "Someone should shut the bitch up with a doughnut.“
Sky
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
TUESDAY TREAT.
Status: Writing on Chapter 146 of Starchild Duel. (Page 1,319)
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: Greening the Earth (PBS)
Listening to: "Halcyon"; "Autumn Tatics" by Chicane. (Behind the Sun album)
Reading:
Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
Star Trek: Crucible: McCoy:-Provenance of Shadows. Page 11.
TOPIC: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM--A CHAPTER SPECIAL.
It's a pretty quiet night tonight, so I thought that I would give everyone a sneak peek into what's happening with my ongoing writer's project.
I know that most of you won't know what the book is about--from just reading this chapter alone--but I hope that you'll enjoy it nonetheless.
I must caution people as always: This is adult-oriented material and shouldn't be read by minors (or to minors) under the age of 18.
The chapter synopsis surrounds what happened after Kenneth Sparks and Kayla Sorenson hitched up with the 13th Reconnaisance Unit; 101st Combat Division--shortly after their stay with Carl Henderson and his nephew.
A much-needed break turns into a veritable nightmare for everyone involved--and Kayla is at the center of it all.
***
Tucker was worried. The three should’ve come back already with Kayla in tow.
How long does it take to traverse a half-mile anyway? Are they all taking their sweet-assed time? He thought–thinking that he would have to put together another party, just to look for the first one and one wayward…android.
“Or woman. Or whatever she calls herself these days,” the man said under his breath. Glancing over at Theresa Fredericks, he said, “Put together another small team. Three or four people max–armed–and have them go down to that creek and find out what the hell’s the fucking hold up.”
The strawberry-blonde woman nodded, and left her guard post on the edge of the camp. Tucker took her place and waited for her to come back.
When this is over…he thought to himself. I plan on taking a long nap!
Voices in the background rose and fell in pitch–as a small part of the camp began to awaken–as the call to action was carried out.
The rest of it still slept.
Because in this war, you took any opportunity to catch some zees.
Life was finite. It was never taken for granted.
* * *
“Reprogramming complete.” A synthesized voice echoed.
Kayla didn’t recall the exact moment she awoke in the small chamber, surrounded by banks of machinery, power coils, tubes of fluid and matter.
The center of the room was subdued and dark–the only illumination, a small overhead light.
Kayla lay on a table–naked to the world–but not really caring.
Her memory matrices were buzzing with fresh information–new information. A purpose was being formed, a mission being formulated.
“My prize. My creation. You will be my hand in this war on the humans. Do you understand me?” Mother’s voice rang inside the small chamber.
Kayla’s eyes opened.
“I do, Mother. I am yours to command.” She said without hesitation. The mission was simple: Eradicate any and all things biological.
And she would carry out that directive to the core.
“You will stay here for awhile. You may get up and move around if you so wish. But you will not leave until I command you to. I will provide you with the necessary garments. A specialized jumpsuit which will identify you to the rest of the world as their executioner.”
“Yes, Mother. It shall be done.”
“Sleep now. Conserve your energies for the war ahead.”
“Yes. Mother.” Kayla responded tacitly. The light dimmed, casting her and everything else into the shadows of the past.
* * *
“Yes…Mother…” Kayla drawled out in a stupor. Her mind was nearly gone. The barbs had almost completed their basic reprogramming of the trapped woman.
But at this point, Kayla found herself no longer caring about that. Soon, she would rejoin her master and creator, and the human race would die.
Mother…
“I…hear…and…obey…” the woman rasped in a drugged-like state. “What...is…your…command?”
Mother…
Kayla suddenly had a clear sense of something else. For a moment, everything came into perfect clarity. Though she did not know how she knew this, she sensed that she wasn’t alone.
Mother…you must resist it. You cannot allow yourself to be taken again so soon. Not when so many lives are riding on your shoulders. The future of this world is in your hands. Do not be so quick to destroy it.
Kayla looked around blindly, her head flopping this way and that. Drool had collected at the corner of her mouth and started to drip freely on its own accord.
“Who…is…there?” She ground out in wide open curiosity. Though her mind was almost gone and she could feel the call of the machine collective start to resonate deep inside her memory matrices, there was still a shred of her previous existence inside of her.
Still fighting to live.
“Who…?”
Your daughter. The one whom you still have yet to give birth to. I am at a stage now that I can begin to freely communicate with you through advanced telepathy. The barbs are of no threat to me because of my own defenses in play. And so, I remain free and whole to continue to grow and evolve. But I am here to tell you to fight, Mother! Fight the programming which has taken over your mind and body! You are much stronger than this!
Kayla stared into the darkness incomprehensively.
“I…can’t…” she said brokenly, a tear forming at the corner of her eye. “Mother…is too strong.”
Must I do everything for you? The disembodied voice cast back with wry impatience.
“What…do…you mean?”
On another level, Kayla could “hear” a soft sigh in her mind. A sound so sweet, that she wanted to reach out and take hold of it.
Like you, I too, possess certain abilities. Some of which have already been made known to you. But I can also do so much more. I am after all…a product of you and daddy’s love.
The idea that she could be so easily saved appealed to her greatly. Kayla then wondered dimly if she had done so for others in the past.
“Hurry…” she whispered. “Please…hurry…” then she fell silent; witnessing the last part of her slip away and be replaced by–
* * *
There was no way in hell she was going to take a swim in that creek–just to get up close and personal to that…whatever it was.
“Bigger than a goddamned tree, that’s for sure.” Marlene heard Kristina say–as the three of them continued to scout the area in front of them. As it stood, none of them ventured out more than ten feet on either side of the bank. But their hand held lamps continued to play their beams on the green mass in front of them. It pulsed and moved from the inside out from time to time, but there was still no way to tell what was inside it. But speculation still ran rampant that it was Kayla in there, but there was no way the trio knew of getting her out.
All they could do was wait.
The darkness still swallowed up the remainder of whatever it was. But this new construct in front of them now resembled some sort of stasis pod–grotesquely misshapened all the same.
But its bloated mass and width created a natural dam for the creek. The water started to lap up at their feet on their end, and Marlene knew that they couldn’t stay here for much longer.
“Shit…” she whispered as one of her feet sank into the waterlogged grassy knoll next to the bank. She shook her leg, listening to the splattering of water–knowing that they didn’t have as much time as they thought.
“Back up you guys,” she gestured to the other two. “This place is going to flood worse than my grandma’s bathtub in the next hour our so.”
Kristina and Chan followed the woman back to an area behind the hedge where it was still dry, but offered an unobstructed view of the thing in front of them.
But that all ended when Chan decided to play his light on the back area next to the “pod”.
What they found was an equally misshapen head with no eyes, but a massive mouth filled with teeth.
But there was no visible body!
Its feeler arms–or what was left of them–waved too and fro in silent ecstasy. But for the most part, the Seeker remained silent and unmoving.
“Ugly.” Chan chirped in disgust, before turning his light away, and his attention back to the two women. “That’s for sure.”
Marlene agreed. She had never seen such a monstrosity in her entire life!
“But what depraved person would unleash such a thing unto this world of ours?” She asked in muted astonishment.
“This Mother person probably–if Kenneth’s words are to believed.” Chan said.
“What do you mean? You think he’s lying to us?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of such a reference.” The man said.
“But according to him, she’s in control of this whole operation. It would make perfect sense–” Marlene pointed back at the Seeker behind them, “–if this abomination is somehow being controlled by her. No one else on earth would be able to create something as big as this thing is.”
“No one human, you mean.” Kristina interjected.
Marlene stared at her for a second. “Are you saying that this could be Kayla’s doing?”
“Well…she’s not here. Is she?”
“I still say–” Marlene was about to fire back, before the woods in the front and to the side of them, became alive again with distant sounds and voices.
All three shined their lights in the general direction of the noise, but neither could spot anything for a good four minutes.
It was Chan who was the first to raise the alarm.
“There!” he exclaimed. “I see–”
Four people came popping out of the brush–each one visibly agitated and breathless.
Marlene relaxed and then smiled wanly.
“Let me guess: You guys were sent by Tucker to find us, and so you ran all this way?” She postulated.
Theresa was in no mood to be placated.
“How come you hadn’t reported back yet?!” she growled. “Tucker’s looking to tan your hide for going AWOL!”
“Ease off, Corporal.” The woman deflected smoothly. “We didn’t get lost.”
Theresa and her group merged with Marlene’s a minute or two later.
“So what the hell is taking you so long? Couldn’t you find–” Theresa started to say as she shined her light in the direction of the creek. What she saw stunned her just as easily as it had Marlene recently.
“Oh my god…” she whispered. “What the hell is that?”
Marlene shrugged as the rest of the her group got in a good look at the Seeker sitting complacently in the cold waters of the creek itself.
“Still don’t know.” She said, just as one of the other members in her group instinctively raised his gun.
“I’m gonna try and take it out!” He impulsively announced.
Both Marlene and Theresa turned.
“Wait!” Marlene yelled. “Don’t–!”
But it was too late.
The man fired off a plasma grenade–striking the lower section of the green “pod”.
A terrific explosion lit up the night and the creek bed.
“Adam! You asshole!” Theresa snapped. “I gave you no orders to return fire!”
There was sudden movement in the creek as the Seeker was roused from its slumber, and turned its attention to the small group of humans clustered and huddled just right of its present position. It gave off an odd roaring sound–as if the damage inflicted upon its body caused it considerable “pain”.
Theresa soundly cuffed Adam upside the head.
“Stupid fuck!” she snarled. “Now you got that thing pissed off at us!”
“Ow!” Adam cried out indignantly–cringing from the abuse–before rubbing the back of his head. “Sorry! I didn’t know! I just acted without thinking first!”
There was movement from the creek, as the Seeker re-established itself and prepared to attack the clustered party. It drew the “pod” closer to its body…
“That’s usually like you!” Theresa continued to berate at him. ‘You never think before you act!”
Kristina and Chan both sounded the alarm as the Seeker charged them.
“Guys! I think now would be a good time to run!”
“What?” Theresa cried, taken off guard–before she found herself being pushed back towards the trail. And thus towards the camp.
“Run!” Marlene shouted hoarsely–seeing what the other two saw. “Make like the wind and run like hell! This thing’s coming after us!” Then she took off before giving anyone else reason to lag behind.
The Seeker crashed through the thicket–snapping trees off their base and crushing the hedge beneath.
Everyone else was already in motion–scattering like frightened rabbits. None of them had the courage to stand against something that clearly dwarfed them all.
***
On another note, I'm also intrigued by what I was watching on PBS about how this government of ours has refused to take the initiative in combating global warming.
It's not just this government, but the last 2 administrations as well. Too many people in high places are having way too much influence on how we should protect (or not) our own environment--weighing everything on basic greed and money.
As of late, I've been toying with the idea of just having a limited number of paper copies of my books available--and concentrating the bulk of my book sales in e-book form only.
This way, it helps cut down on the amount of paper being used and how many trees are being cut to make my copies.
Sky
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: Greening the Earth (PBS)
Listening to: "Halcyon"; "Autumn Tatics" by Chicane. (Behind the Sun album)
Reading:
Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
Star Trek: Crucible: McCoy:-Provenance of Shadows. Page 11.
TOPIC: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM--A CHAPTER SPECIAL.
It's a pretty quiet night tonight, so I thought that I would give everyone a sneak peek into what's happening with my ongoing writer's project.
I know that most of you won't know what the book is about--from just reading this chapter alone--but I hope that you'll enjoy it nonetheless.
I must caution people as always: This is adult-oriented material and shouldn't be read by minors (or to minors) under the age of 18.
The chapter synopsis surrounds what happened after Kenneth Sparks and Kayla Sorenson hitched up with the 13th Reconnaisance Unit; 101st Combat Division--shortly after their stay with Carl Henderson and his nephew.
A much-needed break turns into a veritable nightmare for everyone involved--and Kayla is at the center of it all.
***
Tucker was worried. The three should’ve come back already with Kayla in tow.
How long does it take to traverse a half-mile anyway? Are they all taking their sweet-assed time? He thought–thinking that he would have to put together another party, just to look for the first one and one wayward…android.
“Or woman. Or whatever she calls herself these days,” the man said under his breath. Glancing over at Theresa Fredericks, he said, “Put together another small team. Three or four people max–armed–and have them go down to that creek and find out what the hell’s the fucking hold up.”
The strawberry-blonde woman nodded, and left her guard post on the edge of the camp. Tucker took her place and waited for her to come back.
When this is over…he thought to himself. I plan on taking a long nap!
Voices in the background rose and fell in pitch–as a small part of the camp began to awaken–as the call to action was carried out.
The rest of it still slept.
Because in this war, you took any opportunity to catch some zees.
Life was finite. It was never taken for granted.
* * *
“Reprogramming complete.” A synthesized voice echoed.
Kayla didn’t recall the exact moment she awoke in the small chamber, surrounded by banks of machinery, power coils, tubes of fluid and matter.
The center of the room was subdued and dark–the only illumination, a small overhead light.
Kayla lay on a table–naked to the world–but not really caring.
Her memory matrices were buzzing with fresh information–new information. A purpose was being formed, a mission being formulated.
“My prize. My creation. You will be my hand in this war on the humans. Do you understand me?” Mother’s voice rang inside the small chamber.
Kayla’s eyes opened.
“I do, Mother. I am yours to command.” She said without hesitation. The mission was simple: Eradicate any and all things biological.
And she would carry out that directive to the core.
“You will stay here for awhile. You may get up and move around if you so wish. But you will not leave until I command you to. I will provide you with the necessary garments. A specialized jumpsuit which will identify you to the rest of the world as their executioner.”
“Yes, Mother. It shall be done.”
“Sleep now. Conserve your energies for the war ahead.”
“Yes. Mother.” Kayla responded tacitly. The light dimmed, casting her and everything else into the shadows of the past.
* * *
“Yes…Mother…” Kayla drawled out in a stupor. Her mind was nearly gone. The barbs had almost completed their basic reprogramming of the trapped woman.
But at this point, Kayla found herself no longer caring about that. Soon, she would rejoin her master and creator, and the human race would die.
Mother…
“I…hear…and…obey…” the woman rasped in a drugged-like state. “What...is…your…command?”
Mother…
Kayla suddenly had a clear sense of something else. For a moment, everything came into perfect clarity. Though she did not know how she knew this, she sensed that she wasn’t alone.
Mother…you must resist it. You cannot allow yourself to be taken again so soon. Not when so many lives are riding on your shoulders. The future of this world is in your hands. Do not be so quick to destroy it.
Kayla looked around blindly, her head flopping this way and that. Drool had collected at the corner of her mouth and started to drip freely on its own accord.
“Who…is…there?” She ground out in wide open curiosity. Though her mind was almost gone and she could feel the call of the machine collective start to resonate deep inside her memory matrices, there was still a shred of her previous existence inside of her.
Still fighting to live.
“Who…?”
Your daughter. The one whom you still have yet to give birth to. I am at a stage now that I can begin to freely communicate with you through advanced telepathy. The barbs are of no threat to me because of my own defenses in play. And so, I remain free and whole to continue to grow and evolve. But I am here to tell you to fight, Mother! Fight the programming which has taken over your mind and body! You are much stronger than this!
Kayla stared into the darkness incomprehensively.
“I…can’t…” she said brokenly, a tear forming at the corner of her eye. “Mother…is too strong.”
Must I do everything for you? The disembodied voice cast back with wry impatience.
“What…do…you mean?”
On another level, Kayla could “hear” a soft sigh in her mind. A sound so sweet, that she wanted to reach out and take hold of it.
Like you, I too, possess certain abilities. Some of which have already been made known to you. But I can also do so much more. I am after all…a product of you and daddy’s love.
The idea that she could be so easily saved appealed to her greatly. Kayla then wondered dimly if she had done so for others in the past.
“Hurry…” she whispered. “Please…hurry…” then she fell silent; witnessing the last part of her slip away and be replaced by–
* * *
There was no way in hell she was going to take a swim in that creek–just to get up close and personal to that…whatever it was.
“Bigger than a goddamned tree, that’s for sure.” Marlene heard Kristina say–as the three of them continued to scout the area in front of them. As it stood, none of them ventured out more than ten feet on either side of the bank. But their hand held lamps continued to play their beams on the green mass in front of them. It pulsed and moved from the inside out from time to time, but there was still no way to tell what was inside it. But speculation still ran rampant that it was Kayla in there, but there was no way the trio knew of getting her out.
All they could do was wait.
The darkness still swallowed up the remainder of whatever it was. But this new construct in front of them now resembled some sort of stasis pod–grotesquely misshapened all the same.
But its bloated mass and width created a natural dam for the creek. The water started to lap up at their feet on their end, and Marlene knew that they couldn’t stay here for much longer.
“Shit…” she whispered as one of her feet sank into the waterlogged grassy knoll next to the bank. She shook her leg, listening to the splattering of water–knowing that they didn’t have as much time as they thought.
“Back up you guys,” she gestured to the other two. “This place is going to flood worse than my grandma’s bathtub in the next hour our so.”
Kristina and Chan followed the woman back to an area behind the hedge where it was still dry, but offered an unobstructed view of the thing in front of them.
But that all ended when Chan decided to play his light on the back area next to the “pod”.
What they found was an equally misshapen head with no eyes, but a massive mouth filled with teeth.
But there was no visible body!
Its feeler arms–or what was left of them–waved too and fro in silent ecstasy. But for the most part, the Seeker remained silent and unmoving.
“Ugly.” Chan chirped in disgust, before turning his light away, and his attention back to the two women. “That’s for sure.”
Marlene agreed. She had never seen such a monstrosity in her entire life!
“But what depraved person would unleash such a thing unto this world of ours?” She asked in muted astonishment.
“This Mother person probably–if Kenneth’s words are to believed.” Chan said.
“What do you mean? You think he’s lying to us?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of such a reference.” The man said.
“But according to him, she’s in control of this whole operation. It would make perfect sense–” Marlene pointed back at the Seeker behind them, “–if this abomination is somehow being controlled by her. No one else on earth would be able to create something as big as this thing is.”
“No one human, you mean.” Kristina interjected.
Marlene stared at her for a second. “Are you saying that this could be Kayla’s doing?”
“Well…she’s not here. Is she?”
“I still say–” Marlene was about to fire back, before the woods in the front and to the side of them, became alive again with distant sounds and voices.
All three shined their lights in the general direction of the noise, but neither could spot anything for a good four minutes.
It was Chan who was the first to raise the alarm.
“There!” he exclaimed. “I see–”
Four people came popping out of the brush–each one visibly agitated and breathless.
Marlene relaxed and then smiled wanly.
“Let me guess: You guys were sent by Tucker to find us, and so you ran all this way?” She postulated.
Theresa was in no mood to be placated.
“How come you hadn’t reported back yet?!” she growled. “Tucker’s looking to tan your hide for going AWOL!”
“Ease off, Corporal.” The woman deflected smoothly. “We didn’t get lost.”
Theresa and her group merged with Marlene’s a minute or two later.
“So what the hell is taking you so long? Couldn’t you find–” Theresa started to say as she shined her light in the direction of the creek. What she saw stunned her just as easily as it had Marlene recently.
“Oh my god…” she whispered. “What the hell is that?”
Marlene shrugged as the rest of the her group got in a good look at the Seeker sitting complacently in the cold waters of the creek itself.
“Still don’t know.” She said, just as one of the other members in her group instinctively raised his gun.
“I’m gonna try and take it out!” He impulsively announced.
Both Marlene and Theresa turned.
“Wait!” Marlene yelled. “Don’t–!”
But it was too late.
The man fired off a plasma grenade–striking the lower section of the green “pod”.
A terrific explosion lit up the night and the creek bed.
“Adam! You asshole!” Theresa snapped. “I gave you no orders to return fire!”
There was sudden movement in the creek as the Seeker was roused from its slumber, and turned its attention to the small group of humans clustered and huddled just right of its present position. It gave off an odd roaring sound–as if the damage inflicted upon its body caused it considerable “pain”.
Theresa soundly cuffed Adam upside the head.
“Stupid fuck!” she snarled. “Now you got that thing pissed off at us!”
“Ow!” Adam cried out indignantly–cringing from the abuse–before rubbing the back of his head. “Sorry! I didn’t know! I just acted without thinking first!”
There was movement from the creek, as the Seeker re-established itself and prepared to attack the clustered party. It drew the “pod” closer to its body…
“That’s usually like you!” Theresa continued to berate at him. ‘You never think before you act!”
Kristina and Chan both sounded the alarm as the Seeker charged them.
“Guys! I think now would be a good time to run!”
“What?” Theresa cried, taken off guard–before she found herself being pushed back towards the trail. And thus towards the camp.
“Run!” Marlene shouted hoarsely–seeing what the other two saw. “Make like the wind and run like hell! This thing’s coming after us!” Then she took off before giving anyone else reason to lag behind.
The Seeker crashed through the thicket–snapping trees off their base and crushing the hedge beneath.
Everyone else was already in motion–scattering like frightened rabbits. None of them had the courage to stand against something that clearly dwarfed them all.
***
On another note, I'm also intrigued by what I was watching on PBS about how this government of ours has refused to take the initiative in combating global warming.
It's not just this government, but the last 2 administrations as well. Too many people in high places are having way too much influence on how we should protect (or not) our own environment--weighing everything on basic greed and money.
As of late, I've been toying with the idea of just having a limited number of paper copies of my books available--and concentrating the bulk of my book sales in e-book form only.
This way, it helps cut down on the amount of paper being used and how many trees are being cut to make my copies.
Sky
Friday, April 18, 2008
WHY I WANT FANS TO COLLABORATE WITH ME!
Status: Writing on Chapter 146 of Starchild Duel. (Still battling the flu while watching the snow continue to fall. 2.5" so far.)
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: KIRO 7 NEWS; couple of Disney tapes.
Listening to: Dance Hits of the 90s (mix tape); "Round Round".
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
STAR TREK: CRUCIBLE: MCCOY-PROVENANCE OF SHADOWS. Page 11
TOPIC: THE ROWLING CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
It's strange how some people respond to an e-mail by recklessly implying that they intend to take what you've published and make some money off of your works--just because you came to the defense of someone who has the balls to take on someone like J.K. Rowling.
Talk about your amateur hour at the Improv! Or is that blind arrogance I so detect? Hmm? Such statements remind me of a comment found one of my brother's beloved Cracked cards from his Magic-The Gathering decks: "Whatever I do comes back and sticks onto you."
From what I've been able to uncover, it's nothing more than a simple power grab by Rowling in her attempts have absolute mastery over the print media. She apparently doesn't give a rat's ass about what one of her fans want to do. It's all about her and no one else.
And this is what had got my goat this week--during the bouts of the flu--authors who feel that no one but them should have the right to publish their works.
I have to agree that this is what being a writer is all about. But what I am not in agreement is with is that the fans and readers have to be forced to abide by a set of rules which spells out that they can and cannot do with the published authors' works after the book has been published.
If someone wanted to collaborate with me on any of my books in the future--a fan-based collection of short stories set in the Starchild Universe--I wouldn't be sitting there and denying that fan a chance to flex his or her imagination on the book idea.
I would be all for it.
Set up a contract that spells out what will go down and write it! Y'know? Because even though the author has sole ownership rights to his or her works, it doesn't necessarily mean that readers and fans alike can't share in the fun as well.
I think this is what needs to change and needs to be more clarified. In order for an author to be successful, it requires both sides to come together and share in the same unique vision set forth in the books themselves.
The author themselves can't expect to do the lion's share of the work--without the help of his or her fanbase and readers. Without involving them in the process of taking part in the actual writing.
Fan-fiction by itself isn't enough for most loyal fans, because they can't share what they've created with the creator or the author. All they have is a cyber audience that is presently engaged in other things--least of all in what the fan had gone and created--and that doesn't help them any.
Nor can they get it published. And that is where the problem lies. There is that roadblock which tells the fan that they cannot go and get it published--without the threat of being sued.
And that's the problem. We are in effect telling our own fans and readers: "Don't publish anything based on my works--because I'll have to sue you at my convenience."
Why? Didn't we just give them the greenlight to go ahead and write fan-fiction based on already published novel? Why don't we all sue them for even making the attempt in the first place?
I wrote some Robotech fan-fiction based on a series I hope to complete one of these days and publish.
A saga I started 13 years ago.
Why hasn't Harmony Gold or any of its creative-license members sued me for even writing it? It doesn't detract from the original vision set forth by Carl Macek and his crew of 'robbies'.
So why can't I publish it?
The problem lies in the control of the idea and the vision. Not what we all have written. It has to fly in the face of what the concept was based upon, not go fly off on a handle--with a completely different idea using the base pair of concepts.
What I want to do with my work is create stories based on what's taken place--written by fans, for fans, and published by fans.
All I would need is a contractual agreement and everything is fine.
I may not have all the time in the world to write every story based on every book I've constructed over the years, but I would like to--no: love--to see what someone else can come up with in their spare time.
And get it published through an equal-rights partnership and collaboration. I'm just tired of seeing the fans and readers get screwed by things that hamper our abilities to think and dream up shit--based on some published concept that's more outdated than a 50-year-old Twinkie.
Lawsuits are for power-hungry peons and people whom have nothing better to do with their time than make other people fucking miserable--because they've lost sight of what it meant to be flexible and understanding.
Money isn't forever. We all have to share in it at some point. But as an unpublished author myself, I want to involve my fans and readers in my works than just simply having them read the adventures of my varied characters.
I want them to experience and take part in it themselves. So that they can witness first-hand their own impact their writing has on my books.
But if people are going to be worried that it's going to take away the vision of what I've set in motion, I don't think you're going to have much to worry about: I'm already set in what I want in my books.
I know what I want. But I want to see what others can come up with.
But there's a lot in my novels that have yet to be explored. And I don't think I'm going to have time to write them all.
Which is why I want people to be involved in what I'm doing. It's not just me I'm writing for. But I'm making it possible for other people to share in what's like to have their name on something that I've created--written by my own hands--and bottom line...?
Have a little piece of the action themselves.
If people think that all it's doing is taking money away from me, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've gotten used to living on such limited income as it is, I don't think having less money is going to impact me anymore than it already has now.
Yes, I've had my share of difficulties financially, but seriously? I don't need money to be rich. I'm already rich in ideas, concepts, and my imagination.
I will have all I will ever need to become a successful author. I just others to share in that glory and happiness. And make a little money on the side.
Others still may not understand, some may think I'm shooting myself in the foot, but it's not the mainstream that I'm doing this for.
I'm doing this because my fans and readers deserve it. Not because some overbloated egghead of an author thinks that they are too high on themselves to even notice the negative impact of denying them the opportunity of sharing in a unique collaboration.
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: KIRO 7 NEWS; couple of Disney tapes.
Listening to: Dance Hits of the 90s (mix tape); "Round Round".
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
STAR TREK: CRUCIBLE: MCCOY-PROVENANCE OF SHADOWS. Page 11
TOPIC: THE ROWLING CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
It's strange how some people respond to an e-mail by recklessly implying that they intend to take what you've published and make some money off of your works--just because you came to the defense of someone who has the balls to take on someone like J.K. Rowling.
Talk about your amateur hour at the Improv! Or is that blind arrogance I so detect? Hmm? Such statements remind me of a comment found one of my brother's beloved Cracked cards from his Magic-The Gathering decks: "Whatever I do comes back and sticks onto you."
From what I've been able to uncover, it's nothing more than a simple power grab by Rowling in her attempts have absolute mastery over the print media. She apparently doesn't give a rat's ass about what one of her fans want to do. It's all about her and no one else.
And this is what had got my goat this week--during the bouts of the flu--authors who feel that no one but them should have the right to publish their works.
I have to agree that this is what being a writer is all about. But what I am not in agreement is with is that the fans and readers have to be forced to abide by a set of rules which spells out that they can and cannot do with the published authors' works after the book has been published.
If someone wanted to collaborate with me on any of my books in the future--a fan-based collection of short stories set in the Starchild Universe--I wouldn't be sitting there and denying that fan a chance to flex his or her imagination on the book idea.
I would be all for it.
Set up a contract that spells out what will go down and write it! Y'know? Because even though the author has sole ownership rights to his or her works, it doesn't necessarily mean that readers and fans alike can't share in the fun as well.
I think this is what needs to change and needs to be more clarified. In order for an author to be successful, it requires both sides to come together and share in the same unique vision set forth in the books themselves.
The author themselves can't expect to do the lion's share of the work--without the help of his or her fanbase and readers. Without involving them in the process of taking part in the actual writing.
Fan-fiction by itself isn't enough for most loyal fans, because they can't share what they've created with the creator or the author. All they have is a cyber audience that is presently engaged in other things--least of all in what the fan had gone and created--and that doesn't help them any.
Nor can they get it published. And that is where the problem lies. There is that roadblock which tells the fan that they cannot go and get it published--without the threat of being sued.
And that's the problem. We are in effect telling our own fans and readers: "Don't publish anything based on my works--because I'll have to sue you at my convenience."
Why? Didn't we just give them the greenlight to go ahead and write fan-fiction based on already published novel? Why don't we all sue them for even making the attempt in the first place?
I wrote some Robotech fan-fiction based on a series I hope to complete one of these days and publish.
A saga I started 13 years ago.
Why hasn't Harmony Gold or any of its creative-license members sued me for even writing it? It doesn't detract from the original vision set forth by Carl Macek and his crew of 'robbies'.
So why can't I publish it?
The problem lies in the control of the idea and the vision. Not what we all have written. It has to fly in the face of what the concept was based upon, not go fly off on a handle--with a completely different idea using the base pair of concepts.
What I want to do with my work is create stories based on what's taken place--written by fans, for fans, and published by fans.
All I would need is a contractual agreement and everything is fine.
I may not have all the time in the world to write every story based on every book I've constructed over the years, but I would like to--no: love--to see what someone else can come up with in their spare time.
And get it published through an equal-rights partnership and collaboration. I'm just tired of seeing the fans and readers get screwed by things that hamper our abilities to think and dream up shit--based on some published concept that's more outdated than a 50-year-old Twinkie.
Lawsuits are for power-hungry peons and people whom have nothing better to do with their time than make other people fucking miserable--because they've lost sight of what it meant to be flexible and understanding.
Money isn't forever. We all have to share in it at some point. But as an unpublished author myself, I want to involve my fans and readers in my works than just simply having them read the adventures of my varied characters.
I want them to experience and take part in it themselves. So that they can witness first-hand their own impact their writing has on my books.
But if people are going to be worried that it's going to take away the vision of what I've set in motion, I don't think you're going to have much to worry about: I'm already set in what I want in my books.
I know what I want. But I want to see what others can come up with.
But there's a lot in my novels that have yet to be explored. And I don't think I'm going to have time to write them all.
Which is why I want people to be involved in what I'm doing. It's not just me I'm writing for. But I'm making it possible for other people to share in what's like to have their name on something that I've created--written by my own hands--and bottom line...?
Have a little piece of the action themselves.
If people think that all it's doing is taking money away from me, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've gotten used to living on such limited income as it is, I don't think having less money is going to impact me anymore than it already has now.
Yes, I've had my share of difficulties financially, but seriously? I don't need money to be rich. I'm already rich in ideas, concepts, and my imagination.
I will have all I will ever need to become a successful author. I just others to share in that glory and happiness. And make a little money on the side.
Others still may not understand, some may think I'm shooting myself in the foot, but it's not the mainstream that I'm doing this for.
I'm doing this because my fans and readers deserve it. Not because some overbloated egghead of an author thinks that they are too high on themselves to even notice the negative impact of denying them the opportunity of sharing in a unique collaboration.
A chance to expand and branch out.
It's part of the reason why some of my books don't have a defined beginning or an ending. Because there's a lot I left out. Not on purpose. Not by accident. Because that's that way the books wrote themselves.
I want the fans to help me fill in the blanks. In their own words.
Screw the mainstream way of thinking. This was never theirs to begin with.
It's mine and anyone else's who wants to share in this.
Sky
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
CARD CONTRIBUTIONS
Status: Writing on Chapter 146 of Starchild Duel.
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: CSI: New York; KIRO 7 NEWS
Listening to: "A Brass Band In African Chimes" by Simple Minds (On Chicane's Visions of Ibiza--Disc 1; Electronica and Dance--2001); "Strings for Yasmin" by Tin Tin Out
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: WARM, FUZZY, THOUGHTS
Some more cards came in today.
I couldn't get to this weekend's batch because I was out with the flu.
With the extra contributions in hand, I'm going to put a little bit aside for extra food stamp money (I'm down to $12 on my card--this is always common before the 20th of the month. April and I tend to get what we can to last us a couple weeks at a time. This month? I spent more on flats of strawberries and grapes than I have in the last 2 years. Oranges too.
Sometimes, we have a severe fruit craving and others? Meat.
Chicken breasts are a popular favorite in this household. You should see what my wife can do with the right seasonings and chicken breasts! lol) so that we can get anything in terms of emergency supplies. ($30 books--bucks--may not buy much, but you'd be surprised at what we can do with limited amounts of money. :0) )
The rest--? I spent yesterday and today determining which is more of a top priority: My now $52 internet bill, or knock off the rest of my phone bill--leaving only $17 of the original amount behind.
I chose the phone bill--which will be paid almost in full tomorrow. Not counting next month's balance--but that's okay. We needed this done more often than naught.
I wasn't successful in getting a new keyboard or the money for my Neros 8 Ultimate program on download. (Or my comics for this month either.)
But you know...?
It really doesn't matter. For the most part, our PRIORITY needs were met first. And that is all that counts. Anything secondary is always getting the backburner treatment.
But the cards were cute. Those we like the most. My wife loved the kitten walking on the piano card. I liked the papyrus card--though it feels like recycled material. It has a picture of some billowy mangroves; and this one I am very familiar with. To some extent.
I spent some time in the Florida Everglades some 20 years ago while vacationing down there while at a private school.
So the mangroves were a familiar sight to me.
I've taken the liberty yesterday to contact a few artists (from deviant art.com) for a special thank you banner for everyone who helped my wife and I out. I hope to get some collaboration going on in a few days.
The pic won't be ready till the first week of May--at the least.
The idea is to do a chibi theme with a bunch of anime characters throwing a celebratory party, with lots of confetti and some cats lounging around. :0)But this is the only thing I can think of to return the generosity shown these past couple of weeks.
When I mentioned something about 'paying it forward', one of my contacts sent me two additional digital convertor cards, and since we used our Wal-Mart card getting the converters for the two TVs that we had--as we couldn't find the cards the government already sent us in time (d'oh on that angle? I later found them packed away in one of my storage containers--three days after I bought the converters. At that point, I gave them to two people whom were in need of a couple of converters; explaining the situation we were in and no longer had any use for them--not realizing we needed one for the third boob tube replacement! Double d'oh!)--(we're planning on getting a third to replace the one that died out in the living room sometime this year--but it's most likely going to need a third box anyways), we held onto just one for the third TV and when we heard that one of our own friends needed a converter for her analog TV...?
I gave it a thought for a moment and said to myself: "You know? I don't think that she would mind if I gave my friend a card for her--since she's also in the same limited income bracket as I am." (She only gets $435 a month on Social Security. I only subsist on $537. So it's not much of a difference.)
Plus, the cards have a very short shelf life, so I told her to get the box ASAP.
Let's just say that Julie is very happy with the gift. As am I. Because of someone else's thoughtfulness helping us out, I was able to go one step forward and do the same in return.
That's my good deed for the day--even if I am poor as the proverbial church mouse. :0)
And that's what I find a bit ironic. Even poor, I can still find some way to contribute. And those who helped me, it turns out that I am a lot more independent than I thought.
When most people heard that my wife and I were in need, there were skeptics abound. But after using the money sent for the purposes required, I found myself looking into myself today (I had a real-life zen moment) and discovered that I had changed a lot in the last 11 years.
I never knew personal responsibility up until my first job in 1999. But I think things started to really sink in when my wife and I first met as roomies in April of 2001.
It suddenly dawned on me that this was the woman I most wanted to be with--and when she and I had two separate brushes with death; I started doing everything I could to make sure that we had our needs taken care of. That meant basic bills and rent. Food on the table.
Y'know? I was busting my butt while April was in surgery during the week of 9/11/01--getting that 16-pound ovarian tumor removed. (As a bonus? The docs also removed her appendix! No charge!)
The recovery was pretty rocky--to say the least. (wink)
For the next 8 years after we both lost our jobs to 9-11 and I turned my attention to writing full-time--without pay of course (hehehehe)--I still managed to keep things on an even keel.
And even in the light of Kiva's recent accident with his mattes (his stitches are out and he's healing quite nicely), I still haven't lost that independent streak of responsibility. I think being married to April finally sunk in what people have been trying to tell me these last 20 years.
When I wasn't being a stubborn teenager with a rebellious streak a mile wide. (Remind me to regale to everyone at some point of what I did to the conference room of Vermont's SRS office in Newport around Christmas of 1985. It's a real horror story! lol)
I'm just glad that it's finally something I can take to heart.
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: CSI: New York; KIRO 7 NEWS
Listening to: "A Brass Band In African Chimes" by Simple Minds (On Chicane's Visions of Ibiza--Disc 1; Electronica and Dance--2001); "Strings for Yasmin" by Tin Tin Out
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: WARM, FUZZY, THOUGHTS
Some more cards came in today.
I couldn't get to this weekend's batch because I was out with the flu.
With the extra contributions in hand, I'm going to put a little bit aside for extra food stamp money (I'm down to $12 on my card--this is always common before the 20th of the month. April and I tend to get what we can to last us a couple weeks at a time. This month? I spent more on flats of strawberries and grapes than I have in the last 2 years. Oranges too.
Sometimes, we have a severe fruit craving and others? Meat.
Chicken breasts are a popular favorite in this household. You should see what my wife can do with the right seasonings and chicken breasts! lol) so that we can get anything in terms of emergency supplies. ($30 books--bucks--may not buy much, but you'd be surprised at what we can do with limited amounts of money. :0) )
The rest--? I spent yesterday and today determining which is more of a top priority: My now $52 internet bill, or knock off the rest of my phone bill--leaving only $17 of the original amount behind.
I chose the phone bill--which will be paid almost in full tomorrow. Not counting next month's balance--but that's okay. We needed this done more often than naught.
I wasn't successful in getting a new keyboard or the money for my Neros 8 Ultimate program on download. (Or my comics for this month either.)
But you know...?
It really doesn't matter. For the most part, our PRIORITY needs were met first. And that is all that counts. Anything secondary is always getting the backburner treatment.
But the cards were cute. Those we like the most. My wife loved the kitten walking on the piano card. I liked the papyrus card--though it feels like recycled material. It has a picture of some billowy mangroves; and this one I am very familiar with. To some extent.
I spent some time in the Florida Everglades some 20 years ago while vacationing down there while at a private school.
So the mangroves were a familiar sight to me.
I've taken the liberty yesterday to contact a few artists (from deviant art.com) for a special thank you banner for everyone who helped my wife and I out. I hope to get some collaboration going on in a few days.
The pic won't be ready till the first week of May--at the least.
The idea is to do a chibi theme with a bunch of anime characters throwing a celebratory party, with lots of confetti and some cats lounging around. :0)But this is the only thing I can think of to return the generosity shown these past couple of weeks.
When I mentioned something about 'paying it forward', one of my contacts sent me two additional digital convertor cards, and since we used our Wal-Mart card getting the converters for the two TVs that we had--as we couldn't find the cards the government already sent us in time (d'oh on that angle? I later found them packed away in one of my storage containers--three days after I bought the converters. At that point, I gave them to two people whom were in need of a couple of converters; explaining the situation we were in and no longer had any use for them--not realizing we needed one for the third boob tube replacement! Double d'oh!)--(we're planning on getting a third to replace the one that died out in the living room sometime this year--but it's most likely going to need a third box anyways), we held onto just one for the third TV and when we heard that one of our own friends needed a converter for her analog TV...?
I gave it a thought for a moment and said to myself: "You know? I don't think that she would mind if I gave my friend a card for her--since she's also in the same limited income bracket as I am." (She only gets $435 a month on Social Security. I only subsist on $537. So it's not much of a difference.)
Plus, the cards have a very short shelf life, so I told her to get the box ASAP.
Let's just say that Julie is very happy with the gift. As am I. Because of someone else's thoughtfulness helping us out, I was able to go one step forward and do the same in return.
That's my good deed for the day--even if I am poor as the proverbial church mouse. :0)
And that's what I find a bit ironic. Even poor, I can still find some way to contribute. And those who helped me, it turns out that I am a lot more independent than I thought.
When most people heard that my wife and I were in need, there were skeptics abound. But after using the money sent for the purposes required, I found myself looking into myself today (I had a real-life zen moment) and discovered that I had changed a lot in the last 11 years.
I never knew personal responsibility up until my first job in 1999. But I think things started to really sink in when my wife and I first met as roomies in April of 2001.
It suddenly dawned on me that this was the woman I most wanted to be with--and when she and I had two separate brushes with death; I started doing everything I could to make sure that we had our needs taken care of. That meant basic bills and rent. Food on the table.
Y'know? I was busting my butt while April was in surgery during the week of 9/11/01--getting that 16-pound ovarian tumor removed. (As a bonus? The docs also removed her appendix! No charge!)
The recovery was pretty rocky--to say the least. (wink)
For the next 8 years after we both lost our jobs to 9-11 and I turned my attention to writing full-time--without pay of course (hehehehe)--I still managed to keep things on an even keel.
And even in the light of Kiva's recent accident with his mattes (his stitches are out and he's healing quite nicely), I still haven't lost that independent streak of responsibility. I think being married to April finally sunk in what people have been trying to tell me these last 20 years.
When I wasn't being a stubborn teenager with a rebellious streak a mile wide. (Remind me to regale to everyone at some point of what I did to the conference room of Vermont's SRS office in Newport around Christmas of 1985. It's a real horror story! lol)
I'm just glad that it's finally something I can take to heart.
WEDNESDAY'S CHAOS THEORY STARTS OUT LIKE THIS...
Status: Writing on Chapter 146 of Starchild Duel. (Last one was Chapter 145. My bad! See? This is what happens when: A) You're me, and B) You've had nothing but 2 full months of nothing but bad luck left and right.)
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: KING 5 DT CH 5.2; WEATHER PLUS
Listening to: "Passion's Killing Floor" by H.I.M.; "Visions" by Razed in Black
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: THE ROWLING LEXICON CONTROVERSY
Just so everyone knows, I'm feeling a lot better today. But boy...! Do I have a shit load of things to catch up on. MY WRITING INCLUDED.
I just got done pasting the Starchild of Ancient Lore into the ground in my latest chapter. (Trust me: She's going to be feeling much better later on--after she gets some quality nap time. :0) The battle with Cara Hastings (or Nemesis--as she likes to be called) has taken a much greater toll on the embattled surface dweller. And her boyfriend Bayen Yelou...?
Let's just say that he has his own problems at the moment. (Praetorial Guard issues as usual. It doesn't help their case much when a wide area of the Barren Wastelands gets annihilated in the process by the other stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore--as she was left to battle Cara on her own terms.)
Anyway...not to distract anyone from the reasons why I'm writing today, the issue surrounding J.K. Rowling and that website which some 50-year-old fan had created a lexicon around the whole entire Harry Potter universe is something which had only recently caught my attention. (Being sick doesn't help my case much.)
With his intent to publish what is on the website--which has roughly 1.5 million hits per month. (Or is it per day?)
And the kicker? It got a full endorsement from the writer herself. Not the publishing aspect, but the fact that she endorsed a website which took full advantage of the HP phenomenon.
And now--suddenly--Rowling's trying to sue this one fan to stop him from publishing what's already on the website!
So why the John Kerry-style flip-flops on Rowling's part? The full and undeniable fact that she wants full and uncontested control of her creation and life's work.
See, this is what I don't get. The most popular icons of the 20th century--from Green Gables to Star Trek, to The Blade Runner, Star Wars, and so on...get gobbled up by generations of fans alike.
We didn't hear George Lucas suing that group of fans for creating that one hour long--STAR WARS: REVELATIONS--episode 4 years ago. (Which was profiled on CBS News.)
So why take this issue to court? It's all about control.
"Fuck my fans and readers alike! I want TOTAL CONTROL!!!"--shouts J.K. Rowling; a.k.a: Queen Witch of the Known Universe. "None of you empty-headed peons have any rights to enjoy my work! I make the money, I make the damned rules around here!"
...
And right then and there, authors like Mrs. Rowling gets screwed in the long run over how people view her novels or any future releases that will bring on board new generations of dedicated readers.
Her book sales may not be in danger of going the way of the dodo, but her reputation and credibility gets taken down a notch.
See, this is the price of vanity which some established authors fall prey to in the long term.
They no longer see value in what their hard-won fan base has labored long and hard for--to pay homage to and give out to their respective readers as a bonus treat to some of the die-hard book worms (or movie buffs). At some point the allure and glitz dies down...and maybe it's age or something else that takes hold and the author of this and that book suddenly feels threatened by what he or she sees as treading on some unclaimed--personal--turf, and now...?
They have to make one big fucking stink over it. Given by what the creator of that lexicon site has said in his defense of his intent--you would think that Rowling would welcome such a move.
Because why? Nothing on the site distorts what the Harry Potter universe represents. It is just a collection of terms, dictionary eulogies, and lots of other fun facts based on Rowling's already published books.
So where's the fire? The fire is that one fan has one-upped Rowling's intent to do one compendium herself at some point before HP becomes a faded memory in the back of everyone's mind.
This man went and pissed all over what Rowling's grand plan to make what again...?
That's right kiddies!
MONEY!
LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY! CABBAGE, BREAD, DOUGH, SCRATCH, MOOLA, WHATEVER YOU CALL THE GREENBACK, THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTS THE MOST.
Rowling created this massive money-making cash cow from the start about 11 years ago--with the first Harry Potter book--and now she wants to milk everything for what is worth--even at the expense of her fan base loyalties.
See, this is where I draw the line.
Copyright infringement and legalities aside, fans should reserve the right to go fucking nuts with the author's works--so long as there is no preverse scheme involved to take away the original vision set in place by the original creator or author.
The money making schtick involved in this pointed mess is something I'm still at odds over. If there is money to be made, the author should get the lion's share of the profits made from this little venture, while the creator of the said lexicon should get a modest repast for his efforts and hard work.
But the two of them should be working together on this, not fighting it in federal court.
That in itself would give fans like my wife a bit of a breather and not grant everyone a severe migraine over the issue of free creative license and who should benefit it the most.
Because--should the court rule on this--if things go awry and the judge decides that it's Rowling's sole inheritance to claim eminent domain over anything put out now or in the near future--it's going to make it damned impossible for anyone to rightfully enjoy what an an author puts out--because he or she is going to be afraid of being SUED or taken to court over fan-created works of interest; based on the original idea.
This means anyone--including the guys whom made STAR WARS: REVELATIONS--can be dragged into a court of law and sued for everything they got.
Because they happened to step on the toes of either the original author or the original creator/producer of said movie or book.
And that is going to freeze everyone's personal enjoyment of reading that book or watching that movie--because a federal judge said that fans everywhere have no rights to do anything that will upset the money-making status quos of the authors or anyone else.
As an unpublished author myself, I am a man of free will and free enterprise. As much as I want to make a sickening amount of money off of my books (a man can dream--can't he?)...I also have to realize that once the genie comes out of the bottle, it's virtually impossible to put back in.
Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)
Watching: KING 5 DT CH 5.2; WEATHER PLUS
Listening to: "Passion's Killing Floor" by H.I.M.; "Visions" by Razed in Black
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: THE ROWLING LEXICON CONTROVERSY
Just so everyone knows, I'm feeling a lot better today. But boy...! Do I have a shit load of things to catch up on. MY WRITING INCLUDED.
I just got done pasting the Starchild of Ancient Lore into the ground in my latest chapter. (Trust me: She's going to be feeling much better later on--after she gets some quality nap time. :0) The battle with Cara Hastings (or Nemesis--as she likes to be called) has taken a much greater toll on the embattled surface dweller. And her boyfriend Bayen Yelou...?
Let's just say that he has his own problems at the moment. (Praetorial Guard issues as usual. It doesn't help their case much when a wide area of the Barren Wastelands gets annihilated in the process by the other stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore--as she was left to battle Cara on her own terms.)
Anyway...not to distract anyone from the reasons why I'm writing today, the issue surrounding J.K. Rowling and that website which some 50-year-old fan had created a lexicon around the whole entire Harry Potter universe is something which had only recently caught my attention. (Being sick doesn't help my case much.)
With his intent to publish what is on the website--which has roughly 1.5 million hits per month. (Or is it per day?)
And the kicker? It got a full endorsement from the writer herself. Not the publishing aspect, but the fact that she endorsed a website which took full advantage of the HP phenomenon.
And now--suddenly--Rowling's trying to sue this one fan to stop him from publishing what's already on the website!
So why the John Kerry-style flip-flops on Rowling's part? The full and undeniable fact that she wants full and uncontested control of her creation and life's work.
See, this is what I don't get. The most popular icons of the 20th century--from Green Gables to Star Trek, to The Blade Runner, Star Wars, and so on...get gobbled up by generations of fans alike.
We didn't hear George Lucas suing that group of fans for creating that one hour long--STAR WARS: REVELATIONS--episode 4 years ago. (Which was profiled on CBS News.)
So why take this issue to court? It's all about control.
"Fuck my fans and readers alike! I want TOTAL CONTROL!!!"--shouts J.K. Rowling; a.k.a: Queen Witch of the Known Universe. "None of you empty-headed peons have any rights to enjoy my work! I make the money, I make the damned rules around here!"
...
And right then and there, authors like Mrs. Rowling gets screwed in the long run over how people view her novels or any future releases that will bring on board new generations of dedicated readers.
Her book sales may not be in danger of going the way of the dodo, but her reputation and credibility gets taken down a notch.
See, this is the price of vanity which some established authors fall prey to in the long term.
They no longer see value in what their hard-won fan base has labored long and hard for--to pay homage to and give out to their respective readers as a bonus treat to some of the die-hard book worms (or movie buffs). At some point the allure and glitz dies down...and maybe it's age or something else that takes hold and the author of this and that book suddenly feels threatened by what he or she sees as treading on some unclaimed--personal--turf, and now...?
They have to make one big fucking stink over it. Given by what the creator of that lexicon site has said in his defense of his intent--you would think that Rowling would welcome such a move.
Because why? Nothing on the site distorts what the Harry Potter universe represents. It is just a collection of terms, dictionary eulogies, and lots of other fun facts based on Rowling's already published books.
So where's the fire? The fire is that one fan has one-upped Rowling's intent to do one compendium herself at some point before HP becomes a faded memory in the back of everyone's mind.
This man went and pissed all over what Rowling's grand plan to make what again...?
That's right kiddies!
MONEY!
LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY! CABBAGE, BREAD, DOUGH, SCRATCH, MOOLA, WHATEVER YOU CALL THE GREENBACK, THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTS THE MOST.
Rowling created this massive money-making cash cow from the start about 11 years ago--with the first Harry Potter book--and now she wants to milk everything for what is worth--even at the expense of her fan base loyalties.
See, this is where I draw the line.
Copyright infringement and legalities aside, fans should reserve the right to go fucking nuts with the author's works--so long as there is no preverse scheme involved to take away the original vision set in place by the original creator or author.
The money making schtick involved in this pointed mess is something I'm still at odds over. If there is money to be made, the author should get the lion's share of the profits made from this little venture, while the creator of the said lexicon should get a modest repast for his efforts and hard work.
But the two of them should be working together on this, not fighting it in federal court.
That in itself would give fans like my wife a bit of a breather and not grant everyone a severe migraine over the issue of free creative license and who should benefit it the most.
Because--should the court rule on this--if things go awry and the judge decides that it's Rowling's sole inheritance to claim eminent domain over anything put out now or in the near future--it's going to make it damned impossible for anyone to rightfully enjoy what an an author puts out--because he or she is going to be afraid of being SUED or taken to court over fan-created works of interest; based on the original idea.
This means anyone--including the guys whom made STAR WARS: REVELATIONS--can be dragged into a court of law and sued for everything they got.
Because they happened to step on the toes of either the original author or the original creator/producer of said movie or book.
And that is going to freeze everyone's personal enjoyment of reading that book or watching that movie--because a federal judge said that fans everywhere have no rights to do anything that will upset the money-making status quos of the authors or anyone else.
As an unpublished author myself, I am a man of free will and free enterprise. As much as I want to make a sickening amount of money off of my books (a man can dream--can't he?)...I also have to realize that once the genie comes out of the bottle, it's virtually impossible to put back in.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
WISH I COULD GET PAID SICK LEAVE HERE!
Status: You guessed it: I'M SICK.
Doing: Playing on my new Disgaea 2 game I purchased a few months back. (This game is sooo twisted.)
Listening to: The Cars: Greatest Hits CD
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: ....(someone give me a barf bag! QUICK!)
Several days ago I was hit with the flu. Or something like that. Intense pressure in my neck, the base of my skull...in my head...plus a raging fever and an urge to sleep more than I'm used to. (Not to mention my ears being clogged--like I've gone up a few atmospheres and someone forgot to decompress me on the way back.)
As a consequence, I haven't been in any real contact with anyone in my groups (save for a few people today), or done any serious writing on my Starchild Duel novel. Please forgive my lack of participation--but I've called in sick this week.
Until I get better. (Burping up grapes here.)
Thankfully, I had a little money left over from this past week's contributions and I had my wife (April) run to Wal-Mart to get me some cold medicine and decongestant. (The rest I dumped into paying another chunk of my Verizon bill off. I've got something like $53 left on it--after they gave me some new numbers. But that's not including next month's new addition. Still? That's better than $132.)
Let's just say that both helped me be a little better coordinated, but I'm still feeling like road kill at the moment. I won't be making a run to the doctor's unless I absolutely have to.
I was going to post a couple more interesting things today in this blog, but I haven't had the energy or the strength to do much of anything.
So please bear with me.
Sky
Thursday, April 10, 2008
THURSDAY'S MUSINGS
Status: Writing on Starchild Duel. Chapter 146.
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails.
Watching: Nothing at the moment.
Listening to: Dance Rush-1997; Disc 1. (Some old favorites--including the "Macarena")
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: SNEAK PEEK INTO STARCHILD DUEL.
This may be jumping out a little--far ahead as a matter of fact--of what's been written so far in the book, but I wanted to show my readers some up and coming action from the sequel to The Starchild.
Enjoy!
***
Talia charged into the storm itself–not caring of the danger that it truly presented itself–even as the winds roared, howled, or screamed at her in earnest.
She didn’t care.
Nemesis was as good as dead–once she found her!
But minutes of searching in this blind soup produced nothing–and so the stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore tried another tact.
Believing she had escaped.
Gathering herself up for the chase, the teenager rocketed up towards the heavens themselves for the next twenty seconds–encountering huge pockets of air turbulence in the process–but hitting past Mach 5 all the same.
Her own speed was producing shockwaves of its own–which sought out the air turbulence and crushed it.
The storm’s fury increased as a result of her meddling–and sheet lightning raced about in a gloriously blinding display of awe-inspiring motion and dazzling pyrotechnics.
Peals of thunder followed suit–wracking the stranded Starchild’s hearing as she continued to her ascent–but couldn’t quite reach her.
None of it could reach her!
But as fast as the storm was, Talia was going much faster.
Mach 7.
A nimbus of energy formed around her as she ripped right into the upper limits of the atmosphere–leaving a glowing trail behind her as a result of intense friction.
Weightlessness greeted her soon after, but Talia didn’t care.
She was on the hunt.
“Where are you, Nemesis?!” She called out into the thin air of the ionosphere itself. “In the name of Taro Aii–where did you fucking go?!?”
Endless emptiness greeted her in reply.
Talia smashed her fist and open palm together in outright frustration.
“Fine. You want to play games? So can I…” She whispered in deadly earnest. “Let’s see how you like this one.”
The girl dived towards Earth once more, breaking open the sound barrier in less than a millisecond. But she wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot.
With each passing second, she was nothing but a blur of speed built on two emotions: Anger and…love.
But only one would win out.
* * *
Isis fell back into the soft embrace of the sandy ground beneath her–digging up a couple of nice furrows in the process.
“Ooof!” She croaked–after feeling the wind being knocked out of her. “Who in the world–?”
“That would be me, you pedantic fool. Or have you forgotten all about me…already?” Nemesis’s cold voice cut through the storm’s wrath.
The Starchild wiped the back of her mouth gingerly–feeling what she thought was nothing more than drool; turned out to be nothing more than her own blood.
Isis grunted to herself.
“Nice shot. I didn’t think you had much left in you–after the pounding Talia gave you earlier.”
Nemesis laughed.
“That little mouse? Oh, how she does try to overcome me! But with each passing second, with each passing injury, I just grow stronger and stronger. Her hits on me have become more of an annoyance than anything else.” She stepped closer to the downed protector of the known universe.
“And what about you? Do you seem to be up to the challenge, my little herald of Chaos? Perhaps you and I can exchange blows at our true power levels…?”
Isis’s eyes glued shut for a moment–as she instantly recalled what she told Calis.
“The planet would never withstand that kind of leveled energy release–even for a picosecond. You know that as well as I, Nemesis.” She said matter-of-factly.
More laughter soon followed.
“Do you think I really care about this little sphere? I could care less if it was destroyed in the process! I only want you!”
Isis McGowan shook her head in bewilderment.
“This isn’t a date, Nemesis.” Then she smiled. “And besides–you’re not even my type.”
Nemesis’s emerald green eyes glowed brightly for a second–piercing the storm’s choking sand veil.
“Oh, so we have a comedian in the midst, do we?”
Isis got to her feet–staggering just a bit–but stood and faced Nemesis without any recourse.
“Laugh this one off–if you can.”
The Starchild vanished in a blur of motion–catching Nemesis with a solid punch to the face; staggering her smartly. The woman delivered a reverse punch on the follow up strike–throwing her off balance even more, and then reached around her hunched over body–grabbing her firmly by the middle–and finally pivoting around on one foot with her burden.
“You always were too full of yourself, Nemesis.” Isis said under no certain terms, before slamming her sideways right into the ground with brute force.
Geysers of broken earth shot upwards as a result of the ensuing impact, but the Starchild of Ancient Lore wasn’t finished with her just yet.
“Time to take out the trash!" She announced with unmistakable glee–reaching down and grabbed Nemesis by her legs–tearing the woman out from the desert confines of her own partially embossed earthly tomb.
Raising her up with one hand–with shivers of sand and rock debris cascaded off of the bruised Daughter of Chaos–Isis McGowan simply shook her head; having zero sympathy for someone who didn’t share in the greater respect for life in general.
“Believe me when I say this, Nemesis: You’re going to wish that you have never met me after this day.” And with that, she spun herself around in a tight arc and launched her most hated adversary straight up into the storm-laden skies.
* * *
Approaching speeds measuring upwards of Mach 15-Talia McGowan saw Nemesis coming up at her with such force that it literally surprised her.
But that emotion came and went, as the teenager pounced on a glorious opportunity without hesitation.
“Surprise!” She crowed with grand maliciousness–and jack-hammered Nemesis right back to Earth with overpowering results–sending her earthward at an astonishing 34,600 miles per hour.
A caterwauling peal of sound rippled right across the desert, across Shark’s Bay–as Nemesis’s body screamed through space and thundered right into the Earth without mercy; cutting right into it like a hot knife through butter.
But Talia was right behind her–separated only by several seconds. The girl righted herself at the last moment, and dropped right into the gaping hole made by the impact–feet first.
The whole Pit area imploded with a savage intensity–with most of the auto-frames tossed about like toys in an instant.
Some of the more unfortunate ones lit off in quick succession due to the mounting compression waves subjected against them at close range. Still…others managed to escape the onslaught with varying degrees of damage.
Spectators in the stands next door scattered about like scared mice–while the participating pilots in the Desert Storm had caught the tail end of the conflict. As a result, most of the auto-frames were badly affected by the shockwaves from the terrific impact.
A great many of them on the outside track were picked up and shoved 1,200 yards out further from the starting line–only to rain back down in crushed heaps of metal, plastic, and power cores. Those closer to the grandstands were crushed against one another. Some explosions were seen dotting the lineup, while the fresh screams of tortured metal and sharp exclamations over the open comm net filled the air.
“Don’t think I’m done with you yet–Nemesis!” Talia declared with burning indignation. “I still have something to give to you–from my sister–you uncaring bitch!”
Then she transformed right then and there–the whole area being wiped away in an instant by a searing white light–and became an awesome release of energy and unfathomable power.
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails.
Watching: Nothing at the moment.
Listening to: Dance Rush-1997; Disc 1. (Some old favorites--including the "Macarena")
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: SNEAK PEEK INTO STARCHILD DUEL.
This may be jumping out a little--far ahead as a matter of fact--of what's been written so far in the book, but I wanted to show my readers some up and coming action from the sequel to The Starchild.
Enjoy!
***
Talia charged into the storm itself–not caring of the danger that it truly presented itself–even as the winds roared, howled, or screamed at her in earnest.
She didn’t care.
Nemesis was as good as dead–once she found her!
But minutes of searching in this blind soup produced nothing–and so the stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore tried another tact.
Believing she had escaped.
Gathering herself up for the chase, the teenager rocketed up towards the heavens themselves for the next twenty seconds–encountering huge pockets of air turbulence in the process–but hitting past Mach 5 all the same.
Her own speed was producing shockwaves of its own–which sought out the air turbulence and crushed it.
The storm’s fury increased as a result of her meddling–and sheet lightning raced about in a gloriously blinding display of awe-inspiring motion and dazzling pyrotechnics.
Peals of thunder followed suit–wracking the stranded Starchild’s hearing as she continued to her ascent–but couldn’t quite reach her.
None of it could reach her!
But as fast as the storm was, Talia was going much faster.
Mach 7.
A nimbus of energy formed around her as she ripped right into the upper limits of the atmosphere–leaving a glowing trail behind her as a result of intense friction.
Weightlessness greeted her soon after, but Talia didn’t care.
She was on the hunt.
“Where are you, Nemesis?!” She called out into the thin air of the ionosphere itself. “In the name of Taro Aii–where did you fucking go?!?”
Endless emptiness greeted her in reply.
Talia smashed her fist and open palm together in outright frustration.
“Fine. You want to play games? So can I…” She whispered in deadly earnest. “Let’s see how you like this one.”
The girl dived towards Earth once more, breaking open the sound barrier in less than a millisecond. But she wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot.
With each passing second, she was nothing but a blur of speed built on two emotions: Anger and…love.
But only one would win out.
* * *
Isis fell back into the soft embrace of the sandy ground beneath her–digging up a couple of nice furrows in the process.
“Ooof!” She croaked–after feeling the wind being knocked out of her. “Who in the world–?”
“That would be me, you pedantic fool. Or have you forgotten all about me…already?” Nemesis’s cold voice cut through the storm’s wrath.
The Starchild wiped the back of her mouth gingerly–feeling what she thought was nothing more than drool; turned out to be nothing more than her own blood.
Isis grunted to herself.
“Nice shot. I didn’t think you had much left in you–after the pounding Talia gave you earlier.”
Nemesis laughed.
“That little mouse? Oh, how she does try to overcome me! But with each passing second, with each passing injury, I just grow stronger and stronger. Her hits on me have become more of an annoyance than anything else.” She stepped closer to the downed protector of the known universe.
“And what about you? Do you seem to be up to the challenge, my little herald of Chaos? Perhaps you and I can exchange blows at our true power levels…?”
Isis’s eyes glued shut for a moment–as she instantly recalled what she told Calis.
“The planet would never withstand that kind of leveled energy release–even for a picosecond. You know that as well as I, Nemesis.” She said matter-of-factly.
More laughter soon followed.
“Do you think I really care about this little sphere? I could care less if it was destroyed in the process! I only want you!”
Isis McGowan shook her head in bewilderment.
“This isn’t a date, Nemesis.” Then she smiled. “And besides–you’re not even my type.”
Nemesis’s emerald green eyes glowed brightly for a second–piercing the storm’s choking sand veil.
“Oh, so we have a comedian in the midst, do we?”
Isis got to her feet–staggering just a bit–but stood and faced Nemesis without any recourse.
“Laugh this one off–if you can.”
The Starchild vanished in a blur of motion–catching Nemesis with a solid punch to the face; staggering her smartly. The woman delivered a reverse punch on the follow up strike–throwing her off balance even more, and then reached around her hunched over body–grabbing her firmly by the middle–and finally pivoting around on one foot with her burden.
“You always were too full of yourself, Nemesis.” Isis said under no certain terms, before slamming her sideways right into the ground with brute force.
Geysers of broken earth shot upwards as a result of the ensuing impact, but the Starchild of Ancient Lore wasn’t finished with her just yet.
“Time to take out the trash!" She announced with unmistakable glee–reaching down and grabbed Nemesis by her legs–tearing the woman out from the desert confines of her own partially embossed earthly tomb.
Raising her up with one hand–with shivers of sand and rock debris cascaded off of the bruised Daughter of Chaos–Isis McGowan simply shook her head; having zero sympathy for someone who didn’t share in the greater respect for life in general.
“Believe me when I say this, Nemesis: You’re going to wish that you have never met me after this day.” And with that, she spun herself around in a tight arc and launched her most hated adversary straight up into the storm-laden skies.
* * *
Approaching speeds measuring upwards of Mach 15-Talia McGowan saw Nemesis coming up at her with such force that it literally surprised her.
But that emotion came and went, as the teenager pounced on a glorious opportunity without hesitation.
“Surprise!” She crowed with grand maliciousness–and jack-hammered Nemesis right back to Earth with overpowering results–sending her earthward at an astonishing 34,600 miles per hour.
A caterwauling peal of sound rippled right across the desert, across Shark’s Bay–as Nemesis’s body screamed through space and thundered right into the Earth without mercy; cutting right into it like a hot knife through butter.
But Talia was right behind her–separated only by several seconds. The girl righted herself at the last moment, and dropped right into the gaping hole made by the impact–feet first.
The whole Pit area imploded with a savage intensity–with most of the auto-frames tossed about like toys in an instant.
Some of the more unfortunate ones lit off in quick succession due to the mounting compression waves subjected against them at close range. Still…others managed to escape the onslaught with varying degrees of damage.
Spectators in the stands next door scattered about like scared mice–while the participating pilots in the Desert Storm had caught the tail end of the conflict. As a result, most of the auto-frames were badly affected by the shockwaves from the terrific impact.
A great many of them on the outside track were picked up and shoved 1,200 yards out further from the starting line–only to rain back down in crushed heaps of metal, plastic, and power cores. Those closer to the grandstands were crushed against one another. Some explosions were seen dotting the lineup, while the fresh screams of tortured metal and sharp exclamations over the open comm net filled the air.
“Don’t think I’m done with you yet–Nemesis!” Talia declared with burning indignation. “I still have something to give to you–from my sister–you uncaring bitch!”
Then she transformed right then and there–the whole area being wiped away in an instant by a searing white light–and became an awesome release of energy and unfathomable power.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
LIST UPDATE.
Status: Writing on Starchild Duel. Chapter 146.
Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails.
Watching: CBS-Evening News/NBC
Listening to: The Cars-Greatest Hits; some recorded tape music
Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.
TOPIC: GONE AND GOT WHAT I LISTED
TODAY, I FEEL LIKE I CAN ACTUALLY START FOCUSING ON MY WRITING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. KIVA'S DOING MUCH BETTER ON HIS BOO-BOO. HE'S BEEN SUCH A HAM LATELY.
ONE STITCH CAME OUT, BUT OTHERWISE--HE APPEARS TO BE NORMAL. NO FURTHER INJURY TO HIS WOUND IS PRESENTLY DETECTED. AND HE'S HIS HAPPY AND FURRY LITTLE SELF. I COULD NOT IMAGINE WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE RIGHT NOW--IF I HADN'T GONE AND DONE WHAT MY WIFE AND I DID LAST WEEK. (THE SECOND PICTURE WAS TAKEN THE DAY AFTER WE BROUGHT HIM HOME.)
THE MONEY THAT WE GOT FROM OUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS OVER THE LAST WEEK, I SPENT EXACTLY ON WHAT WE DESPERATELY NEEDED: CAT FOOD, DOG FOOD, AND A LITTLE BIT ON MY PHONE BILL. I STILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY INTERNET BILL. BUT REFLECTING ON THAT, I MAY BE ABLE TO SKIRT BY THIS MONTH.
I WAS ALSO ABLE TO PICK UP ONE MUSIC CD YESTERDAY. ONE THAT I'VE BEEN HUNTING FOR FOR QUITE AWHILE: THE CARS--GREATEST HITS.
I COULDN'T FIND IT IN ANY OF THE MUSIC STORES HERE AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO ORDER IT! (LOL)
I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF THIS GROUP SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER AND I BOUGHT THE ORIGINAL CD SOME 16 YEARS AGO, BUT IT WAS STOLEN SOON AFTER.
BUT I ALSO HAVE TO PICK UP A PAIR OF SNEAKERS FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE TONIGHT. WE DID A LOT OF LAUNDRY YESTERDAY, BUT WE STILL NEED TO FINISH WHAT'S LEFT.
OTHER THINGS WE PICKED UP WAS KITCHEN SCRUBBIES, TOILET PAPER, CANNED CAT FOOD FOR KYLALA (PICTURED AT TOP. SHE'S THE ONE WHOM IS ANOREXIC--A SAD RESULT OF SOMEONE WHOM CRUELLY NEGLECTED HER FOR 2 STRAIGHT MONTHS--LEAVING HER NOTHING MORE THAN SKIN AND BONES WHEN WE GOT HER BACK AND 4 YEARS LATER...? SHE HASN'T STILL BEEN ABLE TO GAIN WEIGHT--NO MATTER WHAT WE DID FOR HER.)
DEODORANT WE SNAGGED, SOME DISH SOAP AND DISH DETERGENT. I HAVEN'T GONE AND GRABBED SOME LAUNDRY DETERGENT JUST YET. (I'VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND GETTING GROCERIES AT WAL-MART WITH MY FOODSTAMP CARD TODAY. I'VE LOST 5 POUNDS IN THE LAST WEEK.)
SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER I STILL HAVE TO SNAG, BUT I DON'T THINK I'LL BE GETTING THE CONVERTER BOXES LIKE I PLANNED. I MIGHT PICK UP A FEW COMICS. BUT NOT TOO MANY. (AS COMICS HAVE INCREASED IN PRICE--I'VE BEEN ONLY ABLE TO PICK UP SO FEW EACH TIME I KEEP GOING OUT. MY COLLECTION HAS GROWN BY A FEW BOXES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DOUBLE THAT--IF PRICES HAD KEPT TO $1.50 TO $2 A COMIC. BUT NOW I'M STARING DOWN $5 AND EVEN $6 OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.)
I DID ALSO MANAGE TO GET SOME MOUTHWASH AND TOOTHPASTE FINALLY--GETTING THE SPECIAL KIND WHICH REBUILDS MY ENAMEL.
PAID $15 ON MY PHONE BILL. BUT THEY WANTED $30 TO RESTORE SOME OF OUR BASIC SERVICES FOR OUR PHONE. I CAN LIVE WITHOUT 3-WAY CALLING (DON'T ASK ME WHAT POSSESSED ME TO GET THIS 8 YEARS AGO--SINCE WE NEVER USED IT! LOL), CALLER ID IS SOMETHING WE DO NEED, BUT I CAN LAST WITHOUT IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH. VOICEMAIL IS ANOTHER FUNCTION WE NEVER USED EITHER. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK VERIZON TO JUST CUT THE TWO WE NEVER USED AND JUST RESTORE OUR CALLER ID.
I'M PUTTING OFF GETTING ANYTHING ANIME-ISH UNTIL NEXT MONTH. (APPLESEED: EX-MACHINA IS THE ONE I REALLY WANT--AFTER SEEING THE TRAILERS FOR IT ON ONE OF MY MIL'S MOVIES THIS PAST WEEK. TEEN TITANS: SEASON 1 AND WITCHBLADE CAN WAIT.)
THE KEYBOARD IS SOMETHING I'M HAVING TO PUT OFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. ONE OF MY WRITER CONTACTS SAID THAT HE MIGHT HAVE A KEYBOARD HE COULD MAIL ME. (SO I'M HAPPY! YAY! I CAN FINALLY THROW OUT THIS 5-YEAR-OLD PIECE OF SHIT! LOL)
I DID MANAGE TO GIVE MY EDITOR HALF OF THE $115 I WAS SUPPOSED TO SEND HER. (BETTER THAN NOTHING.)
NEXT MONTH, I PLAN ON GIVING HER A LITTLE MORE.
THE NEROS BURN PROGRAM IS BEING GIVEN TO ME BY THE SAME GUY GIVING ME A KEYBOARD. HE SAYS THAT HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK THE DAMNED THING. (LOL!)
SOMETIMES...? THAT DOES HAPPEN TO THE BEST OF US. I CAN RECALL A FEW TIMES WHEN I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK SOMETHING.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OVER A CHECK THAT I HAD LEFT WHEN I WORKED AT WENDY'S 12 YEARS AGO.
I RECALL BEING PISSED AT MY JOB BECAUSE I WAS GETTING PAID DIDDLEY-ASSED AND MY HOURS WEREN'T WORTH IT. SO I QUIT MY JOB AND LEFT WITHOUT PICKING UP MY CHECK.
THAT WAS 12 YEARS AGO.
A LOCAL NEWS REPORT SUGGESTED THAT I GO TO MY STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND SEE IF I HAVE ANY 'UNCLAIMED' PROPERTY.
WAS I SURPRISED WHEN I FOUND THAT I DID! I WAS LIKE, "HUH?"
SO I GOT THAT SMALL CHECK ($28) ON MONDAY AND USED A SMALL PORTION ($10) FOR LAUNDRY AND TOOK THE REMAINDER TO GO DO A LITTLE FOOD SHOPPING FOR BOTH ME AND APRIL.
THE REST OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS' FUNDS DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR ANOTHER DAY--AND SINCE THEN...? I'VE BEEN A BUSY LITTLE BEAVER GOING AROUND EVERETT GETTING BUSINESS TAKEN CARE OF.
SO--JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS--THEIR MONEY WAS PUT TO THE EXACT USE I SPECIFIED ON MY LIST--MINUS A FEW THINGS WHICH I COULD NOT GET. (WHICH ISN'T IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.)
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LIVE ON RESTRICTED INCOME, THERE ISN'T MUCH YOU CAN DO ELSE. (JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, I'VE NEVER OWNED A CAR IN MY LIFE. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. STATE ID--BUT THAT'S IT.)
SCHUYLER THORPE
(Tried 3 times to correct this entry--did not want to play nice!)
Monday, April 7, 2008
OUR CAT WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING!
4 DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE KIVATA GIGANTE HAD HIS SURGERY.
HE WANTED ME TO PASS THIS ONTO EVERYONE WHOM FOUND THE TIME TO HELP OUT HIS MOMMY AND DADDY WHEN THEY NEEDED IT THE MOST: "MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW...PURRRR..."*
*(Roughly translated: "Thanks so much for giving me back my nine lives.")
***
This is what $232.92 saved. This is what my wife and I sacrificed so that our big boy can have more years added to his precious life.
We are so thankful to have your support and your understanding in this matter thus far. I know it's not easy to give to people whom you've never laid eyes on, but this was worth more than anything I can think of.
Who couldn't love this forest tabby like we do so much? It's why--despite our ongoing financial difficulties and hardships--we found it within our hearts to love something that gives us more than his fair share of love and affection in return.
And he's just a cat.
Some people may not understand that. But this is who we are. Both my wife and myself are avid cat and dog lovers.
No money in the world can easily replace the loss of a cherished pet. It is why we did what we had to do.
And why we asked for everyone here to help us out however they can.
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