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Last weekend at BaltiCon 60, I attended a panel called, “Who Cares About The Chosen One?” It talked about the trope in Science Fiction and Fantasy where, you guessed it, the protagonist is so important, so integral to the story—if not the series the first installment kicks off—that they are, in fact, a, if not the, Chosen One. Soul Fraud, by Andrew Givler, is just such the start to an urban fantasy series. We have the hapless twenty-something, down-on-his-luck schmo named Ma

I was sitting in a colleague’s classroom (Colleague A) earlier today, and I was telling her about my eventful weekend at BaltiCon. Soon after, while I was still talking, another colleague (Colleague B) came to the door, said hello, and started a conversation, essentially bulldozing what I was saying. After she was finished with her “entrance,” Colleague A did not ask me to continue. I became upset, but I bit my lip, exhaled, and hid it. As a teacher, I continually try to inst

I’ve made a decision. I’m going to self-publish Arrested Souls: Book One of the Ecto-Files, the first novel I’ve written in a series I intend to pursue. I have over half of the second novel, Soul Eaters, drafted, and ideas for book three, Soul Rain, on the back burner. After attending all these panels at BaltiCon 60 and learning about the ins and outs of independent and self-publishing, and not being willing to pursue traditional publishing tirelessly, I realized that I simp

My calves are sore. I’ve overreached my step goal for two days in a row. Friday, I spent a good amount of time in my car travelling. I wonder how many steps I’ll clock for this entire convention. Here is a list of the panels and events I’ve attended so far: Friday, the 22nd: Self-Editing Strategies We Come in Peace: Writing Non-human Sentience Music Copyrighting and IP Opening Ceremonies Book Party with Celia Tan Saturday, the 23rd: Murderswoon: Morally Gray Characters Who

I’m here! I’ve attended a few panels, passed out some Ectoverse, LLC business cards, had lunch with a college chum who lives in the area, and experienced a marijuana flashback, thanks to the pictured hallway. Yes, I said “marijuana flashback.” It’s a thing. Because I said it is. So there. First things first, the flashback. I was on a band trip to Los Angeles during my senior year. It was the day before we’d all depart, it was fifteen minutes before our (soft) curfew, and my d

This weekend, I will be attending BaltiCon 60, a science fiction/fantasy writers' convention in Baltimore, MD. I hope to network with other writers, find publications, query agents and publishers, and, hopefully, sell my first novel, Arrested Souls: The Ecto-Files Book One. I will post photos and the like when I return. https://www.balticon.org/

I am currently reading Soul Fraud: A Debt Collection Novel by Andrew Giivler. The premise harkens back to Faust and beyond. But there’s a twist here. Matt’s signature is forged by the salesman demon, offering the best life for ten years in exchange for his soul. Matt winds up the recipient of a deal he never wanted in the first place, despite the dumpster fire his life has become. I already enjoy twists, different takes on standard tropes, viewing motifs from different angle

Not every story has a happy ending. Consider police procedurals. According to Google Gemini, this type of fiction is “a subgenre of detective fiction and crime drama that realistically depicts the day-to-day investigations, forensic methods, and legal protocols of law enforcement officers.” Happy endings are for romances, not police procedurals. The Gordian Knot by David O. Thomas is a fine example of this subgenre, but it takes the unhappy ending to a wholly new level. Yes,

Many thoughts raced through my mind as I watched Easy Rider (1969), the least of which was that it is a protest film of traditional American values. I didn’t know much about this film going in—except for the idea that it is a chronicle of an era—and I’m glad for my initial ignorance. But then again, on second thought, what else would the 1960s produce but protest media? IMDB is always so generous with its descriptions of films. Many times, I ignore them and just scroll down

There are moments when I long for the experience of watching a film without any prior knowledge about it. Additionally, there are times when I regret not having read the source material before viewing the film. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive, despite their apparent differences. Under the Skin (2014) is a fine example of a film in this singularly dubious category. Based on a novel by Michel Faber, the film follows the actions of a nameless, obviously awkward, ti

The problem with transcribing hard science fiction to film is that much of the science therein—which is illustrated via lots and lots of narrative—is glossed over, skipped, or even cut. It’s the same problem with Shakespeare’s plays: recall that the Kenneth Branagh version of Hamlet (1996) was over four hours long, yet it still did not use the entire script of the famous Elizabethan play. Both are cases of just too much narrative to fit within the framework of a two-and-a-hal

Good Omens 3 is not an entirely new season of the whimsical fantasy by the late, great Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, nor was it envisioned as such by these two powerhouse storytellers. It’s only one episode. It’s only an hour and a half. It’s also an extension of the premise, a new imagined—and imaginative—chapter of this tale, filling in the blanks and answering the questions the original left us with. With Aziraphale (Michael Sheen, of Frost/Nixon) being promoted in Hea

So, yeah. This. This “special presentation.” According to our friend Google—or is it Gemini?—the definition of this concept is, “a standalone, short-form production that runs longer than a standard episodic TV segment but is shorter than a full feature film (typically 40 to 60 minutes).” Furthermore, “it is used as a ‘one-off’ format to tell focused, self-contained stories without requiring massive budgets or ongoing series commitments.” But here’s my burning question: why is

I am currently reading The Gordian Knot by David O. Thomas. It is a police procedural about two detectives attempting to catch a serial killer. Police procedurals aren’t usually my go-to genre, but something about this book piqued my interest. A Gordian Knot is, by definition, a legendary, highly intricate tangle of ropes that was deemed impossible to unravel. (Thank you, Google!) If this story is anything like the title’s origin, then I should be in for quite the ride. A sea

I’ve never really understood why space opera is called space opera. As defined, this sub-genre uses “futuristic settings as a backdrop for high stakes, ‘hero's quest’ storylines, prioritizing action over scientific accuracy.” Why not just call it sci-fi adventure? Space opera sounds too dramatic, too histrionic, too overdone. At least to me, anyway. Zero Day Threat: (The Ungovernable Book 1), by R.M. Olson, focuses on a group of five intergalactic ex-cons, a “found family,” w

I am currently reading Zero Day Threat: (The Ungovernable Book 1) by R.M. Olson. Facebook markets this novel as a blend of Ocean’s Eleven and Guardians of the Galaxy. I hope FB is correct. Either way, I’m reading it, and I seek entertainment and, as usual, inspiration. I’ll let you know what I think when I’m through.

A mystery. Set in the 12th Century. In England and Wales. With a Benedictine monk as the detective. Now this is a formula for success. And enjoyment. And enjoy the novel I did. A Morbid Taste for Bones (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Book 1), by Ellis Peters, is a story about aristocratic overreach and a resulting murder. The St. Peter and St. Paul Monastery in Shrewsbury, England, is missing something. Or should I say, without something. Every other abbey in England boast

Watching the film Stardust (2007) got me thinking. Attending a session with one of my writer’s groups this past weekend also got me thinking. Which comes first: worldbuilding or plot elements? In Stardust, there is a magical item called the Babylon Candle. Essentially, this can bring the holders wherever they want to go if they light it and imagine/think of their destinations. Did Neil Gaiman think of this item when he was pre-writing/building the world of this tale? Or did h

Claire Danes needs no special effects to glow. Stardust (2007) proves this. Adapted from a book by Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) of the same name—which I have added to my TBR—this is film is a classic Campbellian adventure. Our strapping hero Tristan, a young and dimpled Charlie Cox (Daredevil: Born Again), embarks on a quest to find a star for the woman he loves, Victoria, played by Sienna Miller (Layer Cake). Or so he thinks. The target of his quest is a star, Yvaine, portray

I am currently reading A Morbid Taste for Bones (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael Book 1) by Ellis Peters. It’s a mystery novel, set in Wales in 1137, with a Benedictine monk as the main character/detective. There’s murder and betrayal, and a mystery involving the holy remains of a saint. What more could you ask for? I’ll share my thoughts when I’m through.