Kyle Michel Sullivan's Blog: https://www.myirishnovel.com/, page 185
February 11, 2017
Not the best ever...
I just watched a new version of The Witness For the Prosecution made by the BBC in 2016...and it's nothing like the play or movie adaptations. Apparently they went back to the original story and then completely re-imagined it into a 21st Century morality...or lack thereof...in ways that diminished it.
Setting it a few years after the end of WWI, the focus of the story is on John Mahew, the solicitor who's more of an ambulance chaser, lost his only son in the war and has a troubled marriage. Leonard Vole has been arrested for the murder of wealthy Emily French, and his only alibi is his Austrian wife...which doesn't count for much, until it turns out she's not really his wife. And winds up being called to testify on behalf of the prosecution in his murder trial.
The acting was good, as were the cinematography, sets, and costumes. Very sumptuously produced. But the director had no idea of what he wanted. On far too many occasions, it looked like he shot everything he could think of and then built the film in post. Didn't help that Sara Phelps' script fired like a shotgun instead of a sniper rifle; it was trying to hit every target on the range and wound up missing most.
What I found fascinating was how they made the murder victim a middle-aged predator of young men, like a black widow who lured Leonard into her snare. I dislike the subtle suggestion that it's her own damn fault she got killed. They also made Romaine (who was Christine in the films and play) less in control of herself and added in a hint of lesbianism, a la Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca, that was just wrong for the story.
Reality is, this script could have been cut by 20 minutes, easily, and lost nothing. After the lovely job done on the new version of And Then There Were None, this is a real disappointment. And enlightening as to the need for focus, clarity, and above all, awareness as to what you're trying to say.
Not worth a second look.
Setting it a few years after the end of WWI, the focus of the story is on John Mahew, the solicitor who's more of an ambulance chaser, lost his only son in the war and has a troubled marriage. Leonard Vole has been arrested for the murder of wealthy Emily French, and his only alibi is his Austrian wife...which doesn't count for much, until it turns out she's not really his wife. And winds up being called to testify on behalf of the prosecution in his murder trial.
The acting was good, as were the cinematography, sets, and costumes. Very sumptuously produced. But the director had no idea of what he wanted. On far too many occasions, it looked like he shot everything he could think of and then built the film in post. Didn't help that Sara Phelps' script fired like a shotgun instead of a sniper rifle; it was trying to hit every target on the range and wound up missing most.
What I found fascinating was how they made the murder victim a middle-aged predator of young men, like a black widow who lured Leonard into her snare. I dislike the subtle suggestion that it's her own damn fault she got killed. They also made Romaine (who was Christine in the films and play) less in control of herself and added in a hint of lesbianism, a la Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca, that was just wrong for the story.
Reality is, this script could have been cut by 20 minutes, easily, and lost nothing. After the lovely job done on the new version of And Then There Were None, this is a real disappointment. And enlightening as to the need for focus, clarity, and above all, awareness as to what you're trying to say.
Not worth a second look.
February 10, 2017
Do I write right?
I have to wonder at myself, sometimes. Why do I write, and Why do I think I can write, are two of the most consistent questions in my brain, lately. But I have no answer. It's not like I would die if I couldn't write, anymore...except that I probably would. It's not like I have so much to say...except that I think I do. My world is nothing if not a mass of non-stop contradictions.
I fight writing...until I'm doing it, and then I fight stopping. I hate what I've done...except I don't, because it gives me the springboard to what is needed. I argue with my characters and where the story wants to go...and find joy in the journey.
Going over The Lyons' Den the last few weeks has brought all of this to the fore and is affecting my work on The Alice '65...which is both good and bad, since it's upped the What the hell am I doing quotient...and which will then affect Place of Safety, but in ways I think will be good since I can now let Brendan have joy and fun in his story...if I'm not fooling myself into thinking that's appropriate, again.
I can do that -- convince myself that something I have written is fantastic then look at it a year later and cringe at how god-awful it is and want to rewrite it now, now, now. BUT...I didn't feel that way with LD. Yes, parts could be made simpler to better effect...and were I to shift it back to being an screenplay, it would be a lot different from the play and script I did, initially...it's just...when all is said and done, I liked it.
And that's freaking me out.
I've received wildly divergent reactions to LD -- from lavish praise to You suck as writer, so I wasn't able to gauge if it really was any good. And I still don't have the self-confidence in my writing ability to shrug and tell critics, Such is your opinion; I like it like it is.
Except I do. I enjoyed the chaos and messiness of the story and the characters and the sloppy rhythm of it...more like free-form jazz than a minuet. And the whole thing has shifted into a case of It is what it is and if you don't like it, you don't.
Which is a big deal, to me.
I fight writing...until I'm doing it, and then I fight stopping. I hate what I've done...except I don't, because it gives me the springboard to what is needed. I argue with my characters and where the story wants to go...and find joy in the journey.
Going over The Lyons' Den the last few weeks has brought all of this to the fore and is affecting my work on The Alice '65...which is both good and bad, since it's upped the What the hell am I doing quotient...and which will then affect Place of Safety, but in ways I think will be good since I can now let Brendan have joy and fun in his story...if I'm not fooling myself into thinking that's appropriate, again.
I can do that -- convince myself that something I have written is fantastic then look at it a year later and cringe at how god-awful it is and want to rewrite it now, now, now. BUT...I didn't feel that way with LD. Yes, parts could be made simpler to better effect...and were I to shift it back to being an screenplay, it would be a lot different from the play and script I did, initially...it's just...when all is said and done, I liked it.
And that's freaking me out.
I've received wildly divergent reactions to LD -- from lavish praise to You suck as writer, so I wasn't able to gauge if it really was any good. And I still don't have the self-confidence in my writing ability to shrug and tell critics, Such is your opinion; I like it like it is.
Except I do. I enjoyed the chaos and messiness of the story and the characters and the sloppy rhythm of it...more like free-form jazz than a minuet. And the whole thing has shifted into a case of It is what it is and if you don't like it, you don't.
Which is a big deal, to me.
February 8, 2017
No whining...just respite...
I would love to live near something like this...
February 7, 2017
Working along...
I did a quick, brutally busy jaunt down to Miami to handle the move-out of clients from the Miami Map Fair, and it was non-stop. First was meeting with the dealers to let them know I had labels and paperwork for their return shipments, then came finding out the place we normally would store their shipments till we pick them up, the next day, no longer exists. Saw the new space for holding their shipments and told the dealers the new plan...only to have it not work that way because there was no communication between the museum staff.
The next morning, the truck was early and there was a backlog of other people wanting to get in, so we got our dealers and got gone, based solely on a piece count. Once at the warehouse, which had no AC, of course, the driver and I sorted out the shipments and got them ready to go on their way. But it was heavy physical labor done in 85+ degree heat and god knows what humidity.
I was exhausted and sure I was not in a condition to be seated next to anyone, so I splurged and got an upgraded boarding position on Southwest...and latched onto an exit row seat by the window. I then stretched out and actually dozed on the flight home. The seat next to me was empty...until this tall dude decided he'd like it so moved in. Then it got a bit tight, but I had so much legroom, I didn't care.
I ate poorly, drank a lot of water, and determined there is no way in hell I would ever live in Miami...or Florida, in general. I do not like how it's laid out and for that kind of weather I could live in Houston, which I'm actually familiar with, instead of learning all the nonsensical ins-and-outs of getting around in a new region.
This evening I got back onto The Alice '65 and hope to have this new draft ready to print up, this weekend. I say new draft, but it's still just shifting from first person to third person in a way that makes the story interesting and fun and not bland...which entails me redoing it several times to get the voice consistent throughout the book. Some sections I like; others are cringe-worthy, still.
The artist for LD postponed his first rendering till Thursday, which does not bode well...but we'll see how it goes.
The next morning, the truck was early and there was a backlog of other people wanting to get in, so we got our dealers and got gone, based solely on a piece count. Once at the warehouse, which had no AC, of course, the driver and I sorted out the shipments and got them ready to go on their way. But it was heavy physical labor done in 85+ degree heat and god knows what humidity.
I was exhausted and sure I was not in a condition to be seated next to anyone, so I splurged and got an upgraded boarding position on Southwest...and latched onto an exit row seat by the window. I then stretched out and actually dozed on the flight home. The seat next to me was empty...until this tall dude decided he'd like it so moved in. Then it got a bit tight, but I had so much legroom, I didn't care.
I ate poorly, drank a lot of water, and determined there is no way in hell I would ever live in Miami...or Florida, in general. I do not like how it's laid out and for that kind of weather I could live in Houston, which I'm actually familiar with, instead of learning all the nonsensical ins-and-outs of getting around in a new region.
This evening I got back onto The Alice '65 and hope to have this new draft ready to print up, this weekend. I say new draft, but it's still just shifting from first person to third person in a way that makes the story interesting and fun and not bland...which entails me redoing it several times to get the voice consistent throughout the book. Some sections I like; others are cringe-worthy, still.
The artist for LD postponed his first rendering till Thursday, which does not bode well...but we'll see how it goes.
February 3, 2017
Got an artist...
Zanvarin is going to work up a cover for The Lyons' Den. I gave him as much detail as I could to let him know what I'm after, so we'll see how it goes. It's not costing much, but it's still a hit to my budget. I'm getting a sketch sometime this weekend and I should have the final work in a couple weeks. Then I can work it into a cover and go, go, go...
I'm now shifting focus back to The Alice '65 to work on its 3rd person style, and hope to have it ready to print and red-pen by next weekend. But I'm headed down to Florida for The Map Fair, Sunday, so have to do laundry tomorrow and won't have all of Saturday and Sunday to work. I'll try and do some of it on the flight down, but it's early morning and I'm going straight to the fair and the next day is an early one that's going on long, too...and I'm already tired.
Oh, it's been a tiring week. Two fairs this weekend -- Miami and a book fair in Pasadena that I wish I could have handled but wasn't given the option to; chaos in shipments --like two dealers' book for the California Fair next weekend being on that Swiss Air flight that made an emergency landing in Nowheresville, Canada...and who might not get their books to their booths before the fair opens; and two packing jobs canceling with another in jeopardy because of contract issues brought about by a university's legal department.
I've had a low-grade headache the last couple days and just want to sleep. Guess I'm at that stage of life where your body's weary of the non-stop struggle.
Means I'm finally getting old...
I'm now shifting focus back to The Alice '65 to work on its 3rd person style, and hope to have it ready to print and red-pen by next weekend. But I'm headed down to Florida for The Map Fair, Sunday, so have to do laundry tomorrow and won't have all of Saturday and Sunday to work. I'll try and do some of it on the flight down, but it's early morning and I'm going straight to the fair and the next day is an early one that's going on long, too...and I'm already tired.
Oh, it's been a tiring week. Two fairs this weekend -- Miami and a book fair in Pasadena that I wish I could have handled but wasn't given the option to; chaos in shipments --like two dealers' book for the California Fair next weekend being on that Swiss Air flight that made an emergency landing in Nowheresville, Canada...and who might not get their books to their booths before the fair opens; and two packing jobs canceling with another in jeopardy because of contract issues brought about by a university's legal department.
I've had a low-grade headache the last couple days and just want to sleep. Guess I'm at that stage of life where your body's weary of the non-stop struggle.
Means I'm finally getting old...
January 31, 2017
Another possible artist of LD...
This guy works in what I call a neon style, using electronic media to do his painting. Rich tones and non-realistic but evocative. If he decides not to or isn't able to, I'm doing a color pencil rendition. I suppose I could try painting it in acrylics...or doing pastels. but no matter what, it's getting done; this has been going on for too damn long.I do still have one aspect of the cover to decide -- do I put Ace and Carmen behind Daniel? Or Ace and Tad? Or Ace and Van? It could go any which way, since they all connect with him. I may finally just decide to flip a coin.
I've set a target date of March 1st for The Lyons' Den's new edition, so I have to get it ready. After that, complete The Alice '65 and work up the cover for that...and then on to Place of Safety. It's time to finish it.
I've had a bit of a health scare that's giving me cause to focus and forced me to accept my life has an expiration date. What it is, I don't know, but if I want it to last a while longer, I've got to take better care of myself. Stop being such a lazy slug. In so many things.
I'm currently without a personal phone and irritated...but feeling free...
January 30, 2017
Just for me to keep up...
This video was posted, yesterday. today's the anniversary of Bloody Sunday.45 years ago...and we're facing something like it in the US, today. I'm just waiting for some asshole cop to get his little self scared and start shooting people who are protesting against King Rat-Fkkr's latest travesty of justice.
January 29, 2017
Rethinking...
Here's a quickie coloring in of the artwork I'm fiddling with for LD, just to try out some color schemes. I'm still planning to use pencil for filling it in...but it's missing something. Too much black background makes it too damn stark. I tried laying it over a lodge and that seemed to help...a little. I like how the shower curtain and the shirt turn out, but I'm not crazy about how Daniel looks. It's still too cartoonish and not in a professional way. I'm not sure I can overcome that.
Maybe I need to go totally cartoon, like the cover of A Confederacy of Dunces. Maybe it does call for a photograph instead of artwork. Or maybe I need to completely rethink what I'm doing with it.
I could still do the idea using the head and shoulders of Daniel with the pistol and money still in hand but closer to his face, and then little vignettes of the characters around him, all looking at him with various expressions. Maybe have Gretta grabbing his shirt and Van trying to soothe him and Tad smirking on and such.
Or I could put Ace behind him, in the snow, in his trench coat, looking like he can't believe what's happening...with Carmen on the other side...or Tad...or Van...hmm... Just their upper bodies peeking around from behind Daniel. Their lower bodies would be hidden by the shower curtain. And draw in the house in the background. I found a great one with steps...
Or...I just start from scratch...
Maybe I need to go totally cartoon, like the cover of A Confederacy of Dunces. Maybe it does call for a photograph instead of artwork. Or maybe I need to completely rethink what I'm doing with it.I could still do the idea using the head and shoulders of Daniel with the pistol and money still in hand but closer to his face, and then little vignettes of the characters around him, all looking at him with various expressions. Maybe have Gretta grabbing his shirt and Van trying to soothe him and Tad smirking on and such.
Or I could put Ace behind him, in the snow, in his trench coat, looking like he can't believe what's happening...with Carmen on the other side...or Tad...or Van...hmm... Just their upper bodies peeking around from behind Daniel. Their lower bodies would be hidden by the shower curtain. And draw in the house in the background. I found a great one with steps...
Or...I just start from scratch...
January 28, 2017
And that's a no...
The artist turned down working on my book cover...which I can understand. He read through the book and he doesn't think his clean European style would mesh with it, but he made some very interesting comments and wants to suggest ways to help the cover convey the chaotic nature of the story. And it is all over the place, but deliberately so. I told him I'm open to any suggestions, so we'll see what he comes up with.
I'm back to thinking my initial idea for the cover is close to doing that. I mean, I've got a guy wearing an open shirt wrapped in a shower curtain holding a smoking pistol and a fistful of bearer bonds outside in the middle of a snowstorm, a WTF expression on his face. I just need to color it in and work out the positioning of the title. The back cover will be relatively easy; I already have graphite sketches of many of the players' faces and can use those...maybe...in the handle part of the key. Just add in a bit of color. We'll see.
Didn't get a lot done today, beyond more of the reformatting. My personal iPhone has gone nuts. I've only had it 8 months but it wouldn't turn on...and then it wouldn't stay on once it did turn on...or it wouldn't let me use the screen in any way. Last night it took half an hour to settle down so I could use it...and then it cut out in the middle of a phone call. Sprint repair couldn't do anything in store, even after trying a wide range of fixes, so it's on its way to the repair shop.
I've heard of this flaw in iPhones about the swipe chip messing phones up once they become loose, but mine had been updated to not use that to turn on. And like I said, it's only 8 months old. I haven't dropped it and don't put it in my pants pockets, so it hasn't bent. It also has a protective case around it. So if this is how the damn things work, I may drop the service and get a land line, again.
Return to analog seems to be the wave of the future.
I'm back to thinking my initial idea for the cover is close to doing that. I mean, I've got a guy wearing an open shirt wrapped in a shower curtain holding a smoking pistol and a fistful of bearer bonds outside in the middle of a snowstorm, a WTF expression on his face. I just need to color it in and work out the positioning of the title. The back cover will be relatively easy; I already have graphite sketches of many of the players' faces and can use those...maybe...in the handle part of the key. Just add in a bit of color. We'll see.
Didn't get a lot done today, beyond more of the reformatting. My personal iPhone has gone nuts. I've only had it 8 months but it wouldn't turn on...and then it wouldn't stay on once it did turn on...or it wouldn't let me use the screen in any way. Last night it took half an hour to settle down so I could use it...and then it cut out in the middle of a phone call. Sprint repair couldn't do anything in store, even after trying a wide range of fixes, so it's on its way to the repair shop.
I've heard of this flaw in iPhones about the swipe chip messing phones up once they become loose, but mine had been updated to not use that to turn on. And like I said, it's only 8 months old. I haven't dropped it and don't put it in my pants pockets, so it hasn't bent. It also has a protective case around it. So if this is how the damn things work, I may drop the service and get a land line, again.
Return to analog seems to be the wave of the future.
January 27, 2017
Nuclear option...
That's what I did with The Lyons' Den. It refers to clearing out all formatting in your Word document. You shift it to text format, only, open a new blank document, cut and paste the text doc into the new doc and wind up with nothing but the wordage. No formatting at all. But it was needed. There were some things I couldn't get rid of in the published document for LD, in order to make it work for ebook...so I started from scratch.
I've gone through and re-input the majority of the formatting that I wanted. I'm now reading through it to redo the italicized bits and then will add in the hyperlinks to the Table of Contents. Mind-numbing, to an extent...as if my brain needed to be numbed.
That was yesterday and today. Well, evenings. The days were taken up with bringing dealers into the US for the Miami Map Fair, Pasadena Book Fair, and California Book Fair in Oakland and prep for the New York Book Fair. There's so much going on, I keep getting the fairs mixed up and having to reverse myself to make sure I don't screw things up.
Didn't do so well...I gave out the wrong Bill of Lading number for a shipment going to Pasadena to a driver who hadn't take his paperwork with him when he went to drop off the shipment at the freight company. Fortunately, it was easy to correct...but it pissed off my coworker and messed me up for the rest of the day, I got so paranoid about making another mistake.
I need to simplify my life.
I've gone through and re-input the majority of the formatting that I wanted. I'm now reading through it to redo the italicized bits and then will add in the hyperlinks to the Table of Contents. Mind-numbing, to an extent...as if my brain needed to be numbed.
That was yesterday and today. Well, evenings. The days were taken up with bringing dealers into the US for the Miami Map Fair, Pasadena Book Fair, and California Book Fair in Oakland and prep for the New York Book Fair. There's so much going on, I keep getting the fairs mixed up and having to reverse myself to make sure I don't screw things up.
Didn't do so well...I gave out the wrong Bill of Lading number for a shipment going to Pasadena to a driver who hadn't take his paperwork with him when he went to drop off the shipment at the freight company. Fortunately, it was easy to correct...but it pissed off my coworker and messed me up for the rest of the day, I got so paranoid about making another mistake.
I need to simplify my life.
