Rhobin Lee Courtright's Blog, page 22
September 25, 2011
Where Science Fiction is Born
Our times and world are ripe with topics that boggle the mind and spur imagination. It's not only the social and cultural customs and mores clashing as the planet effectively shrinks and the population grows. Science looms. Religions react. People wonder.
In August IBM announced the first computer chip made fromDNA. Doesn't a principle of life being use in a computer create all types of images to your mind?
Now, clearly IBM is interested in improving computers: "The company is researching ways in which DNA can arrange itself into patterns on the surface of a chip, and then act as a kind of scaffolding on to which millions of tiny carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles are deposited. That network of nanotubes and nanoparticles could act as the wires and transistors on future computer chips," (same PC World article by Agam Shah, IDG News ). Still, my imagination springs from the terror of machine images found in Terminator to humans with wondrous mental capacities, and in both cases all the steps from here to there. My reality marvels at the concept of an even smaller more powerful computer.
Every industry, every nation, organization, and individual is always impacted by their acceptance or rejection of new technology; and these discoveries always give birth to even more imaginative ideas and devices -- and to paranoia, or sometimes justified condemnation. We never seem to know the repercussions until they have developed, even when warned by speculative writers. Just remind the government not to close the patent office when they might think everything possible has been invented—humanity's creativity isn't done yet. Which, of course, only leads to more speculative fiction, but it is interesting, isn't it? Trip to Mars, anyone?
In August IBM announced the first computer chip made fromDNA. Doesn't a principle of life being use in a computer create all types of images to your mind?
Now, clearly IBM is interested in improving computers: "The company is researching ways in which DNA can arrange itself into patterns on the surface of a chip, and then act as a kind of scaffolding on to which millions of tiny carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles are deposited. That network of nanotubes and nanoparticles could act as the wires and transistors on future computer chips," (same PC World article by Agam Shah, IDG News ). Still, my imagination springs from the terror of machine images found in Terminator to humans with wondrous mental capacities, and in both cases all the steps from here to there. My reality marvels at the concept of an even smaller more powerful computer.
Every industry, every nation, organization, and individual is always impacted by their acceptance or rejection of new technology; and these discoveries always give birth to even more imaginative ideas and devices -- and to paranoia, or sometimes justified condemnation. We never seem to know the repercussions until they have developed, even when warned by speculative writers. Just remind the government not to close the patent office when they might think everything possible has been invented—humanity's creativity isn't done yet. Which, of course, only leads to more speculative fiction, but it is interesting, isn't it? Trip to Mars, anyone?
September 4, 2011
A Memoriam and a Media Conviction
I love detective stories, and find the real-life programs an irresistible draw. They say fiction can't be as bizarre as fact, and I often believe that.
Last night I couldn't sleep so turned on the TV. Two hundred plus channels and there were only movies I've seen at least three times each, reruns of programs I didn't like when they were new, and The Investigators.
On the show Chuck Chambers at the behest of the husband investigated the murder of the man's wife. Okay. Good fodder for if I ever want to write a murder mystery. And then something happened I never expected. They mentioned the man and woman's names. I knew the victim. That changed everything.
Now, a few years ago my brother told me of Wendy's murder and that her husband Ed had been convicted. Seeing this information presented as a TV show rocked me, and not in a good way. I did not know the details of what happened. So I listened with my media doubt alert on high.
Reading this, I hope you know not everything you hear is true, and that there are often multiple versions of true. The investigator raised doubt about the husband's conviction. What I heard and saw was one version of true. But an incontrovertible fact remained that Wendy was killed.
I know others who have had acquaintances and loved ones murdered. It is a sad commentary on humanity, and a strong comment on our culture that we use their tragic stories for entertainment. I hear you. Guilty as charged.
So here is my testimony about Wendy. I graduated from high school with her. I can't say we were best friends, but perhaps good acquaintances. She was a lovely girl with a beautiful smile that lit up her eyes. Wendy was friendly and had a contagious laugh. There was often a spark of mischief in her eyes, but kindness, too.
Like so many others, I lost touch with even my closest high school friends. Some of my classmates, I must admit to my shame, I barely remember. I remembered Wendy, just had no inkling of what happened in her life after graduation. Times change. People change. I hope I am a better person now. I'm sorry murder cut Wendy's life short. No one deserves that. I wish her peace in her afterlife, and I hope those who loved her found peace, too.
Last night I couldn't sleep so turned on the TV. Two hundred plus channels and there were only movies I've seen at least three times each, reruns of programs I didn't like when they were new, and The Investigators.
On the show Chuck Chambers at the behest of the husband investigated the murder of the man's wife. Okay. Good fodder for if I ever want to write a murder mystery. And then something happened I never expected. They mentioned the man and woman's names. I knew the victim. That changed everything.
Now, a few years ago my brother told me of Wendy's murder and that her husband Ed had been convicted. Seeing this information presented as a TV show rocked me, and not in a good way. I did not know the details of what happened. So I listened with my media doubt alert on high.
Reading this, I hope you know not everything you hear is true, and that there are often multiple versions of true. The investigator raised doubt about the husband's conviction. What I heard and saw was one version of true. But an incontrovertible fact remained that Wendy was killed.
I know others who have had acquaintances and loved ones murdered. It is a sad commentary on humanity, and a strong comment on our culture that we use their tragic stories for entertainment. I hear you. Guilty as charged.
So here is my testimony about Wendy. I graduated from high school with her. I can't say we were best friends, but perhaps good acquaintances. She was a lovely girl with a beautiful smile that lit up her eyes. Wendy was friendly and had a contagious laugh. There was often a spark of mischief in her eyes, but kindness, too.
Like so many others, I lost touch with even my closest high school friends. Some of my classmates, I must admit to my shame, I barely remember. I remembered Wendy, just had no inkling of what happened in her life after graduation. Times change. People change. I hope I am a better person now. I'm sorry murder cut Wendy's life short. No one deserves that. I wish her peace in her afterlife, and I hope those who loved her found peace, too.
August 1, 2011
Published!
There it is on the front page for August!
Woo-hoo!
Woo-hoo!
July 24, 2011
8 Days to Publication
Made it!! Today I sent back the galley and other paperwork involved in the publication process. I feel a sense of accomplishment. Now it is up to the publisher to get the rest done by August 1.
I will receive an ARC (advanced reader copy) before then.
I will receive an ARC (advanced reader copy) before then.
July 21, 2011
11 Days to Publication
Okay, I've just received the galley, which is the final thing I have to work on for Legend's Cipher to make it's August 1 publication date. I have to go over line by line the manuscript to catch all those pesky little errors. Karen B. did a really great job as line editor and caught many things I missed, like different spellings of a character's name. So I guess I'll be busy for the weekend. I want this back to Wings on Sunday night.
July 19, 2011
13 Days to Publication
Had a problem with the cover's dpi density and had to fix those and send front, back and spine artwork back in to art department. There are always glitches that need fixing.
July 17, 2011
15 Days to Publication Update
Finished edits tonight at 8:30 EST. Whew!!
It really paid to go over the manuscript and make track-able changes earlier in the month.
It really paid to go over the manuscript and make track-able changes earlier in the month.
15 Days to Publication
Received the edits this morning, but the file wouldn't open. Thank you Microsoft for making different Word version documents incompatible. That problem is straightened out and I've gone through twenty pages of manuscript (out of 126 pages). Going through the version earlier is making this process much easier and faster.
I follow my editor's recommendation closely. They read a manuscript with fresh eyes. However, I never just accept the editor's recommendations without reading the entire manuscript. No one is infallible, and typos are easy to miss. In the end, I am responsible for the content of this story. That's why in this crunch time frame I reread the manuscript ahead of edits so I could find changes I thought needed to be made.
Got to get back to work. I'd like this to be emailed back tomorrow!
I follow my editor's recommendation closely. They read a manuscript with fresh eyes. However, I never just accept the editor's recommendations without reading the entire manuscript. No one is infallible, and typos are easy to miss. In the end, I am responsible for the content of this story. That's why in this crunch time frame I reread the manuscript ahead of edits so I could find changes I thought needed to be made.
Got to get back to work. I'd like this to be emailed back tomorrow!
July 16, 2011
16 Days to Publication
Yikes! No edits to go through yet. Glad I've already gone through the manuscript and can do a comparison.
July 5, 2011
27 Days to Publication
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Today the final on the cover was accepted. Pretty much what the rough draft showed, but a little more refined. Half way through my edits of the manuscript.
![[image error]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PEvJWIzfTpY/ThN-0tDmE1I/AAAAAAAACiE/ntouZuxm1Cg/s1600/Legends+Cipher+Frt+5x9+96dpi.jpg){kind=link}