T.A. Seitz's Blog, page 5

Rules? Guidelines? Miscellaneous?

Somewhere, someway, someone established the idea of a rating system. I don't know about you but I don't think in terms of rating stuff. However, I guess I must if I'm going to review books, movies or anything else that strikes my fancy.

What is a five star? How does a five star compare to a four star? I don't know. Wish I did, that would make a huge difference. I do know that even the five stars are far from perfect. If I have to make a distinction, a four star will get reread many times (sometimes hundreds of rereads because that's what I do) and a five star will get entire fantasies created for my brain's entertainment. If I read either a four or a fiver on Kindle, then I am probably putting a print copy on my wish list.

A three star means "okay, I've read that. Nice. Interesting. Might read again when I've forgotten certain elements." If a three star is part of a series, I might or might not continue with the next book. A three-bie probably won't end up on, or stay on, my bookshelf or Kindle.

I won't bore you with a one or a two rating. A one star doesn't engage me and I have usually put the book down by the second or third chapter. In fact, I probably didn't even purchase the book in the first place because I like to read the blurb, then the first chapter, followed by the last chapter (no spoilers for me!) before I commit.

A two star might have gotten my attention, but didn't keep it through the entire book. A two star movie is the one I walked out of. In other words, it got my attention (and probably my money) but that was the extent of our relationship. (Come to think about it, a one star is probably better than a two star. Hmmm.)

That said, there are a TON of books and movies produced which the masses love, but fall into my one or two star category. My husband complains about this all the time. He says I don't like "great acting" or some other nonsense. He's right. I don't care for great acting. I care for great characters, good dialogue and action. I don't care for reality. I am not impressed by "the human condition". Books and movies about someone's messy divorce or a child dying of some rare disease? I know those people. It might be inspiring, but that is not entertainment in my world.

Make me laugh. Make me cry (but not too much). Give me a Happily Ever After. Do not humiliate me. Do not take advantage of the less fortunate. Then we are talking about at least a three.

I am a native Texan who started reading shortly after bir...

I am a native Texan who started reading shortly after birth, thanks to a serious literary addiction which runs in the family. I'd rather read than sleep, but then I get even more cranky so let's move on. I started writing seriously in 2013 and started my first blog, TexasNSanity, on my birthday in 2014.

In 2015, I self-published my first book baby, If You Touch My Mind, a contemporary romance set in Texas. The sequel, Keep Your Eyes On Me, was delivered in 2016. Healer is a fantasy romance and the first of a trilogy will be out as soon as I finish editing (which will be soon, I promise). There are other novels in the wings, waiting impatiently for their time to come forth. You can expect all of my books to contain at least one of the following: fantasy or some reason why 'this can't happen in real life' (that's the way I like my movies, too), family names, family stories, or family objects. (My mother has genealogy research dating back to before the ice age, hence the inclusion of family stuff. Can't argue with 70,000 plus names to choose from.)
Other than reading and writing for sanity, I am an occupational therapist with a unique view of the human condition, health and healthcare. If I'm not at work, I'm at church doing something out of the ordinary or chilling in my glider at home. Aside from that, you will find me slipping into a coma if I'm not crocheting or drinking (tea or wine, no preference). I have one spouse (because one is enough) and two adult-ish girls (referred to as the Myrtles). 
That's all I consider important. I don't offend easily, so if you have any burning questions, feel free to ask. 

Late Blooming

If I followed family tradition, I would be a pilot, gardener, musician and visual artist to name a few. Despite many opportunities and attempts over the years, my genetics are suspiciously absent when it comes to some important aspects to my family history. Or maybe I’m just a late bloomer.

I should be a 4th generation pilot. I think my grandfather ruined that for me when I was 3 weeks old and decided to get the noisiest plane he could find to transport my mother and me from Lubbock to Killeen for the holidays. I paid them dearly for that effort; I screamed the entire way. When my grandmother (an FAA inspector) was teaching my brother to fly, she took me up “just to see” if I had any interest. My response? You guessed it. Poor woman never let me live it down.

Gardening? How simple is that? Anyone can make a simple garden. Ha! I kill cactus, people.Literally but not intentionally. Despite coming from generations of gardening experts, including my father’s relatively recent Master Gardener designation, I can’t keep anything alive. I’ve tried (and I do mean try) herbs, terrariums, pots, succulents with nary an ounce of luck. If they do survive longer than a month or two, the poor plants are decidedly unhealthy and do all sorts of weird stuff like leak sap all over the place.

Music and Art? My lack of talent is not from lack of opportunity or encouragement. My mother and her brother are professional musicians. Both grandmothers, a great-grandmother, my uncle and brother are/were fantastic painters. I even married a creative and had 2 artistically/musically-inclined daughters. After studying piano and singing for most of my life, I can read the notes and have a good ear, but I can’t keep a rhythm to save my life. Tagging along to painting sessions and attending art lessons did not teach me how to draw a stick figure. Harrumph!

For some mysterious reason, I feel the tides changing. For better or worse remains to be seen. Last night, my cousin arranged a painting class for us to celebrate our grandmother’s 105th birthday. Luckily we had wine and the instructor was good enough to say, “Put a square here.” I could do that! Hallelujah!

So after two hours of step-by-step instruction, here is the my interpretation of Cezanne:

Yeah, me! I might actually try this again. Please don’t send me a plant as congratulations, though. I’ve committed enough herbal and floral homicide as it is.

T.

Bursting with Pride

SXSW, better know as South by Southwest Music and Film Festival is an international event held in Austin, Texas. This year I had the opportunity to go for the sole purpose of watching my daughter (and cover artist) and her high school animation team screen their animation short, Out of Reach. Their’s was one of 24 short films (of which 3 were animated) chosen out of who-knows-how-many to be screened and juried. A second team from her high school was also selected for their animated short, Goin’ Nuts. We will find out a winner on Tuesday evening.

High school students can come up with interesting (and dark) material to compete with anything a twisted adult can dream up. Maybe more so. Most of the shorts involved disturbing subject matter: cutting, shooting, throats cut, child abuse, kidnapping, torture, to mention a few off the top of my head. Weird, blood-letting videos aside, there were several redeeming and “pretty” films that I understood and enjoyed. There was one music rap video which I actually understood enough to enjoy. A few shorts were PSA or documentary material including one amazing video by an autistic boy on what it is like to be autistic (He said his mother made him do it. Go Mom!). I happened to sit directly in front of the 3 jurors and overhear some of their comments. The only comments I paid attention to were regarding our 2 teams.

Out of Reach earned several laughs and giggles from the audience and jurors, with a final collective comment of “Wow” from the judges. Goin’ Nuts got a resounding “That was nice” from one juror with agreement from the other 2. (YES!!)

Now, I do not care if either team wins the prize, in fact it is unlikely when compared to some of the live action shorts presented. I understand and do not envy the jurors decision-making to choose an overall winner. The fact that these 2 talented teams were selected for this prestigious event is a fine addition to a respectable portfolio or resume any day.

A mama was never more proud of her baby. I can’t wait to see what Myrtle Sue comes up with next.

T.

Hello, y’all!

This is a(nother) new venture for me. Over the past 3 years or so, I have started to write again, and am proud of the successful completion of my first novel, If You Touch My Mind. I self-published in August of 2015 and have been having a wonderful time sharing my efforts with others.

A little about me. I am a native Texan, married with two beautiful daughters (commonly referred to as The Myrtles: Ann and Sue). Myrtle Ann is the eldest, heading in the general career path of nursing and is engaged to a newly-bereted army ranger. Myrtle Sue is in an exciting chapter of life as a high school senior and budding animator. When I am not writing, I work as an occupational therapist, treating adults with a variety of conditions. I specialize in treating the lymphatic system, health and wellness challenges of all types.

It’s raining and bed is calling my name, so that’s all for n0w. Here’s to new ventures.

T