E.M. Markoff's Blog, page 10
September 10, 2016
Writer's Life, The Con Edition: MidAmeriCon II/74th WorldCon & San Francisco Comic Con
Welcome back! Alas, it seems that the months have once more slipped through my hands. However, I am happy to report that I have been busy at work on quite a number of items, two of which I will touch upon in today's post :)
If you follow me on social media (Facebook, IG, Twitter) or happened to have stopped by my book website, you saw I was a vendor at the following cons: MidAmeriCon II/74th WorldCon and the first ever San Francisco Comic Con (SFCC2016).
Each con was a very different beastie, but both provided invaluable learning experiences. At WorldCon, I had the fortune of meeting fellow authors who shared their experience with this newbie author and convention vendor. Their kindness, whether they realized it or not, helped bring a sort of order to the chaos in my heart and thoughts. Other highlights of WorldCon included meeting insanely talented artists, being able to see the Hugo Awards live, and personally thanking the author who gave me the courage to stick to self-publishing. For there definitely was a time when I wondered if I was being foolish in not pursuing traditional publishing. But that story, I feel, is best told in its own blog post.
GRRR
SFF Author Ellie Ann
L to R: A solider of the Ascendancy, SF author John Scalzi, and some random person
Next we have San Francisco Comic Con. I really enjoyed this con. The atmosphere was vibrating with energy and the cosplayers' outfits were spectacular. SFCC was the first comic convention held in San Francisco in quite a number of years. From a vendor perspective, I did quite well. But, what I enjoyed most was being able to chat with the people who stopped by my booth. We talked anime, Universal Studios horror movies, Clive Barker, bookstagram, comics, books...the list goes on.
Kazam Comics
If you signed up for the newsletter, rest assured that I am working toward getting it sent out :) And, if you would like to see more pictures of either con, please head on over to my Facebook page.
Were you at MidAmeriCon II or San Francisco Comic Con? If so, tell me about it.
Till next we meet,
xoxo
If you follow me on social media (Facebook, IG, Twitter) or happened to have stopped by my book website, you saw I was a vendor at the following cons: MidAmeriCon II/74th WorldCon and the first ever San Francisco Comic Con (SFCC2016).
Each con was a very different beastie, but both provided invaluable learning experiences. At WorldCon, I had the fortune of meeting fellow authors who shared their experience with this newbie author and convention vendor. Their kindness, whether they realized it or not, helped bring a sort of order to the chaos in my heart and thoughts. Other highlights of WorldCon included meeting insanely talented artists, being able to see the Hugo Awards live, and personally thanking the author who gave me the courage to stick to self-publishing. For there definitely was a time when I wondered if I was being foolish in not pursuing traditional publishing. But that story, I feel, is best told in its own blog post.
GRRR
SFF Author Ellie Ann
L to R: A solider of the Ascendancy, SF author John Scalzi, and some random personNext we have San Francisco Comic Con. I really enjoyed this con. The atmosphere was vibrating with energy and the cosplayers' outfits were spectacular. SFCC was the first comic convention held in San Francisco in quite a number of years. From a vendor perspective, I did quite well. But, what I enjoyed most was being able to chat with the people who stopped by my booth. We talked anime, Universal Studios horror movies, Clive Barker, bookstagram, comics, books...the list goes on.
Kazam Comics
If you signed up for the newsletter, rest assured that I am working toward getting it sent out :) And, if you would like to see more pictures of either con, please head on over to my Facebook page.
Were you at MidAmeriCon II or San Francisco Comic Con? If so, tell me about it.
Till next we meet,
xoxo
June 7, 2016
Screening of Kirkman's OUTCAST and Accidentally Sitting in Patrick Fugit's Reserved Seating
Hello from the gray walled rectangle that is my living room!
Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend a special screening of Cinemax's new show Outcast, which is based on the comic by Robert Kirkman (writer, The Walking Dead) and artist Paul Azaceta.
I was overly happy to be attending this screening as I had been itching to see something that was visually gripping and disturbingly told. Let me say, I was not disappointed. Before I continue, I want to disclose that I have NOT read the Outcast comic, so my indoctrination to this series was by the show, though the first issue of the comic was enticingly left upon the movie table. Along with popcorn. Because you can never go wrong with popcorn (Unless it is drenched in butter, then that is a horror movie unto itself!).
Also, I got a beanie!! And since I live in the city of which Mark Twain said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was in San Francisco," I will most likely be making good use of said beanie. Plus, it's black. And black is my favorite color <3
Anyways...this review will have SPOILERS!! I suggest you heed David Bowie's words:
I suggest you let the Goblin King have ALL the power over you.
As someone who is originally from Texas, I can attest that its motto of everything being bigger is true. Especially when it comes to cockroaches. Well, the opening scene of Outcast decides to make use of this illustrious, noble insect and a child (because children are inherently scary. If you don't believe me, just watch Stephen King's The Shining) and literally mash the two together. If that wasn't enough, said child then decides to eat the now head-butted sacrificial insect by licking it off the wall. A later scene shows the kid eating his own finger, but, really, nothing tops eating a squished cockroach. Before you judge me, try smashing a meaty cockroach yourself and then behold the amount of guts said creature is capable of expelling. Truly terrifying.
Anyone who is familiar with Kirkman's The Walking Dead knows to expect gore porn, and Outcast definitely delivers in that vein. It can even be said that Cinemax's opening scene is almost a caveat saying,"This is what you're getting yourself into. You've been warned. Don't blame us if you piss yourself at night when you see a cockroach."
As the story unfolds, we are introduced to Kyle, a man who--we learn--has a tortured past. In almost the same scene we are introduced to his adopted sister, Megan, who, despite not being related by blood, takes it upon herself to give two fucks for him, because Kyle and everyone else around him can't seem to. I like Megan. She's chirpy without being annoying. And really, how can you not like someone who is this loyal?
In episode one, we are also introduced to Reverend Anderson, whom I thought was the most interesting of all the characters. On the surface, there doesn't seem to be anything tortured about him (though I learned an interesting tid-bit in the comic, but this is about the show, not the comic). But, maybe that's why I was drawn to him, because usually when someone appears to be a-okay on the surface, they wind up being the most screwed up character of all.
So as the show progresses, we learn that Kyle can hurt demons that have possessed people by punching the crap out of them (yes, a child was punched in the making of this film, well, on screen, at least), and that the reason Kyle's life has been so shitty is because the demons have a special interest in him.
At the end of the show, you are left with the dynamic duo of Reverend Anderson and Kyle-I'm-Gonna-Punch-That-Demon-Out.
Overall impression: The mystery of why the demons are interested in Kyle and why they seem to be popping up with more frequency is something I definitely want to know. The first episode did a great job in introducing us to what I assume will be the repeating characters (again, I have not read the comic, so I don't know), and subtly laying out the mystery of why I should care about Kyle's plight.
So, now that I have exorcised (oh, so funny) my two cents about the show, I will move on to my Patrick Fugit story. Long story short, I did not know who Fugit was, so I sat in a seat that had a paper with the word 'Fugit' taped onto it. I didn't think much of this and dismissed it as Alamo Drafthouse speak (hey, they do odd things). Not until later, when some other people tried to take a seat, did I realize exactly what I had done. So, this nice guy, who I will call Victor, had taken a seat in one of the Fugit chairs and when these two dudes tried to sit he informed them that the seats were reserved. Upon hearing this, I felt super embarrassed and turned to him and said that I hadn't realized the seats were reserved and that I would move. Victor, such a gentlemen, said that it was not a problem and that I could stay seated, since he knew for sure that one person had canceled and was not coming. Moving on, at the end of the Outcast screening Patrick Fugit himself came out on stage so he could be interviewed. Toward the end of the interview, he waved "Hi" to Vincent and at that moment I couldn't help but wonder if he thought, "Who the hell is that girl sitting in my reserved seats?"
If I didn't know who Patrick Fugit was before, I sure as hell know now!
Overall, I had a great time, but unfortunately I was fighting off a creeping migraine, which I have a feeling kept me from connecting with Kyle, who seemed to be fighting off a hell of a migraine as well.
Have you seen Outcast? What did you think?
Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend a special screening of Cinemax's new show Outcast, which is based on the comic by Robert Kirkman (writer, The Walking Dead) and artist Paul Azaceta.
I was overly happy to be attending this screening as I had been itching to see something that was visually gripping and disturbingly told. Let me say, I was not disappointed. Before I continue, I want to disclose that I have NOT read the Outcast comic, so my indoctrination to this series was by the show, though the first issue of the comic was enticingly left upon the movie table. Along with popcorn. Because you can never go wrong with popcorn (Unless it is drenched in butter, then that is a horror movie unto itself!).
Also, I got a beanie!! And since I live in the city of which Mark Twain said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was in San Francisco," I will most likely be making good use of said beanie. Plus, it's black. And black is my favorite color <3
Anyways...this review will have SPOILERS!! I suggest you heed David Bowie's words:
I suggest you let the Goblin King have ALL the power over you.As someone who is originally from Texas, I can attest that its motto of everything being bigger is true. Especially when it comes to cockroaches. Well, the opening scene of Outcast decides to make use of this illustrious, noble insect and a child (because children are inherently scary. If you don't believe me, just watch Stephen King's The Shining) and literally mash the two together. If that wasn't enough, said child then decides to eat the now head-butted sacrificial insect by licking it off the wall. A later scene shows the kid eating his own finger, but, really, nothing tops eating a squished cockroach. Before you judge me, try smashing a meaty cockroach yourself and then behold the amount of guts said creature is capable of expelling. Truly terrifying.
Anyone who is familiar with Kirkman's The Walking Dead knows to expect gore porn, and Outcast definitely delivers in that vein. It can even be said that Cinemax's opening scene is almost a caveat saying,"This is what you're getting yourself into. You've been warned. Don't blame us if you piss yourself at night when you see a cockroach."
As the story unfolds, we are introduced to Kyle, a man who--we learn--has a tortured past. In almost the same scene we are introduced to his adopted sister, Megan, who, despite not being related by blood, takes it upon herself to give two fucks for him, because Kyle and everyone else around him can't seem to. I like Megan. She's chirpy without being annoying. And really, how can you not like someone who is this loyal?
In episode one, we are also introduced to Reverend Anderson, whom I thought was the most interesting of all the characters. On the surface, there doesn't seem to be anything tortured about him (though I learned an interesting tid-bit in the comic, but this is about the show, not the comic). But, maybe that's why I was drawn to him, because usually when someone appears to be a-okay on the surface, they wind up being the most screwed up character of all.
So as the show progresses, we learn that Kyle can hurt demons that have possessed people by punching the crap out of them (yes, a child was punched in the making of this film, well, on screen, at least), and that the reason Kyle's life has been so shitty is because the demons have a special interest in him.
At the end of the show, you are left with the dynamic duo of Reverend Anderson and Kyle-I'm-Gonna-Punch-That-Demon-Out.
Overall impression: The mystery of why the demons are interested in Kyle and why they seem to be popping up with more frequency is something I definitely want to know. The first episode did a great job in introducing us to what I assume will be the repeating characters (again, I have not read the comic, so I don't know), and subtly laying out the mystery of why I should care about Kyle's plight.
So, now that I have exorcised (oh, so funny) my two cents about the show, I will move on to my Patrick Fugit story. Long story short, I did not know who Fugit was, so I sat in a seat that had a paper with the word 'Fugit' taped onto it. I didn't think much of this and dismissed it as Alamo Drafthouse speak (hey, they do odd things). Not until later, when some other people tried to take a seat, did I realize exactly what I had done. So, this nice guy, who I will call Victor, had taken a seat in one of the Fugit chairs and when these two dudes tried to sit he informed them that the seats were reserved. Upon hearing this, I felt super embarrassed and turned to him and said that I hadn't realized the seats were reserved and that I would move. Victor, such a gentlemen, said that it was not a problem and that I could stay seated, since he knew for sure that one person had canceled and was not coming. Moving on, at the end of the Outcast screening Patrick Fugit himself came out on stage so he could be interviewed. Toward the end of the interview, he waved "Hi" to Vincent and at that moment I couldn't help but wonder if he thought, "Who the hell is that girl sitting in my reserved seats?"
If I didn't know who Patrick Fugit was before, I sure as hell know now!
Overall, I had a great time, but unfortunately I was fighting off a creeping migraine, which I have a feeling kept me from connecting with Kyle, who seemed to be fighting off a hell of a migraine as well.
Have you seen Outcast? What did you think?
May 20, 2016
BOOK POST: 'The Deadbringer' Now Available for Pre-order on iBooks and Kindle. Release Date 5/27!
UPDATE 5/27: HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY! THE DEADBRINGER IS NOW AVAILABLE!! ***** Deep breath...
Good news, everyone! My book, The Deadbringer, will be officially released on May 27! In addition, it's now available for pre-order on iBooks and Amazon Kindle!
I feel like I'm dreaming. Quick, someone pinch me! Just not too hard or I'll punch you.
Before I go on, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the bloggers and vloggers who took time to post about their experiences in self-publishing and ebook formatting. You were the light at the end of many long, dark tunnels.
As someone who generally sucks at blogging (how is it already two weeks since my last post!), I am in awe of the generosity of the bloggers and vloggers willing to share their knowledge. Blogging takes time, as does recording, editing, and uploading a video onto Youtube. And yet, the amount of information available is amazing. During my journey as a writer, I could always count on the bloggers and vloggers to help pull me out of the abyss I found myself many times consumed by.
My sanity thanks you <3
So yeah, the ebook version of The Deadbringer is now available for pre-order on iBooks and Kindle. Currently, I'm in the process of making it available for other e-reader platforms. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Unfortunately, pre-order will not be available for the print version of the book and it will not be available for purchase until May 27. To make up for that, here is the full cover of the print book:
Artwork by Pink Pigeon Studio
If you want to learn more about the book, I recommend heading over to the book website. I spent yesterday updating it and putting up a few goodies, such as a map of the world my book is set in and a brief glossary of the characters, races, and factions. After looking around on the book website, I hope your curiosity will be peaked and that you will consider getting a copy.
As of today, there are only 7 more days left till The Deadbringer is officially released. Now if only there was a way to have my book delivered by Planet Express *__*
See you soon,
XOXO
Good news, everyone! My book, The Deadbringer, will be officially released on May 27! In addition, it's now available for pre-order on iBooks and Amazon Kindle!
I feel like I'm dreaming. Quick, someone pinch me! Just not too hard or I'll punch you.
Before I go on, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the bloggers and vloggers who took time to post about their experiences in self-publishing and ebook formatting. You were the light at the end of many long, dark tunnels.
As someone who generally sucks at blogging (how is it already two weeks since my last post!), I am in awe of the generosity of the bloggers and vloggers willing to share their knowledge. Blogging takes time, as does recording, editing, and uploading a video onto Youtube. And yet, the amount of information available is amazing. During my journey as a writer, I could always count on the bloggers and vloggers to help pull me out of the abyss I found myself many times consumed by.
My sanity thanks you <3
So yeah, the ebook version of The Deadbringer is now available for pre-order on iBooks and Kindle. Currently, I'm in the process of making it available for other e-reader platforms. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Unfortunately, pre-order will not be available for the print version of the book and it will not be available for purchase until May 27. To make up for that, here is the full cover of the print book:
Artwork by Pink Pigeon Studio If you want to learn more about the book, I recommend heading over to the book website. I spent yesterday updating it and putting up a few goodies, such as a map of the world my book is set in and a brief glossary of the characters, races, and factions. After looking around on the book website, I hope your curiosity will be peaked and that you will consider getting a copy.
As of today, there are only 7 more days left till The Deadbringer is officially released. Now if only there was a way to have my book delivered by Planet Express *__*
See you soon,
XOXO
May 3, 2016
After A Long Hiatus, Tomes & Coffee Is Back! Also, Book News Update!!
First things first: I'm sorry. I started this blog as a way to document and share my journey as an aspiring writer and then just...disappeared. If you follow me on Instagram, then you know what I've been doing with my time and how I have been plugging away at my book. Still, I should have at least put something up on my blog but, nothing.
I would like to say this will never happen again, but life has a way of pushing and prodding at you until you have no choice but to dedicate 100% of your attention to it.
Still, I am going to do my best not to disappear :) Now, on to the update!
The biggest bit of news that I have to report is that my book is done, and if all goes smoothly (which it never does), will be released late May 2016! Yup, just a few weeks away. Needless to say, at the moment, everything is chaos. But a journey isn't much fun without a bit of adventure, so bring it on.
The name of my book is The Deadbringer and it is the first book in the Ellderet Series. It's a fantasy novel with elements of horror (boo!), so dark fantasy. For more information over the book, including what it's about, head on over to the About My Book section of this blog or check out the book website, which I am still working on.
I'm on the last leg of my journey as an aspiring writer and soon, very soon, will begin a new journey as a full-fledged writer. A lot of falling down and picking myself up happened during the time I was away. Thankfully, I'm surrounded by some pretty amazing people and inherited my mother's stubbornness, much to my editor's dismay (I foresee a comic about this).
It is with great joy that my first blog back is a positive one. But, really, life is what you make of it, and I choose to always move forward.
I hope you will join me on my journey.
See you soon.
XOXO
I would like to say this will never happen again, but life has a way of pushing and prodding at you until you have no choice but to dedicate 100% of your attention to it.
Still, I am going to do my best not to disappear :) Now, on to the update!
The biggest bit of news that I have to report is that my book is done, and if all goes smoothly (which it never does), will be released late May 2016! Yup, just a few weeks away. Needless to say, at the moment, everything is chaos. But a journey isn't much fun without a bit of adventure, so bring it on.
The name of my book is The Deadbringer and it is the first book in the Ellderet Series. It's a fantasy novel with elements of horror (boo!), so dark fantasy. For more information over the book, including what it's about, head on over to the About My Book section of this blog or check out the book website, which I am still working on.
I'm on the last leg of my journey as an aspiring writer and soon, very soon, will begin a new journey as a full-fledged writer. A lot of falling down and picking myself up happened during the time I was away. Thankfully, I'm surrounded by some pretty amazing people and inherited my mother's stubbornness, much to my editor's dismay (I foresee a comic about this).
It is with great joy that my first blog back is a positive one. But, really, life is what you make of it, and I choose to always move forward.
I hope you will join me on my journey.
See you soon.
XOXO
July 20, 2015
Shipping Fictional Characters: When A Ship Is Not A Ship
Usually, I'm the person who is behind in all the latest expressions. For example, a few months ago, a friend of mine visited from out-of-town and used the phrase "throwing shade". My husband immediately jumped on board and they started bantering back and forth, while I sat there clueless. I had no idea what they had meant.
Just yesterday, this very same friend referred to herself and me as goobers, and, again, I had no idea what she meant!
Well, a few weeks ago, I finally knew a word that my husband did not. Fyi, I have an Instagram account where I post an insane number of book pictures. There is an entire book community on Instagram that lives and breathes books. Many of these book accounts are down right artistic <3 Anyways, one of the many book events that occurs on Instagram are called "book challenges". In short, each day is a different book and theme.
Some of my book pictures.Day 4 of the #winterbookchallenge called for "favorite ship". When I mentioned this to my husband--who, by the way, is also an avid book lover--he thought I meant watercraft. At first, I thought he was just having a go at me, because he always seems to know every meme, phrase, trend, you name it. When I corrected him and told him what 'ship' meant in this situation, he laughed and admitted that he had never heard of that phrase.
It was a fun conversation. :)
July 4, 2015
Adventure in Lassen Volcanic National Park: Lassen Peak Trail
Happy 4th of July!
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I traveled to Lassen Volcanic National Park with the intention of hiking Lassen Peak Trail (10,457 feet above sea level) as a way to test if I could handle higher elevations. Prior to Lassen, the highest trail I had climbed was Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, which is 8,844 feet above sea level.
Once we started the hike, I noticed right away that I was breathing pretty heavy, as if I had been running away from a rabid unicorn. At first I was embarrassed, because I felt like I was just out of shape. But then I noticed that my husband and the few other hikers on the trail were huffing and puffing as well. I realized then that what I was feeling was normal, and decided that instead of dwelling on how out of shape I was, I would make sure to pay attention to my body for signs of altitude sickness--a potentially life-threatening condition. Thankfully, I was able to reach the summit symptom free.
While I was up there, I noticed that many of the hikers would quickly look around, take their victory shot with Mt. Shasta in the background, and then begin their descent. This confounded me. Why, after over two miles of hiking and sounding like you are auditioning for the role of the Big Bad Wolf, would you not find a nice spot to sit and soak in the view? Needless to say, my husband and I found a cozy spot between two medium-sized boulders. For half an hour, we sat and listened to the sound of the wind blowing and ravens calling overhead as we slowly ate our modest meal of dried salmon jerky and rye bread. We would have stayed longer but the summit, though beautiful, offers very little shelter from the wind, and neither of us had packed a thick-enough jacket to avoid becoming chilled.
Depending on how quickly you trek, the entire hike takes about 3-4 hours. It took us just over 2 hours to go up, and a little over 1 hour to return to the parking lot. The trail itself is a mix of varying degrees of gravelly rock and snow patches with absolutely no rock-climbing required. It is also one of the best-maintained trails I have ever seen. You can expect to find wind-blasted tree cover for pretty much the entire trail, except the last leg.
In respect to the snow--California is in a drought and the amount of snowfall on Mt. Lassen when we visited in June is way below average. Apparently, Mt. Lassen should be covered in snow all the way to the parking lot (see video and first picture on blog) and not be "easily" accessible till August. We met a lovely couple from Redding, CA--a town not far from Lassen--who were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary, and who confirmed the low levels of snow.
Regardless, Lassen Volcanic National Park is gorgeous and there is SO much to see besides Mt. Lassen itself. Also, it is not as crowded as, say, Yosemite. Even the drive through the National Park is breathtaking and offers plenty of scenic places to pull over and stretch your legs.
I'm looking forward to going back, and this time I will pack a thicker sweater ;)
June 17, 2015
My Bookstore Dilemma
I have a wish-list of books that I want to add to my collection. If you were to ask me at this moment what three books I want, I could easily name them. But, whenever I walk into a bookstore, that wish-list goes out the window, and I find myself struggling to remember even one. And it is very annoying when you discover that the only book that you can remember is not available.
Thankfully, the bookstore I visited while traveling through southern Oregon had a small but decent fantasy section. After a quick Goodreads cross-check to read people's reviews and make sure I wasn't buying something I would regret, I proudly walked out with a new fantasy book to add to my collection. <3
It's always a pleasure to visit a local bookstore when I travel. With this amazing "Barry Potter" statue, how could I not stop and look? May 29, 2015
Why You Should Let Your Novel Rest
Letting your novel rest sounds easy, doesn't it? But for me, it has been an exercise in self-restraint, especially because I long to see my book published. Letting my novel rest is only going to push back that goal. This being said, it's been over one month since I stepped away from my story and sent it out to beta readers.
At first, I was elated because I had finally--after three years of writing, rewriting, editing, and getting feedback for the first dozen chapters--reached the point where I felt that my novel was "complete" and ready to move on to the next phase. The instant I hit the "send" button on that email to my beta readers, I felt, for the first time, truly accomplished. It was an amazing feeling and I recommend every writer celebrate that moment, because the thrill of excitement at having finished my first novel (a meaty 115K words) is something I will never forget.
The Breakdown
Two Weeks In:
Avoiding my novel for the first two weeks was easy peasy, because I could now turn my attention to other projects without feeling like I was taking time away from writing.
Third Week:
The urge to read my story would start to creep up, flutter like a butterfly to a flower, and then, just as quickly, fly away.
Fourth Week:
I found myself making excuses for why I needed to look at my story. But I held out. Though the temptation to give in to the dark side was ever-present. Knowing that I could bring up my story on my phone at any time did not help.
Fifth Week:
At this point, something unexpected happened. I began to think about my story in an introspective manner and felt less inclined to actually read it, because I was enjoying recalling the scenes from memory. I would find myself thinking about my world-building the way you think about a place you vacationed at, and which you remembered fondly.
I began to think about my characters and their habits, such as how they interacted with each other and how certain characters' actions directly impacted others, be it in a positive or negative way. I also began to realize that a certain theme in my book was much more vital to the story than I had realized, and that it helps define the protagonist's actions. I also thought about specific sections of my book that I felt could be presented better, including the beginning of the first chapter--something of an important part, as you might expect.
So, here is what I feel are the reasons why you should step away from your novel.
In short, my mind had done a lot of wandering but, overall, I now feel confident that I will be able to approach my novel with a critical eye. I also feel that, once my beta readers give me their feedback, I will be able to better discuss and analyze their opinions without my judgment being too clouded.
How long you should let your novel rest is up to you. Waiting just over a month is something that I feel has worked for me. I know it's hard to wait. Trust me, I know. But I feel that this self-imposed resting period had only benefited my story.
May 20, 2015
How Do You Prepare Your Coffee?
This comic is an actual conversation between my husband and I. Apparently, when I drink too much coffee, I have a tendency to bounce around the apartment! My husband is a huge coffee drinker as well, but, unlike me, he has gotten to the point where he sometimes needs a cup of coffee to fall asleep. I aim to never reach this level. Sorry hub.
Personally, I love my coffee black, while my husband prefers a bit of milk. We both prefer medium roasts from South America since they lean towards well balanced,which to my palate translates as a bit less acidic. As for brewing, a french press and an insulated carafe to keep all the liquid yumminess piping hot. Nothing is sadder than a cold cup of neglected coffee, which is something that happens to me quite often, especially when I'm typing away. Like now. Yup, my coffee is cold.
Not too long ago, my husband and I had the fortunate of traveling to Berlin and had the most amazing cup of coffee at No Fire, No Glory Coffee Bar. We each chose the same roast and requested that the aeropress and V60 filtration methods be used. To our surprise, each method yielded a different taste.
If you're a coffee drinker, I'd love to hear how you prepare your coffee and what your favorite styles are (e.g., plain, latte, or mocha). Are there any local cafes in your area that always know how to make that perfect cup of savory warmth that never fails to bring a smile to your face?
May 9, 2015
The Language of Music
When I was growing up, getting ahold of music from artists not popular or well-known in the United States was difficult. My mother was never very strict with the kind of music I listened to, so she was never the limiting factor. Because of her leniency in my musical taste, people have commented to me that had my mother understood English, she would have never allowed me to listen to that kind of music, mainly industrial and metal.
100% Pure and Wholesome. Honest!
I don't deny that there was probably some truth to these comments, but my mom was not blind, and she was very much aware of the image of the bands I listened to, especially since I had the habit of sharing my music with her. Nothing excited me more than being able to hunt down an album I had been trying to get my hands on and then show it to her. There were definitely some bands she did not approve of (Marilyn Manson, no?), but the ones I cared for the most she had no objection to. She was amazing.
Often, as my mom sat and listened to my music, her brow would furrow together and a look of concentration would wash over her. I eventually came to associate that look with her wanting to understand what the lyrics were. For me, this meant having to translate the lyrics from English to Spanish. It was a task I took on with joy, but it was also a bit of a pain in the ass because I felt like translating a song while it was playing took away from the experience as a whole.
Being bilingual, I never experienced the need to understand what the artist was trying to convey, as my mom did. Then, a few years later, while reading an interview with one of my favorite industrial bands, PIG, the singer mentioned a Japanese band called Buck-Tick, which he had collaborated with on an album in 1996.
Napster (free at the time - glory days!) had just popped onto the scene, so I immediately searched, found, and downloaded this band he spoke fondly of. My connection speed was slow (the horror of dial-up), and hours later I sat and listened to my new musical conquest and was taken aback to discover that even though some of the song titles were in English, the song was not. It was all in Japanese. I had no idea what they were saying, yet the music and the voice intrigued me. I downloaded more songs, eager to find at least one song in English. I never did. For the first time, I was confronted with how my mom must have felt whenever she listened to my music. Like her, I was suddenly possessed with the urge to understand what this band was saying.
I scoured the internet, hoping to find a translation somewhere, but found nothing. After a while, I gave up trying to find a translation and then, just like my mom, I began listening to and fell in love with a band that I didn't understand in the slightest.
One time, while I was driving around with a then-friend, I had my burned CD of Napster-aquired Buck-Tick songs blaring, and he turned to look at me and asked, "How do you know they aren't singing about killing Americans?" My first reaction was to punch him. But, in all honesty, I didn't know what they were saying. Yet, something in the band's voice and their instruments assured me that this was not the case. So confident was I in this feeling that I never took his, or anyone else's, dismissive attitude seriously. For me, despite the language barrier, there was something that spoke to me. I had connected with something, but on such a deep level that I could not express what it was, especially to people who found it absurd to listen to music in languages they couldn't understand.
But I didn't care about other people's opinions, because Buck-Tick had become a very important part of my life and my mother's. She adored this band and would often ask me to play certain songs that became her favorites. This privilege was reserved only for Buck-Tick.
Unlike today, ordering imported CDs was not as easy as typing in the url, browsing, ordering, and then, three days later, the CD is in your mailbox. Even now, imported CDs are expensive, but it is marginal compared to how much it used to cost to special-order an imported CD from a record store. I did that only one time, with PIG, and thankfully the CD was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be. Because, yeah, that was expensive. I never special-ordered a CD again, and during this time (late 90's, early 2000's) I did not trust ordering any hard-to-find bands online.
Thankfully, the content on the internet was growing and a wonderful thing called YouTube came into existence. By this time, I had begun to discover new Japanese bands through anime and online threads, but did not think to search for new material for Buck-Tick.
I was enthralled by YouTube and the ability to type in band names and see, actually see, what they looked like: concerts, PVs, interviews! During this time, I became obsessed with Malice Mizer, Moi Dix Mois, and Gackt. By reading the comments, I discovered a wonderful and reliable site where I could import CDs from Japan: CDJapan. I immediately ordered Moi Dix Mois and Malice Mizer and have been ordering my imported CDs from CDJapan since 2008. Side note, they have amazing customer service. Additional side note, CDs in Japan tend to go out of print, which kinda sucks because, if you decide not to buy something, you most likely won't get a second chance.
Slowly, as YouTube grew, I started seeing people post up videos with Spanish and English translations of all the Japanese bands I was listening to. It was great! And then, as Buck-Tick blared on my head set, it finally occurred to me to look them up. Sounds dense, doesn't it? But I had been listening to my burned copy of Buck-Tick for so long that it didn't seem possible that they would still be around.
A YouTube search later proved me wrong, and for the first time I was able to put faces to this band, along with not only English, but Spanish lyric translations as well. As I began reading the lyrics for two of my and my mom's favorite songs, Jupiter (english translation) and Kodou, that feeling of connection came full circle. The lyrics were what my heart had already told me. Like in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, "[it was] the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart." On that day, I learned not only the lyrics but also, from the comments, and then endless searching on the internet, that these two songs had been written by the singer for his mother, who had been stricken ill and passed away while he was on tour. It was the language of love and grief.
Jupiter (spanish translation) holds a very special place in my heart, not only because it was the very first Buck-Tick song I heard and that my mother fell in love with, but also because it was the last song we listened to together shortly before she passed away.
Music knows no bounds, and thanks to the internet and the wonderful people who take their time to translate and upload these translations it is truly becoming universal. To once again quote The Alchemist, it is "the pure Language of the World."
100% Pure and Wholesome. Honest!I don't deny that there was probably some truth to these comments, but my mom was not blind, and she was very much aware of the image of the bands I listened to, especially since I had the habit of sharing my music with her. Nothing excited me more than being able to hunt down an album I had been trying to get my hands on and then show it to her. There were definitely some bands she did not approve of (Marilyn Manson, no?), but the ones I cared for the most she had no objection to. She was amazing.
Often, as my mom sat and listened to my music, her brow would furrow together and a look of concentration would wash over her. I eventually came to associate that look with her wanting to understand what the lyrics were. For me, this meant having to translate the lyrics from English to Spanish. It was a task I took on with joy, but it was also a bit of a pain in the ass because I felt like translating a song while it was playing took away from the experience as a whole.
Being bilingual, I never experienced the need to understand what the artist was trying to convey, as my mom did. Then, a few years later, while reading an interview with one of my favorite industrial bands, PIG, the singer mentioned a Japanese band called Buck-Tick, which he had collaborated with on an album in 1996.
Napster (free at the time - glory days!) had just popped onto the scene, so I immediately searched, found, and downloaded this band he spoke fondly of. My connection speed was slow (the horror of dial-up), and hours later I sat and listened to my new musical conquest and was taken aback to discover that even though some of the song titles were in English, the song was not. It was all in Japanese. I had no idea what they were saying, yet the music and the voice intrigued me. I downloaded more songs, eager to find at least one song in English. I never did. For the first time, I was confronted with how my mom must have felt whenever she listened to my music. Like her, I was suddenly possessed with the urge to understand what this band was saying.
I scoured the internet, hoping to find a translation somewhere, but found nothing. After a while, I gave up trying to find a translation and then, just like my mom, I began listening to and fell in love with a band that I didn't understand in the slightest.
One time, while I was driving around with a then-friend, I had my burned CD of Napster-aquired Buck-Tick songs blaring, and he turned to look at me and asked, "How do you know they aren't singing about killing Americans?" My first reaction was to punch him. But, in all honesty, I didn't know what they were saying. Yet, something in the band's voice and their instruments assured me that this was not the case. So confident was I in this feeling that I never took his, or anyone else's, dismissive attitude seriously. For me, despite the language barrier, there was something that spoke to me. I had connected with something, but on such a deep level that I could not express what it was, especially to people who found it absurd to listen to music in languages they couldn't understand.
But I didn't care about other people's opinions, because Buck-Tick had become a very important part of my life and my mother's. She adored this band and would often ask me to play certain songs that became her favorites. This privilege was reserved only for Buck-Tick.
Unlike today, ordering imported CDs was not as easy as typing in the url, browsing, ordering, and then, three days later, the CD is in your mailbox. Even now, imported CDs are expensive, but it is marginal compared to how much it used to cost to special-order an imported CD from a record store. I did that only one time, with PIG, and thankfully the CD was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be. Because, yeah, that was expensive. I never special-ordered a CD again, and during this time (late 90's, early 2000's) I did not trust ordering any hard-to-find bands online.
Thankfully, the content on the internet was growing and a wonderful thing called YouTube came into existence. By this time, I had begun to discover new Japanese bands through anime and online threads, but did not think to search for new material for Buck-Tick.
I was enthralled by YouTube and the ability to type in band names and see, actually see, what they looked like: concerts, PVs, interviews! During this time, I became obsessed with Malice Mizer, Moi Dix Mois, and Gackt. By reading the comments, I discovered a wonderful and reliable site where I could import CDs from Japan: CDJapan. I immediately ordered Moi Dix Mois and Malice Mizer and have been ordering my imported CDs from CDJapan since 2008. Side note, they have amazing customer service. Additional side note, CDs in Japan tend to go out of print, which kinda sucks because, if you decide not to buy something, you most likely won't get a second chance.
Slowly, as YouTube grew, I started seeing people post up videos with Spanish and English translations of all the Japanese bands I was listening to. It was great! And then, as Buck-Tick blared on my head set, it finally occurred to me to look them up. Sounds dense, doesn't it? But I had been listening to my burned copy of Buck-Tick for so long that it didn't seem possible that they would still be around.
A YouTube search later proved me wrong, and for the first time I was able to put faces to this band, along with not only English, but Spanish lyric translations as well. As I began reading the lyrics for two of my and my mom's favorite songs, Jupiter (english translation) and Kodou, that feeling of connection came full circle. The lyrics were what my heart had already told me. Like in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, "[it was] the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart." On that day, I learned not only the lyrics but also, from the comments, and then endless searching on the internet, that these two songs had been written by the singer for his mother, who had been stricken ill and passed away while he was on tour. It was the language of love and grief.
Jupiter (spanish translation) holds a very special place in my heart, not only because it was the very first Buck-Tick song I heard and that my mother fell in love with, but also because it was the last song we listened to together shortly before she passed away.
Music knows no bounds, and thanks to the internet and the wonderful people who take their time to translate and upload these translations it is truly becoming universal. To once again quote The Alchemist, it is "the pure Language of the World."
