Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 213
March 22, 2012
So you're at a food truck rodeo
and you see this menu:
(As always, click on the image to see a larger one.)
Do you say
Check out this lovely beast in half-eaten cross-section:
Man, oh man, was that a delicious OnlyBurger. If you live in this area and haven't had one of their burgers, you are sinning against everything that is meaty, juicy, and delicious.
(As always, click on the image to see a larger one.)Do you say
A) What the hell is a fried green tomato?You know my answer: E.
B) Eew!
C) That could be okay.
D) WANT!
E) WANT...WITH BACON!
Check out this lovely beast in half-eaten cross-section:
Man, oh man, was that a delicious OnlyBurger. If you live in this area and haven't had one of their burgers, you are sinning against everything that is meaty, juicy, and delicious.
March 21, 2012
Lobo on...human justice
I thought it might be fun to give you the occasional peek into Lobo's mind with his comments to Jon on various topics. All will come from No Going Back. I'll provide them as the mood strikes me--or if enough of you yell loudly enough.
At one point in the book, Jon says,
At one point in the book, Jon says,
"What about the law? It exists to provide justice. That's not mine to decide or to deliver."After which, Lobo reacts.
Lobo laughed. "I love that you can still make me laugh. Human legal systems exist for many reasons, justice being only one of them. It's almost certainly true that the men at that auction were wealthy and, at least some of them, maybe most of them, were also powerful. Find anywhere, anytime in human history in which justice for the rich and powerful was the same as justice for the average person, and I'll change my position...."Anyone care to argue with him?
March 20, 2012
Songs related to No Going Back
In a comment on an earlier post, Brian asked what songs I played on repeat as I wrote No Going Back. I answered honestly: too many to recall, because I was on that book for so long.
What I realized, though, is that some songs reflect the state of Jon's mind and emotions--though he wouldn't be able to tell you that fact. This is one of those songs. Yeah, it's over-played and so very yesterday and no longer hot, but it's right for one aspect of his head.
Enjoy.
What I realized, though, is that some songs reflect the state of Jon's mind and emotions--though he wouldn't be able to tell you that fact. This is one of those songs. Yeah, it's over-played and so very yesterday and no longer hot, but it's right for one aspect of his head.
Enjoy.
A bit more about Bruce and the novels
When I wrote the first Jon & Lobo story, "My Sister, My Self," I intended it to be the initial chapter of an episodic novel. The second chapter was to be called "Benny the Geek." I intended that each chapter begin with a song quote.
Then I sold that first story. Upon doing so, young writer me learned that you can't simply use a quote from a song in a story; you have to pay for the right. So, I set about securing the rights to use the 15 words I had quoted at the start of "My Sister, My Self." Those words were by, yes, Bruce Springsteen, and they were from the song, "The River." After some work--this was pre-Internet, doncha know--I was able to buy the rights for $25.
I got about seven cents a word, but I paid the Boss about $1.67 a word.
I wrote a check, mailed it, and realized then that, hey, I would get a Springsteen autograph on the back of that check.
No such luck.
The check returned with a stamped deposit authorization on the back.
The next chapter, whose contents and more now appear in Children No More, was to begin with a quote from a Jefferson Airplane song.
I'd repeat the two quotes here, but then I might owe more money, and right now, with over four hundred bucks of Springsteen tickets just having gone to others while I stayed home, I couldn't bear it. See me in person, though, and I'll tell you what they were.
I can show you the song from which the second quote would have come.
Enjoy.
Then I sold that first story. Upon doing so, young writer me learned that you can't simply use a quote from a song in a story; you have to pay for the right. So, I set about securing the rights to use the 15 words I had quoted at the start of "My Sister, My Self." Those words were by, yes, Bruce Springsteen, and they were from the song, "The River." After some work--this was pre-Internet, doncha know--I was able to buy the rights for $25.
I got about seven cents a word, but I paid the Boss about $1.67 a word.
I wrote a check, mailed it, and realized then that, hey, I would get a Springsteen autograph on the back of that check.
No such luck.
The check returned with a stamped deposit authorization on the back.
The next chapter, whose contents and more now appear in Children No More, was to begin with a quote from a Jefferson Airplane song.
I'd repeat the two quotes here, but then I might owe more money, and right now, with over four hundred bucks of Springsteen tickets just having gone to others while I stayed home, I couldn't bear it. See me in person, though, and I'll tell you what they were.
I can show you the song from which the second quote would have come.
Enjoy.
March 19, 2012
Bummed...and how Bruce Springsteen and my novels are related
Tonight in Greensboro, less than an hour and a half away, Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band are playing in concert. I have tickets, pretty good though not great seats.
I won't be there, though, due to this blasted stomach bug. I just cannot be far from a bathroom for long.
I am severely bummed. Reports of his shows on this tour have been great; check out, for example, this one on his apparently amazing SXWS performance.
I wanted to be there to remember the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, and to see the new E Street horns section, which includes Jake Clemons, the Big Man's nephew. I wanted to be there because I love the music. I wanted...well, you get it.
I am glad others are using the tickets; Sarah and Ben will get to enjoy the show. I am so very sad right now, though, to miss it.
Which sadness brings me to the direct tie between Springsteen and the Jon and Lobo books. I wrote the first Jon Moore story, "My Sister, My Self," in 1982. (You can find it now in my Jump Gate Twist collection, which brought it back into print after over 25 years of being unavailable.) While writing that story, I wanted to maintain a certain feeling, a very particular mood. To that end, the entire time I was working on that story, hour after hour, I played the same side--side 3, or the first side of the second record--of Springsteen's amazing record, The River. Yes, this was on vinyl. That side captured perfectly for me the sense of loss in the story.
Among the songs on that side were the title tune, "The River." Here's a moving version that includes a little tribute to the Big Man.
Damn, I sure hope this isn't the Boss' last tour.
Damn, I'm sad at missing this.
I won't be there, though, due to this blasted stomach bug. I just cannot be far from a bathroom for long.
I am severely bummed. Reports of his shows on this tour have been great; check out, for example, this one on his apparently amazing SXWS performance.
I wanted to be there to remember the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, and to see the new E Street horns section, which includes Jake Clemons, the Big Man's nephew. I wanted to be there because I love the music. I wanted...well, you get it.
I am glad others are using the tickets; Sarah and Ben will get to enjoy the show. I am so very sad right now, though, to miss it.
Which sadness brings me to the direct tie between Springsteen and the Jon and Lobo books. I wrote the first Jon Moore story, "My Sister, My Self," in 1982. (You can find it now in my Jump Gate Twist collection, which brought it back into print after over 25 years of being unavailable.) While writing that story, I wanted to maintain a certain feeling, a very particular mood. To that end, the entire time I was working on that story, hour after hour, I played the same side--side 3, or the first side of the second record--of Springsteen's amazing record, The River. Yes, this was on vinyl. That side captured perfectly for me the sense of loss in the story.
Among the songs on that side were the title tune, "The River." Here's a moving version that includes a little tribute to the Big Man.
Damn, I sure hope this isn't the Boss' last tour.
Damn, I'm sad at missing this.
March 18, 2012
I'm sick
A particularly intense stomach crud is going around, and I now have it. I'll spare you the details.
While I'm away, enjoy this comic, which Griffin turned me on to and which always cheers me.
I suppose that says something about me.
Now, back to being sick.
While I'm away, enjoy this comic, which Griffin turned me on to and which always cheers me.
I suppose that says something about me.
Now, back to being sick.
March 17, 2012
My new funniest typo
Funny things come out of your fingers when you're writing and really into a story. Or, at least, funny things come out of my fingers in such situations.
Homonym problems frequently bedevil me. From what other writers tell me, that's common. The mistake that previously held the title of funniest typo in my books was one Dave spotted for me. I was discussing someone arming a group of freedom fighters, and what I accidentally typed was
What I meant, of course, was
Thanks to this feature and some unknown typing error on my part, I actually turned in a ms. with this phrase:
I hope those who read the eARC do not read anything anti-Semitic into that error.
In the final book, thanks to the good services of proofreader Geoffrey Kidd and our subsequent discussion, we have the correct phrase:
Thanks, Geoff, and my apologies to all who read the eARC and endured the error.
Homonym problems frequently bedevil me. From what other writers tell me, that's common. The mistake that previously held the title of funniest typo in my books was one Dave spotted for me. I was discussing someone arming a group of freedom fighters, and what I accidentally typed was
arming gorillasAs Dave said, I want to see that scene.
What I meant, of course, was
arming guerrillasIn No Going Back, however, I made what I believe is now the winner of the Funniest Typo award. This one came courtesy of the autocorrect feature in Word on one of the computers I used to write the book. I always disable that feature on each system, but I use a lot of different computers, and sometimes I fail to remember to turn it off.
Thanks to this feature and some unknown typing error on my part, I actually turned in a ms. with this phrase:
We simply have a more gentile, polite group...Ouch!
I hope those who read the eARC do not read anything anti-Semitic into that error.
In the final book, thanks to the good services of proofreader Geoffrey Kidd and our subsequent discussion, we have the correct phrase:
We simply have a more genteel, polite group...Much better.
Thanks, Geoff, and my apologies to all who read the eARC and endured the error.
March 16, 2012
Jay and Silent Bob Grow Old
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, aka Silent Bob and Jay, rolled through Durham yesterday for a show at the Carolina Theatre. I'm a huge fan of Kevin Smith's films, particularly Dogma, which I consider to be a masterwork. So, I caught the show.
As I'd read before going, basically the two of them sit around and talk for two hours. Smith conceived of the show in part as a kind of talking therapy for Mewes, who is trying to stay clean and sober after addictions to heroin and opiates in pill form. (As of last night's performance, Mewes had 717 days clean and sober; well done, Jason!) Though I'm far more interested in what Smith has to say than Mewes's contribution, I applaud the idea behind the show.
Photo courtesy of Steve. Click on it to see a larger image.
It was, all said, a lot of fun. They told stories, read from Twitter responses, and enacted various scenarios. Mewes's twitchy presence is a striking contrast to Smith's more polished presentation, but the bond between the two is clear and strong.
They talked about sex--a lot--and each other and shared experiences. The one thing they almost never discussed, however, was filmmaking. If your goal is to learn from Kevin Smith the writer and director, you will not be happy.
With that caveat, I can recommend the show to those who like the work of these guys and who don't mind (or, of course, who seek) a raunchy evening.
As I'd read before going, basically the two of them sit around and talk for two hours. Smith conceived of the show in part as a kind of talking therapy for Mewes, who is trying to stay clean and sober after addictions to heroin and opiates in pill form. (As of last night's performance, Mewes had 717 days clean and sober; well done, Jason!) Though I'm far more interested in what Smith has to say than Mewes's contribution, I applaud the idea behind the show.
Photo courtesy of Steve. Click on it to see a larger image.It was, all said, a lot of fun. They told stories, read from Twitter responses, and enacted various scenarios. Mewes's twitchy presence is a striking contrast to Smith's more polished presentation, but the bond between the two is clear and strong.
They talked about sex--a lot--and each other and shared experiences. The one thing they almost never discussed, however, was filmmaking. If your goal is to learn from Kevin Smith the writer and director, you will not be happy.
With that caveat, I can recommend the show to those who like the work of these guys and who don't mind (or, of course, who seek) a raunchy evening.
March 15, 2012
One sweet dustjacket
I'm referring, of course, to the dustjacket for my own upcoming novel, No Going Back. Check it out--and definitely click on it to see a larger, clearer version.
Nice, eh?
I, of course, had nothing to do with this. Artist John Picacio did the amazing art, and designer Jennie Faries did the layout and the back cover (with John's permission to sample part of his art) and the type.
I can't wait to hold a copy!
Nice, eh?
I, of course, had nothing to do with this. Artist John Picacio did the amazing art, and designer Jennie Faries did the layout and the back cover (with John's permission to sample part of his art) and the type.
I can't wait to hold a copy!
March 14, 2012
My birthday lunch
Yes, today is my birthday, a day on which the year count advances, today to a far larger number than I am comfortable with. This year, though, I gave myself the early gift of a completed novel, so how could I complain? (Easily, but I won't.)
For lunch today, a small group of us went to one of my favorite little diners in town. I had hoped they would have the fried bologna--they use the old-fashioned, thick style--on offer, but I was also tempted by their pimento cheese.
Then, it hit me: Why not embrace the greatness of both sandwiches? Fried bologna with pimento cheese melted on it would be awesome.
Never let it be said that American ingenuity is dead; from such creations springs the backbone (and the waistline) of our nation.
Sure enough, the fried bologna was a special item today, so here is my lunch.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
The macaroni salad is mine. The fruit is not.
Yeah, that's gonna hurt in the morning.
It was mighty damn tasty, though, you betcha.
For lunch today, a small group of us went to one of my favorite little diners in town. I had hoped they would have the fried bologna--they use the old-fashioned, thick style--on offer, but I was also tempted by their pimento cheese.
Then, it hit me: Why not embrace the greatness of both sandwiches? Fried bologna with pimento cheese melted on it would be awesome.
Never let it be said that American ingenuity is dead; from such creations springs the backbone (and the waistline) of our nation.
Sure enough, the fried bologna was a special item today, so here is my lunch.
Click on the image to see a larger version.The macaroni salad is mine. The fruit is not.
Yeah, that's gonna hurt in the morning.
It was mighty damn tasty, though, you betcha.
