Michelle Scott's Blog, page 27

Henna Runes ala City of Bones

My daughters got me hooked on the City of Bones books by Cassandra Clare.  Although I’m not always a fan of young adult novels, these books captured my imagination.  Primarily, because the plot is interesting and unique.  Also, those protective runes are so darn cool!

My girls went to see the movie when it opened last week and both dressed the part using a red wig, leather jackets, and a Sharpie marker (for drawing runes) for their costumes.  The movie was either okay or terrible (depending on which daughter you ask), but it didn’t stifle their enthusiasm for the series.

Yesterday, while visiting an import store, I found tubes of henna paste that can be used to make tattoos.  The henna comes in tiny cones that work like cake icing to make your designs.

Of course, my daughter immediately wanted runes on her arms.  I’m not particularly gifted when it comes to art projects, but the henna was surprisingly easy to use.  Despite the fact that it stunk to high heaven and looked like green baby poo, it was fun to use.

After an hour – voila! – she had protection and language runes on her arms.  There was even enough henna left over for me to get some stars and curlicues on my bicep.  A place I can easily hide when I’m being all proper and teacherly.

All the Princesses Know Kung Fu…

…and yet they’re still princesses.

At least according to The New Statesman.

In a very interesting article entitled, “I Hate Strong Female Characters,” Sophia McDougall argues that a male character is never referred to as ‘strong’ because it goes without saying.  Cullen Bohanan in Hell on Wheels, Walter White in Breaking Bad, and every single member of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood kicks ass and take names, and no one blinks an eye.  But give Michone from Walking Dead a whip and a pair of zombie bodyguards and – whoa! – that girl is STRONG!!

McDougall says: “The Strong Female Character has something to prove. She’s on the defensive before she even starts. She’s George from The Famous Five all grown up and still bleating with the same desperate lack of conviction that she’s “Every Bit As Good as a Boy”.”

I completely agree!

Daenerys Targaryen

I want women characters who don’t act like men, but who own themselves along with both their strengths and weaknesses.  Maybe a character is weaker physically, but possess other strengths (Molly Weasley).

 

Or perhaps she’s a shrewd leader, but at the same time cries and shows emotion (Daenerys Targaryen.)

Maybe she’s a bad-ass but, like many male leads, has severe emotional/psychological issues (Xena, Warrior Princess).

What I’m saying (and what I believe McDougall is saying) is that saying a female character is strong is a double standard because it’s the same thing as saying that women are, by default, weak.

What I want – in both female and male characters – is to love them for all their strengths and in spite of all of their weaknesses.  I want courageous humans who struggle with both their powers and their defects, who frequently make mistakes, but – in the end – do the right thing.

It’s Finally Out – Stage Fright, a new urban fantasy

My new urban fantasy, Stage Fright, is finally out, and I couldn’t be more pleased!  This is book one in a new series called Bit Parts.

Cassandra Jaber’s dream of acting becomes a nightmare when she blacks out on stage during a private audition. She awakes, sore and disoriented, with a three-hour hole in her memory and a crippling fear of the spotlight. Although she tries to piece her shattered life back together, she remains at the mercy of the dark secret locked away in her mind.

But when a mysterious man, who calls himself a guardian of the night, rescues her from a terrifying attacker, Cassandra’s eyes are opened to a fantastic world she never guessed existed. She soon realizes that her midnight rescuer holds the key to her salvation. And her heart.

Want to hear more?  You can read a free chapter on my website.

Stage Fright is now available on Kindle for $2.99

 

Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc. (Official music video) (by YI6...

Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc. (Official music video) (by YI666IY)

I love the mood this sets.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

Eastern Market

I’ve used Detroit as a backdrop for many of my books because I happen to love this city.  Sure, it has plenty of abandoned buildings, graffiti, and crime – an urban grittiness that fits right in with the whole urban fae/urban fantasy thing – but it also has some remarkable gems.

One of my favorite underrated places in the city is the Eastern Market.  The outdoor (well, if you count having a roof overhead and no walls outdoors…) market covers a city block.  Everything from fresh produce to honey and sides of beef is sold here.  Then there’s the lunch trucks selling fresh beignets and homemade mac-and-cheese.  Buskers – from flautists to accordion players – line the sidewalks.



The whole place is alive – something of a rarity here in Motown.  Alive not just with people but with color, sounds, smells, and tastes.

 

Last week, I made my first trip to the market.  It’s open all year, but my first trip is always a rite of spring.

To date, I haven’t used the Eastern Market as a setting.  But sooner or later, I’ll write about zombies or vampires or werewolves running amok among the vegetable stalls.

Why I Hate Windows 8

Last week, I bought a new laptop.  Love it!

Unfortunately, the new laptop came equipped with Windows 8…

I’m usually good with computers and software, but after spending three days trying to figure out how to move an e-mail message from the inbox to another folder, I’m ready to move back to Windows 7.

Sure, Windows 8 looks cool.  I love the start screen with its ever-changing tiles.  The jaunty way Tweets and news headlines appear on my home screen make me smile.  But the counter-intuitive design of the apps is driving me nuts.  People app?  What’s up with that?  Messaging?  What the what?  How am I suppose to use these things.  What are these things??

Apparently, everyone at Microsoft adheres to the policy of “form over function”.

It could be just me.  Maybe I’ve reached that age when technology is beyond my comprehension.  I can remember my grandparents struggling to use their first microwave.  (My grandfather could not be convinced that he only needed to set it for 30 seconds.  He continually set things to cook for 30 minutes, nearly burning down the house.)  Or I’ll end up like my parents who, bless their hearts, still can’t program their DVR (in fact, they don’t realize they even have a DVR…)

Maybe I should give up altogether.  Forget Windows 8.  Even Windows 7.  Instead of Word, I’ll use a paper and pencil.  Instead of FaceBook, I’ll scream at my neighbor through the kitchen window.  And instead of iTunes, I’ll learn to play my piano and sing…

…on second thought, maybe I’m better off with Windows 8 after all.

The Cherry Tree is Blooming

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ― Cynthia Ozick

 

I was so busy working in the garden today that I nearly missed the fact that the cherry tree had bloomed overnight!

My Garden Gargoyle

Although my backyard shares a border with the backyards of five other houses, I’ve always considered the place an oasis in the city.  That’s because I have a number of flower gardens.  So many, in fact, that a few years ago I dug up some of them because  I couldn’t keep up with all the weeding!  One of my favorite backyard spaces still stands, however – a quiet shade garden hidden beneath a withered apple tree.

This gargoyle, a Mother’s Day gift from many years ago, presides over the sprawl of Lily of the Valley, hostas, and ferns.  He’s a little guy – only 28″ high – but he’s made of solid cement and weighs at least 75 pounds.

I think the patina of algae makes him look pretty cool.  I also love the pensive look on his face.  It’s like he’s patiently waiting for everything around him to start growing.

I really want to write his character into a book, but I haven’t come up with the right story.  Yet…

Mortal Instruments Movie – Can’t Wait!

Mortal Instruments Trilogy

One reason I like going to the dentist  (well, the only reason I like going) is because the hygienist is as big into urban fantasy as  I am.  Thanks to her, I discovered Cassandra Claire’s Mortal Instruments series.

It’s a YA series, yet even a middle aged woman like myself can enjoy it.  The world is wonderfully unique, and although the characters sometimes have that teenaged angst thing going, they remain mature enough to keep from being annoying.  Plus, there are a few adult characters who are interesting as well.  If you haven’t started reading it yet, you should!

The best part is that the series will soon be a movie, and the very yummy (Mitchel from Being Human UK) is playing one of the leads.

In case you still need a reason to see the movie when it comes out, here’s a terrific trailer.

The corner of Michigan and Trumbull… I so miss the old...

The corner of Michigan and Trumbull…  I so miss the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit as does one of the characters in my WIP.  Sorry Comerica Park…you just don’t cut the mustard.  Not like the orange cathedral.