Katherine Nabity's Blog, page 226
August 25, 2013
Sit Down and Write 4
Hosted by Michelle, The True Book Addict @ Stories Inside
The Sit Down and Write write-a-thons are for any writing you need to get done. If you’re working on a novel, a novella, or even short stories. If you have a ton of reviews to write coming off of any read-a-thons you might have just finished with, then this is for you too! Official dates and times: Monday, August 26 at 12:01am CST through Sunday, September 8 at 11:59pm CST (adjust times according to your time zone).
I had a scheme: Edit Monday, write 1000 words Tues-Fri, research Saturday, whatever on Sunday. According to that scheme my manuscript should be at 38,000 words right now. It’s not. It’s at 35,225. Why am I behind? Simply because I haven’t been sitting down and writing.
My goal is to get caught up (according previous goals) by the end of Sit Down and Write*: Reach 46,000 by Sept. 8th. Actually, I’m going to stretch it out a little to 47,000 by Tuesday Sept. 10th. I’m heading to Omaha on the 11th and it would be nice to be caught up by then. I’m also adding a stretch goal of 50K by the time I go to Omaha.
Can I keep up a NaNoWriMo pace for four days a week? You’d think, but I’m heading into the middle of this book. Middles are hard for me.
Why don’t I write every day? I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I know myself. It doesn’t work for me.
Other complicating factors:
I’m going to have work VOTS work to do. Draft is Monday night and league starts on the third, which means I’m going to have teams and a schedule to post, among other things.
I should also get one ahead on book reviews before heading to Omaha. This is a minor consideration.
Minecraft. Need to limit my Minecraft time. Larger consideration. That game is a total time suck.
* This is my first one, btw. I haven’t been very social in my writing because somewhere along the way, I got really tired of talking about writing!
August 20, 2013
Review ~ The Ambitious Card
The life of a magician isn’t all kiddie shows and card tricks. Sometimes it’s murder. Especially when magician Eli Marks very publicly debunks a famed psychic, and said psychic ends up dead. The evidence, including a bloody King of Diamonds playing card (one from Eli’s own Ambitious Card routine), directs the police right to Eli.
As more psychics are slain, and more King cards rise to the top, Eli can’t escape suspicion. Things get really complicated when romance blooms with a beautiful psychic, and Eli discovers she’s the next target for murder, and he’s scheduled to die with her. Now Eli must use every trick he knows to keep them both alive and reveal the true killer. (via Goodreads)
In the past ten months, I’ve read ~3400 pages of books, fictional and non-fictional, about magic.That’s not counting David P. Abbott’s works that aren’t on Goodreads and the many, many magazine articles. At this point, I’ve developed some opinions about the subject. For me, picking up a book with a magician character is going to go one of two ways: well or badly.
I’m happy to say that The Ambitious Card went very well for me. John Gaspard does a good job with the magic and a really good job of making the psychics sympathetic characters instead of just the butts of skeptical jokes. The supporting cast of characters was quirky with Eli, our narrator, being mostly the straight man–as much of a straight man as a wise-cracking magician can be. I’m also a sucker for a prominent setting and the Minneapolis area is front and center. The Minnehaha Bunny is going on my list of things to see if I’m ever in the area.
My one criticism is that there are maybe too many coincidental relationships between characters. I might be accused of occasionally being to much of a slave of reality, and in this case I had to suspended my disbelief a little. I didn’t mind; while very serendipitous, the relationships between characters never seemed overly contrived.
I had a great time reading The Ambitious Card. Goodreads says its the first of the Eli Marks mysteries. I’m glad to hear that. I don’t read many series, but I’m definitely willing to go on another adventure with Eli.
The Ambitious Card was released on Aug. 20, 2013 from Henery Press.
Genre: Mystery
Why did I choose to read this book? Mystery! With magic
Did I finish this book? (If not, why?) Yes
Craft Lessons: It’s okay to have fun. No really, it is.
Format: Kindle ebook
Procurement: Netgalley
The Ambitious Card
The life of a magician isn’t all kiddie shows and card tricks. Sometimes it’s murder. Especially when magician Eli Marks very publicly debunks a famed psychic, and said psychic ends up dead. The evidence, including a bloody King of Diamonds playing card (one from Eli’s own Ambitious Card routine), directs the police right to Eli.
As more psychics are slain, and more King cards rise to the top, Eli can’t escape suspicion. Things get really complicated when romance blooms with a beautiful psychic, and Eli discovers she’s the next target for murder, and he’s scheduled to die with her. Now Eli must use every trick he knows to keep them both alive and reveal the true killer. (via Goodreads)
In the past ten months, I’ve read ~3400 pages of books, fictional and non-fictional, about magic.That’s not counting David P. Abbott’s works that aren’t on Goodreads and the many, many magazine articles. At this point, I’ve developed some opinions about the subject. For me, picking up a book with a magician character is going to go one of two ways: well or badly.
I’m happy to say that The Ambitious Card went very well for me. John Gaspard does a good job with the magic and a really good job of making the psychics sympathetic characters instead of just the butts of skeptical jokes. The supporting cast of characters was quirky with Eli, our narrator, being mostly the straight man–as much of a straight man as a wise-cracking magician can be. I’m also a sucker for a prominent setting and the Minneapolis area is front and center. The Minnehaha Bunny is going on my list of things to see if I’m ever in the area.
My one criticism is that there are maybe too many coincidental relationships between characters. I might be accused of occasionally being to much of a slave of reality, and in this case I had to suspended my disbelief a little. I didn’t mind; while very serendipitous, the relationships between characters never seemed overly contrived.
I had a great time reading The Ambitious Card. Goodreads says its the first of the Eli Marks mysteries. I’m glad to hear that. I don’t read many series, but I’m definitely willing to go on another adventure with Eli.
The Ambitious Card was released on Aug. 20, 2013 from Henery Press.
Genre: Mystery
Why did I choose to read this book? Mystery! With magic
Did I finish this book? (If not, why?) Yes
Craft Lessons: It’s okay to have fun. No really, it is.
Format: Kindle ebook
Procurement: Netgalley
August 18, 2013
Bout of Books 8.0 – #Pairathon Challenge
Hosted by Nikki @ Book Pairing
The premise is simple. I want to see what you’re out there reading and drinking or eating during Bout of Books. I’m nosy. But I also think that books and wine/food/beer are better when enjoyed together. So let’s share?
My pairing is Jim Steinmeyer’s The Glorious Deception and Hawaiian Cashew Beef. “But wait a minute, Katherine,” I hear you saying, “what does Hawaiian beef have to do with a Chinese conjurer? And those are peanuts, not cashews!” Well, Robinson was an American pretending to be half Chinese and half Scottish. I figure there’s nothing gained by getting technical in this case. I could change the name of this dish to be Ginger Peanut Beef, but what fun would that be?
August 15, 2013
Bout of Books 8.0
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team
I have a fever and prescription is MORE READING!
Goals
I must say, summer is wearing on me. I’m not getting much reading or writing done. Hopefully Bout of Books will help me progress on one of those. And, you know what? Maybe writing too. No writing, no participating in challenges. That sounds like good motivation to me.
The goal? The usual: 700 pages.
List
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You all know how I am with lists. But I’m getting better, I swear!
Finish The Glorious Deception if I haven’t by the beginning of Bout of Books
A Magician Among Spirits and other research reading. I’m counting it all, darn it!
The 7th Woman – I’m going to need a fiction break. So much the better that this book will count for several challenges. I’m woefully behind on my reading for year-long challenges.
Shadow Show – Ditto above.
Oh, and the usual bit of poetry and A Storm of Swords chapters.
Progress
August 14, 2013
Back to School Reading Challenge Check-In (08/14/13)
Hosted by Joy of Joy’s Book Blog
I haven’t finished or reviewed anything yet for the Back to School Reading Challenge, but I like the idea of reminding myself about what I may have learned in the past week.
I started reading The Glorious Deception last Wednesday and have finished about a third of it. Much of it has been about William Robinson’s development of his black art routine. Black art isn’t as occult as it sounds. French magician Omar Pasha still performs such an act:
Also sifted through articles on magic from the 20s and 30s, including material on Houdini’s exposure of David P. Abbott’s talking teakettle. Abbott was pretty gentlemanly about the whole deal. While I now know the secret behind the teakettle, it’s the amount of preparation and work behind the trick that tell me something about both Mr. and Mrs. Abbott.
My local digital library only had How Children Succeed as an audio book download. Despite my dislike for audio books, I checked it out. I’ll admit it: I’m not very good at listening. We’ll see how this goes.
Listened to the Introduction this morning.
Interesting in learning new things? Check in with the other check-ins!
August 13, 2013
Tricks of the Mind
Derren Brown’s amazing television and stage performances have entranced and amazed millions. His baffling tricks and stunning illusions have set new standards of what’s possible, as well as causing controversy. Now, for the first time, he reveals the secrets behind his craft.
He delves into the structure and pyschology of magic. He tells you how to read clues in people’s behaviour and spot liars. He discusses the whys and wherefores of hypnosis (which he says doesn’t exist) and shows how to use the powers of suggestion and massively improve the power of your memory. He also investigates the paranormal industry, exposes a few charlatans and looks at why some of us feel the need to believe in it in the first place… Woven into this are autobiographical stories about Derren’s own experiences and beliefs, told with characteristic humour and engaging honesty. This extraordinary book lifts the lid on the deepest darkest secrets of magic and explores the limits of what can be achieved by the human mind. A must for Derren’s legions of fans, it will amaze you, entertain you and expand your mind at the same time… (via Goodreads)
Back when I was reviewing Conversations with Kreskin, I might have thrown Derren Brown into the same pool charlatans who wrap tricks in the trappings of non-science or pseudoscience and claim some special powers (or in the case of Kreskin, kinda, sorta, maybe not). I don’t think it came out in my review of that book, but probably in my discussion of it with Eric. I will say that I was wrong about Brown…well, for the most part. I still think that Brown is vague in the disclaimer before his TV shows.
Brown uses a combination of magic, memory tricks, psychology and suggestibility in his act. Each part of this book addresses one of those things in good detail. Brown is forthcoming about the techniques he uses as well as ones that he’s tried and found not to work. He’s also very honest about his beliefs, past and present. I was surprised at how vehement a skeptic Brown is. The last fourth of the book addresses pseudoscience and, as the book puts it, “bad thinking.” As a master manipulater, Brown knows how vulnerable everyone is to bad thinking. Our perceptions are hackable yet we don’t want to admit that to ourselves, generally to our detriment.
I was impressed with the book though I found the chummines of the narration a little annoying at times. Brown offers a lot of good information without the flim-flam of Kreskin’s book.
Genre: Non-fiction
Why did I choose to read this book? Interest in magic, mentalism, etc.
Did I finish this book? (If not, why?) Yes.
August 10, 2013
Saturday Cinema ~ Let’s Hear It for the Girls
Brave (2012) – Directed by Brenda Chapman, Starring the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly & Emma Thompson. Disney. Thankfully without too much singing. As I suspected, this would have been one of my favorite movies when I was eight. A heroine with a mop of curly red hair who doesn’t necessarily want to be a princess? Yes, please! There’s been some criticism that, at the end of the day, Merida doesn’t gain freedom from the tradition of marrying. The decision is just sort of put off. But really, just maybe, that’s a little more real life than fairy tale. Maybe change needs to be enacted gradually. Maybe Merida puts off marrying indefinitely because she finds so many other interesting things to do, and everyone gets used to that fact. Or maybe she does end up marrying and remains an active participant in her kingdom’s rule, bow in hand. Fantastic animation. Fun characters.
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) – Directed by Rupert Sanders, Starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron. I will recuse myself. Kristen Stewart bugs me. She has this somewhat emotionless quality that kind of makes me twitch. Despite this, I really tried to enjoy Snow White and the Huntsman. It’s a pretty movie. There are some really neat special effects and beautiful costumes. Okay, maybe the only really great costumes were Charlize Theron’s dresses and Kirsten Stewart’s non-boob-plate armor. I did like how unromantic the movie is. Sure, true love’s kiss is needed at one point, but Snow White doesn’t even pause to return the favor. Two guys vying for affection? Meh, whatever. Win hearts and dance with dwarves instead. Unfortunately, the movie felt overlong and distant. Maybe it’s Stewart’s spaciness, maybe it’s the director’s inexperience, but I never felt any connection to the setting or events. (Exception – I kind of felt bad for Ravenna, the evil queen. It’s hinted that her character has seen some hardship and she’s worked her way into an impossible situation.) Other minuses: The battle tactics made me wince, and why couldn’t the Huntsman have a name?
August 9, 2013
Adventures of the Writerly Writer ~ Plan? What plan?
I set some harebrained scheme of a schedule in my What Else post and then promptly deviated from it. I was shooting for something less than 5K a week, but still ambitious. It was reliant on working in five day rounds regardless of what day it was. It wasn’t going to happen. I’m hidebound to weekends, even if I do spend some time on weekends working. So, I’m going back to what was sort of working for me before we went to San Diego:
Monday: edits
Tuesday-Friday: write 4K
Saturday & Sunday: catch-up if needed, research
I’m sure that now that I’ve “said it out loud,” this plan will also last about 30-40 minutes.
Ended up adding 5K to the manuscript this week, about 4500 was new and about 500 was a scavenged scene from a previous draft. Grand total right now is 30K.
On the agenda for this weekend: Last weekend I wrote to S.A.M. contacts in Omaha and Chicago for any advice/recommended reading materials. I owe them emails back. I also need to add my touch to Eric’s rewrite of Luck for Hire‘s query letter.
August 6, 2013
Abominable Science!
Throughout our history, humans have been captivated by mythic beasts and legendary creatures. Tales of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are part of our collective experience. Now comes a book from two dedicated investigators that explores and elucidates the fascinating world of cryptozoology.
Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero have written an entertaining, educational, and definitive text on cryptids, presenting the arguments both for and against their existence and systematically challenging the pseudoscience that perpetuates their myths. After examining the nature of science and pseudoscience and their relation to cryptozoology, Loxton and Prothero take on Bigfoot; the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, and its cross-cultural incarnations; the Loch Ness monster and its highly publicized sightings; the evolution of the Great Sea Serpent; and Mokele Mbembe, or the Congo dinosaur. They conclude with an analysis of the psychology behind the persistent belief in paranormal phenomena, identifying the major players in cryptozoology, discussing the character of its subculture, and considering the challenge it poses to clear and critical thinking in our increasingly complex world. (via Goodreads)
This is an interesting book to review on the heels of Discovery’s Shark Week fiasco.
On Sunday, the Discovery channel aired a “documentary” on the megalodon as part of its Shark Week festivities. The megalodon isn’t a cyptid. It is a creature in the fossil record. Other than the fossil record, there is no other documentation of it. The stories of a 30ft shark that frequents the waters off of South Africa is closer to a cryptid-type story. A shark that big is the thing of tales and legends. Unfortunately, the Discovery channel’s show was absolute fiction, and fiction that couches the search for a modern megalodon and the legendary South African shark in ways that are similar to cryptid stories–lots and lots of eye-witness testimony, vague documentation, old stories, and half-truth science. If seen as a satire of cryptid documentaries, Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, kind of works. More unfortunately, as a ratings grabber, the docu-fiction worked very, very well.
Abominable Science! presents a very through history of several popular crypids–or, creatures whose existence has been suggested, but not confirmed by science. Some, like Bigfoot and Nessie are fairly young with stories not going back much further than the early 20th century. In those cases, the histories are based primarily on the testimonies of witnesses, much of the other evidence being admitted hoaxes. In the case of sea serpents and the yeti, folklore is taken into account as well. Sea serpents, for example, have an incredibly complex history spanning many cultures.
This is a book that is probably best dipped into instead of read straight through. The chosen cryptids could be pushed into two groups –Bigfoot/yeti and Nessie/sea serpent/mokele mbembe– and the discussions of the creatures in these categories overlap. Read straight through, the book is a tad repetitive. The Sea Serpent chapter especially is less well organized due to the sheer amount information that Daniel Loxton attempts to address.
The cryptids are bookended by chapters on cryptozoology, pseudoscience, scientific method, and skepticism. These are good issues to be familiar with although I found that the last chapter veered a little too far into arguments about religious beliefs. Cryptozoology is an interesting intersection of science and belief, with both sides not particularly congenial to the other for various reasons. This book is written by two skeptics and, while debunking common evidence, there is definite appreciation, and even love, for their subjects. The narratives behind these cyrptids are the real point of this book, despite whether the belief in or study of them is a viable use of time and effort.
It is, of course, fun to think that the world is much bigger than it is, and still full of mysteries. And it is! But most of the time the mysteries are a little more subtle than Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. The sad thing about Discovery’s Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives is that it belittles the actual coolness of the extinct megalodon, the mysteries that still surround living sharks, and the pretty awesome real efforts to tag and track sharks. Cryptozoology doesn’t generally step so directly on the toes of “real” science.
Genre: Non-fiction, science
Why did I choose to read this book? Seemed interesting; I’ve been a liker of cryptids from a young age.
Did I finish this book? (If not, why?) Yes.
Format: Kindle ebook, ePub document
Procurement: Net Galley
