Mari Miniatt's Blog, page 12
May 7, 2011
Mark your calenders!
Remember last year when I pushed for Bela Lugosi Day. Well here comes two days that will be bigger than that.
May 26 and the 27th
Three horror great actors celebrate their birthdays. Best part, one is still here giving us thrills.
We need a name, something short for twitter, but something that sums up how great these men were and are.
Who?????
Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Vincent Price.
I will wait until you get your breath back.
Ready?
Okay.
Peter Cushing, born May 26, 1913. A mainstay of Hammer Horror films. He also protrayed the Doctor in the two Dalek films made in the sixtes.
Vincent Price, born May 27, 1911. Not only an acomphised actor, but an art collector as well. Last role, the inventor of Edward Scissorman. A fitting tribute to him.
Christopher Lee, born May 27, 1922. What can be said about him. Hammer films, that voice, and still working!
So here you are, the big ones. What I need is suggestions for a tag to celebrate their lives and influence on all of us.
Ready, set, Go!
May 26 and the 27th
Three horror great actors celebrate their birthdays. Best part, one is still here giving us thrills.
We need a name, something short for twitter, but something that sums up how great these men were and are.
Who?????
Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Vincent Price.
I will wait until you get your breath back.
Ready?
Okay.
Peter Cushing, born May 26, 1913. A mainstay of Hammer Horror films. He also protrayed the Doctor in the two Dalek films made in the sixtes.
Vincent Price, born May 27, 1911. Not only an acomphised actor, but an art collector as well. Last role, the inventor of Edward Scissorman. A fitting tribute to him.
Christopher Lee, born May 27, 1922. What can be said about him. Hammer films, that voice, and still working!
So here you are, the big ones. What I need is suggestions for a tag to celebrate their lives and influence on all of us.
Ready, set, Go!
May 5, 2011
God like?
A recent conversation sparked this blog post. I am not going to argue any point in this, but I want to present this, because it is interesting.
A person told me that the same people that did not like Harry Potter books, were alright with vampires because Lazarus rose from the dead.
Huh? What?
I had never heard of this before. But this is what my friend was told. This made vampires alright to read about, but not wizards.
A quick recap of the Lazarus story:
Jesus was told that Lazarus was ill. Instead of heading off in a hurry to see him, he waits a few days. When he gets there, Lazarus is dead. Jesus raises him from the dead.
The argument is that because Lazarus was raised from the dead via Jesus. Any creature that rises from the dead, can only be risen by an act of God. Therefore vampires have been risen by an act of God.
Whereas wizards are humans acting like God.
This is an interesting twist on vampire lore. This is the first theory that makes the vampire godly creatures. Most of the lore link vampires to demons, soulless creatures. These arguments showed why vampires had to come and drink our blood. They needed our essence, our souls to survive.
But now, this same behavior can be seen as an "act of God." They have gone from being evil beings to an extension of God.
What do you think?
*My personal view: If it exists in our world, then it is not un-natural. Vampires exist for a reason.
A person told me that the same people that did not like Harry Potter books, were alright with vampires because Lazarus rose from the dead.
Huh? What?
I had never heard of this before. But this is what my friend was told. This made vampires alright to read about, but not wizards.
A quick recap of the Lazarus story:
Jesus was told that Lazarus was ill. Instead of heading off in a hurry to see him, he waits a few days. When he gets there, Lazarus is dead. Jesus raises him from the dead.
The argument is that because Lazarus was raised from the dead via Jesus. Any creature that rises from the dead, can only be risen by an act of God. Therefore vampires have been risen by an act of God.
Whereas wizards are humans acting like God.
This is an interesting twist on vampire lore. This is the first theory that makes the vampire godly creatures. Most of the lore link vampires to demons, soulless creatures. These arguments showed why vampires had to come and drink our blood. They needed our essence, our souls to survive.
But now, this same behavior can be seen as an "act of God." They have gone from being evil beings to an extension of God.
What do you think?
*My personal view: If it exists in our world, then it is not un-natural. Vampires exist for a reason.
Contest update.
The wonderful person that gets to die in the next book is: Leteia!!!!!
BTW
I do apologize for the lateness of this post. Between router problems and allergies, I have not been on the ball lately.
BTW
I do apologize for the lateness of this post. Between router problems and allergies, I have not been on the ball lately.
April 28, 2011
Why we need vampires.
I posted this on GetFanged.com on April 24, 2011, where it became a featured blog post! Pretty good for my first on one the site. So here it is for you to enjoy.
At the basic level, vampires are a personification of the fear of death. They are not the only one that we made. We also have The Grim Reaper and the Banshee, but vampires stand out. Because of all of the personifications, they have become the most human (some will complain, lately, too human).
Vampires were a warning to the family and friends of the deceased to make sure they followed the funeral rites completely. If something had not been done, the recently dead would come back and take you with them. It makes sense. Someone that was improperly buried or cremated might still spread disease. Vampires came back to the family first. The ones closest were the ones that were in the most danger.
Fear of death and the lack of understanding of what happened when people die, led to our idea of what a vampire was. Most of them were corpses, closer to our idea of zombie. Most were mindless, but many did retain their memories of their former life. Sunlight was not the deterrent, some vampires needed the sun. Holy relics had no affect on them. Those pieces of protection came later.
As we changed, so did the vampire. Traits of the incubus and succubus were blended into the corpse. Some would come back and exhaust their former wives or husbands to death. Others would sire children. The sexuality of the vampire was born. Now the vampire was not just a creature that would bring death, but could seduce and tempt you to join them.
But what happened? What happened to the fearsome creature that anyone that came across would have to find a way to escape? Many modern vampires come across as, non-vampire. The only thing that defined them as vampires was the drinking of blood. But even now, that is being ignored. Many vampires do not drink blood any more.
Why blood? Blood is life. Without blood you die. Vampires would take the most precious thing from us and use it for their survival. Some would go further and eat the flesh too. Anyone that has tried to sleep the night in a room or tent full of blood sucking bugs, knows that you wake up tired and sick. A vampire visit would do the same.
Some modern vampires look down their noses at blood drinking. They would rather drink animals, or take their energy from people around them. Does this make them any less of a vampire? As much as I hate to say this, no. They have changed with us again. Zombies have taken over their role as mindless killers. Vampires had to change, they had to become more like us.
But as they change, a bit of the fear still remains. These new breed of vampires may seem nice, and sweet, but if they truly are following in footsteps of the vampires that came before, we should still fear them. Because what a better way for a killer to let himself or herself into your life, than appearing as your friend.
We still need vampires. Maybe the violent killers will make a comeback (I hope so, those are type I write about). Or maybe we will see them evolve yet again. Time can only tell.
At the basic level, vampires are a personification of the fear of death. They are not the only one that we made. We also have The Grim Reaper and the Banshee, but vampires stand out. Because of all of the personifications, they have become the most human (some will complain, lately, too human).
Vampires were a warning to the family and friends of the deceased to make sure they followed the funeral rites completely. If something had not been done, the recently dead would come back and take you with them. It makes sense. Someone that was improperly buried or cremated might still spread disease. Vampires came back to the family first. The ones closest were the ones that were in the most danger.
Fear of death and the lack of understanding of what happened when people die, led to our idea of what a vampire was. Most of them were corpses, closer to our idea of zombie. Most were mindless, but many did retain their memories of their former life. Sunlight was not the deterrent, some vampires needed the sun. Holy relics had no affect on them. Those pieces of protection came later.
As we changed, so did the vampire. Traits of the incubus and succubus were blended into the corpse. Some would come back and exhaust their former wives or husbands to death. Others would sire children. The sexuality of the vampire was born. Now the vampire was not just a creature that would bring death, but could seduce and tempt you to join them.
But what happened? What happened to the fearsome creature that anyone that came across would have to find a way to escape? Many modern vampires come across as, non-vampire. The only thing that defined them as vampires was the drinking of blood. But even now, that is being ignored. Many vampires do not drink blood any more.
Why blood? Blood is life. Without blood you die. Vampires would take the most precious thing from us and use it for their survival. Some would go further and eat the flesh too. Anyone that has tried to sleep the night in a room or tent full of blood sucking bugs, knows that you wake up tired and sick. A vampire visit would do the same.
Some modern vampires look down their noses at blood drinking. They would rather drink animals, or take their energy from people around them. Does this make them any less of a vampire? As much as I hate to say this, no. They have changed with us again. Zombies have taken over their role as mindless killers. Vampires had to change, they had to become more like us.
But as they change, a bit of the fear still remains. These new breed of vampires may seem nice, and sweet, but if they truly are following in footsteps of the vampires that came before, we should still fear them. Because what a better way for a killer to let himself or herself into your life, than appearing as your friend.
We still need vampires. Maybe the violent killers will make a comeback (I hope so, those are type I write about). Or maybe we will see them evolve yet again. Time can only tell.
April 27, 2011
I Got an Award!
And not one from the dollar store, sheesh.
YAY Thank you Go-Go Rach for the Blogger Award
The Versatile Blogger Award
****
The rules for this award are:
* Thank and link to the person who nominated me.
* Share seven random facts about myself.
* Pass the award along to 15 new-found blogging buddies.
* Contact those buddies to congratulate them.
Seven random facts about Mari Miniatt
1. I was named Mari, because my oldest brother is named John and my mother wanted to end with a Mary, but she wanted something differnt. So Mari.
2. My father had been a hobo, a real one. He did ride the rails looking for work.
3. My husband and I grew up seven miles apart, but did not meet until college.
4. Every time I get a black cat, it's named Frankenstien.
5. I helped raise rabbits as a child. We had 75 of them at one point.
6. Youngest of seven children. Husband is too. We stopped at two kids. If we would have had seven, the seventh would have been a vampire, or a wizard.
7. I've met the actor Jason Isaacs. Who is a very sweet and nice man, even though he plays real nasty people usually.
Who do I give this award too?
Josh Shear http://joshshear.com/
Kate Jonez http://katejonez.com/blog/
Derek Haines http://dereksvandalblog.blogspot.com/
The Feckless Goblin http://fecklessgoblin.blogspot.com/
Goths In Hot Weather http://gothsinhotweather.blogspot.com/
Self Published Author's Lounge http://selfpubauthors.wordpress.com/
Sarah Nicolas http://sarahnicolas.com/
Sabrina E. Ogden http://myfriendscallmekate.blogspot.com/
Annikka Woods http://lifewritingandmiscellany.blogspot.com/
John Harford http://www.johnharford.com/
Jeremy Wagner http://www.jeremy-wagner.com/
Alexis Flint http://lexiflint.wordpress.com/
Demon Writer http://jeffreyskupperman.com/
Dahg Mann http://www.mrmathias.com/
Crooked Fang http://www.crookedfang.com/
YAY Thank you Go-Go Rach for the Blogger Award
The Versatile Blogger Award
****
The rules for this award are:
* Thank and link to the person who nominated me.
* Share seven random facts about myself.
* Pass the award along to 15 new-found blogging buddies.
* Contact those buddies to congratulate them.
Seven random facts about Mari Miniatt
1. I was named Mari, because my oldest brother is named John and my mother wanted to end with a Mary, but she wanted something differnt. So Mari.
2. My father had been a hobo, a real one. He did ride the rails looking for work.
3. My husband and I grew up seven miles apart, but did not meet until college.
4. Every time I get a black cat, it's named Frankenstien.
5. I helped raise rabbits as a child. We had 75 of them at one point.
6. Youngest of seven children. Husband is too. We stopped at two kids. If we would have had seven, the seventh would have been a vampire, or a wizard.
7. I've met the actor Jason Isaacs. Who is a very sweet and nice man, even though he plays real nasty people usually.
Who do I give this award too?
Josh Shear http://joshshear.com/
Kate Jonez http://katejonez.com/blog/
Derek Haines http://dereksvandalblog.blogspot.com/
The Feckless Goblin http://fecklessgoblin.blogspot.com/
Goths In Hot Weather http://gothsinhotweather.blogspot.com/
Self Published Author's Lounge http://selfpubauthors.wordpress.com/
Sarah Nicolas http://sarahnicolas.com/
Sabrina E. Ogden http://myfriendscallmekate.blogspot.com/
Annikka Woods http://lifewritingandmiscellany.blogspot.com/
John Harford http://www.johnharford.com/
Jeremy Wagner http://www.jeremy-wagner.com/
Alexis Flint http://lexiflint.wordpress.com/
Demon Writer http://jeffreyskupperman.com/
Dahg Mann http://www.mrmathias.com/
Crooked Fang http://www.crookedfang.com/
April 24, 2011
#SampleSunday - A bit of my current WIP about Trolls
Unedited: so read at your own risk.
Story so far. Cheri had fell into a stream, almost drowned. She woke up in the troll realm. Her real family is taking care of her and trying to help her understand what she is. They are planning a pig roast in her honor. Ber is her twin brother. Rosa is her real mother. Halvard is a friend of Ber's.
When Cheri woke up, the room had darkened. She sat up, not feeling as dizzy as before. Cheri felt the bump on her head, no change. She opened the door.
In the next room, Rosa sat in a rocking chair knitting. Linnea had her hands folded on her lap, her head bowed to her chest. Cheri could hear her snore. Rosa looked up.
"Do you feel better?" she asked.
Cheri's stomach growled. "I'm hungry."
"That's a good sign. I kept a plate warm for you." Rosa put her knitting down.
"Where are the rest?" Cheri asked as they entered the kitchen.
"Outside tending the pork. By now they are probably drinking too."
Cheri smiled. "Typical."
Rosa pointed to the table. Cheri sat down. Rosa put a plate down in front of her. She pulled her hand away, almost dropping the dishcloth that she had used to protect her hand.
Half a chicken, a large potato, and carrots sat on the plate. Cheri picked up a fork. She took a bite of the chicken. It might have been her hunger, but it tasted perfect. She ate more of the food, while Rosa poured her a cup of water.
The outer door opened. Halvard and Ber walked in laughing. Ber slammed his stone mug on the counter. Halvard sat down opposite of Cheri. His hands were stained with blood. Blood also covered the apron he wore.
"She's awake?" Halvard asked, chuckling and staring at Cheri.
"No. I'm sleep eating," Cheri said.
Ber giggled. Halvard leaned over the table. "You know you are not supposed to eat any food here."
"Really?" Cheri asked. "I thought you were trolls, not faes."
Ber filled his mug. "He is."
"Ber!" Rosa shook her finger at him.
Halvard locked his dark eyes on Cheri. "You're not a troll."
Rosa snapped the dishcloth in Halvard's face. "You mind your manners too."
Cheri picked up the chicken with her fingers and made a show of taking a bite of the leg. Halvard chuckled. Ber slid a full mug over to Halvard.
"Drink up, we have to go finish that side," Ber said.
Halvard picked up the mug, he tipped it in Cheri's direction. "Maybe you want to come and help? But you probably don't want to get bloody."
"She is resting," Rosa said.
Halvard downed the contents of his mug. Cheri noticed his muscles. He had biceps that some of the lawyers she worked for would spend hours in the gym for. When he wiped off his mouth with his forearm, his long nose bent against his arm. He put down his mug.
"Are you going to eat that potato?" he asked.
Cheri picked it up like an apple and took a big bite. Ber snickered. Halvard stood up. He held out his hand.
"Sorry about scaring you," he said.
Cheri watched his eyes. A slight twinkle made her pause. But she held put her hand in his palm to shake. Her palm hit something wet and sticky. Halvard laughed.
"Don't worry, it's only pig's blood."
Rosa grabbed Halvard by the back of his hair. "Get out and finish with that boar."
She pushed Halvard out of the house. Ber followed, chuckling. Cheri grabbed the dishtowel and wiped her hand off.
"Is he always that nice?" Cheri asked, throwing the dishcloth into the sink.
Rosa sighed. "He's trouble. But him and Ber are inseparable."
Story so far. Cheri had fell into a stream, almost drowned. She woke up in the troll realm. Her real family is taking care of her and trying to help her understand what she is. They are planning a pig roast in her honor. Ber is her twin brother. Rosa is her real mother. Halvard is a friend of Ber's.
When Cheri woke up, the room had darkened. She sat up, not feeling as dizzy as before. Cheri felt the bump on her head, no change. She opened the door.
In the next room, Rosa sat in a rocking chair knitting. Linnea had her hands folded on her lap, her head bowed to her chest. Cheri could hear her snore. Rosa looked up.
"Do you feel better?" she asked.
Cheri's stomach growled. "I'm hungry."
"That's a good sign. I kept a plate warm for you." Rosa put her knitting down.
"Where are the rest?" Cheri asked as they entered the kitchen.
"Outside tending the pork. By now they are probably drinking too."
Cheri smiled. "Typical."
Rosa pointed to the table. Cheri sat down. Rosa put a plate down in front of her. She pulled her hand away, almost dropping the dishcloth that she had used to protect her hand.
Half a chicken, a large potato, and carrots sat on the plate. Cheri picked up a fork. She took a bite of the chicken. It might have been her hunger, but it tasted perfect. She ate more of the food, while Rosa poured her a cup of water.
The outer door opened. Halvard and Ber walked in laughing. Ber slammed his stone mug on the counter. Halvard sat down opposite of Cheri. His hands were stained with blood. Blood also covered the apron he wore.
"She's awake?" Halvard asked, chuckling and staring at Cheri.
"No. I'm sleep eating," Cheri said.
Ber giggled. Halvard leaned over the table. "You know you are not supposed to eat any food here."
"Really?" Cheri asked. "I thought you were trolls, not faes."
Ber filled his mug. "He is."
"Ber!" Rosa shook her finger at him.
Halvard locked his dark eyes on Cheri. "You're not a troll."
Rosa snapped the dishcloth in Halvard's face. "You mind your manners too."
Cheri picked up the chicken with her fingers and made a show of taking a bite of the leg. Halvard chuckled. Ber slid a full mug over to Halvard.
"Drink up, we have to go finish that side," Ber said.
Halvard picked up the mug, he tipped it in Cheri's direction. "Maybe you want to come and help? But you probably don't want to get bloody."
"She is resting," Rosa said.
Halvard downed the contents of his mug. Cheri noticed his muscles. He had biceps that some of the lawyers she worked for would spend hours in the gym for. When he wiped off his mouth with his forearm, his long nose bent against his arm. He put down his mug.
"Are you going to eat that potato?" he asked.
Cheri picked it up like an apple and took a big bite. Ber snickered. Halvard stood up. He held out his hand.
"Sorry about scaring you," he said.
Cheri watched his eyes. A slight twinkle made her pause. But she held put her hand in his palm to shake. Her palm hit something wet and sticky. Halvard laughed.
"Don't worry, it's only pig's blood."
Rosa grabbed Halvard by the back of his hair. "Get out and finish with that boar."
She pushed Halvard out of the house. Ber followed, chuckling. Cheri grabbed the dishtowel and wiped her hand off.
"Is he always that nice?" Cheri asked, throwing the dishcloth into the sink.
Rosa sighed. "He's trouble. But him and Ber are inseparable."
April 21, 2011
Giving Your Characters Life: Online
I am cross posting this on MariMiniatt.com and the Self Published Author Blog
I did something crazy, but fun this weekend. Something other authors have done, but I was a little nervous to try.
Giving your fictional characters on online presence.
I used Twitter for one. Facebook for the other.
How do you do it?
Things you need.
An email with an alias.
A third party client like Hootsuite. Not really needed, but makes it easier to manage.
Email with alias
You are going to need an unique email. You could go through the process of registering for a new email. OR if you have gmail (maybe some others) you can make an alias email address.
1. Log into your gmail. At the top, next to the search box, there are two choices. Click on "create filter"
2. In the TO: box. Enter your email with an alias, so it looks like this email alias@gmail.com. Your email name with alias then @gmail.com. Use an alias that is unique, because it is your character, their first name is perfect. Click on Next Step.
3. Create a filer: click on Apply a Label. Use the drop down to make a new label. Enter your character's name. Now everytime an email comes in for your character it will be sorted for you.
4. Last step. Send yourself a test email to see if it work. From you. to You alias.
All done. Good.
Twitter
You set up your fictional character profile, like yours. BUT use the alias email. Twitter only allows one profile per email. The alias email gets around that.
Here is mine for Steopa: @SteopaR
Noticed I did not come out an say he is fictional. But anyone reading his bio should figure that out. For the website, use yours. Unless you are maintaining a website for the character as well.
Here is another good example: @crookedfang
Facebook
YOU CANNOT CREATE ANOTHER PROFILE. Facebook will kick you off for that.
What you have to do is make a page:
Very simple.
1.Go to: https://www.facebook.com/pages
2.Click on create page.
3.Choose Entertainment
4. In the drop down box. FICTIONAL CHARACTER!
Facebook made it easy. Follow the rest of the instructions as you make the profile and page. As you fill out the profile; you could use your alias email as the characters email. But, it will be visible.
Once you get 25 likes; your address for you page changes from https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Vincent-Hugh/149281288471540 to https://www.facebook.com/Vincent-Hugh
What can you do with them?
1. Interact with fans as the characters.
2. Help promote your book.
3. Help you practice writing in your character's voice.
4. Have fun.
Don't go too overboard. Plan it so you only have to spend a few minutes to an hour a day maintaining them. That is where a program like Hootsuite will help. On the free version you can link up to 5 different social networking profiles. I find it works better for keeping twitter straight. Facebook moves slow enough that all I have to do is log into the page or twice a day to keep it maintained.
I hope this helps and gives you some ideas.
I did something crazy, but fun this weekend. Something other authors have done, but I was a little nervous to try.
Giving your fictional characters on online presence.
I used Twitter for one. Facebook for the other.
How do you do it?
Things you need.
An email with an alias.
A third party client like Hootsuite. Not really needed, but makes it easier to manage.
Email with alias
You are going to need an unique email. You could go through the process of registering for a new email. OR if you have gmail (maybe some others) you can make an alias email address.
1. Log into your gmail. At the top, next to the search box, there are two choices. Click on "create filter"
2. In the TO: box. Enter your email with an alias, so it looks like this email alias@gmail.com. Your email name with alias then @gmail.com. Use an alias that is unique, because it is your character, their first name is perfect. Click on Next Step.
3. Create a filer: click on Apply a Label. Use the drop down to make a new label. Enter your character's name. Now everytime an email comes in for your character it will be sorted for you.
4. Last step. Send yourself a test email to see if it work. From you. to You alias.
All done. Good.
You set up your fictional character profile, like yours. BUT use the alias email. Twitter only allows one profile per email. The alias email gets around that.
Here is mine for Steopa: @SteopaR
Noticed I did not come out an say he is fictional. But anyone reading his bio should figure that out. For the website, use yours. Unless you are maintaining a website for the character as well.
Here is another good example: @crookedfang
YOU CANNOT CREATE ANOTHER PROFILE. Facebook will kick you off for that.
What you have to do is make a page:
Very simple.
1.Go to: https://www.facebook.com/pages
2.Click on create page.
3.Choose Entertainment
4. In the drop down box. FICTIONAL CHARACTER!
Facebook made it easy. Follow the rest of the instructions as you make the profile and page. As you fill out the profile; you could use your alias email as the characters email. But, it will be visible.
Once you get 25 likes; your address for you page changes from https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Vincent-Hugh/149281288471540 to https://www.facebook.com/Vincent-Hugh
What can you do with them?
1. Interact with fans as the characters.
2. Help promote your book.
3. Help you practice writing in your character's voice.
4. Have fun.
Don't go too overboard. Plan it so you only have to spend a few minutes to an hour a day maintaining them. That is where a program like Hootsuite will help. On the free version you can link up to 5 different social networking profiles. I find it works better for keeping twitter straight. Facebook moves slow enough that all I have to do is log into the page or twice a day to keep it maintained.
I hope this helps and gives you some ideas.
April 20, 2011
Contest 1 Winner finally!
I had to make a second choice for the gift card. It went to Autumn!!!
Congrats.
Congrats.
Contest Update again
Alright, the first person chosen by random.org to win the gift card, Never responded to my repeated emails. So I am choosing another. Watch your emails.
April 19, 2011
Contest Update.
This is good or bad news, depends how you look at it.
I have sent two emails out to the winner of the $25 Amazon card, but no response. PLEASE check your emails. Including the spam folder. If I don't hear from this person soon. I will pick a new winner on Wednesday.
I still have three more contest to enter. Click on the Contest tab at the blog to see them.
Thanks
I have sent two emails out to the winner of the $25 Amazon card, but no response. PLEASE check your emails. Including the spam folder. If I don't hear from this person soon. I will pick a new winner on Wednesday.
I still have three more contest to enter. Click on the Contest tab at the blog to see them.
Thanks
