L.M. Pruitt's Blog, page 25
July 27, 2011
Writing Wednesday--Comedy in the Supernatural
First, I'd like to thank the men of Blue Collar Comedy Tour and Katt Williams for inspiring this post. I've been laughing my butt off all week thanks to these folks.
In general, paranormal/supernatural stories are dark, gloomy, eerie and dramatic/melodramatic. Readers expect dark and intense. Writers, in an effort to meet reader expectations, will give them dark and intense, so readers never expect anything more, so writers never write anything more. It's a vicious cycle.
So whenever something light and frothy and humorous comes on the scene, we as readers are both taken aback and intrigued. How dare a vampire queen be shoe crazy--but still, shoes? Hmm. That's different. Maybe I should take a look at this.
As far as I've been able to find, there are no rules anywhere stating that just because your story has a blood sucking, bat shit crazy vampire killing people that you can't have a slapstick scene straight out of the Three Stooges. Heck, I actually think have the two in the same book really drives home the brutality of a kill. And besides, does anybody really want to read a book so serious it can't take a joke, even one at itself?
I don't. I want to be able to laugh and cry and be worried about people and be super freakin' happy when the bad guy gets it in the end. I want a book that runs the full range of emotions, because God knows I run the full range, sometimes twice, in one day.
And quite frankly, there's nothing better than a good joke? Did you hear the one about the priest, the nun, and the confessional? Well, you're not hearing it from me, either.
In general, paranormal/supernatural stories are dark, gloomy, eerie and dramatic/melodramatic. Readers expect dark and intense. Writers, in an effort to meet reader expectations, will give them dark and intense, so readers never expect anything more, so writers never write anything more. It's a vicious cycle.
So whenever something light and frothy and humorous comes on the scene, we as readers are both taken aback and intrigued. How dare a vampire queen be shoe crazy--but still, shoes? Hmm. That's different. Maybe I should take a look at this.
As far as I've been able to find, there are no rules anywhere stating that just because your story has a blood sucking, bat shit crazy vampire killing people that you can't have a slapstick scene straight out of the Three Stooges. Heck, I actually think have the two in the same book really drives home the brutality of a kill. And besides, does anybody really want to read a book so serious it can't take a joke, even one at itself?
I don't. I want to be able to laugh and cry and be worried about people and be super freakin' happy when the bad guy gets it in the end. I want a book that runs the full range of emotions, because God knows I run the full range, sometimes twice, in one day.
And quite frankly, there's nothing better than a good joke? Did you hear the one about the priest, the nun, and the confessional? Well, you're not hearing it from me, either.
July 26, 2011
Teaser Tuesday!
Ah, Tuesday. The day when I would normally rush to the bookstore after work to see what there is to be bought. Alas, this day will soon become more depressing with the closing of Borders. Don't get me wrong, B&N is good and all--but my heart will always belong to Borders. I digress.
I'm currently in the middle of re-reading Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts. I love all Nora Roberts books, without fail, so this is something of a light, familiar read, deserving of a fun, light tease.
"...Then she went too far, she went one step too far."
"What did she do?"
"She called me a--a floozy."
Jed blinked, gamely struggled to swallow the tickle at the back of his neck. "A what?"
"A floozy," she repeated, slapping her fist on the chair.
"Let's go take her down."
Classic Nora Roberts humor. And I happen to love the word floozy myself. Along with wench and harlot.
Happy Reading!
I'm currently in the middle of re-reading Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts. I love all Nora Roberts books, without fail, so this is something of a light, familiar read, deserving of a fun, light tease.
"...Then she went too far, she went one step too far."
"What did she do?"
"She called me a--a floozy."
Jed blinked, gamely struggled to swallow the tickle at the back of his neck. "A what?"
"A floozy," she repeated, slapping her fist on the chair.
"Let's go take her down."
Classic Nora Roberts humor. And I happen to love the word floozy myself. Along with wench and harlot.
Happy Reading!
July 25, 2011
Music Monday--Guilty Pleasures
Come on, you know what I'm talking about--the songs you know you shouldn't love, but you just can't help it. Hell, maybe there's an artist you're embarrassed to admit you own one, if not all, of their albums. I'm talking about the stuff that if someone were to pick up your iPod and hit play and it came on, you'd swear up and down you have no idea why it's on there.
Because it's my blog, I'll go first. But don't think that means you can't chime in.
Guilty Pleasure #1--Annie Lenox, Broken Glass
I've said it before, I'll say it again. This is my go-to song for feeling good. They play it on the satellite radio at work, and I just bounce around like a demented person.
Guilty Pleasure #2--Journey, Don't Stop Believin'
Oh, come on. Seriously? How could I not have this on the list of guilty pleasures. It is the ultimate white person song in a bar deal. Although to be truthful, I'd never heard it until my friend Sam told me to watch the movie The Comebacks. Classic.
Guilty Pleasure #3--Britney Spears
Yes, everything by Britney is a guilty pleasure. I don't give a crap about her personal life. I just like her music. Don't get me wrong, not all of it, but enough to take up a good thirty minutes or so if I got stuck in traffic.
Guilty Pleasure #4--Taylor Swift
Actually, I don't feel guilty about this, even though I'm just a bit shy of thirty. I love Taylor Swift. Out of three albums I can count on one hand the number of songs I don't care for. And it's not even that I don't care for them so much as I just don't care either way about them. She has a knack for writing songs from the view of just an ordinary person, which makes them very relatable, no matter your age. She's got a long career ahead of her.
And finally, Guilty Pleasure #5--South Park, Cartman's Version of Poker Face
You will have to trust me on this. If you can find in on YouTube, you will laugh your face off. No clue on the episode number, but it's the one where Stan (I think) goes off to save the whales from the Japanese. Again, classic.
And now that I've shared mine--what's your guilty music pleasure?
Because it's my blog, I'll go first. But don't think that means you can't chime in.
Guilty Pleasure #1--Annie Lenox, Broken Glass
I've said it before, I'll say it again. This is my go-to song for feeling good. They play it on the satellite radio at work, and I just bounce around like a demented person.
Guilty Pleasure #2--Journey, Don't Stop Believin'
Oh, come on. Seriously? How could I not have this on the list of guilty pleasures. It is the ultimate white person song in a bar deal. Although to be truthful, I'd never heard it until my friend Sam told me to watch the movie The Comebacks. Classic.
Guilty Pleasure #3--Britney Spears
Yes, everything by Britney is a guilty pleasure. I don't give a crap about her personal life. I just like her music. Don't get me wrong, not all of it, but enough to take up a good thirty minutes or so if I got stuck in traffic.
Guilty Pleasure #4--Taylor Swift
Actually, I don't feel guilty about this, even though I'm just a bit shy of thirty. I love Taylor Swift. Out of three albums I can count on one hand the number of songs I don't care for. And it's not even that I don't care for them so much as I just don't care either way about them. She has a knack for writing songs from the view of just an ordinary person, which makes them very relatable, no matter your age. She's got a long career ahead of her.
And finally, Guilty Pleasure #5--South Park, Cartman's Version of Poker Face
You will have to trust me on this. If you can find in on YouTube, you will laugh your face off. No clue on the episode number, but it's the one where Stan (I think) goes off to save the whales from the Japanese. Again, classic.
And now that I've shared mine--what's your guilty music pleasure?
July 22, 2011
Food Friday!
This week has been full of editing, formatting, and a slew of other things. As such, I've had to fall back on some of my quick and easy recipes so I don't starve to death while working. This is a one dish meal, or at least the way I prepare it it is. Super quick and super easy, shouldn't take more than ten minutes, maybe fifteen if you like your chicken blackened.
Buffalo Chicken Coleslaw
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin sliced and diced)
1 bag prepared coleslaw mix
1 jar coleslaw dressing (I prefer Marie Callenders, but that's me)
3 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons Frank's Buffalo Sauce
Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet; add buffalo sauce. Add chicken breast pieces, stirring to coat with hot sauce. Cook on medium until done (or blackened); set aside.
Prepare coleslaw (This should be self-explanatory. Please let it be self explanatory)
Pour chicken and remaining sauce into coleslaw. Mix thoroughly.
Enjoy!
(Told you it was easy!)
Buffalo Chicken Coleslaw
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin sliced and diced)
1 bag prepared coleslaw mix
1 jar coleslaw dressing (I prefer Marie Callenders, but that's me)
3 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons Frank's Buffalo Sauce
Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet; add buffalo sauce. Add chicken breast pieces, stirring to coat with hot sauce. Cook on medium until done (or blackened); set aside.
Prepare coleslaw (This should be self-explanatory. Please let it be self explanatory)
Pour chicken and remaining sauce into coleslaw. Mix thoroughly.
Enjoy!
(Told you it was easy!)
July 21, 2011
Random Thursday--The Art of Sex
This is really more of a writer thing than a random thing, but since 98% of people believe sex sells, I figure it can't hurt. Besides, I like talking about sex.
Writing sex scenes can range from easy to embarrassing to bang-your-head-against-the-desk difficult. Depending on the market you're writing for, most authors find themselves bound by rules, both spoken and unspoken. The more mainstream the market, the more circumspect one tends to end up being in regards to something messy, personal, and wholly natural.
Some of that is due, no doubt, to the general Puritanical moral system of America at large. Despite being either a "melting pot" or a "tossed salad", depending on which cultural school you're ascribing to, American soceity as a whole is wary and highly critical of overt sexual displays. Think of the moral outrage associated with Britney Spears and her over the top racy videos, or to throw it back a few decades, the uproar over Brooke Shields appearing in Pretty Baby as a child prostitute. And let's not get started on the cyclical nature of celebrity sex scandals, either through pictures or video.
But why, exactly, are they scandals? For a country that prides itself on freedom of expression, up to and including burning books and other objects, we are remarkably intolerant of an act that most people will experience at some point in their life. So much so, that the Supreme Court had found itself forced to deal with enough cases involving pornography to have "Movie Day", where they review the movies involved in suits.
The definition of obscenity has changed numerous times over the years, beginning with the Roth test which first came into use in the 1950s. Keeping in mind the general conservative nature of America at the time, the justices set forth the following explanation for judging obscene materials.
After years of misapplication and misinterpretation due to varying community standards, a second definition was set forth in 1973 in the decision for Miller v California, which stands as the current definition (more or less). It is significantly more conservative, something at odds with the counter culture of the era and the continued progression toward individual freedoms. In short, it states something is obscene if:
The real issue, and one every artist of every medium has to take into account, is the final criterion--lacking serous literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Again, what is acceptable in Austin, Texas may not be acceptable in Dayton, Ohio and vise versa. Once an artist makes the decision to offer their work for public consumption, personal preferences become nil and community standards move to the forefront. And so writing or showing or in anyway portraying sex becomes an art. Not just in the craft itself, but in portraying the act while maintaining community standards and falling in line with public opinion.
And here you thought this was going to be risque. Shame on you.
(The information used here regarding obscenity was culled from Movie Day at the Supreme Court or "I Know It When I See It: A History of the Definition of Obscenity by Judith A. Silver)
Writing sex scenes can range from easy to embarrassing to bang-your-head-against-the-desk difficult. Depending on the market you're writing for, most authors find themselves bound by rules, both spoken and unspoken. The more mainstream the market, the more circumspect one tends to end up being in regards to something messy, personal, and wholly natural.
Some of that is due, no doubt, to the general Puritanical moral system of America at large. Despite being either a "melting pot" or a "tossed salad", depending on which cultural school you're ascribing to, American soceity as a whole is wary and highly critical of overt sexual displays. Think of the moral outrage associated with Britney Spears and her over the top racy videos, or to throw it back a few decades, the uproar over Brooke Shields appearing in Pretty Baby as a child prostitute. And let's not get started on the cyclical nature of celebrity sex scandals, either through pictures or video.
But why, exactly, are they scandals? For a country that prides itself on freedom of expression, up to and including burning books and other objects, we are remarkably intolerant of an act that most people will experience at some point in their life. So much so, that the Supreme Court had found itself forced to deal with enough cases involving pornography to have "Movie Day", where they review the movies involved in suits.
The definition of obscenity has changed numerous times over the years, beginning with the Roth test which first came into use in the 1950s. Keeping in mind the general conservative nature of America at the time, the justices set forth the following explanation for judging obscene materials.
Speech which " . . . to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, the dominant theme of the material, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interest" and which is "utterly without redeeming social importance..."
After years of misapplication and misinterpretation due to varying community standards, a second definition was set forth in 1973 in the decision for Miller v California, which stands as the current definition (more or less). It is significantly more conservative, something at odds with the counter culture of the era and the continued progression toward individual freedoms. In short, it states something is obscene if:
"(a) whether the 'average person, applying contemporary community standards' would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest,The major difference between the two definitions comes from the application of community standards. The Roth test worked on a national level, and ended up being more liberal. Miller shifted judgment back to the community, either local or state, where mores vary widely and often are more stringent.
(b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law, and
(c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value."
The real issue, and one every artist of every medium has to take into account, is the final criterion--lacking serous literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Again, what is acceptable in Austin, Texas may not be acceptable in Dayton, Ohio and vise versa. Once an artist makes the decision to offer their work for public consumption, personal preferences become nil and community standards move to the forefront. And so writing or showing or in anyway portraying sex becomes an art. Not just in the craft itself, but in portraying the act while maintaining community standards and falling in line with public opinion.
And here you thought this was going to be risque. Shame on you.
(The information used here regarding obscenity was culled from Movie Day at the Supreme Court or "I Know It When I See It: A History of the Definition of Obscenity by Judith A. Silver)
July 20, 2011
Writing Wednesday--Author Interview with Shea MacLeod
It's Wednesday--time for free pie at the VI, drinking at CP, and author interview here at FFUF! Today I've got Shea MacLeod, whose debut novel Kissed by Darkness came out earlier this month.
Now, before I let Shea have her say, I'd like to tell you how I met her. Actually, we haven't met met--as there's a super big ocean between us. We met through a writing website, WeBook, when I was first posting Shades of Gray. I happened to come across a few of her reviews and thought she sounded smart, on point, and knew how to dish out critcism without being ugly. So I took a deep breath and shot her a message asking her to take a look at Shades of Gray. That was three years ago and the rest, as they say, is writing/critique partner history. Truth be told, it's one of my longest running relationships of any kind (not counting family--and I don't count them because you're stuck with them) and I value her opinion on a ridiculous level. But enough shenanigans.
Without further ado, Shea MacLeod!
First, congratulations on the release of Kissed by Darkness. Tell us a little about it.
Thanks so much. Kissed by Darkness is the first book of the Sunwalker Saga. It is pretty much the end result of the random thought that mixing Buffy with a Paranormal Investigation team was a good idea. lol
Kissed by Darkness
Danger is always on the menu for Morgan Bailey, a sexy and street-smart bounty hunter, who prowls the dark underworld of Portland, Oregon hunting creatures of the night. Morgan's never met a vampire she couldn't dust or a demon she couldn't kill until she's hired to destroy a new kind of mystical threat: the Sunwalker.A powerful immortal once believed myth, the Sunwalker carries with him an ancient secret which, if left unchecked, will destroy Morgan's world. Pursued by a passionate Templar Knight and the target of the local vampire clans, an ancient power is awakened within her, unlike anything she's ever known. Morgan must uncover the truth behind her mission and about herself, before the Darkness lurking inside swallows her whole.
How would you compare Morgan to other strong female leads, like Jeanine Frost's Cat or Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson?
I'm not familiar with Cat, but Mercy I've read. I'd say that while Morgan has had her fair share of pain and heartache, she's not nearly as damaged as Mercy. She's more... normal. Ordinary. Just a regular Jane who had to learn to be tough. Fast.
You've created a unique twist on the myth of Atlantais, Templar Knights, and vampires in general. Where'd the inspiration for the mash-up come from?
Good lord, who knows! lol I've always loved mash-ups. I mean, why not have a post-apocalyptic romance, right?
I always knew Morgan would be involved with supernatural creatures... fighting them, protecting humanity. Vampires were a natural choice. The idea to involve Atlantis came next. I didn't want to go the usual magical route, I wanted something a bit more than that to create this underlying mythos for the series (Plus I'd probably seen one too many episodes of Stargate Atlantis.). And come on, what's cooler than a Templar Knight? So, that got thrown in.
I hear Kissed by Fire is in the works. Care to share a teaser with us? In KbF, Morgan and Kabita are called to London after the murder of Kabita's cousin, an MI8 agent (Yes, MI8 was real. I've just twisted it as usual.). Morgan will face down dragons, sidhe and her own murderer. KbF will be out this August.
If KbD was turned into a movie, who would you choose to play Morgan? Jackson?
The closest actress I can think to play Morgan is Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica from True Blood.). She's a little young and needs to gain about 20 pounds, but she's a great actress and would play Morgan well.
As for Jackson Keel, who else but the delicious Gerard Butler could play a 900 year old Templar Knight! ;-)
How many books will be in the Sunwalker Saga? And what other supernatural creatures will make an appearance in the series? There will be six total books in the Sunwalker Saga. I've got lots of fun creatures up my sleeve. In book two, Morgan will discover that dragons aren't extinct after all. She'll also have another brief run-in with the sidhe (They'll play a big role later on in the series.). In book three she'll meet a few djinn. Plus whoever else pops in for a visit while I'm writing. :-)
Are you working on any other novels?
Yes! I'm working on the third book in the Sunwalker Saga, Kissed by Smoke. Also, I have a second series I'm working on. It's a post-apocalyptic paranormal romance with dragons. Everything's better with dragons. :-)
Thanks so much to Shea for stopping by. Be sure to check out KbD on Amazon and Smashwords, as well as Goodreads. Stop by next week--who knows what'll be happening!
Now, before I let Shea have her say, I'd like to tell you how I met her. Actually, we haven't met met--as there's a super big ocean between us. We met through a writing website, WeBook, when I was first posting Shades of Gray. I happened to come across a few of her reviews and thought she sounded smart, on point, and knew how to dish out critcism without being ugly. So I took a deep breath and shot her a message asking her to take a look at Shades of Gray. That was three years ago and the rest, as they say, is writing/critique partner history. Truth be told, it's one of my longest running relationships of any kind (not counting family--and I don't count them because you're stuck with them) and I value her opinion on a ridiculous level. But enough shenanigans.
Without further ado, Shea MacLeod!
First, congratulations on the release of Kissed by Darkness. Tell us a little about it.
Thanks so much. Kissed by Darkness is the first book of the Sunwalker Saga. It is pretty much the end result of the random thought that mixing Buffy with a Paranormal Investigation team was a good idea. lol
Kissed by Darkness
Danger is always on the menu for Morgan Bailey, a sexy and street-smart bounty hunter, who prowls the dark underworld of Portland, Oregon hunting creatures of the night. Morgan's never met a vampire she couldn't dust or a demon she couldn't kill until she's hired to destroy a new kind of mystical threat: the Sunwalker.A powerful immortal once believed myth, the Sunwalker carries with him an ancient secret which, if left unchecked, will destroy Morgan's world. Pursued by a passionate Templar Knight and the target of the local vampire clans, an ancient power is awakened within her, unlike anything she's ever known. Morgan must uncover the truth behind her mission and about herself, before the Darkness lurking inside swallows her whole.
How would you compare Morgan to other strong female leads, like Jeanine Frost's Cat or Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson?
I'm not familiar with Cat, but Mercy I've read. I'd say that while Morgan has had her fair share of pain and heartache, she's not nearly as damaged as Mercy. She's more... normal. Ordinary. Just a regular Jane who had to learn to be tough. Fast.
You've created a unique twist on the myth of Atlantais, Templar Knights, and vampires in general. Where'd the inspiration for the mash-up come from?
Good lord, who knows! lol I've always loved mash-ups. I mean, why not have a post-apocalyptic romance, right?
I always knew Morgan would be involved with supernatural creatures... fighting them, protecting humanity. Vampires were a natural choice. The idea to involve Atlantis came next. I didn't want to go the usual magical route, I wanted something a bit more than that to create this underlying mythos for the series (Plus I'd probably seen one too many episodes of Stargate Atlantis.). And come on, what's cooler than a Templar Knight? So, that got thrown in.
I hear Kissed by Fire is in the works. Care to share a teaser with us? In KbF, Morgan and Kabita are called to London after the murder of Kabita's cousin, an MI8 agent (Yes, MI8 was real. I've just twisted it as usual.). Morgan will face down dragons, sidhe and her own murderer. KbF will be out this August.
If KbD was turned into a movie, who would you choose to play Morgan? Jackson?
The closest actress I can think to play Morgan is Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica from True Blood.). She's a little young and needs to gain about 20 pounds, but she's a great actress and would play Morgan well.
As for Jackson Keel, who else but the delicious Gerard Butler could play a 900 year old Templar Knight! ;-)
How many books will be in the Sunwalker Saga? And what other supernatural creatures will make an appearance in the series? There will be six total books in the Sunwalker Saga. I've got lots of fun creatures up my sleeve. In book two, Morgan will discover that dragons aren't extinct after all. She'll also have another brief run-in with the sidhe (They'll play a big role later on in the series.). In book three she'll meet a few djinn. Plus whoever else pops in for a visit while I'm writing. :-)
Are you working on any other novels?
Yes! I'm working on the third book in the Sunwalker Saga, Kissed by Smoke. Also, I have a second series I'm working on. It's a post-apocalyptic paranormal romance with dragons. Everything's better with dragons. :-)
Thanks so much to Shea for stopping by. Be sure to check out KbD on Amazon and Smashwords, as well as Goodreads. Stop by next week--who knows what'll be happening!
July 19, 2011
Teaser Tuesday
Teaser Tuesday!
Alas, I'm not reading anything right now. Scandalous, I know. But I'm in the middle of writing, and formatting, and editing, and...I think you get the point.
So instead of teasing with an actual quote, I'd like to take a second to tell you about a book due out August 2 by two of my favorite writers, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I've been a devoted reader of theirs since I was in the 9th grade, which means roughly 15 years. I know--that's a bit of time right there. Their most amazing character, Agent Pendergast, is on the case again, and this time it's a doozy. Check out the description on Amazon:
Devastated by the discovery that his wife, Helen, was murdered, Special Agent Pendergast must have retribution. But revenge is not simple. As he stalks his wife's betrayers-a chase that takes him from the wild moors of Scotland to the bustling streets of New York City and the darkest bayous of Louisiana-he is also forced to dig further into Helen's past. And he is stunned to learn that Helen may have been a collaborator in her own murder.
Peeling back the layers of deception, Pendergast realizes that the conspiracy is deeper, goes back generations, and is more monstrous than he could have ever imagined-and everything he's believed, everything he's trusted, everything he's understood . . . may be a horrific lie.Super excited! Like I said, Cold Vengeance, is due out August 2, so remember to pick up your copy!
Alas, I'm not reading anything right now. Scandalous, I know. But I'm in the middle of writing, and formatting, and editing, and...I think you get the point.
So instead of teasing with an actual quote, I'd like to take a second to tell you about a book due out August 2 by two of my favorite writers, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I've been a devoted reader of theirs since I was in the 9th grade, which means roughly 15 years. I know--that's a bit of time right there. Their most amazing character, Agent Pendergast, is on the case again, and this time it's a doozy. Check out the description on Amazon:
Devastated by the discovery that his wife, Helen, was murdered, Special Agent Pendergast must have retribution. But revenge is not simple. As he stalks his wife's betrayers-a chase that takes him from the wild moors of Scotland to the bustling streets of New York City and the darkest bayous of Louisiana-he is also forced to dig further into Helen's past. And he is stunned to learn that Helen may have been a collaborator in her own murder.
Peeling back the layers of deception, Pendergast realizes that the conspiracy is deeper, goes back generations, and is more monstrous than he could have ever imagined-and everything he's believed, everything he's trusted, everything he's understood . . . may be a horrific lie.Super excited! Like I said, Cold Vengeance, is due out August 2, so remember to pick up your copy!
July 18, 2011
Music Monday--Theme Songs
Monday! Since I had a little too much fun last night--resulting in getting thrown out of an Applebee's before nine, but that's a story for a different time--I'm getting a bit of a late start this morning. And since I lost the notes I had for this post, I'm just gonna have to wing it.
Last week I talked about writing playlists and their use. Taking it a step further--and inspired by my interview with Belinda Boring on Wednesday and my viewing of Harry Potter this weekend--I'm going to take a minute to talk about theme songs.
When most of us think of theme songs, we automatically think of movies or television shows. What would the A-Team be without those opening notes (and Bradley Cooper's abs)? Dawson's Creek without Paula Cole? True Blood without Bad Things? Not to say the movie and shows mentioned would suffer for the lack, but there's something about those songs that helps with the transition of the viewer into the alternate world.
For writers, the same concept applies. Unless you're super lucky--which I am not--writing does not automatically pay the bills. So first order of business five days of the week is working. Then there's family, friends, idiot cats, promotion...the list goes on and on. There are days when I sit down in front of my computer and my brain flat refuses to work. This is where a theme song is important.
Even though I write in the same genre, not everything I write is the same. The Jude Magdalyn series is somewhat on the dark side, so I tend to gravitate toward 3 Doors Down, specifically When I'm Gone. The Moon Rising series with Cari is set a little closer to home, both geographically and emotionally, so country is a natural choice. Sara Evans' Little Bit Stronger fit perfectly with Cari's struggles. My current work in progress, tentatively titled Taken, is very noir, very rough and tumble, but with a lot of sex. I've gone back and forth with songs on this, using Fiona Apple's Criminal sometimes, Nickelback at others.
Does it work every time? Nope. But then there are times you're watching TV and your brain is just going too many places and you completely gloss over the theme song. It takes you a little longer to get into the show, to reorient yourself with the world you're viewing, but you get there. So while I'd say a theme song is important, it's not the be all end all. It just makes the journey more interesting.
Last week I talked about writing playlists and their use. Taking it a step further--and inspired by my interview with Belinda Boring on Wednesday and my viewing of Harry Potter this weekend--I'm going to take a minute to talk about theme songs.
When most of us think of theme songs, we automatically think of movies or television shows. What would the A-Team be without those opening notes (and Bradley Cooper's abs)? Dawson's Creek without Paula Cole? True Blood without Bad Things? Not to say the movie and shows mentioned would suffer for the lack, but there's something about those songs that helps with the transition of the viewer into the alternate world.
For writers, the same concept applies. Unless you're super lucky--which I am not--writing does not automatically pay the bills. So first order of business five days of the week is working. Then there's family, friends, idiot cats, promotion...the list goes on and on. There are days when I sit down in front of my computer and my brain flat refuses to work. This is where a theme song is important.
Even though I write in the same genre, not everything I write is the same. The Jude Magdalyn series is somewhat on the dark side, so I tend to gravitate toward 3 Doors Down, specifically When I'm Gone. The Moon Rising series with Cari is set a little closer to home, both geographically and emotionally, so country is a natural choice. Sara Evans' Little Bit Stronger fit perfectly with Cari's struggles. My current work in progress, tentatively titled Taken, is very noir, very rough and tumble, but with a lot of sex. I've gone back and forth with songs on this, using Fiona Apple's Criminal sometimes, Nickelback at others.
Does it work every time? Nope. But then there are times you're watching TV and your brain is just going too many places and you completely gloss over the theme song. It takes you a little longer to get into the show, to reorient yourself with the world you're viewing, but you get there. So while I'd say a theme song is important, it's not the be all end all. It just makes the journey more interesting.
July 15, 2011
Food Friday
Food! Always exciting. I did have a mind to share a recipe I created this week, but I'm sitting here drinking sweet tea and realizing talking about that is so much more fascinating right now.
I've heard sweet tea called the house wine of the South, and I'd have to agree one hundred and twenty five percent. Or some other big number. And when I say sweet tea, I mean pre-sweetened. I go into a restaurant and they say all they have is unsweet, I'm drinking something else. Because no matter how much sugar or sugar substitute you put in your glass, it will still never have the same taste as tea sweetened right after brewing.
Now, you'll hear a lot of talk about the lemon vs no-lemon debate. Amongst my friends and family, this isn't actually a debate--lemon does not exist for the purpose of tea. Even my grandmother, who was a full diabetic and drank unsweet tea with Sweet 'N Low my entire life, never put a lemon near her tea. Needless to say, bottled Snapple or NesTea does not sit well with us.
Which leads in to the debate on brands of tea. Again, really no debate. I was raised on Lipton and will most likely drink Lipton until the day I'm no longer to drink anything, period. Doesn't matter if it's normal brew or cold brew, as long as it's Lipton. Do not bring any of that powdered mix of any variety near me. Unless I brewed it, it's not tea.
Of course, this is all personal opinion. You'll meet people who insist that tea is not tea unless it's served steaming hot with milk and lemon and honey. You'll meet people who swear by NesTea and who think flavored teas from Snapple are the best thing since the wheel. Now, I'm not going to say these people are wrong. I'd be more inclined to use the term misguided--but that's me.
I still don't understand the people who don't drink tea at all.
I've heard sweet tea called the house wine of the South, and I'd have to agree one hundred and twenty five percent. Or some other big number. And when I say sweet tea, I mean pre-sweetened. I go into a restaurant and they say all they have is unsweet, I'm drinking something else. Because no matter how much sugar or sugar substitute you put in your glass, it will still never have the same taste as tea sweetened right after brewing.
Now, you'll hear a lot of talk about the lemon vs no-lemon debate. Amongst my friends and family, this isn't actually a debate--lemon does not exist for the purpose of tea. Even my grandmother, who was a full diabetic and drank unsweet tea with Sweet 'N Low my entire life, never put a lemon near her tea. Needless to say, bottled Snapple or NesTea does not sit well with us.
Which leads in to the debate on brands of tea. Again, really no debate. I was raised on Lipton and will most likely drink Lipton until the day I'm no longer to drink anything, period. Doesn't matter if it's normal brew or cold brew, as long as it's Lipton. Do not bring any of that powdered mix of any variety near me. Unless I brewed it, it's not tea.
Of course, this is all personal opinion. You'll meet people who insist that tea is not tea unless it's served steaming hot with milk and lemon and honey. You'll meet people who swear by NesTea and who think flavored teas from Snapple are the best thing since the wheel. Now, I'm not going to say these people are wrong. I'd be more inclined to use the term misguided--but that's me.
I still don't understand the people who don't drink tea at all.
July 14, 2011
Random Thursday!
Things currently floating through my mind:
Football. Maybe it's a result of the season, or watching FSU's Garnet and Gold game on ESPN last night, but I am so ready for college football. It's my favorite sport, and since FSU had a great season last year, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do this year.
Lucky Breaks. Not necessarily of the career kind. I was thinking more of the personal kind--as in, Wow, I sure got lucky not meeting that person or not staying with that person. Lucky breaks along those lines. Sometimes it takes both time and distance from a person and a situation before you realize where you don't need to be.
Tattoos. Not getting one, at least not at the moment. I have eight myself, so it's a fairly safe bet to say I'll get another one or two. The process is kind of addicting. But, I'm thinking of them, because two of my friends/coworkers had some ink done this week. One of them just finished her second session on a calf piece that's pretty much a Hermoine (from Harry Potter) pinup--uber awesome. The second got her first bit of ink, the phrase "This Too Shall Pass". Big week for tattoos here.
And that's really all that's going through my mind. It's a slow week. Check back next week for more random ramblings!
Football. Maybe it's a result of the season, or watching FSU's Garnet and Gold game on ESPN last night, but I am so ready for college football. It's my favorite sport, and since FSU had a great season last year, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do this year.
Lucky Breaks. Not necessarily of the career kind. I was thinking more of the personal kind--as in, Wow, I sure got lucky not meeting that person or not staying with that person. Lucky breaks along those lines. Sometimes it takes both time and distance from a person and a situation before you realize where you don't need to be.
Tattoos. Not getting one, at least not at the moment. I have eight myself, so it's a fairly safe bet to say I'll get another one or two. The process is kind of addicting. But, I'm thinking of them, because two of my friends/coworkers had some ink done this week. One of them just finished her second session on a calf piece that's pretty much a Hermoine (from Harry Potter) pinup--uber awesome. The second got her first bit of ink, the phrase "This Too Shall Pass". Big week for tattoos here.
And that's really all that's going through my mind. It's a slow week. Check back next week for more random ramblings!
