S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 67

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Kevin S. Chambers and Jason Klamm

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are happy to welcome writers Kevin S. Chambers and Jason Klamm.
Kevin S. ChambersKevin S. Chambers

Kevin S. Chambers was born May, 3, 1990. Kevin has always had a wild imagination, often creating and writing stories during, church and school when he should have been paying attention. Not only did Kevin like to tell stories, he loved to read; until he entered high school
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Rich Martin a shop teacher at Kevin’s high school handed him a book, Eragon. For over a year Kevin held onto the book, until he finally read it. After which he continued to read, eventually finding the Sword of Truth Series.

Since 2010 Kevin has spent his time between reading, and writing not only novels, but screenplays as well.

Kevin's Book:

God's Rogue

Kevin's Links:
Website/Blog Twitter
Jason Klamm 

Jason Klamm has been a published writer for more than 20 years, training under beat author Fielding Dawson, who compared Klamm's early works to the likes of Kafka. He's the author of two books of satire, and is currently researching a book based on his podcast, Comedy on Vinyl. His comedy work has placed in national screenwriting competitions and his short films have been distributed by NBC Universal, Comedy Central and Frontier Airlines. He has also written films and TV pilots for Jamie Kennedy Entertainment.

Jason's Books:

Looking Forward: A Hopemoir

Post-Modem: The Interwebs Explained 

Jason's Links:

Website/Blog
Facebook
Twitter

From today's program: Methane on Mars May Have Warmed the Planet.
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.

My Biggest Dreams in Life

Ladies and gentlemen, time once again for the 52-Week Blogging Challenge (add applause).

Today's prompt is "My biggest dream in life."

This is easy.

I want to be a best-selling author. Read and adored by millions. Sort of the J.K. Rowling model of being an author.

And, it's not so much the money (although that would be nice). It's that I want to be read by strangers. I want to touch people's lives. I want to be . . .well, adored. By strangers.

Now I'm not saying I'm as good a writer as Ms. Rowling. But I think I'm pretty decent. I've read New York published books that aren't as good as my writing. So why them and not me? Well, luck for one. And maybe they tried harder than I.

I don't know.

So what's your biggest dream? Comment below.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Last week I bought my wife a new car. Her older car (a 2004 MINI Cooper S) was starting to be unreliable and I hate that in a car (or anything else). So we sold the MINI (amazingly fast) and I bought my wife a 2017 VW Golf GTI.

Now if you know cars and you read this blog, you might wonder why I bought a Golf when it is on the same platform at the Audi A3 I hated so much. Well, two reasons. One: the platform works much better on the Golf, and the Golf GTI doesn't have the same awful engine that the A3 had. I looked this up. The base A3 has a 1.8L engine. The base Golf has the same engine. The optional bigger engine for the A3 (that comes with Quattro all-wheel-drive) is the turbocharged 2.0L engine that is also in the Golf GTI. (And the more powerful S3 will have the same engine as the more powerful Golf R.)

So if you buy an Audi A3, get the bigger engine unless you like your engine to sound like a concrete mixer.

I drove my wife's GTI and was impressed with its power and handling. I put it in "sport" mode and floored the gas. The driven front tires chirped at both start and the shift to second gear (it has an automatic transmission). This is a fun-to-drive car.

I'm hoping to keep this car about ten years. Buy then every new car will probably be autonomous and all driving fun will be gone.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with R.F. Dunham and L.J. Cohen

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers R.F. Dunham and L.J. Cohen.
R.F. DunhamR.F. Dunham

R.F. Dunham writes with one purpose: to take you places you've never been before. That might be a distant fantasy land, the far reaches of space, the future of earth, or simply to an idea you've never encountered. A student of language and culture, Dunham's stories will pull you into complex worlds that challenge your perception of your own surroundings.

R.F. lives in the foothills of Central Virginia with his wife, two cats, and a Newfoundland puppy. If he's not writing, he's probably brushing that puppy. Any remaining time is spent playing jazz trumpet and hiking in the Virginia countryside.

R.F.'s Works:
The Other Side of Hope
Insha’Allah  (free)
"Just a Drop" (short story in an anthology)
R.F.'s Links:
Website/Blog Facebook Twitter
L.J. CohenL.J. Cohen
L.J. Cohen is a Boston area novelist, poet, blogger, ceramics artist, and relentless optimist. After almost twenty-five years as a physical therapist, L.J. now uses her anatomical knowledge and myriad clinical skills to injure characters in her science fiction and fantasy novels. Her most recent book, Dreadnought and Shuttle, (book 3 of the SF/Space Opera series Halcyone Space) represents her sixth published novel. Derelict, the first novel in the series, was chosen as a Library Journal Self-e Select title and book of the year in 2016.
 L.J, is active in IPNE (The Independent Publishers of New England), SFWA (The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America),  and Broad Universe and blogs about publishing, general geekery, and other ephemera at http://www.ljcbluemuse.blogspot.com. Contact L.J. at lisa@ljcohen.net and http://www.ljcohen.net.

L.J.'s Books:
Dreadnought and Shuttle (Halcyone Space, book 3)
Ithaka Rising (Halcyone Space, book 2)
Time and Tithe (Changeling’s Choice, book 2)
L.J.'s Links:
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Google+
From Today's Program: Alien Life May Live in the Upper Atmosphere of Earth.
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.

Cars and Other Stuff

Back to the 52-week blogging challenge. Today's prompt is "Working on my fitness."

Har-dee-har-har.

Okay, so the next prompt is "What I spend money on."

I had to think about his because I don't tend to spend a lot of money. But when I do, I go big. I spend money on cars. I like cars, the faster and more powerful the better. I've even driven some on a racetrack. (Which was also something I spent my money on. Not the fee to drive on the track but the new tires and brake pads required.)

Now, some might think my bright yellow Corvette is a mid-life crisis car. It's not. I've had a sporty car constantly since my mid-20s. I like fast cars.

Then there's the maintenance of fast cars. The oil change on the Corvette is almost $100. The tires are $2,500 for four and then you have to pay to mount them. Because they are run-flats I have to have them installed in Spokane (first time I had to go to Seattle). The tires only last about 15,000 miles. The tires that came on it only lasted 5,000 miles (about what I drive the Corvette in a year) so I was replacing tires every year until I found a new brand that lasts 15,000 miles.

Side note: I've always wanted a Ferrari. I read somewhere that Ferrari tires last about 5,000 miles and you have to buy them from the Ferrari dealer and have them mount and balance them for an outrageous price I don't remember the exact amount of. I just remember it was high.

So that's where I spend money. Well, on big screen T.V.'s, too. But that's another post. Maybe.

What do you spend money on? Comment below.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with A.M. Justice and C.C. Aune

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers A.M. Justice and C.C. Aune.
A.M. JusticeA.M. Justice

A.M. Justice has danced tango beneath the wings of angels, played hide and seek with harbor seals, and sought distant galaxies from dusk to dawn. She hasn’t donned tango shoes in a while, but she still scuba dives and star gazes whenever the seas are calm enough and the skies dark enough. Hiking to isolated swimming holes, exploring ancient cathedrals, and dining with friends are among her favorite things, but she really loves sitting with a cat on her lap while a beloved movie plays on TV.

Justice’s young life was defined by restless parents who moved us every two to four years, but she has found stability in a Brooklyn apartment where she’s lived more than a decade with her husband, daughter, and cats. Her short story “The Weight of Bliss” won first place in the science fiction/fantasy category of the 2016 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

A.M.'s Works:
A Wizard’s Forge
"Coward of Maldon" (short)
A.M.'s Links:
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
C.C. AuneC.C. Aune
C.C. Aune's ramblings have led her through 49 states—nine of which she has called home—plus a fair number of countries. She has been a journalist and a contributor for the companion book to PBS's 2000 series In Search of Our Ancestors. Currently, she directs the blog One Year of Letters, which explores the internal landscape of writers. The Ill-Kept Oath is her debut novel.
C.C.'s Works:

The Ill-Kept Oath
"Expiration Date" (short in an anthology)
C.C.'s Links:
Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads Pinterest Google+
From today's program: Cold and Dark Killed the Dinosaurs.
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.

Last Meal

Time once again for the 52-week blogging challenge and today they want me to write about "If I could eat ONE last meal."

One last meal would have to be a steak, dry aged, cooked to perfection, mashed potatoes and gravy, spinach, and New York cheese cake with strawberry sauce topping for dessert. A nice Merlot or maybe a Cabernet Sauvignon to go with it.

When beef is dry aged, they develop better flavor than wet aged. But dry aged they lose mass so a lot of wholesalers don't want to dry age because, of course, beef is sold by the pound. I know that Ruth Chris Steak Houses dry age their steaks except for the Filet Mignon.

A good steak with a good red wine is just unbelievable.

And I love mash potatoes and gravy with lots of salt and pepper. It's almost like dessert. But it's not so we go with the cheesecake.

Spinach with a little white vinegar on it is also very good. I've always like spinach.

So that would be my last meal. Either that or a pepperoni pizza with extra sauce from Pizza Hut.

What would your last meal be? Comment below.

Movie Review: Hacksaw Ridge

I sort of debated if I wanted to see this movie. But I'm glad I did and put it on my Netflix disc list.

My hesitation came from that it was directed by Mel Gibson and I don't really want to support him after his anti-Semitic drunk diatribe. Same reason I never watch Michael Moore movies, even on Netflix. I'm afraid some money of mine might get to him. Even one penny would be too much for Moore. I decided I could live with some money making its way to Gibson.

Hacksaw Ridge is a very good movie. It's the true story of an American medic named Desmond Doss in World War II who was a conscientious objector. He refused to touch a gun, even in basic training. This leads to a near court marshal. He was, according to the movie, the only medic in World War II that went into battle unarmed.

The first part of the movie deals with his rough childhood and home life. His abusive father (played very well by Hugo Weaving) and his mother who tries to protect the children all affected Doss's attitude toward war and guns. It was great to see a man stand up for his beliefs in the face of brutal opposition.

Vince Vaughn plays out of type as a tough but pretty fair sergeant.

The third act of the movie is the battle for Hacksaw Ridge on Okinawa in the Pacific. This part of the film was very violent and gory. It was nearly as visceral as the beach landing scene in Saving Private Ryan. So know what you're going into.

But that realistic violence makes what Doss did all the more remarkable. I won't give it away, but he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the only conscientious objector to ever do so.

One thing Gibson did was cast 
My biggest objection was that Doss's hair was way too long throughout the entire film.

If the violence and gore doesn't bother you, I strongly recommend this film.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Clyde Riddlesbrood and Chris Gerrib

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Clyde Riddlesbrood and Chris Gerrib.
Clyde Riddlesbrood

I grew up in the entertainment industry working with my father at a Dinner Theater in South Jersey and started my own theater company in 2000.  I have personally been in over 5000 shows in my lifetime and as a company we have performed over 1500 shows.  Currently Riddlesbrood is one of the most successful and vibrant theater companies in the New York, New Jersey area performing more than 150 murder mysteries and dinner theater shows per year at multiple locations.  In addition to this, we produce 3 large Broadway style shows for “Arts on the MOVE” Performing Arts Program for children and teens.

Clyde's Book:

The Greatest Brochure in the World

Clyde's Links:

Website
Facebook

Chris Gerrib

Chris Gerrib admits to being a bit obsessed with Mars, but in a healthy way – all three books of his Pirate Series are set on Mars.  Chris still has a day job as the IT director at a Chicago-area bank, and holds degrees in history and business from the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University.  He also served in the US Navy during the First Gulf War, and can proudly report that not one Iraqi MiG bombed Jacksonville, Florida while he was in the service.  In his copious free time, Chris is a past President of and currently active in his local Rotary club.


Chris's Books:

The Mars Run

Pirates of Mars


The Night Watch

Chris's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

From Today's Program: Brain/computer Interfaces May be Closer than You Think

Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.

My Favorite Movies

It's time once again for the 52-week blogging challenge. And today I'm supposed to write about "My favorite movies."

This is easy.

Probably my favorite movie of all time is Lord of the Rings: Return of the King .

My second favorite movie is Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Despite a few bits of clunky writing (usually when the writers strayed from Tolkien), these moves are damn near perfect. And the extended editions are even better. I can watch them over and over (and often do, along with Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers ).

Other favorite movies (in no particular order): Aliens , Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back , The Seven Year Itch , and Ghostbusters (the original).

The Seven Year Itch I enjoy because the protagonist's brain works just like mine. Plus it's a very funny movie. Another older movie I enjoy is Some Like it Hot . It's hilarious.

Aliens is the perfect military scifi movie with a few horror tropes added (even though I don't like horror, I can take it in small doses).

The Empire Strikes Back is, in my opinion the best of the Star Wars movies. The battle on Hoth is amazing, especially for pre-CGI special effects. It is a very intense movie.

And Ghostbusters is an amazing comedy. Why anyone thought to remake it, I don't know.

What's your favorite movie? Comment below.