S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 79

Huskies are Ranked!

The USA Today preseason college football poll came out a while back. While not as prestigious as the AP college ranking (and not used for BCS playoffs), it can give an indication of where teams will be approximately in the AP poll.

And the University of Washington Huskies are ranked! They are even ranked higher than the University of Nike Ducks. The Huskies are #18 and the Ducks are #22. (You may remember that I loath the Ducks.)

The Huskies are the third team in the Pac-12 ranked, with the Stanford Cardinal (it's a color) at #7 and USC Trojans (not condoms) at #17 (right above the Huskies).

The buzz is pretty good surrounding the Huskies going into their third year with Coach Chris Petersen.

Oh, and have I mentioned how happy I was that Steve Sarkisian's drinking problem came to a head at USC, not when he coached the Huskies? All in all, I'd say trading Sarkisian for Petersen was a great move.

When the AP poll comes out, if Washington is ranked (and they probably will be), I'll post again. College football starts September 3rd. I can hardly wait.

My Morning Routine

And back to the 30-day blogging challenge (that I'm doing in approximately 30 weeks).

Today's prompt is "Your Morning Routine."

Well, since I don't have a day job, my mornings are rarely routine. I can wake up anywhere from 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM (although it's rare to sleep that late).

First thing I do is fire up the computer to do some promotional work for my publisher. Then I set up tweets for Twitter for the day. I use TweetDeck which allows you to schedule tweets.

Then I go take a shower and wake up my wife if she's still asleep (she usually is). Unless it's before 8:00 AM, otherwise I let her sleep. Unless we need to be someplace, then I'll wake her up earlier.

If I get up early enough, I'll watch something on Netflix streaming.

When my wife gets up, she makes breakfast and then she goes and showers. Then we go to Starbucks. Yes, every day. Yes, I know what that costs. But it's fun to people watch and frankly, I need to get out of the house or I go stir crazy.

After Starbucks, we come home and then I head for my office to write, promote, or whatever needs to be done that day.

And that's it. Not too interesting, I know.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Dan O'Brien and Birgitte Rasine

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Dan O'Brien and Birgitte Rasine.
Dan O'Brien

Dan O’Brien has written over 50 books––including the bestselling Bitten, which was featured on Conversations Book Club’s Top 100 novels of 2012. Before starting Amalgam, he was the senior editor and marketing director for an international magazine. In addition, he has spent over a decade in the publishing industry as a freelance editor. You can learn more about his literary and publishing consulting business by visiting his website at: www.amalgamconsulting.com.

Dan's Books:

Sixth Prime 

Little Artisan

Mobsters, Monsters & Nazis

Dan's Links:

Website/Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Birgitte Rasine

Birgitte RasineBirgitte Rasine is an award-winning author, journalist, producer, and entrepreneur whose work marries sustainability with storytelling, mobile apps with print books, and art with technology. She is the author of numerous literary works and articles, and has spoken on topics ranging from media to sustainability on three continents. Birgitte’s books and mobile apps have been recognized by design and publishing awards and honors from organizations such as the Eric Hoffer Award, International Academy of Visual Arts in Los Angeles, Press 53, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

A former journalist and screenwriter for the Hollywood film industry, Birgitte holds a BA in Film Aesthetics from Stanford University, studied cinematography in Los Angeles, and completed a international relations program in Spanish in Madrid, Spain.  A member of various literary and professional organizations including the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the California Health Medical Reserve Corps (CH-MRC), among others, she lives in Northern California with her family. Her web site is www.birgitterasine.com.

Birgitte's Books:

The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree 

Tsunami: Images of Resilience (Photography)

The Visionary

Birgitte's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

From today's show: Dark Matter is Still Dark.

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

My Zodiac Sign

Back to the 30-day blogging challenge I'm doing over (about) 30 weeks. Today's prompt is "Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits you."

Well, there's a problem. I don't believe in astrology. But I'll play along.

According to this website, I'm a Cancer. And they list a whole bunch of traits for Cancer, some of which seem to apply.

But here's the thing: I don't believe a bit of it. Watch this:


There is no way, scientifically speaking the stars, which are trillions of miles away in the case of the closest ones, are having any effect upon a human on Earth. And the planets which are millions of miles away, can't have any effect, either. Now it says my "ruling planet" is the moon. Admittedly, the moon is a lot closer than the planets (only 238,900 miles or so). The moon does exert gravitational forces on Earth strong enough to cause tides (so does the sun). But there has never been found scientifically an effect on humans from the moon, let alone the other planets which are much farther away.

So do I think Cancer applies to me? Perhaps a little. But if I randomly chose another astrological sign, it would probably apply to me a little, too.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Channing Whitaker and Katherine Wynter

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Channing Whitaker and Katherine Wynter.
Channing WhitakerChanning Whitaker

Channing Whitaker is a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker originally hailing from Centerville, Iowa. An alum of Indian Hills Community College, Channing went on to study cinema, screenwriting, literature, and mathematics at the University of Iowa.

Post graduation, Channing began his career in the production of television news, independent films, and commercial videos, as well as to write for websites, corporate media, and advertising. His 10-year career in writing has taken Channing from Iowa, to Alaska, Oklahoma, and currently to Texas.
Channing has written five feature-length screenplays, co-written another feature screenplay, and penned a novel. In that time, Channing has also written and directed over 50 short films.

The April 2015 publication of Channing's debut novel, Until the Sun Rises – One Night in Drake Mansion, comes in tandem with the first production of one of Channing’s feature screenplays, “KILD TV” - a horror mystery. “KILD TV” has already filmed, and will premier in March 2016 release.

Channing's Book:

Until the Sun Rises – One Night in Drake Mansion

Channing's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook

Katherine WynterKatherine Wynter

An accomplished master of her craft, Katherine Wynter builds fantasy worlds peopled with believable characters and complex cultures. Her original, dark works are captivating. Think you’ve read all there is to read about monsters and demons? Think again. Wynter deftly walks the razor’s edge between fact and fiction to produce fantastic works that are riveting, compelling, and, above all, believable.

Katherine's Books

Blackout II: Rise of the Nano

Keeper Chronicles: Awakening 


Reaper Legacy: Hunt for the Lost Raven

Katherine's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest

From Today's Show: First Water Found Outside Our Solar System

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

Music

And we're back with the 30 day blogging challenge (that I'm doing in approximately 30 weeks). Today it says: "Put your music player on shuffle and write the first three songs that play and what your initial thought is." I assume, initial thought about the song.  Okay, here goes:

(By the way, my "music player" is my iPhone. and with the advent of Apple Music, I'm having a very hard time doing this. It seems I can't just say "play shuffled songs" through the settings. I'll try Siri. Ah, that worked)

1: Bach: The Goldberg Variations for keyboard BVW 988 "Variation 21 Canone alla Settima"  played by Glenn Gould in 1955.

Thoughts: Well, of course, "Ahhh, Bach." I have found only one piece by Bach I don't enjoy immensely and that's his early work of St. John's Passion. There's a precision and almost mathematical quality to Bach. The Goldberg Variations are no exception.

2: Already Gone by The Eagles. (Yes, my music taste is eclectic.)

Thoughts: Not my favorite Eagles song but still enjoyable. One of their more country-sounding pieces, but it was early in their career when they were a bit more country.

3. When the Whip Comes Down by The Rolling Stones.

Thoughts: Again, not my favorite Stones song but you can hardly go wrong with the Stones. This song is off the Some Girls album, the only Stone album I ever bought because it has a lot of songs I like. The Stones like to add a lot of energy to their music, some of it sexual. Listening to the Stones is an experience. It's not music you'd listen to for relaxation.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with J.D. Horn and Aaron J. Wallace

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers J.D. Horn and Aaron J. Wallace.
J.D. HornJ.D. Horn

J.D. Horn was raised in rural Tennessee and has carried a bit of its red clay with him while traveling the world, from Hollywood to Paris to Tokyo. He studied comparative literature as an undergrad, focusing on French and Russian in particular. J.D. also holds an MBA in international business and worked as a financial analyst before becoming a novelist. Along with his spouse, Rich, and his furry coauthors, Duke and Sugar, J.D. divides his time between Black Butte Ranch, Oregon, and San Francisco, California. Previous titles in the bestselling Witching Savannah series are The Line, The Void and The Source. The latest title in the series, Jilo, is a standalone prequel.

J.D.'s Books:

Jilo

Shivaree

The Void

J.D.'s Links:

Website
Facebook
Twitter


Aaron J. WallaceAaron J. Wallace

I grew up in Australia and I started writing the Millennium Wars series when I was 13 years of age. It was just a short story back then and under a different name. The story was mostly written just for fun amongst friends when we were bored in English or Japanese class. They wrote their own stories and we would read each other’s work.

I didn’t think about publishing until I was 16, when someone recommended that I should. However I didn’t know how and nor did I have the money. After saving enough money and overcoming some frustrating life challenges I was able to publish the book. I was 23 by this time, I had already written 3 books in the series and rewrote the first manuscript several times.

Now that I have a book that I can be proud of and a solid storyline, I have begun rewriting the whole series. To this current date I am about 3 quarters through writing the second book. It’s going to be called The Millennium Wars: Rise of Sion, and it’s going to be about Humanities entrance into the galactic war with the Quelldrowa. The Sinjo build warships, explore new worlds, new alien species with their own story of conflict are introduced and some history of the Millennium War is revealed. That aside, it will also be introducing a few new characters, one of which will be as an anti-hero ally/foe who will play a critical role in the war to come.


Aaron's Book:

The Millennium Wars Alien Incursion

Aaron's Link:

Website

From Today's show: Dark Matter Might be Primordial Black Holes.

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

My Favorite Color . . .Maybe

Back to the 30-day blogging challenge that I'm doing in 30 weeks (approximately). The next prompt is "Your favorite color."

Hell, I'm 56 years old. I'm a little ancient for having a favorite color.

However, having said that, I've always liked white. Not sure why.

And I've always liked red. Not sure why.

But to say I have a favorite? That'd be tough.

So, I don't really have a favorite color. I just like some.

Speculative Fiction Cantina Replay with Cris Pasqueralle and Chana Keefer

Today's Speculative Fiction Cantina is a replay of the show with Cris Pasqueralle and Chana Keefer.

Cris PasqueralleCris Pasqueralle

Author Cris Pasqueralle is a retired NYC police officer who has always dreamed of publishing a novel. His love of fantasy fiction was inspired by his daughters and led to the fulfillment of his dream with The Destiny Trilogy. Cris lives on Long Island NY with his wife and two daughters.

Cris's Books:

Destiny Revealed 

Paths of Destiny

Cris's Links:

Facebook
Twitter

Chana KeeferChana Keefer

Chana Keefer is wife of one, mother of four, and best selling author of four. Though raised in Texas, she and her family reside in southern California with several reptiles and a spoiled Siberian Husky who reminds her how to savor every moment. Chana earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism but decided she really wasn’t that fond of the news. Also, many moons ago, she worked as a model, actress & voice talent. Chana brakes for old barns, hot chocolate chip cookies, classic movies and mind-boggling storm clouds. Her dream vacation is to explore New Zealand on horseback with her family… with Peter Jackson as their personal guide.

Chana's Books:

The Fall (The Rapha Chronicles: Book 1)

Servant of the King: Memoir of Modern Apostle Kemper Crabb

One Night with a Rock Star

Chana's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

From Today's Show: Lasers for Interstellar Travel Could Have Other Uses.

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

Just Keep Writing

Back to the 30-day blogging challenge that I'm doing in 30 weeks (approximately).

The next challenge is "Bullet your whole day." Well, that's too easy:


Get upGo to StarbucksWrite (maybe, see below)NapCall my motherWatch JeopardyGo to bed.So I'll do the next one: A quote I try to live by.  I'm going to cheat a little. The quote I try to live by is
one I made up. It's "Just keep writing." No matter what, if you're a writer, you need to just keep writing. I haven't been living up to that quote very well lately. I don't have writer's block, I just have not been in an emotional place where I want to write. I am stuck in the middle of a novel with no place to go.
But I always tell writers (hypocritically lately) that if they want to write they need to "just keep writing." You might write crap, but a crap first draft beats no first draft every time.
So just keep writing. Or, do as I say, not as I do.