David M. Brown's Blog, page 111

Guest post: David M. Brown – Novelists, Google and the FBI Watch List

No, you're not seeing things, this post is indeed by David M. Brown.  "But, you… you're… he's…" I hear you stammer and you're right I am David M. Brown but so is he!  So, in what we can only consider a Freaky Friday (well, Monday) style blog swap, I'd like to welcome David Mark Brown to the blog and I hope you bid him welcome!

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He's not me! He's him!

As a writer I'm on-line more than I'm asleep. Heck, sometimes I use the internet while I'm asleep. My internet time is like dust particles in the air I breath. Without it there wouldn't be any creative mucous buildup, and therefore nothing spectacular to blow out on the page.

I can't imagine turning back the clock to a time where I'd have to travel far and wide, accessing specialized libraries, to find the minutia I need to make my fictional worlds pop with that certain air of better-than-real-reality. And I'm immensely grateful for the wonder of the world wide web.

But there is a dark side to being a Google-dependent writer. Namely, the FBI watch list. Mind you, no flak-jacket-wearing, 9mm-bristling SWAT team has burst through my door yet. But I dread the day. Why, you may ask, am I so worried about our cherished Federal Bureau of Investigations conducting a raid on my humble office?

In a standard day of research my Google searches may include such items as these (all actual search terms I've used):

~ how to make carbide bomb

Poorly goat (blackberryseeker.com)

~ how to dry and cure marijuana

~ treating colic in goats

~ American Anarchism

~ Reefer madness

~ difference between TNT and dynamite

~ explosive yield for dynamite

~ Ku Klux Klan in Texas

~ surviving zombie apocalypse

~ Lethal dose of muscle relaxant

~ history of flamethrower

I could keep going, but I've probably already alerted a dozen government agencies to flag this post. While I realize not every writer has such a bizarre and potentially-threatening-to-Uncle-Sam list of research topics, I'm sure others could provide even stranger lists. In the case of my books, I guarantee you real life is not stranger than fiction. But to maintain that high level of sensationalism, I have to research some of the stranger, dirtier and uglier aspects of real life. (Tomorrow's task is to figure out how to devise a feasible 1920′s weapon that causes people to combust into human firebombs, but don't blame me. Sure, I created Oleg Rodchenko's character, but he's the evil mastermind.)

So what can a writer do to stay sane and out of a federal detention center while researching for his or her next novel? My answers may not work for everyone, but here they are:

1.) Write books that upon closer inspection are so farcical that you're laughing about it over beers with your arresting officers after they release you.

2.) Do half of your searches from your spouse's computer, or better yet, from a public library.

3.) Sprinkle searches like, "patriotic songs" and "how to bless U.S. troops" throughout the day.

4.) Pay your taxes and put in some candy mints for good measure.

5.) and finally, it doesn't hurt to drink and watch the Simpsons a lot.

If you're still reading at this point, maybe you could help out with my "get out of jail fund" by snagging a copy of Fistful of Reefer from your local ebook distributer for a meager $2.99! And God Bless America!

[image error]Fistful of Reefer is available from Amazon.com amongst other places.  You can find out more about David Mark Brown and his writing  by visiting Reeferpunk and The Green Porch.

Film Review #87: Kemper: The Co-ed Killer

With prices for cinema tickets now reaching ridiculous heights it's not often I will treat myself to a new release unless it's something I simply cannot wait for. Instead, I'm happy to content myself with a cheap DVD or a film on TV which may have slipped through my critical net and, believe me, there have been far too many. Whether the films featured here are recent or old I'll still be providing my honest opinion on them and, with the benefit of hindsight in many cases, may offer a slightly different take to contemporary reviewers.

 

Kemper: The Co-ed Killer (2008)

For all the devastation they cause I do find the stories of serial killers fascinating especially learning how the police caught them. Mrs B taped Rick Bitzelberger's Kemper for me and I will confess I had not heard of the notorious Co-ed Killer who murdered six female hitchhikers in the early seventies and committed horrific acts of mutilation and sexual violence on their bodies. Approaching the film I wasn't sure what to expect.

The film opens with Detective Harris (Christopher Stapleton) investigating two murders. One girl has been murdered at home, her head removed and placed in the microwave while another is found outside and the methods of her killing contrast greatly to the other case. Unbeknownst to the powers that be, Harris has his best friend Ed Kemper (Robert Sisko) on the police payroll, his intelligence having helped solve previous murders. Harris shows Kemper all the evidence he has gathered of the murders and beseeches his friend to help him solve the mystery. Little does Harris know that the brutal murderer of the girls is the very man that his helping him track down the killer.

There is no secret that Kemper is the villain of the piece from the off, that title being a huge giveaway of course, so it's immediately intriguing to have Harris relying on his best friend to piece together a profile of himself. The worrying thing that seems to resonate throughout the film is how stupid the police force seems to be when faced with clues. Early in the film we have an image left by the killer of violence and death with two words written on it that no one seems to decipher. Helping the police, Kemper believes the language to be Native American, throwing the police off the scent of course but watching the film with me was Mrs B who immediately deduced that the writing is backwards! In another instance when Harris knows Kemper is the killer and the latter is in touch frequently with his former friend by phone Kemper makes reference to a love of gardening. Once again Harris is slow to decipher the meaning not realising Kemper is pointing to where the remains of his victims are! I'm pleased to say I worked that one out before the police did!

There are some pretty brutal moments in Kemper even when the violence is implied. As we get to the heart of the man we find him to be a complex but deeply disturbed individual. At a young age he murdered his grandparents with a gun out of curiosity and in the present day he lives with his bullying mother. Inevitably Kemper snaps and kills her. Remaining true to the reality Kemper tries to put his mother's vocal cords down the waste disposal and also uses her head as a dartboard though you'll be pleased to know the only thing we see is the head on the wall and nothing else! Despite Harris pursuing Kemper relentlessly, the murderer shows surprising care and concern for his friend especially when he is taken off the case when knowledge of his previous association with Kemper gets out. When Kemper learns what has happened he abducts a girl and films her pleading to the police for Detective Harris to be reinstated on the Kemper case! The threat works! Kemper has to slip up at some point and one way in which Harris learns his location is quite clever, having been hinted to the audience very early in the film.

For a TV film Mrs B and I didn't think this was too bad. It's rather unpleasant in places but not over the top. Reading more about the real Kemper it's clear that the film is only loosely based on his life. A few features of the real Kemper come through into the film such as the skulls dug up in the garden, their empty sockets pointing towards the Kemper house to which he explains his mother always wanted people to look up to her! Some of the acting isn't spectacular here and a film closer to the facts would have been better but as general viewing I could name many films that are vastly inferior to this.

Kemper is an average film at best with some intriguing moments and memorable conversations between Kemper and Detective Harris. That it is loosely based on the true story does taint the film somewhat but if you want to learn a few things about this notorious murderer then this is a good place to start while we wait to see if Hollywood decides on a bigger budget adaptation of his life.

Verdict: 6/10

Memoirs of a Travelling Tolderian Salesman #6

I've been exploring the world of Elenchera for more than a decade now. Over time I've been privileged to learn of some amazing events:- gods at war, voyages of discovery, near extinction of ancient races, the elevation of magic as the necessity of all, slaves breaking free of their shackles and inventions that changed the world forever. Chronicles of Elenchera are hard to come by with the legendary historian Hawkswood having written the most prized accounts of the Elencheran timelines. In my endless search I did manage to find one book that I have found most useful in sharing something of this very different world.

"Memoirs of a Travelling Tolderian Salesman" was written by a unique individual known as Norman Verne. Who is Norman and where does he come from you might ask. Well, Norman is/was a toldere from the island of Lemanto. Tolderes? You must have heard of them. They're canine headed men, a jovial bunch that love buying and selling, you could say the Del Boy of their world though a little more successful. In 26338 of the Fifteenth Shard Norman Verne became the first travelling tolderian salesman when he boarded a ship and left Lemanto behind, not returning for 79 years. In that time he is said to have travelled throughout Elenchera, visiting familiar lands in the east and the fledgling colonies in the west. I intend to use this blog to share extracts of Norman's journey. This book only covers the early years of his journey but if I happen upon any later instalments you'll be the first to know. Take my hand and let us delve into the world of Elenchera together. 

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1st February 26346

I felt weary after the experience of Ephetona and being back on the road has certainly caught up with me after being stranded for years in Kaluminia. I found an isolated village along the coastline and stayed there for a few weeks, managing to make some good sales. The Ephetonans were fascinated by the goods from Kaluminia which I assured them had magical properties. I was only passing on the words of the Kaluminian merchants. How was I to know that they're not so quick to share their magical secrets!

I eventually decided to move on with the annoying yellow tunic still in tow. It's surprisingly durable given all the years of travelling its enjoyed with me. I keep wanting to discard the damn thing but tolderes don't jettison any goods no matter how ludicrous they may be. From Ephetona I had the option of heading northwest to the Dragon Isles, south to the Cavaller Islands and Glamador or west towards Valadomiar. The latter option seemed the best one.

I wasn't long on the vessel bound for Valadomiar and we docked on the east coast of Legantkia, one of the wealthiest kingdoms in the world.

Legantkia is rich in fabulous architecture, luxurious garments and fine wines. In the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Shards Legantkia rose to prominence following the successful conquests of the Cavaller Islands, Glamador and Zonack by the legendary king, Dionysius. His descendants could not live up to his great name and eventually Legantkia lost control of many of these lands but during its long rule over them the kingdom prospered. Wine from Glamador in particular became Legantkia's staple trade and even today they import the finest wine from the now independent republic of Glamador.

My first destination in Legantkia is easy – Whitegate. The fabulous city with towering white buildings is the capital of Legantkia and the trade here is incredible. It takes only hours to sell the bulk of my goods from Ephetona and Kaluminia though the yellow tunic is frowned upon. Few Legantkians will be interested in garments from outside their kingdom and having obtained some of these for myself it's easy to see why.

In the heart of the city is a statue of King Dionysius himself with his thick beard and four crowns representing his rule over a large portion of East Elenchera. Few monarchs have rivalled Dionysius' achievements though the likes of Ijarnia and Leansja the Great are more than worthy of rubbing shoulders with the Legantkian. The stone statue does not convey the most notable characteristic of the Legantkian people. Their trademark purple hair, that every Legantkian possesses, dates back to the earliest Shards in Elenchera's history but it does nothing to diminish the undoubted fairness of the majority of these people. Dionysius married an elf from Glamador and generations of Legantkian monarchs held the beauty of elves but the heart and stomach for war came from Dionysius. It's hard to know where things went wrong for Legantkia but the kingdom remains magnificent to this day.

Amidst the sea of purple hair can be found a handful of travelling merchants like me and even pilgrims who have journeyed from far and wide to gaze upon the beautiful architecture of Whitegate. The biggest crowds are found at the inns and taverns where Glamadorian wine flows like rivers from mountain peaks. I reward myself for a good day's trading by visiting the nearest inn. It takes me a good half an hour to get my hands on a bottle of wine but it is more than worth the wait. Wine I've tasted previously has been somewhat bitter but this is sweet with an intoxicating scent. The first bottle of wine doesn't last long, even though I'm standing outside the inn with the bottle resting on the window sill between clusters of potted plants. The second bottle of wine isn't as sweet as the first but it relaxes me and I soon feel the early signs of inebriation coming on.

I leave it at two bottles of wine before staggering my way to a quieter inn where I'm lucky to get my hands on the last available room. The timing is perfect because once my head hits the pillow I'm ready to sink into drunken slumber. I wish more days on the road could be like this one but I know that once I reach the western colonies that my path will become ever more gruelling.

More from The World According to Dave

Memoirs of a Travelling Tolderian Salesman #1
Memoirs of a Travelling Tolderian Salesman #4
Memoirs of a Travelling Tolderian Salesman #3

Other reading you may enjoy:

Hey! Neighbour! Leave those cats alone!  (Book Bags and Cat Naps)
Guest Post: Jonathan Gould  (Book Bags and Cat Naps)
Interview with Megan van Eyck, Author of Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress  (tgleichner)
The Digital Serendipity Of A Fortunate Typo  (UncleJeet)

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Dave welcomes… Joel M. Andre and Cry of the Fallen

Today on The World According to Dave I'm pleased to welcome Joel M. Andre, author of Cry of the Fallen.

Cry of the Fallen: About the author

Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry.

Between the years of 1999 and 2007 Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection, Pray the Rain Never Ends.

Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark tongue in cheek A Death at the North Pole created a dark world among the death of Kris Kringle. Subsequent works included the novel Kill 4 Me (2008), the fantasy series Pentacle of Light and the return of Lauren Bruni, heroine of A Death at the North Pole, in The Return (2009).

Currently, Joel resides in Chandler, Arizona.

Amazon.com WidgetsCry of the Fallen: About the book

All around her Lauren Bruni is faced with destruction. Her marriage has ended, and her professional life is at the breaking point. For Lauren, this is only the beginning of her pain.

In the small town of Cottonwood, AZ everything seems to be headed in the same direction. A serial killer is on the loose, and his trail of victims holds no connection. His rampage escalates and becomes far more brutal with each murder he commits.

As Lauren attempts to prevent her own life from collapsing down around her she must stop a killer with supernatural strength. But there is something far more sinister in the works than she could ever imagine. In the end it is up to Lauren to make the ultimate sacrifice to save a community from the purest form of evil.

Cry of the Fallen: Review

Cry of the Fallen is a paranormal thriller with a ballsy (understatement!) female lead character who has an awful lot on her plate.  Her husband has left her, taking her daughter, the town she lives in is facing the onslaught of a vicious serial killer and she seems to annoy people wherever she goes.

As Lauren takes on the evil attacking Cottonwood, it becomes apparent that this goes far beyond a psychotic killer and that, in fact, this sleepy town in Arizona is caught up in a battle between good and evil.

There are some genuinely chilling moments in Cry of the Fallen and some truly unnerving lines including "I can smell your living flesh" and "I have come to dispose of the Madness next to you".  There are also moments of dark and macabre amusement, notably captured in a scene which sees one character having a tea party with two corpses!  Joel M. Andre can certainly paint a frightening picture and conjure up nightmarish characters.

However, that does not mean that the book is without its weaknesses.  At times there appear to be inconsistencies or irregularities in the actions of the characters.  For example, one character suffers the loss of a family member and Lauren's response is to take him to a diner for some food!  Similarly, at times dialogue can feel a little stilted.  At these moments it seems that these are weak links holding an otherwise fine story together but that being said, in books, as in life, there are always weak links and for the most part stories continue to run along smoothly.

If there is one area that is more difficult to overlook it is the way in which Joel M. Andre deals with the mental health of one of the characters.  This character displays some erratic and deeply disturbing behaviour and it is stated that people protested against her hiring originally due to a nervous breakdown she suffered when she was in college.  She is described as "A woman with only a thread of sanity…".  There is no doubt that the character portrayed in Cry of the Fallen is insane but the implication that she was always just one step away from insanity because she had had a nervous breakdown previously has the potential to upset a number of people, particularly with the suggestion that hiring someone who had been in that position would be a mistake.  I appreciate the turn the author has taken with the  story here but it has certainly led to shaky ground.

Nonetheless, it would be extreme  to condemn a book on the basis of two or three paragraphs and it doesn't detract from the fact that this is an entertaining story.  Lauren is certainly the strongest character and her no-nonsense attitude sees her deliver some excellent put downs.  Joel M. Andre has also given the killer some memorable lines too, including the unforgettable 'Don't f**k with my boots'.  The use of dark humour to take the edge off some graphic and  violent scenes ensures the book never becomes too heavy.

Cry of the Fallen ends quite abruptly but in a way that suggests either that there will be more to come or that you have to draw your own conclusions.  It would be nice to see more of the fearless Detective Bruni.  It's a relatively short read and potentially lengthening it a bit could help reduce that awkward feeling in some areas, not to mention give readers a chance to see Lauren bust a few more balls.  I would certainly keep an eye out for future works from the author and hope that Lauren Bruni becomes a more regular addition to our bookstores.

Title: The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen

Author: Joel M. Andre

Reviewed by Donna Brown

Source: Received as a review copy as part  of the Partners in Crime Tour

Amazon page    Goodreads page

Verdict: 3/5

More from The World According to Dave

Game Review #6: The Secret of Monkey Island
Game Review #26: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Film Review #60: The Fox and the Child

Other reading you may enjoy:

Hey! Neighbour! Leave those cats alone!  (Book Bags and Cat Naps)
Guest Post: Jonathan Gould  (Book Bags and Cat Naps)
"Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor" by Willow Book Spotlight  (tgleichner)
The Bat and Penguin Enclosure by Chris Wardle, author of "The Lighthouse of Mr. Tin Fish" « Review From Here  (tgleichner)

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Guest Post: Jonathan Gould

What can I say about today's guest blog? Well, it comes from Jonathan Gould, author of Doodling, and his amusing guest post takes a very different approach to what you may have read before. Over to you, Jonathan, and may I bid you a very warm welcome to The World According to Dave. Don't forget to check out the links to Doodling at the end of the blog. Whoops! Sorry, Jonathan, don't think I was supposed to tell them that was I? Thanks for a terrific post. 

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Five Reasons Why You Shouldn't Buy My Book

When David invited me to make a guest post, I had to think a bit about what I actually wanted to say. After seeing the number of writers who are out there trying to plug their books, I figured that the last thing you want to read is another one of them. And that's why today I've decided to take the opposite tack. This post will be a reverse-plug, a "gulp" if you like. I'm going to list out the top 5 reasons why you shouldn't buy my book.

1. You've never heard of me

Who the hell is Jonathan Gould I hear you saying. I'm nobody. I'm not the least bit famous. I'm not an actor, or a supermodel or a sporting hero. And even worse, I've never been involved in any kind of financial scandal, or caught in a hotel room with someone who I definitely shouldn't be with. So why on earth would you want to read anything by someone who lacks any of those kinds of authorly credentials?

2. It's not about a boy wizard

Yes I know, it seems that all the most popular books these days are about boy wizards. So what was I thinking, trying to write a story that didn't feature one? Call me crazy. I don't know what came over me.

3. There are no vampires

Obviously if a book isn't about a boy wizard, it at least has to have a bunch of vampires in it. Again I have to plead guilty. Vampires are not my favourite topic. To be honest, the whole bloodsucker thing makes me feel a bit squeamish. So no boy wizards and no vampires either.

4. It's not part of a series

I've tried, really I have. I guess when it comes down to it, I just don't have the attention span. When I get an idea for a story, it tends to come out short and sweet and complete. I'm not really into spinning things out and out and out. Once I've worked the idea to its natural length, I'm happy to move on. I know it's a failing but what can I say?

5. It's kind of silly

And not just slightly silly. We're talking really silly. Like defying all the basic, natural rules of the world type silly. The characters are silly. The plot is silly. The basic premise is silly. It's just utterly silly in all regards.

So there you have it. If you don't want to read a story that's written by nobody you've heard of, has no boy wizards or vampires, is not part of a series and is very silly, then please don't go and buy my book.

 

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Jonathan Gould is a Melbourne-based writer and doodler.

He calls his stories "dag-lit" because they're the sort of stories that don't easily fit into the standard genres. Some might think of them as comic fantasies, or modern fairytales for the young and the young-at-heart.

Over the years, his writing has been compared to Douglas Adams, Monty Python, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, the Goons and even Enid Blyton (in a good way).

His book is available for you not to buy at:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KSQVCO

Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doodling-ebook/dp/B004KSQVCO

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/41101

And if you're really committed, you can also choose not to view:

His blog: http://daglit.blogspot.com

His Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jonathan-Gould/147032725376330

You can also not follow him on Twitter: jonno_go

Film Review #86: The Client

With prices for cinema tickets now reaching ridiculous heights it's not often I will treat myself to a new release unless it's something I simply cannot wait for. Instead, I'm happy to content myself with a cheap DVD or a film on TV which may have slipped through my critical net and, believe me, there have been far too many. Whether the films featured here are recent or old I'll still be providing my honest opinion on them and, with the benefit of hindsight in many cases, may offer a slightly different take to contemporary reviewers.

 

The Client (1994)

Joel Schumacher's legal drama, based on the novel by John Grisham, is less about the courtroom and more about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Central to the film is a young boy whose life is changed forever when he witnesses the suicide of a lawyer who reveals some very telling information before his demise.

The film begins with a poor family comprised of Dianne Sway (Mary-Louise Parker) and her two sons Mark (Brad Renfro) and Ricky (David Speck). While their mother is at work the two boys go to the nearby woods and encounter a suited man named Jerome Clifford (Walter Olkewicz) in a car who has rigged a hose from the exhaust into the driver's seat. Mark removes the hose to save Jerome's life but is caught and dragged into the car. Jerome reveals he knows the location of a body and if he doesn't kill himself the murderer Barry Muldano (Anthony LaPaglia) will. Mark manages to escape having been told where the body of Boyd Boyett is and although Jerome gives chase he soon shoots himself. Ricky is left traumatised by the experience while Mark falls under suspicion after claiming he and his brother happened upon Jerome's body. When the police search the scene they find evidence Mark was in the car but he refuses to talk to anyone about what he heard. US Attorney Roy Foltrigg (Tommy Lee Jones), who always seemingly has a posse of men glued to him, is running for Governor and working on the case of Boyd Boyett's murder. Foltrigg becomes obsessed with getting Mark to court to reveal everything that Jerome Clifford told him. Mark heads to the law firm to speak with Foltrigg but meets lawyer Regina Love (Susan Sarandon) who takes an interest in his case and represents him when Foltrigg and his men use less than legal tactics to get information out of Mark. With Foltrigg and Love fighting over Mark, the boy has the added complication of Barry Muldano who wants to silence him to protect himself.

That plot summary alone should tell you there is a lot that happens in this film. It begins well with the two brothers Mark and Ricky encountering Jerome Clifford. Ricky stays hidden but Mark ends up in the car with the lawyer who brandishes a gun and threatens to kill them both. After Jerome's death, Mark is found hiding at the scene just curious about what will happen next but his story doesn't fool the police. At the hospital where is traumatised brother is being treated, Mark is tricked by a police officer who buys him a drink then takes the can as evidence with Mark's fingerprints on it! Worse follows when Barry Muldano's uncle orders his nephew to move the body of Boyd Boyett before hiring a hit man, Rocky, to deal with the two boys who surely know too much. Rocky initially has another man sent to the hospital who poses as a family member of a patient and manages to sweet talk Mark into giving him information before Mark realises something is amiss. Mark is then confronted by Rocky in a hospital elevator and told to keep quiet or face the consequences. When Mark's mother later loses her job and the family have their house burnt down the situation becomes ever more perilous.

A key relationship in the film is that of Mark and Regina. Mark is initially sceptical of her credentials what with her being a woman but she shows impressive strength on many an occasion. In a wonderful scene Mark meets with Foltrigg and his men and he asks them if he needs a lawyer and they tell him no. Growing impatient Foltrigg's men demand the location of the body before Mark excuses himself to go to the bathroom. Regina then walks in accusing the men of unlawful interrogation which they deny until she produces a recording of their conversation. Regina takes on the room full of men with some style before Foltrigg stoops very low by revealing to Mark that his lawyer has a history of drug and alcohol abuse and is estranged from her children. Mark's faith in Regina is quickly destroyed but with his life in danger the two are drawn together and they remove all barriers and are honest with each other, though the secrets Mark carries take longer to unburden. Though Regina wants Mark to tell the truth she supports his desire not to go to court what with his family under threat. With Foltrigg applying the pressure and Barry Muldano watching carefully there seems to be no way out for Mark.

The Client doesn't rely heavily on drama in the courtroom which suits the storyline a lot better. Mark wants to stay away from court and even when he ends up there he and Regina manage to slip through Foltrigg's grasp and he is left frustrated once more. As resourceful as Mark is he needs Regina to get him through this very difficult ordeal and their relationship becomes almost like mother and son by the end making the film's conclusion even more poignant if a little sentimental. Saranadon is great as the strong-willed but troubled Regina who is haunted by her past. Jones is delightfully bullying and ambitious as Foltrigg and you'll welcome every occasion his plans are scuppered. Renfro is also good as Mark whose intelligence and cunning belie his young years; he is a born survivor living by his instincts.

The Client is an effective thriller beginning with a difficult but fascinating encounter between Mark and Jerome before adding layers of complexity as multiple parties become interested in the boy for very different reasons. Less about the action in the courtroom and more about a cat and mouse chase this should provide good entertainment for many audiences.

Verdict: 8/10

Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour: Fame or Fortune… Which would you prefer?

Thanks for joining me!  I hope you've hopped on over here from Scattered Musings of a Creative Mind, a very lovely site I'm sure you'll agree.  This week I'm partaking in the Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour #7, looking at fame and fortune and which I'd prefer.  Phew, difficult question but  I'll  do my best…

Without doubt both fame and fortune have their downfalls, although they may not immediately be evident. Who wouldn't want to be recognised and cheered, asked for their autograph? Who wouldn't want an obscene amount of money in the bank and three holiday homes?

Well, I wouldn't – it  just isn't me.  I'm a homebody with modest tastes.  I wouldn't know what to do with obscene amounts of money and I wouldn't know how to behave at fancy parties.  So this is definitely a tricky question!

As an author I don't expect to appear on the cover of Hello or move into a penthouse apartment and that's absolutely fine. However, now I've published my first novel, it's become clear to me that my pursuit would be more for fame.

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Don't get me wrong, I don't expect the name 'David M. Brown' to stand out or remain in people's memories (after all, I've hardly got an uncommon name!) but I've realised how much I enjoy knowing that a reader has enjoyed my novel. Every time I receive a nice comment or a positive review, I feel a huge sense of achievement.

Two years' ago our household income was almost double what it is today and we were miserable as sin. When we changed our jobs and began pursuing other avenues, money was tighter and our lifestyle had to change but without doubt we were substantially happier.  It made me realise, you might not be able to buy happiness but sometimes it seems possible to sell it.  Sure, I'd love a house in the country and plenty of room for our rescue cats to go crazy. But not at the cost of happiness.

So, I suppose if I had to choose, I'd go for fame. Perhaps for my writing, rather than for me. I'd go for fame because bringing a little enjoyment or entertainment to others makes me happy and happiness, I've realised, is the most valuable currency.

To continue on this tour (please do!), you can visit Stop 3: Stuart Aken's blog.  Don't forget to leave me a comment before you leave and tell me which you'd prefer: Fame or Fortune.

Dave's Jukebox #11: San Francisco

Many of us at some stage will have had that hypothetical question about if you were stuck on a desert island what would you take with you. In a similar vein I will be sharing all the songs that I would put in my own personal jukebox, not necessarily to take to a desert island, you understand, but just the many songs that would make me sad should I never hear them again. In order to make things a little interesting I'm going to permit myself just one song from each group or singer, which will be something of a test but one I'll embrace. I hope you enjoy some of my choices and would be intrigued to hear selections from your own personal jukebox, these days MP3s or Ipods, but I'm sure you'll forgive me on this occasion.

 

Scott McKenzie – San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) (1967)

Released in the UK in July 1967, Scott McKenzie's memorable hit topped the charts in many countries and is said to have inspired young people to flock to San Francisco in the late sixties. Whenever I hear the song it makes me think of that unique decade and the many events that took place in a time I was sadly not a part of being a child of the eighties and all. In Withnail & I the drug dealer, Danny, describes the sixties as "the greatest decade in the history of mankind" and Mckenzie's song adds weight to that argument.

The song was released to promote the Monterey Pop Festival where the likes of The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Otis Redding all performed to massive crowds. The song is very simple in its depictions of change in the air as flower-haired people flock to San Francisco where there is no violence only "gentle people." The flower-haired people are obviously hippies and I know 1967 was a big year for many reasons not least the Summer of Love where the Hippie Movement was most prevalent in San Francisco. Music, poetry, drug-taking and casual sex were the by-products that challenged many of the social norms at the time. There were many changes in the sixties and though the Summer of Love did come to an end I think its legacy lives on.

Scott McKenzie's song makes me wish I had lived in the sixties, been a teenager back then, and witnessed many of the life-changing moments not least some of the great music such as The Beatles and The Doors. The peaceful Hippie Movement grew strong at a time when the U.S. was fighting a fierce war in Vietnam, key political figures were assassinated and the Cold War had reached frightening heights earlier in the decade with the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). Massive crowds demanded change, to "Give peace a chance" and many musicians were caught up in the frenzy including The Beatles who were a far cry from their days of I Want To Hold Your Hand and Can't Buy Me Love and so too was their groundbreaking music. McKenzie's song has lived on while the sixties ended. The U.S. war in Vietnam was resolved in the seventies, musicians such as Hendrix (1970), Joplin (1970) and Morrison (1971) tragically went to early graves with the passing of the sixties and the seventies was never going to be as innovative as its predecessor. It must have been an amazing time to be alive but at least with McKenzie's song the spirit of that decade lives on.

Guest post – Donna Brown: UK rioters – What the world owes you…

BBC image: UK riots, August 2011

We've seen some shocking footage in recent days that has appalled, outraged, saddened and stunned us all.  Or most of us.  There seems to be a tiny minority of people in this country who believe their behaviour is acceptable, justified and worthwhile.  Their justification?  No jobs, no youth clubs, nothing to do.  A disenchanted, disillusioned, disenfranchised youth.

Oh poor babies.  It almost makes your heart melt.  Except they fail to add that they are no more or less well off than any previous generation.  I am now old enough to have my own children (although I don't).  When I was their age I didn't have a youth club to attend, there wasn't much to do out and about.  I didn't resort to yobbish behaviour, assaulting people, swearing, being intimidating and I certainly never resorted to looting or stealing.

Several years ago I was taking a bus home, reading a book and minding my own business.  Three girls began to jeer at me, grabbing at my hat and book.  Their problem with me was simply this: I was reading.  Have our young people lost so much imagination that the idea of reading a book seems laughable?  That instead vandalism, assault and robbery would seem a much better way to spend their time?

Someone said, "If you treat them like scum, is it any wonder they behave like scum?".  There doesn't seem to be any evidence to support the idea that these are fine upstanding youths that have simply been misunderstood.  The fact is, whilst people may argue that the cause of the riots has many origins, including a lack of opportunities for young people, the behaviour of a minority in this country has been degenerating for years.

All I can say is if you still stand up for your actions, if you still think they are justified, if you still think your 'poor, misunderstood kids' are being judged unfairly then do this for me: visit your grandparents/great grandparents and tell them – with pride - of your achievements.  Tell them – with pride - how you destroyed buildings that survived the war they fought in.  Tell them - with pride - how you have left people without homes, jobs and living in fear.  If you can still leave with pride I would be very surprised.

People make their way in this world through hard work, respect and sheer determination.  If you can't stomach the 'unfair' life this country provides, take a trip to Africa.  Looting for trainers because you're having a rough time?  Give me a break.  People are starving and still behave with much more dignity, grace and self-respect.

What the world owes you? Nothing.

Film Review #85: Black Death

With prices for cinema tickets now reaching ridiculous heights it's not often I will treat myself to a new release unless it's something I simply cannot wait for. Instead, I'm happy to content myself with a cheap DVD or a film on TV which may have slipped through my critical net and, believe me, there have been far too many. Whether the films featured here are recent or old I'll still be providing my honest opinion on them and, with the benefit of hindsight in many cases, may offer a slightly different take to contemporary reviewers.

 

Black Death (2010)

The last few films I've reviewed have been about diseases and viruses and Christopher Smith's Black Death is no different. Based in the 14th century and focussing on the deadly plague that ravaged Europe, the film tells one tale amidst the devastation involving bloodthirsty mercenaries and pious monks but is it any good?

Set in 1348 when the Black Death first struck, England has been brought to its knees by the disease and a young monk Osmund (Eddie Redmayne) beseeches Averill (Kimberley Nixon) to flee the town and find sanctuary in the woods. Osmund and Averill have fallen in love and the film hints they may have slept together when Averill tells the monk "he has already betrayed God." Averill asks for Osmund to come with her and tells him she will wait in the woods for a week before leaving forever. Osmund stays at the monastery and waits for a sign from God. This comes in the form of a band of soldiers led by Ulric (Sean Bean) who have heard tale of a village where the Black Death has had no impact and they need a guide to lead them there in search of a necromancer that can bring the dead back to life. Osmund decides to lead the group but the journey to the village is a dangerous one but nothing compared to what awaits the men at the village.

Black Death doesn't rely on any fancy CGI effects to depict the plague or anything else and chooses to convey a very believable Medieval England and leaves nothing to the imagination with the relentless advance of the plague. Amidst this pandemic we have Osmund who is a man of God but having fallen in love with Averill and possibly slept with her he has betrayed his religion. Averill sees no sense in him staying at the monastery and wants the two of them to flee and be together but Osmund is torn. He sends his love away believing she'll find sanctuary in the forest but not realising what dangers await there. The arrival of Ulric and his soldiers is the sign Osmund needs to leave the monastery and buy himself time deciding what to do about Averill. By good fortune the way to the remote village that Ulric seeks is through the same forest where Averill awaits but when Osmund gets to their designated meeting spot he finds bloodied clothing but no sign of his love. The men are attacked by bandits in the forest with not all surviving the encounter and even Osmund being wounded for his troubles before getting a firm reprimand from Ulric who is senior amongst his men in his piety. The soldiers are battle-hardened having fought for Edward III in the Hundred Years War in France with one of the group recounting to Osmund the mass slaughter at the Battle of Crecy (1346), a shameful descent into violence that went beyond the battlefield.

The film is intriguing from the start but becomes even more fascinating when the group reach the remote village and find the rumours to be true – no one is infected with the plague and everything seems to be thriving. The village leader Hob (Tim McInnerny) is more than welcoming when Ulric insists the men are passing through and need shelter for the night. A mysterious woman Langiva (Carice van Houten) emerges as a prominent figure and takes a shine to Osmund who is wary of her advances. However, the friendly countenance of the villagers is revealed to be a clever facade when Langiva takes Osmund to the body of his love Averill before later inviting him to a ceremony where the girl is recovered from her burial place and brought back to life! Worse is to follow for Ulric and his men who are drinking and feasting with the locals, with some enjoying the company of the village women before all become disorientated and collapse having been drugged. The group all awake the following day in a cage with their lower bodies submerged in water while the gathered villagers have a few home truths for them.

Black Death seemingly ends quite abruptly but has a shocking twist at the end and a surprisingly dark conclusion. This is not a film where good prevails over evil but one where men's hearts are blackened and corrupted with even the pious Osmund pushed to the limits. The settings in the film are very good and it has a real feel of Medieval history about it. The cast are all good with Redmayne going through some terrific changes as Osmund while Bean is better and more convincing in this than he was in The Lord of the Rings. I had my suspicions about what was going on in the remote village but was proved completely wrong. That final twist is hard to predict and is a great way to round off what has been a good film though the final segment leading up to the credits will leave you stunned despite the ambiguity.

I had initially worried that Black Death wouldn't be particularly good but it settles quickly and while not a masterpiece of historical drama this is still an accomplished effort. With a decent cast, great settings, some gory moments and a terrific twist at the end this is well worth a look.

Verdict: 8/10