David M. Brown's Blog, page 86
October 11, 2012
#FlashFiveFriday – Dog
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This month Mr B and I are taking part in #FlashFiveFriday run by The Indie Exchange.
#FlashFiveFriday is a weekly flash fiction / flash blogging prompt.
The rules are very simple if you’d like to take part:
1) Write for no longer than five minutes
2) No upper or lower word limits
3) You must write something new
4) You can prepare your post ahead of time but the 5 minute limit still applies
5) If you add your blog post to the weekly linky you must visit five other blogs that week too to show your support
This week’s #FlashFiveFriday post
#FlashFiveFriday – Dog
Dave
I come from a family of dog lovers. Growing up there was my mother’s dog, Suzy, and my grandmother also had a dog, Tina, who had followed my mum home one day and they took her in. Tina lived to the grand age of 17, while Suzy was 12 when she had to be put down.
I’ve never owned a dog myself. It took my mum years to get over Suzy and she eventually took in a new dog – Shelley – who is still with her today. When I was at university my brother and his then fiancé took in a Jack Russell named Miles. They had him from a puppy and he is still going strong today though has a new home now!
When my brother and his girlfriend split up, he moved back to live with my mum and brought Miles with him. Eventually my brother found his own place but by then Miles had settled well in a new home, got on really well with Shelley and ended up staying there.
Prior to owning Shelley and Miles my mother had become very house proud. Visiting her was like going to a museum, while holding a steaming cup of tea was akin to walking a tightrope. Two dogs later and the house is still pristine but a spill here, a torn piece of carpet there, don’t matter so much. We make great exceptions when it comes to dogs it seems.
As for me, I swapped dogs for six cats, but that’s another story.
Donna
I know there’s a belief that you’re either a dog person or a cat person but I believe you can be both. I love cats but I’m very smitten with dogs too. But I do believe they are very different types of creatures with very different temperaments, not to mention needs, body language, ways of communicating.
We’re a cat heavy household now. I’ve been accused of being obsessed with cats and whilst it’s true I do love them, I’m definitely not obsessed. I just saw creatures in need and wanted to help as many as we could. We pushed our helping boundaries to the absolute limit and now I have to accept that – until we win the lottery at least – there are no more.
Would I like a dog to add to this merry menagerie? Part of me recalls our friend’s beautiful Dachshund. He copes perfectly well amidst Rottweilers and Afghans – surely he’d cope amidst cats? But then I remember that what cats lack in brawn they make up for in cunning. I suspect little George is a little too sweet for our madcap moggies!
No dog for us – but cats enough!
Related articles (external)
#FlashFiveFriday on The Indie Exchange: Date
#FlashFiveFriday: #9 – Date
The Indie Exchange #FlashFiveFriday: Date
FlashFiveFriday: Date
#FlashFiveFriday Dating
#FlashFiveFriday – Dog | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Readalong: Thoughts on Anderson O’Donnell’s ‘Kingdom’
The Indie Exchange is running a readalong of Anderson O’Donnell’s Kingdom this month. Here I share my thoughts as I reach the halfway mark…
I do love a good dystopian novel such as 1984 or Fahrenheit 451 and Anderson O’Donnell’s Kingdom, the first in the Tiber City trilogy, is looking to brush shoulders with the giants of this field.
So far the story has been very detailed with the degradation of Tiber City well conveyed in O’Donnell’s intricate descriptions. There are two main characters which the narrative switches between.
Campbell, formerly involved in secret gene experiments known as Project Exodus, has now hooked up with the Order of Neshamah, holy men that have embraced science as a means of further spiritual enlightenment. I’m not sure about Campbell at this stage. He clearly shows remorse for his dealings with Morrison Biotech that spearheaded Project Exodus but I’m still wary of him.
The other character of interest is Dylan, the son of a Senator that has committed suicide and a mother who has been destroyed by the experience. Dylan began the novel as a character that wasn’t the most appealing, enjoying the luxuries of drugs, sex and alcohol, living
the fast life. The emergence of a presidential candidate that looks similar to his father has led to him investigating an intriguing
mystery. Letters from Dylan’s late father to his son only serve to enhance the puzzle.
I’m speculating about links between Campbell and Dylan at this stage and am hoping for many answers before the end. While I am warming to the characters with each page it is Tiber City that remains the most vivid in my mind. Set only a few years from now,
Kingdom’s main city is one that has descended into chaos and madness through human traits alone rather than apocalyptic wars.
I’m intrigued to find out how the rest of story unfolds.
About Kingdom (2012)
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In a secret laboratory hidden under the desert, a covert bioengineering project—codename “Exodus”—has discovered the gene responsible for the human soul. Somewhere in the neon sprawl outside the nation’s collapsing economic core, a group of renegade monks are on the verge of uncovering a secret that has eluded mankind for centuries.
In a glittering tower high above the urban decay, an ascendant U.S. Senator is found dead—an apparent, yet inexplicable, suicide.
And in the streets below, a young man races through an ultra modern metropolis on the verge of a violent revolution….closing in on the terrible truth behind Exodus—and one man’s dark vision for the future of mankind.
Readalong: Thoughts on Anderson O’Donnell’s ‘Kingdom’ | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Launch Party: Millicent Marie Is Not My Name – Karen Pokras Toz
Today is the day – the official launch of Millicent Marie is NOT my Name by Karen Pokras Toz! We’re very excited at Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave because Karen is a fab person to know and a really ‘hands on, get involved, support others’ kind of authors. The kind we love!
To kick things off you are invited to a Twitter Party. Join award winning children’s author Karen Pokras Toz at 10 am, 11, am, and Noon EST and then again at 10 pm, 11 pm, and Midnight EST for 30 minutes of chatting, fun, and prizes.
Join us at the #MillicentMarie TweetChat room – you’ll need to login with your Twitter account but then you’ll see all relevant tweets and it’ll add the hashtag for you, leave you to focus on the chat.
The Twitter Party is just the beginning of the fun. Karen will be on tour for the next 21 days. Check out the . Follow the tour on too and don’t forget to check out Millie’s blog.
About Millicent Marie Is Not My Name (2012)
Twelve-year-old Millicent Marie does not like her name. After all, she was named for a woman who died more than fifty years ago and was not the most loveable member of the Harris family. Her friends call her Millie, but when she writes in her diary she refers to herself as Amanda – the name she always wished she had.
When Millie’s younger brother finds her diary on her computer, he decides to publish it as a blog for the entire world to see, including the boy Millie has a crush on. In the midst of all the mayhem, Millie/Amanda discovers she is suddenly Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist.
But not all is fun and games, as Millie quickly learns, once she realizes feelings are at stake. Nobody, least of all Millie, expects things to turn out as they do in this tale of friendship and respect.
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About Karen Pokras Toz
Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife and mom. Karen grew up in Connecticut and currently lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three children. In June 2011, Karen published her first middle grade children’s novel for 7-12 year olds called Nate Rocks the World, which won First Place for Children’s Chapter Books and the Grand Prize Overall in the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, as well as placing first for a Global E-Book Award for Pre-Teen Literature. In 2012, Karen published the second in the Nate Rocks series, Nate Rocks the Boat, followed by middle grade novel, Millicent Marie Is Not My Name. Karen is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
Related articles (external)
Kid Reads: Nate Rocks the World
Kick Off for the Millicent Marie Tour!
Kid Who Reads: Nate Rocks the Boat
| Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
October 10, 2012
Guest Post: On My Writing Process – John J. Archer
We’re delighted to welcome John J. Archer, author of Like a Suicide. John joins us today to share his thoughts so far on the writing process. Over to you, John.
On My Writing Process
Quick Background on How I Got Here
When I was eight years old, I remember being asked by an Uncle of mine what I wanted to be when I grew up. My answer was simple and succinct. “A writer” I replied, without the slightest hint of hesitation. Looking back I wonder what made me so confident at the time.
I also often ponder what made me lose that dream for years (between the ages of ten and twenty I wrote nothing and chose to take a more ‘realistic’ career path, in Law no less.
When I dropped out of Law school a full year and a half in, it was the best decision I ever made in my life. Not that it seemed like that at the time. I think I was the first person in our family to ‘drop’ out of college. (Not sure if it’s true but I’ll take my families word for it.) The next couple of years were a grind as I worked in construction, restaurants and finally in a supermarket store. The one thing that made it worthwhile was that I was not doing something I had passion for and really enjoyed. I could never say that while studying law. I can now honestly say I love my life and love what I do, even if the pay from writing requires that I keep a part-time job.
The Writing Process
Writing is a lonely profession. This is not a bad thing if you enjoy writing but the one thing you must have if you want to write a book, is the joy of writing in itself.
I think most people can tell when they read a book that lacks passion and conviction from the author.
The hardest part of writing for me is starting. This may sound weird to a few of you but the process of blocking out everything else including noise, your other problems and people trying to contact you is like no other process I can think of.
On the other hand, I personally find it hard to stop writing once I get going. Many a night I would spend eight to ten hours working from 10PM till 6-7AM writing continuously. Those tended to be on nights when I didn’t have to go to work though. I never felt the quality of my writing suffered and was in fact worried that I might lose whatever creativity was flowing on that particular night.
When I was writing “Like A Suicide” (a psychological thriller following a serial killer called Wraith) I found that I struggled to write a word whenever there was noise. I did most of my writing between 10PM and 2AM in the morning, a time period when most of the noise in my neighbourhood is gone.
I wonder if the reason for this is because I was trying to write a story from a character’s perspective that took a lot of thoughtful imagination on my end.
I have found that when I am writing stories that I can relate to like some of my short stories I can write at almost any time of the day and with classical or soul music in my ear, something the great Stephen King apparently does, with heavy metal music though. I guess something about “Like A Suicide” meant that I needed to write it being fully present. It may have been the length (80,000+ words) and making it coherent or maybe it was just the fact that I was not so confident in my ability to write about a serial killer (thankfully I have not had any serial killer experiences, unless the watching crime documentary works).
I guess what a writer could pick up from my experiences so far is to understand that the writing process, while enjoyable for most writers can and will be frustrating from time to time. You may need to try different ‘muses’ and find what works best for you.
To make things easier I will list a few things to try and see if your writing creativity and productivity goes up;
- Try writing at different points in the day. If you work a full time job, try writing after you rest at night or sleep earlier and wake up earlier so you give yourself at least one hour to write before work.
- Try listening to music. I find classical and soul music are best for me while Stephen King listens to heavy metal rock so you will have to find your own muse. For some without music is the best option.
- Try some different stuff. I am not superstitious but the great Kipling used to write facing the North Pole. I think he said it had something to do with magnetic energy which helped improve creativity.
- Try writing 200, 500, 1000 or 2000 words a day. Some people lose creativity after writing a certain amount of words. Notice if you have a dip and either rest and come back or end your writing for the day
All writers are different so I would never suggest another person do something similar to me, but hey, you never know what little thing from my experiences you might pick up that might help your writing or just your understanding of what writers go through.
About Like a Suicide (2012)
[image error] “Like A Suicide” is a psychological thriller/suspense about ‘Wraith’ who is a serial killer. He believes proper order can only be brought about in the world via chaos. Most of his kills make sense in that way. It just happens that this time someone has the nerve to bring chaos into his world by stealing money from him.
After tracking down the perpetrator James and confronting him Wraith concludes that he is either a genius or an idiot after the man denies knowing anything about the stolen money in a convincing manner.
Wraith concludes James must die but decides to take his time and find out if this is the guy that might provide the challenging kill he has been looking for all along. He has to do all this with Detective Sweeney, the local superstar detective hot on his trail.
As he gets ready to go for the kill Wraith can sense that something is wrong. It’s just that this time this kill seems ‘Like A Suicide’, which makes it much more difficult than previous kills.
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John J. Archer
[image error] John J. Archer was born in 1985 and educated at Southend High School for Boys.
He is the author of two self-published books. “Like A Suicide” and “Stealing Life” (both available on Amazon Kindle). As a former soldier in the UK armed forces he prides himself on writing action based novels with intellectually stimulating plots.
John J. Archer now resides in Colchester, Essex in sunny England (once in a while it is). He hopes to write more fiction books in the mystery, suspense and thriller genres. Having completed a degree in English Literature after dropping out of doing law no less.
Guest Post: On My Writing Process – John J. Archer | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
October 9, 2012
Film Review: Open Water 2 Adrift
[image error] Based on a harrowing true story… A weekend cruise aboard a luxury yacht goes horribly awry for a group of old high school friends who forget to lower the ladder before they jump into the ocean for a swim. The boat proves impossible to climb, leaving them adrift, miles from shore. As the reality of the situation sinks in, the friends begin to turn on each other. Soon the exhaustion of keeping afloat and the struggle to get back on board begin to take a terrible toll. What started as a joyful reunion becomes a fight for survival!
Starring: Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight Jr., Niklaus Lange, Ali Hillis, Cameron Richardson (II)
Directed by: Hans Horn
Runtime: 94 minutes
Studio: Lionsgate
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Open Water 2: Adrift
Some films are sent to test us and when I saw Open Water (2003) I had found one such film. Having a group of people stranded at sea for the duration of a film is a difficult theme to maintain any interest with, though Reef (2010) wasn’t too bad. Along came Adrift to offer another test so Mrs B and I found our sea legs and summoned enough courage to face a sort of sequel to Open Water.
The film focuses on a group of friends from high school – couple Amy (Susan May Pratt) and James (Richard Speight Jr) who bring along their baby Sarah, Zach (Niklaus Lange) and Lauren (Ali Hillis), and Dan (Eric Dane) and his latest girlfriend Michelle (Cameron Richardson). Dan has planned a weekend away on his yacht, which is actually owned by his boss but he pretends to be rich and successful in front of his friends. After stopping in the middle of the ocean James, Zach, Lauren and Michelle head into the water leaving Dan, Amy and baby Sarah on board. Lamenting the high school days when he was in love with Amy, Dan quickly switches from a serious chat to a bit of a prank. He lifts Amy into his arms and jumps off the yacht with her, not taking into consideration her reluctance to go into the water, a childhood fear brought about by the loss of her father. Only when everyone is in the ocean do they realise they have forgotten to put the ladder down and are now unable to climb back onto the yacht. With baby Sarah crying for her mother, the group are faced with a desperate struggle for survival out in the open water!
The film was only labelled Open Water 2 to cash in on the original which was somehow a box office success though I’m losing sleep trying to figure out how! Adrift addresses a very ludicrous concept what with this group of friends all going for a swim and not one querying how and where they get back on board once they’ve had enough of swimming. Dan not owning the yacht is cited as the reason he gets a bit forgetful when it comes to letting the ladder down but even then he declines to ask Amy why she doesn’t want to swim and why she wears a life vest even though she’s safely on board the yacht. Instead Dan assumes it will be funny to force Amy into the water and very soon he regrets his actions as the group can find no means of getting back on the yacht. While Amy has a very handy life vest, the rest of the group are left to share two diving masks, a knife and a dolphin float. As the full horror of their predicament takes hold the group begin to turn on each other.
I’d known the premise to Adrift long before seeing the film and thought it sounded ridiculous. The film did nothing to change that initial perception I have to say. Our friends try many devious solutions to getting out of their predicament such as stabbing the side of the yacht to create a makeshift handhold only for Dan to scupper the plans, wanting to keep the yacht in good shape before he returns it to his boss! Nice to know he has his priorities right! Another plan is for the friends to remove their clothes and tie them together to form a rope of sorts. After managing to secure the clothes around a handrail on the yacht the friends opt to allow Dan to try and make the ascension rather than one of the three women who are clearly lighter than the men. The plan doesn’t work of course and with options running out things become desperate. With a knife being shared amongst the group blood is eventually shed when James has to dive down to retrieve the knife but once he grabs it he is quite deep down and in need of air. Swimming frantically for the surface James smacks his head against the yacht and is left with a fractured skull, which is bad enough but the group end up destroying the dolphin float as well leaving Amy as the only one not having to tread water!
Adrift suffers in many areas. Once again we have a group of characters who are not remotely interesting. Amy has a chilling past which explains her fear of water but other than that there isn’t much to these characters. Despite blood being in the water there are no sharks in this film unlike Open Water and Reef so the only harm that can come to these friends is from themselves. Incidentally, they’re all surprisingly fit and healthy, managing to tread water for many hours without having to rest very often. Personally, I still couldn’t see why the group couldn’t stand one person on another’s shoulders and push them up the yacht but I’m not paid to write scripts so I’ll not take that point any further. Much has been made of the film’s ambiguous ending and though Mrs B and I devoted perhaps two minutes of discussion to what the hell it all means, we’d soon moved onto better things. Reef is still by far the best of these stranded at sea films I’ve watched in recent years and even that wasn’t astounding. If you want a thriller that takes place in the remote sea then head back in time to watch Dead Calm (1989).
Adrift is a very poor attempt at a survival drama, offering us a group of less than absorbing characters without one brain cell between them and a very silly plot. I’m not an expert on yachts but surely a ladder built on the side of the vessel would prevent such incidents as depicted in this film. That’s a debate for another time. As for this debate there’s nothing to discuss: this film is utterly awful.
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Open Water 2 Adrift | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
October 8, 2012
Guest Post: The Low-Down of Book Reviews for Indie Authors – K.P. Kollenborn
We’re delighted to welcome K.P. Kollenborn, author of Eyes Behind Belligerence. K.P. joins us today to discuss the different methods indie authors may consider when trying to obtain reviews. While the Tweedlers are on the fence about some methods of obtaining reviews – and firmly against fake reviews in every form – we welcome the following being highlighted for other authors to consider themselves. It’s also our experience that wait time can now be up to 12 months on popular blogs for a review – eek!
The Low-Down of Book Reviews for Indie Authors
Book reviews are as critical as a heart transplant. Without the pulsation you might as well be deceased. For traditional publishers, acquiring book reviews mean mailing out hundreds of books to newspaper reviewers, and hope that a certain percentage will take the time to review, and then hope the reviews are a good one. For indie authors the process may be more time consuming, but by far and large it opens up the restrictions and narrow-mindedness big publishers tend to hold onto. What I refer to as the restrictions and narrow-mindedness are missed opportunities by reaching out to bloggers and other non-professional reviewers who use Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads, Smashwords, Ning, and the like to post their reviews.
Online book reviewers are becoming more viral; more substantiated than the conventional sources because their posts will always be out there as long as the reviewer stays open for business. Plus, with the voting systems, if feels more democratic and less tyrannical than that of the one bad review!
Method of Reviews
In essence, there are three methods of reviews you can acquire: buying them, growing them organically, and swapping them. One method doesn’t necessarily enhance your status more than the other, although juggling the three certainly can help establish it.
1) BUYING REVIEWS
There is much debate about whether to purchase reviews or not. On the one side of the debate questions the morality of things. If reviews are bought, does that make them legitimate? There are places where you can buy positive reviews only, (although I still have yet to find those places); however, in my experiences, the reviews I bought were fair because some reviewers revealed their complaints and did not rate my book as high. So to question the legitimacy of bought reviews will depend on the legitimacy of the business itself. Many will state that they will not guarantee positive reviews, for instance, and how long have they been in business will determine if they are legit. There are “fly-by-night” reviewers who at some point will be banned and have their reviews revoked once found out.
The other side of the debate supports buying reviews because it facilitates your reputation and can provide exposure. Some of these places will have diverse outlets such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. And that’s really the goal all writers wish to achieve: popularity. I started reaching out to bloggers before having at least 8 reviews and only received one reply. After establishing at least 8 reviews, with some bought, (including Kirkus Reviews,) in order to acquire credibility, then bloggers started agreeing to review my book for free. That may not be true for everyone, but it was for me.
Now then, how much do these paid reviews cost? The costs vary and you could very easily spend anywhere from $50 per review to over $400 per review, depending on the reviews status and outlet margin.
You can check out a list of reviewers on my blog here; just under blog tours. Some are free and some you have to pay.
2) ORGANIC REVIEWS
You can reach out to bloggers and other book reviewers on Amazon and GoodReads for free. Some will ask for pay, but they generally do not because they are readers who have enthusiasm for reading. They are not professional critics, but are intelligent and thoughtful folks who take the time in their busy lives to share their passions.
The Business Side of Soliciting for Reviews
At one point in my life, I was a real estate agent- briefly- and got out just after the housing market crash. One of the things I learned, which is true in any business, is what’s called “the number’s game.” You reach out to 50 people, and out of the 50 you’ll get about 10 people who express interest in your abilities but will only get about 1 or 2 who’ll actually commit and sign a contract. On the business side of hunting down reviews, you reach out to 50 book reviewers, and out of 50 you’ll get about 10 who express interest in reviewing your work, but will actually get a few who’ll actually commit and write a review. Just be psychologically prepared for this, and have realistic expectations.
Don’t forget to look and see if they keep a blog roll. If so, then you connect to more bloggers! Keep that ball rolling, baby!
Etiquettes
Since they do not get paid, they are often swamped with requests, and therefore may take anywhere from 1-4 months to finally getting around reading and posting a review. Be polite, and take the time to see if they will be a good fit for your book(s). If they agree to review your book and you haven’t heard from them in over 3 to 4 months, then send a polite follow-up. DO NOT harass them with frequent emails! This will begin to look like spamming and you will most likely turn them off, and therefore, they will turn off your emails.
You can check out a list of bloggers on my blog here; just under book reviewers.
3) SWAPPING REVIEWS
Have you ever been to a swap meet? It’s a gathering at which enthusiasts or collectors trade or exchange items of common interest. The same thing can apply when swapping reviews for authors. This method serves two purposes: helping you collect more book reviews while helping others achieve the same goal. You can do so with online author communities as well as helping other writer friends within your own community. This method is a bit more reliable than asking your family and social friends to provide feedback because area of interests are often different, and you most likely will attain a more comprehensive review regarding plot and character development.
You can check out a list of indie author communities on my blog here; at the very top of the page under resources, and just under blogger book reviewers at the bottom.
*If you would like to swap reviews with me, my interests are for historical fiction, (no romance historical fiction, please,) literary fiction, memoirs, and even non-fiction. I am on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and GoodReads. I accept ebooks in mobi, epub & PDF forms. I am on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and GoodReads. Contact me here .
Fake Reviews: The illegitimate critics
What exactly are fake reviews? Fake reviews are anonymous identities that open up phony accounts in order to praise or criticize online books. On the positive side of the spectrum they can either be authors praising themselves, or they are bought reviews from illegitimate businesses. (And I do want to place emphasis on illegitimate businesses because there are legitimate ones that do provide a fair trade. Just do your homework and ask other veteran writers for advice.) On the negative side, they can be either other authors criticizing their opponents, or other people who just simply have malice intent to leave a 1 star review to bring down your review status.
So, revisiting the debate about paid reviews you end up asking yourself: “Do paid reviews in fact represent fake reviews? Or at least on Amazon?” The three services I used, Kirkus Reviews, Bookplex and Self Publish Review, I found to be fair. They use other bloggers and authors to represent their businesses’ reviews. Although the reviews mostly did come in a positive light, but I did not get that perfect 5 star rating, plus the reviewers did mention what they didn’t like or had certain issues with some of the content. All I can stress upon when making that investment is to use common sense, do your research, and ask other seasoned authors for advice.
To read more about “fake reviews,” check out these articles:
Forbes: “Fake Reviews: Amazon’s Rotten Core”
The Telegraph: “Fake Book Reviews are Rife on Internet Authors”
Business Insider: “This Man Made $28,000 a Month Writing Fake Book Reviews”
Conclusion
Pace yourself when researching and soliciting for book reviews. Don’t try to cram everything into one session. Space out days of the month to research for bloggers or swap book reviews. Also put yourself on a budget. You really don’t need to spend your mortgage in order to acquire book reviews. There are always other avenues. And remember, as exhausting and frustrating as this process may sound, it still beats getting rejected by agents and/or publishers who won’t take on your project. At least you’re out there!
About Eyes Behind Belligerence (2012)
[image error] “When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” Culminating a bitter-sweet epic and traditional coming-of-age story, ‘Eyes Behind Belligerence’ sets precedence to fear and hatred, to families torn apart, and to the calloused response of internment camps. While two Japanese-American families endure the wake of Pearl Harbor’s wrath, each member must face the most painful question of their life: Where does their loyalty stand?
Told in five parts, this novel unravels the challenges between two unlikely Nisei friends, Jim and Russell, into adulthood during the Second World War. As restrictions are imposed, (even in the safe, rural community of Bainbridge Island,) as harassments escalate, (including the F.B.I. invading their homes and deporting their fathers to Montana for espionage trials,) the fated day arrives: evacuation of all Japanese civilians. Rounded up like cattle, tagged, they are hauled to the fringes of Death Valley: Manzanar. Together they must survive racism, gang violence, and the harsh elements of the environment. Together they must prove their loyalty, especially after a tragic riot on the eve of Pearl Harbor’s anniversary. While Russell enlists in a segregated army, becoming part of one the most decorated units in U.S. history, Jim is sent to a different camp for the “No-No” boys: those who are marked disloyal. Removed from their families, they are forced to re-evaluate their identities and discover, most importantly, what it means to forgive.
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K.P. Kollenborn
[image error] K.P. Kollenborn is my pen name which I chose for two reasons: One- it is my mother’s maiden name. We are grandchildren of German immigrants who migrated from Texas to Kansas prior to the American Civil War. Two- it’s not a very common surname and no doubt I’m somehow related to all the remaining Kollenborns in the United States one way or another!
I am fortunate to have been trained by one the top ten writing teachers in the US, the late Leonard Bishop, and author of ‘Dare to be a Great Writer.’ I owe my love of writing to him. When I had graduated Kansas State, I wrote historical book reviews for The Sunflower Press about the Japanese-Americans. In addition to writing, I draw, paint, create graphic design, compose music, and am an amateur photographer. I have been writing since childhood however I do have a B.A. in History. Instead of applying a degree in creative writing, I wanted to focus on learning and understanding what motivates people of certain time periods to make them do what they did. And there are so many stories! I also wanted to learn from our mistakes and am conscious of how we’re all related to each other.
My husband and I once owned a music store, a pizza delivery business, and several internet businesses. I also have dabbled with real estate and am grateful I got the heck out right before the crash! Sadly, history tends to repeat itself in important ways.
Currently my family continues to live outside of Kansas City and will always have roots tied to Kansas. And to answer everyone’s question: “No. Toto doesn’t live here anymore. He is deceased and has been for a very long time.”
Guest Post: The Low-Down of Book Reviews for Indie Authors – K.P. Kollenborn | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: The Social Network
[image error] David Fincher’s The Social Network is the stunning tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever. Shot through with emotional brutality and unexpected humor, this superbly crafted film chronicles the formation of Facebook and the battles over ownership that followed upon the website’s unfathomable success. With a complex, incisive screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and a brilliant cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, The Social Network bears witness to the birth of an idea that rewove the fabric of society even as it unraveled the friendship of its creators.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, Justin Timberlake, Monique Edwards
Directed by: David Fincher
Runtime: 120 minutes
Studio: Sony Pictures
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IMDB
Review: The Social Network
Like many millions of people, I use Facebook as well as Twitter, but my knowledge of Facebook’s main founder Mark Zuckerberg was somewhat limited. The Facebook IPO was hard to ignore but the story of Facebook’s founding was unknown to me until Mrs B insisted I give The Social Network a try.
The film opens in 2003 at Harvard University where Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) splits up with his girlfriend Erica Albright (Rooney Mara). The break-up prompts him to not only drunkenly blog about her but during one intense night of programming, Mark creates Facemash which is so popular it crashes Harvard’s network. Faced with disciplinary for hacking, Mark’s fortunes seem on the up when he is approached to build a dating website exclusive to Harvard. Soon after, Mark comes up with the idea of Thefacebook and from humble beginnings the network grows. The film cuts between the founding and growth of Facebook in the past and two difficult lawsuits Mark faces in the present – one from brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella), and another from Mark’s former best friend and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).
The break-up between Mark and Erica at the outset is pivotal to what follows. Mark comes across as arrogant and condescending, believing his own inevitable success as a Harvard student will allow Erica to see places she would never have been able to based on her own efforts! Mark is a real charmer and Erica understandably dumps him. Mark gets drunk that same night and blogs about Erica, his ramblings about her personality and bra size are picked up by many students much to her humiliation. Mark also chronicles his development of Facemash, a program that takes photos of students from university networks Mark hacks into and puts them side by side so users can pick which one is the most attractive. Having pilfered images from several universities and made the website live, the Harvard network crashes as thousands of students go online to use Facemash. Six months academic probation is Mark’s reward but his achievement has not gone unnoticed. Rowing enthusiasts and brothers Cameron and Tyler, along with their friend Divya approach Mark to build a dating website for them known as Harvard Connection and one that is exclusive to the university. Mark agrees to the work but following his experience of Facemash he has an idea of his own.
Mark pitches the idea of Thefacebook to his best friend Eduardo who agrees to fund the venture. Over the next few months, Mark builds the website, creating thousands of lines of code while rebuffing any attempts from Cameron and Tyler to meet up and discuss their project. One day they get an email from Mark saying he doesn’t believe their website is worth pursuing. Mark is launching Thefacebook so he no longer has time to work with the brothers. The website builds slowly but when Cameron and Tyler learn about it they disagree on what to do. Cameron refuses to sue but Tyler is adamant they should as Mark has clearly stolen their idea. Their efforts to get the university to intervene fall on deaf ears and Mark continues seemingly unopposed. Gradually the film builds up to the two lawsuits Marks faces for his actions but what will the outcomes be for him.
I wasn’t interested in seeing The Social Network when it was first released but now I’m glad I have. Eisenberg is great in the lead portraying Zuckerberg as both a brilliant programmer but also self-serving, especially in his treatment of his friend Eduardo which leads to the two men falling out and Eduardo suing Mark for actions which are simply appalling. For all Mark’s business ruthlessness he is depicted as somewhat fragile at times, especially when it comes to Erica. Though they split up at the start, Mark doesn’t forget her and even though she moves on with her life he still thinks of her at the end. Zuckerberg’s recent dealings in the media will not have changed many people’s perceptions of him that this film will give. He recently sold some of his shares before the price dropped and the day before he married which safeguarded his latest fortune and meant his wife would have no claim on the money should they ever divorce. The Social Network offers a fascinating debate when it comes to the lawsuits. I personally agree with the outcome of both but felt Cameron and Tyler’s lawsuit was a fragile one at times.
The Social Network is a fascinating look into the origins of Facebook and an attempt at getting to the heart of Mark Zuckerberg. While his motivations and loyalties are highly questionable, there is no doubting that he is a very talented man and has made a huge contribution to the world of communication in the last ten years.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Social Network | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
October 7, 2012
Film Review: The King’s Speech
[image error] After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. Based on the true story of King George VI, “The King’s Speech” follows the Royal Monarch’s quest to find his voice.
Starring: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Runtime: 119 minutes
Studio: The Weinstein Company and Anchor Bay Entertainment
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The King’s Speech (2010)
Colin Firth melted millions of hearts in 1995 with his portrayal of Mr Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. An undoubtedly good actor, Firth achieved the ultimate accolade by winning an Oscar for The King’s Speech. I’d wanted to see this one at the cinema but never seemed to get the time to go. I’m glad I now finally have seen it.
The story focuses on Prince Albert “Bertie”, Duke of York (Colin Firth), who has suffered with a severe stammer for most of his life. Opening in1925 we watch the prince struggle through a speech at Wembley Stadium prompting his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) to find treatment for her husband. After several unsuccessful attempts to help the prince, the Royal couple turn to Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian speech therapist who has settled in London. The film traces Logue’s work with the prince who not only has to face the prospect of future public addresses but the sudden and unexpected elevation as King of England.
Bertie’s opening speech is painful to watch, his wife visibly distraught for him while the crowds in the stadium are more appalled than sympathetic that their prince cannot even deliver a few words to them. When Elizabeth finds Lionel Logue she is discreet in revealing who her husband is and it is something of a shock when Lionel and Bertie meet. Lionel will not go to visit the Royals, insisting his sessions be conducted in his home and that titles and fancy names be left at the door. He calls the prince Bertie and insists on being called Lionel in return. Bertie is unsure of Lionel, sceptical of a cure for his stammer after so many years of suffering with it. In a wonderful opening moment Lionel has Bertie read Shakespeare and watches as the prince struggles. He then has him deliver the passage again but this time while listening to music. Although the prince leaves frustrated, Bertie reveals he read the piece beautifully when the music was there to distract him. Later hearing the recording of himself speaking perfectly, Bertie returns to Lionel and their work begins.
The film covers many years, beginning in 1925 then taking us to 1934 where King George V (Michael Gambon) is pressuring Bertie about public speaking and being rid of his stammer. All is not well in the Royall Family. When George V dies in 1936, David, Prince of Wales (Guy Pearce), becomes King Edward VIII. However, his future is under scrutiny when he wishes to marry Wallis Simpson (Eve Best), who is already divorced and by law the union would not be permitted. Though loyal to his brother, Bertie questions David’s relationship with Simpson only to be accused of trying to usurp the throne. Bertie’s past is a harrowing one to hear about including being teased by all of his family for his stammer, not being fed properly by a nanny for three years and living in fear of his father and brother. By the end of 1936 Edward VIII has abdicated and Bertie becomes King George VI. Lionel remains as the king’s therapist but the pressure is increasing. Not only will the king have to face a lot of public speaking such as a Christmas speech there is a growing problem across the English Channel. With Hitler steering Germany towards World War II and Britain declaring war in 1939, the nation looks to the king to deliver a historic speech to his people. The question is can Lionel help Bertie through it in time?
The King’s Speech is worth all the praise. Firth is superb as the stammering and unsure king while Rush is equally wonderful as Lionel who faces a lot of resistance from his patient but the two men become very close. The end credits that reveal the extent of their friendship are moving to say the least. The supporting cast are all good with Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth and Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill being notable ones. There is always an inevitability about these kind of films but that doesn’t make it any less rewarding for watching an individual, for so long inferior and subdued, overcome extreme adversity and thriving.
The King’s Speech is a well-acted and moving drama which shows the human side of the British monarchy and the pressure that they are under as public figures. Bertie’s story is an inspirational one and anyone that overcomes such a constraint as a speech difficulty, whether a monarch or an everyday man or woman, deserves great praise.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The King’s Speech | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
October 6, 2012
Book Excerpt: Voyages of Malolo – Robert Bonville
We’re delighted to welcome Robert Bonville, author Voyages of Malolo, who shares an excerpt and the trailer for his book.
Excerpt: Voyages of Malolo
Chapter One
Late one day, circa 1000 AD, Tikaroa was finding it difficult to see sufficiently to carve the final hieroglyphs into a flat length of reddish colored mahoe wood with his shark tooth tool. The final rays of the setting sun provided waning shards of light into the mouth of his seaside cave and sanctuary as he attempted to complete his work.
Tikaroa a member of the Hanau-momoku or short ears, the oppressed working class, was at one point a much sought after highly skilled stone carver of the monolithic stone statues known as moai. Now a fugitive, he was being hunted by the Hanau-epe the oppressive ruling class known as the long ears.
He was proclaimed guilty of carving sacred prayers into wooden tablets in direct violation of the kapu prohibiting any form of religion or worship other than to the moai, which littered the landscape as a constant reminder to all the people of the island.
The carved wooden tablets known as Rongo contained hieroglyphs, depicting the chants and prayers to the gods of Hawai’iki; Iao the creator, Kane the god of forests and trees, Lono the god of rainfall, agriculture, and music, Ku the god of war, and Tangaroa the god of the sea and others.
Each time a moai was completed; the short ears would make a new Rongo, and secretly distribute it among the other short ears, teaching them and their children about the virtues and kapus of their original deities and not the lifeless stone moai. This practice was proclaimed kapu by the ruling class Hanau-epe and, those committing these crimes were sought out and killed.
This combination cave and workshop was located on a small isolated island located in the southeast Pacific Ocean known to its people as Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua, the island at the navel of the earth also known as Rapa Nui or Easter Island, ruled by Miruta’a, the all powerful head of the long ears.
About Voyages of Malolo (2011)
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For thousands of years before documented history chronicled the achievements of the great Asian and European seafaring explorers the world’s largest geographical attribute, the Pacific Ocean, was being navigated, explored, and colonized by the intrepid and heroic peoples of the South Seas.
For millennia, their migrations eastward and northward from their origins in Asia, allowed them to discover and populate most of the 20,000 islands considered to be one of the last and final frontiers of habitable earth. For reasons of famine, religion, overpopulation, war or just the overwhelming human desire for exploration, these passionate and resourceful people set out on perilous voyages in wooden canoes to find new homes and better lives.
During this period in Polynesian history, countless adventures, myths and legends of tragedy, conquest, cataclysmic natural disasters and exploration were told and retold through oral tradition by the memory keepers down through the generations.
In approximately 1000 AD, one such story details the spiritually guided unparalleled epic voyages of a double hulled deep sea sailing canoe and its crew of fourteen courageous loyal men. Lead by Auka’i, a young western Polynesian mariner who is inspired by his discovery of a piece of driftwood, a wooden tablet containing undecipherable but somewhat recognizable hieroglyphic script known to these primitive people as “Rongo.“
In order to seek out and discover the meaning of the Rongo, the gods directed the creation of a great seagoing canoe appropriately named “Malolo”, (the Flying Fish). Built with great care and quality by expert craftsmen and artisans, this beautiful sleek craft was special in every way, built to withstand everything known and unknown that it could ultimately experience once it began its journey.
With a crew of skilled, handpicked loyal men they set sail eastward on their momentous quest which takes them completely across the South Pacific to the seemingly endless land mass of South America then northward guided by their myths, legends and visions of those they encounter along the way.
Their heroic adventures including their escape from sacrifice island, their survival of a Tsunami, the revenge of Pele (the fire goddess) and others, describe in historically based detail the wonders, experiences, tragedies, triumphs and discoveries by the men of Malolo during every phase of their voyage including their long and arduous time at sea.
For this intrepid crew of ancient mariners the questions remain; will they ever discover the hidden meaning of the wooden tablet according to the will of their gods, will their journey return them once again to their tiny Western Pacific island, and will their epic adventure be worth all their suffering and loss?
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About Robert Bonville
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Born at the beginning of war with Japan, and being raised as a service brat, Robert and his family lived in various places in the US including a short time in Hawaii in the early 50’s. Later during his military service Robert volunteered for an Ice Breaking expedition to Antarctica where he visited a number of Polynesian Islands, both going to and returning from the Ice.
After a stint in the US Coast Guard and attending college on the GI Bill, Robert began a productive 37 year career with Honeywell in Aerospace and Defense. Highlights included critical assignments on both Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs for NASA.
Now living in SE Arizona with his wife Linda, Robert obviously enjoys writing, gardening, gourd art and cooking. Robert and Linda have together 4 adult children, 8 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Book Excerpt: Voyages of Malolo – Robert Bonville | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Zombieland
[image error] Nerdy college student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has survived the plague that has turned mankind into flesh-devouring zombies because he’s scared of just about everything. Gun-toting, Twinkie-loving Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) has no fears. Together, they are about to stare down their most horrifying challenge yet: each other’s company. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin co-star in this double-hitting, head-smashing comedy.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
Runtime: 88 minutes
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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Review: Zombieland
There seems to be a new zombie film every year at the moment which means even greater pressure to churn out something with a degree of originality. Ruben Fleischer’s Zombieland promised to be a horror comedy and immediately my thoughts drifted to Shaun of the Dead (2004), which has lost none of its appeal. My hopes were that Zombieland would be a comedy equal if not better than the British classic.
The film follows the progress of student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) who is one of few survivors of a disease that has swept across America and turned the majority of people into zombies. Travelling across a largely desolate America, Columbus is heading to Columbus, Ohio (where else?) to see if his parents are still alive. He hooks up with Tallahasse (Woody Harrelson) who is on a mission to locate the world’s last Twinkie, and sisters Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who are heading west for the Pacific Playland Amusement Park. With personal differences, the quartet makes a road trip through the zombie-infested land in pursuit of their mutual goals but do they make it?
We begin with the company of Columbus who has survived the zombie apocalypse thanks to a series of rules he has compiled which are displayed frequently on screen as our unorthodox hero bumbles his way from one catastrophe to another. Such rules as checking the back seat of your car for zombies, not being a hero even when temptation threatens to cloud your reason, and the very important double-tap used on felled zombies to make sure they definitely are dead. Columbus is a loner, finding sanctuary in his home and in World of Warcraft but the arrival of the zombies leaves him with no choice but to set out on the road. His encounter with Tallahasse is your classic comedy combo with the shy student being anxiously verbose while his battle-hardened friend looks like he might snap at any moment, his obsession for Twinkies being the only thing of any importance to him. Throughout the film you’ll enjoy some great set-pieces such as highways with abandoned cars, seemingly empty supermarkets with isolated zombies waiting to pounce and even a trip to Bill Murray’s house for good measure!
Columbus and Tallahasse’s encounter with Wichita and Little Rock exposes their frailties as they are twice duped by the sisters, having their guns and car stolen after the first meeting before falling once again for the girls’ trap and being taken hostage! Despite the danger Columbus cannot help but fall for Wichita who is initially dismissive of him but soon finds herself developing feelings for him too. Each of the four characters are somewhat lost souls. Columbus’ love of solitude and his struggle to bond with anyone makes him a sympathetic but foolish hero. For all his toughness, Tallahasse is in mourning for his dog that was a victim of the zombie attacks, which may sound silly to some people but comes across as quite poignant. Wichita and Little Rock have had to grow up fast and only have each other to rely on which makes them initially suspicious of Columbus and Tallahasse but the quartet soon find they can work well together.
Zombieland begins well and doesn’t let up, managing to be both very funny and entertaining as our heroes and heroines face off against the zombie horde. The undoubted highlight of the film was them reaching Hollywood and heading for the seemingly deserted mansion of Bill Murray. That in itself was a cool idea but then Bill makes an appearance himself and it’s a memorable cameo from the comedy legend. Of course our quartet settle their differences in the end and you’ll find few surprises with the “will they, won’t they” scenario between Columbus and Wichita but the film does contain some surprises, notably details of Tallahasse’s tragic past. Do the group survive the zombie attacks in the end though? Does Bill Murray get through it alive? Does Tallahasse find that fabled last Twinkie? So many questions and it’s great fun finding out the answers. Eisenberg makes for a confident lead, Murray’s cameo is most welcome, Stone and Breslin offer good support, but Harrelson is a revelation as Tallahasse and simply steals the film from everyone else.
Zombieland is a funny and action-packed horror comedy with a good cast, memorable set pieces and enough zombies to satisfy the fussiest of zombie fanatics. I still prefer Shaun of the Dead but this turns out to be a very different film and one with many qualities of its own.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Zombieland | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
