R.B. Wood's Blog, page 28
October 3, 2012
31 Days of Halloween: Day Four
Leprechaun (1993 - Rated R in the US for horror, violence and a foul-mouthed Professor Flitwick)
Summary (from IMDB):
When Dan O'Grady returns to the U.S. after stealing some Irish leprechaun's pot of gold, he thinks he can settle down and enjoy his newfound wealth. He thought wrong. The leprechaun followed him and O'Grady barely gets away with his life, having locked the little monster in his basement. Ten years later, J.D. and his spoiled daughter Tory move in. By accident, the leprechaun is released and almost immediately the annoying creature starts to look for his gold, not displaying any respect for human life.
RBWood's Rating (Out of Five): 1 annoying "Willow"
Look, I had to review this, okay? My wife has a connection Mark Jones who directed and wrote this travest...awesome piece...of cinematic...glory...oh, shit. It's better than the sequels.
The novalty factor comes into play as this was Jennifer Aniston's first movie role (pre nose job). Prior to this, she had been in the classic Ferris Bueller TV series. Remember that? Me either.
It works as a B-movie slasher (the genre was really dead by the early ninties) and does have a few laugh out loud moments. Warwick Davis does the best he can with the material as the The Irish gold digger, but it's more along the lines of some of the SyFy horror tele-movies such as Ice Spiders or the Debbie Gibson blockbuster Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus. If you actually decide to watch this, then go in with the bar set very low.
Tomorrow: ...and then the knife whistling past her ear...
Peace
October 2, 2012
31 Days of Halloween: Day Three
The Exorcist (1973 - Rated R for strong language, disturbing images and an ass-load of pea soup)
Summary (from IMDB):
A visiting actress in Washington, D.C., notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her 12-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, a young priest at nearby Georgetown University begins to doubt his faith while dealing with his mother's terminal sickness. And, book-ending the story, a frail, elderly priest recognizes the necessity for a show-down with an old demonic enemy.
RBWood's Rating (Out of Five): 5 cans of pea soup
Billy Graham once claimed that Satan lived in the celliod of this classic horror flick. If yesterday's entry scared the crap out of me as a teenager, this movie scares the crap out of me at the ripe old age of 47. And I love it.
Brilliantly paced, marvelously acted (from Max von Sydow's hopeful Father Merrin and Ellen Burstyn's traumatized mother to Linda Blair's Regan) and with the attention to detail that only William Friedkin could bring (he directed The French Connection just before this movie--another favorite), The Exorcist is the demonic possession film that set the stage for all that follow.
I cannot recommend this film highly enough for those of you who enjoy horror. Although I do recommend you keep the lights on.
Tomorrow: I want me gold!
Peace
October 1, 2012
31 Days of Halloween: Day Two
An American Werewolf in London (1981 - Rated R in the US for gore, violence, language, a porno scene, shots of David Naughton's junk and Jenny Agutter's boobies during the sex scene. Think about THAT next time you see her in The Avengers.)
Summary (from IMDB):
Two American students are on a walking tour of Britain and are attacked by a Werewolf. One is killed, the other is mauled. The Werewolf is killed but reverts to its human form, and the local townspeople are unwilling to acknowledge its existence. The surviving student begins to have nightmares of hunting on four feet at first but then finds that his friend and other recent victims appear to him, demanding that he find a way to die to release them from their curse, being trapped between worlds because of their unnatural deaths.
RBWood's Rating (Out of Five): 4 pints of Lager
Look, I'll be honest with you. The effects are a little dated, but I saw this movie when it first came out and it scared the living hell out of me...perfect for a repeat viewing for the month of horror flicks. I had forgotten so many detail...Elmer Bernstein's score, for example, was perfect to set the tone. The dialog created by John Landis along with his direction is sharp, witty ans is interspersed with humor creating a tight package. Quite frankly, despite the effects, the makeup work and the overall story still work, and work well.
The only distraction was me remembering my mom saying "I can never watch another Dr. Pepper ad again now that I've seen his 'thingy.'" (David Naughton, who played David Kessler, was in popular Dr. pepper ads at the time he'd filmed this).
Griffin Dunne as David Kessler's friend Jack was fantastic as the undead comic relief, and he, along with David's other victims have a memorable scene trying to convince the newly cursed werewolf to kill himself in the middle of a porn theater.
The relationship between David and Alex (Agutter) is short and of course destined to fail, but is handled well and leads to the climactic fight between British cops and the monster.
In my opinion, well worth a revist if you've seen it previously. If you haven't, give it a watch. There is no sparkly werewolves in this flick.
Tomorrow: You'll have a hankerin' for pea soup.
Peace
31 Days of Halloween: Day One
I know it’s been a while, folks…but I’m back!
The Word Count has been a bit of a bust lately. I thoroughly enjoy putting the show together, but participation is at an all-time low. While I decide what to do about that, continue work on The Arcana Chronicles: The Young Practitioner (and other authorly-type stuff I can’t chat about as of yet), I thought I’d update the blog with a bit of a new feature.
Halloween is my absolute favorite time of the year, and every spooky season I celebrate with the traditional “31 Days of Horror.”
This year I thought I’d post reviews for what I’m watching and open up comments for your suggestions (NOTE: No SyFy original movies PLEASE. Nothing will ever top Mega Shark vs. Gatoroid, thank you very much)
First up for October 1st is the dark comedy, Zombieland (2009 – Rated ‘R’ in the US for language, violence and some zombie chick running around with pasties on her boobs).
From IMDB:
A shy student trying to reach his family in Ohio, and a gun-toting tough guy trying to find the Last Twinkie and a pair of sisters trying to get to an amusement park join forces to travel across a zombie-filled America.
RBWood’s rating (Out of Five): 3.5 Twinkies
I’ll admit it. Shaun of the Dead ruined Zombie comedy flicks for me. Probably review that one later in the month, but this is about (*Spoiler*) Bill Murray, so I’ll move on.
“Wait, R. B. I thought this movie starred Woody Harrelson as the gun-toting, twinkie-searching lunatic and that guy who played Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network?”
And I’d say “That was Jesse Eisenberg, and how dare you not mention Emma Stone? Don’t interrupt me while I’m typing.”
Although the cast pulls off the horror/comedy genre really well, Bill Murray stole the show for me. Our zombie-fleeing heroes break into Bill Murray’s home as a refuge, only to find the actor (playing himself) also in hiding. A few bong hits later, and they are all playing Ghostbusters using props Murray stole from the original set.
Corny? absolutely. Spot on? Oh, you bet.
The zombies aren’t the slow moving undead creatures of the past. These brain-eating machines can move, and the horror of the scenario the world is in is nicely offset by the humor and the quirkiness of the characters. From each of the main characters named after a city (Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita, Little Rock) to the never-ending twinkie quest, this flick is a definite must-see.
Tomorrow: "Don't Ever leave the path..."
Peace
August 10, 2012
The Word Count Podcast - Open for submissions!
The Word Count Podcast Episode 26 is now open for submissions!
It’s been over two months since the last prompt for The Word Count Podcast.
With ReaderCON and this year’s blog hop, life has been very busy.
But the ‘cast break is OVER! Time for a new show. And as I’m itching to get recording and receiving stories from fellow writers, I’m bypassing the normal voting process and selecting a theme at random from the magical mystery repository of themes I have…
Okay. I surfed the internet until something caught my eye. And after I finished looking at pictures of the US women’s Volleyball team, I found a theme I loved:
“A man who sees ghosts checks himself into a mental institute, not realizing that the facility has been closed for almost thirty years.”
Submission guidelines below. I’m looking forward to this one!
Submission Guidelines (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)
PROMPT: “A man who sees ghosts checks himself into a mental institute, not realizing that the facility has been closed for almost thirty years.”
GENRE: Any.
DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by MIDNIGHT (Eastern Time) Friday 24th August 2012
THE DETAILS: The work must be an original of yours. It could be a poem, short story, song---anything really as long as you write something based on the stated theme (“A man who sees ghosts checks himself into a mental institute, not realizing that the facility has been closed for almost thirty years.”) Do NOT exceed ten minutes. As this is a podcast, I need to receive a file of YOU, a friend or multiple friends reading (singing or otherwise performing) your work. MP3 FORMAT ONLY, and please attach your MP3 file to an e-mail. The e-mail should also contain the following:
Your pen name
Your latest bio
Links to your websites
Your Twitter name (if you have one)
A photo I can use for the show notes
Permission to use your recording in the podcast
At the end of the recording, please add the following: “This is <YOUR NAME> author of <YOUR WORK(s)> and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast”
Send your file to me@rbwood.com by Friday the 24th of August. You can also e-mail me with questions before hand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.
Peace
August 9, 2012
Thank you bloggers!
What a wonderful six weeks it has been!
This year’s blog hop – “From the Front Lines: Writer’s of the 21st Century” had everything you could want. Wit, wisdom, sarcasm and cussing. Great articles by great writers and each of the names below are hyperlinked to their blog post entries. Go back and reread them, it’s worth your time.
This weekend, I’ll be posting the next theme for THE WORD COUNT PODCAST, so stay tuned for that.
Meanwhile, I’d also follow these fine folks on twitter and get to know them. A few of them will be famous someday.
Guys and gals, writers all: THANK YOU for being a part of the blog hop!
Monica Marier (Part ONE and Part TWO)
August 7, 2012
The Conventional Writer
There are different types of conventions a writer can go to, but no matter where you are in your career, you should be attending conventions (cons) when you can.
Not for the parties, nor for the large quantities of top shelf booze although both are kick-ass.
Pictured: Kick-ass booze and party result
You should attend cons because you’ll be surrounded by experts in the field who’ve done what you’re dreaming about.
Namely writing.
For aspiring authors, there are conventions, typically run by a writer’s association of some sort, that are designed to help writers learn to write a book that will sell, sell a book they have written, and let them rub elbows with, and even pitch their projects to agents. This is great for writers that are trying to break into the industry. If that’s you, find a good one near you and go there. It’s a great learning opportunity and a chance to network and meet the people who will be your support system and a leg up in pursuing your writing career. Established authors can benefit from these cons too, and are often found on panels that help the audience learn the things they need to know.
When you’re an established author, there are still cons for you. There’s a huge variety, whether it’s a genre-specific writer’s con, from RWA (Romance Writers of America,) to World Fantasy, or industry focused cons like Book Expo America, there’s a con that puts you in the thick of writers and readers in your specific genre or the industry as a whole. These are incredible networking opportunities, and no matter where you are in your career, you’ll learn something too. Plus, they’re fun.
There are also genre cons that have great resources for writers, but have a much broader attendance base. These are cons for the fans as well as the writers and producers that bring the entertainment to them. Dragon con is one of the biggest in the scifi/fantasy genre, Comic Con as well. (Can you tell I’m a scifi/fantasy author?)
Pictured: Entertainment
The drawback of cons is the cost, which can be a huge issue for the aspiring or even newer midlist author. So start small. Writer-specific cons are usually less expensive and there will be one near you. (Relatively, for some of us.) The bigger cons and the fan cons are once a year events, they’re not cheap, and for most of us will involve the cost of travel as well as registration, meals, etc. Some of them, like WorldCon, are in a different place every year and, as the name implies, may be held anywhere in the world. You may not make it to these without some serious saving or until you’re already published and have some royalties coming in.
The important thing to remember is that these cons are an investment in your writing career. Don’t let the costs scare you off. If there’s any chance you can make one, then pick one in your price range that’s most appropriate for you. Read up on them online and ask other writers on Twitter or the like about cons you might be interested in. Some are family-friendly and can be fun for the non-writers as well. Some are writer-specific and bringing alone the spouse and kids will be a waste of money.
Personally, I’m writing this in the airport as I wait for a flight to take me to ReaderCON, a con for the scifi & fantasy genres. Not only is it fun and informative, I’ll have a chance to strengthen relationships I made at last year’s ReaderCON, and Ad Astra con I attended earlier this year in Toronto.
Can you become an author without attending cons? Sure. Can you maintain a career as an author without attending cons? Of course. But cons are a great way to make sure you’re making the connections and capitalizing on the opportunity to do better, to be more. And, for those who aren’t as far along as you, they’re a great opportunity to give back, and that’s one of the best parts of being a writer.
And the drinks are to die for.
Leah Petersen lives in North Carolina. She does the day-job, wife, and mother thing, much like everyone else.
She prides herself on being able to hold a book with her feet so she can knit while reading. She’s still working on knitting while writing.
Her first novel, Fighting Gravity, is available now from Dragon Moon Press.
August 2, 2012
"We interrupt our program..."
I need to take a moment away from the ongoing blog hop to address something that's been really bothering me for a few days.
For years you have all read about my love for the ReaderCON conferences I’ve attended. The people I have met, the friendships that have been forged and the unbelievable amount of knowledge I gained over each three-day period has been worth my time and my money.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience, as you well know. Unfortunately, some have not.
I’m speaking of the sexual harassment incident this year I only found out about a couple of days ago.
ReaderCON policy states that:
Readercon has always had a zero-tolerance harassment policy.
Harassment of any kind — including physical assault, battery, deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome physical attentions — will not be tolerated at Readercon and will result in permanent suspension of membership.
As always, Readercon reserves the right to strip membership at its discretion.
See that “Permanent Suspension” phrasing? Yeah, that’ll be important in a sec.
The details of the incident are all over the internet and I’ve included a fairly comprehensive list linked below. But apparently the offender was only banned for two years, which is far less than “permanent.”
I have friends who have been harassed. I’ve personally pulled a “Sonny Corleone” on a Jack Wagon who tried to force a woman I was dating at the time into a car (it involved a garbage can lid and that’s all you need to know).
And to give a two-year ban to someone, just because he’s a “popular” fan and an organizer of cons himself is in violation of policy and deplorable to boot.
Are the facts of this case different than what I’ve read? I don’t know…I didn’t witness what happened first hand. But I know personally people who did or know the victim in this case.
When a policy is posted, then waived or bent in favor of someone just because of who he/she is, well that’s an epic fail.
I’m awaiting a proper public response from the folks who run the con. But let me say this. Under no circumstances should that behavior EVER be tolerated.
What I want to see is an apology and a permanent ban of the “creep.” To start.
Then I’ll see if ReaderCON 24 is in my future.
Read the many other blogs about this incident HERE
Peace
July 22, 2012
Indie Top Ten List
'Top Ten' of the things an Indie writer needs to be doing today
So, you wrote a book. Now what?
Target Market. Really, know who your target reader is. **Hint** it is not “Everyone”.
Website. You must have one. If you do not, stop and get one now. It is that important. Everything below, points back to it!
Blog. Was that an eye roll? Will you get thousands of book sales by building up the most successful blog ever? No. Not the goal, either. If you don’t blog, how will I know if I like your writing?
Tweet. Another eye roll? If you haven’t tried it, stop judging. If you have, and think “it isn’t working” – I ask, are you blasting out links to your book every five minutes? Yes? Absolutely wrong.
Guest blog. Reach new people - share the love in the blog-o-sphere. IF they are in your target market.
Facebook. Your goal is simple, get on there, and talk to people. Friends, family, fans (you DO have an author page, don’t you?)
Pin. On Pinterest yet? Fastest growing social media out there. Back to #1, what do your readers care about?
Post Comments. Write a relevant comment, people will read it. Note that word “relevant”. Do not spam.
Don’t Advertise. How often do you click on an ad? Save your hard earned cash for something that will impact sales, like hiring an awesome cover designer.
Stop Marketing. Do not think of any of this as “MARKETING”. Networking, research, conversation, connecting. If you think of it as marketing, it will come across. People have an inherent distrust of being “marketed to”.
REPEAT!
Twitter: @ksearsbooks
Katherine Sears is the Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Booktrope Publishing. Prior to Booktrope, her background was primarily in technology and online marketing in both Seattle and California, working at companies such as NetApp, ADIC and Siemens. Her life-long love of books, and a desire to bring a new type of focus to marketing them, had her join forces with some other bookish folks to create Booktrope. She is the co-author of How to Market a Book and has served on the University of Washington’s Digital Publishing Certificate Program advisory board. She has also worked as an actress, and a corporate trainer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater from the University of Southern California. Katherine currently lives in Fall City, WA with her canine and human family members.
The Traveling Writer
I believe I'm living, breathing proof that writing doesn't have to be done at a desk. Or in a den. Or even in an enclosed room at all. I'm fortunate in that my job allows me to travel.
Actually my job requires me to travel. Okay, okay...my job IS travel. And while the jet-setting lifestyle, the white sand beaches, the crystal clear pools, the gourmet food, and the cold drinks are nice, they sometimes get in the way of my real love, writing.
Wait. Strike that. Those things ROCK.
Truth be told, anything that gets in the way of writing is just an excuse. Writing can be done anywhere, anytime, any way a writer can. And in today's 21st century, tech-filled world, that's never been more true.
I've written some of my best work on an iPhone in a hotel lobby, and some of my worst work on my laptop in a dead-silent dining room. I've written some of my best work in Evernote on an iPad, and some of my worst in Scrivener on a Mac. The place and tools don't matter. But I admit, the location does tend to stir my creative juices a bit.
A few weeks ago, I was on a cruise ship sailing out of the port of Taormina, Sicily, headed for Greece, and while my wife was getting ready for dinner, I sat on the upper deck with a bottle of Peroni, my laptop, and sunglasses. Three hours later, after Sicily had faded into the background and the open Med stared back at me, I had two complete chapters written.
Yeah, maybe I won't quit the day job anytime soon...it's actually helping my writing endeavors...
Steve Umstead has been the owner of a Caribbean & Mexico travel company for the past ten years, but never forgot his lifelong dream of becoming an author. After a successful stab at National Novel Writing Month, he decided to pursue his dream more vigorously...but hasn't given up the traveling.
Steve lives in scenic (tongue-in-cheek) New Jersey with his wife, two kids, and several bookshelves full of other authors' science fiction novels. More information is at SteveUmstead.com, and you can always find him on Twitter (@SteveUmstead).
