Stephen Leary's Blog, page 3
October 7, 2015
My Latest Story: The Cowboy Who Studied Yoga
My Latest Story is now up on Amazon: The Cowboy Who Studied Yoga.
Jackson Smith is a frustrated self-published author. Despite his skills as a novelist, his books aren't selling and he can't find an audience. He becomes jealous of a successful romance author whose novels, though not examples of great literature, are nevertheless bestsellers. Her book signings are attended by hundreds of her adoring fans. Jackson wonders what he needs to do to become a successful author like all the famous name...
Jackson Smith is a frustrated self-published author. Despite his skills as a novelist, his books aren't selling and he can't find an audience. He becomes jealous of a successful romance author whose novels, though not examples of great literature, are nevertheless bestsellers. Her book signings are attended by hundreds of her adoring fans. Jackson wonders what he needs to do to become a successful author like all the famous name...
September 15, 2015
My New Story "The Moon Colony Inspection" Now on Amazon
My new story "The Moon Colony Inspection" is now available on Amazon.
After a close call with another spaceship during his flight, the inspector arrives at the Moon Colony. All seems in good order until a mysterious illness breaks out among the colonists. Did the inspector bring a germ with him? The malady threatens to wipe out the colony as the robots begin to bury the dead. Can the doctor identify the problem before it's too late? This work is about 8,000 words in length.
I'll have...
After a close call with another spaceship during his flight, the inspector arrives at the Moon Colony. All seems in good order until a mysterious illness breaks out among the colonists. Did the inspector bring a germ with him? The malady threatens to wipe out the colony as the robots begin to bury the dead. Can the doctor identify the problem before it's too late? This work is about 8,000 words in length.
I'll have...
August 13, 2015
Obama's Supposed Summer Reading List
President Obama is off for another vacation in Martha's Vineyard, and his "summer reading list" has just been announced. My immediate reaction is:
Who picked out these books for Obama?What kind of books did Obama indicate he wanted?What's the real point of releasing this list to the public?Will Obama actually read these books?Does Obama have a secret reading list hidden from the public?What books should be on Obama's list?
Here is the list:All That Is by James SalterAll the Light We Cannot See...
Who picked out these books for Obama?What kind of books did Obama indicate he wanted?What's the real point of releasing this list to the public?Will Obama actually read these books?Does Obama have a secret reading list hidden from the public?What books should be on Obama's list?
Here is the list:All That Is by James SalterAll the Light We Cannot See...
August 12, 2015
Actors, Mannequins, and Spies in Starbucks
Every person I see in cafes like Starbucks plays the same role day in and day out.
The barista wears her Starbucks uniform and stands behind the counter taking orders and providing drinks. A barista has a limited set of repeated physical movements: taking orders at the cash register, filling cups with coffee behind her, moving around behind the counter.
Actors
A customer uses a different set of movements. He stands at the front of the counter until he orders his drink, then he moves over to the...
The barista wears her Starbucks uniform and stands behind the counter taking orders and providing drinks. A barista has a limited set of repeated physical movements: taking orders at the cash register, filling cups with coffee behind her, moving around behind the counter.
Actors
A customer uses a different set of movements. He stands at the front of the counter until he orders his drink, then he moves over to the...
August 10, 2015
Robots As Bestselling Authors of the Future?
Dartmouth University has announced a "Turing Test in Creativity" wherein a panel of judges will attempt to determine if a short story or poem was written by a robot or a human.
Computers are already better than humans at many things, such as chess. But in the realm of creativity, humans still reign supreme. The typical human reaction of robot supremacy over humans in any field is one of fear rather than happiness or relief.
Apparently robots are already writing newspaper copy. A company called...
Computers are already better than humans at many things, such as chess. But in the realm of creativity, humans still reign supreme. The typical human reaction of robot supremacy over humans in any field is one of fear rather than happiness or relief.
Apparently robots are already writing newspaper copy. A company called...
August 8, 2015
Ghost Town: Washington DC
Thousands of people travel through the Washington DC Metro system every day, so it's an odd feeling to go down the escalator to the platform and no one is around. The next train arrives, the doors open, you walk in and no one is there.
It's not often three things converge that result in a ghost train:
The empty train with no one in itThe station where no one else gets onThe time of day where no one else is around yet
It reminds me of my own story I'm working on, called "The Ghost Subway Train" i...
It's not often three things converge that result in a ghost train:
The empty train with no one in itThe station where no one else gets onThe time of day where no one else is around yet
It reminds me of my own story I'm working on, called "The Ghost Subway Train" i...
August 6, 2015
Secret Report: Climate Change Poses Serious Threat to Democrats
WASHINGTON, DC (Leary News) - Climate change poses a serious threat to Democratic candidates for public office in the coming decades, according to a secret political report circulated within the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress.
Psychologists warn that the effects of climate change will benefit Republicans in future elections, as a percentage of those identifying as liberals are projected to gradually adopt more conservative political opinions.
"The consensus of opinion is that in...
Psychologists warn that the effects of climate change will benefit Republicans in future elections, as a percentage of those identifying as liberals are projected to gradually adopt more conservative political opinions.
"The consensus of opinion is that in...
August 2, 2015
Hemingway On Killing Cecil The Lion
Much ink has been spilled lately over the blood of Cecil the Lion, killed by an American safari hunter/dentist in Zimbabwe.
In 1935, Ernest Hemingway wrote The Green Hills of Africa, a nonfiction novel published 30 years before Truman Capote kindled a literary genre with In Cold Blood.
Hemingway recounted a safari trip to Africa and his killing of a lion. It wasn't named Cecil, but what's in a name anyway. A lion by any other name is just as dangerous. What's it like to shoot a lion? Hemingway'...
In 1935, Ernest Hemingway wrote The Green Hills of Africa, a nonfiction novel published 30 years before Truman Capote kindled a literary genre with In Cold Blood.
Hemingway recounted a safari trip to Africa and his killing of a lion. It wasn't named Cecil, but what's in a name anyway. A lion by any other name is just as dangerous. What's it like to shoot a lion? Hemingway'...
August 1, 2015
Long Lost F Scott Fitzgerald Story Found
A "long lost" short story written by F. Scott Fitzerald has been found. The story is called "Temperature" and was written in 1939, long after Fitzgerald's star had faded.
He had mailed it himself to the Saturday Evening Post, but it was rejected. Is it any good? Readers of The Strand can read it now; it will appear online in 3 months. The Strand specializes in mystery stories, but apparently this isn't one.
How was this lost story found? The managing editor of The Strand had been rummaging arou...
He had mailed it himself to the Saturday Evening Post, but it was rejected. Is it any good? Readers of The Strand can read it now; it will appear online in 3 months. The Strand specializes in mystery stories, but apparently this isn't one.
How was this lost story found? The managing editor of The Strand had been rummaging arou...
July 31, 2015
The Writer's Diet: What Foods To Eat
Can your diet improve your writing? What foods should you eat to better brainstorm ideas for your next novel?
I've been looking into this question and it seems hard scientific research has given us some leads.
Tyrosine is an amino acid thought to promote creativity. Foods with the highest levels include spirulina seaweed, egg whites, salmon, and lowfat cottage cheese.
Alcohol boosts creativity by blocking analytic "working memory" for the benefit of creative problem solving.
Dark Chocolate boosts...
I've been looking into this question and it seems hard scientific research has given us some leads.
Tyrosine is an amino acid thought to promote creativity. Foods with the highest levels include spirulina seaweed, egg whites, salmon, and lowfat cottage cheese.
Alcohol boosts creativity by blocking analytic "working memory" for the benefit of creative problem solving.
Dark Chocolate boosts...
