Carl Alves's Blog, page 24
February 8, 2017
10 Questions with Sarah Dale
1. Who has been your biggest influence as a writer?
I’d have to say both my folks, and my kid. I grew up watching my dad write a new sermon every week. I was always fascinated by his creative process. My mom was the go-to for editing, which gave me that balance between the writing process and the editing process, and my daughter Ellie is my main inspiration. When she finished her first novel, I had no more excuses. If she could do it, so could I! We have a wonderful process of running plot arc processes by one another; we get a lot accomplished on long car trips.
2. Tell us more about your novel We Could Be Heroes?
It’s a story about taking all your experiences and gifts and screw ups and brokenness and making it all count, about making choices and leaps of faith, about the history and the future of our lives and our place in the universe. It’s about magic and love and family, chaos, jealousy, destruction and disorder.
It’s also about dogs. Lots and lots of dogs.
3. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
Not exactly. I make notes on approximately 47 different types of scratch paper and on my phone, and then scramble to find them when I get to actually write that part. I generally do try to have the main character arcs figured out before I get … halfway … done.
4. How has working in the library system affected you as a writer and editor?
I think the most important effect was my understanding that there was a market for books written for teens, but read by their parents as well. I noticed particularly a strong mother-daughter desire to read the same books. That really got me thinking about Heroes, and the main characters – mother and daughter Kate and Liv, and what about their relationship that would appeal both to mothers and daughters.
The other thing I’ve gained from being in libraries, is a strong faith in readers. There are folks out there who will, by hook or by crook, read. And read ravenously. The idea that there are plenty of folks out there dying to pick up a story and dive in, gives me an enormous amount of motivation to provide good and interesting stories.
5. What made you start writing?
I’ve always written. It’s more or less autonomic. It’s a part of my thinking process.
6. Out of all of the jobs you have held, what it the most unusual?
In-home sales of replacement windows.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
I’d say breadth. I’ve read, studied, traveled, worked, lived and done a lot of stuff. All that stuff is fair game for stories.
8. Which person do you most admire?
I’m cheating here, in a blatantly honest way. I tend not to admire specific people so much as particular traits in various people. Traits like; grace under pressure, intelligence, curiosity, strength, positivity, creativeness and humor.
9. What is your favorite British period drama?
I’m a huge fan of Downton Abbey, and of course Sherlock, but also Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (which isn’t British, but Australian – based on the novels by Kerry Greenwood).
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
Emma Watson
Robin Williams
Douglas Adams
President Obama
Dolly Parton
I’d have to say both my folks, and my kid. I grew up watching my dad write a new sermon every week. I was always fascinated by his creative process. My mom was the go-to for editing, which gave me that balance between the writing process and the editing process, and my daughter Ellie is my main inspiration. When she finished her first novel, I had no more excuses. If she could do it, so could I! We have a wonderful process of running plot arc processes by one another; we get a lot accomplished on long car trips.
2. Tell us more about your novel We Could Be Heroes?
It’s a story about taking all your experiences and gifts and screw ups and brokenness and making it all count, about making choices and leaps of faith, about the history and the future of our lives and our place in the universe. It’s about magic and love and family, chaos, jealousy, destruction and disorder.
It’s also about dogs. Lots and lots of dogs.
3. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
Not exactly. I make notes on approximately 47 different types of scratch paper and on my phone, and then scramble to find them when I get to actually write that part. I generally do try to have the main character arcs figured out before I get … halfway … done.
4. How has working in the library system affected you as a writer and editor?
I think the most important effect was my understanding that there was a market for books written for teens, but read by their parents as well. I noticed particularly a strong mother-daughter desire to read the same books. That really got me thinking about Heroes, and the main characters – mother and daughter Kate and Liv, and what about their relationship that would appeal both to mothers and daughters.
The other thing I’ve gained from being in libraries, is a strong faith in readers. There are folks out there who will, by hook or by crook, read. And read ravenously. The idea that there are plenty of folks out there dying to pick up a story and dive in, gives me an enormous amount of motivation to provide good and interesting stories.
5. What made you start writing?
I’ve always written. It’s more or less autonomic. It’s a part of my thinking process.
6. Out of all of the jobs you have held, what it the most unusual?
In-home sales of replacement windows.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
I’d say breadth. I’ve read, studied, traveled, worked, lived and done a lot of stuff. All that stuff is fair game for stories.
8. Which person do you most admire?
I’m cheating here, in a blatantly honest way. I tend not to admire specific people so much as particular traits in various people. Traits like; grace under pressure, intelligence, curiosity, strength, positivity, creativeness and humor.
9. What is your favorite British period drama?
I’m a huge fan of Downton Abbey, and of course Sherlock, but also Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (which isn’t British, but Australian – based on the novels by Kerry Greenwood).
10. If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
Emma Watson
Robin Williams
Douglas Adams
President Obama
Dolly Parton
January 29, 2017
Movie Review: Split
After a slump of some pretty disappointing movies, the last couple of movies M. Night Shyamalan have been pretty solid. With Split, I feel that Shyamalan is back at the top of his game, his best movie since Signs. The movie starts out with three teenaged girls being abducted at the King Of Prussia mall parking lot, a fun scene for me since I’ve parked at that same parking lot about a hundred times. Kevin, the abductor, is a man with 23 different personas. Some of them are fairly harmless, but the personas hint at a hidden personality, the beast, who is somehow beyond human.
The movie was by and large terrific. I had one complaint about the movie, and that was that early on the three girls had ample opportunity to rush him and make an escape, one that would most likely have been successful, but they never did. It wasn’t terribly realistic, and it was basically a plot device so that the story could play out revealing all of Kevin’s many personalities. Everything else about the movie was top notch. Pretty much every movie I’ve ever watched that involves associative disorder has been terrible prior to this. Shyamalan clearly did extensive research and was faithful to what is known about associative disorder, which was pretty impressive considering he added a supernatural component to it. He did a masterful job of maintaining tension throughout. James McAvoy, who played Kevin, did an amazing acting job. I could tell which of Kevin’s personas he was using before he even spoke just by his mannerisms and body language. It was a performance worthy of an Oscar win, but of course the Hollywood foreign press won’t give him a sniff of an Oscar, since they crap all over horror movies, and will instead give nominations to Leonardo Dicaprio, George Clooney, or Ben Affleck for another lousy performance in another one of their mediocre movies, but I digress. The ending delivered, and I especially enjoyed the final scene of the movie, which hints at a sequel with a tie in to another Shyamalan movie.
The movie was by and large terrific. I had one complaint about the movie, and that was that early on the three girls had ample opportunity to rush him and make an escape, one that would most likely have been successful, but they never did. It wasn’t terribly realistic, and it was basically a plot device so that the story could play out revealing all of Kevin’s many personalities. Everything else about the movie was top notch. Pretty much every movie I’ve ever watched that involves associative disorder has been terrible prior to this. Shyamalan clearly did extensive research and was faithful to what is known about associative disorder, which was pretty impressive considering he added a supernatural component to it. He did a masterful job of maintaining tension throughout. James McAvoy, who played Kevin, did an amazing acting job. I could tell which of Kevin’s personas he was using before he even spoke just by his mannerisms and body language. It was a performance worthy of an Oscar win, but of course the Hollywood foreign press won’t give him a sniff of an Oscar, since they crap all over horror movies, and will instead give nominations to Leonardo Dicaprio, George Clooney, or Ben Affleck for another lousy performance in another one of their mediocre movies, but I digress. The ending delivered, and I especially enjoyed the final scene of the movie, which hints at a sequel with a tie in to another Shyamalan movie.
January 24, 2017
10 Questions with Ellie Piersol
1. What has been the reaction of your classmates to you being a published author?
It was actually kind of interesting, because besides my classmates thinking it was really cool, they were proud of me. It was such a cool feeling to be proud of by my peers, and not just my family and teachers. They were inspired by me and also so incredibly supportive by buying copies and following my Facebook and Twitter and sharing my links for everything.
2. Who is your favorite writer?
It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite person now, just because I’ve been so busy with either writing my series, doing homework/writing for school, or reading for school since about the beginning of high school. It’s very difficult for me to set aside time for myself to just chill out and read, since it’s so time consuming and very involved.
3. What is the genesis of your Mysterium Excelsum series?
I started writing the first Mysterium book when I was about 15 and a freshman in high school. The two major inspirations were when I was on a plane to California and there was a stewardess that was really rude to me when I was trying to walk to the bathroom (there is an exact recreation of that event in the beginning of the first book) and also when I was 13 my dad died from heart failure, which in the book is the reason why the main character is moving from Louisiana to Nebraska.
4. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
My favorite scenes to write are action scenes that have a lot of different things going on and also really emotionally motivated scenes. I love the action because it’s fun and I get to do a lot of research about fighting and I get to include magic and lots of different visual perspectives to paint a picture of what’s going on like a movie would. I like the emotional scenes too because I often like writing with music and including music to go with specific scenes in the book, and when I read/write a scene and have the perfect song to go with it with really strong dialogue and description and high emotions, it makes me feel like I’m watching a movie and like I can actually feel what’s going on.
5. What made you start writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in about fourth grade, and when I was a kid I read quite a bit and I liked even more to write stories that were based off the books I read, basically that were fan fiction but I never published or finished any of it. I also for as long as I could remember played the Sims computer games and I loved being able to put myself into a different and new experience or situation and create a story out of it.
6. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I don’t like to limit myself but if I have to, the subject would have to be something that I either couldn’t make up myself or have no experience or research in the subject. I wouldn’t feel comfortable writing a story from the first person perspective of someone that was trans or a person of color, or just anything that’s something way out of my experience level. Because of that though, I do quite a bit of research for those kinds of topics so I can do them justice, if I do choose to use that perspective.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
I think my best quality is that my experiences as a person are different than a lot of other people and also my imagination and the way I’m able to craft something. Off first glance, Mysterium very easily looks similar to the Harry Potter books or really anything that has to do with teenagers in a magical school, but that’s more of an influence than anything. My perspective and my stories are different.
8. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
There are so many to choose from, it’s so hard to just pick one. I think it would be really interesting to collaborate with Stephen King, or possibly even YA authors like John Green or Rainbow Rowell. I think they all have different styles, specifically from myself, and if we were to work together I think we could create something interesting but still different.
9. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Done with college, hopefully with a degree in Creative Writing but also maybe film production, screenplay writing, and directing experience. Maybe I’ll have a few cats, a decent house or apartment, enough money to buy groceries. As of late I’ve been interested in having a job in TV production, so I might do that to keep my writing/movie career stable.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation or movie series of Mysterium Excelsum, and the director asked you to cast the role of Stella, who would you choose?
Well first off, I plan on actually directing the movie, or maybe even Netflix TV series in the future, once all the books are out or however I can work that out. I’ve been as of late commissioning people that are indie/small business artists like myself and then working with them to create cover art or bookmarks or stickers or anything like that and helping them out and also getting their name out with mine. I’m not sure that I’d pick anyone out in the scene right now, but I’d for sure want to pick someone up and coming and give them a big opportunity. Kinda like the Stranger Things cast, most of them had never really been in anything big and then they all blew up once the show got popular.
Plus, I’m not sure that it helps that all the characters, especially Stella, have very specific looks to them that can’t just be recreated with clothes, hair, and makeup and I feel like there would have to be someone especially talented and understanding to be able to play her and give her justice, at least to my standards.
It was actually kind of interesting, because besides my classmates thinking it was really cool, they were proud of me. It was such a cool feeling to be proud of by my peers, and not just my family and teachers. They were inspired by me and also so incredibly supportive by buying copies and following my Facebook and Twitter and sharing my links for everything.
2. Who is your favorite writer?
It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite person now, just because I’ve been so busy with either writing my series, doing homework/writing for school, or reading for school since about the beginning of high school. It’s very difficult for me to set aside time for myself to just chill out and read, since it’s so time consuming and very involved.
3. What is the genesis of your Mysterium Excelsum series?
I started writing the first Mysterium book when I was about 15 and a freshman in high school. The two major inspirations were when I was on a plane to California and there was a stewardess that was really rude to me when I was trying to walk to the bathroom (there is an exact recreation of that event in the beginning of the first book) and also when I was 13 my dad died from heart failure, which in the book is the reason why the main character is moving from Louisiana to Nebraska.
4. What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
My favorite scenes to write are action scenes that have a lot of different things going on and also really emotionally motivated scenes. I love the action because it’s fun and I get to do a lot of research about fighting and I get to include magic and lots of different visual perspectives to paint a picture of what’s going on like a movie would. I like the emotional scenes too because I often like writing with music and including music to go with specific scenes in the book, and when I read/write a scene and have the perfect song to go with it with really strong dialogue and description and high emotions, it makes me feel like I’m watching a movie and like I can actually feel what’s going on.
5. What made you start writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in about fourth grade, and when I was a kid I read quite a bit and I liked even more to write stories that were based off the books I read, basically that were fan fiction but I never published or finished any of it. I also for as long as I could remember played the Sims computer games and I loved being able to put myself into a different and new experience or situation and create a story out of it.
6. Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I don’t like to limit myself but if I have to, the subject would have to be something that I either couldn’t make up myself or have no experience or research in the subject. I wouldn’t feel comfortable writing a story from the first person perspective of someone that was trans or a person of color, or just anything that’s something way out of my experience level. Because of that though, I do quite a bit of research for those kinds of topics so I can do them justice, if I do choose to use that perspective.
7. What is your best quality as a writer?
I think my best quality is that my experiences as a person are different than a lot of other people and also my imagination and the way I’m able to craft something. Off first glance, Mysterium very easily looks similar to the Harry Potter books or really anything that has to do with teenagers in a magical school, but that’s more of an influence than anything. My perspective and my stories are different.
8. If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
There are so many to choose from, it’s so hard to just pick one. I think it would be really interesting to collaborate with Stephen King, or possibly even YA authors like John Green or Rainbow Rowell. I think they all have different styles, specifically from myself, and if we were to work together I think we could create something interesting but still different.
9. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Done with college, hopefully with a degree in Creative Writing but also maybe film production, screenplay writing, and directing experience. Maybe I’ll have a few cats, a decent house or apartment, enough money to buy groceries. As of late I’ve been interested in having a job in TV production, so I might do that to keep my writing/movie career stable.
10. If Hollywood was making a film adaptation or movie series of Mysterium Excelsum, and the director asked you to cast the role of Stella, who would you choose?
Well first off, I plan on actually directing the movie, or maybe even Netflix TV series in the future, once all the books are out or however I can work that out. I’ve been as of late commissioning people that are indie/small business artists like myself and then working with them to create cover art or bookmarks or stickers or anything like that and helping them out and also getting their name out with mine. I’m not sure that I’d pick anyone out in the scene right now, but I’d for sure want to pick someone up and coming and give them a big opportunity. Kinda like the Stranger Things cast, most of them had never really been in anything big and then they all blew up once the show got popular.
Plus, I’m not sure that it helps that all the characters, especially Stella, have very specific looks to them that can’t just be recreated with clothes, hair, and makeup and I feel like there would have to be someone especially talented and understanding to be able to play her and give her justice, at least to my standards.
January 19, 2017
Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
Half a King is an epic fantasy novel that isn’t particularly epic in scope. It doesn’t have the wide scale or intricate plot of a Game of Thrones. But it is a very effective story. Yarvi is a sad excuse for a prince. His biggest obstacle in life is that he has a withered hand, and it defines every aspect of his life. He can barely hold a sword, and doesn’t have the fighting and leadership skills that someone in his position should, which is why his intention is to become a minister, a quasi-religious position, where he would give up his birthright and any claim to the throne. That gets thrown for a loop when his father and brother are killed and he is forced to become king, only to be betrayed by his uncle and made a slave instead.
The story follows Yarvi’s fall from grace and his attempts at regaining the throne from his uncle. In a way, becoming a slave was exactly what Yarvi needed. It was through his time as a slave and his quest to become free that he grew as a person and gained the skills and confidence that he would ultimately need to gain the revenge that he sought. The story line wasn’t overly complex and the writing style was clean and easy to read. I ripped through this story quickly and enjoyed reading it. Despite what I say is not an overly complex story line, there were two really good twists at the end of the novel that I didn’t see coming that I thought really worked well. Overall, this was a fun read that I would recommend.
The story follows Yarvi’s fall from grace and his attempts at regaining the throne from his uncle. In a way, becoming a slave was exactly what Yarvi needed. It was through his time as a slave and his quest to become free that he grew as a person and gained the skills and confidence that he would ultimately need to gain the revenge that he sought. The story line wasn’t overly complex and the writing style was clean and easy to read. I ripped through this story quickly and enjoyed reading it. Despite what I say is not an overly complex story line, there were two really good twists at the end of the novel that I didn’t see coming that I thought really worked well. Overall, this was a fun read that I would recommend.
January 14, 2017
Movie Review: Rogue One
When I saw the trailers for Rogue One, I thought it was a bit overkill to have a stand alone movie so close to when the series was relaunched. Of course, Disney wants to milk every last dollar they possibly could from their acquisition of the Star Wars franchise. Having said all of that, the movie met my expectations. It was good, not great. It was entertaining but had some flaws.
The beginning of the movie was a bit of a mess. Considering that these were all new characters, it didn’t make sense for it to jump around from setting to setting in a flurry to introduce as many characters as possible. It would have made more sense to follow Jyn around at first and introduce characters gradually instead of this shotgun approach. As a result, it took about twenty minutes for me to get into the movie. There was tons of action, lots of space ships buzzing around the screen, and top notch special effects. There was a lack of humor in this movie compared to The Force Awakens. The ending was a bit predictable, even though it completely defied the conventions of most action movies. It was also cool to see a younger Darth Vader in action. In the original movie he was portrayed as being evil, but you never got to see just how bad-ass he was. Go watch the movie for entertainment, but this will not be going up as a Star Wars classic.
The beginning of the movie was a bit of a mess. Considering that these were all new characters, it didn’t make sense for it to jump around from setting to setting in a flurry to introduce as many characters as possible. It would have made more sense to follow Jyn around at first and introduce characters gradually instead of this shotgun approach. As a result, it took about twenty minutes for me to get into the movie. There was tons of action, lots of space ships buzzing around the screen, and top notch special effects. There was a lack of humor in this movie compared to The Force Awakens. The ending was a bit predictable, even though it completely defied the conventions of most action movies. It was also cool to see a younger Darth Vader in action. In the original movie he was portrayed as being evil, but you never got to see just how bad-ass he was. Go watch the movie for entertainment, but this will not be going up as a Star Wars classic.
December 31, 2016
The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham
The Dragon’s Path follows four different characters and has a lot of wheelings and dealings that are reminiscent of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire with some shortcomings. The premise is that the paths all lead to war, but other than the storyline in Vanai, most of this novel is about setting the table, where hopefully in future novels there will be a payoff. Cithrin is a ward of a bank who is given a task of taking out riches from the bank as the city of Vanai is at war. She encounters Marcus, a renown warrior who is lost after his wife and daughter have died, but now sees Cithrin as the daughter he couldn’t save. Geder is an out of shape son of a noble who is much more comfortable with books than with battles.
There are plenty of intriguing things that happen in this novel. It held my interest from beginning to end, and the writing was very strong. There were many Game of Thrones type maneuverings in this novel that I appreciated, which is one of the things I always enjoyed about Martin’s novels. Where it suffers is the characterization. The characters are generally unlikeable or very inconsistent. Dawson Kalliam is an example of an unlikeable character who thinks people should be judged by their place of birth and not by their accomplishments or character. Geder is an example of a horribly inconsistent character who seems absence of malice and then massacres an entire city in what was without a doubt the most barbaric and violent act of the novel. The part with the followers of the spider goddess was enjoyable, and I didn’t see the twist coming at the end with the reveal. I would recommend this novel and look forward to reading more in the series.
There are plenty of intriguing things that happen in this novel. It held my interest from beginning to end, and the writing was very strong. There were many Game of Thrones type maneuverings in this novel that I appreciated, which is one of the things I always enjoyed about Martin’s novels. Where it suffers is the characterization. The characters are generally unlikeable or very inconsistent. Dawson Kalliam is an example of an unlikeable character who thinks people should be judged by their place of birth and not by their accomplishments or character. Geder is an example of a horribly inconsistent character who seems absence of malice and then massacres an entire city in what was without a doubt the most barbaric and violent act of the novel. The part with the followers of the spider goddess was enjoyable, and I didn’t see the twist coming at the end with the reveal. I would recommend this novel and look forward to reading more in the series.
December 26, 2016
10 Questions with C Michael Forsyth
1. You did a stellar job in your Houdini/Arthur Conan Doyle novel. If you were to write another novel mashing up a two historic figures, who would you choose?
I was fascinated to learn that Abraham Lincoln and Karl Marx knew each other and corresponded. The Communist Manifesto was actually written BEFORE the Emancipation Proclamation. I’m not sure they ever met face to face, but if they did, imagine being a fly in that room! What the ideas they might have exchanged about the rights of laborers, and about liberty? You could have a serious drama – or you could go gonzo. What if Lincoln told Marx about the little problem he was having in the States. Who wouldn’t want to read Karl Marx, Vampire Hunter? With hammer and sickle as his tools of trade, naturally.
2. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That sounds like the definition of Hell. Speaking of which, I suppose the correct answer is The Bible, the only book the hero takes with him at the end of The Time Machine. Enough food for thought to last a lifetime, certainly. But I’d have to go with The Magician’s Nephew, chronologically the first of the Narnia books. If I had to be immersed in any world for eternity, it would be that magical one.
3. What made you want to write a novel featuring Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle?
When I read that they were friends – and later, bitter enemies – I was intrigued, and the possibility of these two larger-than-life figures sharing an adventure, solving a mystery together, quickly seized hold of me. The more I read about Houdini, the more I realized that he was as close to a real-life superhero the world has ever known. And the more I read about Conan Doyle, what a tremendous athlete he was and what an adventurous life he’d lived, I saw that he could be more than just Houdini’s sidekick. Other than Hemingway, you couldn’t pick a writer better suited for an adventure story.
4. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
I outlined this novel, and I’ve hammered out a highly detailed outline of the book I’m currently working on. I happen to be leading a seminar on story structure this coming weekend, and I plan to use the following metaphor in explaining how helpful an outline can be. Creating an outline first vs. winging it is like the difference between setting out on a quest, with a map, and just going for a stroll. Without a map and a goal, the chances that you’ll meander, make wrong turns, come to dead ends and keep doubling back, are high.
5. What do you prefer doing, writing fiction or narrating fiction?
They are each immensely satisfying. I love the challenges of voice acting, but nothing beats creating a world of which you are both the god, and can vicariously live out the experiences of each character.
6. What current writing projects are you working on?
I’m doing another Houdini thriller, in which he battles one of history’s greatest villains. I’m also writing and drawing Night Cage, a graphic novel about vampires taking over a women’s prison. Orange is the New Black meets Salem’s Lot.
7. What type of research did you do for The Adventure of the Spook House?
The research was extensive. I read a biography of Conan Doyle as well as his autobiography and a collection of the 1,500 letters he wrote in his lifetime – a colossal number even for a time when letter-writing was a big part of life. These included letters he wrote his mother from the age of 7, when he was sent to boarding school, till he was in his 50s. From that, I got a complete picture of his thought processes and his speech patterns. For Houdini, I had to research not only biographical details but how he pulled off his escapes. By the end, I could not only recreate how each man would speak, and what he’d likely say in any situation, I had a better grasp of these characters than those I’ve actually made up! And plus, since the novel is set in 1922, so much research was needed to get right, details ranging from automobiles to airplanes.
8. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
It could be that beneath the surface of things, there are unplumbed depths. Beneath Conan Doyle’s hale and hearty, man-of-action persona, is the troubled spirit of an adult child of an alcoholic. Beneath the tranquil college campus in my horror novel Hour of the Beast is a dark, Lovecraftian netherworld.
9. Who is your current favorite living magician?
I saw David Copperfield on stage and he blew my mind.
10. If you could create a Mount Rushmore of the greatest authors in the mystery genre, which four writers would you choose?
Conan Doyle, of course. Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett and John Grisham.
I was fascinated to learn that Abraham Lincoln and Karl Marx knew each other and corresponded. The Communist Manifesto was actually written BEFORE the Emancipation Proclamation. I’m not sure they ever met face to face, but if they did, imagine being a fly in that room! What the ideas they might have exchanged about the rights of laborers, and about liberty? You could have a serious drama – or you could go gonzo. What if Lincoln told Marx about the little problem he was having in the States. Who wouldn’t want to read Karl Marx, Vampire Hunter? With hammer and sickle as his tools of trade, naturally.
2. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That sounds like the definition of Hell. Speaking of which, I suppose the correct answer is The Bible, the only book the hero takes with him at the end of The Time Machine. Enough food for thought to last a lifetime, certainly. But I’d have to go with The Magician’s Nephew, chronologically the first of the Narnia books. If I had to be immersed in any world for eternity, it would be that magical one.
3. What made you want to write a novel featuring Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle?
When I read that they were friends – and later, bitter enemies – I was intrigued, and the possibility of these two larger-than-life figures sharing an adventure, solving a mystery together, quickly seized hold of me. The more I read about Houdini, the more I realized that he was as close to a real-life superhero the world has ever known. And the more I read about Conan Doyle, what a tremendous athlete he was and what an adventurous life he’d lived, I saw that he could be more than just Houdini’s sidekick. Other than Hemingway, you couldn’t pick a writer better suited for an adventure story.
4. Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
I outlined this novel, and I’ve hammered out a highly detailed outline of the book I’m currently working on. I happen to be leading a seminar on story structure this coming weekend, and I plan to use the following metaphor in explaining how helpful an outline can be. Creating an outline first vs. winging it is like the difference between setting out on a quest, with a map, and just going for a stroll. Without a map and a goal, the chances that you’ll meander, make wrong turns, come to dead ends and keep doubling back, are high.
5. What do you prefer doing, writing fiction or narrating fiction?
They are each immensely satisfying. I love the challenges of voice acting, but nothing beats creating a world of which you are both the god, and can vicariously live out the experiences of each character.
6. What current writing projects are you working on?
I’m doing another Houdini thriller, in which he battles one of history’s greatest villains. I’m also writing and drawing Night Cage, a graphic novel about vampires taking over a women’s prison. Orange is the New Black meets Salem’s Lot.
7. What type of research did you do for The Adventure of the Spook House?
The research was extensive. I read a biography of Conan Doyle as well as his autobiography and a collection of the 1,500 letters he wrote in his lifetime – a colossal number even for a time when letter-writing was a big part of life. These included letters he wrote his mother from the age of 7, when he was sent to boarding school, till he was in his 50s. From that, I got a complete picture of his thought processes and his speech patterns. For Houdini, I had to research not only biographical details but how he pulled off his escapes. By the end, I could not only recreate how each man would speak, and what he’d likely say in any situation, I had a better grasp of these characters than those I’ve actually made up! And plus, since the novel is set in 1922, so much research was needed to get right, details ranging from automobiles to airplanes.
8. Is there an overall theme to your writing?
It could be that beneath the surface of things, there are unplumbed depths. Beneath Conan Doyle’s hale and hearty, man-of-action persona, is the troubled spirit of an adult child of an alcoholic. Beneath the tranquil college campus in my horror novel Hour of the Beast is a dark, Lovecraftian netherworld.
9. Who is your current favorite living magician?
I saw David Copperfield on stage and he blew my mind.
10. If you could create a Mount Rushmore of the greatest authors in the mystery genre, which four writers would you choose?
Conan Doyle, of course. Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett and John Grisham.
December 19, 2016
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & Harry Houdini in The Adenture of the Spook House by C. Michael Forsyth
When I saw the premise of this novel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini working together to solve a murder mystery, I knew this was a novel that I had to read, and I’m glad that it didn’t disappoint. These historical figures seem very different types of people—and as seen in the novel they in fact were very different from each other—yet were still friends in real life. Houdini is plain-spoken, brash, and craved attention, whereas Doyle is much more refined, reserved, and intellectual. They both bring very interesting tools to the table in solving a mystery. Many of Houdini’s traits are physical and slight of the hand in nature, such as the ones that helped him escape from all of those straight jackets, whereas Doyle, as a mystery writer, can see the big picture, and the holes and flaws in theories.
When a prominent judge disappears in a mansion, Houdini and Doyle work together, along with a psychic with questionable legitimate skills, to solve the case. Doyle is convinced that the root of the case is supernatural in nature, whereas Houdini is a complete non-believer in the supernatural. Of the two, Houdini came off both as more likeable and more capable. He was clearly the driving force in solving the mystery, but the interaction between the two was very enjoyable to read. This was a fun novel, which I would highly recommend that works on a lot of different levels.
When a prominent judge disappears in a mansion, Houdini and Doyle work together, along with a psychic with questionable legitimate skills, to solve the case. Doyle is convinced that the root of the case is supernatural in nature, whereas Houdini is a complete non-believer in the supernatural. Of the two, Houdini came off both as more likeable and more capable. He was clearly the driving force in solving the mystery, but the interaction between the two was very enjoyable to read. This was a fun novel, which I would highly recommend that works on a lot of different levels.
December 12, 2016
The Walking Dead: Hearts Still Beating
If you have been reading my episode recaps of The Walking Dead, then you know I have been hammering them pretty hard. After the first two, the remaining episodes have, quite frankly, sucked. Finally, we get an episode to justify some of the crappy viewing we have been exposed to this season, and it came not a moment too soon as The Walking Dead ratings have been cratering.
Negan
In this episode, we get a clean-shaven Negan having dinner at the Grimes household, waiting for Rick to arrive. He was his over the top, bombastic self as he played pool outside in the streets of Alexandria with Spencer, who propositioned him to take out Rick as the leader of the community. As Negan correctly pointed out, Spencer didn’t have the guts to do it himself. Yes, he disemboweled Spencer, but he wasn’t incorrect when he told Rick that he was helping him out by not harming his son after Carl took out two of his men, killing a rival (Spencer), and killing a poor unspecting substitute (Olivia) after Rosita tried to kill him. The man is practically a saint.
Daryl
We find out who was helping Daryl escape the Savior compound. I didn’t think about it at the time, but it should have been obvious that it was Jesus. Daryl bashes in the head of a poor, unkempt Savior who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and he and Jesus flee using a motorcycle. It’s been painful watching Daryl kept shackled as a prisoner, but at least he’s going to get some much needed revenge. My guess is that he has his sights set on Dwight, and is going to do the viewers of this show a favor by killing him.
Carol
Carol is still playing hard to get, claiming she doesn’t want to have anything to do with fighting or Negan or any factions of people. She just wants to be left alone. It’s all subterfuge. Of course, Carol is going to be back in the action, and when she does, she will be slaying many a savior. It’s inevitable.
Rick
I have no idea why it took Rick so long to see the light. Let’s review the situation. They are living in a zombie apocalypse with no weapons to defend themselves. They are being forced to get stuff for Negan that they don’t even possess. And, at any point, Negan might kill one of them as he did with Spencer and Olivia in this episode. The only options in this scenario would be to flee or fight. Accepting the situation is beyond idiotic. I guess it took Aaron being beaten half to death and Olivia being shot in the face for Rick to finally realize this. One of the things I’ve really hated about this season is seeing Rick neutered in the way he has been and the utterly illogical and stupid ways the characters are acting.
The ending of the episode has the old gang getting back together again at Hilltop. This is the first episode all season where all of the characters in their various settings were in the same episode. That has been one of the shortcomings of the season—having these separate stories unfolding and having a lack of continuity with some of the characters. It had been six episodes since we last saw Carol as an example. This was a good episode and it gives me hope that things will get better in the world of The Walking Dead going forward.
Negan
In this episode, we get a clean-shaven Negan having dinner at the Grimes household, waiting for Rick to arrive. He was his over the top, bombastic self as he played pool outside in the streets of Alexandria with Spencer, who propositioned him to take out Rick as the leader of the community. As Negan correctly pointed out, Spencer didn’t have the guts to do it himself. Yes, he disemboweled Spencer, but he wasn’t incorrect when he told Rick that he was helping him out by not harming his son after Carl took out two of his men, killing a rival (Spencer), and killing a poor unspecting substitute (Olivia) after Rosita tried to kill him. The man is practically a saint.
Daryl
We find out who was helping Daryl escape the Savior compound. I didn’t think about it at the time, but it should have been obvious that it was Jesus. Daryl bashes in the head of a poor, unkempt Savior who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and he and Jesus flee using a motorcycle. It’s been painful watching Daryl kept shackled as a prisoner, but at least he’s going to get some much needed revenge. My guess is that he has his sights set on Dwight, and is going to do the viewers of this show a favor by killing him.
Carol
Carol is still playing hard to get, claiming she doesn’t want to have anything to do with fighting or Negan or any factions of people. She just wants to be left alone. It’s all subterfuge. Of course, Carol is going to be back in the action, and when she does, she will be slaying many a savior. It’s inevitable.
Rick
I have no idea why it took Rick so long to see the light. Let’s review the situation. They are living in a zombie apocalypse with no weapons to defend themselves. They are being forced to get stuff for Negan that they don’t even possess. And, at any point, Negan might kill one of them as he did with Spencer and Olivia in this episode. The only options in this scenario would be to flee or fight. Accepting the situation is beyond idiotic. I guess it took Aaron being beaten half to death and Olivia being shot in the face for Rick to finally realize this. One of the things I’ve really hated about this season is seeing Rick neutered in the way he has been and the utterly illogical and stupid ways the characters are acting.
The ending of the episode has the old gang getting back together again at Hilltop. This is the first episode all season where all of the characters in their various settings were in the same episode. That has been one of the shortcomings of the season—having these separate stories unfolding and having a lack of continuity with some of the characters. It had been six episodes since we last saw Carol as an example. This was a good episode and it gives me hope that things will get better in the world of The Walking Dead going forward.
December 9, 2016
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Terror was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It was a novel that was certainly epic in size, but not necessarily epic in scope and the story it told. Set in the middle of the 19th century, two ships from the British Royal Navy, the Erebus and the Terror, are stuck in ice as they are trying to explore the Northwest Passage. They are in essence doomed as they have ships that are unequipped to travel through this type of ice, their cache of food is poisoned and they don’t know how to fish or hunt in the Arctic. To make matters worse, there is some sort of supernatural creature that is stalking them as they wallow away in misery, dying of starvation, exposure, scurvy, and getting eaten alive. To make matters worse for Captain Crozier, there is mutiny afoot.
The novel was a slow moving in spots and riveting in others, but it was uneven in that way. The writing was solid and tight except for the times where it meandered and seemed to lose its way. I also found the novel to be a bit depressing. It seemed like nothing ever went right for the sailors aboard the Terror. It just kept getting worse and worse and more hopeless as the novel progressed. I supposed the ending was supposed to be uplifting, but I didn’t find it to be particularly satisfying. There were many interesting aspects of the novel and the characterization was strong, so I don’t want this review to sound overly negative.
The novel was a slow moving in spots and riveting in others, but it was uneven in that way. The writing was solid and tight except for the times where it meandered and seemed to lose its way. I also found the novel to be a bit depressing. It seemed like nothing ever went right for the sailors aboard the Terror. It just kept getting worse and worse and more hopeless as the novel progressed. I supposed the ending was supposed to be uplifting, but I didn’t find it to be particularly satisfying. There were many interesting aspects of the novel and the characterization was strong, so I don’t want this review to sound overly negative.
