Toi Thomas's Blog, page 93

Character Files from the ToiBox 34: Mira- Psych Test

Rorschach Test

This is not a real Rorschach test , but simply a fun little additive to the whole character profile motif.

Subject EC:GA 4-Mira describe test image #1 as:

A nightmare come to life. She seeing herself being chased by it, but affirms that “it’s not real.”

Subject seems to have a solid grasp on reality, but is still unsure of herself. Her lack of detail in describing the image, may be an indication that she’s fooled herself and maybe even the rest of us. She is harmless, but valuable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Character Files, EC: Giovanni's Angel Tagged: angels, blessings, character, cultural study, demons, fiction, profile, spec-fic

My Geekdom 05: Garfield

Pins from Pinterest that inspire me and indulge my geekness. http://pinterest.com/toinette_thomas/my-geekdom/

Please do not copy this image. Click this image to visit Pinterest and share, share, share

I truly believe that there are some people who are put on the planet to make the rest of us feel good about ourselves. In the world of cartoons and comic strips, Garfield is “the one.” No one can be as lazy, sneaky, and indifferent as Garfield and still be as lovable. As self-centered as he can be, Garfield has redeeming moments and qualities. He’s not a mean or hateful cat; that would require too much effort. Though he’s not swarming with friends and invitations, he loves the ones he’s close to and they love him.

The truth is, I relate to Garfield. It’s hard to explain, but that cat gets in my head. When I write sometimes, I try to think what Garfield would do and do the opposite. When push comes to shove, Garfield would never sit idly by if his friends truly needed him, but if a plate of lasagna was in his way, it might take him a while to come to the rescue.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: My Geekdom Tagged: author, blogging, comic strip, friends, Garfield, geek, inspiration, lazy, Pinterest, process, try this, writing

Sample Sunday 19

Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

It’s Like the Full Moon chapter 2.4 (wip)

When she arrived back in the suite the phone was ringing. Rebecca rushed over to pick it up and answer it. “Where in God’s name have you been?” yelled Lisa from the other end.

“I was out looking at stuff, what’s the big deal,” replied Becca annoyed.

“The big deal is,” snapped Lisa, “that you’re all alone in a foreign country that you’ve never been to and you didn’t turn on your cell phone,” she shouted.

Rebecca looked down and opened her purse and there was her cell phone sitting snuggly in its designated pocket in the off position. “Oh my…oh…oh Lisa I’m so sorry. I must have just gotten carried away and forgotten to turn it on. I’m so sorry,” she continued to say apologetically.

“It’s ok,” said Lisa now much calmer. “I’m just glad you’re alright. Not even a full day in Italy and you’re a whole new person ehh” she teased in a questioning cynical tone.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

Filed under: Full Moon, Samples Tagged: contemporary fiction, drama, fiction, friends, romance, wip

Fall Back 1 Hour

For those of us still bound by the crazy laws of Daylight Savings, it’s time to reset our clocks. At least we get another hour of sleep.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: life, update

Adventures in Blogging: 2- Types of Blogs

Types of Blogs vs. What I Read

I think there are many different types of blogs out there. I’ve narrowed them all down into five groups which are easy for me to understand. I’ll list them below, and with each listing I’ll provide a description and example of how that kind of blog applies to the world of books, and I’ll tell whether or not I read that kind of blog.

1. News- These are blogs/sites that spend the majority of their time reporting on other things. These blogs gather up information, pictures, and stories from elsewhere and present it all in one nice well organized place for their readership. Examples of such blogs would be: The NewYork Times, IndieWire, and for the book publishing industry, Publishers Weekly.

While I do not subscribe to these particular sites or blogs, I do follow them through either Facebook and or Twitter. If I see something I’m interested in, I click on it and learn more. To be honest, the news bores me, even entertainment news. I do actually subscribe to a few entertainment news blogs, but I can’t remember the last time I read a full article all the way through, except for maybe Alex J. Cavanaugh (a Book/Entertainment blog).

2. Niche or Themed - These are blogs that can sometimes cover multiple platforms, media, and genres, but whatever the content is comprised of, there is a central theme. The words “very specific” come to mind when thinking of these blogs. These blogs can be about any one specific subject such as: fashion, computer design, psychological theories, mixing music, horses and the care thereof, history, etc… While most Book Blogs could be Niche Blog, I’m going to talk about those more later. Examples of such blogs would be: A Beatutiful Mess, The Geek Twins, Christmas All Year Long, and for the book publishing industry, Is History the Agreed Upon Lie and Passages to the Past.

I actually subscribe to the blogs I’ve listed here. One is dedicated to lifestyle and fashion, one is dedicated to geekery, one is dedicated to preparing for Christmas, and so on. I like Niche or themed blogs for when I want to be consumed in a topic or want to focus on one idea/concept without any other distractions.

3. Skill or Practical Application - These blogs, while capable of being quite entertaining, are educational at their core. These are the blogs people turn to, to learn how to be: a better writer, a better cook, a better lover, a better gardener, a better whatever your heart’s desire. Examples of such blogs would be: You Grow Girl, Cinema5D, and for the book publishing industry, ALLi blog (which also serves as industry news), Live Write Thrive, and the CrimsonLeague.

I don’t subscribe to all of these, but I do read the writing ones. I’ve learned a lot by taking advice from other writers as I’m sure so many others have. Skills blogs are some of the most practical educational materials available to the masses.  One need only to look to find these, but a little more effort and time will be required to find out if these blog are actually helpful to you.

4. Exhibition or Presentation- These are the blogs that are dedicated to showing off one’s creativity. These are artist blogs, band blogs, author blogs, etc…I myself have written a nice little author blog in the ToiBox. Reading and sharing these kinds of blogs are the best way to show support and prove yourself a fan of someone else’s work. I’ll skip the examples and move straight into sharing some of my favorite exhibition blogs: A Curious Gal, The Middlest Sister, SophieBrowns, The Inbetween, and so many more.

It seems as though I’ve taken something simple and made it quite complex. Next week, I’ll finish with blog type #5 and wrap all this up.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: AdventuresNBlogging Tagged: author, blogging, books, exhibition, information, news, niche, practical application, reading, sharing, skill, theme, try this, types of blogs, writing

ToiBox Blog Weekly Recap 11/2/13

Check out my Recent Posts links to see what I was up to this week.

I started out the week with Sample Sunday 18- Eternal Curse: Battleground, chapter 3

Monday was a look into Mira’s Closet

On Tuesday, I added to my character files the results of Giovanni’s Rorschach Test.

On Wednesday, I posted a review of Childhood’s End

Then I shared a wonderful article I found about Indie Publishing from ALLi.

On Thursday, I observed Halloween.

Then I shared a Day in My Life.

And yesterday, I posted a very brief Friday Forecast before…

My interview with industry professional Rob Bignell.

Be sure to stick around today for another installment in my Adventures in Blogging.

I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself this week and enjoy a very pleasant weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: author, biography, blessings, blogging, books, character, culture, discussion, entertainment, fashion, geek, interviews, journal, life, likes, lists, reading, reviews, sample, wip

Rob Bignell Interview- industry professsional

Greetings everyone. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful industry professional named, Rob Bignell. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down.

image provided guest

Hi there Rob! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

So tell me, who is Rob Bignell?

I’m the owner and chief editor of Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the editing and self-publishing needs of writers both new and published. Several of my short stories in the literary and science fiction genres have been published, and I’m the author of the nonfiction guidebook series 7 Minutes a Day…, Hikes with Tykes, Headin’ to the Cabin, Hittin’ the Trail, the literary novel Windmill, and the poetry collection Love Letters to Sophie’s Mom. For more than two decades, I worked as an award-winning journalist, with half of those years spent as an editor. I spent another seven years as an English teacher or a community college journalism instructor. I hold a Master’s degree in English and a Bachelor’s in journalism and English.

Wow, I mean, just wow! You’ve worked as a teacher, journalist, editor, and writer. I can’t imagine being all those things at once, but you make it seem easy and thrilling. I can’t wait to see what all you have to share.

So whacha got for me today?

image provided by guest

I’m wrapping up writing on the next title in my “7 Minutes a Day…” writing guidebook series. Due out at the holiday season, the fourth title in the series focuses on “the craft of fiction writing” – or how to give your writing more zing. It’s a collection of 50 pieces of advice I’ve given to writers who I’ve edited and helped get published during the past five years. It’s called “7 Minutes a Day to Mastering the Craft of Writing.”

That sounds like a good series to look into. As a writer I know it never hurts to brush up your writing and as a writer of fiction, this topic truly appeals to me.

Do you mind to share today, how we become fans, followers, or friends?

Through LinkedIn. I make the majority of my connections with serious writers and editors and other professionals via LinkedIn, much more so than Facebook or Twitter.

I can totally agree with you on that. I find that when I connect with people through Facebook and Twitter, it’s more social, and that can be a good thing, but for business, I stick with LinkedIn. It’s a great way to make initial connections before moving on to something more social, if things work out that way.

Getting to know you a little better, tell me, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Shakespeare. I’d like know how he came up with the ideas, imagery, and lines for his plays, to learn if they were borrowed, collaborative or wholly of his own mind. I’d like to learn what specific events in his life inspired some of his greatest lines and scenes. Of course, if I knew, then I’d be writing scholarly papers for the rest of my life!

This is one of those questions with no right or wrong answer, but sometimes an answer seems better than others. Shakespeare is always a good one, especially when there is good reasoning behind it – not just because everyone’s heard of him.

Up next, who is so you and why?

Well, I wish they would compare to Captain Kirk or to James Bond! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone compare me to a celebrity or fictional character before. Wait, back in college, someone said they thought I was like Ted Koppel. There’s no way that’s true. I mean, do I sound like Ted Koppel to you?

I know what you mean. We are never compared to the people we’d want to be compared to, but being compared to Ted Koppel doesn’t seem too bad. I always get compared to B-list actresses.

Being the busy person that you are, what makes you chill?

Listen to bebop jazz with a lavender candle burning, curled up with a good book with just enough lighting to read by. I probably spend all of my relaxation time with me Kindle Paperwhite. Pathetic, right? I’ve taken to introducing my Kindle as my new girlfriend.

LOL! I like you; you’re funny. There’s nothing wrong with settling down with a good book. Every day at work (I teach) I scarf down my lunch quickly so I can squeeze in at least 10 minutes of reading, just to clear my mind.

So, what was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

from GoodReads.com

I read a tremendous amount of science fiction and boy adventure novels. One short story that I read over and over was Fredric Brown’s “Puppet Show,” which was in an anthology I had. I remember comic book versions of “The War of the Worlds” and “The Time Machine” having a big impact on me. I devoured James Blish’s “Star Trek” anthologies.

I never read many short stories growing up and am just now growing to like the medium, but you had me the moment you said “comic book.” To this day, even after having read the originals, I love to read the graphic novel versions of books. I just love the images.

If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

from IMDB

That’s a tough question. Maybe “Star Wars IV: A New Hope.” It’s got action and adventure, it’s got mythology, it’s got humor, just as a start. The movie has a number of layers to it, and if you take that approach and just view it for each layer, you’d be watching a new movie each time you saw it.

I like you more and more every minute. That movie rocks!

What makes you geek out?

“Star Trek: The Original Series.” I can tell you the name of the episode just by seeing the planet they approach in the opening scene.

Wow, that’s impressive. My dad would be so proud of me if I could do, not that he isn’t proud of me, but you get my meaning . Good for you!

So what’s testing your patience right now?

What’s testing my patience right now is that there’s a lot of good books, music and art out there there but nothing that’s truly shattering the old paradigms. So much is imitative and commercial. Of course, the imitation is very flattering and the production quite slick. But I’d like to live through a period where you say, “He/she/they are like the Beatles or Motown. Nothing’s the same now that they’re on the scene.”

I know what you mean. There is definitely no shortage of creativity right now, but originality is sparse and the ability to change the game for the better seems almost impossible. However, I’ve seen some of the things people are doing in the name of conservation and my mind is blown.

When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

When I’m working out, Dick Dale’s surf guitar runs through my head. When I’m mindlessly happy, an upbeat Beatles tune plays up there. When I’m contemplative, John Coltrane is there with all of the improvisational notes matching my thoughts of exploration.

I can get down “with a little help from my friends” and, of course, taking a ride on the Coltrane is always enlightening. 

What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Anytime my son and I have laughed together.

What a great answer. Family and laugher are always the best.

So, thoughts on EC: GA?

I’m looking forward to reading it. I’ve heard great things about its characters being extremely well drawn and given a lot of depth. One of the pleasures of reading is meeting characters who are like real people and experiencing their adventures alongside them.

I’m glad to hear that. I tell everyone, that while I worked very hard to develop this story, I put so much more into my characters because they are each a part of me, even my bad guys.

Is there something you would like to ask me?

Q: Are you Dr. Mira Brown?

A: Not really. I image that Mira looks like a taller less glamorous version of my older sister, and while I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid, she’s not really me. She and I have a lot in common, but she’s a combination of many of the women in my life.

Well that’s all for today folks. I hope you’ve enjoyed this conversation with industry professional Rob Bignell and will take some time to visit his links.

Rob Bignell editing service:

http://inventingreality.4t.com/editingservices.html

My “7 Minutes a Day…” writing guidebook series:

http://inventingreality.4t.com/7minutes_home.html

This has been a

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Interviews Tagged: author, books, ebook, editing, interviews, life, links, marketing, movies, music, non-fiction, process, reading, try this, writing

Friday Forecast : 11/01/13

Highlighting interviewees, guest posters, my standard weekly posts, and whatever else I can think of, going into the next week.

So, here what’s happening next week:

Sample Sunday

My Geekdom Post-Garfield

Character Files

WWW Wednesday post

My first Insecure Writers Support Group post

WIP Update

Perhaps, next Friday Forecast, I’ll have a book review to share. Hopefully I’ll be lining up some interesting guest posts to share soon.

–

Today is the interview with Rob Bignell. Enjoy!

This month, The Dose of daily gratitude blog is helping us all to realize just how thankful or grateful we are to have certain people in our lives. Check my side panel to learn more.

Tomorrow I will continue my Adventures in Blogging. I don’t know if this will be a weekly thing, but we’ll see how it goes.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

 

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: author, blogging, interviews, life, reviews, sneak peak, try this, writing

A Day in My Life: Oct. ’13

Today is Oct. 31, also know as Halloween, but on Oct. 21, it was my birthday.

Happy Birthday to Me! was a crazy ride. It was basically a week long virtual party I threw myself. I have no idea how or why I came up with the idea, but I enjoyed it…right up to the point where I became very ill and could barely keep up with it.

Oh well, life goes on and I have another wonderful year to be thankful for.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: About Me Tagged: biography, birthday, cake, life, social interaction

It’s Halloween

Halloween is one of those holidays you either love or hate, but fortunately for me, I get to choose to do neither. For many Halloween is full of controversy  and darkness, but for most, it’s just a day that lets kids run with their imaginations and fantasies and lets adults act like kids for a while. Now that doesn’t sound so bad.

I’m not big into celebrating Halloween myself because of its controversial history, but what something was and what it is are two different things. I like scary movies, I like costumes, and I definitely like candy, so why should I stop for just one day to protest a holiday that looks so cute on five year old.

So if you’re heading out to trick-or-treat, be safe and Happy Halloween to you. Otherwise, stay home and watch a movie or read a good book. Don’t be a grumpy-pants and remember to turn off your porch light. There’s no sense in being cruel to little kids.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: holiday, life