Andrew J. Peters's Blog, page 20
October 4, 2013
5 Reasons Why Atlantis is Making a Comeback
I love a good Atlantis story, and I despair a bit that Atlantis has never quite broken into modern pop culture, at least not in a way with much gravitas.
For sci-fi geeks, there was the Stargate Atlantis series and for kids there was Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Some big name authors have written about Atlantis, like Clive Cussler with his espionage thriller Atlantis Found, but generally Atlantis stories are considered genre and niche.
It’s time for a full-on Atlantis blitz, on the order of vampires, post-apocalyptic dystopias and zombies. Here’s why the time is right.
5. The Every-Thirty-Years Theory: Sociologists say our culture is cyclical.
Political, social and even artistic trends tend to fall in and out of fashion every
thirty years.
This is good news for Atlantis fans because the last decade of major Atlantis popularity was the 1980s. Here’s a look back in thirty year spans.
“Psychic” Edgar Cayce
1920s:
Atlantis makes its silver screen début with the French/Belgian silent movie L’Atlantide, Scottish journalist and folklorist Lewis Spence publishes his seminal book The History of Atlantis. Pop-psychic Edgar Cayce claims that he can contact ancient Atlanteans.
From the 1959 film adaptation of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth
1950s:
Jules Vernes’ Journey to the Center of the Earth is made into a movie. Pulp author Lester Del Rey, who will become the founder of Ballantine’s sci fi/fantasy imprint Del Rey books, publishes Attack from Atlantis. Atlantis:The Lost Continent becomes the first Hollywood studio production about the legend (OK, that’s stretching decades just a touch; the movie came out in 1961).
Screen shot of Atari’s Atlantis
1980′s:
Best-selling Australian author Marion Zimmer Bradley takes on Atlantis with her epic Fall of Atlantis. The award-winning film Cocoon is based on extraterrestrial myths about Atlantis. Atari is inspired and releases an Atlantis video game.
4. Everyone loves Greek Mythology: Recent projects about Ancient Greece are a warm-up for the BIG Atlantis breakthrough.
There’s Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series and movie franchise, the 2010 reboot of Clash of the Titans (from the original 1981 movie — see #5 above), along with films like 300 and Immortals.
3. Young adult fantasy author T.A. Barron just released the Atlantis Rising series.
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2. BBC’s Atlantis mini-series just came to the small screen for Fall 2013.
via YouTube
1. You know where this was leading: Andrew J. Peters’ The Seventh Pleiade, upcoming in November 2013, begins a new epic series retelling the story of Atlantis. (And is available for pre-order by the way).
*Note: This article is not meant to be taken entirely seriously 
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September 24, 2013
On Writing About Atlantis
Just a quick post to say my short essay “On Writing About Atlantis” went live on the Bold Strokes Authors Blog today. This is in anticipation of my young adult fantasy The Seventh Pleiade, which is upcoming in November!
So stop by the blog, drop a comment, let me know what you think about the legend of Atlantis.
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September 23, 2013
Group Photo from Boundless Tales
The September 19th Boundless Tales event was an amazing experience!
I was in a line up with four tremendously talented writers and/or poets. The vibe was enthusiastic and supportive. Many thanks to the fabulous co-hosts Aida Zilelian and Audrey Dimola. One of the nicest parts of the event was milling around during intermission and after the show with people from the audience and the other writers. What a great feeling of community!
Here’s a group shot of all the readers.
Left to right: Joanna Valente, Aida Zilelian, Audrey Dimola, John Gorman, M Leona Godin, me and Thomas Fucarola
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September 9, 2013
Join me at Boundless Tales this month!
My apologies for disappearing for a little while. I took a Labor Day trip up to Buffalo, returned to an apartment under siege by contractors (which means showering at a friend’s house down the block), and I had to hole up for a few days to do the final proofreading of The Seventh Pleiade (yay!).
In the midst of that jazz, I booked a reading at the Boundless Tales series for September. All are welcome to come to the Waltz Astoria, in Astoria, NY on Thursday, September 19th 7:30 – 9:30pm. You can check out the event posting here.
I’ve been too busy to get nervous about it (yet). The theme of September’s reading is: “my private war.” I’ll be reading an excerpt from Werecat: The Rearing, which deals with a young man’s struggle with his hybrid nature.
Meanwhile, I thought I’d post my latest obsession to bring some music to my blog. In my wild fantasies, I see this song figuring into the Werecat soundtrack.
via YouTube
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Join me at Boundless Tales Reading this month!
My apologies for disappearing for a little while. I took a Labor Day trip up to Buffalo, returned to an apartment under siege by contractors (which means showering at a friend’s house down the block), and I had to hole up for a few days to do the final proofreading of The Seventh Pleiade (yay!).
In the midst of that jazz, I booked a reading at the Boundless Tales series for September. All are welcome to come to the Waltz Astoria, in Astoria, NY on Thursday, September 19th 7:30 – 9:30pm. You can check out the event posting here.
I’ve been too busy to get nervous about it (yet). The theme of September’s reading is: “my private war.” I’ll be reading an excerpt from Werecat: The Rearing, which deals with a young man’s struggle with his hybrid nature.
Meanwhile, I thought I’d post my latest obsession to bring some music to my blog. In my wild fantasies, I see this song figuring into the Werecat soundtrack.
via YouTube
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August 28, 2013
Atlantis Teaser – BBC One
I’ve been waiting quite impatiently for the BBC’s Atlantis series.
This video that came out last week doesn’t even qualify as a trailer, I think. They’re calling it a ‘teaser;’ even at that, at eleven seconds, it doesn’t give much of anything away. Kind of like Natalie Wood in her début as burlesque performer Gypsy Rose.
Anyway, I’m still excited to see how the creators will re-imagine Atlantis. And here’s the teaser:
via YouTube
And here’s Gypsy Rose
via YouTube
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August 22, 2013
Some Photos from Last Night’s Reading
The launch of the Full Moon Paranormal Reading series last night was a lot of fun. Many thanks to co-organizers Marlena Fitzpatrick and Charlie Vazquez!
There were readings of retold folk legends by Fitzpatrick and Vazquez, and I read a couple of passages from Werecat: The Rearing. The Open Mic portion of the event featured narrated paranormal experiences. Some people talked about ghostly encounters. Others shared psychic episodes. There was a poet Gabriel Amor who read some of his work which dealt with love and sex as spiritual experiences. The friendly, intimate atmosphere created lots of discussion among participants.
My video from the event didn’t work out so well, but I have some photos. The last two are courtesy of Marlena Fitzpatrick. You can see some of the lovely back patio at La Casa Azul Bookstore in East Harlem.
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August 20, 2013
Vote for “Werecat: The Rearing” at Fetch Me My Fainting Couch
I’m shameless enough to ask people to buy my books.
I’m shameless enough to ask readers to review my books.
And now, I realize I’m shameless enough to ask you to vote for Werecat: The Rearing on a romance review blog.
I just picked up this Google alert tonight. Blogger “BarklessWagmore” (from Fetch Me My Fainting Couch) has picked out recent releases that caught her interest. She’s asking her visitors to vote for the book they’re dying for her to review. Yep, Werecat: The Rearing is one of the choices.
Will you head over there to cast your vote? Pretty please? Thank you!
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August 14, 2013
“In a Wine Phase” Re-Running in Retrospective “Best of Wilde Oats”
My short story “In a Wine Phase” was chosen to be published in Wilde Oats Issue 14. The issue features the editors’ favorite submissions over the e-zine’s past six years.
Many thanks to Stanley Ridge and his editorial staff!
“In a Wine Phase” is a contemporary, realistic story (yeah, I write realistic stories every now and again). It’s a quick peek into the life of thirty-something Ryan who has a surprise encounter at a cruisy bar that rattles his notions of loyalty and family. The story is really short so saying more would give it all away. You can read it on-line for free here, and check out the entire issue. There are stories ranging from historical fiction, sci fi,, romance and plenty of contemporary fiction.
Artwork from Wilde Oats #14 by Rowan Plantagenet
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August 12, 2013
Come out to the Full Moon Paranormal Storytelling Series
I’m really excited to be participating in Marlena Fitzpatrick’s Full Moon Paranormal Storytelling Series.
It’s an open-mic style reading/storytelling event with a paranormal/horror theme. I’ll be reading a passage of Werecat: The Rearing along with featured authors Marlena Fitzpatrick and Charlie Vazquez.
The event takes place on August 21st 6:00 – 8:00pm at La Casa Azul Bookstore in Manhattan.Tickets are just $7 and can be purchased in advance here.
Come out for some great paranormal readings!
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