T. Rae Mitchell's Blog, page 20
September 17, 2013
The mystery surrounding the number seven
With the anticipation and general awesomeness of the recently released trailer for the upcoming movie, The Seventh Son, I got curious about this mysterious number seven and the origins of the folklore surrounding the seventh son of the seventh son.
The mystical connections concerning the number seven have been part of history and myth for ages. There’s the seven days of creation, the Seven Sages of India and Greece, the seven deadly sins, the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) and many more seven somethings. Just as some of these sevens are good and some not so good, the seventh son is believed to be born with powers granted to him by God or Satan. It pretty much depends on where you’re from as to which side the poor guy will be born on. The Irish believe the seventh son is born a healer, while South Americans believe the seventh son will be a werewolf.
Either way, there’s a great story there and that’s exactly what Joseph Delaney based his novel series, The Wardstone Chronicles on. I’ve got to say the film looks pretty darn intriguing. Unfortunately, we’ve got a bit of a wait. It’s opening in theatres in January, 2014.
September 13, 2013
J.K. Rowling is taking us back to the Wizarding World with ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’
This is exciting news people! Warner Bros. Entertainment announced an “expanded creative partnership” with J.K. Rowling to begin a new film series inspired by the Hogwart’s textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Rowling will be writing the screenplay for the first film about the textbook’s author, Newt Scamander, and his many adventures with the creatures he wrote about. How fun is that?
Here’s what Rowling has to say about it, “Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.”
September 11, 2013
It’s funny how we don’t see ourselves aging, even when it happens in 5 minutes
Aging is one of those things that sneaks up on us, surprising us with a wrinkle that wasn’t there yesterday–a grim reminder that we’re not escaping our mortality. I think this is why artists so often explore this uncomfortable subject, maybe as a way to test their courage for what none of us can avoid.
I certainly wasn’t comfortable with this subject in Fate’s Fables, when I accelerated the age of my character, Brune Inkwell. She had held off aging for 75 years, but when an overdose of magic compromised her protection, she degenerated to the ripe old age of 94 within minutes.
Here’s what that feels like:
An icy dread crawled over Brune’s skin. She rushed over to the mirror ball sitting atop a pile of books. Leaning in, she stared at her convex reflection in horror. Her full lips looked like shriveled rose petals. Fine lines had carved themselves into her smooth skin, while puffy folds crowded her hazel eyes. Her fresh nineteen-year-old face was gone, replaced by a stranger in her forties. She pushed away from her reflection, unwilling to watch the inevitable arrival of the ninety-four-year-old crone she’d cleverly evaded for the last seven-and-a-half decades. How was this possible? The Orb of Aeternitis should’ve protected her.
For an amazing visual of rapid, yet unnoticeable aging, you have to see Danielle by Anthony Cernielllo. Be sure to you watch the entire 5 minutes. Just as in life, you won’t realize the changes as they’re happening.
September 4, 2013
Goofy little Hiccup is a leather-clad badass five years later
If you’re a How To Train Your Dragon fan, then you know the loveable Hiccup, who couldn’t live up to his dad’s expectations for becoming a tough-as-nails Viking. Remember Hiccup’s take on his father’s attitude of him? “Excuse me, barmaid! I’m afraid you brought me the wrong offspring! I ordered an extra-large boy with beefy arms, extra guts and glory on the side. This here, this is a talking fish-bone!” Well Hiccup proved him wrong and lost half a leg doing it.
Which leads me to wonder what kind of amazing feats this grownup, kick ass version of Hiccup–complete with a fire sword–will be dazzling us with in How To Train Your Dragon 2. If this plot synopsis I found on Bleeding Cool is any indication, the movie will be every bit as good as the first when it hits the theatres in June 2014:
“Hiccup and Toothless lead hundreds of hero dragons in defense of Dragon Mountain, battling against Drago Bloodfist’s huge army of Dragon Hunters and their ruthless war machines. The mighty Bewilderbeast, Master of Dragon Mountain, rises to join Hiccup against Drago’s forces, but Drago has a secret weapon – his own enslaved Bewilderbeast arrives to turn the tide. Hiccup and Drago lead their massive armies in an epic showdown.”
September 2, 2013
I am so looking forward to seeing the desolation Smaug wreaks in December
Okay I know that sounds bad, but hey, dragons are just so cool and I can’t wait to see one in action. Not to mention we’ll get to see Legolas, Frodo and Galadriel making a brief appearance in the second film. Yes, I know they weren’t in the book, but I don’t care. Mixing in a little Lord of the Rings for old time’s sake is fine with me. I’ve been living off of LOTR reruns for far too long and it’s super nice to have the newness of The Hobbit movies fulfilling my longing for all things Middle-earth.
August 31, 2013
Guillermo del Toro’s beautiful monsters
Have you seen Pacific Rim yet? If not, you’ve got to go see it! With all the devastation the film’s leviathans wreak, it’s a little hard to get past the adrenaline rush and really appreciate the design and attention to detail del Toro always puts into his creatures. For a closer look, watch this three minute featurette. As always, his monsters are truly beautiful.
August 30, 2013
I want my Scary Godmother Doll!
If you’ve read Fate’s Fables, then you know Fate is the author of a book called Magick Brew. Among the many colorful characters in Fate’s fictitious book is a goth witch. Well I just found the most adorable goth witch doll! She’s got crazy red curls, bat wings, striped stockings and a sweet whimsical smile on her green-tinged face. Created by Jill Thompson, Scary Godmother’s fun and spooky antics are published by Dark Horse Comics. But the really cool news is that you can get your own Scary Godmother doll by donating to Jill Thompson’s Kickstarter project! Hurry though, there’s only 12 days left to go.
August 26, 2013
Wow! Two FIVE star reviews for Fate’s Fables from The Passionate Bookworm just in!
I’m so excited about these two reviews from Brittany and Michelle from The Passionate Bookworm! Brittany’s a humungous Harry Potter fan (as am I) so I feel extremely honored that she wrote, “I have not read anything this imaginative since Lord of the Rings or even Harry Potter.” And I’m elated with Michelle saying, “My Gosh where has this been hiding!? I’ll put it this way. I already plan on purchasing this as a gift for 3 of my friends- one of them being my mom. I loved it so much I refuse to even give them a choice! lol.”
Be sure to hop on over to The Passionate Bookworm and read both reviews in their entirety. They are also hosting an international giveaway right now to WIN FOUR eBOOK COPIES OF FATE’S FABLES so make sure you get your entry in!
August 21, 2013
Can’t stop smiling. Fate’s Fables broke into the top 100 free in Amazon Kindle and is now #1 in Epic Fantasy in both the U.S. and Canada!
Yup, since yesterday, Fate’s Fables has been steadily climbing and is at #97 Free in the U.S. Kindle Store and at #36 Free in the Canada Kindle Store. Here’s a few other happy stats for your reading pleasure:
Amazon.com Best Sellers Rank: #97 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Epic
#2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Fantasy
#5 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy
Amazon.ca Bestsellers Rank: #36 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost
