J.M. Filipowicz's Blog, page 9
May 31, 2013
#SFFS Work in Progress Snippet
Sorry I missed last week, but we’re back in action with this latest snippet from my work in progress. I’ll be posting the first chapter and then moving on to something else. Luckily, the early draft first chapters are often horrendously long.
The metro station couldn’t be seen from this part of the village. It was on the other side of the mountain-sized dune that separated this village from the next. Both settlements had arisen after the tube had been built, the same year that Wona hatched. Towns used to form around water; now they formed around access to the city. Wona raced towards the purple sand mass, occasionally using her front limbs to propel herself forward.
At the edges of her vision, she spotted a shape flying across the pink sky, a woman with wide translucent wings extending out from her arms and legs. Wona recognized the woman, though not by name. She lived in the next village, and ran a shop where Wona’s nest father sometimes bought items imported from the city. The satchel Wona carried was from that store. The shopkeeper’s eyes met hers for an instant and Wona froze, for the gaze held no sign of sentience or intelligence.
May 28, 2013
Hitler Wants Everyone to Support Authors
Hitler parody videos never get old, so I made one to advertise my book launch. Enjoy!
May 27, 2013
Spring Haiku
Snow on a hot breeze
Floats up from the trees and from
The heads of lions
May 24, 2013
How Should I Buy Wardroids?
Vlog in which I answer my most frequently asked question.
May 22, 2013
Desserts made by famous authors
Have you ever had a dessert made by a famous author? I have. My mother has published thirty books for children and young adults. Many of these have achieved international success, with translations in French, German, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian. I’ve seen children swarm to get her autograph. I’ve met girls who are raising guide dogs after being inspired by the Silver-Birch-winning Bringing Up Beauty.
Whenever her writer’s group came over, Mom would make chocolate chip cookies. The house would be filled with the aroma of melted chocolate and buttery batter toasting to perfection. I was always disheartened to learn that these tasty treats were “for the writer’s group”, though she usually let me sample one or two.
I grew up going to book signings and literary events. The full-sized bookshelf in my bedroom brimmed with autographed first editions of picture books and novels. In my house, listening to a good story never had an age limit. She read to my siblings and I well into high school, the three of us crowded around her in her bed. Afterwards I’d retire to my bedroom and pull out another novel to read until my eyes wouldn’t stay open and my mind could no longer focus.
It is to her credit that I developed an ear for the written word. It is to her credit that I have been able to produce a novel, and finish the first draft of another. She inspires me both as an author and as a mother.
So when Mom suggested having a joint book launch to celebrate the releases of our latest works I jumped at the chance. We immediately contacted our favourite bookstore and arranged the shindig. My mother will be making Mars bars squares, which are like Rice Crispies squares only with Mars bars melted into them. If you’ve never had a dessert made by a famous author, your chance has come.
BTW: You may have noticed that I have added an Events tab above. Right now the book launch is the only event, but I’ll be adding others as they come up.
May 17, 2013
#SFFSAT Work in Progress Snippet
As always I urge you to check out the other SFFS authors after reading my contribution.
Elmar’s white scales glowed brighter.
Wona closed her inner eyelids, looking at him through a translucent film that muted the colours of his emotions. “Just go tell your parents where you’re going and I’ll meet you at the metro station.”
Wona watched Elmar scurry back up the path to his family’s burrow. His slender body sparkled in the suns. Wona turned the other way.
May 15, 2013
I’ll Take Awards Where I Can Get Them
When I sit down in front of a computer each day, typing away the best years of my life, I often feel as though I’m talking to myself and my imaginary friends. Tumbleweeds roll by in the desert that is my comments section and, though I don’t have sales numbers yet, I can only assume that my new book is getting about the same amount of attention. Which is why I was tickled pink to get this book review from my fellow author Thea Landen, and a Liebster blog award nomination from Rosanna over at Writing Prompts from Life.
The nomination comes with some meme-style questioning. If you’re here because I’ve passed along a nomination to you, please don’t feel obligated to complete it. Instead rejoice in the knowledge that I find your writing worthy of note and I wish to send my readers to your shores.
Those, such as I, who choose to accept the Liebster Award must do as follows:
Write 11 facts about her/his self
Answer 11 questions from her/his nominator
Nominate 11 blogs with under 200 followers
Leave 11 questions for the nominees to answer
First the facts:
1. I have been previously employed at a book store, a clothing store, a video store, a call centre and an art supply store. Of those, the video store was the best job; the call centre was the worst.
2. According to my birth date, my sign is Scorpio. Of course I think astrology is complete bunk, which is a shame because Scorpio is by far the coolest sign.
3. On the shelf above my computer are five plush toys: A Dalek from Dr. Who, a Teddy Bear wearing a University of Toronto Jersey, a well-loved Popple, an equally well-loved green monster named Monzie, and the original constellation class starship Enterprise.
4. I own a small collection of Wonder Woman action figures.
5. I have two children, two siblings, and a growing number of nieces and nephews.
6. I love the song ISS (Is Somebody Singing) by Ed Robertson and astronaut Chris Hadfield. It makes me believe all the idealistic stuff I believed as a kid, that we as humans can accomplish great things together, that world peace is not only achievable but inevitable, and that we will one day live among the stars (some of us already do).
7. My first book, Wardroids, is out as an ebook or print on demand. This is one for the bucket list and I’m very proud. People I’ve never met have read it, which was my only goal. New goal: sell five hundred thousand copies so I can make a million dollars.
8. At the age of nine, I played a cat named “Fungus” in a stage production of Hansel and Gretel. I didn’t have any lines, but I got to meow, yowl, and burp. I was nominated for best supporting actor (I didn’t win, but got free lobster brunch).
9. My laundry and dishes are rarely done in a timely manor.
10. Winter is my favourite season. I love snow.
11. I love Karaoke. Sometimes I find videos on youtube and sing when there is no one in the house.
And now for Rosanna’s Questions:
1. What is the best advice you can give bloggers? Write. Write all the time, a least once a week if you can. Once a day is better. Write for yourself if no one else is reading.
2. What would you like to do to make your life more exciting? I wholeheartedly enjoy my life, but at times I wish I’d become an astronaut. Perhaps if my books do well enough I can afford one of those space flights that rich people are signing up for.
3. How often do you engage in a hobby or activity that makes you happy? All the time. For one thing I write every day. It’s hard work, especially as I try to change hobby into career, but I feel tremendously satisfied when the story in my head comes to life on the page. I also take improv workshops once a week, which is fun in a more conventional way, with laughter and the permission to be silly. Sometimes I wish I painted more, but I’m lucky if I get out my oils once every six months. I enjoy painting, very zen, but the compulsion to do it just isn’t there the way it is with writing.
4. List 3 blessings you’ve been gifted with during the day. I’d rather list three things I’m grateful for. One, my children who made me cards on Mother’s Day. My son’s had many rocket ships, and my daughter’s featured cats and bugs. Both were covered in hearts. Two, I’m grateful for my book launch coming up on June 9th because I get to share it with my favourite author who is also my mother. Three, I’m grateful for all the friends I have, some new and some I’ve known all my life.
5. What are your best assets? My sense of humour, my intelligence, and my ability to let things slide off my back without getting too stressed out.
6. Why is the world a better place because you live in it? The world might not notice my existence but I believe I am a positive force in the lives of those who know me. I cause more laughter than tears.
7. How are you today? Good. How are you?
8. How can you show love for yourself today? I’m normally a pretty healthy eater, but if I’m in need of some self-love I usually make myself something with chocolate in it.
9. Have you given yourself a pat on the back for a job or chore that you did well? Absolutely! Congratulations on your first book being released! Good job finishing the first draft of your work in progress!
10. How does winning this award make you feel? Super.
11. What can you do today to make yourself feel better? Get out in the sunshine!
My eleven nominations (I actually have no idea how many followers they have). As I stated before, these bloggers are writers worth reading. Please check them out! Nominees, I must reiterate, only complete this Liebster questionnaire if you want to.
3. J M Blackman
4. Pippa Jay
8. Thea Landen
9. Tara Tyler
10. SC Wade
11. SL Hennessy
Questions (in case any of my nominees choose to accept this award):
1. What drew you to write in your chosen genre?
2. Planner or pantser?
3. Is there something you have written/published/done that you wish to shamelessly promote? (Use this question to do so).
4. What book should I absolutely read?
5. When you aren’t writing/blogging, what are you doing?
6. The new Mars colony needs writers, do you sign up to go or stay on Earth?
7. What is it like where you live?
8. Describe your writing space.
9. What is your main goal for the future?
10. Any advice for those who’ve read this far?
11. Quick! Compose a Haiku!
Thanks again, Rosanna for the nomination.
BTW: For those of you living in Southern Ontario. The place to be on June 9th is at A Different Drummer Books in Burlington, Ontario. My mother and I will be having a joint launch to celebrate the release of her new young adult novel Dying to Go Viral and my new sci fi Wardroids. Festivities start at 2 pm.
May 10, 2013
#SFFSAT Work in Progress Snippet
As always I urge you to check out the other SFFS authors after reading my contribution.
Wona shifted the strap of her satchel onto her left shoulder. In it, she had packed her recording equipment, a scanning wand, and a day’s worth of food for the two of them. For anything else they needed they could scan her profile and get access to her mother’s account.
“So are you ready?” she asked.
“Ready for what? You want to leave right now? I thought the executions didn’t start until tomorrow.”
“It’s half a day’s metro ride to the city, Elmar,” Wona explained. “And we have to be at the prison first thing in the morning.”
Me reading from my book
There are links to purchase the book in the sidebar and in the Wardroids tab, but who has the time for that? Instead click one of the links below.
Double Dragon Publishing (for formats not listed above, including epub)
May 9, 2013
Improv Post
Well it happened. I forgot to write Wednesday’s post. And since I don’t have a post scheduled for this week, this post will be entirely improvised. Improvised, you say, how brave! How daring! In fact, being a die-hard pantser most of what I write is improvised. In fact, I’ve been doing improv on stage for nearly two years, mostly consisting of workshops at the Staircase Theatre. (According to the archives of my old blog my first improv experience occurred on October 17, 2011).
I was initially lured to improv by the promise of a cheap evening out (beginner drop-in classes are only $5) and I kept on going because of the welcoming environment and all the friends I made there. My improv has improved (see what I did there) since my initial introduction and yet, when I was new and clueless I was never made to feel less than. On Friday I performed in my second improv show in front of a paying audience. I wasn’t nervous; I had my very talented friends with me. I was neither the center of attention, nor faded into the background. On stage, I have a balance that I can never seem to achieve in life.
My favourite scene of the night was one I wasn’t even in, involving a molesting elephant. I got to play Woody to my friend Matt’s Buzz Lightyear, as well as a German-accented Little Red Riding Hood. The show was our graduation from the next level workshop into the advanced class. On Tuesday I went for my first advanced experience and saw many faces I hadn’t seen in a while. The class was packed, actually. There was a lot more talking and thinking about improv than actually performing scenes. I enjoyed the evening, but I’m going to miss the small tight-knit group we had in the next level class.
Since I have a book out now, I feel the need to relate this post back to my writing. Odd that I’m participating in an art form that does away with writers entirely. In fact, I know more than one writer who performs improv. And it’s helped in my work too. To have a good scene, whether on the stage or on the page, you need strong characters with a strong relationship, you need an environment for those characters to inhabit, and you need a story. When experiencing writer’s block I now have my characters play with their environment, or revisit their relationships, exactly what I’ve learned to do when plateauing on stage.
Since this post is improvised, it seems somehow fitting to end it with an improvised poem.
When I started improv it was great
For Monday nights I could not wait
I brought some friends and made some new
And every week the good times grew
I took next level class with Jerry
In every class my time was merry
I learned to improv all the time
In the store or at bedtime
With my kids or with my dog
I could even improv on a log (if I had one)
I see status games play out in life
I mime a gun, a bomb, a knife
When making up a poem or song
Rhyming couplets help along
