R.M. Ridley's Blog, page 41

And Here We Go…. Again

Yesterday was a not so good one…. inside I felt like a Mexican jumping bean on a hot skillet. and I was a bit short tempered too.

It could have been just a bad day – and I admit I was hoping it was.

Seems not – today I am feeling the same.

So it is most likely that I am ramping up to the next level of my crazy cycle. I suppose I can’t really complain. Mid -November isn’t too bad for it to start hammering at me.

I take consolation in the fact that I can usually continue to write during these times. In fact, often writing helps get me through these times. But it takes a bit more concentrated effort to begin the process of writing as my thoughts are scattered, chaotic, and unprincipled — crazy, in short.

I am still not bad enough that I can’t drive – not yet – not as far as I know… so that is another thing I guess I can be happy about.

Cling to the positive – grasp at it desperately to float yourself through the rough patches

Filed under: Mental Health Tagged: Bi-polar, Brain, crazy, cycle, writing

The End Is Near!

Well the end of my third Jonathan Alvey novel, ‘Nine of Cups’ at any rate.

I’ve written 85,000 words and have another five or so to go. This close to the end the process of my writing becomes dramatically less linear than it usually is. The scenes that pop into my head are from any time point withing those last few chapters.

It’s fun to write several hundred words just after the big conflict, even tough I haven’t written the conflict itself. The last few scenes are half formed in my mind and I don’ know which will be born first but it doesn’t matter now. The sequence doesn’t ruin the fun of understanding of it – seeing it emerge, and piecing it together, is exciting in it’s own way.

A few more scenes, a couple hundred words to sew them together, and then it will be done.

Well,  I say done but it will be any thing but.

It will be written. Written, when it comes to a story, is only the birth. After getting all emotional and googly eyed over the new arrival then comes the raising of it. Edits edits edits. So much work goes into making the story, long after it is ‘done’ . Done is done, but finished is a long way off.

And when it is done – I will start the process of finishing the second novel. Allow myself time away from my new baby. Get some distance and read it with fresh eyes – just as I have done with The second novel ‘Bindings & Spines’.

But while I’m working Number Two into better shape, I hope I get inspired to write a short or two – I just enjoy writing Jonathan too much not to.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Bindings and Spines, characters, current work in progress, edits, Jonathan Alvey, Nine of Cups, novel, paranormal private investigator, scenes, short story, Urban Fantasy, words, writing

Blog Interview with Author of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk’!

I’d like you to all give a warm welcome to author Scott Tarbet, who kindly agreed to answer some questions that I had about his upcoming novel ‘A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk’.

    AND WHAT A GREAT COVER by Dale Pease!

So, Scott, you have a novel about to be released, how does that make you feel?

It’s a debut novel, and the parallels to first time parenthood are inescapable. Only here the author is both father and mother, laboring to conceive, grow, nurture, and deliver a bouncing baby book. And just like with parenthood the time comes when the child is no longer a child, and goes out into the world to seek its fortune.

The major difference is that with a book the timeframe is so condensed. From conception to leaving the nest, A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk took far less than the 18-20 years my kids did. And the anxieties are correspondingly condensed.

Now, this question has been dying to get out of me since I first heard of the book.  The title is ‘A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk’ which begs the question – is this just a copy of the original, with the occasional clockwork device thrown in, or are we going to see something new?

Good question. It’s definitely not just a copy, and not just lightly decorated with steampunk tech. Although Shakespeare’s play is at the heart of the plotline, it is interwoven with real characters from Victorian-era history, and real historical conflicts on an international scale. Moreover, the plot depends 100% on the speculative steam-powered and clockwork technology that are at the heart of steampunk. The novel doesn’t just feature steampunk gadgetry, it is steampunk.

Wow! Okay that does sound like something new – new and exciting. But now I have to ask – iambic pentameter?

Ambic pentameter? No. Although as a huge Shakespeare fan and aspiring poet I’m so immersed in pentameter that if I thought the audience would put up with it I might have been tempted to make the effort. I find that once you start thinking in pentameter, it becomes like thinking in another language, and just starts to flow.

I’ll just have to take your word for it, Scott.

Out of all the characters in the story, who was your favorite character to write and why?

Oh geez! That’s like asking me which of my three kids is my favorite! The ‘rude mechanicals’ from the Shakespeare play were the starting point, and steampunking them, making them into the half-man/half-clockwork ‘mechs’ was a lot of fun. Likewise steampunking Puck, turning him into the 7-foot tall Zulu mech warrior Shaka, tickled my imagination.

The three Queens, two of whom are true historical figures, were a lot of fun as well, as were the Oberon and Titania characters, the two mech-creating Doctors Malieux.

But of all the characters, I had the most fun writing the four young lovers. I have been fascinated by Winston Churchill for many years, and giving him some additional youthful exploits in the context of this story was irresistible.

All things considered, though, the character of Pauline, who could be called the heroine of this ensemble piece, was personally the most engaging.

Now, Scott, tackling ‘The Bard’ himself is a bold move, what made you decide to take it on, and why in the steampunk genre?

The adaptability of Shakespeare’s stories to each new generation is at the heart of his longevity and continued literary dominance. He not only the writer at the center of English literature, his stories continue to have ‘legs’. Stage productions, movies, and books are constantly adapting him. (One of my favorite directors, Joss Whedon, has a brand new film production of Much Ado About Nothing.) Extending that history of adaptation into the steampunk sci-fi and alternative history sub-genres couldn’t have been a more natural fit.

You almost make it sound easy there, Scott, although I know a lot of hard work had to have been put in this creative work. (and I adore Whedon)

Now I feel that interviewing an author without the following question would somehow be amiss and, although it is a bit of a standard question, I think it is different for each author, and each book, so… What was the hardest part about writing this book, and conversely, what was the easiest?

The hardest part was de-Shakespeareanizing (is that a new word??) my language as I wrote a treatment for modern audiences. Time after time I found myself lapsing into archaic and arcane vocabulary and rhythms that weren’t conducive to modern storytelling.

The easiest part was knowing what the story was to be. On the twin skeletons of the Shakespeare play and late Victorian world history, a lot of the story seemed inevitable.

Since language can make or break a novel, that would have been tricky keeping the right tone with all the elements you have combined in this novel. It’s a great new word by the way – destined for the O.E.D.

The novel is being published through Xychler Publications – how did you find working with them?

The literary midwives at Xchyler Publishing have been wonderful. Huge props go out to my editors McKenna Gardner and Laurisa Reyes, designer Dale Pease, and especially EIC Penny Freeman, without whom none of this would have ever seen the light of day.

Now, Scott, neither of us are what might be called ‘young men’ anymore, so is writing a new passion for you or was it always there?

It has always been there. Ever since my first short stories in my public grade school magazine I have known that I wanted to write stories.

And do you think it is ever too soon, or too late, to take up writing?

Never. George R. R. Martin (of Game of Thrones fame) is a perfect example. His first novel came when he was older than I am now.

That’s an excellent point, Scott.

Now with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk’ basically wrapped up, are you tackling another?

AMNS actually elbowed its way in front of a longer-term Work In Progress by the name of Dragon Moon, which is also under contract with Hamilton Springs Press, and is pending the creation of an ‘imprint’ specific to sci-fi and techno-action. DM is a techno-thriller, and not a perfect fit for the Xchyler Publishing imprint, which focuses on fantasy, paranormal, and steampunk.

Dragon Moon is a cautionary tale of what happens when the International Space Station partners rest on their Space Race laurels and let newcomer nations take up the slack.

Okay, so clearly you are full of creative ideas – glad to know we will be reading your works for years to come.

And finally, Scott, one must ask – Do you believe in fairies?

Steampunk fairies, like the ‘micromechs’ in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk’, yes. 100%.

They’re not just the stuff of science fiction, they’re the stuff of current reality. They’re in operation in surveillance operations in every modern battle space, and the tipping point of self-awareness is very close indeed.

Well, thanks, Scott Tarbet, for taking the time to give us some insight into your novel ‘A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk’, and another perspective into the world of writing than my own.

If you want to know more about Scott Tarbet, I’m sure he’d be happy to have you follow any of the links below, so give them a click and get to know this wonderful writer better.

About the author:

Scott Tarbet writes enthusiastically in several genres, sings opera, was married in full Elizabethan regalia, loves steampunk, waltzes, and slow-smokes thousands of pounds of Texas-style barbeque. An avid skier, hiker, golfer, and tandem kayaker, he makes his home in the mountains of Utah.

Follow Scott E. Tarbet online on his BLOG or on Twitter @XchylerScott

Filed under: MIscellaneous, Writing Tagged: A Midsummer Night's Steampunk, alternative history, characters, clockwork, clockwork technology, current work in progress, debut novel, editor, Elizabethan regalia, fairies, George R. R. Martin, Hamilton Springs Press, historical, Joss Whedon, Much Ado About Nothing, novel, opera, rude mechanicals, Scott Tarbet, Shakespeare, steam-powered, Texas-style barbeque, The Bard, Victorian-era history, Winston Churchill, world building, writer, writing, Xchyler Publishing

Damn You Doctor!

So thanks to Netflicks, I am finally able to watch Dr.Who (the ‘new’ who). I couldn’t be happier. I got to watch the first season then only the occasional one there after. Of Smiths incarnation, I have watched only the first half of a two parter – bit frustrating that.

So to finally be able to sit down and watch two or three episodes a night is fantastic – except…

Except that I pick up lingo. So as I’m writing, I find the occasional slang, jargon, and tone of BBC sliding into my characters from the fictional city of New Hades, New York. Now mind you, they are the north of the state (plenty of states have a north) but still.

So I now have to be vigilant to try to keep my characters more Raymond Chandler and less Russel T Davies. As I write organically (seat of the pants) and just let the scene flow out of my mind, through my fingers, and onto the screen – keeping an eye for such things can get a bit tricky. Keeping a small part of my brain distanced and observing while immersing myself in the moment – well, I think you can see the issue

Hopefully, I will be done writing this novel before I hit Moffat!

Filed under: MIscellaneous, Writing Tagged: BBC, Brain, characters, current work in progress, Doctor Who, episodes, jargon, Moffat, netflicks, New Hades, New York, novel, organically, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, plot, Raymond Chandler, Russel T Davies, seat of the pants, Urban Fantasy, writing

This Can Only Bring About Trouble…

but I’m typing it anyway.

tick tick tick – it’s like waiting for a bomb strapped to your chest to go off. The impending cycle to crash down on my mind.

So far this cycle of my bi-polar crazy – with all its attached friends – is taking it easy on me. (knocks on wood). I have had only a couple ‘bad’ days but for the most part it has been a gentle stirring of the brain and not a blender on high.

Yes, I know – I’m tempting fate.

I really have only two projects left I want to get done before this cycle does inevitably ramp up. One is a job I really rather hate doing – getting more wood for the season, so we can heat the house for the winter. The other is finish the novel I started just about a year ago.

I need the wood. It is how we keep the house warm in the winter. We might shiver through it – have done the first two years here – but it makes life miserable and the pipes freeze. So, as you can see, getting wood must be done. It also must be done before I reach a point where I don’t think it is safe to operate a chainsaw to fell trees (dead ones – I try not to deplete the few living things we still do have left). This stage of crazy unfortunately comes a good bit before my state of mind renders me unfit to drive (in my estimation).

The second issue – the novel. I started it just about this time last year and yet it is still not finished. Usually it takes me roughly six months  to write a novel, but this time I got interrupted ; life, brain, and all the rest of things that get in the way of creative outlet. Then, as I had been away from it so long, I found it hard to get back into the telling of it.

I reread what I had written four times to try to secure myself in the plot once more but even then I was reluctant. I finally bite the bullet and just started – telling myself edits would solve any issues. They will too, that is what they are for. I’m glad I forced myself to just jump in the deep end, because now I am coming to the home stretch – I estimate another 15 000 words at most. I should be able to do those words by the end of the month.

If I can finish it – soon – then I can finally get around to the other project that had been put off until I finished writing – editing book two.

But that can wait – if my brain decides it has to.

tick tick tick

Filed under: Homesteading, Mental Health, Writing Tagged: Bi-polar, Brain, chainsaw, crazy, current work in progress, cycle, edits, heat, Mental Health, novel, plot, trees, wierd thoughts, winter, wood, writing

Sometimes It’s Just There

Sometimes I sit down to write and I know what I want to say – or more to the point, I know what direction the plot should take but that doesn’t always mean the words come easy. If I don’t really ‘see’ the scene, meaning if I don’t really know what’s next, it is useless to even try – writers block given new meaning.

But  if I really know, or ‘see’ the scene – if it is alive within my skull… well then the words come alive under my fingers. It is like I’m in a zen state, my fingers moving almost on their own, the words pinging off the inside of my head as they finish being typed, and I revel in the form the story flows into.

Sometimes I am working on making those words happen, searching my dry mind for the drops of water to drip out. But I am happy for those couple hundred words and smile – for I am still writing.

Sometimes it is a torrent that floods, sometimes dew collected in the morning, and sometimes a desert.

But if you have the words, if you feel the flow – there is one thing I know… let it go!

Worry about what is being written when you are done – truly done. Once you have typed ‘The End’ then go ahead and fret and worry. But while you are writing – just marvel in the wonder of it.

Because THAT is being a writer. All the rest? Well all the rest, is being an author.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: author, current work in progress, edits, mind, muse, plot, revel, scene, words, world building, writer, writing

Patience, Perseverance, and Penetrating … Oil

Through judicious use of all of the above, I have managed to replace my failing vacuum pump. For those that don’t know – as I didn’t until it started failing – the vacuum pump is how my trucks brakes are ‘assisted’. With the vacuum pump failing most of the time, I was stopping the beautiful beast by shear manual pressure.

Only three bolts hold the unit in place. Once again I was glad to have the older truck because there was no computer, no chips, and no wiring. Two of the three bolts (the easier to reach of course) came of after a couple whacks with a rubber mallet to the wrench. The last one wasn’t so cooperative. Maybe it was because I couldn’t get the wrench mallet combo in the right place to give it a few whacks – maybe there just always has to be that one bolt.

I tried to get it until I saw the edges of the bolt were starting to round and then left off. The next few days were spent periodically soaking the thing with different solutions designed to loosen such issues.

Today it paid off.

The new vacuum pump is on – the brakes are working as they should.

Huzzah for me…  now if only I could get around to doing the exhaust. Oh well, e-test isn’t for another year and a half.

Filed under: MIscellaneous Tagged: 7.3 idi, brakes, f250, vacuum pump

Oh – And Don’t Skip This

Here is the last of the guest blog spots I did.

What a lot of fun this month has been – and tonight will be the icing on the cake.

 

Filed under: Writing

TODAY!

Yup – It’s today.

The anthology goes live today. Sure, it’s been available for a little while now in e-format but today it moves out of the realm of the ethereal and into the material world. This is the true release date and I’m stoked.

The reviews are tremendous, which I would like to pretend is a surprise but I can’t. The stories collected, and refined, by the team at Xchyler are all top notch.

This evening to celebrate the event we are having a party on Facebook which I’m quite sure will be a blast, as the authors and staff are all fun people and we all know readers are the best lot to hang out with. There will be prizes to be won, trivia shared, and authors to be questioned. And to top it off, it’s rumored that Ben Hansen of SyFy’s Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, who wrote the forward for the anthology, will also be attending the party.

I am delighted to be a part of this anthology and to have worked with the Xychler team. I hope you’ll come join us this evening.  The fun get started at EDT: 8:00 pm -CDT: 7:00 pm -MDT: 6 pm -PDT/Arizona: 5:00. I get the to get the party started, so be there nice and early.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, authors, Ben Hansen, characters, contest, crazy, editor, Facebook, muse, paperback, paranormal, paranormal private investigator, prizes, publish, readers, Release Party, Shades and Shadows: A Paranormal Anthology, short story, SyFy, Urban Fantasy, writer, writing, Xchyler Publishing

Coffin Hop!

I got to be a guest blogger over on Coffin Hop – so if you want to read today’s blog post from me, you have to click

!!!!HERE!!!

Filed under: Writing Tagged: Coffin Hop, Guest Blogger, writing