R.A. McCandless's Blog, page 36

High School for Me!

High school, BAYBAY!Here are the instructions I received:
“Tell us about your SENIOR year of high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!”
I’m not certain why “longer ago” equates to “more fun” but I’m a giver, so here we go.
The year was: 1992
1. Did you know your spouse?
Nope.  Although, we were in the same state at the time.
2. Did you car pool?
Yes, sometimes with my buddy Dennis, especially when my car wasn’t running so great.  Dennis owned a Chevy C10,
3. Wh...

Tired and Sick (Again)

Sorry folks, I’ve been a bit under the weather.  However, here’s a video of really cute puppies playing in leaves.  If you don’t awe, you have no soul—and I’d like to know how much you got for it!

Fall Traditions—Pumpkin Patch

Soul? No thanks.  I'll take your wallet!Since I moved out to SoCal, my wife and I have had the same tradition around this time of going to a U-Pick pumpkin patch for (obviously) pumpkins, and then on up into the mountain to an apple orchard for (again, obviously) apples and cider.  The pumpkin patch, Live OakCanyon Pumpkin Patch, has grown more popular and theme-parky over the years.  But this past weekend it went over the top.
In the past, the Pumpkin Patch was a quaint, almost...

Nock by Scott McGlasson

It's a zombie book.  It's an archery book!
It's both!Scott McGlasson’s novella Nock does more than just build on the zombie mythos.  He creates life-like characters that reflect the real-world stresses of living in a world rife with the undead.  Even if you’re not a zombie or post-apocalypse reader, McGlasson has you covered with a father-daughter story that will actually warm your heart and make you smile.
McGlasson uses a visceral, engaging style of prose to tell the story of S...

Help Get Del to the Library!

Help me Obi-wan Reader, Del needs your help!Would you be willing to recommend my novels, Tears of Heaven and Hell Becomes Her,for acquisition by your local public library? Because my publisher is a small press, not one of the big five conglomerates, the library acquisition is not automatic. Someone with a library card has to request it.
If you have a library card, it's very easy. Go to the library's website, search for “Tears of Heaven by R.A. McCandless” and “Hell Becomes Her”.  If nothi...

Preview of "Nock" by Scott McGlasson

Zombies and Archers and Zombies—OH MY!The feral locked eyes with Stace Tomlinson and moved toward her across the forest clearing. Dark clouds threatened rain again, gray above leeching the autumn colors from the forest all around her. The thing’s ruined clothing and filthy pallor blended in perfectly, making her shot difficult. Watching its decrepit state and slow pace, Stace guessed that it had been around for a long time, maybe even going all the way back to just After. It was a big buck. P...

Quick Notes on Middle Ages Social Mobility

She's just a simple, innocent, peasant girl!Caveat: There are lots of great articles and in depth analysis available on this topic.  These are just some quick notes to get you started if this is a theme of your writing.
While it may seem that social mobility in the Middle Ages was largely stagnant—with peasants being tied to the land and the noble class off-limits—this is largely misunderstood. Throughout all periods of the Middle Ages (Early, High and Late Middle Ages and into the Renais...

The Magnificent Seven - Review/Comparison

You magnificent bastards!Growing up, I watched a lot of Westerns.  A lot of Westerns.  My dad loved them, and we watched them together.  It was a weekend staple.  I also watched a lot of musicals.  My mother loved them, and if you wanted to get some of her movie/song lyrics, you needed to be well vers...

Last Night This Morning

The Great Communicator 5000!After sleeping with someone in the bed for literally years and years, I don’t sleep well alone.  But I especially don’t sleep well when:
My 4-year-old is up at 11 PM for his nightly screamOne of my homestay students is up at 1:47 AM with the front door open and tons of lights on for “reasons”My 9-year-old is up at 5:30 AM asking me to sign his homework

So yeah, I’m a bit cranky.  Do you want to ask me that again?

You'll Never Believe What Shocking Thing Trump Said!

Get me some of those facts!If you were confused by last night’s presidential debate, it’s probably because you didn’t know there are two Donald Trumps.
This isn’t really new as far as politics go.  The Right and the Left have always had to appeal to their base voters during the primaries to beat out the other candidates—leaning heavier progressive or conservative in order to do so.  Once the nomination is clinched, the question is only how well they can pivot back toward the middle a...