R.S.A. Garcia's Blog, page 19
July 7, 2014
The Leftovers–Or, How Do I Mourne Thee? Let Me Count The Ways…
Because make no mistake, there’s a lot of mourning and weirdness going on here, and precious little else.
I watched the second episode of the new HBO series The Leftovers last night, because very rarely do I give up on a series with any hint of spec fic about it without giving it at least two episodes. Also, HBO is a major source of my joy right now, and they could pretty much pitch me any show and I’d skip the trailers and tune in.
I have to admit, the trailers for The Leftovers confused rather than intrigued me, but I thought, hey give it a chance. After the pilot, I was one big, ‘Hmmmm…’ But a few seconds before episode two started last night, I think my sister called it.
‘This,’ she said (to paraphrase), ‘is pretentious crap that’s headed nowhere by the end of the season. Lost all over again.’
I fear she is right.
I know, I know, lots of people loved Lost. So did I, for about 5 and a half seasons. Then I realised that not only did they clearly have no plan for how to tie things up while explaining all the mysteries, they were starting to make characters do strange things like hook-up in bear cages because viewers really wanted the couple to do it, and it’s hard to find a place to be alone on a tiny island.
I’ll admit my flaws. I’m a plot and story girl, through and through. I love me some characters, but not without a good story. Sure, I was in love with the characters on Lost in the beginning. But when logic, story and plot were sacrificed on the alter of ‘we really like these people so we’re just going to dissect every bit of their lives until no one cares anymore and we ride off into the sun’, I jumped ship.
I think I’m going to have to jump ship on Leftovers early too. It’s not because it’s not pretty–it’s beautifully shot. It’s not because it’s badly directed–Peter Berg is one of my favourite directors and he does a great job with the first episode in particular. It’s not because the acting sucks–everyone does a bang-up job with what they’re given.
It’s because this is a story that hooks you with a central mystery and a bunch of questions and yet again, the creators are sending signals they may or may not provide answers to any of it. Now, for the record, I think Lost probably taught everyone the way to go down in history is to NOT chicken out on your own story. I do believe The Leftovers will actually address the reason for their missing people. But for once, the promise of story is not enough to hook me.
Because the characters are a real drag. I mean, a real, real drag.
There is not a single person in The Leftovers that I like, care to empathize with, or relate to. Everyone is depressed or fucked in the head or going through the motions, or all three. Everyone. Why would I spend an hour with any of these people if they’re not properly restrained in a padded room?
Well, except those very nice boys who let depressed, fucked in the head schoolgirls take over their car so they can tail a depressed Mom who lost her kid in the Departure. Those boys are nice. They even buried a dead dog they had nothing to do with.
Don’t ask.
My question is, when did it become okay to assume that we need all the characters to react the exact same way to stimulus because we’ve, you know, got a THEME! (capital letters, exclamation point)? And the reaction, in this case, is to unload buckets of crazy all over the place. It’s not that I don’t get that an event like 2% of the world’s population going missing would not have a seriously depressing effect on those left behind. But not one single person appears to be just really freaking glad to still have their family. Or their friends. Basically people are like, ‘Oh wait. You’re still here too. Great. Don’t really care about that, but let’s go do something together. I guess.’
Which reminds me–what exactly is the major trauma that the police chief’s family suffered for mom, dad, son and daughter to have been so completely fractured? Seems to me they were the lucky ones, but maybe the real issues just haven’t been brought up yet.
I guess what I’m saying is that for a show that purports to be putting a lens to loss and grief, it has paid precious little attention to the other side of the coin. Humanity coming together in the face unimaginable tragedy. Just throw your thoughts back to the events of 9/11 and how many people helped each other and showed kindness to each other in the aftermath. I find it hard to believe that three years later, everyone in town–EVERYONE–is still stuck in the first 4 stages of the 7 stages of grief.
That’s some determination. We. Are. Very. Focused. On. Our. Psychological. Study.
Anyways, my hope is that the writers take pity on us soon and show us something about these people that doesn’t make us either roll our eyes (Could you at least *pretend* to be sane for your day job?), or look away in disgust, (Oh look, the creepy guys who likes to hug away the pain and sleep with only Asian girls is kissing a dead man), or just plain make me want to slap the silly out of them (Really, teenage girl, does your father not have enough to deal with? Must we be every teen from ‘The Breakfast Club’ all at once?).
Me? I think there’s way too much good stuff on TV right now to stick with something that is at once so well done, so boring and so in love with being unlovable. If you guys decide it’s a good show, drop by and let me know and I’ll Netflix it at the end of the season.
Now, where did I put my new episode of The Musketeers?…
Tagged: characterization, characters, editing, HBO, Lost, publishing, reviews, television reviews, The Leftovers, TV, TV shows, writing
July 4, 2014
Top 5 Street Foods of Trinidad and Tobago
Today I’m going to start a regular Friday feature that tells you a little about fun things from my daily life. And since food is probably the number one thing West Indians love–especially in Trinidad and Tobago–it’s only fitting that I start by talking about Caribbean cuisine.
T&T is a diverse society, with a large black and East Indian population, and minorities that include the Syrians, Chinese, Dutch and a whole lot more. Our food has been influenced accordingly and we love to try new things. So without further ado, here’s my personal list of the top five street foods of Trinidad and Tobago, researched by myself and my family and completely unofficial, of course.
5. Souse
Salty, citrusy, spicy goodness. Souse is a leftover from colonial days when poor people made do with every part of the animal, especially the cheapest cuts. Made from soft-boiled trotters, chicken feet or even cow-skin cut into thin strips–which has a jelly-like consistency–souse is basically a pickle with the flavour profile of a ceviche. Lots of onion, cucumber, fresh herbs, mild or hot peppers and salt make the tasty broth that the meat is soaked in for hours. It’s usually served in cups and eaten with the fingers, the better to lick them.
4. Pholourie
These light, savoury fried dough balls are usually served with a sweet sauce on the side. The sauce is made of fresh, whole green mangoes, skin and seeds and all, chopped up and stewed down with sugar, geera and Indian spices. There is also a salty, peppery green chutney that is sometimes served with it, also made of green mangoes, but without the seed.
Pholourie refers to the fried balls, but when you say it to a Trini, it’s understood sauce will come with it. That’s where all the flavour is, since the Pholourie is not highly seasoned. Usually sold in paper or plastic bags, with the sauce in a bag of its own. You dip the Pholourie in the sauce and eat it with your fingers. A cheap, popular snack because you can get up to a dozen for a few dollars.
3. Corn Soup
Popular at parties, sporting events and in the streets after dark, Trini style corn soup is made of fresh corn on the cob, boiled for hours in a broth of yellow lentils, carrots, fresh herbs and mild peppers. Small dumplings are usually part of the soup as well. It’s bracing, hearty enough to quiet hunger and served hot from a bubbling pot in Styrofoam cups.
2. Bake and Shark
One of the tastiest and most popular fish dishes In Trinidad. As in Asia, shark fin soup is popular here, but Trinis use the meat as well. The fish is seasoned with lots of limes, salt, pepper, fresh herbs and spices, and then fried. The ‘bake’ is a savoury dough that puffs up when fried into a large, light receptacle for fish heaven.
The dish became popular with people who visited our premiere beach, Maracas. Vendors there would buy the fresh fish directly off the boat and fry it up to serve to beach-goers. Although it’s served many places now, it’s understood that a ‘real’ bake and shark only comes from Maracas, and for many, only from ‘Richard’s’, a popular vendor at that beach. What makes bake and shark so special is the wide variety of sauces and condiments served with it to enhance the flavour of the fish. They include–but are not limited to–coleslaw, pineapple slices, fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, garlic sauce, pepper sauce, sweet tamarind sauce, honey mustard and so on. It’s self-service on paper plates, so you choose your own condiments and then chow down on crispy, juicy goodness while watching the waves come in.
1. Doubles
First off, just look at that. This vegetarian dish is popular with rich and poor alike, as it makes for a cheap and delicious hot breakfast. It’s rare to meet a Trini who doesn’t love this, and have their own special ‘doubles man’.
And now I’ve made myself hungry, so I’m off to forage in the fridge.
Stay thirsty, my friends!
Tagged: bake and shark, caribbean, corn soup, cuisine, culture, doubles, food, pholourie, souse, Travel, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
July 3, 2014
Amazon, Hachette, Publishing, Etc — It’s Not a Football Game, People
Amazon, Hachette, Publishing, Etc — It’s Not a Football Game, People.
I think Scalzi makes some really good points here, very in-line with what I was thinking. I’m not out to declare my allegiance to anyone precisely because there is no good guy or bad guy here. A business is a business.
But I’m not interested in wearing blinders either, and you really have to be wearing them if you think Amazon is behaving just fine because you made some money off of them. A business can be a positive and a negative, often at the same time. Ask Walmart.
He says it better than I do though.
June 26, 2014
A Chance to Win A Free Copy of LEX TALIONIS!
I have a new interview up at the GetLostInAStory blog.
This is great news for you because anyone who comments on the blog gets a chance to win a free copy of LEX TALIONIS!
So head on over for a quick read and a chance at free stuff.
Feel free to tell all your friends and share the link.
Stay thirsty, my friends!
Tagged: books, debut novel, editing, free, GetLostInAStory, giveaway, Lex Talionis, mystery, novels, publishing, scifi, space opera, spec fic, thriller, writing
June 25, 2014
LEX TALIONIS at The American Book Center, Holland
You totally have to see this.
Yes, this is my book. On an actual bookself. In the Netherlands. For sale and everything.
Notice, I am right next to…NEIL GAIMAN!!
Guess my last name is one hell of a blessing ;-) Never even thought of that.
In other news, doesn’t my book look pretty and everything? Almost like I’m a real writer lol.
Stay thirsty, my friends. Never give up. If you do, you will end up here, on top of the world, drinking a beer with me.
Tagged: books, bookstores, debut novel, editing, Europe, Holland, Lex Talionis, mystery, novels, publishing, space opera, spec fic, The American Book Center, thriller, writing
June 24, 2014
The American Book Center Has LEX TALIONIS!
My book is now available at the amazing American Book Center in Amsterdam, Holland!
Here’s the announcement!
Tagged: Amsterdam, books, bookstores, debut novel, editing, Holland, Lex Talionis, mystery, novels, publishing, scifi, space opera, The American Book Center, thriller, Travel, writing
E-book piracy: What to do if you find your book available for sale or a free download without your permission
This is important information for how to deal with the common problem of ebook piracy, straight from a small press. Hope it helps someone out there. Better yet, hope you never have to use it.
Originally posted on Dragonwell Publishing Blog:
During the recent months, we are finding an increasing number of sites that pirate e-books and either sell them cheap or list them for free without an author’s permission. Many of these sites are located overseas. Some operate as on-line bookstores, others claim no responsibility for the files shared through their web site, but the bottom line is still the same. These sites infringe copyrights. Sadly, they more often target indie authors and small presses, driven by misguided sense that they would be less likely to fight back. This makes the problem even worse.
Here is what to do if you find your book illegally available on line:
1. Go to Whois directory (http://whois.net/) and look up the web site listing your pirated title. There will be several e-mail addresses listed there for registrant, abuse, etc. Copy all of them.
2. Look at the “contact us page” of the piracy…
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June 18, 2014
Radio Interview with Ujima Radio about LEX TALIONIS
There was a technical hitch at the beginning, so the recording starts again after only a few minutes, but it’s smooth sailing after that. There are a few ads to wade through though.
I was the first part of the show, but the second interview with comics writer, Leah Moore, daughter of the famous Alan Moore, was really good too. Loved her take on parenting. And what Paulette says at the end about the West Indies is very true.
(And yes, we prefer to be referred to as the West Indies when we’re from certain countries like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Avoids confusion with the rest of the Caribbean, such as the British or US Virgin Islands, or the coastlines of Latin America.)
I think I didn’t sound too bad. I was nervous and worried that would come out in my voice, but I made myself listen to it and I’m glad I did. It’s weird to hear your own voice played back to you though. I sound nothing like I sound in my own head. Isn’t that strange how that’s always the case? I mean, I know why that happens, but it’s still strange to experience it.
That wasn’t the full interview. The full interview will be up on a podcast sometime next week, so I’ll post that when it goes up. But for now, you can hear me ramble on a bit about my country and my influences. I talk more about my book, LEX TALIONIS, in the full interview.
Let me know if you enjoyed it! I certainly did. Felt like a celebrity for a couple of hours. Even if the truth is no one knows who the heck I am or would give a whit if they did lol.
Stay thirsty my friends!
Tagged: Alan Moore, books, Bristol, caribbean, Cheryl Morgan, comics, editing, interviews, Leah Moore, Lex Talionis, mystery, novels, publishing, reviews, scifi, space opera, spec fic, thrillers, Travel, Trinidad and Tobago, Ujima Radio, UK, West Indies, writing
June 16, 2014
Red Letter Day!
This morning I had a first.
My first ever radio interview! Cheryl Morgan of Ujima Radio in the UK took the time to chat with me about ‘Lex Talionis’, my life as a West Indian and my science fiction influences, among other things. I was so nervous! Hope no one hears it in my voice.
In any case, Cheryl assured me she would edit it so I didn’t sound like an idiot, so I’m going to rely on that to save me.
In other news, I’ve been busy updating around here. You’ll find that the first chapter of ‘Lex Talionis’ is up on this website for your reading pleasure. If you want to know why Publisher’s Weekly called it a ‘stunning debut’, feel free to take a gander. If you like what you see, go ahead and follow the links lying around here to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
If you don’t like either of these sites, you can check out my other links on my newly updated ‘Lex News’ page. All the sites that sell ‘Lex Talionis’ are now listed there, as well as all my recent interviews and reviews.
I also have a great new reader review up on Goodreads, for which I must profusely thank the writer. It has excerpts and everything and she clearly put a lot of time and effort into explaining why she thought ‘Lex Talionis’ deserved five stars. It made my day!
And now back to slacking off a bit, because I’m on a short vacation and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The World Cup is on, guys! Go Brasil! Go Germany! Go Argentina! Go every African nation in the Cup! I’m rooting for you all!
But mostly for Brasil!
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Tagged: books, debut novel, editing, goodreads, interviews, Lex Talionis, mystery, novels, publishing, reviews, scifi, space opera, Ujima Radio, World Cup 2014, writing
June 13, 2014
Sexual attraction, scents, and smells
I really like this because I have a character in the sequel to my novel, ‘Lex Talionis’, that is sensitive to scents. To him, the woman he’s very attracted to smells like lemons.
This post also reminds me of the best writing advice I ever received. Use all five senses in your setting as much as possible and you’ll help the reader ‘see’ your world even more.
Sure, I can see a character focusing on some scents at certain times being a bit of a stretch, but I think the key to strengthening a scene might be to focus on the kinds of scents that heighten the action your scene is trying to underscore. You can choose to go the obvious way–a fighter smelling the metallic scent of blood during a bout–or you can contrast the scent with the action. A man waking up to the sweet smell of perfume, just before he’s attacked by the prostitute he bedded earlier.
It’s really up to the author to use this technique to highlight whatever emotions they were hoping to create in the reader. Sometimes you’ll hit, but sometimes you’ll miss. The reader always brings their 50%, after all.
Originally posted on Anna Kashina:
I have recently seen some on-line discussions (including those of my books), questioning the use of scents and smells, especially in romantic fiction. This also came up more than once during some fiction workshops I was on, and I thought that overall it is an interesting topic to be discussed.
Scientific research shows that sexual attraction is actually to a large part driven by smells — usually not the overt kind that we can easily detect from a few feet away, but the more subtle kind, the chemical stimuli that we often don’t consciously register. These smells actually transmit a signal of genetic compatibility, since biologically sexual attraction is all about procreation and in the end the main reason for being attracted to a partner is the subtle sense that she/he will be the right parent for your offspring.
Some people are more sensitive to those smells than others. Those…
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