Nathan Howe's Blog, page 9

Pushing forward and Making Progress

As I progress in my mentorship, I learn more and more. Not only about writing but about me. It has been a fascinating experience. I’ve been pushed to try new things in my approach to writing. It’s a trial by fire. I can’t wait to continue. This Monday I pushed harder than I had in a while and reached a new personal record for words written in a first draft on a day. I hope to surpass that mark in the coming days. Since I have so many different stories, I want to write. I hope you enjoy the first time of my that is coming in the week, The Prophecy. I mentioned it the other day, but I’ll bring it up again it’s my attempt to write an epic YA Fantasy. It’s only a short story. Working on getting the full-length novel plotted out.

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Soon to be Published Stories Update

Planned release coming in the next few weeks. I recently finished a short story, The Prophecy. It will be released as part of an anthology that will be published on Amazon. The Prophecy is the first story in a new world that I’m writing. It’s a young adult fantasy story. I have a short short story that takes place in the same world, centered around a small character from it, Schemes of the Wind. It will be published exclusively on Instafreebie, as part of another collection of stories.

I’ve decided to polish up and release my short story, Philip that shows the story of what happened to him during the events of Aiden. I’m also working on two more short stories that will be co-written with Sue Ronson. I can’t wait for these stories to reach your eyes.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Currently, I’m re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I’ve read the series from beginning to end a few times. The last time, however, was at least five years ago. I figured it was due. Every time I read these books, I fall in love again. They are so well written. JK Rowling did such a great job with them. I’m sure everyone already knows this. They’ve sold millions of copies. But I wanted to say that I’m seeing them in a new light. Sure I’ve been writing since I was in high school but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I started to take my writing seriously. This time through I see how well she wrote these books. Sure all writing as flaws but even looking for them I find them small. I’m learning so much about my writing going over these. Well worth my tenth time, though.

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Writing Mentorship Progress

In the thralls of my mentorship. Learning so many different aspects of writing and publishing. This experience had been one of the most exciting for me. Currently in the middle of writing a short story for the group. If my brother’s reaction is any indication you’ll love it. Later this week we move on to the next phase of the mentorship. Part of that is learning to write with other authors as collaboration is a vital element of indie publishing. I can’t wait. Look for several new releases from me in the coming month that are a product of this mentorship.

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Underworld: Blood Wars Review

Today I ventured out and watched the latest movie in the Underworld series, Blood Wars. This is the fifth film and the fourth to star Kate Beckinsale. Going into this film, I expected it to follow the formula the previous installments set up. It didn’t disappoint. If you want to see, an action packed movie with Selene (Beckinsale) kicking some butt. You bee in for a good ride. Just as she did in the others, she delivers her performance well, and the character continues her ass-kicking ways. If it weren’t for that, I would even bother with the films. The stories at times have holes but otherwise flow well. The other characters are rounded and enjoyable. The tension increases throughout the film. It does drag a few of the fight scenes out a little longer than I would like since they use dim lighting in them and that makes it tough for me to enjoy fully. Still well worth seeing if you have seen the others or enjoy a good action flick.

 

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Happy New Year and Goals and Stuff

Happy New Year.

It’s that time of the year where everyone makes new goals and proclaims a new you. While, I’d like this year to be drastically different from last year. I won’t say I’m going to be a new person. I do however have many goals that I failed to achieve last year that I hope to reach this year. One of them is losing the weight again. Back in 2011, I lost 80 pounds. Unfortunately, I gained 65 of it back. In 2015 and 16 I lost some of it but not all of it. I want to get back to my Army days. It’s doable but will take work. That is one goal (a rather cliche one). The next is to publish more books and short stories. I am working tirelessly on this. I write every day. I hope that by the end of the year I’ve released the follow up to Aiden, the follow up to Stone of Azuria, and the next few in Emerge. I have several other stories that I am working on that I hope to send out to you. In the meantime, I joined a mentor group that will help in increasing my production and the quality of it. Along with helping me better understand all aspects of indie publishing. From writing to marketing to social media, etc. I hope to learn boatloads of information in this mentorship. Fingers crossed that I don’t fail to achieve my goals. I’m am also hoping to do well in my graduate studies that I am currently pursuing (though to be honest. If my writing takes off I’m be dropping that even though I enjoy it).

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Legend of Korra Review

Since I watch entirely too much TV, I finished the Legend of Korra. I did take my time watching this one. Spreading it out as I watched a few other shows. But this one is much like its predecessor a great show. It had big shoes to fill. And it succeeded. Korra is one of my favorite all time characters. She is so driven, energetic. Yet so flawed. She’s adorable throughout the series. She deals with problem after problem. Not always in the best manner but persevering to win the day. The new team Avatar is fun. Mako, Bolin, and Asami. The development throughout the series of the friendships and relationships they have is one of the many reasons that I enjoyed the series so much. As a writer myself I can only hope to achieve the depth to the connections the group has. None of that even touches on the Airbenders and the friends Korra has with them. Especially Tenzin and his family. The dynamics they brought to the show enhanced it in every way possible. Korra dealt with villains of varying degrees. Those trying to eliminate bending, to world domination and everything in between. My biggest complaint when comparing the two shows in the Avatar universe would be that in the original series the story spread across three seasons was one long story. While each one of these felt detached from each other in a way. Not a big complaint. I loved all four season. The ending of Korra was a brilliantly subtle ending for me. Showing the growth of both Korra and Asami. Revealing that life doesn’t go in the direction you think it might but you can find the love and companionship in places you least expected. Well done.

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Lie to Me Review

Never night at dinner I sit down to eat. I also turn on the TV start up my Netflix and watch an episode of a show with my dad. We finished watching one of my favorites the other day. Lie to me. The show is completely underrated. Tim Roth brings to life the lead character in Dr. Cal Lightman. An arrogant brash but brilliant reader of microexpressions. Lie to Me it worth watching if for nothing else but his portrayal of the character. The stories are well written. Sure like any show they aren’t perfect but for the most part well done. With deep and exciting story lines. The whole cast of characters is superb in their support. Kelli Williams, Gillian Foster, brings her role to life as well. The roundness the character develops over the arc of the show truly shows how great the shows is. Not only the show have many dramatic moments it sprinkles in the right amount of comedy to lighten the tension but not too much. For me,

the only problem with sitting down and watching this on Netflix is that it only lasted three seasons. It deserved so much more.

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Way of Kings Review

My review of Way of Kings. Minor spoilers.

This is the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s epic Stormlight Archive. And it’s a prototypical Sanderson book. Filled with an interesting world, Rosher. Plants behave differently and the mostly unpredictable highstorms, force people to seek shelter. And the magic. Unlike most of his works were the magic is spelled out for you here at times you are left wondering what and how the magic works. And again it appears to have more than one, all tied together, yet separate. The mystical shard blades and plate armor, granting superior fighting ability. The soulcasting, allow people to change any and everything around them, how this works has yet to be revealed. Then there is the powers that Szeth Truthless of Shinover, and Kaladin. I’m not even sure what the magic is called. With the book being as dense as it was. It might have been named but I missed it. However, with Szeth this is the magic that we get the most detail, much more of what Sanderson typically does. It’s interesting seeing Szeth the master use the magic to be the Shin in white assassin. And also seeing Kaladin learn to control parts of it at the end of the book.

The story follows for the most part the battle taking place on the Shattered Plains. With Kaladin a bridge man, a former slave and former military member and surgeon apprentice. With each bridge run, a race to battle, the bridge men  face death, sacrifices. Forced to face arrow without arrow. Most don’t last long. Kaladin won’t allow it. He finds a way to solve this, it’s a rough and hard journey for him to save bridge 4.

Also at the plains we see the brother of the slain King. Dalinar Kholin and his son Adolin. After the King’s death, Dalinar goes through many changes. The codes, a way for military men to live, become his life. His son tries to change understand it, and to help his father change. The relationship the two have is not that of a normal father and son, but when you’re a High Prince in war and seeing visions of the past. That is to be expected and provides a nice shift.

Away from the Shattered Plains we have Shallan seeking and finding Dalinar niece, the new Kings sister. She seeks to learn from the Princess who is a heretic. And to steal from her. Along the way we see her shift and learn, and fall back. The story is a drastic shift from the other PoV’s. Helping to build the world and set up for the larger story of the series.

In the end we see each achieve much of what they sent out for or what they needed. The book was a tough read with all the magic and learning of it and the world. But was well worth it. It’s worth the time if you enjoy epic fantasy.

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Top Ten Marvel Shows I want

I haven’t done a top ten list in a while. I figured it was time. I’ve been on a big Marvel kick again. Been reading a lot of stuff especially with the news that Spider-Man is part of the MCU. Can’t wait to see what they do. And I’m super excited for the Netflix shows. Only two months until Daredevil. So here is my list of Marvel characters I want them to do next in the MCU, particularly get their own shows on Netflix.

 

Blade
Venom
Wasp
Ghost Rider
Moon Knight
Punisher
Electra
Spider-Woman
Namor
Maria Hill (just because I’m a fan of Cobie Smulders)

If Marvel had access to the X-men. This list would be a little different. Growing up X-men were my favorite.

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