Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 10
May 17, 2020
Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed - Origins 5/17/20
Morning!
Tomorrow, I go back into the office for the day job after working from home for over a month and a half. I've got mixed feelings about it since there's so much about Covid-19 we do not understand. It should be an adventure! :P
Assassin's Creed - Origins
They really did some amazing work on this first tomb.
Is that a possible way out? The torches have another use, they burn off spiderwebs. Such a neat touch!
Freedom! Isn't the column work, gorgeous?
Bayek runs into an old friend.
Take a note of the cool shields and weapons. They have a large variety to choose from as well as rare and legend categories.
You start with a trusty steed - a camel! Harder to drive in town than in the desert. :P I dubbed him 'Roach' - lol. Look at all that sand!
My first look at Bayek's home town - Siwa.
Dreadful things have happened in the village over the last year. Sinister dealings at the temple. Note the mysterious orb. (And that gorgeous tile work!) :P
Please take care out there. A lot of stuff has gone back to 'normal' but the disease is still going strong. If we relax too much too soon, the numbers will reach new daily highs. Stay strong and stay safe!
May 3, 2020
Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed - Origins 5/3/20
Morning!
I am running late, but with some luck, I will get this post done on time!
Remember to support small businesses during this time of uncertainty. (Like my publishers!) We'd all really appreciate it! I think Zumaya will try to set up a promotion in the next week or two. Get ready for possible deals. :P
Assassin's Creed - OriginsHubby and I played an interim game between the two Assassin's Creed games, but it ended up being just a preview. I may still share, as I enjoyed what we played, but this new (for us!) Assassin's Creed is too gorgeous not to share!
So far, the mechanics work a lot smoother than Black Flag. They've also added a neat feature with the iconic eagle and gives the player an aerial view and other fun goodies!
Anyway, here we go!
I loved how they merged the normal Assassin's Creed logo with the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Looks awesome!
A super cool combo of data streaming and hieroglyphics. Too cool!
Intro film - showing us the unforgiving desert. As with the other one I played, they dump you in the middle of things without context, which is slowly revealed during gameplay.
The prosperous village of Siwa.
A royal visitor - and the moment things began to go wrong.
A year has passed since Bayek noticed the masked figures with the royal caravan. Bayek is a Medjay for the Siwa village before tragedy struck. A Medjay is a protector and policeman of sorts. (I kept thinking they were saying magi! DOH!)
Isn't this gorgeous? The detail is outstanding. You even burn cobwebs with the torch. Bayek has just dispatched the first of the five men responsible for corrupting the country and destroying all he held dear.
I loved that he apologized to the gods for infiltrating their temple and pilfering some treasures. It was also fascinating to hear him say 'ancients' when that is how we think of him in 48 BCE or so.
Just look at the awesome wall paintings! The neat columns! Such gorgeous work!
Such intricate work. Though you can't take it with you, there are a ton of wonderful representations of actual items you'd see in the bigger tombs. Wait until I share the pic of the cat mummies! Squee!
I've put Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles and Inner Demons back for free at Smashwords if you need reading fodder. But if you can spare the cash, please support my still existing publishers! Much appreciated!
April 19, 2020
Alien Redemption - Readers Favorite 5 Star Review!
After working 70+ hours this week for QE Close, I got a bit of good news!
Readers Favorite gave Alien Redemption a 5 Star Review! Woot!
Here's the press release!
Author's new book receives a warm literary welcome.
Readers' Favorite announces the review of the Fiction - Science Fiction book "Alien Redemption" by Gloria Oliver, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0855BBBJP.
Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
Reviewed By Scott Cahan for Readers' FavoriteAlien Redemption by Gloria Oliver is a science fiction novel about mankind’s discovery of an alien race. The story follows Claudia, a doctor who has been disgraced within her profession. In her efforts to escape her past, she ends up working on a merchant spaceship called the Holiday, under the nefarious Captain Bennet. They fly across the galaxy to a planet that is home to a previously undiscovered intelligent race of beings. Claudia is intrigued at the discovery, anxious to learn from them and protect them. Captain Bennet, on the other hand, has evil plans for the beings that have humanoid bodies along with wings and feathers. Claudia soon finds herself their sole caretaker and protector, even as the Captain kidnaps them and forces them into a despicable life of servitude.
I found Alien Redemption to be one of the most original science fiction novels I’ve ever read. The story is simple yet nearly perfect in its execution. Gloria Oliver’s style of writing is fluid and very natural. I was easily carried away within the story as I turned the pages. The characters are believable and real. Claudia is so well fleshed out that I found myself fully invested in her thoughts and dilemmas. Many of the other characters were equally effective, especially Captain Bennet and the First Mate, Stevens. The most stunning story element of Alien Redemption is the avians, the name most often used for the aliens. I won’t give away any story details here, but suffice it to say, they’re handled very differently than aliens are in most other sci-fi stories. Alien Redemption is a fresh and satisfying science fiction read that I am happy to recommend."
You can learn more about Gloria Oliver and "Alien Redemption" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi... where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.
Readers Favorite gave Alien Redemption a 5 Star Review! Woot!
Here's the press release!
Author's new book receives a warm literary welcome.
Readers' Favorite announces the review of the Fiction - Science Fiction book "Alien Redemption" by Gloria Oliver, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0855BBBJP.
Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
Reviewed By Scott Cahan for Readers' FavoriteAlien Redemption by Gloria Oliver is a science fiction novel about mankind’s discovery of an alien race. The story follows Claudia, a doctor who has been disgraced within her profession. In her efforts to escape her past, she ends up working on a merchant spaceship called the Holiday, under the nefarious Captain Bennet. They fly across the galaxy to a planet that is home to a previously undiscovered intelligent race of beings. Claudia is intrigued at the discovery, anxious to learn from them and protect them. Captain Bennet, on the other hand, has evil plans for the beings that have humanoid bodies along with wings and feathers. Claudia soon finds herself their sole caretaker and protector, even as the Captain kidnaps them and forces them into a despicable life of servitude.
I found Alien Redemption to be one of the most original science fiction novels I’ve ever read. The story is simple yet nearly perfect in its execution. Gloria Oliver’s style of writing is fluid and very natural. I was easily carried away within the story as I turned the pages. The characters are believable and real. Claudia is so well fleshed out that I found myself fully invested in her thoughts and dilemmas. Many of the other characters were equally effective, especially Captain Bennet and the First Mate, Stevens. The most stunning story element of Alien Redemption is the avians, the name most often used for the aliens. I won’t give away any story details here, but suffice it to say, they’re handled very differently than aliens are in most other sci-fi stories. Alien Redemption is a fresh and satisfying science fiction read that I am happy to recommend."
You can learn more about Gloria Oliver and "Alien Redemption" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi... where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.
April 5, 2020
Pancakes a la Oliver
Morning, all!
Being Shut-In is not easy. Luckily, we live in a rural area and taking a short walk with no one around helps keep the cabin fever in check. :P
Anyway, hubby made something yesterday that I made for myself this morning and thought I would share it! It might be fun to try with the kiddos! A new way to bling out breakfast. :)
Pancakes a la Oliver!
1 - Grab one stack of your favorite frozen pancakes.
2 - Heat the pancakes per instructions, unstacked on a plate. (I add a tiny bit of butter to melt on top.)
3 - Once done, add a slice of Colby and a slice of thin-sliced ham on each pancake.
4 - Put them back in the microwave for 30 sec.
5 - Remove from the microwave and add a drizzle (or more) of syrup and eat!
Pretty tasty! (It's like a pancake Montecristo!)
Speaking of Montecristo, I am thinking of trying some jam on top the next time.
Being Shut-In is not easy. Luckily, we live in a rural area and taking a short walk with no one around helps keep the cabin fever in check. :P
Anyway, hubby made something yesterday that I made for myself this morning and thought I would share it! It might be fun to try with the kiddos! A new way to bling out breakfast. :)
Pancakes a la Oliver!
1 - Grab one stack of your favorite frozen pancakes.
2 - Heat the pancakes per instructions, unstacked on a plate. (I add a tiny bit of butter to melt on top.)
3 - Once done, add a slice of Colby and a slice of thin-sliced ham on each pancake.
4 - Put them back in the microwave for 30 sec.
5 - Remove from the microwave and add a drizzle (or more) of syrup and eat!
Pretty tasty! (It's like a pancake Montecristo!)
Speaking of Montecristo, I am thinking of trying some jam on top the next time.
March 22, 2020
Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed - Black Flag 3/22/20
Morning!
Let me get the mandatory stuff out of the way first!
Alien Redemption is now available in trade paperback! You can find it both at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. B&N even has it on special at 10% off. Amazon will deliver it and B&N is offering curb side pickup for all online purchases.
Assassin's Creed - Black Flag.
Havana on a foggy night.
Another part of Havana in daylight. Of all the places Edward has visited so far, this one is the most advanced.
In comparison, Nassau has a long way to go. This is the main pirate port.
Three pirate captains! Edward is in the middle, and Black Beard is on the right.
They do such awesome things with the water in this game! It's like being in the Caribbean for real. Edwards just took over on the forts dotting the area.
Captain Kidd talking over a plan he's concocted. He's an enigma and makes Edward consider things he wouldn't normally think about. (He has secrets!)
Ruins in one of the many islands in the area.
Gorgeous waterfalls. They even have a hint of a rainbow!
The real world - view from the office.
Gorgeous artwork on the way to the boss's office.
Boss's office. There's good money in DNA extracted pasts used for entertainment.
Stay safe and clear of the virus. Support your local small businesses so they can financially survive past this challenge. We've never experienced something like this. It will bring out many feelings, but let's not take them out on people who had nothing to do with it. We can make it through as long as we stay calm and together!
Till next time!
Let me get the mandatory stuff out of the way first!
Alien Redemption is now available in trade paperback! You can find it both at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. B&N even has it on special at 10% off. Amazon will deliver it and B&N is offering curb side pickup for all online purchases.
Assassin's Creed - Black Flag.
Havana on a foggy night.
Another part of Havana in daylight. Of all the places Edward has visited so far, this one is the most advanced.
In comparison, Nassau has a long way to go. This is the main pirate port.
Three pirate captains! Edward is in the middle, and Black Beard is on the right.
They do such awesome things with the water in this game! It's like being in the Caribbean for real. Edwards just took over on the forts dotting the area.
Captain Kidd talking over a plan he's concocted. He's an enigma and makes Edward consider things he wouldn't normally think about. (He has secrets!)
Ruins in one of the many islands in the area.
Gorgeous waterfalls. They even have a hint of a rainbow!
The real world - view from the office.
Gorgeous artwork on the way to the boss's office.
Boss's office. There's good money in DNA extracted pasts used for entertainment.
Stay safe and clear of the virus. Support your local small businesses so they can financially survive past this challenge. We've never experienced something like this. It will bring out many feelings, but let's not take them out on people who had nothing to do with it. We can make it through as long as we stay calm and together!
Till next time!
February 16, 2020
Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed - Black Flag 2/16/20
Morning, all!
I haven't done one of these in a while. Between YE chaos, added work chaos, and the coming release chaos, somethings I've had to let slide. (Though it's over a year since the gall bladder surgery, I'm still not back to normal.) :(\
Anyway! Here goes!
Assassin's Creed - Black FlagThis is the first time I've tried playing one of the games in the franchise since the first one. Back then, I had to stop because even though I could close my eyes during synchronization, the baud rate in the white room of the prisoner in modern times was so low that even though nothing was moving, it gave me horrible motion sickness.
I am happy to say that this addition to the franchise does not have the same problem. I can even enjoy the beauty of the synchronizations as they got slowed down a bit. (Just don't have Edward drink alcohol. Talk about side effects. I won't do that again!) Lol.
The vistas are gorgeous, and the longer you play, the more options of stuff to do or equipment you can use open up. But some of the mechanics are clunky or get in the way. A decent tutorial on combat would have been nice - I still have trouble. :P (The same goes for ship combat!) But overall, hubby and I are enjoying it.
Our time vessel is Edward Kenway - a man desperate to gain fame and fortune. He wants to prove to his estranged wife and her family that he did not make the wrong decision by striking out on his own. Now that being a privateer has been outlawed, he's going to become an outright pirate.
Eventual intro! Pictured here is the Port of Havana.
Edward and a mysterious man have survived the destruction of the ship they were on. Things turn a little weird here. The strange man is injured, and he asks Edward to help him get to Havana. The mysterious man has clothing fitting the Assassins Creed members, but seemingly he is a traitor and is working with the Templars. Somehow these two end up not coming to an understanding, and the wounded man speeds off like a gazelle, and Edward has to catch him. (I did say it got weird.)
From what I understand, the game has no way to remove the UI for pics. A pity, because as you can see, the visuals are lovely. :)
After catching up to the assassin, Edward takes his coat, message, and goods for himself. (No hidden blades yet, so cutlasses are for us arrh!) I loved the rainbow with the waterfall!
Edward does a lot of swimming. In a heavy coat to boot! :P Even his crew will make fun of him for it. Lol. There's also an achievement. :P
Havana without the logo. So nice!
The ever-present hawk leads us to the synchronization spot. Havana has multiple of these as it is a large city.
There are cats, dogs, and parrots you can pet in the game! There's even an achievement for petting dogs. Too cute!
While some items are repetitive in their look, there's plenty of excellent detail. Shafts of soft light from small fortress windows - how nice!
Here is a lovely view of several ships leaving the harbor. Look at the gorgeous water! Isn't it amazing?
I hope you have a great week!
Obligatory Promo Section!Yep, I gotta have this since a book is pending release. I am hoping to share the cover soon!
Don't forget the Kindle and Nook versions are currently on pre-order at a discounted price.
You can find sample chapters here.
Don't forget the free ebooks to help celebrate the release and to thank you for your help in getting the word out, doing reviews, whatever you feel like - Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles and Inner Demons.
Thanks again!!!!!!
I haven't done one of these in a while. Between YE chaos, added work chaos, and the coming release chaos, somethings I've had to let slide. (Though it's over a year since the gall bladder surgery, I'm still not back to normal.) :(\
Anyway! Here goes!
Assassin's Creed - Black FlagThis is the first time I've tried playing one of the games in the franchise since the first one. Back then, I had to stop because even though I could close my eyes during synchronization, the baud rate in the white room of the prisoner in modern times was so low that even though nothing was moving, it gave me horrible motion sickness.
I am happy to say that this addition to the franchise does not have the same problem. I can even enjoy the beauty of the synchronizations as they got slowed down a bit. (Just don't have Edward drink alcohol. Talk about side effects. I won't do that again!) Lol.
The vistas are gorgeous, and the longer you play, the more options of stuff to do or equipment you can use open up. But some of the mechanics are clunky or get in the way. A decent tutorial on combat would have been nice - I still have trouble. :P (The same goes for ship combat!) But overall, hubby and I are enjoying it.
Our time vessel is Edward Kenway - a man desperate to gain fame and fortune. He wants to prove to his estranged wife and her family that he did not make the wrong decision by striking out on his own. Now that being a privateer has been outlawed, he's going to become an outright pirate.
Eventual intro! Pictured here is the Port of Havana.
Edward and a mysterious man have survived the destruction of the ship they were on. Things turn a little weird here. The strange man is injured, and he asks Edward to help him get to Havana. The mysterious man has clothing fitting the Assassins Creed members, but seemingly he is a traitor and is working with the Templars. Somehow these two end up not coming to an understanding, and the wounded man speeds off like a gazelle, and Edward has to catch him. (I did say it got weird.)
From what I understand, the game has no way to remove the UI for pics. A pity, because as you can see, the visuals are lovely. :)
After catching up to the assassin, Edward takes his coat, message, and goods for himself. (No hidden blades yet, so cutlasses are for us arrh!) I loved the rainbow with the waterfall!
Edward does a lot of swimming. In a heavy coat to boot! :P Even his crew will make fun of him for it. Lol. There's also an achievement. :P
Havana without the logo. So nice!
The ever-present hawk leads us to the synchronization spot. Havana has multiple of these as it is a large city.
There are cats, dogs, and parrots you can pet in the game! There's even an achievement for petting dogs. Too cute!
While some items are repetitive in their look, there's plenty of excellent detail. Shafts of soft light from small fortress windows - how nice!
Here is a lovely view of several ships leaving the harbor. Look at the gorgeous water! Isn't it amazing?
I hope you have a great week!
Obligatory Promo Section!Yep, I gotta have this since a book is pending release. I am hoping to share the cover soon!
Don't forget the Kindle and Nook versions are currently on pre-order at a discounted price.
You can find sample chapters here.
Don't forget the free ebooks to help celebrate the release and to thank you for your help in getting the word out, doing reviews, whatever you feel like - Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles and Inner Demons.
Thanks again!!!!!!
February 15, 2020
Alien Redemption on Pre-Order for Kindle and Nook!
Greetings, all!
I'm reaching out to let you know that Alien Redemption is up for pre-order on Kindle and Nook!
The release date is 2/28/20.Not only that, but both are currently discounted to make the offer even more enticing!
Just click on the icons below to see the reduced pre-order price. :)
Sample chapters are available as well, so you can get a taste of what to expect. :) Click here.
Don't forget that Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles and Inner Demons are currently free at Smashwords to celebrate the release of Alien Redemption! Just click on the cover below to get there. :)
It would be awesome if you would leave reviews, inform others, or forward the blog post around. I would appreciate your help!
Thanks so much! :)
I'm reaching out to let you know that Alien Redemption is up for pre-order on Kindle and Nook!
The release date is 2/28/20.Not only that, but both are currently discounted to make the offer even more enticing!
Just click on the icons below to see the reduced pre-order price. :)
Sample chapters are available as well, so you can get a taste of what to expect. :) Click here.
Don't forget that Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles and Inner Demons are currently free at Smashwords to celebrate the release of Alien Redemption! Just click on the cover below to get there. :)
It would be awesome if you would leave reviews, inform others, or forward the blog post around. I would appreciate your help!
Thanks so much! :)
February 9, 2020
Mini Movie Reviews 2/9/20
Morning!
Yep, I fell off the face off the earth for a while again. Being in the accounting field, the months of Dec to late Feb usually mean a ton more work than usual. Year-End catch up and clean up, a more-in-depth audit, more reports. Ugh. It hasn't helped that we lost a person in our department and that they had a small layoff last week. Chaos as usual! Whee!
Mini Movie Reviews!
Birds of Prey (and the Emancipation of Harley Quinn) - This was a BLAST! The ads were very misleading in several aspects. Since Margot Robbie was the best thing about the Suicide Squad film, I was both excited and reticent about a movie where the character Harley was the lead. I know there's a lot of stuff out there saying this is a man-bashing film, which isn't strictly wrong, but it's about so much more than that. It is about dependent women, becoming independent. My hubby thought this movie was as fun as I did -- tons of explosions, fights, comical moments. I'd gone to see it thinking it might be a dud, and came out knowing it was one of the most fun movies I'd seen in a while. They did so many fun things. They even did a super cute, animated origin recap for Harley, which is pretty close to canon. For purists, a lot of the characters portrayed will not be precisely what they should be, but there is enough there to get you through. Ewan McGregor was a blast as Black Mask. Harley's egg sandwich sequence was a riot.
It's a popcorn film. It's not meant to be taken too seriously or looked at too closely - though I felt they covered their bases very well. Not for kids, though. Adult subject matter/violence. But such a ride! (I had not seen rollerskates combat in a long time. Good call!)
Rating: 3.75 out of 4 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admissions)
Weathering With You - Loved this film. Take some tissues with you! Both hubby and I needed them for this one. Lol. It is a neat mixture of paranormal, ancient legends, and modern times. It has super cool visuals and is quite emotional. The film had a really neat premise. We enjoyed it a lot!
Rating: 3.75 out of 4 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
1917 - Unfortunately, though I had been desperately wanting to see this movie, I can give no review. We had to leave after twenty minutes. It wasn't the horror of trench warfare that made us go, but their choice of camera work. I hadn't realized it during the previews, but this movie got filmed with shakycam. :( So I got motion sick watching it. Once they were out of the trenches, it was more than I could take. Waaaahhh! Curse you, shakycam!
Dolittle - this was a cute film -- lots of lovely moments for the kids with the animals. Several of the animals had definite personalities, though not all of them were highlighted or had enough screen time to get to know them. The voice and accent they had Robert Downey Jr. use was grating. It did not sound like him at all. The special effects, especially the animals, were excellent. But for some reason, the movie just went along; it had no real fire to it. So while worth seeing, it is not something you should rush to do.
Rating: 3.25 out of 4 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Matinee)
Happy viewing!
Yep, I fell off the face off the earth for a while again. Being in the accounting field, the months of Dec to late Feb usually mean a ton more work than usual. Year-End catch up and clean up, a more-in-depth audit, more reports. Ugh. It hasn't helped that we lost a person in our department and that they had a small layoff last week. Chaos as usual! Whee!
Mini Movie Reviews!
Birds of Prey (and the Emancipation of Harley Quinn) - This was a BLAST! The ads were very misleading in several aspects. Since Margot Robbie was the best thing about the Suicide Squad film, I was both excited and reticent about a movie where the character Harley was the lead. I know there's a lot of stuff out there saying this is a man-bashing film, which isn't strictly wrong, but it's about so much more than that. It is about dependent women, becoming independent. My hubby thought this movie was as fun as I did -- tons of explosions, fights, comical moments. I'd gone to see it thinking it might be a dud, and came out knowing it was one of the most fun movies I'd seen in a while. They did so many fun things. They even did a super cute, animated origin recap for Harley, which is pretty close to canon. For purists, a lot of the characters portrayed will not be precisely what they should be, but there is enough there to get you through. Ewan McGregor was a blast as Black Mask. Harley's egg sandwich sequence was a riot.
It's a popcorn film. It's not meant to be taken too seriously or looked at too closely - though I felt they covered their bases very well. Not for kids, though. Adult subject matter/violence. But such a ride! (I had not seen rollerskates combat in a long time. Good call!)
Rating: 3.75 out of 4 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admissions)
Weathering With You - Loved this film. Take some tissues with you! Both hubby and I needed them for this one. Lol. It is a neat mixture of paranormal, ancient legends, and modern times. It has super cool visuals and is quite emotional. The film had a really neat premise. We enjoyed it a lot!
Rating: 3.75 out of 4 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
1917 - Unfortunately, though I had been desperately wanting to see this movie, I can give no review. We had to leave after twenty minutes. It wasn't the horror of trench warfare that made us go, but their choice of camera work. I hadn't realized it during the previews, but this movie got filmed with shakycam. :( So I got motion sick watching it. Once they were out of the trenches, it was more than I could take. Waaaahhh! Curse you, shakycam!
Dolittle - this was a cute film -- lots of lovely moments for the kids with the animals. Several of the animals had definite personalities, though not all of them were highlighted or had enough screen time to get to know them. The voice and accent they had Robert Downey Jr. use was grating. It did not sound like him at all. The special effects, especially the animals, were excellent. But for some reason, the movie just went along; it had no real fire to it. So while worth seeing, it is not something you should rush to do.
Rating: 3.25 out of 4 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Matinee)
Happy viewing!
February 8, 2020
Q1 2020 Alien Redemption Release is Coming!
Alien Redemption is almost here!
Yep, better late than never. :P End of February is the current target date. *fingerscrossed*
Sample chapters are up! Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3. Give them a look!
Zumaya Publications has assigned the cover to Charles Bernard! YES! Love, love, love his work!
I am super looking forward to seeing what he does for the cover. Squee!
I've been fortunate enough to have him assigned to do several other covers of mine. Check out his fabulous talent!
Awesome, right?
I hope to do a cover reveal soon! Also, to celebrate the impending release of my first science fiction novel, the reprints for Inner Demons and Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles ebook versions are FREE through the end of March 2020!
All I ask is for help spreading the word about Alien Redemption . If you can, I would love to see reviews/tweets/pics/FB posts on what you thought about the two free books or the upcoming release of the new novel. Whatever you can do would be fabulous!
Without your help, I am nothing. So thank you in advance!
The Free Books are at Smashwords - available in ePub, Mobi, lbr, PDB, and their online reader. (Let's celebrate!)
Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles at Smashwords
Inner Demons at Smashwords
Thank you!!!
January 5, 2020
Star Wars - My 42 Year Journey
Right before Christmas, we saw the end of a long journey, the nine movie spanning vision from George Lucas for his creation - Star Wars.
I jumped on this train at 13 years old back in 1977, and after 42 years, we've finally reached the end. (Of the main original concept, anyway!) :P
It's mind boggling, the way this universe and these characters have become so meaningful to so many of us over the years. Let's not forget the music, either, as I believe John Williams is a BIG part of Star Wars' success. Yes, not all of the films have been good, not all of it has been consistent, yet the plan (whether in its original form or not) has come to pass. It's a testament of how much it has affected so many, that it survived long enough to be completed. Science Fiction and Fantasy weren't considered as worthwhile in the movie biz back then. Star Wars opened the way for change.
1977 - Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope - The beginning! Super thrilling, exciting, a look at what Science Fiction could be. Thanks to John Williams, a deep love of background music began for me. It showed music could bring a new dimension to films that were as important as the special effects, the actors, the story. Peter Cushing from the Hammer Films! (Awesome!)
1980 - Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back - This one is my all time favorite. We learned more about the Force and the Jedi. Leia and Han Solo fight against the attraction they feel for each other despite their very different backgrounds. We discover Luke's relationship with Darth Vader. (They published the book before the movie release. I still remember sitting at the couch reading the novelization and the utter shock at the revelation that Darth Vader was Luke's father!) I waited in line for hours on opening day to get to see it! Squee! (Super Awesome!)
1983 - Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi - The culmination of the trilogy (already the news of Lucas' vision for 9 films, 3 set before and 3 set after had everyone excited - even if the chances of them being made was slim.) Ewoks were introduced (So cute!), more awesome music by John Williams, Han and Leia reunited. The Emperor! Hardship and Victory! (Awesome!)
Then we hit the long gap of waiting... Would we ever see the 6 films promised? (There were a lot of other Star Wars things in between - books, comic books, the never to be spoken of Ewok Christmas Special, games, and more. But the films...where were the films?!)
1999 - Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace - They were back! Yes! More John Williams music, woot! Awesome special effects, but something was lost, the realistic, gritty part so successful in the first three films had disappeared, giving way to CGI. The reinvention of the Force and the introduction of Midiclorians. Trying to turn the mystic into science - even though this is a prequel! What? But who cared, Star Wars was BACK! YAY! Young Obi-Wan - woot! (And the introduction of Jar Jar Binks - I like him in this film, but so many people did not. Oh, the hate. Don't give in to the Dark Side!) (Pretty Good! Starwars is BACK!!!!!)
2002 - Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones - Build up, setting more things in place to bring us toward the future we learned of in Episodes IV to VI. Anakin and Padme, more Obi-Wan. Christopher Lee - squee! But hold on, who the heck thought putting Jar Jar into politics and have him help mold policy was a good idea? Nice guy, but 'hello?' are you all nuts? (Decently Good?)
2005 - Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith - WTF ? You changed the fighting style after 5 previous films? WTF ? Instead of the most glorious Anakin vs. Obi-wan battle we get "but I hold the higher ground?" WTF ? You have the Force, higher ground means nothing! Yoda gets turned into Dragonball's Goku? (He even does the Kamehameha!) WTF ? Unequivocally the WORST Star Wars film - EVER! I almost went to the Dark Side due to this one. I even rewatched it a few years later to make sure of the flaws - made me want to strike them down even harder! Ugh! I could rant on this one for hours, HOURS! (Though the lizard mount was super cool!) I waited 28 years for this? Bleah! (Horribly bad!)
2015 - Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens - Disney brought the franchise! They went back to having more physical objects, so the feel of the originals was back. Disney has money, Disney will pay someone to make a super awesome script and bring Star Wars back with a BANG! WRONG! :( Instead, someone mushed together pieces of the first three films somehow thinking that was the recipe needed for success. Think again! Luke was back, Leia was back, Han Solo was back - yay! But wait, Han reverted to a five year old. Kylo Ren is godlike in his abilities. He can bend light! Mess with time! What? (Plus, there's no way Darth Vader's helmet survived! Not the way that ship blew. Oh the humanity!) Plus the hints about Rey's parents? Totally ignored in the later films! Sigh. Oh, and a trash worker stormtrooper is part of an elite commando unit? Right... (Mostly garbage, but still better than Episode III!)
2017 - Star Wars Episode VIII The Last Jedi - It was Star Wars so I went, but expectations were low. So in some aspects, I was pleasantly surprised, others not as much. Kylo Ren still way overpowered. Hints from Episode VII were totally discarded as if they'd never been. Disney is still not using their might to find a decent scriptwriter (that or there were too many hands in the pot). (Mostly Decent?)
2019 - Star Wars Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker - Still no decent script, and loads of backpedaling, which made for a bigger mess. Tons of nostalgic moments. Several stupid ones. (If Rey can jump high enough to go over a super tie fighter, she should be able to leap around a shipwreck instead of tedious climbing it.) Rey is now showing godlike powers. Ugh. (How was there even a wreck? The whole facility exploded from the core!) (Oh and Force skills are NOT hereditary! Ugh.) A super secret Sith map - so make a dagger hilt in the shape of the wreck that is only about twenty years old but the map and knife are ancient? And the wreck has power? What? Oh and out of nowhere, let's make Leia a MASTER JEDI in her youth! Yeah, like she'd have the time to become a MASTER? Some training sure, but a MASTER? So glad I did not have high expectations. Still, I got teary eyed, nostalgic, pumped by the music. I have tried my best not to look at it too closely or who knows what will happen. Heh heh. I will not give in. (Super nostalgic, but not good.)
The nine film journey is over. Huzzah!
Even with the crap, it is still an amazing achievement. I'm glad I survived in the world long enough to see it through. Though not all of those involved got to get to the finish.
I love the Star Wars universe, so, yeah, I'll keep watching. I am sure this cash cow will be milked for years to come. Who knows, eventually the Force might be with us, and some awesome films will come our way again. :P
There's always hope. May the Force be with you, always.
I jumped on this train at 13 years old back in 1977, and after 42 years, we've finally reached the end. (Of the main original concept, anyway!) :P
It's mind boggling, the way this universe and these characters have become so meaningful to so many of us over the years. Let's not forget the music, either, as I believe John Williams is a BIG part of Star Wars' success. Yes, not all of the films have been good, not all of it has been consistent, yet the plan (whether in its original form or not) has come to pass. It's a testament of how much it has affected so many, that it survived long enough to be completed. Science Fiction and Fantasy weren't considered as worthwhile in the movie biz back then. Star Wars opened the way for change.
1977 - Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope - The beginning! Super thrilling, exciting, a look at what Science Fiction could be. Thanks to John Williams, a deep love of background music began for me. It showed music could bring a new dimension to films that were as important as the special effects, the actors, the story. Peter Cushing from the Hammer Films! (Awesome!)
1980 - Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back - This one is my all time favorite. We learned more about the Force and the Jedi. Leia and Han Solo fight against the attraction they feel for each other despite their very different backgrounds. We discover Luke's relationship with Darth Vader. (They published the book before the movie release. I still remember sitting at the couch reading the novelization and the utter shock at the revelation that Darth Vader was Luke's father!) I waited in line for hours on opening day to get to see it! Squee! (Super Awesome!)
1983 - Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi - The culmination of the trilogy (already the news of Lucas' vision for 9 films, 3 set before and 3 set after had everyone excited - even if the chances of them being made was slim.) Ewoks were introduced (So cute!), more awesome music by John Williams, Han and Leia reunited. The Emperor! Hardship and Victory! (Awesome!)
Then we hit the long gap of waiting... Would we ever see the 6 films promised? (There were a lot of other Star Wars things in between - books, comic books, the never to be spoken of Ewok Christmas Special, games, and more. But the films...where were the films?!)
1999 - Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace - They were back! Yes! More John Williams music, woot! Awesome special effects, but something was lost, the realistic, gritty part so successful in the first three films had disappeared, giving way to CGI. The reinvention of the Force and the introduction of Midiclorians. Trying to turn the mystic into science - even though this is a prequel! What? But who cared, Star Wars was BACK! YAY! Young Obi-Wan - woot! (And the introduction of Jar Jar Binks - I like him in this film, but so many people did not. Oh, the hate. Don't give in to the Dark Side!) (Pretty Good! Starwars is BACK!!!!!)
2002 - Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones - Build up, setting more things in place to bring us toward the future we learned of in Episodes IV to VI. Anakin and Padme, more Obi-Wan. Christopher Lee - squee! But hold on, who the heck thought putting Jar Jar into politics and have him help mold policy was a good idea? Nice guy, but 'hello?' are you all nuts? (Decently Good?)
2005 - Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith - WTF ? You changed the fighting style after 5 previous films? WTF ? Instead of the most glorious Anakin vs. Obi-wan battle we get "but I hold the higher ground?" WTF ? You have the Force, higher ground means nothing! Yoda gets turned into Dragonball's Goku? (He even does the Kamehameha!) WTF ? Unequivocally the WORST Star Wars film - EVER! I almost went to the Dark Side due to this one. I even rewatched it a few years later to make sure of the flaws - made me want to strike them down even harder! Ugh! I could rant on this one for hours, HOURS! (Though the lizard mount was super cool!) I waited 28 years for this? Bleah! (Horribly bad!)
2015 - Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens - Disney brought the franchise! They went back to having more physical objects, so the feel of the originals was back. Disney has money, Disney will pay someone to make a super awesome script and bring Star Wars back with a BANG! WRONG! :( Instead, someone mushed together pieces of the first three films somehow thinking that was the recipe needed for success. Think again! Luke was back, Leia was back, Han Solo was back - yay! But wait, Han reverted to a five year old. Kylo Ren is godlike in his abilities. He can bend light! Mess with time! What? (Plus, there's no way Darth Vader's helmet survived! Not the way that ship blew. Oh the humanity!) Plus the hints about Rey's parents? Totally ignored in the later films! Sigh. Oh, and a trash worker stormtrooper is part of an elite commando unit? Right... (Mostly garbage, but still better than Episode III!)
2017 - Star Wars Episode VIII The Last Jedi - It was Star Wars so I went, but expectations were low. So in some aspects, I was pleasantly surprised, others not as much. Kylo Ren still way overpowered. Hints from Episode VII were totally discarded as if they'd never been. Disney is still not using their might to find a decent scriptwriter (that or there were too many hands in the pot). (Mostly Decent?)
2019 - Star Wars Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker - Still no decent script, and loads of backpedaling, which made for a bigger mess. Tons of nostalgic moments. Several stupid ones. (If Rey can jump high enough to go over a super tie fighter, she should be able to leap around a shipwreck instead of tedious climbing it.) Rey is now showing godlike powers. Ugh. (How was there even a wreck? The whole facility exploded from the core!) (Oh and Force skills are NOT hereditary! Ugh.) A super secret Sith map - so make a dagger hilt in the shape of the wreck that is only about twenty years old but the map and knife are ancient? And the wreck has power? What? Oh and out of nowhere, let's make Leia a MASTER JEDI in her youth! Yeah, like she'd have the time to become a MASTER? Some training sure, but a MASTER? So glad I did not have high expectations. Still, I got teary eyed, nostalgic, pumped by the music. I have tried my best not to look at it too closely or who knows what will happen. Heh heh. I will not give in. (Super nostalgic, but not good.)
The nine film journey is over. Huzzah!
Even with the crap, it is still an amazing achievement. I'm glad I survived in the world long enough to see it through. Though not all of those involved got to get to the finish.
I love the Star Wars universe, so, yeah, I'll keep watching. I am sure this cash cow will be milked for years to come. Who knows, eventually the Force might be with us, and some awesome films will come our way again. :P
There's always hope. May the Force be with you, always.
