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Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 128
March 28, 2011
Mind Sieve 3/28/11
Fan Fun
From Seth Green twitter feed I got this link about Nathan Fillion who made it onto the cover of Entertainment Weekly! Nice little write up with the cover pic at EW.com
SoonerCon shared this link to a pseudo steampunk film by Luc Besson, the same man who brought us Nikita and the Fifth Element, called The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-sec. The preview is totally awesome!
Candance Haven linked the latest preview for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. More movies for my to be watched list!
Author Platform
Nathan Bradford has a great post on Face Book for Authors. Most of the steps are very easy. A few may have changed slightly as Facebook just did a major change with fan pages, but most should be viable.
Kristen Lamb's Twitter Tuesday #10 is right on the money this week. You'll note that I already follow her advice as from the get go I went with @GloriaOliver. :)
10 Ways to Increase You Likebility Quotient - another Kristen Lamb zinger for this week! I do some of these already but I really need to clone myself to be able to participate more. Ugh!
Writing Advice
Kristen Lamb talk about her kitchen junk drawers and at the same time shows us where we can get idea and even help ourselves with our writing.
Donna Newton asks the question "What's in a Log Line?" And taking some lessons learned we get a before and after picture of hers. Very good advice for pitches.
Log line and actual content get discussed in Hooking the Reader and Never Letting Go by Kristen Lamb.
This bit hits home for both writers and readers. Part of it stems for a current discussion on e-book pricing, but it's the bottom half that I want you to look at. It's something I've touted about in my blogs a time or two - The Care and Feeding of Your Favorite Authors - from the indomitable (if not safe for work) mind of Chuck Wendig.
Nathan Bradford talks about a problem all of us writer types face - How to Find Balance? (Cloning! I tell you, cloning is the answer! Bwahahahaha!)
Stalled on your novel? Need ways to jump start the old noggin' again? Chuck Wendig has made a list of ways for you.
Okay, I think I will stop there. lol. This should keep you busy for a bit. :P
March 24, 2011
Aggie Con 42 - Tentative Schedule!
If you're going to find yourselves down at Aggie Con this weekend, here's a list of the panels I'm currently schedule to be on.
Friday 3PM: Nerd Girls - What makes a girl a nerd, and what makes them better than regular girls?
Friday 4PM: Did somebody call The Doctor? - Who is that man in the police box?
Friday 5PM: Nerdlings: Where to begin? - How should you introduce your kids to the wonderful world of nerds?
Saturday 10AM: Trek is BACK! - A discussion of the new Star Trek movie and what could be in store for the inevitable sequel.
Hope to see you there!
March 22, 2011
Picture Kaleidoscope 3/23/11
Muzachan shared this pic of some Hello Kitty Hina Matsuri Dolls. Hina Matsuri is a Girl's Day celebration held on March 3rd. Usually represented by dolls representing ancient Japanese court. These are adorable!
Patrick Mazias shared a cool pic of a 1955 shot on the set of Godzilla's Counterattack. You can totally see the great miniature work and also the man in the suit taking a smoking break. Too cool!
Yep, looks like a lame week for pics. lol. Hopefully will do better next week!
March 21, 2011
Mind Sieve 3/21/11
Fan Fun
Dr Horrible has passed on the word that his blog will now be a book! ScifiMania has an article/review about it.
Social Media/Author Platforms
Kristen Lamb talk Twitter and how not to be a Tool!
Another zinger from Kristen Lamb on how to write blogs. Basically how to do it and remain sane. But even more so, the difference style/tone for blogs compared to our other writing!
Writing Advice
Kristen Lamb shares tips about dieting and exercising and actually makes them tie back to writing and author platforms! I kid you not! lol. So here is Opportunity Comes in Overalls.
The guys at YAFantasyGuide share a list of agents interested in the Fantasy genre.
Jenny Hansen has a great post on How To Build Your Writing Team. Some great advice and also lots of links to other info. You might be on this one a while. :P
Rachel Gardner has a great post on Publishing Myths. Some great truths in here, ya'll!
On the same vein I present Chuck Wendig's post called Lies Writer's Tell. More myth busting goodness!
And Candace Havens talks to us writer types about Desperation. It's all about the attitude!
March 18, 2011
Movie Review - Beastly
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen, Vanessa Hudgens, Neil Patrick Harris, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Peter Krause and more.
Directed/Screenplay by: Daniel Barnz Based on the Novel by: Alex Flinn Original Music by: Marcelos Zarvos
Premise: Modern retelling of the Beauty and the Beast in New York City.
Review: I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast movies. There's just certain tales that I will go watch every time they're redone. This is one of them. And I'm glad I did.
Everyone involved with the film gave it a fun, fresh feel to the old story. Some nice chemistry or the beginnings of chemistry between super popular Kyle and and down to earth Lindy right before the world gave out under Kyle's feet. The addition of Neal Patrick Harris was brilliant. A nice bringer of humor to lighten the dark, somber, estranged Kyle. And you'll love Mary-Kate Olsen as the witch. Too fun!
All the original earmarks of the tale of Beauty and the Beast are here - a test failed by Kyle which gets him cursed; the one year time limit to find true love; fate giving Kyle a way to strong arm Lindy's father to have her stay at his home; roses.
Having said that, there are also many new surprises. Reasons are shown why Kyle was the shallow, skin deep only boy we meet at the beginning. The transformation of Kyle is not into a beast but someone with tattoos, torn skin, embedded metal. And the sign of his curse, the way to keep track of its progress - some really nice subtle special effects for this one - a giant rose bush with roots in his hand and up his wrist, with the crown on his arm - and it goes through the seasons. There was a section passage of time that was also done in a subtle surreal way that totally complemented the film.
The ending had a slight twist from the norm, which was also a nice surprise. I especially liked the question it through in, the spiking of unexpected tension after he believes Lindy's gone on her trip - will she know him now as she did then? (No, I won't explain. Don't want to spoil it!) Fun film!
Rating: 4 out of 5 (No hubby rating as he didn't want to see it. Now I get to rib him that he missed a good one. Nyah!)
March 16, 2011
Picture Kaleidoscope 3/16/11
Even though I was totally out of commission for most of last week, I did manage to get a few pictures before I succumbed to the evil cold. (This is also the first time I'm doing this type of blog post from the new fandangled multi loader so should be exciting how much I have to fix before you all see it! Hah!)
The flowers from the red tree in the back yard last but maybe a week. Got lucky and actually got a couple of shots of them this year.
Hubby helped out a friend in clearing out a shed from an older lady who was about to go into an assited living facility. It seems they were big proponents back in the day of having extra food and stuff in case of the apocalypse. I got the friend to send me a couple of pics as these are not things you see everyday! Thought I'd share them with you.
Look at the size of that can! John said they weighed a ton. Six to a box. And they had a whole shed full. Perma-Pak, baby!
And while I huddled in my chair, hoping to sleep away or immobilize my cold, a beautiful and unexpected picture moment appeared! Matt, Drew, and their puppy child, Serenity. Adorable!!!! (Just don't tell them! I'll be killed! :P)
Picture Kaleidoscope 3/16/11
Even though I was totally out of commission for most of last week, I did manage to get a few pictures before I succumbed to the evil cold. (This is also the first time I'm doing this type of blog post from the new fandangled multi loader so should be exciting how much I have to fix before you all see it! Hah!)
The flowers from the red tree in the back yard last but maybe a week. Got lucky and actually got a couple of shots of them this year.
Hubby helped out a friend in clearing out a shed from an older lady who was about to go into an assited living facility. It seems they were big proponents back in the day of having extra food and stuff in case of the apocalypse. I got the friend to send me a couple of pics as these are not things you see everyday! Thought I'd share them with you.
Look at the size of that can! John said they weighed a ton. Six to a box. And they had a whole shed full. Perma-Pak, baby!
And while I huddled in my chair, hoping to sleep away or immobilize my cold, a beautiful and unexpected picture moment appeared! Matt, Drew, and their puppy child, Serenity. Adorable!!!! (Just don't tell them! I'll be killed! :P)
March 9, 2011
Picture Kaleidoscope 3/9/11
Case in point...
Crispin Freeman shared a gorgeous photo of the Japanese Gardens in Balboa Park in Los Angeles, CA. Look at the blue!
This one is another cool view, which he entitled Floating Like A Lily Pad.
His third is of a Sakura Tree in bloom. Very nice!
I got this one from one of the vendors at the DFW Writers Conference. A Tiara Cap! Makes me wish I wore hats! lol.
From the Cassini Saturn Mission comes this super cool pic - Beyond Southern Rhea Like a globe sitting on a table. WOW.
Beth Riesgraph shares this amazing pic of way too much snow and ice. Read the Warning Sign in the back. :P
And to wrap up this week's set of pics, I'll leave you with this colorful beauty!
March 7, 2011
Mind Sieve 3/7/11
Also stirring up the format. What I had before caused a problem, so let's see if this works better. :P
Fan Fun
New Thunder Cats series! Article by Marc Bernardin over at io9.com - There's a preview video here! Looks like it might be more serious/grown-up than the original. Looking forward to see what they do with it.
Shared by Rachel Caine is GameView - a fake gaming blog by her friend Glenn. The Half-Life's Gordon Freeman speaks out entry is pretty cute. :)
Rob Thurman has a Cal Leandros Series Book Trailer at her website. Pretty snazzi! She's even got a widget! Dang. I want one for mys stuff! lol.
Social Media
Kristen Lamb's Twitter Tuesday post #7 - where she covers the pros and cons of auto reply DM's.
Nathan Bradford talks about How to Get Started on Facebook for authors. I'd already done most of what he mentions, and like him, was very excited once I realized the power of a Book Page.
Writing Advice
Chuck Wendig shared a link to this post from the National Association of Writers in Education called New Skills For Writers where they explore how the jobs of writers may be expanding.
Shared by Kristen Lamb this blog post comes from Writer Unbox and was written by Donal Maas - What Are You Afraid Of explores why some novels don't go quite far enough.
Kristen Lamb shared a link to a post by Jody Hedlund - Enduring the Pain in the Quest for Publication. Some good tips to keep in mind on the long arduous journey!
Chuck Wendig dug deep and brought up the following - How Not To Starve And Die As A Writer. Some good questions and pointers here folks!
If you've ever been curious about the glamorous life of an intern at an agency, here's you chance to catch a glimpse. The Knight Agency's New Intern - how Whitney got there and the truths about slush piles.
Kristen Lamb talks about the beginning of your novel in her post "In The Beginning" Part One - Normal World.
That should keep you all busy for a bit. heh heh heh.
Have an awesome week!
March 6, 2011
Ladies of Trade Town Anthology Release and Party!
Cover Art and Design by Melanie Fletcher An anthology of original science fiction, fantasy, and related genre short fiction on the world's oldest profession Gala Book Launch at A-Kon 22. Thanks to the good folks at A-Kon, The Ladies of Trade Town will celebrate its official debut in high style.. Among the festivities being hosted by the convention, and featuring as many of the contributors as we can gather together, are:
A "Meet The Ladies & Gentlemen Of Trade Town" Panel A Mass Autographing Event The Ladies Of Trade Town Launch Party A-Kon 22 will take place June 10 - 12, 2011 at the Sheraton Dallas (formerly the Adams Mark) in downtown Dallas. All Book Launch events are scheduled for Saturday, June 12, with the panel and mass autographing on Saturday afternoon (time and location to be announced), and the Launch Party scheduled for 7:00 pm in function space on the 38th floor of the Sheraton. Further details as we have them.
Trade Town Table of Contents Announced "Introduction" by Elizabeth Moon "Call Me Madam" (Editor's Introduction) by Lee Martindale "The Ballad of Eskimo Nell Revisted Or John Henry Was A Piston-Driving Man" by Jim Reader "First Fruits" by Merlyn Finn "Dreams of Blood and Milk" by Mary A. Turzillo "What A Man Wants" by Cecilia Tan "A Touch of Ginger" by Melanie Fletcher "The Queen of Knaves" by Tracy S. Morrist "In The House of Allures" by Rob Chilson "Silk and Steam" by Brandie Tarvin "Art" by Gloria Oliver (Bwahahaha)
"Do Unto Others" by Rebecca McFarland Kyle "Duty Free" by Mark W. Tiedemann "At Mother Laurie's House of Bliss" by Catherine Lundoff "The Lady of Trade Town" by Lee Martindale "The Last Virgin" by Jana Oliver "The Oldest Profession?" by Melinda LaFevers
