Daniel Waters's Blog, page 8
August 31, 2012
Questions Concerning a Frisson
Did you ever have the experience of having read a book, watched a movie, or engaged with any piece of art or entertainment, and had a completely mediocre response, and then you encounter the artifact at a different time and the reading or the viewing or the listening is an entirely different encounter than the one you had before?
And that this second (or third, or tenth) engagement with that artifact--an artifact that previously you were suitably nonplussed enough to rate three out of five stars so that the data aggregator would provide you with a more appropriate recommendation next time out--makes you question everything you thought, said or did during the time you engaged with the the artifact, even if that last encounter with the artifact was as recent as six months ago, because this time your experience with the artifact was literally a life changing experience, life changing as in expanding your world, your capacity to understand, your capacity to love?
And so the elation and excitement you have over having had that expansive life changing experience,the sheer joy in being moved that way-- because sometimes you worry if you can ever be moved by art or entertainment or anything new in that way ever again--that joy is tempered by that back-of-mind worry about the person who saw and dismissed the artifact in the first place?
What were you thinking? What were you feeling?
Were you feeling?
How have you changed? Have you changed?
Are you changing still?
Writing these questions, I sense movement at the corner of my eye, but when I turn there is only a bookshelf, some records, some DVDs.
And that this second (or third, or tenth) engagement with that artifact--an artifact that previously you were suitably nonplussed enough to rate three out of five stars so that the data aggregator would provide you with a more appropriate recommendation next time out--makes you question everything you thought, said or did during the time you engaged with the the artifact, even if that last encounter with the artifact was as recent as six months ago, because this time your experience with the artifact was literally a life changing experience, life changing as in expanding your world, your capacity to understand, your capacity to love?
And so the elation and excitement you have over having had that expansive life changing experience,the sheer joy in being moved that way-- because sometimes you worry if you can ever be moved by art or entertainment or anything new in that way ever again--that joy is tempered by that back-of-mind worry about the person who saw and dismissed the artifact in the first place?
What were you thinking? What were you feeling?
Were you feeling?
How have you changed? Have you changed?
Are you changing still?
Writing these questions, I sense movement at the corner of my eye, but when I turn there is only a bookshelf, some records, some DVDs.
August 17, 2012
Break My Heart 1000 Times
A couple early reviews:
The Militant Recommender Written by an artist,Stephanie Piro, who did an illustration of a scene from the book!
Dark Faerie Tales A lovely site!
And an interview:Zone Out ModeBMH1kx will be out mid-October! Preorder early and often!
The Militant Recommender Written by an artist,Stephanie Piro, who did an illustration of a scene from the book!
Dark Faerie Tales A lovely site!
And an interview:Zone Out ModeBMH1kx will be out mid-October! Preorder early and often!
August 16, 2012
My Wild Life, Part LXII
Ladies and gentleman, i give you the noble Hummingbird Moth:
Don't forget to get your ebook of Stitches, now available internationally!
Don't forget to get your ebook of Stitches, now available internationally!
August 15, 2012
Stitches eBook Released in the U.K. Today
You need something to do now that the Olympics is over, right?
August 2, 2012
Generation Dead: Stitches U.K.
The U.K. ebook edition of Generation Dead: Stitches is up for pre-order at amazon.co.uk. It is a little hard to find as it isn't identified as a Generation Dead title and the cover art isn't up yet.
Here's a link to help you:Preorder UK Stitches!
And here's the cover:
Here's a link to help you:Preorder UK Stitches!
And here's the cover:
July 18, 2012
Break My Heart 1000 Times Movie News
Did I mention that I read the script? I did. And it is great. The Break My Heart 1000 Times script was written by the multitalented Jason Fuchs. Some would say the crazily multitalented Jason Fuchs--actor, producer, and screenwriter--is there nothing this guy can't do? I heard he can 360 windmill dunk and make a subtle and nuanced risotto that comes out perfectly every time, too. And he's only 26! I'd likely hate him if he hadn't done such a wonderful job on writing such a suspenseful, scary script for BMH1kx.
He also, btw, wrote the screenplay for a little film called ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, which is playing, like, everywhere. Check it out.
I ran across a recent interview with Jason on the Script website where he speaks a bit about adapting BMH1kx for film and about many of the other exciting projects he's worked on or will be working on. He's a fascinating guy. You can read the interview HERE.
He also, btw, wrote the screenplay for a little film called ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, which is playing, like, everywhere. Check it out.
I ran across a recent interview with Jason on the Script website where he speaks a bit about adapting BMH1kx for film and about many of the other exciting projects he's worked on or will be working on. He's a fascinating guy. You can read the interview HERE.
July 5, 2012
U.K. Stitches!
Here's the floral cover of the U.K. Ebook edition of Generation Dead:Stitches to complete your bouquet. I'm told it will be released some time in August!
July 2, 2012
Creative People
I'm addicted to the lives of creative people. Specifically, to what inspires creative people, how they developed, how they work, their process, and how they make their way in a world that doesn't always seem geared towards supporting creative people. In looking over my list of what I've read this year, there are tons of books that I've read that have given glimpses into the lives of creative people--autobiographies like Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl, biographies like Hemingway and his World (I've probably read fifty-seven books about Hemingway), creative essays/memoirs like my friend David Yoo's new book The Choke Artist and Johnette (Concrete Blonde) Napolitano's book Rough Mix. Books like F. Paul Wilson's Aftershocks and Others, which is a book of short stories, but sandwiched between the stories are snapshot recaps of his career from year to year--fascinating encounters with both the production and business sides of creative endeavor (one of the things that have helped forge the bonds between Stephen King and his Constant Readers, I think, is that many of his books have similar material; the forwards, the afterwords, the story notes that give his loyal fanbase a peek behind the curtain, a chance to see the story behind the story). Musicians' biographies, artists' biographies (especially anyone that ever created for Mad Magazine, or painted science fiction book covers), writers' bios, anything. If you create, I want to read your story.
My friend Matthew Dow Smith is a creator--the type I'm insanely jealous of, because he is able to create just about anything in any medium, its seems. His newest creation is The October Girl, a brand new digital comic book from MonkeyBrain Comics, and you can--and should--get the first installment for the lofty price of .99 cents. And then you can catch some insight--for free!--into his process, his career, and the considerations one has to take into account to be a creative professional--in his eight part "Toys and Corners" series on his blog, starting HERE.
Buy the comic, read Matt's blog--it is my belief that by studying the lives of creative people as well as their creations you will find enrichment and inspiration for your own life. Give it a shot.
My friend Matthew Dow Smith is a creator--the type I'm insanely jealous of, because he is able to create just about anything in any medium, its seems. His newest creation is The October Girl, a brand new digital comic book from MonkeyBrain Comics, and you can--and should--get the first installment for the lofty price of .99 cents. And then you can catch some insight--for free!--into his process, his career, and the considerations one has to take into account to be a creative professional--in his eight part "Toys and Corners" series on his blog, starting HERE.
Buy the comic, read Matt's blog--it is my belief that by studying the lives of creative people as well as their creations you will find enrichment and inspiration for your own life. Give it a shot.
June 18, 2012
Generation Dead Optioned for Television
I'm happy to report that the paperwork is done and that the Generation Dead series has been optioned for television. Apparently there is some other zombie-related show on tv now that is sort of popular or something--so I'm certain there is a huge audience that will accept Phoebe and her undead pals into their homes on a regular basis. You would, wouldn't you? Let's play casting director! Who would you have as Phoebe if you called the shots? As Adam? Karen? Tommy? As that kid who threw a corn cob at Tommy? Who does that? January Jones would be excellent as Angela Hunter; I wonder if she's busy?
March 10, 2012
Break My Heart 1,000 Times
October! Pre-order whenever convenient!
