Patsy Cline Bio Piece

Patsy Cline would be 78 today. Check out my mini bio of the talented, but doomed, country/pop star.

Circuit Riding

Speaking of buzz, Nate Ruegger does the necessary work to promote his film.

The Year in Fiction

Back in 2009 around this time I wrote a post in which I hoped to sell ten short stories in six months. (Note: the fire I mentioned finally went out and Colin Wells returned safely home from Afghanistan, got married and is completing his Army service.)

I have sold 4 stories—my sidebar tells the tale—out of 21 submissions with one story still out. I expanded a short story into a novella which I'm now expanding into a several hundred page novel.

For the last three years, animation writing has morphed into a maze consisting mostly of dead ends. That could change rapidly, but so far has resisted the impulse.

In any case, nothing gets finished by wishing and wanting, so on I go. Halloween is my deadline for finishing the novel's first draft. I hate and resent the novel. It's like a five-pound bee you can neither kill nor drive from your home.

October 31. Death to the bee!

Review: The Last Exorcism

Teen comedies aren't my first choice, but "The Last Exorcism" had me chuckling like a fat man in a dryer. This light-hearted spoof of religion, dating, and southern mores carried with it the bawdy overtones of American Beauty combined with the serio-comedic stylings of John Hughes' Breakfast Club. Director Daniel Stamm employed a first-person camera ala "Blair Witch" in this often touching tale of 16-year-old Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) who finds she has a demon in her life and must grapple with maturing needs as well as those of an evil being from Hell who desires her degradation and destruction. Patrick Fabian portrays Cotton Marcus, a cynical preacher called upon to exorcise Nell at a remote Louisiana farm. Fabian captures the same hapless frustration as Jeffrey Jones' principal in "Ferris Bueller." Writers Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland weren't afraid to insert a little slapstick as Cotton Marcus and Iris Reisen (Iris Bahr) discover slaughtered cattle, then share a scene straight out of Johnny Puleo and the Harmonica Gang. Unknown Caleb Landry Jones steals the film as Nell's brother Caleb, exhibiting an innocent buffoonery reminiscent of beloved Mexican funny man Cantinflas. "Last Exorcism" hits all the right notes for a late-summer, light-hearted romp to take your mind off the heat and give the funny bone a good workout. (Rated 'R' for scenes of torture and mutilation.)

Thar She Blows!

They couldn't find a large enough jar of sleeping pills.
via Drudge Report

Bollywood Rocks

Another tedious gabby film from India

via Hot Air

Review: The Expendables

This classic European mood-piece featured long establishing shots, talky scenes inserted for tone, and searing close ups of tormented characters adrift in a world devoid of action, reduced to lashing out at each other with knives and guns which symbolized the clever, hurtful sarcasm that really wounds. Director Stallone's use of outer violence to mirror inner turmoil was well-intentioned but too subtle to be very effective. Giselle Iti's Sandra was the perfect post-modern, feminist heroine, isolated in a culture that saw her only in terms of gender: general's daughter, revolutionary, nation builder. In a pivotal role, Senyo Amoaku portrayed the Tall Pirate, the Every Man for our own inner tall pirate; that part of us who is always asking, bargaining, threatening hostages with machetes.

In general a thoughtful film to be discussed over espresso and macaroons. All I can say is: bring a hankie.

Link to Read Comics in Public Day

Geek O System alerts us to tomorrow: Read Comics in Public Day. I always thought comic book ads were tough to beat. They're an interesting piece to any business model.

Texas Freakazoid Shirts!

Combined with takineko exploring the wonders of Laptop Face.

Author Reading on a Hot Afternoon

Yesterday afternoon, my friend Bernadette organized a reading in a private home. About eight authors presented an eclectic mix of poetry and prose. My wife read a short story she's intending to send out. And, despite a five-minute time limit, I got a good response from "Dagon and Jill." (At least the portion I could read in five minutes.) Hot as the surface of Mercury outside, but the air conditioning worked and there were numerous fresh-baked goodies. We stole several small, easily pawnable items from our host but we're caught and asked to return them. This marred the event somewhat, but will make a nice story for the next one.

Fest Control

Belated congrats to director Nathan Ruegger whose film Another Life was accepted into the Temecula Valley International Film Festival. Follow his Hollywood journey at Another Life in Film.

Well Said, Don Roff

Over at Forces of Geek, author Roff offers sage advice on meeting the daily word count. I've encountered many of his pitfalls enroute to my own 1k a day.

My wife and I are away this afternoon to a gathering of fellow writers. There we'll each read a few pages from our various works. (I'll present about 5 minutes worth from the recently purchased "Dagon and Jill.") Nice people, good atmosphere, free food—everything a writer needs.

Piranha 3D

i09 has this baby's number.

Batman Beyond on DVD

All of it, the complete series. I was fortunate enough to pen two episodes and this nice site mentioned me along with the talented artists and writers who made "Beyond" an interesting, fun iteration of the Batman saga.
Via Danny Barer

Freak/Cosgrove Tale

Maz' story more directly reached here.

Links to Ruegger Art and a Freak/Cosgrove Adventure

Scroll down as Maz envisions a Freakazoid!/Cosgrove adventure. (My only quibble involved the monkeys' fate. I believe they would be dressed as evil scuba divers first.)

In addition:

A few drawings from Sam.

Tom renders Yolko and the life of a Basset Hound.

New Still Playing With Toys

A site for sore eyes. Bad cyber neighbor that I am, Troy Benjamin's site Still Playing With Toys upgraded two months ago into this really neat blog with lots of video and commentary on Troy's work as "value added" director for DVDs such as Johnny Bravo and Freakazoid! Give him a double-eyed peek.

Writing News

"Death Honk" remains front page at the Journal of Microliterature. Stop by and give it your finest read.

Also, "Fresh Ideas" clings to the #2 Top Story spot at Every Day Fiction. If deemed appropriate, more nice votes would help stave off the latest stories seeking to topple me from my second place perch.

The novel has been temporarily benched as I crank out a short story for an anthology with a due date of Aug. 31. In addition, I may begin working on a Young Adult novel involving a teenage protagonist and a creepy menace only he can see and no one else wants to acknowledge. Much will depend on how much interest exists for such a work in the Young Adult publishing world.

Today! New tires! Why didn't I lead with this? Ohhh, nuts. Brand new tires for meeeee!!

In Print This January...

The wise, thoughtful editorial staff at Necrotic Tissue have purchased my short story, "Dagon and Jill" for publication in issue #13 coming out January 2011. "Dagon and Jill" explores the results of mixing multiculturalism with H.P. Lovecraft. (Think of it as PC Lovecraft.)

In addition, I've been selected as an Editor's Pick, which means I'm paid at the professional rate of 5 cents a word. Unfortunately, its too late to "plump up" the story to take advantage of this unexpected bounty.

Thanks to all who've stopped by and read "Death Honk." It's featured front and center on the Journal of Microliterature through Sat. Aug. 21. Now back to all things novel.

Three Beeps for "Death Honk"

"Death Honk" posted at the Journal of Microliterature as the featured story for this week. What would you do for a job? What does Kevin do? Read and know, leave a comment, have some coffee, all in the order you find most pleasing.

Amazing WW II Footage

Sixty-five years ago, Japan surrendered ending World War II. My father was stationed on Okinawa with the Army engineers and the end of hostilities kept him from building airfields during Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of Japan. Allied casualties were projected to be heavy, thus my future writing career was saved by good fortune and the atomic bomb.

Here's remarkable color footage from 1945 Honolulu.
via Ace of Spades

"Death Honk" Tomorrow

Flash fiction piece "Death Honk" debuts on the Journal of Microliterature starting Sunday, Aug. 15 for seven of your standard Earth days. Drop by for a flash read, leave a comment or two, then go about your lives refreshed and secure in the knowledge that you now know a death honk from a casual beep.

738 words into today's 1K. I'm stacking up the chapters, but the pace is wearying. Perhaps a day off on the Sabbath to read what I've written this week and see if it makes any sense. (Even if it doesn't, I'm pressing on.)

Nostalgia Critic Interview Notes

An impressive job by the Nostalgia Critic. The interviews were conducted via Skype with each interviewee responsible for filming their end. Then the film was uploaded to NC who combined five different cameras and sound levels with his own set-up. A very ala carte process that came together in post. Well done, I say.

BTW: Interviews were conducted individually over the course of a week.

Link to Nostalgia Critic: Animaniacs Interviews

Find them in all their lucid glory right here.

Nostalgia Critic Tonight

Tom Ruegger, Nate Ruegger, Paul Rugg, Sherri Stoner and myself will be web-visible sometime this evening as the Nostalgia Critic interviews us about back-in-the-day on Animaniacs.

Death Honk Week

For seven big days, "Death Honk" will be the featured story at The Journal of Microliterature. What would you do or say to get a job? Find out what one man does beginning Sunday Aug. 15.

Score Again!

The Journal of Microliterature is up and running. My flash fiction piece, "Death Honk," has been accepted and will appear this Sunday, Aug. 15. Stop by and give it a read. Under 1k words, four pages or so, the tale is a time-saver for the busy fiction aficionado.

Bad Russian Sci Fi Flick

Paul Rugg alerted me to this film. Wherever it may be found, find it and watch the whole thing. It is rich in surreal comedy on many levels. This is only a sample, including the main title and end cards. There is oh, so much more in-between.

via UnfilteredNoise

1K a Day + Pitch

That is my current goal: to write a thousand words a day on the novel (around five pages). Since last week, I've been pretty consistent. Nothing will be harder than finishing the first draft, so that's where I'll be.

Tom Ruegger, Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver and I pitched a show yesterday over at Comedy Central. Very pleasant experience, though who knows how it'll play out. (Paul Rugg would've gone along but decided to take paying voice work instead. At lunch afterwards, we cursed him and munched our salads with bitter, jealous expressions.)

Death Honk Away

"Death Honk" wings off to possible literary placement. It's been a fun two-weeks working on it, but now back to the labor-intensive novel.

Dagon and Jill Makes the Short List

My short story "Dagon and Jill" passes the first cut at a fiction magazine. Hopefully, in under five weeks, I'll know if I've placed. This story has been down the aisle before and I believe its finally ready for full-time commitment.

When Nerds Collide

The pen is mightier than snark down at Comic-Con.

Writing & Running Updates

Who is at Comic Con? Not me. Not this year. Some other year, perhaps. I'm withdrawing a story from a magazine. Not only did they sit on it for 5 months, but their automated replay system promised to investigate and respond in 10 days. It is now 11 days and counting. They must use geologic time. Time to swing for the fence and send that story off to the toughest fantasy/sci-fi market there is; long response time, but pro-pay (5 cents a word!) My 1K story for the Journal of Microliterature has arrived at a first draft motel. I've given it a well-merited rest to allow my subconscious to tidy up various rough spots. But I'm confident any tale called "Death Honk," must have an audience somewhere. No running this week as my knee has been sore since Saturday. Nothing serious, but there is a bit of sensation where, previously, none existed. I'll ice more and try a mile this weekend. Yes, that is what I will do. Then I will eat limes to avoid scurvy.

Write You Are

Friend Bernadette offers a link to 10 Rules For Writers. There should be 11: Don't be afraid to write crap on the first draft. (Currently following that to a T.)

A Different Paul

Other than the jovial Mr. Rugg. My Darling Wife has an essay up on the apostle and his views on women.

Jimmy Freeman Pre-Badwater

Observe Jimmy Freeman, briefly, here and there in the official Badwater video, 10 AM (Monday) start. Watch for a tall, smiling fellow in a yellow Coyote runners shirt at :10, 3:53, 7:14, and 8:40. Note: He finished 16th overall and held off two other runners at the finish. Impressive, I think.

via AdventureCORPS

Jimmy Freeman Nails Badwater

And that's that. Congrats to Jimmy Dean Freeman, Badwater finisher.

And more than that: 16th overall and Jimmy held off three other runners at the finish, beating one by 4 seconds and another by 10. A-maze-ing.

Freeman at Badwater

While we slept Jimmy Dean Freeman was running the Badwater Ultra-Marathon, starting from the floor of Death Valley and ending at the portals of Mount Whitney: 135 miles. He's been running since 10:00 AM yesterday. In just under 22 hours, he's covered 90 miles. An outstanding feat from a man who is never dull.

Meanwhile, I wrote all day, had supper, arose after 7 hours of sleep, ran 3 miles, and had breakfast. But no awards are given for these things. (Though I am pretty darn happy to run 3 miles in whatever time it takes.)

Fighting an Airline Through Song

United screwed an artist who punches back.

via sonsofmaxwell

Fresh Ideas in Second Place at Every Day Fiction

Thank you all who read and voted for my story on Every Day Fiction. I've vaulted into second place over three other tales, and now lead by 7 votes. Well played, say I!

Invited to Submit a Short Story

Goodly folk at the Journal of Microliterature have invited me to submit a short story under 1k words. This invite comes about via the great feedback "Fresh Ideas" has gotten on Every Day Fiction. If you have not read it yet, do stop by and, should the spirit move you, vote generously. I'm currently in a 4-way tie for #2. Push me over the top, I implore you! (And I rarely 'implore.')

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Story editor Mitch Watson announced the latest incarnation of Scooby-Doo! is headed for the small screen this Monday, July 12 at 7:00 PM PST on Cartoon Network. Paul Rugg wrote several episodes. (I wrote one.) Scares and laughs combine as the gang investigates a small town with more mysteries than the library. Give it a view.

Tom On Board

Tom Ruegger's new blog is up.

Another July 4 5K

Back in business as I finished the Santa Clarita 5K this morning. Unlike 2007, the day was perfect, cool with cloud cover until well after the finish.

Part of Chi Running involves keeping cadence with a metronome. Running uphill, I shorten my stride; downhill I lengthen it out behind me; and to speed up on the flats, I lean forward from my ankles ala a ski jumper only not so extreme or I would be badly hurt in a different way.

But the cadence is always the same.

I really noticed this going uphill today. My heart rate didn't spike, my breath stayed constant and I steadily passed huffing runners.

My goal was to have a fun, injury-free race, though I did pick it up on the last straightaway to the finish line. An old guy passed me. I am an old guy, but this runner made me look like Justin Beiber. (If Justin's nose was all funny from skin cancer.) I leaned from the ankles, sped up and passed him. The old codger put on the gas and passed me again. Leaning further, I sped up, dropped the codger, passed a teenage girl and finished in an unofficial time of 29:37. (Santa Clarita is old school - tear the tag off your race bib and hand it to the kid at the end of the chute.)

In an interesting decision, the race directors choose not to display mile signs or have anyone calling out splits. I guess they figured its a 5K, not Boston. ("Next thing ya know, they'll want race videos.") However, they made up for it with a nice technical tee-shirt in a color I don't have.

Oddly enough, the 2007 event was my first race back after tearing a calf muscle that spring. Santa Clarita appears to be my rehab 5K of choice.

An enjoyable run that showed me the potential of chi running. More importantly, no pain or soreness in my knee.

Happy July 4th to all! Cook! Blow something up! Sleep in! The Founding Fathers would've done all those things, but John Adams yelled at them so they declared Independence instead.

My Own Private Badwater

Jimmy Freeman prepares to run the real thing July 12 to 14 - 135 miles from the floor of Death Valley to Mount Whitney across terrain the temperature and contour of the planet Mercury.

Meanwhile I will be running a 5k in Santa Clarita. All things are relative and this is a big deal for a guy who wasn't supposed to run anymore. I'm still trying to master this Chi running stuff and have advanced to the point where I can pass people tying their shoes or eating a snack. My Sunday goal is a fun run without injury, plus a technical tee-shirt in my goodie bag. I think free Smoothies afterward, but that may be wishful thinking.

I'm Number Four on Everyday Fiction

A month later, "Fresh Ideas" hangs in at 4th place overall on Everyday Fiction.

Write, Write, Write

Every, every, day.

Paper Wave; Writing/Running Update

A mound of unread books and magazines has drawn me away from the Web along with a desire to reestablish myself as a guy who can focus with single-minded intent on the printed word, as Internet use has gradually eroded my ability to do so. I've officially begun the other two sections of my novel. Rather than a detailed outline, which has killed two other book attempts, this time I'm filling chapters with stream-of-consciousness notes, thoughts, scenes. That way, I'm more open to the sudden, unexpected changes that will arise. I'm quite excited after avoiding the start for months. Halloween remains my deadline for a first draft. Went a'hiking with Paul Rugg the other day. Paul's not afraid of a vertical trail. However, coming down those vertical trails pounded my knee into soreness. Ran two miles and walked one on Thursday with lingering knee tenderness. Iced on Thu. and Fri; did yoga yesterday, then walked two/ran two today over at Griffith Park. Much improved knee and I finished the run relaxed and pain-free. This Chi running style is quite different and will take a long time to master, but it eliminates the jarring heel strike I practiced successfully for 40 years (give or take a few years off for drunkenness or sloth).

D-Day Kudos

Sixty-six years ago they went ashore on beaches called Gold, Sword (British), Juno (Canadians), Utah and Omaha (Americans). Thanks to the men who invaded Normandy and ended Nazi rule of France, ensuring the world's supply of depressing literature would continue on into a new century. Freedom must include poor usage or it isn't really freedom. Observe college students. Anyway, the Allies rocked big time that far-off day. Their memory lives on.

stage
BTW: An interesting footnote I probably learned from the History Channel, ie. numerous 16 mm reels of great D-Day battle footage lie at the bottom of the English Channel. A U.S. Army cameraman reported his film, and that of other combat cameramen, were collected by a colonel who stuffed the canisters in a duffel bag, then accidentally dropped the bag into the sea. I feel something similar happens to most of my tax dollars.

SD Marathoners Run Away!

That's what they're doing right now: Ernesto, Emil, Rouman, C.J., Mindy, Caroline, Lindsey, aided by coaches Dave, Karla, Chris, Elizabeth and walk coach extraordinaire Kim Possible. They're running away at the new and improved San Diego Marathon. Adding a half-marathon (for the general public) and changing the course to end at Sea World has pumped up race attendance by thousands. Best of luck to all and here's hoping the marine layer lasts 'till afternoon.