Writing Update

This is meant to be a writing blog and recently my writing posts have been few and far between. So here is an update:-

The Moonwolf Chronicles:- Til the Moon Fails is still being written. I wasn't happy with the first draft so I have started it again from scratch. It is coming along well, but there is a lot still to be written.
- The Mark of the Wolf. I have notes on the rewrite and on what I want to change and improve and highlight, but as yet no work has been done on it.
- In Search of the Moon is in editing limbo.

Iserie Valult books:- Valerie and I have had some very productive meetings about our joint trilogy of science fiction books, which have taken Biff and co into interesting and new territory. However, it has not progressed any further than that.

The WB: - No further work done.

7 Days in Hell:- Has been submitted for a second time.

Short stories, flash fiction, other work:- Nothing to report.

Books: - 28/48

Submissions:- 7 Days in Hell - 2 Other - 0

The World's First Clone?

These two actors have always intrigued me by their similarities. The man in picture one is Mandy Patinkin, perhaps best known for playing Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride (now say it with me... 'Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die'). He was born on 30th November 1952 in Chicago Illinois. He is 6ft 3/4 ins tall. His full name is Mandel Bruce Patinkin. He is Jewish. He has been married to the same woman for 27 years. He has a couple of kids. Apart from being a talented actor he is also a successful singer.

The man in picture two is Kevin Kliner, perhaps best known for playing William Boone in the first season of Earth Final Conflict. He was born on 3rd May 1958 in Baltimore Maryland. He is 6ft 3ins tall. He has been married to the same woman for 9 years. He has a reputation for being difficult to work with.

Now look at the two pictures. These men have a a striking similarity, don't you think? In fact, they could almost be the same person. Maybe they are - maybe they were the world's first clones! I have no proof - yet - apart from the fact that they look and sound alike. They must be related somehow, they are so alike. Has anyone else noticed this?

Arlene Philips Shocker

Anyone who has watched the BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, will know Arlene Philips. Now, think of this woman. Imagine her. Visualise what she looks like. Got a mental picture of her? Good.

What age would you say she was? In her fifties maybe?



63!


I can't believe it. I am in shock. Dance really is the secret of youth.

Happy Birthday Nathon Fillion

Happy Birthday Nathon, 36 today. And because one picture is never enough...

You will always be the Captain. Stay shiny.

Happy First Birthday Mango & Tottie

Happy Birthday Mango and Tottie. 1 today. Hope you have a good one.

Book pledge: 23/150

Happy Birthday Angel

Today would have been dear Angel's 18th birthday, were she still with us. I hope she is running joyfully through the fields of heaven, with Muffin, Cino, Sheba and dozens of cats in tow.

Superscan Trek

Shopping, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the trolley, Murphy, and its weekly mission to shop where no one has shopped before (cue music)

Superquinn in Dundalk has introduced Superscan, the new way to shop. You scan your reward card as you enter and you receive a scanner (similar to that pictured above) to scan your items as you do you shop. You pack your goods as you go around the aisles and then hand in the scanner at a special till, pay and go. It is quick, simple and FUN!

Yes, I said FUN. Shopping is finally fun. The scanner reminds me of the tricorder from Star trek, and it is so cool scanning all the bar codes as you go around, looking at the price of each item and how much your total is as you shop. I know that the novelty will wear off eventually, but for the moment I am Mr Spock (a short, chubby, female human Mr Spock, I admit) to my mother's Captain Kirk. :D

The 50 Greatest TV Dramas - according to C4

I caught a bit of this on Saturday night, but I was too tired to watch more than a few minutes. However, my interest was piqued by the fact that I had seen a clip from The Prisoner on the ads for the programme and I wanted to know where it placed. I was sure that Channel Four would put the list on their website, as they have with other similar minded shows, but they haven't as of yet. However, I have found the list (posted by some kind mortal on their blog, and from there to a forum) and I discovered that

a) The Prisoner ranked #38

b) Doctor Who ranked #26

c) The Sopranos ranked #1

The thing about the list is, I wonder what they define as a drama. It had things like Hill Street Blues, and The Sopranos, yet was predominately British. It had Pride and Prejudice, Z Cars, Roots, Band of Brothers, Bleak House, Shameless - rather an eclectic mix for dramas, don't you think? And where are The X Files? Also, I think both The Prisoner and Doctor Who should have ranked MUCH HIGHER than they did.

Book Pledge: 20/150

Sunday night movies

I was watching Channel 4's Sunday night movie double bill last night. First there was I, Robot with Will Smith, based on a short story by Isaac Asimov.

I saw this movie in 2004 when it came out and I enjoyed it, but I never really thought about watching it again and I only took the time to catch it on the telly because the robot, Sonny, is voiced by Alan Tudyk (Wash from Firefly and Serenity). In 2004 I didn't even know who Wash was! Imagine. I watched the movie again primarily to listen to Sonny's voice (and all I had to do was close my eyes and I saw Wash) but I got engrossed in the movie and really really enjoyed it. I would watch it again without hesitation. It has a good (although simple) story, good special effects and likable characters portrayed by competent actors. Definitely better than other Asimov adaptations (Bicentennial Man anyone? Shudder). Why is it that Philip K Dick (whose books I find difficult to read) makes such great movies (Bladerunner, Screamers) and Asimov (whose books and stories I love) makes such so-so movies?

Anyway, the second movie was 1995's Johnny Mnemonic with Keanu Reeves.

I remember watching this movie at the time and hating it, but I thought I would give it a go as a nostalgia trip. I couldn't believe how BAD it was! It was only made 11 years ago, but it is so creaky and dated, the quality of the film looks like it is twice as old. Keanu Reeves - a good looking guy with VERY limited acting skills - is SO BAD as the title character that I don't know how he got away with it. His delivery of hackneyed, corny lines is so inappropriate and devoid of modulation that it is hilarious. For anyone who doesn't know the plot, he is a data courier who uses his brain to smuggle downloaded secrets. His normal capacity is 80GB (which doesn't seem all that great) but he doubles his capacity to 160GB. I chuckled my way through the cardboard rubbish of the first ten minutes or so, but then I turned it off because it totally lost my interest.

In conclusion, two very different science fiction movies, with almost ten years between them:- one movie is good, engaging, entertaining and captivating, the other so bad it deserves to be sent into the dark dungeon where stinkers are left to disappear into oblivion.

Happy Birthday Adam Baldwin

45 today.

America Ferrera - AKA Ugly Betty

I am a big fan of Ugly Betty. America Ferrera is very likable in the title role and I like its blend of humour and drama. I thought I would post this picture of America in her real life persona to show that she is not at all ugly (although, anyone who watches the programme can easily see that).

Happy Birthday Muffin

Muffin would have been 10 today, had she lived.

Hot Fuzz

I went to see Hot Fuzz today. It is REALLY good and REALLY funny. I love Spaced and I love Shaun of the Dead, so Hot Fuzz ticked all the boxes for me. A lot of reviewers said that there are two types of comedy in this movie - a slow, Miss Marple kind at the beginning and an explosion laden Bad Boys take off at the end. They are correct in this, but critics have criticised the movie for this, saying it doesn't gel. I didn't find this at all. I thought it was hilarious from beginning to end and that the parody of block busters like Bad Boys was excellent. There aren't enough movies featuring sweet middle aged English women riding a bicycle while firing two hand guns! Simon Pegg has also got flack for playing his character Nick Angel so seriously. I thought he was excellent in this part and made Nick very likable. Thoroughly enjoyable all round.

Happy Chinese New Year

2007 is the year of the pig. Pigs are honest, reliable and extremely loyal. They are quick-tempered, but they don't like to argue. They are kind to those they love and make a good companion. They like to set themselves goals and carry them out, but they can be too impulsive sometimes. Pigs will get along with Rabbits and Goats.

Happy Birthday Blueberry

9 years old today.

Eygptian Dance Class

Went to Egyptian Dance Class in Dublin this evening. I really enjoy it. The teacher is really good and it is such a beautiful, gentle, graceful dance that really works out your muscles as well! Tonight I learned two new moves - a travelling step and wrist circles (don't know the official names!) It was nice and gentle tonight, compared to the intense workout at the last class, which suited me as I was tired and in a more gentle mood.

Plans for February

My plans for February are as follows: -

1. Write 50K words of Til the Moon Fails
2. Complete and submit assignments 4 and 5 for the Writers Bureau
3. Read 12 books
4. Start rewriting The Mark of the Wolf
5. Edit and submit zombie flash fiction Deadly


Book Pledge: 9/150
Submission Pledge: 0/30

Review of January

My goals for January were as follows: -

1. Write 50K words on Til the Moon Fails.
Something about the Til the Moon Fails has been bugging me since I started it, and this month I realised what that was. So, I have gone back to the start to rectify the problem. This means I didn't get as much done on furthering the book as I had wished, however I hope that it will continue to flow quicker and stronger from now on.

2. Start to edit The Mark of the Wolf.
I read The Mark of the Wolf and took copious notes and I realised that editing was really a euphemism for rewriting it. The writing is good and there is a story there, but everything is layered with mounds of historical/big house drama that are unnecessary and slow the writing down. I gave myself two months for this job, which I now realise is foolishly optimistic, but I'm looking forward to starting working on the next draft come Feb.

3. Send Assignments 2 and 3 to the Writers Bureau.
Yup. Assignment 2 submitted and completed and, as of today, assignment 3 submitted.

4. Two meetings with Valpot about our joint books.
Yup again. Had two very productive meetings about Ely, its origins, its people and its mores.

Book Pledge: 9/150
Submission Pledge: 0/30

Happy Birthday Christian Bale!

33 today.


(this one is for you, Pinky!)

What kind of soul are you?

The product of more hours wasted browsing www.blogthings.com

You Are a Visionary Soul

You are a curious person, always in a state of awareness. Connected to all things spiritual, you are very connected to your soul. You are wise and bright: able to reason and be reasonable. Occasionally, you get quite depressed and have dark feelings. You have great vision and can be very insightful. In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself. Visionary souls like you can be the best type of friend. You are intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and a good healer. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?