tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88965694308991598602024-03-14T00:48:56.780-04:00Journey Through the Place between PlacesExploring the fantastical places between here and thereAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-45720453778853044922017-02-27T21:56:00.002-05:002017-02-27T22:06:00.846-05:00Conclusion of my Interview with Mythic Orbits Creator, Travis Perry<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">This is the 3rd and final revolution of my interview with Travis Perry, the driving force behind the Mythic Orbits anthology. In this installment I admit to my struggles as a writer of speculative fiction who also identifies himself as a person of faith. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NuinNGBvdgE/WLTmviSfMYI/AAAAAAAABDc/w4x5-Gw_Je0centHfnphlK9pIlukt8NnQCLcB/s1600/Travis%2BPerry%2BSmall%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NuinNGBvdgE/WLTmviSfMYI/AAAAAAAABDc/w4x5-Gw_Je0centHfnphlK9pIlukt8NnQCLcB/s200/Travis%2BPerry%2BSmall%2BPic.jpg" width="158" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mark:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Early in my writing journey I struggled with the type of
stories I wanted to write. As a person of faith, do I write fiction from a
purely evangelical slant (ala Frank <span class="spelle">Peretti</span> or Tim <span class="spelle">LaHaye</span>) or could I expand beyond that while still framing
stories to some extent within a Christian worldview? I actually feared backlash
from the church community. Then I discovered Stephen <span class="spelle">Lawhead</span>.
I love the way he weaves a Christian worldview into his stories while not being
overtly evangelical.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Travis:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I tend to believe God is involved in the act
of inspiration for those who are committed to him. By "committed to
him" I mean I think it is possible for a Christian to shut out God from
his or her thoughts and write something that in fact contradicts what God would
want a person to do. So a Christian author or other creative type who is
Christian should be careful to maintain a close relationship with God and
examine each work individually to see if it matches up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">But
other than what I just said, I think following inspiration where God lets it
lead is what we are supposed to do. I assume that the God who put such variety
in nature will inspire us as Christian authors in myriad ways. Some of us will
be overt and very evangelical. Some will be more subtle. But there is room for
both. And all varieties in between.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I
should add that while I believe in following God-given inspiration in how
overtly Christian stories should be, I think under most circumstances,
Christian authors should be clear that they are Christian. Perhaps if you were
facing possible severe persecution it would make sense to keep your faith
secret- -say you were an Afghan living in Afghanistan, who was secretly a
Christian. But otherwise I think Chistians should be overt about their identity
as believers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mark:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What are your plans for Mythic
Orbits beyond 2016?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Travis:
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I intend to continue the Mythic Orbits
series as long as I can, God willing, every year. I want to recruit new authors
into writing for it and raise the bar on the quality of stories if I possibly
can.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I
have kicked around the idea of another anthology based on stories with
exclusively Christian themes. Perhaps the more overtly Christian tales from
Mythic Orbits would be included in that. But that probably won't happen for
several years, if at all...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">Thank you, Travis, for taking the time to talk with me. I found our conversation insightful and very interesting. It's always a pleasure to collaborate with you.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mythic-Orbits-2016-SPECULATIVE-Christian-ebook/dp/B01NAIY432" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="”_blank”"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBI04V4XEaI/WLTnvqRkvHI/AAAAAAAABDk/WrLJbtqEQakkewNl1BCDMg81MDR1iQbzgCLcB/s200/Mythic%2BOrbits%2BSmall%2BCover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-54460378763455629672017-01-28T19:15:00.000-05:002017-01-28T19:25:57.668-05:00Part II of my Interviw with Mythic Orbits Creator Travis Perry<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IfBGkXLRkg/WI0yG6CssfI/AAAAAAAABCc/5pe_vWnSzIwP_HHG6lpWU2WkhpA-igIEQCLcB/s1600/Travis%2BPerry%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IfBGkXLRkg/WI0yG6CssfI/AAAAAAAABCc/5pe_vWnSzIwP_HHG6lpWU2WkhpA-igIEQCLcB/s200/Travis%2BPerry%2BPic.jpg" width="158" /></a><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the 2nd revolution of my interview with Mythic Orbits creator Travis Perry. I hope readers are finding the conversation interesting. Last week we started out by discussing Travis's <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">definition of <span style="color: black;">Speculative
Fiction from a Christian or faith perspective. Now we're going to dig deeper into certain presumptions placed upon those authors.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mark: <span style="color: black;">Do you feel there are certain
expectations in the Christian community when reading stories by authors who
identify as Christian?</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Travis: </span>Yeah, I think there are expectations from
self-identified Christian readers when reading self-identified Christian
authors. The first of those would be that the stories be "clean,"
which means free of strong language, graphic sexuality, and graphic violence.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
the Creator himself at times used the Bible to express graphic violence and
sexuality. This is not at all on every page, since most sexual references are
very sparse in description (e.g. Adam knew Eve), as are most descriptions of
violence (Joshua struck the city with the edge of the sword), but not all are.
Song of Songs and some other references can be understood as quite graphically
sexual in places and some wounds are also described in clear detail. (The Bible
does even record a few curse words. But very, very few, far less than the descriptions of sex and violence.)</span></span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm
not saying clean fiction is bad, mind you. But it is not an end in itself in my
view. It is possible to honor God, as the Bible does, with language that would
not be allowed around kids in a modern movie rating system. It is also on the
other hand possible to create a story whose values are in no way good and
moral/Christian which would read clean.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
think some Christian readers also expect to see overt and strong moralizing in
stories by Christian authors. Which may or may not be appropriate to a
particular story.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some
others expect evangelism in stories by Christian authors. Which should not be
forced into every plot, but which can be appropriate at times.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
I think the number one expectation by Christian authors is that stories should
be clean.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mythic-Orbits-2016-Speculative-Christian/dp/1635358884" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioly1Zv-ZTU/WI0zyqZIqZI/AAAAAAAABCo/epxgZyBdX74ygNnjhIJAA9d27JP3VFbfACLcB/s200/Mythic%2BOrbits%2BCover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Look for the 3rd revolution of my interview with Travis soon.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a link to Mythic Orbits. I hope everyone enjoys the stories as much as I did. Thanks so much for supporting Indie authors!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-13975341333391514092017-01-19T08:14:00.002-05:002017-01-19T08:27:44.148-05:00Meet Travis Perry, the Visionary Behind Mythic Orbits<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">This is revolution #1 of 3 of my interview with Travis
Perry, the visionary and editor behind the 2016 Mythic Orbits anthology. AND (drum roll!) Mythic Orbits is now available in paperback! Click on the book link below.</span><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JIpsb75GSJA/WIC3DcGxCQI/AAAAAAAABBo/Py5_367JG5EXsJz_LHKgTLmT4ynSSExgACLcB/s1600/Travis%2BPerry%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JIpsb75GSJA/WIC3DcGxCQI/AAAAAAAABBo/Py5_367JG5EXsJz_LHKgTLmT4ynSSExgACLcB/s200/Travis%2BPerry%2BPic.jpg" width="158" /></a></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Welcome, Travis! I guess the obvious first
question is</span> . . . <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">When did you come up with the
idea for the 2016 Mythic Orbits anthology? What prompted you? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">Travis:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think I was in part inspired by another anthology called
"Realmscapes" which was for the Realm Makers conference in 2015 (a
conference focused on Christian Speculative Fiction writers). Like a
number of anthologies I have participated in of late, Realmscapes had a theme,
in this case, the theme was escape. Every story submitted had to be about
escape in one way or other.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">I submitted a story that was not accepted for
the anthology. It occurred to me that it would be nice to do an anthology
without any common theme, letting authors submit their personal best stories,
because it can be difficult to be inspired when somebody else hands you a
theme. "Who wouldn't want to see a collection like that?" I thought.
"An anthology of stories by Christian authors which were the best stories
they happened to have available." <br />
<br />
At the Realm Makers Conference in 2016 I asked around and in fact created a
sign and hung it on myself, saying I was interested in the best stories people
had available. I got a number of respondents in the anthology from doing that,
including Kerry Nietz, Richard New, Kat Heckenbach, Lisa Godfrees, Cindy Emmet
Smith, Linda Burklin, and Sherry Rossman. But obviously I eventually cast
the net wider than simply contacting people I met at Realm Makers (only half of
the 14 stories in Mythic Orbits 2016 come from Realm Makers alumni).<br />
<br />The interesting thing perhaps is my choice of Christian authors. For me, that
was something I simply wanted to do. I am a self-identified Christian author
and wanted to promote the works of other Speculative Fiction authors who
self-identified as Christian. Primarily to demonstrate that we really are able
to create some interesting stories.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Mark:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What is your definition of <span style="color: black;">Speculative
Fiction from a Christian or faith perspective?</span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt;">Travis:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I know Christian authors who feel that being overtly
Evangelical should never be done because it is either too pushy or winds up
being terrible writing. Others of course feel a Christian MUST be overt. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAIY432/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Zz9-v9rMOI/WIC4WqYzXGI/AAAAAAAABCA/rzRmfTuVppczIL8cjhnIBhVVOY8w21dXQCEw/s200/Mythic%2BOrbits%2BCover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I
tend to believe God is involved in the act of inspiration for those who are
committed to him. By "committed to him" I mean I think it is possible
for a Christian to shut out God from his or her thoughts and write something
that in fact contradicts what God would want a person to do. So a Christian
author or other creative type who is Christian should be careful to maintain a
close relationship with God and examine each work individually to see if it
matches up.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">But
other than what I just said, I think following inspiration where God lets it
lead is what we are supposed to do. I assume that the God who put such variety
in nature will inspire us as Christian authors in myriad ways. Some of us will
be overt and very evangelical. Some will be more subtle. But there is room for
both. And all varieties in between.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">I
should add that while I believe in following God-given inspiration in how
overtly Christian stories should be, I think under most circumstances,
Christian authors should be clear that they are Christian. Perhaps if you were
facing possible severe persecution it would make sense to keep your faith
secret- -say you were an Afghan living in Afghanistan, who was secretly a
Christian. But otherwise I think Christians should be overt about their identity
as believers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Revolution #2 of my <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">thought<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">-provoking </span></span>interview with Travis to come soon . . . </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-20138218049648148552017-01-03T07:51:00.000-05:002017-01-03T07:51:25.403-05:00Mythic Orbits 2016 Anthology, Fanning the Ember, and Mr. Trump
Sometimes life gets in the way. Sometimes dreams fall to the
side when responsibilities and obligations backhand you across the jaw. There’s
a curious thing about dreams, though. They’re hard to kill when even the smallest
ember still burns. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And so it is with me. A small ember still glows, keeping a dream
alive despite all else. What am I to do with that tiny flickering ember? What
does anyone with dreams do with it? What do athletes do, or artists, or
entrepreneurs? What do parents do with it when all they want is to make a
better life for their children? They press on. They fan the ember. They swallow
fear and doubt to follow their heart. And so it is with me . . . my heart, my
dream. My writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I’m honored to be part of the Mythic Orbits 2016 anthology,
alongside some very talented storytellers. My fantasy story, <em>The Bones Don’t
Lie</em>, is up first in the anthology, the first tale anyone sees. No pressure
there!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Though written some time ago, the publishing of <em>Bones</em>
comes at an interesting time in America. All stories speak to society
and our times at some basic level. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bones </i>talks
about how one’s zealous beliefs can cloud and distort reality. It’s happened
throughout history . . . the Lost Cause after the Civil War, the Final
Solution, interpreting sacred scripture, immigration, the election of Donald
Trump. How can groups of people look at the same events, the same words, the
same symbols, the same <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">man</i> and come
away with such polar-opposite opinions? Must <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we </i>always be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right </i>and
the other person wrong? Can there not be a meeting in the middle? Can there never
be compromise? Must we all draw our ideological lines in the sand?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Will Mr. Trump be the destroyer of civilization or the
restorer of some bygone utopia? <strong>Not my president?</strong> Guess what, honey. I didn’t vote for Mr.
Trump either but he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> about to
become our president. I just pray we can take off our blinders and put away our
zealous self-righteous glasses and come together for all our sakes.<br />
<br />
Thank you for taking the time from your busy day to read this blog. I'd be honored if you read <em>The Bones Don't Lie</em> and the other fine stories in the Mythic Orbits 2016 Anthology. Here's the link to the ebook on Amazon. --Mark<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAIY432">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAIY432</a> <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-5387796741264928272016-04-13T07:38:00.005-04:002016-04-13T07:38:50.648-04:00Steve meet . . . Stephen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Recently I finished two books in quick succession. The
first, Stephen King’s <u>On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft;</u> <u>t</u>he second, <u>Steve
Jobs</u>, the biography written by <span class="a-size-medium1"><span style="color: #111111;">Walter Isaacson</span></span>. On the surface, the books may
seem unrelated. I mean, how can you compare a book on fiction writing against a
biography of one of the most polarizing business icons in the last 100 years? My
answer – Easily!! The truth is, the books are very much related . . . in soul
and essence, in philosophy, and in power. </div>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SzbqU-g3N-A/Vw4uRRXhLTI/AAAAAAAAA9o/3_RWkN6G4q0nNufbNwyeu2YakyRNuiZNA/s1600/Stephen%2BKing%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-627Dh2oKdGA/Vw4uxyW-PJI/AAAAAAAAA9s/xRoeuOtc29s9jZ9rqN2GYjnVYTI3ZQJxQCLcB/s1600/steve-jobs-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-627Dh2oKdGA/Vw4uxyW-PJI/AAAAAAAAA9s/xRoeuOtc29s9jZ9rqN2GYjnVYTI3ZQJxQCLcB/s1600/steve-jobs-pic.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, let’s just take the principle characters. Stephen
King is simply one of the most prolific writers ever. His tales of horror,
supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy have sold over 350
million copies worldwide and have been adapted into numerous films. Steve Jobs
only changed the world as we know it by revolutionizing six industries:
personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and
digital publishing. He is the driving force behind iconic products like the
Mac. iPod, iPhone, and iPad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzbqU-g3N-A/Vw4uRRXhLTI/AAAAAAAAA9w/3ySorva93zcJFKaHUqZOm3VybsjoNJ0qA/s1600/Stephen%2BKing%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzbqU-g3N-A/Vw4uRRXhLTI/AAAAAAAAA9w/3ySorva93zcJFKaHUqZOm3VybsjoNJ0qA/s1600/Stephen%2BKing%2Bpic.jpg" /></a>In reading King’s book and Jobs’ biography, I found a common
thread woven throughout the pages, an insight into their drive and motivation.
I also saw how both men intuitively connected with everyday people—both in the
books they wanted to read and in the electronic gadgets they craved. What
follows is a few quotes from both men that I found strikingly similar. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u></u></div>
<a name='more'></a><u>About Passion and Perseverance: </u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<u>King:</u> “Writing isn’t
about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making
friends. In the end it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your
work, and enriching your own life as well. It’s about getting up, getting well,
and getting over. Getting happy . . .”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<u>Jobs:</u> “Your work is going
to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to
do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love
what you do.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<u>King:</u> “If you want to be
a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.
There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Jobs:</u> “I’m convinced that about half of what
separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure
perseverance.... Unless you have a lot of passion about this, you’re not going
to survive. You’re going to give it up.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>About Reaching People.</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<u>King:</u> “All the arts
depend upon telepathy to some degree, but I believe that writing is the purest
distillation. An important element of writing is transference. Your job isn't
to write words on the page, but rather to transfer the ideas inside your head
into the heads of your readers.” </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<u>Jobs:</u>
“. . .it’s not about convincing people that they want something they don’t. We
figure out what we want . . . to think through whether a lot of other people
are going to want it, too.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<u>King:</u> “You cannot hope to
sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to
you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Jobs:</u><b> “</b><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our
belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they
would continue to open their wallets.”</span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>About Taking Risks.</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<u>King:</u> “There is no gain
without risk.” and “Good writing is often about letting go of fear.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Jobs:</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be
curious, experiment, take risks.” and “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jobs had a remarkable ability to develop products that
consumers savored. Tim Cook once said about Jobs that he “had this incredible
and uncanny ability to see around the corner” and a “relentless, driving force
for perfection.” Stephen King has a similar driving force for his craft. His ability
to connect with his readers is obvious. He talks about writing as a form of
telepathy, a way of transferring ideas and imagery and characters that stirs
the reader’s imagination. He <span class="renderedqtext">has an undeniable talent
for putting his readers into the world he creates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My takeaway from all this? The tenacity and passion of both
men truly inspires me. However, that alone isn’t enough. Let’s face it, the
world is full of smart, hardworking, and determined entrepreneurs who’ve
failed. The same is true for writers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
Mr. King famously stated, “I can't lie and say there are no bad writers. Sorry,
but there are lots of bad writers.” And unfortunately, with modern technology
bad writers keep pushing out bad stories. It is called the <i>slush pile</i>
for a reason! MY job as a writer is to pursue my craft with my whole heart, and
in so doing create the absolutely best story I can, one that connects with my
readers on a heart level. Moe than money, I long for my stories to touch people
and sweep them away just as I’ve been swept away by the power of words on a
page.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now it’s time for me to walk the talk. According to Mr.
King—“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I can already feel my heart racing. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-69505067344917339892016-03-25T14:48:00.000-04:002016-04-07T04:44:47.958-04:00the dichotomy of the human race<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Gosh, I’ve been a way for a long time! I’ve spent the vast majority
of my spare time since January 1 working on a pro bono database project for a
local nonprofit. I really got in over my head with that one! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s time to switch from my techie geeky
IT software engineer mode back to my techie geeky SciFi/Fantasy writer mode. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmm . . . is there a difference? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m going to make this post short, but the thoughts have stirred
deep in my spirit for the last several days, ever since the nasty devastation that
rocked the beautiful city of Brussels
recently. While listening to some of my favorite music, I pondered the dichotomy
of the human race, the polar extremes of human nature. Listen to the music. Maybe you’ll
hear the same question that it whispered to me – How can a species capable of such beautiful
stirring art also be capable of such hatred and wanton destruction? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't have an answer either.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-48262321276021821942015-12-24T23:53:00.000-05:002015-12-24T23:53:26.652-05:00And on earth peace, good will toward men . . . hmmm<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s late on December 24<sup>th</sup> and Christmas Eve 2015
is quickly drawing to a close. Carols have filled my house for the last couple
of weeks, not the Rudolf, Santa Baby, and jolly old Saint Nick kind, but the ones
that tell of the truer, deeper meaning of the holiday – Silent Night, Hark the
Herald Angels Sing, Little Drummer Boy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The music whispers peace and joy in the background, but my
mind is focused in a far different direction.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>O holy night the stars are
brightly shining<br />
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m focused on frustrating circumstances that have plagued
my life over the last several months. I’m not talking ISIS or the Middle East or Terrorists. I’m talking about home, my
backyard. I’m talking family. I’m talking friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>Said the night wind to the
little lamb,<br />
do you see what I see<br />
Way up in the sky, little lamb</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The music whispers to me, but my
heart feels frustration and discouragement and, yes, more than just a touch of
anger. It churns in my gut. It’s a bitter taste.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>Angels we have heard on high</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>Sweetly singing o'er the plains,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>And the mountains in reply</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>Echoing their joyous strains.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My music and calendar tell me it’s Christmastime. They speak
to me of a holy time, a joyous time, and I suddenly feel my hypocrisy. Christmas
calls to me to refocus my heart. It wants my heart. God wants my heart. My
friends deserve my heart. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>Little baby<br />
Pa rum pum pum pum<br />
I am a poor boy too<br />
Pa rum pum pum pum</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<i>I have no gift to bring<br />
Pa rum pum pum pum<br />
That's fit to give our king</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I’m left with nothing more than this timeless simple message
. . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BeVDOu2_Fuc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BeVDOu2_Fuc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry and blessed Christmas to one and all. --Mark </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-30429495266634652202015-12-03T14:00:00.000-05:002015-12-03T14:06:34.020-05:00The Red Wedding -- Stark Imagery<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently I plopped myself on the sofa and indulged in some
Game of Thrones binge watching. (For me, “binge” consists of watching two
consecutive episodes before getting too antsy.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LONG before HBO adapted George R. R. Martin’s <i>A
Song of Ice and Fire</i> series for TV, I’ve been a HUGE fan since reading book
1: <i>A Game of Thrones</i> back in 2001.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I watched, I started thinking about the infamous Red
Wedding. (<i>A Storm of Swords</i> / HBO series: S3E9) and the impact the scene
had on readers and viewers alike. If you’ve lived under a rock for the last few
years and haven’t read or watched the series, STOP NOW if you don’t want
spoilers! </div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ingOC9_qn9Y/VmCQLK5lO_I/AAAAAAAAA7I/rdlXEV6u51U/s1600/Red%2BWedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ingOC9_qn9Y/VmCQLK5lO_I/AAAAAAAAA7I/rdlXEV6u51U/s320/Red%2BWedding.jpg" width="320" /></a>Being familiar with the storyline, I knew the Red Wedding
was coming. I remember nearly dropping <i>A Storm of Swords</i> as I read the scene, and I wondered how watching Lord Frey butcher Robb
Stark and Lady Catelyn would affect me. It did . . . deeply, powerfully . . .
even when I knew what to expect, even when I knew it was coming. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After finishing <i>A Storm of </i>Swords in 2004, I remember
irate Amazon reviewers swearing they were done with the series because of
Martin’s proclivity for not only knocking off scoundrels and despots, but also OUR
FAVORITE good guy with the same gusto. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twitter was awash with equal sentiment after
the HBO episode aired . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I have given birth twice to 8 &
9 pound babies. Watching Robb Stark die hurt more than both times combined. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
how the f*** am i suppose to go to
school and work and function after that game of thrones episode, f*** im
shaking and crying</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I've never cried so hard. I hate
Game of Thrones right now. I don't know if I'll ever recover from this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do I say to all the outrage?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Well done, Mr. Martin! </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Martin achieved what every writer strives for. He created
living, breathing <i>believable</i> characters. While deep in the pages or
watching on the screen, we all walk with Robb and Catelyn, <i><span style="font-style: normal;">Tyrion Lannister, and Jon Snow. We fear right along
with Airya and Sansa. They're our brothers and sisters, mothers and </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;">fathers. They're our friends, our confidants. </span><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Then when the unthinkable happens . . . </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-style: normal;">To me, all the outrage
thrown at </span></i>George R. R. Martin for the Red Wedding is the highest
form of compliment any writer could hope to receive. It means Martin did his
job. He created characters that readers pour themselves into. That is the mark
of a great storyteller. <i>Well done, Mr. Martin. Well done, indeed.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-28100876203319949512015-11-16T07:39:00.001-05:002015-11-16T07:39:56.749-05:00Overcome with Good <span class="verse-21">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. </span></span><br />
<span class="verse-21"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHf-AixUDps/VknNMJvMC_I/AAAAAAAAA6s/m82y7BdVcys/s1600/Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHf-AixUDps/VknNMJvMC_I/AAAAAAAAA6s/m82y7BdVcys/s400/Paris.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="verse font-helvetica" id="v-10">
<span class="verse-10"><span class="verse-9"> </span></span></div>
<div class="verse font-helvetica" id="v-10">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="verse-10"><span class="verse-9">Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="verse-10">
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.</span><span class="verse-10"> </span></span></div>
<div class="verse font-helvetica" id="v-10">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="verse-10"><span class="verse-21"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Romans 12) </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="verse-21"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-72577391016016706722015-11-06T00:09:00.000-05:002015-11-06T05:54:19.628-05:00When the well runs dry<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the well runs dry . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cliché? You bet. It’s also been a long time since I’ve
blogged. I've broken <i>the</i> number one cardinal rule of the entire blogosphere. Maybe,
<i>just maybe</i>,<i> </i>the cliché has some bearing on the prolonged silence.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sitting at the computer now, though, staring at the monitor
and struggling to somehow frame this blog while my mind wanders ethereal paths.
A handmade wooden desk clock, an old, sentimental gift from my then twelve year-old son,
says 10:30 p.m.. I’ve put in a long day, starting at 5:30 this morning. The house is dark except
for the light above me, silent except for softly clicking keys. In a tad
more than 6 hours my alarm will blare that annoying perky tune. I should be in
bed with my sleeping wife, but here I am staring at the computer, trying to frame
a mess of jumbled thoughts, always stressing about the novel I haven’t touched
in months. How does it come to this?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll add another cliché here – life happens. Family and
friends happen. Work happens. When a load of <i>stuff</i> hits you in the face simultaneously,
writing suffers. Or am I just making excuses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Probably. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe the dream has dimmed. No, I <i>know</i> the dream has
dimmed. It’s so damn hard to literally pour your heart and soul <i>(another cliché!)</i>
into a story that very few will want to read. Forget all the accolades that I
receive from fellow authors I know regionally. Why agonize and bleed over every
word in a story? As a long-time acquaintance told me once, “I saw your Facebook
posts about the release of your novel. I’m not going to buy it.” <i>Gee, thanks
for your support!</i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess that’s why I’ve stared at the same paragraph in my
current writing project for more than two months, reluctant or maybe too fearful to dive
back in. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know something, though. I’m a stubborn Italian and a
small ember still burns in my gut. The dream isn’t dead. Maybe it’s just
covered with a blanket at the moment. A still, small voice deep inside encourages me even as I wrestle with it. I can tell you this. I’m taking part in
a project for 2016 that I’m pretty excited about. More information is coming within
the next few weeks. The dream will always burn inside. I'll continue to follow it through the peaks and valleys, wherever it leads.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m going to bed now. I have to get up for work in less than
5 hours . . . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-65709770000396531012015-08-25T23:10:00.001-04:002015-08-25T23:14:58.982-04:00Sweet and Endearing GraceGrace Yee is a young lady from my Pittsburgh East Scribes critique group. Just a couple of years out of high school, Grace's writing is mature far beyond her age. There is something so sweet and endearing in her prose. Chapter
One of her story, The Lewis and Tolkien Library, is one that you
experience with your heart as much as read with your eyes. Read Grace's chapter and you'll see what I mean . . .<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.inkitt.com/stories/20991" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-trSD6qtY_bA/Vd0rCjVCqpI/AAAAAAAAA5I/mKH-lGpkt2M/s640/Inklit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Feel free to look over our author's sample gallery of published works on the Pittsburgh East Scribes web page.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pittsburgheastscribes.weebly.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFWDMh1WMO4/Vd0tgcuxcWI/AAAAAAAAA5g/660Yai04qb4/s400/PE%2BScribes%2BHeader.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-1958659366739177132015-08-19T08:25:00.000-04:002015-08-19T08:26:44.678-04:00MIA: My Brain<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">After racking my brain for days trying to find something <i>(ANYTHING!!!)</i> to blog about, a cruel realization sets in . . . </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My brain: The rest of my body:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Yom5EAA5x0/VdRiwACbpHI/AAAAAAAAA4U/ewef-W1tRGg/s1600/My_Brain_On_Vacation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Yom5EAA5x0/VdRiwACbpHI/AAAAAAAAA4U/ewef-W1tRGg/s1600/My_Brain_On_Vacation.png" /></a>
</td><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UD01EBYJoRU/VdRjbNcyO8I/AAAAAAAAA4c/JwGIrFFxvho/s1600/Animated_Woman_Working_Desk-2sm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UD01EBYJoRU/VdRjbNcyO8I/AAAAAAAAA4c/JwGIrFFxvho/s1600/Animated_Woman_Working_Desk-2sm.gif" style="cursor: move;" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Me, at this very moment:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDUo0GCGhCk/VdRyyniA76I/AAAAAAAAA4k/3ThYVN6ZARU/s1600/Man%2Bat%2BPC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDUo0GCGhCk/VdRyyniA76I/AAAAAAAAA4k/3ThYVN6ZARU/s1600/Man%2Bat%2BPC.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Man, do I need a vacation!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UD01EBYJoRU/VdRjbNcyO8I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/TSS8W0fKbwY/s1600/Animated_Woman_Working_Desk-2sm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-30796043825239393752015-08-06T21:44:00.000-04:002015-08-07T07:32:01.615-04:00Aug. 6, 8:15 a.m. Could it Happen Again?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
Aug. 6, 8:15 a.m. Seventy years ago, Hiroshima turned into hell
on earth by a new and terrifying American weapon nicknamed Little Boy. The bomb
dropped on Hiroshima, together with another that
hit Nagasaki
three days later, killed more than 200,000 people, most of them civilians. Today
Hiroshima marked the anniversary with a solemn ceremony
attended by thousands at the Children's Peace Monument.</div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
We in the US
have our Freedom Tower,
Hiroshima has the Children's Peace Monument,
Nagasaki has the Peace Park.
All rose from the ashes of terrible tragedy. All three are monuments to honor
the fallen and to show the tenacity of the human
spirit. We can rebuild. We will rebuild. We will be stronger coming through the
fire. </div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
I was born many years after the end of
WWII. With that and the intervening years, I have a tendency to view the events
of Hiroshima
and the A-bomb with a cold detachment. I accept at face value what I read in
textbooks, that the U.S.
dropped the bombs to avoid what would have been a bloody ground assault on the
Japanese mainland. The bombs shortened the war and saved countless lives on
both sides. I accepted that. Then today I went to the CNN website as I routinely do. There I saw
haunting crayon pictures drawn by children who survived the devastation at Hiroshima. The pain suddenly became real. It had a face--a child's face.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46Cx_gaPTcA/VcQKlA5WY1I/AAAAAAAAA28/QGq8wx4j8qQ/s1600/hiroshima%2Bdrawing%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46Cx_gaPTcA/VcQKlA5WY1I/AAAAAAAAA28/QGq8wx4j8qQ/s320/hiroshima%2Bdrawing%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6zKf6RYPyA/VcQKlNyhttI/AAAAAAAAA24/bSSkK_ISsEI/s1600/hiroshima%2Bdrawing%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6zKf6RYPyA/VcQKlNyhttI/AAAAAAAAA24/bSSkK_ISsEI/s320/hiroshima%2Bdrawing%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a> I saw the drawings and wondered if something
unspeakable like that could ever happen again. Even as I type these words, I
think of the evil infecting the Middle East,
and I realize that yes, it could happen again. In a heartbeat. Without
hesitation and without remorse. King Solomon was right when he said there was
nothing new under the sun. Human nature hasn’t changed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil still exists. Sin is still rampant in the
world.
</div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
<br />
I pray I’m wrong. I pray that humanity progressed
and we’ve learned from the carnage and pain of the past. Deep in my gut,
though, I sense something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
closing, I only have one thing to say: <i>Maranatha--</i><span class="st"> <span dir="RTL" lang="HE">מרנא תא</span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
</div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
</div>
<div class="story-body-textstory-content">
<span class="st"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/05/world/hiroshima-survivors-artifacts/" target="_blank">Click here to link to the CNN article and drawings</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-13358880767640795522015-07-15T14:35:00.000-04:002015-07-15T15:04:38.898-04:00Medieval Mars Annoucement No little green men, but how about dragons, knights, castles, and even an ornithopter thrown into this intriguing short story compilation titled: <i>Medieval Mars: The Anthology (Terraformed Interplanetary Book 1)</i><br />
<br />
I was so excited when I received the invitation to join several authors in this genre-bending project. There so much great world-building in this collection of short stories. <br />
<br />
Imagine . . . A future terraformed Mars, where civilization crashed back into a
Medieval Era. Christian Knights called “riders” patrol the Pilgrim Road
from Olympus to New San Diego, on the Chryse Sea. The technological past
is known as the “Age of Magic” and only a handful of people understand
how the remaining ancient devices really work. Lighter gravity in dense
air makes flying dragons and bird riders a reality; alloys of the past
make “magic” swords; and masters of ancient knowledge wield wizard-like
power.
<br />
<br />
Nine authors spin tales in this unique story world, one which combines elements of science fiction and high fantasy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Click the image to launch your <span class="st">interplanetary adventure </span>on Amazon. A 315-page collection of great stories for<b> </b>$1.99<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span>? No need for a rocket scientist to calculate the huge deal. :-) I hope you'll check it out. Best Regards, Mark </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Mars-Anthology-Terraformed-Interplanetary-ebook/dp/B011HIOR7K" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zwHOYkk-RD8/VaahTad36mI/AAAAAAAAA2U/xrnnRNwF8j4/s320/Medieval%2BMars%2BCover%2BPic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-12067953527705954772015-07-09T10:23:00.001-04:002015-07-09T13:59:44.053-04:00Bragging on my Home<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’m going to brag some on the area where I live. This may
bore some, but I’m going to brag nonetheless. I live thirty-five miles
northeast of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the city <span class="st">once
described by James Parton as "</span><i>Hell with the lid off</i><span class="st">!" The city has also been referred to as <i>The Smoky City</i>, <i>a
Rust Belt City, </i>and <i>The Armpit of America</i>, to name but a few.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwpTv089OHg/VZ6FJPdzdkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/A34vqy40GAI/s1600/J%2526L%2BPGH%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwpTv089OHg/VZ6FJPdzdkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/A34vqy40GAI/s320/J%2526L%2BPGH%2BPic.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="st">Historically, coal. iron, and steel built the
city and surrounding Southwestern PA region,
and as a result the land showed the scars from decades of abuse and neglect. I
grew up in the area during the 60’s and 70’s, when smoke billowed from hundreds
of stacks, where sewage and mine drainage killed the rivers and turned water
the color of rust. </span>The Kiskiminetas
River (called the Kiski
for short) flows past my hometown and <i>never</i> froze in the winter, even
when temps dropped below 0 degrees F (-17 degrees C). Fishing and swimming were
impossible due to pollution. Air quality reports were a staple of daily news
programs. Warnings regularly went out for the elderly and people with health
problems to stay indoors. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the last 40 years, though, I’ve witnessed the land’s transformation,
a remarkable rebirth. This is due in part to the shifting industries and
economy in the region, but also to strict pollution laws and the tireless
effort of thousands of people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hills and waterways slowly continue to heal and participation
in countless outdoor activities has exploded in recent years. Biking, walking,
and hiking trails have replaced abandoned railroad beds. Canoes, kayaks, fishing
and pleasure boats dot the waterways. Every year I see more bicycles on the
roads, more and more bicycle and kayak racks on vehicles, more and more people
on the trails, more kayakers and canoeists on the local creeks. I hear coyotes at night;
see beaver and muskrats on the water, hawks and great blue herons flying. Just this year I’ve
followed three different bald eagles while kayaking local creeks. It is
wonderful to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know my area may not be as spectacular as other parts of
the world. I’ve been to <i><span style="font-style: normal;">El Capitan</span></i><span class="st"> and Half Dome, and driven across the </span>Tioga Pass.
I've witnessed the majesty of the Grand Canyon, both from the South Rim looking down and looking up from the bottom while rafting on the Colorado River. I’ve traveled through the Alps and cruised the Rhine River.
Southwest PA is my home, though. It’s my
little corner of paradise, and I’m blessed to have witnessed its wonderful
rebirth. <span class="st"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I'm not the most accomplished photographer, but here's a slideshow of some of my favorite places within a short drive from my home. Enjoy. --Mark </span></div>
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F117390478039086447361%2Falbumid%2F6169192104591316945%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-2959254327675057742015-06-21T23:52:00.000-04:002015-06-22T00:10:22.553-04:00Blazing Saddles Redux<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The other night I actually found a TV station airing <i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Blazing Saddles</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, </span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Mel Brooks’ hilarious 1974 </span><span style="color: #333333;">spoof
of Hollywood Westerns, in all its full whacky splendor</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. It had been years
since I’d last seen the movie, so obviously I had to plop myself down in front
of the TV and relive some teenage memories. I can’t believe the movie has been
out for over 40 years! Ouch!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A few minutes and a few chuckles into the movie,
something hit me (and it wasn’t Mongo’s right hook). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O8cDfnQD0ws/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8cDfnQD0ws?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I realized that </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blazing
Saddles</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> could never be made today in our hypersensitive, political-correctness-gone-amok
world. The movie</span><i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is completely and shamelessly politically <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">incorrect.</i> It is a </span>daring, irreverent satire that doesn’t
tiptoe around provocative issues. Rather it smacks you right in the face with
issues of bigotry and racism that still haunt us today. It forces each of us to
confront our own preconceptions and biases, only it does so in such an
over-the-top hysterical way. Who can ever forget <span style="color: black;">the
arrival of newly appointed Sheriff Bart into Rock Ridge or Gene Wilder’s Waco
Kid or </span>Mongo’s iconic horse punch or Lili von Shtupp singing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m Tired</i>? Through it all, there was Mel
Brooks using outrageous characters and scenes to make us laugh while exposing
our own thinly veiled prejudices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">All this was lost to me as a
sixteen year-old watching the movie at the old Casino Theater in Vandergrift
PA. At the time I was more interested in emulating the infamous campfire &
beans scene with my friends. Now, so many decades later, watching the movie
with the eyes of a writer, I applaud Mr. Brooks for his daring. As fiction
writers we want to entertain, but we also want to enlighten without being
preachy. We want to confront issues that are important to us like hate or
intolerance, pollution, corporate greed (what have you) without being too
heavy-handed. We want to touch and we want to teach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blazing Saddles</span></i><i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">i</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;">s a social
commentary and pure madcap genius rolled into one.</span><i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></i><span style="color: #222222;">The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, and is
ranked No. 6 on the American Film Institute's 100 Years . . . 100 <span style="color: black;"></span>Laughs list. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 2006, it was deemed "culturally,
historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and
was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222;">Not bad for a movie that today
no one would dare make. Well done, Mr. Brooks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222;">Here is the 1974 trailer:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iLNQv19YpG4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLNQv19YpG4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-30025941713529552882015-06-14T22:55:00.004-04:002015-06-15T05:46:30.072-04:00Dark Matter Dogma<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Maybe I’m the only one who would find this ironic. Two
seemingly unrelated articles in the July/August issue of <i>Discover </i>magazine
had me scratching my bald head. Hold on while I attempt to tie an article on irrational
thinking with one of the deepest darkest conundrums found in the cosmos. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CW_wcBt6m5M/VX41uUrt6wI/AAAAAAAAAl8/BfvkrTGbqdc/s1600/Arguing%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CW_wcBt6m5M/VX41uUrt6wI/AAAAAAAAAl8/BfvkrTGbqdc/s200/Arguing%2BPic.jpg" width="198" /></a>In “How to Fight Science Skeptics (The Irrationalist in You)”
Christie Aschwanden stated that “irrational thinking stems from cognitive
biases that strike us all.” People “hold the belief they want to believe and
then they recruit anything they can to support it.” Christie went on to add,
“Being science-literate won’t protect you from such biases . . . people who
score high on measures of science comprehension tend to be more polarized than
others.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmm . . . polarizing scientists? Never!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few pages over in the magazine, I found an
article titled “Dark Matter Deniers.” Author Steve Nadis interviewed
cosmologists Stacy McGaugh and Mordehai Milgrom who have put forth a theory for
observed properties of galaxies and star movement that runs afoul of the
current cosmological orthodoxy regarding Dark Matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFckkU6WLzI/VX42juEvDbI/AAAAAAAAAmI/_v5qOhQlLoA/s1600/Andromeda%2BGalaxy%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFckkU6WLzI/VX42juEvDbI/AAAAAAAAAmI/_v5qOhQlLoA/s320/Andromeda%2BGalaxy%2BPic.jpg" width="320" /></a>In a CliffsNotes definition of Dark Matter, astronomers have
strong evidence that in “countless observed galaxies, stars orbit the galactic
centers so quickly that gravity alone shouldn’t be enough to keep the galaxies
from flying apart.” The solution?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
must be some invisible matter holding the galaxies together. <i>Dark Matter. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The Catch? No one has ever detected a single
dark matter particle after decades of searching. According to cosmological
orthodoxy, dark matter is estimated to constitute 84.5% of the total matter in
the universe. So, as the theory goes, the majority of the universe is made of matter
that no one has explicitly proven to exist. </div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9895VgUwhC8/VX44Ux8IFGI/AAAAAAAAAmU/OFW3IfyBSY8/s1600/Dark-Matter-Simulation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9895VgUwhC8/VX44Ux8IFGI/AAAAAAAAAmU/OFW3IfyBSY8/s320/Dark-Matter-Simulation.jpg" width="283" /></a>In Nadis’s article, McGaugh and Milgrom’s alternative <i>blasphemous</i>
(italics mine) theory called MOND (Modified Newtonian Dynamics) tweaks Isaac
Newton’s laws of gravity instead of relying on unseen <i>hypothetical</i>
matter. Since MOND was introduced over 30 years ago, it has been greeted with indifference and
ridicule in the scientific world, the cosmologists exposed to professional hardship
and a barrage of criticism. All that, despite MOND holding up well in
explaining many observed galactic behaviors. One scientist uses the term “idea
zombies - bad ideas that refuse to die” in describing theories like MOND. To this day, many, if not most, in the scientific community
view the two cosmologists as crackpots.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why am I discussing this? I’m not touting MOND over Dark
Matter, nor am I advocating the existence of Dark Matter. I’m not smart enough
to even begin an intellectual conversation on the subject. No, I simply want to
shine a light on what I perceive as scientific hypocrisy. For over 30 years,
cosmologists have vigorously tried (and failed) to disprove MOND. They’ve
ridiculed it while steadfastly adhering to a belief in something that hasn’t
been seen, touched, or proven to exist. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How ironic that many of those same scientists routinely bash
people of faith who believe that an unseen God spoke the universe into
existence as the ultimate cosmological First Cause. Is a <i>belief</i> in Dark
Matter different from a belief that “<span class="textrom-1-20">since the
creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine
nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made”? Many
may disagree with me, but I think they're the same. Granted
scientists are trying to solve an extremely difficult and perplexing mystery.
There is so much in the universe that we don't understand. Yet, why do cosmologists steadfastly adhere to a theory that relies on some dark unseen
matter to the exclusion of all other theories?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textrom-1-20">Ultimately, belief in unseen Dark Matter
will be either proven right or wrong. The same will be true for me and my belief in an unseen God
. . . in the end. I'm just trying to keep an open, rational mind until then. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-85294803700057650152015-06-01T11:37:00.000-04:002015-06-01T11:37:00.681-04:00A Gazillion Talking Heads <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I desperately need to tune out the gazillion talking heads in
the world and focus on the only Voice that matters, the one Song, and allow perfect peace
to wash over me like a river in the desert. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cannot give. So don't be troubled or
afraid."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 7;"> </span>--John
14:27</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 7;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Living Translation<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M4jhxs0OJNk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M4jhxs0OJNk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To answer Bono's question - Forever. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7UpfatdyFtY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7UpfatdyFtY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <i>Remember the promise</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<i><i>And let it flow from your heart<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i> </i><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UVUwqxuDb9A/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UVUwqxuDb9A?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-15584121740314471372015-05-13T14:14:00.000-04:002015-05-14T21:30:58.172-04:00Bringing Tom Home<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WZYO7OEgQ-0/VVOS0H2tHFI/AAAAAAAAAjc/9Ak2u1y94BU/s1600/Mt%2BEverest%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WZYO7OEgQ-0/VVOS0H2tHFI/AAAAAAAAAjc/9Ak2u1y94BU/s320/Mt%2BEverest%2BPic.jpg" width="320" /></a>For years, my dream vacation was been the 14-day trek from Lukla
Nepal
to Mt. Everest Base Camp. Yes, Everest Base Camp . . . not the Caribbean or Hawaii or Manhattan.
I realize it’s a dream I’ll probably never check off my bucket list. With the news
of the devastating Nepalese earthquakes recently, my thoughts naturally traveled
to that majestic part of the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I grieve for the massive loss of life, but I know the Nepalese
will rebuild. Such is the determination and resiliency of the human spirit. As
of this post, Everest Base Camp is devastated and empty. No climbers are on the
mountain. However, just as I know the Nepalese people will rebuild their
homeland, I know that Everest Base Camp will once again teem with adventurers.
The slopes of Everest will not remain empty and silent for long. Such is Everest’s
draw. Such is the spirit and camaraderie of those seeking adventure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a recent CNN article, <i>Bringing Tom Home</i>, Moni Basu
and Wayne Drash wrote about Eric Poppleton’s determination to recover the body
of his best friend, Tom Taplin, from the slopes of Everest after the first
massive earthquake rocked Nepal.
The account touched me, and in a very tiny way, I can relate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve helped ferry an injured rafter strapped to a longboard down
a class IV rapid on the Gauley
River after a flip. I’ve witnessed
a lifeless young woman tumble through <i><span style="font-style: normal;">Coliseum,
a class V run on the Cheat
River. I helped carry a
young woman with a broken ankle from the middle of the Lower Yough
River. I do not say this to
place myself on the same level as those who brave Everest. I will NEVER EVER
come close to their skill and athleticism. Gosh, my heart still jumps into my throat every time I hit a class II rapid in my kayak! But, when it comes to the </span></i>camaraderie
and friendships forged when doing crazy things, I can relate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not talking crazy as in teenage <i>Animal House</i>
kegger crazy. No, I’m talking about grand outdoor adventures with friends, challenging
ourselves, pushing each other, swallowing fear and coming through on the other
side. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember conversations I had with thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail as we shared a shelter and hot coffee during
a downpour. I remember sharing nightly campfires with strangers on the Laurel
Highlands Trail. I remember laughing and swapping stories with kayakers and
rafters just met on the river. I remember the good people from across the world
I met rafting through the Grand Canyon. I
remember the father and son backpacking together for the first time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always sensed a love of life and adventure in these people,
a spirit as big as the heavens. There’s a knowledge shared, a common dream. I’m
sure some reading this post will find it strange, but to me it’s not strange.
That’s why I understand Eric’s determination to face Everest one more time. That’s
why I can relate to Eric’s resolve to bring his friend home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2015/05/world/everest-friendship/" target="_blank">Click here to read the CNN article "Bringing Tom Home"</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-55556836558702452032015-04-30T07:11:00.000-04:002015-04-30T07:12:47.411-04:00The Road Taken<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his famous poem, <i>The Road Not Taken</i>, Robert Frost
wrote:</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Two roads diverged in
a yellow wood,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And sorry I could not
travel both</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And be one traveler,
long I stood</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And looked down one
as far as I could</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
To where it bent in
the undergrowth;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UOT0ICZeeLU/VUIHXQy9fvI/AAAAAAAAAis/ZU4FM6k5spI/s1600/Forked%2BRoad%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UOT0ICZeeLU/VUIHXQy9fvI/AAAAAAAAAis/ZU4FM6k5spI/s1600/Forked%2BRoad%2BPic.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a>Even while I write this post, I sense the road before me
forking, diverging. But unlike the traveler in Robert Frost’s poem, I have no
sorrow, no regret. I know I cannot travel both. As a person of faith, I believe God directs my path, that
His word “is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 91).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a world full of forks and curves and potholes, there is
only one correct road for each person to travel. The trick is determining which
one it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>I know many may take exception with that statement, and I hope we can politely agree to disagree. If I truly believe I am not the one charting my destiny, but simply following the course set before me, how can I believe otherwise?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In my writing life, I often envision myself standing before
a winter field covered in pristine, unbroken snow. Behind me are the only
prints, my own, leading back to the place where I started. What lies ahead? I
don’t know, the path is buried in the snow. Yet I sense the “still small voice”
whispering to me not to be afraid, encouraging me to take the first step as it
did with Elijah in the Old Testament book of 1Kings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s just a whisper, though, a feather against my heart, gentle
and unassuming. I strain to hear it, to feel it, in a world of clamoring distractions.
Is this the direction God is truly leading me? Is this the path I am called to
follow? The path has been challenging, to say the least, filled with highs, very deep lows, and many obstacles. Then there's always the <i>other</i> voice, clamoring loud and long for me to just stop and go back, that I'm already on the wrong path. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two voices. Two roads. Three choices: <i>left</i>, <i>right</i>, or <i>go back</i>. Which one? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Events this week will help determine that question for me.
The road diverges before me. I am nervous to see whether doors will open for
me. Whichever fork I take, I know I am moving out of my comfort zone and stepping
into pristine snow , , ,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Yet knowing how way
leads on to way,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I doubted if I should
ever come back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I hope you will follow me on my journey!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-54355259512911801112015-04-18T10:59:00.000-04:002015-04-18T10:59:36.108-04:00Dreaming the Dream & Fighting the Fear with Blood Tithe -- The Chosen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to
pursue them." --<em>Walt Disney</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence
of fear." --<em>Mark Twain</em></div>
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<br /></div>
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<em><span style="font-style: normal;">I’ve been dreaming for
years. I’ve also dealt with fears and self-doubt for as long as I can remember.
The two are NOT mutually exclusive. They do not play nice together. They are
always arguing, always whispering to my heart and soul. There’s no question
that one will always win out over the other. Rather, the question is </span>which
one will I let win the war. Which small voice will I heed?</em></div>
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<em><span style="font-style: normal;">My dream has been to
touch people with words, to entertain and encourage. I want readers to explore
fantastical worlds with me, to meet the characters that have become a part of
my life. Along the way, I’ve constantly had to battle screeching doubts and nagging
fears. It’s the curse of every writer. The dream is still out there, though, calling,
a distant light that I’m reaching for. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-style: normal;">So here I am again,
taking the plunge for all the world to see. I am excited and nervous to
announce the release of </span><b>The </b></em><em><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Chosen</span></b></em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">, the first
installment of my new middle grade fantasy novel </span><b>Blood Tithe</b>.</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></em></div>
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<em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjHSp-SV8pc/VTJweqyD8SI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/x5kCUKkkmNk/s1600/The%2BChosen%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjHSp-SV8pc/VTJweqyD8SI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/x5kCUKkkmNk/s1600/The%2BChosen%2BCover.jpg" /></a></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<em><span style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Forbidden-Earth-Blood-Chosen-ebook/dp/B00W8HCI1W/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Click Here</a> </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-style: normal;">This is a sequel to </span>Whispers
from Forbidden Earth</em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">. Look for the next
installment soon: </span><b>The Hunted</b>.</em></div>
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<em><span style="font-style: normal;">Michael John Bobak once wrote,
</span></em>"All progress takes place outside the comfort zone." I am
definitely outside my comfort zone with my dreams out there for the world to
see. I hope and pray that you like them as much as I do.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mark</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-15709591396939849532015-04-08T14:16:00.000-04:002015-04-08T16:47:05.207-04:00Easter Reflection: A Time of Joy and Shame <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Like millions of Christians the world over, my family and I recently
attended Holy Week and Easter services. We sang songs of worship to honor and<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> celebrate </span>our Lord’s sacrifice. We participated in Communion and listened to memorable
sermons. It was truly an awesome, uplifting experience.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3Lyw8_MSsI/VSVs6T6jG8I/AAAAAAAAAhg/w-jYi1Zf2UQ/s1600/Archbishop%2BWarda%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3Lyw8_MSsI/VSVs6T6jG8I/AAAAAAAAAhg/w-jYi1Zf2UQ/s1600/Archbishop%2BWarda%2Bpic.jpg" height="178" width="200" /></a></div>
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Then a couple of days later I read an open letter by Bashar Warda, Chaldean
Catholic Archbishop of Erbil <span class="st">in northern Iraq,</span> and my joy turned to personal
shame. </div>
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Yes, shame. While I worried about arriving at church early to
sit in <i>MY</i> seat before the twice-yearly crowd arrived, countless Christian (and Muslim) lives
have been destroyed in Iraq,
Kenya, Syria,
Libya, and Pakistan. While I worried about
eating too much at our Easter dinner, ISIS, in a single day,
had wiped out thirteen Iraqi communities whose Christian heritage stretches
back 2,000 years, long before the birth of Islam. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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In his letter, Archbishop Warda tells of 80+ year old Gazella, a brave woman
who ISIS terrorists told to convert “on
pain of death” and promising her paradise if she did so. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Gazella's respose? “'My vision of paradise is not yours. It is
about love, forgiveness, peace and mercy. But if you want to kill me for what I
believe, I am willing to die.’”<br />
<br />
By the grace of God, the terrorists let her go, unharmed. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Dear Lord, if I could only be so brave! Forgive me for my
pettiness. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/easter/11511617/Easter-Reflection-Iraq-and-Syrias-Christians-pray-for-a-new-Resurrection.html" target="_blank">Click here to read Archbishop Warda's letter</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-27335441967659764532015-04-02T21:52:00.002-04:002015-04-02T21:52:30.100-04:00Free Sneak Peek of Future Perfect, the Colony Zero Series.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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As a reader, many stories challenged me and pushed me and opened
my eyes to concepts both new and powerful. Those are the stories I’ll always cherish. As an
author, the Colony Zero series had the same impact. The series forced me to face
bigotry and hatred. It forced me to witness and write about people who considered
others as less than human, vile, useless. Zeroes.</div>
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I also witnessed something else, though . . . </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48fPE41IRiY/VR3xYPiRsxI/AAAAAAAAAgI/TaSna_kcJNI/s1600/Colony%2BZero%2BSeries%2B0%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48fPE41IRiY/VR3xYPiRsxI/AAAAAAAAAgI/TaSna_kcJNI/s1600/Colony%2BZero%2BSeries%2B0%2Bpic.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
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I witnessed the resiliency of the human spirit. I saw faith in
action when there was nothing else left. I witnessed compassion and love given
to the least of these, my brothers and sisters. I was in awe of the society
that came to life in the pages of Colony Zero. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Take a sneak peek at Future Perfect, the beginning of
Lieutenant Ransom's journey to the hell and haven called Colony Zero. I am so
proud of this story.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://myhelpinghandspress.blogspot.com/2015/04/take-early-look-at-mark-venturinis.html#.VR3xm47nek9" target="_blank">Click here for a sneak peek of Future Perfect </a><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-48186373593413165382015-03-19T16:18:00.000-04:002015-03-21T09:25:25.948-04:00LLAP, Mr. Nimoy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Leonard Nimoy of <i>Mr. Spock</i> fame recently passed away
and over the intervening days, countless tributes flooded social media channels,
including my own tribute. I grew up a fan of science fiction, and I especially loved
<i>Star Trek</i>. Despite the cheap sets and prehistoric visual effects of the
original series, I have been and always shall be a Trekkie. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">In my teenage years, I related most with Mr. Spock, <span style="color: #281b21;">the half-human, half-vulcan first officer of the <i>Enterprise</i><i>.</i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Many (most?) admired his logic and his loyalty to
his crewmates. I identified with something deeper in Mr. Spock, though, an
element boiling just beneath the surface and beautify brought to life by </span></i></span>Leonard<i><span style="color: #281b21; font-style: normal;"> Nimoy. </span></i></span></div>
<i><span style="color: #281b21; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></i><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4dpgog8i5U/VQsrdHYJk_I/AAAAAAAAAfU/4PAFVDs9A1Y/s1600/Spock%2B%26%2BNurse%2BChapel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><i><span style="color: #281b21; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></i>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Spock was a product of two worlds, one human, the other
Vulcan, and he didn’t quite fit in with either. As an adult, many humans
pointed to Spock as a green-blooded, pointy-eared freak. While growing up, Vulcan
youth would constantly ridicule and harass half-human Spock to provoke a “human”
emotional response. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Through it all, I witnessed Spock’s internal struggle that boiled
just beneath his calm, rational demeanor—feelings, rage, love, his struggle
with his own identity. I witnessed his often strained and distant relationship
with his father, Sarek. And through it all, I related. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I still relate <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I relate to Mr. Spock’s simmering emotions, the subtle awkward
sense of not quite belonging at times. I relate to the internal war he fought
every day. What I admired and wish I could emulate to this day is the calm dignified
way Mr. Spock carried his burden. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">LLAP, Mr. Nimoy. You have been and always shall be my
friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03081822273632746477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8896569430899159860.post-10629641140251742882015-03-11T14:04:00.000-04:002015-03-11T14:04:06.397-04:00Wednesday, March 11: Guest on Blogtalk radio The G-ZoneTonight at 7:30, I'll be a guest on The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show
3/11@7PMEST! Listen in!<br />
<br />
Hmm...what will we discuss? Writing? My next
novel? My mother's ravioli recipe? Inquiring minds want to know. :-)<br /><br />
Here's the link: <br /><a class="ot-anchor aaTEdf" dir="ltr" href="http://ow.ly/K3nfT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://ow.ly/K3nfT</a><br />
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