Peeking in the Shadows

When most people find out what type of writing I do, they tend to be a little shocked.  I write stories that look more at the darker side of things.  Serial killers led by religious convictions, demon-possessed clergy, and human eating forests are just a small sampling of what I produce.  Where as to meet me you’d find a charming, quick to smile, and loyal family man (and currently with long hair).  Some people are shocked, some smile as they slowly step away, while others bluntly ask, “Why?”

So let me explain.

I believe it’s impossible to appreciate the good things in life without having an understanding, knowledge or even respect for the bad.  They’re a direct contrast of each other.  The birth of a child is a joyous occasions.  The loss of a loved one is grievous.  Independent of each other, both hold emotional value, good or bad.  If the two were to happen in a person’s life relatively close together, the situations become poignant.  The newborn’s first gasp of air in a world that still has yet to unfold, versus the end of a life that regardless of age, feels like it was cut too short.

Shadows are everywhere.  I don’t care how much light you think you can shine, the shadows are there whether you see them or not.  I’m convinced that the brighter the light, the darker the shadow.  Sure there would be fewer shadows, but the ones that remained would be black and ominous.  This is where personal convictions and zealotry lead to genocide and holocaust.  In an attempt to bathe the world in “light”, the darkest parts of our spirit are displayed to the world.

So why not look at it the other way around?  By exploring the darkness of society, I might make the dim light available seem bright.  Maybe make the things we fear more bearable.  I don’t think I’m far off base with this.  As children, studies have shown that nightmares often times help deal with fears in their life.  Then we grow out of it; the nightmares stop or at least become infrequent.  So how do we cope as we grow old?

For me, it’s in the prose.  I face my inner demons on the written page.  And on that playing field, those demons are no match.  I’m not trying to eradicate the dark.  It’s not possible.  I’m going for a better understanding, and with that knowledge I plan on making the other aspects of my life enriched.  I know I live a charmed life.  How else did I end up with so many wonderful people in my life?  I also peek in the shadows to see how bright and blinding my love truly is for them.

So let me ask you.  What’s hiding in your shadows?  How do you cope with them?

Halfway Through Book Review

Forest Mage by Robin Hobb

Before we get started, if you’re unsure on how I’m conducting these reviews, please read my privious post.  I would also like to make a small disclaimer.  I am a fan of Robin Hobb’s works.  To some this might make me seemed bias to whatever she rights.  However this also means that I hold her writing to a higher bar.  If she doesn’t live up to previous works, I’ll let you know.

So on with the show.

Forest Mage is the second novel in the Soldier’s Son Trilogy and picks up right where the first book ends.  We follow Nevare, a first year cadet training to be an officer in the King’s Army as dictated by the religious upbringing of the land.  The first son is destined to be heir of the family estates. The second son is to join the King’s Army.  The third son is sent off to become a priest, and so on.  Being the second son of a nobleman, Nevare starts his career as an officer rather than a common soldier.

The book starts not too far off from where the first book ends.  Nevare is granted a month break from lessons to travel back home to attend his older brother’s wedding.  Unlike most plague victims, Nevare has recovered and is now gaining weight to the point of bursting from his uniform.  His unsightly weight gain is change that fuels this installment of the trilogy.

Conflicts range from family disgrace to yearly plague devastation.  Nevare also contends against part of his soul that sympathizes with the Specks, a wild people steeped in magic that are preventing the King’s Road from being built through their forest.  Tension is drawn out on many levels.

Now I’ll tell you that I’m actually more than halfway through the novel at this point.  I would say closer to two-thirds of the way and I have to admit, the progress is slow.  What took Hobb over 400 pages to accomplish, I think any other author would have done in three to five chapters.  All that has happened up until now felt like set up for the main story that is just now starting to unfold.

And I love it.

Hobb’s prose are so delicious, I could revel in them over and over again.  At times they are dense and weighty, but I never feel bogged down or droopy-eyed while reading.  I trust that the author knows what she is doing, and I’m willing to go along for the ride.

Now as I’ve stated before, I will give an update on whether or not a Payoff occurred.  I will make another post with a link back to this one to compare.

If you’ve read the book and have something to add or detract from, feel free to leave a comment.  Please keep in mind though, I’m staying away from spoilers.

Just Being

Once again I’m here to poke my head into the hole of the interweb.  I’ve been spending so much time living in the real word, I’ve neglected the virtual one.  That is if you don’t count Facebook.  I spend way too much time there, but I’m cutting back like a good recovering addict, which means I’ll be binging there by this evening.

A quick update on the new novel.  I’ve recently finished the new first chapter of Knight Terrors.  Now I sit and wait for the critique that should happen in a week or two.  Next it’s chapter three that will replace the previous chapter two.  Confused yet?  That’s why I have it all drawn out in one convenient One Note tab.  That can be a handy little program there.  Maybe by the next post I’ll throw down a current word count.

Late this month marked the beginning of the family birthday bash.  My son celebrated his seventh last Tuesday with the party happening tomorrow.  Next is my daughter a week from Monday.  We already gave her her gift, a shiny new Netbook.  My burthday is the following Friday.  Good Friday if you’re keeping track.  I deem it Great Friday because I’m taking the day off and doing whatever the hell I want.  A little over a week from that will be my wife’s birthday.  I think she’s opting to loaf all day without anyone bothering her.  That leaves me to head off any kid queries to help her retain a bubble of solitude.  Those days are the big ones.  I left out all the nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends that also fall in between.

I’m starting something new.  Wine.  I’ve never cared for it in the past, but I’ve been reintroduced to it.  I want to know more.  Shanalee and I are starting a wine journal as well to chronicle the different wines and foods we try.  I even might use a blog post or two to relate my findings.  To date we’ve tried a Petite Sirah (not sure from where), Barefoot Shiraz, Gnarly Head Merlot, and Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir.  A friend brought over a bottle of wine during this that I liked, but I don’t remember what it was.  So far I enjoyed the Merlot the best and the Shiraz the worst.  In future posts of this nature any recommendations would be gladly welcomed.  It’s been a couple of weeks since our last sampling.  Tonight would be a good night to try the next.  Suggestions?  Right now we’re staying away from the pricey stuff.  I’d hate to put down a lump of money for something I couldn’t stomach.

I’ll have some more news to relate in the near future.  It’s still a little early for me to say.  I know.  I’m a tease.  And if by some slim chance you already know, keep your mouth shut. Otherwise I’ll be forced to rip your tongue out via your rectum.

Wow, I got violent there.  Must have something to do with the story I’m writing.  Yeah, I’ll blame that.

So, till next time, don’t forget to fondle your muse and keep life creative.

Neil Gaiman Rocks.

If you don’t know already, Neil Gaiman has put up one of his books free online. American Gods is one of his finest works I have ever read. If you haven’t read it, here’s your chance.

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

If you click on the above link, you will have the entire book at your disposal.  Enjoy the good read!

I haven’t forgot

I don’t mean to keep putting off blogging.  I’ve just been so busy as of late.  I’ll update soon.

I promise.

Tori Sings

Last night I took my wife to see Tori Amos in concert. I surprised her on our anniversary with tickets to the show. Now I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan like my wife. I do, however, know a talented artist when I see one. Without a doubt, Tori has talent oozing from her finger tips and throat.

A definite highlight for me was when the band exited the stage and left Tori alone with her piano. That’s when the magic happens. The simplicity of a piano and voice wrapped my being in gorgeous sound. The light show seemed a bit much, but not terribly so.

Of the handful of songs that I do know, she played them all but one. She did not grace us with “Crucify”. It is one of her better known songs. I’m sure she’s played it enough for it to have lost some of the meaning for herself. So I guess I could understand why she nixed it from her play-list. Still, it would have been nice to hear.

I’m limited on time now, but I will write more on this later.

Toe much in toe little time…

I’m officially apologizing to the universe.  In some way I have scorned it and am now paying the consequences.  It started with pink eye, moved on to a cold on my day off, and now breaking my little toe.  I don’t want to find out what’s next.  I’m ready to heal and move on with my life.

I’m not sure how I’m going to drive tomorrow.  I’ve already missed enough work with the pink eye thing.  So as to not whine at any of you further, I’ll sign off now.

Colds, School, and Summer Reading

There is something fundamentally wrong about living in Arizona in 110 degree weather… and catching a cold.  It’s also bitter sweet that I had the day off of work.  I took the day off so I could go with my son, Atticus, to his first day of Kindergarten.  So it was convenient that I already had the day off, but crappy because I had things planned to do.

Everyone’s back to school now.  My daughter, Hailey, started last week.  My wife, Shanalee, started this week, but her internship started last week.  I go to my class starting Thursday.  It feels like the summer just flew by.

My summer reading didn’t go quite as planned.  There were plenty of books that I didn’t get to.  Two books that I only managed getting halfway through, one of which I don’t plan on picking up again.  I did partake in the great Harry Potter fiasco.  I read it in two days, resulting in a bad case of eye strain.  Overall, I liked it.  I do feel, as many have already mentioned, that the camping in the tent bit could have been drastically shortened.  The epilogue was just okay for me.  It still left a great deal unanswered in my opinion.

I also read Volk’s Game by Brent Ghelfi.  This was something out of what I normally read.  In fact I read it only because  Brent is in my novel writing class and this was his first publication.  I have to say, I’m glad I did.  It was a wonderful novel about Russian underground mafia.  The corrupt nature of the government.  Throw in some thought-lost stolen art work and you have Brent’s book.  Although it’s not for the faint of heart.  He graphically describes scenes of torture that are most vivid.  I expect to see great things from Brent in the years to come.

More recently I finished Thin Air by Rachel Caine.  This is the sixth book in the Weather Warden series.  These books are like candy for me.  They’re easy reads that I can devour in a day or so (without the eye strain).  My only qualm  is that the ending is such a cliff hanger (as all these books are) that I hate knowing I have to wait a year for the next book.  This book was a roller-coaster ride to the finish.  I have to say though, it felt like it was just part of a bigger book.

That’s it for now kiddies.  Type to you later.

Has this ever happened to you?

The other day I was rehashing my trip to San Diego for Comic-con ‘07.  The long lines for popular panels.  Sitting in awe of brilliant speakers.  So on and so forth…

Anyways, the first night I was there, I got a hold of a pair of early screening passes to see Stardust.  After waiting nearly an hour in line, we were dismissed because the theater had already filled before we could see the glass doors to enter the building.  Apparently they used the same manner of think that only about 40% of the passes that are handed out actually get used.   However at a fan convention as big as this one, I would be safe to say that 98% showed up to see it.  That aside, we headed back to to the Gaslamp Quarter to drink our woes away.

On the way out of the this shopping complex, descending the escalator, I hear, “Hi Steve.”  Going up the opposite escalator were a group of people I did not recognize.  It was definitely a woman’s voice, and I think there was one young woman looking at me, but I didn’t recognize her.  She smiled and continued on her way.

No I know what you’re thinking.  Steve you’re hearing thing again.  But I’m not.  For the mere simple fact that person with me heard it as well.  Now I was still wearing my Comic-con badge that had my name on it, but it was facing my chest.  I lost her in the crowed and couldn’t find her again

Who was she. and how did she know me?  I tried to come up with some answers.  The best I could come up with was she picked a random common name and said “Hi, Steve”  to every man she passed.

Oh, well.  A mystery I may never solve.

Did you hear that?

This after noon. Did you hear that noise? That loud smacking sound?

It was the sound of dawning comprehension as the palm of my hand hit my forehead. The answer was right there in front of me, if only I had taken the time to see it. Now I need to do a little weaving, and I should be well on my way in the second act of my novel.