Admit it. You've been in that relationship. You know the one--you do all the work, trying to keep the attention of the other person, only to end up ignored, left behind, and/or pushed away. You keep holding on for some silly reason...but then one day, you wise up. You see the relationship for what it really is. And you decide to move on.
Such is the case with me and social media. I was obsessed. Addicted. Spent countless hours scrolling through trivial quiz results, other people's memories and experiences, "selfies" (ugh, I hate that word!), and witty...and some not so witty...thoughts. I'd post something and sit glued to my monitor to watch the likes and comments rack up. And when they didn't, I felt deep disappointment and rejection. I'd base my worth on these pathetic responses. But I'm done. I'm breaking up with Facebook. No offense to my "friends"--real or not. If you enjoy Facebook and other social media outlets, I 'm glad. My advice...let it be a tool, not the rule. No, I haven't conquered this. Goodness, I just realized the problem. There are times when I look at my "Favorites" bar, see the link, and think, "Oooh, I should check out..." Letting go is a process. After being off it for even just a few days, my mind is already clearer. I was scatterbrained like crazy, but now I feel more in control of my thoughts. I plan to check in on Facebook on Fridays. One time...not throughout the day. I'll resolve any notifications at that time. But I won't be scrolling or liking or commenting. I considered deleting my account, but I have my author page and my critique group to keep up with. So...to use the cliched line from that relationship...it's not you. It's me. And really, it is. I need to do this for me.
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I don't remember how old I was when I first saw Logan's Run, but it's definitely a movie that has stuck with me through the years. We'd rent it from time to time, until I finally bought a copy on VHS. (And quite honestly, I didn't know it was based off a book until I was already a fan of the movie. And yes, I bought a copy of that, too.) The plot has all the elements of a great dystopian story. Logan's society is full of young, beautiful people who enjoy a life of pleasure. But when you turn thirty, look out! The little jewel in your hand turns red, indicating your Last Day. Then, it's off to Carousel with you, where you'll be "renewed"...as toast. Logan totally buys into the way things are. In fact, he even goes after people who flee from this understood destiny (runners). Until his turn comes. He runs. It's an epic journey/quest that arrives at an interesting conclusion. Worth watching. And for those of us weirdos who love show tunes, you'll get a kick out of seeing Michael York (of Caberet fame) as a young man. I've not seen this movie in a few years, so it's time for a viewing. I've read there's a remake in the works, and early rumors said Matt Damon was involved. But more recent articles don't have his name, so there you have it. I'd be interested in seeing an updated version, but the classic will always hold my heart. (And be sure not to miss the scene with Farrah Fawcett's stellar "ick-ting".)
I've mentioned before how much I enjoy sci-fi. Now, I'm not into everything sci-fi. Don't shoot me when I tell you I've never seen Blade Runner all the way through. I know that's a powerhouse favorite for many, but I just never got into it. Maybe it was my surroundings at the time. I'm willing to give it another go someday. But I thought I'd go back even further and share my thoughts of a classic silent sci-fi film. I was first introduced to it around 1986 by way of Giorgio Moroder. Fritz Lang's Metropolis stunned audiences back in 1927. A harsh look at the very real class differentiation set in the future. It's the story of young, oblivious Freder, son of Elitist John Fredersen who runs the city of Metropolis. Freder sees the beautiful Maria as she leads children from the depths of the city to see what the sun looks like. He instantly falls in love and follows Maria to the bowels of Metropolis, only to discover the workers don't have it so good. Maria leads an uplifting time of encouragement with the workers, and while a few of them speak of revolt, she calms them with hope of a mediator who will reconcile the Elite and the workers. In the meantime, Freder's father decides to stir things up by sending in a robot to sabotage the workers and discredit Maria. In order to avoid spoilers, I'm going to leave it there and just say that things go crazy. And even though it's an older film, it's a timely message. We can all relate to something from this movie--romance, love for our fellow man, overcoming adversity. It's a great film. (And I prefer the version with the score by Giorgio Moroder). Definitely worth seeking out for a viewing.
f you're ever in Colorado Springs at the end of January, not only might you get to enjoy some very moderate temperatures (we may see 60 degrees tomorrow!), but you might catch COSine. And I highly recommend it. It's a small, but well-put-together sci-fi con with a focus on literature.
I am attending for my first year and thoroughly enjoyed the folks I met tonight. I was on a panel with some very talented authors who all shared a common bond--a love and respect for the late Leonard Nimoy. We spoke about his impact on Star Trek and the sci-fi world. It was a great time of fond remembrance. Just prior to that, though, I attended a session on hard sci-fi. It was intriguing to hear from people who strive to include actual science in their sci-fi. I applaud them for doing so, but I was reminded of why I write space opera. I know little of "quantum entanglement" (the phrase that was bandied about) and string theory and FTL drives and robotics and...well, you get the idea. Like I said, I have no problem with folks who want to include that in their writing. One of my critique partners has a lot of science in his writing and does a brilliant job with it. It's just not my cup of tea. For me, I prefer the old theatre term...the suspension of disbelief. (I imagine that term came for a source other than theatre, but that's where I first learned it.) I don't like getting hung up in the hows and whys of spaceship technology. As long as I know it can fly from planet to planet, I'm good with it. If the characters don't age as they are traveling, I don't give it a second thought. I fully buy into the magic and enjoy every minute of it. And I do the same in my own stories. The technology is assumed, so I can focus on the relationships and development of my characters. To me, that's the heart of the story. The heart behind the story. I just happen to set mine among the stars. And although the science is there, I believe the success behind beloved sci-fi television and movies stems from the drama, friction, conflict, romance, friendship, and heartache we are party to. It's all part of the human condition, and that's what resonates with us. Long live space opera. Oh, dear me! It's been a long time since I last posted. But that's okay. I'm crawling out from under my load of life. We're good. Everything's fine here...now. How about you?
Wow, we're in a new year. The long-anticipated Star Wars has come out. We've lost a number of incredible performers. So much has changed! Crazy, huh? As for me, I've got some new projects in the mix. I'm slowly but surely trudging through Book 3. (It will come out, I promise you!) I have others I'm polishing to get out there. They are going to be awesome! I'm hoping to release at least three books this year. We shall see. Speaking of books, come see me at COSine in Colorado Springs on January 22nd and 23rd. I'll be signing books and speaking on a panel. It's sure to be a great time! To find out more, click here. See you 'round the Bands! In just a few days, I get to share the magic of Disneyland with my children--something I always dreamed about, but never imagined would actually happen. It's pretty amazing, and I wanted to share with you a look back at what I did when I worked for the Mouse. *** Just out of college, I got to work at the Happiest Place on Earth. Yes, I'm speaking of Disneyland. The Magic Kingdom. The Mouse. The Park. Whatever name you'd like to call it. I thought I'd share some of my adventures with you. I was hired for Grad Nites 1996. I had no clue what to expect, but I soon learned I'd be in charge of a band called The Funky Hippies at the French Market stage in New Orleans Square. Yes, that was as awesome as it sounds. A flashy, gaudy 70s tribute band playing everything from Rick James to (my favorite) the BeeGees to Gloria Gaynor. On one of my nights off, I got to ride in the Main Street Electrical Parade! I wagged Eliott's tail...the dragon from Pete's Dragon. That was awesome! As the Grad Nites gig wrapped, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I was under the impression I was hired for the 6 week stint. Then, my supervisor asked if I'd found a place to live. I'd been staying with a friend who also worked at the Park. I quickly found an apartment and settled in as an assistant stage manager for the Entertainment department. I trained as a stage manager for The Hunchback of Notre Dame's Festival of Fools and Fantasmic! FOF was my favorite. I loved the wide set, the colorful costumes, and the amazing cast. Fantasmic! was a blast, too, but wet, since it's set on the Rivers of America. I have many stories from my nights on the River. I loved sitting on the far side of the fort to watch Fantasy in the Sky--the fireworks spectacular--between shows. Another show I was in charge of periodically was Aladdin and Jasmine's StoryTale Adventures. I also did a variety of events. We did a cute little skit for a very fancy dinner at the Disneyland Hotel. I stage managed weddings, including Mickey and Minnie. I assisted with many big name stars. Two events stand out as the most exciting, though. The re-dedication of Star Tours with Chewbacca, C-3PO, and Carrie Fisher (yes, I got to tell Carrie Fisher when to go onstage!), and a press event for the release of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella starring Brandi (Jason Alexander blessed me at this event!) I also did a fun event with Robin Williams to celebrate the release of Aladdin and the King of Thieves. My work even led me to be in charge of entertainment at the Disneyland Hotel! From time to time, I'd get to act as Entertainment-1, roaming the hotel's various clubs and restaurants to touch base with the talent. Another wet spot, I'd start up Fantasy Waters--a fun fountain and light show set to Disney music. Yes, it was a good run. I was there for three and a half years. I still have lots of memorabilia, including a beautiful jacket from the FOF show. I'll never forget my time with the Mouse. And I shall always be grateful. I don’t know exactly when it started. There wasn’t a sudden switch that turned on or a moment when the lightning struck. It probably happened gradually. I’m talking about my love for science-fiction. I do remember living in a small mountain town long before cable television distracted every home. Our programming selection was minimal, and my dad oftentimes had control of what we watched. When he found Star Trek on one of those stations, we never ventured far. I hated it at the time, but those moments in our family room, curled up on our old yellow couch next to the wood stove as we watched Captain James T. Kirk lead the magnificent crew of the Enterprise will never be forgotten. By the time Star Trek: The Next Generation came about, I had started to develop an interest. I’d seen the Star Wars movies in the theater. Having an older brother and a younger brother pretty much ensured my nerd-dom. But I boarded the new Enterprise with Captain Picard and Commander Riker and loved every moment of it. It’s actually what prompted my writing. A couple of friends and I would write stories for each other in the Star Trek universe. It was an even greater escape than just watching Gene Roddenberry’s masterpiece on the box in the living room. While my love of sci-fi never really died, it did get shoved off to the side during high school. My other love, musical theatre, became my passion and started me down the career path. I was going to be a stage manager on Broadway. My world was full of fresnels, fly systems, sound boards, prompt scripts, and fabulous costumes. Escape in a different form. This time, I was helping to create magic on stage to invite others to join in. I didn’t quite make it to Broadway. After I graduated, I took a job at Disneyland. Ever avoiding this crazy world, I stayed in the Magic Kingdom for close to three years. While I was there, the hype over the new Star Wars trilogy began. Episode One was on its way, and I rediscovered the original trilogy. I also ventured into online role playing games, immersing myself completely in a new universe. By the time Attack of the Clones released, I swore I would name my firstborn Anakin and my car’s license plate read “JEDIKNT.” It had begun. In the following years, my nerd-dom grew. I discovered the re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, and many other amazing tales of other worlds. I even slipped back into writing. I met the love of my life and married him. (Even though he's not a sci-fi fan!) This came with a slew of changes—leaving my job and career, moving across country, and becoming a mom. I needed to find my identity before I lost myself completely in the whirlwind of change. Writing grounded me. I pulled out my characters from my RPG days and created a new universe. I listened carefully to the internal whispers of my characters as they related their stories. As I typed them into that first document, I was all-powerful. The mighty author with a New York Times bestseller breakout novel. It was terrible. I knew nothing about writing other than what I had learned in my grade school English classes. But I sent off my final draft, expecting all kinds of offers from agents and publishers alike. I was stunned to receive my first rejection. Were these people crazy? Nope. I stumbled on a site with tips for writers, and my eyes were opened. Greatly humbled, I placed that first novel aside and started to work on another story. It took far greater discipline to remember the “rules” about point of view and showing versus telling, but the final product shined with the effort. No, it wasn’t perfect, but it was something I was proud of. And it spurred me on to write more. To keep creating. To keep trying. I never would have pegged myself as a writer. It wasn’t something I set out to do. It’s a passion I uncovered in the midst of depression and turmoil. But I am so thankful for this beautiful art form. It’s binding, uplifting, and satisfying. It’s terrible and wonderful at the same time. My advice for aspiring authors? Keep going. As Captain Taggert says in the historical documentary film Galaxy Quest, “Never give up. Never surrender.” Be willing to learn. Get involved in a writers’ group. Do all you can to improve your craft every day. And remember—the world is full of amazing tales, but it still needs your story. Go for it. I am an active (although sometimes unwilling) participant in this world we're all familiar with. But this isn't the only world I live in. As a writer, I get to indulge my imagination and live in multiple universes. Right now, I'm fully engaged in four. Talk about a mixed-up head! I'm working on two different projects in the Circeae system. This is the universe where The Crown's Call takes place. It's a vast system with three stars. You can check it out here or take a gander at the pic to the left. The two projects are set hundreds of years apart, so that's almost like two different worlds. We'll call it one and a half. Also on my plate is a romance project I'm doing with a friend. It's set in modern-day Colorado (of which I should know), but in a small mountain town (of which I'm learning). While there are elements of the everyday, it's still a matter of world-building. (And by the way, it's awesome!) There are other imagined worlds I dabble in here and there, but I've tried to hone my focus on these right now. I can only fit so many worlds In my brain. Limiting myself is helpful. I also try to keep an eternal perspective. My beliefs, my faith draw me to dwell in that realm. I know that doesn't work for everyone, but it helps to keep me grounded and sane. And now, we're back to reality, which is totally overrated. And because I figured in one and a half worlds with my Crown's Call work, we'll just tally in a half to equal four. (I know I'm completely bonkers, but I'm okay with that.) Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? That's the question every writer asks their writing buddies. It's this funny code between us. When outsiders hear it, they look at us like we have three heads. We share the joy with them, then puff ourselves up like we've taught them algebra or something.
So...am I participating in NaNo this year? No. I've done it previous years, and it's been great. I've written a couple novels that way. Granted, they are in desperate need of revision (which I plan to get to someday...), but as far as cranking it out, NaNo is the way to go. It's encouraging, motivating, and focusing. Which is the precise reason I'm stepping back this year. If you're in the NaNo zone, those elements drive you toward finishing. If not, they are guilt-inducing. I'm just not there, so I'm going to let my fellow writers proceed while I sit back, write s-l-o-w-l-y, and applaud. So if you're doing NaNo, go get 'em! I wish you the best. If not, grab some chocolate (or a nap) and join me. Happy (No-No) NaNo-ing! I've been juggling work, writing, volunteer, and home duties for going on three years. Needless to say, I'm exhausted. Each area has its own rewards, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. But today, I have to raise the Working Mom flag.
My kids have fall parties at school. (Let's call them what they really are...Halloween parties.) I was able to take it easy with two classes by purchasing napkins for one child and forks for the other. But the mom in me wanted to bake something for someone, so I signed up for pumpkin cookies for my oldest. Before I had a full-time job, I would have made pumpkin flavored cookies AND pumpkin shaped cookies for those who don't like pumpkin flavored things. (Shout out to my cubicle pal at work who falls into that camp!) But I have a couple hours of multitasking email checks, book reading, dinner making, and cookie baking (can I get an "amen"?), so I'm down to one yummy batch instead of two Pinterest fails. My husband recently took a new job that allows him to stay on our side of town. I thought that would help things, but his hours require him to head in early. (Before-I-get-up early. 5 happens only once on my clock. I'm sad to say I see 6 twice...) So I have to rely quite heavily on my mom when I have meetings, tapings, and other things that require my in-office presence. But I have an issue coming up that I just can't solve. Once a month, we have an off-site staff meeting. It's a great time of fellowship and shop talk. We learn about each other's lives and projects. This coming month, my middle child is receiving an award at a school assembly...on that very same day at that very same time. Of course, my family takes priority over work. Thankfully, I'm employed at a place that champions that philosophy. But I'll miss that meeting, which is important to me. I've been on both sides of the mom coin. I got to stay home with my kids when they were young, but I didn't exactly relish every moment. I often bemoaned not having a purpose in life, which prompted my writing career. I wished for adult interaction. I ticked away the days, longing for more. Now that I'm a working mom, I have more purpose than I can handle. I wish to retreat from all interaction. And the days fly by. I can't grasp onto them long enough to cover everything. All that to say, wherever you are...whatever stage of momming (as I like to call it) you may be in...enjoy it. If you're a dad, same thing applies. (If you're neither, take a deep breath and go read my books!) Cling to those little family moments and cherish them. Life is crazy and complicated. Make time for your passion. It will keep you going. Sometimes, my writing feels like work, but if I don't do it, I get frustrated and grumpy. It's my outlet, and I need it. Be grateful for work. I know too many people who are underemployed or without jobs at all. I'm thankful for what I do and the opportunities it brings. And I adore the people on my team and our mission. I'm speaking to myself as much as anyone. Sometimes, I just get a bad attitude about all the different calls placed on my life. I have to step back, change my perspective, and tackle the situation again. I have to resist the Supermom persona and let people help. I have to get on my knees, close my eyes, and surrender control to the One Who loves me. For in Him, I am strong. |
Duchess WriterAward-winning sci-fi author * Christ follower, wife, and mom * broadcast content producer. And yes, I am a real duchess. http://amzn.to/2eLTlH3 Archives
March 2023
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