The Picaresque Blog

Meeting with the King! (Stephen King, that is)

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:27:00 +0000

Background: So, I have been a fan of Stephen King for about twenty years. People who know me know this. I was ecstatic when I got the opportunity to meet him recently. I was also nervous. If you want the whole background of why I love Stephen King and my journey before getting to meet him please go to this thread on Absolute Write:

I am going to meet Stephen King in NH and I am sooo nervous!

To sum up I managed to get a ticket to a signing at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH. Here is a link to the sold out event:

Full Dark, No Stars Book Signing Promotional Page

What follows is my account of the event. I will put any internal thoughts in italics, please feel free to leave comments below.

Meeting Stephen King

It was a beautiful night on December 2, 2010 when I left my tutoring job in Montpelier, VT at four to make the drive to Portsmouth, NH to meet with Stephen King. The stars were out and there was no snow or bad weather. It was a gorgeous sparkling, starry evening. Kind of ironic since I was going to pick up a signed copy of King's newest book FULL DARK, NO STARS.

The drive was an easy one, almost all interstate. While most of my mind was kept on the road as a good girl should, some of my mind couldn't help wandering. I wondered what it was going to be like. I had waited twenty years to meet King and the pressure was high. Would he be as awesome as I hoped? Would I say something stupid? Would I get to say anything at all? Would he be in a good mood? All this and more crossed my mind. All right. It was more like "ran screaming in incoherent terror" across it.

I have been to quite of few of these meet, greet, signing things over the years and one thing I learned is that you never know what the atmosphere is going to be until you get there. The venue, the VIP themselves and the crowd determine what attitude it is appropriate for you to take when meeting the VIP. So, to prepare, I thought of different scenarios. I had everything from I get my book, don't make eye contact and leave to he is chatting me up like an old friend. I was very imaginative. Stephen King, if you read this, please know at one point you bought me a Bacardi. I still wouldn't say no to one. After much deliberation I decided the best thing to say, if I got to say anything at all, was "I've been a Constant Reader since I was twelve." It seemed to have the admiration and thanks I wanted to express and wasn't creepy. Then, I could work with whatever he said back, if he said anything at all.

I arrived in Portsmouth and found my way no problem thanks to the Garmin I had with me. The town of Portsmouth is a very pretty, touristy New England town and the location of the bookstore was in the market area. Very upscale shops. Very postcard-like architecture. There was a parking garage and after parking I walked down to street level.

Fortunately, the bookstore was only one alley way up and as soon as I stepped out onto the street and looked around I saw the store. What amazed me was that there were a number of people, but I wouldn't say it was a crowd. I expected a mob. I walked over and saw some people standing outside with FULL DARK, NO STARS. I talked to one guy smoking a cigarette about what King was like. I was told that it was a very quick line and that King was being chatty and personable. My stomach did little flutters. I decided that I would be able to say my prepared line. Happiness.

It wasn't that cold outside and there was staff outside to direct people. There were also two cops standing outside. I can understand that, but I also had the thought that if someone actually went after King there probably wouldn't be much of them left by the time the cops pulled the rabid fans off them. These are King fans after all. That was when I saw the window.

The bookstore had him sitting next to a window so he could be seen by passers-by. There he was! Signing books and smiling. Whee! He had on a grey sweatshirt and had a couple bottles of Pepsi next to him. The event coordinator, Michele, stood next to him handing him the books. I had to resist the urge to run up and press my nose against the glass. Non-flash photography was allowed and people were outside the window taking pictures. Now my camera will not work without a flash so I was relegated to using my Blackberry. Here is my first glimpse of Stephen King.

They told us before hand there were groups and that we were staggered and told not show up before our scheduled time. I was in Group C and was supposed to show up at 7:45. At that time I went around the back as instructed where there were staff with lists and checking off names. I handed over my ID and was sent around through the back door of the store. The line snaked around a little bit, but there couldn't have been more then twenty people in line when I got there. They had more staff inside directing people. Then I heard him talking to people. Awesome. Just like in interviews, but live! He was being chatty and I suddenly remembered advice about befriending people in line to snap a picture for you, but I didn't have time. The line was moving quickly. I only had time to note the store was really nice and snap a couple in line pics. Here they are. Sorry for the blur. It was the best I could do.

Then, I was third in line and my stomach went into over drive. That weird fluttery feeling you get on a roller coaster started to take over. I had one guy in front of me and a group of four were at the table talking to King. He talked to them for a bit actually, which was very cool. Then I was next! Through my anticipation haze I managed to notice King apologizing to the guy in front of me for making him wait. What class! So nice! Then it was my turn.

I somehow managed to make my feet and the rest of me move up to the table. I was looking at Stephen King. Not more than two feet from me! He was smiling. Say something, dumbass. My mind urged.

Me: Hi. Oh. Brilliant.

SK: Hi. How are you? *smile*

Me: Good. GAH! Say your line! Say your line! Say it, dummy!

Me: I've been a Constant Reader since I was twelve. Phew.

SK: When was that? Five years ago? *chuckle*

Hahaha...wait. Did Stephen King just imply I was seventeen?! OMG. A million blessings on you, Stephen King. You are my favorite! But I should correct him...

Me: Oh. No. I'm thirty-one. Yeah. I want him to know how long I have been a fan.

SK: Oh, jeez... *said in a oh-my-god-I-feel-old-voice paired with a rueful smile*

GAH! You made Stephen King feel old! ABORT ! ABORT!

Me: Actually, we have the same birthday. Nice save. Change the subject.

SK: September twenty-first?

I simply nod. I don't trust myself.

SK: You, me, and H.G. Wells. *smile*

Stephen King just put me in a sentence with him and H.G. Wells. SQUEEEEEEEEE! *dolphin noise*

Me: Right!

He slides the book over to me.

SK: Here's your book. *smile*

Say thank you! Say thank you!

Me: Thank you.

SK: Thank you!

Then I walked past the policeman and left. That was when I had a panic attack. I had just gotten to the door and realized I had not smiled at Stephen King! I felt like the kid in that Christmas Story movie, when he realizes he didn't tell Santa what he wanted. I felt like grabbing the door to stop myself, running over grabbing his ankles while going.

OMGiamsosorryididntsmileatyouididntmeanityourthebestivereadallyourstuffanditsawesomeand...

...until they carted me away. Fortunately, for my dignity's sake, I manged to keep going out of the store. So, Stephen King, if you read this... I TOTALLY DIDN'T MEAN IT! I was too busy trying to make myself talk and not piddle on the floor like an excited puppy to realize I looked like a deer about to get run over by a car. I am so sorry!

After that I made it back to my car, clutching my book to my chest like a newborn babe. I made it home safely with a signed copy of FULL DARK NO STARS and an awesome memory, even if it was slightly panic filled. I am now debating on whether to hermetically seal the signed copy and buy another to read or actually reading the one Stephen King actually handled.

Conclusion: So, that was my experience. Thanks for reading. It was totally awesome to meet him and I will treasure the memory always. It made me admire him even more than I already did and I totally hold him up as the standard I want to live up to as a writer. I think all writers could take a few notes from him. He was awesome, nice, friendly, sweet, and just plain cool. It was bitter-sweet in the end, because I wanted to hang out with him more! Sit down, buy him a Pepsi and pick his brain. I am sure I wasn't alone there!

RiverRun Bookstore put on a great event! They really know what they are doing. The author looked happy, the customers were happy and it was awesome! Many thanks to Michele and staff! It's a beautiful store and I highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area!

An awesome contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:06:00 +0000

I wanted to tell you guys about this contest where you can win books!

CONTEST!

Awesome books like PARANORMALCY and PERSONAL DEMONS! Go check it out!

Yes, I am revamping the blog. Patience is awesome. Thanks so much for reading guys!

NaNoWriMo

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:02:00 +0000

Yes! I am doing NaNoWriMo this year. I do have to profusely apologize for the lack of updates and I will post another post soon, but I wanted to tell you all about this and how I am raising money for two great causes. Please click on the link to find out what NaNoWriMo is all about if you haven't heard of it before. Essentially it is a bunch of writers from around the world who get together and pledge to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Starting November 1st and writing through November 30th. There is still time to join us! The more the merrier! Check the site to sign up and get more details!

To help raise money to promote literacy I am hoping to get sponsorships to help me through the month. The money you donate will go to literacy programs. Go to the link below to donate. Even one dollar helps!

SPONSOR ME !

I am also the Vermont region Bookdriver-in-Chief for The Great NaNoWriMo Book Drive! Donate books and these books are sold to fund literacy programs. If you have books laying around your house you wish to donate then contact me and I will figure out how to get them. Here is a list books we can and cannot use:

Books that are sadly unsellable and should not be sent:

•Academic Journals or Literary Criticisms
•Activity Books (coloring, crossword, etc.)
•Books Published by Magazines
•Case Law and Procedural Law Books
•Custom Course Packets
•Directories or Telephone Books
• Encyclopedia Britannica, World Book, or Incomplete Sets
•LP Records, VHS Tapes, Cassettes, or CDs
•Open Software Sets
• Periodicals or Magazines (i.e. National Geographic, TV Guides)
•Tax or Government Documents
•Book Club Editions
•Harlequin Romance Novels
•The Modern Library Series
•Reader’s Digest Condensed
•Marquis Who’s Who

Books in the following condition are shunned by their peers and also should not be sent:

•Dirty
•Moldy
•Water Damaged
•Damaged Binding or Pages
•Missing Covers or Pages
•Excessive Writing, Markings, or Highlighting
•Cut Out Library Treatments
•Warped (softcover books)

Books that do well:

• Antiquarian, Rare, and Collectable Books (See ARC Document for more detailshttp://www.betterworldbooks.com/Content/ReuseFirst/files/ARCGuidelinesMa...)
•Dictionaries and Thesauri
• DVDs and Books on CD (must be operable include original artwork and casing)
•Ex-library Copies (do not remove treatments)
• Gently used Children’s Books (especially Newbery Winners)
•Hardcover Fiction and Nonfiction
• Mass Market Paperbacks (must be in like new condition with copyright 1980 or newer)
•Monographs
•Textbooks (copyright 1998 or newer)
•Trade Paperbacks
• Travel Books (copyright within last 5 years)

Please consider donating funds and/or books and join me to promote literacy! Also think about joining NaNoWriMo! It is a lot of fun. Thank you for your time!

MM #5 ~ The Neverending Story

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:38:00 +0000

Title: The Neverending Story

Author: Michael Ende

Summary: A boy named Bastian finds a magical book where he not only reads about the characters, but he can affect the outcome of the story. In the process he learns what it means to have responsibility and that even good intentions can become corrupted if one is not careful.

Rating: 5 Auryns ~ I do as I wish, baby!

Why I chose this book: I chose this book because many of my generation know the movie, but have no idea that this wonderful book was the basis said movie. Even though the movie differed greatly from the book they both are worth experiencing. They each have their own magic.

Questionable Content: None that I feel the need to mention. I would give this to any kid (or adult) who could read it and comprehend it!

Review: When most people think of THE NEVERENDING STORY they think of this:

...and I am sure many therapists have heard about this:

...but I am not talking about either one of those. I am talking about the book.

The book by Michael Endes is a wonderful exploration of the world we inhabit in our minds. What does imagination mean and why is it so important? Bastian, our protagonist, is a boy I think most everyone can relate to. He is put upon at school and doesn't feel like anyone understands him. He escapes inside of books to get over his feelings of inadequacy. He acquires a book from a local shopkeeper and loses himself in world of Atreyu. Atreyu is the boy Bastian wants to be: brave, resourceful, heroic, and he lives in magical world of fantasy. When Bastian discovers that he may be the key to saving Atreyu's world his fear and self-consciousness threaten to overpower him. This is the story most everyone knows from the movie, what most don't know is that this is only the first part of the book.

The second part of the book follows Bastian after he has saved Fantastica. He finds himself in the world he was only reading about before and the Empress has given him infinite power to affect changes in Fantastica by wishing. Bastian becomes drunk with power and seeks to become ruler of Fantastica over the Empress. It will take the help of his Fantastican friends and completely rediscovering who he is to save Fantastica. The question is: Will Bastian choose to go back to his old life or is the promise of his every whim being fulfilled too tempting?

What I really love about this book is that Endes is not afraid to delve into dark places. Some of the scenes are truly sad and terrifying on a very visceral level and not just to kids. Losing your identity, death, fear, responsibility, love, self-respect and power are all themes in the book. These messages are not just for kids, but lessons anyone can appreciate. He isn't preachy. We see Bastian fail miserably and sink to the lowest depths where he has nothing and no one and can't even remember he had anything to begin with. His struggle to come back becomes the readers' struggle and I am willing to bet the reader will find out a little about themselves along the way.

Endes also manages to show how books can become reflections of ourselves and change us, just by reading them. The world within our heads and on the page can change our physical world by making us think. That is a message I can get behind and I highly recommend this book to anyone.

"If you have never wept bitter tears because a wonderful story has come to an end and you must take your leave of the characters with whom you have shared so many adventures, whom you have loved and admired, for whom you have hoped and feared, and without whose company life seems empty and meaningless -

If such things have not been part of your own experience, you probably won't understand what Bastian did next."

Penance, Art and Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:57:00 +0000

Okay it has been a bit and so this is going to be a big post. Let's go in order...

Penance

I have been very bad updating this thing. I apologize. I do actually have a lot of blog ideas, but lots of factors (including ones in my control) have stopped me from posting on my schedule. I am going to try and make up those posts. I will put up a gadget to keep track. It's the least I owe you guys! Thanks for sticking with me.

Art

I also want to draw your attention to the amazing graphic I received from the incredible Halo! She has awesomely agreed to make graphics for the blog and I can't wait to see the rest! Check out her other work at www.derangedcomics.com

*points up* Is this not awesome?

Award

Thanks to April for this pretty award! So nice of you to think of me. Seriously. This is awesome of you.

This award also comes with rules, naturally.

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 5 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

Seven Things About Me

1. I grew up in Vermont.
2. I spent a summer interning at the Chief Medical Examiner's Office of Vermont.
3. I have two pet rats! They are my little babies.
4. I have an older sister and four step-brothers.
5. I love cheesy movies.
6. My birthday dinner since I was six years old has been Kraft macaroni & cheese with strawberry shortcake for desert.
7. I wanted to be Indiana Jones when I was a kid.

And the winners are...

Goldberg Brain
Looking to the Stars
Troy Blackford
(W)ords and (W)ardances
The Purist Bleeds Pinstrips

Absolute Write June Blog Chain ~ WIP

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:02:00 +0000

As you all saw HERE. I ~~waste time~~ confer with my colleagues over at Absolute Write.

The June blog chain topic is as follows:

Post a scene that describes or defines your main character's attitude.

You can take this from any angle: share a scene straight out of your WIP, create a scene for your WIP character that concentrates his/her essence, etc.

Cool! This is the first scene from my brand new WIP that I am very excited about. First draft warning and all of that and it has swearing so if you don't like that I won't be offended if you skip it! I don't think it needs any introduction because, well, it's the first scene!

***

Wes found the dead girl's diary stuffed inside his dorm mattress. Olivia was written in sparkly green pen on the cover. She hadn't bothered to take the price tag off the back. He set the mattress down and opened to the first page.

January 20

It may be melodramatic to write this journal in case anything happens. Julia always said I was a drama queen so I might as well own it, right? I went out to the woods to have a smoke. It was freezing cold and the snow was up to my arse. I hate going out in the snow, but I was pissed at Julia for riding me about classes so I said screw it. She acts like she's so together all the time, but she's not. I heard her last week talking on the phone mom. She was crying about how everything is so hard. We have only been out of high school for two years. Julia acts like she should have a job already for chrissake.

Wes checked his watch. He had to go to class. Damn. He shoved the diary back in the mattress and threw his covers on top. He grabbed his books on the way out and he barely made it in time. Wes nodded at his friend Rabbit as he stumbled into his seat near the back of the class. The professor glared at him. Double Damn. He pulled out his pencil and notebook. He began to scribble down what was on the board. They had a response paper due today. His stomach flipped a little. Triple Damn. Wes checked the front of his notebook to make sure it was tucked in there. Relief. He had grabbed the right notebook. Not exactly the best of starts to his college career, but at least he did the assignment, even if he did think Fried Green Tomatoes was the most boring book on the planet.

Wes spent the next hour wondering how Olivia's diary had ended up in his mattress. When he first got to campus a month ago all of the upperclassmen were talking about the girl who had died over the summer. She had been found burned to death out in the woods. Some of rumors he heard were pretty wild. She had spontaneously combusted. She had been out smoking and fell asleep setting her clothes on fire. She had a crazy ex-boyfriend who was mad at her for breaking up with him. Back in high school the worst rumors her heard in the cafeteria were that someone had done it with someone else last Friday night. That was a bit of a trip. Now the girl seemed to have gotten her diary in his mattress somehow. That was trippier.

When the professor finally let them get out of there he waited for Rabbit. His friend was currently leaned over the desk of some girl Wes didn't know.

“I could help you out in this class you know,” he pulled out a card and handed it to her.

“You have a card?” she sounded amused.

“Would you take me seriously if I didn't?”

“I don't take you seriously now.”

“That's your loss, honey. My cell number is the back if you change your mind.”

Rabbit turned and saw Wes waiting for him and gave a wave. Over Rabbit's shoulder Wes could see the girl shift her bag on shoulder. She was shaking her head, but Wes noticed that she stuffed the card in her pocket. Rabbit watched her leave with a grin on his face.

“At least you can admire the view, right?” Wes asked.

“Only a matter of time, my friend. She'll come around. They always do.”

Here is the list of participants to the June Blog Chain:

LadyMage: http://www.katherinegilraine.com

and direct link to her post

FreshHell: http://freshhell.wordpress.com/

and direct link to her post

Collectonian: http://collectonian.livejournal.com

and direct link to her post

Aimee Laine: http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog

and direct link to her post

AuburnAssassin: http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/

and direct link to her post

Lyra Jean: http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/

and direct link to her post

Aheïla: http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/

and direct link to her post

ME ----> ArcticFox: http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/

Fokker Aeroplanbau: http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/
Alpha Echo: http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/
xcomplex: http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/
CScottMorris: http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/
egoodlett: http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/
Lilain: http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/
defyalllogic: http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/
*RomanceWriter*: http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com
IrishAnnie: http://superpenpower.blogspot.com
Anarchicq: http://anarchicq.com/

MM # 4 ~ CDMBE: Gandalf vs. Dumbledore

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Tue, 25 May 2010 01:00:00 +0000

It is a little known fact that there is an underground death match circuit where literary characters of arguably comparable skill meet in a no-holds-barred grudge match. They meet in a specially designed gladiatorial arena. In honor of the MTV cult hit Celebrity Death Match it's called Celebrity Death Match: Book Edition.

Now, I can't get you lovely readers video of all the action because of it's secret nature. However, I am nothing if not dedicated to my readers so I have smuggled out at the risk of my career transcripts of these battles. I do this for YOUR entertainment. If you rat me out I will deny everything. So, Leeeett'sssss get ready to rummmmmbbbllleee!

Celebrity Death Match: Book Edition

Gandalf Vs. Dumbledore

Comma: Welcome one and all! I'm Carl Comma and together with my co-host Ed Ellipsis we'll bring all the blow by blow action. What do we have tonight, Ed?

Ellipsis: Well we have some true titans of the literary world here tonight. They're wizards no less so we can expect big things from this bout. In the white corner we have Gandalf the White from the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Comma: Isn't he actually a demigod, Ed?

Ellipsis: Yes, Carl. Thousands of years old he has led armies, thrown a Balrog down on the side of a mountain and word has it he likes to unwind with a little Westfarthing weed.

Comma: Sounds like a tough competitor. Whose in the other corner?

Ellipsis: In the blue corner we have Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. He is responsible for masterminding the plan to take down the most evil wizard in his world. This fighter likes Bertie Botts' Every Flavored Beans before a fight.

Comma: Sounds great, Ed. Let's get down to the ring.

Referee: I want a good fight. Anything goes. Touch wands and come out fighting at the bell. Let's get it on!

Comma: Gandalf actually has a staff and not a wand. Think it will give him an advantage?

Ellipsis: I don't think so. I heard in the locker room that Dumbledore is a thinking man's fighter and doesn't like to get in close.

Comma: Well, we'll see how it works out for him against a real brawler like Gandalf.

Ellipsis: There's the bell!

Comma: Looks like Dumbledore is going in early with a patronus spell. He's bringing in some of the big guns already.

Ellipsis: This will be a good indicator of how the rest of the fight will go.

Comma: Gandalf dismisses it easily.

Ellipsis: That spells trouble for Dumbledore. Ha!

Comma: (groans) Thanks, Ed. Oh! Dumbledore gets in a good shot with a boomerang wand to the head.

Ellipsis: It appears to have stunned Gandalf for a second.

Comma: Gandalf takes out Dumbledore's legs with a staff sweep. No spell needed. That is pretty hard core. Oh! Now an elbow to the stomach for Dumbledore.

Ellipsis: Dumbledore attempts to elude Gandalf with a masking spell. He attempts to get behind him to get a foothold in this match.

Comma: Gandalf is a rock in this fight. He sees the bluff! Oh right in the magical jewels!

Ellipsis: He isn't playing now!

Gandalf: YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

Comma: Dumbledore goes right through the floor!

Ellipsis: It's over! Gandalf wins. That was an awfully short match.

Comma: It was. I think in this particular arena Gandalf's more aggressive style was clearly the decider.

Ellipsis: Excellent! This is Ed Ellipsis and Carl Comma saying good night and remember: They're still alive in fan fiction!

FF #3 ~ DDMM: 'Til Death Do Us Part

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:01:00 +0000

The last Freaky Friday was the second installment of Double D's Movie Marathons (DDMM) to read all about it please go to the previous post Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love and Drown In Your Love!

The last two marathons were about fire and water. This time I wanted to dig a little deeper. Something that would last forever and so I present...

The 'Til Death Do Us Part Movie Marathon

"Death cannot stop True Love. It can only delay it for a while."

~ The Princess Bride

Are you the couple who will defy time itself to be together? Will your love outlast the cockroaches? Is eternity a drop of sand in a hourglass to the depth of your love? If so then this is the marathon for you.

Snacks: Death by Chocolate, lady fingers, lemon heads, coffin cakes, gummy worms, chocolate grasshoppers

Title: Corpse Bride

Year: 2005

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Tracey Ullman, Christopher Lee

Quote: "Isn't the view beautiful? It takes my breath away. Well, it would if I had any."

Synopsis: This is a really entertaining collaboration between Burton, Depp and Bonham Carter, who really love to work with each other. A young man (voiced by Depp) gets roped into marrying a corpse, which really puts a major damper on his relationship with his fiancee Victoria. Watch this for the animation and music!

Title: Dawn of the Dead

Year: 2004

Starring: Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Sarah Polley

Quote: "I been to a lot of funerals. Folded the flag, and given it to a lot of wives and fathers and kids. And I told them how sorry I was. But that's never really what I was feeling. In the back of my mind, I was always saying, 'Better them, then me.' But I don't believe that now. Because now I realize that there are some things worse then death, and one of them is sitting here, waiting to die."

Synopsis: What says romance better than Romero? Nothing. That's what! Pop on this and enjoy the brain-chomping, screaming, running and sometimes disgusting fun. There is also a really caring and sweet scene between a man and his zombie wife and new zombie baby. That's love! Everyone go Awwww...gnnnnnn! Rarw!

Title: Dead Again

Year: 1991

Starring: Kenneth Branaugh, Derek Jacobi, Andy Garcia, Emma Thompson, Robin Williams

Quote: "Karmically, self-defense is quite cool."

Synopsis: This is a great example of how Branaugh's awesome directing. The use of scenery and camera angles is pretty cool in this. The story kept me very interested. A woman who has amnesia experiences violent nightmares and a private investigator is brought in to find out who she is. They slowly find out that their current lives are entangled because their previous lives have some unfinished business. Watch for Robin Williams and Andy Garcia in great supporting roles. Haunting your spouse in their next life...that's love right?

Title: Beetlejuice

Year: 1988

Starring: Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin

Quote: "Don't mind her. She's still upset because somebody dropped a house on her sister."

Synopsis: A straight-laced couple die and are trying to find their way through the afterlife when a dysfunctional family moves into their home. They decide it's time to fight and hire the help of a really gross ghost. Watch for Michale Keaton's performance as the ghost with the most: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetle...

Title: Heathers

Year: 1988

Starring: Christian Slater, Winona Ryder, Shannen Doherty

Quote: "Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count."

Synopsis: Teen love, suicide, rock and roll and Christian Slater A high school girl trapped in a horrible clique at school falls for the bad boy new boy in town, who happens to have a death wish. The murders pile up to an explosive conclusion. Listen for some really choice dialogue and 80's goodness. Death = Love in this teen angst film.

Title: Death Becomes Her

Year: 1992

Starring: Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn

Quote: "'Til death do us part! Well, you girls are dead. And I'm parting."

Synopsis: Two prima donas afraid of death make a deal with a mysterious woman to live forever, but their rivalry makes eternity a living hell. Watch for Bruce Willis in a very cool role as a nerdy plastic surgeon. Streep and Hawn turn in some great comedic performances.

I hope this marathon suits your needs...forever. Happy watching!

Absolute Write May Blog Chain ~ Music

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:04:00 +0000

This is a special Picaresque post that doesn't follow within my normal schedule because it is just that awesome. I am participating in the May Blog Chain over at Absolute Write Water Cooler (an awesome site you should check out).

The topic chosen by the lovely blue-haired Aheïla:

"I hereby baptize this blog chain AW May Musical Blog Chain.
Why? Because the topic I picked up is: What does your story/character(s) sound like?

You can take this from any angle: what do you listen to when you write, which song summarizes your story the best, etc.
I like this idea because it enables us to talk about our favorite music and our writing (that's what I loved about the April Blog Chain though past chains had non-writing-related topics too.) Are you up for it?"

The answer for me is: Yes, ma'am! I have read all the posts so far and I wanted to do something that hadn't been done before. That was no easy task, but I think a little chat about lyrics would be in order. I am sure it will surprise no one reading this that as a writer I adore lyrics. The words of a song are what really move me. A brilliant line in a song, like a wonderful line in a novel, is a thing of beauty. Below are listed some of my favorite songwriters and bands who are great lyricists. Next to the name I will put a song title that shows of their lyrical skill particularly well.

The Doors ~ Light My Fire

"The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love becomes a funeral pyre."

The Beatles ~ Imagine

"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as on"

Billy Joel ~ Piano Man

"Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he’s quick with a joke
Or to light up your smoke
But there’s someplace that he’d rather be

He says, Bill, I believe this is killing me
As the smile ran away from his face
Well I’m sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place"

matchbox twenty ~ Back2Good

"Everyone here
Is wondering what it's like to be with somebody else
And everyone here's to blame,
Yeah, everyone here
Gets caught up in the pleasure
Of the pain,
And everyone here hides
Shades of shame
but looking inside
we're the same
we're the same
And we're all grown now
but we don't know how
To get it back to goo"

Nightwish ~ Over the Hills and Far Away

"Each night within his prison cell,
he looks out through the bars.
He reads the letters that she wrote.
One day he'll know the taste of freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms he swears she'll be."

There are many, many, many > infinity more, of course, please feel free to add in comments. Listening to these artists and their lovely phrases helps me to be a little more eloquent too. It behooves a writer on occasion to be able to write succinctly and good songs do that with ease and tell a kicking story at the same time. I think it's a skill that writers can learn from songwriters and besides what if one of your characters wants to write a tune? You want to be ready for that, right?

One piece of advice that writers hear from time to time is look at their favorite writers and study how they do it. Why can't you do the same for songwriters?

The AW May Musical Blog Chain's Fantabulous Links:

WW #3 ~ Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Thu, 20 May 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Picaresque Note: Please see THIS post for site status update and apologies from me.

***

I recently went on a long bus ride and didn't have much else to do other than think. It was then that I had the experience of a whole novel just plopping into my head from beginning to end. I had never had that happen before. It was an odd and numbing event. Fortunately, I keep a notebook on me for just such an occasion.

It's a funny thing inspiration. It can be fickle or so generous it makes your head hurt, but to be a writer you have to work through it all. It's one of those occasions where you have to take what you can get when you can get it. Some writers say that you can't wait for inspiration and others say that it it is the only way to write. I think that whatever works for you is what works for you, but if you want to be a writer who is published and published often then you can't wait for inspiration.

I want to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with writing only if you get inspired. My point is that if you want to make any steady money or be published on a regular basis then you need to force inspiration to happen. If you have no intention of this then I say write what you want, when you want, and let no one stop you.

I think that writers tend to fall into three groups when it comes to being inspired. Those that struggle all the time. They have something to say, but don't know how to say it. This is the person you find who scoffs at writing as a career, but is secretly jealous. Then there is the largest group which are the people that are inspired and have something to say, but sometimes they get a little jammed up in their heads.

Then there is the third group. Theses are the folks that keep going and going and going and never seem to have a bad day writing ever. I don't think these guys exist but in writer "shop talk" sessions. I don't think there is one writer out there who has never had a tough time or wanted to tear their hair out over some plot point. The difference between a real writer and one who just sits there is the ability to work through all of that frustration. Each writer has to find what it is that will get them back in the groove.

For me it's reading. I read a great story and I want to write my own. This helps me get back to whatever I am working on. I have also come to the realization that distractions have been more prevalent in my writing than I thought. I am in a place right now where Internet, phone, electricity, television and other devices are unavailable to me and the freedom to write has been amazing and my output has increased one hundred fold. I just hope when I get back home I have the discipline to unplug myself and write.

What about you? What do you do?

P.S. Check out this awesome post on inspiration by Johanna Harness. She guest posted on Merrilee's blog and it is great! It inspired me to write this post. Not Enough Words Blog

After these messages we'll be right back...

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Sun, 09 May 2010 17:28:00 +0000

Tuesday evening my computer started acting funny. Wednesday I was getting blue screen of death. Thursday and Friday I spent trying to get it fixed. One complete reformat and one huge virus later my computer is now functional and relatively back to normal. I will be commencing with my regularly scheduled blog week tomorrow. Thank you for your patience and understanding! :0)

MM #3 ~ GB/BB: Twilight vs. Dracula (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Mon, 03 May 2010 07:57:00 +0000

Welcome! A little late I know, but it is still Monday here so let's got on with the show! I appreciate you sticking with the program and hope you enjoy.

This is the second part of the Good Book/Bad Book: Twilight vs. Dracula. The first part can be found HERE!

Last time I wrote about the history of vampires in folklore and religious themes (or lack of) in both books. I have two more topics I wish to cover so let's get right to it!

Technique

The techniques available to a writer when telling a story are vast and some are very difficult. When an author takes on a difficult form or technique of writing it is a true testament to their skill to do it well. Dracula is an epistolary novel, which are extremely difficult....I doubt Meyer can spell epistolary. This form gave Stoker an opportunity to really delve into his characters, build suspense and show us their fear. Twilight is told in first person, which is also a very little used form, and I think in this Stoker wins out for the most successful execution of the literary technique. His form does use first person, but from different characters and with a lot mroe finesse.

So, how is it that Stoker does a better job? I will not be able to list all of the examples here, but I encourage you to try and find more and post them in the comments. Right now I am going to take two quotes and talk about the point of view.

"The fair girl went on her knees and bent over me, fairly gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive, and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips like an animal... I could feel the soft, shivering touch of the lips on the supersensitive skin of my throat, and the hard dents of two sharp teeth, just touching and pausing there."

(~ Dracula,from Jonathan Harker's journal pg. 51)

"He grinned his crooked smile at me, stopping my breath and my heart. I couldn’t imagine how an angel could be any more glorious. There was nothing about him that could be improved upon."

(~ Twilight, Bella Swan)

Oh heck, I'll give Meyer two...

"I wasn’t interesting. And he was. Interesting… and brilliant… and mysterious… and perfect… and beautiful… and possibly able to lift full-sized vans with one hand."

(~ Twilight, Bella Swan)

Both describe a person. Note Stoker's use of phrases to get across an impression.

"deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive"

There is also something happening in the scene and both the tension and seduction are shown in a single paragraph. As for Meyer and her two quotes...Bella says a lot of stuff like this. He can't be described with words and so she uses cliche adjectives that don't actually tell us much. How is he interesting? how is he mysterious? This is all part of the writing in general and a first person technique. As we can see side by side both authors used it but which is written better?

A lot of the more difficult techniques have gone become rare modern books and some think no one would read them, but Dracula has been around for a hundreds of years and continues to be a classic. I wonder if we will be able to say the same about Twilight a hundred years from now?

Sexuality

The last topic that I want to touch on (heh) is sexuality. There is a central female figure in each novel and the relationshp between the central male figures are very different n, in each case. Mina Harker is learning short hand so she can help her husband and they truly seem to be equals. Mina displays compassion for her firends and a wide variety of interests. She wants to travel and see things. Bella shows no traits at all except sulleness, her only apparent outlet for any kind of reaction is because of Edward. I don't think we get a sense of who she is. What does she like to do? What does she want to be? What are her hopes and dreams? I don't think we see any except in the context of her relationship with Edward and that quite frankly is a bad message.

"'Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man's brain - a brain that a man should have were he much gifted - and woman's heart.'"

(~ Dracula, van Helsing)

Mina is stable enough and strong enough in mind to want to warn others about the Count when the others are overwrought with having to kill Lucy.

Bella? Well...

"I was consumed by the mystery Edward presented. And more than a little obsessed by Edward himself.."

(~ Twilight, Bella Swan)

If this weren't enough to show that Bella is nothing without Edward then consider the physcial representation of this in one of the books Edward leaves and there are nothing but blank pages with months printed on them until Edward comes backe into the story.

So Mina , in the end is the much stronger female character. Besides even Hollywood could figure it out....

WHO'S HOTTER?

Conclusion

There are lots and lots of other topics, points and detail I could go into about these two books. What I am hoping is that this sparks some conversation and readers will start adding their own comments and quotes. I don't think it needs saying, but I think Dracula is the far superior book in many ways. I mean I'll give Meyer her due...she had something going on to get the popularity she has. I just can't figure it out.

FF #2 ~ DDMM: Drown in Your Love

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:27:00 +0000

Picaresque Note: I want to thank everyone who commented on my posts, subscribed to the RSS and became a fan on Facebook! It is great to see so much support and it is you guys that are really going to make this blog something cool! So THANK YOU and keep reading! You're all awesome!

***

Last Friday was the premier of Double D's Movie Marathons (DDMM) on The Picaresque Blog to read what it's all about please go to the previous post Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love!

Last time was all about fire and turning up the passion and I got two comments that when put together I found interesting. One commenter said I shouldn't have included BLOWN AWAY the other said it was the only one on the list they would recommend. I guess it just goes to show that everyone is different!

This time, in order to balance things out, I think we need to acknowledge those couples who are more like water...deep snd mysterious. So. without further ado I give you...

The Drown in Your Love Movie Marathon

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love is as deep.

The more I give to the more I have for both are infinite."

~ William Shakespeare

This movie marathon is for those couples who look deep into each others eyes across the table, can spend hours just sitting holding hands and not saying anything and they seem to read each others minds. No one else can understand their relationship, but they don't care. They know their love is deeper than anything anyone could understand.

Snacks: Oysters (I hear they are an aphordisiac!), shrimp, fish sticks or hey if you really wanna go pricey lobster bits and caviar. Pretty much anything from the ocean works in this case!

Movies:

Title: The Abyss

Year: 1989

Starring: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Bien

Quote: "It's not easy being a cast-iron bitch. It takes discipline, and years of training... a lot of people don't appreciate that."

Synopsis: This movie actually has a really romantic scene and the really cool part about this movie is that it doesn't rely on a whole bunch of effects until the very end. The whole story takes place in the small confines of a submarine and all of the emotional attachment comes from the actors and directing! Please don't be shocked when I tell you this was directed by James Cameron. He actually could direct before he went all Spielberg. Plus bombs and aliens!

Title: Deep Blue Sea

Year: 1999

Starring: LL Cool J, Michael Rapaport, Samuel L. Jackson

Quote: "Ooh, I'm done! Brothers never make it out of situations like this! Not ever!"

Synopsis: This movie is totally and utterly worth the romp just for LL Cool J! Forget Jackson...LL's character is very funny and very entertaining to watch as you may be able to tell from the quote above. Basically, some dumb scientists are researching brain proteins and using sharks as the subjects, but they had to make the brains bigger to get results. The sharks get smarter and they get pissed off at the humans and start killing them. Shocking I know!

Title: Lake Placid

Year: 1999

Starring: Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Oliver Platt, Betty White

Quote: "I'm rooting for the crocodile. I hope he swallows your friends whole. You might want to arrest me for that too. Is that a crime? To wish the chewing of law enforcement?"

Synopsis: Ok I admit it...I have a thing for movies where overgrown/supersmart/both animals get all mad and start eating people. What can I say. It amuses me for some weird reason. I don't try to understand it. In this case it's an alligator terrorizing costal Maine. Plus Betty White like you have NEVER seen her! See quote. That's her cleanest one in the whole movie...who knew she was such a potty mouth.

Title: The Poseidon Adventure

Year: 1972

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters

Quote: "I'm going next. So if ole' fat ass gets stuck, I won't get stuck behind her."

Synopsis: Gene Hackman is amazing, this cast is amazing, this movie is amazing. I also have a thing for disaster movies and this one is kind of the grandfather of them all. It was during this time that a whole bunch of disaster movies were being made and this was one of the best in my opinion. A huge cruise ship capsizes and a small band of survivors try to make their way to the surface in an upside down world. Who will survive?

Title: Jaws

Year: 1975

Starring: Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss

Quote: "You're going to need a bigger boat."

Synopsis: Ok this is my FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME! It will get its own post one of these Fridays. I think a lot of people know this is a classic, but fail to understand why. In the post I am planning I'll talk about that..but for now...in summary: the acting, the directing, the song (you know the one) everything really. A shark starts terrorizing a coastal Maine town (wait...I just had deja vu *shrugs*). The heroic town sheriff, the nebbish shark expect and the old sea salt fisherman attmept to catch the thing before it kills more people. Based on a novel (Really!).

Hope you enjoyed plunging into the depths of love! See you Monday!

WW #2 ~ Let's talk about work, ba-bee!

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:34:00 +0000

"When I stepped from hard manual
work to writing, I just stepped from
one kind of hard work to another."
~ Sean O’Casey

The title of this post is not as fun as the piece it's stolen from, but it shall have to do! I talked in the last Writing Wednesday post about makes someone a writer. Today I would like to talk about the work of a writer and how some people STILL live in fantasy world where they think writers do nothing and don't earn their pay (this is usually in reference to the very famous authors). Even in this time you still have people who think that it must be very easy and the lazy person's way out to become a writer. This is why we have so many wondering why they don't get published and many who are bitter towards the industry.

It is hard work and takes focus, dedication and practice to become adept at writing sentences. It is work to revise a project. It is work to make sure that everything in the book pulls the reader in and makes them feel something. Great writers make it seem so smooth and effortless. Just like athletes and others who are masters of their craft make it look easy. However, most people acknowledge that athletes train hard to achieve their goals. So why is it that writers seem to have this aura that tells the non-writing world they don't do anything

I think some of it has to do with what writers are shown doing. Scientists are shown on TV with their beakers and high-tech labs and people think (I know at least I do) that it must be hard because people untrained cannot even begin to understand those complicated equations they like to show behind scientists when they are being interviewed. Athletes are shown working out in the gym, watching what they eat, meeting with their trainers and all sorts of other things that make me sweat just thinking about them. Artists are shown using models, working on sketches, hanging things in galleries, paint-splattered in their studios and people think (I know at least I do) that it's really messy, so it must be hard. Politicians are shown giving speeches in front of VIP-looking people, taking important phonecalls, reading over important official looking-documents and the like.

Writers? Most of the time their shown day-dreaming out a window in a messy office or typing away on a keyboard, maybe signing books in a bookstore or reading aloud something they wrote. Go ahead and look up some interviews of writers...I'll wait. See what I mean? I am not saying that the media has everything to do with the perception of the writing profession, but it may play a part. I think a bigger piece might be the subjectivity of writing.

Authors are wonderful when it comes to writing down words and putting a finger to our emotions to either excite them or shush them, but they become ironically tounge tied when it comes time to describe how to write or what writing actually IS...you can look that up...I'll just stare out the window here...I need to practice.

Done? Good? See what I mean? All the advice sounds something like "just write" or "it's life" or my favorite "just open a vein" and while that all sounds well and good it doesn't actually tell anyone anything.

But I, again, am never one to propose a problem without a solution so I propose that everyone who wants to be a writer try this.

1) Sit down at a computer or with a paper and pencil.

2) Think of the worst or best thing that ever happened to you.

3) Write it down. Don't worry about grammar, just write.

Now...

rip it a part.

Not easy? Nope...it isn't, but that's writing.

"Easy reading is damned hard writing."
~ Nathanil Hawthorne

MM #2 ~ GB/BB: Twilight vs. Dracula (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:35:00 +0000

It's time to introduce readers to Good Book/Bad Book. This is a feature posted on Mondays where I look at two books with a common denominator (in this case vampires) and compare them. One of the books is very well done and the other...not so much.

Now, this can easily lend itself to random ranting and other nastiness so I am going to try to be a little more academic in my ripping apart. I will do my best to site sources and quote to make my points, but please note this is a blog and this format does not lend itself well to academic papers...so don't expect a thesis. I will break up my analysis into different aspects of the novels for purposes of comparison and ease of reading. Feel free to add any data I may have missed or any data contrary to my point in comments. Also some of this will be subjective. I understand that not everyone appreciates the same things I do in books and that's ok. We are all different.

I also want it understood that I mean no offense to the people who worked hard to put these books on the shelves. I know it's hard work and many people start books never to finish them and so simply finishing writing the book is to be admired, so please know that I do this with the utmost respect for the industry.

Now that the disclaimer ^&*% is out of the way...let's rock and roll!

VS.

Both of these books have something in common...vampires, but one book has more literary merit than the other. I think to better understand why this is the case we need to first look at the history and symbolism of the vampire myth.

History and Symbolism of the Vampire Myth

Historians are uncertain when the myth of the vampire started. Some say that they could be as old as humanity itself in one form or another. The first documented mention of anything we might consider the modern vampire occured around the end of the 18th century. However, it wasn't until the middle of the 19th century that the myth really took off and mass hysteria ensued with the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

It has been hypothesized that the elevation of the vampire myth to hysteric proportions was due to the symbolic nature of the vampire and the society which read Stoker's novel. The vampire is commonly depicted in the myths as a creature which only wakened at night, survived on human blood, held massive orgies, could control animals and even shift into them at will and shunned all religious artifacts. To a prim Victorian society these things represented the worst in scandalous behavior.

To become a vampire is to give in to all the nastiest basal instincts a human has...to become little more than an animal who only seeks to satisfy their needs. The be in a Victorian society was to surpress every sexual or self-serving instinct in a human. It was unseemly to show desire in any kind of physical way other than the most chaste or to display any kind of need for yourself. This is summing up quite a bit, but the basic idea is there.

I think the problem, and the reason why Dracula scared so many Victorians is that they wanted to give into some of those isntincts. They are part of being human and as such can never be fully repressed and must be acknowledged so that they can be dealt with in a healthy way. Today we are a lot more open about these sorts of things and while there are still taboos and things-you-just-don't-do we are able to recognize the fact that as humans we have these feelings and seek ways to divert them in a healthy way.

Knowing this we can now look at some of the more specific aspects of both books.

Religion

In Dracula religion is paramount to the destruction of Count Dracula and throughout the novel he is painted as the antithesis of Christianity. Harker draws comfort from the cross given to him by a poor woman and Dracula is obviously averse to the symbol of faith. The battle becomes not only a battle between Dracula and the Harker posse, but a conflict between God and Satan. Dracula is often described in demonic terms and the fact that he buys a house with a church attached only serves as a red herring for Harker.

"Well, the devil may work against us for all he’s worth, but God sends us men when we want them." (pg. 269 in reference to Dracula).

The women in the novel are depicted as virginial servants of God and their encounters with Dracula are viewed as sullying that connection and sinful.

"He’s coming, too, and we both want to mingle our weeps over the wine cup, and to drink a health with all our hearts to the happiest man in all the wide world, who has won the noblest heart that God has made and best worth winning." (in reference to Lucy Westenra pg. 200)

"As she looked, her eyes blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed with a voluptuous smile." (in reference to Lucy after encountering Dracula pg. 379)

In Twilight the only evidence of a religious theme was...was...ok I couldn't find one. I really did look, but I couldn't find any reference in the whole bloody book that can be construed as any kind of religious thematic unity. If someone comes up with one let me know.

Wait, wait...ok...to be fair there are quotes about God in the book. I'll give her credit for that.

"I couldn’t imagine anyone, deity included, who wouldn’t be impressed by Carlisle. Besides, the only kind of heaven I could appreciate would have to include Edward." (Bella in New Moon pg. 37)

Translation: Edward is hot! (Actually most of the book can be read as that statement. They could have saved tons of paper.)

"So I didn’t agree with my father’s particular brand of faith. But never, in the nearly four hundred years now since I was born, have I ever seen anything to make me doubt whether God exists in some form or the other. Not even the reflection in the mirror." (Carlisle Cullen in New Moon pg. 36)

Translation: God exists! (Way to wrestle with the issue!)

*This conludes Part 1 of GB/BB: Twilight vs. Dracula tune in next week where we discuss sexuality, writing technique and why everyone (even Hollywood) knows that Mina Harker is way hotter than Bella Swan*

UPDATE: Part II can be found HERE!

FF #1 ~ DDMM: Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:19:00 +0000

Welcome to Double D's Movie Marathons!

I love movies! Anyone who knows me will tell you it's true. I also love movie marathons and I am of the opinion that they are a great way to get to know people. Why are dinner and a movie such a classic date? It gives great insight into how the other person thinks and what they like. A movie marathon is like that except times three! Snuggling under blankets, snacks and drinks close at hand, the room flickering with ghostly blue light...ah bliss! I do, however, have some problems with the idea of romance that the media tries to shove down our throats. Jerry Maguire? Pretty Woman? The Beach House? Give me a break! I'd rather pluck my eyes out with toothpicks. All those movies do is give people an unrealistic view of romance and how it really works...never mind learning anything about the person.

All that aside I am not one to just sit around and complain. Oh no! I have come up with lists of movies designed to appeal to the modern couple. Each one has a theme and I am sure you can find one to appeal to your own particular style.

These are way too awesome to list all at once so you'll get them one set at a time. Each list has five movies... that may be a bit much for one sitting, but I wanted to people to have some options when they're standing there in the video store. Stop by the grocery store and follow my list of snack suggestions I have thoughtfully included and watch your love life take off!

The Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love Movie Marathon

Are you one of those couples whose passion burns brighter than a thousand suns? Does ice melt when you kiss? Then this movie marathon is for you! Included on this list are foods and movies to get those home fires burning and the thermometer jumping into the triple digits. Be warned that participating in this movie marathon may singe your hair from the very heat off the DVDs. You may want to keep fire extinguishers handy.

Snacks: Nachos, red hot candies, atomic fireballs, jalapeno poppers, buffalo wings, Ass Kickin' Beef Jerky, Blair's Habanero Chips...pretty much anything that makes you go "Yeeehawwww!" try this site for more ideas!

Movies:

Title: The Towering Inferno

Year: 1974

Starring: Steve McQueen, William Holden, Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Wagner, Dabney Coleman, O.J. Simpson

Quote: "How do I get back down? [long pause] Oh shit! Huh..."

Synopsis: I caught this movie one late night in Louisiana. Check out that cast list! Also, if you look really closely you can see the kid who played the youngest Brady (Mike Lookingland) in a small role. The basic premise of the movie is that a very posh party is being hosted on the penthouse floor of a monstrous building nicknamed The Glass Tower. The illustrous guest list includes the mayor, a senator and the man who designed the building. Everyone thinks the building is the safest building ever built...but...well...it's not. A huge fire breaks out trapping the people in the penthouse. Think of it like TITANIC...except a burning building instead of a sinking ship. This movie is actually unintentionally funny in many places and lends itself well to MST3K if you are so inclined. It's also just plain worth it to see Fred Astaire punch someone!

Title: The Burning Bed

Year: 1984

Starring: Farrah Fawcett

Quote: "If you make a hot bed, you have to lay in it."

Synopsis: Who doesn't think a movie about spousal abuse and fiery revenge is the perfect date night movie?...ok,ok! Farrah plays an abused woman and true to the title she gets her awesome revenge by setting her own bed on fire...WITH HER HUSBAND IN IT! As if that weren't enough she piles her kids in the car and drives to the police station and confesses the whole thing. You might be thinking this is a really messed up script and what was Hollywood on when they made this...and normally you might be right...except that this is based on a TRUE STORY! That's right this actually happened. If that doesn't make you go out and rent this then think of it as a test for your partner. If they start to side with the husband you might want to evaluate the relationship...just saying.

Title: Firestarter

Year: 1984

Starring: David Keith, Drew Barrymore, Heather Locklear, George C. Scott, Martin Sheen, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher, Moses Gunn

Quote: "I am talking about a talent that is directly linked to this child's pituitary gland; UNDEVELOPED pituitary gland. What happens when she becomes adolescent and that sleeping gland wakes and becomes, for 20 months, the most powerful force in the human body? Suppose we have a child here who, someday, is capable of creating a nuclear explosion simply by the power of her will?"

Synopsis: Stephen King? Check. Fire? Check. Why are you still here? Go rent. Now. Ok, ok a little girl can make fireballs! With her mind!

Title: Blown Away

Year: 1994

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Lloyd Bridges, Forest Whitaker

Quote: "I've come here to create a new country for you called chaos and a new government called anarchy."

Synopsis: A bomb squad member (Bridges) gets a nasty surprise when an old "friend" from his shady past swings into town and starts a cat and mouse game...WITH BOMBS! The it's a whole bunch of catch-me-if-you-can...EXPLOSION! BOMB PUN! RUNNING! That should be enough to please anyone...isn't it?

Title: Backdraft

Year: 1991

Starring: Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca DeMornay, Jason Gedrick

Quote: "It's a living thing, Brian. It breathes, it eats, and it hates. The only way to beat it is to think like it. To know that this flame will spread this way across the door and up across the ceiling, not because of the physics of flammable liquids, but because it wants to. Some guys on this job, the fire owns them, makes 'em fight it on it's level, but the only way to truly kill it is to love it a little."

Synopsis: Two brothers who both happen to be firefighters and also happen to not get along must figure out a way to thwart an arsonist. Also, creepy Robert De Niro...and shirtless Baldwin...for those who are into that! ;0) Honestly, this movie has REALLY great fire effects that are sure to turn up the temperature even from the T.V. screen!

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the hot side of a date night movie marathon. Here's hoping it sets YOUR blood to boiling.

WW #1 ~ I am a writer...

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:28:00 +0000

"It is impossible to discourage
the real writers - they don't
give a damn what you
say, they're going to write."
~ Sinclair Lewis

The topic of when can you call yourself a writer has been argued and argued and argued...so really what's my opinion worth here? Another voice in the din of raging debate might seem pretty futile in the big scheme of things, but I think that we need to discuss the term writer. Maybe my one little voice will reach someone somewhere and help them figure things out... it will make me feel better...either way I think it's a win.

I think we can pretty clearly define the difference between an author and a writer. If you have published a book you're an author. It's pretty simple. No one really argues with you when you can point to a bound, printed book on a shelf in some B&N chain. It's when someone CAN'T point to a book and say "That's mine." the line blurs.

I mean technically if you have ever put pen to paper you can call yourself a writer, but people will probably laugh at you. So what's the difference? I think the difference here is heart. Honestly. You may think I am being a little snide or maybe a bit naive, but that's the way I see it. That person who wrote down that shopping list today didn't put their heart in it (unless they really, really, really are very passionate about strawberries and baby wipes). So I think to figure out if you are indeed a writer you need to ask the following questions:

"Publication - is the auction
of the Mind of Man."
~ Emily Dickinson

1) Do I write consistantly?
2) Do I put myself in my work?

3) Do I care about expressing myself well?

If you can answer yes to these questions I do not see any reason why you can't call yourself a writer. It doesn't matter if you're a NYT bestseller or a blogger on the internet (ahem). If you care about what you write, want to write well and feel it's important enough to keep at it...then you're a writer. It's the heart and dedication behind the work that matters not necessarily the medium or even the subject. Comic writers put hours of work into creating engaging stories, does that make them any less than the writers with 200 page novels listed on Oprah's Book Club? What about the teenager who writes poetry in little notebooks for their eyes only? Are they expressing themselves any less than the writer who wins a Pulitzer? I don't think so.

"One ought only to write when one leaves
a piece of one's own flesh in the inkpot,
each time one dips one's pen."
~ Leo Tolstoy

Some might read this and think that I am crazy. Some of that stuff is really terrible, they'll cry, and should never be seen by anyone. I agree and some of it still makes tons of money and is utter trash *cough* sparkly vampires *cough*, but those writers are no less in my eyes than anyone else. I think sometimes people lose sight sometimes of writing as an expression of human feeling. It's about communication and if that communication is not as pretty or beautiful as some others the honest intent is still the same. I don't think we should disregard the intent. I think being an author requires something much different than being a writer and we sometimes lose sight of that.
Take a look at the quotes in this blog post then go find more quotes from writers about their craft. What are they talking about? Are they talking about book deals and contracts? Or are they talking about something more intangible...like heart?

"The writer writes in order to teach himself, to understand himself,
to satisfy himself; the publishing of his ideas,
though it brings gratification, is a curious anticlimax."
~ Alfred Kazin

MM #1 ~ The Phantom Tollbooth

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:05:00 +0000

Title: The Phantom Tollbooth

Author: Norton Juster

Summary: A boy named Milo, who has no interest in anything around him, returns home from school one day to find that a tollbooth has mysteriously appeared in his bedroom. The tollbooth leads him on a quest to rescue the Princess of Sweet Rhyme and the Princess of Pure Reason. On his journey he makes unique friends and learns that life and learning are not as boring as he thought.

Rating: 5 Tollbooths ~ I have an EZ Pass, baby!

Why I chose this book: This book was one of my favorites as a kid and is on many peoples' lists of favorite childhood books. I remember getting my first copy of it from a RIF event at my school (Does anyone else remember those?). It had the very cover you see here in this post and I stayed up late to finish it the very night I got it. I figured as a kick-off to the blog it would be nice to give the people who love it a chance to discuss why they love it, the people who didn't care for it as much to discuss why it didn't work for them and for those people who have never heard of the book to be introduced to a classic. I couldn't think of a better way to start the week and The Picaresque Blog.

"Time is a gift, given to you, given to give
you the time you need, the time you need
to have the time of your life. "

Questionable Content: None that I could think of. I would let any kid who can read pick up this book!

Review: When I started to think about why I love The Phantom Tollbooth the most immediate thought that came to mind was the clever, make that very clever, use of the English language. There are puns and double entendres in nearly every paragraph of this book. The sentences are often very fun to say outloud and really display the potential of our language and even the funny things we English speakers say that just make no sense. there is the Whether Man...no not the Weather Man...the Whether Man "because it is more important to know whether there will be weather than what the weather will be." There is the Island of Conclusions...you can only get there by jumping, of course. The Senses Taker, who will trap you forever if you are not careful. This is just an example of how the book used the English language.

"Would it be possible for me to see
something from up there?"
asked Milo politely."

Another great feature of the book is that it teaches how learning new things and trying new things can enrich your life. I don't think that is ever a bad thing. At the end of the book Milo misses his friends but he is excited by all the new possibilities opened to him. It doesn't come off as preachy, which is a very difficult thing to pull off with any kind of sincereity. Even so, to an adult the lessons may seem obvious and cliched, but as a kid I remember thinking that they were awesome ideas. I think it's part of the reason that the book is such a classic.The lessons it teaches are timeless.

Those who don't get into the book so much talk about the lack of vivid description. It is true that Just doesn't paint any vistas and the action just seems to happen.but for me the worth of the story and the clever use of language far make up for any lack of descriptive detail. It is very rare to find a book that really takes joy in the words themselves rather than just use the words to get across some idea or theme.

So, if you are looking for some sort of epic tale with action and sword fights and narrow escapes...you may want to look somewhere else. The book does have some tense moments, but nothing like what you might find in a Jason Bourne novel. This is something that you can read with your kids and talk about what Milo is going through and feel confident that your kids are getting something out of it. I think the book covers enough different things that there will be something that every kid can relate to and enjoy. There are some pretty funny characters and it is amusing to watch Milo get frustrated in a place where he has to watch everything he says or risk literal consequences.

Another great point in favor of this book is that it doesn't talk down to kids. Juster uses long words in context so the meaning is easily divined by younger readers. This book is a great way to introduce kids to a wider vocabular and more sophisticated sentences without overwhelming them and making them frustrated.

Final Verdict? READ THIS BOOK!

"You must never feel badly about making mistakes,

explained Reason quietly, as long as you take the trouble to learn from them. For you often learn more by being wrong for the right reasons than you do by being right for the wrong reasons."

Welcome, Greetings, Salutations...

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:01:00 +0000

Welcome to The Picaresque Blog! I felt that I should have an introduction post before the first TRUE post goes live on Monday. You don't want to miss that for sure!

Everything you need to know about The Picaresque Blog can be found in the sidebar and page links. I suggest you check them all out and you'll have a good idea of what is going on around here. In those pages you can find out About Picaresque Blog, About Me and My Writing. There are also some Writing/Book Links that I think are cool.

It all looks very plain right now, but that will change as we go further along so stay tuned!

I created this place as a haven for books, writers, readers and everyone who wonders about words on a page. I hope you enjoy your stay here and let me know if there is anything I can add anywhere on this site to improve!

*this concludes our welcome message*