Avery K. Tingle's Road Home

Star Trek: Into Darkness Reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:27:00 +0000

This review is spoiler-free.

Star Trek: Into Darkness picks up a few years after the last one left off, with Kirk (Chris Pine) and crew up to their eyeballs in trouble. Unfortunately, this type of trouble, conveyed in a white-knuckle opening action sequence, is over the top even for Kirk, and he is reprimanded.

Amidst tensions along the neutral zone and war threatening to break out any day between the Federation and the Klingons, a tragedy occurs on Earth, one that hits close to home for the arrogant Captain. He gains permission to go after the terrorist, and from there, you sit back and enjoy the ride.

And what a ride it is.

From beginning to end, this is the best movie I've seen in theaters in a long time. JJ Abrams is at his best here, and it is amazing how he manages to simultaneously pay homage to what's established while making it his own.

Equally amazing is the ability of the core cast to emulate the iconic roles they've stepped into without imitating the actors. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto (reprising his role as Commander Spock) play off each other beautifully, with Kirk's brash devil-may-care attitude clashing wonderfully with Spock's staunch dedication to logic, law, and order. Although Pine once again shines as Captain James T. Kirk, it is Zachary Quinto who steals every scene he's in as he manages to greatly build upon his character, staying true to everything we know and love about Spock will showing off brilliant displays of emotion when the time calls for it.

Benedict Cumberbatch is flawless as John Harrison, the antagonist who leads Kirk into a catastrophic game of cat and mouse. While longtime fans are in for a (somewhat expected yet well-kept secret) treat from this character, he brings a relatable humanity to the role that forces you to care for his motivations. After all, who knows what each of us might do if those we loved were held hostage?

JJ Abrams' use of sweeping cameras and intense close-ups makes for some of the most breathtaking action to grace the screen in a long time. From claustrophobic ground-based firefights to high-speed aerial pursuits to the utter dangers of what can happen to a ship in warp space, the action is incredible.

When you think it's climaxing, it's not. It's just beginning.

I will not spoil the best parts, but fans both young and old will love this movie, which continues to build upon the new timeline while respecting what's been established. Frenetically paced, very well executed and mildly predictable, Star Trek Into Darkness easily leads as the best film of the summer thus far.

Thanks for reading.

Perfect Strangers

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:31:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of Morguefile

Do you remember the time when your best friend was a complete stranger?

When you may have walked right past that person on the street without so much as an upward glance?

An amazing thing about human beings is that we have equally capable of great harm and great love to one another. It all comes down to choice.

There were plenty of times, more than I care to remember, when I was at my lowest and perfect strangers went out of their way for me. They fed me, trained me, kept me alive, and most importantly, taught me how to love and trust.

People like Cedric Saunders.
Oakland's 12th and Broadway is not a nice place to be, especially at night. Yet here was this security officer who kept me alive, and let me read comics in the bookstore he was guarding until the BART station opened up. He both brought me food from his home and when he couldn't do that, he bought my food. In the end, he turned me onto the security profession and got me one of my first jobs in San Francisco.

People like Daune "Dee" Paul Colvin the third.
The Tenderloin District of San Francisco is where every would-be bad ass should get scared straight. Dee, and his crew (Chad, Christian, Emalio, Terry) took me into their group. They humbled me, kicked my ass until I learned how to fight back. They fed me, taught me how to fend for myself and then made me do it. They gave a place to go, every night, whenever I needed it, even letting me sleep (sometimes) when I needed it.
And when it came time for us to put our hands up, they made me fight. They had my back but they made sure I held my own. Like sending a child out on a bike without the training wheels. I fell down a lot, but they made me pick myself back up. Until I quit falling down.

People like Jeff Hughes.
At a lower point in my life, when I had no one and next to nothing, he reached out to me. It was at the premiere of Star Wars Episode 3. For no reason other than to be kind, he welcomed me into his home, his group of friends, and his life. When I had no one, he showed up. It is a friendship we maintain to this day.

People like Linda Rosendale, Tessi Muskrat Rickabaugh, Adam Veile, and the rest of the Jefferson City Writer's Group.
They showed me I wasn't alone. They gave me an oasis where I could freely be my wild, creative self and I wasn't scorned. Quite the opposite, I was welcomed, encouraged, and inspired.

None of these people, not one of them, were forced to do what they did for me. Quite the contrary, each one of them could've left me to my own devices, and if they had, I'm all but certain I wouldn't be here to tell you their stories.

These are good people who went out of their way, when they didn't have to, to be there for someone they didn't know. And beautiful things have been the result of it.

Despite what the news would have you believe, the world is filled with good people. Tons of them. Let not one, two, or even a million bad experiences turn you off of the idea of helping someone. You never know what might become of it.

Thanks for reading.

Iron Man 3 Reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Sat, 04 May 2013 06:51:00 +0000

Iron Man 3 hit theaters today. Most of you will have already seen it by the time you read this. For those of you who haven't, fear not; this review won't spoil anything.

Shane Black takes the directorial reins from Jon Favreau, and as such the reportedly final film in the Iron Man franchise has a distinctly different feel to it. Everything is much more personal, the threats more imminent, the heroes more vulnerable. As well it should be, as this is the final outing for these characters till Avengers 2 hits in 2015.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is not doing too well these days. Neither would you, especially if you'd just finished hurling a nuclear device into deep space and then narrowly escaping through a wormhole after Captain America just called out your man card.

The confidence of the genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist has been left understandably shaken after having survived and experienced so much. Sleep eludes him, but he's created a great many versions of his armor and continues to find humorous ways to suit up. In the midst of this, enter the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who prides himself a teacher. Unfortunately, all his lessons are delivered in an incendiary fashion.

Tony's hubris eventually gets the better of him and he calls out the Mandarin on live TV. This is where the movie really starts.

Shane Black uses a lot of extreme slow motion and close ups to create horrifying, breathtaking imagery. He expertly stretches out a few seconds into a couple of pulse-pounding minutes. The action sequences, and there are a lot of them, are breathlessly fun to watch.

The cast is magnificent. Joining Robert Downey Jr. (The fifty million dollar man) is once again Don Cheadle as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, and I'll warn you purists right now; you won't like the play on Iron Patriot. I didn't mind it so much. Ben Kingsley, as always, is at the top of his game, Gwyneth Paltrow is clearly staying in shape, but I enjoyed the addition of Guy Pearce the most. Robert Downey Jr. earns his money as we are treated to a humbled version of Tony Stark who is thrust into forced self-examination after losing everything that he believed made him who he was.

I didn't really care for the new theme, but this is a minor gripe. I've never heard an audience as silent as they were for the climax of this movie and the ending left me a bit conflicted.

This is a thrilling ride, though, and a worthy ending to the series. Hats off to Shane Black and the rest of the crew for a phenomenal piece of work. GO SEE THIS MOVIE.

Thanks for reading.

The Runaway

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:40:00 +0000

The skies are gray, the wind biting. The frail, pale young woman huddles, daring to sneak her hands out of the safety of her pockets to pull her jacket tighter to her.

Her stomach rumbles, another reminder of how easily this body can break down. She remembers not the last time she ate, nor the last time she was so ravenous. Her teeth chatter no matter how hard she wills them to stop. Her nose is suddenly congested. She must get indoors soon. The sun is setting and soon, there will be worse things to worry about than weather.

She's been waiting for this...what do they call it...oh yes, the BUS for as long as she can remember. Time moves so slowly here...

She just wants to go home. But she dare not think of home, lest she be overcome by emotions.

Her skin is almost unnaturally pale, her hair white. This is not a condition from birth but a reflection of her heritage.

She knows now, having witnessed firsthand the atrocities humankind afflict upon each other, that it was a mistake to leave. To forsake wings and divinity.

And for her haughtiness, she found the gates closed to her when she attempted to return. She could no longer hear her Father's words.

She closes her eyes and repeats what had gotten her through thus far. She only has to be here...a little while longer.

For now, she waits.

Current Projects! This Is What I'm Working On...

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:25:00 +0000

A very rough image of Seryna, the princess of Atlantis. Working daily to complete the final version.

I want to thank all of you who've asked for updates on what I'm doing. You're who I'm writing for, so here's an update.

I have three main titles going in addition to one book I'm collaborating on, which will eventually become a collection of stories about people from adverse backgrounds turning things around. As for my own projects...

All in the Universal Warrior vein;

Battle: Atlantis--The peaceful Atlanteans are dying. The relentless murpeople have driven the orca across the Atherean and turned their ravenous appetites on the Atlanteans themselves. Seryna, the princess of Atlantis, has managed to sequester her people but her pleas for help are stifled by Vepar, queen of the mur, who has the arrogant Poseidon enthralled. When Seryna is told of family in Heaven, Asgard, and Mount Olympus, a desperate plan is put into action...

Risking her life to find her land-borne family, Seryna wll seek out Odin, Zeus and the Angels, hoping to assemble a force large enough to take on the mur, and free her people.

You'll get this one first. This is a short story that'll be about thirty thousand words. It'll appear on Amazon for your e-reader for ninety-nine cents. I'm aiming for May-June to get this out.

Before Red Morning [Redux]--Yup, I'm pulling a George Lucas on the book I released about a year ago (which is still free to all, by the way). If you've read it, don't expect too much of a departure from the original. I'll be adding the story of Lillith: Vengeance, which some of you have already read. Otherwise, core stories will remain the same.
If you haven't read it, check it out!

Atherean Defenders--Following a vengeful, catastrophic attack that leaves a score of Angels dead and many more wounded, four Angels are assembled in secret to assassinate the perpetrator.

This one is it. The big one, the monkey on my back. The one that'll be somewhere in the hundred thousand word range. I'm working on getting it out by Christmas of this year, and I promise I'm making steady progress.

At the end of the year, when all of this is said and done, I do plan on creating some sort of collector's set that will include an additional story, a map of Heaven, and some other goodies, so stay tuned for that.

So that's it, that's what I'm working on. Thanks for reading.

We Will Still Run.

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:14:00 +0000

To Whom It May Concern,

I wanted to tell you that you have failed. Not only have you failed, but you have failed miserably.

You have wounded us. You've even killed some of us. But you have failed to make us afraid.

No, we are not afraid. Quite the opposite; WE ARE ANGRY.

But there will be time for justice and your answering for your deeds later. At this moment, what you need to know is this.

We will get up tomorrow.
We will go to work, and school.
We will laugh. We will hang out. We will have fun.

And next year, under a more vigilant security, WE WILL STILL RUN.

You can hurt us, you can even kill us, but you will never, ever scare us.

And if I may paraphrase Liam Neeson,

Now that you have our attention
We will find you.
We will hunt you down.
And you will answer for this.

Start running. Enjoy your head start while it lasts.

Sincerely,

Avery K. Tingle
Author and Angered American Citizen

I'd like to extend prayers and condolences to those affected by this senseless atrocity. You are not alone out there.

Thanks for reading.

Writing Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:41:00 +0000

So let me get this straight.

I have to write a short story, in which two characters will fall in love, while a cataclysmic battle is going on all around them.

Underwater.

Where one of the characters can shoot lightning without electrifying everything in the ocean.

It's gotta be a minimum of twenty thousand words to have a chance.

And I have to write it all in one day.

By the way, the clip belongs to Disney. Just so they don't sue me into oblivion or buy me out and cancel all of my best stuff.

Dreadful Cafe's Iron Writer Insane-A-Thon 2K13 Contest Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:27:00 +0000

So I happened to be browsing Google Plus the other day when I came across this post by Dreadful Cafe. Writers, I cannot stress it enough; if you are not on Google Plus, you are denying yourself one of the internet's best networking environments.

I've been on a roll with Atherean Defenders (nearing the twenty thousand word mark), I haven't published anything original lately, and I could always use more free stuff (publicity! Book! AMAZON GIFT CARD!!)
So I figured toss my hat into the ring, once again trying my hand against some of the greats I know.

I wanted to do an original story from the Alpha period of Universal Warrior, since that's the area I'm working in right now, and here, for you faithful readers first, is a synopsis of the contest entry.

The Battle of Naridia

In the day's of our future's past, in the ruin of fire and ash, there are those who will argue that the war between Heaven and hell began at Red Morning.

And then there are those who will argue that the battle began at the bottom of the Atherean in Naridia....

When Seryna, mer-princess of Naridia and heir to throne of Naridia, can no longer abide the slaughter of her people at the hands of her stepmother Vepar, and her murpeople, she forsakes her fathers command and rule, venturing to the surface of Heaven. Once there, she has only one goal; to seek out Odin of Asgard, Yang of Heaven, and Zeus of Mount Olympus, and enlist their aid in a desperate bid to retake her city.

But what begins as a peaceful negotiation quickly devolves into a full-on conflict as the depths of Vepar's resolve are revealed, for she will do anything to hold onto what she has taken, and what she now calls her own. For those who stand against her, they will be forced to confront their own morality as they question how far they are willing to go to prevent the extinction of a race.

How many must die
So that many more can live?

Angels can sin, warriors are forged and the flames to a greater war are kindled

in The Battle of Naridia.

I'm gonna have a special promotion for you guys when this is over, too. I'll have it done at the end of Saturday night, and I'll tell you how I did when the judging's done.

Thanks for reading.

Three Of The Greatest Films Of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:22:00 +0000

After being all but absent last week, I thought I'd kick this week off with what're, in my opinion, three of the greatest films to ever grace the silver screen.

1). Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
It was difficult to top the excellence of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (We won't discuss the flop that was the Voyage Home), and yet, Star Trek V did it. It dared ask the question; is God out there? And if he is, is He a disembodied head with severe anger management issues who shoots lightning from his eyes, and, despite the ability to take any form he chooses and change the weather, moves slower than the speed of sloth?
From beginning to end, this film is well-conceived, brilliantly executed with a script that is virtually Shakespearean, this is delightful, delightful movie. Before I forget, also a brilliant touch is the addition of Sybok, played by Laurence Luckinbill, who must've been chosen since he looks a great deal like Leonard Nimoy.
An epic piece of work.

2). Street Fighter
Aptly drawn from the average source material of Capcom's forgettable fighting game series, Steven De Souza presented a brilliant adaptation that practically lifted the characters from the game into the movie. I absolutely loved, especially, how the correctly and phonetically pronounced RIE-yoo and Ken were translated into street hustlers who sold NERF guns to would-be terrorists, as though they were taken straight from the screen. The only negative to this film was Raul Julia's dubious performance as antagonist M. Bison, but hey, nobody's perfect.

3). Mortal Kombat Annihilation
How do you follow up a flop of a video game movie? You do a sequel and do everything completely right. You get amazing acting from the most talented cast of thespians ever assembled since Road House, you a top caliber script and mind-blowing, amazing special effects, and you put all of that into a single film. What do you get with that? The gem that is Mortal Kombat Annihilation.

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone. Go prank someone and thanks for reading. :-)

Cause I Promised To Blog Once A Week.

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:25:00 +0000

Sorry for the short, hastily-written post this week; things have been really, really busy at work and it's affected my writing productivity, but that's not to say that it's come to a halt. I'm learning to write at work, but summoning the energy to do it after a long day is difficult. I'll figure something out, though.

So, just to give everyone a general update.

Universal Warrior: Atherean Defenders is just over ten thousand completed words in. I want to have it out, in print, at the end of the year. I've researched and plotted the holy hell (no pun intended) out of this epic fantasy and I'm writing a draft I'm finally satisfied with. Bear with me; it's still coming.
I'm still working on Universal Warrior: Before Red Morning Redux. I'm prepping a short story called "The Funeral" which shows how Lillith came to be involved in the war. That should be out next Friday.
I haven't forgotten my promise to turn "The Date" into an audioplay. Expect that by the end of April.

So, that's all for now. Thanks for reading and following along!

I promise to do better next week.

Two Days With The Galaxy Note II (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:46:00 +0000

So this was it. I'd already put the Samsung Galaxy Note II through all of its writing and everday paces (save for one glaring flaw, it came through okay), but this was the key test. Could I load up this phone with a bunch of memory-hogging entertainment apps, play them all relentlessly, and still have something left at the end of the day?

Behold; the arcade. I wanted to load up with casual, pick-up-and-play stuff that wouldn't kill my battery (Angry Birds Star Wars, Fruit Ninja) and then high-end stress relief and retro classics (N.O.V.A., GTA Vice City, and of course, NBA Jam and King of Fighters).

Sonic CD is AMAZING on this phone!

I have to admit that I pretty much limited my playing between NBA Jam and King Of Fighters, especially the latter once I found out it was available. These are two games that will jam up virtually any free phone you get with a major carrier once you sign a contract. I didn't have high hopes when I booted up KoF...

I wish I could've recorded the gameplay to accurately show off how well this game plays on the Galaxy Note II. It is on par with 2-D title you download from X-Box Live or its Sony counterpart. Amazingly, not once did the game slow down, even when screen-filling (process-chewing) super took up the entire screen. The pace was arcade fast and frenetic, the controls smooth, responsive. Let me repeat; absolutely no lag time whatsoever. I blew a few matches because I actually expected the phone to jam up. It never did. Not once. Running a game like King of Fighters is not easy on a phone, and this phone did it.

Terry Bogard's Triple Geyser. This move will KILL a normal phone.

The experience was similar on NBA Jam. No slowdown, no lag, no complaints.

NBA Jam. Arcade Faithful.

I must've bounced back and forth between these two titles for about six hours over the course of the work day. Of course, the battery was down to about twenty-three percent by the end of the day, but the surprise was how easily the phone switched from heavy arcade play to simple tasks, like writing.

Again, no lag, no slowdown, no clearing the cache. I mean, you can download ES Task Manager if it makes you feel better, but it's unnecessary.

I cannot praise this phone highly enough. Its capabilities are off the charts. This is a miniature computer in the palm of your hand. Sure, nothing's perfect; the thing is huge, and the fact that I can't use the S-Pen for Evernote is a HUGE turnoff, but one of these things you can get used to and the other may come in a future update.

If you need a multi-purpose smartphone, this is easily your best bet. From heavy duty gaming to taking notes, and writing documents, it doesn't get better than the Samsung Galaxy Note II.

Thanks for reading.

Two Days With The Galaxy Note II (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:57:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Note II copyright Samsung.

After being so adamant about going all-Apple with my electronics, I made a last-second decision to forgo the iPhone and run with the Samsung Galaxy Note II. Why, you ask?

I could go on and on about Droid Vs. Apple. They both have their merits and flaws, so let me put it succinctly. Apple is functional and easy right out of the box. Very little thought is required to get things up and running, and most people either love or hate this about Apple. Personally, I love its accessibility.

Droid, hoever, lets you make it your own. If you get a phone with a crappy carrier (yeah, T-Mobile, I'm looking at you) and no memory (your turn to get the death stare, LG GX-2 with Google) then you're gonna hate the experience.

Get something with some power behind it, and you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

So far, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is the easily the best phone I've ever experienced. It's got a ridiculously long battery life (more on that in a moment), and can handle an inhuman workload. You almost forget it's a phone before someone calls you, revealing what I imagine is a conceded design flaw.

This phone is huge, even by my standards. I have big hands, and I found conversations a little awkward. Call quality is excellent, but using the Galaxy Note in this fashion makes it feel a bit clunky.

As for every day tasks, namely writing? This is where the phone stands above everything else. Writing in Evernote is easy and comfortable. I prefer to hold it like an old game boy, letting my thumbs do the talking. I found it a huge disappointment that the S-Pen does not work with Evernote, and I'm really hoping they fix it in a future update. You can write notes with the S-Pen and then attach your note to a file in Evernote, but it feels like a lot of unnecessary steps. I have yet to find a use for the S-Pen, but it's nice to know it's there.

This phone handles music and video better than any other device on the planet. The customization options for the default music apps tower above anything else I've ever seen and every single setting is distinctly different, from the quiet, acoustically-inspired cafe to the brilliant 7.1 option.

As for battery life, here you go.

1). I took it off of its charger at 5:30am with a full charge.

2). I spent the day writing, watching Youtube, Facebooking, texting, and listening to music.

3). I returned home nearly twelve hours later and the phone still had roughly forty percent to it.

Of course, I have yet to put it through anything really intensive. Like games. That comes today.

More tonight!

Thank for reading.

Writers: How Do You Measure Success?

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:44:00 +0000

I happened across this provocative little piece on Reddit and it got me thinking. How do you define success as a writer? What does it mean to you to "make it"?

To be fair, while I found this post cynical and even a bit incindiery, I can't deny its core message; a great deal of us will never achieve mainstream success. Not for lack of talent, mind you, at least not in my opinion. As Jeff Bridges said in Tron Legacy; "Life has a way of moving you past wants and hopes."

Sometimes we allow life to take away our dreams. We put priority on family, children, responsibilities, and before you know it, those dreams of book signings and Neil Gaiman-like fan bases have fallen by the wayside.

I've never measured my success as writer by financial gain. In fact, I think if you're writing solely to make money, you're in for a world of disappointment.

I've been in a situation where the only way I would keep a roof over my head and eat was by writing. It's the most difficult undertaking on the planet. You learn to function without sleep. It's not a pace I'd recommend, nor one I'm eager to return too.

However, making money is not how I define success. Money finds its way to the ambitious.

Having a complete stranger shout out across social networking that they love my stories, even naming creatures I made up, that's the most awesome feeling in the world.

Having the same people, people I didn't know before I started writing, comment on my blog and tell me how much they enjoy my work. Or seeing another subscriber pop up. Or seeing my work shared across the internet.

That, to me, is successful. When people find you solely through your talent, and praise you and respect you for it, that is success. When you're viewed as an authority on your subject, that is success.

That also means, countering the article I referenced at the start of this post, that I'm not alone.

So writers, I say to you, it's true. The odds are against you. The chances are high that you will never achieve the type of success that Rowling, King, Gaiman, and even the much-reviled Meyer has.

That is not to say that you can't do it. Quite the contrary, if you're talented, and willing to endure every heartache, failure, and rejection that rains down upon you, then you have what it takes. You can do it.

And I guarantee you, as one who's made the mistakes and kept going, if you persist, if you never, ever give up, and commit yourself to your craft and the betterment of what you do and who you are, I promise you; you will not die alone.

You may, or may not, achieve mainstream success. Bear in mind that all of these people, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, JK Rowling, and Stephanie Meyer (hey, love it or hate it, Twilight is a massive success) were all beginners just like us. If they can, you can.

But if you stick with it, you'll see results, I promise.

Thanks for reading, and good luck.

Forging Relationships Online

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:47:00 +0000

Image courtesy of morguefile

It's very simple. No one succeeds alone.

If people don't know you, they will do nothing for you.

If people do nothing for you, then you will fail.

People you know in real life is one thing; forging a relationship from scratch is quite another. However, it's an awesome opportunity to put your best foot forward. Online, you only have to show the best of yourself. Your online friends don't have to know about your nasty little habit of wiping out everyone's leftover pizza (and I don't do that anymore. Promise).

I'm most active on Facebook and Twitter, although I utilize LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Tumblr as well. From these services I maintain friendships with people who have opposing politcal views, other writers, gamers, Android experts, and the like. I have met none of these people in real life.

This is how I do it.

1). BE GENUINE

This is key. Don't fake it, people will know. Show genuine interest in the well-being of others with no thought of reciprocity.

2). BE OPEN-MINDED

The world would be a boring place if we all thought alike. Be open to ideas that oppose your own. Do not, and I can't stress this enough, do not condemn anyone based on their opinion. Welcome opinions and ideas that don't necessarily conform with your own.

I don't like any opinion that supports beating women or children. Virtually anything else, I can tolerate.

3). DON'T BE SHY

This is more difficult for some than others, and I find it works best on twitter and blogs. If you see someone you follow post something you're curious about, say something! Ask questions! And don't be offended (don't unfollow) if people don't get back to you right away. Sometimes, I wait weeks for replies, but now twitter is secondary to Google for me.

This is how I do things, and I still get hyped when someone I have a great deal of respect for follows me back on twitter or circles me on Google Plus. For me, the greatest thing about social media is the idea of connecting to millions of people around the world, that we all may gain a greater understanding of one another.

Thanks for reading.

Starting And Running A Blog For Fiction Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:01:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of Icon Finder

Fiction writing.
Could there be an undertaking in this field more difficult? Probably, but I don't know about it. Not sure I want too. If you're writing non-fiction, it's much easier; you have facts you can refer your audience too, sites you can re-direct too, and almost a built-in platform; you're writing on facts that're already established, and chances are that some of your audience already has a good grasp of your undertaking.

But fiction writing. Wow.
Not only are you introducing readers to new worlds and new characters, not only are you setting up your own lore and histories...but you have to make people care about it. You have to draw them in and keep them there.

You need a blog. And you need to be on it at least once a week. Fortunately, this is not as difficult as it sounds.

From here on, I'm assuming that you're fairly well-versed in social networking and have at least two of the following;

1). Facebook (A fan page would be ideal)
2). Google Plus
3). LinkedIn
4). Tumblr
5). Pinterest
6). Reddit

1). Choosing a Prodivder
The two biggest (free) providers in the game are Wordpress and Blogger. I've experienced both, and in the end I went with blogger because I already had an account set up through Google and didn't want the hassle of all the technical stuff necessary to get Wordpress up and running. In the end, I have to say that Wordpress is the better option because of the virtually limitless customization and stat-tracking options.

2). Subject Material
It's okay to talk about your book or project once in awhile, especially in the beginning when you're brand-new, but remember what I said about developing entire worlds and characters that no one has ever heard of? Unless you're crazy-persistent and ridiculously talented, chances are slim that you're going to draw in huge amounts of traffic on your book alone.
Talk about other things. Open up your world. Some basic ideas;

-What inspired your book?
-What're your favorite authors? Shows? Movies?
-What's your aim with this book?
-How're you doing what you're doing?
-Who have you learned from?

The point is, people need to be able to relate to, and understand you (to an extent. It's up to you to decide what you share online) and be invested in you in order to care about what you're doing.

3). Be Consistent
Welcome to the most difficult part of the endeavor, especially if you have other obligations like a job or family. The idea is to attract new visitors and retain them, and in order to do so, you have to be true to your word. If you say you're going to post once a week, do it, even if you have nothing to say (trust me on this). The more consistent you are, the more consistent your traffic becomes, and the more it grows.

If you're able to maintain these three ideas, I promise you should start to see results within eight weeks of your blog's birth. Good luck.

Thanks for reading.

Where The Wild Writers Are (On Google Plus)

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 02:24:00 +0000

Remember when Google Plus was a complete and total ghost town? Is it still a ghost town to you?
I'm beginning to believe that Google Plus may exceed the other social networks (especially Facebook) when it comes to interaction. There is no algorithm to suppress your links. What you post, everyone sees it. When you want to know what someone's about, simply circle them and see their posts right away.

The communities feature is what sets Google Plus apart from the other networks and ends that "Ghost Town" feeling. These are the top ones I recommend for writers.

1). FridayFlash
Find all things related to the Friday Flash community here including tips, how-to's, and of course, stories. Everyone here is cool, too.

2). Writer's Market, Tools, Tips, Showcase, and Support
The title says it all. This is an extremely supportive community, too. Everyone is very generous with their knowledge.

3). Authors, Publishers, and Entrepreneurs
Arguably one of the largest and most knowledgeable groups on the subject on Google Plus. Close to two thousand members.

As for actual writers, and I mean people you need to be circling right now? Here you go.

1). Rebecca "RJ" Blain
Easily one of Google Plus' most influential and frequent posters on Google Plus, Ms. Blain works as a tireless freelance writer and constant publisher of her own work. She turned me onto moleskines (I'd had no idea what they were until I circled her) and is always putting out something helpful, be it her blog on writing or one of her serials. "Zero" is a lot of fun.

2). Rainy Kaye
Another consistent poster who frequently provides ideas and advice on writing and book promotion.

3). Lisa "LJ" Cohen
Always talking about her writing process, providing keen insight as to how it's done.

Of course, you can always circle me and check out my circles and see what I'm about. Shameless plug complete.

Thanks for reading. Happy circling!

10,0000 VIEWS!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:42:00 +0000

I gotta say that I'm flat-out amazed at how quickly this milestone snuck up on me.

I know it hasn't always been great, and the road is narrow and treacherous, but I'm still walking it and I plan to see it through to it's conclusion.

So through the ups and downs, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR FOLLOWING ALONG AND KEEPING ME GOING. I couldn't do it without you.

I'm getting used to the new work schedule, so this will be the only post this week. I promise you, I will have new material up for you next week. Stick around.

And once again, THANK YOU FOR GETTING ME HERE!

And thanks, always, for reading.

The Worthy

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:13:00 +0000

"Courage" By Mahir Ozkan. This is the representation of Lihua Fan.

The following is an excerpt from Universal Warrior: Atherean Defenders.

Lihua Fan awakens in Asgard, having spent the last four seasons in a coma following a severe beating at the hands of Lillith Yin. She explores Asgard, getting herself into a bit of trouble with Baldur and Tyr along the way. She is then summoned by Odin himself and led to the Solarium, Asgard's premier meditation chamber. As Odin explains the various districts of Asgard, Lihua asks about an eerie black structure floating on its own, west of the Solarium.

"What is that?" She asked, pointing.

Odin followed her finger, sighing when his eyes fell upon the onyx construction hovering in the distance. Its color and shape starkly contrastrated the rest of Asgard, with its golden, gleaming spires and beautiful, curved structures.

"Ah, that." Odin mused, "I have yet to name that structure."

"Why does it look so different?" Lihua persisted, suddenly fearful of sounding childish.

Odin nodded at the structure, acknowledging it with black eyes, "Its competition needed to differ from the remainder of Asgard. Those who will occupy that place...must remain there until they are needed."

A cold wind blew past them. Transfixed, Lihua moved her hair away from her face. Unsure she wanted the answer to her next question, she overpowered her apprehension and spoke; "...who will occupy that place, my lord?"

For a moment, Odin said nothing as the wind prevailed. When he next spoke, his voice was a low, ominous rumble. "There is great conflict coming," He replied, "A conflict beyond magnitude; the day we must all answer for our deeds with our blood."

He paused.

"When that day comes, our very survival may rely upon those who reside in that place. So it is there they will remain, in glorious, unyielding battle, until the end comes when that last great conflict must occur."

Lihua exhaled, attempting to process everything she'd just learned.

She asked her final question with more firmness than she thought herself capable of. "Odin." She began, "Who will reside in there?"

An odd smile crept across Odin's face as he directed his black eyes towards her. "The worthy, child." He nodded, looking back up at the structure. "The worthy."

Thank You. (Pt2)

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:40:00 +0000

Hey, faithful readers.

I know things have gone downhill--fast--for me lately. I also know that it's affected my posts across social networking. Even when things go dark, I try to keep a positive outlook, especially on the internet; seriously, there's enough people bitching about their problems already, isn't there? I try not to be one of those people.

I'm not always able to pull it off, and I'm sorry for that.

I also know that you guys have a choice as to what content you peruse over a given day, and despite how bad things have gotten for me lately, despite my complete and utter failure to keep the negativity off of social networking, I was really surprised to find that very few people stopped following or reading the blog.

Quite the contrary; you guys have been very (and unexpectedly) supportive.

So I wanted to take a quick moment this morning and say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for standing by me as the darkness finally begins to give way (at least, I really hope so).

Thank you all for the support through this. The road is long, narrow, and arduous, but if it was easy, I'd want no part of it.

Everyone in the Midwest; be safe, no reckless nonsense. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

Thanks for reading, and sticking around.

UPDATE: Atherean Defenders

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:25:00 +0000

"Heaven" Image courtesy of morguefile

This is the book I started two years ago. It's on it's...fifth draft, I believe. I completed it's fourth draft for last year's Nanowrimo, and it made me realize I have a fear of finishing, even if I rarely get writer's block anymore.

This is the draft I plan to release. I'm approximately twenty-three thousand words into it so far, and I'd like it to be over sixty, so I'm hoping to have it ready for editing by the end of April, and ready to go in May. I haven't decided on a price yet.

Initially, this will be ebook only, but depending on how well it does, I may do a print version. Some people already have a free print version coming, and I promised I haven't forgotten about you guys.

The war begins with a sea-borne assault on Heaven's capitol city led by Lillith Yin, daughter of Yin, sovereign lady of the Southern Lands. Scores of lives are lost as Lillith declares the Southern Lands apostasy from Heaven, demanding that Heaven surrender its territories to the new land and submit to Lady Yin's rule. If this demand is not met within three sunrises, the capitol of Heaven, and much more, will be destroyed.

Yang, Yin's estranged brother and last ruler of Heaven, refuses to authorize aggresive action against his sister even as the Angels cry out for vengeance, one of the unforgivable sins. To combat Yin's aggression, Odin and Zeus meet in secret and assemble four Angels who've already seen combat. Their mission; enter the Atherean and shut down Lillith's war machine before she can unleash it against Heaven.

Old hatreds are brought to light, new ones are established, family matters will be established and a new world order will rise as the two greatest powers in the universe make war with one another, affecting every other living thing in existence and ultimately raging till our time, when it will finally end.

Before Lucifer, before Satan, before Michael and the Archangels...there were the Atherean Defenders.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Before Red Morning [Redux]

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:18:00 +0000

"Red Morning" Image courtesy of Morguefile

For those of you who're brand new to the blog, Universal Warrior epic fantasy series I've been working on since I was oh, I dunno, maybe six years old. I just refer to it as UW now. I released the first story Before Red Morning last year on Smashwords to a lukewarm reception. I was hoping to bank the fact that it was free into huge numbers. I was wrong. Nearly a year later, it hasn't been downloaded four hundred times yet.

Lesson learned; just because it's free doesn't mean people will flock to it. Still, those who've read it seemed to have liked it, including complete strangers who took a liking to some of the monsters. It's still free. Take a look for yourself.

I've been working on a more professional version of Before Red Morning to be entered into the overall story's canon called Before Red Morning [Redux]. This is the official prequel to Atherean Defenders and for those of you who read the original Before Red Morning, there have been a lot of changes. Reginald's character has gone through the most changes, including name, age, and background. Angelica would be next; her background hasn't changed so much, but her name and other facets of her personality have. I didn't do much with Lihua, who emerged as a favorite. I'm actually planning a novella series spinoff for her later this year.

But I digress.

Before Red Morning [Redux] tells the story of five characters in the years leading to the first war between Heaven and Hell. In this era, Hell is so unknown that it has not even been named yet. Yet, these five characters will take place in events that ultimately thrust Angels into battle with their fallen kin, in a war that will last for millenia and ultimately be decided on our plane of existence.

In Blood Ties, Xero St. Tessera, future leader of the Atherean Defenders, has been on the run with his family and fugitive sister for the past four seasons. When the law finally catches up with them, Xero must risk everything to rescue his sister before she can be turned over to the Southern Lands. But even if Xero can save her, is she guilty of the crime she was convicted of, and will his family still be there if he survives?

In Stormchasers, teenagers Jayden and Bethany Zeneca aid an old friend in a desperate attempt to return stolen property to Mount Olympus. They are ambushed along the way by former friends who have since been exiled. Heroes are born high above the Atherean as the teenagers fight for the safety of others, gaining the attention of Zeus in the process. But at great power comes great cost, and what price will they pay for their power?

In Radiance, Shara St. Nazali keeps a dark secret from her family. When this secret is brought to light, she faces excommunication from her order--and her family. Before the order can be carried out, Shara and her people find themselves facing an extermination squad. But should she fight for those who cast her out, and what price will she pay for her choice?

In Reborn, Lihua Fan races through the Himilayan Mountains with her rescuer, Ai, as they attempt to flee the feudal lord who has oppressed them and impregnated Lihua. They reach their sanctuary, but not without leading their pursuers to their front door. In the definition of what makes a hero, Lihua Fan makes a valiant last stand against her tormentors, determined to stay alive long enough to ensure that everyone escapes. But will she lose everything in the process?

In Vengeance, Lillith Yin is sent back to Earth to exact Vengeance against Adam, Earth's alpha male, for his casting her into the Southern Lands a thousand years ago. With blood and revenge on her mind, Lillith cuts a swath through Pangaea on her way to Eden. But will the addition of Eve, Adam's new mate, be enough to thwart the might of Lillith, and if not, what is the cost of her vengeance?

This set of five stories will be initially available on all ereaders from .99 to $3.99, I haven't decided yet. If it does well enough, I may consider a print version. I do intend to purse professional editing and a book cover for the project.

I'm aiming to get this out around May 2013, and I'll be doing some kind of giveaway for early birds.

Thanks for reading. Make sure you check out the update for Atherean Defenders, too!

The Precipice (My Bout With Depression)

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:43:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of National Geographic

It's like standing on dried sand and peering into a deep hole, where the wind was like gravity and there was no end to the madness.
Then, before you know it, the ground gives beneath you. You take a step back to keep your footing but the ground keeps crumbling. The madness comes for you.
You fall. You cling to the edge of the hole and desperately try to find a foothold so that you are not lost to the insanity.

You know, short of open war, there's not a lot I haven't experienced in life, but I've never had my own mind turn against me. That, bar none, is the scariest thing I've ever felt.

I dunno, I guess after the recent events piled upon the most difficult year of my life, my mind just snapped. At least that's what it felt like. I see all these ads about how the things you love cause you pain, and dammit, that's exactly what started to happen to me.

I've been playing video games since I was five years old. I'd saved this universe and a million others by the time I developed an (unrequited) interest in the opposite sex. Games had,and still continue to be, my happy place, refuge, escape, and shelter.

But not this time.
For some reason I couldn't explain, I dreaded turning on my X-Box. It felt wrong to do so. Like I could think of a million other things I should've been doing rather than playing. I won't lie; my writing productivity skyrocketed but suddenly...I just couldn't play anymore. No matter how much I wanted too, I couldn't play.

I forced myself to play.
I forced myself to play until it did not hurt anymore. I played for hours on end until it became fun again, until I was once again able to lose myself in another world.

I'm a positive, upbeat person who believes everything will work out for those who're willing to put forth the effort. I'm not cynical. I have faith in the unknown and the unseen. I believe what in opportunities and hurdles rather than problems and complications. This is who I am. This will not change.

I like to think that I've climbed back up but I'm not naive enough to believe I'm through with this. I hold onto who I am, my faith, put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

I pray for those who deal with this on a full-time basis.

Thanks for reading.

One Sure-Fire Way For Overcoming Writer's Block

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:54:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of Novel Matters

We've all had it. We all have our own ways of describing it, and we all have our own ways of dealing with it. For me, it's like a granite block in my stomach that freezes my fingers and sets my mind literally ablaze. The words just stop coming. I can't write anything.

Writer's block.

Truthfully, I don't deal with it so much anymore. Now, I deal with Finishers Block, but we'll talk about that later.

I have a couple of methods of dealing with the dreaded block, neither of them one hundred percent effective;

I walk away. This is my favorite. Just walk around, exercise for a moment, do anything other than writing and the muse usually takes a sledge to the writer's block.

I do dishes. No, I don't hire myself out (this is negotiable). I don't know what it is, but something about soapy water and clean dishes fires the muse right up. Don't judge me.

However, I do have one foolproof, guaranteed way to beat writer's block. Seriously, I've used this method every single time I've gotten stuck on a paticular point.

If you're stuck, that means your writing may have gone wrong.

Writing is a very organic process; that's why a lot of people suggest free-writing as a way to get out of a slump. If you start trying to take too much control over your story, you may find yourself jammed up.

So if you find yourself confronted by writer's block, here's what I suggest.

1). Stop writing.

2). Look over the last two paragraphs (or sentences, words, whatever) that you just wrote. Chances are you will find at least one aspect you are dissatisfied with.

3). Delete said dissatisfaction and start over.

I've been doing this for a few months now and I haven't encountered writers block since. Remember, this process is supposed to happen naturally, and you can easily get in your own way by over-thinking or trying to wrest control from your characters.

Thanks for reading and good luck.

Another Dream: Genesis

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:51:00 +0000

Image Courtesy of Morgefile

Four Years From Now.

I open my eyes, and I am falling.

The sky is clear and blue, the wind is more of a gentle caress than a brutal frapping. My descent is peaceful, nowhere near high velocity.

I take in the lush green landscape moments before gravity takes me, allowing me a gentle landing. I touchdown not with the force of a comic hero's arrival, but with the ease of a lost feather.

I rise slowly, overwhelmed by the sense of peace but plagued by my own apprehension. As if in response to my mental state, my hand closes around something of cloth and steel.

Although I know what it is before I look down, I cannot help but marvel at it's beauty when I first see it. The katana sword is utterly flawless, its cutting edge reflective of a mysteriously absent sun.

"Daddy?"

It's a child's voice calling out to me. It pulls my attention away from the sword and across the field.

There's a long-haired little girl several yards away. She's dressed in a plain pink jacket that is unzipped to her midsection. She smiles brightly, and even in the distance I can see the gap where her front teeth should be.

Her smile grows wider as she removes her hands from her jacket pockets. "Daddy!" She cries out gleefully and races across the field. She crashes into my midsection with more force than a child her size should have, wrapping her arms around my waist as she presses the side of her face into my stomach. "Daddy! You're here! You made it!"

I'm suddenly aware that I'm still holding the sword.

Still trying to make sense of all this, I bring my left arm up around the girl's shoulders.

She beams up at me, stepping away and raising her hands towards me, clenching and unclenching her fingers in that oh-so familiar pleading method.

Suddenly, she looks down to the sword and giggles. "Daddy, what're you doing with that?"

Just as suddenly, before I can even begin to formulate an answer, the girl takes my wrist, grasps the hilt and gently pries the blade out of my hand.

"God said you were silly, daddy." The girl continues giggling as she tosses the sword away like it's refuse, "You don't need that here."

Again she steps back, blissfully unaware of my bewilderment, and reaches up again.

Unsure of what else to do, I scoop the girl up by lifting under her arms. Again, she giggles with happy excitement.

She wraps her arms around my neck and plants a warm, loving kiss on the side of my face. Only when she pulls away do I recognize her eyes.

They're mine.

"Oh my God." I breathe, "Niyana?"

She shakes her head, forehead furrowing. "Of course, daddy! Who else would it be?"

I shake my head, overcome by joy and disbelief. I pull her close and squeeze.

"But daddy." She whispers, "You can't talk like that up here, okay?"

When she pulls away, her index finger is raised to her mouth and she quickly shakes her head.

My bewilderment passes. I know exactly where I am. "Okay." I nod, holding my daughter by the waist.

A warm, forgiving breeze washes over the both of us, catching her hair and letting it fly.

"Isn't it beautiful, daddy?"

I shake my head, taking in the sheer majesty of it all. "I've never seen anything like this." I reply honestly. "Niyana..." I hesitate, "Can I ask you a question?"

My daughter looks back at me, putting her hands on my shoulders and beaming. "Sure, daddy."

"If I'm here...does that mean I'm dead?"

She shakes her head. "Of course not, daddy. You have to go back in a little while."

I fight off the tears brought on by a bittersweet answer. "I'm not ready to go back yet." I confess.

Niyana hugs me. "You have too, daddy." She whispers, "But you'll be back again, I promise. I asked God to bring you here to play with me."

"I'd like to play with you." I whisper back, grinning."

Niyana allows me to put her down and then takes my hand. "Come on, daddy." She nods her head to the distance. "Run with me."

"Where will we run too?"

She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. Let's just enjoy the run."

Niyana, my daughter, takes off like a shot down the hilly field.

No longer asking questions, nor caring how much time I have here, I follow.

Faith, Grief, and Moving On

noreply@blogger.com (Avery Tingle) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of Morguefile

Niyana was not the first child I lost.
My first daughter, Mia, died shortly after her birth. Immediately following that, I left the area. Her mother and I had never been close (we don't talk to this day) and I didn't allow myself to process the loss. I just moved on.

Dealing with the aftermath of Niyana's death and every gory little detail that surrounds it, plus some I can't talk about...I've felt this in spades. Every single day it's felt like getting shot in the stomach over and over again. I grasp at any little thing that makes me laugh or smile to keep from spiraling into depression. By the way, I'm grateful to the Hub for bringing Animaniacs back...

Life has to go on though, like it or not.
My faith in God gets me through most things. Times like this, it's the ONLY thing that gets me through. I accept God as a reality; there's no doubt in my mind He exists. I've seen too much to deny not only His existence, but the fact that He loves every single one of us, no matter how badly we screw up. When things go bad in my life, I don't blame Him; either I brought it on myself or there's something in that experience I'm meant to learn.

When something good happens, I'm grateful. Especially in those situations that could play out in millions of different ways, but everything happens to line up in my favor? That's when I give a quick thanks.

So how does this apply to my situation?

I believe in God, which means I believe in life after death. I mean it when I say that Niyana is only gone from this plane of existence. She is very much alive, well, and happy in the next. When my life here ends, I'll be reunited with her and everyone else I've lost along the way.

Throughout this, God has made me stronger. I've accomplished more in the past few days than I ever knew I was capable of. I even managed to keep the career going. I've had friends who were good enough to wake up from a dead sleep just to listen to me. Through them I've learned it's okay to lean on people (something I was never comfortable doing). I imagine that when all this has passed, I'll hold onto the memory, and I'll be a much stronger human being.

I don't know why God chose to take Niyana the way He did, but I've learned to trust His judgment. He kept me alive through some truly horrific events, so I imagine He knows what He's doing. I believe in that so I can keep going. He had His reasons; that's enough for me.

And one day, I'll see her again.

Thanks for reading.