Blog

A day in the life of the self-publisher

10/02/2024

Book 1 was not selling and so was pulled. Time, money, and energy are being gambled on a new cover and reorganized story.  Dec. 8, ’23:  Thankfully, this is a quiet relaunch. But still— I hope to pull it all…

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John Carter (2012): Movie Review

09/16/2024

PG-13 Disney+ and IMDB John: Stand behind me, this might get dangerous.  (John fights the Zodangansand loses his sword, so Dejah finds it and kills the remaining enemies)  John: Or maybe I ought to get behind you . . .…

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The Deconstruction of Art

09/02/2024

Soooo slooow. Sons of Adamah—I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit—took seven years to research, write, and publish.  Perhaps the production of the novel was like the return of Jesus, taking an awfully long time but finally appearing at just the right…

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War of the Worlds: Movie Review

08/16/2024

2005. 16+ Amazon, PG-13 on IMDb   “With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter.”   War of the Worlds opens with Morgan Freeman (who also appears…

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The Emotional Thesaurus

08/02/2024

I calculate that I wrote and edited at least a million words of Sons of Adamah. A person has to be a bit crazy to do that, no? My degree in creative writing required only short pieces and so writing on…

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Edge of Tomorrow: Movie Review

07/16/2024

2014, PG on IMDb, 16+ on Amazon Prime The best kind of sci-fi. In this intense-action, sci-fi version of Groundhog Day, the hero is made by endlessly revisiting failure to save the world. It’s a great premise to follow to its…

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Do yourself a favour: waste some time

07/02/2024

As I lost all self-control in the buffet room of the hotel, this quote came to mind: “To win back my youth, Gerald, there is nothing I wouldn’t do—except take exercise, get up early, or be a useful member of…

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I, Robot: Movie Review

06/16/2024

2004, PG-13 on Disney+ and IMDb What is it about humans that AI can’t mimic? I, Robot explores a near-future dystopia where robots are safe because they’re constrained by rules… Until they aren’t. Does something become human because it can choose…

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What your editor will and will not say

06/02/2024

THE THINGS YOUR EDITOR WILL NEVER SAY: THE THINGS YOUR EDITOR MIGHT SAY: THE THING YOUR EDITOR WILL SAY: ……………………………………………………………….. Q. How many writers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A. Three: one to sharpen all the pencils in the house; one to make more coffee;…

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A Canticle for Leibowitz: Book Review

05/16/2024

Walter M. Miller Jr. 1959 If you want a read that intelligently pushes Christian religiosity to its frayed edges in the context of sci-fi and demands, “Now what?” this is for you.  Wow. I have not encountered a book like…

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