Posts Tagged ‘entertainment’

“The Street Urchin’s Gift”: Published!

Posted: June 24, 2013 in Progress Report, short story, Writing
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It seems that my life just keeps getting better all the time, and God willing, it’ll stay that way. Today I logged into my email and saw that The Writing Disorder, an online magazine for fiction, poetry, and essays, among other things, had notified authors that their summer issue had been launched. Guess what? My short story is in the summer issue!

“The Street Urchin’s Gift” is a short story told from the point-of-view of a homeless boy named Fletch living in Victorian England. At the time I was writing the story, I was going for stories that involved hard choices, such as leave your family or survive a war (that was Ripple‘s theme, for the most part). Because at the time I was obsessed with this manga taking place in Victorian London, I set the story there and tried to think up a very difficult choice for my main character. And as the story shows, I think I did it well enough that the story got published.

I’d like to thank The Writing Disorder for publishing my short story and I wish them the best of luck. They were so kind to me and fun to work with and I’m considering sending another short story to them.

If you would like to check out their website, click here. For my short story, follow this link.

Laura Horn: Initial Research

Posted: June 21, 2013 in Living and Life, Novel, Progress Report, Reflections, Writing
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Spy novels and espionage novels are not my forte. I never attempted in my youth to write a James Bond story. Never even imagined one. And now I know why: it’s a lot of work, involving plenty of research and detective work. Just today, I looked up dates for the year 2017, the US Intelligence Community, and what causes embolisms. Makes me wonder why I made Laura Horn an espionage novel, even though it started out as a story about a girl and sexual assault victim who comes to terms with her past and her trauma through events forced upon her.

Oh wait, now I remember why I did that! I thought it would be cool to have a story that took place in Washington DC. And even better, why not make it involve the White House? That could work. It’ll involve a lot of research and guesswork, but what the hey? It’s good for the story.

So that’s why I decided Laura Horn should find herself while taking on the power struggles of DC. And it’s going to be a tough job. I’m not familiar with the workings of the US Intelligence community, or Washington DC for that matter. Let’s face it, there’s only so much you can learn from high school government classes and The Daily Show. But if I can get this novel written and do it with all the elements I want it to have–the 2016 election, the NSA scandal, a few other items that are hot right about now–I could end up writing a damn good story.

And isn’t that the point? I think Laura could be a great character, a character plenty of people could identify with, but I have to give her a great story first. And for that, I need to do a lot of work to make sure the details are right. It’s not going to be easy, but I plan to pull it off somehow and right a damn good story.

So let’s see what happens. I bet by the time I’m done researching and writing the outline, this’ll be an entirely different story than when I first thought of it. But it’ll be a story I’m damn proud of, and that’s important enough that I’ll research till the cows come home.

Wish me luck! I’ve got more work to do tomorrow morning.

Oh, before I go, the photo above of the monarch butterfly deserves an explanation. When I envision Laura Horn, I see her as an angel that’s been forced down to earth by evil forces and cries over it. Unfortunately, there’s only so many photos and illustration that feature that sort of subject material in the theme I’m looking for. So I’m doing things that are similar to my angle theme: butterflies, flowers, birds, and yes, angels. But first a butterfly, a metaphor for transformation. This story is going through a transformation and so is the main character. I hope that by the end, the transformations of both will result in something beautiful.

Review: Hannibal Season One Finale

Posted: June 20, 2013 in Review, Scary Stuff
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The word that sends people into horrified nightmares.

I’m what’s known as a Lecterite. Like die-hard Trekkies, Whovians, and comic book junkies, I get very revved up by Hannibal Lecter, and love to praise the character and fault the work when it fails to live up to his scary image. Which was why I was very excited–and very worried–when I heard they were making a prequel series that showed the development in the relationship between Lecter and Will Graham (the guy who searched Lecter’s head before Clarice Starling ever graduated high school, if you didn’t know).

I remember watching the pilot (read review here), and I remember being intrigued. I also remember thinking vaguely that I would do a review of the season finale, but that sort of became a prophecy as time went on. And at that time, I would know if I would be disappointed, if I would be happy, or at the very least glad Starling wouldn’t come to TV (I am not a Starling fan).

I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed (and Starling will get her own show on Lifetime apparently, but don’t expect me to watch it). Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, and Lawrence Fishburne deliver as Will Graham, Dr. Lecter, and Jack Crawford respectively. For the first time, there’s a Will Graham who actually convinces me he can get into the minds of killers whether he likes it or not (this is mentioned in Red Dragon and its movie adaptions, but very rarely explored), and this is utilized to its best in the season’s plotline. Lawrence Fishburne is tough and ready to do what it takes to catch a killer, even if it means pushing some very dangerous limits.

And Mikkelsen? My God, he’s better than Hopkins! He portrays Lecter like he’s a casually curious kid who’s constantly finding someone’s set up dominoes in front of him and he can’t help but see what happens if he pushes that one domino. And why? As he says in the penultimate episode, “Because I can.” If that’s not psychopathic, I don’t know what is! And the best part is, he’s at the heart of the FBI investigations and a damn good actor and manipulator, so nobody, no matter how good these feds are, can figure out he’s got them around his fingers. And trust me, these feds aren’t portrayed as incompetent as in the novels or the movies.

All that and a tight plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Not too much blood but plenty of creepiness and freaky murder and death to draw in the viewers without grossing them out. And the characters and relationships and their developments are incredibly believable. It’s the best adaptation of the Lecter books yet!

So 2014, come soon so I can find out what happens in season 2 (SPOILER: Hannibal isn’t in a cell at the end of season 1). In the meantime, I’m assigning the entire season a 4.2 out of 5. I take 0.8 points out because the fourth episode was pulled for its so-called objectionable material. I don’t know what was so bad with that episode that it had to be pulled prior to broadcast and aired only online and abroad. But maybe I’m just thick-skinned and not easily disturbed (or too disturbed to care) about kids being brainwashed into killing their families.

Anyway, you probably don’t care. But I’m putting it out for those who do. Good night everybody!

The Quiet Game: The New Cover

Posted: June 20, 2013 in Progress Report, short story, Writing
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Ladies and gentlemen, you remember the cover I created for the e-book version of The Quiet Game:

TQG cover

I was especially proud of this cover. I created it all by myself, using just a photo taken on a cold, snowy night, Photoshop, and the advice of experienced assistants at Ohio State’s Digital Union. So when I learned how to use CreateSpace, I wanted to bring The Quiet Game to print paperback. But at the same time, I didn’t want to give up that cool cover. It’s awesome!

So I found a cover that would allow me to keep my first cover. And here it is:

new TCG cover

You like it? I wasn’t sure what color I was supposed to use for the back cover, but when I settled on Bright Orange, I saw a Halloween motif and went with it. I also put the words on the back in a black font, so that it’ll be easier to read.

And you know what this means, right? The Quiet Game will be available in both print and e-book version! And they’ll both be very affordable. So I hope you’re able to buy a copy when it comes out in…oh, how many days was it again?…27 days! Get excited people, because it’s coming out soon.

Video Rage: The Outline Is Finished

Posted: June 19, 2013 in Novel, Progress Report, Writing
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So I spent most of the day working on that outline. And I finished it. Plotline, character bios, all done in a day. I have to say, the sequel to Reborn City looks pretty exciting, just from reading the first draft of the outline. There’s conflict between characters, even the best of friends, some pretty nasty battles and plot twists, and a Native American healing ceremony (Lakota, to be specific). All in 36 chapters (I guessed 37 chapters when I started, so I wasn’t too far off).

I’ll probably take a break from writing tonight to recharge, but the beginning of this 2-novel writing project is off to a great start. I’m not sure when I’ll finish VR, but I’m excited for it and I can’t wait. I also feel I’ll finish VR before I finish Laura Horn. Don’t ask me why, I just have this feeling.

Now, to make dinner! I’m hungry.

Writing The Video Rage Outline

Posted: June 19, 2013 in Living and Life, Novel, Progress Report, Reflections, Writing
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With RC there weren’t many photos I could use. Not so with it’s sequel!

Recently, I read the novel Misery for the first time. At a certain point, Annie Wilkes says that when dealing with a cliffhanger, the resolution has to be “realistic” and “fair”, but she also wants this to apply to all literature. What does she mean? Well, if you’re on a plane and it’s about to crash, pull a parachute under the chair. Somewhat fair, pretty realistic. If a character with several broken bones suddenly is able to get a doctor and do experimental blood transfusions in the 19th century, then it’s not fair or realistic at all.

Paul Sheldon had a hell of a time getting the balance right, especially since he was being threatened with missing limbs if he didn’t deliver. And although I’m not in any danger of losing any limbs, I feel the pressure to make things realistic and fair with Video Rage, the sequel to Reborn City. My philosophy with sequels is that you have to build up, do something better than the first book. To do that though, I find myself having to think really hard about how I plot the story as I write the outline, and I’m wondering if what I’m writing down for each chapter is any good.

I’ve often preached about sequels and how people just don’t know how to make good ones, but I have to admit that it’s hard. Most of the action of VR takes place on the road, and besides normal conflict, there’s also the conflict of relationships which I’m trying to insert. And when I add certain elements–a hunting cabin to hide in, a Lakota village with a hospital–I wonder if people will buy this or if they’ll call BS. I’d have someone critique the outline, but there’s only one person in the world besides me who’s even read RC, and I don’t want to spoil it for him by having him critique the outline.

Well, this is why I advise taking a break after writing the outline to creatively recharge those batteries. Perhaps after the outline’s first draft, I’ll be able to figure out if things need to be changed. However at this point I don’t intend on changing much…except possibly making one of the antagonists much more involved with the fighting instead of using drones and soldiers.

Wish me luck. I’ve got more work to do in the morning, where I’ll try to finish this outline. Honestly, VR could potentially be longer than RC, the way I’ve been writing the outline.

The Quiet Game: One Month To Publication

Posted: June 17, 2013 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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TQG cover

Apparently God felt like being nice to me (thank you Sir). I checked the website for the US Copyright Office, and The Quiet Game: Five Tales To Chill Your Bones, has been copyrighted. That means The Quiet Game will be coming out in one month!

I’m super-excited and I cannot wait to put this baby online, possibly with a new cover (I’ll let you know later in the week how that goes) and in print and e-book version (hopefully). If you haven’t checked out The Quiet Game book trailer yet, please click below:

You can also like the FB page if you want to, and I encourage you to do so. If you want to, please click here. I hope you check out the page and that you’re as excited as I am for the release.

START THE COUNTDOWN! I have to modify my book page.

Review: Man of Steel

Posted: June 15, 2013 in Review
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I’m going to say this now: I’m about as much of a Superman fan as I am a Trekkie. He has a superpower for every situation, and the worse his problems seem to get is when Lois looks at another man or gets kidnapped. It’s a difficult task to bring Superman to the big screen, and an even bigger challenge to make him seem more relatable.

Sadly, this latest run at the silver screen didn’t pan out for me. The filmmakers take too long to get to the conflict, instead explaining how Superman becomes who he is through an in-depth look at Krypton and sometimes jarring flashbacks. When we do get to the conflict, we see Superman (thankfully with a defined set of powers) played by Henry Cavill, only he seems kind of wooden and with little to say, meeting up with the most expressive (and angry) character of all, Zod (played by Michael Shannon). Although the native Kryptonians have trouble adjusting to Earth, they prepare to beet the living snot out of Cavill, only for Cavill to fight back in fight scenes that I zoned out of most the time. There is one scene near the end where we get a real sense of conflict where good ol’ Clark has to make a tough choice, but that’s about the only time I get that sense that Supe’s as troubled as he’s supposed to be.

There’s also Amy Adams’s Lois Lane. Spunky, definitely not a damsel in distress. Will abandon her common sense if it means getting a photo of alien technology and is the only one who is able to make the connections between Clark Kent and Superman well before he puts on the suit and cape. I’m not sure why though, apparently he wasn’t as good about covering his tracks as he should’ve been. She’s basically important to the story, but her performance isn’t exactly spectacular enough for an Oscar.

Lawrence Fishburne is underused as Perry White (or perhaps that’s his character in Hannibal as a reporter), and Christopher Meloni plays Elliot Stabler in the Air Force with his usual tough guy act that never fails to kill. Other than that, not much in terms of acting to really make me feel like I’m in the middle of something fantastic.

Also, the swept-back hair look is out for superheroes. They would’ve done better with messy hair, something that rockstars might wear. And don’t stick around after the credits for a look at the inevitable sequel, because there’s not even a hint of what’s to come (though I bet it involves Lex Luthor, Kryptonite, and possibly an arms race).

Though the night wasn’t entirely wasted. That opening sequence gave me an idea on how to modify a certain story of mine and make it better. Who knows what that might lead to.

All told, Man of Steel gets a 3 out of 5. If this film was the beginning of a rival franchise to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then I seriously doubt that such a franchise will ever rival the Avengers, no matter how much money is made.

Reborn City: The New Cover

Posted: June 14, 2013 in Living and Life, Novel, Progress Report, short story, Writing
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On Wednesday, I created the cover for Reborn City out of a photograph and Photoshop. Problem was, I wasn’t completely satisfied with it. So, after much thought and encouragement from the ever-helpful Matt Williams, I turned to CreateSpace. If you don’t know what CreateSpace is, it’s a program through Amazon that you can use to self-publish ebooks, paperbacks, and all sorts of wonderful things. I’d never considered using CreateSpace because I heard it costs money, but I learned that only some services do, while others are very DIY and free-of-charge. And I like those options.

Now check out the old cover:

RC cover

Now check out the new one:

Reborn City

Same photograph, better picture. Sure, there’s no graffiti-esque writing, but this looks better, more professional. And maybe someday, if God is good to me, I can create the cover of my dreams with a later edition.

And guess what? CreateSpace also does print-on-demand paperbacks for no cost to the author, just a small percentage of royalties. Do you know what that means? It means all my books can be someday turned into ebooks and paperback editions! All you have to do is order them from Amazon!

And of course I’ll try to do this with The Quiet Game, get the cover to be customized so that it stays the cover. That’s one I can be satisfied with, I just hope I can get it onto the editions. I hope you’re as happy as I am! If I can, I’ll get the cover loaded up tomorrow, along with sending RC to the copyright office. It’s going to be fantastic!

Expect Reborn City November 1, people, and The Quiet Game this summer whenever that gosh-darn copyright is processed. Ooh, I’m so excited. Hope you’re excited with me!

Reborn City: The Cover

Posted: June 12, 2013 in Novel, Progress Report
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Ladies and gentle-bloggers. I would like you to see the cover to my science fiction novel Reborn City. Behold:

RC cover

Pretty neat, isn’t it? I had trouble getting the photo onto Photoshop at first, but eventually I got it on with some help. The rest was simple as pie. Once again, I used a photo as the basis for the cover. This time around, the photo was of my hand, with the Hydra symbol inked on (not like tattoo ink. My sister used a Sharpie). The cool thing is, readers will think the hand on the title belongs to male lead Rip, and they wouldn’t be far off, seeing as I intended it to be Rip’s hand. The title was meant to mimic spray paint, as that’s what would be used in Reborn City to mark walls.

Although not what I had exactly in mind (when is it ever?), I think this is a pretty good cover and I hope to create more like it in the future.

I’d like to thank my sister Adi for creating the symbol on my hand and for sending me the photo from her phone. It’s a good piece of work, and it’s going to end up on the “Books by Rami Ungar” page.

What do you think of the cover?

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