Heat Wave

Argh, what can I say, I am not a person who does well in the heat. The sad part is where I live it isn't nearly as hot as the rest of the country, and let me tell you, I feel for them. I do not like hot weather and should have been born in Greenland, or the Hebrides. With that said, I will not be on my laptop as much, thusly, I will not be on the internet much until the end of August, at which time I come out of heat hibernation. At least this will give me time to catch up on some much needed writing. Some part of me is feeling like I'm letting my online friends down, but I really do need to get some serious writing and organizing done. I promise the fall will be spectacular and bring new freebie stories, and adventures. Just you wait and see (hint: I'm working on a few horror short stories!)!
I'll miss everyone until then. Stay cool folks and find a deep, dark cave and stock up on ice.
Cheers ...
Nishi Serrano

Happy Independance Day, and Anti-Boredom Month, and World UFO Day, and ...

This July might signify one of America’s favorite holidays—The Fourth of July, otherwise known as Independence Day—but did you know there are several unknown and even odd mini-celebrations the month through? Actually, most months have a few interesting and nearly never heard of holidays. For instance, July is also Anti-Boredom month, and July 2^nd is world UFO day! Other strange and unusual days and month long celebrations in July are: Graham Cracker Day (July 5^th—so break out the smores!), Cheer Up the Lonely Day (July 11^th), National French Fries Day (July 13^th—just in time for Walla-Walla onion rings!), Stick Your Tongue Out Day (July 19^th), and National Hot Dog Month.

     If you do a quick search through the aether, you’ll find there is always something to celebrate in each and every month. So if your complaining about being bored, and don’t know what to do during this month of Anti-Boredom, then pick a few days to have a picnic or get together celebrating some of these odd holidays, like, why not go on a hot dog hop to all the doggie eateries you can find, guaranteed to be a fun, if not filling, time. And of course there is always fireworks and getting together with friends to eat rice-crispy treats on the fourth, and raise a beer (or cup of tea) to America and the Declaration of Independence. What are you doing this month to keep monotony at bay?

Cheers!

New Book Cover Artwork!

Ah, here I am in Portland again. And what better way to celebrate my return than with new book cover artwork that Decadent Publishing just sent me today for my novella 'Mile Below Peep Show'! I'm doing the happy jig right now :)

'Mile Below Peep Show' is a steamy steampunk carnival of lust under the sea. There are many delights in this undersea labyrinth: sexy tales of mermen and maids, peacock lovers, and forbidden desires. If you want to start your vacation early, then you'll want to get a copy when it comes available, though I'm still in the editing phase with my publisher, so I'll let you all know soon when it will be for sale.

Cheers to everyone!

In Memory

In Memory: Sergeant Jacob F. Livesey 1980-2008

Grimm and Twilight

As most of my friends know, I’m moving to Oregon (where I’ve called home before, and met my partner). On the way, I’ve taken a few side trips to Arizona and California (to visit family). Some of the places I’ve traveled through I’ll be posting more about on my new blog ‘The Victual Vixen’.      Now, I’m not a huge fan of ‘Twilight’, but I know a lot of my friends are, and many more are fans of the TV series ‘Grimm’. And so, recently, while looking for places to call home, I made a little jaunt to a couple of areas where Grimm and Twilight were filmed.  I must admit, the forest spots where they filmed Twilight are gorgeous, and the camera just doesn’t do them justice.  But here they are for you to enjoy:

Just heard today that this viewing deck and elevator in Oregon City was the recent site for a scene in Grimm ...

This is a photo of the ‘Grimm’ bridge used in one of the episodes—can you guess which one? In the back ground you can see another of the bridges (the green one) used regularly on Grimm ...

Here is where the police were checking out a dead body on the show by the same bridge:

Behind Stone Cliff Restaurant is where they filmed a number of the Twilight scenes. I believe this is a popular rock climbing spot for experienced climbers.

There were multiple signs with details of the scene, here is one:

Now here is the tree limb (not sure if it is the actual one, but it looks like it--look at the bottom of it):

And what fan doesn’t remember the sparkle boy scene:

Well, here are more random photos I took of the Twilight scene area:

Hope you all enjoyed a wandering in the woods … Oh, who’s that hiding behind a rock … Hey, I thought only vampires came to this spot—not Lausenschlange!

'Stealing Time' With C.K. Garner

If it wasn’t for online friends like C.K Garner, I would probably stop writing. As mutual supporters of the writing sisterhood—she has been the best! I used to be shy online, until I started meeting some of the greatest, kindest, most talented people I’ve ever had the fortune of meeting—and it wasn’t even in person.  What’s even cooler is to see the process of writing develop in someone who has just begun and is already running at full tilt. If steampunk is your cup of literary tea—then you absolutely must read C.K.’s work, and pay attention: This girl’s imagination is on fire!

An interview with C.K. Garner, Author of Stealing Time (Musa Publishing, August 2012)

Q. You define ‘Stealing Time’ as steampunk and speculative fiction genres. In your view, what is steampunk?

Garner: Oh, that’s a tricky question as there are a lot of conflicting views out there about Steampunk. For me Steampunk represents an alternate historian’s Victorian Era world of fictional, though often plausible technological inventions similar to those in the works of classic Sci-fi, and speculative fiction authors such as Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and works of William Gibson. Other essential components are common travel by airship, or dirigibles, alongside other “path not taken” early technology like altered onset of pseudo-physics and mad science colliding with true science.  Steampunk is constantly evolving, embracing Dieselpunk, World Wars I& II Eras, as well as Steamgoth, and Clockgoth, possibilities and clockworks abound, so the definition is hard to set in stone.

Q. Most authors are asked two questions in every review: “When did you decide to become an author?” And, “How did you do it?” So, what’s your author story, C.K.?

Garner: I wrote my first story back in first grade; it was supposed to be a nice tale about Easter. I’ve always leaned toward a dark point of view, even as a kid, so I wrote a story about a giant rabbit that lives in a cave and comes out to eat little children once a year. Lol! Got an F grade and a phone call home for that one! As a teen, I bought a book about how to write romance novels, but got so much flak I abandoned ship, even though most of my friends still insisted I should be an author, because I was forever saying, “Oh hey, I’ve got this great scene in my head, listen…” In my twenties, I promised myself to become an author by age 46.  Two years ago, my writer’s block broke when I followed the advice of my best friend Christina to write a single sentence each evening.

     Soon, the tales were flowing like Niagara Falls; it was like being in a writing deluge; with me in a barrel going over the edge. Then came blogging, followed by hosting an amusing little horror group on a steampunk blog, where I became friends with author, Nishi Serrano, (oh, hey, that’s you!).  Nishi told me if I wasn’t writing a book yet, I should be. However, the real push to go from private writer to publishing my stuff, came when I chanced across Ariel Gore’s book, “How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights”. She says to submit your work before you think it’s ready, so you won’t miss the boat on getting published, i.e. take the risk, don’t wait forever. I wanted to send mine in after the manuscript was perfect, but instead, I gave myself a pretend deadline of two weeks after reading the Ariel Gore book, to have my manuscript ready to go. On the goal date, come hell or high-water, I’d submit it! So I did, and that’s my story.

Q. What writing advice do you have for fledgling writers and authors?

Garner: Read. A lot. Read the authors that you like, and try to emulate their style. Read the rubbish-heap stuff too! There can be something gleaned from even the poorest written of novels. Next, experiment by playing with the characters of each novel: How would the character of the great novel handle the situation in the rubbish heap title, and vice versa. Write it down. It’s a fun way to get your creative juices going, and come up with original ideas for your own manuscript. Learn to speak in each voice, or more accurately write in each hand, especially when trying to get the flavor of a certain time period; of course, the idea in the long run is to develop your own style.

Q. You mentioned having writer’s block. How do you handle it now, and what advice would you give?

Garner: Two things: First, step away from the keyboard and grab a piece of paper and a pencil. Writing by hand increases brain activity, and it really works for me to break down the writer’s block wall. Next write a single sentence, just thoughts, even if it’s only, “Alpha to OMG, I cannot write a thing!” The idea is to start, then keep it up for at least 20 minutes. Do it every night until the brain-juice gets flowing again. Hmm, on second thought, you don’t want to pull a “Shining” fiasco ala Stephen King’s character Jack Torrance, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, all work and no play makes jack a dull boy, all work and…” Lol!  You get the picture. Second, play the “What If Game”, (also attributed to Stephen King): Look around your room, or take a walk. See a lady putting on lipstick at her desk? Make her a killer, patiently waiting to poison her next victim with a kiss. Did your boss scream at you today? Change his name in a story, alter his description, and now he’s the crazy man in your what if getting hauled away in a white straight jacket. See that beautiful lady with the bright red hair? Take her home to bed! Okay, just in your story, right? You’re the writer; you have lives to ruin, people to raise up as zombies, or turn into heroes!
Q. What is your next project?

Garner: I’m currently working on the sequel to Stealing Time, as well as a Victorian murder mystery and a fantasy novel.

Q. Where and how can we find Stealing Time for purchase?

Garner: Stealing Time is scheduled for release August 31, 2012 as an E-book from Musa Publishing’s Urania Sci-fi and Spec-fi imprint. It will be available for download as an E-book on Kindle and Nook, as well as PDF for PC’s from Amazon, Smashwords and directly from the Musa Publishing website at http://www.musapublishing.com.

Q. How can readers contact you?

Garner: You can visit my blog at http://www.ckgarnerstealingtime.blogspot.com  or feel free to Tweet me at http://www.twitter.com/ckgarner  

Spring Fever

Springtide

From under spring’s kirtle verdure have sown
The dewy seeds cradle is ready and grown
Alight did the bee on pistol and bower
Relinquishing frost maiden’s grip on the flower

Beware you gents, the madness spring holds
And ladies circled with a ring of gold
For the cuckoo know of the secrets you keep
When at last the Sheppard is away from his sheep

All is bursting and drinking sun’s shine
Insuring vine’s shade is ready to wine
No longer will the shadows be lost here in time
And the birds enkindled sing a song so fine

One bemused to shower me with a wondrous fever-tide!
                                                                                                           by Nishi Serrano

Here we are, the spring before the fall, or so the doomsayers say. Do I really believe this will be our last year upon the beauty that is our planet? Well, heck-no!

Doomsayers take note:  Why so eager for the end, when we should be starting a new beginning?

And, this is the time of year ripe for the changes our planet needs. We should be embracing a big ol’ helping of love, feed that negativity to the flames of summer, and for this moment just be happy you are alive and have the means to change.  

I mean, look at all the magical things our planet  gives us … food, sunshine, water, and a body to enjoy it all.

What are you waiting for … get outside and enjoy the awe inspiring madness of nature’s moments!