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Dec 13
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 **SPOILERS HEREIN**
I snatched up this book the first time I saw it in a bookstore after reading “The Looking Glass Wars,” which I thoroughly enjoyed.
SEEING REDD begins in a relatively peaceful Wonderland. Alyss & Dodge are feeling out their relationship. Dodge is trying to balance his emotion between his intense drive for revenge and his socially improper love for Alyss. Hatter takes a break to mourn his lost love and discovers that Molly is his daughter (something that seemed pretty obvious to me from the time she was introduced). Arch from Boarderland is plotting against Wonderland throughout most of the book, that is until Redd returns. Redd is brought back out of the heart crystal by a painter in Paris … interesting, because he paints with very fuzzy lines, so she and The Cat are blurry throughout.
This one was a lot harder to get into.
There were many, many, many, many fight scenes that seemed superfluous to me, and I found my eyes glazing over them, eventually skipping ahead to more non-fight scenes.
I particularly liked the scenes with Alyss & Dodge and those with Hatter. Really *love* Hatter.
The biggest problem I had with the book was with what ease Redd navigated through her own maze … Alyss had a much more difficult time in her maze.
Overall, this was a very good book, and I still truly love Beddor’s writing style. I’m learning a lot (as a writer) from it.
I will still be reading ArchEnemy (on my new KINDLE!), the third book in the series, but with a little lower expectation.
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Oct 27
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Mythology has always played a significant role in my writings. Many of the writers who influenced me and my own writing style at an early age used mythology in their works.
Tolkien of course is a prime example. Most of the creatures and tales within Middle-earth are borrowed from or based on actual mythologies and histories if only loosely. This does not make him a plagiarist. It makes him a good story teller.
The best stories are not new ones, but old tales told in a new way. William Shakespeare did not write new stories. He only retold old stories in a way that his generation could appreciate. The words may have been different, but the underlying essence was the same.
Lloyd Alexander also played a significant role in my literary development with his Prydain Chronicles. He was telling tales from a mythology I wasn’t yet familiar with. These books helped me to discover the links between mythology, fairy tales, and modern fantasy. I explored these connections in much greater depth after discovering Joseph Campbell and Charles DeLint years later, but Lloyd showed me what to look for.
Roger Zelazeny was also a master at modernizing mythology. He could write about gods as if they were ordinary people. Greek, Egyptian and even fictional gods roamed the pages of his books with fantastic powers but the same foibles that you and I struggle with every day. His best work in my opinion is his science fiction spiritual journey of a would be Siddhartha in rebellion against the Hindu gods.
Good Modern Fantasy is a continuation.
—-
This post first appeared during the Samhain Blog Book Tour on Book Lush.
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Oct 19
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I totally forgot.
I mean TOTALLY!
We were thinking of going last year up in Canada, but I just said we’d wait until this year when it was in San Jose.
Well, I forgot.
Our friend and fellow author, Robert Stikmanz, is going, and I though it was quite serendipitous because we will just happen to be in San Jose at that exact same time visiting Ethan’s Aunt Patricia for her 60th.
Rob says it’s where authors go to network with agents, publishers, film people, game designers, etc…. and I *really* want to option the rights to Rowan of the Wood for screen.
Since it was so magnificently serendipitous, I began changing plans in my head and drudging up memories from my Cannes Film Market days, getting ready to network and pitch and pitch and pitch.
I moseyed over to the World Fantasy Convention website to get tickets… and THEY’RE ALL SOLD OUT!
EEEEK!
Plus… $125 to attend! Yikes!
No wonder fans don’t go to these!
So now, I’m thinking about just how much research and preparation I’d have to do over the next week to make it worth my while…. and wondering if I should just plan on going next year when it will be in Columbus, OH. We will, serendipitously, be in Cleveland with my Uncle Bill, celebrating his 60th.
This time, I set up a reminder on my calendar.
——-
Today on the Samhain Blog Book Tour, we’re at The Neverending Shelf! There is a darkly humorous interview with the Vampire Fiana and a contest! Go enter!
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Sep 07
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This morning I took a walk with Bronte through the Kansas City Renaissance Festival site. I’ve been to a Renaissance Festival or two in my time, and this is the most magical grand faire in which I have ever had the pleasure of spending some time.
It was a cool morning. A magical mist hung in the air.
The fairegrounds were quiet. All the shops were still closed.
And it was wondrous.
As I walked with my girl through the village streets, images of childhood fairytales filled my head. Dragons, pirates, and fairies filled my vision as I ambled through the earthen roads. The tudor shops are nestled among beautiful trees, ponds, and waterfalls. Charming paintings of damsels in distress or young lovers stealing a kiss in an alleyway are interspersed within the marketplace. Grand stages for entertainment and bawdy pubs for merrymaking complete the scene.
It was absolutely delightful, and I reflected at how fortunate I am to make my living in such a magical place.
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Jul 15
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**many spoilers herein**
Seriously. Don’t read this until after you’ve seen it.
It’s 3:11 AM here in Colorado, and we just got out of a packed theatre.
“I feel as if I’ll never be cheerful again.”
As anyone who read the book, you know it’s not a happy one. It’s dark and tragic. Dumbledore dies. Snape kills him. I remember reading it over and over and over, looking for a loophole, but there was none.
There shouldn’t have have been a dry eye in the house. Truly.
But the emotional catharsis that should accompany such a tremendous loss didn’t come. Any true loss I felt was left over from my dim memory of the book.
After I saw Order of the Phoenix last year, I felt the same way after Sirius’s death. Still do every time I rewatch it.
At first I thought perhaps it was the screenwriter, as Steve Kloves didn’t write Order, but he’s written the rest. But it wasn’t Michael Goldenberg who left out the intense feeling we experienced in Goblet of Fire, it’s the director.
Mike Newell directed Goblet of Fire, and to this day it is my favorite of the Potter films. He takes a much lesser loved and cherished character (Cedric Diggory, in comparison to Sirius and Dumbledore) and rips the viewers heart out at the reaction of Harry, Cedric’s father, and the entire school.
Yet Yates leaves us hanging with unfelt sorrow both times.
Early in the film, the lines were rushed. So rushed that they lost all natural timing.
So much is cut out, but that’s to be expected. There was much humor in it, and that was lovely. The acting was brilliant on all accounts.
Whereas Newell delivers every morsel of envy, nervous teenage love, sorrow, pain, and joy in Goblet of Fire, Yates leaves us wanting. Ginny & Harry’s first and only kiss had nothing of the passion and joy it did in the book. It wasn’t even cute and awkward. Much like Harry’s kiss with Cho, just not there. No spark. No nothing.
Remember in Goblet when Harry dribbles pumpkin juice down his chin when smiling at Cho. Then you feel his nervousness. His attraction.
When Harry was in the prefects bathroom with Moaning Myrtle, you feel his embarrassment.
When Harry was chosen for the Triwizard Tournament, you feel his fear. You feel Ron’s resentment.
In Half Blood Prince, Lavender Brown was certainly a breath of fresh air. Hermione’s jealousy and pain is somewhat felt, as is Harry’s longing for Ginny for the first half. Well done there.
In addition to Dumbledore’s emotionless death scene, the entire climax of the story with the Death Eaters entering Hogwarts, Harry confronting Snape, and the mourning of the school afterward just fell rather flat.
The greatest disappointment was how it was written and/or directed that Harry remain “below” while Malfoy showed up to kill Dumbledore.
Harry stood there and did nothing.
Harry NEVER does nothing! Who’s bright idea was that?
In the book, if memory serves (and it’s been over a year), Harry was covered in his invisibility cloak and made immobile by Dumbledore, himself, as Dumbledore knew well that Harry couldn’t help but do something to stop Draco.
But in this version, the audience is asked to believe that our hero, after all we’ve seen and as well as we all know him, would stand there and do nothing when hearing that Draco was there to kill Dumbledore. When a simple Expelliarimus shot up from below would’ve sufficed?
Harry would’ve taken on all the death eaters if necessary. He certainly didn’t need a reason to jinx Snape in Prisoner of Azkaban, and that was just to let Sirius finish his explanation… before Harry knew Sirius was a good guy! But we’re asked to believe that Harry would stand by and let Dumbledore be assautled in his weakened state if he was mobile and armed?
Never.
However, I’m disappointed to see that Yates will direct both parts of Deathly Hallows, so we can likely expect the same mediocre emotional experience.
I know that’s a lot of criticism, but I really did enjoy the film overall.
The ending sucked all emotion out of me, but not in a catartic way — in an unsatisfied way. Up until Dumbledore’s death, it was pretty great, really.
Daniel Radcliffe’s performance was brilliant. He’s quite the actor.
Same goes for Rupert Grint. Very impressive.
I was also quite impressed with Emma this time around, too!
They’ve all become great actors.
Overall, I look forward to seeing it again.
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Jul 14
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Tomorrow is the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince! I purposely stopped reading the book, even though I wasn’t finished, a week ago… here’s why:
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I first saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the IMAX at midnight the day of the release, and I didn’t like it one bit.
My first mistake: I had just re-read the novel. I should know better by now to never read the book right before the movie. It sets one up for too much disappointment. The movie can never be like the book. Same as was the case with The Goblet of Fire, a movie can be 2 – 2.5 hrs at the longest (some push it with 3). The last 4 Harry Potter books were well over 500 pages. It is impossible to get everything into a movie. One of the reasons I prefer The Goblet of Fire movie to The Order of the Phoenix, is that Goblet could focus just on the Tri-Wizard Tournament and leave off most everything else in the book. The Order of the Phoenix didn’t have something to central on which to focus… therefore, too much was cut.
My second mistake: Seeing it at IMAX. I think I was borderline nauseous the entire time, so it hindered my experience. I saw it again the following day, and liked it much better. I’ve now see it a few more times, and it actually is quite a nice film.
For example, there was not near enough of Hermione and Ron in this one. It seemed like, with the exception of a few scenes with them, it was almost all montage-type. And I can understand why: time constraints. Michael Goldenburg wrote the script because Steve Kloves, the writer of the other 7 HP movies, was otherwise engaged. Michael did a decent job with what he had to work with. He certainly did much better than I would’ve done.
Low points:
- Harry Mellings performance of Dudley. Not believable. Sure, Dudley is stupid and a bully; but this was just awful. Yates is more at fault for this than Mellings, for the actor can’t see themselves, but the director can.
- CGI Giant. Really? With the FX of the wizard battles being so awesome, you couldn’t get a realistic looking giant?
- Sirius’s death – really disappointing. Again, Yates. Between two such beautiful wizard battles, this was just cheesy. Too bad, too — because it could’ve been one of the most powerful parts of the film. Still – Radcliffe’s reaction and the choice to make that silent… made up for it. Tears-ville!
High points:
- Any scene with Gary Oldman. The man is brilliant. Especially the scenes with Radcliffe. The two actors truly captured the love between them. Although Sirius’s death was wanting, the rest of their relationship was excellent.
- The wizard battles! BRILLIANT! Especially with Dumbledore & Voldemort – truly inspiring.
- Fiennes, of course, is brilliant as always. As in the end of Goblet, his Voldemort is truly frightening. He is as disturbing as Voldemort as he is breathtakingly handsome as himself. A tribute to a great, great actor.
- The correlation and imagery of fascism within the Ministry of Magic. This book was written around the aftermath of 9/11, and I’ve always wondered if it had some sort of political commentary about the way the US and British governments were behaving at the time. Well done Art Director Andrew Ackland-Snow and Director David Yates.
I didn’t *feel* as much of the characters’ pain in this as I did in Goblet… with the exception of Harry. When he says, “I’m just so angry all the time” and when he loses Sirius — quite beautiful in it’s darkness. Harry just loses so very much, and it just keeps coming.
Radcliffe had not only grown into a beautiful man, but he’s quite a great actor as well. I look forward to the remaining 3 HP movies and anything else this talented man does.
Ultimately, Goblet is still my #1 HP movie, and I think Phoenix & Prisoner of Azkaban are tied for second place… with Phoenix starting to take the lead. Starting with Prisoner, things became more dark, just the way I like them. So as these beloved characters descend further into this dark world with the Dark Lord, I’m counting the days until The Half Blood Prince is released.
—–{—–{@
Which is now down to TOMORROW!
(recycled blog: originally published on 1/12/09)
Be sure to watch my Bellatrix on the Borderline video! It’s badass! 
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Jul 13
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I love Harry Potter. That’s no secret. Harry Potter brought magic back into my life during a time of darkness and frustration.
I read, not as often as I would like, but I do read. I get through a few books a year normally, something I’m desperately trying to increase this year. Somehow, with everything I do for work, not much time is left for anything else; however, when a new HP book was released, everything else stopped. I scheduled an entire day to read just that. And I would! I’d read it in a day. Even books 5, 6, and 7 — as long as they were — in a day. I’d laugh and I’d cry. I’d grasp the book tightly as I forced my eyes to not jump ahead, often having to cover the bottom of the page. I moved from my chair only to eat and visit the bathroom — otherwise, my eyes were glued on those pages. Not many books have been able to capture my attention like that. And, despite the few books I read each year, the entire Harry Potter series is among them. Each year.
Although book 4, The Goblet of Fire, was the hardest for me to get through, taking several days, it is my favorite of the films so far. I’ve just watched it again.
In fact, it was just a few days after seeing this film for the 4th time in the theater back in 2005, that Rowan first came to me. I noticed how people of all ages were drawn to Harry Potter… here and around the world. I went to see it that 4th time with my sister and my 65-yr-old father. We walked in behind two 80-yr-old women. Back at home, my 3 and 5 yr old nephews watched the first movie on DVD and played with their wands. I began to think what it was about Harry Potter that appealed to so many people of all ages and backgrounds. I thought the same about the superheroes and great stories like the Arthurian Legend, The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. It was contemplating what these stories had in common when Rowan came to me on that flight from Dallas back to Klamath Falls, OR. I scribbled my notes down on airsick bags… and now it’s an award-winning book. Wow.
Still, the movie — I can’t count how many times I’ve seen it now, and I still laugh and cry every time. I *feel* this film. The performance by the young actors was at an all-time high, to which is partially due to their maturity and experience, no doubt; but we must also give kudos to director Mike Newell for pulling it out of them. I *feel* Harry’s fear upon being announced as a Twi-Wizard Champion and as he faces his dragon. I *feel* Ron’s jealousy and resentment… truly, beautifully done.
Although Yates did a nice job with Order of the Phoenix (and I truly look forward to Half Blood Prince), it doesn’t hold a candle to the depth of feeling and darkness that director Mike Newell & screenwriter Steve Kloves achieved in The Goblet of Fire. Kloves didn’t write Order, although he’s written the rest. I hope that this was the anomaly and Half Blood Prince will be even more magnificent than Goblet, even with Yates directing.
Stay tuned for my post tomorrow about the film: The Order of the Phoenix.
The work as a whole, I’ve said before and I’ll say again, will go down in history as the greatest contribution to children’s literature of our time. It will rival Narnia and The Hobbit, among other classics, in the hearts and minds of generations to come.
(Recycled blog: first publised 1/11/09)
Be sure to watch my Bellatrix on the Borderline video! It’s badass!
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Jul 08
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Once again the great Harry Potter takes center stage as movie number six is about to hit theaters everywhere. But what causes these stories to be so popular? Why such a wide appeal? There isn’t even anything new or unique about them.
If you are looking for a school of wizardry why not try LeGuin’s Rork? Or Pratchett’s Unseen University?
Witches on brooms date back to the persecution of pagans in Europe.
Wizards with wands are as old as performing magicians who used them to hold the eyes of their audiences while their other hand was performing the tricks.
Dragons were a part of the oldest saga written in English.
Centaurs pre-date Greek writing, as does the orphan hero character.
Perhaps the reason these stories are so popular is precisely because they are so well known. We can identify with them. Jung would say they are a part of our collective unconscious.
What makes them even more appealing is that Rowling brings them into a modern and familiar setting, at least for English readers. The boarding school with houses competing against each other in sports and academia is an established part of England’s youth, complete with sinister teachers and castle like buildings.
These settings may be a bit more exotic for American readers, but the death struggles against Voldemort are still only secondary to the main adventure of trying to survive the growing up process and reach adulthood. Little do they know how much still awaits them after reaching this goal.
I applaud Rowling, not for her unique stories, but for how she can make the same old hat fresh and exciting.
Who wants to read about stuff they can’t relate to?
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Apr 23
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First of all let me confess that I have an affliction. I am an inveterate reader. I read all the time whenever and wherever I can. If there is not some reading material in my hand, then it is probably in my pocket or within 10 feet of me at all times. I keep extra books stashed in my truck in case of emergencies. When you see a guy reading in the checkout line or while stopped at a traffic light, that is me. I have gone so far as to read a phone book when nothing else is available. I am incorrigible. Because of this, I have discovered some gems I never would have otherwise. In all honesty however, I cannot recommend the phone book.
I have found some very enjoyable reading in some rather unusual places. Back in the early nineties, I used to read a small newspaper called simply “The Rag.” It was a monthly paper put out by an individual who just had to write, regardless of the financial drain the paper actually represented. He would distribute it freely around town wherever he could, mostly laundromats and waiting rooms. He would charge five dollars for a classified ad. The money this brought in almost paid for the printing.
He would write all the articles himself on anything and everything that caught his fancy. His writing was interesting, insightful, and off the wall, but more than anything else, delightfully funny.
Another free publication I have quite enjoyed over the years was published at Burning Man. It was called the “Spock Science Monitor.” It was put out daily during the event by a group of hillbillies who, if I remember correctly, also brewed up something they called hyper-whiskey. Probably as a result of this, they sometimes missed a day. The stories seem to be serious civic issues, but they were handled in a very dry-humored, misinformation propagating way. The results were quite hilarious. Their back issues are posted on their website at http://www.smrl.org/ssm.html . Parental discretion is advised.
My most recent discovery is a tiny magazine published in Austin, Texas called “Space Squid.” It is produced by a group of Austinites and features short short stories of a science fiction nature. The stories are both funny and unique. They also have comics and other fun silliness. It is a publication I would recommend to anyone who can get there hands on it. I first came upon this gem while visiting the Nebula Awards held in Austin last year. It is an event worth attending for the reading material alone. You can find out more about them at www.spacesquid.com .
So, for all those readers out there who enjoy good writing wherever it is found, keep an eye out for those free publications, no matter how small, because the kind of person who just has to write regardless of compensation may have something more valuable to offer than the cookie cutter books climbing the commercial charts.
Happy reading!
(This post first appeared at Grasping for the Wind during Rowan’s Beltane Blog Book Tour)
***NOTE***
Rowan of the Wood has SOLD OUT of it’s initial print run, so they are currently on back order through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Please bear with us during this transition period.
IT IS STILL AVAILABLE via Kindle, various other eBook formats, and promotional signed copies from the authors (w/swag!)
****COMING TOMORROW 4/24: WWYD4AK2?****
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Apr 22
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Every so often a book comes along that breaks out of its genre and by doing so, defines it. When I was a kid that book was actually a trilogy—The Trilogy—The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. It not only influenced literature, but music through bands like Led Zeppelin and Shadowfax. Cars sported bumper stickers which claimed that “Frodo Lives.” Movies were attempted but the technology wasn’t there yet. Many fantasy books published at the time sported a reference to its similarity to Tolkien’s work. It defined the fantasy genre even though the genre already included many great writers like Lord Dunsany and Robert E. Howard. It was because it had surpassed the field of fantasy and entered the populous at large.
 Readers of fantasy recognized it as a great work but also realized that there were other great works in the field. When people who did not normally read fantasy thought of the genre, however, they thought of The Lord of the Rings because it was what they knew.
Harry Potter has had a similar effect on the current generation. When someone thinks of middle grade or young adult fantasy, they think of Harry Potter since that is the work which has broken out of its genre and entered the main stream.  While on tour with my own middle grade fantasy, Rowan of the Wood, I am often asked a variation on “Are you going to be the next Harry Potter?” I generally pass it off with a comment about settling for a fraction of Rowling’s success. The truth is that there won’t be a next Harry Potter, while that phenomenon lasts. Any young adult or middle grade fantasy, no matter how well written or successful, will be compared to Harry Potter because it is the book that has broken out of its genre and by doing so defines it. Just like Mike Hammer defines the P.I. or James Bond defines the Secret Agent.
Similarly, since Harry Potter dealt with a young orphaned protagonist, many make the mistake of thinking any orphan protagonist is a Harry Potter knock-off. The orphan-hero protagonist dates back to Greek times in Literature. It did not begin with Harry Potter. In our book, Rowan of the Wood, we have a “orphaned” protagonist. He’s actually in the foster care system, as both his parents are not dead. Many readers immediately see Harry Potter in the pages because there is magic, an orphan boy, and a mean sibling figure/foster family. This is understandable because of the reasons stated above; however, our protagonist Cullen Knight is based upon my childhood, not upon the character of Harry Potter.
- I grew up in foster care among the redwood forest.
- I lived in less-than-ideal foster care.
- I had a bully foster brother, and, most importantly, I dreamed of of magic and wizards while walking amongst the redwoods with my copy of The Hobbit in hand.
 My wife/co-author grew up in suburbia, and she’s always been fascinated with my childhood tale. This is why Cullen Knight suffers in this situation. Although I read the Harry Potter series and enjoyed it immensely, I still prefer the works of Tove Janson and Roald Dahl. Rowling however is in my top ten. Her greatest contribution to literature is that her books taught a love of reading to many people young and old who would otherwise have missed the opportunity. What more could any author ask for?
(This post first appeared during Rowan’s Beltane Blog Tour over at Steph Su Reads)
SIDE NOTE: Today is my & Christine’s 10th anniversary as a couple!
(Our 10th wedding anniversary is next year)
***NOTE***
Rowan of the Wood has SOLD OUT of it’s initial print run, so they are currently on back order through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Please bear with us during this transition period.
IT IS STILL AVAILABLE via Kindle, various other eBook formats, and promotional signed copies from the authors (w/swag!)
****COMING FRIDAY 4/24: WWYD4AK2?****
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