Friday Fun

I apologize now for the swearing in the comic (and the gesture. Nothing else is inappropriate on that page). I don't usually post these things, but sometimes you need to know why you're frustrated with your work:

once-again-spite-conquers-all comic by 3DMatt (link goes out to the post's page on Tumblr).

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't let evil space wizards hold you back.

Thursday Travels

The world seems to be filled with a lot of dark stories recently, but there has to be good out there, right?

I wish it was a requirement for news stations, and media in general, to post about inspirational topics or talk on acts of good will. Why do we need to restore our faith in humanity in small bursts? Why can't we be reminded on a daily basis that there are good people in the world?

I found 25 photos that will restore your faith in humanity (goes out to MSN).

I don't care about the place, time, age, gender, religion, political leaning, or anything. I just want to see people, or animals, doing good for others. It does the heart good to see something that doesn't make it feel bitter or cold.

(I had to stop halfway through the photos in fear a coworker would ask me why I was crying.)

These were great photos. There was one I had a hard time reading (or two actually). But, beneath the photo it explains the gist of the image.

I want to laugh at the first picture. The woman's reaction is fantastic, and expected, but the face of the lady behind her makes the picture a whole other kind of fun. I really hope she got the job.

Anyway, if a Scientist wants to beam the internet into space, then I hope more of the good (and funny) comes through.

Thursday Travels

A photo of an animal that is said to be closely related to rabbits and hares (lagomorphs) has been floating around.

The Ili pika:



It's adorable and looks like a cross between a rabbit and a mouse. One reporter even called it an Ewok.

Unfortunately, for us and them, they only seem to reside on a specific mountain in China. Plus, they are extremely endangered.

The reason the critter is so spectacular, besides being cute, its because it hasn't been seen for 20 years. The photograph is actually from early 2014, but only recently has become a big deal in the media.

Personally, I love it. I adore rabbits and I want to hug one of these. If my plot bunnies looked like this, I would welcome them with open arms.

Now, I'm going to return to my cave and get some work done. Enjoy the cuteness!

Thursday Travels

Maybe it should be called Thursday Inspiration or something. Of course, then it wouldn't be an alliteration.

I love reading Historical Fiction, especially about ancient or pristine civilizations. I've always loved learning about ancient civilizations from anywhere in the world, but never really had a chance to study them as much as I'd like.

One of my favorite Historical Fiction authors is Michelle Moran. I often find myself thinking about The Heretic Queen or Cleopatra's Daughter. She recently came out with a new book, The Rebel Queen, which I bought and put on the short list of "To Reads".

So, through my daily RSS feed reading of articles, mainly comprised of business articles, I came across this Archaeology Magazine article: Why did Teotihuacan Collapse? (Tay-oh-tea-wa-kahn. At least that's how my Latin American History professor said it).

It's a very short article, but it's enough to let your imagination go. It'd be awesome if someone would write a historical fiction novel about this. We know, generally, why the civilization collapsed, but what else drove it? What characters?

If you're inspired, feel free to write it. While I said I love historical fiction, I don't know if I'd be the best voice for it. I have about 9 novel ideas left to write before I would even consider writing this. Of course I'd love for you to let me know about it (and autograph my copy. I collect autographs of my favorite (living) authors).

Anyway, are there American (North or South American) historical fiction novels prior to 1492? Once colonization hit North America, I lose interest quickly. :)

Monday Musings

When the going gets tough, the tough get Mad Men.

Now, I have never actually watched Mad Men, but I know it's popular. Many places I turn talk about or reference the show, proving just how big it is in pop culture.

Why the post though?

Well, this morning I read an article on Business Insider saying "Every studio passed on 'Mad Men' at first; here's the epic story of how it finally got on air." It's a long article, but it details not just the process of getting a network to pick up the series, but how agents and actors/writers parted ways because of negative opinions.

In an industry full of form rejections, it's nice not to just read about best sellers that had stacks of rejections, but hearing that novel writers are not alone in the mine field of rejections is refreshing.

I am in the midst of rejections, and I am sure that I will be seeing many more in my future. But, if I give up now, not only will I disappoint myself and my characters, but (yes, you need to be a little cocky to say this) I'll disappoint the world.

A key take away from the article? Persistence. It's important to not to give up on something, but sometimes that something needs a break. The timing may not be right. As many novelists have hears, Dystopian and Paranormal Romances are tough sells right now. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't write that Dystopian Paranormal Romance. Who knows, you might be the exception to the saturated market.

For those who are not familiar with the publishing industry, Dystopian and Paranormal Romances may be hot now (or dying down in my opinion), but publishers are looking about two years into the future. Two years from now, we may read one or two dystopians, but not many. We'll be crazy over Sci-fi cozies or something.

Well, that's my shiny penny on the topic.

Remember, shoulders square, chin up, and get your work done!