Beam me up, Scotty! This party has gone galactic! Come party and win an autographed copy of Nick Daws', SciFi book. Everyone invited (except the Cabbage Face aliens from Nick's book)...so I should make it clear, everyone human is invited to party!
Anne is the winner from Friday and yes, you may have High Tide. You are the Haiku Champion. Congratulations! (email me, please)
Bonus: Anyone who has commented at least once before today and have NOT won a book, email me if you want one of my books - you are a winner now! Ya gotta play to win.
My impression of Nick Daws is influenced by the image of him being the GodFather moderator on MyWritersCircle.com writing forum. I was happily a member of the forum, just chatting away...and meeting several of the writers who were highlighted at this blog party. For some strange reason, Nick and his bevy of moderators voted for me as the replacement for the American moderator. (What were they thinking? I never did learn to split topic threads. Not to mention, the site crashed the day I became a moderator, honest! Ask Carrie.) Nick was always changing his picture, with a hat, without hat, sunglasses on & off...
I think of Nick as a non-fiction guru. Nick wrote Write Any Book In Under 28 Days, which I have heard is very good. I wrote the first draft of Kathryn's Beach in 21 days, so I know it can be done. I have a copy of Nick's Essential English For Authors, my first eBook experience. I printed it and have it in a binder. One of the things I like about that book is it has both UK English and American English rules and guides.
Come back later and click around on the links here: http://www.nickdaws.co.uk/
So when Nick asked to be in the blog party, he floored me when he said he has a brand new SicFi work, The Festival On Lyris Five. I have loved SciFi since the very first time Captain Kirk had his shirt ripped off or someone beamed somewhere. To be honest, I like all the science and the political morality statements made in SciFi. Too bad I can't win Nick's book!
Here is what Lulu.com has about The Festival On Lyris Five: Former Ten Stars combat pilot Rick Barrett is having a bad day. Not only is he jobless and broke, in a seedy spaceport bar he has just been forced into a winner-takes-all poker game with a homicidal cauliflower. Salvation is at hand in the shapely form of Irish redhead Julie Halloran, who has an unusual talent of her own. Julie has a proposition for Rick that could end his financial worries at a stroke, though it might also end up getting him killed. But is Julie keeping a few cards hidden herself? The Festival on Lyris Five is a fast-moving, hilarious, science-fiction novella, where nothing is quite what it seems. The story by UK author Nick Daws is beautifully complemented by Louise Tolentino's wry illustrations.
I read as much as I could on the link below. I want to know what is going on with that blond who is helping Rick play poker with the cabbage face alien to win his life. Check this out: http://www.freado.com/book/3619/The-Festival-on-Lyris-Five
SciFi party music!
Encounters of the Third Kind video was removed by YouTube.
Party Game: Name your favorite SciFi series, movie, or book and say what you liked best about it and talk about writing stuff while you can ask Nick questions. That is all you have to do to be eligible to win an autographed copy of Nick's The Festival On Lyris Five.
This is the place to party without worrying about typos in the comments (who cares?) -- this is after all, only the FIRST DRAFT.
**If you need help navigating blogger, here are some basic instructions: http://nadinelaman.blogspot.com/2009/08/just-few-basics.html
The comment section is below this line. Click on the word "comments." That's where you can leave a note. eMail me if you have trouble with this...NadineLaman(at)aol.com
Monday, August 31, 2009
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When Paul Fenton stops for breakfast in a small town, he gets more than he bargained for in the process.
When two-hundred-year-old human remains are discovered on one of Neptune's moons, Earth's history falls into question.
Emily's husband persuades her to try thalidomide to ease her symptoms as she is unaware of the devastating effects.
Who is the women's shelter bomber? Melissa Ryan suspects that her husband knows.
Further developments with the Wilder family.
A hidden past shakes the O'Donovan family to its core
A swirl of emotion and choice, set in Cape Town, South Africa
Love is a constant, but it comes at a price.
When the road ahead is unclear, sometimes you have to rely on trust.
The struggle between good and evil is ages old. It gets all the more complicated when the good guys aren't all good and the bad guys have redeeming qualities.
Story of a land mothering two races of people – the light-skinned and the dark-skinned.
A gifted Ukrainian ballerina comes into possession of a mysteriously coded address book.
Six passengers' lives change for better or worse after they arrive in Honiton.
Resilience and love in a harsh and unforgiving age
Kathryn's Beach
High Tide
Storm Surge
Morning Nick.
ReplyDeleteHas to be Dr Who, but more of that later.
Hi Glen - yes, Dr Who! But I have special reasons. Hi Nadine. I'm off swimming now but I'll be back to play later.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book Nick!
Carrie
Good morning! yeah, Carrie's mum designed and made costumes for Dr Who...more than once.
ReplyDeleteSo tell, ah come on - why do you like that one, Glyn.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone! I just beamed in from the far distant planet of Burntwoodia - oh, all right, Burntwood, in Staffordshire, UK.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great intro, Nadine. Glad my efforts at regularly refreshing my avatar on my forum have been noted and appreciated!
I'm looking forward to some serious partying here today. Feel free to ask me anything, about my writing courses, my freelance writing career, my forum, my blog, my books, my new novella, whatever. Or just have fun partying and chatting with the other guests, of course!
Nick
You're welcome, Nick! Yes, MWC is a fun place. Remember when most of us had pics with sunglasses? You notice all the people I met there on the guest list. For all the fun over at MWC, we did manage to write a book or two in the process.
ReplyDeleteYou totally surprised me with SciFi though. How you you come to write The Festival?
OK, confession time. The Festival on Lyris Five was actually written a few years ago, when I had a bit more time for fiction writing. Because of its in-between length, it was difficult to place, but I enjoyed writing it and have a particular affection for the story.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard that some members of my forum were starting a small publishing company, I offered the story to them, with the suggestion of adding illustrations. I'm pleased to say they jumped at the idea, and found a very talented artist, Louise Tolentino, to provide the pictures.
I'm not really expecting to make a lot of money from 'Festival'. It's basically a fun project for me, a chance to get my novella read a bit more widely, while at the same time supporting this new venture by my friends at Salvatore Publishing.
Although obviously, if any Hollywood agents happen to be reading this, I should mention that the film rights in the novella are still available ;-)
Nick
Nick, I visited Salvatore Publishing, one of the things mentioned there is that books start digitally. Is that how your book began?
ReplyDeleteNot exactly sure what that means, Nadine. I guess my book started in my head, like everyone else's :-)
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I submitted it in electronic form, as a Word file, and Salvatore took it from there.
I meant, it read to me that they first publish their books in electronic format, then in paper. That seems to be what a lot of new small presses are doing.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone and hello Nick. I hope you're rested after your little break.
ReplyDeleteI've had the pleasure of reading Festival on Lyris Five and I loved it so the prize today (as with all days) is well worth having guys.
My favourite sci-fi has to be Dr Who. If you could take a peek over my shoulder you would see a vast collection of DVD's dating right back to the first episode. There's even a remote control dalek there too. :-)
I'm off to read up on the blogs I missed last week but I'll be back.
Kate
X
Nick, Do you have other fiction works coming?
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Kate. I saw that you wrote a review for Nick. That's one of the nice things about being part of a writing community, you can rely on each other for help along the way.
ReplyDeleteWe watch Dr. Who quite a bit. I liked Babylon 5 and I liked the reinvented Battlestar Galactia. On Babylon 5 I liked the space station setting, like this blog party (rather than a blog tour) the characters rotated through the setting. With BSG, of course I love Eddie from Miami Vice and Mary McDonald from Dances with Wolves and liked the way their characters played against each other in BSG.
Dr Who.
ReplyDelete1. I saw the first episode.
2. I've watched it ever since.
3. I also have a remote control dalek, a watch, electronic board game, card game and bubble bath.
4. My favourite Dr's are William Hartnell, of course, Patrick Troughton, Tom Baker, Christopher Eccleston (one of my favourites) and David Tennant.
5. My favourite monster is the Dalek.
6. With my daughter who also loves Dr Who we have visited the Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff.
7. I've stood on the set of Torchwood. The spin off that I also love.
Ok. I'll ask some sensible questions later.
Carrie says I sould like a dalek when we don't get a good connection on yahoo messenger, does that count?
ReplyDeleteGlyn,
ReplyDelete1) I wasn't born when the first episode went out.
2) I started watching during John Pertwee's era and stopped at Sylvester McCoy.Picked it up again at Christopher Ecclestone.
3) I also have a sonic screwdriver, a Tardis money box, a model of John Pertwee's car (used in Dr Who) and a signed photo from Tom Baker.
4) My faves are Christopher Eccleston and William Hartnell (because they're edgier).
5) My favourite "monster" is The Master (especially if he's played by John Simm whom I adore).
6) I haven't been to cardiff...yet.
&) I love Torchwood too
This is fun!!! :-)
Yes, it is. If we can get Nick back, we can ask him questions about his aliens.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, Glyn, and all
ReplyDeleteNadine: No more SF stories in the pipeline right now, but who knows what the future holds ;-)
Kate: Yes, it was a good break, thanks. Llandundo is a charming, traditional seaside resort - there are even donkey rides on the beach and a Punch & Judy man! Would definitely like to return sometime.
Glyn and Kate clearly qualify as hardcore Dr Who fans. I wouldn't quite put myself in that category, although I have fond memories of watching it as a child/teenager. I was a big Tom Baker fan myself.
Of current/recent TV series with an SF element, I've really enjoyed Lost, Buffy and Tru Calling. A great shame the latter series was cancelled in its prime. I've never got into BSG, I'm afraid, but I gather the remake was (unusually) much better than the original 1960/70s series.
The artwork in his book is very nice. Seems like it the excerpt they were generous with the art and I like that about his book. I'm going to have to buy Nick's book because I got hooked on the story.
ReplyDeleteNick, I agree. Though I liked Loren Greene, I just couldn't get into the frist two BSG. Although, in the remake, the actors carried the sometimes lacking script.
ReplyDeleteNick any other fiction, if not SciFi, in the works? Though I admit, you did a stellar (wink) job with The Festival On Lyris Five.
ReplyDeleteThe artwork in Nick's book is great. It's actually inspired my Nick to commission an artist friend to do something similar to promote his novel Star Maniacs.
ReplyDeleteI have a few ideas on the back-burner, but these days it is very difficult to find the time to devote to fiction-writing. Also, as a full-time freelance writer with no other source of income, I do mostly have to stick to jobs I know I'll get paid for. In practice, for me anyway, that means non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteKate, I agree, that really added to the excellent writing.
ReplyDeleteNick, I know...you totally left me speachless (can you imagine that?) when you offered a work of fiction. I thought, holy cow, YES!
Quote: "The artwork in Nick's book is great. It's actually inspired my Nick to commission an artist friend to do something similar to promote his novel Star Maniacs."
ReplyDeleteThat's great to hear, Kate. By the way, I'm sorry that the coincidence of names means you constantly have to refer to your partner as 'my Nick' in this sort of setting!
I do have a short story called Uncle Frank's Promise included in the forthcoming Mywriterscircle.com Christmas anthology, incidentally.
ReplyDeleteI just ran Carrie's writing group's anthology through my account at my printer, and even with the overseas shipping, it was less expensive for them for me to do it. That was kind of fun. I just formatted it for them. I think anthologies are a big boost to see one's work in print for the first time, besides being a fairly decent fund raiser for groups.
ReplyDeleteI see MWC is approaching the 10,000 member mark. When was that forum started, I can't remember?
ReplyDeleteMWC launched in December 2005, Nadine, so it will soon be 4 years old.
ReplyDeleteClosing date for submissions for the MWC Christmas Anthology is the 14th of September...is that right?
ReplyDeleteI will have to get my skates on.
That's amazing. But there really is something for everyone at MWC. I think it is easy to navigate and the moderating is about the right touch. (I'm saying that from both sides, as a member and a former moderator.) Plus, it is free! Had you had a forum before, Nick? If this is a first endevor, you struck it right straight off.
ReplyDeleteIs this the second or third MWC anthology?
ReplyDeleteWow, can't believe MWC is nearly 4. :-)
ReplyDeleteI bought a Salvatore book - the Xmas one. Some great stories in there.
Nadine did a fantastic job on our local writers circle anthology for our 30th anniversary. They are pleased as anything to have a 'book', not some photocopied, stapled thingy. It really does look good.
OK - Dr Who seems pretty well covered, so I'll throw in a few others to think about:
Star Trek (of course!)
Space 1999
Blake's 7 (with the wobbliest cardboard sets)
and I'm going to choose
Red Dwarf.
Now Red Dwarf may not have made it far overseas, it was full of a very 'British' sense of humour but the thing about it was the plots. Not that they had any really - but the imagination in just setting up the cast!
These incuded a hologram, a cat turned human and a butler robot called Crighton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf
If you've never heard of it or seen it.
The comedy was ahead of its time (well, it was set several thousand years in the future) and the character interactions were the main push for action.
So, my vote goes to Red Dwarf.
I also enjoyed, in their day:
Star Cops
Quatermass
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
The Tripods (kids show)
Tomorrow People (kids show)
Carrie
Hi Carrie, you really covered the bases there.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for the post on MWC, http://www.mywriterscircle.com/index.php?topic=22652.new;topicseen#new
ReplyDeleteKate: Yes, 14 September is the deadline for submissions for the MWC Christmas anthology. Clicking the title should take you to the MWC topic with full details.
ReplyDeleteNadine: MWC was indeed my first forum, but I had a lot of guidance and advice from the amazing Karl Moore, our forum sponsor and Blog Party guest later this week.
I think it's just the second Xmas anthology, but I could be wrong about that. There have been other collaborative projects, though, notably Station Shorts.
Nick
Hi Carrie
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you at the party too!
Nick
Red Dwarf: Got the whole set - so funny, never get tired of watching them.
ReplyDeleteMy love of HHGTTG is well documented.
Space 1999, Quatermass - fond memories.
Tommorrow People - takes me back to my long lost youth.
I can't remember The Tripods or Star Cops but "my Nick" raves about them...I think he is looking for them on DVD.
Blakes 7- Fantastic, even with the wobbly sets and dodgy acting ( a bit like Prisoner Cell Block H). I loved Kerr Avon (must have a thing for baddies as I love John Simm as the Master too). And I once had a Servelan haircut, she was sooo lush and wore fabulos costumes. My Father in Law still has a thing for her.
Anyone remember the original Firefly?
I don't know about the original Firefly, but did like the one that was on a couple of years ago. My middle kid has that set of DVD's
ReplyDeleteSo Nick, how did you come to write Scifi, did you get the story idea and it was scifi genre, or did you decide to write scifi, then get the story?
ReplyDeleteFirefly was an interesting concept in cross genre don't you think. A Sci-Fi Western!!!
ReplyDeleteRight....I'm off to make Pesky Kid and myself some lunch...back later.
Kate
X
Firefly had strong writers and actors. It was a bad decision to pull the show and the reason was lame.
ReplyDeleteSince I can't win your book, can I get a signed copy from you? Do I need to order one and ship to you or how do you handle that?
It is almost 5 AM here in Pacific Time. I'm going to take a nap. Nick is still around...so keep partying!
ReplyDeleteHi Nadine
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, it's that long since I wrote Festival, I can't remember the original inspiration very well.
However, I'm pretty sure it was partly from a trip I made to the Glastonbury Festival in an ancient Morris Minor with an ex-girlfriend called Jan. We had various misadventures en route from Birmingham, but we did eventually get to the festival. I think in The Festival on Lyris Five I tried to recapture something of the atmosphere of that trip but in a science fictional setting.
Regarding getting a signed copy of my book, I'm not exactly sure how that could be achieved via the Lulu.com sales page. How about instead we swap books? You send me one of yours, and I'll send you mine?
Nick
Time to put on some music, maybe? Here's a link to a suitably sci-fi themed track called 2Wicky by Belgian group Hooverphonic. Great video!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is a link to a track called Stars Die by Porcupine Tree, an amazing prog rock band from the UK.
Anyone care to suggest any other favorite SF-themed music?
I've just joined MWC
ReplyDeleteWelcome aboard, Glyn!
ReplyDeleteNick...wanted to ask about the psychological impetus for the cabbage face aliens in your novella. Were your parents strict about you eating your greens. :-)
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, do you see anything of yourself in Rick (the protagonist) or is he based on someone else you know?
ReplyDeleteI remember that I saw him as a "young Han Solo with a dash of Lister."
LOL. I honestly don't know how or why I came up with the idea of a homicidal cauliflower in Festival. I think it just struck me as supremely silly, and helped set the tone for the rest of the story.
ReplyDeleteActually, in the normal run of things, I quite like cauliflower.
And yes, I'm sure there's a touch of me in Rick. Or at least, me as I'd like to be in my heroic fantasies. 'A young Han Solo with a touch of Lister' will do fine ;-)
ReplyDeleteSorry...I said cabbage instead of cauliflower...I'm still hungry you see. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo who is Julie based on then...or is she another "heroic fantasy"?
"Good morning! yeah, Carrie's mum designed and made costumes for Dr Who...more than once".
ReplyDeleteJust seen this comment...how cool is that. Wait until I tell "my Nick". It's that 6 Degrees of Separation Theory at play!!!
Hello, Nick!
ReplyDeleteI'm not on MWC yet, though I intend to join as soon as possible, I've been reading some topics there and found them very useful!
I remember the Red Dwarf, we watched them as kids. Hilarious! And I agree about True Calling, it was canceled to soon. Luckily, one our station reruns it over and over and over again. We watched all seasons of Nanny like...8 times before someone threatened to drop a bomb unless they replace it :)
I was a huuuuuuge fan of Roswell, remember that one? About teen aliens? I was thirteen when it came out. That's when I decided I want to study English-and before that,I barely spoke any!
Greetings to everyone!
Just got back from college, I'm tired but proud-one exam down, ten more to go!
Look, when little kids were hiding behind the sofa because Dr Who was on - I had the monsters ON the sofa! :-)
ReplyDeleteI wrote some about it a long time back:
http://ukfolkie.blogspot.com/2006/05/dr-who-monsters.html
Right - got to go - trying to help son with decisions re education. *sigh*
Carrie
Hi Ivy,
ReplyDeletegood luck with the exams (although I'm sure you don't need any luck).
Roswell was great wasn't it and I also remember the 4400 too.
I have to say though i don't think there will ever be a spaceship to match the one in Close Encounters.
Going to have to be careful here though...I have a very wild imagination and it's possible that I will dream about little grey aliens tonight. Or, even more sinister, cauliflower faced ones. EEK!!!
Kate: Julie isn't based on anyone in particular, AFAIK. Yes, she is probably another of my 'heroic fantasies'!
ReplyDeleteHello, Ivana. Nice to meet another Tru Calling fan. We have the complete box set on DVD. It's just such a shame it ended with the plot so brilliantly poised. Oh well, maybe if enough of us go on complaining about its cancellation, it will eventually be brought back to life (in-joke for TC fans).
Those of you who like SF and still haven't seen Tru Calling, by the way, should immediately order the box set from Amazon and prepare yourself for a treat.
Nick
Ivana, Good luck and enjoy :) the exams lol
ReplyDeleteHello, just waking up and getting caught up... Refresh the page, I've added the music Nick requested. BRB
ReplyDeleteWhat about the theme from Dr Who?
ReplyDeleteSorry, kid's 88 Jeep broke down in St. Louis (half way across the country) on Sat, trying to sort the repairs and get him back on the road.
ReplyDeleteIf someone hasn't said, when you join MWC, go to the welcome area and introduce yourself...then head to the coffee shop and check out the other topics as well.
Glyn, email me the link and I'll go capture the encoded bit I need to post it...
ReplyDeleteHey, that's cool - my sci-fi music videos have been embedded in the main blog post. Thanks, Nadine!
ReplyDeleteGood advice, too, from Nadine for new MWC members. Try to check out the 'Read This First' stickies at the top of most boards as well. Not that MWC has many rules, really, but it's good to understand the way things work on the forum.
Nick, yes on the book swap. Warning...I write girly, but you can share with Jayne. Please send your address again...you should see my email in-box...might be months before I'd find it again.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to a YouTube video of the Doctor Who theme, if that's any help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH0hHZA0U5c
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed MWC, even the moderator time. I don't get back there as often as I'd like. The rules are, mind your manners and be part of the community. Most people don't need to be told that, but when someone who was raised in a barn comes along, notify the mods. Simple. As you can see, it is quite the family. I've made life-longs friends there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nadine. No problem - Jayne always needs books, especially now that she has a lot of time on her hands (for those who don't know, she's currently receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer).
ReplyDeleteI'll email you my address - no problem. I'll need yours as well!
Dr. Who is set up and playing on the patio...refresh the page.
ReplyDeleteNick and for those who have requested my address, this is my business address (not our house - sorry, you can't TP - or loo paper - our house with this one.)
ReplyDeleteNadine Laman
20165 North 67th Avenue, Suite 122A
Glendale, Arizona 85308 USA
Just for the record, anyone else needing to exchage mailing addresses, do it by email.
ReplyDeleteI can forward emails if needed. NadineLaman(at)aol.com
Thanks, Nadine. OK, I must go and cook our evening meal, then eat it, but I'll try to check in again later this evening.
ReplyDeleteIn the mean time, have fun, everybody, and try not to break anything!
Nick
We can take the party out doors to the patio, only 100F right now, seriously, that isn't bad in a dry heat. The worst that can happen is someone gets pushed in the pool...just remember to swim in the shady part... we want you around for a long time and the sun can be deadly... So, scifi dance to the back yard!
ReplyDeleteWell we went to the pub and there were too many wasps, so we came home again. It's been a nice warm day here in the East.
ReplyDeleteNow - shame on us all! - no one mentioned the X Files!
Great series, though maybe they ran it a bit too long.
And does Buffy the Vampire Slayer count as scifi? I only watched a few, but they seemed fun.
Carrie
That is some seriously fast book writing. I like the idea of 'Essential English for Authors'.
ReplyDeleteHello DJ. Nick's books are great - I found MWC through is 'Write a book in 28 days' but my comp crashed and I never did re-install it as I'd lost all the codes (and now the disk). It was good though.
ReplyDeleteEssential English for Authors is a great idea - and the fact it takes into account UK and US is very important. Have come unstuck more than once with the 'divided by a common language' issue!
Carrie
I'm a first time blogger - so be kind - it has to be Dean Koontz 'Lightening' - the best time travel story ever. The main character is so connected to this person that he travels throughout her lifetime to correct all the faults and bad deeds that are done to her - but he is being followed - Koontz always makes it a bit scary. Brilliant. Fiona x
ReplyDeleteHi DJ! Welcome!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Lost In Space, "Danger, Will Robinson - Danger!" I was sure he would smack someone with those wild robot arms!
Hello Fiona...you are welcome to the party.
ReplyDeleteOh forgot to say thanks Nick for the 28 days course it's brill too - told you I was first time blogger - Nearly finished my first draft - it's a sci-fi and I'm really lovin' it - also live in Staffs like you - thanx again. Fiona
ReplyDeleteI've been away as friends called upon us to go to their house for an evening of sea food. It was gorgeous. Not a donkey in sight.
ReplyDeleteNadine I have read through some of your blogs and you sound very down to earth and my kind of person. I love your book platform and I hope you do well. Fiona
ReplyDeleteFiona, isn't amazing how easy it is to write when you cut out all the non-writing?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the 28 day book of Nick's, but never saw him write anything on MWC that would lead me to believe it is much different from how I do it.
I think anyone who isn't moving forward in their ms should see if Nick can give them a road map that gets them going.
Ah Fiona, you see through my giddy blond persona. Cool. You are much quicker than some. I have to say, there is something bonding about being a part of a writing community. Now you're part of this one. Please email me sometime before the party ends next weekend.
ReplyDeleteCarrie, maybe Nick will send you the eBook. I lost my codes too. Good thing I printed it the first time I opened it. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteSo who has written or is writing Scifi? Kate's Nick, Fiona, me (Red Planet Revolt) and I know Carrie has a scifi short story that I am taunting her to make into a novel. Who else?
ReplyDeleteJust a note: DJ is on the line-up for Thursday, and Nick mentioned Karl earlier, he is up on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not ready for this to end...so talk to me, people. Otherwise, I have to be a big girl and do my sales tax report to the city and the state for Aug. I don't mind paying it, but the forms are off putting. (Oh the secret life of a writer! Who knew?)
Cathy Marley is here tomorrow, Tuesday and Friday I do the finale! Can you believe what we have come together and done here? We have rocked in 46 countries! Of all the things I can imagine doing, being a writer is the best-est!
ReplyDeleteFiona, guess it is just the two of us for a while...maybe DJ is here.
ReplyDeleteOn the posts you read, did you get to the one about the lizard?
Croatia calling. Twelve points go to...(drumroll)
ReplyDeleteNADINE LAMAN!!!!
Oh, I miss you all, but really really really can't chat more than this...sorry, guys!
Nick, I said it before, your music choice is great! I'll have to check the 28 days. See ya all at MWC soon!
Nadine, put me on the list for SciFi WIP...Frankenstein is messing with my concentration seriously these days!
Group hug,
Ivy
Yep..."my Nick" (I love typing that) has finished Star Maniacs and it's doing the publishing rounds as we speak.
ReplyDeleteI haven't dipped my toe in Sci-Fi yet although I do have an idea for a personal short story.
I imagine that I meet Dr Who and he allows me one journey of my choice...!!!
So guys...if you had one time journey to make, where would you go (past/present/future/sideways) and why???
Yes Ivy...certainly, what was I thinking? Your exam went well?
ReplyDeleteI'll look for more music, I have one in mind, if I can find it.
Hmmm, Kate, I think I would go to the distant future. Why? I can read about the past, I'm living the present, so I'd like to go to the yet known future but with space travel well established.
ReplyDeletePosted more music.
ReplyDeleteHave we mentioned SG-1 or SG-Atlantis? Star Wars? My kids loved-loved them.
Oh just found a YouTube with a mix of SG-1 and SG Atlantis videos and theme songs. This is really cool. Go look.
ReplyDeleteJust a reminder, if you haven't won a book yet and you want one of mine, see the bit in purple at the top of today's blog.
ReplyDeleteAh, my granny used to love Stargate (she saw the movie). Yes, my granny! She wrote two books about Jesus/Aliens/Egyptians - I never did quite get it, but she ran her own cult religion up till she died at 91.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a scifi writer. He had stuff published in the Anthology series (back in the 50s). Somewhere I still have a copy of one of them.
I write a little bit of Scifi, but then I kinda write a little bit of everything.
My dad once got a letter from the BBC in the 50s... 'Dear Mr Sheppard, thank you for your excellent script, but we do not think that science fiction is suitable for the BBC audience.' That was only a few years before Dr Who! I wish we'd kept that letter.
I'm rambling. As usual
Carrie.
Hey you lovely people, I'm going to have to switch the computer off. My shoulder is killing me (and it's gone "clicky"). If it's not better in an hour I'm having a painkiller.
ReplyDeleteI will be back...but I'll remember to take more breaks next time!!!
Kate
X
Lizard - sorry off for a while trying to sort my daughter out with her exam resulats here in England - anyway only ready through some so never caught the lizard - please explain? Fiona
ReplyDeleteObviously did well in her English - not like her Mum who makes the typos - Fiona
ReplyDeleteGoodnight then folks.
ReplyDeleteSee you in the morning European time.
Only 4 days to go. Sad.:(
Night Glyn, sleep well
ReplyDeleteWell my son's A level results weren't exactly great - so now we are trying to work out what to do with him... they don't do a university course in Xbox unfortunately!
ReplyDeleteHe wants to do a media course at Uni next year, so we are looking for a year's extra whilst he does a retake on psychology to up his grade and ... something else (but what?)!
ReplyDeleteCarrie
Clearing house is wonderful for the playstation/xboxers - but can you trust them to do better while they live away from home?
ReplyDeleteDon't do better in the psychology accept it and try for the same course elsewhere- I bet there is a place out there for him now before he spends a year re-taking stuff.
ReplyDeleteHope so! Cleaning house sounds good, but this is a TEENAGE BOY we are talking about LOL
ReplyDeleteCarrie
"Klaatu barada nikto" ... the 1951 movie The Day the Earth Stood Still was my favorite for years and years and I remember watching it SO many times. Black and white TV, of course. I laugh now when I see it - so cheesy - and hard to believe it's still shown on TV now and again. So Nick, do you go to sci-fi movies in the theaters and do they ever spark writing ideas for you? ~~Joyce H.~~
ReplyDeleteMade me a bit of lunch...what was the question?
ReplyDeleteCarrie it depends on the boy, or actually the kid - some girls don't know how to clean either.
Yep- Understood- been there as well, fortuntely got one in his last year at Sheffield Uni and one in employment - whoohoo! It was hard getting them away from the ps3 for long enough. Perhaps if he knows there will be girls there? Good luck.
ReplyDeleteGoodnight everyone and thanks for the chance to blog
Fiona x
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteJust come back to say goodnight. Great to see that over the course of the day we have had over 100 comments posted here.
Fiona and Carrie, thanks for your kind comments about my writing courses. Anyone who would like to know more about them, WCCL's WriteStreet website would be a good place to start.
Ivy, glad you liked my musical choices. You are clearly a woman of considerable taste :)
Nadine, thanks, as ever, for being the perfect hostess. I look forward to returning to the party tomorrow.
Good night, and sweet (SF) dreams,
Nick
Hi Joyce! Hey everyone meet Joyce! My wonderful Web designer! Come meet the gang...mostly here from the UK right now. Glyn (France) has gone to bed..."Night Glyn, sweet dreams"
ReplyDeleteIsn't amazing how the SciFi media has advanced? Wasn't the first SciFi a silent film? I think in the early 1900's. Rocket stuck in the moon and you could see the wires holding up the moon.
Goodnight Fiona, Carrie, and Nick! I love you guys!
ReplyDeleteStill 9 hrs to party here in the Western USA.
ReplyDeleteJust logged in from my bed to add, if you have any more questions for me, feel free to post them here, and I'll do my best to answer them in the morning.
ReplyDeleteParty on, guys!
Nick, You are a peach. Sending a hug to Jayne from America. Sweet dreams you two. There are several questions I have to leave you for tomorrow. Goodnight, Nick, and thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteOkay everyone, I’m not sure what happened, but I guess being gone for a week on vacation means I need re-training! My last post disappeared into the ether somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, all I had to say was that it sounds like I missed a heckuva party. I’m glad I’m back.
Question … did no one think of The Twilight Zone? That was my favorite series - slightly nosing out Star Trek, the granddaddy of them all. Most of all, I loved the clever, creative writing that always gave us a twist at the end. Looking back at them now, I realize how many of the big stars from the last 40 years actually had a part there first. Great show. Loved Rod Serling!
As far as music is concerned, I think the pounding kettle drums in Also Sprach Zarathrustra in the intro to 2001 a Space Odyssey are pretty hard to beat. Talk about drama! Check it out on YouTube if you want to get your blood pumping.
And finally, what about the books that started the whole genre? I LOVED Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Alongside Atlas Shrugged, it’s probably one of my most favorite books of all time. Anyone else?
HI Cathy! Glad you're back! Oh yeah! Twilight Zone. That is a good one!
ReplyDeleteHi, Nick!
ReplyDeleteGreat party!
Which of your works is your favorite?
erin
Hi Erin!
ReplyDeleteNick is in dreamland, it is after 1 AM in the UK, but he will come back in the morning - sometime after 2 AM your time - and answer all the questions left for him, so ck back here tomorrow too.
Nadine, I sure will.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Erin
Skidding in on my moon beam as quickly as I could...I know I'm obnoxiously late for the party, but gosh darn it, I want Nick's book ;-)
ReplyDeleteI was nine when I got hooked on Star Trek. My mom was watching it as I came crying into the house having just fallen out of a tree and discovered that along with the blood dripping down my leg, I was covered in splinters. Mom and I watched "Who Cries for Adonis" as she tweezed out every last splinter. I've been a fan ever since.
Original Star Trek, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise...I love the EVEN numbered movies...and JJ Abrams incaranation of Young James T. Kirk left me drooling for more. And I loved that his vision of Scotty was the shit and that Chekov was a boy genius...and Bones...Oh my...very funny.
I've got references to Star Trek in a couple of pieces...even the really gut wrenching story of the day I kicked my ex-husband out...I've got a Klingon death howl going on. In my poem "Dreaming James Spader," I've got two references to Star Trek and one to StarGate.
Yes...I love StarGate, too. The original movie, the TV series (I love the episode where they spoofed MacGyver), the spinoff Atlantis and I'm looking forward to StarGate Universe, which has a Battle Star Galactica look and feel.
Ah...BSG...I stayed up late just to watch it. The writing, the acting, the story, all good stuff. I hated the series came to an end but I was very happy with the way it ended. And now Caprica - I watched the two hour movie and I'll be watching the series...
I'm also a big fan of Mystery Science Theater 3,000. Hysterically stupid and great mindless crap when one has a hangover.
What else - oh yes...Dr. Who. I watched the original on BBC when I was a kid. When Sci Fi came out with it three years ago, I planned my Friday nights around it. I just loved the adventures he went on.
And I must admit, I'm a STAR WARS groupie...but only stories IV, V, and VI. I fell in love with Han Solo right from the start. Luke Skywalker may have had the Force, but Han had the blaster...and a better movie career afterward.
My favorite SciFi books - I read just about everything by Anne McAffery - I wanted to go to Pern and become a Dragon Rider. I got both my daughters hooked on her books and my first book by her is now either in Portugal or Vail, Colorado.
Seven years ago I gave my entire Sci Fi book collection (over 300 books) to my brother Michael. Except for: Eon by Greg Bear, "The Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis, and "The City on The Edge of Forever" - the behind the scenes blab fest by William Shatner and Leonard Nimory. Great look at one of the best Star Trek episodes ever.
So...there you have it...and I've just exposed myself for the nerdy geeky scifi fan that I am!
Peggy
My goodness, Peggy! What a passion! You made me smile and chuckle. I'd love to be in the room when Nick reads this. Be sure to stop by tomorrow and read his response. You are remarkable! How did you wait all day to post this?
ReplyDeleteNadine...it killed me to wait all day...my work computer hates blogspot - it lets me read, but post comments? oh hec no. But I should be working instead of blog partying at work...right?
ReplyDeleteAnd then of course, I went straight from work to Thai Kickboxing...I'm 8 classes from my black belt recommended test...YIPPEE
And once I got home, my new grand baby was visiting with her mommy (the new bride) and I had to play with her...although at 11 weeks, she doens't play too much yet...but she is starting to giggle...
And then I had to finish my photo essay that I'm entering in the State Fair this weekend...Ice Storm 2008...
I'll be logging on early in the morning to see if Nick picks me (or you or Captain Kirk).
xo
The name of the piece is Sprach Zarathustra and was written by Richard Strauss. The song was played in the beginning of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The movie was directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1968. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, and received one for visual effects.
ReplyDeleteThe YouTube has now been posted!
Well...I'm still here, less exciting than Nick, but I can post YouTubes thanks to the lesson from my web designer.
ReplyDeleteSpace Odyssey - I always get something new out of it that I didn't get before...
ReplyDeleteWasn't Zarathurstra also the name of a movie with two brothers playing a game and their house gets transported to outer space?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea, Peggy. Just posted another...
ReplyDeletetheme song. One thing for sure, across the genre, SciFi has always had wonderful scores.
John Williams won the academy for Star Wars...great score!
ReplyDeleteAh, I found the theme from BSG the Mini Series. There ya go, drums and one of the Gibbs brothers.
ReplyDeleteoh yes...another great sci fi/romance book: The Time Traveler's Wife. Haven't seen the movie yet...I'm afraid it will ruin the book...
ReplyDeleteBig fan of the Terminator series...just saw #3 yesterday on Spike TV (I think...) Waiting for the most recent one to be On Demand.
And while I'm disclosing my scifi side...I'm also a big fan of Vampires...yeah, I know...the horror genre...or romance depending on perspective.
I'm a fan of Dean Koontz and James Patterson books.
ReplyDeleteI want to see the time traveler's wife too.
I didn't know it was a book too.
would like to read the book before seeing the movie.
Erin
Whoo-Hoo! Monsoons again tonight! I love the desert and the gift of rain with lightning spidering across the sky.
ReplyDeleteHi Erin...sounds like you and Peggy should connect with each other.
ReplyDeleteHi again, everyone. Just catching up with the messages and questions that were posted last night (or yesterday afternoon/evening in the US).
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I don't get to the theater (or cinema, as we would say in Britain) very often these days. It's laziness on my part really, as I do like the big-screen experience, but there aren't any cinemas near to where I live. If there was one just up the road, I'm sure I'd go more often.
Having said that, there are definite cinematic influences in my novella. In particular, the bar in which the opening and closing scenes of the story are set is partly inspired by the spaceport bar in the original Star Wars film.
Moving on to Erin's question, The Festival on Lyris Five is possibly my favorite of my fictional works. On the non-fiction side it's really very hard to choose. My books Living & Working in Germany and Living & Working in Italy were very interesting to write and research, and so was my book on starting a home-based business. And then there are the many book-length courses I have written. High among them I would rate Write Any Book in Under 28 Days and my new copywriting course, which is due to be launched shortly by The Writers Bureau here in Britain.
Finally, Peggy, I loved reading about your sci-fi passions. I read Anne McCaffrey's Pern books as well and really enjoyed them (not quite so keen on some of her other series though). My favorite SF/fantasy authors would have to include Roger Zelazny, Samuel R. Delany, Robin Hobb and Robert Silverberg (especially his Majipoor books). And not to forget Dean Koontz and Stephen King, of course!
Thanks again to everyone who joined me at the party yesterday. It really was a blast (LOL!). If you have any more questions or would like to contact me about anything else, the best thing to do is send a message via the Contact Me page on my blog.
Happy writing!
Peggy,
ReplyDeleteI would love to connect with you.
You can email me at joyfulwriter99@aol.com
Erin