An English is Worth 1,000,000 Words

My friend Cassidy sent me a link, informing me that the English language has officially banked its one-millionth word, this very day. Wowsers!

And to think, I've only used a handful of them!

Also to think, I've invented a few words ... if you're willing to accept them, we're well over the milestone mark. ;)

Don't forget, there is one very common word that I never use in my writing.
The Forbidden Word.

Here's the CNN link she sent me. Thanks, Cassidy!

Inspiration Can Take a While...

"Where do you get your ideas?"

A very common question.

I answered it in the CJ Redwine interview:

'Obviously I am inspired by other works. Perhaps music? Out of the blue. Anywhere. I ask a lot of questions and then play “What If?” with the answers.'

But I recently realized the specific inspiration for Midnight Chaser.

I'm not sure what prompted me to remember it. But I'm glad I did.

Before I tell you the actual spark, first let me say that I'd written the basic premise of the story in my "bank" of ideas. But it only existed as a snippet. Didn't have the whole story by a long shot. Just a "what if" to play with... which sat around for at least two years if not three or more. One day I referred to my notes of stuff to play around with and then received flashes (presumably from Andy) to make it a full-fledged tale. But what prompted the original tidbit?

A Michelob commercial from yesteryear! I've hunted for it on the web and found quite a few retro ads but not the one in question. It must have been in the late 70's or early 80's. As I recall it, the camera pulled away from the people partying all the way back to show the globe and the night moving across the earth...singing: "A Michelob night never really ends, goes 'round the world, starts over again..."

And that, dear readers, is where Midnight Chaser had been born. I'm not even a beer drinker!

How wonderful that the commercial subliminally stuck with me all these years.

No Amity Here

Today I'd been sucked in by a stupid movie. I turned on the TV and saw it, chuckled, pressed the TiVo arrow to make it rewind and lo and behold, the start of the film! (It just happened to be the half hour in recorded TiVo memory.) What movie? Amityville II: The Possession. Hadn't seen this one before. You know what amazed me? It's a better movie than the remake which came out not so long ago. (Dragonfly and I sometimes go to bad horror movies on purpose and have Thai food.) And seriously, this sequel to the original film turned out superior. Oh don't worry, I'm not even going to try and tell you it's a good movie. It's not. It's filled with plotholes, there's not a genuine scare in it and it's utterly laughable. But that's my point. Still, it's a better film. [In all honesty, some terrific make-up and transmogrification F/X, though.]

All the aforementioned aside, what bothered me is that it had nothing to do with Amityville. Oh sure, the famous house with it's allegedly Jack-O-Lantern shaped eyes featured prominently. But here's the thing: It didn't have to. It could have been any haunted house story. No real connection (other than someone going crazy and killing the family) could be made to the original. No one even mentioned the history of the house. And someone going crazy and killing the family could happen to anyone. Wait...ok, you know what I mean. Next, it suddenly transferred to a poorly executed The Exorcist. (Should have known from the title, I suppose.) Two movies going on in the same film and neither one done any justice. And STILL, better than the latest incarnation of The Amityville Horror.

But what really set me off toward the keyboard is the use of religious iconography as a bane to the dark forces haunting houses and people. Of course, it's not just this particular movie. It's not the first time I thought of this issue. The problem I have applys to any film with such elements. But it struck me again watching this movie. And my problem? Why is it that Christian symobls and words are what offends and gets rid of the evil? There are plenty of other religious icons out there. What if the evil is of a different faith? I'm sorry, it's presumptuous and rude.

Okay, that's my two cents.

Bring on the New Legend!

Well, Zelda fans, here's the new poster for the first Zelda game specifically designed for play on the Wii, with its fabulous motion control.

The big factor here: No sword!

In fact, creator Shigeru Miyamoto remarked on it specifically with a knowing grin. Now, it doesn't necessarily mean that there is no Master Sword involved with this new story. That would be heinous. Think about it... motion control (better still: Wii Motion Plus) and no sword to swing? Yeah, right.

Speculation on various sites has pointed out that this mysterious elfin figure with Link has suggested that she(?) is the sword, perhaps transforming back and forth. Compare the charatcer design with the Master Sword on the right. I think they might be on to something! Time will tell.

I couldn't be more excited. Ok, yes, I can. The excitement will build and build and eventually, the disc will bring forth the adventure. (Of course, the Big N will make us wait for far too long...)

I spoke of my enthusiasm for The Legend of Zelda before, here where I first heard of the new tale/game and here, where I share some thoughts about the modern storytelling that is video games.

Eagerly, I await...

Hollydon't

I don't even want to discuss

what's brewing.

You're Doing This...Rye?

In recent news, J.D. Salinger has launched legal action against an author named J. D. California. It seems California is publishing 60 Years Later: Coming through the rye, an (obviously) unauthorized sequel.

As someone who has extended a classic myself, you can bet I have feelings on this event.

First and foremost, I do not understand how it has even come to pass. Salinger is still alive. So how on earth would it have ever progressed to this level? What I mean is, besides the utter disrespect, the copyright would not have been expired even if he had passed on merely a year ago. Who isn’t doing their job here?

Now, as far as my thoughts on the new book. I haven’t read it but my initial reaction is I’ve never been curious what else happens to Holden. California says he has, and this is what he envisioned: "Mr. C" runs away again...from his nursing home and visits all the the same spots. Why would I want to read something disheartening? Not that I think Holden’s life turned out peachy or that his new adventure should be sugar coated. That’s just the point. We don’t know what else happened…and I’m guessing we shouldn’t.

Okay, you’re probably thinking: Then where do YOU get off writing a sequel to a classic, Mr. Von Brown? Perhaps I don’t. But allow me to tell you how I view the situation. Perhaps I do…

First and foremost, as I have made clear, my novel arose out of an Independent Study (for college credit) on Sir J.M. Barrie and discovered his notes for a sequel. Besides this scrap of thought, Barrie never stopped tinkering with Pan. The script for the play had revisions right up to opening night curtain. He added new scenes over the years. He created an epilogue (When Wendy Grew Up) performed just once. Of course, Peter first appeared in The Little White Bird and so really, the play is an extension of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. He then wrote the story into novel form, making even more changes and additions. He tried his hand a screenplay, again with tweaking. But it didn’t stop there. He scribbled out musings on his own work long after as well. Thus, the question of whether or not Peter Pan would have another adventure, I believe, is not a question at all. No doubt Barrie conceived continuation. Not only that, but as per Barrie's own novel of Peter Pan, we are told that Pan's adventures go on. And even if he didn't, "the eternal boy" says it all.

Fan Fiction? Yes, I can see why one might regard my work as fan fiction. The difference as I see it, is intention. FanFic is a way to generate more adventure for beloved characters, put into situations as per the fancy of the writer. Often (though not always, certainly) it seems to be done as a lark, something to pass the time amusingly. Oh yes, there are serious ventures. But just as many or more exist which “pair” certain characters together in a lewd manner. Hardly a serious venture. And for those FanFics writers who do "take it seriously," all the best to you. In my case, I made sure to include the various elements and ideas which Barrie left behind. Sure, some of my own ideas filled in the gaps. But on the whole I maneuvered around Barrie, his (and our) history as well as contemporary concerns.

Also, publication did not originally cross my mind. I couldn’t have not written the work if I tried. A sincere compulsion to complete the work of a treasured favorite. Why, then, have I brought my novel out? I thought it would be a nice way to celebrate the the Centennial of Peter Pan. So some years before it, I opened the window. Quite a lot happened in that pursuit. And now, so as to present a Pan adventure that’s in accordance with Barrie - which no one else has done.

My efforts, in a nutshell, are a scholarly endeavor, based on what the original author might have done. Although John David California says he also writes out of respect and love for Salinger, somehow I have trouble believing it. Though Coming through the rye is dedicated to Salinger, he calls him “the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.” Yes, it’s cute in the Twain sense. But add the fact that Salinger is somehow also a character in the book? One article said it's essentially the first book over again. Where's the pleasure in that? [And why must the title be in lower case?]

I’ve one word left: Phony.

Let Us Dote on What He Wrote!

This looks like a book I need. Something which I ought to read. Yes, by golly, yes indeed!

I don’t know about you, but I’m fascinated by The Cat in the Hat.
To know more about him is quite tempting.

In fact, I even tried something along this line once myself.
Well, not really. Not a straight-up scholarly annotation such as this book by Philip Nel.
Rather I had planned on a writing The Definitive Cat in the Hat to answer all the inherent questions which arise about the character. It would have incorporated all Seuss "sanctioned" manifestations of the Cat (books/sketches and cartoons) to support its claims. Such as his family history, his education (Cat Tech, you know!) and an outlining of his philosophies.

I’ve long since abandoned the project. Not only did it seem insurmountable to obtain the right to do it, but I also knew how much work it would be. And if it couldn’t go beyond my desk and the few people who I’d torture with it, why bother? [And yes, it included a disclaimer of it being a creative pursuit rather than absolute information.]

I did begin the project though, with a list of chapters/topics to be covered. And a foreword/explanation. I’ll find these “notes” and type them in a little while later.
Perhaps to leave you something to ponder when I journey to London.