Marnee Joseph Visits with the Pirate Boat!
I’d like to welcome Marnee Joseph to the ship today. Marnee’s debut THE KEY PROPHECIES just hit the stands last week with the next three books in her series due out later this year. These dark paranormals have everything you’d ever want: heroes as dreamy as angels (ahem), feisty heroines, steamy sexual tension, and good vs. evil conflicts. So, please, give Marnee a warm welcome!
Marnee Joseph: Um. What? *Blinking in confusion*
Gunner: *Waving pom poms, executes awkward cartwheel* We’re so excited to have you! We love debut authors here on the boat. Where are those crewmembers? You need a beverage.
MJ: *Brow still furrowed, accepts fruity drink from hottie and peruses his considerable assets* You look familiar to me. Have we met before? *Hottie shrugs with a lascivious grin and sashays off* Huh. I’m having some serious déjà vu here.
Gunner: Try to focus, please.
MJ: *Studies her interviewer suspiciously* Right. Are you sure we’ve never met?
Gunner: *Scowls* For real?
MJ: Whatever. Sorry. I haven’t done many interviews.
Gunner: Obviously.
MJ: Are you always so sassy?
Gunner: I’m a sweetheart, really. *Innocent grin*
MJ: *Not convinced* Do you want to do this interview or what?
Gunner: Of course. Please, tell us about your debut.
MJ: I would love to! In THE KEY PROPHECIES, a prophet’s visions start a demon rebellion she’s hell-bent to stop. A decade ago, Sarah Jones’ predictions began a chain reaction that could allow demons to destroy humanity. To stop what she’s seen, she must find and destroy the Key of Solomon, an ancient document that explains how demons can escape from hell, before the demons find her. But when a man claiming to be an angel insists he can protect her from her hellish stalkers, she needs to decide if she can trust him with her nightmares—and her heart.
Angelic warrior Nik has spent the past two millennia returning demons that possess humans to hell. After a judgment lapse left his previous team dead, he allows nothing to distract him from his job—even his undeniable attraction to Sarah. But when she is kidnapped by demons and possessed, he’s forced to choose between saving the woman he has come to love and saving the world.
*MJ’s brow furrows again.* You know, I feel as if I just finished writing this query last weekend. It’s still so fresh… so close to me. *Shrugs* Strange.
Gunner: Yeah strange. Anyway, what exactly made you start writing this story?
MJ: Well, I love paranormal stuff. Vampires, werewolves, time-travel…. Particularly if they include warrior heroes of some sort, the more alpha the better. I can’t seem to write anything without including some paranormal element to it. Witches, ghosts. Something about magic and the supernatural seems to ramp up conflicts, makes the good versus evil of a story so much more intense for me.
Gunner: Cool. What about your call story?
MJ: Well, I met my agent at the NJ RWA conference in 2009.
Gunner: Oh yeah? *Checks her watch* Huh, that’s strange. Do you remember the dates?
MJ: Late October, I think. Anyway, I was having dinner with my fabulous critique partner, Cameron Jacobs, and we were celebrating her signing with a wonderful agent. While I was stuffing my face with mashed potatoes and practicing my pitch for the next morning’s pitch sessions, my agent overheard me and requested the full right there. Within a week, I’d signed with her and the rest is history.
Gunner: Mashed potatoes, huh? Were they garlic?
MJ: No, those loaded baked potato ones, with the bacon and cheddar cheese?
Gunner: Oh wow. Those are my favorites.
MJ: Oh yeah? Me too! What a coincidence.
Gunner. Seriously! So what’s next now that this series is completed?
MJ: I’ve been kicking around a story idea about a virus. But it’s still pretty new so I’m not sure yet. I’ll keep you posted.
Gunner: Please do.
So, crew. What questions do you have for Marnee? What’s your favorite genre to read/write and why? Do you enjoy writing a different genre than you read? If so, why? And does anyone else love those loaded baked potato mashed potatoes? Sour cream and chives, bacon and cheddar cheese. It’s like heaven all smeared together.
Books by the Crew
93 comments:
I *LOVE* The Prophecy books! I'm so glad the Gunner persuaded you to interview with us today! Will you sign my book?
I absolutely LOVE the loaded mashed potatoes. There is an instant kind Walmart sells that I adore. In fact I have a package in my cabinet now...I wonder if I can have a midnight snack.
I am writing a "paranormal/contemporary" and I tend to read in the paranormal and contemporary realms. I read historicals, if they're my preferred authors and I trust them. (I don't read as many historicals as I used to, I'm afraid, but I have branched out with some more autobuy historical authors, like Elizabeth Hoyt and Anna Campbell.) I do have a couple historical manuscripts started, but I'm not sure about them. One is a cowboy one--which good luck with that being that genre is nearly impossible to publish it seems; and one is a regency--which is about historically accurate as a fairy tale. (I do enjoy writing on them occasionally though, because I like writing more "formally" and having a more historical voice.)
Gah, this sent before I was finished!
Marnee, thank you for being on the ship today. Can you tell us more about your upcoming books? What is next in the series? What's this story about a virus? Is it connected to the series or something else entirely? Have you ever considered writing an article on how to write a great query letter? (Because yours kicks ass!)
Hellie - Thanks for inviting me! :) And of course I'll sign your book. *grins*
I used to read historicals all the time but I haven't bought any in a while. I'm not sure why, but I've been kinda off of the for a bit. I keep expecting to swing back, but I've been more on a paranormal kick these days, so we'll see. I just read JR Ward's newest, Covet, and it was great. (Not as good as the Brotherhood books, but still good).
As for what's next in the series.... The series consists of four total books and they're all based on King Solomon's relics. The second book returns two favorite characters--Ice and Marc--in their race to beat the demons to the Key of Solomon. The third follows Jacy and his love interest as they track down the only chain known to successfully contain a demon. And the final book, Cass's story, revolves around recovering Solomon's ring.
The story about a virus is still percolating. I've always enjoyed the X-men comics and movies so I've kinda been kicking around an idea like that. We'll see... :)
I'm not sure about the paranormal story. Sounds kind of scary to me and I'm a big chicken. Am I gonna have to read through my fingers? What kind of research to do you do for a story like this?
On the other hand, those loaded baked potatoes look awesome! And I'm on my way out to breakfast with the FIL. You've definitely given me "food for thought"!
Irish - I don't think I'm the best to ask about whether it's scary or not. I know how it ends, how the whole thing ends, so the suspense isn't really there for me.
Hal and Jordan might be able to say. Is it scary guys?
As for research.... With TKP, I did a lot of research about King Solomon. But I set the story in Philadelphia, so it's right where I live and that made it easier for me. And the rest of the research wasn't necessarily research but world-building. Figuring out what my angels can do and what they can't. What my prophet can do, what her limitations are. That took the most time. Right now I'm doing a lot of research into Nubian history.
Yum, I love breakfast foods.... I've been craving some diner pancakes lately. What did you end up getting?
Mmmm, diner pancakes.
I adore adore *ADORE* this!
Marnee, thanks so much for being aboard the ship today! Gunner, excellently executed interview!
I'm mostly a paranormal/urban fantasy reader. But on the darkly variety level. If it's not scaring me, then I usually can't read it. I do enjoy a love story though weaved into my chaos, so what an wonderful mix of the two, Marnee.
I've never had the loaded mashed potatoes. Hells is going to say that's because I pick at my food like a bird. But it's mostly because I prefer my mashed potatoes to be mashed potatoes with lots of butter. LOL
Now, I've completely forgotten what I was going to ask.
Sin - thanks for the, ahem, welcome. :) And my stories all have a love story woven in the chaos. I hope you like them.
And it's cool you don't dig extras in your potatoes. A traditionalist, I suppose. Never thought I'd say that Sin was a traditionalist.
LOL!
And mmmm... diner pancakes.
I love the premise with King Soloman's relics! Very interesting idea and I can't wait to read them.
Who doesn't love those loaded potates!
I think I'm a contemporary / paranormal writer myself - but more on the sunny side. I like my withces and weres with a little bumbling and mix-ups. Not always of course, but in my writing at least.
When you sat down to write the very first book, how hard was it sticking to that first story when you knew there was so much more to be told?
What a fun interview! Welcome aboard, Marnee, and thanks for being with us today. It sounds like you're busy, traveling through time and all that.
I'll admit right off, I don't do paranormal. The shifting things throw me off. Now, angels I can do. And this sounds great. Where did this idea come from? And did it change as you did more of the initial research?
Hi Sabrina.
Hmmm.... I'm actually a bit of a plotter. Ok, ok, a lot of a plotter. But I only have the skeletons for the last three books. So that still leaves some things open for interpretation as I go.
My first manuscript has some bumbling and mixups with my witches. :) I like that too. :) This story just didn't seem to mesh with a lighter tone.
Ter - Where did my idea come from huh? I have NO idea. It sort of just mushed from a bunch of different ideas.
I've noticed a trend in paranormal that authors were taking things that are traditionally "evil" and giving them a good side. Vampires. Werewolves. Demons. Or at least authors were having these creatures wrestle with their evil sides.
I like it when others do it, but I knew I couldn't write like that. So I turned to the good side and did the opposite, infusing something good with a little bit of sin. My angels aren't the standard angels from religious texts. They're humans who were killed by possessed humans. In return for getting revenge--for the ability to fight against the evil that killed them--they turn their souls over to an archangel in exchange for superpowers and immortality.
So I sorta twisted something I saw as problematic for me in the genre.
Did that make sense?
And then I did some research about demons and came across King SOlomon's whacky stuff and there it is.
Forgot to say "NO TO MASHED POTATOES OF ANY KIND." Now I feel better.
So, are there a lot of Biblical references in these stories? Not that I would recognize them, but just wondering.
Last year I was given a writing prompt for fun to write something in a genre I'd never normally do. I went with para and the hero of my little 800 word scene was an angel. I was surprised how much I enjoyed creating the world and the rules that existed in it. I really would considering going back and seeing what I could do with that.
So, how do you keep track of things like rules and limitations in your world? You say you're a plotter, does that include something like a world reference sheet?
Wow! An amazing year your having; the "call" coming in October, THE KEY PROPHESIES release, and three others out later this year. When things get moving they really get moving! :)
THE KEY PROPHESIES sound wonderful and exciting! I love how you have them all based on King Solomon's relics and imagine lots of twists and turns hunting them down. Do you set the stories in multiple locations with Philadelphia as the base?
I do enjoy writing in a different genre then what I read. Like you, I feel the need to have the paranormal in what I write, but read mostly straight historicals and contemporaries. I rarely read a dark paranormal, but I use to. I think I also definitely binge on certain genres or even themes and just haven't gone back to "the dark side" yet.
And I love those loaded potatoes!
If you mean do my stories lean on Christian theology, no. At least not the New Testament.
My story relies heavily on the Book of Enoch, which isn't recognized as part of the traditional Bible any more. Besides that, my mythology is pretty general across any monotheistic religion and if I ever had to choose between angelologies, I choose the Judaic as it was the oldest.
And nope, no real world reference sheet as of now. Mostly it was things like, are they truly immortal or not? Explanations of how they move through space. Whether my prophet is omniscient or not. Whether my archangel is omniscient or not. Stuff like that.
Hi Melissa! :)
The stories are going to be in multiple locations with Philly as the base. The first story is primarily in Philadelphia with a couple short jaunts to Chicago and DC. The next story is mostly in Africa.
I think I might binge on genres too! LOL! That's a fun way to think of it. I'll overindulge for a time and then leave it for a while.
And yay potatoes! :)
See, I think it's amazing that you know all that and it just rolls off your tongue (fingers?). I think people forget there is tons of history and stories from ancient times well outside what is in the Bible. I love that these stories can take us through some of that history.
I do like french fries.
are they truly immortal or not?
I also got into the immortality thing writing my previous story. It gets complicated when life is long...very long! LOL I want to make an immortal the hero in a sequel and I have the strange problem of wondering if the reader would forgive an immortal for being, well, too OLD for the heroine. LOL It's very strange. Normally when you have an immortal hero or character it's okay. He's forever young and handsome and the eternity of his past life becomes a big blur. But for a sequel, I'm tripped up by the contrast of knowing time has gone by. He's the father of the heroine [in the first book] and the heroine in mind is of the same age as his daughter. I thought it worked, but now, I can't NOT think of him as the "older" man lusting after a younger woman. A strange, strange problem. LOL
Marnee, I meant to ask, did you ever get frustrated or hung up on the complications of immortality and time travel?
PS, I love french fries too. What's not to love? I think they can coat and fry anything and I'd be happy.
Ter - the Book of Enoch turned out to be the coolest thing I read researching for this series.
Here's a web version... http://exodus2006.com/ENOCH.HTM
I'd never read of the book before. I'd heard of Enoch of course (I read the Bible during college for my English Lit classes) but I'd never heard of this book before. I thought it was neat to find this part of the Noah's ark story.
For those who don't feel like reading a lot of biblical apocrypha, this book basically says that there was a time when angels were sent to protect humans. They were the Grigori, or the Watchers. But when they got here, they taught humans about magic and weaponry and they thought human women were awesome. (We are, of course).
So they decided to take wives and they had children with them and the children were monsters (Nephilim). That's why the Creator looked down and said that the world was falling into the crapper. These monstrous children were destroying the world. So he ordered the flood to wipe them out, but not before he had the Grigori watch their children's destruction. Then he locked the angels up and they are our current demons.
Maybe everyone else had heard that before, but it'd been left out of my knowledge base. I had lots of fun with that.
Melissa - that is an interesting predicament. I didn't have a problem with the immortality issue. He hasn't "aged" since he died, so he's eternally 28 years old. It might have been an issue if I'd paired him with a "naive" heroine, but my heroine sees horrible things in her visions. She's jaded and older than her 25 years. So they seem to be equal in that way.
Yer all killin' me here. I'm dietin' and ya post a luscious plate a' loaded potatos and then won't stop talkin' about them!
I'm on the East Coast, jus' took a walk along the Erie Canal, have had no sleep for more than 28 hours... WEEEEEE!
So, welcome ta the ship Marnee Jo and 'ave a paranormal popsicle. And hell, yah, it's alcoholic!
As fer world buildin', that tart Maureen is a total anarchist, resists givin' her worlds too many rules...though she did tell me how she dealt with an immortal couple who hate watchin' everyone they love and treasure growin' old... But what can they do? But take on the children of their loved ones as companions? It's that or be a stranger ta everyone all the time. Least that's how she saw it.
Marnee, I'm in awe of the level of world building you did. I go nuts just trying to keep up with all the details of my small-town setting. And wow! Your publication schedule rivals the Nora's.
Most of my romance reading is European historicals, a subgenre in which I can't imagine myself writing. I do read in my own subgenre, just far fewer books. More often I read scenes in favorite contemporaries to analyze how the geniuses do what they do.
Like Irish, I don't do scarey. The few paranormals I read are pretty much paranormal lite. The closest I'll ever get to writing paranormal are the ghostly drabbles I write for the contests on the EJ/JQ board.
Revenge is a great motivating factor for lots of characters. (Sherrilyn Kenyon uses it in pretty much every book. One of those human things.)
I love your twist on the paranormal--they sound COOL. And I love that your series has a finite number for this particular series. Sometimes I think series can get too big and the quality of the story sometimes...decreases. Sometimes. But I think when the series is contained, you don't have that.
Great, she's castin' aspirtions (sp?) on Mad Maureen's Caribbean series. She tol' me she tried ta end it at 12, but couldn't stop. She's stalled on number 30 right now...
Course, she also said past 12 gets a bit too heavy inta the strange fer publishin'...
Then he locked the angels up and they are our current demons...Maybe everyone else had heard that before, but it’d been left out of my knowledge base.
I had heard it before. It was in the book of children's bible stories I had as a kid. Nope, I can't touch on the subject of demons in my paranormal writing...too much ingrained religious background. It took me years to take a step back and be able to appreciate bible history like many other history subjects. But I can definitely see how it would make fascinating research and inspire your stories!
But take on the children of their loved ones as companions? It’s that or be a stranger ta everyone all the time.
That's an interesting thought, Chance. Maybe part of the internal conflict for the immortal to struggle with I hadn't considered. Thanks!
It be interestin'... I'm thinkin' Catholics don't fixate on angels like other Christian religions do... Jus' don't signify much ta me! Though seems ta me there be angels in Judaism and other non-Christian sects also.
Loved Christopher Walken in The Prophecy as a pissed off Gabriel...
Well, these two know they need the help and support a' those who know them and know their secrets. It ends up passed down through the children as a sort a' sacred trust. And since the couple aren't damned, though they feel that way sometimes...the children just accept.
The city they make their home in comes ta view them as their particular guardians of a sort. No one talks about how they don't age, it's just accepted. By everyone but themselves!
Chance - That's a neat idea about the immortal couple. :) And you and I are on opposite sides of the anarchy spectrum. I need order, rules. lol!
How do you like the Erie Canal? Whatcha doing out East?
Hellie - Originally I was going to have five books. But I changed my cast and I changed my mind. It would have been stretching the relics too far, I think. And it would be stretching me too far. I get a little unfocused sometimes. :)
And I agree about some of the longer running series. I doubt I could ever just leave things open ended. See above about how I need rules and order. That's just too much chaos for me. I have an idea of how things go overall for the story, though I'm afraid I'm going to spend the next month or so tweaking over my overall thoughts. Oh well. Happens.
I be visitin' the DH while he be here on a business trip. We are goin' ta do that thing all couples do...visit Niagara Falls. We been married upward a' 30 years and thought it were time.
And Monday I'm gonna make me own glass pumpkin at the Corning Museum of Glass! Yippee!
Janga, I'm sorry, I read out of order.
And my publication does sound rigorous, doesn't it. *grins*
As for the research, I liked doing it. It was fun. For the most part. I have a few things that need to be tweaked a little. We'll see how that goes.
I don't think I'm as scary as I think my description sounds. At least I don't think so.
It's a funny thing 'bout rules in world buildin'... I've been ta the panals that talk all 'bout them. But ya see authors break 'em all the time and no one calls them on it. I figure if I keep the continuity as the constant possibilty of change, then I'm keepin' ta the rules. My way.
I don't deliberately set out to screw around with my world, but exceptions happen. That be where the conflict comes inta play.
Like yer hero and the rules...do he save mankind or do he save his lady? Foller the rules or bend 'em? Even maybe break 'em?
Mo - I think that as long as things happen logically, then things are fine. And if they don't happen logically, then the writer REALLY has to explain why so that it does make logical sense. I think that's what I mean about rules. ie, my angels were humans. So their bodies are still "human" bodies. Therefore, they can't move through solid objects. There's one very significant exception, but that "rule" is more like a law of their existence. See what I mean?
I think we may have been talking about two different styles of rules here, MM. I mean the rules of my universe, the rules that govern how people/creatures act in the world I created. :)
Maureen says: " I figure if I keep the continuity as the constant possibilty of change, then I’m keepin’ ta the rules. My way."
LOL! I suppose you're right. :)
First off, gotta say as a person raised Catholics, angels are pretty much accepted the same as accepting my desk is sitting here. You're told you have a guardian angel (or I was rather) at such an early age, it just seems normal and acceptible. And I've met an angel face to face, so I believe. But that's another story. :)
I do think if the constant is that things can change at any moment, then that works. And I had not heard of that Book of Enoch and the angels who are now demons. That is a very interesting story.
I get in trouble for this view, but I alway say those Biblical stories and ancient myths are as much fiction as what we write today. Someone sat down and made them up. So if you want to use them but twist them up a bit, do it.
Oh, and what I love most about this series is that it's an idea I've never heard before. Grant it, I don't have an overall knowledge of what's out there in para books, but I'm pretty sure this is a very unique story idea.
On the rules in world building, I do like that they are created but broken and essentially part of the conflict. The basic rule about time travel is not to change history, but, of course, it gets broken and there's the story.
But I think I get that Marnee tailors general rules for her world. She had to explain why her angels are still limited by human characteristics.
It's funny how easy it is for a reader to call a writer on a broken paranormal rule. I had someone ask me how a ghost could walk through a wall but not fall through the floor. My reaction is geez, go with it already. He just doesn't. Do I HAVE to explain? Do other writers who write a ghost explain that? But still, I added this strange glow around him and tried to explain he's hovering, not really on solid ground. The things you don't think of that a reader will jump all over. LOL
I would assume the ghost controls everything by thinking it. If he thinks himself through the wall, he can think himself staying solidly above the floor. No one asks, "How come I can fall down but I manage to stay standing upright?"
Yes, Terri, that's a good asssumption. I think it's better than the glow thing actually. :) But is that the universal assumption? Do I still need to make that rule known? I think so because my ghost is "new" and trying to figure out his physical capabilities. And it could be funny to see him fall through the floor because he thought about it! LOL
No one asks why you stay upright because logically they assume your muscles hold you up. I think there are different assumptions different readers make for the paranormal rules, so something has to be explained to get everyone on the same page.
Good points. But I'd say I stay upright because I can control it. So he controls it, be it muscles or whatever. But that would be fun for a new ghost to fall through the floor because he's not sure how to work things yet.
Really, we've been watching ghosts walk through things forever in the movies. It's almost expected. LOL!
Hi Marnee! Wow, it seems like just yesterday we were sitting there at that conference practicing pitches. And it's already out in stores!
As Marnee's wonderful critique partner (she said it, so I can repeat it, right? No? Still conceited? *shrug* I'm a huelluva CP *wink*), I can say that this book has everything. Dark emotions, wonderful angst, touches of humor, awesome conflicts, and tons of suspense. And the demons are f**ing creepy.
Okay, so I wasn't hungry until I saw that picture up top. I actually ordered out last night for a loaded baked potato. I was feeling that lazy!
I always wonder why ghosts can walk through walls, but don't fall through the floor. But I agree, it's totally accepted that they do. I mean, where are they going to fall to? The center of the earth? Wouldn't they keep going? Space? Heaven? That gets waaaaayyyy too complicated fast. I like the idea too of Ben having to figure out how to work the floor thing. That's funny :)
I had heard of the book of Enoch and the Watcher angels (and the mating with human women--hell, yes, we rock)--but that's because I find that sort of occult stuff really fascinating. Like the fall of Lucifer. I find that story fascinating too. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all have slightly varying versions of how it occurred. (Though I think its neat that they ALL have a version of how it happened.)
Yep, he falls all the way to hell and then stops. Then the story becomes a very dark paranormal!
Yeah, I'm way too influenced by general critiques (which doesn't include your opinion though Ms. Jacobs), so I guess it's a good thing to avoid them sometimes if I can't figure out not to put too much weight on every little thing!
Melissa, please, please, don't be too influenced by general critiques. I mean if five people say something bothers them, then sure, you should definitely consider it. But don't let every little comment rule. You'll lose your voice and your story, IMHO.
Marnee, your wonderful CP Ms. Jacobs has endorsed your demons as creepy so I know it is scary! I will read it like Irish does -- peeking through my fingers. And all the lights on. :)
You are right, Hellie. Great advice. I still seem to be considering some and the doubts linger, but generally I've abandoned critique groups. My new style of non-linear writing makes them almost impossible anyway. I won't have a semi-polished chapter to hand out in a chunk for a long time! I'm just going to be suddenly done and go...ta da! LOL
With a nice dismount. LOL! That's a way, Melissa!
I can't do crit groups. For one, I don't see the point in sending out first draft material. And since I don't polish as I go, the book would be done before it would be ready for anyone to look at. And then, what's the point.
I'll stick with the one trusted person to bounce the rough stuff off of and be happy. LOL! (Though she does tend to ask things like, "Why is your hero acting like a girl again?" Grrrr.... Love you, Hellie.)
Ter - I kinda agree about the Bible having a whole lotta fiction in it. Seriously, there weren't any copyrights back then.
And thanks for the kudos. I haven't read anything exactly what I'm doing but the whole angel thing is supposed to be a new wave. We'll see what I'm told here when I get going.
Melissa/Ter/Hal - on the ghost thing. I think I'm one that assumed that the ghosts just could move through walls. Maybe it's like Ter says, that they just think themselves through things. I don't know. I started a ghost story last year and just let it simmer, but I don't think I got far enough to address that stuff.
Cameron - Isn't it funny how fast everything happened?! Just seemed like yesterday you were working through the first draft, right?
And thanks for the glowing recommendation.
BTW, if she says it's creepy, I guess it might be creepy. There is the one scene, I got a little creeped out on.... *shrugs* You guys'll have to let me know too.
And of course Cameron is a fabulous CP. :) The best. :)
Hal - I just ordered out for Pizza Hut. I haven't had that in long time. Though those potatoes up there do look good....
Hellie - I think all that stuff is fascinating too. I thought it was cool when I found out that all the major monotheistic religions have a Great Flood story. That's really cool to me.
I can't remember what it was (big shocker, I know) but there was a movie where the new ghost couldn't go through the wall like it's *mentor* of sorts, because he hadn't learned how yet. So there you go, it's a skill. LOL! Like learning to walk. Only through things.
Melissa - I kind of agree about general crit groups. I work best when I work with people one on one. Big pool of critiques are hard, I think, because sometimes you'll get people who haven't read what went before and especially when you write para, that can get confusing.
Wasn't it in Ghost where Patrick Swayze's character had to learn to move things with his fingers?
Yeah, he moved that penny, huh?
That is one of my favorite ironies, that so many religions have very similar stories, and yet feel the need to war over one or two nearly insignificant differences.
Almost as ironic as that all the aforementioned religions preach peace and nonviolence yet they war amongst themselves.
I guess no one said the world makes sense.
Yep, I admit that the movie Ghost is a big influence on my ghost story! What was that high concept thing? Oh, yeah, Ghost Meets It's a Wonderful Life. That's pretty much it. I keep saying it's okay to be influenced as long as you make it your own. There are no original ideas!
And to swing back to the "women are awesome" sentiment, it's obvious men are in charge of all this assinine behavior.
Awh... It's a Wonderful Life is a movie very VERY close to my heart. :) And that's a great high concept. I spent like forever coming up with a second half of my high concept. I got to Constantine meet.... Then I stalled out.
:)
I haven't asked that about your hero lately, Terr. Lately it's been: WHERE are your commas?
And of course Cameron is a fabulous CP. The best.
I of course agree. :)
Even one on one, it's possible to get into some rough spots, but who can't be friends without some differences of opinions? And Ms. Jacobs (all these alias' are almost ingrained in my psyche now I think) introduced me to this one, fantastic ship of very interesting pirates. :)
PS, anyone ever been to Sudan? Or Egypt?
Damn it, I just hit an "F" key and erased my entire damn comment. Gah! Now I know what the "F" in "F" key stands for.
I know part of it said, "And we're glad she did, Melissa!"
The other was taunting Hellie and I don't feel like typing it again. LOL!
I'm doing research on those locales right now and I was just interested if anyone had any knowledge they could impart.
I should have said "I've never been there." LOL! I do have some knowledge. Not much, but some.
I don't have any knowledge but I have a book that might help you. One of my final classes was on the developing world and there was a book of articles on many different countries. I'm sure there's stuff in there you can use. I'll send it your way. It's like a workbook, so no large text book or anything.
Thanks, Terri. :) Sorry you lost your comment. If it helps, I've been able to "undo" in the comment box from the right click menu, but not sure if it works if it ereased when you hit the "F" key.
Marnee, looks like you need to travel to Egypt! :)
Awesome, Ter! I'd really appreciate that. I'm scouring (sp?) the net right now and I think I've got my thoughts together, at least for the locations I need my characters to visit, but I sorta wanted to get a feel for the culture too. So now i'm off to read about Nubian and Sudanese culture. :)
I think the pixy Sita has been there, actually. Fo real.
Melissa - I tried the control Z trick, which has worked for me before, but nada. I think I might have hit excape. I was chasing an escaping Lindor truffle. Priorities you know. :)
Marn - These articles will definitely give you insight into the region and the culture.
I would love to go, I've heard it's beautiful and cool, but I'm not likely to be leaving the country anytime soon. :)
Egypt is one place I cannot muster up the desire to visit. I know seeing the pyramids should be on my bucket list, but meh.
The whole of Africa and the Middle East is not anywhere on my bucket list. India, sure, but not the others. (Jeruselem might be neat to see, but I don't have that much interest in it.)
I'm not that wild about Greece because it's too close. *LOL* Kinda like I don't visit Branson because it's close to Arkansas.
Greece is on my list. Maybe even a little of Turkey. But that's as far as I go.
And I prefer not to visit Branson just because...it's Branson. LOL!
The Ozarks is pretty; and I did enjoy Silver Dollar City (Disney World for the Amish)--but it's been a long time. Arkansas IS pretty. *LOL* I've been there, and some really friendly people...and then there were the interesting ones, which is why I won't be returning.
LOL! The pyramids fascinate me. I would like to see them. The rest of Africa... not sure.
And I've never been on the west side of the Mississippi so I still have lots of the US to see before I start treking the globe.
I do remember the sunsets in Arkansas being very different than what we get this far east. That might not make sense, but that's how I saw it. And the land is beautiful, where there isn't an old bus embedded in a hillside. (Yes, I drove by this monstrosity every day for years.)
I've never gotten farther west than AR unless you count Nationals in San Fran. Which really I just saw the inside of the hotel. LOL! I want to see the Rocky Mountains and down into Arizona. The Pacific Northwest would be pretty cool too. Do they have a non-rainy season? LOL!
As someone who grew up absurdly close to both Branson and Arkansas, I agree. If I never go back to Branson on another school trip/church trip/family chaos reunion thing/shopping trip, etc, I will die a much happier coxswain ;)
I have a weird desire to visit Africa. I keep trying to dream up work-related reasons for going. But for some reason, the University doesn't really think it'd be smart for little white-girl me to go trekking through west Africa with twenty students. Something about us not all coming back....it'd be very bad publicity...
Bos'sun, I been ta Seattle when it were sunshine and purty. And I been ta Portland when it were 104%. So, yeah, they got non-rainy days. Days, ya notice. Not seasons, days.
Have no drive ta see Egypt, too many bad dreams a' dyin' there on an altar. Past lives can be a bitch. But I'd like ta see the pyramids a' South America. And want to gaze at the mountains of Patagonia... Sigh.
Right now, I'm gonna try ta nap...
There are a lot of people I know who desire to go to Africa--and/or have gone--and I'm like, "good for you!" And then they launch into stories I don't want to hear, like the lions who walked past the tents...and the elephants near the tents and the rhino...I'm like, "NOoooooo. Zoos are fine for me. I can see all the foreign animals and not worry about a tent."
I can't imagine why losing one or two of a group would be bad publicity. Now if you lost the WHOLE group, I can see where that might be frowned upon.
Marnee, I'm coming way late to the discussion, but your book sounds fabulous. Definitely something I've got to get my hands on.
How did you decide on your character's names? Your heroine's is so traditional.
Loaded potatoes, yum, yum.
yeah. the administration seems hell bent on making sure study abroad students come home. *shrug* You lose the whole fun of living dangerously that way. Bringing home 18 out of 20 would be pretty good odds, I say :)
It would be even funnier to leave with 20 and bring home 22. LOL!
Opps! Were those illegal immigrants in my suitcase? I didn't put them there, customs officer, I swear!
Wouldn't be illegal immigrants if your students are knocked up, and recalling some of my student workers' knowledge of birth control, it wouldn't be a surprise if they did wind up preggers.
Good point. I still look young enough that students will tell me anything they wouldn't tell the more traditional faculty. I usually know who's sleeping with whom among our majors before the second week of class.
*yawn
Feelin' much better. So, me sis pointed out that Catholics do include the pantheon of angels. After some back and forth, the thing is...IMHO... Catholics aren't fixated on the warrior fer god aspects of angels. We grew up with the prayer for kids...angels are a child's device.
Now, this could be the California Catholic upbringin' that I had!
But I totally get that old testiment warrior/wrath of god stuff that is comin' out in the newer paranormals. It's sorta cool. Yer book sounds awesome, Marnee. I like the twist yer spinnin'!
The GPS has been to Egypt. She's been a lot of places. The bitch.
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