The new and VASTLY improved Entropy Gate web site is up and almost done...

Got a show coming up soon...Jan. 3, from 7-9 at the GRIND COFFEE house. I prefer showing at coffee houses over Galleries because a) they are far less stuffy, b) more people show up to them (coffee houses that is) and c) a lot easier to get into...Chuck out at the GRIND originally had me down for a July, but his Jan. guy is a potter and wasn't going to have any work on the walls...so...long story lengthened, I've got some framing to do...oh yeah, and a few new peices to work on. Kevin gave me some frames he was going to toss and they're huge! YAY for big art.

Just stumbled across this...her work looks to be quite cool.

this is just too darn clever...click HERE

Okay...here it is. ROCKY is one of my all time favorite movies. I loved Rocky II, liked Rocky III, sort of enjoyed Rocky IV and like the rest of the world, wondered what Stallone was smoking when he made ROCKY V. But then I heard about ROCKY BALBOA (aka VI)...or maybe it was called ROCKY BALBOA so that it could easily fit next to number IV without messing up the look of the order of the numbers...but I digress...I'm actually pumped to see BALBOA and here's why...click here.

Borat, The Office, Punk'd...there is so little entertainment out there anymore. Does anyone reme,ber what it was like to turn on the TV and have shows entertain you without that awkward silence. Yeah, I know, the critics love BORAT because he essentially said what Michael Richards said...'cept he was 'funny'...though if his SNL performance was anything close to his stupid movie, then he deserved the beating he got after the show...I still like Hugh Laurie because he is great as Dr. House, but I wish that he had let Borat get his just desert.

It seems that we can no longer be entertained unless we are watching someone get humiliated. I remember walking out of the living room when my wife and I watched "Meet the Parents". How is an hour and a half long movie about making someone feel absolutely worthless and humiliating them repeatedly concidered humorous entertainment.

Entertainment and writing in Hollywood has been at a steady decline for years, but "reality TV" which is anything but reality and "humiliation" comedy is causing so much damage to people...I wonder if anyone can laugh any more unless someone is a) humiliated b) Punk'd(what ever that means...MTV idiots on drugs pulling childish pranks on people most likely) or c) being SHOCKING!

Let's face it...sit coms are all about a) stupid dads b) over sexed and under satisfied wives c) smart alec kids who talk back to dumb dad and then have sex with under satisfied teenagers d) sarcastic idiots who find it funny trashing Christian values...

Stop the world...I'm done for now...

Dr. K.F. R.I.P.

I have been dragged, kicking and screaming into the 21st century...my wife bought me a cell phone...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! But then she down loaded the bladerunner theme song for a dial tone...it was either that or William Shatner asking to be let out of my pocket.

The digital camera is down so I won't post the recent art...which is a total bummer because I have had another artistic eruption...when the camera is working, there will be much art...oh yes, there will be art...

A creature from Entropy Gate - Beyond.

Chen.

Michael.

Just so ya know...


NEWS: BABYLON 5 DVD movie coming

SOURCE - SCI FI WIRE:

Warner Home Video and Warner Brothers Television announced the start of production on Babylon 5: The Lost Tales, a made-for-video movie that will tell two new stories set in the B5 universe. WHV will be the home-entertainment distributor for the made-for-DVD release, which will include two new stories under the collective subtitle "Voices of the Dark" in one film, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

The stories will be written and directed by executive producer and Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski. Executive producer Doug Netter also returns in that role. Actors from the original series that have signed on to participate in the project include Bruce Boxleitner (President John Sheridan), Tracy Scoggins (Capt. Elizabeth Lochley) and Peter Woodward (Galen).

The Lost Tales picks up several years after the events of the original Babylon 5 TV series and follows several of its major characters in new adventures set against the backdrop of the B5 universe. The movie will be released sometime in 2007.

Still editing book two...and writing book five...I may have to take a break from five to finish three.

What a night…I got to ITT at 4:00 pm and we finished at 10:30…We shot half of the sword fight video (choreographed to the music from Final Fantasy 7) complete with me standing on the bumper of my father-in-law’s truck while balancing the camera on the back cab to simulate a rotating dolly shot that totally rocked…then we destroyed the teacher’s lounge for a TOOL video that had two chefs creating cookies without eggs…there will be images posted next week of both projects…it was a long day…

Grant Gould has some great Battlestar Galactica images here

I've been watching "Battlestar Galactica" since it first aired on Sci Fi...honestly, I hated the idea at first...now, I am convinced that it is the best show on TV next to HOUSE MD.

I mean...wow...really...wow...





nuff said...

This is a clone of the same character as posted below, but she has a gun.

I’ve sent several copies of Entropy Gate – Journey to readers for comments and feedback. Still wouldn’t mind sending out a few more. For those of you who did read it, here’s the survey.

1. What did you like most/least about it? (why?)

2. Who was your favorite/least favorite character? (why?)

3. When the book ended, did you want to read the sequel?

4. If you could compare the writing style and story telling to an already published author, who would it be? (there’s a reason for asking this…)

5. If this were published, would you recommend it to a friend?

6. Would you reread the story? (why/why not)

7. If you could change anything about the story, what would that be?

8. What sort of books do you normally read?

How realistic am I?

One day I want to be a published author and spend my days writing, painting and doing the ocassional lecture. Is that realistic? I think so. Is it a dream? Sure. But why not dream big. I've done my best to surround myself with friends who are positive and who are actively pursuing their own dreams. I've lost some friends and aquaintences by doing this, but the way I look at is like this...if you have a talent, a gift, use it. If all you're going to do is complain about how cheated you are by life, God and everyone, because you aren't the success you thought you were going to be, then I don't want to hang with you. Go away.

Here's a drawing of KAYLA from the forth coming short story/graphic novel "Cloud Scrapers Union".

Here is a drawing of a character from book 3. I just realized that I had the character's name on this post and for some of you, that could be a spoiler...name removed now...

I'll be posting some images tonight from work where my computer runs faster...but now, back to evil vs bad.

Book one - Journey - explores badness. Our heroes are confronted with bad politicians, bad 'guys' and bad, or unfortunate, events. The truely evil is lurking there, but it doesn't emerge until book two - Beyond. There is a character who embodies evil...that is to say, he at one point in his life embraced fully, as his 'master', if you will, Satan and all that the devil stands for. It is not stated that he one day sat down and said, "Hey Satan, let's embrace." It was more of a gradual understanding of evil being the only choice he felt was there for him to take.

Have I ever met someone bad? Sure. Even dated a few. But have I ever met anyone evil? Truely evil? Only once. People don't scare me, but this individual made my hands shake. When you are around true evil, I think that, if you're slightly intuitive, you'll sense that something about the person does not register...there is a feeling about them that makes you uneasy...

more later...

Okay…so where were we?

Bad vs Evil.

And you are?

That little voice.

I see. That little voice. Some might call you a conscience.

No, not THAT little voice…the one you use for dramatic moments when you need to narrate using a secondary primary. Like on Magnum P.I. when he would talk to the audience.

So…he was talking to everyone, not just me.

Are you ill?

A joke. Calm down. Now, on to business. Evil. I believe in the Devil.

THANK YOU MY CHILD OF DARKNESS!

Back off pal. I believe you exist. I don’t worship you.

@!!#%

Yeah, well, don’t be so gullible.

YOU’RE ONE TO TALK.

Oh?

SURE. YOU ATTRIBUTE EVERY WRONG DOING, EVERY MISTAKE, EVERY FAUX PAS TO ME!

Ha, I knew Satan was French.

WHAT?

Maybe some people attribute all of their ill happenings to you, but I don’t think you’re that talented.

OH YEAH, WATCH THIS.

What? I didn’t see anything.

THIRTEEN CHILDREN IN AFRICA JUST DIED OF AIDS.

And you’re claiming responsibility for that?

SURE. I’M REALLY EVIL. I GET AROUND. I SPREAD AIDS. I SPREAD VENERIAL DESEASE. I INVENTED MONOPOLY.

Actually you spread temptation. Men and women…and sometimes men and men, spread disease…Parker Bros. created monopoly.

FINE. YA GOT ME THERE. BUT I INSPIRED MONOPOLY.

What? How?

REMEMBER MY COUP? IT WAS A MONOPOLY! I TRIED TAKING OVER HEAVEN, BUT BLAST IF GABRIEL, MICHAEL, STEVE AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ANGELS DIDN’T KICK MY SORRY-

Hold on their you rascally devil…this is a family show. Steve?

WELL I CALL HIM STEVE. HE WAS ON THE FRONT LINES AND HE REALLY DID SOME DAMAGE. I DON’T KNOW. GETTING KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN KIND OF CAUSES YOU TO PRIORATIZE CERTAIN THINGS AND NAMES AREN’T REALLY THAT IMPORTANT WHEN YOU’RE A BURNING CINDER FALLING TO EARTH.

Serves you right.

I SHALL SMITE THEE.

No one smites these day.

FINE. I SHALL CAUSE YOU FINANCIAL DAMAGE!

Been there...done that...am doing that, actually...

ILLNESS. MULTIPLE HOSPITAL VISITS FOR YOUR FAMILY. YOU WILL CRY AS YOU SEE YOUR CHILDREN UNDERGO MANY EXAMS AS DOCTORS PICK THEIR NOSES AND PLAY WITH POSSIBLE DIAGNOSISE.

Oh yeah…that is soooo last year.

VERY WELL, I SHALL DESTROY YOUR VAN TWO DAYS AFTER YOU PAY IT OFF. THEN, AS IT IS PARKED BEHIND YOUR GARAGE, I SHALL MOTIVATE A SNOOPY NEIGHBOR TO REPORT IT AS AN ABANDONDED VEHICAL GIVING YOU 20 DAYS TO MOVE IT. WHEN YOU TRY TO MOVE IT, YOU SHALL SLIP AND FALL. YOUR FACE WILL COLIDE WITH THE HOOD AND YOUR CHEEK SHALL BE CUT BY THE PONTIAC ORNAMANT ADORNING YOUR CAPATALISTIC PRIZE. YOUR TOE SHALL BE CUT ON THE PAVEMENT AND YOUR ELBOW GASHED BY SMALL ROCKS.

Uh…yeah…you aren’t really Satan…are you?

BUT ALL OF THIS SHALL COME TO PA-

It all happened tonight. I slipped on gravel. Tomorrow I’m meeting with a friend from church at a coffee shop and he’s praying with me regarding my book, the van, the finances, Saint Francis-

THAT’S RIGHT. THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS...I SHALL SMITE THEE THERE.

All ready smitten, pal. You missed that one. They excell at smiting. But honestly, you aren’t Lucifer…are you.

CURSES! FOUND OUT AGAIN. SEE, SATAN’S NOT OMNICIENT SO WE HAVE TO FILL IN SOMETIMES.

And you are?

FRANK…A MINOR DEMON. THE BIG "L" IS OFF PLAYING CHESS WITH DEATH AND I HAVE TO WATCH THE PHONES BECAUSE ALL OF THE OTHER DEMONS ARE AT THE HALLOWEEN PARTY.

I love Halloween. My kids are going Trick or Treating.

REALLY, MAYBE WE’LL SEE YOU.

I’ll probably stab you with a cross or read Lamentation to you if I see you.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Alright…starting tomorrow…I promise to talk about Bad vs Evil.

ARRRGGG! I can’t find the cable I use to down load the images from the camera to the computer…the knuckle of death will have to wait.

And now, for something completely different…

Evil vs Bad.

Is there really a difference?

In the past I have posted comments about the two. But I intend to delve a little bit deeper today.
Merriam Webster’s online dictionary states that Evil is…
1 a : morally reprehensible : SINFUL, WICKED

While Bad is
1 a : failing to reach an acceptable standard : POOR a bad repair job b : UNFAVORABLE make a bad impression c : not fresh : SPOILED bad fish d : not sound : DILAPIDATED the house was in bad condition

So…let me begin my rambling…

I think that in today’s social and political scene, the term evil is often misapplied. I think that everyone but the truly stupid would agree that Hitler, for example, was evil. So with that- oh, I’m sorry, you in the back with your hand up…

*NAZI-SKIN-HEAD-DOOFUS: Ah, yes, well, Hitler was a brilliant artist and he liked dogs.

And Satan was fond of legged serpants and fruit from forbidden fruit trees. What’s your point, moron?

NSHD: I don’t see the point in name calling.

Don’t you ‘name call’ Jews?

NSHD: Well, sure, but that’s different. They’re evil.

I see. And you’re just ignorant, stupid and a moron. Plus you’ve sidetracked me. (gun shot, sound of NSHD falling to ground) Don’t worry, folks, it’s just a tranquilizer. But anyway, Hitler, Bin Laden, Stalin…all evil. Yes, I think what they did (do) went beyond simple “badness” and was truly sinful and wicked. Therefore in my book…oh what now?

**ARROGANT ATHEIST: Sin and wickedness is a construct of man to keep hedonists from having fun.

Are you a hedonist?

AA: Yes.

Are you having fun?

AA: A little. I’d like to have more fun, but you Christians are-

And Jews.

AA: -yes, and Jews are keeping-

And Muslims…at least the ones not blowing things up and killing everyone.

AA: -Okay, yes, Muslims too. You’ve all created rules to stop the human race from becoming-

And environmentalists.

AA: What?!?

Environmentalists make rules too. I want to chop down a tree, build a fire and roast an owl, but they won’t let me.

AA: Now your being silly.

I’m proving my point. What’s yours?

AA: My point is that you make rules to keep everyone in line the way you want them to be and claim that a ‘god’ told you to do this.

Well, almost. We believe that God told us and that we have a conscience that enables us to know right from wrong.

AA: But a conscience is just your reaction to guilt.

And if Hitler-

AA: Oh enough with Hitler.

Alright if a radical Muslim-

AA: Give it a rest.

(sigh) Suppose George Bush...

AA: EVIL!

Chill. Suppose he said that all atheists had to be registered with the government-

AA: Why would he do that?

Let’s just say Dick Chaney told him to. Will that satisfy you?

AA: For now.

And suppose he had no guilty feelings about this act and you were visited each and every day by a rotating squadron of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, Muslims, Hindus, Environmentalists and the entire cast of Saturday Night Live after they have converted to Scientology. And they would all try to save you.

AA: That would be wrong.

But he doesn’t feel guilty about it.

AA: Do the SNL guys do skits?

Yeah, but they all involve Tom Cruise.

AA: If that would happen, I’d be convinced even more that there is no god.

But you miss my point. You wouldn’t like that because it tramples on your rights and your comfort zone.

AA: What does this have to do with evil vs bad?

Okay, you seem nice enough despite going straight to hell.

AA: HEY!

Just teasing. No I’m not. Well, I am, but you are.

AA: I think you’re the arrogant one.

Yeah, sometimes. But let’s talk some more. What is evil?

AA: The absence of good.

And we define good…how?

AA: Is this a trap?

No. I genuinely want to know how someone who does not believe in God can define good and evil. I understand how an agnostic could, but gee whiz, if I didn’t believe in God, I would have said something else instead of gee whiz, and I’d be livin’ it up BIG TIME (cue Peter Gabriel’s ‘Big Time’). See, the problem here is that I believe without a doubt (though in the past there were times of doubt) that God exists and so therefore my entire debate is fueled and based on that...

Hello? Are you there…darn. I need a real atheist to talk to.


More later. Because I promise at some time to actually discuss bad vs evil.

Disclaimer
* no nazi skin-heads were injured during this post, though they should have been.
** not all atheists are arrogant…just some of them I know.

Knuckle busters and throat slashers...

Odd post, I know, but tonight at ITT I was showing the students how to create wounds with latex, spirit gum and a variety of art tools..I created a successeful "knuckle cut" that had most of the faculty convinced I had crushed my finger in a car door or some such violent thing...needless to say, I enjoyed poking the "knuckle of death" into everyone's face and asking if it looked infected...hopefully I can post images soon...

Looking for...

people who don't really like Science fiction to read Entropy Gate - Journey and answer a short questionaire...

so...um...whats with the whole "chick-lit" business, eh?

No, I have not crossed over to some other relm...it's just that my wed. group "SCRIBES" that was my twelve step writing 'group' meets at a time when I have to work and I have found a lot of energy and encouragement from "Girlswriteout"

I was also expanding my horizons when I decided to read Denise's book(s) but my source has them stored away some where so I'm off to anchor room to buy one. In the meantime, since I've finished some Franke Herbert, the Leonard Nimoy autobiography and the Buckley Biography...I've picked up my wife's copy of Colleen Coble's "Alaska Twilight".

CREATIVITY SLAM!

Lately I've been 'slammed' with so much inspiration that I feel as if I'll soon burst. I can't write until Saturday night (it's currently 1:45 am and my wife and I are going to play some cards...long story)...but Saturday night will be a time for me to get some words onto the great big white! Here is the break-down...Kristi leaves for the "Covered Bridge Festival" at 3:00 am (thus the night owl card game...next, I get the boys up at 9:00 am for Jesters (the theater and art program for special needs children and young adults)...then we get home at 2:30...I snooze for an hour...then we go to nephew Leroy's birthday...then we come home around 6:30 and carve pumpkins...then the boys watch a movie...and then...and then...I get to write!!! Yay!

This is the squirrel that visits us daily for nuts, corn and other snacks. He'll eat from your hand.

As posted earlier...here is a picture of the flying squirrel that visited our back yard every night for a month.

Just so ya know...

After rereading my last post I don't want any of you thinking that my characters will suddenly have big eyes, spikey hair and overly dramatic poses...though it'd be funny to draw EG characters as anime...no it wouldn't...yes it would...no it wouldn't...okay...maybe...

What I was getting at was that the film was inspirational in it's creative aproach. I found it nice to view something that was almost oure eye candy and yet still have a good narrative.

um...wow...I'm not sure what to say...a friend from church lent me Final Fantasy 7 the movie and I was a) totally confused plot-wise b) knocked out of my seat visually. I have a bunch of ideas running through my head for EG2, EG4, and EG5. It is a fantastic visual rush...more later...still enjoying the experience.

They're baaaa-aaack.

This summer we had three flying squirrels in our back yard. Well some doofus exploded a large roman candle-like fire work in our back yard several months ago and scared them away. Tonight, they have returned. I'll post images of them tomorrow.

out

Back in the saddle again...

Last summer an agent rated my book a B and gave me several suggestions. I followed the suggestions and resubmitted again...just got the rejection letter today. Sort of bummed, but hanging in there. Kristi and I are digging through the internet looking for some more agents...

Ten minutes ago Kristi found an agent that seems even more appropriate than the last one. Say a prayer!!!

did a little more on it...

Here is a drawing I just finished a week ago for the Faculty/Alumni show at the University of Saint Francis.




LEARNING TO FLY

I've worked some more on the 8 x 4 footer...

Over the summer I had the opportunity to do the 3 River's Festival chalk walk...I was given an 8 x 8 foot section of the street to draw on.

In my studio, I have several work areas. This is the primary desk where I paint and draw mixed media works. I also have a table for graphite drawing that is much cleaner. The chair is from the Mulder mobile (my old Taurus). I pulled it out and mounted it on four 4x4s.

I have been working on the fifth installment of the Entropy Gate series (Destination) even though I am currently working on editing book two (Beyond) and have as of yet finished book three (Repercussions) and book four (Return). I feel that it is some of the best writing I have ever done. I wish I could share it with you all, but it is so full of spoilers that I’d hate to ruin the other as-of-yet-unfinished books.

Also, after work (ITT) today (10:45 pm), I added some more paint to the 4 x 8 image I've been working on and I’ll post the images from the speedy computers IPFW or USF tomorrow.

Sleepy time!

OUT

and here is the painting I'm working on. It's still in the early stages...just putting some color down. It's 4 ft by 8 ft. The red color isn't blood, by the way. When it's finished, it should look (color and texture) like the image below. This is a detailed, cropped image of another of my large paintings. The full image delt with cloning and the soul.

As promised, here are the crazy cloud images I took during the freak storm the other day. I plan on using them for the back ground of the painting that will be shown in the next post.

It's 12:50 right now...I doubt that the post clock says that time...anyway, I just finished reading "I am Spock" by Nimoy. Great autobiography...I took a break from Herbert's Dune series to read it and now I'm going to read one of DENISE'S works. I'm also going to post the paintings and cloud images tomorrow...I borrowed a cord from my folks so I could post the images...another storm is rolling through and I'm about ready to crash...later...

ps...I'm redesigneing the Entropy Gate site on Wed.

And what of the fifth book?

Someone asked me again about a fifth book and I repeated myself. The only way I'd have a fifth book would be to include several short stories in a compiled sort of way...but then the idea for a fifth book that wasn't a compilation of short stories hit me. If book one is Journey, then book five should be destination.

So the titles go as follows.

ENTROPY GATE -
Journey
Beyond
Repercussions
Return
Destination

I wrote about five pages of Destination last night.

ALSO!!! Anyone interested in giving book one a read, (new, improved and shorter than before) give me a buzz...I'll hook you up.

Here is a drawing from Icons, one of the short stories I wrote.

I brought in my digital camera to wok today to dwon load some images of the current painting. The computer didn't have the right port for reading the card so I sat at my station and sulked...until, that is, I looked out the window and saw the funkiest clouds I've ever seen. I started snapping pictures and stood outside with some of the other profs and students. The clouds were going in at least four different directions. It looked looked like something out of the most recent version of War of the Worlds.

Once I get the right cord, I'll post the images. Hopefully this afternoon.

JSYK...

My wife is the coolest woman a man could ever hope to marry!

Just puttin' that out there. Kristi ROCKS. I mean...who else plays "Star Wars Legos" for PC2 with their kids? Really...the woman is amazing! And she's beautiful!

It's 2:06 pm...that means I have about six hours to sleep tonight...and it's raining so that's cool...I'll sleep well tonight...I finshed the script for tomorrow's rehearsal...is that spelled right? don't know...don't care...anyway...this weekend I should have some more artwork done and some more of EG 2 done and posted...


This year the Jesters have grown by at least ten new kids...one girl. Lizzy, has a fantastic voice...just amazing...I find it rather pleasing that God would endow children (who have special needs and have been picked on by 'normals' at their schools) with voices of angels...this new kid (lizzy) rocks! I wrote a solo for her and can't wait to hear her go at it.

Also, my two boys want to be in the play this year...they don't see any of the 'special needs' that these kids have...a dad couldn't be more proud...

I'm toast...good night...

rain...cool...thunder...nice...

Oy...long day...after this evening's class (audio/video @ Itt 6:00-10:20 pm) I arrived at home to find that Zack was still up...it was Mom and the Boys night and they were munching on cheese sticks and pizza pockets and egg rolls and watching a few scenes from Phantom of the Opera. Zack is really into musicals, but unfortunately most of the musicals have adult themes so we have to edit them...

well, after I got everyone to bed, I went downstairs and worked on the 8x4 foot painting...I have been taking pictures as I am painting it, but we don't have the right cable to download the images onto the net...it will happen though and I'd welcome feedback on the painting...it is for a show that will take place in December...I'm loving it. Lots of texture and very monotone on color...

Now, at 1:10 pm I have to complete the play for the JESTERS...it is a theater and art troupe that I have for children (and adults) with special needs...this year we are doing a comedy send up of film noir style...films...I have to right in four new characters and create two more songs before tomorrow...

Thank God for caffine...bye for now...

This is a drawing I'm working on for a large painting of Silla...

some more stuff...

Not one to complain much...however...

Years ago I was into Fencing...not the act of selling stolen goods, but the French Foil sort of fencing. It was the best sport ever (still is)...but...I developed a style of sword play that played havoc on my knees...now at (near) 40 I sometimes reap the wrath of those fine years of fencing...tonight is one of those nights (actually, last Sunday, I wacked my left knee on a desk at a friend's school and tore up a bunch of stuff...had I not possessed a knee of destruction from years of fencing abuse, I would have easily walked off the injury). My left leg is in a tremendous amount of pain and I am thankful for the vicodin from a previous surgery "botch up" that I can now take to ease the pain. I'm not sure when the next post will be. I'm having a bit of a 'time' focusing on editing...later...

Book four...hmmm...what about book four...I've had three different starts to the 4th book in the series and none have felt right. However...this evening I finished a drawing for the USF Faculty show and it inspired me to create another Entropy Gate painting like the one I did a few years ago...I'll post those images later. As I listened to Pink Floyd's Pulse and then the Deep Space Nine soundtrack followed by the Blade Runner Soundtrack, I came up with a painting that sums up all of Book Four...can't wait to paint...can't wait to write...

ps. I'm currently rereading "I Am Spock" by Leonard Nemoy...what a great read!

plus...it's raining outside...nice!

More artwork...

Well...I'm working on book two while book one is out there trying to get published. It sits at 132,203 word and I'm on page 151 out of 529. It originally was about the same length as book one 155,540 words.

Also, I'm in a bit of pain because I have a half inch splinter lodged in my foot near the heal. Ouch. So it's a bit hard to concentrate. I'm going to be updating the web page on friday. Hopefully we'll get everything worked out and it'll load quicker.

Just so ya know...tomorrow is National TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY! ARRR

What a great day...we had a great time at church with one of the best communion services I've heard...then lunch with Denise and her family at Casa, a short nap and then four straight hours of editing book two. I'm pumped!

I've started another blog. HERE. It is where I will ocoassionally post chapters from book two of the series. Check it out. Talk amoungst yourselves.

Crazy stuff that turns out to be true...sort of...

So I'm editing book two right now and I've come across a character who chastises Michael for 'not knowing the true face of God'. Now Michael does know the true face if you will. That of love, forgiveness, charity, hope, goodness, joy...I mean, come on, you get the picture. But the bad guy is involved in a religious order that has twisted the truth and he sees no sin in killing if it furthers the goals of his god. And he believes it is the true God because he quotes from a 'holy scripture'. And then it hit me...it's sort of what is going on with the radical Muslim movement. I know, I know, it's not politically correct to say that some Muslims are violent. However, the terrorists who are flying planes into building, destroying the holy relics and temples of all religions (including their own), killing innocent Muslims (that would be women, children, old people...etc), screaming for the death of all Americans and Jews, demanding the Pope apologize for, I don't know, wearing a funny hat, and going absolutely ape poo over cartoons are, well, Muslim. And they claim to be doing this in the name of God...my villain seems rather tame next to these vile creatures who believe themselves to be human.

Now I don't hate Muslims. I've worked with and known many. I helped a young woman cope with the fasting of Ramadon (I think that was the one…and I think I spelled it correctly). She had been Catholic and had married a muslim and and she REALLY liked food. We both taught at the same school and she was worried she wouldn't be able to go through with the day long fasting. So I sat and talked with her during lunch (not eating my own lunch) and helped her keep her mind focused on other things. I'm not sure if she was doing this out of a love for God or a love for her husband, but she was doing it out of love and was a beautiful woman for it. I saw none of the hatred for the 'infidel' in her or her family. What a contrast to the screaming mobs we see on TV and the papers demanding that people be killed for thinking differently.

Entropy Gate

It's raining...and I mean RAINING! Anyone who knows me knows of my 'condition'...and I've blogged about it before. When there are long periods without rain, I get REALLY depressed. Fall is my favorite time of year and nothing makes me happier than to hear rain pouring down outside while the leaves are turning...okay, the sound of my son laughing or my other son playing the trombone (hang on...another story re: that soon to follow) or my wife's voice...those moments are totally cool...but the rain...I need it too...last summer we had a NO RAIN...okay...we had some, but not much. It depressed me so much (I'm serious, too much sunshine makes me really depressed) that my lovely wife (I'd honestly die with out her) bought me a CD of thunderstorms and told me to listen to the sounds with the blinds closed in my studio...it helped. This year she bought me a fountain that sounds like rain...So...where was I going with this? Um...Oh, yeah...the drawing I'm working on for the University of Saint Francis Faculty/Alumni show is almost done. I'll post it here when it's ready to be framed. The rain was a real inpiration this evening as I was finishing it up. Okay...time to head on down stairs and watch my wife master LEGO STAR WARS for PLAY STATION.

Why the sandwich?

Many, many months ago I posted an image of a sandwich I made that almost killed me. It's the closest thing I have to a decent photo of me right now...plus, like the sandwhich, I am big and full of cheese...sort of.

How much violence is too much violence in a Christian novel?

I am currently reading Ted Dekker’s novel blink. In the third chapter, he dedicates more than a page to describe a muslim father drowning his teenage daughter because she would not have relations with her husband. It was shocking and painful to read. But was it over the top? I’m not sure. Book two of the Entropy Gate series has its fair share of violence. However, the more intense scenes (nothing so horrifying as a father drowning his daughter in the family pool…I mean, come on, the people who ‘bite the bullet’ in BEYOND are THE BAD GUYS FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD!!!) are all carried out off camera as it were. When Silla ‘relieves’ some of the baddies who were tortured by even worse baddies (and she does it with a knife) I wrote it as, “Michael watched in horror as Silla ended their pain”…or some such thing. So, why am I moaning? Because some of the same people (some even related to me) who carped about the violence in my story have praised Dekker’s work.

Tonight I finished watching CRIMSON RIVERS for the third time. This time I was watching it because I am teaching an editing class at ITT. I have twenty different styles of editing that we will go over during the first night of the class...that means that we'll watch about 4 hours of movies...suddenly my master's degree seems worth it. Saturday is the start of the Jesters...the theater troupe of special needs people...and we'll also have the USF GALA ART OPENING...must attend...anyhoo...my wife has gone to two different dentists and finally figured out the problem of her teeth...me...i'm working three jobs...i'm tired...nite, nite! Must prepare for tomorrow's Egyptian art lecture...

Last night I finished cleaning most of the studio. I spent about a half hour then working on a drawing called "Learning to Fly". Not sure if I like it yet...but it was nice to get back in there. My studio had turned into a storage area and was filled with cob and spider webs. I've spent too much time on photoshop and not enough time in the studio.

Also, I'm getting a lot of editing done on Entropy Gate Beyond. Now that book one, Journey, is 50,000 words shorter, I'd like to throw it out there to anyone who'd like to read it and give me some feedback.

I found this in the archives...it was a design for First Gates (I mentioned this in a previous post)...

They're pulling a Lucas...

Fans of the original Star Trek series need to read an article posted here...

Someone asked about a fifth book in the series. It's actually a collections of short stories that I have been periodically working on. They are important stories for the series, but they don't really have to be included with the four books.

HOPE - the story of the doomed ship that first travelled secretly to Venus to explore the Entropy Gate.

GIFTED - originally written for the nanowrimo contest I participated in. Originally titled First Gate. Perhaps some of the very worst writing I have ever done. I liked the initial story but it went oh so horribly wrong. It tells the story of how the pine cone winds up on the planet that lies beyond the Entropy Gate. (that last comment makes sense only if you've read BEYOND.

ICONS - the story of the origins of the pinecone...takes place in Italy during the Italian Renaisance. Michaelangelo has a cameo.

part 3

Q: This just as a side note, you said that Jean Reno would be David. How about Michael or Chen?

A: Michael has always been a bit vague in my mind as far as actors go. As far as Chen? Perhaps Lucy Lu. She can be commanding and venerable.

Q: When you start writing, do you know the whole story?

A: I know the beginning and the ending. The middle is always a bit fuzzy. It’s fun to take the characters to strange or emotional or dangers areas and then see how they’re going to get to the end of the story.

Q: It was suggested that you need to trim down the story.

A: By a third.

Q: Yes. How is that going?

A: (not the original answer since I have done that already) It was hard at first because it’s A THIRD OF THE BOOK! But I managed, as I posted here. I’m so much happier with the new version.

Q: What comes after Entropy Gate? More Science Fiction?

A: I have several ideas…but the EG series is quite intense at times and I’d like to write something that my wife might read. I’ve worked a bit, in my mind, on a Romantic Comedy called ARTIST’S KNIGHT.

Q: Romantic…Comedy?

A: So shoot me.

Q: Last Question. New last question, actually. Is Entropy Gate just a guy thing?

A: I’ve actually had a lot of positive feed back from women. In fact, one of the neatest compliments I received was from a lady who accused me of having my wife write the conversations between Abigail and Michael. That was cool.

Interview part two...

Q: Where did the idea for Entropy Gate come from.

A: I had an idea about a vortex of some sort that was destroying Jupiter and a group of Russian and American scientists explore it.

Q: Didn’t that happen in 2010?

A: Yeah…it sort of did. I was going to scrap the idea, but then I turned it around and went with Venus. Once I did that, any similarity to the movie (and book) dissolved.

Q: And Father Michael?

A: Yes?

Q: I mean, where did he come from?

A: I think he comes from the same place that all of my characters come from. He’s a combination of people I know and, I suppose, a little bit of me.

Q: And the others?

A: David Frank, possibly the most controversial character, isn’t anyone I know, but I always pictured Jean Reno as the actor to play him (if a movie was ever made) and some of the dialog is actually written to match his vocal cadence and vocabulary.



Q: Why do you say controversial?

A: Because I’m writing stories with strong, positive Christian themes and he’s a likable atheist.

Q: And his likeability is an issue?

A: For some it might be. But I have met nice atheists and agnostics who haven’t said I was an idiot for believing in God. I have met, one in particular, who was just a total jerk and threw his atheism around like a hammer challenging everyone who believed that there could possibly be a higher being to argue with him. He was at grad school. We kicked him out of a party.

Q: For being a jerk.

A: Yes. But sometimes the whole notion of having an atheist as a likeable character is odd for me.

Q: Because…

A: A friend I grew up with went from being a Christian to an agnostic to an atheist and I have a hard time with that sort of evolution.

Q: Has that changed your character at all?

A: Oh, no. David Franke is locked in. He’s a real person now.

Q: Real-

A: As real as the others. Michael, Chen, Artimus, their all like real people in my mind.

Q: Have you ever had to kill off one of these real characters?

A: Yes…it’s a rather funny story actually. In Return (book two) one of the main characters dies. I had always planned on having him not make it through the story, but my original plan saw him dying a completely different way. I wrote myself into a corner where he was the only one to be able save the rest and so he got killed. I went home from work, where I had written the chapter, and my wife asked why I was depressed. I told her that one of the characters died and she just rolled her eyes.

Q: Who dies?

A: Someone. I’m not telling.

It is...it isn't...it is...now it's not!

Pluto is no longer a planet, it's a sub planet. So now there are only 8 planets in the solar system when only three days ago the newspaper made some mention about possibly adding a few more...

So???

Well, if you've read book one, you'll know that the 'bad guys' based part of their cult on less than nine planets and that throws off Michael's initial analysis on the writings he finds...so now I have to change the story AGAIN.

Kablooie times 4

1. Computer died. (brother fixed it-but I've been going nuts not able to write)

2. Back went out and I was put on medication that made me into Mr. Hyde...been off of the drugs for a couple of days and I still feel weird, short tempered, edgy.

3. Kristi lost her job (unjustly - legal action is an option)

4. I'm back to three jobs instead of the normal two.

I made a transcript of an interview from a short while ago...it sort of explains some of (what my wife calls) the weirdness that is my brain.

PART ONE

Q: Why do you write and when did it all star?

A: I write because film costs too much.

Q: Film-

A: As a kid I had a super 8mm camera and I used to make short films. I’ve always liked film and love movies. I like any medium that can tell a story. I used to get mad when people said my paintings and drawings looked like illustrations, but then I realized that that isn’t a bad thing. I’m a story teller.

Q: Would you rather be making movies, if the cost wasn’t so high?

A: I will one day. I had a project for this summer, but it fell through. Next summer, maybe.

Q: Was it part of the Entropy Gate trilogy?

A: Not really. Quadrillogy, actually, though there is a possible fifth story. Quintilogy? Quintology, I don’t know. What was the first question?

Q: I guess, why do you write, or more accurately, tell stories?

A: My brother.

Q: How so?

A: It’s totally his fault. He was an insomniac so I used to make up stories to try to get him to fall asleep.

Q: Did it work?

A: Yes.

Q: So your stories are boaring? Sleep inducing?

A: Then maybe. Not now, I hope. But what was interesting was I would continue the story in my head after he fell asleep.

Q: Your current series is Science Fiction. Were the bed time stories sci-fi?

A: No. I did not like Science fiction as a kid. I saw an episode of Star Trek (Is There in Truth no Beauty) where Spock’s brain sort of wigs out after looking into a box that contains some sort of glowing alien light and they used a fish eye lens on the camera and it creeped me out. Besides, Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone (the series) which ever it was, was on at the same time. We had foster kids living with us so we had two TVs. Imagine that two, in one house hold. I had to watch on the small black and white in my parents’ room while Dad and the others watched on the big black and white in the family room.

Q: So what turned you on to Science fiction?

A: My dad. Star Wars and 2001. But my dad was the main thing. He took me to see Star Wars at age 10 and it blew me away. Then (a few years later) I saw 2001 (on video) and was stunned again, though as a kid I preferred the action.

Q: And that did it?

A: Oh, yeah. After Star Wars I started watching Star Trek, Space 1999, anything with space ships and lasers and robots.

Q: And did your bed time stories change too?

A: By that time I wasn’t really telling stories anymore because my brother had beat insomnia and passed it on to me.

Q: Do you still have a hard time sleeping?

A: I have a love/hate relationship with sleep. I hate to go to sleep, but once I’m out, usually after 1:00 am, I hate to get up.

Q: What was the first Science Fiction story you wrote?

A: Well, the first one wasn’t ever really written down. I came up with these two characters, based loosely on me and my best friend Mark (RIP). We would have all of these adventures and I would play these stories out in my head like a self contained movie-

Q: Like day dreaming?

A: -like, yes, like day dreaming. Except that my brother and I had three paper routes that we ran and I’d play out the stories in my head while delivering the papers. Sometimes I’d play back the ones, the episodes if you will, that I really liked.

Q: That’s odd.

A: Isn’t it?

Things sort of went Ka-Blooie with the Church I have been attending for the last ten years...that's a whole 'nother story in itsself...but needless to say my wife and I have visited other churches in the surrounding area. We went to one last week and it was nice (though the music was way to loud for my parents and son (who has hearing problems)). The drummer was a young woman who I found out has already published a trilogy and just signed a four book deal. She writes stories that are more toward the "romance" genre...maybe I've found something my wife will read since she hasn't read my book yet.

I've been chugging through the pages and a lot is changing with book two...for those of you who have read bok two, here are some of the changes...

1. There is no distant feelings between Chen and her father...she's too tough for that and I feel that it weakened her character.

2. The 'stealing of the Aquila and the Orca' is much more action packed...they don't just walk in...and Will Kensel and Scrap are armed with large Power Welders - dangerous.

3. The 'cult of Silla' has a much larger roll at the beginning...

more later

started slashing and burning book two - BEYOND. Rather fun now realizing how much all of the editing helped book one.

Thought I was ready...again...

I rearanged some of the first fifty pages of the manuscript.

Instead of it all being about Michael in the desert, I now have...

Chapter One - A scout class vessel sent by Dr. Dolson orbiting Venus and the murder of Dolson.

Chapter Two - Michael meeting Artimus and leaving with the Deep Prophets.

Chapter Three - Chen boarding the Corona and learning aout her mission.

Chapter Four - Michael agreeing to the mission.

NOW I'm ready.

Half of the new web site is up...click here
...More coming soon.

This just in from HARVARD!

Hey all of you Star Wars traditionalists...get a load of THIS

the AOL poll...

Was the publisher right to end Viswanathan's contract?
Yes 92%
No 8%
Total Votes: 11,673

I want to know who those 8% are?

The plot sickens...

At first I thought, wow, I feel kind of bad for this kid...but then when it was revealed that she had lifted lines from an author she 'greatly admired' or some such thing, I kind of thought, what a little thief...but then I thought, well, she was 17-19 when she wrote the story so cut her some slack...now, after reading THIS I have no sympathy for her...at all...period...or even three periods in a row!

third in the series...click on the image to get a larger version. These are actually a lot smaller than the originals.

second image in the series...

this is for a series of images that will appear on the new web site when it's done...

This girl is either extremely naive or not too bright...read more about the plagiarism here.

NEW IMAGE FOR THE SITE...

the controversy continues...what makes me scratch my head is the fact that this girl didn't think she'd get caught...

click here for more info...

I was reading about a young woman who had her first book published at 19. I was thinking, 'how does that happen?'...then I read further and it turns out that one of her profs was a published author and he showed the manuscript to his agent. The young author made a six figure deal and sold the rights to Dreamworks...click HERE to read about the trouble that has caught up with her. Makes me wonder if anyone can think of anything original anymore...

Now that Entropy Gate Journey is done, I'm really looking forward to editing the follow up, Beyond. In the mean time...I'm finishing teaching my four classes at IPFW, about half way through writing next year's musical production "Come in out of the Rain" (a musical comedy that takes place in a club in the 1940s...all of the characters are named after characters in Humphrey Bogart films), halfway through two classes at ITT, and currently reading Edmond Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerac".

VENUS INFO

Click here for some cool information on Venus.

Made one last run through Entropy Gate - Journey...

final word count...104,384


we start sending out packages this weekend!

I'm re-re-redesigning the web page...this is what it should look like soon...

My son, Zack (7), entered the YOUNG AUTHOR'S contest at his school and won! He wrote and illustrated a story about a Lion named Jack who escapes to Scottland to build bagpipes.

Haven't done much this week on the book due to the big show coming up on Sunday at the Scottish Rite. As some of you know, I am director of the Jesters, a theater and art orginization for people with special needs. This year's show is HELLO NOON. It's a western. Last year was THE PIRATES OF CHARITY ISLAND. For some cool images of last year's show, check out BRAD's site by clicking here. Then go to galleries then commision work and the then go to JESTERS.

(smi) final count...finished editing...Mom asked to review it for any mistakes and that gives me the chance to read it on paper as well...I didn't hit the 100,000 mark...

here's the final count before my last read.

words - 107,306
pages - 446

ROCKIN'!

word count - 109,621
page count 395 out of 454

word count - 111,512
page 375 - 461

word count - 112,665
page 352 of 464

it's my birthday...so I'm going slow today...more speed tomorrow

word count - 113, 566

page 341 - 466

I didn't have much time for editing as of late due to family illness...back on track today. First time since 2-05.

word count - 113, 949
Pages - 331 of 467

136 pages to go...I don't know if I'll get the book down to 100,000...but I do know that it is far better than it was.

I should be able to get a lot done today... currently the word count is 114,608

page 318 of 469

count - 114,984

page - 318 of 470

I'm hosed...good night...

Just pluggin' away!

word count - 115,313

page count - 307 of 471

Word count - 115,715

Page 294 out of 472

Yesterday as I sat in the hospital waiting room, I came to the conclusion that the part of the story involving the asteroid did not need to be in the story...that's at least 5 more pages gone. Those of you who have read the book will know what I mean.

Word count - 119, 339

page - 287 of 486

Mike asked about book two...it is available...but not yet in book form. Email me at asetter304@aol.com and I can hook you up with one.