My daughter and I climbed two small mountains (but still, legitimate enough to be recordable) with friends this month. And playing with VR quickly required acquiring our own system. I loved Guitar Hero and Rock Band when they came out, and Beat Saber is such a worthy successor.
I’m 73% complete on the Spider-Man videogame, which has a great plot, and have just started Red Dead Redemption 2. I’m not feeling that one yet. I live for story, but it feels like the gaming is sacrificed for long conversations and setups. But it’s still early days, I could be very wrong.
Plot details for book six are almost complete, so I start writing tomorrow. For those who might be interested in my process, I average two chapters per day of new content when in the writing stage, six or seven days per week, and then have to do a lot of cleanup. I am an extraordinarily messy first-drafter. The revision process is pretty rewarding because of it, where I can say “Oh, that was a nice idea, but I can totally make it better.”
New characters, as promised! What do you think of Hank, Deacon, and Chan?
Quick response to Lcashless1, who said: “The only thing I do not like is the fact that Diana is developing her powers very slowly.” It’s true. On the one hand, I’m trying to avoid the Captain Marvel effect, where nothing can defeat her. On the other, gotta keep her development interesting, as you’ve pointed out. There will be more to come in the upcoming books, and I really appreciate the insight.
To Fussyforfurkids, who said: “Not as good as Liera.” That’s a high bar you’re setting! I loved those books too. I’m glad you have room in your reading schedule for both.
Finally, there seems to be an interest in a dual-troll adventure. I’ll ponder on that one – it’s a pretty challenging assignment!
Quick media notes: I loved Detective Pikachu again when the kid demanded we see it a second time. Yes, I was surprised too. The latest Expanse book is in the rear view, and it made me sad. It was wonderful, but you know, a little dark. Deadwood movie was good. Good Omens was great, and I’m into my second watching. Fleabag was phenomenal if you’re into that sort of thing, and Killing Eve season one was strong if you’re into that sort of thing. I’m still looking forward to Watchmen and American Gods. And breathless to see Endgame again when it’s released to digital.
If you want to chat media, the books, or whatever else, I check in pretty often on Facebook. Just search TR Cameron Author to find me. Or, less reliably, [email protected].
Now, back to smacking flying boxes in Beat Saber. Until next time, Joys upon joys to you and yours – so may it be.
Author Notes - Martha Carr
July 2, 2019
Here’s a question I ponder all the time. It’s even inspired me to start The Peabrain Society to help others climb their mountain.
What stops people from going for the very things they dream about?
That can have a dozen answers – hence the need for an entire movement (which, by the way starts in September – it’s gonna be amazing). I’m willing to start with one thread that’s pretty common and unravel it a little here. It’ll also give you an idea of what we’ll be doing in the new Society, kind of…
Here we go.
We tell ourselves a narrative that we dug around for in the first place and then we adopt it as if it were fact. I’ll give you an example.
My late sister Diana’s house sold this week. It was a relief for about five minutes and then sadness. It’s the last thing that needs to be done for her and then she is just memories. I was sitting in my office and realized, I feel sad…
But instead of stopping there, I searched my brain for events to come up with a justification and the narrative begins. I feel sad because… More searching, checking in for what sets me off more. Aha! Her last days were so tough and I could have done more, if only I’d known. It all seems so futile.
And we’re off and running. The narrative (or story) becomes the way I distract myself from feeling so uncomfortable. It’s like I believe that naming it can make it go away faster. It gives me something to overcome and rise above and get back to other things. Even seems noble, right?
But this is the very thing that can get in the way and weirdly, put roadblocks to my own success, my own personal happiness. I ignored the opportunity to learn something.
Instead, I can ditch the narrative and just say, I feel sad, and stop there. But wait, there’s more. I can not only just be sad without explanation, I can invite that sadness to come and sit down next to me. I can ask, what are you here to teach me? And then, I can let the answer come to me.
It’s reverse engineering at its best.
I let go of control and a fear that sadness can park itself and stay and I let it sit next to me like an ally, instead of the enemy.
Sometimes the answers find me almost right away, sometimes its weeks and I’m walking down a grocery store aisle when it hits me. But when it does, it’s deeper and more profound and helps me see a new view of the world. Some old fear loses a little bit of ground. Some old belief that’s no longer serving me slips away and is replaced by a new one with some life in it.
And instead of fighting and pushing against life, I’m telling myself that the universe is to be trusted. Even the hard events are here in a loving way to show me something. Give it room, let it linger, good will come from this.
When I’ve been able to do this – and generally it includes conversations with others on a similar path – my life has changed in weird and wonderful ways, opening up to what seems like unrelated dreams. I still don’t know what the sadness is here to teach me, but I’m okay with paling around for a while, getting on with life until the answer appears. I’ll let you know.
That’s just a taste of what we’ll be working on come this fall. I’m so excited! More adventures and dreams to follow.
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
July 10, 2019
THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes as well.
(I think I’ve been good with always opening with “thank you.” If not, I need to edit the other Author Notes!)
RANDOM (sometimes) THOUGHTS?
OH MY #$@@# the Vanilla Bean Frappucino at Starbucks is FREAKING COLD!
Ok, half the fault is mine (one could argue all of the fault is mine for sipping it too fast, but I’m the only one arguing and I can’t get better than 50/50.)
I’m setting up my new little 12” Macbook (arrived the same day Apple stopped selling them) and so far, I’m happy.
I need a laptop this small for writing and working outside of the condo, and especially while traveling. The 15” Macbook I use has been a good machine, but frankly my (old and getting older) back doesn’t want to keep carrying that hunk of metal everywhere. I would rather stow it in the rolling suitcase and carry the dinky Macbook for on the plane.
The only trouble I expect is when I go into Mexico. I have had the agents question my need for two laptops before.
Normally, I’m all about having the fastest, most powerful machine I can afford. While this little machine is expensive, it is not the fastest most powerful by any stretch of even my prolific imagination.
Now, since the MacBook Air is now the beginning Macbook again, I suspect we won’t see this model again until they place the same CPU chips they have in the iPad Pro bodies into this form factor.
Don’t think it will happen? Well, Apple is releasing a desk-top class browser and mouse support for the iPad Pro so most of the pieces are being put in place to make it happen.
I think it is just time until Apple uses their chips inside of this hardware. I’ve no idea if we are talking 18 months or 36 months, but I do believe it will happen.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
One of the interesting (at least to me) aspects of my life is the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. In the future, I hope to re-read my own Author Notes and remember my life as a diary entry.
Starbucks off 15 South next to Silverton Hotel and Casino.
The
sun is setting to the West, not yet behind the mountains, so the front door to the Starbucks has the full sun shining in and it’s July.
So, freaking hot in Las Vegas.
Inside of this Starbucks the walls are a form of brick (yes, I did just scratch one to make sure it was rock - I’m curious that way.)
The inside here feels like a new version of a rustic cabin in Arizona. Slate floors, brick walls, wood ceilings, and large joists running up the ceiling. Black air-conditioning vents and black iron work on all of the wood.
Cool.
In other notes, I’ve purchased an XBox One X (that’s the latest, right?) and I’ve only played one game.
It was…ok. I’m looking for something a bit different, but I’m willing to continue (it has to do with dinosaurs on an island, and little walking cats as partners.)
I’m in the mood to find a game that has incredible eye candy, and I can just walk around and see new and cool stuff.
Not interested in games I have to put a lot of time into to become good enough to enjoy playing.
If you know of any of those games, check us out in the Kurtherian Gambit group for fans and authors and hit me up.
Eventually, I’ll get to play more games again.
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Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
Other series in the Oriceran Universe:
SCHOOL OF NECESSARY MAGIC
SCHOOL OF NECESSARY MAGIC: RAINE CAMPBELL
ALISON BROWNSTONE
THE DANIEL CODEX SERIES
THE LEIRA CHRONICLES
I FEAR NO EVIL
FEDERAL AGENTS OF MAGIC
THE UNBELIEVABLE MR. BROWNSTONE
REWRITING JUSTICE
THE KACY CHRONICLES
MIDWEST MAGIC CHRONICLES
SOUL STONE MAGE
THE FAIRHAVEN CHRONICLES
OTHER BOOKS BY JUDITH BERENS
OTHER BOOKS BY MARTHA CARR
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Books by Michael Anderle
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