Want to read a great blog?

And no, I don't mean this one - though I do try. I wondered across "geek with curves". A Blog about all things geekdom, but it's written by a (gasp) girl. There are girls that like (love) fantasy, sci-fi and all that jazz. Joss Whedon is responsible for a lot of that and I love him for it!

I think what I like best about her site is that the news is timely and interesting and definitely "geek-centric" as is most of my life. Why deal overly much with reality? Sure it intrudes occasionally, but we try and keep our minds healthily focused elsewhere.

Check her out! (I mean check her blog out, you dogs!)

This weekend

This weekend I:

• Ran 12 miles on Saturday (ouch) - getting ready for a half marathon
• Wrote some in The Pendragon Chronicles
• Got some art from Del Hewitt - first few sketched pages of "Danger Guild". Love it! (They'll be posted soon as a sneak preview)

Why am I telling you this? I had slowed down a bit while working on some stufff for graduate school and I am so pleased I managed to move GGE forward abit this weekend!

My 200th Post

Today marks the 200th time I have posted here! That's a good record for me. I've enjoyed it. What have I accomplished?
Hopefuly I have shared my thoughts on writing, motivation and being creative and inspired at least one person to create.
I have tried to share my thoughts on movies, books, shows, etc that fall into my favorite genre (sci-fi, fantasy, speculative fiction, superheroes, zombies, that sort of stuff) and maybe guided someone to something they've enjoyed
I have encouraged people to consume speculative fiction stuff in an attempt to bring revenue to the industry, thus ensuring we all get more of the stuff we like.
I've met some great people through email, posts, facebook etc.

Personally, I think it's been wildly successful and have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon.

Look for your "nearly daily" update to go on for the foreseeable future.

JG

Spartacus Season Finale

So I am a huge fan of Spartacus: Blood and Sand and I just finished watching season one (via Netflix). It was awesome! I can't say enough about it. It is incredibly graphic so no kids could watch it...I feel like I'm going to get in trouble with my Mom when I watch it!
Season Two is on hold - Andy Whitfield (Spartacus) is undergoing treatment for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and all of my thoughts and prayers go out to him! The fate of my favorite show is nothing compared with a man's health, but I hope he does have a speedy and full recovery and I would love to see him back as Spartacus!

Mind and Body balance

As someone who enjoys the temptation of a couch-tv-pizza-beer evening, I have to say that in recent years I have discovered the benefit of keeping a mind-body balance. I started running three years ago and started regular weight training two years ago.
Don't get me wrong, I am still not all that athletic, nor do I look like an extra from "Spartacus" but I have lost some weight and gained some fitness, but mainly what I've gained is increased confidence, peace of mind, boosted mood, more focus and a lot more creativity than I possessed in the past. I would like to think I had the creativity, but I needed to get in balance to really access it.
Of course I still read a lot, check out movies and video games and comics - basically all the stuff that fuels my fire to write and create in the worlds of GGE, but I make time to see to my fitness as well.
I've seen huge benefits. I haven't suffered too much pain, but there is always some scheduling nightmare to getting to the gym or going for a run. Make it a priority though and it will fit. Just like writing.

Ninja Assassin

Watched Ninja Assassin finally. I have been wanting to see it since I first heard news of it.
I was, of course excited because the producers were Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers (of Matrix fame). Unfortunately, the Wachowski brothers have not always wowed me (V for Vendatta was okay and Speed Racer....erm)
I was a bit worried since the script was written over 53 hours just before being sent to the actors. One thing that made me less worried was that the script was rewritten in those 53 hours by J. Michael Stracynzki.
so anyway, the movie is cool. Not The Matrix, maybe about the same coolness as V For Vendetta (without the hot school girl outfit worn by Natalie Portman).
Lots of awesome martial arts. It is waaaay heavy on spurting blood, severed body parts and excessive gore. I am personally not fazed by this, but it is certainly not a movie for kids.
It got mixed reviews and I can understand why. It kind of views like a live-action anime, but a well done live-action anime. Even still, this style of film is not for everyone. Personally, I recommend it. I aspire to write stories like it. Unapologetic in tone. Dedicated to a specific audience. Well put together.

So go see it! Then we can discuss.

Blood Bowl

How does Blood Bowl become a success? Who would have ever thought to mix fantasy and American football? I would not have, but it works. I might have thought of it actually, but the next thought would have been "everyone will think that is silly. I should not do that."

Some people do think it is silly, I'm sure, but it has launched a board game, books and a videogame. It has rabid followers. It is unapologetic in what it's about and I think it's a great example.

Maybe that thing that no one else would ever dare to launch...maybe that's EXACTLY the thing to go for.

Fantasy Fiction

So, I'm reading "The Last Kingdom" (the first in The Saxon Chronicles) by Bernard Cornwell. Not fantasy. More historical fiction. I loved The Winter King. (And all of his Arthur books) so I figured I would enjoy the Saxon series.
I also thought it would be good inspiration for writing some "realistic" fantasy (there's an oxymoron for you). It got me thinking about fantasy styles.
On the one hand, there is the Tolkien-esque style (exemplified by RA Salvatore). I guess this is "High Fantasy" or "Heroic Fantasy"? I'm not sure of the term, but if the good guy (like Drizzt) can annihilate 50-100 bad guys singlehandedly in combat, then you are in this camp.
Then there is the George RR Martin style or the Joe Abercrombie style where the action is more realistic, but it is fantasy because magic does rear its ugly head and do unspeakable things. Magic in this style is more frightening and rare. Magic in the heroic style is a common tool used by everyone.

Any preferences out there? I am guessing people fall firmly into one camp or the other though most fantasy readers probably dabble in both. I think I am firmly in the "realistic" camp though I do love most Warhammer Fiction and Gotrek definitely stretches the suspension of disbelief a bit.

I guess I love them both, but since George RR Martin and Joe Abercrombie top my list of favorite authors, then I guess I have to say "realistic" fantasy (the oxymoron) wins out for my vote.

General News

Lots of random thoughts.

• The new Clash of the Titans is good, but not great. I like the 1981 version better. The new FX are amazing, but I miss the whimsical style of Ray Harryhausen FX.
• I am loving Batman Brave and Bold on Cartoon Network. Cool show and it shows some more minor DC heroes
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars continues to get cooler and cooler
• I am addicted to Smallville, but he needs to fly already!
• I am reading "Feast of Crows" by George RR Martin. The whole Ice and Fire series has been awesome, but I am almost finished with this book and I need the next one to come out! "Dance of Dragons" has been ongoing for like, 5 years! I need it in a bad way!
• How to Train Your Dragon was a great movie.
• I  played some MagicQuest with the kids over Spring Break. fun and immersive.
• I made a return trip to Medieval Times. My last visit was in 1986. It is still fun.
• I am feeling really inspired about writing some King Arthur stuff. George RR Martin will do that to me. I might read some Bernard Cornwell next. It does the same. In the meantime, I am playing Medieval: Total War 2. Cool game.
• On the writing front, Del is working on "Danger Guild" illustrations. I split "Warchitect" into a duology. I have been writing on "Rodentia" and "The Pendragon Chronicles" and "The Forsaken" is being considered by a publisher. If I get a rejection letter from this publisher, I have 2 more lined up who want to see it.

Well, that's this weeks random musings

Tyler Perry

Those days you think about not writing, or not drawing or not dancing, acting, playing music...whatever your niche is, then I hope you think about Tyler Perry.

Check out Tyler Perry on wikipedia and you'll see that he wanted to be a playwright. He moved to Atlanta in 1992 and produced his own musical using $12,000 dollars of his own money. It bombed. He went on producing it for 6 years. At one point he was even homeless. His mother was concerned. People told him to quit. He kept making changes and trying again and now...he's considered one of the most successful media moguls on the planet.

He has been told his movies are not made for Hollywood success. He has bee told there is no genre for his style of movies.

He earned $75 million between 2008 and 2009.

I am guessing he is glad he stuck with it back in 1992 (and the six rough years that followed)

Vacation at Myrtle Beach!!!

I'll try to post over the next few days, but I will be kicking back at Myrtle Beach so forgive me if I miss a day or two.
Some notable things about Myrtle, besides surf, sand and brews, are Magicquest and Medieval Times.
For thos eof us into fantasy, swords, sorcery, magic, wizards, dragons, trolls, knights, kings and all that stuff, both of these places are awesome.

Magicquest is a very immersive live action game that will make you feel like you have fallen into a fantasy world and are suddenly an apprentice wizard. I can't tell you how cool this place it.

Medieval Times will make you feel like a Lord watching a joust and melee during a feast in the Dark Ages. Great action. Good food. Just an awesome time.

Are both a little cheesy? Only if you let them be. You get out what you put in, so immerse yourself and have a blast! For those of you not into these sorts of things...try them out! Variety is the spice of life and you might just catch yourself having fun. Check the website for a location near you!