John Carter...OF MARS!!!

Okay, I do plan on seeing John Carter, which should have been titled "John Carter of Mars," or "Princess of Mars."  I heard via rumor that Disney did a poll and said that women would not see a movie called John Carter of Mars.
Disney- get a grip.    In fact, all movie and TV studios, stop over doing the stupid focus groups!  They are lame.  Those focus groups would not have liked Star Wars or Star Trek either-and look at the money makers those were?  I am miffed that this was not John Carter of Mars, or any of the possible cool titles that Edgar Rice Burroughs created.  Yes, this is something from the wonderful age of classic science fiction/fantasy pulp era where imagination ruled, that same age that spawned HP Lovecraft and Robert E Howard.  A friend recently commented that John Carter sounded too much like John Connor (from Terminator) until I pointed out these stories were much older (first of which was written in 1912 under Barsoom series which was what he called Mars-long before Terminator.)  My friend was shocked and I directed him to the library to check out Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Disney-you did not poll me did you?   I am tired of people trying to water down fantasy and science fiction.  Soft science fiction and fantasy is being coddled while great stuff that is meaty is left in a corner gathering dust.   Stop the insanity!   Embrace the imagination.  That is my motto.   
Back to writing.

Verna McKinnon

Literary Smoothie

Hello all Familiar's Tale fans!

Just got back from Radcon 6 in Pasco, Washington.  Was fun and crazy, with lots of great creative people there.  Ben Bova, Alma Alexander, and Tony Daniels to name a few attended.  There were also scores of small publishers and indie writers (like myself) that staffed the weekend long event.  We had great panels about writing, where I coined my literary smoothie phrase.  We were talking about collaborative writing (translation-how to write with a friend/spouse/partner and not destroy each other).  I will post a few pics soon.  Right now am exhausted.  All that fun and junk food has me weak as a newborn wampu.  Until then, have a great week.

Verna McKinnon

Radon 6 this weekend! Plus TV rants (oh boy)

Greetings my fellow fantasy and science fiction friends.  This weekend I am going to be at Radcon 6 in Pasco, Washington.  Am excited as many great folks like Ben Bova and Alma Alexander will be there.  I will be on lots of panels and mainlining Starbucks & chocolate to keep going.  I look forward to the fun.

Also, last time I blogged I missed a show that should not have been cancelled.  "Legend of the Seeker" was cut short after 2 seasons.  It is sad because it was genuine fantasy and though not exactly like the novels had some heart to it.  I loved the cast and the pure fantasy feel.  Regular TV is trying to force "soft sci fi & fantasy" on us.  You know, contemporary shows where there is a thin thread of supernatural or some sudden super powers for one or more characters without any real reason for it.  Contemporary fantasy can be tricky.   Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the best example of a good contemporary show.  Fringe, Charmed, Sanctuary, Doctor Who (the Tennant years) and the Stargate shows are also great examples.  But many TV offerings are just weak with thin threads of nothing because networks and studios do not want to produce anything with an expense, no matter how great the show (Firefly anyone?) and that is just tragic.  The current slush of vampire and witchy shows have no heart as they are stocked with shallow and synthetic pretty characters, plastic images of youthful and blank souls with little story meat to feed the watcher.   I am also weary of the tortured vampire love syndrome that is everywhere.  At least with zombies you have enough sense to kill them.  Few vampire love stories ever work.  They need to staked. 
The reason the Buffy the Vampire's love story with Angel was tolerable was because of the supernatural system laid down by Whedon-Angel was cursed with a soul.  All others were just demons that needed to be staked and vacuumed.  The love of Buffy & Angel was tragic and could not go on-not unless Angel became human which is what should have happened in the end of the series.  Even on Charmed the half-demon Cole had to go (perhaps it was due to another tv offer but who knows). 
I want the return of the demon hunter.  I want the witch or slayer to save innocents and kill demons.   I want the warrior with the magical sword & destiny.  I want the sorceress/witch to save the world from evil.  I don't want them to date it. 
More later.

Verna McKinnon

The Sad Mistakes of Television & Sacrifice of Good TV

The mistakes and frequent stupidity of television often amazes me.  The long list of tragic mistakes is eternal, though I have a short personal list of issues that have bugged me.  The blame is wide-producers, networks, bad writing, studios, etc...but the end result is the same-the ruin  or banishment of great shows.  Often science fiction and fantasy are axed.    Tragic, especially now that we are in an age of mostly rotten unimaginative TV.  The few good shows struggle while wretched cheap reality shows, boring law or medical dramas or shows with toilet humor prevail.  So, here is my list of  some  great shows that were cancelled by the idiots that rule TV/or some plain stupid moves that give me a headache.  It is a short list as I could never list them all.

1.  Firefly.  One of the best science fiction shows with a great cast and massive potential crushed after barely a dozen episodes.  Nathan Fillion was perfect and the dream ended too quickly.  Shame on you TV!

2.  SciFi Channel Demise.  Now for some reason the channel is now called SYFY???  And they show wrestling?  Beyond stupidity and I now pronounce the channel sehffee. 

3.  Original Star Trek.  The first of original science fiction shows to be treated like an unwanted stepchild.  The potential for greatness was not erased, despite its cancellation.   Yet the networks still disregard science fiction despite the great love its fans show.

4.  Crusade.  Part of the Babylon 5 franchise, I loved this show and was again disappointed when they cancelled it after 13 episodes.  Great original characters and mystery, plus they were going to clean up stuff left over from Babylon 5.  

5.  Original V Series. I loved this show and after barely a season and a big cliffhanger, they cancel it.

6.  Alien Nation.  One of the best science fiction shows made and set in a contemporary time.  They give it a big cliffhanger and cancel it.  Despite the furor that followed and the resulting TV movies that followed, it was never the same.  For shame!

7.  Beauty & The Beast.  I started watching this show with skepticism, but the two main characters of Catherine & Vincent drew me in.  Then to cancel it after 2 seasons (with another cliffhanger) and then to try to reboot the show by killing Catherine after she gives birth to Vincent's child was a violation of everything the show stood for.  It quickly ended but not before I had a bad taste in my mouth.  I own the first two seasons.  Season 3 does not exist-ever.  BAD TV DECISION!

8.  Space Rangers.  Only broadcast for 6 episodes and cancelled.  Sigh.  Another victim of network morons in suits.

9.  Robin Hood. Okay this is the newer BBC edition that I attempted.  They killed off Maid Marion (yet allowed her & Robin a quick marriage ceremony as she bled out).  I stopped watching.  Another dumbhead move.  Despite it's problems,  at least I have the 80's Robin of Sherwood that was so good, but also cancelled too early.   

10.  Adventures of Brisco County Jr.  Bruce Campbell & Kelly Rutherford at their best.  Fabulous show that had adventure, science fiction, romance, comedy, suspense in a tight package.  Perhaps you were to good for TV..but it was a crime to cancel you after 28 glorious episodes.   Sigh.  I still feel sad about this one,

11.  Moonlight.  Though I an weary of the vampire romance thing, the two stars of Moonlight (Sophia Myles & Alex O'Loughlin) raised the level with their shining characters & talent.   you cared about them.  With barely a season of episodes they cancelled it.  RIP Moonlight.

That is my short list of television sins.   I have more of course, but I must get back to writing.

Verna McKinnon  

Write, write, write

Okay, between bouts of frantic games of Plants vs. Zombies & Scrabble online, I am writing.  Writing is a strange occupation if you think about it.  We create worlds and characters in our heads and often think about cruel things to do to those characters.    My poor characters are going to be put through many many tortures in the next 3 Familiar's Tale books-but I am also a believer on happy endings-for some.

I am also angling to play Skyrim-we just bought the game.  Nothing boosts the creative juices like a dragon chasing you whilst you try not to pee your armor.   But in between I am getting some great stuff written for book 3 and the new fantasy book for a new series.  So, as I am off work today in Seattle due to freezing blizzard conditions, I shall put my creative juices to proper use and write a new chapter of excitement where Mellypip is trying to teach a baby dragon to read.  This goes well until Mellypip's scrolls end up burning from the dragon's burps of flames when he has an upset tummy.  Dragons are very high high maintenance.

More later.

Verna McKinnon









 

New Year Coming

Happy Holidays to all my friends out there!  It is almost 2012 and I am ecstatic.  As I type it is rainy and windy here in Seattle.   But I like the rain and the feel of a new year coming.  New Year means a lot me,  It is a new beginning to start fresh-all shiny & new.  We all have the similar goals in the new year like getting fit or losing weight or getting that great job.  Some people hate doing new year resolutions, but I like the ritual of it all. 
For me, (I have a great job at last, so no fuss there) among getting fit part, is the resolution to write more.  I have books to complete and a publisher to keep happy.  I have a couple short stories coming out soon, but I need to keep doing the books.  I also want an agent.  I want to finish The Rose & Sparrow: Goblin Cabal (working title, but a new fantasy book series I am writing) and finish another Familiar's Tale novel.  My publisher Joe swears it will be soon, as soon as we have the cover art.  So I am excited about that.   Reb Brown is a genius and I cannot wait to see his work.  So my goals are clear, which is a good thing.   I also want to develop more of a following for my fan base, especially for my novels.  So to any of you out there interested, become one of my followers on my blog and also on Facebook.   I will also be doing some exciting changes to my website soon with the help of my friend Sally.  She is a genius who did my website and I am forever grateful.  I may write on a computer, but comuters do not always like me.  With my new novel Tree of Bones coming out soon, I will be posting more chapters from Gate of Souls to read, and several chapters from Tree of Bones to tantalize my readers when it is released.

So Happy New Year! 

Verna McKinnon

Respect The Pulp!

Hello Fantasy Friends,

I bought the new Conan the Barbarian movie and am going to watch it tonight with a side of chips and diet coke.  Personally, I thought Jason Mamoa made a great Conan.  This movie is (in my opinion and a lover of Robert E. Howard work) great.  Nothing will be exactly like the stories, but this adaptation is much closer to the wit,  personality & smarts of the Conan character.  Jason portrayed Conan as smart and clever, though with steely determination and a rough chivalry.  I will not comment on the first 1981 movie or the television show with the clone of Arnold.  I love old fashioned, gritty pulp writing.  Robert E. Howard short stories are the best in this genre.   Personally, I hope they make another film.   My biggest complaint is that they made is another revenge fantasy and Conan was all about the adventure and walking the misty roads of a magical, dangerous world with a glint in his eye and a sword in his hand.  Hey Jason-need someone to help with the script?  I write great dialogue and understand the genre (so  does my husband Rick Hipps).  Read my novel or check out one of my short stories.  I would love to work on a Conan film script.  A girl can dream.

Which brings me back to my first thought about respecting the pulp-understand your genres.

Back to the pulp talk.  People tend to assume a literature-fringed snobby attitude and claim they would never read this type of genre or watch films derived from it, yet so much of what we love to see in movies and read about bursts with pulpy goodness.  You think back to the greats-such as Robert E. Howard, H. Rider Haggard and many more writers that composed adventures with feral imagination.  Stay true to your story and its characters.  This goes for any genre.  The era in which Robert E. Howard wrote is gone forever, but his pulp stories will always survive the ages.  That is because pulp writing at its best conveys action and its characters spring to vibrant life off the page.  It is a genre to respect.  There are many genres because life needs variety to spice up the brain cells.  Romance has its place, as does horror, fantasy, mystery, true crime, drama, children, comedy, and more.  Pulp has many elements of course, because it can fall into any genre (crime, fantasy, horror, science fiction, adventure, etc.), but the execution of good pulp writing has a particular style of urgency.   Do not do a classic pulp-derived character like Conan and try to make a social commentary from issues in today's society.  Pick another genre for that.  For Conan and other great pulp characters, stick to the core of what the character is about-action, adventure, gritty sex, and epic quests.  Do not soften the tale with current social commentary.  Some things are universal in the world,  and do not need to be paired with unnecessary politically correct foot notes.  An example is making fairy tales politically correct.  Fairy tales are important folk tales that conveyed a harsh ancient morality and sense of justice for the suffering heroines.  They were meant to be dark.  The magic is meant to be dark.  They are not fluffy tales to read to your four year old while they hug their store bought teddy bears.  Changing them to a modern view is unpleasant and turns the characters & stories into stale white bread.  It destroys the magic.  The same goes for old-fashioned pulp-do not water it down.  Take the heart of what it is and honor it.  Do not destroy the magic.  So respect the pulp.