GotG II was on in our lounge room not so long ago. I’m not a
huge comic book fan – haven’t seen the Avengers movies, or many of the
superhero things, but I quite enjoyed GotG I (especially the music – and Rocket
and Groot) so what the hey?
Final verdict – I probably liked it better than the first movie. Except
for the music. I’ve had the song “Brandy” playing in my head since I saw the
movie. I always liked that song (yes, I know the words) but enough, already. It
was probably the only song in the movie I actually knew – which shows I wasn’t
a great pop music fan in the ‘80’s. Probably one of my classical phases. Verdi,
anyone?
Anyway, back to the movie. It was fun seeing Kurt Russel in
action as Quill’s father. I remember Russell from lots of SF type films. Escape
from New York, and especially the original Stargate movie. And a cameo from
Sylvester Stallone, with promise of things to come. It seems Hollywood’s Old
Guard are seeing the value of the comic book genre. Baby Groot was an absolute
delight, Rocket was his usual irascible self, getting everybody into trouble, Drax
took everything literally, as always, and Quill and Gamora danced around each
other. The baddies were a mix of pirates and sophisticates. The sophisticates
turned out to be much nastier than I expected, and the pirates were – pirates.
Not nice at all.
That's not to say the movie was perfect. One particular scene between
Quill, his father, and his mother's memory jarred for me. But for the
rest, I could keep myself in suspension of belief pretty easily.
What I really love about these movies is the SFX. Quill has
armor tucked behind his ear (wow). Spacesuits are available at the press of a button - and although they look insubstantial, they do the job. Rocket puts the very wrecked spaceship back
together by running a device over the shattered panels. One assumes the ship’s
AI reconstructs the atoms the way they’re supposed to be. Quill’s dad (Ego) has
some wonderful tech, including a ship that refines its shape as required.
The plot was the usual mix of fast action and derring-do as
our band of warriors get each other out of trouble. What holds it all together is that the action
has a theme. It’s all about Family. What is family? What is it not? You might
get a little misty-eyed here and there, and the teasers in the credits will
have you hangin’ out for GotG III. I suspect it will be more interesting than
this December’s new Star Wars. (Lord, I hope I’m wrong about that…)
Just one more small thing. Remember that song in the opening credits of the first movie?
Back in the '80's some of us were bulk unimpressed with that mangling of this song.
Last week the new Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 trailer premiered on Jimmy Krimmel Live. I didn't see it there being as I'm not in the US, but I caught it first thing Friday on my social media and watched it immediately. And...I was disappointed. Why?
Not because I don't love the film or the characters or because I'm not looking forward to the film (I so am!!). The problem with trailers is they usually show the best bits...sometimes the only good bits (as in the totally misnamed Epic - I found the film a complete let down compared to the trailer). So multiple trailers run the risk of re-showing those good bits and becoming repetitive, and/or having to reveal more. Now, to me this new trailer revealed a major spoiler (if you don't want to know or would rather find out for yourself, skip to the video at the bottom.
We get to see Peter's dad. Much like How To Train Your Dragon 2 and Hiccup's mum, I feel that would have been so much better left as a reveal in the film itself. Did Marvel think putting it in the trailer was a better marketing idea? Or a way to beat any media outlet from getting to spring the secret? I don't know the thinking, but it disappointed me. I was going to see this film regardless but now I feel like a big spoiler was given away (plus I've seen the fight with the big space octopus multiple times now). Maybe they should just stop at ONE trailer..
Having said that, I loved the teaser trailers for the new Star Wars films. For one thing, they really did tease, hardly giving anything away. But maybe it was because I was so desperate to see every last snippet released, firstly because of the wait and secondly because, at the start, we had NO idea what Disney was going to do with them that I'd forgive anything. So I don't have any objection to those plus a main trailer. But can we keep surprises for the films? Pretty please?
Happenings Later today I'm fulfilling one of my bucket list wishes (although I don't technically have a bucket list because I really don't like that term). I'll be meeting Warm Bodies author Isaac Marion. Squee! Excited doesn't quite cover it... Spring is well and truly here. The frogs have been busy in the pond and the spring plants are blooming.
Status Update Edits on Revived are progressing and revisions on Keir's Shadow are ongoing. KS has already grown 5K this year, and 5K last year, but the word count is now fluctuating as I cut things as well as adding. I'm only about 16% of the way through though. Revived is 94% done on edits. In the meantime, the Tauriel cosplay is also progressing though I don't yet have the dress material.
Chook Update We're now getting one or two eggs a day, and the girls are enjoying time back out in the garden, but the last few days have been a bit too wet for them to go out and so no photos this week. See ya next week!
On Contests...
Last week Donna posted about the changes being made to RWA's Golden Heart contest (you can read it all HERE rather than me regurgitating the whole thing). But it got me thinking about contests and why they matter, if they matter. So I thought I'd throw out a few of my own thoughts on the subject. Does entering contests achieve anything?
Well, first you need to look at what the contest might do for you and what you want from it. For example, in the case of the RWA LERA Rebecca, you get feedback from the judges, which is a bonus even if you didn't place. In my previous two entries I was able to see exactly why I didn't make the final, but also how painfully close I'd come only to just miss out. I do find at least one judge will disagree with the other two or vice versa so you shouldn't take that as sole feedback perhaps. When I finalled in my third year, it was with a story heavier on the SF elements than most I'd written, which not only surprised me but reassured me I could go heavier without scaring readers off.
In Donna's case, her GH award opened doors to agents, even those who had previously said no, so in terms of agents/publishers, an award - even as a finalist - is clearly a bonus. Do they sell books?
To agents/publishers, yes. To readers? Here I have no direct data and can only speak from my own experience. I have three books that are award winners/finalists. One sells consistently and better than all my other titles put together, though not as well as it used to. One sold well a couple of years ago, but no more. The third has never sold well, despite having a revamp and new cover (though it has done as well in six months back with me after rights reversion as it did in three years with the publisher). I can't say that announcing a contest win/final made any boost to sales, or that it's a deciding factor in any reader's purchase (it certainly isn't a factor in my reading choices but I know I'm not the average reader). However, if I ever went looking for an agent/publisher, I'd certainly be listing all my shinies. So are they worth it?
I don't have any regrets over the contests I've entered or the money I've spent on them, that's for sure! Okay, maybe a little pang over the ones where I didn't place at all. I tend to stick to RWA contests for romance and the EPIC for my non-romance because they're reputable and I know they're legitimate. I've never felt brave enough to enter the RITA/GH (having looked at some of the books that have won and the style/themes that seem to be favoured, I don't think I'm quite in the preference zone). But now my budget doesn't extend to doing many. I prefer to spend my money on edits and covers, which doesn't leave anything for promotions and contests. My only entries this year were the Ariana cover contest and the EPIC for my SFR short Quickshot. I didn't have any real aim with contests before other than I wanted some shiny things, feedback, and/or validation perhaps, so it's not a be all and end all for me.
So, it's down to the individual and what value you place on an award. Do I Have To Enter Contests?
No. Not at all (and not all contests are worth it anyway - do check them out beforehand!).
Reputable/highly esteemed contests are good for:
1. Getting that extra foot in the door with agents/publishers.
2. Possibly feedback to help hone your writing skills (but there are plenty of other ways to do this, and not all contests provide feedback so check carefully!). Workshops (some online ones are free), critique groups (like Critique Circle), finding critique partners among peers, beta readers, posting on WattPad, looking for a professional who will crit your manuscript (for a fee), and there are lots of books on writing). Also critiquing other authors work will give you some ideas of what doesn't work for you and how you can improve your own writing. TBH, I personally wouldn't rely solely on contest feedback anyway, but it can be an added extra.
3. It doesn't hurt to be able to mention that a book is an award winner in promo or that you're an award winning author, though I have no personal evidence to know if it helps. As a reader, it's the cover, blurb and opening that decide my purchases, not what the book or author has done or if they're a bestseller or not. But others may feel differently.
4. Validation. This may be the worst reason but I'm not going to deny it is one.
At the end of the day, it's a very personal decision as to what you chose to do, but as with all things, do your research.
Happenings
The second Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 teaser trailer released this week. Oh yeeeaaahhh. With Rogue One on my 'must see at the cinema' list of films in just nine days (woot!) and possibly Passengers a week later, GotG2 is top of my list for 2017. And how adorable is Baby Groot?!
Next week the SFR Brigade Holiday Showcase begins (the same day I'm off to see Rogue One). I'll be posting Christmas treats - a starry recipe and a short story giveaway.
And in two weeks Spacefreighters Lounge will be Going Rogue as Laurie, me, and possibly Greta will be posting our thoughts about the latest additions to the Star Wars universe.
Status Update
The Christmas story isn't quite finished. Ooops. I got distracted by having to make curtains and buying a replacement car. >_<
I leave you with a couple of pics - our newly bought and erected Star Wars tree (not our main one but a bonus edition) and another BristolCon cosplay photo recently sent to me by author Jaine Fenn.
The 17th of August 2009 is a date engraved on my memory. It's the day I sat down at my computer with a short story to hand, some new music, and a desperate need to rediscover myself as I began work on a rough draft that eventually became Keir and the now renamed sequel Keir'sFall. Yeah, I know the exact day I started it. Seems kind of surreal now, five years down the line. Back then I felt I'd lost my identity, and that I'd gone slightly insane. Once I'd started writing, I couldn't stop. Six weeks of nonstop scribbling and typing convinced my husband I really *had* gone crazy. I suppose I had in a way. I was definitely on another planet...
But now I can look back and shake my head. In the midst of that craziness, I found myself and rediscovered my passion - writing! Now I'm a multi-published author with my eighth title releasing TODAY! How awesome is that?! Five years ago it was enough to simply be writing again, let alone imagine that I might be published. Weird.
So if you're thinking that it can't be done, I'm telling you it CAN. I've done it. All you need to remember is - Never give up, never surrender!
Restless In Peaceville releases today. Woo hoo! Title number eight, and my first paranormal release. My first zombie story too. Definitely wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me I'd have something like this coming out. No, sir. You can check out the tour schedule HERE, and I'm kicking off with a post about why the heck I wrote zombies at the lovely Karen Y Bynum's blog HERE, and a book spotlight HERE. The official tour kicks off on the 1st September with a suitably zombie-themed giveaway. Bwahahaa!In the meantime my tour for Tethered is still running, and you have a couple more days to win a shiny thing HERE.
Amazon has enabled pre-orders for indies! Frankly, it's about time too. With Smashwords and ARe already offering this long before Amazon, it felt as if once more the Zon were denying indies the same rights as other publishers. Some authors are saying this isn't necessarily a good thing, but I for one am relieved. When self publishing, it'll make my life a lot easier being able to upload and set titles in advance rather than having to do it on or just before the day I want something to go live.
On the subject of self publishing, there's a post of interesting tips from a recent RWA event that you might find useful HERE. I didn't know about the series landing page for one thing.
I've seen Guardians of the Galaxy twice, and would happily go again! I know Donna's review found it lacking that essential something, but for me it ticked all the boxes. Reluctant hero makes good, interesting characters, great spaceships and planets, a strong storyline with a satisfying ending yet potential for sequels continuing character development...yep, very happy. And if you haven't seen the dancing baby Groot - go check it out NOW!
In the meantime, I have just two more weeks with my monsters home before I can really get back to work. There are edits and covers and releases to come, oh my! Here's my schedule as it currently stands -
Restless In Peaceville releases 20th August Tethered tour ends 23rd August Restless tour begins 1st September
Complete and submit YA dystopia short Zombie Girl
Cover Reveal for When Dark Falls TBA
Edits for No Angel and a paranormal short
Paranormal short releases 1st October, tour 8th-31st
BristolCon 25th October When Dark Falls releases November No Angel releases December
Keir, Keir's Fall and a side story set between the two are on my list for 2015, plus a novella in the Venus Ascendant collection, two holiday-themed SFR shorts, and completing a novel-length sequel to Imprint, my SFR short in Tales from the SFR Brigade anthology. However, I also have sequels to Tethered, RIP, When Dark Falls AND Zombie Girl in mind. Book three in the series for Keir is down for 2016.
Funny to think that when I started the submission process with Keir I was afraid of running out of ideas... O.o
Marvel’s latest box-office draw GUARDIANS OF
THE GALAXY, has attracted quite the fanboy following, with some reviewers even
comparing the rocket-fueled joyride to STAR WARS or FIREFLY.The space opera adventures of a mismatched
band of reluctant heroes may remind us of Serenity,
but “Star-Lord” Quill (Chris Pratt) is no Captain Mal.At its heart, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is just
another afternoon’s entertainment, fun, but little more substantial than the
accompanying popcorn.
The movie starts out with a very emotionally
affecting scene here on Earth, where seven-year-old Quill is asked to say
goodbye to his mother, who is dying of cancer in a hospital.In a fit of grief-driven anger, he refuses to
take her hand and runs out of the hospital.Alone and crying, he is . . . abducted by aliens.The next time we see him is as an adult on an
“abandoned planet” where he is scavenging for a living, dancing to the beat of
an old ‘70’s mix tape on a Walkman that was beamed up with him when he was
taken.The tape is all that he has left
of his mom.
There is really no describing the emotional
whiplash of the first few minutes of the film.I’m not sure I ever got over it, especially since the director (James
Gunn, SCOOBY DOO, MOVIE 43, SLITHER) keeps returning to the mix tape and Mom as
essential to Quill’s character.What
tone are we trying to hit here exactly?
Anyway, to make a long story short, Quill
finds something BIG on that planet, something it appears everyone in the galaxy
wants.It takes a while to sort out who’s
who, as everyone and his alien brother begins to try and kidnap/kill/maim Quill
to get the thing.Along the way, he acquires his quirky allies:a bioengineered raccoon; a sentient, mobile
tree; a green-skinned, kickass female assassin out to betray her bad-guy boss;
a hulk with tattoos determined to kill the bad guy in revenge for the murder of
his family.When they figure out that
the thing everyone wants can destroy worlds, they set out to Do The Right Thing,
even if it hurts.All to the tune of “Hooked
on a Feeling” (the weird one by Blue Swede, not the superior original by B.J.
Thomas).Oogachaka, anyone?
Okay, so it’s a fun ride, with plenty of
action and wisecracks. And Marvel has
already said they are determined to build this into a new franchise. But the
Guardians have a long, long way to go
before they reach icon status a la
Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew, Captain Mal and his crew of desperate misfits or
even Captain Adama, President Roslin and the Cylons of Battlestar Galactica.Because,
try as they might, the Guardians lack epic
scope.
By epic scope I don’t mean just big battles
or destruction on a grand scale.I don’t
even mean that the stakes are major, though that is certainly part of it.(If the size of the stakes defined “epic”,
then every blockbuster at the Cineplex would qualify, since our entire universe is at risk in each and every one of them.)For a film or a television series or a book,
for that matter, to have that sense of the truly epic, it must deal with the
big questions, with fundamental issues humans struggle with over and over. The best ones deal with those questions not simply
within the context of plot, but in their premises and underlying themes.
So STAR TREK has epic scope because it deals
with the questions of the hero’s quest and what it means to be human (or even
more often, what it means to be free).STAR WARS is a coming-of-age story set in space, but it also deals with
the question of responsibility to self vs. responsibility to a higher ideal
(Han Solo’s problem).BATTLESTAR
GALLATICA asks viewers to define what is home, what is God AND what does it
mean to be human, and gives no easy answers.FIREFLY is a quest for hope in the midst of despair, and the struggle
that goes on in every individual between selfish and higher impulses.Want good vs. evil on a grander level?LORD OF THE RINGS takes you there, with the
hero’s quest serving as the structure against which that struggle is played
out.
Some of these themes could be teased out of
GUARDIANS (that war between selfish and higher impulses, for example), but
nothing is treated with any seriousness.Everything is done tongue-in-cheek.I have absolutely no objection to that.Play the whole “save the galaxy” thing for laughs and I’m in all the
way.What I find puzzling is the
reaction by some geekier reviewers who say things like, “this is my STAR WARS!”Um, no.Look up the definition of parody.
In fact, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is a pretty good
parody of our favorite save-the-galaxy tropes, and a lot of fun on that
level.Just don’t go to the theater
expecting the next space epic.
SIDE NOTE:Luc Besson’s LUCY did try to deal with some of those larger questions,
at least in the traditional SF framework of “what if”.What if we humans suddenly had the capacity
to use 100 per cent of our brains?According
to Besson (the TRANSPORTER films, but also THE FIFTH ELEMENT), the answer is
mostly ugly and violent, but it was interesting to watch the plot play out
anyway.Scarlett Johannsson as Lucy and
Morgan Freeman as the “learned professor” did what they could to salvage the
film.Worthy of a late-night watch at
home.
