Category: Musings

My Oscar Picks for 2013

If you’ve read my last few posts, you know I’m running an online Oscar pool. As per the rules, here are my picks (you have until 5:30 pst, when the show begins, to submit your own choices).

This is based solely on my opinion. I’ve seen all the Best Picture nominees (except Zero Dark Thirty) and I’ve consulted no outside source. These are just what I think deserves the award, not what it most likely to win (thus, you might find it easy to beat me if you enter).

Still, deciding wasn’t easy. Some years are filled with shoe-ins, but this time around I was split on almost every category… Okay, here goes.

Best Picture (3 pts): LINCOLN
Directing (2 pts): SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Original Screenplay (2 pts): MOONRISE KINGDOM
Adapted Screenplay (2 pts): LIFE OF PI
Leading Actor (2 pts): Daniel Day-Lewis
Leading Actress (2 pts): Jessica Chastain
Supporting Actor (2 pts): Philip Seymour Hoffman
Supporting Actress (2 pts): Anne Hathaway
Production Design (1 pt): LINCOLN
Documentary Feature (1 pt): SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN
Documentary Short(1 pt): “Mondays at Racine”
Animated Short(1 pt): “Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare””
Live Action Short Film (1 pt): “Curfew”
Foreign Language Film (1 pt): AMOUR
Animated Feature (1 pt): WRECK IT RALPH
Film Editing (1 pt): LIFE OF PI
Sound Editing (1 pt): DJANGO UNCHAINED
Sound Mixing (1 pt): SKYFALL
Cinematography (1 pt): LINCOLN
Visual Effects (1 pt): PROMETHEUS
Costume Design (1 pt): ANNA KARENINA
Makeup and Hairstyling (1 pt): HITCHCOCK
Original Score (1 pt): SKYFALL
Original Song (1 pt): “Suddenly” from “Les Misérables”

Good luck to all those who entered! Now, a little more fun– Daniel Tosh tells you everything you need to know about the Best Picture nominees:


As a final bonus, for those who are into drinking games, here’s a good one for this year: http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2013/02/filmdrunk-oscars-drinking-game-2013

Be safe; have fun! Winners will (most likely) be announced tomorrow.

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oscar Excitement

In case you missed it, I’m hosting an Online Oscar Pool. You should get in on that.

The Big Day is this Sunday, and I’m excited. I’d like to share a little bit of that excitement with you.

First off, this is probably the funniest (and most adorable) Les Mis parody ever. Check it out:

 

Then we have some incredibly well done fan-art of the best picture noms by Jason Adams.

Amour
Argo
Beast of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Life of Pi
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

So… What’s your favorite poster? I love the way the title in Django is a chain being “unchained”and how the Life of Pi title hides seamlessly in the tiger’s stripes.

Anyone else out there excited for the “Superbowl of the Cinephiles”?

Don’t forget to submit your picks before 5:30 pacific time on Sunday, Feb 24th!

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A Birthday Present

Mmmm... sprinkles.
Mmmm… sprinkles.

Yeah, it’s my birthday again… And I’m making this cake. Unfortunately, I can’t share that with you, so instead I’ve got two presents for you, good for TODAY ONLY!

The first you can claim on facebook, so go ahead, click the picture below. It should be obvious, but it’s a FREE ebook ($3.99 value) with purchase of the paperback ($12.99). That’s like getting it 29% off!

fboffer

The second is 29% off the paperback itself (in case you don’t have an ereader or you don’t like to share. You know who you are). For this offer, just go to: https://www.createspace.com/4002179  and enter “28MBTBU5” at checkout. Code is only good for today!

In case you don’t get the pattern, I just turned 29. Enjoy!

And, I suppose, if you REALLY want to get me a gift (you guys are so nice), you could always leave me a review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ANKHQK

Oh, and no “getting old” jokes. I’ve still got a year left in my 20s!

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Online Oscar Pool

Every year I have people over and we watch the Oscars. We make good food, others bring dishes potluck style, and  we bet on the outcome of awards. It’s become my SuperBowl. I keep up with movies; not so much with football…

This year, with so many of us living all over the place, and with my network ever expanding online, I’m hosting a separate betting pool on my website. And this is not just for my close friends (I’ll still do that at home)! So come one, come all.

Annnnnnd… since I don’t really know the legality of hosting a betting pool online, it’s more of a contest. Free to play, winner gets a $10 giftcard to Amazon.com. PLUS, as a bonus standing offer, if you can beat me personally, I’ll gift you an ecopy of INFECTED (if you don’t have one already).

All you have to do is fill out the form below before showtime on Feb 24th (I’ll post mine online then too) to qualify.

The complete list of the nominees are here.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Tell Me, Why Do We Love Zombies So?

This is an essay I originally wrote for zombie-guide.com and their “Zombies in Fiction” section. I also want to share it on my page because almost every time I do an interview this question comes up.

Tell us, zombie scribe. Why do the masses love the undead masses?”

So, make sure you go check out their site afterwards (lots of awesome zombie content), but here’s the article in full:

Why are zombies so popular? Well, for many, it’s a call to action. We’re Luke Skywalker, caught in the dregs of daily life, and the zombie apocalypse serves as the storm troopers coming to burn down our uncle’s homestead. Ready or not, time for adventure. Or (in case you’re not as big a Star Wars nerd as I am), let me put it this way: We’re not all the type to go out and join the military or the police force, but we’d like to believe that if danger came knocking on our door, we could rally to that call. The zombie apocalypse is when push comes to shove.

Zombie Luke Skywalker Credit: DeviantArt

It’s pure escapism. Once the zombie apocalypse happens, all the things that are important to us will fall to the wayside. Unemployment, politics, failed relationships–anything that might have you “down”–all become a moot point when the dead try to eat the living. It’s a second lease on life. You get to start afresh. This is where the true You comes out, the side that’s underestimated by coworkers, family, and friends; the side that, deep down, you know is there. The unlikeliest of heroes can now come out and save the day. Were you a pimple-faced pizza delivery guy back in the day? Well, now you’re a zombie-slaying badass and everyone’s clamoring for your protection. What about the overworked and underpaid nurse stuck on the night shift with little chance of promotion on the horizon? Well, now those skills mean you’re the most valued member of your survival team.

With zombie fiction, we can experience this release all from the safety of our own home. We can escape, if only for a few precious hours. That’s part of why with INFECTED, I made YOU the main character. You get to test that measure of your true self, if only for a bit of fun. Make your choices, then see the outcome.

Are zombies at the height of their popularity? Probably… but they’ll never fully go away, even if interest starts to wane. Like everything else in our world, fads come and go, but zombies are forever.

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Something Violent This Way Comes

Okay, here goes. We can all agree that senseless gun violence is atrocious and that mental health needs to be addressed in our country. Don’t worry, this is not a rant about the Second Amendment. It is, however, a rant about the revitalized call to ban violence in movies, television, video games, and other forms of entertainment.

Since some of my writing leans toward the violent, I take exception to this argument. Full disclosure: one of my stories involves a mass shooting. Yet it’s obviously  a parable about white collar helplessness, not a story encouraging senseless gun violence.

Maybe that’s why “violent books” get a pass in this proposed boycott. Maybe it’s understood that books are meant to teach us something, whereas videogames put your finger behind the trigger.

Yeah, well so does INFECTED, my survive-your-own zombie apocalypse book. It puts you at the heart of adrenaline fueled deplorable choices. But it’s adult entertainment, and I think that should be the point. How about instead of banning adult entertainment, we call for parents to take an active role in screening their children’s entertainment?

“I think you know there’s violence in the world, tragedies happen, blame the playmakers. It’s a Western. Give me a break.” –Quentin Tarantino, on the violence in Django Unchained. According to BBC, he’s tired of defending his films each time the US is shocked by gun violence.

Violent entertainment has never once made me fear for my life. Nor has it made me consider taking the life of another. Just as playing tug-o-war with your dog won’t make him want to rip out your jugular. Riding a roller coaster shouldn’t make you want to jump off a cliff. In fact, it should do the opposite. The itch should be scratched.

I think I missed this episode when I was a kid.

So here’s the point: If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. And if you don’t think your kids should watch it, don’t let them. But don’t try to ban any forms of expression or entertainment. Please. We have rating systems for a reason.

 

by Categories: Musings, On WritingTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

What’s Happening?

Introducing the “Events” tab! See it up there? At the top; next to “Blog.” Go ahead, click it.https://i0.wp.com/www.birthdaydirect.com/images/36603-zombie-birthday-sign600x600.jpg

Now, whenever there’s a writerly event, you won’t have to miss out. Also, if you have an event and want me there, let me know. I’ll bring the party:
https://i0.wp.com/www.discountpartysupplies.com/media/catalog/category/zombies_420.png

 

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Thankful for Your Brains

Happy Thanksgiving, all! I have a lot to be Thankful for this year. Not the least of which is for you, the reader.

This website, which just celebrated its one year anniversary yesterday, has introduced me to many wonderful people: Thank you for your comments and thanks for reading. I’m equally thankful to those who read in earnest silence; the lurkers! I’m Thankful to have published my first book this year, and touched that so many of you not only spent your hard-earned money on something I wrote, but also that you enjoyed it enough to share with your friends and family. I’m thankful that people value the written word, that you appreciate when time and effort is put into writing, and I’m glad to live in a society where it’s possible to earn a living from my passion (not that I’m there yet, maybe next year, ha!).

Now, to show that I’m thankful for your brains, enjoy this ten-course zombie thanksgiving feast:

1)

http://www.underwatercitypeople.com/HappyThanksgiving.html

2)

https://www.facebook.com/zombiedatingguide

3)

http://zombieportraits.com/happy-thanksgiving-zombie-turkey/

4)

http://www.zazzle.com/a_zombie_thanksgiving_card-137540433110706408

5)

http://blingee.com/blingee/view/118668988-zombie-thanksgiving

6)

http://shewalkssoftly.com/2011/11/

7)

http://joonbug.com/newyork/scenetracker/Pre-Thanksgiving-Zombie-Walk-2011/vu5W9wOVb6R

8)

http://shewalkssoftly.com/category/art/page/13/

9)

http://popculturecrusader.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html

10)

http://peoplesrepublicofpaul.wordpress.com/tag/zombie-thanksgiving/

And, of course, I’m thankful to have gotten married this year. None of this would be possible without you, Michaela — LOVE YOU!

(Dessert)

http://www.joyboe.com/2010/10/creative-costumes-as-art-form.html
* I don’t own any of these images and therefore all art is linked to the original source. Thanks to the artists for making this a HAPPY ZOMBIE THANKSGIVING!
by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

When Your Work Rises From The Dead

This is an essay I wrote for the blog Fictional Candy to coincide with a book  giveaway.

Fictional Candy

Indie writers have a bad rap. There’s a stigma that these authors couldn’t cut it in the real world of publishing, and therefore used the resources of the internet to bypass the gatekeepers of talent. Some writers, admittedly, deserve this stereotype. For your first story, you probably shouldn’t publish it. You should email it to friends and family for their enjoyment, ask for feedback from strangers online, and grow before you try to stake a professional claim.

But what about projects rejected for reasons other than talent? Those rejected because they are considered “not marketable”? Marketability is actually more important than talent to the business side of publishing. Don’t believe me? How else can you explain this? Sure, at some point, talent is marketability, but not always. You could’ve penned the best vampire novel ever written, but the odds of getting accepted by a publishing house are extremely low—the market is flooded with vampires and therefore it might be rejected based on marketability.

You could try writing a Twilight prequel!        Or not.

So they will kill your work before it’s even born, and it’s up to you to resurrect it. You have the power. It’s no longer “Can I?” but “Should I?” Short stories are a perfect example. You can’t market a single short story as a publishing house, but you sure as hell can self-publish it online as an indie author. And if it’s good enough, you should.

Which brings me to INFECTED and “Click Your Poison” books. No, it wasn’t rejected by a publishing house—it wasn’t even submitted to a publishing house—it was rejected by Hollywood. Back in 2008, INFECTED was a screenplay. It made some ripples in the pond, did well in contests, and even won me a little money. What it didn’t do was attract studio attention. Why not? It was good, I was told, but it needed to either be based on existing intellectual property or be a zombie musical rom-com. Read: Marketability. Not wanting to compromise my story, I shelved the project.

Cut to four years later and an idea to make a “Choose Your Own Adventure” series for grown-ups.* I knew right away that INFECTED needed to rise from the dead. A book where the reader can finally find out for themselves if they would survive the zombie apocalypse? Marketable! I believed this so much so, in fact, I decided not to even attempt the traditional publishing route. It’s the new Wild West in publishing, and that makes indie authors the new outlaws. But soon, very soon, “self-published” will no longer be a dirty word.

*Choose Your Own Adventure® is now a registered trademark of Chooseco, LLC, and is not associated in any way with Click Your Poison™ books.

Head on over to Fictional Candy to enter the giveaway for a free copy of INFECTED!

by Categories: MusingsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment