Book Review: Into The Storm

I've been working on the restructuring of this blog(Please, Pardon Our Dust) and decided that henceforth every Thursday shall be known as...wait for it...Book Review Day!
And in keeping with that very exciting change, I have selected the first victim-er, I mean book to be reviewed. Mwa-ha-ha.

Into The Storm, by Taylor Anderson, is a likely contender for a spot on "Porter's Picks." I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for a flashy cover, and what more could you want from a cover, anyway? The other books only have cooler covers, but I'll wait to show you those until I read them.
The book inside was just as gripping as the awesome artwork on the cover. Into The Storm tells the story of the USS Walker, a "four-stacker" destroyer left over from World War I. The Walker, an aging antique of a warship belongs to the infamous Asiatic Fleet. As World War II breaks out across the Pacific there is little choice but for the Walker and her fellow ships to run, trying to make a fight of it anywhere they can. Hopelessly outgunned and out-planed by the Japanese Imperial Navy, the Walker get assigned to escort a British cruiser, the HMS Exeter, to safety.
The Japanese have no intention of letting them escape. In a multi-pronged attack they hit the small flotilla again and again and again. The Exeter goes down, and just as it looks like the Walker and her sister ship Mahan will meet a similar fate at the hands of the giant Japanese cruiser Amagi they duck into a storm and find a momentary lease on life.
But when they emerge from the storm they quickly realize that something is not right. There are no Japanese planes in the air. No Japanese ships. For that matter, there are no radio contacts, even though the radio is working fine.

Taylor Anderson, Author of the Destroyermen Series

Troubled by this turn of events they make for land. But the East Indies aren't what they're supposed to be. Dinosaurs roam the land, and everywhere there seem to be creatures, both in the sea and on land that would like nothing better to eat them. As the heavy weight of the situation comes down on them they realize that not only have they passed into a alternate universe, but that there may be no return.
This book quickly goes from military historical fiction to high fantasy, and I loved it. It had all the best parts of 20,000 leagues, Lost World, and Time Machine. It was a solid four stars, and sets up the rest of the series well.
There is a little bit of language, not much, but it's there, so be aware. Crude humor is a part of it too, but honestly. The book is about a navy destroyer and its crew. What do you expect?
All in all, I was surprised by just how much I liked this book. Fans of the Temeraire series might find it a fun( and less long-winded) alternative while they wait for the next book in that series. If you like high-fantasy or adventure novels this is also a must-read.

Who Is Your Favorite Disney Hero?

Okay, let's have some fun. We all know the magic of Disney's Animated Classics. (Those of us who are parents know them a little too well) We grew up watching them and even now when we're older many of them haven't lost their charm(again, unless you're a parent and forced to watch, say, Cinderella, fourteen times a week because that's all your child wants to watch. That's why God invented parks. To give parents an option that doesn't force them to forsake their sanity)

But, all that aside, I have a question for you. Who is your favorite all-time Disney hero? This is limited to actual Disney Animated Classics, so no Shrek or other Dreamworks characters. But who would it be and why?
Mine is Hercules. He is about as much of the archetypal hero as they come. He has awesome strength, a commitment to do good and help others, and he wins the war with the Titans and saves the girl at the end. Plus, He's freakin' HERCULES. Being the son of Zeus has to count for something, right?
So, tell me what you think. Who is worthy of taking home the crown as best Disney hero of all-time?

Horror vs Whorer

I finished reading Dan Well's John Cleaver series a little while ago. Around the same time I finished watching the fourth season DVDs of Dexter. One thing occurred to me. While I liked both of them, and while they dealt with very similar topics, there was one thing that I had to give Dan credit for.
He left the crap out of his books.
By crap I mean needless sex scenes, an excess of blood and gore, etc.... Basically the checklist that most horror movies seem to use now. Now, first off, let me say that while I personally don't believe in putting those things into media, I'm not coming at this from a moral high-ground or anything. Rather I'm taking a stab at it from a literary angle.
I don't particularly like to read or watch sex scenes, but I will allow them if they make sense. For example, there were a few scenes of such nature in the Troy series by David Gemmell. I loved the books, and when those scenes popped up, they helped advance the plot. They made sense. Which is after all what writing a story is all about.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher is another such example. The point I'm trying to get at is that while these books have sex and violence they make sure to make it part of the story.
Dexter on the other hand, includes scenes and while a few of them may affect the plot, many are just bizarrely out of place. It frustrates me because Dexter is a really well written show. But it takes me out of the story whenever they splash something like that across the screen by reminding me that this is just a show and they are looking for cheap tricks to boost their ratings. The show is good enough to stand on its own, and breaking the fourth wall just because you think that you need to dedicate x amount of minutes to scenes of that nature cheapens the work in my opinion.
What I'm getting at is my own pet peeve with most horror movies. It seems that regardless of the plot, they share something in common: they all have teens, who, for lack of common sense, would rather have sex than get on with the task of saving their own lives(which I admit is theoretically true, but not every time), and they contain a ridiculous amount of just plain gross violence, that isn't really scary so much as it will make you uncomfortable. Again, I feel that this is a cheap trick. Psycho is a great example of creating suspense with good writing, and look how long it's lasted. Just my opinion, but I doubt that in 30-40 years we'll hold My Bloody Texas Friday on Elm Street with Piranhas up in the same way. My prediction is that Psycho, however, will still be around.
Storytelling is about telling the best story you know how to. If you think that you need to add things in so that it will sell better, you're doing it wrong I think. If that's part of your story, and that's the way you want it, fine. By all means, put it in. But it should feel organic, not forced like you went through in round five of revisions and added them in.

Writing Every Day: The Key To Success

There is something I've heard from just about every person who's ever spoken on the subject of writing. In order to become good at it, you must read a lot and write a lot.
I'll admit that when it comes to reading a lot I have no problem. Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes. I'll read almost anything. If I'm sitting at McDonald's, eating, my eyes will instinctively wander and read anything from the place mat to the Spanish/English signs scattered throughout the establishment. It may be boring, but my brain is just geared that way.(Usually I bring my nook and avoid reading the signs, however)
Writing is another matter altogether. In the past I've written in bursts, throwing down up to 12,000 words in a day, but then going days or dare I say it, weeks without writing. That all has changed recently however. About a month ago I made a commitment to write every day, no matter what. The amount of work I've been able to get done is amazing. And, wouldn't you know? Writer's block is not as much of a problem. See, when I go without writing for even a day I find that returning to the task is just a little more daunting than it otherwise would have been. I don't remember exactly where I was in the project I was writing, I don't feel motivated. You know. Excuses. But excuses can sometimes be enough to derail the writing train.
So now, I write everyday. About something. It doesn't matter what. If I feel writer's block for the project I'm working on, then I'll just bang away at something else, even if it makes no sense, until I feel like returning to my work-in-progress. And truthfully, having made the commitment, and putting forth the effort, it doesn't take too long for the muse to come out and start whispering. Or maybe that's one of the voices I hear in my head. (Either way, it has great ideas)
So what works for you? What is the key to keeping the literary home fires burning while you're away doing the things that life requires from all of us. (ie, job, school, family, etc....) Many of us have a limited amount of time that we can dedicate to writing. How do we make the most of it?

News Update

Writers from all over the Utah area and others that came in from out of state all congregated at the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center in Salt Lake City this Weekend. I, of course, was among them. The conference itself has been a really fun event for me to look forward to for four or five years now.
Most exciting for me personally was the chance to pitch my manuscript to an agent this year. I've had to bust my tail to get the book finished in time for the conference, and I just managed. Getting the pitch ready was, well, nerve-racking. But, all that is done with now and I can kick back and relax, sort of.
The agent I pitched to requested a full manuscript! Now to touch it up and send it in. I'll be burning the midnight oil this week and getting it ready to send off. All other projects are going to be put on a back-burner and it's "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" on this book.
I do have a few other projects in mind for after that, but until then I have to focus. That deserves all of my attention for the moment, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Some Good News, Some Bad News

Ok, first the good news. I just found out that I am going to be a dad again. I can't even begin describe how excited I am about this announcement. This will be child number two and I couldn't be happier.
Lucky for me, the good news far outweighs the bad. I got an email from the editors of the Monsters and Mormons project telling me that they decided not to take my story that I submitted to them. Oh well. Worse things have happened, I think I'm going to be ok here. On the bright side, they did send me an email and included specifics as to why they opted not to publish my piece, and that was very helpful. So, not all bad.
I'm still working on the second draft of Dead in the Water. It's coming along well, and I think that I've got the problems I was having with the ending just about fixed. More to come on this project as I complete it.

As for what I'm reading and watching, here goes: I am about halfway through Monster Hunter International. I'm surprised about how much I'm enjoying this book. It's basically what the title says, it's about a bunch people who train an insane amount with an insane arsenal of weaponry, all in order to go hunting monsters for an insane amount of money.

To be honest, I haven't had as much fun reading a book like this except for the Dresden Files. It's not really on the same level, at least not from a literary standpoint, but then, that's not really the point. What it is is a good, entertaining read that will be good for anyone who enjoys B-horror films like I do.
I'm cruising through the seasons of Dexter, entering season three tonight. Good show, overall, but the mature content almost kills it and in some episodes, does. No, believe it or not, I'm not referring to violence and gore, despite the show being about a serial killer who kills killers. No, the mature content I'm referring to is the bizarre sexual content that the show flaunts unnecessarily. The overall story is good, but if anything it has made me realize what a great job Dan Wells did with his John Cleaver series. In it he tackled essentially the same topics, and put them together in a way that creeps you out way more than Dexter does, while at the same time steering clear of the more mature content.

I'm also looking forward to reading Brandon Mull's new book, Beyonders: A World Without Heroes. Fablehaven was such a good series that I have high hopes for this one.
Well, that's all for now. Time to get back to work on the book.

Taking Your Craft Seriously

I spent a busy day today cleaning my house and getting ready for the coming week. I used that time to get caught up on my favorite podcast, Writing Excuses. If you're not familiar with this cast, I strongly recommend that you look it up, particularly if you, like me, are endeavoring to become a published author. Even if your interests don't lie in that direction, these guys are seriously funny to listen to.
One of the episodes that I caught up on today was about authors taking their job seriously. Kevin J. Anderson was a guest on the show, and I tell you what, that man works hard at being a writer.
And that's coming from me. Someone who logs 60-80 hours per week at the restaurant I work at.
And I think he works hard. That should tell you something.
Anyway, it hit me. Writing is what I want to do. But have I really acted as though it were as important as I purported it to be?
It got me thinking. I work a lot. I have a lot of reasons to justify not getting my writing done. After 13+ hours on my feet it's easy to just kick back and watch TV when I get home. It's even easy to say that I really am working on my writing, because there are some very good movies and shows that I can learn a lot from as a writer.
And maybe if I listen to audio books while I sleep I will learn through osmosis.
Yeah, so I realized that I'm fairly easily distracted. One of the traps that I fall into is that when I think of getting to work writing I imagine that I need at least a couple of hours of uninterrupted time to really dig in. So if everything is not perfect, it's all too easy for me just to blow it off and wait for another time when conditions will be better.
The problem is, of course, that conditions are rarely if ever better.
So, asking myself, how seriously do I take my craft? I thought that I was taking it seriously, but when I've gone back over the past weeks and mapped how many hours I actually spent writing I saw that the answer wasn't what I wanted it to be.
However, I still want to take it seriously. So now the hard part. Putting my money where my mouth is. I can give myself incentives and set goals all that I want, but without results it doesn't mean a thing.
That doesn't mean that I can't still have fun with it. I mean, that's the beauty of it all. It's work, true, but it's work that I love doing.
So, that's it. I've got work to do. Best be getting to it. Meanwhile, here's a picture I drew last night.

Sorry, that was random, but I had to work him in here somewhere. Now, time for sleep.