tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57189876652383348572024-02-18T22:12:53.904-08:00Adventures in Absurdity: The Official Blog of Horror Author Wile E. YoungA detailed epic of writing, life, and thoughts on just about everything, come for the absurdity stay for the philosophy. You'll also find information on my books, news, and everything else I decide to put up here.Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-30310065748548284322021-12-07T20:39:00.000-08:002021-12-07T20:39:03.099-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruvbVeh9Oc5Xd6kMKisOuooQVBsc-ubVPzv_x-aRe8q9NoQ6sJrIcnyM7GZtIMtwzFIu-1YYeqzMiUR-ylbWHMTx1Xao2rC1-EFcXZr-yvlK6vTBotEX24nC-ciWuizVmdf3783p-u6C4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="316" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruvbVeh9Oc5Xd6kMKisOuooQVBsc-ubVPzv_x-aRe8q9NoQ6sJrIcnyM7GZtIMtwzFIu-1YYeqzMiUR-ylbWHMTx1Xao2rC1-EFcXZr-yvlK6vTBotEX24nC-ciWuizVmdf3783p-u6C4/" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-64546967381477031652019-11-03T12:51:00.000-08:002019-11-03T12:51:14.894-08:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 34.2400016784668px;">Halloween In Retro<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I love Halloween. Like any of y’all thought there was any doubt. Even when I was a little kid, I loved it. Except for when I was six and my mother made me dress as Cat in the Hat. I’m not sure about the rest of you, but most six-year-old boys don’t think that Dr. Seuss is particularly fantastic. Still, I would almost take it over the bland and dark Halloween night I’m spending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> A few jack-o-lanterns are flickering on porches (including mine), and some Halloween decorations adorn houses, but as I drove through Oklahoma City at night, I was overwhelmed by the distinct lack of Trick-Or-Treaters or anyone else ready to celebrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I spoke to my dad on the phone, and in my hometown they had already entertained two hundred or more candy seekers, with more continuously showing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> It was disheartening to say the least, even if I had my traditional Halloween food and movies to comfort me, even a new writing project to edit and submit (I missed Bloodshot Books call last year, but I had one waiting this time), but I always reminisce around this time and wonder what it will be like to eventually raise children in a place that doesn’t seem to celebrate the spookiest night of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Hopefully I’ll sell enough books or get a sweet Netflix deal to move me to a nice Halloween-loving town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Man has walked on the moon; anything is possible I guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Still, I’ve had many good Halloween memories and costumes over the years, so now I get to lead you on a less-than-exciting road trip through the years of costumes and events that made up Halloween.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I watched a lot of Action League Now when I was a kid and for those of you who can’t remember what that is, it was a sketch on old Nickelodeon shows such as All That (SNL for Kids) and KaBlamm! It revolved around a group of incredibly crappy superheroes going about their lives. Naturally, I thought that the Lab Guy side character was cool. He was a mad scientist type, so for First Grade that’s what I went as, a mad scientist, test tubes and all. I broke every single one of those test tubes before the day was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Fast-forward a year and my teacher put a moratorium on our costumes: we could only dress up as a character from a book. This put a damper on my plans to be Godzilla.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I wish I had pictures of this costume that I could show you, but alas they are all Polaroids. It was papier-mâché mostly, but it had a tail, a Godzilla head helmet, and spikes down the back. Pretty much the only thing it didn’t have was the ability to breathe radioactive fire. This was in the days before commercial Godzilla costumes, so all of this was homemade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> High and low I searched through bookstores (my parents often dropped me off at Books A Million, knowing I would never leave) and I was triumphant in my search. It was picture book called <i>Who’s Afraid of Godzilla?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8q4LorTDbOzy0pmdbA0NQu0jsqAebCsOTylzR3xy_LO5ffXt3szjVLD5LkYepcittCZywJ5jAfTEiAzTlNatQg3930EB-NOEudgniSsluBGPHitXMgjeiAtq0lmkJFPkauphULBuFLR9/s1600/61M4V2A13QL.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8q4LorTDbOzy0pmdbA0NQu0jsqAebCsOTylzR3xy_LO5ffXt3szjVLD5LkYepcittCZywJ5jAfTEiAzTlNatQg3930EB-NOEudgniSsluBGPHitXMgjeiAtq0lmkJFPkauphULBuFLR9/s320/61M4V2A13QL.jpg" width="317" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I marched into my class on Halloween day, slapped that bad boy down on my teacher’s desk, and proceeded to roar and destroy miniature imaginary cities everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> It was Third Grade and onward that I really began to take Halloween as my own, on account of a werewolf mask that I had purchased from Wal-Mart. This was the mask that I would wear every single Halloween until I graduated from high school. I had furred gloves and used army fatigues from a surplus store. I looked pretty scary for a four-foot-something werewolf. My friends and I would continue to Trick Or Treat like this for the next few years until we were finally too old to do it anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Our first year of ceasing Trick Or Treating operations was in the Sixth Grade, but for a bunch of pre-teens still obsessed with getting candy we put our collective heads together and came up with a better candy-acquiring enterprise. We decided that there were plenty of smaller kids out going door-to-door; we just had to scare their candy sacks away from them. And that is how we began to traumatize small children by putting on an impromptu haunt in my front yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Cody Copeland (one of my very best friends) made a harness that would allow him to jump off my parent’s balcony, pretending to hang himself. Patrick Grissom provided a fog machine that turned the whole forty yards from the road to the house into a murky nightmare. Chris Kile dressed up as a stuffed scarecrow and sat beside the front door, motionless and ready to strike. Daniel Crumpler (another one of my very best friends), Will Brittain, Joshua Clements, Patrick Fruge, Grant Hogan, Tony King, Stephen Smith, and a whole host of others became foot soldiers that were more than eager to scare kids out of their hard-earned candy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Naturally, none of this came with waivers, liability forms, or anything that probably would have made this legal or at least lawsuit-free. No one ever got seriously hurt, but if I did the same thing today you’d better believe I’d have enough forms to keep my butt out of the fire. After all, one year we actually did use a few burning fires to direct kids into the path we wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> For years we did this, with people regularly drifting in and out of our cast of characters and costumes. We’d obtain loads of candy; turns out toddlers and young kids scare easy, but sometimes it resulted in injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> There was this one kid who was dressed up as a knight, and when I jumped out from behind a rock and scared him, he swung that sword directly into my face. I went down hard, blood pouring out of my nose and mask as that little kid went on a rampage, whacking everyone who came near him to get to the front door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> To this day, I can still hear his battle cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> “MUST HAVE TRICK-OR-TREAT!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> He punctuated every word with a swing of his sword and left me with a cracked nose, blood all over my mask, and a big smile on my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> We did this for years: scaring kids, eating food, and watching scary movies, before turning in and going home (unless Halloween fell on a weekend). They were good times, but good times end, and ours were put to a stop when we all went to college.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> It’s ten years to the day since we last scared kids in the yard, but my dad still tells me that for years afterward kids would ask about us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Where are the boys who would scare us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Kid, we are grown up, have families, and a mortgage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I still think about getting in touch with the guys each Halloween, getting us back together to scare the crap out of some kids. A few of them even have kids of their own now. It’s a pipe dream, but like lots of things, you never know what could happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I’ve taken time off next year for Halloween; it’s on a weekend, giving me a good amount of spare time to spend in my hometown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Maybe I’ll give the guys a call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">Current Projects<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I’ve been hard at work finishing my western, <i>The Magpie Coffin,</i>forthcoming from Death’s Head Press. I’ve really enjoyed working on this character and on the ways in which he dispatches his quarry. I reached into some disturbing places and situations in order to kill some fictional people. It may not be a “horror western”, but I’m certain that it hits dark places and grabs the appellation of “splatter western” by the horns. At my current progress, I should be finished mid-November with a release date in February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> After that is finished, I’ll be concurrently working on two projects, one of which is a secret project for a publisher that I can’t talk much about yet. Looking at a tentative release date of early 2021 for that project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> The other is, of course, the Clickers project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> A brief history lesson: J.F. Gonzalez (an author that has heavily influenced my work) wrote the first Clickers novel with Mark Williams in 1999. A seminal work of horror, it spawned three sequels (all co-written with Brian Keene) and a tribute anthology (that I was honored to be a part of).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> I never got to meet the man, he died in 2014 from cancer, but his work and legacy has had a lasting impact on me and several others. Which is why I was honored and incredibly excited to be asked to co-write the next wave of Clickers novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> As all of the previous novels were co-written, these new Clickers novels would also be co-written by authors from the next generation. Stephen Kozeniewski and I were asked to tee off with the first one. This will be our second collaboration (look for <i>the Perfectly Fine House </i>from Grindhouse Press next year!), and we’ve been eagerly brainstorming ideas and settings for our project. The stories aren’t beholden to old canon, which has offered up plenty of new avenues to explore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Our brainstorming sessions have produced some good ideas so far, even a setting, but it has also produced my chief annoyance in life: The Flying Clickers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> People asking me, “Will it have Flying Clickers?” has started to become my, “What about the ending to the Rising?” Time will tell if this variation of Clicker stars among the other ones that we have cooked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Besides that, there are a few other less definite things: a submitted novella to Bloodshot Books, a comic book pitch, and the occasional short story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Busy, busy, busy, but it is a good problem to have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">Other Announcements<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Catfish in the Cradle has sold well, but it can still do better. Luckily, there are places you can acquire it from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> If you like the internet and being able to make extravagant purchases from the comfort of your couch (like me), then it is available on Amazon at the following address: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Catfish-Cradle-Wile-Young/dp/1950259021/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Catfish+in+the+Cradle&qid=1572648628&sr=8-1" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">https://www.amazon.com/Catfish-Cradle-Wile-Young/dp/1950259021/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Catfish+in+the+Cradle&qid=1572648628&sr=8-1</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;">For everyone else, there are a few businesses that have chosen to stock my debut novel. Atlanta, Texas folks can go to Grandma’s Attic run by Ted Brabham, a fantastic store for antiques and other knickknacks. It was also the first place I had a signing. I love the shop and Ted has been most gracious in letting me sell there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> In Uncertain, Texas (setting of Catfish in the Cradle), you can find them in the Shady Glade Café, my favorite lake eatery. I can’t tell you all the times I’ve eaten there with my father and grandfather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px;"> Jefferson, Texas plays host to the Taste of Caddo Café, an offshoot of Shady Glade and also a proprietor of my book. Todd, Becky, and Malayna Arnold have been wonderful in stocking them and serve some of the best food in East Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333335876464844px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> That’s all for now. I’m back to working on the Magpie Coffin and maybe my main character will see a roadrunner.</span>Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-38881477725763351292019-05-17T12:35:00.001-07:002019-05-17T12:40:47.007-07:00STOKERCON 2019 Recap<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b><u><b>STOKERCON 2019</b></u></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Hello all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It has been a long time since I wrote anything
nonfiction, especially for this blog. Of course, it’s a new day, with new
possibilities on the horizon and new adventures into absurdity to talk about.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This past weekend was Stokercon 2019, held in Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Last year I was unable to attend due to weather conditions at
the venue location in Providence, Rhode Island.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Plane travel; it’ll screw you over every time.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Grand Rapids is a thirteen-hour drive and you lose an
hour going across the border into Michigan. I decided that this year would be
different from last. This wasn’t some twenty-five hour pilgrimage; it was a thirteen-hour
jaunt, no big deal. So with much confidence, I planned to drive.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My loved ones tried to talk me out of it, to instead get
a plane ticket, but I held fast… And was thrown a curveball when my father
decided to make the drive with me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For those of you who haven’t met him, my father grew up
in East Texas, is a Green Bay Packers fanatic, and hasn’t watched nor read
anything in the horror genre in nearly forty years.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And here I was going to a horror convention.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Shrugging my shoulders and with a devil-may-care attitude,
I decided that this was a grand idea. We hadn’t been on one of our father/son
adventures in a long time and I thought it would be nice to spend some time
together.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so our journey began.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hour One</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Dad and
I loaded up the car, started the engine and gave a modified quote from one of
my favorite movies:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Dad:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There are 948 miles to Grand Rapids,
we have a full tank of gas, half a pack of jolly ranchers, it's dark, and we're
wearing sunglasses.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Yours Truly: </span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hit it!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I’ve
been a rabid fan of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blues Brothers</i>
since I was twelve. I laugh every time and here we were nearly living it. On
the road, with a goal.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You see,
I had signed up for several pitch sessions at the convention where I would
present my work to prospective publishers and hope they had interest. Just like
the titular brothers, I was on my personal mission from God.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hour Five</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Time on the road is a little screwy; you find yourselves
reminiscing as well as noticing the most off-the-wall bizarre things on the
highway. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For instance: the overabundance of Lion’s Den Adult
Superstores in the Midwest. Every twenty miles like clockwork there was another
billboard advertising the establishment, followed by the next iteration of the
franchise. All of them happened to resemble a place where a man would ask if
you wanted a back-alley kidney transplant.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I expected nothing less.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hour Nine</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Going through Chicago, we encountered a traffic jam that
lasted an hour. Little known fact (or massively known, I prefer to think “little”)
about me… I HATE TRAFFIC JAMS.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How do they happen? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Just
drive! Do the thing you were literally doing five minutes ago!? My temper
usually flares, but I was having too much fun to let myself feel it this time. Still,
by the time we actually exited it, the sun was down and Michigan was dark.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Illinois Traffic Jams, I hate Illinois Traffic Jams.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hour Fourteen (Time Zones Are Witchcraft)</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">So we arrived at Grand Rapids in the
middle of the night; around midnight, but closer to one. Dad got in bed, I went
to my own, though I lay awake for a while… thinking about reunions and what the
day would entail. I was ready for reunions, but I was very ready for pitches.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To quote the film again, albeit modified: “I had a pitch
good enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Stokercon 2019</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We awoke the next day and immediately headed over to the
hotel where the convention was taking place. We received our passes and went
about trying to find someone I knew. In short order I ran into Michael Bailey,
a fantastic author as well as editor. I hadn’t seen him in two years and it was
a wonderful reunion. After that we proceeded to a panel moderated by the lovely
Linda Addison.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I first came into this world about three years ago,
Linda was one of my first friends. I try to attend a panel she is on or
moderates at every convention that we’re both present at. She is a fantastic
poet and great friend. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dad was ecstatic to finally meet her, even getting a
picture.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzxwv1A-o1RohaUNvVd1ZCVN1SYyWeVTJDIMvAIFeR9LzTtMjhHvLoPM7MtnqqHodywr2O1kL3KPP3y_XBuvx5CkeIbd9RqSb1mMctwrEW2m5gE8rKN24yytQf2ZW79UQfd3fiRPUHySK/s1600/Linda+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzxwv1A-o1RohaUNvVd1ZCVN1SYyWeVTJDIMvAIFeR9LzTtMjhHvLoPM7MtnqqHodywr2O1kL3KPP3y_XBuvx5CkeIbd9RqSb1mMctwrEW2m5gE8rKN24yytQf2ZW79UQfd3fiRPUHySK/s320/Linda+Photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We talked and I updated her on the goings on of life,
because, like Michael, I hadn’t seen her in two years. Reuniting with old
friends brings me joy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Also of note, I met Gabino Iglesias in person. I’ve known
Gabino online for a while now and we had a great chat before the panel. If
you’re not reading him, you need to be.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We then attended a panel entitled, “How To Conduct A
Reading”. This was especially helpful and informative considering I’m
performing my first reading at Scares That Care Charity Weekend in August.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I also met up with good friend Wesley Southard, a
phenomenal writer and attender of Bachelor Party 2018, an event hosted and
attended by some of my best friends in this business.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here is a link to his Amazon page: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wesley-Southard/e/B005HFH8JY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">https://www.amazon.com/Wesley-Southard/e/B005HFH8JY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> If you haven’t pre ordered One For
The Road, you need to. That book is going to be fantastic.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wes and I proceeded to hangout for about an hour, catching
up and just generally yapping about recent goings-on in the genre as well as
shoptalk. After that I asked if we could go find Brian Keene (mentor, ne’er do
well, and all around outlaw author) and found him in his room interviewing
Jonathan Janz.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jonathan Janz is not only a prolific writer with much
success, but he is also one of the nicest individuals that I have the pleasure
of knowing. It was incredibly heartwarming to be able to catch up with him.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was at this point that Dad managed to get on the
podcast when Brian asked who he was… Needless to say, “I’m Connor’s Dad” caused
me to lightly groan and put my head in my hands, but Janz and Brian both took
it in good stride. After introducing Dad to Brian, as well as engaging in a
little shoptalk, we parted ways and headed out to lunch.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was a good time; Dad and I found a small sports bar up
the street and we proceeded to talk about what he had seen and learned. Good to
have some feedback from a man who was unused to the business, even better to hear
that he was enjoying himself and finding the whole process of the convention
fascinating. He retired back to the hotel afterwards while I returned and
mentally prepped myself for the three pitches that I had.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unless you have done it before, there isn’t quite a way
of describing what it is like</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 200%;">, </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">waiting for your name to be called
for a pitch. There are usually multiple publishers but you only get to pick
three at this convention and so you want to pick the ones that are closest to
what you have to pitch. Sometimes you have to pick ones that aren’t quite what
you had in mind.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Needless to say, you sit there and you contemplate the
important questions: How will I pitch it? What should I say and not say? Will
they like it?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But then they call your name and it‘s Showtime.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even though my track record for pitching projects is
flawless (I’ve never had a publisher not ask to see what I pitched them), I
still get incredibly nervous, though I have to shove it down when game time
comes around. Go big or go home.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My record remained intact; all three publishers asked to
see the projects I pitched them.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After that, I joined Brian, Wes, Rachel Autumn Deering
and her fiancé, Ashley, for dinner. It had been a while since I had seen Rachel
and it was nice to catch up with her as well as get to know Ashley. As usual,
when writers gather for dinner, jokes were exchanged, gossip was shared, and we
left happy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rachel and Ashley decided to go to the bar while Brian,
Wes, and I ventured to the hallway outside of the ballroom where they would be
hosting the Award Ceremonies (Brian would be presenting the award for Best
Graphic Novel).</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We avoided the banquet in exchange for hanging out in the
lobby and talking to various authors and convention goers. Brian headed off to
present the award while Wes and I snuck back up to the hotel room and watched
hockey.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brian eventually returned, chastised us for watching the
last 30 minutes or so of the awards ceremony on our phones, and swept us off to
the after party.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For those who have never attended a writer party, there
is a mess of alcohol, a whole lot of meeting new people, and deep conversations
between people who know that they are only truly understood in the world by
each other.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brian has stated publicly that writers are like a tribe
and that you feel most at home around each other. Even if you only see each
other every few years, you feel like family.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That was what it was like as I looked around and saw friends
engaged in conversation and antics, photos flashing, people hugging; a little
slice of paradise for people like me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brian at this point came and grabbed Wes and I so that we
could be guests on Scott Edelman’s podcast <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eating
the Fantastic</i>. Scott is a comic book writer from the 70’s as well as a
fantastic editor. He’s most famous for his work on the Captain Marvel series.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Scott hosts his podcasts in lobbies and restaurants,
conducting his interviews over a meal. In this particular case he had us choose
a donut from a menu, then we got handed a random one.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was supposed to reflect our personalities, I think.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I chose the Simply Susan and to anyone who knows my food
choices knows I’m a fan of the simple and plain. I thought it was apropos.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anyone who wishes to listen to the interview can do so
here: </span><a href="http://www.scottedelman.com/2019/05/14/dare-to-eat-donuts-with-a-dozen-horrific-creators-during-the-stokercon-donut-spooktacular/?fbclid=IwAR04YdQSGmADcNtsSSzeE5sDzSCFK23f8yhOn2xEvnmzFiLwKC7AVJJwJO4"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">http://www.scottedelman.com/2019/05/14/dare-to-eat-donuts-with-a-dozen-horrific-creators-during-the-stokercon-donut-spooktacular/?fbclid=IwAR04YdQSGmADcNtsSSzeE5sDzSCFK23f8yhOn2xEvnmzFiLwKC7AVJJwJO4</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wes and I went back to the party after the interview,
where I learned that my dear friend, Sara Tantlinger, won her first Bram Stoker
Award for Superior Achievement in Poetry. I congratulated her. She is quite
well deserving of the accolade.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The evening wore on and eventually it was time to leave.
I said my goodbyes and prepared to leave, but not before Brian introduced me to
Josh Malerman. I’ve been a fan of Malerman’s work for years, and for all of you
who have watched Bird Box but have not read the novel, you need to go amend
that swiftly. It’s one of the best I’ve read in years. Here is a picture of the two of us.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKad-TvF127xHG96-Ynw6us7wTYU3vOiGa8YtMmsKWa8n6vb5l94kPGX1WoWirZ1sRC8QvvFWdGKv-RXyoXUzJerBrPCixO7wxhyzJOdg0ArAuItW1F8eTLJB3OBZ4CxLU58CfsYQK-8F/s1600/Malerman+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKad-TvF127xHG96-Ynw6us7wTYU3vOiGa8YtMmsKWa8n6vb5l94kPGX1WoWirZ1sRC8QvvFWdGKv-RXyoXUzJerBrPCixO7wxhyzJOdg0ArAuItW1F8eTLJB3OBZ4CxLU58CfsYQK-8F/s320/Malerman+Photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And just like that… I left the convention and my dear
friends behind, heading home with renewed vigor and drive. A definite feeling
that I belonged came with me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The Return Journey</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Like most return journeys, after the climax there isn’t
much to tell here. It was much the same as the trip up except for one detour…
Dad and I went to visit Old Joliet Prison where scenes from the Blues Brothers
were filmed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To my father and I this was the equivalent of visiting
holy ground, and the fact was not lost on us. We proceeded to snap pictures of
the prison and where the esteemed Jake and Elwood Blues characters stood. We
slung quotes back and forth and I even had Dad take a photo of me in front of
the gates just so I could feel like Jake Blues when he exited.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP6ZBifKp-x16sw_rkuPZoxPFssq8Q67IEG7-FfjfMzBMqF7OZ9VLNpNepEWeMwB4e1UzlxfTdZ02QEcTXM31F9GHy7Z5UXwUU4ePxlZx5ub4v-2kRRvTV4uCHexU7pC3F2RsbbiHtFGR/s1600/Joliet+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP6ZBifKp-x16sw_rkuPZoxPFssq8Q67IEG7-FfjfMzBMqF7OZ9VLNpNepEWeMwB4e1UzlxfTdZ02QEcTXM31F9GHy7Z5UXwUU4ePxlZx5ub4v-2kRRvTV4uCHexU7pC3F2RsbbiHtFGR/s320/Joliet+Photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sweet Home Chicago, indeed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Other News</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Things have gone back to normal after the weekend, and
for those who are curious about what comes next, I have good news. I’m putting
the final edits on the project that I pitched to be sent out to the publishers
who requested it. It’s a novella, but one of my favorite projects I’ve ever
written, and now with less of an acid trip ending after its rewrite.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Besides that, I have two novels: one for the same
publisher above and another for a different one. Those will begin after the
above edits are finished.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another project that I can’t say much about is in the
works for the end of the year, a novella. The guidelines are different from my
usual fare, but I like a challenge.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last, but certainly not least, is Stephen Kozeniewski and
I’s project. The edits are underway and hopefully will be done soon.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> A
lot of irons in the fire and a lot of roadrunners to chase. Just because I
caught one doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of others out there.</span></span></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-78326925713352240342017-09-15T08:27:00.000-07:002017-09-15T08:27:25.588-07:00The Warblers Review
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Warblers Review<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dell McDale is a fourteen year old boy
dealing with the things fourteen year old boys deal with on a rural farm…..feeding
livestock, making sure the house and other infrastructure is in good shape, and
avoiding the terrifying bird monsters nesting in his barn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> The beauty and subtlety of Amber
Fallon’s, <i>The Warblers, </i>lies in the
simplicity in which the people that populate her vaguely southern environs
treat monsters. From the outset, you
will realize that there is not a whole lot of “info dump” or real exposition
about the world in which young Dell McDale lives. It is rural, vaguely southern, and seemingly
takes place in the 30’s---possibly the Great Depression. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> The longer you read, the more these
seemingly solid facts become blurred. Miss
Fallon deftly weaves in tidbits of the overall world that cause readers to
question where and when the story actually takes place---little crumbs that
hint at a reality that might not be in the past at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Hints are all that remains! This does nothing to detract from the
story. To the contrary, I think it adds
to the mystique of a world in which monsters in the barn are treated not as
some in-human evil, (beyond the knowledge of human ken) but as a nuisance no
more otherworldly or extraordinary than a particularly bad case of locusts or
coyotes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> The Warblers themselves are rarely,
if ever seen. This adds to their subtle menace. The reader learns that they are in fact
dangerous, especially to children and young animals. Young Dale is constantly worried that the
beasts will devour his younger sister.
It is not the unseen depredations that drive the plot but instead the
means that Dale and his father will go to have them removed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> The plot drives forward at a swift
pace filled with both monsters and human struggle---all while a boy is unsure
of his place in the world while struggling with what he can do to help against
the infestation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> I highly recommend anyone who likes
the <i>Twilight Zone </i>or classic <i>Goosebumps </i>to give this a read. It is a quick one and is sure to fill your
afternoon with a wonderful sense of creeping dread. It might even make you question those little
noises you hear late at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <i>The
Warblers </i>by Amber Fallon is available on Amazon, link to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Warblers-Amber-Fallon/dp/1621052400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504606587&sr=8-1&keywords=the+warblers+amber+fallon"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">https://www.amazon.com/Warblers-Amber-Fallon/dp/1621052400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504606587&sr=8-1&keywords=the+warblers+amber+fallon</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-7079598931204667632017-06-16T13:56:00.001-07:002017-06-16T18:49:12.679-07:00Every Kingdom Divided Review<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I have met, befriended,
and read several authors that I hadn’t discovered over the past year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One of
my favorites is definitely Stephen Kozeniewski, author of such novels as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ghoul Archipelago, Braineater Jones,
Hunter of the Dead, and Billy and the Cloneasaurus.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After
meeting him I immediately knew that I had to pick up something of his work to
dive into and sate my never ending love affair with the written word. After
reviewing his bibliography I decided on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Every
Kingdom Divided </i>a dystopian thriller depicting a 2<sup>nd</sup> American
Civil War between the Red (Primarily the South and Midwest) and Blue (Pacific
and Northeast Coast) states with political moderates called Whites stuck in
between.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I know
what you’re thinking “Wile you’re a horror novelist and love reading the same,
why are you taking the time to read something like this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">First of
all, yes I love reading horror and writing the same but it doesn’t mean I
haven’t aspired to write dystopian fiction akin to Mad Max or Waterworld, so if
an author I respect writes dystopian fiction you know I will be reading it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Second
of all: I read this around election time and I felt like I was reading a
possible window into the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A window
that is heavily tinted with unending amounts of satire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
novel revolves around Jack a doctor from Blue California who must travel across
the entire mainland US in search of his fiancé who is a soldier in the Blue
Army on the other side of the Divided States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">At least
that is the adventure he claims to have undertook as he is interrogated by a
Blue Commander under siege from approaching Red forces who wishes to execute
him as a potential Red spy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jack’s
story carries lingering hints of Homer’s the Odyssey if it was ground up in a
blender, painted red, white, and blue, then bathed in a fresh dose of
Americana. Jack’s trials continue to escalate and that’s when you see the true
beauty of the novel and its point: extremism of any type is bad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">From
Mexican armies attempting to reclaim former land, Mormon religious police enforcing
strict morality codes, Red dogmatic conservatism, Blue hedonistic liberalism,
and White shoot everything that moves because we’re the minority in the
political structure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">An odd
mix of Judge Dredd, Mad Max, and the tv series Jericho all wrapped up in a neat
and nice package that shows an understanding of some of the flaws of our still
united country and what we could possibly become if we allow ourselves to be
divided rather than participate in the conversation understanding that some
people believe in different things than we do… and that isn’t a bad thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I will
admit that the ending felt kind of rushed but doesn’t detract from the novel at
all and brings a resolution that I hesitantly hope will lead to a sequel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A
wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone who isn’t particularly hardcore
about their politics and a great entryway to Mr. Kozeniewski’s work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sidenote: I live in Oklahoma and making Lawton
the capitol of a totalitarian bible thumping regime was spot on brilliance. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU_vNK0Fi15v0T1DdQRYrMhqZgB5y3unDe98I3cFWQcseKcW31X3Yp_rnTGd3weJu2pz_G6KxssTmo1CCJ62unmvMsnzusxwKesFxnjgeQFs12ACZIDrQklF3Wj6PG94m3lh6QEMgNo6k/s1600/28229365._UY1224_SS1224_.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU_vNK0Fi15v0T1DdQRYrMhqZgB5y3unDe98I3cFWQcseKcW31X3Yp_rnTGd3weJu2pz_G6KxssTmo1CCJ62unmvMsnzusxwKesFxnjgeQFs12ACZIDrQklF3Wj6PG94m3lh6QEMgNo6k/s320/28229365._UY1224_SS1224_.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-37785287560759019232017-05-05T14:33:00.002-07:002017-05-05T14:33:42.552-07:00Stokercon Recap
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m
new to the writing convention scene, that much is for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I attended my first convention last year
around this time-----World Horror Convention in Provo, Utah. As most of you who
follow me on my Facebook, Blog, Twitter, and by the occasional smoke signals I
send, know I attended Stokercon 2017 on the illustrious Queen Mary in Long
Beach, California this past week and I feel it is time for a recap.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If
you don’t follow me on Facebook, Blog, Twitter and such, then shame on you but
I’m willing to forgive for I am generous and wish for followers and support!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Writing
careers can’t happen without readers after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So
where was I… oh yes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
arrived in Los Angeles and stepped out of LAX into a place that smelled vaguely
of burned rubber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I’ve been to San
Francisco and I loved it, thought it was extremely nice in fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Los
Angeles was a different monster entirely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As
we drove through the crowded traffic, cloying air, and smog that obscured the
mountain ranges that surround the city, I briefly wondered if I had left my
world behind for something out of a less rain soaked Blade Runner or that huge
slum from Elysium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">These
feelings disappeared as I reached the Queen Mary---a huge ship that looked like
the Titanic ---straight out of 1912 and right into Long Beach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was massive, it was retro, and it was going
to be my home for the next few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
registered and checked into my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a suite and I felt like Kevin on Home Alone 2 as I saw that extremely
comfortable looking bed and thought: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wow a huge king size bed just for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That
room was also haunted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Turns
out the Queen Mary is renowned for its ghost sightings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My room had some strange things happen while
I was there but if you want those stories, you’re going to have to ask me in
person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
dropped off my things and refreshed myself after the long flights before
venturing out to explore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
immediately reunited with my good friend and mentor Linda Addison who was staying
in the same floor as me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t seen her since last July and it made
my heart leap for joy to be hanging out with her again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
deck that contained most of the promenades, restaurants, and conference rooms
was one floor above where my room was and several publishers were out in force
hawking their wares… so, so, so many books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
bit into that hook line and sinker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My
collection expanded as well as my friends with selections from John Urbancik,
Weston Osche, Scott Edelman, Erick T. Johnson, and Gene O’Neill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m really glad that I’m not a drug addict
because if my book buying habits are any indication, I would be the worst
crackhead that ever existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Myself:
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’ve got like 50 books you still have
to read at home you don’t really need another…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Inner
Me: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Just one more… just one more… just
one more…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m
never able to say “no” to a book, though I suppose there are worse addictions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
threw myself into the convention going to several panels and readings
including: How to Do Collaborations, Editing: Is it Necessary?, Linda Addison’s
Poetry Workshop, Creepypasta and the Formations of Modern Urban Myths, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
was a fun time for sure and I made several new friends including the
aforementioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also honored to
meet Meghan Arcuri, Lindsey Barlow, Tish Jackson, Hal Bodner, R.B. Payne, Mackenzie
Cox, Lee Murray, Chuck Wendig, Bill Bridges, Billy Ingreso, and Zach Snow (I’m
assuming since he was cosplaying as Jon Snow), and Tom Montleone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
was nice seeing my old friends who were in attendance as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see these people nearly as often as I
should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now…….time
for the events that were beyond interesting:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1.
Convention buddies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You
usually find someone to pal around with at a convention but I’m a social
butterfly and like to talk to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Besides Linda Addison (for this one), I had Gene O’Neill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Gene
was born in 1938 and has had what some would call an “adventurous” life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only hope to reach his age and have
half the stories he told me under my belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As well as published works, he’s won two Bram Stoker awards and is a
phenomenal guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He
also took a newbie like me and introduced me to everyone he knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me a ton of advice from his own life
and career, and just generally was my friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
was very humbling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2.
Scott Edelman and I began conspiring on epic prank calls and talked food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">3.
Ghost Stories <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On
the deck of the Queen Mary I told ghost stories with two phenomenal people. Mackenzie
Cox and Billy Ingreso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Guys if you are
reading this, all I have to say was that was a thrilling time.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still break out in chill bumps a week later
when I think about “Lily” and the “blood on the chair.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any of you want to hear those stories, you’re
going to have to ask Mackenzie and Billy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe they’ll be gracious enough to tell you… if you think you can live
with the nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Oh,
we will definitely meet again next year to share more----no doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4.
Pitch Sessions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One
of the greatest things about conventions is the opportunity to get your work
out there in front of publishers and show them just what kind of writer you
are. I unfortunately didn’t know that there were pitch sessions when I
registered for the convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">By
the grace of God, I managed to scrape and claw my way into two different
pitching sessions. I can’t confirm anything yet but one session went incredibly
well. A synopsis and sample chapters were asked for from me and *fingers
crossed* they like it and the project will proceed further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">5.
A Ride with Tom, Elizabeth, and Damon Monteleone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
convention came and went and I found myself on Sunday morning checking out of
the hotel with all the gusto of a dog lying under the hot sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not relishing having to return to my
labor in Oklahoma City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Despite
the fact that I was looking forward to leaving Los Angeles, it still sucked
that I wouldn’t see most of my friends here for several more months---if not an
entire year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
had scheduled an airport shuttle the previous evening and as I lugged my stuff
downstairs, I sat glumly wondering what book I would start on first when I
boarded my flight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fate
however intervened and I happened to be sharing a shuttle ride with Tom
Monteleone, his wife Elizabeth, and son Damon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m
pretty sure I paled when I realized who it was I was talking to----you see, the
previous evening, he had won the lifetime achievement award and my own mentor
looked up to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
was an incredibly pleasant ride to the airport and the conversation that
followed was equally awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wouldn’t
have traded it for anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now
the good things are over and it’s time to talk about the bad things…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There
is only one…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">LAX…LAfreakingX.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Because
I fly standby, I sometimes have trouble making flights due to people having
been on this list forever and United Airline’s somewhat controversial policy of
overbooking (4 out of 5 doctors still recommend us… too soon? HE GOT $50,000
DOLLARS I CAN MAKE JOKES!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Long
story short I was stuck in LAX overnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I slept on the floor, couldn’t brush my teeth, and had to endure crappy
overpriced airport food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
made it home the next day and collapsed from exhaustion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It
was a good trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
World News<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well
North Korea has been causing noise again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
would call them the world’s most hilarious dictatorship if it wasn’t for the
human rights abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This
is the part of my blog that I like to call, “North Korea What Are You Doing?” Your
country is like the sad kid still trying to dunk the basketball at the
playground as the sun goes down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not
to mention their leaders keep claiming to be gods and then they die, literally
a dead giveaway there… oh well, I guess it is fun to watch their missiles fail
every time they test them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Enjoy
this themed meme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyb5GMoXQi9aQtZc5yJluT2iEZelSkQFXJwIkM1KsedPdxcxSXY41bLoion1BdIv0k9XgbSkEs1y4O6JHfJkQxSFrQIdKb6Sxr_u30eOmhqUOPS4qh0BYU0t1NyElLcIxTOKYZaseitlS/s1600/North+Korea+Meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyb5GMoXQi9aQtZc5yJluT2iEZelSkQFXJwIkM1KsedPdxcxSXY41bLoion1BdIv0k9XgbSkEs1y4O6JHfJkQxSFrQIdKb6Sxr_u30eOmhqUOPS4qh0BYU0t1NyElLcIxTOKYZaseitlS/s320/North+Korea+Meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:375pt;height:375pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\v718246\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Interaction
of the Week<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nefflix: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m going to
download the dark web.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
Young: </span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pretty sure you can’t download the dark web but if you manage to
make it down there and get kidnapped I’m not paying your ransom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well
that is all for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time to work on
some projects and paint a giant rock to look like a tunnel----think I have the
roadrunner this time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-38127820293459005202017-03-15T07:40:00.001-07:002017-03-15T07:40:17.287-07:00Horror, Video Games, and You
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> What’s that
you say? Wile E. Young has a new blog post that he is doing as a favor for a
friend specifically because she needed video game articles? Well aren’t you
excited on the other end of the screen? I know you’re jumping up and down and
about to take to the streets proclaiming the news. Well before you get to that,
why don’t you just sit down and read for a minute.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Horror is undergoing a bit of a
renaissance at the moment, not only in literature but in the film industry as
well. Pretty sure <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Get Out</i> has blown
up the box office with its $111 million return versus its $4.5 million budget.
And more great horror flicks are on the way. The reasons for this renaissance
are varied but a friend gave one particularly good explanation for it: “Times
are tough and people want to be able to experience the thrill of monsters that
aren’t real.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s a theory I can get behind, but
you know another medium that is experiencing this phenomenon? Well if the title
didn’t clue you in, it’s video games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Who among us didn’t play such
wonderful gems when we were younger like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resident
Evil, Silent Hill, House of the Dead, </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Doom</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I remember being terrified of the
cloying atmosphere of that stupid mansion in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resident Evil</i> as my friends and I huddled around the Gamecube and
encountered that first zombie in the corridor. Those fixed camera angles still
make me angry-scared as I struggled to aim the gun at the creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Things have come a long way since
then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The perennial long runners of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resident Evil</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Silent Hill</i> have put out entries of varying quality over the years,
but I’m taking this little moment to focus on some lesser-known entries that
have come out in recent years before moving onto this year’s selection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dying Light</i>: </b>A zombie survival game
released in 2015. I know what you’re thinking, “Zombies? I love the Walking
Dead!” in which case I have only one thing to say to you: Yes, yes, it is a
good show and comic series, but there is so much more to that particular
sub-genre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There has been a glut of zombie
fiction as of late in all mediums, but this video game is one of the few that I
thought truly grasped the desperation of the situation; the frantic struggle
for resources along with the never-ending hordes of zombies hungry for my
flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And don’t even get me started on
what happens at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There might not have been anything
that truly made me jump or left me uneasy (at least not until the DLC) but the
sheer hopelessness and post-apocalyptic feel of the situation was fairly well
captured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Slender the Arrival</i>: </b>Most of you
have heard of the Slenderman, and if you haven’t then I advise you to discover
the Internet. What some of you may not realize is that the monster does in fact
have a video game based around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I played this game with my best
friend and I remember the two of us tensely switching between holding the
controller or gripping the couch arms for fear of what was going to happen
next; it would descend from an easy “Oh that looks nice and friendly” to
“AAARRRHGHHGHG HOLLLLY CRAP RUN RUN RUN FASTER, FASTER WOULD BE BETTER!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was incredibly tense, though the
ending felt a little rushed and anticlimactic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It hasn’t stopped me from shoving it
at anyone who says. “I want to play a scary video game.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now it is the great year of 2017
*actual greatness may vary* and thus we have a slew of new horror video games
hitting the shelves. I’m practically salivating at the chance to see some of
these in action and more than likely throw the controller at the TV when
something jumps out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First on this list would be the
newest entry in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resident Evil</i>
series, titled helpfully <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resident Evil 7:
Biohazard</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. </b>I haven’t yet been
able to play the full game, but I did get to play the demo before its release,
and wouldn’t you know it was just as scary as I hoped it would be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is the first entry in the
franchise to be played from a first person perspective as well as a return to
the series roots with a harsh atmosphere centered around fading pieces of
decrepit architecture. The designers seemed to take the best notes from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Texas Chainsaw Massacre</i> along with
various ghostly tropes and monsters in the sewer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The whole thing is oppressive,
cloying, and beyond a doubt scary and I found myself in the demo checking over
my shoulder every five seconds for fear that there would be something there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I can’t wait to play it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As for other games coming out this
year we have the upcoming <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Friday the 13<sup>th</sup></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b>a game centered around the popular
slasher franchise where you can actually play as Jason Voorhees and no doubt
brutally kill some morally deviant camp counselors who undoubtedly deserve it
for having extramarital relations while you drowned as child in a revenge by
proxy scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Conversely you can also play as a no
doubt morally decent and upstanding camp counselor just trying to spend a fun
and free summer with your boyfriend/girlfriend that might involve the wayward,
but normal, pursuits of youth that are being targeted by a psychotic nutjob in
a hockey mask with a machete and you just want to survive and continue being a
decent and normal teenager.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Also coming out this year is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Outlast 2.</i> Now I played the original <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Outlast</i> that took our intrepid hero,
*insert generic protagonist name*, and investigative journalist to a local
insane asylum in hopes of a hot scoop. Well let us just say that he got more
than he bargained for. And now this year brings us the sequel and it seems to
be borrowing elements from the above-mentioned <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resident Evil 7</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A dark foreboding southern
atmosphere pervaded the demo as I ran through the woods pursued by a cult that
either just stepped off the set of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deliverance</i>
or were practicing for their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wicker Man</i>
reunion. If this one holds up to anything like its predecessor, I’m going to be
running from lunatics while trying to preserve that sweet glow in the dark
cameras battery life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other entries for this years horror
extravaganza are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vampyr</i> (where I’ll
finally try to understand what being an Anne Rice vampire is all about), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Agony</i> (Where you’re dropped straight
into Hell, hate when I take that wrong turn at Albuquerque), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Visage</i> (you should really look at the
history of a house before buying it) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Call
of Cthulhu</i> (I just peed a little, I’m so excited). This years smorgasbord
of horror games doesn’t look likely to abate anytime soon and promises to be a
great year for not only the Horror Genre but for video games in general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E. World News<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It turns out that there are still
uncaught Nazi’s milling about in the world. Today it was confirmed that a 98
year old man in Minnesota was a confirmed leader of an SS unit that burned
villages in Poland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Usually, I would try to provide some
sort of hilarious commentary here (and trust me you would be rolling) if this
wasn’t a serious matter, as most of the things I report on are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Poland wants to extradite him and
prosecute. All I can say is more power to them. It would be a shame if justice
were to slip past before he died of old age, which for this man could be any
day now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On a lighter note…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yesterday, police in Oregon engaged
in a high-speed chase with a man who stole a street sweeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes you read that right, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">street sweeper</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t necessarily want to bail the
man out of jail, but I would like to meet him and shake his hand for at least
engaging in his criminal activity in a suitably hilarious way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I bet that highway is super clean
now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Quote of the Week<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Nefflix: I’m
going to download the Dark Web.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E. Young:
When you show up in a hostage video I’m not paying the ransom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Coyote Progress<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I typed the last period of the Admirer this morning, ending at a
little over 70,000 words. I’m about to get my editing chainsaw and dive in, to
not only trim it down, but to form it into the final product. I’m proud of it,
but also mildly disturbed by it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I wonder if other horror authors have been disturbed by their own
content before…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Who knows?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now I turn my eye to my next two short stories for a Punk Zombie
Anthology (I’m determined to get at least one zombie story published in this
glut!) and this year’s SNAFU antho… I’m about to make Slashers cool and scary
again for that one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Besides that, Stokercon is next month where my short story <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Night in the Yellow Ring</i> will be
debuted in Azoth Khem Publishing’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carnival
of Madness </i>anthology… I’ll post a link as soon as it is for sale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Also Brian Keene released the table of contents to the
contributors of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clickers Forever</i>
anthology (a tribute anthology to the late J.F. Gonzalez). Seeing my name
listed there next to my story among these titans of the genre… I was very
humbled and hope to honor the legacy of J.F. Gonzalez with my meager
contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">THAT book is going to be epic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That’s all for now, time to order my ACME
editing chainsaw and hopefully catch the Roadrunner.</span>Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-63078586281258035002016-12-24T12:42:00.001-08:002016-12-24T12:42:36.037-08:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Christmas
Adam: A Brief History<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I sit down to write this blog
post on the day before one of my family’s annual traditions that I look forward
to every year: our nationally recognized holiday (not really, but what do they
know?), Christmas Adam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Named
for the fact that according to my father, “Eve got too much credit”. It has
been celebrated on December the 23<sup>rd</sup> for as long as I can remember. In
my writing, you would be hard pressed to find a character who doesn’t mention
the holiday; that’s how much I enjoy it and how much it has become ingrained
into what I view as the holiday season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
what are the traditions of this event, you are no doubt asking? If it involves
you, Wile E. Young, it must be suitably epic and mind-bogglingly eccentric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
truth is somewhat tamer, but no doubt eccentric. You see, the point of the
holidays no matter who you are or where you’re from or what you believe, is to
spend time with those that matter to you the most… your family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well
what about your friends that are as close as family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
family has a lot of those and we thought it was only appropriate that once a
year we should all gather and celebrate as family, and celebrate we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everyone
wears pajamas (which for me usually involve a bathrobe, some form of satirical Christmas
shirt, and Santa hat), eats breakfast food (pancakes and bacon), and watch
every single hilarious Christmas movie we have in my (rather copious)
collection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s
fun, it’s heartwarming, and it gives me the chance to see everyone that I don’t
get to see often enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of
course, not everyone is able to attend every year, whether it be due to distance,
work schedules, plans with their own family, or aliens landing in their airport
and ruining everyone’s Christmas arrangements (go read the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terminal</i> by Amber Fallon, like right now).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So while I’ve had a miniature
Christmas Adam party that took place on the 16<sup>th</sup> with my Oklahoma
City people, it still wasn’t able to encompass everyone that I wish could have
been there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There are so many people I could
list, but then all of you would just be reading names for the next ten pages. So
for those of you who support me and read this along with my writing and care
about me enough to call me a close friend, know that you are always welcome in
my home and at my table, from all around the world (European friends I’m
looking at you), no matter what you believe or practice, no matter what you’re
going through… you’re welcome at my celebrations if I call you friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Who all does this entail? If you
think I care about you even a little bit, then most likely you are on the list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It’s a big family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
Christmas Adam Plans<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My father doesn’t know that I’m
coming home this year… come to think of it no one knows I’m coming home this
year. They think I have to work at the airport on the blackout dates. However, through
loopholes, negotiation, and a little bit of luck, I have managed to get
Christmas Adam, Eve, Day, and whatever name there is for the day after OFF.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now I originally planned to simply
drive up, get out of the car and surprise everyone just by walking through the
door. Knowing me, this plan has swiftly spiraled into realms of absurdity that
I haven’t explored in awhile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Little known fact, but I used to
sneak out of the house by shimmying off the top of the garage roof, and now in
a bit of life coming full circle… I have decided to scurry up to the roof and come
in through the balcony door. Thank the Lord for keys that never change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So after I enter through the
balcony door, I would slap the Kongos C.D. into the upstairs CD player and walk
downstairs all black leather jacket, jeans, and confidence bordering on
delusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Then I decided that this was
simply too arrogant of me to presume that people would see this entrance as
anything more than Wile E. Young fresh off of victory and looking to show it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So I decided to dress up as Santa
Claus instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Through the dark neighborhood I
did scurry after ditching my car in an empty house driveway. I keep my Santa
suit out in the barn, helpfully separate from the main house and from there it
was a simple matter to acquire a ladder and scamper up onto the roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The party was in full swing inside
and if I timed it right, everyone would be in the downstairs living room for
the ornament exchange. Luckily my timing was impeccable. As I cracked the
balcony door opened and slipped inside, I could hear the party in full swing
downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I also heard the voices stop as
they heard my footsteps echoing on the second floor, harried whispers of wonder
as I walked down the stairs all smiles and bombastic Christmas miracle. No one
had any idea who I was as I descended and a hushed silence pervaded everyone’s
mood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m just lucky that no one
decided to shoot me; this is Texas after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Instead, when I took off the hat
and beard my father cried and embraced me like he hadn’t seen me in years
rather than the month or so since Thanksgiving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It was a Merry Christmas Adam
indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
World News<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
if you haven’t noticed in the past few days, the world has had quite a few
violent incidents that I don’t mind talking about in the slightest…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>BUT
this is Christmas and I thought instead I would focus on the things that were
good about this year rather than the bad, especially the great things that
occurred. I place special significance to certain times of the year and
focusing on the bad around this happy time just doesn’t suit me well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First
and foremost, I met a woman named Emily and despite her protestations she is
awesome and I don’t think I could have gotten to where I am right now without
her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
second was meeting all the new friends I’ve made this year especially in
writing circles: Brian Keene, Linda Addison, Tod Clark, Michael Huyck, Kelly
Laymon, Dallas Mayr, Amber Fallon, Shenoa Carroll Bradd, Stephen Kozeniewski,
Jeff Burke, Bryan Killian, Rachel and Jessica Deering, Richard Wolley, John
Boden, Mary SanGiovanni, David Barbee, Danger Slater, Lisa LeStrange, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All
of you continue to inspire me because you’re phenomenal people and I’ve been
honored to count you as part of my life this year and that you allowed me to be
apart of yours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Speaking
of my writing career, I sold two shorts so far for this year with several
others still in the frying pan waiting to see if they’ll be accepted or not. I
know they aren’t novels or even novellas, but to a writer who hadn’t seen
success in two years this was a big accomplishment and more impetus to keep
moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
can do this, I will do this, and people I trust and admire have faith I can do
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s
a hell of a feeling to feel destiny, God, and the universe at work knowing that
your time is coming; especially after the year I had previously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here
is to the coming year and the hopes that it will be even better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
Reading List<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So here it is, the top five books that I read
this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Terminal</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Amber Fallon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Husk</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Rachel Autumn Deering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jedi Summer with the Electric Kid</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by John Boden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Hollower</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Mary SanGiovanni<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Urban Gothic</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Brian Keene<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Honorable Mention for Poetry: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How to Tell a Demon Has Become Your Friend</i>
by Linda Addison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Honorable Sci- Fi Mention: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leviathan Wakes</i> by James A. Corey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So if you’ve hung out with me for
any length of time, you’ve heard me talk about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Terminal</i> by Amber Fallon (in fact I did so earlier in this very
blog). It’s a gritty and pulpy tale of aliens invading an airport on Christmas
Adam (it isn’t December 23<sup>rd</sup> and never will be). It’s stuck with me
all year as a great pulpy novel and that is why it made the number 1 slot. She
is working on a sequel that can’t come soon enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Husk</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
by Rachel Autumn Deering was my second pick because it kept me guessing; a dark
tale of PTSD mixed with horror, it gave me the chills as I read it. I highly
recommend it if you want something that leaves you a little unsettled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jedi Summer by John Boden: I did
a whole review dedicated to this book after I read it due to its wonderful use
of nostalgia to transport us back to our childhoods. I remembered being a kid
as I read this and again I recommend it to anyone who wants to read something
that brings you back to the Golden Age of Childhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Hollower</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Mary SanGiovanni: now, admittedly I’m still reading this one,
but that doesn’t mean anything because it is good enough to already be on my
list of top 5. It is unsettling and inspiring for my current Work in Progress. The
Slender man has nothing on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Hollower</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Urban Gothic</span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> by Brian Keene: now most of you thought that one of Brian’s books
would make the top spot simply due to the fact that he is Brian Keene and you
know of my admiration of him… and you would be right. However, I decided to be
unbiased and give the top spot to someone else for no other reason than it
would give everyone a surprise, including myself. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Urban Gothic</i> is not one of Keene’s wider read works and I admit
that even I didn’t read it until this past summer, but I didn’t know what I was
missing out on. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Urban Gothic</i> had me
alternating between a wonderful tension, awesome action sequences, and
unsettled fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I really hope he does a sequel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">How to Tell a Demon Has Become Your Friend </span></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">by Linda Addison is a collection
of poems that are beautiful to read and anyone who celebrates and loves poetry
should pick it up immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It has been a great year for
reading and I look forward to the next one, and even if you don’t pick up any
of my recommendations (shame on you because you know I’m right), read
something, anything. It broadens the mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Quote of the
Week<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Em the
Slayer: </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I
can stick both my feet in my mouth and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
Young (attempting not laugh)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Em the
Slayer: </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You
are such a child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">*Note: Em (as editor of this
blog) would like to point out that this quote was taken unfairly out of
context. Carry on. *<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Writing
Progress<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Admirer</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">20,000
words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Interstate Eldritch</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">21,000
words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Every Terrible Man</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">: </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">500
words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">New Short
That Doesn’t Have a Title Yet: </span></b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1,000 words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> So that’s everything for the moment.
The Adventures in Provo Part 3 is in the works and hopefully will be posted soon,
but until then I think I will put on my Santa hat and chase the Roadrunner down
the chimney.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-73022654128548945862016-11-08T05:27:00.000-08:002016-11-08T05:27:53.206-08:00Vote Coyote<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We interrupt your regularly scheduled
Facebook stalking to bring you Pt. 2 of my journeys in Provo, Utah at the 2016
World Horror Convention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last
time I left you with the tale of my arrival and how I met phenomenal horror
icons (Linda Addison, Kelly Laymon, and Jack Ketchum) and how I was about to
meet my writing inspiration Brian Keene.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m
sorry to leave all of you with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Walking
Dead</i>-esque cliffhanger, but now you will finally be able to see the
conclusion after waiting with bated breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there I was, being introduced to the man
who was my biggest influence in writing horror, whose work I read voraciously
every time he released something new, and the person who had inspired me to
become a writer myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
had to do a double take as he walked out of the long hallway leading to the
elevators while Kelly and I were just standing there (me probably looking like
an idiot as I pretended not to be internally screaming like a groupie at a rock
concert).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Okay
Connor, this is it. Be cool, be cool… don’t nonchalantly lick him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kelly
made the introductions and then politely excused herself and headed to her room
(this was around midnight, so I didn’t blame her in the slightest) and that was
when Brian Keene bought me a Dr. Pepper and we proceeded to shoot the breeze.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was a wonderful conversation and I managed to hold in the fact that he was
basically the reason I became a writer and how much I admired his work until
about halfway through the conversation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
asked about my own writing and I regaled him with the zombie novel I’ve been
sitting on called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Next Dead Air</i>. He
offered me encouragement and advice and unexpected enthusiasm about my ideas for
future projects in the genre, and it was awesome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
can’t overstate the wonder of sharing sodas with your heroes in the middle of
the night at an out-of-the-way hotel in Utah; it’ll change your life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Eventually
the night got to us and we both bade the other farewell for the evening
(Sidenote: Brian had been on the road all day and took the time to talk and
encourage a young writer even though I know he was exhausted. His writing and
fame aside, that’s the kind of impression that sticks with you… he told me in
20 years when I’m where he is now I better be doing the same).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
I went to bed picking out the panels I wanted to attend the next day and pretty
much riding my noble dream steed across a battlefield made of trampled
rejection letters; I could keep receiving them, but I wasn’t going to stop and
now I felt like I had a legitimate shot of continuing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
woke up to a knocking around 7:00 in the morning. The lovely Linda Addison had
made a joke about waking me up that morning and I mumble-shouted at the door,
“Linda, it’s too early. I’ll be down in a minute!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
wasn’t Linda though, just a very confused member of housekeeping. As she
skittered away down the hall, I drug myself from a bed (I’m not an early-riser
and for anyone who has seen me do so, I probably lope around and look as
out-of-focus and low budget as a homemade Bigfoot video.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally
I looked somewhat presentable (jeans and button up shirt... it’s either that or
a tee shirt proclaiming something awesome) and I proceeded downstairs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was a tour group leaving to go view one of the original printing presses in
Utah and I found myself intrigued to learn something new, so I embarked on it
along with Linda Addison and several other authors who were there for the
convention including Joe McKinney (well known for his zombie novels that have
an element of realism not seen in many others), and Darren Shan (author of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Demonata</i> and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cirque Du Freak</i> series). Needless to say I felt like I had gone
from my small fishbowl to walking with giants in the space of eight hours or
so.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
tour went well and I got to know both Joe and Darren in this walk, along with
bonding with Linda.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
returned to the hotel and the convention where upon we temporarily parted as I
went to find myself some breakfast. Lo and behold, I ran into Brian who had
emerged to take part in the convention activities himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
told him of the morning activities after he asked what I had been up to and
then he asked me a question I never expected: “Hey, I want to do a new author
roundtable for my podcast. Would you like to be on that?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I had been
trucking along really smooth (I thought), making inroads and trying not to go
fanboy on my hero… needless to say after that particular sentence I looked
something like this…</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTq02kch4P7YMXyWDC5svLqY7TCV8TfFJ3M7gMrZsOY3N4MuZ-0TiIRPw92gREppck5egH4948bgUqwPxlUmzgYQe1dzot6YwMj8g1WFsvLRmigkQPuFIYwyuMrg_Nou-gScX-xf0ZVDd/s1600/Coyote+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTq02kch4P7YMXyWDC5svLqY7TCV8TfFJ3M7gMrZsOY3N4MuZ-0TiIRPw92gREppck5egH4948bgUqwPxlUmzgYQe1dzot6YwMj8g1WFsvLRmigkQPuFIYwyuMrg_Nou-gScX-xf0ZVDd/s320/Coyote+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I,
of course, accepted and tried not to do a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breakfast
Club</i>-esque fist thrust as both of us made our way to the named room (they
had tree themes: Aspen, Birch, and Elm) where the opening ceremonies of the
convention would start.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brian
went off to interact with people he knew and I was left to my own devices. I
took a seat (front row because I was an eager young author) and watched as the
invited named authors of this convention took their places on the raised stage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
still dream of one day sitting on that stage with them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I waited for the opening ceremony to begin, I did a small bit of Facebook
scrounging to kill some time and I happened to notice something…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Three
years ago my second published short story, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And
the River Rolled</i> was included in Sirens Call Publications anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fear of the Water</i>. There were a lot of
good stories, but one in particular stuck with me, one called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pool Shark</i> by Shenoa Carroll Bradd. To
this day, I’m jealous of that story and most likely always will be. The meat of
the story is exactly what the title implies… a shark… in… a pool!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I was a kid I used to go swimming at a golf course about half a mile from my
house called the Indian Hills Country Club. Now this being Atlanta, Texas where
I once put a pregnancy test in some city water and it returned a positive
result, the pool wasn’t exactly the most well kept. First time my hair was ever
bleached and not because I wanted to make a statement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Still,
I was 5 years old and didn’t care I just liked swimming. I remember that blue
murky water and the fear that there was something swimming under there just
waiting for me to jump in. Shenoa’s story brought that brilliant nostalgia
back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Long
back story and side anecdote short, I discovered that Shenoa was attending the
convention as well and I made a mental note to seek her out. In the meantime,
it was time for the opening ceremony.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Titan
of SciFi writing Kevin J. Anderson was also in attendance and as they
introduced everybody it was like looking at some kind of modern pantheon. And here
I was; the young student eager for any kind of knowledge that they were willing
to lay on me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
the convention began and I was off to the races, eager to attend every single
panel I could and therein lies one of the hardest things about these conventions…
time and availability. You want to do so much and go to so many of the panels
but some of them take place at the same time and you do have to find time to
eat in between them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
found Shenoa at one of those panels and we became instant friends (that seemed
to be a thing amongst horror writers, fast friendships, probably because we are
all passionate about a corner of literature looked down on by the publishing
world).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brian
was on the same panel as the one I met Shenoa at and afterwards I asked him
what time we were doing the podcast that weekend. He informed me that he was
still looking for one person and I recommended Shenoa and in Sensei Keene’s
infinite wisdom he decided to act on that recommendation and thus Shenoa was
added to the New Author Panel Podcast for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horror Show</i> With Brian Keene.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
New Author Panel consisted of myself, Shenoa Carroll Bradd, Richard Wolley, and
Amber Fallon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
we helped ourselves to refreshments and got to know each other better, Brian
set up his equipment but eventually we were ready to begin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You can
listen to the podcast here:</span> <a href="http://www.projectiradio.com/mercedes-yardleys-rules-for-broadcast-excellence-the-horror-show-with-brian-keene-ep-68/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">http://www.projectiradio.com/mercedes-yardleys-rules-for-broadcast-excellence-the-horror-show-with-brian-keene-ep-68/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But for the
more sensitive among you, I deliver a disclaimer that there is some language so
take that into account before you listen to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I tell you
if you ever want to feel inadequate as a writer, sit down in a podcast with
Amber Fallon and Shenoa Carroll Bradd. Both of these phenomenal women blew me
away at their accomplishments and how they carried themselves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Richard
Wolley, the other writer on the panel, became a fast cohort as both of us joked
that we were going to cosplay as Master Blaster (that’s from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome</i> for everyone
not in the know) at the next convention we attended. Richard also does a
podcast that reviews films called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jabber
and the Drone</i> which I would also recommend… seriously go check it out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Going to leave a link for it right here for
your convenience: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="http://jabberandthedrone.podbean.com/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">http://jabberandthedrone.podbean.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">All in all it
was fun, it was awe inspiring, and even now I look on those moments with
fondness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alas, the
fun and games came to an end and it was time for me to do what I had been
borderline dreading since I had arrived in Provo, Utah… to pitch my work to
potential publishers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To all of
you who know me, I usually fly by the seat of my pants. In fact on my tombstone
someday it will probably say “I’m Going to Wing It!”- Wile E. Young (about
something that he most certainly shouldn’t have winged). So here I was trying
to put together something that sounded halfway decent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Brian and
Linda were busy on panels, but I found Jack Ketchum at the bar eating his lunch
along with Kelly Laymon. We chatted about our day but I couldn’t resist asking
them, “Guys I’m about to pitch my work for the first time… do you have any
advice for me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And I
distinctly remember Jack Ketchum putting down his fork, turning in his chair
and looking me dead in the eye, smiling. “Here is your advice… go in there and
kick ass.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I have to
admit that is some of the best advice I’ve ever received when it comes to
winging things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I waited
outside a small room where my first pitch would take place (I intended to pitch
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t Reel In</i>.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I took a
deep breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">They called
my name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And that
will be in the third and final blog post that covers my time in Provo, Utah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Keep that
bated breath handy, but don’t worry, that post is already half way done and
WILL be posted next week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Literature
in Review</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Over
the summer I went to the beach as you may recall, and when I’m on the beach I
like to read. This particular summer, I had picked up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Terminal</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>by Amber
Fallon. I met Amber at the World Horror Convention in Provo (which you
obviously read about above) and was excited to read her novella.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
really had no idea what was waiting for me with this particular piece of
literature.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
story begins in an airport (big shock) and involves a couple going home to
visit parents for the Christmas holidays, reminiscent of virtually every
holiday movie, but then is derailed when a sudden alien invasion happens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
gets worse as our hero struggles through the airport trying to find his way to
freedom. This is where Ms. Fallon shines, her mastery of dialogue and her
willingness to show the gore such a situation would obviously produce.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
style of writing was highly reminiscent of Brian Keene and J.F. Gonzalez (two
of my own biggest inspirations) and I found the book and the characters easy and
fun to read.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
problem is… it is a novella! I wanted more!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Don’t
let that dissuade you though, she is working on a sequel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
short, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terminal</i> is pulpy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terminal</i> is gory, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terminal</i> is compelling… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terminal</i>
is good!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here is an
Amazon link should you wish to purchase it:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-indent: 3.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-Amber-Fallon/dp/069274522X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478535309&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Terminal+Amber+Fallon"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-Amber-Fallon/dp/069274522X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478535309&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Terminal+Amber+Fallon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">and a little
extra “encouragement” by way of the Hypnotoad<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqNKaPDiO1dMr6lh9-r_vcs3zTYcY5Hsf2e0rIAnWbt2P6UWJqB712ltGFHJ16j1yeccdczRlJMBwkxvO6v8cfaKRPDmSFCmfTHDFVIP-cLhDMmDwOqsWAR6ejlWCqM_iPYsqHLkolqcI/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqNKaPDiO1dMr6lh9-r_vcs3zTYcY5Hsf2e0rIAnWbt2P6UWJqB712ltGFHJ16j1yeccdczRlJMBwkxvO6v8cfaKRPDmSFCmfTHDFVIP-cLhDMmDwOqsWAR6ejlWCqM_iPYsqHLkolqcI/s320/IMG_1390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
World News</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well
it has finally happened… the day is finally upon us… the season finale of
America. Hopefully it won’t actually be that bad, but I’m much more of a cynic
than I used to be, so I can only prepare for the worst and hope for the best.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let
your conscience guide you as you head to the polls. As for me, well… we had a
5.3 earthquake last night in Oklahoma that lasted for a good half a minute.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sometimes
life provides us with omens whether we want them or not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Quote of the
Week</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Em the Slayer: </u></b>You’re so warm!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Wile E. Young: </u></b>I’m like an
industrial space heater of evil.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well,
that’s it for this week. I’ll leave you with a writing update and wish you well
as I set up my latest trap to catch the roadrunner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Interstate
Eldritch</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">:
16,000 words</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Twitch</span></i><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">: 500 words
(out of 8,000).</span></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-32561918699382697172016-10-04T17:48:00.000-07:002016-10-04T17:48:28.724-07:00The Hour of the Jedi Summer
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">For those of you
hoping for Part 2 of my adventures in Provo like a kid on Christmas Eve, you’re
going to have to wait a little longer. Now, I can hear your cries across the
land of “Why, Wile E.? How could you do this to us?” I know, I know and I
apologize.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Unfortunately, a
full time job, demanding social life, daily writing quotas, time sacrificed for
sleep, and being part time Protector of the Universe doesn’t leave a lot of
extra time for blogging. So bear with me for now and enjoy this spotlight
review of a film and a book that I perused this week.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Film in Review</span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This week I
watched a film called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Invitation</i>
that I’d picked up at Wal-Mart that had advertised itself as “the best thriller
of the year.” I was intrigued, especially from the cover art (a dark hallway
with a single light shining) and the synopsis on the back about a dinner party
that had ulterior motives. So I decided to dive right in.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Our main character,
Will, has had a bit of a breakdown after the death of his beloved daughter,
suffering severe depression and a separation from his wife after she tried to
kill herself.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the present, Will and his new girlfriend, Kira, are on their way to a dinner
party hosted by his ex wife, Eden, and her new husband, David, who met in a
grief support group. The dinner party is also being attended by the former
couple’s friends who have seen neither Will nor Eden in the two years since the
death of their child.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
it may just be me, but that whole situation just brings one word to my mind:
awkward.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
I had to use one word to describe this entire movie it would be that word; a
sense of unease and awkwardness pervades the entire atmosphere of the dinner
party and never seems to abate. That first taste of awkwardness seems to
descend as soon as they walk through the door.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You
see, apparently this little friendly dinner has a new variable attached to it:
Sadie, one of Eden and David’s (the ex wife and new husband) friends that they
met at the grief support group. Our first glimpse of her is beckoning at Will
from the end of a long hallway as she’s half naked.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
this sort of thing happens at my dinner parties I usually just shrug it off and
remind myself that I’ve had one too many Dr. Peppers for the evening, but here
Will hasn’t even had one soda yet much less anything stronger and already weird
shenanigans are afoot.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Did
I mention that all of this is taking place in Will and Eden’s former house
(well I guess it’s still Eden’s house)? Because it is. As they awkwardly mingle
with their friends, Will wanders through his old home and does some good old-fashioned
reminiscing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
he follows the memory rabbit down the hall, he also notices a few things: his
ex wife is hiding a bottle of pills, David and Eden’s weird friend Pruitt (who
has no other connection to the established group of friends) arrives, David
locks the front door, and that their last guest, a friend of theirs named Choi,
is running mysteriously late.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
the friends, which include the aforementioned and several others (Tommy,
Miguel, Ben, Claire, and Gina) settle in and begin their dinner party whereupon
it doesn’t take long for things to get even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more</i>
awkward.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Apparently
David, Eden, Pruitt, and Sadie met at a grief support group in Mexico called
“the Invitation”; a spiritual philosophy that apparently has become quite
popular in California and New York in recent days and wish to share their philosophy
with the group.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
any of you have been bothered by the door-to-door types you know what is coming
next… that’s right, a creepy conversion video!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Invitation groupies make the rest of their dinner guests watch the Invitation
sales pitch which involves a bunch of new age mumbo jumbo accompanied by the
comforting images of a lady passing on into the embrace of death.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
I’m trying to get at is the movie is really weird.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
claim to not be forcing anyone to convert and that they just wanted to share
their beliefs in a comforting setting and that the Invitation is totally not a
cult. Will (and an intelligent viewer) suspects otherwise.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here
is where the review cannot continue for fear of ruining the Agatha Christie-esque
plot that has several spoilers and twists that I cannot convey partially or
hilariously for fear of giving away the plot.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
onto the critical side of things: I watched this movie on a Sunday evening
dreading work the next day, so maybe I wasn’t in the proper mindset or maybe
Agatha Christie-esque movies are just not my version of a thriller. Either way,
I thought it was a decent film but not the best mystery/ thriller I’ve ever
seen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
the very least it is worth a watch, but it probably won’t make a big splash in
my overall home cinema when placed against other mystery/ thriller movies.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Literature in Review</span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
onto the good part of this blog post. I recently finished John Boden’s novella <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jedi Summer: With the Magnetic Kid</i> and I
have to tell you, like everyone else that has read it, I was blown away.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jedi Summer</i> is a snapshot into that long
ago yesteryear that we all nostalgically long for… our childhoods. The novella
reads differently than anything else I ‘ve ever read in this vein, almost like diary
entries or excerpts from a journal, but there is no framing device other than
it takes place during the summer of ‘83 and our main character (though it would
remiss of me to say character as it is clearly Mr. Boden) tells us what is
happening over his summer as he awaits the arrival of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi</i> to his local cinema.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Right
away Mr. Boden grabs our attention with an almost lyrical prose that slapped a
Snapchat filter onto my mental imagery to make it more 80’s (you know the filter
I’m talking about and if you don’t, go and watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ferris Bueller’s Day Off</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Karate Kid</i> a few times) and just took me along for the ride.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Immediately,
the story brings to mind all the things you remember in those hazy days of
nostalgia: your friends goofing off around your house and listening to whatever
new music struck your interest, talking about new movies, complaining about
your overworked parents, and doing things that the rational part of your brain
would now consider to be roughly on the same level as eating glue. All of this
works to the novella’s advantage and keeps you hooked wondering how exactly
this story is going to end.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
is plenty of surreal imagery and creepy happenings that pepper the story and
Mr. Boden swears that all of it is true except for the parts that aren’t. I’ve
heard that a lot of people have attempted to work out what was true and what
was untrue, but as for myself, I haven’t even begun to try. There is something
about the surrealistic/creepy moments that just ring true for the story and I
personally don’t want to root out the truth from the embellishment because I
feel that to do so would be to remove meaning from the narrative.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Because
who among us doesn’t look back on our childhoods with embellishment? The harsh
times and darkness slowly giving way to the gentle caress of long ago memories?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moving,
surreal, and gripping, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jedi Summer: With
the Magnetic Kid</i> is a stirring read for anyone who needs something to warm
themselves in this swiftly descending autumn and author John Boden is someone I
(and if you want to be too cool for school, YOU) will be reading from here on
out.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Wile E. World News</span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
what hasn’t been on everyone’s mind but the Presidential Debate last week? I
watched it live on my Facebook feed and attempted to keep my opinions to myself
for fear of going the way of Socrates and being forced to drink poison hemlock
for my controversial opinions on the matter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well,
luckily and unluckily for all of you that read this, you get to hear them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Tell you what, we
will do this in the form of a game… we’ll pour the hemlock into two goblets and
whichever one you feel you want to drink from then you go right ahead and do
so.</span></div>
<br />
<ol style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: upper-alpha;">
<li style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: white;">The Hillary Goblet: Here we have a
politician so clearly corrupt that you probably couldn’t breathe the same air
around her for fear of catching some of her dirt in your lungs. From her
deleted emails, legally murky private server, and shady dealings (illegal
trade, possible assassinations) across the world… so basically business as
usual for the United States if not a little worse.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: white;">The Trump Goblet: Here we have a
politician/ businessman so clearly xenophobic that he has promised to build the
Great Wall of America along with very vague answers on how exactly he is going
to manage the myriad of other problems that face the nation.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Now then, which
poison would you like to choose from?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">From my
perspective, only a great fool would drink from the Trump Goblet, I am not a
great fool, so I can clearly not drink from that goblet.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">But they must have
known I was not a great fool and would have counted on it, so I can clearly not
choose the Hillary Goblet.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Herein lies the
great lie of U.S. politics… that we have two choices. Well we do in fact have
more, there is such a thing as the third party and at this point I feel like it
is the best decision.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I don’t agree with
everything Gary Johnson says and do I think he is some kind of political
extraordinaire? No, in fact I do not… from what I can tell no one really likes
everything he says and that might be why he is the best option, if no one else
is.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We have been
taught to struggle against each other Left vs. Right, Blue Vs. Red, Black vs.
White… instead we should learn to walk the middle ground and learn from each
other, to come together and bring about true change and to make a true
difference in the world Because in my experience two arms functioning together
is better than one arm having to carry everything alone.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I will not drink
from either cup this November; I’ve spent a lifetime developing an immunity to
this poison and while I know that the cup of water I drink from won’t be served
to the masses post-Election, I’ll rest assured that there are others like me
out there trying to bring real change to this nation even if I never live to
see it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As for the rest of
you, choose your drink carefully; you’ll have to live with it for at least four
years.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Current Projects</span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I remembered that
I had to write this section about 5 minutes after I finished the news because I
promised all of you and what not. Not to mention the fact that my conscience
(which takes the form of Ernest Hemingway screaming “The Government spies on
your mail!” and “Take the curly fries out of your mouth and write, hippo!”)
would simply not leave me be until I did so.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">So here we go.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Interstate Eldritch: </u></b>My newest
novel project which is currently sitting pretty at 7,500 words. I started it
just under a week ago and the inspiration has been continually flowing for it
since. It is certainly going to be my most off-the-wall novel yet.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The story takes
place in a post-apocalyptic Hawaii that has come under siege from an
indescribable monster that drives people to madness when it walks out of the
sea every evening. While not the Great Cthulhu himself, I was very much
inspired by the Big C.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">My main characters
are a pair of Bullet Runners; gunrunners who make a living delivering weapons
to the various factions that have sprung up in the monster’s wake; Laughing
Jack Wade and his partner, an insane clown named Giggles.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">My working premise
for it was Mad Max meets Cthulhu. I’m aiming for a post-apocalyptic feel with a
severe horror overtone for it… more updates to come of course. Until then I’m
going to go insane on the Eldritch Road.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The 13<sup>th</sup> Sign: </u></b>A
space opera co-project with military science fiction author Seth Eaves. This
novel is the first of a trilogy that will tie into two separate projects (one
written solely by him and the other solely by myself). It revolves around a
trip through a massive alien artifact that transports the exploratory forces of
a future earth to a far-flung area of the galaxy ruled by a Dynasty of Alien
Overlords modeled after the signs of the Western Zodiac.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Or, should I say,
the Zodiac Signs were named after them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Unnamed Horror Short Story: </u></b>I
can’t say much about this project yet other than it is for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disquieted Dreams Press’</i> anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Our Bodies,</i> and will involve some amount of body horror.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Salvation Run: </u></b>Originally a
short story which is swiftly turning into a novella, it is another space opera
story that is a loose tie-in to the above 13<sup>th</sup> Sign. The plot is
loosely my own retelling of Dante Alieghieri’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inferno</i> but IN SPACE.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Stars Shine Red: </u></b>A murder
mystery/ thriller based in the Texas Panhandle. It’s basically my attempt at
creating a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No Country For Old Men</i>
style novel with (of course) my own horrific twists and turns. I don’t want to
say much about the plot for fear of giving anything away, but I will say this:
don’t expect to learn my viewpoint character’s name. To myself and to you and
to everyone else he will simply be… the Writer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So fans, if you’re still with me after this I’ll
try to get Part 2 of the WHC story up as soon as possible. Until then the
Roadrunner is charging down the Eldritch Road and I have to give chase… going to
catch it this time I think.</span></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-57426761526875378982016-09-13T10:28:00.001-07:002016-09-14T10:56:02.713-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">So after a few weeks of silence where I’m
sure most of you thought I must’ve died in a space shuttle explosion, I’ve
decided on something special for all of you: to regale you with the story of my
experience at this year’s World Horror Convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The World Horror Convention (for all non-horror
readers) is the annual gathering of people who work in the horror genre
(authors, editors, artists, etc.) and up-and-comers (me and my ilk) who want to
become better at what we’re endeavoring to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s not really a fan affair; you wont find
many of the usual staples of the conventions that I’m prone to attending (cosplay,
special Q&A events, etc.). It’s more along of the lines of a training camp
where someone can learn more about their chosen craft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">That was all I was really expecting when I
boarded my plane in the wee hours of the morning, just hoping to learn more
about the horror genre and my place in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I really had no idea what was in store for
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Apparently, this year the convention was
going to be held in Provo, Utah… I know what you’re thinking because it was the
exact same thing that I was: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where the freaking world is Provo, Utah?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Well it’s about a forty-minute drive south of
Salt Lake City nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains. This required me to
request a shuttle service to the hotel where I was staying and, conveniently,
where the convention was taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I was picked up by the two quirkiest shuttle
drivers I’d ever met, and to my everlasting regret I can’t remember their names,
but we had the best conversations on the way down. We talked all about what I
was doing there and what I hoped to accomplish. Before I’d left for this
adventure, I had been wondering if I should rent a car, but I was glad that I
didn’t because it was a wonderful conversation that I wouldn’t trade at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Long story short, they dropped me off at the
Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, the hub of this year’s WHC and where I
would be living for the next few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I said farewell to my shuttle drivers and
walked through the doors, ready to meet others like me. In my then 25 years, I
had never met another horror author before… the doors opened… I walked in with
my bags and the biggest smile plastered across my face… and discovered an
incredibly empty lobby devoid of everyone but the concierge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I must’ve looked completely lost because the
Concierge gave me one of those <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are you
lost, little boy?</i> looks as I reluctantly trudged over to the desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Concierge</b>: Name?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Me (thinking)</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">: Pen name or real name? I don’t remember which one I reserved the
room under.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Concierge (A little more forcefully)</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">: Name? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Me</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Connor Rice, here’s my card <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Concierge</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">: Ah yes, Mr. Rice, we have a lovely room for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I walked myself up to my room, looking around
for any familiar faces, while my thoughts raced. Was I in the right place? They
had my reservation, so I must be… but what if I had the wrong hotel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
After dropping my things off in my room (and deciding that since I was a single
traveler, I would be alternating between my two queen sized beds like a crazy
person) I went exploring around the Hotel and Convention center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The conference rooms matched the room names
for the convention, but still there was no one who looked official or who I
recognized (or could reasonably guess was there for the convention).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Defeated but undiscouraged, I decided to
venture out into the world of Provo, Utah. I took a shower, tried to look my
best, and journeyed forth, intent on seeing the sights… the landmarks… maybe
interact with a local or two…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead, I found a comic book store a few
blocks away and that sucked up my allotted exploring time. Afterwards, I still
had time to eat, so $100 down, I set out with my new load of comic books to
find something to devour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">One place promised the best authentic TexMex
that Utah could provide, and being that I’m from Texas and this was Utah, I was
rather skeptical, so I chose the Italian place beside it where I managed to eat
quite a bit of a pizza before claiming the rest as leftovers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">At that point I was quite done with exploring
the things that Provo had to offer and decided that my best bet would be to go
back to the hotel and maybe get some writing done. I knew the convention
actually started the next day, but I had been hoping to meet some other writers
like me and talk shop or, at the very least, make some new friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">These are the thoughts that passed through my
mind as I realized something: I was the only person wearing a different color
other than white on this street. Every man wore a white button-up shirt and
black pants. That was when my mind flashed to that good ole Utah stereotype:
Mormonism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Now I don’t have anything against Mormonism,
far from it in fact. It was just awkward at the time because I felt like an alien
in a world of normal people. My blue dress shirt and jeans undoubtedly stood
out to the crowd (the pizza box and comic books probably did too but I
digress). Either way, I made my way solemnly back to the hotel, an observer
from a faraway place in a land full of the people who interrupt me at home on
Saturdays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The lobby was still depressingly empty as I
passed once again through the entrance and made my way up to my Fortress of
Horror to type a little more on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t
Reel In</i> for lack of better things to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">After that was finished, I found myself at a
crossroads: sit in my room and write more (or possibly some Utah-based
television?) or go downstairs and try to mingle with whoever might be down
there. I decided on the latter option, but took Stephen King’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">11/22/63</i> just in case no one was there;
always be prepared in case you have to sit in a hotel bar by yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Nevertheless, I was happily surprised to see
that the hotel restaurant and bar had filled up with a variety of different
people, so I happily trotted my way in and looked for a place to sit. I noticed
an empty seat at the bar next to two women who were chatting. One of them was a
middle-aged blonde and the other an African American lady whose hair was out of
this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I had a second to think, “Ha, that lady kind
of looks like Linda Addison,” as I took my seat and ordered something to drink before
diving into my book, intent on blocking out the outside world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, it is a little known fact that I eavesdrop…
oh man do I drop eaves… studied with eavesdropping masters in the mountains of
the Himalayas. Well here I was reading my book in Provo, Utah and I couldn’t
help but overhear these two women talking about Ridley Scott’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alien </i>(a fantastic masterpiece of Sci-Fi/horror).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I figured they had to be part of the
convention, but due to the fact that I was obviously listening to their
conversation and the fact that I’m an exceedingly private creature who doesn’t
like butting into people’s business, I went back to my own little world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">That was when one of the women turned to me
and asked, “Are you here for the convention?” I nodded and introduced myself
and got their names: Kelly and Linda Addison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">If I had been sipping my drink at the time I
would’ve most definitely choked on it. Turns out my eye is better than I
thought, but more importantly I was talking to Linda Addison… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The</i> Linda Addison; the first African
American woman to win a Bram Stoker award for her writing, a wonderful poet and
storyteller, and someone whose work you should definitely read if you haven’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Confident and smooth Coyote went away for a
few moments as I began thinking about what I was supposed to say to that: okay
Connor, you’ve got this… be cool… be cool…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">So I began talking to Kelly and Linda and for
some reason they took a shine to me. Maybe it was because of some funny
anecdotes I’d told them or how I listened with enraptured awe as they told about
their own stories and experiences. Fast friendships are made in the strangest
of places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Kelly was not a horror author, but rather an
editor who had quite the list of projects under her belt and was currently in
the middle of moving across the country with most of her possessions in her
car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Linda asked me if I had a booth reserved and
I told her no; I was just there to learn more about the Horror genre and how to
fit in with it. I told them I had published two short stories and they
applauded my accomplishments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I recall Linda saying something along the
lines of “Usually when we talk to newbies and they say they want to be a writer,
they’ve either not finished whatever they’ve written or they haven’t sent
anything off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">They asked me about my influences and I
rattled off those who had passed like J.F. Gonzalez and Tom Piccirilli and gave
them staples like Stephen King and Dean Koontz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“But there is one horror author who inspired
me to become a writer in the first place,” I said, a small embarrassed grin on
my face. “I’ve read virtually everything of his and I heard he’s actually
supposed to be here, though I haven’t seen him yet. His name’s Brian Keene.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Linda and Kelly both started laughing and for
a moment I thought that I had said something incredibly amusing or that Brian
was considered a joke or something, but then Linda said, “Shoot, we can hook
you up. We knew Brian Keene before he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i>
Brian Keene.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I might’ve melted to the chair right there as
my heart stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I went into full fan boy mode for a minute,
talking about my love of his work, but after that settled down, I tried not to
be overwhelmed by whom I was rubbing elbows with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Well that didn’t last long at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">It might have been 30 minutes or it might
have been three hours (time passes very slowly when you’re wondering if you’re
in some sort of surreal fantasyland where all your heroes are at a hotel bar in
Provo, Utah) but while Linda was saying something to Kelly, I noticed a small,
kind of unassuming man walking towards us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Linda!” he said warmly as Linda turned
around, her wild hair flowing around her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">“Dallas!” she replied as they hugged. My
stomach fell out immediately as I recognized him vaguely from his pictures, and
Linda saying his first name all but confirmed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">She gestured at me and said, “Dallas, this is
a young writer that we’ve found and love. Connor, this is Dallas Mayr, but you
probably know him…” Oh yeah I knew him, but it was still unreal… “as Jack
Ketchum.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">He shook my hand, grimacing a bit at my firm
southern grip (I was raised in Texas; our handshakes aren’t just polite, but project
strength) and we both gave each other the usual pleasantries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I couldn’t believe it; I was talking to Jack
Ketchum, one of the most monolithic horror authors of the age, a man that Stephen
King himself described as “the scariest guy in America” and one of my writing
inspirations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay Connor, easy, be cool, be cool, act
normal. Don’t nonchalantly lick him to show your admiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I found Jack Ketchum to be a rather
personable man who gave the best advice and didn’t turn away anyone who wanted
to talk to him (I learned all of this as the convention went on, at this point
I was still awestruck). He asked me about my writing, cutting me off before I
could tell him anything else because he said he would like to read it someday…
maybe I was imagining things or maybe he wanted to encourage me, either way
such a small thing might as well have been phenomenal praise for a writer
starting out like myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I had to return to my room for a bit to make
some calls and tie up some other odds and ends, but I promised Linda, Jack, and
Kelly that I would return momentarily and liked to think that I made that walk
with dignity and nonchalance. As soon as I entered that elevator, though, I
reached out with a hand to brace myself against the wall, my mind whirling in a
vortex of amazement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">So I made it to my room and back composed and
ready to mingle, and it was quite a time; Jack, Linda, and Kelly are quite the
people to talk to and it was very enlightening. Eventually Jack and Linda
decided that it was time to hit the hay, but the question arose: who would wait
up for Brian to get there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Yours truly volunteered, of course, and Kelly
volunteered to stay up with me. In the rush of meeting Linda and Jack, I
realized that I had not caught Kelly’s last name. Wouldn’t you know I felt like
an idiot when her reply was “Laymon”. For those of you who don’t know, Richard
Laymon was a prolific horror writer whose impact on the genre cannot be
compared. He unfortunately passed in 2001, long before I would have gotten a
chance to meet him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Kelly was his daughter (you could have
colored me embarrassed). I might have launched into fanboy mode again, telling
her how much I loved her father’s work (I remember vividly reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Rainy Night</i> in high school), but
there is no proof that I did so unless Kelly feels the need to comment on this
blog post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">We stayed up long into the night waiting for
Brian and telling old tales of love and war and became good friends sitting at
that bar for 3 hours in Provo, Utah. One conversation about Richard Laymon that
stood out was when Kelly said “I have him with me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I must’ve looked really concerned, because I
didn’t know that he had been cremated, so I think my subconscious mind just
assumed Kelly had dug up her father and was transporting him across the nation.
Sometimes I wonder if I’ve been breathing in things that make my mind work
differently than other people’s… eh, what’re you going to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Time went slowly and I’m so grateful it did,
but eventually Brian arrived. Kelly and I spotted him immediately and politely
allowed him to check in and drop off his stuff at the hotel room. Kelly assured
me that he would be back down soon, that he would be looking for something to
drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Lo and behold, a few minutes later he was and
Kelly introduced us…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">And that is a story for next week’s blog
post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">This has only been part one of my adventure
that was WHC. It’s in the top three trips I’ve taken that’ve changed my life
and I will say that every second was worth it. Before that, I was just a guy
who wrote, but when I left I felt it in my heart that I was a writer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The Coyote had truly been born in that moment
and I set off to chase the roadrunner with zeal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Wile E.
World News<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">A man didn’t stand up this week during the playing
of the national anthem at a football game. Time to put my offended hat on and
focus in. Or I’m not, because I focus on things that have true importance in
the world… *sigh* I can already hear the pitchforks and the torches of the mob
outside of my door so just let me add: I think it was in poor taste that he
didn’t stand up. I might not be the biggest fan of America, but I do respect
the idea of it rather than our government’s rape of what it could be and so I
agree that it was in bad taste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">But he has the right to do so and not be
crucified for it, and I understand his reasons for doing so. Protest has taken
all manner of forms over the years, so let’s just be glad that this man has
chosen to protest in a nonviolent, peaceful way rather than through violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Last time I checked, this was a country where
you were free to follow your own conscious; let’s see how long that lasts in the
next two decades or so… The best way to deny freedom to people is to divide
them and then build the fence around them while they aren’t looking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s why we need people who truly respect
us and truly respect and love the people who elected them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Which is why I formally endorse Duke…</span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzupHmD_f9PXJ_rPgIxGYIqQTdKWadVX8Z_InQIBY0Y2kcYkrdkftswRyc1CjowfLUsvapYlft1PIwLzDhR0g5E0JvLLmEkRISc4H9wVQuLZFKmue-8MLeomNi40cxnK5X8UvlTN2dXrki/s1600/Duke+the+Mayor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzupHmD_f9PXJ_rPgIxGYIqQTdKWadVX8Z_InQIBY0Y2kcYkrdkftswRyc1CjowfLUsvapYlft1PIwLzDhR0g5E0JvLLmEkRISc4H9wVQuLZFKmue-8MLeomNi40cxnK5X8UvlTN2dXrki/s1600/Duke+the+Mayor.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Duke is a seven-year-old Great Pyrenees who
was recently re-elected as mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota. He even managed to
beat out a human candidate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Obviously this dog is doing something right
and all he asks from us in return is kibble… A small sacrifice, I know, but
what wouldn’t you give for political stability?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">#DukeforPresident2016, Slogan: Rolling Over
For A Better Tomorrow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Quote of the
Week<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Gr8tstorm:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> Did Batman find that out by
asking a chair?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Due to the length of this blog post, I will
not be posting a review of a book or film. I know, I know it’s sad, but dry
your tears for salvation is at hand. I will write a review of a book and film
that I have recently read and watched this week to be posted before the onset
of next Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Joy and rapture all around and something for
all of you to look forward to in the dismal abyss that is the workweek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Wile E. Young signing off and chasing the
Roadrunner over the abyss. Good thing I brought a jetpack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-24785121153084717412016-08-08T14:07:00.001-07:002016-08-08T14:07:29.993-07:00Exclusive Interview with Author Seth Eaves.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week has been a Science Fiction oriented week for me
with my recent viewing of Star Trek Beyond ringing in my mind. With the
Enterprise warping through my brain I decided to sit down with Science Fiction
author Seth Eaves and ask him about not only his progress but what draws him to
write in this genre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young</u>: Hi Seth, thank you for
agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your
background?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves</u>: Thank you for
inviting me to do this, it is a huge honor. I am a writer looking to make an
impact in the literary world. My preferred genre in just about anything
(writing, reading, tv, movie, video game) is science fiction. I am a huge nerd
who fell in love with science, philosophy, psychology, history, and space
exploration at a young age. All my life I have looked up at the stars and
always wondered how many other races were looking down on me. I’ve always
enjoyed writing throughout my entire life and have been writing off and on
since I was in elementary school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young</u>: When did you decide to
become a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves: </u>I can’t
really think of any specific time when I made that decision. Subconsciously,
I’ve always known that I want to write. I’ve always enjoyed entertaining people
and I’ve always enjoyed the art of storytelling, be it in written form or oral.
So, I don’t really have a moment in time where I had that ‘Aha! I want to be a
writer!” moment. There was just a moment when I was 22 when I suddenly told
myself “Well, you’ve wasted enough time. If you’re going to become a writer you
need to get on the ball.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young</u>: What genre are your books?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves: </u>My books are
mainly in the science fiction genre. For a brief moment near the beginning of
my fledgling career, I told myself I wanted to be one of those writers who
wasn’t held down in one genre but as I’ve grown as a writer and as a person
I’ve realized that I love being known as a ‘science fiction writer.’ Now,
different stories reach into different ends of the sci-fi spectrum. I have
military sci-fi, I have science fiction/psychological horror, I have cyberpunk,
I have steampunk, I have space western. My main goal is, if it falls under the
sci-fi umbrella, then I’m going to write in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young</u>: What draws you to this
genre?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves</u>: The main thing that
draws me to sci-fi is how fantastical it all is. A sci-fi writer isn’t bound by
the confines of what is real and possible. If I want to write a future were an
entire continent no longer exists, I can do it. If I want to write an alternate
future where the Allies lost World War 2, it’s all good because science fiction
gives you the ability to alter history. It also gives you the ability to
project your hopes or concerns of what the future will look like. Will we
achieve a utopic future like we see in Star Trek, a world devoid of sickness,
money, starvation and homelessness? Or will we see a dark, bleak future full of
lawlessness, war and strife? It’s a perfect conduit into the mind of the
writer, their imagination, their creativity, their fears, their dreams, their
likes and their dislikes. Sci-fi is also the perfect marriage of science and
fiction. It’s even in the name. You can write a story that delves deep into
science, a story that heavily relies on science, but in the same vein is also fictional.
I also like the fact that, if I goof something up, I can just so “Eh, its
science fiction. I can change that according to my narrative and nobody can say
anything about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what have you written?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves: </u>I wrote two novellas
that I self-published on Amazon’s Kindle. They are called ‘Within the Walls of
Chaos’ and ‘Operation: Empty Orchestra’ I have since removed them with the
intentions of getting them picked up by a magazine but I still leave open the
option for any friend who wants to read them to receive a free copy by email.
My number one intentions with them and the following shorts was for publicity
and spreading my name, not money. They are the building block of my ‘Dark
Legacy’ series, my magnum opus, the story line that I spent the most amount of
my life creating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young: </u>What are you working on at
the minute?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> I have many irons in the
fire at the moment. I am finishing the shorts that go along with my two
previous mentioned novellas to form my ‘Prelude to War’ book that opens up my
‘Dark Legacy’ series. I am also working on a few other stories, some shorts
hopefully for magazines, and three full length novels that I alternate my
attention on. One is a science fiction/psychological horror story called ‘The
Quiet Room’, another is a sci-fi story called ‘Imaginations From the Looking
Glass’ and the third is a still untitled space western. There is also the
collaborative project we are working on ‘The Thirteenth Sign.’ I also have
various other projects planned and lined up. One thing I am not lacking is
ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young</u>: Give us an insight into
your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> I think, one of the
things that makes my main characters special is they are completely broken
individuals. Never will you find a person in my stories who has it all
together, there is always something flawed about my characters. But they don’t
let those flaws hold them back from their purpose. My characters are always a
huge testament to the indomitable human will. Regardless of what is causing
them to be broken, they always struggle to do the right thing, even at the cost
of their own lives. Now, that doesn’t mean that all of my main characters
possess moral compasses that always point due north. A lot of them exist in a
morally grey area but usually out of a necessity, never out of wickedness.
Because they act questionably out of a personal need they still have that
chance at redemption and at the heart of it all, that is what many of my
stories are about: the human will and our chances at redemption. Plus, a lot of
my main characters have very dry, wicked, sarcastic senses of humor and I think
that is a nice draw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> Which actor/actress would
you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> I think, if I ever had
the opportunity to have one of my books turned into a movie, I would want to
take a chance on a relatively unknown and try to give him his big break. It
only seems fair if I had been given a chance to live out my dream that I turn
around and give someone else the chance to live out theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> How do you think you’ve
evolved creatively?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> I believe my writing has
become more focused. I use to be pretty bad about rambling on, still can be at
times both in writing and in real life. Since the beginning though, I’ve become
much better at keeping myself on track, having a clear goal and endgame to work
toward and making sure that absolutely nothing is in my story that isn’t
necessary. I’ve also become better at questioning myself and ensuring that what
I am putting out is quality work to be proud of instead of just settling for
whatever my end product is. I have also learned to take the time to develop
every inch of my story and the world it takes place in beforehand instead of
just throwing the ideas in the air and letting them rest wherever they lay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> What is the hardest thing
about writing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> For me, the two hardest
things about writing are: 1.) Settling on what to write. I have writers ADD.
One day I want to work on this story, the next day I want to work on that
story. It can be frustrating at times because it hinders my productivity. 2.)
Balancing the time in my days. Unfortunately, writing isn’t paying the bills
just yet so I have to balance a regular, 40 hour work week along with spending
time with my wife and kids and my various responsibilities at church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> Do you have a special time
to write or how is your day structured?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> During the school year I
have a window from the time I get home from work to the time the kids get home
from school and that is usually my time when I can sit down and focus on
nothing but writing. I try to do about an hour of writing before I go to sleep
as well. Thankfully, my family is real good about when they see me at my
computer with my headphones on, they don’t disturb me unless it is an
emergency. Once I get in my zone and really get to cranking, I won’t stop until
I type a couple thousand words or type for a couple hours. Then I take a break,
depending on if I feel I accomplished enough, maybe come back and write more or
not. Then the next day I start off by going over what I wrote the day before
and ensuring it fits right in the story and making minor adjustments here or
there before starting the process over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> Do you write every day, 5
days a week or just when you are able?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> I would love to say I
write everyday but sadly, this is not the case. I strive to write everyday but
that doesn’t always happen. I generally manage about 4-5 days a week, on a good
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> Which writers inspire you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> 13. I’m going to go ahead
and start by saying you of course. Your imagination just blows me away at
times, not to mention your outspokenness and confidence. Those are two
characteristics I try to emulate personally. I’m also largely inspired by some
of the sci-fi greats like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Orson Scott Card. I
am a HUGE fan of Timothy Zahn, Kevin J Anderson, David Weber, Stephen Baxter,
Greg Bear. Outside of sci-fi, my two biggest influences are Stephen King and
Tom Clancy. The list can go on but those are the names of the greats that
influence me and cause me to want to better myself as a writer on a daily
basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> What advice would you give
to your younger self?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves:</u> First thing I would say
to my younger self is ‘Get your crap together. Stop playing around and get more
serious about writing.’ Then I would work with me about being more outspoken
and confident and to learn to trust my instincts more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Wile E. Young:</u> How can readers discover
more about you and you work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Seth Eaves: </u>Really, the main way to
learn more about me is on Facebook. I have my main profile where I rarely post
much but I have my author page where….I rarely post much either but I focus on
my writing projects on there. My main goal is to spread my name and get more
notice and attention so those are the best places to interact with me and, if
interest is shown, gain access to some free stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Facebook: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>https://www.facebook.com/setheaves87/?fref=ts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A huge thank you to Seth Eaves for being my
first Interviewee on my blog and for allowing me to pick his brain apart for
his views on the Science Fiction Genre, it was much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So from Seth Eaves and myself “See y’all
somewhere far beyond.”</span>Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-53591834934355050072016-08-04T09:49:00.000-07:002016-08-04T10:00:18.884-07:00The Coyote Goes to Space.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When I was
young pup growing up in the backwater woods of East Texas, I had three primary
forms of escapism that I indulged in: fantasy, horror, and sci-fi… and
cartoons… and building forts in the woods… and you know what lets just say that
I was an incredibly imaginative child with many creative outlets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One day I
was a gallant knight fighting a dragon (neighbor’s incredibly ugly buick),
another day I was a monster stalking my prey through the park (a city water
mutated squirrel) and my personal favorite, Lord High Commander of my Space
Soldiers of Doom ruling over the stars from my nigh impregnable asteroid
fortress (a particularly large rock in my front yard).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Science fiction,
like Horror, has always fascinated me. I grew up on a healthy diet of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars, Star Trek, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stargate</i>: the sci-fi trifecta (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Battlestar Galactica</i> is our red headed
stepchild that I would discover later) and thought each new installment was
simply the most amazing spectacle of exploding lasers and incomprehensible
technobabble that ever graced cinemas. And yes, this included: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek the Motionless Picture, Star Trek
4: Save the Whales, Star Trek 5: They Shot God in the Face, Star Trek
Generations: Dropped a Bridge on Him, Star Trek: I wish they had made a good
movie instead of Insurrection, Star Trek Nemesis: Tom Hardy’s Near Career
Suicide… </i>and every<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Star Wars </i>prequel.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I was barely
a teenager when I watched these, and had no idea about concepts like story,
plot symmetry, and characterization. All I could see was Yoda jumping around
and having a lightsaber battle with the Emperor. I didn’t care if Anakin’s fall
to the dark side took place over the course of three seconds, or that the Force
was “revealed” to be microscopic doodads living in bloodstreams, or even that
dreaded attempt at comic relief that will forever live in the annals of worst
decisions ever made: JAR JAR BINKS. I just wanted to see Jedi fights and ships
get blown up in spectacular CGI.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m older
and wiser now and my tastes have gotten more refined when it comes to science fiction.
Not only have I dabbled in writing a few stories myself, but also my
exploration of this genre has split off into realms that don’t have the prefix
of “Star” before the rest of the title. It is through my examination of several
different helpings of science fiction that I’ve noticed a wonderful thing about
this genre… its variance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">You have
your traditional space operas (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars,
Dune</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Expanse</i>), massive
sweeping tales on far-flung worlds that don’t even necessarily have anything to
do with us on little old Earth. There’s military science fiction (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Starship Troopers</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ender’s Game, Independence Day</i>), stories that are focused entirely
on the military and their war on whatever the designated enemies are. Space
Western’s (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Firefly, Cowboys and Aliens,
Defiance</i>) take the trappings and themes of the wild west and apply them
metaphorically or literally to the story at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I could go
on and on about the variance and that’s the beauty of it… sci-fi can be added to
virtually any genre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A wonderful
time for Science Fiction, to be sure, because I believe that we are beginning
to enter into a Sci-Fi Renaissance. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star
Wars</i> has swooped back into theaters along with a new helping of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek</i> (may the eternal war between
Trekkies and Lucas Hounds forever be waged), but that’s just tradition at work.
If you want a good science fiction movie specifically tuned the space opera
section of things, look no further than the recent Marvel helping: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guardians of the Galaxy</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It had
everything that a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i> movie had,
just with Marvel’s traditional style— aliens, spaceships, and an intergalactic
war. It’s less a superhero film than it was a space opera and it showed. I was
entertained throughout the entire and my only criticism lay with the bland
villain and even he had a moment where I choked on my drink in the theater from
laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Of course
these are all space opera examples. Sci-fi doesn’t always have to be aliens,
space battles, and strange mysterious worlds. It can take place right here on
good old planet Earth and run the gamut on concepts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ready Player One</span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> by Ernest Cline is one of the more recent
science fiction novels that I’ve read and I have to say it might just go on my list
of top ten best books I’ve ever read. It was engaging, the characters were sympathetic,
and it left me on the edge of my seat while reading it. The best way to
describe the plot is Willy Wonka meets the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matrix</i>
(This is the blurb on the back and what can I say it is accurate), and follows
a teenager named Wade Watts who exists in a world where the Oil Reserves are
next to gone and the subsequent world has gone to hell. The only pleasure can
be found in a massive simulation called the Oasis that has absorbed every
aspect of digital society from Video games to the Internet itself. In this
world the designer of the Oasis left a prize called the Egg (named after the
popular video game term Easter Egg) which will give ownership of the Oasis to
whoever finds it… a race against time for control of the only thing that makes
life in the world bearable. This is only one example with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matrix</i> itself along with such offerings
as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Close Encounters of the Third Kind </i>(Stephen
Spielberg’s masterpiece), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">11/22/63</i>
(Stephen King’s Time Travel story), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blade
Runner</i> (arguably one of the pioneers of the Cyberpunk genre), and the list
just goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Of course
science fiction is not just about what stories it can give us, but about what
concepts it can give us. Science fiction has been pushing forward concepts that
at the time seem impossible but give or take a few decades and an impressive
amount of saying “that’s cool, I want to make it happen”, it has often given
society the very things that at the time they were conceived would have seemed
impossible. You need look no further for proof of this than the cell phone you
hold in your hand (especially you Mom, since I know you’re reading this on your
phone). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Star Trek</span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> premiered in 1966 and most of the time its vision of the future
was hilariously camp and inaccurate. That is until you look at the Communicator,
which looked freakishly like an early 2000’s cell phone including that cover
that flipped open. You all remember the flip cellphones… mine was a black Razor
and I thought it was the coolest improvement of technology since satellite TV. That
little black phone survived a pool, my car tires, and a fall off a balcony with
little more than a cracked screen to show for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It was
eerily accurate even down to “no reception” zones that prevented the intrepid
crew from calling the Enterprise to beam them away when something went wrong
and that’s not even getting into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star
Trek the Next Generation</i> which gave their crew a freaking iPad about twenty
years before that was a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This concept
has been going back since the beginnings of science fiction such as H.G. Wells’
book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The World Set Fire</i> that predicts
the atomic bomb and was written in 1914<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i>more
or less accurately describing a nuclear explosion and coining the term “atomic
bomb”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And then
there was legendary science fiction pioneer Jules Verne, whose novels <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i> (published
in 1869) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From the Earth To the Moon</i>
(1869) predicted diesel electric submarines and the moon landing before either
of them were even conceived of as reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This gives me
hope for Godzilla as a reality… it’s been 60 years since his first movie. Any
day now a giant radioactive lizard is going to come and defeat the terrorists
and stomp his way to victory as the G-Party’s candidate for the Presidential
Election.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 173.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">#GodzillaforPresident2016,
Slogan: Ain’t no party like a Nuclear Party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I digress
but only a little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">As for
myself and my own forays into science fiction writing, it has been a journey in
and of itself. I’ve had a series called the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Last
Aspect</i> that I’ve worked on and off on for years; a dark gritty universe
full of existential terror and chock full of more space Nazis than you could
shake a finger at. You can take the writer out of horror but you can’t take the
horror out of the writer. Still I’m little more than a journeyman apprentice in
science fiction compared to author Seth Eaves. I met Seth a few years ago and
we grew from fellow colleagues into great friends, both slaves to the muse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">He is
primarily a military science fiction writer and I have to say that his style is
suspenseful and keeps you invested. We discovered that our two styles of
writing meshed incredibly well, one of the reasons we decided to co-write a
story entitled the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thirteenth Sign</i>, a
space opera set in the future that answers the question that Seth and I asked
each other… what if the Zodiac Constellations each harbored an alien race and
what if there was a way to get to them… it gets worse. (Seth I promise my
chapters are coming I’ve been busy).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This brings
me to my quote of the week that involved both Seth and I discussing what we had
come up with when we had one of our all to infrequent meetings. We had each
decided on taking 6 of the 12 zodiac signs and making alien races out of them…
it was then that we really discovered the distinctions in our writing styles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wile E. Young</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">: So what’ve you got?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Seth Eaves</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">: I call them Rhynocs they are from the Aries constellation, I
thought they would have a Meritocratic society based on how many people they
had killed in combat, the more kills under their belt the higher they are in
their society. I imagined them fairly reptilian like, but maybe crossed with
some goat features considering that the Aries Constellation is a Ram… what did
you come up with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wile E. Young</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> : Ummm I call them Viriloc, they’re from the
Virgo constellation…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Seth Eaves: </span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">What do they look like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Wile E. Young:</span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> (nearly manic with glee) Floating black bug
things with the bodies of women fused to where a head would be but instead of a
lady face on the woman’s body, it’s a baby face crying black goo that gives
religious epiphanies…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Seth Eaves: </span></b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I worry about your mind sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We’ve had
quite the adventure fusing our minds together for this little experiment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I was able
to sit down with Seth and get him to answer some interview questions so that
you would be able to get know his writing and views on the subject as well. It
will be posted along with this blog post as an exclusive interview. Go over
there and check it out because every time you skip an exclusive interview a
small child is forced to sit through an M. Night Shyamalan marathon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I sit
looking out the window at the coming evening, the first of the stars beginning
to wrench places for themselves in the Heavens, and it has me musing on the
concept of infinity. As I’ve hopefully explained and shown to you, science fiction
is practically infinite… ironic because I consider science fiction the
exploration of the future, the potential for humanity, application of pioneered
concepts, and understanding of existence itself— a direct comparison to the
concept of infinity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Because
after all, what is as infinite as the universe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">So tonight
when you forsake the sun because the stars burn brighter and you see a
meteorite, send me a wave because that’s me streaking through the night chasing
the Roadrunner and its race across the infinite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And as my
friend Seth Eaves says, “See y’all somewhere far beyond.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bonus Wile E. World News<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">So this past
week was the Democratic National Convention, if you’ve read my feelings
regarding Trump on last week’s blog post, then you’ve read my feelings
regarding Hillary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We need a
true candidate to believe in…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx4eBQWsFEGvtHhcGtp3M8YKud5Eahpf0TFrH13ETX6Ke8x24ebk3ulgNi9I3KKoA3c0mpGjiF77p4UAAPcPw9Qa38Nr57vrtLLzKsY4lnml-j2ONDEHno1poRvefzJxk2JX5i04pw0rM/s1600/cdefb942a9e5e9f3d46b1d849231d39a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx4eBQWsFEGvtHhcGtp3M8YKud5Eahpf0TFrH13ETX6Ke8x24ebk3ulgNi9I3KKoA3c0mpGjiF77p4UAAPcPw9Qa38Nr57vrtLLzKsY4lnml-j2ONDEHno1poRvefzJxk2JX5i04pw0rM/s320/cdefb942a9e5e9f3d46b1d849231d39a.jpg" width="237" /></a><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-25899419474500666382016-07-25T07:35:00.000-07:002016-07-25T07:35:24.395-07:00Beach Bumming<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So I find
myself writing this in the early evening of a Saturday from one of my favorite
places on Earth: Destin, Florida. I know what you’re thinking, “But Wile E,
Coyotes don’t go to the beach to chase Roadrunners.” Well even a Coyote needs
to rest for a while and this is a wonderful place to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the
writing world, two events are happening this week. The first is Necon, which is
short for the Northeastern Writer’s Conference in Portsmouth. It’s a conference
for Horror authors, artists, and publishers. A huge event, for sure, but this
year was especially momentous because Linda Addison (a phenomenal poet, writer,
and friend) was not only a guest of honor, but was inducted as a Necon legend.
Seriously, check her stuff out. It’s moving and scary, all the beauty of the
night and life wrapped up in thrilling words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The second
event is the Scares that Care charity, a more fan-oriented convention organized
by horror author Brian Keene (if you don’t know who this is, you obviously have
not spent any length of time talking to me). The proceeds are donated entirely
to organizations that treat sick children or families of children with
illnesses. A worthy goal no matter how you state it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Linda and
Brian are both friends and mentors. One inspired me to become a writer and the
other opened my mind to the art of poetry and all the thrills, challenges, and
beauty that lies in writing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So now
you’re asking me, “if you admire these people so much why aren’t you there?” Well
the answer is twofold and simple: money and weariness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Due to
traveling, bills, and generally seizing a few opportunities, my funds were a
little tapped and needed time to recuperate from the ringer I’ve put them
through. Writing is my vocation, but it doesn’t pay the bills… yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve also been
working hard on my writing and with my regular day job as a slave of United
Airlines, some familial relationships as well as friendships have been put on
the backburner. So when my family revealed they were traveling to one of my
favorite places on Earth and asked if I would like to join, I felt it necessary
to sacrifice time and money at two places I REALLY wanted to be and instead
spend time bonding with my family. Sometimes you just can’t be everywhere at
once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My passion
has not wavered, nor has my conviction. In fact, I’ll be pouring a lot of work
into two novels this week. However, at the same time I can talk to my dad in
person instead of over the phone, I can visit with my uncles and aunts, I can spend
time with my mom and sister. I’m not some distant writer laboring away in
Oklahoma City; I’m an on-hand writer laboring away in the sand, but able to
multitask and be there in person for the first time in a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m sure my
writer friends will understand if I wasn’t able to make it to Rhode Island and
Virginia just this once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve been
coming to Destin for as long as I can remember and every year the secret seems
to have been told to just a few more people. Slowly but surely, it has seen the
rise of tourism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As I arrived
this year (and had to wait an hour and half in a traffic jam at a toll booth),
it struck me just how much things had changed. I usually come into Destin from
the west across Navarre beach; it’s a drive that lets you see the bay off to
your left and the open ocean to your right. Then you cross a magnificent bridge
and see it: white shores as far as the eye can see, green waters, and all the
hotels, condos, and stores you could possibly want to visit. This year,
however, I came in from the north and came straight into the ugly heart of
commercialization without that sense of wonder that usually accompanies the
sight of this place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Still, as I
walked out onto the beach this evening, I breathed in deep and felt in-tune with
the universe, senses renewed and ready for the week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now Destin
may usually be where my family stays and where my love affair with this area
started, but it has changed in recent years with my discovery of a small town
down the coast called Seaside. It’s kind of an artistic community, so it’s
unsurprising that I fell in love with the place when I first laid eyes on it.
Seaside is a new urbanism-based community; the entire town is built around an
amphitheater with everything in walking distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When I own a
house here (God willing one day), I’ll be able to walk a mere few blocks to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sundog Books and Music</i>, or the local ice
cream shop, or the myriads of restaurants and food trucks scattered around
town. I could sit on my roof and write as the breeze blows in from the ocean,
easily visible from wherever it is I’m sitting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And the best
thing of all about Seaside: practically no cars. Everything is in walking
distance and there’s a sense of community the likes of which I have rarely
seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This area
works wonders on my spirit and I have no doubt that it’s going to affect my
writing in all the best ways this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When I’m not
trying to wrestle a shark that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now it is
time for…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Wile E. World News<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So this week
has been the Republican National Convention, which for you nonpolitical folks
is a gathering of the Republican Party where they nominate their candidate for
the Presidency and burn effigy’s of Democratic Party leaders (according to the
more tinfoil-hat-wearing member’s of our populace). Unsurprisingly, Donald
Trump (who you may recognize as the man who didn’t stop Kevin from checking
into his hotel in Home Alone 2) won the nomination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now this
next section may see my own effigy being burned somewhere, and if so kudos to
you! You have fine taste in burnable effigies, but I cannot find it in my heart
to support Mr. Trump. For those of you who are still with me and aren’t
sharpening your pitchforks, do not mistake my intent; I don’t support Hillary
Clinton either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This
election year has been different from every one I can remember (admittedly that
has been like 3, but nonetheless it is different). Both nominees cut figures of
controversy for various reasons that you should all investigate for yourself,
but for a person who walks in the Middle like I do, both are fairly extreme and
startling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve watched
and seen people on both sides taking the time to shut themselves off from
anything they don’t want to hear, belittling their opponents, and finding scapegoats
to place blame on for the state of the world we live in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As a friend
of mine so eloquently said: “People are waking up, and they are angry”. I agree
whole-heartedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’ve always
been a listener; I seek to understand what the other side sees. I was always
taught that the Wise listened, the Wise were patient, and the Wise sought to
bring people together rather than divide them. Now I’m not perfect and I
haven’t always been among “the Wise”, but I would like to think that I try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I guess what
I want to encourage and advocate is not a political candidate nor position. I
walk the fine line down the middle after all, but I will use my own version of
one particular candidate’s slogan: Let’s make other’s great again, let’s make
ourselves great again, and let’s do it in that order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Scary
thought, I know, thinking of others, and maybe I’m just crazy for it. Wouldn’t
be the first time someone thought I was nuts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Being a
writer is crazy work after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This week’s
horror movie review is<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: All the Boys Love
Mandy Lane</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So I was
really excited when I put this particular feature in my DVD player. It’s supposedly
a revisionist slasher film that’s been seeing rave reviews. At its conclusion,
though, I was left with mixed feelings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The plot of
the film was an interesting premise, to be sure. A Texas schoolgirl is the
recipient of the affections (and lust) of the male student populace and is
invited to a weekend gathering where someone (or something) begins to
simultaneously kill the group while also unhealthily fixating on Mandy Lane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I loved the
twists and turns as the film progressed, but one serious flaw kept me from
truly enjoying everything: I didn’t care about any of these people. Like at
all. They were unlikeable jerks with no sense of responsibility or compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sort of like
the average high school kid in retrospect. Hmmm… Objection to this film
withdrawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well then,
I’ve typed away on my weekly activities and I’ve let loose with my political tirade,
now I’m going to go drink a Dr. Pepper out of a coconut and see if the
Roadrunner will slow down when it runs through the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E.
Young singing off and diving in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Interaction of the Week<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E. Young: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I know four numbers by heart: Yours, Dad’s, the
house, and mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">CoyoteMom: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Do you know your aunt’s?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile E. Young: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">CoyoteMom: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What about Em the Slayer’s?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wile
E. Young: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I’m going to repeat myself and you tell me where
I lost you.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5718987665238334857.post-70199338884706369532016-07-17T13:06:00.000-07:002016-07-17T13:06:19.049-07:00At the Beginning<div class="MsoNormal">
My name is Wile E. Young, writer by trade and voted most
likely to become a supervillain in high school. The first is progressing
swimmingly, the second? Well I have about 3 years until my 10 year reunion so
I’m sure it will happen by then.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve decided to start this blog to document the journey…
that metaphorical abstract that all of us are on, all the pain, laughter, tear
jerkers, and shenanigans that I’ve lived, am living, and will live through.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve published a few short stories already but those were
just the prelude, the warm up in preparation for the true race that is about to
begin, the journey ahead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course no journey is complete without a cast of
characters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call them the Midnight Society… well I call us that at
least, my closest friends who I continually bounce my ideas off of and who
graciously choose not to strangle me day to day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their names are protected so people won’t be sending them
fan mail or severed body parts but they are as follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Em the Slayer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gr8storm<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nefflix<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HansBean<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
There are of course more but I do
not interact with them on a daily basis like these four, I’m sure as this
experiment progresses, I’ll be featuring guest appearances.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Luckily this leads into the quote
of the week from the Midnight Society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Nefflix: “They have leprechauns in Scotland, I’m so in!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">
Wile E. Young: “Leprechauns are Irish idiot.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Every one of these posts will
feature a quote of the week, but this particular one concerns mythological
creatures which halfway ties into the News.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Wile E. World News<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Pokémon Go, for those of you who
are obviously inside reading this blog instead of looking out your window at
the strange people walking around in your front yard, is a new app that allows
you to catch Pokémon wherever you go (this is a subpar description but it’s the
best I’ve got).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I’ve had the chance to observe it
and I have to say I must applaud it, people are getting exercise, they’re
making friends, and crossing boundary lines that they otherwise wouldn’t cross
and with all the tension in our country right now it is nice to see people of
all kinds bond over virtual monsters.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I’d say all of that is worth the
risk of the occasional Pikachu induced car wreck.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Turning to Horror, I’ve made
significant progress this week on the One Below (Cosmic Horror meets Jaws) and
a secret project I cannot comment on just yet, as soon as I’m clear to announce
it I’ll bombard you with it so hard you’ll go to sleep seeing the title. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
This week’s reading material is <u>Redneck
Eldritch</u>, an anthology featuring 16 horror authors short stories of country
themed cosmic horror.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It has been a little hit and miss
so far but overall I’ve liked it, a full review with my personal favorites will
come later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Horror movie wise I finished a film
called the Houses October Built this week, the premise excited me: a fictional
investigation into extreme haunted houses that slowly goes out of control. Unfortunately the execution was lacking and I finished glad I only spent five
dollars for it at a going out of business F.Y.E.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I think the reason it disappointed
me the most is that I’m a writer, I look at everything and examine the story of
it all, I may be at the beginning of my career but I would like to think I have
an eye for a story.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
At the very least an eye for my own
story, which I’m honored to be able to tell as it happens to all of you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
My name is Wile E. Young and it is
time to go chase the Roadrunner.<o:p></o:p></div>
Wile E.Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412828539086957264noreply@blogger.com0