25
Jan/10
2

The Invisible Novelologist

Saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs again.  What a fantastic film.  I planned on buying the DVD, but put it off because I knew I’d probably be seeing it again at the bargain cinema.  But after seeing it, I almost stopped and picked it up.  This is just such a wonderful movie.  Bizarre, goofy, funny, and heartwarming.  Highly recommended.

Onto the subject at hand…

Recently, I found myself in a short debate on the nature of villainy.  What makes an interesting villain?  What doesn’t?  Is a colorful villain the same as a more subtle villain?  Stuff like that.  Rather than repeat it all, I recommend you check out the comments on my Opinions Vary blog entry.  Some ideas are shared, and it makes some interesting reading.

19
Jan/10
2

Famous Mummy Fighters and The Women Who Love Them

Haven’t been around in a while, gang.  Sorry about that.  But been busy on my latest manuscript and life and all that jazz.  I’m engaged, just in case anyone out there who might care doesn’t know about it.  Getting married by the end of the year.  I’d say good-bye to my wild, swingin’ bachelor days, but I never actually had any of those.  But you’re not here to read about my personal life, are you?  If so, I can only estimate your level of boredom to be at yellow alert.  Go buy a Nintendo DS or some juggling balls or something already if this is the case.

12
Jan/10
5

Read This Post or Face the Wrath of Dinobots

Can it be?  Is it true?  Is such a thing possible?

Yes, my friends, it is indeed.  A. LEE MARTINEZ APPRECIATION DAY!! is upon us once again, and while I’m sure all of you are up on the traditional festivities (play a board game, watch a monster movie, push A. Lee Martinez novels on friends / family / loved ones / strangers / enemies), not everyone knows that, by The Supreme Directive of The Mighty Robot King, you are required to read any blog post I write on this day.

11
Jan/10
9

A Teeny Tiny Free Sample of Divine Misfortune.

Funny thing.  At this point, I’ve written so much that I often forget things I’ve written.  I’m not talking about stories, but little bits and pieces here and there.  I was reading through DIVINE MISFORTUNE (due out in March, I believe) and came across this little section that I completely forgot.  Made me laugh, too.  Kind of weird to be taken by surprise by your own writing, but it happens.

So here’s your first (tiny) little taste of DIVINE MISFORTUNE.  Hope you enjoy it.

7
Jan/10
0

Realism VS Surrealism

Realism is highly overrated.  In particular, I hate realism applied to fantasy.  Mostly because it seems to miss the point of fantasy in the first place.

I recently started a Twitter mini-debate with a friend of mine.*   Watching a preview for the new Kick-Ass movie, I remarked how the movie straddles a clumsy line between superheroes and realism.  This has always been a tricky prospect.  Some elements of fantasy are closer to reality than others, and superheroes are about as far from reality as one can get.

7
Jan/10
3

A. LEE MARTINEZ APPRECIATION DAY!! 2010

A. LEE MARTINEZ APPRECIATION DAY!! is rapidly approaching.  Are you as excited as I am?

Where does the time go?  Has it really been a year since Jan 12th, when all the people in all the world gather together, watch monster movies, play board games, and push great A. Lee Martinez novels on friends, family, and strangers?  You betcha!  And that means that once again, the second most wonderful time of the year is upon us.

4
Jan/10
19

Opinions Vary

Been a while.  You know how the holidays are.  Plus, I have my newest manuscript to work on, but blogging is part of my job.  And I know how you rely on me to fill your lives with joy and / or wisdom.  So here I am.

Recently, I read a pair of articles.  The first article was about how the writer didn’t like Doctor Who.  The second article suggested that people who don’t like Doctor Who should just not watch it and stop complaining about it.