There is a scene in the book in which I take some artistic liberties with a tradition inherited through marriage. This is a fun and interesting part of Christmas at the in-laws. The tradition involves wrapping a garage door opener, key, or similar object in a package. When the package is opened the famous question is asked, "What is this for?" This is followed by the equally famous response, "You'll just have to go and see."
Inevitably everyone runs out in their pajamas and slippers to see what the gift might be. Usually there is something exciting, but not always.
The first Christmas after marriage the in-laws weren't 100% sure how to deal with the new addition to the family. My main gift was a stainless steel thermos. Don't get me wrong. It is a great gift. In fact, I still have it 13 years later. However, I'm still not sure what to do with it. Any recommendations?
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Private Moments
Privacy is one of the luxuries of life. Much of the world lives in small homes with little or no privacy. Some people have to go to the mountains or some other place to isolate themselves from society for a few moments. In these moments it is possible to think deeply and reflect on life.
In Annals of the Mind Legion, Darius grows up in a home where there is love but not luxury. He shares a room with his older brother Jim and as luck would have it, the door doesn't fit anymore. The solution was to remove the door and store it elsewhere. This resonates with me because until I was eighteen I lived in the basement that had a 1970's flare and included a number of interesting features. One of these was the lack of a bedroom door.
There was no privacy but there were private moments. I sometimes walked into the room to find my brother on his knees in prayer before bed. That was a private moment that became public and influenced me for good. I used to have trouble sleeping and would read until the late hours. Sometimes I read the scriptures but more often than not you would find me reading C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, L'Amour, and others. One year I got a cheap plug-in light with a cord. I would drag it into bed with me and cover my head so that the light wouldn't wake my brother. Then I could read as late as I wanted and reflect on the teachings that come from great literature.
Life is full of private moments. These are a real blessing.
In Annals of the Mind Legion, Darius grows up in a home where there is love but not luxury. He shares a room with his older brother Jim and as luck would have it, the door doesn't fit anymore. The solution was to remove the door and store it elsewhere. This resonates with me because until I was eighteen I lived in the basement that had a 1970's flare and included a number of interesting features. One of these was the lack of a bedroom door.
There was no privacy but there were private moments. I sometimes walked into the room to find my brother on his knees in prayer before bed. That was a private moment that became public and influenced me for good. I used to have trouble sleeping and would read until the late hours. Sometimes I read the scriptures but more often than not you would find me reading C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, L'Amour, and others. One year I got a cheap plug-in light with a cord. I would drag it into bed with me and cover my head so that the light wouldn't wake my brother. Then I could read as late as I wanted and reflect on the teachings that come from great literature.
Life is full of private moments. These are a real blessing.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Feedback is Great!
In the last few weeks I've received a lot of great feedback on Annals of the Mind Legion Volume 1: The Resurgence. Some has been positive and others have been corrective. All have been useful, but I'm partial to the honest and direct feedback. It makes a difference in how I think and how I write.
As I move forward with the Mind Legion series, I'd really appreciate the continued support of the readers in understanding what things you would like to see in the book. Do you want more romance or less? Do you want more adventure or less? Do you want to see more about the Great Council or the Code? What interests you? What do you enjoy?
Feel free to comment here or email me at craig@mindlegion.com
As I move forward with the Mind Legion series, I'd really appreciate the continued support of the readers in understanding what things you would like to see in the book. Do you want more romance or less? Do you want more adventure or less? Do you want to see more about the Great Council or the Code? What interests you? What do you enjoy?
Feel free to comment here or email me at craig@mindlegion.com
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuna Noodle Casserole
I'm not really sure why anyone eats tuna noodle casserole. I mentioned it a few times in the book during the early chapters because I disliked it so much as a youth. Who comes up with something like that. Tuna is great as a sandwich or as a steak, but a casserole? It ranks right up there with Mexican casserole and hot dog casserole. I'd post the recipes but I'm afraid they might become popular fair again.
In order to beat a dead horse, I'm going to continue ranting about this least favorite dish of mine. Once my mom reads this I'm likely to be fed tuna casserole every time I visit. I knew I was in trouble yesterday when my mother got into the book and realized that her fabulous home cooking may not have impressed her son. I think that stopped her reading in its tracks. I'm also likely to get a one star review when she gets around to it. I guess I don't blame her. She is a saint and I'm apparently still an ungrateful kid.
The funny thing is that I really was ungrateful as a child. Now I realize that it was a sacrifice to raise six kids. The meals were usually creative to keep the costs down. Mom was great about making a can of tuna and a bag of egg noodles go a long way. Fortunately, there was a lot of fruit canned in the cellar. I used to love running downstairs to get a bottle of canned apricots or peaches to share after dinner, especially if we'd just had tuna casserole.
What was your least favorite dish growing up?
In order to beat a dead horse, I'm going to continue ranting about this least favorite dish of mine. Once my mom reads this I'm likely to be fed tuna casserole every time I visit. I knew I was in trouble yesterday when my mother got into the book and realized that her fabulous home cooking may not have impressed her son. I think that stopped her reading in its tracks. I'm also likely to get a one star review when she gets around to it. I guess I don't blame her. She is a saint and I'm apparently still an ungrateful kid.
The funny thing is that I really was ungrateful as a child. Now I realize that it was a sacrifice to raise six kids. The meals were usually creative to keep the costs down. Mom was great about making a can of tuna and a bag of egg noodles go a long way. Fortunately, there was a lot of fruit canned in the cellar. I used to love running downstairs to get a bottle of canned apricots or peaches to share after dinner, especially if we'd just had tuna casserole.
What was your least favorite dish growing up?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Science Fiction or Fantasy?
A few years ago, while in graduate school, we had a phone conference with Orson Scott Card to discuss his views on Instructional Technology and education in general. He said some heretical things to a group of academics that we, as students, found both entertaining and enlightening.
The first thing that Card said was that all professors were false prophets. Basically, they were treating their research like a religion and whatever school of thought had the most disciples was accepted as the best. After making this statement, half the faculty stormed out of the room, validating his comments.
The second thing that he said that I thought was interesting was that he believed the only difference between science fiction and fantasy was that science fiction novels had sheet metal and rivets on the cover.
So the question remains, is Annals of the Mind Legion a science fiction or a fantasy novel. I still believe that it is science fiction even though I don't have any sheet metal on the cover. The mastery of the mind to control the elements and the body is more aligned to science fiction since it describes the science behind how The Code works.
What do you think?
The first thing that Card said was that all professors were false prophets. Basically, they were treating their research like a religion and whatever school of thought had the most disciples was accepted as the best. After making this statement, half the faculty stormed out of the room, validating his comments.
The second thing that he said that I thought was interesting was that he believed the only difference between science fiction and fantasy was that science fiction novels had sheet metal and rivets on the cover.
So the question remains, is Annals of the Mind Legion a science fiction or a fantasy novel. I still believe that it is science fiction even though I don't have any sheet metal on the cover. The mastery of the mind to control the elements and the body is more aligned to science fiction since it describes the science behind how The Code works.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)