There’s a great movie called “The Creator” with Peter O’Toole as this rather wacky professor taking on a grad student to help him clone his dead wife.  He claims all of the student’s time, and marks him down as receiving his education in, “The Big Picture.”

I was reminded of this lately when looking at the results of two experiences asking for critique on my manuscripts.  I gave copies of a YA novel to a group of high school students, and copies of a romance novel to a group of local romance writers (all experienced at critique, all wanting to be published authors).

The results from these two groups were startlingly similar.  They noted all kinds of little things–some typos, some personal confusions or unclear sentences.  And almost nobody looked at The Big Picture. Read more…

This is a serious proposal.

I propose that one day a month be designated as worldwide Update Day.  On that day, every software for every program for every gadget will do their updates for the month.

This includes operating systems, internet providers, web browsers, apps, mobile phone networks, cable systems, firewalls, spyware protectors, adware protectors, anti-virus, anti-phishing, internet banking, all internet shopping, all online information for all governmental entities, and anyone else who updates any material that the rest of us have to deal with. What the heck, throw in the monthly emergency alert system tests on that day, too.

We’ll pick one day — let’s say the 19th, because it should interfere with few other holidays (the floating holidays are on their own), and it’s over the hump of all months.

On that day, the Updaters have from midnight to midnight (in a time zone to be determined later) to make our computers, phones, cable, and other equipment as inoperable as suits their little grabby souls while they insert updates that no one really wants.

On that day, the rest of us will walk our dogs, work in the garden, paint a room, wash the car, sip coffee in a cafe, read a book or two, write a letter, talk to our neighbors … and not Tweet or Facebook about any of it (at least not until the 19th.)

However, the Updaters must — I repeat MUST — Read more…

I can hardly believe it’s finally happening but starting today, my grandfather’s creativity is leaving the boxes in my office and entering the electronic age. Instead of blithering through an explanation, I’m letting the following press release from Musa Publishing www.MusaPublishing.com tell the tale.

Vella Munn aka Vonna Harper

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The Mystery Of Homer Eon Flint’s Death Still Relevant After Nine Decades

 In 1924, a young writer with a growing career, Homer Eon Flint, was found dead, at the bottom of a canyon, pinned beneath an allegedly stolen taxi with a gun beside him.  His death was sensationalized by the media.  Some sources averred that he’d participated in a bank robbery. Others that he committed suicide because of his interest in the occult. A convicted gangster who died in prison a few years later testified that Flint had hijacked his car at gunpoint and driven away, presumably to die in an accident later.  And, finally, there’s been a growing opinion over the past nine decades that Homer Eon Flint was a victim—in the wrong place at the wrong time and killed as a result—and that opinion has created an aura of mystery around his name.

Homer Eon Flint is commonly considered one of the early twentieth century American pioneers in science fiction.  His popular science fiction books (like The Devolutionist or The Emancipatrix) have remained as pillars of the speculative fiction genre throughout the ninety plus years since their release.  The Blind Spot, co-written with fellow pioneer Austin Hall, has been reprinted seven times.  Aside from those successes, Flint was a well-known writer of pulp fiction—some of his stories garnering payments of hundreds of dollars in the booming post World War I economy.

But no matter how you approach Homer Eon Flint, somehow you always end up back with his death. Read more…

As I did this morning’s Tarot meditation, a habit I’ve revived with the new year to regain some balance in my life, I asked the question “How shall I focus myself today?” This strong, positive card came up at the center of my spread.

I love the DruidCraft Tarot deck (and this image is used with permission of artist Will Worthington) for its earthy colors and the fascinating personalities it presents, and this Princess of Swords not only answered my soul’s question today–she provided me with the topic for this blog post!

Basically, this Princess was telling me to remember who holds the sword when it comes to prioritizing my time: my exercise time (because a YMCA membership is one of my revived habits, and because I still have a border collie to walk), the time I spend driving my sister to work, cooking, and generally holding this household together–not to mention my writing time.

I started a new Amish book yesterday, the fifth book I contracted in this genre, and while it was a gratifying accomplishment to write and write and write so I have four books coming out this year, this prolific pattern has taken its toll in other areas of my life.

While nothing treacherous or tragic happened because I spent that much time with my butt in a chair, I forfeited a lot of Real Life time doing ordinary, everyday things I enjoy.

Well, enough of that!

Read more…