More Poems

Hello Everyone,

Hope you all are staying safe and are as well as can be expected.  Hope you are all enjoying the poems, although I do realize they are a sorry substitute for the next book (in my case, not in the case of all poetry).  If you are looking for something a little more refined, you should check out Patrick Stewart's facebook page.  He is reading a sonnet a day and it is delightful.  But first, read on my friends:

Steady Tread

I’m jealous of time, inexorable, surging, even when our paths are cruelly diverging.

And me, left missing you, clinging to the moments united that time rushes through, 

As this demon mocks with a viscous pour in moments apart, a teasing tilt of the sand filled jar.

Tell I of how little it cares, unaware, nonchalant in its flippant theft of youth so fair.

Should I focus instead, on the wisdom its steady tread brings the most hapless abed survivors of plump hours bled?

Consider the blessings of watching the ever-changing beauty of growth, decay and rebirth rearranging, cycling through stacked years progressing?

How can I, dignify acceptance when even best days are marked by good-byes?

But in you, I ponder wisdom behind the glacial prisms.  The laugh lines that hint at the edges from the smile I fall always victim.

What of the poise, to which all might aspire, that throve from naïve beauty into the woman I so much admire?

Can I be angry at such a force, be adverse when no matter how unyielding, it composes such glorious verse?

I can not.  Although, might I ask it to multiply or perhaps it could slow, be languid, when you and I entangled.

For given time to reconsider, even when away, rush not the days or minutes; for my mind and soul finds you within it, and even longing is worth delay. 

London's Calling

Checking in—this time with a bit more than the usual books and tv.  I made it over the Atlantic to London in addition to what I've been reading and playing, so I have some pictures for this post.

I thoroughly enjoyed the city that I can best describe, no offense meant by the disparity in historical ages, as an amalgamation of New York and Washington D.C.  Due to rebuilding after the bombing in World War II, London has a very modern city vibe, skyscrapers and all, with that financial, busy people doing business things energy.   At the same time, there are scores of tourists crowding the streets and around every corner is a monument, statue, or building that speaks to the city's place as a capital and the United Kingdom's storied and lengthy history as an Empire, Kingdom, and nation.

I had the Rick Steeve's book for London and he mentioned that for Americans traveling to London, and England in general, there is a sense of the familiar, almost a coming home.  I can definitely relate.  Despite some obvious differences, plenty for those like myself who relish the cultural nuances experienced when traveling, there is a great deal of comfort and ease about traveling in London.  There is of course a shared language, but it goes beyond that.  For many Americans, England provides our roots, not only in heritage, but in the formation of our country, its laws, and certainly in our culture.  In addition, I have seen London so many times on big and small screens, read about it through 56 Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and heard about it in history books, the whole trip had a visiting relatives feel about it.

Our Modern Myths: 10 Years with the MCU

I have held off posting this, or writing it really, until enough weeks had passed that I was hopeful my musings wouldn't spoil anything for those who have yet to see Avengers: Endgame.  That said, I have no intentions of purposefully spoiling anything, but I might end up strongly hinting and you are smart people.  So, if you haven't seen it, and hope to still be surprised, come back later.

On its opening weekend my daughter and I went to see Avengers: Endgame with quite grand expectations.  A little over three hours, some tears, shouts of joy, and an overwhelming feeling of triumph later, my expectations were exceeded.  This film was brilliantly done and viscerally satisfying.  In the grandest of spectacle and with the most intimate of emotion, 10 years of movie making magic culminated on screen and I was enthralled.

So, it's pretty obvious that I am a fan.  I have been since the moment Robert Downy Jr. first walked on screen in Ironman—and while it is certainly true that one of the major reasons for my being a fan is that over the years these movies have entertained me, I think it goes a bit deeper than that.  You see, I am of the opinion that these comic book movies and the comics from which they were conceived, amount to our modern day myths and legends.  What is amazing about this statement, which I fully accept is not a novel concept, is that we get to witness our legends and myths in a way ancient people could have never conceived.  For us, these character move beyond the grand oral traditions, even beyond the printed word and become fully realized versions first in brilliant art work in the pages of comics and now, 52 feet tall on a silver screen.

Half a World and Curse You Xbox

Books

Amazon Link

I finished Half a King and without pause moved straight into the sequel, Half a World.  Joe Abercrombie still reigns supreme in my mind, although, now halfway into the second book, I will say that I am a bit confused as who the target audience is.  The language, topically at least, has ventured past what I would consider acceptable for my young adult daughter.  Perhaps more in the fifteen year old range.  Not sure.  Other than that minor confusion, I am loving the series.  The sequel opened up the world of the Shattered Sea quite a bit, brought on new characters, and changed the dynamic of the series toward a grander adventure than Half a King.

Amazon Link

I keep picking away at The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt—five minutes here, ten minutes there.  Don't let the dawdling pace at which I am reading the hefty book lead you to believe I am not enjoying it.  This is certainly not the case.  I find the writing superb and the subject fascinating.  To be honest, I have no explanation for why it is taking me so long to finish it expect to say that maybe I am reading slow because it is so good.

Xbox

I'm having to restrain myself from littering the screen with negative emoticons at this particular sore subject.  The drought continues.  Where are the games?  It seems as if we were better off with the older system.  It strikes me as a bit odd to replace the Xbox 360 with the newest technology only to use it as a glorified tv remote.  

TV

My TV watching has consisted of the following.  Littlest Petshop, Cupcake Wars, My Little Pony, and House of Cards.  I will let you guess to whom the control of the remote control lies.  

Ok, back to work...

Half a King and the Last Episode of Downton Abbey

Sadly, my wife and I have watched the last episode of Downton Abbey and have been forced to search for new binge watching options to fulfill our hour of TV watching in the evening.  After a small period of nomad scrolling through the Roku menus of Netflix and Amazon Prime, we have settled on House of Cards.  I'll let you know how it goes, but so far, it seems pretty good with a heavy focus on politics.  While I do appreciate the occasional political intrigue, I am a little dismayed that in August, well over a year until the 2016 presidential election, my Washington-Post-morning-coffee-ritual has been consumed by candidates for such a distant election.  I am resolved to the fact that the paper will be taken over by such "news" eventually, but in August?  Over a year ahead?  Come on.  Surely there are more important things going on in the world.

Amazon Link

I'm still working my way through The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, the first volume in the pulitzer prize winning biography by Edmund Morris.  It is an excellent book about a tremendous American, but it's dense in its scope and research.  Not boring, by any means, but dense.  Well worth the effort and I highly recommend to any young person (or old) as an example of what a person can achieve with hard work and a persevering spirit.

Amazon Link

I picked up Half a King from one of my favorites, Joe Abercrombie, whose previous books, despite being some of the best Fantasy novels of all time, I couldn't recommend to anyone under the age of sixteen.  Half a King on the other hand, is a young adult offering from the master of character development and raw, in your face action, and so far, it is quite good.  He has, for obvious reasons, toned down some of the blunt violence and language he is so brilliant at, but the book is quite entertaining nonetheless.

As for my writing and the forthcoming Queen of the New World: I'm slowly building the new series I mentioned in my last post.  I'm not throwing all my literary powers at the series just yet, but I'm excited about the direction it's taking.  I'm still hopeful that Queen of the New World (Book 3 in the Scarlet Hopewell Series) will be out by Christmas, but I am at the mercy of the publishers and have little control over the scheduling setbacks they are experiencing.

Hope the summer is finding all well and as always, I love to here from fans and critics.  Don't be afraid to drop me a line.

Brandon

Midwest Book Review

I just received the review for Scarlet and the Keepers of Light from The Midwest Book Review, and while I opened the email with a bit of apprehension (not everyday you get you first professional review), such trepidation quickly melted away.  I couldn't be happier and more thankful for D. Donovan's insights and praise.  The full review will be in the December Midwest Review of Books and on D. Donovan's website, but I thought I'd share an expert with you all here:

"Now, this is directed to a younger audience of pre-teen into teen readers. But the inclusion of many insights into her family and influences are what sets Scarlet and the Keepers of Light apart from your usual light fantasy read - and this is an essential ingredient: without it, Scarlet would be just another "child goes on epic quest' read. With this added flavor, it's much more.

 

One doesn't ordinarily anticipate the inclusion of ethical and social concerns in a quest directed at young adult and preteen audiences. One doesn't ordinarily anticipate the sweetness of world-expanding vision in a light-sounding story about falling into another reality. And one doesn't tend to believe that the first bite of cake will prove so satisfying that it should be devoured slowly, lest the pleasure end too soon."

D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

When the full review becomes available, I will post links to the appropriate sites and where you can read the December issue of The Midwest Book Review.  

Great Show Putting me to Sleep

In my constant pursuing of Netflix in search of new and interesting, hopefully bearable things to watch (as many of you know I am a chronic insomniac), I have recently stumbled across the BBC miniseries Wallander.  The series is adapted from Swedish novelist Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels and stars the Kenneth Branagh.  This would be the actor who in my humble opinion is the quintessential Shakespearean actor and one who can bring the Bard's tales to life in a way no actor can.  Watch Henry the V and you will be a fan for life.  Wallander is a great series.  Filmed much like BBC's Sherlock (one of the best series I seen in a long time and a personal favorite) as hour and a half long mini movies, the series follows the very human and fallible Wallander, a police inspector who, like one would expect, investigates crime in a small Swedish town.  What makes the show interesting however, is not the great acting, unusual location for a murder mystery series, or the well developed characters; it is the fact that despite all of these positive elements, I keep falling asleep while watching it.  Normally, this would be an event foretelling a negative review.  But that is not the case.  The show is well done and quite compelling.  All the more reason I can not for the life of me figure out why I keep falling asleep.  I mean, I've managed to stay unwillingly awake through some pretty spectacularly awful Netflix choices.
It took me two separate viewings to make it all the way through the first episode.  The third I haven't finished yet despite three separate attempts.   I can't help but be reminded of an old man falling asleep during his favorite episode of Matlock or Murder She Wrote.  Following the obvious logic string, I can only deduce that I must be getting old.  Prematurely old I might add as I thought my falling asleep during Murder She Wrote days were at least another thirty years away.  Ironically, I've seen Murder She Wrote on several occasions and not once fallen asleep.
In conclusion, I have, for the time being, discovered a cure for my insomnia.  Unfortunately, I really want to know what happens at the end of episode three, titled One Step Behind.  It may be that I'm gong to have to head to my local library and pick up Mr. Mankell's books.

  

The Neglectful Blogger

I know.  You're tired of checking in and seeing the same post.  Hearing about me emasculating myself is only fun for a little while (I still say, one of the best things I've done lately in the good husband department), but enough is enough.  So I'm checking in with an update type post just so you have something new to read.
Book three of the Scarlet Hopewell series (still untitled) is coming along quite well.  Only running into two problems at the moment: one, the multitude of other worthwhile and not so worthwhile distractions vying for my attention and the fact that I have had three great new book ideas that I can't act on until I get book three wrapped up and to the editors.  They are, in my humble opinion, some really great ideas and I'm feeling quite conflicted when I sit down to the old Macintosh to write.  All in all, not really problems anyone in my position wouldn't love to have so I'm going to leave it at that.
I have managed to squeeze in reading another book since last I posted and I'm going to mention it here because it is certainly a must read.  I know I'm late to the party, but I read Hunger Games in just over one day and let me tell you, if you haven't read it, you need to stop reading my drivel (unless you are currently reading one of my novels of course) and get a copy.  I'll admit I was a bit reluctant when I first picked up the book.  I was only reading it because of the hype surrounding the movie and as I delved in I realized it was written in first person, present tense.  Not my favorite.  If you don't know what that is...a quick example:  As I type the keys on the computer, I wonder what exactly I'm going to say.  I haven't planned out the post I'm currently writing and am worried it will deteriorate to mindless drivel.  My wife and kids have just walked in from the backyard, and I know dinner soon must be prepared or there will be a host of angry little women staring me down.
Collins, however, is a master at this particular form of writing and it only added to the amazing pace and tension Hunger Games provides.  I'm not going to give any spoilers or any hints at all, it's better that you just trust me, get the book and enjoy the ride.
To wrap up, I want to thank all of the fans who have taken the time recently to post their reviews on Amazon.  Like it or not, reviews can often mean the difference between someone giving a new author a shot or simply moving on.  So far, I've been quite well received and it only makes me all the more motivated to keep writing.  Thank you.  For those of you in the Northern Virginia area, I'm working with a few bookstores to have a few signings in the coming months and will be sure to keep you posted.  Please, please, please (like you haven't done more than enough already by faithfully reading my blog and books) take the time to join the blog, like my facebook page and join me on twitter.  These thing help tremendously when it comes to gathering new fans.  Till next time...