Hong Kong, here I come!

It’s really starting to get warm outside! I don’t think that I’m used to getting this much sun this early in the season! Next Tuesday I leave for Hong Kong and I’m wondering just how hot it’s going to be there. I’m going for a wedding so I get to be hot AND in a suit, fun-fun.
On the other hand it’s the first time that I’m ever going to be in China and I’m looking forward to seeing a different part of the world and I’ll bring back some pictures for my blog. Really I want to get some good noodles, I've been missing real Asian noodles so very badly!

A good friend of mine invited me along to the Death Cab for Cutie concert and I’m major happy that I went with! It was an epic show and an amazing end and I have to say all kinds of thoughts about the third book in the Dinatech series went through my head. You see I seem to scheme plot the best when I’m listening to music, and in this case live music seems to work just as well.

I don’t want to say too much about the third book because most of you haven’t had the opportunity to read the second book yet. But it made me smile, I can’t wait to start laying out the book.  Also I want Zooey Deschanel to pose for the cover of the third book, anyone have a good way to beg her into it? I sent a tweet isn’t that how all these crazy internet stories start?

 I want to thank again my beta reading team, I got some valuable feedback that I think is really going to pull the story tighter together.

Books I’m currently reading:

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong – I’m about half way through it now, it wasn’t the kind of follow up I was expecting after the first book. It’s a real change from her normal story telling. I’ll keep you in the loop about it.

Hunting Kat by Kelley Armstrong – I know, I’m on a big Kelley kick the last few weeks. She’s put out a lot of things and I’m still working to catch up. This wasn’t the story I was expecting, but I just started get back to you on this next week.

Music of the week:

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen – I heard it and I couldn’t help not liking it. I love songs with strings in them, even if there synthesized.  

And rest it!

Okay, enough talk about how busy my writing is, because you know it, you've known it for few blogs now. Let’s talk about other subjects that would be way more fun of they were accomplished by a normal person.  OH yeah almost at 30K words in manuscript. :)

It’s been full weekends the last few weeks I’m hoping this one will be a little slower. I still think I’m going to a Death Cab concert this Sunday so all is not lost in the life of being too busy to breathe! I have a work flag football team call the “Coasters” and we play football for the flimsy excuse to bring a keg to every game and drink ourselves stupid. We get the bye this week so that adds to my relax time, trust me it’s a lot of work getting 20 people and keg together. You’d think this would just fall into place for ya.

I may have some good friends of mine moving into our small town of Milton, I don’t know what I’m going to do if that happens. I’ll have never lived this close to friends since I was like 12. Even growing up I’d stopped hanging around with the kids in my own neighborhood by then. I’m thinking about how we can have fun with a favorite football team town rivalry thing this fall.  Oh the options. Anyway I’m super stoked but I’m trying to not show it till it’s done and official.

Books I’ve read this week:

Stay Close, by Harland Coben –  Murder mystery, thriller,  Very well done, I actually learned a few things about how I want to write from this one. I will have to read a few more of his books soon, this is a genre I’m not used to.

The Boyfriend List, by E. Lockhart – YA, Romance, I don’t know why, but I couldn’t put this one down. There was nothing that stood out about this book, but I enjoyed it and finished in like hours. It’s not a long book, and very slice of life. Good times. Pick it up.

Perfect Chemistry, by Simone Elkeles – YA, Romance, I read this one and the Boyfriend List because I wanted to read books that were in subjects that I’m currently wring in my own manuscript, Oil and Water. While I enjoyed the other, this one started good but by the end I couldn’t believe in the main characters anymore and the end was too sappy for me to take, and that’s saying a lot. Don’t pick it up.

Darkest Powers Bonus Pack, by Kelly Armstrong – YA, Supernatural, I’m currently reading this one but mostly done. Just some small short stories wrapping around the 3 book trilogy, this work fills in holes. I always like her stuff so you know the answer already that I’m enjoying it.

 

Current music you should own:

Silversun Pickups – Neck of the Woods. It’s been on pera-repeat in my music players.

See ya next week!

Robert

Rock Writing Week In Review.

A while back I was trying to find the word counts for the Harry Potter books and you know what? I couldn't find the true numbers anywhere.  

Ever hear that phrase, "Stop looking for something and it will show up?" Well here you go, I was reading a article on TAXES! and near the bottom of it was the exact data I was looking for. Love it. 

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/americans-making-over-50000-year-paid-933-percent-all-taxes-2010 

In other news I've been writing like a mad man, I'm about 16k into my 100k manuscript for Oil and Water. Sundays so far have been a great day for writing. Last Sunday I started this work and I got out 4K  and then worked a little each day after. This Sunday I did 6K in one day, it's a first time best for me. I'm rather impressed, the most I've ever done in one day before this was 4K.  

Also I'm still writing on From Beer to Apocalypse, page 10 just went up, it's the second page that I've written after page 3 and 4. Del has been doing the plot setup pages and I have been doing many of the reaction pages. I’m starting to see a theme going on here, but it's working so you don't mess with what works right?  

I really liked doing the Red Tash interview, I have to send her another thank you mail.  Now that I have done one, I'll have to find a good place to ask others, that I can subject them to my twisted humor. It's fun to branch out to other authors, and then I'm given the opportunity to ask them any questions that I want to know about them! WOOT! 

Also I promised Red my Wizard book list: 

1.     Wizard of the Grove. – Tanya Huff

This is one of the most epic feeling stories I’ve ever read, every character in the book was lovable to me and I found myself caring about them so much that I did cry and laugh at their adventures as they happened.  The build up at the start of the story goes against what a lot of people teach in writing an opening. Maybe that’s what I love about it so much.  It is my favorite book ever; it’s almost time to read it again. I wish they would get it on the Kindle.

2.     The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern

This is more of a story of pre World War One magic users and one of the best I’ve ever read.

It was poetry that told a story, and I found that I came to love each and every character and I felt myself pulling for them so much I’d grip tighter when the drama would come. It’s a must read for anyone that enjoys a love story, a story of magic, a story of families, all are wrapped well together so well in this book.

Take the time to read this one, you won’t be disappointed

3.     Stealing Magic – Tanya Huff

This was a set of short stories that she compiled to make one novella and it has to be one of the most brilliant stories about a Wizard ever. I can only strive to live up to making a character this amazing.  Magdelene, the worlds most powerful, and laziest Wizard.  Anyone that writes anything about magic should have to read this book, love or hate it.

4.     Harry Potter Series  - J K Rowling

This sounds rather default, but I’ve not seen many complete worlds of magic that was both involving and fun. The story is better because how much there depth to the world there is and it allows you to lose yourself in the story and the world. I do hope she comes back to tell more wizard stories in this world.

5.     Dime Store Magic – Kelley Armstrong  

This is just one part of a whole world of supernatural girls, with this book they focus on Paige Winterbourne. She’s a witch that works magic in a modern day setting. I like the idea of how magic lasted through the ages and that magic could just be around any corner.  Armstrong puts a great twist on how magic works and how it’s hung-on and not gone extinct.

Last week was major all over the place, yo. 

Tuesday I was in Portland to watch the Matthew Sweet Girlfriend 20th anniversary tour. I remember when that CD came out...20 years ago?! Really? Damn it I'm getting old!  I took two good friends and my brother with me and made a day trip out of it. On the way we hit a German restaurant in Vancouver (Washington), Gustav's. If you get the chance to go, it's a must. I had the Lamb shank, AMAZING! On Wednesday in Seattle, I went to see Matthew at the Triple Door. I spent the money for a VIP table (table 11, totally get it if you can for any show) and made a date of it with the wife. It was worth every penny and them some.  

As he fished “Sick of Myself” he turned and tossed the pick he’d used for the whole set. I looked up and thought. Oh shit that’s going to be close! I was wrong, it wasn’t close. It was dead on. One bounce in the seat and then it dropped into my lap. There was a moment of panic as we tried to figure out where it gone to, then I looked and there it was against my jeans. The ultimate memento of a two-night trip. It's one of those once in a lifetime experiences and I so honored that I got the chance to do it.  

Here are a few pictures to leave you with. 

Robert 

Here are some pics that turned out ok on my phone from the show :

Seattle Triple Door

 Portland Aladin 

The pick toss by Matthew