AVATAR MOVIE: 2hrs.& 40min. of awe!

I just spent the last three hours immersed in an alien world of savage beasts and blue-skinned warriors and I loved every breath-taking second of it! Tonight I watched the movie Avatar. It is well worth the hype surrounding it. I went in expecting to see a great movie but I left knowing that I had just witnessed a ground-breaking classic. This movie is much more than computer generated effects and battle scenes. Avatar is a well-written story that touches on the basic things that makes us all human. Even though it takes place on a different world with an alien race, the core of its substance is quite human. Avatar depicts themes of self-hatred, spirituality, racism,war, and self-awareness. Avatar addresses these things both honestly and responsibly. The story goes far deeper than just another sci-fi war flick. Avatar has a soul that gives the audience something more than just flashy camera tricks and computer aided imagery. It forces you to see the brutal consequences of hatred and selfish ambitions.
Avatar is also filled with beautiful scenes of wild imaginations and fantastic creatures. The whole 3D effect only acts to intensify the grappling pull of this visual fest of grand illusions.
Avatar is entertaining and thought provoking. It was the best movie that I have seen in quite some time.

404 PAGES AND COUNTING

Thanksgiving break has been a busy time for me. Besides cooking an entire meal, I also typed until my eyes were blurry. I'm really anxious to finish my new book and so is my wife. She has been on me to get it done. So getting as much done during my week off has been top priority. I'm at 404 pages. I still think I'm about two chapters from the ending. The closer I get to the end, the more nervous I seem to get. While I really look forward to the final punctuation mark, I really dread the time when it's all said and done. That's when the unknown takes place. How many will sell? Will people like it? Will this be my big break? During the writing and editing process, these questions are mostly silent. My focus is on the characters and the action during that time. When the book is printed and available to the public my questions plague me. This isn't about fame. It's about seeing the full vision of my work. That can only happen if I have the opportunity.There's always the hope that Marvel, DC, or some movie producer will stumble upon my Gruff trilogy and want to take it to the next level. Hey, a guy can dream, right? For now, day dreams and high hopes are at a stand still. They are still silenced by my unfinished manuscript. When Gruff: Rising Sons is complete the dreams, hopes, and the unknown can be as loud as they want to be. I still have more work to do. 404 pages and counting!
 

Picturing art with a friend

I think that I will reach my goal of finishing my latest book by the end of the year. Trusting that I will do just that, I have begun preparing for the 2010 year of art. I have been writing literally non-stop for about six years. In this time my art has taken the back burner. I have done only a few significant pieces. Most of my focus has been on writing books and screenplays. Today marked the end of my diligent writing campaign. My friend, Charlie Roberts took some great photos of my art to be used on my website and made into quality prints. This is a big deal to me. My pieces aren't that small. When ever I need to show my work I have to lug around a hefty portfolio of large drawings. Having smaller and lighter prints will make displaying my work so much easier. This is good news, seeing that I plan on doing a lot...a whole lot of drawing next year.

The best thing about today's photo shoot with Charlie was getting to know another side of Charlie. He is one of the friendliest and most genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing. But today I saw the photographer in Charlie. I met the artist! His eye for detail and the wealth of his knowledge was impressive. What he did for me was an act of kindness and friendship that I truly appreciate. Thanks, Charlie for your help in preparing me for next year.

(1st Coast Photo Art by Charlie Roberts) charlie.1stcoastphotoart@gmail.com

The Red Terrors!

My friends know how much I love aquarium fish, especially freshwater. Well, today my new fish finally arrived! Now you probably are wondering why a grown man is so excited over a bunch of fish. The thing is, I am excited. I admit it I am a fish enthusiast! I am very happy about my new fish. They are Red Terror Festaes. These fish were so hard to find at a reasonable price. I searched for months until I finally found them at a great price in Illinois. The joy of finally finding my RTs was almost cut short by the U.S. Postal Service. They lost my Fish! I purchased next day shipping but they never arrived. After many phone calls and emails my fish arrived today. An extra day riding in a mail truck didn't harm them. Now they are swimming happily in my 120gallon tank. I feel like captain Ahab! There was no white-humped whale taunting me from the boisterous froth of the sea. Instead, my angry whale was a little mail truck with my helpless fish tucked in its box-filled belly.

I am not the only fish nut in America. We are millions strong! Go to www.monsterfishkeepers.com and see for yourself.

Sad Reminder

A friend of mine just recently passed away. She was ill but her death was still a surprise. She was a good person with a giving heart and spirit. She was a friend that I will always remember and miss. Her death has given me more than just tears and sadness. It has forced me to reflect on many things in my life. Everyday that we breathe is a precious gift from God. This is the life that will decide our eternity. We have to make the most of this time. I see my wife and children with keener eyes. I love them even more. I see the world and the people around me with more meaning. I pray that I will leave a good impression on this world after I am gone. My friend was one of those people who believed that I would. She always told me that I had a great destiny ahead. She said that I would reach my dreams and be a light to many others. Sometimes I feel bad because she did not live to see the vision that she believed for me. She may not be here but her faith in me lives on. I will see my dreams through. I will make a positive impact on this world. I will fulfill my destiny. She will see it from another place. She'll be happy and proud of the impression she made.

Who is Gruff?

  Many people know that the main character of my trilogy is Gruff. Many more people often ask me, "Who is Gruff?" Well, that can be an awkward question to answer for people who don't usually read sci-fi or fantasy or even comic books. But I will make it as simple as possible without giving away too much of the story.
  Gruff is a hybrid of two races that were once one race of beings. He is half Elf and half Reben. Please do not think of the Keebler sort of elves. Think more in the line of Lord of the Rings elves. Rebens are beings that were once elves long ago. Sin and an evil demon caused them to be cursed with a beastly form. These two warring races make up Gruff. He is unique on his planet. He has blue-grey skin, a well muscled physique, and solid blue eyes. Gruff constantly deals with his very volatile temper. His eyes give away his emotions. His pupiless eyes are blue in his calm state. The angrier he gets, the darker his eyes become. Once fully red, Gruff is taken by his rage. It is a rage that leads to savage outbursts and extreme strength. Throughout the trilogy Gruff must learn to restrain and utilize his anger. He must learn to save his planet by learning to control all facets of his emotions.
  Gruff also is a skilled warrior. From childhood he was trained in a form of combat called Tomak-Aki. This is a ferocious and swift martial art. Combined with Gruff's incredible strength the art of Tomak-Aki takes on a deeper sense of power.
  Gruff also has God-given armor of various powers. His two swords are the most used of this armor. His swordsmanship is legendary. Only a few souls have lived to tell of the prowess of Gruff's steel.
  More than just a demon-killing brute, Gruff is a faithful friend to the end. He faces dangerous adversaries and circumstances all for the sake of his world and for his family and friends. Gruff is a warrior that loves the thrill of war but fights for the peace that his planet yearns to see. He is a man with all the things of average men. He has a family. He has dreams. He has joy and pain. Gruff just has one little thing extra on his list of manhood...the fate of the world on his shoulders.

Kids,Football, and a Luau

Today will be a fun Saturday. There is a festival downtown called Ancient City Kids. The festival has food, games, and prizes for children. There's even a stage for live music. I will be going there with my family. My church has a booth also. My wife will work there for a while today. After the kids are all worn out from sweets, face painting, and booth visits, we will come home for a little while before leaving again. I will squeeze in as much college football as I can into this tiny window. Then it's off to a Luau. My church has monthly gatherings of members living in the same zip code. We call it Fellowzip. Fellowzips are a way to connect and socialize with the people in our church and area. We spend time together eating, talking and enjoying fun activities. Today my Fellowzip is having a Luau at the beach. Should be lots of fun and good food. Then it's back home for more college football, Florida Gators to be exact. I love the Gators! And of course there will be some writing crammed into this schedule. I really want to finish this book so I can focus on my art for a while. I need some time to recharge my brain though. Taking a day away from writing will do the trick. I plan on writing today but family, fun, rest, and of course football will come first. Gruff deserves a day off too!

Headaches and sleepless nights

This may sound strange. It may even sound impossible but it is definitely true. I have so many thoughts, stories, and visions in my head that at times it feels as if my head is about to explode! I mean there are so many unfiinished works and ideas in my brain that I can actually feel them pressed against my skull. Unless I write the words or draw the pictures, I never find any peace. I can't sleep a wink. I am plagued with migranes. This goes on for days or weeks even. I only find sleep and relief after I have completed the work banging around in my head. How strange is that? This is both a blessing and a curse. Unlimited ideas and visions versus pulsating cranial nerves. I keep writing and drawing and the pain and insomnia stay away. Sometimes it takes me a year to finish a book. That's a lot of tylenol! Can anyone else relate? I can't be the only one suffering with this strange ailment...right?