tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574006789276093082024-03-13T11:08:42.452-07:00Musings of an eclecticThe personal blog of M.M. KinM.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-69479455652228513082022-09-24T08:54:00.005-07:002022-09-24T08:54:37.599-07:00The devil in the deets<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing can be rewarding but by the gods it can be frustrating too! Fellow writers will be familiar with this, I am sure. It’s absolutely true what they say, the devil is in the details.</span></p><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When working on a scene, whether it’s dialogue-heavy or action-heavy (or both) there’s a lot to think about, like background and motivation of the characters involved, or even just the background of the world you’re working in (whether it’s real world, or sci fi/fantasy)</p></div><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometimes you get stuck on a scene, and you keep playing out different possibilities or choices in your head, but you keep rejecting them because for some reason this or that won’t work, and it’s especially frustrating if the reason is minor or petty.</p></div><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s even more frustrating when the detail you need to move the scene forward, the one you’re trying to figure out, is minor and petty in itself, and some people might just say fuck it and skip it, but you KNOW this shit has to be resolved/worked out before you can move forward with the scene. Brainstorm this, brainstorm that, nothing fruitful comes out of it, and it makes you angry and frustrated and you wonder if something’s wrong with you.</p></div><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So you spend days, weeks, if not months, trying to work out this detail that shouldn’t be such a bloody pain in the ass but is, and then one day, after much frustration, you finally have that lightbulb moment, or brain-spark, or stroke of inspiration, or your muse decides to not be a bitch that day, whatever you want to call it, and you finally resolve that problem and can finish the scene and move on with the rest of the story.</p></div><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And then you ask yourself why your stupid fucking brain didn’t come up with this in the first place instead of making you struggle however long you did.</p></div><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But that’s not the end of it! Even though you managed to solve that detail, you know there’s going to be more details in the future, and you’ll run in this problem again, and deal with that frustration again... but it’s not like you can just stop writing.</p></div><div class="k31gt" style="background-color: white; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Favorit, "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 15px 0px; min-height: 1.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: var(--post-padding); padding-right: var(--post-padding); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 540px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oy vey. </p></div>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-31143124996415538662022-08-19T09:48:00.004-07:002022-08-19T09:48:59.038-07:00M.M. Kin Video Game Review - Final Fantasy VI<p> This game gets a lot of buzz, and not without reason. I've played the original SNES version - I still have the original cartridge I bought at a Gamestop when I was a teenager - and the updated GBA version. This game was also updated/released to several other platforms including the Playstation and PC, but I will stick to the NES and GBA version as these are the ones I have experience with.</p><p>Unlike the last three games in this series, this one does not talk about elemental crystals, and has a much deeper story. Not that the previous games weren't enjoyable, but a new story certainly was refreshing, and we also got more depth to pretty much all the characters, including some quite tragic backstories. This also has the largest cast of characters, for a total of 14 if I recall correctly, though ultimately, four are optional (if you make the wrong choice, you lose one permanently, two can only be discovered with secret quests, and the fourth one is with you for the first part of the game, and you can choose to get him back later in the second part if you're so inclined)</p><p>This versatility and skill sets in the characters offer you a lot of options for your party. All your characters, except for one, can learn magic from Espers regardless of their skills, though their magical strength will naturally vary.</p><p>This game offers a real mindfuck at several points story-wise, and several choices will have real impact on the story later on. You will have character deaths, mental illness/insanity, exploitation of sentient creatures, and slavery, so this game may not be for those who are really sensitive, but I feel that for its time, these topics are handled appropriately.</p><p>The graphics and gameplay are pretty great. This holds true for the original version, and is polished for the GBA, along with the addition of several bonus dungeons/quests in the remake. If you like RPGs, this is definitely a game to try.</p><p>Grade</p><p>FF6 (SNES version) A-</p><p>FF6 (GBA remake) A</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-7424587718013207192022-03-20T09:10:00.003-07:002022-03-20T09:10:23.991-07:00Retellings of myths and fairy tales<p> As a voracious reader, I have read many, many, MANY books through my time here on this planet. And naturally, although I read all sorts of books, there are certain genres, and sub-genres that I prefer. Among them are novels based on fairy tales, fables, and/or mythology. This is a popular genre on its own, and within this fandom/readership you'll find readers who absolutely love this or that one tale - i.e. Beauty and the Beast, and so they gravitate towards retellings of that story.</p><p><br /></p><p>I enjoy various fairy tales/myths and their retellings, and have come across some amazing novels/graphic novels/TV shows/movies, et. al. Some are retellings of just one myth/tale, while others are a mashup of various stories - for example the TV show 'Once Upon A Time', or the graphic novel series 'Fables', or the Elemental Mages novel series by Mercedes Lackey. And naturally, I am going to see the same character presented in some wildly different images/personalities.</p><p><br /></p><p>I also like reading reviews, both of books I love and books I hate, and sometimes gain valuable insights, even from people who hated a book I loved, or vice versa. However, one complaint that I find to be absolutely unnecessary in the genre of retellings of myths/fairy tales is 'the (character) in this story is not MY (same character)</p><p><br /></p><p>When I read about people complaining that (character) would never act this way, this is not my (character), that's not how (character) is supposed to be, this is not how I imagine (character), I can't help but think, yeah, no fucking shit, Sherlock! Different authors/writers/artists are going to envision the same character in different ways, and that's one thing I like about retellings. I don't wanna read the same thing over and over and read about Beauty or Cinderella or Persephone or whoever being the same personality type and having the same experiences (or reactions) every time I read a story based on that character or myth/tale. Sure, there are some retellings I've enjoyed more than others, but I try my best to judge them to the same standard that I would judge a book of any genre. There are plenty enough issues that can harm a book, regardless of what it is about, without slamming someone for their interpretation of a character.</p><p><br /></p><p>So if a character - whether they be female or male or the main character or a side character - doesn't match my own personal conception of that character, I'm not going to trash the author and give their work a 1-star rating/F/thumbs down or whatever.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is useless and trite to attack a retelling (or its author) for not turning out the exact way you want it to because it's not YOUR retelling. There's a reason why mythology, folklore, and fairy tales are so beloved across the world, and why the subgenre of retellings of these stories is also a popular one in the world of literature. It's honestly fun for me to read different stories about much-loved characters, and this has caused me to come across, and truly enjoy other people's retellings even if what they decided for this or that character wasn't something that I would have chosen for the same character in my own imagination.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>P.S. I'd like to add a list of personal recommendations here. I've done my best to recommend stuff I think that most if not all of my readers/fans would enjoy, but naturally, reading/media preferences are not entirely objective :)</p><p><br /></p><p>Movies</p><p><br /></p><p>Shrek. I know it's probably a bit dated now, but it's still an overall solid fun CG-animated film that mashes together various fairy tales.</p><p>Secret Magic Control Agency (also known as Hansel and Gretel) Another CGI movie, this one is much more recent and I recently watched it on Netflix. It's goofy but fun, and like Shrek, mashes up various fairy tales.</p><p>The 10th Kingdom. TV/movie miniseries, it's a bit old, but it's still hella lot of fun and mixes different fairy tales along with creating some new ones.</p><p>Disney. Some people love it, some people hate it. I'm not pro- or anti- Disney (except for specific things or whatever) but some of their movies have been solid. I like most of the cartoon movies even though some of them are quite dated. For the live-action remakes, I've really liked Beauty and the Beast, and The Jungle Book. For the animated ones, my favorites are Hercules, Brave, and Princess and the Frog (though when I was a little kid, the Little Mermaid was my absolute favorite!)</p><p><br /></p><p>TV Shows</p><p><br /></p><p>Once Upon A Time (at least, the first 4 seasons. After that it just jumped the shark) Various fairy tales mixed up into an urban fantasy setting, had an original premise and the first few seasons were solid storytelling with intriguing characters.</p><p>Ever-After High (based on the YA novel series of the same name) I'm not a huge fan of the ultra-skinny bodies they use for the majority of the characters, but I like the stories themselves, this is another mix-up of various classic fairy tales.</p><p>Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess (starring Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless respectively) Some of the episodes could be really out there or anachronistic, but it's a fun romp through mythology, and not just Greek or Roman.</p><p><br /></p><p>Novels</p><p><br /></p><p>Monsters of Greek Mythology by Bernard Evslin. When I was a kid, the library had a bunch of books in this series in individual hardback format. The collection is now available in e-book version, sans the illustrations that came with the hard copies, which is a shame as the various pictures depicted could be spot-on at times (they were photos of various works of art, from modern to classical, with some recognizable works by recognized masters of art)</p><p>Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey. I have not read the few most recent titles (as of 2022) but most of the early books are solid, being a mix of fairy tale retelling and urban fantasy settings (Victorian and Edwardian eras) Personal faves being Phoenix and Ashes (Cinderella) and Reserved for the Cat (Puss in Boots)</p><p>Daughters of Zeus series by Kaitlin Bevis. A refreshing modern-day YA take on various myths, particularly those of Persephone and Aphrodite, with some surprising (but fantastic) twists on the old stories.</p><p>Receiver of Many/Destroyer of Light-Unlike the previous recommendation, this is Hades and Persephone that is not safe for the kiddies. But it's well-researched and well-told, with a sexy Hades. Rawr.</p><p>Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper. A mix of medieval, modern fantasy, and science fiction, Beauty is one of the most original takes I've ever seen in fairy tale retellings, and overall this is one of my favorite authors for sci-fi. Several fairy tales are mixed in here but the main character/story is based on Sleeping Beauty.</p><p>American Gods by Neil Gaiman. How the fuck can I NOT put that here? :)</p><p>Beauty by Robin McKinley. Based on Beauty and the Beast, and really made an impression on me back when I read it in high school. Beauty's smart and good-hearted, a winning combination. And the Beast? Hmm, read and find out for yourself.</p><p>Songs on Bronze by Nigel Spivey. The author takes on various Greek myths and retells them, adding interesting detail. Not a full-on novel but a collection of various myths the author chose to retell.</p><p>Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Based on Cinderella, this was one of the most unique and memorable novels I've ever read. Highly recommended.</p><p><br /></p><p>Graphic Novels</p><p><br /></p><p>Fables series by Bill Willingham, including various spinoffs such as Jack of Fables and Fairest. Heavily based on fairy tales including many popular ones such as Snow White, Cinderella, or the Big Bad Wolf, but it does have mythology and folklore as well, with many sources and references.</p><p>Hades, Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor. This is the fourth installment in the Olympian series by the author, but I chose this because I love the myth of Hades and Persephone, and this is a really fun graphic retelling of the myth.</p><p>The Sandman by Neil Gaiman, including spinoffs such as The Thessaliad or Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold. This includes a lot of mythology from around the world, including Christian mythology.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is just a partial list, I've read/seen PLENTY of stories within this genre, but didn't want the list to become too long :P For more book recommendations (or to share your own recommendations with me) check out my book reviews/blog at M.M. Strawberry Library and Reviews at Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12558730-m-m-strawberry-library-reviews</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-34629251348386873692021-10-27T09:21:00.002-07:002021-10-27T09:21:21.489-07:00M.M. Kin Video Game Review - Final Fantasy V<p>Look at that! More elemental crystals! We must save the four crystals again or the forces of darkness will take over the world!</p><p>Wait... didn't we already do this before? Three times already, if I recall... in FFI, III, and IV. Wow, these crystals must be super-important!</p><p>But the game is still good. The storyline is unique enough from previous ones that despite the thing with the Crystals, it doesn't feel like some boring rehash. The Jobs system is back, and impvoed, so that skills you learned from one job path can be chosen/retained even if you choose a different path, so you can be a Thief who knows White or Black magic, or a Mage with physical fighting skills (i.e. Monk or Knight) which makes it pretty awesome.</p><p>This is a pretty fantastic installment in the series, with five characters with stories that fit well into the main story, and the artwork and gameplay is pretty fantastic. FFIV had some pretty great graphics, but it was in SNES' earlier days, FFV came along when SNES was improving in its graphics and I loved the designs of some of the bosses/villians.</p><p>The Gameboy Advance remake is pretty much what you'd expect from the updated versions of these games - you get bonus dungeons, but also several new Job designations. This game has a certain complecity in its story and world that exceeds FFIV and I wholeheartedly recommend it to FF fans.</p><p>Grade</p><p>FF5 (SNES version) A-</p><p>FF5 (GBA remake) A</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-81225022762578822512021-10-27T08:58:00.003-07:002021-10-27T09:01:49.171-07:00M.M. Kin Video Game Review - Final Fantasy IV<p>I played the original SNES version in English (branded as FFII back then) when I was a teenager, and enjoyed it. The first three games in the FF series all had unique features, and flaws, as if the series was still trying to find/feel its way. FFIV was actually the very first of the original FF series I ever played, and having played the first 3 games since, I can say that FFIV has a more solid story and gameplay compared to its precedessors.</p><p>Instead of switching around jobs like in FFIII, each character in FFIV has a job and certain skills, and that doesn't change, though I don't think that's a bad thing for this installment. The story is solid, though like FFI, III, and V, there are four elemental crystals the characters need to locate/save. Kinda repetitive, but eh, whatever.</p><p>The characters have backstories/histories, which make them feel more real compared to the generic characters from FFI and III, and FFIV is the best in the series, thus far. At least in my opinion. The story of the villians, and who the real bad guy is, is also decent, and so is the dialogue... there's some funny lines mixed in with the serious/story dialogue. You also get to travel to the Moon, so whee!</p><p>Like all the other remakes so far, bonus dungeons and additional items/weapons are introduced, making a good game even better. Not only that, but the characters you previously lost in the SNES version (Cid, the twins, Yang, Edward) return as playable characters, which definitely made me very happy, LOL. All in all, I would say that though the previous games were decent (especially with their remakes) this is the first installment in the series which really, truly feels very FF-like.</p><p>Grade</p><p>FF4 (SNES version) B</p><p>FF4 (Nintendo Gameboy Advance remake) A-</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-5209124226607473932021-05-28T10:06:00.003-07:002021-10-27T09:01:37.582-07:00M.M. Kin Video Game Review - Final Fantasy III<p> The first time I played this game, it was the oroginal Famicom version (albeit translated into English) I liked this game better than its precedessor, though it was still a basic one. The four main characters all start out as basically nameless OnionKids (you choose the names) and are given no real history. Fortuately in the remake/upgrade, they are given actual names and a history.</p><p>The original version was basic but decent, with job classes you could upgrade to as the game progressed, so you could customize your characters to an extent. There are also a few characters who join you temporarily, and the storyline itself is fairly creative, but also at the same time I could not help but sympathize with the villian Xande (Zande in the Famicom English translation) because the Archmage Noah gave him a shitty gift (mortality) compared to his other students Doga (who got magic) and Unei (who got the land of dreams)</p><p>Weird thing is, Doga and Unei end up dying anyway (voluntarily) We never see Noah in flashbacks or anything like that, even in the remake of the game, so it'd have been nice if the story had been fleshed out more and Noah's decision explained.</p><p>Xande gets so pissed off that it's easy for the Big Bad to use him as a tool and manipulate him Wonder if the great Noah saw that coming, lol.</p><p>Compared to the other earlier FF games (1-VII) this game is solidly in the middle as far as the original version goes, and a bit higher as far as the remake goes.</p><p>Grade</p><p>FF3 (Nintendo/Famicom version) B-</p><p>FF3 (Nintendo DS remake) B-</p><p>I would have given the DS version a better grade (A-) if it wasn't for the Mognet feature embedded into it. The WiFi feature in Nintendo DS was shut down in 2014, and I did not play this game until what, 2015 or 2016. So I had to use Game Genie codes to access the special features unlockable only by using Mognet. Fuck Mognet.</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-23140767120361260992021-04-23T10:20:00.006-07:002021-10-27T09:01:24.717-07:00Book Spotlight - Blood And Other Matter by Kaitlin Bevis<p> I've really enjoyed this author's Daughter of Zeus series - all 6 of the books - so when she endeavoured into a new genre (horror/mystery) I was curious to see what kind of story she would write.</p><p>I was not disappointed. As far as weiting style goes, she is consistent. The Daughter of Zeus series was written for a YA audience, and so was this, so those familiar with Ms. Bevis's work will not have a hard time getting into this.</p><p>Like with her previous books, she does a good job with narration and internal dialogue, so the characters feel real. It's hard to not feel bad for Tess considering what she has to deal with, and the author does a great job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seats, wondering who is behind all this - as someone who has read a fair amount of mysteries, it's nice that the culprit isn't obvious. The various viewpoints are presented well - Tess, her friend, the asshole football players.</p><p>The story is nicely-paced, and the ending... OMG. I won't spoil it, but I can honestly say it never occured to me that THAT would happen. Though I would love to read more mytholgical books from Ms. Bevis, I am also absolutely up for reading more of this kind of book too, or whatever else she may decide to write.</p><p>Kaitlin Bevis's website - http://kaitlinbevis.com/</p><p>Where this book can be purchased - https://amzn.to/2QbFIXN</p><p>Kaitlin Bevis's other books - https://www.amazon.com/Kaitlin-Bevis/e/B00875POAG</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-37909962511915680472021-04-19T09:41:00.005-07:002021-10-27T09:01:04.331-07:00M.M. Kin Video Game Review - Final Fantasy II<p> The first time I played this game, it was the emulated version for the Famicom/NES - translated into English as it had only been available in Japan before.</p><p>It was pretty damn weird, the leveling system. To increase your HP you had to basically attack yourself or others in your party, and your magic would gain strength by using the spells. Fortunately, this kind of stat-increasing would not be used in any other FF games, at least those I played (1-7)</p><p>The story itself is typical for the FF series - not that that's a bad thing. Your characters are on the run from an evil empire that wants to take over the world. It's been a long time since I played this game, or the GBA update, so I admit there's not a huge amount I remember about the details. You did have key words to remember from conversations, mentioning these keywords to other NPCs would garner you information.</p><p>It was an all right game compared to others in the series, and the GBA version did improve it a bit. Not something I recommend unless you're a hardcore FF or RPG fan. Like the other Advanced versions of the FInal Fantasy games, the updated version comes with a bonus dungeon (FF1 and 2 were released together in the Dawn of Souls remake so you can play both games if you get this title)</p><p>Grade</p><p>FF2 (Nintendo/Famicom) C+</p><p>FF2 (Gameboy Advance) B</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-50657540606370464992021-02-12T12:11:00.003-08:002021-02-12T12:11:55.816-08:00M.M. Kin Video Game Review - Final Fantasy I<p> This wasn't the first of the Final Fantasy games I played, but if you're a FF fan, give the old school a try. I played the original NES version, which compared to subsequent titles, is pretty basic and yes, meh. Nonetheless, it sets a foundation for later games, and featured several items and devices that would become very familiar to longtime FF fans - the metal Adamant/Adamantite, four elements (often in crystals) and several job classes you could choose from to optimize the overall strength of your party (My personal recommendation is Thief, Knight, Black Mage, and White Mage, but that's just a personal preference!)</p><p>Gameplay itself is pretty basic, with the HP and GP system you see in most FF games. The MP system was different though, and you could only perform so many magic spells at each level. The number of spells you could cast does increase with each overall level you gain.</p><p>The storyline is somewhat simplistic, but easy enough to figure out, and overall it's a decent game for the first in its series, much like Super Mario Bros 1, or Legend of Zelda 1.</p><p>That said, I really recommend the GBA version of this game, which smoothed gameplay, brought about better graphics, and improved the MP system and made leveling up easier. After defeating each of the Elemental Fiends, you gained access to a bonus dungeon where you could get rare items and weapons, and even fight bosses from other FF games in the series.</p><p>Speaking of items, in the original FF, the item and weapon system was clunky and you could only carry so much at a time. In FF Advance, you can now carry all the weapons and items you like, making optimizing weapons for each player much easier, and you also get a Bestiary, which allows you to see what monsters you have defeated (and how many of each, as well as weak/strong points, possible treasure drops, and the like)</p><p>The four characters you play have no history or personality in either version, but the Advanced version is recommended if you ever do try FFI.<br /><br />Grade</p><p>FFI (original Famicom/Nintendo) C</p><p>FFI (Game Boy Advance) A-<br /><br /></p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-12703860362977049582021-01-15T09:51:00.003-08:002021-10-27T09:21:44.476-07:00Stuff<p>I am going to be using this blog more often. I already have a Goodeads page where I write book reviews, but sadly there is no movie or video game equivalent and I no longer review on Amazon, so I have decided to use this blog for those reviews.</p><p>This entry is also an update on all relevant links.</p><p>My books on Amazon</p><p>https://www.amazon.com/M-M-Kin/e/B00BXGVPFY?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_taft_p1_i0</p><p>My books on Smashwords (also available on Apple Store, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and all other channels Smashwords sells through)</p><p>https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ememkin</p><p>My FB page</p><p>https://www.facebook.com/mmkinauthor/</p><p>My Tumblr</p><p>https://mmkin.tumblr.com/</p><p>Where I write my book reviews</p><p>https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12558730-m-m-strawberry-library-reviews</p><p>Have a fantastic day!</p>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-58608633983039420702017-06-22T10:55:00.005-07:002021-10-27T09:02:04.239-07:00Author Appreciation: Rachel Alexander
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Today's author spotlight
shines on Rachel Alexander, author of Destroyer of Light, an
incredible telling of the myth of Hades and Persephone. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A couple of years ago, I had
the delight of reading Rachel Alexander's novel, Receiver of Many,
the first part of a retelling of Hades and Persephone. I was blown
away by the superb writing and thorough research, along with the
creative takes she did on various myths.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">She published the second part
of her story, and I was no less disappointed in it. Destroyer of
Light is just as rich and deep as the first, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">and
it is for that reason I am happy to recommend not just Destroyer of
Light, but its predecessor, Receiver of Many. If you love mythology,
and Hades and Persephone in particular, give this author a try. You
will not be disappointed.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">See below for my review
(contains </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">mild</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
spoilers)</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The author can be found at</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Destroyer-Light-Rachel-Alexander/dp/0996644725/ref=redir_mobile_desktop/135-4194197-2019351?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0" target="_blank"><b>Amazon </b></a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780996644723" target="_blank">Indiebound</a></b> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/destroyer-of-light" target="_blank">Kobo </a></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/608960" target="_blank">Smashwords </a></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/destroyer-of-light/id1080092584?mt=11" target="_blank"><b>iTunes </b></a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destroyer-of-light-rachel-alexander/1123292937" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barnes and Noble </span></b></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26830535-destroyer-of-light" target="_blank"><b>Goodreads </b></a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">M.M. Kin's review for
Destroyer of Light (from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1841854470" target="_blank"><b>Goodreads</b></a>) </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">AMAZING.<br />
<br />
Simply
amazing. After I read the first book, I was eager for more, and boy
howdy, I was not the least bit disappointed! The writing and use of
research in the story is brilliant, and I love the creative twists
that the author used for various myths she incorporated into this
story, such as the gods of the Levant, or what happens to
Sisyphus.<br />
<br />
I was intrigued when Minthe was mentioned in the
first book, and her story is revealed here in a brilliant twist of
the original myth. I never liked that in the original myths, Hades
cheated on Persephone with Leuke and Minthe, so the author changed
that for a much more intriguing and believable story.<br />
<br />
The
erotic scenes, as one might expect after reading the first story, are
absolutely delicious. I've read enough erotica with cheesy or
ludicrous descriptions, and it's always a treat to read
elegantly-written intimacy.<br />
<br />
Overall a brilliant sequel to
a wonderful book, and altogether an incredible series that shows the
talents of creative and thoughtful author. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; widows: 0;">
<br />
</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-31785305468988364672017-02-09T09:02:00.001-08:002021-10-27T09:02:23.610-07:00The Meddler
If you’re a voracious reader (or movie-watcher, or both) you’re likely
to have become familiar with various tropes and cliches. Some are more
genre-specific, such as a ‘chosen one’ in the realm of fantasy and
sometimes science fiction. Some cliches can be fun, if carefully worked
with, but others just annoy the fuck out of me.<br />
<br />
The particular
topic I am going to discuss today is typically seen in a certain genre,
though you can find this character in nearly any other genre in varying
capabilities.<br />
<br />
This character type is often seen in the romance
genre and is usually a secondary character to the story. It can be a
friend of the main characters, or a neighbor, or relative, or such. She –
and I’m not trying to be sexist here, but it often IS a she – goes by
various names and epithets; meddler, busybody, pushy, and so on. They
also have the tendency to think themselves above the rules, whether
actual rules, such as in a workplace, or the rules of polite society.
Many authors often take this cliché too far, creating characters that do
not endear themselves to the reader.<br />
<br />
Two examples come to mind –
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich, and All At Once, by Nora
Roberts. I was very disappointed in both books.<br />
<br />
Big Girl Panties
is a romance novel centered around a personal trainer and a widow who’d
had a difficult childhood before watching her husband die from cancer. I
liked this book at first because it seemed to be an unconventional
romance with a believable storyline. However, we are then introduced to
the character of Amanda Walker. She is the wife of Chase Walker, Logan
(the male lead)’s best friend.<br />
<br />
Amanda sees the potential for
romance between Logan and his client and teases Logan about it. It is
clear that Logan and Chase have long experience with her bossy
personality, but they still let her walk over them, resigning themselves
to the fact that she will find out about this or that sooner or later.
She came across as a know-it-all, and even after Chase told her in no
unclear terms to leave Logan and his client alone, she still finds ways
to push everyone’s buttons. With a blatant disrespect for other’s
personal lives and spaces, Amanda’s meddling comes across as someone
bored with their own life and needing to prove themselves smarter than
others by being like, 'ha! See, I was right!’. Ugh.<br />
<br />
Normally, I
enjoy Nora Roberts books. I’ve read about a dozen of them, but All At
Once was terribly disappointing. It is a two-story collection, and my
focus is on the first story. It centers around a woman and her longtime
best friend founding a summer camp for tween girls that happens to
border an apple orchard owned by a handsome and wealthy man. (You can
see where this is going, right?)<br />
<br />
One of the campers is a, if I
remember the age correctly, twelve-year-old girl named Roberta Snow. She
is a very intelligent but devious and manipulative character who acts
under the guise of innocence. The female and male lead of this character
meet by chance, when Roberta and a couple of her friends sneak over
into the orchard – a blatant violation of the camp rules that Roberta is
well aware of. When caught, she will act all sweet and apologize, and
when your back is turned, she will be off breaking another rule. When
she catches wind of the male lead’s interest in the lovely female lead
who is also her counselor, Roberta gleefully gets herself into the role
of matchmaker and manages to embarrass Eden more than once. Honestly, I
didn’t blame Eden for wanting to strangle Roberta.<br />
<br />
The story is
brought to its denouement with Roberta breaking YET another rule (and in
somewhat dangerous circumstances) and forcing a confrontation between
the orchard owner and the camp counselor. The male lead was arrogant and
kept disrespecting Eden’s boundaries but THAT is not the kind of
character cliché that is being discussed in this essay!<br />
<br />
In both of
these books, these two unrepentant meddlers go on about their merry way
after the book is ended, with no repercussions for their actions, the
feelings they hurt, the toes they stepped on, and the embarrassment and
anger they caused towards the people they were trying to “help”. The
only time I am amused by this character cliché is if in the end, the
meddling character gets his or her comeuppance in some way, because too
many of these 'I don’t care if this annoys/angers/embarrasses you, I’m
just trying to help and you will accept my help whether you like it or
not!’ assholes really need an ass-whooping, or at least a bitch-slap.
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-66151096130981114212016-08-01T02:10:00.005-07:002021-10-27T09:02:32.474-07:00Intelligent design, my ass.You all know about basic human biology and how we grow, right?
Typically, we hit puberty between ages 12 to 14, signifying that we are
capable of reproduction (not that it's a good idea to reproduce at that
age, haha!) and for many, brains do not finish developing fully till
around age 25 (although I've seen some older people whose brains have
never apparently fully matured, haha)<br />
<br />
This makes absolutely no sense to me. We're ready to reproduce in half the time it takes for our<span class="text_exposed_show">
brains to complete their development? There's no way this is
intelligent design, folks. How many of us were ready to be parents as
teenagers? Or even in our 20's or 30's? I knew that as a teenager, I was
nowhere near ready to have a child (having several younger siblings
helped, I am sure)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
I see
people with the self-control and intelligence of small children,
spitting out babies without regards to the consequences. Their sense of
responsibility is practically nil, and they leave their crotch droppings
for others to take care of, which just leaves a mess all around.<br />
<br />
The human race would be much, much better off if the stages of our
development were reversed, and it was our brains that were mature at 13,
and our bodies didn't become able to reproduce till 25. Dealing with
all the raging hormones of being a teenager would be much easier if we
had fully developed brains to deal with the stress of that, along with
the other stuff we have to deal with in our teens and early 20's. THAT
is how I would intelligently design the human body (along with taking
out the wisdom teeth and appendix, or at the least, making sure these
two body parts actually serve a real function instead of hurting our
jaws and rupturing in our stomachs)</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-3411404305709853902016-07-04T08:54:00.004-07:002021-10-27T09:02:44.958-07:00It’s a total dick move, fellas<div class="title">
Piracy, that is. I, and
many other authors have to deal with assholes ripping our books for
illegal downloads/torrents. I can’t tell you how many DMCA notices I’ve
had to file since I published my first book.</div>
<div class="title">
</div>
<div class="copy">
People who want to
whine and be all like ‘but I can’t afford a book/movie!’ STFU., The
Internet costs money, and so do the devices that access the Internet. If
you have a desktop, tablet, laptop, or mobile phone, then you certainly
can afford the price of a book, or movie, or song, or whatever it is
you’re looking to pirate. Said devices cost a hell of a lot more money
than the few dollars it takes to purchase an e-book or movie download.
So does that Internet/service/data plan.<br />
<br />
I price my books with my
readers in mind - my books are only 4.99 each for the Nook or Kindle,
which is cheaper than most meals, and cheaper than nearly every form of
entertainment out there, including, yes, your Internet and device!<br />
<br />
Complaining
about the price of a book/movie/music download and going to illegal
sites to torrent it is no better than bitching about prices at a brick
and mortar store, and helping yourself to a five-finger discount. Either
way, it’s stealing, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. There really is no
excuse for stealing, unless you have absolutely no money and your
children are starving so you steal a loaf of bread and some milk so you
can feed them.<br />
<br />
I’ve witnessed shoplifting several times (both as
an employee at the stores i worked in, and as a customer at other
stores) and it was NEVER for something that was actually
important/lifesaving (except for condoms, but that’s another matter…)<br />
<br />
Authors
and artists work hard at their craft. Every dollar an indie author
earns means a lot to them. Not that I encourage ripping big-name authors
like Stephen King or whatever, he works hard at his books like I do,
and even if he makes a lot more money than I do, I feel he is entitled
to every bit of it. All the books I own have been either purchased
properly, were hand me downs (from people who presumably paid for them)
obtained from Little Free Libraries, or were given to me by other
authors for reading and reviewing.<br />
<br />
Illegally downloading books is a
total dick move. It hurts authors, especially indie ones who have to
scramble for each cent they earn, and if you really could not afford a
few dollars for a book, you wouldn’t be able to afford your Internet
subscription or electronic device, so you just look like a lazy, cheap
dumbass when you pirate.</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-21491266873634667262016-02-24T08:30:00.002-08:002021-10-27T09:03:00.828-07:00Required reading in schools
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I do not doubt that
many if not all of you, at least once in your life, was required to
read a book for school. I'm not talking about college/university, but
primary/secondary school. You had to read the book at a certain pace,
and do various things related to it – writing assignments, tests,
quizzes, book reports, even projects.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Doubtless most, if
not all of you, didn't like the work associated with said books –
even if you were an avid reader like I am. For me, these assignments
and projects simply ruined a book for me. I just wanted to read the
book, damnit. I didn't want to do some lame poster or diorama or
essay on the book. I LOVED to read, and read a god amount of classic
books that had never been required reading for me through my time in
public school.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
School curriculums
were different, I've heard of a wide variety of books being required
that were not part of my own curriculum, and vice versa. The books
carried from city to state, and doubtless, from country to country,
but I do not doubt that many non-American students have had a similar
experience with reading a book for school.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In primary school,
several books were required from fourth through sixth grade (appr.
Ages 9-12 in the American school system) For me, this included, but
was not limited to, The Wind in the Willows, A Wrinkle in Time, and
the Hobbit. I should have enjoyed all of these. I didn't. All because
the school bogged down the reading process with superfluous junk that
just left me bored and frustrated. I remember for Wind in the
Willows, there were ten words per chapter that were apparently
supposed to be challenging for us. Apparently we were deemed too
stupid to have known what these words meant, and so each chapter came
with a list of ten words that each student had to write into a
sentence to show that they knew the meaning of the word. And making
sure that we knew the meaning of the word was supposed to ensure that
we knew what the fuck the story was about and it was also supposed to
expand our vocabulary and help us become more well-rounded. Or some
bullshit like that. It was just basically busywork.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Being an avid
reader, I knew what most of the words meant, and for the few that I
didn't, I'd just look up in the dictionary (mainly British words that
I was not familiar with at 9 years old) These stupid vocabulary
lessons were a waste of time for me, and I would write the shortest
sentences possible (two or three words, typically) The teacher was
upset at this, even though technically I was following the rules. I
freely admit I was the kind of kid who would brush off aside
assignments and put in minimum effort in projects I felt was a waste
of my time. I'd have been happy to read more instead of doing
projects.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The next couple of
years brought more books which I would have enjoyed on my own,
without any prompting from teachers, but the assignments given us
ruined the experience for me. Group projects were usually an ordeal
for me as I never liked to talk, and would have remained silent
during the whole meeting unless prodded.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Middle and high
school brought about several more books. Fortunately, my 7<sup>th</sup>
grade teacher was a decent fellow, and though we did have a few
assignments/quizzes, it was much better than in elementary school.
8<sup>th</sup> grade English was focused on grammar, but we did have
several short stories to read and analyze through the year. My
teacher was… ugh. That's all I'll say about her. We had to write
exhaustive essays on these stories, and despite my best efforts, it
was difficult for me to get an A (the best grade) on these
assignments even though I had no problem with actually reading said
stories.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
High school (grades
9-12, ages 14-18) was actually better. I had one great
teacher in 10<sup>th</sup> grade that made his assignments more
flexible so students were better able to use their natural talents.
We did have a couple of assigned books, but he also gave us a couple
of options. We could pick ANY book we wanted, and choose from one of
several projects to do for our book. These options included an essay,
making paper dolls, suggesting how you would make the book into a
movie, and so on. All you had to do was demonstrate that you actually
read the book and understood the story. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even the book
everyone had to read was introduced to us in a manner that included
some flexibility for us. 11<sup>th</sup> grade brought me to American
Lit. The teacher was a decent fellow, and we read several American
classics, two of which I had already read before on my own (The
Scarlet Letter and To Kill a Mockingbird) There were no projects, but
we did watch the Mockingbird movie, and had classroom discussions on
the chapters as we went along, along with several tests and quizzes.
Overall not a bad experience.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I understand that
teaching a child to read is important, and the value of the
appreciation of a book. However, not everyone is so inclined to
bookish pursuits. There are all kinds of people in this world, and
while literacy is important for everyone, not everyone is going to
have literary interests. There's plenty of other issues with the
public education system, but I'm focusing on this particular topic.
Not everyone is going to like a book. I know I hate a few books that
are considered classics, and fortunately I never had to read them for
school.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I think the best way
to foster an interest in books for children is to give them an
option. Some kids like sci-fi, others prefer historical, and so on.
My recommendation would be to have a list of books for children of
primary school age. Perhaps 20 to 50 different books. And the same,
for older children. The books could also be split into length, with
an appropriate selection from each. Perhaps 100 short stories, 50
middle-length books (150-200 pages for primary school, 200-250 pages
for higher grades) and 20 longer books, again age-appropriate as
needed. Over one semester, a child can choose one from each category,
to read at their own pace through the semester. The categories would
be varied so students could pick a book that would interest them
more. Extra credit could be gained by reading more than the required
amount of stories. Titles would include many classics but also some
contemporary novels, perhaps a small category of current popular
books like Harry Potter, Divergent, or the Hunger Games.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Students could also
choose their own books and propose it to the teacher, so as to not
limit students to the pre-approved book list. This flexibility would
help students read/discover niche authors and titles, and share them
with the teacher and other students.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To prove they have
read the books, they can either have an interview with a teacher who
has read said story, take a test with a mixture of multiple
choice/short essay questions, or write an essay on their thoughts on
the book, with enough information to prove that they actually read
the story. The student can choose which s/he is comfortable with and
fulfill the requirements without any silly busywork. This would ensure that a child does a set
amount of reading, and since they chose the book, they can enjoy
reading more. This wouldn't make everyone avid readers, but it would
give children a good start in literacy and the chance to read and
learn from different voices and authors.</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-56751244974573700362015-12-09T19:54:00.005-08:002021-10-27T09:03:09.489-07:00Self-supporting dystopias<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Over
the last decade, dystopian fics have been popular. There's the Hunger
Games, Divergent, the Maze Runner, Unwound, When She Woke, and so on.
The authors of these novels (and plenty more that I didn't mention)
comee up with all sorts of unique worlds/scenarios, with some sort of
plot device that caused the world to become dystopic (natural
disasters, war, nuclear holocaust, religious takeovers, and so on)
and thus the world, or at least a country, is created, or begun anew.
Dystopic stories are one of my favorite sub-genres of fiction, but I
am also a picky… er, discerning reader.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
will admit first off, that I am a plot Nazi. Ever heard of grammar
Nazis? Sure you have. For me, I tend to focus on the plot and its
background, and how well certain details or subplots of a story fit
together, and if the framework/background is plausible. At the end of
a book, if important questions are left unanswered (without a sequel
forthcoming) my jimmies become rustled.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Among
my writing goals is a science fiction universe (which will have at
least one book in it) and as you guessed, it will be dystopic. I
can't reveal details right now as I am still working out and mapping
the aspects of this world. What I can say is that reading various
dystopic novels, and being a plot Nazi, has helped me in my own
world-mapping.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One
major issue in some novels – not simply dystopic, but some sci fi
works in general, or fantasy, is that when the author introduces us
to his or her world, there are aspects of it that he/she neglects.
Now, each story is different, so certain story or societal elements
in each tale will receive more or less emphasis. Some tales may focus
more on the difference between the rich and poor of that world.
Others will focus on gender issues, or religious issues, relations
with alien races, or so on and so forth.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An
author needs to be careful to create a world that is sustainable and
actually makes sense. They don't need to go into every minute aspect
of this world they created, but they do need to do a lot of thinking
and planning behind the scenes, to make this world be able to support
itself.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One
big example of an author doing it wrong is the Divergent series by
Veronica Roth. I must warn you, there will be spoilers ahead for
those of you who have not read the books.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In
the Divergent world, which is set in our future, the United States as
we know it is no more. There is this society which is ruled by five
factions – Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. The
members of these Factions have traits which qualify them for their
Factions, and each Faction has a duty to the city (which come with
priilege) and there are certain jobs which belong to each Faction.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Abnegation,
which focuses on selflessness, is tasked with the leadership of the
city, since selflessness is seen as the best quality a leader can
have. Amity, which focuses on living peacefully, is in charge of food
production, as they work and maintain the farms which feed the city.
Candor, whose trait is honesty and an intolerance of lies, serves as
the lawyers of the city. Dauntless, which values courage, serves as
the soldiers of the city. And Erudite, which values intelligence, are
the teachers and scientists.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When
I first started reading Divergent, I enjoyed the book and being
introduced to this world. However, I began to see issues that would
cause this society to collapse within itself pretty quickly.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">People
who do not have a Faction are basically screwed. They are second –
heck, third-class – citizens, treated shabbily. Most of them are
homeless, without means to support themselves. There is no mention of
them having jobs, and Abnrgation gives them charity – Tris' mother
does knitting and bakes bread for Factionless.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Children
who are born to people in Factions may choose to stay in this Faction
when they become 16, or transfer to a different Faction where they
must pass an initiation to prove that they have the trait that is
valued by that Faction. If they fail the initiation, they become
Factionless. Nothing is said of the children that are born to
Factionless parents, it seems that they remain Factionless their
whole lives, having no chance at all to have a decent life.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As
I pointed out, each Faction has jobs that it has provenance over.
However, there are plenty of jobs which apparently don't exist
anymore, like construction (many things in the city are in decay,
potholes in the roads, etc. However, some buildings – particularly
the ones that the Factions use or reside in, are maintained) So <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">officially</span>, jobs in construction don't exist because the Factionless
are given no means to support themselves, yet someone has to do the
construction/repair. There are plenty of other jobs that don't fit in
the Factions, either – such as blue collar jobs, i.e.
textile/clothing production, food processing, production of various
goods such as shoes, containers, books, electronics, and so on.
Veronica Roth completely neglects this vital aspect of society,
simply dividing the world of Divergent into the haves and have-nots.
The world of Divergent would not last a year with this system, as
things would go to hell pretty bloody fast. (This society, according
to the Divergent series, has gone on for about eight generations, or
about 200 years, if I recall correctly)</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No
society is perfect. Hence dystopia, instead of utopia. But when
creating a society, however oppressive or cruel it is, one has to
consider how such a society and regime would be able to sustain
itself for a meaningful period of time. In the society of the Hunger
Games, Suzanne Collins created the country of Panem, and even though
in the end Pamen comes to an end, Pamen had a system which lasted for
75 years (not including the years before the first rebellion) which
included keeping the majority of the population poor and oppressed,
and using the Hunger Games to keep the districts pitted against one
another instead of cooperating.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Even
though the oppression and cruelty of the Capitol came back to bite it
in the ass (with some help from Katniss Everdeen) the fact remains
that the regime of the Capitol was effective enough to keep the
masses oppressed for 75+ years, and may have gone on longer if not
for Katniss.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Regardless
of what kind of story/world you create, and whether or not you plan
to have the rulers/society of this world eventually come to an end,
you need to lay a good foundation for this world.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-272388719499392452015-11-29T07:32:00.002-08:002021-10-27T09:03:20.110-07:00Book recommendation: Receiver of Many<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">It's
been a while since I did an Author's Spotlight, and it gives me no
small amount of pleasure to introduce a talented fellow author,
Rachel Alexander! Recently, she released the first book in a duology
based off the myth of Hades and Persephone (gods, I do love that
myth!)</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Receiver
of Many is rich in prose and image, and the story itself is written
fantastically. I have written a more complete review of the book over
at Amazon and Goodreads. I can say in all honesty that if you enjoy
the myth of Hades and Persephone, this book should not disappoint
you.</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">The
second book in this duology, Destroyer of Light, comes out next year.
It is one book that I am having a hard time waiting for, given how
much I enjoyed Receiver of Many. She also has a third book to be
released, 'Thrice Plowed Field' wh<span style="font-size: x-small;">ich ties in with her duology.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lpdxv2J6bEj6brnkqmAbxQXx9mzoz21z5EykogPQ4ybrMvquOIr_MNKQGJvhxcwV5iuLY5S2Iw7fSClsjxRbkkPGHzjGgImk8ZIbP0q50mDaIM6zB17KHrrndz_aVgAHCZ-Tri6-ZN7x/s1600/reccover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lpdxv2J6bEj6brnkqmAbxQXx9mzoz21z5EykogPQ4ybrMvquOIr_MNKQGJvhxcwV5iuLY5S2Iw7fSClsjxRbkkPGHzjGgImk8ZIbP0q50mDaIM6zB17KHrrndz_aVgAHCZ-Tri6-ZN7x/s320/reccover.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">All links open in new windows for ease of navigation. </span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R6XHP7M6GAHOZ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm" target="_blank">My Amazon review</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">And mirrored over at <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1422331749" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Ms.
Alexander has other websites you can also follow, including her own
Goodreads.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://rachelalexanderofficial.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> </span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></b>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4319300.Rachel_Alexander" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goodreads </span></a></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Alexander/e/B014GST8I6" target="_blank">Amazon </a></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/receiverofmany/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://kata-chthonia.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr </a></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.27in;">
<br /></div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-12158356917368691892015-09-22T07:24:00.001-07:002021-10-27T09:03:30.337-07:00Ghostwriting<div class="post_body">
As both an author and as a reader, I have to
say that I have a low opinion of ghostwriting. Whatever its intent, I
feel it is a dishonest practice. When I was little, I read Babysitters’
Club, Goosebumps, and Sweet Valley. I enjoyed these books, and thought
at the time, that these were actually written by the person whose name
was on the cover of these books. It was not until years later that I
learned that these books were farmed out to various people who would
churn out these titles month after month. (I did wonder how Francine
Pascal was able to write so many series of Sweet Valley books – at least
four monthlies that I know of/remember, plus various specials.<br />
<br />
It’s
not the worst thing to happen in this world, to be certain, but when I
was little, I honestly believed that the authors who had created these
universes wrote these stories themselves, and to discover that these
books were done by basically anonymous authors in need of a few bucks.<br />
<br />
Recently
I obtained two books by the author Vince Flynn from my nearest Little
Free Library. I really enjoyed both books (military/government
thrillers) so I decided to go online and do a bit of research. To my
dismay, I found that he had died a couple of years ago from cancer. He
was relatively young, and he had a lot of talent and a knack for
storytelling.<br />
<br />
I was saddened to discover that his books are being
continued through a ghostwriter. It doesn’t matter how much a
ghostwriter studies an author, NO ONE can ever imitate an author. Some
can try, some might get close, but no one is perfectly imitable. I still
plan to read more Vince Flynn books because I enjoyed his work and
stories, but I have no interest in reading the ghostwritten books.<br />
<br />
It’s
one thing if an author dies with an unfinished book, and someone else
finishes that book with whatever the author was able to finish, plus any
notes he may have left for the unfinished part. Even then, I feel that
such books need to come with a disclaimer, in a foreword or some such,
explaining that the book was completed by someone else due to the true
author’s demise. After that, an author’s works and name need to be
frankly, left the fuck alone.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, thanks to greedy,
unscrupulous publishers, agents, and/or family members, some authors
can’t count on their name and dignity being respected after their death.
One prime example is V.C. Andrews, author of Flowers in the Attic. At
the time of her death, she had seven published novels, plus several
others that had been written, but not picked up by a publisher. The IRS
declared that her name was a valuable asset that could be taxed, and her
family went to town on it, hiring a ghostwriter who has since then
written over 70 books under her name. In the beginning, he did a decent
job, and was able to complete the few manuscripts she had left
uncompleted, but after that, her notes and material ran out, and the
books he has been writing have gotten steadily worse and worse, with
cliched plots, nonsensical stories, repetitive phrases, and an overall
lack of effort.<br />
<br />
He’s written more books under V.C.’s name than his
own, because he is a lackluster author in his own right, and he knows
that if he publishes his own stories under the VCA name, he is
guaranteed more profit and readers than if he put his own name on his
stories, just because of the weight that VCA’s name carries (and the
poor woman has been dead for almost 30 years!)<br />
<br />
Despite the
suckiness of his recent books, books under her name continue to sell
because of the fame and success she earned with the books she wrote
under her own name (although older books sell better than more recent
ones, which are received more negatively) To this day, many people still
believe that the original V.C. Andrews is still alive and writing, and
the publishers even push this illusion by putting on the blurh “from the
bestselling author of Flowers in the Attic” on recent books.<br />
I
can’t imagine anyone ever using my name for things they write. I don’t
care about their skill level; if they’re confident that they can do a
good job, they should also have the confidence that they can be
successful under their own name (whether it be their birth name, or a
pen name)<br />
<br />
As for authors who are alive, and allow others to write
under their name, I can’t say that I have much, if any respect for them.
I wouldn’t be bothered if a series had the name of the individual who
actually wrote it somewhere in the book (and not in a spot where they
would try to hide it) so that readers would know exactly who wrote said
book, and how many different authors there are for any series. When you
look at a TV show, you have writers for each episode, and you can find
their information in the credits. A book shouldn’t be any different.<br />
<br />
I
certainly don’t want anything that’s not mine, to be credited to my
name, especially if that work is lackluster and shoddy. The sad example
of V.C. Andrews, among others, should give authors pause in how they
want their legacy to be handled after their deaths. I have stated
before, and I will state again publicly, that I never have, nor will I
ever, give anyone permission to write under my name in case I become ill
or die. I would never want to leave behind a legacy that could be
tarnished by someone else, especial in the name of profit. Anyone who
wants to write, needs to stand on their own feet instead of mooching off
someone else’s name and hard work.</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-60899197976677654682015-09-22T04:27:00.002-07:002015-09-22T04:27:43.711-07:00FacebookDue to a psychotic ex-friend/fan who filed a false report against me to
Facebook for using a "fake name", my old account went kibosh even after I
explained to FB that I was not using a fake name, but a pen name, and
showed them my Amazon page and other evidence of my author persona. I
can no longer access/run my old FB community page, so I had to create a
new one.<br /><br />Please unlike any of the old pages I created, this is the new/official FB fan page.<br />
<br />
https://www.facebook.com/MM-Kin-1487803744867049<br />
<br />
I can be contacted at ememkin@gmail.com. I am no longer posting links to
my personal FB profile, from now on I am only posting links to the fan
page. If you were my friend on my old account, understand I did not ban
or unfriend you - that account is kibosh and is not showing up anywhere -
not on friend lists or anything like that, if you try to click on a
link to it, it will say the page is broken/unavailable. If you had been
my friend on my old account, email me so I know who you are, and can
link you to my new personal profile. M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-84601082384883868892015-02-05T18:36:00.002-08:002021-10-27T09:03:43.977-07:00Author Spotlight - Kathryn White<span class="userContent">Today, my author’s spotlight falls on Kathryn White!<br /> <br />
I have enjoyed Kathryn White’s books, and like me, she writes in
different genres, with a little bit of different things, to create a
collection that I really enjoyed. I would say that m<span class="text_exposed_show">y
favorite out of her books is Being Abigail, but I have enjoyed her
other books. She has a style of writing that I really enjoy, with a nice
mix of serious and humor, both applied at appropriate moments within
her books. She just released a new book, Everybody Hates Abigail, , and
will be releasing another book, Poison Ivy, which I am more than eager
to read. Give this author a try – you will not be disappointed!<br /> <br /> Kathryn has a blog where she reviews books <a href="http://kathrynwhiteauthor.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://kathrynwhiteauthor.blogspot.com/</a><br /> Her FB page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhiteauthor" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhiteauthor</a><br /> Her Amazon, where you can find her books in paperback and e-book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-White/e/B00BZQMN26/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-White/e/B00BZQMN26/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1</a><br /> Her Goodreads page <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5208758.Kathryn_White" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5208758.Kathryn_White</a></span></span>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-80623168017671685602014-06-11T18:48:00.000-07:002014-06-11T18:48:50.344-07:00Some book recommendationsBeing a huge fan of Hades and Persephone, and having written my own trilogy based off this enthralling myth and with plans to write more stories based off mythology, it is only inevitable that I take interest in other author's takes on myth. I would like to showcase two authors, who each have told their own versions of much-loved myths.<br />
<br />
First off is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8159801.Elly_Green" target="_blank">Elly Green</a>.and her Erato's Musings series. I have read the entire series so far, and really enjoy them. So far she
has written a book of 4 collected stories, and two separate short
stories. All of them can be found on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elly-Green/e/B00JOO17SM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1402448165&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
<br />
I do need to warn, that these stories are written as erotica, and
definitely not recommended for children... but I still highly recommend
them!!! Ms. Green obviously has done her research here, and touches on
lesser-known Greek myths in her collection. The backstories are
interesting, and the sex scenes are rich and varied, so you don't feel
like you're reading the same story over and over when you move from one
story to another. If you enjoy an adult take on Greek mythology, you
will not be disappointed! <br />
<br />
Second is <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150699.Kaitlin_Bevis" target="_blank">Kaitlin Bevis</a>, author of the Daughters of Zeus trilogy. Unlike Elly Green, Ms. Bevis' own trilogy is geared at the YA audience, with a very different, but just as thoughtful, and well-researched take on Greek mythology. This is a very creative retelling of the Hades and Persephone tale, and
is now one of my favorite versions out of the various retellings I've
read. Her books can also be found on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kaitlin-Bevis/e/B00875POAG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
<br />
I am happy to do cross-promotions, just contact me at ememkin at gmail dot com!<br />
<br />M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-44775819703041384022014-01-17T10:31:00.002-08:002014-01-17T10:31:28.131-08:00<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
An Open Letter To My Readers</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have received a wide
variety of feedback on my trilogy. Most of it was positive, a few
were negative, and some offered valuable bits of constructive
criticism (including one complaint several people made) which I have
applied to while editing Seeds this last month. I’ve also noted a
few observations, and now that Seeds has been out for a while, I’d
like to address these observations and criticisms.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A few readers took
issue with some of the dialogue in Seeds, saying it was too
contemporary. I honestly never intended this. It was obvious to me to
not use modern-day slang so I wasn’t going to have the gods call
each other ‘bro’ or anything like that, but other words were a
bit of a gray area. When I used the word ‘okay’, I was trying to
use it as a way to signify a more casual form of speech, since some
people may speak differently in a more formal situation, such as at
work, and use a few different words at home when around family and
friends. Of course this varies from person to person, and I was
trying to convey a certain mood when I used the word ‘okay’ or a
couple of other more casual/slang words such as ‘sure’.
Ultimately, I decided to delete the several ‘okay’ in Seeds and
replace them with more appropriate words, and ended up replacing a
few other words throughout the trilogy as well.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I wanted to make Seeds
a rich story, instead of merely focusing on the romance. I’ve read
other novels about Hades and Persephone that focused on the romance
and left out or minimalized other aspects of the tale. I’m not
saying that this in itself is bad – some people like romance books,
and there is nothing wrong with a Harlequin-esque story (I enjoy them
myself sometimes!)</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I could have cut out
certain parts of the trilogy, like Demeter’s time in Eleusis, or
the backstory that was set up in Book 1. This might even have made
Seeds easier for me to write, if I had chosen to neglect these parts.
However, I didn’t want to. The writer in me rebelled against that,
and I am the kind of person who likes the whole story. Not each book
needs to be written like this, mind you, and I am just fine with
short stories, but for Seeds, I had to do what felt right to me, and
Seeds would have felt incomplete without these parts that I
mentioned, among others.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What about the erotic
scenes? I will admit that this was partly in response to 50 Shades of
Gray. I will be honest – I did not like that book and found it the
opposite of sexy, and the characters to be totally unappealing. I
always intended for Seeds to be a mature book, not a YA book, and I
did my best to make the steamy scenes varied and fun to read.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I put each scene into
Seeds for a reason – romance, action, drama, erotic, and so on. I
thought long and hard about each scene and edited Seeds about five
times, several scenes were deleted and others added since the first
draft of this tale. Not everyone is going to like my books or the way
I write them, and I accept that, and I will not change my voice. I
wanted to make Seeds different from all the other novelizations and
retellings of the Hades and Persephone myth, and I am rather pleased
with the result.</div>
M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-79955457283393501272013-10-25T10:07:00.001-07:002013-10-25T10:07:18.513-07:00Seeds 3, and some writing tipsThe final book in the Seeds trilogy is now out, and I still feel all tingly and disbelieving about the fact that I've managed to get three books published! It's almost surreal.<br />
<br />
Amazon (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/M-M-Kin/e/B00BXGVPFY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">print and Kindle</a>) Barnes and Noble (<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/m.m.-kin" target="_blank">Nook</a>) <br />
<br />
So I thought I would take the time to share some writing tips, because unfortunately, through my voracious reading habits I have come across some terrible books along with good ones. Putting all the tips in one entry would be so long, so I've decided to just share what I feel are a couple of really important ones.<br />
<br />
--- Research is key. This tip is absolutely non-negotiable if you want a quality book. If you're writing a book that requires a lot of technical information or background, such as a detective/police novel or a novel about a doctor and/or hospital, you absolutely need to research what procedures the characters in your book use. This includes bureaucracy, paperwork, standard operating procedures, and all that. Of course, each novel will vary in how much of these details are actually outlined within the book, this is up to the writer how technical they might want to be. This depends on the target audience, if you're writing a light romance novel where one of the characters is a doctor, this won't require as much technicality as say, a medical thriller, as the audiences for these genres do not often overlap. And of course, it's not just police and medical work that need research, each career field has its own rules and procedures, so even if you're writing a book about a model, research the modeling/fashion industry! Not only will your story be more well-defined, but you'll learn a few new things! Knowledge is power!<br />
<br />
Even if you're writing in fantasy or science fiction, two genres which give the author much more leeway in what they can do in their worlds, some research is still necessary. Say you're writing a fantasy novel where one of your characters is a knight or paladin or some such. You want to research the types of armors and weapons and their strengths and weaknesses. For science fiction, depending on what your story is about, you want to do research in technology that we currently use, so you have a good background for whatever things you might invent for your science fiction world. And that leads into the second tip...<br />
<br />
--- Avoid handwavium. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handwaving" target="_blank">Wikipedia article</a>) This can appear in any genre of work, but often appears in fantasy and science fiction, as well as post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction. It can appear in various forms such as a deus ex machina, or a piece of magic or technology that can solve any problems presented in the story. While fantasy and science fiction gives the author a lot of creative power that can not be wielded in most other genres, it can also lead to sloppily-done conclusions or logical fallacies. Some authors might use handwavium without meaning to, so this is something that needs to be watched out for, because you want to be known for an intriguing story, not some lazy plot device.<br />
<br />
---- World-building is not easy as it seems. Well, at least quality world-building is not as easy as it seems. If you're writing a novel set in a historical or current setting, refer to Tip 1, so the place you're writing about feels real to your readers and they can learn a thing or two about a place that already exists.<br />
<br />
If you are making up a city or place that exists within our world, such as a small town in the South or a village in medieval times, again refer to Tip 1, and research what it is like near the area you're making up. Make sure the name of the place fits in, as well as the mores and rules of that place. What was appropriate at that time/place? Language, gender roles, laws, and so on and so forth. If someone from your fictitious place traveled to a nearby place that actually existed at that time, would he or she fit in? If your fictitious setting is different (such as it is controlled by a cult, for example) there are still things and historical accuracy to consider.<br />
<br />
Fantasy and science fiction world-building can be easier, yet at the same time more difficult. You don't have to worry about the things I mentioned in the preceding chapter because you can make your own world from scratch. However, this in itself can be daunting because you do not have the framework of our world to start with. Of course, you can still use real-life for inspiration, especially if the book is set in the future/is post-apocalyptic/dystopian. But you still need to be consistent, so you want to imagine and make notes about your world before you start a novel. Points to consider are...<br />
-Social strata. Some strata are determined by wealth, others by ability or birth, or education, or gender, and so on. Sometimes there can be multiple forms of strata in one society.<br />-Technology (or magic) level. Keep in mind that this can vary from one social strata to another.<br />
-Value of various items, such as metals, stones, food, magic, technology, or dry goods. Even sex can be used as a form of bartering/trade.<br />
-Gender roles<br />
-Government structure<br />
-Treatment of weaker members (children, disabled, elderly) <br />
-How does this world-structure and technology or magic level affect the conflict in the plot (i.e. war, terrorism, famine, slavery, subjugation of one gender)<br />
-There are many other things to consider such as the education system, fashion, food choices, and so on and so forth.<br />
<br />
Depending on your story and what it is about, you can focus more on some things than others, and some things can even be barely mentioned or bypassed. Again, it depends on what kind of story it is, as each story requires a different combination of ingredients to be successful.<br />
<br />
Another thing to consider when world-building is to avoid the info-dump. This is where the writer fills up pages with information about the world, without any interaction from the characters. The author may think that by explaining his or her world to the readers, they're making it more accessible to the reader. While understandable, a info-dump can scare off some readers and present too much information all at once.<br />
<br />
The best way to present a world is through the interaction of the characters, and if explanations are needed, it is best to break them up into smaller parts that are more relevant to what the characters are doing at that time. This can be done via the character's thoughts and perceptions, or via other devices such as journal entries, news stories, or quotes from background or deceased characters, as is appropriate for the story. In this way, you can build the world through the book, which I find to be more successful than one big info-dump at the beginning.M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-9040150213432900922013-09-05T08:30:00.000-07:002015-08-23T10:00:07.808-07:00My books are now out!Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated this blog, eh? Last year, I was so busy on looking for agents and publishers for my book, and after a long and sometimes frustrating journey, I have finally published not just one, but two books!<br />
<br />
Originally, the first version of Seeds was written as one book. I just kept writing, not keeping track of word count as I felt that would constrain the flow of the story. However, when I finally finished it, it came to over 300,000 words. Printed in book form using the mass market paperback size, this would come between 1,200 and 1,500 pages. Of course, there was no way I could print Seeds as just one book, so I cut it up into three parts. Volumes 1 and 2 are now available, and Volume 3 comes out September 21 of this year (less than three weeks away! Yikes!)<br />
<br />
Here is where you can find the books, and where Book 3 will become available as it comes out... (all links open in new windows)<br />
<br />
Createspace (print) <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4103824" target="_blank">Book 1 </a>and <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4290826" target="_blank">Book 2</a><br />
<br />
Amazon (print and Kindle) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/M-M-Kin/e/B00BXGVPFY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
Barnes and Noble (Nook) <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/m.-m.-kin" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
My Goodreads profile <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6701541.M_M_Kin" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
I will try to update this blog a little more often, but you can also find me at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/MM-Kin/1487803744867049" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. If you're interested in being friends, just send me a request.<br />
<br />
Seeds is not going to be my only work. I have other works planned, including an collection of short stories based off various myths from around the world, and Hades and Persephone will be making a guest appearance!M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-557400678927609308.post-19905977572168023982012-02-21T13:27:00.002-08:002021-10-27T09:03:59.905-07:00Quality over quantity<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have been an avid reader
ever since I was little, and there are authors who I enjoy and
admire. When I was in elementary school, R.L. Stine was the most
prolific author I was aware of, and I had read some of his books. It
amazed me that he could spin out so many books. Same with Francine
Pascal (I had never heard of ghostwriting back then except for that
one PBS kids' show, but that was a totally different kind of
ghostwriter...)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Later on, I would read
books from other prolific authors. It certainly didn't mean that I
read all of their books. I've read Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel,
James Patterson, Stephen King, and other authors who have a long list
of books under their belt. Since I read so much, I came to notice
that there was a downside to being a prolific author, especially as I
got older and read more novels geared towards adults.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After a while, the books
tend to get repetitive. Point in being, I received about ten Cassie
Edwards books from a co-worker who knew I was an avid reader. Not
being one to turn away a free book, I kept these books at work to
read during my break times. The first one was Savage Obsession, or
something like that. It had a redhead as the heroine, I think her
name was Brenda? I forget the name of the Indian chief who abducts
her. It was typical bodice-ripping to me. After that I read a few
more and noticed a definite pattern. The beautiful, young white woman
is kidnapped/coerced by the handsome, tall Indian, who is invariably
the chief of his tribe, or next in line to be leader of the tribe.
She may hate him at first and struggle with him, but in the end she
always gave in. Sometimes they even had sex within a few days or even
that very night of meeting one another. After ten books, there was no
mistake in finding the pattern. She just repeated the same plot with
just a change in names, and the color of the woman's hair and eyes. I
Googled her and found out that she's written over a hundred books.
Damn, that's a lot. That's over 3 books a year. That averages to less
than 4 months spent per book. No wonder they're so repetitive, she
doesn't spend enough time on them. That's not to mention the whole
plagiarism thing... but that's a whole different matter, so you can
read about that in this <a href="http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/blog/cassie_edwards_extravaganza/" target="_blank">link</a>
(opens in a new window) or we can move on...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Another author who made it
to 100 novels is Andrew Neiderman. He is the who wrote the book that
the movie 'Devil's Advocate' is based off. (The movie is way better
than the book, though) and he is also the ghostwriter of V.C. Andrews
(d.1986) he has actually written more books under VCA's name than his
own. I love V.C. Andrews (the real one) and her books were brilliant.
However, Neiderman recycles plots, names, and phrases, and you can
see that the quality of writing has dropped since she died. He's
written about 40 books under his name and almost twice that many
ghostwriting, and his writing is the same across the board, the same
complaints that can be found for his ghostwritten books also plague
the ones under his name, his plots recycled, endings predictable
and/or cliché, poor characterization, etc. Despite these complaints
he ignores his fans and continues to churn out the same old shit over
and over. He's actually been reduced to writing reviews for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A139RPUQ9LVBGS/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" target="_blank">himself</a>
(opens in a new window)
but stopped once he was called out and one of his reviews deleted
(but it can be seen when you look up 'most recent comments' in his
profile.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I've read several books by
James Patterson and Fern Michaels. Patterson's writing style<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
really</span></i> bothers me. I read 'Maximum Ride' and was left with
a sour taste in my mouth. It was just so bad and I felt especially
ripped off because I bought it for new and paid full price. Later on,
I got a hand me down of 'Where the Wind Blows', the book that Maximum
Ride was supposed to be a rewrite of. 'Where the Wind Blows', while
not the best book in itself, was far better than Maximum Ride. The
other three books I read by Patterson were all more recent, and they
were so lackluster that I don't even remember them that well. There
was one with a woman who kept killing her fiances, one with a woman
who had jury duty and lost her son in an explosion, and the other one
I think was about some sort of drug. Fern Michaels had the same
impression on me. Again, all her books were hand-me-downs. It is the
only reason I read more than one book from her. I read one of the
Sisterhood books, as well as 'Hey Good-Looking' (the worst of the
lot), the Marriage Game (a close rival to the preceding book for the
worst of the lot) and then one more Sisterhood book (the one about
Yoko) It was obvious she didn't research, and she just keeps churning
them out despite getting bad reviews for doing so.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Danielle Steel and Nora
Roberts are two more authors I had problems with. I read two DS books
and hated both of them. One was 'Miracle' and the other one was 'the
House'. She repeats herself. A lot. I mean, seriously, a LOT. And the
plotlines and dialogue are just so badly written. I never read one of
her earlier books so maybe she was good once, but these two books
were more recent and just terrible.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nora Roberts is someone I
do like. I've read about ten books of hers, including the trilogy
that started with 'Jewels of the Sun'. She has some great writing
here and there and some brilliant scenes, but I found many parts
repetitive, especially after getting through about five books of
hers. The female characters are almost always the same personality,
and I see the same fight between her and the male lead in various
forms through the books. I especially disliked 'McGregor Brides'
because I found the three stories within it and their respective lead
characters basically copies of one another. The last book I read was
'The Villa'. I loved the backdrop and the mystery. However, as soon
as I heard of the deals that the family was being forced to go
through because of Tereza's will, I immediately saw what was going to
happen with Sophie and her contentious relationship with the man she
is supposed to share her duties with. Some of the scenes were really
well-written, but the book ended up wrapping too quickly and was
somewhat cliched. And guess what? Nora Roberts has written over 200
novels. Holy shit. Well, with that many romance novels, things are
bound to repeat themselves...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That is why I will
consider myself successful if I give my fans and the world just ten
astounding stories. At this point, I have already accomplished one
story – 'Seeds', and if I can put out just nine more awesome
stories in my lifetime, I will have considered myself successful. I
care more about the quality of my works than how many books I can
churn out. For some people, it might be easy to spin out a hundred
novels, but I just couldn't live with myself if I was writing the
same thing over and over. I'm serious. The thought of basically using
the same schtick over and over and changing just a bit here and there
is just mind-numbing.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There is so much I want to
write and say, yes. That's why 'Seeds' is three books rather than
one, but I want what I am saying to be worthwhile. I don't want
people thinking, 'didn't I read this story before...?' I notice that
those hailed in history as great writers had considerably fewer
novels under their name (not including short stories) While the
authors I mentioned above publish more than one book on average per
year, even sometimes as many as 4 or 5, authors like Charles Dickens,
Mark Twain, and Jane Austen published less than one per year. I do
not attribute this to just the fact that they didn't have computers,
but the fact that they had to think more about what they wrote, that
the publishing world was not back then what it is today. Many authors
back then didn't get truly appreciated until after their deaths, so
these people were not getting instant fame. They knew that they had
to stand out and hone their abilities and that is what they did. I
don't see much of that from many people today, including some
authors.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I am not casting all
prolific authors in a bad light. Some just pull it off better than
others. Even with her flaws, I find Nora Roberts a decent author and
did enjoy some of her books, such as 'Blue Smoke', but like with
other things, not taking enough time on something is going to make
the quality suffer. You can't change that.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">'Seeds' took me two years
to write, and another half a year to edit, which I did four times,
going through each time and finding little things to tweak, even in
my very final edit I did find a few itty bitty things to fix. I
believe in taking the time to hone and refine a work to make a truly
memorable story rather than just churn out a handful of books per
year. Maybe this won't mean as many books for my readers, but at
least these books will be damn <i><b>good</b></i>.</span></div>M.M. Kinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07814010275297359345noreply@blogger.com2