Time Travel

New Years, with all its “Top Ten” lists and “Best Of” picks looking back at the past year, seems an appropriate time to write about time travel.

Time travel is a great, almost cliché, science fiction device. [I've noticed that some online SF magazines don't even want stories about time travel anymore, because it's been used so frequently.]

Thoughts On Arrogance

Why are most successful people arrogant?

I've always wondered this. Could it be that success requires a certain amount of bravado to grab attention?

[I would like to think that quality work would be more effective at grabbing attention than some blow-hard tooting his or her own horn.

Elves Mythology

In honor of the recent release of the Hobbit, Desolation of Smaug and the fast approaching Christmas Eve, I'll share some of my research about Elves.

The word “Elf” seems to have originated in Scandinavia, specifically among the Norse people of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and spread to Iceland and Greenland with their settlers.

Movie Reveiw - PG13 - Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug

It was a fun roller coaster ride from the Misty Mountains to the Lonely Mountain. Peter Jackson's team had me on the edge of my seat and dodging 3-D projectiles for a good hour before I even remembered my nine year old beside me experiencing his first midnight showing.

He loved it, by the way, and is still sleeping off the after effects.

And just a word to people considering young children's viewing, it is very violent due to the huge numbers of battles. But at our house orc-elf-dwarf violence is firmly in the fantasy realm and doesn't really count as violence if done properly. Peter Jackson helped us out there, because the battles are not nearly as gory as the prime time TV commercials that annoy us so much as parents of a young child.

New Muse

I have a new muse, a baby dragon, that's only just hatched a little while ago. It's green and doesn't know how to fly, yet.

In fact, its wings are still quite small. But even just hatched, it is the size of a large dog. It speaks when it is in the mood and has many wise things to say. It says I need help with my antagonists. It promises that it can help me. [How does it know so much since it is so young?] [Where is its mother?] What is the whole offspring rearing model for dragons, now that I think about it?

Tree Reviews - Picture Book - the Salamander Room, by Anne Mazer

[Characters are from a middle grade Fantasy Series I am currently working on to make the review unique and interesting for kids.]

“I had another one of those dreams, last night...” Caitlynn starts with excitement.

“You mean one where the trees are doing a book review for you?” Jake laughs. “Cat, you are so weird!”

“I think they're cool!”

“I wish I would have dreams where the trees do my homework and tell me the answers.”