More Progress, Terminator Genisys, The Infected, and more

Let’s see if I can talk about anything different this week… ah nope. It’s going to be the usual type of blog.

I was rather amused to learn that one of my honorary nieces takes the time to read my blogs as I post them. At least she used to and she said she found my blogs to be boring.

Huh.

It’s the first feedback I have received regarding my blogs and I found it a little amusing. Of course a young girl is going to find it boring. I talk about my writing, my creativity when it comes to RPG design and as many of my readers know, reviews, rants and so forth.

I do believe if she had the same sort of interests, then she might find my blogs useful. I will state it would be nice to occasionally get feedback on what I talk about, and I have had a couple of comments over the year and a half I’ve been writing my blog from fellow author Derek Holland and our commander and chief editor - Michael O. Varhola.

Anyhow – This week has seen more material added to the Harvesting book. Two rules I have to write up are regarding starvation and dehydration. I thought it might take a long time to write up the dehydration, but it turned out to be relatively quick and easy to come up with the rules. So I’ll do something similar to starvation rules.

After all, what’s the point of writing a book dealing with harvesting food and other goods from defeated mutant monsters if there are no rules covering what happens if you don’t eat or drink enough?

I also realized it probably would be a good idea to add some artifacts or at least tools to the book as well.

Other aspects of the book are coming along quite nicely. The rules section is filling out and I do believe I’ve covered pretty much all the ground I need to. Although I have come to the realization I also need to cover a few expanded mutations.

Specifically Seeds and Toxic weapons. I have copied both from my mutation book and will be doing a little re-writing to take out the power score from each.

Last week saw four new mutant monsters posted – two on Monday, and then two more as a bonus on Canada Day. The Cannabaceae, the Kaeru Jusei the Hiko Kaeru, and the Melter Hornet. I have one already prepared for tomorrow but have two more I will be writing up. One mutant Badger and a pair of humanoids.

I do need to add more insects and plants. I might have to take a look at the various species which live along the coastline.

And yes, Chapter 24 of Buck Who? Has been posted as well. I’m about to start chapter 27 tomorrow and I hate to admit it, but I’m starting to lose interest in this project. I’m currently halfway finished.

I don’t really know what to do to change my feelings towards the epic novel. Meh – I’ll just keep plugging away at it. The fact I’ve taken the novel in an entirely different direction may help. I am now going to be concentrating on the war with the Purists.

Oh yeah – kind of out from left field, but Happy Canada day to all my Canadian readers, and Happy Independence day to all my American readers and friends!

Yesterday my wife and I went to see the new Terminator movie - Terminator Genysis. I did not have much in the way of expectations when it came to this movie. After all, it appeared as if they were trying to re-write the franchise, allowing for Arnold to be able to act in the movie – considering his age. And the fact I don’t like the actors who portrayed Kyle Reese and John Conner.

Much to my surprise I found I really enjoyed it! The action was quite intense, and the way they re-did the opening sequence from the original Terminator was well done.  I won’t spoil it for anyone, but it is worth your hard-earned money to go and see, especially if you’re a fan of the first two movies in the series.

I did not bother writing up a top five list this week. I think I might have one for next week, though – top five under-rated action movies. Well, and I should write up one on my top five horror movies too. Maybe one on top five franchises?

And I have been able to keep up with my reading too. I finished a novel called ‘The Infection’ by Craig DiLouie – a fellow Calgarian and author. In a nutshell, a strange affliction hits approximately 20% of the population, causing them to go into a screaming fit and then collapse into a catatonic state. Three days later they wake up and are for all intent and purpose, zombies. They live to spread the infection.

The survivors are fighting for their very lives and seem to have little direction. Things get really strange, and I won’t spoil it for anyone, other than to say there was a scene in a hospital that I thought would be pretty close to what I had wrote in my first zombie novel. It turned out it wasn’t even remotely the same.

I just hope he will explain what the hell was going on in the second novel.

Did I enjoy it? Yes, as a matter of fact I did and I will read the sequel once I’ve finished a few other books.

Craig is part of the IFWA, which I mentioned last week. He wasn’t there on Thursday, so I’ll see about finishing the second novel before August’s meeting. I had a chance for these folks to review my short-story ‘The Argument’. About half the feedback was excellent and will help me grow as a writer. I’m good, but there is always room for improvement. The other half – well, the two reviewers kind of missed the point of the story.

Which was fine! I still value what was said!

When the people around the table had a chance to make a few statements, only one I found was completely and utterly worthless. A young woman was really offended by the way I described two girls in the story.

Well, that is a matter of personal opinion, and has nothing to do with constructive feedback. So her opinion means absolutely nothing to me in the long run. If it was constructive, yes I would have taken it as it was meant. It was not constructive and as such it was an opinion, and to be blunt, I don’t fucking care about your opinion. I did not write the story for you, after all.

Oh yeah, before I forget, one of my upcoming blogs will cover a series of Star Wars books I’ve been reading. The Jedi Path, The Bounty Hunter Code and The Book of Sith. Once I’m finished the Jedi book I’ll bring up all three in a quick review.

So that pretty much covers everything I wanted to discuss this week. You guys know the drill, I would appreciate new likes for my personal author page on Facebook, and I also would like more people to follow me on Twitter.

That part is not an issue. This week alone I have seen over 50 new followers, and I only lost 2. Blows my mind! I wish that many would like my Facebook page!

Until next Sunday, peace!