Local Best Sellers, Social Media, The Three P's and more: My Thoughts on the Bocas Lit Fest Part I

Well, the 2017 edition of the famous Bocas Lit Fest has ended, and I am still crafting a blog post on it several days later, but I am determined as a Jane Austen character might say. Voilà Part I!

I was happy to have a chance to attend this year’s festival. As usual there was an eclectic mix of inspiring me to write more, and for that alone I truly appreciate its existence and hope it keeps up the excellent momentum its generated.

The very interesting Bocas Book Nook

interesting activities - spoken word, live readings, story telling, discussions. There was even a Book Nook where people could take a book as long as they left one in exchange, an idea that delighted me in its simplicity even more so because I actually saw people using it. As usual the festival left me inspired.

I attended two seminars. The first one featured four people involved in publishing and writing giving information for “budding and self-published authors on crucial aspects of the book business”. They each spoke briefly giving advice for a few minutes and then took some questions from the audience.

This was an interesting session, and I’m glad I attended. Each of the presenters seemed just a tad unnerved at the thought that they might have to speak for twenty whole minutes. But I suppose it was because they each were hoping to have an informal talk and were a bit worried that people expected something long, involved and more technical. They all in the end were informal which the audience appreciated. This casual approach worked well.

The True Confessions of a Literary Agent

Malaika Adero’s (of Adero's Literary Tribe) talk was entitled “The True Confessions of a Literary Agent”. She reminded the audience that “You cannot write anticipating a bestseller”. She seemed aware of the unfortunate situation we have locally where authors must fall back on self-publishing if they want their work out there. She talked about knowing why you want to write and why you want to do this particular work.

She emphasized having a manuscript read by people - people with names even if you want to self-publish because you’ll need endorsements. I thought this might be tricky for a beginning writer. There may be authors out there who might be willing to support them, but how do you get to them? How do you avoid bombarding them with requests to read and endorse their work?

Media Relations for Writers

Just before the sessions began

Franka Phillip the features editor of The Trinidad Guardian gave me a lot to think about as she talked about “Media Relations for Writers”. She gave a lot of good information about how authors could get newspapers to review their books for the paper. She suggested -

· Sending a press release

· Sending an excerpt of the book

· Sending an audio of the book being read

· Sending high resolution pictures of the book cover and the author

· NOT sending DVDs and CDs

· Sending everything by flash drive or drop box

· Giving lots of options to contact the author

All this will hopefully encourage the editor to assign a freelancer to read the book and review it.

Franka actually gave me ideas for two possibilities. I proceeded to jump up during the Q&A to ask her a question. After apologizing profusely and crossing in front of several other participants, I excitedly asked if they were interested in getting some more book reviewers. (Ah ha an opportunity for one of my dream jobs.) Alas Franka, quite frankly (ha!) explained that she wasn’t hiring any reviewers right now. The Trinidad Guardian let a lot of people go recently, so they are not in the market for new people.

My other idea involved the options she gave of authors promoting themselves. I think that is something that can tie into the services I already provide. I’ll be posting about that quite soon.

How to Win at Social Media

I’d never heard of Nicole Dennis-Benn’s book Here Comes the Sun before the seminar. She held it up right in front of her as she spoke and drew attention to it as she talked about the importance of promoting your work and not being afraid to do it. She noted that women, especially Caribbean women, aren’t socialized to talk about themselves. It brought back memories of times when I’ve had people try to squelch me if they thought I was being boastful in some way.

The fact that Nicole was born and raised in Jamaica is inspiring though she lives in New York now. The part about living abroad always deflates me. It makes me fear that getting published is almost impossible outside the states, but other information I’ve received suggests that it’s not. More on that later.

Nicole’s topic was “How to Win at Social Media”. She certainly seems to have achieved it with her best selling book “Here Comes the Sun”. Her publisher has provided her with lots of marketing support through publicists  of course, but she's certainly done her part with her own social media. Nicole talked about the fact that she built her platform as a blogger. (Encouraging!) When someone asked about how she dealt with the “darker” side of interacting with folks on social media, she said that she hadn’t really had a negative experience. Maybe she hasn’t had much exposure to it though because she noted that her method of dealing with anyone “trollish” is to block them immediately. I always hear good arguments for and against engaging trolls myself. I suppose I’ll see what I feel like doing if I ever draw any.

5,000 and Counting: How to Make your Book a Best seller

I think everyone was just delighted with Betty Peter who presented on “5,000 and Counting: How to Make your Book a Best seller”. When the MC said that she probably had one of the most best selling book in Trinidad, I think everyone took notice. We surely didn’t expect the cheerful, sunshiny, motherly lady who got up on stage. No wonder when people got up to ask her questions, several of them asked if they could call her “Aunty Betty”. She happily agreed to this.

Of all the presenters, I think she inspired her audience the most with her sunny attitude. She was clearly devoted to her book Brown Sugar and Spice written for children and set during World War II. Her advice consisted of three Ps: personality (including not being afraid of rebuffs); passion (which involves believing in the quality of your book and talking about your book to everyone) and purpose. I was particularly struck by her idea of talking about your book as I tend to not be very vocal about my own writing, but I’m working on improving in that area.

Aunty Betty has been talking about her book in schools across the country, and this apparently has helped with sales. She’s also received requests for her book from people all around the world. On top of that, before she was finished speaking, more than one person had gotten up, stepped up to the microphone and expressed interest in working with her and wanted to talk to her after the forum! You couldn’t really deny that we saw her own advice playing out before her eyes.

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Another aspect I found of interest is that Aunty Betty didn’t self publish as so many people have done. Like me, she preferred working with a publisher. She found one that was willing to print her book, and from her description they did the bare minimum as our local printers always seem to do for fiction books. They also didn’t seem too concerned when she chose to take her book to another publisher. Surely they could have capitalized on this emerging local best seller, but I guess not.

My only issue was that this was yet another Caribbean book set in the past. It sounds delightful, and I’d love to read it, but sometimes I wonder if those are the only Caribbean books that are allowed to pass public approval. There are more genres to explore.

Anyway as usual, I found this Bocas Lit seminar pretty inspiring, and I left with the dough of several half formed ideas. It’s time to find the strength to shape them into something really tasty to share with everyone.

In Part II of this blog, I’ll discuss the other workshop I attended.

If you attended this seminar at the Bocas Lit Fest or any other workshops or events etc, please comment and let me know what you thought of your experience!

Guess who?

My friends....I have returned.

I come back to you now at the turn of the tide...what'd I miss?

Recall if you will that scene in The Two Towers when Gandalf (now Gandalf the White thank you very much) revealed himself to the remaining members of the fellowship. Do you remember that exact moment when the fear and despair and hopelessness of the breaking of the fellowship was relieved by the return of a friend once thought lost forever?

Well...this isn't quite like that, I suspect I'm more akin to Bilbo Baggins than the mighty Gandalf, but I have come back to my little hobbit hole of a blog, and I am hoping to do some cleaning up and making it right again.

Fortunately it's still here waiting patiently. Fortunatrly during my travels away I haven't actually stopped writing about the things I enjoy and which inspire me. As usual, I could probably do with writing a lot more, but I have quite a bit to share, so soon I will be able to welcome you back for regular visits.

I started by choosing a new look for the blog. I find it fits my aesthetic quite well. Let me know what you think.

I've also been doing quite a bit of writing for a blog magazine called The Silver Petticoat Review. It's a lovely place where I continually find articles and topics about books and movies which interest me. (They may interest you as well, so I encourage you to have a look.) I write quite regularly for them, and as part of my routine posts, I'll be linking my articles back here. So look out for those.


I've also learned quite a lot from my journey away, so hopefully expect more posts with a different look and feel - some shorter - some with varying formats, interesting videos etc but with the same theme we all love still running through it. I'm also going to try and feature interesting content from other blogs. I'd love to feature articles from other Caribbean bloggers interested in books and movies, so if you're one such, please hail me, so we can start sharing all the great stuff we're creating.

I also hope to start posting more about writing, writing techniques, the writing journey, that sort of thing. More on that soon. I might have a surprise for you.

So until later friends, I welcome you back to my blog as meet once more at these crossroads. To start the conversation going, comment and let me know which blogs, tumblrs, blogazines etc you like. Doesn't matter what topic though I'm particularly interested in ones with similar themes to mind. Be generous and share!

Why You Should Be Watching Web Series If You Love Books

I admit that a little more than a year ago, web series were a bit of a mystery to me. I saw people tweeting and posting about various ones with names I did not understand, and I only had a vague awareness of their existence.

At some point during my unfocused internet browsing I saw someone mention "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries". I cannot remember who this earthly messenger was, so I cannot give my grateful thanks to them. I only know one day I watched an episode, and I kept watching, delighted that I could keep following the path of this story, familiar yet unfamiliar and then.....well this explains it best:

``I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.''

A web series is basically a set of videos posted on the internet which tell a story. "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" is  in the form of a vlog (i.e. a video blog or journal which allows people to spout off, rant, chat or communicate in whatever way they like on the internet.) The difference with "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" (or "The LBD" as it is affectionately called . See I'm hip! Do people still say "hip"?) is that the vlog is not about a real person; it tells the story of a particular literary character who should be familiar to many of you if you've ever read this blog. If you're feeling a bit slow today, think Pride and Prejudice and you should be fine. The result was one hundred videos of roughly four to five minutes in length which gained a record number of fans and recognition and gained the creators an Emmy.

The incredibly creative team behind the series produced an addictive entertaining series which modernized the story of Pride and Prejudice, reproducing most of the characters and themes in an engaging way and making alterations where necessary that enhanced the story instead of diluting it as some modern adaptations have done in the past.  I truly had a eureka experience with them. The series had already been running for some time when I found them. After watching one or two of the videos, I was drawn into a feast of the existing twenty-five episodes which I ploughed through with vigor. Afterward I was reduced to the predicament of the fans who were with the series from the beginning and who had to wait for each of the two short episodes per week to be uploaded. Anticipation is a strange phenomenon: you both enjoy it and hate it. In building suspense and keeping the enthusiasm of the fans flaring, the series' showrunners vastly succeeded.

The whole experience was enhanced by the use of transmedia, another concept I was not very familiar with before. (Really this series has proven to be very educational.)  While the main story played out on the blog, the story was also continuing in other platforms. Most of the characters had twitter accounts. Crazy Lydia decided to do her own vlog. When Darcy was revealed to be the CEO of a thriving company called Pemberley, a professional looking website with a company profile and all the trimmings came into existence. Talk about an all inclusive experience. I loved it.

The quality of the series was also excellent. Despite all the modern media, the art of storytelling really was evident throughout the series. The series' Lizzie (Ashley Clement) can tell a captivating story, enhanced by her ability to do some hilarious impressions, and it astonished me how engrossed I was even when it was just her talking about her Lizzie Bennet life.

 The characters are also a delight. In particular, all the sisters were well done. I have to commend the actress who played Lydia who proved to be very obnoxious and rather overwhelming (as she should be) but yet didn't make me dislike her, and that is a difficult task. Her part in the story is the most altered, and as usual I wasn't overjoyed when her situation encroached on Lizzie's story, but I found myself invested in the changes and more concerned about Lydia than I have ever been. Sister Jane is such a strange creature. Usually characters with unfailing optimism are universally disliked, but from my limited observations, Jane rarely is. A good Jane inspires empathy not dislike and this Jane manages it.

Of course Darcy is a major factor in any Pride and Prejudice adaptation, and here he is portrayed by the impossibly good looking Daniel Vincent Gordh. By the time, the series ended I had decided that he is one of my favourite Darcys in adaptations. I realize that there are not a lot of Darcys out there, but that's still a huge endorsement from me. Trust me. DVG is not perfect in his portrayal, but by the end of the series I was completely invested in him and his many positives overwhelmed his few negatives.

I can't stop to go into how much I liked this series' Charlotte, Mary, Bingley, Georgiana etc. etc, but there's a good chance that your favourite characters from the book will bring you joy.

So yes, if you like Pride and Prejudice , you should feel obligated to look this one up.

One of the other great outcomes of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries are the inevitable "copy cats". After seeing how well "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" was received, others have started dreaming of what other classical adaptations could appear in short video chunks. From the same team has come an adaptation of Jane Austen's unfinished novel "Sanditon" and I have seen passing mention of an adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" and "Phantom of the Opera". I choose to recommend "The Autobiography of Jane Eyre" which has managed to duplicate my wild anticipation for new video instalments each week. It's terribly compelling and features another great lead actress. As Jane Eyre, Alysson Hall often has to give poignant and sad monologues which are consistently touching and real. The story also plays with the format more than the Lizzie Bennet Diaries which filmed in limited locations. For example, sometimes Jane goes outside. Sometimes she only films what she wants others to see and has little screen time herself. 

This series has not ended yet, and we are currently embroiled somewhere in the middle of the novel, and I cannot wait for the next video after I see the current one. Rochester is also a younger version of the book with funky men's socks and tattoos and who is at present clearly smitten with Jane. Again his portrayal is not perfect, but the overall impression he's left on me is strong. I long to see him again, and if you start to watch, you will too.

  

Because of the success of "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries", one of the most anticipated series out there is The LBD team's official full length follow up to it: "Emma Approved". This modern adaptation of another of Jane Austen's more famous novels looks beautiful and polished and features some great acting by series star Joanna Sotomura who embodies a bossy, rather egotistical Emma.  She is so in control and sure of herself, it will be interesting seeing her begin to lose her edge as Emma's many plans begin to lose their structural integrity. I don't feel as invested in this series as in the other two as yet. Even Mr. Knightley (though tolerant, cheerful, practical and firm as he ought to be) doesn't have a hold on me as yet, but I am willing to keep watching, and I feel safe in recommending it.

Even if any of these ultimately disappoint, it is clear that I have many other options out there to consider. While looking through an article about these web series, I saw comments about series about William Shakespeare and another about fairy tale characters set in universities just to name a few. The possibilities for amusement are endless.

What do you think of this trend?  If you're a fan of any of these series, feel free to express your opinion of them in the comments and please, please recommend any other literary-like web series, so we can explore!

I still miss you!

I can't believe that over a year has passed by since prolific author passed away. Fellow author Robin McKinley went to her memorial service, and wrote this lovely post on it. diana Mrs Jones seems to have been a great friend to many famous authors: Neil Gaiman for instance. She was clearly loved and cherished by many of them. Here is the post I wrote upon her death. Many Worlds Have Come Crashing Down

Author Aarti Gosine finds success in the Magic Cave

I’ve decided to tap into some of the resources I’ve found among my friends and colleagues.  What could inspire a struggling author more than another author who managed to get published? We all have writers who inspire us: they are often the people who got us thinking about writing in the first place.  Trinidadian writers need added sources of motivation though as it is very difficult to get published in the first place. One of my online friends managed to overcome this difficulty though, and she graciously agreed to do a short interview for my blog. I’m hoping I’ll be able to feature a few more Trinidadian writers here.  If anyone knows of people who would be interested, please let me know.

Now on to the show….

Aarti Gosine was born and raised on the same island where I’m from: Trinidad and Tobago. She attended McBean Hindu Primary School then Naparima Girls’ High School. She went on to complete a BSc in Chemistry and Management at UWI and last year I completed my MBA via distance learning from the Edinburgh School of Business, Heriot Watt University, Scotland.

She’s worked as an administrative officer. She’s been a sales auditor at our local wholesale supermarket and she moved up to Assistant Fresh Food Buyer. Currently she’s the Managing Director of her own company JAV Publishing House Ltd.

She published two children’s books in 2011: The Magic Cave and More Adventures in the Magic Cave.

Check out her author page on Amazon

How long have you been writing?

I started writing when I was about 8 years old. I would write short stories and my dad would send them to the Junior Express.

What’s the hardest part about writing for you?

The hardest part is actually getting through the beginning in a properly structured way because I am so anxious to get to the story. Once that part is over, the rest just flows.

What do you love the most about writing?

What I love most about writing is the ability to dream and to be creative. You can write about almost anything, the supernatural, historical times, mythology and fantasy. You can also make up your own characters and worlds.

What book would you recommend to just about anyone?

I read so much that this is a hard one. For children I would definitely recommend the Harry Potter series. I think these books marked a definite point in reading history. Before HP, there was Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys etc and kids were getting bored of these. HP provided them with a whole different avenue for their imagination and encouraged them, and some adults, to start reading again.

One book that I would recommend for adults is a book called A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. It is a huge book with over 1400 pages but well worth the read. This is a synopsis of the book, “Vikram Seth's novel is, at its core, a love story: Lata and her mother, Mrs. Rupa Mehra, are both trying to find -- through love or through exacting maternal appraisal -- a suitable boy for Lata to marry. Set in the early 1950s, in an India newly independent and struggling through a time of crisis, A Suitable Boy takes us into the richly imagined world of four large extended families and spins a compulsively readable tale of their lives and loves. A sweeping panoramic portrait of a complex, multiethnic society in flux, A Suitable Boy remains the story of ordinary people caught up in a web of love and ambition, humor and sadness, prejudice and reconciliation, the most delicate social etiquette and the most appalling violence.”

You’re a writer from Trinidad who’s managed to get published.  This is not easy for Caribbean writers. What do you think has helped you achieve this?

Actually I consider myself a self-published writer because of the fact that the books were published by my publishing house. I have been lucky in that our textbooks have been somewhat successful and so this money could have been used to publish our fiction works. It is our hope at JAV Publishing House that as we continue to grow we could look into publishing other authors.

What advice would you give a writer in Trinidad who wants to get published?

Most, if not all, of the publishing houses in Trinidad, produce work mainly for the textbook / school market as this is the more lucrative market. It is very, very hard for a writer to find a publisher here for works of fiction. Many publishers will only take a chance with a writer who is already established. My advice for up and coming writers is to not limit yourself by looking for a traditional publisher. Many successful writers internationally started off as self-published writers. There are many forums out there for self-publishing. You can publish on Kindle and Create Space, two Amazon platforms, for free. There is also Smashwords which is where Amanda Hocking made millions before a traditional publishing house bought the rights to her books.  If you are going this route however be aware that you will have to do all the marketing and publicity yourself which means you have to get in the public eye. It would be advisable to have a presence on FB, Twitter and other social networks. Also try to network with persons who can give you publicity like NALIS* and the media.

You mentioned that publishers here usually publish textbooks because they are more lucrative. Do you have any insight as to why this is so? Why aren't books by local authors a lucrative investment?

The textbook market is more lucrative because schools can buy thousands of copies of a particular book every year from a publisher. The publisher makes more profit from textbooks than from fiction writing because it is dependent on the public to buy them. A lot of marketing has to be done by the publisher to sell fiction and it may not be cost effective.

Your books are in the fantasy genre.  What drew you to this? Is it the genre you prefer? Do you like other genres?

During my creative writing tutoring sessions, I realized that the kids were hardly reading and so I tried to produce something that would draw them to the books. When I was young, I enjoyed Enid Blyton and this was the inspiration for The Magic Cave and More Adventures In The Magic Cave. I can’t say it’s the genre that I prefer, but I do enjoy it because it allows you to use your imagination and become very creative. I would like to do something for Young Adults but that may also be in the supernatural area and also something historical and more literary.

Some writers need to create some atmosphere before they write e.g. sit in an air conditioned room, writing long hand, disconnect the Internet etc Do you have a writing ritual?

I don’t think I have a routine, but I write when inspiration comes. If I could, I like writing in early mornings from about 5 am. I don’t write long hand but directly on the computer, but I always have a notebook handy to jot down ideas.

Do you have any other books in development? What are you planning to do next?

I am working on the third installment in The Magic Cave series.

At Crossroads of the Imagination, we talk about what inspires us. What authors inspire you (and maybe make you feel a little jealous because you are awed by their talent?)

I know many writers would say this but JK Rowling is a real inspiration for me. Her life story of where she came from and how she got to where she is really helps me to keep pressing on. Another author I admire is Amanda Hocking because she is a successful self-published author so I know it can be done.

Find out more about Aarti’s books at her company’s website: www.javpublishing.com and on their Facebook page JAV Publishing.

(Hope you all liked my first author interview. I hope to do more of local authors. Don't forget to post below and let me know what you think, and if you have suggestions of people I should talk to, I'd love to hear them as well !)

*The National Library and Information System Authority

Let's go Through the Looking Glass on World Poetry Day!

Today is World Poetry Day and therefore a great time to reflect on poetry and its impact on our lives. Apparently the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created the day "...to support poetry, return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, promote teaching poetry, restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music, painting and so on, support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art but one." I'm all in favour of that! I am beginning to find more and more that the right poems speak to me, and I'm working to incorporate them more in my creative journey. 


One of the best ways to enjoy poetry is like the best way to enjoy Shakespeare i.e. listen to it being read out loud. Below find a poem read by Benedict Cumberbatch, one of the trendy new actors out there who is appearing in some exciting new projects, one of them being the voice of Smaug in The Hobbit movies. Cumberbatch has a thrilling voice, so I have no doubt he'll do a great job. He's reading Lewis Carroll's nonsense adventure poem "The Jabberwocky" which I've always enjoyed. It's from the second Alice in Wonderland book "Through the Looking Glass". As Alice said, "Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas — only I don't exactly know what they are!"


Let me know what you think of Cumberbatch's reading in the comments. Do any poems stir you? Let me know so I can check them out. Let me know if there are recordings I should check out. 

Inspiring Creativity with Creativity

I really enjoyed this video for a number of reasons. It reminds me of the many tips in the past which I have read, and though there are someone I won't be doing (Drink coffee?!) I feel inspired to try some of them once more. The whole format of the video is the most inspirational aspect of it though. Everything: the use of graphics, music, the simple phrases and the concrete and abstract images which awake all kinds of ideas in my mind helps gently invoke a creative atmosphere. You feel like you can really get out there and take this advice. Excellent!

How Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel Made Me A Movie Snob and Why I Love Them For It

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I love movie reviews. I can't remember how long I've been reading them, but to this day as soon as a movie is out, I start scrolling for reviews. Once I've seen a movie, I'm sure to seek out more reviews whether professional ones or everyday people spouting out their opinions. It's kind of a sadistic tendency because I feel almost hurt if someone trashes a movie that has left me in ectasies, but I also get the pleasure of nodding smugly in agreement when someone expresses the same views I had. Yes, I am a movie snob, and I make no apologies about it.

So it's not surprising to me that I started watching At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. I'm not sure when I first caught it or how I managed to keep watching it. It aired early in the morning. I had to remember to get up in time to see it, so I often slept through it. Sometimes it did not air at all. Sometimes they changed the time completely. I hated missing it. How would I know what movies were coming out and what were the best ones to watch?

I have this theory that when you're little you watch anything. As long as it's on television, you're happy to view it, and there's no discernment between good and bad. It's television: it's all good. As you grow older, there's a point when you get a revelation. One day, you look at the show you've watched religiously every Thursday and realize it's awful, that it's boring, that it's generally unpleasant, and (gasp!) you just don't have to waste your time watching this profound dreck. This is what happened to me anyway, and I suspect it's happened to a lot of us.

Memories are hazy, but I believe I discovered Ebert and Siskel at about the time when my taste in movies and television began to become more refined. The show's format had them both giving their reviews of a movie, and debating over their opinions. They were a joy to watch, an example of intelligent spirited debate on a topic I keep close to my heart. Whether they agreed or disagreed, it was always fascinating to ponder what they said. And they left me with a lot to think about. I'm not sure if I would have considered watching foreign language films if it wasn't for them. (Imagine I might never have seen Amelie.) I remember listening in fascination while they discussed how choppy and fast paced certain films were and how filmmakers increasingly don't depend on long, lingering shots anymore. (I agree with the former. Not sure if I'm mature enough to appreciate the latter.) Most importantly, they made me more aware of the "smaller" movies out there. The ones that often did not get much attention but could give the most payoff when it came to plot, acting and after impressions.

This is why I tend to consider myself a movie snob. It's me accepting the perception I sense from some people when I am critical of a movie, and I get the eye rolling or the heated admonishment that I shouldn't overthink films. I admit that the overanalyzing can take away from a movie experience. Maybe I am too quick to pick up on faults or inconsistencies or to point out that something just wasn't funny. But I comfort myself that I'll never be so clever that I am above liking silliness. I enjoy many a work of nonsense, and I am sure Siskel and Ebert appreciated those as well. And since I am discerning about what I watch now, I feel that I have often avoided much agony by recognizing that a certain movie might be an assault on my tiny brain before I watch it. Fortunately when I am wrong, there are reviews out there to tell me different. When I am right, I get the pleasure of....being right, and once more I thank Gene and Robert for that.

When Gene Siskel died some years ago, I was very sorry. A very intelligent human being was gone, and I miss his reviews. It's good to know that Roger Ebert, despite numerous health issues, is still around writing his reviews though he no longer expresses them on television. He remains extremely prolific on his website, his blog, his twitter, you name it. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/

He is still one of my favourite reviewers. He's not as grandiose as the writers in Entertainment Weekly for instance. They're another of my favourite sources for reviews, but their comments often go over my head, and I feel that I am reading the comments of film students, and far greater film snobs than I, and I'll never be up to those standards. Ebert's reviews are very intelligent, but they are clear and well thought out and understandable to amateurs like me. I'm never in doubt of what he feels about a particular film, and I like his way of expressing himself even when I don't agree with him. I'm glad he's still around because who else will guide me in my movie watching journey? I'll always appreciate him and Gene Siskel cause they expanded my view of movies and taught me to value them in ways I might never have considered. I'm eternally grateful.

Here's a sample of Siskel and Ebert on their show.


*Siskel and Ebert talking with fellow reviewers Telly Monster and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. Oscar cleverly and hilariously goaded them into an argument as to whether a movie could deserve a "Thumbs Sideways" rating. Wonderful.

Jim Parsons: Talent Beyond My Ken

My first post of the year! Belated Happy New Year everyone! I don't usually make serious, set in stone resolutions, but what I am trying to do as always is write more. I hope to do more posts on people who inspire me with their creative genius, so here's hopefully to happy writing in 2011.



During a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory, I was supposed to be paying attention to an argument between two characters: Raj and Leonard, but I was almost completely distracted looking at another character who had no part in the conversation. Jim Parsons's Sheldon Cooper was watching the actions of the others with his trademarked intensity and unnerving concentration. As usual in his posture, in his mannerisms, his everything Parsons was truly being his character.

I'm no expert I admit, but I think if an actor is so wholly capturing my attention and fascinating me(even in the background), they're doing their job and doing it splendidly. To top it off, my opinions are fortified by quite a few acting accolades: Emmys, Golden Globes, you name it. Others have noticed that Jim Parsons has inhabited a character with originality and creativity. He puts his own unique, fascinating and humourous twist on his lines and scenes, elevating them from the commonplace to charming and delightful.He makes a character who could be insufferable, sympathetic and quirky and fascinating. It is not easy to depict a personality who frustrates the other characters without annoying the audience, and Jim Parsons holds his own in his portrayal almost everytime.

His many memorable scenes are vast. This one is a favourite of mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8pl9z2SscY

Parsons' wardrobe is perfect, but he has no control over that. His look is invaluable to his character, but the credit for that must mostly go to his parents. His lines are hilarious, but the writers can be lauded for that. Parsons brings his own astonishing talent to this scene. We know exactly what is being said to him over the phone. We get clear indications of the relationship between him and his mother, and a very good idea of how they've probably dealt with each other for many years. His body language is mesmerizing and my personal favourite is his expression of confusion and small boy petulance after he hangs up the phone.

There's no doubt at all in my mind that Jim Parsons is a creative genius, and I hope that his current accolades are just the beginning of the recognition of his abilities. Even though I am not an actor myself, creative genius can be inspiring. It is wonderful to see and fills me with admiration and awe to see such amazing expertise(and dedication no doubt) in one person. Jim Parsons is definitely one of my creative inspirations.

Any other Big Bang Theory fans out there? What do you think of Jim Parsons' acting talents? Does he deserve all the recognition?

A Hypothetical Letter to Octavia Butler

Once while I was struggling through the obstacle course required of those hapless mortals compelled to write a Master's thesis in English Literature, one of my professors asked me about the author I had chosen for my topic, Octavia Butler. I explained that she was a groundbreaking science fiction writer, a pioneer for black women in the field where they are almost non-existent.  When I explained that she lived somewhere on the East coast of the United States, he suggested I write to her as I was living in Miami at the time.  He thought she would be glad to hear from someone interested in her work. I thought it was a good idea though I wasn't sure how I would get the letter to her. Eventually the task shrivelled away, overwhelmed by the presence of other, more looming, tasks, though I hung on to the concept.  Someday I would do it.

In my head, I planned what I would say.  Ms. Butler's books are among the most disturbing I have ever read. Sometimes I've had to put them aside to give myself some relief from the images they’ve created in my mind. They are not at all typical horrors or science fiction with clear cut figures of good and evil, but curiously vivid situations where flawed human beings had to make terrible choices which could leave them changed and broken whatever the choice. Nothing is ever simple.


For example, in her Xenogenesis saga, Butler's main character Lilith must work with the aliens who have basically taken over the future of human beings. They wish to bond with mankind to help it survive, but this means changing the way humans live, breed and exist. Lilith is seen as a traitor by many humans, but how can she openly resist them without destroying them all? In Kindred a young woman is mysteriously transported to an antebellum plantation in the old South and discovers that to ensure her family's survival she has to condone the possible rape of one of her ancestors. Butler was interested in looking at the difficult options humanity has to face.  There's no doubt that her works suggested a boundless imagination. As a writer myself, I was intrigued by her original ideas nurtured by her interests in medicine, cloning and what makes us human. While she sometimes horrified me, she compelled me with her juggling of possibilities and with her amazing ideas.

I was fascinated by her herself: reportedly shy, quiet and introspective, she found the creativity and courage to write and succeed in a field populated by white males.  At the age of ten, she started writing her own science fiction, unfazed and unconscious of the trail she was breaking.  She never stopped writing after that. I have to remember that.

The content of that hypothetical letter to her dwelled in my mind even as I procrastinated. I believe I would have thanked Ms. Butler for her single minded determination to do what she wanted to do.  I would have thanked her for opening the eyes of people of many ethnicities to the fact that science fiction and fantasy wasn't just for Them. Somehow I would have tried to express my gratitude for the way she has terrified, inspired and challenged me ever since I got to know her. I would have also thanked her for exposing me to the worlds in her stories, and to the whole experience of immersing myself in that world as I trudged through my thesis.

I would have enjoyed writing that letter. Octavia Butler died far too early at the age of fifty-eight.  That was four years ago. The solitary woman was alone when she died.  As her birthday approaches (June 22), I think of her and again I am glad that her astonishing work was acknowledged and admired during her lifetime.   She won every major award in science fiction, and she generated a large fanbase which spans age, race and ethnicity. Hopefully, she knew that her worth was recognized.  Perhaps my one simple letter would have not had much impact upon her. Or perhaps she would have been pleased to hear from yet another person she had inspired.  Mentioning as much to my sister, she observed, "At least she knowns now." Perhaps she does

Octavia Butler - Bibliography
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/octavia-e-butler/