When the Heart Is Heavy With Hurt...the Story Gets Put On Hold

A few weeks ago, I was informed my uncle was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. It was a kick to the gut for sure. Some say,"Well it's just an uncle and a great uncle at that", but to me he's not just another relative who has hit his senior years. To me, my uncle JC and Aunt Jean was every bit a huge part of my growing up and life. Many of you know, I was raised by my grandparents and since my Aunt Jean was my grandma's sister and my Uncle JC was my papow's nephew-there were ALOT of functions we often did together. We all went to the same church, papow and uncle JC for many many years worked at the same GM plant here in Marion, there were dinners and summer evenings spent at their home or they at ours, and the list of memories goes on. My uncle JC taught Sunday School, played guitar and was musically inclined with many other musical instruments, sang, and was a true craftsman when it came to wood working after his stroke which left him unable to speak and his left side paralyzed. My uncle JC was not going to not walk, and little by little he got to where he could walk and often took leisurely walks. The greatest loss though was his speech. He's 83 now and has been given 3 months to live. My heart is breaking and the tears won't seem to stop! I know death comes to us all-our human lives are finite! No one lives forever, but it just seems as if 83 years is just not enough! I can't stop the "Why" and "How Come". Those are answers I will never know. My grief and sadness is nothing compared to what my Aunt Jean and their sons are going through-what their grandchildren must be going through. I guess another reason why it hits so hard is because he and my grandfather were more like brothers. They had grown up with eachother and both married sisters. When my papow was lying in that hospital bed, 6 years ago-it was my Uncle JC who stood beside me and held my hand with his right one. It was hurting him too. They were so much alike in their kindness and loving ways as well as being loving parents. I remember before he was unable to do his woodworking-he built my daughter a toy box for her 2nd birthday. I still have it and it holds my son's toys. So many memories and they're all precious to me and they'll be what we'll all have when he's no longer here but that doesn't lighten the heart and it doesn't take away the hurt. So right now everything is on hold. It's as if my creative juices with the stories I've been working on have frozen. So I guess what I can say-and I know it's cliche-If you have someone dear to you-make sure you go to them and tell them what they mean to you and hug them because once they're gone-that's it. Thanks for putting up with me today-and I hope to get back to posting about books, writing, movies, and other things soon.

To Share or Not To Share That is the Question

Who hasn't downloaded music? Who hasn't downloaded a movie or television show? We've all done it-well most of us have any how. Some argue that if it's on the information super highway-then it's free information since the internet is a compilation of freeware and shareware. I can see both sides of the argument. Our economy is crap, and we're all feeling the financial pinch especially when it comes to things that entertain us such as movies, music, books, etc., but knowing how bad the economy is should we still be downloading without paying?

As an author, it has put me in shock literally shock at all the book stores that are closing. This year alone, one of the nation's biggest book chains, Borders is closing its stores. Internet Shopping giant, Amazon.com,is having a negative impact to artists and authors. It's like taking a picturesque town where mom and pop shops have done buisness for years and provides it's citizens with shopping opportunities and a more personal experience and then bringing in Walmart. Soon you're driving down Main Street and all you see are "FOR LEASE", "SPACE FOR RENT", "GOING OUT OF BUISNESS" and nothing against Walmart but how did Walmart benefit these people? Sure it has provided jobs, but it also helped to deep sea six the very heart of the community that it came to. Amazon is doing the same thing to an extent. They moved in, and like Walmart-they're sucking up all the space because of what they can offer. Many of their products are high quality products, and they have a pretty good thing going on. I won't harsh on them for that-but sometimes you just have to support your local ya'know. For the greater good, you gotta shop local. I go to Walmart, but I also patron my mom and pop stores and places of buisness. Amazon and Walmart are not going to go out of buisness just because you limit your shopping there. Actually it will help the economy because that is less people that are going to have to drive their prices up for those who can't shop at these places, will help the community, and help you in general. That's at least how I see it. Again, I see the argument-I see all sides of it. The pro's the con's, and I get it! I GET IT, but please think before you download. Sure we've all seen artists that have been really successful and live in the big house and have the car collection-but half that has been from years and years of work. Some of that is from endorsements. Most musicians make their money from tours and concerts. Authors-we don't get world tours and concerts. A successful author such as Sherrilyn Kenyon, James Patterson, or even Stephen King might get a US tour maybe MAAAYBE if they're lucky their publishers will send them over seas to a few places-but there's no money-they're just promoting their book. I went to a Sherrilyn Kenyon signing last year, and Borders was selling her books of course but Mrs.Kenyon and Diana Love was GIVING stuff away in the line of t-shirts, posters, and other small things that were promoting their books. I don't recall the book store handing Mrs.Kenyon a check. I don't recall her sitting at a table with a tip jar. So what I am saying-it all has a trickle down effect. So just think before you download is all I am trying to say. No judgement here-because we've all done it. I believe the Internet is a wondeful thing-duh, but so was fire for early man and we have seen just how destructive it can be despite it's wonder. It has to be treated with care and respect or it can become a wildfire destorying everything in its path. I don't want to see an end to books or music. I don't want to have to think that the only way I could ever hear my favorite band is by hoping they'll come to my city or state and buying a concert ticket because they can't afford to put out anymore albums because there's no money to be made. I know many of you will disagree, and I accept your critisism, but remember we're all humans in this world and we all want survive here and enjoy what lives we've been given.

Books and Movies for August-September 2011

Sorry I've been a little lax here in my book and movie reviews. The summer has just flown by and I'm wondering where it went! I've been busy writing writing writing! So in what little spare time I have had, here are the movies and books to either watch for or pass on by!


Movies

There have been a lot of rentals and Netflix let me tell ya.


1.Inheritance-this was a Netflix movie and let me say-the 3 stars was a gross exaggeration! This movie sounded interesting but fell short of the glory of being called a great scary movie!I appreciated the African-American lore, but the effects and overall story just went from interesting to blah. Unless you are extremely bored-I recommend nixing this one.


2. Priest-This movie totally rawked! For all my comic-manga fans this movie was a great adaptation from the comic-manga series! It stars Matthew Betthany as Priest and has Billy Burke, who you might recognize as Bella's father in the Twilight Saga. I won't ruin the movie by telling you which side he plays for, but the movie visually and story wise is well worth the New Release price! Heck it was worth the movie ticket.

3.Madea's Big Happy Family-another great from Tyler Perry. This movie will make you laugh until you cry and has Tyler's flair for putting a message or two in there. Great movie even with it's pulling at the heart strings.

4.Beaver-This movie stars Jodie Foster(one of my all time faves) and Mel Gibson. Mel plays a man who is suffering from massive depression which has left him displaced and dispondent from his family until he finds a Beaver hand puppet in a dumpster. In the beginning, you will chuckle and rejoice as with Beaver he is getting himself together, but when it's time to choose real life and his family over Beaver-it's not so easy. I really can't say as I really liked this movie. It made me chuckle in places, and it did bring light to the plight of depression-but all in all this movie just made me want to throw the DVD player out the window and listen to complaint rock. Unless you are a huuuge Mel or Jodi fan and you can't live unless you have seen every movie either have done-pass this one by.


Books

1.Dragonfire Whisper Kiss by Deborah Cooke is an excellent read especially if you have been following the Dragonfire books. Niall is a dragon shifter; a Pyr, and he's been given the task of training a way ward Pyr who has never really been taught to embrace his Pyr side. What Niall doesn't count on is his firestorm happening in the middle of chaos with a pretty chaotic woman named Rox. Rox is a true spit fire and is tough as nails, at least on the outside. Though Niall fights the draw of mating, he can't help but fall for Rox even with her tough exterior and secrets. In the mix you have an ancient battle with Slayers who are gunning for Niall and Rox as well as the other Pyr. This book was awesome! Totally loved it and recommend it!


2.Dragonfire: Dark Fire Kiss by Deborah Cooke

This is the dragon we've all been waiting to read about, Rafferty. Rafferty has issued a deadly challenge to his nemesis, Magnus. During a battle, a reporter, Melissa happens to get caught up in Rafferty's world. He's waited 11,000 years for his own firestorm, but what he doesn't count on is the Darkfire. Melissa lives in the real world and when she's thrust into the world of the Pyr and Slayer her world is shaken upside down along with the fabled Darkfire. It will either consume them both or bring them closer but Magnus is waiting in the wings for his final battle with Rafferty. The book was awesome and thrilling! I loved it and recommend it.