Just for Fun Friday

I heard this track some time ago and loved it. Kept it in my back pocket for an especially busy week. This one fits the bill; it's been hellish! TGIF!!!! Oh and happy halloween if it's still a thing you enjoy!

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II Chapter 14

Tomorrow Chapter 14 of RoboNomics Book II comes out on +Wattpad and I'm pretty excited.

Anyone who's been following the story carefully knows what a giant teddy bear head has to do with robots.

And some even more perception readers might know why the track that inspired Chapter 14 is so amazingly perfect for it!

But if you're not sure about these things, you'll definitely find out tomorrow!

Inspirational Track for the Mage's Apprentice, Chapter 20

For my inspirational track this week, I really went back -- all the way back to the mid-nineties, to one of the very first tracks that inspired me to create my fantastical world of Omorbia.

This was the first track off of a double cassette (yup) set of classical standards that I received as a Christmas gift when I was in either fifth or sixth grade. Possibility fourth -- not really clear in my memory. And yes, I really was that kind of kid. I listened to that thing I don't know how many times, whenever I wanted some Omorbia-related inspiration --- I remember tracks from Romeo and Juliet, the opera, and this one, in particular. Oh, and the Magic Flute. There was something on there from the Magic Flute.

Anyways, this being the first track and an overture, it always made me think about the beginning of the stories. I could see it very vividly: how the Omorbia epic would begin with the reader's descending through clouds, as if flying, and opening onto a land of green surrounded by shimmering seas...



Of course, such cinematic panning doesn't really translated very well onto the page. And neither does the unfolding of an entire story in 8-odd minutes. So the story has morphed and changed over the years. But drawing inspiration from this particular track never seems to.

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II, Chapter 13

Hey everyone. Did you check out my first 'talking to the camera' video? Just loaded it this morning. It was awkward to make for sure.

Anyways, enough about that. On to RoboNomics Book II Chapter 13!

It comes out tomorrow, and I've been working really hard to get it into fighting shape, and to introduce the central conflict of Book II now before I completely and totally lose the plot!

Anyways, as I alluded to in Chapter 12, here we are on Mars. And so it shouldn't be surprising that the track that inspired this particular chapter is the quintessential song about Mars, inspired by Mars. Mars, Mars, Mars. Now I'm craving chocolate.

Anyways, hopefully none of this is too heavy handed with the symbolism and such, and yet somehow I know it is. You'll have to keep reading to find out why!!

Inspirational Track for the Mage's Apprentice, Chapter 19

Yay! It's preview day once again, friends. And today I've got a preview pic of Chapter 19 of the Mage's Apprentice which is due out on +Wattpad tomorrow!

I've also got a preview track, of course. This Chapter continues the plot of Chapter 18, and in it Val (aka the mage's apprentice) has a little breakdown. I was inspired by a very specific song in writing and editing this particular chapter. I hope you think it's apropos. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out!

Just for Fun Friday

TGIF! It's been a long week for me, but you know I just have to leave you with one more thought before the whole thing starts up all over again.

And so it's my Just for Fun Friday track. Another radio jam for you. As an audiophile from way back, I'm really appreciating this satire of modern pop music lately:



That's all. Have a great weekend!

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II, Chapter 12

Oh, yeah! I've been waiting for this one for a long time! RoboNomics Book II Chapter 12 is a little chapter in which you'll get some insight into what the heck has been going on so far in Book II. But it's got some beauty, folks, as maybe you can tell from the Chapter 12 preview pic!

Bam! Right in your senses!

The inspirational track for this chapter is one that I've been dying to share with you as well. And now is finally the time. This track is so achingly beautiful it just had to be the one to inspire Andrea's journey above the clouds. Can't wait for you to hear it, and to read the corresponding chapter when it comes out tomorrow!!!

Inspirational Track for The Mage's Apprentice, Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of The Mage's Apprentice, newly titled, is all nicely edited and ready to go for tomorrow. But for this chapter, I really had a lot of trouble putting together a preview pic. I feel like I've phoned with one in -- partially because I wanted to highlight the creature that the chapter revolves around, but it's not exactly the easiest thing in the world -- finding Creative Commons or Public Domain pictures of creatures that don't actually exist. So I went with a forest scene instead.

However, the track for this chapter was not as difficult. While I was editing, I was immediately able to recall the track that had helped to inspire this scene, and this chapter:



Don't forget to check out the chapter tomorrow!

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II, Chapter 11

Picture by Liftport. License under CC 3.0.
Cropped, filter added, text and label graphic added.

Tomorrow I am releasing Chapter 11 of RoboNomics Book II. I really messed around with this chapter -- cutting it up and reordering events so that they make more sense and that they'll be a little more exciting for you.

However, I have to admit that this is not a big bang-up chapter. It's one that hints at big revelations to come (like the one hinted at in the preview pic), but we're not there just yet. Maybe from the picture and its attribution you can guess where all this is headed, but maybe you'll be wrong!!!

It really is another transition chapter -- part of what was a much longer single transition chapter. I'm transiting from one part of Andrea's story: the one that happens in Toronto, to the next big part: the one that takes place....somewhere else! ;)

And so another song for this chapter that really represents, for me, that transition. Next chapter really steps up the wonder fact and such, but for now I've been inspired by a song that for me, represents the quiet, automated, and human-light world that Andrea moves through in Chapter 11:


Stay tuned for Chapter 11 tomorrow! :)

Inspirational Track for Children of a Dark Wood, Chapter 17

So tomorrow, I'm releasing Chapter 17 of my first book of The Tales of Omorbia. At 16 chapters, however, it's barely broken 700 reads and thus is doing way, way worse than RoboNomics.

To be fairly, I've probably gone through way more edits of RoboNomics than I have of Omorbia. And I've put massive amounts of online 'marketing' into RoboNomics. It's the thing that I've pushed, it's the thing that, at least among a very small online community, I'm known for. So there's that.

But it's also been suggested that I try a different title. And by suggested, I mean I read the suggestion in a +Wattpad book and I think I should give it a try. "Children of a Dark Wood" is original. Wonderful. But it's also vague. Along with my description, it doesn't really tell you what the book is really about?

So what's it really about? The upcoming adventures of the three kids? Or is it really Val's story? Should I call it "The Mage's Apprentice", then? It's not original, it doesn't really capture my imagination. But maybe it'll capture the readers' imaginations? I guess it's worth a try.

So look for that.

At any rate, today I've got a preview pic and an inspirational track for you! This track, I think, captures the spirit of Fav and Val's growing friendship. Every time I hear this track, I can't help but think of the two of them and more generally, Val's story. Which, surprisingly, I guess Book I is turning out to be.

Enjoy and look for the chapter tomorrow!

Just for Fun Friday

I've got another motivational track today to add to my long list. I've been hearing it on the radio lately:


I just super love the themes of sticking to your vision and believing in yourself. The music industry could churn out 10,000 songs in 10,000 different styles, but as long as they all contained that theme in the lyrics, I'd pretty much love them all, I suppose.

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II, Chapter 10

photo credit: Pieterjan Hanselaer via photopin cc

Well I fell off the horse, didn't I? Blame it on Canadian Thanksgiving -- I took a little break for the holiday. However, here I am again, back to editing RoboNomics Book II chapters and posting them on +Wattpad. Aren't you glad?

So tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day that Chapter 10 goes up. So I thought I'd whet your appetite, as usual, with a preview pic and an inspirational track.

Chapter 10 is a transition chapter. After the big revelations of Chapter 9, Andrea has time to digest the information as she moves through an entirely new world of luxury. But that doesn't mean she's having the easiest time with the transition, especially as her world is becoming infiltrated once again with the automated machines that took her job as schoolteacher in the first place!

So the track that inspired Chapter 10 reflects that transition from destitution to affluence, from human to machine-wrapped world, and the corresponding changes that Andrea and Austin's relationship is going through.



Can't wait to post Chapter 10 tomorrow! :)

Just for Fun Friday!

So, I'm behind the curve on this, apparently. But I'm loving Kiesza's 'Hideaway':



Yay Canada! Et cetera. Actually, really it's pretty much guaranteed that if you release a song heavy on the electronical blips and stick a soprano over it, I'm going to love it. Maybe having to do with memories of junior high dances and Dance Mix '95. Remember that? No?

Which reminds me of something exciting. So two tracks today. Because guess what? LA ROUX IS BACK! :)

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II, Chapter 9

Photo by Dschen Reneike. Cropped, filter added,
overlay added, text added. Used under CC 3.0 license

RoboNomics Book II Chapter 9 comes out tomorrow, and it's an important, surprising chapter. There's more than one fact revealed about the mysterious events that have happened at the end of Book I and into Book II. And just like Andrea will be, I'm hoping you'll be bowled over.

As for the track that inspired Chapter 9, I'm choosing "Other Side" by Madi Diaz, which has been added to the Book II 'Soundtrack'.

Andrea has started to have contact with intelligent machines again. Over the past few chapters, she's encountered an automated helicopter, automated Learjet, as well as android-nurses. As she falls back into this world, the music that inspires me is increasingly 'electronic' in feel. But I still hear that human side to it: some analog instruments, human voices.

The rise in this song really helped me in writing towards the conflict that occurs at the end of the chapter. And thematically, going towards the 'Other Side' is how I see Andrea's current progression through the rapid changes in the story.


Can't wait to release the chapter tomorrow!

Inspirational Track for Children of a Dark Wood, Chapter 16

It's that time again, everyone. That time of the week where I give you a little preview of tomorrow's chapter.

Chapter 16 of Children of a Dark Wood again focuses on Yafoya, in her interactions with the unicorn herd rather than with her mermaid friend, Jaoshu. In this chapter you'll find out why Yafoya's existence within the herd is a little less than harmonious and have a little foreshadowing of some of the herd's drama that lies ahead!

For my inspirational track for this chapter, I'm highlighting a track that I've always considered 'Yafoya's theme':


Yup, it sure is corny. I know. And the lyrics have nothing to do with a little girl with antlers raised by a herd of unicorns. But we writers come upon inspiration from wherever, don't we?

When Children of a Dark Wood was in its infancy and called by a different name, I'd imagine Yafoya's run from the shores of the sea of Thothao back to the herd while listening to this song. I'd also imagine something else that happens to her rather soon...something thrilling, something that she does because Vuya eggs her on, and something she gets in deep trouble for...but the event will help her find what she's been looking for through the story so far: Humans.

Excitement ahead! Stay tuned! :)

Inspirational Track for RoboNomics Book II, Chapter 8

Hey! I'm releasing Chapter 8 of RoboNomics Book II tomorrow, and I've got some preview materials for you today!

Halloween 2010 Austin Rabbit, by MarkScottAustinTX. Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 Generic.
Cropped, filtered, text added.

And of course what would a preview be without an inspirational track!


It might seem like an unusual choice...it's very different from the other songs that have informed the atmosphere in the story so far...heavy on the electronic blips, beats and breaks. But I guess I felt inspired by this song because it is as far as you can get from electronic music. And it's so bluesy...it just fits with Andrea and Austin's plight in dystopian near-future Toronto.

Inspirational Track for Children of a Dark Wood, Chapter 15

So, as I get back to work after moving, I find myself wanting to promote my other +Wattpad story, Children of a Dark Wood. So I scrape out some time in my schedule to post two chapters a week as well as offer up some promotional material. And in honour of that endeavour, here's a track that I've found inspiring to my epic teen fantasy. I'm not sure whether it's the music or the dance or the fact that it's not quite like anything I've seen or heard before. Probably a mix of all those factors. It just reminds me, somehow, of that land-within-my-head, Omorbia:



I've also made a preview photo for Chapter 15!

Yay! So look for the chapter coming tomorrow, in which we catch up with Yafoya after many years, and Jaoshu plants the seeds of mischief.