Remember way back in September when this blog first appeared? Neither do I, but I do remember the logic behind it. After over a decade of writing movie reviews, I wanted to focus my time and energy into the actual writing that I’d be putting off for oh-so-long. The movie reviews were always supposed to be a way for me to keep the writing muscles in shape while I tried to find time to do the serious lifting on the novels. Eventually, the review became the enabling crutch, I “wrote” so I didn’t feel too guilty about not getting around to the real stuff.

So then I gave that up and a couple months later, here we are at the new site! And I’m writing an ongoing blog to keep the writing muscles in shape while I try to find time to do the serious lifting on the novels. Wait. Wait! No! Falling into the same trap!

Well, not really. As I was adjusting the blog style to fit more in-line with what I wanted to be talking about, I realized these pieces would be good material for a compilation. That’s right, after the first dozen or so, I was writing to complete a compilation. And that’s the big announcement!

Only, it’s still not quite ready. See, the deal was to complete 50 articles, review and edit them, write an introduction, format it to look all nice, and put it up for your downloading pleasure! Well, we got to 50, whoo hoo!

Yet, I really want this to be the equivalent of the digitally re-mastered edition. I’m spending extra time editing every entry, I’m reorganizing them to flow better, and I’m even writing a couple of bonus entries that will be available in the book! It’s coming by the end of this month. I’m really excited.

What does that mean for this blog? More fun stuff. I realize some of the things I wrote were a bit heavy or serious, and I want to mix things up a bit more. Plus, this site is intended to support the end goal of the novels, Stories by Alton Lee right? I may begin to rollout some original pieces here, I’m playing around with a couple of ideas. I might even do an entire original here, chapter-by-chapter, for your reading enjoyment. Let me know if that sounds good to you in the comments.

Things are moving, I’m so excited. Come along for the ride!

I used to write annual retrospectives on the movies I’d seen. Those were lots of fun, from walking through the sheer numbers to doling out awards like Worst Movie of the Year. However, this won’t be a throwback to those silver screen tributes. Rather, this will be rambling discourse of meandering thoughts running through my head just hours before the fireworks, toasts, and countdowns usher in the new year.

Before we shift completely away from the movie references, I saw The Artist over the holidays. Good film. Silent film. Be careful, you try to eat popcorn, you try to open up a candy wrapper, you try to snore, everyone knows your business. Awkward noises aside, it’s a pretty good flick. It’s literally a throwback to the silent film era, so that takes a little getting used to. You will be challenged to maintain focus and not fall asleep, and if you succeed, you get a very strong piece of storytelling. It’s not super deep, it’s not some melodratic, super serious flick under the gimmick, but it is a bit poignant and worth the strong reviews. Hands down Oscar winner? I don’t know, not based off the strength of the movie itself. Yet, with the Academy, it’s not so much about the film as it is about the campaigning, right? Good luck to the silent film that could.

(big Peppy Miller fan)

Fun stuff: I started this blog! That was a kick in the pants. I mentioned it before, but when the waves of creativity flow, jump on it and ride it out. It won’t last forever, but you might as well take advantage of it while you can. For me, I started this companion blog to get me writing regularly again. For the most part I’ve kept a firm schedule, go figure. What started out as random stories from my life have shifted a bit, hopefully not too preachy or sappy. I do have an idea that I’ll talk about later, but that’s about two months away. Until then, I hope to come up with some more entertaining stuff.

Bummer: I didn’t finish my book. Ah, I remember the aspirations to have two books finished by the new year. Sadly, the first one is in edit mode. I really wanted to have that one done for the holiday season, what better gift could I give than my own book. I could see it now, family and friends alike, smiling politely, as I tell them they received my $2.99 ebook on Kindle. But hey, that’s eight years of blood, sweat, and tears I just electronically delivered to you! Still, I haven’t stopped, but things definitely slowed down as I tended to other parts of my life.

Moving and cooking: those came hand in hand for me. I took the plunge and exited suburbia to end up in a place with a bigger kitchen. That meant more cooking for me! That meant more cleaning, too. Cleaning sucks. It can be a serious impediment to actually cooking a meal. Preparation kinda sucks as well. Having to plan what you’re going to cook and then buying the ingredients to do so is a lot of work. Ideally, I’ll live in a world where I’ll think of something and open the fridge to have all the necessary things to pull off my masterpiece. This isn’t some magical Food Network reality. It’s called being rich! Ha. Money…sounds nice.

Good news: from babies to weddings to engagements to jobs to promotions, friends and family found themselves in joyous circumstances. Thank you for letting me be part of those times and sharing the good fortune. Nothing but continued happiness for all those special people in my life…and yours.

Things to come: it’s a very exciting time as 2012 ushers in the Year of the Dragon. Always my favorite Chinese zodiac symbol, the Dragon should adorn all manner of things to capitalize on its popularity. That being said, 2012 also represents the end of the world. If the Mayans were wrong, egg on their face, right? That’s like 5000 years of anticipation all going up in smoke. Yet, if you know me, you know I’ve been waiting for 4 ahau 3 kenken, Sunday, December 23, 2012 for over ten years. Quick note, more recent translations have the date as Dec 21, 2012, but I’m sticking with Sam Waterston’s assessment. All kidding aside, we’ve seen some majore shake-ups in the world this year. Will it be a precursor to some serious shifting in 2012? Do I enjoy a conspiracy theory wrapped up in a science fiction story based on millennia-old data? You bet I do!

Overall, 2011 wasn’t necessarily memorable. Lots of great things transpired, great accomplishments, but things blurred a bit for me. I’m thankful for the good things, and I’m happy to put the bad things to rest; however, more than anything, I’m ready for the next year to start. To be honest, the simple turn of the clock will not materially impact things, but if it sets us off on the right foot to do those important things, then let’s go do it! Looking forward to delivering the book I’ve promised. Looking forward to getting your feedback. Looking forward to being right here to converse with all of you! Good things to come in 2012 for all of us!

Nope. Well, not yet. Maybe a little bit. The thing is, it’s really close, but I’ve been pretty bad about finishing it off. Aside from those excuses, I’d like to do the real reveal when things are ready to go. Believe me, I’m excited to launch it. So, what are you going to talk about now? Why don’t you ask me some questions.

Why am I so excited about the prospects of finishing a novel now?

The time is upon us! How dramatic is that? Seriously though, we’re witnessing a very exciting time for media consumption. Or more simply, music, TV, film, books, all these vehicles of creativity were once bottled up by gatekeepers. We’re not even talking that long ago, and the bottling wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, why wouldn’t you go to a movie theater to see a movie? Why wouldn’t you buy a record, cassette, or CD to listen to your favorite bands? The delivery of creativity was largely defined by the delivery devices. Film. Vinyl. Plastic. Paper. We were bound to the delivery devices and some very smart people stepped in to help facilitate those deliveries.

Yet, the winds of change are upon us, and the most disruptive force in the world is something that isn’t readily tangible. The web. The internet. It is the delivery device that has upended decades of perfecting an old system. Now, you can use any number of devices to plug into some ethereal “web” and consume media in ways that seem too easy. Want to hear that band? Want to see last night’s TV show? Want to watch a movie on your 55 inch flat-panel? It’s all at your fingertips.

A direct corollary to all of this: the gatekeepers are no longer necessary. That’s scary for a lot of folks, but it’s a boon to the creative juices flowing inside you. Think about how much technology has advanced and how you now have the ability to produce the same quality of work that used to require teams, studios, and equipment that made it highly prohibitive for the aspiring amateur. You can buy an HD camera and film a movie, put it on your computer and edit with professional grade effects, and post it online where an audience of billions await. That’s the democratization of creativity. That’s inspiring and scary at the same time.

Back to my book. Five years ago, writing a book meant creating a work that would still require gatekeeper approval. Without a publisher, my story was little more than a file on my computer. Even two years ago, my novel was little more than a thousand dollar investment into self-publishing or a stigmatized e-book. Now, it will be a story available for instant download and ready to be consumed on numerous e-readers. That’s how quickly things have changed. That’s how crazy it has become. That’s why I’m excited, that’s why I’m writing now, that’s why I spending my free time on a side hustle.

What about some real details? Fine. The first novel is a fantasy fiction piece, aimed at all ages, full of adventure. The second novel is a full blown sci-fi story with lots of science-faction built into the world I’m creating. The third novel is a throwback adventure with treasure, mystery, and fun.

Aren’t you kind of all over the place? Yes, and that’s on purpose. After all, the freedom to create, I’m planning on creating exactly what I find interesting. Much like this blog, I’m writing things that are fun. And much like this blog, it’s you, the audience, that will dictate what you want to read next.

Do you really have three novels planned? Yes, and the second one is over halfway done. If you don’t see two novels from me before the new year, I’ve missed my self-imposed deadline.

What’s the deal with the name of this site? It’s the umbrella brand for these novels. There’s a reason behind it, you’ll have to wait and see how it unfolds.

That’s all fine and good, when are we going to see this first novel? Soon.

You already said that in your About Me section. Real dates? Honestly, in October. It’s coming very soon.

Are you done interviewing yourself? Yes…for now.

Coming up: Let the music free you

Stars and Stripes

I don’t know that I have anything relevant to say. Instead, I’ll offer my simple thoughts. There wasn’t an event that could rattle the core of this country like the attacks that happened 10 years ago. I’m not sure there will be another one, at least for my generation. Not because something this serious couldn’t happen again. Rather, there isn’t anything that would shock us into another catatonic trance like that morning. This literally changed the way we lived, from the most obvious like airport security, to the most concealed like the subconscious shift to anxiety-filled skepticism.

Living on the West Coast means starting your mornings when most East Coasters are getting ready for lunch. On that Tuesday morning, it was a break-of-dawn phone call that woke my girlfriend. There are probably worse things, but witnessing a loved one’s terrified scream ranks up there as one of those top bone-chilling moments.

At that moment, I couldn’t make out what was being said. I thought it was a family member, maybe an accident, something significant. I eventually caught her attention and she motioned to me, letting me know that nothing imminent was on the horizon. I was relieved for the moment, but that all changed when she got off the phone.

She told me what had happened and suddenly, we were both in a daze. In those early hours, no one had all the facts and there was a lot of hysteria as the news trickled in. Were more attacks coming? Was there anyone on the East Coast that we knew? Is San Francisco another target? Should we go to work? There was little that made sense, no matter what questions were being asked.

The rest of the day was a blur. I took the 45 drive to work, and found a full, but solemn office. The entire day was headphones and hushed tones, and most everyone left early. After driving home, I walked down the street to a friend’s place to watch the news. We didn’t talk a lot, there wasn’t much to say. In a way, there still isn’t.

The attacks of 9/11 changed this country, changed its people, and changed its attitude. A lot of things look like they did before, and we’ve worked hard to return to our way of life as more time has passed. Yet, the world we live in is different. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just a fact, and it’s something we all tacitly understand at some level.

I am lucky as I wasn’t directly impacted by the tragedy, but today I will think about all those who were affected. And I hope we all take a moment to mourn with those who lost, honor those who sacrificed, and embrace those who support us.

Coming up: It’s just a matter of perspective