Happy Holidays with Story Videos from Jina Bacarr
December 11, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as British, Christmas, Christmas Carol, Christmas eve, Confessions of a Podcast Goddess, holiday, Romances, Scrooge, snow, Victorian englandMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
We’re at the busiest time of year…and Santa’s Elves have been busy helping me put together four episodes for my story videos called: “A Naughty Christmas Carol.”
What is a story video? you ask.
It’s an idea I came up with when I decided to make audio stories with pictures and sound effects.
You’d think it would be easy: write a short 5 to 7 minute story epsiode for my theme about a naughty christmas carol, then record the voiceover, take some pictures to reflect the characters and settings, go through my sound effects (I have a collection of more than a 1,000 sound effects!), add some royalty free music and poof!
Like magic you have a story video…
Oh, my, what fools we writers be.
Writing then rewriting the stories was the easy part.
Recording my voiceover…how many takes?
Sound effects? Have you tried to find the right grandfather clock chime to fit what’s in your mind?
Compose pictures for the video: we’re not talking one or two shots; I took hundreds of pix for my Naughty Christmas Carol videos before I narrowed them down to a few pictures.
Have you ever tried to cajole a Christmas Doll to have attitude in her picture?
At least she sat still for her photo session!
Here she is:
Click here if you’d like to watch Episodes of “A Naughty Christmas Carol”
0 0 Read moreGift Ideas for Writers by Kitty Bucholtz
December 10, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as It's Worth It
Give Books for Christmas – what’s on your Santa list?
December 9, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesI’m about to start my Christmas shopping, and as always, books are at the top of both my giving and receiving lists. Which makes this blog a great excuse to close my eyes and think about all the great books I’d love to own…
Okay, for me… I’m keen to read The Last Will of Moira Leahy, by Therese Walsh. There are a couple of Georgette Heyer books that I’ve read but don’t yet own – Venetia springs to mind. Karina Bliss has promised me a copy of her new book, Here Comes the Groom, yippee. And since, as someone pointed out to me recently, I never stop thinking about food, I also have a couple of cookbooks on my list: Kitchen, by Nigella Lawson, and Ottolenghi, by Yotam Ottolenghi.
But it’s more blessed to give than to receive, so I also have book lists for my nearest and dearest. My son has recently started to read Michael Connelly , so maybe The Lincoln Lawyer for him. Or a book by Marcus Zusak – he loved The Book Thief (of which I’ve ordered a couple more copies for gifts).
For the girls, the Fey series by Julie Kagawa, starting with The Iron King, looks fab. Saw an interesting new book, Matched by Allie Condle, on the HarperCollins website, available for pre-order now, but that might have to wait for a paperback edition. Anything from the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast will be elevate me to supermom status. The latest Wimpy Kid is an auto-buy.
For hubby and others… having read and loved Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, another book by Paul Torday is in order. Maybe a Carl Hiaasen… Maybe the new JoAnn Ross series (not for hubby!)…
So many books, so few shopping days until Christmas! I’d love to hear your Christmas wishlist – do tell!
0 0 Read moreOCCRWA January 2011 Online Class — “Going the Distance: Goal Setting and Time Management for the Writer” with Kitty Bucholtz
November 26, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Online Class********** permission to forward **********
It’s Black Friday…and the Best Bargain You Can Buy for Yourself is Writing Time!
Add to your Shopping List the following from the Orange County Chapter of RWA!
“Going the Distance: Goal Setting and Time Management for the Writer”with Kitty Bucholtz
January 10 to February 5, 2011
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassJan11.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
If you have specific questions, email occrwaonlineclass@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE CLASS:
Wherever you are in your career, time management is often one of the biggest challenges. Every New Year’s Eve, as the fireworks explode, we try to figure out how to make our goals into our reality. But what will work for you?
In this class, you will be presented with a variety of ways to look at goal setting and time management specifically designed for the writer. Whether you are a plotter or a pantster, this interactive course will help you design a game plan that will work for you.
You will be encouraged to share your personal time management frustrations as well as your tips and tricks for achieving your writing goals. Everyone will take away a printed personalized plan for the year, and you will know how and when to make adjustments. Though class interaction will be most helpful, this is a class that can be taken and saved for later as long as you take the time to download the many forms provided on the group website.
Start the New Year right! Forget the mistakes of the past and focus on what you can do to change your future!
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Kitty Bucholtz is a writer and speaker, and a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Australia. She co-founded Routines for Writers (http://www.routinesforwriters.com\ a web site dedicated to helping writers write more. In 2011, Kitty will receive her Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing from University of Technology, Sydney.
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassJan11.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
Coming in February 2011–
“OMG I ♥ it: Writing the YA teens want to read “
with Suzanne Lazear
Find out what Teens expect out of a YA novel and how to write the YA story you want to tell in a way that appeals to today’s teens.
Check out our full list of workshop at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html
Want to be notified personally two weeks before each class? Be sureyou’re signed up for our Online Class Notices Yahoo Group! Sign up at the bottom of http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html or send a blank email to OCCRWAOnlineClassNotices-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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0 0 Read moree-maginings: Steampunk: The Next Big Thing?
November 16, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as e-maginings, steampunk
I know some of you are wondering, what in the heck is steampunk? Simply put, it’s Victorian-era science fiction, often inspired by the novels of Jules Verne. The graphic novel & movie, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, is probably the most obvious example.
Wikipedia defines Steampunk as:
…a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.[1] Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian era Britain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc.
Not all Steampunk technology runs on steam power, there are also ray guns, dirigibles, clockwork mechanisms and mechanical computers based on Charles Babbage’s designs.
I’ve been hearing about steampunk for a couple of years now, so I jumped at the chance to take Suzanne Lazear’s online class through the LARA Chapter and I’m learning a lot. Suzanne wrote a great steampunk post at Castles & Guns that will explain it better than I can.
Like steam itself, steampunk is impossible to contain. Authors are using their imaginations to add fantasy and paranormal elements, to re-write history, and to heat up the Victorian era with erotic tales. There is steampunk romance, steamypunk (erotica) and gaslamp romance (Victorian-era romance with steampunk or fantasy elements, but without elaborate worldbuilding). And it’s not just books and short stories, movies & videogames. There are steampunk RPG’s (role playing games), steampunk conventions, steampunk fashion, and steampunk sex toys. Some people have even steampunked their homes!
But why steampunk and why now? Some think it’s a reaction to our economic recession. In the foreword to Steampunk Tales Free, publisher John H. Sondericker III writes: “With many of us feeling the stresses and strains of a world economy in decline, the time is right for the resurgence of escapism into the magnificent and fantastic worlds of classic pulp.”
There’s a nostalgia about steampunk, a longing for an era when technology wasn’t just useful, but often elegantly designed and built to last. I grew up around antique cars since that was my dad’s hobby. Those old cars were beautiful, with tufted leather seats and brass headlamps. And who can resist the charm of a steam locomotive like the one used for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies?
Personally, I’m looking forward to exploring this fascinating genre a little more. What about you?
Linda McLaughlin
w/a Lyndi Lamont
Steampunk Resources:
Steamed! Writing steampunk fiction blog
Free The Princess: A practical literary guide to Steampunk and the Victorian Era
Article on Worldbuilding in Steampunk by author G. D. Falksen
Steampunk Emporium: Authentic Period Clothing for a Better Tomorrow
article in Boston Globe on Steampunk, Nov. 4, 2010
And last but not least, Lady Clankington’s Cabinet of Carnal Curiosities (This is a hoot, but may not be safe for work)
0 0 Read moreFeatured Books
THE REDEMPTION OF HEATHCLIFF
✧༺♥༻∞Retelling of a classic with a Happily Ever After! ∞༺♥༻✧
More info →
BRUISED SPIRITS
It's 1924 and Daisy Gumm bands with friends to help Lily Bannister, whose abusive husband nearly killed her.
More info →
