Skip to main content

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

50 First Dates, Matrix: Reloaded, Drumline

8/21/04

I've seen a bunch of movies lately. I saw 50 FIRST DATES with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. (I'm liking his recent movies, he's somehow quite appealing as a hero.) Anyway, except for a couple cuss words and off-camera premarital sex, it was a fabulous portrayal of sacrificial unselfishness in love. Such a refreshing theme compared to the sex-is-love that seems to pervade most movies these days. I'd let my high school girls watch it, although maybe not the Junior High school girls.

I saw MATRIX: RELOADED finally. It was actually better than I expected, after reading a bunch of very negative reviews. The ending is a cliffhanger, which I think is part of the reason why people didn't like it as much. There were three things I disliked about it: 1) Apparently Keanu couldn't or wouldn't do his own staff-fighting, so while the choreography of the fight scene with the metal pipe and the multiple Agent Smiths is very good, the scene is all CGI, which looks a lot like a video game. 2) There is a totally useless dance party/gratuitous sex scene early in the movie with hundreds of young, nubile gyrating bodies interspersed with afforementioned gratuitous sex scene. Waste of film minutes, in my opinion. 3) Morpheus' inspirational speech to the crowd (just before dance party scene) has sentiments that are in character, but the writers did a poor job of copying the character's speech style. The language--the words chosen--belong to Shakespeare in the Park, rather than Morpheus' character.

But on a whole, I liked the movie a lot. I'd give it four stars. The car/motorcycle/big-rig chase scene is KICKIN'. Loved that. The albino twins characters are pretty neat, too, although I thought Frenchie is a bit overplayed by the actor. Agent Smith's new "powers" to be able to replicate himself is a nice concept, like a virus with AI. The biggest thing I liked was that, like the first MATRIX, the storyline makes the audience question their reality. Before, it was the concept that reality is all in your head, the computer-generated Matrix. This time, it's that this reality isn't the first reality, but one of many reboots. I thought it was a cool story premise. I would hate to think there are people who actually believe it as true, but for me, it's entertaining fiction.

Tonight I saw DRUMLINE. A totally feel-good movie. It also had characters that displayed all the 'classic' story arcs: The character has a goal, then there's conflict, boxing the character in until he has to make a decision to either 1) attain his goal easily but compromise his morals, or 2) give up his goal but do what's right. When the character does the right thing, it totally makes me, as the audience, want to root for him. It was neat to observe, in this movie, how to develop and retain reader sympathy for a character in a manuscript. I'm so hyped to have noticed it. I'm off to work on my hero!

I also started reading PREMONITION by Randy Ingermanson. I have to say, the entire storyline of the book is fascinating. Since Randy is a real-live physicist (and an incredibly smart guy), he wrote a story premise about a rogue physicist who utilizes quantum mechanics to travel back in time to kill the apostle Paul. The physicist is followed by two other modern-day characters who choose to stay back in first-century Jerusalem to ensure the murder plot isn't carried out. That's the story from his first book, TRANSGRESSION (which is out of print, and there are some booksellers charging an arm and a leg for an $11 book). PREMONITION is the sequel, and the characters are aware that next in the actual historical timeline is the murder of the apostle James and the Jewish revolt. On his website, Randy has a really interesting article about the bone-box found recently by archaeologists that may hold the actual bones of James: (http://www.rsingermanson.com/html/james__bone_box.html) That makes PREMONITION that much more interesting to read, even though Randy wrote it before the bone-box was discovered. Next month, the third book in this series will be released, RETRIBUTION. I can't wait to read that.

Well, those are my thoughts. I think I will try to blog more often from now on. I must like to listen to myself. LOL


Categories:

Comments

Popular Posts

Camille's Writing Progress

Join my newsletter to get regular updates in your inbox!

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

Psalm 119:11

Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Dear Lord, Thank you for your wonderful Word so that you can speak to our hearts and help us to know you. Thank you for showing us who you are and who we could be through the Bible. Thank you for guiding us to live in righteousness. Please help us so that we may not sin against you but put you above everything else in our lives. Amen Psalms 119:11 わたしは仰せを心に納めています/あなたに対して過ちを犯すことのないように。 親愛なる主よ、 私たちの心に語りかけ、私たちがあなたを知ることができるように、あなたの素晴らしい御言葉をありがとうございます。聖書を通して、あなたがどのような方であり、私たちがどのような者になりうるかを示してくださってありがとうございます。私たちが義に生きることができるように導いてくださり、ありがとうございます。どうか、私たちがあなたに対して罪を犯すことなく、私たちの人生において何よりもあなたを優先することができるように助けてください。 アーメン

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Rules, rules, rules

Captain's Log, Stardate 09.09.2009 Well, I have discovered that I need to comply with California law in order to do my book giveaways. Who knew there were so many rules? It doesn’t really affect you guys much, except that I can no longer mail the books internationally . Sorry, guys, but I really don’t relish spending any time in prison. Here’s the new rules, effective for any give away on this blog, in my newsletter , or on my website after September 9th, 2009: Disclaimer: 1. No purchase necessary to enter any give aways given on this blog (http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/), in my newsletter (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Camys_Loft), or on my website (http://www.camytang.com/). The give away will end on the date stated in the posting. The opportunity to play may be affected by local ability to access the Internet at any particular time. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. 2. Open to all readers, 18 years or older who are legally allowed to participate in su

A List of my Free Blog Reads

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Humorous Romantic Suspense: Year of the Dog (Warubozu Spa Chronicles series, Prequel novel) (Currently being posted monthly on my blog as a serial novel) Marisol Mutou, a professional dog trainer, finally has a chance to buy a facility for her business, but her world is upended when she must move in with her disapproving family, who have always made her feel inadequate. When she stumbles upon a three-year-old missing persons case, security expert Ashwin Keitou, whose car she accidentally rear-ended a few weeks earlier, is tasked with protecting her. However, danger begins to circle around them from people who want the past to remain there. Can they shed light on the secrets moving in the shadows? Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, n

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

Gerard's Red and Black Scarf

For fun, I decided to knit the Regency scarf that Gerard, my hero, gives to my heroine in my Christmas short novel, The Spinster's Christmas . I can’t remember if I posted the finished scarf on my blog, including any changes I made to the pattern, so here it is. I chose A Gentleman’s Comforter from The Ladies’ Knitting and Netting Book, First Series by Miss Watts, originally published in 1837. You can download the .pdf of the Fifth Edition, with additions, which was published in 1840 . I’m pretty sure this pattern was in use in the Regency, because most patterns had been passed down by word of mouth long before they were published. So Jane Austen could have gotten this pattern from a friend or family member and used it when making a scarf for her father. :) Here’s the original pattern: I wasn't entirely certain what “coarse steel needles” and “5 skeins of fine wool yarn” mean, so I just guessed. I used US 1 needles and fingering weight wool yarn, but you could use a

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And

Top 3 Comfort Movies

Captain's Log, Supplemental I stole this from My Friend Amy . However, I cheated and listed miniseries. My top 3 comfort movies/miniseries 1) Pride and Prejudice , the BBC version. I just love love love this miniseries. The acting is superb and I love Jane Austen (if you haven’t already noticed). I have the DVD and watch this at least once every few months. I love how this miniseries follows the book so well. It captures the essence of each of the characters, and the extra dialogue is just what Jane Austen would have written. 2) Cranford , by BBC. I saw this miniseries just this year and it’s FABULOUS! The cast is marvelous! The writing is terrific! I have it saved on my Tivo and I’ve already watched it twice. I intend to get the DVDs when I have a bit more cash. I think I like it because the characters are flawed, and yet they’re so worthy. There’s humor and drama and romance. The ensemble cast ensures for a script that’s always moving forward, always telling a new story. And the