A Piece of My Mind: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

A to Z Challenge - Z

Day 26 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Zorro

As long as he looks and sounds like Antonio Banderas...

Well, this wraps up the month-blog challenge for this year. I was incredibly busy this month and barely got a chance to visit anyone, so I wanted to thank the bloggers who dropped by here and I hope to visit your blog in the not-too-distant future.

2012 Movie Madness Challenge - April Report

Time for my fourth status report for the Movie Madness Challenge.

Here is my code for the films:

New to me - N
Repeat viewing - R

I'll also be including how I viewed the films:

DVD
VHS (yes, we have a lot of those, and a VCR)
Network TV
Pay TV
Internet streaming video
In theatre

Spartacus: Vengeance
Pay TV
N

Bednaya Nastya (Poor Anastasia)

127 episodes--I'm counting this Russian historical drama, or telenovela, as 6 seasons, since North American programs generally run at an average of 20 or so episodes a season

Internet Streaming Video
N

Wanted
DVD
R

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Total movies for April - 9

Total movies for 2012 - 31

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally passed into Movie Newbie status!

I had a writing deadline and a book cover / book trailer shoot on the 28th which took up prep time. It went very, very well! Here's a shot of yours truly on set:

With me is Bobby Rossong, the model who portrays my dark fantasy hero, Scorpius.

25 Movies: Movie Newbie

50 Movies: Movie Fanatic

75 Movies: Movie Critic

100+ Movies: Movie Master

Saturday, April 28, 2012

A to Z Challenge - Y

Day 25 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Yukon Cornelius

from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

When you think about it, Yukon Cornelius goes through a similar character arc to Han Solo.

Friday, April 27, 2012

A to Z Challenge - X

Day 24 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Professor Charles Xavier

from the X-Men series

5 on Friday - Set 116

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Tomorrow I'll be shooting the book covers and the book trailers for my Scorpius series. A lot of work, all heading for the big day.

Phew...

In the meantime, if you'd like to see what's been turning my crank for the past month, let me introduce you to a Russian telenovela series--already ten years old--which I discovered on You Tube and have been watching obsessively ever since.

It's called Bednaya Nastya (Poor Anastasia) and is a sumptuous feast for the eyes--in more ways than one.

What really freaked me out was the ornate doors to Baron Korf's study. They pretty much match the doors I had in my mind for the ones leading to the duke's drawing room in my Scorpius serial. So weird.

There's lots of music in the series, as one of the main characters, Anna, is a singer. For this week's set, here are five songs which appear in the show.

1 - Sun

This is a gypsy song performed at the ball, by the singers featured in the video.

2 - Mne ne zhal (I Don't Regret) - Sergey Lee, Anton Makarsky and Ariana

This is the main theme song for the series. The second male singer actually has a featured role in the series.

3 - Sey Potseloy (That Kiss) - Ariana

This is a song Anna sings in the very first episode, eliciting this unrequited-love response from the hunky Vladimir:

4 - Vospominanie (Reminiscence) - Ariana

5 - The Heart of a Thousand Candles

Not sure of the singer for this one, but he has quickly grown on me. I love his voice.

This seems to be a fan video, using a song that doesn't come from the show. But in the compilation, you get a good idea of the story line between Vladimir and Anna.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

A to Z Challenge - W

Day 23 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Dean Winchester

from Supernatural

In this shot, Dean faces down Lucifer who has taken up residence inside his brother and fellow supernatural-bad-guy hunter, Sam.

Dean will always do what it takes, no matter the personal cost to himself. He's one of my favorite characters, ever.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A to Z Challenge - V

Day 22 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Captain von Trapp

from The Sound of Music

The Serialists - Scene 95

ANNOUNCING

My Scorpius tale is winding to its conclusion.

This week is the countdown to the end of a two-year serialized tale. In three more installments we'll bring to a close this opening adventure in the life of the dashing young lord's man.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my longtime readers. This whole experience of posting each week and reading your comments has been an incredible way for me to hone my craft. Your generosity in sharing your responses means the world to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To recap this dark fantasy story so far:

As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.

Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.

An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.

We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header. The Serialists - hosted by Alice Audrey - appears on Wednesdays.

Scene 95

They danced for hours, cutting figures and counting measures with sly twists, secret smiles and discreet brushes past the two maidens. Scorpius locked gazes with his master’s intended, searching for answers in the swiftest of moments. Then the music swung them apart.

Yashtii, the Sibian maiden whose hold on his master set The Troubles past the simmer point, ducked and swayed with abandon, the brimming passion in her movements unmatched by the graceful ladies surrounding her. Though she wove through the dances in the same assured manner as everyone here, Lord Thibault’s intended inhabited the ballroom like no one else.

In fact, the fair-haired beauty—his cousin from the north whose name he did not even know—must have come to a conclusion regarding her prospects with his master. Though she’d begun the evening with a light step and a rather irresistible smile, as the night went on the glow left her face, her gazes falling before she could make eye contact with Lord Thibault.

The dancers snaked their way along the rows, joining hands and releasing, joining hands and releasing. Scorpius saw his cousin up ahead and determined he would catch her gaze, not sure what he would do once he had it, but unwilling to watch her sink into despair.

For a crushing moment he thought the dance might force them to miss one another, but another skip and a step and there she was. Yet it was she who sought Scorpius out, she whose gaze burned ahead before their hands reached out to grasp and hold.

He saw the hurt and confusion in her pale blue eyes, grayed over now with sadness. How it tugged at his heart, the way she looked up at him, deep into his eyes with a wordless demand for explanation. Spinning away on her pretty heel, Scorpius matched his cousin’s speed in time to see her tip her head around to keep him in her sights.

His stomach swirled with unaccustomed exhilaration.

It seemed an age before the figures brought them around again. Scorpius nearly forgot to keep his habitual watch on the assembled guests even in the midst of his dancing. Darting a glance into the gallery, he saw the chancellor gazing down at him and imagined that the dark expression he saw there was an affirmation of Scorpius’ neglect of duty.

Swinging his head around in time to the music, Scorpius found Lord Thibault exactly where he expected to find him along the promenade line. His master’s hands were joined with Yashtii’s, sparks bursting between them so that all were warmed by their joy.

When the set ended, Scorpius bowed to the lady across from him, then quickly turned and bowed to the northern maiden. Her blush brought him to her side, offering his arm and the promise of refreshment.

As though appearing from thin air, the fair-haired cousin’s retinue of male kin bound them both on all sides. Scorpius did not break his stride, refusing to relinquish his position as lord’s man to the host of the evening. “Enough for all, I dare say.”

Her solidly-built kinsman stood firmly in the way. “She respectfully declines your kind offer, sir.”

Releasing the lady’s arm, Scorpius stepped back and bowed to the young fighter. “Lord’s man, my lord.” He straightened, making sure to avoid direct eye contact. “My master offers food and drink to rival any in the eight kingdoms. Care to taste of its delicacies?”

“Perhaps your master’s father, the duke may offer something better?” her kinsman said. “He has asked for you, my Lady Aerthrudha.”

The fair-haired northern maiden looked back through the crowd towards Lord Thibault, only to hear his infectious laughter as he smiled at Yashtii. Pausing for only a moment, Lady Aerthrudha rejoined Scorpius, taking his arm and addressing the young fighter with disdain.

“Our host’s man will no doubt know the way there,” she said.

Bowing again, Scorpius turned them all in the direction of the far staircase. “Come this way, if it would please my lords and my lady.”

As they made their way up the stairs and along the corridor to the ornate doors leading to the duke’s drawing room, the sounds of the soiree faded into the distance, until there was only the clicking of boots on the polished floor and the rich sweeping sounds of Lady Aerthrudha’s gown.

Scorpius couldn’t afford to let himself hear the pounding of his own pulse in his ears. Slaves pulled the doors open, Scorpius stepped forward with his unsuspecting cousin on his arm while her kinsman fanned out along the back of the drawing room.

The chancellor emerged from the shadows, catching Scorpius’ gaze one second before a regal man turned from conversation with the Duke of Pruzhnino. The guest held his hands out to Lady Aerthrudha, who moved forward and clasped them warmly.

The blood in Scorpius’ veins chilled as his breath caught. The lady’s grandsire was no stranger.

Those hands had once yanked the folded leather from the young guard’s mouth, so this noble could better hear his shrieks. Her grandsire, the Duke of Razlava, had once gone by the title of lord.

Lord Dirske. The architect of the Nightmare Hunt, the Hunt of Screams.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A to Z Challenge - U

Day 21 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Uther Pendragon

from Merlin

Monday, April 23, 2012

A to Z Challenge - T

Day 20 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

John Thornton

from North & South

Saturday, April 21, 2012

A to Z Challenge - S

Day 19 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Richard Sharpe

shown here with his devoted comrade in arms, Patrick Harper.

Friday, April 20, 2012

5 on Friday - Set 115

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

This week's set is a character arc set for Scorpius, whose story has been told here at A Piece of My Mind as weekly serialized fiction since April of 2010 - two years!

This weekend I'm finishing revisions to the full-length manuscript for Scorpius' tale. I'm also finalizing the costumes for three book covers and three book trailers for the Scorpius series which will be shooting next weekend.

If all goes according to plan, Scorpius will be available as a novel by the end of May.

Since my mind is heavily into Scorpius' world right now, here's a set that follows his character arc throughout the story.

1 - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me -The Smiths

There is a rather lengthy intro to the song, which starts up at the 1:55 mark.

2 - Bird of Prey - Jim Morrison

3 - Promise of a Lifetime - Kutless

4 - Assassin - Muse

5 - Freewill - Rush

A to Z Challenge - R

Day 18 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Prince Rilian

from The Silver Chair

Thursday, April 19, 2012

A to Z Challenge - Q

Day 17 of the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge

For this challenge, I'm exploring my

FAVORITE FICTIONAL MALE CHARACTERS

is for

Quincey

from the 1977 BBC version of Count Dracula

Like many of my favorite characters, Quincey does the thankless task, drawing resolve from deep inside to do what must be done.

The Serialists - Scene 94

I'm posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.

To recap this dark fantasy story so far:

As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.

Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.

An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.

We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.

Scene 94

He looked at his master, bringing his own arms up to clasp Lord Thibault’s. Time hung suspended as Scorpius’ master’s haunted gaze met his own. Soiree guests glided past them along the stairs, their movements seeming so oddly slow to Scorpius, as though they moved through lake water.

Blood pounded in his ears as he turned to look behind him, over the stair railing down into the crowd below. He sought the Sibian woman who had won Lord Thibault’s heart, setting them both hurtling into this night of choices.

There she was, dazzling in her bold colors, glowing with gold coins and gleaming jewels. Only an arms’ length away from Lord Thibault’s love, the fair-haired northern maiden stood amongst friends and a family escort, as did every bridal hopeful.

The chancellor’s words rumbled through his mind:

“The young lady whose approval has been given by the dukessa and myself is from a well-placed family to the north, whose grandsire will be arriving shortly to collect her. I will arrange for you to attend me when the duke calls an audience with her grandsire.

All families have faces they show to the world, and faces they protect. Injured sides, shameful sides, monstrous sides. Some families have mysteries, never solved. Until someone uncovers just the right shape to solve the puzzle.”

Scorpius looked again at his master, who just slightly nodded his head. A small gesture that shredded Scorpius’ heart.

“If we were not here before all of these guests, Scorpius, I would kneel and beg your forgiveness.”

Breath catching in his chest, Scorpius whispered, “My lord?” As if compelled to look, he glanced down at the fair-haired lady softly glowing in her delicate finery.

Lord Thibault squeezed his fingers tighter around Scorpius’ arms. “I never thought to help you search out your family when I brought you here. I just wanted you for my man.”

Scorpius bowed his head against the pain seizing up in his chest. He tried to speak but nothing came out.

“I’ve been a selfish bastard,” Lord Thibault said, releasing his hold on him.

“Please, my lord,” Scorpius said, shaking his head no.

“At least the chancellor has been a true friend to you. He followed the trail at once.”

Turning to gaze out over the crowd, Scorpius whispered, “It cannot be safe to speak here.”

“They all believe we would never do so, and are paying us no heed.” Lord Thibault looked sideways at him, but where there should have been a grin was only shadow and pale self-reproach. “I am going to make my choice tonight. You are going to make yours. If it turns out that—“

His master’s voice faltered. Lord Thibault angled his body away for a long moment.

“I have two brothers, Scorpius. Neither of them knows my heart the way you do. I will always consider you my true brother. And I do beg your forgiveness.”

“My lord,” Scorpius said, his voice breaking.

“That’s just it,” Lord Thibault said, finally smiling. “You may be every bit a lord in your own right. All you have to do is attend upon the chancellor when her grandsire meets with my father the duke after the soiree. It will all be up to you, Scorpius. Make yourself known to the Duke of Razlava, with whom my father wishes to form an alliance.

“It is said he lost a daughter who made free with all the delights of the world. She tasted of these fruits until they were her only gods. Our chancellor discovered she’d left a child behind at the nursery, unable to stop herself from plucking as many pleasures from the world as she could before she died of all of it.”

Scorpius’ heart beat so hard he could barely hear his master anymore.

“Her father did not claim the boy child. The origin of the baby’s father was unverifiable, and therefore suspect. The northerners are proud of their stock and unwelcoming to common bloodlines ruining their pedigrees.”

Lord Thibault looked into Scorpius’ eyes. “You are too dark to belong to their line. You were not claimed. And yet the lovely fair-haired one so favored by my mother is your cousin. If the chancellor swears to it, it is so.”