Thoughts on Living the Life Creative
When I spend time on one of the writing forums where I’m a member, I see variations of the same question. “What’s the magic process for writing?” The authors asking the questions would never admit that this was the question they are asking, but it is. When the question concerns the correct time, the right... Continue Reading →
White Nights (1985) - Russian ballet star Kolya Rodchenko defected years ago from the U.S.S.R. When his plane is forced down in the Soviet Union by a technical malfunction, he is arrested as a traitor. While the authorities "negotiate" his future, he is placed in the home of an African-American dancer (Hines) who defected from... Continue Reading →
The Civil War - Strange And Fascinating Facts by Burke Davis (1996) - A collection of lesser-known bits of history about the American Civil War. It dispels some myths while confirming others. Davis was a career journalist who wrote many popular and well-regarded books on the Civil War. This book was first published in the... Continue Reading →
The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975) - A middle-aged executive is let go by his company and has to re-imagine his life and self-image. And that's only the beginning of the fun in this Neil Simon dark comedy. Director Melvin Frank Starring Jack Lemmon, Anne Bancroft Why I Liked It - Two great actors and... Continue Reading →
There are questions that appear and re-appear in a cycle that seems endless. This is the one that puzzles and annoys me the most. Where do you get your ideas? Good God, where DON'T I get them? Ideas for stories are everywhere. They litter the streets and halls of everyone's life. Like leaves in the... Continue Reading →
Short Circuit (1986) - A robot being developed for the Department of Defense becomes self-aware after a lightning strike. It recruits a young woman's help as it fights to keep "alive". Director -John Badham Starring Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens Why I Liked It - It's got all the classic "Disney" touches, i.e.... Continue Reading →
Not the Indy 500. But 500 posts on this blog! My review of "Golden State" was the 500th published post here. This blog (in its various iterations) has sputtered at times. Trying to find a groove for it, an identity, has taken a while. But 500 posts feels like a "Whew, we've made it" kind... Continue Reading →
Golden State by Ben H. Winters (2019) - After a catastrophe, a new nation arises, Golden State, where the truth is the center of all life. Enforcing the truth in every aspect of his society's life is Laszlo Ratecic, an agent of the state's Speculative Service. But even in a society dedicated to the concept... Continue Reading →
Tea With The Dames (2018) - Four of great ladies of the English theatre gather together to tell stories and have a bit of wine. Directed by Roger Michell Starring - Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins Why I Liked It - Some wonderful actresses share some great stories. It's "fly on the... Continue Reading →
It's kind of funny, actually. I was all set to write about how coming up with a title for a piece may or may not be that important, only to get hung up on finding the right title for this post! After all that thought, I landed on the one above. Explanation in a bit.... Continue Reading →
Stories Are My Life 