AJ MCMARSON - Author: 2015

Sunday 23 August 2015

Reel Time E-mmercial

The World Wide Web has a new site spiralling into it this week. And we have another first on this week’s Reel Time – a Reel Time E-mmercial. E-mmercial is not a real word, by the way. It is just yet, another spot of creative license that has splattered from my spray guns of imagination overload this week. And what a week it has been. Glory – I feel like I have spiralled from the tight-fit insides of an atom to the grandiose dimensions of the cosmos, all before morning coffee.

This week’s hectic creative pace was due to the final coming together of the bits-and-bobs for the website. So, without further ado…

Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys,

Make way!

For the…

Star Ways

Step right up. Step right up. Over in this corner we have a Storyboard of grand designs, and what an elaborate feat of fabrication it is, folks. For the mysterious secrets of the Star Ways, click and clack your mouse over the power-board. Get up close and personal with the stars themselves on the Starboard.

Over in the other corner, weighing in at ‘freight-free’ we have a skinny version of Jasmine Neutron Star itself. A book ergonomically designed to fit easier on the credit card. However, readers are the true star of this show, and they will soon get to participate in a smorgasbord of fun in the ‘under construction’ soon to be ‘revealed’ Game board.

Enjoy!

Jasmine Neutron Star is the first book of the Star Ways Chronicles. It is a novel most suitable for young adult and teenager readers of speculative, fantasy / science fiction, urban fantasy. It is a humorous account of Jasmine’s first adventure into the world of light – Quanta. She is a spirem – a new kind of superhero – and perfect for the sphere of Terra.

Sunday 9 August 2015

Warheads and the Looming Zombie Apocalypse

The zombies Are Coming!

The zombies are coming!

AWESOME!

On This week’s episode of Reel Time I get zombie-fried.

It wasn’t what I was expecting. My hands went bloodied and hung loosely out in front of the screen. Interestingly I lost all interest in ‘seek and destroy’. Perhaps because this game was about killing off zombies until you became one yourself – which happened in a nanosecond to my player (dumb player).

Up until a recent visit to the local hardware, I had thought Zombie Mania was age-related. Boy was I proved wrong.

I entered the store with my son. He went his way, I went mine. ‘Hey, where are you going?’ I had the audacity to ask him. Meanwhile a young male shop assistant was approaching.

I was deciding how best to explain to the assistant why I was there, without embarrassing either him or myself, when my son shouted from across the isles. ‘Where’s the zombie stuff?’

Without batting an eyelid, the assistant responded. ‘Come with me.’

I stepped in his way. After all, I was a ‘real’ shopper. ‘Hey, hang on, he was just joking,’ I explained.

Passing by, the assistant smiled at me. He winked as he replied. ‘I’ll be quick. I know where all the best zombie weapons are kept. It’s why I work here.’

When he came back, I no longer had any problems explaining to this guy my requirements. ‘I want to make a giant pencil to go with my superhero outfit that I am having made. I am my own superhero,’ I explained to his ensuing inquiry. ‘I am the Writer of the Star Ways, no, really truly, I am, really.’

KEEPING WATCHING…

Thursday 30 July 2015

Rock'N'Thunder

Rock’n’Thunder

The sounds of thunder are absent in the celestial storms of the Star Ways. That is because the lightning flashes of a celestial storm are not ‘electrical’. Although there are certainly atoms involved. The energy currents are celestial, and for Jasmine and her world, that is not good news.

When trying to describe what celestial power-strikes look like, I recently come across this awesomely helpful site:

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-lightning.htm

It has simple descriptions and photos of every kind of lightning type. Celestial lightning could best be described as a lightning ball, as shown in the picture below. But then, I do like the forking, as with the picture above. Nor can I go past an anvil strike or a colourful blast of St Elmo’s fire… So, as I can’t make up my mind, it is over to the readers, to embellish this ‘transvision’ of celestial activity with their own positive charged imaginations.

From the first chapter of the novel, it is clear that celestial storms can’t happen without an Earthing Stone. That is why they are called ‘Earthing’ Stones. And in this week’s episode of Reel Time, ‘rocks’ again make an appearance, only this time the focus is not on the Earthing Stone but the Locus Stone.

In the very first pages of Jasmine Neutron Star, the Locus Stone makes its enigmatic appearance in the hand of a frightful apparition on the said, Earthing Stone. Above churns a celestial storm. Why? And what is this black, smooth sphere, small enough to fit in the mysterious creature’s tiny hand, yet large enough to fill Sam’s world with inexpressible longing.

Can anyone else sense another fun quest in the wind? A stormy wind of course, blowing down from the mountain and not a mountain of ill repute either, like Mt Dragoon near Inversion Bay; but a lovely place to visit, Mt Tambourine, as it happens. About half way up. At a place called ‘Thunder Bird Park’ where the rocks have been known on occasion to rock’n’thunder.

http://www.thunderbirdpark.com/

Wednesday 22 July 2015

The Science Behind the Fiction!

Knowledge and knowhow expressed in scientific terms has always provided oodles of inspiration for my writing romps. Of course I am not the only writer to have been caught by the geek bug. The science behind the scenes is the topic of this week’s Reel Time.

Whether it’s whirling naughty children down chocolate-milk vacuums, crashing once frozen artic wastelands over tall-tale heroes, whizzing time travellers from one multi-dimensional task to another, utilizing patterns and counter patterns to plot subterfuges and counter subterfuges or reflect your body image from concave to convex at light speed, no, let’s make that warp speed, why hold back, after all a writer can go where a scientist’s control variables won’t let them.

‘To be or not to be’ is more than a question. It is a challenge. To discover what is yet to be, what is being and what has been, is a lifetime quest for all. ‘Scientist’ may be their official title, but these professional questers are more than that. Scientists explore the possibilities. They write enthusiastic about their findings, their ponderings. Entertain and awe-inspire us minions with their hard-won knowledge. They are teachers. They are oracles. In the past, they were the magi. Have you watched any Bill Nye lately?

http://billnye.com/

Or what about reading some ‘elementary’ science articles? Guaranteed to inspire and engage even the most sophisticated grownups. Science will have you laughing and sounding smarter in no time.

http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/

Scientific theories abound at Brisbane’s fun packed Science Centre where this episode takes place. Plate tectonics, statistical mechanics, Special Relativity, General Relativity, Quantum Theory Evolution, Heliocentrism – wow – years, decades, even, of concentrated mind power, all there for the taking.

Visit AJ's website for exclusive content and book discounts!!

Friday 17 July 2015

The Earthing Stone

Unearthing an Earthing Stone

To create believable fiction, a writer must get their facts right.

Earthing Stones, one of several artifacts created for the Star Ways, have been designed to maintain a cohesive back story for this starry tale.

Earthing Stones pack a presence. They are tall, dark and (I think) handsome. What’s not to love about the biggest pet rocks on the planet?

In fantasy fiction, writers spin magic with their word craft. They implant seemingly inert objects, such as rocks, with significance that is directly proportional to the requirements of the plot. These mythical devices should give the impression that they have always existed. That they exist for a purpose, and if that purpose should ever be challenged, then get ready for a story climax!

From the tale’s start to end, these objects must abide by the world that the author intended. And in a science/fantasy tale, scientifically proven laws of nature must mesh with, well, the lore’s laws.

Creators, whether they be writers, painters, sculptures, movie directors, carpenters, bakers or candlestick makers, when seeking to replicate the eternal story, will leave no stone unturned, no earth unplowed to transform ‘potential’ truth into truth.

Scientifically improvable details may enhance a fiction, just as they can do for a face cream, but don’t let that get in the way of a good story. Your creation story is your own. Keep it real.

The rock in the this week’s Reel Time might look like an insubstantial object to some, but to me, the creator of the Star Ways, by its very nature, it rocks with more biophotonic energy than anything else on earth.

Keep up to date: http://www.ajmcmarson.com

Wednesday 8 July 2015

A Great Yarn

In this week’s Write Essential episode of Reel Time, the crash test dummies spin a great yarn. Here's another one:

The Significance of the Apple

Jasmine eats a lot of apples. They have significance.

The apple is a purpose-filled literary device. It imparts information about Jasmine’s physical dimension. The first time she eats an apple, it’s in the pocket of her school uniform. The second time, it is not mentioned how she happens to have it in her hand, but she and Cassie are sitting outside the local shops across from their school. It can be inferred that she has bought it at the shop, choosing it over the other kind of ‘food choices’ that her friend, Cassie, makes.

This in itself provides social / emotional dimension to the character, Jasmine. Her choice is clear and simple. An apple – an afternoon practise, maybe? Every afternoon she seems to be eating one.

The apple therefore, has metaphorical meaning. Why an apple? Why doesn’t she pull a banana from her pocket? Why isn’t she peeling an orange as she sits and talks to Cassie, sucking up and splashing its juices around?

The apples establish relationships. The contrast between the two friends can’t get sharper then the crunch of an apple verse an avalanche of ‘anything-chocolate’. The relationship between Jasmine and her mum is established over an apple. The humorous tone of the tale begins with an apple. A bulge, left forgotten, quietly and unnoticed, is much like Jasmine’s spirem dimension. The way she eats her apples, spitting out its seeds, throwing its core into the river with a few choice words or chewing it over as she attempts to describe what being a spirem is like, are all descriptive metaphors that give her character substance.

Meet any significant apples lately?

A stone from the hand of a friend is an apple (Moroccan proverb)

There's small choice in rotten apples (Shakespeare)

Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why (Baruch)

https://www.quotesdaddy.com/tag/Apple

Acknowledgment:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02312/apple_2312343b.jpg

Wednesday 1 July 2015

MINDCRAFT - YER, I JUST DID

Mindcraft – yer, I just did.

Who said this would be easy - for me?

I have been researching:

Minecraft is a sandbox construction game created by Mojang AB founder Markus Persson, and inspired by the Infiniminer, Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper games. Gameplay involves players interacting with the game world by placing and breaking various types of blocks in a three-dimensional environment. In this environment, players can build creative structures, creations, and artwork on multiplayer servers and singleplayer worlds across multiple game modes.

http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Minecraft_Wiki

So now you know as much as I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAI5ZXY_tkk

Thanks, Uncle, for creating this youtube ‘how to’ for your four nephews and nieces – and me. I now understand that I was supposed to:

build something.

I stumbled upon this useful tutorial after making a search: ‘Minecraft for children’. The only problem is that uncle does not tell me, how to move forward, how to pick up the axe after I have selected one, and what I do with the sheep when I catch it.

All in all, I enjoyed my romp around the Minecraft world (one of them). Frustration after all, is an essential ingredient to learning jaunts.

Learning to understand your environment while sustaining your existence within it, build character and interrelationships, stand up to the monsters, not to mention that elusive hand-eye coordination all makes for some serious learning fun.

I enjoyed a nice accident during my researching. At first I thought it was the busy people at Google having a go at me when I first spotted the word, ‘NOOB’. How cute is this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P5LBw2fdAg

NEW WEBSITE COMING IN JULY 2015

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Geting Animated!

GETTING ANIMATED

Olive Oyl was my first animation crush.

Stop looking for the similarities!!!!

Drawings in motion have been the backbone of many a childhood journey. Look what Micky Mouse has given us. Popeye The Sailor Man – I STILL love you. What a man – although I never could work out whether Olive was with Brutus or was she with Popeye, and you know what – who cares – it’s just animation.

Relive the memories or find yourself a new illustrious illustration to laugh over.
http://www.fastcharacters.com/50-most-famous-cartoon-characters-mascots/

My sojourn into animation however, isn’t just about tricking the eye. My tricks are always far loftier than that. Read on.

Does ‘Time Dilation’ mean anything to anyone? What about theories of relativity or Albert Einstein?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation

Einstein’s Theory

(in a [particularly nutty] nut shell)

The faster we travel, the slower time passes for us compared to other people who aren’t travelling as fast.

This theory has been scientifically tested many times and never proven wrong, SO.

The Hypothesis ( mine not Einstein’s)

If I was an animation, I should be able to travel as fast or as slow as I please. If so, then, I should be able to time warp.

Scientific notation :

Time Warp X flip-o-mania* = Time Travel (Relativity)

* see ‘Captain Underpants’ for details

The Test

Meet my new friend on this week’s episode of Reel Time. Liana is an animator. She will inspire you to get out those colouring pencils again. Why should the kids get all the fun! But that’s not all.

Involved in the design of the Star Ways up and coming website, Liana’s animation skills will be -‘tested’.

For the Results

Acknowledgements:

Olive Oyl art:

http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130407174916/popeye/images/2/22/Mhill4.jpg

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/332/d/f/olive_oyl_tickled_by_lord_reckless-d87y4qs.jpg

outer space:

http://wallpoper.com/images/00/39/21/31/outer-space_00392131.jpg

Liana Beukes

animimator

http://www.studioredli.com

Monday 15 June 2015

LARP IT UP!

LARP IT UP!!

Live Action Role Play

‘You’ll love it,’ exclaimed Rosalie Pixie. Her engaging smile was infectious.

‘I already do,’ I replied.

With Rosalie’s help (alias Joe – fun-star of ‘& Co’ fame), the Reel Time team found itself on an open, floodlit field. Before us was an amazing sight. A story of epic proportions was unfolding. Baying cries of valour swept a battlefield where opposing sides had banded for an onslaught. Beyond the flames of chivalry, personal creeds and communion, stood a solitary figure. A magus with her white garbs almost lost in the mists of time; as were the details upon which her character had been built. Her staff was held high. The eyes of the game masters watched for its fall. Let the games begin.

It was an honour to be part of the local LARP community for this week’s episode of Reel Time.

Stylized characters are developed when participants physically act out their characters' actions while pursuing goals in a fictional setting. Game masters facilitate the play, penalize rule breaking and determine outcomes. Established in the 1970’s and now a universal pheromone LARP events are as varied as the people who play them.

‘They come from all walks of life,’ explained Wind Whisperer, a descendent of the Sioux tribe (a real one). His staff of peace held firm in his hand. ‘All that welcome are welcomed.’

And now that I know where all the intelligent, good-looking, young-people-of-all-ages go on a Wednesday night, I can go there too. So can you. Follow the link to find out more:

http://www.heroesodyssey.org.au/9/events/

http://www.facebook.com/heroesodysseyinc

Keep up to date with AJ Escapades by following her on FACEBOOK and YOUTUBE

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Desperately Seeking Cassie

Desperately Seeking Cassie

‘A movie role is up for grabs!’

This was my booming message given in general commune over the text waves. ‘Mumble, mumble,’ was The Co’s response.

‘It comes with chocolate,’ I announced. Suddenly it was on for young and old. Even the ants got in on the picnic action. By the way, those ant bites are real. However, several Cassie wannabes did not make the short list – but thanks for volunteering, Mum.

It was a beautiful, sun shiny day down at the Gold Coast spit where this episode was filmed. The bright day had just as much to do with the atmosphere as it did with the climate, thanks to The Co. Every five weeks we get to enjoy the company of well, whoever turns up.

The Co is a hoot in this week’s Reel Time. I love a good laugh like the next person, but side-splitting, breath-stopping convulsions are the limit.

Jasmine’s bestie, the incorrigible, in-your-face Cassie bounces into Reel Time fame in the flimsy guise of a movie audition. Four wonder-luscious fun-stars are up for the part. Channelling this character entails some serious chocolate eating, make up wearing, tell it as it is, opinionated self-expression. And when the movie moguls come sniffing for the next Cosmo's Buster Movie, their little wet noses will be right on the money when I tell them – look no further for Cassie. That role is already under wraps.

http://www.ajmcmarson.com

Tuesday 2 June 2015

CROSSED PURPOSES

CROSSED PUPORSES – TAKE 1, AND ACTION

Introducing: The ‘LOM’

I ‘reel-ly’ was determined to make a significant contribution to the art of writing with this episode. I had a purpose. I always do. But soon after feeding the cats, things begin to blur.

I procured crash test dummies for this week’s Reel Time – the Write Essentials. Not everyone can relate to this experience. And after viewing this snippet into my writing practices, you probably won’t ever want too.

I have no idea how the dummies ended up in my virtual shopping cart. But after paying for them, with my virtual money, I had to have a useful purpose for them. So, as is my way, I made one up. However, two purposes don’t always make a ‘Write Essential’. Cross purposes however, are very essential for an exciting plot.

The purpose of the crash test dummies, procured for your viewing pleasure, was to help illustrate the necessity for a purposeful plot. Hence, I created a script in which my charming robotic (hmm) assistants could demonstrate the purpose of all characters, which is to keep the plot moving more-or-less in a purposeful direction. Have I just stumbled on a metaphor for life, or what?

The brief to my (hmm) technical assistants (yes – you can talk to these dummies – in binary blimps), was for them to demonstrate this purpose.

Easier said then done.

It’s even harder with crash test dummies. All of which brings me to: The LOM.

Please accept my gift to the universe.

LAUGHING OVER ME

Even better – do it with: A LOL!

Monday 25 May 2015

The BIG Died

The Big Died

I have been looking up some Motocross Terminology

Panic REV

Meaning:

The typical reaction when a frightened rider sees that her front end is low in the air [and we aren’t talking about the bike here]. If you hear this at the track, look quick cause you’ll probably see a crash!! [The exclamations marks are mine!!!!!!!]

For more MX terms visit:

http://www.motoxschool.com/mxterms.htm

‘The Big Died’ is my own contribution to the MX repertoire. I don’t think it needs any explanation. It is not that I have never ridden during my ‘glory days’. I recall many sunny afternoons, okay, one – or maybe something about that particular ‘one’ makes it stand out from the rest.

It could have been a scene from the musical ‘Grease’. I turned up with my girls (sister and the dog). The local track was filled with dust, petrol fumes and blow flies. Then there was this cute rider with a brand new 750. He made the fatal mistake. He let me ride it. The front wheel was never found and I still have the burn marks.

Bleed the Breaks, Block the Pass, Kill the Bike, Dead Sailor, Idle the Screw, Run Choppy, Wash Out, hey, call me a Squid (inconsistent or dangerous driver), call me a Spode (a rider that has no skill, but does not realize it and never improves). I must admit though, my little sortie in MXF was a blast. I will be playing this one again – probably on my own. After all, no one does The Big Died like me.

Find out more: AJ McMarson

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Snaky Charmer

What do fish, snakes, cats, lions, ridgebacks, bull elephants and pelicans have in common? They are all animals in my book.

Superpowers of the cosmos have animalistic tendencies in Jasmine Neutron STAR. Jasmine has them too. She is definitely a ‘fishy’ character and one to keep under your biophotonic ‘gaze’ in sequels to come. Spirems have the unique atomic composition to transform from human form to animal in a micro-second. It does have a draw back though.

One of these characters - Larzac - a full blooded spirem with a snake anamalic - is the topic under scrutiny in this week's episode of Reel Time. I feel I need to warn you however. There is nudity on offer. NO, NOT MINE - GOOD HEAVENS!!!

No, the role of Larzac, when in his human form, goes to a dishy young buck - who incidentally, did not believe the rumor that he would have to wear his auntie’s billowing bloomers - thank you very much, Jyle, for making sure your brother Cohen wore something over his 'sensitive' regions!

To play the part of Larzac, when in his snake form, we have the slithering sensation - Nessie. Thank you to Nessie and her dotting owner, Leo. They all did a great job with minimal rehearsal time. Actually, there was no rehearsal time. There was a script. I think Nessie ate it. I heard she also ate the billowing bloomers. After that, well, the best laid plans...

Enjoy, and don't forget to laugh out loudest.

Monday 11 May 2015

Storm Chaser

STORM CHASER!!

‘Real’ Time Storm Chaser

What is most exhilarating about this week’s Reel Time?

Is it:

A) This amazing image captured by Tony Porter for the Brisbane Times. Check out those electric wires, fighting tong and nail with that lightning bolt! Heaven watches from behind the safety of trees, smiling (or is that smirking) benevolently (or is that malignantly) over the proceedings.

Or does the exhilaration come from:

B) Watching in horror, as a Twister grows before our very eyes. Stunned into immobility, the storm-chasers witness this invisible menace close up and personal, as it draws substance from the rush of existence daring to fight it back into oblivion – is anyone else getting ideas for a book here?

Or:

C) Laughable me doing a horizontal pole dance;

or,

D) The technologies that make it possible to keep tabs on these brutes, so lives can be protected.

E) All the above?

As exhilarating as all that was, meeting a real time storm chaser, Justin, was for me, the big event. To learn that there are networks of people out there spiralling into cyber space these incredible events of nature is pure adrenaline pumping exhilaration.

To share the huge aliveness of nature, its constant impacting, revolutionary energy, a living supernatural force that can blow you from here to Kingdom Come in a lightning flash, is a pure surge of revelation. Thanks, Justin.

Jasmine goes there too – because spirems can.