Monday 30 March 2015

Go Get Earthed


Go Get Earthed


Earth as a concept is full of meaning.  As a word - it is even nice to say.  It conjures both homliness and vastness at the same time.  It is both a place of existence and way of existence.  Go Get Earthed!  Is the title of episode 9’s Reel Time withA J McMarson.

Terra also, is a multi-talented word.  It has Latin roots.  As a prefix (word starter), it means:

             'A rough upland or mountainous region of the moon or other solar system body
               often having a high albedo relative to other surface features.'

Like WoW!!!   Where has that word been all my life!




Add that ‘space theme’ with the usual understanding of terra (such as terra nulla, terra firma, terracotta – ie. earthiness)… times it with an infinite imagination … subtract logical paradigms … and what have you got?

Spirems that have an access point between Quanta and Terra – without having to leave home – although there is that problem about having to leave their clothes behind…

For those who have read the book you will know what I mean … Hum. Well, I am, above all else, a practical person.

Terra also has another meaning:

           'to play hooky to complete an assignment that you procrastinated about and couldn't finish.'

YOU LITTLE TERRA!

I would like to express a special thanks to the fun-stars who participated in this week’s Reel Time and our very first episode incorporating our ‘Company of Flash Mob-Stars’.  You will gaze more of our affiliated sojourners every five weeks.  That five week cycle again!  Next week will be another guest, making the last if this five week cycle:

Reel Time with A J McMarson & Guest.
Reel Time with A J McMarson & Son.
Reel Time with A J McMarson & the write essentials.
Reel Time with A J McMarson & CO.
Reel Time with A J McMarson & Guest.


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.

Find out more about AJ McMarson and the StarWays Chronicles on her website:


or on her publishers page:


at Goodreads:

Monday 23 March 2015

The Write Spot

The Write Essentials – The Write Spot

Have you found your write spot?  Before you spend valuable writing time tossing and turning in a spot that may not be the ‘right’ one for you, apply the following checklist to determine if you have found – it – the Write Spot.

S-mells right
P-lace for writing apparatus
O-ffers a view
T-riggers no distractions

Look at that, I have made up an acrostic poem.   I must be sitting in my ‘Write Spot.  As you have probably guessed, this week’s topic on Reel Time with A J McMarson, is about finding that elusive spot – the Write One.

Over the years I have become quite attached to my own, right, Write Spot.  Those I share my life with might even call me down right possessive about it.   I am willing to share, but there are rules.  As long as my spot is free when I want to use it, and nothing has been moved from where I have left it and no one has altered the balance of aromas, sunlight, breeze, noise level … A spot free right, Write Spot – is that so much to ask?

If you are struggling to find ‘it’, then don’t despair.  A permanent Write Spot is not essential.  In fact, most of my writing is done ‘on the spot’.  The image of the newspaper reporter with the pencil behind the ear and a Colombo coat full of spiral note pads is still applicable to the on-the- go writer.
On-the-go writers don’t need a special Write Spot, or, that even more elusive of luxuries, TIME.  It takes discipline and an eye for opportunities, but writing where, when and how you are removes the need for pining away for that Write Spot.


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.



Find out more about AJ McMarson and the StarWays Chronicles on her website:


or on her publishers page:


at Goodreads:




Monday 16 March 2015

The Game Gamer – Halo, halo, halo: part1

The Game Gamer – Halo, halo, halo: part1

In this week’s episode of Reel Time with A J McMarson, I was inaugurated
into the dazzling, hypnotic streams of byte lights coming at us from every digital device near and 
far, where visions within visions get techno-coloured.  In other words, I become – a gamer.  Ok, I 
will admit a really bad one.  Ok, ok, a really, really bad one – not even in the ball park kind-of-bad. 
Not even by the stretch of my boundless imagination can I describe my gaming ‘skill’ as well, ‘skill’.
And I simply don’t have the patience or time to develop that awesome hand/eye/brain coordination
required when those skilled players do their thing.



I wouldn’t even know how to find the start button (it might be a lever for all I know), if it was not
for the assistance of – my son.

Thank you Charlie, for offering, which is a rehashed up way of saying putting up with my nagging
until, in a crumbled, hungry heap, (because dinner would not be served until he would) Charlie
agreed to be my mentor in all things game-y.

I have left it to Charlie to go through his inventory of games and pick one that he thought would
be most suitable for a first-timer like myself.  The result is the topic of episode 7 – a new frontier
(another one), in which I seek a different angle or two in my never ending quest in making stuff up.

My gaming quest will be an ongoing saga, to be continued every five week cycle of
Reel Time with A J McMarson, when Master Chief (stage name), and 
myself will investigate the pros and cons of questing – gaming style.

Gaming is seems is not just something you can do, but if the hand/eye/brain coordination is 
temporarily out of order – you can sit back in coach-potato comfort and be entertained by the 
professionals (Charlie’s short list is below).  If you are a ‘really’ young viewer I request that you 
check with your family’s ‘code of conduct’ before linking to these programs as the language can 
get exotic.

  1. JackSepticEye

  1. Frankieonpcin1080p

  1. Officalnerdcubed

  1. Skydoesminecraft

  1. popularmmos

And another oldie OfficalDadCubed


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.


Keep up to date with my adventures on my website:


Monday 9 March 2015

R U MER REAL?

R U Mer Real?




As you probably guessed from the title, this week’s topic is about the most elusive of sea creatures.  No, I am not referring to Nessie, that ancient mystic of the freezing waters of Loch Ness. The Loch Ness Monster you can spy out-and-about anytime – if you happen to be there at the right time.  Which I was, about fourteen years ago – anyway – that’s another ‘fishy’ tale.  And there are a lot of people telling it!


Mermaids or, if you’re into political correctness, mer-people, are the mystical half-humans investigated in episode 6 of Reel Time with A J McMarson.




 I am not joking when I say – investigated.

From the tip of her floaty, silk-like tail, to her natural sea-salted hair, this beautiful young fun-star, called Jenika (What? Can’t mer-people have names too?), assisted with this Reel Time investigation.  Without her assistance we would never know if fish can breathe out of water, and if so, does it make the fish no longer a fish but a precursor for the half fish, which is, of course, the half human.  Put the two halves together, and what have you got – a FABULOUS IMAGINATION.  Thanks again Jenika, for testing the ‘Motion Lotion’, without which we would never know how iocytes really make you feel …

This 6th episode also marks the start of a new frontier for the Reel Time creators.  We have guests!  And Jenika, thank you so much for being our very first one!  If you would like to try your luck at sighting our 'reel' bona fide, little mermaid for yourself, you will need to make a visit to the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia – where it is sunny one day, perfect the next.



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.


Monday 2 March 2015

What In-Spirals Me?


What in-spirals me?


Last week I talked a little about what inspires the creation of my characters – namely the cast of thousands of young people that I have come across during my many years of teaching.  Other teachers and school staff in general, are not immune to my search for ‘inspiring’ character traits. 
What inspires me – is the topic of this week’s episode of Reel Time with A J McMarson



As corny as it may sound, life inspires me to be constantly asking: ‘Why is it so?’  and 'When can it be so?’ and ‘How so?’

What I have discovered, since beginning the research for the Star Ways Chronicles, is that creating stories is not dissimilar to carrying out a scientific investigation.  An author has an idea, like a scientist, tests that idea, makes an observation, documents, improves on the idea and tests again.  The process itself is inspiring, as well as a ‘spiralling’ one. (Double 'll' for Aussie spellers, one 'l' for Americans).

Spiralling is a significant term in my book.  It is what spirems do - um, in their spiral formations.  The term 'spiral' can also mean 'star'.  Either way, they are natural wonders that I can never get enough of.  Here are some of my favourites.





This National Geographic hyperlink leads to some amazing photography taken by Chris Bray of the motion of stars.  You’ve got a digital LSR and want to have a go yourself?  Then link to James Vernacotola’s tutorial.  Look at the stunner he captured.


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 our modern world’s sphere of Terra.