Warheads and the Looming Zombie Apocalypse

The zombies Are Coming!

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…

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.

The Science Behind the Fiction!

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. 

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.

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

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

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.

Acknowledgment:

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

http://www.ajmcmarson.com

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.

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.

The Magi Circle

In this week’s episode of Reel Time I have company, again.  In a cycle of every five weeks, the company, known hereafter as ‘& Co’, will be the star-lings of the show.

http://www.arkive.org/european-starling/sturnus-vulgaris/

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2014/jan/21/starling-mumuration-season-in-pictures

And as their namesake suggests, this week’s ‘& Co’ – youths (of all ages), and a generous bunch of fun-stars they are too, will fun-test all things magi-cal.

Magi are beyond doubt one of the most compelling intrigues to make their way out of ancient mysticism.  The meaning of the word magi, as with its Latin twin, magis, has a multi-talented purpose, as indicated in the reference below. 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Magi

Words are a storyteller’s tools of trade.  A novelist painstakingly chisels away to create and transfer a vision they hold.  For those in the know, that would be a –

Transvision

 For those who have yet to read the book, and therefore aren’t down on magi lingo – that would be a ‘shared vision’.

Magi come with their own set of characteristic pinpoints.  Like stars on a constellation, if you join the dots you will always get self-sacrificing, enlightened, empowered and inspiring old people.  Now that is something worth a-spiralling too!

Of course magi characters have been around for a long time.  Forever and anon, whatever the culture, past, present and, why not, even into the future, magi have inspired.  Writers, artists, musicians and creators of all kind study them, understand and reinvent them and in doing so, emanate them.  Why not, after all magi usually come with stars.

http://magi.wikia.com/wiki/Magi

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.

Star Trails & Heavenly Glory

Blazing Trails of Glory

In Reel Time with A J McMarson this week, I explore some amazing photographic artwork, with Steve, who gets in on the fun – showing off some of his techniques…

http://www.stevemcmarson.com.au/portfolios/wedding-photography/

When researching ‘super – natural phenomena’ for the Star Ways chronicles, I become increasingly aware of how nature is never static.  It is in constant motion.  As they say, life happens.  And life is cyclic.  There is a lot of spiralling going on out there – oh – and in here…  The spiralling motion of life happens in a lightning flash in Jasmine’s world of Quanta – well, it is the sphere of light after all.

 

It was a feat, capturing these super – natural phenomena in words.   In itself, it was a phenomenal experience – how do I describe the cycles of life, energy, the coming together of matter and its breaking down into other matter, how do I link it with Jasmine’s worlds? – it was like running a galactic race through time, matter and space – maybe some of that super-naturalness is rubbing of on me – maybe I am transforming … Just like Jasmine … And oddly enough, I must say, it feels like dancing.

Check out the grass dance captured in transvision by James Knott.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZdi4fj-hWc

From grass dancing to star dancing.  Check this out, by Chia Hsien.

https://500px.com/photo/63566523/cosmos-star-trail-by-chia-hsien

And this image by Robert Young, he calls it Hawaii Star Trails.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2820191

This image was captured by Australian photographer Lincoln Harrison, in the Outback.

http://photovide.com/long-exposure-shots-star-trails/.

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 all of AJ's madcap adventures by visiting her webpage:

http://www.ajmcmarson.com

For Your Ears Only

It is another guest episode on  ReelTime with A J McMarson this week, and the airwaves are the topic under investigation.  Or, to be more precise, what is carried on them.  Smells for one, but no, I am not talking ‘toilet humour’.

Although I sometimes wonder why the word ‘flatulence’ is a dead ringer for the word ‘affluence’?  Is there a relationship, a correlating root word perhaps?  I mean, who would want to get the two words mixed up!

Mine is a flatulent society.

Words – you have to love them.

Airwaves do more then carry – the good, the bad and the ugly – of smells.  They carry sounds.  Now tell you something you did not know.  When we can no longer hear the music, does that mean it has stopped?  I mean, where did the waves go?  Have they just bumped into another sound, and reordered into another spiralling formation?

When researching the background ‘technicalities’ for my spirem characters, the earth’s waves whether water, air or energy of another description, provided a unique and simple means for a spirem's unique super-cosmic  powers to be unleashed.  Earth's waves are a natural energy process and super – because that is what airwaves are, and whether spirem or not, our ability to commune with the Earth's energy waves is – SUPER-natural!

Thank you Naomi, for being our guest and sharing your passion for music with us.  And thanks too, for sending out into the airwaves, beautiful sounds that are a joy to perceive.

Bookings for Naomi can be made @ http://www.naomiterashima.com.au/

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 all the fun at: www.ajmcmarson.com

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.'

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/terra

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.'

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php%3Fterm%3DTerra

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:

http://www.ajmcmarson.com

or on her publishers page:

http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/jasmineneutronstar/

at Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9885728.A_J_McMarson

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:

http://www.ajmcmarson.com

or on her publishers page:

http://www.vividpublishing.com.au/jasmineneutronstar/

at Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9885728.A_J_McMarson

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

https://www.youtube.com/user/jacksepticeye

2. Frankieonpcin1080p

https://www.youtube.com/user/FRANKIEonPCin1080p

3. Officalnerdcubed

https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialNerdCubed

4. Skydoesminecraft

https://www.youtube.com/user/SkyDoesMinecraft

5. popularmmos

https://www.youtube.com/user/PopularMMOs

And another oldie OfficalDadCubed

https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialDadCubed

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:

http://www.ajmcmarson.com

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!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2825102/Is-Nessie-emerging-deep-Monster-s-head-pictured-surface-choppy-Loch-Ness.₌html

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 6^th 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.

http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/

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.

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.

http://www.chrisbray.net/tutorial_star_trail_photography.php

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.

http://www.jamesvernacotola.com/Resources/How-To-Photograph-Star-Trails

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.

   

What Are My Favorite Parts Of The Book, Jasmine Neutron Star?

Even authors have favorite parts from the book they have written.  In episode 4 of Reel Time with A J McMarson, I describe some of mine from Jasmine Neutron Star. 

I talk about Sam and Cassie, who are Jasmine’s main support characters.  She has another main support character however, one she has a bit of a crush on.  Jake is his name.  Jake is Sam’s best friend, who is Jasmine’s brother, older by two years, but because she can’t stand Sam, Jake also gets the cold shoulder – stop me if this is beginning to read like a teenager’s Facebook page…

I like Jake’s enthusiasm.  He pretty much goes along with the flow, although he’s not always clued in to where the ‘flow’ is going, or coming from, for that matter.  Even so, he is an intricate part of the awesome foursome team and is on hand whenever a piece of scientific explanation is required.  Just bear in mind, if Jake was in your class, he be would be the kid that’s all over the shop.  And that’s why I like him.  He doesn’t get a lot of stuff that other’s might, but he sticks to his mates like glue – ‘super’ glue that is.

Developing characters is great fun.  Jake’s character, like all of my little stars, has been inspired by young people over many years of teaching and parenting.  However, other influences have spiralled into their creations.  One that comes to mind for Jake, is that cute character played by that even cuter actor, Jim Parson.  For years I have watched him, over the tops of my children’s heads

… as I have typed away …

http://www.the-big-bang-theory.com/characters.Sheldon/

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.

http://www.ajmcmarson.com.au

http://starwayschronicles.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9885728.A_J_McMarson