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.

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: AJ McMarson

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.

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.

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.

TARGET YOUR AUDIENCE

TARGET YOUR AUDIENCE

This week’s episode of Reel Time began as a vague notion that as a writer I should know my potential reader.   ‘Target your audience’ as a catch phrase, has its roots in economic reasoning.  Not one of my strong points.

I was vaguely pondering how I was supposed to know the whims of millions, possibly even billions of potential readers, when I found myself over thinking the highly stimulating verb –

At the time, and for no apparent reason (that I am willing to share), I had been poking around my dress-ups.

Then before I knew what was up and what was floppy, I was brandishing a phallic symbol whilst strutting bow-legged and sideways through the scrub, wearing my over-the-knee boots and channelling ‘Annie, Go Get Your Gun’.

Midway through my little romp I had swapped my utensil for a compound bow and uploaded visions (ie. transvisioning – there’s that word again– remember it now) from a completely different setting.  Suzanne Collin’s Hunger Games came to mind, as did Tolkien’s dishy elves. 

That’s when it hit me…

Readers set their own targets.

·         Mystery

·         relevant fantasy

·         honest romance

·         dramatic flashes in stark contrast to epic wonderment 

·         glimpses of potential horrors if goodness does not prevail

·         authentic characters that carry our collective torch for truth, justice and the StarWays

Because the eternal story will always have an audience.

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

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

I’VE LOST MY HALO!

I’ve Lost My Halo!

As if it wasn't enough to master (chief) the console - hit the right buttons, fight giant rats carrying guns, lose my way from one dead end into another, bump into random coffee machines - not to mention that left brain/ right brain manoeuvrability – or lack thereof – and what's with that stale socks smell!   How was I to know there is a whole set of ‘in house’ rules that go with the gaming ethos?

Don’t:

-              Watch the other ‘master chief’s screen and think it’s yours;

-              Make fun of master chief’s name UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!;

-              Get excited;

-              Ask if Master Chief likes cooking;

-              Make fun of master chief’s name UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!;

-              Be so unco that you’re an embarrassment not only to your own son but to every son born to    the human race!!!;

I broke every rule - every single one.

I haven’t had that much fun since my school days.  But I am paying for it now.

I have lost my Halo badge.

And if I want to continue with my byte lights crusades at all, then I have to tone down the mega wattage and behave.  If I want to be allowed back in the gaming room I had to agree and come quietly.  I will be allowed to play something, simple.  My only request was that the new game was not a car race.  My request was met with a lowered brow and an eye glint.  I am worried – very worried.

Did you know that Halo 5 is being released soon? Totally - right!

Apparently – it appears as if – Master Chief gets ‘done over’ in the next Halo makeover!  What – but he’s the main character – you can’t take him away from us – WE HAVE BONDED!

Who do these writers think they are – manipulating characters and plots as if they have a right? 

Umm. I better give that question a bit more thought …

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 AJ's madcap adventures by subscribing to her YouTube channel.

Her website can be found at www.ajmcmarson.com

AJ McMarson is a Goodreads Author.

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