Stranger on a Train

Stranger on a Train XI

I’m giving this app a quick test. I’ve been worried about whether or not I will be able to blog on tomorrow, the final Stranger on a Train for…well…some time. I’m not going to say I will never blog from my iPhone again; and with how many people grok this category…

You know, I got that feeling. There will be other trains, other adventures, other voyages.

Tomorrow is it — my last day as a teacher. It’ll be interesting if I’m ever asked to present. It’s been great. Another return to New Zealand? I hope so. Really loved the trip, the people, the experiences…

Listening to Nathan Lowell’s South Coast. Man, can that guy tell a story or what?

Stranger on a Train X

Take Two.

Was it something I said? I had a post ready to go, and this app suffered a massive FAIL. I’m stepping back though the post, trying to figure out if I said something I shouldn’t have. Maybe this app is pissed at me for ratting it out on its home site.

Still, nothing has changed. I’m feeling optimistic. Strangely so. I say that as I’m also feeling a little conflicted. I feel driven, and yet I’m also fighting the urge to hide under my favorite blanket and watch James Bond movies until I fall asleep. Weird, huh? I remember the last time I felt like I was on the right track. I wasn’t here.

What is God trying to tell me? He knows I’m listening….

Today is Phil’s day. His first novel, Crescent, launched today; and the last time I checked, he was in the Top 75 overall and #5 in Horror. I remember when that book was just an idea on paper…

Congrats, my friend. “You’ve taken your first step into a larger world.”

Stranger on a Train IX

I’m combining two SoaTs here as I had an entry that never made it. Sorry about that.

June 26
End of two days which felt like two years…might have been a mixed blessing that I got stuck in San Fran when I did.

First class back from New Zealand, and I felt like all day were a plethora of reasons I should have stayed in Wellington. Sure, I wanted to see my daughter, that’s a given…but today began with some smart ass taking a pot-shot at me on Twitter. It ended with a professional brush-off that is not giving me a good feeling.

Welcome back to DC, Tee. Hold still while I kick you in the jimmies.

I’m summoning what strength I have to get home. This jetlag has been brutal, but I think it was worth every tick. Days with Dan Sawyer. Good talks with writers Chris Lester and Gail Carriger. Twenty-three days in New Zealand.

Worth every minute, worth every moment.

July 2
Happy birthday, Sonic Boom. 🙂

That’s the Twitter moniker for my kid. She had a blast last weekend with all the company and attention. Being home with her has been a right good time, although she IS upset with Daddy as Daddy has been teaching. A lot. This week was the Final Cut Boot Camp. It’s tough, but I had a personal breakthrough with Motion. I’m looking forward to tackling a couple of video projects. The class, on a whole, was a success.

Like I said…tough class (4-5 days) but a success.

Independence Day. If you see someone who has served or is on active duty, thank them. Considering Iran, we are all very fortunate. I mean, wow…freedom of speech, information, and ideas. We are so blessed, and I have nothing but respect for those who serve. So no matter where you are in our Armed Forces, thank you for answering the call.

I’m tempted to have a Victory Burger tonight at Red Robin, but then I remember what the scale told me. And then there’s my trainer, Sandra Wichkam…who would hurt me if she got wind of it.

Salad. Nom.

Stranger on a Train VIII

My last class for a month. Home to pack for Balticon and New Zealand, record the final (or so I hope) KrakensQuest, and then…sleep.

No word from 720 Strategies apart from two “We’ll be in touch…” emails and a request to join on LinkedIn one of the people that interviewed me. It’s really hard not to read into this, but I’m trying to relax…

Yeah. Tell you a new one.

I felt good about the interview but it reminds me of my days crossing the boards. Audition…then wait…wait…wait… Always hated that aspect of being an actor. All I needed was a shot, a chance to shine. You give me a part, particularly if it’s the Bard, and I rock the house. Sending Pip that clip of me from Comedy of Errors awakened a few ghosts…

So did that interview.

A week from yesterday, I fly to New Zealand and a week from tomorrow I arrive. I’d better apprecaite this Wednesday as I won’t have one next week.

Meh, I’m not worried. Tohunga is with me, and I booked an interview with Radio NZ, the Kiwi’s NPR.

Get ready, En-Zed. TeeMonster’s only a week away…

Stranger on a Train VII

The closer I get to New Zealand, the weirder my life becomes.

In the past two days I’ve received two interviews next week. Am I excited? Not sure. I don’t want to afford myself that luxury only to face another disappointment. What’s making one of the interviews partucularly intriguing is the woman in need of a Social Media Mr. Miagi actually found me in a LinkedIn search.

I’ll say that again: She came to me.

All this with less than two weeks to go fo rmy trip to New Zealand. I really wanted the days before Balticon to be stress-free. I really did.

My friend and fellow Fantasy-Comedic author, Christiana Ellis, is premiering “Nina Kimberly the Merciless” today, and it turns out her Uk Horde broke Amazon. You go, Nina!

My EalC — nearly done. At the rate I was going, I was going to crack the 10K mark, but I went back, made a few hard decisions, and now I’m aiming for 8500. I’ll have to see if there’s anything else to cut. Short stories are hard, Lt. Dan. The story has been a real blessing. It’s gearing me up for some other touch calls I’ll be making soon.

And tomorrow I get a new MacBook Pro, replacing my seven year old PowerBook workhorse. Seven years. “We have heard the chimes at midnight…the days we have seen…”

Considering the books I’ve written, the articles I’ve submitted, and the amazing things I’ve done on this machine, could it be possible I’ve gotten a little sentimental towards it?

Maybe.

Stranger on a Train VI

I’m just going to say it: I’m a little scared. With All a Twitter done (or at least completed Author Review and moving towards the final layout) I am now trying to get some things off the To Do list. One of them has been my offering to Pip’s Kitchen. Yes, I started two nights ago my entry for Erotica ala Carte.com. I wasn’t sure how this was going to go, you know, but in between late Sunday night and lunch today, I’ve hammered out 5000 words.

5000 words. In three days. For erotica.

Yeah, that scares me.

If you are curious as to what my ingredients are, I’ve been told to write:

Government Agency
Alternate History
Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down

Erotica is hard. (Pardon the pun. Or should I say “If erotica is done right, then it’s hard.”) I never would question the skill of writers who do it on a consistent, regular basis. What scares me is how quickly this story is rolling out. I didn’t call that, especially with this idea (let alone, this genre); but it feels right and feels good. I just didn’t expect this kind of inspiration. Maybe it’s that “dark element” of erotica that scares me.

It’s not the challenge Pip put out there for me. That doesn’t scare me at all. I love a challenge.

Another challenge: Thickening my skin. Yesterday, someone on Twitter invited people to DM her concerning a panel at a Web 2.0 confernce here in DC. I answered her call. A few minutes later, she’s courting some self-proclaimed Social Media Expert (41 followers, following 12). I ask if the invite was void. Her response: “I’ll see if she says yes or no. If no, I’ll be in touch.”

Second string? Is that what I am? What part of “writer of All a Twitter” did this woman miss? What do I have to do to earn respect in this town?

First thing I have to do: Stand tough. They can have their conference this summer. Maybe I’ll go and bring with me my pictures from my first rugby game…in New Zealand.

UPDATE: I got an email early this morning concerning my Social Media Mainline Workshop in Wellington, NZ, being held in June. LIANZA posted it on their Events Calendar Monday morning. Three days later, it was sold out. I’m talking to them about a possible second Wellington event. Find out more at Imagine That! Studios.

Street Cred. I haz it.

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