Live Music Vampires

SP SnK 08 25 19 — Pre-show excitement. I bought a t-shirt! Photo credit: Steve Smith

The high-pitched guitar riff of “Today” kicked off Smashing Pumpkins’ set last night in Houston. I was on my feet before the first note came over the speakers. Ready. Eager to connect with the music, to feel the sound in my chest, in my soul. Unfortunately, it fell a little flat. Not the song or even the performance – Billy Corgan killed it last night. As did James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlain, Jeff Shroeder and the rest of the touring musicians. Even in the heat – that James complained about plenty. It’s okay, as a fellow Midwesterner, I get it. It’s hot down here. Anyway. The first two songs of the set, the speakers didn’t seem to be turned on for the lawn (which is where we were, “the cheap seats”). About three songs in, it got louder, but not heart-thumping loud. Not engulfed by the sound and unable to refuse its calling loud. But, louder than the first two songs. I guess.

We’ve been to this venue several times. We always get lawn seats and even though we’re far away, I always feel connected to the music. I crave this connection, so I keep coming back for more. Live music is supposed to be life-giving. Last night, on the lawn, that magic spark never came through. Part of it was the sound issues, part of it was they played several new songs that I wasn’t intimately familiar with, and that’s on me. But mostly, it was the crowd. Our little group was the only group on our feet in our section of the lawn.

Woodlands Lawn 08 25 19 — Sleepy lawn seats. Photo credit: Steve Smith

Let me repeat that. Billy Corgan was giving that guitar all he had, and we were the only five people in our section standing.

Talk about d r a i n i n g…

“The World is a Vampire…” Corgan droned about a third of the way through the set. I feel you, Billy. The people on the lawn last night were live music vampires. They drained the joy, the indescribable spark you get when everyone is feeling it all together, right out of that show.

I’m sorry Billy, James, Jimmy, Jeff and crew, I wanted to feel it. I wanted to revel in the sound you were throwin’ down last night. But there was something missing up on the lawn.

Next time, I’ll spring for the good seats.

* * * * *

A footnote: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds were amazing. I knew the Oasis stuff, but that was about it, really. And yet, I loved it all. It was still daylight, everyone was sitting down but singing along. I read an article that framed Noel as a pompous jerk who berated the crowd. He didn’t come across that way where we were. He was funny, gregarious, and I think he was even a little bit smitten.

August 26, 2019 0

Oooooh.

Okay. It’s time for something juicy. A little exciting. A bit…revealing.

I’d like to brag a bit about my graphic designer. Her name is Sondra Fowler and you can find and follow her on Facebook at DotandSondra and DigitalDoodles.

Sondra has a BFA in Graphic Design and is as comfortable working in ink as she is in pixels. She moved to 98.5% start-to-finish digital work from scanned in ink six years ago when she moved to a Wacom Cintiq. She’s done everything from CD cover and label design and book covers to logo work and T-shirt design. She is currently working in 2D animation for a personal project and she is always open to new clients and new design/art experiences.

And, she’s amazing.

Sondra and I collaborated over several weeks – she even helped me get more comfortable in the 21st century by introducing me to Google Drive and video chats – to get just the right feel. She tweaked it when I asked her to tweak it, and she created several iterations until the cover felt just right. She even created a Facebook banner for me.

If you’re looking for someone to help your book look amazing, or for any other graphic design work, I highly recommend Sondra.

Have I kept you waiting long enough?

Really?

Okay…here it is. My cover, by Sondra Fowler.

Pretty snazzy, right?

Comment here or on Facebook to let me know what you think!

July 29, 2018 0

103,810.

That was the original word count when I “finished” writing my first novel back in December.

That’s a lot of words. I didn’t know I had that many words in me. Don’t get me wrong, I know I talk a lot. But…to get that many words out in sentences that form paragraphs that make sense in a story?

Wow.

But, turns out, that was actually too many words.

Shocking, I know.

So, I hired an editor. ~~She helped me reduce the amount of verbiage I would utilize in order to carry my point across to the people who so generously decided they would do me the favor of casting their eyes upon my work.~~

Er. I mean, she helped me make my writing better.

So, now, nearly eight months later, it’s down to 93,155 words, according to Word.

That’s still a lot of words. But, I’m so happy for those that made the cut.

There is one more obstacle left…The Proofreader. She’s up this week.

Stay tuned to see if she makes any more cuts.

Cue maniacal laughter.

Fade to black.

July 22, 2018 1

Freezing.

Is it cold in here? Because my feet are freezing.

That’s right. Cold feet. I’ve got ’em.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve written, and I am sorry, friends. It was spring break, so I missed a week, then it became two…then well, now it’s nearly July, so…here we are.

Over the last couple months, I have done a significant amount of work on my book. My cover is done, essentially (and I love it). I’ve had it professionally edited, and I’ve had a few beta-readers read it, too.

Now, I’m working on “final edits” (I put quotes around it because I’ve been working on what I’ve been calling “final edits” since like January…the edits are never final. Ever.)

Once the “final edits” are done, it’ll be off to the proofreader and maybe another couple betas…and then….then, I need to publish it.

Just do it already.

But, I’m scared. I’m afraid of failure. It’s your garden variety usual type of fear: What if nobody likes it? What if nobody reads it or buys it? What if people tell their friends not to buy it because it suuuccckks. (And, not in the good, vampirey way.)

What. If.

I’m feeling insecure. And that’s a hard thing to admit.

A friend posted a meme today that spoke to me. It said, “You didn’t come this far to only come this far.” It’s true. I’ve worked hard. The last hurdle really isn’t even a hurdle. I have a plan. I know what needs to be done…I just need to do it.

Deep breath.

Here we go.

June 25, 2018 0