The Moon, Europa

The Moon, Europa

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Dallas ComicCon Review

Thanks to all of you who bought a book this past weekend.  I sincerely appreciate the support and I hope you thoroughly enjoy the book.  I made some great contacts but I will save that for my next post.  And now, what you've all been waiting for ... my favorite photo opps from the Dallas ComicCon, including some shameless plugs for my book/website.

Me.  :-)  And the new table design.

The Vader.

Who else?  But I really need one of these costumes. 

R2D2 and Me.

Thanks for letting me indulge and I hope you enjoyed the pictures.  My next event will be in Mansfield, Texas in October.  More details to follow.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Book Two Update

Work on book Two is back on track and I am happy with the progress so far. I have changed the location, although it's still in our solar system, and some of the perspective regarding the timeline. It is seeming to quell the previous concerns I had regarding the storyline.
Just a sidebar while I'm here:
I have been thinking a lot about books Three and Four lately too and how the ending of book Two will dictate the order of their appearance. It is only an issue because they will take place during roughly the same time period. A difficult conundrum I know, but I refuse (at least for the time being) to abandon either work.

J.S.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Dallas Comic Con

I will be signing copies of Europa at Dallas Comic Con this Saturday and Sunday, August 28th and 29th. I am looking forward to seeing new faces and costumes as well as the folks from Comic Book Craze and the guys from the DFW SciFi Club.

J.A.S.

Dallas Comic Con

Comic Book Craze

DFW SciFi Club

Chewbacca is human too...

Last weekend my wife and I were in Orlando Florida visiting friends. It was not until Saturday that I realized it was Star Wars Celebration weekend. I would have liked to visit the convention but did not have the time between our tightly knit plans. That Monday, while waiting for our outbound flight, my wife pointed out an unusually tall elderly man walking toward the group of gates where we were waiting for out flight. She asked me how tall he was and I told her he was at least seven feet and likely a little taller. After that I involuntarily, and quite unconsciously, stared at the man for ten or fifteen seconds as he walked by. He walked with a strangely familiar gait, he had long shaggy gray hair and his walking cane looked like it was made out of blue glass and was fitted with a unique pommel that appeared to be machined aluminum. The man walked past and my wife nudged me and told me to stop staring. As soon as she snapped me out of my haze it occurred to me why the man looked familiar. It was Peter Mayhew; the actor who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Before I continue, let me clarify something: I have never been much of a celebrity hound. I have seen a few, met a few and even engaged a few in conversation. The one thing I have learned is that they are regular people just like you and I. They merely happen to be in a profession that puts them in the spotlight.
None the less, for the first time in my life I felt a bit of that child-like giddiness at seeing one of the most beloved Star Wars characters from my formative years. So, in an uncharacteristic feat of social boldness I thought I would go ask for a picture with someone my inner ten year old once considered a hero. I held my camera low in my hand and kindly asked Mr. Mayhew if I could get a picture. Before I was finished asking he said, “No” and began shaking his head. He followed the end of my question with another, “No”.
I turned and walked away fully realizing that this had been the most probable outcome of my gamble. I sat down and smiled at my wife and told her he refused and followed with the typical, “well that’s the way it goes sometimes” and “it was worth a shot” and all of that. But as I said all those things I realized I was slightly miffed at getting rejected and even more so; my feelings were hurt. I guess that wide eyed ten year old in the back of my brain that was such a Star Wars fanatic felt a bit kicked to the curb. I thought, I wasn’t asking for much! And I was correct.
However, I thought about it for a few minutes and asked myself what I might do in his place. Mr. Mayhew had just come from a weekend that was one long continuous public appearance. I have only a, comparatively, small amount of experience with this to date but have already experienced how emotionally draining it is being 100% “on” for hours on end. While it is a lot of fun to interact with new people I for one, being an introvert, know how much energy it takes. I may not have been asking for much, but I was still asking him to give a total stranger something while offering nothing in return. At what point does a person have the right to say, “Not more photos, no more autographs please?” Any time they want. We do not deserve a picture or scribble from someone merely because we are a fan or like their work. They are not imbued with some special energy, with the obvious exception of the few narcissistic types, from fan adoration that entitles us to their attention. I must admit, and I’m sure many others can as well, that after carefully examining my motivation for getting said picture I learned something new. My motivation was not unselfish. It was not to complement Mr. Mayhew but to obtain a trophy for my own benefit. Something to say, “Look at me! I had my picture taken with so and so!”
I for one prefer to remain a faceless author that passes by unnoticed wherever I go and do not fault anyone for wanting their privacy. So I forgive Mr. Mayhew for hurting my feelings and I offer my sincere apology for treating him like a means to an end rather than a person deserving of consideration as such. In one additional act of social boldness:
I ask Mr. Mayhew to read my book. I think you will like it. And if we are ever again afforded the opportunity to meet perhaps it will not only be civil, the previous lack thereof being entirely my fault, but a pleasant colloquial exchange of words. 


J.A.S.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

R2! Is that you??

I don't think it will come as a big surprise that I am a huge Star Wars fan ... that being said, there is much about that culture that I wouldn't mind having around today.  R2D2 is one of them and we are ONE GIANT LEAP closer.  Check out this blog posting by Kuriositas for more information.  Or you can get it straight from the horse's mouth here. Or you can stick around and look at the pictures of R2 on this blog posting. 

Just kidding! 
It's really this one:

 Wow.
And ... wow.

And I really want one of these mission patches.






Sunday, August 15, 2010

Ceres

In chapter one of Europa I mention the dwarf planet Ceres. There are many dwarf planets in our solar system the closest to Earth being Ceres which orbits between Mars and Jupiter.

For more information on Ceres follow the link below:
Ceres

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Back on Track

I really tried to avoid a rewrite of Book Two, but that is what I am working on at the moment. As I indicated in a previous post the title has changed but the general story-line and characters will remain. In other words I will not have to start from scratch but it is still a major setback from a time standpoint.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Journey to Jupiter

I know I've talked about the science before on this blog and I fully intend on beating this horse until we get more information back from NASA's probe, in about 15 years or so.  That being said, I think it's highly important to understand not only the science behind how we're sending a probe, but also why we're sending a probe and what we expect to find "out there."

Exclusive of the need of space exploration for additional human habitats, I think continued debate over exploring the "final frontier" is vital to improve our intellect.  I also think its necessary to have the conversations about space so as to keep the issue alive.  Based on what little NASA has done in the last 25+ years for manned space exploration, if we do not keep the discussion alive the possibilities of future exploration will die as well.  When so much is dependent on dollars and media attention, if the wheel doesn't squeak no one will see a use for it being there at all. Keep squeaking everyone and we'll get to Mars and beyond.

For your reading pleasure:  http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/3842/Photos#tab-Photos/0

Saturday, August 7, 2010

OCD Ninja

We posted an interesting video on YouTube ... It has a ninja! ... If that is not a good enough reason to watch, well, there just isn't one...

Interesting Video

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Tron: Legacy

Tron was one of the best science fiction films of the 1980's, not surpassing Star Wars Episodes V and VI of course, and the arcade game was one of the best waste of quarters I can remember from my childhood. Although I would have loved to see more of Tron sooner I am glad they waited for digital technology to make the necessary leaps before reworking the franchise. It may be difficult for the new film to live up to the legendary status of the classic original, but I am anxiously looking forward to "Tron: Legacy" and wanted to post a link to one of the many wonderful trailers.

Tron: Legacy Movie Trailer

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Book Signing - Dallas Comic Con

Date:  August 28-29, 2010;
          Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
          Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:  Richardson Civic Center; 411 West Arapaho Road, Richardson, Texas


This will be my first Comic Con so I hope that my book will find a good outlet even though most people will be looking for some version of animation.  At this point in the planning process, I intend to be at the Comic Con for both days.  If that changes, and when I get more information about the Dallas Comic Con, I will let you know via blog.  The Dallas Comic Con website is here.

Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing you there!