Wayward Pines "The Truth"

Phew, what an episode. We finally found out, along with Ben & Ethan, what's "really" going on in Wayward Pines. I admit I started watching the show solely because I'm a huge fan of M. Night Shyamalan, but Wayward Pines has given me plenty of other reasons to like it since episode one, & especially after its most recent episode "The Truth" - The things revealed in this episode make this show a must-see for any fellow scifi lovers out there. If you have never watched the show, I recommend checking it out.

Caution:
HUGE spoilers for Wayward Pines ahead.
If you haven't seen the show,
please stop reading here.
You have hereby been warned. ;)

I'm also a huge fan of the CW show "The 100" so I immediately noticed some similarities to that show in this episode. It's similar enough to excite me, but not so similar that it's ripping that show off in any way. So, from where I sit (on the porch in the dark with My Dying Bride blaring from my hubby's laptop), that's a good thing. Side note, I also recommend checking out "The 100" if you haven't. Another great post-apocalyptic show that in my opinion is highly underrated.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. As soon as Ben's teacher revealed the time travel bit, I thought, "Of course! Re-population." So I tweeted it out, & no one seemed to get it. Lo & behold, about 10 minutes later, that is what they revealed they are doing. Attempting to repopulate the future Earth with "normal" human beings. (Which could certainly explain the bedroom eyes Ben's new girlfriend has been giving him, LOL). Some things were predictable, such as Pilcher's reveal, but a lot of the reveals were pretty cool. My favorite was definitely the date on the quarter.

The creatures that humans have "evolved" into, called abbies, seem a little zombie-ish, giving the show even more of an apocalyptic feel & promising some exciting action scenes in the future. & these things aren't like the boring zombies from "The Walking Dead" but more like the speedy rage-infected zombies from "28 Days (& Weeks) Later" (which is DEFINITELY awesome).

But don't forget, even though we now know "the truth" the people of Wayward Pines are still pretty shady. (Need I remind you of the reckoning ceremonies? Come on). So we're more than likely not getting the WHOLE truth (or maybe not even any truth, although I'm pretty sure the abbies do actually exist & that it's probably pretty hard to fake the date on a quarter). ;)

This episode was, in my opinion, the best yet. Not just because of the writing & acting but because of that amazing sequence where we were pulled back & forth between Ben's "orientation" & his parent's simultaneous revelations. As a video editor myself, I really appreciate when the editing is done so brilliantly, so kudos to the editors on that. It really gave the episode even more intensity.

While this episode may have been the best yet, there were a couple of downsides. First, there is very little ethnic representation in Ben's group, or in the town for that matter. & second, the whole episode was kind of one big info dump, & while I loved it, I also wonder if they should have saved at least some of this mind bending info for the season finale. I'm a little worried that the show might not be able to top this episode. They are going to have to pull out something even bigger for the season finale if the show's going to survive the harsh business that is television. But rumor has it that this is just the beginning of the crazy, so hopefully we'll see more epic episodes like this one in the future.

Be The Lightning,

Kylie Jude.

}i{

Being Human: Review and Tribute Video

It's hard to believe it's been a year since my all time favorite show ended. & I don't say "all time favorite" lightly. I don't have one favorite song or band (although 30 Seconds To Mars & M83 are up there), or one favorite movie (although Oblivion & Knowing are up there). I love shows like The 100 (based on books by Kass Morgan) & the tragically cancelled Star-Crossed, due to their Scifi themes, but Being Human is the only show in the history of television that I can truly say is my favorite.

Being Human started as a European show, which I saw a couple episodes of on BBC, but just couldn't get into it after seeing the U.S. version on the Syfy channel. No offense to the first Being human, but I think the U.S. version was drastically improved. I might be biased though. It's one of the very few shows where I can honestly say I adored the entire cast, especially the main characters.

In the beginning, Aidan (Sam Witwer) & Josh (Sam Huntington) move in together as roommates. One small problem though - one is a vampire & the other a werewolf. They soon discover that their new-found abode is haunted by a ghost named Sally (Meaghan Rath), & since their supernatural state allows them to see her, they quickly become friends with her quirky, lovable spirit. Then, eventually, Josh falls in love with a coworker named Nora (Kristen Hager), & accidentally turns her into a werewolf. Oh & he also impregnates her with his possibly monstrous child. Ruh-roh D:

The setup of a vampire, werewolf & ghost living under the same roof makes for tons of action & drama, but that's not really why I loved the show. I loved it because one minute the characters could be sitting at the kitchen table joking & laughing (& making me laugh quite a bit too), & the next minute they could be on the edge of life & death, screaming & crying & clawing to save each other. This contrast of comedy & drama is, I think, what made it so great. I've recently discovered a genre of music that I feel is my musical soul mate, called doom metal (bands like My Dying Bride & Forest of Shadows & our friend's band Agonal, & soon our own music too). Since then, I've referred to Being Human as the Doom Metal of TV. Because it does the same thing - makes you feel safe & warm, & then when you least expect it, rips it all away in a flurry of sorrow & despair. I loved being on that emotional roller coaster. Maybe I'm just crazy, but that's why it's my all time favorite show.

When it was announced that Being Human was ending a year ago, with only a couple weeks to adjust to the shocking news, many people were angry. I was too, at first, but then I found out why it was ending & I felt a little bit better about it. & the Series Finale was everything I could have hoped for, bringing all the story lines to a beautifully happy ending. Unlike with the aforementioned Star-Crossed, Being Human got the ending the characters & fans deserved, & I will always be grateful for that. :)

I seriously can't believe it's taken me a year to make my tribute video for Being Human. First, I had a plethora of songs to choose from, finally deciding on my remix of "Breath" by Breaking Benjamin, since it allowed me to showcase both the action & romance on the show. Some of the lyrics really went with certain things that happened too. Then I had some technical difficulties (way too many clips for poor little windows movie maker to handle), & then my novels & other projects got in the way, but finally I decided to finish it, coincidentally, exactly one month before the one year anniversary of the show's ending.

Speaking of the ending, I had to squeeze in another song at the end of the video - my remix of "I Won't Let You Go" by Snow Patrol. You may have heard this song on the Divergent soundtrack. It was in the credits of that movie, but I felt like it should have played when the credits first started rolling (it didn't - one of many musical issues I had with that movie), so for this video it is the credit song, & I really feel like it's perfect for what's happening at the end. Here are the lyrics of the part I used:


Never gonna be easy, was it?

You didn't think it'd be so much fun.

The smile comes despite the danger.

Get some.

I know I'm where I belong.

Deep down inside, I've known all along.

I won't let you go,
 so don't leave go of me.

I wanted something more, 
I wanted this right here.

This is what you really want.

This is what you asked for.


Any of Being Human's main characters could have written these lyrics about their loved ones in the show, & while most of the video is filled with action & dread (& a LOT of screaming, LOL), I wanted to end it on a happy note. Because I think I can speak for all fans of the show when I say these lyrics also sum up how we feel after that ending. This is what we really want. This is what we asked for.

I for one couldn't have asked for a more perfect show or a more perfect ending. I will never let Being Human go (pun intended). I could watch it over & over for the rest of my life & never get sick of it. & I just might do that, once I finally own it on DVD. ;)

Okay, enough gushing. Video time!

Warning: This video is basically the entire series squeezed into 4 minutes (thanks to this amazing & hilarious recap for some of the footage). Some big spoilers ahead. But chances are if you're reading this you've seen the show anyway, so sit back, relax, turn the volume up & enjoy the feels!

:')

P.S. (Spoiler)
I also just found out while researching for this blog that they intended all along for Sally & Aidan to have the same door (to the afterlife) which made this long time Saidan shipper very happy. They were soul mates. It doesn't get better than that. :)

I leave you with an article (interview with Sam Witwer AKA Aidan) discussing the door thing and much more, including a farewell interview video. This amazing show and its truly lovable characters will be missed, but I for one have never been so satisfied or fulfilled after a series. Thanks for the memories. 


Be Human,
Kylie Jude.


}i{

Review: The 100

So I was going to wait until I had a music video to share, but I decided to go ahead and post a blog on The 100, after that awesome season finale. Mostly because I had too many words in me to post on social media. Regulars might be shocked at how short this one is compared to my typical blogs, but I just wanted to get some of my thoughts out, so I jotted them down here. Enjoy! 

When I saw the very first episode of The 100, I think I probably cried the whole time. Not because it was sad but because it was so beautiful. It was everything I had ever wanted in a series. But as much as I loved the show then, I love it even more now. How is that even possible? Especially now that the characters have left the ark (AKA spaceship) and taken up residence on post-apocalyptic Earth. As a science fiction writer and fan, one would expect the lack of space in season 2 to deter me, but surprisingly, it didn't. While the show lost some of its science fiction elements in season 2, it also gained the grounders (a badass group of warriors) and some cool dynamics between them and the sky people (the ones who came from space). It also lost a character I never liked, which is always a plus. But I think the main reason season 2 was so great was the fact that we got to see the evolution of some of the characters into true warriors. You have to be tough to survive in the world of The 100, after all. 

One of the things I love most about the show is the character arcs. After the season 2 finale, we know Clarke is going to be even more badass next season, having retreated into the wilderness to become some kind of nomad loner. Not to mention poor Jasper, with the loss he suffered in this episode no doubt having lasting ramifications. And I can't believe the difference between Octavia in season 1 and Octavia in season 2. Totally different people. What it all boils down to? War changes people. And it's doing just that on the show. One of the recurring themes, as we heard again tonight from Clarke's mom, is that there are no good guys in war. Everyone has to sacrifice something (or someone) for the greater good. And as Maya said, none of us is innocent. This show has already proven that to be true time and time again, and there's just something so universal about it.

And of course I'm excited that the show will be returning to it science fiction roots next season, as the end of this episode revealed. But with or without the science fiction, The 100 has proven over and over that it is one of the best shows on TV.

I might still post a full fledged blog someday, music video and all, but in the mean time just know that The 100 is an amazing show, and if you aren't watching it, you should be. If you like drama and violence and romance and mystery, you'll like The 100. You might also want to check out the books if you haven't. But be warned that there are some major differences between the books and the show.

Until next season, may we meet again.

Be The Lightning,

Kylie Jude.

}i{

Movie Review: Jupiter Ascending

Jupiter Ascending was one of those movies I did my chair dance for when I saw the very first trailer in theaters, and unlike with most movies, I also squealed like a little girl just about every time the previews came on TV. I don't think I had ever been so excited for a movie until this one. I know, I'm a giant dork. But if you're a regular that's probably why you're reading this review in the first place. :p If you're not a regular, fear not. This will be more than just fangirling.

Knowing how much I wanted to see this movie in theaters, my wonderful husband gave me $20 for my birthday back in December, assuring me that we would be seeing it. I grew more & more excited as the time to see it grew near, & finally, on Valentines Day weekend, we went to see it. I thought I might die of a heart attack resulting from the epic-ness of the movie, but I tried to stay calm, & here I am, alive. LOL, obviously we loved it, but of course as others have said, it's not the best movie ever made. But although the plot is slightly lacking, the visual experience totally makes up for it.

Andy & Lana Wachowski have wowed us before with brilliant films like V For Vendetta & Cloud Atlas, & of course the epic & mind-bending Matrix films. While I loved those films & their intensity, I also loved Jupiter Ascending, but in a different way.

So many people are bashing this movie, saying it's not good because it's not as intense & brilliant as the Wachowskis other films. But Jupiter Ascending is much more of a "blockbuster movie" & I believe it's geared more toward the younger generation, so if you look at the film like that, without expecting it to get too deep & without comparing it to other films, it IS a good movie.

The best thing about Jupiter Ascending is by far the visual effects. I was completely mesmerized for about 90% of the film. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's probably THE most beautiful film I have ever seen. The elaborate worlds & costumes are only part of it. Usually fight scenes tend to bore me after a minute or two, but with this movie I was so enthralled by the artistry of each laser & angle & explosion that most fight scenes sped by, leaving me breathless in awe.

Of course, there were some downsides of the film, & one of those downsides was that some of those fight scenes, while gorgeous, could have been cut to make room for more back-story. Sure, there was enough back-story to get a glimpse of what was going on, but it just sort of felt like an info-dump every time that back-story was mentioned. This could have been remedied with a couple flashbacks (which they obviously had the means of doing, since the film was by no means lacking in the visual department). Another downside was the repetition of certain elements, such as Jupiter falling from a building & Caine showing up out of nowhere just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. Once was cool, but after three times, it felt a little bit unbelievable. I mean come on, nobody's THAT perfect.

Obviously I'm not a fan of Channing Tatum, but while his character was hard to believe at times, & could have also used some more in depth back-story, Tatum actually did a good job in this film. & I have to agree with my mother in law, who said that the wolf look did him some good. & some of the ladies will probably enjoy the fact that he spends half the movie without a shirt. But the main thing is that while I was worried Tatum would ruin the film for me, & although I personally would have cast someone else to play his role, he still carried it well, capturing the tortured & heroic wolf-splice almost perfectly.

Of course, Mila Kunis was the star of the show. I knew I would love her as Jupiter, because she's great in everything I've seen her in (still waiting for a "Book of Eli" sequel with her character in the lead, BTW). She did a great job at encompassing the versatility & diversity required of her by the role, morphing from a helpless & tired modern woman to a strong willed & powerful force to be reckoned with. I don't know if they are planning a sequel or not, but I hope they are because I would love to see where her character goes later (not to mention some more of those glorious special effects).

The rest of the cast also did an amazing job, & you really got the feeling that Eddie Redmayne & his "partners in crime" had lived thousands of years, through make-up but also through their facial expressions & voices & stance. Again, I would have liked to see some more back-story on these characters, as well as some more about the splices, but I honestly can't think of one bad performance in the cast.

While the plot left me wanting more (especially back-story), & a few scenes were a little predictable, this film is a must-see in theaters, for the visual experience alone. So I hope you see it in theaters while you can, & I hope you're holding your breath & gripping the arm of your chair in awe, like I was. Bottom line, don't expect to be wowed by the plot or a glorious twist ending, but do expect to be wowed by the visual aspects of this movie. In fact, brace for it. ;)

2 shots of me geeking out over the poster, taken 2 months apart.

Be the lightning,

Kylie Jude.

}i{

Making "Coma"

 As most of you have probably heard by now, my husband D. R. Acula and I have been participating in a contest on a collaborative website called TentSquare, and for about a month now it's pretty much all we've been doing. We've now made it all the way to the final round, and for this round contestants were asked to write an original song, using elements of TentSquare's coming film "While You Were In A Coma" in which a man wakes up from a coma to find that aliens have invaded. 

We were told to incorporate a gas mask (which we happened to have anyway), a city (which we did NOT have), and the fact that the main character 'doesn't get the girl' in the end. So we built this whole apocalyptic world based on that little bit of information, in which our characters are in the midst of this war with the alien invaders, and we have run out of bullets so we have to use swords and hammers and such to fight them, and our characters are basically singing to the guy in the coma, waiting for him to wake up and 'help us save the world' as the song states. 

Photo by Kylie Jude

We only had about 10 days to compose the music, write the lyrics, film the video, edit the video, and get it uploaded (which for us is an entire day's work anyway). We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary during the 10 days, and we had to take a few breaks for yard work, road work, house work, and even tearing apart and rebuilding our porch steps. So in reality it probably only took us 6 or7 days to do all of this work. And trust me, it was a LOT of work. 

First he composed the music, which featured elements of the video interview we submitted in the 2nd round, so it wasn't too hard to build on that and make it into a full length song. Then I wrote the lyrics, which I'll paste below in case you can't understand them in the song. Then we recorded vocals and I mixed them into the song, which took longer than it probably should have. 

Then we filmed the video, which took about 3 days, and was a combination of us, some close-up shots of the machines that conveniently decided to work on our road during that time (which never happens here so it was good timing - we figured they could pass for aliens), and footage that people sent us of cities including New York, Chicago, and even from Argentina. We don't have a city near where we live, so we were really lucky to get that footage from them. Then our TentSquare shirts arrived in the mail just in time to go back and film some extra shots for the last chorus with us wearing the shirts. 

Photo by D. R. Acula

Then came the editing process, which was probably the most tedious and time consuming of all, but I love editing and I had fun doing it. As it started to come together, I literally squealed with excitement a few times. LOL.

We both worked harder on this than I think we've ever worked on anything, and it was so much fun to create something like this together. Hopefully we'll be doing more stuff like this in the near future!  

UPDATE: We didn't win the contest, but we did come in second place. We are grateful to those who supported us and voted daily for us, and we hope to do more stuff like this in the future (even if it's not with TentSquare). We will be uploading the music video to Youtube as soon as we can, but for now you can still watch it on the site HERE.

And please let us know what you think!

  Oh! And here are those lyrics I promised: 

When you wake up

We need to talk 

Everything has changed my love 

They came from the skies 

Hell fire in their eyes 

And waves of radiation 

They blew the buildings down 

They blew the lights out 

And now we're left with nothing 

To fend for ourselves 

To fight for our lives 

And only the strong will survive

Are you strong enough to fight 

Or will you give in tonight 

Don your gas mask draw your sword 

Come and help us save the world 

Open your eyes 

Look to the skies 

Death is in the rain son 

Don't be fooled by 

Their coy disguise 

Trust nothing and no one 

Are you strong enough to fight 

Or will you give in tonight 

Don your gas mask draw your sword 

Come and help us save the world 

When you wake up 

We need to talk 

Everything has changed my love 

I'm not yours and 

You're not mine and 

We will never happen 

This is not the 

Time for love - it's 

Time for killing - time for war  

So don your gas mask 

Draw your sword 

Come and help us save the world 

Photo by D. R. Acula

Be the lightning,

Kylie Jude. 

}i{

Artist Interview: Miguel Alvarez

Today I'm doing something a little different, because this guy is an awesome artist, and I really want to spread the word to anyone reading this. He pumps out these sketches (yes, SKETCHES) of such intricate and detailed stuff, and I've never seen anything like it. A while back, he held a contest on Twitter for one of his drawings, and to win it you had to guess the number that was written on the back. I figured I'd give it a shot and guessed the first number that came to mind, and to my surprise, ended up guessing  right! So he sent the drawing, and I still have it nearby to remind me to always trust my instincts (something I've struggled with many times in the past). So it's pretty important to me, and I'm so grateful to own such a gorgeous piece of art. Here is that drawing:

Anyway, I wanted to let you get to know the artist a bit, through an interview. I've interviewed authors before, but this is my first artist interview, so bear with me. ;) And enjoy!

1. I've always been fascinated with how much detail goes into even your simplest sketches. How DO you do it? And what is your preferred method?

 The simple answer is that’s just the way my brain is wired. Even when I set out with the intention to sketch something simple my mind will just start adding complexity and detail. The creative process for me is different for every drawing. Sometimes the idea/image pops into my mind fully formed and then I just have to draw it out. Other times I just grab a sketchbook & a pen and just let whatever creative idea come out of my stream of consciousness.



2. Who or what are your biggest artistic inspirations? (I'm sensing some Giger influence, but I could be wrong)

 A lot of people assume Giger is one of my influences and looking at his work I can understand why that comparison is made. Although I am flattered by the comparison and think he’s a great artist with a tremendous body of work, he was not one of my influences. The only time I remember seeing Giger’s artwork was in a book once at a Barns & Noble for a few minutes, and seeing the alien designs from the movie. Most of my influences came from comic books. The first comic book book artists that began to captivate me were the guys who broke off of Marvel and start Image Comics. Guys like Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee, Todd Mcfarlane, and Erik Larson. Over the years I’ve come to admire the art of Jack Kirby, John Buscema, Jae Lee, Joe Maduereira, J Scott Campbell, Humberto Ramos, Leinil Yu and so many others. I’ve also been influenced by Salvador Dali and other surrealist artists.



3. Have you had any professional training? Or does it just come naturally?

 I've not had any formal training. I learned a lot of drawing techniques through how to books and magazines. There have also been tons of hours spent every day working on my craft. There’s just no getting around it, if you want to become great at anything you have to believe you can achieve it, and then prove it to the universe by investing the time.



4. Well said! Now I have to ask, Have you ever done commissions? And how would someone commission you to draw something for them? (Totally hypothetical question, I swear) ;)

I have done commissions before and actually made quite a bit of money doing so. I stopped taking commissions because I didn’t enjoy it. I felt that it was killing my creativity. The majority of the time the customer wants you to draw or paint them, their family or some subject matter your not interested in. With commission your usually drawing or painting from a photograph which takes a lot of skill, but allows for little creative expression. Art for me now is about expressing my creativity with freedom to go in any direction the universe takes me. I want to draw worlds and figures from my imagination and not from photographs. I want to sell art on my own terms and not have my creativity stifled because I want to make a quick buck. Let me add that I do think it’s important for new aspiring artists to draw from life and study the things around them to build a base on which to build a creative foundation.
  


5. Totally agreed! Do what makes you happy, not anyone else! And last but not least, can you tell us more about yourself? Who is the man behind the art?

I’m a man who loves God, loves his family and loves life. I wake up every morning grateful that I get to spend another day in a world filled with creativity and with people who love me. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity and freedom to explore my creative ideas. 

And I'm grateful that there are wonderful artists like Miguel in the world, who's work inspires me every day. You can find Miguel on Twitter, Instagram, and his website. I leave you with a collage I made of some more of his gorgeous art:

BOOM. 

Be the lightning, 

Kylie Jude.

}i{

Author Interview: Ray Davis

I'm so excited to bring you a new interview with one of my favorite online acquaintances, fellow writer and alien theorist, Ray Davis. If you haven't heard of him yet, don't worry, you will. His new novel series Anunnaki Awakening is going to be pretty epic. You'll want to check it out, believe me. I'm honored to host him and to have these questions answered so perfectly. Read on and you'll see what I mean: 

1. First things first! Can you introduce yourself for those who may not know you?

First of all, thank you, Kylie, for the opportunity to introduce myself to your readers. My name is Ray Davis and I'm a writer. I've done many things in my life to pay the bills. Writing has been the one constant from a very early age.

By day, I write sales training for a Fortune 500 company. At night, I write philosophical and motivational content encouraging people to take a second look at themselves and their world; on the premise there might be more there than their conditioning has led them to believe. Most recently, I have been engaged in writing Book 1 of my speculative fiction novel series - Anunnaki Awakening.

My wife, April, and I live in Kansas City area, but our hearts are always in Hawaii. We travel there each year and our big goal is to live there one day. We have two grown kids – a son and a daughter. We’ve got a wedding coming this November and another one likely in the near future. So, we're on the verge of being full-fledged empty-nesters.

I'm a “what you see is what you get” person. I love sports, music, and travel, but my life experiences have demanded that I look out into the cosmos and within to seek answers to life's big questions.

2. I'm loving the theme of your book, Anunnaki Awakening. I too have drawn on these beings (as well as others) for inspiration in future novels. Can you tell us more about why you decided to use the Anunnaki in your novels, and how that came about?

Thank you. The answer to this question alone might fill a book. I didn't set out to write this book. In 2007, I started a website called The Affirmation Spot. Until about eight months ago, most people in social media knew me for that endeavor. As I was encouraging people to follow their dreams, I realized I wasn't pursuing mine - to be a published author with something important to say.

I'm a life-long science fiction fan - especially Star Trek. I really enjoyed Gene Roddenberry's positive view of humanity and its future. I'd seen a string of dystopian science fiction movies - which I enjoy as much as the next person - but I began to feel as if the genre had gone rather negative on humanity's prospects. I wanted to write something brighter that pointed more to our potential than our doom.

I thought this book was going to be about building an interesting story around my mission of empowerment with The Affirmation Spot. I had already developed my heroine character - Maria Love - and began writing a book with a tentative title of The Future Possible.

I was home alone one Saturday in 2009 and turned on a new TV show I'd heard about. That show was Ancient Aliens. They asked, "What if it were all true?" I immediately followed with, "What if it were still true?" What if there was a common sense explanation for why humanity continues to be led against its best interest? What if there was a reason human beings have this negative default setting and go about their lives ignoring big questions and accepting our institution's simple answers?

As I watched, I realized this topic had been sitting in my life's waiting room for years. I'd always gravitated to shows like Coast to Coast A.M. I'd read the works of people like Von Daniken and Sitchin. The seed was planted at the age of six. My father took me to see Von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods in its original theater run. I was hooked and it all made so much sense to me.

This topic - with its philosophical, religious, and scientific overtones - demanded my mind share. Within a few days the Inanna character showed up. She’s the co-heroine in Anunnaki Awakening. She's the member of the Anunnaki elite who is rebelling against the age-old control of humanity by her race.

The purpose, storyline, and tone of the book shifted. It still presents a hopeful vision for humanity and our future, but we have to clean some old wounds first.

3. Will you be taking the traditional publishing route, or the independent route? And which one would you recommend for 'noobs' like me?

This is actually my first novel too. I considered many options and have wavered back and forth on this topic. I see benefits to self-publishing and today it's a great way to break in, prove your audience, and get picked up by a major publisher. It's also the best way to maintain control of your work.

Traditional publishing offers the benefits of a backer that knows the ropes and can help you promote the work. However, you also lose your artistic control and there is a lot of subject matter - important subject matter - medium to larger publishers won't support.

I'm fortunate in that a friend in Hawaii started a publishing company a couple years ago. He's publishing both serious authors and those who have a story to tell and want to publish it. He has a mission to help hundreds of thousands of people tell their story and earn income from it. His name is Larry Czerwonka. He owns the LarryCzerwonka Publishing Company of Hilo, HI. He will be publishing my first book.

4. Could have fooled me! Already a pro. :) Changing the subject a bit, you've posted a lot about aliens and your belief that we aren't alone (with which I agree wholeheartedly). Can you summarize your theories on this topic?

I don't know if it was Star Trek from the age of three or something I was just predisposed to know. I've never doubted for a moment that our universe is bursting with life. To me that's a given.

It's a topic we, as species, must become more adult about. It’s treated in juvenile ways belying its critical importance. All of our institutions are so Earth-centric. We may have discovered the Sun doesn't go around the Earth, but our mindset still is that everything else does.

I've never understood why religious and scientific people seem so threatened by this concept. Aliens don't preclude God, but God doesn't preclude aliens either. Why must it be one or the other?

As for the scientific point of view, there seems to be this overwhelming disposition towards denial rather than acceptance on this topic. There’s more effort at ridicule than research. Large segments of mainstream science simply will not even follow the scientific method related to evidence on extraterrestrials and UFOs. I find that puzzling.

I've talked to numerous scientifically minded people online that LOVE science fiction and thinking about alien life in that context, but run screaming when you try to have a serious conversation about its reality. I can only chalk that kind of behavior by intelligent people up to fear and conditioning. They don't want someone to put the proverbial "tin foil hat" on their heads. So, the topic goes largely without discussion.

In Anunnaki Awakening, I play heavily on these themes. One must ask why this is the conditioning? Why are human beings - inquisitive as we are - not eager and ready to embrace other life in this universe? When you watch the pattern of media and other "official" comment on this topic, it's almost universally ridiculed. People in our culture are very conscious about being cool. It’s a very powerful societal control mechanism. If it's clearly delineated as uncool, people stay away.

I see extraterrestrial life to be a VERY sober and important subject for our planet and our species. My question is how can civilization that relies on internal combustion engine definitively conclude interstellar space travel impossible? They can't, but they are.

Then there's the separate - but possibly related - issue of UFOs. I've had several sightings in my life that defy explanation. Both the object's appearance and behavior were extraordinarily bizarre. Two of my sightings felt very personal and happened within a few weeks of each other in 1991. I've described these in various places online.

The third happened during a red-eye flight from New York to Chicago in December 2007. While over Lake Michigan, a bright, undefined light rose rapidly from below right in the middle of commercial flight pattern with at least three other planes besides ours waiting to land in Chicago. Two objects, easily identified as fighters, appeared to be in pursuit of the object. The first object was faster, more maneuverable, and eventually shot straight up leaving the two fighters in the dust. The big question for me, if this was just some kind of experimental aircraft, is why the military would be conducting such maneuvers late at night in the midst of several commercial jets?

• Do I think we’ve been visited by extraterrestrial beings? Absolutely. 
• Do I think it's been going on throughout our history? Yes.
• Do I think all UFOS are aliens? No. I think there’s a mix of causes that may include life forms that inhabit this planet without our knowledge.
• Do I think there are millions of civilizations out in that vast darkness? Yes. Many of them are probably wondering if they’re all alone too. They’re going about the daily life of their civilizations thinking they, too, are the center of everything.
• Do I think our governments are aware of this phenomenon? Some governments, I believe, know more than others. It probably depends on what you mean by "the government.” I posit some possibilities in the novel.

5. Well said! And, last but not least, what can we expect from you in the future?

I’m so appreciative, Kylie, for your kind interview request. I’m honored to have a chance to share ideas with your readers.

I've already begun Book 2 in the Anunnaki Awakening series. I've set my personal goal to become a full-time author living and working in Hawaii in the next few years. Book 3 is outlined, but I enjoy letting the story come to me rather than mapping it all out ahead of time. It will probably change.

After this series, I may return to a novel I started in 2004 titled Weather Wars. I stopped writing it when Hurricane Katrina too closely mirrored an event I'd written just weeks before in that book.

I'm hoping Anunnaki Awakening will catch on with readers. My beta readers are giving me great feedback about how the story is pulling them in. I'd like to see it become a hit and be turned into a movie. I figure if vampires and child witches can hit it big, why not aliens?

I definitely see that being a good possibility! And I definitely know the feeling! I truly hope it happens. It's awesome to know there are other people out there on the same page as me about this stuff, and maybe even on the same mission ;)

If you're on the same page too, please follow Ray on Twitter and like his Facebook page. He posts great thought-provoking stuff, and is a really nice guy. And you'll want to be up to date with the latest on his books, which are coming soon! He's also founded a great site for writers (and everyone) with tons of positive affirmations and more, if you want to check it out too. I'm truly excited about everything he's doing, and I can't wait to see him take the world by storm. :)

Be the lightning,

Kylie Jude.

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Film Review: Lucy

Lucy is one of those movies that I did my excited chair dance for after seeing the first trailer in theaters. As usual, when I do that, I (and the people near me) know I will be trying my best to see it in theaters. When asked to choose just one movie to see between June and December, I picked Lucy. Then, on opening night, I started seeing a wave of negative reviews coming in online from some people who had seen it. I was shocked. And I was almost swayed by their opinions. But then I remembered that people also gave most of Shyamalan's films negative reviews, so I said TO HELL WITH THE PEOPLE, and the day after it hit theaters, we made the long and stressful trip to finally see Lucy.

It surprised me.
 In a good way.

Lucy is a feast for the eyes, ears, AND mind, and is also an in depth lesson on science, history, and biology. Not to mention, a lesson on human nature. And the way it cuts back and forth between time and space, and the way the transitions cut from one thing to something completely different and yet somehow connected, is genius on the part of cinematographer Thierry Arbogast as well as Luc Besson (who happens to be the film's writer, director, AND editor!)

Reviewers have said that Scarlett Johansson's acting was mediocre in this film, claiming she doesn't show enough emotion. But I mean, come on. She's playing someone who begins to essentially lose touch with what it is to be human, including emotion, so in that case I think she did a great job. And she shows plenty of emotion in the beginning of the film, before the drug is implanted, and even a couple times afterwards, as she exhibits genuine love and sorrow. I admit that even I was worried if she was the right choice to play Lucy, but After seeing it, I think she was perfect. Morgan Freeman also did a good job as the professor (as expected), and I was pleasantly surprised to see Amr Waked in this film, who previously stole the show for me in the movie Salmon Fishing In The Yemen. I'm excited that he's getting more work, and hope to see him in more films soon.

Reviewers have also said the special effects are bad, and while I agree that there is a little glitch in visual quality when she reaches 70%, I thought most of the other effects were pretty well done. That or I was too distracted by how the movie made me FEEL to notice any other bad special effects. 

This movie definitely had a strong impact on me, and it had me in tears twice. One thing is for certain, Lucy is an important one to see in theaters. If you're anything like me, you will leave this movie with a better perception of the world around you and the people inhabiting it, and with a sense of why we're all here. And if you're lucky, you might even unlock a bit more than 10% of your brain just by seeing it ;)

My husband Eric loved the movie too, while his mother, who saw it with us, didn't like it quite as much as she thought she would. I think this is because she was wanting and expecting a fun, entertaining movie, and while it did have some funny moments (I even heard her laughing), I think it ended up being a bit deeper than she expected. That's just speculation, of course. And I'm guessing that others who didn't like the movie might have also been expecting something a bit more light hearted. So if that's what you want in a movie, then I guess maybe Lucy isn't the movie for you. But if you like movies that are beautiful and entertaining while also making you think, Lucy is for you. Please see it.

Be the lightning,
Kylie Jude.


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Lucky 7 Blog Hop

So there's another Blog Hop going around, and this one seems fun, so I decided to take Amanda Staley's advice and steal it. ;)

The Rules: 

Go to page 7 or 77 in your current WIP (work in progress).
Go to line 7 on the page.
Post on your blog the next 7 sentences or 7 lines.

You can choose between page 7 or 77. 

K so here's an excerpt from my first Scifi novel, beginning on page 7, line 7. I have the perfect illustration to go with it, but illustrations are still top secret. Enjoy!

Chapter One, Page 7, lines 7-14: 

"Don't let them take you!" The frazzled woman pleaded as she smacked the bars of her cell with a trembling hand. Something in her bloodshot eyes told Amaya to run. The urgency in them was almost unbearable. That urgency quickly disappeared as her body jolted and fell to the floor. 

"I told you that one belonged in the asylum ward." The sign language using man put his taser back in the pocket of his unzipped coat, which barely fit his chubby body. Amaya wished she had hands so she could grab the taser from him and escape. But she didn't, and wishing wouldn't make it so. It was up to her eccentric mind and scrawny legs. 

There you have it! The longest excerpt I have shared to date. I hope you'll read the whole book when it gets published (hopefully soon).

Be the lightning, 

Kylie Jude. 

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Film Review: Edge Of Tomorrow

Edge Of Tomorrow is the newest Science Fiction hit that I think is destined to be a classic, as well as one of my favorites. It's based on a book called All You need Is Kill by  Hiroshi Sakurazaka and stars Tom Cruise as a futuristic soldier who dies in battle and is then forced into a Groundhog Day like scenario, which I was worried might be a little boring and repetitive, but they made it wonderfully entertaining, and even comedic at times. The editing was damn near perfect in those sequences, and when I found out later that it was edited by my favorite editor James Herbert, that was no surprise. Love all of his work, and this movie is no exception.

Yes, this film stars Tom Cruise, who is an outspoken Scientologist, but that is no reason not to see it. Sure there are some glimpses of Scientology in it, such as evil aliens and some messages about destiny and memory, all of which were also in my favorite Tom Cruise film Oblivion, but it's not too over the top. You won't be brainwashed if you see it, I promise. And Cruise gives a solid and believable performance in the leading role. While there are a few small similarities to Oblivion, as I said, Edge Of Tomorrow is still it's own movie, and the Cage character is completely different from Cruise's character in Oblivion.

When I found out Emily Blunt would be playing the "full metal bitch" in this movie, I was instantly excited to see her in a new light. Sure, she's done some action/scifi films before (such as Looper), but never anything this badass. I was almost worried she wouldn't be right for the role, but I think she did a wonderful job and we got to see a whole new version of her, which I think (and hope) will take her stardom even further.

I did my chair dance every time we saw the trailer for this movie, and when the time came to finally see it, I was beyond excited. But I was also nervous. Turns out I had good reason to be nervous. Here's why:

But, even though we were sort of tricked into seeing a tiny, blurry, 1950's version of Edge Of Tomorrow, we still loved the film. It had everything a Science Fiction nerd like me could ask for (time travel, aliens, cool gadgets/armor/weapons); everything the filmmaker in me appreciates (creative script, gorgeous effects, well knit editing); and everything any movie should have, really (action, drama, comedy, romance, ETC). I would love to see it again in a "real" theater to get the full effect. I'm sure I would have loved it even more that way. Trust me when I say this film is worth seeing in theaters. Seriously. See it.

I leave you with a short video I made of the hubby and myself playing a little game inspired by the movie. It's a little glitchy, but hopefully you get the idea. It can be hard, especially while performing tasks (like "grass-fishing" as seen here), but it can also be lots of fun. And you know what they say, couples that play together stay together. So, whether you're married or just bored, try it sometime. ;)

;)

Be the lightning,

Kylie Kerosene (Jude)

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My First Book Review - Evolution: Angel

"I'm probably the only writer on the planet that doesn't like to read books. 

It's not that I don't want to, I just don't have the patience."

I can't even count the number of times I've said something to that effect. I always have something to work on (whether it's my own novels, artwork, music or videos) and I'm either too busy to read, or if I do try to read, I get bored & restless after a few minutes & stop. It's not that I don't love the books I try to read, it's just books in general. I still have books from friends that I have started & fully intend to finish one day, but I just haven't yet. 

The statement at the beginning of this blog used to be true, but I can no longer use it. Because when Starla Huchton held a contest on Twitter for someone to win her book Evolution: Angel, & I won said contest, I finally found a book I could stick with. Was it because it was easy to read? Was it because of the strong characters & believable relationships? Was it the super hero theme? Or was it just good timing? Maybe it was all of the above, but either way, I suddenly found myself reading numerous chapters at a time, unable to stop for the fear I might miss something. I found myself reading every chance I got, sneaking off whenever I had a free moment to delve back into the world Starla had created. I even found myself thinking about the book while doing other things, & wondering what would happen next, impatient until I could finally read again.

What happened to me? I had suddenly gone from being someone who hates to read, to being someone practically obsessed with a book. Honestly I think Starla is just that good. Her use of witty dialogue & realistic character flaws, combined with her "just enough" descriptions that are long enough to get a mental image but not so descriptive that I want to stop reading (which has happened before) combined with the clever mixture of romance, action, & cliffhangers - all of these things kept me hooked until the very last page. That's right. I finally finished a book. That makes Evolution: Angel my first.

They say you never forget your first, & I certainly won't be forgetting this book. I'm excited to read the next book in the series, & I hope you will want to read it too. I would also love to see the series made into movies, as every scene and character action played out in my mind just like a movie, and the powers that the characters display make for some really cool visuals that would look epic on screen. I'm just saying. ;)

If I have to pick one thing I didn't love about this book, it would be that there was too much sex. But that's just a personal preference. I tend to avoid sex in my own novels unless it's necessary, because I feel like it doesn't advance the plot. BUT that's just me, & in Starla's novel, often times the sex DOES actually advance the plot (at least the romance aspect) & there is definitely enough action and mystery and other stuff to balance out the sex. So if you like both romance and action, this book is definitely for you. Be warned though, the book does have some sex as well as some graphic language. Now no one can say I didn't warn them ;)

Overall, I was very impressed by this book, and very attached to the characters and the plot. If it can hold MY attention, it must be good. Right? So take my advice and see for yourself. You won't regret it!

I leave you with some of my favorite quotes from the novel:

Evolution: Angel by Starla Huchton

Evolution: Angel by Starla Huchton

Evolution: Angel by Starla Huchton

There you have it! Buy the book here to read more. Hopefully this is the first of many books I'll read. Thank you, Starla, for starting me on the path of a writer that also happens to read books, and for writing a wonderful book that I will never forget. :)

Be the lightning,
Kylie Kerosene.

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