November 25th, 2009 — Book Intro, Guest Blogger, J-L, Medieval, Paranormal
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by Ryshia Kennie, guest blogger and author of Ring of Desire.
Ring of Desire
, my paranormal set in medieval times, was released just last week. Medieval times, dark and brooding, the perfect breeding spot for magic. Even so, I had no thought of writing a paranormal, medieval or contemporary. I started out to write a historical but this was the story that threw me the curve.
1072 England - I researched politics, dress, speech and customs and loved every minute of it. So, with a medieval background firmly in my mind, a hero begging to leap into action and an opening scene ready to go, I began to write. And that is when everything changed. Someone was whispering in the background.
“The One. The One,” they whispered every time my beleaguered hero made an appearance. It was unexpected and I think it was the era that attracted that paranormal element. Unlike contemporary times with our modern conveniences and streamlined buildings, when I imagine the medieval times, I see a place rife with paranormal from runes and spells, to magicians. An incredible breeding ground to lay that magical seed and voila subconsciously I did!
Even in the opening scene as my hero, Giles, rescued Vala from a watery death, there was the whispering and hints of something else. I was as baffled as Giles and writing stopped for a bit as the plot had to be reworked to accommodate what was obviously a hint of magic.
It was more than a hint of magic. Ring of Desire took me totally by surprise from its final name to the outcome of the story. It was one of my favorite stories to write.
Buy: Ring of Desire (Paperback)
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September 1st, 2009 — 2 Stars, Contemporary, Movie Reviews, Time Travel
I was very disappointed with Time Traveler’s Wife. Don’t get me wrong it was well executed, had great acting and cinematography but there was a key element that was simply missing for me. Having never read the book, The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger, I can’t say if the movie was missing this crucial element or if both the book and the movie are missing it.
Why does he travel? Why does he go back if he can’t stay for longer than a conversation? How many times has he tried to save his mom? What’s the point in zapping back to that moment over and over again? He can’t just talk to himself over and over again, that’s just being on constant repeat and I had the impression from later in the movie when he disappeared for two weeks that he still lived two weeks, he just lived them somewhere else.
Did love draw him to the meadow to meet his future wife? Or to the museum to meet his 10 year old daughter? He does hop into the future beyond his death, why doesn’t he tell his wife about those times? Sure, sure he doesn’t want her to wait, but why does he travel if not to meet with his loved ones?
The movie tries to give the impression of eternal life, but it’s a more melancholy message than you would expect. The Time Traveler does die, he can’t live the rest of his life or her life out. He’s not there always even when he’s not there, no matter what his wife and daughter say before the credits roll.
To tell you the truth, I was extremely disappointed with his wife in the end. He tells her that he doesn’t want her to wait and she folds his clothes up and walks back to the house with their daughter? She defied him once she should do it again – stick those clothes back on the stump and add a note or a cell phone and tell him what for! Ugh! It was terribly frustrating.
I have two sticking points in the story that didn’t cut it for me in the film. First, Eric Bana as Henry meeting Clare at six was just plain creepy. It was such a bizarre moment that almost read father to daughter, not how I would have scripted or kept as acted. I would have rerun it again and again until it was more subtle less patronizing or whatever the word is I’m looking for. Second, Alba as a time traveler, even if she does have control over her ‘gift’. I would not want a little girl to be hopping time without clothes on even if she could pick a lock – double creepy!
Rachel McAdams however was wonderful from start to finish. Loved her. She’s so cute and perfect for the role of older Clare. Her expressive face really carries the more poignant of scenes. She is truly a gifted actress and I would watch her in just about anything.
Overall though, for me this was a movie I’d see just once.
Rating: 2 Stars
Buy: The Time Traveler's Wife
Read another review of the movie.
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