The Audacity to Tell a Tale: Danny Brown on Storytelling at TEDxOttawa

Anyone connected to me has probably heard me mention Danny Brown or repeat something he said. This guy is amazingly brilliant and large-hearted.

Danny spoke at TEDxOttawa on the topic of digital storytelling:

Related Links:

• 12for12k.org
• Epic Change

 

Indulge in Some Literary Voyeurism with Lookshelves

Here’s one for the feedreader. Lookshelves is an online place to look at bookshelves. The site appears to be about a year old, and I wish I had found it sooner.

From the site:

When I go to someone’s house, I am immediately drawn to their bookshelves. I want to know what they read (or buy), how they display their books, what’s well-thumbed and what’s in the darkish corners.

Each entry provides a picture of a bibliophile’s shelf and supplies a mini interview with that person. You can even submit your own shelf.

 

FCBD 2010: Free Comics are a Mixed Bag

Both the Gold and Silver titles have been announced for Free Comic Book Day 2010. FCBD — held the first Saturday in May every year — is when participating comic book shops around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their stores.

Please note that many of the links below are NSFW. This is a sad commentary on the comic book industry as a whole. Comics are exhibiting many of the same excesses which allowed Dr. Wertham’s successful attack against the industry (and more broadly free speech itself) in the 1950s.

2010’s Gold titles include:

• Shrek & the Penguins of Madagascar (Ape Entertainment)
• Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock (Archaia Entertainment)
• Archie’s Summer Splash! #1 (Archie Comics)
• Toy Story (BOOM! Studios)
• Doctor Solar/Magnus: Robot Fighter (Dark Horse Comics)
• War of the Supermen #0 (DC Comics)
• YOW! The John Stanley Library (Drawn & Quarterly)
• G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #155½ (IDW Publishing)
• Fractured Fables (Image Comics)
• Iron Man/Thor FCBD 2010 Edition (Marvel Comics)

2010’s Silver titles include:

• Sonic The Hedgehog: Hide & Seek & Destroy! (Archie Comics)
• Worlds of Aspen 2010 (Aspen Comics)
• Fearless Dawn/Asylum Press Sampler (Asylum Press)
• S.E. Hinton’s Fame: Lady Gaga (Bluewater Productions)
• Bongo Comics Free For All (Bongo Comics)
• Irredeemable #1 (BOOM! Studios)
• DC Kids Mega Sampler (DC Comics)
• Del Rey Showcase (Del Rey Comics)
• Green Hornet #1 (Dynamite Entertainment)
• Weathercraft: A Frank Comic (Fantagraphics Books)
• The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Comics (Gemstone Publishing)
• Library of American Comics #0 (IDW Publishing)
• Love and Capes #13 (Maerkle Press)
• Iron Man: Supernova (Marvel Comics)
• The Tick #1 Special Edition (New England Comics)
• Oni Press Free-For-All (Oni Press)
• The Sixth Gun #1 (Oni Press)
• Radical: Bigger Books! Bigger Value! (Radical Publishing)
• Atomic Robo and Friends (Red 5 Comics)
• Freedom Formula: Speed Metal Overtures (Storm Lion)
• Stuff of Legend/Mortal Instruments (Th3rd World Studios)
• Artifacts: First Look (Top Cow Productions)
• Owly & Friends (Top Shelf Productions)

Lady Gaga? Really, Bluewater? And I thought Oprah was a poor choice! I wonder when they’re going to do a crossover book — Rush Limbaugh and Bo Obama team to fight Princess Diana and Ronald Reagan, that sort of thing.

There’s several interesting titles for this year’s FCBD. I see some of the old standbys, some new stuff and a few I can definitely skip. I have mixed feelings about the line-up.

A huge part of FBCD is the opportunity for the industry to put it’s best foot forward and draw new readers. I uderstand there’s an audience for the misogyny of Archie, the T&A of Aspen and the excesses of Del Rey, and I recognize a company’s right to market it’s products to as wide an audience as possible. I just wish FCBD featured more stuff like Love and Capes and Atomic Robo.

Thanks to Robot6 at Comic Book Resources for the heads up.

 

Attractive Outdora Patio Umbrellas Provide Shade and Shelter

Side Post Umbrella

Around here the sun beats down on us one day, and the rain pours the next. I never know if it’s going to be hot and dry or cold and wet. It’s a good thing that Outdora offers the solution to either problem in the form of outdoor patio umbrellas.

According to Outdora’s website, our modern use of the word “umbrella” derives from the Latin word “Umbra.” Being a word nut, that caught my attention. Umbra, which first appeared in the seventeenth century, refers to a shaded area. Umbrellas themselves are much older, first appearing in the courts of China and Egypt between 1100 and 1200 BCE.

Always big on variety in selection, Outdora has beach umbrellas, patio umbrellas, small and large umbrellas, even off-set models. The Roma Octagon Side Post Umbrella is particularly attractive and is available in 21 different colors.

If a traditional canopy and post is more your style, there are several portable and durable patio umbrellas from which to choose. They come in a range of heights and a whole palette of colors and patterns.

I really like their half canopy umbrellas. Exhibiting a brilliant idea I wish I had thought of myself, these convenient devices fit directly against walls or fences. The powder-coated aluminum post runs flush with any flat surface, a hand crank adjusts the canopy and vents allow the wind to pass through the durable outdoor fabric. The optional custom half umbrella base is designed to fit flush against the wall like the umbrella itself.

I imagine many of you share my concern about light streaming through windows and striking directly art, books and collectables in our homes. A half canopy umbrella placed strategically above a window is an effective and attractive solution.

Beautiful and utilitarian, Outdora’s outdoor umbrellas come in several styles and many different colors. Whatever your preferences, they offer the right patio umbrella for you.

 

This is a sponsored post. Image used with permission.

No Frills Book Trailer Communicates Passion

The book trailers I’ve been looking at lately have followed closely the format of movie trailers. But is that the only way to make a book trailer?

In the following trailer, Dr. James D. Slack speaks about his new book — Abortion, Execution, and the Consequences of Taking Life. There’s no flashy effects, no dramatic staging of scenes, just Dr. Slack talking about a subject he is passionate about.

 

The Value of Book Trailers

I’ve been thinking about book trailers. It was a video about the future of books that set me off. Although not about a particular book, Editis’ short film Possible… Or Probable? presents one view of what the near future may hold for bibliophiles. The production values are high and it definitely piques one’s interest.

Then there was SparkNotes’ video for George Orwell’s 1984. It contains a plot summary, an analysis, and a discussion of the major characters and themes from the classic novel, but the fantastic animation could stand on its own.

More recently I discovered Going West from the New Zealand Book Council. The non-profit uses a paper cut animation of Maurice Gee’s novel in an effort to promote literacy. The video is amazing.

At the December meeting of West Texas Writers, we discussed the use of online media to promote writers and their works. The book trailer for Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters was one of several examples offered for consideration:

Book trailers are similar to movie trailers. They both build interest for upcoming material. Movie trailers, however, are composed of pre-shot footage. Book trailers have to be made from scratch.

That’s far easier for a company like Editis than it is for a self-published or small press author. To handle the cost of production it seems many of these trailers are shot on personal cameras, edited with simple software and cast with the writers’ friends and family.

Squidoo’s Book Trailers page by Crystal Booth gives some basic info and shares plenty of interesting links to get one started on the creation of a trailer. Darcy Pattison offers a list of 43 Book Trailer Sites for instruction and inspiration, including suggestions on where (besides the obvious) to display trailers.

What do you think of book trailers? Have you made one for your work? Has a book trailer ever convinced you to make a purchase?

 

Perfectionism

Your attention please!

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

 

That is all.

 

Mythbusters and the Gorn Cannon

And just for kicks, the worst fight scene ever:

 

Give the Gift of Education this Holiday Season

I recieved an email from Mama Lucy Kamptoni this week . She was excited to share that out of more than 100 schools in the Arusha district, Shepherds Junior school scored 2nd in class 4 national exams, only 2 points behind the top school.

This year’s TweetsGiving, a global gratitude event sponsored by Epic Change, benefitted Mama Lucy’s school in Arusha, Tanzania. Shepherds Junior currently serves about 350 students. During this holiday season you can help the school offer the opportunity for a great education to even more children.

Choosing one of the gifts below will help a child attended the shool. Your generosity will benefit children who have lost their parents or come from families that cannot afford basic needs.

Each of these items will help a child recieve a good education for a full year:

• $25 – School Uniform
• $50 – School Supplies
• $100 – Daily Porridge and Lunch (annual meals)
• $250 – A Good Education (annual tuition)
• $500 – A Loving Home for a Child (annual boarding)

All of these gifts are avialable in the Epic Change Gift Shop.

 

Take Along Convenience and Comfort with Outdora Picnic Baskets

Picnic Basket

Just before my wife and I were married someone was kind enough to gift us a picnic basket at our wedding shower. It has proved to be an appreciated and much used gift. Not only is it ideal for picnics, it has gone with us on several out-of-town excursions and served us on a couple of trips to the mountains.

Picnic baskets are a convenient and enjoyable way to get out of the house from time to time. I love sharing a lunch with my family at a local park or at a road-side attraction.

Outdora encourages us to take the convenience and comfort of indoor dining into the great outdoors. Their line of picnic baskets, backpacks, shoulder totes, picnic blankets, coolers and wine carriers aims to provide all the essentials to enjoy food, fun and fresh air.

The classic style of Outdora’s gourmet picnic baskets brings an elegant aspect to outdoor fun. There’s picnic baskets for two people or for four in natural wicker finish and silver. Attractive cloth lined baskets are available. Certain baskets feature straps for retaining plates and utensils.

Insulated picnic totes and coolers offer a more modern look. They’re perfect for keeping sandwiches and fruits cool. Picnic shoulder packs and totes are a convenient means to carry picnic items, games, books or art supplies to a favorite outdoor spot.

Wine carriers and coffee totes can be taken alone or as a complement to a basket. These durable carriers come in a variety of colors of styles. Outdora even offers wine glasses and corkscrews.

Whether you want to make a day-trip with the family, go camping with friends or stir up a little romance with that special someone, Outdora has the right picnic basket for the task. Their prices are reasonable, and their high-end picnic gear features superior craftsmanship and lifetime guarantees.

 

This is a sponsored post. Image used with permission.