down the retro road

Most of the Walt Whitman High School Class of 1988 is turning 40 this year. Having a January birthday, I got the head start, but I've been observing (via Facebook) the behaviors of my former classmates and fellow Gen-Xers, and they're all retreating to the 80s. They're posting You Tube videos of the music we listened to back then. They're joining adult soccer leagues. They're having 80s-themed birthday parties. And all I can think is, "Well at least it's not just me."

Not that I'm joining soccer leagues (although dammit, I would've been good), but I get this retro-journey we're on. For example, my apartment walls are sorely crying out for art, and I was thinking about framing more album covers (I've already got four Duran albums hanging in the hall) and making my own art, painting Warhol-esque still-lifes of New Coke, Atari joysticks, and Rubick's Cubes. Or maybe I'd find some vintage Patrick Nagel re-prints (I have two of those in my hallway too).

And the other day while channel-surfing (and I don't have many channels to surf, so I suppose it was more like wading), I stumbled upon a Christian Slater movie. Imdb just now informed me that it was called "Pump Up the Volume" and claims that it was made in 1990, but I could've sworn it was at least three years earlier. I was not really interested in this movie-- it seemed to be filled w/ a lot of John-Hughes-wannabe, cheesy teenage angst (how John Hughes managed to get away w/ cheesy teenage angst, I don't know -- and yet, there I am, lapping it up). Kinda dumb plot too. Christian Slater is dork by day, radio shock-jock by night. The voice of his generation railing against high school oppression. Ok, so high school really is oppressive, but it's so hard to take that oppression seriously when one of the teachers is wearing a bolo tie.

I kept watching the movie not out of boredom, but observation. I was studying the clothes. And scarier still, liking them.

Ok, maybe not the acid-washed jeans -- those clearly were a mistake -- but the big t-shirts and denim skirts over the spandex leggings (which are back in style), the frosted bangs (see my previous blog post about that), guys wearing colorful checkered shirts (I wore those more than I wore girls' shirts in those days), the big round glasses, and all that mousse... I watched all of it with a strange fascination and coming to the conclusion that a) teens had much cooler clothes than adults in the 80s, and b) Christian Slater was quite the young hottie back then.

It's not that I want to wear any of that stuff again (although my friends will testify that earlier this year I bought the same kind of captain-style hat that Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes used to wear because I always wanted one, and I bought a straw summer fedora -- so un-John Taylor, but age-appropriate), and I would NEVER -- I repeat, NEVER want to return to my teenage years, or high school. But there was something oddly comforting about seeing something that was once the norm captured in a film that had little else to offer other than canned messages of free speech and rebellion.

I'm not sure what makes us go back to those days. It sure as hell wasn't a simpler time -- not for me, anyway. Whatever it is, it's calling to the writer in me. I'm jotting down notes for another novel, coming up with names, hearing little bits and pieces of backstory. And I think I know where it's going. That's all I'm willing to say for now, and I can't promise that I'll keep the acid-washed denim out of it (although lord knows I'll try). But maybe Christian Slater will get a part in the movie adaptation.

a birthday message for John Taylor

That's him.

I fell in love with John Taylor in 1983. He was 23 years old, and I was 13. He went through various reinventions of image. He went from blood-red hair and lipstick (yes, lipstick) and frilly shirts to suave, colorful Anthony Price suits. He popularized the fedora (which has made a comeback) and Capezio's for men. He inspired men and women to dye their bangs blond. Michael Jackson may have had the glittered glove, but JT had sleeker, sexier, red leather gloves.

John Taylor was always the Duran Duran band member who got the most screams, who sold more posters, more pin-ups, more buttons for our denim jackets and pocketbook straps. I had a lot of competition when it came to winning John's heart, but I had always believed myself to have an advantage: I got the music. After all, I was the youngest in a family of musicians. My first words were likely Beatles lyrics. I could sing harmonies, figure them out by myself. I knew what reverb was, what a drum fill was. knew the difference between a demo and a master. I knew how long it took to mix a single song (and that the meal of choice after an all-night recording or mixing session was beer and eggs). I knew that John played an Aria Pro II bass. Surely, at 15, I was going to wow him with this knowledge. Alas, I never got the chance.

At that time, the age gap seemed so wide, so impossibly hard to close. My best friend and I used to imagine ourselves magically aged seven years, magically in the right place at the right time (aka, meeting the band), our hair and faces and bodies magically transformed to irresistible. Of course, they would all fall in love with me, but John would be the lucky one.

Not surprising. We were looking for an escape hatch. At least I was.

There have always been two constants in my life: writing, and Duran Duran. The videos, the pinups, the teenybop crush feeds my sense of nostalgia (and lord knows it's really the only thing I want to remember about my adolescence, or remember with fondness, along with John Hughes movies and those CHOOSE LIFE shirts), but the music has been the real constant. There is a Duran song to suit any mood. (And of course, I don't have to tell you how the song "Ordinary World" inspired me.) The guys grew from pop stars to musicians. And one has to read John's blog posts to know that he's at a place in his life where he's sober, drug-free, happily married, a loving father, and a musician, writer, and artist. He's gone back to his roots. He's a vinyl enthusiast, still a clothes horse, and a reader. And he's good at what he does.

John Taylor is 50 today. And while I may still harbor the teenage fantasy of marrying him someday (hey, a girl can always dream -- and that's why I love novel-writing), I'm more happy that the gap is closed. The adult me doesn't dream marriage as much as of sitting back and having a conversation with him, talking about the things that matter: love, family, writing, and, of course--always--music. The gap has finally closed, and we have more in common than ever before, I think.

Happy 50th Birthday, John. You've given me 27 years of happiness and inspiration, and I am eternally grateful to you.

hey, stranger

I thought that when the semester ended, so would my blog-posting drought. not so. Turns out, it's gotten worse.

It's not like I've not had anything to say. It's just that I've been afraid to write. Yes, afraid. I've actually been afraid of my own blog.

Go figure that one.

Writer's block is, undoubtedly, the manifestation of the fear that, while you may have something to say, it has no value whatsoever, compounded by the fear that even if it does, you are not good enough to do it justice. It skews your perception of your audience, transforming them from receptive readers to judgmental vultures. It wreaks havoc with your ability to distinguish good writing from bad. And it makes your own writing pale in comparison to everyone else's. And you know this because you're holding it up against everyone else's.

There's a story--I have no idea if it's true, but it's certainly believable--that Brian Wilson had quit his SMiLE project back in 1967 after hearing The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album. The masterpiece had already been made, he decided. There was no way anyone could come close to such greatness. It took Wilson almost 40 years to finally complete the project. And while it may have lost something in the newer technology, it is nothing short of an Opus, a beautiful composition, a story exquisitely told in music.

My books, and certainly my blog, are no SMiLE, no Sgt. Pepper. I'm not aiming that high. I always strive to write the book I would want to read rather than write the great American novel, whatever that means. I strive to write the blog I would want to read as well. But lately, I don't know what that blog looks like.

How many times have you been down this road with me before, when I've had an identity crisis with my blog? How many of you have been with me from day one, remembering the old incarnations? I've come to this crossroads yet again, and I'm not sure which road to take. Does it even make sense to keep a blog when I can accomplish just as much elsewhere in 140 characters or less (and often be twice as entertaining)? Is this a writer's blog, or a reader's blog? I've even thought about writing pieces of fiction here, but I'm too afraid of piracy and plagiarism.

If any of you have words of advice, ideas, suggestions, or examples, please do share. I really would love for this to be a place you want to visit regularly, someplace you enjoy, where you get a fix, a laugh, a burst of inspiration. I'd love that to be true for me as well. So tell me, what's the blog you want to read?

guest blogger Holly Christine

Today "I'll Have What She's Having" welcomes guest author Holly Christine, who wants to share a couple of her passions: movies, and Robert Downey, Jr.!

Top Five Robert Downey Jr. Movies

With the love of Iron Man 2 in the air, it is only fitting to pay tribute to Robert Downey Jr.’s charm and witty characters. Apart from being a huge Downey fan, the reason why I love Iron Man is because of his ability to change. He transforms his life when he becomes Iron Man, going from man who helps villains to man who fights them. He goes against his business practice for the better good. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had this admirable ability: Going against our financial reasoning and fighting evil, instead of being a part of it. So Iron Man, in all his Robert Downey Jr-ness, dressed in enviable armor can face life, and inspire us to face it too. Here are my top five favorite Downey films of all time:

#5: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

In this comedic murder mystery, Robert Downey Jr. plays Harry Lockhart, a small time criminal on the run from the cops. He finds himself at an acting audition, where he spots his high school crush and gets tangled up in a mind-bending murder mystery. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is screenwriter Shane Black’s (of Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout) directorial debut.

Each role in the movie is stereotyped, each line carefully placed, each turn delicately maneuvered to keep us on our toes. This is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, picking up pieces that you may have missed, appreciating it all the more. Downey’s humor and wit make Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang all the more enticing.

#4: The Soloist

In this thought provoking tear-jerker, Robert Downey Jr. plays Steve Lopez, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. While searching for a story, he finds Nathaniel Ayers, that’s A-Y-E-R-S (played by Jamie Foxx) playing a beat up violin on the street. Ayers, his facial expressions, his fascinating dedication to music and his back-story capture Lopez. While Ayers plays the violin, he sees colors, dancing colors like the Northern Lights, flashing across his mind and it made me think of the fabulously famous Kerouac quote from On the Road... “the only people for me are the mad ones.”

Downey’s role is heartbreaking. He captures the side that all of us have somewhere deep inside our souls: wanting to help, succeeding and failing. The movie is based on the book and true story of Steve Lopez.

#3: Iron Man

What’s not to love about a comic series sent to the big screen? Throw Robert Downey Jr. into the mix and call it a blockbuster hit. Downey plays billionaire Tony Starks and the movie begins with Starks held captive by Middle East terrorists, attempting to force him to create weapons of mass destruction for them. Instead, Starks develops the Iron Man suit and the rest is history.

Downey’s irresistible charm and dedication to character combined with action packed scenes make fans anxious for the big comeback this summer.

#2: Sherlock Holmes

In the behind the scenes of the DVD, Guy Ritchie states that after casting Robert Downey Jr., he realized that there was no other actor who could successfully master his vision of Sherlock Holmes. I think that fans would have to agree. Downey plays Sherlock Holmes, who, with his ever-famous sidekick Watson (Jude Law), takes on a mysterious/just returned from the grave man of black magic.

Holmes is a master of martial arts, a scientist, clever and witty. And shirtless. And tied to a bed by Rachel McAdams. Lovely. Simply lovely.

#1: Wonder Boys

Based on the book by Michael Chabon, Robert Downey Jr. plays relentless editor Terry Crabtree aside Professor and award-winning writer Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas). Tripp is in the process of writing a follow-up to his first novel and finds himself on page 2611, writing a story that will never end. Crabtree is sent to discover how much longer this highly anticipated novel will take and the all-star cast is taken on a pot smoking roller coaster ride of strange events.

The chemistry between Downey and Douglas makes Wonder Boys, without doubt, one of the best films about the writing process.

What is your favorite Robert Downey, Jr. film? Let us know!

Holly Christine is the author of Tuesday Tells it Slant, which is quickly moving up the Amazon Kindle Store rankings. Get your copy -- in print or Kindle form -- today!

tomorrow: guest blogger Holly Christine

Thanks for staying with me during this month of minimal posts. I'm looking forward to June, resuming work on the manuscript full time, enjoying my new car, and perhaps getting a little more travel in.

Summer is at our door, which means summer reading is also here. Do you know someone who hasn't yet read Faking It? Tell them it makes a great beach read! (It's also a good time for you to dig it out and re-read it!)

Meanwhile, stay tuned for tomorrow's post by special guest Holly Christine, author of Tuesday Tells it Slant, Retail Ready, and The Nine Lives of Clemenza. (hint: Robert Downey, Jr. fans will especially enjoy this post!)

And for now, enjoy my Q&A on Closing My Eyes Helps Me to See Clearly.

Re-print: "Preparing to write"

As Sam Seaborn in The West Wing says, "Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright." Alas, I'm not stealing this one (although I should). The credit for this post goes to my dear friend Elspeth Antonelli, mystery author and keeper of the fabulous blog It's a Mystery. She graciously let me re-print her post "Preparing to Write". Thanks, Beth!

Twenty steps for preparing to write:

20. Mentally pat yourself on the back for blocking out time to write.

19. Wonder how difficult it would be to literally pat yourself on the back.

18. Try it.

17. Try it with the other arm.

16. Try it with both arms at the same time.

15. Catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and realize you look like a demented bat.

14. Write a sentence. Caveat: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" does not count.

13. Take a sip of coffee, remembering to keep the liquid well away from the keyboard. You learned your lesson after the Great Spill of '08.

12. Spend a moment deciding who will play the main characters in the movie.

11. Spend a few more moments deciding which role George Clooney will demand to play.

10. Imagine yourself in an achingly trendy LA bistro, meeting George Clooney.

9. Realize before this can happen, you will need to purchase an entire new wardrobe.

8. Tell yourself you are not wasting time, you are firing your imagination.

9. Write another sentence. (see caveat above)

8. Remember you're having spaghetti for dinner and there's no spaghetti in the house.

7. Or tomato sauce.

6. Or salad ingredients.

5. Spend time inventing new curse words or phrases. Write them down.

4. Despite not falling under the boundaries of the caveat above, realize you cannot count these new words as part of your word count.

3. Curse again.

2. Switch your gaze between the keyboard and the screen. If you stare long enough, the words will come.

1. Decide you will write about the adventures of a quick brown dog.

hiatus

Hi friends-

Man, how time flies! When I looked at the date of my last post, I gasped--it couldn't have been that long. I wish I could say that the lapse in time was due to my being fervently immersed (do those two words go together?) in revisions for WILS (more like occasional grumblings), but really it's just the end of the semester, and endless grading sessions. I still have about 120 papers to grade, plus calculate final grades, in one week (and I'll be attending an out-of-state wedding this weekend).

OY!

The university finished much earlier last year, so I miss having the extra time to devote to my writing. Try as I may, I'm just not a multi-tasker. The manuscript just has to wait.

And so, unfortunately, do you.

I'm not going to be posting for at least another 1 to 2 weeks. I hope you'll be waiting for me when I return. In the meantime, here are some cool things:

• Faking It is #4 on the 50 Best Rated Indie Authors in the Kindle Store list of a popular blog devoted to e-readers. I'm thrilled! And although Ordinary World didn't make the cut (although it should have, haha), I'm hoping this translates into an uptick of sales, which have been thankfully steady, although not at the stellar numbers of January and February.

• Of the combined reviews for Faking It (100) and Ordinary World (45), 107 of them are 4- and 5-stars.

Thank you, everyone. I couldn't have achieved this success without you! Please continue to spread the word to your friends and families. Lend your copies, or send them to Lulu.com (see the links to the right!) or Amazon to purchase a print copy. Or, if you can't afford your own Kindle device, the software for Kindle can now be downloaded for free to your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Black Berry, and my books are still dirt cheap, so download yours today!

During my absence, please check out the blogs on my bloglist to keep you entertained. In the meantime, here's a great interview with actor Josh Malina. Enjoy. (Now, if you'll excuse me, a stack of papers is glaring at me...)