J.V. Hilliard

 Interview with J.V. Hilliard

Author of

The Warminster Series

 

Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.

Vorodin’s Lair is the second book in the Warminster series, an epic fantasy tale that combines sword and sorcery, a new fantasy realm and epic battles to sweep readers from the treacherous cliffs of the Dragon’s Breath Mountains to the shores of scholar city of Abacus.

It is a continuation of the story of Daemus Alaric, a low Keeper from the Cathedral of the Watchful Eye, as he and his allies set out to face the menace that threatens their very existence.

Where did you get the idea for this book or series?

Shared experiences from my various Dungeons & Dragons campaigns have always been at the heart of my work. If you are a TTRPGer, I’m sure you get this. Playing D&D with friends and family scattered through several decades really generated a lot of ideas that I could mesh into The Last Keeper, but also allowed me to go off script and away from D&D, creating unique monsters like the Antlered Man.

The D&D modules of the Ravenloft series and The Vault of the Drow were player and DM favorites and inspired many fun nights and memories, including the creation of one of the villains in The Last Keeper, Incanus Dru’Waith.

Do you write in more than one genre?

Not currently, but I am exploring a collaborative piece that may take me into the horror genre. I’ve always been a big vampire and ghost story fan, and this collaboration may include an anthology of stories gathered that come to an end at the same time. It’s a challenging project but one that could introduce me into a new genre.

Tell me about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of attention.

I have always found it interesting that in the fantasy genre, typically no matter how much time passes, the characters end up still using swords and shields and fighting behind castles. There is little to no technological advancement.

In my books, there is a city of scholars known as Abacus, that creates “technology” in very specific ways that affect the plot. It's a bit of me taking my sci-fi fandom and injecting into epic fantasy. It's not overwhelming—subtle in some places to stay true to the fantasy genre, but the weapons and magic that are discovered or invented in Abacus really help at various important inflection points throughout the series.

Is there anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in your writing?

Professionally, I am a federal lobbyist the deals with defense and tech companies on a daily basis. I've learned throughout my career in Washington DC that politics plays a role not only in the development of this new tech but also in day-to-day living, which I tried to sprinkle into the realm of Warminster. I think it helps with the flow of the story if nobility and leaders in Warminster stand out to the reader as believable, and there's a truthfulness to how they interact with one another that mirrors both modern and medieval societies.

 (I couldn't get the cool map to download for insertion here)

What else would be helpful for readers to know about you?

I have been an avid tabletop role playing gamer nearly my entire life, starting at the age of 10. I think that many of my plotlines and characters have been borne out of years of playing Dungeons and Dragons and combining the arcs of characters with the storylines of my novels. I even drop a few “Easter eggs” in my stories for my friends and family to find, including names of their own characters or references to unique campaigns that I've run as a dungeon master or as a player character.

I think borrowing from that game, among others, as well as paying homage to fantasy literature that came before me (like Middle Earth or Westeros) will keep my readers interested but appreciative of the uniqueness of Warminster. I've taken care to make sure that my magic system stands apart from others, the races of the realm are sure to be one of a kind, and I combined a little sci-fi when the plotline calls for it.

Excluding your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more people read? Why?

Recently I just read Frosthelm by Dave Dobson who is a fellow author, and I would recommend his current and future work. Although he has a different style than I do, I appreciate the world building that he's done in some of his characters. Take a look, and judge for yourself.

 (Imagine the cool cover of Vorodin's Lair, Book Two of the series here--which I couldn't get to download).

Which of your books do you most highly recommend? Why?

This is a bit of a cheat, but I only have one book currently available which is The Last Keeper, the first book in the Warminster series. If you want to try something different for shorter reads, visit Altered Reality Magazine online and check out my serial there, the Element of Time. It too is of the fantasy genre but “snack size.”

Which break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your writing career the most?

To be honest, when COVID took hold and much of my work was put on the back burner, I had a lot of spare time on my hands to start writing. It's a moment in time that I will never forget and one that was a silver lining in a very dark period for many. Since that time, I've learned to be a more efficient writer and instead of taking a year to get a book to market, I've got it down to every three or four months. Working on the second release in the summer of 2022 with the third book in this series coming out at the end of 2022.

What question do you wish you would get asked more often?

I think the question I don't get asked often but would like to be asked more is “if you can choose one of your characters to spend one day with who would it be and why?”

I would choose Graytorris the Mad, because even though he looks like a simple “big bad evil guy” in book one, as the series progresses, the reader learns more about his background and history, offering a window into his mind. Why does he do some of the things he does?

As an outside observer looking in, I would love to pick his brain—even though I am technically in his mind as his creator, and ask why he's doing the things he's doing to the realm.

 (This is where the cover of The Trillias Gambit, Book 3 of the Warminster series would've appeared if I could've downloaded it)

Do you have a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?

“From the silent bow, the arrow flies,” is my favorite quote from book one. It is a line from the Ballad of Rillifane's Meander, sung by one of the Longmarchers, and speaks to the magical bow named Silencer that Sir Ritter of Valkeneer carries in the battle. When the bow shoots an arrow, it flies silently, sometimes keeping him hidden from his enemies. And perhaps the bow also gets its moniker from its wielder “silencing” the enemies of the realm.

 ___________________

Thanks to J.V. for participating. 

I've got the first ten chapters of Book 6 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series out to my Skirmish Team for review. Redcoats, dragons, stone cats, magic, and more. Can liberty prevail against such implacable foes?

Book 2 in the series, Power to Hurt, is available for two days only: May 16 and 17 for only 99 cents.  

Book 1, Threading the Rude Eye, is still at 99 cents. 

 

All three books in the first trilogy are available for only $0.99 cents each for a limited time.

This is America -- with dragons, and magic, and monsters!

Here are links to each:

Threading the Rude Eye -- Available as an ebook and in paperback.

Power to Hurt -- Available as an ebook and in paperback.

Clamorous Harbingers--Available as an ebook - and coming soon in paperback.

First this: The best baseball movie ever made is--and there can be no argument about this as the film is very nearly a religious experience; the angels don't quite sing but they do play instruments (and I'm not talking about the Willie Nelson number that seemed particularly appropriate)--

The Rookie, staring Dennis Quaid. Every man should watch it at least every five years as a reminder to chase those dreams. Of course, women might enjoy it too. Quaid is perfect in the role of Jim Morris.

A reader this week said about reading Power to Hurt, "I finally understand those one things, but I don't know what they are." -- High praise indeed. She was referring to the gryphons. Apparently she had confounded the gryphons and their riders, not realizing that they were two separate species. Speaking of Power to Hurt (which I know I do often, perhaps too often) my author copies arrove arrived this week. They are, of course, beautiful. The fire-orange color reminded me of how I described the voice of one of the women in Smoke, another of my books. I read some of the latter work while making a few corrections pointed out by the gentleman I mentioned a couple weeks ago. I easily slip back into that book after reading only a small bit and have difficulty prying myself away to to take care of the tasks to which I must attend. It's certainly an enjoyable journey which beckons me with soft, sweet whispers and subtly flirtatious glances whenever I skim the pages.

I finished one book and started another this week--that's reading, not writing. This is the book I started:

I'm only to chapter 7 -- the 20% mark -- and I'm enjoying it immensely. I've never before read anything by Will Wight and I'm pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing and of the story. The writing doesn't call attention to itself (which I think is a good thing) and tells an intriguing story so far. Last month or the month before, Will Wight made a significant number of his kindle books available for free and I availed myself of the opportunity to get every one of them at that price. I hope they all prove to be as enjoyable as this one is so far. I should post a review when I finish.

I finished this book:

I also got this book for free. I found it a refreshing bit of space opera, a genre I've not touched in a few years. I like the author's style. He knows how to tell a good story. I would fault the book for the cliche of a woman in every port and the infrequent vulgar word. Otherwise, I thought it was good, better than most. While the characters didn't stand out as new and original (if that's even possible anymore), the author crafted them in a believable and fun manner that invited me to continue reading. That is something that many of the books I've picked up recently no longer do. The writer is a Vietnam war vet and this book, published in the 90's, emits the not-so-faint fragrance of Vietnam. I would give it a solid 4 stars out of 5.

Finally, what I have been writing are rules to my own skirmish game. I haven't named them yet but I believe they work for anything in the age of muskets and I'm confident they'll work for more modern weapons as well. I plan to use them with some Barsoom adventures. I first tested them with the rescue from the hangman's noose scenario that I had made for some rules which I had purchased. After playing that scenario with my new rules, I had made a few adjustments and played a scenario I'm calling "Encounter at the Docks" (that's the watery rather than the medical for those of you not tipped off by the spelling). I played it a couple times over the week and found it to be terrific--simple yet with more interesting possibilities than I found in most other skirmish rules. I should have done an AAR, but didn't take any pictures. I will another time. Note: I did not paint that figure pictured above. It is from the Redoubt Miniatures website. I, of course, did not need to note that fact as the the figure is in fact quite well painted--unlike my own slipshod workmanship.

A gentleman this week did me a favor. Actually, I don't mean that he's only a gentleman this week; he's probably always a gentleman. It was this week that he did me the favor. I encountered him upon another site which I frequent and suggested that he read my slightly silly noir detective novel, Smoke. I made the ebook available for free on special for two days so he could get his copy. The gentleman purchased the paperback instead; he sent me some thoughts and noted a number of minor typographical errors that could use correction. (It seems that I left out several question marks and a couple words--I will correct those errors and republish both the ebook and the paperback before the end of the month). I wasn't able to rescind the special free book deal. I did no advertising of the sale and gave away over 500 books in that 2 day period. That's a new record for me. Now if only those good people who were interested enough to get the book for free will read it and post a nice review--and buy my other books.

Speaking of my other books...I did get Power to Hurt up in paperback this week. Here's the link:

GET THIS BOOK AND THE PREQUEL FOR ONLY $0.99 EACH

It does have one review from someone who has also read the first book. The review summary: They like it. The embellished version: They will live a tormented half-life until they can get their new fantasy fix with the next book in the series. Of course, I'm reading between the lines a little.

I'm considering an audio book of the first book in the series. I need to look into the matter further before I can make a decision. Who would get the audio book?

***
On a completely different note, instead of mocking something I found on the internet this week, let me present something I found back in 2016 when I was looking for motorcycle gloves. Don't ask me why a motorcycle needs gloves. I don't think I got the pair described in this screenshot:

I hoped the quantity referred to 1 pair as opposed to a single glove. Although I was impressed by the "taking into account aesthetics and security" language, I was concerned that the "attached hand is not easy sliding." I wasn't sure whose hand was attached. If it wasn't easy sliding, it could obstruct my grip and I'm not sure that the "hand-dimension drop resistance protective hard shell" would be that useful in the resulting crash. Too many not easy sliding hands on the throttle are a recipe for road burn in my opinion. 

The rest of the description left me  confused. However, the poetry at the end very nearly pushed me to make the purchase: "Fingers type version with a rare song refers to the design, so that gloves fit perfectly with his hands more, feel manipulated hundred percent."

Who doesn't like to feel manipulated hundred percent? If only I knew what the rare song was, I might have been a buyer. "Flirting with Disaster" would concern me. "Easy Rider" or "Born to Be Wild" would interest me. The fact that the song was rare led me to believe it would be something that I had't heard before. Such a tune could refer to riding clouds or eating asphalt. I couldn't take the chance on the latter--or the gloves.

Some days the writing flows smoothly like yarn passing through deft knitting needles; other days the experience is more akin to stapling down strips of cloth; and at other times it's like throwing globs of cooked spaghetti noodles at a sheet of paper stapled to a cat chasing a ball of rolling yarn. Each of those days are worthwhile, but some are more productive than others.

As you can see from this link here, my newest book is live at the big river site. And the first book in the series is FREE.

Here's the link to the FREE BOOK. -- for only 4 more days.

Here's the link to the SUPER LOW-PRICED SEQUEL -- only $0.99.

I really like this book. I enjoyed writing the sequel even more than writing the first book in the series. The final five chapters are worth the rest of the book (which is pretty exciting anyway). I would rather read this book than use baby chicks in place golf balls on the driving range. If that's not compassion for animals and a fine show of humanitarianism, I don't know what is. I like the cover even better than the cover of the first book--probably because the flames look a little bit like a dragon, which is entirely apropos.

As with the first book, Threading the Rude Eye, the title to Power to Hurt comes from something Shakespeare wrote. The reference is in the Author's Foreword. The first book shows today ranked at #15 in the alternate history category. Magic, Flintlocks, Dragons -- What's not to like?

***

Speaking of things that I may or may not like, there's this:

These have creamy peanut butter centers with the sweet succulent deliciousness of diced unicorn heart. As for the granola coating, it gets a firm "meh" from me as I like the rolled oats but something else in he mix gives it the texture and taste of gravel shards in syrup. Maybe I can make my own using just peanut butter and oats.

Instead of contemplating the taste of unicorn hearts and feeling disgusted that anyone would consider putting baby chicks to such an ill use, go read the sample pages from the two books above. You'll kick yourself if you miss this opportunity.

A couple things came up during the week--three if you count the terrific storm with thunderbolts and lightning which was very, very frightening, and which prevented me from finishing the great mowing for the week.

The first two things didn't really come up; I stumbled across them. As for the first one, I've already changed my mind about linking and discussing it. The other was a guy talking about music. I've also included a book description for your consideration and comment.

Here's an old guy with some musical expertise talking about, playing along with, and explaining how a song was made and why it sounds the way it does. The video takes some time but I enjoyed to watch someone who obviously loves the subject matter give an explanation for all the things that I heard when I listened to the song (and many I didn't quite hear but about which I had more than a feeling) but did not understand and appreciate. Now I understand why the sound on this song is what I have always described in my rich musical vocabulary and wondrous skill in weaving words as "full."

On a completely different subject:

I submit for your consideration, a book description and a cover for the sequel to Threading the Rude Eye. The book description is missing something in my opinion. I can't decide whether it is too much or too little, or too boring, to spark a reader's interest. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Post a comment or send an email.

Cover and draft of the book description for Power to Hurt:

Alex flees from the dark commander after the vicious battle with the young dragons, but his dragon-hunting friends question whether he can remain in their company. Cat, the wild Irish maid and leader of the hunters, must face some difficult questions concerning her relationship with Alex. The French patriot Lucette fights for a place among the gryphons, risking dangers no less destructive than the cannon's mouth. The mysterious power of Jonathan's hand may not avail her against gravity and gryphon's claws. Lieutenant Roberts goes undercover and enlists the aid of Lucette's countrymen against her. With the commander closing in upon his prey, the diminutive Iago and the strange islander Atu evaluate their loyalties, taking action with important consequences for Alex and for the future of the New World. While Alex continues to grow in his mastery of the essence, the smugglers Rip and Antonio accept a secret mission across the sea. The smugglers will have to find a ship before they can set sail against the might of two empires. The Japanese entrepreneur Akira and Near Eastern merchant Akram must consider whether their temporary union should be prolonged and expanded in order to increase their chances of taking a mature dragon. Bitter surprises await them all. A fiery rendezvous at Black Moon with the lives of his friends at stake will force Alex to confront the power to hurt before he can stand against the fury of the commander.

Cover Reveal

The first draft - which is very nearly a final draft - of Power to Hurt is complete. Additionally, I'm down to a mere 100 pages left of the proof/edit before formatting for kindle and paperback. At least one of my readers has already rattled my chain, demanding to know when this sequel to Threading the Rude Eye will be available. I believe that I might have it available on kindle in about two weeks with the paperback ready another two weeks after that. The story moves along at a good pace without bogging down. While there is a good deal of conversation--as I find that a critical element in character development--the frequent action requires great swaths of writing, chapters even, with little conversation. As one might expect, I like some parts of the story better than others. In looking through the folder where I keep the novel, I noticed something that I had not realized previously: There are many other items in the folder. Most of those items are for research associated with the story. I hadn't realized that I had amassed such a collection of resources. In addition to this cover for the book:

the folder also contains:
A 1695 plan of Albany, New York; a 1770 map of Albany and its environs; an 1876 map/guide to the New York wilderness; an essay on castrametation; a book of the letters of Capt. William Glanville Evelyn; a drill manual for the 10th Regiment; an article from Villanova University on the Hudson River defenses and West Point; a pamphlet on the Hudson River Valley during the Revolutionary War; Pope's translation of Homer's Iliad; the 1764 Manual of Exercise; A book entitled Practical Remarks upon the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures with an appendix on military camps and hospitals principally designed for the use of young military surgeons in North America from 1775; some notes on the procedure for weighing anchor on a sailing ship; some early chapter pdf files that I sent to some readers; the outline for the book as originally envisioned; and an excel file that I use to keep notes on the characters. I think the only sources that actually provided information that can be identified in the book are Pope's translation of the Iliad, and the 1764 Manual of Exercise--and that may not even be the correct name for the manual. Most of the resources were for my own edification.

There are also a couple things in the folder which are unrelated to the book, including a copy of Thucydides History of the Pelopennesian War and The Books of The Apocrypha, as well as a book from another author that I'm reading and commenting upon to the author for whatever value my comments might have for him. These items will eventually be removed to more appropriate places, but for now they're temporarily stored with all things related to Power to Hurt -- and that doesn't even include the numerous web pages of information that I've consulted while writing the book.

The cover above was, of course, designed and created by me using an online cover creator. I've looked at a lot of covers for purchase but haven't found any that are fitting for my flintlock fantasy series. Therefore, the third book in the series, as of yet untitled, will probably feature a similar flaming cover for the sake of consistency.

Ninety minutes of misery

that's how I had determined to classify the concert as the first half wound down to the intermission. My wife tried to persuade my daughter to leave at that point, but daughter wanted to see more David Archuleta. He only did one number during the first half and she knew that he would be doing at least one more song. So we didn't slip away like thieves in the night. That was probably for the best as the second half showed some improvement--in fact, it would have been a nice concert if it had consisted of only the second half. Actually, there was a piano solo that I believe came before the intermission which I thought was great--the piano solo, I mean, not the intermission.

I received some free tickets to a concert (a food donation was required). The concert featured Marie Osmond, David Achuleta, and Alex Boye -- that's all I knew about it. I left the decision about going to wife and daughter. Daughter decided she wanted to go--so we did.

Before I reveal what a horrible person I am by sharing the details about the concert that made it subjectively unpleasant for me, let me say that in addition to the piano solo, there were a few other bright spots, and I think that many of those in attendance enjoyed it in its entirety, or were at least enthusiastic about the show. I'll cover discuss those bright spots at the end.

Seating: My tickets were general admission. Two staff members, young men (late teens or early twenties), responded to my question about where we were allowed to sit with an answer that led me to believe that only the front portion of the floor seating was reserved. I suggested some seats in the back that looked directly forward to the stage. Daughter chose a nice seat on the side that gave her a view of the stage--then we had to move when folks started arriving with reserved seats in that section. I spoke with another staff member. She told me I could sit anywhere in the gray areas. I told her that didn't help me (the reason being that although certain seating sections were marked in gray on her map, the actual seat sections was not marked in gray). She explained that the general admission seating began at section A6. I noted that no one was sitting in that section. I selected seats just beyond A6 that would allow us to watch without turning our heads to the side the entire time. Then my wife saw some seats remaining in the section in which I had first suggested we sit. So we moved again.

The seats were decent. I think some signage or perhaps some staffers who both knew what the seating arrangements were supposed to be and who were equipped to explain that would have been helpful.

Sonic sewage sound system and The Lights of Zetar:

I don't go to many concerts--by which I mean that I don't go to any concerts other than high school choir concerts, and then only when I have to. So maybe I'm not qualified to judge sound systems outside of our local high school (which has really great sound). If I were qualified to judge, I would rate the sound system from this concert as very poor with a frequent distortion and some buzzing--I suspect that most artists wouldn't consider that as an enhancement to their performance. Additionally, many of the lights on the stage would sometimes sweep the audience. I'm pretty sure that was by design. The maneuver did not double my pleasure. At least one of those lights would regularly strike me right in the eyes, momentarily blinding me and leaving me to wonder if aliens were trying to take over my soul.

Crazy clapping choir: The backup choir of a hundred (or fewer) women and girls (maybe there were men too, but I didn't notice any) sounded nice and did not lack for enthusiasm. They liked to raise their arms and clap their hands above their heads. I didn't see the need for that clapping most of the time. They also did a lot of swaying back and forth and raising they hands into the air and looking at them as though they were having their first experience with some mind altering substance. Such activity could be regularly accepted procedure in some religious services but I found it rather disconcerting (disconcerting--yeah, I went there).

The mystifying music: I must say that I had not realized beforehand that the concert was intended to be a religious experience. That proposition did not put me off. I had very high hopes; given the headliners who were doing the show, my expectations groveled not. Therefore, when the arrow of disappointment struck, it struck to the bone (cue the Golden Earring song). Most of the music was performed by Nashville Tribute Band. I had seen these guys on PBS once and had watched for a few minutes before determining that their sound wasn't for me. I'm confident that thousands love them and their music--that's great for them. I'm not a fan. The music was mystifying in the sense that most of it was utterly bewildering or perplexing. I respect people who enjoy that music but for me there was too much demented drumming and vociferous vocals. I saw it as a clash of country and strange rock music in battle for scriptural supremacy. I recognized and enjoyed two vocal selections from the entire concert.

One example I would point to was a song with vocals performed by Daniel Emmet (who I thought was quite good and I would have liked to have heard more from him without the band and sound system interference) and a woman whose name I forget. The song began so sweetly and I was confident that this would be one that I would really enjoy with two nice voices singing in harmony (at one point it made me think of "Endless Love"). Unfortunately, the longer the song went on, the more raucous it became. By the end the music had gone full Ozzy Osbourne off the rails on the crazy train with overpowering drums, words I couldn't make out, and red and black background on the big screen--that's not exactly the direction I'm looking to go for a religious experience.

Wacky woo-hoo lady: At least one person at the concert was having a marvelous time. She sat a row or two behind and to my right. She possessed the enthusiasm that artists love but which the audience about her hates. It must have been a transcendent encounter for her because she was moved all too frequently to articulate praise by screaming, "Woo-hoo!" Occasionally the experience became so overwhelming for her as to rob her of half her eloquence, rendering her capable of screaming only, "Woo!" It's absolutely fabulous that she had a great time. What wasn't fabulous was that her screams fit tightly into that bandwidth of sound which forms an ice pick stabbing against my inner ear. She transformed what was a strange, eerie, even slightly creepy experience into absolute torture for me. Think before you scream--I think that should be a rule; maybe even complete a puzzle and solve some trig and calculus problems, take a walk in the park and grab a bus across town before screaming.

The praiseworthy: On the one hand it was all worthy of praise for the effort expended in an attempt to accomplish something good and uplifting--so that's an "A" for effort. Thousands of pounds of food were also donated for the food bank. Praise for actual accomplishment goes to Marie Osmond. Her solo of "How Great Thou Art" was the best part of the performance in my opinion. The sound system even cooperated. She sounded wonderful. There were no drums, no wild music, no woo-hoos, just the pleasing strains of her voice in a hymn of praise. She was the phial of Galadriel in Shelob's lair. David Archuleta's second half performance of "Glorious" also illuminated the darkness with wondrous flair--flare with flair. Daughter's favorite was Archuleta's lead during the final number of the concert. I put it up there with the piano solo.

***
After the concert, I expected to finish writing Power to Hurt but I saw that Forbidden Planet was on television. I needed to watch it as a follow up to reading Shakespeare's "The Tempest." So the novel will reach the first stage of completion later this week. Then editing can begin. The cover is already done. I'll post it soon.

Have you had an interesting concert experience?

Bond and Thor - because girl power

Every time word of a movie remake with a gender swapped lead appears, the articles praising it sprout like noxious weeds. The latest word concerns the upcoming entries in the Bond and Thor franchises.

This article explains that gender swap remakes have fared poorly in the past.

Some claim the continuing cavalcade of lame gender swap remakes is a sign of progress. Others say it's an indication that women aren't capable of carrying their own original movies and can only climb aboard franchises already made successful with male stars. See this article. Of course they're both wrong. It's only a sign of progress if "progress" is defined as failure to learn and insistence upon a false narrative. It's like claiming that communism just hasn't been implemented correctly yet, and it's going to succeed beyond our wildest dreams if we just get the right people in charge (meaning those who want to be in charge this time). As for the other claim, I believe women are perfectly capable of carrying a movie. This article even claims that movies starring women make more money than movies starring men. There is some fine print to read about what "starring women" means in the context of the study--because it doesn't mean what you think it means. I'm not going to argue with how the study defined "starring women" but it may be like "teen pregnancy" which drops off significantly after age 25 because the studies decided that "teen pregnancy" would be defined as pregnancy up to age 25. So without arguing, I'll agree that a female star can successfully carry a movie or a franchise with original stories. Of course, it all depends on the story, the script, the acting, and the directing.

Notwithstanding the fact that female stars can carry a movie or franchise, I'm of the opinion that most of us tend to get attached to the characters (and actors) in stories and roles that we love. We don't want to see them significantly altered. Although J.J. Abrams may have made many errors with his Star Trek reboots, he didn't try to makeover (bad pun intended) Kirk and Spock as women, or Uhura as a man. Anyone who wants to see through a glass darkly how badly that could've turned out need only watch a few episodes of Voyager--but I digress. Box office bucks don't seem to be the reason for such switcheroos because those movies are not box office successes. Is it possible that the reason is simply an expensive attempt to destroy something whose success is based upon (obviously and always toxic) masculinity? Or is it simply a political maneuver to raise awareness, to elevate the "woke" quotient? While it may well be the latter, it seems that the former may be the actual result. The wreckage leaves a pretty clear trail: Last Jedi, Ghostbusters, Ocean's 8, whatever that thing was/is with Rebel Wilson and Ann Hathaway, Overboard, etc. Replace the male leads with females and destroy the subject. (I'm aware that Last Jedi doesn't really fit this category. Rey was great, in my opinion, but the feminist/SJW freight train that drove through the middle of LJ left no survivors of interest for me in that franchise--so I admit including LJ in this list is sloppy on my part, but I'm entitled to rant outside the lines).

Also of interest is the fact that the gender swap tends to run in but a single direction. Until we see a Wonder Woman remake with a male lead...and I have no interest in seeing that either. Leave Wonder Woman as she is. I see no reason we can't enjoy The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. (Those of you under 40 may have to google those). She does not have to replace him to be successful and it's moronic to think that she does, or that she can effectively do so, and vice versa.

As for Bond and Thor... I suppose it could have been worse, they could have tried to give Bond a man-bun.

***

As for my work in progress, Power to Hurt (which no one will want to read after taking offense at the little rant above), I should finish the actual writing this week. That means 5K words or less should wrap it up. It's currently at 86K words and 90K is the new target for completion, but it may go as high as 95K.

Let me first note that in the Spirit of 1776, I've completed 76K words on Power to Hurt, and I'm offering FREE pdf copies of the first book in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series Threading the Rude Eye. Contact me through the comments and give me your email address to receive your free copy. This offer is good for a limited time. I hope to give away a hundred free copies before Power to Hurt is ready for purchase.

Independence Day marched in again to the sound of trumpets, drums, fireworks, fanfare, and whining. It's the latter that I'll address somewhere below. As for me and my house, we attended the veteran's march in our community. The A-10s roared over at the conclusion (or about fifteen minutes after the conclusion) for the fleeting pleasure of the happy, patriotic throng. Following the Wart hog fly-by, I had to go home to attend to a problem of no small significant. Fortunately, much like the song says, I got by with a little help from my friends--one friend in particular. Catastrophe slunk away in shame at having been averted stumbled to the curtain like an emaciated model wearing more heel than her frail limbs can manage making a retreat from the catwalk. I'm not looking forward to a return visit. All that and I still smoked pork ribs and steak for the celebratory dinner with family--and also wrote a few hundred words on Power to Hurt; I would've written more but the averting of the catastrophe swallowed part of the writing time. The only unfortunate bit of the holiday was the lack of cherry pie. As for lighting fireworks, I recommend the propane torch as the never-fail answer when matches are cheap and the breeze is brisk.

***

One whining incident of which I became aware concerned a tweet or other social media flatulence featuring a quote from Frederick Douglass. Others responded that that quote was taken out of context, etc. I've read the speech before, but it has been some years. I took the opportunity to read it again. 

Here's a link to the speech and I've included some portions here which I believe fairly represent the general tone and point of the speech.


Frederick Douglass' July 4, 1852, Speech


"This, for the purpose of this celebration, is the 4th of July. It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom. This, to you, is what the Passover was to the emancipated people of God. It carries your minds back to the day, and to the act of your great deliverance; and to the signs, and to the wonders, associated with that act, and that day."
...

"Pride and patriotism, not less than gratitude, prompt you to celebrate and to hold it in perpetual remembrance. I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ring-bolt to the chain of your nation’s destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost.

From the round top of your ship of state, dark and threatening clouds may be seen. Heavy billows, like mountains in the distance, disclose to the leeward huge forms of flinty rocks! That bolt drawn, that chain broken, and all is lost. Cling to this day — cling to it, and to its principles, with the grasp of a storm-tossed mariner to a spar at midnight."

...

"Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? and am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?"

...

"What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour."

...

"Fellow-citizens! there is no matter in respect to which, the people of the North have allowed themselves to be so ruinously imposed upon, as that of the pro-slavery character of the Constitution. In that instrument I hold there is neither warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing; but, interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? It is neither. While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it."

...

"Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. “The arm of the Lord is not shortened,” and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from the Declaration of Independence, the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age. "

Douglass' speech came, of course, prior to the Civil War (and before Lincoln's Gettysburg Address)  when hundreds of thousands of Americans went to war beneath the star spangled banner for the very purpose of holding the union together on a basis which extended the principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Those lives spent in dedication to the proposition that all men are created equal consecrated and hallowed this nation and its founding principles far beyond the power and whining of those with little understanding or appreciation to detract from that sacrifice of the last full measure of devotion. 

I must wonder: Does the blood of patriots yet hold this nation together? Although the principles in the Declaration of Independence remain hallowed beyond detraction, if those principles are not taught in union with the history of the sacrifices in blood and treasure that were required to give the principles substance and effect, the ignorant will reign, the machinery created to empower the principles will be subverted, and the people will morn until the tree of liberty is nourished yet again.

***
Finally, I seriously enjoyed writing on Power to Hurt this week with scenes of combat and carnage among ancient ruins and the first appearance in the series of my unique and fully armed and operational battle station matured fire-breathing dragon. I love it when a plan comes together. Honestly, the plan has been changing regularly--but it's only getting better.