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Sunday, September 16, 2012

THE MAGIC OF FRIENDSHIP_Genre Favorites Blogfest








Genre Favorites Blogfest, September 17, 2012

One blogfest, four favorites!

List your favorite genre of:

Movie

Music

Books

And a guilty pleasure genre from any of the three categories!

“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”
― Bob Marley

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
― Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 1: 1931-1934

“The magic in this world seems
to work in whispers and small kindnesses.”
― Charles de Lint

What do those quotes have to do with Alex Cavanaugh’s Genre Blogfest?

http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Everything.

In mulling over my favorite genres in movies and books, I looked at the autographed movie posters lining my walls and realized

they had something in common although most would say they came from different genres:

FRIENDSHIP/MAGIC.

And that unique genre is reflected in my choice of favorite ...

MOVIE:

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING -

Friendship was a theme of The Lord of the Rings and was something that Tolkien was very influenced by.

The answer to the riddle, 'Speak Friend and Enter' to open the gates of Moria was "Mellon", which is elvish for friend.

MUSIC:

SOUNDTRACKS such as Howard Shore’s work on LOTR: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING or John Williams’ work on the Harry Potter movies (the friendship between the 3 young students made the movies for me.)

Then, there is James Horner’s work on THE WRATH OF KHAN – action and the friendship between Spock and Kirk and Bones.

BOOKS:

DUMA KEY

Yes, it has horror but what brings me back again and again to King’s book is the friendship and banter between Edgar Freemantle and Jerome Wireman. “When it comes to memory, we always stack the deck – that’s what Wireman says.”

GUILTY PLEASURE:

DOG SOLDIERS -

A routine military exercise turns into a nightmare in the Scotland wilderness.

What began as what they thought was a training mission turns into a battle for their lives against the most unlikely enemies they would have expected - werewolves.

Yes, it is supernatural, but it is the friendship between the outmatched soldiers that brings me back to this movie over and over again.

NOTE FOR DUMA KEY FANS:

Perse: the evil force manifested on Duma Key -

full name, Persephone and her description and place are all generally influenced and taken from the Greek Goddess Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld

(although, like many of King's entities, she is also decidedly Lovecraftian). Perse's ghost ship (The Persephone) resembles the Caleuche, a ghost ship from Chilote legends.

NOTE TO THOSE WONDERING ABOUT BEST OF ENEMIES COVER:

END OF DAYS started out as BEST OF ENEMIES,

a tale of Ragnarok averted by seven young girls –

starting out first as enemies then growing into friends who will give up their lives for one another … and the world.

I received so much hate email over the cover, I changed both the cover and the title.

41 comments:

  1. Roland, I like that friendship is important to you. I keep writing sentences and then erasing them because I just am not communicating well, but friendship is one of those bonds between people that, when it's real, surpasses many other types of relationships. By the (not so) way, did you hear about Harper Collins Voyager accepting unagented manuscripts and that self-published stories can be submitted? If you haven't, and want to know more, let me know and I'll give you the link. Have a great weekend. :)

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  2. Lara:
    You never have to erase a sentence for me. I want to hear what you have to say! :-)

    THE BLUE GIRL by Charles de Lint is also another favorite because of the friendship between the poles-apart high school girls.

    I hadn't heard about Harper Collins Voyager accepting unagented and self-published novels. I might submit THE LEGEND OF VICTOR STANDISH. Since they publish Neil Gaiman, I would love to be published by them. Ah, what a dreamer I am! Please send me the link.

    You, also, have a great Sunday! Roland :-)

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  3. Hi Roland. You're keen. Australia is nearly a day ahead of the US and it's only Sunday evening here. I'm about to go out for a lovely Thai meal.
    I enjoyed reading your choices.
    I'll restrain myself until tomorrow afternoon AEST.

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  4. Friendship is an excellent choice for genre. Without it what do we have?

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  5. I totally agree with all of the above, Roland.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. I need to go Kindle shopping again. The question is though, "how many books can I possibly squeeze into that flat little thing before it explodes?"

    Peace to you and hugs.
    Shelly

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  6. Friendship is an excellent choice. Shame you got flack for that cover, because it's still cool.
    Thanks for participating in the blogfest!

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  7. Didn't know you got email about that cover. But I can imagine where it came from - those who would censure everything we read.
    Makes me nervous with an election coming up in the US.

    Looking forward to Alex's blogfest on Monday, my post is ready but scheduled for later in the evening.
    You can see my picks for genre faves then, early birdie.

    Drive carefully while you're crafting those stories in your head and working at night.

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  8. Denise:
    I am slated to start work as rare blood courier early Monday so I wanted to post for Alex's blogfest when I had time to put my all in it. I don't completely trust Blogger scheduling mechanism! :-)

    Suzanne:
    I feel like you. All the romances in my novels begin with friendship first. Friedrich Nietzsche, of all people, wrote:

    “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.”

    Shelly:
    I was stunned by the photos you had on your blog of the Dali Museum you visited. But $21 for the entrance fee? Ouch.

    I am amazed at how many books my old Kindle and my Kindle Fire can hold. Maybe all the characters from the different books you have downloaded play poker together or enjoy the music in Meilori's while you are absent! :-)

    May this first of the Days of Awe treat you well.

    Alex:
    Helen Keller wrote:

    “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.”

    To me the dark is not quite so black if you have but one friend to share it with.

    That cover was so beautiful that I put it inside END OF DAYS as an interior illustrations. In fact, there are 13 interior illustrations inside END OF DAYS.

    Great success with your latest blogfest!

    D.G.:
    Whoo! Yes, I got the hate email. Sometimes people get caught up so much in their own take on the world that they feel their take is the only one there is.

    I believe the founding fathers so crafted our nation that, up until recently, no one administration of President or Congress could destroy our country.

    Sadly, technology has so advanced that I feel irreversible harm can now by done to our country within four years by Congress or the President.

    My times are in the hand of The Father, and I try to find peace by thinking of our situation that way.

    I look forward to seeing your picks as favorite genres in book, music, and movies. Victor and Alice both urge me to be careful as I drive since I have separated them again in 3 SPIRIT KNIGHT -- they want to be reunited! :-) Roland

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  9. Hey Roland...I didn't know about this blogfest, so thanks for this post. I think I'll participate. Friendship is very important..I love the quotes you used! The Bob Marley one is one of my favourites! Have a great Sunday!

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  10. Eve:
    I'm happy me being an early bird alerted you to a fun blogfest. I look forward to seeing what you post! Yes, that Bob Marley quote is one of my favorites, too. Roland

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  11. love your genre choice description!
    duma key was awesome!
    all those references and the friendship. great, and a little different than previous king. refreshing!

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  12. Oh no! I completely zapped on this blogfest! I need to check out if I still have time to sign up...

    Friendship, absolutely! Great choice and I love the Bob Marley quote.(:

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  13. And I don't understand why you got so much hate mail for your cover. I like it.

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  14. Tara:
    DUMA KEY is my favorite Stephen King book. I was really pleased to be able to get an autographed copy of it. The sections on how to draw or paint were so spot-on for how to write as well. And the friendship made me feel the better for having read of it. :-)

    Elise:
    You have enough time to sign up for Alex's blogfest -- one of the happier aspects of me posting early.

    Friendship is one of the cornerstones of my novels ... and my life.

    Many felt the cover to BEST OF ENEMIES was sexist and reeking of bondage and lesbian under-and-overtones.

    I did not see that in the cover. I included it in the interior illustrations. END OF DAYS should be bought just to appreciate those images! Thanks for having my back, Roland

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  15. Glad you liked Duma Key. The backstory on Peerse was intriguing.

    I have that Howard Shore CD and listen to it often at work to drown out the drama :)

    ......dhole

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  16. “The magic in this world seems
    to work in whispers and small kindnesses.”
    ― Charles de Lint

    Thanks for that quote, Roland, and have a great friendship-filled Monday.

    Ps. Cheers for the info on Duma Key... now if only I could figure out "The Dome." :)

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  17. Love your choices based on Friendship Roland. Have not seen Dog days since I am not a big fan of war movies, but I might just check this one out.

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  18. Love your choices based on Friendship Roland. Have not seen Dog days since I am not a big fan of war movies, but I might just check this one out.

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  19. Oh what a brilliant theme. We don't get anywhere in life alone :)

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  20. I like the cover, I really cannot see anything wrong with the girls showing their intimacy in such a light way.
    A lot of girls show this type of affection without putting a label on it. I cannot understand why you received so much hate mail?

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  21. Donna:
    I imagine that with social services there is a lot of drama going on each minute. I'm happy you liked the background on Perse of DUMA KEY. :-)

    Mark:
    I started THE DOME and never finished. I started his time travel novel and never finished. DUMA KEY spoiled me. May your Monday hold all the special things you treasure, Roland

    Siv:
    I am not a fan of war movies either. This was a supernatual war movie, stressing friendship so it appealed to me. I hope you like it.

    Anna:
    No, we don't, do we? Have a great new week, Roland

    C.M.:
    Folks are strange sometimes. The image is taken from a scene in the novel where the High Queen of the Sidhe is trying to shame two of the young girls -- they simply flip the situation on its ear and mock the High Queen.

    I may use the cover and title for a second novel told through the eyes of the ghoul, Alice Wentworth -- that is if I can ever battle my way through THREE SPIRIT KNIGHT! Thanks for the support, Roland

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  22. okay.. you are the coolest. i say this cause you referenced wrath of khan... have you heard the expanded score that recently got released. second if you listen to horner's work you can hear he stole much of it from... crap i will get back to you on that, i cannot remember.

    Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
    Howlin' Wolf Records: On-Line Magazine

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  23. I just bought End of Days - and I would not have complained one bit about the original cover one bit (though I like the current one too). And best of enemies is a GREAT title.

    One of my favorite things from the Rings trilogy is the friendship between Samwise and Frodo - that look they give each other when Sam steps into the doorway as Frodo recovers...*sigh* it gives me chills and makes me cry at the same time.

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  24. Friendship is EVERYTHING.

    I find it shocking you received hate mail over the title and cover of Best of Friends. Very sad.

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  25. Jeremy:
    You won the Scarlet Johansson autograph -- please send me your mailing address! Yes, I have watched WRATH OF KHAN so much I can almost quote it from memory!

    James Horner steals from himself! LOL. If you listen to AVATAR, you expect the music to morph into the soundtrack for WRATH OF KHAN. And his soundtrack for ALIENS is swiped for countless trailers! I did love his music for TITANIC.

    Nicki:
    Alice Wentworth just blew you a kiss for buying END OF DAYS. I hope you enjoy it. It was going to be my swan song since the hate email about the cover had hurt so.

    Now, I may write another "Alice" novel, using the cover and title. I like the title, too. :-)

    Yes, the friendship between Sam and Frodo is the linch pin of the movies for me, too.

    You buying END OF DAYS has made my day!

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  26. Ellie:
    Like you, I feel friends are the only true wealth we have in this world and the only treasure we can hope to find waiting for us in the next one. Yes, the hate email jarred me, too. Thanks for understanding. :-)

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  27. Hi, Roland,
    I fear I won't be able to leave a comment. I've been having a heck of a time doing anything on blogger today.

    By your choices, I can see you're big on friendship and that's wonderful. Love the quotes you used and particularly that one by Marley.
    So true.

    Can't understand why people would give you such a hard time over a book cover, but I also understand why you would change it.

    Have a great day!

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  28. Hi Roland, I knew to expect a unique take from you on this blogest and you didn't disappoint. ;-) How interesting to find a common theme underlying your favorite genres. A very important theme.

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  29. I am SO NOT surprised for your choices and why.

    Friendship is so important. I know that is one thing I look for in books and movies ... the chemistry between characters and their friendships/relationships.

    Great choices Roland.

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  30. Interesting choices, exceptional quotes and I love your theme of friendship.

    A shame you got 'hate mail' over anything. It's a shame people have to hate.

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  31. I wonder if DOG SOLDIERS is on Netflix?

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  32. Censorship is a subject which starts a good conversation every time. Taste is subjective, and should be geared to your audience.

    Stopping by during the genre blogfest. Your choices do not surprise me. Your empathy is evident in your posts.

    Discussion of a cover is a good thing. An easy sampling.

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  33. The Fellowship was my favourite of the trilogy. They did such a good job of those films!

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  34. I really love that you based your choices on friendship. I honestly think that's what made the Harry Potter books so loved. It was a great story, amazing plot...but it wouldn't have been nearly as good without the love the characters had for each other.

    I've actually always been a big romance fan. My first book mainly focused on the romantic relationship between the guy and girl. In the new book I just finished, I ended up focusing a lot more than I'd originally planned on the friendship between my MC and his best friend. Their friendship ended up being even more fun to write than the romance. It was an eye-opener for me. From now on, I'm sure it will be an ongoing theme in my writing.

    Anyway, sorry for leaving a book in your comment section. Nice to meet you! I'm a new follower. :)

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  35. J.L.:
    To me, friendship is the cornerstone of how we grow as human beings. Yes, that cover certainly drew a lot of fire. I am surprised my latest cover to ADRIFT IN THE TIME STREAM didn't spark a like controversy! :-)

    Jennifer:
    I try to make my posts unique and interesting. Sandra pointed out the underlying theme to my movie posters, and I carried through to my book and musical choices, too. :-)

    Michael:
    Since you are such a HARRY POTTER fan, I knew you would understand. Even in romance, I think the most long lasting ones begin as a friendship first.

    farawayeyes:
    It is within our nature to destroy ourselves. I am just blessed with such great friends like you, Roland

    Joshua:
    I would hope that DOG SOLDIERS is, indeed, on Netflix so that you can enjoy it!

    D.G.:
    Sandra says that I am so predictable to people who know me! I wonder what my emailers would say of John Locke's covers?!

    Allison:
    FELLOWSHIP was my favorite of the trilogy as well. The ensemble cast of characters and the spirit of that movie shaped my END OF DAYS.

    Tamara:
    I included my own BEST OF ENEMIES & END OF DAYS in my post today. Why shouldn't you be allowed to talk of yours? :-)

    Nice to meet you, too. I lost 2 followers today (maybe they were 2 of the hate emailers?) and I gained you. Thanks for following! :-)

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  36. I read this blog fest somewhere else too...love your pic for a movie. LOTR is my fav too! And Steven king's Duma Key was such a good book. would love to retread it.

    Angela

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  37. What an interesting take on the blogfest! Yes, I do enjoy stories with a strong friendship theme. One of my favourites is Disney's The Fox and the Hound.

    The Lord of the Rings trilogy was definitely a great series of films.

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  38. It's funny I was reading the second half... thinking about "Wrath of Khan" and was like... wait, what. I won... I won... I won... that is amazing and being the total, "Avengers" fan... thank you, thank you... thank you!

    the rip-off of "Alexander Nevsky - Sergei Prokofiev"[1938] Horner gets many of the bits from it... now don't get me wrong he is a great composer, I listen to the Expanded "Avatar" score a lot... I guess I just stopped noticing the similarities.

    I am re-watching ST: Next Gen [show] and it's been 15 years since I have watched them... weird the little stuff you remember from dialogue to quirky facial expressions. My wife is laughing at me, cause I am acting it out as it plays out.... so it's great we never forget the great stuff like "Khan"... or any version of Trek that makes you happy...

    Once again, thank you... will contact you soon...
    Jeremy
    jeremy@jmhdigital.com

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  39. Hi, Roland. Thanks for sharing. You had Lord of the Rings, Wrath of Khan and Duma Key. That's a pretty good group. I've fallen off the King bandwagon a few times, but usually come back. :) You can't go wrong with Uncle Stevie!

    -Jimmy
    http://jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/

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  40. Great choices. I love that friendship is what ties all your favorites together.

    I love just about anything John Williams does.

    I like your cover.

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  41. Wow, I can't believe you got hate mail over your cover and title. Love your friendship theme/preference. You're the second person who's mentioned Dog Soldier, so I definitely need to check that out.

    My Genre Favorites & Guilty Pleasures

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