Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching - a Kickstarter Project

I am absolutely thrilled to be writing about a Kickstarter project that contributed to some months back - which has now culminated in what you can see in the image below:

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching is the first in a series written by the fabulous Chris Lewis Carter. I can't remember how I stumbled onto the project now but I was instantly taken with the idea (anyone who knows me even a little, will know that the word 'myth' in anything usually gets my attention somehow...!). So I knew I wanted to contribute right away - I mean it involved a story based on mythical creature teens going to camp, what's not to love? Chris kept us informed every step of the way and invited backers to be part of the collaborative process - so many were able to come up with characters, which then got beautifully illustrated in the final piece (every fantasy writer needs a good illustrator, non?). And when our rewards came, they arrived with personal notes of thanks, which always works!

Another reason why this project resonated with me so well was because of the approach - the way that something like Kickstarter can help not only get much needed funds but also create a community around the project, backers who have a vested interest in making it work and succeed. It's a great platform, validated by the fact that I know so many people who are now using it as a process also. Therefore, personally, I've keenly watched how Camp Myth has developed and have been making much needed notes, because once my novel is done, well I needs to gets it out there and get some buzz. So thanks Chris, for providing some much needed inspiration :) (Please note, Chris persisted with a second Kickstarter Project for Camp Myth with a revised approach because the original didn't meet its funding - so, with persistence and some wise re-evaluating, Chris made it work and that's admirable right there). I know this is going to send corny but there is nothing quite like the feeling of holding the shiny, paperback edition and knowing you had a part to play in bringing into fruition.

I'll finish off by saying that Camp Myth is a thoroughly enjoyable read, immediately engaging, the characters have that vivid,  jump-out-of-the-page feel and I'm greatly looking forward to the next in the series. So I urge you to check out the site here and give it a go in any e-book format. You won't be disappointed. It's even getting developed into a table top game, so there's plenty more success stories to come from this (always loving a snowball effect, non? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this getting picked up as an animated show and/or mobile game!)

Blurb of the book taken from the Camp Myth website:

Welcome to Camp Myth, the only summer camp built exclusively for young mythological creatures. Forget canoe rides and knot tying lessons – these kids are more likely to fish for a Kraken, or learn the proper way to train a Chimera!
Join Felix, a rebellious Fae forced to attend camp as punishment for his obsession with humans; Argee, the first (and only) nerdy Cyclops; and Moxie, a Kitsune who would rather smart-mouth than shape-shift. Can these three mythic outcasts survive long enough to earn a merit badge for Phoenix Watching, or will they end up as just another campfire story?

London Film Festival Review of 'Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below'

Let me start by saying how long winded the title is, for doubtless the true Japanese name got lost in translation and we end up with something rather misleading because a) there is only one child that 'chases' the voices and b) the said voices are not really 'lost'? Unless I totes didn't get that from the film and missed something integral - which was a recurring feeling throughout this vividly beautiful but heavily complex animated film (which means the title is actually sort of a reflection of the content).

While it is rather safe to assume that this is child's tale, with our main gal, Asuna being no older than 11 (methinks), the story is rather heavy handed and grave. I enjoyed the opening of the film; we see the landscape that Asuna lives in and it's just stunning; the detailing is astounding and each frame is nothing short of a masterpiece - it leaves one rather wide eyed with awe at the arduous production process behind it all. But pretty pictures alone do not a great film make.

And as such, Makoto Shinkai, the director behind the film, does not quite measure up to Miyazaki, who is often compared to. This film is more Spirited Away than Princess Mononoke, though there are some clear nods to the latter film. *SPOILER ALERT* It takes awhile for our heroine to visit this underworld dimension, one that mixes several mythologies (with lots of Latin terms and references) but uses the Japanese Shintoist legend of Izanagi and Izanami at its heart. What I found odd about Asuna's motivation to go to this underworld where a human can resurrect a lost one, was that she follows a pull exerted by the mysterious appearance (and disappearance) of the boy Shun. Early on, we understand Asuna's father passed away when she was very little and a few references and flashbacks led one to think something about the father's passing or past would be relevant, not least because the special 'clavis' crystal that Asuna comes  to have came from him. Yet that was not relevant; the story danced about endlessly and though there was a definitive structure of a 'journey there and back', it got lost in the various layers and became a needlessly extended version of 'Let's understand the meaning of farewell.' I was waiting for the moment I, as a viewer, could get a grip and take hold on this journey and I'm not sure that came about.

There were plenty of poignant character moments but they lost their punch amongst the overly symbolic visuals and heavy, burdening story (which one could argue is the intended effect if the narrative is to deal with death and life). I just think I would have preferred it a smidge better if the heroine was a little older.

The soundtrack was a little too dramatic and in contrast to saturated symbolism, there were some really obvious 'on the nose' moments (light spilling through the frame when the hero character, Shin, comes to the rescue). In the end it needed to be reigned back to something a little more straightforward.

VERDICT: 6/10.

My first writers interview online

httI have the great pleasure of getting acquainted with the editor of Annexe, an online mag which pays tribute to the written word. The superb man in question is Nick Murray who is a heck of a multi-talented guy and when I met up with him recently, he and his friend/fellow musician, also Nick Taylor, were kind enough to interview me regarding my writing and my debut novel. 

Now, I must say, I have got rather excited about it all - being showcased and all and the fact that the Nicks have sportingly portrayed me in such good light! (not at all implying that I am not unlike what they have described but some decent embellishment has gone in - ok, I'll shut up the self-deprecating mini-me whispering in my ear).   

So please feel free to visit the article here, while you can find Annexe Mag's FB page here. Have a peruse of their material, it's worth it! 

Heaven Help Us - the demise of story and myth thanks to 'Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief' and Hollywood

Do not ask why I watched 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief'. I came into the TV room to see that my father had it on and I usually sit for ten minutes in 'Vajraasan' to help with digestion after dinner and so was committed to watching whatever Dad was viewing at the time. Then through exhaustion, I slumped on the sofa and had no will to protest at Dad's choice, which I usually always do, and thought I would let it be and spare my father some grief.

The grief fell upon me though. Alas, what a pile of terrible, terrible goodness-knows-what that film was. There was so much wrong with this film, I could write an essay on it but I shall *try* to be a little more concise for this blog post.

1. The story itself is absolutely abysmal. The fact that this is a children's book is fine or whatever but it's still a terrible story. Why, do you ask? Well because it wouldn't be so awful if it was original material but no, it's based on Ancient Greek Mythology. All those people close to me, know how much I value mythology - particularly Greece's - and how I absolutely abhor  mainstream cinema or Hollywood (and the American author of the books) constantly rape these ancient tales that so many of our ancestors cherished and from which so many of our cultures' identities springs from - thank you very much, Wolfgang Petersen for 'Troy'. Prepare yourselves for a little of my thinking on this:

2. Ok, so the original books are written by an American author. *shudder* So it's set where? USA, of course.  God, they are obsessed with adopting culture that isn't in their own, aren't they? Why else do you think they have The Senate? USA fancies itself to be a Roman Empire. There's something a little naughty about this culture that has sprung out of America. The thing is, they have done away with the native culture of the land that actually has meaning and context in terms of how old it is. Modern America does not have it's own ancient mythology and a culture that understands who it is because of it (Joseph Campbell claims that mythology helped our ancestors to understand life and our place in existence).  Instead they poach others' myths and legends and think they can 'redress' them in their own back yard. All the demi-gods in the film were bloody American. What the hell? Have the gods jumped ship and set up in USA now? It was the most ridiculous thing ever and rather insulting. I mean, the ancient Greeks were all about poetry and metaphor. The whole Olympian pantheon was just that but no, they have to make everything literal and stupid because of it.

For example, the journey to the Underworld was a joke. What happened to the River Styx? This smacks of such a lack of creativity on the writers' part - you could have done something really interesting with the original material. No one is saying you can't reinvent legendary tales but at least TRY to be creative with it - don't just slap it together like some terrible child's model of the solar system that is stuck together with rubbish glue and does the job but fails to impress.

3. 'Daddy issues' - the dilemma of being half mortal, half god. Boo hoo, daddy left me and doesn't love me. Now. I do not make light of father's abandoning their children at all. But in this tale, it's just so ridiculous - Percy is son of Poseidon. Now once you figured out you were Poseidon's son, a) you would think that was most awesome thing EVER, b) you would begin to understand why he wasn't around, I mean he is a GOD, for god's sake! He's pretty damn busy on running the world and all that? Not to mention having to deal with Zeus and brother rivalry yada yada. At the end, when Poseidon talks and says Zeus commanded that no gods see their children because it means they will forget their responsibilities, I nearly collapsed with laughter. 'Yeah, I'm a god and everything - the whole oceans, rivers and fish are my domain and such, and like I totally forgot all about that, or I was in danger of doing that, but now I know my place - as if I could forget before, right? How silly! I thought I could play mums and dads in a suburban home and then my brother had to remind me that the sea is like what I need to look after. Whoops! Nearly let the ball fall there! Sorry kid, I love you and all but we're gods. We like live on a different plane of existence. You got my cool powers though!'


4. Individual aspects of this 'film' that are so abhorrent (I must use this word continually):

- The pronunciations of Greek words - what the hell? Are the cast unable to get their heads around simple, well known words like 'Minotaur' and 'Satyr', that they have to go even further with their insufferable American-ness and use 'special' pronunciations of these words. Sort it out - it made the film even more ridiculous, as if the film makers were blatantly trying to say, 'Oh yes, this is a complete piss take, look, we cannot even say the Greek words properly! Haha, we're so silly!'

- Pierce Brosnan and Uma Thurman - for shame, for shame! Former 007 reduced to having a horse's ass. Enough said on him. Uma, seriously, what the hell?! 

- ABUSING Athene part 1- Athena has a DAUGHTER??? Since when??!! Who the hell did she get off with? She's the Virgin Goddess, for Christ's sake (and no, I don't think there was such thing as immaculate conception to the Greeks, even if Athene popped out of Zeus' head - correct me if I am wrong). The great thing about Athene was that she was removed from the world of the over-sexed gods like Aphrodite and her father - she was all about *wisdom* and *strategy*. Totally asexual in that respect. Why would she have a DAUGHTER??! (This is a gripe against the author of the books, who I shan't name because if I do, a cute kitten dies somewhere). Better to have this girl (who was too stupid to be Athene's daughter, even if the goddess had 'adopted' here) be Artemis's daughter - she had a bow and all that, so that would have made MORE SENSE. Instead, she was just created to be Athene's daughter so they could be this stupid 'enemy' dynamic between her and Percy, because Athene and Poseidon are not BFFs.

The Sword & The Scion - on it's way

So I have being spend a lot of time on my book and planning what I need to do for it this year. I started by creating a Facebook Group which anyone can join, so sign up and find out more. I got around to posting up the PROLOGUE, after a lot of stalling tactics (hey, I've kept this book close to my chest for 5 years, there's going to be anxiety putting it out there, right?)

I have also been fortunate enough to have an amazing illustrator work on a book cover, how exciting right? It's starting to sorta be tangible! The illustrator is amazing June, check out her blog here.

So if you're interested and have a moment to give feedback, check out the Facebook group and let me know what you think :D