Hell to Pay: What a great strange trip it's been

There is a crazy journey writers take, called trying to get published.

I've had some success with anthologies in short stories and poetry, but #3 on the bucket list is getting a novel published.

"Hell to Pay" wasn't a simple project, it started with Bob and I telling bad puns. It took 2 1/2 years to write while learning how to craft a novel, and eight edits. Thank you Gordon and Brainstormers (Gary, Tonya, Julie, Courtney, Michelle, and Denise). Some of the darkest parts in the novel came from Denise telling me I wasn't trying hard enough.

It's tough, I've tried pitching to agents and editors only to get form letter rejections, but a year ago that changed. I started getting written responses. In the authors that I've talked to, that is a big step forward.

On a whim, I found a contest for unpublished novels by Dorchester and Chizine. I tried it out. Now, I'm in the top ten getting ready to start a six month contest that will test the limits of my patience and the ability of my liver.

Voting will start January 16th (around then) and will go for a month on http://www.chizine.com/. People can vote on the best first chapters. I will probably breathe my panic here and on facebook. As mentioned before the novel is number three on the bucket list.

Brian's Bucket List

#1 is have a posse of little people (dwarves, midgets, I'm equal opportunity)

#2 be able to shoot lightning from my fingertips and wear a cloak everywhere while people bow and mutter "Hail to you, Dark Emperor".

#3 Publish a novel

As time goes on and I'm sure no one is reading, I may post more.

2010 may be looking up.

The Norse Myths

I stayed up late playing the new X-box 360 game "Too Human". Although the game has some beautiful effects and decent story telling it made me wonder something.

Norse Myths are becoming chic. With several talks about Thor movies and cartoons in the last couple of years (Fabio, Loki the Rat, and now a mainstream movie in the works) I wonder how they can do it without making it a joke.

You see, I've studied Odinism for several years now and although the majority of mythology fell out before the dark ages and was inked by Christian Scholars afterwards, things like Marvel comics "The Mighty Thor" and games like "Viking" and "Too Human" are moderately popular and bringing new generations into Viking (Northern Mythology). Going back to my point, with this high dollar Thor concept movie coming out, how serious will it be? Will Thor speak in Olde English and piss the audience off with enough thees and thys to be cringe worthy?

I guess my fear is this movie will be the equivalent of an armed kick-ass Jesus or a raging carnivorous Buddha (yeah, I'm working on that last one).

Hopefully the writers are willing to do research on the character and not make him too campy.

My other point: although "Too Human" was a beautiful game, the main character Balder, was a god of light and love. Essentially a Jesus character made by the Northerners to fight off the coming Christian missionaries. I think it's funny with the entire pantheon of Norse heroes and gods they went with the one that was the most into peace . . .and armed him to the teeth.

Needless to say, I've penned my own "Thor Lives" book called "Hell to Pay" and are currently shopping for agents. I have some great ideas for viral videos if this ever takes off that I could tie to my storm chasing.

Thanks for your time, and I would entertain any response.