Arrowverse 'Other World' Chapter 6 - Canary

Disclaimer: This is the sixth chapter in a story about an "other world" based on the Arrowverse, the CW shows that focus on DC superheroes. I am writing this as my way of paying homage to my fandom for the Arrowverse. The character names Supergirl, Green Arrow, The Flash, Canary and Brainiac are trademarks of DC Comics. These chapters are free to read, they will not be published in book format, nor will any revenue be generated from the chapters. If there are legal issues involved with the usage of these characters, please email me at bwmorris at mail dot com and I will cease with the writing. Critiquing of my writing is welcomed and may be left in the comments.

Twenty Questions With Debbie Manber Kupfer

This week, I have Debbie Manber Kupfer for a Twenty Questions session. Debbie is the author of The P.A.W.S. saga, a four-book series, and has written several short story collections. She is having a special sale for the series a week, starting March 26, in which you can get each book in the series for 99 cents at Amazon (or free if you have Kindle Unlimited). You may learn more about the sale at the end of the Twenty Questions session.

You may also check our her website, Paws4Thought, to learn more about her books, puzzles and other interests. She also talks to different authors about their work and you may find more titles that interest you.

Now let's hear from Debbie about her work.

1. How did you get interested in writing?

I’ve been writing ever since I was small. The first story I remember writing was about turning into a ladybug (see even back then I liked shapeshifters). I sent that little story to the Puffin Post and got a mention in the magazine. I was so thrilled.

2. What inspired you to come up with this story?

Back in October 2012 I had an idea about a young girl receiving a silver cat charm from her grandmother. I knew the charm was important and over the next month the story started enfolding in my head. I went to the zoo with my son that month and I started telling him the story of P.A.W.S. and then the next month in November I began writing the first draft as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.)

3. Tell me about the main character, Miri, and what inspired you to create her.

Miri’s a lot like me. She’s clumsy, messy and spends a lot of her childhood in a dream world of her own creation. She’s also bullied as a kid, as was I, and a lot of her experiences are based on my own (though sadly I don’t have magic, other than maybe writing my stories.)

4. What characters, other than Miri, did you find enjoyable to write as you progressed with the book?

Oh, I love my characters – the good and the evil and those in between. Some of my favorites include Joey Marks, the animagus kangaroo exchange student from Australia (who I created for my son, Joey, who shares a lot of his characteristics), Ian the animagus chimp that lives in St. Louis zoo, and my old wild Welsh warlock, Gromer the Green, who first appears in book 2 of the P.A.W.S. Saga, Argentum.

5. What are some of the themes you explored in writing the book?

Each book in the series has a slightly different focus. In book 1, there is a underlying theme of rising up to bullies and abusers, both for teens and adults.

6. What were some things you learned as you wrote and edited the book?

That I can do it! All through my life I’ve written stories, BUT until P.A.W.S. I’d started many but never managed to finish a novel. With P.A.W.S. I took the NaNoWriMo challenge for the first time and that helped me get the story down and keep going until I reached the end of the first draft.

7. What do you find is the right environment for you to write?

By my computer in the morning with the internet turned off. The internet (and particularly Facebook) is my biggest distraction.

8. Are there specific programs or tools you find useful in helping you with the writing process?

Just a lot of tea (and the occasional bribe of dark chocolate.)

9. What have you found to be useful methods for promoting your writing?

My best promo for ebooks is a combination of occasional 99 cents sales for the ebooks (like the one I’m having now) with a little paid advertising. I also enjoy doing real life events at schools, bookstores, libraries and conventions. I’m doing several of these in April to help release my new picture book, Adana the Earth Dragon.

10. What are some famous books or authors you enjoyed or have inspired you?

Favorite authors include Douglas Adams, JK Rowling, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Cornelia Funke.

11. Are there any aspiring or independent authors whose books you've read that you've liked and think others should check out?

Oh yes, these days I mostly read indie authors. Some of my favorites include R.R. Virdi, E.A. Copen, Jen Ponce, Rebecca Jaycox, Michelle Proulx, Mirren Hogan, Misha Burnett, M.A. Ray, and Robert Franks. Really guys, check these out. They are awesome.

12. What advice would you give to those who want to write a novel before they get started?

Just do it. I’m a cancer survivor. For years I thought that writing a novel would be something I’d do in the future, once the kids were older and I had more time. Going through cancer treatment taught me that if I really wanted to write and publish I needed to do it now because you never know how long you’ve got. So new writer, sit down at your computer or with pen and paper and start writing words. (Oh and try NaNoWriMo – Camp Nano is in April and is a great way to get started.)

13. I've seen you written several anthologies as well -- in general, what do you find enjoyable about writing these anthologies?

I’ve put together a few short story collections of my own. (Tea & Dark Chocolate, Will There Be Watermelons on Mars? and Tales from P.A.W.S.) Plus I’ve participated in a number of group anthologies including the Sins of Time series of which I’m not just a contributor, but also the editor of the series.

I like writing short stories in between working on my novels as it gives me the opportunity to experiment in other genres. My main series is YA urban fantasy, but in my stories I’ve dabbled in humor, sci-fi, horror and a little literary fiction.

14. Tell me more about Paws4Puzzles and the work that Yuri Shamne provides for your site.

When I’m not writing fiction I write puzzles for Penny Press magazines and sometimes create custom puzzles of different kinds for clients. Paws4Puzzles is puzzle central, where the puzzly part of me takes over.

I recently was privileged to meet the Russian artist and puzzler, Yuri Shamne, online. I was wowed by his talent and now we’re collaborating in a weekly column on blog, Wednesdays with Yuri.

15. I can tell you are a cat lover -- tell me what it is you like the most about cats.

Well, they’re furry and cute, but also independent. My kitty, Miri Billie Joe, mostly likes to do her own thing, but appreciates having some human servants around to do her bidding.

16. What are some of the differences you noticed about life in the United Kingdom versus life in the United States?

Little things that bug me. In England you can pretty much get a warm drink (tea and coffee) at any restaurant. Here I have to search. And even more so for vegetarian food. London is about a gazillion times more veggie friendly than St. Louis. I enjoy London a lot when I visit each year. But my friends over there say it’s because I don’t live there full time. Circumstances led to me moving to the States and while I don’t hate it I don’t like the current mood since the election.

17. What was it like to live in Israel and how does that compare to other places you've lived?

Ah … Israel. I lived in Israel for eight years and my mum still lives there, so I go back and visit each year. There are obviously many differences, but one of the main ones that strikes me is that in Israel there’s more spontaneity less planning. In Israel it was not unusual for friends to come by without making advanced plans and I’d do the same. Here (and in England) it would be odd to turn up on someone’s doorstep without calling first.

18. Is there a particular type of tea you prefer -- and do you find it's the perfect drink to have while you are writing?

I get through about a gallon of hot tea a day especially when I’m writing. I like it strong, British style with milk. (Tetley’s or PG Tips)

19. Tell me a little more about your family and in what ways they support your writing.

I live in St. Louis with my husband (who is a St. Louis native and how I ended up here), son, daughter and the really ruler of the household, our kitty, Miri Billie Joe.

My kids are immensely helpful when it comes to my writing. My daughter often acts a sounding board for my ideas and encourages me to write. In fact it was she who originally encouraged me to start writing P.A.W.S. My son, Joey is my puzzle partner. We wrote a puzzle book together, Paws 4 Logic, and plan another in the future.

20. Who would win a battle of superhero skills: Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman?

Wonder Woman for the win!

Be sure to check out Debbie's sale for The P.A.W.S. Series, which starts March 26!

Arrowverse 'Other World' Chapter 5 - Supergirl

Disclaimer: This is the first chapter in a story about an "other world" based on the Arrowverse, the CW shows that focus on DC superheroes. I am writing this as my way of paying homage to my fandom for the Arrowverse. The character names Supergirl, Green Arrow, The Flash, Canary and Brainiac are trademarks of DC Comics. These chapters are free to read, they will not be published in book format, nor will any revenue be generated from the chapters. If there are legal issues involved with the usage of these characters, please email me at bwmorris at mail dot com and I will cease with the writing. Critiquing of my writing is welcomed and may be left in the comments.

Political Themes: Star Trek VI

Anybody who paid close attention to Star Trek understood that political themes were common in the TV episodes and films. Perhaps there's no better example of how political themes are addressed than in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

The last of the motion pictures to feature all of the members of the original series, Star Trek VI drew upon parallels to the former Soviet Union engaging in greater diplomacy with the United States, actions that led to the end of the Cold War. But director Nicholas Meyer and the writers did more than touch upon those parallels and looked deeper into what engaging in peaceful negotiations really means.

This is explored through Captain James T. Kirk and his struggles in dealing with the Klingon Empire. On one hand, he makes it clear he doesn't trust Klingons and can never forgive those Klingons who killed his son. On the other hand, he muses about how much of his time with the Federation has been focused on the often tense dealings with the Klingon Empire and what place there is for him in the Federation should diplomatic negotations succeed.

It's the latter perspective that gets explored in more detail as a mystery unfolds aboard the USS Enterprise. Sent to escort a Klingon ship through Federation territory, torpedoes are fired upon the Klingon ship, two individuals beam aboard the ship and kill Klingon Chancellor Gorkon and several members of his crew. After Leonard McCoy fails to save the Chancellor, he and Kirk are arrested for the chancellor's murder.

Meyer, in interviews on the special edition DVD released in 2004, said that Gorkon was designed to resemble Abraham Lincoln because, like Lincoln, Gorkon had new ideas for how people could move forward, ideas that would result in old institutions ending and new ones taking their place. As with Lincoln, Gorkon is met with opposition not only from certain Federation officials, but from within the Klingon Empire. On the DVD, Meyer talked about other notable leaders who sought peaceful relations rather than high tension, ranging from Anwar Sadat to Mahatma Gandhi, and how their ideas were met with resistance both from outside and within.

Indeed, as the plot unfolds and individuals with the Federation, the Klingon Empire and elsewhere are implicated in a conspiracy to assasinate Gorkon and other leaders, the question is raised about those in power who worry what change could bring to our world.

Also addressed is the fact that many aboard the Enterprise are not comfortable with the idea of the Klingons having dinner with them, revealing the bigotry and distrust that often exists between two nations or group who oppose one another. But in the end, the bulk of the crew learns that it's important to move past any differences to move forward. Indeed, when Kirk reveals to all about the plot to disrupt the peace negotiations, both he and Gorkon's daughter, Azetbur, come to realize the importance of moving past the distrust and to find ways to work together.

Though the parallels are more in line with the way the world was changing in the early 1990s, the overarching theme about what change means is still relevant today. Meyer touched upon the military industrial complex that Dwight Eisenhower warned us about and, the truth is, that same complex holds continued sway over the direction of the United States. Even as the Cold War ended, the United States continued down an interventionist path and distrust exists between it and several other nations today.

It begs the question about what we should really ask ourselves about those tensions -- that if they have more to do with our fears of change and what lies ahead for certain individuals in power when change comes along.

What Makes Black Panther Work So Well

I watched Black Panther again and found I enjoyed it more the second time around.

What caught my attention the first time I watched it was the world building, the character development and the themes explored. What made me appreciate it more upon second viewing is how the themes work in so many ways.

Starting with the world building, co-writers Ryan Coogler (who also served as director) and Joe Robert Cole do a great job laying out how Wakanda came to be and how its society has developed. It doesn't take much for viewers to understand how everything is Wakanda, how aspects of African culture combine with technological advancements that the nation has developed, thanks to its access to a material called vibranium. What I liked the most is that Coogler and Cole find the right ways to let everyone know what Wakanda is like by utilizing a lot of "quick hits" that clue you into certain aspects, yet focusing more time on those parts of the culture that bear the greatest importance to the story.

The characters, combined with the themes, are what really sell the film and make it one of the best installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It does focus on issues regarding what blacks face in the United States -- and rightly so, because it helps drive some of the themes explored.

At the same time, most of the themes are ones that could be applied to any race or culture and they remain relevant. Throughout the film, questions are raised regarding how a technologically-advanced nation should build relations with other countries, to what happens when a nation does open its doors to others, to the question about what people with advanced technology should do to make the world better.

Most of all, the lead character, T'Challa, must consider what is the right thing to do when he learns his own family played a part in the primary antagonist, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens (aka N'Jadaka), and how he views events and what Wakanda should do to influence world affairs. It makes for a complex narrative in which determining who is "in the right" is not as easy as it appears upon first glance.

It goes back to what I've discussed the past few weeks about making characters relatable, as people you can empathize with, though you may not sympathize with them. And this goes back to Coogler and Cole, who put a lot of thought into the script and how to portray the characters. For example, they make Erik Stevens somebody whose motivations are easy to understand, even if you may not agree with his methods. The same applies to nearly every other character -- their motivations are clear, and the beauty of it is Coogler and Cole often do that with a character reciting just a few lines.

Black Panther is one of those films that's not just a great superhero film, but a great film, period. Coogler and Cole showed how good they are at laying out a complex theme (and, yes, one that touches upon political issues) but doing it in a way that anyone can relate to it, while writing characters who are multi-dimensional. It's the type of film that can make you think as much as you root for the hero to save the day.

Arrowverse 'Other World' Chapter 4 - Green Arrow

Disclaimer: This is the fourthchapter in a story about an "other world" based on the Arrowverse, the CW shows that focus on DC superheroes. I am writing this as my way of paying homage to my fandom for the Arrowverse. The character names Supergirl, Green Arrow, The Flash, Canary and Brainiac are trademarks of DC Comics. These chapters are free to read, they will not be published in book format, nor will any revenue be generated from the chapters. If there are legal issues involved with the usage of these characters, please email me at bwmorris at mail dot com and I will cease with the writing. Critiquing of my writing is welcomed and may be left in the comments.

Coates, Cap Am And Character Writing Challenges

Earlier this week, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates -- who writes for The Atlantic, has published several books and recently wrote multiple issues of the Black Panther comic book -- announced he would be writing several issues of Captain America.

In his Atlantic piece, Coates wrote that writing comic books was a childhood dream, one he achieved for the first time when he wrote Black Panther storylines. He then talked about the type of character that Captain America has evolved into through the years and admits that he is conflicted about certain stances the hero also known as Steve Rogers has taken. But, as Coates writes, it's why he looks forward to writing the character:

I have my share of strong opinions about the world. But one reason that I chose the practice of opinion journalism—which is to say a mix of reporting and opinion—is because understanding how those opinions fit in with the perspectives of others has always been more interesting to me than repeatedly restating my own. Writing, for me, is about questions—not answers. And Captain America, the embodiment of a kind of Lincolnesque optimism, poses a direct question for me: Why would anyone believe in The Dream? What is exciting here is not some didactic act of putting my words in Captain America’s head, but attempting to put Captain America’s words in my head. What is exciting is the possibility of exploration, of avoiding the repetition of a voice I’ve tired of.

Coates goes on to write that he's not convinced he can write a good Captain America story, but that's why he wants to try. In other words, he is excited about writing a character who holds some viewpoints that Coates does not hold. Coates is the perfect example of a writer who wants to take on the challenge of writing a character who isn't simply repeating the viewpoints of the writer.

It's not unusual for writers to stick with characters who share the viewpoints of the writer because those characters are easier to write. And if those writers want to introduce an opposing viewpoint, just make that character an antagonist or a minor character. But such practices can lead to repetitiveness if a writer isn't careful. The real challenge for any writer is to think about a protagonist who isn't necessarily likeable, a protagonist who has a viewpoint that opposes the writer's view to a degree, or a protagonist whose faults are many, and make that protagonist a sympathetic character.

Putting yourself into the head of another person is what writing a character is all about. At times, that character will not act, think or react the way you would. This is why writers need to be aware of all types of people in the real world and determine what is the best way to make that character relatable -- and if the character is going to be a protagonist, how to get readers to empathize with the character, even if readers don't sympathize with the character right away. At some point, though, the readers will need to sympathize with the protagonist in some way.

I haven't read Coates' work with Black Panther yet but have the graphic novels on my to-read list. And I will be interested to see what he does with Captain America. (Admittedly, I'm not a regular reader of Marvel comics -- I prefer DC comics, though the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have been better than most DC movies.)

Regardless of when I do get to reading Coates' work in the comics, I'm glad he's taking on the challenge of writing a character who thinks differently than he does. It's a challenge all writers (myself included) should consider because it gets you to think more about how other people, different from you, react in the real world.

Arrowverse 'Other World' Chapter 3 - The Flash

Disclaimer: This is the third chapter in a story about an "other world" based on the Arrowverse, the CW shows that focus on DC superheroes. I am writing this as my way of paying homage to my fandom for the Arrowverse. The character names Supergirl, Green Arrow, The Flash, Canary and Brainiac are trademarks of DC Comics. These chapters are free to read, they will not be published in book format, nor will any revenue be generated from the chapters. If there are legal issues involved with the usage of these characters, please email me at bwmorris at mail dot com and I will cease with the writing. Critiquing of my writing is welcomed and may be left in the comments.