by YatPundit | Apr 26, 2019 | Books, Dragon's, Podcast
Talking about teens, high school, expectations, and guitars in the first segment of YatPundit’s Pub 25-April-2019.
YatPundit’s Pub 25-April-2019
I’m in-between books in a sense at the moment. I finished the Rebus novel, but not ready to do a full review of it. I started Mitch Landrieu’s book, but not into it enough to talk sensibly about it. So, there wasn’t much to go into with respect to my personal reading. I thought we’d talk about two writing themes.
Teen expectations
Progressive Guitar Studio on Canal Blvd.
Tweens entering eighth grade, particularly here in New Orleans, have interesting expectations. As they approach their senior year, however, things change. Parents foster expectations. Therefore, a dad who was on the football team in high school wants his kid to play that sport. Maybe the young man wants to wrestle, or run cross country, or (heaven forbid!) join the Debate Team! Some kids will start out doing what the parents push, move on.
Some expectations are more subtle. So, an eighth grader may start in marching band. By tenth grade, kids with a lot of talent “outgrow” the school band. They join after-school orchestras, bands, and other projects (like musical theater). Conflict arises when they do less for the school. Then there are the musicians who, while they enjoy their horn or wind instrument, want to play guitar or bass. They invest in lessons and practice, putting aside growth on the band instrument. It’s called growing up.
Trains!
The old Louisville and Nashville passenger terminal on Canal Street
I’m a train nut. Y’all know that, I’m sure. As old passenger cars from the 1940s and 1950s die off, we lose a part of mid-century culture. I want to write about those railroad days. So, a story arc about a Pullman Porter in 1940-1941 interests me. Europe is already at war, but the US hasn’t made the move to actual combat. Spies and intrigue abound! I keep seeing an African-American man who wants to defend his country in a unique way.
Dragon’s Danger
The Pullman Porters of West Oakland
Last Thursday’s Pod
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by YatPundit | Apr 11, 2019 | Books, Dragon's, Talents
YatPundit’s Pub 2019-04-11
YatPundit’s Pub 2019-04-11
YatPundit’s Pub is back! Starting here with YatPundit’s Pub 2019-04-11, we’re going to attempt to be consistent with this now. Tuesdays will be politics and commentary, Thursdays will be books and writing. So, there are two taps at the bar.
The first is a remembrance. Ms. Margie Person passed away last week. She was mom to two of my friends going back to Brother Martin, John and Bob Person. Ms. Margie was also grandmother to Lady Artist, Elizabeth Person. Liz is Bob’s daughter. She’s a brilliant artist. I was very flattered when Bob told me one day that his mom really enjoyed my first urban fantasy novel, Hidden Talents. I never thought a lady in her 90s would fancy the magick and dueling, but he said she really liked how I described New Orleans. So, when it came time to write the sequel, he mentioned she would occasionally say, tell your friend he needs to finish that next book! Personally, I think she wanted to see what her granddaughter had in mind for the cover. 🙂
(On a side note, Lady Artist did a wonderful job with both Dragon’s Discovery and Trusted Talents. If you can hire Liz, you should!)
Dragons Update
Dragon’s Discovery by Edward J. Branley (cover art by Elizabeth Person)
Dragons 3, tentatively titled Dragon’s Defience, is in progress. The first five chapters have been red-penned by Dara, and I’m done with chapter seven. It’s going to be eleven total. The Fading Signs of New Orleans book for The History Press ate up a lot more of my time, so the fiction’s taken a back seat.
Talents Update
Talents 3 doesn’t have a name yet, much less a firm outline, but I have an idea of how things turn out. It felt odd, I had a bit of a dream/daydream of what happens after the third novel. So, I have the end of novel three and the beginning of novel four! Who knows if things will stay that way, of course.
Next week
We’ll do a Tuesday sit-down in the pub, talking local stuff, like the airport and traffic cameras, then more books/literary on Thursday.
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