Sunday, October 12, 2008
CLONE WARS Clumsiness

I will preference this discussion blog with the warning that I am not a Star Wars fan. While I grew up in the late 70s and 80s, I enjoyed the first three Star Wars films with most Americans. Luke and Hans, Chewy and Yoda, Princess Leia and Obi-Wan. These stories hooked me further into the genre of science fiction. Already a huge fan of STAR TREK, Star Wars allowed me to see another version of space--this one not so much on a exploratory scale, but one where a galaxy had been fully settled, colonized and utilized as countries, factions, and politics played out on a plantery scale--not just a world scale. Sure,EpisodesI, II, and III left something to be desired, Istill found the STAR WARS universe one of signifcance and solid storytelling.

So, now, some twenty plus years later, I was super excited to take my own children to see THE CLONE WARS. I saw this as an initial introduction to a great slice of American culture and a huge slot of science fiction. I had already read some of the children's version of STAR WARS books to my children and they knew enough about Darth Vader and Han and Chewy and Yoda to understand those the basics, but here was a movie, in the movie theater, they could watch and fall into. The same as I did when I was younger.

And I was sorely disappointed. Perhaps it could be because I am an adult that the magic conjured by woody dialogue and cheap theatrics no longer entertained me. Or it could be that other science fiction movies have come such a long way in regards to material covered and situations (i.e. WALL-E) that THE CLONE WARS felt more like a television show for Saturday morning. The storyline was clumsy, and it stumbled along without the normally smooth transitions between scenes and situations.

Yes, I could read the subtle hints and connections to the other movies that failed to play out in CLONE WARS. True. However, my kids couldn't and it seemed they missed much of the story because they hadn't seen the other movies and weren't old enough to catch the comments, etc. that spoke of other things. So in essence, THE CLONE WARS was neither a kid movie nor an adult one. It fell haphazardly in the abyss that exists between. Leaving it wholly unfullfilling as a movie and a big let down for those who wanted to see that magic Lucas is so often touted as possessing.

Sure, every franchise has its misses. This one is STAR WARS...

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2008-10-12 16:17:07

Sunday, October 12, 2008
Book signing--A Reflection

Yesterday I had a book signing at Waldenbooks in the Four Seasons Towne Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The staff at the Waldenbooks were exceptionally helpful, supportive and fun. They attended to my needs, had copies of my books ready and even graced me with extended signing time. Thank you Jennifer!

I signed copies of SILENCED from 12 to about 4:45. WIth it being North Carolina A & T University's homecoming there were scores of people in the mall. I wanted to personally thank so many of A &T's alumni who supported me by purchasing SILENCED right off the bat. These alumni, students and parents gave me incredible hope, wisdom and information. I never felt so included before and accepted at a book signing as I did yesterday from those in A &T family. Thank you soooo much!

My fellow teachers from Kiser Middle School also showed a lot of support and gave out too! During the lulls in sales, you guys made me smile, lifted me up and pushed me forward. Ms. Carotta, Ms. Spence, Ms. Moore, Ms. Arberg, Mr. Melton, Mr. Thomas, and Ms. Shaw, you are the absolute BEST!

The book signing was a huge success! Waldenbooks ordered 18 copies of SILENCED, and at the end of my signing, only four copies were left. Beyond sales, the book signing was a success because I had the opportunity to connect to readers and to show off my girl, Cybil.

It was fun and exhausting. I think I'll sleep today.

Best,

Nicole Kurtz

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2008-10-12 16:14:30

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Snippet of Cybil Lewis...(from SILENCED)

Many of you have heard me rave about my latest novel, SILENCED. It's the first in the Cybil Lewis series and one story that's near and dear to my heart. Cybil's residence is in the D.C. district, but most of SILENCED, takes place in the Memphis quadrant. Being originially from Tennessee (Knoxville), the southern piece of this story is my favorite.

Since Cybil is so new, I'm going to post an excerpt from her story here for your reading enjoyment.

Enjoy.

Nicole Givens Kurtz

------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt from SILENCED: A Cybil LewisNovel

Available from Parker Publishing, LLC

Price: $10.95

Genre: Science Fiction Hybrid

(From Chapter 1...)

Two floors later, I fled the tiny elevator space and moldy air for the somewhat cleaner breeze of the air-conditioned hallway. As I approached my office down the sixth floor corridor, I noticed an armed bodyguard posted outside. He wore opaque, sunglasses and a big navy blue jacket that could have been used as an elephant tent. I caught a brief glimpse of my reflection in his glasses as I passed him and entered my office. ..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

His post outside my place of employment didn't work well if he wanted to be incognito.

But with bleached blonde hair, a turquoise blue sweater and shiny black shoes, perhaps incognito wasn't what he was going for.

Let's not overlook the big-barreled Bronzing laser gun he held over his chest like a crucifix.

Now everyone who passed my office would know that someone who _thought_ they were important was inside.

As you walk in from the hallway, the lobby's layout consisted of Marsha's desk in the center. Her desk was flanked by the door to my private office on the right and Jane's, my inspector in training, desk on the left

Immediately I didn't like what I saw.

Seated in the two visitors' chairs were two more goon-heads like the one outside, each wore navy-blue jackets and turquoise sweaters. They smelled like honeysuckles mixed with gun powder. One of the bodyguards, a male had a serious hair loss condition and the other, a rail thin female of no older than eighteen reached for her weapons when I entered.

Jumpy and possibly trigger-happy?

Tuesday was already looking up.

Marsha's empty chair had been moved over to join the two visitors' seats and there sat Mayor Christensen, of the Memphis Quadrant, in all her polished, political glory.

Jane, my inspector-in-training, looked up from her desk and stood, a look of complete angst on her face. Oh, Jane, what have you been up to?

"Cybil…"

I'd never actually met the mayor before, but I had seen enough of her grinning picture in many jpegs and e-news files to know her upon sight. Pretty and well dressed in a manner consistent with those of power and privilege, the mayor of the Memphis quadrant was a media favorite. Every little detail, down to the most meaningless of things, was reported with fervor all over the online tabloids. The Internet mags thrived with coverage of her triumphs, failures, and risky political moves.

"Good afternoon, Mayor Christensen. What brings you to D.C.?" I asked nicely, ignoring Jane. She could explain it later—although I was curious to see what spin she would put on this.

Jane sat down at her desk, her hands twisting together in front of her as she kept her eyes on the mayor and me. Already a thin line of sweat decorated her upper lip and even from across the room, I could see her eyes flittered around, unable to focus on one thing.

Yep, she had done something she knew I'd be pissed about.

I don't like being ambushed and despite what Jane would tell me later, the situation definitely felt like an ambush. If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, then it surely is a duck.

Ditto the ambush.

Mayor Annabelle Christensen, Belle to Jane and other family members, was as Southern as grits and bluegrass music. She had occupied the mayoral seat of the Memphis quadrant for at least ten years. The Memphis quad extended up as far north to what was once Louisville, Kentucky and as far south as the modern day Jackson, Mississippi. The quad's eastern border stopped at the eastern border of what was once Tennessee, dipped down to the former Mississippi. The Mississippi River served as the western border to not only the Memphis quad, but also the entire Southeast Territories to which Memphis was the largest quadrant.

She rose from her seat like a queen, gracefully and with the air of royalty. Her media smile was glued to her face. The room smelled like sweet southern honeysuckles and was thick with humidity.

The mayor had been waiting a long time since her scent seemed infused into the office's atmosphere.

"Ms. Lewis, so good to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you and your work," she said, her voice like syrup, thick and sugary seemed to drop on me in heavy globs. "I wish it could be on better terms. I assure you that what I have to say will not waste your time."

Jane fidgeted in her seat as if she wasn't sure about the claim her aunt was making.

I didn't look over at her, but I could feel how uncomfortable Jane was. When you partner with someone for the time Jane and I had been together, you don't need to see them to know what they were thinking or feeling…you just knew.

"What do you want?" I asked, ready for the game to be over and failing to keep my irritation out of my voice. Mind games, pomp and circumstance didn't suit me well. My immediate dislike for the mayor didn't help the situation either, and beneath my attempts at professionalism, I think she heard it.

Her eyebrows rose and her mouth made a small little 'o'.

She quickly recovered and her media smile was back on, full blast as if I hadn't said anything. Despite the grin, a smarminess seemed to radiate out from her heart-shaped face as if she was restraining her own dislike for me.

Sometimes, a person doesn't have to do anything to you for you to dislike them. It had to do with chemicals and personalities and other biological complex stuff.

I didn't know the exact chemicals, but I knew I didn't like Mayor Christensen.

Moreover, I didn't trust her.

Already pain nibbled at the edge of exploding along the base of my neck. Stress. I didn't feel like bullshitting around with the mayor and her entourage of goons. Had the clientele been a little seedier, I'd shot someone by now.

I have only so much honey in my system a day. Nice people, sometimes-even clients (when we get one) received small doses of my honey. My mother used to say I had an overabundance of vinegar. Of course, bees liked honey, and no one liked vinegar.

Right now, my honey supply of kindness was ebbing away faster than the eastern coastline.

The two bodyguards reached into their jackets threateningly, their eyes narrowed and attached to me. I fought the urge to smile and wave back at them.

Mayor Christensen's red painted lips opened to speak, but instead she waved the goons into submission. A reddish flush appeared on her cheeks.

"May I speak with you in private?"

I shrugged and headed to my private office with her in tow. I unlocked the doors with my fingerprint and they slid open. I dropped my satchel on my big oak desk as I stepped into the room and remained standing behind it. It was big, open space, and had room for all of my belongings.

Mayor Christensen did not sit in my only visitor's chair.

With that well-bred posture, she remained standing as she scanned the walls of my private office taking it in. I knew what she was seeing, and I didn't really care. Everything in the office came secondhand or was here when I leased the space twelve years ago. The walls were adorned with newspaper and electronic clippings of various cases I had either been involved with or solved. The yellowing on some of the actual paper ones had chipped and split along the edges. New jpegs had been enlarged and added with updated electronic articles about recent cases.

"Mayor, why are you here?" I asked tightly, my voice edgy and impatient. With amazing effort, I tried to hang on to some professionalism. It slipped out of my hands, like sands through an hourglass. "I do have work to do."

I had a good idea of what the mayor wanted. Still I wanted her to say it, to speak it out and to ask. There was something naughty in the smile I gave her. The edges curled up in a dark satisfaction of knowing that I'd refuse her request anyway.

She brought her eyes back to mine and pressed her lips together before talking as if trying to keep her mouth from saying things she might regret later. With three more attempts, she finally spoke.

"Miss Lewis, I am from tough southern people who aren't bothered by mosquitoes, wauto wrecks, or mouthy inspectors."

Her voice lost its sweetness and turned hard, like wet sugar left out in the cold. In place of the soft, worried mother, was now the voice of a hard politician who thought I would cower and obey her every whim.

Obviously, she did not know me very well…

"The Memphis regulators are idiots," she was saying, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "They have bungled my daughter's missing person's case and I want the bastard that took Mandy found," she finished, her voice demanding, her eyes seething with anger and raw emotion.

Will the real Mayor Christensen please stand up? There is something knowing, hell creepy, about someone who could flip the coin of her personality like that. It made me want to lock my satchel in the safe, and nail down the valuables.

She stood there in her immaculate gray suit that cost more than my monthly food budget allowed. The layers of make-up didn't hide the bluish circles under her eyes, or the new crop of wrinkles along her forehead the photos and media coverage seemed to have missed or airbrushed.

"In case you haven't noticed, this is a long way from Memphis," I said, my temper escaping into thin strips of exasperation. "And I don't respond well to threats and name calling."

The mayor's eyes held mine.

"I apologize," she said forcefully, as if she didn't really mean it. "You're the best in this business, or so I'm told." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You solved that case that sent Governor Price packing to Alamogordo Cradle a few years back."

"Yeah, I did. But the answer is still no," I said back, inserting my own steeliness into my voice. The Change met with certain death and several key political figures were apprehended, killed, or promoted depending on what side of the case they landed on. It garnished me some publicity and the client list swelled after that, like a monsoon rain, drowning me in payments, vile human actions, and action.

It had since dried up.

I came around to stand close to her, to face her so that she knew she wasn't intimidating me. I was taller by about three inches and weighed more than her for sure, which somehow didn't make me feel all that great.

The doors to my private office opened and Jane came in, cautiously. She stood inside the entranceway. She opened her mouth to say something and quickly closed it.

Smart girl.

Mayor Christensen ran her hand through her light brown Afro, ruining its puffiness.

"Miss Lewis, I have come all this way. The regulators are no closer to solving this than they were four weeks ago! Time is ticking away, and my, my baby is out there somewhere. These are dangerous times, as you well know. Help me find her, please."

Suddenly, she was the sweet, southern girl from Memphis, twang and all—the distressed parent, not the bullying politician.

This one was quite the actress.

I shrugged. "As a rule, I don't investigate cases where the regulators have already been called in."

My friend Daniel Tom, a regulator and the only one competent one on the D.C. staff would kill me for meddling in his case without his permission. I'm sure the Memphis regs felt the same way.

She stared me, aghast. "As a rule? This is my daughter, Miss Lewis, surely…"

"Yeah, a rule. You should know about those. They're kind of like regulations…laws. When you are self-employed you can make up rules for your business. That's one of mine."

I did not dance to the beat of anyone's drummer, but my own, especially not that of some big shot politician. She could bring all the muscle she wanted, but I wasn't budging unless I wanted to.

Call me stubborn. Call me cautious. I didn't like the way this whole thing was unfolding.

"I will double your usual retainer," she said as she looked around the office. "It seems you can use it."

Jane winced, but still didn't speak.

"No," I said, struggling to keep my displeasure from going nuclear. "I just explained it to you. I don't do regulator ruined cases."

"Miss Lewis-"

"No."

My voice was louder than I wanted. Could it be that she just didn't get it? I wasn't taking her on as a client. Was it because she was a mayor and no one in the Memphis quadrant told her no that she seemed to not understand what the word meant?

Or could it be that she was so desperate to find her daughter, no was unthinkable?

I wasn't quite sure yet, but I did know one thing…I didn't like the ambush and it had put me in a bad mood.

Mayor Christensen stiffened as if slapped.

Jane finally spoke. "Cybil…"

I waved her off. My ire boiled beneath my somewhat awkward grin. I didn't take kindly to people barging into my office with a trio of paid thugs to flex on me. If you truly wanted my help, there were better ways to ask than to come armed. Sure, she required protection, who didn't in this age? Still, the entire affair could've been handled differently. Way different.

"Excuse me, Mayor Christensen," I said. "Jane. I have work to do."

What work? I had no idea, but I wanted them both out of my office and fast before I lost total control. I hunkered down at my desk and turned on my computer. I played around with the mouse, clicking as if I had something important to read or type up.

I didn't look up as the doors opened and closed after them.

End Excerpt

Want to know more? Grab your copy of SILENCED today.

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2008-08-20 00:06:46

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A Rebirth for Aurora and Sarah...

Hello. I'm Nicole Givens Kurtz, science fiction writer.

For about a year now,my titles, Browne Candidate and The Soul Cageshave been out of print. They were still available in electronic formats, but if you wanted a signed copy or one to take to the bathroom with you, well, unless you purchased a used copy, it wasn't going to happen.

Your luck is about to change, faithful reader.

I can't give away all the details yet, but I recently signed a contract to have both Browne Candidateand The Soul Cagesre-released. Yeah!

That's not all. Both titles will get new covers and a new editorial reworking. Think of it as a re-telling as Stephen King did with The Gunslinger. I'm no Stephen King (yet), but I am excited to rework the storylines and to add all the new ideas I've hatched since writing those two novels.

Most authors don't get the chance to refine a product once it's published, but this new publisher will allow me (and other authors) this luxury. I don't have a time frame for when these titles will be released again, but I am thrilled.

Naturally, if you have copies of the titles, you may want to get the new copies because they'll have tons more than the originals. If you've yet to try my works, then by all means do so at once!

Anyway, I wanted to give a special SHOUT OUT of Thanks to our men and women in the Armed Forces and to our veterans. Without you my right to work over novels, spin tales, and seek publication would be in vain (or censored).

Thank you!

Best,
Nicole Givens Kurtz

http://www.mochamemoirs.com/NGivens.htm

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2007-11-13 19:47:35

Saturday, September 22, 2007
Writing Life and What to Read After Harry's Done...

So, you're wondering what to read now that you're done with Harry Potter's series and (if you're at all like me, The Dark Tower series), I have a few suggestions, since I face the same dilemma. I'm actually feeling a bit of gloom since the only thing I look forward to at the bookstore is BLEACH's next installment and The Harlequin to be released in paperback.

Lately, I'm reading more and more cyberpunk. For some reason I'm devouring it with an enormous appetite that is both scary and strangely fascinating. As soon as I'm done with one, I'm ravenous for another one, so if you want to recommend any authors to me that write cyberpunk, let me know. Email me.

Anyway, I digress. Here are some of my new favorite authors and some suggestions to fill your TBR stack. My is seriously being worked now that I'm not writing as much due to the resumption of school. Yep, I'm a teacher and grading, lesson planning, and after school activities erode my writing time.

Science Fiction:

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2007-09-22 16:02:32