Sunday, June 25, 2006
Zephyr Unfolding Gets 4 Hearts from Romance Studio!

Zephyr Unfolding receives four hearts from the Romance Studio!

Nearly a year after its release, Zephyr Unfolding continues to astound and stir up good reviews from critics and readers alike! Recently, The Romance Studio reviewed the novel and reviewer, Linda L. had this to say...

"...Zephyr Unfolding is a fantastic read filled with thrilling action, mixed with love, adventure and much betrayal...Ms. Kurtz pens an enjoyable ride in this science fiction tale that will please any reader..."

You can check out the entire review here.

If you haven't gotten a copy of Zephyr, grab it at lulu.com, Double Dragon, or other fine bookstores!

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2006-06-25 20:24:05

Wednesday, June 7, 2006
X-Men III: My Three Ways It Could’ve Been Better

As always with blogging, I try to be honest, be me and be real. So let me say up front that I actually liked this movie—despite the blog’s title. And no, I am not going to join the hoards that’ve jumped on the “bash X-Men” wagon.

Still even though I liked it, it doesn’t mean that there weren’t flaws with it.

Major flaws.

So, out of the kindness of my heart, and my pure, unadulterated affection for the X-Men (hello, comic book reader and lover of MARVEL!).

Reason #1 it could’ve been better: It could’ve had more of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine! He’s drowned out by all the new mutants in the movie and well, let’s be honest, Wolverine is one of the most interesting characters in the X-Men universe. Though his lustful romp with Jean Gray/Phoenix in the infirmary didn’t do them justice either.

It was over way too quickly, and to be frank, Wolverine would’ve been all over that and asking questions later. The Phoenix/Jean Gray storyline took up several issues and rippled across several comic series in the X-Men universe. It’s just strange for me to see it chopped up and diced into about 45 minutes.

Reason #2 it could’ve been better: Trim back on the shear amount of mutants. Yes, I know that special effects has come a gazillion light years from the original Star Wars, but that doesn’t mean a movie needs to be saturated with it.

Did I enjoy seeing Angel take flight? Yes, but his storyline would’ve taken an entire movie in and of itself. So what’s his purpose here?

Ditto with Cyclops. Again, the entire Jean Gray/Phoenix thing is so massive; a two hour movie devoted solely to that plot line might’ve worked. He didn’t die in the comic book, so I’m wondering why he had to die in the movie version of that particular storyline?

Beast is also a multi-layered character, and yes, I know the producers and screenwriters couldn’t include or expand upon all of these plotlines. So why include these characters at all? Why not focus on the central ones from the previous movies, and perhaps, just for variation, settle on the Iceman/Rogue love angle with Kitty Pride.

Or expand on the boy who’s mutant ability is to reverse others’.

But pick two and not two hundred! Ten minute plotlines and storylines made the whole thing seemed rushed and very, very superficial.

Reason #3 the movie could’ve been better: Storm. Being African American and female, Storm is my girl, but favorite of the X-Men (well, one of my favorites). Her role in this movie, bumps her up from background beauty to in-charge sista.

But there were disturbing questions.

1. What happened to her accent from movies 1 and 2?
2. Loved the hairstyle and the clothes, but what was up with her lose of control over her powers when at Xavier’s school?


3. When the hell did Charles ever expect STORM to run his school? Totally weird and well, it hit me from left field.

So, my suggestion would be for the writers to refit some of the Storm issues. She’s got control over her powers, and she’s got other drama going on besides running Xavier’s school. Though I found the gesture flattering, the post in the comic went to Jean Gray, not Storm, and totally uncharacteristic.

So, those are my main things that could’ve been better. Post your comments below. I’m ready to discuss this film!

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2006-06-07 00:46:23

Sunday, May 14, 2006
Are Serial Novels Becoming a Serious Problem?

Serial novels aren’t new. However it seems that just as Hollywood has fallen into a sequels rut, making very little original, creative, fresh new movies, so is the case with novels.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge of fan of The Dark Tower, Anita Blake, and Harry Potter—all of which are long, volumes of serial books.

I’m even guilty of writing serial books. It seems that every novel I write, both under my current pen name, and my romance pen name, I want to serialize.

I can’t speak for other writers, producers, etc., but for me, it’s not so much the characters, but the world that makes me want to write several volumes.

World building is hard, difficult, intensive work. I hate building a world, leaving it and never again going to play there. The characters themselves can come and go, their stories told, enjoyed, and done. Yet the world itself is difficult to just leave without wanting short vacations back there.

Yet I have heard that serial novels are laziness on the part of the author, producer, {insert here any other titles of creative personnel}. Those who write serial novels are dumbing down childre/readers and single-handedly turning people off from reading. I’m not quite sure I buy into this statement.

Yes, I did just discuss how hard, time intensive and front-heavy world building is, and that I hated leaving all that work to spoil. But who wouldn’t?

It’s the same as football player who continues to play well past the point of retirement. Why? Because they’ve spent years, chunks of their lives working on that skill, to reach that goal. It’s difficult to just walk away from that.

And that’s the point with writing serials.

I don’t write them because they’re easy. Creating characters to fit into those worlds are always hard. Not to mention, readers sometimes like to see the same characters in the same world, without too much overwhelming changes—while still bringing a fresh twist to the tale.

Come to think of it, none of this shit is easy.

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2006-05-14 23:15:56

Tuesday, May 9, 2006
LepreCON: A Look Back

Leprecon has come to an end, and I'm back home in Gallup. As I reflect over the convention itself, I must say that I met some truly fun people. I also had a chance to spend time alone with my husband, without children as my father-in-law babysat the three boys (thanks Dad!).

I did manage a sell--to a fantastic poet! Thanks, Scott!

Yes, Iwas new to LepreCON and spent my first panel fingerpainting with Gilead, an extrordinarily gifted artist. I also managed to purchase a print of Alan M. Clark's Dark Tower painting with Roland standing at the foot of the enormous tower. Check out the print here. If you don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to Roland and the Dark Tower, it would take too long to explain.

Anyway, I'm terribly excited about my purchase and my time fingerpainting. My kids loved it too!

Ispent timetalking to David Lee Summers, Evo Terra and Michael about science fiction and audio books. I also swapped CON stories and experiences as well as classroom stuff with Shelia Unwin. Overall a very good time.

But as it was, I am quite tired by the end of day one. Too tired to even talk about what I did that night after the panels. I also managed to meeet lovely people, purchase truly wonderful art, and overall enjoy myself immensely.

I even made some beautiful art--necklac I even made some beautiful art--necklace and bracelet from beading. I even participated on a panel that discussed crossing genres.

There's nothing else I can say, except the competition between LepreCON and the Nebulas rendered the hotel empty to some degree as all the fans were seeking out the big name stars at the Nebulas in Tempe.

I liked Leprecon, overall and would attend again.e and bracelet from beading. I even participated on a panel that discussed crossing genres.

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2006-05-09 23:40:42

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Rejection and Wait--More Rejection!

Well, if one thing can be said of writing, it's this...your skin grows incredibly thick and calloused before you die.

Then the critics scrap it off, and celebrate your literary genius!

Two things happened this week that have added an additional layer of skin to my already ripped hide. A publisher and I parted waysand a potential agent rejected my latest stab at commerical writing.

"Wait," you might be saying. "Don't all writers ger rejected?"

We do. And let me tell you, it doesn't get any easier regardless of the rejection count. I don't care how long you've been writing...when someone tells you that your work isn't "right" then something inside you eeks out a small whimper.

If you're new to the game, you might release a bellowing "What?" instead of the soft eeking.

True enough, many of my friends have agents, publishing contracts, and are on the golden roadto the "dream"--being a full time, well paid writer.

I am not on the road yet, but am driving in circles in the parking lot.

I've been at this for some time, as many of you well know. Unfortunately, there's no time table for when you make it, or IF you even make it. I'm in the boat, paddling against the tide of wanna-be writers in a genre that is not common for African Americans that are also women.

You've heard my soapbox speech about that, read "Race Card: Is it Electric?" So I won't repeat it here.

So, why am I once again blogging about an ordinary occurance for millions of writers?

Because misery loves company :-).

I'm kidding about the company part.

I'm blogging about it for many reasons, some very private, but I will post the public reasons.

The Top Five Public Reasons I am blogging about REJECTION:

1. So that beginning writers realize that just because you have books published, you're still a nobody until you reach #30 or above on the New York Times bestseller list.

2. To save my husband's ears-By writing it here, he won't have to listen to me rant about it for hours and hours tonight.
3. To gather pity for myself-If everyone who reads this thinks I deserve a pity party, they'll throw me one.
4. To prove that I am human- there is a common belief on the Internet that I am not human, but a robot that spells everything phonetically and loses my students' homework papers--as a means of torture.
5. So that I don't waste Bethany's time- because she's got so many other things to do besides listen to me bellyache about rejection...again!

There you have it folks. What do you think? BTW- Check me out at LepreCON in Phoenix this weekend!

Later~

Nicole

Posted by Nicole Givens Kurtz 2006-05-03 20:09:48