Music blog: Enya does Silent Night

Tis the season.




Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

 

Tis the Season to the Hostile

So, after several months of 16 hours days, working on five projects at once (I may be underestimating this), and releasing three books in a month -- and there's a good reason for that -- and trying to keep up the radio show, I'm sick.

Actually, I've been sick for about a month. But it's finally gotten to the point where I am now forced to admit that I'm sick.

Of course, all of the people who have been telling me to rest and relax are the same people who are constantly bugging me, and wondering why I'm not at their beck and call.

Why not? Guess what, people, BECAUSE I'M SICK.  Thank you.

Here's some music.

Bah humbug.




Here, make me feel better, buy some of the books below.

 

Music blog: O come, O come, Emmanuel

The carols are up and running. Time for Peter Hollens




Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

Music Blog: Carol of the Bells (Peter Hollens)

My only problem with this one?

Too short.

Enjoy everyone.





Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

Christmas Is Here, Elize Ryd

From the lead singer of Amaranthe ... one of them, anyway.

How do I NOT share an album called Ragnarok Yuletide?






Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

Top 10 Christmas Classics

Tolstoy said, "All happy families are happy in the same way; all unhappy families are unhappy in their own unique way."

This, of course, as has been discussed before in a previous post, is bullcrap. Pure 100% unfettered bullcrap.

To prove it in this particular instance, take my family, please. Growing up, I had a distinct set of Christmas films. I would even go so far as to call them unique. The following list consists of these Christmas films, in no particular order; the numbers are not indicative of quality, simply to count them off.

#1 Captain Newman, MD

My family has, from time to time, described itself as "philo-semetic". that would explain why a group of Irish Catholic New Yorkers know all the words to "Hava Nagila," in English AND Hebrew. This might explain why one of these Christmas movies is written by a man named Leo Rosten.

This movie stars Tony Curtis and Angie Dickinson and Gregory Peck. If you can believe that Captain Ahab is the head doctor of a mental ward in World War II, you have a pretty good idea where this is going. This includes bit parts from James Gregory (Manchurian Candidate, Barney Miller), and also includes a bit part by Robert Duval, (The Godfather I and II, To Kill a Mockingbird).  Duval might also be familiar to people who remember the original film "MASH". If you do not remember these films, please go out and rent them, thank you.

What makes this a Christmas movie? Mostly Act Three, and the conclusion. The themes are present throughout the movie, but you don't see it until the finale.

#2 Desk Set

A charming little Tracy and Hepburn comedy, and one of the few times I really enjoy them together. It's computers versus people ... and it ends at the most wonderful time of the year.  Heh

#3 Bell Book and Candle

Jimmy Stewart is a book publisher, Kim Novak is a witch. Jack Lemmon is her insane brother. When Novak puts Stewart under her spell, the problem really becomes who ends up bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Largely a comedy that takes place over a week, from December 25th to New Years. Hilarity ensues.

#4 The Bishop's Wife


Our current generation might be aware of that particular abomination called The Preacher's Wife, which was not only a criminal waste of the acting talents of Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance, but was a flat-out rape of a good classic film. The original Bishop's Wife starred the always-charming David Niven (Guns of Navarone), Loretta Young, and the ubiquitous Cary Grant (Notorious, North by Northwest, any popular Hitchcock that didn't star Jimmy Stewart). If you have been fortunate enough to avoid The Preacher's Wife, an Episcopal pastor prays for aid, and he gets it in the form of angel Grant. Hilarity ensues.

This film also stars Monty Wooly, the Yale professor - turned- actor who taught Cole Porter. which leads to...

#5 The Man Who Came to Dinner

In this one, Monty Wooly stars as a beloved radio personality who makes Doctor House look warm and cuddly. He come to Small Town America, slips on the ice, and is trapped there. He is confined to the house of the family that was to host him, and proceeds to make their life a living hell, belittling them, their friends, their town, and causing general mayhem.

Also starring Bette Davis as his secretary, in possibly the only role I ever found her remotely attractive or appealing.

Also guest starring Jimmy Durante as the most bizarre deus ex machina ever. 

A more recent version stars Nathan Lane as the titular Scrooge, co-starring the ghost of Jimmy Durante. 

Speaking of Scrooge...

#6 Scrooged

One of Bill Murray's better performances outside of Ghostbusters, recasting Scrooge into the world of modern, cutthroat Wall Street, in charge of a major TV network. The four spirits that haunt this fellow cannot be translated into a Disney cartoon, unlike the original. His female lead is Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). It is dark, and it is funny, despite having Bobcat Goldthwait (okay, he was funny here, and maybe Police Academy).

#7 Lethal Weapon

Even though this film has not aged well, and is populated by more psychos than a Norman Bates family reunion, it has a bizarre charm in its use of Christmas carols. Yes, I grew up with this film. I can't really watch it anymore, since so much of it creaks, but it held up for years.

#8 The Long Kiss Goodnight

A female Jason Bourne, played by Geena Davis, aided by a low-rent PI, played by the grand muthaf****r himself, Samuel L. Jackson. It is a very 90s movie, but still holds up well. It's MacGuffin ... doesn't work today, but it worked then because it was the first one to do it.

#9 and #10 Die Hard and Die Harder

I've done two blogs on why Die Hard is perfect. I don't think I really need to follow it up. But while Die Harder feels like a rehash of the first one, it has some nice twists, an interesting cast, including the late Senator Frank Thompson.



Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

Music blog: Ave Maria

The male lead from Nightwish, and the female lead from Amaranthe, singing Ave Maria.

I think I've fallen into an alternate reality.

Yes, it's not technically Christmas music ... shut up.






Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

TONIGHT, on The Catholic Geek: Christmas Carols

The Catholic Geek: Christmas Carols 12/04 by We Built That Network | Music Podcasts:

At 7PM, TONIGHT.

It's our first Christmas themed show EVER! Host Declan Finn brings in Moira Greyland and Alfred Genesson back to the show to discuss the music of Christmas, including Christmas Carols, live versus recorded music, and we'll probably see if we can get at least one of them to sing. With luck, that 'one' will not be Declan.

Moira Greyland plays stunning harp solos and sings beautiful songs including selections from the repertoire of Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. She also presents a Celtic program featuring the music of Celtic Woman. A master teacher, and founder of two opera companies, Moira can teach you to sing, or to play the harp. Lessons are available via Skype or in person in North Texas. Email Moira at moiragreyland@me.com for details. If you love Celtic music, Moira's harp and traditional Irish stylings have earned her praise from some of the best known Irish singers in the world. Mary O'Hara said 'Well done' of Moira's album 'Avalon's Daughter, and Margie Butler of Golden Bough said 'I wish I could use my high voice like she does.' Kristoph Klover of Avalon Rising said of Moira's original composition 'Guinevere's Song' 'Man! I wish I had written that!' James Meredith, director of Sonos Handbell Ensemble, called 'Avalon's Daughter' 'Rollicking fun!'




Also, if you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all an oy vey

Merry Christmas, to one and all.  Or, as my Jewish friends call it, merry "Chinese food and movie" day.

If you're wondering, no, I'm not really going to blog today, of all days.  After all, I'm crazy, not particularly stupid.

However, I think this is a great time for O, Holy Night, by Peter Hollens.  So, turn up the volume, and enjoy.

Tonight's the night

I do not do sweet and touching.

But for this, I'll make an exception.  Silent night, done by Lindsey Stirling.

We Three Kings and The Force Awakens (review)

A few things.

As mentioned previously, my book, Honor At Stake is going through a serious price drop. The usual $22 paperback is now under $8 as of this writing, so buy now while supplies last. Yes, really, there are 7 left at Amazon.

The Pius shorts are still on sale. Both Pius Origins and Pius Holidays are less than a dollar on Kindle, and the complete Pius Tales (with bonus material) is in paperback and on kindle

Now that that's out of the way, first up: Christmas Music! Enjoy.

By the way, can you guess what I saw this weekend?  One hint.

O Come, Emmanuel

Christmas music!

Enjoy

Music Blog: Celtic Carol - Lindsey Stirling

Tis four days before Christmas, and all through the house, we're going to close up the blog early -- can't you hear the mouse?

However, before I abandon everyone to their last minute Christmas shopping -- and you forgot aunt Shelly, didn't you? -- a little bit of Christmas music is in order.

Not too long ago, we had Silent Night, by Lindsey Stirling. This time, we're going a little bit more Irish. If you haven't figured it out from Maureen McGrail, and Sean Ryan, and Scott Murphy as characters in my novel, I'm a little bit Irish. About 50% if you want to bicker.

So, it should come as no surprise that today's "God rest ye merry Gentlemen" is going to be a little Irish....

With Lindsey Stirling.

Angels We Have Heard on High - Piano Guys

I prefer singing this carol to an instrumental, but right now, I'll take it.

And let's face it, these guys know how to put on a show.

Be well all, and Merry Christmas

Christopher Lee's Heavy Metal Christmas

Christopher Lee (RIP) singing Christmas Carols with an electric guitar in the background. Your argument? So very invalid .... or does that meme already so five minutes ago?

Music blog: The Cruxshadows- O Holy night

Because it's Christmas.  It is time to party. And this is awesome music. And yes, it's the Cruxshadows, just try it anyway. Trust me on this, would you?

And, just for the record, if you're one of those Black Saturday shoppers, seriously, just buy Honor At Stake. The price has dropped to $10. It's a good deal, and it's readable for all ages. It really is. It'll make life easier on you.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

And now, the rest of the Christmas story

As was mentioned yesterday, I've been having such fun fixing my printer. After TWO HOURS, there is a solution.

That solution? Get another printer.

 Thankfully, it's still under warranty, so I'm getting yet ANOTHER new one. It looks like two novels will come out next year. At least. Yay.

Now, a bit of business.

1) Sad Puppies 4 is still taking nominees.  If you think that Sad Puppies Bite Back is good enough for Best Related, or if Honor At Stake is good for best novel, or if this blog works for best Fan Writing or Fanzine or something, by all means, go ahead. PLease do it soon, because I have no idea when the nominations end.

2) Amazon has slashed the price of Honor at Stake to $10 in paperback. If you're a hard copy person, now's your chance. Strike!  I'd actually suggest them as Christmas presents to boys and girls of all ages. It might actually be perfect, strangely enough. Guys like the action. The women like the romance. And no one hates this book. I'm shocked, really.

3) Please remember, I have anthologies out there -- Pius Holidays, Pius Origins, and the complete Pius Tales.  They're dirt cheap.

4) There are two videos here. One is about the mice that nearly ruined Christmas by making it a really silent evening (no, really, just listen). I think you'll like it.

There is music below ... watch one before playing the other, I think.

The First Rule of the Caretaker

The following blog post is not one designed to evoke pity, a bit for sympathy, or note of any particular plight. In fact, the short version is that I'm okay, I will live, nothing is the matter. Technically.

The first rule of taking care of other people is simple: if you don't take care of yourself, you are completely useless to anyone and everyone else. It you turn into a wreck, you have failed. You have failed your friends, you have failed those who rely upon you, and you have failed yourself.

I haven't failed just yet, but I'm close.

I have, over the course of this month-plus, posted haphazardly, neglected my radio show, and I've barely managed to keep in touch with friends, colleagues, and my marketing is at the bare minimum. I can't even keep up with twitter or email.  Think about that a moment. I have problems finding time to delete junk mail.

Among fighter pilots, there is a thing called target focus -- you focus so hard on what you're aiming for, you crash into it. When I'm on a major massive project, I can, occasionally, fall into that.

In short, I'm a little burned out.

Right now, I am home again (home again, jiggity jig), and yet there are moments when I try to relax, I cannot focus, my nerve endings feel like they're firing and my heart rate it spiking. I have had no time to myself for over a month now. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Even though I'm home, I'm having my time eaten up by people who want my attention. Who need my attention.

Of course, I ALSO need to finish everything I've fallen behind on while I was away. Up to and including SIGNING THE CONTRACT FOR BOOK 3 OF MY VAMPIRE SERIES.  Yes, that's right, I had the contract before I left, and I never got a chance to print, sign, scan, and send it into the publisher. And now the brand new printer doesn't want to work. Yay.

I'm going to need alone time now. This may require me to lock myself in a dark room for a while. If I do not reply to your correspondence, DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY.  There is a reason I have scheduled no new radio programs since my return. Even the idea of ranting and raving is actually something that hurts right now.

I need downtime. And quiet. Mostly quiet.  Quiet I cannot get because I've had repeated phone calls in the two hours it has taken me to write these paltry few hundred words.

In short, I really do need to be left alone.

I'll be posting a lot of Christmas music from here on out. Because it's Christmas. And because I think Christmas music might be the most my nervous system can handle at this minute.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a bah humbug.

My Christmas Spirit Needs an Exorcist

I've been going to church since I was ... born, probably.  Though I must admit, of the many, many bible quotes I've heard, one that always struck with me was the one about the proper way to pray. You're not supposed to throw ashes on yourself, wear ratty clothes and pray on street corners. The proper way is to pray in a closet, out of sight of everyone. You're not showing off, and you're not showing how good pure and noble you are, etc.

It's one reason why I'm not going into a lot of detail about what I've been doing lately.  The other reason is that it's really none of your business, it's someone else's private affairs,

Though I have to tell you, it's been an interesting month.

I've gone into some details here or there, but for the newcomers, let me catch you up.

For those people who have gathered / guessed, I was in Indiana helping a friend of mine not only bury her husband, but also do other things. Like move. Sort of. Suffice it to say that it's a long story, and it's none of your business. So there, nyah.

However, one of the things I've noticed is how many people are thanking me for doing this, or how many people are talking about how good a thing I'm doing.

At which point my reaction is, invariably, "What else would I do?"

No, seriously, a show of hands: you have a friend. Your friend suddenly has to bury someone near and dear to them. What do you do?

(A) Go help
(B) Stay away
(C) Send platitudes and do nothing else
(D) Help as much as you are able.

If you're a halfway decent human being, A or D is your answer. And I could do A.

And some of the people who expressed how good my actions were? Many of them were doing D -- researching legal questions and technical computer questions, and referring real estate people, or sending money, or passing the hat around.

Because guess what, people are good. Who knew? You know, aside from the book of Genesis.

At the end of the day, my Christmas spirit does not actually need an exorcist. Strange as that may be. I have practically been drowning in Christmas spirit -- there are literally dozens if not hundreds of people who have thrown support into this effort. At the end of the day, both my friend and I came out the other end of this relatively sane ... well, as sane as ever, so you do the math.

In short, the Christmas spirit is alive and well and acts in really odd ways.

And yet, somehow, through all of this, even the people who are piling in with the goodness, people think I'm doing the good deed.

But what else would I do? It's Christmas. And there are a lot of good people who have made all of this turn out far better than it otherwise could have.

#BlackFriday shopping list -- here we go again

Well, at least this year, Christmas decorations went on sale in September...

Yes, last year, they were in August.

Yes.  August!

ARRGGHH.

Anyway, black Friday is coming, and we must be prepared. This is yet another list to make your shopping lives easier -- for Black Friday, or for the upcoming Cyber Monday. I've reviewed some of these books (links attached), and others are new even to me, but have come recommended to me. You might want to try some of these items below.

In short: give the gift of books to people you care about. They're cheaper than iPods. Heh.

As with last year, I will start with suggesting my own novels. Not even all of my own novels, just some of them. The newest ones, for starters.

To start with, there's Honor At Stake.  Because everyone loves this novel. Is it because it's romance? It is because it's vampires? Urban Fantasy? A little YA-ish? A little Christian-fic?

I have no idea.

But if you're new here, it's about a boy meeting a girl.  One of them is a homicidal monster. The other's just a vampire. It has Vatican Ninjas, and holy water burning vampires, and sunlight killing unholy monsters AND NONE OF THE VAMPIRES SPARKLE, DAMNIT.

Ahem. Anyway.

People like it. If you look at the Amazon reviews, everyone likes it. Everyone. Even people I don't know like it. I'm not sure why, but there you go.

Another newcomer on the scene are the anthologies.

Pius Origins blows up stuff.

Pius Holidays blows up even more stuff with Christmas lights and the accompanying music.

And Pius Tales gives you all that and more.

Yes, Pius Tales is actually out now.

Surprise.

What can I say? It's been a LOOOOONG week.

If you're new here, there are the usual suspects.

A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller -- It's surprisingly well reviewed, no one hates it (yet, give me time), where I take the war to Dan Brown, and every other nimrod who thinks they can write bad history in a thriller and get away with it.

A Pius Legacy: A Political Thriller -- The villains who survived A Pius Man have decided that some payback is involved.  Step one? Kidnap the Pope. Then the fun really starts.  Surprisingly, this one had better reviews than the first.... also fewer. Anyway, please buy the book already. Thank you.

A Pius Stand: A Global Thriller: The end of the trilogy. Saving the Pope has consequences.  And army. A war. And no quarter given. It's time to finish the fight.

And, while I"m doing this.....

Codename: Winterborn .... the "other" novel, also strangely well reviewed. Genre: character-driven scifi espionage. While on a mission to the Islamic Republic of France, Lt. Kevin Anderson's team is betrayed by the politicians who sent them. As the only survivor, Anderson must stop the senators involved before the next team is slaughtered on the altar of political greed. He's certain he won't survive, but he will make this sacrifice, for his Codename is Winterborn. I recommend this for all fans of Baen novels -- like John Ringo, David Weber, and even your straight up thriller writers, like Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, et al.

On with everyone else.

Several of the following books you may have seen before. Trust me, there's a reason they made one of my top reading lists.

Murder in The Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes -- if you've been reading my blog for a long time, you know that I loved this one, and I can't possibly recommend it enough.... and then there's The Watson Chronicles, which is even better.  The only books I will recommend over my own, and I'm told my books are pretty awesome, so, yeah...

The Book of Helen -- dang, this was a kickass little novel.  The West Wing meets the Trojan war, this novel goes beyond the "they all lived strangely ever after" of Helen of Troy, and follows the rest of her life after she came home from Troy.  Yes, Helen did have an "after Troy."  You know the mythology, and now, this is the rest of the story.

Ordinance 93:  I've reviewed this book, I've interviewed this author, and I somehow still haven't mentioned her on the blog yet. Ordinance 93 is a thriller that sort-of centers around abortion. It's not really a pro-life book, despite how I referred to it in the Examiner posts.  It's a very long story, but if you're interest, check out the review. It would take too long otherwise.

Infinite Space, Infinite God II .... a Catholic scifi-anthology, so, yeah...fun.

Greater Treasures -- Imagine the Maltese Falcon with dragons. Nuff said.

Stealing Jenny, by Ellen Gable: After 5 miscarriages, Jenny is about to have a pregnancy come to full term... until a psychotic woman kidnaps her and chains her in her basement with the intention of taking the child for her own. I liked this one.

Amy Lynn: You can read my review right here.

Night Machines by Kia Heavey .... this one was interesting.  Almost Doctor Who-ish by way of Rod Serling.

And, of course, there is an endless list of books I can recommend, which happen to be a different tab at the top of the page -- includes Flynn, Ringo, Weber, Thor, etc, etc.


Tears of Paradox, by Daniella Bova.

In the not so distant future, Michelle hides in the shadowy cornfields of rural Pennsylvania, waiting for her unborn child, targeted by the untouchables who have assumed absolute power . Michelle’s husband, Jason, remains in their hometown, struggling against overwhelming odds to keep his wife and child from being found.
The blue-collar Catholic couple have already endured numerous losses, including that of a baby son, born under mysterious circumstances. This pair of childhood sweethearts and their family and friends have always stuck together, but the storms of transformation turn everything upside down. Friendships disintegrate, fathers and sons become enemies, and trust is a thing of the past. The ways of traditional America have gradually become what those in power term evil. What used to be evil is now the law, strictly enforced by the bureaucracy, and for ordinary people there is no middle ground; you either play or pay.
Deviation from government policy will land you in jail… or worse. Media figures who aren’t part of the power structure begin slowly disappearing, and Jason must depend solely on God to help him save his wife and baby. 

My review here.

And then there are the Jack July novels I reviewed.  Amy Lynn and Amy Lynn: Golden Angel.  Just buy them. Read them. The first one could be dark YA.  The second ... yeah, for adults only. One's a solid novel, the second one is a solid thriller. Just go with me on this one, okay?

Now, as far as books I haven't looked at yet.... [Below the break.]