In the days leading up to the release of the new Narrow Street Films movie, Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness, we'll be showcasing one new character every two weeks. Get to know the cast and try to guess whodunnit! Name: Thomas Atkinson Position: Bookstore owner and alumnus of Noble College Category: Suspect Played by: Chris Dubey Thomas Atkinson could have been anything he wanted. Why he chose to end up a semi-reclusive owner of a bookstore in the middle of Portsmouth is anyone's guess. But while Thomas might seem inconsequential, he's connected to all the major players in the case: he was Emma Gagnon's friend, Sarah Hopper's employer, Prof. Stewart's former student, he helped produce Bridget Madden's concert, and his relationship with Samantha Harris might best be described as intense. Thomas Atkinson may not seem like a big player on the world's stage, but in this case he has made himself a person of interest. Chris Dubey has been a member of NSF for the last few years. The creative mind behind Dubeyous Productions, he makes movies and web series all over New England. He runs an ambulance service, and has a marvelous wife and son, who are very understanding of the constant misadventures. He will not be cutting his hair anytime soon. Be the first to know all Michael Lawrence news: sign up here and you could win tickets to the June 2017 film premier!
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by Tony Daniel The USS Enterprise is assigned to Vara Nebula to discover why science outpost Zeta Gibraltar is not answering Federation hailing signals. What they find is a deserted post, no life forms, and signs that indicate a violent firefight. Impossible as it seems, it appears that the members of the science team have been kidnapped by pirates who deal in the slave trade: pirates that are supposed to have been completely dispersed decades ago. The Enterprise immediately goes off in pursuit.. and find not only the pirates and their kidnapped scientists... but Mr. President George Washington as well. This is only the beginning of a strange, twisting adventure that brings Captain Kirk and his intrepid crew face-to-face with some of the heroes and villains from their past. Savage Trade is one of the few Trek books to really surprise me: constantly moving, with plot twist after plot twist, it's one of the most fun of the books and definitely one of the closest to the feel of the original series. Daniel has done his research on the characters well and if the final act is a little less-than-original and if there are a few unnecessary scenes here and there, the book more than compensates in its cheer, pacing, and sheer reading enjoyment. Highly recommended. Character Ratings: Kirk, Sulu, and Chekov: A+ Spock, McCoy, and Scott: B+ Uhura: too little seen to judge For some reason, this poem has been on autoplay in my head all week (that and Days in the Sun from Beauty and the Beast - excellent movie, you should really go see it). I memorized this as a teenager and can still recite most by heart. What I love most about this is its vigor and inherent optimism. Hopefully it'll resonate with you, too. Happy Friday! Psalm of Lifeby Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.: Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the world’s broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,— act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o’erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. Book 3 in the Seasons of Love series, by Liwen Ho. Librarian Chloe McAlister has almost gotten used to life with a cochlear implant, thanks to her best friend Dill Thomas, when life hands her another unforeseen twist: her longtime crush announces his engagement to someone else. On a whim, she signs up for a speed dating session and convinces Dill to go along with her, only to discover that Dill might actually be the man of her dreams after all. But he's met someone else. Is it too late for happily ever after? Liwen Ho writes short, fun stories that are easily read during your lunch hour and she has the happy knack of writing characters that you like from line one. Chloe and Dill are a likeable pair who are so natural on page that you'd swear you know them in real life. Chloe's struggles with self-image after her cochlear implant feel realistic and it's refreshing to see a rom-com character deal with something so life-altering in a fun, positive way. This is book three in the Seasons of Love series, and while each book is stand-alone, characters from previous books do crop up in in this one. Highly recommended. Enter to Win Two Tickets to the |
Note: I read The Egyptian Elixir first, but definitely recommend that you start with Book One: The Order of Blood. | Happy Valentine's Day! |
In this series of reviews, Killarney tries to watch every John Wayne movie since Stagecoach and shares her finds with you.
Synopsis: The four sons of Katie Elder return to their hometown of Clearwater for their mother's funeral, only to find that things have drastically changed. Their father died under mysterious circumstances, the family ranch is now owned by a man named Morgan Hastings, and their mother, a saintly woman beloved by all, died in suspicious poverty after sending her youngest son to college. The Elder boys want some answers, but Clearwater wants nothing to do with them and Hastings has a vested interest in getting rid of Katie's sons.
The Sons of Katie Elder is western mystery that asks the question: once your reputation is established, can you ever recover? John Elder is a gunslinger, Tom a card shark, and Matt an unsuccessful hardware dealer, all of whom neglected their mother and youngest brother, Bud. While trying to uncover the truth about their father's death, they learn a few hard ones about themselves - and when Hastings sets them up for murder, their reputations might just be their undoing.
Review:
Sons is a wicked good movie about bad men learning how to be good ones - and wondering whether its possible to do so in a society that already knows you. Wayne already touched the subject in Angel and the Badman, but Sons carries it to a darker, more realistic place. Wayne's character is determined that his younger brother won't go the same route he took, while wondering if it's too late for him to lead another kind of life. It's serious subject is lightened by the brothers' rapport with each other, but the final act of the movie is intense. When the brothers are falsely accused of murdering the popular town sheriff and a lynch mob forms, Martin's character decides to kill the guard to escape, only to be stopped by Wayne's. "I ain't facing no lynch mob," Martin says. "You ran in New Orleans and that's why we're here," Wayne replies. "This time we face it. Katie's going to win this one." It's this test of character that will prove whether or not the brothers are worthy of Katie's faith in them. This isn't just a good John Wayne movie. It's a great movie period. Highly recommended.
The Sons of Katie Elder is western mystery that asks the question: once your reputation is established, can you ever recover? John Elder is a gunslinger, Tom a card shark, and Matt an unsuccessful hardware dealer, all of whom neglected their mother and youngest brother, Bud. While trying to uncover the truth about their father's death, they learn a few hard ones about themselves - and when Hastings sets them up for murder, their reputations might just be their undoing.
Review:
Sons is a wicked good movie about bad men learning how to be good ones - and wondering whether its possible to do so in a society that already knows you. Wayne already touched the subject in Angel and the Badman, but Sons carries it to a darker, more realistic place. Wayne's character is determined that his younger brother won't go the same route he took, while wondering if it's too late for him to lead another kind of life. It's serious subject is lightened by the brothers' rapport with each other, but the final act of the movie is intense. When the brothers are falsely accused of murdering the popular town sheriff and a lynch mob forms, Martin's character decides to kill the guard to escape, only to be stopped by Wayne's. "I ain't facing no lynch mob," Martin says. "You ran in New Orleans and that's why we're here," Wayne replies. "This time we face it. Katie's going to win this one." It's this test of character that will prove whether or not the brothers are worthy of Katie's faith in them. This isn't just a good John Wayne movie. It's a great movie period. Highly recommended.
Best JW Quote:
Bud Elder: I'm going with you. I can draw pretty fast. We can be famous -- like the Dalton Brothers!
John Elder: They're famous -- but they're just a little bit dead. They were hung!
Best Swagger Moment: John Wayne comes in to find a hired gun harassing a local and takes the man out with one well-placed two-by-four.
JW Wisdom: "This time we face it. Katie's going to win this one."
Surprising Guest Star: James Gregory (General Ursus from Beneath the Planet of the Apes) plays Morgan Hastings. A very young Dennis Hopper plays his son.
Bud Elder: I'm going with you. I can draw pretty fast. We can be famous -- like the Dalton Brothers!
John Elder: They're famous -- but they're just a little bit dead. They were hung!
Best Swagger Moment: John Wayne comes in to find a hired gun harassing a local and takes the man out with one well-placed two-by-four.
JW Wisdom: "This time we face it. Katie's going to win this one."
Surprising Guest Star: James Gregory (General Ursus from Beneath the Planet of the Apes) plays Morgan Hastings. A very young Dennis Hopper plays his son.
Happy 2017, everyone!
I'm afraid I've been incognito these past few weeks, recovering from both the holidays and a few weeks of varying illnesses (yay for winter-bound ailments!). But I'm back and raring to go. 2017 is already promising to out-do it's predessors in fun and frolics. What's coming down the line, you ask? Good question! Here's a list!
- Tale Half Told will be launching later this year, marking my first writing collaboration with my much-put-upon and very talented sister, Margaret. We'll be posting a sneak-peek soon!
- Also launching later this year is Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness novel - a dark, twisty little book about murder, music, and mayhem set in the gorgeous city of Portsmouth, NH. And speaking of Michael Lawrence...
- Michael Lawrence: The Season of Darkness movie will have it's premiere at the first ever at the Anti-Film Festival in June. Want to go? Check out Narrow Street Films for more details.
- Coming up more quickly, Exeter, NH is sponsoring a showing of the Narrow Street Films The Man Who Wasn't Tex Magru, a fun old-fashioned comedy on February 11th. (Bonus: I sing in it! Blink and you'll miss me, but still...) Tickets are still available (shameless plug), so check it out!
Also of note, ever since watching Rogue One: a Star Wars story, I've had a hankering for stories set long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, so watch out for more reviews for Star Wars, Star Trek, cool new indie novels, and John Wayne movies, as well as contests, giveaways, sales, interviews with interesting people, and more fun.
Welcome, 2017: we know you're going to love it here!
I'm afraid I've been incognito these past few weeks, recovering from both the holidays and a few weeks of varying illnesses (yay for winter-bound ailments!). But I'm back and raring to go. 2017 is already promising to out-do it's predessors in fun and frolics. What's coming down the line, you ask? Good question! Here's a list!
- Tale Half Told will be launching later this year, marking my first writing collaboration with my much-put-upon and very talented sister, Margaret. We'll be posting a sneak-peek soon!
- Also launching later this year is Michael Lawrence: the Season of Darkness novel - a dark, twisty little book about murder, music, and mayhem set in the gorgeous city of Portsmouth, NH. And speaking of Michael Lawrence...
- Michael Lawrence: The Season of Darkness movie will have it's premiere at the first ever at the Anti-Film Festival in June. Want to go? Check out Narrow Street Films for more details.
- Coming up more quickly, Exeter, NH is sponsoring a showing of the Narrow Street Films The Man Who Wasn't Tex Magru, a fun old-fashioned comedy on February 11th. (Bonus: I sing in it! Blink and you'll miss me, but still...) Tickets are still available (shameless plug), so check it out!
Also of note, ever since watching Rogue One: a Star Wars story, I've had a hankering for stories set long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, so watch out for more reviews for Star Wars, Star Trek, cool new indie novels, and John Wayne movies, as well as contests, giveaways, sales, interviews with interesting people, and more fun.
Welcome, 2017: we know you're going to love it here!
A. A. Milne is, of course, best known for Winnie the Pooh. His gentle wisdom and humor has made Pooh one of the staples of childhood literature.
I thought I'd share a pearl of his wisdom today. And with the busy holiday season almost upon us, this seemed especially apt:
I thought I'd share a pearl of his wisdom today. And with the busy holiday season almost upon us, this seemed especially apt:
So, I know content on this blog has been a little sparse this past summer. But I do have a very good excuse: movie making!
Michael Lawrence: The Season of Darkness has been a blast to work on and now I'm proud to announce that the first trailer has been released! Watch it here - and be sure to leave a comment below!
Michael Lawrence: The Season of Darkness has been a blast to work on and now I'm proud to announce that the first trailer has been released! Watch it here - and be sure to leave a comment below!
Their 5-year mission coming to an end, the intrepid crew of the Enterprise finds themselves scattered to the four winds. Captain Kirk finds himself without a ship and after a brief tussle with the admiralty, finds himself accepting a promotion and a diplomatic position within Star Fleet. This pleases neither Spock nor Dr. McCoy. Spock returns to Vulcan to accept a post in a university, while McCoy pursues an old flame. But as they struggle to adjust to planet-side life (and a life without one another), an ancient evil arises and unites with a current enemy. Soon the old friends will find themselves fighting not only to save each other - but the fate of the Federation of Planets as well.
The Lost Years promises to fill the gap between the original TV show and the Star Trek: the Motion Picture. It may have more aptly been named The Lost, Rather Downer Year, as it barely covers one and what it does cover is rather depressing.
JM Dillard skillfully works together multiple plot lines, so many and so varied that it isn't until the 3rd act that you can see how they work together. Kirk resigns himself to desk-work and diplomacy, a fate made easier by the fact that he is reunited with Riley (the loveable Irishman from Season 1) and his boss is a comely Admiral who isn't immune from his charms. Spock, disappointed that Kirk will not take another ship, resigns from Star Fleet and pursues a relationship himself. And Dr. McCoy, ever doomed to romantic disappointment and convinced that Kirk has been hoodwinked into his new position, is adrift and lost, though accompanied by a witty and bright scientist who is studying ancient religions. The other characters make brief appearances and everyone is well-shown, Dillard obviously being a fan of the show.
But the whole book is so darned depressing. You wince as Kirk begins to make concessions, trimming his larger-than-life personality to fit behind behind the desk and into a career as a diplomatic problem-solver and we agree with McCoy when he accuses him of selling out to the higher-ups. McCoy is his sharp, tenacious self, but Spock is more than usually withdrawn and making his own concessions to the ordinary life. As is usual in friendships, their concessions affect their relationships, so much so that by the end of the book, you find yourself actually looking forward to The Motion Picture (now THAT is a sentence I'd never thought I'd write!) when some of this will be put right again.
Summary: Stellar plotting, strong lines, good side-character (I'm still annoyed at Kirk's new commanding officer), but depressing overall feel.
Character ratings:
McCoy A++
Kirk and Spock: A
Everyone else: too little seen to rate.
The Lost Years promises to fill the gap between the original TV show and the Star Trek: the Motion Picture. It may have more aptly been named The Lost, Rather Downer Year, as it barely covers one and what it does cover is rather depressing.
JM Dillard skillfully works together multiple plot lines, so many and so varied that it isn't until the 3rd act that you can see how they work together. Kirk resigns himself to desk-work and diplomacy, a fate made easier by the fact that he is reunited with Riley (the loveable Irishman from Season 1) and his boss is a comely Admiral who isn't immune from his charms. Spock, disappointed that Kirk will not take another ship, resigns from Star Fleet and pursues a relationship himself. And Dr. McCoy, ever doomed to romantic disappointment and convinced that Kirk has been hoodwinked into his new position, is adrift and lost, though accompanied by a witty and bright scientist who is studying ancient religions. The other characters make brief appearances and everyone is well-shown, Dillard obviously being a fan of the show.
But the whole book is so darned depressing. You wince as Kirk begins to make concessions, trimming his larger-than-life personality to fit behind behind the desk and into a career as a diplomatic problem-solver and we agree with McCoy when he accuses him of selling out to the higher-ups. McCoy is his sharp, tenacious self, but Spock is more than usually withdrawn and making his own concessions to the ordinary life. As is usual in friendships, their concessions affect their relationships, so much so that by the end of the book, you find yourself actually looking forward to The Motion Picture (now THAT is a sentence I'd never thought I'd write!) when some of this will be put right again.
Summary: Stellar plotting, strong lines, good side-character (I'm still annoyed at Kirk's new commanding officer), but depressing overall feel.
Character ratings:
McCoy A++
Kirk and Spock: A
Everyone else: too little seen to rate.
by Steve Hobbs
17-year-old Miri Jones is determined to be a police detective, like her father. When she stumbles upon a mutilated corpse in the woods during her morning run, she's convinced that she's found her first case. But this is no ordinary killing and it soon becomes apparent that not only is Miri in danger, but the entire town of New Hope as well. Plunged into the middle of a war they never knew existed, can Miri and her friends survive?
The first book in a series, Steve Hobb's novel reads like a fun, old-fashioned horror/adventure, a sort of Nancy Drew meets the X-Files. Miri Jones is a likeable protagonist who finds herself squaring off against desperate vampires, but she's not alone in the fight. While her father, Chief Jones, finds himself in an uneasy alliance with federal agents, Miri and her rag-tag team of quippy teens assemble to bring the killers to justice - and maybe save a family member as well.
Fast-paced and fun, with enough twists and turns to keep you entertained, this is a solid opening for a series. Highly recommended.
17-year-old Miri Jones is determined to be a police detective, like her father. When she stumbles upon a mutilated corpse in the woods during her morning run, she's convinced that she's found her first case. But this is no ordinary killing and it soon becomes apparent that not only is Miri in danger, but the entire town of New Hope as well. Plunged into the middle of a war they never knew existed, can Miri and her friends survive?
The first book in a series, Steve Hobb's novel reads like a fun, old-fashioned horror/adventure, a sort of Nancy Drew meets the X-Files. Miri Jones is a likeable protagonist who finds herself squaring off against desperate vampires, but she's not alone in the fight. While her father, Chief Jones, finds himself in an uneasy alliance with federal agents, Miri and her rag-tag team of quippy teens assemble to bring the killers to justice - and maybe save a family member as well.
Fast-paced and fun, with enough twists and turns to keep you entertained, this is a solid opening for a series. Highly recommended.
It's 19 years since the battle of Hogwarts, and the Boy-Who-Lived is now a husband, father, and head of his own department. But though Voldemort's long gone, all is not well in the wizarding world. There's movement in the outer realms, a gathering of dark magic, and Harry himself is being tortured by potent dreams. And to top it all off, his shaky relationship with his son, Albus, a Syltherin fourth-year, is being exacerbated by Albus's friendship with Scorpius Malfoy. When Albus and Scorpius go missing, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Malfoy, and Ginny are called to battle once again - but this time, it may not be their's for the winning.
When J. K. Rowling said that the Harry Potter story was complete with book seven, we would have done well to take her at her word.
Let's start with the pros: almost everything that you like about the Potter world is back in Cursed Child - riddles, wands, brooms, time-travel, witty comebacks, and themes of sacrifice and friendship. Your favorite characters have returned and in pretty good form, too: Ginny, Hermione, and Prof. McGonagall are terrific as always, and Harry himself has aged nicely into a 40-year-old. Ron comes across more like the cinematic character than the book form, but is still good for a laugh or two. Its fun to see them as established adults, with families and jobs: rather like running into old friends that you haven't seen in a while, but remain exactly the same for all the time that's passed.
But at it's best, Cursed Child is fun only in the way that fan-fiction is: a throwback with some new players, but adding nothing substantial to the cannon. (Note: one could argue that the Big Reveal is adding to the cannon - I would agree, but counter-argue that it was cliche and the Potter fandom deserved better.) The twisty mystery that was at the core of every Potter book is thin here and some of the charm is lost as a result. Despite the warnings to 'keep the secrets', there's nothing new here, nothing revelatory, and certainly nothing that would surprise anyone who read the first seven books. Looking back, I honestly don't know what secrets they're imploring play-goers to keep - everything in here has either been covered in Pottermore or by you and your friends over a mug of butter beer back in 2010.
While there are moments of fun and the original characters are solid, the father-son relationship is tiresome, the emotional subplots heavy handed, and the Big Reveal is no shock to anyone who's seen as many non-essential sequels as I have (to date, I'm the only one I know who actually enjoyed Beyond the Poseidon Adventure - I rock that way). The story suffers, in part, from brevity: we are unable to bond with the sulky Albus and perky Scorpius the way we were with Harry, Hermione, and Ron because this is only a script, not a series of novels. But even allowing for this, Cursed Child is momentarily diverting, but ultimately unnecessary.
Agree? Disagree? Comment below and let me know what you thought of the newest Harry Potter!
When J. K. Rowling said that the Harry Potter story was complete with book seven, we would have done well to take her at her word.
Let's start with the pros: almost everything that you like about the Potter world is back in Cursed Child - riddles, wands, brooms, time-travel, witty comebacks, and themes of sacrifice and friendship. Your favorite characters have returned and in pretty good form, too: Ginny, Hermione, and Prof. McGonagall are terrific as always, and Harry himself has aged nicely into a 40-year-old. Ron comes across more like the cinematic character than the book form, but is still good for a laugh or two. Its fun to see them as established adults, with families and jobs: rather like running into old friends that you haven't seen in a while, but remain exactly the same for all the time that's passed.
But at it's best, Cursed Child is fun only in the way that fan-fiction is: a throwback with some new players, but adding nothing substantial to the cannon. (Note: one could argue that the Big Reveal is adding to the cannon - I would agree, but counter-argue that it was cliche and the Potter fandom deserved better.) The twisty mystery that was at the core of every Potter book is thin here and some of the charm is lost as a result. Despite the warnings to 'keep the secrets', there's nothing new here, nothing revelatory, and certainly nothing that would surprise anyone who read the first seven books. Looking back, I honestly don't know what secrets they're imploring play-goers to keep - everything in here has either been covered in Pottermore or by you and your friends over a mug of butter beer back in 2010.
While there are moments of fun and the original characters are solid, the father-son relationship is tiresome, the emotional subplots heavy handed, and the Big Reveal is no shock to anyone who's seen as many non-essential sequels as I have (to date, I'm the only one I know who actually enjoyed Beyond the Poseidon Adventure - I rock that way). The story suffers, in part, from brevity: we are unable to bond with the sulky Albus and perky Scorpius the way we were with Harry, Hermione, and Ron because this is only a script, not a series of novels. But even allowing for this, Cursed Child is momentarily diverting, but ultimately unnecessary.
Agree? Disagree? Comment below and let me know what you thought of the newest Harry Potter!
Proud to announce that a new Narrow Street Films movie is starting production this June. Michael Lawrence is a detective film set in Portsmouth, NH.
More information coming soon!
More information coming soon!
Last fall, I got a chance to play in a cool short film, called Heroism. Check it out here!
For more information about Narrow Street Films, be sure to check out their website and Facebook page!
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