The Thirteenth Hour Podcast

Originally released on June 6, 2016.

In this week's episode, fantasy author Missy Sheldrake joins the show, so fairy tale fans, authors, and illustrators sit back, relax, and enjoy the one hour plus show!  Missy is unique in that she's one of the few authors out there who also creates her own covers (see them below) and illustrates her novels.

You'll find out more in the podcast, but early elements of the series actually came from the Game Dark Age of Camelot.

(Missy definitely got her money's worth out of this game, since she got not only a book series from it but a husband and a job - who says playing video games doesn't pay??? :)

Her creations aren't just 2D - some are sculptures.  Check out her page for a gallery of hand-crafted fairies.

Check out some of her books featuring the fairy world she created below - see the cover and many more pictures at https://13thhr.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=5514

Thanks again, Missy, for coming on the show, and good luck with the new release!  Learn more about her work below:

Website: http://missysheldrake.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/missysheldrake

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_sheldrake/

Tumblr: http://etsyfairydawn.tumblr.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/MissySheldrake/and https://www.facebook.com/muralsbymissy

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13672249.Missy_Sheldrake?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00UVLQWGY

As always, thanks for listening!

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Originally aired on May 30, 2016.

Today's episode is about a song that I originally started started writing as a part of a chapter in The Thirteenth Hour.  Finally got around to finishing it.  It's a bit of a folk song.  Here's the passage that talks about it:

Then she looked up at me, through reddened eyes, and I struggled to say, “I thought I would never see you again ... I'm so glad I found you.”

She nodded, and I wiped her tear–streaked ashen face with my sleeve, trying to maneuver around the burns and scabs. After a time, her eyelids began to fall, and then right when I thought she might be drifting off to sleep, she laughed a little.

“Do you know, Logan, that since you've left I haven't sang or hummed any of the songs I used to like? I just thought of one now.”

... more of this except on the show original show notes here: https://13thhr.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=5444

A pixelart dragon from the vaporware Thirteenth Hour game

You can hear an acoustic guitar version on this week's podcast.  The song will eventually become part of the soundtrack, which you can find here.

Speaking of which, previews and discussion of music and movies that inspired the soundtrack is on Instagram under @the13thhr.ost.  Since Instagram recently changed their videos to allow 60 seconds of footage, I'm considering making 1 min 80s-synth style versions of some of those favorite influential 80s songs.  It's hard to distill the essence of a great song down to just 1 minute ... but it might be a fun exercise and different that the usual tribute.  Look for those soon!

Lastly, check Twitter for weekly and bi-weekly Amazon giveaways (look for #AmazonGiveaway on social media)- free to enter; you can enter each week until you win if you want.

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More on the creative process next week with author Missy Sheldrake.  Preview links below!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/missysheldrake

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_sheldrake/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/MissySheldrake/ and https://www.facebook.com/muralsbymissy

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13672249.Missy_Sheldrake?from_search=true&search_version=service

Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B00UVLQWGY

As always, thanks for listening!

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Originally released on May 23, 2016.

Today's episode is all about gadgets people carry in their pockets (or in bags), though it mostly focuses on pocketknives.  Those of who who've watched Angus Macgyver at work know he can do pretty much anything with a Swiss Army knife and a paperclip, so these things are handy to have.

Two of the covers of the Great Brain books written by John D. Fitzgerald.  There are 5 others (plus one published from the author's notes after his death).  I do believe these books made me interested in carrying a pocketknife when I read them as a child, though I probably would have shredded my hands with one.

My folks wisely had me wait a few years.  My father eventually bought me one like this at a local hardware store:

A Schrade Old Timer Middleman stockman-style pocketknife.

The box had a little manual that distinctly read "never throw your knife!" (whoops)  The one I had was made with high carbon steel (which is softer than stainless steel- meaning it can be sharpened to a finer edge - but prone to rusting if not kept oiled/dry).  The blades looked darker than those in this picture if I remember right.  I had it through most of adolescence until it eventually slipped out of my pocket somewhere while in college, going to that mysterious place where lost pens, umbrellas, and socks go.  Schrade as a company unfortunately went out of business in the 2000s.  Taylor Knives took over this particular line and continues to manufacture them, through that has been outsourced to China now.

Logan from The Thirteenth Hour loses his knife, too.  In fact, he loses all his gear in the beginning of the quest, though he finds some new pocket swag in the course of this travels, including a new knife that he muses might be good for throwing.  That's written about elsewhere, but I eventually found some knives made by the same company that wouldn't get lost so easily - the Schrade Cliphanger line, which has a little detachable carabiner that clips to your pocket but doesn't interefere with the rest of the knife.  They only have one blade, which was stainless steel, but at least that means less maintenance.  Plus, the blade locks in place.  I've had a number over the years.

Unfortunately, they're not so easy to find these days, either, but I recently found an older one made in the USA on eBay.  It needed some work, but after some minor fixes and resharpening, it was good to go.

Sharpening the blade took a fair amount of work since one edge came heavily beveled, but I eventually got it sharp enough.  Not going to use it to shave anytime soon, but good enough to cut paper and such.

More at https://13thhr.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=5246

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In other news, The Thirteenth Hour soundtrack has a new track!  "The Imperial Ranger March" was released on the soundtrack's bandcamp page this past Friday.  You can find more tracks there plus previews and discussion of music and movies that inspired the soundtrack on Instagram @the13thhr.ost.

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Originally released on Mqay 16, 2016.

Last week's episode on the influence of gymnastics on the writing of The Thirteenth Hour leads to today's episode which focuses more on martial arts.  Although I've alluded to other martial activities on this blog and in the podcast before (like archery and knife throwing), I figured it was time to devote more time to martial arts itself.  My experience since I was about 13 was with Eastern martial arts, so I borrowed elements of those arts in the style of unarmed martial arts Logan and his Imperial Rangers comrades learn and practice in the novel.

Here, he talks about how sparring sessions would typically go for him:

"... at this fledgling state in my career, things would progress something like this. In a somewhat paradoxical concern for safety, the instructors had us tie cloth pads around our shins, feet, hands, and head in an attempt to prevent injuries and simulate body armor but said that donning groin protection was “unrealistic” because no one walked around wearing it in daily life. Well, I've never seen anyone walking around boxing gloves or pads on their arms and legs either, but hey, that's just me.

At any rate, then we'd each take a stance and start beating the living shit out of each other. Our trainers strictly informed us “don't kill each other” since this was just supposed to be practice. “You have to help each other,” they said. Well, that was a load of bullshit if I ever did step in a pile.

Inevitably, the matches would revert to the following: your opponent, in an effort to impress the instructors, would throw a really hard shot, and if it connected, you would show your manliness by getting pissed and creaming him. Unless, of course, you happened to be me. I generally didn't stand an ice cube's chance in hell against those older guys.

Maybe the instructors noticed my incompetence and felt I needed more practice, or maybe it was just a punishment, but it always seemed that I had to spend twice as much time on fighting drills as anyone else, part of which involved more time with the practice dummy ..."

Logan may have just been more honest about his shortcomings, but actually his isn't an uncommon experience for folks.  Of course, consistent practice takes care of a lot.  Eventually, though, Logan learns enough to defend himself quite well.

 [pictures of Logan kicking here]

Logan kicks!  He wouldn't be doing these kicks prior to his training - guess it paid off.  These high kicks make for flashy pictures, but I mostly envisioned he and the other Rangers spending most of their time practicing more utilitarian low and mid range strikes as well as those that utilize the body's naturally hard spots (like knees and elbows - which he uses in the final fight).  

Pixelart animation of Logan doing a sliding side kick.  This was from The Thirteenth Hour game that didn't get finished.

As always, thanks for listening!

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Originally released on May 9, 2016.

Today's episode is all about flipping!  Although it's pretty common to see acrobatics on TV and in video games today, at the time The Thirteenth Hour was written (1998), the whole extreme martial arts tricking community was still in its infancy, and it hadn't really permeated popular culture to quite the same degree yet.  There were a few exceptions - video games like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Tomb Raider (plus its many clones) that came out around then had flipping protagonists.  And there were Jackie Chan movies, plenty of older kung fu classics, and Gymkata showings on late night TBS.  But if you wanted to see traditional gymnastics, you generally had to wait four years for the Olympics.

I wanted Logan and the other Imperial Rangers from The Thirteenth Hour to learn acrobatics not only because of my own personal interest but because I thought it would make them more agile and help them push their limits.  In the book, they grumble about it a lot, but it's hard to ignore the element of danger in learning movements that turn you upside down and occasionally have you landing on your rear, head, or neck if you're not careful.  And although it's totally anecdotal, I think finding your personal limits and working through the fear translates into better focus and confidence in yourself.

Here's a representative excerpt from the novel:

"...That's how we ended up in the tall, airy room that'd been built to train the Army's special soldiers. The large room with mirrored walls was carpeted with thick, vaguely carpet–like mats. On those mats we were taught how to transfer the momentum of a fall to a roll without getting hurt, how to stand on our hands, and how to spring from our hands to our feet and back again. We were also taught how to flip in the air and how to run up a wall, flip backwards, and land on our feet. In the process, we were introduced to a new language, one born of bodies in motion.

So, it was awkward at first, but exhilarating in a way, and looking back, a lot of it had to do with conquering fear, so in that sense, it really was essential to our training. After several months of trying, I was able to fling myself over backwards and kind of land on all fours with all the grace of a drunken ape. And then one day, I succeeded in landing without putting my hands down on the floor ..."

Sketched animation of one of the Imperial Rangers doing a front flip - note he gets plenty of air and does not bust his ass on the floor (that happens a lot, though).

Pixelart animation of Logan doing a backflip.  This was from The Thirteenth Hour game that didn't get finished.

As always, thanks for listening!  Next week, part 2, focusing more on martial arts.

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Originally released on May 2, 2016.

Today's episode is all about throwing knives and other pointy things, like screwdrivers.  It refers to a few past posts:

-https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/logans-everyday-carry-edc-from-the-thirteenth-hour/

-A section of The The Thirteenth Hour where the main character, Logan, finds a pocketknife and contemplates fleetingly whether it would make a good throwing knife as well as the ending fight, where he lobs a large sword.

-https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/ever-wanted-to-throw-knives-like-chuck-norris/

-A previous post that discusses no-spin knife throwing, inspired by Ralph Thorn's teachings.  The post step-by-step how to perform the technique.  Includes many links to references as well as a few video clips, like this one, where I'm throwing a screwdriver and a large cut-down nail:

That post also formed the basis for the short how-to article for The Backwoodsman magazine, a bi-monthly outdoor publication (where to get it).  The article came out in the most recent (May/June) issue, and you can see a picture of part of the article on this past Thursday's instagram posting.  I didn't realize this when I recorded this episode, but the magazine is also available in digital format as well.  I encourage you to see if you can find the article through the magazine to support the folks that put it together (plus, there are lots of other great DIY articles).  But I know not everyone will be able to find a copy.  So ... mailing list subscribers can get a .pdf of the article I originally submitted to the magazine, so check out the link below to join if you haven't already if you're interested.

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In other news, The Thirteenth Hour soundtrack has a new song!  "Song of an Unsung Hero” (which takes its name from a poem in the novel, The Thirteenth Hour), has lyrics here and was released on Friday.  You can find more tracks on bandcamp plus previews and discussion of music and movies that inspired the soundtrack on Instagram @the13thhr.ost.

Thanks for listening!

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Originally released on April 25, 2016

Before we get to the podcast today, a note on Prince's passing.  It took me three tries of recording the intro to not sound totally down in the dumps, so I apologize in advance if I sound more sedate.

* I refer to interviews Prince did in the podcast - they were rare, but you can find some on youtube.  This is part of a thoughtful interview where he talks about mentorship, having high standards held to you, and the value of persistence.  Good talk!  

Prince was one of those people who a true artist in every sense of the word - difficult to categorize, independent, someone who paved his own way.  Though many tried to emulate him later, he was always a hard performer to cover.  There was always such a unique flair to the multi-instrumentalist from Minnesota with such range to his voice and the presence and swagger to pull off wearing heels and ruffled shirts.  So, Prince, truly, "Nothing Compares 2 U."  He was his own man and showed us what it meant to be an individual in a world where conformity ultimately often becomes the path of least resistance for most people.

So long, thank you, and may the rain color purple coming down from the heavens.

#RIPPrince - click on the photo above for an extended live version of "Purple Rain."

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On a happier note, welcome, Kelly and your readers, to the podcast.  Kelly St. Clare and her books have been featured on this blog a number of times (e.g. see her post on her experiences with Thunderclap).   It was also Kelly who suggested George Sirois, who was on last week, for the show - so thank you.  (That show, which I think is the longest yet, can be found here).  For those of you who may be new to her work, here's a link to an interview she did to give you more info.

Click on Kelly's photo above to be taken to her Goodreads profile.

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-Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellystclare

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The last clip of the song I'm working on now, "Song of an Unsung Hero" (which takes its name from a poem in the novel, The Thirteenth Hour), has lyrics here.  Stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks!

You can find more about The Thirteenth Hour soundtrack on bandcamp or on Instagram @the13thhr.ost.

Thanks for listening!

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Click on the books above to be taken to Kelly's Amazon profile to check out her books. -Website: http://www.kellystclare.com/ - there, you can join her exclusive club (can I call it that, Kelly? =) for updates and well, exclusive stuff you can't find elsewhere-Wattpad: http://w.tt/1MJs4hl - get a great introduction to Kelly's work by reading Fantasy of Frost, the first book in her (soon to be) tetrology free on Wattpad.  You can find more samples of her other books on her website.-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellystclare/

This episode originally aired on April 18, 2016.

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=4855

Get ready for a mammoth episode - this is 70+ minutes of audio footage featuring author George Sirois!  We covered a ton of material, including tons of 80s trivia, like:

-80s Hits Stripped - acoustic versions of 80s songs covered by the artists themselves (links to youtube)

-Stan Bush's "The Touch" (listen for clips in the podcast!)

-The Transformers Movie 30th Anniversary

-The Undertaker - remember this guy?

This was a great conversation that could have easily have gone an additional hour.  We also had a chance amid the 80s nostalgia to discuss George's books:

Click on the cover to be taken to the Amazon listing.

Abduction. Betrayal. Conspiracies. Murder. Welcome to the future of Sports Entertainment!

Click on the cover to be taken to the Amazon listing.

Put down the pen. Pick up the sword. Unleash the hero within.

Created by high school senior Matthew Peters, Excelsior - savior of faraway planet Denab IV - is becoming an Internet sensation as the main character of a popular online comic strip. But before Matthew can enjoy his burgeoning success, a beautiful older woman arrives at his school and tells him that not only is she from the planet Denab IV, but that Excelsior's lifeforce lives within him.

Now, with Excelsior's old enemies regaining strength, Matthew realizes he is the key to Earth's survival and Denab IV's salvation, and he has an opportunity that he never thought possible, to become his greatest creation. . .

Social Media Links

blog: http://www.georgesirois.com/

GR profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4103079.George_Sirois

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+GeorgeSirois/posts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/georgesirois

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgesirois/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/excelsiorbooks/

George, it was a blast!  Looking forward to hearing more about the Excelsior audiobook when it officially releases.  Hopefully, we can have you back on to talk more in the future!

Thanks for listening!

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This episode originally aired on April 11, 2016.

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=4769

Angela, the creator of the Brain to Books cyber blog tour, took time out of her busy schedule to talk for an hour.  We covered a vast amount of info: Back to the Future Delorean shirts, why having a flux capacitor is a good life decision, the Moon Patrol soundtrack, how her personal collection of weaponry influences her writing, why all the fuss about book reviews from the point of view of a reader and author, how persistence factors into writing, publishing, and life, and much, much more.

Email Address: [email protected]

Website:  http://www.angelabchrysler.com/

Author Bio:

 Angela B. Chrysler is a writer, logician, philosopher, and die-hard nerd who studies theology, historical linguistics, music composition, and medieval European history in New York with a dry sense of humor and an unusual sense of sarcasm. She lives in a garden with her family and cats. Read More

Social Media Links

Official Site
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Profile Page

Twitter
Pinterest
Facebook
Google+
Story Time on YouTube - if you ever have have had a desire to create a podcast, consider doing what Angela is currently doing, as referenced on the how to create a podcast post done for Kelly St. Clare's blog.

Dolor and Shadow (Tales of the Drui Book #1) Official Page
Fire and Lies (Tales of the Drui Book #2) Official Page
Broken Official Page

Books Discussed on the Show

DOLOR AND SHADOW (TALES OF THE DRUI BOOK #1 ... BOOK #2 TO BE RELEASED 7/1/16).

Genre: High/Epic Fantasy

YouTube Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovHqM9cHGDE

BROKEN

Genre: Memoir/Psychological Thriller/Non-Fiction

Awards: Finalist of the 2015 Wishing Shelf Awards

YouTube Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqfR928fpWE

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Starving Artist Section: where I talk about making a few bucks on the internets!  This week's app is Nextrack, which pays you (via gift cards, albeit slowly) to work out.  It works via mpoints/mplus points, which is a point system used by a number of other games and apps.  You can only redeem so many per day, but you can also earn free coupons and such.  Nice little bit of positive reinforcement for maintaining an exercise habit.  Available for Android and iOS.

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Schedule for the next few weeks:

4/18/16: Episode #36: a conversation with author George Sirois

4/25/16: Episode #37: fantasy author Kelly St. Clare

5/2/16: Episode #38: knife throwing

Thanks for listening!

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This episode originally aired on April 4, 2016.

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&jetpack-copy=4571

Discussion of how not shoot a bow by modeling Hollywood, book covers, and other art

https://archive.org/download/13thHrEps16On/13th%20hr%2034.mp3

The Hunger Games movies and books have created a resurgence in archery as a sport.  A lot of times, beginners will wrap a finger around the arrow to keep it from falling off.  But it's best not to ever put your fingers anywhere near the tip of the arrow.

Some different grip styles of drawing a bow.  There isn't necessarily a right or wrong - just depends on the gear you have.

The famous Diana statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.  I originally thought she was using a thumb style draw.  But after looking at the statue more closely, she isn't; she's pinching the arrow nock, a common way beginners think bows are drawn (they can be, though it's hard to manage a stronger pulling bow this way).  Since she's supposed to be a hunter, probably not a hunting bow.

Not sure what's going on here - guess it's some stylized version of the pinch grip.

There are some situations where the drawing hand is in this position, but it's when a mechanical release is used.

Here, Oliver Queen from Arrow shows an anchor point on his chin, important for accuracy, The position of his right hand seems a bit off in this photo, though I can't imagine they were using real arrows on set.

Lara Croft from Tomb Raider (2013) shows the same.  This game actually portrayed archery pretty well, though there some artistic licenses clearly taken.

A floating anchor point (the drawing hand is not anchored to another part of the body, like the face or chest).   Not great for accuracy ...

http://geekdad.com/2014/08/hawkeyes-fault/ - a funny article about the portrayal of Hawkeye in the Avengers movies.  The 2012 version of the comics, though, portrayed archery more realistically.

Needless to say, art is. of course. different from real life and gets a pass on one level for creative license.  But it makes it not the most reliable place from which to learn - at least when it comes to archery.

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News: free raffle for these three ebooks until 4/10! http://gvwy.io/9fdxaih

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Brain to Books Fantasy Cyber Convention 4/8/16!

As always, thanks for listening!

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