I'm a Blogging Chick!

Take a look at the roll call on the right side of my blog for a complete list of blogging chicks. If you have a blog and would like to join this illustrious group, there's a link at the top of the roll call.

Come Visit Kanner Lake and the Scenes & Beans Blog

Here is something really different. But really cool.

Author (and blogger) Brandilyn Collins has written a novel that comes out in August called Violet Dawn. It is part of a new series she has started called the Kanner Lake Series. She sent out Advance Reader Copies to those who requested them and asked them to choose a character that they liked. Then she asked the readers to send her a make-believe post from the character for a make believe blog by the 'Kanner Lake' make believe residents. This is an actual blog, called...Scenes and Beans, full of ficticious bloggers written by real bloggers who liked Violet Dawn. Confusing? Well, it begins today, July 5th! Go check it out by pressing the button for Scenes and Beans!

Summer Contest -- Story Sensei Critique Service

Part of having a blog also means you should visit others to post comments and network, possibly drawing visitors to those blogs back to yours. Occasionally, I also promote other blogs here.

This is one of those times. Camy Tang, aka "the Story Sensei", is running a summer contest on her blog. Here is the announcement:

The Story Sensei Summer Sale - A Writers' Summer Event!

From now until July 15th, I will be holding a fabulous contest for my Story Sensei critique service. I will draw the names of TWO lucky winners! They will each receive:

A free synopsis critique – up to 10 pages single-spaced, a $40 value!

AND

A coupon for 25% OFF any manuscript critique – whether full or partial manuscript, any number of words. For a 100,000 word manuscript, that's a savings of $250!

In addition, EVERYONE WHO ENTERS will receive a 10% OFF coupon for any service, whether synopsis, query letter, or manuscript critique (full or partial). For a 100,000 word manuscript, that's a savings of $100, just for entering.

Go to my Story Sensei blog and post a comment to enter the contest!

Thanks!
Camy

Ahh...Back to Normal Again & Tuesday Spotlight

Yes, that's right. I am *done* with delivering newspapers. This was the 4th year, and I won't be doing it next year. Just too much with a full-time job, full-time business and writing career. Money's good, but the added stress and lack of sleep are not a good combination for my everyday interactions.

Now, I can get back into my routine and spruce up the commitment factor a bit. Only 11 weeks until my annual national writer's conference, and I have a LOT of work to do.

For now, though, this week's spotlight will be moved to Friday, July 7th to coincide with a marketing effort for a new release by a first-time author. There will be a treasure hunt here and in partnership with 5 other blogs. Hope you come back on Friday and join the hunt.

Does the World Need a Savior (Superman?)

***warning, slight spoiler references***

Yes, that's right. I just returned home after going to the theatre to see Superman Returns. Although I had heard from one person that it wasn't good and that he fell asleep during it, that person is too young to remember the original movies and has no sentimental attachment to the story. My connections run much deeper.

For years, I've been enamored with the *idea* of Superman. I grew up with the movies and Christopher Reeve became somewhat of an icon in my mind. I went to the theatre to see all 4 movies and own the VHS and DVDs. He was the ultimate superhero.

But why?

What about him made him so much better to me than Batman or Spiderman or the other superheroes from the comics? Why did I enjoy those stories but always return to Superman?

If you go see this new movie, you'll probably figure it out. Then again, some of you might already have. Perhaps I'm just a bit more thick-headed than most. :) However, others around my age hadn't realized it either. So, at least I'm not a complete dunce. And what's the answer?

Superman's physical existence bears a strong resemblance to that of Jesus Christ. Think about it. A father sends his only son to the earth to save it. He comes to earth as a baby, is raised by humans, realizes he's different, eventually communes with his father to discover his father's plan for him, and then sets up his life to live out his father's will.

And if you're not convinced by the original comic strip, TV series, movies or second TV show, the truth in this recent movie is impossible to ignore. There are voiceovers done by Jor-El, Superman's (Kal-El) father, where he says:

"Even though you have been raised as a human being, you're not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all—their capacity for good—I have sent them you...my only son."

But that's not all. There are blatant references to the world not needing a savior. Lois Lane says this line. Yet, Superman takes her above the city and asks her what she hears. When she says nothing, he says he hears everything. "You tell me the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying out for one."

In addition, there is a confrontation where Superman is weakened by crystalized kryptonite, beaten and bruised and pierced in the side with a "spear" of kryptonite, then left for dead. He manages to rid the world of the problematic source by bearing the weight of it on his shoulders as he sends it out into space. But the encounter weakens him so much that he spreads out his arms and falls down to earth. "Dead" according to the monitors, he is resurrected and lives on.

Oh, and when he is weak, he gets his strength from the sun (Son). :)

So, who is *your* favorite superhero?