In this month’s issue: Welcome | Gratitude | Blog Update | Writing Projects | Making Stuff | Social Media | The Goods
Welcome
(Back to Contents) Thanks for signing up at JROBERTCLARK.COM. This is my first newsletter, hence the title "No. 1." Brilliant, right?The plan (for now) is to issue a brief monthly update straight to your inbox. As promised, I won't be flooding it, though. Just this monthly letter and occasional extras. As for the format, I'll keep it simple and use my website to share these for now. The intro will show up in your inbox, and if you are so inclined, you can click through to the whole thing. I also archive these on my site so that previous news is accessible at any time.
My goal with this newsletter is to provide an insider's perspective on pretty much everything I have going on behind the scenes. Here, you'll get updates on my Works in Progress (WIP), as well as sneak, peeks on stuff coming out soon, and random free things like stories and other content. I also watch a lot of films, read and take in art of all kinds, so I will also share occasional recommendations on things I enjoy. Perhaps you will too.
Do let me know what you think. And tell me more about what you'd like to see and read.
(Back to Contents) Speaking of YOU – I could not have made this life change without the vital support many of you have shown. Sure, taking this leap to be a full-time writer and maker took a lot. And yes, I feel pretty badass in being able to say this. But the thing is, I'd never would've had the guts to do this without a great deal of external support.
This support has come in many forms: Kind words from a few loyal friends. Unconditional love from my parents. A long-distance hug from my sister. Exuberant kudos from a cousin. A nod of approval from a respected mentor. My son telling me how good my stories are (even when they aren't).
Each has stood by me in this. And others too.
So, a heartfelt thank you to every one of you for this much-needed pat on the back.
(Back to Contents) I hope you have been enjoying my blog. I certainly am having fun writing it.
Yes, it's all over the place, and even the "voice" I use changes. Right now, I am treating it as a bit of a sandbox - testing ideas and experimenting with content and style. Heck, I even wrote a poem. How's that for experimentation?
Writing is coming easy, as of now. I look forward to sitting down every chance I get and just writing. Conservatively, I am drafting about 1000 words a day, as I had hoped. Not all of that goes out, of course. But it is thoroughly enjoyable creatively writing each day, more so than I had even expected. The blog is a great way to throw some of this out there and see what sticks.
As natural as writing is for me, sharing myself is not. But the blog is forcing me to open up and be vulnerable. The result has been pleasantly cathartic.
The goal is to get a meaningful post out every five to six days. I might try cutting back on the storytelling some in favor of more random musings. Perhaps a bit shorter each time as well.
If you haven't seen my recent posts, do take the time and check out what I've shared. And on request, I will be opening up comments for now. Other bloggers and writers have had mixed success with feedback, and many seem to turn them off again as readership increases (trolls come out of the woodwork, unfortunately). But for now, let's see how it goes. Feel free to comment on the page, or you can email (info@jrobertclark.com) at any time.
(Back to Contents) Interviews I am happy to report that I conducted my first formal interview last week. I had the pleasure of sitting down with a well-known theologian to discuss his faith and views on preserving nature. Not what you expected for my first interview? Me either, but it really makes a lot of sense in hindsight.
I'm experimenting with the loose connection here of "Alternate Realities." A theologian's take on things is different from my own. And so will be the worldview of the respected but controversial scientist/author/photographer I am interviewing next. Alternate Realities speaks to the different ways in which we each perceive and interact with the world. It also has classic sci-fi connotations suggesting parallel dimensions and all that. At the very least, I am getting to speak with some remarkable people, who'll share thoughts I might not otherwise get to hear. That's cool and also the foundation for excellent character development in my fiction work.
If you know of anyone who'd make for a great interview, please let me know. Perhaps even you?
Nonfiction I am toying with a few ideas related to my “past life” as a scientist and conservationist. Contrary to what I might have portrayed, I have not given up on this entirely. I understand environmental challenges well and have deep care and love for our natural world. It would be a shame to walk away from this entirely. I want to continue to give back, and ideally, my writing will be how I do this. More on this soon, I hope.
Fiction Somewhere East of Barstow is finally taking shape. This story will be a trio of short stories centered on an "unexplained event" that takes place outside of Needles, California, in the late 1950s. Each story unfolds as a single day in each of three towns – Needles, Amboy and Ludlow – and each in a different time period. Right now, these being the late 1950s when the "event" happens, the present day, and finally, an as-yet-undetermined time in the future. I am toying with the idea that each story will also be a different but compatible genre with the opener being a classic sci-fi tale, the present-day being a noir/mystery piece, and the future scenario a dark comedy. Or not. We'll see as the actual writing unfolds.
I am also working on another unrelated fictional story. This one, I am calling "The Botanist." It's a short horror story about an arrogant academic on an expedition to a remote oceanic island. For those who know me, you know that I did my share of botanical field research in the remote Pacific. But the protagonist here takes my arrogance and amplifies it tenfold. At least I hope it's not a story about me because this guy is a real dick. Anyway, it is so much fun to write – I hope it turns out as fun to read.
(Back to Contents) The Lab has been rather quiet these last few weeks as I've focused mostly on writing. But I will soon be sharing a few projects I completed recently. One is a diorama of Jabba the Hutt's Palace from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. I built it to scale for the 3.75" action figures my son, and I are so fond of collecting. It was a Christmas gift to him, but he still lets me play with it.
It turned out quite well and is visually similar to the vintage toy line. The playable features include a working dungeon door for the rancor, a trap door that Jabba uses to drop visitors to their doom and LED backlighting throughout to make it all just look groovy. Editing pics now and creating a portfolio page under The Lab tab on my website. Look for it soon.
(Back to Contents) Man, it's hard out there – and social media is a real pain. That so, I have dug in and worked to build a small following on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It's a big job to care for these social feeds. And if social media was a pet, I'm qualified right now to keep a house plant. Soon I might graduate to a fish or even a puppy. Any support you can give by following me at @SciFiCreate is appreciated (links to each at the footer of my website). And just so you know that following me is not entirely charity, I am working to share nice images and stimulating content.
(Back to Contents) I am not so full of myself to think that I should review books or movies in any serious context. I am neither qualified to be nor interested in being a critic. But I do watch a lot of movies and read as much stuff as I can. So at any given time, I stumble on things that I enjoy. Maybe you'll enjoy some of these as well.
Graphic Novels Invisible Kingdom by G Willow Wilson and Christian Ward. Volume One: Walking the Path, now available from Dark Horse Comics. From Dark Horse's synopsis: "Set in a far-flung star system, this new epic sci-fi monthly saga tells the tale of two women--a young religious acolyte and a hard-bitten freighter pilot--who separately uncover a vast conspiracy between the leader of the system's dominant religion and the mega-corporation that controls society. On the run from reprisals on both sides, this unlikely pair of rebels risk plunging the world into anarchy if they reveal the truth." Why I like it: I've only just begun reading it, but the characters are fleshed out quickly, and the story moves along well. The colors are terrific, being bright, and almost psychedelic without being distracting. A fun story combined with visually appealing art makes for a page-turner. Women kick but in it too, which is always a good thing. Give it a try if you are curious about graphic novels but turned off by more traditional comic book superhero fare. This is anything but.
Books A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, available now wherever books are sold. Synopsis from the book: "Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn't an accident—or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court." Why I like it: Not sure if I do yet. But it's gotten rave reviews and is one of this year's nominees for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Award for best novel. I'm digging in now, and if the premise sounds exciting to you too, pick up a copy and let's compare notes.
Movies Attack the Block (2011). Written and directed by Joe Cornish. Available to stream on Amazon and Apple. "A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion." My take: A motley crew of street thugs (led by a young John Boyega – Finn from the recent Star Wars films, Episodes 7-9), take on snarling, beast-like aliens that rocket to Earth as asteroids. Watching Boyega in the lead role here you can see why J.J. Abrams later picked him to star in his Star Wars reboot. (The astute fan will find at least one Easter Egg/nod to Attack the Block in The Force Awakens). Why I like it: While the premise seems out there, and it is, the movie is fast-paced, filled with plenty of laughs as well as scares, and is well-acted and directed. It also has some great social commentary on race, class and privilege that makes you think. That said, it mostly doesn't feel preachy, and the message never gets in the way of the good ol' alien invasion mayhem. Rated R because, well, both aliens and street gangs can be brutal.
That's all for now. Thanks for signing up for this newsletter. Please share and encourage others to check out my stuff. If, for any reason, you want to unsubscribe from this and other communications, send UNSUBSCRIBE to info@jrobertclark.com.