Raymund Hensley

Filmmaking VS. Bookwriting

2011-12-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

I want to make the most of my stay here. I want to be something of worth. I want to contribute something important, entertaining, to humanity. Something of value.

I've tried many things -- experimented in many careers. For a long time, I thought film was my calling: I directed, acted, wrote, edited, made music, even did camera work. Nothing came of it. When I hit 30, I took a long, hard (that's what she said) look at myself and asked, "What's my purpose? What am I good at? What's fun?"

I was always telling stories. Problem with filmmaking is that you need a bunch of things to tell that story: Money, people, more money, and a lot of patience. Many, many years I spent making films, and as fun a hobby as film is, that's all it'll ever be for me: A hobby. I know that now, and I'm at peace with that choice.

Writing books is much more fun. I'm the boss. I don't have to worry about budget or arguing with crew members. And it's even better in this modern, digital age -- with eBooks. I can manage everything from book cover design to price to marketing. Total control.

I want to make a difference in the world; take people away from their problems, if only for a few hours. I have a goal of entertaining a billion readers. And I intend on making it happen.

I will stand for something. My life will mean something. I will not be ignored, or forgotten.

Strange feelings of contentment, awe, and excitement....

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Cutthroat Heroes - Out Now!

2011-11-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Are you lonely?
At Cutthroat Heroes, we can cure your wretchedness by injecting a “love ghost” into the heart of that special someone and make them fall in love with you. Price is negotiable. Call your local priest today for details.

Get your copy today for 99 cents!

Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/724vte9
Nook: http://tinyurl.com/6sbjunb

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Weredolphin - Book Cover

2011-11-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

In the process of writing ^_^

It'll be horror comedy surreal, ahaha. I'm inspired by the great movie Being John Malkovich in terms of creative storytelling. The story is still a blur right now, but I do know I want to write about a weredolphin, a wereunicorn, werewolves, Hawaii, love, beer, psychology, and general scary stuff.

The trick with handling all this weirdness is to try and write it with a serious mind.

This should come out sometime next month, for sure.

Sales Update. Apple is interesting....

2011-11-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

For anyone that's interested....I'm selling well at Apple and Barnes and Nobel.

Actually selling almost twice as much at Apple.

Amazon...not so good, lol.

I'm surprised. All I hear is, "Ooh, Amazon this," and, "Ahh, Amazon that". And here we have Apple coming up the hilltop, waving its arms around, drawing people in. I'm all for it; especially since they give me more of a cut on my 99 cents books. This is all thanks to Smashwords, of course. They send my stuff there -- and other places -- for me. Just one upload, and voop! Done. Excellent service....

I wonder if other authors are selling more through Apple.

PS: My new book Cutthroat Heroes just came out. Check it out at:

Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/724vte9
Nook: http://tinyurl.com/6sbjunb

And now a few inspiring quotes!

"They can because they think they can."-Virgil

"You cannot dream yourself into a character: you must hammer and forge yourself into one."-Henry D. Thoreau

And here's a good one:

"Success does not consist in never making blunders, but in never making the same one a second time."-Josh Billings

“If I cannot read a book, I will write one.”-Disraeli

2011-11-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

"I tried to read, but my mind would not fix itself; I turned over volume after volume, but threw them by with distaste: 'Well, then,” said I at length in despair, “if I cannot read a book, I will write one.' Never was there a more lucky idea; it at once gave me occupation and amusement."-Benjamin Disraeli, 1868

We've all felt this way sometimes. I find myself reading "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas" over and over again. I'm always on the lookout for something that's just as funny and random and cool. But no such luck. "The Rum Diary" doesn't even do it for me. Still, I'm hopeful. I'll keep searching, and writing....

True Eyes and the Stomach

2011-11-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Check out my pal's blog! rodgiethegodslayer.blogspot.com/

He's an aspiring writer. Head on over and show some love ^_^

Writing to White Noise Helps....

2011-10-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

I like it.

Some days (not sure why), I don't wanna listen to "music". At first, I tried nature sounds, like rain and thunder.

But I'll stick with this White Noise stuff. Makes writing easier. Interesting!

Thoughts on the mechanics of "Horror"............

2011-10-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

I love Silent Hill. Part 2 is the scariest game ever. The use of camera angles, the music, sound effects, confusing story...they all contribute to a weird, original experience.

And that right there is not only the key to a terrifying game, but the big difference between Japanese and American horror. The Japanese understand that the key to effective horror is to utilize the idea of "weird" to create an original experience. Familiarity is a killer. Familiarity is boring.

The game, or movie, becomes predictable = no fear. You want the audience to have no idea what's going on, what to expect. So what keeps them playing? After much thought, I figured it out: Give answers, yes...but the answers must also present more questions. It's never-ending. Therefore, in theory, the suspense, the horror, should last until the end of the movie/game.

Look at popular American, supernatural horror films. Which ones work? Aside from The Ring (which is a remake of Ringu), for me anyway, I'd say none work. US ghost movies and games fear being too weird, too confusing. Everything has to be spelled out, and that's a no-no in my book of horror.

Procrastinating. "Cutthroat Heroes". Vitamins.

2011-10-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been procrastinating.

Why? Oh, the usual: Doubt, mainly. Doubting what? The future. Life. Where am I going? What's my destiny? Blah blah blahs. Typical human stuff.

We all go through depression; but I guess it's a problem once it stops you from doing "normal", everyday things. Not that I do that many things anyway. Aside from my night job, I don't go out. EVER. Seems like a waste of time, going out. I have to write. Have to make something of myself. Be a success. Be somebody. Leave something important behind when I'm gone. Time, time, time....I'm officially a recluse. Just wanna write. Write what I enjoy and hope that it catches on and rings a bell with a few people. Get out of this damn place. Kalihi. Just move faraway. Make a new life. A better one. So as you can see, time is very important to me. I don't have time for depression. I can't be sleeping all day. I must continue my work.

Anyways, I'm ranting again....

I've been taking Niacin (vitamin b-3), flushing out toxins -- literally getting flushed red -- and it seems to be helping. Other supplements I've been taking are L-Argentine (helps rid the body of ammonia), Epimedium (Aphrodisiac), Fish Oil (Omega-3), caffeine, and a multivitamin. Much of these can be found in foods, but seeing how I don't eat properly, pills will have to do.

As for "Cutthroat Heroes", I'm almost done with it. Due to my depressing procrastination, the book's kinda been hanging in limbo, and, sadly, getting stale in my mind. But I'll finish it. Still good....

Can't wait to start on something fresh. "Weredolphin" sounds fun!

Well, off to check on my baked chicken!

Music I write to.................

2011-10-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

And sometimes this.

Sales = iPad & Kindle & Marketing thoughts

2011-10-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

I'm noticing that I'm selling on the Kindle and, of all things, the iPad. Now, to me that's interesting, because I sold way less for the Nook thingy, and B&N's Nook is supposed to be Kindle's rival, no? Honestly, I never had much faith in the Nook. I don't know -- just one of my goofy gut feelings. But whatever. Smashwords uploads to B&N automatically, so: Just leave your books there. Why not??? Wouldn't hurt.

Still, the Kindle is King.

iPads, though....I guess they ARE wayyy more popular than nooky Nooks. Hmmmm....Maybe a change in my marketing strategy is in order? Somehow?

And by "marketing", I mean next to zero. (Or maybe more like one percent effort. (That's still good. (Better than nothing.))) Jesus, you can scream to the world that your book is out, but if no one is looking for it, you'll just end up pissing people off. Well...better to be pissed off than pissed on. Har har har. Fap fap fap.

But that's the thing, isn't it? Don't spend thousands of dollars on ads and stuff. I know I hate it when I see a person's book/banner on my favorite website. It's like someone sticking their baby-maker in my eye. Stop it! Do not pass go! Rage! (flips over table)

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Instead, I try to use the stealth method...going to forums relative to the genre I write in and leaving meaningful posts, being a part of the community. Ahh! More of a, "Hey, by the way, I have a book you might like". Way better than, "BUY MY BOOK! Arrrrrgggghhh!"

"Eh?" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mahalo.

How to discover your dream career! (Dream Room)

2011-10-11T12:29:00.001-07:00

Said video: http://youtu.be/IuvRvTlgRcc

I was watching some YouTube video on the great film composer Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception), and he was giving the interviewer a tour of his studio/thinking room.

He had the place built. There were guitars all over the place, bookshelves filled with compositions, computers with music programs, and a big TV to score his music to. (And no window, far as I could tell.) This room is a film composer's dream.

So I was thinking...if I had a room (a dream room to think, work, and be at peace in), what would it look like?

Books. All over the place. Philosophy books, fiction books, anatomy books, history books. I'm getting goosebumps just writing about this. I mean, the very idea that I can walk up and read about topics that entertain me....That's awesome. My own library.

And I thought, "Writing books is, without a doubt, my calling in life."

I wasn't just imagining a room; I was imagining my damn Life.

It's not like I visualized my dream room to be filled with musical instruments (then you should be a musician), or video games (then you should make video games), or movies (then you should go into filmmaking). Nope. I see books.

I think this is a great exercise, especially if you're not sure what you want to do as a career, or, if you're like me, you want to do everything under the sun but only want to choose ONE. Your true calling in life. Your career....

Give it a try, imagine that room, and make it a reality. Discover your dream job. Go for it. Put all your chips in. Do it. Work at it. Make the time. Keep working at it. Energy goes where attention goes. Start now!

Mahalo.

"Go back a little to leap further."-John Clarke

2011-10-07T08:01:00.001-07:00

This originally was gonna be a rant about how challenging following your dreams can be sometimes (I'm sure it's the same in any creative field). But sparing myself the embarrassment, I deleted all of it. All a lot of lines like, "Don't give up!" and "F everyone that doesn't believe in you" stuff.

So I'll just boil all I wrote into this: Man...you go through some tough days.

I mean, Jesus Christ...you can feel your Heart fist-fighting with your Brain sometimes.

Cutthroat Heroes - sample

2011-10-05T04:04:00.000-07:00

(1st draft. Excuse the typos, if any.)

CARMEN

The first thing I did was drink. I got hammered drunk, and then I ran into the woods and wept and screamed. Neighbors were far off, so they didn't matter.

“Whyyyyy!?!?!” I screamed. “Phil! My love!!! Whyyyyyy??? Come back! Come back! OH-GOD! HELP ME!!!!”

A plane flew over the trees – one of those fat jets. I yelled at it – yelled through its loud engines.

“He left me! Left meeeeeeeeeee!”

I leaned against a tree, blowing my nose on a leaf. My throat hurt. I was spitting blood. Good! I liked seeing my blood. I deserved to bleed. To hurt. I messed up real bad. I messed up the one relationship that mattered in my life. I should have loved him hard enough. Should have kept my problems to myself. Should have made him happier. Of course! Made perfect sense....

I ran through more trees, breaking through some branches, finding myself at the edge of the mountain. I could see the city lights below me, and I threw my empty beer bottles at all those happy people scattered all over Honolulu. I screamed as loud as I could, cried as loud as I could. I felt like a crazy person, but damn if each scream helped a little. I drank some more, then some more. I didn't want to think, or feel, or whatever. I wanted to pass out. Pass out in the woods – in nature like the animal that I was. The world spun, and I fell down on the wet grass. Something told me to open my eyes.

Fran was standing above me.

“I win,” she was saying. “I have him. I have HIM.”

And then I jumped up and took a swing at her, but she vanished. Jesus! I was losing my mind. Get a grip, girl. Get a grip. Is it wrong to wish your sister dead? Your own flesh & blood? Did the quality of her meat really matter??? The world would've been a better, much more peaceful place if they just got rid of all the evil people, that's what I thought. Electrocute them! Do us good souls a favor....Make them go away. That included my sister, too – get rid of her. Kill her. Make her go away.

She was always the bad egg.

When Mom gave birth, Fran came out in a black sack made of skin. When they cut the thing open, smoke came out, and all the doctors said it smelled like someone blew out a matchstick. As a baby, she cried all the time. Alllll the time. Drove us nuts. My mom turned to the drink; and dad turned to the drugs. Right then, even at that young age, I thought, My life will be so much better with this thing gone. No?

Then Fran grew up. Then her jelousy showed. Did she go into her ugly duckling rant? Don't feel too special. She says that to everyone. She always complained that I was prettier. Total confusion. I never understood what she was talking about. Honestly, she looked attractive enough to me. If boys didn't look at her, it's because she never looked at them.

She always walked with her head down, hair over her eyes...always wore these long “church dresses” from the 1800's that never showed any skin. There was a time when I tried to dress her up, but she just stared at herself in the mirror for a long time. Then she through a piggy bank at her reflection, and glass flew everywhere, all in my hair, in my mouth, all over my room. I started yelling at her, shaking her, asking her why she did it – why she would do such a crazy thing. Fran just laughed. She said she felt better. I kept trying to help her – kept trying to make her prettier by painting her face, cleaning her up, dousing her with the finest perfumes. She'd always burn the clothes in the bathtub and wash off what she called “that darn stink water”. I knew it was a bad idea to begin with, but what the hell. I wanted to help her. She was my sister. I even tried to get her to join me in cheerleading. Of course, the very idea made her puke. She gripped her stomach and went all over my feet. She then ran all through the school, crying, to the girls' bathroom...busted all the mirrors with a sock full of quarters. She told the police that the girl in the mirrors wouldn't stop laughing at her. One cop said he found a doll's head in the toilet, its eyes colored black with a marker.

Another time, again in school, I walked into the bathroom and saw Fran on the sink, real close to the mirror with a switchblade to her face. She was cutting herself...said it made her look better. I slapped the thing away and tackled her to the floor and called for help. Mom and Dad said that our great grandmother did the exact same thing. She was the same way.

Gross insecurity.

In time, with Fran, that turned into gross insanity. Fran felt the world was against her. I know this, because I used to hear her screaming in her room, “THE WORLD IS AGAINST ME!” There would always be these banging sounds, eating sounds, tearing sounds, whining sounds. I started fearing for my safety. One time, I walked into her room and saw pictures of dead animals and people – pages ripped from magazines – all over her bedroom walls.

I told my mom, and Fran got a good beating for it.

Maybe that's when she started really hating me.

I guess my new book isn't romantic enough

2011-10-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

I was gonna call it a romantic fantasy, but after reading the below, I guess I can't:

(From Wikipedia.)

According to the Romance Writers of America, the main plot of a romance novel must revolve around the two people as they develop romantic love for each other and work to build a relationship together. Both the conflict and the climax of the novel should be directly related to that core theme of developing a romantic relationship although the novel can also contain subplots that do not specifically relate to the main characters' romantic love. Furthermore, a romance novel must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Others, including Leslie Gelbman, a president of the Berkley Group, define the genre more simply, stating only that a romance must make the "romantic relationship between the hero and the heroine ... the core of the book."^[2] In general, romance novels reward characters who are good people and penalize those who are evil, and a couple who fights for and believes in their relationship will likely be rewarded with unconditional love.^[1] Bestselling author Nora Roberts sums up the genre, saying "The books are about the celebration of falling in love and emotion and commitment, and all of those things we really want."^[3] Women's fiction (including chick lit) is not directly a subcategory of the romance novel genre, because in women's fiction the heroine's relationship with her family or friends may be equally as important as her relationship with the hero.^[2]

Some romance novel authors and readers believe the genre has additional restrictions, from plot considerations such as the protagonists meeting early on in the story, to avoiding themes such as adultery. Other disagreements have centered on the firm requirement for a happy ending, or the place of same-sex relationships within the genre. Some readers admit stories without a happy ending, if the focus of the story is on the romantic love between the two main characters (e.g. Romeo and Juliet). Others believe the definition should be more strictly worded to include only heterosexual pairing. While the majority of romance novels meet the stricter criteria, there are also many books that are widely considered to be romance novels that deviate from these rules. Therefore, the general definition, as embraced by the RWA and publishers, includes only the focus on a developing romantic relationship and an optimistic ending.

---

So according to this, Cutthroat Heroes does not fit into the romance catagory. It'll just be a comedy fantasy. Hmph.

Cutthroat Heroes - cover #2

2011-10-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

Might go with this one....

My New author-hero-guy = "99 cents" John Locke

2011-10-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

Because he says this:

"Write the types of books you like to read. I offer my readers a fun, breezy read. If I can give them some chuckles and hold their interest for a few hours, I feel I've earned my 99 cents. I know I'm on the right track if I laugh out loud when I'm writing a scene."

Now here's a man that's so humble, he doesn't even consider himself a "real" author. But I think he IS. That very thing he said (see above) is what I believe writers should live and die by.

Write for the people. Your audience. Show them a good time!

Heck, I'm gonna follow his footsteps and make my books more accessible by lowering them to 99 cents. I want to build my audience. I wanna connect with people that enjoy my stuff -- show them a fun time.

Besides. It's lonely being a recluse, lol.

Cutthroat Heroes (new book)

2011-09-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

A woman controls the love of a soon-to-be-married man by literally injecting her “love ghost” into his heart...but as a result ruins his fiancee's life, turning her into a crazy person addicted to ice and motivational speakers.

New one I'm currently working on. It's a Comedy Fantasy Romance. At least, I think it's a Romance. Does it still qualify if it has a tragic ending?

I guess so.

And yes, it's "fiancee". I checked, lol.

Book Release - Ghost City

2011-09-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

Trapped on an island of ghosts, a surviving zombie hunter writes about his early training days, his stint as an exorcist, and run-ins with a gangster Pope.

An Ebook By Raymund Hensley

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005PDEWSS
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91564

Super thanks to everyone who already bought a copy! ^_^

Forrest Gump - trailer

2011-09-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

I love this movie.

When people give you crap....

2011-09-15T21:16:00.001-07:00

Let this be your mantra:

"You know, the very fact that you oppose this makes me think I'm onto something." - Seinfeld

Updates - Stuff

2011-09-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Finishing up Ghost City -- a book about a zombie hunter on an island with just ghosts, who starts writing about his interesting past.

I rediscovered the coolness of outlining. Think I'll stay with it. I need to be directed. Otherwise, my stories tend to branch out in weird directions. I mean, more than usual. As they say, "Know your strengths, but also your Weaknesses."

I got another idea for a book. Kind of like Inception or Nightmare on Elm Street, or Eternal Sunshine. It's a Romance-type of book...for the ladies. We'll see how it goes.

I'm actually kinda excited about it. Thinking I'll call it Cutthroat Heroes or Eater Uppers. One of those.

'Til next time!

Human Nature - trailer

2011-09-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another great movie!

Being John Malkovich

2011-09-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

Perfect balance of comedy and fantasy. Here's the trailer. Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/icysehz-OVc

Been Selling on Smashwords....

2011-09-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

This is weird, and confuses me a little.

So everyday I've been checking my amazon account, hoping to see sales. But, no. Not for weeks now. But then, deciding to rewrite my biography, I go to my Smashwords page (they distribute to Sony and Apple and B&N, etc.), and...what the hell...I sold 64 books. I've been selling, and no one told me. Is my email not working??

That's great and all, selling books, but now I'm confused on what to focus on in terms of marketing: Amazon or Smashwords. I thought Amazon would be better (directing people there), since it's so popular, and all.

I don't know.

Both would be the obvious answer. I guess it's useless to try and figure out. Like trying to guess when you'll wake up one day with a cockroach in your mouth.

Who knows?

Writing a serious horror book

2011-09-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the audio book of Frank Mccourt's 'Tis (Angela's' Ashes 2), and I thought:

It might be fun to leave comedy aside for a while and write a horror book.

Not that 'Tis is horror, but it got me thinking about writing a serious book. And for that to work (for the horror to work, for the FEAR to work), it might be that I'll have to write about "real" people doing "real" things. You know, take a stab at what Stephen King does best: Writing characters readers care about.

But what to write?

Got a few ideas.

I'm a fan of Silent Hill (which is inspired by the great film Jacob's Ladder). Maybe do something like that? But in Hawaii?

I like space horror, like the movie Event Horizon and the game Dead Space (which pretty much was Event Horizon: The Unofficial Game). Maybe something like that? But on the water? Outer space, the ocean, they're kinda the same. Biiiiiiig open spaces are scary, if you're alone in them.

Also playing around with the idea of Nazis in Hawaii -- you know, just hiding out, Nazi scientists making Nazi zombies, waiting to start WW3. Think I'll call it...Nazi Hawaii. Duh, lol.

I might go with my Born on The 4th of July meets The Exorcist thing, about a Vietnam vet that goes back home to Hawaii and is haunted by the image of a wounded soldier being "sucked" out of a chopper.

Or maybe I'll just combine them all into one book.

We'll see how it goes!

Hermione Granger stole my birth-date

2011-09-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

It's coming up.

September 19, 1979.

We share the same month, day, and year. What a groovy coincidence. I wonder if it's a sign. Maybe it means something awesome in the grand scheme of things!

In related news: I could never get into Harry Potter (that's what she said). I mean, I tried reading it...really tried to love it, but I just couldn't. I feel like a jerk, or an idiot, or jerkiot. Here we have something very popular. Something that (almost) everyone in the world loves, and I just can't get into it.

I guess I'm just weird.

And it's not like I don't think fantasy is cool. Labyrinth is awesome, and I love Lord of The Rings (wayyy more than Star Wars). So I like the fantasy genre, I do. But that Harry thing...I don't get it. If it's about wanting to live in a whole new world, I'll stick with Final Fantasy, which is kinda like LoTR anyway.

I enjoy the worlds of Silent Hill and Resident Evil and Fatal Frame and The X-Files, too. But I ain't gonna go living in those worlds.

Mama didn't raise no fool!

7 am. Time to write.

2011-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

I slept a little, and no, I didn't drink last night. I just woke up and felt like writing. It feels like I have 5 anxious stories wanting to burst from my chest, ready to be written. So, I must oblige. I'm inspired to write.

Part of my motivation is to be of some use to the world, to not vanish without leaving some kind of mark. The other part, I want my own place.

A quiet place.

A place where little dogs aren't barking outside my window. It's a long story, but trust me, if you live in a quiet place, I envy you! lol =)

But I do have a lot of stories preheating: Ghost City (currently writing), that PMS book (which I've wanted to do for years now), Weredolphin (I've been writing on my netbook), and Mummies VS. Vampires.

That last one was something I cooked up after watching Underworld. I'm sick of vampires always being the cool ones, always winning. Time for something else. If not weredolphins, then mummies, hahaha.

Tempted to copy Twilight

2011-09-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

BEFORE: Didn't we all see this happen with writers when Harry Potter came out?

I'm tempted to write my own teen vampire romance, just to get my foot in the door.

But I won't do it.

The road I'm taking might be a "dumber" one, because I'm not doing what obviously is working so well for other authors, but my road is "funner". I don't care for teen romances. Vampires or not. I love what I'm writing. But let's get real. I'd also like to make a living writing. They say horror sells, so tried that. I mean, like, real horror. Zero laughs. So I tries it, and...couldn't do it. I got bored. It's just not for me.

I like comedy. Surreal stuff. The monsters I throw in, I throw in because monsters are interesting and, come on, just silly in general.

So I'll stick by my guns.

One day, I'll be able to say, "I didn't write a vampire teen romance. I wrote what I loved. Even when the market wasn't ready for me, I wrote what I loved."

Strength to you, fellow writer!

Next book: PMS Super Soldiers

2011-09-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

In other news, I have an idea for another book, maybe after Weredolphin. Something about the military kidnapping all the women in the US (ALL of them) and turning them into ultimate killing machines for WW3, against...well...everyone outside the US of A. Super women with scientifically, religiously-altered PMS. It'll be far from having a "period". Thinking I'll call it Exclamation Point.

It'll be a comedy horror surreal adventure. Yup. Sounds about right. Will it be sexist? Not sure. I mean, it's not my intention. But it might be anti-men. Just for laughs. It's interesting. What would life be like with switched gender roles? Anyone watch Futurama? Er...never mind.

Exclamation Point.

Although, I do have a soft spot for the title PMS Super Soldiers.

Maybe I could do a part 2 later. Maybe focus more on one character. A "life after the war" type of thing. At that point, women would be more tough than MEN. I wonder how the male and female relationship would work. How would men feel about being kicked around by women? What would men do to, as they say, "man up"? Sounds like a fun little novella.

I'd like to write it.

Mahalo for reading!

1st Draft, 2nd Draft, 3rd Draft, 4th Draft

2011-09-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

My first draft is just a mess. Pretty much a big mess. I treat it like a sculptor, in that it's a deformed lump of clay (it kinda sorta looks like a person). I just need something to work with first. That starting draft is all right brain work, just an explosion of creativity. I keep my hands moving. Ideas, ideas, just let the ideas come. Let the right brain do what it does best -- imagine. Writing, for me, gets hard when I try to fix things as I write. I hate that whole stop-and-go feeling. I just wanna run wild, run free. Many mistakes when I write like that, and the whole time, my left brain is begging me to stop to fix that typo. But I resist. This 1st draft is the right brain's time to play. Just keep writing. You don't have to fix anything. This isn't Math, and no one is holding a gun to your head. This is fiction. Creative writing.

The 2nd draft is when I let the left brain be boss, fixing story lines, really just a lot of deleting, shaping the story into something fun and interesting.

3rd draft is for typos. You can't trust that automatic spell check option in your word processor. Yea, it'll pick up on a misspelled word, but it doesn't say if you accidentally used the wrong word. So you pretty much have to start from page one -- read through it with a fine tooth comb.

4th draft is when I send it out to my friends in search of typos. They write what they've found on a separate document, they send it to me, and I fix, fix, fix.

And right before I convert my file into a PDF (for Amazon), I read through it one more time...just to be on the safe side.

Typos are a real pain. Just do your best to correct them!

In the end, I always end up with my finished sculpture being a nice-looking lady.

And then I break the arms off, because it looks more interesting that way.

Mahalo!

King's advice: Kill'em Off

2011-09-01T23:28:00.000-07:00

Remember that Stephen King story where he was having trouble finishing The Stand, and his answer was to just kill all those people off?

That was interesting.

And I wonder just how much different his Dome book is from Stand.

Writing Weredolphin

2011-09-01T22:02:00.000-07:00

Working on Weredolphin.

Fun so far!

Reminds me of Forrest Gump meets American Werewolf in London.

Addicted to Procrastination

2011-08-29T01:15:00.000-07:00

Someone once said, "Procrastination is like masturbation. At first it feels good, but in the end, you're just F'ing yourself."

I have a theory why writers procrastinate.

Sometimes I'm too attached to the feeling of excitement that comes before writing -- of running what I think is an exciting story through my mind. I'm afraid that when I actually sit down to type it out, it won't be so good, or the ideas won't come. So many days -- many weeks -- I play it safe and just pretend to type, pretend to write the book in my mind.

However, at least in my case, when I DO sit down to write (when I get fed up and can't take doing nothing anymore), what comes out is always fun, always enjoyable.

In each case, I think, "I wish I didn't waste so much time. I wish I got up earlier to do this."

Again, it's the fear that stops you.

TIP: When you feel like not writing is the best time to start. You'll enjoy it! That's how you know what you're doing is your passion, your reason for being.

TIP #2: Passion can be cultivated, just like any habit...good or bad.

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Excellent Quotes

2011-08-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

From http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/favorite-quotes.html

If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true were really true,
there would be little hope of advance.
Orville Wright

When I want to read a novel, I write one.
Benjamin Disraeli

If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.
Zen Proverb

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.
Galileo Galilei

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life
Winston Churchill

Play for more than you can afford to
lose and you will learn the game.
Winston Churchill

Patience and the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.
Chinese Proverb

Never say more than is necessary.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Ghandi

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right....
Martin Luther

Johnny Depp + Hunter S Thompson = The Rum Diary

2011-08-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp plays Hunter S Thompson again in The Rum Diary.

My favorite actor; my favorite author.

See The Rum Diary trailer below.

http://youtu.be/-m0yqS3jodU

Scared of (or scarred by) Writing

2011-08-25T22:56:00.001-07:00

Why do I feel this way? What is this fear?

I like writing. I literally get ten ideas a day for books, so why don't I get to writing? It's not like I watch TV (or YouTube), or go out. I basically sleep all day before going to work at night. AND I kinda sorta stopped drinking.

I think I know. And it HAS to be because of bad habits. What I need is a schedule and stick to it.

I have to turn writing into brushing my teeth, or putting on my pants...or breathing. That's how it was with my other books: I was so inspired, I just started writing the very moment I woke up. It's true. But somewhere down the line I started getting depressed -- then unmotivated -- then came the beer, and on and on it goes with the reasons. I ended up with bad habits.

I can change again -- change back into the old me. I know what to do to get back into writing.

Quantum Physics - "Reality Jumping"

2011-08-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting idea.

What if two parallel universes collided and created the "reality" your experiencing now? But because these Big Bangs are happening every split second of every split second, you're actually experiencing a new reality right now, and now, and now, and now. (You get the idea). With this, we also experience Time and Motion. Space & Time.

Parallel universes.

Because anything is possible...because your life can be altered just by a simple action...there's a universe where you're eating eggs right now, or not wearing clothes, or showering in chowder, or a famous writer, or whatever. So it makes sense to me, on a very simplistic level, that focusing on a goal is a way to direct yourself into a parallel universe. Taking any action will put you in the right direction. And let's not forget the importance of your emotions. Just as food energizes your physical body, the gas of your mind, your thoughts, is equally important. What's the best mind fuel? Strong, positive emotion. Strong, positive expectation.

Successful people a lot of times say, "I don't know why this happened to me. I don't know why all this sudden success is happening."

It didn't just happen. It's something that's been growing, building for a loooong time. Or here's another idea: If not for a long time -- they put a monstrous amount of positive energy, positive action into a SHORT period of time. That is, indeed, a special, rare type of human.

For writer's, when I research them, it always true that they wrote their whole lives. They deserve their success, regardless if you hate their work.

I'm reminded of these saying:

Hard work pays off.

What goes around comes around.

What you put out, is what you get back.

And my favorite:

Energy goes where attention goes.

Kurt Vonnegut's Advice

2011-08-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Vonnegut wrote a little something in 1982 called "How to Write with Style".

Find it here: http://bit.ly/nQuqH9

In short, he says:

Find a subject you care about.
Do not ramble, though.
Keep it simple.
Have the guts to cut.
Sound like yourself.
Say what you mean to say.
Pity the readers.

My favorite is "Sound like yourself".

Comedy: The Next BIG Hit Genre in Books

2011-08-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

I think it's about time. And by big, I mean BIG. As in, now everyone is writing humor books. People will say, "No, it's not. Look around. It's not big right now. Why should it ever?"

Because things change, silly bear!

There was a time when horror wasn't all that popular. But then Stephen King came around. Same goes for JK Rowling. The big boys even told her, "Listen kid, children's books don't sell. You should get a day job." After Harry Potter took off, everyone jumped on the kid's books train. And I don't remember a time before Twilight when teen horror romance was big, unless we're going wayyy back to Bram Stoker's Dracula days.

All this applies to Agatha Christie (mystery), Dan Brown (religious thriller), etc. So that's what I mean by BIG. Humor literature is doing well (I think). I hear Tina Fey's book is funny, and Dave Berry's pretty good, too (in a not-too-edgy-hey-look-at-me-I'm-Stephen King's-friend kinda way). The only really popular, famous, celebrity humor author I can think of that will be remembered for all time -- as much as Poe for horror -- is Mark Twain.

One day, the headlines will read: "Humorist (Insert author) tops JK Rowling in book sales."

And God bless whoever that's gonna be. Humor is good. Humor heals. We've all heard the stories of people beating cancer by having a good laugh or two or three. But I guess my point is...things change.

And every cat gets her day.

=^.^=

Dreaming comes first....

2011-08-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”
-James Allen

JK Rowling was sued?

2011-08-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't know she was sued for stealing ideas (apparently for Goblet of Fire) from some book called Willy The Wizard. I'm sure she won the case. And I'd guess she didn't steal anything. It's just odd that the books are so similar.

Really makes you think about ideas and where they come from.

One camp says, well, your mind makes them up and if someone else has that same idea, it's just chance.

And another camp says, there's a place (metaphorically), a universal library where all ideas come from. Someone should take that literally and make a book about it.

Well...I'm sure someone in the world already has that idea!

Haw haw haw.

I Spoke with God again. Or maybe I'm nuts.

2011-08-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

I was working at the same time when this happened. Whoever it was, I liked what it/he/she/me had to say.

R: So what do I do?
G: Just write.
R: Novellas? How many?
G: One a week. Eventually, one novella a week. It's not like you do anything else with your day and nights.
R: People will tell me to just write a full-on novel and focus on marketing it. Maybe for a year.
G: Would you enjoy those things? Writing a novel and marketing so much?
R: I'd hate it. Wouldn't be fun.
G: Exactly why you shouldn't do it. (pause) Writing a novel and marketing it a whole year works for some people, yes, but not YOU. Your way is different. By following your way, success will come because there will be no resistance. You are doing what you love, HOW you want to love it.
R: How should I pursue my writing career?
G: Write as many books as you want. Your soul wants to write a lot, so respect that, and have fun with it. I'll handle the things you don't want to bother with. Just don't get in my way.
R: How can I get in your way?
G: By worrying about the things you don't want to do. Think of it like this: I (the ever-knowing spirit -- the very universe) know way more than you. I am on the mountain top. What you see as the ceiling, I see as the floor. When you worry, you try to do my job. And that's futile. Doing things you're frustrated with -- that you do not enjoy doing -- is disastrous. Never let a boy do a man's job. Have faith that I'll take care of everything. I am in the details. Have faith. That's all praying does, if done right. A letting go. A release. Let me do my part. Offer zero resistance by following your bliss.
R: You're saying you'll handle the marketing? That's hard to believe.
G: That's the problem.
R: Me and my big mouth.
G: It's a cooperation. I make the situations happen, and you ACT on them. If you choose to.
R: You're saying that, if I let you do what you do best, I'll just magically meet the right people to help get me where I want to go?
G: There's nothing magical about it. You meet people all the time. Only now (if you do what I say), you'll meet people that will help get you where you want to go. Understand, I am your servant. Yes, I have helped you meet everyone you ever met, but usually it was because you were offering me random orders. If you want to meet the right people, make it clear in your mind (your message) that this is what you want, and let me -- important -- do the work for you. And you let me work best when you do what you do best. Give me a demand, and don't worry about it anymore. Have faith. Faith! It's a lot like fishing. You throw out your line...wait...wait some more...but don't give up! Then, in time, you feel a tug! Then you reel it in, reel it in, reel it in...until you hold that fish up -- that thing you couldn't see before but knew it was always there.
R: I'm impatient.
G: Understand that you live in a reality of Time and Space. The Law of Growth comes to mind. Things take time to grow...to happen. The longer you work toward a goal, focus on it with faith, letting me work FOR you on my end of things, the sooner you will get what you want. It's worked so far in your life.
R: What? I didn't ask for this job, these friends.
G: Not consciously.
R: I did it subconsciously? That's like cheating. How am I suppose to monitor my subconscious thoughts?
G: Like anything else. Practice. With practice, you will no longer be creating by default. WE will no longer be creating by default. You get what you really want. REALLY, really want. So instead of creating by default, you should be clear on these demands you're constantly giving me. Do it consciously from this day on. And demand great things. Your true goal. A BIG goal! And it MUST come to you to help you evolve, to help you be more than you currently are. This is because to experience a different reality, you would have to become a totally different person. You need to evolve, become stronger to handle your new situation. Think about this. Put the old you that you were 10 years ago into your current state of life, and that version of you would not be able to handle that reality. In time, because the universe mirrors your inner wold, the reality the old you is living in will change BACK to suit their beliefs -- create for themselves a world they can handle. You create for yourself realities perfectly suited for your ever-changing beliefs. Give a bum a hundred dollars, they'll waste it on booze. Give Donald Trump a hundred dollars, and he'll make back millions. He created himself into someone able to function (and be wildly successful) in a reality revolving around money. You can say that he is that way because of genes, but that's only half true. You're born with a template, but because you have the freedom to choose -- to be inspired -- you can go against your genes and choose your own way. Trump is who he is because he chooses to be so. He built himself up. So you see, to get the future you want, you must become more to handle more. You must grow.
R: What's this got to do with me and wanting to write a lot of books.
G: It's a great adventure, great work, writing so much, no? Think of how much you will change! This is what you have to do to be ready for your successful future. This is what you will have to go through to be able to handle this future you want so bad. You have to change. Grow. And everyone grows. But not everyone directs their Will (directs their higher self) into WHAT they want to grow INTO. Most people grow by default. Not with focus. Not with faith. They just follow along with the herd. And you know what you step into when you follow the herd, right?
R: Right.
G: Because they step in bullshit.
R: How do I know what my higher self really wants, so I can work in cooperation with it?
G: Follow your passion. What excites you? Your higher self has been uploading stories INTO that lump of goo you call a brain. The higher self -- the soul, the universe, YOU -- needs to work through the physical body to make things. A cooperation is needed between Brain and Soul. And the physical body can best cooperate with the higher self by...perusing what brings them both great JOY. You must trust your instincts, that tug in your stomach, your inspiration. So when you say you want to be a successful writer, it's not you as you know it saying that want. It's you as your higher self. You are actually talking to yourself.
R: It must be frustrating for my higher self, trying to work through me and get what it wants with me -- the physical side of things.
G: It is very frustrating. It's like trying to get somewhere in a car that has a mind of its own and wants to go the other direction.
R: Good thing I don't drive.
G: God thing.
R: I see what you did there.
G: Thanks.

PS: Well, that was fun. The thing that I really get out of all of this is: You have to build yourself into someone capable of handling a reality bigger than the one you are currently living.

Message from God?

2011-08-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

I think He/It/She/The Universe/Woman's Intuition/Whatever wants me to write one book a month.

I don't know what good it'll do, but...for some odd reason, I have faith in this. It's just a feeling I have.

I was having a hard time at work tonight, when I asked, "Dear God, what can I do to get out of this mess?"

The answer was, "Write a lot of books. I'll handle the rest. Have faith. Have fun in your writing. Don't worry about the how."

Ask, and ye shall receive. So I'm gonna try this out. No TV; no going out; just lock myself in my house and write.

"But Ray, you have to go out. You have to live life."

Well...I AM.

I feel alive when I write. And if going out and getting hammered drunk or watching TV or YouTube means living life to you, so be it. Me? No more wasting time. Time to prove that I really want what I say I want.

Justin Bieber song slowed down 800%

2011-08-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Idea by Shamantis.

Pretty amazing stuff.

Justin Bieber haters

2011-08-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

WHY?

Just let the boy do his thing.

Look, I don't like his music either, but really, what's with all the hate?

Give the boy a break. I heard he came from a poor background, so Jesus, man, chill out. Be happy for your fellow human.

Reading Same 3 Books for Years Now

2011-08-20T05:13:00.000-07:00

I think I've been doing this for around 5 years now, but there are only 3 books that I read. And that's not because I'm trying to prove anything. I just can't find anymore books that are as funny as these. If you have suggestions, I'm all ears.

But my favorite books are Forrest Gump, Gump & Co., and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. And that's it. I've tried reading other works by these authors, but it's a no-go. They don't work for me.

I really, truly love these books. They're similar to each other in this way: A series of wacky, funny events wrapped around a thin main story -- mainly, get from A to B, and watch out for any zaniness in between. With that being said, you can guess how my books are =)

It's a great day when you find your writing style.

PS: There's actually a 4th book in this list. It's called The Master Key System. A metaphysical book.

To Outline or Not to Outline?

2011-08-19T23:46:00.001-07:00

I tend to use outlines when I'm insecure.

When I first started work on my book Ghost City, it was such a stop-and-go process. Write a paragraph...stop, look at outline...write...stop, look at outline. I HATED IT. So I deleted the outline and decided to just go with it, just like Hemingway and King.

So much better! I feel like I'm running! And I swear, the ideas are coming out so fast. The whole reason I used an outline was because I was afraid no ideas would come if I just "ran with it". That I'd get writer's block. That I'd get stuck. How wrong was I! The ideas are there, and not just that -- but better ideas. Ideas that are more in the flow of the story. I could hear my Left brain (that logical, mathematical, scientific side) complaining -- scared -- afraid of me running into some kind of problem.

Nope.

My Right brain (that wonderful, creative side), knows exactly what it's doing.

So here's what I'm doing now:

1. Write that first draft with my right brain -- just freewrite it. Get those ideas out. Write nonstop.

Then...

2. Use the power of the Left brain to do what it does best: EDIT.

Freewriting, automatic writing...it feels like I'm writing a lump of disfigured clay at first. A lump that the Left brain can mold into something great -- sculpt the vision -- the true vision.

Have trust in your Right brain -- your imagination, your creativity. I don't stop writing when working on that first draft now -- not even for misspellings. That FLOW when writing (the Zone) is so important. It must not be sabotaged.

You can always fix things later. And plus, just like Stephen King says, if that idea you had while writing was so amazing, it'll be there when you go back.

So just relax...and write!

PS: Over the years, I've been jumping back and forth between using outlines and not. Those books I didn't use an outline for are my favorites. They're just better stories. But that's just what I think ^_^

My YouTube - "Film Composer"

2011-08-16T03:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I make music for film and video games.

^_^

Check some songs out here ---> http://www.youtube.com/user/RaymundHensleyMusic

Source Code - review

2011-08-16T02:48:00.000-07:00

Source Code is a good movie.

Watch it.

Nerds.

(^_^)

Amazon = Free eBooks

2011-08-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

I wish there was an option to make your books free on Amazon. It's a great way to promote your books. (I guess for now, 99 cents is alright.)

You see some listed as free downloads, but it's funny. No one knows what you need to do to have your book become free. Amazon just chooses.

It's all very mysterious.

It's all very ghostly.

Like this guy ----->

~('.' ~)

Apple Computers

2011-08-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Apple Computers = People will pay thousands for the color white.

Are they more powerful/faster than PCs?
No.

Can you do things on a Mac that you can't do on a PC?
No.

Success....

2011-08-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

"Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration."
-Evan Esar

Weredolphin - A Novel

2011-08-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

Not sure where this is going. Got a few random ideas scattered in my skull.

Weredolphin...Weredolphin...Weredolphin...Weredolphin...Weredolphin....

It haunts me!

I may wanna throw in a wereunicorn.

I've already got the cover down: Dolphin in a white circle.

I'll work on it toot-sweet when I'm done with Ghost City.

Beer = Creativity?

2011-08-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

Does being drunk equal creativity? Like, is a beer the key to the imagination?

Now, I'm all for drinking and getting hammered drunk, but I can't write when under the influence. Typos happen like crazy. I'm not like Stephen King in that sense (then again, I guess he trained himself to Drink & Write). I can't write when drunk. However, I must admit, I do sense less resistance when I'm drunk. What I mean is, the ideas come quickly, easily.

You don't need to get drunk or high to write that way -- to open that creative window.

I think it's just practice. Just practice free-handwriting a lot. Give that Left brain a rest. Learn to fix all those mistakes later. Get the story out first as fast as you can. Don't stop the flow of ideas.

In short....

Right Brain = Writing
Left Brain = Editing

The two do not mix well together.

But just start with the writing first ^_^

inspirational quotes

2011-08-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of inspirational quotes. Here's a bunch from

The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success.
Henry Ward Beecher

The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business--or almost anywhere else for that matter.
Lee Iacocca

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
Francis Bacon

In everything the ends well defined are the secret of durable success.
Victor Cousins

Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.
Vince Lombardi

Failures do what is tension relieving,
while winners do what is goal achieving.
Dennis Waitley
(as quoted in Brian Tracy's book, Eat That Frog)

A man should have any number of little aims about which he should be conscious and for which he should have names, but he should have neither name for, nor consciousness concerning, the main aim of his life.
Samuel Butler

Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.
Brian Tracy, Eat that Frog

The great and glorious masterpiece of
man is to know how to live to purpose.
Michel de Montaigne

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
or what's a heaven for?
Robert Browning

The significance of a man is not in what he attains but in what he longs to attain.
Kahlil Gibran

Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.
Aldous Huxley

If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.
Yogi Berra

The Walking Dead (series )

2011-08-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

What an awesome series. I haven't been this excited about a show since The X-Files!

Can't wait for October!

What I really wanna know is what happens next to that dude that tore his own hand off (O_O)

Oh, man...editing pains....

2011-08-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

You check and recheck...read and reread...and you still -- STILL -- pick up mistakes. You can give your book to 100 people and I guarantee you this: Some kind of mistake, typo, something that'll generally make you feel stupid, will be found.

For example. I was reading through my book Get Kilt and found this sentence: "At the end of commercial, she jumped through a wall."

My question is, should there be a "the" before commercial? You could argue that no, it's not necessary. You can still understand what the sentence is driving at, and besides, people say things like, "Cut to commercial!" all the time. So maybe, maybe, maybe I can breathe easy on this one. But in general, it bugs the living cwap out of me.

Woman, you start to feel dumb, retarded, etc. Stephen King was right, what helps is if you hide your 1st draft for a month. When you reread it, it'll seem like a foreign thing. The mistakes will be easier to pick up.

Some of them.

I mean, I guess I feel better knowing that I still read many mistakes in commercial books.

Two things I'll start doing.

1. Write slower (my hands usually goes faster than my brain).

And...

2. Reread slower.

Just do your best. That's ALL you can do.

Gadzooks.

Evil Dead 4 (a letter to Sam Raimi)

2011-08-03T22:35:00.001-07:00

Dear Sam Raimi,

Dude, sir, sire...please make this film soon. We fellow Deadites are hungry for another installment in this fine series. We want to be scared, we want to laugh, we want more Bruce Campbell, we want more of your kinetic direction.

Horror comedies suck now. Shaun of the Dead was boring (aside from that scene with that Queen song). Zombieland was...alright (Ghostbusters with zombies). Evil Dead 2 is straight-up awesome! Many would agree that it is still -- to this very day -- KING of horror comedies.

I'd pay upwards of $100 to see a 4th Evil Dead.

Just please keep Bruce as Ash, and please direct the thing. You, Sam Raimi, are the only one worthy to direct Evil Dead 4. (Oh, I don't know...maybe Peter Jackson????)

Mahalo.

PS: So you're directing a World of Warcraft film? That actually sounds pretty cool. Looking forward to it!

The Dark Knight Rises

2011-08-03T22:23:00.001-07:00

I actually am a little excited about this film.

That's kinda surprising to me. See, I hated the first film in the trilogy, and I thought Dark Knight was just...alright. But for some unearthly reason, I really wanna see part 3.

I'd even pay money for it. And how much do movies cost to see now? $20?? Whatever. Because of that, I don't go out to watch movies anymore. The last one was Inception, and that was damn good. Christopher Nolan is damn good.

Inception!

I get it now.

So that's why I wanna see Dark Knight Rises. I have high hopes for it because of Nolan's work on Inception.

Mahalo.

Writing again

2011-07-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

Back on the horse................

New book - Ghost City

2011-05-31T04:28:00.001-07:00

In the works.

Basically, it's about a portal that appears over Honolulu, and ghosts fly out taking people's souls back up with them. But it's also somewhat a biography about a certain eye patch-wearing zombie hunter called Dr. Boss.

Pretty fun book to write so far. Kinda like Forrest Gump meets 28 Days Later meets...err...Ghostbusters.

Oh, and I'm currently filming a short film (in 5 parts) to help promote the book on YouTube. Like I said...fun stuff ^_^

Mahalo.

Cover for "Get Kilt"

2011-05-07T05:56:00.000-07:00

Sample paragraphs from new book "Get Kilt".

2011-05-07T05:51:00.000-07:00

But what was IT?

I joined the growing group that huddled under the TV. Everyone was looking up and reminded me of baby birds ready for mamma to feed'em all worms.
The commercial played classical music while Dr. Kilt blabbed.
“Are you old?” he asked. “Are you lame? Does life feel dead to you? Is there no excitement in your existence? Well, have I got the answer to remedy your boredom.”
An image of a white and red pill filled the screen.
“Get Kilt!” the doctor said.

The scene changed, and then I saw all these old people dancing in a hip hop club called Pannies – and they were really moving. It was amazing. Many danced like robots and were challenging the youth. It looked like a grand old time. They were all smiles. It was unbelievable. Was I looking at young people wearing masks of old people? Was it all real? The scene changed to an old woman at a park, spinning a basketball on her finger. Jackson pushed by me.
“It's Oja! She's on TV!”

I wondered, so THIS is what Dr. Kilt did to her. And then I wondered darker thoughts. Did they force the pill on her? Was she a test rat?
“First I was lost,” Oja said, “but now I am found. Yippie!”
She was all over the place – dunking basketballs, jumping over hurdles and lifting weights and hitting home runs and arm wrestling a bald man that had so much muscle. She SLAMMED his arm down and broke the table in two and won the match. The man cried out in pain and held his elbow and ran off, weeping. Oja jumped up, eyes to Heaven, mouth drooling.

“I feel so young!” she said and punched through a wall. She pulled out a glass mug of piss-colored beer and drank. “I am invigorated!” she yelled. As youthful as she seemed...I found it odd that her voice was still old and crackly. The scene switched to a dojo, and, dressed in a karate uniform, Oja flipped over a young Asian man dressed in everyday clothing. Everyone around me clapped and cheered. At the end of the commercial, Oja gave the camera the thumbs up.
“Get Kilt!” she said.

And then she shrieked something unintelligible and dove her forehead through a stack of bricks. Burning bricks. She brought her hands together in prayer and bowed to the camera. There was no blood. Everyone clapped and hollered and stomped their feet, thanking Jesus and Buddha. They got on their cell phones and begged their kids to buy them this Kilt-thing. Some of the old people flat out demanded their kids buy them the energy pill. People paced all around the place with their phones glued to their greasy ears, many crying, pleading, mumbling. Some things I overheard: “You don't love me anymore!” “I hate you!” “I love you!” “Screw you!” “Thank you!” “You owe me!” “You came out of me!” and “I'll pay you back later.” Hershey Lilo, a black woman in a white wheelchair, just sat there in a trance, eyes fixed to the screen.

A nurse tried to snap her out of it – snapped her fingers in front of her face – but it was no good. The nurse even touched the old woman's eyeball. Nothing happened. Hershey wasn't smiling, but she did start nodding over and over again.
Someone in the room was playing the piccolo. People danced. All were merry.

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Filipino Vampire - awesome review!

2011-04-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to thewrittenuniverse for the awesome review!

CLICK HERE

Mahalo House of Horror!

2011-04-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to House of Horror for mentioning my new book Filipino Vampire! ----> http://bit.ly/i6NTjO

The wonderful world of Novellas & Novelettes

2011-04-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Novellas & Novelettes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A novella (also called a short novel) is a written, fictional, prose narrative longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000.[1] Other definitions start as low as 10,000 words and run as high as 70,000 words.

A novelette (or, rarely, novelet) is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms, like a novella, is usually based upon word count. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula awards for science fiction define the novelette as having a word count of between 7,500 and 17,499, inclusive.

(I like novellas and novelettes more than novels. Maybe because I have a habit of getting to the point of things. Or maybe I have Attention Deficit Disorder.)

Goals....

2011-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I can't just write a book and expect it to just magically get readers. Work must be done; so today I was thinking of a plan.

1. Get online reviews for Filipino Vampire (I can target Filipino blogs, cryptozoology blogs, horror blogs, and comedy blogs).

2. While that's going on, I'll work on Get Kilt, the zombie book. This is the one, the gateway book, that I think will get my other stuff attention.

3. Send THAT out for review to drug blogs, zombie blogs, horror blogs, elderly blogs.

4. Now the book series that I really, really feel will make things fly...make things happen. I'll work on that Mummy VS. Vampires series. It'll be serious. My Lord of The Rings/Harry Potter/Twilight/Chronicles of Narnia/Wizard of OZ.

10 books planned this year....

2011-04-12T05:05:00.000-07:00

I forgot how fun it was to write. I gave up on it for a year or two, but now I've gotten back in the game. Yup, 10 books planned this year. Feels like I'm making up for lost time.

What will these books be about? Crazy surgeons, more ambulances, nuns, zombies, Filipino vampires.... You know. The usual.

Keep your peepers open, mates. Get ready to laugh your asses ON.

My Cartoon series - Boss Hospital

2011-04-12T03:12:00.000-07:00

Oh, it's just this wacky animated series about a wacky hospital and wacky nuns and aliens and surgeries and zombies. Check it out belowwwwwww ------>

http://www.bosshospital.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/raymhensley

My Amazon profile page

2011-04-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

I gots one! How cool is that????

HERE

Aloha!

2011-04-09T17:32:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my blog-thing. I'll be posting whatever comes to my mind -- books, movies, foods, whatevs. Hope you enjoy your stay!

Mahalo,
Raym