This is just something fun for Friday.

I never thought I’d post anything related to Weird Al in this blog, but it just goes to show that life sometimes throws a curve ball…

Click here to see him do his part in the fight for good grammar!

Have a great weekend and Happy Halloween!

Recently, the Washington Post published and article about new authors producing sequels to books of a few well known dead authors. These books include the Douglas Adams series “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” and A.A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh.” You can read the original article here.

When I first read the article I thought it was insanity. A continuation of “Winnie the Pooh?” Seriously? Are we just all out of good ideas? Plus, these are classic stories. It’d be like doing a continuation of “Casablanca.” These stories have been told, they’re over. Leave them alone.

But then I reminded myself that I’m currently reading Dean Koontz’s “City of Night,” the second book in his Frankenstein trilogy, and admittedly, I’m enjoying it. So what’s the difference? Really, there is none. Mary Shelley told Frankenstein’s story, so what made Dean Koontz think he could continue it? Never mind the fact Shelley herself intended “Frankenstein” as a modern retelling of the Prometheus myth.

I think the secret is in how it’s done. Koontz has been loyal to the Frankenstein legacy…except for bringing Frankenstein and his monster back from the dead. Minor detail. But suspension of disbelief is what it’s all about, right?

I haven’t read the retold “Winnie the Pooh” or “Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” but I’m not saying I won’t. Sometimes continuations can be extremely well done. Another example is Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy. This is one of the many series of “Star Wars” novels. This particular trilogy picks up where “Return of the Jedi” left off. Again, I think what made it work was the loyalty to the original story.

So…what do you think? Are you immeditely turned off by the prospect of continuations? Are they just glorified fan-fic or in some instances, can they be something better? As a writer, how would you feel about a new author continuing your story after your part of it is done?

Yesterday Barnes and Noble announced their new E-Book reader, Nook. Kindle has been around for a while and there are a myriad of others, plus you can download apps for your iPhones (if you like reading on tiny little screens). Because for many, these E-Book readers are still cost prohibitive, they’re not at all widespread. However, with new devices being released, the price will come down and more people will have them.

And as with any technology, there are debates over whether or not it’s a good thing. I personally think it’s great. I’m not even the kind of person who wants every little gadget that comes out, but for some reason, these E-Book Readers have struck my fancy. Maybe it’s the ability to have several hundred books on one device. Maybe it’s the instant gratification factor of downloading a book. I don’t know. But I want one.

Aside from all that, one of my favorite blogs, GalleyCat, released an article talking about Digital Freeloaders. These are basically people who piggyback off of their friend’s Kindle Account. It’s like lending a friend a book, but in a digital format. Yes, book was paid for by the person with the Kindle account, but not by the friend.

My question is…is this piracy? People share books and go to used bookstores all the time, (in neither instance does the author get paid), but there doesn’t seem to be the outcry from the publishing industry that there is from the music industry in regards to free downloading. What’s the difference, or is there one?

I’m always interested in people’s inspiration, what leads them to do the things that they do. What is the force that drives writers to write, inventors to invent? What is the force that drives people of all walks of life to do the things they do?

Some people get inspiration from pretty amazing places. When blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd was seven years old, he saw Stevie Ray Vaughan in concert. During the show, Stevie pulled the kid up on stage and sat him on an equipment case on the side of the stage so he could have a better view. It’s no small wonder that that seven year old was inspired to play guitar and would eventually draw comparisons to the legendary Vaughan himself.

Most of us don’t have those kind of “smack-you-in-the-face-AHA-moments.” Most of us have smaller moments, but they’re no less powerful.

I started writing seriously back in 2001 when two characters entered my head and refused to leave. Yes, you could say I have voices in my head…most writers do. Those two characters became the basis for my book, “Shaping Fate.”

Nowadays, I find inspiration for my writing just about anywhere. Almost anything in the world can inspire me in some way. The way the sun highlights the autumn leaves, an interesting news story, a snippet of a conversation I overhear…all these can be the inspiration of a new story. I just have to be open to them.

So, what inspires you?

Ok, so this is my official blog. As you’ll see, I’m a writer. Right now, I am doing the final edit on my historical fantasy novel, “Shaping Fate.” I started writing it in 2001 and finished the first draft in 2003. Since then I’ve edited. LOTS. And I’ve learned and grown immensely as a writer and I feel it’s time to send my baby out into the big scary world.

Won’t you join me?