Tag Archives: Lord of the Rings

What makes a “classic”?

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Last night on Twitter, fellow Carina Press author Marie Force asked for recommendations of movies that might become classics in the future. A short discussion ensued, and I mentioned Shakespeare in Love while Carina editor Deb Nemeth suggested Lord of the Rings.

But it got me thinking …when does a book or a movie receive that ‘classic’ status? I think certain movies from the 50s have already passed the bench mark – Some Like It Hot anyone?

And what is the benchmark? For books is it that the book defines something in our society such as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird? Is it numbers sold or that it got made into a movie or became part of our vernacular? Lord of the Rings definitely qualifies on all fronts and I definitely think it should rate ‘classic’ status. (Considering it was voted the Best Book of the Century in 1999, it probably does.)

For movies, is it based on box office receipts or Oscars — because I have to object to Titanic ever being considered a classic, despite its records box office receipts or the number of Oscars it received. (I must admit to laughing through the last half of it, begging the writer–Canadian James Cameron–to please please please give Rose something to say other than “Jack”! OMG That could have turned into a case of alcohol poisoning if I’d used that as a drinking game.) Or is it that there’s a message embedded? Will Thelma and Louise become a ‘classic’? Or The Terminator?

So tell me, what movies or books released since…oh, let’s arbitrarily say since 1970, do you think should qualify as being future classics?

Putting Faces to Names, Part 3

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I figured it was time to lighten up a little and give you a little eye candy.

Last year, Amy Ruttan suggested I find pictures for my characters – not only for inspiration but also to use when I’m trying to describe my characters to the cover artists. A while back I put up the pictures of how I saw Sam and Rosie, etc. Here’s who I’m working on now.

Joy, a former moderator from the Samhain Cafe, twittered to me the other day wondering about Chad’s story, figuring it would be next in the Hauberk series. To be honest, I thought it would be too. But it turned out Chad decided to be ornery and wanted more time before I got him hitched. So if you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know I’m instead writing Andy’s story. Andy’s an ex-DC cop, who has been working with Hauberk for three years now.

Andy:

Here’s a small excerpt from Personal Protection about him:

Considering he’d probably run about six miles, he’d barely worked up a sweat. A tad less than six feet, he wasn’t the typical body-builder people expected from a bodyguard. Today’s shirt had “I’m the man your mother warned you about” silk-screened across the chest, which most people meeting him for the first time would believe. Especially once they got a look at the tattoos completely covering his left arm and shoulder that made most people think he was a member of Hell’s Angels instead of one of the highest level operatives in Hauberk. But if they talked to him they’d discover he was a soft-spoken man who didn’t swear, didn’t smoke or drink and had manners that would stand him in good stead at Buckingham Palace.

He doesn’t swear. OMG, that’s been such a challenge for potty-mouthed me. The not-smoking is fun to play with since I’ve paired him with Scott who is a smoker, especially when he’s stressed out. And considering Scott has just escaped from a Colombia terrorist group where he suffered a LOT Of stress, Scott’s now smoking like a proverbial chimney. (see the link below – I see Scott as Colin Farrell.)I’ve gone back and forth on who would play Andy. For a while I saw him more as a younger Russell Crowe. I think maybe I see him as a combination of both men. (Good thing I didn’t cast Colin Farrell as Andy – from what I’ve seen, CF can’t go 5 words without dropping the F bomb. Although I’m not sure how successful RC would be either.)

That’s Karl Urban. Bones from the new Star Trek movie, or for me, I’ll always think of him as Eomer from Lord of the Rings – especially that scene in Return of the King when he’s charging the orks on the fields in front of Gondor. (Andy has a goatee, not a beard the way Karl has here.)


I am still googling tattoos to find just the right type of design he has on his arm/shoulder since it’s one he keeps adding to.

Andy’s brother, Daniel
Michelle Rowen inspired me by posting a picture of Josh Holloway from Lost on her blog. I saw that picture and immediately envisioned him as Andy’s brother, Daniel. (My bad for not watching Lost. I tried, but I just couldn’t get into it. Sorry, Michelle.)

Hmm, I think I have a thing for scruffy guys in this one, LOL. And yes, Daniel rides a motorcycle (not a Harley, but a Ducati) and wears lots of leather *grin*

The heroine:
The love interest for both of them? Well, this is how I envision Charlene (Charley) Larsen … the lovely Alicia Keyes.

Next question is, do they both end up with her? Well, you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?

(Actually I’m still wondering … this sucker is taking forever to finish thanks to my second guessing EVERYTHING. Second Book Syndrome strikes again. Even though this is my third.)

(I find it ironic that I’ve taken photographs off the web after posting about piracy. If any of the photographers objects to the photo being posted, just let me know. If any of the artists objects, or wishes to substitute a different picture, feel free to contact me.)