Crime TV, Is it Too Real?

A recent post about Law & Order, writers and reality at Poe's Deadly Daughters got me thinking about the continuing fascination with "reality TV."

I don't mean fun "reality" shows like "Dancing With the Stars." (Love it!) I mean shows like Law & Order," "NCIS" and other cop/crime shows where the realistic or "reality based" stories seem to be getting, well, too real.

I can't remember who it was, but I thought I'd heard that one star had quit Law & Order because the crimes were getting "too" real. I was a L&O fan, watching most of the spin-off's until the five-day-a-week shows got to be too much. And the one thing that I've noticed from not watching it regularly now is the increasing amount of gore.

The old TV news adage, "if it bleeds, it leads," seems to have become the byword for all the crime shows. L&O has its bloody closeups, or worse, it seems to have crossed into an almost perverse delight in re-enacting a crime. One show I watched had me thinking how attractive the killers could look to someone who was off-balanced or mentally unstable. Not a good thing. It creeped me out.

That show, of course, isn't the only one guilty of overdoing the blood. Other shows I liked like "Criminal Minds" or NCIS with its gruesome autopsies (and never mind CSI's scenes as well) have me cringing, looking away, closing my eyes, or sometimes just switching channels. Not what the stations wanted, is it? And I admit being a horror and Stephen King fan.

As I enjoy writing mysteries, I like crime shows. I like the twists and turns as the case is solved. But I guess I'd prefer a little more Agatha Christie instead of "Nightmare on Elm Street."

The other side effect, I fear, is that all that blood day and night, has desensitized a lot of people to the true horrors of crime, or made it seem "not real." (Like kids who think they can fly because they saw Superman or whoever do it?) Or is that the intention?

** Your Turn: Is TV becoming too gory? Is the constant stream of crime and murder on TV shows and the news desensitizing?

Eye Candy: Pretty Little Lady Miniatures

Today, I thought I'd share a few of the little "lady" items I finished in the "Shop 'Til You Drop" class Thursday at the Tom Bishop International Dollhouse Show in Chicago.

There were so many items to finish that I am still working on the trim on the chaise and decorating the clothing boxes. There's also a bra and panties set to make, a lace-front shirt and a pillow. I have a couple things to do to the folding screen also. I will post more photos when I finish.

(The shoes were fun and easy to do, made with suede paper. The shoe base is a "sandwich" of a leather bottom, index card and a suede inside. The bows are teensy fingernail decorations. The shoes even had little Fimo clay heels! Neat, huh?)

I love the tower of boxes! And the suitcase was easy but effective - simply gluing straw over a wood block, then add a suede strip handle and tiny gold sticker pieces for hardware. (The stickers look like tiny rectangles and come in strips.) The bag is vellum with the teacher Cindy Crane's own art reduced and printed on it. I'm gong to try that with the vellum I had (and didn't know why I bought!)

Unfortunately, I didn't get back to the show itself, but I am going to contact a couple vendors to buy some things since I've now got a bug about making some more items like the mini purses and shoes!

I will say one thing - recession? You wouldn't know it!

Though I know a few people who are holding their wallets a little tighter (myself included), you would think that nothing had changed judging from the number of people who were taking classes. There were at least 10 small workrooms (maybe more as I didn't count them all) filled with at least 10 students each on Thursday, though the more expensive house/roombox classes did have fewer students.

But still - even the pricier classes had at least six students. And there were more people coming in for the Thursday evening classes. Given that most classes were more than $100 (with the house/room classes in the $400-$800 range) - plus many of those people and teachers were staying at the hotel, a good deal of money was being spent. It will be interesting to hear from the dealers if they saw any difference in spending and if the crowds seemed to be smaller compared to previous years or the same. Anyone want to share their views?

Meet Author Rachel Allen Dillon, Endangered Animal Artist

Welcome to Rachel Allen Dillon, author of the fascinating new children's book, THROUGH ENDANGERED EYES - A POETIC JOURNEY INTO THE WILD.

(Be sure to read to the end to see her amazing excerpts and get some neat great suggestions for activities to do with the kids. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the rest of her blog tour! )

Talk about a cool book! The pages of THROUGH ENDANGERED EYES (Windward Press, Finney Co.) take readers, both young and young-at-heart, on a fascinating journey into the animal world via Rachel's original art and poetry.

But instead of the typical real-life portraiture or photos featured in most animal-related books, Rachel's animal art has a mosaic-like quality. She paints in dots, reminiscent of the Pointillist style of classic artists like Georges Seurat, and Henri-Edmond Cross.

While artists doing Pointillism mostly worked in primary colors, Rachel's paintings have a modern twist - her dots are bolder and mimic the colors of the represented animals. No "dainty" dots here. Rachel's paintings are bold and invite you to come closer, get to know the animals.

She also invites readers to learn more. Most of the 21 species featured in the book are endangered or threatened due to situations including, loss of habitat; poaching; hunting; accidental deaths while hunting for other species; poison; problems in producing more young; or pollution. All of these animals are in need of help in order to survive.

She says, "I believe all creatures in the animal kingdom serve a purpose and play a role that keeps the planet balanced. Although extinction is a natural process, the current rate of species going extinct is unnatural. Our children need to understand the importance each species plays to the survival of all things. They will inherit an earth that needs habitat rebuilding and scientific intervention to maintain biodiversity. Your job not only is to make your own changes to help the planet, but more importantly, to guide your children and cherish their natural desire to make the world a better place."

** See information on some of the featured animals, plus sample art and poems, below.


Meet Rachel!

Rachel developed her love of animals as a young artist, her favorite being horses. "As I got into middle school and high school, I drew quietly in my room at night trying to perfect the horse," she says.

Her love of art continued to grow well into high school. After recovering from a bout of pneumonia, Rachel began taking art classes in college and knew that she'd found her life's work. "I was hooked," she says.

She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in art, with an emphasis on graphic design ("I already had in mind about the starving artist thing," she jokes.)


Inspiration

While she was drawn to mosaics, especially those found in the ruins of Pompeii, Rachel discovered a new world of creativity following a trip to Australia in 1992.

There, she discovered Aboriginal Acrylic Dot painting, a style used by native Aborigines.

"The colors, patterns and textures inspired me," Rachel says. "When I returned home and started one of my art classes, I just had to try out the dot painting method."

Unfortunately, Rachel soon learned that there wasn't much information on the technique available. "I couldn't figure out how they made dots so perfectly round, until I saw a picture of an Aboriginal man sitting under a tree, dipping a stick into paint," she explains. "I flipped my paintbrush around and used the other end to create the dots I was looking for. The dots are raised and create a braille-like texture to the paintings."

How It's Done:

Rachel uses acrylics in her art, with the paintings for the book done on 9" x 12"
canvas board. The paintings took from 8 to 12 hours to complete. An exception was the Mexican Spotted Oil, which took about 20 hours. "I used very small dots in the face to get additional texture and detail," she says.

If she had to choose one, Rachel's favorite has to be the Chinese Alligator: "I had never painted a reptile before. Their skin is perfect for dots. The book doesn't do that painting justice, there is almost a leather quality to the skin in the actual painting."


ANIMALS IN ART AND POETRY:

Excerpts from THROUGH ENDANGERED EYES - A POETIC JOURNEY INTO THE WILD by Rachel Allen Dillon


Species: AFRICAN ELEPHANT

My ears are shaped like Africa,
my trunk is very strong,
my key to life is family,
that is where I belong.

The African elephant is the world's largest land animal. A male elephant could weigh as much as 16,500 pounds.

Where they live: Africa - Status: Threatened

Resources:
• World Wildlife Foundation, http://www.wwf.org/
• http://www.elephantvoices.org/
• Google: African Elephant Specialist Group


Species: CHINESE ALLIGATOR

I am small but
my teeth are strong,
I dig dark tunnels
deep and long.

Chinese Alligators are smaller then their American cousins. Young Chinese alligators are black and bright yellow.

Where they live: Lower Yangtze River Valley, China - Status: Endangered

Resources:
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/
• http://savingwildplaces.com/
• www.calacademy.org/science_now/archive/headline_science/alligatorchina.html
•
www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/Chinaaligator.htm


Species: CORROBOREE FROG

The Corroboree Frog lives in one of the coldest parts of the Australian mainland. It does not have webbed feet and is about the size of an adult pinkie finger.

Where they live: Fiery and Brindabella and the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales and Victoria, Australia - Status: Critically Endangered

Resources:
• www.arkive.org/
• www.kidcyber.com.au/
• www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/june2004


HELPING MAKE A DIFFERENCE

While Rachel has a soft heart for animals, she also believes in helping children develop a concern for animals and their environment. Poetry and art became the perfect vehicle to do that.

"I decided to write a book on endangered animals for kids because I wanted to highlight the importance of vanishing animals to kids," she says. "I didn't see any great kids' books devoted to endangered animals, so I decided to write one.

"...For the younger ones the rhyming is fun to listen to," she continues. "For the seven to nine-year-old kids, poetry becomes a puzzle, a way to communicate something they have to look harder to figure out. That is where the factual information in the back of the book comes in handy. The facts really tell the kids the answers to the questions the poems cause. The four to six-year-olds, whose parents are still reading with them, ask the questions and the parents need to look at the facts to decipher an answer - so the parents are learning too."

CLASS AND HOME ACTIVITIES for Kids:

Following are some things that teachers and parents can do to help children develop an appreciation for animals and their preservation.

1) MAKE A LIST

Look at the animal information plaques at the zoo or aquarium for a Vanishing Wildlife Symbol or statement about the status of the species. Create a list and photos, if possible, of endangered and threatened species.

2) DONATE A DOLLAR

Teaching children at a young age about giving and sharing is a lesson that will stay with them for a lifetime. Choose a foundation or cause to donate a dollar. A dollar may seem small, but to a child it can feel like they are really making a difference.

3) ADOPT AN ANIMAL

Most zoos, aquariums, and wildlife conservation groups have an Adopt, Sponsor or Befriend an Animal program. Most adoptions include a photo, certificate and information about the animal being adopted. Frame the photo and certificate, encourage your child to celebrate their animal's birthday each year by sending a donation. Give animal adoptions as gifts to family and friends.

4) SCRAPBOOK IT!

Children of all ages may enjoy creating a scrapbook about vanishing and threatened creatures.

You don't have to take the pictures, although it adds a personal element if the youngsters are able to take their own photos at the zoo, game park or aquarium. center piece of the book. Information about the animals can be found online or at the library. Check the status of an animal at Earth's Endangered.com to see if they are threatened or endangered.


FOLLOW THE REST OF THE BLOG TOUR:

April 1 - The Muffin, Women on Writing

April 2 - Candid Canine

April 3 - Fatal Foodies

April 7 - My Readable Feast

April 9 - Sharing with Writers

April 10 - Day by Day Writer

April 14 - Whole Latte Life, Joanne Demaio

April 17 - Book Talk Corner Today

April 20 - Margo Dill

* Want to win a copy of THROUGH ENDANGERED EYES? Leave a comment about your favorite endangered or threatened animal. Share any conservation activities that you have done. Leave an email or blog address to be contacted.

New Stories: Mystery and Dragons, Oh My!

No April Fooling! My latest story, "The Dream Child" appears in the new Kerlak Publishing anthology, DRAGONS COMPOSED, set for release this month.

The story, set in medieval Belgium, focuses on a mother's struggles with her too imaginative son. Or is he?

* See book details

** Buy at Amazon.com

** Also: My spring Author Snapshot column at MYSTERICAL-E focuses on mystery and suspense authors sharing the first lines of their books and the stories behind them. Click Author Snapshot under columns on table of contents page.

Words and Definitions

A couple recent news stories I read offered some food for thought, or at least a good laugh.

One story talked about a British official's recent brush with the law in mistakenly writing off some personal video rentals and x-rated movie rentals from her husband. The spokesperson in trying to explain it says, "x-rated videos are not porn."

Oh?

And on this side of the pond, a Wisconsin school was having another brush with political correctness. In a recent incident, it supposedly corrected the symbol for the school's logo - W - for Warriors - by substituting what they termed a more gender-friendly symbol and word - knight.

I'll let you think on that one.

Real Miniature or Photo Trick?

Here's a stumper: how much time do you think it would take to get a dollhouse in a bottle?

Think it can't be done? Well, like those people who have built ships in a bottle, this person on eBay claims to have branched out and built a house in a bottle!

Read more about this intriguing dollhouse. (Or put 280326147574 in search box at eBay.com)

* Build your own ship in a bottle from "Boy's Life" magazine.

* How about the "other" Dollhouse? (TV Show) (ha-ha!)

World's Oldest Dog is a Dachshund!

Chanel, a Dachshund from New York, prefers to enjoy her leisure these days, but that's okay. She's entitled.

At age 20, the dog will be listed in the next edition of The Guinness Book of World Records, coming out in September, as the world's oldest dog. Chanel will be 21 on May 8. Here's hoping she enjoys more dog cookies on her birthday!

You can read more about this amazing dog here.

Amazing Miniature Creations

A lot of people don't realize the complexity of some miniature projects.

Take the "Safari Sweater" completed by miniaturist Shelly Norris, who also creates amazing flowers. (More to come on those later.)

The sweater is made in 1-inch scale (1"=1 foot) and sized to a 5-6" tall doll (equaling a 5-6-foot tall person in real life). The sweater is 1 1/2" long x 1 5/16" wide. The sleeves are 1 1/4" long.

More amazing? The sweater was created using sewing thread and completely done in French knots, where the thread is "rolled" to form a knot. It took about 2,240 French knots to do one square inch.

Now picture at least that same number of French knots per inch applied to a miniature rug.



Shelly began making what she calls her "monster rug" in October 2008. This is her progress so far. Wow, talk about dedication... especially considering that the rug at 8 1/2" W x 9 1/2" long and using one strand of embroidery floss per knot will require approximately 1,990 french knots to create 1 square inch of rug.

If you've seen the movie, "Coraline," then you've seen other examples of miniature sweaters. Renowned miniature knitter Althea Crome of Bug Knits created the miniature sweaters for the movie.

* Check out the video of her knitting.

* See more miniature sweaters at the Bug Knits gallery.

Zamora's Ultimate Challenge, Meet MK Scott!

Welcome to the next stop on the Zamora's Ultimate Challenge Blog Tour! Be sure to read to the very end as you don't know what you may miss! (like a chance to win stuff!)

* * * * *

Meet author M.K. SCOTT, who calls herself a "total book fiend" and horse-lover. Oh, make that dog lover, too, given her "writing partner" is a four-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Java.

If you didn't know, M.K.'s alter-ego Michele Scott is author of the Wine Lovers Mysteries and the Equestrian Horse Lovers Mysteries with Berkley Prime Crime.

As M.K. she'll be writing for children, beginning with her tween fantasy, ZAMORA'S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE available from QUAKE/Echelon Press.


ZAMORA'S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE...

Is the name of Mason and Carter Clover's favorite video game. But fantasy turns to reality when Zamora's evil face appears on the brothers' TV screen. Now the queen threatens to take over the soul of their kidnapped baby sister, Isabella. Zamora's plan? To use the baby as a human vessel to reach Earth and dominate the world!

The boys enter the video game and are helped by several guides in the magical land of Boysen - a sage, a quirky mermaid and a Pegasus, who flies them to subsequent levels of the game. They also face other enemies as they try to jump to the next level and rescue Isabella. Will they beat Zamora's Ultimate Challenge?


Who is M.K./Michele?

Michele, who has a degree in journalism, has been writing since childhood. She wrote her first book while taking a Writer's Digest Magazine correspondence course and caring for her premature son, who's now 17.

"It only took me 12 years later and almost as many books to get an agent and sell three books," she says.

She's made up for lost time, with books nine and book 10, the latest being ZAMORA'S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (QUAKE/ECHELON PRESS, Feb 2009).

Her family once again played a role in her decision to delve into another genre. Being on bed rest for her third pregnancy, Michele decided to write a fantasy for her own children. She calls it a book of her heart and a book with a message.

“The morals have to do with familial love and bonds, as well as faith in one's self,” she says. “That is all so important to me because I don't think there is anything more important than your family and your belief in yourself and others. We all have gifts to share, and the book gets that across in a subtle way that I believe kids and parents will enjoy.”


About that Dog...

And Java? Call him confidant and right-hand man, er, dog. Michele spends much of the day writing until it's time to pick up her youngest at school, with the dog usually beside her.

"I write in the kitchen most of the time on a laptop and Java sleeps next to me on the kitchen sofa in the breakfast nook," she says. "Sometimes our other dog does too, and occasionally the cat as well. They all sleep all day long."

It sounds ideal but don't be fooled. With 10+ books under her belt (there are others being considered), Michele's got this writing thing down pat. Not that there aren't some moments...

The worst?

"Revising a book for the 10th time," she says. "At that point I am into another book and want to move on, but know that I have to do whatever it takes to make what I have written the best that I can."

But there are good things, she says, "like creating a story with characters that I feel readers can connect to. The simple act of writing itself is by far the best part."

With the day's writing done and the kids home, Michele is then ready to spend time with her family and her horses. Wow, who says a writer's life isn't to be envied?


Prizes!

Did I say prizes? Yes, I did!

Now were you paying attention?? Three lucky readers will have the chance to win copies of Zamora’s Ultimate Challenge by answering this question: What creature inhabits Boysen and what’s the name of the dragon fighter? First make a comment here on something and then send the answer to Michele at readmichelescott@gmail.com. (copy and paste in your mail browser)

Read More

** Read an except of Zamora’s Ultimate Challenge at Michele’s website.


BUY:
*Amazon.com
* QUAKE/Echelon Press.

Follow the Rest of the Blog Tour

* Tomorrow, March 26, Michele shares the story behind Zamora's Ultimate Challenge at Cynthia's Attic

** Don't forget to stop every day at Michele's blog for a fun contest. San Diego anyone?? (Be sure to check out the cool book trailer!)

* March 27: Michele blogs about the novel project she does with middle school and junior high kids at Marta's Meanderings.

* March 30: Michele blogs about the differences between writing children's fantasy versus adult mystery at Drey's Library

* April 2: Michele talks about balancing multi-genre writing and family at Booking Mama.

* April 3: A tween's view of "Zamora's Ultimate Challenge" at Beth Fish Reads.

* April 4: Stop at Teen-Seen and maybe win some prizes!

No, writers don't lead a life of leisure. But their "helpers" do! Hope you enjoyed this stop of the tour!

Bowls and Books, Soup and Authors

Tomorrow is the 9th annual Bowls & Books event, a soup-tasting contest featuring delicious soups from 16 local Kenosha, WI restaurants. New this year is a "Meet and Greet" with local authors, including myself.

Bowls & Books will be held Wednesday, March 25 at the historic Rhode Center for the Arts, a renovated 1920s-era theater at 514-56th St., Kenosha, WI, 262-657-7529.

I'll be there with copies of Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery, from 5-7 p.m., so please stop by and say hello if you're in the area!

Tickets are $12 lunch and $15 evening. The evening session includes wine, hors d'oeuvres, and music. The event is a fundraiser for continued renovations at the theater.