A Spec in Time Series

December 1, 2023 blog

Here it is, the last blog of 2023. I made it through the pain of the final Dome edits. I’m in the middle of my final read-through, and that of a friend, to see what else needs to be tightened up. Domes is slightly smaller in word count, slightly is the keyword. I feel exhausted with the tedious work of layout and careful reading. It’s hard to stay focused on words you know so well, and a story that is embedded into your soul. Keeping focused on details such as a blasted comma, sucks!

I started 2023 year with the release of book one, The Harvesters, onto the unexpecting world. Book two, The Domes is about to follow suit. Book three, Inception is well on its way to a good start. Okay, it is a solid start. The words keep coming, and the ideas to make the book flow, continue from one section to the next, just keep falling into place. The coincidences of critical pieces of history, keep sliding in where they need to be. I had researched the bulk of them before I had started, yet it’s always nice when an unexpected new idea lays right into place. I still feel as if I want to write so that is saying a lot.

I have states of moods that make me feel overwhelmed and stupid. I doubt that anyone likes my stuff, or that anyone other than a friend would read them. Sometimes I feel like scrubbing the whole project. Discouragement has always been a friend. I don’t need someone else to tell me that I suck, I can do that on my own, with better words. I feel lazy when I’m doing other things. I feel guilty that I’m ‘just writing’ when I have so much more in my life that I ‘should’ be doing. I work very hard not to incorporate the should-haves, would-haves, and could-haves into my life. Truth is, they just hide in my closet with the monsters. They come out at night to bring the tears and the fears.

I have balanced it out with a new appreciation for Techno…Mongolian Techno to be specific. Would you expect anything less from me? I really love throat singing BTW.

The blend of native sounds and ethno-musical beats of OTYKEN are amazing. Native instruments, combined with just f’ing amazing vocals. Their costuming is incredible in every video I have seen. Songs based on their ancestral stories, and Siberian honey bees. The spectacular landscapes in these videos are worth watching, even if you choose to use the mute button.

Another incredible singer who is of Mongolian techno style is Ummet Ozcan. One video even has one of my favorite things: Hunters using golden eagles. I saw some sort of Nat Geo film on this when I was younger, and it still amazes me. Ummet is also a DJ. Hence my introduction to modern techno.

I find it fascinating that the DJs, not the bands are the big draw in techno music. Honestly, this is what has always made me turn away from it. That was a sad mistake, I have missed much. After watching/listening, to several ‘concerts?’ for lack of a better word. They get the crowd going and then cool them down, just to make it all happen again. There really is an art to it, picking the tunes, and then mixing in the sounds of everything on the planet. Then there is the main reason for Techno, the beat. This is a great beat to get going and do those chores. Another DJ I heard lately seemed more trance-like to me, and that is Supergloss. Overall, I’m having a good introduction. I will need to listen to more of it so I can decide. As of now, I’m enjoying this new, for me, electronic music.

Now, if you are just into fun costumed cover bands: look up Broken Peach.

Now that we are at the height of the holiday season, know that I’m fine, just sitting here writing when I’m not up dancing with my vacuum.