I've had quite a few ebook sales the last while, but I know many of you out there prefer the good old feel and weight of paper in your hand. This sale is for you!
If you purchase Mimgardr through the Createspace Online Store using discount code 3LZM3ENM between now and Christmas Day, you will get 25% off as my Christmas gift to you!
First things always go first, so here's the first thing: Successful writers have and use business cards. Business cards provide you with a recognizable, professional image. A scribbled on piece of paper torn from a notepad is just not a great way to leave an impression with potential readers, other writers, publishers, agents, etc. People look for quality when they explore new things, including books, and you don't want to be written off as soon as you hand over your information. Business cards contain all of your contact information and are about you as a writer--not your books. Bookmarks are for your books. Don't get this mixed up. Business cards focus on you. That being said, writers also need simplicity. Don't make your business cards flowery, image-laden or too calligraphic. Too many writers include pictures of quills, typewriters, books, and the like--things that make the card too busy. Remember, professional cards are simple and direct. Keep it simple, keep it clean and keep it easy to read. The list of things you want on your business card is actually very brief:
Name -- your real name, pen name, or both depending on your privacy preferences.
Title -- something like "Author" or more specifically "Young Adult Fantasy Author"
Official Website Address
Other Forms of Contact -- Facebook, Twitter, etc. Pick your one or two most prominent and leave it at that.
Author Brand or Logo (If applicable)
Very simple color scheme
Now, let's talk about bookmarks. Bookmarks make great pass-along cards. Not only do they contain information about your books and where to buy them, but they also help you advertise yourself and your work to a wider circle of people. They also increase your chances of staying connected to people you speak with, because those people have a constant reminder of you, your book(s) and your website. And the best part is that your bookmarks don't have to be crowded and busy to achieve these goals. In fact, most of the time, the simpler they are, the more attention they'll get. Messy layouts and overabundant text drive people away, leaving a bad taste in their mouth that will be forever connected to you. (Not good.) So, keep it simple. Here's an example of a fairly common and successful design that you could use with a front and back card layout: On the Front
Your book's front cover
On the Back
The Blurb -- from the back cover of your book or the dust jacket flange.
One or Two Reviews (if you like)
Where to Learn More and Buy (This is a great place to use QR codes.)
Your Website Address (Again, this is a great place to use QR codes)
Your Social Media Contact Points
That's really all it takes. A simple design that conveys everything they need to get interested and nothing more. A well-written and beautifully published book, elegant business cards for you, attention-grabbing bookmarks for your books, and your confident work to see that they get handed out with pleasant conversation and a handshake. These are the things that will get you grounded right and start you on the way to success. Good luck!
Welcome to December, everyone! I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are now enjoying your Kindle editions of Mimgardr!
If you're in an area anything like mine, the Christmas bombardment has begun and the radio is overflowing with Christmas music. Because of this, I've decided to theme today's Clash of the Composers on Christian-themed Hallelujah anthems. Let's take a look at our contenders!
In this corner:
George Frideric Handel
wielding the well-known
"Hallelujah Chorus," from Messiah
And in that corner:
Ludwig van Beethoven
with the dramatic and forceful
"Hallelujah," from Christ on the Mount of Olives
Neither piece was explicitly written to celebrate Christmas--the humble arrival of the baby Jesus Christ to a virgin mother in a stable. In fact, they are often criticized for being played out of context at Christmas and confusing people as to the true meaning of the pieces. Both were written to celebrate the day when the Messiah returns to take up the throne of the world as "King of kings and Lord of lords," drawing many of their lyrics from Holy Writ, especially the Books of Revelation and Isaiah. They aren't about the humble arrival, but about the triumphal return--the Second Coming--when all wickedness will be cleansed from the world and God's glory will once again shine down on the Earth unhindered.
Regardless of personal religious opinions and specifics, one must recognize and honor the fact that a day of glory when only goodness can and will exist on earth--a day when pain, sickness, anguish and death are no longer existent--is the dream of almost every person and culture in history. Not all people worship in the way of the Christian, but nearly all worshipers dream of a day of peace and glory.
Some say that the Nativity is an inappropriate place for these pieces; I, however, wholeheartedly disagree. When a child is born, parents wonder and marvel about what their child will become. At Christmas, the prophesies of what the tiny babe was and would become were nothing short of miraculous--easily worth years of celebration.
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus because it is the ultimate token that God will never abandon his children. If Christ was born as hundreds of prophecies had dictated, then he would also sacrifice himself for sin; and if he sacrificed himself from sin, then each person could be cleansed from their mistakes and healed. If the atonement and resurrection took place, then Christ would ascend to Heaven; and if he ascended to Heaven, then he would one day return to see that wickedness was abolished and glory unveiled.
If the child was never born, then none of the other prophecies could come true either; but if he was, then the world had a marvelous destiny ahead and a great duty to perform. To believe that Christ was truthfully born as the Son of God is to change the meaning of Christmas forever. To celebrate the birth of Jesus is to celebrate the future return of the greatest King the world has ever known or will ever know.
That's why I don't consider these pieces out of place at Christmas in the home of a true believer in the Christian way. The Great King was born to give all to his people before he returned again to rule them; Christians give gifts today in hopes that they can remember and become more like the king who is to come. (Step aside, Santa. A true Christian has far better reasons to gifts than to deceive their children into a fleeting belief in you.)
So with it decided that the pieces are acceptable and perfectly fitting for Christmas, we have to make a decision. Who wrote the better homage to the King of kings and Lord of lords? Handel or Beethoven?
Is the shear fame of Handel's chorus enough to topple Beethoven? Or can Beethoven battle back with his use of builds and emotion to knock Handel off the mountain?
Give both pieces a few listens and cast your vote in the comments below or in an email! The winner will be announced next week!
(Special thanks to YouTube and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for making it possible for me to share quality audio/video recordings of the two pieces!)
Everyone needs a good book to read before and after the big eats of Thanksgiving, and this is the perfect book for that! Don't miss out on a five-star science fiction/fantasy that takes place over the course of the holiday months and includes all of your favorite monsters, myths, scientific theories, and murder mystery challenges in a way you have never seen them assembled before!
Read through the short story and comment below with the words you would use to replace the "<Finish This!>" marker!
The Arsonist
The sirens drew ever closer and a crowd of neighbors was beginning to assemble around her. The cul-de-sac was drowning in the brilliant glow of the flames that consumed her home. She stood watching with her arms folded and fists clenched. The frantic questions and cries of those around her fell on deaf ears as she stood there hoping beyond hope. Sally, her next door neighbor, began to shake her gently but still received no response.
When the first police car pulled around the corner, followed closely by a fire engine, she glanced over briefly before turning back toward the house and fighting back the urge to smile. She used the distraction to crush up the matchstick in her hand and let its pieces sail away on the breeze.
The officers approached her while the firemen rushed to their task of pushing the neighbors back and extinguishing the blaze. The two uniformed men spoke to her gently and their tone made her feel safe at last, but then she saw it--the thing she feared most: <Finish this!> moving toward them through the intense heat of the fire. She screamed and scrambled for the older officer's sidearm.
I'm starting a new blog series called Finish This. Each Finish This post will include a short paragraph or two with an incomplete closing sentence, missing piece of dialogue, or other such gap. The gap(s) will be marked with <Finish This>. Once the prompt is posted, it's up to you to complete it in the comments section. Remember, anyone can participate, so don't be bashful!
Here's the first prompt!
Running Home in the Rain
Water exploded under his sneakers. His laces, which had untied nearly three blocks ago, whipped his calves with each stride. The pouring rain hid his tears and for that he was grateful; a man never cries. He crossed the front yard and knocked the old door open with his shoulder. He went straight for his bed, casting his bag against the wall and kicking his shoes off to join it. He buried his head under his pillow and yelled into his ratty blankets and mattress, "<Finish This>!"
As I have worked, studied and shopped over the passing years of my life, I've been putting together a list of the attributes and procedures that would exist inside my own business. There are many different things to consider, and I find that decisions must always be based on and balanced by the owner's goals. The way a company operates says more about the owner than it does about the company.
So what's my business mission? It's this:
People are more important than things, so make every person's life enjoyable.
My customers must love being in my store, but so must my employees. The products and services provided must benefit them and give them confidence in our abilities. I must have a business that enriches the life of each person that comes through the doors. To the utmost of my abilities, I have to ensure that no one feels cheated or used. My store has to be not only an inviting place, but a place that everyone wants to be and no one wants to leave. I must treat my employees like family, and together we must treat strangers like friends and friends like family. Life isn't about getting rich. Life is about people. People are more important than things.
With all of these thoughts in mind, here are a few of the decisions I've made for when I own a business.
In General
It will be small business destined to close its doors when I either retire or die.
Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday: Closed
We will close for major American holidays, including: Memorial Day, Independence Day (the nation's birthday), Pioneer Day (or the state's birthday), Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. We will also close early on certain holiday eves (i.e. Halloween, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) so that employees have time to spend with their families and friends.
Black Friday (if required): The store will only open an hour earlier and close an hour later. Sales will rotate through the store's departments/sections/services throughout the day.
Prices: Prices will be low enough that my store drives market competition and always marked to quarter-dollar amounts. We will feature notably lower prices on local goods in order to stimulate the local and national economy and encourage local business growth in every field.
Price Matching: We will match prices of other stores when proof of price or a coupon is presented.
Special Member Accounts with exclusive discounts: Nope. We won't have them.
Store Atmosphere: The store will be clean, well lit and family friendly with upbeat music that isn't too somber, too loud or obnoxious. Communication will be straight-forward and eye-to-eye. There will be good humor, jovial conversation and smiling faces.
Return Policy: It will be simple, posted at every counter and inside the doors, and stringently observed. ("Product Quality Guaranteed.") Unopened and undamaged = returnable; unopened but damaged by customer = nonreturnable; opened and defective = returnable; opened and damaged by customer = nonreturnable; opened and operative = nonreturnable.
Theft Policy: Zero tolerance for employees and customers.
For Employees
Minimum Starting Wage: $15-20/hour.
Pay Method: Electronic transfer with physical stub provided.
Raises: Possible every 6 months based on personal performance.
Bonuses: Given as earned, based on performance, customer reports, etc.
Schedules: Set upon hiring, and constant from week to week.
Insurance: Provided for both full- and part-time employees.
Uniform: Khakis, company shirt (3 provided upon hire confirmation), apron (if business is retail based), casual shoes and good hygiene. Hair must be clean kept and not styled or dyed in extreme ways; facial hair must be clean and well kept. No more than two pairs of earrings (no extreme gauging); and no visible piercings anywhere but the ears. No visible tattoos.
Paid Vacation: Full-time employees get 3 days to start, part-timers get one. Days will increase when appropriate and can be accumulated over time, but they cannot be cashed out.
Paid Sick Leave: Full-time employees get 3 days to start, part-timers get two. Like vacation, more days can be assigned over time and cannot be cashed out; however, sick days cannot be accumulated over time. Special circumstances (surgeries, uncommon illnesses, and the like) will be dealt with on a personal basis. Health is important to function and happiness... and no one wants or needs sick employees around customers or products.
Personal interviews: Every employee will have a brief private interview with me (the owner) during their scheduled hours at least once a quarter to discuss needs, employee performance, health and happiness, and any other appropriate concerns or ideas. In addition, my office door will always be open to employees and customers who feel the need to discuss something with me.
These are just a few of my basic personal business owner goals and self-appointed standards. They are, of course, much more thought out and elaborate in my notes and many other fields have been considered, but this is a good layout to describe the main functionality and ideals of myself and my business.
What do you think? What do you agree with? What would you do differently? What would your business be like? Leave your comments below.
I apologize for dropping the ball so severely these past four months. There's been so much going on and I've failed to keep up with you like I should. Hopefully, I can begin making amends with this brief post.
As I'm sure many of you faithful followers have figured out, I prefer to be rather silent about things going on in my private life. Anything about familial or personal relationships I usually keep very close to the vest. To be honest, it is this tendency that has precipitated my lapse in blog writing; I didn't want to discuss what was dominating my thoughts.
Many things, both dark and light, have transpired since my last post. Among them, I added a new part-time job to my schedule, lost my great-grandparents to cancer within a month of each other, took part, along with 39 other local authors, in a large book signing event, and added new sections for quizzes, my personal artwork and more wallpapers to my official website www.authorsrford.com. (Make sure to swing on over and check things out.)
I've also decided to take up a new hobby: relic production. Some of you will correct me and call it cosplay, costume design or prop making, but I like this title better. Many of you writers, artists, designers, cosplayers, larpers, and avid fans out there already engage in this activity. Some of you even get paid for your ingenuity. For me, however, this is all about illustration and my own geekiness. There's no bigger fan of my creations than me, and you can take that to the bank.
I elected to begin with a series of Oblivion's Gate relics while I brainstorm how to best engineer things from the Kingdom Chronicles. My lists for both series are extensive, and some of the things I hope to make may be fairly intricate. So far I'm working on:
The Oblivion
The Staff of Hearts
The Master's Cap
and I just got six apothecary bottles to hold the first samples of Life Blood.
As you can see, none of these projects is complete yet, but they are on their way and coming along nicely. I'll get you some better pictures when each is nearer to completion and more easily moved about.
So that's my new hobby. Got any suggestions as to what you would like to see next? Any tips? I'll take them all. Just hit the comments section below.
Things are slowly leveling out again in my life and that means you'll be hearing from me more often. Despite my blog neglect, I've written quite a bit over the passing months, and I'm excited to update you on all the goodness. I hope all is well for you and yours and that the changing seasons are treating you kindly.
Yesterday, I post my Top Ten Villain Themes based on one of the best and most challenging assignments I've ever had. Today I'm going to post my Top Ten Villain Songs.
If you missed yesterday's post, a villain theme is instrumental (maybe with some unintelligible vocal embellishment) and a villain song has versed lyrics.
Things to consider while choosing the top ten, included:
1 - Is the whole piece dedicated to a single character or group, not an event in the story?
2 - Does it tell who the villain is as well as their ambitions and purposes?
3 - Does it match their character(s)?
4 - Do you know who it belongs to in the first few notes? how famous is it?
5 - What Degree of Villainy is felt throughout the piece.
6 - Does it get stuck in your head?
7 - Can it survive without visuals to convey the villain's
character/purpose? For songs, are lyrics specific or ambiguous,
requiring the illustrated visuals in order to be understood? - See more
at:
http://srford.blogspot.com/2014/06/top-ten-villain-themes.html#sthash.K5FYzuv1.dpuf
1 - Is the whole piece dedicated to a single character or group, not an event in the story?
2 - Does it tell who the villain is as well as their ambitions and purposes?
3 - Does it match their character(s)?
4 - Do you know who it belongs to in the first few notes? how famous is it?
5 - What Degree of Villainy is felt throughout the piece.
6 - Does it get stuck in your head?
7 - Can it survive without visuals to convey the villain's
character/purpose? For songs, are lyrics specific or ambiguous,
requiring the illustrated visuals in order to be understood?
Unlike the villain themes I had no reason pick a runner-up villain song; however, there are many honorable mentions that could be made. I guess villain songs just tend to be among the most masterfully composed pieces.
Please remember,
the linked videos are connected to YouTube. They are for people who
aren't familiar with the songs mentioned, but the songs on them are not
owned/copyrighted by the uploader. The music belongs to the composer, lyricist, and the
recording/movie companies involved with each production. The videos are use
at your own discretion and risk, and they may go away after a while.
Anyway, without further ado, here are my picks for the Top Ten Villain Songs:
Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Glenn Slater. Sung by Donna Murphy.
I often wonder how many children lost trust in their mothers after watching Tangled. I mean, come on; the entire song is a mother telling her daughter how much she loves and cares for her when in truth they really aren't mother and daughter and Gothel only wants Rapunzel around as a slave to her will so she can use her powers to keep living forever. Gothel cares absolutely nothing about Rapunzel, she only wants her magical hair to remain undiscovered and unscathed. The overly generous professions of love are used to make the abuse Rapunzel suffers to look like some playful jest. The entire song and its reprise are the story of Mother Gothel's self-serving and manipulative character. Gothel is characterized by her cunning. She uses love, affection and concern to hide her completely selfish designs and to immobilize Rapunzel's adventurous spirit.
#9 - Once-ler - "How Bad Can I Be?" - The Lorax (2012)
Music and Lyrics by John Powell and Cinco Paul. Sung by Ed Helms and Kool Kojak.
When the rock-n-roll song begins the Once-ler is a fresh new businessman who hopes to build a thriving business and is trying to placate his guilty conscience. He has just given in to familial pressures and broken a solemn promise to protect the land and lives around him, and now wants to prove to himself that he's not a bad person. However, as the song progresses the Once-ler becomes lost to his greed, throws away his old promises completely, and turns into a money-obsessed monster. By the end of the song he has literally destroyed the natural world and his own business plan through unrestrained consumption. The song is the story of one man's demise and the drastic damage his villainous greed reaped on the world for generations to come. All he could do to cover his tracks is build the wall around Thneedville to hide his legacy. Then he chooses to live alone for the rest of his life, with no intention of turning things around of his own will, even though the seed to do so is there with him.
Originally, "How Bad Can I Be?" was going to be a rock opera entitled "Biggering" which spends more time deciphering the Once-ler's actions. It's worth a listen, but I think "How Bad Can I be?" is much more villainous, corrupting, and addictive. It latches onto the inside of your head pretty well.
#8 - Oogie Boogie - "Oogie Boogie Song" - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Music and lyrics by Danny Elfman. Performed by Ken Page and Ed Ivory.
This song is just addictive. The jazzy tune and more spoken than sung lyrics really bring this gambling bogeyman to life. The entire song is about gambling over lives and killing and eating Santa Claus in a casino-themed torture chamber. Can it get more villainous than that? He's trying to destroy the spirit of Christmas for crying out loud!
#7 - Judge Claude Frollo - "Hellfire" - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Sung by Tony Jay.
This song is intended to be the antithesis to Quasimodo's "Heaven's Light." Whereas Quasi sings of how radiant and good Esmeralda is, Judge Frollo sings of her being a siren, a witch, and a viper. This song digs into a dark piece of Christian history (the often genocidal war against the gypsies (the "heathen")) as well as the lustful cravings of an old man. (Ew!) Anyway, Frollo, who never understands that his vantages and beliefs are often at odds with the will of God and the church, begins by praying for the lust he feels to be taken away; but as the song goes on, his prayer corrodes into an ultimatum as he begins to place all the blame on the Devil's power: "Choose me or your pyre!" He vows to burn down Paris just so he can find Esmeralda, and burn her along with every gypsy he can find if she refuses to marry him. What's worse is that Frollo sees himself as God's justice, quoting scripture repeatedly as if to make his very evil acts into a holy duty.
As far as the music goes, tell me it isn't chilling and addictive. I dare you. ;)
#6 - Scar - "Be Prepared" - The Lion King (1994)
Music by Tim Rice. Lyrics by Michael Jackson. Sung by Jeremy Irons with Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings.
First off, this song was sung by Jeremy Irons. That alone makes it awesome. But then you consider that Scar, a type of seditious Hitler, whips a vast pack of hyenas into the Third Reich in less than four minutes and you know you've found a villain song gem. He even insults them the whole time and they still jump on his bandwagon of kingship. I love the way the song begins with Scar talking quietly to himself about the potential following he's found in the hyenas, as well as the way the song builds as Scar gains confidence and the hyenas become more enveloped in his scheme. The music for this song has that chanting type of build that carries the
growing enthusiasm of Scar and the hyenas for the plan they are about
to unleash
#5 - Ursula - "Poor Unfortunate Souls" - The Little Mermaid (1988)
Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman. Sung by Pat Carroll.
For a cast off sea witch to become a mischievous diva, you know it's going to take something good, and kudos to Menken and Ashman for creating just the thing. Throughout the course of the showtune, Ursula spells out a story of repentance and warmth, a desire to serve, while whispering the exact opposite in brief lines to her "poopsies" Flotsam and Jetsam. She, like Gothel, also plays on Ariel's feelings by talking about how helpless she is, except that, unlike Gothel, Ursula is trying to jeer Ariel into action. Sometimes this song is better without the visuals, because seeing an octopus-witch make sexually suggestive motions is a bit scarring; but if you think about it, how else is she going to win Ariel's voice without giving her another way to gain Prince Erik's attention? The basic tone of this song is, "I'm going to screw you over so badly you won't even know what's happening until you're a trophy on my wall." That's pretty bad... you've got to admit it.
#4 - Lock, Shock & Barrel - "Kidnap the Sandy Claws" - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Music and lyrics by Danny Elfman. Sung by Paul Reubens, Catherine O'Hara and Danny Elfman.
This song had to be the top. It just had to be. It's so morbid! Have you ever noticed how scary demonic children/childlike things are? Children are naturally associated with cuddling, innocence and trust; and I think that's why this song ranks so high on the list. Lock, Shock and Barrel are little, morbid monsters. In many way this song is more frightening than "Oogie Boogie's Song" because of the specifically enumerated things they want to do to Santa Claus. Even though they say they're terrified of the bogeyman and want to please him at all times, they surely seem more lethal. The torture and murder plans they debate for Sandy Claws are nothing short of deranged and the music of the song sends shivers up and down your spine.
#3 - The Landlord - "This is My Garden" - The Garden (1995)
Music and lyrics by Michael McLean and Bryce Neubert. The Garden is a Christian parable concerning the human family and the need for Jesus Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. The world is compared to a garden; a ram in at thicket, a barren tree, an unsprouted seed and a millstone represent different types of people; a gardener represents the prophets of God; a snake represents the devil's demons and mortal servants; a landlord represents the devil himself; and a "man with many names" represents Jesus Christ. Basically. It's actually a very interesting composition to think about. Anyway, in "This is My Garden" the landlord finds the gardener working on his land unwanted. What follows is a battle of wills between the landlord (demanding that the gardener depart and leave the garden, which he claims to love, to its corrupted and hellish destiny) and the gardener (crying out that the landlord can never claim to love the garden because of the way he treats it, and stating that he could never leave while the garden is in such a state). The fact comes down to a single point: the gardener can never fix up the garden on his own because the garden is so far out of control and it continues to get worse and worse with each passing to day thanks to the animals in the landlord's service. The basic note is that the landlord has won and the whole garden will belong to him forever because the true owner (the man with many names) will never come home to stop him. Its a very intense bid for power, authority and a will to dominate and destroy, which sums up the Devil's campaigns very well, I think.
#2 - Hexxus - "Toxic Love" - Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Music and lyrics by Thomas Dolby. Sung by Tim Curry.
Even though Ferngully is one of the most rubbish shows I ever saw as a child, I will never forget the love affair Hexxus, essentially the God of Pollution, has with his art. And as I get older and I understand elements of Tim Curry's performance ever more, this villain song becomes even more perfect. Hexxus is a monster that requires pollution in order to grow and thrive. It's the sweetest candy he can imagine, and he wishes to swim in it endlessly like some humans wish to swim in a pool of chocolate or jello. He loves the destruction he reaps so much that it becomes the greatest pleasure to him. The destruction of life is the entire purpose for his existence and so he gets nothing but pleasure from it--its borderline sadism with a heaping side of fetishism, which is about as creepy and villainous as you can get. And that laugh at the end... yeah, that's a pretty good maniacal laugh.
And finally we reach the decisive moment. Which villain song will take its place at #1? That would be...
#1 - Erik (The Phantom) - "The Phantom of the Opera" - The Phantom of the Opera (1986)
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Charles Hart. Additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and Mike Batt. First sung on Broadway by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman; sung in 2004 film by Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum.
Though his name is never used in the musical production, Erik's theme is instantly distinguished by the very first chord. One of the few villain themes that also serves as the theme for an entire production, "The Phantom of the Opera" is dark and aggressive, but it is also hypnotic and seductive, haunting and hopeful. It perfectly captures the tortured soul of the Phantom and his overpowering presence. It includes his mannerisms and personal cravings, but doesn't neglect to reveal his love of and dedication to Christine nor his desire for her to succeed in her career while remaining at his side forever. Because it answers all of the criteria questions wonderfully, is so famous and so exquisitely captures the Phantom's entire character, I am glad to call this the Number One Villain Song.
Those are my Top Ten Villain Songs. What do you think? What are your top ten? Comment below or email me.
(Again special
thanks to all those composers, lyricists and vocalist who bring villains to life in a way that
sticks in your mind unforgettably. And also a special thanks to the
YouTubers who shared these soundtracks on their channels so that I had
examples I could link too.)
The last couple of weeks I have been working on a paper about the impact of music on movie/TV villains and the difference between villain songs and villain themes, the main division between songs and themes being lyrics versus instrumentals/lyric-less chorals respectively. As the closing part of this assignment, we were challenged to create a top ten list for each group. It was very difficult because we were given a list of over 300 songs and themes to go through, spanning everything from the Powerpuff Girls to Terminator and from Swiper the Fox to the Daleks. Needless to say, there was a lot to go through and I had to broaden my horizons even further.
And that's not all! There were guidelines too!
1 - Is the whole piece dedicated to a single character or group, not an event in the story?
2 - Does it tell who the villain is as well as their ambitions and purposes?
3 - Does it match their character(s)?
4 - Do you know who it belongs to in the first few notes? how famous is it?
5 - What Degree of Villainy is felt throughout the piece.
6 - Does it get stuck in your head?
7 - Can it survive without visuals to convey the villain's character/purpose? For songs, are lyrics specific or ambiguous, requiring the illustrated visuals in order to be understood?
Are you curious which ones I picked? Good! But I think I'll split this into two posts. Today I'll cover the Top Ten Villain Themes, and in my next post I'll cover the Top Ten Villain Songs. Sound good? Excellent! Then let's get started.
I was forced to choose eleven themes, because one of the pieces I listed in the Top Ten fell into a category defined as "Not Really a Villain", mainly because the character lacks an evil drive. It is more of a force of nature that must be overcome while other characters in the film better reflect the traits of a "villain". However, since the character is listed in the ranks of villainy the piece had to be partially acceptable.
(Also, the linked videos are connected to YouTube. They are for people who aren't familiar with the music mentioned, but the music on them is not owned/copyrighted by them. The music belongs to the composer and the recording/movie companies involved with each movie. The videos are use at your own discretion and risk, and they may go away after a while.)
With that said, let's begin:
#11 - Saruman - "The Treason of Isengard" - Howard Shore
From The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). Does this piece involve a scene in the movie? Yeah... but this is really Saruman's theme. It's the piece that encompasses the fall and betrayal of a very powerful friend into the leagues of the enemy. It involves all of the deception Saruman uses against Gandalf before unveiling his wicked side and his new dedications. The tragic thing about Saruman is that after this scene, he becomes swallowed up in the themes of the Uruk Hai--illustrating perfectly how he transforms from a great leader to another undervalued pawn in the workings of Sauron of the Deceiver. He's not even good enough to equal the nine Nazgul, who at least share part of Sauron's own theme.
#10 - Jaws - "Jaws: Main Theme"- John Williams
From Jaws (1975). This is that piece I was telling you about. Jaws isn't really a "villain". The shark is more of a natural phenomena to be overcome and survived, like a tornado. However, he is definitely out to get some food and is the hearty antagonist of the well-known movie. And when your theme because the basis for an entire soundtrack! Come on! You know you've left an impression. And who doesn't instantly recognize that suspenseful beat?
#9-James Hook, Capt.-"Presenting the Hook"-John Williams
From Hook (1991). Yes, this piece too covers a scene; however, the scene is part of the magic of Capt. Hook and the visuals aren't really needed to catch the flamboyant character of the Steel-handed Stingray. In the movie Mr Smee is seen going to collect the iconic hook from a smith and then carries it through the pirate village gathering an enormous following as he takes it back to the Jolly Roger. The flamboyance of the piece matches the captain well--his well-dressed appearance, formal mannerment, commanding presence, charismatic speech patterns, and sly yet fiery style, all cloaking his heartlessness. The music is great, and it doesn't have to be purely evil either. (Not to mention Hoffman's character first appears with the hook in place keeping time to the music while the men chant his name. How cool is that?)
#8 - Mewtwo - "The Birth of Mewtwo" - Ralph Schuckett, John Loeffler, John Lissauer, and Manny Corallo
From Pokemon: the First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998). Yes, it's from Pokemon of all things. But if you think about the movie, the story is very relevant to our day when genetic sciences are testing all sorts of things with cloning and enhancement. Basically, Mewtwo, like the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, was created by genetically enhancing and cloning the DNA of a supposedly extinct Pokemon called Mew. (Hence, the unimaginative name Mewtwo). When he awakens with superhuman intelligence and telepathy only to learn that he's a laboratory experiment intended only for study and life in a cage, Mewtwo goes on a rampage, destroys everything, and assumes a manifest destiny that his purpose is to extinguish human life and create a race of genetically-superior clones to rule the world. (There's propaganda everywhere.) Anyway, the music themed to Mewtwo echos his movement from innocent inquiring, through his developing bitterness, into the berserk psychosis he carries for the rest of the movie until he is magically turned around and made to see the light......yeah, yeah, yeah... all that butterflies and sunshine stuff. Anyway, the music is quite intense when it finally reaches the point that it really becomes Mewtwo's theme, and is used thereafter whenever something malicious and explosive happens.
#7 - Tom Riddle - "The Face of Voldemort" - John Williams
From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). There's no doubting that Voldemort is a famous baddy thanks to the fame of J.K. Rowling's books and the magical movies made by Warner Bros. Pictures. But when you compare the theme of Voldemort in the first three movies (composed by John Williams) against that in the fourth (composed by Patrick Doyle), and then against the fifth and sixth movies (composed by Nicolas Hooper) and the last two (composed by Alexandre Desplat and Conrad Pope), you notice very distinct differences, each arising from the differences between each composer's tastes and their desire to make the music slightly more their own. The original theme Williams composed for Voldemort is, in my opinion, the best and most iconic. It focuses more on the malevolent sinister side of Tom Riddle, whereas the later versions seem to focus on his psychopathic bloodthirsty side (his craziness as I call it). Williams' is deep and pronounces both the similarities and extreme differences between good and evil magic, whereas the later themes are more shrill and purely evil.
#6 - Norman Bates - "The Murder" - Bernard Herrmann
From Psycho (1960). By far one of the most well-known themes in the world. And it ought to be. Herrmann gave Norman Bates a dark tragic theme that's spliced in with that iconic high-pitched screeching that calls to mind the blade of a kitchen knife. His theme will drive the chills down anyone's back, especially when you're wandering through a dark house or think you're otherwise alone. It is the music of a sudden attack and a painful death.
#5 - Buu - "Scary Buu" - Bruce Faulconer
From Dragonball Z: The Buu Sagas (2003). Yes, once again we find a piece from the realms of Anime. When he first appears in the series, Buu is resurrected by a wizard named Babidi, whose father Bibidi created the monster to begin with. (Yeah, I know, unimaginative again... Bibidi Babidi Buu... where's Disney to scream about Cinderella? Or maybe its just a craftily done homage? You decide.) Anyway, the first Buu we meet is a childlike fat Buu who has an upbeat chiming theme and isn't as evil as you might think...he's just hungry. But then in an attempt to release all of his anger when an assassin tries to kill his friend and his puppy, Buu expels all of his evil and it manifests in a tall skinny Buu, who then eats the fat Buu. From there, the story progresses to reveal that Buu has had many forms, which he gained after absorbing a different powerful individual. One by one each form is overcome until Goku and co. are left with the original Buu, a kidlike being, to defeat. The character of Evil Buu is summarized in his patient evil. He can wait for the target he most desires to present itself or destroy one thing after another until he find it. He's extremely powerful and frightening, but also patient. Another thing I enjoy about his theme is that it is carefully adapted for each of this forms and for when he fights/attacks. The music was utilized very well.
#4 - Darth Vader - "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" - John Williams
From Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). You knew this was coming. By far one of the best known pieces of music on the planet, it is only fitting that it belongs to one of the most well-known villains. That imperialistic style and formal composure perfectly suit the faceless, unforgiving nature of Mecha-Anakin. There's no toying around with Vader or the Galactic Empire, and this music reflects that excellently. I don't see the need to say more.
#3 - Davy Jones - "Davy Jones" - Hans Zimmer
From Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Chest (2006). Davy Jones is the only character in Pirates that really deserves any pity in my opinion. He gets the shaft every time he turns around. He took a job to show his love and commitment, and his lover/boss abandoned him. So like most people would do, he quit. But he couldn't escape the post and because he stopped doing his job he was transmogrified into a living sea monster along with his entire crew. From then on, everyone is after his heart so they can kill him in hopes of gaining control of the seas, immortality, or both. With everything special taken from him, he became a product of his experiences: the shaft of death. He became a cruel, unfeeling monster, master of the sea. He became the shaft to every seaman's best hopes, the thing no one wanted and everyone cursed. The way his theme transforms a loving music box melody into an intense organ battle, perfectly exemplifies who he is and what he desires. It also gets stuck in your head pretty easily, and makes everyone wish they knew how to play the organ.
#2 - Darth Sidious - "The Emperor's Throne Room" - John Williams
From Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983). Whereas Vader is known for the hardcore, cruel force he is in the Empire, Darth Sidious is far more cunning. He doesn't choke people on a moment's notice like his apprentice; he lures people in and tries to turn them to his side. He is a master sorcerer of the Dark Side, who prefers to torture people to death instead of just ending them. He plans his moves with great care always relying on the Dark Side to grant him foresight. He's a haunting presence whose face and voice alone can make your skin crawl. With all of this in mind, his theme is perfectly suited to him as well. It's malevolent and mysterious, creepy and dark, just like the Emporer himself.
and finally.....
#1 - Sauron - "Minas Morgul" - Howard Shore
From The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). Though Sauron's aggressively haunting theme occurs from the very opening of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, "Minas Morgul" is the first track entirely dedicated to it. Sauron's theme is sometimes extended out to the Nazgul and the Realm of Mordor, but every time it is used it is directly linked to the Dark Lord himself. Personally, I was surprised when this made it to number one. I hadn't expected it to. But as I continued to go through music this one always topped out. Why? Well, it's famous for sure. There's no doubt about that. But it's also more sinister than "The Imperial March" and more forceful than "The Emporer's Throne Room". It's less pitiful and more purely evil than "Davy Jones" too. It's like the perfect combination of the three. It has all the cruel, magical elements; the frightening screeches; the commanding harshness; and the "you really don't want to get in my way or I will undo you" quality. It even has a harkening effect to the attacking feel of "The Murder" from Psycho and the suspense of Jaws. I guess the best way to say it is: if you mashed together every other piece on this list, Sauron's theme is quite likely to be one of the outcomes. Quite fitting for a Maiar who fell to become the right hand of the devil himself (Melkor/Morgoth). (Can you imagine what Morgoth's Theme would have to be like? I think it might be fitting for them to share the same theme since Sauron really was just a shadow of his master.)
Anyway, I do have to note as well that if you listen to the theme music prescribed to the Nazgul in pieces like "A Knife in the Dark", you will notice that it is a more aggressive branch off of Sauron's own tree. It's obvious that they are the cruel whip in Sauron's hand, just as Vader is the forceful commander in the hand of the Emperor. The Nazgul would've been on this list if it wasn't for that point. The Nazgul are really only extensions of Sauron's malice and control.
Sauron's theme is definitely my pick for the #1 Villain Theme. Kudos to you, Howard Shore. Kudos indeed.
So there you have it. Those are my top ten. What are yours? Do you like or hate any of my choices? Please comment below, and make sure to offer your own supported opinions. Next time we'll get into villain songs.
(Special thanks to all those composers who bring villains to life in a way that sticks in your mind unforgettably. And also a special thanks to the YouTubers who shared these soundtracks on their channels so that I had examples I could link too.)
Looking for something to read over the summer that won't cost you all of your vacation money? Need something to read while you travel, lounge, or bathe yourself in the sun? Then this is the month for you.
I've selected June 2014 as a 99-cent Kindle Month--meaning that throughout the course of the month you will be able to pick up each of my books in Kindle edition for just $0.99 USD. It all takes place on Amazon.com. So mark your calendars and miss out:
Anyone who dreams of writing a book or a poem, a song or an essay, can find literally thousands of "top tips" articles scattered across the internet, magazines, groups, and books. Advice is everywhere, and each advice giver claims theirs is the best.
Well, today is my day. I think my advice is the best. Why? Because it keeps you focused on what really matters. If you observe this piece of advice, and let all of the other bits find their place behind it, you will never go wrong.
The best advice in the world for anyone who wants to write right is two words:
Just write.
The beautiful thing about writing is the revision process; you can always go back and do things over again. So if you afraid you're going to make ten thousand mistakes, cool. If you've caught the Writer's Block, cool. You're just like everybody else. Neither of these things is really an excuse to stop writing.
If you're not sure how the next part of your work should go, try forcing something out. Then do it again. And maybe even a third, fourth, and fifth time. Give yourself some options to test. Perhaps none of them is right, but they'll get your mind headed in the right direction. And if you don't feel comfortable doing that, skip the part you're stuck on and write the part after it. Then go back and tie the two together. There are many routes to take, just keep writing.
As far as I can tell, there are two things that will kill a writer's dreams: 1) believing you have to have everything perfected before you write it down, and 2) stopping. If you stop writing, it will become your escape. Every time you feel stressed about writing, you'll just quit. Your work will never progress, you'll lose heart and eventually your dream of writing will fall by the wayside.
Never stop writing. If you get yourself in a pickle...
Just write.
Writing anything that keeps you going, and eventually the pickle will pass.
Have you ever found yourself yelling at a book or movie screen? Have you ever cried over the death of a character? Have you ever longed to get revenge on a fictional villain? Have you ever felt "the feels"?
It seems that whenever we see a good movie or read a great book, there are always characters our hearts go out to. Some people may become more emotionally exposed than others (crying, yelling and what have you), but we certainly respond to the characters' experiences with empathy and sympathy and invest ourselves in their welfare, especially if we find ourselves intimately connected with them.
About a week or so ago, I received an email about "the feels" experienced by one reader as she read each of my books. It was one of my favorite fan emails thus far. But there was a catch: this email also came with a challenge, a very good challenge.
"Now that you know how much I love these stories and how big of a sucker I am for them, can I give you a challenge? I challenge you to write a blog post where you list your top five feels moments from the books you've published so far, including both the Kingdom Chronicles and Oblivion's Gate. That's something I'd really love to see..."
It was quite a challenge, but I accepted it, and at last my five are ready. Are you ready? I hope so, 'cause were we go.
S. R. Ford's Top Five "Feels" (So Far)
5. "Fallon was gone" (The Elements and the Exodus)
Three tragic words that kindle feelings of panic, terror and fury. The group has just won a major battle, the world is bright and cheery, a whole city is singing for joy, and everything should be happily ever after; but no. While no one is paying attention, Shunul appears. He reveals that they've played right into his hands, and in a fell swoop he kidnaps Fallon. There is no trail to follow--there's not even a hint that Fallon's still alive, and yet the world sings on merrily, oblivious that anything has happened.
4. Axsem (The Kingdom Chronicles)
I can never get over how much I love Axsem's entire character. This may be cheating a bit, but I count him as one large "feels" moment. Everyone has a story they never want to tell, something they wish they could forget but can't because it makes them who they are. Imagine what it would be like to know that you were the only surviving piece of something that was once great and good, something you had to watch sink into decay and destroy itself. Imagine you had to survive by living on only promises and faith that something good was going to come. Imagine how that would define you. In the Kingdom and the Crown Axsem first appears bitter and hateful--a racist man covered in thick emotional scar tissue, but as he is forced to recount the downfall of his nation and aid in its rebirth, we see the true Axsem emerge from the guilt, heartache and loneliness. Axsem, to me, models the strongest type of person. Yes, he may have lost his way and let darkness and pain overcome him for a time, but in the end he proved to be one of the most kindhearted people one could ever hope to meet.
3. Dan's Dream of Alice (Mimgardr)
The relationship between Dan and Alice Barker is beautiful. Any two siblings that share a bond like these two is lucky, and any who deliberately push away such an one are foolish. The story Dan tells of Alice in Mimgardr is so tender and loving that when he closes with the statement "She was my Christmas, Aaron, and now she's gone," your heart can't help but ache. And that feeling only multiplies when he dreams of her a few chapters later. Right before Alice passes through the gateway into Hafenu, leaving Dan alone in the darkness, you get to understand just how he and Alice feel about each other and the pain of their separation, feelings many people around the world perfectly empathize or sympathize with.
2. Zarrys's Revocation (The Elements and the Exodus)
There are really only a few experiences that I think generate more intense feels than the death of someone you love dearly, and this is one of them. At the end of the Kingdom and the Crown, Zarrys had become perfectly familiar with Vagahem (a GOD), had been filled with power and light, had a strong connection with a companion, had seen his post-mortal parents, had been crowned king, shown a vision of potential future events, and topped it all of by taking Namine's hand in marriage. It was really a cloud nine moment. However, as book two goes along, we watch Zarrys's personality contradicting with his better judgment until he makes a mistake that costs him everything. All of the goodness he had been given is torn away from him and he is left to wallow in the same darkness as Malystryx. His power, foresight, connections, influence--everything--is stripped away from him. Can you imagine what that would be like? Can you imagine the hellish agony?
1. The Death of Ilia (Mimgardr)
Why does this beat the rejection of a god? Because that's something I don't think any of us can perfectly empathize with. None of us have known a god intimately and been given earth-bending powers and psychic connections and then lost them. But there are many out there who have lost a spouse, and that pain is exquisite.
In the case of Dan and Ilia, though, it goes a bit deeper into feels territory. When the Battle of Mimgardr begins, Dan's family is gone, his friendships are wavering, he thinks his in-laws have rejected him, his self-esteem is shot, and the list goes on. In the midst of the battle, he learns that he's a pawn in Morgan's plan and is being sacrificed to destroy the Fallen. Finally, at the end of the battle, victory is won and Dan is actually hailed as a hero by the Asketillians. Perhaps things are going to be all right. But then a man appears and attempts to stab Dan in the back while his guard is down and is only stopped by Ilia who appears between them and takes the blade through her stomach.
The last anchor in Dan's life begins to slip away from that moment on: the murderer escapes, Ilia's mutation is revealed, and any hope of a healthy relationship with Merlin is obliterated shortly before Ilia dies. Then Merlin is killed and Dan, marked as a murderer, flees to his island with Ilia's body, hoping beyond hope that he can still revive her.
Not only did Dan lose his bride that day in Mimgardr, he lost everything, including himself. Tell me that doesn't hit you right in the feels.
So there you have it. Those are my top five "feels" (so far), out of the many I had to choose from.
Now I turn the challenge to you. What are your top five "feels" from my books? Answer in the comments section below, or shoot me an email!
What are you going to be doing with your summer? Or if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, your winter? As for me I've just kicked off yet another semester of school. I'm only taking a part-time schedule this go 'round, hoping to knock off a few elective courses that will open the way to higher division classes that I'm actually interested in. I'm sure many of you out there understand that.
Both classes utilize online resources in addition to textbooks, and that means the courses can expand beyond the limits of a single textbook or professor's point of view. Hence, we are challenged to explore many avenues that support and contradict what the professors are teaching. In my personal opinion this makes education much more expansive and enjoyable because there's no singular indoctrination. Is it more challenging? Yes. But so far the semester is off to a good start, and I hope to hold onto that through a good middle and end. We'll keep our fingers crossed, aye?
In regards to writing, the thing you want to know about if you're following this blog, I am very pleased with what is making its way onto paper. The stories are developing in very interesting ways that are requiring me to stretch myself to write them effectively. Unfortunately, however, the stretching makes it so that things are not going as quickly as I would like, and writing has become another lesson in patience with a side lesson in appreciation for the value of quality rather than quantity. As is natural, I wish the opportunity to accomplish both q-words was afforded to me, but such is not the case at present and my gratitude finds its attention elsewhere.
Things may not be moving as quickly as I would like, but I am certainly enjoying myself and the new things that are coming into being. I have spent hours reading over texts, essays, treatises and more to gain better understanding of the world so that I can ensure a realistic quality to my creations. So far the results have been quite exciting and I enjoy expanding them amid intriguing stories. In particular, I am very excited for you to meet the new characters that have been introduced. They are adding an unbelievable degree of depth to the stories as well as revealing things about other characters that you may not have expected previously.
So, tell me. What's going on in your lives? What sorts of experiences are you having? What are you waiting for most in my books?
I have a rule: be as self-reliant as possible, and always ask for guidance before you ask for help. This rule is rooted in the fact that most things are far from being as difficult as they seem, and can be done with much more care personally than by an employed force.
When most people hear the term self-reliance they think of things like emergency preparation, food storage, freedom from debt, and things of that nature. But when I use the term I have a much broader perspective.
I believe that a person should be able to do almost anything without the aid of others. While the aid of others is well and good, one should be able to survive and prosper without them. Hence, my rule.
Construction tasks (at least simple ones, such as framing, painting, tiling, plumbing, assembling, electrics, etc.), tailoring, farming, auto mechanics, and many other odds and ends types of things are skills which should belong to every person. Many tasks that people pay an arm and a leg to have accomplished for them, could be done privately for much less money and greater quality, if only people would choose to acquire the skills to do them. And that is where my rule comes in. If you can, do it yourself or with the hands-on tutelage of another. Never allow something to be done without learning how to do it yourself.
At current, I am creating a new centerpiece from Voyala's (my royal python's) terrarium, one which will provide for her as long as she lives. The process to build and prepare it has been much simpler than I expected, yet it has opened up a learning opportunity for me in regards to the chemical natures of polystyrene foams, expanding foams, grouts, mortars, silicone, sealants, paints and glues. With the knowledge I have gained, I will forever be able to construct decor pieces of any fancy for only a tiny fraction of the cost in time and money I would expend otherwise. To illustrate, for a pre-made piece similar to that which I'm building would cost upwards of $200; however, the piece I am building is completely customized and will cost in total a mere $30. You can't argue against that, can you?
Never be afraid to learn new things or get your hands dirty. It will save you money and could possibly save your life.
I've had quite a few ebook sales the last while, but I know many of you out there prefer the good old feel and weight of paper in your hand. This sale is for you!
