Betty Adams Tall Tales
  • Home
    • Book 1 "Humans are Weird: I Have the Data"
    • Book 2 "Humans are Weird: We Took a Vote"
    • Book 3 "Humans are Weird: Let's Work It Out"
    • "Dying Embers"
    • Testimonials
  • The Aliens
    • Dying Embers
    • Humans Are Weird
    • Miscellaneous
    • Fan Art
  • Betty's Blog
    • Humans Are Weird
  • Store: Betty's Booty
  • About & Contact
    • Bibliography
    • Links

Orycon 39 - Dragons, Fun, and Timothy Zahn

11/19/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Guess who got a two hour "interview" with Timothy Zahn? :) It was a slow morning at Orycon and we had a grand old chat. I will post the description of it tomorrow. 
Also met an astrophysicists and discussed the FTL in "Dying Embers". Got the scientist equivalent of a pat on the head and a "Sure that'll work for a science-fantasy novel!"
Handed out some business cards and crawled home to hibernate a few weeks.  
Comments

Missing Orycon 39

11/17/2017

Comments

 
Picture
A bug moved into my sinuses and decided that I was not in fact going to Orycon 39 in Portland on its opening day.  So here is a picture of a pretty flower that does not have a sinus infection. Happy, happy flower. 
​
Picture
Comments

Do Algorithms Dream of Reflective Sleep

11/16/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Due to being down from a virus (internal physiology induced hypothermia is a fascinating experience) I got a lot of editing done. Now to anyone who has edited in Word before you know that there are just some things that the good old Microsoft software doesn't handle. For instance, those old bathtubs that are raised from the floor on four feet, are they bareclaw bathtubs, or bear claw bathtubs?
Well this involves a trip to your favorite search engine. 
It is bear claw by the way. 
Needless to say for a 153K word long document there were quite a few words that needed a context search. So I spent quite a bit of time searching terms.
Topo is the proper diminutive of topographic map.
Shiv is a inappropriately used tool with a preexisting cutting edge (as opposed to shank). 
Various species are native to the Pacific Northwest. 
I really must be giving the advertisement algorithms headaches today. 

Comments

Knowing the Goats From the Sheep

11/15/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Knowing the Goats From the Sheep

"The character was just one dimensional." 
"The characters just didn't feel real."

Why do readers fall in love with a story? Or watchers, or listeners? There are many reasons of course. There is good grammar. There is well described visual scenes. There is the action packed moments that make hears pound.

But first and perhaps foremost there are good characters, Real characters, characters that (no matter how fantastical the setting) make smile and say, "I know that guy." Surely we all had a bright and enthusiastic friend who was disillusioned with their simple home life and wanted to get out in the world.  We've all known a Luke Skywalker. We've all cringed in sympathy with that friend that just didn't get it socially. We've all known a Data. 
No matter how fantastical the setting the characters we expect the reader to interact with must be relatable. They must be human. Wile life experience is the best fodder for this, write what you know and all that, there are some tools out there  that help you build realistic characters. 
Here is a good site that describes what most psychologists call the BIG 5 character traits and shows how they can balance in a person.

​ https://www.understandmyself.com

One good way to use it is to take the test yourself and see how the five variables balance out in yourself. Then read the literature and tweak the numbers for your characters like you were building a D&D character.
For those who don't want to spend the money to take the whole test the variables are very well described in the associated literature and it is fairly easy to work from them. 
There are other measure out there to use but the big 5 traits and the ten subdivisions have some of the best science backing them up.

Comments

Book Title - Flying Sparks

11/14/2017

Comments

 
Picture
This author has finished a full first round on editing on the prequel to  "Dying Embers". Also there is now a formal working title (pending review by the publisher)  "Flying Sparks". 
A few more read troughs and I'll be read to submit it to my publisher. 
Speaking of book titles do you have any idea how many books have some version of "As the Sparks Fly Upward" as their title? There are a lot, quite a lot. 
​ 
Comments

Humans Are Weird - I Said I Liked It

11/13/2017

Comments

 
Picture
I said I Liked It
By Betty Adams

“Greetings and Salutations Friend Dodge!”  Quilx’tch called out as six of his legs scampered over the main countertop of the cafeteria.
Survey Core Ranger Mack Dodge turned to look at him and Quilx’tch clutched his tablet to his abdomen tightly. He was no expert in human physiology but Friend Dodge did not look good. The skin under his twin eyes was sagging in a way that would indicate the terminal stage of a rather horrific infection in one of Quilx’tch’s people. The broad span of Friend Dodge’s shoulders slumped several degrees down from the usual square he held them in. This made climbing his back to perch on them rather awkward. Quilx’tch did not know the proper protocol for asking humans to square their shoulders.  Furthermore Friend Dodge’s mouth was twisted into that odd expression – humans creepily flexible mandible coverings were so hard to read – was it a grimace?
“Friend Dodge!”Quilx’tch called out in shock. “Are you capable of keeping your eyes open?”
Even a new-molted fellow like Quilx’tch knew that humans needed to keep the fleshy coverings on their eyes closed for a good portion of their rest cycles. At the moment Friend Dodge’s were barely half open and twitching spasmodically.
“Hey Quick,” Friend Dodge slurred out, his cavernous mouth opening in a great gasp to draw in air. “Mostly I guess.”
Quilx’tch tried to make sense of this as he approached the human and kept pace with him.  “Are you  ill Friend Dodge?” Quilx’tch asked as they reached the section of the cafeteria bar dedicated to the human’s heated drinks.
“Ill?” Friend Dodge replied. “Nah, just up too late last night. Didn’t get to bed till o’dark thirty.”
Quilx’tch paused and tapped his hindmost let thoughtfully against the countertop. “I am not familiar with that temporal designation Friend Dodge.” He finally confessed.
“Eh.” The noise Friend Dodge made was indistinct and not followed by any clarification so Quilx’tch watched patiently as the human chose his drink elements and prepared them.
“Interesting,” Quilx’tch commented as Friend Dodge began sipping out of the cup of steaming water with a happy sigh. “The symptoms of sleep deprivation are fading.”
“Good old yellow bag tea,” Friend Dodge explained holding out the cup. “My favorite poison.”
“I have heard that statement before,” Quilx’tch observed. “However, forgive me, but I must doubt that what you are consuming is actually poison.”
“It’s a figure of speech,” Friend Dodge said with a chuckle.  “Just means that the item in question is my preferred stimulant,” he paused and tilted his head to the side. “But it is used for depressants too.”
“I see,” Quilx’tch said, rapidly taking notes on his tablet.
“Oh good heavens, how do you drink that swill?” A third voice cut into the conversation as another human approached.
Quilx’tch glanced up in surprise as the second human brushed paste on his way to the food counter, not stopping for an answer to his question.  Friend Dodge only grunted at the other human and resumed drinking his tea.
“He does not share your opinion of the quality of this beverage,” Quilx’tch observed.
“Sure he does.” Friend Mack said with a grin. “The stuff is swill.”
“But you just said it was the best,” Quilx’tch protested in confusion.
“Nope,” Friend Dodge said shaking his head.  “I said that I liked it, not that it was good. There’s a difference there.”
Quillx’tch stared blankly at Friend Dodge hoping that the human would at least try to explain that bit of nonsense but Friend Dodge only finished his tea and left with a cheery wave.  Quilx’tch watched him go and slowly entered his observations into his tablet.
Odd. Odd indeed. 
Comments

A Friendly Reminder

11/12/2017

Comments

 
Picture

"Dying Embers"
is still on sale at NW Food & Gifts on 3rd Street in McMinnville, OR. 

​
However it is quite possible that they have changed the display so keep your eyes open. And buy a bag of doggie treats because you know that good boy deserves it, yes he does!
Comments

NaNoWriMo Inspiration - Disapproving Dinosaur

11/10/2017

Comments

 
Picture
For NaNoWriMo I decided to edit my existing manuscript rather than start a new one but I just wasn't feeling it today. But as I set my mug of tea down to watch some vids I saw it...
The Disapproving Dinosaur. 
Get back to editing.
Do it. 
Now.

Comments

10 Days Till Orycon

11/9/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Only ten more days till Orycon and this authors chance to meet inspiration Timothy Zahn. Creator of such wonderful characters as Star Wars's Thrawn. 
I will be promoting my books (yes that will soon be a plural) and handing out business cards as usual. 
Comments

Cover Art for "Discovery"

11/8/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Once again the amazing artists at ERA7 have come through in spades. This is the cover art for the upcoming book "Discovery" 
Look at that!
Seriously, LOOK.AT.THAT!
I sent her a rough and ugly sketch and she turned it into this using...oh I don't know...computer magic I suppose. 
If you are an author looking for a cover artist I cannot praise ERA7 enough. Their work is amazing, their prices are incredibly reasonable, and they work at a good pace. You get what it says on the tin. And they are patient with mistakes and misunderstandings. 
Onward and upward. Time to get editing that book. 
Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Audible
    AMAZON
    BARNES & NOBLE
    Powell's Books
    GOOGLE BOOKS
    KOBO Books
    YouTube 
    BitChute 
    Odysee

    Rumble
    Veoh
    PictureTeespring Store Buy COOL Merch

    SubscribeSTAR
    Picture

    Author

    Betty Adams is an up and coming author with a bent for science and Sci-fi.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    RSS Feed

    blogrollcenter.com
    Picture
    Blog Directory & Business Pages - OnToplist.com
Copyright © 2015
  • Home
    • Book 1 "Humans are Weird: I Have the Data"
    • Book 2 "Humans are Weird: We Took a Vote"
    • Book 3 "Humans are Weird: Let's Work It Out"
    • "Dying Embers"
    • Testimonials
  • The Aliens
    • Dying Embers
    • Humans Are Weird
    • Miscellaneous
    • Fan Art
  • Betty's Blog
    • Humans Are Weird
  • Store: Betty's Booty
  • About & Contact
    • Bibliography
    • Links