Vincent Van Gogh, The Doctor, and the tortured artist / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-April-2020

About ten years ago, an episode of Doctor Who called "Vincent and the Doctor" aired--my youngest daughter and I watched it on DVD yesterday, as we're doing our best to social distance.  Long story short, in this episode The Doctor and his companion Amy Pond go back to the time of Vincent Van Gogh, where they have an extraordinary adventure.  I won't go on much more than that.

As stated in the timeline of the story, the fictional event takes place roughly a year before he commits suicide.  The episode ends with The Doctor giving Vincent an unexpected gift: to go into the future, to see the impact his paintings had on the world, because everyone thought his paintings were rubbish.  Honestly, this ending scene always gives me chills.  Here it is.  Enjoy.

This episode reminds me of what the majority of people just think about artists.  That we're all tortured souls and the only way to relieve our pain is to create the art we were meant to create.

And that's true.

Well, for some artists it is.  The majority just love to tell stories.

Star Wars vs. Doctor Who / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Dec-2015

I apologize if the headline sounds like it's click-bait, but today's Friday post is a mashing of several ideas and with the new Star Wars movie coming out, why not start with that.

Earlier this year, I introduced my youngest daughter to both Doctor Who and Star Wars on Netflix.  She watched a few episodes the Clone Wars animated series as well as Doctor Who.  Who won?

Doctor Who.

Not to say she didn't love Star Wars, because I for one have been a fan ever since the original movie was in the theaters in 1977--yes, I'm that old.  She said she loved Doctor Who more because the doctor and his companion(s) go on countless adventures and can go in any place in time, be it far in the future or well in the past.  She knows more about the show than most people, and she's only 9-years-old.

However, when the new Star Wars movie comes out, I will be bringing all three of my kids to it.

Now, back to business at hand.  The third book in the Central Division Series is getting closer to done.  I have surpassed 48,000 words and am planning this to be anywhere between 65-70,000 words when it's complete.  I will be working on the cover shortly, and will be sharing both the title and cover soon.

Lastly, as a writer/author, one can never seem to run out of ideas.  A few days ago, while driving to work, I got a fantastic story idea.  It sounded so simple I was sure it had to be written before.  Nope.  Not even the title seemed to be taken in either a movie or book.  Sweet!  All I will say is that it's Christmas-themed and I would love to try write it before Christmas next year.  I also have a Halloween-themed story I need to write in 2016 too.

Like I said, there are no empty wells of ideas.  Only the lack of ambition or fear of failure to accomplish it.

Dream it.

Then do it.

The world is counting on you.