Crazy, Busy Speaking Schedule This Week!

on January 24, 2012

This will be quite a week, with three speaking engagements (and one podcast appearance). Yesterday I recorded a podcast interview, which I’ll post later on going from blogger to published author. It’s a down and dirty 10 minute segment, but fun to do. I’ve done a few of these by now. Just like doing a radio interview!

Next up is tonight’s appearance at the Hinsdale Public Library to talk about the my journey as a writer, and, of course about blogging, publishing, etc. I’ll also be available to sign copies of Chasing Zebras. Thursday I’m doing the first of two sessions at the Oasis Center called “But I Play One on TV,” which is the working title of my new (hopefully) book about TV Medical shows and their impact on us through the years. It should be a fun session. Then Thursday night, I’m appearing at a seminar sponsored by Raw Marketing at the Shaumburg Hyatt also talking about the process of blog to author. You can get tickets here for that presentation.

My new marketing brochure is nearly ready (yay!) and I’m beginning to gear up for July 1, when I launch Ruach Outside the Box, which will package everything from speaking to ghostwriting and everything in between. Until July 1, my availability is generally limited by the boundaries of my day job.

Oh! And next month, of course is Limmud, where I’m teaching two sessions: one for adults called House vs. God, and the other for kids on Jewish values and the hit (and Oscar-nominated) movie Hugo.

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Live Event: Blogger Mom to Published Author – A Journey

on January 20, 2012

Whether you have mastered the art of blogging or just stepped into the virtual writing scene, and aspire to publish your first best-seller, join me next Thursday when I speak at RAW Marketing’s seminar “How to Go From Blogger to Author” seminar This Chicago area event is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Woodfield – Schaumburg Hyatt Regency from 7-8:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there! RSVP

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California Solo Poster Released

on January 18, 2012

Here’s a peek at the poster for Marshall Lewy’s new film California Solo, which  premieres next week at Sundance. The movie stars Robert Carlyle as a faded ’90s Britpop star who’s lived in California for years, but suddenly encounters likely deportation. Carlyle, currently starring in ABC’s Once Upon a Time, has always favored doing small, independent films, working in Britain with acclaimed directors like Ken Loach (Riff Raff, Carla’s Song) and Antonia Bird (Priest, Safe, Face).

It’s always exciting to see Carlyle in a new feature film, and California Solo seems like a meaty role. This is his first film since 2008′s Summer and I Know You Know, two excellen

t small, poignant films that unfortunately never go anywhere near the play they deserved. The last few years, Carlyle has been seen on television, first playing the lead in the very underrated Stargate Universe for Syfy, and of course currently on Once Upon a Time.

The Sundance Film Guide describes California Solo:

“Lachlan MacAldonich is a self-described “lazy Scotsman” and former guitar player for a once-popular 1990s rock band. No longer famous, he now lives a comfortably numb existence working on an organic farm outside Los Angeles. He drinks himself into a stupor every night and retires to his shabby apartment to record his podcast, recounting the tragic deaths of great musicians. After a particularly heavy night of drowning his sorrows at a local watering hole, he is arrested for driving under the influence. This snag, coupled with a long-ago conviction for a drug offense, means Lachlan faces possible deportation. His only hope of remaining stateside is proving that his absence would cause extreme hardship for a spouse or relative—forcing him to confront relationships he thought were buried forever.

Robert Carlyle injects equal amounts of washed-up rock star and winsome charm into the lead role of a lovable loser struggling with personal demons and an intractable legal system. In his eagerly awaited follow-up to 2007’s Blue State, writer/director Marshall Lewy paints an intimate portrait of human fallibility and the ever-present possibility of making things right, even from the darkest depths. – A.M.”

Robert Carlyle in California Solo

 

 

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Once Upon a Time: A Few Additional Thoughts on Rumple’s Past

on January 12, 2012

I’ve watched Desperate Souls another time, and I have a few more thought I thought I’d share regarding Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 07: Actor Robert C...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

:

1. Obviously his leg was injured before we meet him in this episode, so it has nothing to do with the “official’ Rumpelstiltskin Grimm story. How did his leg get injured. Was it during battle?

2. The knight knew him. And said that his action to run from the battle affected the war. If he was a nothing conscript, how would that happen? He also reminds R of the lack of power, prestige and money. Was there a time that R was someone more significant? Was he a knight of the Duke’s realm? A noble?

3. The way R talks about his wife is with such great remorse “she’s dead,’ he says to Bae, without really answering his question more elaborately. I wonder if her death has to do with the battle he left. Was she ill? A hostage? Did he run from the battle because of that? Or did he run from the battle because of its insantity–something he could no longer believe in?

4. Mr. Gold is very courtly, well-mannered, with an aristocratic air to him. Perhaps this is intentional and hearkens back to R’s original life (before the Ogre War, whatever that was).

5. Once R sees a way out, his fear disappears. What he plans is brave and incredibly daring. Yet he is seen by the knight as a coward (he even confesses that)–or is he hiding beneath that veil of cowardice (i.e. the Scarlet Pimpernel).

6. So what exactly happened between The Dark One and Rumple? What does Rumple accomplish, if anything? He certainly saves Bae from these particular soldiers, but he hasn’t stopped the Duke, at whose beck and call The Dark One was enslaved. The Duke no longer has the force of the Dark One’s magic, and perhaps with that, the slaughter will at last be over. But what has it cost Rumple? He has sold his soul to save his son, but as he’s reminded, all magic has it costs. To save his son, he’s lost him forever.

7. Emma Stands up to Mr. Gold, which gives her the victory. She’s now sheriff. But that’s what he wanted in the first place.

8. I wonder if Mr. Gold still has that dagger (I didn’t see it in the case along with the other daggers, unless I missed it). Is he The Dark One in Storybrooke? Is he even still The Dark One in the Enchanted Forest, or did he give that up when he realized what it cost. After all, he was imprisoned. He would have had power to wield, yet he doesn’t wield it. Why, unless he’s no longer The Dark One. Is that now Regina? Did that power go along with the curse????? Hmmm.

So many things to think about on this very, very snowy day here in Chicago.

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Once Upon a Time: “Desperate Souls” — First 8 minutes! (Spoilers)

on January 7, 2012

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 07: (L-R) Actors J...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

ABC has released the first 8 minutes of tomorrow night’s “Desperate Souls.” So, I thought I’d share. It’s got spoilers, but is full of awesomeness! Lots of Rumple (Robert Carlyle). Speculation time: There’s a significant moment in it between Emma and Henry about why good always loses (it has to play fair). It’s a child-like notion, but I think it will turn out to be quite important for this episode and the evolution of the narrative. Enjoy

Thought I’d share.

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Ten 2011 Discoveries

on December 31, 2011

I thought I’d share (in no particular order), 10 of my best discoveries over the past year…

  1. My son is a fabulous writer. You should check him out at Buzz Weekly, University of Illinois‘ Entertainment magazine (he’s music editor). And, although I didn’t discover it in 2011, my daughter is a brilliant young woman–a chemistry PhD candidate whose own discoveries continue to amaze me!
  2. My husband is a talented music critic. Now writing for Blogcritics, he interviewed Bill Wyman earlier this year (yes, that Bill Wyman, of Rolling Stones fame!)
  3. Marketing published books is very, very hard work!
  4. I have the audacity to speak at a MENSA convention (and not quake in my boots) about literary archetypes–and have a total ball!
  5. Most of the actors I’ve fallen in love with in my life have been of Scottish descent (I really did just figure that out!)
  6. I really miss writing full time (and have decided to go back to it in one form or another!)
  7. Game of Thrones is really complex (even on television) and Peter Dinklage is an acting wonder. He makes Tyrion Lannister sympathetic. You can’t take your eyes off him in any scene he’s in.
  8. I adore Robert Carlyle (see #5). He is a gifted actor of incredible range–he can convincingly portray evil, innocence, panic, hatred and love (sometimes in the same scene). Brilliant.
  9. I want to write a book about Stargate Universe because it is so underrated and was cancelled before its time
  10. It is possible to change your eating habits, give up processed and corn-syrup laden foods, lose a lot of weight and turn around your health situation–all with (in the grand scheme of things) relatively little effort (and a great, supportive doctor), and without drugs or surgery.
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Happy New Year

on December 31, 2011

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very happy New Year. Thank you for your support, your readership and your kind words. Keep reading!

Barbara

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Happy Chanukah – Random Thoughts on the Festival of Lights

on December 21, 2011

‘Tis the season, so they say. Happy first night of Chanukah.

English: Hanukkah menorah, known also as Hanuk...

Image via Wikipedia

The letters on a dreidel: nun, gimel, hay, shin (peh if you live in Israel) stand for “A Great Miracle Happened There” or Nes Gadol Hayah Sham. So, what is the miracle that we’re celebrating? Some will tell you that it’s about a cruse of olive oil, only enough to last for one day that somehow lasted for eight days! Others will look at the victory of the tiny group of rebellious Jews take on the Syrian Greeks to liberate their people from religious persecution–and prevailed.

I’ve never been so sure about the oil lasting for eight days (call me skeptical). But I like the idea of underdogs winning–emerging victorious against the oppressors. (I guess it’s the rebel in me.) Although I have to say, the oil miracle does make a nifty excuse for eating oil-laden foods like latkes(we had veggie latkes w

A Hanukkah dreidel.

Image via Wikipedia

i

th dinner tonight) and sufganiot (fried jelly donuts).

Chanukah is the festival of lights (And no, Adam Sandler did not originate this phrase!) Coming at the darkest time of the year, as the new moon approaches, and leaving the nighttime even darker than it might otherwise be, Chanukah illumines the world, providing light and joy when things look pretty bleak outside (and for long periods of time here in the Northern Hemisphere!)

Anyway, I’ll have more to say as the holiday goes one. In the meantime, what are some of your own Chanukah traditions?

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Next on Once Upon a Time – “Desperate Souls”

on December 20, 2011

Once Upon a Time won’t be back on ABC for a couple of weeks (January 8), but when it does, it will be “Desperate Souls,” which examines Rumpelstiltskin’s (the always intriguing Robert Carlyle)  back story. Here’s the press info from ABC:

 

“Desperate Souls” – Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Mr. Gold play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma (Jennifer Morrison) runs for a coveted Storybrooke public office against Sidney. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Rumplestiltskin tries to track down the ultimate power source in order to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war, on “Once Upon a Time,” SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

I really like the sound of this, particularly in light of other information…

I had a chance to interview Jane Espenson, the episode’s writer, last week, and here’s what she had to say…

Me, I’ve had the strong impression that Rumple is a much more conflicted character than he seems (and I think that alter ego Mr. Gold has a hidden agenda as well). So I’m really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out!

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My Favorite Robert Carlyle Roles

on December 13, 2011

 

Published first at Blogcritics Magazine

Although he’s starred in U.S. television series the couple of years, Robert Carlyle is perhaps most famous as the star of numerous independent British films, some of which became mainstream hits, including Trainspotting and The Full Monty. His latest film, California Solo premieres as an official selection at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival next month.

A true chameleon, Carlyle’s performances are carefully crafted works of art. His commitment to his roles is legendary, which results in an authenticity and naturalism to each part he plays whether it’s a commercial blockbuster like The World is not Enough or a barely-seen, low budget art-house picture like I Know You Know. Charismatic and intense on screen, Carlyle has created a beautifully varied opus of frightening psychotics, nuanced rogues and ne’er do wells, and a host of other troubled souls, and even a romantic hero or two.

There are common threads running through many of Carlyle’s movies. He’s played a variety of displaced and dispossessed men, marginalized by society—sometimes driven to crime, sometimes to drink or drugs. But these working-class anti-heroes are also usually (but certainly not always) at their core sympathetic. (Okay, you have me there at Trainspotting’s Frank Begbie, who has no redeemable qualities coming to mind—and Hitler in the U.S. TV film Hitler: The Origins of Evil—a performance I have not been able to make myself watch).

Caryle plays a great villain. He’s not a big guy, but possesses the sort of coiled energy that suggests he might snap at any moment. On the other hand, he also makes great romantic lead, at once charming and complex, with layers and layers beneath the surface, revealed through his large soulful eyes. Continue Reading →

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