My Name is Gladiator...
One of the great things about living in Colorado is having my brother in close proximity - he lives about five minutes away. My brother and I probably should have been twins, we just get along like that. We don't have rivalry issues and we always have a great time hanging out.
Last Friday he came over and we proceeded to get mildly drunk down in the (mancave)basement office. Once we were appropriately soused, we put on Gladiator, the one with Russell Crowe. What an absolutely amazing movie. It hits you (or me, at least) on different levels. There's the male end of the movie - war, the arena fights - but in the most important ways I never feel like the savagery is glorified. A great example of this is a very quick scene during the first big arena spectacle in Rome. They're reenacting the battle of Carthage and it's just horrific. At one point Maximus (Crowe's character) hacks off a couple of heads and the camera cuts to Joaquin Phoenix (the emperor). He sticks his tongue out and clenches his teeth in this pure, visceral reaction that seems ENTIRELY sexual. It makes you pause in horror (or it did me, at least), and then, a second later, go 'DAMN Ridley Scott is a great director!'
It's a small touch, there and gone in a flash, but it makes you recoil. Perhaps you were like those in the stands, enjoying the fighting and the dying as a spectacle-once-removed. Then that tongue comes out and you go 'Oh, right, this is horrible!'
Why is this on a writer's blog? Inspiration comes from all kinds of places,that's why. There are also many different kinds of inspiration. In this case, I was inspired by the idea that a short moment could become such a sledgehammer. I thought about it off and on all the next day.
A single, well-placed thought can become an atom bomb or a black hole, if the context is right. I'm already considering how to use this in my current novel.
Speaking of which, Abandoned (the fourth book in the Smoky Barrett series) will be out at the end of this month. I'm looking forward to what everyone thinks.
Back to salt mines, which are growing colder by the day. Colorado is not California - nor should it be.
Last Friday he came over and we proceeded to get mildly drunk down in the (mancave)basement office. Once we were appropriately soused, we put on Gladiator, the one with Russell Crowe. What an absolutely amazing movie. It hits you (or me, at least) on different levels. There's the male end of the movie - war, the arena fights - but in the most important ways I never feel like the savagery is glorified. A great example of this is a very quick scene during the first big arena spectacle in Rome. They're reenacting the battle of Carthage and it's just horrific. At one point Maximus (Crowe's character) hacks off a couple of heads and the camera cuts to Joaquin Phoenix (the emperor). He sticks his tongue out and clenches his teeth in this pure, visceral reaction that seems ENTIRELY sexual. It makes you pause in horror (or it did me, at least), and then, a second later, go 'DAMN Ridley Scott is a great director!'
It's a small touch, there and gone in a flash, but it makes you recoil. Perhaps you were like those in the stands, enjoying the fighting and the dying as a spectacle-once-removed. Then that tongue comes out and you go 'Oh, right, this is horrible!'
Why is this on a writer's blog? Inspiration comes from all kinds of places,that's why. There are also many different kinds of inspiration. In this case, I was inspired by the idea that a short moment could become such a sledgehammer. I thought about it off and on all the next day.
A single, well-placed thought can become an atom bomb or a black hole, if the context is right. I'm already considering how to use this in my current novel.
Speaking of which, Abandoned (the fourth book in the Smoky Barrett series) will be out at the end of this month. I'm looking forward to what everyone thinks.
Back to salt mines, which are growing colder by the day. Colorado is not California - nor should it be.
posted by Cody McFadyen at
9:57 PM
3 Comments:
I finished Abandoned early last week. I've enjoyed all of your books, but this is by far your best, Cody! I couldn't put it down and was very satisfied with the ending. Definitely one I'll enjoy handselling this holiday season. Kudos!
I grew up in Colorado, moved as a teenager, and except for a few visits now and again, haven't been back since. I have lived all over the country and have loved different areas for different reasons, but in my mind Colorado is still home and hopefully will be again one day. I've explained to my husband he needs to satisfy his wanderlust before that day, because once I'm back in the mountains I'll never move out again!
I hope your first winter in Colorado isn't too much of a shock! I recommend; ski passes---even if you're a beginner--- snowmobiles and a hot tub in the snow.
Cannot wait to read 'Abandon.' Already pre-ordered from Amazon. And am already looking forward to Smokey's next case! Just one request? Please?
MORE TOMMY!!!
I feel like he needs to see a little more action, and I don't just mean in the bedroom, or on the living room floor... Although feel free to amp up the hot sex too! ;)
Happy writing!
Wendy
Hi Les, thanks very much for the kind words and kudos, as always. I got your email, BTW, and will be responding some day... :)
Wendy: it's been snowing all day. Nice to look at, but I'm not too excited about driving in it! I had to get on a stepladder today with a broom to brush the snow off my satellite dish... sheesh. Got some nice pictures of my dogs playing in the snow, though. They looked like puppies.
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