TV TIME: Burn the House Down (Netflix)

 

This started very much like a house fire or a train wreck. You don’t really want to watch, but you can’t look away. The premise was almost silly; a rich and powerful Japanese women wants to be known for her wonderful cooking and housekeeping skills when she can do neither. That does not stop her.

However this Japanese Superwife is a mean, conniving, sinister bitch who may have earlier in her life burned down the house of a beautiful, kind, rich woman who had so many clothes and jewelry because she was jealous of her. And then she married the husband of that woman, who is now in some kind of hospital.

Soon, you find yourself enmeshed in the story and the lives of the children of Superwife and Kind Lady. The four children, two girls and two boys, each have a story to tell. They are all likable characters in this series on Netflix. 

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INTERVIEW: Science Fiction Adventure Author J.Z. Pitts

 

J.Z Pitts

Georgia

USA 

Good morning, Jacob, and welcome to Vision and Verse. Can you tell

 us a little about your new book? 

I written a variety of short stories from crime to horror. My recent project is my debut novel, Virtual Rebel, which is a science-fiction adventure book.

 

What is your favorite genre to write? 

I’m not a big horror guy, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed writing it. I also really enjoyed writing my recent scifi book. I would also love to write fantasy one day. We’ll see. 

 

Favorite food. 

I love food. 

It’s hard to narrow it down. 

Maybe tacos?

 

Tea or coffee? 

Coffee. I only drink tea when I’m sick.

 

Pizza or ice cream? 

Ice cream! I have a big sweet tooth, plus ice cream is awesome.

 

Wine or beer or soda or what? 

I don’t drink a ton of any of those drinks, but I’d go with beer.

 

Where would you like to visit? 

Lots of places. Italy comes immediately to mind.

 

Favorite musical artist. 

Depends on the mood. Been listening to a lot of metal lately. In that genre, I like Demon Hunter a good bit.   

 

Do you listen to music when you write? 

Sometimes 

 

What? 

Soundtracks or music playlists that sound like the music could be in a movie.

 

What makes you laugh? 

Slapstick, absurd humor is my favorite. Naked Gun is one of my favorite comedies. That’s my style of humor.

 

How old were you when you started writing? 

12 years old.

 

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 

I write short outlines, and then before each chapter I outline the goals of that chapter. I need something of a plan, but I don’t need to get every little detail down.

 

Describe your perfect evening. 

I get some writing done, then hang out with my family, watching a movie.

 

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Everywhere. Media I consume, random ideas, opinions, mix it all together and you get my writing.

 

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 

Write anyway. I might only get a couple hundred words down, but it’s better than nothing and might spark something more exciting later.

 

Who is your favorite author? 

That’s a tough one to answer. I like different authors for different reasons. I’ve been going through a lot of Terry Pratchett and Joe Abercrombie lately though. 

 

Best book you ever read. 

I don’t even know how to begin to answer that question. Again, I like different authors for different reasons. I guess I haven’t found “the one” yet.

 

Last book you read. 

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance.

 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 

Make movies. Filmmaking is so fascinating to me. 

 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 

Two people. My parents. I am largely a the way I am because of how they raised me. 

 

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, 

living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 

I’m starting to realize I have a hard time narrowing down to one of anything. Tolkien maybe? He basically created the genre of epic fantasy as we know it today ( or at least popularized it). I’d like to get his insights into storytelling, language and life. I bet he was an interesting guy to listen to.

 

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 

Write even when you don’t feel like it. Don’t wait for inspiration. Inspiration is fleeting. Write because you have to.

 

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Facebook

X fka Twitter 

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BOOK REVIEW: Dalkinchie Mysteries Book 1, Death in Dalkinchie by Carly Reid

  

A killer is on the loose in the peaceful Scottish village of Dalkinchie… Can new resident Jessica Greer solve the case before they strike again?

As a junior reporter, Jessica has the observational skills of a detective – as well as the ability to find herself in the wrong place at the right time. 

Settling into her new life in Scotland, Jessica’s skills are put to the test when the head judge at the annual Dalkinchie Craft Show dies tasting the Castle Drummond Orange and Whisky Marmalade. Was he poisoned by a disgruntled villager? Or could his wife be implicated?

Jessica’s not sure… but she thinks she can find out.

With a murderer on the loose in the village, it’s down to Jessica to find the killer.

 

If you love locked-room mysteries, quirky characters, and a Scottish small-town setting, you’ll love Death in Dalkinchie.

* I really enjoyed this one! I loved the character Jessica and the little Scottish town.

-Carol

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ART: If Iconic Artists Were Architects by Federico Babina

Dear Gentle Readers, 

These are just a few of the many wonderful images from the Architecture & Design magazine article entitled “If Iconic Artists Were Architects.”

They are the work of the talented and imaginative Federico Babina. I would love to sit down and have coffee with this artist and talk about life and art and buildings. 

Please follow both Architecture &Design and the amazing Federico Babina on Facebook for more of images and concepts that give us all inspiration and a much needed moment of visual delight in this crazy world. 

Give yourself a great day! 

Carol

Follow:

All images from Facebook.

Originally from

Architectural Digest. 

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SCHEDULE: November 6-10, 2023

 Mon., November 6 - ART:

If Iconic Artists Were Architects

by Federico Babina

Tues., November 7 - BOOK REVIEW:

Dalkinchie Mysteries, Book One

by Carly Reid

Wed., November 8 - INTERVIEW:

Science Fiction Adventure Author

J.Z. Pitts

Thurs., November 9 - TV TIME:

Burn the House Down

(Netflix)

Fri., November 10 - BOOK:

MacKalvey House

by Carol Ann Kauffman

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BOOK: Sea Witch by Carol Ann Kauffman

 

Dr. Laura Martin, Chief Extraterrestrial Life Scientist at The Touchstone Institute of Oceanographic Research, noticed troubling but subtle changes in the Atlantic Ocean. 

Before she could make sense of it all, her longtime assistant abruptly walked out. Laura hired young, handsome Scott Conner to be her personal assistant. 

Mayhem ensued, mainly because of Zara, the mermaid/siren/monster in the basement of the Touchstone Institute, who eyed Scott as her possible mate in a plot for total domination of planet Earth.

“The Touchstone Institute of Oceanographic Research is the most fantastic, exhilarating place on the planet to work. It is high energy, exciting, sometimes maddening, often frightening, heart pounding work. 

"It’s not a job. It’s a lifetime commitment. It gets in your blood. It grabs you by the throat and possesses you, body and soul. And it is work. 

"If you’re not prepared to work your ass off day in and day out, weekends, holidays, your birthday, and your mamma’s birthday, then leave now.”

Amazon Link: https://tinyurl.com/y7dkbt5q

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TV TIME: Bodies (Netflix)

 Bodies is an 8-part series that premiered on Netflix on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

This film is four stories in one. Each story revolves around a naked, dead body and the detectives who are working on the case. The detectives are all different. The years the body was found are all different. But the body is the same. 

This is a British police procedure with time loops from 1890, 1941, 2023, and the future. Four crimes. One dead body.

I found it to be a thrilling and well written series,  especially the present day and future stories. 

INTERVIEW: Fantasy Author Elizabeth Morris

 

Elizabeth Morris 

Texas

USA 

 

Good morning, Elizabeth and welcome to Vision and Verse. Can you tell us a little about what you've written? 

I have written two books that I have written for sale, and I am working on the third in the series. The first book is called Tiger’s Blood and the second book is called Rise of the Rebels. They are apart of my series which is Blood of the Beast. My third book that I am currently writing is called Return of the Ambush. 

 

What is your favorite genre to write? 

Fantasy, I’ve always loved mythical creatures and world building. I want to create a universe with my books. 

 

Favorite food. 

Seafood. I love Shrimp Crab and Lobster. My family does a clambake each year where they cook fresh clams and lobsters. 

 

Tea or coffee? 

Iced Tea. Snapple is my favorite. 

 

Pizza or ice cream? 

Pizza. I love mushrooms and olives on pizza. 

 

Wine or beer or soda or what? 

Lemonade is my all-time favorite drink. When I do drink, I’ll have something with vodka or rum. 

 

Where would you like to visit? 

Ireland and Scotland. I’m part Irish and Scottish and I would love to travel there someday. Also, Game of Thrones was filmed in Northern Ireland, and I want to see some of the sets. 

 

Favorite musical artist. 

Blackbear and Garrett Nash. I listen to them almost every day. 

 

Do you listen to music when you write?  What?

Sometimes I do, when I do, I just play my Pandora playlist. 

 

What makes you laugh? 

My boyfriend always makes me laugh with his jokes. Corny jokes are my favorite. 

 

How old were you when you started writing? 

13. I started writing short stories on Wattpad and Instagram then I had the idea for my book series and started writing that. 

 

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 

I do have outlines for my books. I must have some sort of outline before I start writing.

 

 

Describe your perfect evening. 

My perfect evening would be me curled up watching tv or going on a walk outside. 

 

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Music, nature, adventures, walks, life in general, and people. 

 

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 

I usually take some time and step away from my book and do other things like listen to music, do a puzzle or just have a conversation with someone. Sometimes writers block is an opportunity to take a step back and unwind. 

 

Who is your favorite author? 

George R. R. Martin. I loved reading ASOIAF and I strive to be a great writer like him. 

 

Best book you ever read. 

To Kill a Mockingbird was a fantastic book, one of my top five favorites. 

 

Last book you read. 

I am reading The Wandering Order: Autumn Light by CJ Hahne who is a friend of mine. I am trying to read more indie authors and I am enjoying his book so far. 

 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 

I probably would be a therapist. I like talking to people about their problems and coming up with possible solutions. 

 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 

My mother. She has such an influence on my life in a positive way and she always gives me the best advice. I love how nurturing and caring she is and she’s a great mother. 

 

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 

Tyrion Lannister from the ASOIAF series. I love his wits and intelligence and I think we would have an interesting conversation. 

 

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 

Keep writing. Even if it’s 20 words or 2,000, just keep writing. It doesn’t have to be good but if you write then you’ll feel great. 

 

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.morris.1401/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizlovestowrite/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizlovestowrite

 

Tiger’s Blood: https://books2read.com/u/49lR7d

Rise of the Rebels: https://books2read.com/u/mKRRBB

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