The first Guest Haus of 2020 and John and I are chatting about the literary figures that influenced us throughout our lives. There's a few you might share and others will be new and surprising.
Metal Future is proud to present a first in this year's continual series of reflections on great bands that went into retirement. The first is Canadian progressive rock power trio Rush. Also a few notes on their incredible drummer Neil Peart who died recently of brain cancer.
The freedom from being an independent author is an incredible responsibility and a noble gift. I outline briefly on the show my three A's -- Attitude - Attention - Advertise as a method to help focus writers on becoming the best their talents can offer humanity.
In this episode we discuss the positive and negative impact digital culture has had on modern literature.
The third episode in the email questions from listener series and the first for the year 2020. Thanks for the compliments and inquiries. Nice to hear some music questions as well.
Emotions like any other vital element of writing needs to be regulated through organization and discipline to allow the writing to not be overtaken in the moment. We strive above all else to create enduring Art. Let us not allow our humanity to stray too far into the chaos that can be this complex world.
The deliberate use of deceptive language by governments, corporations or renowned institutions are a direct threat to Democracy. A far greater danger than ditzy politicians who come and go like bad pastries. Suspect language stays in the system, in the minds of average citizens who do no bother to question what is heard or change what they see. Orwell warned us the first signs of a dictatorship is its invasion of language.
This milestone episode (#100, yeah) is the last of the Classic Spotlight Series for 2019. Tonight we shine a light on the enduring short story writer William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry. We will discuss his stories, motivations, social life, criminal convictions and acute eye for humanity and presenting humane situations full of hope and love.
In the last metal future episode of 2019, John and I explore the phenomena of bands who claim retirement only to come back in a few or two for more glory, more money and more health issues. We must face the fact, even if they don't, that people in the 60's and 70's running around the stage and living from a suitcase is not only impractical it might be unhealthy. Is it mind over matter? Or just move over and make some more money? You decide.
In the library of substantial writing comes a category often overlooked and quite ironic in origin. The writing from decidedly nonwriters composed and delivered to affect change. We outline a few historic examples of major social change using writing such as Martin Luther, Thomas Paine, Martin Luther King Jr., and Vaclav Havel. And some personal examples of "local" writing to test corporate products, city governments, shoddy restaurants, etc.
in the final interview for Year 2019, the show welcomes Lynn Long (also known on FB as "Luna Deity") who is a wonderfully positive poet dedicated to exploring the lighter side of the nature, love and the world. Lynn shares her philosophy, her books and her work on a perfectly fitting setting where I truly appreciate this approach to balance the darker subjects Strength To Be Human can often tackle.
A riveting literary interview with Florida-based fiction writer Catherine Shields. Her short story "My Phantom Ovaries" was published in June of 2019 and remains in the top ten reads of the international online journal Ariel Chart. She was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize for Fiction by that same publication.
In the last Guest Haus episode of the year 2019, John and I explore the writer syndrome that makes writers lose their path by forgetting the precepts of Art. For a the 2nd segment we answer a few questions each in the second edition of Mailbag and finally we talk a bit about my paperback book release "Question the Quiet" Selected Writings 1999 -2019. https://www.markantonyrossi.com
In the third and final installment of The Mechanics of Muse, Discipline is redefined becoming much more than robotic gestures and slick time management but rather a mental toughness, emotional maturity and personal honesty that allows a creator to firmly evaluate their path of a regular basis.
Last Guest Haus Editor for the calendar year 2019 and John and I dive into deep waters (what's new) and discuss the flaws of our heroes, the influences of the imperfect and the enviable burnout that happens to writers, especially to editors who are usually juggling a few things at the same time. As always John brings his humor and insight to make this a special episode.
