And Now, Something a Little Different

Try this on for size…..

Chapter One
Lila

I’m sitting in my office, slinging playing cards across the room into a hat I haven’t worn for a little over two years. I think the style of it is wrong, or perhaps I don’t really like the color. When the demon walks into my office, the only thing that disturbs me is that she blocks my only accurate attempt of the morning.
The card bounces off her bare midriff and flutters to the ground, amidst about two other decks worth of failed attempts. Perhaps I don’t like the hat because it doesn’t catch playing cards worth a damn.
I look up at her, which would be a mistake if I were human. She is flat gorgeous, with every luscious curve and delicious line perfectly displayed, though only barely covered. Even demons can have a rudimentary knowledge of modesty, mostly because it’s easier to move about in the world of humans if you obey their social laws.
“Am I disturbing you?” She purrs. “This is a detective agency, right?”
I grin. “Fallen Angel Detective Agency, at your service.”
Her returned demure smile is another attempt to lure lustful thoughts. I’m not immune it at all, just in much more control than the normal human. I mean, I am a Fallen Angel, so yes, baser instincts are things I deal with, but she’s forgetting that once an angel, pretty much always an angel.
She kept trying. “And you are?”
I decide politeness might be the right approach. With two decks of cards on the floor and nothing in the hat, the morning was really slow. “Raphael.”
I extend my hand and she backs away a half step.
The purr is gone from her voice, replaced by fear. “The Raphael?”
I grimace. “Not that one.”
I really need to change my name. “Just call me Rafe. How can I help you?”
She ignores my hand and I pull it back before the situation becomes awkward, or at least more awkward than it already is. She studies me for a few more seconds, I assume to allow the awkwardness to fully settle in like dye in a tattoo.
Finally, she sits, which is a treat to see, watching all those barely covered limbs stretch and bunch in such perfect unison. No, seriously, I’m immune to her charms and she’s not really trying anymore since the name mistake. Like I said, fallen, so yeah, I might be a bit of a lech.
“You can call me Lila. I need help with my boyfriend.”
An iron door slams down on my lecherous thoughts. I should’ve known. “You demons aren’t actually known for your loyalties, especially in relationships.”
Lila pouts. “I expected judgement, but is that really necessary?”
“I’m not denying you your feelings, or judging you at all Lila. I’m spouting facts on your race. Can you name three demons that have stuck by their loyalties?”
Her pout continues in all its cuteness. “I care about Zyzx. Judge demons as you will angel, but I care about him.”
Okay, that stings a little. “I’m not an angel. I’ve fallen from grace, so I don’t carry the hammering judgement my kind normally does.”
Lila’s pout turns to triumphant smile, gorgeous. “So I shouldn’t judge you by what you are, but rather who you are?”
Touche.
I start again. “My apologies. How can Fallen Angel help you with your boyfriend?”
Lila’s pout comes back. “I think he’s cheating on me.”
Irony, thy name is Lila. “Why do you think this?”
She waves her hand around with a disgusted look. “The usual reasons. He stays out with his friends all the time and makes excuses for why he can’t spend time with me.”
I get up and cross to the window. The view from the Catholic Life building is nice. Yes, I know, irony is everywhere. San Antonio is a beautiful city and its where I call home at the moment. Humans have always amazed me, and I think they always will.
“Anything else?”
Lila joins me at the window, gazing out the pane, but I don’t think she sees anything in particular. “I can give you the name of the bar he hangs at.”
I look at her, actually sympathetically. “I’ll look into it, but I’m not going to make any promises. This isn’t a lot to look into.”
Lila sighs and opens her purse. “I know and I’ll thank you ahead of time. Look, I know he’s a demon and that means he’s going to do what demons do, but I want to know anyway. Is that so bad?”
I’m not sure my lopsided grin sends the right message. “As long as you’re prepared for the disappointment.”
She pulls out a wad of cash, and by wad, I mean a roll and the bill on the outside is a Franklin. She places a finger over my lips to hush my coming protest. “I know it’s more than you charge but consider it an extra fee for time sensitive work.”
She tosses the roll over her shoulder and it sails across the office to land in the hat that has no playing cards in it, which I prefer the money anyway. Without another word, Lila leaves me, her hips swaying in perfect time. Demon girls shouldn’t be allowed to wear high heels, and not just because they make capable weapons in a pinch.
No sooner than she walks out, my associates walk in. Cassandra, all four foot eleven of her and Marco Espinoza. His gaze is locked on the last remaining visible trace of Lila. I swear he licks his lips. Humans, so easily glamored.
I say, “Hey Pix, Marco. We’ve got a case.”
I call her Pixie because of the short cropped blond hair. She’s my right hand, most of the left, and if I had a center hand, some of that too. She works with computers, billing and even though I am an angel, she’s happy to put me in my place if necessary.
Marco is big and angry a lot, but if anyone, or anything gets near Pix, they’re going to get a face full of Marco. I don’t really wish that on anyone. He won a Golden Gloves trophy and immediately determined that gloves were for idiots, real men believe in knuckles.
Pixie smiles at me and glances at the hat, obviously spying the roll of hundreds. Her smile gets bigger. “Raise your rates?”
“Nope, we are currently employed by an overly generous demon.”
Marco grunts. “Hmph, demons can’t be generous.”
“Maybe not, but this one gave me a lot of money to look into something. Pix, take that down to the bank if you’d be so kind. I’m going to a bar.”
Marco’s gaze perks up a bit. One of the few things that catches his attention besides Pix, is a stiff drink. “Part of the case Marco. Can you start a record? Her name is Lila.”
“You believe that?”
I grin. “Not in the least, but I believe the money.”
Pixie nudges Marco. “C’mon big guy, let’s go get this deposited and then we’ll go to Sonic for a huge soda. We’ll create the case file when we get back.”
God, I love that girl.

Progress Continues

Priesthunter is done and awaiting entry into the editing process for release, sometime in 2019. Roguehunter is nearly done, Book II in the series. Plotting for Kinghunter and Godhunter continues, along with continued addition to my Sci-Fi work, Aftermath.

With the Holidays over and the New Year well underway, it’s time to get busy again, though I have a lot of family stuff this year, with two graduating seniors this summer. So, off I go!

Review of You

I was flipping around Netflix with the wife and found this little gem. Actually, it’s new, so it was plastered all over the screen.

I’m a huge fan of Dexter, though I don’t normally go for the anti-hero character. Now I’ll have to add Joseph Goldberg to the list of the anti-heroes I like. He narrates his own story, much like Dexter, but that’s where all similarity ends. He’s not, in essence a serial killer, driven by deep-seated mental breaks from a horrible incident in his past. No Joe just loves a girl and will do anything for her…I mean ANYTHING.

This character is very complex, but shows simplicity too. I find the story well-written to the fact that a simple principle can be violated by every day activities and social pressure at nearly any time. The main character’s principles are clearly shown, yet his actions lead him to bending them, to outright breaking them on several occasions. However, later scenes show his basic humanity and principles remain unchanged in the big picture, though they may have undergone drastic change in other, more specific areas.

The boy Paco is another excellent character, showing a wide range of disruptive change in his character over the course of the ten show season.

An altogether outstanding show from Netflix. I recommend it.

Creed II

I’ve always been a Rocky fan, so I had to see this movie. I was in no way disappointed either. There are a lot of movie franchises that remain successful, following a formula for all their separate works. You’ve seen my nearly constant praise for Marvel’s movies. This formulaic process includes the Harry Potter franchise and too many others to count.

Creed II follows the same Rocky formula, specifically, Rocky III. Rocky lost his fight in that movie, because he didn’t want it enough, didn’t know what he was fighting for. In this picture, Adonis Creed, fresh off his title win, gets a match with the same results. He gets crushed, though the result of the fight is a disqualification. Adonis retains his belt. His awful performance and beat down can be attributed to his lack of focus, exactly like Rocky III.

Speaking of Rocky, Sylvester Stallone reprises his famous role as mentor and father figure to Adonis. All the old mannerisms and movements return. This is a lifetime role for Stallone and he delivered an outstanding performance.

After his successes in the ring, and subsequent failures, Rocky lives alone in Philly. He owns a bar. He is in Adonis’ corner for the title fight that Adonis wins, but is dead set against the fight against Drago. He refuses to manage Adonis for the fight and the kid gets pummeled. The older Drago, from Rocky IV is the young Drago’s father and trainer.

Once Adonis heals, Rocky is eventually persuaded to manage Adonis for the rematch, using unusual methods to train, as in the original Rocky.

Viktor Drago, son of Ivan Drago, is the opponent facing Adonis Creed. He’s a monster of a man, almost a machine of destruction. He obliterates his opponents with ruthless efficiency. However, during the course of the film, there are reasons for his demeanor that become stark. Abandonment by his mother (Bridgett Nielson) left him to a father that was solely focused on eventually getting revenge on Rocky for the defeat in Rocky IV. Fractures in his relationship with his father eventually come out, but was not explored completely, which is a shame.

Ivan Drago is a bitter man, losing everything he values after his defeat by Rocky. The tie in, of course, is that Ivan Drago killed Apollo Creed in the boxing ring before eventually being defeated by Rocky. Now, his son Viktor is being groomed to defeat Adonis and exact revenge. His relationship with his son is strained and the portions of the movie around his son’s mother show exactly how bitter he is.

This movie was just a lot of fun to watch. The story was not so much compelling as it was comforting. With a Rocky movie, you know what you’re going to get. When it delivers, you feel great. When Adonis begins training for the rematch with Viktor, strains of the Rocky theme music come out and the effect is perfect.

Adonis was a good character, but a little wooden. He was very stereotyped, though in a Rocky movie way…it worked. The interplay between him and his wife was beautifully done and the one portion of the movie with Adonis and his newborn was even better.

Viktor could have been a better character, but the movie did not delve deep enough into his story. His character served a purpose. The performance was good though, and the physical intimidation on screen was obvious.

Ivan Drago was almost tragic. Dolph Lundgren really delivered a fine performance, from the opening salvo to Rocky, through his son’s eventual defeat in the ring. The change in his character right at the end of the movie, once he realizes what is truly important, is good. I think it could have been done a little better, but the movie really wasn’t about him.

Sylvestor Stallone gave a tremendous performance as the aging Rocky Balboa. The speech patterns, mannerisms, and movements were everything we remember from every previous Rocky movie. It was like seeing a time capsule playing out on the screen. In fact, several times during the movie and through the end credits, you get to see images from previous Rocky movies. The plot tying Adonis Creed, to Rocky, to the Drago’s was well thought out and not overplayed.

Personally, I would have liked a little more development of the flaws in Viktor’s character, but overall, I love this movie. Of course, now I have to find a way to see the first one. I missed Creed, but in this case, Creed II really stands on its own, much like the Rocky movies. I hope Stallone finds it in his creative mind somewhere to dish out a Creed III, because I think it would be worth it.

Rising

My novel is rising in Amazon rankings.

Magehunter is Here!!!

October 10, 2018!

Available on Amazon for pre-order.

Bogged Down, but Still Fighting On…

Magehunter is finished with substantive editing and an ARC has been released. Now comes the glorious task of asking others for reviews of the work, in hopes that someone of notable nameliness will supply a small quote to include on the cover. Got a few feelers out for that, and crossing my fingers.

Priesthunter is ready to begin Substantive editing, just awaiting a schedule and directives from the publisher and the array of editors.

Roguehunter is crawling along slowly. I’ve written two scenes in the current chapter and I’m ready to rip them out and set fire to them; they don’t work. Still, have to get it done and begin plotting for Kinghunter.

Magehunter Cover

The cover for my newest work has been complete for a while, along with the cover for books II and III. You’ll have to wait for those, but I can show you the cover for Magehunter.

Coming, this summer. Magehunter, Book I of the Magehunter Saga. Questions, or comments? Please drop those at fansofjmessick@gmail.com. Now to finish up Book III and get into Book IV.

Ant-Man and The Wasp

I went to the movies to see this, fully expecting Marvel to continue their rather disturbing trend towards silliness. I was very pleasantly surprised, as they changed things up a bit, moving their percentages back towards what made their early movies so good.

Don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of silly moments in this movie, but they don’t overwhelm, or even intrude on the main plot at all, unlike Ragnarok, Deadpool II, or Infinity War.

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Once again, truly remarkable special effects were added, but only to support the story and bring the comic page into live-action. The switched camera to show tiny vehicles, or buildings, plus the superimposed large size Ant-Man, as above, were rendered and placed in the movie to push the story forward. This is something Marvel has always been outstanding at.
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Paul Rudd’s part was a bit of a disappointment, only in the really tired story of being under house arrest and having to get out to be the hero. Marvel moved towards stereotyped sequences here, but it was only a minor annoyance at worst.

Evangeline Lilly was spectacular as The Wasp. She was driven, creative, heroic, and deferential towards Ant-Man, until she had to save him. The emotions were perfectly played and the process was not, in any way, a stretch. Again, it may have been a bit stereotyped of a emotion changing process, but it worked.
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This was a great one-off movie to pick people up after the ending of Infinity War. With the big baddie in Infinity War destroying half of the universe’s inhabitants, the fans needed a more light-hearted movie to pick them up again. Marvel delivered.

Then Marvel stabbed us in the heart, with their credits scene. Ant-Man is in the Quantum Zone and his communications with the outside world are cut off, as Hank Pym and The Wasp, along with Janet Van Dyne were turned to ash because of the events in Infinity War. Scott Lang, Ant-Man is stranded in the Quantum Zone, with no guidance back.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next Marvel movie, just wondering how they will stitch everything together with the Infinity War effects unresolved.

The Process Continued

So, the first round of edits came back, yahoo! So I dove right in.

Now, I have some experience with how Pandamoon Publishing goes through this process, but none with anyone/anywhere else. Pandamoon’s editors sent me my book back, with comments along the side, and a brief of notes about the book and ideas they would like me to consider. I considered them, thoroughly, and as with Knights of the Shield, I took a good 75% of their suggestions. I went through the comments along the sides of the manny and took a whopping 90% of the ideas there and implemented them.

Here’s me hoping my decisions aren’t the wrong ones, but I feel I’m doing the right thing. The manny, according to my editors, is already pretty tight and nothing major in terms of rewriting is really necessary, so that was a relief. However, they wanted me to consider renaming characters; two specifically. Now, my excuse is that one of the characters won’t last past book III and the other takes a less important role after Book II, so I opted to keep things the same.

I understand what my editors are getting at, but I feel there is wiggle room here, and I’m going to stand for my characters.

So, awaiting round two, if necessary, and so forth. Will check back in soon.