Posted on No Comments on Introductions and Welcome

Introductions and Welcome

Welcome to my head! Or at least the extension of it that will be leaked out upon the beast better known as the Internet.

My name is Michael Lavender. I’ve been writing for more years than I care to think about, both as a source of income in a variety of technical fields, and as a passion in the realm of storytelling. I don’t fancy myself an author, nor do I think I’ve managed to capture the kind of lightning in a jar that results in a Hemingway or a Stephen King. Not by any means.

I tell stories.

Some are lightweight and easy on the palate. Others are heavier and may be harder to consume. But, I hope all will find an audience.

As things start to launch, this site will grow and will include news, updates, short stories, random thoughts, and just about anything else that crosses my mind about writing, life, or whatever demented bit of something that happens to enter my head on a given day.

I saw a quote once that (paraphrased) said that making art is creating, and then staring at what you created until you hate it. I find that to pretty readily define the editing process.

I’ve stared at enough of my work for well past long enough.

It’s time to gut up and let other eyes have at it.

Hopefully you, the reader, will find one of my worlds to your liking.

I can be reached for any questions or comments here, or in the Links under the Contact tab.

So, as this big black truck pulls up to you at the curb, thank you for opening the truck door. Hopefully, you’ll come along for the ride.

Sincerely,

– ML

Posted on No Comments on He stirs…

He stirs…

Greetings and salutations, oh faithful few.

I won’t even try to disguise it. Writing of late has become a chore. Between work, family, and the unbridled energy of a four-year-old demanding my attention, I haven’t gotten much done. I even managed to miss a seminar on self-publishing I paid for due to spinning too many plates on too many sticks at one time.

So, in an effort to kick off the dust from my brain, I’m about to retreat to my geek roots, and discuss a topic near and dear to my heart.

Namely, Jedi are dicks.

Seriously. From Qui-Gon to Kenobi, from Windu to Yoda, they are just the worst.

Buckle up. I’m about to tear down some “heroes.”

Stay tuned.

Posted on No Comments on The Light is a Little Darker

The Light is a Little Darker

Tonight, I’m watching The Force Awakens.

I’m watching it because an icon of pretty much my entire life has passed.

“To me, she’s royalty …”

Princess Leia was my definitive first crush, before I was old enough to even know what a crush was. In a sea of Barbies, Leia was a warrior and a leader. Strong. Independent. Capable in any situation. By the time of Episode VII, she’s a woman who has lost her parents, her home, her son to the Dark Side, and her love.

And still, she stands to lead the Resistance against the First Order. Still, Leia is that beacon of hope and that light of leadership.

Carrie Fisher brought a fierceness to the role that defined Leia. Smart, quick-witted, caring, the actor was the archetype that created one of the greatest female leads to ever grace the screen. Over the years, her characters ranged across the spectrum, but all seemed to have an inner strength in common (in the case of the Blues Brothers, inner strength tinged with more than a little crazy.)

She had the courage to not shy away from her personal demons, and in point of fact became a light for many who struggle with addictions and depressive conditions. Her willingness to be so frank about what tend to be taboo subjects surrounded by so much misunderstanding, misinformation, and straight up ignorance was inspiring, and her ability to do so with what became a trademarked sense of humor set her on a new level above.

To many, she was an inspiration.

To those of us who grew up with her as part of our cultural consciousness, she will always be royalty.

Thank you, Princess.

Rest in peace.

Posted on No Comments on Updates and stuff and things

Updates and stuff and things

After a brief panic attack when I came to my site and saw a blank page, followed by some frantic yelping to tech support, my heart has slowed down enough that I can announce that I’m about to start shopping book 1 of Venator to some publishers.

In the meantime, thanks to a very dear friend who gave me some inspiration for an idea, I’m going to start planning out a new project that may turn into either a series of short stories, or a new book series.

Details to emerge, so stay tuned.

– ML

Posted on No Comments on Writing horrors vs writing horror

Writing horrors vs writing horror

It may speak something to me, and to the research I’ve done over things while I’ve written what I’ve written, but as I’m listening to this back and forth with Stephen King and George R.R. Martin (as annoying as I’m finding Martin as an individual in this clip), it strikes me that I’ve never read a book that really scared me.

I love horror fiction. I seriously love it. I love the prose that will pull a reader in so tight that it will make the reader so involved that it will make them look over their shoulder deep at night. I love the stories, the games, the images, you name it. Scare me, and I’m a fan. But, I’m hard as hell to earn on that front.

I also don’t write it. At least, not yet. I’m just not that good.

Mainly, because I seriously don’t get that from what I read or get inspired by, or have the ability to write. When I write a horror, it’s a horror I put my head in to, and it’s something I write in a way that I hope I can make an emotional connection to the reader with, but I don’t make the claim of being smart enough to write that kind of story that will make the subject of the storytelling hide under his or her covers.

When I write, it’s writing human choice. That’s my connection. I can write something that connects with emotion, but not that kind of primal fear that others seem to be so able to.

It’s writing about free will and what it means to protect it that seems to be where I lock in when telling a story.

I write that, because that’s one of the things that terrifies me. Every day, living the life that means every decision I make can affect others for good or for ill … it’s the game we all play that does and should terrify us. Knowing that every decision we make will have an effect on those connected to us, and on those we sometimes can’t even see.

That shit’s scary.