Monday, January 26, 2015

At The Five-Two: Nancy Scott

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 2:30 A.M.

The Five-Two's first contributor, Nancy Scott, returns with a poem based on her work as a child abuse/neglect investigator for the State of New Jersey:

Friday, January 23, 2015

FOX's Backstrom

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 11:36 A.M.

My interest in Backstrom began when I learned Hart Hanson was developing the show. Hanson developed Bones from Kathy Reichs's life and books, and it's remained one of my favorite shows for ten years. I didn't know how I'd react to Rainn Wilson's Backstrom, though, who I'd heard was an incorrigible, self-destructive character similar to Gregory House.

Backstrom won me over a few minutes in, with the line, "Knowing I don't have long to live gives me the courage to do what's right." The show was originally in contention at CBS, but they passed. FOX allows things to get a little edgier.

I especially enjoy Backstrom's way of reading people: empathizing with them but confronting them at the same time, and letting viewers know what he's thinking. With this style, for example, he deduced that his Hindu doctor had no belief in reincarnation and was, in fact, terrified of death.

And like TV's Brennan before him, Backstrom is backed by characters who stand out on their own and can go toe-to-toe with him, played by actors not overshadowed by Wilson.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

SHINY AVOCADO OF LUST: EROTIC POEMS ed. Kate Showalter

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 4:48 P.M.

Editor Kate Showalter tweeted about her ebook of Asinine Poetry this morning under the title Shiny Avocado of Love. I pointed out her typo with a smiley, and she offered me a review copy.

With a title like that? Sure.

As I wrote in my Amazon review, "this is a bold bounty of bawdy poems, many of which rolled off my tongue reading aloud." (I'm single and work from home, so hey.) "If the title tantalizes you, trust your instincts. Buy and enjoy."

At The Five-Two

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 4:00 P.M.

Early Five-Two contributor Bruce Harris returns with "Up and Down at the Empire State Building":

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Living the Dream

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 4:00 A.M.

My family emigrated to the United States when I was two months old, six years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Like many Americans my age or younger, I've taken for granted the dignity and rights King stood for. Growing up, I faced racism and other discrimination but paid it little mind, knowing I was not what others said I was.

In college, I chose not to join the Asian American club because, secure as I am in my identity, I didn't want to define myself or form friendships by race. Instead, I joined the formative stages of a literary magazine that naturally drew all sorts of people by interest, and the founding members remain my closest friends.

It all happened with little effort on my part. In my own sphere, I've freely given and received respect and been able to live as I wish. The world is changed one person at a time.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

This Blog Goes to Eleven

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 12:00 A.M.

Not much was going on eleven years ago today, so I started this blog, inspired by Sarah Weinman's Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind and other friends' blogs. First called If You Want to Know About My Life... and now My Life Called So, I don't think I've overshared, yet more than a decade of commentary is bound to reveal my interests, likes, dislikes, and, once in a while, what's important to me. Thanks for checking in.

Monday, January 05, 2015

At The Five-Two: "The Song o' No One's Daughter"

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 12:02 A.M.

This week, "The Song o' No One's Daughter" by Johnny Longfellow:



Also, Johnny is seeking submissions of street-themed poetry up to eight lines for his new site, Midnight Lane Boutique.

I am seeking submissions of love-themed poetry to run at The Five-Two. The deadline is January 15.

If you'd like to blog about Five-Two poetry, I'm now booking our 2015 tour. You can also submit poems about fooling or being fooled to be featured on the tour.

Saturday, January 03, 2015

2015 Derringer Submissions Underway

© by Gerald So | geraldso.blogspot.com | 1:23 P.M.

Submissions for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Awards opened January 1 and will close on the 31st. All SMFS members who joined by December 31 may submit.

I've submitted my Pulp Modern #7 story, "King of the Sea".