Host Chris Ryan interviews co-host Alex Simmons while Alex is in San Diego as a judge for the comic industry’s prestigeous Eisener Awards.
Recorded Sunday, April 14th
TTDS Hosts:
Author of mysteries, children’s books, screenplays & novels
Award Winning Writer/Teaching Artist/ Consultant
In fiction what determines when “on or off” the page (or camera) violence is used to serve the story, rather than simply as a sensationalistic trick or gimmick?
In this episode, writers Christopher Ryan and Alex Simmons discuss how they determine when to use violence on or off of the page, and what are the thought processes behind that decision.
So click here, we’re on the air.
Author of mysteries, children’s books, screenplays & novels
Award Winning Writer/Teaching Artist/ Consultant
Books available on Amazon.com
Greetings All,
Once again, we creatives (Chris & myself) are off doing what we doing what we do, which is why we couldn’t record an episode for today. So we’re turning back the clock to a previous episode, with some powerful tips about writing.
It’s called, “How To Get Character Into Your Character.”
This is from one of our YouTube shows, so you’ll get visuals with your audio on this one. But you can still sit back and listen, as I not only share some writing methods — but I also back it up by reading an excerpt from one of the Blackjack books.
So sit back, listen, and then let’s us know what you think, by writing to us here …
Alex@SimmonsHereAndNow.com
Or leaving a comment on our Facebook Page …
www.Facebook.com/Tell The Damn Story
Best,
Alex Simmons
What do heroes look like?
With the popularity of the movies and TV series from Marvel and DC Comics, including the extremely successful Black Panther film, the word “hero” has taken a prominent place in the minds of the masses.
But what is a hero? Factual or fictional, super or simply average how do you determine who should carry that mantel, and for how long.
These are just a few of the questions I’ll be exploring over the coming weeks. So give a listen and then let me know what you think.
Tim Fielder Matty’s Rocket creator/writer/illustrator
Award Winning Writer/Teaching Artist/ Consultant
Greetings All:
Here’s the last segment of my thoughts, feelings and observation on the Black Panther film.
Greetings All:
Here’s the next segment of my thoughts, feelings and observation on a film that has already broken some BOX OFFICE records. Love or not, this film has made an impact not only nationally, but world wide.
Check out my episode “Feelings On A Black Panther Film” on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/alex-simmons6/episodes/Feelings-On-A-Black-Panther-Film-e13rh9
Greetings Faithful Ones,
Thanks for keeping an eye out and an ear up for my irregular blog postings. Though I’m always going somewhere, or working on some project, I find it difficult to set aside a consistent time to write and post on my blogs.
I’ll keep working on it.
And in pursuit of that goal, my friend and writing buddy Christopher Ryan and I have come up with one observation that may help. We often get together to plan and discuss things creative and otherwise and elements of these meetings become fuel for our stories, podcasts, and essays. So why not just record and post a few of them fairly rough and without the production elements that take the time that we don’t always have. “Yeah,” Chris muttered, “Why not?”
Thus we give you episode #1 of TTDS: Unplugged: Trail To the Black Panther Movie. We could have called it, A Side Trail … But I think as you listen, you’ll see why we didn’t.
So here it is. Enjoy.
.
All the best,
Alex & Chris
Digital sketch by Alex Simmons
This season I misplaced my Christmas spirit.
It was a truly odd thing because I’ve had it for years.
I had it when I was a child and my mom had to take me to the local precinct to get me one of the used toys donation for Christmas.
It was there when at 18 my mom’s health placed her in a nursing home and I was suddenly on my own Christmas eve.
Through many years, losses, health scares, and financial struggles, it was there.
So it surprised me this year when I couldn’t find it. And couldn’t for the life of me understand why I’d misplaced it.
Sure there’s great fear, confusion, anger, and sadness around me. But this is not the first time. Nor will it be the last.
And though I am not a religious man, I am a spiritual one, and thus I feel the spirit of this season comes not from without, but from within.
So I thought, where best to seek what was lost?
And it came to me … I’d forgotten to remember the things that had always been with me since childhood. The truths my family shared with me, beside their love.
The two things that had always sustained me in the past, and that I had shared with others as they shared with me … a vision towards the future, and the hope and drive and belief that it could be made manifest.
Yes, I’d failed many times. And in these hours of morose doubt, I remember those failures in minute detail.
But then I recall the successes.
The memories usually start with one small achievement, then another. I see the smiles, the glowing lights in the eyes children I’ve helped, as they suddenly discover the value of their imagination.
I remember the good and grand people I’ve met, a number far greater than their opposites.
I remember and find comfort in the fact that my own children, my extraordinary blessings 3, are good caring, intelligent people.
I remember the kindness I’ve seen. The love I’ve known. The peace I’ve shared.
And in those simple and priceless thoughts I find, and have found again, my true spirit for the holidays.
Be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, or Kwanzaa,, the true message for me is to appreciate, cherish, and share what we have as much as we can.
If we can do that then for even a moment the world is made a better place.
— Alex Simmons, 2017 —–
Digital sketch by Alex Simmons
SimmonsHereAndNow 