Michael G. Munz

And this would be blog entry number three. So it’s been a little longer since writing here than I’d intended, but hey, I’m still getting the hang of this blog thing. I suppose part of the problem with being someone who’s really more of a listener is I’m less inclined to get on a soapbox or just start typing without having a story to tell. Or maybe it’s just blog performance anxiety? (Join the fight against Blog Performance Anxiety! We can wipe out BPA in our lifetime!)

My original intent for this entry was to talk about my novel, but quite frankly, I’ve done an awful lot of that lately what with setting up the official website and taking care of looking over the text and cover proofs. (That’s finally done, by the way–and more relieved/panicked I could not be–and the novel should be available in a couple of weeks.) Besides, all of that information is set up on the website that links to this blog anyway, so to borrow a favorite phrase from a former boss of mine why re-invent the wheel? (He was also rather fond of “like pushing a noodle up a rope,” but I’ll save that for later use. Then again, I can’t imagine any instance in which I’d WANT to push a noodle up a rope, but life is filled with surprises, isn’t it?) My whole point here is that if you’re curious about A Shadow in the Flames–and really, why not be curious?–check out Michaelgmunz.com.

So now the question is, what SHOULD I talk about? Rather than try to work out a specific theme for my blog, I’ll likely be all over the map, at least until some sort of theme or focus emerges…if it does at all. That said, there will likely be a great deal of geekish leanings here, because to say I don’t have a bit of geek in me would be to deny the facts. (Ah, I can just see my parents, if they read this, getting ready to try to tell me otherwise, but don’t worry, I use the term with no negative connotation. Besides, saying you’re a geek on the Internet is rather like saying you’re a carnivore in a steak house, isn’t it?)

Subject change! I’m sitting here writing this from my first ever laptop computer (Well, okay, SLIGHT subject change) in the middle of a Barnes & Noble café…and I just discovered that alt-130 doesn’t seem to work to make an accented e on this thing. Hrmm. I’ve owned a computer since my parents got me a 286 in 1990 (which ran at a lightning-fast 12Mhz and is now likely somewhere in the Smithsonian), but I’ve never had my own laptop before. It’s actually strange how many people assume I would have one just based on the fact that I’m a writer and I like to write in cafés, but I’ve never wanted to spend the money, and frankly I enjoy writing with a pen first before typing things up. It occurred to me, however, that I seem to now be able to type faster than I write (legibly, at least), so getting an inexpensive laptop to take with me might be a good idea. …And okay, fine, part of it was just the whole allure of expensive electronics, but still…

I’m still getting the hang of it (as evidenced by the aforementioned alt-130 discovery), but so far it’s okay. Of course I can’t always get online. I discovered that the wi-fi in my usual café isn’t exactly free (in fact it’s no where near exactly free, it’s not free at ALL, so why I’m using the phrase “isn’t exactly free” I’ve no idea), so I’m actually typing this up in Notepad and planning to upload it to the blog once I get home. (And I’ll probably also fix the unaccented es, too. Oh, won’t that be exciting?)

So I think I just spent a lot of time saying essentially nothing. Looks like I’m getting the hang of this blog thing, eh? Maybe next time I’ll ramble on about what I think of Windows Vista, which is weird and disturbing…and on my new laptop. In the meantime, think of some inspirational words pretend I said them, and I’ll see you later…

Welcome to my first ever blog entry!

…Hmm. There was no trumpet fanfare like I was expecting. With all the hype about the “blogosphere,” I expected my own private parade or something. Not that I really need a parade–though don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind one. I suppose the logistics of the thing are a little too complex to accomplish instantly. Street closures, band bookings, and then they’d have to reserve a date, make sure it works for everyone… Come to think of it, I’d probably have to show up to the parade–I mean, it’d be rude not to, really–and frankly, I’m not sure I’ve got a parade-shaped gap in my schedule at the moment as I’m too busy with getting my novel to press and all that entails. (Yes! Shameless plug!) Perhaps it’s just as well there’s no parade. I don’t know, though, not even a trumpet fanfare? Ah, well. Somehow life goes on.

So yes, first ever blog entry! This isn’t to say I’m completely new to the concept, of course; I’ve written short stories, one and (so far) 3/4ths novels, essays, journal entries, forum posts–I’ve even written four movie scripts in college, but we won’t talk about those–but I’ve never officially blogged. (Ah, noun-verbing. Gotta love it.) I think part of the difference is that the word “blog” seems to carry with it a connotation of some sort of importance given how they’re always talking about “what the blogs are saying” in political discussions. Great, so now I have to write important things? Ack, the pressure! I’m a writer, but I’m much more used to writing things that are meant to be entertaining rather than “important.”

Then again, entertainment is important, right? (I mean, it must be; there’s an entire section of the newspaper devoted to it!) Besides, given how many Hollywood blogs are likely devoted to tracking the minutiae of Paris Hilton’s dog’s dietary choices (“Is she depressed about the size of Leona Helmsley’s dog’s inheritance? Oh, noes!”) I guess I’m safe. So if you’ve found this blog, hi there, and keep reading! I’ll do my best to make it interesting.

And I guarantee you here and now that this is the last time I’ll mention Paris Hilton or Leona Helmlsey in this space! (Legal Dept. note: This is not a guarantee. Offer void where prohibited by law. Blog should not be taken internally.)

Quote of the Arbitrary Time Period: “Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works. Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things.” –Douglas Adams