Crossing the Gate

Hi Guys.

So it's time for a change. An honest, regularly updated change. This journal has been many things for me. It's been a place for the characters to vent, it's been a place for me to ramble, and while I don't know what it's been for you, I appreciate greatly that you've kept reading. Even if you just skim the entries, you keep up the appearance of reading and that means everything. ;-)

Starting today, however, things are going to change.

I have decided to keep doing the character blogging. I like the outlet it gives me to explore these characters, characters whom I could write about all day long and still have stories to tell. In an effort, however, to consolidate all of the writing that I do have up on the internet, I will be posting these blogs to vega_voices. Similarly to writersvoices, and to how some of the entries here have been, the blogs will be from the POV of a character, only these characters are not fic but my own creation. If you want to keep reading about the lives of Mike, Tony, Jason, and Sasha, I highly encourage you to head over there and join. There will be no double posting to this page and that community. So if you don't want to see those entries, don't join. :) Luke, who was one of the more prolific voices here has been given his own blog and he too will be posting over at vega_voices. You can also follow my public blog at vegawriters.com which covers everything from passion about music to the realities of the writing world. Any and all administrative notes regarding Crossing the Gate will still be posted here.

Thank you all.

~Shauna

Read my thoughts over here.

As for this journal ... I'm curious as to what the readers here would like to see. Go crazy. Blog posts from characters? Tour journals? Updates on the book?

Thanks!

WHEW.

Some of you have been on this journal since the beginning. Others have come along and dealt with my unsure thought process about exactly how I want to use it. Some of you have been with these characters since long before this journal existed. To all of you: I say thank you.

Today is T-Minus seven days to the post-mark deadline. I am entering CtG in an unpublished novel contest and then starting to look for an agent.

Today I sit here, with background noise keeping me company, and I am proud to say that the formatting is completely finished. Line by line, all the tabs are set, the headings appropriate and consistent, and the fonts are finally not all over the place.

I still have some work to do. There are some sections toward the end that need to be tightened and some decisions need to be made about keeping a couple of scenes.

BUT, I'm more than on track and if all goes like I want it to, I'll be visiting Kinkos this weekend for a first printout.

Find them here.

I hope to see you over there!

319 pages/93,647 words.

This WILL change. I have one more editing and formatting run. But as it stands, cover to cover, 319 pages/93,647 words.

Last night, I spent a lot of the night taking things out of my "don't delete upon penalty of death" file and copying them back into the body of the novel. They are conversations that after the first draft seemed confusing or out of place but after re-reading them last night, works. There aren't that many of them and I think they needed to go back in to complete the whole story.

Last night, I also finished everything in the fourth section except for some final formatting and some retyping of a series of tour scenes. Somewhere in there, I need to have Marc cut his hair too. I just reminded myself.

So yes, progress. As it is right now, the novel stands at approx 210 pages and about 60,000 words. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me.

I'd also encourage you guys to check out vega_voices. I will be posting all character journal entries to that community in an effort to consolidate my writing. All posts about the development of the novel will stay here.

:)

But I have been writing. Lots. And I am up to the final section of the book. I'd thought I was completely done with the first few sections but some re-reading reminded me of a couple of scenes I needed to add.

I have to say, I'm a point that is really scary. A third of the way through the month and by the 30th, this will be in a box and headed to a publisher for review. My baby will be out of my hands.

The last two nights have been nights of immeasurable progress. Well, actually, no. That's a HUGE lie. I can measure the progress because things are done. :)

I am doing a final out loud read through on the first few sections. I have some final tweaking in the last section. Next week I will be meeting with my editor/mentor and hopefully she can give me some final feedback.

I may make this deadline after all. :)

I continue to work through scenes that needed to be fixed. I still have a long way to go, but if I can get these scenes put in/re-written in the next week, I can spend the last few weeks in May simply editing.

No word count tonight (there's been too much re-writing for it to be accurate) but I've made serious progress.

The one thing I am really seeing as I write is the development of the relationship between Marc and his father. It's never something I really planned on having be a part of the story-line to the extent that it is.

Reverend Gadling was an ass, but he loved his sons. That much is becoming evident.

I must, must, must learn to take it all in stride - especially when I'm the one who put off getting some work done. Yes, I got other things done but it's my fault that it's 10:47 and I am in no place to write at the moment. Deadline looming and I freak.

Pluses: I know what is wrong with the scenes I know that I need to fix.

Minuses: See above attitudes right now.

It isn't anyone's fault but mine.

(x-posted to vegawriters.com)

So hi!

Today I've pulled down approximately 2500 words - much of it Marc dealing with the soon to be birth of his son, Luke. They are 2500 very needed words. I wish in this case I didn't need to go into painful detail about Marc's life while Leslie was pregnant, but it IS kind of a pivotal part of the story. ;-)

Yeah, gotta love how I let you know that I'm about to start posting updates on a daily basis and then disappear for two days. I had an excuse you know, and no, it wasn't because I was neck deep in my writing.

I was in Moab, UT. Yes, I went down and spent two days hiking and shopping. Didn't even bring my computer. Although, I did listen to a lot of the music that I listen to while writing the novel and that really helped my though processes.

The novel is, essentially, in my mind finished. But there is a difference between a story being finished and a story being ready to share with the general public. The last two chapters hint more at events rather than show them and I need to flesh those ideas out. Really, that is what I am going to be doing over the next ... 27 days now.

Keep your fingers crossed!

~Shauna~

It's here. We've done it. Me and the band of insanity in my head have sprinted to the finish after a VERY long marathon.

Okay, really, we aren't at the finish YET. But the sprint has begun. Why? Because on (or before) May 30th, I will be submitting Crossing the Gate for consideration into an unpublished novel contest.

To keep up my motivation, I am going to be posting progress notes - one a day until I submit the novel. After that time, I am going to remake this journal into something a little bit different. (I may do it before, we'll see how stressed out I get with things. ;-))

Thank you for reading this journal over the past few years. Even though I post sporadically, I feel better knowing it's here and that I can come over here and let these guys ramble out loud in this kind of forum. It's been wonderful in my development of Luke - who is the focus of the second novel in this series.

So thank you, and cross your fingers for me!

Who: Luke Gadling, Marc's Son
Date: March 25, 2009

Okay.

So, the truth is, I am a huge geek. In a lot of ways. I like skateboarding and science fiction and comic books and yes, even bio chemistry. I was raised by a father who didn't even graduate high school, but made a point to learn as much about the world as he could and he passed on a love of music and math and reading to me. I was raised around celebrities (Tori Amos is Aunt Tori ... and my dad and Rob Halford were practically best friends.) I've been in sports pretty much since I could walk. Basketball, soccer, gymnastics, all of my experiences have made me a better athlete. I didn't actually worship a lot of basketball guys growing up. Except for one guy. One guy who actually retired around the same time that my father passed. One guy who knew what a point guard was supposed to do. Who understood how a court is run. Who knew how to listen to his coach and how to direct the other guys. One guy who got that it isn't always about scoring but getting the other guys to score. I spent my high school days getting my hands on as much tape as I could of him. I've watched that three point shot against Houston over and over and over again until I dream about it.

And John Stockton IS in fact going to be at the game against Gonzaga on Friday night.

Let me repeat that: the one guy I have wanted to be like my entire life (other than my dad of course) is going to be AT THE GAME AGAINST GONZAGA. He's going to be there while we show them what we're made of ... but before the game starts I need to work up the nerve to go over and get him to sign my shoes or something. Seriously. What a good luck charm - to have John Stockton's autograph on my shoes before game time. I'll have no problem taking Gonzaga to task after that.

Gonzaga's great. They didn't just get to this point in the tournament by luck. We're going to take them to task, don't get me wrong, but ... God. To be able to do it with John Stockton watching ...

I got asked the other day what team I dreamed of playing for. I know the reporter was expecting me to say Boston or Los Angeles and hey, getting to play in the NBA for ANY team would be an honor. Those guys are the best of the best, all of them. But when I said Utah, I meant it. I love Coach Sloan's system. He believes in running an offense in a set way, he doesn't make any one guy a star, he lets the guard direct traffic on the floor. It isn't about flash with him, it's about substance. Yeah, there are better teams right now. The Lakers are amazing and God ... Lebron? Holy CRAP. The Cavs are just awesome to watch. But it's Utah where I want to be. They run a system. There are no set shooters. You still have to play defense and cut without the ball and understand the game itself. Because the game isn't about who makes a triple double or scores over 60 points in a game. Yeah, those are fantastic stats, but it's about teamwork and learning how your team works. It's about not letting it be personal. It's about keeping your head in the game and playing tough. It's about surviving, no matter what is thrown at you. It's about the perfect pass or the perfect shot. It's about watching your teammate make the perfect basket. I want to be coached by Coach Sloan before he retires. I want to play in that building, a building that seems to echo even when they don't have a sellout crowd. If I'm lucky enough to make it to the NBA (which, I know I'm good enough, now I just need to not tempt fate) I could make more money playing in a lot of other markets, markets that can support the luxury tax better or handle a lod of really highly paid stars. But you know what? Believe it or not, it isn't about money. It's about the game, the smell of the gym, the way the ball feels in your hands. It's about the roar of the crowd ... and getting your idol to sign your shoes before a game.

Who:Mike Wilson
Relationship to Marc: Guitar player for Time Machine (1987-present)
Date: February 26, 2009

Hi there, guys!

Yeah, I know. It's been forever since I updated here, but cut me some slack. An almost one-year-old. A couple of twins who are probably on the terrorist watch list. And of course, a daughter who is too damned smart for her own good when it comes to music. All of that, plus rehearsals for the tour ...yeah. But if you've been following along with the website for the band, you've heard the podcasts and seen the video logs of the hysterical mess that is rehearsal.

( More ramblings from the mind of a musical mad man. )

Who: Luke Gadling
Relationship to Marc: Son
Date: February 6, 2009

So it's been a while since I posted. Sorry about that. But between basketball and school, I really have had absolutely no life. I'm taking sixteen credits this semester (it includes a lab) and actually going to classes on top of practice so by the time I get back to the dorm and collapse, I don't think about writing.

We're back at the top of the ACC and yes, we did have a "Duke got blown out" party. My best friend from high school is actually on the soccer team over at Duke, so there's a lot of good natured name calling back and forth about our schools. Andy, you really chose the wrong place to get your education. ;-) But at the party the other night, which was really just hanging out in the common area in the dorm and eating pizza, we got talking about something serious, which is pretty much why I am taking the time over my hour between classes to post today.

Michael Phelps.

Before I start rambling about my position, I want to be honest about this situation - there are a hell of a lot worse things he could have been doing than pot and if you ever watched him give an interview, it was always clear the guy is a pothead. Drinking and steroids, those are worse than smoking up a little.

Okay, that being said.

I'm not an angel and you bet I inherited my father's bad traits right along with his work ethic. Heroin use (and probably unprotected sex) killed my father. Drugs killed my mother. I'm fully aware of what drug use did to Time Machine. It killed Uncle Mike's sister and almost killed Uncle Tony and Uncle Jason has been in and out of rehab at least twice. Drug use screws up families and it kills people. In high school, I used to steal my uncle's cigarettes (until my aunt caught me) and at more than one party, I had my share to drink. It was stupid. It was self-destructive. And as an athlete there is nothing worse that I feel I can do to my body than the stupid shit I did in high school. I was lucky. I never got caught - other than by my Aunt Suzee who had the mindset to ground me for months on end when I screwed up. I look at the athletes who do use drugs - everything from pot to steroids - and it bothers me at a basic level because I know what it can do to the body. It bothers me because like it or not, athletes have a role in society and yeah, it's a ton of pressure but it's a role we accept.

Once, right after my dad was diagnosed, someone told him he needed to do an interview about it with one of the major gay publications. I'll never forget the look on his face as he leaned against the wall and said, "I really don't want to be this generation's poster boy for AIDS awareness." He still did the interview.

In other words, and I said this while the team was talking about it, Phelps was an idiot. Whether or not it's right for him to smoke out (which is no one but his decision) he was stupid to do it in public. If those of us with a role in society want to give into the pressures we feel and do stupid shit, we need to not get caught. We need to do it in private. Better yet, we need to not do it.

I haven't smoked a cigarette or had a drink in over a year. I've never tried pot and I'll never try the harder drugs after seeing what they've done to my family. When I'm 21 and it's legal, I will probably be willing to drink as long as I do it in a way that doesn't affect my performance. I'm not going to reveal my teammate's positions on the situation because I don't want anyone to possibly get in trouble, but it was an interesting debate. I'm often accused of being too straight-edge for my own good, but that's okay. I'd rather be clean than get kicked off the team. Anyway, even though I'm my own guardian now, I'm still only seventeen and risking those penalties just isn't worth it. I wish I'd realized that during my "rebellious" time in high school. I had excuses for being an ass, but they weren't real reasons.

But do I support his suspension? I don't know. Yes, because drug use is against the rules. No, because it's pot. Maybe what we need is better education about drugs in general. I mean, the baseball steroid scandal may seem like a waste of time, but the damage those things can do to you is far worse than what pot can do. And believe me, when you're the smallest guy on the court and you know size would help, it's fucking tempting. But wasting myself for the few years I'll get to be a pro athlete is not worth the temporary glory it could bring me (or the suspension something like pot would bring me.)

All right, I gotta get to class.

Who: Mike Wilson
Relationship to Marc: Guitar player for Time Machine (1987-present)
Date: January 18, 2009

No more words need be spoken ...


see more pwn and owned pictures

Who: Luke Gadling
Relationship to Marc: Son
Date: January 5, 2009

( No, no pressure. )

Who: Luke Gadling
Relationship to Marc: Son
Date: December 24, 2008

( Hi from Deer Valley! )

Who: Mike Wilson
Relationship to Marc: Lead guitar for Time Machine
Date: December 12, 2008

I think the biggest honor a rock musician can get is to be invited to perform with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I've been doing it since 1999 - the same year Marc was a guest vocalist. At first it was always just in one city, I'd step in and take over the violin (or guitar) role. A few years ago I was offered the chance to tour with them and I do as much as I can. I'm away from my family enough during the year, but sometimes it's just too much to not. Last year I only did the Texas shows, this year just the Austin one, which is tonight.

Little discussed fact about me: I actually do have an advanced music degree. Julliard had the honor of kicking my ass in Classical Theory but I won the battle and came away with that piece of paper. As a kid, I started playing not on a guitar, but the violin and in truth, my musical heart lies with stringed instruments - there is no more beautiful sound than that of a bow on strings - and TSO gives me the chance to stretch my muscles in really fun ways. Since I joined Time Machine, we've incorporated the violin (electric and acoustic) into our sound. I love being up there and treating the violin as the second guitar in the song. But, we don't make it a focus. It's not our style and I really don't want to change that. It's better with us when it's subtle. But TSO gives me the opportunity to get up there and play classics and classical stuff - with a twist. Call me crazy, but I get such a rush being up there in that monkey suit, rockin' it out like the Greats would have ... and did. (Mozart and Beethoven really were the first rockers. Get used to it.)

(I'm getting an idea here ... bear with me while I work it out, but it would be a lot of fun to get some friends together and crank up the amp on some of those classical tunes. It happens all the time as it is, but let me at the chance to do it. God that would rock. Hmmmm .... more on that after the new year. I have to survive Christmas.)

I also love it because it introduces kids to a different side of classical music. I've been working with kids for years - I got hooked during my court ordered community service time and now when I'm home, I can't imagine a week going by without seeing these kids. They want to learn. They want to know about music and music history, but they've never been encouraged to think outside the boxes they've been put in. I spend as much time as I can with the kids at the different schools, teaching them about classical music and how cool it is. Putting an electric violin into someone's hands for the first time is awesome - their eyes come alive when they realize what they can do with it. And it gives them even more appreciation for the power of the acoustic model as well. I'm working with one group of kids at one of the poorest schools in the city. As with a lot of elementary schools, they had to cut music and all other forms of art because they just couldn't pay the bills for the teachers and maintaining the programs. This school is a recipient of funds from the Save the Music program and Jason and I go in once a week (when the band is in town) to work with these kids. Because of the way the school is now structured with the loss of the art and music programs, we have to meet before classes start. None of these kids miss a day. And two years ago, when we first started, there was this little boy who came and hung out but he sulked in the doorways. He wanted to be there. He wanted to try it. But he didn't think he could do it. One morning, Jason went over to him and knelt down and showed him the proper way to hold a cello. This morning, when we met with the kids, he sat down and cranked out one of Apocalyptica's tunes. I was floored. He goes up to middle school after this year and is already enrolled in Orchestra. He's gone from being labeled a threat for juvie by the school to pulling a low B average and his attitude problems are well curbed. It wasn't a cure-all, but it gives him focus. Today, I let him take one of the new music books home with him and all the kids in the class are coming to TSO tonight. For some of them, it's nothing new, but they are so excited. For the newbies, it's something like they've never experienced. "Mr. W," one of the kids said to me last year, "I didn't know music was that cool." Yes, it's just that cool.

So today, I rehearse. I dropped the kids off at school, went over to the elementary school where Jason and I run that program, and I am now here, at rehearsal. It's the same crew that I worked with last year, so it's going pretty smoothly. They've added some new stuff, but it wasn't hard to pick up. I'm not missing touring this year - I like being home, but God it's awesome to be able to be a part of this amazing group of musicians. The kids (all but Aiden) are old enough to be there this year, so I also get to show my kids this other side of Daddy's job. And Jaz says I look hot in my monkey suit. When she gives me that look she gives me when I'm all trussed up ... I'd wear it just about any time and place for that look.

You know what ... I may have the coolest job in the world.