It’s been a hectic week as things wind up and head toward Winter Break.
First, MICA concluded its fall semester on Wednesday, and my students gave final presentations on what worked and what didn’t in their 30-page stories. They also received a final round of peer feedback, and most everyone was quite generous with their opinions. Yesterday, I read through everything and posted grades, so that’s over.
Also, last night, the Kickstarter for Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026 closed, and we funded. It took longer than usual to reach the goal. I was looking over the five campaigns, and despite getting 400 backers the first time, it has been in the 200s or 300s, so I can conclude there is a finite audience for this project, which makes me wonder if it is still worth pursuing. I love working with friends and new writers. I love the finished product, but the sweat equity can take its toll.
There’s no way to know if this has anything to do with the economy, the time of year, the writer roster, or the content. All I know is the book will not be as I envisioned it, once again failing to reach the stretch goals that would allow me to hire artists.
Some of my pessimism can be traced to the cold that hit me on Friday night, following a horrible day at school where my sophomores decided to stop even pretending to work. The disrespect for me and my content is irksome, but most days I can weather it.
The better news was that on Friday night, we attended the annual Tree Lighting ceremony at Pallotti, followed by a superb choral concert, which was definitely a highlight. Then on Saturday, Kate and I took in the Kill Bill the Whole Bloody Affair. We saw Part 1 together and loved it, so we thought this would make for a good outing. It held up incredibly well and was just as entertaining. After the end credits, there’s the bonus eight-minute “lost” chapter done in computer animation, which was visually jarring, but worked as an installment in the saga.
There’s a week of classes left, so I will grit my teeth and get through it, looking forward to the Secret Santa deliveries (and my own contributions) and faculty party on Friday afternoon. I have a few plans for the break, although at the top of the list is putting my feet up, reading, and resting.
What We’re Watching
We’re almost done with the Ken Burns American Independence miniseries, which has been enlightening. History shows what a miracle it was that the rebellion succeeded. We also caught up on more of Landman, The Witcher, Never Have I Ever…, and House of Guiness while finishing Only Murders in the Building, which has definitely outlived its entertainment value.
On my own, I finished The Sandman, which did a fine job condensing the 75-issue saga into two seasons. I thought it looked terrific with some fine performances.
What I’m Reading
I finished Fellowship Point, a nice bit of contemporary fiction about well-written characters grappling with aging and legacy. In its place, I have begun John Scalzi’s When the Moon Hits Your Eye. I keep reading David Mack’s Star Trek novel and assorted comics.
#Tags: David Mack, Fellowship Point, House of Guinness, John Scalzi, Kickstarter, Kill Bill the Whole Bloody Affair, Landman, MICA, Never Have I Ever, Only Murders in the Building, The American Revolution, The Sandman, The Witcher, Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026, When the Moon hits your Eye