Chasing the Book Interview: Scott Blagden

 

 

Congratulations to Scott Blagden, whose YA novel, Dear Life, You Suck, is out today.   I was happy to be able to interview Scott about his bounty hunting preferences, on both sides of the hunt.

First, a synopsis of your book.  

“The shrinkadinks think I have a screw loose. Ain’t playing with a full deck. Whacked-out wiring. Missing marbles.” Irreverent,
foulmouthed seventeen-year-old Cricket is the oldest ward in a Catholic boys’ home in Maine—and his life sucks. With prospects for the future that range from professional fighter to professional drug dealer, he seems doomed to a life of “criminal rapscallinity.” In fact, things look so bleak that Cricket can’t help but wonder if his best option is one final cliff dive into the great unknown. But then Wynona Bidaban steps into his world, and Cricket slowly realizes that maybe, just maybe, life doesn’t totally suck.

I have to confess that I love books about foul-mouthed rapscallions.  Now, for the bounty hunting questions.  You’ve skipped bail, and a bounty hunter is looking for you.  What three things do you bring with you?

My pet earthworm Slippy, a periwinkle crayon, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I hope you’re not planning on eating the three of them together, which is exactly what my toddler would do.  So, where does the bounty hunter find you?

Sloppy Joe’s bar in Key West

Now you’re the bounty hunter.  When three things do you bring with you while tracking your skip?

Night vision goggles, the handcuffs from my nightstand, and two peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches.

Technically, that’s four things, but I’ll give you a pass.  I’m not going to ask about the handcuffs, though I’m beginning to suspect there’s a bit of rapscallion in you, too.   Now, you’ve found your skip, right where you thought they would be.  Describe your location and approach.

I’m in a tree outside her ex-husband’s apartment with my night vision
goggles, handcuffs, and one peanut and butter sandwich (I already ate
mine). I swing through a bedroom window on a rope from an old tire
swing. I’m wearing nothing but a leopard skin loin cloth.

Oh my.  Yes, rapscallion it is.  I’ve got you pegged.  You’ve just caught your lucky skip, (and how could you not, after the surprise of the tire swing and loin cloth?) and you’re surprised to find them attractive.  What three things make them irresistible to you?

1. She has a tattoo of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on her forehead. 2. She has really big teeth. 3. We’re wearing matching loin cloths.

Don’t you just hate it when someone shows up wearing the same loin cloth as you?  Just pretend you planned it.  That way it’ll be less…awkward?  Thanks for the interview, Scott.  Before you go, is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

If my skip were in a more formal location, I’d be wearing leopard skin high heels and a matching bow tie.

Who wouldn’t.  

Want to hear more about Scott?  Find him at his website, or on twitter.  But don’t expect pictures of loin cloths.  Believe me, I already looked.

Shutting down is a basic function

When I had to get a new laptop in Windows 8 season, I was afraid.  Mostly I was afraid that since it was an even numbered windows, it would be a buggy mess like ME and Vista.  I’ve been using 8 for a few months now, and while I’ve had more bugs than when I was using 7, I’ve found that, as the reviews said, it’s a pretty stable operating system, at least to start.

The other concern, of course, was usability.  I’d been told by other users of 8 that the system was no good if you want to get work done.  I’ve found that’s true of the apps functions, but as soon as I installed Chrome, I had a handy button to click that would send me straight to the desktop, where I then stay, without opening an app.  I still use all the same programs I did on 7 (most of which were actually built for XP). I tried a few apps and hated them, but from the desktop I’d hardly know that I’m not running 7.

Until I want to turn the computer off.  Seriously, I should not have to google how to shut down the computer from my desktop.  I should not have to install outside programs like Start8 to shut down from the desktop.  There should not be bunches of tutorials written on how to shut down from the desktop.  That is just silly.  (Anyone have a better suggestion?  I didn’t like any of the ones I found.)

So, usable? Yes.  Annoying?  Depends on how often I have to restart.  I’m seriously considering installing something like Start8, just so I don’t have to think about this stuff anymore.

But it’s not ME or Vista.  So I’m thankful for that.

 

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT​!​!​!​1

 

 

One of the first indie games we bought from XBL, and one of our house favorites, is I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MBIES 1N IT!!!1.

It’s a twin stick shooter that is exactly 13 minutes and 37 seconds long, set to a song by James Silva about how he, well, made this game.  And put zombies in it.  It costs a dollar, and he hopes you will play.  (From that link you can listen to the song, and download it for a price you name.  After all, the game itself has the song and costs a dollar.  The song alone is worth that.)

The game is short and hilarious and allows for four players, so we play it often.  The game play is my favorite of all twin stick shooters I’ve tried.  And since zombie games are so rare these days…it’s hard to pass this one up.