All in the Reflexes

ALL IN THE REFLEXES

I’ve got an exciting new announcement, a new creative endeavor I’m beginning, and I want to announce it here first!

I’m hosting a new online talk show—a LIVE event twice a month that I’m calling “All in the Reflexes.”

Let me tell why I’m doing this, what it’s all about, and a few things I hope you will do to help be a part of it!

THE WHY

I’m a teacher and an author, and these are two unique but not completely disconnected passions. In short, I started thinking about ways to combine my passions.

I have a long list of Facebook friends who are podcasters. That’s wonderful, and I’ve long wanted to do something like that, but I hate to be the 100^th guy you know who is starting his own podcast.

I also have been the guest of different podcasts and radio interviews. My favorite was Jim Sullivan’s Poets’ Voices. Sullivan is a colleague of mine, and he devoted each of his episodes to a different writer. He’s a writer himself, but his show was devoted to others. A lot of the shows I enjoy may feature interviews, but they also are largely about the hosts’ thoughts and passions. Nothing wrong with that, but I don’t want to be the last guy to that party.

So I started thinking: what else could I do besides a podcast or a blog (like this) or even a video blog? How annoyed have you been when you search for a song or something on YouTube only to find an obnoxious face talking to you about that song? I don’t want to be that guy, either.

So put all of the above together:

1. I have a talent in communication that I want to expand on and do more with outside of the classroom.

2. I want to do a program that features OTHERS, other people with great passions and talents that I would enjoy discussing. I could use my social media reach and author platforms to share their stories with my audience.

3. I want to do something that’s NOT a podcast, blog, or just me talking into my webcam.

THE RESULT

A LIVE VIDEO TALK SHOW!

Each episode I do will stream LIVE through YouTube. You’ll be able to watch them later, but I love the live component. No editing, no do-overs, just fun and LIVE discussion!

The show will feature a new guest each episode. Initially, I want to highlight college students that I’ve had the privilege to work with. I want to talk about their passions and talents, and give them a medium in which to speak about such things.

The show will be a mix of serious to silly. Ideally, each episode will feature a serious discussion, a silly/obnoxious game that we will do LIVE that will probably go horribly wrong, a fun discussion on something pop culture related, and more.

You’ll be able to comment during the show, and we’ll be able to see and read your comments LIVE each episode. I’ll have games and prizes to give away for anyone who is watching, too!

Sound fun? I hope so!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Lots of things!

Want to be a guest? Go here and fill out the form on my website. Know someone who would make a good guest? Tell them about it!

WATCH! You can start by subscribing to my YouTube channel HERE. And of course—follow me on Facebook HERE. Links will go live when we’re on-air! You can RSVP to THIS FACEBOOK EVENT so you get a reminder of when the show launches. 

SHARE! Share this blog article. I’ve got about 24 days till the first episode. If you see things like the Facebook event invite and other stories, share and invite your friends!

What I love about technology today is that it gives any of us this power, so let’s share some love and take a moment to learn about the passionate and talented people we have in our own community!

THE FIRST EPISODE

The show starts Wednesday January 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. Central. My first guest is a current student of mine at Illinois Central College, Ruben Ramirez. Ruben will be taking his fourth college class with me next semester. (Yes, you can feel sorry for him, ha!)

I met Ruben in COMM 110, an introductory COMM course in the fall of 2014. He’s a motivating and talented young man with quite a unique back story and several diverse passions. Since that first class, Ruben has enrolled in almost every class I’ve taught, and we’ve gone beyond the classroom in our lessons. Ruben has accompanied me at motivational programs at several area schools. He wants to be a motivational speaker, and he will make a perfect first guest on this show.

I’ll be writing more about Ruben before the first episode, so keep an eye out for that post.

Ruben speaking to East Peoria High students.

ALL IN THE REFLEXES

Like the name of my book Rabbit in Red, the name of this show is also a pop culture reference to one of my favorite movies. It will likely be a (rather easy) viewer trivia question during the first episode. But it also fits the theme perfectly. LIVE shows require a good back and forth, a good “reflex” for discussion.

I hope you’ll tune in to see what we come up with!

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBECHANNEL!

APPLY TO BE A GUEST!

Feeling Slightly Dead

Like a well-oiled machine, it takes several dynamic parts working smoothly together to create quality music. When you listen to Terribly Happy’s latest release, Slightly Dead, you’ll find a variety of creative elements working well together. There’s a mix of electronic rock, pop punk, a range of vocal techniques, and hauntingly relatable lyrics.

The song names on this album all share in the macabre: “Slightly Dead,” “Mummies and Regretful Sophomores,” and “Feeling Like a Ghost.” But the songs aren’t scary in a traditional sense of horror. They are haunting, though, but they are haunting because of their poignancy—you relate to them, feel them. You, too, are slightly dead.

Take a closer look at the album’s artwork, a perfect visual representation of the music you’ll hear. These songs are about sadness, but not in a stereotypical “my life is so hard” kind of way. The sadness is bottomless, nearly tangible in each note of the guitar and pound of the drum. In the middle of a carnival stands a young man. He’s surrounded by ice cream, games, and rides, and one must ask, so why is he sad?

Because the carnival is a show. It’s all about flashing lights and thrills that excite the innocent minds of children, not heart-broken souls. We know the lights and thrills are cheap, but we long for them anyway. We long for the happiness that we felt when we were young.

Listen to Terribly Happy's Music here!
Photography by Brittany Wagley

Haven’t you ever felt slightly dead and full of regret? Haven’t you ever felt like you walked alone, like a ghost? That no one was really there for you and that everyone only cared about themselves? Those are the unforgettable themes of the album.

In “Slightly Dead,” Terribly Happy perfectly captures sadness and pain. “I’ll trade my wounds for your regrets,” they sing. This isn’t a simple relationship song. It’s so much deeper. This is a song that understands the complexity of pain. It’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to in the car with the windows rolled down while you shout the lyrics, or late at night in a lonely bedroom with nothing but headphones on your ears and tears in your eyes.

Be sure to like Terribly Happy on Facebook!
Photography by Brittany Wagley

I love a song that ends and begins with the same line to preserve a powerful idea, and that’s what happens with “Mummies and Regretful Sophomores.” This song is like the fast, dangerous ride at the carnival. It’s full of an almost calm rage, which is far more terrifying then reckless rage because there’s a purpose and plan behind it. This is song you’ll sing while holding up your middle finger at those who have wronged you. “Here’s to hoping you’ll always be lonely,” they sing. And that’s the worst of punishments as it’s also loneliness that also haunts them.

“There is nothing in this bedroom,” the song opens and closes. And repeats and repeats. The terror here is that nothing can be just as frightening as any real monster.

That leads perfectly into the third and final song of the EP, “Feeling Like a Ghost.” The title alone resonates with anyone who has a pulse. Who hasn’t felt like they didn’t matter or that they were invisible? “Maybe I’ll stay . . .  maybe you’ll stay . . .” There’s a back and forth in the song, a contrast that their music here epitomizes. The drums and guitar blend well at first, but then the drums get hard, yet the guitar remains smooth. It’s like that so often in relationships, a conflict of interests, an opposites attract, a back and forth, and you’ll feel this in the music. It’s the paradox of love and pain.

Don’t take my word for it. Listen to the album today here at terriblyhappy.bandcamp.com and support authentic, hard-working artists. You can download the album for just $3.00 or even order a CD that comes in a jewel case.

Be sure you listen with your headphones on. Lock your door, too. But not because of the monsters that are outside. Because this music unleashes the monsters hiding in your head and behind your heart.

About the author:

Joe Chianakas is the author of the horror novel, Rabbit in Red. Follow Joe on Facebook, and check out his website for more about his writing career. 

More articles about Terribly Happy:

"Enter the Rabbit"

"An Energetic Inspiration"

So you want to be published (part one)?

Let's discuss part one of who knows how many parts of getting published.

There are  a lot of great books on writing and getting published. The top two I recommend are Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King. If you haven’t read those, stop what you’re doing and get them immediately.

The next thing to consider is the route you want to take to get published. As I see it, there are three good options.

1. Self-publish. Amazon makes this really easy, or so I’ve heard. Self-publishing, I think, is a perfectly credible and acceptable route to go. However, I would only recommend this if you know what you’re doing and you have good connections with others who can help you. At the very least, you’ll need to hire a good editor (or two) and a cover designer. You’ll need to learn how to format, and you’ll need to learn how to market yourself and network with others so that you can actually sell books, if that’s your goal. I’d assume it is, or you could just self-publish your stories on a blog.

2. Find a publisher. These can be large or small, and there are hundreds of publishers out there. Like I said, I see nothing wrong with self-publishing, but if all that work on your own seems daunting, then find an author team. With an author team, you will learn all about good editors, graphic designers, marketing, and many little things within the business. Do you need an agent for a publisher? Only if you’re trying to get published in the big mass market houses like Random House. 

To get your foot in the door, improve as a writer, and learn the business, I’d recommend starting with an indie publisher.

Want to find one and pitch your story at the same time? Friday, December 18, 2015 is the #PitchMAS party on Twitter. It’s a great opportunity to tweet about your story, and maybe you’ll find the publisher that’s right for you. Learn all about that here.

3. Find an agent. This is hard. Really hard. I’m currently un-agented. I came really close to landing an agent, and I’m sure if I had more patience, I’d have one. Here’s how it worked for me: I sent out three rounds of queries. After each round, I revised Rabbit in Red, revised my query, and every single time it got better. During my third round, I actually had several agents request the full manuscript. One almost—no joke—offered me a TV deal, but in the end, it fell through. (Talk about a frustrating compliment!) If I’m being honest, my manuscript still needed work. So I went to an indie publisher—Distinguished Press—where I found the right people for me. My story became the tale I always knew it could become.

So which option is right for you? If you have patience and don't mind waiting years to see your book published, go for the agent. Spend six months or so working on query letters and revising your manuscript. If nothing else, I think that experience is humbling, and you’ll keep improving your story.

Then, if you find one, great! They may—no guarantee—may be able to find you a publisher. 

If you don’t find an agent, then you have to decide if you want to go to an indie publisher or self-publish. For me, the answer was simple. At that time, I didn’t know enough about the industry to be comfortable doing this on my own. I had much to learn. I started submitting to other publishers, many of whom I learned about through events like #pitchMAS.

Fast forward a bit, and I had a contract for a full series. I’ve had the good fortune to work with an amazing editor, have great cover art designed, have a marketing team, and so much more . . . none of which cost me a single cent!

Now, before you submit to any publisher, agent, or consider self-publishing, there are two additional things I would start doing and continue doing:

1. Have a trusted team of readers provide you with constructive criticism on your manuscript. A first draft is never perfect. Neither is a second or a third. If you don’t have the patience and determination to rewrite it a dozen times, you don’t have what it takes for this business.

2. Build your social reach. When it comes to publishing, agents and publishers want someone who can sell. If you were to self-publish and you want to sell, you better have a strong social reach. That means being active on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and more. It means not having a hundred followers but thousands. This side of the business can be exhausting. Writers just want to write, right? Yeah. But if you want to sell, you better work on your social reach. I’ll discuss this more in a future blog.

So I hope that was helpful. Share this if you think others could learn from it. Comment if you have questions, and I’ll be happy to address them!

And I sure hope you’ll be supportive and pick up a copy of my first published book, Rabbit in Red, today.

You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter, and I have pretty cool website with all sorts of Rabbit in Red stuff. Check that out at www.joechianakas.com. 

The Five Best Movies of 2015 (so far)

Just for fun on the blog today, I thought I’d post about my five favorite theatrical movies of 2015, and then ask you: what are the best movies you’ve seen this year? What do you agree or disagree with about my list? I’m always up for some friendly pop culture debate :)

NUMBER FIVE: SPY

I went into this movie thinking it would be a silly comedy. And then I snorted and laughed until I couldn’t breathe. I love Melissa McCarthy as a secret agent. It blows away all the stereotypes of what a secret agent should be. And her sidekick? Miranda Hart as Nancy stole the show. It’s just a GREAT comedy, full of fun, and that’s why it’s on my list. We all need a good laugh.

NUMBER FOUR: Ant-Man

I’m going to rate Ant-Man higher than Avengers: Age of Ultron. Why? Because I expected Avengers to be good, and I was sure Ant-Man, just based on that title, would be ridiculous. But actually: it was fun and exciting. The comedy in the Avengers movies feels a little too forced, doesn’t it? I enjoy the blend of action and comedy, and Ant-Man incorporated its humor with thrills in a way that I found to be more natural and more enjoyable.

NUMBER THREE: Furious 7

It wasn’t as good as Furious 6 IMO, and it probably wouldn’t be on my list if not for the Paul Walker tribute at the end. But that ending is so damn beautiful that I just don’t think you’re fully human if you walked out of the theatre with dry eyes.

NUMBER TWO: Inside Out

This movie is perfect. Absolutely perfect. It has plenty of laughs and lots of feels all throughout, but what really makes it exceptional: the little characters inside Riley’s head are the voices we all have in our heads. Along with the humor, it’s a perfect visual representation of the complexity of human emotion, thought, and behavior.

NUMBER ONE: Creed

Did we really need a seventh film in the Rocky franchise? Turns out we did! I can’t love this movie any more than I do. It pays tribute to the original with its own creative adaptations (Creed’s run at the end of the classic training montage, catching the chicken, so much more). It also gives us a character to love/hate, and it breaths fresh life into the franchise for a new generation. Most importantly, this is a character story, as the best Rocky movies are, and the reason it’s number one on my list: it made me FEEL more than any of the other films. I cheered, I yelled, I felt the prick of tears on my eyelids, and I’ll proudly add Creed next to my full collection of all the other Rocky movies. It’s a must see, and not just for fans of the franchise, but for anyone believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle.

Did I miss a few? You’re probably thinking: Where’s Mockingjay Part II, Jurassic World, Age of Ultron? I enjoyed all of those films. Quite a lot. The thing is: I’ve seen them all before. I still think Catching Fire is the best in The Hunger Games series. Jurassic World is wonderful, but it doesn’t embrace the magic of surprise like Jurassic Park. As much as I love the Avengers movies, they’re starting to blur together for me at this point.

So what do you think? What are your favorites?

And will Star Wars: The Force Awakens become my new number one in a few weeks. I’d say it’s more than possible. 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter and visit my webpage at www.joechianakas.com. 

Also check out my first published novel-- a horror story that, in part, pays tribute to our best (and worst) horror films, Rabbit in Red.