Jaz Primo's Blog

I hope the summer is going well for you and your loved ones. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year, isn’t it?

So, this is my first blog post in some time. *glancing down at the last blog post*

Wow…the last post was in summer 2018, eh? Okay, let’s talk about that for a moment. I left the blogging scene back in 2018 due to challenges that persisted in my personal life, including significant impact surrounding my professional day-job. Unfortunately, that likewise affected my creative writing activities and projects. However, things have sort of smoothed out in each of the areas of concern since then, and I’ve even completed one manuscript. I’ve returned to writing on other manuscripts that were in mid-development, as well, though at a modest pace.

That being said, I’m happy to announce that I have my first novel release in nearly six years coming on Friday, July 23, 2021! It’s the first book in my new Peter Naughware Chronicles series titled Naughware to Run. You can find pre-order links for Barnes & Noble Nook and Amazon Kindle, as well as read about the book, under my books page by CLICKING HERE.

There’s a Facebook book release event that’s sponsored by Vicki Rose at Platinum Book Reviews & Promotions on Friday, July 23rd beginning at 6:30pm (central), and you can either sign up or attend by CLICKING HERE. There’s prizes being given away, and you’ll get to learn more about this new novel. I hope that you can attend. It’s been so long since we’ve interacted with each other!

What have you been up to? How is your summer going? Please leave me a comment and let me know. I’m quite interested to see what’s new in your world, too. And I’ll post here on my blog occasionally moving forward to check in, okay?

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Hello Everyone!

Summer is upon us and things are heating up here in my part of the country. 

Good news for bargain book hunters! A number of my ebooks have new pricing. Just click on the "BOOKS" menu for quick purchase links. Here's a quick breakdown on the titles with revised pricing...

Bringer of Fire (The Logan Bringer Series, Book 1) -- $ 2.99
Bringer Unleashed (The Logan Bringer Series, Book 2) -- $ 3.99
Wicked Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series Book 4) -- $ 4.99
Sunset Rising (Sunset Vampire Series Book 5) -- $ 4.99

There's a quick update concerning my latest writing projects under the "WHAT I'M WRITING" menu on the website.

Enjoy your summer, and I hope to see you very soon with a legitimate blog post. Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Hello Everyone!

Summer is upon us and things are heating up here in my part of the country. 

Good news for bargain book hunters! A number of my ebooks have new pricing. Just click on the "BOOKS" menu for quick purchase links. Here's a quick breakdown on the titles with revised pricing...

Bringer of Fire (The Logan Bringer Series, Book 1) -- $ 2.99
Bringer Unleashed (The Logan Bringer Series, Book 2) -- $ 3.99
Wicked Sunset (Sunset Vampire Series Book 4) -- $ 4.99
Sunset Rising (Sunset Vampire Series Book 5) -- $ 4.99

There's a quick update concerning my latest writing projects under the "WHAT I'M WRITING" menu on the website.

Enjoy your summer, and I hope to see you very soon with a legitimate blog post. Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

How’s 2018 going for you thus far? Very well, I hope!

For me, 2018 has been a real whirlwind, and I’ve been up to a lot since we last visited.

Many of you know that I’m an adjunct professor of history for a local community college, and that I’ve taught for over a decade or more. However, what you may not know is that, since the end of December, I’ve worked feverishly to set up and configure a totally ONLINE version of my history class! It’s been a real eye-opening challenge, because I’m used to gearing my material for an “in person” class of students sitting before me. I’ve had to write out all of my verbal lectures, as well as prepare discussion topics for grading students instead of merely talking directly to them during my normal lectures. Also, I’ve had to set up quizzes and online exams, which I normally conduct “in person”, so I’m learning how to set those up inside Brightspace D2L. That has mainly kept me from a lot of social media time, as I have to work on the project around my full-time day job and teaching my traditional in-person history class a couple of evenings each week. My online class is only eight weeks, and kicks off the last week of March.

I’ve also been playing Dungeons and Dragons (5th Edition) with friends. Usually, I reserve one Saturday a month for that. Thus far, I’ve had a blast! My characters include a magic-casting Eldritch Knight (Jango Frette), a magic-casting Halfling Bard (Drinarius “Drin” Gildenberry), and a brusque fighter (Tankert “Tank” Glaive). We have an amazingly creative and talented dungeon master, as well. (Huzzah, Juan Carlos!) I can’t properly convey how much fun it has been, and it’s rekindled a love for the game since my teen years when I last played.

On other occasional weekends, I’ve played a couple of board games with friends, including Talisman and Lords of Waterdeep. Both are medieval fantasy-based, and carry that D&D flair about them, which makes them equally engaging. Also, you can start and finish a game on a single evening, where the D&D campaigns may go a few sessions before resolution.

Finally, I have BIG NEWS to share! Thanks to the efforts of three talented and creative ladies, there is NOW a new group page available in Facebook called “The Jaz Primo Official Book Club”. It just went live this past week, in fact. The creators and administrators of the new group are: Tiffany Grevemberg, Virginia Maloyed, and Michelle Holloway Chaisson. They have created a truly impressive group where you can share your thoughts about my novels with other readers, as well as talk about similar authors/works that might interest fans and supporters of my works. I even pop in to say hello or answer questions, if posed. I encourage you to check it out and join the page as soon as possible. Click HERE to go there now! (There's also a link to it from the official Jaz Primo Facebook fan page located at HERE.)

Take a look and let me know what you think about it. I’m really excited for you to see it!

Well, that’s all for now, but I’ll return again soon to tell you more about what I’m up to. Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

Red bow and bulb. -- LEGAL USE OF THIS PHOTO LICENSED AND SECURED VIA DREAMSTIME

Today’s the big day!

I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Merry Yule, and any other celebratory expression that properly applies!

Hey, I’m an inclusive sort of person, so I won’t quibble over expressions.

Wherever you are when you read this, I wish you the warmth, safety, and joy of the season. I hope that you’re partaking in good food and cheer, just as I am.

And, of course, let’s not forget tonight’s Doctor Who Christmas Special!

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Holidays! Peace.

What is it about the holidays that causes time to accelerate at preposterous speeds?

Wasn’t it Thanksgiving only a couple of days ago?! Only a Timelord with a Tardis could manipulate time that quickly…

Despite the disruption to the time-space vortex, I have nonetheless managed to complete each of the key requirements of the yuletide season: (1) Gifts are purchased and/or properly distributed to their recipients, (2) Holiday cards were successfully mailed, (3) Outdoor holiday light displays are in place, and (4) The holiday meal groceries shopping is completed. Anything more beyond those key objectives falls into the realm of “bonus items,” which can be appreciated in their entirety in leisurely fashion.

If you’re like me – and my sympathies to you if you are – the holidays include holiday-themed programs. Personally, I appreciate classics such as The Charlie Brown Christmas Special, How the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (either the cartoon or the Jim Carrey film), A Christmas Carol (my favorite version is 1984 film starring George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge), the 2003 film Love Actually, and the 2006 film The Holiday, which are among my all-time favorites. However, I also appreciate the litany of saccharine-themed holiday movies that content providers like Netflix and Lifetime stream around this time of year.

But chiefly among my most important holiday indulgences is re-watching the various Doctor Who Christmas Specials that were spawned since the 2005 reboot of the series. Of those it’s too difficult to pick a single favorite. Instead, here’s a list of my top favorite Doctor Who holiday specials, in order of generation of the Doctor:

Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion

"The Christmas Invasion"  (Dec. 2005) (10th Doctor , David Tennant)

Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned

"Voyage of the Damned"  (Dec. 2007) (10th Doctor, David Tennant)

Doctor Who: The Next Doctor

"The Next Doctor"  (Dec. 2008) (10th Doctor, David Tennant)

Doctor Who: The End of Time

"The End of Time"  (Dec. 2009) (10th Doctor, David Tennant) – Oh, how I cry at the end of this one.

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

"A Christmas Carol"  (Dec. 2010) (11th Doctor, Matt Smith) – This one always brings tears to my eyes, too.

Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe

"The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe"  (Dec. 2011) (11th Doctor, Matt Smith) – Yes, more tears during this one, as well!

Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

"The Time of the Doctor"  (Dec. 2013) (11th Doctor, Matt Smith) – This one involves tears and me yelling, “No!!! Not yet!!!”

Actress Jodie Whittaker becomes the newest Doctor!

The BBC won’t release this year’s Doctor Who holiday special until the evening of Christmas, so I’m not sure if it will make the list or not. Suffice to say, it will involve another regeneration sequence. Somehow, I doubt that I’ll shed many tears from Peter Capaldi’s transition. While Capaldi conveyed a competent and respectable portrayal of the Doctor, harkening back to the old Doctors from the pre-1990s era, I’m quite ready for a fresh personality helming the Tardis. And few prospects could excite me more than the idea of a female Doctor. I’m confident that such a strong actress as Jodie Whittaker will do an amazing job as the Doctor!

Do you have any favorite holiday programs or films that are part of your annual entertainment rituals around this time of year? Leave a comment and let me know!

For now, I’m off to watch more holiday programs and nibble on some tasty treats waiting for me in the kitchen. Oh, and of course, I plan to do some WRITING during the holidays, as well. *winking*

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Holidays! Peace.

Happy Thanksgiving! Time to gobble till you wobble...

It’s Thanksgiving, or as I refer to it, Friendsgiving. The food has been served and the leftovers put away, and yet, my house still smells of smoked turkey and freshly-baked pies. Truly, I dwell in a state of pure food bliss.

However, I’ve no sooner finished basking in the joy of Friendsgiving when it’s suddenly time for the world to engage in a rampant, carb-fueled shopping extravaganza.
Time to purchase “stuff” for the holidays. I mean, there’s a crap-ton of sales going on now, isn’t there? There’s Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, Something-Else Sunday, Cyber Monday, Never-Too-Late Tuesday, Why-Not Wednesday, and the list goes on…

But I’ve gotta’ be painfully honest. I really don’t want an excuse to go and buy a crap-ton of stuff that I already don’t have room in my house to store. Oh, of course, there’s the holiday gifts to buy for others, naturally…but as for me, I’m good. No more stuff needed for Jaz, thank you.

And I’m not standing in line at O-dark-thirty in the morning for ANY sales, no matter how great they claim to be. I’m a writer…I need my beauty sleep!

That being said, if that’s your thing, knock yourself out. To each their own. It’s all cool. Live and let live, that’s what I say… *using my best evil-Morty-sounding voice*

[Note from Jaz: That’s a Rick & Morty deep-cut reference there. Wubba-lubba-dub-dub!]

Something I Recently Realized…

I’ve heard, or read, many an author reflect upon the art of writing. Advice and insights vary by personality of the writer. However, most agree that writing at a specific time every day – indeed, writing EVERY day – is the soundest approach to achieving milestones toward a completed manuscript.

Well, I can’t disagree with that at all. Hell, I’d love to do that.

However, recently, I’ve noticed that my “prime time” for high-quality, high-word count content begins around 2pm, and typically continues robustly until around 5 to 6pm. Unfortunately, that schedule largely doesn’t agree with my day-job, which is a Monday-to-Friday, 8am – 5pm obligation. (Dare I add the two evenings each week that I also engage in my professorial duties?) That pretty much leaves weekends and holidays to capitalize on my optimal writing pattern.

As I’m not prepared to retire from my day-job, I’m left with one final comment on the matter: Damn. It figures.

If you’re a writer, leave me a comment let me know what your optimal writing time of the day is. I’m curious.

Also, if you braved the crowds to take advantage of Black Friday, let me know. I, for one, prefer shopping online whenever possible.

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

 [Pumpkin by Paul-andré Belle-isle -- LEGAL USE OF THIS PHOTO LICENSED AND SECURED VIA DREAMSTIME - July 2014]

I’m a big fan of fall, and yet, October embodies the very best of the season. Oh, and let’s not forget Halloween…

It’s hard to believe that October – arguably my favorite month of the year – is half over. I must say, I’ve enjoyed the cooler temperatures, brisk mornings, and the turning of tree leaves (which, in earnest, really only began this week in central Oklahoma). There are a number of things to mention that have occurred, or been on my mind, in recent weeks.

Rapid fire. Here we go…

Recently, I entered my classroom before any of my students had arrived to prepare for an evening of lecturing on history. My typical sense of anticipation graduated to a full smile as I saw something on the whiteboard. See the photo below…

(Classroom Greeting -- PHOTO COPYRIGHT 2017 BY JAZ PRIMO)

Oh, I grinned like a Cheshire Cat. I simply adore my history students…both current and former! *Big Grin*

(Jaz’s New T-Shirts -- PHOTO COPYRIGHT 2017 BY JAZ PRIMO)

In the past week, I received two marvelous new t-shirts to add to my robust collection of casual wearables. In the photo above, you can see the “Doctor Who meets Rick Sanchez” shirt, which combines two of my all-time favorite sci-fi characters. The next shirt is an homage to Doctor #11 (the Matt Smith version) paired with an excellent shout-out to Halloween. I must concur…when one has a Tardis, who would want a simple flying broomstick?

In keeping with the Halloween theme, look below at the photo of a homemade spider that one of my staff made. It’s gorgeous! And it’s high-praise that I would accept one from Pam, given my complete fear and aversion to spiders! Truly though, it’s a beautiful work of art…

(Halloween Spider -- PHOTO COPYRIGHT 2017 BY JAZ PRIMO)

This week, I managed to track down a music track (really, it’s a song, but it’s instrumental synthesizer, so there are no words to it) that I’ve been seeking for over twenty-five years. It’s by Tangerine Dream and it’s from the soundtrack to a 1983 horror/thriller film titled The Keep. As far as the film goes, it was one of Michael Mann’s first films, and so badly edited that it’s not overly remarkable in its quality. However, one of the few amazing aspects to the film is its soundtrack, which was produced by Tangerine Dream (arguably, one of the world’s most renowned instrumental synthesizer groups). In a recent conversation, I referred to Tangerine Dream as “the Pink Floyd of synthesizer music.”

Film - The Keep (1983)

As I was saying, I have sought a particular track from the film referred to as “Stealing the Silver Cross.” What I finally discovered is that the actual music for that specific film track is not a standalone song from the group but rather a limited piece of music that was imbedded in the final portion of “Logos, Part I” from Tangerine Dream’s album Logos Live; a recording of their live concert at the Dominion Theatre in London, England in 1982. Oh, you can’t imagine my sheer joy and excitement over making that discovery!

Tangerine Dream - Logos Live Album

Anyway, I purchased the album on CD from Amazon and it should arrive this Friday the 20th. I’ve listened to cuts on YouTube but I can’t wait to hear the entire album in one contiguous piece. Believe it or not, that music will be included with other tracks that are played as I write novel content. In particular, it will be handy for my urban fantasy-based Nowhere Man Chronicles.

Finally, and perhaps more importantly for my readers, I’m actively writing!

My plan is to finish a VERY rough draft of my active manuscript by the end of this year. Oh, and when I’m not writing fresh material, I’m re-editing the first Nowhere Man manuscript so that it’s appropriate enough to send to my beta readers for their first impressions. Following that, it will go to my editor and then sent to copy-edit for preproduction and layout for eBook and trade paperback. Ultimately, I’m crossing my fingers for an early-to-mid 2018 release for it.

I can’t wait for you to meet Police Detective Peter Naughware…

Well, I’m on leave this week to write, so I’d better get back to it. But before I forget, I’ll be sure to share some photos of me in my Halloween costume, which won’t be revealed until Halloween Day.

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

[Fall Leaves -- LEGAL USE OF THIS PHOTO LICENSED AND SECURED VIA DREAMSTIME - July 2014]

Happy September, everyone!
I’m so happy that the fall is finally upon us. I’ve never been much of a summer person. Instead, I crave and relish the brisk mornings and northerly breezes that accompany shorter days and cooler temperatures. It’s the time of year when the plants and grass are still green and vibrant, yet many tree leaves are beginning to turn into those beautiful and colorful spectrums of yellow, gold, orange, and red. It makes me feel happy inside. Truly, it’s my favorite time of the year!

[Man Typing -- LEGAL USE OF THIS PHOTO LICENSED AND SECURED VIA DREAMSTIME - November 2014]

Numerous people have inquired as to how my writing is coming along. I finished a manuscript over the summer, and it’s being proofed by me before sending out to my beta readers and publicist for consideration. You see, I prefer some reader feedback on the story and character development before I’m satisfied enough to approach my professional editor with a manuscript.

In addition to the proofreading work I’m doing, I’m also performing storyboarding for no less than four other works. Recently, there’s been a lot of random ideas and character moments floating around in my head for multiple stories. My challenge is that I’m going to need to focus on just ONE story in order to make adequate progress to complete another manuscript before the end of this year. That’s my goal, anyway.

As an author who works a full-time day job and then teaches a college-level history course two nights a week, it’s the most challenging thing in the world to reserve time for creative writing. It feels daunting; like I’m slowly unpeeling a thousand layer onion. Honestly, some evenings when I go home, my brain is so fried that I can’t even sit down at my keyboard, much less type anything of value. My day job is often quite stressful and hectic, truth be told.

Oh, how I would love to be a full-time writer!

I don’t fret over it, though. That dream is closer on my horizon to realization than ever before. In just a short span of years, I’ll be able to be a full-time author. Eventually, I plan to turn out three to four full-length novel manuscripts per year.

Mark my words…it shall happen.

Thank you for showing patience with me as I wrestle with the limited hours available to me. I know it must feel like forever since I’ve released a Sunset Vampire or Logan Bringer novel.

Rest assured…they’re on the way.

How are you doing with your reading and writing endeavors? Drop me a comment and let me know.

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.

[image error]

The Twister "The Movie" Museum in Wakita, Oklahoma.

Recently, my friend Traye and I drove to Wakita, Oklahoma to see the Twister the Movie Museum. Wakita is a remotely-located little farm town that sits north of Enid, OK and is best-known as one of the filming sites for the 1996 blockbuster film, Twister. The film starred the late Bill Paxton (who died in February 2017 at age 61) and Helen Hunt, and depicted the adventures of storm researchers who were trying to capture the internal readings inside a tornado using a newly-built device-in-a-canister that had to be placed directly in the path of an oncoming tornado. In the hunt for the most ideal weather conditions, the team becomes bonafide storm chasers and tornado wranglers.

The 1996 film, Twister.

The film was a blockbuster-quality success, and garnered a strong fan following, which ultimately benefited Wakita. After the throughout around the town, and bequeathed a number of pieces to the town. This helped substantiate the town’s venture to form a small museum to commemorate the film and Wakita’s participation in it. Even Bill Paxton continued to stay in touch with the museum long after the film was complete, and Paxton donated personal items, including his personal commemorative Twister pinball machine, produced and bestowed to him by the Sega Corporation. In fact, while there, I played a round or two on it, as museum visitors are welcome to partake. I hadn't played on a pinball machine in years!

Twister the Movie Pinball Machine at the Twister Museum.

Wakita, like many small farming towns in Oklahoma, is largely devoid of commercial interests aside from local diners, feed and seed stores, a small bank, and perhaps a local grocery store and pharmacy. For Wakita, any opportunity to garner more attention via an attraction is a chance to promote helpful tourism and prospective commerce flowing into its coffers. In fact, even today, the town’s sole restaurant is a humble diner called “The Twister Café” that is operated by a welcoming couple.

The Twister Cafe in Wakita, Oklahoma. Also, it's the ONLY restaurant in town!

Unfortunately, while the museum has been visited by thousands of people over the years, it typically garners only a handful of people on most days. Given the film’s dated heritage, and our society’s fascination with “all things new”, it’s not surprising that the progressively sagging interest in the museum will only continue. The curator told me that she and other townspeople volunteer their time to man the facility, as well as the cash register at the small cashier’s desk, where you can purchase some commemorative knick-knacks or t-shirts. I was told the earnings from donations and merchandise does pay for the utilities and operating costs, as well as modest upkeep. It’s both charming and impressive that the town still hosts and supports the museum, and it was an engaging experience that I enjoyed.

One of numerous display cases of film memorbilia inside the Twister Museum.

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This is one of three actual "Dorothy Device" props utilized in the film.

I posted some photos (above) that I hope you’ll find interesting. Leave a comment, and, of course, please let me know if you’ve ever visited the Twister Museum in Wakita.

Until later, enjoy life; be kind to those around you, and Happy Reading! Peace.