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Following the Star to Bethlehem with my iPhone
Author: bob03.14.2008
Yes, I actually followed a star as we got close and it grew darker. Actually it was the lights from a plane landing at Lehigh Valley Airport. Of course, I told Jenny “Look, see the plane landing there?” And she said “Where?” So much for her following the star.Which reminded me of the way we found the airport in Milwaukee (which is Native American for ‘We Don’t Do Signs’) during book tour in 2006. We saw planes on their landing patterns and just drove toward where they seemed to be landing. We did a lot of very good work on Wild Ride. This morning I’m reading Jenny’s notes and fixing them, because apparently her remembering my brilliant insights is like her seeing the star of Bethlehem. We actually did in 24 hours what took us about four months with Agnes, so either we’re getting better or this is totally screwed.For once I’m not giving away much about Wild Ride. I think it’s better if we keep the focus into the book rather than chat about it much on blogs. The interesting thing is we’re doing it just like we taught last year on he Wrote/She Wrote. We started with two characters and setting. Yesterday I feel like we got the idea down to one sentence. And like every other idea, it’s been done before, except we’re doing it differently. I just sent Jenny the link to the IMDB page for the movie that has a sort of similar idea based on a book. Of course we have a much different setting, characters, plot etc. Ah, the iPhone. Ok, it does need a voice recorder. Now that it’s open to 3rd party developers I’m sure someone will come up with a widget for that. But beyond that, it’s the first device I’ve bought that I feel truly saves time and money. For $20 a month you always have internet access if you have cell phone coverage. You can get email any time. So if you don’t want to pay $7.95 or more for an hour of wireless while waiting for a flight or $12.95 a night in high level hotels (why do high level hotels charge for Internet while the Super 8 doesn’t?), it starts saving you money right away. The email program actually is easier to use than that on my computer. Google maps is great. Every time we stopped I could update and find out exactly how far we were from where we were going. It’s not a GPS (I just bought a new one of those too, which is cool) but it gives you everything Google Maps does in the palm of your hand. You also can synch iCal with the calendar on it (except twice now I’ve forgotten the old am/pm thing and this morning got my warning at 6:45 am that I was meeting the local RWA people in the lobby for dinner.) You can also load your iTunes on it so you don’t need to carry your iPod any more. Weather. Camera. Text messaging. Write notes, like I was last night at dinner with Jenny. And the keyboard is so much better than trying to do text messaging or writing on a phone keyboard. It’s a full keyboard.Plus, you have internet access anywhere, did I mention that. So we’re driving along and for the five minutes Jenny actually drove, I was googling demons. You can look up anything on the internet, get phone numbers, locations, etc. All this and I’ve only had it for a day. I’m sure I’ll find more cool stuff.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:49 am
Did you write this on your iPhone? I fell in serious lust with McB’s when we went to NJ together last Fall. IIRC, she fell in lust with Jenny’s. That Jenny spreading lust throughout the land. Too bad apple doesn’t give her a cut for helping sow their seeds. Glad you’re having fun and getting lots done. It’s a quiet year at the bookstore for the two of you. :sigh:
March 14th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Yes, Jenny Appleseed.
AM/PM–why aren’t you using the 24 hour clock? Simplify, simplify.
Now, everybody! Back to work!
See? Henchman material. In August I’m going to Henchman Candidate School since I’m already too old for the Henchman Academy.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Hey, this harassing thing works.
So you’re not going to spill too much about Wild Ride? No bits and pieces to keep us going until it hits the shelves? You’re just going to make us SUFFER? You’re cruel, Bob. You know, just outside of the Lehigh Valley they’ve got mountains WITH NO CELL, WIFI OR EDGE NETWORK!!! Maybe Jenny will take you for a tour on the way back west. Ha!
March 14th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Okay, Bob - sorry we weren’t waiting in the lobby this morning. We’ll be there tonight - although I may go directly to the restaurant - so see you there.
And oh yeah, as co-chair of the workshop, I’ve added another session: How to use an iPhone. So bring the little sucker with you. I want to decide if it’s worth the $.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Has anyone noticed that when Bob gets in Jenny’s vicinity… he blogs more? Jenny does too, but it’s not as extreme.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
jackie: yep. another reason why i like when they get together
glad Wild Ride is going so well, even if you won’t share. no, no, it’s ok, we’ll just suffer along…
March 15th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
So, this time, no blogging about the WIP. That’s good. It’s important to be flexible with your writer superstitions.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
So, during the five minutes you were not driving, you managed to get phone numbers and locations of demons? Do any of them deliver?
Hey, that’s great you found a phone that does stuff other than make phone calls. Probably they could just delete that feature from your model. Since the rumour is that you never actually, you know, speak.
It sure sounds like you’re pleased with the internet access and the ability to receive email anytime, anywhere. So, should we all take that as an invitation to send you email? You know, just to help you test out the new phone. Each of us could send several a day. Maybe forward all the jokes and funny pics we get? Oooh, and the spam. Oh, it’s no trouble. Really. We’re helpful like that. And nice. I’m thinking this could give “incoming” a new definition.
Unless you want to distract us with details about the new book?
I wonder . . . do you have blog comments set up to go into your email?
March 15th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Ooh. Threats. Nice work, BCB. Of course, websites have software that locate the source of comments, right? So, like, if we bug him enough, he could drop a Daisy Wheel right down our chimneys. Well, my neighbor’s chimney. But there would be little plastic letters all over the block. Crunch.
no, wait. Numbers crunch. Letters squish.
March 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I’d do a limerick, but I’ve got a dog to drug and kidnap.
March 15th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Threats? Who, me? Pffft. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m about as threatening as raw cookie dough. That was me being nice.
See? Smiling and everything. Just offering to help Bob make sure his equipment is working properly. Some guys worry about things like that.
Besides, I don’t believe in making threats. You lose the element of surprise. When you’re almost never stronger or smarter or faster or meaner than anyone else — well, you can’t afford to give up your only advantage.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Surprise is not my only advantage, BCB. I am a giant dry cell battery and my dial goes to eleven (11). Zap!
Where’d I leave my leather duster?
March 19th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Glad you got a lot of work done on outlining Wild Ride. I’d love to be a fly on the wall at a brainstorming session between you and Jenny.
BTW I got a request for the full ms. of Saving Sarah. The editor I met at SDSU conference liked the first five chapters and just requested the rest last week. You helped me brainstorm that one at your last retreat. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Yeehaw, Robena!
As for myself, I’m drumming my fingers here, and holding off the next Limerick, which is hard for a gal named Kelly this time of year. . . .
March 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I want stuff about Wild Ride! It’s not nice to mess around with gators. They get peevish and snappish.
“Tick tock. Tick tock,” said the croc. “Snick snack. Snick snack,” snapped the gator.