arthursanchez.com Blog

Sometimes Things Work

September 3rd, 2009

About two weeks ago I was contacted by a gentleman who (along with some friends) was starting up a new web site devoted to reviewing online short stories and print books. He wanted to know if I’d be willing to have my story: “A Box Full of Nothing” which was published on www.anotherealm.com reviewed. He said they wanted to review my story because they generally liked it and at least one reviewer loved that I’d written a Sci Fi story about a garage sale. He also told me that I could expect that the review would not be “grossly negative.” I teased him about that saying that: “if I won’t get a grossly negative review then I was there!”

Well, the review (and accompanying interview) has been published and to say that I was floored is an understatement. To quote the opening two paragraphs:

What do Richard Matheson, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Ambrose Bierce, Damon Knight and Arthur Sanchez share in common? Richard Matheson, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Ambrose Bierce, Damon Knight all had their work, or versions of their work, on the Twilight Zone. Arthur Sanchez’s work would fit right in.

A Box Full of Nothing by Arthur Sanchez is a good read and story.

Bottom line, as reviews go, it don’t get no better than that.

Now, to the cynical, this will appear to be a set up. Maybe there’s some Quid Pro Quo going on here? Maybe Arthur Sanchez is the mastermind behind this obvious attempt at self-promotion. But thankfully, for my ego at least, there isn’t. The guys over at http://independentpressreview.blogspot.com/ were free to write what they thought. I even told the Editor that I’d welcome negative comments so long as they were constructive. I want to know what didn’t work just as much as what did. I can use that feedback to make my future stories better.

Well, sometimes things work. Sometimes all the stars align and you do good. And when that happens, you don’t ask why, you just enjoy the moment. Because if the Universe stays true to form, I’m about to get slammed for writing a trite, cliché’d, piece of you-know-what any second now. It’s one of those Yin/Yang things. I expect it.

Anyways, if you’d like to read the review and interview, just go to: http://independentpressreview.blogspot.com/

Tags: Fiction, Review, Sci Fi, Short Story
Posted in General, On Writing | 1 Comment »

Celebrity is as Celebrity Does

September 1st, 2009

So, there Dustin and I are, taking our morning constitutional. It’s an extra long walk cause Dustin’s still fired up from having attended “Yappy Hour” at the Jollimon’s Bar and Grill the night before. The Dunedin Dog Rescue group had sponsored the event and a portion of the proceeds from certain drink sales were being donated to the group. (Dustin loved hanging out with the other dogs and listening to the live music.) In any case, we’re walking along when we come across one of our neighbors walking her two dogs.

The neighbor looks at Dustin, smiles and says: “Looks like we’ve got a pair of twins. Right down to the one floppy ear and one upright ear.” I look at her dog and sure enough she’s pretty similar to Dustin. “What is he?” The neighbor asks me. “Part Border and part Rotweiller?”

“No,” I said, “he’s part Shepard and part Collie.”

The woman looks at Dustin again, more intently, and begins to nod her head. “Oh, I see –” Then a frown crosses her face. “Do I know your dog?” I look at the woman. I didn’t know her so I wasn’t sure how she’d know my dog. “Was he on Petfinder.com?” She asks.

I nod my head. “He might have been. We adopted him a few months back from a shelter in Miami. They probably had him in the Petfinder database.”

She nods her head again. “Yeah, I think I was looking at his profile. He’s . . . What? . . . Eight years old?”

“Ten,” I correct her. “He was at the shelter for eight years.”

“Oh, my God, I did see his profile. I was thinking of adopting him. What’s his name?”

“Dustin.”

“It IS him! Oh, that’s wonderful that you adopted him.”

Turns out that this neighbor, whom I’ve never met before, had been looking for a dog for the past few months and had seen Dustin’s profile on Petfinder. She ended up adopting her dog just three weeks earlier from the local pound because it was her dog’s last day.

“We went in to look at another dog but then we saw her, and we saw that she’d be put down in the morning if nobody took her, we had to take her. She’s been a doll.”

“Yes,” I agreed, “so is Dustin.”

So what are the odds of that? Months after the fact and a five-hour’s drive from the shelter he was in and I run into a neighbor that not only knew Dustin’s story but had considered adopting him. And she recognized him from his photo. Of course, during this conversation Dustin has been introducing himself to the woman’s two dogs with the kind of polite sniffs that only dogs seem to enjoy. Obviously, he doesn’t take his fame all that seriously. As Forrest Gump would have said: “Celebrity is what celebrity does.”

Posted in Dustin | No Comments »

No Autographs, Please

August 31st, 2009

Well, it’s official. Dustin is a bona fide celebrity. If you turn to page 84 of the Summer issue of “The New Barker”. (It’s the one with the painting of a bulldog on the cover.) You will find an article that I wrote on Dustin’s adoption. Yup, it’s a two-page spread with a great portrait shot of Dustin sitting in the back yard.

If you remember, The New Barker was instrumental in getting us a room in Miami for the weekend trip to pick Dustin up. Through them we were hooked up with the Hotel Indigo and the entire process was made infinitely simpler because of it. Naturally they were very interested in the story and I wrote an article about the experience on the off chance they could use it. Well, they did. There’s a nice shout out to Kathy Cremer and the Pet Rescue Group (where we adopted Dustin) as well. Cool, huh?

So what’s that make it? Dustin has modeled for a print ad for a rescue group. He’s been the subject of my most popular blog entries, and now he’s the subject of a magazine article. All in all, he’s doing pretty well. Maybe I should hire his publicist. Oh, wait, I AM his publicist.

What’s that about?

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Two Minute Review – District 9

August 27th, 2009

If you’ve been wondering if the new Sci Fi flick directed by a relatively unknown director, shot in Johannesburg, South Africa, and starring an actor nobody has ever heard of is worth seeing, the short answer is: yes, most definitely, yes.

Ok, if that’s the answer, the question becomes: Why? What’s so good about it?

That’s a little bit tougher but the bottom line is that it’s a really good Science Fiction film — with a good story, performed well, and with something real to say. No, seriously, when’s the last time you saw a Sci Fi film that actually had something to say other than: “Look out! Aliens are attacking!” Throw in that the leading character is really such a dweeb that he’s the last person you’d consider a hero until (after some very poor choices) he manages to dig deep and find the hero inside of himself and you have a pretty good flick.

I particularly liked that this ISN’T a Hollywood movie. The director/writer was born in South Africa so he went home to shoot it. It was made a shoestring budget. There are no big names in it. By stripping away the typical Hollywood production values the director was able to make the story seem very real and plausible. The exterior shots were done in a real slum and the story is told in a documentary style. You can practically smell the sweat and feel the grime on everybody. And people behave in a believable (though a sadly immoral) way.

The film is Rated R and deserves that rating – it’s dark and violent. But there’s ultimately a spark of hope in it that will make you feel better about the human race and anticipate the sequel. Cause you know there’ll be a sequel.

Posted in 2 Minute Review | 1 Comment »

In Need of Homes

August 23rd, 2009

I’ve been getting so much attention to my posts about Dustin that I thought I’d take advantage of the opportunity to let you know of some other dogs who are desperately in need of homes. Please know that this isn’t meant to make anybody feel bad or guilty. On the contrary, it’s to take advantage of the power of the Internet and alert as many people as possible to the loving animals that are available. It’s like the old shampoo commercial — if I tell ten friends, and they tell ten friend, and so on, and so. Eventuallly, the person who is meant to adopt a certain animal will find out about that animal. And the rest is Kistmet. So if you know anybody who might be ready to adopt, let them know about these guys.

Kathy Cremer emailed me this list from Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue. Sabbath is facing an eviction notice and, while they are fighting the eviction, are trying to get as many of their dogs adopted as possible. Here’s the gist of the note.

1) First and foremost . . . We need to get as many off the property as we can . . .

2) . . . the animals still need vet care, food and medicines . . . if anyone has the financial means, please donate to Sabbath by:
Mail: Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue Center
P.O. Box 472933
Miami, Fl 33247

go to www.sabbathrescue.org and donate by paypal

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED in adopting, CALL ROBBIE 305-799-1567

BRANDY…Female Lab mix that is as playful as could be. Gets along with all people and other dogs. 65 pounds, 1.5 yrs old w/brindle coat. Great with kids, adults and everyone.

ASHLAND… Great looking Husky mix is only 1.5 yrs old and has one blue eye and one brown eye. He is friendly w/ all persons & other dogs. About 50 lbs now.

JACK… Yellow-Lab mix about 2 years old. He is about 65 lbs & very friendly. A strong dog that likes to play and run. He loves
attention.

BONES…AM BULLDOG mix. 1 yr old. Neutered. Current on vaccines & heart-worm prevention. Found weighing only 30 lbs & now is 90lbs. Full of energy, very friendly & affectionate. He is Alpha so another Alpha in the home would not work.

WHITNEY..is a 5 yr old female pure breed boxer, very sweet & loving. Very mellow but would be better w/ a family of adults & older kids. She is very friendly w/ all people. She really is an excellent dog.

CAMI.. Is a beautiful smooth skinned 2.5 -3.5 yrs old & very sweet. Poor baby was given up by owner due to $$$ problems. We are not sure of her breed but she is a beauty. 60 lbs & good w/other dogs

STARLETTE…Is a beautiful Black Lab mix that is about 3 years old and weights about 60 lbs.Very friendly, playful & affectionate with all. Older kids are ok.

Andie A beautiful small dog that looks like a Rat Terrier mix.She was turned into us after being found roaming the streets in SW Miami. About 20 lbs., very friendly w/all people & good w/other dogs.

BRISCOE… A really fine looking reddish Lab/Chow mix. Under 4 yrs old & weighs about 60 lbs. Fully trained, acts like much young- er & good with dogs & cats.

MISTY…..This girl is a Boxer mix. Only about 2 years old and gets along great with all people and other dogs. She is about 45 pounds and not a big dog. Misty has been with us a few months now and we are hoping someone will adopt her and give her a new home and a new life. She is well worth it. A very good deserving