Plain Runner

Christian | Husband | Father | Author of Travel By Star |

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

Five years in the making…

I am excited to announce my first novel, "Travel By Star" is available today in paperback (details in the replies).

Inspired by the works of C.S. Lewis and Louis L'Amour, it is a story of fallen days and homeward hopes. Of sons adrift, and prodigal daughters.

And what it takes to find the way back.

Many good friends, both in in real life and here on X, have helped bring this book to completion, but I want to especially thank my editor and layout designer @JohnBLeonard for his faithfulness and friendship. A lot of life has passed since we first began. We are finally here, brother.

I also want to thank once more my brilliant cover artist, @BarbaraBrendt. She showed me what these characters could be. More than that, she believed in me. I am forever grateful for her talent and her kindness.

I only wish I could write faster so that I might be able to work with both of them again.

Sincere thanks, as well, go out to @HeidiAHill1 and @KingAriPress. They were among my first writer friends in the world of social media and I was blessed to happen upon such steadfast encouragers.

To everyone else who has befriended me here, offering timely advice, or a gentle query, or a friendly jab in the side - and to those of you who gave your time to my short stories - you are deeply appreciated. I hope you enjoy this story (at last). More than anything, I hope you come away from it resolved to fight your own good fight, and to run well, even into the sunset, knowing its light will reach back to draw you on.

Thank you, all, truly. To the City!

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@KingAriPress Let's hear it...

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

This will forever be my favorite picture of Luke Skywalker. A boy's dreams of adventure and the purpose of a man all caught up in one image.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

You might enjoy this book (my first). Your story reminded me of the opening...

"The lantern hung from a dryrotted support brace, reinforced, but still threatening. Flickering light found its way through the dust and into the tunnel. Every so often a cool draft would mercifully flow in, starting somewhere in a lower section and passing over the two men. For the most part, though, it was miserable work."

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@IGSmithAuthor Thank you. I hope you enjoy the read.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

Hey, friends.

Wanted to let you know I will be taking a break from X this summer. I was hesitant to post this, because I've tried this sort of thing before and it has not stuck, however I really need to focus in on some things this season, both personally and creatively. For those of you whom I have backchannel conversations with, I will still be checking DMs, along with the normal communication lines.

I want to say thank you again to everyone who has supported "Travel By Star." Your comments, reviews, and encouragements have truly helped me keep at this storytelling venture, and I'm excited about where things are headed. The second book is well underway, along with some pretty cool projects in the wings, which I hope to be able to share news on when I get back.

Also, you may see me drop back in occasionally with a review. A number of books authored by my excellent mutuals have been staring at me from the TBR stack, and I will be trying to get through them in these next few months.

I hope whatever plans you have for this summer include warm days with friends and family, making art, singing out loud, deep in a good book, or perhaps deeper in the woods of some other wonder. May the Lord bless you through whatever good or seemingly not so good that finds you; may all these moments reveal themselves as kindnesses we didn't know we needed.

Blessings to you all.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

I think a lot of the "write now, edit later" advice comes from a genuine desire to help people get past the early over scrutiny and indecisiveness. So many would be writers would hit a bump in the story or not have an answer to how or why something happens and it brings all their progress to a crashing halt. The idea was to just get something down, get to some sort of finish line, and then circle back. For a first timer, I think that approach can help. Of course, it's in that circling back where discouragement and exhaustion can really hit, and I think that's when you either decide it's worth it or isn't. Maybe you bring in some outside help (alpha readers, editor) to get you through.

All that said, once you've climbed the mountain, you definitely can look back and think on how you can do things differently. My second book is moving slower, but it's because I went through that arduous edit, that I am more purposeful during the draft. For some, this is an outline. For others, maybe it's line by line with a lot of intervening thought. Maybe the line between art and craft gets more fluid at that point. Either way, it's about understanding yourself and the particular tale and how you're going to get through it this time around.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

I know Alan Ritchson is far closer to the book's physical description of Jack Reacher, and I have generally enjoyed the streaming series. However, I have a soft spot for the Tom Cruise films. The second is not quite as strong as the first in terms of scripting and action, but there's real heart to the relationship between Reacher and his possible daughter. The ending of that one is truly earned, and I think Cruise gives one of his better performances.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@DaveBuzan I could only wish. Loved that movie. Great cast, great action, great soundtrack. Joe Johnston has some good, workmanlike films in his resume (Rocketeer, October Sky, Hidalgo, Captain America).

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

I made a similar remark down in the comments. It's basically a long series finale with a few more bells and whistles, and alot of your enjoyment level will depend on how you feel about Grogu's place as an adoptive son and partner. I know some feel like he really overstayed his welcome whereas others are like, "No, the wolf and cub dynamic is the whole point of the show." It does make for some tonal issues - swinging from Mando gunning down people, blowing up AT-ATs, and generally moving through the action like an unstoppable gunslinger to suddenly a little puppet strapping on 'fighting' gear, eating everything he can get his hands on, and mugging for the camera.

It's why the show will always remain kind of disposable, but entertaining cheek with a few high points.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

If Star Wars was an abandoned house, 'Mandalorian and Grogu' is less a renovation and more a tarp thrown over the leaky roof and a call to get the utilities turned back on.

Which is to say it is a serviceable if not inspired conclusion to the streaming series as well as to the last ten or so years of the wider universe.

Pedro Pascal's stunt doubles do fine work maintaining the character's physical presence and, admittedly, Pascal has that voice on lock. Unlike many current directors, Jon Favreau knows how to earn an emotional beat, even when it's built with CGI and puppetry, and while there's nothing exceptional in this episode stringout, he maintains a solid pace and tone throughout.

Not sure I needed to see quite so much of what the Hutts look like in motion.

Much as I love her, Sigourney Weaver's performance seems strangely flat, and I can't help but think the role her character fills would have been far better served by Gina Carano's Cara Dune.

So, the taps are running and there are a couple lights on. Still a long way to go before inviting people over for dinner, but at least the effort is there.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@arthur_ber84872 Dang, man! That is freaking great. Totally reminds me of his encounter with the rustlers. Thanks!

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@klwong43 Thank you for highlighting.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

This is one I try to be careful about. Much like theme, for me I feel like those lines are best when they organically develop out of the story and the character interaction. I think it's a detriment to both storytelling and culture if we set out to "write for the trailer" or for meme-ability.

I appreciate a good banger as much as anyone, and good writers know their way around words, so I'm not saying things should be lifeless. But, because we're mimetic by nature, there's a sense where we all start looking to drop the mic in our discourse, and when art aims for that in an overly meta, self aware fashion, it feeds our ongoing main character narcissism.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@ReadWriteRyan96 To be clear, it is fun. It recaptures the spirit of the first season and I do think it's well constructed. However, it also feels like a long episode of television rather than a proper film.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@DaveBuzan Oh, I had fun. I felt like it was a solid B movie. My comments are more directed at how it works in light of Disney Star Wars overall. Should've made that clearer.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@sligernation @Stories_ttatf Thanks for that.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@lazibe28 And Zeus.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@ReadWriteRyan96 I struggle with them, but occasionally I will listen to one during my commute.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@klwong43 Thanks, Karen. Honestly, I just try to stay true to who I am. Everything I mentioned in that post is, to one extent or another, something I've experienced...

I'm a kid looking at the night sky, dreaming of worlds to come and days gone by. 🙏😄

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

The long weekend is upon us. The unofficial start of summer is here. What are you going to read while you're camping at the beach? What are you going to do when friends try to cajole you and your infinitely curious mind into a marathon game of Catan? What will keep you company by the lantern glow when the hot cocoa's run dry? What will lift your eyes to the night sky on that midnight walk, smiting your heart so that you find yourself quietly singing, "I need a hero..."

Yeah, I've been there.

"Travel By Star," by Paul Scott Grill (me) is currently available in paperback and eBook. A sequel is underway.

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

[Plain Runner @plainrunner2]

@KySquirrel_90 @riksca @DavidJohnButler I'm so buried in books right now. I'm also in the middle of writing the follow up to 'Travel.'

Still, every time you recommend this series, it... um, catches my eye.