tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post9081344308405396090..comments2024-03-28T02:36:30.029-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Passion, revenge, sex, money, desperation! Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41621927106488990842014-08-08T21:58:33.559-04:002014-08-08T21:58:33.559-04:00When I started college I was very popular, because...When I started college I was very popular, because I had a portable electric typewriter. Computers were for—well I'm not sure—record keeping? Other students would bring me candy, chips, ice cream, or even their meal card if I would loan them my typewriter for the night.<br /><br />When I started graduate school there was a computer lab where you could make an appointment to use for 30 minute increments—if your program was affiliated. Mine wasn't. My friends and I bought sweatshirts for the affiliated school, and for the first year no one questioned us. Second year brought ID cards with barcodes. Sweatshirts didn't help.<br /><br />Our school's library had two PCs that students could use to look up books instead of the card catalog. A professor held a meeting to see if anyone was interested in having our own computer lab for student use in writing papers and researching. Less than 10 students showed up. But we all voted for a computer lab. The library donated a small room in the basement and six computers were installed. I think they were the rejects from the other school's computer lab—the one tired of us sneaking in to use. That was third-year.<br /><br />By my fourth year everyone arrived at school with a laptop. Research computers were everywhere in the library, but there was no need because you could log in from your own computer anywhere in the world. The card catalog was gone.<br /><br />By the time I was a faculty member an old manual typewriter was on display in the bookstore. I saw a group of first year college students gathered around. They took turns and one at a time reached out tentatively. Accompanied by giggles a student would step forward and with one finger push on a key to see what would happen. One after another push a key then jump back. I stood there for almost an hour watching.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66001860157711160842014-08-08T21:57:23.154-04:002014-08-08T21:57:23.154-04:00ELlen, I have a typewriter in the basement too---l...ELlen, I have a typewriter in the basement too---let's do a blog! Ray, you ROCK.<br /><br />See you all tomorrow.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82324115477938805882014-08-08T21:55:36.198-04:002014-08-08T21:55:36.198-04:00Just remembered my metal-cased war correspondent&#...Just remembered my metal-cased war correspondent's portable typewriter, light green-- can't remember the brand (Olympic? Olivetti?) but it was less than 3 inches high, the size of a ream of paper. Wrote my copy (that I phoned in) for the premieres of Star Trek II and III and all my college papers on it, and my first short story. Loved it dearly. I think it's somewhere in the basement, but I can't buy ribbons for it anymore. Ellen Kozaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82519022390509473972014-08-08T17:28:13.758-04:002014-08-08T17:28:13.758-04:00Safely in MAryland! And getting ready to go to the...Safely in MAryland! And getting ready to go to the opening reception.<br /><br />Oh, interviewing Ray was a real treat. It made reading the book a completely different experience, you know? But such fun! I love the two-authors-appearing together and chatting way f handling an event. What do you all think of that?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75220322786735315262014-08-08T15:20:26.803-04:002014-08-08T15:20:26.803-04:00Ray's launch was terrific and Hank did a super...Ray's launch was terrific and Hank did a super job interviewing him. I'm clearing the decks so I can read "Terminated" without interruption. Congratulations!Connie Johnson Hambleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13163442262269864554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34214606421937288252014-08-08T13:47:16.518-04:002014-08-08T13:47:16.518-04:00It is funny how far we've come with computers ...It is funny how far we've come with computers and how much they are in our lives. My wifi went down a while back and that meant I had no computer or no tv. It was hell!! Ha!!Deb krenzernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44163878056485618402014-08-08T13:16:14.825-04:002014-08-08T13:16:14.825-04:00Gee, computer software is a real cutthroat busines...Gee, computer software is a real cutthroat business. Of course, I'm sure any business with the potential to make mega bucks is. Back to the old greed and power. Ray, your book sounds so interesting, and steeped in your experience, the authenticity is going to make a great read. Adding to my pile, the never-ending pile.<br /><br />Oh, Hank, I do remember dial-up service for the computer, and it was horrible. I grew up without computers, even in college, and so I didn't come to them before I was well into adulthood. My typing skills gained through my mother insisting that I take typing in high school and college have proved invaluable in the computer age. I even earned my Masters online in my late 40s. <br /><br />Thanks, Ray, for a most insightful post today and giving me another good read to look forward to. Oh, and, like you, I wish I'd kept my old typewriter. Mine was a Smith-Corona.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61832235891243948412014-08-08T13:14:14.616-04:002014-08-08T13:14:14.616-04:00Ray, this book sounds like it's right up my al...Ray, this book sounds like it's right up my alley! (I almost typed "write" instead of "right".)<br /><br />Life is definitely often much, much stranger than fiction.<br /><br />I can't wait to read Terminated.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5853547762681012282014-08-08T11:31:58.161-04:002014-08-08T11:31:58.161-04:00Congratulations, Ray. Tucker was such a great char...Congratulations, Ray. Tucker was such a great character in “Give Me a Dollar” that I can’t wait to read TERMINATED. And to be interviewed by Hank Phillippi Ryan at your launch party… How cool is that! Wish I could have been there.Ang Pompanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466790904206627068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82938160713952322502014-08-08T11:26:09.559-04:002014-08-08T11:26:09.559-04:00This sounds fascinating. I just retired from Lock...This sounds fascinating. I just retired from Lockheed so there were always some interesting stories about what might be going on above our software programmer peon level. Definitely on my TBR list. Congrats on the launch.Grandma Cootiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10709540756822695170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15336456441034910922014-08-08T11:10:21.336-04:002014-08-08T11:10:21.336-04:00As much as I love my computers (first one was a DE...As much as I love my computers (first one was a DEC Robin) and writing in a word processor (Scrivener), I still wish that I had remembered to retrieve my old Royal typewriter from my parents' house. <br /><br />I wouldn't use it much, but I wish it were sitting in the room with me today. Great memories.Ray Danielhttp://www.raydanielmystery.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4242163440624542522014-08-08T11:02:47.033-04:002014-08-08T11:02:47.033-04:00Ellen, I think it was a Toshiba, but it's been...Ellen, I think it was a Toshiba, but it's been so long I can't remember! It was to computers in design what the AMC Pacer was to cars!<br /><br />And Deborah, exactly!! Doug and Melody use the computer for grunt work--it's up to the characters to sift through the information, put the pieces together, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51140172373914658462014-08-08T10:53:56.547-04:002014-08-08T10:53:56.547-04:00Hank, I think you're right about motives to mu...Hank, I think you're right about motives to murder someone. I watch a lot of Forensic Files, and it almost always boils down to jealousy or greed. <br /><br />Ray, TERMINATED sounds fascinating, and you have great stories to back it up. Best of luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07754229648422848542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13341256513373962122014-08-08T10:47:58.495-04:002014-08-08T10:47:58.495-04:00Congratulations, Ray! My brother owned his own so...Congratulations, Ray! My brother owned his own software company--will have to recommend to him, too.<br /><br />I don't remember what my first computer was. Green screen. Very early version of Word Perfect for word processing. I know I just missed having to type my first book on an IBM Selectric:-)<br /><br />And Hank, with you on the technology. I find my characters are using their phones a lot more to transfer information, using phones to show photos of suspects, etc., but I can't have them find things out using their phones! Actually, Doug and Melody get two big leads in the new book using their computers, but it's the kind of grunt work that would have been done in paper files ten or twenty years ago, not, "She Googled so-and-so and solved the crime!"<br /><br />It's the CCTV cameras in the UK that drive me crazy!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70356030737871183352014-08-08T10:42:27.458-04:002014-08-08T10:42:27.458-04:00My cell is seldom turned on, but my computer is, a...My cell is seldom turned on, but my computer is, and what a resource it is! I've realized that I look up things I would have not bothered with when it took more time to do so. Teaching jr. high students to use computers in the '80s, one of the hardest parts was teaching them to keep fingers off the exposed part of the disks (and that one boy who put the disk in his mouth -- the principal agreed when he found out why "that boy (was) out in the hall" banished from computer work for the rest of the week. <br />A workshop leader suggested that spell check, far from making students lazy about spelling, would help by pointing out errors they didn't even suspect. I bought a second disk drive in order to use early spell check software, and my students wrote books! Now off to find your book -- what's one more on the TBR mountain? -- such a sense of security knowing I never need to be bored ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31626279801834928482014-08-08T09:06:34.136-04:002014-08-08T09:06:34.136-04:00Congratulations Ray! So glad to be at your most ex...Congratulations Ray! So glad to be at your most excellent launch on Wednesday, and glad that TERMINATED has been added to my TBR pile!!Julie Hennrikushttp://wickedcozyauthors.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35204096048643554662014-08-08T09:06:19.868-04:002014-08-08T09:06:19.868-04:00Hank, I always blame auto-correct. =)
Now captcha...Hank, I always blame auto-correct. =)<br /><br />Now captcha insists on showing ads before it gives the string to type? Sheesh.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86184914981793172542014-08-08T08:59:45.107-04:002014-08-08T08:59:45.107-04:00Aw, thank you, Edith! It was an amazing crowd.
&...Aw, thank you, Edith! It was an amazing crowd.<br /><br />"on my" cell, is what I meant to type. And you know, I SWEAR I did. Is there something on my computer that's deciding what I really mean? Seriously.<br /><br />ANd I am off to Reagan/National to do the keynote at the NOra Roberts Writing Institute convention! More to come... I will try to check in here from the airport!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25308907170786866112014-08-08T08:44:47.622-04:002014-08-08T08:44:47.622-04:00FChurch-- was that a Kaypro? I wrote my SF novels...FChurch-- was that a Kaypro? I wrote my SF novels on a Kaypro (two floppy drives, one for the program, one for my work). I had a dot matrix printer at home (continuous paper) and a daisy wheel printer (sheets) at the office, and the great thing about the Kaypro was that, at 35 lbs., it was portable-- you could lock the keyboard onto the (tiny) screen and carry it back and forth. That meant I bring it home if a snowstorm was threatening, or take it out to the cottage on a summer weekend. Such luxury!Ellen Kozaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25637744872990549182014-08-08T08:18:46.700-04:002014-08-08T08:18:46.700-04:00It was a great launch party, with Hank's aweso...It was a great launch party, with Hank's awesome interview skills making it fun for all, and I can't wait to start reading my signed copy.<br /><br />I'm peeking out from the third row in that picture!Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14009936718029549232014-08-08T08:10:54.225-04:002014-08-08T08:10:54.225-04:00Hank, I agree. Most reasons for murder come from g...Hank, I agree. Most reasons for murder come from green and power.<br /><br />Ray, yes, truth is stranger than fiction. If you wrote that exact story, someone would say "No way, you're making that up."<br /><br />I love my computer. It's allowed me to meet fabulous people and writing is so much easier than it is by hand. And left unchecked, I'd be very attached to my cell phone (we haven't had a land line in the house for years).Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30412930148542949132014-08-08T07:40:28.533-04:002014-08-08T07:40:28.533-04:00FChurch, that;s one of the most difficult things! ...FChurch, that;s one of the most difficult things! <br /><br />Having a reporter main character, its much easier and more likely for her to Google something than it is for her to go out and tracks someone down. But that is not terribly interesting, of course. I consciously think as I'm writing "get her out of the office!<br /><br />But it's not fair to have someone run out of cell phone battery, or have a commuter crash, in order to prevent information flow. Even though that IS very lifelike!<br /><br />I am constantly only cell for work. But I wonder if everyone is as connected to theirs as I am. Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91607465630411711522014-08-08T07:37:25.503-04:002014-08-08T07:37:25.503-04:00I know! We wouldn't be here at all without the...I know! We wouldn't be here at all without them! <br /><br />I have a very clear memory of saying to myself: "software is what makes it work, hardware is the machine."<br /><br />And now my cell phone is forty millions times faster and more powerful than the fastest computer in 1999. Or something like that.<br /><br />Remember dial up? Remember how long we waited for something to happen?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17561618883251417422014-08-08T07:35:11.730-04:002014-08-08T07:35:11.730-04:00You can't make this stuff up! My mom's com...You can't make this stuff up! My mom's comment about real-life shennanigans! I will occasionally read true-life crime stories, but much prefer seeing how someone takes a true story and uses it to jump off the ledge creatively. Tucker sounds like someone I want to meet!<br /><br />Love my computer--wrote my dissertation on a model so cumbersome it had two 5" floppy drives--one for the program and one for saving your work.... and don't mind seeing characters use technology in the course of a story. Do mind when that's all that moves a story along--they were on the computer, they used their smart phone, & voila! crime solved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53053605345943892712014-08-08T07:20:39.539-04:002014-08-08T07:20:39.539-04:00Ray, thrilled for you--congratulations! Wish I was...Ray, thrilled for you--congratulations! Wish I was closer to your book launch, I would have been right in line:) xoLucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.com