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Monday, December 10, 2012

The Cheers, Cavanaugh Blogfest!

Today I and a whole bunch of my online friends are participating in the Cheers, Cavanaugh Blogfest. If you don't know Alex Cavanaugh, he's a bestselling science fiction writer who has made a name for himself in the blogosphere by helping others. His positive outlook is an inspiration and we want to thank him.

The rules of this blogfest are to answer the following four questions:

What does Alex look like?
No idea. We all get mental pictures of people we don't know, though. I imagine a middle-aged guy, slightly receding hairline, bit of a paunch (sorry Alex, but there it is), and a smile permanently fixed on his face. I know I have the smile part right.

Who could play Alex in a documentary? (Living or dead.)
For a living Alex it could be just about any male actor, since we don't know what he looks like. For a dead Alex, any of the male zombies from 28 Days Later. Can you imagine Alex with the Rage Virus? Weird, huh?

Who does Alex remind you of?
That cheerful kid in high school who we all knew. Everyone liked him and he skated through adolescence with no damage. "Whatever happened to that guy?" "Oh, he became a science fiction writer." "Figures."

Write flash fiction using all these prompts: Cavanaugh, Ninja, IWSG, Cosbolt, Guitar.
Mrs. Cavanaugh took her red pen and marked a word on the manuscript that lay on the dining room table. She looked up to where a man in a ninja costume clung to the ceiling.
"Replaced that light bulb yet, honey?" she asked.
"Just getting to it now," the ninja replied as he scuttled upside down towards the chandelier.
"You misspelled Cosbolt again," she said. "This time you have it as 'Cosbot'. Makes it sound like some kind of droid."
The ninja detached himself from the ceiling, did a triple back flip, and landed soundlessly on the floor.
"Thanks, honey, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Mrs. Cavanaugh put her pen aside and studied the ninja for a moment.
"Now that you've completed the third book, what are you going to do?" she asked.
The ninja shrugged.
"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe take up my guitar again and start a band. Rap is still big, how about I do that?"
The ninja struck a gangsta pose, or at least a computer programmer's approximation of a gangsta pose, and rapped out, "I'm down with IWSG, yeah you know me!"
Mrs. Cavanaugh folded her hands on her lap, let out a sigh, and said, "Honey, I think it's best if you write another novel."

Bonus Points: Leave a comment for Mrs. Cavanaugh - thanking her for sharing.
Included above. Thanks Mrs. Ninja!

18 comments:

  1. Ha ha ha, such a great Flash fiction piece, love the ninja on the cieling replacing a lightbulb for his wife...

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  2. I wouldn't want to imagine Alex with a Rage virus. I want him for my zombie survival team (every group needs a good guitarist). Awesome post, Sean! :)

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  3. I thoroughly enjoyed your short! Love the scuttling ninja, and an excellent way to use the prompts.

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  4. I couldn't even imagine Alex as a zombie! Nice job on the flash fiction!

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  5. Don't want to disappoint the Mrs!
    But I must say you have the smile right and the other part wrong, because with a sexy wife, I can't let myself go.
    Ninja zombies of the apocalypse... I can see it.
    Thanks so much, Sean!! This rocked.

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  6. Okay. This was awesome. I'm guessing you got closer than anyone else with an actual description of Alex. And LOVE the flash fiction. Too cute.

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  7. "I'm down with IWSG, yeah you know me!" Dude, that is priceless. Alex would kill the rap scene, in a good way. Funny stuff. I bet that really is kind of how they roll over at Casa Cananaugh.

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  8. "What happened to that guy?" "Oh, he became the science fiction writer." <----Totally loved this.

    And I am DYING with your flash piece... DYING... the way you made the relationship between Alex and Mrs. C so casual---I could see everything. Love the triple flip to the soundless landing. And the humor... REALLY great. It's clear you're a talent, Sean. ;-)

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  9. you totally made him sound like that short bald guy from Seinfield...NEWMAN!! HAHAHA...

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  10. Your flash fiction piece was hilarious!

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  11. Way to shoutout for our captain. Nicely done, Sean!

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  12. It's so funny how there are so many different pictures of Alex. Will we ever see the real Alex.

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  13. Hahaha. Love Mrs. C's response of writing another novel!

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  14. haha! That is a great short. Love it.

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  15. Oh, I love it! Mrs. C is displayed fabulously!

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  16. That's a funny image - Alex clinging to the ceiling. Unless you're weightless,that can't be fun.

    Nice scenario with a wise Mrs.

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