WINONA OR BUST!

Hey all! Well, May is shaping up to be one heck of a busy month, on both the professional and personal front. But hey, as my Pops used to say, "Make hay while the sun shines."

So, on top of two contracted books (an exciting project that I'll discuss more of later), my lovely wife's birthday, Mother's Day, my son's second birthday - and subsequent birthday party, a much-needed and highly anticipated visit from my sister in Colorado, SpringCon (check back for more deets soon), and meetings with a fantastic writer's group, I've been asked to speak at the Hiawatha Valley Education District's Young Writer's Conference tomorrow and Friday in Winona.

I'm very much looking forward to the opportunity to speak with kids who are passionate about writing, and who are eager to learn more about it. My session, entitled "And...ACTION!" discusses the similarities and differences in novel writing and screenwriting, and the elements needed to write a screenplay. So yeah, I get to talk about scripts, films, and filmmaking with a bunch of kids over the next couple of days. Super. Cool.

Hope everything's right as rain in your neck of the Interwebs!

B

MS WALK MAY 1ST

Greetings, everyone! This Sunday, I will be participating in the annual National MS Society's Walk MS in the Twin Cities. This will be the 5th (or 6th) time Jen and myself have strapped on our walkin' shoes and got down to business. And for good reason, too. My cousin Chad has been battling MS for some time now, and even though it sometimes feels like there is little I can do to help, this annual walk is a great reminder that there is hope. For change. For a cure. For a chance. So it's an honor and a privilege to be able to walk alongside Chad and our family to support the efforts of the National MS Society.

That said, I am hoping you will consider sponsoring me in my efforts. A donation of any size will go a long way to support a great cause.

If you'd like to make a donation, CLICK HERE.


This will take you to a search engine. Simply type in my name (adding the appropriate state will winnow down your search) and you will taken to my page.

Thank you so much.

All the best,
B

A SHORT(S) POST

Hey y'all! See, that's my new way of saying hi, seeing as how Netflix has the first four seasons of Friday Night Lights available to stream instantly, and I'm neck deep in Dillon Panthers football. But seriously, this post isn't to update you on my television viewing habits (I'll do that at another time). Nope, the 2011 Minneapolis / St. Paul International Film Festival is underway right now (April 14 - May 5), showcasing flicks from around the globe.

Part of the fest is a wonderful night of highlighting locally-shot short narrative films. The screening is taking place tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 19th) at the Saint Anthony Main theater (a frequently-visited theater back in my college days. Ah, the 90s).

Among the mini-flicks screening - and making it's premiere - is Patrick Coyle's The Comeback. If you recall, Patrick is the uber-talented director behind the feature Into Temptation, on which I was fortunate enough to work as the First Assistant Director. Well, same goes for The Comeback. Patrick, myself, and a dedicated and talented cast and crew shot much of the film in a single day. It's a touching flick about a man going back to work after suffering a terrible loss.

Of the other films screening Tuesday, I can proudly say I am good friends with two other talented filmmakers showing their work. Local producer/director Todd Cobery will be screening his powerful, heart-wrenching piece Good Morning, Beautiful. It's a deeply emotional story about a man facing a great loss, and it features a quietly affecting performance by a fantastic actor named Dave Tufford.

On the lighter side, there's Sarah Jean Kruchowski's Jerry Schwingle and the Happiness Well, a bright, cheerful story about a guy having the worst luck imaginable, and the magical well that just may be able to grant him a bit of happiness.

So if you're in the neighborhood Tuesday evening, come check them out. There's a slew of talented folks making movies in the Twin Cities. Come out and support them!

For more info on the MSPIFF, click HERE.

Remember: Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!
B

BLOOMINGTON WRITER'S FESTIVAL

Hey gang. Yep, I've gone and done it again. I've strayed away from my blog for months on end, only to show up at your doorstep, on my knees, begging for your forgiveness. You're wary, you don't want to trust me again. Heck, you've probably already started seeing other blogs. I get it. I don't blame you. But I've got some pretty cool things to share in the near future, so I hope we can still be friends.

Tomorrow (Saturday, March 19), I will be participating in the annual Bloomington Writer's Festival & Book Fair. It's my first time at the event, which guarantees to be a day filled with literary conversations, exciting and fresh new books, and plenty of networking. I'll be seated at a table with publisher Tom Keyes, whose company Third Child Press has published such wonderful books as This Sold House and Dart.

The book fair is free to the public, so if you're interested, come on down. There are workshops about writing and publishing all day, but I believe you need to pre-register for those. For more info on the event, and a schedule of workshops and authors, check out their website HERE.

Here's a few more details...

Where: Bloomington Center for the Arts (1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington)
When: Saturday, March 19th
Time: Book Fair is from 11AM-3:30PM (registered events begin earlier, however)
Cost:

Hope to see you there!

B

HUT HUT HIKE!

Hey there! Happy 2011, everyone! The year kind of snuck in under the radar. While at a friend's party, we took a break from a riveting game to ring in the new year, pouring glasses of bubbly and clicking on the radio, only to hear the last lingering notes of Auld Lang Syne. To quote Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much." Well, we counted down and toasted anyway, because that's what Dick Clark would have wanted us to do. So sure, I may have missed its introduction, but I have no doubt that 2011 is going to be one heck of a good year. I've got big plan for the next 365 days - well, 361, to be exact.

To that effect, sound the horns, because the year is already off to a great start. The first of my two graphic novels, each published by the fine folks at Stone Arch Books, will be released in their Spring line of books. The book, part of their Sports Illustrated Kids series of graphic novels, is titled Quarterback Scramble. It's an action-packed, eye-popping football story, with gorgeous art by Gerardo Sandoval and Benny Fuentes.

Here's the rundown:

As the backup quarterback for the Hawks, Ben Paulson is happy to ride the bench and hang out with his teammates on the sidelines. But everything changes when the Hawks' star quarterback, Wes Blake, gets suspended for pulling poor grades in math. With Ben at the helm, the offense starts to stall, and his teammates place the blame squarely on his shoulders. Soon after, a possible solution to Ben's passing problems reveals itself -- but he's not so sure it's the right answer.

Sounds good, right? For more info about the other books in the series, click the magical button HERE.

That's it for now. But get ready, 2011. You're about to get sacked (see what I did there?).

More soon,
B

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, Y'ALL!

Post number 2! And you thought it would never happen! IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!! Well, most of the work on this one is courtesy of my two good friends, Copy and Paste. Much like last year, I spent some time jotting down a recap of our year, highlighting some of the shenanigans you may find interesting. And much like last year, I'm about to post that letter in all its glory.

So Happy Holidays everyone!


Ho ho ho and happy holidays! It’s the most wonderful time of the year again. As I write this, Old Man Winter has blanketed much of Minnesota with over a foot of the fluffy white stuff, forcing many of us to either tunnel our way out of our homes or to fire up the ol’ snowblower. So there certainly won’t be any dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Mr. Crosby. No indeed. But before you sit on Santa’s lap and rattle off your holiday wishes, or fill yourself with a healthy dose of eggnog or Tom & Jerry’s, allow me a few moments to fill you in on what’s been happening in our little corner of this snow-covered globe.

My beautiful better half continues to amaze this humble guy every day. Alex is pretty lucky to have such a wonderful, loving mother. And boy does the kid know it. Even when she’s not around, he’ll walk around the house shouting, “Mom? MOM!” looking for her. Jen continues her work as Lead Photographer for Chicago-based VHT. Each day, she travels the construction-filled or ice-coated highways of the Twin Cities photographing a wide variety of real estate for over a hundred different realtors throughout the metro area. She also visits various offices, speaking to large groups of realtors about photography. Boy, to be a fly on the wall during one of those meetings! Despite this busy and demanding schedule, we were able to travel this past winter (another of Jen’s loves), taking a long weekend and introducing Alex to the oceanic shores of beautiful Naples, Florida. He was a little terrified of the water, but he enjoyed the feel of warm sand in his toes (and yes, he sampled a small taste of it, as well. He did not like it). Through it all, Jen has documented our adventures with that trusty camera of hers, filling many an album with memories we will forever cherish…and a few we will use to embarrass Alex in the future.

As a stay-at-home Dad, I have been able to share quite a bit of time with Alex. From story time at the Red Balloon bookshop to summer trips to the water park with friends to frequent library visits, our days are chock full of activities. I’ve also been able to spend time with my laptop, writing two children’s graphic novels for local publisher Stone Arch Books. Both titles are a part of their collaboration with Sports Illustrated for Kids, and both will be available in 2011. The first is a football story titled Quarterback Scramble, and the other a surfing – yes, you read that right – story whose title is yet to be determined. This year also saw me braving one of the most dangerous places known to man: elementary schools! I visited a number of schools, both in Mankato and around the state, speaking about writing and sharing my book Drake Bacula: MonSTAR! with students. Kids are an imaginative and energetic group, and I had a blast creating stories with them. On the film front, I was able to participate in a couple of great short films this year, and even dabbled a bit in the commercial world again, as an Assistant Director. All in all, I’m a pretty lucky fella, and I count my blessings each day.

When last I wrote one of these, Alex was a mere seven months old, just barely sitting up and eating solid food. What a difference a year makes! Our inert baby has transformed into a raucous toddler with only two settings: Sleep and Perpetual Motion. He goes from zero to one hundred faster than a European sports car. Now nearly nineteen months old, Alex is changing everyday, and is a true marvel to watch. Here’s a rundown of just a few antics the energetic lad is up to now:

- He runs everywhere
- He dances to any and all music (thankfully, he has his Dad’s stylish moves)
- He loves to help us cook
- He’s quite proficient at animal sounds. Ask him what a lion says, and cower at his mighty roar
- Included in his animal noises are sounds for ghosts, dinosaurs, and Santa
- His every-growing vocabulary includes words like Mom, Daddy, yes, no, ball, book, ding-dong (for bell, not an affectionate nickname for anyone), yummy, clock, and star
- Our nightly dinner routine includes Alex holding his cup in the air, shouting “Cheers!” and waiting for each of us to clink it
- He loves to color and draw, and appreciates his parents’ art school expertise (stick figures and smiley faces)
- There is nothing cooler in this world than a curious monkey named George
- He loves the library, bookstore, and comic shop, and will sit in his chair and flip through books. Like Papa, like son.
- He makes us – and himself – laugh every day
- His camera smile and his stink face look suspiciously similar
- He talks up a storm. True, he speaks his own language most of the time, but he seems to understand what he’s saying, even if we don’t

When you’re young, time finds a way to slow down. Christmas seems ages away, and you feel like those prettily wrapped packages sitting under your tree are never going to be opened. But as you get older, time finds a way to do the exact opposite: it slips by without you even noticing. The holidays are the perfect reason to slow down, to enjoy the presence of family and friends, and to tell them how very special they are to you. We have been blessed to watch our little baby grow into a tiny man this past year. Even though he’s only nineteen months old, we know that before too long, he’ll be asking for our car keys and applying to colleges. So amidst your hectic schedule of holiday programs, last-minute shopping, and repeat viewings of Frosty the Snowman, take a moment to show friends and family that you love them, because, as the residents of Whoville reminded the Grinch, “Christmas day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp.”

We love you all dearly, and wish you and your family nothing but hope, love, and happiness this holiday season.

All our love,
Brandon, Jen, and Alex Terrell

HORRORWOOD GOES MOBILE

Happy winter, all! Yeah, I know what you're saying, because I'm saying it too: where the hell were you this fall? Nay, this summer? Well, long story short, I was trying hard to balance the duties of a full-time stay at home Dad with that of a freelance writer/artist. Yeah, it's not the best excuse, but it's the one I offer to you now as a form of apology. I promise, one of my New Year's resolutions (aside from finally training to be a ninja and joining a flash mob) is to be a more frequent blogger. And I think that's indeed possible. After all, I have an inkling 2011 has great potential.

In my time away from this blog, I've watched my little baby turn into a full-fledged toddler. It's a wonder to behold, seeing the squirt running full-tilt at everything, laughing at any and everything, and spouting more and more words each day. The summer saw us hanging out with friends weekly, a trio of fellow stay at homers, and their kids. We visited an array of parks and water parks, and it was truly an amazing experience. My wife and I are blessed to be able to share this time of our lives with friends whose children are all roughly the same age, and who all get along so splendidly. I'll post more about all this later. Like, tomorrow.

"Two posts in one week? I'll believe it when I see it, Terrell!"

Fair enough.

The other reason I neglected this blog (and this has the potential to be quite an exciting reason) is that, in my spare time - nap time, bed time, etc. - I wrote the first draft of a young adult novel! It took longer than I anticipated, but it is there, and it is currently going through the initial stages of revision. Writing a novel-length piece can be a daunting proposition, but I came up with a solid metaphor when starting: "The first draft is like a lump of clay. You have to have the clay on the table, if you want to create a sculpture." So...that's my way of saying, the manuscript needs a bunch of work. But the clay is there. Now it's time to sculpt.

Enough about that (for now). What does any of this have to do with Horrorwood? Well, nothing at all! But there is exciting news to report regarding that killer comic from a few years back. The great gang over at Graphic.ly, an online comic reader, now has the book available for download. What makes Graphic.ly unique is that it is not just a mobile application, but it also offers the ability to view comics on a desktop or online using Adobe Air.

So if you're curiously looking for the ideal thing to download onto that fancy new mobile device St. Nick is about to leave in your stocking, search no further. You can find the free - FREE - preview, and all four issues of Horrorwood by clicking HERE. You will have to create a free account with them, and the books are $1.99 an issue. Graphic.ly also features a slew of other comics, too, so it's totally worth it.

We're really excited to offer Horrorwood on Graphic.ly. We hope you give it a read!

More soon,
B