Into the Fire

Covert Affairs was not renewed. Strong female characters and meaningful interesting male characters, I believe it was the placing of this series that eventually killed it. It's hard to identify the exact moments when these series might've slipped into viewer inconsistency because they're split into short seasons and their return timing is often unpredictable and irregular. This has a lot to do with how the show is followed – or not followed. Viewers miss their returns if DVRs aren't programmed to record new episodes.

In the next to last segment of Covert Affairs (on TNT) the writers changed Annie Walker's (played by Piper Perabo) personality to caustic and at times unlikeable because of it. She attempted to expunge any of her emotional makeup in exchange for a hardened, seasoned covert operative. The change robbed her of her strengths and alienated her closest ally. The last segment restored some of her emotion, made her a more sympathetic character by giving her a serious heart ailment which was not conducive to her bold and physically driven skills.

I will miss this series. I think it was well acted and mostly well written. Perhaps the powers that be backed themselves into a corner by giving Annie a potentially debilitating condition and also bringing an unflinching love interest, a fellow action hero, into her life who proposes to her. I guess we'll never know how that turned out. 

I've written many posts about Reckless, and I still believe CBS had no intention of allowing this show to succeed. The network kept the dismal and boring Extant (most likely because it stars Halle Berry) as a summer replacement while dismissing Reckless. As I've explained in previous posts, Reckless had it all. CBS continually moved it around with little promotion and advertised it as a steamy soap opera when they did market it. Reckless was far more than that. Many viewers never saw it on CBS because they didn't know it existed. When Netflix ran the episodes, a flood of new viewers begged for its renewal. So far it hasn't mattered. This brief "series" made it into my all-time favorites during its brief and unfinished debut. Should have been renewed.

Father, your benevolence is so often overlooked or attributed to humanity. The skills you inherently plant in the hearts of people, if recognized, can fulfill the desires of the heart. Only you can accomplish this in people. Thank you for loving mankind in spite of us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 
  

As water reflects a face,

   so a man's heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

TV series that have been successful for several seasons all reach that point in time where their casts change, the writing threatens to reach some dead ends, and viewer enthusiasm starts to wane. Will they or won't they be renewed for yet another season?

The dynamic of series television is changing. With the multitude of cable channels available, the autumn premieres on the big three networks of CBS, NBC, and ABC used to have all of their primetime shows go well into May. Not so much anymore. On the cable channels such as TNT and USA, short stints of series TV often appear in the summer or late spring and continue or start up again during the winter or late fall.

CSI, pictured above, is in its 15th season. During its many years, important cast members have left the show but have been replaced by other quality actors who were equal to the tasks of successfully filling those vacancies. If you appreciate crime dramas and good acting – and can stomach occasional gore and the ugliness of the sinful horrors and capabilities of mankind – CSI has provided years of quality entertainment while setting the example for its spin-offs, two of which didn't outlast it (CSI-Miami and CSI-NewYork). CSI-Cyber has been added to the mix, but has a different feel to it.

Other long-running series, such as NCIS which also spawned two spin-offs and has been through several cast changes, face that point in time where their renewals aren't guaranteed. Do the viewers still watch and are there enough of them?

I still enjoy CSI and NCIS and the spin-offs (particularly NCIS-LA), and I hope they will continue for yet another season when the time comes to make those decisions. Quality writing and acting have sustained these series, and although they've had long, successful runs by anyone's assessment, it doesn't yet feel like their end date should be near.

Father, again, you've given such talent to so many. May they understand their gifts aren't random but of your design. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.      

Visiting Novel Rocket today and talking about the pages of our lives.

Father, you write the pages of our lives. Thank you for mine. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Author L. T. Ryan creates another anti-hero with his police detective Mitch Tanner in The Depth of Darkness. The hard-boiled and testy cop has a few soft spots, the main one being his 6 year old daughter Ella Kate. Having been abandoned by his wife, who took their son Robbie with her one afternoon and disappeared, he juggles fatherhood with homicide investigations.

Mitch has been in a relationship with an elementary school teacher for about four months. Ella likes her, and Mitch begins to think maybe there's something for them in the future. However, when a murder suspect attempts to commit suicide high up on an old water tower and then escapes, when there is a chaotic and potentially tragic event at the elementary school, when the homicide winds up connected to the school event, and when the FBI is called in, Mitch reacts to a cocky young detective's derisive comment and gets himself suspended without pay.

Mitch's partner Sam faithfully reports what little information he can gather since he's been taken off the case but not suspended. Behind the scenes the two of them and the female lead investigator from the FBI (Bridget) connect dots Mitch never wanted to put together.

The Depth of Darkness weaves its way through different points of view capturing the heartbreak, tension, and courage of the victims and those pursuing the suspects. It takes a few unusual turns with one particular character by the name of Cassie who ultimately helps Mitch remember critical information and Bridget who initiates the final actions to trap a suspect.

L. T. Ryan provides an entertaining story with a few odd moments. Detective Mitch Tanner and his partner Detective Sam Foster give us a few laughs along the way but never fail to prove their loyalty to one another and their determination to find the perpetrators of the horrible crimes. With a satisfactory and hopeful ending, The Depth of Darkness is an enjoyable read for crime drama fans.  

Father, thank you for the multi-talents of writers. Please continue to give stories to Lee and help him to realize the ultimate source of inspiration. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.       

And new covers for Vince's novels:

Thank you, Lord, for Vince's life. A blessing to so many, his expertise, knowledge, and faith has been missed. Please help Kyle Mills to continue with the spirit of Vince's efforts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Over and over again in the writing world writers are reminded that conflict is the key element to sustaining story, to keep it moving, to make it desirable to the reader. And although I agree conflict is a key element, the degree of conflict varies tremendously with the genre.

Over and over again in the writing world writers are told to put their protagonists through the proverbial "hell" on earth, to continue to force him into one horrible situation after another. However, if you're talking love stories without the "star-crossed" or "unrequited love" circumstances, the type of conflict makes a major difference in the reality of the story. The simplicity of the formula in the romance genre (which differs from love stories) keeps the nature of the conflict element fairly simple. Man/woman fall for each other. Man/woman face obstacles. Man/woman are deterred or separated by these obstacles. Man/woman fail to overcome obstacles until . . . they overcome the obstacles and love prevails – simplified for sure but the fairly dependable plan and outcome for most romance novels. The eras might be different, the personality types of the characters, their locations, their social strata, their occupations, etc., all might be different, but the formula remains the same. And conflict is always present, but if the author chooses to be unrelenting with it in a romance novel, it can seem unrealistic and overbearing.

The conflict in well written thrillers is always intense and multi-layered. It continues throughout the story, amping up toward the end and only sometimes being perfectly resolved. In thrillers the protagonist is indeed put through the wringer. It's expected from page one. And acceptable within the genre.

Conflict is necessary to make a story interesting, but it can be overdone. And even wearisome if it seems like a device rather than an authentic storyline. Think about it. How much is necessary before the conflict seems overwritten? And overrated.

Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace, the mender of relationship between God and man, the absolver of conflict between humanity and the Father. You alone bring peace to our souls through your saving grace. Again, thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Do not fret because of evil men

   or be envious of the wicked,

for the evil man has no future hope,

   and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Proverbs 24:19-20 (NIV)

Five fragrances I wear or have worn:

Beautiful (Estee Lauder)

Pleasures (Estee Lauder)

Very Irresistible (Givenchy)

L'air du temps (Nina Ricci)

Shalimar (Guerlain)

The last two I haven't worn for many years, but they definitely held their place in time in my life.

Father, fragrance is intoxicating, and you've created so many lovely scents. Thank you for all kinds of beauty, even in this toxic world. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The smile that comes when you go back to reread your work, reconnect with the story in order to continue, and you know it's been far too long since you've written anything, let alone on this novel, and you actually enjoy it! Priceless. 

Father, thank you for the inspiration, the love of writing, and all the enjoyment attached to creating. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.