Joyful and Fearless

 

Can I be Fearless?

In 1992, 20th Century Fox handed director Barry Levinson a blank check. Robin Williams was at the height of his popularity, fresh off hits like "Good Morning, Vietnam," "Dead Poets Society," and the voice of the Genie in "Aladdin." The supporting cast included Joan Cusack, Michael Gambon, and Robin Wright. The film had stars, songs, a massive budget, and every ingredient that should have guaranteed a hit. 

Yet when "Toys" was released in December 1992, it opened in sixth place and limped away with just over $23 million at the box office, barely half its budget. Barry Levinson was even nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Director. How could such a well-resourced project fail so spectacularly?

The answer lies in a perfect storm of missteps that began before cameras even rolled. Barry Levinson and his then-wife, Valerie Curtin, developed the screenplay in 1979, inspired by a newspaper article about Soviet naval intelligence studying American submarine toy models. The script itself became a victim of its own ambition. Despite twelve years of preparation, the screenplay seemed pulled in two directions. The producers kept describing it as "whimsical," while studios kept interpreting it as a dark comedy. 

Even Robin Williams seemed oddly restrained, playing it warm and cuddly when the film desperately needed his manic energy. The result was a film that critics found visually stunning, but the story was confused, and audiences simply couldn't connect with what they were watching. 

But there was one part of the movie I enjoyed: the song "Let Joy and Innocence Prevail," sung by Grace Jones.

I tell you of a girl, her husband was a soldier
Gone to war in some strange country far away
No word had come to her but the rumors of great battles fought
And dying in their thousands and the world full of fear
As the day would turn to evening she would light a pure white candle
And place it in a window bright from where it could be seen
As she placed it in the window softly without thinking
She said let this burning candle be a beacon
Let joy and innocence prevail
Let joy and innocence prevail
Believe that luck will never fail
Let joy and innocence prevail
And one night, asleep
She dreamed she saw her husband fall
In a great white cavalry charge
And waking in tears
She saw the candle burning in the window
She still had hope
And through the window
A man in the distance
But as he came closer
She saw he was a stranger
The stranger said, "I bring a message from a General
A captain has been wounded, his life hangs by a thread
He calls out your name and he wishes you to come to him
But the journey is a hard road and you may be afraid"
And she laughed and said, "No road could be too hard for I am fearless
A captain and a husband, I have gained this bright new day"
And she said with all her heart, she would fly to be beside him
And her love would heal his wounds, restore him to her
Let joy and innocence prevail
Let joy and innocence prevail
Believe that luck will never fail
Let joy and innocence prevail
Let joy and innocence prevail
Let joy and innocence prevail
Believe that luck will never fail
Let joy and innocence prevail
Let joy and innocence prevail!

"Toys" remains a fascinating cautionary tale about what happens when unlimited resources meet unclear vision. But there's another lesson in this film, one that Grace Jones captured perfectly in the film's haunting song. The film's central message, that we must choose joy and innocence over warfare and destruction, resonates today.

A decade ago, my own husband faced his own battle: triple bypass surgery, then a stroke two years later. The doctors wanted him to stay in the hospital for two weeks of physical therapy, but he wanted to come home. He complained about the noise that prevented him from sleeping, the lack of regular meals, and they hadn't started any physical therapy. I was fearless enough to sign those release and liability forms and take him home, even though he couldn't walk and I could barely get him out of the car. 

I became his personal physical therapist, watching YouTube videos and working with him all day. I put my programming projects on hold. In two days, he no longer needed the walker. In two weeks, he was walking to the mailbox. In two months, he was back at Disney, walking three miles a day. Like the woman in Grace Jones's song who said, "No road could be too hard for I am fearless," I learned that fearlessness and joy are not opposites; they are partners. You can be brave enough to defy the doctors, bold enough to bet on love and healing, while still holding tight to the joy and innocence that make life worth fighting for. "Toys" failed because it lost sight of that balance. My husband had lost the part of his brain that gave him balance and the doctors said he'd probably never walk again without a walker, but we've had a decade of travel and spending days at Disney. The walker still sits in the corner of the closet.

I'm writing the 4th book in my Kira and Henry series, War Games, while my husband is fighting his health battles again. When I write YA novels and screenplays, I use the Save the Cat! structure, and unlike Toys, I always know what my story is about and how it should be told. I become fearless and disciplined, but keep the joy of writing, because in life, in love, in the moments that truly matter, we cannot afford to lose it. It is time for me to be fearless again. And it is time to let joy and innocence prevail. 

Note: My April 2021 blog about my fearless granddaughter, Suby, tells the story of my great, great-grandmother on the Cook side of the family, who was truly fearless and went behind enemy lines to bring her captured husband home during the Civil War. 

The above picture is of my granddaughter, Tulaasi, on Mount Cook in the Ben Ohau Range of New Zealand's South Island. She and my oldest granddaughter, Chandra, fearlessly worked for years in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe. My granddaughter, Vrinda, who is required to wear snake-proof boots to work as a field biologist in the Florida wilderness, is fearless. More about them in future blogs

I have been writing this monthly blog for over 6 years, every month - and I have so many stories I've yet to tell!

Happy Holidays to all of you!

Writing a Book Series

 

Why Readers (and Writers) Are All In

When I began writing the Kira and Henry series, I didn't fully grasp the scope of what I was getting into. Now, as I finish the third book (Dangerous Treaty) and the second (Lost in the Enchanted Forest) gains momentum with readers, I understand something fundamental about modern storytelling: we're living in the age of the binge.

COVID-19 had a huge impact on how audiences consume stories. The pandemic didn't create binge culture, but it accelerated and normalized it. Viewers discovered they could watch entire seasons in weekends. Readers found comfort in knowing that more books were waiting for them when they finished one. This shift fundamentally changed audience expectations.

Today's readers approach books differently from previous generations. They're not just investing time in a single story; they're auditioning an entire fictional universe. Before committing, many readers want to know: Is there more after the last page?

Why Series Work: The Reader's Perspective

Readers who connect with your characters don't want to say goodbye after 100 or 300 pages. Series allow them to develop deeper relationships with fictional people who feel like friends. With my Kira and Henry, readers watch these characters grow, face new challenges, and evolve across multiple adventures. That investment becomes more valuable with each installment.

I'm a huge Stone Barrington (Stuart Woods) fan, and Lindsay Boxer is my alter ego. I've read every Women's Murder Club book by James Patterson. In an era of overwhelming content choices, series reduce the exhausting task of finding something new to read. If readers loved book one, they know exactly what they're getting with book two. This trust is powerful. The familiar becomes comforting rather than boring. 

There's genuine excitement in waiting for the next installment. Readers discuss theories, predict outcomes, and stay engaged with your fictional world between books. This ongoing relationship keeps your work alive in their minds far longer than standalone novels. Following Stuart Woods' death in 2022, the Stone Barrington series has been continued by other authors, such as Brett Battles.

Series allow for richer, more complex fictional worlds that standalone books simply cannot achieve. With my multiple series, Kira and Henry, Wilma Wallaby, and Carmen and Cypher I try to add layers to the universe, making it feel more real and lived-in. I also try to send a message to teens; "it will get better." If you've read my previous blogs, I didn't have an easy time with a bully of a big brother and I share that in my Wilma character. I thought I could fly and that I was fearless - but like Kira, I was afraid of failure. How about Carmen? Like me, she's learning to live with AI - embracing it and understanding how it can enrich our lives.

Why Series Work: The Writer's Perspective

For me, writing a series creates forward motion for my characters. As I enter my 3rd act of life, I can live it all over again through my characters. With each book, my characters' voices become clearer, world-building details accumulate naturally, and the story develops a life beyond initial planning. I know Kira and Henry so intimately now that their reactions to situations come automatically.

Each new book markets the previous ones. Readers who discover book three often purchase the earlier installments. Series create superfans who eagerly await each release, leave reviews, recommend books to friends, and engage with your author platform. These dedicated readers become your marketing team. Multiple books provide multiple revenue streams and more opportunities for discovery. Retailers often promote series by discounting early books, introducing new readers to your work.

The Modern Challenge: Visual Consistency

Working with my cover designer, Nilesh, I'm facing an interesting challenge that previous generations of series writers never encountered: how to age characters visually across books using AI tools.

Nilesh researched consistent character generation using AI; a crucial consideration for anyone thinking about animation or visual adaptations, including book covers. The technology relies on creating comprehensive data sets featuring characters in various poses, expressions, and environments. This custom-trained model then generates consistent imagery across different contexts.

As Nilesh explained, standard online AI platforms struggle with the frame-by-frame consistency professional animation requires. Training custom models is the solution, allowing us to generate varied content while maintaining character recognition across the series.

Why does this matter? Modern readers expect visual consistency. Book covers should show character growth while maintaining recognizable features. If Kira looks completely different on each cover, it breaks the series identity.  I plan to move into animation, so this is fantastic that he is thinking ahead. I'm all in!

Benefits of Series for Authors

Writing a series allows you to test the market with book one before making a full commitment. If readers respond enthusiastically, you continue. If not, you can pivot without having written an entire series that doesn't resonate. I read every review that I get, take note of any suggestions and learn before I start the next book. I've received a 1-star review before, but it had no comments. I think it is a special type of person that gives a book a 1-star. I didn't think I had enemies because I avoid conflict at all cost (think of the Gorgonites in Small Soldiers),  but this person wasn't even a "verified purchase." Their 1-star was intentional and might have been done by one of the hundreds of "influencers" who want my money to write a review.

Anything other than a 5-star devastates me, but this 4-star review was priceless.

 "I went in expecting polite castles and maybe a sword fight or two. What I got was a princess accused of treason, hiking into a death zone with her best friend, while pretending she doesn’t have claws. Literally. We meet trolls debating recipes for human, a mountain with mood issues, and a bridge that tries to kill you before you can cross it. But the weirdest part? Those things aren’t even the big problem. The big problem is Kira—because if her people see what’s under her skin, they’ll fear her more than anything she’s fighting. This isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a slow-burn panic attack in a crown, and I loved every nerve-wracking page." 

I  wondered why I didn't get 5 stars, but this review made my day!

Yes, series authors develop more engaged reader communities. These readers leave more reviews (fodder for our egos), participate in discussions, and feel personally invested in your success because they want more books. In addition, writing multiple books in the same universe hones your craft. You learn from each installment, improving pacing, dialogue, and plotting with every book. You don't need the entire series plotted before starting. Many successful series evolved organically as authors discovered what worked and what readers wanted more of.

Is a Series Right for You?

So, do readers want assurance of more content after the last page before investing their time? Absolutely! But it's not just about quantity—it's about the promise of a satisfying journey. Readers want to know that their emotional investment will be respected, that character arcs will develop meaningfully, and that the fictional world will continue to surprise and engage them.

A series signals that you, as the author, are committed to these characters and this world. You're not offering a one-night stand; you're proposing a long-term relationship. Writing a series isn't easier than standalone novels—if anything, it's more challenging because consistency matters enormously. But in today's binge-conditioned market, series offer unique advantages for both readers and writers.

Whether it's Kira and Henry navigating their next adventure, Wilma Wallaby solving mysteries, or Carmen and Cypher using AI to understand this world, series storytelling matches how modern audiences want to consume fiction: deeply, repeatedly, and with the comfort of knowing there's always another chapter and story waiting. The journey doesn't end with one book anymore. Today's readers want to know there's a whole spectrum of stories stretching into the future. And honestly? As a writer and reader (I have had an Amazon library since 1998 and own 2087 titles), I always want more! Onward!

Out of my Comfort Zone

The Twilight Saga is my favorite series of films and books. I discovered the books from a 12-year-old.  Almost two decades ago,  I wrote an algorithm for a dating site based on music preferences and met in the patent attorney's office in Portland to explain the logic. During a break, I noticed one of the lawyers' kids reading Twilight. He gave such an amazing pitch that I stopped by Barnes and Noble on the way home (pre-Kindle days) and bought the book. I was hooked. 

After the movies came out, we took our granddaughters up to lunch at the View Point Inn, and it was magical to be there. My love for the Pacific Northwest beaches propelled me to buy a vacation home on the Oregon coast, a few miles away from where the beach scenes were filmed.  I was on "Team Jacob" during the movie since I'm Native American and rooting for the tribe and wolves.

Over the years, I've been fascinated with wolves, especially after finding out that we are descendants of the Wolf Clan of the Cherokee tribe. I wrote a Hallmark-like romantic comedy script a few years ago, Nature's Way, set in Seattle and Port Angeles, that discusses the reintroduction of wolves into the National Parks. After doing genealogy research about my family's life before they were relocated from North Carolina to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears, I wrote my first solo YA/MG book, Sleep Warrior, set in Cherokee, NC and the Eastern Band of the Cherokees. However, I wanted to learn more about my Oklahoma roots since my grandmother went back to the reservation close to Tulsa to die.

A few months ago, I went to Washington, D.C., to see one of my pictures that was accepted into the Smithsonian's Mirror, Mirror exhibit about the Disney Parks. While there, I visited the National Zoo and spent a lot of time with the red wolves - watching them. I decided to write a script centered around the red wolves - but in Oklahoma.  I've never written a teen light horror/fantasy script, nor one with a male lead, so I decided to write Blood Moon Wolf for my Native American Media Alliance Feature Film project this month. I had pitched 3 scripts, and this one was my last choice.  First was Kidnapped Kangaroo, which I've started this month writing as a YA book, and next was Chocolate Factory Death, based on a near panic attack I had around the loud machinery inside the Lindt chocolate factory I toured last year in Cologne, Germany.

But my cohorts liked my Blood Moon Wolf  "mini treatment" the best, so I took a deep breath and jumped into the abyss of the unknown. Teenagers as the leads? How do they talk? I reached back into the memory of helping to raise my four granddaughters and decided to name the wolf after the oldest; the leader of the pack - Chandra.  My other character, Riana a combination of Suby, Vrinda, and Tulaasi - very strong young ladies.

The one thing that made it easier was that the instructor taught us the 8-sequence method. Wow, for someone who spent a career in a highly structured world of programming and accounting, this was catnip for me. I like to say that you can eat an elephant if you start with one bite at a time...meaning that breaking down a huge project like writing a DMS system can be done by one person. I proved that right when I created DealerStar DMS fifteen years ago and sold it a few years ago. Now, I get to write full-time, and I hope to never eat an elephant because I'm a vegan and animal lover. If I write a great movie, it will be because my cohorts coaxed me out of my comfort zone, and my instructor gave me a tool to keep me sane - along with the inspiration of my four granddaughters. 

I've been doing YouTube videos - to help promote my books - and I'm working on my Amazing Animal Kingdom series. If only we had wolves! Here's the Amazing Animals playlist. Thank goodness I don't have aspirations as a filmmaker!  But I love to tell my stories!

Next will be a video about my Wild Africa Trek adventure - really out of my comfort zone!

Here's the link to my videos about Disney's Animal Kingdom

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx_8Ja4anZU7PdLL_kyT3kkTNaz3BhCQl

Make it Work, Make it Better, and then Make it the Best

One of my most exciting consulting engagements was a programming job for IBM. I went to the Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Albany, NY, and wore my favorite power suit for the calling up to the "mothership" of computer technology. I was early, and I watched employees arrive in attire that looked more like sleepwear than business attire.  When my contact person met me, he explained that programmers work there, and they were encouraged to be comfortable and focused on the task. He told me that our goal for the two days was to “make it work, make it better, and then make it the best.” 

With my first novel, Sleep Warrior, I am on the 9^th rewrite. I wrote the first draft a year ago to get it ready for the annual conference of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I got two critiques, and both thought that the story worked but told me many ways to make it better. Next, I started a process of peer review, asking various middle-school teachers, parents, and students to read it. It started getting better over the past year during each rewrite.

Last month, I entered the Screencraft Competition for Cinematic Books and paid extra for feedback. I won’t know until next month if I’m close to the “best” goal and a finalist, but the feedback was positive and moved me up to 3^rd place in the Red List on Coverfly. 

I also entered my 2^nd novel, Murder at the Magic Kingdom, and it didn’t fare so well with the same reader. It didn’t “work,” and I’ve spent the past month making it better. I had to change my "kick-ass" girl detective from entering middle school to high school and the age category to young adult due to the violence from bullying, and of course, the whole “murder” thing might not be appropriate. It is odd because, during one of the breakout sessions at the SCBWI conference, one of the presenters said she’d like to see a murder mystery in middle-grade fiction, but I’m not sure everyone is ready for that, and the goal is to reach the widest audience and avoid getting blocked by the gatekeepers. But doing this rewrite up to YA let me add a romance for my main character, which was delightful to write. Ahh...first love. I hope that Murder at the Magic Kingdom is better, and I’m looking for some peer review if you’re interested in helping me make it the best.

https://sandijerome.com/free/MurderattheMagicKingdomPDF.pdf

Here is the coverage (feedback) I received for Sleep Warrior   

“This novel features a strong premise, compelling characters, and a satisfying narrative arc. The concept here works extremely well. You’re blending elements of an Adventure and Mystery here. Both genres hold an evergreen appeal for young audiences, and the market potential for an adaptation comes across clearly. The supernatural plot elements add a deeper texture to the premise. Centering this story in the experience of a half-Cherokee middle schooler allows you to explore a relevance and representation that’ll bolster the story’s appeal.

 In addition, Aya’s interest in technology provides an added STEM focus that the publishing and film industries greatly favor at this time. You might contemplate whether a feature film or series adaptation would better serve your vision for the story, as either option could certainly work. Because Aya’s middle school age, you might also consider live-action over animation, as that format may appeal more strongly to the intended “tween” demographic for a story such as this.

 The characters are compelling, relatable and charming. They’re complex and interesting: Aya’s conflicting feelings about her Cherokee roots, for example, Andrea depicted as a fiery, multitasking super mom, Adam as the vegan “peacemaker” of the family, or “salty, crusty, and fearless” (page 39) Grandma Enola. These are appealing characters, but you cleverly keep them grounded in relationship. An audience or reader feels their connection deeply, which raises the stakes of the story. Aya cleaning her feet on her pajamas and kicking them into a pile (page 3), for example, her desire to fit in, or her disgust at witnessing affection between her parents (page 5) are character details that will make her deeply relatable to her audience.

 The dialogue works well, featuring a naturalistic tone that serves to bring the character voices to life on the page. The relationships and family rituals are communicated particularly effectively: in lines like, “By Grabthar’s Hammer, you shall be avenged!” (page 8), Adam’s affectionate “Dynamite” nickname for Aya and “Firecracker” for Andrea, and Alec and Adam’s “Grrrrr” ritual on seeing the Bear Zoo (page 32). Dialogue like this emphasizes the relationships and traditions of Aya’s family, giving a visceral sense of their history and deep connection. This provides a strong background for the narrative and will serve to deepen an audience’s investment in the characters.

 The voice of the novel and Aya’s voice are one-in-the same, and her personality comes through well in the narration. The action is clearly communicated, but if you’re interested in a cinematic adaptation, I would recommend enhancing the visual descriptions of the narrative to ensure the cinematic potential for the story comes through on the page. You might, for example, give a more detailed visual description of the setting, using natural imagery to evoke a stronger atmospheric tone and communicate more about the stylistic approach to an on-screen adaptation.

 The story and structure are effective here. You initially introduce an intriguing mystery with Aya’s waking up wet, then set that aside to introduce the world and central characters with Megan’s taunting of Alec and Aya’s revenge plot. The narrative flows seamlessly between the central plot and a deeper glimpse at Aya’s internal concerns and conflicts. The story’s arc is complete, and each plot beat flows organically, one to the next. The choice to shift perspective, on occasion, to Nightwind, is particularly cinematic. It builds tension and effectively communicates the dramatic potential.

 Overall, this narrative would translate well to the screen, and I believe there’s a place in the current marketplace for your story.”

Here is the link in case you want to read and comment. I'm looking for a publisher and/or agent.

https://sandijerome.com/free/SleepWarrior%20Sandra_JeromeRWPDF.pdf 

How about my IBM job? We spent the first day making it work. It was hard not to stop and do things better, but he was right because I slept fine that night because we had a working routine. The next day was actually fun - making it better. The program was for Saab, and years later that was our first dealership where we installed our DMS DealerStar. It all came full circle for me and that dealership is still using the software we wrote, even after Saab is gone. After we sold DealerStar, I retired, but I still use that goal in my writing of “make it work, make it better, and then make it the best.”  

Years later, I was called to another mothership, Microsoft, but that story is for another blog, I did dress much more comfortably.  

 

 

Fearless

 

Suby is the youngest of my four granddaughters, but I think of her as being fearless.  Once while I was visiting them at their house in Eugene, a truck backed into my van that was parked out front.  All I heard was a loud crunch.  I went out to see what had happened, and my son followed me out. While I was talking to the guy who hit my van and seeing if there was any damage, my son ordered me to go back into the house and he’d handle it.  It really wasn’t a problem – I couldn’t see any damage, but he shouted at me, “Get in the house!” 

When he came back inside, he started yelling at me, saying “When I tell you to get inside – you need to do it!”  I was appalled.  He didn’t seem to have any problem with me flying alone all over the country to make enough money to support him and his family, but he wanted control over me in what he considered “his house” that we were paying for.  He was yelling at me so loud, that it woke up Suby who was taking a nap, and she ran full force out of her room and pushed him hard and said, “don’t you talk to my Grandma like that!”  She was so little, barely walking and he was so big – it shocked us both.  I just scooped her up and held her while he left.  Suby never really knew her father well, he had abandoned his family when she was very young and all she knew was this "stranger" was yelling at the grandma she loved. My son is no longer with us, and the best part of our lives was helping to raise those four granddaughters.

In this picture above she has hiked Olomana Trail which was probably the most terrifying hike I have been on and it the trail where her parents fell in love. Her friend, shows how steep and narrow these peaks and their trails are in Hawaii. In another picture, she is doing a handstand on that narrow trail. Gasp! I was shocked, since I pretty much hiked most of the way on my bottom. I struggle to less afraid of almost everything.

She went to New York recently for her birthday with her boyfriend and we took her to the airport. Suby is fiercely independent to this day.

My great, great grandmother was fearless. Maybe that is where Suby got her strength. Grandma Harriet's husband, Alvis was held prisoner for a time by Southern soldiers during the Civil War. When Grandma Harriet learned the location of the Southern prison, she went there alone to secure Grandpa’s release. The terms of his release were that they should leave the area immediately. It is unclear whether they were driven from their home by Southern soldiers or escorted out of the area by them. Grandma Harriet said in spite of all the evil she had heard concerning the enemy, she was never treated more courteously by anyone.  One day when Harriet and her two youngest were the only ones at home, hounds chased a deer into the yard. They killed it and dressed out the meat, thus supplying the family with some good venison.  

This reminds of a song from the movie "Toys." Here are the lyrics

Let Joy and Innocence Prevail

Song by Grace Jones

I tell you of a girl, her husband was a soldier

Gone to war in some strange country far away

No word had come to her but the rumors of great battles fought

And dying in their thousands and the world full of fear

As the day would turn to evening she would light a pure white candle

And place it in a window bright from where it could be seen

As she placed it in the window softly without thinking

She said let this burning candle be a beacon

Let joy and innocence prevail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Believe that luck will never fail

Let joy and innocence prevail

And one night, asleep

She dreamed she saw her husband fall

In a great white cavalry charge

And waking in tears

She saw the candle burning in the window

She still had hope

And through the window

A man in the distance

But as he came closer

She saw he was a stranger

The stranger said, "I bring a message from a General

A captain has been wounded, his life hangs by a thread

He calls out your name and he wishes you to come to him

But the journey is a hard road and you may be afraid"

And she laughed and said, "No road could be too hard for I am fearless

A captain and a husband, I have gained this bright new day"

And she said with all her heart, she would fly to be beside him

And her love would heal his wounds, restore him to her

Let joy and innocence prevail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Believe that luck will never fail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Believe that luck will never fail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Let joy and innocence prevail

Visit my website for info on my books - https://www.sandrajerome.com/