“I used to come down here and look at all the characters.  Never thought I’d be one of them, though.  Characters, man.  Lotta characters.”

Savatage fans will recognize that from the intro to the tune, “Jesus Saves, “from the Streets CD.  I loved that disc.  “Believe” has come to mean so much to me and lots of Savatage fans. That story is for another time.

Today, we’re talking about characters – the ingredient that makes stories mean something.  I want to talk about a few of my favorite characters, and then some of the characters on Division’s new CD, “Control Issues.”

Let me start with a few characters you may recognize, and I apologize in advance to the female readers, since these are all male characters in today’s blog.

First up:  Dexter Morgan.

Dexter is an absolute delight of a character.  In Jeff Lindsay’s novels, he’s delightfully aloof, and he connects the worlds of human emotion and completely heartless killer. Dexter’s character is explored to perfection by Michael C. Hall on the Showtime TV series. Dexter is a serial killer, but he operates under a code to only kill those who deserve it.  He’s so good at passing as a good guy, that he’s a blood spatter analyst as his day job.  Every day he fakes a smile and walks among his friends in the Miami PD, only to commit murder when the sun goes down.

Secondly, let’s discuss Leslie Vernon.

Most of you don’t know Leslie, but I wish everyone did.  Leslie is the creation of Scott Glosserman, and is the centerpiece of the film, “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.“  Leslie (played by the charismatic Nathan Baesel) aspires to be the next great slasher, in the tradition of Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kruger and Michael Myers.  The film follows him in documentary style as he casts and sets the night that will create his legacy as the rising star among homicidal maniacs.

Thirdly, I love tragic heroes.  I love good guys with flaws (see Catwalk for an example), and one of the best tragic heroes in recent TV history has to be Detective Elliot Stabler. One of the co-stars in Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, ” Elliot is a tough-as-nails former Marine always dedicated to getting the bad guy.  Elliot (portrayed with emotional range and tenacity by Christopher Meloni) is very, very close to the edge. The SVU series often has villains that viewers wish they could strangle, and Elliot represents that rage. He’s the embodiment of what we want to do to bad guys, but still within the bounds of the law.

“Control Issues” has its share of villains, many of whom are the story tellers.  In some ways, it can be a violent and sadistic set of stories.  Perhaps we’ll shift to the perspective of the hero in our next effort, but for now, we promise plenty of flawed, deviant, twisted behavior as the voice of the characters on this CD.

All the best,

nK

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I was delighted at the chance to be the primary lyricist for Division’s new CD, “Control Issues.”

I’ve worked with partners before in the songwriting process, but this project was something beyond a collaboration, a group thing, or writing one song at a time.  This was an entire album of music that Division is sharing with our fans, and the first time I’ve had a chance to put my stamp on what I will be snging.  (Trinity was largely written before I joined the band, and I had a chance to do edits, but not to write from scratch.)

I really wanted to tell stories, and to take listeners somewhere they may never have been before.

For perspective, let’s look at a couple of movies that recently gained box office attention. Quentin Tarantino released Inglorious Basterds last year.  It’s the first film I can think of that every member of Division has seen and enjoyed.  (Check out my review over at Horrorview.com.) Basterds starts slow and spins into a fury, just like a tornado.  Having seen Tarantino’s earlier works, and being a fan of most of them, I have no doubt that he took this approach to writing the film.  Start with different stories and characters, and whip them together in a frenzy before it’s all said and done.

Conversely, the more linear path is to start with a clear set of dynamic forces; the proverbial good and evil.  Take Neveldine and Taylor’s film, Gamer, as an example. Viewers are introduced to the flawed hero and the evil mastermind.  By the the end, the showdown is set:  the characters who embody good and evil meet face to face, eye to eye, in the ultimate competition.

Of course, every once in a while, a writer can take that formula and toss it on its head.  Look at the first single from “Control Issues, ” the vampire-themed song, Hunt. We introduce a clear element of innocence and one of corruption, only to detour their finale’.

It’s not fair, but it’s our license as writers.

Check out the other stories told on “Control Issues” and join us to debate what you enjoy or don’t. Until then…

nK

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January is upon us, and with it, cold temperatures, gray skies and aggressive drivers.  Ok, this is northern Virginia, drivers here are always aggressive.

With the new year comes new year’s resolutions. Thankfully, Sybir and I have devoted our time and effort to helping some of our friends who want to change their lifestyle, lose weight and keep it off. We’re not just cheerleaders, we’re in the game, too, pairing up with people and forming teams. I’m teamed up with a friend from high school and I’m really excited about helping him lose, as he put it, the equivalent of my wife.

The program we’re doing is based on medical research of the glycemic index, and ties in to the book, “Healthy for Life, ” by Dr. Ray Strand. This book hit me the way that Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation” did, and the way many people were blown away by Morgan Spurlock’s movie, “Supersize Me.”

Sybir and I are happy to extend an invitation to anyone interested in learning more about what causes cravings, the dangers of insulin insensitivity, and why diets don’t work.  In short, we’re here to help anyone who wants to lose weight and keep it off.

We’re hosting an online introductory meeting on Wednesday night at 9pm EST. Feel free to drop me a line, or send me a TWEET if you want our help, or have someone you want to team up with for a lifestyle change.

All the best,

nK

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I was sitting at the auto mechanic last week and I had the chance to watch “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?”  One of the questions was “what is the most popular New Year’s Resolution?”  The answer, of course, is “losing weight.”

I had great weight loss success a few years ago, and I’ve been good about keeping off most of the 40 pounds I lost.  This year, my wife, Dr. Stacia Kelly and I are going to host a team to engage in weight loss together.  There are a few reasons for this.

First, team accountability cannot be overstated. Quitting of failing to come through when you’re the only critic is one thing.  Quitting on others is a different story.

Second, most people who try a new diet, exercise program, etc., on New Year’s Day fail. Medical research shows that many people put the weight they lose back on…and more.  Diets are not a short-term thing. When you watch National Geographic, they’ll show you the diet of a lion is gazelle. A diet is what you eat, so changing your diet can’t be a three-week thing.

Third, fad diets are not only unproductive, they’re dangerous. Shocking your body can cause long term issues with your liver, kidneys and pancreas.

We’re kicking off a 12-week program on January 2nd. You don’t have to be local to participate, if you can remain focused and accountable from your own home.  Interested?  Have questions? Email me at nickatcatklawdotcom, or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter.

For those I don’t chat with before then…Happy Holidays!

All the best,

nK

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November 2009 has reached its end, and I will look back on this month with a serious feeling of accomplishment. One week ago, I completed my courses and earned my B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration. I was taking courses while holding down a day job, playing in two bands, contributing to a movie review site, running a community outreach program, and still providing time and love to my family.

Well, at least one thing is off of the plate!

Speaking of plates, we had 14 people over for Thanksgiving and it was fun, fun fun! I was thankful that my parents could join my in-law side of the family this year and we could all be together.

Now that my school work is complete, I switch direction (but not gears) and rush headlong into release and promotion of the fourth Division CD, Control Issues! Division will be performing Friday, December 11th, at Jaxx Nightclub with ZO2. It’ll be our last show of 2009, and we’d love to spend it with you, our friends and fans.

JWP plays its last show of 2009 a week later, and it may be our first with honest-to-goodness Christmas music. You’ll want to come dashing through the snow to see us at the M&S Grill in Reston, VA on December 18th.

There’s plenty more to be thankful for, and I feel that every day. The holidays are upon us, and New Year’s Resolutions are right around the corner. If yours is weight loss, call or email me. I’ve had my weight loss success already, and I’d love to help you reach your goals, too. Heaven knows my back appreciates it!

Ok, that was officially an all-over-the-road post if ever I’ve posted one. It’s been too long since I posted and I wanted to give everyone an update to the reasons why. With that, it’s off to promote on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, Delicious, etc., etc., etc.

One love,
nK

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Hey everyone,

I just got back from the National Harbor, where I was not swimming or boating, but hanging with some friends for the first ever Usana celebration in D.C. (Stop, stop, stop. I know the convention center is technically in Maryland, not D.C., so save the emails!)

Thanks to some cooperation from mother nature, I was able to ride my Honda CBR 600 F4i (that’s a motorcycle) up to the event and show off the creative marketing I’ve done with the bike and the Rev3 energy drink. What’s Rev3? Really? How bout a healthy energy drink that doesn’t cause crash and burn, contribute to diabetes, or taste like feet?

I had a chance to meet Jason Miller, who is the Usana director of social media strategy. Jason is a great guy and he’s the one who tweets on behalf of Usana. Jason was excited about the Rev3 additions I made (check them out on my Facebook page!) which is great for me, but means I have a pretty interesting fundraising campaign I’m going to work on for Children’s Hunger Fund next summer, through Usana.

So, I hear you asking yourself now…what’s a Usana. Some of you may recognize the name from my now-infamous Ten-Day Twitter Tour. (Wow, you wouldn’t believe the people I’ve met who followed that debacle…err…adventure!)

Usana is a science-based company dedicated to long-term health products. We provide supplements, food choices and skin care that works…really works. I won’t bash you over the head with information about us, but if you have a health issue or you’re worried about someone who does, drop me a line. I’m happy to explain what we have, what we do, and how we can help.

Tomorrow is another great day at the celebration, and, if that wasn’t enough, I’ll be performing LIVE with Just Wanna Play at Buffalo Moe’s in Stafford, VA. Info HERE!

I hope to see many of you at one of my stops tomorrow, and certainly in the near future. Wanna chat? Just call or write. All the best!

One love,
nK

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I have no idea why it takes me this long to steal great ideas from my friends…

Ok, to quote my man, Ash, “listen up, you primitive screwheads!”

No, that’s far too harsh. I’m embarking on a nationwide tour of self promotion, band hi-jinx, enlightenment, training and probably a fair amount of debauchery. Over the next ten days, I’ll be tweeting like crazy, both on my personal twitter page AND the Division Twitter page! Please join me and subscribe to get the view into all the craziness that will ensue.

Here are a few proposed stops/highlights/events which may lead me to wear an orange jumpsuit:

Day 1-3: Chicago! Actually, it’s a Division gig at J.J. Kelley’s for the Midwest Metal Anthem! We’ll be driving up Friday, partying with the bands and then performing on Saturday. Tickets are available. Of course, Chicago means I’m going to have to check in on author Joe Konrath and see if we can’t share a drink or seven.

Day 4-7: Las Vegas! I’ll be attending a training symposium for Symantec. Sure, this means a lot of technical jargon, chow line food and long days of class. However, it gives me a chance to see friends from across the country, and to hang out with my brother for a few days. We’re planning on stopping by to see Criss Angel’s Believe show at the Luxor. Criss and I are two degrees of separation apart, thanks to some mutual friends. I’m not banking on getting to chat with him, but stranger things have happened. I’ve bumped shoulders with guys like Penn Jillette and Donald Brashear. Why rule out a master illusionist?

Day 8-10: Salt Lake City, Utah
I’ll be attending the International Convention for Usana Health Sciences again this year. Usana has really helped me with my weight loss, back pain and history of allergies. Why wouldn’t I come to hang out with other distributors and listen to great guys like Tim Sales (author of Brilliant Compensation) and Robert Allen (author of Nothing Down)? Plus, I get to run a 5K to benefit the Children’s Hunger Fund!

My flight home has a layover in Phoenix, so I get to touch another state I haven’t visited in a couple years. Think that’s enough to Tweet about in ten days?

When I get back, we’re going to release a CD, play a gig and make an appearance in Atlanta! This is just the beginning!

Keep an eye on my official site here, as well as Twitter, Facebook, and the other sites for updates from the field. It’s a serious “click it or ticket” kind of week for me, and I hope you enjoy my ramblings as much as I enjoy my national tour. All the best!

One love,
nK

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I had a great time discussing how music can influence creative writing with Joe Konrath when he dropped by my blog a few months back. Since then, as you may have guessed, music has been predominant on the radar. JWP has played a ton of shows and Division continues to record “Control Issues” while performing shows in support of the upcoming CD.

Despite chatting about my music, and let me take this opportunity to invite everyone to see Division live at Jaxx on August 15th (for five bucks!), I wanted to discuss the influence of music on my ongoing writing.

I’m still working on Catwalk book four, tentatively titled “Obedient”, and I’ve hardly written a paragraph without some music playing to assist with the mood. Here are a few songs that have helped me to pen the latest adventure of the killer with a conscience.

VNV Nation – I was turned on to this band by a friend in Second Life. Several of their instrumental songs are easy to write to, but “Descent” is great when writing villain scenes.

God Module – I stumbled across this band when I was writing a horror review. I liked their sound. Straight electronica with some twisted samples.

Tad Morose – One seriously dark band. Straightforward metal with an astronomical singer. “Cyberdome” is a favorite.

Celldweller – I’ve been a fan since the Circle of Dust days, but the recent release where fans got to remix the material is a fun listen.

Honorable Mention: She Wants Revenge, Black Sabbath, Evergrey, HIM, Machinae Supremacy. Right vibe but too easy to sing along to…creates distraction. I’m off to go murder some supporting cast. Wish me luck!

One love,
nK

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As you can tell, the studio work has been paramount in my blog recently. As we get the concepts and ideas the band has created recorded and ready for release, I like to take time and reflect on what went into each song. The writing process, recording process, refining, expanding, correcting, changing, adapting…all aspects inspire me on different levels and I enjoy sharing that with you here.

The one endeavor I enjoy which has been shelved for the past few months is writing books, not songs. Fortunately, tonight is the perfect storm for writing/editing. I have inspiration, no pressing tasks (for the next 18 hours), a computer and ideas. It’s time to dust Catwalk Book Four (tentatively titled “Obedient”) off and stir the ingredients a bit.

I hope that, wherever you are, you’re celebrating a spark of inspiration and enjoying the opportunity to be creative.

One love,
nK

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Greets, all! Sorry I’ve been away for so long. I caught a bad case of “day job” and have been up and down the highway like a nymphomaniac’s zipper! I got a few minutes now to stop in and chat with all of you willing to take the time to listen to me ramble.

Still in the recording studio with Division, and things are progressing nicely. “Gemini” (See previous post) was wrapped up, including backing vocals; some established, some new. Mike (Blevins – guitar, backing vocals, engineer, producer, man from another planet) has really done a great job with everything he’s been asked to do on this CD. The guy has to perform his own parts and direct everyone else with theirs.

I’ve found myself really enjoying the give and take with Mike during these sessions. Commentary tracks on DVD’s routinely have an actor discussing the experience with the film director and I can completely relate to that. Fortunately, Mike and I have a familiarity with the material going back as far as a few years on some songs, and we have a great personal relationship. A few times, the facial expression from either of us was enough to signify approval (or usually disapproval) of a certain take. The best and worst thing about this CD is that it’s very dynamic. The material isn’t one speed at all, and there are lots of subtleties in performance and engineering that really bring out the emotional roller coaster we want listeners to ride.

“Soulmate” was tonight’s project. Born from real-life experiences (mine and a friend’s), this is the stalker song of the Control Issues CD. The song is sung from the stalker’s perspective, bouncing from vulnerable to enraged. I think we’ve managed to find a great balance with tonight’s session, and that doesn’t include the HUGE vocals in the chorus. This is one of the songs people will sing along to the first time they hear it. The catch is that they won’t all sing the same thing since the song features a ton of moving parts.

Mike, Noodlez and I played a gig last night in a smoky bar, which fed into the raspy-ness (not sure that’s a word) needed for the parts tonight. I figured things would go a bit rough, but after about 15 minutes tonight, we settled right in to a groove and really drilled the song. We’re looking to wrap this one up later this week in the next session. That oughta put us just about halfway through the disc, so you guys and gals out there don’t have too much longer to wait before gettin’ a sneak peek (or listen) at some of the material.

We will take a break from recording next month, when Division performs LIVE at Jaxx Nightclub with ZO2 on Friday, July 17th! Tix are just $10 and you get the first Division gig in For-EVAH! Need tix? Email, Message or leave a comment. Thanks for listenin’!

One Love,
nK

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