Welcome to Love Bytes! A warm thank you to Dani for hosting me today!
In 2011 Quentin Tarantino sued his neighbor, Alan Ball, claiming that he could no longer write at home due to the “pterodactyl-like” screams coming from Mr. Ball’s macaw aviary. True story. Read it yourself. If you know anything about the terrain in Los Angeles, you know that sound echoes through, and is intensified by, the canyons. Unless you’re living in “the flats,” you are going to hear it. I digress.
Q is one of the most imaginative people in the world of storytelling, I have a great respect for him, and get that the sounds coming from the aviary would have pissed him off. Yet, when I first heard of the complaint, my thoughts skittered to a halt. What, exactly, does a pterodactyl sound like? Given that the human race is presently sans T.A.R.D.I.S., we don’t know. How would we evidence that sound in a court of law? Who could authenticate that evidence? Being the proud owner of three parrots, I also wondered if they would consider it offensive to be compared to a pterodactyl; alternatively, find it an honor to be compared to a distant ancestor. Moving on….
As a creator of lit works, I know how irritating it is when I’m in my writing groove and I’m interrupted. #ISeeRed I recently moved from the west to the east coast—mostly. I still have a place in L.A.—and I’m adjusting to the new environment, sights, smells, sounds, etc. Alas, everyone has that one neighbor…. #ISeeRed To add insult to injury, one of the parrots became ill during the move, air-conditioning woes have made a mess of my time and life over the past thirty days, adjusting to the new sacred writing space isn’t going as planned, waiting for parts for a laptop sucks, and I have yet to find the perfect cheeseburger in my ’hood. I’ll add a pet peeve: I do not like to shop. At all. Acclimating to a new grocery store is hell. It takes three times longer to shop when you have AISLES (aisle-ignorance-stress-and-lost-and-enraged-syndrome). I detest the wasting of time. #ISeeRed In short, this author has been interrupted in the extreme. And then….
Over the past five years, I’ve concentrated on writing young adult works. Now, I’m refocusing my efforts to return to writing for adults. The mindsets are entirely different, and the change is proving to be a challenge given the chaos of the above.
I have also returned to writing paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery-thrillers. At present, I have one of each in process. I’m fortunate in that I’m a versatile writer, both in style and genre, and I have an unbridled imagination. I am never at a loss for stories to tell. Such is a benefit, but can also be a plight when attempting to organize and get back to a writing routine. I miss my writing routine.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, and that is found in readers. Readers keep me focused and help me keep my eye on the ball. By way of example, Dani wants Liam’s story (from Safe), Lis wants Nicos’s story (from the Elpída series), Michael wants a Jake story (from the Elpída series), adult readers are clamoring for Grotesque, Deeze wants Sax’s story (from Sleight of Heart), all readers want more of Fairy, and the list goes on. The energy and enthusiasm of readers is the very foundation of authorship. It’s what keeps us going, keeps us planning, and keeps us putting one foot before the other. Thank you for giving me what I need to keep at it no matter the chaos of real life.
In appreciation for your loyalty and passion, I’m giving away an audio book copy of A Solitary Man from Audible. To enter to win, simply leave a description of what you believe a pterodactyl-like scream might sound like in the comments below. Feel free to add a link to a YouTube sample. Kismet, my greenwing macaw, will pick a winner at random. See you back here on Love Bytes for my regular monthly post on August 17th for the winner announcement! Thank you for reading my books!
About Cody Kennedy
Cody is an author who lives, most of the time, on the east coast of the United States. Cody also writes adult mystery thrillers, fantasy, science fiction, and romance as Aisling Mancy.
Raised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, Cody doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward, and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Cody contemplates such weighty questions as If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Cody can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much-maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary.
Cody’s Facebook, Twitter @CodyKAuthor, Pinterest, Tumblr, Google+, Ello,
Goodreads, Medium, Booklikes, and read my free serial story, Fairy.
Find Ash on blog, Twitter @AislingMancy, Facebook, Google+, Goodreads, Booklikes,
Dreamspinner Press Author Page, and Amazon
and Ash does respond to emails because, after all, it is all about you, the reader.
Pssst. Click on the captioned title of each book to read the first chapter!
First of all I have to say I love your website with the beautiful photos at the top. Talk about inspiring!
A pterodactyl-like scream…the screeching of air brakes…on a semi truck loaded with logs…as it barrels down on you…as you’re driving alone in a Prius…in a narrow canyon…at night…during a driving rain storm…after watching a horror movie…at an isolated theatre…in a small mountain town…
Yes…that about says it all.
Haha! Great description, 16forward! Thanks for playing! I’m glad you like the website! <3
I’m thinking similar to a raptor’s scream. We hear that occasionally where I live in the desert as we have various raptors in the wild as well as lots of rodents for them to eat (ugh).
Thanks for the great post and I hope you get back into your routine soon.
Thanks so much for dropping by and playing, jenf27! <3
Great post but I’m sorry the move has not been the plain sailing we all wished for you Cody. Yes more Sax please and definitely Grotesque 😛
Hmmmmmm how to type a sound LOL. I’m thinking a combo of Kiz the girls and a few of their friends all squawking at once 😛
LOL! You have no idea how right you may be, Deeze! The three of them together are deafening! <3
Well, I was compelled to go to youtube and listen to some pteradactyl screams, and most of them were pretty weak. I chose this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A-twCtjJ_s because it was short and to the point. Not sure how accurate it’ll be, but it is a start. I don’t think any of these sounds are similar to a macaw though. So happy this is in audio now! I can listen to it over and over and over!
Here’s to clear skies and sailing ahead for Aisling/Cody in Florida!
KerryP
An excellent choice, Kerry! Very life-like! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing! <3
https://youtu.be/gLgrIipmT9Q
Kk that was fun!
Thanks for the post Koti! You also forgot all the people who want Thimi and Zero’s story… Js.
Good luck with the writing Koti <3
Haha! Great selection, Timmy! And you can bet there will be a Thimi & Zero story. Promise. <3
Did I hear that right? There’s a book in the works for Sax’s pterodactyl cousin? Awesome!!!
LOL Melos! There may have to be now!
Here’s one I think might be good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vARBPO8JGE0 , nothing like a macaw sound IMO
A wonderful choice, Lisa! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing! <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms607DcMbnw is what I think it sounds like 🙂
Oh man, that is awesome! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing!
I think it will sounds like a large bird of prey.
I agree, debby236! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing! <3
I think similar to what i would sound like if someone was coming at my eyeballs with a rusty razor blade!
LOL! Awesome description, Salann31! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing!
I’m thinking like they’ll make a cry similar a scary zombie boss. Almost a screech
LOL Great description, H.B.! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing! <3
What does a pterodactyl sound like? Like a hawk who has been to the gym, pounded steroids, and just stepped on a large sharp piece of quartz.
LOL! I suggest that you may be right! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing!
OMGoodness I am glad that you keep writing through move and all the chaos! There isn’t a better story teller than you!
If I were to find a sound that represents a pterodactyl it would be the Sandhill Crane.
https://youtu.be/KpTykjLYYr0
I have the audio 😉 IT IS A WONDERFUL READ by Jim Pelletier
An interesting selection, Sara! You may be correct! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing! <3
LOL! I must recognise I have no idea of how a Pterodactyl sounds like… I guess a terrible high-pitched screech, like that of a train machine trying to stop in a hurry…
An excellent description, Susana! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing! <3
What!! Are you writing Jake’s story? Yessss!!!!! that’s awesome! Oh wait …. never mind:( Why don’t I just give you my “Jake’s story”….its a beautiful story 😉.
And that pterodactyl sound is that incomprehensible screeching sound that comes from deep inside ourselves in a moment of shear pain! Pain from stubbing that little toe in the middle of the night! YIKES!!!!🐉🐲
LOL I guarantee you that I’ve made that sound, Michael! Oh, and Jake!!! You should give me your Jake’s story!!! Thanks so much for dropping by and playing!