A Moment With T

Don't Think!

That's what was written above Ray Bradbury's typerwriter when he wrote some of the most influential sci-fi stories in Literature.  Ray was the writer of such classics as Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Halloween Tree each story which has appeared on the screen as well as the page. Bradbury convinced Walt Disney to build an amusement park the two friends sharing a love for the traveling carnivals and the magic of them. He also was behind the formation of the first comic conventions and remains as one of Sci Fi's Iconic Legends.

Since his passing a week ago I have been learning a little more about the man.  His advice to new writers was to just write what you feel and most of all Do Not Think!

I think too much and it stops me from writing and just getting my thoughts out there. I have been busy as of late (sleeping on a couch) re-inventing my life essentially.  But thanks to support from my friends in the Blogging World and Ray Bradbury of course I am writing again.

I would call Ray Bradbury a Wizard able to use words and language in magical ways entrancing the reader. In an interview in his home he revealed himself to be a bit of a packrat that each item he had held on to had a significance and its own story. In fact often the source of inspiration for a story Ray admitted a love for magic. If he wasn't an author he would have been a magician and the man found inspiration from life itself always asking questions and making magic with his words.

He wrote 27 novels and over 600 short stories and poetry.  More than eight million copies of his works, published in over 36 languages, have been sold around the world. He was a writer for television and movies and the winner of an Emmy for his work on the animated special The Halloween Tree.  Ray's narration of the Halloween Tree set the mood and the story itself remains a historical journey through the Holiday and reminds us of the magic of that season. It is one of my favorite holiday specials.

One story that really inspired me was of Ray's younger years as a boy and avid reader of the old Buck Rogers comics. At school Ray found himself bullied by other kids because of his love of comics which were though of as nerdy. Upset Ray tore up his Buck Rogers comics in tears.

I can sure relate to that. My love for comics, cartoons and the mysteries of the universe make me kind of weird and I was teased as a kid it had an effect on me and still does. But Ray did not let that stop him in his own words.

"I went back to collecting Buck Rogers. My life has been happy ever since. For that was the beginning of my writing science fiction.  Since then, I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows, or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room."

Ray was brave enough to share what he loved with the world and we got a body of work that inspires and reminds us of the magic of life.

Thanks Ray Bradbury for reminding me of my Love of Libraries, Literature and Life.