All posts by Nathan Marchand

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My Thoughts on the Dr. Dennis Hensley Scandal

Ironically, this image is courtesy of the meme website www.1funny.com.

(This will be the only time I discuss this subject in a public forum).

“It’s my estimation that every man ever got a statue made of ’em was one kinda sombitch or another.”
-Capt. Malcolm Reynolds

This line from the Firefly episode “Jaynestown” has been repeating in my head for over a week. It speaks to the hard truth that one should never meet his heroes because they’re not perfect or above reproach.

That’s harder to do when you already know your hero.

Last month, Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, founder of my alma mater, Taylor University’s, professional writing program and one of the most influential people in my life, retired suddenly. His current students were shocked. The theory was that he did so because of several deaths in his family and his wife’s stage four cancer. The students planned to send him some well wishes.

Then the truth came out.

He left because a former student came forward saying she had been sexually assaulted by Dr. Hensley in 2004 (which was during my time at the university’s Fort Wayne campus). This opened a floodgate of accusations spanning decades.

I avoided most of the uproar for a while because this was reported just before G-Fest XXV, and I didn’t want my weekend tainted. Once that was over, I inundated myself with articles.

There’s a lot I could say about this; a lot I’ve wanted to say. For the sake of this blog, I will focus only on how this revelation has affected me.

If Nick Hayden was the Obi-Wan Kenobi to my Luke Skywalker, Dr. Hensley was our Master Yoda.

One of my schoolmates and fellow Dr. Hensley students wrote on Facebook that this whole thing felt like someone had died. Indeed, those early stages of grief hit me hard. I didn’t want to believe it. I even tried to tell people not to jump to any conclusions and remember that these were only accusations. (Ironically, this was a journalism rule I learned from Dr. Hensley). This brought me under fire, albeit briefly, which was why I wrote what I did last week.

From denial I quickly moved to the anger stage, but it was anger without a target. I didn’t know if I should be angry at Dr. Hensley, his accuser(s), or the MeToo movement. That’s why I’ve waited as long as I have to say anything. Anger rarely, if ever, leads to sound reasoning, and in this outrage-addicted internet culture, it can be dangerous. Regardless, I was angry because something had been taken from me—the Dr. Hensley I thought I knew.

The man who reassured 18-year-old intimidated prospective student me that I had the talent to be in his writing program.

The man who teased me for having an e-mail at a now defunct website called www.Godzillafans.com. 

The man who found every typo I wrote in my papers and everything I did right.

The man who plastered “EYE OF THE TIGER!” on every “A” I got.

The man who told me how to conduct myself as a professional writer and what to expect in the industry.

The man who got me my first byline.

The man who put me on student newspaper staff as soon as I walked onto campus.

The man whose teaching style I so admired I wanted to emulate it as a teacher myself.

The man we described as a “teddy bear with sharp teeth” because he wasn’t afraid to tell you what you did wrong but he’d do everything he could to help you succeed.

The man who had an entire bulletin board—the “Brag Board”—dedicated to showing off his students’ publications and achievements.

All of these and many more—and now I have to reconcile them with these accusations.

Ironically, like the woman who first came forward, I, too, once confided something personal to Dr. Hensley. I won’t go into details, but something happened where I distrusted most everyone at the school, including my friends. It was my senior year, and I knew it might affect me academically, so I told him what happened. He was understanding and encouraging. He gave me a week to breathe and then sent a letter to my mailbox saying it was time to buck up and finish strong. I took it to heart.

In the time between his sudden retirement and the reporting of these accusations, I sent Dr. Hensley an e-mail saying I’d heard he left Taylor and that I was praying for him and his wife. I also mentioned that I would soon be starting grad school and working as a graduate teaching assistant and a writing tutor. He replied saying he knew I could do it.

If that is the last communication I ever have with “Doc,” that’s how I want to remember him.

But that’s the statue—and those always come crumbling down.

(I recommend reading James Watkins’ blog on this matter. He’s given the best assessment of it that I’ve read).

Uncategorized

I Have Three Poems in an Anthology!

Submission want-ad for “Bards Against Hunger: Indiana Edition.” (Image courtesy of www.indianaauthors.wordpress.com).

I’m happy to announce that I will have three poems published in the upcoming anthology, Bards Against Hunger: Indiana Edition. Two of the three poems, “Glimpse” and “Coma,” were originally posted on this site. (However, I am going to remove them in light of their upcoming publication in this anthology). The third poem, “Phoenix Rose,” originally appeared in my first novel, Pandora’s Box. This anthology will be published in the fall with a book launch event at Elwood Public Library in November.

I’m actually a bit surprised they were accepted. Not because they were bad. No, because I submitted at the last possible second. We’re talking within minutes of the deadline. Not a habit I want to make. 😛

Accord to their website,

Bards Against Hunger was founded in 2013 by the Bards Initiative, a poetry group on Long Island, NY that hosts many readings and publishes local anthologies. The leaders of this group came up with the idea to host a poetry reading that would gather food for the hungry around Thanksgiving time as a way for poets to give back to their local community. The poets of Long Island loved the idea and flocked to help organize, read at the event, and gather food.

They’ve also published a few poetry anthologies (click here and here), with the profits being used to collect food. As the want-ad says, the proceeds from this Indiana anthology are going toward Homeless Advocacy of Anderson and Madison County. It’s a wonderful idea.

Exciting times are ahead, True Believers!

Blog, News, Appearances, Announcements

My Upcoming Appearances for Summer 2018

I may not have a new book out this year (yet), but I am making appearances at several events in the tristate area this summer. This will give you several opportunities to meet me, buy a book, and get it autographed. I’ll be participating in other events at these shows, as well, so you can see me outside the vendor hall and hang out.

So, in chronological order:

G-Fest XXV
When: July 13-15, 2018
Where: The Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois
Website: http://www.g-fan.com/html/gfest_xxv/gfest_xxv.php

This is the annual gathering of the kaiju nerds. I attended last year with my Kaijuvision Radio co-host, Brian Scherschel, to promote our upcoming podcast. (Although, I did get myself on a kaiju writing panel). Now that KVR is up and running, we’re returning. This time we’re on several panels throughout the weekend—including a live KVR episode recording entitled “Godzilla and the Japanese National Spirit.” I’ll also be on two kaiju writing panels and one for the recent film Pacific Rim: Uprising. I won’t be in the vendor hall, but I’ll have copies of Destroyer and The Worlds of Nathan Marchand available for purchase and signing.

Gen-Con 2018
When: August 2-5, 2018
Where: The Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: http://www.gencon.com/

“The best four days in gaming” returns for another huge year. It’s become a staple of my summer and the biggest event I attend all year. I’ll be in Authors Avenue in the vendor hall with all my Gen-Con writer friends. I’ll be selling and signing my own books as well as the newest volume of Missing Pieces, which features a new short story by yours truly. I might slip away to a few events throughout the day, and I’ll be attending events in the evening for sure, so we can hang out, if you want.

FYI: It seems the time was changed since this poster was created. The event’s pages now say 10am-4pm.

True Believers Fest 2018
When: August 11, 2018, 10am-4pm
Where: Marquis Comics in Kentwood, Michigan
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/2144061572493810/

This is a small one-day event I was invited to vend at thanks to my partner in crime and Nerd Chapel founder, Eric Anderson. It’s a free family event. I’ve never been to this comic shop before, but I’m always in the market for finding cool new nerdy hangouts. It’s appropriate that I’m vending at this event since I, like Stan “The Man” Lee, like referring to my fans as “True Believers.”

I’ll see you…out there! Be there or be square!

Blog

Loving the Work You Do

(I missed a week. Gotta break that habit).

Eric Liddell in the film Chariots of Fire (which I still haven’t seen…).

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s a lie! If you love what you do, you’ll work hard everyday.”

This was spoken by Chris Spalding, the co-owner of the ballroom dance studio I attend on a regular basis. It was part of the toast he gave during the fifth anniversary party for the studio. I loved it because it was challenging and encouraging. It’s not something one typically hears.

We all want to work a job we love. Spending hours of our day doing something we hate is soul-crushing. It’s a consequence of the Fall in Eden (Gen. 3:17-19), so we want to stave it off as much as possible. Unfortunately, millennials in particular have a reputation for chasing unattainable “dream jobs” or thinking they’re entitled to an easy life (and then crumbling under the slightest pressure when they don’t get it). Whether this reputation is deserved or not, there are many people who refuse to accept the reality of toil.

That’s why I love what Mr. Spalding said. It’s a mindset that lives within the tension: Love what you do but work hard at it. The curse hasn’t been lifted. We still have to make a living by the sweat of our brows. That is an inescapable reality until Christ returns to “make all things new.” But when we are doing what God created us to, we can find joy in the midst of that toil. Joy that will compel us to work even harder. We’ll dream bigger, take more risks, and strive to become better. Work becomes more than a means to make money.

This, I believe, is an example of God’s grace to humanity. He didn’t abandon us in our sin. He instilled desires and talents within us, and those can lead us to the purpose He gave us. I’m reminded of what Eric Liddell said in the film Chariots of Fire (which I still haven’t seen), “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” That’s the feeling every human being, whether they’ll admit it or not, longs to find. It’s God’s foothold in this fallen world, His way of keeping claim on His creation. And, I daresay, a means of reaching out to humanity.

People aren’t good at living within tension, but the wise will tell you that there are many paradoxes in life. They can’t all be solved. The quicker that’s accepted, the easier life becomes.

Do you love what you do? Work hard at it!

Do you hate what you do? Make a change! You’ll do yourself and the world a favor.

How do you live this out? What do you do to live in this tension between toil and joy?

Uncategorized

Change: The Only Constant

A new chapter of my life is about to begin.

I’ll be attending a local university to pursue an M.A. in English with a writing concentration. I hope to use this degree to bolster my career.

This is something I’ve thought about doing for a long time. When I graduated college, I believed I could take on the world. My peers advanced in their careers relatively easily, it seemed. I was nervous, for sure, but I was confident I would make quick headway.

Then reality set in.

A few ill-fitting jobs and one bad economy later, and I found myself a struggling artist at a day job I didn’t much care for. It was like that for a long time. Yes, I did keep writing. I wrote many things. It’s my passion, and unlike what Mike Rowe says, I’m good at it. I’m a dreamer by nature. It’s who I am. If writers took his advice, they’d quit submitting stories after two or three rejections. Trust me, I know, because I’ve been in that boat (and it felt like the Titanic).

Someone suggested a few years ago I go to grad school. I wasn’t sure I could do it. I’d grown to hate debt, so I refused to take out more student loans. But after a little investigating, I learned I could become a teaching assistant to pay for it, so that became my goal. I took a class over a summer to make it happen. Unfortunately, there was either a lot of competition for a TA position or no openings. So, I waited.

Now the time seems to be right. If all goes as planned, I start in the fall. I plan to move to avoid driving up to two hours both ways to the university.

This is just one of several major changes I’m making. Honestly, it’s overwhelming. I haven’t liked my current situation, but I got used to it. “Better the devil you know,” as the old saying goes. It was my “normal,” even if I hated it. Now I’m making a paradigm shift so huge, it feels more like a paradigm earthquake.

I’ve realized, however, that (besides God and the fact that everything freezes) the only constant in the universe is change. We may fight against it, but it will come. Personally, I’d rather make the changes myself. Even that is risky, though. The outcome is rarely certain. I’m reminded of a Bible passage in James 4:13-15: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” Even if you aren’t a Christian, I think you can see the wisdom in this. It’s never good to assume an outcome because it’s uncertain. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men,” wrote Robert Burns, “Gang aft a-gley.”

Perhaps it’s providential that I’m writing a second nerd/geek devotional with Eric Anderson, and its central theme is change.

Fear not, True Believers. I’ll still be writing. I can’t very well give that up.

What are some significant changes you’ve navigated? How did you do it?

Blog

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Spoiler-Free Review

So, as I said I’d do in my previous blog, I saw Solo: A Star Wars Story. Much like with Avengers: Infinity War, it’s difficult to talk about it without giving spoilers. I’ll do my best to give you quick general impressions and address the so-called issues the angry, entitled contingents of the fanbase have brought up.

Some have said this was a story nobody wanted nor needed to see. Maybe. Does it suffer from some “prequel-itis”? A little, but not so much that it bothered me. Some liked that Han was a mysterious rogue whose past we didn’t know fully. If that’s you, you probably won’t like this film. For me, much like with Indiana Jones (another iconic Harrison Ford character), while I wasn’t clamoring to know Han’s backstory, I was happy to see it. In this, we learn how he met Chewbacca (which was hilarious), met Lando, and acquired the Millennium Falcon, among other things. It was cool.

In fact, it was a bit better than I expected. The film actually surprised me a few times. I thought one character would die since this character is never referenced again in other films, but that didn’t happen. Another character I never expected to see again (despite appearing on the TV shows) made a cameo. I have to give kudos there.

As has been pointed out by other reviewers, Ron Howard films Solo like a western. Heck, the first 30 minutes or so gave me flashbacks to the pilot episode of the short-lived but awesome TV series Firefly, which was essentially a space western. There’s a train robbery, bandits, gambling in a “saloon,” and grand vistas.

Much adieu was made about Alden Ehrenreich’s performance when the trailers dropped. Angry fans insisted he couldn’t act and/or didn’t look like Harrison Ford, so someone else should’ve been cast. Honestly, I don’t think they would’ve been completely happy with anyone else playing the character. No one else has ever done it (this isn’t James Bond we’re talking about), so it’s huge shoes to fill for anyone. Regardless, a quick glimpse at Ehrenreich’s filmography will reveal that he’s an accomplished actor. He delivers here. He channels Harrison Ford while also putting his own take on the character.

Another standout, surprisingly, is Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. Glover copies Billy Dee Williams exactly. His mannerisms, speech patterns, everything. It’s like watching Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy in the new Star Trek films. As for the pansexual thing, there was nothing that indicated he was like that. Lando has always oozed charm, and unless it was with ladies, it never seemed sexual. Now, there is a “female” droid named L3 who believes Lando is in love with him, and it’s certainly true that Lando cares for “her,” but it’s never plainly said that they’re in a relationship. In other words, Lando is just being Lando. I’m thinking the filmmakers made that claim just to look progressive. (If you want an example of a clearly-stated pansexual character in a sci-fi franchise, look at Capt. Jack from Doctor Who).

Also, Woody Harrelson and Paul Bettany are great. Just thought I’d throw that in.

I will ding the film for bordering on excessive nostalgic references. These come with the territory, given the sort of story it is, but they could’ve been dialed back slightly. It was cool to hear John Williams compose a new theme for Han in this film, though.

Overall, I still prefer Rogue One to this, as far as spin-off Star Wars films go (I thought that one was bolder), but this is still solid. Do yourself and the franchise a favor and see this film, if only to spite the naysayer factions in the fanbase who can never be pleased.

Final Grade: B+

Blog

The Religiosity of Fandom

Image courtesy of IMDB.

I plan to see Solo: A Star Wars Story, if not this weekend, then next week.

It’s a safe bet to say that about fifty-percent of those reading this have now stopped and branded me a traitor. Because that’s how large contingents of the Star Wars fandom works now.

In case you didn’t know, there’s been a movement to boycott the new Star Wars spin-off film about a young Han Solo. It stems from various remarks on political and social issues from Kathleen Kennedy, the new president of Lucasfilm, and what was perceived as SJW elements in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (which I’ve written about before). Adding fuel to the fire was the revelation that Han’s friend Lando Calrissian is pansexual in this film (though as far I know the only indication of this is he flirts with a droid with female features. That could honestly just be Lando being Lando).

In a tremendous display of groupthink, a huge portion of the Star Wars fandom moved as a unit to avoid Solo, which they think will eventually derail the Disney era of the franchise. One fan even went so far as to say, “Money is the only language Disney understands.”

This blog isn’t about whether their objections are accurate or not. I’m reserving that for after I see the movie. However, I am going to take the Star Wars fandom to task, despite counting myself among them. You’ve been warned.

Ever since the release of the “Special Editions” in 1997, the Star Wars fandom has become more and more fractured and difficult to please. Remember the whole “Han Shot First” meme? (I admit I was annoyed too, but I digress). They were irate that the three films they thought were already perfect were “meddled” with by George Lucas. Things were only aggravated when the Prequel Trilogy was released. The Phantom Menace was especially hated. George Lucas went from being a creative genius who could do no wrong to the most despised man in the geek community. (Personally, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, as seen in this excellent video series). When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 and announced new movies, it was greeted with enthusiasm because fans had lost trust in Lucas. But over the last three years, especially with The Last Jedi, the sentiment has shifted to lamenting the loss of Lucas.

No other fandom, I would argue, is this fickle, demanding, and indecisive. When non-nerds/non-geeks think of the negative stereotypes associated with the nerd/geek community, I guarantee it’s based largely on the conduct of so-called “hardcore” Star Wars fans. It’s sad because it not only mars the reputation of other fans like myself, and it gives the whole nerd/geek subculture a bad name.

This is one way this fandom borders on being a religion. Think about it. Star Wars fans have sacred texts (i.e. the Original Trilogy), but they only accept certain versions of these texts (the uncut versions of the trilogy) as “canonical.” The Special Editions are rejected despite being made by the author of the sacred texts. The prequels are heresy to many (although younger fans accept them), and now the Disney era films are being labeled blasphemy. When Disney officially declared the Expanded Universe non-canonical, many fans reacted like Christian fundamentalists backlashing against atheists attacking the Bible. Never mind the fact that the canonicity, as far as I know, of these materials was never set in stone by Lucas. No, fans complained that the stories they had invested themselves in for decades had somehow been robbed of meaning. Just like now, there was a movement within the fandom to spoil The Force Awakens on the Internet to prevent people from seeing it so as to make the franchise fail and have the Expanded Universe reinstated. Guess what? It failed. To nobody’s surprise, I’m sure.

Anyone who has disagreed with these movements has been declared a “filthy casual” amongst many other horrible names. They’ve even been shunned from the fandom. In other words, excommunicated.

Is it any wonder, then, that there’s been a measurable number of people across the world who’ve listed “Jedi” as their religion in censuses? There’s even an actual religion called “Jediism,” complete with a creed, 16 teachings, and 21 maxims. Some might say they’ve taken their fandom too far.

I’m not opposed to being passionate about what you enjoy. I’m not against debating the merits of media within the franchises you love (my gosh, I co-host a podcast that does that!) Have I zealously argued against certain creative decisions and chosen to no longer follow certain series because of them? Yes, on at least two occasions. But when it gets to this point, where you’re filling the internet with click bait articles and videos full of often unsubstantiated and shallow hatred, you’ve crossed into the Dark Side of the Force.

Let’s go back to when being a Star Wars fan was fun. Before the dark times. Before the insanity.

Here’s a quick video that perfectly summarizes all of this:

What do you think? Are these fans right? Why or why not? Have fandoms gone too far? Why or why not?

Blog

My (Spoiler-Free) Review of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

The poster for the film. (Image by Marvel Studios).

It’s been a while since I blogged, so I figured a review of the biggest nerd movie of 2018 would be a great way to get back into the swing of things.

To quote Buzz Lightyear, “To Infinity…and beyond!”

This is the best Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Ever. Of all time. (Well, for now, anyway). For the first time, I went into an MCU movie not sure what to expect, and after seeing it, I’m unsure what Marvel will do next because there’s a lot of things they could do. Even with my knowledge of the comics that inspired this film (The Infinity Gauntlet and, to much lesser extent, Infinity War), I’m not sure what will happen next. With Disney trying to finalize a deal to buy out 20th Century Fox, that means Marvel will reacquire the film rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four. The possibilities are endless!

I was concerned that Thanos wouldn’t be a villain worthy of a decade of build-up.

Boy, was I wrong.

He has eclipsed Loki as the best villain in the MCU. He’s altered from the comics, which is understandable given that what comic fans love about Thanos was developed for many comics over many years, and that’d be hard to condense into a film that’s already huge. Heck, he’d need his own movie to get there. He’s gone from a lovesick Eternal trying to win the affections of Mistress Death to a madman with a noble cause. There’s even some tenderness from him. Josh Brolin’s performance with the mo-cap is incredible. I never thought I was watching a special effect.

My sister described the film as “a bit ADD.” I can see why. At 2 ½ hours, it’s a long movie with 64 characters from 18 other films. Yet while it bounces back and forth between several groups of characters, I never felt like it shortchanged anyone or was moving too fast. Everyone gets a moment of awesomeness. The film masterfully juggles several tones, including traditional superhero, mythic, and space opera comedy. They all blend perfectly. I attribute this to the Russo Brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who might be the best creative team in the MCU.

Without giving any spoilers, this is a film that will shock audiences. Even I was taken aback by the ending. I knew it had to happen, since I knew this was part one of a two-part story and I’ve read the comics, but it still surprised me with how boldly un-Hollywood-like it was. It didn’t affect me as much as Logan did, but that was a superhero film about finality. There isn’t nearly as much of that here.

I want to see this in IMAX. I bet it would look great. I don’t normally see movies more than once in a theatre, but this is one I’d gladly see again. That’s how much I love it.

My only problem with the film is it does and doesn’t stand alone. While it explains the many characters just enough to give context, you have to have seen a lot of the previous MCU films to understand it fully. The more you’ve seen, the more you’ll get out of it.

My opinion of this film may change with more viewings. Right now I’m just basking in the excitement.

To summarize: It’s one of the best superhero films ever made.

What’d you think of Avengers: Infinity War? Feel free to leave comments—including spoilers—below. I could talk about this film for hours and would love to include you all in the conversation.

Blog

If I Were an Elf

Author’s Note: My apologies for my long absence! Anyway, this short essay was something I wrote as an assignment for a writers’ group I’m in. I was to write about what kind of elf I’d want to be. Sadly, due to car problems, I wasn’t able to attend a monthly meeting and share it. Regardless, here it is for you to read. Enjoy!

The movie Elf begins with a narration explaining that elves do one of three jobs: 1) They stay up late making shoes for cobblers, 2) they bake cookies in a tree (which, as you’d expect, is a major fire hazard), and 3) the most sought job of all, making toys for Santa Claus at the North Pole.

Every time I see this I think, “You left the best Elves out!”

I wouldn’t be an Elf who did any of these jobs. Not even for Santa.

Image taken from io9.

I’d be…a Quendi.

For the uninitiated, that’s the amazing Elves from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings books and Peter Jackson’s films. Who wouldn’t want to be? These Elves were the first beings created by Iluvatar, the supreme being of that universe. They’re ageless and immune to disease. (Actually, that seems true of me, now that I think about it…).

The question is, which race of Elves would I rather be? There are the Silvan Elves (or Wood Elves), who live in forests, and the High Elves, who live in Rivendell. The former are comfortable in nature, and having grown up in the country, I’d fit in well. Plus, I could get archery and fighting lessons from Legolas, the Prince of the Woodland Realm. On the other hand, Rivendell is a gorgeous city, and I’m sure it has an amazing library. How else would Elrond and the rest of them be that wise? I’d also be able to hang out with Aragorn (who’s one of my favorite Lord of the Rings characters) and Arwen. It’d be great to watch their amazing love story unfold.

Speaking of favorite characters, my mother’s favorite is Legolas. I’ve often teased her for why she likes him. When I mention Aragorn, she says, “Eww. He’s dirty! I like Legolas because he’s clean.” To which I reply, “He’s an Elf! He’s immune to dirt! It just rolls right off him like water on a waxed car!”

Yet another perk of being a Quendi.

So, True Believers, what kind of Elf would you like to be?