I once read a book on writing by Dean Koontz. One of his bits of advice I have stayed with since then. That is read non-fiction. He believes that is where you get new ideas. I like reading about China and Japan. Their history, culture, religions and martial arts. A good book that I am reading now is Chinese Magical Medicine by Michel Strickmann. It's about magic, demons and exorcism in Chinese Buddhism and Daoism. It's awesome. I want to write fantasy and horror stories set in China. I have been looking for books like this that can tell me what I need to know in order to write the stories with realism. Another book that I read about Chinese magic and supernatural is Society and Supernatural in Song China by Edward L. Davis. I highly recommend them both.

My new brown belt

I received my brown belt 3rd kyu in Goju Kempo on thursday (3/18/10). It was a great feeling and nerve racking too. I felt that I was going to pass out when I was called. I breathed and kept going. We also get a large paper or diploma thing that says the rank that you had earned. I put it in a frame to hang on the wall in my bedroom. I now have two more levels or kyu of brown belt to go through before I get to test for my blackbelt (Dan). Which is awesome. The blackbelt test is suppose to cost $100, but sounds worth it. Regular Kyu tests cost only $30.